Chapter Thirty-Four – Kalon
A Coincidence
Rage.
That was all I felt when I saw the wraithhusk towering over a paralysed Rina and Allie trying stay on her feet.
I knew exactly where dome barrier had come from—only one kind of power manifested as a golden light, and there were no priests around who could have constructed such a strong wall of protection.
Allie’s latent powers had awoken.
Judging by the way they’d burst out of her, she’d had no control over either her mana or divine power.
I pulled my sword out of the wraithhusk’s mouth, and it roared with pain, throwing back its head.
A flash of green in the corner of my eye was quickly followed by another earth-rumbling groan from the beast, and that told me Marquess Rainforth had succeeded in his mission to cut through one of its wings.
With two aura sword masters against it, this thing stood no chance.
“Now!” I shouted. A string of arrows flew through the air, and one landed perfectly in its eye. With its vision impaired from one side, I had my chance.
I leapt forwards and swung my sword. The sight of Allie’s handkerchief around the hilt bolstered my confidence while simultaneously fuelling my rage.
The confusion of multiple attacks was too much for the creature, and my aura blade penetrated its neck, almost cutting its head cleanly from its body.
I was hanging that fucking head on my wall.
The ground shook as the monstrous thing collapsed. Almost as soon as it did, the warm glow of the barrier behind us dissipated, almost as if a cloud had moved in front of the sun to block its light.
“Allie!” My heart thundered in my chest as I ran to her lifeless body. Blood coated the front of her dress, and as her head rolled to one side on Lady Vivian’s lap, the paleness of her cheeks stabbed into me.
“She’s breathing.” Lady Vivian had tears rolling down her cheeks as she relinquished her hold on Allie so I could pull her into my arms. “What was that?”
“Allie.” I pulled my bloodstained glove off with my teeth and cupped the side of her face. Her cheek was cold and clammy, and some of her golden brown hair was slick against her skin where sweat had beaded on her forehead.
“Return to your tents!” My father’s voice boomed out through the crowd, and the crowd parted as he headed towards us.
“All knightly orders present are to search the forest and secure the perimeter with assistance from the mages. Make sure there this is the only one and find out where it came from. Priests should assist the wounded. Sir Kingsley, accompany the Empress and the Crown Prince back to the Imperial Villa with the Third Order of Knights.”
“Sir,” Hayes stepped up beside me. “What are your orders?”
“Do as His Majesty said,” I answered, smoothing Allie’s hair from her face. “Take Rina somewhere safe for treatment, then go and instruct the knights. Come to me once you’re done.”
“Bring her with us,” my father ordered, laying one hand on my shoulder. “Kalon, let us take Allie somewhere private.”
I swept Allie’s limp body into my arms and cradled her against me, then followed my father towards the Imperial Tent. The only place to lay her down was a sofa, and I carefully set her down on it before dropping to my knees next to her and bringing her hand to my lips.
I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my cheek against the back of her hand. “I need Duke Trelawney and Aerwyna.”
“Everyone out,” my father ordered. “Sir Chester, get Lady Aerwyna and Duke Trelawney and bring me the High Priest. Lady Alicia and her knight must be treated.”
“Allie can’t be.” I looked over at him once it was only the two of us. “It’s too dangerous.”
“What do you mean?”
“That barrier dome was her. Aerwyna recognised her latent abilities the moment she met Allie, but she can use both mana and divine power. If a priest treats her, it could upset the balance within her and kill her.”
“Good grief.” Father paused, then rubbed his chin. “Of course. Her mother is of House Lovett. But they haven’t had an active user in three generations, as far as I know.”
“Until now. Given the situation, I can only assume she saw Rina’s injury and wanted to protect her. Stupid woman,” I murmured, pressing my face against her hand. “Why would you do that?”
“Your Majesty, Your Highness.” Duke Trelawney’s voice filled the tent. “You sent for me?”
“Is there a way to check Allie’s condition without injecting mana or divine power into her?” I asked, turning my head to look at him.
He pressed his lips together. “Are you asking because that incredible explosion of mana and divine power came from Lady Alicia?”
“Yes.”
“I assume she had no control over it.” He loosened his necktie and walked over.
“I can check the mana levels in her body, but that’s about it.
If she can use both, it’s too dangerous to attempt to heal her.
” He crouched next to me, then peered in my direction.
“Your Highness, you’ll have to let go of her hand, or I risk sensing your mana instead. ”
I reluctantly stepped back to let him do his thing. As he did, both Aerwyna and High Priest Dhaesis entered the tent along with an unconscious Rina. They greeted us both and Duke Trelawney.
“High Priest, please see to the Dame,” Father ordered.
I sat on the chair closest to Allie and buried my face in my hands. How had this happened? What was a wraithhusk doing in the Imperial Hunting Grounds? Why hadn’t I been able to protect her?
What was she even doing that close to the forest? That area was supposed to be off-limits to everyone who wasn’t a part of the hunt.
“I can’t speak to any injuries,” Duke Trelawney said. “But as far as mana goes, she’s suffering from depletion. I can only sense the faintest traces of it within her. High Priest Dhaesis will have to do the same check for her divine power. I can’t feel it at these levels.”
“How is Dame Draper?” Aerwyna asked from behind me.
“The poison will require an antidote, but I believe I’ve blocked its passage through her body for the moment,” High Priest Dhaesis replied. “She seems to have passed out from the pain, but I’ve healed her wound for now. She should wake soon.”
I looked up as he approached Allie.
“Is she the one responsible for the barrier?”
Fuck.
The High Priest. One of the people I wanted to hide her potential power from.
It didn’t matter now. I needed his help. Allie needed his help. We would have to deal with the matter of the temple interfering with her later—because they undoubtedly would.
I nodded. “She possesses both mana and divine power.”
“Interesting.” He took her hand, closing his eyes.
“As with Duke Trelawney’s assessment of her mana, her divine power is depleted.
It would have been tough for even me to use half as much divine power at once without feeling fatigued, so she may be lucky to be alive right now.
” He turned to me, and his deep blue eyes held more than a hint of suspicion.
“How is it that she’s in possession of both? ”
“She’s a direct descendant of the Vermillions and the Lovetts.”
“Interesting.” The high priest turned back to her. “You are correct—we cannot heal her. The balance between the two powers is too perilous. Luckily, she has no physical injuries that will inhibit her recovery.”
“But the blood—”
“Is not hers. Her dress is intact, and I sensed no injuries in her.”
“Then what can we do?” Father asked.
“I’m afraid we must wait, Your Majesty. It’s a matter of Her Ladyship recovering in her own time.”
“How long will that take?”
“I cannot say. She appears to have great capacity for divine power, much more than some priests, so it could be a few days before she wakes.”
Duke Trelawney nodded. “I agree with His Holiness, Your Majesty. I have mages in the Tower with less mana than Lady Alicia. As we’re unable to assist her recovery due to the opposing natures of our powers, it may be best to temper our expectations of a swift recovery.”
I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth together, and thumped my fist against the arm of the chair.
That wasn’t good enough.
“How did this happen?” Father asked, folding his arms across his chest. “Wraithhusks haven’t been seen here in decades.”
Sir Chester cleared his throat. “We did a thorough final inspection of the hunting grounds early this morning and found nothing untoward, Your Majesty. There was only the abandoned nest of juvenile mudlungs a week ago, and no other monsters have been seen since. Except for the ones we purposely released for the hunt, of course.”
“Then someone brought it here.” I cast my gaze across everyone in the tent, linking my fingers together. It was the only way I could keep my temper in check. “And I intend to find out exactly who’s responsible for this.”
Father held up his hand. “Sir Chester, investigate this immediately.”
“I want Hayes to assist.”
“Kalon—”
“Father, Allie is my fiancée, and Rina is one of my knights. Hayes will be investigating regardless of what you say.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, holding his hand out in the direction of his knight. “Chester, you and Sir Hayes will both take lead of the investigation. Go now.”
Sir Chester bowed. “Yes, sire.”
I ran my fingers through my hair, dropping my head down. “What was she even doing there? High Priest, do you know when Rina will wake up?”
“I’m awake,” Rina groaned.
I jolted to my feet. “Rina. How are you?”
“I can’t feel my arm, Your Highness.”
“It was paralysed by the wraithhusk. Your injuries have already been healed, and you’ll be fine when we obtain the antidote.”
“That bastard.” She rubbed her eyes with her left hand. “Other than that, I’m fine. Is my lady safe?”
“Try not to move, Dame.” High Priest Dhaesis rushed over to her and held out his hands. A golden light emanated from them, and he nodded. “The poison is contained within her right arm, but I’m unable to dispel it. The Magic Tower will need to provide the antidote.”