Chapter 34

34

We don’t always get the future that we want, but surviving to get a future and a chance to do good for others is more than many are given.

~ Grandma Korbian

Drizzle fell from a sky that hid the stars and the moon, only streetlamps brightening the night. Vlerion held his sword and looked around for threats as he and Kaylina rode toward Sluice and Pick Industries. Several rangers on taybarri came close behind them, bows drawn as they peered into alleys and at rooftops.

Numerous guards remained in pairs and small gatherings, but nobody raised a weapon toward their group. The mercenaries had disappeared, save for those who’d died with scorch holes through their armor, selectively struck by the sentinel’s beams.

Kaylina hoped the rangers thought to check inside Stillguard Castle to make sure Frayvar and Sevarli were okay—and that the mercenaries who’d come in through the catacombs entrance were all gone. Worried by the sentinel’s vision, she hadn’t gone inside to look before taking off with Vlerion.

Fortunately, with no attacks along the way, it didn’t take them long to reach the three-story brick building. It hadn’t been damaged too badly by the earthquake. One of the two guards she’d seen in the vision stood on the rooftop near the edge, his sword still in hand. He looked down at their approach, his eyes locking on Vlerion, and he sheathed the blade and held his hands up. The worried expression on his face seemed to say, I didn’t do it .

Kaylina’s gut twisted as the taybarri stopped and she slid off Levitke. The fear that they were too late returned.

“Jankarr’s up there,” she told Vlerion. “And, I think, the prince.”

Vlerion nodded curtly, dismounted, and ran toward the front door. Since the ride had been short, she hadn’t explained much of what she’d seen. She also hadn’t wanted to worry him about something that might not be true—or at least that hadn’t happened yet. The sentinel’s visions weren’t always entirely accurate.

But she had a feeling this one had been, and she had to make herself hurry to keep up with Vlerion as he charged through the first floor and up a set of stairs in the back. Afraid of what they would find on the rooftop, she was tempted to walk slowly, or not go up at all. But Vlerion might need help. Jankarr might need help. If only she knew how to use her powers to heal, but she suspected druid magic would more readily repair damage to plants than humans.

When the stairs led them to a landing, the door already open to the rooftop, Vlerion paused to look before surging out. He was still armed and wary—rightfully so.

Prince Enrikon lay on the flat rooftop, as dead as she’d seen in the vision. The same two guards and a sole remaining bodyguard were there, having moved little. Maybe they’d been arguing right until Vlerion rode up.

All three men eyed him warily. None lifted their weapons.

After determining that they weren’t a threat, Vlerion ran across the rooftop to the only other person alive up there. Or was he alive?

Jankarr was lying on his back and didn’t move, not even his head. Tears threatened Kaylina’s eyes as she worried he’d already passed. There was so much blood under him that she didn’t see how he could be alive.

But when Vlerion came into his view, Jankarr’s glassy eyes blinked a few times, and he even managed a smile.

She hurried over in time to hear him whisper, “I’d hoped… you would come.”

Vlerion wiped moisture from his own eyes before kneeling and gently clasping his comrade’s hand. “What have you done, Jankarr?”

Vlerion looked over at the prince’s body and the dead bodyguards.

Jankarr didn’t try to look. He already knew what had happened.

After Kaylina had told him where Enrikon was, Jankarr had managed to get over here to kill him. He was the only one up there who could have done it. It occurred to her that Enrikon’s bodyguard, or maybe one of his dead comrades, must have cut Jankarr down. But they’d been too late to save the prince. And the Kingdom guards? Had they been helping defend Enrikon or had they run up and tried to help Jankarr because they wanted Vlerion and the rangers to come out on top?

She didn’t know, and she doubted Vlerion, focused on Jankarr, would ask. She was tempted to try to find a doctor, but the experienced men all looked like they knew what she didn’t want to believe, that Jankarr’s wounds were fatal, that nothing could save him.

“What needed to be done,” Jankarr rasped, then coughed weakly, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.

Movement behind Kaylina made her jump. But it was only Targon. He stepped out onto the roof and looked around, his gaze lingering on the prince’s body before shifting to Vlerion and Jankarr.

“If you… had done it…” Jankarr continued. “It would have been… a coup. Murder. But now… you’re the… logical successor.”

“Damn it, Jankarr.” Vlerion’s voice was hoarse, and he wiped his eyes again.

Jankarr smiled, but another round of coughs made it short-lived. His eyes closed, and Kaylina thought he was gone, but when Targon walked up, they opened again.

“Captain?” Jankarr whispered.

Targon nodded. “You redeemed yourself, Jankarr.” Even his voice was thick with emotion. “Not bad for a commoner.”

With those words, Jankarr looked like he’d finally found peace with himself. His gaze slid back to Vlerion. “Rule well, brother.”

Vlerion squeezed his hand. “You’ll be remembered.”

Kaylina saw as well as sensed the life fade from Jankarr’s eyes. She turned away, struggling to control her own emotions.

Vlerion rose, gripped Targon’s shoulder, then walked to her. He pulled her into his arms and rested his face against her hair, the support as much for himself as for her, she believed.

Weary and numb, she leaned into him and returned the hug.

“You can’t go through with your plan now, you know,” she murmured.

“My plan?”

“After that speech you made and after all the sacrifices…” Kaylina pointed to Jankarr’s body and thought of all the others on both sides who’d died that day. “Your offer to rule can’t be pretend. You can’t step down. Targon swore the rangers to you. Jankarr died for you. You have to be king.”

Vlerion was silent for a long moment as he digested that. He wanted to reject the notion—she could tell—but could he?

“My grandma would say, we don’t always get the future that we want.” Kaylina could have laughed at how different this year had turned out for her than she’d dreamed. “But surviving to get a future and a chance to do good for others is more than many are given.” As she recalled, she’d stuck her tongue out when Grandma had offered that advice to her.

Vlerion, being more mature, did not. “I think you’re right.”

Too bad he looked nothing but reluctant and bleak about that admission.

Kaylina tried to think of words to give him hope for the future, or at least to distract him. “Of course I’m right,” was what came out. “That’s why it was ludicrous for you to claim that I would obey you.”

“Yes, it was.”

As she held him and gazed past his shoulder, the same hawk as before soared across the skyline. It flew from the harbor and toward their rooftop, alighting on the chimney.

Sensing its power, Kaylina stepped back. She used a sleeve to dry her eyes, not sure her druid father would understand feeling sorrow for the passing of a human. Probably not.

“Vlerion.” Targon stood at the edge of the rooftop, facing the direction of the harbor, though taller buildings in the way obscured the view of the destruction to the royal castle. Even so, he’d probably heard the report from his men.

Vlerion released Kaylina and joined him. Their backs were to the chimney when the hawk shifted into Arsanti and jumped down to the roof.

Earlier, she’d been thinking how she hadn’t believed the Daygarii could change into birds or animals. As she witnessed it, she realized the thought had been silly. They’d cursed Vlerion to change into a beast. Of course they had that power.

The bodyguard swore and ran to the stairs, apparently more alarmed by the appearance of a Daygarii than anything else that had happened that day. The guards lifted their swords but stayed back.

As Arsanti walked toward Kaylina, Vlerion started to reach for his own blade, but he seemed to realize who had come and stopped himself. She nodded that it was okay, though she didn’t know for certain that it was.

Let us talk, my offspring. As before, Arsanti spoke into her mind instead of aloud.

“Okay.” Kaylina walked to a private corner of the rooftop with him.

“Who is that?” Targon gripped the hilt of his own sword.

“I think that’s Kaylina’s father,” Vlerion said.

Targon scrutinized Arsanti. “Huh. You’re lucky she turned out so pretty.”

Kaylina, who’d noted before that her father was handsome, if in an exotic and alien way, shook her head.

They are an odd race, Arsanti said.

Funny, they’ve thought me odd.

At least Domas's condemnation about how she wasn’t normal no longer rang in her mind whenever she considered her differences.

Because you are more like us— Arsanti touched his chest, —than like them.

Kaylina didn’t agree, but he looked pleased, so she didn’t contradict him. She didn’t have the energy left to contradict anyone.

Thanks for coming to help today, she said.

He clasped his hands together in front of his chest. It could have meant you’re welcome or been a gesture of agreement. I am pleased that you’ve come into your powers.

Somewhat. I feel like I have a lot to learn.

Yes, the preserve can teach you, even as you guard it.

“Uhm,” she said aloud, feeling Vlerion would want to be a part of this conversation. “About that… I’m willing to protect the preserve, but…”

From across the rooftop, Vlerion frowned and walked toward them.

“He doesn’t want me to let myself be turned into a tree,” Kaylina finished. “He wants… me.”

“Yes,” Vlerion said firmly, squinting at Arsanti. Ready to argue, to defend her. As always.

I see that now. Arsanti continued telepathically, but the words reached both of them.

“Honestly,” Kaylina said, “I’d rather find a way to avoid turning into a tree too. But… will you lift Vlerion’s curse? Did you find out if you could?”

Maybe she shouldn’t have asked that aloud with Vlerion there. If the answer was no, that it couldn’t be done…

I have researched how to alter it, but I cannot altogether remove that which was placed by another.

Even though he’d warned her that might be the case, Kaylina couldn’t keep from slumping with disappointment.

“There has to be a way. I promised him I’d lift the curse. I promised his mother ,” she added, as if that made the vow even more important.

“You say you can alter it?” Vlerion tilted his head, sounding more hopeful than Kaylina.

What alterations could possibly make his curse acceptable? She struggled to see anything short of removing it as a failure.

In some small ways, that may be possible. Arsanti eyed him. If I assist you in this, you must vow to help my daughter protect the preserve.

“I would have always been willing to do that,” Vlerion said with exasperation.

The rain picked up, and wind gusted across the rooftop. Targon looked like he wanted to arrange for Jankarr’s body—and those of the other rangers who’d died—to be taken back to headquarters. Nobody lingered by the body of the prince, those once loyal to him either dead or gone.

Appearing unconcerned by Vlerion’s exasperation, Arsanti calmly said, Rangers once poached there .

“Because they were starving.”

And your ancestor ordered them to.

“Because they were starving,” Vlerion repeated.

Kaylina shifted her weight, worried this meeting wasn’t going well.

As the new king, you will serve your people so effectively that they will know how to grow and maintain a surplus of food so such actions are not necessary, Arsanti said sternly.

Vlerion looked like he wanted to argue but admitted, “The domestication of livestock for food has grown far more popular in these northern provinces, so most people have meat available year round. We also have vessels capable of taking out fishermen even in the stormy winter seas.”

So any poaching would be without necessity and could be treated as a criminal charge. Arsanti watched Vlerion closely as they spoke. Could her father read his mind and tell if Vlerion was telling the truth?

“It could be, yes. Thanks to the curse on Stillguard Castle, people haven’t dared hunt in the preserve anyway.”

Excellent. The sentinel will remain in that keep to watch over Daygarii interests.

“Oh, good,” Kaylina muttered. “I’d be bereft without it demanding I feed it honey fertilizer every other day.”

What alteration to your curse do you seek? I saw that my daughter could control you as the beast, and that you fought well together. Arsanti nodded at Kaylina, looking pleased again. By the success of his experiment, no doubt.

Vlerion’s voice turned harsh with exasperation—or maybe frustration —when he responded. “I don’t want to turn into the beast every time I experience lust .” He glanced back at Targon, maybe regretting that he’d spoken loudly, but it wasn’t as if Targon didn’t know about their problem. “I want to be able to control when I turn and not go crazy and be a threat to everyone when it happens.”

Arsanti stroked two fingers down his jaw a few times as he considered that. From what I have researched, it was never intended that you turn into a beast due to lust. And, if anger, only because the preserve was endangered. As to turning savage and threatening all those around you… He waved a hand vaguely. Would people fear the beast if he were not so dangerous?

“Yes,” Vlerion said firmly.

Arsanti looked skeptical. My daughter will have the power to steer you toward the targets you desire, as she did today. And you would also be able to use the power of the beast to defend your kingdom. Do you not desire that?

Vlerion blew out a long breath, then nodded. Yes, he’d promised to do that in his speech. He might even want to be able to turn into the beast to more effectively defend the people of Zaldor. Assuming he could keep from harming innocents. He looked toward Kaylina.

You two would have to remain linked, Arsanti said, but that is desired, regardless, is it not?

“Yes,” Vlerion said again, as firmly.

Kaylina hesitated. “I do want to be linked with him—I love him—but I also want him to be able to control his own destiny, not worry about what will happen if I’m not around. And would his descendants also still be cursed?”

For the first time, it occurred to her that if she and Vlerion married and one day had children, her descendants would be cursed.

That is what she who placed the curse intended, that a beast would always exist and arise to protect the preserve until such time that the Daygarii return to this world.

Kaylina looked bleakly at Vlerion. This didn’t feel like much of a victory.

Surprisingly, he smiled. “Someone told me we don’t always get the future that we want.”

“I told you that twenty minutes ago.”

His smile widened. “Indeed.” His expression grew more somber as he faced Arsanti again. “All I ask, if it’s possible, is that the beast not arise from feelings of passion. Lust. I don’t want to risk hurting your daughter. The rest… We can control the rest.”

Kaylina was tempted to object, but Vlerion had learned to control the beast—until she’d arrived. Maybe what he requested was all he needed.

Yes, Arsanti replied. I understand the modification to the curse that you desire. But applying the magic required to make changes is not without risk to the recipient.

Concern crept into Kaylina. After all they’d endured, after Vlerion had promised the people that he would rule the kingdom, what if something went wrong, and he died? Was it worth it to risk that? For an alteration ?

Vlerion gazed steadily at Arsanti. “I understand. As long as there is not a risk to Kaylina, I accept that there may be one to me.”

My daughter need not be present.

“Oh, I’m not leaving him alone.” Kaylina kept herself from saying to endure crazy druid magic but stepped forward and clasped Vlerion’s hand as she faced her father.

I see. Arsanti looked up into the rain and toward ominous clouds that had descended over the Evardor Mountains, shrouding their peaks. The moon is right, the weather agreeable.

What did he consider un agreeable weather?

This may be done now, Arsanti added, turning back to them. If you are ready, I will call upon the power of nature to accentuate that which I possess.

Nerves fluttered, Kaylina’s concern deepening as she wiped rain out of her eyes.

“Do it,” Vlerion said.

Arsanti lifted both arms toward the night sky, and power crackled in the air around him. Green light limned his body as he tilted his head back, his eyes closed. Lightning branched across the sky overhead, and he stretched his fingertips toward it.

Was he calling to it? That was more like the power of the gods than nature, wasn’t it?

More lightning flashed. The next branch streaked toward the rooftop.

Kaylina wanted to spring away and take cover, but she sensed the magic in this and that her father was calling the storm. She tightened her grip on Vlerion’s hand as he stood stoic and unflinching beside her.

A gust of wind struck her in the chest like a battering ram. She stumbled back, losing her grip on Vlerion’s hand. The gale knocked her to the rooftop, her shoulder hitting hard. She grunted in pain, the blow jarring her injury as she rolled several yards. Somewhere behind her, Targon cursed, also knocked back.

When she stopped, rising to hands and knees to look back toward Vlerion, Kaylina found he hadn’t moved. If anything, he appeared frozen in place by her father’s magic, his gaze locked on Arsanti.

Again, lightning flashed in the sky. Two branches streaked down, one striking Arsanti and one Vlerion.

Kaylina screamed, terrified for him. His body stiffened as white light flared all around them, the brilliance swallowing them.

Arm lifted, she had to squint her eyes shut and look away. Only her other senses—her Daygarii blood—told her that great magic flowed down from the sky, the lightning a conduit that stretched from the clouds and linked the two men.

Then Vlerion screamed, utter pain wrenching the cry from his body.

Kaylina surged to her feet, but the world went dark before she’d taken two steps. At first, she thought something had happened to her, that she was being knocked unconscious— again —but the lightning was what had disappeared, leaving the rooftop shrouded in darkness. After the intense brightness, she struggled to see anything.

“Vlerion?”

His scream hadn’t lasted long. She peered toward where he’d been, blinking her eyes and willing them to adjust.

“What was all that ?” came Targon’s voice from the far side of the roof.

Kaylina shook her head, arms outstretched as she carefully walked forward. She didn’t sense her father’s magic anymore, nothing about him at all. Had he left? Had he died ? What if he’d called down more power than he could handle?

As she edged closer, her eyesight returned, and she picked out Vlerion. He was crumpled on his side and not moving.

“Vlerion!” Kaylina blurted and stumbled toward him. She dropped to her knees and touched his shoulder. A buzz of magic made her fingertips tingle. “What did you do, Arsanti?” she demanded, looking around.

He’d spoken of risks, but…

“He’s gone.” Targon walked up beside her and pointed toward the night sky. A hawk was flying away, heading out to sea.

If he survives, Arsanti spoke into Kaylina’s mind, his curse will be within his power to control.

If he survives ? She couldn’t bring herself to thank her father, not until she knew…

Not until she knew.

“Vlerion?” she whispered, her throat tight.

He didn’t stir under her touch.

“He’d better be alive,” Targon said.

Kaylina touched Vlerion’s throat, his skin damp from the rain, and found his pulse. Did it seem faint? She wasn’t sure, but she could feel it. His heart beat steadily, not erratically.

“That’s something at least.” She shook his shoulder gently.

Again, he didn’t stir.

“I’ll get Penderbrock,” Targon said.

“Okay.”

Kaylina doubted a human doctor would be able to do much for someone afflicted by druid magic, but she was glad Targon had volunteered. She was too weary to handle anything else that night, maybe even summoning the energy to stand up and get down from the rooftop.

“Vlerion.” She slumped down beside him and rested her cheek on his chest. “You shouldn’t be so quick to trust druids.”

“Not a tree,” he rasped so faintly that she questioned if she’d heard the words.

“What?” She lifted her head.

His eyes remained closed.

His hand shifted enough to touch her cheek. “You are not a tree.”

Ah, he was content as long as he’d kept Arsanti from turning her into a guardian?

“You’re astute.” Kaylina wrapped her fingers around his hand, encouraged that he was conscious. “You’re going to make a good king.”

Vlerion groaned softly. Whether it was because of the pain from the ritual or the future that fate had granted him, she didn’t know. With the words spoken, he lapsed into unconsciousness again.