Delphinium, or A Necromancer's Home (TCoLaD Book 2)

A Favor

~ Dvoday, 7th of Aprilis, 11831 ~

"It looks a bit suspicious that you are so attached to my trunk."

It was after dinner and camp had been set for the evening. They were three days from Spadille now, this half of the journey going well. They were now down to those that were specifically heading to Piques' capital— Pierre's party and the guards and servants that the castle had deemed he need travel with. Among those were several from Eichel as well, for Elizabeth's sake. Those from Eichel would stay with Lizzy, while the castle guards and servants would return home shortly after arrival.

Wolfram, who was a guest of Pierre's more than a servant though the boy tried to help as much as possible, sat near the wagons that held the baggage. In particular by the decorated trunk that used to sit in front of Pierre's bed at the castle.

"I would rather seem odd than have anyone open it and look inside, Your Grace," the boy replied.

True enough. Inside, underneath some sheets, was the body of a young girl Pierre had killed. It was on behalf of Wolfram and the girl herself, of course, but that made it no less immoral or illegal. That he intended to bring her back to life doubly so.

"Tell me about her," Pierre asked, sitting down beside Wolfram. "I have come to know some about you, but not her. What is a girl from the swan-folk's land doing in Father's court?"

"Cygnati," Wolfram corrected. "That is their word for their bestia. And she came in search of me."

"Oh?"

The boy smiled. "They have soul-mates. Those born cygnati have always had a past life where they swore to love another for all their future rebirths. They sense this person, in a way, but to be certain there are rituals done. Mostly they are other cygnati, but sometimes they are from other lands.

"She found out through a ritual that I, her past husband, was in Triumphe. Her parents did not wish her to leave so young, but she disobeyed and stowed away on a ship to come find me. We only knew each other half a year when she began to fall ill late last summer. I left Bellotas to find Lord Ophion in desperation. He took me in to teach and help me. I do not know if this is an illness from this land that her body cannot deal with, or something that only affects her people, but everything Ophion and I tried failed. She just got worse, and I... began to study more desperate measures with him. In the end, I was not enough."

"She will be well," Pierre said. "I give you my word."

"Salome. Her name is Salome."

Pierre nodded and settled back against the trunk which held her body.

"And you and she were wed in a past life?"

"Oui," Wolfram said softly. "She says that in her dreams she remembers moments, and perhaps I will too after we wed in this life. We've spoken about marrying when we're older, and her parents finally accepted her departure as she had found me and was safe... Then she fell ill. We never told her parents that. Then she asked to die. I could not... I just wished to do as she desired. I did not want her in pain and—"

Pierre placed a hand on his shoulder when the younger boy stopped speaking, gripping the edges of the trunk and holding on until his fingertips were white.

"She will be well," Pierre repeated. Wolfram only nodded, taking a deep breath to compose himself.

"I do have a question," he said. At Pierre's nod he continued. "What if the body has decayed? It may be months by the time I am ready to try and bring her back."

"She will not decay," Pierre said. "I have made it so that the microanimalia will not feast on her. But even if a corpse were bones there is a possibility to resurrect the life as long as it is all gathered together. A missing arm or a leg could be regrown, I suppose... I have never tried. It is more likely if one is missing a limb then they will remain without one once they have returned."