Page 93 of A Blightress of Wrath
Hisanger burst forward as he closed the gap between us, confirming whatIsuspected.Hisbody shifted in an unnatural sheen because he was no more than a hazy figure born of myBaronpower. “Revichwill not survive it.”
Thehair on my neck rose. “Explain.”
Hepointed a finger at my chest. “Ifyou are taken again, if he loses you one more time, he will fall to madness.”
“Hewon’t,”Istarted, “Iwon’t leave ag?—”
“Youwill!”Hiswords lifted in the breeze, sent across the trees ofFelgrenas if in assurance that what he said would come to pass. “Onceshe has you again, she will not let you leave.Shewill not let your daughter leave.Shewill wait as long as it takes for your own madness to overcome your senses, and you will fall beside her just as broken as she has become.”
Iopened my mouth to protest, but he wasn’t done.
“AndRevichwill not survive it.”Heraked his fingers through his brown hair, some of his longer locks falling into his face.Hishazel eyes pierced me with unearned hatred, andIknew he believed what he said. “Iwas there with him those months in that tunnel waiting for you to return.Forwhatever reason, for whatever nonsensical hold you have on him, his sanity hangs by a thread.Ifyou orSaelynare taken or harmed, the man you know will not survive it.”
Mychin trembled, butIbit down, refusing to cry, refusing to let him see how much his premonition affected me.Isniffed in a deep breath and replied quietly, “Youcare for him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”Ishot back immediately. “WhyRevich?Whycare for him?Ofall theBarons’ minds you have occupied, you have not intervened.WhatmakesRevso different to you?”
Hismouth slackened andIdidn’t miss his glance down to my growth band, now with seven moons embroidered across the emerald silk.Heblinked at me for a few moments, andIwaited. “Heis not like the others.Histhoughts are not occupied with power or the legacy he leaves.Hethinks of you.Yourchild.Yourchannelers.Thepeople of this isle who could use more magic in their lives to make them easier lives to live.Iadmire that in him.”
“Heis more worthy of this power than anyBaronwho has ever lived,”Ispat.
“Ofthat, we are in agreement,BaronKarus.”
Inodded. “Iwill speak to him.Wewill listen to other ideas moving forward, but there is little we can do withSaelyn’sbirth approaching quickly.Weare combing throughViridisfor possible solutions, but have found nothing.AfterSaelynarrives,Revichwill reconvene with the other leaders on the isle for solutions and gather more channelers to bring here.”Istepped back to the stream, washing the delicately painted platter and rinsing the embers of ash—all that was left ofPompeii’sBlackLung.
“Itried,Karus.”
Hiswords, so similar as mine toPompeiihours ago, frightened me. “Youtriedwhat,Adaynth?”
“Togive you what you asked for that day you took half of the power ofBaron.”
“Iasked you for the power to keepRevichhappy, and safe, and loved.”
“AndItried to give it to you.”
Ipressed the platter to my chest. “Whatdid you do?”Iwhispered.
“Youmay never know, but you should know thatItried.”
“Iam done with your cryptic fucking answers,”Iseethed. “Tellme what you did!”
Hebegan to fade, theBaronwhose role in our lives could not be ignored. “Icannot.Thepath forward is set.Icannot change it.Donot let her take you,KarusofFelgren.Dowhat you must.Revichwill do the same.”
Thewind swept him away, and the platter snapped under the force of my grip.Myhands sliced open from the break, bleeding down the length of my arms and dripping a dark stain of red across my womb.
* * *
IdidwhatIcould to clean myself up.Ihealed the wounds of my hand and attempted to pull the blood stains from my dress.IfIhad paid more attention to certain halls ofViridis,Iwould have known the spell to change the color of my dress completely or the spell to remove blood from linen.
Liawould have known.
Instead,Iwalked silently back to the clearing in a stained dress with a broken platterIhadn’t thought to mend.
Revwas there, asIknew he would be, laughing with my friends and pulling at long stems of grass to chew on the sweet ends.
Ileaned against a nearby tree to watch.Pompeiiwas pulling up wide pieces of grass and blowing into them across his thumbs.Ashrill whistle blew into the breeze andMoiralaughed delightedly, immediately asking him to do it again.
