Clamose softened. “You did the right thing.”
“I’m not a leader. Whatever you were doing before this began is what you should be doing,” Kaliel said, wiping the tears off her cheeks.
Clamose nodded. “Then I will return to Nimphalls.”
Kaliel frowned. “Nimphalls?”
“Yes, I’ve been there for many years.”
“Did you say something about the witches?”
Clamose chuckled softly but it wasn’t filled with humor. “Yes, the cursed ones. Do you know them?”
Kaliel glanced over her shoulder. Kazza and Kuruny were staring disdainfully at the crowd. “They were on Avristar.”
Clamose took a deep breath. “I don’t trust them, and neither should you.” His eyes seemed darker when he said it and his hands turned to fists.
“I’ve never trusted them.” Kaliel cast a glare in their direction.
• • •
There wasn’t a place on Terra far enough away from Elwen. Krishani burst through the hall doors and into the quiet evening air. It was so silent outside it caught him off guard, and it was hard to believe the sun was already going down. He turned left on the dirt road and wound around the castle towards the stables. He wanted to see if Tyr was okay after his run-in with the thieves on Amaltheia. That was something else making him angry—Elwen lied to the villagers. Keeping Kaliel a secret was for the best, but it was unnerving how easy it was for him. Adoron would have blanched. It was impossible for a Child of Avristar to lie, not when they’d been asked a direct question. The truth was the truth, whether anyone liked to hear it or not.
Krishani pushed the wide wooden door open with his right hand and recoiled at the reminder of the disease. He drew a sharp breath thankful that Kaliel hadn’t noticed and strode into the stables.
Shimma stood beside one of the stalls, running her hands along the nose of a brown mare. She flinched like she had been scared right out of her skin. Her hands fell from the horse and her gaze dropped, her cheeks turning a bright pink.
Krishani stopped and glanced at the mare.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, taking steps away from him.
Krishani looked at her. It was much easier to be in the stables surrounded by horses and Shimma than it was to be around Elwen and his scrutinizing gaze. He would have taken Kaliel with him to show her around but Clamose looked like he had something important to say. Kaliel didn’t have the chance to meet any of her kin before, and he didn’t want to keep her to himself all the time. “I came to see if Tyr was okay.”
Shimma snorted and crossed her arms. “Not with Kaliel here,” she bolstered. Her blue eyes found his and he gulped, turning away. There was something awkward about Shimma that he couldn’t place.
“She’s fine. Clamose is with her.” He moved towards Tyr. Krishani hadn’t realized how white Tyr was. After a bath his fur was bright with gray spots along his hind.
Shimma glowered. “Does she know you’re out here?”
Krishani raised an eyebrow. “She saw me leave.”
Shimma blushed and tried to hide it by looking at Tyr. “Well the horse is fine. I already checked and the bruises are healing.”
Krishani glanced at Tyr’s underside and then turned back to Shimma. He was actually happy she was there. He wasn’t sure he could talk to anyone else about the issue he was having with the disease. “Could I ask you something?” She gave him a look that could kill and he tugged at the hem of his tunic, pulling it over his head. He held it in his left hand and glanced at his arm.
Shimma coughed. “I really don’t think you should be taking your clothes off in front of me,” she forced out while trying to look at anything but him.
Krishani rolled his eyes. “I need you to check the stitches. And make sure the curse is receding.” He grimaced, not wanting to talk about their conversation before the battle or the other things she had seen. It was enough that she knew what he went through and was still willing to help.
Shimma cleared her features of shock and carefully approached him. Closer up she smelled a bit like chicken, hay and horse manure. He tried not to let on that despite their new found friendship he was wary of her loyalty. She put her fingers along the little scar and nodded. “I have some supplies inside. I should take the stitches out.” She sounded like it was all business. “Before I leave.”
“You’re leaving?”
She gave him a sympathetic smile. “I never stay where I’m not welcome.”
“But you are welcomed here. Elwen isn’t going to exile you,” Krishani rebutted. He laughed out loud and then shut his mouth when Shimma scowled. The thought of Elwen sending anyone anywhere against their will was funny. He turned his palm face up and inspected it himself. The disease had drained from his shoulder and forearm but was curled around his wrist and laced through his fingers. “There isn’t more of it anywhere is there?” He turned in a slow circle so she could see his back.
She crossed her arms and smirked. “I can’t really tell. It’s not like you took everything off.” There was a sarcastic edge to her voice that caught Krishani off guard. It was his turn to cough. “Because this isn’t scandalous enough,” she finished.
Krishani was speechless. He turned the tunic in his hands and slipped it over his head. He didn’t know what was up with Shimma; she was acting like Kaliel would be jealous. He knew Kaliel well enough, and the idea was ridiculous. He shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m sure you’ve seen shirtless men before.”
“And naked too,” she mumbled. She moved towards the mare. Krishani wanted to find out what was wrong with her but didn’t know how to ask. He stood there in silence for a long time. “At least you don’t want to be a Vulture anymore,” she said, not looking at him.
“No.” But he didn’t want to be a Ferryman either, and he wanted to go home to Avristar but he couldn’t. He hadn’t told Kaliel he had been exiled. “Where are you going?”
“Not here, not Nimphalls. I need to be alone to think some things through,” she said, still avoiding eye contact. She began whispering to the horse in incomprehensible coos and Krishani moved to the stable gates. He turned back when he reached the doorframe.
“Don’t tell Kaliel—” He stopped, a flurry of thoughts and images clouding his mind. He didn’t know how to end the sentence properly. Shimma raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell her anything,” he finished. He went to escape but he couldn’t help hearing the last thing Shimma said before he was out of earshot.
“Yeah, don’t tell her the truth.”
* * *
8 - The Golden Box
Krishani rounded the castle finding Klavotesi and Elwen standing off to the side behind one of the cabins. In the growing dark, shadows from torch lights flickered across Elwen’s face. They seemed to be in a heated discussion. Klavotesi had the golden box, and the fabric of his cloak draped over the sides of it.
Krishani’s heart stuttered as he thought of Kaliel and the other Flames and wondered what was in the box since she had a body of her own. He neared them, a reproving scowl on his face. Klavotesi turned to Krishani, followed by Elwen who made an about face and ran his hands along his brown robes like he was trying to show his authority.
“Krishani,” Elwen said.
Krishani raised an eyebrow, his eyes falling on the box. “Elwen.”
Klavotesi glanced at Elwen. “Regardless of your wishes, it isn’t safe to keep them here.” He continued as though it didn’t matter if Krishani heard him or not.
Elwen focused on Krishani when he spoke. “They might be of use to us if another attack comes.”
Klavotesi let out an impatient guffaw and almost growled. “How many times must I tell you there will not be another attack? Not while the Ferryman remains.”
Krishani recognized the tone as the one Klavotesi used when he was told he was wrong. It made him feel queasy to think about the strength of the Obsidian Flame. Klavotesi had the skill and indifference to eliminate those who threatened his authority. Besi
des that, Klavotesi was all-seeing, and his abilities were beyond sharp. When Kaliel saw things it was poetic. When Klavotesi saw things it was indisputable. The Flame took pride in his infallibility.
Elwen set his jaw. “I do not want to call Tor here,” he hissed.
Krishani tensed at the mention of the High King. “Why do you need him?”
Klavotesi sighed and opened the box, showering the sky with streaks of indigo, yellow, red, green, and pink. Krishani understood. Klavotesi wanted to give the Flames to the High King. He shut the box a second later and spoke. “The fate of the Flames rests with this imbecile.”
“Haven’t you told him how dangerous it is for two Flames to be in the same place? Let alone side by side in that box?” Krishani remembered the way Klavotesi recoiled from Tiki. It seemed odd watching him hold a box of Flames so calmly.
“I can guide a King but I cannot force his hand.” Klavotesi sighed, a tinge of bored disappointment lacing his tone.
Krishani coughed and brought a hand to cover his mouth. “What King?” He choked.
Elwen narrowed his eyes. “I am King.” Krishani smiled, pressing his lips together to stifle a bellowing laugh. “I thought it was a formality you could forgo calling me since you’re the Ferryman,” Elwen added.
Krishani stood, towering over Elwen, a sardonic smirk on his lips. He smoothed out his tunic and turned back to Klavotesi. “Is there no speaking to this fool of a King then?” He didn’t care if Elwen did anything rash or gaumless like hit him. He almost wanted it to happen, so he could show Elwen just what kind of Ferryman he was.
Elwen blanched.
Klavotesi was unreadable as usual. “I’m afraid it is fruitless. He is a greedy human who wants to keep these precious jewels for himself.”
“Even I knew it was safer for them in the Great Hall,” Krishani said, amused. He loved this too much. Elwen was wrong. “Is that why you didn’t like the idea of me killing them? You wanted the opportunity to capture and keep them?” His tone became noxious on the word capture. He tried to calm the storm of anger inside of him but it crashed over him like a tidal wave and he almost snapped.
Klavotesi stepped between Krishani and Elwen, turning to Elwen. “I can assure you we do not take the idea of possession lightly.”
Elwen tugged at the hem of his collar. He glanced at the steps of the hall as though he was contemplating an escape route. Diplomatically he abated. “I believe my better half is well suited to solve this dilemma. If you follow me, we will ask what Talina believes is the right course of action.” He stormed into the hall, past the drunken villagers and into the wings of the castle that stretched into another hallway. Krishani kept up, his feet dragging along the ground. He noticed Kaliel dancing with Pux and gave her a shy smile. She paused for a second and her eyes met his, a familiar knowing in them. She turned and laughed as Pux pulled her across the floor.
Elwen swept down the corridor and turned into Talina’s quarters. Krishani followed with Klavotesi on his heels. He stopped at the foot of the doorway. It was by far the largest room in the castle. A four-poster bed sat in the middle of the room, a wicker settee against the wall. There were cabinets, end tables, chests, and a wicker chair in the corner of the room. Talina was lounging on the bed when Elwen kissed her pale hand. She wore a long silk ivory night gown, her golden brown hair tumbling towards her lower back. She slid off the bed, placing her bare feet on the floor. Krishani hadn’t met her before but he was humbled. She was elven. Krishani bowed as she glided across the floor and took the box in her hands, opening it briefly to look at the contents. She closed it and looked at them with a peculiar expression playing on her lips.
“You seek to know what to do with these precious jewels,” she said, but it wasn’t a question. She set the box on top of a tall bureau. She spun and pressed her back into the bureau, waiting for them to speak.
“Your King is misguided, my lady. He wishes to keep the Flames for himself,” Klavotesi began.
Talina narrowed her eyes. “That shouldn’t be hard to remedy. Elwen, who do the Flames belong to?” She had a smile on her lips.
Elwen glared at the others. “They belong to Tor,” he grumbled. “I assumed we could keep them safe until he was able to return.”
Talina tilted her head to the ceiling like she was in deep thought. “Or we could bring them to the Great Hall ourselves.”
Elwen coughed. “I hardly think you should be opening vortexes, my lady. You need to keep your strength.”
Talina smiled. “Perhaps we should send the Ferryman to the Great Hall then.”
Krishani turned green at the thought. It was one thing to leave Kaliel again, but as far as he knew, Ferrymen weren’t permitted to enter the Great Hall, not until their successor gave their soul passage. He crossed the floor and sunk into the wicker chair beside the door. “I don’t want to go,” Krishani mumbled.
“I will take them wherever you wish, my lady,” Klavotesi interrupted.
She studied him and frowned. “You are a Flame. These should not even be so close to you now.” Klavotesi took a step back and pushed his sleeves together.
“I know.” His tone was grave.
Elwen paced in a small circle. “Well we cannot continue having this discussion.” He seemed vexed. Krishani studied him curiously, remembering something he had forgotten. He glanced at the box as ice poured into his veins. He closed his eyes and went back to Klavotesi opening the box. There were five Flames inside. His eyes shot open as the others continued mumbling around him about the best course of action.
Tiki wasn’t in the box.
“You still have one of them you traitor!” Krishani shouted jumping to his feet and pointing at Elwen. They stopped their endless yammering and stared at his disheveled appearance. Elwen looked like he had been caught with food stuck to his face and tried to wipe his features clean of the guilty expression.
“That’s preposterous. I have nothing. All of them are in the box I swear it,” he hissed in denial. He backed towards the end table as Krishani stalked him and patted down the robes. He didn’t like the idea of touching Elwen, but he remembered when Elwen switched Tiki for the puzzle box. The life drained from his features as he realized something else. Without thinking he gripped Elwen by the throat, his mismatched eyes boring into the brownish hazel ones of his ancestor.
“Crestaos is in that orb,” he growled. He spat at Elwen and hit the king in the eye. Elwen flailed, searching his own pockets for it. He fumbled, it fell on the floor and rolled. Klavotesi was the one who carefully picked it up, folding it into one of his sleeves. He cautiously approached Talina and dropped it in her hand as Krishani let go of Elwen and stalked to the door.
“I won’t let you bring him back so he can try to take her again,” Krishani said through gritted teeth. Crestaos had an insatiable hunger for Kaliel that made Krishani pulse with fear. Talina put the orb into the box and shut it. Klavotesi inched towards the door while Elwen wiped the spit off his face. Krishani seethed, his hands balling into fists at his side.
“Krishani relax,” Talina ordered softly. She pushed off the bureau and crossed the room, putting a hand on his shoulder. She fixed her gaze. “Crestaos will not return.” She had a knowing look in her eyes that made Krishani let out the breath he had been holding in. He nodded, refusing to sit.
“Then it is settled? I will call Tor and have him collect the box. He can do with the Flames what he sees fit,” Talina said it as though she was catching Krishani up on the part of the conversation he missed.
“I trust in your guidance, my lady,” Elwen said.
“As do I,” Klavotesi said. He swept out of the room, his robes billowing out from behind him as his shoes clacked along the hallway. Krishani turned to Talina who had sunk into the settee, looking pensive. He glanced at Elwen, unsure of their relationship to each other. Elwen glared at him but that was normal.
“I should get back to Kaliel,” he said, shaking his head to clear his disorientation and the remnants
of anger.
“Yes, you mustn’t deny your forbidden love for her,” Elwen sneered.
Krishani froze, unable to breathe. Something on the inside constricted the muscles in his throat and he fought to get enough air to speak. “You gave us your blessing.”
Elwen raised his eyebrows. “I did and I sincerely hope it works, but I doubt it will.”
Krishani tried to fight off the emotions pressing on him but it was hard to shake the feeling of dread. “If we had a proper chance to be together....”
“But you won’t. You will stay cooped up in my castle, committing your adulterated filth and you will think I condone it,” he continued, his tone smooth and calm.
“You don’t,” Krishani said, though it wasn’t a question.
“Haven’t you already taken her innocence?” Elwen asked.
Krishani turned red. He gulped and remembered Kaliel stripping off the black dress like she had been this way with him for so long that it was hard to think of it as wrong. “No.”
Elwen looked surprised. “I should tell you that there are tenets in my village. The villagers will expect you to be honorable, to court her, marry her, and not to steal her virtue before that happens.”
Krishani felt like he was falling. It hadn’t crossed his mind he could marry Kaliel. In Avristar it was forbidden. It wasn’t even something he could dream of or ask for or have no matter how much he wanted it. He was to marry the land and so was she. Yet Elwen threw it in his face like it was the right thing to do, like it wasn’t everything he had ever wanted.
“That is if you can keep her love,” Elwen interjected.
Krishani snapped back to attention and stared at him dumbfounded. “What do you mean by that?”
Elwen smirked. “I don’t think you can make it work.”
Krishani gritted his teeth. “I have to make it work. You know what will happen if I don’t.” He glanced at Talina for support but her face was a mask of worry.
“Perhaps it would be better for Krishani if he lived in the village, not in the castle,” she said.
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