Heartrender, page 30
“Is she going to be all right?” A pair of bright-green eyes and a perfect coif stared down at me.
“Damien?” I exclaimed, jolting up. “What are you doing here?” Claire gently pushed me back down. “I thought you were dying.”
“Lord, will you be quiet?” Claire scolded as she twisted off the cap to a glass jar. “Addie will be fine, because I’m a fantastic healer.”
“But Damien—” I stammered before Claire shushed me again.
“The lord was almost dead, thanks to Blondie,” Claire explained as she applied more salve to my wounds. “And something about his conscience.” She shrugged.
“Yes,” Damien agreed, wincing as he looked at my wounds. “But then I was surrounded by an orange light, and someone shoved some gold leaf in my mouth. And here I am.” He huffed before surveying the battlefield. Black blood stained the dark armor he wore. “Although, I’m not sure I want to be here.”
Claire snorted, suppressing a laugh. “Well, you’re here now, and if you want me to save Addie, you need to be quiet.”
Damien lowered his gaze. “I apologize for turning you over to Dacenda. I’ll do my best to redeem myself.” A new light of hope lit his once hardened green eyes before he dashed into the battle.
As Damien’s footsteps thudded away, another voice spoke up, “You’re quite a skilled healer from what I can see, Claire.”
My heart jumped.
“Thank you, Lyle’s Dad,” Claire responded with a salute.
A tall, blond man with ebony arms crouched beside me, placing a hand on my forehead. “I’m so proud of you, Addie.”
“Dad?” I croaked, holding back my tears.
He swiped my matted hair off my forehead. “Your mother would be so proud if she were here with us, too.”
Swallowing my tears, I nodded. I glanced down to see the wound in my chest, but Claire gently tilted my head away.
“You don’t want to look. It isn’t pretty.”
In a flash of golden light, Romen appeared beside Claire, his leather armor caked in black blood. The red-vested erica from the Hall of the Elders sat quivering in his palm.
“Romen,” I wheezed, my heart overwhelmed and surprised to see him before I saw the frightened erica. A golden leaf shined from the small creature’s trembling arms. “How did you—”
The blood covering Romen’s lips stretched to reveal his white teeth as he grinned. “Thief.” He plucked the leaf from the erica’s claws and handed it to Claire. “Eman said you would need this. Make Addie take it, and she will be restored.”
“Did you take that poor creature from its home?” Claire scolded.
Romen snorted at Claire, then peered at me. He peered at me. “Now’s not the time to be dozing off. You’re not finished yet.”
“Master Romen, sir, can you please take me back?” the erica squeaked before curling into a ball.
“Of course,” he replied before disappearing in a swirl of sparkles. In seconds, he returned next to my dad.
Romen slapped him on the back of the head with a laugh. “Sitting down on the job, old man?” My dad stood abruptly, causing Romen to laugh louder before he fiddled with the clavum on his belt and disappeared in a burst of light.
“Addie,” Dad said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I will see you when we are victorious.” An obsidian crossbow appeared in his hands, and he darted into the battle.
Claire pinched the golden leaf between her fingers. “Ever since I’ve gotten my heart back it’s been, ‘Claire, do this. Claire, do that. Claire, save Silas’s life but stay trapped in a garden to be harassed by flowers. Claire, give a stupid golden leaf to Addie.’” She narrowed her gaze at the leaf. “Lucky for you, I’m in the mood to follow directions.”
I let out a breathy laugh.
“Okay, Addie, open wide.” Claire lifted the golden leaf to my lips, cradling my head with her other hand.
The leaf instantly dissolved on my tongue before a tingling fluid rushed down my throat, cooling and healing every wound in my body. I sucked in a breath as the rush of cold liquid covered my heart. Gasping, I flinched as my wound stitched back together until my heart was whole once again.
“Whoa,” Claire whispered, watching the cavity in my chest heal.
As the final cells of flesh bound together, the power of my sacrifice rejuvenated my heart. I bolted up.
“How did you get here?” I asked Claire, taking in her silver armor.
She stood next to me, strapping my satchel around her before dusting off her gleaming breastplate. “I have a friend.” Placing her hands on her hips, she looked around. “Why isn’t anyone moving?”
I followed her gaze. Claire was right. The battlefield seemed frozen in time. Creatures and soldiers were stuck mid-air, ready to strike their opponent if given the freedom. Yet, a figure moved in my periphery. Ophidian was taunting another soldier. One adorned with shining metal armor. One that screamed as a black talon pierced through his chest.
“Silas!” I yelled, my voice booming over the silent field as I raced toward him.
“Addie, wait!” Claire ran up and caught my arm.
“Get off!” I shoved her arm away. Not again. I couldn’t let Ophidian take Silas again.
“Don’t be stupid!” she yelled back, digging her nails into my skin. “Watch and wait.” She pointed to the distance where a figure, clad in white armor, sat upon a valiant white steed.
“Ophidian!” Eman’s voice bellowed far and wide, shaking the ground.
Chills raced across my skin as I stood frozen.
“Eman,” I breathed. “He’s alive.”
Claire released me from her grasp with a snort. “Of course, he is. You can’t defeat Ophidian without him.”
I stared in awe and wonder at the man who had first mended my heart. He raised his mending mallet high, transforming it to a golden sword of flame. In one solid motion, Eman struck the Land with the blade’s tip, quaking the earth. The dirt vibrated from impact as a wave of air rushed over the frozen battle, returning it to motion. Battle cries and roars filled the silent Land once more.
Eman raised his flaming sword upright as a new color bled through his armor, transforming it from white to crimson. He lifted the sword high and raced toward the Beast, an army of thousands following behind him.
The people and creatures were not ones I recognized but felt familiar all the same. Vined centaurs galloped at full speed, bearing shining swords in each hand. There were other creatures, horses like Eman’s. Yet each was made of a different type of bark, creating a forest of steeds racing toward the battle below.
Among them were other creatures with red and orange skin, riding horses made of fiery flames. Reds, yellows, and oranges ignited the battlefield as Master Ignis led his forces toward the shadow army. I took a step back as monstrous, sparkling creatures appeared behind them. The constellations I had witnessed in Ramni had come to life. Some clomped over the Land while others soared through the sky. A bird-like constellation flew through the dark clouds. On it, sat Mistress Stell, directing the starred creatures where to attack.
The ground beneath Ophidian’s army rumbled as Master Terra shot forth with his rock men. Similar to the erica, they balled into spheres when provoked. However, unlike the erica, the rock men rolled over their opponents, squishing them flat.
The Magisters reawakened around Ophidian, charging at him without hesitation.
So many emotions sprang from my heart, I couldn’t move. The Elders were helping us? Helping me? I thought they hated me.
“Go!” Claire shoved me forward. “The time is now right.”
I took a step forward before rushing back and grasping Claire in a hug. “Thank you, again.”
Claire hugged me back before releasing me. She skillfully unsheathed twin white blades from her back. “You’d be dead without me.”
“I know,” I laughed before spinning into a sprint.
My heart pounded with determination as Eman rode toward Ophidian. The Beast had tossed Silas to the side, fully focused on Eman. I raced to Silas’s limp body, praying I wasn’t too late.
When I crouched by Silas’s side, I expected him to be unconscious. Instead, he blinked back at me, confused.
“Silas?” I questioned, staring at the punctures in his chest. Though he was pierced through, there was no blood. “Are you okay?”
“Surprisingly, yes.” He sat up, shaking his head. He turned to me with a crooked smile before standing. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but we need to get to Eman.” He picked up my alme and handed it to me before grabbing his sword and shield.
As soon as I grasped my alme, power roared through my veins. I sprinted beside Silas until we stopped short of Eman. Like a blazing inferno, the power radiating off the heartmender was breathtaking but deadly. Before we could go closer, a shield of white light formed around us, protecting us from Ophidian’s attacks.
“You forgot this,” Eman said casually, tossing a golden helmet to Silas.
Guilt covered Silas’s features as he took the helmet. As soon as he placed it on his head, his armor transformed from silver to gold, unifying the suit.
“Your helmet completes the armor of the Rexus. Without it, you are vulnerable to attacks of darkness.” Eman’s new fiery eyes glared down at Silas with warning.
Silas nodded and bowed at the same time.
“Addie.” Eman turned to me and I stood straighter. “You’ve fought well, but we must defeat my old comrade together.”
I nodded, speechless. I thought Eman was dead, gone from my life forever. But he came back. For me. For Silas. For Decim. And he came back as a valiant warrior, unwilling to accept defeat.
“When I lower this shield, focus all your power on Ophidian,” he commanded.
Silas and I nodded without question. Raising the flaming sword, Eman swept it forward, and the light shield vanished.
I planted my feet on the ground, watching Silas do the same as our almes ignited into golden flames. My heart was near explosion with the amount of power building inside me, but I held fast, forcing everything into my alme.
Ophidian’s shadows spewed around us, enveloping our bodies with their toxic mist.
You can never defeat me, voices whispered in my ears. Worthless burden.
They echoed over and over in my mind until I screamed louder.
My power twisted with Silas’s as his fused with Eman’s. Eman threw his flaming light toward Ophidian. In one strike, the Beast roared and crumbled to ash, leaving a pulsating bright-red heart behind.
CHAPTER 44
SILAS
As soon as Ophidian was slain, his creatures immediately dissolved, leaving the fallen menders and weavers to the mercy of their former comrades.
Silas stared at his red heart palpitating on the pile of ash. Ophidian had just perished. So why did his heart remain? How were he and Addie still alive?
“Curious, isn’t it?” Eman said, dismounting from his steed. As he strode toward the heart, the red from his armor bled away, revealing the pure white metal.
“I don’t understand,” Silas answered.
Eman bent down and picked up the heart. “Pulchar never understood why we mended hearts. It wasn’t for those in Decim to become powerful, but for them to experience the most powerful emotion.” He smiled and handed Silas the heart. “A love that will protect them, no matter what. My love for you, Addie, and Decim will protect you from the darkest shadows, even from death. You only have to accept it.”
Silas studied the beating heart before placing a hand over his chest. “What will happen to Addie’s old heart?”
Eman lifted his brows. “I’m sure we’ll figure out something.”
“Eman,” Addie called from behind.
Silas spun around and couldn’t stop his jaw from dropping. With her hair wild, her face splattered with black blood, and her new armor wrapping around her body, she was absolutely breathtaking.
“Yes, Addie?” Eman asked.
She gripped her alme tight. “Is Ophidian really gone? Don’t we need to destroy his heart?”
Silas frowned. That was his original plan, but it hadn’t worked.
“Yes,” Eman answered. “I have a trusted friend retrieving it now.”
Romen appeared in front of them with Lyle clutching onto his back.
“Wow! Time travel is incredible,” Lyle exclaimed, gripping Romen’s neck tightly with a wide smile. “The last time I experienced it, everything had been so dull. I must have needed a true timeweaver to travel with.” He patted Romen on the head.
“Oh, yes,” Romen wheezed, grabbing Lyle’s hands around his throat. “I’m enjoying it so much.”
Eman chuckled as he helped Lyle down. After finding his balance, Lyle handed the wooden box with Ophidian’s heart to Eman before running to Addie.
“Glad you’re alive,” he said, smothering her in a hug.
“I’m glad you’re alive,” she said back.
“This is a very dangerous heart,” Eman said, holding the black heart in his hand. “If not properly destroyed, it can be resurrected to corrupt the realms once more.”
“How do we destroy it?” Addie asked, stepping up.
Eman smiled proudly. “You’ve done everything you needed to do, Bellata. It’s now time for the new Elder of Ramni to begin his journey.”
Everyone turned to Lyle, who nervously adjusted his spectacles before tapping his thigh. Clearing his throat, Lyle focused on the black heart.
“What if I can’t destroy it properly?” he asked Eman.
“I wouldn’t have chosen you if you couldn’t,” Eman replied without hesitation.
Lyle nodded, acknowledging Eman’s truth. He unsheathed the sword on his side. “James’s axe is the alme I will use when I need to protect Barracks. But to defend Ramni, I will use Severance, my dual blade, signifying my separation from my old life and acceptance of my new one.”
Silas shook his head, hardly recognizing Lyle from when he first met him. A cowering young man, hiding in the woods when he lost a debate.
“Severance it is,” Eman nodded and placed the black heart on the pile of Ophidian’s ashes before stepping away.
Lyle took in a deep breath before separating the two blades. He gripped one in each hand until his knuckles turned white. Walking forward with confidence, he stood above the black heart.
Lyle reached his blades toward the Heavens, coating them in white light. Screaming, he plunged both tips into Ophidian’s heart. Thick, black blood oozed out of the heart as it hissed and squirmed, trying to escape. Lyle shoved his blades into the ground until the black heart shattered into pieces.
The Elder of Ramni knelt beside the pieces, his chest heaving as he studied them. Looking up, he fixed his crooked spectacles and nodded. A Magister, one cloaked in yellow armor, came forward, bearing a torch of blue flame.
“The refining fire will obliterate any traces of darkness and Ophidian.” She lowered the flame toward the ashes and pieces of black heart, immediately dissolving it all into smoke.
A new breeze, filled with warmth and hope, blew through Regno, relieving the skies of their black clouds. The ground was swept free of all blood and remnants of the battle that had taken place, leaving lush green grass.
With a snap of his fingers, Lyle commanded new trees to grow from the ground, filling the battlefield with new life. The trees gently moved the injured to their comrades to attend to their wounds.
Silas faced the village he and Lyle had come through as jubilant voices laughed and cried. At the edge of the village, Brand and Gaius waved excitedly. Silas returned their wave, ecstatic to see their success.
“Rexus,” Eman said, peering down at Silas with a smile. “You have come a long way. Yet your journey is not yet complete.” He cast a quick glance at Addie, who was rejoicing with the Magisters around her.
Silas studied the strong, fierce woman and wondered if he would be enough for her. He was flawed, broken, and scarred.
All traits you share, Eman spoke in his thoughts. That doesn’t make you any less suitable. The heartmender gave Silas a small nudge and chuckled. “The time is finally right.”
Silas took a shaky breath before placing his sword in its sheath. Cautiously, he strode toward Addie. The heart in his chest beat wildly as if it were about to burst.
Upon seeing him approach, each Magister knelt, bowing their heads. Silas stopped.
“Please,” Silas said softly. “There’s no need for that.”
“You deserve all our respect, my king,” Magister Dyle replied.
“But I didn’t do it alone. I could never do it alone.” Silas turned to the woman he loved before he knew her.
Addie’s fingers were wrapped tightly around the rod as she bore her bright-blue eyes into him. Silas knew he was covered in blood, bruises, and scars.
“Addie.” Silas faced her, causing all the Magisters to rise with looks of curiosity and amusement.
“Yes?” she said, sounding as confident as she always had.
Silas mulled over taking her hands or not. But, judging by her death grip on the alme, he decided not to.
“I have loved you for as long as I’ve known you. I can’t imagine my life without you.” He knelt down on both knees in front of her, hoping he was convincing enough. Lifting his pure heart to her, he asked, “Please, stay with me. Rule Lignum by my side and be my queen and friend forever.”
The Magisters gasped as Addie’s lips parted, her face frozen in surprise.
“Addie,” Lyle whispered after a few moments of silence. He gently nudged her shoulder. “Answer him.”
“Yes,” she finally said, nodding ferociously. Before Silas knew it, Addie had joined him on the ground and wrapped her arms around his neck.
The heart within his chest soared as Silas held her tight, enjoying every emotion that rolled over him. When Addie loosened her grip, Silas caressed her blood-splattered cheek before meeting her lips with his own.
“Looks like someone will have to transport me to Lignum for the wedding. I’m definitely in it,” Claire said, causing Silas and Addie to break apart with a laugh.
