The Sage's Reign

by Shakyra Dunn

  “She was innocent but misguided,” Solus replied. “Her life was mine to take, even if it was unintentional. I can still remember her face once the soul left the body. She was battered, broken, and by my hands.”

  “And that is why she was given a second chance. Every soul that you take, they will return in one form or another. But they are still nothing more than shells, trapped in a corpse, forced to reside with the living.” He stared at Solus. “The only way to fully revive someone is for the walking dead to cut down their captor in cold blood. Father has always said that you were different. You feared your power.”

  “Who wouldn’t fear the ability to raise the dead?”

  “It’s not something that you can just think about,” Kinaju continued. “If it were up to you to save others, even if it meant that their bodies would no longer age, they were bound to you, and they would no longer be human… would you?”

  “A life like that is not worth living. It is why Necromancy is forbidden.”

  “You have the power to change that. Our ancestors sought to rule Adrylis. People wouldn’t be suffering if they weren’t condemned to a fickle lifestyle. The Vesarus family has ensured that though people have free will, it is no better than being chained to a never-ending nightmare. Magic is fading fast, and people want to act to make sure that this world remains stable.” Solus could barely keep up with the speech. Kinaju was acting on some fixed bravado, and it was consuming every thought that plagued Solus’s mind. Anything that he wanted to say in response couldn’t reach him. “We need change, Solus. And now that you know the truth, you can give it to us. You can stop Rem in his tracks and restore Adrylis to its former glory.”

  Solus Brenner and Remiel Vesarus. Enemies by bloodline. That was what Kinaju was implying. The two of them were bound from the beginning to fight. Their ancestors deemed it so. Solus was the last of his generation to supposedly possess powers of necromancy. Rem was the last heir to the throne of Adrylis. The fight would continue until one of them fell.

  “Earlier today, I met a man called Hinju.” Kinaju couldn’t begin to wonder where this was going. “Your face, it resembles his. You have the same eyes, and even your stance is similar. There is so much about you that I connected back to him from a single glance. When I saw him, I felt like my soul was being ripped out. I’ve never felt such fear from someone I didn’t know.”

  “You’re undeniably perceptive,” Kinaju replied. “The leader of the Order of Helix is our father. Hinju Leerus is his name. Now you know. What will you do with the information?”

  “I can’t spontaneously make any decisions. It’s irrational,” Solus stated.

  “Then I’ll leave you to it. Try to get back to them safely.”

  Kinaju jumped into the trees, some snow brushing down from the branches. He rested a hand on the bark and glanced at Solus one more time before disappearing into the blizzard. Solus turned his back to the snow, wrapping his arms around his freezing body. He brought the scarf up to cover his mouth and nose, but that didn’t stop his teeth from chattering.

  The knowledge of his origins swarmed his thoughts. Was he truly Hinju’s son? And even if he was, did Hinju recognize him? Did he remember the fear in his eyes, the sound of his laugh, the feel of his hands? Necromancers were devious, exiled from Adrylis because of their crimes. And he was one of them. He was Rem’s enemy, a birthright. Kinaju’s intentions were clear—he wanted to make sure that Rem was out of the picture so that Adrylis could take a new shape.

  It was true. Magic was becoming scarce, lost in the hands of those that abuse it. What once brought prosperity to the land was nothing more than a hassle to control, and people were becoming corrupted. Rem’s death would spark the end of a foreboding, yet inevitable war. But Hinju’s death would have brought the same fate, if only for a while. Necromancers were growing scarce as well if what Kinaju specified was of any indication.

  But Solus’s heart was well decided. Nothing would change his alliance with Rem. The goal they had formulated together was knit-tight. They would always be friends. No amount of news or past interferences would ever come to tear them apart so severely.

  Hinju was the end goal, no matter what ties he may have possessed.

  Kinaju found the deer sitting upright, and he nearly laughed when it scampered away upon noticing him. It was like the creature was waiting for him to come back just to prove a point. Not a single scar on the deer’s body, and no trace of vices from the afterlife. The fur was still shaded brown, and the deer’s eyes weren’t void like Aria’s became after the soul separated.

  Solus’s Necromancy was blossoming faster than he could process.

  By morning’s rise, the five were trekking through Mithra’s snowy plains. Sien had a bounce in her step, enjoying the crunching snow, watching her footsteps become lost in the falling flakes.

  “You’re way too excited for a simple walk to the ferry,” Rem stated.

  “I just like the way the air feels. It’s stimulating, don’t you think?” Rem couldn’t deny it.

  Leilana fiddled with the loose bangs covering her left eye. The wound still hadn’t mended, but Sien’s second batch of medicine allowed the pain to level. Upon waking, her vision had depleted significantly. One glance around the room brought blurs or spotting, and confirmation from Rem that her eye was scratched told her enough. It didn’t take her long to doubt that her eye would fully heal. Soon enough, her vision in her left eye would be gone for good. She figured that it was never too soon to adjust the means of growth on her own.

  “I don’t understand how you could like this weather,” Amiria mumbled. “I’d rather be curled up by a fire hours.”

  Solus remained deep in thought over the previous evening. The cold air couldn’t compare to the chill resonating in his heart. Now that he’d really sat back to think, was it right to pursue Hinju? He was powerful in hindsight, not only as the leader of the Order of Helix but as the dean of Magiten Academy, a place that trained other Arcana and Maesters to become Warlords. He was bound to have tricks up his sleeve and facing him unprepared would prove fatal. Leilana rested a hand on his shoulder, snagging his attention.

  “You were going to run into a tree…” He looked forward. True to her words, he was standing a few inches away from one of the trees in the open area. His gaze lingered on the bark for a few seconds, the thought of Kinaju seamlessly escaping his sight returning. “Are you thinking about something?”

  “I’m thinking about a lot, nothing that I would like to say.” His voice was frigid, though she was unsure if it was intentional. He left without another word, and Leilana lowered her head. He wasn’t normally shut off and distant. It made her wonder more what was bothering him.

  The ship docked on the icy ocean stood gallantly, but the sight of the large boat, decked with several rooms and doors, corridors lining every open spot, left the teenagers checking their pockets for whatever funds they could scavenge. They didn’t come up with much but air filling the holes.

  “Well, what are we supposed to do now?” Sien whispered. People of all shape and size were beginning to board the galleon, and departure would be at any given moment. The next boat wouldn’t be running for another two days. “We have no place else to go, and we can’t wait around for two days in the cold. We’d get sick or freeze to death. Or both!”

  “Any ideas, Sol?” Rem asked.

  “I’m thinking,” Solus responded sharply, tapping his foot. “There’s not many options that we can follow through with on just our wits. We can’t convince the docker that we’re able to pay, because that would be lying. And stealing would be wrong.”

  “On a moral aspect, you’re correct, but I don’t think we can keep it. Being out in the open could cause us to catch our death,” Amiria proclaimed. “We need to think of another way is what you’re saying.” Rem approached the clerk sitting carelessly at the booth reading a newspaper.

  “Rem, what do you think you’re doing?” Sien called. Rem didn’t bother to answer her
, resting his hands on the booth before speaking to the man, his words indistinct to the group.

  “Oh goodness, what is he planning?” Solus mumbled.

  “I have a bad feeling about this,” Leilana agreed.

  Amiria folded her hands in front of her. “I think it’s best that we believe in him. Rem usually knows what he’s getting himself into.”

  Solus rolled his eyes. ‘Usually.’ “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “I need passage,” Rem told the clerk. “It is important that I’m able to voyage on this boat, I can’t afford to wait for the next two days.”

  “Let me guess,” the clerk responded, flipping to the next page in the paper. “You’re some broke kid, wants to go on some grand adventure because he has energy to burn or wants to go lose himself in the spirit of Kinsley. And because you’re one or, hell, maybe even both reasons above, you dragged some friends into this thinking that you could get away with a free ride.”

  Rem inhaled slowly, his hands slipping from the booth. Losing himself in the pleasures that he had heard about Kinsley seemed tempting, and he was still flat broke. It was amazing that they could afford air. Still, the man wasn’t budging. It was time for a last resort. He glanced around before pulling up his right sleeve, revealing the crescent moon brand on his forearm. The man took one look at him, the newspaper slipping from his hands, the sheets clamoring against the floor. His mouth fell open, and his bottom lip was quivering. He shakily held up a finger towards the boy, any words ultimately escaping him.

  “My name is Prince Remiel Ankove Vesarus,” he said in a low tone. The clerk nodded frantically. “I am trying to return to Linmus in hopes of ending this war before it has truly begun, and to do that, I need to reach Kinsley. I’m broke because I have expended my funds to keep traveling and stay hidden. Nobody in Adrylis spare my enemies realize that I’m alive, and for good reason.” He covered his brand quickly, gesturing back towards his friends. “Those friends that you mentioned? They are my closest allies assisting me in this plight. We will shed blood, sweat, and tears for this country’s rebirth.”

  The clerk peered out of the window to count each head before unraveling five tickets from the compartment, handing them to him. Rem could see the sweat dripping down his forehead, and he nearly laughed at how he had reduced the man from a tough cookie to a cream puff in minutes.

  “M-My apologies, Your Highness. I shouldn’t have questioned your motives, it’s just company protocol. I’m so used to freeloaders smooth talking that it’s hard to think about who passes through.”

  Rem pocketed the tickets, clicking his tongue once in approval before arching his back and lowering his stance, bowing to the man. The clerk looked around in confusion before processing that the Crown Prince was offering gratitude to him. “I can’t show my appreciation enough. You could have just sent me on my way, but you chose to believe me, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”

  “No, please, lift your head, Your Highness,” he said in a hushed voice, waving his hands in dismissal. Rem glanced up, his back popping at the swift motion of standing straight. “I’m not worthy of your praise, I’m a simple shop-keep. There is much that you offer Adrylis, and this is a trifle of what I could do to assist you. The world is waiting with bated breath for your return.”

  “They aren’t the only ones.” Rem took off after the man gave him a shy wave, met with Solus’s incriminating stare.

  “What have you done now, Remiel?” he groaned, rubbing his temples.

  Rem shrugged in response, grinning. “I mean, I got the tickets. Crisis averted?”

  “Crisis sustained only in hindsight. That was reckless. What if the man was one of the Order of Helix in disguise, and gave you up to others?”

  “But, they didn’t,” Rem tried to reason.

  Solus was practically jabbing his finger into Rem’s chest as he spoke, though the younger boy didn’t mind, accepting it because someone was bound to chew him out, and Solus was the likely candidate from the start. It was just a sign that he cared.

  “You can’t be put in further danger,” Solus proclaimed. “You have to be vigilant.”

  “Hey, take it easy,” Sien began, wrapping her arms around Solus’s to keep him from poking the young prince to death. “It was a good call despite it being so dangerous.” Solus shot her a dark look, which caused Sien to falter slightly. She continued to smile, her expression rivaling the brimming sunlight. “He got really lucky by doing what he did and I’m glad that he was, because it means that we’re one step closer to finishing this fight.”

  Leilana crossed her arms. “Let’s hope that his luck stays intact.”

  A foghorn was blaring in the distance, smoke rising from the oil rig’s release chamber in the center of the ferry, signaling that the boat was near ready for departure.

  “I’ve never been on a boat before,” Amiria began, gazing longingly at the galleon. “But I guess getting on means that we won’t be coming back to this coast anytime soon.”

  Rem pat her head as he walked past her, ruffling her hair in the process. “It’s not a bad thing. We’re going all the way out towards the major kingdom grounds. Kinsley is a beautiful place to visit. A lot of people love going there to free themselves from their troubles. Nilu is small but prosperous, and it’s nestled right underneath the kingdom. It’s almost like a secret hideout. And Linmus will be even more beautiful when I fix everything that Hinju broke.”

  “I trust you, Rem,” Amiria replied. “I can’t wait to see it.”

  The sunlight faded behind the clouds, and the icy ocean transcended into a calm collection of waves. The breeze carried the scent of salt, which brought Leilana ease. It was just after eleven, the sky blanketed in the ever-familiar nightly shade she had come to admire, and she decided to take a walk around the ship’s main deck, the Lasette in her hands. She couldn’t bring herself to tear away from the book now that it was back in her possession; engulfing herself in its knowledge was more comforting than sitting on new ground.

  “You look content.” She wasn’t surprised to find Rem taking a seat next to her. He tended to wake at strange hours; insomnia was its own crime. “What are you reading?”

  “I’m doing more research on the Orb of Concord and tying it back to your experiences in Anthea. What you said about the Orb being in Nilu got me thinking. You said that your ancestors were close to the Warlords. I wonder how far back that lineage truly dives if you to have the power to wield it. There are so many questions I have, but I doubt that I’d get the right answers.”

  Rem chuckled and slouched forward, resting his hands on the chair. His fingers were drumming against the hard plastic, the sound melodious to Leilana’s ears due to its consistency, formed with his own hands. Shame that it wasn’t as graceful and calming as wind chimes.

  “You know, I’ve heard a lot of stories about the Warlords, but I’ve never met someone younger than me that seemed so adamant about uprooting the truth. It’s nice to know that it’s not just me that got a little too curious for their own good.”

  “Curious, contemplative, amongst other things,” Leilana admitted, closing the Lasette and locking it tightly in place. "I look at the places that we’ve been, and there is so much ruin, so many people fighting to make or break things. I wonder what it would be like if we stayed in our beds and closed the curtains while everything was unfolding.”

  “I’m not sure that I get what you mean.”

  “Sometimes I feel like dark days are coming."

  Rem leaned back in his seat, hands behind his head, blankly staring up at the sky. "Dark days were always here. They're just becoming cloudier."

  “Do you ever wonder if what you’re doing is in vain?”

  His eyes were falling shut, the spirited winds metaphorically carrying his motivations to a new height. “All the time. It’s why I can’t sleep. I spend every waking moment wondering when the end will come, wondering what mistake is going to cost me the most. But every time that I close my eye
s, and I feel the world spin, or listen to people laughing, crying… I remember that there’s more to look forward to than some inevitable conclusion. Whether I go on or not, this world will continue to change. But I can still make a difference as long as I’m in it.”

  “Wise words, Your Highness,” she joked. “You really have come into your own these last few weeks. You’ve decided that you’re ready to become King?”

  “At first, I saw it as some sort of crutch. But now that I’ve seen everything, Adrylis needs a proper leader again. Someone like Hinju will deceive them until everything is ripped apart.”

  “Shouldn’t you two be sleeping?” They glanced up simultaneously to find Solus leaning against a nearby wall, his hair pulled into a high ponytail held back by his ribbon, glasses tucked under his shirt. “We’ve got a long day ahead.”

  Rem stuck his tongue out at his attendant. “Shouldn’t you? Mr. ‘I like to sneak out at night thinking no one can hear me.’”

  Somehow, Solus wasn’t too appalled, but that didn’t make the situation any less tense. “Oh, so you did hear me get up.” He wondered if he kept tabs on him. Did he overhear anything involving Kinaju? The last thing that he wanted was to sweat over something that he was still processing for himself; it was best to keep it to himself until the time was right. Rem was already shouldering enough.

  “I rolled over after I heard the door close and saw that you were gone, so I assumed you went out for a walk and went back to sleep.”

  Solus sighed. “Well, try not to stay up too long. I’m going to get some more shuteye.”

  “We’ll join you soon,” Leilana told him, to which Solus nodded. Once he was out of earshot, Leilana leaned close to Rem, saying lowly, “Something has been off about him since this morning.”

  “I always notice when he’s in a bad mood. It means that he’s thinking a lot. I wanted to ask him about it, but he’s kind of an enigma—he never was good at talking out his feelings. The best way to ease him is to get his head out of the clouds.” Rem’s eyes widened. “Oh! I know a perfect way!” He took her hand, pulling her to her feet, dragging her away from the deck faster than she could process.