by E A Hooper
He looks a bit like Radu, Pyre thought. Just scrawnier and with longer hair.
“Hello, my brother,” Tachios told him. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Eldsworth, can you allow use of powers for a minute?”
“Only a minute,” Eldsworth told him. “Pyre, you know the rules. Don’t try anything funny or those kids get it.”
“I know,” Pyre grumbled.
Eldsworth raised a hand, and Pyre felt his power stir within himself. Eldsworth’s power allowed him to disable any senses he pleased within the range of the city, including the ability of greatborn to use their powers. In the last year, the lord had only let Pyre use his power a few times, and those were the fights Pyre feared the most.
Tachios opened his eyes, which looked completely gray, and he stared down at Pyre. “What raw power,” the longhaired brother said. “I see it burning within you. I can almost feel the heat. Our family members have auras that often take the shape of tendrils or vines that reach outward. With yours, the tendrils are like snaking flames that fill the entire arena. You could kill everyone here if you wanted to, couldn’t you?”
The chatter amongst the stands grew nervous, and Pyre smiled to himself. “If I could get Eldsworth before he disabled powers again,” he told his brother. “However, I’d risk killing our sister and the slaves in the castle if I did that. Where is Bels, anyways?”
“She’s recovering from another miscarriage,” Eldsworth replied. “You know Tachios, I might need to trade her for one of your other sisters if she can’t produce an heir for me. Isn’t Lilan available since Wyvern’s death? She was always a pretty one. Enjoyed my arena too.”
Pyre thought he saw anger on his brother’s face, but then Tachios sighed. “My father wouldn’t like hearing you talk about his daughters that way.”
“The man with ten wives cares how I treat mine? Or is he up to eleven now? Who cares, the point is he gave me a defective daughter.”
“My sister’s not defective,” Tachios said, holding back his temper in the same way Radu often did. “Was she eating properly? Last time I saw her, she had lost a lot of weight. Malnourishment increases the chances of miscarriage.”
“What can I say, I like my wives thin,” Eldsworth said, grinning at the crowd.
“Do you want a half-starved wife, or do you want an heir?” Tachios asked.
“Fine, fine,” Eldsworth grumbled. “I’ll fatten her up a bit before we try again. It’ll be worth it if we produce a powerful child. I’m hoping for one that can destroy an army like your brother down there. You heard about his metamorphosis, didn’t you?”
“Lord Cyril let us know he used it once but likely can’t use it at will.”
“I’ll find out once I’m out of here,” Pyre shouted at them. “Maybe go see dad and level his castle.”
“Ooh, family troubles,” Eldsworth mocked. The lord raised a hand, and Pyre couldn’t feel his power anymore. “I’ll disable powers before things get too heated—see what I did there? Heated?” He smiled at the crowd, and some of the drunken regulars laughed.
“Father didn’t put you here,” Tachios told Pyre. “In fact, he plans to set you free after the peace summit.”
“Peace summit?” Pyre questioned.
“Yes, father thinks it’s time to end this war,” Tachios told him. “He’s inviting representatives from all sides to bring them together. They’ll draw up new lines for Ter’al and make peace.”
“That’s horseshit,” Pyre said. “I never met him, but I know Reaper wants the North to conquer all of Ter’al.”
“Oh, come on, Pyre,” Eldsworth said. “A peace summit will be good for everyone.”
“Didn’t your men just take Eyl’Step?” Pyre asked. “Why would you want peace now?”
“Eyl’Step will be a good bargaining chip,” Eldsworth said. “To be fair, we’ve drained Eraterth dry of its riches and art, so I’m okay with ending the war now. But I would like to control Quintessence Way if that’s an option.”
“My brother won’t allow it,” Pyre said.
“He will if he wants you back,” Tachios said. “Father plans to make him a generous offer so long as he splits control of the Way with Eldsworth.”
“I still don’t believe it,” Pyre said. “Sounds like a trick. Reaper’s known for being manipulative. Does he really think anyone will fall for this?”
“There’s nothing to fall for,” Tachios said. “Our father holds too much leverage for the other nations to ignore his peace summit. This will be for the good of Ter’al, I promise. There’s a bigger picture that you don’t see, brother.”
“Something with a prophecy, isn’t it?” Pyre asked.
Tachios tilted his head. “Where’d you hear that from?”
“Something Cyril said when he captured me. Something to do with Radu and I meeting Dragon’s son maybe relating to a prophecy.”
Eldsworth gaped at Tachios. “What’s this about?”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Tachios replied.
“Oh,” Eldsworth replied, his face full of intrigue. “Anyways, we have a big show planned for today. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see anything until the grand finale, Tachios. It’ll be a long day for your brother, however.”
“Send for me when the finale comes,” Tachios told him. “I’d like to talk to my sister until then.”
“I understand,” Eldsworth said. “Servant, lead him to his sister. And men, bring out the slaves.”
Two guards led Ilda, Marian, and Brodden by their chains to the top of the pit. The guards readied their swords in case Pyre lost a fight. The three children had grown numb over the last year as they watched Pyre fight. Sometimes they still cried when it looked like Pyre might lose, but often they watched with hollow eyes.
I can’t lose, Pyre told himself. I’m almost done. If this peace summit is legitimate, I might be close to the end of my time here. Maybe my brother can bargain for those three kids too.
The gate opened, and the guards led Darvon into the arena. “I’m sorry, Pyre,” the Barbarian said. “It looks like it’s me and you again.”
“Not exactly,” Eldsworth said. “You are my two most popular fighters. So, for today, I’ve prepared a series of team fights. You versus several enemies at a time. This will be a grueling challenge, but if you two win every fight, I have a special reward. In honor of the upcoming peace summit, I’ll release Darvon and these three kids.”
Pyre watched Darvon’s jaw fall open, but the Barbarian didn’t speak. Darvon struggled to keep a fearsome, warrior-like expression on his face, but Pyre thought he could see tears building in his eyes.
He’s built a reputation for being ruthless in this arena, but I know the man better than that. He cried when he defeated me because it cost a child their life, and I know how badly he wants to go home.
“We’ll win,” Pyre assured Darvon. “You’re going home.”
Darvon wiped his eyes and grunted. “Yeah, we better,” he said, struggling to sound stoic.
“And where will the kids go?” Pyre asked Eldsworth.
“Tachios volunteered to take them as servants,” Eldsworth told him. “Hopefully, you’ll see them again at Castle Titanweir for the peace summit.”
“Isn’t that Reaper’s castle?” Pyre asked.
“Indeed,” Eldsworth replied. “But you’ll learn more later. For now, you should focus on the arduous battles I’ve planned for today.” The lord turned to his crowd. “So, my friends, what should we start with? Starved cannibals from the once-lost Iiti Clan? Longclaws captured in Farwood? New captives from the West? We got in some Grimspiders with that last batch of captives too.”
The crowd cheered at each option, but their voices grew louder at the mention of grimspiders.
“Sounds like we have our answer,” Eldsworth said. “We have twenty grimspiders, so I think I’ll let Pyre use his power for this first fight. Someone, throw Darvon a spear too.”
“Hephar bless us,” Darvon muttered. “T
his will be the longest day of our lives or the shortest.”
Pyre sighed as his power return to him, and he started gathering fire into his hands. He could feel sharp pains shoot up his leg whenever he took a step, but he tried to ignore it. Out of the corner of his eyes, he thought he saw the faceless warrior staring down at him.
Just one more day. One more set of battles. This is it. This might really be it.
Chapter 5
Valx kissed Mil on her way out of The Rotten Apple. “You’ll pass the examination,” he told her. “I’m sure of it.”
“We’ll see,” she said, smiling. “Don’t forget to dye your hair.”
“I won’t.” He smiled and watched her leave, and then he ate egg stew that Pailim had made.
He grabbed another bowl and went outside to offer some to Shift, but she had disappeared from the roof. Must be prowling around somewhere, he thought. He used his key to the gate and left the bowl on the back porch of the inn, knowing she’d smell it sooner or later.
As he circled back to the front of the inn, he saw two women approaching by horseback. They stared at the sign over the inn, and one shouted, “This is it. We found it.”
Valx stared at the two women. One looked middle-aged and very tall. The other looked shorter and a couple of years younger than him. Something about the two seemed so familiar, and he felt frozen as he gazed at the younger, blonde woman.
The two women didn’t seem to notice him, and the older one climbed from their horse. “I’ll go speak to the innkeeper and see if we can use the stable. Don’t go anywhere but keep an eye out for him.”
“Alright,” the younger woman replied.
The older woman went into the building, and Valx watched the younger one from around the corner. He approached the gate to get a closer look, forgetting that he hadn’t locked it. The gate pushed open, and he stumbled forward, catching the attention of the girl on her horse.
She gaped at him for several seconds, and he gaped back.
“Is that you, Valx?” she asked, looking at him with big eyes.
It’s her, he realized. The girl that saved my life after the fight with my brother. He stared at her with an open mouth, unsure of how to respond.
“My Valx!” she shouted, jumping from her horse. She ran toward him, and his muscles tensed. The girl wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, and when she let go, Valx stood with a confused look.
“You’re—Lilan?” he asked.
“That’s right,” she said. “I’m glad you remember me. I almost didn’t recognize you with your black hair. I hope you don’t plan to keep it that way. I liked it white.”
“How’d you find me?” he questioned.
“I could feel you,” she said. “I left a piece of me inside of you when I healed your injury. I knew destiny would bring us together again, but I thought I’d make it sooner than later. Sometimes in my sleep, I could even hear you muttering to me. That’s how I knew you were at this inn. You told me yourself because you wanted me to find you.”
“I don’t know about that,” he replied. “Why are you here? Is this a trap?”
“Don’t be silly,” she said with a big smile. “I’m not only here for you. I’m here to speak to King Thod. I only wanted to find you while I was in Direlight.”
“But why?” he asked, even more confused.
“My father wants a peace treaty between the nations.”
“Your father?”
“Yes, Lord Reaper.”
Valx’s muscles tensed again.
“Don’t look so worried,” she told him. “I’m not here to cause you trouble. In fact, we’re destined to be together. Didn’t you know?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Our bloodlines are fated,” she explained. “One of our descendants will unite Ter’al. You’re the only one of Dragon’s bloodline left, and I’m the best choice from Reaper’s bloodline. So, we’re destined to be together.” She paused and coughed into her sleeve. “Excuse me, I haven’t felt too good lately. Don’t mind the coughing.”
“Fated?” Valx said. “Is this something your father heard from Bastion?”
“Oh, so you aren’t totally ignorant.” She grinned at him. “Yes, before his disappearance, Bastion told our fathers a sort of prophecy. It’s the reason they planned the war. You see, my dear father is trying to save Ter’al.”
“Save Ter’al? From what?”
“I’ll tell you when we speak to Thod, but father will discuss it in greater detail at the peace summit.”
“I’m sorry, but I doubt Thod will ever agree to a peace summit with Reaper.”
Lilan smiled. “We’ll see what he says after I speak to him.”
The nearby door came open, and the tall woman stepped out. She stared at Lilan and then narrowed her eyes at Valx. “You,” she said. “Brother-killer.”
“He was a mother-killer,” Valx replied, angrily.
“Both of you, calm yourselves,” Lilan said, raising her voice. “We’re here to make peace, Jocy. Please, be kind to him. He’s my future husband after all.”
Valx raised an eyebrow. “I don’t even know you. Besides, I already have a woman that I love.”
“And I thought I loved Wyvern,” Lilan said, smirking. “But fate has other plans for us. This woman, she’s not staying here by chance, is she?”
Valx glared at her.
“Oh, forget it,” Lilan muttered. “We found you faster than expected. I was planning to stay at this inn for a day or two, but if it will create tension with you and this woman of yours, perhaps I’ll go straight to the castle.”
“I wish you had told me that before I paid for our room,” Jocy said with a sigh.
“I can get you a refund,” Valx told them. “I’m friends with the owners.”
“Oh, thank you,” Lilan said. “Will you also come with us to speak to Thod? I know he won’t trust me.”
“I can’t,” Valx said. “No one knows I’m in Direlight. It’s why I dyed my hair.”
“Please, Valx,” Lilan replied, showing an exaggerated frown. “Please, please. He’ll throw me in a cell if I go without you. He might even have me executed. Don’t forget I saved your life.”
Valx sighed. This is just like Bastion told Velumis. He said I wasn’t done. That I’d be drawn back into the war no matter what. That the war would be lost if I didn’t. And he uttered something about saving Ter’al too. But most importantly, he told me to trust Lilan. Gods dammit.
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll go with you to speak to Thod.”
“Thank you!” Lilan shouted, throwing her arms around him. “I knew finding you was the right idea. I didn’t even tell my father this plan. It might be the first time I ever deceived him.”
Valx pried her arms away and then looked down at her. “Just don’t try to deceive me too. The moment you lie to me, I won’t help you anymore.”
“I won’t,” she replied. “However, there are some things I can’t tell you until the peace summit.”
“I’m not going to the peace summit,” Valx told her. “I’ll help you while you’re in Direlight. Once you leave, I’m done with this war.”
“If you say so,” Lilan replied with a sly smile. “Let’s go to the castle then.”
“Hang on,” Valx said. “I need to get my sword first.”
“Why do you need a sword?” Jocy questioned.
“You remember that woman with me at Castle Stoneborn? The one called Shift that can change her shape?”
“I remember,” Jocy said.
“That sword is a piece of her,” Valx explained. “She can track it just like Lilan tracked the piece of herself in me. She’s prowling around here somewhere in the form of the cat, but I want her to know to follow me.”
“Because you don’t trust us?” Jocy questioned.
“Exactly,” Valx said. “I’d rather be honest with you. If you try anything at the castle, I’m sure she’ll intervene.”
“We won’t try
anything,” Lilan said. “However, you can get the sword if it makes you feel safer. It makes me happy knowing my future husband has a personal guardian like her.”
“Let me see the key you got,” he told Jocy. “I’ll get you a refund. Just give me a few minutes.”
Jocy handed Valx the key, and he went inside The Rotten Apple. He approached Lorkle and place the key on the counter. “Can I get a refund for that room?” Valx asked. “That woman was only here to find me.”
“Oh, sure,” Lorkle said with a confused look. He handed Valx a few coins. “Is she someone you know? An old friend?”
“No,” he replied. “Don’t worry about her.”
Valx stepped away from the counter, and Lorkle flashed a worried look. The young man headed upstairs and grabbed his mother’s sword. He tied the sheath to his side and returned downstairs.
Pailim stepped out of the backroom and gaped at him. “Where are you off to with that sword?”
“You know the city guard will confiscate that if they see it?” Lorkle added.
“I have business to attend to,” Valx replied. “At the castle.”
Lorkle and Pailim frowned at him.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “You both know I don’t need a sword. However, the whole city will know I’m here after today. I’m sorry if that draws attention to your inn.”
“That’s alright, Valx,” Pailim told him. “You do what you must.”
“I’m sure it won’t be bad for business for people to know the Aetherblade was staying here,” Lorkle said, chuckling.
“If I don’t come home tonight, please tell Mil that I’m at the castle,” Valx said. “Assuming she doesn’t see me there.”
Lorkle nodded, and Valx headed for the door. He could see patrons watching him with his sword and whispering to one another. As he stepped outside, he ran his fingers through his hair, and aether sparked between his fingertips. He felt a mild pain in his stomach but ignored it. The aether evaporated the hair dye, revealing his white hair for everyone to see.
People on the streets stopped and stared at him.
