She was beaming, and her radiant smile was the last thing he saw before she flitted away. He lingered in the garden as he watched her go, fantasizing about their first night camping together. They would need a good head start before sunrise, but they also had to slip away unnoticed, a factor that made him have second thougts about his idea to steal a horse from the stable. It would be noisy. Sytravious thought of his own horse, which was back at home. It was fast and strong, perfect for the trip. Perhaps he could get to it first, and then return for Raiven.
He scaled a nearby tree to get a view of the mid-district, and then scanned the city, seeing most of the lights were burned out as the city slept. He could grab his horse, and disappear before his parents noticed. Sytravious vowed he would return one day to find them, and explain what he had done, but tonight was about him and Raiven.
Just as he started climbing down the branches, a series of small explosions lit up the evening sky. He discerned the area as mid-district, and his heart sank when he saw black flames devouring homes and shops. He gaped in horror as smoke rose from his old home. Shouts from the city guard ensued at the sight of the occurrence. Sytravious fought his conscience on what to do next. He could go back for the priestess, ignore whatever mess his mother was causing this time, and begin his new life with Raiven. Alternatively, he could rush to his parents’ aid, and rescue them from whatever danger they had come across. He frowned at the fires burning in the distance, and then looked back at the temple tower where he expected Raiven to be, and cursed his misfortune.
The speed and stealth in his movements was no match for the city soldiers. As he raced towards the commotion, his VanDrake blood flowed hot in his veins. Sytravious knew he was well ahead of any first responders that were sent to the scene.
Chapter 24
The Fallen
The mid-district burned as black infernos consumed each structure they encountered. Townsfolk were screaming and scurrying to escape the enchanted firestorm. No amount of water could tame the conflagration, leaving the city guards to put forth their effort into evacuating the citizens until the temple priests and priestesses could be summoned. The flames were not the only chaos that everyone scrambled away from, as a deadly magical clash was taking place in the streets.
Sytravious had reached his home, only to find it destroyed by black flames. Though the sight saddened him, he was at least grateful there was no sign of his parents having been inside. When the city guard arrived to the site, they paid him no mind. His guardian attire gave him an excuse to be there and he was able to slip away with ease so that he may continue the frantic search for Nyxseous and Nysight.
He followed a trail of corpses all the way into the slums. Some of the citizens had fallen victim to spells or arrows, but when he took a closer look, he noticed most of them were Moruz legionnaires. Their attire and branded marks on the forearms resembled that of the men from the Foxfire Woods. They had to be from the First Legion. Sytravious found himself actually praying to the gods for his parents’ well-being, as he dashed toward the sounds of clanging steel.
Not far from the Trapper House is where he caught up with two archers firing their arrows at Nyxseous, while a warlock engaged her in a fierce duel. Sytravious bolted to join the fight, setting his sights on the archers first. The two men were unaware that he was approaching as he ran towards them, and they were both annihilated by his magic a few moments later. He scanned the area for his stepfather after, but he did not locate Nysight, so he fixed his sights on his mother.
She was covered in blood from several open gashes, and her skin was a pallid complexion. Nyxseous was fending off the attacks of the tenacious warlock with Griever, which she had lit with the black flame. His mother looked far too weak to last much longer in the duel. The green light that the warlock formed atop his scepter appeared dominant. Being able to feel the warlock’s power from afar, Sytravious knew he would be a superior match against the enemy, but not with his bare hands alone. He had to retrieve Griever from her.
Sytravious ran past several fleeing residents, letting his arms flare up with the VanDrake flames as he concentrated on the next green ball of light forming on the warlock’s scepter. He created his own fireball to intercept the path of the enemy’s attack on Nyxseous. Sytravious’ spell launched at the precise moment that the green light fired from the scepter, and the two collided halfway to Nyxseous’ position, creating a spectacular explosion. Through the eruption, he managed to sprint to his mother’s side. When their gazes met, tears welled up in Nyxseous’ eyes and she collapsed into his arms.
“Is it really you, my son?” She whispered, “You have come back to me in my darkest hour.”
He was careful as he lowered her to the ground. Sytravious studied her wounds and understood her condition was worse than he anticipated. He was holding back his emotions. Dark blood oozed from her nose and ears, and blackened veins snaked across her skin, originating from a nasty shoulder wound. He realized she had been poisoned, and the time to save her was fading.
“Do not speak mother, save your strength.”
“My strength expired a long time ago. I only continued to fight in hopes that I would see you once more, so you may hear the truth you always deserved.”
Sytravious balled his fists, and clenched his jaw in rage when he spotted the warlock emerging from the wreckage of the explosion. He studied the strange man, who was now gawking at him in shock.
“He is Saliz, a deadly adversary for any who cross his path, and Fheng’s personal henchman. Tread carefully son, and extinguish his life once and for all.”
Sytravious kept his gaze locked on his enemy. He picked up Griever from the ground and the power of the halberd responded to his grip.
Saliz stood his ground, held up his scepter in a defensive position, and squinted his eyes. “Byronicus? It cannot be.”
Sytravious let his energy flow from his arms into Griever until the entire weapon was engulfed in a massive eruption of power. His control of the VanDrake magic dwarfed that of his mother’s, causing Saliz to take a precautious step back. The area was abandoned which meant the two men could square off in private.
“I am not Byronicus. I am Sytravious, son of Nyxseous and the rightful heir to House VanDrake!”
He rushed at Saliz, swinging the flaming blade with frightening speed. The warlock jumped back and attempted to flee as soon as another swipe of Sytravious’ weapon hunted him down. Sytravious, however, had no plans to allow the warlock to escape his wrath. With a wild swing of the halberd, he shot out a wide ring of fire around them, entrapping them both. Saliz twisted around to face him.
“You made a fatal error coming here tonight, Saliz. I fear your Lord has doomed you to an early demise because your life ends here.”
Saliz laughed and jabbed his finger at him. “If you are the heir to House VanDrake, why would you defend Nyxseous? Do you not know she betrayed her own bloodline?”
“Her fate is not for you to decide. Neither you or Fheng have any authority here, a message he will soon receive.” Sytravious walked toward his opponent, while the many lessons his mother had taught him flashed through his mind. He recalled his hesitation with Jamison, and the fallout of that mistake. If he had just embraced who he was meant to be, then this attack may have never happened. He thought of his mother’s impending death, the unknown fate of Nysight, and the reality that he was squandering any chance he had with Raiven, and it sent him over the edge.
Anger built up in his heart and fueled his power further as he slashed his weapon at Saliz. The warlock threw up his scepter to block the crushing attack and a dazzling green light surrounded them and was joined by Sytravious’ ominous flames. Then the halberd stabbed into Saliz’s orb, setting off a series of burning white flashes that fragmented over both warlocks. The magic hissed as it made contact with him, but Sytravious ignored any agony he felt and pressed on.
“Wait! Not yet; not like this!” Saliz shouted.
The warlock’s strength was wani
ng, as his arms trembled under the weight of Sytravious’ final attack. Saliz tried one last desperate counter attack, but the attempt was futile. His body caved under the pressure of the black flame Sytravious wielded, and Saliz’ screams filled the night as the blade burned its way into his chest, incinerating his flesh and bones in the process. The scepter fell and exploded into green dust moments later. He stared at the scorched corpse at his feet. An unsatisfied rage still burned in his heart.
He ran back to his mother’s side, and gasped at the sight of her. Nyxseous’ condition was declining with each passing moment. The shouts of soldiers were not too far behind. Sytravious secured the weapon to his back, and picked up his mother. He held her close to his body as he ran away from the scene.
When he reached the safety of a back alley, he placed her on the ground and cradled her face to see if she was still alive. In response, she opened her ice blue eyes.
“Is it done? Have you defeated Saliz?” she asked.
“He is dead, but you will be, too, if we do not find an antidote. What can I get for you? What ingredients do you need?” His voice trembled even though he was trying to be brave for her.
Nyxseous wheezed and shook her head. She reached into her pocket, before grabbing his hand and placing her treasured amulet into his palm. She closed his fist around it and pushed it into his chest firmly. “It is too late for me, but you must take this. Promise me to always wear it, never take it off.”
Sytravious held the amulet, and looked back at Nyxseous with fear and panic. It could not be too late. He had defeated Saliz and saved her. How could this be happening?
“No, I will run back to the house! Maybe I can find Rosewood, or something else that might cure you. Do not give up, mother. Fight it!”
Nyxseous used the little strength she had left to strike Sytravious across the face. He was appalled and gaped at her while holding his cheek where it stung. She grabbed him by the collar and brought her face close to his. “Always stubborn, up to the very last moment, but I need you to stop and listen to me now because your life and future depend on it!”
Sytravious remained silent, and heeded his mother’s words for once. He tried to discount the terror that grew within the pit of his stomach and prepared to memorize every word she spoke. He knew it would be the last time he would ever hear her voice.
“That amulet has a potent protection charm on it, especially crafted for you, Sytravious. I have been working on it since the moment you were brought into this world.” Her skin had started turning gray as she continued to speak. “Now that you know how I betrayed my father, I need you to know why. My father always wanted a son to be his heir, and was going to take a new wife. I feared she might provide that son for him, and I would become a lost thought in the VanDrake house. Back then, Fheng was a young ambitious man who convinced me of his love, and I fell into his lies all too easily.”
“Within months, we formulated a plan to take over the kingdom ourselves, as the eventual Queen and King of Moruz. I wish that was the worst of my sins, but it is not so. After Fheng seized control of the kingdom, by way of my father’s death, he was supposed to wed me. Little did I know, he never intended on going through with the marriage. I was just a pawn in his scheme for control and I never saw it coming. He turned on me when news of a child growing in my womb reached him. He knew our baby would never be viewed as his, but as the next VanDrake in line for the throne, instead. So one night he summoned me, with the sole purpose of killing my unborn son, and me. However, you and I survived, so I fled to the only place that I could think of to find the miracle needed to save us. I wanted for us to be able to live another day so we may seek revenge.”
Hearing her tale made him feel as if the air had been sucked out from his lungs. The idea that Fheng was his biological father sickened him, and he wished she had never disclosed that information.
“Deep within the pits of Mount Oblis, I located the jinn’s lair. I, Nyxseous VanDrake, was the first and only one to have ever walked into that tomb and stand face-to-face with the beast. I left unscathed, but with a terrible blood oath sealed between woman and jinn. I am ashamed of what I did that night, for it sealed your fate well before you even had a chance to live. Oblis spared our lives under the condition that your soul would be sworn to him the day you kill Fheng. I, then, fled Moruz when I realized the folly of such an oath. That is why I have prepared you to be the best VanDrake to have ever lived. Now, take this amulet. It will protect you from Oblis. I have to believe that.”
Her eyelids sagged, a sign that death was claiming her. “Son, I fear your destiny to battle Fheng will occur no matter how far you run. Oblis will see to it. However, do not be like me, face him. No more running. We have spent twenty years fleeing and enough is enough. Fheng has single-handedly ruined our lives, and will continue to taint the VanDrake name as long as he sits on our throne. Kill him, Sytravious! Avenge your family. It is the only way to ever be at peace again.”
Sytravious sat by her side, feeling numb. It was as if his life was never his to live, and his fate had been decided all along. How foolish he had been to believe he could be happy with Raiven or anyone! The curse on his future was finalized the moment his grandfather was murdered and the blood oath was sealed. Nevertheless, he refused to give up.
“I will kill them all, mother. I cannot promise you anything else, but I will swear on that. The ones who did this to us, they will suffer, all of them. Be at peace now, leave everything to me.”
“If you intend on enduring this course of revenge then there is one last thing you must do, something you will try to defy me on, but you must do it!” Her lips were caked with blood, the slow rise and fall of her chest was the only sign that she was still hanging on. Her last request came out as a soft murmur in his ear. His eyes widened in disbelief.
He tried to pull away from her grasp, but she held firmly and continued to whisper the command. Her words were too much for him to handle. His body went limp and hot tears flowed. He sunk his head into her chest and sobbed.
“You have to do it. I am sorry, son.” Nyxseous coughed up blood, which covered her chin and neck in the hot liquid.
He squeezed her hand and rested his forehead against hers. She squeezed back, but her grip slowly loosened as her strength faded.
“When you see your father again, tell him I am sorry, and I am always with him - here.” She placed her hand on Sytravious’ heart.
“After everything Fheng has done to you, you still love him?” He could not hide his contempt.
Nyxseous shook her head, and managed a small smile. “No; your true father, Nysight.” Her eyes glazed over, and her last tears dropped down her cheeks.
Raiven sat behind the royal stables and hugged her knees to her chest. She was getting anxious since it had been just over an hour, yet Sytravious was not there to meet her. Then to make matters worse, there was a massive distress signal going on in the city. She overheard the elite guard was going to be dispatched to the mid and lower districts. If Raiven had understood correctly, then the city was under attack by Moruz legionnaires. She needed to escape in the commotion, before anyone discovered she was missing from her chambers.
She had taken some measures to hide the fact that she was gone by leaving a lump of clothes under her blankets in an attempt to appear as if she was still sleeping. She also left her nightgown hanging on her bedpost, in hopes that anyone who checked on her would be hesitant to remove her covers. However, with the city on high alert, it was only a matter of time before they tried to wake her to be moved to a secure area. Raiven glanced around the corner of the stable, searching left and right for her love, but he was still nowhere to be seen. Where was he?
She jumped back and held her breath when she heard the sounds of boots rushing past the stables. Raiven could tell it was the guardian patrol yelling out to someone at the gate. The shouts were inaudible, but it sounded like an order to halt. She wondered who would dare try to enter the temple so late with the city under
attack. Then at that moment, the sounds stopped and were replaced with silence.
Raiven strained to listen for the guardians, but it appeared as if they had left. Panic rose in her throat and her heart pounded faster. Daring one more peek, she poked her head around the corner ever so carefully, and stared down the path leading to the gate. There he was, walking towards her, but Sytravious looked much different from when she had last seen him. He was covered in dirt or blood. She could not tell.
She gasped and rushed out to meet him. Sytravious glanced up and waited for her to reach him, before falling into her arms and embracing her. Raiven could feel his heart racing. She held him out at an arm’s length and realized it was blood all over his clothes, but before she could cry out, Sytravious placed his hand over her mouth and directed her back behind the stables. Raiven was terrified, but followed his lead. When she eyed him once more, she realized he did not have his bag packed, and her stomach felt as if it dropped.
She whispered, unable to hide the distress in her voice. “My love, what is wrong? Where is your bag? Why are you covered in blood? What happened to you?”
He ignored her barrage of questions and said, “Are you prepared to leave? Our window of opportunity is small. It will not be long until they arrive here.”
She was confused, but nodded her head and held up her bag full of her belongings. Sytravious seemed relieved to see she was indeed ready, and returned to scanning the area around the temple and the gate.
“You have not answered me. What is happening out there? Were you involved in the attack? Why have the other guardians not joined the fight?” Raiven blurted out, without giving him a chance to reply.
Sytravious held his finger to his lips, instructing her to remain quiet. Tears filled his sad eyes, as he struggled to get the words out, and when she saw his reaction, she knew it had to be bad, and her loving instinct made her throw her arms around him. He accepted her comfort and clung to her robes tightly.
Sytravious: The Lost Warlock Of Moruz (The Oathbreaker Book 1) Page 24
