by Krista Rose
Alyxen and I finally managed to get the remains of my brother’s shirt off, and I gently washed the blood from his bite. The wound was deep, though it seemed to have missed the important arteries in his throat, or I guessed he would already be dead. As it was, the skin around it was beginning to turn black, like a bruise slowly spreading across his collarbone and down his chest.
Grandfather sniffed the wound, and hissed through his teeth. “Poison.” His eyes were furious. “I hate poison.” Then he looked up at me. “We have to drain it.”
The front door opened, and Brannyn staggered inside, held up by Tanner. His shirt had been ripped to shreds over his chain mail, and a large, dark bruised decorated his forehead. His eyes were glassy and unfocused as he looked at me. “Reyce?”
“Still alive,” Grandfather told him, handing me a bottle of alcohol. He pointed for Alyxen to hold Reyce down, and turned to examine Brannyn.
Even in sleep, Reyce screamed when the alcohol hit his wound. I bit my lip until I tasted blood, trying to drain some of the pain, but my gift couldn’t seem to touch his agony. The poison continued to spread, very slowly, toward his heart.
“You have a concussion,” Grandfather said, and I looked up as he pointed Tanner toward the back of the house. “Have him lie down before he falls down. He’ll be alright in a day or two, but he shouldn’t sleep for several hours.”
Tanner nodded, and carried him into the bedroom.
Grandfather turned back to Reyce, and frowned. “We need Atargatis, but I don’t know where we can get any in time.” He handed me a vial of violet liquid, his eyes somber. “We’re going to have to do this the hard way.”
I poured the liquid into my brother’s mouth as Alyxen held his head, massaging his throat until he swallowed. We waited, breathless.
Reyce choked, sputtering, but the potion had no effect.
Grandfather sighed. “I hate the hard way,” he muttered, and turned to rummage through his remaining potions.
KYLEE
Grandfather isn’t going to be able to save him, is he? I looked at Kryssa, too afraid to say the words aloud. He’s going to die.
No. Kryssa’s jaw set stubbornly. He’s not. I won’t allow it.
I started laughing, though it felt hysterical and shrill. Lanya glared at me in disapproval. You can’t stop death, Kryssa.
You want me to give up? She glared. I won’t. I’ve worked too hard to keep our family together, sacrificed too much already for Gods who don’t give a damn. I won’t sacrifice Reyce, too.
I shook my head. A moret’ethla’s bite is almost always fatal, Kryssa. Vanderys says- I stopped, my eyes widening. “That’s it,” I said aloud, and stared at her. “I know what to do.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
I scrambled to my feet. “Come on, Kryssa. We have to get Vanderys.”
She frowned, then looked at Reyce, her eyes torn with indecision. At last she stood, and followed me back into the night, running beside me as we hurried to the stable behind our apartment.
Nightking whinnied in fear as we approached, and I drew to a stop, holding up my hands. “Whoa, it’s alright. It’s just me.”
“Skylily?” He snorted, glaring at me balefully. “Why do you smell of death?”
I thought of the Vampyre that had fallen on me, and shook my head. “It’s a long story. I need to get to Vanderys.”
“It’s dark, Skylily. I will not be able to see the road.”
The thought of my lightning made my head ache again, but I ignored it. “I’ll handle it.”
“I will handle it,” Kryssa corrected, and slipped out into the market as I began to saddle Nightking.
She returned a moment later with one of the hanging street lanterns, running inside the apartment to fetch matches to light it. She walked back into the stable and picked up the pitchfork I used for mucking, hanging the lantern from it and tying it into place with a bit of twine. “What do you think?”
“He still won’t be able to go very fast,” I said dubiously.
“How fast do you think he’ll go when you faint again from using the lightning?”
“Point taken.” I shrugged, and finished saddling him. “Let’s go.”
We mounted, and I braced the makeshift lantern in the stirrup by my foot, holding it with one hand while Kryssa clutched my waist from behind. It wasn’t a comfortable arrangement, but Nightking ignored it as we headed out of town.
It grew darker when we reached the outskirts of Fallor, the night pressing in around our weak light. I kept the stallion at a cautious trot; despite the urgency, I could not risk breaking one of his legs. The stars spun in the sky, cold and bright and uncaring as we passed beneath them.
At last we neared the copse. I handed Kryssa the pitchfork and dismounted carefully, leading her and Nightking through the trees to the hidden campsite.
Vanderys was sitting beside the fire, staring up at the sky with a thoughtful expression on his face. “The stars are very strange tonight, lyssen,” he said without looking at me. “Tell me, do you know what they mean?”
“Reyce has been attacked,” I told him bluntly. “By the moret’ethla. He’s been bitten.”
That got his attention. He came to his feet in one swift movement, his gaze intense on my face. “Your brother? The youngest?”
I swallowed, thinking of Reyce’s pale face. “Yes.”
He turned and began to break down his camp. “Tell me.”
I did, moving to help saddle his white mare as he packed his bags and rolled up his tent. Kryssa watched silently from Nightking’s back, her eyes guarded.
My words finally ran out just as he tied the last of his bags to the mare’s saddle; except for the campfire, which he kicked dirt into to extinguish, there was no sign that he had ever been in the clearing.
“You have done a great service for me, lyssen, in hunting the moret’ethla. It is my failure to find the nest that has endangered your family.” His eyes were dark and somber. “I will do what I can to save your brother, and I pray to Diona that it will be enough.”
I swallowed, unable to speak, and nodded. We took the reins of our horses, and I followed him from the clearing.
KRYSSA
9 Davael 578A.F.
Dawn was leaking across the sky when we returned to Fallor, the light staining the morning mist a rosy pink. The air was soft and warm, flowers bobbing their heads at us as we passed their small, neat beds, tucked amid the houses. Birds chattered, waking with the day.
I wanted to scream. The beauty of the world somehow seemed a mockery after the tragedy of the night.
The sound of our horses’ hooves echoed loudly in the quiet as we approached the house on Tarrow Street. Vanderys dismounted gracefully as Kylee and I half-fell from Nightking’s back, our exhaustion making us stiff and sore. We hurried up the steps, and opened the door.
Vanderys wasted no time, immediately approaching Reyce to inspect the damage.
Grandfather glanced up at him, relief easing the tension in his shoulders. “Cedrani! Thank the Gods and all that’s holy. Do you have any Atargatis?”
“No.” He shook his head, still staring at my brother with his strange, violet eyes. “I do not, Domme. But there is much of it in the storerooms of my people.”
“Cedralysone?” Grandfather guessed, then shook his head when the other man nodded. “You’ll never make it in time. He’s only got a few more hours before the poison reaches his heart.”
“Who are you?” Alyxen asked, confused. “Do you know him, Grandfather?”
“I am Vanderys,” the Cedrani replied calmly, peeling back Reyce’s bandages to peer at the full extent of the wound. “I am a Valariel of Cedralysone, and your sisters have asked for my help to save your brother. Since there is an honor-debt owed for the deaths of the moret’ethla, I am here to fulfill that request.”
Alyxen blinked, and looked at me. What?
He’s here to save Reyce because Kylee killed two Vampyres, I explained. We�
�ll tell you the rest later.
Alright.
Vanderys straightened, and glanced at our grandfather. “Do you have any narcet? Or bitterdust, perhaps? Either will work for this.”
He nodded, and began searching through the bottom of his chest.
Lanya choked. “But- but those are poisons! They’ll kill him! How can you-”
“Hush, Lanya,” Grandfather murmured. “It’ll be alright.” He pulled a small vial of murky, blackish liquid from the chest, and handed it to the Cedrani. “Here. Narcet.”
Vanderys nodded. “Hold him.”
The rest of us held our breath as Alyxen tilted Reyce’s head back and held his mouth open. The Cedrani carefully tipped two drops from the vial into our brother’s mouth, then recorked it.
Reyce jerked once, violently, and went still. His chest fell, and didn’t rise again.
“You- you killed him,” I whispered, my eyes widening in horror.
“No.” Vanderys calmly tucked the vial into the pocket of his cloak. “It is only the appearance of death. Narcet slows the heart, so the poison will not spread as quickly. It will give me the time I need to reach Cedralysone. Atargatis will cure two poisons as easily as one.”
I gulped, staring at him, feeling lost and afraid. “Ce-Cedralysone? Where-?”
“Kylee knows.” He looked at her. “Do you remember what I told you, lyssen? How to find the Madyrim?”
She nodded, her eyes bruised. “Yes, Vanderys.”
“Good.” He gestured, and Grandfather lifted Reyce like a child against his broad chest before following the Cedrani outside. I wandered after them, dazed, and the others trailed behind me into the misty morning. The Cedrani swung into the saddle of his white horse, and our grandfather handed my brother up to him, positioning his limp body across the horse’s neck.
Vanderys looked down at us, his violet eyes unreadable, and bowed slightly. “D’aur lysen len Vi.”
Grandfather returned his bow. “Dyslan ne Dione idramor Vi.”
Vanderys wheeled his horse without another word, and headed down the road at a gallop. I watched as the morning mist swirled around his legs, my head light and my heart heavy, and wondered if I would ever see Reyce alive again.
Then they rounded a corner, and were gone.
CAST
in order of appearance
THE ROSE FAMILY
Malachi Rose – father of the Rose children
Adelie Moonsdaughter – mother of the Rose children
Kryssa – Wild Rose, eldest
Brannyn – Of the Blood
Lanya – The Golden One
Kylee – Skylily, Alyxen’s twin
Alyxen – Iron King, Kylee’s twin
Reyce – Glory, youngest
DESPERATION
Janis – a woman in the village
The Crone – the village healer
Longmire – a farmer
Therese, Emmis Lonisdaughter, Tellis, Ellisa, Malik – villagers
Allis and Demson Stroud – Vitric’s parents
Vitric – a boy in the village
CAMP OF THE DARKLING PRINCE
Marla – a woman on the rescue team
Tanner, Rigger, Digger, Breaker – men on the retrieval teams
Thellin – an old man who serves as a decoy for the Camp
Hamund – the Darkling Prince
Bryonis – a healer
Han – Hamund’s younger brother, deceased
Tomlin – a guard
TEMPLE OF VANAE
Melore – a priestess of the Temple
Nephele – High Priestess of Vanae
Eilon, Iselin – initiates of the Temple
Alailia – a priestess of the Temple
FALLOR
Hamar – an apothecary
Jenek – Hamar’s former assistant
Eloise – an incense-maker
Kerrell, Madame Brienne – townsfolk
Darli – a flower merchant
Tamasine – High Priestess of the Temple of All Gods
Chanach – Captain of the Guard
Baedon Errit – a guard, Chanach’s nephew
Sennett – a librarian, Eloise’s father
Kinner – a merchant
Herrill – a farmer
Terral – Lanya’s assistant
Staell – a craftsman
THE ROSE FAMILY (EXTENDED)
Yara Moon – Adelie’s mother, deceased
Garyl Moon – Adelie’s father
Elias Rose – a guard, cousin
Jaryd and Ester – parents of Elias
Mychael – an uncle, Malachi’s older brother
Gavor Rose – a Knight of Valory, patriarch of the Rose family, deceased
Victoire – Gavor’s wife, deceased
Felice, Greagor, Irvin, Breccan, Valin – cousins
Farius, Rylen, Rett, Rumer - uncles
Tamsen – an uncle, Felice’s father
Benjemen – Amandine’s father, deceased
Amandine – matriarch of the Rose family, known as The Dragon
OTHER
Teodore – the Crone’s grey gelding
Renic – a plow horse on the Rose farm
Apple – a cat
The Lady – Reyce’s mysterious friend
Bandit – a kitten given to Reyce
Nightking – a stallion at the Camp of the Darkling Prince
Elodie – High Priestess of the Allun Temple in Mejares
Vanderys – a Valariel from Cedralysone
Chax- Benjemen Rose’s pet chicken
Shirae – a strange woman in Fallor
Sotiris – Prince of Cedralysone
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
HISTORIA
A.F. – After the Faith; the current Age
ArchAngel – the consort of a God, who are usually gods themselves
Aurelion – the star beneath Cedralysone
Ca’erdylla – the world
Ca’erlyssa – heaven, where souls go to await being reborn
Ca’erolne – the world beneath Ca’erdylla
Ca’ersenta – hell, where souls go when they are damned
Destiny – a Primordium; the divine, nebulous creator of all things, embodied in the Eternal Flame
Eire – the fabled Isle of the Gods, where the Eternal Flame is kept
Elementals – Guardians of the Elements of Ca’erdylla
Elements – the tools used by Destiny to create the world: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, and Dark
Eternal Flame – the fire of Destiny, which reveals Its plan for the world
Faith – the worship of the Younger Gods, which protects them from being corrupted by the Darkness
Great Mage – a mage who is gifted with the power of one Element, also known as Elementi
Immortali – a half-god, child of a mortal and a God
Erydian – the Immortali daughter of Diona
Primordium – the beings who existed before the creation of the worlds, such as Death, Destiny, and the Darkness
The Darkness – a Primordium; the destroyer of worlds, corruptor of the Gods; the amorphous embodiment of chaos
The Elder Gods – the first Gods who were corrupted by the Darkness
Ezio – the first Elder God to become corrupted
Shree – the Mother, Devourer of Children
Phenos – the Elder God responsible for creating Vampyres
Diona – the Princess, Goddess of the Stars; the only Elder God to remain uncorrupted by the Darkness; created the mortal races of Men, Elves, and Dwarves
The First Race – the original, immortal race created by the Elder Gods, corrupted by the Darkness; also known as the Golden Ones or the Twisted Ones
The Realm of the Gods – the world where the deities of all the worlds reside
The Younger Gods – the Gods created by Destiny to protect the world from the Darkness
Yrisa – Great Mother Goddess, Goddess of Life
Sirius – the Peaceful One, God
of the Dead
Rina – the Merciful, Goddess of War, Justice and Balance
Palata – God of Peace and Tranquility
Vanae – Goddess of Beauty, Pleasure and Happiness
Armas – God of Beasts, Guardian of the Wilderness and Wild Places of the World
Naitre – the Favored and Adored, Child-Goddess of Love
Voidmaker – a weapon created by Darkmages; also known as Savranagaud, Godbreaker, or Voidrender
Y ’KEN’OHL
Language of the Ancients
Aurelion dyslan E – Aurelion bless me
Cedrani – Elves; also known as the Star’s Eldest Children
D’aur lysen len Vi – the Stars watch over you
Delvani – Dwarves
Dione, et fellgora ra e’ve – Diona, have mercy upon us
Domme – healer
Dyslan ne Dione idramor Vi – blessings of Diona protect you
Ell- self
Estaur – eastern star
Lyssen – child of the sky
Moret’ethla – the Soulless; known by men as Vampyres
M’orin – my friend, a common term of endearment
Rava’eth – king of my soul
Vadrani – Men
Valariel – a knight of Cedralysone
MONTHS OF THE YEAR
Zyten – the first month of the year, begins after the Longest Night
Capad – the last month of winter
Alune – the first month of spring
Driel – the second month of spring; the planting season
Llares – the last month of spring
Narens- the first month of summer; second planting
Emberes – the second month of summer
Davael – the last month of summer