Second Chance

by Sawyer Bennett

  Blood magic was not, in itself, inherently dark or evil. The distinction lay within the person using the blood. What was their intent? If their intent was for good, then the magic was good. If their intent was bad, then the magic was bad. However, it wasn’t all black and white. There were definite shades of gray, Heph admitted.

  Heph, as older brother to Jaron, was actually first in line to rise to the throne upon their parents’ death. However, Heph was not interested in ruling Kestevayne. It’s not that he didn’t love Kestevayne. Quite the contrary, he loved it very much. His interests lay solely in ways he could help to protect Kestevayne from a day that may bring dark forces against their home.

  Heph often used his magic to look into the future, known as scrying, and he saw dark days ahead for Kestevayne. He ceded the throne to Jaron, who fought him tooth and nail, but eventually capitulated. All Heph asked was for the ability to be able to do deep study about magic and its history. Jaron set Heph up in a large private apartment, complete with library and apothecary so he could study and practice.

  Now, this was all done in a time when Royal families never bothered with their histories of magic. They had their Conclave to advise them. The Scrinia line always kept the necessary chronicles to record the Royal’s history, and advise them on how best to use their magicks.

  “It was during these studies that I discovered the use of blood in spell casting. At first, it was nothing but a passing interest, but then I realized that blood could be used to enhance my spells. With just a drop of my blood, my spells were stronger, and lasted longer.”

  Heph paused to take a sip of his ale. He looked at Carrick and Ava with something like shame in his eyes. “It wasn’t long before I became obsessed with blood magic. Not for my personal benefit, but to use it as fuel for offensive and defensive spells to help protect Kestevayne.”

  “Were you learning this from the Scrinia?” Ava asked.

  Heph shook his head. “The Scrinia claimed to have no knowledge of blood magic but I did find some information within their libraries. I also took two years and traveled across Vyronas, talking to elder sorcerers trying to learn as much as I could. In my travels, I came across an old warlock who lived in the desert plains of Vyronas, almost a thousand miles from Kestevayne. This old warlock was a nomad, and had like me, been traveling the Vyronasian world. However, he was on his deathbed when I found him, and he took his last breaths to impart his knowledge of blood magic to someone else. He also handed over that book to me.”

  Ava looked at the book in wonder. What secrets did it hold? Was it evil? She reached her hand out and let her fingertips graze over the leather. It felt like an ordinary book. Nothing sinister radiated from it. “What did you do next?”

  “I returned to Kestevayne and secluded myself for the next several years. I furiously worked my way through the book. It was filled with the history of blood magic, as well as pages and pages of spells, incantations and potions. Some were for noble purposes, some…were not.”

  “Did you perform the spells in the book?” Carrick inquired.

  Heph nodded his head. “It didn’t take long before I started experimenting with blood magic in earnest. First, I used my own blood, as I learned that sacrificing my own with good intent always produced favorable results. However, I’m ashamed to admit that I was fascinated that the more powerful spells always needed the sacrifice of another’s blood to work. And if the sacrifice included taking a life, well…the spell was practically invincible.”

  Heph looked up at Ava. His eyes were misted with tears. “I swear to you, Ava. I never had it in me to take an innocent life.”

  Ava reached over and grasped Heph’s hand. “I believe you.”

  Heph pulled his hand away and gave a strangled laugh. “I’m not sure you should believe in me. I didn’t have it in me to take an innocent life, but it I did kill someone for their blood.”

  Ava gasped. “What did you do?”

  “Back then, it was an easy enough choice for me to make. Oh, I could tell you I had nothing but altruistic ideas of how to protect Kestevayne, but now…I realize I was obsessed more with the idea of making the perfect spell. I concocted a plan to bleed someone that deserved to die. A convicted murderer that had been sentenced to death.”

  Heph trailed off. He seemed to be lost in his memories. Ava glanced over at Carrick, who had a worried look on his face. “What happened next, Heph?”

  “I used a captivity spell, brought the prisoner to my apartment and I drained him dry. I kept telling myself, he was destined to die anyway. But it made me physically sick as I watched his life ebb away. But at that point, there was no going back. I completed my spell, and it was everything I had imagined it to be. I had found a way to make spells that could not be defeated.”

  Ava felt sick to her stomach, partly because she wasn’t sure how to feel about Heph’s revelations. On the one hand, it was wrong…so very wrong to choose to take someone’s life. But on the flip side, Heph did not kill an innocent. He took someone that already had a death sentence imposed. How could she reconcile it?

  “If you’ll excuse me, I think I need to get some air.” Ava stood from the table and walked out the front door.

  Sitting down on the bench by the pond, Ava stared into the green waters. She tried to put herself into Heph’s shoes. Could she have done something like that? If she was working toward the protection of Kestevayne? She didn’t think so.

  “Are you okay?”

  Ava turned her head and saw Carrick standing there. She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know how to feel.”

  Carrick took a seat beside her and held her hand. “It’s not always black and white, Ava. I’m sure Heph felt what he was doing was in defense of his people, so that could be considered good. But he took someone’s life to complete the magic, and that is bad. Maybe what happened was nothing more than a shade of gray that cannot be completely understood.”

  Ava sighed. “I can tell this weighs heavy on his conscience.”

  “You’ll never know how much, Ava.” Heph had come outside and joined them. “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t struggle with the right and wrong of what I did.”

  Ava gave him a small smile of understanding. “So, that is why you were banished?”

  Heph nodded. “I was so excited by my discovery, I immediately shared the information with the Conclave Chief. You should have seen me. All puffed up with pride over my magic. Except, the Chief was not at all happy. He had me arrested and brought before Jaron for judgment. The Conclave proclaimed that blood magic was evil, and that I would use my knowledge to the detriment of all. They were afraid of my findings. Afraid of me. They advised Jaron to impart the sentence of death upon me, to be sent as a message to all, that use of blood magic would not be tolerated.”

  “There’s no way father would have taken that advice!” Ava exclaimed.

  “You’re right. Jaron loved me. And he believed me when I told him my intent was pure…that it was only to help Kestevayne. But he couldn’t let my deeds go unpunished. His compromise was to have me banished. And it was the right thing to do.”

  The three of them sat by the pond, continuing to talk. Heph told them how emotionally painful it was for Jaron and Heph to part ways. But over the years, Jaron and Selena had visited Heph in the Rosethorn Mountains, always keeping him abreast of the happenings in Kestevayne.

  His banishment effectively ended Heph’s curiosity about blood magic. He took the book the old nomad had given him, but it had been sitting in that chest for the past eight years. Heph knew that his studies of this art cost him contact with his family and his beloved homeland. It left a bitter taste in his mouth that time had not erased.

  As Heph finished his story, Carrick and Ava sat watching him entranced. There was no doubt in either of their minds that he told the full truth. Ava’s heart broke for the man who was trying to do good for his people. For the man who had probably crossed a line he shouldn’t have, and now was made to live in soli
tude for his actions.

  “Uncle Heph, why would the Conclave have offered up such harsh judgment of you?”

  “Well, there’s the rub. It was a shock to me as well. I mean, the Scrinia were all about learning. I figured they would embrace the knowledge. My only guess at first was that they were too afraid of the magic to even give me a fair chance to explain. It wasn’t until a few years after my banishment I learned how wrong I was.”

  Ava’s eyebrows rose. “What do you mean?”

  “A former Conclave member from the House of D’Amuri came through Avery. He was very old, and I imagine a bit senile. I met him at the pub in town. We started talking, and drinking, and it wasn’t long before he was telling me that the Scrinia had known all about blood magic, long before I ever came to them. That they had books upon books of information locked away, and knew probably a hundred times more than I had even figured out. I was stunned of course. I didn’t understand, then, why they had me arrested.” Heph bent to pick up a flat stone and skipped it across the water. His eyes were sad. “That Conclave member told me that it was a secret the Scrinia held sacred among their line. Everyone had to take an oath to never reveal the secrecy of blood magic. But here, this old, drunken fool was telling me all about it.”

  Ava was confused. “But why would they keep it secret?”

  “Because, my dear niece,” Heph said with a bit of flourish. “They wanted to have the ability to practice that magic all to themselves, should they ever decide they wanted to rule the very thrones they had sworn allegiance and protection to.”

  Ava’s mouth dropped open. She glanced at Carrick and there was murder reflected in his eyes.

  “That means our Conclave members have been lying to us every step of the way,” Carrick gritted out. “They’ve had the ability to counter Ralina’s magic this entire time.”

  “How many lives could have been saved had they told us?” Ava asked in horror.

  “What’s worse,” Heph said, “what if the Scrinia is actually backing Ralina and her attempt to overtake Kestevayne?”

  CHAPTER 19

  Carrick rose from the bench and pulled his grounding stone from his pocket. “I’ll be back soon.” With that, he disappeared.

  While Carrick was gone, Ava and Heph went back inside to make some lunch. She caught Heph up on more details of what had been happening since his banishment, including her life in The First Dimension for the last four years. Within thirty minutes, Carrick was back.

  “Where have you been?” Ava asked.

  “I dispatched messengers and troops. I’m having every Conclave member from the Houses of D’Amuri, Groucutt, Baudin, Foss and Sorin arrested and placed in iron. Until we know different, we have to assume there is a chance they are aligned with Ralina. But let’s hope not.”

  “Smart move,” Heph lauded.

  “I’m assuming Ralina learned about blood magic from someone of the Scrinia line. In fact, any of the smaller Royal Houses that have aligned with her must be keeping her supplied with a wealth of knowledge about the subject.”

  Ava scoffed. “Ralina is an idiot and if she can learn blood magic, than so can I. Why can’t we use it to fight her, not just defend against her?”

  Heph picked up the book and handed it to Ava. “You’ll never be able to make it all the way through the book, but I’ll show you the important parts. I’ll teach you what you need to know, Ava. You can fight her with this knowledge.”

  “You’ll help us?” Ava asked with excitement in her voice.

  “Just tell me what you want me to do. Let’s go kick that bitch out of Kestevayne.”

  ***

  Heph packed quickly and they were soon heading back to Clairmont. Carrick called in his troops to accompany them on the journey back. The temptation to ride hard and cut the trip shorter was great, but Heph insisted they go at a pace that he could use the time to help instruct Ava. Carrick reluctantly agreed.

  He rode a bit ahead of them while Ava and Heph hung back and talked about blood magic. Well, mostly Heph talked and Ava listened, but then she would pepper him with questions.

  Carrick did not think the meeting with Heph could have gone any better. They’d learned essential information that would hopefully let them gain the advantage and they’d discovered potential enemies among them that they were able to peaceably neutralize.

  But more than that, Ava got a family member back. Carrick could hear most of their conversations were about blood magic, but sometimes they would drift off and talk about family and certain memories. A bond was starting to develop between them. There was no doubt in his mind that once Kestevayne was won, Heph would stay there and help Ava rule.

  Which would make it easier for Carrick to leave her when all this was done. At least it would help ease his conscience a little to know someone would be there for her.

  He remembered back to just a few days before Kestevayne was attacked.

  King Jaron sought Carrick out on the training field and asked for a private word. Carrick joined him and was instantly concerned by the look on Jaron’s face.

  “Is Ava all right?” Carrick demanded reaching for his sword. In hindsight, he had no clue why he was reaching for his sword. Automatic protectiveness for Ava, he guessed.

  “Rest easy,” Jaron said holding up his hand, “she’s fine.” Carrick lowered his hand. “But her safety could be in jeopardy and that is what I want to talk to you about.

  Jaron had told Carrick that he had been scrying the future and while events were not clear, he was afraid that Kestevayne would soon be in peril. Carrick realized now that scrying the future must have been one of the stronger magicks held by the Clairmonts since both Jaron and Heph relied on it.

  Carrick was deeply embarrassed by what Jaron said next.

  “I know that you stay overnight with Ava in her apartments….”

  “Jaron… I’m sorry…” Carrick started stammering.

  “That’s not why we are talking, Carrick. Listen closely. You are with Ava at night and thus you are her last line of defense should our palace ever be breached. I need you to be on guard and alert. If the need arises, promise me you will get my daughter to safety above all other loyalties.” He paused and looked intently at Carrick. “I know your duty is to the Royal house as a whole, but Ava is more important. Do you understand?”

  “You have my word. No matter what my duties are to the Clairmont House, Ava always comes first.”

  “That’s why I knew you would be her perfect mate, Carrick. Thank you.”

  Later that day, Jaron had shown Carrick several secret passages within the palace. Only Jaron and Selena knew about them. The knowledge of them was only passed down to each ruling sovereign, and each passage was protected by wards. Jaron carefully went through each one with Carrick and made sure he understood how to break the ward to get through in case escape was needed. Carrick was so grateful for the instruction Jaron imparted as the attack came not two days later.

  Because of Jaron’s foresight, Carrick was able to move Ava swiftly out of the palace to safety. He struggled with the need to go back to help rescue Jaron and Selena, but he remembered Jaron’s final words.

  “You’ve promised me that you will get Ava to safety if we are attacked and I have full trust in that. But I need you to promise me something else…”

  Carrick almost dreaded hearing the next words. He was afraid it would be a request he couldn’t fulfill.

  “Promise me that you will always love Ava and never leave her.”

  Carrick had exhaled a sigh of relief. That was an easy promise for him to make. “I will gladly promise you that, Jaron.”

  Yes, that was an easy promise for Carrick to make at the time. He could never envision a world where he and Ava would be apart. Back then, his heart knew there would never exist a time or place that he would not love her. Yet here they were, four years later and Carrick was going to break that promise. His plan was still to leave, as that was what he felt was best for Ava. He felt she deserved�
��more. Especially after his betrayal. This is definitely for the best. And he would be leaving her in good hands now that Heph was back in her life.

  ***

  They made it back to Clairmont in good time, arriving just as the sun set on the second day of their travels. Ava had learned a lot from Heph during their journey. Now, she needed some practical experience from his teachings. They planned on meeting the following day to work on blood spells that could help counter Ralina’s magic. She was beyond excited as she felt in her gut that this was going to win the war for them. She was eager to be able to try the blood magic. Heph had told her that it was a rush like no other.

  Well, she was sure it wasn’t as good a rush as having sex with Carrick. Nothing could top that. In fact, if she could bottle one of the orgasms that Carrick gave her and hurl it at the enemy forces, they would all be stunned into capitulation. She snickered to herself over that image.

  Mostly, Ava was excited to be back in Clairmont as she would have private time with Carrick tonight. During the journey back from the Rosethorn Mountains, their time together had been limited by Heph’s presence, not to mention the fifty soldiers riding with them. Carrick had been a bit distant. Well, more distant than usual. But she assumed that was because Heph had been with them.

  Carrick had seen to it that Heph was set up in one of the cottages that had formerly been occupied by a Conclave member. He and Ava ate dinner with Heph upon their return, and then left for Carrick’s home.

  When they stepped inside Carrick’s house, Ava turned and wrapped her arms around Carrick’s neck and leaned up to kiss him. “I thought we’d never be alone.”

  Carrick surprised her by taking her wrists and gently removing her arms from his neck. He stepped back, putting room between them. “We need to talk Ava.”

  Ava didn’t like the sound of that. “Okay,” she said with some trepidation, and walked into the kitchen where they could sit for their talk. “Would you like me to make some tea?”