The Forsaken Hero

”This is the rendezvous?” I asked, staring dumbly down at the dark forest. ”But...I don’t sense anyone!”

”Aerion’s sent a few ships out, scouting for any sign of what happened here. Do you know where your forces are?” Luke asked.

”I didn’t see this,” I whispered, shivering. ”The mist shouldn’t be this far. He doesn’t have enough mana to sustain its reach.”

”And yet it is. Focus, Xiviyah. We need to find them quickly and figure out what’s going on. If the undead hero has developed a new power, we need to figure it out before the main force arrives.”

”Fyren?” I asked, sending a stream of soulspeak bundled in anxiety.

His answer was immediate, and I took a deep breath, calmed by his steady soul speak. ”Incinderus relocated the horde and the mortal army last night, about an hour before the fleet arrived, while you slept. They’re not missing, simply a few miles west.”

”You didn’t wake me?” I asked, looking behind us, searching the deck for any sign of Fyren.

”I’m not there, but I wouldn’t have anyway,” he said, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice. ”I’m already with the Devoted. I flew there as soon as they detected something was off. Stay with the apostle of curses until you arrive. He’ll keep you safe in my stead.”

”What’s he saying?” Luke asked with an urgency that reminded me he hadn’t heard any of it so far.

”That, um...I should stay with you,” I said, snuggling closer. ”Because you’re warm.”

He snorted. ”Somehow, I doubt that. But if you’re in the mood to tease me, it must be alright.”

Smiling, I explained to him everything Fyren shared, from their location to the incident that forced their relocation. When I finished, Luke waved over a soldier, giving him a message for the captain. Not ten minutes later, the fleet was on its way once more.

”What happened?” R’lissea asked as she approached, nibbling on a slice of dry bread. For some reason, Borealis was on her shoulder, taking the occasional crumb she offered him.

”Fyren said the Black Mist rolled in a few hours ago. He didn’t say why, but the Devoted and Last Light Company relocated,” I explained.

She frowned, looking down below, at the stricken forest. ”That’s...not possible. We’re still a day’s fight from the city Gayron destroyed the shard at. After the battle, the mist retreated even further back, failing even to reach the walls. How could it be here?”

”That’s the mystery,” Luke said.

”Would you share your eyes with me?” she asked.

I waved my hand, soul casting Link Ability. She blinked as her eyes flushed with gold, taking a steadying step.

”Wow,” she breathed, pressing a hand to her head, massaging her eyes. ”It’s even more visceral than before. I didn’t realize the Soul Binder made that much of a difference.”

”It is, isn’t it?” I asked, grinning. Over the last few days, since I bound myself to Luke, my soul had undergone a qualitative transformation. Not just an increase in the amount of power I could safely marshal, but the efficacy of my abilities. Where I had struggled to consciously control Adaptive Resistance and the Oracle of Eternity, they now fell neatly in line.

Slightly less convenient was the effect it had on my aura. With every passing day, the golden mist spread, becoming brighter and farther reaching. Hiding from anyone was impossible, and oftentimes, even the third-level sailors knew I was approaching before I even opened the door, the stars flowing like mist before me. Twice now, I’d accidentally given an elf a vision, first a maid in the manor, and then Luke just yesterday, as we flew over the forest.

”I’m curious to see how effective you are in battle,” Luke mused, idly rubbing my arm in gentle stroking motions.

”What do you see?” I asked R’lissea.

”The Black Mist’s acting strange,” she mused, rubbing her chin. ”The mana currents are agitated, nothing like what we studied before. Whatever’s happening isn’t driven by a shard.”

”It feels strange to me, too,” Luke said. ”It almost feels like a curse, but that’s not possible. In our campaign against him, the undead Hero never once showed proclivity for curses.”

Before we could draw any conclusions, we left the Black Mist behind, returning to healthy, green forests. I ran to the back of the ship, watching the mist. Sure enough, it was continuing to expand, swallowing more and more territory.

”Not a good sign,” Captain Melvett said from beside me.

I jumped a little, not having seen him approach. ”It’s not?”

”Most of our forces aren’t strong enough to spend any real amount of time in its darkness. The Life Hero’s spell is effective, but is very demanding of the mages. The longer they’re forced to march through it, the less mana they’ll have for the battle, which means more casualties.”

”Oh. It’s fast-moving, too. How far are we from the rendezvous?”

”About ten miles.”

”And it’s only been like six hours,” I said, turning back to the advancing mistline. ”That’s like forty miles a day. The only question is whether it’s sustainable progress or not.”

”Let’s hope not. It will take a week for the main force to arrive. At that point, slogging through to the capital of Ornth will take an entire week. We’ll be in no position to engage the Risen. I’d better inform the King of this development.”

”I can do it,” I said, taking a step back. ”I want to talk to Selena anyway.”

He saluted and left, shouting orders to begin preparations for our arrival. Luke finally caught up to me, having been speaking with R’lissea. I explained the situation and looked up at him pleadingly.

”You want to fly?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.

I looked down, fingering the hem of my sleeve. ”So, um...”

His face softened with a smile. ”You can’t even ask?”

”Could you...carry me...?” I whispered.

He broke into a wide grin, and he pulled back with theatrical exaggeration, gasping. ”What? Xiviyah’s asking to fly?”

”Luke!” I blushed, my tail twitching furiously.

Still laughing, he swept me in his arms and rose into the air. I squeaked, hugging his neck tightly as we streaked across the sky. Below us, the trees parted around dozens of trails of smoke, the campfires of the Last Light Company. Their tents and banners spread beneath us, the glint of their armor and souls a sea of light. Though we were likely too far to see, I gave a small, self-conscious wave as they looked up, the hum of our fleet announcing our arrival into their skies.

The Devoted were scattered around the last Light Company, a tide of darkness that served to complement rather than oppose the gleaming mortal camp. The towering forms of monstrous evolved demons rose above the tree tops, while storm, air, and other flying demons patrolled above. A few storm demons, ones whose souls I recognized from Duskwood, greeted us with bursts of soulspeak.

In only seconds, we were standing on the deck of the Seraph. A few soldiers with hard eyes and hands on their weapons surrounded us, relaxing only as Aerion approached.

”Peace,” he said, motioning for the guard to stand down. ”The Oracle is always welcome in my presence.”

I waited for Luke to let me down, and when he didn’t, squirmed, my cheeks red. Reluctantly, he set me down, keeping his hand on my hip, holding me close. I stared at him, mortified, though he seemed utterly unfazed. Had he intended just to hold me in front of the king?

I tugged my dress straight, conscious of the eyes on us, and gave a slight curtsey. ”Your Majesty, thank you for making time for us.”

Aerion smiled faintly. ”Please, drop the formality. As I said before, you are a friend and a guest, not a subject. While some decorum is requisite in the court, we are at war. I would not that anyone should censor or soften their words when doing so could lead to wasted time or a crippling miscommunication.”

”R-right,” I stammered, straightening. Now, I felt grateful for Luke’s hand, taking comfort in his possessiveness as I explained, yet again, our conclusions surrounding the mist. But I didn’t even get a chance to demonstrate our predicted effects on the army, for Aerion realized it before I could try.

”Let’s hope your forces on the ground know something more,” he said, a crease worrying his brow. ”I would like to greet them personally.”

”My Lord,” Esvitt said from behind, ”They may be our allies, but there are tens of thousands of demons down there. Are you certain you wish to endanger yourself among them?”

Aerion turned, silencing him with a glare. ”That is an insult to the Oracle and the sacrifices her soldiers have made on behalf of our kingdom. To suggest they might betray us, after spilling so much of their own blood, is unbecoming of a member of my court.”

”Forgive me, my Lord,” he said, bowing low. ”It will not happen again.”

Aerion sighed, returning his gaze to me. ”We are coming upon them soon. Would you allow me to accompany you?”