chapter Twenty Four
Well-Needed Rest
Loud bangs echoed from behind them, but neither Eramus nor Kieran paid them heed. Zeeran continued to fire spells at the opposing army, but Eramus's attention rested with Arnan. Kieran examined the wound on his brother's side, tears streaking down his face.
"Can you do anything? Can you heal him?" His words, barely a whisper, stabbed Eramus's heart like a knife. Morzaun hadn't just injured Arnan; he'd murdered him. No amount of magic, at least to Eramus's knowledge, could bring a person back from death.
"He's…there isn't anything I can do for him now. I'm so sorry, Kieran. He didn't deserve this."
Kieran nodded, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "You're a good man to be so forgiving. When he told me what he'd done, I was so angry. I wish I could take back the things I said."
Eramus placed his hand on Kieran's shoulder. Regret was the burden of lost opportunities, one that even the most powerful and wealthy could not avoid. 'What ifs' and remorse always accompanied the loss of a loved one, especially when death took them in such devastating ways.
A whiz preceded the crash of another fiery boulder just a few feet away from them. Eramus covered his mouth, coughing as more smoke billowed from the ignited grass. The sound came again, and when Eramus glanced up, the flaming stone charged a course right for them. Before he had time to think, a flash of green light streaked across the sky, intercepting the attack. The rock collided with a shield spell and disintegrated.
"Eramus!"
Eramus turned towards Aldeth's voice. His uncle raced across the meadow, his hands encompassed with his green aura, Yelene and Evree following close behind.
Evree. Eramus's stomach churned. She was the last person he wanted in the meadow right now. Why in Virgamor had his aunt and uncle allowed her to come? He knew the answer, of course. She'd probably insisted and refused to take no for an answer. The woman was too brave for her own good, and Eramus hated himself for finding that attractive in a moment like this.
Horror stole over Kieran's expression. "Evree, what are you doing out here!"
Evree threw herself into his arms. "Papa, I was so worried when I didn't find you at home. I…" Color drained from her face as her eyes fell over Arnan's body. "Papa, is Uncle Arnan…?"
Kieran wrapped his arms around her, his tunic muffling her sobs. "I know, sweetheart. I know."
Eramus turned to Aldeth, who shook his head as if he knew what he was thinking. "No spells can change death. Even some injuries are beyond what our magic can heal."
The words were hard to accept. Deep down, Eramus had known there was nothing he could do for Arnan, but his heart had refused to give up hope. Aldeth knew magic well and what it was capable of, and his confirmation finalized Arnan's death.
Aldeth conjured a dome-shaped shield to catch another attack. The boulder crashed against it and cracked in two before landing in front of them. No matter how many attacks failed, Delran refused to give up. Eventually their magic would falter from exhaustion, and Eramus wasn’t sure he had much strength left after fighting Zeeran.
"How did you know to come?" Eramus asked, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat.
"Yelene's vision. She saw Delran and his army. We came as soon as she woke up."
Eramus's gaze moved to where Zeeran deflected another assault from the trebuchet. Morzaun stood behind him, glaring not at the army of Izarden, but at Yelene and Aldeth. He remained fixated on them for several moments before turning his focus to Evree. Eramus's stomach launched into his throat.
"Kieran, you have to get Evree out of here! She's not safe and neither are you. Both of you need to return to the village."
Evree pulled away from her father to scowl at him. "I'm not going anywhere!"
"I told you to—"
"Stay with your aunt and uncle." She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. "I did exactly what you asked."
Eramus groaned. He closed the space between them and took her face between his hands. "Please. Go back to the village. I can't live with myself if something happens to you."
Her expression fell with a shaky exhale. "Promise me you'll be careful. Promise you'll come back to me."
He brushed his thumb across her lips, his eyes roaming her face. "I promise to do everything I can to keep you safe. I love you, Evree."
Eramus pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth, and then one to her lips. She shuddered under his touch. Sunlight fought through parted gray clouds, reflecting off of her tear-filled eyes. As much as he longed to promise his return, he couldn't. Magic was dangerous, and Delran would not back down. But if he succeeded in protectingher, his life would have meaning, no matter how short it may be.
"Go with your father," he whispered. "Stay safe, Evree."
Kieran wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Come, sweetheart. Eramus is right. Neither of us is safe here. They have magic to protect themselves, and hopefully, the rest of us as well." His brows lifted as he flashed Eramus a pointed expression. "And I expect you to come visit as soon as this is over. You and I still need to have a discussion."
