Medice Ceres

Chapter 43

Ceres took a sip of her tea and paused in thought as she gazed into the dwindling flames of the fire, those left following a hot breakfast. Likely she considered their next course of action, Waithe thought. For now, this was a much needed lazy day. It looked to be one of those beautiful autumn days that refreshed the spirit, with a cool crisp morning that would give way to a sunny comfortable afternoon, with just a hint of a breeze.

Last night, Alden had moved his bedroll to be next to Ceres. She slept most of the night snuggled up close to him. With the presence of others, especially Eira who always slept near Ceres, nothing more intimate happened. But the desires must have been there, even for these two.

Eira returned to the camp with Yorg in tow. The purple stains on her fingertips and around her lips indicated that she had again visited the blackberry patch. Waithe smiled. Yorg had become like a doting big brother to Eira, a very big one indeed. The contrast between the small little girl and the massive giant of a man still struck him.

Alden asked the question also on Waithe's mind. "What now, my Lady? Would we seek out and cure lands infested with the Taint?"

She shook her head. "There is too much of it, spread over far too much of the Realm. I would never cure it all. And no doubt Lord Scias' dark Shaman would oppose me."

"Then enlist the Order of Medice to assist. It need not be all on your shoulders, my dear Ceres. I know Reverend Quar opposed this, but with the evidence my mother holds against her, she may well be ousted at the next Council of Lords."

"That is too long off, by then Scias may secure his bid to become Overlord. A fugitive I still am." She blew out an audible breath. "Thus far have we evaded Scias, but eventually he would take me. And there still is the matter of the Darkness that Raste harnesses."

Waithe spoke up. "Something else troubles me. There be Darkness in Scias' land of Kust, but have you noticed that we have seen so little of the Taint here? Just that at the apple orchard near the eastern border."

Ceres lifted her eyebrows. "Aye..."

"Think of it. The Taint weakens the lands of all the other Lords, but not that of Lord Scias. Meanwhile, he builds a huge army."

Alden's eyes widened. "If the other Lands become weakened by the Taint, no one could oppose him. He would become Overlord by default, or easily take it by force. But how does he avoid the Taint in his land?"

Ceres answered. "Raste. With enough control over the Darkness, he may suppress it in his own land while allowing it to spread in all other lands. I know now this is possible. And the more Darkness there is in the Realm, the faster the Taint would spread. Somehow, I must stop this dark Shaman."

Alden grasped her shoulders. "Ceres, do not put this burden all on yourself! Come back to my land of Woest. Let us form a coalition to oppose Scias. My father would surely agree and many other Lords would also."

Waithe shook his head. "Scias would form his own coalition. There would be war. One we may not win."

Ceres dipped her head. "That is why I must face Raste."

Alden threw up his hands and raised his voice. "Ceres, nay! Great efforts have Scias and Raste made to capture you, and now you would deliver yourself to them? They have a dark purpose for you."

"But I have learned to control the Darkness. I may be able to wrest it from him and then send it away."

Waithe asked, "Why not just kill him and be done with it?"

Ceres shook her head. "Nay, although the man may die, the Darkness would remain. So it was with Sorne, the Darkness and Taint that he brought forth years ago did not pass with him."