Chapter 20 #2
“Yes. It works as a mask on your own scent, but if you draw too much blood, it’ll fail.
Small amounts of blood, like a prick of the finger, should be fine though.
” She held up a finger. “But you need to know that it only lasts for one day. Oh, and don’t give it to a demon. It’s only meant for humans.”
“What happens if a demon takes it?”
Mother grimaced. “When we tested it on demons, there were… adverse reactions. The demons seemed to have seizures.”
I’d definitely avoid sharing the potion with Vaelor. I took the supplies from her. Then I threw on the cloak and tucked the potions into the pack with my books and resupplied food. Once everything was in place, I mounted the horse and waved goodbye to Mother and Bargoth.
Now, one last stop. Erlinen.
I found her at her spot in the marketplace, selling her goods.
I got off my mount and approached the stand. “Did Vaelor come and talk to you before he left?”
Erlinen leaned over her display, adjusting the pastries. “So what if he did?”
“I need to know where he went. He needs me.”
“Are you certain of that?” she asked. “It sounded as if he was only worried you’d get in his way.” She paused, glancing up, indecision in her dark eyes. But then she shook her head.
“Erlinen, please.”
Her beak clacked, but a sorrowful thoughtfulness filled her gaze. “His lordship looked…lost when he left.” She met my gaze. “Do you really think you can help him?”
“I’m going to try my hardest.”
“You are a hedge witch. You might be the only one who can.”
“What do you mean?”
She inhaled a long breath. “It’s quite the story.”
“Tell me.”
She nodded, her eyes solemn. “Vaelor grew up in a bright world. The eldest son of his father, he lived on an estate, growing up with the people and servants adoring him. The first time sadness truly struck him was when his father died, though the loss had long been expected after years of battling a dark sickness. After his father passed away, Vaelor dutifully took over the title and position at court, and everything was right again. Perfect even. Vaelor’s mother was cared for at the manor.
I was her servant. She got along well with Serany, his wife, so there was no contention there.
There was even talk of a child on the way. And oh, Vaelor loved her.”
Serany. His wife. I mouthed her name as a slight ache built in my chest.
“Vaelor’s brother, Lanzin, served in the military, doing the duty of a second son. But their sister—Pixa, she was more of a free spirit. Despite being promised to another noble from Kingdom Aeria, she fell in love with a vampire named Torath.”
Vaelor had mentioned that, though he hadn’t elaborated. He’d failed to mention the circumstances under which his sister’s heart was captured by a vampire. My own heart twisted with apprehension.
“Vaelor at first entertained the idea for the love of his sister. When he realized that her Aeria intended, Creedan, refused to let the bargain go, Vaelor turned against her. He tried to get Pixa to see reason, but she was adamant. He understood dire consequences would befall if he didn’t complete the marriage contract with Creedan, so he locked his sister away.
And yet, her vampire love, Torath, broke her out, and the two were Bloodbound in secret. ”
“Bloodbonds are a demon's form of marrying,” I said, recalling what my mother had said.
“Yes. When Creedan found out, he flew into a rage. You see, Creedan’s house was relying on that betrothal and the extensive dowry that would come to bolster his lands and lineage, not to mention raise his standing in court.
No matter what Vaelor offered him, there was nothing to make up for that sort of loss.
Then word got out that not only had she broken the betrothal bargain, but Vaelor’s sister had Bloodbonded with a vampire.
And that was unacceptable. The nobles turned against him.
They took away his responsibilities and banned him from court.
The only thing they allowed him to keep were his lands due to the inheritance magic which was already firmly in place. ”
“All that for a choice his sister made?”
Erlinen frowned. “In Aeria society, the males are responsible for seeing contracts through. The choices of females do not signify. But it gets worse. Much worse.”
I fell silent, an ominous feeling crawling beneath my skin.
“Without Vaelor’s protection, the new forbidden couple was exposed and swiftly killed.”
I covered my mouth. Oh gods.
“Vaelor was devastated.” Erlinen’s voice was heavy with sorrow.
“But he wasn’t the only one. The vampire’s mother was a hedge witch.
She came to Vaelor in a fury and cursed him: from that day forward, he would lose everyone he loved.
Vaelor dismissed her words at first, but when he returned to his manor, he found Creedan had already struck.
He’d raided Vaelor’s lands and dragged his people and servants to his estate, enslaving them.
Everyone Vaelor had grown up beside—all he cared for—was gone. ”
I bit my lip as realization dawned. “You and Feron were there when it happened.”
“Yes.” A weariness filled her voice, and her one good wing trembled at her back. “They beat my body and mangled my wing beyond use. They cut out Feron’s tongue and left us behind as a witness to the horror Creedan’s kind put Vaelor’s people through.”
I swallowed, almost afraid to ask. “A-and his wife?”
Erlinen’s shoulders slumped. “Creedan sent a single de-thorned rose to his wife’s door.
When she found it, she immediately smelled it, thinking it was a gift from Vaelor.
She didn’t know it was an enchanted rose—causing anyone who inhaled its scent to instantly die.
By the time Vaelor’s mother found her, she and the babe inside her were dead.
His mother found the rose on the floor.”
I didn’t want it to get worse, but my mind was already jumping to the most terrible thing. “She didn’t realize it was enchanted.”
“She didn’t. And so, when Vaelor returned home, he found his mother, his wife, and his unborn child dead.”
My heart ached for Vaelor, for his wife, for everyone. I took in Erlinen’s drooped wing and ducked head.
“You witnessed your mistress’s death.”
A tear leaked from Erlinen’s eye. “I should have suspected, should have stopped her, but I was still in such pain after everything. I didn’t think of it until after my mistress was gone.”
The weight of it hung heavy on me, like a stone crushing my soul. I couldn’t imagine the anguish Vaelor must have endured. So much tragedy, so much senseless death.
“For years, Vaelor has tried to discover a method for getting his people back,” Erlinen continued.
“I think with the loss of his mother, wife, and child that it was all that kept him going. But he never could amass a strong enough force to go against Creedan to free his people, and he has failed again and again.”
“Until the mercenary army,” I whispered.
“Yes, but you deprived him of that avenue.”
What had I done? All I had longed to do was escape, and yet, I had ruined Vaelor’s plans. “He didn’t mention Creedan. Vaelor said he wanted to take over Misophae.”
“There was no guarantee that if Vaelor freed his people that he’d have the means to protect them. So he was planning a different route.”
“Take over Misophae and use it as a bargaining piece to earn a position onto the court and get his people back,” I surmised.
“Yes.”
I clasped my hands together and squeezed as if that might relieve the pain in my chest. “I stopped him.”
“You did, but one must ask if it was you or the curse that stopped him from fulfilling the plan to get back those he loves.” She sighed. “If it had not been you, it may have been something else.”
I looked down at my feet, shifting them through the fallen leaves of a nearby mother tree, each one slowly surrendering to the decay that sought to leave them torn and broken, not realizing that they’d died long ago. “If he is cursed, then why does he keep trying?”
“Because he has to.” Erlinen raised her head a little. “Because it is the sole thing that keeps him going. Because it is who he is.”
I placed my hand on hers. “There has to be a way to break the curse. Please tell me where he is.”
She pulled back her hand and fidgeted. “He is going to Girdra Inn. He is to meet Lanzin there.”
I stared at her in surprise. “His brother?” I recalled how Vaelor had mentioned Lanzin when he’d spoken of taking over Misophae in exchange for his people. Had Vaelor discovered a means to go ahead with the plan without involving the mercenary army?
But my family was here—he wouldn’t put them in danger—would he?
Erlinen nodded. “Yes. You’ll come across the Girdra Inn if you head east of here and follow the Rushing stream for about five miles.”
“Thank you,” I folded my hands together in gratitude. “Thank you, Erlinen.” I needed to find Vaelor and free him. But I also needed to discover what Vaelor planned on doing with Misophae.
“Please help him. I never thought before that anybody could…” Her head tilted as she considered me. “But maybe you can.”
“I will help him,” I said and got on my horse and rode off in search of the Girdra Inn.