I didn’t want to spar. I wanted to find Cedric, but I didn’t know where he’d gone. The hopeful expression on Blaise’s face caused me to fold. It was sort of frustrating to care what another person thought of me, but kind of exhilarating at the same time.
Before long, we were in the training field striking and parring in leather armour. Blaise’s weakness was also her strength. Her small size meant I could hit her with more force, but she was able to dodge my blows easier, and she was faster. It felt good to let out some of my anger. I welcomed the sweat pooling on my back.
We were interrupted by another soldier. “Sepheus, your father sent me to find you.”
I whirled away from Blaise, letting my sword hang at my side. “Where is he?” I puffed out between breaths.
“In his torture chamber.”
I didn’t even spare Blaise a glance as I jogged to the chamber I’d basically been raised in.
I hadn’t been inside the chamber since I’d helped question Leblond. It was as dark and horrible as ever, no sunlight able to penetrate the thick stone walls stained with blood. The rattle of chains told me my father wasn’t alone. Shadows whispered to me, trying to pull me into the darkness I’d been born into. I ignored them and stepped beside Cedric, who faced the old witch chained on her back to a table.
Maud’s lips curled up at the corners when my face appeared above her. “Good, he has brought you here.”
“What did she tell you?” Cedric demanded.
I turned to the man I’d once called father. “She said my mother was in love with King Lelund and stole poison from her after she gave birth to me because King Lelund refused to see her anymore. She told me you are my mother’s brother.”
He laughed lowly, though there was no humour in it. “She got one important detail wrong.” He took a thick blade from his belt and pressed it to her throat. “She was the one who gave your mother the poison. She thought Otta meant to use it on Queen Vivienne. With the queen dead, King Lelund may have recognized you as his son. It’s her fault you’re parents are dead.”
I couldn’t believe his words. My ears began to ring. He was admitting he wasn’t my father… admitting I was King Lelund’s bastard son. To hear them from the witch I’d just met was one thing, but to hear them from the man who’d raised me… My gaze fell back on Maud.
She inclined her forehead, causing more wrinkles under her hairline. “Now you know the truth.” Her golden eyes shone unnaturally bright in the dark chamber.
I stepped back from the table. “No, this can’t be—I can’t be…”
“No one was supposed to know.” Cedric pushed the blade harder against her frail, sagging throat. “I told you never to return,” he hissed at Maud.
She smiled again and croaked, “My time is coming to an end.”
“Then let us end it now.” Cedric shoved the blade into her throat.
“No!” I tried to reach for the blade, but it was too late. Blood seeped from around the metallic blade and dripped onto the table beneath her. She’d given her life to tell me the truth… even if she’d twisted a small detail. She was family.
The colour drained from Maud’s face as the life drained from her body. She took her last breath, a smile still on her face, and left this world with peace. She was happy to die now that her truth had been told.
“You didn’t have to kill her,” I hissed at my uncle. I’d do my damnedest not to be anything like him. I swore to myself then and there I’d reject the darkness festering inside my heart.
Cedric ripped his blade from Maud’s throat and stuck it back in his belt without bothering to wipe it. I stood frozen… paralyzed. Until a rock scraped against the dirt floor, flinging everything back into motion.
I spun at the human-shaped silhouette the same time Cedric lunged for it.
I squinted in the torchlight, recognizing the face of the small woman. Blaise. Cedric had her throttled in an iron grip. She was choked, trying to speak, but she couldn’t get enough air to get the words out.
Cedric was going to kill her—just like he’d killed Maud. No one could know the truth. But Blaise was my friend. Cedric had lied to me my entire life. I couldn’t let him end her. She was the light in the darkness. I clung to that light like it was my last breath.
A green vine the size of a tree’s root shot up out of the ground, throwing clumps of dirt through the air.
Cedric twisted to see what was happening, but he was too late. The end of the magical vine hit him with so much force it pierced straight through his chest and up toward the ceiling on the other side of him. His mouth tried to form a word but no sound came. Eyes still open, he slumped on the vine growing through his body.
Blaise’s gasps were audible from behind Cedric’s body. I ran to her and the enormous vine disintegrated, the body falling to the ground.
“Are you all right?” I tried to reach for her, but she shrank back and crouched on the ground.
“Pl—please! I won’t tell a soul.”
I realized she was afraid… afraid of me. “Blaise, he was going to kill you.”
“Please let me go,” she begged.
I’d never seen her this way, so frightened… so powerless. I moved out of her path. “You’re free to go.”
She scurried away like a mouse running from a cat.
I stayed inside the chamber for a long time after she’d left. I needed to pull myself together. The king would want to know what had happened to his torturer. I came up with the only plan my mind could put together.
First, I dragged Cedric’s body away from any wood or other material that might catch fire. Then, I snatched the lit torch off the wall and used it to light Cedric’s body aflame. I gagged and covered my face with the sleeve of my cloak at the smell of burning flesh. When Cedric was nothing more than a pile of ash on the dirt floor, I took Maud’s body and threw it on top of the pile of corpses of criminals and vagrants all waiting to be buried in one big grave together. It was a bit of a shame she’d be buried with the lost and forgotten, but I couldn’t risk someone recognizing her as Cedric’s mother.
After the bodies were taken care of, I was granted an audience with King Corbin. The queen was busy with her ladies.
I fell to the floor before my king, eyes locked on the soft carpet. I couldn’t make myself cry, so I let my shoulders drop as I breathed out with anguish, “My father… he’s—he’s dead.” I allowed myself to glance up at him.
The king was silent for a moment. He brushed a jewelled hand over his face before placing it on the back of my head. “I am so sorry. How did this come to be?”
“A witch,” I explained. “He was torturing her when I arrived at the chamber to see what he’d fetched me for. He’d wanted assistance. I tried to help him, but she said a spell and the flame from the torch—it leaped onto the sleeve of his cloak and burned him alive.” I squeezed my eyes shut and leaned forward so my head touched the floor. My life depended on the king believing my story. “I don’t even get to give him a proper burial,” my voice strained.
At last, I sat up on my knees and watched my king. He folded his hands together and blinked hard, staring straight ahead. He wouldn’t let the tears in his eyes fall. He’d save those for solitude. “Where is the witch?”
“I—I killed her, Your Majesty. I apologize I did so without your approval, but I was so filled with hate. So angry at her for killing my father. I needed to end her life with my own hands.”
King Corbin shook his head. “No need to apologize. I’m glad she’s dead. It’s been a long time since a witch has dared to use magic to harm another. I didn’t believe they could even wield so much power. It’s been watered down throughout the generations. Perhaps we need to find them all and snuff out their magic before they become more troublesome.”
I didn’t know if he wished to kill them or simply try to contain them. I needed to remain in control of this situation regardless. I clasped my hands before me and said, “Your Majesty, I beseech you. Let me help you in thi
s quest. Let me choose a comrade to bring with me to find these witches.”
“You don’t wish to take your father’s position?”
I winced. I most certainly did not. “No, Your Majesty. Apologies, but I’d like to remain as your knight. I feel there’s more honour in this quest.”
To my surprise, the king agreed. “All right, Sepheus. I shall find someone else to fill your father’s place. You may have your honour. Do me proud.”
I rose to my feet and bowed deeply. “I will, Your Majesty.”
“You are dismissed. Go and get some rest. I will call for a death celebration to honour your father. I expect you to begin your hunt three sunrises after you say your goodbyes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.” I made to leave.
“Oh, and Sepheus,” the king called. I paused and he said, “Your father meant a lot to me. I will miss him dearly.”
I gave him one nod and left.
I needed to speak with Blaise. She could be the death of me. I had to convince her to keep my secret. If I could get her to agree, my life would remain safe.
Or you could kill her like you killed me, Claudia’s voice said in my mind. “Shut up!” It wasn’t an option. I was done with the darkness. “I’m sorry I killed you,” I whispered to my ghost. “I know it was wrong. It was my fault you became a traitor. There. Are you happy?” I few passersby turned to stare at me. I clamped my mouth shut and kept walking until I reached my room in the soldiers’ quarters. I didn’t want to go back to the home I’d shared with my uncle.
I waited until after supper was served. I had no appetite after the day’s events. When I was sure all of the soldiers had retired to their rooms, I knocked on the door to the one Elly and Blaise shared.
Elly answered and gave me a questioning look.
“I need to speak privately with Blaise.” I said low enough only she could hear me.
She frowned and glanced over at her bed. “I’m tired. Can’t you speak with her tomorrow?”
“Please, Elly.”
She huffed. “Fine.” She tossed on her cloak and turned to Blaise, who sat crossed-legged on the floor, polishing her sword. “I’ll be back soon.”
Blaise didn’t answer, she stared straight at me as I entered their room and Elly closed the door behind her.
I sat down across from her and she went back to focusing on making her sword gleam. “What do you want?” she asked, scrubbing the cloth over the hilt harder.
“What you saw,” I started. “I need you to promise me you’ll keep it to yourself.”
“I told you I won’t tell anyone. What are you anyways?” She finally stopped polishing to glance back up at me. Her eyes searched my face for answers.
“The old woman you saw was a witch, so I guess that makes me a warlock,” I confessed. I couldn’t deny it. She’d seen my power.
She pinched her lips together then replied, “No, witches don’t have that kind of power, Seph. No one’s had that much power since the elementals walked the earth.”
“Are you saying I’m an elemental?”
“No—I don’t know. Maybe!” She flung the cloth down on the floor. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would Celestia gift anyone with such power? The last time humans wielded elemental power they abused it and almost destroyed our world in the process.”
I stared down at the space between us. “Maybe it’s a mistake. Maybe I’m not supposed to have this power.”
She scoffed. “Likely.”
“Listen,” I placed a hand on hers. “I didn’t know I had this power in me. All I know is my father—Cedric—was about to kill you. My instinct told me to save you. I didn’t want him to die.” Most of it was true. I hadn’t meant to kill him. I needed her to believe I hadn’t been keeping the secret of my power to myself.
She studied my hand on hers. Finally, she relaxed a little. “Okay, but now what? What will you tell the king?”
“I’ve already spoken with him. I told him the witch killed my father and I took her life for doing so.” I had to tell her the truth. Everyone would know of the story I’d spun to the king soon enough.
“You lied to the king?”
“I had to! If he knew the truth, I’d be executed. Cedric was a friend of the royal family. And if he believes my power to be a threat, he’ll make sure I never breathe again. Blaise, I don’t want to die. Please, tell me you’ll keep this between us.”
She tore her hand from underneath mine. “I said I will!” Then she asked between tight lips, “Is there anything else I should know?”
“Actually, yes. King Corbin wants me to find the witches for him. He wants to ensure none of them become a threat.”
She tilted her head to the side and shook it back and forth. “No. This is wrong, Sepheus. You can’t do this. Those witches are innocent. You are the one with great power. I won’t help you harm those who’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I need you. I asked the king if I could choose who I’d bring with me on this quest. I want you to come with me. We can find the witches with bad intentions. We’ll only bring them to King Corbin. It was the only way I could keep him from eliminating anyone believed to have a speck of magic. If he gave this task to someone else…” Likely anyone he believed a witch would’ve been executed.
She glowered at me. I wasn’t giving her a choice. The alternative was worse. “Fine. But it’s just you and I. Leave Ger out of this.”
I nodded and stood up. “We agree on that matter.” I didn’t want to be riddled with Ger’s questions. I went to leave but paused to say, “I wish you didn’t have to bare this. You should never have followed me.”
I left before she had a chance to come up with some snide answer. It was her fault in a way. If she hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have had to save her life.
Chapter 15
The whole kingdom came out for Cedric’s death ceremony. His ashes were buried next to where his own father lay, returned to the earth from which he came. Queen Nicola was one of the few who shed tears for him. He’d pushed most away in his later seasons in life, but he’d remained friendly with both the king and queen.
I felt relief as soil was placed over the remains of his body, a priestess speaking the rights of death. Never again would I be judged by the man who’d raised me. I wore a mask of grief until the death ceremony ended. Then, I excused myself. Ger tried to offer words of console, but I told him I wished to be alone.
Noctis De Celestia came and went. The king and queen travelled to Solis for the celebrations, along with a few other important members of court.
I didn’t feel like celebrating the goddess that spring at the age of eighteen. I had nothing to thank her for. My life was a lie and my power a curse. Blaise wasn’t in the mood for festivities either. Soon, we’d be scouring Terra and the surrounding area for witches.
Ger had heard about the witch who’d killed my uncle. Everyone had. The king himself made a statement about it at his death ceremony. Each time someone offered their condolences and well wishes in bringing down the witches, I noticed the judgment in Blaise’s eyes. I hated it. I wanted to prove to her I could be better. I would prove it to her.
It took some convincing to get Ger to agree to let Blaise and I go on the witch hunt without him. I explained to him Constable Bouvant wouldn’t want all of his most skilled guards away from the palace at once. He reluctantly agreed in the end. Sometimes it paid off appealing to a man’s ego.
Two mornings after Noctis, we began our search. We started out in the kingdom, going from door to door. We searched houses for magical items such as potions, spell books and crystals. Usually, we found nothing incriminating.
The first house we’d found with magical evidence was near the slums. An older woman and her daughter lived alone in the cramped but cozy home. I held a potion up in front of her. “The king has banned magic in his territory. What do you have to say for yourself?” It was true, the king had given a speech and sent out messages to every home stating magic was no longer
allowed in his kingdom except when used by one of his official healers.
The older woman shrank back and put her hands to her mouth. “I—I—that potion is harmless. It’s used to make a woman fertile.”
I dropped it on the floor and the glass vial shattered. Brown liquid seeped into the wooden floorboards. “If Celestia wants your daughter to have a child, she will.”
The woman fell to her knees and her daughter, who looked close to my own age, rushed to her side. “Please, don’t take my mother. She’s harmless.”
Blaise shot me a dark look then said to them both, “You aren’t being taken anywhere, but you must not keep magical items any longer. It’s for your own safety. Do you understand?”
The mother peered up at her with bleary eyes and nodded. “Yes, thank you. Thank you for sparing us.”
Blaise led the way out. “I hate this,” she shot over her shoulder as we went on to the next shack.
“If we scare anyone with magical knowledge and abilities enough to stop using those skills, they’ll be safe,” I explained, quickening my pace to catch up with her.
“I know,” she said, “but some potions are harmless.”
“Anything can be harmful in the wrong hands.”
She couldn’t deny it, so she kept her silence as we continued on.
House after house we searched. Most welcomed us and stood back as we scoured their homes. They knew we’d find no evidence of magic. Others reluctantly let us in and crouched in a corner until we left. Some people were simply intimidated by having two guards show up at their door. Those who tried to refuse us, they were usually the guilty ones. Anytime we found items which could’ve been used for magic, we destroyed them and gave the owners a warning. We didn’t find many witches in Terra, and none seemed harmful.
After we’d finished endless days of searching the capital, we moved on to the surrounding areas. One day, we searched a small village south of the wall and were told by almost everyone who lived there to check a certain house with a large garden not far from the village. No one ever visited the place because everyone was afraid of the mysterious woman who dwelled there. She never went out during the day, and anyone who stepped foot inside her house had disappeared. No one could say for sure or not if she was a witch, but when the baron sent someone in to question her, he’d come back different. He told the village she was nothing but an innocent woman who wanted to be left alone. I suspected she’d used some type of spell on him, but the commoners were in no position to question their overlord.
The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series Page 58
