To the Aravae Empire. Not the Kindreth one. He’d promised Declan that. He would keep that promise.
“Declan? Declan, can you hear me?” Aquilan called.
The young man’s eyes were closed, but they were moving underneath his eyelids as if he were dreaming, but they were clearly not good dreams. His whole body was twitching, shaking, and shuddering. Cold sweat coated his forehead and upper lip. Aquilan pressed the back of his right hand against Declan’s forehead. He snatched it back with a hiss of pain. He turned it over and saw ice crystals had formed a thin layer across his knuckles. They quickly broke and melted away, but the unnatural chill remained. He shook his hand, but it ached.
Not a fever then. Some kind of magical storm perhaps?
That had to be it. He had seen what his Shadow had done. The power that must have taken would have been incredible. It dwarfed his own. Never had he seen anything like it.
Had Vex seen it?
Of course, he had.
His son was… his son. A magical prodigy.
That Declan could destroy a Leviathan nest so huge with a sweep of his sword arm shouldn’t have been surprising. But it was. Of course it was. Because, though he had already known that Declan was a remarkable fighter, and had guessed he would have great magic, what he had seen Declan do was something altogether on another level.
And what caused it? What caused Declan to suddenly snap?
The drifting remnants of the cocoon that Declan had tried to catch floated before Aquilan’s eyes and dusted Declan’s cheeks. He grimaced as he tried to scrub them away. They left smears of ashy-white on the already too pale face.
The person in the cocoon… Who was that? Someone Declan knew clearly. A person from Earth dragged here and entombed for the Leviathan to feast upon undoubtedly.
He thought of the other cocooned figure he had seen earlier in the nest that had dissolved at the barest of touches. It had been a horrible experience for him and he had not recognized the person within. What would it feel like to see a familiar face? To see potentially a beloved face? His Shadow had lost nearly everyone in the war. This could have been a friend or part of his adopted family.
Good gods, no. I am so sorry, Declan. So sorry that I didn’t shield you from this. Protect you from it. But I didn’t. I didn’t…
He cursed himself for rushing ahead in the nest. He’d been so eager to get them out of there that he hadn’t realized that Declan had slowed then stopped. If only he had been more aware of what was happening with his Shadow! But this self-flagellation was useless. Worse than useless. He had to focus on Declan and help him now. Find out what was wrong. And make those beautiful eyes open and focus once more.
“Declan? Declan?!” Aquilan called his name, gently shaking him, but Declan remained insensate.
I have to help him! But can I? If this is the result of a magical storm, why isn’t it dissipating? He released so much energy, but he’s still shaking with power! This is beyond me. Where is Vex? Aquilan shot a quick glance around the cavern, but the beautiful and terrible presence of Xelroth Vex did not appear. They were alone. With the lichen. The Night King is his father! If anyone would be able to help him, it would be Vex. Just like he knew how to help me…
But then Aquilan shook himself. Vex’s help didn’t come without strings. Hadn’t he learned that? His mother and father certainly had. Vex had all but stated he had not killed them. Yet they had only ventured into the Under Dark to somehow undo those strings on his life. He knew that. And their deaths were connected to that bargain. So while Vex may not have cut them down, he had a hand in it. So the last thing Aquilan wanted for Declan was for him to be beholden to the Night King. Whatever had happened between Declan and Vex in Illithor had soured the young man on his father for the time being. He would not bind them together. It seemingly was the last thing Declan wanted.
Besides, I am a healer. Or was… once…
He had spent as much time healing wounds on the battlefield as killing, but still it was stomach-clenching to try and help Declan. What did he know about the Kindreth? Could he hurt Declan in an attempt to help him?
Obviously spells that involved the healing power of the Sun would be highly detrimental so what spells would be helpful? He wasn’t even completely sure what was wrong! But then Declan arched in his arms. His whole body was like a bow. Taut and shaking.
I will give everything I have to help him!
Aquilan’s hands glowed gold as he was about to pour all of his healing energy into the young man when Rhalyf shouted, “DON’T! AQUILAN, STOP!”
Aquilan jerked and his head snapped towards his best friend who was running towards him. Rhalyf had a hand outstretched and his face was pale as cream. At that moment, Aquilan realized that Rhalyf knew what was wrong with Declan.
No, that can’t be. He’s an Aravae. He would not know anything more than me. Even if the Neres have Kindreth blood, what would he know of a Vex?
“He’s getting worse, Rhalyf! I have to help him!” Aquilan cried.
But he halted. Because even if Rhalyf didn’t know for certain what was wrong with Declan, he never said things like this lightly. His best friend was the smartest person he knew. The most capable of Mages, too. And while healing was not Rhalyf’s strong point, his instincts about what was wrong–especially if it was magically wrong–were always correct.
Rhalyf flew to his side, skidding at the last moment so that he landed on his knees by Aquilan’s side. Immediately, his hands hovered over Declan’s body, moving up and down it, but not touching it. Aquilan had a ridiculous urge to pull Declan tight against him as if he didn’t wish to share the young man. But, of course, he didn’t. Rhalyf might be able to help. His best friend’s mouth formed silent words of some spell.
Some spells he never speaks loud enough for me to hear the words. For anyone. But others he does. Why?
But this was another question he could not afford to ask right now. So many of those in the Pedway. So many more now about Rhalyf, but more importantly, about himself.
