44. Lirion
Lirion stumbled back a step as he watched in a mix of horror and confusion as fresh chaos claimed their small camp even after the attackers had been vanquished. From a distance, Lirion could see that Maxie’s hands were now covered in blood, which was steadily soaking into his clothes.
Lirion started to lurch forward, his mind already summoning up the words for some quick and dirty healing, when Fenric’s shout stopped him cold.
Fenric bellowed, “Hapi! Puppy’s hurt! Ge over here now!”
Hapi?
Why would you call for a necromancer when you needed healing?
Oh fuck, don’t tell him—no, surely not!
Hapi moved faster than Lirion had ever seen. Normally, Hapi walked around with a graceful, ground-eating stride, never hurrying above a quick walk. It was the first time Lirion had seen him run, worry written all over his face.
“Lay him down. I’ll get the ingredients out.”
Little cries of pain escaped Maxie as Malfas and Fenric carefully moved Maxie off the log to lie flat on his back in front of the flickering flames.
The dancing light cast hideous shadows across his normally handsome face.
Blood speckled his parted lips and pale face, and tears streaked from the corners of his eyes, glistening on his temples.
Hapi was speed itself, bringing his bag of magical implements out with him. Even as he opened the bag, he snapped out, “Well? Someone has to finish him off. I can’t raise him until he’s dead.”
What?
What the hell did he just say?
Lirion’s eyes were in danger of falling out of their sockets as the full meaning of his words penetrated. So Hapi didn’t have healing skills, or even any basic potions, but if one of them was injured seriously, they’d just kill the person so Hapi could raise them?
Granted, it meant they were healed to full health, but still!
Everyone ground to a halt, even Rain and Belstrom, who stood guard at the perimeter with the skelebabies. Fenric was still putting pressure on the wound, but even he looked perturbed.
“I-I can’t bring myself to do it,” Fenric choked out, shaking his head violently. “Can someone else? He’s practically a little brother to me.”
Malfas threw up his hands. “Nope, nope, I can’t even get mad at his face. Even if it’s for his benefit, I can’t kill him. Don’t even ask, I ain’t doing it. Sorry, Puppy, I love you too much. Understand me, please.”
Maxie grimaced. “I don’t want to die, but it hurts so much. Please, someone…”
“For the love of—” Lirion couldn’t take any more of this insanity.
He stomped in closer, hip-checking Hapi out of the way.
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Is there not a single person in this whole fucking party who has healing magic?
! Sure, I know you joked about Hapi raising you all from the dead after the poisoning incident, but I thought it was only because there was no antidote to counter the poison.
How could your only option be death and resurrection?
What if something happened to Hapi? You’d have nothing! ”
Shrugs all around, a few looking shamefaced.
He dug a potion bottle from his bag, pulled the stopper, and tipped it into Maxie’s mouth.
Even as he did that basic thing, his mind whirled.
Yes, he’d wanted to ask if he could be a part of this group of idiots, but now Lirion knew he had to join them.
They needed him, and he didn’t want to imagine a world where they didn’t continue living and creating chaos because they were suddenly short a necromancer to bring them back to life.
He adored their ingenuity, strength, courage, and sense of humor more than he could ever say, but this whole situation had to stop right now!
How could they do such dangerous work without a single healing spell?
Just the idea of it made his head want to explode and his heart break.
The potion would help with the pain and replenish blood supply, keeping Maxie out of imminent danger of dying from blood loss.
Lirion picked up his lyre and started strumming a cantrip, an effective method of healing that could be repeated ad nauseum.
Since it didn’t seem Maxie would croak here in the next few seconds, Lirion knew it would be fine not just blasting him with a greater healing spell.
Bonus was that he could show these idiots what exactly they’d been missing out on.
“Fucking hell,” Fenric murmured, eyes fixed on him. “I had no idea you could heal something major like this.”
His eyes met Fenric’s as he strummed. Lirion knew the instrument and the song so well he didn’t have to focus on the notes. He could play this song blindfolded (and had, once).
Fenric’s eyes spoke a whole conversation.
Relief, because killing Maxie wasn’t necessary anymore.
Gratitude that Lirion was here and able to help.
And perhaps affection and pride? Fenric’s lips curved up ever so slightly at the corners, softening his normally closed-off face, and it felt like Fenric’s smile hit him right in the heartstrings.
Lirion almost felt flushed under his gaze, and the man wasn’t even doing anything! Who cared if Lirion was chasing a fantasy? When he looked into those gold-green eyes of Fenric’s, the only thought going through his mind was mine.
Lirion thought of Fenric in the future, being hurt like Maxie and forcing one of his friends to kill him so Hapi could raise him, and it made Lirion throw up in his mouth. No way in hell did he want that future to happen.
He’d just teased Fenric not twenty minutes ago about being an adult and using his grown-up words. Apparently, he needed to take his own advice.
The cantrip finished, and he lifted Fenric’s hands so he could take a peek at Maxie’s wound. It was closing up well. The skin had knitted back together, and even as he watched, the angry, puffy redness calmed down.
“It’ll likely scar, at least for a few months, but you’ll be fine.”
“Thank you,” Belstrom said, his voice thick with emotion. He placed his free hand over his heart, his next words lacking their usual eloquence. “I did not think I could kill Maxie either.”
“Yes, about that—are you all morons?” Lirion snapped in a mix of frustration and disbelief.
Rain tilted his head back to the heavens before making a face. “I must admit, that description does fit most of the time.”
Lirion side-eyed the pirate and kept going. “Are you seriously wandering around Moorwood with nothing but Hapi’s necromancy skills and a hope in your heart? Not a single healing potion, nothing?”
“We have bandages.” Malfas paused. “That’s about it, yeah.”
Lirion would berate them for their stupidity later. Right now, it was the perfect segue into convincing them to take him.
Standing, he looked each man in the eye. “I want to join you.”
His words made everyone stare. Fenric, though, the hope that lit up in his face was answer enough. Lirion’s feelings weren’t one-sided. Just Fenric’s expression said he wanted Lirion to remain with E.V.I.L.
No one else seemed to understand, so Lirion kept going.
“You need a healer. My fighting skills probably aren’t anywhere near the same level as, say, Rain or Belstrom, but you need combat support. I can supply both.”
Malfas threw a hand into the air, a shit-eating grin stretched across his face. “I’m in favor!”
Well, that was flattering. Aria had said Rain and Maxie seemed in favor of him staying, but having Malfas instantly respond in agreement was quite a compliment.
Rain laughed, a full belly laugh, and swooped in to hug Lirion around the shoulders.
“Friend, you are more than fucking welcome to join our insane little crew! Indeed, we are privileged to have you. Any objections to Lirion becoming one of our party? And I’ll tell you now that if you dare object, I’ll keelhaul you off the Dark Lady and feed yer balls to the kraken. ”
No one said a single word of objection, though Lirion doubted it had anything to do with Rain’s threat. In fact, there were smiles all around. Belstrom went so far as to lean over Maxie’s still prone form and offer a hand, which Lirion took.
“Truthfully, it has been one of my cherished aspirations during our recent journey that we could prevail upon you to toss aside your aimless wanders and interfuse with our assemblage of rapscallions,” Belstrom said with a gentle and warm smile.
He touched his glasses, now speckled with blood.
“Your chess skills are remarkable, and hearing you sing in the evenings has become a treasured respite. I think I speak for all of us when I say we never wanted you to leave after the trip up to Baza.”
Had Lirion ever been welcomed so warmly in his life? It was wholesome and platonic, too, a genuine friendship being offered. Lirion teared up and had to blink the tears away.
“Thank you, Bel. I… Thank you.”
Releasing his hand, Belstrom rocked back on his heels and gave Fenric an enigmatic smile. “I am confident there is a fellow member who is even more elated than myself.”
Fenric rolled his eyes toward the night sky as if to dismiss Belstrom’s words. Lirion didn’t expect him to be all gushy toward him now.
“Why are you stating the obvious?” Fenric surprised him by saying.
Oh, thereby meaning…what? Just what all did that imply? Lirion was dying to haul Fenric away from camp and have a conversation, but did he dare when they had been ambushed not even five minutes ago?
Belstrom chuckled, his mountainous chest rumbling, quite delighted his subtle barb had hit its mark.
Sitting up, Maxie poked at his stomach gingerly, then flashed Lirion a smile that was more like his usual cheerful self.
“I can attest, Lirion’s skills are sorely needed and very beneficial.
I feel mostly healed already. May I say, Lirion, I’m exceedingly happy you’re staying.
You’ve become such a good friend to me since our meeting, and I wasn’t looking forward to our parting. ”