Nándor and Tién rode together. Her visage vivified by the humorous childhood story she told him, which had him chuckling. Only the vim quickly left his face when unpleasant thoughts returned.
“You are thinking about them
again,” she chided.
His lips tightened before he blew
out a heavy breath. “Yes. My vexatious
cousin and the Lady Ruya plague me. I
don’t understand what caused this venal
act. I’ve always watched his back as he
has watched mine. He’s been more my
brother than even my own.” A hand went
to his throbbing side. “The varlet will have much to answer for when I see him
again.”
Tién had no time to answer.
Their scout had backtracked to the
main group causing them to halt. She
pointed to the rock in the distance.
“They stopped there not long ago.
A second group joined them from the direction of the dark city. They joined forces and went toward the city
once more.”
“How many?” one of the Sylvan
asked.
“Twenty horses.” Holding out her hand, she revealed a
ribbon. “And I found this.”
“Ruya,” Nándor whispered.
*****
Ruya
rode on Garrick’s lap, her head too heavy to lift. She clutched at Garrick’s clothes as her
stomach churned.
Ahriman’s
vulpine features filled her vertiginous vision and surrounded by a swirling violescent aura of her megrim. “Does it bother you?”
Ruya said nothing.
“I’m truly sorry for your
discomfort. It cannot be helped.”
The verisimilitude
of his statement made her already sensitive skin crawl. His next words shot ice shards through her
heart. “The mithridate Alim gave you opened
your mind to him. I suppose the pain was
inevitable.”
“What do you mean?” she forced out
of her tight throat.
He grinned. “My plans have always consisted of you, Lady
Ruya. Once I heard rumors of an augur of
extreme power, I knew the time was at hand.”
When he saw her confusion, a vehement
laugh escaped. “You don’t understand, do
you?”
Ruya cringed into Garrick’s
chest. She did not want to hear anymore,
but she gave a small shake of her head.
“Your coming to Phaeris is no
accident. I knew Nándor would go to the
Aerie. I knew he would speak to you
because I made sure you were the augur I consulted.” His dark eyes glittered. “Your gift fails to show you the most
important details. It has always ever
been you.
“Garrick was traveling to the Aerie
to take you. Only he was surprised when
you and Nandor walked into the inn. It
made things so much easier.”
Ruya did not have the strength to push
away from Garrick at learning of his second betrayal, but the muscles in his
arm tensed where they touched her back, shocking her. Was it guilt or something else?
Ahriman’s verbose
commentary continued. “Who do you think
hid the book at the Thorn? I did.” He thumped his chest. “I knew when I found the book Alim would
translate it and use the potions there.
It was so easy to tamper with them.
That fool didn’t even realize. He
thought my interest was in the lapidary.”
A manic grin spread at her
horrified expression. “You’re asking
yourself how, yes? How did I know you
would take it? Quite easily.” His gaze flicked to Garrick. “He knew which vials to steal if you did not succumb
to your abilities. He would have slipped you the potion on your journey.
“He has guided your journey every step of the way. He has been invaluable.”
Turning her face away, tears fell, hidden in the arm.
The sun dipped low in the sky when Ahriman halted. “Behold the once great Phaeris.”
Ruya lifted her head enough to take in the fabled city. White granite hills, painted the hues of the
coming sunset, rose like warriors, encircling it. The vicinage was eerily similar to the dream.
“Years of planning and so many trips to prepare, but now it is
finished. Erra will be reborn.”
©djinnia 2014
Ah, the plot thickens.
ReplyDeleteMarlene at On Writing and Riding
Had to give a lovely villain soliloquy somewhere. This was the best place.
DeleteOh, he's just plain evil!
ReplyDeleteWriterlySam
Echoes of Olympus
A to Z #TeamDamyanti
I know. Awesome, isn't he?
DeleteVery nice. :)
ReplyDeletethank you!
Delete