Page 24 of A Conduit of Light
Theywere no longer inViridis.
Thatmuch was evident.
Beforethem lay massive vines, black as dried blood, tangling through broken mounds of moldy earth.Theywound up and through the unsettling, dead trees in a portrait of strangulation and possession all at once.Ashcovered her mouth and nose to subdue the stench of death as the harsh presence of it stung her eyes and caused them to tear.
Awhite bloom of fungus lay over the corpses of unknown animals, covering what was left of the bodies in a silent blanket of death.Theair lingered thick, almost tangible as she held out her hand only to have the mist around it swirl in mocking waves of frivolity.
Theorb of magic she held before her became erratic in its pulse, her fear of where she tread kept in time with the single source of light.
Shestepped forward, her feet uneven on the expanse of thorny vines that were caught on the door behind her. “Where…”Sheturned to theBaron, her face illuminated in the green light, panic emanating from its features.Sheswallowed, the hard lump in her throat refusing to subdue. “Whereare we?Thisisn’t—”
“Felgren.”Henodded gravely, stepping closer to her and placing his gloved hand on her shoulder. “Youare inFelgren,Ash’Arah.Andthis…”Hegestured to the expanse of decay and embodiment of death before them. “Thisis theBlight.”
Chapter11
Karus
Iknelton the broken ground, my thin, white dress ruined in the decay.Ireached out gently to lift the drooping stem of a peony bush, buds closed tightly in slumber, its desire to live evident in the remaining red and green of its stems.
ButIsaw theBlight.
Itwas subtle, but there all the same, as its murderous vines crept under the soil and began to wind their way around the base of the bush—as if they were reaching for me.
Moirahad brought me to the edge of the diseased forest that lay far, far away from theFortress—further thanIhad ever remembered traveling.RaucaandParvuswere whimpering, unsteady and uneasy nearby.
“Yousee,Karus…Ididn’t want to show you, but youmustsee it.Thisis what consumes all ofFelgren.Thisis what you call theBlight.”Sheflew to the top of a mossy outcropping of rocks and sat in a slump, her pointy chin resting in her long fingers, a look of acceptance on her face—an acceptance thatIwas nowhere near willing to face.
Istood shakily, knees wobbling at theBlightbefore me.Istepped into the bounds of the decay and the suffocating scent of disease hit me, butIcould not turn away.Itwasn’t all death,Irealized, asImoved carefully among the massive vines, smothering everything in their path.
Isaw that the vines themselves were fueled in life.Itwas a sickening energyIcould not describe, nor fathom to understand.Ifollowed the base of one where it sprouted from the soil, having a girth larger than my own body and covered in small thorns.Iwalked beside it, careful not to trip on the tangled growth running in all directions around me.Itwound up a tree, oak from whatIcould discern, and spiraled like the staircase to my tower in theFortress, scorching the trunk in its wake with lines of black disease slithering out from all sides.
Iplaced a hand on the oak tree, not possessing the strength to touch theBlight.Thetree’s life was waning.
Rapidly.
“Karus, let’s go.You’veseen plenty today.I’llmake an excuse toBaronRevichthis evening.Youdon’t need to talk to anyone if you don’t want to.”Moiraflew to my shoulder, tugging gently on the long sleeves of my dress.
Myvoice was soft, but vibrated through my chest as my hand left the dying tree. “Whereis he?WhereisBaronRevichright now?”
“Idon’t know.Idon’t keep track of him or anything.Probablyin his study.Why?Areyou…angrywith him?”Herface lit in excitement, her wings fluttering. “Alright, let’s go find him.”
Shestuck her long slender fingers into her mouth and whistled, the lumens howling at the sound and running to the edge of the dying forest to greet us eagerly.
Isaid nothing asIclimbed on top ofParvus, his relief in leaving theBlightevident in his quickened run through the lush forest floor,Raucaahead.
Ididn’t even turn back to look.
Ifeared losing my grip on reality no longer, for wrath was fueling me now.
Chapter12
Ash
Thoughshe’d hadmuch practice in her life,Ashcould not stop her tears this time.Theystreamed down her face in rivulets, slipping together just before dropping off the base of her chin.
“Howmuch?”Shechoked on her words, sniffing and wiping her face with her sleeve.
BaronHeimlenheld a handkerchief to her in silence and she took it, grateful.
