Mages of Rubia ✔️

40

It's time for our final attack. We've been scouting, looking for Arden's body. We've determined they must be hidden well, likely only Azarius knows where.

I visit Aspen before the battle. A small creature that looks like him is at his side.

"Who's this?"

"Tree. I found her in a patch of grass. She is a child."

I smile. "That's lovely, Aspen. Hello, Tree. I'm your uncle, Lief."

She bows clumsily, half falling on her spindly limbs.

"I'm sorry, my brother."

I wave my hand. "We're finding their body today. We may need you."

He nods. "I will come."

"Shouldn't you stay with Tree?"

"She will be fine for one night."

He presses his head to hers and speaks quietly, she ambles off.

"Is it nice? Having a child?"

"Brother... I do not want to hurt you."

I nod. It must be wonderful. He still seems so happy.

"What time?"

"As soon as it gets dark. We're hoping the civilians will be asleep."

-

It took months to grow the vines back enough to use. We put the sap on every weapon. In case the first battle doesn't work, we need them to stay wounded long enough for a second battle.

It feels terrible to be using such a weapon against my people, but if it'll help recover Arden, that's all I need. They deserve their proper burial in Himnoa.

"Have you dreamed recently, Lief?" Ravana asks.

"No. I don't sleep well enough."

"Burning the candle at both ends. It's just... your mind and Arden's were connected. We never figured out what would happen to your mind if we lost them."

"Well, I feel mostly the same."

"You are. Your mind is still just as familiar. I can feel..." He trails off, hiding his face in his hands.

"I know. It feels like Arden's."

I hear him sob. It strikes me that I've never seen Ravana cry. I've seen him angry, I've seen him bare his teeth.

I press a hand to his back, and he leans into me, burying his face in my shoulder. His horns knock slightly against my head.

"It's okay, love. It's okay."

-

We move in just before dark, staking out until the moon is out. Aspen approaches me, silent on his feet. His voice is a distant whisper.

"What's the plan?"

"You're a distraction. If you're attacked, fight back, but they've never seen a beaston before."

He touches his head to mine.

We start picking off the guards with arrows once it's dark enough, silently dropping them. There's no time for them to even shout. Then we drop down the walls.

I go straight for the tower, slapping an invisibility spell over myself and climbing to Azarius's room as silently as possible.

I find him sobbing on the floor, with Cooper on the bed. There's too much red. Splatters of blood all over him. I haul him up by his shirt, becoming visible.