The War God's Wife

Chapter 3: Trial and Error

I stared at the life-stealer, rain dripping down my whole body. It had been two days since my traitor mouth and I had agreed to destroy the stone as repayment for my debt. The mortals had also agreed to feed and house me for the time I spent while making my attempts. And I knew I would need many. Why in the name of sun, sky, wind, and wave would you agree to this?! I screamed at myself. You may be immortal, but it will drain Tel'mak energy just as well as it does mortal! Fool!

"Shut up," I muttered to myself.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to disturb you." I twisted to find the girl--Calliena, I remembered--stepping away, blushing in shame.

"No, nothing like that!" I stammered. I cleared my throat to quiet the sudden thumping of my heart. "You weren't disturbing me," I tried again, speaking softly and gently. "In fact, I would greatly appreciate the company." Her face immediately brightened, and she spread her skirts out to sit on the grass beside me. Silence lapsed over us. I returned to staring crossly at the life-stealer before me, taunting me with its glossy surface. I scowled and fought the urge to stick my tongue out at it. Better to not act shamefully before the mortals. I blinked and looked to my side. The girl stared at me expectantly. She'd said something to me.

"Huh?" I said blankly. Her lips twitched into a teasing smile, which sent lightning down my spine.

"Are you going to destroy it now?" she repeated. I didn't answer for a long minute, my hesitant gaze returning once more to the life-stealer. Her smile faded.

"Can you destroy it?" she asked softly. I felt a flare of annoyance.

"It's not that simple," I snapped. Her eyes narrowed, and I felt a shiver run down my spine, a tingle of excitement. Oooo, she's fun. I jerked my head back over to the life-stealer, as if I could also use the motion to shake such thoughts free from my mind.

"There are precious few of such rocks, even fewer of such size. Even in my travels all over Ultima, across the Endless Sea and even to the east of the Volterra Mountains, I've never seen a life-stealer of that size."

"So then why did you agree to destroy it when you don't think you can?" Thunder and fury, she was sharp! A part of my brain growled in appreciation for such pretty insight in an even prettier mortal. That part also wondered what her kiss tasted like. I chose to glare instead.

"I don't know if I can," I corrected. "But I do think I can." With that I shoved myself to my feet and strode over to the glossy rock. I felt pressure against my ribs as the life-stealer began to feed off my energy. I cracked my knuckles, took a deep breath, and grabbed it.

Immediately, I felt my bones bend and creak as invisible forces slammed down onto my body. My gasp was lost to the roaring in my ears as a ravenous feeling devoured the energy in my well, sucking up every spare drop. There was nothing before me but the suction, the world-rending thirst. My vision flashed to blinding white. My muscles screamed with exertion as I pushed against an empty void. Then it was gone. I felt an impact in my body, but the noise in my ears painted my vision a mess of color and gray. My hands dug into the mud, and I grounded my senses on the feel of the slick, rough grains between my fingers. As my body adjusted, I turned and vomited, the action sending liquid fire coursing up my side. Gradually, my vision returned, as did my strength. With shaking hands, I dragged myself away from the life-stealer, panting with each pull. My right arm was yanked up, and I glanced up to find the girl dragging me the rest of the way, her teeth gritted with effort. Well, that's hot.

"What in th' seven moons was that?!" Apparently, my attempt had not gone unnoticed by the other mortal. I drew a shaky hand through my hair, not even registering the mud I streaked through it.