The Aether Knight

by E A Hooper

“That’s right,” Pyre said. “These deaths are the price you had to pay for playing games with fate. For hurting so many people. Now, you must do the right thing. Make the right choice, Reaper. Bring peace to Ter’al, so no one else has to die for this stupid war. Otherwise, the Feyans will do far worse than this. You know that. It’s what all this was for, right?”

  “That—that’s right.” Reaper’s hand fell to his side, and all the swords fell to the ground with a clatter. “It’s all for Ter’al. All of this is to save Ter’al. Every sacrifice I’ve made. Every person I’ve lost. Every friend I’ve betrayed. Every life that I’ve taken. It’s all for Ter’al.”

  Tears returned to the lord’s eyes, and he knelt once more beside the charred body. “But I can never forgive Valx for this. Even if it’s my own fault, I can’t forgive him. I’ll continue the peace summit, but only if he’s not there. I won’t make any deals with nations that try to protect him.”

  “So, you’ve chosen the path of sacrifice?” Tachios replied, almost too afraid to speak. “Those were our two choices, right?”

  “I’ve already made my sacrifices,” Reaper said, coldly. “Now, the other nations can do the same.”

  “What do you mean?” Pyre asked.

  Before Reaper could answer, two figures pushed their way through the crowd of soldiers. One, a woman Pyre didn’t recognize, ran toward Reaper. She cried loudly and threw her arms around him. “My love! My love! I can’t believe this happened. This is so terrible what that monster has done, but I bring good news.”

  Pyre looked at the second person as they nervously approached. “Gren? Why’re you here again?”

  “Uh, Lord Reaper,” Grenfei said, anxiously.

  Reaper glared at her.

  “Valx has surrendered himself to your son, Radu,” she told him. “He’s offering his life to you if you follow through with the peace summit. With no trickery, of course.”

  The lord’s fists shook with rage. “Oh, don’t worry. I have no trickery prepared. Peace will be made, but only if Valx dies by my hands.”

  “That’s, uh, the plan,” Grenfei replied. “He won’t fight or struggle, but Radu won’t hand him over until peace is secured.”

  “Go back to Radu,” Reaper told her. “Tell him to bring Valx tomorrow, or there’ll be no deal. Tell him, we can draft a peace pact, but I won’t sign anything until Valx is dead.”

  “Got it,” Grenfei said. She flashed a worried look at Pyre.

  “Go now!” Reaper screamed.

  Grenfei jerked back and hurried toward the garden.

  So, that’s it, Pyre thought. They’re going to kill Valx. Another one of my friends will die. I can’t stop it. I don’t know if I want to stop it. Valx isn’t the same guy I traveled with. This war has torn him apart and changed him. If his death brings peace, then that’s just one more life whose weight I’ll carry. I only wish there was a way to put us on the path of forgiveness.

  Pyre looked at Reaper as he stared at the bodies. He could see the fury and sadness on the lord’s face. No, there’s no path of forgiveness now. That line of fate has been severed. There’s only the path of sacrifice. Things will only get worse.

  “Father,” Pyre said.

  “Why are you still here?” Reaper said, crying. “Just go. Go back to your brother and take that bastard of yours.”

  “I want you to evacuate Varsith,” Pyre told him.

  Reaper turned his furious eyes to Pyre.

  “In case the peace summit fails,” Pyre explained. “If a large-scale battle with so many greatborn breaks out, it’ll surely spread to the city. Not to mention, their forces might push toward the castle. Tachios told me there were secret shelters and barracks to the northwest and northeast of the city that could hold most the population. We should move everyone just in case.”

  Reaper stared at him for several seconds, and Pyre worried he’d throw more swords at him. However, the lord looked at the body of his son Tayd who Valx had beheaded. “Helmor, start an evacuation. Send word to the other nations that it’s only to protect my citizens in case they attack us. Fate knows they’re already paranoid enough.”

  “Yes, Master Reaper,” Helmor said, bowing.

  Pyre stepped away and walked toward the garden. He noticed Tachios following behind him.

  “Pyre,” the blind brother said with tears in his eyes. He reached forward and hugged the thief. “Thank you so much for stopping Valx. I know how difficult it was for you to fight your friend. Both of my full-siblings survived because of you. I only wish all the others had made it.”

  Pyre cried and hugged Tachios in return. “I do too, brother. I didn’t know them well, but they’re still my family. I don’t know that I can call Valx my friend anymore after that. But at the same time, I don’t think I would’ve had it in me to kill him if his metamorphosis had worn off before mine.”

  “I understand,” Tachios replied. “I see the string connecting your auras has greatly wavered. I can also see our father’s aura has become more erratic. I don’t know what’ll happen if the peace summit fails, but it won’t be good. I plan to go to the summit myself, blind or not. I hope you’ll do the same.”

  “I will,” Pyre told him. “For now, I think I should leave. I’ll talk to Radu.”

  “And Valx?”

  “I’d rather not talk to him,” Pyre answered, exiting into the garden.

  In the garden, he saw the survivors of the attack crying and trembling. He searched around until he found Aque, sitting near the gatehouse with Jace.

  “Pyre!” Aque called when she saw him.

  Pyre approached, tears in his eyes. He looked down at his son and started to cry again. “Gods, I’m so glad you two were in the courtyard.”

  “I was walking toward the east wing when I heard the explosions,” Aque told him. “So, I ran away from the castle until I heard it was safe.”

  “It’s not safe. It won’t be safe here until peace is secured.”

  “Should I stay in Varsith? I don’t want to risk anything happening to Jace.”

  “Reaper is going to evacuate everyone in Varsith. To shelters in the northwest and northeast. You should leave for the shelters until the peace summit is over. I’ll get you special guards since Jace is Reaper’s grandson.”

  “What about you?”

  “I need to stay to the end.”

  “I understand. What about when this is over? Did you ever decide whether you’d stay for Jace?”

  “Of course, I will. After this is over, I’m not letting that boy out of my sight until he’s a full-grown man with powers of his own. I’ll stay at the castle with you if I must. Or if you want to leave, I’ll follow you anywhere. I know we’re not in love or anything, but you and I had some kind of bond that night. Maybe we can try to have a relationship for Jace’s sake. If it doesn’t work out, then oh well.”

  “That’d be nice. Just make sure you survive this madness, Wild Pyre.”

  “Hey, I’m pretty good at surviving. Or maybe I’m just good at almost dying. Let’s hope it’s the first one.”

  Chapter 28

  The sun was setting as Radu entered his private tent. Lullum waited inside, sitting and reading at a table under candlelight. Their eyes met as he entered, but they both remained silent. Radu’s mind filled with thoughts of the approaching Red Moon.

  It’s tomorrow. I can’t believe it’s tomorrow. I’ll see my brother again after more than a year. I’ll finally meet my father. And hopefully, this war will be put to an end, and Ter’al will face a bright future.

  Lullum glanced at him.

  My brow must be crinkled again. She’s too perceptive about that, but maybe it’s for the best. I wouldn’t have made it this far as a king without her by my side. She’s grown so much from the shy woman I met that was too afraid to leave her house. She’s fought battles. She wiped out an entire enemy force at Eyl’Step. Now, she’s here at what could turn into the front line of a battle, and she’s calmer than I am.

  “I lov
e you,” Radu told her.

  “I love you too,” she replied.

  “No matter what happens tomorrow, I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

  “And I’ll do the same for you.”

  “If Eldsworth disables powers at any point, I’ll assume they’re trying to attack. If that happens, I’ll throw you into my shadow immediately. Understand?”

  “Only if you’re retreating,” she replied with a defiant gaze. “If you’re fighting, I’ll help whether or not you like it.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t.”

  “And I’d rather you not fight without me.”

  Radu sighed. “You’re stubborn, you know that?”

  “You are too. It’s part of why I love you.”

  The young king smiled. “It’s too bad our enemies are stubborn too.”

  Lullum smirked at him. “Then we’ll just have to be more stubborn.”

  Radu approached Lullum and kissed her. They held one another for a moment, but then the king heard footsteps outside the tent.

  “Hey, boss,” Grenfei said.

  “You’re back?” Radu replied. “Come in. What did Reaper say?”

  Grenfei opened the tent flap. “I brought someone with me who can explain better. He caught me on my way out of Varsith.” She held the flap open, and Pyre walked into the tent.

  Radu hadn’t seen his brother in over a year, and right way, he could tell he’d changed. He looked a lot more muscular, likely from his pit fighting. Pyre’s face had matured a year, and he’d let his facial hair grow into wild stubble. In a couple of weeks, he might even have a full beard—something Radu never thought he’d see on Pyre. However, most of all, his eyes had changed. Radu noticed right away. They’re colder. Lonelier.

  Pyre slowly approached, his face solemn. “Brother,” he said in a quiet tone. “I know you must still be angry. I know I ran away without telling you anything. I was stupid and got caught. I’m so—”

  Radu interrupted his brother with a hug. Tears ran down the young king’s face, and his voice cracked telling his brother, “I missed you so much, Pyre.”

  “You’re not mad at me?” Pyre asked, crying too.

  “I’m mad at myself for not rescuing you,” Radu replied, squeezing Pyre tighter.

  The pit-fighter and the king hugged one another and cried for almost a minute. Grenfei got teary-eyed and stepped away from the tent, and Lullum struggled not to cry too.

  “Who’s she?” Pyre asked, staring at Lullum.

  “Do you remember the Witch of Graypond?” Radu asked.

  Pyre nodded. “She followed you this far?” He looked at his brother, then at Lullum, and then his brother again. “Wait. Woah. Radu! Are you two—”

  “Yeah,” Lullum said, smiling. She held a hand out to Pyre. “I’m happy to meet you. Radu has told me all about you.”

  Pyre ignored her hand and hugged her. “So, when are you two getting married?”

  Lullum chuckled. “Gren keeps asking the same question. I’m starting to wonder myself.”

  “We’ll see how this peace summit goes,” Radu said, smiling at Lullum.

  “About that,” Pyre said with a sigh. “Reaper says he’ll draft a peace pact, but he won’t sign anything until Valx is dead. Did he really surrender? This isn’t a trick, is it?”

  “It’s no trick,” Radu told his brother. “Valx surrendered to me. It seems like his will is broken. He’s defeated. I don’t think he cares if he lives or dies.”

  “He seemed out of it when I fought him,” Pyre said. “He’s not the same guy we knew.”

  “He’s still the same person,” Radu replied. “It’s just the good sides of him have been buried under all his pain. It’s brought out only the worst. I want peace, but part of me doesn’t want to see our friend killed for it.”

  “He killed our half-siblings,” Pyre said, hollow-eyed.

  “They share our blood, but they aren’t our family,” Radu replied, coldly.

  “They are though,” Pyre countered. “I met them. I’ve been getting to know them. One boy Valx killed was named Tayd. He was a good kid. Reminded me of myself at his age. He was a possible choice as Reaper’s heir. I’m sure he would’ve maintained the peace pact during his rule.”

  “Reaper brought that on his own family,” Radu told Pyre. “For everything he’s done. Are you really trying to blame Valx?”

  “It’s both their fault,” Pyre said. “I told Reaper he was to blame for his choices, but Valx is to blame for his as well. They’ve both caused great pain and brought suffering on themselves.”

  Radu lowered his head. “You’re right about that. I only wish things didn’t have to be this way. There’s no good solution to this mess. There’re too many variables I can’t see.”

  “We can’t control fate,” Pyre noted. “We’ll have to wait and see what happens. Then try to make the right choices for the things we can control.”

  Radu nodded. He looked at his brother’s sad face, and a thought crossed his mind. “So, I heard you had a son at Castle Titanweir. Did you bring him?”

  “His mother took him to one of the shelters outside the city,” Pyre told him. “I was the one that asked Reaper to evacuate Varsith. Just in case. I asked Aque to take our son there.”

  Radu gaped at his brother. “Aque?”

  “Yeah,” Pyre said, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Remember how you told me to keep a lookout for them at Graypond?”

  “So, you slept with one?”

  “I swear I didn’t know,” Pyre replied.

  Radu looked at his brother and chuckled. “I shouldn’t even be surprised.”

  Pyre’s tension eased. “You really shouldn’t.”

  A serious expression crossed the king’s face. “But wasn’t Nightmare Company responsible for—”

  “No, not her,” Pyre interrupted. “Cyril is the one that killed Lorrick. Aque had nothing to do with that.”

  “It might interest you to hear the Okamros’s Pack Council asked me to kill Cyril if I had the opportunity.”

  “They did?”

  “They say Cyril is draining their resources for his own benefit. If things go bad at the peace summit, they want to split off from the Northern Republic and join Kingsland.”

  “Will you kill him?”

  “If things turn bad. And even then, only if I have a good chance.”

  “You have to be careful,” Pyre warned. “He can drain your power.”

  “I know. He drained my strength when I saved Lullum. I almost reached the tavern but fell unconscious. Lullum told me our room was empty, so she put me on a horse and rode us out of town. I guess I know why you weren’t in the room now.”

  “I had figured something like that happened. I saw your stuff lying on the ground and knew you wouldn’t have abandoned it unless you were drained of your strength. Someone shouted about the Witch of Graypond riding off, and I pieced the information together.”

  “I panicked when I couldn’t find you, so I went and brought down the Dair Ro’duge.”

  “I heard all about it. I can’t believe you killed Boss.”

  “Actually, I did that,” Lullum noted.

  “Oh, nice,” Pyre said. “Thanks for that.”

  “No problem,” she replied. “Radu did most the work taking care of the Family.”

  “Except the ones at Castle Titanweir,” Pyre noted. “There’s a couple he brought there because he wants to arrange more marriages for his children. That man is obsessed with his bloodline.”

  “I’m sure I would be too if I thought my descendant would save Ter’al,” Radu said. “He needs Valx’s bloodline too, however.”

  “He doesn’t need Valx,” Pyre said. “Lilan is pregnant with his child. Don’t know how that happened, but it greatly hurts Valx’s chances of survival. Although, Lilan seems to have run off after Valx’s attack.”

  “Reaper can’t guarantee that Lilan’s child is the one from the prophecy,” Radu replied. “This father of ours is m
aking a lot of assumptions.”

  “He’s obsessed with controlling everything,” Pyre told him. “It was already bad when I first arrived, but after Bastion gave himself to Reaper, he thinks he can control fate. I’m sure seeing his dead wives and children has brought him back to reality. That might be the only good thing to come from Valx’s assault.”

  “That might not be a good thing,” Radu said. “He might become more unstable if he thinks he’s losing control over the situation. The man has spent years thinking he could control Ter’al’s future. This would be the worst time for his mental state to fall apart. Then again, it was the worst time for Valx to do the same.”

  “There’s nothing worse than feeling like you have no control,” Lullum noted. “That’s how I felt for so long. It’s why I locked myself inside my tower. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to be the only person to know Ter’al’s terrible future and to feel like the weight of nations lies on your shoulders—only for it to come crumbling down as you lose control.”

  “The worst part is, Bastion says we’re on something he called the path of sacrifice,” Pyre told them. “That the only way for Ter’al to be saved is if all sides make sacrifices. Reaper made a comment that he’d made his sacrifice, and now, he expects the other nations to do the same. He has every reason now to go all out. From his point of view, fate has already made him pay his price for victory.”

  “I told Valx to be ready to fight if Reaper tries anything,” Radu replied. “But as I said, his spirit seems broken. When the time comes, there’s no guarantee he’ll have access to his metamorphosis.”

  Pyre clenched his fists. “I don’t want to fight Reaper, but if he hurts anyone, I’ll do what I must. I think I can use metamorphosis again if I need to, but it doesn’t last long. Valx started his before me and outlasted me, but he seems driven by his murderous intent. If Reaper tries something, and it angers Valx, then I have no doubt he’ll turn into that horrifying aether knight once more.”

  “Aether knight?”

  “He was completely encased in white aether. However, it wasn’t his normal aether. It was almost like crystal, but his blade could cut anything. The armor greatly enhanced his speed and strength, so much that I couldn’t even fight him with my own metamorphosis. The armor protected him from everything. As far as metas go, this was unlike any other. My own paled to his. Even what I’ve heard about Wyvern’s and Dragon’s make Valx’s seem like a whole other level of power. Hell, I briefly saw the tendrils of Reaper’s meta, and as scary as that was, I’m sure Valx would demolish him.”