Page 62 of Darkness Births the Stars #1
CHAPTER
Noctis
T hroughout the ages, I had mastered the art of snooping discreetly.
After Rada’s departure, I didn’t search the house right away.
My little queen was no fool. The likelihood of her coming back to catch me in the act was high.
So I focused on farm duties first, tending to the chickens and guiding the araks into the pasture.
A grin formed on my face as they obeyed effortlessly, settling into the lush greenery to graze.
Then, I headed to the back of the house. I knew where Rada hid her lyr -stones, but I suspected she had more secrets. And I was determined to find out what they were.
I chose the window instead of the door of the guest room she kept so meticulously closed. A good decision. Using the tip of my dagger, I opened it with ease.
A wild array of boxes and supplies greeted me.
I scanned them, hoping to find something interesting.
My initial search was fruitless, so I turned my attention to the wooden closet against one wall.
Inside, I found a chest inlaid with unhallowed lyr -stones.
I frowned when I opened it to see a large metal scrying bowl hidden within.
When touched with Air magic, such a bowl could be used to contact someone over vast distances.
Rada owned an Air stone; had she been secretly exchanging information all this time? With one of the Ten, perhaps? About me?
I pushed the bowl aside brusquely, a hint of hurt mingling with my anger. Despite our troubled history, I had never really expected her to sell me out to the Council—or to my brother. I hadn’t thought she would ever…
Ever betray me again? Even when she had done so more times than I could count? Stars, I remained an incorrigible fool when it came to her.
The discovery of the Chaosdagger did not halt the dark spiral of my thoughts; its incessant hissing only fueled my anger.
I tore away the cloth Rada had wrapped around it without a second thought.
Power pulsed in my grasp. So ridiculously weak compared to what I had once commanded, but the feeling of it—Maker, I had missed this.
My eyes closed. Tendrils of Chaos magic danced around my fingers. Why shouldn’t I wield it? Everyone condemned me, no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, and…
I had paid for that power. Had paid for it in blood and pain. It was mine.
Loud moans from outside sliced through my frantic thoughts.
The araks. Something had stirred unrest among them.
Despite the commotion, I could not tear my eyes away from the dagger.
The hissing in my ears intensified. Tempting me.
Hues of purple and emerald flickered within the lyr -stone set in the dagger’s hilt. It wanted me to use it.
A howl tore through the air, swiftly met by two others in response. The haunting sound finally freed me from the enchantment I had been under. I dashed to the window, the dagger still tightly clenched in my hand.
The sight that awaited me made me curse viciously.
Three Serai—Chaoswolves. Canines as long as my hand gleamed menacingly in the sunlight.
They were dangerous predators, especially when they hunted in packs.
Still, it was curious that they would dare to attack an entire herd of araks.
The huge, shaggy creatures were difficult prey, closing their ranks with only their horns facing out toward the attackers circling them on the grass.
One Serai howled again, the sound reverberating endlessly, before it lunged at the closest arak—Selma, if I was not mistaken—and tried to climb on her back, its claws digging into her sides.
With one smooth move, I seized the windowsill and leaped outside, the agitated sounds of the araks and their attackers a cacophony in my ears. Rada would be heartbroken if anything happened to her beloved animals. I needed to save them.
Chaos magic scorched the earth, hurling clods of dirt skyward in a series of small explosions.
Brandishing the Chaosdagger, I charged into the fray with a thunderous roar, hoping to intimidate the Serai into seeking a less formidable adversary.
Selma took advantage of the distraction to dislodge the attacker from her back, a yelp escaping the Chaoswolf as it hit the ground.
It swiftly recovered, springing back on its paws and rejoining its companions.
Together, they advanced, their teeth exposed in threatening snarls, the tumultuous glint of Chaos shining in their eyes.
So that explained their aggressive behavior. They were under the influence of untamed Chaos magic. Curse it, they wouldn’t give up easily. I had to act before they attacked all at once.
Drawing on the magic within the dagger, I struck the ground before the wolves, sending lashing tongues of emerald and amethyst flames toward their sensitive muzzles.
Terrifying as the wolves were, they remained animals, ruled by an instinctual fear of fire and pain.
I succeeded in driving them back, their shrill howls piercing the air as flames rained down upon them.
One’s tail caught fire, and it snapped at it, clawing and biting in a mad frenzy.
For a fleeting, terrible moment, I yearned to never cease—to obliterate them, to incinerate everything.
Power surged wildly in my veins, magic crackling between my fingertips.
Yes, this was what being alive felt like—not that pitiful mortal existence, merely surviving from day to day.
The power to create and destroy was in my hands, mine to command. I laughed. Oh, when I showed Baradaz…
Baradaz.
She would be livid if she found out how I had let the seductive rush of magic carry me away.
The hand holding the dagger lowered, the magic slowly dissipating.
I stood motionless, not attempting to halt the wolves’ escape as they scurried away in terror.
It was only the damp touch of Alma’s nose against my other hand that anchored me back to reality.
A few hours later, Rada returned, perched on her little wagon, Bane at her side.
By then, I had treated Selma’s wounds—thankfully just a couple of shallow scratches—and herded the araks back into the barn.
Poppy trotted into the courtyard, her head hanging down tiredly, sweat darkening her chestnut coat.
Rada must have hurried back. Was it because she didn’t trust me?
“What happened?” Her eyes widened at the sight of the scorch marks on the grass, then shifted to me. Her lips formed a thin line when she noticed the Chaosdagger tucked nonchalantly into my tunic’s belt. I was tired of pretending for her sake.
“Serai attack,” I answered curtly, small sparks of Chaos magic flickering in the hilt’s lyr -stone as my fingers played over it absentmindedly, the power a reassuring hum over my skin.
“How many?”
“Three.” It was getting harder to keep my voice level, to refrain from hurling forth the accusations that had churned in my mind for hours, poisoning my mood. “The araks are fine. Selma sustained a few scratches, but they’re not severe.”
Rada nodded and turned toward Poppy, busying herself with freeing the tired little mare of her tack before leading her over to the stable to rub her down. I followed her after a moment of indecision. This was not how I had thought this conversation would go.
Once Poppy was back in her stall and tended to, Rada turned to me again. Her expression was inscrutable as she asked, “Did you use the dagger?”
“Yes, I used the dagger,” I growled, advancing toward her. “What else was I to use, woman? It’s not as if…”
I paused. The fact that she was not retaliating, not the slightest hint of anger or reproach on her face, only slowly reached my agitated mind.
“You are not angry at me?”
A trace of amusement curled the corner of her mouth as she breezed past me to retrieve a hay bale from the back of the stable.
“Well,” she called out, hoisting it up and tossing it into Poppy’s stall, where the mare began to nibble contentedly.
“Three Serai would have been hard to run off with a sword. I know how bad you are with Water and Air, and if you used Fire… Let’s just say I don’t want to rebuild this farm.
” Her eyes returned to the dagger at my hip, her to ne mocking.
“It’s curious you had that dagger oh so conveniently at hand, though.
You’ve been snooping around in my absence, haven’t you? ”
I was so taken aback by her reaction that I could only watch in silence as she struggled with one of the heavy water barrels, groaning as she attempted to roll it over.
Snapping out of my stupor, I rushed to assist her.
My ire had almost entirely dissipated, replaced by an unfamiliar sense of guilt.
I detested the sensation; it was like an itch that I couldn’t reach.
“You are not angry with me,” I repeated, still not quite believing it. Why did she never act as I anticipated?
Rada leaned against the wooden wall next to Nacin’s stall with a sigh, petting him when he peeked curiously out.
“No. I know you.” Her eyes locked with mine once more, now carrying a somber expression.
“I am thankful you saved my animals,” she said, motioning toward the weapon I held.
“But now, return the dagger to me, Noctis.”
Renewed suspicion pulsed within me, darkened by the thought that her acceptance could have been a ploy to weaken my guard and seize what belonged to me.
“The dagger wasn’t the only item I discovered in that chest,” I said, circling the water barrel to corner her against the wall. “Who have you been in contact with?”
She surprised me again. Instead of shrinking back at my harsh tone, she met my gaze calmly. “Tanez.”