by B. A. Scott
Ayden thought for a moment. “What about Kaven?” she asked.
“He’s pure. They had different mothers. Gabrel’s powers transferred to Kaven during the spirisortium.”
Ayden looked disbelievingly to Kade, sensing another lie, but Kade’s eyes told her it was the truth.
“Gabrel’s a half-breed,” Ayden said. “That’s why you nearly killed him when we were leaving Caleton. It makes much more sense now. How did you not? Why did you not?”
“I’m not a murderer.”
“It is not murder, it is control. Our laws must be upheld, Kade. I’m a Queen.”
“You can’t kill Gabrel, Ayden.”
“I can. I should,” said the Queen. “I have to.” Gabrel and Kaven looked to each other worriedly.
“But will you?” Kade asked. “He’s a part of something larger now. The power he holds is rare. He’s the first half-breed wielder the world has ever seen. That has to stand for something. And our mission—we need him, Ayden.”
“I’ll not begin my rule with an act of weakness. I must be decisive and unwavering.”
“Then, you’re going to go through with it?”
Ayden paused. “I will come to a decision by dawn. That is when I’ll depart this city. Which brings me to the next matter I need to discuss with you. Do you still wish to travel with me?”
“I thought you said our trust is broken,” said Kade.
“It is,” Ayden answered. “But I do believe you were at least honest when you vowed to protect me. And I’d feel much safer with a Sage in my escort. I do understand why you kept Gabrel’s heritage from me—I’m not as narrow-minded as you may think. But you should have told me sooner, Kade. He should never have kept it from me.”
“You’re right. But please do not resent him for it—he didn’t choose it for himself.” Ayden shuffled uncomfortably, as Kade’s words sparked deliberation.
“As for staying by your side,” Kade continued, “I will hold to my pledge. I am a part of this greater purpose too. We all are.”
“Your people will spurn you. This decision will form a rift between you and them. I do not wish to be the reason it widens.”
“I’ll have regrets either way,” said Kade. “There is no choice without consequence here, I’m afraid. But our courses are set. And after all that’s happened, I’d regret if my situation with Kaven went unresolved—unrepaired.”
Kaven’s head shot back from the door. “What the hell?” he mouthed to Gabrel, then pressed his ear to the door once more.
“I see,” said Ayden. “So you’re inclined to accompany him to the Northlands?”
“I am,” Kade said.
“If I let Gabrel live, it would be wiser for you to go with him. There’s much more riding on his mission.”
“If that’s what you think best, then I will. But the Northlands are a farther, crueler journey, even by sea. You could send an army with Gabrel to protect him. And by my choosing not to accompany him, maybe, hopefully, Kaven’s suspicions will finally disappear.”
“It doesn’t matter what Kaven thinks,” Ayden said. “It’s preventing you from seeing things practically. And you shouldn’t let it affect you so greatly.”
“But it does.”
“You don’t need to prove anything to that man,” Ayden said. “He needs to move past it. Gabrel clearly has.”
“Yes, but, punch a man, and he can forgive you. Punch his little sister and he’ll hate you for life. I still feel Kaven’s hatred. And now you know why. I can’t say I blame him. Gabrel is all he has left.”
“And if it’s up to me, that might not be the case for long,” Ayden said.
Kaven moved away from the door, and returned to his seat. Gabrel tiptoed over to him.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
Kaven closed his eyes. “I can’t hear another word.”
“Well don’t pass out on me yet. Ayden obviously hasn’t come to a decision, and I think I just got an idea.”
“What kind of idea?”
“One that might make these people think twice about slitting my throat.”
Chapter 9: The Celestial Blaze
“We’re going to a healing house,” said Gabrel.
“A healing house? What for?” Kaven asked.
“Why do you think? We have the Celestial Blaze, Kaven. If there are people suffering from plagues or diseases, we might be able to help them.”
“You’re playing healer to save your own skin,” Kaven made the connection. “Do you really think they’d just let us walk out of the palace?”
“The palace, maybe. The city, no.” Gabrel said.
“Well shouldn’t we wait for Kade?”
“Why?” Gabrel asked. “Because you’d feel safer if she was around?”
Kaven gave Gabrel a ‘don’t toy with me’ glance. “She knows more than we do about healing,” he said.
“But exactly as much as we do about the Celestial Blaze. We drank from the Avenflame at the same time. Besides, I’d like to help as many people as possible, and who knows how long Ayden’s going to keep her.”
“She’ll think we’re mad for leaving,” Kaven said, moving toward the doors. After a knock, he spoke. “Kade, sorry to interrupt. Gabrel and I are going to a healing house to see if we can use our magic to help anyone.”
After a brief silence, Kade cracked the door open.
“Not a bad idea,” she said. “Ayden and I aren’t finished yet. But as soon as we are, I’ll find you.”
Kaven nodded and turned away.
“Be careful out there—both of you,” Kade said, then shut the door.
“There,” Kaven told Gabrel. “She knows.”
“Are you ready?” Gabrel asked.
Kaven’s voice revealed his reservations. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he said.
“Me too,” said Gabrel.
The brothers made their way through the palace, instantly noticing several Erygian soldiers shadowing them. When they reached the palace gates, Gabrel called out to them.
“Come on then, keep up,” he said. When they did not advance, he turned on the spot and approached them.
“What are you doing?” Kaven asked, following behind.
“We’re about to leave the palace, if that’s fine with all of you,” Gabrel addressed the soldiers. Their frozen faces showed their surprise at Gabrel’s maneuver. “I expect you’ve been asked to keep an eye on my brother and I.” Still, no response came. “If that’s the case, there’s really no need to walk so far behind us. Wouldn’t want to lose us in a crowd, right?” Gabrel nudged one of the soldiers with his elbow. “So, please feel free to walk with us, if you’d like. We are in need of escorts after all—we haven’t a clue how to navigate this city. Would one of you be so kind as to tell us where the nearest healing house is?”
The soldiers remained stone-faced. After a moment’s consideration, one spoke.
“The nearest healer is in the palace,” he said. “There is no need to leave if you are feeling ill, ambassador.”
“No, I’m fine,” said Gabrel. “My brother and I wish to use our magic to tend to your sick. Will you take us there?”
The soldier looked to the brothers suspiciously, then said, “Come.”
He led them into the city at a quick pace. Gabrel and Kaven, flanked and backed by the other soldiers, nodded respectfully to those they passed. When they reached the healing house, only the soldier who spoke entered with them, while the others remained outside.
The moment Gabrel and Kaven showed their faces, everyone stopped what they were doing, and looked their way. The healing house had roughly thirty beds, and nearly all were filled.
“Ehm… good evening,” Gabrel started. “I am Gabrel Caladen, and this is my brother, Kaven. We’re ambassadors and can wield magic. We’d like to help heal your sick. Do you have anyone here suffering from disease? A plague? A Primen bite?”
“Unfortunately, we do,” a female healer stepped forward.
“Excellent,” Gabrel said half-excitedly, garnering a displeased expression from the woman. “Apologies,” Gabrel told her. “We’re just eager to help. What is your name?”
“I am Debirah,” said the healer.
“Debirah, we’ve been looking for an opportunity to be made useful while we’re in Estimus. My brother and I have sipped from the Avenflame. We’ve been told the Celestial Blaze holds the power of purification. If you’d let us, we’d like to see if it will purge your sick of their plagues. I assume you use the Tears of Life to cure anyone suffering from Primen bites, right?”
“Indeed,” said Debirah. “But it seems we use them just as fast as the Enchanters can make them. If you’re here to swipe some for your journey ahead, you’re looking in the wrong place.”
“That’s not our intention,” Gabrel said.
The healer nodded in understanding, and led the brothers to a wounded woman being attended to by another healer. Her arm boasted a large bite, and had already begun to rot. The attendant poured a single red drop of liquid from a vial onto the wound.
“This woman is already receiving treatment for a Primen bite,” the healer said. “There are two other men over there who need the Tears of Life as well. We’ll let you try your magic on them. Come.”
“Actually,” Kaven said, “can I watch this? I’ve—we’ve never seen how it works.”
The healer made an impatient expression, but conceded. “The Tears of Life do not eradicate a Primen’s venom,” she said. “They displace it. They dispel it from the body.”
Gabrel watched as the woman’s wound glowed red. Streaks of light coursed through her body, until every blood vessel was filled. A black, syrupy liquid trickled from the wound into a large bowl placed below. As the Tears of Life took effect, the liquid poured more generously, until her body dismissed every last drop.
At the same time, Gabrel and Kaven noticed the woman’s skin healing. The rotted flesh became new, and even the wound closed, leaving large scars.
“The Tears of Life have healing properties?” Gabrel asked.
“They are laced with Revival,” said the healer.
“Even if the Celestial Blaze works on Primen venom, we can’t heal wounds,” Kaven said. “Do any of your Enchanters have the power of Revival?”
“Most,” said Debirah. “Arankna, Miris,” the healer called to two young women. “Felus moritch’ken se veus Magisen.” The women bowed and left the healing house. “They will come,” she said.
After taking in the miracle sight of the newly-healed woman one last time, Gabrel and Kaven walked with the healer to the two men still needing treatment. Both were unconscious. Each brother sat next to a patient.
“How long ago were they bitten?” Gabrel asked.
“The wounds look two days old,” said Debirah. “This man’s is on his side. The other’s is on his forearm. Farmers. They reached our walls today, barely able to walk. The sickness is taking their minds, worse every hour.”
“How are we doing this, Gabrel?” Kaven asked.
“Just—shoot it into them?” Gabrel suggested quietly. “I don’t know.” He filled himself with magic, pulled up his patient’s shirt, and gasped at the hideous wound. Black trails raced beneath his skin in every direction, like a massive spider web, and his dark Erygian flesh was putrid and boiled. Is this what my sweet Adelyne endured? he wondered, wincing at the thought. Despite the horrid stench, Gabrel held his composure, and put his hand just above the man’s wound. He then flashed the Celestial Blaze over the festering flesh.
For a moment, the area around the bite glowed white, and Gabrel ceased his treatment. The wound appeared healthier, though the rest of the man’s body remained grotesquely infected. After a few moments, however, it returned to its dreadful state.
“The venom lies within,” Debirah told him. “Topical treatments yield only temporary results.”
“Well that’s no good,” said Gabrel.
“The sword trick,” Kaven thought out loud.
“What?” Gabrel asked.
“Gabrel, the sword trick. Fill him with the Celestial Blaze.”
“Kaven, I can’t. You can. You try it.”
“It might be easier for you now.”
“How’s that exactly?”
“Well, a sword’s… a sword. A ‘ruddy hunk of metal,’ as you put it. This is another person. Easier to feel connected to.”
Gabrel looked to the man, and held his hand over the wound. After a moment’s thought, he knelt by his side, and touched not the bite, but grasped the man’s hand.
He tried to pour the Celestial Blaze into him as rays of light burst from their interlocked fingers.
“Think of Adelyne,” Kaven told him. “Was there ever a time when you touched her, and you felt like one person?”
“All the time,” Gabrel uttered.
Instantly, his magic raced through the Erygian, whose mouth opened wide, as he drew long, deep breaths. His body glowed pure white as Gabrel fed more of his magic into it. Everyone around them shielded their eyes.
“Is it working?” Gabrel asked through stilted breaths, immediately exhausted by the experience.
“Gabrel,” Kaven said, his eyes wide. “Look!” Gabrel caught a glimpse of the infected man, who looked like he was born of the sun.
“Well it’s scraping me hollow,” Gabrel said. “I’ve got nothing left.”
When Gabrel could no longer maintain his magic, he relinquished it, and fell back upon the floor. Out of breath, sweating, and unable to move, Gabrel couldn’t keep his eyes open.
“I think I’m gonna pass out,” he said, just as he felt Kaven lifting his head.
“Gabe, Gabe, can you hear me?” Kaven asked.
“That’s a bloody tiring trick,” Gabrel mumbled.
“It happened so fast. Was it really that bad?”
“It emptied me,” Gabrel responded. “Did it work?”
Kaven lugged Gabrel to his knees. Gabrel watched as the man’s body slowly stopped glowing. When at last it was normal once more, Gabrel saw no traces of the Primen venom. The black spider-webbing streaks were gone. The color of the man’s flesh was vibrant and healthy. And though his wounds remained, they were clean.
“I think it did, Gabe,” Kaven said. “I think it did!”
The Erygian man’s wide eyes found Gabrel. He took a deep breath, like he hadn’t inhaled easily for days. Tears pooled in his eyes as he reached out for Gabrel, who took his hand.
“Sor—sor varon,” he managed to speak. “Sor varon.”
“What does that mean?” Gabrel asked Debirah.
“‘Bless you,’” she said, then examined the man. Gabrel released his hand. “This is—unbelievable,” Debirah gasped. “The Enchanters can finish healing him with Revival. Will you help with this man now?” She moved to the other patient.
“Kaven,” Gabrel pointed lethargically to his brother. “Kaven.”
“I’ll try,” Kaven said. “Are you okay, Gabrel?”
“Even if I rest a bit, I might only have one more of those in me,” said Gabrel.
“And you wanted to stop by how many healing houses?”
“Heh!” Gabrel laughed.
“If the experience is so draining,” said Debirah, “we could use the Tears of Life on this man. There are others here who have ailments no medicine of ours can cure.”
“Take me to them,” Kaven said.
Debirah took him to a middle-aged man, far too frail for his age. Kaven was surprised to see such pale skin on an Erygian.
“This man suffers from a disease we have seen many times before, but cannot treat,” said the healer. “His body attacks itself from within.”
“Is it contagious?” Kaven asked.
“No,” said Debirah. “But death is certain, be it in a week or a year.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Kaven said. He filled himself with magic, took a deep breath, placed his hands on the sickly man’s chest, then unleashed the Celestial Blaze, filling e
very corner of the healing house with light.
Chapter 10: The Avenger
Across the sapphire waves of the Salucean Sea, Xado and Phynn sailed with impressive speed. Vega and Treäbu rested below deck, while Dareic stood at the bow, and Vexen reserved herself to the stern. Having never experienced the tumultuous motion of the water before, Dareic found a childish glee in his attempts to keep his balance amidst the crashing waves. Though, while in the past, he might have found some game or sport in the challenge, he suppressed any such urge or indication of his amusement, and remained focused on the distant horizon.
At the sound of a tink behind him, Dareic turned to see the Marinean Captain leaning against a railing, biting down on a cloudy, teardrop-shaped crystal, testing the shimmering stone’s integrity. Dareic strained his eyes to get a better look at the crystal, noticing that it emanated a faint mist, as though it was freezing cold.
Curiosity gathered within him, and he decided to address the Marinean.
“Is that the ice diamond—my payment?” Dareic asked.
“Aye,” said the Captain. He clasped the diamond closer to his chest, suddenly leery of Dareic’s interest.
“It looks—is it cold?”
Xado looked at Dareic like he was a complete idiot. “Ice diamond,” said the Captain, pointing to the precious rock in his hand. “Of course it’s bloody cold.”
“Oh. Well I didn’t know that,” Dareic retorted. “I’ve never seen one before.”
Xado eyed Dareic suspiciously, then slipped the ice diamond back into a pouch on his belt. “Well that’s the last you’ll be seein’ of this one, isn’t it?” he said, grinning as though he’d just found amusement in taking a child’s favorite toy away.
Slightly offended by the gesture, Dareic sought to give the Marinean a piece of his mind. “You know, you’re the first Marinean I’ve ever met,” he said, drawing his shoulders back. “Are all of your kind so friendly as you?”
Xado eyed Dareic with contempt. “Are all of your kind so impertinent?” he asked.
“Uh, maybe?” Dareic answered dubiously, as the word was beyond his vocabulary.