The Sage's Reign

by Shakyra Dunn

  Solus covered his face with the pillow under his head and curled up, anticipating the foreboding pain. “Do your worst.” He bit down into the side of the cot as Sien pressed the cloth to his back and wiped away the traces of dried blood to expose the wound, fighting the rising screeches of pain.

  Leilana shot awake when his cries finally emerged. Sien was shushing him calmly, reaching out to stroke his hair. Leilana froze upon noticing the burn marks covering the upper layer of his back. The wound was spewing a yellowish pus, the exterior lined with purplish bruising. She covered her mouth with both hands and buried her face in her knees to avoid the sight for a while yet. A few minutes went by before Sien could gingerly graze her fingertips along his back without directly interfering with the process of the infection’s spread. Her healing magic could restore some damaged flesh, but there was no denying that the burns would never fully mend. Solus allowed himself to ease back into his pillow, moaning from sheer exhaustion. Once her magic did the deed and she wrapped the wound with bandages and gauze securely, she rested her hands on her knees, sighing.

  “The rest from here, I’ll help you as much as I can. I’m going to try and look around for anything that could stitch up the wounds that haven’t closed yet, and I’ll try and see what potions I can brew to alleviate your fever and dull the pain. Try not to lay on your back when you sleep.” Solus gave her a thumbs-up, his face still buried in the pillow. “All right. I’ll be back soon.” Sien grunted as she stood, and Leilana had to rush to grab her arm before she fell. Sien blinked a few times at the gesture. “Leidibug…?”

  “Are you all right?”

  Sien straightened her back and grinned, though Leilana could see past her feigned smile. Her skin was pale, and her mind was in other places. “I’m fine. Just tired. How are you feeling?”

  Leilana unconsciously rested a hand on her chest. Strangely, she didn’t feel any pain even though she was certain that her ribs were smashed into. The stab wound in her stomach had closed, but the weight of the blade was coursing through her veins. “I’m fine. I guess I’m still pretty tired too.”

  “Well, that’s to be expected when you’ve gone through a long fight. You can sleep. It’s going to be morning soon, after all, and no one would blame you.” Leilana somberly turned to Solus, and Sien wrapped her arms around her. “I know you’re anxious, but it’s better to let him rest. I’m going to do everything that I can to help him recover. A few all-nighters won’t kill me.”

  “They will if you don’t eat during them,” Rem interjected, stepping into the room and tossing the girl a brown paper bag. “Amiria wanted me to bring it. You haven’t eaten since yesterday morning, right?”

  Sien glanced down at it before returning her focus to him, raising an eyebrow. Rem wasn’t looking at her, rather in her direction. His disappointment was fresh in her mind; she wondered why Amiria wanted him to be the delivery boy. “I don’t want to distract myself from what’s important.”

  “There’s importance, but there’s also balance. Don’t overexert yourself. Using your magic recklessly when you have no energy to pick yourself back up is going to knock you on your ass, fast. We can’t afford to have you sick on top of Solus’s injuries.”

  “What’s it to you if I utilize my skills for someone else, especially if that someone is your best friend?” Leilana’s head was darting between the two, wanting to retort, but she had no knowledge of the context of their conversation, so it was better to remain silent.

  “It’s not what you’re using them for, it’s how you’re using them,” Rem hissed. “You know how dangerous it can be to overwork yourself. If you think I’m mad now, that’s really going to piss me off.”

  “Thinking of yourself before anyone else again, I see.” Sien slammed the bag back into his chest, likely crushing whatever contents were inside. “If that’s the way you’re going to take it, I don’t need that. I’ll figure out things on my own. That’s how it’s always been.” She shoved past Rem, and the young prince was snarling while facing her turned back, throwing the bag on the floor. Leilana flinched.

  “You’re no different than you were six months ago! That nature is self-destructive!” At his rather brash words, Solus stirred and sat up slightly, observing the scene for himself.

  “It beats being plain destructive,” Sien snarled. “At least I’m not burdening people.”

  Rem curled his hand into a fist. “Is that what you think, that I throw my problems on everyone else?!” Sien was already leaving, and Rem was quick to chase her. “We’re not done, Sien! If that’s true, why did you come here? Why did you follow me and say that you were supporting me?”

  She stopped walking, drawing in a deep breath. When she finally did face him head-on, Rem glimpsed her withheld anguish. Her bottom lip was quivering, and her eyes were filling with tears. “I wanted to stand by your side. I thought that being with you would make me strong enough to tell you how I felt. But I’m not. I never will be. I look at you, and I see the world at your feet. I wanted to be there. But I was just fooling myself. I’m not good enough for you.”

  Her eyes traced his, but she found little reaction. He could only stare at her. She couldn’t read what he was thinking, or what he wanted from her. Maybe he didn’t care, or maybe he just didn’t understand, but somehow, she managed to say it, already regretting that it came out this way. Without another word, she ran off. Rem leaned against a nearby wall to catch himself.

  “Remiel,” Solus began, already up on his feet, clinging to a nearby wall. Leilana rushed to his side, trying to usher him back to bed, but Solus held up a hand as a rebuttal before approaching him. “You’re supposed to be more diligent with women. Don’t blame her for what’s happened, the fault is completely mine.”

  “What, are you saying I should blame you?” Rem snapped. “Don’t make me laugh.”

  “I don’t think this is funny,” Solus admitted. He was breathing heavily and had to regain himself before continuing, “Nor do I think you have any real reason to consider this a joke.”

  Rem swung his hand out, pressing his palm against the wall. “That was sarcasm!”

  “What’s going on between the two of you?” Leilana piped up, grabbing Solus by the arm when she saw that he was beginning to rapidly lose his stamina. “You mentioned getting angry at her, and you two don’t argue much unless tensions were already high.”

  “She stuck her nose where it doesn’t belong, and it didn’t sit well with me. That’s it. Nothing else. And now it’s because she’s working herself to the bone knowing what it’s going to do to her body. It’s stupid. She’s being stupid, reckless, and overemotional, and it’s driving me crazy. I don’t understand why she’s so pent up about wanting to help.”

  “Maybe that’s something to discuss with her, calmly,” Solus suggested. “The two of you clearly have emotions that you need to work out within yourselves, and who better to learn from than one another? I’m changing our agreement on that drinking game since we both lost our will to continue. You will speak to her. That is my end of the bargain.” Leilana was guiding him back to bed, and once he had settled in, she pulled the sheets over him.

  “All right, fine. Then you two better talk.”

  Leilana raised an eyebrow. “Uh, me and Solus?”

  “We certainly will,” Solus replied in her stead. Rem silently nodded to himself, closing the door behind him. Solus looked to Leilana, smirking. “Good morning, princess. I heard you had a long nap.”

  She inhaled at the ever-remaining title. “Less of a nap, more of a restless slumber.” She took a seat at his bedside. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t of more help. Maybe you wouldn’t have gotten so hurt.”

  “We underestimated his magical prowess, and we had no idea what he was capable of. That’s no fault of yours.” Leilana was staring at the blood-stained bedsheets. Once silence kicked in, Solus was gazing longingly at her averted eyes, as if she feared to face him out of shame.

  It was surreal to see her sittin
g in front of him again after holding her corpse in his arms, feeling her blood on his fingertips. He never imagined that his powers existed. Now he knew that everything that Kinaju told him was the truth. He pressed his hands to her cheeks and tilted her chin, her eyes damp with remorse. He couldn’t help smiling despite her obvious pain, nuzzling his nose against hers. Leilana’s breaths quickened—his past words were less telling than his current actions.

  “You never fail to impress me. I know it probably doesn’t say much, but I’m always happy to have you around, even when the battles turn sour. You’re as much of a guide to our hands when we wield our weapons as our minds when we steady the sword.”

  “You like me again,” she said meekly.

  “Who said that I stopped?” he asked softly. “Things were complicated. And they still are. But I’ve done a lot of thinking—I should have been more honest with you. It’s true that you’re a princess, and I am a mere servant, and thus, our union would be complex. But in any lifetime, love has no bounds, and chains can be broken.” He nuzzled his nose against hers, smirking at her coy demeanor. “If my heart is yours, and yours mine, why should a title tear us apart?”

  “You’re so corny, but somehow, it’s sweet,” Leilana began.

  “There is such a thing as sweet corn, yes,” he joked.

  Leilana laid her hands over his. “Jokes aside, I need you to tell me something, Solus.”

  And just like that, any cheerful mood was ripped to pieces, but he continued to smile. “Of course. What are you thinking?”

  She sighed. “I was dying. Wasn’t I?”

  Solus’s was immediately floored by the forward question, unsure of how she could have come to such a conclusion. “Why do you ask?”

  “I saw Ennis and nothing but white. I had accepted that the end was near. I was ready to give up, but then I started having regrets. I wanted to see you all again. I wanted to finish my pilgrimage. I wanted to be with you, and to restore my clan.” She took his hand in both of hers, pressing her forehead against his chest. “I heard your voice—you said that we had come too far for me to give up, and then I woke up. You had something to do with that, didn’t you?”

  He reached up a hand, delicately running his fingers through her hair. Her warmth continued to relieve him of his pain, memories of her being lost no longer a distant nightmare. At first, he wasn’t sure if telling her the truth was the best option. But if she was planning to be by his side, then keeping secrets wasn’t smart.

  “There’s something that I’ve learned about myself.” He held her tighter, resting his chin on her head. “But you have to promise that it stays between us. I’m not confident enough to tell Rem yet, and until I can, it’s best that the information goes unnoticed. It’s the only way I can protect him.”

  “All right,” she told him. “I promise.”

  There was so much to think about between Hinju’s origins, his relationship with Kinaju, his splintered memories, and how it would affect his friendship with Rem. In an instant, forming a connection with a new confidant that spirited him into a wavered understanding unraveled everything that he had come to know about the life he had lived since reaching Linmus.

  Solus folded his hands. “When we first left Erican, I met a boy named Kinaju. He is a member of the Order of Helix.” Leilana nodded. “Apparently, he had been tailing me for quite some time but made himself known once I was alone. He is versed in many different weapons but possesses no magic. There was much that I didn’t know about him, but he seemed to know me quite well.”

  “He knew about your past?”

  “Yes. I didn’t want to know anything, because I knew that it would have a lasting effect on the outcome of our trial. But when I met him again recently, I accepted the truth about who I used to be.”

  Leilana rested her hands on her lap. “What did he tell you?”

  Solus closed his eyes, stating, “He told me that I was a Necromancer.”

  “Necromancer? What’s the problem with that?” Solus smiled at her. She knew little of the Vesarus family history, and her naivety was charming. She truly was a Minsuran warrior, isolated from the world and acting of her own volition to succeed. Maybe she was luckier than he thought.

  “Many generations ago, Necromancers were treated like outsiders while living in Adrylis. The royal family took pity and allowed them to walk about like normal citizens. The most successful and vigilant ones made their way to Linmus. Forty or so years ago, Rem’s grandfather Leones was the sitting royal, and the leader of the Necromancers was a man named Hinsuto. Hinsuto ordered his followers to seize the king’s head by using the bodies of his guards.”

  “I don’t understand what that means.”

  “Necromancers manipulate the dead. If they kill someone with their own hands, then that makes their soul stronger and easier to control. Hinsuto’s plan was to use guards to eradicate the King and pin the mishap on them. But one of his followers was working under the king and warned him of Hinsuto’s ideas. Hinsuto was put to death for his crime, and the Necromancers were isolated from Adrylis, forced to retreat, and rebuilt their own society. That place is called Gularin, meaning ‘exiled.’ But by then, Hinsuto already had a unique follower at his disposal: his young son. And that son… is Hinju.”

  Leilana blinked a few times, unsure if what he said was truly what she heard. If that were the case, then it meant that Hinju himself carried the blood of a Necromancer.

  “There’s more,” Solus stated. “When I first saw Hinju, I was struck with fear. I didn’t understand why seeing him brought me to my knees. Kinaju gave me insight the night we last met. As it turns out, he’s my younger brother.” Solus sighed. “Who knew? I certainly didn’t.”

  Leilana shook her head at the newfound information, deciding that it was best to move forward, asking that he did so. She couldn’t look him in the eyes anymore, her heart swelling. No matter how much swarmed her thoughts, the words would provide no escape haven. “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s my line,” he said simply. “I’ve caused you pain without letting you in on my own. I’ll try to be better about this, really, I will.” He suddenly winced, closing his eyes and forcing his hand to stray from the burn marks on his back, his declaration of pain emerging in a strained whisper.

  “Speaking of which,” Leilana mumbled, getting up from the bed to examine the wound.

  Sure enough, more pus was oozing through his bandages, the bleeding had started up again, and Solus clearly regained his ongoing agony, which meant that Sien’s herbal tactics were wearing off. She unraveled the bandages and gauze, air striking him immediately. She scanned the room for any clean rags or sheets, but when she couldn’t find any nearby, she settled with her own sheets, pressing it firmly to his back. He covered his face with his hands, groaning for only a few seconds before remaining silent. Once she had brought the blood-flow to a good stopping point and cleaned them with an unblemished section of her bedsheet and some water, she rebandaged the burns.

  She took a seat in front of Solus to find his position unchanged. Carelessly, she moved his hands from his face. His cheeks were scorned, his eyes hazy. She leaned forward to press her forehead against his, confirming his elevated temperature.

  “I’m going to find Cici. She should be able to help.”

  Solus grabbed her hand as she turned to leave, pulling her onto the bed with him before she could tear herself away. She was so confused by the whole sequence of events that she could barely keep up with him. He pushed her onto the pillows, climbing on top of her. She had never seen such a lustful expression on his face. He kissed her lips repeatedly, little force behind them, and she couldn’t fight being drawn to him as they progressed with this silly game of his.

  “Solus,” she whispered as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re going to slow your healing if we do this now. Sien will get angry at us.” The well-being of others was always an excuse, and it was outliving them both.

  “She’ll get over it
,” he whispered back, kissing her again before nuzzling his nose against hers. “I don’t want you to leave yet. Stay with me…”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” she told him. He wrapped his arms around her, gently kissing her neck, the chaste gestures sending shivers down her spine.

  “I mean something more,” he said softly, cupping her chin in his hands. “When this war is over, come stay with me. Let your servant care for you for the rest of your days, princess.”

  Leilana squinted at him. “Would this be your fever speaking?”

  He pursed his lips, the boyish smirk that she had come to adore returning with a vengeance. “Yes,” he admitted. “But that doesn’t make it any less true. Will you stay with me?” He leaned forward to kiss her again when she pressed a finger to his lips, effectively stopping him in his tracks. She smiled, her gaze wavering over his rather gloomy eyes.

  “Ask me again after my pilgrimage.” She grabbed him by the wrist and hoisted him off her, pushing him into the pillows. He was so stunned by her hasty movements that he couldn’t even feel the plush comfort under him until he’d adjusted his head. “Now, I’m going to find Sien. You will await our return. I expect you to be resting.”

  Solus rolled his eyes. His fun and games spoiled again. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Rem stepped out of the abandoned building just after midnight, realizing that they weren’t going to last with their remaining food and water. The citizens were becoming agitated, and the burden was etched into his mind. He had sent Amiria to fetch it once before, the fear of seeing the fallen city too hard for him to bear at the time. Now that she was asleep, the duty was left to him.

  Kinsley was desolate. Rem swore that he could have heard a pin drop. The extravagant structures were scorched, brick and mortar tarnished under the reign of magic. The neon lights that drew townspeople to the plaza were shut off, rubble cluttering the streets. He had become used to the blissful chatter that once filled the land, the scent of ocean salt and grilled meat overpowering his senses. Receiving nothing but silence after he had come to observe true happiness made his heart uneasy, his paced footsteps resonating with his rapid pulse.