Chapter Twenty-Three (Pt.2)

“Conor!” shouted the warriors as they raised their swords to honour their fallen comrade. Fire was touched to his pyre, and hungry flames rose to cover him.

Leah remembered something Conor had said to her when they’d returned from Kurabar: that it should have been him on the funeral pyre, not Harlan. Fighting back tears, she struggled to re-sheathe her sword.

Time slipped by, unheeded, as they witnessed, silent and motionless, the flames consume him. With a final salute, Edmon led the commanders and warriors back down the hill; because Maeve was still recovering her strength, he’d asked her not to attend. Conor’s sister, Jana, and her husband helped Conor’s father walk away from the now-smouldering pyre. Even though she was still his wife, Veha had not climbed the hill with them. Jessalyn, however, had been given leave to attend, as a former warrior and friend.

As they neared the barracks, Leah spied Veha waiting by the officers’ barracks with Sover. She watched as the young woman tried to approach Conor’s father, but a firm shake of the head from an openly hostile Jana stopped her. Leah hesitated making her way to her room; she did not want to cross paths with Veha who unknowingly blocked her way. She was about to turn away when she noticed Veha staring at her. Unable to pretend that she hadn’t seen her, Leah started to walk towards the couple.

“Are you sure about this?” said Jess.

“It’s not like I have a choice.” She was glad for Jess’ presence as she stood before them, failing to think of anything to say other than, “Sover, Veha...”

Veha stared at her through narrow eyes, her attractive face marred with evidence of continuous weeping. “You. This is your fault. He’s dead because of you. You made him... you could always make him do things–”

“Conor made his own decisions,” said Jess as Leah struggled to reply.

Veha glared at her.

“Veha,” said Leah softly, “I didn’t make him follow me–”

“Liar.”

“I tried to stop him.”

“One look from you, and he would have gone anywhere, done anything.”

It dawned on Leah that the young widow desperately needed to blame someone... anyone for the loss of her estranged husband.

“You stole a part of him that I could never reach,” said Veha.

“Sover, I think you should take her home.” Karel had appeared by Leah’s side.

Veha turned her venomous gaze on him. “Has she turned you into her lap-dog now?”

Karel stiffened, clenched fists pressed against his legs. “What Conor ever saw in you, I’ll never understand.”

“Enough,” said Leah. “You are wrong, Veha. I had no hold over Conor. When we were together, all he talked about was you. But if it will make you feel better, if it will help you deal with your own guilt then... blame me for his death.”

Fresh tears sprang to Veha’s red-rimmed eyes. Shaking her head, she opened her mouth, but no words came.

“Come,” said Sover, supporting her in his arms. “Let us go. There is nothing more to be said.”

Leah watched as he led her away. “It’s strange to think we were once friends.”

“When Conor told me of Veha’s affair with Sover, I could no longer call him ‘friend’,” said Karel.

Jess nodded agreement. “Of all the women in Orenheart, why did he have to pick her?”

A heavy sigh escaped Leah.

“Are you alright?” Jess put her arm around Leah.

“I still can’t believe that I’ll never see Conor again. I mean, I saw his body consumed by the fire, and I know, in my head, I know he’s gone. But here, in my heart...” She shook her head, unable to continue.

“I know,” said Karel, “I feel the same.”

“You two were close, weren’t you?”

He nodded. “I never really thought about it, but I realise now how much time we did spend together. He was my best friend.” Tears turned his eyes a brighter shade of green.

“Oh, Karel, I should have stopped him...”

He shook his head. “You wouldn’t have been able to. He was so determined to ride by your side, to help you rescue Evalan. I’d never seen him so fired up before like his life depended on it.”

“Oh. I hadn’t realised...”

“And I was proud to ride with him. That Conor was the Conor of old, full of honour and vigour. You did that, Leah, you let him prove his worth... to himself, to his father, to all of us.”

She started to nod then hid her tearful face in her hands. 

*          *          *          *

Shutting the door behind her, Leah leant heavily against it as she stared, unseeing, into her room. Karel’s words about Conor had managed to ease the pain in her heart somewhat. Slowly, she became aware of a prickling sensation creeping over her scalp. Her gaze darted around the room. Why do I feel like I’m being watched?

As if in answer to her silent question, Meraud gradually materialised by her bed.

Trying to ignore the fluttery feeling in her stomach, she frowned; he looked different... as if he was lacking something... “What do you want?” she finally said.

His smile seemed sad, pitiful almost. “I thought to persuade you to come with me.”

“Why would I go with you?” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Lowering himself onto the bed, his gaze remained fixed to her face. “I have been around many mortals, yet you are the only one I desired.”

Still standing with her back against the door, a part of her still trying to fathom what was different about him, she raised her brows. “Am I supposed to be flattered?”

He shrugged.

Taking a deep breath, she hooked her hair behind her ears. “I’m sure you know, but I’ll say it anyway. You... you eased my loneliness, fulfilled my... needs.” Grimacing slightly, she shook her head and looked down. “I looked forward to your visits... enjoyed the way you made me feel.” She raised her gaze, squaring her shoulders. “But not anymore. You killed my friend.”

“He attacked me.”

“So you had to kill him? You could have easily pushed him away, and kept him away.”

“I reacted as an immortal would to being touched in so bold a manner by one so insignificant.” He got to his feet. “It is strange. Until I saw you, I would have done anything... agreed to anything to have you come with me. But seeing you like this, without magic...” He shook his head. “Now you are as every other mortal... no longer do I desire you.”

Her heartbeat felt like it was slowing before it increased again as she tightened her fists. “Belosh has freed me. I don’t have to go with you.”

“It is not to my lord’s realm that I would take you... I am no longer able to exist there.”

It struck her then, what was different about him. The extra element that made him more than a mortal, that made him something ‘other’, was missing. Now he appeared as ordinary to her as she did to him. “Your powers... they’re gone?”

Averting his gaze, he said, “The price I paid for killing... your friend.”

“You said you’d broken an unbroken rule...”

Moments dragged by before he replied. “The rule that binds all immortals; we are not to interfere directly with mortals, to take a life... unless it is a willing sacrifice. Yet my lord has chosen to show me some... pity for having served him so well. I will live out my days in the Grimwood, served by his followers.”

“Live out your...? But your immortality...”

“Has been denied me.”

Leah felt a twinge of sympathy for him. “I’m... I’m sorry, Meraud...”

He snorted. “Spare me your pity, I do not want it.”

“Take my thanks then, for you did try to help me. I think you were trying to save me from Belosh. Weren’t you?”

He stared at her, saying nothing; his silence answered her question.

“What’s done is done. I will have enough time to rage, and grow bitter over my fate. And curse that mortal for reducing me to this.”

“He was trying to save me.”

“As was I.”

Glaring at him, she raised her voice. “How was he to know that?” Shaking her head, she raised her hands, palms facing him. “It doesn’t matter. As you said, what’s done is done.”

Having moved to stand before her, he reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek. “I curse the day my master chose me to instruct you,” he said, his voice soft.

He slowly faded, and Leah was left staring at empty space. “As I curse the day he chose me as his champion.”