Page 78 of A Blightress of Wrath
“You’resaying the first everBaronofFelgrenlives in your head?”Philiuslooked stunned.Hehuffed, awkwardly folding his arms at his chest. “Mysister might live forever and has an ancient man in her mind.”
“Hedoesn’t like me,”Karusadmitted, picking at the edge of the rocky floor. “Idon’t hear him often, not likeRevich.”
Liaswallowed hard. “Adaynthspeaks to you?”
Ileaned my head back against the cold rock. “Sometimes.Andonly recently.”
“Heis coherent?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Howdid he diminish her power before?”
“Hesaid it doesn’t matter.Itwon’t work the same again.Hekept this heart contained with theSimulairSolumspell under theFortressfor centuries.Itdampened her power until she convinced aBaronto bring it to her.”
“Ereyth,”Liafinished.
Inodded.
“Sohow do we destroy that thing now?”Philiusasked.
“Wepierce it,”Karusanswered, “Weuse our power to cut it down, let it bleed and die, your flames to burn it.”Isqueezed her waist at the words of violence, but she continued, “She’slived long enough.Destroyedenough lives.Assoon asIlyennais out of the portal, we?—”
Agust of wind poured from the wall of black, shovingIlyennato the rocky floor, panting with tears streaming down her cheeks.Talonwas there a moment later, pulling her to him, shaking as he held her.
Talonsoothed her tears, rubbing her back and whispering repeatedly to her that she was out.Weall stood, readying our nerves for what would come next.
Ilyenna’seyes rose toKarus. “I—Idon’t know how you endured it.Idon’t know how longIwas in there, but it felt like days.”
“Yougot through it.You’reout,”Karussaid.
Ilyennafell into his chest once more. “Ididn’t want to say it.Ididn’t want to admit it,Talon,I’mso sorry.”
Hesoothed her again. “Whateverit was, it’s alright now.Youdid it.You’rehere.”
“It’snot alright!” she cried. “Ididn’t want to admit whatIdesire most.Ididn’t want tosayit.”
“Whatwas it, child?”Liaasked, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket.
“Ourbaby,”Ilyennastarted, wiping her eyes, “Idon’t want our baby to have magic.Idon’t want our baby to go through any of this.”Shewrapped her arms tighter aroundTalon’sshoulders. “Idon’t want theBlightressto have a reason to make our child into one of those trees.”Shewiped at her face. “AndIam sorry for it.Idon’t want our baby to share this gift, and?—”
Talonshook his head, kissing her cheek before she could continue. “Youwish to protect our child.There’snothing to be sorry for.Thereis nothing to forgive.”
Philiusjumped to the highest rock that looked over the expanse of the cave mouth below, leading to the heart. “Ihate to be the one to say it, but we’ve been here an hour and have pushed our luck already.”
Talonmoved to interject, butIlyennastopped him. “He’sright.”Shewiped her eyes and nose one last time. “Let’sget this over with.”
Karusflicked her fingers, her green tendrils of power forming half of a longsword, sharp and deadly if she willed it.
Iwas not a violent man, but violenceIwould embrace, if it meant we’d be free of that ghost.
Myown longsword, a deep blue, aligned to complete the other half of hers, forming the weapon we’d use together to cut down the heart that haunted us.
Agolden hunting knife took form at the end ofTalon’sswirl of power, a serrated knife at the end ofIlyenna’s.Philiusflicked the stubs of his wrist, pulling bright orange sparks of flame andLia’spower misted around her in sharp, silver wisps.
Karusinstructed, “Wecut it down and leave when the pulse is silent.Runback to the portal, and we will wait for everyone to get out from there.”
Nodscoincided all around and we began our descent down the rocky path leading further into the cave and closer to the heart of theBlightress.
