Page 29 of Agor the Merciless
“Not directly.” Lyra stirred the mixture with her finger. “But it will drive you to desperate acts until you harm yourself or others.”
“That’s already happening, isn’t it?”
The mage nodded and offered her the cup. “Drink this. It will ease the symptoms for now.”
Zoe took the cup but didn’t drink.
“What if I don’t want to stop? What if I’m willing to pay the price?”
“Don’t be silly. You’re not thinking clearly.” Lyra took it upon herself to guide the cup to Zoe’s lips. “Drink first, then we will talk about solutions.”
The liquid tasted bitter but not unpleasant. Zoe finished it in three swallows, then handed the empty cup back to Lyra.
“I knew something was wrong with the remedy,” the mage said. “I saw the signs in your behavior, but I waited too long to intervene.”
“Does Agor know?” The thought of him knowing about her addiction and not doing anything made Zoe’s stomach twist. But she was getting ahead of herself. He would do nothing to harm her. He’d promised!
“He suspects something is wrong, but he doesn’t understand the cause. The captain chose you for your strength. It troubles him to see you reduced to this state.”
“Reduced? I’m not reduced. I’m…” She stopped, unable to find words that weren’t lies.
“You were a woman who fixed broken things. Now you are the broken thing.”
Zoe stared at the floor, her shoulders dropping. The herbs in Lyra’s drink began to dull her aching need, leaving an empty space in its place. She didn’t like what the mage had just said. As if it was her fault she was a broken thing. Not that Lyra had said it accusatorily, but it still sounded wrong. What the fuck were she and the captain thinking giving her a magic cream that wasn’t meant for humans? How was she, Zoe, supposed to know?
Lyra stood and gathered her bag.
“I will send Pira the Forager to stay with you. She has herbs that will stop the pains, and I’ll instruct her how to use them.”
“Where are you going?” Zoe noticed she was suddenly afraid to be alone.
“To speak with Agor the Merciless. He needs to understand what’s happening. Rest now. Do not leave this chamber. The next few hours will be difficult.”
Zoe nodded. As Lyra disappeared down the tunnel, she curled onto her side on the furs, pulling her knees to her chest. Soon, chills washed over her.
***
Lyra found Agor at the northern edge of the camp, watching as Durnak the Morose organized the evening patrol. Six warriors checked weapons and adjusted armor straps while the captain spoke with his raider, pointing toward the darkening forest. It had been years since the horde was last disturbed by intruders, but the captain didn’t want to take any chances. Once, they were attacked by another horde who wanted to steal their land, and another time, a few human hunters stumbled onto the horde and were chased promptly back to where they came from.
The mage walked to the party, clay jar in hand. Agor paused his conversation with Durnak as she approached. The silent raider nodded to Lyra, then stepped away.
“Captain.” She stopped before him and held up the jar. “I found this in your mate’s hands. She was about to use it on herself.”
His eyes narrowed as he looked from the jar to Lyra’s face.
“Where is she?”
“In your chamber. I sent Pira to watch over her.” Lyra kept her voice calm. “She is not well, Agor.”
“That is for me to decide.” He reached for the jar, but Lyra pulled it back.
“This is not just a healing balm, captain. It contains parasitic magic that drains her vitality. The formula was designed for orc females, not humans. In Zoe, it creates a dependency that grows with each use.”
Agor crossed his arms. “My mate is strong. She endures what others cannot.”
“She is not enduring. She is being consumed.” Lyra stepped closer, lowering her voice so the nearby warriors couldn’t hear. “The changes you’ve seen in her behavior, the desperation, begging for pain, following you around camp… those aren’t signs of desire. They’re symptoms of addiction.”
A muscle jumped in Agor’s jaw.
