“Gods grant me strength to let her go,” he mumbled after Castien had slammed the door.
NARA
Nara stood naked before a tall mirror. The wooden etchings of curls, leaves, and elves that held the mirror in place were nothing compared to what now shone across her back. The beauty of what had formed on her body took her breath. Handprints marked her chest while soft, golden lines formed branches across her back and her arms. When her arms settled at her sides, the tree was complete.
Downwards, the lines traveled. Past the base of her back, roots spiraled across her buttocks, thighs, and legs, the ends wrapping around her ankles. It was the largest mark she had ever seen. Flutters tickled her heart while, at the same time, fear gripped it.
She remembered drinking the essence of Gaia. She remembered the dryads and fae, every intimate detail that had happened while awake. But every aspect of her dream had run from her. She could not grasp onto the images she had seen. She only knew they had caused terror in her.
Perhaps it was all for the best.
Examining herself again, she wondered if anyone would ever actually see the larger part of her mark. Though sleeveless, most clothing she wore covered her to her knees. But that still left her arms exposed.
When she left, she would cover up as much as possible to avoid conversation.
A stillness drifted through and around her being. While the gods had not extinguished the use of her blood crystals, she felt the same as she had before. No new knowledge or power flashed in her mind as she was told others experienced. Still, a mark was always the sign of something, and she prayed her abilities would show themselves soon.
If this were not the doing of Thaos.
There came a knock at the door, and she grabbed the blanket the High Elder had placed on her. Nara had slept through most of the day. With the onset of night, shades of pink now pooled in through her window casting against the white fur lining her bed. Who would come see her when most whispered her to be touched by a demon?
Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, she padded to the door. Opening it only a little, she peeked through.
Castien gazed down at her, the tips of his ears crimson and his face unmoving. Nara blinked up at him, not having seen him since Summer Set. That night when she’d nearly kissed Fallon, a soft stirring of passion had filled her for the briefest moment. When Fallon held her, she had been ready to release her hold on Castien. But her longtime friend had rejected her advances and she knew then that even though he was willing to leave with her, he was uninterested.
The parting the day Castien took her innocence had been silent. A gentle kiss to her forehead and he’d left, leaving her until he’d cornered her again on Summer Set, trying to reassure her he would be there for her. It tore her heart apart to have him lie to her.
Yet he spoke of love and opportunity.
Castien’s lips parted, his face relaxing the longer he stared at her. Reaching out, he laid his hand gently against her cheek. Nothing sparked, but her heart quickened at the touch. Holding the blanket against her with her arm, she held his hand against her cheek.
“I sincerely apologize if you received no mark,” he muttered, thumb stroking her cheek. A smile broke her face as she pulled him inside and closed the door. With his eyebrow raised, he stared after her. Grinning, she let the blanket slip away, pulling her hair from her chest to first show him the imprint above her small breasts.
His eyes ran across her body, widening all the way down to her legs. Slowly she turned, keeping her hair over one shoulder. The air stilled for the longest moment. Then gentle hands brushed across her back, tracing the outline there.
Nara closed her eyes, mouth agape. No sensation compared to what had happened on the beach, but a deep longing for more still rose within her.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he whispered, one hand falling to rest on her hip. “How…” He could not finish, stooping low to look at her legs. His fingers trailed over the outline. Her smile softened when she faced him before taking his hand to ease him to stand.
“I don’t know,” she said, heaviness slipping into her words. “I barely remember anything that happened. I know it’s odd, but I’m still happy to have a mark at all. Especially after…” She was unable to say it still, but Castien nodded, his fingers brushing the handprints on her chest. Just as gently, he wrapped his hands around her face.
After kissing her forehead, he whispered against it, “We will concern ourselves with this later. The High Elder has asked me to leave as soon as possible.” Thumbs stroking her cheeks, warmth radiating outwards, he continued, “We leave tonight, I will take you to your father, and everything will be as it should have been all along. Our prophetess may be able to help you understand these markings better.”
Nara closed her eyes, pulling closer to him. His hands slid down her back, tracing downwards as though he were feeling for the lines of the tree until he lightly rested his palms on her waist.
The question weighing on her mind slipped past her lips. “What about us?”
Castien turned his face into her hair and inhaled. One hand slid through curls, gently tugging. “There can be no us.” Her heart stopped. “At least not at present, Nara. What we’ve done; you must never speak of it. Love may be freely given on Ghela, but not for us. Not for those in our position.”
Her eyebrows tight, Nara wondered why he had gone so far knowing he would not be able to be with her. He would not look at her when she asked, “Why?”
Instead of answering, he pulled away. “Nara, understand this is not a permanent decision. I will find a way for whatever this is to work. I promised you I’d keep you safe, and I will be willing to face the king when the time is right. For now, please prepare for our voyage.” His eyes passed over her nude body. Amusement played on his lips. “And dress, of course. Meet me at the orc’s room when the moon is high. We will leave then to avoid anyone who might stand in our way.”
“There is a risk of that?” she inquired, trying to leave thoughts of betrayal behind. Focusing instead on his promise, she picked up the blanket and wrapped it around her, suddenly feeling vulnerable. He gave a curt nod then quietly exited the room.
Nara dressed and combed her hair, freeing gnarled tangles. Flowers fell to the floor, forming a circle around her. After she finished, she gathered her idols, gailenia petals, floral jewelry she’d received for her rites, journals, and a scroll she wanted to study and placed them into her tanned rucksack. Something had to inform her of what her mark meant. The High Elder had offered no insight on it and had hurriedly left her.
Then there was the hand-mirror her mother left. Its silver outlining was crafted in the shape of a gailenia flower, vines curling and forming the handle. On the back was a larger one, set with a ruby at its center. Nara often gazed into the mirror, wondering about her mother. Wondering what any family was like. Now her life-long desire would lead her to them. With many lies recently revealed, she would make sure no one stood in her way.
She placed the mirror into her sack and pulled the sack over her shoulder. When she looked over everything she left, a deep frown settled on her lips. This had been her home since her birth, and despite having planned this for years, a pang home homesickness already struck her heart.
Shaking her head, she grabbed her bow and quiver, remembering carving the dark wood herself. This was something she could not replace, something she was told to take great care of when she was shown how to craft it. Would her talents make her father proud?
When she saw the moon high in the sky through her window, she left without a second thought. Not a soul lingered in the hall as she padded down past a few doors and gently knocked on Fallon’s. He answered, appearing weary from lack of sleep, his hair a mess from at least an attempt.
Taking a deep breath, she spoke quietly, “Get whatever you can carry or want. We leave now.” Fallon blinked, standing in a linen tunic that fell just past his hips. She would have blushed had she not been com
fortable around him, despite what had happened on Summer Set.
Scratching his head, he looked over his shoulder then back at her. “You could not have told me earlier, Nara?”
“I did not know either. Now, we are going with or without you, Fallon Orindyl. Hurry, dress, and grab what you need.” Pushing past him, she set her things against the wall and tapped her bare foot. “I will be in here, so no one will see.”
Fallon raised his eyebrows, pushing the door closed. “What do you mean by ‘we’?” He stumbled past her, taking his trousers off the chair next to his bed and pulling them on. “Taruk and yourself? He is willing to leave this late?”
“And Castien,” she added. Fallon paused, looking at her before tucking his top into his trousers. For the rest of the time as he gathered his things, Fallon remained quiet. Nara looked around his room and saw what he left behind. Books, heirlooms, and items he had received from family remained where they were around the room. She wondered if he thought severing ties with his family meant severing ties with everything he had here.
She placed a hand on his chest. “Are you certain you want to do this, Fallon? It is never too late to back away from your decision. I am sure Solon would be forgiving.” His face tensed, his fingers flexing around the strap of his rucksack. But he looked at her with a weak smile. It was his decision to make and his alone, but now she wished she had not flaunted her freedom so many times around him.
“Yes, Nara. I’ve set my path.” He nodded towards the door, not giving her a chance to speak. “We should go to Taruk and Castien.” Looking into the depth of his eyes once more to give him further time to rescind his statement if he so chose, Nara smiled.
Their path was truly set, and now it was time to see where it would lead them.
KARASIM
Within the Vale of the Angels rested the city Thanis.
While guards flew on griffins overhead, the city itself appeared paved in gold with highlights of silver on a stunning backdrop of white, grey, and assorted foliage. From its high-guarded walls to the simple homes that resided within, arched bridges connected the different districts over small waterways. All of which connected to the river that let out into the Sea of Kanis.
With its back against the mountains, the castle basked in the glory of the sun just like the tall walls of the city. Its many arched windows shone like silver. Gilded frames rose above all save the citadel to the back where spires towered into the heavens themselves. Many statues of angels lined the walkways and hung over the fountains, but overseeing the whole city was the largest statue known on Arlania. The granite image of Thena stood before the main temple that connected to the castle. In a flowing gown of older times, she held a sword in one hand and a flame in the other, stern yet beautiful features radiant beneath the light of Vhedril.
Standing at the edge of their camp, Karasim admired at the grandiose city. No matter how many times he had traveled through Thanis, enjoying their many festivals or breaking free of his father for a time, he was always in awe over how this city stood above all others in Nudomri. Thanis, along with other major cities in their world, was a city built by an elder god. It was one that stood the test of time along with Thena’s kingdom. Generations of rulers, direct descendants of Thena’s original chosen, had seen the kingdom safely through wars and attempted coups. They guarded their bloodline well and guarded their traditions with even more fervor.
Unlike the people his father had ruled over. So many kings had fallen out of favor. While the same was said for other kingdoms, so many succumbed to their people, to life. But in the end those who were born of Thaos always belonged to Thaos, and Thaos would do what he would do. Devouring their souls or sending them to eternal unrest within the Shadow Realm.
What happened there was beyond his understanding, and Karasim didn’t care to explore the realm any further than he had to in order to acquire the imps.
The sun sat low, the flame of Thena burning brightly enough to continue to illuminate the temple, and in a day or two they would attack this magnificent city. Whatever their father had in mind only Gaia knew, and the one live being who did know was not talking.
Eusa sat on a rock with her succubae, her children, preening and speaking with them, a feral smile on her beautiful face, a face that was not fully hers. Karasim had seen his sister without her illusions, when she was first cursed. Beneath her façade she really had the golden eyes of a serpent, horns that curled down the side of her face to her chin, and elven ears riddled with holes. Though her body still held its alluring form, long claws, a tail, and scales that lined her stomach were still beneath her facade. She would utilize what she could, making sure to show the elder god Kothes she was unharmed by his curse. But beneath it all Karasim knew she hated it, and her hatred was most apparent by her constant use of illusion.
Karasim left the edge of the camp to walk the paths that many tents formed. The standards with Thaos’s emblem waved in the breeze. A white circle set against a backdrop of black. Simple, but it held much power. It represented true night, when even Ghedril’s light was barely visible or not present at all. Nights where minions like the damned bandits, the succubi, incubi, and other demons and monsters took anything they wanted.
When he entered the larger tent towards the center of their camp, the laughter of women and the clinking of glasses sounded softly. The stench of unfettered sex caused his nose to crinkle, but he did his best to ignore it. They had been close to Thena’s Pass for two days, trying not to gain the attentions of the mountain guard within and looking for any sign of Elona so they could attack Thanis. The mere thought of attacking Thanis troubled Karasim. There had not been a war between Thaos and Thena in years. Even then the attacks were never against the city itself. Thaos always kept at her borders and away from the threat of her seraphim.
“Brother,” Hathus called joyously, two women pulled close on either side of him. Raising his glass, Hathus waved to the many silk pillows that lined the floor. So vibrant in color, they would do nothing to mask his brother’s monstrous features. Karasim always wondered why women, and even men, came to Hathus freely. Not only was he like Eusa and disfigured by Kothes, but he also carried a nasty temperament. Often he would drain a lover of their life essence before he killed them.
“Have a seat.” Hathus said before drinking his wine. “I’m certain we could fetch you a woman or two if you’d like.” Thin lips spread over jagged teeth when Karasim grimaced. Just like their sister, Hathus had the power of illusion. But Eusa and Hathus often disagreed over who gave Kothes more power over their circumstance. While Hathus believed hiding their disfigurement gave Kothes more satisfaction, Eusa thought showing their curse pleased him. The twin god refused to be hidden unless it was necessary for him to gain something.
“I’m looking for Craith,” Karasim replied. “Have you seen him?”
Hathus purred, pulling the women closer. The blonde, her body thin and showing signs that Hathus was draining her, ran her hand down his bare stomach. “He has gone hunting through the evergreens in the mountains, to feed his troops of course. I offered to do it for him, but there was something about me tainting the meat. Why would I do that?”
“Because you take pleasure in seeing others suffer,” Craith muttered, striding in while wiping blood from a dagger. Archery would have been too simple for Craith. The god enjoyed to chase and kill his prey with his own hands. Though he didn’t need to, he wore regular dressing clothes instead of his war armor, helping him to blend in with forests and open fields.
“I would never harm what is yours, brother,” Hathus said with a deceitful smile. Squeezing the two women at his side, he sighed. “I have my women; why would I want your men?”
“Why would Father harm Drudan and the others when they have always rightfully belonged to mother?” Karasim asked, quirking an eyebrow. Hathus continued to smirk, setting his glass behind him.
“Do not let Father hear you speaking like that,” Craith cautioned, setting the dagger onto a n
earby table. “You know how he feels.” Karasim shook his head, only somewhat understanding his brother’s obedience. First-born, he’d seen a lot more than they had yet he still stayed loyal to Thaos. Even though Karasim also remained loyal, he felt in his heart that he should have joined the ranks of Elona long ago. Something Craith had never professed.
“Let him talk,” Hathus muttered, the lips of one woman partly covering his own. “He will protect Elona until the end of all. Maybe he is resentful that Father had to force himself onto Elona to conceive him. The whore deserved it too.” Hathus chuckled. Karasim sneered at his older brother.
“Watch your tongue, Hathus,” Karasim warned. “Mother was never a whore.”
Hathus narrowed his eyes, his voice taunting. “Is that why she slept with Father while she was bound to another? Or why she flaunted the flattery of any man who would dare tell her she was beautiful? Rumor was she slept with some of them, and Father had enough suspicion to have them all killed. Father even saw Drudan kissing and touching Elona, long before our separation.” Hathus tilted his chin upwards. “Or perhaps you defend her because you have experience with a whore.”
After a brief laugh, Hathus raised his glass to his lips and drank more wine. Karasim rushed forward and kicked, his boot driving the glass into Hathus’s face, shattering it. Hathus shot to his feet, rage flashing in orange eyes. When he dove at Karasim, Craith stepped in between the two, strong arms flinging Hathus to the ground.
“You stay where you are,” Craith ordered, finger pointing at Hathus who lay sprawled and breathing heavily on the floor.
“I should tell Father!” Hathus yelled instead of standing, shards of glass falling from his face as he spoke. The women rushed to his side but he pushed them away before he picked the rest of the glass from his face. “I should’ve told him a long time ago, but Craith swore me to secrecy. You think you and your whore hide yourselves well, but I’ve watched you.”
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