Heartrender, page 4
Eman, Mender, whoever you are, Damien pleaded. You always helped Addie when she asked. I don’t deserve your help, but please, help Claire.
Instantly, a white light appeared before him, and he glanced up. The thin outline of an arched doorway came into view.
“Thank you,” Damien breathed, jolting up.
As soon as he hoisted Claire next to him, the door opened to reveal swirling golden lights.
Without another thought, Damien threw Claire through, ignoring her protests. He started to follow when a charge of pain rattled his bones. Falling forward, Damien clutched his chest as Dacenda’s laugh drowned out the rolling waves. Shards of rock cut into his face and hands as he pressed into the ground. Gasping, Damien glanced back and saw the wretched woman holding a gray heart in her manicured hand. She squeezed it again, and he screamed. How had she found his heart?
Black spots blurred Damien’s vision as he writhed on the ground. His wrist burned from the silver serpent branded into his skin. The enchantment of the snake must have canceled out his trade. As long as Dacenda’s snake secured his wrist, she owned his life.
Horror raked through Damien’s mind. But at least Claire was safe. Maybe now everyone would forgive him. He grimaced through the pain. There was that conscience again.
“Oh, no you don’t, lord,” Claire cried, latching her fingers around his outstretched arm.
Damien peered over his shoulder to see the upper half of Claire’s body hanging through the swirling lights, her brows taut as she tugged him closer. He still couldn’t believe the determination of this woman. Straining, Damien tried to lift his arm, but his limbs refused.
Clacking footsteps closed in. His time had come. Damien gave a breathy chuckle. This was a fitting end. He was a traitor, after all.
Claire yanked again, and the tips of his fingers barely brushed the feathery swirls. Before another bolt landed, the door sucked him in, pulling Claire and Damien into its saving light.
CHAPTER 4
ADDIE
Lyle’s hand glowed white as he finished drawing the doorway before us. He rubbed it on his slacks then grabbed the copper knob.
“Ready?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder at Romen and me.
Romen grunted as I took a steady breath. As soon as Claire was safe, I could finally finish this journey. I’d keep my word to Eman and honor his memory. His sacrifice wouldn’t be in vain.
The same soft aura from Eman’s mending room suddenly swept through the library, cocooning me in a warm hug. My gaze whipped all around. Was Eman here? I felt his guiding presence all around us until, suddenly, a bright light flashed above. Lyle and I jumped back as Romen unsheathed his blades, ready to attack whoever was trying to enter Ramni uninvited.
A pair of lean legs dangled from a door-shaped portal.
“Oh, no you don’t, lord!” Claire shouted before two bodies fell from the sky onto the library floor.
I blinked.
Then, I recognized the long, white hair and snarky voice.
“Claire!” Lyle and I shouted as we helped her stand.
As I lifted her, I gasped. Blotched purple and blue bruises coiled around Claire’s neck and arms. Her hair was slick with oil and mud, and a sulfuric odor wafted from her filthy clothes.
“What happened?” Lyle demanded as he gently held her face.
The trees in the library shook at his voice. Books tumbled from their shelves, smacking against the dirt floor. I braced myself against a nearby table. Was Ramni finally crumbling to the darkness?
Once the quaking stopped, the branches in the library immediately began reshelving the books. I released a breath. Ramni would still stand, at least for now.
“Hey guys,” Claire said with a weak smile, her eyes barely staying open. “Damien—”
“Damien did this to you?” I growled, ready to pummel the lord into the dirt.
Claire furrowed her brows as she began to sway. “What? No.”
“Is everyone okay?” Sana cried, rushing in, tears welling in her eyes. “I was already on my way here when I felt the halls shake …” she trailed off before she saw Claire and brought her hands to her small mouth. “Oh my, Claire.”
“Sana, thank goodness,” Lyle breathed. “Claire needs treatment right away.”
“Yes, of course,” Sana replied, guiding Claire toward a settee that had sprang up in the corner of the library. “We’ll let her rest here for a bit before moving her to the healing chamber.”
“I never thought I would want to be back here,” Claire murmured as she lay on the settee, her eyes fully closing.
“Claire, wait,” I said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, trying to keep her awake. “What happened to you?”
Claire gave a wheezy laugh as she burrowed beneath the floral blanket the library provided. “Always so many questions, Addie. Just ask him.” She flicked her fingers toward the other person who had come with her.
“Addie,” Romen growled, pulling my attention away from Claire. Romen jerked his chin at the body on the ground, his golden eyes flashing. “You should see this.”
Romen gently nudged the person over with the tip of his boot while keeping one gloved hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Damien,” I gasped before my anger set in. What was he doing here?
I reached to wake him, but Romen grabbed my shoulder.
“Observe before you attack,” he advised.
I pursed my lips but obeyed and studied Damien’s crumpled form. His cloak and daggers were gone, leaving only a tattered shirt and pants. White scars shaped like lightning bolts raced up his arms and neck.
Romen rubbed his dark cropped beard. “If Damien were the one to harm Claire, why does he look like he lost a fight against Ophidian’s assistant?”
A pulse of blue light glowed from beneath Damien’s skin, and his limbs spasmed.
“Dacenda,” I breathed. This was exactly what Silas’s arm had looked like after he had been struck with one of her bolts. It was then I noticed the silver serpent sliding around his wrist. I had never seen that on Damien before. “But why would he leave Ophidian when he was the one who betrayed us?”
“It doesn’t make sense at all,” Lyle agreed, leaving Sana to attend to an already-sleeping Claire.
“If we want answers, we should probably make sure the lightning within him doesn’t stay too long,” Romen said, crossing his thick arms over his leather-armored chest.
We turned to see two wheeled beds made of wood appear. Romen snorted before hoisting Damien’s limp body over his shoulder and plopping him on the bed. He then strode to Sana and helped her ease Claire onto the second bed.
“What’s this?” Lyle asked, kneeling down. He picked up two black hearts pulsating next to each other. “Whoa.” He stood quickly before patting his chest, then faced me, eyes wide with excitement. “Addie, I think Damien brought my heart back.”
“What?” I exclaimed, jogging to his side.
I peered down at the ebony heart. There was still a brightness in the middle, a light trying to fight its way out. “Why would Damien save your heart?”
Glancing down, Lyle reached for the other heart. “I believe there is more to our traitorous lord than we first thought,” he explained then held out the second heart to me. “This is Claire’s heart.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, squinting at the heart.
Lyle nodded fervently. “Yes. Romen had it before, but Dacenda stole it from him when she found you all.”
“So, you’re saying Damien betrayed us, then stole your and Claire’s hearts from Ophidian and saved Claire?” I rubbed my eyes. There was no way Damien would do that. Not after what he had already done.
Lyle snorted. “How else would our hearts get here?”
“Damien did save Claire, her heart, and yours, Lyle,” Sana interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper.
The truth on Sana’s lips irritated me. Damien had sold us out. Lied to us. Now, all of a sudden, he was a “good guy”? I glanced over at Claire’s sleeping form, limp on the wheeled bed. At least Claire was safe, so I did owe him that. But forgiving Damien for his betrayal? That wasn’t happening.
When I finally faced Sana, I noticed the tears threatening to spill from her bright-green eyes. “Sana.” I hurried toward her. “What’s the matter?” A look of shame covered her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I—” A tear rolled down her cheek as she held out a thick red text, her hands trembling. “They’re gone, Addie. That’s why I came to find you before you left. I’m so sorry.”
Goosebumps crept along my skin as she placed the thick book in my hands. Before I could speak, Sana burst into tears and fled the library, the two wheeled beds following behind.
What was that about? Who was gone? Biting my lip, I picked up the piece of parchment secured to the front of the text and took a shallow breath, recognizing Nana’s elegant script. No. Not this. Not now. Tears immediately gathered in my eyes, blurring the writing.
“Addie,” Lyle said, coming behind me. “What does it say?”
I handed him the paper, too upset to read it aloud. His strong arm wrapped around my back, and he read through the note:
My dear, sweet Addie,
I will be gone before you read this but know it was the right time. My heart has longed to be reunited with its owner, and that wish has finally been fulfilled. Unfortunately, the actions of the past cannot be undone, and I don’t have the strength to continue for much longer.
I will never forget the day you walked through my door with Silas. You looked so much like your mother, especially with your scowl! I would have cried if I could have. I’m sorry for not caring for you when I should have. I have regretted it always.
Lyle gave this book to me before your Heart Reign. I was scared silly when he poofed into my kitchen! He said I needed to read it, then give it to Silas. I then found out who you were meant to be. It was from Eman’s library and once it had served its purpose, here it was returned.
Don’t cry tears for me but laugh and smile for all the years that I couldn’t.
With all my heart and more,
Nana
Tears dripped from my chin as I turned to Lyle and cried into his shoulder. I had been so busy with preparations and plans, I never sought out Nana. Now she was gone.
Lyle wrapped his arms around me, soft sniffles coming from him before he cleared his throat. “That book,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I remember something about it. It’s important.”
I wiped the tears from my eyes and ran my hand over the scarlet cover. I remembered that Nana had given Silas a book like this the day before my Heart Reign. I narrowed my gaze at the worn binding. How had Lyle given it to Nana before my Heart Reign?
“Lyle,” Romen commented, his face somber. “There’s more on the back of the note.”
The crinkle of parchment rustled as Lyle flipped the note over and nudged me to look. The writing wasn’t elegant and neat like Nana’s but slanted and rushed.
Lyle removed his spectacles and wiped his eyes before clearing his throat. Returning his spectacles, he read, “‘Addie and Lyle, you two have made your grandparents the proudest people in all the realms. We still can’t believe that we’re all related.’” Romen gave a light chuckle. “’But it’s now time for your Nana and me to say goodbye.’”
“What?” I cried, whipping my head up while grabbing Lyle’s shirt, the red text spilling from my hands and thumping to the ground. I couldn’t lose James, too.
Lyle sucked in a shuddering breath before holding my hand and continuing. “‘My time in the darkness has proved weary on my heart and damaged it beyond repair. Lyle ...’” Lyle stopped, his wide eyes blinking rapidly.
I squeezed his hand. “What does it say?”
“I—” Lyle started but shook his head, unable to continue.
“‘Lyle’,” Romen said, lifting the note from Lyle’s trembling fingertips. “‘I leave you my alme. I was no longer fit to be the Magister of Barracks a long time ago. I choose you as my successor. I can name no other who will put all their heart into restoring our beloved Land.’”
Romen clamped his gloved hand over Lyle’s shoulder. “It seems you have redeemed yourself, Magister Lyle.”
Lyle stilled, his eyes staring into nothing as a shower of sparkles collected at his feet. In seconds, James’s alme appeared.
“It appears the alme has already accepted you, as well,” Romen added.
Lyle glanced down at the lombard axe before he broke down, bending over it and weeping. A white Magister’s robe with bright-green leaves shimmered around Lyle’s shoulders as he cried.
I knelt beside Lyle, wrapping my arms around his shaking form, trying to hold us both together. How many more of our loved ones were we going to lose?
“‘Addie’,” Romen continued reading. I turned my tear-stained face toward him. “‘Silas loves you more than his own life. Trust that he will prevail.’”
My tears ceased. How was James so sure? Had he seen Silas?
“‘We both love you with everything in our hearts. We know you will both succeed in restoring the realms to a brighter future.’” Romen handed me the note. “Dimitte and his wife are now at peace.”
I delicately held the parchment, my throat thickening as tears returned to my eyes. “I should’ve spent more time with them. I could’ve taken a few moments and focused on them instead of everything else. Why did they have to go now?”
I never had the chance to know Nana with a heart. I never got to call James Paw Paw and tell him how much I loved him. I had been so caught up with saving Claire and trying to fulfill my promise to Eman that I neglected the people who loved me the most.
“This isn’t your fault, Addie,” Romen answered, scooping the red book off the ground and handing it to a nearby branch, which promptly shelved it. “It was the right time.”
I rubbed my hands over my face, my eyes sore from the tears. “I want to make sure I value the people in my life, not see them as obstacles.”
“You do value us,” Lyle said, his voice strained.
Romen grabbed the pipe from his belt and plucked an orange leaf from a nearby twig. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
He smashed the leaf in his fist and set it in the pipe, where it burst into flame. Romen took a long breath as his eyes glazed over, perhaps lost in his own memories of James and Nana.
Tears barreled down my cheeks once more as I hugged my stomach. Nana knew I would pause everything to be by her side. And James had journeyed through the different Lands of Decim with his heart so weak just to protect me.
“They knew what they were doing,” Romen stated, inhaling deeply as he placed a hand on Lyle’s shoulder.
Lyle sat up and removed his spectacles to wipe the tears from his eyes again. “I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know if I can be a Magister. I’ve made so many mistakes.”
“Haven’t we all?” Romen asked, tilting his head to the side, a stream of green smoke escaping his lips. He offered his gloved hand to Lyle and helped him stand. “It’s time to accept that you have a job to do. Now that you’re the Magister of Barracks, will you join us to unite the final Lands?”
Wiping his nose with the back of his hand, Lyle turned to me and I nodded. Claire was safe and the portals were stable. Now there was nothing stopping us from traveling to the northern Lands.
“Before we go,” I interjected. “I want to say goodbye.”
Lyle nodded in agreement. “We will have a proper vale.”
The lights in the once-bright garden had dimmed to dusk, the trees bowing in solemn woe as small stars of farewell lit the domed sky.
I stood next to Lyle, holding back my sobs as I cupped a glowing star in my palms. One for Nana. Lyle stood strong next to me, still cloaked in his Magister’s robe, holding another star for James.
We strode silently behind Sana as she led the vale hum in honor of Nana’s and James’s passing. The bluebells closed their petals as we passed, the other flowers lining the dirt path doing the same, honoring our purpose. Romen followed behind, his steady, protective steps a comfort.
This room was where Eman had first sent me on my journey. It was a room of beginnings. But since Eman’s vale only weeks ago, this room now held a ceremony for another end.
Sana continued to hum, a multitude of voices joining hers. I felt a presence behind me and turned to see Asenav. The dim light highlighted her blonde curls as soft tears rolled down her thin cheeks. Extending her arm, she offered a twinkling star to the sky. It floated up from her palm, sparkling as it found its place.
She placed her hand on Lyle’s forehead as if blessing his new role. After a moment, Asenav dipped her head and returned to Valde through the war room portal.
Two more figures appeared, one cloaked in gray, the other in green. Black curls sprang from one of the heads, while the other held short blond hairs.
Neural and Divad held stars in their hands, igniting each with their magic to join Asenav’s. They turned to Lyle and me.
“We are ready whenever you call,” Neural said with a solemn tone as he bowed his head, his gray cloak sweeping across the lush grass. Divad nodded in confirmation.
“Thank you,” I whispered, reaching my hand out toward Neural’s. He grasped it before the two Magisters bowed to Lyle.
“Welcome. We know Dimitte chose his successor wisely,” Divad said.
Lyle’s throat bobbed, but he bowed just the same.
The leaves rustled against a soothing breeze before Bocaj and Sirhc formed next to us. Sirhc knelt to the ground, placing his head to the dirt before releasing his star to the sky. Bocaj’s thick shoulders shuddered as he grasped another star in his palm and tossed it among the others.
“We are sorry to see Dimitte go.” Sirhc offered his condolences. “But we are glad he is finally at peace.” He held his hand out to Lyle. “I know you will honor him as a Magister.”
Lyle shook Sirhc’s hand, mumbling a “thank you.”
Bocaj grunted in agreement as he crossed his arms over his chest, blinking rapidly.
