The Blood King - Chapter Twenty-Two (Patreon)

Nymira

The world blurs past me as I am dragged deeper into the forest. I cry out as bushes slap against my face and arms, and each time I try to orient myself, the force of which I am being pulled forces me to my back. I reach desperately for anything that can help me get away from whatever is pulling me, but nothing is loose enough from the ground.

My adrenaline rushes through me dangerously as instinct to fight comes to the forefront. I don’t have a weapon thanks to Cassian, and I make a mental note to scold him for the oversight if I manage to make it out of this alive. A heavy chill forms in my chest, and it ripples over my entire body until I can no longer control it.

“Agh!” I cry out as ice forms around me, instantly freezing whatever has me around the leg. I feel its grip disappear, but it isn’t enough to stop my momentum, and just as I’m free, I feel the tilt of my stomach. I barely manage to orient myself as my body flips uncontrollably in the foliage, and I fall over the edge of a steep drop. I reach for nothing, my hands grasping at air just as the wind whips around me, and I begin to fall.

Suddenly, a plethora of plants appear beneath me, slowing my fall. I cry out as massive leaves and thick flower bushes form, and I collide with them. They manage to slow my fall enough that when I hit the ground, it isn’t as bad as it could have been.

“Ugh!” I cry out, landing awkwardly on my side. I groan, rolling over as I quickly try to catch my breath.

The light chitter of animals in the distance mingles with my soft breaths. As does the sound of falling leaves. It would be peaceful if it weren’t for the circumstances. Something dragged me away from Cassian and his men. I don't know whether whatever it was is a threat. I slowly sit up, taking in my unfamiliar surroundings. The sky has been covered by thick branches and leaves, but sunlight still streams through as I look around.

I’m in a meadow. But I do notice how unnatural it is. The grass is different from the plants that were growing when we passed through. And the longer I study them, the more I notice that they are moving. Almost as if they are shifting on their own, not accompanied by the wind, but with their own life.

“Auruna San.”

I flinch, turning in the direction of the voice. I know instantly he isn’t human. Nor is he a man. He is a boy, maybe a teenager. His dark hair falls messily in his face, falling past his waist, and his eyes are warm and inviting. The green is more vivid than anything I’ve ever seen, with golden specks that dance around within his irises.

They move with the plants.

The rest of his face is covered by a mask, but I note the slight point of his ears. And he wears a cloak, covering the rest of his body. It's old and worn, making me wonder if he is alone here. He takes a step forward when I don’t respond, his gaze narrowing as he opens his palm, a green mist swirling above.

“Alymund srio kumondru chital,” he says. As he speaks, the plants shift, growing around me.

He’s threatening me.

I narrow my gaze, shifting to an offensive stance.

“If you’re going to attack, attack,” I say.

His brows raise, and the threat in his eyes disappears as shock replaces it. He lowers his hand, taking a step closer.

“Yera truul… enol a Ikniri? Morf trefa ul rawan?” I hear the question in his tone, but I don’t speak the language of the Ancients. I recognized the phrase from his greeting, and now he speaks similarly to Cassian. Though I don't know what Ancient he is. If what Cassian and Caius said is true, he could be Thrae.

I shake my head, stepping back. “I can’t understand you,” I say gently.

I quickly look behind me, trying to find a way out, and he notices, his voice turning urgent.

“Mal! I neamy onyo reham!” he says, his voice desperate.

I shake my head again, taking a step back, and he realizes that I in no way can understand him, just as he can’t understand me.

“I told you, I don’t know what you’re saying, I don’t speak—”

He holds his hand out, as if in surrender.

“Mal,” he says, gently. He repeats the phrase, his voice turning to a whisper. Somehow, I know to remain still. I continue to watch him, ready to fight for my life if need be, but he only points to his palm, holding it flat.

My eyes widen as his skin ripples, and suddenly a vine forms. No, it’s a stem. And as it slowly grows, a bud forms at the top. It spins until petals sprout. The petals are the purest form of white I’ve ever seen, reminding me of the snow. He gently holds out his hand, reaching for his mask with his free hand. He pulls it down, confirming my theory as he reveals a boyish smile. He can’t be older than thirteen.

“I neam somt yera menyr,” he says. The words are soft and hold a reassuring tone. He slowly presses his hand against his chest. “Caderyn.”

He’s telling me his name.

I slowly lift my hand, pressing it to my chest as well. “Nymira.”

He nods, gesturing for me to take the flower from him, but I don’t move. Seconds ago, he was trying to kill me. He even dragged me from the caravan. And still, I have no idea what he was saying before he realized I couldn’t understand him. Kid or not, I can’t trust him.

“I neam somt yera menyr,” he repeats that same phrase, shifting closer to me as he holds his hand out. It seems like he wants me to trust him.

Something in me compels me to go against my instincts. Stepping closer to him, giving him an opportunity to earn my trust feels more instinctual than avoiding him. I don’t know if it’s the Ancient in me, or my naivety, but I want to trust him. I place one foot in front of the other until I am closing the distance between us.

I slowly lift my hand, reaching for the flower. I feel a warmth surrounding it, and I gasp. It isn’t uncomfortable.

Suddenly, his eyes shift behind me, and he closes his palm, throwing his free hand up. The ground shifts and moves, and I cry out, losing my footing as vines spread, shooting dangerously from beneath us.

“Nymira!” I hear my name, turning just in time to see Cassian coming towards us. The plants grow rapidly, forming a thick wall between Cassian and us, but this time, Cassian is prepared. Flames burst from Cassian’s flesh, easily singeing through the plants before they can thicken; his eyes hold a rage that is focused on the boy behind me, and I hear Caderyn shouting something at Cassian, but I can’t understand him.

Caderyn suddenly grabs my arm, shoving me roughly out of the way as he moves to attack, his determination set. It's as if he thinks he's protecting me. The ground near Cassian breaks apart, but it isn’t enough. And as flames form on his body, the plants can’t even get close enough to restrain him. Even from this distance, I can feel the heat radiating from him. It’s more intense than he’s ever let it get in front of me.

He is ready to kill this kid.

“Cassian, stop!” I cry out just as Cadeyrn lunges for Cassian, shouting a battle cry that makes Cassian grin wickedly. And I know it will haunt me in the coming days if he ends up taking his life.

A chill settles over my skin, and the world becomes vivid. I recognize this feeling, and somehow, I know how to releasee my power. I smash my hands against the ground, ice pouring from my veins. I can feel the direction it travels, and I can see the length of the ground. I can speak to it, controlling it as it shoots from the rock, right between Cassian and Cadeyrn.

It’s enough to soften the blow, but Cassian doesn’t miss a beat as he uses his bare fist to smash through the wall, his attack coming into contact with Cadeyrn. I see the look of pain on the kid's face as he is thrown back, crashing into the cliffside, his consciousness knocked out of him instantly before he hits the ground.

Cassian takes a threatening step toward him, and I am up from the ground, forming a weapon of ice out of my palm. My body somehow instinctually knows what to do, and I hold out my blade made of ice as I step between Cassian and Cadeyrn.

Cassian finally notices me.

He stops, his attention shifting from the unconscious kid to me. I don’t back down, not even when my body screams at me to surrender as I stand before this Dragonborn who is lost to his bloodlust. His dark gaze narrows.

“I know you think that because I spared you when you caught me off guard near the river, that I won’t strike you down now. But if you continue to hold that in my face, I will, Nymira,” he growls.

I pull in a trembling breath, holding it closer to him, so that it lingers near his throat.

“He’s just a boy,” I say.

Cassian scoffs.

“What did he say to you?” he snaps.

“Nothing, I just don’t think killing a kid—”

“That’s not what I mean,” Cassian says, stepping closer. My eyes widen as my weapon touches his skin, and in an instant, it melts, revealing the difference in our power. “What did he say for you to draw a weapon against me?”

Realization dawns on me. He thinks I have turned against him. I slowly lower my weapon, letting it dissolve until I am standing in front of him with nothing to protect either of us.

“You weren’t listening to me, and you almost killed him—”

“What did he say!” Cassian shouts. Terror hits me as flames burst from his flesh, his eyes shining dangerously.

“Nothing! I couldn’t understand him; we don’t speak the same language!” I say quickly.

Cassian’s rage slowly decreases to a simmer as he looks between Cadeyrn and me.

“You expect me to believe you want to save the Thrae who tried to kill us because he’s a boy? That you've suddenly learned to form a weapon because he is young? And you don't want me to kill him?” he asks.

I slowly look away from Cassian to Cadeyrn. He’s unconscious, his face contorted in pain from the attack. Cassian had no problem knocking him out. He could kill him at any moment if he wanted. I’m sure this kid knew that, and still dragged me away from the caravan, placing himself between Cassian and me when he thought Cassian was my enemy.

“He isn’t dangerous,” I say.

Cassian glares at me.

“And if I kill him?” he asks, drawing his sword. I take a step closer, ignoring the heat that comes from his body. Seeing him like this is terrifying. I see why he is a king, and why his men follow him. He’s been toying with me in the castle, and on this trip. He’s been holding back. But now, he has shown his true colors.

“Then you’ll have to kill me too,” I say.

Cassian watches me intensely, and I think he’s going to follow through with it. But he suddenly laughs, revealing his dimple. It looks out of place on his face in this moment, after witnessing his deadly intent. He takes his sword, sheathing it as he moves past me.

I watch in awe as he effortlessly lifts the kid, tossing him over his shoulder. He walks past me, making his way to the cliffside, pausing.

“Your innocence is going to get you killed one day, Nymira,” he says. He doesn’t wait for me to respond as he moves in the direction he came, expecting me to follow. But I don’t. Not right away.

I slowly hunch over, my breath coming out in trembling pants as my fear finally claws its way out. My legs feel weak, and I clutch my chest, closing my eyes as I try to breathe. I did more than just save a kid’s life. I defied the Dragonborn who is keeping me alive because in his eyes I am weak. I also showed him that I have access to a power that I wasn’t even aware of. I’m sure this will change things.

I just don’t know if it’s for the good or bad.