"The boy's… chest has been ripped open. The head is bowed… but the bones… be holding the fire, either the bones of his hands be afire… or he died holding a torch…" Randal said solemnly… was that… Nix's body? "I donna see any flesh… only bone… but there be no corrosion like the larger ribs, just a layer of ice."
"This is my Nix! Taking the taint! Accepting your cruelties, enduring your hate! His heart is so empty, there is no love… all this destruction, is what YOUheart bearer have caused!" Beloved cried as her Big snake flew leisurely above the mire. Beloved sent her flames down to purify the taint still in Nix's heart.
Neolani stared in horror as the white flames cast light to all corners of the hell they were now in. She looked down… it wasn't mud… it was blood… black, tainted blood. They weren't standing on a mound of earth… but clumps of rotting flesh…
"This was your wish! This all you asked! Revenge for the fallen! Death to the hated no matter how abstract! You wanted war! You wanted fire! To prove to the world, to fear your power!" Beloved screamed as the flames burned the blood, bones, flesh away.
"You took on his flag! Claimed so many lyves! Pulled more desperadoes to fight at your side!" Beloved screamed as layer after layer of filth was burned away… only to reveal more.
"But of course you crave war, your goal to conquer! Forgetting your place, your existence now his bane! Why don't you see, your desires are chains, your aspirations blind you!
"But you sit here and wallow, your heart is so hollow.
You've forgotten the truth, why my Nix chose you
Where is that ember? That once brilliant light…
That banished the cold, the championed the right.
Where is the ember, that warmed his chilled heart?
That once soothed his soul?
Did that ember die out…
Did that ember go cold?
Beloved fell to her knees as tears poured like a river through her fingers. A river that wasn't strong enough to clean Nix's heart from all the filth that had collected in less than three decades…
Nix glanced down at his body. Or rather, the illusion of his body. He glanced around, so, this is how Beloved saw the inside of his heart. The two skeletons… well the beast skeleton was larger than his actual form. If the human skeletons was any kind of reference.
Nix was impressed, as he looked up, he gauged… his heart was currently a third full of taint. A third even after how many times his Beloved had cleansed him.
Neolani watched as… the outline of Nix stood over the skeleton, glancing around with such disinterest. Only his red eyes stood out among the silver outline. As he stepped away silver flames mixed with the white, slowly burning away the rotting flesh…
"The choice was mine to make,
I was the one who picked, I sought the flame, if it burns like the sun, or dies, the choice was still mine.
All of the consequences, every sorrow, each delight,
Those are mine to cherish, until the last fading light.
Beloved glared at the heart bearer, "You kept your word, gave all that she asked! The power to move mountains, turns seas to sand!
"She chose to bear arms, chose to kill as she liked!
Your request only one, yet she seeps herself in hateful fights!
Nix glanced between the ribcage, the taint was now boiling, flames now overtaking the frost. "She is a warrior, she livs to fight, perhaps that's what I was looking for, one who champions perceived rights.
She is not perfect, but who dares claim as such?
Perhaps I saw a flicker, one who resembles Ru,
If only from a distance, well that is fine too.
Beloved sneered at the thought as she leapt down. Nix easily caught her in his arms. As she landed, the heart bearer fell through a rift on the other side of the frost covered skeleton.
Neolani bit her lip to keep from groaning as she tried to get up… but she felt like she was kneeling under a mountain. Just raising her head was enough to make her bones creak.
Beloved pulled on more than just her power, she pulled on the power of two gods.
"That is an insult, to compare her to Ru,
she wouldn't even be a candle, this heartless shrew!
Neolani coughed up black phlegm as she forced her head up at the insult. Seeing Ashton burying his face in her neck.
"The fault is not hers, that I saw a resemblance,
I picked her out, no matter how unconscious.
Beloved's face twisted in anger, sorrow, helplessness as she clutched the arms around her waist. She glared as she pointed at the skeleton's hands… her Nix was holding a tiny, dying ember. The only warmth his heart could rely on… yet from the base black blood dripped…
Neolani's gaze followed to see the black blood, dripping slowly, but consistently from the skeleton's hands. A tiny pool had formed, from which three small streams of black liquid filled the cavern they were standing in.
You were lost, your heart still broken!
Needing if not love, at least devotion!
You gave them all they have ever dreamed, a bit of happiness is all you seek,
Yet they go forth, and plunder more.
Sateless ingrates who still crave war!
Beloved couldn't suppress the sob that racked her body as she bowed her head, Nix's flames, his warmth, his love… all taken for granted.
They don't appreciate you, don't give what you need
Why keep sacrificing for those who do little more than leech?
For the first time in almost five hundred years, Nix opened his heart. Engulfing her flames, letting them merge, feeding her fire.
"Of course she is not Ru,
I saw a likeness, when first blood she drew
She is a fighter, that much is true.
Beloved glared at the heart bearer, tears of fire falling. Beloved's voice was more bellow than song as she pointed at the heart bearer's face.
"Ru is a warmonger, Ru BATHES in blood!
Eats the hearts torn from Gods!
Beloved took a deep breath as she continued in a softer, no less venomous accusation. Pointing at the now visible walls of Nix's heart, surrounded by Ru's power.
But after every battle, when his sword he does lay
A songbirds efforts he always praises
Because he knows, no matter what!
Nix he loves unconditionally in his heart!
Beloved turned her glare on all of them, including the foxes, most of which were on the seven tail's back.
Caius wanted to flinch as the fires around him intensified. He'd managed to secure all his kin, carrying them on his back as Talvi soothed the worst of the pain. Now they were surrounded by walls of fire in every direction… except looking at Beloved.
More than battle, more than passion!
More than lust… what my Nix needs…
He needs to be loved…
Beloved wiped furiously at her tears.
Nix smiled as he gentle wiped the tears of flame away. When Beloved looked into his eyes, there was a distance. Her heart… was no longer just a piece of his. In just a few minutes… she had changed. It wasn't like before, a new piece here or there… she was now… complete.
"You are so angry, I've made you upset,
No matter what they do, no matter what is said
If all ten thousand years I had to redo, I wouldn't hesitate
How else could I hold, greatest gift from the sun?
Beloved's tears only started to fall more fiercely. She was complete, she now had a mate, soon they would have babies… but Nix… who had forcibly kept his heart broken so she could exist… he now had to heal. Without her, without Ru, he was for all intents an purposes… alone.
"Why do they take, why is it never enough?
Even after so many years, how can they not love?
Ten thousand years, your time almost up
Will you spend forever alone…
What happens when we've gone?
Nix kissed Beloved's forehead as Haven descended. He'd dawned Beloved's white flames, colors reflecting in the flames as more of the taint was burned away.
"I will continue, as I have done
If that means alone, Well, your happiness enough.
Now, I think he is anxious, Your big pretty snake.
So many tears, when a mate you have claimed.
Beloved couldn't even speak as she reached out to her big snake. Small sobs escaping as her tears continued to fall.
Haven glanced at the almost clean bones now showing through the mire. Deciding feet would be easier to clean than feathers, he changed to his human form. Gathering His Beloved up in his arms, he soothingly patted her.
Neolani had been staring at the broken dripping core… a perfect replica of what she held… she was producing that foul liquid? Corroding away at Alphonse… is that why… Al hadn't sought her out? Because every time she called it was for help…
Haven glanced over the distraught human… he should eat her… Nix no longer required a heart bearer. She should have been dealt with when she failed to keep her part of the covenant, now she was truly… useless.
Haven felt his Beloved clutch at him as she would merge into his body. No, the heart bearer was worse than useless, she was actively causing Nix pain. Nix's pain caused Beloved to be pained. That was not acceptable.
Nix tilted his head as he looked up at the snake god with a soft smile. "No matter the pain, or how distant the heart, I still protect, uphold my part."
Haven narrowed his eyes, "As you like." At that moment the illusion of being in Nix's core fell away. Haven was pleased to see the damage remained. The mind was a tricky thing.
Beloved pouted as she rested her chin on Haven's shoulders. Her Nix's heart was so… so… biased!!!
Haven glanced over the three most damaged, a hybrid dragon, and it's… bearer. Calling either human would be a bit of a stretch. Lastly, the mate of Nix's heart bearer… it would appear the male was being punished on the female's behalf… what wonderfully petty birds. He would have to ensure he kept his happy.
Beloved heard the change in Haven's heart, "You have no proof, I've no idea of what you speak, if there is harm, the fault is not with me." Three of her siblings jumped to her defense, hopping around Haven's feet as they chirped.
Neolani watched as the Nix's appearance faded like a water ripple to reveal the Ashton she'd become familiar with. His eyes were still so… distant.
Ashton sighed, "My heart is rather heavy, so much it now holds, at least until Beloved leaves, I will now hold." With that, the nearly complete core left Neolani's pouch to land in his hand.
Neolani felt the first hot tear fall, Ashton was holding his heart… even through it was still covered in a golden film… it was whole…
Ashton sent Neolani a comforting smile, "Your mate is still tender, his skin rather sore, perhaps a mate's love, and some healing he could procure."
Alexei gingerly stood up, he was really getting tired of just how tender he'd become. It took him a few moments to order the men about before he could get to Neolani. Ignoring his blistering skin, he picked her up. Taking her to their tent to get them both cleaned up.
Zane shuddered, then winced. He felt like he had a full body sunburn. Not a bad one, just enough to know it was there… Looking around, most were about the same.
Randal was waiting in the conference room as Concubine Lasvill was being checked. Her and Wyatt… something had always been off about them.
Kokono was chirping with Hito, negotiating snacks. As her characteristics became more pronounced, so did her tastes. Not all beast cores were the same… Now that she had her promised spoils, she could trade for the ones she preferred!
Randal was periodically distracted by his men and the bird's… negotiating.
"Oi, tis no fair! That be a third tier beast core, lil lady, ye must be firm!" The mountain man egged on every time they were about to agree on their trade. If he didn't know better… he'd thing the little male wanted to gouge out his eyes… then again… remembering how easily he cleaved men in two… it might not be an idle thought.
Hito huffed, then started chirping as he reminded Kokono that while his cores were of a lesser tier, there was more mana inside due to sheer quantity.
Kokono hesitated but decided it was indeed a fair trade. Now most of her beast cores were from carnivores.
The mountain man pouted as they went back to… waiting. He was half asleep when the emperor's entourage arrived. Oh, well, the emperor had arrived as well. Not that he made much of a difference at this point.
Leonard sighed, "Were you able to strike the barter Duke Hammer?"
Randal snorted, "No, thanks to his majesty's order to wait here, I've not been allowed out of the room." Guards along the wall, watching the door. How exactly they expected him to do anything from here was just another reminder as to why Randal didn't expect much from his majesty. Why he thought they would admit to finding something that broke curses was his own fault.
Jaxon closed his eyes for strength, "Our apologies your Grace, we were so distraught with Lady Lasvill and prince Wyatt's condition we didn't think that through."
Sebastian slowly took his seat, Prince Wyatt's skin was festering… it was a gruesome sight to say the least. Nothing had been able to soothe the pair, not mages, priests, enchantments, drugs, not even attempting to knock either of them out.
Novak watched the sneering duke, he'd never seen him so… aggressive. His Majesty looked to be barely restraining himself as well… "A question milord, you were looking into curses… did you not receive the missives from the assassins guild three years ago?"
Randal turned onto the assassin with a mocking smile, "Oh, ai. I paid a kings ransom for the parlor trick. Then never heard word back even when I went in person to ask about the mage who created your little trinket."
Jakub glanced up, "That was no mere trinket. It could detect curses, and the one who cast the curse up to the fifth tier."
Randal watched the mage, "The bone pentagram? It broke after a single use."
Jakub frowned. "Impossible, before we left the capital I confirmed it was still active. I keep track of all my trinkets."
Randal slammed his fist on the table, "Then either you're a liar, or I was given a fake. Care to test which." Damnit, no wonder no one dared say who created it. Nor why he could find the maker. He'd been played the fool once again.
Novak's eyes narrowed, "It appears, even my men cannot be wholly trusted. Jakub, can you create another?"
Jakub pinched the bridge of his nose, "I need ingredients, and a week. That was no paltry trinket. It took a full year to create the design."
Randal nodded, "My men will get what you need, I want no one else to see. Not even your friend."
Novak didn't protest, he would be busy. Cleaning was one of his… passions. "I will be back in four days, would you like the man who switched the item?" He'd trusted two men to deliver the enchanted item. Since he didn't swap it, he had to be one of the two.
Randal leaned back, "I want him alive. Ranger, check on our side."
Novak stilled… for just a moment, he'd seen… no… it was impossible…
The ranger gave a savage grin, "Yes my lord."
Jakub eyed the duke… how deeply he'd hidden. "Now, would you happen to know why… the current pope, the former pope, and the former pope's daughter all had such a vested interest in you your Grace?"
Randal met the inquiring eyes with indifference. "Of course."
Jakub waited… a moment, two… "And… why would that be?"
Randal gave them a cool smile, "If I told you, I'd have to kill ye. Why should I trust ye, after being fleeced a kings ransom? Nay necromancer. I be given away no secrets to ye today."
Novak assessed the duke anew, then over the men he kept as aids… it would seem, there was another contender for the throne.
Sebastian closed his eyes. He must have… it was a trick of the light. Yes, a trick of the light made much more sense. A king once forced to his knees… it… it was coincidence.