“You can do this,” Airess called out. “You can fight it.”
She almost lost hope. Almost lost faith–until finally, a hand brushed against hers. Airess smiled at the recognition, at his touch, and grabbed Taryn’s astral hand, then yanked.
She pulled him out of the memories. The darkness. His dreamform glittered silver when he emerged.
Taryn sank back into his body peacefully.
And Airess sank back into hers.
Chapter 28
‘Today is my last day. I will see you in the Dreamworld, my dear.’
— Unsent correspondence from Paulyr Moros
Taryn
Taryn didn’t know where he was. He couldn’t feel anything, and he couldn’t tell if he was dead or not. He didn’t know how long he had faded into this timeless oblivion, but it was agony. His worst memories replayed in a loop, torturing him until he was numb to the pain. It was everything he had been avoiding his entire life.
Taryn’s silver dreamform was freefalling in darkness, reaching out to grasp onto anything he could. There was no up or down here. There was no concept of time. He didn’t know if it had been days, weeks, or months in this darkness.
But something had changed. Someone had come for him. Her presence was warm, a light in his darkness. A beacon of hope.
Airess.
Taryn felt her reach out to him and send a current of electricity into his psyche. He held onto it with all he could, and–
Taryn opened his eyes and met Airess’ golden ones looking down at him in worry. Then, the mural on the dome-shaped ceiling above him. To his left was an old Human woman peering at him, her eyes crinkled with a kindness.
“So he lives,” the woman said.
Taryn was enveloped into a firm hug. “You’re alive!” Airess said, as she squeezed him harder. He soaked in her warmth, her touch, her scent. He never thought he would be able to again, and now that he was actually alive, Taryn knew he wanted to make his intentions with Airess clearer.
“We made it, Taryn,” Airess whispered. “We’re in Rune.”
His shock faded away when reality hit him. He had held on as long as he could during their journey across the ocean, expending the last tinsel of energy he had to get them close enough to Rune. He never expected to live beyond that, he just wanted Airess to have a chance to make it. To live.
Taryn thought hehaddied, somehow trapped in an inescapable hell that could only be created by Eryx. He had been so entrapped by his darkest thoughts, his worst memories, he had forgotten who he was. That he was a person with a body.
Until he felt her.
He melted into her embrace in that moment as he realized, somehow, it wasAiresswho had pulled him out of it. He had heard her voice, a sweet melody amongst the demons, and had followed it.
“Thank you,” he croaked into her neck softly, with a smile. Airess gently pulled away and tilted her head to the Human woman standing next to them.
“It wasn’t just me who saved you. Taryn, this is Ismene. She welcomed us into Rune. And… freed you of your Oathmark.”
Taryn sat up immediately. “What?”
Ismene began to pace in front of a great hearth of blush-colored flames, something he hadn’t noticed until now.
“The Oathmark’s Magick entrapped your soul. With Airess’ Magick and a blessing from the Soulfyre, you were set free. The Gods deemed you worthy of redemption. ” Ismene waved a hand toward the large hearth. “It is because of theGodsyou live.”
Taryn’s body ached as he slid off the table and came to stand. He faced Ismene and inclined his head forward. “Words can’t express my gratitude for what you’ve done for me.”
Ismene smiled slightly and nodded. “You will want to save your words for the king. You both are to be escorted to the palace immediately, for review– to determine if they will accept you in Rune or not.” Ismene turned on her heel without looking back. “You don’t want to keep them waiting.”
As soon as Taryn was healed, he and Airess were escorted by the royal guard to the palace. The humid air blasted his skin as soon as they stepped onto the street, a sensation Taryn thought he would never feel again. A palanquin waited for them outside of the temple. It was similar to a caravan, but there were no seats, wheels, or horses. Just a cushioned floor to sit on enclosed by walled structure.
