Sins of Calate: BOOK II OF THE FOUR REALMS SERIES

Part X | Theodan

His teeth grew down from his jaw, his claws shooting out as he strained against the grip of the guards.

'Do not be a fool, Theodan,' Paeris said, as a row of Menodice rushed forward, their black armour shining almost silver under the moon. 'You think I have not already given the order to kill them both should a single drop of blood be spilt?'

'It is only your blood I want, Paeris!' Theodan growled, flashing his fangs. 'Fight me now, here under His gaze. Let no other bear the cast of our enmity. Cut me down if you can.' He pulled free of the hold of the guards, turned slightly and smashed the back of his fist against the Menodice's helmet. The guard staggered back onto the grass his legs weakening beneath him. Ducking the blow of another, he kicked out and knocked the guard's feet out from under him, before twisting to dodge a crushing blow from a third. Menodice swarmed into the grove. He could not fight them all, he knew. But he had but one true target. Bent on murder, he turned and lunged toward Paeris. 

Vala cried out. White-hot pain burst like thunder across his skull.

He fell to his knees clutching at his head, which felt as though it had been cleaved open from behind.  Yet when he touched his hand to it he felt no blood, no wound.  He looked behind him for his assailant but saw instead what had caused his injury.

The world tilted as he blinked, agony spearing through his vision, through his jaw, his neck.  As Menodice swarmed around her, Ismene stood a short distance away.  Apology swam in her eyes as she began to walk toward him slowly.

Through the agony, he tried to raise himself to his feet but could not manage it.  A pain unlike any he had ever known so that he could barely draw breath. A poker rammed through his temple. Crunching and scraping against his skull. Somewhere he could hear a female sob quietly.

So she had betrayed him after all. She had freed him from the rock only to lead him here to his death. It made no sense. Nothing made sense. He could not think

'Why?' he asked as she drew closer. His throat raw from agony.

Ismene knelt by his side and touched a hand to his head, tender. Then, as sudden as it had struck, it was gone. He could breathe, could see, could think. The relief from the bone-crushing agony brought tears to his eyes. Glorious painlessness flooded into him, his lids closing from the overwhelming peace he felt. Gently, he felt her slide something into his hand, a piece of ridged metal, hot from her touch and spiked on one side. She pressed his hand closed tight around it.

'So good of you to finally join us, Ismene,' he heard Paeris say.

As she stood her body trembled, her eyes sparkling with a faint sheen of silver. Power flowed from her.

'I would die a thousand torturous deaths before joining this barbarity, Paeris of Mennir.'

Theodan blinked open his eyes, his mind slowly turning over her tone, her words. Perhaps as it had not yet come fully back to its centre he misunderstood? Finally, he was able to move his neck, lifting it slightly as he discreetly turned out his palm to see what Ismene had placed in it. His heart bloomed, the blood pumping from it through his veins, his soul brightening: Fara's hairpin.

How had Ismene been in possession of it? He himself had stolen it from the pocket of Fara's cloak before returning it to her in the Meadow, before telling her goodbye, before making his promise.  He had been unable to bear losing all of her. He knew it meant much to her for she had risked all to recover it.  Though he'd been riven with guilt at taking it from her, he had made a silent promise to return it. One day, when they were united once more, he'd slide it himself into the thick honeyed waves of her hair.  But for now it was all he had left of she who was his soul, his strength.