26. Webs & Swords
Chapter 26
Webs the exhaustion in her body vanished. Sylzenya opened her eyes and watched as the rogue monster stayed suspended in the air, as if time had stopped for her.
She hadn’t called upon any power, had she?
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Sparks lit up her veins, her vision sharp. Lifting herself up from the ground, she stepped to her blade, picking up the weapon in one hand with ease. It no longer felt like lifting an oversized boulder, but like picking a sunflower stalk. An easy, light weight.
Had the sword changed?
No.
The earth didn’t sing to her. The roots beneath the earth didn’t obey her. Instead, it was her own blood which sung a powerful, effervescent song, her muscles firing underneath her skin. Not a death, but a rebirth.
This wasn’t the power of a Kreena.
This was the power of a Dynami.
Impossible.
Only men could access this power, and yet she knew it to be true—could sense it in every part of her being. She’d read enough texts to know how this power worked. It was all instinct. While Kreenas trained to harness their power through the earth and into orodyte, Dynameis learned how to undo themselves, giving all their faith to the orodyte strapped to their chest plate. The more a Dynami thought out their movements, the less effective they would become.
She had to trust her own power if she was to get her and Elnok out of this alive.
Your power far outweighs Distrathrus’, can’t you see that?
Sylzenya gulped as she steadied the blade in her hand, gripping the hilt tight as she stared into the arachni’s glossy eyes, imagining Distrathrus’ yellow gaze instead.
“I will tear you apart until there’s nothing left,” she hissed.
Except for the steady, thrumming heart of her goddess, she was met with silence.
Rage surged through her as she charged the arachni, every limb screaming for survival as her veins glowed and sword pulsed as bright as the sun.
All at once, time caught up with her, the arachni’s shrieks shattering her eardrums. But it was too late for the creature. She pushed the blade through its jaw and up into its mouth, its fangs dangerously close to her arm. Sylzenya yelled as she ripped the sword free, splitting the creature’s head in half, picturing Distrathrus screaming alongside his creation. Black blood and poison poured into the earth.
Sweat slid off her nose, dropping onto the earth. She’d never felt so alive in her life.
Adrenaline and power spiked through every crevice of her body as she raced towards the arachni poised over Elnok, its fangs still deep in his chest. But another arachni skidded in front of her, blocking her path.
Sylzenya considered how never learning how to fight was a blessing, for she had no choice but to trust instinctual power.
She didn’t stop her pursuit, allowing her goddess’ power to overtake her as she slid to the ground on her hip. Energy rushed through her as she slipped under the arachni’s body, slicing its belly open with her sword. The creature crumpled to the ground right as she cleared its body, its loud chitters echoing as it died in a pool of its own blood.
Despite impending danger, the arachni continued poisoning Elnok, relentless in its task.
Sylzenya jumped, cold air rushing past her face as she landed on the monster’s back, blade aimed for its head; she pierced it. Shrieks shattered the clearing as Sylzenya yanked the sword out of its skull, pulling the creature to the side to avoid it falling on top of Elnok.
She gasped.
Elnok was pale, his breaths labored; black web-like veins crawled up his neck and along his face. Two holes marred his chest. The distraction cost her.
Air pushed out of her lungs as she was slammed into the earth, the sword sliding from her grip.
She reacted quickly, grabbing the two poison-filled fangs before they sunk into her skin. Uncanny strength surged through her body, her muscles contracting as she fought against the monster. Poison dripped onto her skin, the creature’s eyes frantic and hungry as it squirmed to end her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as another arachni dashed for Elnok.
No more of this.
A loud crack echoed in her ears as she twisted the arachni’s head. The monster’s body fell limp. She dodged the massive weight about to trap her as she jumped to her feet, grabbing her sword and slicing three limbs off the arachni charging for Elnok. It fell to the side, screeching.
She grabbed Elnok and covered him with her body.
Her heart faltered as more arachnis skittered out of the shadows.
They needed to retreat.
Without another thought, she flung Elnok over her shoulder and ran. Everything around her slowed, the arachnis moving in a sluggish manner. She swung her sword at every creature blocking her path, slicing limbs, stabbing eyes, and evading poisoned fangs.
She didn’t look back as she cleared the horde, running faster than she knew was humanly possible.
She ran until her body gave out, collapsing to the earthen floor. No more shrieks filled the air, the skittering of sharp legs gone. Sweating and shaking, she placed Elnok on the ground, her heart cracking as his breaths slowed further, eyes closed, the poison continuing to crawl through his veins.
They needed Aretta’s Willow— now.
She rummaged through his clothes, pulling out the compass tucked in his chest pocket. A moment of terror took her as the needle spun, a golden glow pulsing until it finally settled on the direction they needed to take.
Still east.
Elnok’s eyes slowly peeled open.
“Sylzenya,” he whispered, voice raspy and weak.
Her vision blurred as she tucked one hand underneath his head, propping him up as she held his hand.
“It’s alright,” she said, “You’re safe now.”
His throat bobbed as his eyes studied her face.
“You look… awful.” He paused, clenching his jaw as pain riddled his features. “Am I dead?”
“No,” she replied, “But you were poisoned. We need to get to Aretta’s Willow as soon as possible.”
Elnok blinked. “How long do I have?”
Sylzenya bit her lip to keep it from quivering. Based on what she’d learned in ancient scrolls and the discussions she had overheard from Dynameis, less than a day. And they still had no idea how close they were to the tree.
“You’ll make it,” she said, keeping the tears behind her eyes.
He laughed softly. “You’ve never been good at lying, you know.”
She squeezed his hand tight, rubbing her thumb over his fingers, the cool metal of a ring sliding under the pad of her finger.
A gold ring.
“What is this?” she whispered, eyes wide.
“My signet ring,” he replied, “gods know why I kept it all these years. Suppose I knew it’d come in handy one day.”
Twisting it in between her fingers, dread gripped her chest, constricting until she couldn’t find any air. A gold ring turning into blood, filling an orodyte. The ring from her vision.
The price for life will always be pain. The bird had said. But you will regret choosing this path. I have seen it.
The price for the compass, the price that’d been hidden from her since the start…
Was it Elnok’s death?
Everything she’d come to know as truth had been shattered ever since her failed Kreena Rite. And even when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did. So much worse. Not only was she to blame for the famines, droughts, and sickness in Druenia whenever she used her magic, but her godsdamn vision she had of the bird… the bargain she made to gain this compass…
She’d traded Elnok’s life for it.
My fault. All of this is my fault.
“No, no, no,” Sylzenya breathed, dropping his hand and cradling his face. “You’re not going to die, do you understand?”
His face twisted into something between pain and amusement. “I can barely feel my legs, Syl.”
A new wave of determination struck her as he said her nickname.
Quickly, she took the compass and ran it along his neck. Nothing happened. The black webbed veins didn’t heal, not even the skin stitched together. She cursed as she ran it along her own wounds. The cuts healed, blood no longer dripping down her spine.
She had to find the damn tree. She needed to ensure Elnok lived. She’d find that stupid, prophetic bird and barter herself instead if that’s what it took.
She hooked Elnok's arm over her shoulder, ignoring his protests as she moved them forward, the lone sword lighting their way. It wasn't until much later that Sylzenya noticed her power had vanished; sweat drenched her back and her muscles ached, the continual readjustment of Elnok to ensure his feet didn't drag taking its toll.
She didn’t complain; didn’t even consider the notion, because this was all her fault. Distrathrus’ betrayal, losing her powers, having the vision and making a bargain, learning the truth of all the destruction she’d caused—it wasn’t just her life that’d been shattered into a thousand pieces.
As Elnok’s breaths labored, all she craved was his laugh; she wanted to listen to his stories of Druenia and his crew, hear his crass jokes, and watch his eyes light up as he droned on and on about his rope being a superior weapon. Gods, there was so much she still didn’t know about him. She wanted to hear about what he liked, what he disliked, his dreams, his fears…
She wanted to know everything, even if she didn’t deserve to.
And this man, the one whom she would readily trade her own life for so he might live, had people waiting for his return. If he meant this much to her after only a handful of days, then she could only imagine the bond between him and his crew.
Sylzenya moved forward through the dark twisted landscape of Lhaal Forest with Elnok stumbling next to her, praying to her goddess that the tree would draw near before the poison killed him.