“They are,” Bethany said.
Apexia openly wept, her voice cracking as she spoke. “Don’t you think I don’t understand the ramifications of my own actions? Don’t you dare accuse me of not caring. Everything I’ve done is because I care and tried to make it right.”
“How is any of this right?” Bethany screamed. “How many people died in this war? How many more will die?”
Tears trickled down Apexia’s cheeks. “One more.”
Apexia grabbed Bethany’s Blessed Blade and thrust the sword through her own throat. Arterial blood sprayed the room and filled Bethany’s jaw-dropped mouth. Her vision blurred, from both the blood and the shock. Apexia gurgled and collapsed. Bethany tried to catch her mother’s dying, dying, dying…
Dear all things that were holy and just…her mother was dying in her arms.
Oh Apexia what have you done?
Losing, losing…can’t…No.
Mama, no. Please, no.
Bethany tumbled to the ground, Apexia’s body in her arms. Hands slick from blood, Bethany wiped the ichor from her eyes and gasped. She shook Apexia and screamed in rage. Apexia didn’t respond, beyond a few twitches of her body.
Bethany gripped Apexia’s arms and pushed every last ounce of Power into the gesture. Bethany blacked out for a second, but regained control and kept channeling more and more and fucking more Power into the connection to haul Apexia back from the brink. She was not going to lose anyone else. She’d lost too much. She was not going to let this happen.
The blood-stained chapel faded, but not completely. Bethany was between both words and unable to pull Apexia back across.
“Bethany, stop this,” her mother ordered.
“How dare you do that to me?” Bethany wailed like a child. She didn’t even care. “How could you?”
“I had to!” Apexia shouted. Her countenance changed, and her voice was full of love. “You know that. In your heart, you know Magic has to die. So have I.” Apexia’s voice cracked. “I knew my precious, darling Bethany would not have done it. So, for once in your life, I was strong for both of us.”
“Please, don’t die. I can’t…I can’t…” Words failed her and hiccupping sobs replaced whatever she’d meant to say.
“My sweet Bethany,” Apexia said, her voice fading. “Everyone dies. Even goddesses.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“I know. Look after Lendra.”
Bethany simply couldn’t answer.
Apexia drifted from view, but her voice lingered very softly and too far away. “Have a good life, and try to forgive me.”
CHAPTER 23
Bethany was ripped back into the world. A bright light slammed against her eyes, blinding her for a moment. When her senses came back, she was flat on her back, staring up at the stonework ceiling. Her head screamed with agony and her face was wet. Her body hummed with so much Power it was difficult to control it. Her muscles twitched.
“What the fuck just happened?” Jovan slurred.
“What was that light?” Erem asked, also slurring.
“I can’t see,” Kiner said. “I can’t bloody see.”
“Give it a minute, Kiner,” Arrago said, “I couldn’t when I first woke up, either.”
“I can’t see,” Kiner said, panicking. “I can’t see.”
Bethany continued to lie on the cold floor, unable to move her limbs. She listened to Arrago calm Kiner, and then Kiner’s sigh of relief when his eyesight came back.
“Bethany? Are you okay?” Jovan asked.
She couldn’t speak. She could only stare up at the smooth ceiling. How did they get the stonework so smooth? It seemed impossible, really. Did they sand it? They must have. That would have taken weeks.
“Bethany?” Arrago asked, concern creeping into his voice.
“I’m here,” she said, even if her voice sounded far away.
“Who else saw the light?” Arrago said. He groaned. “My head is killing me.”
“I saw it,” Jovan said.
“I thought I’d died,” Erem mumbled.
A very faint echo, from very far away, whispered in Bethany’s ears. Good bye, my daughter. Now you won’t be alone.
Chills spread through Bethany’s body. “Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no. No.”
Bethany curled in on herself, tucking her knees to her chest. She knew what Apexia had just done. “Oh, no.”
“Bethany, what’s wrong?” Jovan asked. He moved across the room, crawling on his hands and knees. He looked down at her. His face was a mass of blood. “What’s wrong?”
Bethany touched her fingers to her face and they came back coated in blood. Hers. Her mother’s. Her sister’s. “I know what she just did.”
“What?” Jovan demanded. “What just happened?”
“Oh, no,” Bethany whispered.
****
Arrago helped Kiner sit up, as Jovan helped Bethany. He looked over at Erem, who held up a hand to show he didn’t need assistance.
Arrago gazed down at the body of Apexia. His brain stuttered as it failed to process what had happened. Apexia had killed herself out of…guilt? Duty? What had she and Bethany been speaking about? He knelt beside her body and touched her face, Bethany's sword was still sunk deep in her throat. He tried to pull it out, but it was right through her and he had to pull harder. Arrago closed his eyes, horrified that he'd done any indignity to his goddess's body. He touched Apexia's face. He could see all of her daughters in her, but perhaps Sarissa and Bethany the most. They all had the same chin, the same jawline, and the same eyes. He brushed his fingers across her eyes, closing them. Then he buried his face in his hand.
“She’s dead, Jovan,” Bethany said. “Think about what that means.”
“Oh, fucking shit,” Jovan exclaimed. “Cock, shit, balls, fuck. Fuck.”
Arrago ignored Jovan's swearing. He knelt beside Apexia's body. His goddess was gone. What did that mean? Did she still exist on the wind, or was she gone forever? Could she still hear the prayers of the needy, or were they all cut off from her now? Would her hand still guide the faithful?
What did it all mean?
“Oh, no,” Kiner whispered. “Blessed Apexia, no.”
“What’s going on?” Arrago asked. “What is that humming sound? Does anyone else hear it?”
“Fuck,” Erem said quietly.
Arargo looked around. “Someone tell me what’s going on!”
Bethany was curled up in a ball on the floor, rocking herself back and forth. Jovan was wide-eyed and pale. Erem had a greyish hue to him and was dry heaving. Kiner just looked…weary.
“What happened?”
“Do you know how the Rygents got their Power and abilities?” Kiner asked.
“Everyone does,” Arrago snapped. “Rygous killed himself…” His voice died. He looked at Bethany. “What…what are you saying?”
Kiner put his hand on Arrago’s shoulder. “Specifically, Rygous appeared at a gathering of the faithful. Thousands of them. And killed himself. His Power was diluted throughout all of those people, and generations of them.” Kiner licked his lips. “There’s just us in this room.”
“There’s an army outside,” Arrago protested. “There’s thousands of men out there and even in the hallways.”
“I think…” Kiner addressed Bethany. “Did she say anything to you? Do you know what’s going on for sure?”
Bethany closed her eyes and tears streamed down her cheeks. “She did it so I wouldn’t be alone. I think she…I think…I think it’s just us.”
“Oh shit,” Jovan whispered.
“I think Apexia just gave us all of her Power,” Bethany whispered. “Just us.”
“Are you trying to tell me that…Did we just become…gods?” Erem demanded.
Arrago’s heart dropped when Bethany nodded slowly. “I think so.”
“Wait, but Bethany already was…” Arrago stared at her. “If you got your own Power back from Sarissa's death, and…” Arrago looked down at Apexia's b
ody. “What does that mean for me? I'm the only human in this room. All of you were going to live centuries anyway.” His heart pounded, which drowned out some of the humming sound. “What is that humming sound?”
“You’ll get used to it,” Bethany said quietly. “Eventually it’ll fade into the background, except when you’re angry or upset.”
He stared at her. “Sweet Apexia’s mercy.”
“I’m so sorry, Arrago.” She pushed herself up on all fours and crawled over to him. “It’s going to be okay.”
“How is it going to be okay? I just saw my goddess, who I’ve worshipped my entire life, in front of me. And she killed herself on purpose. I heard all of these voices inside my head and I could hear her voice telling me to be a good kind and a good man and, sweet Apexia, what just happened to me?”
Kiner put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
Jovan likewise dragged himself over to Bethany and put a hand on her shoulder. She reached up to squeeze it.
Erem smiled at Arrago and said, “We’re all in this together.”
“Everyone, it will be okay,” Bethany said.
“No, it won’t. How can this be okay? I don’t want to be…what am I?”
“You’re still Arrago,” Bethany whispered. “Just like I’ve always been just Bethany. I promise we’ll all get through this.”
“Hey,” Jovan said, staring at Erem’s sword. “Your sword is cracked.”
Jovan pulled his own Blessed Blade from his hip scabbard and examined it. He flicked the blade with his finger and it cracked. He looked up at Bethany, who grabbed hers from the table. She tapped them against the floor and both swords broke in half.
“They were blessed by Apexia,” Arrago whispered. “She is gone, and with her, the blessing.”
“Allric,” Bethany breathed.
CHAPTER 24
Allric sat on his horse and watched their sappers rush alongside the ram’s protection toward Castle Brook’s portcullis. Around him, explosions shook the air and his horse protested.
“Eve, focus the first wave of archers on the north tower. We have to soften up those Magi. They’re killing us.”
Eve nodded and pulled her horse’s reins to race to the archers to issue orders.
Edmund pulled up next to Allric. “Sappers are going in. They’re going after the drainage holes. It’s not going to do much damage, but it should scare anyone in the lower levels.”
“Good work,” Allric said. “We need the pikes ready on the flanks in case of cavalry.”
Edmund nodded his acknowledgement and shouted out to one of the knights assisting him. “Lady Gera, check on the north flank! Lord Simmerson? South flank! We need pikes in place!”
“Understood!” Lady Gera and Lord Simmerson called in unison.
Another billowing ball of smoke and fire trailed across the sky from the north tower. Allric held steady as it headed towards his position. It landed near the front ranks, flattening part of the formation.
Allric hauled on the reins and kicked his horse.
“Protect Lord Allric!” The guards shouted and they followed him as he charged through the ranks of archers and pikemen.
“Eve!”
She looked over her shoulder at the sound of Allric’s voice, and brought her horse next to his. “We’re trying to take out as many Magi as possible, but there’s so many,” she said. She lifted her arm and used the small shield on it to block out the sun. “See that asshole? The one in the red tunic. The normal bows can’t seem to do anything to him.”
Another blast of flame sprayed across the field, this time hitting the far edge of the flank.
“That’s it,” Eve snarled. She pulled out her bow, aimed, and waited. A moment later, he popped into view once more and she fired off her shot. After aiming another arrow, she sent that one, too. “Got him.”
Allric smiled. “I should have put you down in the front with the other crack shots.”
Eve grinned. “But who would babysit you?”
Allric laughed. “Very true.”
Two men stepped out of thin air and rushed Eve’s horse. Eve kicked one of the attackers in the face, while one of Allric’s guard detail bashed the other’s skull in with his mace. The men collapsed, blood seeping from their wounds. They hadn’t even had a chance to fight back.
“How many of these bastards are there?” Eve complained.
“Thousands, probably,” Allric said with a sigh.
“More!” Eve called out and pointed to the back of the archer ranks. Allric, Eve, Edmund, and their respective guards moved in that direction.
A dozen people stepped from the shadows, their various weapons held aloft. The explosions turned the air thick with smoke, but Allric could see the glistening, unnatural colours of enchanted weapons.
“Knights! Assist the archers!” Allric shouted.
“Hold the line!” Eve shouted.
More Magi ran through their flanks, harassing them. Allric brought his sword down on one’s neck and then followed up with a swift kick in the jaw to another that rushed him.
Explosions went off again, this time at the side gate. The entire front of the castle went up in a billow of black smoke as the oil burned. It would hopefully weaken the structure enough to blast through in the morning.
Allric’s sword clashed against various attackers. His sword arm and shoulder ached, but he pushed the pain back until it was just a distant thought. His Blessed Blade cut through the poorly-armoured attackers like they were butter, deflecting axes, swords, maces…
Then Allric’s sword’s blade snapped in half. He stared at it, confused.
And then it was gone. He looked down at where his hand used to be. Where did his sword go? Where did his hand go?
“Allric!” Eve screamed. She jumped off her horse, just in time for him to fall off his horse and collapse at her feet. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you. Hold on. Edmund! Get one of the healers! Now!”
“Ro! Lord Allric needs a healer! Now!” Edmund shouted. “Knights! Hold the line! Help the archers! Archers! Take out the Magi in the north tower! What the fuck is happening?”
“I don’t know, sir!” One of the guards shouted back. “Look!”
“Hold on, Allric,” Eve snarled and warmth spread through his body, as her healing touch slowed the blood. A tight pressure called him to open his eyes; Eve was tightening her sword belt around his forearm.
“Where did my hand go?” Allric asked. “I just had it.”
“You’re in shock,” Eve said. “Come on, stay with me. Edmund, what in Apexia’s name is going on?”
“I don’t know!” Edmund called back.
“Did we win?” Allric asked.
“Stop talking Allric,” Eve ordered.
Allric closed his eyes and pictured Amber’s smiling face as she held a sleeping Opal. He kept the image in his mind, as the warmth warred with the cold that spread through him. Eve’s voice grew distant and he felt himself slipping.
Amber’s smile was the last thought he had.
****
Eve looked down at Allric in horror. Then she pushed herself up to her feet and said, “Edmund!” Around her, knights were staring at their destroyed weapons and Magi were collapsing on the ground.
“Is he dead?” Edmund asked.
“Yes,” she snarled. She grabbed her bow from her back and it snapped in half. She held the pieces in her hands and looked at Edmund. “A spell?”
“The Magi are dead,” Edmund looked around. “Most of the knights are disarmed.”
“The archers!” Eve shouted to Lady Gera who’d joined her. “All non-knight archers to the front!”
Gera stared at Eve. “My sword…”
“Gera! Focus!”
An arrow took Gera in the chest. She didn’t scream. She just fell off her horse with a whomp.
“Archers!” Edmund called out. “Archers to the front!”
“Unarmed knights, back! Back!” Eve shouted as she pulled herself onto her horse. She co
ntinued to issue commands to the soldiers around her. Allric was gone; if she didn’t act swiftly, they’d all be dead.
“Up there!” She pointed to the battlements. “They are still…”
Eve couldn’t speak. She couldn’t swallow.
Eve fell from her horse. She couldn’t breathe.
She hit the ground. They had to take out the human archers. They had to get the ladders…
Blackness.
****
Edmund stared at the unmoving body of Eve. Around him, the retinue with their flags and silver eagles glistened in the afternoon sun. They were looking at him. Because he was in charge now.
Edmund closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and called, “Protect the archers! Get the shield cover in place for them! Move!”
“Get the sappers to the gates! Protect the rams! Archers! Take out those fucking assholes on the ramparts. Move! Let's move!”
Edmund caught a spray of arrows in the shield once more. Several struck his horse's armour, making the creature buck and protest, but Edmund used the momentum to rush forward.
“With the Commander!” One of the flag-bearing knights shouted and the retinue charged with him. “Protect Sir Edmund!”
“All unarmed knights, retreat! Out of the way!” Edmund shouted, tugging his horse's reins and leaving behind the bodies of Allric and Eve. If he didn't bring this battle under control, and fast, he'd be soon on the ground to join them. “Knights with shields! Shield wall! Protect the archers!”
“Shields!” One of his guards, Knight Mercy, shouted. “Knights, use your shields!”
This stirred many of the shocked knights into action. Some grabbed weapons from corpses, while others formed around the archers at the front, who sent volley after volley upon the castle towers.
“What happened to the Magi?” Edmund asked.
“No idea!” Mercy shouted back. “Same with the Blessed Blades! Just gone!”
Edmund lifted his shield over his face as several more arrows rained down on his position. “I need sharpshooters to take out those archers up on the hill. Lord William! Shoot! Shoot the motherless bastards!”
Fury (Tranquility Book 3) Page 23