Page 75 of Worthy Promises
“Should we get started?” Rafe asked. “What is it you’d like Sorcery D’Vaire to consider?”
“We don’t want to offend anyone in the house, but we’re here because of Orion,” Oliver said. “Or more specifically, he wanted me to inquire about what can be done for Zarasha.”
Daravius closed his eyes and swallowed thickly. “I was afraid of that when I learned you two had requested a chance to speak with our group.”
“I’m guessing from your reaction that you have bad news for us,” Worth remarked.
Chander blew out a loud breath. “Look, we’ve been quietly looking at this problem for years now. It wasn’t long after Daravius joined us that we started exploring what our options were for Zarasha. Xak never meant for her to be a permanentto’faer, and no matter how you look at it, her existence is limited.”
“It is wonderful for Zarasha to finally have a friend her age,” Daravius commented. “But it poses its own problems, and we have rededicated ourselves to Zarasha’s cause.”
“We find ourselves no closer to a solution however,” Drekkoril added.
“What problems do you see for Zarasha and Orion being friends?” Oliver asked.
“Ones that I’m sure have already occurred to Zarasha herself,” Renny said. “Orion has a school he loves, and unlike her, he’ll have birthdays. He’ll age, he’ll grow up, and someday he may not want to have tea parties and puppet shows with an eight-year-old. Or at least not as often as he does now.”
“You’re right. That has already occurred to Zarasha,” Oliver commented sadly. “It’s the reason we’re here. She grew upset, and Orion begged me to discuss her with the sorcerers in the house. As a child with a limited understanding of how magic works, he can’t comprehend why no one has helped Zarasha. I’m a shifter and couldn’t answer any of his questions about why no one had switched her from ato’faerback to a little girl.”
“It’s unusual for us to discuss open projects with anyone,” Saura said. “But I think we all feel in this case, it’s prudent to be honest. Orion naturally has questions and hurts for his friend. How much of our answer will a child understand? I don’t know, but we’re happy to help you explain it to him. I’m not sure all the details are necessary. Chand, did you want to start?”
“Sure,” Chander replied, his pewter gaze a mixture of regret and irritation. “Here’s the deal. When we started looking at the issue, we knew it was possible to sever her soul from the body of herto’faer. After all, it’s essentially the same crude spell Xak used to unintentionally trap her. The issue we have is…then what? Removing her and placing her into another inanimate object leaves us in no better place. She’s still won’t mature or grow.”
“So, we discussed necromancy,” Daravius confided. “As cruel as it sounds, we considered destroying the soul so she crossed the veil. However, if Chand resurrected her, we have a little girl Zarasha again.”
“But resurrected souls don’t grow or age,” Chander finished. “We can’t grow a body from a soul. It’s not like if someone loses a limb and we use magic to coax the tissue into reforming. There is no form. There are no limbs. There is nothing. Without it, she cannot grow. She cannot mature. She’s a soul stuck with no ability to communicate or have any quality of life.”
“I was afraid your answer would be something like that,” Oliver said. “Zarasha is well-loved, and I couldn’t imagine that you’d leave her into’faerform if there was another solution.”
“That doesn’t mean we aren’t exploring. We’re constantly brainstorming, but the truth is…whatever solution may exist is currently beyond our level of comprehension,” Dre’Kariston commented.
Worth dropped a kiss on Oliver’s temple. “I’m not sure it helps to tell Orion they’re trying. But it won’t be any easier to offer him a negative answer with no hope.”
“Poor Zarasha,” Oliver whispered.
“I must ask that this discussion not reach Xakiok’s ears,” Daravius stated. “As his bemollo, part of my job is to protect him. Like Orion, he would have no patience for non-answers, and I will not offer him false hope.”
“That is completely understandable,” Oliver replied. “Save for Zarasha herself, the situation hurts Xakiok the most.”
“His burden of guilt has robbed him of ever using his magic,” Saura said. “Xak believes he owes it to the world to never touch sorcery again. With so few Fae in the world, it’s a tragedy. He deserves better. So does Zarasha. We aren’t giving up, but we can also offer no timetable for when a solution will present itself. Itwillbe found. That I can guarantee. But we’re out of ideas right now.”
“Thank you for explaining and giving Worthington and I the opportunity to speak to you today,” Oliver responded. “This room is incredible, and so are all of you. I’ve read about your accomplishments. If a solution exists for Zarasha, I have faith that you’ll find it.”
Aleksander elbowed Worth playfully. “Look at how good Fate has been to you.”
“I’m already aware of that,” Worth retorted, pushing his brother away and standing up. “I didn’t need your bony limbramming into my ribs to remind me of my good fortune. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have Orion’s bedroom to get finished this weekend so our owls can move in soon.”
“Have you seen Jeremiah’s mural yet?” Brogan asked.
“What mural?” Oliver inquired as he rose next to Worth.
Worth glared at the Grand Duke. “It wassupposedto be a surprise and is the reason we’re in a guest room this weekend. The Magister Duke is still finishing it up.”
Sinking down in his chair, Brogan grimaced sheepishly. “Sorry.”
“You suck,” Dra’Kaedan told his mate.
“Better run before those two idiots start arguing,” Aleksander advised. “Knowing there is a mural is vastly different from seeing it. If anyone gives out any details, I’ll banish some D’Vaires to go live with the Darays.”
