by B. T. Narro
Her gaze became fiery.
I put up my hands in a gesture of appeasement. “I’m just hoping for a little proof before I choose to start distrusting Souriff, who I thought was one of our greatest allies. I don’t mean to offend, goddess. You are the one teaching me to exercise more caution. I figured I’d start now before divulging our plans.”
“Witnessing my power could very well summon my sister, and then we will no longer be able to speak in confidence.”
“That’s a risk I’m going to have to take.”
“Very well, healer. If Souriff arrives, you are to follow my lie about how we came to meet. Are you skilled at twisting untruths to sound truthful?”
“Not at all.”
“Then you will be completely quiet and let me do it. Now brace yourself. You might’ve thought that you’ve been cold before, but nothing you have felt will have prepared you for this.”
Oh shit, I grumbled inwardly as she lifted herself, hovered in the sky, and extended her arms.
The clouds darkened above as a shadow fell upon me. A great wind picked up as I pulled my coat up around my face. It howled, and soon I couldn’t hear anything above it. I crouched and huddled in hopes of protecting myself.
The temperature dropped so drastically that it felt as if I had been thrown into an icy lake. I shivered as snow began to fall. It came down lightly as first, wetting my hair and ears, but then it poured down in buckets.
I couldn’t see anything but white as my boots became buried in it. It grew denser still, and I couldn’t see farther than a few feet in front of me.
“All right!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, my tiny voice barely piercing the sound of the wind. “I believe you!”
There was no way she could hear me. I wanted to yell again, but I felt like I might pass out if I opened my mouth once more. The cold penetrated my lungs like icy daggers. I tried to get smaller and huddle in on myself, but I didn’t have enough fabric to stop the onslaught of wind and snow. I wanted to carry myself out of the snowstorm with dvinia, but the freezing cold broke my concentration.
There was panic in my heart, my instincts telling me I soon would die if I didn’t get out of this. I wanted to make a run for it, but I felt like my joints couldn’t move. My fingertips and toes had frozen.
I keeled over and gave in, shutting my eyes and feeling internal warmth that I knew couldn’t be right.
It felt like I had just blinked my eyes when I woke up in a completely different place. Failina had her arm over me as she embraced me for warmth. She felt like a lit fire against my cold body, sending immense pain but even better pleasure across my skin.
I tried to talk, but I was shivering too much to get any words out.
“Breathe slow and deep,” she said as she nestled me against her. I felt nurtured, like a small boy being warmed by his mother after staying too long in the snow. I had never gotten to know my mother. My father had only said good things about her before departing from this world.
“I’m putting my faith in you,” Failina murmured into my ear. “You, healer, will bring victory to Lycast, but only if we properly take care of you.”
I didn’t know if it was the physical ordeal I had been through over the last few months, or if I just missed my loving family, but I felt overwhelmed by emotion as Failina’s warmth spread through my body. I held back tears as I realized that this was the goddess we had all hoped Souriff would be, a mother to us all.
With a shaky voice, I said, “Thank you, Failina. I trust you.” A single tear escaped before I composed myself.
She stood up and held out her hand. I reached up and took it.
She pulled me up. Though, to my surprise, she showed a little strain as she did so. It seemed clear to me that she didn’t have the same physical strength as Souriff and Valinox, but I wouldn’t worry about that. Not after what she had just displayed.
I felt a gust of air as I heard someone land behind me. I turned around to see Souriff, displeasure on her unblemished face.
“What’s happening here?” she demanded.
“I witnessed the human flying,” Failina answered, her hand protectively holding my shoulder. “He fell and injured himself. I came to check on him, but that’s when I found out he was the healer you spoke of, Jon Oklar.”
“He can fly now?”
“He started just today.”
Failina took her hand off my shoulder as Souriff approached me. “I sense an Induct stone.”
“Yes, I felt that too,” Failina said.
I reluctantly took it out of my pocket and showed it to Souriff, fearful she might take it. But she didn’t seem too interested as the gaze of her sharp blue eyes drifted over to Failina.
“I felt you use a great amount of power. Why?” She looked around at the snow covering the grass around us.
“The human wanted a demonstration to prove I was who I said I was.”
Souriff, eyes narrowing, seemed overly skeptical, as if she had caught Failina lying to her in the past. If I had to choose one of them to trust over the other, however, it would be Failina even though I had just met her. Souriff had always rubbed me the wrong way, her pride and selfishness often palpable. Failina, on the other hand, made me feel like I was cared for in a way I hadn’t felt since my father died.
Souriff looked me up and down, then narrowed in on the Induct stone in my hand. I wanted to get it away from her, to hide it where she would never be able to find it.
Was it the power this stone gave me that made me want to protect it at all costs, or was there something else to the Induct stone…something sinister that made me cling to it? The demigods would say so if that was the case, wouldn’t they?
“I thought you were out looking for ‘C,’ ” Souriff said.
I didn’t know who “C” could refer to besides Cason, but he was dead.
“I couldn’t find him,” Failina answered, clearly knowing who Souriff was referring to. “What news do you have from Rohaer?”
“They’re coming, as we figured.”
“How many?” Failina asked.
My ears perked up. This was the army of my enemies, a large brigade of sorcerers and soldiers who would need to be defeated before we could ever reach peace with Rohaer. I didn’t know what “defeated” entailed exactly. I knew they all didn’t have to die, but something had to happen for them to give up. I couldn’t imagine anything besides mass extinction of everyone who followed Valinox, but I did hope there was another way.
“I estimate five thousand fighting men among a much larger army marching with them for support.”
Five thousand. I wondered how many we had. It had to be less than that, probably by a large amount.
“Did Valinox see you spying?”
“With his constant spell of invisibility, I cannot say for certain, but I didn’t feel him. These are matters to discuss with Nykal Lennox. I’m headed there now.” It seemed as if Souriff was imploring Failina to go with her, considering the look she gave her sister.
Failina glanced at me. I could almost feel in her gaze that she was trying to come up with some way to stay here and plot behind her sister’s back.
“What are you not telling me?” Souriff accused. “Did this human tell you lies about me?”
I was certain my face showed how innocent I was, for there was no way I could feign as much shock as I felt come through my expression. I couldn’t even fathom what lies Souriff might be referring to.
“Of course not,” Failina said. “I was just considering if we should invite the healer with us to speak with the king. We both agree he is important to our cause. He should be involved in the decisions we make from now on.”
“You have made that mistake before,” Souriff lectured, sounding more like the older sister, if I had to guess. “I do not want to suffer the same consequences when you make it again.”
“Fine,” Failina said dutifully. “Jon, we will meet again.”
It surprised me that Failina was so quick to let
Souriff tell her what to do. Perhaps Souriff didn’t know just how much Failina was willing to work against her, and Failina needed to keep it that way.
“Wait,” I said as it looked like they were about to take off. “The other sorcerers and I have a plan that we just came up with. The king hasn’t heard it yet. It involves the two of you.”
I would’ve preferred to speak only to Failina about this, but that window had closed. I wasn’t about to let them both disappear for an unknown amount of time, because there was no way to do this without their help.
“There’s a simple way of getting rid of the gem Valinox has,” I continued. “Nijja’s gem.”
“Unless you plan to take the gem from Valinox, then only Nijja herself can destroy it,” Souriff said.
“We know,” I replied. “That’s why we want to fetch Nijja from Fyrren. We believe we just need to bring her into our realm for a moment for her to dissolve the enchantment.”
“It can’t be done,” Souriff said. “Gourfist sleeps near the portal.”
“We are considering killing him, with your help,” I replied.
The sisters glanced at each other. It seemed clear to me that they hadn’t thought of this, but I didn’t know the reason. Gourfist had been their brother, but now he was a threat to their lives. Shouldn’t it be an easy decision to eliminate him, even if he was once family? The answer would also tell me if Souriff and Failina would ever be capable of killing Valinox.
“He’s long gone,” Souriff told Failina.
“You can’t be certain,” Failina replied. “He could still be in that beast.”
“So what if he is?” Souriff said. “He created dteria. He deserves death.”
Although Failina looked like she disagreed, she didn’t speak up.
“I wish you two would be less concerned about slaying your brother and more concerned about the future of Lycast,” I said. “Getting rid of Gourfist is the only way to Nijja. We have to get rid of Valinox’s invisibility. If not, there is a good chance Valinox will kill me. He brought a skilled mage into the castle last night. They were waiting for me to be alone. They would’ve killed me if it wasn’t for our ranger and our wit…” I stopped myself from speaking about Hadley in that way to these demigods who did not know her very well. “And everyone else who came to my aid when I was under attack.”
A silence passed before I added the words I was certain were on everyone’s mind: “Neither of you showed up to save me.”
“We didn’t know—” Souriff began.
“I know neither of you were aware,” I interrupted, “and that’s my point. The other sorcerers and I have to be able to defend ourselves from Valinox, and the only way we can do that is if we can see him. Nijja has to help us, which means Gourfist has to die. Removing Gourfist will mean that Valinox can kill us without fear of him, but you have already mentioned, Souriff, that Valinox would no longer be afraid of Gourfist if he knew how weak the beast has become. Right now Gourfist is hindering us more than helping, and Valinox is sure to find out the truth about him soon enough.”
The sisters glanced at each other. “He has a point,” Failina said.
“And if Airinold is still alive, but trapped in the body of the beast?” Souriff questioned.
“The human convinced me that it needs to be done no matter what.”
I was glad I didn’t need to mention the other benefit—access to Induct stones. “Sooner is better,” I said. “I can go with the two of you, but I’m not sure I can carry someone that far yet. You can take someone, though Souriff. And what about you, Failina?”
“I lack the physical strength of my sister. I don’t believe I could carry someone far enough to reach the portal to Fyrren.”
“But is there a chance you might be able to?” I asked.
She looked to be in thought. Remembering the harness idea that Jennava mentioned, I brought up another thought.
“What if we strap them to you, and you carry both you and them with wind?”
“I have never tried something like that. I fear it might go wrong.”
“We don’t need the extra human,” Souriff said. “The three of us can defeat Gourfist alone, but we cannot open the portal to Fyrren. The human I bring must be able to do that.”
“Eden can do that,” I realized aloud. “She’s done it before.” But I feared what might happen with Eden. She was unpredictable these days, especially because she would have access to more Induct stones while there.
“It is a long distance to the center of the forest,” Souriff said, addressing me. “If you injured yourself attempting to fly today, then it is unlikely you can make it there.”
Failina’s lie was coming back to bite us.
“I’m improving quickly. How far is it exactly?”
“About two hundred miles,” Souriff said.
“Oh god.” Maybe I couldn’t make it after all, even with rest breaks. I had only gone as far as Koluk, about forty miles there and back. I was able to make it to Koluk without a break, but I was pretty tired once I landed.
“You can’t do it?” Souriff asked.
“I can,” I assured her. “I will just need to land in the forest several times to rest. Can the two of you stay with me all the way there to keep me safe when I land?”
“It’s better if he stays,” Failina told Souriff.
“I want to go,” I said. I didn’t trust Eden to be alone with the demigods. Even with Failina present, there was a good chance they would let Eden die rather than risk injury to themselves to protect her, especially if she showed signs of dteria corruption.
“We need his help,” Souriff said. “You have not met Eden. She is not a fighter like he is. Additionally, Valinox might show up if he senses what we are doing. He could bring someone to disrupt us.”
“I’m going with you no matter what,” I told them decidedly. “I suggest we go to the castle and equip the two of you with whatever weapons you need.”
“Our weapons are our magic,” Failina said, but she received a look from Souriff that seemed to sap her enthusiasm.
“We will take weapons and armor from Nykal Lennox,” Souriff spoke for the both of them.
Failina didn’t object.
I felt a surge of adrenaline. I did not know this would be so soon. “Are we heading to Gourfist right after?”
“It is unwise to go today,” Failina said, easing my nerves. “It could be night by the time we start the return journey, and that would make the trip dangerous for you. We should leave tomorrow morning. Can you sleep somewhere where you will be protected tonight in case Valinox tries to have you killed again?”
“Yes, measures are being taken.”
“Then we will meet with your king now before we meet again at the castle tomorrow morning,” Failina said. “My sister and I have things to discuss in the time between.”
I figured part of that discussion had to do with how they were going to convince Nijja to leave Fyrren and how they would keep her safe after.
“Let’s go,” Souriff said as she took off into the sky.
Failina gave me a worried look. “This is a good plan, but you must be careful of anything Souriff asks you to do during or after the battle. I can’t stay to chat, or it will look suspicious.”
Wind nearly blew me off my feet as it swept her into the air. Soon she was soaring off toward the castle with Souriff.
I chewed my lip as I watched them shrink away in the sky.
Just like that, I had agreed to fly hundreds of miles and slay a demigod beast. Yet neither of those things scared me as much as Failina’s warning.
CHAPTER SIX
I didn’t know if I would ever be able to fly as fast as the demigods, but I was happy with my speed for now. I couldn’t imagine going much faster through the air anyway, not without some protection for my face and ears. Hell, what would I do if it rained? I needed a lot more protection.
It turned out to be much harder than I thought to land inside the castle, where I planned
to set myself down in the courtyard. I flew too fast to reach ground before I would strike one of the curtain walls, deciding at the last moment to lift myself up and soar past the wall. My momentum took me out over the city low enough for me to hear the gasps of people looking up and finding a human in the sky. Perhaps some were already looking my way after they had seen the demigods fly into the castle.
I wanted to have a glimpse of their expressions, but it was difficult enough to control myself at this speed. I pulled up with my dvinia and felt my body lurch.
With the cold wind blowing the sweat off my forehead, I circled back in the air. It was more than a little difficult to change my momentum this way, making me desperate to land as I headed toward the castle again, this time slower and with more control.
Feeling the hold of my mind starting to slip off my spell of dvinia, I came down harder than I wanted and frightened a castle worker. She screamed as I landed in front of her and rolled across the dirt.
“I’m sorry,” I said as I picked myself up.
“Oh, it’s fine,” she said as she continued on her way, not without a look back. I’d seen the matronly middle-aged woman around the castle, so she had seen me as well, but she had no idea I could fly until now. I figured word would spread.
“Jon, are you all right?” I heard Callie call to me from somewhere high in the keep.
I looked up to see her leaning out of a window. I was tired, a bit sweaty and dirty from my tumble, but I couldn’t help but show off my new talent.
I tossed myself straight up, catching myself in the air in front of her window so that we were just a few feet apart. She gasped with her hand over her mouth.
“I’m fine, princess. Just practicing something new.”
“Come here!” She reached out and grabbed my hands, pulling me into the keep through the large window. She laughed with excitement as I came down in front of her. “You can fly now?”
“I’m still getting the hang of it.” I was painfully aware that she was not letting go of my hands.
“Does that mean you can take me on your back like the demigods can?”
“I don’t think your father would ever allow that, no matter how safe it might be.”