Loyalty and War

by Devon Vesper

  And now that it was over, Valis collapsed to his knees and took in deep breaths to calm himself down. Warm hands made it to his neck. “Shyvus and Phalin are unbound. Cassavin is laying in Nev’s arms. We’ll go check on the other teams in a minute,” Tavros said quietly. “Rest and let the magic settle.”

  “Okay.”

  Valis rubbed at his dry eyes and forced himself to yawn a few times to get enough tears flowing to get rid of the gritty feeling. When he could see clearly again, he stood on wobbly legs and glanced over at his team. “Get to the hallway. I need to end these adherents before they wake. It’ll be more efficient if I just do it all at once, instead of hacking off heads.”

  “Good point,” Nevesar said. “We’ll wait for you, lad.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Report,” Valis commanded.

  Brogan stepped forward from those milling around and gave a short bow. “Our objectives are complete, Grand Master. We have two teams down in the labyrinth making certain there are no strays. We’ve already searched the guest houses for hidden doors in the floors and walls. Another four teams are double-checking the manse, just in case. They’re also getting the bodies outside for a proper pyre.”

  “And how many did we lose?” Valis asked.

  Brogan cringed but recovered quickly. “It was mostly villagers who banded with us. Only a few of Avristin’s men and women fell. Their remains are already recovered and waiting for their pyre.”

  Nodding, Valis squeezed the back of Brogan’s neck in a show of support. “You did well.”

  With a grunt, Brogan shook his head. “I just feel like I should have protected them better. But I know they knew what they were getting into. We warned them enough and tried to get them to stay behind. They just wouldn’t have it. Rather makes me angry and sad at the same time.”

  “Understandable.” Valis sighed and rerouted the conversation so he could get on with his own tasks. “We’re making camp here. Why not go choose a room for yourself and Rylas and take a moment to relax and calm down?”

  Brogan stood a little straighter and gave a shallow bow. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

  As he left, Valis went to the other side of the room where Nevesar had laid Cassavin on an overly ornate royal blue chaise with gold leaf along the decorative trimming. Valis made sure to step up slowly. Nevesar was still a bit feral when it came to her wife, and Valis couldn’t blame her.

  “May I try?” Valis asked.

  “Try what?” Nevesar gave him a hard stare for just a breath before it melted off her face and she looked like a vulnerable young woman. “She won’t respond to anything.”

  “I just want to try giving her a boost of magic to refill her core. If it works, it would be a new and handy spell, and if it doesn’t, we’ll set you up with a team to take you both back to Cadoras since your mission is finished.”

  She rolled her eyes. “And we didn’t finish it. Had to have the fucking Grand Master come and clean up our mess.”

  Valis shrugged. “Just be thankful that Sovras interrupted my scry to show me you’d be in that predicament, otherwise you both would have died here.”

  “That makes me feel so much better, Valis,” she said with a groan. “Thanks for that.”

  Valis smirked. “I do what I can.” Then he sobered and motioned to Cassavin. “So, may I help Cass?”

  Nevesar gave him a hard stare and shifted closer to her wife. “Not now. Not… No.”

  With a nod, Valis turned away. “Just don’t wait too long. I won’t let Cass suffer because you’re too scared to let me help.”

  Nevesar took in a shuddering breath and whispered, “Yes, Grand Master.”

  “Take her upstairs and I’ll check on you both soon.” Valis glanced over his shoulder with what he hoped was a kind smile. “I would never betray your trust. I hope you truly know that.”

  Just then, Valis switched focus as two men came in with a magical litter between them that carried a heap of items. He could only see the three chests clearly, but there were hints of other things, including books and paper. Valis motioned for them to set the stuff in a corner. “What did you bring me?”

  Shyvus rubbed at his eyes. “Documents that looked important, a box of books in case you wanted to look at them, three full gold caches, and the deed to the land and buildings.”

  “Good work, Shy. Now, go sit your ass down somewhere and rest before you fall on your face. You look exhausted. Bloodshot eyes don’t suit you, my friend.”

  The reliquary guard winced. “It’s from all dust off the books. I swear the entire house was immaculate except the tomes. When I opened one, I got a face full of dust. Now I can’t stop rubbing my eyes because it itches.”

  “Then go wash them out and pick a room for yourself and Phalin.”

  “Yes, Grand Master.”

  Venabi came in and sat on a tufted chair that looked uncomfortable. Valis was starting to wonder if there was a queue of his people standing in the hall waiting for his attention. At least Venabi treated him like she always had.

  She drummed her fingers on her leg absently as she gave her report. “There are many supplies in the kitchen. We can replenish our stores from the pantry and cellar. All of it is magically preserved, so it will not spoil on our journey.”

  “And what of the rest of the maze down there?”

  She crossed her legs and scratched at the vivid pink scar that ran down her dark face. “We’re not sure about the purpose of it, but we did find traces of excrement in some of the rooms, so it could have been used for sport. A type of hunting ‘game’ where they would set someone or something down there and wait a day before going hunting.”

  Just the thought made Valis sick. He swallowed hard and nodded. “Thank you.”

  She got out of the chair and headed for the door. Valis followed her. It was almost time to light the pyres. When he returned from that duty, Tavros came with him and while Valis sat down behind the desk in the study, Tavros went to the corner to fetch the papers and box of books.

  “Are you sure you want to go through these now?” Tavros asked. “We should be bathing and getting ready for bed.”

  “That can wait,” Valis said. “I want to see what is in these papers. The books can probably wait, but the papers are giving me that precognitive feeling in my chest. Not the bad sign, but the sign that these are important.”

  “Then let’s get this over with,” Tavros said as he sat down beside Valis. “I want to cuddle my husband, and I’m exhausted.”

  Truth was, Valis was energized from all the magic he had drained from the Qos adherents and Braywar. He could sympathize with his mate, though. It was bone-deep fatigue for Tavros. Valis could almost feel it in his bones. But he focused on the papers before him instead of the hint of his husband’s fatigue.

  “Did Nevesar let you heal Cassavin?” Tavros asked.

  “No. Not yet.” He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. “She feels raw and useless because she and her wife were the only two who made it out alive,—survivor’s guilt—and she was the only one who stayed conscious for it all.” He reached over and squeezed Tavros’s hand. “I’ll check on them before we go to bed, and again in the morning if Nev’s still too raw tonight.”

  “Seems selfish to me,” Tavros whispered. “Not allowing someone to help your mate just…”

  Valis nodded. “I know. But I honestly think there’s nothing wrong with Cassavin except a magic deficiency. She’s essentially in a minor coma. As soon as she gets a bit of magic back into her core, she’ll most likely transition into a regular sleep and wake up like usual.” He smiled as he pulled the stack of papers in front of himself. “Trust that I wouldn’t let Nev bully me away if I thought Cass was in danger.”

  “I know.” Sighing, Tavros motioned to the papers. “So, what are those?”

  Finally able to look at the damned things, Valis focused on the first page but didn’t see anything legible. When he tried again after pushing black magic into his eyes, he sat
a little straighter. “It’s spelled with a literary ward like Dad’s books were. But I can’t read what it says. It’s not in Evaki or Arlvorian.”

  It is Endyran, Roba said. These documents are either from or about the country of Endyer.

  The important thing you’re not telling me, Valis teased, is if you can read it or not.

  Roba made a sound much like an indignant snort if he had a nose to snort with. I beg your pardon, child. I speak every language there is on this continent.

  You said ‘speak’, not ‘read’.

  His father sighed. Yes. I can read the documents. Now quit being cheeky and get your eyes back on the document so I can read.

  It almost pained him, but Valis obeyed without further comment. The last thing he wanted to do right now was sit there with black eyes leeching the color out of everything. The room he could see in his periphery took on a sinister edge. The once vibrant wallpaper that had yellow and pink roses with gold leaf edging the designs now looked like dead roses and deadly mercury. The carpet went from beige to ash-gray. Tavros almost looked like a paper cutout.

  But he endured it while his father read the document. He kept subtly nudging Valis’s attention in the direction he wanted Valis to move his head so he could read the entire page. After four such pages with Roba commenting about how they held nothing immediately important, his father seemed to perk up in his mind.

  This was hastily handwritten, Valis said, not the careful script of a professional as the others were. What does it say?

  Roba seemed to vibrate in Valis’s mind. He made an undignified noise, and Valis could almost see him pacing. It is the location of a ‘monastery’ in the mountains of Endyer. There is only one known monastery on the continent, and that is Avristin. He went quiet a moment before saying, That spell Braywar was performing… I do not think it was the anchor spell. As a matter of fact, I am positive it wasn’t now that I have time to reflect upon what we experienced.

  He paused briefly while he collected his thoughts. I think he was trying to increase his own power stores so he could travel to the monastery safely.

  But why? Valis asked. I mean why would he need to go to the monastery?

  Two reasons. The first one is the Sovereign Priest of Qos wants him under his thumb because the others were eliminated. The second reason is to use him as a power source, much like my brother wanted to do with you, among other heinous things.

  “We got something?” Tavros asked, breaking Valis’s concentration. “What does Roba say?”

  “That this handwritten note is the exact location for the enemy’s monastery, and that Braywar was basically powering up to travel safely since he was the last anchor.”

  “We have… an exact location?” Tavros rubbed his temples a moment before staring at Valis with a perplexed expression. “Did I hear that right?”

  “Yes. That’s what Dad said.”

  “Fuck. Okay… Well, at least now we know where we’re going. But that seems too convenient.”

  “It does,” Valis said, “but it’s our only option for the moment. I’ll scry with this location in mind and see if I can get any details. I also need to report to Thyran before we head off to sleep. Perhaps see if Papa is awake so I can ease his mind.”

  “What about this place?” Tavros looked around the room, making Valis jealous because his eyes were still filled with black magic, making his entire world grayscale. “You ordered everyone to take care not to damage the property. You can’t really intend to sell it, can you?”

  Valis chuckled. “I can, and I will. Do you know how many people would give all they had to buy the place of a High Priest of Qos? And I mean just for bragging rights? Also, this place could easily be turned into an inn or a town. Twenty houses and a lord’s manor or an inn would give some people a nice start.”

  “Very well, love.” He stood and tilted Valis’s face up with gentle, warm hands and kissed him sweetly. “Get your scrying done. I’ll go see about drawing us a bath. I’ve claimed the room closest to the grand staircase on the left side as you’re coming up the stairs. So, up the stairs, turn left, first door on your right.”

  “Got it. I’ll be up shortly.”

  Once Tavros left, Valis looked at the handwritten note and reached into the desk drawer for paper and a pen. With a careful hand, he transcribed the location, tucked it into his breastplate, and looked over the rest of the documents.

  Are any of these worth anything? Valis asked.

  Not to my knowledge, but bring them with us anyway. Literary wards are not cast without necessity for the simple fact that they are inconvenient.

  Lazy bastards.

  Indeed. Roba said with a grin in his voice. But that does not matter at this current time. What matters is that you have the documents in case they are necessary, and you have two copies of the enemy monastery’s location. Everything else is inconsequential.

  For now, at least.

  Yes, Roba said softly. For now. Now, get your pocket watch out and get your scrying done. It is late, and no matter how energized you feel at the moment, your body is exhausted and you must rest.

  Yes, Dad.

  Valis took his pocket watch out and stared at the reflective surface inside for a moment, just gathering his thoughts. After taking a few deep breaths, he scried after Thyran and was pleased when his mentor responded almost immediately. “Valis! I was just thinking about you. Do you have a report?”

  “Braywar has been eliminated, and we took down an insanely large nest on Braywar’s property.” Valis continued filling Thyran in with everything from the big topics to the smallest minutiae. When he finished telling him about the sale of the property, Thyran nodded. “That sounds like the best idea.”

  “I thought you would be against it.”

  “Not particularly. I have a feeling you will need the money later, so if you can sell it, that will be excellent. If you cannot, then it isn’t a terrible loss. Just abandon the property.”

  “If it doesn’t sell by tomorrow night, we’re abandoning it. My father is more important.”

  “Yes,” Thyran said. “Yes, he is.” Then he leaned in closer to whatever he was using to scry. “You must rest, Valis. Gods, child…”

  Frowning, Valis touched his face. “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Your irises are black instead of their normal blue.”

  “I drained every single Qos adherent in this house, plus what Angas had gathered into himself in preparation for his travels. I’m sure my eyes will stay black for a while.”

  “Do you see colors?”

  “Not yet. I forced black into my eyes to read the documents due to the literary wards. I just haven’t tried to pull it back yet.”

  “Do so,” Thyran ordered. “Right now.”

  Valis tried, and after eight failed attempts, he forced his holy gold magic into his eyes. He knew it worked when Thyran gasped. “Valis… Your eyes are gold…”

  Valis winced at the colors. Even in the dim light, the vibrancy of the colors hurt. It took him a moment to stop cringing away from every color but black, but he finally rubbed his eyes and squinted at Thyran. “Better than black.”

  “Hopefully not permanent. I can’t imagine that would be healthy.”

  “We’ll deal with that if or when it’s a problem,” Valis muttered. “For now, I want to go bathe with my husband and get some sleep. After tonight, I doubt we’ll have a bed for a long time, and I want to enjoy it while it lasts.”

  “I understand,” Thyran said in a sympathetic tone. “But I have one more task for you before you go enjoy your husband.”

  “Oh, no.” Valis narrowed his eyes at Thyran. “You have no tasks for me. I’m too wound up for this shit.”

  “The fact that you are wound up is precisely why you need to perform this task, young man.” Thyran leaned in to press his point. “Am I clear.”

  “Fuck. Yes, sir. What is it?”

  “Do you know how to meditate?”

  Valis tilted his head like a
confused dog. “Meditate? …No. Never heard of it.”

  “You sit on the floor or a hard surface with your legs crossed in the knot position. Rest your relaxed hands on your knees and take in slow, deep breaths while you clear your mind of everything except the way your breath feels entering and exiting your nose, mouth, and lungs. When you reach a high level of calmness—without falling asleep, mind you—you focus inward.” Thyran shifted in his seat and studied Valis for a moment before continuing. “I want you to focus on your power. Try to make it obey you, instead of doing whatever it wants.”

  “But it always does what I want,” Valis said. “Wh—”

  “Then why are your eyes gold?” Thyran demanded. “Why were they black? Why could you not pull it back? Valis, this level of magical well is something that those before you who had such reserves spent decades slowly building it up, and you’ve built yours up in under a year.”

  He took a deep breath and scrubbed his palm over his mouth. “I want you to learn to meditate. Ask your husband to show you, as I’m fairly certain he learned how during the time he spent in therapy for sending you to the dungeon, and again for attacking you. It would be best if he helped guide you. But your focus will be to expand your magic wells so that they are large enough to hold the power spinning inside you. Then I want you to focus on making it even larger because, with the way you fight, it will be overfull again in short order.”

  “Was that a compliment or a complaint?” Valis asked. “Because I’m thinking my way of fighting is pretty damned good.”

  “Both,” Thyran said with an eye-roll that looked like it hurt. “Now, scry after your Papa in the morning, as he has already gone to bed. He had a long day today due to physical therapy stepping up his program. He is progressing well, but he still tires easily. He should be up by the time you wake.”

  “Thanks, Thyran. I appreciate that.”

  “You are most welcome, my boy.” Thyran stretched, and it looked so satisfying that it made Valis yawn and stretch, himself. When Thyran noticed, he chuckled. “Get to your bath before you fall over, child. And be careful on your journey.”