31. Chapter 31
The confirmation was enlightening and heavy. On one hand, this gave us a better clue to what we were dealing with, but on the other? More riddles to solve, and I was growing weary.
“We’re not going to solve all the world’s problems tonight.” Paige broke the silence, the look she gave making it seem like she could read my thoughts. Judging by everyone’s expressions, it seemed we were all thinking the same thing.
“Best to take a night’s rest. You are all welcome here at Loamil Manor for as long as you need. Or until this one pisses me off,” Paige said as she pointed her thumb toward Fyom. “But in the morning, my brother and I will get on this straightaway.”
She bid us all a good night, hugging each of us and planting another swift kiss to Peiro’s cheek. Fyom rose and took his sister’s arm in his and led them back to their separate rooms. Ora and Sury were next to exit, leaving me and Peiro alone.
“Come.” Peiro moved to gather me into his arms. “You need your rest. We’ll figure this out. But in the meantime, please try to find some semblance of sleep.”
“When did you become so pushy?” I teased lightly, shoving against his chest.
A low growl emitted from his throat as I felt his hand wrap firmly around the back of my neck to pull me in closer. His lips found mine and explored them softly in a tender kiss, as if I were a breakable thing.
Peiro pulled back, his eyes sparkling against the lit sconces in the room, a war between firelight and stars. “When the things we care about began running themselves ragged.”
I recoiled. There it was again. Speaking in we.
My heart threatened to cave knowing that he was battling for control, and that if I tried to help, even bringing a remnant of my illicitus to the forefront to drive it back, I could risk losing my own control and pushing him further into the Ancient One’s grasp.
Thuvina’s curse felt more than just simply losing my mind; I felt the beginnings of losing my heart.
We walked hand in hand to our room in silence and prepared for bed.
I laid on the overly cushioned mattress, surprisingly finding it uncomfortable compared to the one we shared in our section of Fyom’s tent.
The luxury and comfort in Loamil Manor was a fraction of what we had at Grianmore Castle, and yet it felt so foreign.
I tossed and turned, trying not to disturb Peiro from his moment of rare sleep.
I turned on my side and looked out the ornate window, watching the clouds float by the coming full moon.
She shined so brightly in the sky. Did people think of Nyska when the sun no longer cast its light on her creation?
Were her shadows powerful in the same ways as Aksyn’s rays?
My mind continued to buzz with all sorts of thoughts, none of which included sleep itself.
Fingers grazed my side and feathered down my stomach, pulling me in close to a hard wall of muscle. Peiro wrapped his arm around my middle and cocooned me in his warmth. “Why are you awake?” he mumbled into my hair.
“How did you know?” I whispered into the dark, keeping my eyes on the moon.
“I know what I know,” he said, pulling me in even closer. “Sleep, Naa’n le’ya. I have you,” he whispered into my hair, coaxing every muscle to relax. My eyes fluttered closed and I slept.
***
A strong hand flexed across my body, shifting me under a large arm as if I were merely a stuffed toy to be squeezed and held to bring comfort. A slow, steady breath crested the tip of my ear, causing small hairs from my loose strands to fly wildly and lightly tickle my skin.
Gently I rolled over to face the man who lay with me.
I immediately noticed the hard lines etched his face, similar to the time we met in Zonnagberg.
Signs of age, roughly ten years’ worth, highlighted his features.
Deep creases encased his eyes and mouth.
I couldn’t bring myself to call the entity by its name, but despite the thing taking a toll on his soul, Peiro was still stunningly handsome. Even in this more rugged way.
Silver eyes met mine, the intensity flaring before softening to an ethereal glow.
Our eyes searched one another’s, neither of us saying a word for several moments.
Something fierce, like pain, flashed across Peiro’s face, causing him to flinch and close his eyes.
His breathing hitched a beat before he steadied it once again.
“Are you okay?” I worried and rested my fingers along the stubble on his jaw. “Does it hurt?”
Peiro remained silent for a few moments before he slowly blinked his eyes open once again. “Sometimes. But I am at my best when I am next to you.” He leaned down to kiss the top of my head. “Thank you.”
I stayed quiet, not really knowing how to reply. I didn’t do anything special, but only knew that I caused him pain when I touched the illicitus.
“As much as I want to spend forever in this bed exploring the curves of your body,” Peiro growled into my neck, causing a spike in warmth to flood my senses, “I need to speak to Fyom this morning.” He kissed me on the lips deeply before rising and swinging his long legs off the bed.
I took in the planes of his back and the deep lines of muscle as he fished fresh clothes out of the wardrobe and pulled them on along with his boots.
“I’ll see you soon.” He left, planting one last kiss before exiting the door.
I later found Aurora and Paige sitting in a large, circular sunroom enjoying their breakfast. The white walls were enclosed with multi-paned windows spaced throughout.
The ceiling’s beams matched the walls and held tightly to the glass panes above, allowing bright sunlight to hit the tiled floor.
Palms of different kinds were in pots all along the floor and vines bloomed beautifully, pink flowers climbing up the sides near the windows.
The two were in a deep discussion of some sort as Paige twirled her fingers, coaxing one of the pink flower’s petals open and closed like it was breathing.
I had to do a double take as I noticed the side of her face.
Fyom must have already applied his Healing, because the deep scars and marred flesh had smoothed over greatly and looked like simple lines in someone’s skin, as if they had slept too hard on a sheet.
Even the patch of missing hair had grown back completely.
Ora donned a simple tunic and leggings, so different from the ornate clothing she would typically wear. I sat down beside her and plopped food onto my plate as I listened to their conversation.
“…vipers and I never trusted Ariadne. She always gave me an odd sensation, like I’ve seen her before but could never put my finger on it.
I swear she looked like one of the tutors I crossed paths with when I did my testing.
But aside from all that, Fyom and I guarantee we will figure out those runes.
I have a few of the last old books on translation…
Don’t ask how. It’s best that you didn’t know. ”
I chuckled to myself, realizing those siblings were a lot more alike than they might realize.
The two continued talking about politics and the plan to help decipher the prophecy.
Once breakfast was over, we strolled with Paige through her gardens, learning more about Loamil and all she knew about the current court standings.
We followed the sounds of metal clanging and shrilling.
Sury and Peiro were locked sword against sword, practicing swift moves.
Peiro called an order for Sury to tighten a stance here or there and then continued slashing his sword in his direction.
Even with the cooler morning, both men were drenched in sweat, their tunics soaked through, almost transparent from the hours they must have been training.
Fyom sat in the corner of a pebbled pathway and boomed with laughter as Sury stumbled and tripped, or when Sury happened to get inside of Peiro’s stance, who would then knock his elbow high into his jaw.
Sury stood a few inches shorter but still was still able to reach consistently, keeping Peiro on the defense.
Ora chuckled when she watched Sury miss a jab but spin out of the way just in time for Peiro to stab his sword into the air.
Sury was getting quicker and his moves looked more refined since he had fully regained his strength.
It was like he had never been on Cisoi’s step all those weeks ago.
“Good. Now try that again, but without the frailty of an adolescent child,” Peiro barked. I instantly saw the captain he had once been. A man who meticulously trained other soldiers to perfection. “And again!”
All eyes were locked on their exchange. Neither of the men relented in their strikes but forced one another to move faster, stronger. Fyom continued to chuckle in laughter, his hands resting on the pommel of a sword as he sat on a concrete bench next to an evergreen shrub.
My head turned on a swivel the moment I heard Fyom’s breath quickly and frantically inhale.
A man, cloaked with his hood down, had snuck behind Fyom and held a dagger to his throat.
Instinctively I wanted to protect, and I took a step forward while my celestial dagger flared to life.
Sury and Peiro turned toward the man, both pointing a sword in his direction, shifting to attack.
Ora took a step forward to guard Paige behind her and drew her Wielded darts in her hand.
The man sensed our moves and held out his free hand to stop me from advancing. His face was buried in shadow but I could feel his glare locked onto mine. His outstretched hand had become encased in fire so powerful that, even at my distance, I could feel the Wielding’s heat.
I quickly looked to Fyom to see if the fire caused him pain, but found he was unscathed, even though he was just inches away. This trespasser had strong control of his Firus.