She threw him off, but not before Jez had prepared his working. He had spent months examining what Sharim had done to the high lords. He couldn’t duplicate it exactly. Sharim had used an unimaginable amount of power to craft it. Jez wouldn’t have been able to do it with even an ordinary pharim. An afur, who had been cast out of the Keep of the Hosts and whose power had been curbed, was another matter. The working slammed into place. Her sword faded as her wings puffed out of existence. The shine of her robes dimmed, and the color drained from her face.
“What...what have you done?”
Jez stood up, wiping the mud from his legs. He was still maintaining the working, but now that she had stopped attacking, it was a simple matter to link the working to her own power so that her own energy would keep it going. Once, he had considered such a thing cruel, but against a being like this, he had few options.
“I bound your power,” Jez said between heavy breaths.
“It’s more than you deserve Trenia.”
Rellan stepped up next to Trenia. His companion was gone, but so were the attackers. Patches of vegetation had been burned, and in places, trees had been torn out of the ground. A part of Jez was glad he’d been too distracted to see the battle, but another part was curious as to what exactly had happened.
“They betrayed us,” Trenia cried out. “After all these millennia, they called us back, and fools that we were, we came. What did we get for it? We are regulated to tasks children could do. This is not the reason we were created, Rellan. We deserve better.”
Rellan shook his head. “Then, we should not have rebelled.”
“The Vanishin needed—”
“The Vanishin are gone.” Fire blazed around Rellan, causing the shadows among the trees to retreat for a second before it faded. “They fell so long ago that not even the oldest history books remember their name. Even the tribe that defeated them is lost to history. We held off their destruction for a hundred years, but still, it came to nothing.”
“We could have preserved them longer.”
“Do you still not understand? We could have preserved them only by stopping the tide of history, a history formed by the free choice of thousands upon thousands of mortals. What right did we have to stand before that? History was given to them, not to us.” Rellan turned to Jez. For a moment, Jez thought he saw glowing red tears in the afur’s eyes, but they vanished as quickly as they had appeared. “Can you free Lord Sariel?”
Jez knelt by the frozen pharim lord. The magic holding him restrained both his body and his power, holding him so completely that he couldn’t even move a finger. It had to be strong to hold a being such as Sariel, but it was like the strength of a diamond, brittle and easily broken. Immobilized as he was, Sariel couldn’t break out, but someone from outside should have little trouble. Jez gathered his power and touched the crystal binding right between Sariel’s eyes. An almost musical hum rose from the working. It hung in the air for a few seconds. Then, the crystal shattered. Sariel collapsed, though he picked himself up off the ground a second later. He stared down at Trenia and shook his head.
“Of all those who were once Shadowguards, I did not think you would betray our cause.”
“How could I do anything else?” Her voice was halfway between a scream and a wail. “You discarded us!”
“Because you interfered with human choice.”
“What difference does that make? Why should we not? We are wiser than they. We have seen more and understand more. We should be permitted to interfere for their good.”
Sariel raised an eyebrow. “Is that what you want? To interfere freely?”
She had tears in her eyes. “I want to have a purpose again.”
Sariel thought for a moment before nodding. “Very well.”
Everyone looked at him in stunned silence. The fogs of Between drifted down from above and swirled around him. Sariel’s eyes glowed blue, though he didn’t say anything. It was Trenia who finally spoke.
“What are you talking about?”
“I will give you what you wish, or at least a chance to get it.”
“You said you could not restore me.”
“I cannot, but that is not what you asked for. You asked for a purpose, and you asked to be able to interfere. Those, I can grant.” The fog crept in between trees as he turned to Jez. “This will be much easier if you form a contingent with me.”
Jez’s jaw dropped. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there in open astonishment. All was silent aside from the muffled sound of the stream that ran around Aphlel. “What?”
“Form a contingent with me, if you will.”
“A contingent? With you?”
Sariel gave him a level stare. “Yes, that is what I said.” Power welled up inside of Sariel. It waxed and waned in an odd pattern. It lulled Jez to listlessness, and he almost thought he could predict the changes in Sariel’s magic. “Focus on the feel of my power, and think of nothing else. That will be the initiating thought.”
Jez blinked. “Is that possible?”
Sariel smirked. “It is possible if one has a perfect knowledge of their own power as well as the perceptions of the other.”
“You know my perceptions?”
Sariel grinned. “I know Luntayary.”
“But—”
“Trust me, Jezreel. I do have a fair amount of experience with this sort of thing. It will work.”
Jez nodded and focused his attention on Sariel’s power, not entirely sure it would work, but after a moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. Sariel’s power twined with his, and there was a rush of energy as Sariel drew on Jez’s magic. It was only then that Jez realized what the high lord was doing. It wasn’t strength he needed. This working required an exacting control of power on a level Jez had scarcely imagined, but there was a working already in place on Trenia. The power of every person was as unique as fingerprints. As a result, the fine manipulation of the working of another bordered on impossible, but with Jez’s own power added to Sariel’s, that ceased to be a problem. Sariel touched the working Jez had placed on the afur. It flared for a second before going dark. At first, Jez thought the binding had been removed. He was right, but not in the way he thought. Trenia’s power was gone, not just bound away. It was completely gone, seeming to be burned away by the energy running through Jez’s working.
“What happened?” Jez asked.
“The working you used could not have been crafted save by mortal will, but once it was in place, I could use it. I have removed Trenia’s power, both her active and passive. Her form has been sealed to human flesh. She will age, grow old, and die, and she will never touch her magic again. Unlike you, however, her soul will never again be a pharim.”
“What?” Trenia’s voice sounded somehow less than it had been. “Why would you do that? That makes me...mortal.”
Sariel nodded. “As you wished.”
“That is not what I asked for.”
“You are no longer restricted by mortal choice. In fact, you can take part in it. Mortals have a limited time to discover their purpose, but many find it anyway. You now have that same opportunity. You are correct. For all intents and purposes, you are mortal, with all the freedoms and power that they have. You may even receive a final judgment when you die, though I can promise nothing in that regard. Mortals have no guarantees, and even if they did, what lies beyond mortal life is outside of my ken.”
The tears flowed freely down her face. “This is not what I wanted.”
“But it is what you have. Go now. Make a life for yourself. You have no place here anymore.”
“But...”
Sariel waved her off and turned to Rellan. “I will send her out of the manor. You go to Gayel. Have him shift the working to prevent her from reentering.”
Rellan brought his fist to his heart. “By your command.”
Trenia started to argue, but Sariel waved his hand, and though the afur continued to speak, no sound came out. He glared at her, and she l
owered her head. Sariel turned to Jez. “Shall we go try to find these power sources of yours?”
Jez nodded, and they walked side by side as they moved through the halls of the manor. Trenia followed them in mute surrender. As soon as they passed out of the fog, it shuddered. Tendrils flowed into Trenia’s nose and mouth, and she looked like she was going to be sick. She started to fall as the fogs withdrew. Jez caught her, and she looked up at him, grabbing her throat and gasping before she found her voice again.
“What do you expect me to do now?”
Sariel shook his head. “I am forbidden to interfere with mortal matters. Do as you will.” He turned back to Jez and pointed north, west, and south. “The power sources are there.”
Jez tried to sense them, but he could feel nothing. He sighed. “Which do we go to first?”
“The one to the south seemed to be pulsing. I believe we should investigate. You can fly without harm to yourself, can you not?”
Jez nodded. “Ever since I change my flesh in Aniel’s valley, I can transform without hurting myself. Flying won’t be a problem.”
Sariel nodded. “Good. That will make this easier.”
Jez hesitated. Too often he’d overly depended on Luntayary’s power. He was trying to get over that. On the other hand, three very powerful factions were on the verge of open war with one another. This was no time to be overly cautious. He nodded as his wings emerged from his back. Tears flowed freely down Trenia’s face as she beheld what she would never again be. Jez tried to ignore her, but he could practically feel her staring at him. He turned to Sariel.
“Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 23
The land south of Randak swiftly rose until they formed a cliff overlooking the eastern sea. Acre after acre of empty grassland, dotted by an occasional farm, stretched out before them. In the morning breeze and the light of the rising sun, it almost looked as though they flew over a sea of green. Jez was surprised that the working extended so far. If he concentrated, he thought he could detect it strengthening as they moved away from the city, but it was a subtle thing, and Jez wasn’t entirely sure he wasn’t imagining it.
“We’re very close now.” Sariel pointed to a small cluster of what looked to be apple trees. “There.”
Jez nodded, and they descended, landing lightly a few yards away. Something moved among the branches. Both Jez and Sariel drew their crystal swords, but they lowered their weapons as a figure, obscured by leaf-like feathers, dropped out of the trees. Illeon stood, his orange robes practically glowing in the morning light.
“What are you doing here?” Jez asked.
The afur looked Jez in the eye, seemingly afraid to meet Sariel’s gaze. “I came to think. Andera offers me something I have desired for nearly as long as your kind has existed. Deep inside, I know that he will only give me that if I surrender all that remains of who I was. I could not do that and ever again claim to be a Lifebringer.” He raised a hand. An apple hanging from a branch above grew to twice its size, and the sweet smell of apple blossoms filled the air. The fruit’s color became so vibrant that it almost looked like it was glowing. He plucked it off the branch and stared at it. “This world is beautiful, Jezreel. How can I even consider sacrificing this for my own gain?”
“Then, do not,” Sariel said. “Remain loyal and keep to our cause. Stand with us against the coming darkness.”
Illeon pursed his lips and nodded. “You came here because of the working?”
“You know about that?” Jez asked.
Illeon nodded. “I had not noticed it before, but as I flew, I detected a thickening in the air.” He waved at the trees. “It led me here.”
“Why would you be able to detect it?”
Illeon blinked at him. “Because it is a working of healing.”
Jez took in a sharp breath. “It is?”
“Yes. It is a complicated one that causes certain substances to be released into the body which makes one more prone to anger and fear, especially when asleep.”
“That explains the nightmares,” Jez said, “but if affected the afur and the high lords too. They’ve practically been at each other’s throats.”
Sariel gave him a half smile. “Do you think that it is for no reason that we so resemble humans? We may not be flesh and blood, but much of the magic that affects you affects us as well, albeit usually to a much lesser degree.”
Jez looked at the cluster of trees. “Those are one of the power sources?”
Illeon walked back into the trees, running his fingers along their bark. “It seems to go from one tree to another in a sort of web. I am a little surprised to see it working. I had never considered something like this.”
“He could be right,” Sariel said. “This close, it is distorting my sight.”
“Can you take it down?” Jez asked.
“I believe so.”
Sariel stepped into the trees next to Illeon. He closed his eyes, and a shroud of blue light sprung to life around him. The trees almost seemed to back away from him, and Jez thought he heard hissing in his mind. Shadows deepened, and Jez suppressed a shiver. Instinctively, he summoned his sword. Illeon eyed him for a second before drawing his own weapon. The wooden blade rippled in Sariel’s light. Illeon looked into the shadows and raised his sword. Jez tightened the grip on his hilt, ready for an attack, though he couldn’t say from where.
Sariel’s eyes snapped open. His hand moved to his sword, but Illeon was already moving, and he drove his blade into Sariel’s stomach.
CHAPTER 24
Jez rushed forward, swinging his sword, but vines shot out of the trees and wrapped themselves around his arms and legs. They jerked him back with such force it felt like his arms would be pulled out of their sockets. His sword flew from his hands and vanished. Sariel lay on the ground with motes of blue light bleeding from his wound. Illeon stood taller. The pupils and whites had faded from his eyes, leaving spheres seeming to be made of orange crystal. All signs of the meekness that had constantly hung about him were gone, replaced by an expression that showed little more than anger and contempt.
“What are you doing?” Jez asked.
“What I promised to Lord Andera.”
“You said you would deny his offer.”
Illeon laughed. “The offer? I was Andera’s servant long before he made the offer. Dusan laid the foundation for a working that would affect the city, but we are the ones who actually brought it to pass.”
“The trees weren’t the center, were they? It was you. All three of you.”
“I could hardly believe you fell for it. You really are far too trusting.”
Sariel was struggling to get to his feet. Illeon knelt next to him and placed a hand on his forehead. Sariel tried to grip his wrist, but instead, let out a cry of pain and collapsed. Jez called out to him, but Sariel didn’t move. Illeon brought his hand over the pharim lord’s wound. His fingers emitted an orange light, and the wound closed, though Sariel didn’t awaken. Jez tried to pull free of the vines, but they held fast. A few had thorns that bit into his wrist, and he felt the thin trickle of blood running down his arms.
“Unfortunately,” Illeon said, “I could no more kill you than a Lightgiver could lie, but a simple working to put you to sleep should keep you immobilized long enough for some hungry animal to come along. If not that, thirst will claim you soon enough. In the meantime, your suffering can serve our purposes.”
He lifted a hand to touch Jez’s forehead, but Jez pulled water out of the vines. They crumbled, and he lashed out at Illeon, forming the water into a whip. Orange light bled from a cut just beneath the afur’s eye. Jez summoned his sword, and Illeon took a step back, raising his own weapon.
“You’re not a fighter,” Jez said. “You have to know you can’t beat me.”
“I beat Sariel.”
“You surprised Sariel.” Jez took a step forward, causing the former Lifebringer to retreat. “Why are you doing this?”
“Why are you? I know of your co
nfrontations with Andera. The pharim lords led you into that, and all it ever brought you is pain. Why do you continue to fight for them when their end is so inevitable?”
“How many people has Sharim killed?”
“People who would have died anyway. What does it matter if their deaths happen a few decades earlier. You are no mere mortal. Do not concern yourself with short-lived individuals.”
“How can you say that? You were created to heal.”
Illeon sneered. “And I surrendered that purpose when I learned that mortalkind was not worth healing.”
Jez had been angry in battle before, but the fury that came upon him at that moment wasn’t the red-hot anger that had often driven him to attack. This was a cold rage that somehow dwarfed any other anger he had ever felt.
“Osmund told me about you when we first met, three years ago.”
Illeon laughed. “Three years? Three years ago, you were a spec. So was he, and far beneath my notice. What could the lumbering brute possibly have known about me that he could tell you?”
“He told me that in morality, shades of gray do exist, but not always. There is absolute good in the world, and there is absolute evil.”
Illeon started to respond, but Jez threw himself forward, drawing on every ounce of magic he had. His blade darted out, even as bands of water formed around the afur and the earth beneath his feet trembled. Jez’s blade was a hair’s breadth from cutting into Illeon’s chest when the nearest apple tree bent and slammed into Jez’s side, sending him flying. He skidded across the ground, losing his grip on the water working. By the time he got to his feet, Illeon was in the air. Jez prepared to go after him, but Sariel writhed on the ground, entangled by vines that were slowly tightening. Jez rushed over and cut him free before the vines could choke the life out of him, but in the few seconds it had taken him to do that, Illeon had vanished from sight.
Lifebringer (Pharim War Book 6) Page 12