Whispers of Heaven

by Krista Rose

  Alyxen and I finally managed to get the remains of my brother’s shirt off, and I gently washed the blood from his bite. The wound was deep, though it seemed to have missed the important arteries in his throat, or I guessed he would already be dead. As it was, the skin around it was beginning to turn black, like a bruise slowly spreading across his collarbone and down his chest.

  Grandfather sniffed the wound, and hissed through his teeth. “Poison.” His eyes were furious. “I hate poison.” Then he looked up at me. “We have to drain it.”

  The front door opened, and Brannyn staggered inside, held up by Tanner. His shirt had been ripped to shreds over his chain mail, and a large, dark bruised decorated his forehead. His eyes were glassy and unfocused as he looked at me. “Reyce?”

  “Still alive,” Grandfather told him, handing me a bottle of alcohol. He pointed for Alyxen to hold Reyce down, and turned to examine Brannyn.

  Even in sleep, Reyce screamed when the alcohol hit his wound. I bit my lip until I tasted blood, trying to drain some of the pain, but my gift couldn’t seem to touch his agony. The poison continued to spread, very slowly, toward his heart.

  “You have a concussion,” Grandfather said, and I looked up as he pointed Tanner toward the back of the house. “Have him lie down before he falls down. He’ll be alright in a day or two, but he shouldn’t sleep for several hours.”

  Tanner nodded, and carried him into the bedroom.

  Grandfather turned back to Reyce, and frowned. “We need Atargatis, but I don’t know where we can get any in time.” He handed me a vial of violet liquid, his eyes somber. “We’re going to have to do this the hard way.”

  I poured the liquid into my brother’s mouth as Alyxen held his head, massaging his throat until he swallowed. We waited, breathless.

  Reyce choked, sputtering, but the potion had no effect.

  Grandfather sighed. “I hate the hard way,” he muttered, and turned to rummage through his remaining potions.

  KYLEE

  Grandfather isn’t going to be able to save him, is he? I looked at Kryssa, too afraid to say the words aloud. He’s going to die.

  No. Kryssa’s jaw set stubbornly. He’s not. I won’t allow it.

  I started laughing, though it felt hysterical and shrill. Lanya glared at me in disapproval. You can’t stop death, Kryssa.

  You want me to give up? She glared. I won’t. I’ve worked too hard to keep our family together, sacrificed too much already for Gods who don’t give a damn. I won’t sacrifice Reyce, too.

  I shook my head. A moret’ethla’s bite is almost always fatal, Kryssa. Vanderys says- I stopped, my eyes widening. “That’s it,” I said aloud, and stared at her. “I know what to do.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  I scrambled to my feet. “Come on, Kryssa. We have to get Vanderys.”

  She frowned, then looked at Reyce, her eyes torn with indecision. At last she stood, and followed me back into the night, running beside me as we hurried to the stable behind our apartment.

  Nightking whinnied in fear as we approached, and I drew to a stop, holding up my hands. “Whoa, it’s alright. It’s just me.”

  “Skylily?” He snorted, glaring at me balefully. “Why do you smell of death?”

  I thought of the Vampyre that had fallen on me, and shook my head. “It’s a long story. I need to get to Vanderys.”

  “It’s dark, Skylily. I will not be able to see the road.”

  The thought of my lightning made my head ache again, but I ignored it. “I’ll handle it.”

  “I will handle it,” Kryssa corrected, and slipped out into the market as I began to saddle Nightking.

  She returned a moment later with one of the hanging street lanterns, running inside the apartment to fetch matches to light it. She walked back into the stable and picked up the pitchfork I used for mucking, hanging the lantern from it and tying it into place with a bit of twine. “What do you think?”

  “He still won’t be able to go very fast,” I said dubiously.

  “How fast do you think he’ll go when you faint again from using the lightning?”

  “Point taken.” I shrugged, and finished saddling him. “Let’s go.”

  We mounted, and I braced the makeshift lantern in the stirrup by my foot, holding it with one hand while Kryssa clutched my waist from behind. It wasn’t a comfortable arrangement, but Nightking ignored it as we headed out of town.

  It grew darker when we reached the outskirts of Fallor, the night pressing in around our weak light. I kept the stallion at a cautious trot; despite the urgency, I could not risk breaking one of his legs. The stars spun in the sky, cold and bright and uncaring as we passed beneath them.

  At last we neared the copse. I handed Kryssa the pitchfork and dismounted carefully, leading her and Nightking through the trees to the hidden campsite.

  Vanderys was sitting beside the fire, staring up at the sky with a thoughtful expression on his face. “The stars are very strange tonight, lyssen,” he said without looking at me. “Tell me, do you know what they mean?”

  “Reyce has been attacked,” I told him bluntly. “By the moret’ethla. He’s been bitten.”

  That got his attention. He came to his feet in one swift movement, his gaze intense on my face. “Your brother? The youngest?”

  I swallowed, thinking of Reyce’s pale face. “Yes.”

  He turned and began to break down his camp. “Tell me.”

  I did, moving to help saddle his white mare as he packed his bags and rolled up his tent. Kryssa watched silently from Nightking’s back, her eyes guarded.

  My words finally ran out just as he tied the last of his bags to the mare’s saddle; except for the campfire, which he kicked dirt into to extinguish, there was no sign that he had ever been in the clearing.

  “You have done a great service for me, lyssen, in hunting the moret’ethla. It is my failure to find the nest that has endangered your family.” His eyes were dark and somber. “I will do what I can to save your brother, and I pray to Diona that it will be enough.”

  I swallowed, unable to speak, and nodded. We took the reins of our horses, and I followed him from the clearing.

  KRYSSA

  9 Davael 578A.F.

  Dawn was leaking across the sky when we returned to Fallor, the light staining the morning mist a rosy pink. The air was soft and warm, flowers bobbing their heads at us as we passed their small, neat beds, tucked amid the houses. Birds chattered, waking with the day.

  I wanted to scream. The beauty of the world somehow seemed a mockery after the tragedy of the night.

  The sound of our horses’ hooves echoed loudly in the quiet as we approached the house on Tarrow Street. Vanderys dismounted gracefully as Kylee and I half-fell from Nightking’s back, our exhaustion making us stiff and sore. We hurried up the steps, and opened the door.

  Vanderys wasted no time, immediately approaching Reyce to inspect the damage.

  Grandfather glanced up at him, relief easing the tension in his shoulders. “Cedrani! Thank the Gods and all that’s holy. Do you have any Atargatis?”

  “No.” He shook his head, still staring at my brother with his strange, violet eyes. “I do not, Domme. But there is much of it in the storerooms of my people.”

  “Cedralysone?” Grandfather guessed, then shook his head when the other man nodded. “You’ll never make it in time. He’s only got a few more hours before the poison reaches his heart.”

  “Who are you?” Alyxen asked, confused. “Do you know him, Grandfather?”

  “I am Vanderys,” the Cedrani replied calmly, peeling back Reyce’s bandages to peer at the full extent of the wound. “I am a Valariel of Cedralysone, and your sisters have asked for my help to save your brother. Since there is an honor-debt owed for the deaths of the moret’ethla, I am here to fulfill that request.”

  Alyxen blinked, and looked at me. What?

  He’s here to save Reyce because Kylee killed two Vampyres, I explained. We�
�ll tell you the rest later.

  Alright.

  Vanderys straightened, and glanced at our grandfather. “Do you have any narcet? Or bitterdust, perhaps? Either will work for this.”

  He nodded, and began searching through the bottom of his chest.

  Lanya choked. “But- but those are poisons! They’ll kill him! How can you-”

  “Hush, Lanya,” Grandfather murmured. “It’ll be alright.” He pulled a small vial of murky, blackish liquid from the chest, and handed it to the Cedrani. “Here. Narcet.”

  Vanderys nodded. “Hold him.”

  The rest of us held our breath as Alyxen tilted Reyce’s head back and held his mouth open. The Cedrani carefully tipped two drops from the vial into our brother’s mouth, then recorked it.

  Reyce jerked once, violently, and went still. His chest fell, and didn’t rise again.

  “You- you killed him,” I whispered, my eyes widening in horror.

  “No.” Vanderys calmly tucked the vial into the pocket of his cloak. “It is only the appearance of death. Narcet slows the heart, so the poison will not spread as quickly. It will give me the time I need to reach Cedralysone. Atargatis will cure two poisons as easily as one.”

  I gulped, staring at him, feeling lost and afraid. “Ce-Cedralysone? Where-?”

  “Kylee knows.” He looked at her. “Do you remember what I told you, lyssen? How to find the Madyrim?”

  She nodded, her eyes bruised. “Yes, Vanderys.”

  “Good.” He gestured, and Grandfather lifted Reyce like a child against his broad chest before following the Cedrani outside. I wandered after them, dazed, and the others trailed behind me into the misty morning. The Cedrani swung into the saddle of his white horse, and our grandfather handed my brother up to him, positioning his limp body across the horse’s neck.

  Vanderys looked down at us, his violet eyes unreadable, and bowed slightly. “D’aur lysen len Vi.”

  Grandfather returned his bow. “Dyslan ne Dione idramor Vi.”

  Vanderys wheeled his horse without another word, and headed down the road at a gallop. I watched as the morning mist swirled around his legs, my head light and my heart heavy, and wondered if I would ever see Reyce alive again.

  Then they rounded a corner, and were gone.

  CAST

  in order of appearance

  THE ROSE FAMILY

  Malachi Rose – father of the Rose children

  Adelie Moonsdaughter – mother of the Rose children

  Kryssa – Wild Rose, eldest

  Brannyn – Of the Blood

  Lanya – The Golden One

  Kylee – Skylily, Alyxen’s twin

  Alyxen – Iron King, Kylee’s twin

  Reyce – Glory, youngest

  DESPERATION

  Janis – a woman in the village

  The Crone – the village healer

  Longmire – a farmer

  Therese, Emmis Lonisdaughter, Tellis, Ellisa, Malik – villagers

  Allis and Demson Stroud – Vitric’s parents

  Vitric – a boy in the village

  CAMP OF THE DARKLING PRINCE

  Marla – a woman on the rescue team

  Tanner, Rigger, Digger, Breaker – men on the retrieval teams

  Thellin – an old man who serves as a decoy for the Camp

  Hamund – the Darkling Prince

  Bryonis – a healer

  Han – Hamund’s younger brother, deceased

  Tomlin – a guard

  TEMPLE OF VANAE

  Melore – a priestess of the Temple

  Nephele – High Priestess of Vanae

  Eilon, Iselin – initiates of the Temple

  Alailia – a priestess of the Temple

  FALLOR

  Hamar – an apothecary

  Jenek – Hamar’s former assistant

  Eloise – an incense-maker

  Kerrell, Madame Brienne – townsfolk

  Darli – a flower merchant

  Tamasine – High Priestess of the Temple of All Gods

  Chanach – Captain of the Guard

  Baedon Errit – a guard, Chanach’s nephew

  Sennett – a librarian, Eloise’s father

  Kinner – a merchant

  Herrill – a farmer

  Terral – Lanya’s assistant

  Staell – a craftsman

  THE ROSE FAMILY (EXTENDED)

  Yara Moon – Adelie’s mother, deceased

  Garyl Moon – Adelie’s father

  Elias Rose – a guard, cousin

  Jaryd and Ester – parents of Elias

  Mychael – an uncle, Malachi’s older brother

  Gavor Rose – a Knight of Valory, patriarch of the Rose family, deceased

  Victoire – Gavor’s wife, deceased

  Felice, Greagor, Irvin, Breccan, Valin – cousins

  Farius, Rylen, Rett, Rumer - uncles

  Tamsen – an uncle, Felice’s father

  Benjemen – Amandine’s father, deceased

  Amandine – matriarch of the Rose family, known as The Dragon

  OTHER

  Teodore – the Crone’s grey gelding

  Renic – a plow horse on the Rose farm

  Apple – a cat

  The Lady – Reyce’s mysterious friend

  Bandit – a kitten given to Reyce

  Nightking – a stallion at the Camp of the Darkling Prince

  Elodie – High Priestess of the Allun Temple in Mejares

  Vanderys – a Valariel from Cedralysone

  Chax- Benjemen Rose’s pet chicken

  Shirae – a strange woman in Fallor

  Sotiris – Prince of Cedralysone

  GLOSSARY OF TERMS

  HISTORIA

  A.F. – After the Faith; the current Age

  ArchAngel – the consort of a God, who are usually gods themselves

  Aurelion – the star beneath Cedralysone

  Ca’erdylla – the world

  Ca’erlyssa – heaven, where souls go to await being reborn

  Ca’erolne – the world beneath Ca’erdylla

  Ca’ersenta – hell, where souls go when they are damned

  Destiny – a Primordium; the divine, nebulous creator of all things, embodied in the Eternal Flame

  Eire – the fabled Isle of the Gods, where the Eternal Flame is kept

  Elementals – Guardians of the Elements of Ca’erdylla

  Elements – the tools used by Destiny to create the world: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, and Dark

  Eternal Flame – the fire of Destiny, which reveals Its plan for the world

  Faith – the worship of the Younger Gods, which protects them from being corrupted by the Darkness

  Great Mage – a mage who is gifted with the power of one Element, also known as Elementi

  Immortali – a half-god, child of a mortal and a God

  Erydian – the Immortali daughter of Diona

  Primordium – the beings who existed before the creation of the worlds, such as Death, Destiny, and the Darkness

  The Darkness – a Primordium; the destroyer of worlds, corruptor of the Gods; the amorphous embodiment of chaos

  The Elder Gods – the first Gods who were corrupted by the Darkness

  Ezio – the first Elder God to become corrupted

  Shree – the Mother, Devourer of Children

  Phenos – the Elder God responsible for creating Vampyres

  Diona – the Princess, Goddess of the Stars; the only Elder God to remain uncorrupted by the Darkness; created the mortal races of Men, Elves, and Dwarves

  The First Race – the original, immortal race created by the Elder Gods, corrupted by the Darkness; also known as the Golden Ones or the Twisted Ones

  The Realm of the Gods – the world where the deities of all the worlds reside

  The Younger Gods – the Gods created by Destiny to protect the world from the Darkness

  Yrisa – Great Mother Goddess, Goddess of Life

  Sirius – the Peaceful One, God
of the Dead

  Rina – the Merciful, Goddess of War, Justice and Balance

  Palata – God of Peace and Tranquility

  Vanae – Goddess of Beauty, Pleasure and Happiness

  Armas – God of Beasts, Guardian of the Wilderness and Wild Places of the World

  Naitre – the Favored and Adored, Child-Goddess of Love

  Voidmaker – a weapon created by Darkmages; also known as Savranagaud, Godbreaker, or Voidrender

  Y ’KEN’OHL

  Language of the Ancients

  Aurelion dyslan E – Aurelion bless me

  Cedrani – Elves; also known as the Star’s Eldest Children

  D’aur lysen len Vi – the Stars watch over you

  Delvani – Dwarves

  Dione, et fellgora ra e’ve – Diona, have mercy upon us

  Domme – healer

  Dyslan ne Dione idramor Vi – blessings of Diona protect you

  Ell- self

  Estaur – eastern star

  Lyssen – child of the sky

  Moret’ethla – the Soulless; known by men as Vampyres

  M’orin – my friend, a common term of endearment

  Rava’eth – king of my soul

  Vadrani – Men

  Valariel – a knight of Cedralysone

  MONTHS OF THE YEAR

  Zyten – the first month of the year, begins after the Longest Night

  Capad – the last month of winter

  Alune – the first month of spring

  Driel – the second month of spring; the planting season

  Llares – the last month of spring

  Narens- the first month of summer; second planting

  Emberes – the second month of summer

  Davael – the last month of summer