Alianna paused for a moment before nodding hastily, looking between Ulreah and Korva.
“Yes, it has. Back in Porthan – in the human realm. We were in bed, it was before I knew about any of this, any of you. He was having some sort of night terror, and his power was…reactingto it. Things around us were breaking. The flowers in the room were dying. Then blooming again. And dying…on repeat. Like they were going through their lifecycle.”
Rionan looked up upon hearing this, as though the memory of the first time Alianna had seen him for who he truly was,had jarred him into reality. His eyes were glassy. He wore the expression of a male who had just received terrible news, suffered deep loss, or had been pained in some way. Alianna resisted the urge to go to him, for fear of interrupting whatever Thallax was doing.
After several minutes of silence, Thallax lowered his hand, standing straight.
“His power is pushing against the limits Rionan has put on it,” Thallax explained quietly, speaking to the rest of the group but facing Rionan. “When you are asleep, and at your most vulnerable, it seeks to break free of its binds. To be returned to Xanthia.”
Rionan drew his chin in to a short nod, his eyes moving between them.
“It makes sense,” Korva offered, quietly, “Xanthia cannot continue without the power, My Lord. Perhaps if you were to release it, to let go – ”
“And give Rannirr the opportunity he needs to advance on our territory again, before you have worked out how I use the artefact which may give us the one chance we have at stopping him?” Rionan snarled. He rose to his feet as he spoke, his voice echoing in the tent around them like it had been magnified by something unseen. Alianna shuddered at the sheer malice in his tone.
“Do you think, Korva,” Rionan started, taking a step towards his advisor. “That it is easy for me to contain everything that I do? I could use my power in the human realm, in small doses, without cause for concern or harm. To do so here could rip everything out of me in a swift blow. I dare not risk it. So, I hold on. I use all of my strength, to hold on.”
Rionan’s words came between pants of anger as he ground his teeth, flexing his fingers. Korva had the good sense to look worried, and his face blanched.
“My Lord – I’m sorry. I did not mean to question you.”
“I am sure you did not,” Rionan continued, “so, may I suggest, Korva, that whileyour Lordcontinues to restrainhimself for the good of the Realm, you find out how we use that gods damned stone, lest I lose control of myself and hand everything I am over to Rannirr.”
Korva retreated from Rionan, the fury now pulsing off him.
“Yes, My Lord, quite right, I’ll continue my research. My apologies.” Korva stuttered, hands raised, palms up to Rionan, as he retreated from the tent. Alianna slowly looked around at Ulreah and Thallax.
Ulreah wore a quizzical look on his face, not one of fear, but one of slight concern for his friend. His storm-clouded eyes were soft, deep in thought, like he was working out the pieces to a complex puzzle. Thallax, on the other hand, wassmiling.
“You didn’t need to flex at him like that, Rionan. Poor guy pretends he isn’t scared of you, but we know he is.” Thallax laughed, clapping Rionan on the shoulder. “You alright?”
“Yes, I am alright. The night terrors, combined with the effort of holding on, are…unpleasant. But I am well. As for Korva,” Rionan paused, his face turning from serious to a half smile, his eyes lighting up mischievously. “Sometimes it feels good to remind him not to question me quite as often as he does, advisor or not. I will apologise to him in the morning. At least now, I know he is searching for answers.”
Rionan turned to Alianna, who stood, gawking, besides Ulreah. “Thank you, Ali, for going to get Thallax and Ulreah. I know that must have been quite terrifying for you. Are you alright? Did I – ”
Alianna suddenly felt fear stir in her chest and spread out like a deep-rooted sense of cold.
“Did I hurt you?” Rionan finished, eyes already pleading as if he expected her to say that that is exactly what he had done, and why she had sought out his friends.
“No,” Alianna replied without hesitation, and the feeling in her chest was washed away by a sense of relief. “You didn’t. I was worriedabout you. But you’re fine.” This was anattempt to reassure them both, ignoring the gravity of the situation.
They were relying on Korva to come up with answers, and they needed them fast.
Rionan was pushing his power down into himself, lest it break free and Rannirr come for them. That is what he had been doing since they arrived back in Xanthia. That is why she hadn’t seen him use an ounce of power since the museum. Aside from making the jump here.
What would happen if he were unable to contain it?
What would happen if his power broke free in the night?
How quickly would they all be found by Rionan’s enemies, and what defences stood in their way?
“We’ll figure this out, Ali,” Thallax offered, as though he could sense the fear radiating from her. “We will be fine. Korva might be a pain in the ass at times, and we might get a kick out of pushing his buttons, but he’s smart. He’s a good advisor to Rionan. He’ll work out what’s going on. For now, try to get some more sleep, or at least rest. We’ve got out of tougher binds than this one.”
Alianna didn’t ask what Thallax meant by getting out of tougher binds than this. She also didn’t ask if he was using his powers to soothe her frantic emotions. She suspected that he was not, as she was unsure how Rionan might react to this. His kind words were soothing, all the same.
She trusted the three men in this room. She had not known two of them for more than twelve hours, yet she knew she was able to trust them, because they were Rionan’s lifelong friends.
Without further conversation, Thallax and Ulreah nodded at Rionan as they turned and left the tent. Rionan pulled Alianna into an embrace, resting his chin upon the top of her head.
