“So after I make it to Cliffhaven, you just expect me to knock on the Baron’s door?” asked Ari. “He doesn’t sound like the type that’s going to be overly receptive.”
“You’ll do what you did here in Varnas-Rav, of course,” she said with a smile. “Introduce yourself as Lord Aristial Stoneblood of Ethereal Tower.”
Her voice had a serious edge to it, and Ari found it hard to tell if she was mocking him in the dark.
“I’ll return the jewels and gold coins that were taken from your tower,” she continued. “It should be more than enough to allow you to purchase the garb needed to present yourself suitably. I also have a trusted contact within the city, Durrien, the proprietor of the Traveler’s Guild Inn.”
She let out a small, wistful sigh that made it sound like she was momentarily lost in a memory.
“You’re asking me for a rather large favor,” said Ari. “What do I get in return?”
“Passage to Cliffhaven,” said the Vereshi. “I can’t think of a more valuable reward, given your current circumstances. You’ll be able to live comfortably for perhaps years with the treasure I’ll be returning to you. All that I’m asking for in return for your aid is ensuring that my representative won’t be murdered on sight.”
It sounded like a good deal, one that had been constructed in a way to make it very hard for him to refuse. Ari wasn’t sure whether he’d have much choice in whether he accepted or not unless he wanted to risk surviving in the wild with Kerys and Eva. They might be able to make it back to the tower, but they’d still be back to square one, scavenging for essence while trying to outrun the next storm.
He wasn’t naïve enough to accept based on his gut instinct alone, however. Ari rubbed a knuckle against the Ring of Insight, pushing his will out to trigger the enchantment and hoping it would reveal something of value.
What he’d wanted was for it to tell him, in definitive terms, whether the Vereshi was lying about anything she’d said. Unfortunately, the magic of the ring didn’t work that way. The knowledge it gave him was more emotional and instinctual, like a burst of unconscious realization.
The ring told Ari that the Vereshi loved her people, but also that she was afraid. It reminded him of what Rin had said earlier about the Vereshi’s power having gone uncontested for so long that the depth of it was no longer readily apparent. Viewed from that perspective, a stronger alliance and the reopening of trade with Cliffhaven made perfect sense.
The ring also told Ari more of what he already knew. He was still dying, and what the Vereshi was offering him was by far the best chance he had at finding safety for Kerys and Eva. They’d have an escort, and they’d be traveling by ship for most of the way. There was only one path forward that made sense.
“I’ll do it,” he said.
CHAPTER 30
The Vereshi had two Ravarians escort him back to the tree hut. Kerys let out a gasp when he entered through the tent flap and immediately pulled him into a hug.
“You were gone for so long!” she said. “I was sure something had happened.”
“Something did happen,” said Ari. “I made a deal with the Vereshi that I think we need to discuss together. All three of us.”
He unsheathed Azurelight and held it out expectantly. Nothing happened, and after a few uneventful seconds, Ari scowled and stabbed the tip of the blade into the tree hut’s grass carpet.
“Eva!” he snapped. “Enough sulking. This involves all of us. Pull yourself together and be present.”
“Don’t yell at her,” said Kerys. “She’s obviously still upset.”
Ari took a breath, mastering his anger and recognizing that Kerys was probably right.
“I’m not mad at you,” he said. “Regardless of what happened at the bonfire, and whose fault it was, the situation has basically been resolved. We’re leaving Varnas-Rav, but on good terms, with an even better destination in sight.”
Ari saw Kerys’ interest perk at the mention of a new destination. He tapped his fingers on the hilt of Azurelight, waiting for Eva to appear and react in her own, stoic way. Nothing happened, and he felt a surge of fear at the idea that she might never return to her incarnate form.
“Eva,” he whispered. “Please. Stay with us. You’re a part of our group.”
“That is why, milord,” said Eva, in the merest whisper through the bond. “I think it might be best for me to stay as I am.”
“Why?” asked Ari. “Explain what’s going on. I can’t help you like this.”
The sword flashed with light, and Eva appeared in its place, still dressed in the Ravarian toga she’d changed into earlier in the day. Her posture was defeated and focused inward, with her back slumped forward over her knees and her hands grasping her feet.
“I’m losing control,” she whispered. “I have moments where… I forget who I am. Or rather, I remember. I remember who I am.”
“More of your memory has come back, then?” asked Ari.
Eva shook her head. “It is not memory. If it was, perhaps I would have more luck resisting it. It is my reactions, my emotions, and even… my personality. It is like I become a different person.”
“You’re still you, Eva,” said Kerys. “It’s okay.”
She crouched down beside the silver-haired woman and pulled her into a gentle embrace.
“I don’t know that I am still me,” whispered Eva. “I’m really scared of what I might become. I’m scared of who I might hurt next.”
Ari joined the two of them, putting his arms around Eva and Kerys and squeezing them tight.
“We know who you are,” said Ari. “You’re our friend. And we’re going to help you through this. If you do reach a point where you feel like you’re losing control, then I think it is okay for you to return to your sword form, at least temporarily. Just don’t close yourself off completely, and keep talking to me through the bond.”
“I can do that,” said Eva. “I’m sorry, Lord Stoneblood and Lady Kerys. I’m ashamed of myself for creating such a fuss.”
“Don’t be,” said Kerys.
“Yeah,” said Ari. “Usually it’s Kerys getting all mopey. This is almost refreshing.”
“Aristial Stoneblood!” snapped Kerys. “Now is not the time for stupid jokes.”
“It’s not really a joke if it’s true,” said Ari.
Kerys pinched his shoulder.
“Ow!” he said. “Fine, fine.”
“You mentioned that we would be traveling soon,” said Eva. “I think it might help my state of mind to focus on that, if it is alright?”
“Of course,” said Ari.
He proceeded to explain the details of the conversation he’d had with the Vereshi, along with what the Ring of Insight had told him. Neither Kerys nor Eva reacted right away, but they both drew closer to him, which left Ari with a warm feeling that was only in part due to their shared heat.
“Cliffhaven,” whispered Kerys. “It sounded like a fable when we first heard about it. If we went along with this plan, could we really go there?”
Ari nodded. “That’s the gist of it.”
Eva’s expression was both stoic and skeptical. She raised an eyebrow, leaning closer into their group embrace so that she was speaking to Ari and Kerys.
“The Vereshi did not rise to her current position and proceed to maintain it through power alone,” she said. “She appears to be a woman of intelligence and guile.”
“True,” said Ari. “Do you think it’s risky to trust her in this?”
Eva swayed her head from side to side.
“That is a harder question to answer,” she said. “It would be wise to be wary, but this plan fits with what we know about her. She’s taking a risk on you, Aristial. Someone with unique capabilities who has already proven himself.”
Ari nodded slowly. “There’s also the fact that she’s sending Rin along with us. Given how she and her sister seem to have a certain amount of friction, it’s something we should take into account. Maybe this quest has t
he added benefit of removing a rival from the fold?”
He hesitated, deciding not to voice the question of whether the removal would prove to be permanent or temporary.
“I think it’s a worthwhile risk to take,” said Kerys.
“I agree,” said Eva. “Granted, it is hard for me to decipher another safe path forward for us.”
“If anything goes wrong before we set sail from this island, we can always double back to the tower,” he said.
Ari frowned a little, feeling oddly homesick at the idea of having to travel such a far distance from the place they’d called home for the past few weeks. He resolved to find a way to make it back eventually, even if Cliffhaven turned out to be the safe haven they were hoping for.
None of them said much else. They were all tired from what had been a rather long and eventful series of days. Because of that, they ended up falling asleep huddled on the bed, though it was scarcely large enough for two of them, let alone three.
The Vereshi sent one of the few Subvios-fluent Ravarians to wake them from their slumber early the next morning. The messenger told them to take everything with them that they planned on keeping, and they spent a few minutes pulling on their clothing and equipment.
Ari wore his Feathercloak underneath his pack, which still had a few random items in it from when they’d left the spire, namely rope and a rather significant stash of sarkin flower. Kerys had her ornate short sword, which she wore on a belt, along with one of the pale green tunics the Ravarians had provided for her and black trousers.
Eva wore her original white outfit, which Ari had almost forgotten how good she looked in. It seemed to glimmer slightly in the light and clung to her in such a tight manner that he found himself in disbelief at the protection it provided, though he’d seen it in action many a time before.
They left the tree hut shortly after dawn and were greeted by the Vereshi, Rin, Leyehl, and a small crowd. Rin and Leyehl were both ready to travel, each dressed in tunics and touting pale green supply packs. The Vereshi was overseeing a Ravarian who was examining an array of supplies that had been spread out across the ground.
“Lord Stoneblood,” called the Vereshi. “Good morning, and good timing. We were just looking over the items we’ll be allotting you for the duration of your quest.”
“Our quest?” Ari couldn’t help but smirk a little at that.
“Yes, your quest,” said the Vereshi. “Please, familiarize yourself with what you’ll have on hand.”
His attention was soon drawn to items on the grass in front of him. The Vereshi had given them each a Ravarian-made supply pack, sewn from the same oddly pale, greenish leather as their tunics. There were also two finely crafted short spears with leather shoulder straps that Ari assumed were for him and Eva.
He took the spear, but hesitated before trading out his own pack. Ari had never been a man of sentiment, but the simple leather bag that he’d carried on his shoulders ever since leaving Golias Hollow had served him well, and it was still in good condition. The green leather Ravarian pack was fresh and clean and probably serviceable enough, but he decided to just transfer the contents rather than swap.
There was food, but not as much as Ari would have expected. It was a mixture of salted meat from an unidentifiable source, dried fruit, and a mixture of shredded and dried vegetables of various colors.
There was a tent, which brought the kellowack that he and Kerys had once shared back to mind, along with flint and dry tinder for fire starting. There was also a small knife made from black metal and honed to a razor edge.
It was all very similar to what he’d first started out with upon leaving Golias Hollow, except for what lay at the very bottom. Ari’s eyebrows shot up when he shifted the tent out of the new pack and into his own and noticed that the treasure that the Ravarians had confiscated from them lay at the bottom.
“I wasn’t honestly sure if you’d end up giving this back,” he said, as he transferred the gold coins and various jewels into the pockets of his bag.
“It’s split between all three of your supplies,” said the Vereshi. “A small, fourth portion was held as payment for the accommodations we provided you.”
“Of course it was,” said Ari in a dry tone.
“I will be taking my leave,” said the Vereshi. “Your choices from this point on will be yours to make. If you choose to stay in Cliffhaven after finishing your task, I will not begrudge you and will in fact continue to treat you as a friend and ally of my people.”
“I appreciate that,” said Ari. “We all do.”
He flashed the Vereshi a genuine smile, and he saw one of her hands stray from fidgeting with her stunted wings to running along the edge of the enchanted cloak he’d made for her.
“Farewell, Lord Stoneblood,” said the Vereshi. “I wish you, Kerys Weaver, and Lady Eva all the best in your future endeavors.”
The Vereshi nodded to each of them in turn before leaving, flanked by her attendants. Rin and Leyehl moved forward to neatly fill the silence left in her wake.
“I’m surprised, chala,” said Rin. “Surprised, and impressed. This does not seem like the kind of thing my sister would normally take a risk on.”
“It was her idea,” said Ari.
Rin blinked at him.
“Truly?” she asked. “Even sending me along with you? I was sure that specific detail was on your request.”
“Even that,” said Ari. “Not that I wouldn’t have wanted you along, regardless.”
Rin’s expression grew unusually pensive, and she stared through the trees at the receding figures of the Vereshi and her entourage.
“If that is truly the case…” Rin said, in a slow voice. “Then I will work even harder to do credit to the trust she has placed in me. My sister and I have not always seen eye to eye, chala. In this, she does me a great honor.”
Ari nodded, though he wasn’t sure he was the right person to fully appreciate the depth of Rin’s words. Eva and Kerys were pulling their packs on, and he slipped over to them, helping Kerys adjust the straps on hers so the bag wouldn’t chafe her shoulders.
Leyehl was silently watching them from a few feet away, or rather, silently watching Eva. The intensity of her gaze was enough to make Ari fidget, even though he wasn’t on the receiving end of it. He hadn’t stopped to consider how much the language barrier would affect their journey when the Vereshi had named her as the party’s guardian, and now he felt himself wondering if he should have.
Leyehl waved Rin over to her, leaning her head in close to whisper something into her ear. Rin listened, furrowing her brow slightly at her words, and then walked over to Ari, Eva, and Kerys.
“She’s curious about you, Eva,” said Rin. “Likely for good reason, after last night. She… wants to know if you are Lucia.”
The question, as far as Ari could tell, did not make sense. Lucia was the Face of the Trium, one of the three ancient gods that the Saidicans had worshipped during the height of their reign. It was a fact he only knew due to a brief encounter with a talkative mesmer in an underground labyrinth, which made Leyehl’s query seem that much stranger.
“She wants to know if Eva is a god that was last worshipped hundreds of years ago?” asked Ari.
“No, of course not, chala,” said Rin. “We Ravarians do not worship or believe in gods. Leyehl wants to know if Evastria may have once pretended to be a god in the distant past.”
“I am not Lucia,” said Eva with a respectful nod.
“I’m surprised you managed to answer that while keeping a straight face,” said Ari. “Do you think it’s because of your hair? I recall that natural silver-blue coloring was once referred to as ‘Lucia’s locks.’”
Eva’s face was stoic, and Ari found himself wondering if she was seriously considering the question. She still didn’t have all of her memory back, and the part of her origin relating to who she really was might be hazy enough for her to wonder if just maybe there was something to the question.
Ari knew the truth. He’d absorbed some the memories of her uncle, her former master. He’d seen her as a little girl, though when he’d tried to tell Eva about it, she’d refused to listen. They might need to have that conversation again, for her benefit, he decided.
Rin repeated Eva’s answer back to Leyehl, who simply shrugged and seemed less than convinced. The five of them did a double check of their supplies to make sure they had everything they needed and then began heading toward the outskirts of the city.
CHAPTER 31
They didn’t linger for long after they’d confirmed their supplies. Rin took the lead, with Ari, Eva, and Kerys moving as a group in the middle and Leyehl bringing up the back.
The Ravarians they passed watched them go, some of them wearing their disdain openly. Ari overheard a few shouts as they passed by a small crowd of predominantly young men and wouldn’t have been surprised to find out that they were friends of the Ravarian whose arm Eva had broken.
The sensation of leaving Varnas-Rav felt inverted from what Ari would have expected from a city. The trees slowly grew thinner as they approached the city’s stone wall, and as they passed through the gate and into the outskirts, the forest began to give way to a much more open clearing.
It was a beautiful morning, with droplets of dew sprinkled across the grass, a chorus of chirping birds, and most importantly, clear skies overhead. Ari scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of clouds and finding none. He lowered his gaze, catching Rin’s eye, who’d apparently noticed his interest.
“My sister sent a few scouts up this morning,” she said. “The weather looks good for the next few days, chala. It won’t take us nearly that long to reach the meeting point.”
“That’s convenient,” said Ari. “I wonder if we’d have been allowed to stay in Varnas-Rav for longer if a storm had been brewing.”
Rin let out a soft, musical laugh. “That’s an interesting question, and one that I don’t know the answer to.”
Vision Voyage (The Weatherblight Saga Book 2) Page 18