Page 30 of Darkness Births the Stars #1
Tanez briefly closed her eyes. “Belekoroz’s death hasn’t diminished the influence of Chaos in Aron-Lyr.
Instead, the eruptions of Chaos magic have increased in both frequency and power.
As if whatever restraining influence he had on it is completely gone.
” The Aurea of Earth smoothed down her skirt.
“The reports reaching the Council are alarming, and I suspect Aramaz isn’t sharing everything.
Rivers turn to acid, destroying all life they touch, mountains of fire emerge without warning, and storms obliterate entire villages.
Fearsome creatures roam the lands and people develop uncontrollable magical powers.
Whatever the Fallen One has broken in his madness, I’m not sure it can be healed. ”
I stared at her, battling the all-too-familiar guilt and shame rising inside me. Some of those stories had reached even Dalath, but I had ignored them as best I could. Tanez might not be the only one hesitant to burst my fragile bubble of… if not happiness, th en at least contentment.
“And the Allfather?” I asked tonelessly.
Tanez’s expression hardened. “Nothing.”
Not surprising. Our Maker hadn’t interfered for millennia, holding on to his decree that Aron-Lyr’s fate was our sole responsibility. If he had ignored our cries for help when the entire world was sundered, why aid us now?
“I feel it every time I reach for the power of Earth. Chaos. Poisoning the very essence of everything around us.” Tanez’s eyes were haunted. “The king has banned all of us, Aurea and Anima alike, from using any magic if it is not absolutely necessary, as it has become so unpredictable.”
It is the only way he knows how to deal with what he fears. Caging it. Until it has become only a shadow of itself, until it has become harmless, until it dies.
Words that had haunted me for years, that had lured me into the shadows.
“Well,” I said hoarsely. “As we all know, I am the last person in all of Aron-Lyr who could help you guard yourselves against the insidious influence of Chaos.”
“Baradaz, please.”
I had heard Tanez plead like that once before, her green eyes tormented, tears wetting the soft slope of her cheeks. Years ago, when she had asked me to stay, saying the world still needed me.
Somehow, it was harder today to tell her I couldn’t help her, that I had nothing more to give.
Noctis’s irritated voice drifted in from the window, pulling me out of my thoughts. I had to return to him before he came looking for me. Seizing the opportunity, I ended the connection with a hasty excuse. “There is some commotion outside. I have to check on the animals.”
I let the magic dissipate, ignoring Tanez’s surprised exclamation. Our conversation was far from over, just delayed until our next meeting. I swiftly stored the scrying bowl and the Air stone, ensuring my face betrayed none of the turmoil I felt as I exited the house.
I was more conflicted than ever over Noctis’s presence on my farm.
He remained a danger, even without his powers.
But surely the fact that the Chiasma had tried to kill him meant that he was not allied with his old servants?
That he was as lost and adrift as I was?
Perhaps I could use the connection between us for good.
With the right incentive, I might be able to persuade him…
The sight awaiting me outside made me freeze.
My araks had fled to the outermost part of the field, pushing against each other in their eagerness to escape.
Scared of Noctis, who was pacing near the spot where he had worked on the fence earlier, one fist raised angrily as he threatened them with ending up as tasty steaks.
Poppy, my little mare, and Noctis’s black stallion leaned their heads over the fence from the adjacent field, their ears perked up in curiosity, while Bane sat on one of the fence posts, his tail swishing back and forth with amusement at the spectacle.
“Do you need any assistance?” I was quite proud that my voice betrayed none of the laughter I was suppressing as I took in the mud—and, if I was not mistaken, a bit of arak dung—clinging to Noctis’s right side, from his breeches up to his hair, a few chunks plastered to his high cheekbone.
“These beasts are sabotaging me,” he growled, shooting another heated glare toward the araks, who had settled down in my presence. “I swear they deliberately shoved me into the mud.”
“You can use the outdoor shower behind the house to clean up,” I advised him, struggling to keep my composure. I broke when he stomped past and my eyes caught on the generous splattering of mud covering his entire backside. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen. ”
The chilling stare directed at me had surely made entire armies flee in fear during the war.
“Instead of mocking me,” he said, “you could make yourself useful and get me some fresh clothes.”
Laughing, I went to the house to fetch a towel and clothes.
When I returned, the sound of running water greeted me.
Noctis’s dirty clothes lay on the wooden floor outside the outdoor shower.
It shared the same underground well as my bathroom, a set of lyrin -stones pumping up the water and heating it.
Through the rugged wooden boards, I caught fleeting glimpses of movement.
“I’ll leave your belongings here,” I said, suppressing the impulsive desire to sneak a peek.
“No need.” The water stopped abruptly. “I’m already finished.”
I froze, like a startled hare when the fox was near, as Noctis stepped out of the shower with no warning.
My gaze darted aimlessly over all the pale, wet skin on display.
For all of a second, I managed to focus on his face.
My eyes refused to obey me, wandering downward without any conscious intention on my part.
Of course, the impossible man noticed, a smug little smile playing on his lips as he snatched the towel to dry his hair and skin. Not a hint of unease colored his graceful movements.
“Don’t you have any shame?” I said, angry frustration flooding me when my voice caught. How easy would it be to bend forward to lick off a few of those enticing water drops pearling on his skin? To let my fingers trace over the marks on his body, easing his hurts?
Stars above, was I truly lacking any sense of self-preservation?
“No, absolutely none.” White teeth flashed as Noctis threw a disconcertingly pleased grin at me. He was enjoying preening in front of me like some bloody peacock. Curse the man. And curse his ability to affect me even after years. Sometimes I feared he would always affect me.
“You should take a shower, too.” After winding the towel around his slim hips, Noctis took his clothes from my passive hands. “I could soap up your back.”
The absurdity of the offer should have stirred up some righteous indignation within me. Instead, my cheeks warmed as I imagined his elegant fingers exploring every inch of me. How good would it feel if he pulled me against the hard lines of his body, skin on skin under the hot spray of the water?
I stood there for far longer than excusable, fighting myself, my whole body flushed, my heart beating hard and fast. In the end, I did the only thing I could do. I fled, ignoring the hoarse laughter ringing out behind me.
I had barely reached the courtyard when a loud noise made me pause: the wild snarls of a great beast mixed with rough curses in guttural Dwarfish.
Before I could react, the familiar wagon of the Underforges raced around the corner.
The two small ponies pulling it were throwing their heads around in panic.
Petite Dolores Underforge was holding the reins, urging them on with agitated cries.
Her husband Ulyss was on the back of the wagon, the white-haired Dwarf balancing precariously as he used his axe to fend off the growling wolf following just behind.
Nearly as big as one of the ponies, its gleaming white teeth like small daggers, the beast lunged for the wagon, its sharp claws burying deep into the wood.
A Serai. A Chaoswolf.
I hurried to the barn and grabbed my spear, which I had leaned against the wall for emergencies like this.
A sharp pain flashed through my wrist as I flew toward the wagon entering my courtyard.
It came to a harsh stop, the terrified ponies at the end of their strength.
Ulyss lost his balance with a surprised shout and fell on his backside.
The Serai loomed over him, snarling in triumph.
The thrust of my spear into the beast’s flank came just in time to prevent it from sinking its teeth into Ulyss’s arm.
The Serai whirled around with an angry, threatening growl.
Blood trickled down its grayish fur, but it remained on its paws, its yellow eyes fixed on me.
Curse it! Due to my injury, my attack had lacked its normal strength.
Instead of incapacitating the Chaoswolf, I had only enraged it.
Spittle flew as it prepared to lunge at me again.
I raised my spear, the iron tip aimed at the Serai’s snout, my arm muscles tensing in preparation.
The wolf’s gaze met mine, its eyes tinged with ominous amethyst and emerald hues.
Tanez’s dire warning echoed in my mind: fearsome creatures roam the lands.
I was discovering the truth of her words firsthand.