Koios charged. If nothing else he could provide the distraction that the others needed to get the wounded out of the city. To get Bronwen to safety. Phaenna and Eaudne would protect her, no matter what. He had no doubt of that.
But he needed to drive the sorcerer back, to keep him occupied as long as he possibly could. It was the only way that he could see.
His blade struck the staff the sorcerer carried, and the clash resonated down into his arm and chest.
He’d suspected it wasn’t an ordinary walking stick, and he could feel the power that ran through it now.
If he had any chance of living through this confrontation he would need to separate the sorcerer from the staff.
He studied his opponent as Midreno met staff time and time again. The creature he fought was far older than he was, and definitely more skilled.
But he was weak. He favored one side more than the other, much like the Laquazzeana Eaudne who feared him so. Koios switched tactics, and deliberately aimed blows in that area.
He could hear Conmor and the others approaching, could hear the shouting. He wanted to yell at them to stay back. Something in the sorcerer’s eyes shifted, and he aimed his staff in Phan and Dell’s direction. Black something shot out of the end of it, and then Dell was down. His skin was aflame. Koios roared and charged again, hoping to pull the sorcerer’s attention back to him.
Why would the sorcerer use the staff in that manner against the other warriors, but not Koios?
He struck out again, and this time his blade sank deep into the sorcerer’s side.
He was rewarded with a harsh yell of pain and anger. The staff swung toward Koios’ head, power emanating from it again. Something knocked Koios to the ground.
He raised his sword arm to his face—his nose was bleeding. And if he wasn’t mistaken, so were his eyes. He wiped the blood away with his forearm.
It mingled with the sorcerer’s from where it had sprayed across the hilt.
Steam rose from the mix.
Koios almost dropped the sword right there when it began to burn in his hand. To heat and glow red with flame.
The clouds overhead darkened, the day going almost to night in an instant. Koios pulled himself back up to his feet. The sorcerer swung the staff around in front of his own body. His eyes were black and fathomless when he stared at Koios.
The staff burned a cold blue.
It was now or it was never. Koios yelled and ran toward the sorcerer.
Burning sword met flaming staff.
Sparks erupted around them. Koios fought to hold onto the Midreno metal. He wrapped two hands around the hilt, his left smearing the mingled blood until it coated his palm.
He pushed with everything he had, until the staff was bending back, and he was overtaking the sorcerer.
He didn’t dare feel hope.
The sword was burning his flesh. Or was it the mingled blood?
He did not know.
The staff fractured in two.
The sorcerer cursed.
Koios struck out with the blade. The sorcerer’s right arm fell to the ground and withered into dust before his eyes.
The sorcerer grabbed out with his left hand and yanked on Koios’ tunic.
The earth shattered beneath him.
Chapter 30
WHEN Koios opened his eyes he was being carried and every bit of his body burned.
“Am I dead?”
“Not quite. But half your men are. What were you thinking to enter that space?”
“I was thinking the ground looked fertile and I have ten thousand people in need of food.”
“Noble thoughts.”
“Who in the three hells are you?”
“You do not know? Your cry of allegiance awoke me.”
“I speak allegiance to no one except—” He stopped short. It was never a good idea to give an unknown—whether foe or not—information about those a warrior cared about.
“Yet you called out that you fight in my name. It piqued my curiosity. None have called my name allowed in three thousand years.”
Koios thought for a moment. “I claimed Dekimos.”
“And I am he.”
But how could he trust that? Dekimos was supposed to be long dead from the worlds. “Then tell me, Dekimos, what is the name of your mother?”
The male carrying him stopped walking and dumped Koios on the ground. “I speak of her not, warrior.”
“Then how am I to trust that you are the Great Healer?”
“Who called me that?”
Koios took a long look around. They were headed back to the city. And he could see his men dragging litters with bodies upon them a distance behind them. “The ones who are building that city. They call it Dekimos City, the City of the Great Healer.”
“Then they are all foolish then. There are no great healers. Not anymore.”
“Tell me, then. The name of the one who birthed you, and how many children came forth from her in your father’s lifetime?” He would not lead this male back to where Eaudne waited; not with him claiming to be her lost son.
That would be beyond cruel.”
“Twenty-one others. Two were twins.”
“A boy and a girl. Tell me their names.”
“What claim you to them? They are all dead now.”
“Maybe. But then again, maybe some of them are not. Or maybe some of them have been reborn.” Koios still had his Midreno sword, but it had changed now. Somehow. It was no longer the standard dark green of Midreno, but was a copper red. But the inlay and design was identical to what it had been. He gripped the hilt. “Identify yourself more fully so that I can determine whether you are the son of the one I think, or whether you are imposter.”
“I have not spoken my mother’s name aloud in millennia. What think you that you are deserving enough to hear it?”
“Because if you are in truth her son, then I would seek reunite you. But if you are imposter I will strike you dead.”
“You and who else? Warrior, you could not even fight the specter of the dark bastard who killed so indiscriminately all those years ago. And he did not manage to kill me. Nothing has ever managed to, obviously.”
And Koios heard the bitterness then. He clutched his sword and brought it up between them. “Tell me the name of your mother. Lest we fight this day.”
“And if my answer is satisfactory, will that appease you?” There was no caring in the male’s eyes, no interest in what Koios had to say. Why? And why had the male carried him with such ease, when Koios knew he was a large heavy warrior?
“It will allow you into the city. After that, you can be sorted out.”
“If I want into the city, I shall go into it. No one will stop me.” The male disappeared.
“What trick is this?” He certainly wasn’t the first Koios had ever seen do that. He would not react to petty pranks. “Show yourself.”
The man reappeared. He bowed a mocking bow. And looked at Koios out of yellow cat-like eyes. “I am Dekimos Dardaptos, second son of the king of Evelanedea and his bride. Her name was Eaudne.”
Koios stared at him for a moment. “And the name of those twins you claim kinship to?”
“It has been so long, maybe I have forgotten?”
They both knew it was a lie. “How do I know you are not the dark sorcerer himself disguised to seek out the ones who survived his evil so long ago?”
“You do not. But if I were he I could have killed you hours ago. And none but I survived him that day.”
“Tell me the name of that brother and sister.”
“Kennera was as fair as any flower. Her twin Jushua a great prankster with the broad shoulders of our father, and the golden hair of our mother.” He moved, and Koios found himself pinned to the ground with the creature over the top of him, and a large dagger through the flesh of his side, pinning him and the material to the ground. The male had his hand on Koios neck, and the air was cut off so easily. “Now tell me this, why do you ask these quest
ions? Their names were erased from all histories the day the dark sorcerer consumed them. Why and how do you know them?”
Koios looked into the man’s gold eyes. There was something there...something he had seen before. In Eaudne’s eyes. And in Bronwen’s before all sight had been lost. Something that his instincts were telling him were genuine. “Because when the fires of the Three Hells burned through your world, some survived. Eaudne, Jushua, Kennera, and the druidic female Nelciana.”
The knife twisted. “You lie.”
“That I do not. Come with me. See for yourself. Eaudne awaits within the city walls. She is helping guide the healers. Come, I will let her determine if you are her son.”
“If you are lying of this I will kill you. Healer vow or not. I will see you dead.”
“How is it that you live?” And how was it that Eaudne did not know it? He had paid so little attention to the deities that his female worshipped. They had mattered little to a powerful demon such as himself. Perhaps he should have learned a bit more. “You are the healer that all Dardaptoans are fashioned after, are you not?”
“Dardaptoans? The only Dardaptoans that I knew were those who shared the blood of my ancestors. And all of them are dead as well.”
“That is not the truth. Two bands survived. Two bands have reformed. There are now close to four hundred thousand or more of your Kind. And the Healers of those four hundred thousand worship an unnamed Great Healer. Rumor is they possess a portion of his soul. But if you stand here before me, how is that possible?”
“Because a healer’s soul can never truly die while those he healed still live. My damned soul regrew itself while I was a mere slug in the ground of my Evelanedea. Finally, after years in the soil I was able to pull my way up and into this world. I have lived here ever since.”
It explained a few questions he had. But not all. By no means, all. “Then what is this place called?”
“I never named it.”
“Then I name it...Bronwen. The thirteenth world. And the capitol seat is Dekimos City, Place of the Great Healers.” Koios knew it was arrogant of him.
But he was the damned king, was he not?
The male looked at him. He pulled the knife free of Koios’ flesh. “Whatever. Your people will not be here long enough for a name such as that to ever stay. Come. I wish to see this Eaudne you speak of for myself.”
“So be it. But be warned...if you attempt harm upon her, I will see that you are beheaded. And the parts of your soul will be buried in separate worlds. I will find a way.”
“If that were possible, Warrior, I would have already tried it for myself. I have searched the eighteen worlds for the answers to that eternal question. And I have yet to find the solution.”
“And what is that question.”
“Simple. What it would take to end my very existence.”
Chapter 31
BRONWEN was speaking with the healer Eralyna, determining how many beds they would need in the main chamber when she heard calls from the intake area.
She wrapped her hand around the woman’s arm. “Eral, help me. I need to know what is happening.”
“Of course, my lady. This way.” Eralyna was a demon healer of many years. She’d established herself over the past four days as someone who was always calm in any situation. And she was fast becoming Bronwen’s second-in-command.
The two women hurried down the stone stairs to the first chamber. It was there that the wounded would first be processed by the Healer Hall’s staff. “Tell me what you see.” She hated having to use someone else as her eyes, but if that was what she had to do, then she would do it.
Eralyna hesitated. “The warrior King Koios has returned. And he has injured.”
“Is he hurt?” Panic had her words shrill even to her own ears.
“There is demon blood, my lady. But he walks on his own legs. But they bring back two bodies. And they are burned.”
She heard the clear horror in the other woman’s words. Bronwen’s mind returned quickly to the words Eaudne had said back in Thrun. No one escaped the fires of the dark sorcerer. “Send for Thadd. He should be in his office. Have the injured taken back to his examination bay. I will speak to the king myself.”
“Yes. Of course. There is another with him, my lady. A dark male I have never seen before. I do not think him warrior, though he feels familiar to me in some ways.”
“Thank you.”
She was at the bottom of the stairs now, wasn’t she? There were thirteen, and she’d counted them out of habit as she and Eralyna had descended.
Hard hands wrapped around her arms and stopped her. “Bronwen...”
“Koios?” She surprised herself by yanking her arms free and running her hands down his body, checking for injuries. She sent a bit of her healer’s soul into his body to check. There were injuries. Some she had never seen before. How in the name of the goddess was he even standing, let alone walking? “You need to be lying down. We need to get this blood stopped.” There were several lacerations, and one deep stab wound along his side that concerned her.
“In time. I am semi-mortal, female. I will not die from these minor scrapes. Tell me, where is the Laquazzeana Eaudne? I expected to find her at your side this day.”
She didn’t miss the chiding tone. “She cannot be at my side all day, Koios. That is unrealistic. She heads her own troupe of healers to lead. I’ll have someone fetch her, if you are more comfortable with her healing you than me.”
“Nonsense. If anyone’s hands need to be upon my flesh, it is yours. But someone seeks Eaudne. He claims to be her son.”
“And you believe him? It’s not Jushua, is it?” Jushua had been around Nalik a time or two in the past several months. He had taken great joy in teasing Bronwen; much the way her own brother Thadd had so often. He was also particularly protective of Cassandra, and whenever Nalik had had to leave Cass for whatever reason, Jushua often remained at her side.
“No. It is not Jushua.”
“Then are you sure it’s safe?”
“I do not know any other way of determining if it is this Dekimos or if he is the sorcerer in disguise.”
“That’s very coincidental that he’d show up here at the city named after him?”
“Or it was done on purpose by someone we just do not know much about. Where is Phaenna?”
Bronwen caught on to what he was thinking almost immediately. “You think she knew he was nearby? Where did you find him? How many injured did you bring back? Eralyna said there were some who were burned.”
Someone touched her shoulder from the left. She turned. “They are burned and dead. But with your help, I can restore them to their lives. Their souls still exist in this world, though they are leaving us quickly.”
“Then I will help you.”
“No!”
“Koios, if I can save their lives it is my duty as the Chief Healer of this place to do all that I can.” On that she would never budge. Healing was her calling, and she would deny it never again. No matter what condition she found herself in, when someone needed her, she would be there. Her own honor demanded that. “You will not stand in the way of me answering the call of my station, of my gift. It is who I am and it is what I will do. Healer, I am blinded. I cannot see to assist you, but you will have the strength of my gift.”
“Then we shall work together. For I am blinded of heart, and the healing art is almost dead within me. I am Dekimos.”
“And I am Bronwen.”
She held out a hand to him.
“The one for whom this world has been named. I take it you are of some import to the one who calls himself king?”
“He thinks I am his queen.”
“And you have yet to deny it. Come. We have men to heal.”
His fingers wrapped around hers.
For the quickest flash of a half second, Bronwen’s vision was returned to her.
She gasped and dropped his hand.
Koios cursed, and grabbed her. He yanke
d her away from the other male. “Did he harm you?”
“Koios...I saw him. With my eyes. He did not harm me. Let me go. We don’t have time for this.” She reached out with her hand, something in her knowing that the other healer would take it.
She stepped away from Koios and toward the other man. “I am sorry. Sometimes Koios reacts before he thinks. It’s kind of been the main theme of our association.”
“Yes. He is rather hot-headed, is he not?” The fingers wrapped around her own again. This time she was ready for the return of her sight.
It was clearer than she had seen since she’d been a teenager. Bronwen had never had the best of vision to begin with.
Why had she forgotten that? Not all of her vision loss had occurred because of Ramorakin, had it?
No, it hadn’t.
She looked at the people surrounding her. She didn’t recognize half of them—at least not by sight.
But he was there.
And she looked at him. Koios. Big, strong, tan, and hair of almost black. He didn’t look like anyone from her world of Gaia. But he was so handsome.
She could look at him forever.
But there were injured needing her tending. And it was there she turned her attention next.
Chapter 32
DELL would live. As would Phan. Koios was well aware of the miracle that was. Both men had been nearly consumed by the fires the sorcerer had wielded.
That they had lived was due only to the man Dekimos and to his Bronwen.
She had looked so beautiful with the power of her gift flowing through her and into the two injured men. He had been awed by it, for a moment.
And he was convinced beyond doubt that she was a Laquazzeana now.
It humbled him.
How was he to care for her? To provide and protect the way a gamata should?
The crowd surrounding them felt the same awe. He could see it on the faces of those that watched.
Her brother Thadd had tears unashamedly on the face that was very much like Bronwen’s. The man’s unabashed emotion bothered Koios for some reason.
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