Page 83 of A Baron of Bonds
“When Karus was brought to Felgren, she didn’t want anything to do with it. At first, she fought hard to persuade us that she held little power and was useless to Heimlen’s plans. But this rhyzolm,”—I pulled the stone from my pocket to display—“said otherwise. When a Baron searches for channelers to train, he uses one of these and it pulls him toward someone with great magic. You see, she would have been more convincing if not for the connection I felt through this stone every time she was near.” I chuckled, dropping the stone back in my pocket, looking at her, “Actually, she didn’t have to be near. I could feel her miles away while I was in Felgren and she was still here, in Hyrithia.
“She began to love Felgren and chose to stay once it was revealed to her that the forest needed saving. It was great news to me since I had already fallen so hard for her and couldn’t imagine my life holding any joy if she’d left it.”
Karus bit her lower lip and smiled at me.
I held her gaze for a moment and continued, “Felgren Forest has been under darkness for some time. A Blight. Black vines choke life and magic from its soil, and it has ravaged through thousands of acres for years. Heimlen needed the most powerful channeler I could find so that he could train her to fight the Blight with him. He intended to do this without either of them surviving the fight. His ‘legacy’ as he called it, would need to continue on, and he wanted to be known as the Baron who saved the forest.
“But Karus was more powerful than either of us knew. She could feel a pulse in the Blight—a heartbeat. We have since learned that heartbeat comes straight from the Blightress.”
“How do you know this?” Queen Rina stepped forward slightly, hanging onto my every word.
“I did not tell you everything.” Karus stood and moved beside me, taking my hand once again and for the millionth time, it fit perfectly in hers. “When I was in her lands, I had been spit out of a portal that ended in a cave. This cave held a massive heart. It hung from the walls and its pulse…” She shook her head. “It’s her heart. She confirmed this to me.”
Lady Lamoral pulled her daughter closer to her chest. “So, this heart of the Blightress beats through the Blight? But why? What does the Blightress have to gain from taking over Felgren with her vines?”
The Queen quickly replied, “Power. It is what she seeks after centuries.”
“Not just any power,” Karus corrected, “Power she believes was always hers. She seeks to regain the power of the Baron.”
The Queen’s eyes narrowed and her lips pursed.
Madame Zoreyah spoke, “What will she do with this power if she wields it?”
Karus shook her head. “We do not know.”
Lady Lamoral stroked her daughter’s hair. “What did you do about the Blight? Were you able to destroy it? And why did Baron Revich tell all of us you were dead?”
“I was able to use a spell that simulated the sun and caused the Blight to wither and recess. Heimlen died using what power he had left to keep the spell intact. Most of the Blight is gone, but hundreds of acres remain. And it has infested our library, Viridis.” She looked to me, her eyes sorrowful, remembering what happened next. “When I used my magic to hold the spell, I began to fade. In order to hold it as long as I did to destroy asmuch of the Blight as I could, my memories left me one by one. And if Rev had not stopped me, I don’t think I would have lived through that night.”
“You couldn’t remember who you were.” Madame Zoreyah whispered.
“No. I held nothing of who I was. And anytime the ones who loved me tried to help me, I’d rage and fall to pieces. Eventually, I found friendship with a faerie. I lived in the Fortress with her each day, never remembering who I was or how I had come to the forest. For seven years, I did this. And every day, Revich held onto hope that I would return to him.”
“Hope he didn’t give us,” the Prince spat, stepping our way, marred fists at his side. “He lied, Karus. He does not deserve you, he does not deserve our respect, he does not deserve his title.”
His fist flew through the air and caught my jaw, twisting my head, causing me to stumble back.
Karus gasped and reached for me just as the Prince’s fist reeled back for another hit. I was ready this time, catching it in my own hand, grabbing his other wrist before he could land another blow.
My magic flared over my fingers, pushing him back in his rage.
“You use your power to hold me? Why don’t you try fighting fair?” he challenged, still pushing on my grip.
“You hold power too, Your Highness,” I spoke calmly. “Why don’t you use it?”
“Baron Revich, that’s enou?—”
“You know I can’t. The only time it’s come to me was when I learned about my sister, you fucking?—”
“Bullshit,” I countered, “You’ve barely tried, I bet. Use it now, Philius. Use it now to hit me again. C’mon, it won’t be a cheap shot this time.”
I was more curious than angry. I understood why he hated me, but I wanted to see if he could pull from the forest. I wanted to see if he could do what I suspected he could if given the proper training.
I dampened my power, only holding his fists by strength alone as he gritted his teeth. His eyes raged as a spark of orange light jolted through his hands to mine, sending me stumbling back to hit the table behind me.
I grinned in satisfaction.
There he was.
