Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(21)

"I believe it was consumed by rats, but I can double check if you'd like."

"No, thank you," Lissa held up a hand.

*

Lironis

Quin

"Do they have any more of these weapons?" Amlis asked.

"Not now," Daragar replied. "The two Yevil carried are deactivated—I saw to it myself. The others still in Vhrist will no longer operate, either. When someone chooses to target Quin, they will be treated to the same."

"How is Rath?" Wolter asked.

"Recovering well—after Quin tended him. That healing could have gotten her killed," Kaldill replied. "Omina is with Rath and they are discussing Tamblin's plans."

"Can we remove this—whatever it is? I wish to see Yevil's back," Amlis studied the sphere around the one-legged enemy.

"Deeds and I will hold him for you," Wolter volunteered.

"No. Ardis and I will handle this—he meant to kill more Avii, and would have without the help of Kaldill and Daragar," Justis nodded his thanks to both.

I went still—he'd called me Avii. My breath stopped for a moment.

Kaldill smiled grimly as he released Yevil from his transparent cage. The moment he was free, Yevil attempted to stand and fight.

He should have known better.

Amlis ripped the shirt from his shoulders after Yevil dropped to his knees with a yelp of pain. I peered at Yevil's back as he snarled his hate.

There, on his shoulder blades, were nubs. At the base of those nubs, next to his skin, grew the smallest, downy feathers.

They were red.

Yevil was half-brother to Jurris. Justis jerked Yevil about and punched him senseless with a single blow.

*

"How old would he be?" Ardis asked. I was weary but refused to leave while Justis, Ordin, Gurnil and the others discussed this half-blood child of Treven's.

"Old by Fyrian standards," Gurnil replied. "Treven went through the gate fifty turns past, and I imagine this one was old enough to understand that Treven wanted his bloodline on the Avii throne instead of Camryn's."

"Then he has enough Avii blood to stay young for an extended period," Ordin said. He'd remained quiet through most of the conversation, but chose to speak now. As a healer, he'd seen the sickness about him the moment he'd stepped onto Fyrian soil. I knew it pained and angered him in ways only a healer might feel.

"He has to be near seventy turns, at least," Justis said. "Treven was watched carefully his last ten turns and he made no flights to Fyris during that time—Camryn forbade it."

"The question now is what are we to do with him?" Gurnil asked.

"I know what I want to do with him," Justis snorted.

"My question is what will Tamblin do now?" I blurted.

"He has a choice, doesn't he?" Dena offered. She sat next to me, quietly attending to the conversation. "He either attempts to follow his plan of invasion, or he returns to defend his throne. He must know by now that we've rescued Rath."

"Without Yevil at his side to pour poison in his ear, perhaps Father will see reason, now," Amlis grumbled.

I preferred not to rely on Amlis' hopes—Tamblin had his own demons and they drove him much of the time. I held no illusions that light would shine upon his blackened mind now that Yevil was gone. After all, he'd asked his eldest son to kill Yevil, likely knowing somewhere in the recesses of his soul that the Prince could die at Yevil's hand.

Then, after knowing Yevil was responsible for Timblor's death, he still allied himself with the known evil. Tamblin's senses had twisted long ago and there were no delusions in my mind that he would find rationality at last.

He'd killed his brother, too, as well as the Avii King and Queen. That act had started the sickness overtaking Fyris. Whether at Yevil's coaxing or by his own desire, he'd effectively killed the people of his kingdom. His desire to sail away from Fyris and attack the unknown was ludicrous.

"Look, we're exhausted. There will be time enough to discuss these things when we're rested," Amlis rose and stretched. "I'll speak with my uncle in the morning and we'll decide what to do then."

I waited until I'd shut the door of Justis' suite to work the kinks from my neck and shoulders. Justis stretched out his wings to relieve cramping from the hurried flight to Vhrist.

"I can probably remove the knots in your neck and shoulders," I offered.

"Please," Justis sank to his knees and allowed his wings to droop beside him. Placing my hands on the affected areas, I healed them of their aches. His skin was smooth and strong beneath my hands. I pulled away the moment I knew he felt better.

"Thank you—I have never had relief so quickly." Justis stood and without a backward glance, strode into his bedroom and shut the door.

*

"I intend to clear out the old healer's quarters and set up a clinic there for those who wish to seek treatment," Ordin announced over a late breakfast the following morning. "Medics from Berel's ships have offered to help and with their knowledge and the medicines they carry, it is my hope to relieve some of their suffering."

"That is an excellent idea," Kaldill agreed. "It will help in our investigation of the poison, I think. I wish to send samples to some I know, so they may work on the same problem from afar."