Page 118 of A Blightress of Wrath
“AndBaronRevich?”
Thequestion came from the back of the room.Awoman stepped forward, her dark skin complemented by the golden iumenta conduit clothes she wore.Herlong hair was swept back in dozens of intricate braids, golden beads patterned into each one.Irecognized her as the woman speaking withClairanniaearlier, but did not know her name.
“Whatstate will we find him in when we arrive in her lands?Whathorrors have you left him to face alone?”
Herwords stung.EvenIcould feel them as the air in the room grew taut.BaronKarus’schin trembled the slightest before she gave her answer. “Ido not know,Figuerah,” she murmured softly, flexing her fingers at her side. “Ihave tried once before to get to him, but he has shielded the cavern where her heart beats.Icannot see him.Icannot get to him.”
Figuerahstepped closer, her face full of anguish. “Andwhat doesAdaynthhave to say?Whatdoes the source of the power ofBaronhave to tell you about where oneBaronfights alone for seventeen years?”
Lannastepped forward, hands on her hips. “BaronAdaynth?ThefirstBaronofFelgren?”
Figuerahnodded. “Karushas not been forthcoming in her power’s source.Notonly does she hold the power ofFelgrenand some of theBlightress, her power asBaroncomes directly from the firstBaronin history.”Shetook a deep breath, adding, “AndthatBaronlives inside hers andBaronRevich’sminds.Hecan speak to them both, soIask again, what doesAdaynthhave to say aboutRevich’sfight?”
Morewhispers filtered through the room at the second secret brought to light.IwatchedSaeas she frowned at her mother andFiguerah.Icould only imagine what she felt from hearing hostility towards her mother.
BaronKarusmurmured something low andFiguerah’slips pursed in response.
“Whatdoes she say?”Lannaasked.
Aswirl of green tendrils, bright and solid, wrapped around theBaron’sfists at her side as she broke her calm demeanor, her rage spilling forth in a wind that swept through the room. “Hedoes not speak to me!” she stormed. “Ihave begged, offered my own power back to him, done everythingIcould think of to getAdaynthto speak to me!Heis still there, in the dark corners of my mind and will not tell me how my companion survives in theBlightress’slands!”
Shetook a step towardFiguerah, who stood her ground, thoughClairanniarushed to their sides. “Donot ask me whatIhave done forRevichbecauseIhave done everything but give my own life!”Herpower broke from her hands, wrapping around the three in a swirling mist. “Andthe only reasonIhave not done that is becauseRevwanted his daughter to live safe and happy in our home.Iwould have given my life a thousand times over to save him.”Hervoice broke andFiguerahreached for her hand, tears running down her smooth cheeks. “Iwould have given up everything but our daughter to bring him back, for that is the one thingIcannot do.SoIhavewaited.SeventeenyearsIhave loved and raised our daughter the bestIcould with my heart bleeding in my chest every moment he is there alone without his family, without the two he loves most, andIwill bring him home,Figuerah, becauseIamdonewaiting.Hehas given enough for this fight.”Shegestured around the room. “Hehas given years of his life for all of us to hope.Todefy that dark, and it is my turn to save him.”Shepaused, taking a deep breath. “Iwill save him.”
Thesilence was cold.Itfilled the room in an uncomfortable stillness.Theonly sound was the crackle of fire at the hearth, the only movement was the swirling green mist around the three powerful women, trapping them in unspoken words, years of the weight they held hanging heavily between them.
AttheBaron’swords, my throat tightened, andIsawIwas not the only one in the room who struggled to keep their tears in check.
BeforeIcould pull her back,Saetook three steps forward. “Useme as bait,” she offered, loud and clear. “TheBlightresscan feel whenIuse a vast amount of my power, so use me as bait and get to my father.Plantyour army around me so that when she arrives to steal me away, your forces can attack and hold her.”
“No,”Ihummed low.
Iknew she heard me, but ignored me anyway, continuing, “Iam the cause of this war, andIoffer myself to be the end of it.”
TheKingstepped forward. “TheBlightressknows when you use your power?”
“Yes.Itis how she knew whereIwas outside ofFelgren.I…Iused some of my power impulsively whileIwas there.”
“Andhow did you escape her?BaronKarushasn’t explained how that didn’t end in a slaughter.”KingPhiliusglanced to theBaron, who now held the hands of bothFiguerahandClairannia, her power easing into a single glowing circle around them.
Saelifted her chin and her knuckles whitened. “Iknew theBlightresswas coming and warned my mother so that she could erect her shield and protect us all.”
“Youcan track theBlightress’smovements?”Heuncrossed his arms, his flaming hands falling at his sides.
“Maybe…I-Idon’t know for sure howIknew she was coming.”
Lie.
TheKingaddressed his sister. “WithSaelynusing her power to attract theBlightressandSae’sability to know if she’s coming, we have a chance to implement theDimming.Ihave one hundredWieldwrynspracticing the sleeping spell on each other every day.They’reready.”
Lannaadded, “Andwith the aid ofCommanderAshton’snorthernRunners,Ihave four hundred soldiers to fight through to the cave whereBaronRevichwaits.”
TheBaronnodded, stepping out of the glowing mist. “Saelyn, this is your choice alone.Wecan find another way if you?—”
“Iam tired of fearing to make a choice,Mother.Iwant to train with you and play my role in theDimming.”Sheturned her head, smiling at me coyly over her shoulder as she finished. “Ichoose this risk.Ichoosethisfuture.”
Mychest would cave from the beauty of it—watching her offer all of herself and everything she had to end this war.AndI’dstay by her side through all of it.JustasIhad pledged to her mother,Iwould fight for her to my last breath and beyond.
“Arewe in agreement as theFourto pursue this new plan for theDimming?”BaronKaruslooked around the room atMadameZoreyahin the corner, slowly petting the head of her muri while her daughter bit her fingernails in agitation.Shenodded once, then everyone looked to theKingwho sighed, murmuring his agreement.
