by Marie Harte
Sava continued. “For all that our presence here is soothing the gaping wounds left by these idiot Light Bringers, Tanselm needs more. I’m just a visitor, but I can feel the land clawing at me to stay each time I leave.” He rotated his shoulders with discomfort. “The perfect answer to our problems is hiding out in a distant plane, pretending she’s going to heal all by herself.”
Jonas recalled how stubborn his Dark Mistress could be. “I agree. I sensed it the minute I stepped foot on the land. Lexa belongs here, same as I do. Tanselm wants her. I already know that. But Lexa’s strong, Sava. She’ll be fine. The things I’ve seen her do…”
“What you don’t know is that Lexa won’t heal, not unless we involve Arim. She’s missing a part of her soul, a piece of her ripped out and kept caged by the Malinta demons deep in the heart of Malern.”
Jonas paled. “You’re shitting me.”
Sava raised a brow. “Nice turn of phrase. I see you’ve been spending a lot of time among those of the earthen plane. Slumming, Jonas?”
Jonas sighed, loudly. “Cut the crap, Sava. Just tell me how serious it is.”
“Very. Lexa, like you, is a true creature of Dark. The demons that took a vital part of her essence are, in effect, draining her life with each breath she takes. I can’t help her with this, and neither can you. She needs a strong presence of Light to help her combat the growing threat within her. And not just from any Light Bringer, but from the strongest in the land.”
“Arim? You actually think he’ll agree? I don’t know. He wants her back, badly, but I don’t think it’s to help her.”
“So he wants you to think. There’s a lot of history between those two.” Sava’s smug grin put him on edge. “Things you’re not aware of.”
“So tell me.”
Sava studied him, and Jonas could feel fingers of magic trying to peer through his mind.
“Cut it out.” Jonas sent a blast of Dark energy Sava’s way. Sava easily deflected the dark mass, dispersing it into the air, where Jonas easily reabsorbed it. But the distraction broke the tentative hold Sava had placed on Jonas’ mind, as he’d intended. “My loyalty is to Lexa. She brought the Djinn back into Tanselm. For that I’d be her slave forever.” If she’d let me.
“This information is sensitive. I trust it will stay here?”
Jonas nodded, feeling the small bubble of Shadow Sava projected around them to stave off eavesdroppers.
“Several hundred years ago, Arim and Lexa, as well as myself and a few others you’ve never met, attended University together in Tanselm’s Great Hall, where sorcerers, Dark and Light, used to study jointly. It was thought that a combination of the Light’s spectrum could only help our ability to harness particular magics.”
No wonder Sava knew so much. He’d been here when it had all gone to hell.
“Lexa grew up in Tanselm, a fact many don’t know. She was found abandoned as a baby in the between by a Light Bringer. Muri was her name, an enchanting woman with a full heart. Her family took Lexa in and raised her as one of their own. It naturally followed that as Lexa matured, she would take her place at University. She showed remarkable potential to harvest Dark energy from an early age.”
“And the Light Bringers welcomed a Dark Lord in their midst?” Jonas didn’t believe it.
“They did, such was the strength of Muri and Esel’s love for their adopted daughter. Both Light Bringers were extremely powerful sorcerers, and more open-minded than most. Tanselm treasured the pair, gifting them with an enchanting child named Sercha. Lexa was most fond of him,” Sava added quietly, a ripple of pain crossing his features.
“There’s been much speculation about Lexa’s part in their murders,” Jonas admitted. The rumour floated that Lexa had murdered a powerful family of Light Bringers. The details were scarce, with no mention of them being her family.
“No one’s really sure what happened, not even Lexa. One day Arim missed her in classes and went to check on her, concerned since Lexa never missed her studies. She lived for academia, and back then, for Arim as well. The two were inseparable, glowing with love. It was always expected they’d marry. There was such a feeling about the pair, as if they’d been blessed with Tanselm’s very grace even then.
“Arim went to check on her and found, to his horror, Muri and Esel dead, Sercha butchered, and Lexa covered in blood, her eyes wild with horror. She was so incredibly angry, her energy bleeding everywhere, mixing with the Dark taint staining the home, that Arim only saw the surface.
“He’d loved Muri and Esel as well, and their loss devastated him. But I don’t think he’d ever known such pain before. He mistook Lexa’s hurt and rage for aggression. He never told me exactly what happened once he found her, only that he and Lexa fought. They literally went at each other trying to harm the other, and then she vanished.”
“But she’d never harm those she cared about.” Jonas couldn’t believe Arim wouldn’t have known that, not if he’d loved Lexa as much as Sava said he did.
“No, she wouldn’t. But you’ve never seen her in a full-out fury, Jonas. I have. It’s a chilling sight, and I can understand why Arim would have thought what he did. He was new to love, then suddenly thrust into pain and fear. To my knowledge, he and Lexa had never even so much as argued prior to that. Quite a shock to find his young love covered in her parents’ blood as she tore through the house in anger. Don’t forget, a Dark Lord’s anger is extremely powerful, not to mention Dark. An instinctive threat to anyone with as much Light as Arim.”
Jonas stared at Sava, understanding for both Arim and Lexa growing. “That just sucks.”
Sava joined him in a chair by the bed. “It does indeed. I’ve never seen two people happier than Arim and Lexa in love. Watching them stab at one another for years has been unsettling. I’ve never quite gotten used to it, and I suspect, neither have they.”
Jonas recalled each and every instance of Lexa’s behaviour where Arim was involved. “You know, anytime Arim came up in conversation, a subtle stillness would come over Lexa. The few times I observed her near him, she could barely take her eyes off him. At the time I thought it was from mistrust and anger.”
“Probably those, as well as lust. Those two were made for each other. Even a Djinn can see that.” Sava crossed his arms over his chest and gave Jonas a droll smirk.
“Yeah, well, this Djinn owes Lexa for what she’s done for my people. I’ll do whatever it takes to heal her. As far as what she and Arim have between them, that’s up them.” Did he want Lexa with a man who didn’t appreciate her?
Sava’s gaze narrowed. “No, what’s between them is at the heart of Tanselm’s well-being. Those two are going to deal with each other, if it’s the last thing they ever do. And while they’re doing that, you and I are going to track down ‘Sin Garu.”
Jonas opened his mouth to retort and paused. He could still feel ‘Sin Garu’s Netharat holding him tight, the insidious whisper of death at the hands of a dreaded Nocumat as fresh as if he’d been tortured just yesterday. “No offense, Sava. But I don’t see us defeating ‘Sin Garu, not by ourselves.”
“Of course not. Honestly, it’s a wonder you Djinn emerged from the Dark at all. No. We’re going to track down ‘Sin Garu and let Arim know where he is. This is one battle that’s between a Light Bringer and a Dark Lord. The rest of us will just be in the way.”
“But what about the Netharat? With that army, ‘Sin Garu, even weakened, is untouchable.”
“That’s where we’ll come in. Between the Aellei, you Djinn, and the Light Bringer sorcerers under Storm Lord leadership, we’ll bring the Netharat to us and defeat them once and for all. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of my Nocumat drifting from my world to join a Dark Lord. Creatures of Shadow were never meant to invade worlds, to envision world domination.” Sava snorted. “We were created to enjoy life’s pleasures, to play and dance and laugh.”
“Seems to me you’re always playing around,” Jonas muttered, getting a little tired of Sava�
�s highhanded insults towards his kind. “Maybe if the lot of you had any sense of discipline, you wouldn’t feel so threatened around the Djinn—the only race to give the Aellei a run for their money in the looks and magic department.”
Score one for the Djinn, finally. As the Aellein glared holes through him, Jonas continued. “So what now, Sava? You seem to have thought of everything else. Why don’t you tell me how we’re going to get Lexa and Arim together without one killing the other?”
“We’ll have to trick Arim and enspell him. Not so difficult for me, since he trusts me, to an extent at least. And we Aellei are the tricksters of the universe,” Sava said with typical arrogance. “I’ve an idea that’s been brewing since my last talk with Alandra. I’ll work on Arim while you go to Lexa and hold her there. Use this.” Sava muttered under his breath and suddenly a small bag appeared in his hands. “Put this in her drink and make sure she takes all of it. It’s enough to knock her out just long enough to put this plan in motion.”
Jonas took the small pouch, conscious of the coldness seeping through the bag’s pores. “What is this?”
“Demon breath.” Sava smiled, a sinister look that had Jonas taking a second look. “I’ve been saving it a while. Trust me, it won’t hurt her. But it’s got enough of a kick to bypass her Dark protection. In her present weakened state, you won’t need more than the small vial within the pouch.”
Jonas nodded. “Okay. I take it we’re going now?”
“Right now. We don’t have a lot of time to wait for Lexa to realise how badly she’s hurting. I don’t trust the little fool not to leave since I know of her whereabouts. You keep her under guard while I deal with Arim. I think it’s best if they settle matters between them away from Tanselm, at Lexa’s place, perhaps. Tanselm is way too interfering for my peace of mind.”
“You got that right.” Jonas winced when the land pulsed Light at him in protest. He noted Sava’s unease as well.
“Handling Arim’s going to be tricky, which is to say nothing of the danger he’ll present once I’ve captured him. He doesn’t take kindly to deception, not like my kind, so if I’m not spot on, this won’t work again. I have to catch him right away and bind him before he can do any return damage. ”
“Bind him?” Jonas stared, suitably impressed. He’d seen Arim turn opponents into stone and ash for less. “Takes balls I didn’t think you had.” He grinned when Sava frowned. “For a prissy king, you have a will of steel, don’t you?”
“I’ll give you prissy,” Sava muttered, but his eyes flashed with excitement as he waved farewell and vanished.
Jonas wondered if he’d caught whatever contagious idiocy Sava had. Turning on Lexa? Pushing her at Arim when he knew she felt uneasy and vulnerable around the powerful mage? Irritate a woman who had the power to bring him to his knees and take him from this world in the blink of an eye? Yet, if Sava was right, only Arim could truly heal her.
For all that Lexa had sacrificed, for all that she’d done for the Djinn, and hell, for Jonas himself, Jonas would do what he could to see the shadows lifted from her beautiful blue eyes. To see that she finally belonged somewhere, accepted for the caring woman she could be, and not despised for the cruel sorceress she’d been forced to become in order to survive.
Chapter Four
Arim stared at his dead brother-by-marriage with shock. Granted, as a sorcerer, he’d seen many strange and unusual occurrences with his magic. But he had yet to converse with the dead, let alone watch his sister share an embrace with one.
Faustus grinned, his smile so like his nephews’ that Arim felt a stupidly wide grin split his own mouth. By the Light, he’d missed the fun-loving Wind Mage, Tanselm’s once-great overking. The great love Faustus had, not only for his family, but for his people, still clung to his pale aura like a second skin.
The joyful warmth that had been missing in Ravyn’s eyes returned. The nimbus of pale light settling over them both only proved again how much his sister and Faustus loved one another. And how much Ravyn would miss him once he returned to the Next.
Which begged the question… “By the Mother’s Holy Light, what are you doing here?” Arim had to know.
Faustus chuckled. “Didn’t expect to see me?”
“Of course not.” Arim took in his sister’s delight. “Obviously I’m the only one surprised. I take it you two meet often?”
Ravyn answered, “Not as often as I’d like. Faustus is constrained by a lot, lately. The higher powers don’t mind using him to do their bidding, but the Light forbid he visit his bereaved wife.”
Faustus sobered. “Now, now, love. My time is limited, and I’d rather make the most of it with you instead of being yanked back by those with no idea that I’m back where I’m not supposed to be.” He glanced over his shoulder as if seeing something they couldn’t.
Ravyn stepped closer into her husband’s embrace.
Arim could only stare, trying to absorb it all. “You’re substantial?”
“Where are my manners?” Faustus gently released Ravyn and grabbed Arim in a huge bear hug. “I’ve missed you, brother mine. I see you’ve been weakening since I left.” Faustus shook his head. “You always were a hard-head. Can’t or won’t hear what Tanselm’s been telling you, hmm?” He stepped away and took Ravyn in his arms again.
“Won’t,” Ravyn murmured, easing her head back onto her husband’s firm shoulder.
Had Arim not known better, he’d swear Faustus stood before him, alive and well, his grey eyes sparkling with vitality. The slight tint of yellow that clung to him said otherwise.
“Why are you here?” Arim knew Faustus hadn’t returned simply to visit his wife, not since Ravyn had ordered Arim to accompany her back to her room.
“Your concern for your sister is admirable, but you shouldn’t be prying into her mind. I’m the one who told Ravyn about the next overking. She’s right to worry about the future. Your sister has been thoroughly drained by ‘Sin Garu, who even now eludes death. I don’t know how he’s been alive as long as he has, but what little humanity he had to begin with is long gone. The longer he lives, the more powerful he grows. It’s not the Darkness within him that should worry you, it’s the demons that now fill his soul.”
Arim too easily remembered the unholy green blaze of demon fire ‘Sin Garu had thrown. The blaze that had burned Lexa the last time they’d battled the Dark Lord. A blaze that had been meant for Arim.
“You need to bring Lexa back or Tanselm is lost.” Faustus stared hard at Arim, his eyes full of power and wisdom, a supernatural energy visibly pulsing throughout his body. Arim could feel tendrils of Light, brighter and sharper than any he’d ever felt, creeping over his skin. Pinpricks of pain and a strange euphoria grew as he found himself unable to break eye contact.
“Release him, Faustus,” Ravyn cautioned, a hand on his arm. She turned back to Arim. “The sensation will pass, brother. It takes some getting used to.”
“Damn,” Arim rasped once Faustus let him go. His entire body felt like jelly, and a compulsion to follow Faustus’s orders clung to him. “What did you do to me? A spell of some kind?” He’d never felt anything like it.
“Sorry, sometimes I forget I’m more than I was. Life after death changes you. But that’s another subject entirely, and one I don’t have time for right now. Arim, I know what’s in store for you if you fail. I don’t want to see my family…” Faustus frowned. “Never mind. Forget I said anything. I’m just here to visit my wife, still waiting for her before I finally settle into the beyond.”
Arim didn’t understand what he was hearing. “You mean you haven’t passed into the Next yet? Where the hell have you been since you died?”
“A very good question. I’ve been to the Next and back, and more. Wish I could explain it to you, but we’ve got company.”
Just then a knock sounded at the door.
“Open it, Arim. Our visitor needs you. And Ravyn, love, I need a moment more of your time.” Faustus smiled down at her, then glan
ced back at Arim. “Good luck, brother. And the Light bless you on your journey.”
“And you.” Arim moved to the door. Opening it, he was surprised a second time. The guards who should have been protecting the queen stood frozen on either side of her door, locked in place by a hint of Shadow over their bodies. Lord Sava, King of the Aellei, stood there looking both annoyed and worried. Sava, worried? The Aellei’s eyes widened as he stared over Arim’s shoulder, and Arim hurriedly pulled him inside before closing the door behind them.
“By Shadow’s vision.” Sava took two steps towards Ravyn and Faustus, then stopped. “Faustus Storm. It’s been a long time.”
“And it’ll be longer still ‘til I see you again. Have a care what you do here, Sava. And don’t overstep.” Faustus seemed to brighten, and then he drew Ravyn aside and began speaking in a low voice.
Arim studied Sava, curious at the flare of irritation in his friend’s face. “Something you want to tell me?”
Sava shook his head. “I need your help. What I don’t need is a dead Storm Lord telling me what to do.”
“Still upset Faustus managed to snare Ravyn out from under you, hmm?” Arim asked, amused at Sava’s annoyance.
“Ancient history. What can I say? Love blinds us all at one time or another.” The look Sava shot him had Arim frowning.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“If I have to explain it to you, you’re obviously not ready to hear the answer. Look, Arim, I’ve got problems that need immediate fixing. I’d do it myself, but I have a feeling your Storm Lords would take issue.”
Damn it. Arim knew that tone. Sava in a serious mood was no laughing matter. “Let’s go to my chamber.” Arim turned to his sister, still not sure how to feel about Faustus’s surprising presence. “Ravyn, I have matters to attend to. Faustus, good luck on your journey, my friend.”
“And on yours.” An unreadable expression passed over Faustus’s pale face. “Don’t forget what I said. Bring Lexa back or the future will be dire indeed.”