Chapter 6 The Fleshripper
The Fleshripper
Slivers of light scorched through my skull when I tried to crack my eyes. The pain of Harald’s torture hadn’t faded.
“He’s talkin’,” a low whisper broke through the haze. A boy’s voice, one I knew too well. Gavyn sniffed somewhere nearby. “But every time he does, it doesn’t make much sense.”
Damn the gods. Lucid moments were there. Over the days, I’d tried to speak. Words, full phrases, all of it was there in my mind, but I could not get my bleeding mouth to work.
Garbled sounds and thoughts were spoken instead, as though my mind were trying to make up new expressions for the simplest words—even my own son’s name, I’d not been able to speak.
“He got pounded in the skull over and over.”
My blood cooled. I lifted my chin and caught sight of the boy king.
Unbridled rage was misplaced against the boy. He’d taken my girl, likely poisoned her, likely listened to her screams. Yet he was a child as much as her. Harald was to blame. Still, I wanted to snap Erik Bloodsinger’s neck for what he’d done.
“Daj.” Gavyn’s big eyes fell in front of my face, blocking the sight of the young Ever King. “You’re all right, Daj. We’ve got Blister Poppy workin’ on you. She won’t be talking to anyone. Then we’ve got a plan. A big one.”
“Let him rest, boy. Strikes to the head leave a mind disoriented.” Blister Poppy, a boneweaver without loyalty to any house, stepped in front of me, grinning. “Let’s take a look at those wounds.”
The woman adjusted bandages on my head. I clenched my fists, wanting to speak, but was unable to get my tongue to move with any more than grunts and desperate words that became trapped.
I needed Gavyn to get away from Erik Bloodsinger.
I needed my boy to know what he’d done to his sister.
With a trembling finger, I pointed at the boy king, then slid the same finger over my throat, again and again until Gavyn saw.
“What’s he sayin’?” Gavyn leaned over me again, a single tear on his cheek. His voice was smaller when he spoke again. “Daj, are you…are you talkin’ about Maj?”
An ache, fierce and harsh, slashed through my chest. Yulla. Gods, she was gone.
My eyes clenched, but I shook my head and gestured the idea of someone smaller, younger. Then I pointed at the Ever King again and drew my finger across my throat.
“The little,” Erik said, bloodred eyes narrowed. He folded his skinny arms. “He’s meanin’ your sister.”
Did Gavyn know?
“Oh.” My son faced me, a cautious smile on his face. “You saw Bloodsinger take her, that’s what you’re saying?”
I nodded.
“Daj, Cel’s all right.” Gavyn looked back at the boy king. “She’s hidden. Erik didn’t touch her. He saved her from Harald. We’re gonna hide her right in plain sight.”
Blister Poppy rested a hand on my shoulder. “There are those, Lord Sewell, who do not stand for what noble houses do to their mates. You have allies here, and one is a growing king.”
I couldn’t speak, but I pinned Erik Bloodsinger with my gaze. The boy looked away, staring at a small dagger he spun in his hands. I knocked my knuckles against the bedpost until he looked back.
Erik glared at me, no doubt unused to seeing affection; no doubt he would wither should I embrace him in gratitude.
All I did was press a fist to my chest, a gesture of loyalty to the king of the Ever.
Erik frowned but nodded.
“We’re gonna hide you both,” Gavyn whispered. “Everyone thinks you’re dead. No one knows that I know. I’ll keep the House of Bones, Daj. Celine will live; so will you.”
I winced. They’d live, but as long as there were beliefs that matched Harald Songtaker’s, my young ones were at risk.
We could not be the same bonded family as we once were.
It would mean secret grins whenever I saw my son as a house lord.
It would mean that I might not even see my little tideling much at all.
I closed my eyes, broken, filled with rage, filled with gratitude they still lived.
“It’s not perfect, Sewell,” Poppy whispered, “but they will live. You will live under the banner of the Ever King.” She leaned closer so only I could hear.
“Guide him away from Harald’s word. You know as well as I there is more to the boy than they are making him to be.
He has your son, your girl, and you to show him what it means to lead.
To give everything for those he loves. Teach him love is no weakness. ”
I swallowed thickly. It was a grand task she was asking of me. Harald polluted his nephew with hatred toward the earth fae for slaughtering Thorvald. Doubtless there would be war one day. I peered to the place Gavyn stood near Erik.
Two boys forced to face too much. Two boys already stronger than their fathers.
I wanted to offer Blister Poppy a simple yes, a vow to agree, but I could not do more than mumble. With a nod, I made the same gesture to her—a fist over my heart.
Whatever happened from here, Erik Bloodsinger had the House of Bones. He’d saved my girl, and I suspect he had something to do with Gavyn taking me out of that cell. No matter what the tides brought, the Ever King would always have us.