Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Demos
“At least she’s swallowing down nourishment, otherwise she’d be lost to us. I’m not sure there is anything that can be done besides waiting,” the House’s physician said with a shake of his head. “I’ve sent for two very good physicians, both acquaintances of mine, but because of this weather… Well, I haven’t a clue whether they received my messages or not, I’m afraid.”
Demos, arms crossed, nodded at the mustached man. “Have you tried a ghypsom infusion?”
Healer Orion’s bushy eyebrow raised. “I have not. Any chance you have any ghypsom?”
“No. All my herbals need to be replenished,” Demos explained. “But I will be passing through Ghypsom City on my way to Utilla. I can place three separate orders and hope at least one gets to you. I’m heading out tomorrow, in fact.”
Rubbing his chin, Orion nodded. “All right.” Then he sighed and picked up his medical bag. “I’ll have someone bring you the funds before dinner.” He turned his head and straightened. “Oh, Captain,” he called as Fadon was leaving the queen’s parlor. “A word?”
Demos nodded at Fadon before turning back to Orion. “I won’t visit with her for long.” He motioned to Lady Lordes’ room.
Orion bowed his head at the Servant and then caught up with Fadon, who had paused in the hallway, waiting.
Lady Lordes’ quarters were dim and quite warm as Demos walked in, shutting the door behind him. He passed through her sitting room and entered her bed chamber, where she slept under a peach canopied bed. She hadn’t moved in the time he’d last seen her, which had been last night after dinner.
A stool sat beside the bed, and Demos took a seat and looked the lovely lady over. Her dark skin was ashen, especially about her cheeks, which had a sunken-in look, but her beauty was still apparent, even in sickness. Because the illness was of a spiritual nature and not a physical one, her gentle breathing was even, and she really did look like she was only sleeping.
With the intent of this visit, Demos had inked a seraph mark just big enough for the occasion, one on his left hand. When he’d last visited her, he’d been accompanied by the queen, and therefore there had been no privacy. Now alone with her, he took her left hand in his, his palm to the back of hers, and pressed his other hand on top. A few whispered words and he closed his eyes in concentration. Then stepped into the In-Between.
“Sister Lordes, Daughter of Light, let me see you,” he sent out into the ether.
All around him, from above and below, was a thick silver fog that had no substance, no sound, no scent. Sparks began to gather in the distance in front of him and he willed his awareness in that direction.
Muted voices faded in and out. A shrill scream cut off, only to resume again in eerie waves. The sparks grew until the fog was rent through with a rip, exposing a scene of winter forest. A hole resembling a giant eye on its side revealed itself, the edges undulating with lilac light.
Demos stepped through.
The forest air assailed him, whether from the cold or just to repel him, strong enough he had to fight to remain upright. He whispered a few more words and prayed to the Mother that he would appear invisible to any who happened to spy him.
The echo of screams grew as Demos pushed onward through the snow that both covered the ground and fell in rushes from the sky. As he got deeper into the snowy woods, he realized the screams were actually the sound of the wind.
“Servant, I am here.”
Demos turned around and saw Lady Lordes sitting at the foot of a tree, her arms around her pulled-up knees. She didn’t look distressed but didn’t appear happy either. In seconds, he dropped his cloaking spell and was before her, kneeling at her side.
“You need to wake up, Sister. You’re getting too weak,” he told her, taking her hand.
“And you need to find Sierra as soon as possible.” Her dark eyes bored into him. “Cae—
Demos straightened. “Stop. Do not say his name.” When she closed her mouth, he asked, “What about him?”
Lady Lordes shook her head slightly and pulled her hand away so she could wrap it around her cold frame. At least the branches above were keeping the snow off her. “Your kind needs to open up to us keepers of the old ways, Servant. Had I known what you were… I just hope it’s not too late. None of us were prepared! Titus is our home, too. We should all be working together.”
“What about that name you just uttered?” His voice was deadly. He agreed with her that everyone should be working together. But hundreds of years had passed since those on Titus needed to join forces.
“He is the cause of Boriel’s torment. He is breaking her, Servant. She will not listen to anyone, refuses to even hear us.”
Demos tensed his jaw so hard the muscles hurt. “Is she—she is here? In this… land?”
She nodded. “Covered in ice. Her tears will not stop, and they keep freezing her. All I can do is stay here to guide those who can come.”
Demos glanced around, hoping to see the elemental.
“Sierra was here, Servant. She saw Boriel. I had to stop the Omega from going to her.”
His head whipped back to the seer. “Here? How?”
“She went through the Delphos rite.”
Pride warred with fear as Demos took in that statement. “And him? Where is he?” He couldn’t believe Cael was involved with this. Why hadn’t the elementals told him this before? Did they truly not know?
She pointed to her left, and Demos surveyed the area. He saw nothing but… There. Black wings, but just a hint. Demos was too far away from the Seraph, which meant the Dark One couldn”t see him and Lady Lordes, Mother be thanked.
Demos looked away and grabbed the Sister’s hand again. It was freezing. “I need to leave. You must wake soon, at least for a while so that you can eat properly. Your queen is very worried about you.”
Her face softened. “How long have I been here?”
“Almost three weeks.”
She sighed, closing her eyes. “Then I will return. But I will be coming back. I will not leave until this is done. More Sisters will come.”
“But you will leave now at least?”
She nodded, but already she was fading. Demos let out a relieved breath.
“I will see you on the other side, Servant of Secrets. You must get to Sierra. I think she’s the only one that can help her, or at least start things in motion.”
Once she was fully gone and no trace of her soul remained, Demos, his eyes now on the hint of those black wings, whispered the words that would return him to the world of the flesh.
The situation had grown so much bigger than he had ever dreamed. And now that he knew his father was involved with what was happening, Demos had even more to do.
After sending word that Lady Lordes was awake, Demos went in search of his brother, who had been keeping himself scarce, lest he was recognized by some of the older Ongarhi of House Trajan. It was doubtful—memory being tricky with most humans—but still, caution was always best. Demos found him up on the Mor’s battlements, his crow’s body a stain in the snowy landscape.
“Shift,” Demos demanded as soon as he spotted his corvine sibling.
In less than a blink, Phobius stood before him, black spelled robes billowing. The spot on the roof where they stood was thankfully hidden from view; even the guard tower wouldn’t be able to spot them.
“You look fit to be tied, Demos. What—”
“Enough.” He got straight to the point, “Father is involved with Boriel’s absence.” He watched his brother’s expression for any evidence that he’d known all along that their father was somehow back from the Void, that Cael was more than likely responsible for more than just tormenting the winter Elementa.
But Demos saw nothing but surprise in his brother’s eyes, and it wasn’t relief Demos felt now. At least if Phobius had known, Demos could possibly get some answers. But now…
“What?” Phobius asked, for once dropping his hauteur. “That’s not possible.”
“I saw him,” Demos said. “Just now in the In-Between.”
“Did you see Boriel with your own eyes?”
“I didn’t, but Lady Lordes has.”
Phobius crossed his arms and turned to face the north.
“By the Wind, what would he want with her?” Demos asked. “Why Boriel?”
“What would he not want,” Phobius said dryly. “Father will do anything to get what he wants. His memory is long.”
Demos sighed, trying to force pieces together that refused to fit. “I think it’s time the Seraph joined forces with the others. Liriel isn’t enough. And we must get Sierra. No longer can we deny her role now.”
Phobius turned around and met Demos’ eyes. For the first time in over a century, if at all, his brother looked frightened. “If Father sees her—”
“He may already have. Lordes said Sierra went through the Delphos rite.”
Phobius closed his eyes. “Let me guess. Sierra saw Boriel.”
Demos nodded. “I suggest we leave as soon as possible.”
His brother bit his lip, deep in thought. But then he nodded. “I agree. Meet me in my room within the hour.” Phobius shifted and flew as his crow, flying out in a flutter of black wings.
As Demos made his way back to the main floor of the manse, he made a mental checklist of everything he needed to see to before he and Phobius could set out. The first thing would be coming up with some excuse to leave his silver gelding, Argenis, here. Again. Because of this latest development, Phobius and Demos would ride out to the nearest trading post, leave the borrowed Trajan horses there, and fly to Utilla, where they would board an available ship north, as close as they could get to Ordelpho. He’d worry about the logistics once they got further along.
He was just leaving the north wing when Fadon called to him.
“Servant. I have news. Seems Lucius has set up a meeting with the heads of the Ongahri tribes. It’s to take place Janus twelve in Ghypsom City. And of course, Mari was not invited,” Fadon said, his growl deep. “Since you will be setting out there tomorrow—”
“I must interrupt you,” Demos said, holding out a hand. “We’re leaving within the hour.”
“For Ongar’s sake.” Fadon rubbed the back of his neck. The captain looked sleep-deprived, and Demos felt for him. Fadon had a lot on his plate at the moment. “I guess I could leave early.”
Demos considered this. Fadon would slow them down considerably if he were to come with them, and Ghypsom City was a good two weeks’ travel by horse, barring any hold-ups and only if they drove the horses hard.
But if Lucius was going to be there, then Demos would be guaranteed a direct ship back to Ordelpho.
“All right.” Demos looked at the tired captain. “And may I ask what you plan on doing at this meeting?”
“I plan on representing the queen. Then, depending on what I learn there, I may or may not be going back to Ordelpho.” Fadon was rubbing his forehead now. “I’m going to have to have my Second lead House Trajan’s army. It’s times like these when I wish I had been second-born,” he grumbled.
And Demos wished the opposite for himself. Phobius was several years older than Demos, who was always the last to learn a thing. And now that Fadon would be traveling with them, Demos would still be left in the dark as to what Phobius had been doing these past few years.
“About the Owl,” Fadon said tiredly, “What are the chances they’ll retaliate right away? Do they even have means to fight if it came down to it?”
“Fadon, the Owl have more power than you could imagine. Unchecked and hoarded. Never underestimate them. Even if they did know what we know, remember, it’s a small faction that Servant Prius was a part of. The likelihood of them moving now? Not with this weather. Goth Mor Hell is the safest place for anyone on Titus right now, and the weather is your best offense.”
“That’s what I thought.” He let out an exhausted sigh. “I’ll meet you in your room when I’m ready.”
“One hour, Captain. No longer.”
And with that, they went their separate ways.