FOREVER KNIGHTS: #13 Salvaging Souls

En Route to LandingTown, Igonox

Walking toward LandingTown, Igonox, Sebastian took his time. Walking on human feet to enjoy the fresh air. And breeze through his untethered hair. Fanning his face.

Bloody vicious woman! He thought. Realizing it made him stomp.

He was a little surprised when Rhyers fell into step with him. “Sounded like that went well?”

The devil it did!

“Where the bloody hell did you come from?” Sebastian asked.

Why are you always so damnably quiet?

“Fine mood you’re in, I see.” Rhyers said in his usual decisive tone. “I was upstairs. Couldn’t help but hear you down the corridor.”

Couldn’t help? Bast knew there was always someone eavesdropping.

“Perhaps she’s right.” He said bitterly.

“About your daughter?”

Not that part.

“About her being better off away from WaterRose.” He corrected.

“She’s safer though.”

I know that.

“But is it right for a little girl to be stuck like a prisoner?”

“I don’t think she feels like she’s in prison.” Rhyers shrugged. “She’s all of our sunshine.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know well we all love her.” Rhyers said. “My stays are certainly brighter at WaterRose because of her.”

Bast was strangely touched. I didn’t know she warmed everyone’s heart as much as she has mine.

“Even Elsabet…” Rhyers grudgingly admitted.

Elsabet?

“Elsabet what?” Bast asked in confusion.

“WaterRose is better with her in it.”

Bast gave him a questioning look.

“I know she hates being there. And you two have your rows. But when one of us is hurt, she’s been the one to nurse many of us back. Changing dirtied bandages. Wiping cut, bloodied, infected, flesh. Changing soiled linens. I’ve never seen anyone as kind as she to the sick or wounded.”

To those who are no threat to her. Bast realized.

“She’s something entirely unique.” He agreed with Rhyers.

Special.

“She doesn’t flinch in the face of ugliness. But works to make it more beautiful. I misjudged her when first we met.”

“I think we all did.” Bast murmured.

“Are you wholly certain you’re still not?” Rhyers asked softly. Sensing it was going to be a tender issue.

“Meaning?” Bast snapped. Giving him a side eye.

“Do you truly think she’d walk away from you and never look back?”

She’s waited decades to do just that.

“Yes.” Bast choked on the word. Stifling the pain washing over him.

“Perhaps that is where you are weak.”

Bast’s head spun but he quickly assessed that Rhyers wasn’t trying to be insulting. His voice was soft. Expression sympathetic.

“Sebet is getting so strong.” Bast murmured. “One day she’ll want to test those powers on open country.”

“True.” Rhyers nodded. “So, take them out.”

“I was thinking this morning I’d like to take them to sea.”

“She couldn’t get away from you there either, aye?” Rhyers cut through his fears. “Trapped on open water.”

Sebastian flushed slightly. He’s right.

“You don’t trust her at all.” Rhyers noted.

“I’d trust her with my life. Just not her freedom.”

Rhyers shook his head. “You’re a complex man, Old Friend…”

WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier

Elsabet watched Sebet running about the castle. As usual she’d run to the outer walls of the castle and poke the invisible barrier Sebastian always left, locking them in. When she touched it gold spirals would brighten. Luminescing as they bloomed into escalating circles. Rising to the roof and flickering out as they curved onto the ceiling. Sebet would giggle and poke again.

Elsabet listened to the sounds of the ripples and the child’s laughter as she sat in the library. Finishing one book she closed the covers and walked to return it to the shelf but she glimpsed a book that partially stuck out from the rest on a shelf in the darkest corner. It looked extremely well worn.

“What’s this?” She wandered over.

When she pulled it off the shelf. She could tell that the leather was extremely worn from opening and closing and many of the pages were beginning to detach from the binding. She turned it over in her hands and discovered it was completely unmarked on either side. Carefully opening it she found a broad dark scrawl. After reading only a few words she knew what this book was and who it belonged to.

Sitting in the chair she began to devour Bast’s innermost thoughts. Page after page. Until she realized it had grown strangely quiet.

“Sebet?” She called. But received no answer. “Sebet?” She spun out of the chair. Whirling around to head for the doorway. Peering into the foyer grew louder. “Sebet?”

Her bootheels clicked over the marbled foyer as she checked the Ballroom and Parlor. She heard a creak and her eyes flew to the front door. Seeing it creak open since it had been slightly ajar.

Elsabet flew out and ran down the stairs shouting for her daughter. Scanning the bailey she found it empty. She slowly registered that impossibly, the drawbridge was lowered. She flew to the stone towers to look between and saw that in the meadow below her daughter’s gray dress was vanishing into the taller grass.

“No! Sebet!” She shouted. Heading across the drawbridge. Bootheels clicking but when she reached midway, she was jerked to a stop. “No. No!” She pulled at the restraint. Turning and tugging.

Spinning around she yelled for her daughter to return but as she turned that direction, a yellow-haired bone-thin woman emerged from the trees into the meadow. Exuding evil Dread magic. She held her hand out to the little girl. Beyond the woman, Elsabet glimpsed orange eyes glowing from the shadows of the grove beyond the meadow.

“Sebet!” She shrieked so shrill that it was the screech of a bird. Sending those in the forest flying out and fleeing from trees as they cried in fearful response. Drowning out Elsabet’s shouts.