Chapter Forty-Seven

  Flux

  Though a week had passed, Inerys was no closer to reconciling her unruly spirit. Advancement often placed the soul in a state of upheaval, but it should have settled over the following days as her body adjusted to the changes. She was stable in both mind and body, yet if anything, her spiritual core had only grown more volatile. It gnawed at the edges of her shackles like some rabid beast, warring as much with itself as it did with the restraints.

  No amount of meditation or physical training seemed to make a difference either, which led her to believe the problem was not with her overall soul, but perhaps with the core itself. Her body was strong and whole, her will keen and the transversal meridian between her mind and spirit mended. By all accounts, she had all she needed to reunify her soul. So what was wrong? What was she missing?

  Unable to bear the uncertainty of it any longer, she made an excuse to find Sorisanna’s tent after her sparring bout with Cydan. She wiped the sweat lining her brow with the back of her hand as she stepped inside in a vain attempt to make herself more presentable. There was little point, considering the woman had seen her in far worse states, but the effort was not without its merit.

  The sage, who was in the process of sorting herbs at her apothecary table, gave a start upon her entrance.

  “Inerys! Skies, am I running behind schedule?” She asked, nearly dropping her pestle.

  Inerys glanced around the tent, confused, “I don’t think so. Unless there’s something I’ve missed?”

  “I usually have your recovery tea ready by the time you’ve finished sparring.”

  She did? Honestly, Inerys hadn’t noticed. Her cheeks tinted in embarrassment. Apparently, she’d been far too focused on her cursed core.

  “I still have another round left with Rhydian once he and Cydan are finished,” she assured, “no need to fret.”

  The woman visibly relaxed and brushed her hands upon her sable apron.

  “Oh, good. In that case, what can I do for you?”

  Inerys ran a hand along her flight braid, seeing no point in sidestepping the issue.

  “I was hoping you could take a look at my spiritual core?” she said, biting her lip, “I think there may be something wrong with it.”

  Sorisanna’s brow knit, “What makes you say that? I thought your training was coming along rather well?”

  “It was. Well, is, I suppose. But I’ve had this uneasy feeling recently that I can't fully shake. It’s like whatever tempest you’ve locked behind those shackles has begun to turn on itself. That’s not normal, is it?”

  “I can’t say it is. If you were anyone else, the core would remain dormant until you opened the meridian to it. Its premature awakening could have something to do with it, but the essence inside should still be largely inert without outside guidance,” she said, frowning.

  “Yet another one of my eccentricities?” Inerys guessed.

  “We’re about to find out. Here, lay down for me,” she said, moving to hang her apron before joining her, “When did you first notice the disturbance?”

  “A few days after my ascension.”

  Sorisanna’s eyes filled with golden light as she brought her hand over Inerys’ chest, fingers splayed, “That advancement had all sorts of fun with you, didn’t it?”

  “Apparently so,” she said, doing her best to remain still and not fidget.

  The active read of her soul made her skin prickle and distantly, she sensed Ephaxus’ sympathetic bristle. She wasn’t sure she’d ever grow accustomed to that particular aspect of their bond. Her sensory array had been touchy to begin with and his influx had only furthered the sensitivity. Just the other day, he had sneezed and the ripple effect had sent gooseflesh skittering along her own skin in the middle of dinner. Which wouldn't have been an issue, had the surprise onset not caused her to throw her stew across the fire. Mercifully, no one had been on the receiving end.

  Though everyone had still laughed themselves hoarse.

  “So far, everything appears normal,” Sorisanna said, hand slowly passing from Inerys’ head, to the center of her chest.

  As it did, warmth swept through the transversal meridian along the inner edge of her spine. The channel quivered, unaccustomed to touch or activity of any kind, for it was one of the few she could not actively cycle through while her spirit remained severed. Even so, she mastered her body and kept still under the sage’s ministrations.

  Until the core itself was touched.

  The shackles around it rippled upon contact with the foreign spiritual sense and Inerys sucked in a sharp breath at the sudden pressure behind her heart.

  Sorisanna winced, “Oo– that’s tender, isn’t it?”

  “Only a little,” Inerys groaned.

  It was like her entire chest had become one giant, angry bruise in the span of a second.

  “I’ll make it quick,” she said with an apologetic smile.

  True to her word, her presence withdrew before Inerys had to suffer through more than a few miserably strained breaths.

  “Spirits, what was that?” She asked, sitting up with a hand clutched to her chest.

  “A complication.”

  “So I was right?”

  Sorisanna nodded, “Your spirit is in flux.”

  “Meaning?”

  “You’ve given me yet another anomaly to add to your collection. You have a foreign body in your core that your spirit is trying to excise. These sorts of things don’t fester the way a wound does, but it's the spiritual equivalent. It’s no wonder you’ve felt so anxious.”

  Foreign body.

  If it was somehow related to her passenger . . .

  She swallowed, “What is it?”

  “I think it’s an aura stone,” she said, expression torn between awe and genuine concern as she explained, “When essence is condensed far enough, it becomes a gem, of sorts. They’re treasured for their rarity, but I’ve never heard of anyone shoving them into their core. They exude too much spiritual pressure, hence the added aggravation.”

  “Can you remove it?”

  Sorisanna bit her lip, “I can mend bodies and connective structures, but cores themselves are another matter. You’ll need someone far more skilled for something like this.”

  Her heart sank, “Then what do we do?”

  “I’m not sure there’s much we can do in our current circumstance,” she said, rising, “I’m afraid we’ll have to postpone your unification until after we arrive in Cyllicia. Opening your spirit while in such a volatile state is far more trouble than it’s worth.”

  Inerys sighed. It wasn’t terrible news, but she had hoped to make more progress before their inevitable departure. If only to remain in the wilds and prolong her newfound sense of normalcy that much longer.

  “The abnormality is far less dire than what you’ve faced already,” she offered, “it should be addressed soon, but so long as we keep the core shackled, there shouldn’t be any additional complications.”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “That’s some good news, at least,” she said, unable to fully temper her disappointment.

  Steeling herself though, she rose, “I appreciate you taking a look. At least I can rest a bit easier now, knowing what’s wrong.”

  “Of course,” Sorisanna murmured, “You were right to trust your instincts.”

  Inerys managed a smile she knew wouldn’t reach her eyes as she took her leave and thankfully, Sorisanna made no move to stop her. She wasn’t some frightened girl in need of coddling anymore. Frustrating as the setback was, she would endure and face it when the time came. Until then, she simply had to be patient. Difficult as that may be.

  Her jaw ticked.

  Peace, viper. You will overcome this trial as you have the others, Ephaxus said.

  Her fists clenched and unclenched at her sides and she had to close her eyes and force herself to take a breath.

  We’ll do it together, she said, but it still stings.

  She rubbed at the phantom ache in her chest, wondering if she might sense the alien stone for herself, if she focused hard enough. However, with her nerves so tightly bound, it was hard enough to think, let alone prioritize any one thing. But then her bondmate’s presence washed over her in a soothing tide. She rocked back on her heels, mind easing as surely as her body.

  Had you told me bonds came with so many advantages, I might have agreed sooner.

  You never asked, he chuckled.

  She cracked a smile, sparing him a glance across the field. The wyvern was busy preening his wings, tail held in an idle curl at the midpoint. Of the four, he certainly stood out most with those pearly scales, stark against the backdrop of trees and night.

  Is that admiration I sense?

  There’s a decent possibility, she said, attention drawn back to camp when she noticed Rhydian jogging up on her flank.

  “There you are. Cydan and I are finished, if you–” he slowed and gave her a quick once over, “Is everything all right?”

  “More or less,” she said.

  Twin lines etched between his brows, “Were you hit too hard during your last match?” He asked.

  “No, no, nothing like that,” she assured, “I asked Sorisanna to take a look at my spiritual core”

  “I see. Was there an issue with your shackles?”

  She shook her head, “My core, actually. She says it’s in flux.”

  It was an odd thing to confess when she herself barely understood its meaning. If the careful calculation behind his grey eyes were any indication, though, he had a fairly good idea. This was no doubt another snare in their overall plan, yet she knew he was already seeking a solution. She could not sense his thoughts as keenly as Ephaxus’, but in this instance, she didn’t need to. His expression was an open book.

  He ran a hand along the side of his face, “That’s . . . far from ideal. Did she say why?”

  “Apparently, I have an aura stone lodged inside my chest and my core isn’t exactly pleased. I’m sure Sorisanna could go over the specifics with you, but there’s no real point. Unifying my soul is out of the question until it’s been removed.”

  “Which cannot be done here?” He guessed.

  She wiped at her wet eyes with the back of her hand, “Cyllicia is our best option.”

  He reached for her, but hesitated, “You’re not in pain, are you?”

  “No, just frustrated,” she admitted, “Honestly, compared to my previous setbacks, this one is rather mild.”

  “This trial of ours has had its fair share, but that’s some good news, at least.”

  “I’ve learned things could always be worse, so I cannot complain too much. I just need a moment and I’ll be fine.”

  “Would you like some company? I could use a break myself before we step into the ring again.”

  It was a lie and they both knew it. Rhydian and the others could go half a dozen rounds before tiring. In fact, beyond the darkening of the blue-black skin along his shoulders, his body bore little evidence of any true exertion. But she could accept his unspoken support for what it was.

  “Company would be nice,” she said.

  “Beside the campfire or somewhere more private?”

  She spared a glance toward Ayduin and Cydan in the sparring ring beyond the fire.

  “I was thinking the latter?”

  He gave her a lopsided grin, “They may start to gossip if we’re gone too long.”

  “I wasn’t planning on going past the treeline,” she said, cheeks warm.

  “Fair enough,” he said, though his eyes glinted in silent victory, as if making her blush had been his goal all along.

  She stepped off before her coloration could damn her any further. Not because she was embarrassed, but because the possibility of another stolen moment with him was an increasingly attractive idea. During their training sessions and sparring matches, she was usually able to put such thoughts of him aside. However, they hadn’t been alone in the same capacity since their first and only kiss. Sneaking away from prying eyes the way they were now felt like it was inviting an opportunity they may both choose to capitalize on regardless of their initial intentions.

  Ephaxus’ amusement welled in the back of her mind and it took everything in her not to scowl at him as they crossed into the field.

  “Has anything else been bothering you?” Rhydian wondered.

  “Not really. Ever since my advancement, things have been easier. Which in itself has been a little suspect, if I’m honest.”

  “I imagine you’re waiting for the next debacle?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Before all this vampire business, I might have called you paranoid. Now, I can’t say I blame you,” he said with a light chuckle.

  “It’s all a bit of a fever dream, isn’t it?”

  “Just about,” he said, “While we’re on the subject though, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

  Inerys tilted her head as she took a seat among the grass, “By all means.”

  He eyed the space beside her as if debating whether or not sitting so close was wise.

  “It’s outlandish,” he warned.

  “I think we’re all past the point of ridiculous conversations,” she said, inclining her head in silent invitation.

  He sighed, but ultimately sat beside her and rested his elbows upon tented knees.

  “This one may border on the insane.”

  She pursed her lips as she tried to surmise whatever it was, “All right.”

  “I’ve been trying to figure out how to broach the subject for days now, but perhaps it's best if I simply ask without any preamble,” he said, meeting her eyes, “If I had the means of acquiring the blood of the woman who attacked you, would you be willing to drink it if there was a chance we could learn something from her memories?”

  Her passenger stirred, yet she barely noticed. She fell quiet for a long moment, willing away the ice that threatened to creep into her veins at the mere suggestion. She had been in that monster’s head before. The how and why of it were still a mystery, yet it was not a place she was eager to return to.

  Even so, a part of her could not deny the value of what they might learn from such an opportunity. Provided she could gain any sort of clarity from the chaos she’d encountered before. The ability was so new, she barely had a handle on it even now despite their nightly practice. Animals did not experience memories or thought in the same way people did which made navigating them onerous at best. If she could practice on something closer to home, she may have been able to progress the ability more, but doing so meant drinking the blood of her friends.

  And she couldn’t bring herself to ask that of them again.

  Not when doing so came with the added weight of violating the privacy of their own memories.

  She hadn’t realized her thoughts had slipped until Ephaxus said, Then you shall drink from mine.

  She stiffened, What? No, you don’t have to–

  Our gifts are meant to be trained, not ignored, little viper. If you are not willing to ask for that which you need, I will give it freely. And we will practice together.

  Rhydian searched her face with a knowing air.

  “I know it’s a lot to ask of you, but I believe the reward may be worth it. Her memories might have answers for us all. You, most especially, but I understand if you and Ephaxus wish to discuss it first,” he said.

  “Do I even want to know how you’re able to acquire such a thing?” She asked, massaging her temples as she tried to clear her head and rein in her stray thoughts.

  “No,” he said, “but I would still tell you, if you asked.”

  She was fairly confident she already knew, for there were only so many places one could store or hide anything in a place like this. Unless of course, he planned on flying back to Mistwatch. While it was a decent possibility, something told her the truth of his source was much closer to home.

  “She’s in your annex, isn’t she?”

  If Ayduin could keep produce and choice cuts of meat preserved indefinitely within her own, Inerys imagined a corpse was not all that different.

  He gave a single nod.

  A shaky breath escaped her lips.

  She drew her hands into fists as they began to tremble. That thing had taken everything from her. Even while dead, it still sought to steal away what little peace she had left. It was time to put an end to it, to somehow break the power it held over her. Was this the first step? Or would she end up as mad as her attacker by the end of it? She supposed there was only one way to find out.

  “I’ll do it,” she said, “but I want to see her first.”