by Zora Marie
Linithion’s chest rose and fell slightly as she laid on the table. Her silver hair spread around her, some clumps matted together with blood. Her usual glow was almost gone, and her skin was ashen, but at least the pain she must be in didn’t reach her features.
“Will she… when will she wake up?” Zelia asked.
“This evening, maybe tomorrow if we are lucky. We’ve done all we can for now. We’ll know more if she wakes.”
“If?”
“She lost a lot of blood and it took us a while to get the bleeding to stop.”
“Thank you.” Zelia moved some hair from Linithion’s face and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Let me clean that cut for you.” Yalif gestured to her wrist.
She nodded and hopped onto the edge of the counter where she could see Linithion as he wiped the dry blood from her wrist.
“You love her, don’t you?” he asked.
She nodded, knowing if she spoke too much she might cry again. Her wrist tingled as he wiped a cream across it and wrapped it in gauze.
“Zelia.” He paused, waiting for her to look at him instead of Linithion. “She is alive because of you. If you hadn’t stopped Rogath when you did, we wouldn’t have been able to stop the bleeding in time.”
“But she came because of me, he attacked her because of me, and Xander got to Rogath through me. He used me, my blood, to cause all of this.”
“Your blood?”
“Some of the times I died, he drained me. I thought it was for the magic they used to bind me there. He has too much, Zivu doesn’t want to perform the spell to break his hold on Rogath.”
“Maybe you should trust her judgement.”
Zelia shook her head. “No. She just doesn’t want to hurt me, but I don’t want this to continue. I can’t live knowing someone I love got hurt because of me.”
“Listen to me. That girl there,” he gestured to Linithion, “she will need you here when she wakes up. She will not blame you, because it is not your fault. You didn’t wish for any of this to happen. This is all that wizard’s fault, not yours.”
“But I can help stop him.”
“Zelia, you can help, but not in this way. Go speak with Rogath, convince him to fight back, his mastery of the mind would go unmatched if he set himself to it. Let Zivu use your blood to figure out where they are performing these spells, but don’t push for this thing that will kill you. Seek other options.”
She nodded, the weight of the impending doom lifting slightly.
“Now go on, I’ll send for you when she stirs.”
31
The guard was gone from the study door, and Zelia paused, listening.
“I am not seeing any other options that do not jeopardize our son,” Zivu said.
“What about Zelia? Must we doom her for Rogath’s sake?” Skylar asked.
“Skylar,” it was Alrindel who spoke now, “I think we’ll lose her anyway if something happens to someone else. She’s been getting better, but I think she still blames herself for what they forced her to do.”
“She’s convinced that her own death is the only solution, and she has thought that way since the beginning,” Skylar said.
The door swung open, and Zelia saw the missing guard just inside. Skylar blushed when he was the first to notice her. He drew a deep breath, and the redness in his face faded.
“You’re not wrong. That’s something I’ve struggled with for a long time and Linithion being hurt doesn’t make it any easier. That said, Yalif mentioned something we need to consider. I don’t think Rogath realizes he’s been manipulated, or at least he didn’t until after he attacked Linithion.” The attack ran through her mind, Rogath had been pleading, apologizing. “I think he could fight Xander’s hold, at least until we can free him.”
“Perhaps, but how long will that take? All it would take is a moment of weakness and Rogath would lose. They could destroy his mind. We don’t even know where Xander is,” Zivu said.
Zelia sank onto the couch bringing her feet up so she could wrap her arms around her knees, one hand grasping the bandage on her wrist. “Can we use the blood magic to find him?”
Yargo studied his wife’s face as she contemplated the possibility.
“Maybe, but he will know the moment we do it.”
“Then this can work,” Yargo said. “Skylar, go get your friend, we need to warn Fregnar in case something goes wrong. Zivu and I will gather a team to do what we can to prepare for the Guild to fall. Zelia, I believe you will have the best chance at reaching Rogath, get Terik to help. Terik said there was something different about Rogath, but we thought it was just his connection to you and the things you were going through.” He drew a deep breath, shaking his head. “We should have investigated it further.”
“What can I do?” Alrindel asked.
“We can send you home to warn Eleanor and Erolith of what is coming, if you like,” Zivu said.
“I…” He glanced to Zelia.
“I’ll be fine.” Zelia continued, “They need to be warned, but I think we should send you to the Drakeon Empire, Erolith deserves to hear of his daughter’s state in person. Tell him she’s not alone, because I won’t leave her and she’s stable. She has the best healers of either realm tending her.”
Alrindel gave her a slow nod. “I will and I’ll send a bird to Eleanor.”
“No, I’m sending one of my Ravens with you. We need to avoid having Xander finding out about our plans,” Yargo said. “Speaking of which, Zelia, I believe it is time you spoke with Rogath.”
She nodded and rose to her feet. “If you need me for anything else, just let me know.” As the door shut behind her, they began to talk again, and she made a point not to listen as she left. They would be discussing further details and they couldn’t afford for her or Rogath to know anything more than she already did.
“Zelia?” Terik questioned as he left his room. “Well, this explains the guards beneath Rogath’s balcony and at his door. When did you get here? I didn’t see the bridge go off.”
“We didn’t use the bridge. I take it you’ve been training and haven’t heard.”
“Heard what?”
“Rogath attacked Linithion, an Elf from Mineria. She’s stable now, but they don’t know if she’ll wake.”
“But that doesn’t explain…” he trailed off.
“Terik, she’s my soulmate, and because I didn’t come initially and I can’t really die, he attacked her. Xander, a wizard of the Guild, one of them that kept me prisoner, has been using blood magic to manipulate him.”
“So, I was right! Something has been off with him.”
She nodded. “Will you help me? We need to convince him to fight it before he hurts himself or someone else. Before someone we care about dies.”
“Um, yeah, but I don’t know how much help I’ll be. We haven’t been getting along the greatest.”
“If it makes you feel any better, he wished I would die and stay dead. And tried to make me hate myself by pushing emotions on me.”
“Freg. Yeah, I’ll help.” Terik turned on his heels and marched to Rogath’s room. The guard at his door held a rune covered staff, a sign of a magic user, a wise choice of someone to guard Rogath’s room. When they approached, he set the staff across their path. “Father wants us to speak with Rogath.”
The guard eyed Zelia, and she recognized him as one of the guards who tried to stop her the day she left. She chewed her lip as she thought of what to say. She had killed Kerm, one of his fellow guards and nearly killed Yargo and Zivu. “Thank you for trying to stop me that day. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t regret what happened, but I’m trying to keep anyone else from getting hurt. The wizard who made my powers lash out like that is manipulating Rogath, I just want to convince Rogath to fight back.”
<
br /> He looked down the hall, and she saw the guard who had been in the study nod to him. The guard moved the staff from their path. “I’m sorry about what happened to your friend,” he said.
Zelia nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Thank you. We’ll yell if we need you. I’m not sure if they know I’m here, but in case they don’t, I can’t use my powers.”
The guard nodded and Terik led the way into Rogath’s room, closing the door behind them. Rogath was curled up under the blankets on the bed, and Zelia sat on its edge. Terik stood behind her.
“Rogath, we need to talk,” Zelia said.
The blanket shifted, pulling tighter around Rogath. “I’m sorry. I—”
“It wasn’t you. Xander has been using blood magic to control you through our connection.”
“But it was me, I knew what I was doing. Why don’t you hate me?”
“Rogath, look at me.” He pulled the blanket back just enough that she could see his eyes. They were red from crying, and his tears soaked the bed. “Don’t you think I understand? Better than anyone? I know it’s hard knowing that you are capable of horrible things, but we’ll get through this, together.”
“But I killed your soulmate.”
“She’s not dead and she’s just as stubborn as us, so she’ll fight through this. Still, make her sacrifice worthwhile, fight Xander. I’ve been fighting his influence and you can, too.”
He furrowed his brow.
“You haven’t been watching, have you?” she asked, and he gave a slight shake of his head. “He attacked me a while back and I didn’t let him take control. I have new scars for my efforts, but I won. It won’t be easy, but like me you won’t be alone.”
“She’s right, we’re all here for you,” Terik said. “I told mother something was off with you a while back, at least now she believes me.”
Zelia glared at him and rolled her eyes. “We’re trying to be serious here, Terik.”
“Where’s the fun in that? The Rogath I know would come up with some trick to turn this all back on this wizard.”
“His name is Xander.” Rogath wiped the dampness from his face and sat up in the bed. “How do I fight him, when I can’t tell where he ends and I begin?”
“Trust that you know who you really are. It took me a while because of how long…” she trailed off, “I had forgotten who I was, but you, Alrindel, Koin, Eadon, you reminded me and showed me who I was. I’m not the same as I was and you won’t be either, but you’re a trickster and a lover, not a hater. You’ll find where the poison begins and root it out, just as you figured out how to speak to me through our connection while awake.”
32
Zelia woke in her room. She wasn’t sure when she had gone to bed, last she remembered she sat next to Linithion after helping clean the blood from her hair. There was a light knock on her door before it opened.
“Yalif said you wanted to know when she stirred,” Zivu said.
As she climbed from the bed, she glanced at the open balcony where the stars lit the sky. “How long have I been asleep?”
“A while, Yalif’s sister has been checking on you.”
Zelia pulled a cloak across her shoulders, though there was an enchantment to keep the chill of the outside from her room, she still felt cold as she hurried down the hall to Yalif’s healing chamber. The thick socks she wore muffled her footsteps. She hadn’t bothered to check if her boots had dried. She entered the room quietly, her eyes glued to the pale princess. Linithion’s breathing had changed and her eyes moved beneath their lids.
“Linithion,” Zelia whispered as she took her hand, it was clammy to the touch, but her skin wasn’t as ashen as it had been.
“Ouch,” she groaned, “is this what it feels like to be you?”
Zelia couldn’t help but laugh a little, even as tears welled in her eyes. “It’s nice to hear your voice. I thought I had lost you.”
Linithion gave her a brief smile as she opened her eyes, pain etched across her scrunched brow. “You’re not losing me that easily.”
“Now who’s beginning to sound like Skylar?” Zelia raised a brow at Linithion. Though Zelia joked, she was concerned as she had never seen Linithion act this way before.
“Oh, stop that. You’ll make me laugh when it hurts to be awake.”
“Well, before we let you fall back to sleep on us, we need you to drink this,” Yalif said, bringing a cup to her side.
“What? No meal? I’m starving.”
“Not tonight, but this will help you heal. You can eat in the morning.”
With a hand beneath her neck, Yalif helped her sit up enough to sip at the yellowish liquid. Before it was gone, Linithion was asleep, her breathing light and regular.
“Did you give her anything before she woke up?” Zelia asked.
“You noticed?” Yalif asked, a slight bit of mischief to his tone.
“Yes, she is usually teasing me about acting like Skylar, not the other way around.”
“No worries, I gave her something for the pain when we were trying to stop the bleeding. While she’ll still be getting some, she won’t be getting as much so she won’t hurt herself. Unlike someone I know.” He raised a brow at her, and she rolled her eyes.
“I know I’m a handful. Thank you for putting up with me.”
“Anytime, Zelia. But that’s not an invitation to go get hurt.”
“Trust me, I have no intentions of doing so.”
“Good, now go try to get some rest. Falling asleep from exhaustion isn’t the best way to keep from hurting yourself.”
“Fine,” she yawned and he laughed, shooing her from the room.
~
Zelia felt famished when she woke the next morning, yet all she could think about was seeing Linithion. She changed into another warm dress and slipped her boots on. She didn’t have a way to tie the back of her dress, so she held the ties in one hand as she left the room.
Terik was halfway down the hall, likely headed to breakfast.
“Terik!” She called, passing the guards as she walked faster to catch up. “Would you tie this for me? Please?”
“You want me to?”
A guard nearby snorted and Zelia turned to see she was one of the few female guards in the realm. “Go on Terik, I’ll get it for the poor girl.”
“Thank you,” Zelia said as she pulled her hair out of the way and the guard tied the back of her dress. “I wear dresses.”
“So, tell Dain, he’ll outdo himself on a tunic for you.”
“And what if I like simple things that I don’t feel bad for ruining?”
The guard laughed a little. “There, you’re all tied up. As for Dain and his clothes, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Heck, he designs some of our armor so he can make things besides dresses. Now go on, you wouldn’t want to miss breakfast.”
“Thank you.” Zelia turned and continued to Yalif’s healing chambers.
Linithion was sitting up, her legs hanging off the table, and she was now in the dress Zelia had sent the day before. Yalif was giving her the usual cautions, but Linithion’s attention turned from him to Zelia as soon as she noticed her. Yalif glanced over his shoulder to see who it was and shook his head.
“Go on, just take it easy. Yargo and Zivu would like you to join them for breakfast if you feel up to it.”
“How are you?” Zelia asked.
“It hurts, but I think Yalif is an even better healer than father, so I’m good.”
Linithion slid from the padded table, cringing as she did. Zelia wanted to hug her but feared hurting her. So instead she intertwined her fingers with Linithion’s.
“If the pain worsens, come back and see me,” Yalif said.
“I’ll make sure she does,” Zelia said as she and Linithion headed into the hall.
Zelia led Linithion to t
he smaller dining hall where Yargo, Zivu, and their sons had breakfast. The guard nodded to them as they entered, and it surprised Zelia to see the table had been extended and five people already sat around it. Yargo waved to her and Linithion to join them. Today Terik and Rogath sat next to Zivu instead of across from her. Now, it was Skylar that sat across from her.
“Good morning,” Linithion said as she took a seat across from Terik.
Zelia could feel the tension between Linithion and Rogath as they both seemed to avoid looking at one another. Yargo cleared his throat before speaking, “I’m glad to see you’re doing better Linithion.”
“And I’m sorry. I wasn’t myself…” Rogath chewed his lip, something he had picked up from his time in Zelia’s head. “I never want to hurt either of you again.”
“Rogath I forgive you,” Linithion said, squeezing Zelia’s hand as she did.
“We both do,” Zelia said.
A low grumble came from Linithion’s stomach, and Zelia couldn’t help but smile a little as two cooks brought food in. The plate they set in front of Linithion was full of some of her favorites, including honeysuckles and a fruit filled pastry.
“Skylar mentioned what you liked,” Yargo said, “and I asked for your favorite too, Zelia.”
“Thank you,” Linithion said, as she followed Terik’s lead, digging into the food.
Instead of the usual talk of how the boys’ previous day went, there was an awkward silence. As plates emptied, Terik fidgeted.
“You may go Terik, let Steffon know Rogath won’t be working on his swordsmanship today,” Yargo said.
“Good luck,” Terik said, his hand on Rogath’s shoulder as he stood from his chair.
“Rogath, I’ve asked a friend of mine to work with you on your mastery of the mind so we will not be having our usual magic practice. Instead, I’ll be working with Zelia.”