Chapter Twenty-Six
"You wish to go to the Doom Ball?"
Carys met the half-ruined face of Nyx. "We must save Gil."
After Carys and Aidan agreed on their perilous path, they sought the one person who could help them.
For all of Aidan's intrepid ideas, visiting the most fearsome warrior in the Curselands intimidated him.
He failed at hiding his nerves, repeatedly scuffing his feet and fidgeting since entering the room.
Nyx's room wasn't intimidating. Located in the barracks, the chamber was rather barren. A simple cot, chest, and striking weapons decorating the walls. But Aidan kept glancing around as if he was once more in a pit of snakes.
The warrior hadn't seemed surprised to see them, and even less surprised by their request.
"I told Meical that you'd want to save him.
But you know he never listens." Nyx was painting a series of intricate symbols on her bare arms. Protective Curse Magic.
The mixture had a foul stench, but Carys suspected the stink wasn't the only reason that Aidan lingered in the doorway with an averted gaze.
It was likely because Nyx was topless.
His modesty amused the ruthless warrior. "Little Dalon Prince, if you can't look at my breasts, how can you fight Kieran?"
Aidan seemed to force himself to face her, his expression carefully blank. "We won't fight him. We'll use the occasion of the Doom Ball to rescue Gil."
Nyx directed a knowing glance at Carys. "What has Carys even told you about the Doom Ball?"
"The Doom Ball is an annual event in the Curselands, held by a different Curselord every year." Only the reddening of his cheeks revealed any discomfort. "The powerful Curselords and mages attend the ball."
Nyx swirled black paint around her elbow. "Did Carys tell you why they gather together?"
A slight crease of his forehead answered that question.
Carys shrunk back. "The Doom Ball is a time for transgressive transactions."
He blinked. "What does that mean?"
Nyx barked out a laugh. "What Carys means is that it is a time for all sorts of rotten dealings.
A time for buying curses, slaves and death.
And I don't mean low, dirty arrangements.
The most powerful people are purchasing of perdition.
If you want a mage's babe to sacrifice, if you desire to enslave a mage, if you need to bring about a massacre.
.. well, I suppose you can weave the rest of the tapestry. "
"I understand," he said, a forced calmness to his words.
Nyx's eyes narrowed, and she bounced off her cot.
"Do you really, Little Dalon Prince? Kieran will use the Doom Ball to lure adherents away from Meical.
It's always an opportunity to gain followers.
Last year the ball took place here." She tilted her head.
"Where do you think Meical recruited people to attack your land? "
Carys' insides burned, as though a flaming arrow struck her stomach. But Aidan remained composed. "That makes sense. I didn't imagine Meical brought Curse Warriors together with a heroic speech."
Nyx scowled. "I ought to cut you for that disrespect."
"You shouldn't." A small smile appeared on his face. "You need me."
"I can leave enough blood for everyone's purposes," she said with a disdainful sniff
"That wasn't my meaning." His stance grew more confident. "The Doom Ball is where your recruit followers? If Kieran is using it to sway people from Meical, an appearance from me might change things."
Carys didn't like his cockiness. It reminded her of Gil.
But Nyx smiled. "Little Dalon Prince, you are smarter than you look."
Aidan glowered.
Nyx stretched, bringing more attention to her breasts. "Your plan is fraught with problems. Curselord Meical never allows his sister to attend the Doom Ball. Too many lust for her. Kieran is no exception. He would like nothing better than to get his foul hands on her powerful body."
Carys flinched.
"She can take care of herself," Aidan said, his touching conviction warming Carys.
But the damaged side of the warrior's face reminded Carys that everyone was vulnerable in the Curselands.
The beautiful half of Nyx's face remained expressionless. "You ought to tell him everything about Kieran. It's best to know the beast before partaking of his feast. I'm sure the Little Dalon Prince will agree, considering he entered Meical's domain before fully knowing the beast."
Carys stayed silent as Nyx pulled a tunic off a hook and slipped it on. Aidan opened his mouth, but said nothing.
Nyx shook her hair out. "I'll speak with Meical. He won't be keen on it, I promise you. He'll need an advantage if we're to attend the ball."
Carys' mouth dropped open. "You will attend?"
Nyx unhooked a dagger from the wall and flipped it in the air. "Do you think I'd let your brother walk into that den of dragons without protection?"
Carys crossed her arms, unable to voice her concerns.
"We'll have to make proper preparations.
" Nyx lifted her trousers and bound the blade to her leg.
"The wards preventing curse attacks won't stop good old-fashioned murder.
Both of you should seek out Weaponsmith Cecil and obtain some discreet weapons.
Blood Dragon, what else am I forgetting.
.. oh! Carys, you need a suitable gown."
Carys blinked. "What?"
Nyx shook her head. "You can't go to the Doom Ball in that tattered old black dress."
"There's nothing wrong with my dress!" Carys snapped.
"Indeed not," Aidan interjected. "But I see Nyx's point.
You would represent you brother there. I don't like frippery, but I never balked at dressing the part for my brother.
It seems pointless, aye, but there is power in image.
If you look grand and mighty on the outside, it can intimidate fools who only judge by the outside. "
"The prince speaks the truth," Nyx said with a grudging sigh. "I wear frightening armor so that people will recognize me as a threat. Otherwise, they just see a fragile woman with a wreck of a face."
He smiled at Carys. "And I think it would be quite a pleasure to see you in a fine gown. Of course, you always look fine to me."
Her cheeks seared as Nyx chuckled. "That one's a charmer, no mistake," the warrior said.
Carys remained on edge until Nyx left. "When we save Gil, I will make sure that shapeshifter dies. He's more trouble than he's worth."
Aidan nodded, as if he didn't believe her words. "Do you think your brother will agree?"
She shrugged. "He sorely hates Kieran. He shall want to get Gil back for his own advantage. And your plan of being my brother's lure will be even more of an incentive to attend."
"What did Nyx mean when she said to tell me everything about Kieran.?" He frowned. "She sounded as if you'd be in danger."
She hesitated. "I shouldn't think you'd want the heinous details."
He exhaled. "If we're to go, I need to know."
Carys turned from him and walked over to Nyx's bed and sat on the mattress. "She's wary of Kieran with good reason."
"Why would a warrior like Nyx be wary?"
She looked everywhere but at his kind and curious face, wishing to avoid the subject. "Have you heard of the Curse Ceremony?"
"The dark ceremonies used to trap magical maidens into marriage?" he asked quietly.
"That simplifies it a bit." Coldness crept over Carys.
"A Curse Ceremony can be invoked in two ways.
The first is a cursed covenant between two individuals, binding their magic together and preventing them from killing each other.
The latter is necessary since those with cursed blood have the natural instinct to betray and kill.
That's why my father didn't actually kill my mother. He couldn't."
"I suppose... I suppose that's practical," he said slowly, as if struggling not to offend her.
She shrugged. "The second ceremony is a corruption of the first, modified with enslaving magic.
That way, a Curse Mage can trap a powerful woman in marriage, forcing her to do his bidding.
Kieran had a brother, Garvan. Nyx was forced into the slave ceremony by Garvan.
That's how she ended up in the Curselands. "
"Nyx?" Disbelief darkened his tone. "That terrifying warrior?"
"Garvan held Cinder Fortress while Kieran held Ghost Tower. Nyx... hated Garvan."
"Of course," he murmured.
"You can understand she was willing to do anything to get rid of Garvan.
" Nausea burned her. "She fought against the curse enough to communicate with my brother.
She told Meical that if he killed Garvan, she would aid him in taking Ghost Tower.
They lured Garvan from Cinder Fortress and Meical killed him. "
She fell silent, fighting the urge to bury her face in her hands. Aidan's steady breathing didn't indicate his feelings on the matter.
Her hand clenched. "Nyx got Meical into Ghost Tower. She almost took Kieran's life, but he went a bit mad upon learning of his brother's death. He attacked Nyx with a fierce curse... that's why she looks so bad."
She expected disgust from Aidan, but he just shook his head. "Your brother owes much to Nyx. Why aren't they co-rulers?"
A giggle escaped Carys. "Curse Mages aren't known for sharing power and Meical is no exception. And Nyx wasn't interested in ruling. All she wants is to become an unstoppable warrior."
Thoughtfulness painted his face. "I can't blame her, especially after a loss of power over her own life. When you experience that... you would do anything to never be in that position again."
She stiffened. "I suppose you'd understand."
His beautiful eyes captured her. She wished they showed anger, but only sadness shined in them.
"Do you ever regret what you did?" he asked.
"I did what had to be done." She tore her gaze away. "Sometimes... sometimes I wish it hadn't been you. I thought you would be easy to hate."
"I'm not?"
She grunted. "I don't understand you. The Curselands haven't crushed you down. I believed you were ignorant and selfish, like everyone in the Starlands."
"Not everyone in the Starlands is that way."
"They banished guilty and innocent to perdition." She rose and turned from him. "And those who didn't participate with the banishing... stood back and let it happen. It was different with you, only a babe when it happened. But what of the others?"
Nothing could be heard but Aidan shuffling his feet. "I thought everyone in the Curselands were monsters," he confessed. "Perhaps it would be easier if you were all monsters. It would be easier... if I could hate you."
She spun around, greeted by alien kindness on his face. "I don't understand you," she choked out.
"Are you certain you don't?"
He was too close, smelling of earth and sun. "I..."
"What?"
She held up her hand. "If we're to find Gil at Cinder Fortress, we need to track him. That will be tricky, with the spells concealing him. We'll need a primal source of magic, one that I wouldn't wish to use."
He tensed. "Sacrifice Magic?"
She couldn't miss that he didn't outright object, but chose not to draw attention to it. "Close."
"No blood of bunnies?" he jested with an uneasy look.
She pointed, almost touching the bandage wrapped around his arm. "Blood magic."
A dark expression came over him. "Like the magic you invoked against Bella? The way you sent the Curse Creatures after her?"
His condemnation sliced her insides. "Aye, but with a different purpose."
"Still a curse. It must be destructive."
She fidgeted. "Curse Magic is always destructive. But that doesn't mean it can't be used in beneficial ways. It aided your own magic in healing the land."
"I know." The dark look left, replaced by something more neutral. "How will this blood magic be beneficial?"
"All I needed was the blood of Bella's kin to send Curse Creatures after her." She took a deep breath. "So all that is required is the blood of Gil's kin to find him in Cinder Fortress."
"Gil's kin? Wouldn't they be in Rali?" His eyes widened. "Gil's sister."
Carys led Aidan down into the bowels of the tower. Cold and cobwebs graced the narrow halls. She held a candle, but its light barely chased away the shadows. They went deeper than allowed, ghostly laughter stalking their steps.
The candlelight illuminated Aidan's frown.
"By the Old Dragon, I don't think I've seen Gil's sister this whole time.
Let me see if I recall what Gil told me.
She's cursed, and that's how she and Gil ended up down here.
She is changing into some sort of beast, but the Curselands are slowing down the effects?
" he asked, likely rambling to ignore the strange sounds and stirring shadows.
"Aye." Carys grimaced as she pulled a cobweb from her hair. "A most terrible curse. She isn't safe to be around."
"Is anyone safe to be around here?"
"She is a shapeshifter of Rali, same as Gil, but she uses the atmosphere of the Curselands to enhance her shifting ability." The candle flickered for a minute, almost snuffing. "Shapeshifting helps her fight the transformation."
The shadows danced over Aidan's face. "At least the Curselands are good for something..."
Carys shook her head, skipping a decayed step. "The blending of Curse Magic with her shapeshifting skills has made her unstable. She has become a beast inside, twisting what's left of her humanity. She must be locked up for her own safety. For everyone's safety."
He shuddered, stepping over a scattering of bones. "Locked up down here?"
"There is no other place that would be safe."
He pulled her back as a small, dark creature scurried past them. The candle flickered as his breath tickled her neck. She took comfort in the warmth of his body before moving away. But his warm hand remained linked with hers.
And they continued holding hands for the rest of their descent.
"I just can't believe that Gil keeps her all alone in this place," he said, as they reached the final desolate level.
"He stays down here at every opportunity." She bit her lip. "In truth, I've worried for his safety. But he refuses to listen. I worried less about his missions and more when he was with... her."
"How dangerous is she?"
"Recall how Curse Creatures seek out magic?" She shivered. "Don't summon any magic around her. Not even if she seems ready to attack."
Dread darkened his face as they moved through the murky hall. She couldn't comfort him. Not when her own instincts screamed to run the other way.
Rotted open doors showed rooms heaped with bones and scuttling creatures. Faded scarlet stained shut doors, faint moaning, and scratching sent chills through Carys.
She hated the bowels of Ghost Tower.