by Montana Ash
They all turned to stare at the fire paladin who seemed to be at a loss for words for the first time in his life. Ryker patted Axel on the arm before asking; “And I don’t have this dark spot?”
Max looked at him and blushed a deep red, “Uh, no. Your soul is really, really pretty. It’s white and lilac and so shiny. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was ... pure.” She cleared her throat, “And it really, really likes me.”
Ryker looked like he wanted to jump Max right there, regardless of where they were and who was there to watch. Beyden had watched Ryker’s re-courtship process and had seen how responsive the forgetful Max was to his wiles. If Beyden had to guess he would say the wooing days were over and Ryker had successfully made their liege fall for him all over again. He felt a rush of happiness; no matter if Max ever regained her missing memories, Ry and her would be happy together once more. He hoped it also meant Max would make a return as their liege and the custodian their society needed so badly as well. Baby steps, he warned himself. Besides, they had to somehow figure out if he was possibly the first ever paladin to turn into a chade without Emmanuel’s direct influence.
TWENTY-TWO
“So, what now?” Ivy asked the question they were all wondering.
“I want to go to the battle grounds. And I want Beyden to come with me,” Max answered.
“You want to do what?” Ryker’s voice sounded incredulous and confused at the same time.
Max stood up and began to pace; “That place has been drawing me there since I arrived. I dream about it, I hear it every day – feel it every day. I know I need to go there and I think somehow the answers to your injury – your infection – can be found there too, Beyden.”
“Max, that makes no sense,” Ivy’s voice was uncharacteristically gentle. “We know why Beyden is in pain. What would going to the battle grounds achieve?”
“Dad told me that no matter what they do, the wardens haven’t been able to heal the land there. It’s infected and contaminated and just plain wrong. Much like Beyden.” Max looked at him, arching a sardonic brow, “Sorry dude.”
“But you think you can heal it?” Beyden asked, sucking in a deep breath before continuing, “And me as well?”
“I think I can. Because I intend to try something different,” she admitted, looking unsure yet determined.
“Different how?” Ryker questioned, clearly considering Max’s health and safety.
“Well ... I think I maybe, sorta, might be able to create and control a new domain,” Max rambled out in a rush.
“You think what now?” Darius’s voice was incredulous, hazel eyes wide. Beyden knew exactly how he was feeling.
Max exhaled a lungful of air, “Blu once told me that custodians were different to wardens in that they could actually create elements rather than just balancing and manipulating them.” She quickly held up a hand, forestalling their immediate joy over their assumption her memory was returning. “It’s the one and only thing I remember with clarity and it’s only because I left myself a message.”
Mordecai looked just as stunned as the rest of them, “Are you sure?”
Max nodded, “I think maybe I’ve been doing it all along. I mean, look at my coat of arms; each of you bear the symbol of my representation of the seven elements. Those druid runes are unique to my coat of arms, right?”
Beyden looked down at the rune on his arm representing beast and denoting him as the Beast Paladin of the Order of Aurora. It was a single horizontal line with two diagonal lines intersecting it through the middle. “Yes. No other warden uses these symbols to reflect their domain. You have seven different symbols because you can control all seven elements.”
“But I have eight different symbols,” Max declared. “If I follow your logic; eight symbols means eight elements.”
Ryker looked confused, “What’s the eighth?”
Max pointed to Dex and a rush of wind lifted his shirt from his left bicep, revealing the circular brand for a few seconds. It was the first time since Max’s return that she had actively used her powers.
“That’s your loyalty brand,” Ivy pointed out, rubbing her upper arm where hers resided.
Max nodded, “I know that’s what you’ve been calling it. But it appeared on Dex for the first time, right? Directly after I healed him? Dex was a chade.”
They all processed that information in stunned silence, Axel finally saying “Well, damn. You’re right,” he looked astounded.
“But he wasn’t the first to get that mark, Max. I was. I know it wasn’t put there by magical means like the others – it’s just a tattoo – but it has been there for years. And I obviously was never a chade,” Jasminka pointed out, shocking the people in the room who were hearing about her tattoo for the first time.
Max stood and walked to Jazz. She looked unerringly straight at where the tattoo was on Jazz’s lower back even though Bey knew she didn’t remember the circumstances of its making. She traced it with a finger over the fabric, “You got this when we were in Tokyo?”
Jazz nodded her head.
“Before or after I healed your brain tumour?”
Jazz’s eyes widened, “After.”
Max nodded, “I thought so. I know the mark has become a symbol of loyalty and trust, but I think it’s related to my healing abilities. Something I understand no other warden can do to the same extent, including life wardens and death wardens. I mean, I know they can heal and soothe in their own way, but they can’t give and take life ... right?”
Mordecai nodded, ‘That’s right.”
Max took a deep breath, “Right. So I think I’ve been using a new element all along. I think I’ve been tapping into a new domain and that’s why I was able to give Jasminka her life back all those years ago and why I was able to do the impossible; cure the chades.”
Silence.
And more silence.
Followed by even more silence.
Cali eventually cleared her throat, standing and raising a hand, “To re-cap; our liege-but-still-not-officially-our-liege thinks she has created and can control a new domain; our big, squishy beast paladin, Beyden, could be a chade; and Ryker has a pure soul – and wants to hump Max’s leg like an unspayed male. Does that about cover it?” Cali asked.
Diana looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, “Don’t forget the parts where the dog can literally talk; Beyden and Jasminka are clearly in love with each other but Bey went and fucked it up; and Jazz here has a tramp stamp of Max’s very first loyalty brand – which could be the physical manifestation of the eighth element.”
“Ah, of course. Thanks, Di,” Cali nodded seriously at Diana. “Do you think we’ll ever have a break from all the crazy?”
To Beyden’s surprise, it was his mother who answered the entirely rhetorical question, “From what I’ve seen so far – it’s not fucking likely. Now go on,” she made a shooing motion with her hands. “Go and fix my boy. I’ll stay here with the lovely Jasminka and do what I can to fix her.”
They all looked at the short Spanish woman in silence for a few moments before Ryker grinned, “Yes, ma’am.” He planted a kiss on her cheek. “Everyone suit-up; scythes – both of them. Beyden, that includes you.”
Everyone filed out and he cast one last look in Jasminka’s direction. She was nice enough – and brave enough – to smile at him. Mouthing the words ‘good luck’. He desperately hoped luck was all they were going to need, and not a sacrifice like the last time they had stepped foot onto those cursed lands.
TWENTY-THREE
“Jasminka? Give me a hand?”
Jazz felt herself jolt. She had been so lost in her own thoughts, she had forgotten there was anyone else in the room. After the angst-filled discussion, Max had left with all seven members of her original Order to the cursed battle lands. The battlefield was the catalyst for Jazz being in the house and getting to know the wonderful people inside. It was also where Max had sacrificed everything so a group of hopeless, forgotten souls co
uld once more be made whole. Exactly like her, Jazz thought. Mordecai had remained with his four knights, along with Rosa, Ivy and Penelope. The latter two had said something about patrolling the grounds and Mordecai and his crew were watching the beach and all other entrances to the property. That left Jasminka quite effectively trapped with Beyden’s mother. How had she not noticed before now?
“Doctor?” Rosa asked again, her dark eyebrows raised high in query but also challenge.
If there was one thing Jazz was not, it was a coward, so she pasted a smile on her face and stood up. “Sure. What do you need me to do?”
“Other than forgive my son? Peel those potatoes. I’m making vegetarian paella, it’s Beyden’s favourite,” Rosa continued, casually.
Jasminka had to admit the older woman had balls. “Peeling potatoes I can do,” she said, picking up a potato to do just that.
“But you can’t forgive Beyden?” Rosa asked, going straight for the jugular.
Jazz sighed, “I don’t know.”
“That wasn’t him speaking. Not the real him,” Beyden’s mother said, her voice earnest.
Jazz sighed, “You know people have been telling me that since the first day I arrived. That’s not the real Beyden. The real Beyden is sweet and kind and compassionate. The real Beyden wouldn’t say or do that. But that’s the Beyden I’ve gotten to know. Other than some brief flashes.”
“But you fell for him anyway,” Rosa pointed out.
Jasminka couldn’t deny it. The times when Beyden had been happy and well and whole, he had been everything Jazz had ever dreamed a man could be. “I did,” she admitted. “But should I have? Was I settling for scraps? I’ve been known to be starved for affection.”
Rosa didn’t respond immediately, just continued to peel and chop vegetables with alarming speed and accuracy. “You know it’s funny, Max apparently isn’t the real her either. Not the Max you all knew and loved before she lost her memory. Yet, Ryker has fallen head over heels in love with her once more. She has gained the loyalty and lives of her Order once more. Your own friendship with her appears to be just as strong as before.”
Jasminka couldn’t deny any of the above. Yet ... “What’s your point?”
“My point? Simply that circumstances can change our behaviours, even our thoughts and feelings. But one thing it can’t change is our hearts, our souls. I imagine Max could disappear and reappear a hundred times over and you and the people of this home would recognise her and fall in love with her every single time. Because who she is on the inside – who she is destined to be – will never change.”
Jazz tapped the potato peeler on the kitchen bench, “And you think Beyden is destined to be ... what?”
Rosa smiled at her, reaching up to place her hands gently on Jazz’s cheeks, “Yours, darling. Beyden is destined to be yours.”
“I –” she couldn’t reply due to the lump in her throat.
“Come here,” Rosa said, giving Jazz no choice and pulling her into her arms.
Jasminka had never once been hugged by a mother in her entire life, so she didn’t have anything to compare it to. But she thought Ivy and Beyden’s mum just might give the best mum-hugs in the whole world. Jazz allowed herself to relax into the warm embrace, bringing her own arms up to return the gesture. Rosa only reached her sternum and her face was firmly cushioned against Jazz’s ribs. It should have been comical. But it wasn’t. It was perfect, she thought. Just like Beyden’s Buggles. Jazz selfishly took a few more moments to bask in the affection freely given before stepping back and clearing her throat;
“I don’t know what to do,” she admitted.
Rosa turned back to the kitchen counter and began chopping vegetables with zeal. “Let me ask you this; if Beyden hadn’t had a huge brain fart and spewed a bunch of hateful bullshit at you, what would you have wanted for your future with him?”
“A brain fart?” Jasminka was startled into laughter.
Rosa huffed, “Well, I don’t know what else to call it. My boy would never have said those things if his brain wasn’t misfiring.”
Jasminka sighed, picking up a potato once again, “I believe you. And to answer your question; I wanted to keep him.”
Rosa looked up upon hearing the honest response. “Keep him?”
“I never had this,” Jasminka gestured to the amazing home they were in. “This life. With a house that feels like a home and filled with people who feel like family. I love it here. And I thought I loved your son,” she declared, truthfully. “I wanted more than anything to stay here – with this family and with Beyden.”
“And you don’t want that anymore?”
“I have no doubt Max will cure whatever ails Beyden. It’s what she does; she saves things. She’s like a people-person hoarder. She can’t help herself,” Jazz said, causing Rosa to chuckle. “Even when that happens and Beyden walks back in here, happy and whole once more, it won’t change my circumstances.”
“What do you mean?” Rosa asked.
“I’m human,” Jazz replied, bluntly.
Rosa smirked, “I noticed.”
“Nobody else here is human,” Jazz pointed out.
Rosa raised her eyebrows, “And? Nobody else here is a doctor either. Yet you are exactly what this home and the people inside it need. You’re unique. That’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”
Jasminka shook her head, feeling her hair swish across her lower back. “I’m pretty sure humans aren’t allowed to be a part of this world. My being here was always supposed to be temporary.”
“Uh huh. And custodians with flesh and blood bodies aren’t supposed to be a part of this world either. Nor are disgraced paladins, or recovered chades,” Rosa pointed out.
“I see what you’re trying to do.”
“State facts?”
Jasminka couldn’t help smiling at the shorter woman. She really was wonderful. No wonder Ivy and Beyden had grown up to be decent, strong people.
“So, when Beyden walks through that door, feeling a mountain of guilt for hurting you but back to his true self, are you going to forgive him?”
Instead of answering, Jazz held out her hand to her future mother-in-law, “Pass me another potato.”
TWENTY-FOUR
Beyden gritted his teeth when he stepped out of the car, the pain in his calf increasing in intensity the moment it touched the scorched earth of the battle ground. He didn’t know if the pain was psychosomatic or not but he couldn’t deny that the motherfucker hurt. Bad.
“Beyden? You okay?” Lark and Axel were next to him in an instant.
Beyden gritted his teeth, “I’m fine. Stay with Max.” He appreciated the concern from his friends, but Max was out in the open and he’d never forgive himself if something happened to her because her paladins were paying more attention to his whiny butt than her.
They all automatically fell into formation, even him, flanking Max in a circle as they slowly made their way down from the top of the hill and toward where the fighting took place. Garrett and Autumn’s heritage mansion still stood, though it had seen better days. It looked to be gutted by fire, its doors hanging by their hinges and its windows broken. It had once been a beautiful home, rich in history and nobility. Now the place looked derelict and Beyden wouldn’t be surprised if it was haunted, its rooms shrouded with the pain and dishonour wrought by its previous owners.
As Max slowed and finally came to a stop, Beyden tried not to shudder when he realised she had paused on the exact place she had disappeared from months ago. The others noticed too and they all shared looks of concern. Ryker was uncharacteristically quiet and Beyden figured he was about to lose his shit, but was surprised to see a puzzled frown on his Captain’s face instead.
“Something is really wrong here,” Ryker growled, one hand clutching a scythe while the other gripped Max’s right hand. “I can see life here, but I can’t feel it. It’s like a mirage or a blackhole.” He shook his head, looking at each of them. “I can’t describe it.”
As a paladin affiliated with the domain of life, Ryker’s connection to all things living was the strongest out of all of them. Though unable to control or manipulate their elements like a warden could, the connection they shared was still intrinsic and special. If Ryker said something was up with the living beings here, then something was up. Beyden frowned and looked around.
The place didn’t look as bad as he thought it would. The last time he had seen it the ground had been littered with the bodies of his brethren. It had been soaked in blood and ash and was gouged, scorched and scarred. But now the grass was beginning to grow back and the trees that were still standing showed new leaves on their branches. There were even some birds singing.
Beyden allowed his own senses as a beast paladin to flare wide and gasped; though he could see and hear the birds in the trees to his left, he couldn’t feel them. Ryker was right; it was like they weren’t there. The others seemed aware of the unnaturalness of their environment at the same time, having searched for their own elements, and they all converged on Max, tightening their protective circle.
“The beasts move but they’re not animals,” Beyden spoke the frightening truth out loud.
“There’s oxygen here but no air,” Darius, paladin of air, said.
Lark, paladin of earth, shook his head, “The grass is green but it will never grow. It’s not alive.”
“There is heat here, yet it doesn’t burn,” Axel, fire paladin, added as he stared at the ground where the earth’s core was buried deeply below.
Cali shook her head, her gaze in the direction of the ocean beyond the cliff. “The water flows but provides no nourishment. It’s not wet.”
“There is death here, yet nothing is dead,” Diana, death paladin, concluded.
“Max? Do you know what this is?” Beyden whispered.
Max’s eyes were a miasma of colours as she took in her surroundings. “There is life here but no soul,” she murmured. “This place is an abyss.”
