by Bryant Reil
“Take a break?” he asked.
Lili looked at him but didn't slow down. “You go ahead.”
Saul sat on a bench and watched the demoness work. He knew Eunoe and Kyla and Aura all thought he loved Lili because she was the only girl who would love him back. Perhaps she was, but that wasn't the reason. It took a discerning eye to see the good qualities buried under her rough exterior. She could be insensitive, even downright mean. She was a demoness, after all.
How many of her patrol had gone drinking after the battle? Yet she put herself straight to work. She might not know how to be kind, but she did know how to work hard. Saul could overlook a lot of faults for that. And she did the same for him.
Saul watched as she strained to drag the corpse of a centaur. He stood up to help.
***
King Oberon was staring out the window when Bremnos arrived. General Agrimarch was already here, as were a few other dignitaries. Anh-Bul appeared just after Bremnos took a seat, and it wasn't until then that the King turned to face them.
“Do you have the girl's copy of the stone?” he asked in a voice like thunder. Anh-Bul looked genuinely terrified.
“N-no, Your Majesty.” Anh-Bul was careful to look down this time. “The girl has it.”
Oberon's energy shimmered. “You know where it is, and you didn't retrieve it? Were the sounds of battle too much for you?” He didn't sound angry: merely speculative. “Yet I hear you did petrify many of the Avowed during the attack.”
“Pardon, Your Majesty. I was in pursuit of the girl when I found my assistant Marik set upon by several Avowed. I had to save him. We can track the girl down.”
“Do so. At any rate that is an issue of secondary importance. We still don't know how Erebus was defeated, or where he might be. Thoughts, General?”
Agrimarch grunted. “We have no leads so far. There were several points of resistance among local armies but no one has stepped forward to claim the honor. Well, some have tried, but none have been able to substantiate their claims.”
Oberon looked disgusted. “Opportunists. Well, what about your seers? Surely they can get a fix on Erebus?”
“No. Same problem as before. Someone or something protects him.”
“Well, until he is found, this war isn't over. Keep your officers on high alert, but as far as the public knows, Erebus is defeated.”
Anh-Bul pulled his gaze from the floor. “Majesty, if I may—”
“Get Equinox back in order. I want it running next term.”
“Yes, your Majesty. And the elf girl's copy of the stone?”
“If she still has it, retrieve it. Bring her to me, if necessary.”
***
Marik straightened out the rubbing as best he could. It was wrinkled, now, and some characters hardly legible, but he was sure Nyx could decipher it. She was sitting on a white chair when he arrived, in a large room of marble beams and illuminated by pale blue light. Garlands of moonflowers decorated the walls.
She spoke without looking at him. “It doesn't matter. I don't need to read it.”
Marik knew he didn't need to speak, as she could read his mind, but the spoken word sorted his thoughts. “I don't understand why you want it.”
“Many Avowed gave up their livelihoods to serve Erebus. Now that he's gone they can't return to their old lives. Many desire annihilation, just as your friend Linkin did. They have all the fragments, save the one.” She stood and walked up to Marik. Her gait was graceful, her face kind. Marik handed her the rubbing. “I shall protect this.”
“Oberon still has the original stone.”
“Yes, and the Avowed have scattered and their lines of communication are cut. They will be unable to coordinate to put the stones together. Still, I won't rest content until I recover as many fragments as I can.”
Marik took a moment to breathe in Nyx's beauty. Her raven hair was shiny and looked so silky he could barely restrain himself from touching it. Her skin was unblemished, and her lips unnaturally red. She was physical perfection. It was not her natural form, to be sure; as a child of Chaos she had none, but she had done well in selecting her current body.
“I am not for you,” she scolded.
Marik coughed. “Er...no.” Just as well. There was a clear downside to a relationship with a mind reader. “You're still going to help me forget Carmin, aren't you? Take my memories away?”
“Why do you want to forget? I can bring her back.”
Marik had defected from Erebus for the promise Nyx could clear his mind of its pain. She hadn't mentioned the ability to restore Carmin. “Really? Why didn't you tell me before?” Marik couldn't help feeling a bit enraged, and despite doing his best to watch his tongue he knew she could still read it in his thoughts.
She only smiled. “I never told you because I wasn't sure if it would be best for you. However, I think I'm starting to understand what a motivator she can be.”
Marik's rage was quickly pushed aside for gratitude. He had never entertained the possibility of getting Carmin back. He took Nyx's hand. “Thank you. Anything you want, I am your servant.”
“Yes. Well, for now just keep your ears open at Equinox.”
“What about recovering the stones?”
“Leave that to me.”
“And Kyla Nim? She may know too much. I believe she has Erebus prisoner. She's liable to hand him over to—”
“No concern of yours. He is hidden, and only she knows where. I will see to the details.”
Marik paused. “You've been protecting her. There were other plans to capture Erebus but you sent him to her. Why? She won't join your cause.”
Nyx shrugged. Marik wished he could read her mind. “Not as things now stand, but things change, and my reasons are none of your concern.”
“Yes. Of course. And thank you, Nyx. In advance. For bringing back Carmin.”
“You're welcome. Oh, and from now on, call me Sophrosyne.”