The Forsaken Hero

Aerion’s brow furrowed. He stared at me for a long while, then at Luke. He didn’t seem convinced, but, after sharing a long look with Selena, he finally nodded.

”Very well,” he said. ”You were able to defeat it before. I see no reason not to trust you now. You would know better than anyone if your power was insufficient. And what of you, demon?”

Fyren snorted, folding his arms. ”I will fight where the Oracle needs me. Should that be at her side, or aiding another against a lich, I will see it done.”

And so it was decided, and targets chosen. Incinderus and Zephyrsis, accompanied by a detachment of evolved demons and soldiers of the Company, would each eliminate a lich. With me handling the dragon, and Selena volunteering for another, that left only two for the elvish elites to defeat themselves.

”There is but one matter left to discuss,” Aerion said, his voice grave. ”What of the infernal curses woven within the Black Mist? Have we ascertained their sources?”

I shook my head. ”We still don’t know. But I’m positive there’s not a demon force within the city. I would have seen something if there were.”

”It’s likely a rogue agent, or a small cell of spies,” Luke said. ”Should they attempt to interfere in the battle, I will eliminate them myself. I will not permit any of the hordes to defy my authority.”

”We’ll be in your care, then,” Aerion said. He then turned to Bethiv. ”Commander, I would ask that you lead your ten thousand in the initial engagement, under the fire of the unassigned skyships. My elves will wait in behind these ridges here, and here,” he said, pointing, ”Once you’ve drawn the Risen and their liches out, we’ll engage from the sides.”

”Any particular reason, your majesty?” Bethiv asked.

Aerion gave him a half smile. ”I’m afraid my forces are yet untested against the Risen, and I worry that they might not be properly prepared for the horrors ahead. Many of those we fight will be elves, taken from the southern cities of Sylvarus. They will need a light, an example of how to stand fast against the tides of darkness. There are none braver or more stalwart than you.”

”I thank you for your kind words. I shall be sure to relay them to my soldiers before the battle begins.” Bethiv glanced at me, looking for approval. When I nodded, he continued, ”We will stand at the front. May the Risen see just how bright the last light of the north truly is.”

There were a few more details: individual assignments to commanders,s organizing the supply lines, and selecting which skyships to deploy where, but I took the opportunity to slip away, my mind filled with the weight of what we would face tomorrow. I’d seen tomorrow play out a hundred different ways, but the moment I opened my mouth to speak, none of them became relevant anymore. We’re headed for uncharted skies to discover just which future our fate holds.

R’lissea followed me outside, resting her arms on the railing as we gazed at the earth below. Twilight gathered, the gloom thick like a blanket, smothering the land.

”What are you thinking about?” she asked.

I looked up, gazing at the stars spread out overhead, twinkling gold and silver. ”I hope I gave them the right star to follow.”

She was quiet for a moment. ”They trust you. I trust you. If you think we can win, then we can.”

”He’s strong, R’lissea. Stronger than you, Korra, or Gayron. Stronger than Luke, maybe.”

”He always has been. In my mind, I mean. Even when our fight ended in a draw last time, it was still a loss. I couldn’t stop him; he escaped to hurt more people. I won’t let that happen again, no matter what it takes. I won’t lose.”

”I know.” I turned to her, giving her an encouraging smile. ”He’s been stealing the mana of millions, more than either of us can comprehend. But all power requires sacrifice. Whether in the making or the taking, there is a price to pay. And I don’t think he’s paid it.”

She let out a sigh. ”You know, sometimes you’re even more cryptic than Fate. What is that even supposed to mean? Is it a hint?”

I smiled, patting her hand. ”It’s just a feeling. There is strength in earning your power, in owning it. Just remember that.”

She rolled her eyes. ”You’re impossible. I’m remembering this next time you complain about Fate.”

I chuckled, giving her one last hug before she left, leaving me with the sea of stars. It was nice to have a quiet moment to myself. I’d missed that in Duskwood.

I wasn’t alone for long before Luke found me, taking my place on the railing. The wind tousled his hair, pulling a few strands across his forehead. His face was stern, distant.

”Are you alright?” I asked, leaning against him. ”Are you worried about the dragon?”

He shook his head. ”Its fate was sealed the moment you decided Fable would join us. No, I’m thinking of the curse. Are you certain you haven’t seen anything?”

”Well...not about the Risen,” I admitted.

He raised an eyebrow, and I shared about the rogue hordes gathering on the southern continent. His brow furrowed, his tail flicking irritably.

”Damn it all,” he groaned, rubbing his horn. ”Jessia said that might be the case, but I figured she was just playing her games. The emperors assured me all gates were being sent to the north to muster with our forces.”

”You speak with the emperors?” I asked, alarmed.

”Sort of. They communicate with their demons, who then share the message with me.”

”That doesn’t seem very reliable.”

”It’s not, or rather, it wouldn’t be for humans. But no demon can deceive the one who holds their bonds. Even should they try to lie, I would see it immediately.”

”And what if the emperor’s message was a lie?”

”There’s no way to know, but if it was their intention to sabotage us apostles, they would have seen it done during the contest with Rash’alon.”

I shivered at the name, and Luke lifted his arm, settling it around my shoulder. I rested on my head in the hollow of his shoulder.

”Whoever’s doing this must be working on their own. I just can’t imagine what they might be after. That’s what worries me. If I don’t understand their intentions, there’s no way to predict what they might do.”

”You could ask Jessia to figure it out.”

”Not with the world barrier active, nor could I send her into the Black Mist unprotected. And even if she was willing to go, what am I going to do, trust her to tell me everything?” He barked a bitter laugh, but it choked in a long sigh. ”I’ll think about it, alright?”

”Okay.” I nodded, looking out over the land. The moon had risen, a pale sliver against the black tapestry. ”It’s dark, isn’t it?”

He chuckled, rubbing my shoulder. ”Is that your way of telling me you want to go to bed?”

My cheeks warmed, and I nestled against. ”Something like that.”

His tail brushed against mine, and his hand slid from my shoulder, tracing my spine, until it came to rest on my lower back. I looked at him, heart fluttering, and his lips quirked in a smile. My eyes lidded, and I leaned up my tiptoes, resting my hands on his chest. His face gentled, but his grin widened, and his other hand shot out. I yelped as he suddenly picked me up, hefting me in his arms like I weighed nothing.

”Luke!”

”I thought you said you were tired. I’m just helping you to your room!” he laughed, spinning toward the entrance to the quarters.

He moved so quickly that the wind tugged at my hair, and I squeaked, hugging his neck. He had to be doing that on purpose.

”I can walk,” I protested as he strode across the deck. I could feel the stares of the soldiers we passed, but Luke didn’t seem to notice, or care. I, on the other hand, buried my face in his chest to hide the crimson creeping up my neck.

”Don’t,” I mumbled when he started chuckling.

”I think it’s cute,” he whispered. He stopped before my cabin door, shifting my weight to one arm so he could open it.

My heart hammered in my chest as he carried me inside. His arms tightened as he lowered my feet to the ground, but he didn’t let go. We just stood there in the dark, with only the moonlight and the glimmer from Effulgent Dawn cutting through the window, casting us in silver and gold.

”I’ll see you in the morning,” he whispered, letting me go.

”Wait!” I caught his hand. ”Don’t go yet, I...”

”You...?” he raised an eyebrow as I stammered, blushing furiously.

What was I thinking, grabbing him like that? I didn’t even have a reason!

”I, er...oh, I have this,” I stammered, pulling him over to my desk.

His eyes widened as he saw the leather-bound journal sitting on it.

”You had it?” he gasped, reaching toward it with both hands. He picked it up and, turning to stare at me, tail twitching. ”This whole time? I thought Jessia stole it!”