Born of Flames

Chapter 49 ~ A Life to Share

They didn't linger in the Gray Desert any longer than was necessary. It took only an hour for Morana to treat each of their injuries and heal them with barely a scar left behind. A few more hours were spent gathering the corpses of Astaroth's fallen and erecting pyres to burn them on. They even built one for Rhidian.

There would be no burials in this place, Morana had decided. No graves for people to desecrate once they learned that Astaroth was gone. While the bodies were burning, each of them helped scour the temple ruins to make sure not a single piece of Astaroth was left behind. They had found nothing out of the ordinary, save for the odd changes that followed Morana's footsteps.

Tarion had noticed them first and pointed them out. Everywhere she moved, small desert plants were popping up. Sturdy grasses, coarse shrubs, cacti with vibrant flowers, all springing up throughout the black sands. Even the sky had lost its grayness and was a stunning shade of blue.

When they were finally certain that no trace of Astaroth remained and the last of the bodies had crumbled into ash on cold pyres, they left the desert. Morana and Lonan divided everyone between themselves and portaled them away. Not to Ophir. None of them would set foot in that city again except to tear it down and rebuild.

And it wasn't time to return to Arcan just yet. There were a few plans to be made before then. After all, no one was entirely certain how they should introduce the new Morana to the Council of Elders.

Most of them seemed in agreement that her power to restore life should be kept hidden until they understood its limits and Morana was able to determine how she wanted to use it herself. They couldn't have the entire kingdom bringing corpses to her every time a loved one died, after all. There was still a balance to be maintained.

Instead, they returned to the Library of Drenusha. Only the acolytes were there when they arrived. Every single one of them had lined the garden pathways and bowed when Morana passed by. Many of the Ash Fae acolytes had stared after her with tears in their now colorful gazes.

They had all been situated in rooms, provided with food, fresh clothes, and additional medical supplies, before the acolytes returned to the main floor of the Library and left them in privacy. Arlon was glad Rehema had gone down with them. She appeared to be giving him space despite how obviously she wanted to speak with him, which he appreciated.

It gave him time to recover and think over the things his parents had shared. It also granted him some time with Neeri. She currently sat on a low-backed sofa before the fireplace, though only a few warm coals filled the grate. The room's windows had been left ajar as a soft rain fell outside, bringing out the fresh scent of damp earth.

Arlon stood beside one of the windows and breathed the scent deeply in an effort to ease the traces of fear he hadn't been able to shake off completely. Fear that none of this was real. That perhaps he really was dead and this was what his version of paradise looked like. He glanced over his shoulder and eyed the back of Neeri's head.

Her hair hung in tight freshly washed ringlets, still adorned by the beads the Little God had gifted her. She had been so quiet since their arrival. It worried him. As if sensing his gaze, her head shifted to one side and she watched him through the corner of her eye. Arlon pulled himself away from the window and crossed the room.

Neeri only continued to watch as he sat down beside her and clasped his hands in between his knees. "Are you all right?" She asked. "Ready to try to eat something?"

Arlon smiled but shook his head. She'd been trying to convince him to eat since they arrived, but oddly enough he wasn't very hungry. He wasn't thirsty either, or even tired. Perhaps an effect of his resurrection. It would be bound to catch up with him eventually, but not yet.