Chapter 55
Chapter Fifty-Five
Boreus knew that this was going to end badly, as did the Highest. But there was no choice for her but to rise once more to ensure that, at the very least, History wasn’t affected by the miasma.
The Highest had called History to them, and the god was standing in the center of the floor in the Bastion, looking at the Highest with confusion and worry.
“I am here, as I was summoned, Highest.” History bowed to them. “How might I serve?”
“We only wish to ascertain your safety, History.” Light rose from her throne and gestured Compassion forward, their love was oddly pale and unsteady, but she stepped forward to History’s side and laid a soft hand on his shoulder.
History jolted, looking down at her with confusion written all over his face.
“Might I help you?”
“I am trying to help you,” She smiled at him before looking back at the Highest and shaking her head. “He is free of it, Highest.”
And then she dropped like a stone, heading for the floor at a speed that only a limp body could manage. Boreus lunged for her, but History was right there and caught her before Boreus could.
He looked down at Autumn, where Compassion had broken and was fading from her. “What was that?”
“An assessment,” Light said, sitting back down. “What I tell you does not go into the archives and you will not tell a soul. I will have this vow from you, History.”
“I so vow, Highest,” History bowed, Autumn still limp in his arms before he turned and offered her to Boreus. “I believe she is yours?”
Boreus nodded, “Thank you,” he took Autumn from History, cradling her to his chest and looking up at Light.
“Take her to rest, North Wind,” Light shot them a slightly worried look. “I will come and see to her as soon as I am done here.”
“Yes, Highest,” Boreus turned and left the room. He didn’t need to listen to what Light would tell History. Boreus didn’t need to hear the story; he was living the story.
He took her through the Bastion to the room that they had occupied when they’d first arrived. Pushing through the door to lay Autumn in their bed and remove her sandals before tucking her in. She was too warm, restless clearly having a nightmare by the way she was tossing in the bed.
Boreus tried to soothe her, which worked after a while. Or maybe the dream just ended; he wasn’t sure, but she went limp in the bed. There were beads of sweat on her brow, and Boreus went to get a basin of cool water and a cloth to try to bring the fever down.
It worked for a bit, and then the fever got worse, but as Boreus was slowly beginning to worry, Light walked through the door followed by the remainder of the Highest.
“How is she?” Light asked.
“She has a fever,” Boreus replied, looking across the bed where Auster was sitting on the edge. He hadn’t said anything since they’d brought her back. “Is there anything you can do to help her?”
“Of course,” Light shooed him off the bed and sat down, laying her hands on Autumn and letting that light loose into her body.
The fever broke, her color returned to normal, and she stirred.
“No,” Light said, laying a hand on her forehead. “Rest, you will wake when you are ready to wake.”
Light looked down at Valor and Solace. “Keep her resting, do not let her rise, and come for me when she wakes.”
Valor purred, and Solace made a yipping sound before they both bowed their heads to the Highest.
Who nodded back and turned to Boreus. “You will both come with us, North Wind, East Wind. Arrangements must be made for you to return to Charan immediately.
“I don’t think we can go without her,” Auster said, looking down at Autumn where the foxes had arranged themselves to either side of her and had their tails twined over her legs. “She is the one who bargained with the Weavers, even though I would prefer not to put her in that danger.”
“You cannot go without her,” Light confirmed. “Both of you will stand as her defense as she wakes Skirion and gets all of you out of there without alerting what remains.”
“What is it, Highest?” Auster asked. “You have hinted, but if we are to defend her, I would like to know what we will defend her against.”
“It is a remnant,” Light said with a sigh. “Come and I will explain.”
She led them from the room and down to the library in the Bastion. Sitting with them at one of the round tables and pushing a book in his direction. Boreus picked the book up, looking at the spine. “I read this one when I was looking for where the sky fell.”
“The thing in Charan, as near as we can tell, is simply a remnant of the locking sigil that magic held over the Mountain.” Light looked vaguely disgusted. “Rather than falling to bits, it retreated to Charan, and somehow grew hunger and partial sentience.”
“I do not doubt that there is something else mixed up in it.” Intellect broke in. “However, there is no way for us to enter Charan without damaging the delicate balance of the sleepers there.”
“I understand, or I think I do,” Auster said before Boreus could. “When they saved me, it felt almost mindless, but if you’re right, then whatever it was was after Autumn, not us.”
Intellect nodded, “I do not yet know what about her is driving these remnants of Magic to seek her, but I will find out.”
“And what about Theria?” Boreus asked. “What is being done to locate her?”
“We have people out looking,” Courage said. “Thus far they have found nothing, but we continue the search.”
Boreus nodded, “I think there will be some form of indicator, especially if she is carrying more teeth.”
“That—” Intellect looked vaguely startled. “That is actually a very sound thought.”
“I’m not all muscle and no brain, Highest.” Boreus said, trying not to sound upset. “I do occasionally have a thought.”
Intellect shook his head. “My apologies, North Wind.’
“I accept,” Boreus nodded his head. “Now, we ought to plan for stuffing whatever it is back into Charan if it manages to escape.”