“Fine, but we’re going to sit down for this,” Delvin whispers, giving her a kiss on the forehead. The pair rest on the edge of the bed, the silence broken by a warbling bird that passes the window. “I think they have a nest somewhere around here. I don’t have to look at you to know I’m getting a glare, so no more distractions. Fizzle lost his tail, but Catarina Warrenberg is busy working on a replacement. He is going to stay in Spellstream until that’s done before returning to Visindor Forest. I’ll be watching out for him whenever I’m at the academy and Theresa has promised to check on him every day or two. That’s if he doesn’t stay nearby for free apples. By the way, your parents are in one of the guest rooms, which also means we have an army of mercenaries camped outside the city. Just in case you saw all the tents and wondered what was going on. Dariana is kind of still with us. Her body was so mangled that she decided to shed it and return to the Spirit Well. She said we can cremate her remains when we have the time and spread some of her ashes in each temple. This might allow her to travel between them, but we aren’t sure. I’m going to get something to drink before I tell you about Timoran.”
Delvin touches Nyx on the leg, his hand lingering long enough for her to get the idea that he needs time to prepare. Heading for a small table, the warrior stops at the edge of their private bath and looks at his own reflection. He touches his fake eye, which disappears for a moment to reveal the empty socket. Looking down at his missing leg, Delvin considers using his power on the stump, but remembers that the last attempt nearly killed him. The tied-off pant leg is dotted with blood since the wound repeatedly opens thanks to the prosthetic’s rough cradle. Loosening the uncomfortable straps on his thigh, he hops to a table and pours himself a cup of ice water. He pauses when the clinking cubes making him think about Sari and he imagines seeing her smile in the drink. His hand quivers as he lifts the cup to his mouth, but he throws it away as soon as the liquid touches his lips.
“My job was to keep them alive and I failed,” Delvin says, turning to face Nyx. To his relief and surprise, she is already next him and running her hands along his cheeks. “I spent this entire week going over everything in my head. So many things I could have done differently. I should have enhanced my shield to block that arrow instead of taking a risk that sidelined me for far too long. If I had weakened the Baron before you and Trinity unleashed your spell instead of talking to him then he wouldn’t might not have survived. I should have been the one to get to Luke before Timoran! All of these injuries and I’m one of the survivors! Can’t believe I’m supposed to teach students and run an academy when I’m such a failure.”
“So, my big brother is dead too?” Nyx asks, choking back her tears. The memory of a large hand patting her on the head makes her legs weak, so she clings to her fiancée’s shirt. “Don’t you dare blame yourself, Delvin Cunningham. All of us went into that battle knowing that we could die. I . . . I should have killed the Baron from the beginning. It’s clear that I could have destroyed his spirit at any time. All I needed to do was treat him like a monster instead of a man. So, this is all my fault. By the gods, do you think Luke remembers killing Timoran? Is that why he isn’t awake?”
“It’s possible, but Timoran isn’t really dead,” the warrior admits while pulling a coffee ring out of his pocket. He is about to pour some into his mouth when Nyx conjures a mug in his other hand. “Do you remember that Xan gave Timoran a charm and promised a reward? Well, that kind of saved of his life since he should be dead. The lightning bubble severely damaged his heart, but Xan has decided that he can stay alive until his fourth child turns five. It’s a strange deal that the other gods can’t stop because every mortal can get a single wish from the God of Time. The only other thing is that Timoran can never enter another battle. If he pushes himself too hard or unleashes more than a bit of his rage, his heart will fail and he will die regardless of the deal with Xan. I’ll take you to him later, but I’m going to warn you, Nyx. He looks very weak already. Are you okay?”
“I want to hear him call me a fire sprite until I’m so old that my ears don’t work.”
“For all we know, Timoran will live longer than the rest of us.”
“I’m never going to be called Nyxie again.”
“I can do it if you want.”
Nyx’s body becomes engulfed in flames, which she gathers into her palm and hurls into the bath. The water evaporates instantly and fills the bedroom with steam, which forces the couple to move closer to the open windows. Feeling a tightness in her chest, the channeler takes several deep breaths while climbing onto the sill. Without moving her arms, she summons a wind to pass over her and carry the steam out of the room. Nyx watches the citizens of Spellstream go about their day, none of them aware that their leader has awakened and is sitting in view. Her attention falls on the wide moat and she considers falling into it in the hopes of the water rising to meet her. When Delvin takes her by the hand and tries to guide her back to the bed, she wipes her eyes and throws a few tears out the window. Hearing shouts and whispers, the champions return to see that the moat has become a vivid blue and dancers made of ice are spinning atop the gentle waves.
“I want to make a memorial for our fallen friends,” Nyx says, waving to those who notice her. Children hold up tiny torches in honor of the channeler, the ends crackling as they turn into tiny phoenixes. “People shouldn’t forget them. If not a memorial than a holiday or something for each of them. Don’t tell me that it won’t bring them back because I know that. I . . . I need to have a reminder that they made a difference. Maybe I’m just terrified that my life will go on and I’ll forget them.”
“Doubt that, but we’ll talk about it when things settle down,” Delvin replies before giving her a kiss on the shoulder. Leading her away from the window, he looks up at the sound of a nervous butler entering the room. “Take a seat and I’ll take care of whatever is going on. Been getting pretty good at this whole ruler thing. Doing better than when I tried to figure out the academy’s files. Your father refuses to help because he’s on vacation to take care of his daughter. Just so you know, Kevin and Tzefira have checked in on you every night and now I’m just rambling. Give me a minute to handle this, dear. Is everything okay?”
“I’m really sorry for intruding, but something is . . . happening,” the well-dressed elf says with a bow. He chews on his thumb, the nail jagged and cutting his lip as it moves across his mouth. “We heard voices from Lord Callindor’s room. He’s awake and there is somebody in there with him. The door is sealed by magic and whoever is in there is arguing with him. I hope this doesn’t upset you, but we’ve all heard things breaking inside. Almost like there is a battle going on.”
Coils of red around her body, Nyx rushes through the closed doors, which crash to the carpeted floor. The torches in the hallway erupt when she goes by, the flames threatening to ignite the decorative tapestries and portraits. The entire castle becomes hotter and every window is flung open by a wind that randomly shifts from a gentle breeze to a sudden gale. Not wanting to let Nyx out of his sight, Delvin quickly pats the butler on the shoulder before sprouting a phantasmal leg and running after the channeler.
*****
“Your prophecy took everything from me!”
“Do not overreact since you are still alive.”
“I lost my family, my home, and the woman I loved.”
“So you keep reminding me, but none of that is my concern.”
“Just bring her back!”
“How arrogant are you to demand that I break the Law of Influence and become sealed on your behalf?”
“You owe me!”
“As if a warrior has to repay his sword after its final swing.”
The doors ignite and the locking spell shatters as Nyx forces her way into the room, her hair covered in flames. She stops at the sight of Luke standing on his bed, his sabers clenched in his hands and drips of lightning coming out of his eyes. It takes several hard blinks to turn the drops into natural tears, wh
ich still spark when they hit the sheets. The scars on his torso make a slanted triangle, the newest one visibly pinker than the others. He grunts in her direction, but the forest tracker refuses to turn away from Gabriel. The God of Destiny remains across the room while turning his head and nodding to acknowledge the Queen. Hearing a subtle movement, the powerful deity purses his lips and threatens to whistle a spell at the angry mortal. Gabriel swiftly realizes that he is reacting to a dove pecking at seeds on the balcony and relaxes, but keeps the transformation spell in the back of his mind.
“This doesn’t concern you, big sister,” Luke says, taking a step towards the god. With a snarl, his body develops spectral scales that resemble feathers from certain angles. “All I want is for Gabriel to resurrect Kira. I know he can do it without the risk that would be taken if I hired a priest or shaman. The gods owe me for the nightmare I was put through. You can’t just cast me aside because the Baron is dead and not give me something to live for.”
“We did not do anything to you,” Gabriel retorts, his voice shaking the walls. His armor creaks as he grows bigger, the change having no effect on Luke. “The Baron is the one who hurt you and now he is dead. The only other person to blame is yourself. You are the one who dragged that woman into the prophecy. You are the one who got captured and allowed his entire family to get killed. Do you think that would have happened if you accepted your true power in the first place? You could have fought back instead of being kidnapped and setting your supposed nightmare in motion. I demand that you stop blaming me for your pain when it is entirely self-inflicted. Please try to talk some sense into him.”
“While you are right, I do agree with Luke that there should be some type of reward,” Nyx carefully states while putting herself between the two men. Nervous and unsure of what is going on, she rubs her necklace and avoids meeting the god’s gaze. “Timoran, Delvin, and I have kingdoms and families in our future. Luke doesn’t even have Haven to go back to. Is he supposed to live among the ghosts in the Garden of Uli or aimlessly wander Windemere? You can see that he has no interest in adventuring anymore. If you aren’t able to resurrect Kira then perhaps you can ask Xan to do it. He said he wasn’t affected by the Law of Influence and accidents can happen.”
Gabriel returns to his normal size and gets closer to Nyx, his head turning as he examines the changes in her aura. “The Time God is beyond our law, but I am not. Asking him is the same as doing it myself. Punishment for reviving a mortal is at least five years. With the Baron dead and the champions retiring, I cannot afford to be sealed for that long. New destinies can now be forged without them getting absorbed into the prophecy. As you can see, Queen Nyx, me continuing my work is infinitely more important than the desires of a hero who still acts like a petulant, spoiled child.”
Hearing a growl from behind her, Nyx whirls around to stop Luke from attacking the grinning Destiny God. The channeler realizes too late that she is turning in the wrong direction, her friend purposely sprinting into her blind spot. A fan of flame erupts from Gabriel’s mouth and envelopes the enraged warrior, who disappears from sight. The fire is cast out of the window to reveal nothing more than a burn mark on the floor and the remains of a boot. With a yawn, the bored deity starts to disappear, but stops when he spots Luke dropping from the rafters. Gabriel watches the two sabers coming at his head, the Destiny God showing no concern for his own safety. It is only when he spots a flicker of pink energy along the golden edges that he hastily steps to the side. His reaction is too slow and one of the blades slices across his chin, the wound profusely bleeding down his armor. Unable to instantly heal the cut and concerned with there being so much blood, Gabriel grabs Luke by the face and slams him into the wall.
“You have just crossed a line, mortal,” the god says in a low voice. He releases the warrior and glides away, the swinging sabers missing him by inches. “I don’t know how you gained such power, but it is too dangerous. By attacking a god, you have made an enemy of Ambervale and given me the right to destroy you. The Law of Influence can no longer protect you now that my blood has been drawn. If you truly believe that I owe you then I shall give you a quick and painless death.”
“Don’t kill him!” Nyx shouts, catching the god’s cape. She yanks Gabriel back, but creates a barrier to stop Luke from attacking. “He’s hurt and confused. There has to be something else you can do. Please don’t take my little brother. What if I promise that he’ll stay in Spellstream and we’ll lock up the sabers? I can have new ones made that won’t hurt the gods.”
“Are you telling me to become a caged animal?” Luke asks as he rams into the shield. He roars loud enough to shake the castle, the sound continuing for a full minute. “Let this play out, Nyx. I didn’t think I’d actually hurt him, but it’s too late now. If this is where I’m going to die then I’d rather go down swinging. At least I’ll get to see Kira again.”
“I will make sure that never happens,” the Destiny God promises as he lunges forward. His sword shatters Nyx’s barrier and is about to hit the forest tracker when an invisible blade blocks his weapon. “I should have known you would arrive. Can you not agree that the boy has gone too far? Demanding favors and yelling at me can be forgiven. Wounding any of us means he could become as dangerous as Baron Kernaghan.”
“Except that you goaded him into attacking, Hell Lord,” Zaria says, the red-haired goddess materializing next to Luke. Her shimmering longsword constantly moves to keep the other deity’s blade locked and under control. “I do not know why you are doing this to him, but I will stop you from taking this mortal’s life. We do owe him a great debt that your actions here have made impossible to repay. All I can do is make sure you do not kill him or turn him into a monster. The others have already agreed to this decision.”
Luke tries to step around the Purity Goddess, but is stopped by a firm and comforting grip on his shoulder. “I don’t understand what’s going on. You’re saying that Gabriel wanted to fight me? Why would you do that? Also, what do you mean that you can no longer repay the debt that you owe me?”
“By hurting Gabriel, you have made yourself his enemy.”
“You said it yourself that he goaded me into it.”
“That is true and it is the only reason I can stop him from killing you.”
“Why didn’t you stop him from coming here?”
“Because you called for him alone.”
“That’s my big mistake? Praying to a specific god instead of all of you?”
“It means I did not hear your request until it was too late. Watch your tone or you will lose me as an ally as well.”
Luke drops his sabers and falls to his knees, his eyes staring ahead without seeing what is around him. The anger and hate that he woke up with continues to roil within his mind, but the emotions are like those of a total stranger. A wave of helplessness fights to push the other feelings away, the inner turmoil making his stomach twist. Zaria’s tender stroking of his cheek does nothing to comfort him, the contact driving home the fact that he may have made the biggest mistake of his life. Luke does not react when a circle of light and shadow appears around him and ancient runes materialize in the air. With a high-pitched whine, the markings fly around the half-elf until striking him and sticking to his body. The magical sigils sink beneath his skin and fuse to his bones and organs, the powerful spell creating a full body itch that lasts for a few seconds.
“This curse will last until your dying breath and make sure that you can never be a threat to Ambervale,” Gabriel announces, his eyes nothing more than star-like orbs. The god whistles and hums to add power to his spell, which releases a wave of noxious energy. “There will never be another day of peace in your life. Monster and man shall hunt you on all four continents. They will watch the skies and search the seas for a chance to kill the great Luke Callindor. Enemies will be in every shadow and there will always be more willing to replace those who fall. The wanderlust of your lineage shall be rekindled, but you will never forget the price th
at you paid for it. You claim that you have nothing to live for. If that is true then all you have to do is let one of those who answers my call claim your head. If you last long enough then I may take pity and reunite you with your precious soulmate.”
“What did you do, Luke?” Delvin asks from the doorway. Standing next to him is Kira, the heavily bandaged heiress on the verge of tears. “Aedyn found her outside of the arena in a pool of water. Trinity examined the auras and figured out what happened. Sari’s last act was to cast her ice copy swap spell, which is why she couldn’t escape herself. Her hand movements were masked by the fact that she was cutting at the Baron’s wrist. Kira still got hit by some of the explosion spell, but not enough to kill her. I promised to bring her to Luke when he was awake and thought he would be happy to see her.”
“I hope you have finally learned your lesson,” the Destiny God whispers, a tear threatening to slip from his eye. His body gradually fades away, leaving only his face as he continues talking. “The curse remains, but you can take her with you if you wish. I wonder how long she would last in a life of being hunted day and night. Although, I do promise that Kira will not be used as a pawn if you leave her behind. That will be my gift to you. After all, she has suffered enough and all of that comes back to you.”
Luke picks up his sabers and steps toward the balcony, stopping only when Kira runs to give him a hug. “I’m sorry about this. All I wanted was to be with you and I messed everything up again. This time I don’t know how to fix it. Maybe I shouldn’t even try because I keep hurting those that I love.”
“This curse won’t last forever,” Kira says, giving the half-elf a kiss on the cheek. Knowing that he is about to leave, she does her best to remember every detail of his face. “I understand why I can’t go with you, but I won’t stop looking for a way to break your curse. There has to be an item or a spell or something that can undo Gabriel’s magic. I love you, Luke Callindor, and I will wait for you.”
Warlord of the Forgotten Age Page 36