“That is odd. What possibilities have you come up with?” Sytravious inquired.
“We are still awaiting the sorcery report from Cleary Court to substantiate our findings, but I am sure of what the conclusion will say. Though General Kenshiro does not agree, I know better. I say two of the men died by the VanDrake black flame.”
“The VanDrake black flame?” Sytravious tried his best to seem indifferent, but he had never heard his parents refer to the family magic by such a name. He wanted to know more about how his friend was able to reach that hypothesis.
“Yes, it was that old, cursed magic which caused their demise and I will tell you how I know. When I was very young, my father told me about how my grandmother passed.”
Bryce interrupted, “He never told me what happened.”
“That is because he only discussed it once, and you were only a baby at the time. May I continue now?”
Bryce grunted and kept drinking his ale as he stared off into the fire. Elric narrowed his eyes at his brother before continuing his story.
“When King Ilan first decreed that all western magic be outlawed in Valcrest, many in Moruz were upset by the new law, but none more than Lord Byronicus. In an act of retaliation, he declared war on our kingdom. Moruz armies made landfall in Havencrest and began the invasion. The king rallied forces in order to stop them before they could reach Cleary Court.”
“At the time he was only a prince, but Lucas made a brilliant stand at the gates of Havencrest. Byronicus did not expect such strength and will from our people. He thought he would just steamroll right over them, but our forces stood strong. The High Priestess deflected every type of magic that came from the warlocks, and every priest and priestess of Valcrest helped form a protective shield over the Prince’s armies. Within a week the siege was over.”
“That sounds like it ended well. What does it have to do with our grandmother?” Bryce implored.
“You are right. It does sound like it ended well, and everyone who knows the tale praises King Ilan for being proactive and sending the forces to Havencrest to fight before the warlock could make it any further. However, knowing they had wounded Byronicus’ pride, his next move should have been predicted and prevented. No one cared enough to think beyond the victory!” Elric slammed his mug onto the table with a look of disgust on his face, causing some wary patrons to look at them with concern.
“Turn back around,” Bryce snarled at them with excessive anger.
Sytravious watched the men return their glances to their mugs and face the bar again. Elric hung his head in disillusionment and began to speak after a long stretch of silence.
“On his way out, Byronicus took his anger out on the civilians who resided in the outskirts of the city. He torched half the homes and killed innocent people with his obscene dark magic. My father said grandmother was trying to protect him, which cost her life. He described in vivid detail how the silent black fire shot from Byronicus’ hands towards him. Grandmother shielded him, and when the flame hit her, she died instantaneously. He watched in horror as smoke escaped through her nose and mouth. Her dead eyes were open in shock, exposing the scorched whites of her eyes. She had been burnt from the inside as a result of Byronicus VanDrake’s black flame.” Elric let out a deep sigh. “That is how I know the two victims I found were killed by the same magic. Their bodies presented the same unmistakable signs.”
The crackling fire filled the quietness that ensued. Sytravious could hardly accept the troubling story he had just heard. His mother had told him a much different version of the war, which portrayed Ilan and Lucas as tyrants against the poor persecuted people of Moruz. She said that when Byronicus came to Valcrest to negotiate peace, he was unfairly ambushed, then chased back to the shore.
Sytravious considered what reason Elric’s father would have to lie to his own son about such a thing. Then he thought about what reason his mother would have to lie to him, and he knew who seemed to be most likely telling the truth.
“Nevertheless the question as to what they were doing in Havencrest presents itself. Yes, foreigners pass through the city all the time, but why would they bother to bring the extra attention to themselves right outside the city walls? What is it that happened while they were traveling through the woods that led them to their death? Then you must think, whoever committed this crime must have stayed or is staying, lingering in Havencrest tracking every last witness down,” Elric thought aloud.
Bryce added, “Yes, but how could they be so sure the sixth man would stay in Havencrest? The sixth man could have fled by boat. Perhaps he was waiting for more of his companions when the murderer found him to finish the job.”
Elric nodded and said, “He very well could have been awaiting someone or something, when the murderer found him. But who or what was it?”
Sytravious rubbed his chin and acted as if he was deep in thought. “Then Elric, I would say your next move would be to question everyone in the area who may have come into contact with the last victim or anyone else who seemed out of place.”
This was his attempt at throwing his friend off the trail. He would be able to have his mother make up a story if anyone came around asking questions, but first he would have to convince her that deceiving the constable would be better than killing him. He did not need his friend added to the death count because of their inability to cover their tracks. Not killing that last soldier the first time around was really coming back to haunt him.
“That is exactly what I will have to do, and with any luck, someone will have some useful information for me. At this point, anything to report to the General will be helpful. If I let the case get any colder I imagine he will be dismissing me as Constable.”
“Just keep it up, you are bound to find out something,” Bryce said.
“Yes, and if you find yourself without a job, we can always use an extra pair of hands in the forge.” Sytravious laughed and clapped Elric on the shoulder.
“Right, imagine this string bean in the forge! You would be better off hiring a girl.” Bryce nearly choked on his drink while he guffawed at his own joke.
“Laugh it up, brother. I would like to believe that it would not have to come to that once the report comes back from the capital. If it is as I suspected, then we have a major problem on our hands. Not only would it mean a VanDrake is alive, but that they have been creeping around Havencrest unnoticed. It could even be Byronicus himself for all we know.”
“Why would you say that?” Sytravious asked out of curiosity.
“Just think, we all were supposed to believe that Byronicus was killed by Fheng, but how can we know for sure? Even if he did die, he could have had a child we do not know of and they would be destined to be just as evil as he was. There is no changing a VanDrake. It is plain to see murder runs in their blood.”
“That may be true brother, but I think you have done too much theorizing and not enough drinking tonight. You are not at work and you are putting a damper on my buzz.”
“Fine, I will be going then.” Elric gulped down the last few sips of his drink and turned to Sytravious.
“My friend, just remember the streets are not safe. Bryce can protect himself, and soldiers always surround me, but you are just a blacksmith. I know you can put up a decent fight, but a battle with a VanDrake is one you will lose. Just be wary of your surroundings because I fear the enemy is among us.” He stood up and excused himself.
“As annoying as Elric is, he is right. You have to be careful.” Bryce got up, said goodbye, and left.
Sytravious sat next to the fire long after his friends departed, letting the assorted thoughts swarm his mind. He had learned about his mother’s magic from a new perspective and it disturbed him. If Byronicus was the last one to possess the black flame, then that could mean the “family” magic was passed from him to Nyxseous. Meaning his mother had hid a huge piece of information from him: one of the worst enemies Havencrest has ever known was family and taught her the magic.
He did not know how this would affect him, but he needed to talk to someone about it; a person he could trust and confide in. Sytravious left some money on the table and ran off to meet with the only person who could understand him.
Chapter 13
Forbidden Fruit
The light of the sun faded into the horizon when the moon lifted into the sky above the temple gardens. Raiven was using her spare time to practice spell work by bringing dead plants back to life. Though she usually enjoyed quiet evenings in her garden, tonight was different. From behind the hanging branches, she could feel his eyes watching her.
As much as she wanted to ignore him, she could not overlook the greedy stare that invaded her privacy. She was not expecting his company tonight and therefore, she did not dress appropriately for her unwelcomed guest, and regretted wearing a flowing nightgown with a silk robe over it. She tried to continue her spells, but as she was distracted by his unsettling stare, one of the plants she was trying to revive, shriveled up. “Oh no!” she whispered to herself.
The general stepped out into the open, and walked up behind her. “I am sure you can figure out a way to fix it. You are a talented woman after all.”
Raiven pulled her robe tight around her body in an attempt to cover herself. “What do you want Kenshiro?”
“Good evening to you too.”
She rolled her eyes before turning around to face him. He scanned her body up and down. “You certainly have grown into your wardrobe quite well.”
His words made her cringe in disgust. “Trust me. I wore it for my comfort, not your pleasure.”
He chuckled. “Raiven, how can you expect me to ignore such beauty? It would not be right. I am your cousin, chief guardian, and the one who protects you night and day. I promised your parents I would watch over you for all my life. No one cares about you more than I do, and the way I see it, nobody deserves to enjoy your exquisite body more than me.”
“I am well aware of the security you have provided to me, but you should not look upon me in such a manner. I will be forever grateful for your guardianship, but you are my cousin.”
“Do you feel it is inappropriate for me to see you that way because we are family? Raiven, that only means we have a stronger connection to each other. It is not uncommon for relatives to have romantic relationships, especially those of high stature, like us.”
He moved in closer to her, brushing his fingertips against her cheek. “You have developed into a gorgeous young woman. You should take it as a compliment when I look at you this way.”
Raiven pushed his hand away from her face, and for a second his grin turned into a snarl, before he regained his composure. It was apparent he was beginning to lose patience with her attitude.
“Kenshiro, I appreciate the admiration, but I have other things I must focus on, like my duties to the temple. I do not have the time to be vain enough to worry about the beauty Vesalys has blessed me with, and you should not either. Has the position of General become boring to you so quickly that you must preoccupy yourself with my looks?”
“No, it has not, but I have been thinking about you more because one day soon I must take a wife. I thought since you are of age and I have vowed to watch over you, I could better perform these duties as your husband.”
Her jaw dropped and she could not believe what he was suggesting.
“Do not look at me like that, dear cousin. Who else is more worthy of you than myself?” He stuck out his chest with pride. “Are you not lonely behind these temple walls, always trying to run away? I can help you feel free.” He held her shoulders and spoke into her ear. “I can help give you release.”
Sickened by his comment, she whimpered as his lips brushed against her ear. She tried to pull away from his grip, but he held to her shoulders and massaged them as he continued to speak.
“Please, do not be so quick to turn me down. All I ask is that you consider me as an option when the time comes for courtship. Just think about the possibilities.” Kenshiro, appearing enraptured by his own fantasies, gazed out into the night sky as if he could see their future unfolding amongst the stars.
“Soon I will be Warden of Havencrest, and with you by my side, running the temple, we will be unstoppable. You will eventually become the High Priestess and I will follow you to Cleary Court. Both of us are destined to rise through the ranks and our bloodline will stay pure. After we are gone, a legacy will be left in our wake. Generations to follow shall remember us in the history books when they write of our great accomplishments.”
“Kenshiro, I see you as my cousin and nothing more. I am sorry to have to say this, but you are making me uncomfortable. Please let me go.”
He released her from his grip and gave her a cold stare. “I see. You just need some time to think about everything I have shared with you to appreciate what it is I am offering. Remember, I am a strong warrior with no equal and am the worthiest of courting you. Surely, you will see the logic in my offer once you mull it over.”
Without replying, Raiven gave him a small bow as if to dismiss him. He pursed his lips, bowed in return, and then stormed off.
She sat on the grass and twisted up her face in frustration before collapsing backwards, sprawling out on the ground. “Vesalys, shine your light on my heart. How can I love him when my heart belongs to another? What should I do?”
She stared up at the glittering stars as she awaited an answer, but all she could hear was the fish in the pond splashing around. Raiven placed her hands over her face and exhaled with a groan of frustration.
“Vesalys, what should I do?” she whispered, and then dragged her hands down her face to reveal familiar icy blue eyes staring down at her.
“Hmmm, I do not know about Vesalys, but if you ask me you should stick with your heart.” He shrugged and sat next to her. “Not to mention, your cousin is repulsive. You deserve better.”
She turned on her side, propped herself up on her elbow and beamed at him. Raiven was no longer surprised by his sudden appearances because they had been meeting regularly since the first night he snuck into the garden. Their time together had given them the chance to grow closer and get to know one another.
“It took all my strength to not leap out of the bushes and attack him. I am not one to get jealous easily, but it is hard seeing another man pine over you, especially Kenshiro. Hearing him speak that way makes my stomach turn.”
She grabbed his wrist and pulled him next to her. “There is no need to be jealous, Sytravious. He is my cousin, and my feelings for him do not extend beyond that. Please do not worry yourself over him.” Raiven smiled and pressed his hand to her cheek. The feel of his rough palm caressing her face was a welcomed touch on her blushing skin.
He gave her a half-hearted smile in return and said, “As you wish, my dear priestess, though I am afraid tonight your cousin is not the sole cause of my stress. Honestly, I came here because my mind is a mess and I thought seeing your face would make everything better.”
“There is no need to flatter me, just tell me what is it that is bothering you?”
“What if everything you have been told up until now was a lie? All the lessons you have been taught and all the stories of Vesalys, false. How would you feel?”
“That is ridiculous; of course it is not a lie. I use the gifts she has blessed me with every day when I heal the injured, protect the weak---”
“But what if you found out you were being deceived and that your magic came from somewhere other than Vesalys’ blessings. How would you feel?”
“Sytravious…” Her voice faded into silence. She was perplexed by his inquiry and did not know how to reply.
“Never mind, forget I asked. It was a theoretical question and I wanted your perspective. I did not mean to disconcert you, my priestess.”
“Do not brush it off, I want to help. Where is this all coming from?” Raiven started to worry when she could tell how hesitant he was to answer.
“All my life I have been raised an
d trained a certain way. I went along with it because I thought it could lead up to something important, but now I am not so sure I want to pursue that course in my life anymore.”
She sighed and clasped his hand in an effort to comfort him. “I suppose if I came to the realization that everything I was taught was for nothing, I would be forced to reevaluate what I want from life and consider what is important to me. If you do not want to be a blacksmith anymore because it is not everything you thought it would be, you can always learn a new trade, one you are passionate about.”
He scoffed at her remark and muttered, “Yeah, blacksmith.”
It was possible she could have misheard him, but before she could dwell on the comment his voice cut into her confusion.
“Raiven, it is easier said than done. Why do things have to be this way? There are always people who think they know what is best for me, but it is all for their own selfish objectives. You should understand better than anyone I know! You were raised in the temple, told what is right and wrong, how to think and feel, but do you really know anything besides what has been instilled in you?”
Sytravious seemed as if he could no longer contain his emotions regarding the matter. He stood up and threw his arms up in exasperation. “You and I, we meet here at night so that no one will find out, but why do we have to hide our feelings for each other if it is what makes us happy? Because others believe it is wrong for us to be together? Why should their opinions matter in our lives?”
“What are you saying, Sytravious?”
“I am saying I am tired of hiding who I am and how I feel. I want to leave this place and take you with me. We can travel far away and go south, past the mountains, where nobody will bother us.”
Sytravious: The Lost Warlock Of Moruz (The Oathbreaker Book 1) Page 11