Scion’s Sacrifice

by R. Michael Card

  Cass was lifted higher still, away from the Blacklord’s hand, still choking, some invisible force holding her. Now that she was out of the wizard’s physical grip, perhaps Davar could do something. With his still enhanced mind-sense, Davar could see the wind patterns holding her. He tore at them with his and Wyllea’s combined powers.

  He broke the Blacklord’s hold!

  Cass fell to the floor, gasping for air.

  The Blacklord reached for her again and Davar deflected the wind-hand, giving Cass more time to recover. Twice more, harder and harder still the vile wizard attempted to grab at Cass but was blocked by Davar. Again, they were a match now and neither would win this fight easily.

  “Enough of this!” the Blacklord cried out. “There’s another way.” With a flick of his wrist, Davar moved with amazing speed.

  Cass, watch out, move! he said into her mind.

  Davar? No! Too late she understood.

  Davar, manipulated and animated by the Blacklord, hit her hard with the flat of Starsong’s blade. She was knocked to the floor, dazed though still conscious.

  Then the Blacklord had him reverse his grip on Starsong and thrust it down into her belly, driving through her into the stone of the dais below as he dropped to one knee.

  No! Davar yelled, even if only in his mind as Cass screamed in pain.

  The Blacklord had known exactly where to place the blow. Their child was dead, and Cass would be mortally wounded.

  Davar trembled with rage, forcing as much earth talent as he could through his body to escape the Blacklord’s hold on him, but still he could not free himself. Tears streamed from his eyes as Cass squirmed in pain. Perhaps she’d put up her mind-shield against pain for she no long screamed, but she wept, knowing what they’d lost. Knowing her life was now measured in minutes.

  The Blacklord knelt on the other side of Cass. His voice was soft, almost tender when he spoke, “Now you see what it costs to defy me. But don’t worry my lovely, I’ll put another child inside you, then I’ll torture you far beyond what you could ever conceive. But you’ll be the mother of my next spawn, doesn’t that please you?”

  She spat in his face.

  The Blacklord smiled at that and leaning over licked her face again, his desiccated tongue scraping along her cheek and over her lips.

  He waved his hand and Davar withdrew Starsong from Cass’ stomach, only to place it at her throat. “Now be a good girl and stay still while I defile you or I’ll have my son kill you.”

  “I would rather die than let you have me!” Her hands were free, and she swatted at the Blacklord with a backhanded swing. It did little.

  “As you wish.” The Blacklord stood and waved his hand again. “Any last words to your whore, my son, before you kill her?”

  Davar felt his head released from the Blacklord’s hold. He could speak.

  “I’m sorry, Cass, I love you.” His eyes darted to the Blacklord. “And I’m going to kill you.”

  The Blacklord cackled a great long laugh. “You especially can’t kill me! For if I die, you die!”

  Deep down Davar had known this.

  There had always been one ritual he’d been made to perform that had confused and baffled him. As a boy, he’d be forced to kill one of his surrogate mothers, a slave women who tended to him, and rip out her heart. Then the Blacklord had cast a spell on the still beating organ and made Davar eat it. There’d been more to the spell, but it had been only after that day that the tall and commanding man Davar knew as the Blacklord began to wither and grow, seemingly, frail. Yet that spell had also given the man immortality in his undeath.

  Now he knew. The ritual had been more than just some lesson in evil. It had been a transference, the Blacklord giving over his mortal heart to his son so that he could be immortal.

  And in that instant, everything fell into place.

  Everything the Blacklord said was a lie, or some twisting of the truth, in this case, it was a literal reversal. It wasn’t that if the Blacklord was slain Davar would die, it was the opposite. If Davar died, the Blacklord would be slain.

  He knew what he must do.

  Oh, Davar! I don’t know if I can, Starsong said, fearful for the first time.

  We all must do terrible things for those we love. We must all make sacrifices. Now he just needed to be able to move his body. He needed more power.

  Then a plan began to form in his mind.

  He contacted Cass. I have an idea, but I’ll need you to distract the Blacklord for a moment. I think I can kill him, but it may mean my death. I love you, Cass.

  I love you too, Davar. The tone of her mental voice was hard, resolved, sad. I’ve something I can do to distract him and perhaps weaken him for a moment as well. She was weak, the wound in her belly still bleeding. Her earth talent must be running low.

  Then do that, but wait for just a moment, I need more power first.

  The Blacklord waved his hand over Cass’ belly and healed the wound in her stomach, the skin now smooth.

  “I need you whole to carry my child,” he said with a feral grin.

  Davar had to act fast.

  He knew he needed more earth talent to overpower the Blacklord’s hold. He poured every ounce of his spirit talent into his body, draining it. He felt the hold weaken, but only just barely. He needed more. Where in the blazes of all the void could he get more?

  The Blacklord was using a clawed finger to draw runes, across the pale skin of Cass’ belly, each line blossoming blood. She didn’t scream, her teeth were clenched, but Davar could see the terror on her face at what was to come.

  He needed more power now!

  He needed more spirit, but…

  Wyllea, is Senia close? Can you grab her hand?

  What why?

  I need her spirit.

  I don’t know how to access it…

  I can. Just touch her!

  A moment, then through their mind-link Davar felt another mind join. He used his connection to Wyllea’s mind to access Senia’s spirit.

  Spirit, like a vast well, opened before him and he drank it in, pouring it into his earth talent and strengthening his magic over his body.

  He broke free of the Blacklord’s hold.

  “Now!” he yelled to Cass as he stood, reversing his grip on Starsong.

  She let out a feral scream and grabbed the Blacklord pulling him close. It was the last thing Davar had expected, but what happened next was even more of a surprise. She simply exploded in a great ball of spirit, body, and soul magic all directed at the Blacklord.

  Davar stood stunned unable to act as he watched her flare out in one great blossom of pure energy. The Blacklord was launched across the dais, landing hard. Cass was gone, dead, vanished in one final fury of all of her powers.

  Yet he regained himself quickly. He held Starsong before him, tip pressed against his chest, both hands on the guard. Cass had made her sacrifice. Now it was time for his.

  “I love you, Cass,” he whispered, then plunged the blade into his heart.

  The Blacklord screamed a feral, horrible sound as a great gash appeared in his emaciated chest, pouring forth black blood. The wizard collapsed as more black ichor streamed from him, forming a pool.

  Davar fell to his knees, then to his side.

  He had killed the Blacklord but had paid the ultimate price.

  Chapter 26

  Cassine was at peace.

  She floated in a great, warm ocean of fog, which glistened with light in a myriad of colors. She’d been in pain moments before, physical and emotional, but now there was only comfort and calm.

  Davar appeared next to her. He beamed, relief flooding over his features when he saw her. “I thought you were dead!”

  She smiled sadly. “My love, I think we both are.”

  “Oh.” He looked around the multi-hued clouds in which they floated. “I thought The Void would be darker, or more… on fire, like the legends say?”

  “I don’t think we’re in The Void, Davar.
This is The Heavens.”

  “That’s not right. I don’t deserve that after my life.”

  You sacrificed all you had to save the world. I think that will be enough to erase your other sins. This voice was so beautiful, so full of love and song and the vibrancy of life it nearly brought Cassine to tears.

  A woman appeared in the nothingness with them. She was as beautiful as her voice. Her hair flowed in weightless waves behind her, longer than she was tall. The locks shimmered in all hues at once, now gleaming white, then blond or even blue or silver, now fiery red, then darkening to brunette and black, only to cycle through once again. Her face was indescribable. Angelic, or Godly were the only words Cassine could think to use. Perhaps this was how Davar saw her, all those times he’d thought of her as an angel. The woman’s eyes were all shades, like her hair, from darkest brown to palest blue, each blink a new revelation.

  Her body was that of a matronly woman, full and round, covered by a gauzy robe.

  I am Aehryn, Goddess of All Things.

  Cassine had no words. This was impossible.

  It was Davar who blurted out, “But you’re dead.”

  Aehyrn smiled and Cassine’s world lit up with it. I was dead, yes. Only an act of truest love and sacrifice could return me to the Heavens. You have paid that price, and I have returned.

  Davar’s mouth gaped.

  In return for your selflessness and love, and also for ridding my world of a vast and potent evil, I am willing to grant you a great boon. I give you back your lives.

  Cassine was crying, except she had no tears in this strange place. After everything they’d been through this last day, the trials and combat, the pain and suffering, her emotions overwhelmed her. For a long moment she couldn’t speak. When she finally regained herself she could only manage a faint, “Thank you.”

  “What of our child?” Davar asked.

  I feel it is time to return to the world. It will need me now more than ever to recover from the darkness spread by the Blacklord. Aehryn’s hand touched Cassine’s belly. When you return I will be with you. The Goddess looked from Cassine to Davar and back. I have always been your child, Aehryn said softly. You, my son, were the only one who could see I had sent a greater spirit, an angel, to earth to host my return.

  “Oh!” Cass breathed. “But…"

  And you, my child and my mother, Aehryn touched Cassine's face. So pure of heart, so full of life. To you, I grant one final gift. The Goddess’s hand moved to Cassine's belly and there traced runes in light. I will be but the first of many children, you will live a long, healthy life, surrounded by family, five generations you shall see before you return to my realm.

  This had been one of her most secret desires to have such a family. Now Cass did weep, but these were not tears, these were manifestations of joy, love, and hope in glistening drops.

  Now go, return. Live well together. I will be with you always. She touched both of their foreheads at once. There was a great flash then…

  Breath!

  Life.

  Noise… smells… the cold sensation of stone on her skin. A full inhalation of air, her chest rising, which meant she had a chest to rise and a mouth and nose and…

  Cass sat up, eyes wide, as the pain of her death faded.

  She was naked, her clothes had been torn apart by her dead-blast. She didn’t think to cover herself, not yet. Instead, her first thought was for Davar.

  She scrambled over to him. He lay on his side, Starsong plunged into his chest.

  She pulled the blade out and his muscle and bone healed even as it left. He drew in a desperate breath and then his eyes snapped open.

  He saw her, reached for her, held her. He pressed her close in caring arms as they both wept.

  There was a vague memory of a bright and loving place, but it was fading. There was only life now and a great well of joy at the miracle that had saved them.

  She felt whole, so much more potent in her power than she ever had before. And in Davar’s arms, she felt she could do anything.

  This reminded her of the others in the room.

  She rose and with a wave of her hand, not knowing the spell she summoned, a flowing white dress appeared over her.

  “That’s new,” Davar said getting up next to her.

  “I feel… completely different: reborn, renewed, stronger than before.”

  He shrugged. “I feel the same as always, but I do feel fully restored.”

  “Let’s go help the others, shall we?”

  Wyllea and Senia were freed from their cages. Ahrn was alive, but in great pain and unable to move. Cassine spent a long time healing him, making him whole once again. Davar took care of Tirol’s wounds, which were mostly superficial save for a couple of broken bones.

  “Is he truly dead?” Wyllea asked, nodding toward the shriveled form of the Blacklord. Davar went to investigate and when he returned he was nodding.

  “He’s nothing but dust now. His heart in my body was what sustained him. When that died, so did he.”

  “But if you’re still living, won’t he return?” Tirol asked, wary.

  Cassine answered, “No. He’s dead for good. Don’t ask how I know, but I know. Davar’s link to him was severed, his heart is his own now.”

  “Actually it’s all yours,” Davar said with a grin.

  “Let’s go home,” Senia said.

  “A fine idea, everyone take hands.” Cass, still feeling strong in her abilities, teleported them back to St. Antin.

  Epilogue

  Emberthorn lit the room with a faint blue, flickering light.

  Senia lay in Ahrn’s arms, head on his chest, a glistening sheen on her skin from their exertions not so long ago.

  It had been several months since the Blacklord’s defeat and Cass had recently delivered her child. The baby was a girl. To thank the Gods for their miraculous survival and defeat of the Blacklord, the babe was named for the highest of the Gods, the Vanished God, Aehryn of all things.

  Senia and Ahrn had been there for the naming ceremony earlier that week. Seeing the precious little girl had sparked new feelings within Senia.

  “I stopped taking those herbs from the Daughters of Ehlani,” she said softly into the quiet of the moment. Ahrn deserved to know, even if it was after the fact.

  “What’s that? Which herbs?” he asked, he might have been dozing slightly.

  “The ones which kept me from conceiving children.”

  “Oh,” he said evenly, then a moment later a more alert, more questioning, “Oh?”

  Senia levered herself up, elbows on his chest, so she could look him in the eye. “I love you Ahrn, and the war is over. I think I want something more now.”

  “A family?” there was a faint smile on his lips as he spoke the word.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve seen this happen before you know.” His tone was mock serious. “One woman has a child and all the other girls of the same age in the village want one too.” He laughed a little and she joined him. After a moment, he spoke again. “But in all seriousness, are you sure this is what you want?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Is it what you want?”

  He smiled. “A family had never really been part of my plans. But then, neither were you, or a war, or most of this. I may need a little time, but… I love you and would love a family with you.”

  “Good.” She leaned down to kiss him. Then speaking close, knowing her breath would be hot on his skin, she said, “Because I don’t want to wait too long.”

  He grinned. “The child might take some getting used to, but the making of a child part, that I’m fully up for.”

  They shared a laugh before losing themselves in passion.

  “A child? Really? Me? Not right now. Why? Do you want one?” Wyllea paused in her dressing, wondering where Tirol’s question had come from. Was this because of Cass and Davar’s kid’s naming ceremony not long ago?

  Personally, she hadn’t thought much about it.

  Ti
rol shrugged, still lounging on the bed. “I might. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

  “We’ve still got lots of time, no need to rush things,” she said. She finished putting on her clothes and returned to Tirol. “You’ve seemed a bit restless lately. Is everything well?” She tried as much as possible not to intrude on his thoughts unbidden, no matter how curious she was.

  He sighed deeply, gaze going off to stare at the ceiling. “Wyllea, how long are we going to stay here?”

  “At the Abbey?”

  “Yes. The war is over, neither of us is really needed, and…”

  “Are you getting restless?”

  “Maybe a little.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  He shrugged. “I’m not quite sure. But there’s a lot of world out there. Other people we could help. Other places we could see.”

  She considered this.

  After a moment she laughed. “You know, this is the longest I’ve stayed in one place in all of my life. Perhaps it’s time for a change.” Another thought came to her. “Though I get the feeling the monks will want me to visit from time to time. I’m special. I don’t think they’re done studying me yet. But I think I could convince them to let me go on a few… excursions.” She shrugged as she rose. “Besides, Cass can always find me and teleport me home if need be.”

  “Home?” he asked.

  She looked at him questioningly for a moment.

  “You said, ‘teleport you home.’ Do you think of this as home?”

  She smiled slowly. “I think I do, sort of. But that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to wander a bit.”

  He smiled. “Good.”

  Master Elia once again waited in the High Abbot’s chambers, not knowing why she’d been summoned.

  The High Abbot believed Cass and Davar’s child would be special, being the daughter of two multi-talents, and had asked to see the child. She'd asked Master Elia to be there when she did.

  So here she was, sitting in one of the large chairs by the fire, waiting.

  Davar and Cassine arrived, both glowing with joy at the bundle she carried. Though in the case of Cassine, the term glowing seemed literal. Master Elia could swear that Cassine’s skin was actually slightly luminescent, radiant.