42. Chapter 42 #2
Once she was on the ground, I raced back toward Sury and knelt beside him. His skin had grown deathly pale as he wheezed uncontrollably against the pressure from the arrow protruding his skin. His eyes unconsciously locked on something as he slowly faded from this plane.
Recalling Phe’s instruction, I locked eyes on what she called the lifesource.
It was strange; for her, it was something to obtain and gather.
She’d told me it fueled her, and that death demanded more.
But when I looked at it? I knew it didn’t belong to me.
The lifesource was a sacred kernel in every being, deserving a chance to be a part of this world.
In the event its time had passed, it deserved to be greeted by Cisoi before living in paradise with Thuvina.
Nothing had been written in history to explain this, but I just knew.
A loud crash came at my left, but I didn’t need to look up to know Fyom had rejoined me while Uriah settled across from me. “Queen Aurora, are you okay?” That was the first time I’d heard the title, but the significance rolled off like water on an oiled sheet.
When I didn’t answer, Uriah shared his report. “Peiro took his fair share and is helping your sister.” I heard him speak but my eyes were still watching the lifesource in Sury’s chest fade.
“Fyom. Break the fletching. Uriah, gently lift Sury’s shoulder to grab the arrow and pull. I can’t work if I have to fight against the damn arrow. Fyom, when it’s out, give him everything you’ve got.”
“Yes, my queen.” Fyom’s gentle voice was laced with an emotion I had never witnessed. His tone, which usually held mirth and joy, now held nothing short of bloodlust.
The moment the arrow left Sury’s body, blood coated us all. He gasped as he clung to life. Uriah sat back on his heels as Fyom gently cradled Sury’s head in his lap.
“We have too many plans, Sury. You cannot leave me in this giant-forsaken place without you.” I seethed against death and began to pour my illicitus into Sury. His lifesource was so small and fragile. I was sure one more pulse would have sent him to the Threshold.
In my mind’s eye, I watched my Wielding softly coil and cradle the small bit of life that was left. My body hummed as I poured every bit of my energy into him.
Is he worth it? This price you pay?
Yes, I said without hesitation. He is worth the life I live.
It was silent for a moment before the woman’s voice spoke again. I believed that once myself. I hope you are right…
People spoke all around me, but the sound was muffled like I was under water.
I kept my gaze on the growing lifesource, too afraid to let go in case my efforts were not enough.
My hands felt heavy and my eyes grew tired.
Fatigue was at my doorstep, waiting to welcome me home, but I kept my magic strong.
The soft cradle of pouring my power now became a tight squeeze, almost suffocating me.
My fingertips tingled, the feeling of ice-cold flesh meeting the blaze of a fire, but it only built, never granting me relief.
“This is amazing…” I barely heard Uriah’s words as I flexed my fingers against my Wielding’s hold. Slowly I spun more strands of life into Sury, praying the magic would hold. Finally the force glowed as bright as a summer’s day. Vibrant. Healthy. Living.
“Hopefully you won’t need to grow accustomed to the display.” My words were hollow as I battled the rising burnout.
I called my Wielding back into me as I looked to my sister, suddenly needing her approval, but found only worry.
Peiro held her up straight as she stumbled toward us.
I needed to know if she was okay, judging from the amount of blood that adorned her, but then I heard someone speak, instantly reviving everything within me.
Sury jerked back from a cheering Fyom before locking his heavy gaze on mine.
“What happened?” he croaked through a dry throat.
“Why am I on the ground?” He shifted his gaze at everyone.
“And why the hell is there a branch sticking through your arm?” Sury asked Phe with bewilderment before his fingers felt for the phantom hole in his neck, the wound now completely gone.
The only evidence of injury that remained were the silver scars on his chest from the Death Arrow he’d encountered months ago, and the torn cloth of his tunic. “Ah, shit. I died again, didn’t I?”
“Again? You’ve died before?” Uriah’s eyes grew wide. “Pa, what in the giants’ hell have you gotten me into?”
“Best tell you that part of the story once we seek cover.”
Peiro shifted in front of Phe, his sword drawn. “Too late,” he growled.
Another wave of warriors crashed through the trees, but this time there were too many for us all to take on.
Before I had a chance to summon any Wielding, men with red eyes swarmed Peiro and Phe, inching their swords at their necks.
Peiro released a snarl and shifted for the attack, doing anything he could to protect my sister.
“Kneel for the Unveiled!” someone shouted just as they were brought to their knees by the threat of swords and spears. Others surrounded us with their respective Wieldings, threatening to subdue us should we try to attack.
“What do we do?” I tried whispering to Uriah. He swept his gaze side to side, ready for the next assault. Who was the Unveiled?
“Yes. What to do?” A woman’s voice carried from the trees; it was deep and sultry, almost alluring.
The Graevicks shifted to the side, each hitting their chest in a gesture and tilting their head down as a petite woman strode effortlessly through the middle.
She wore the same garments as the others, but her head was left uncovered.
Her black hair was pulled into a partial low bun with small streaks of gray.
The woman appeared to be in her fifth decade of life, but her skin was quite remarkable. I noticed it was a little too smooth. Her gait a little too flawless. Something about her felt off. The woman would have been absolutely breathtaking if it weren’t for her red-tinged eyes.
She stopped short in front of Fyom, who, even kneeling, was almost her height, and gave a beautiful smile that would make most men weak.
“Fyom Tresdore. My,” she breathed. “It’s a sight to see you after all this time.
” She bent low, taking her finger under his chin and lifting it up to meet her gaze.
“Why are you here? We know it’s not for me,” the woman practically purred.
“Addis,” Fyom seethed between his teeth, his back rod-straight. “Your people attacked us. Unprovoked. You put my people in grave danger!”
Addis. The name was familiar. Where had I heard it before?
The woman tsked as if she didn’t have a care in the world. “Pity. Doesn’t look like anyone aside from my people were harmed. Maybe you attacked them? You’re on sacred ground, after all.”
She looked at each of us, seeing us for the first time. Her eyes lingered on Phe’s longer than necessary, a look that made my illicitus repulse. I shook my head, fighting the urge to rise to my feet as the woman looked back to Fyom.
I blinked rapidly as a memory played in my mind of Vovias at the temple: “Addis sends her regards.” By the look on Phe’s face, she had followed the same trail of thought as I did.
“Tell me, Fyom, who are my guests?” Addis leaned down, her lips a breath away from Fyom’s.
“Friends. Aside from that one, who you know well.” Fyom tilted his head to Uriah, who was the only one standing, but was guarded by two people clothed in brown.
The woman batted her eyelashes and stood up straight, placing her hands together. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your…friends?”
Even though her statue was small, her force radiated dominance. Power. My magic quivered in warning that there was something more to this woman. She wasn’t to be trusted. Underestimated.
Her red eyes flashed to mine as she smiled.
A sickening feeling rushed through me like she could read every piece of my being, and the glint of her eye felt like it confirmed my inner thoughts.
I even noticed that Phe was strangely quiet in her presence, like she was enthralled.
Was the voice in her head whispering horrid things?
I wanted to call to her, beckon her attention, but before I could, Fyom sighed deeply and shook his head.
He lifted it once more as he said, “Friends. This is Addis Tresdore. My wife.”