The Celestial Paladin

by Gil Hough

CHAPTER 10

  THE OTHER KIND OF PAIN

  Rodregas laid there looking at blue swirls for a long time, wondering where he was. He was not sure if he was awake; his mind seemed heavy with dreams, and shifting images. It took him a long time before he remembered the battle. With the memory came concern for Doi’van and Imeralda, and a surge of adrenaline that gave him the energy to try to wake up.

  Rodregas tried to sit up, but his body, which had been so strong since that day at Raven Keep, now only responded sluggishly. He was sleepy, but had the idea that he had been sleeping a very long time. Yet, his body still felt exhausted.

  Rodregas must have moved enough to get some attention because a man, or to be more accurate, an adult male Nymph, moved into his sight. Rodregas was always surprised by the amount of hair coming out of the ears of an adult Nymph. He was glad that was one trait that Imeralda did not seem to have. He knew the thought to be a silly one even as it crossed his mind. It was quickly replaced with concern. For a second he thought that he was tied down, but Rodregas could see enough to determine that his restraints were tightly tucked bed sheets. He must be very weak.

  “Easy there young man,” said the old Nymph. The Nymph slowly helped him up and held a bowl to his mouth. “My name is Durien and I am healer, please slowly drink this. Rinse your mouth out with it as your mouth is probably very dry after all this time.” The drink tasted like tea or maybe a light broth. As soon as Rodregas started to drink it, he realized he was starving.

  “I need more,” Rodregas croaked as he finished the bowl.

  The Nymph, an older man who unlike any Nymph Rodregas was familiar with, had his hair pulled back in a pony tail, nodded but said, “Slowly, too much right away is not good for you.”

  Rodregas nodded and cleared his throat; which was dry and felt like it had pebbles in it. While the bed was normal enough, the walls of the room were strange and seemed to be made of woven branches and some sort of hide or dark canvas pulled between tree branches to form an oval shape.

  “Doi’van and Imeralda, do they live?” he got the words out, though it hurt his throat to speak.

  “Oh, yes, Imeralda is fine,” the Nymph healer responded. “She was not hurt at all. Doi’van was injured pretty badly, but not as badly as you are. You both should be dead from your wounds several times over. I thought at first you both had a sigil of healing, that would be the only way for you two to be alive, but Imeralda says that you are both ‘of the blood.’ You are a lucky man, even with your blood, to be alive.”

  “May I speak to them?” Rodregas asked as he looked around the room or tent. He was amazed that somehow they had found a safe place to recover from the battle.

  “Of course, but let’s get something just a bit more hardy in you and maybe we can move you around a bit. Your body has sat still too long. Then, you will take a nap. “When you awake I will get you Imeralda. Doi’van is doing better than you, but I don’t think he is up to doing any visiting yet.” Rodregas nodded in relief at his words and soon enough he was once again sleeping.

  The next day, sometime around midmorning judging from the light coming in through the opening that seemed to function like a window, Imeralda entered along with a young handsome Nymph. He was tall with green hair and with a confident bearing to his presence. He greeted Rodregas with a very bright smile.

  “I see that you are looking much better,” said the unknown Nymph.

  Imeralda gave the young Nymph a big hug, one that looked far more intimate than Rodregas was comfortable with and she said, “Rodregas, we are so lucky that I was able to get Jordaan to come. Durien was working so hard trying to heal you, but your body is so hard to work with. He says that the same innate magical ability that makes your body so strong also requires a lot of power to heal. Normally Durien can heal even a very seriously wounded person, but he could barely keep you and Doi’van alive. I had to leave and run to Fariste to get Jordaan to come.” She was smiling like the sun as she spoke. “He was so good to come and just leave at the last moment,” she added. Rodregas thought she was going to start hugging the Nymph again, but she caught herself and came over to him and gave him a careful hug and started fussing with his pillows.

  Rodregas wanted to pull her closer and inhale her scent. He had thought that he was going to die, an experience that Rodregas of late knew too often. He wanted to pull Imeralda down into the bed and celebrate being alive. His body was probably too weak to do more than cuddle, but Imeralda seemed to be acting very friendly with the healer. Rodregas was not sure if something had changed between them while he was healing. The possibility that he had lost what they had just started to explore together made Rodregas’ heart heavy.

  “So, I have been wanting to ask you a question,” said Jordaan. “Are the two of you related? That is, you and Doi’van?”

  Rodregas was caught off guard at the ridiculous question. “Not to mention the obvious,” Rodregas said, “but Doi’van is an Orqui Hellborn from across the Sea and I am…” Rodregas paused in confusion, what exactly was he now? He reached for the closest comparison and said, “I have some Celestial blood, but I am human.”

  “Oh,” Jordaan said, “well that is strange, you do know that you are also part Hellborn, right? Hellborns are very rare in this part of the world and your bodies feel so similar that I thought you might be related through a… well a distant relation.”

  His heart stopped at his words and he asked in a rush, “You are saying I am Hellborn? That is impossible!”

  “Can we wait one moment?” asked Imeralda raising her hand. “I think we need to bring Doi’van in to be part of this conversation.” Rodregas just nodded, stunned at the news.

  As Imeralda left the room to get Doi’van, Jordaan stepped closer and slowly moved his hand from Rodregas’ feet to his head, his eyes half closed. Rodregas wondered what he could sense.

  “You are a Nymph of the flesh?” Rodregas asked him. Contrary to his early good mood, the Nymph froze at those words.

  With a hesitant smile the green haired Nymph said, “We actually prefer the term Nymph of Life. Truly, life is as powerful an element as any.”

  “Sorry,” Rodregas said, realizing he had accidentally insulted the healer, “I have never spent much time with Nymphs.” Rodregas’ tone was quieter. The Nymph seemed young and smart and gifted. Rodregas knew he did not have to like him. But clearly from Imeralda’s introduction, this Nymph was well known and powerful among his people, and he had saved both Rodregas’ and Doi’van’s lives.

  There was an awkward moment until Doi’van appeared at the door. He walked with the help of a tall walking stick. His arm and side were both covered in bandages. Durien followed him in with a heavy stool, which Doi’van quickly sat down on. The old healer immediately left the room.

  “Rodregas, you look much better than last I saw you. But what is so important that it takes me away from a very important nap?” Doi’van’s body looked worse for the wear, but his eyes showed his natural curiosity and intelligence. Rodregas did not think he actually minded coming over to his room.

  Rodregas smiled and thought that given the way Doi’van talked about pain when training them with the staff, that he must be immune to mere pain anyhow.

  Imeralda repeated Jordaan’s question. “Jordaan asked Rodregas if you two were related as being Hellborn is very rare in the Eastern Realms.” And Doi’van’s surprised expression Imeralda added, “While I cannot sense the feel and make up of a body like I can a tree, I do know the feel of magic, and I had thought a few times that I sensed the feel of Brimstone and Fire not just with Doi’van, but with both of you.”

  Rodregas could feel his eyes widen as Imeralda confirmed what Jordaan had felt. He had been thinking while Doi’van was being fetched and he had a question for his friend. “Doi’van, you were swept up quickly after you entered the Eastern Realms; you clearly have a strong physical essence and strong magical power. The Immortalists should not be interested in either. Which did
they show interest in?” Rodregas asked.

  “Both really, I did not understand why they wanted me. I thought if you were Hellborn you were safe from the Immortalists,” Doi’van replied, “They would cut me to see how fast I would heal and do tests where they were clearly testing my physical side. They also seemed just as excited about my magical power, which I was surprised by. It was the first time I was aware that I had strong magic.”

  Doi’van paused then added, “They seem to think I was a great catch, and I think Taiga wanted a lot of money for me. The thing is, the Beast Master Taiga kept me in a distant cell. Though he had me for two years, he only showed me to others for sale a handful of times.”

  “You are suggesting that Taiga, and in turn Ravenhurr, were breaking ‘The One Law?’” asked Jordaan. His voice, for the first time, seemed totally serious and very professional.

  The three companions shared a blank look. The two men turned to Imeralda who simply asked the question, “Jordaan, you know I have had little magical training. I have been more of a prized blood mare than a wizard and these other two are warriors. I don’t think any of us know what ‘The One Law’ is.

  Jordaan looked surprised, but then nodded. “It is a law set forth by both the Celestials and the Infernals. Do you know the source of Magic?” he asked her.

  Imeralda nodded, “Sure, there are four sources of magic: mortal, Celestial, Infernal and elemental. It is one of the reasons I am prized for my potential with more than one power. My AElven ancestry is strong with mortal magic, but my Nymph side is strong in elemental magic. If an Immortalist takes my power, he or she could become stronger in both.”

  “Mostly correct,” Jordaan said. “It is actually a topic of much debate among magicians. I go along with the belief that there is no such thing as ‘mortal’ magic. While we don’t have time now to go over all the proof, the general thought is that mortals are truly just animals and don’t produce magic. It is only our connection to other realms that provides us power. Mana is the raw energy of magic no matter what its source. You can use mana from any source to cast spells.” He looked around at the three of them to make sure they understood.

  Rodregas felt like he was back in a classroom, as he had been as a child in the Cathedral of the Knights. In truth all three were very interested, as magic was something that was very much affecting their lives at the moment. Rodregas noticed that while Imeralda’s expression was one of simple enjoyment at refining her knowledge with an expert, Doi’van’s seemed almost made of rock. It seemed as if he feared that if he moved, his inclusion in the discussion would be challenged.

  Jordaan, apparently satisfied with their attention, continued “Our ability to manipulate the sources of mana seems to be a relationship of our blood connection to a realm. Mortals, to a greater or lesser extent; have an ability to tap into the mana that has overflowed into our realm from the Celestial, Infernal and Elemental Realms. I, for one, believe that if our connections to these realms were cut,” Jordaan made a motion like knife cutting a loaf of bread, “that in a few years there would not be enough magic for us to use.”

  “Luckily, I can think of no way for such a thing to happen. But a mortal’s ability to use mana that has spilled into the mortal world is very limited. The Immortalists have overcome this limitation by incorporating certain people’s direct connection to these realms.

  “So,” Jordaan continued, “if a mortal can add a Celestial’s ability to directly tap the Celestial power, he becomes far stronger. If the magic user can also tap into the Elemental powers, he again becomes far more powerful. Of course, the end goal of the Immortalists is to become a god. There are limitations; if an Immortalist were to incorporate a celestial ant’s connection to the Celestial, he would gain in power. But if he were to try to incorporate a thousand ants, he would only gain the same connection as that single ant. So instead he might try a butterfly to gain the power of its greater life essence.”

  At this point Jordaan paused and he went from an expression of lecturing to one of fearfulness. Rodregas almost expected him to look around for an assassin. When next he spoke, his words were quiet and drawn out. “The Gods and Infernals have been at war from the beginning of time. They are opposites of the eternal balance of creation and destruction. But when mortals started to combine the various powers, the two eternal enemies agreed on one thing and this became ‘The One Law.’”

  “Mortals can work to become Gods through growing in Celestial Power, and they can even tap into the elemental powers. They also can become Infernals if they so wish, though I know of few who have tried. The chaotic and destructive nature of the infernal does not lead to the necessary discipline that is required to be an Immortalist. A mortal must choose only one path; Celestial or Infernal. That is ‘The One Law.’”

  “Why?” asked Doi’van, his deep voice sounding both menacing and curious.

  “Nobody knows for sure,” said Jordaan. “The Gods and Infernals do not explain their actions, but most believe that if someone had the full potential to tap into all three… he would be stronger than either the Gods or the Greater Daemons. He would have the potential to rule all the realms and break the great balance. This is something that not even the Infernals want,” he added.

  Rodregas spoke, “So if Ravenhurr, who was a friend of Taiga, was part of a group of Immortalists who are breaking ‘The One Law’ then he might have already added Hellborn power to his own. And when I took on Ravenhurr’s power, I also added the Infernal power, which is natural for a Hellborn. It could also be a reason that the gods answered my prayers and helped me succeed against Ravenhurr.”

  “So the Gods might not be against all Immortalists, but just the ones who are tapping into the Infernal power?” asked Doi’van.

  “All Immortalists deserve to die for their crimes,” Rodregas answered. His angry response did not surprise the others.

  “Agreed,” said Doi’van, raising his hand in a calming gesture, “but it might be helpful to understand what the gods will support us doing.”

  “True,” Rodregas added. “Doi’van, do you remember the names of the other Immortalists who were interested in purchasing you for their rituals?”

  “I heard no names,” Doi’van answered, “but I heard one of them referred to as ‘The Ambassador.’ They treated him with great respect. I understood he was a very important person.”

  “I wonder if that is Ambassador Van’dret?” asked Jordaan. “He is a powerful Immortalist and said to be very close to Taiga. Some claim he is one of the few people that Taiga both respects and trusts.”

  “Ambassador Van’dret?” Rodregas responded thoughtfully. “He visited Ravenhurr about five years ago. Ravenhurr seemed eager to have him visit, which was unusual for him. Ravenhurr was usually very solitary.”

  “What else do you remember about their conversation or about Van’dret?” asked Imeralda of Rodregas.

  “Nothing, I was a guard who did my duty and kept my nose out of things. I know little of most Immortalists other than what is common knowledge.”

  The four talked a bit more and then split up. To Rodregas’ discomfort, Jordaan and Imeralda left together. Doi’van trailed the others and then stepped back toward Rodregas room. Rodregas sagged against the bed, the wound of losing Imeralda hurting more than those of his flesh.

  “You said you knew she was a Nymph,” stated Doi’van.

  Rodregas nodded. He wanted sympathy, but he knew that the straight talking Doi’van was not likely to give him any. “I know. It is just that, well I was hoping for some more time.”

  “If you can accept her for who she is, then your time is not over,” said Doi’van, his voice rumbling less than usual.

  “None of us is simple,” continued the Hellborn. “The two of us have become friends, even though I am a Hellborn. In me flows the blood of the Daemons of the Infernal.”

  He paused and then his voice cracked, showing a trace of a deep emotion for the first time “Yet, you treat me li
ke a man. You must do the same for Imeralda, for you two to be lovers you must learn to share her with others. She has a lot of love to give. Do not be so selfish as to want it all to yourself.” With that he gave a punch to Rodregas’ side, causing Rodregas to grunt in pain, and Doi’van followed the other two out the door.

  Rodregas laid in the bed, his mind whirling with thoughts. At first he thought about the implications of what Jordaan had shared. But, then his mind went back again and again over his and Imeralda’s time during the last few weeks and then back to Doi’van’s words. He knew his friend spoke the truth, but he was not so sure about his ability to do what he needed to keep his relationship with the beautiful AElven Nymph.