by Rosie Scott
“The gods,” I mused.
Terran exhaled heavily. “Yes.”
“I thought they were lazy.”
“They are. He is having trouble getting their help, even moreso because they would need to find a way to try to kill you without revealing their own identities.” Terran's eyes fell to mine, and they were full of love. “I worry for you.”
“You shouldn't. I have already killed a god.”
My brother's eyes widened. “Truly? Then you might be hunted by the gods whether father gets them to agree or not.”
I nodded. “I'm not going to worry about it until that time comes. I killed Malgor in a one-on-one battle, and I will have my friends with me for the next challenger. The gods are underestimating me because I am a half-breed.” I decided to change subjects. “Terran, stay with me. I will eventually take over Sera, and I want you to be by my side.”
Terran looked away, avoiding my gaze. “Kai, I do not agree with this war. I cannot fight for something I do not believe in.”
“You have become a large part of this war for not agreeing with it,” I said begrudgingly.
“I led this army only with the hopes of solving a problem that is larger than me,” he murmured. “I believe in defending my home. Sera will eventually become mine. For as long as you threaten it, I will defend it.”
“So you side with Sirius, when he has done nothing but wrong me,” I said, hurt.
“Father is not the most moral of men,” Terran admitted low. “That does not make him incorrect. I saw the Naharans using necromancy, sister. I only know of two people who could have taught them that, and both are in this room.” His green eyes came back to mine. “I love you, sister, but I do not agree with you. If we are to be at war against one another, then it is by your doing. Not mine.”
“Then we are enemies,” I murmured, my eyes burning with emotion, even as I sat back from his bed.
“I do not love my enemies, Kai.”
“But I am not on your side anymore, Terran.” I scooted my wooden chair back from his bed, unwilling to be as close to him anymore. My heart was breaking over our talk.
“I will defend Sera with my life. Before that time, I will try my best not to get involved with this war.” I felt his eyes on me, even as I averted my own gaze. I did not want to look at him right now. Our relationship would never be the same. Of course, I had known that, even back in Sera. His opinion of me had greatly changed once he knew of my relationship with Cerin. Even still, some pathetic part of me internally had thought I could change him.
“Necromancer,” Terran spoke up, toward Cerin.
“Earth mage,” Cerin retorted.
“Can you leave us, so I may talk to my sister alone?”
“You wish her harm. I will stay.”
“Cerin,” I said, glancing up to him. “Terran will not hurt me. Even if he tries, you know I can defend myself, and you would hear me from the hallway. Just...” I nodded toward the door. “Please give me a few moments.”
Cerin's eyes were sharp on mine, though he finally sighed. “Very well. I'll be outside the door.”
Terran waited until he left, with the door fully closed behind him. My brother's eyes met my own. “Sister, please listen to what I have to say. You will want to interrupt me, but please just listen.”
“Go ahead,” I said, evenly.
“I have some faith that if I return to Sera with news of the necromancer's death, father may let you live elsewhere in peace. He may not be happy that he was unable to best you, but at least the criminal would be dead, and it would give some relief to our people. If—”
“Terran...” I slumped forward in my chair. “I know you said not to interrupt, but I will let you save your breath. I protect Cerin with my life. I would never give him up.”
Terran was silent a moment, perplexed. “Why? Why is he so important to you?”
“I love him, brother. I was brokenhearted when he fled Sera all those years ago, and was elated to have found him.”
My brother searched through my eyes. “Ah. You are in love with him. You are actually, truly in love with him.” He laughed in disbelief. “And here I thought your loyalty to friends just blinded you.”
“You hate him because of his magic, but you do not know him.”
“I don't need to know him. He is a necromancer.”
“He has a name, Terran. You treat him like an animal.” The pain in my voice was nearly tangible with its amplitude.
“I don't care to speak his name. He is a murderer of our men. He does not deserve a name.”
“Then neither do I, Terran. Do not call me by my name, or else you will be a hypocrite.”
“You don't practice your necromancy.”
“Don't I?” I retorted. “Whose golem did you think that was on the battlefield, brother? It was mine, as were the skeletons that surrounded you.”
Terran did not speak for some time. “I will forget you ever said that, sister. I want to always think upon you favorably.”
I laughed dryly, but I did not reply. I was hurt by his words and his stance against me.
“There is truly nothing I can say to get you to promise to end your quest against Sera?” He finally questioned.
“Nothing, brother. I seek revenge against Sirius and I will not give you Cerin. Perhaps, one day, you will understand when you meet someone you come to love.” I stood from my chair, feeling broken.
“I understand love, sister. I have been engaged in your absence.”
I froze in place, uncomfortable with that prospect. If my brother refused to join me and he was getting married, there could be a point in my future where I would need to fight both Terran and his potential future family.
I swallowed hard. “Congratulations, brother. I hope Sera's architecture is repaired in time for your wedding, so it can be beautiful.” I walked past my brother's bed, and headed out the door of his room into the hallway.
Cerin and two castle guards waited just outside, and they watched me with interest for my findings.
“Terran Sera is free to go,” I told the guards. “He has given me much intel on our enemies.” I did not wait for a response. I stalked down the hallway, the gravity of sadness for my situation weighing heavily on my shoulders. Cerin caught up to walk beside me.
“It didn't take long for you to leave, once you were left alone with him,” he commented.
“Because when someone suggests I kill you to keep Sirius off my back, I do not need to even entertain the idea.”
“Ah.” Cerin huffed. “Well, you have left him alive so that he may try to do so himself.”
“He doesn't have the drive to come after you. It will only be when we attack Sera that he will defend it. I believe him on that.”
“And when it comes time for that, you will not kill him.”
“Cerin, I did not kill him in battle because I had hope he would change. He will not. The next time I meet my brother in battle, he will die.” Though my voice was formed in confidence, it shook with sadness and frustration.
“I'm sorry it has come to this, Kai,” he offered.
“Me too.”
Cerin and I returned to our room in the top floor of T'ahal's castle. I watched out of our window, which faced north. I watched for over an hour, until I saw my brother gallop away through the sands of the city streets and into the desert beyond, his dark green cloak waving behind him as he went off into the night. In the far distance, the lands were blemished, but it was hard to see when it was this dark. The earth would remain stained with blood for some time, and Terran's earthquake had torn up the desert enough to take seasons to heal through the natural movements of the sands.
Our first battle with Chairel would later become known as the Battle of the Dead, because it was the first time necromancy had been used as part of a national army, and the first time recent casualties were revived as the undead to help win the fight. The Battle of the Dead was the catalyst that led to the War of Necromancers. It would become know
n by other names, of course, but this is what was used most commonly. In either case, my quest for revenge and political change was slowly leading into the largest world war that Arrayis had ever been witness to, for necromancy was a subject most people had strong feelings about. My ideals would make me an enemy for most, and my identity would make me an enemy for others.
For now, I only knew that gaining political strength in Nahara and refusing my brother's pleas for compromise would bring the world to my doorstep. I would fulfill my promise to Nahara. While Chairel built its numbers and accumulated its own allies, I would be busy strengthening Nahara and seeking out support of my own. I already knew that all of Chairel and its dwarven neighbors of Hammerton would trip over themselves to fight in the war against me. I had more enemies than friends in this world, but Arrayis was large, and its lands were vast. If there were others out there who would join me, I would find them.
I continued watching the deserts for far after Terran had fled, as if I would find something more within them. I thought of Theron, and I wished he was still with us. I found solace in his prior words to me, however. The ranger had been wise, and he'd found things within me to admire. It had been a year and a half since Theron had first seen me use my powers in the forest near Amere, yet I still remembered his words to me then.
“You could take over nations with that power,” he'd said.
Yes, Theron, I could, I thought, my eyes on the beautiful clear starry skies that hung over the desert. And I will.
***
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