Chapter 27 #2
What are you brewing? Vaelor asked in my thoughts.
A poison I’ll use to weaken Throk. Kind of like what Raxus just did to us only Mira will add this to the demon’s food.
Vaelor sat at a stool next to the counter, observing.
After bandaging Vaelor’s side, we’d come downstairs to get to work.
I wanted Vaelor to rest, but he insisted on coming down with me.
I knew it was because he was restless. Still, I didn’t fail to notice the dark crescents under his eyes or the effort hidden in every movement.
Signs that the poison was in his system and taking its toll.
“In order for us to be successful, we have to take out more than just Throk,” Vaelor said, his speech slower and more labored than usual. “He and his two subordinates hold power over the entire army. If we only kill Throk, one of his minions will assume control.”
I frowned, recalling Throk’s two gargoyle companions and their flesh that looked like gray stone. I was sure it was actually skin—but thick skin. They might be difficult to defeat.
“So we have to kill all three.” That meant all three of them ingesting the poison so that I could have a chance to take them out.
“But only after I’m named commander of the mercenary troops,” Vaelor added. “Otherwise, the mercenary troops will be free to butcher us.”
“What about the non-mercenary troops?”
“If Throk names me fourth in command, I should be able to take over them as well once Throk and the other two are gone.”
“If that is what we have to do, then we’ll do it.”
He stared at me for so long that I shifted under his gaze. “What is it?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “If my determination got me half as far as it gets you, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
I glanced at the boiling pot, thinking of every instant where my life had taken a terrible turn. “It doesn’t always get me what I want. Sometimes my whole life goes wrong, too.”
“And yet you invariably rise and fight again.” He regarded me with admiration in his eyes.
“So do you,” I said, taking his hand.
“No, I gave up.” He pulled his hand from my grasp.
“The mercenary army was my last attempt—my last try to save my people. After all I had lost, I’d given up on everyone and everything else, and if my plan didn’t work, I’d decided I might as well end my existence.
If I only brought pain and suffering, if I only ended up alone, if redemption wasn’t possible, what was the point? ”
“And then I ended your life for you.”
“I almost didn’t take the deal Throk offered when he raised me.” He sighed. “I don’t know why I did. I just remembered wanting revenge on the individual who’d killed me…”
I sucked in a breath.
“You see,” he hitched a small smile. “You brought me back to life in more ways than one. First, after you took my life, and second, when you infused color and purpose into my life.”
The weight of his words sent a tremor through me. “Vaelor, I?—”
“It was you, Denara. It was only after I died that I found I wanted to live.”
“And now?”
“Now, if I lived with you by my side for the remainder of your existence, then I’d be content.”
“We can make that happen. Two more battles and we’ll be together, and all this will be over.”
Vaelor looked as if he were unsure of that.
Despite his fatigue, I was glad he was here. Because as I’d waited for the potions to reach their right temperature to add extra ingredients, I had carefully perused both books on the counter, coming up with a theory. An outlandish one, but the more I thought about it, the more confident I became.
“Remember when we read the history of Spiritu Malignos and it talked about splitting the body and the spirit, temporarily?”
“I recall reading that only the most powerful of those in Spiritu Malignos could accomplish such a feat and that nobody had done so in hundreds of years,” Vaelor said.
“There is a spell in the hedge witch book that allows a witch to briefly divide another’s soul in certain ceremonies…
it helps them to focus different aspects of a person’s soul that they may want to isolate.
The root they used to trigger it is a common herbal remedy.
I found some here in your stores.” I held it out to him.
“For you, it may allow you to split your spirit from your bonded body.”
I handed him the dried root. He eyed it. “This sounds advanced.”
“It is pretty simple as long as you follow the steps. You eat the root and then I eat a leaf from the same plant.” I held up the leaf that I’d eat. “And I make a sign.” In the air, I drew the sign of a tree split in half, like I’d seen in the book.
“And just like that, my soul splits?”
I hesitated. “There is one more requirement.”
“What is that?”
“You must be relaxed. You cannot let fear of the future enter your thoughts.”
He gave a low chuckle. “You should probably take this back.”
“Things are rough and things are uncertain, but please, you have to try. If you can split during a fight, it’ll give you the advantage you need to win.”
“Do you think this will work?”
“I do.”
He managed a tired nod. “Then I’ll try for you.”
He ate the root. And I ate my leaf and did the sign.
“Now you must focus,” I said. “Picture your body and your spirit separating.”
Vaelor shut his eyes, focusing. Sweat appeared on his brow. For a moment his image glowed. Eagerness and hope leapt up inside me.
“Yes, that’s it.”
Vaelor’s form trembled, and he groaned. Then the glowing stopped, and he opened his eyes, panting.
“Does it tire you?”
“I felt the energy but was unable to grasp it. I…” He looked away, not meeting my gaze. “I may be too weak.”
“No, it’s not about strength. It’s about trust.” I held out more of the root. “Let’s try again.”
Vaelor opened his mouth as if to protest but wearily nodded. He ate the root, and I ate the leaf. I did the sign.
Again he glowed for a moment, and he grunted as his entire form trembled. I watched, hoping.
But again, the glowing faded, and Vaelor was left gasping.
We had to get this. “Maybe if we?—”
“It’s not going to work, Denara.”
“But we could?—”
He looked up, his eyes flashing. “Can’t you see this is too much?”
I stilled, watching him as he sucked in air, as he grasped his wounded side. What are you frightened of, Vaelor?
His head raised until he met my gaze, something dark and volatile swirling in his eyes.
I’m afraid of fucking messing up and losing you.
I trust you. I believe in you and your magic, but…
A shudder ran through him. I can’t shake this feeling that the curse is still upon me.
Like everything is going to burn to ashes.
The fire crackled in the thick silence that settled between us, its steady pops the only sound daring to break the weight pressing down on the room.
Neither of us spoke. The pain in Vaelor’s eyes stirred a steady ache in my own chest. It didn’t matter if the curse was broken if he didn’t believe it.
He would remain trapped all the same—imprisoned, not by magic, but by the walls he kept himself in.
A cage of his own making.
He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Denara. I’m sorry. Should we try again?”
“No, you’re right. This is too much.”
He nodded. “I’m going to rest. Will you come?”
“I need to finish the potions. And there is an additional spell that I must learn.”
He got up, his shoulders hunched, his body and soul both worn out. “Goodnight, Denara.”
“Rest well, Vaelor.”
He disappeared up the stairs, and I watched him go, my stomach twisting into knots. Everything was falling apart. What chance did we have at winning now? Vaelor, my family, everything was on the line.
I walked over to my spellbook resting on the counter. My hand shook as I turned to page ten.
This storm had grown too fierce for ordinary remedies.