by L Ward
Warlocks stormed towns and villages across the nation; what soldiers could be spared were fighting, protecting people and sealing the villages with royal protections, but it wasn’t enough. The battle wasn’t won and the war was yet to begin.
“It’s wonderful getting out of the palace. I’ve seen some incredible places but not much of my home country,” said Nath, eyes twinkling.
“I used to go occasionally go camping or to outdoor concerts with Kalani and we’d see loads of stuff. We used to watch unicorns together, or go on excursions to the hill dragons, and mermaids along the coast,” said Evan.
Nath glanced back over his shoulder; face touched with a smile. “When all this trouble is over we will travel a lot more. I didn’t have as much freedom as you growing up and it would be wonderful for international relations.”
“I wish I could show you my family’s house- the one I grew up in, that is,” said Evan.
“You will. Once we regain control over the Dead Country we’ll be free to go on progress. I’ve never been before and we’ll visit your parents’ new estate, Kalani’s business and Freya,” said Nath wistfully.
“I like Freya,” said Evan. “Shame she couldn’t come to the coronations.”
Will and Gerard both glared at him. He'd spoken out of turn of a matter regarded as shame and it made Evan sick that people would the Dowager and her daughter abysmally for something that was neither of their fault.
“Yes, but she told me she portal-watched while assisting the delivery of a new hybrid species of horse. She’s the supplier of the royal horses and owns a stud farm full of alchemy and spells. Her work is highly sought-after.”
Evan didn’t have to ask why. Enormous horses forged from gems and smoke, water and flames, mist and ash. These were deeply magical beings. “I can’t wait to see it.”
∞∞∞
The woodland was perfect for camp. Rain tip-tapped on the leaves and sprites danced through the trees. They were protected under the canopy propped over the campfire as they ate a hearty dinner of venison and potatoes. The pines cleared Evan’s senses before he curled up in the hammock with his warm husband, the melody of the night forest lulling him to sleep.
Dense purple rain fell in the morning making travel difficult so they remained at camp marking maps and writing correspondence. Evan decided to stretch his legs and ask if anyone needed healing; he had a feeling they were too afraid to ask for it.
A few minor bumps and bruises were nothing, so he pushed back his sleeves and tried to summon the sun. Since his crowning it no longer burned, but when weather was bad he found it harder to accomplish. Nath suggested he practice more because his confidence was hindering his ability.
He passed the tents, the flap to Will and Gerard’s was open and Will stood lifting his cream shirt to examine several large and aggressive bruises across his ribs and abdomen, he winced running his fingers over them. Evan’s shadow spilled through the doorway and he looked up, dropped the shirt and stormed out of the tent frowning furiously.
“Do you want any healing?” asked Evan.
“No thanks,” he said, avoiding eye contact.
Evan shook his head and headed over to the fire to try and call upon the sunlight. If he managed it and could hold it maybe he could clear the purplish rain fog. Try as he might, wish as he would, his skin glittered brilliantly with healing, but the sun was unwilling. After an hour of continuous trying he could make his fingers glow but that was about it.
The rain fell all day and the woods became a haze. Sprites still danced but the rest of the wildlife stayed where it was dry.
“So much magical charge in the atmosphere will continue to cause undesirable weather conditions or distortions,” said Gerard over their surprisingly spicy curry that evening.
“Dense areas of forest have always been the worst affected- aside from the mountains,” Officer Callum spoke up. “It’s been a good thirty years I’ve spent trekking our soil and I’ve never not been surprised by what Mother Nature and a sprinkling of magic can do.”
“This is why you gave the mission two weeks when you could walk in four days,” said Evan.
“Correct,” said Nath. “If travel is hardened for us it’ll be the same for anyone else.”
“There are a lot of folk legends about these woods,” said Narelia, the woman who roasted marshmallows every evening. “On the first night of summer all the nymphs and pixies come out to dance around a magical fire, enchanting the lands and talking to spirits. It’s said lucky travelers may stumble upon these events and for one night be granted the forest’s magic; many of the dancers become shapeshifters and are lost to the woods neither human nor animal, doing the bidding of the nymphs.”
“Many fairy legends spawned from the wilds,” said Officer Callum. “The Scotts in particular are fond of fairy tales and folklore, children replaced by fairies or stolen by werewolves and raised in the forest.”
There was an awkward pause and Evan glanced at Nath. The man had meant nothing by it but it was a little too close to home.
“It’s said the shapeshifters travel short distances with their own dimensional tears. They pass through the barriers between worlds and pop up wherever they fancy,” Narelia added quickly. “When their spirits return to the afterlife their bodies become magic and feed the lands.”
“A bit like magical humans then,” said Evan.
“Yes, only they don’t leave remains. Their bodies return to the earth in twenty-four hours,” she smiled, dark eyes twinkling.
∞∞∞
The day wore on and there was no sign of the rains letting up. Fog built around the camp and stars speckled the twilit sky. Nath was enjoying the forest constantly pointing out the different aromas of pine, raindrops, smoke and earth until Gerard carefully reminded him not everyone was blessed with such a strong sense of smell.
Will had mooched around the camp all day assisting with minor tasks and trying to stay out of the way, but when food was called he was obviously in pain; his olive skin pale.
Dinner was passed around in silver dishes and Evan enjoyed the wonderful tender beef stew and plump dumplings in thick gravy. They had cherry pie with custard for dessert and it was as though they hadn’t left the palace. Evan had expected to lose weight on this trip but that wasn’t going to happen. He kept an eye on Will watching him shifting around eating very slowly. If the bruises were that painful why didn’t he just ask for help? He reached a tendril of magic toward him, sensing wrongness so strongly he tasted it.
“Your sister sounds amazing. I hope I get to meet her sometime, Your Grace,” Narelia said over hot chocolate, the grated kind with milk and thick cream on top. “When is her baby due?”
“September,” said Evan.
Will slouched by staring at them.
Nath was sitting beside him drinking chocolate and playing with the stars. The campsite was full of them, invisible from outside the boundaries. “We’ll be moving again in the morning,” he announced. “The rain is leaving off, it’s just the fog we have to worry about.”
“It’s difficult to summon sunlight when it’s this gloomy,” said Evan, a hint of sadness lilting his voice.
“Then try again tomorrow,” Nath squeezed his hand. “Your power is still new to you and stealing sunshine in the rain is very advanced.”
“I suppose. At least my healing doesn’t put up a fight,” he smiled.
“We’d be in trouble if it did,” Nath chuckled.
∞∞∞
The sun rose over misty woodlands, peeking from behind the dense purple clouds and kissing them awake. The morning was full of life and the woods sang with birdsong and crickets.
Nath left the tent for breakfast, washed and dressed with bare feet and trousers bunched around his knees. “I’ve always ran barefoot in the forest. I love the feel of the earth beneath my feet. I feel free,” he said quietly as they drank tea around the fire. “It’s terribly embarrassing but it’s one of the few pleasantries I have with my ly
canthropy.”
“You’ve nothing to be ashamed about and I quite like it,” said Evan.
Nath rolled his eyes.
“Seriously, man. You know your way in nature as well as you know the galaxy. I wish I could hear and smell things as well as you,” Evan knotted their fingers and walked with Nath into curious glances.
“We’ll be ready to leave as soon as the mist clears, Your Majesty,” said Officer Callum.
“It won’t be long, perhaps two hours at most,” said Nath.
“Then we’ve got a trek through the hills and if all stays clear we should reach the border in two days,” said Gerard, stretching his legs.
“And the situation in Edinburgh?”
“The warlocks say they’re willing release the chairman in exchange for full control of Edinburgh and the surrounding towns,” said Gerard.
“That isn’t happening, but I am willing to negotiate with them if they provide evidence he is still alive and unharmed,” Nath said, reaching for his insignia paper. “If they fail to do so by nightfall the dragons will be unleashed.”
Evan knew the tone in Nath’s voice, he didn’t want to execute violence. The country was falling, the media hated him and the warlocks were gaining control. The time for kindheartedness was behind them.
“If you don’t mind my saying so, Your Majesty, you are too generous with these rebels,” said Gerard.
“I’m trying to protect as many innocent lives as I can,” Nath said simply. “There’s no reason for me to appear more bloodthirsty than necessary.”
“An admirable quality,” Gerard said quietly.
Their spirits lifted when the messages disappeared, the mist receded into the trees, and Evan dared to roll back his sleeves. The sunlight grazed his skin and he tilted his face back drawing the energy into his body, holding it, feeling a golden orb swell deep in his belly and once it grew warm he released it through his fingertips slicing through the mist and clearing the woodland. The energy burst from his body and Evan sighed finally experiencing what it meant to be a solarmancer.
“Beautiful. The gods trusted you well,” Nath smiled and kissed his lips.
“It’s so relaxing,” said Evan. “Are we off?”
“Yes which means I need to get my boots on,” Nath chuckled heading off to wash his feet.
Evan smirked and went to collect his furs.
Will was lying on one of the cut logs, curled on his side, pallid and clutching his stomach. His shoulders moved raggedly as though breathing was becoming a chore.
“Oi, what are you doing? Get up!” Gerard snapped, clipping him round the ear as he passed. “Time to go.”
Will sat up slowly, dark shadows smudged his eyes, and headed over to his horse. Evan watched him struggle to mount, failing repeatedly. When he succeeded he sat incredibly still, breathing very hard. Wrongness flickered beneath his surface but there was no reasoning with him, every time Evan approached he'd avoid him like the plague.
“Ready?” asked Nath, striding alongside him on horseback.
Evan flashed a smile and accepted the hand-up. He was growing used to travelling like this, and getting to wrap his body around Nath was the best bonus he could ask for.
The trees gave way to sprawling plains kissed with sunshine and glittering with dew. They were miles from the nearest town and the breeze was delightfully fresh.
They stopped by a stream at lunchtime for food and rest. The plains were growing hilly and progress had slowed but everyone was in good spirits, besides Will. He was pale and sweating by the time he slid slowly from his horse and hobbled to the water’s edge, staring hopelessly at his reflection.
“Not hungry?” Gerard called.
Will shook his head.
“Tough, you’re of no use to us weak,” said Gerard. “Sit down and eat like everyone else.”
Will didn’t budge.
“Get over here ya little brat!”
He reluctantly shuffled over, face shadowed with fury and picked at his lunch like a petty teenager, turning his back on his father.
“There are some beautiful villages around here, Your Majesty,” said Officer Callum.
“My boyfriend grew up in Pleasance,” said Narelia with a smile. “It has a beautiful market and a lot of fae visit during the winter carnival.”
“By tomorrow we’ll be seeing some of the devastation caused by the riots,” a younger soldier, Marvin Paith said. “My cousins were lucky to have evacuated.”
“We need to see it,” said Nath. “It’s a raw reminder.”
“Stop picking and just eat it,” said Gerard, glaring at his son.
“Shut the fuck up!”
All eyes turned to Will, sweating, fuming and prickling with anger.
Gerard smiled apologetically to Nath and seized Will by the arm, dragging him away from the group for words.
Nath stared at his food pretending he wasn’t the only one who could hear Gerard telling Will to grow up, be a man for once in his life and start showing some true loyalty to his king.
∞∞∞
They hadn’t been back en route for an hour before Will pulled over and began vomiting over his horse’s shoulder.
“Gods of the sun and moon, what next with ya?” Gerard sighed.
“Let’s stop for a while and let him recover,” said Nath.
Will didn’t speak, he slumped astride his horse with his back to everyone, leaning over the side waiting for more vomit, breath coming in ragged pants.
“We’re already lagging behind. Get it all up, son, then we’ll keep walking,” said Gerard.
Will remained quiet for some time, vomited once more and said, “I’m dehydrated. I don’t need to stop.”
“Good lad,” said Gerard.
Evan could sense sickness brewing and not like the norovirus or drunkenness. He whispered in Nath’s ear, “he needs checked over, he’s not well.”
“I think we’ll stop for a while and perhaps Will would allow Evan to make certain he’s in his best condition,” said Nath.
“NO!” Will snapped, ordering his horse on. “I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”
Nath glanced up at the sky. “We’ll walk to a suitable campsite and have it prepared early. The forest will do fine,” he said, nodding to the trees rising between the two humping hills. It glittered with magic and was rife with beautiful birdsong; the sky a stretch of yellow and lime. Other than Will’s temper, it was a beautiful day.
They’d only just made it into the forest when Will collapsed from his horse crumpling to a heap on the floor. A moment passed and he screamed.
Birds shot out of the trees like rocket ships and the sounds of life died.
“Has the campsite been transported?” Nath asked hurriedly.
“Just through those trees, Your Majesty,” said Marvin.
Evan jumped from the horse and ran to Will’s side, as much as he disliked the guy he wouldn’t refuse to heal him. The problem became apparent when he opened Will’s cloak and blood stained through his shirt, wetting his chest plate, and smelling of metal and something more sinister. Will was hot to the touch, struggling for breath, and at once Evan sensed the breakages and the onset of a nasty infection in one of his lungs. “He needs serious medical attention. It’d be kinder to lie him flat before I treat him.”
Two women stepped forward: aeromancers. Between them they created a gale that lifted Will effortlessly through the barriers and into the Starstone tent.
Evan washed his hands and requested his bag where he drew out a few bottles of musky oils and sweet-smelling herbs. He’d studied for the mission; this was his element and if he could combine remedies and magic he was on track to being an even greater doctor who refused to be responsible for the deaths of his own soldiers.
Will was stripped to the waist, olive skin blanched and chest heaving. “Get off,” he croaked through chattering teeth.
Evan placed his palm on Will’s forehead, it took no effort to nudge him over the line h
e was teetering on into unconsciousness.
“What the hell did you do to my kid?” Gerard stormed over, cheeks burning.
“Mind who you’re speaking to, Gerard,” said Nath, striding over wearing confidence like a dapper suit. “Evan is the doctor here and we should all respect his judgement.”
He soaked a cloth in turmeric, dandelion and ginger and lay it across the punctures.
“What in the name of holy Lunara happened?” Nath’s eyes widened over the wounds.
“He has several broken ribs; further trauma splintered them and pierced not only his skin, but his right lung. It’s getting infected and he’s lucky he’s not in much worse state,” said Evan. He held his palms above the cloth and felt magic ooze into the wound, lapping at the infection, drawing it to the surface where the cloth absorbed the contaminate. “No wonder he’s nasty, he would’ve been in agony, and judging by his oxygen levels, he’s not getting enough air.”
“We’ll give you room to work,” said Nath. He shot Gerard a look and they left.
Evan searched, fingers working deftly over the wound, and pulled until the infection was out; using a pair of tongs, he threw it on the fire. The wound oozed with blood, and Evan felt high as balls seeking the fibers of Will’s body; tickling his cells encouraging his lungs to heal and reshaping his bones, bending and smoothing them into position. The surrounding air hummed with his magical opiates. He sucked a deep breath and focused all of his energy into cauterising the blood vessels to stop the bleeding. Will was lucky to have him here or he would likely have died within a day or two.
Evan sat back to examine his work feeling like a human engineer. Will was still pale but no longer beading with sweat or trembling from fever. The tension in his face had softened; he was sleeping.
Placing a cool cloth of honey on his forehead, he covered him to the ribs with a sheet and manually stoked the brazier.
Nath arrived a short while later with dinner.