For a moment, she lost track of time. In her obsessed glaze a stray thought emerged. It was nothing significant, but it was not concerning the tear. As time went on, more and more thoughts independent of the Sorceress’s Tear passed her consciousness. Bolstered by her newfound freedom, she took advantage of the power and carved a place for her own spellcraft.
She let go of her guilt and sent it to the Amulet of Balance, then channeled every scrap of power she could assemble and cast it toward a very startled Vorea. The brilliant, searing white light obliterated Vorea’s defenses and ripped her body apart. Vorea screamed as the magic drove fragments of her soul in every direction.
Vorea’s lifeless remains fell to the ground.
No anger lingered in her death stare as her cousin’s fixed gaze was not set in malevolence, but of acceptance of her fate. Her spirit left and returned to the ether.
Nature needed not her smoldering remnants, as the burning fire had already completed its grim deed.
Chapter 70
“She is waking up,” Farius said.
Niv’s wound had clotted and her color had returned. Her eyelids fluttered, her finger twitched, and she tried to speak.
“What is she saying?” Olivia asked.
He brushed hair away from her damp forehead. “Can you hear us?”
Niv bolted upright. “Cabrina!”
“Cabrina?” Olivia asked.
“One of High Priestess Vella’s assistants,” he replied.
She tried to get up and leave, but they both stopped her. “Niv, you need your rest,” Olivia said. “Narelle stabbed you.”
“I heard Cabrina’s call.”
She ignored their pleas, left the hut, then walked to the ridgeline. The tremendous battle she had seen in her astral form had ceased. Undead corpses littered the snow. She joined her friends. Filth and blood caked on their clothes, cuts covered their skin, and they all struggled to catch their breath from sheer exhaustion.
“Nivvy,” Frasie said. “There are…” Frasie looked around. “There were so many of them.”
Shareis gasped at the blood stains on Niv’s dress and pulled her close for a tight embrace.
She cried out in pain from the pressure on her chest.
“I’m sorry,” Shareis said.
She squeezed Shareis’s hand. “I’ll be alright.”
“You were successful,” Dailen said.
She took a deep breath. “Yes.”
Aiden drew his sword. “Niv, look out!”
She turned to see a red-headed woman dressed in white. Her pale blue eyes and white skin were colder than snow. She held a jar in her hands.
“You stopped the undead, didn’t you?” she asked.
Cabrina looked at the carnage. “Yes. But I also I created them.”
“Vorea made you do it,” Farius said. “When she died, you regained your free will.”
Cabrina blinked and looked at him. “My friends told me I would have followed Vorea to the grave. It seems they were right.”
“This is not your fault,” he replied.
Cabrina stepped forward and handed Farius the jar. “I want you to have this.” Cabrina bowed her head and folded her hands in front of her. “I hope it will help make up for the pain I have caused.”
The wispy light blue essence strengthened in his loving grasp. His eyes shimmered from unshed tears of relief as he watched his wife’s spirit flutter. “Maeva,” he said in a broken voice. He touched the glass, his gaze fixed on the miracle in the jar. “I cannot thank you enough.”
“I must go now,” Cabrina said.
“I sense such good in you, Cabrina,” she said. “I would like to have known you.”
“In another life, perhaps.”
“It’s not fair,” she said.
Cabrina smiled. “No, it’s not. Goodbye, Niv’leana, Farius. May the creator be with all of you.”
Cabrina walked away from the village, then faded from view long before she reached the horizon.
“May her soul finally be at peace,” Farius said.
She touched the jar. “Can you free her?”
He put his hand over the lid. “It is sealed with strong magic. I am not certain how to defeat it.”
Dailen extended his hand. “May I?”
Farius handed the jar to him. “This seal is impenetrable to Den’tari magic.”
“I will take it to the grove,” Farius replied. “Perhaps we can find a way to free Maeva.”
She could no longer ignore the persistent ache in her chest. She put her hand over the wound and took a ragged breath. “I need to rest.”
Shareis took her to their hut. Shareis ripped the blood-soaked blankets off the bed and threw them on Narelle’s remains. “I should have protected you.”
She sat on the edge of the bed. “You did.”
“I knew something was wrong with her. I should have done more.”
She reached for Shareis as if grasping for every breath she couldn’t catch. “I love you,” she said and pulled her to her side. “I mean, I really love you. Oh, Shareis… everything hurts. And Maeva…”
Shareis held her. “I love you, Niv. I’m here for you. Always.”
Her thoughts whirled through the day’s events as Shareis stroked her back. Violent images passed in waves through her mind as she grappled with what had happened. The sleep her body craved couldn’t overpower the vivid reel of horror that played on in her brain.
That evening she assisted in building a pyre for the fallen. Her injury limited her ability to help, but she did what she could. It was well into the evening before they lit the flame. She and her companions stood in silence as they watched the fire consume the dead.
She recalled the promise she made to the avatar of the amulet. She ran her fingers along the chain of the necklace, debating the best time to make good on her word. Seeing no reason to delay, she reached behind her neck and unfasted its clasps. She removed the amulet and held it tightly.
The last time she had removed the amulet she felt considerable unease, but this time abject sorrow consumed her. She did everything she could to keep from weeping uncontrollably. She did her best to convince Shareis she was fine then walked away from the pyre, counting the steps until she could break down into tears. She barely made it before collapsing on her knees in anguish. Her chest burned, and her entire body shook in agony.
She heard footsteps approaching from behind her. She quickly put back on the Amulet of Balance, dried her tears, and steadied herself.
“Are you alright?” Farius asked.
She took a deep breath. “I will be.”
“I am sorry for what Narelle did to you.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I considered her a trusted friend.” He paused. “If I had known she was that dangerous, I would have never brought her here.”
“You didn’t know.”
Farius looked back at the pyre. “Shareis is worried about you. We are all worried about you.”
“I appreciate that. Like I said, I’ll be fine. When are you leaving for the grove?”
“At first light. If I fly, I can be there in a week.”
She started walking back. “I wish I could join you, but I know I’m needed in Selandis.”
“Do you want to be High Priestess?” he asked.
“I am eager to do what I can, but I haven’t the faintest idea of how to fill the role. “
“You are a natural leader, Niv’leana.”
She sighed. “I’m not so sure.”
“Good leaders often doubt their abilities. But you have shown remarkable courage.”
She thought of the avatar. “The amulet helped. It spoke to me.”
“I am not surprised. What did it say?”
“He wants to be free. He says he will return home.” She shook her head. “I am ashamed to admit I know so little about him and the amulet.”
“He?” Farius asked.
“The avatar appears as a small boy, though he claims
to be very old. He absorbs all the pain and agony caused by the magic I wield.”
“That is an incredible burden,” Farius said.
“When I take off the amulet, I feel that pain.” She stopped and turned to him. “Oh, it is horrendous.” She touched the amulet. “He told me he chose this. Why would anyone do such a thing?”
He put his hand on her shoulder. “Only the bravest of souls choose the most difficult paths. The pain they endure crystallizes into wisdom. Praise their courage and pray you can face adversity with a fraction of their dignity. When we have experienced the darkest depths of agony and the most brilliant peaks of bliss, we return home and share that wisdom with all.”
As they walked back to the pyre, she hoped for the courage to keep her promise to the amulet. She endeavored to be as brave as the spirit residing in the stone she wore around her neck.
When they returned, her companions gathered around her.
Shareis took her hand. “Is everything alright?”
She nodded. “Yes.” She turned to the others. “I appreciate all of your efforts.”
“There is no need to thank us,” Aiden said.
“Agreed,” Olivia replied and approached her. “You quite literally saved the world.” Olivia approached her. “I am sorry for my friend’s actions. I tried to stop her.”
“You helped save me. I will never forget that.”
Olivia curtsied. “I will proudly serve you in Selandis, High Priestess.”
“I will take you up on that offer, Olivia.”
“Me too, Nivvy,” Frasie said. “Well, not serve you so much as help you. I don’t want you getting a big head. Not really a big head, of course, but—"
“Thank you, Frasie.”
“If you have need of an engineer, I will be at your side,” Aiden said.
She nodded. “Your skills and friendship would be invaluable.”
“You already know I will go wherever you go, Niv’leana,” Shareis said. She clasped her lover’s hand.
Frasie’s eyes grew wide with excitement. “Oh, you two should get married! A wedding in Selandis. Oh Nivvy, that would be wonderful.”
She looked at Shareis. “It most certainly would.”
“I will be glad to help,” Farius said.
“We will be alright,” she replied.
“I want to be there for you.”
“Free Maeva,” she said. “I know how important she is to you. Dailen, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done. Without your sage wisdom, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat Vorea.”
Dailen smiled. “It is a happy day when the student surpasses the teacher. It was a pleasure to assist you, Niv’leana.”
“We need to impose upon your hospitality for another night,” she said.
“Take all the time you need. You all will always be welcomed guests of the Den’tari.”
She and her companions retired for the evening. Shareis went right to sleep, but she remained wide awake. She stared at her star-filled ceiling, pondering the challenges ahead of her in Selandis.
Dawn’s bright morning sun lit the sky above them as they gathered at the ridgeline. The pastel horizon a welcome sight after the dark cloud of pain, war, and destruction they’d lived beneath on their entire journey.
Niv sagged against her father as he enveloped her in a comforting and secure embrace. “I don’t want this to end,” she said and looked up into his tender gaze. “I will miss you dearly.”
He turned to Shareis. “It has been an honor to be by your side, Shareis. Please take care of my daughter.”
She nodded. “I will. Be well, Farius.”
Farius wiped a tear from Niv’s cheek. “We will see each other again. This I promise.”
“How will I reach you?” she asked.
“My people…” he clutched her hands. “Our people always know how to find each other. If you need me, gaze into the sky and call my name. I will hear your voice in the wind.”
He took a few steps forward. “I must take my leave.”
“I love you, Father. Be safe.”
Farius smiled, then walked to the edge of the cliff. He extended his arms as magic swirled around his body. He leaped into the air, transforming into an owl. He circled around them and gazed at Niv his beautiful golden eyes, then reached down with his mighty talons and clutched the jar. He ascended in sweeping, graceful flight over the Laharan plains.
A single brown feather floated down and landed softly on the snow.
She picked it up and smiled.
The End
The Adventure Continues
I hope you enjoyed this novel.
The sequel to Niv’leana, titled Olivia, is available on Amazon in both Kindle and print formats.
If you’re interested in learning of the tragic love story of Shareis’s parents, the novella titled Lilly is also available on Amazon.
And Please Remember
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