Chapter 5 #3
The words encouraged Eira and helped to ease an anxiety she didn’t realize she’d had.
They all were so far apart and on their own, it was good to have friends near again.
Outside of Cadeyrn and Aytigin, Eira had been feeling cut off from the rest of the realm.
At least someone was here to assist. If only Rose could be there too.
“I’ve done some research on the zombies,” Myra said and set her tea on a small table next to the chair.
“I’ve heard of them, but they’re incredibly rare and are only created with dark magic.
Magic the followers of Stula have abandoned for centuries.
Toying with raising the dead is strictly forbidden and goes against the natural flow of life and death. ”
From where he stood off to the side with Nell, Aytigin flicked a cold glance toward Myra then put his focus back on Nell and their conversation. He’d partaken in such dark and forbidden experiments and were what led to the curse on the castle and Malle’s demise. It was a difficult subject.
“Yes, we’re aware of such magic being forbidden and do not need to be reminded,” Eira said as gently as she could.
Aytigin was grumpy and odd, and in the beginning made her uncomfortable with his obsession with Luana and Eira’s connection to her.
But he was one of her only companions here and seemed to feel the guilt of his actions from so long ago and now wanted to rectify them.
He’d been alone for so long. She didn’t need more salt to be rubbed into that wound.
Myra smiled softly at them. “I know, and I’m not here to judge or bring up old debates. I just want to be sure we’re all aware of how dark these creatures are and the need to be wary. They’re made by taking power away from others.”
Cadeyrn stiffened and leaned forward. “With people’s magic?”
Myra nodded. “Usually. They siphon the essence of others to become stronger, usually by taking their magic. Particularly the magic of someone dedicated to the same deity as they had been in life.”
Things kept on getting more and more complicated and dark it would appear.
“Well, and we’re going to make things even more complicated.
You couldn’t have come at a better time,” Eira said.
“Not long ago while I was working in the temple, Malle revealed this to me.” She took the book she’d found and placed it on the table in front of Alvis and Myra.
“It’s an ancient language, and one I’ve been trying to translate.
But I can’t help but think that it has something that can help the curse, or put Malle to rest, or even both.
” She pointed to the words on the old, yellowed pages.
“It’s the same language as the one on the stone table in the temple. ”
With careful hands Alvis turned the pages and examined the text. “This is incredible. I’ve seen some of these markings in the past but never knew how to interpret them.”
Myra leaned over at his side to look along with him. “And you said Malle gave this to you?”
“More like frightened and shoved it at us,” Cadeyrn said with a wry grin.
“That sounds more like the spirit I encountered,” Myra said and toyed with the purple pendant around her neck.
“But you think it was intentional? When I was here all she wanted to do was destroy. If she’s becoming more lucid, that’s a good sign.
The more aware a spirit is, the more I can do to assist them. ”
“She has her lucid moments,” a deeper voice said.
They all turned to see Aytigin standing far back against the shelves.
He’d kept himself away from the group, but whenever he knew the conversation was going to center around his former lover, even if he didn’t say much, he was sure to be in the room.
“There are times I can see the woman she once was.”
Eira’s chest tightened. Aytigin was already such a bitter man from being stuck here in the castle for so long.
But after Malle’s spirit had awakened a few months ago, there was a dark sadness in him that he couldn’t seem to shake.
The bittersweet experience of interacting with his lost love but also knowing she wasn’t truly there and not who he knew so long ago.
“Have you noticed those moments to be growing more frequent?” Eira dared to ask.
He only shrugged. “Perhaps.”
As cryptic as ever. Eira’d grown used to Aytigin, even fond of him, but there were times he was beyond irritating and unhelpful.
Myra turned back to the book and took off her necklace. She handed it to Eira. “It’s in Stula’s language. See the inscriptions on the back of the pendant?”
Eira took the necklace from her and turned it over to find words that looked similar to the ones in the book. “Can you read it?”
Myra shook her head. “No, only a few words here and there, which Mother taught me when I was young. Some old spells have never been translated into our language. I have a few books with me, and they might be able to help. I might even be able to speak with Malle to get some insight.”
“That would be wonderful!” Eira said and squeezed Cadeyrn’s hand. Maybe things were finally coming together and they could fix the castle once and for all. Then, they could be free of this curse binding them here.
Cadeyrn smiled wide at her and kissed the side of her head. Eira was excited to make progress, but found her smile wasn’t quite as wide as his.