Eric Linnaeus | Book 3 | Chapter 10 - Salt Damage (Patreon)

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𝕊𝕒𝕝𝕥 𝔻𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕖ɴᴀᴛʜᴀɴɪᴇʟ ᴋʟᴇɪɴ: ᴍᴀʏ, 𝟷𝟿𝟿𝟿 – ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ, 𝟸𝟶𝟶𝟶.

─── .✦········· ───

“Carefully, Brother,” Achaicus warned with concern.

“I’m fine,” I dismissed his concerns as I sat up. I’d spent enough time in the infirmary and was more than ready to leave Leúchtend. Still, standing up made my head spin, and I stumbled.

“Don’t try to move so fast!”

He hurried to help me, and I pushed him away, “Stop making a fuss.” The look of worry on his face was irritating; I was fine.

We left the infirmary to meet everyone else at the gates. However, we didn’t make it far before our mother stepped into our path. She wore long white gloves and an elegant, semi-translucent white dress over a plain black one to signify her sorrow. She was mourning her husband’s disappearance, and it made me sick. I understood it was her place to be a dutiful wife, but it won her no favor with me. Perhaps if she had ever lifted a hand to help us, I might have been more willing to consider her my mother.

She was to be left in charge of Leúchtend until Achaicus returned, although none of us could say when that would be. My brother and I had been separated for far too long, and we agreed to reside in Dunkel for a while. He would take over half the usual duties, just as he once did, but insisted that Dunkel remain my castle. Truthfully, part of me was more than ready to hand back the responsibility of both castles to him. There are any number of ways I would prefer to spend my time than tending to paperwork.

“Nathaniel, Achaicus…” she greeted us with a soft curtsy.

“What is it that you want?” I snapped without any pleasantries, and she smiled shyly.

“I only wanted to wish you both safe travels.”

I was about to tell her that her well wishes were unwelcome when Achaicus squeezed my arm, warning me to stay silent as he spoke. “Thank you, Mother. We appreciate the gesture. Will you be alright managing this castle?”

“Of course. Your father often left the duties to me. He was far more interested in playing his usual games than leading his people.”

“I will return before Grandfather arrives.”

“He will wish to speak with you both.”

“I will not force Nathaniel to attend the meeting if it is not what he chooses to do.”

I scoffed; of course I would attend. There was no way I would leave my brother to answer all of Ælfric’s questions alone. When we received the return letter announcing that he wished to visit, Achaicus very nearly had a panic attack. Furthermore, the rumor that we had switched our names had by now traveled, thanks entirely to our father, and that would be a bothersome thing to dispel.

“Of course…” she agreed readily, “Has there been any word of your father?”

“None as of yet,” I answered bluntly.

“But you needn’t worry, Mother, he will not make it back into our territory undetected,” Achaicus added more softly.

“He made it out undetected,” I muttered under my breath, and he stepped on my foot.

“Nevertheless, every precaution has been taken,” he assured her.

“I do not doubt the abilities of my sons.”

What I wouldn’t give to be removed from this conversation. How did she even think she was permitted to speak to us with such familiarity? Not once had she ever protected us. Never had she helped us when Father was in a rage, and now, her dress—it was all I could do to remain polite.

When she finally allowed us to go on our way, she reached out a hand to caress Achaicus’s cheek, and he closed his eyes for a moment, covering her hand with his. “I’ll return soon.”

“I look forward to it.”

Carefully, she let him go and turned to me. I suppose she intended the same farewell for me, but when she moved to touch me, I stepped back, and she withdrew her hand.

“Be safe,” she murmured instead.

“We will,” I responded tensely. Our mother lingered, it looked as though she wanted to say something more but, thankfully, refrained from doing so as she left.

I waited patiently until she was out of sight, then shoved Achaicus hard, “What the hell was that?” I demanded, and he looked immediately guilty.

“She’s our mother…”

“Have you told her that? Because she certainly seemed to forget it when we were children.”

“What could she have done against our father? Besides… she’s sorry.”

“And how would you know that?”

“Because she told me…”

“You’ve spoken to her?”

“…Yes.”

Unbelievable. First Eric, now my own brother, all on my mother’s side. Ridiculous.

─── .✦········· ───

It bothered me for some time to think about, and I spent most of the journey back to Dunkel in silence. We traveled in a convoy. The ghouls, Yura and Amka, led the way in their silver SUV. Then Markos, Calla, and Claire were in his Mustang, followed by Achaicus and Molly. My brother and I drive identical vehicles; only our number plates are reversed, and Eric and I kept pace just behind him.

I sat on the passenger side as Eric had insisted on driving, not that I minded in particular. I prefer to look at the scenery, and I trust him. Charles traveled alone behind us in his truck, and at the end of our group was the second ghoul car, a hearse, driven by Hanta.

“You’re unusually quiet,” Eric commented calmly without looking over as I leaned against the window.

“Am I supposed to say something?”

“No. But I expected you to complain about my driving the entire way.”

“There’s no need; you’re a good driver.”

“Now I’m certain that something is wrong with you,” he responded, bemused, and I snorted.

“I take it back then. You’re a terrible driver; I can’t imagine how you ever got a license.”

“License?”

I couldn’t tell if he was joking, but I got the idea that he wasn’t, and chose not to comment on it further as I allowed my thoughts to wander. My grandfather wishing to pay us a visit was probably going to be an unfortunate affair. Especially so, given we had lost our father, and I wasn’t looking forward to explaining that. At least we wouldn’t have to justify killing him, although that might have almost been easier.

Maybe it was a mistake to stop Achaicus, but I know my brother; he couldn’t live with himself if he had. He would drink himself into an early death, and that wasn’t what I wanted. As I thought, I leaned against the window, propped up by the armrest with my head in my hand watching the landscape pass by. Miles of endless dirt fields ready for sowing seed, followed by lush rolling hills with cattle grazing eventually gave way into tall pine forests—I knew this drive well, from Leúchtend to Dunkel.

The first time I traveled these roads was with my brother, and it was as intoxicating as freedom itself. During those days, I spent much of my time exploring our new territory; I traveled to each border and back again. The orphanage where I found Eric was north-west. It lay in newly acquired territory and being out so far made me almost nervous. I felt oddly watched, like the area wasn’t entirely secured. Yet, I would never have met him if I hadn’t gone out on my brother’s wishes.

Sometimes, I wondered if Eric regretted meeting me. Would he have wanted his ordinary human life rather than this one? I dared not ask, for I feared the answer, but there was something else I wanted to know almost as much.

“…Eric,” I called his attention hesitantly.

“What do you want now?” he mused.

I exhaled slowly, “…Why did you kiss me?” I was trying to sound nonchalant.

The question was met by a subsequent moment of stunned silence as the color drained from his face. “…What…?” he answered at last in a quiet voice.

“When we were back in Leúchtend, you kissed me in the night,” I clarified, folding my arms uncomfortably. His lips had brushed against mine so lightly that I wasn’t sure it had even happened, and now I had doubt that it had.

“Let’s not talk about it,” he murmured at last, and I realized he was trembling.

“I’m not upset,” I tried to reassure him.

I had known his preferences from the time he was a teenager after inadvertently catching him halfway undressed with one of the castle guards. But it was not something we spoke of, and I never found him like that again. Although I did transfer the guard away; Eric was, perhaps, too young in my opinion for such things, and I preferred that no one hurt him.

I waited, and when Eric didn’t answer, I continued carefully, “I was only surprised. You never… before, I mean.”

“What are you trying to ask exactly?” he demanded, annoyed as his distress gave way to agitation.

“What changed..?”

Eric exhaled softly, “You did…” he whispered, then added, “Please… just forget about it? I won’t do it again; you don’t need to worry.”

We didn’t speak again for some time, and I felt indiscernibly ill. I shouldn’t have asked.

The silence between us drew out until we were overtaken by a motorcycle. It appeared rapidly and disappeared over the horizon ahead just as quickly. If I had human eyes, I may have seen little more than a blur. Even with my vision, I still hardly saw it, except to know that the rider was female with dark brown hair, and the vehicle was the same make and model as Eric’s bike.

“Please tell me that you don’t ride like that-” I began, but no sooner had I spoken than Eric swerved the car. He pulled out sharply and overtook the others to place us at the head of the convoy. It was the kind of sudden acceleration that I was sure wasn’t good for the engine, and I winced; I had only just had it upgraded again.

“What are you doing?” I scowled after a moment of processing.

“That motorbike-” he stopped himself. Eric was tense and gripping the steering wheel more tightly than necessary.

“What about it?” I prompted, but he didn’t answer, “Eric?”

“I’m sorry. It’s fine. I just thought…” he trailed off as he gradually relaxed.

“Thought it was your bike?”

“Yes.”

“Does it truly mean that much to you?”

“It was custom,” he muttered bitterly.

“…Would you like it if I got you a new bike?” I couldn’t believe I was even making the offer, and Eric looked at me, momentarily surprised.

“Are you sure you’re feeling alright?”

I rolled my eyes but covered my smile as I looked away; he was such a brat.

─── .✦········· ───

We arrived at Dunkel the following day, and almost immediately the work began. Of course, my first task was to thank Tougo for watching over the castle in my absence. For a fae to kneel before a ghoul was unheard of, but it was what was necessary and deserved. Without the Ghouls’ help, there’s no saying what could have happened, and at least one pet would have died.

Next, I was forced to attend several meetings, and it felt as though I had no rest. The ghouls left us after a week, while the two untrained humans decided to stay for a while longer. Not that I minded, for it meant Eric would remain close as well. Even so, I didn’t see him all that often with his new routine. He was always with Charles, Calla, or working on some needlessly dangerous case.

As it was, Eric had left a couple of days prior on some errand and had not yet returned. I’d more or less agreed that I wouldn’t stop him from doing what he wanted. But, as I stood outside Markos’s office delaying the inevitable, I found myself wishing that Eric had come back. I would have liked it if he could be here; I needed someone to protect me from Markos.

“You’re late,” Markos mused as he opened the door. I’m not willing to speculate on how he knew I was there; I hadn’t knocked yet.

“You only said I need to be here in the afternoon, did you not?”

“It’s almost dark, Nathaniel.”

I smiled unapologetically, “I lost track of the time.”

“I’m sure you didn’t. Come in,” he stood aside, and I reluctantly entered.

The infirmary at Dunkel is smaller than Leúchtend, although I would like to suggest it’s at least more modern with curtain partitions between the beds. We don’t often fall ill, so there is little need for grand hospitals. Rather, most visits are injuries that occur during sparring or training, and that takes up the majority of the nurses’ time. But given who I am, and the nature of my ailment, all of my appointments are with Markos directly in his office.

He gestured that I sit on the bed, and I did so begrudgingly, “How long will this take?”

“That depends on how honest you are with me. You stumbled during training the other day.”

“It was nothing. I’m fine- watch it,” I growled as Markos forced me to look up abruptly so that he could see into my eyes. “I nearly bit my tongue.”

“That would have been the least of your problems. Now, activate your energy.”

To prove a point, I allowed my magic to surge excessively, and he looked amused, “Satisfied?” I demanded flatly.

“Not particularly. Your energy is still slower than it should be.” He let go of me and rolled his sleeves, “Now, take your shirt off and lay down. I’ll see what I can do.”

I did as I was told, and he placed his hands on my back over the heart. Unlike Eric’s, Markos’s touch wasn’t warm, and I could feel his magic working through my veins. It wasn’t painful, yet, but it felt unusual. Our energies were slightly different, and I could tell his from mine.

“Breathe in.”

I didn’t need him to tell me; I knew the process. As I took the breath in, his magic pulled tight through my chest as if he were weaving threads, and I winced. That was always the part that hurt. “How did that feel?”

“Just, peachy,” I breathed through the pain.

“Good. Another deep breath in.” This time, the tight sensation burned, and I coughed violently, not that he cared at all. “Just a few more moments.”

I’m certain he enjoyed torturing me.

“You can sit back up now.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled as I struggled to get up. Being given permission and having the ability to do so were two different things.

“How does your heart feel now?”

“Fine, I guess.”

“Any shortness of breath or fatigue?”

“Right now? No.”

“Good. And you will tell me if you experience any?”

“I doubt I would have any choice.”

“You’re right, you wouldn’t, because you would likely just collapse again,” he agreed, and I scowled as he continued, “You need to refrain from strenuous activity. Give your body time to heal.”

“How long do I need exactly?” I couldn’t keep the resentment out of my voice.

“I can’t say for certain. No one has ever been exposed to salt in the way you were. Especially not for such a long period of time. Most of your organs have regained their functionality, but your heart…” He didn’t need to say it. I knew as well as he did that he wasn’t sure whether or not my heart would ever fully recover.

“I know, I know. May I go now?”

“There’s nothing more I can do for you. However, I was hoping that we might speak.”

“About what?” I asked, watching him warily.

“…Claire Walsh,” he said her name more softly and with a slight hesitancy that caught my interest. What about her could possibly make him nervous?

“Don’t tell me you killed her. I have no idea how I’ll be able to stop Eric from attacking you if that’s the case.”

“I haven’t harmed her.”

Was that mild irritation I detected in his voice? “What is it, then?”

Markos delayed before he knelt, “I wish to break contract with Calla in exchange for Miss Walsh… If you would permit it, of course.”

His request caught me so completely off guard that I very nearly forgot to answer him, “Why?” was all I could think to ask. “Calla is extremely talented. We’ve never had another like her; she even bests Eric on most days-”

“I realize it’s impractical,” Markos muttered, almost annoyed with himself, “Claire is untrained and fragile. She has no good manners as a Pet should have, and her nature is chaotic… Yet somehow…”

“You care for her?”

“…Please allow me to break contract.”

For him to even make such a request was astonishing, and I took a moment to consider before answering, “Very well; you may do as you wish under conditions.”

“Name them.”

“Claire must agree to a contract with you without coercion, and you must tell her brother what you did,” I stated calmly, and he tensed.

“You’ve spoken to Achaicus.” Markos is an intelligent man, and he understood what I was saying immediately.

“Did you truly believe we wouldn’t speak of it? You were bargaining with us both.”

“You were at war…”

“And you were mine. Yet you plotted against me and very nearly had my Pet destroyed.”

“If you knew all of this, why didn’t you say something before? Why not have me imprisoned?” he hissed, annoyed. I believe he understood the severity of his actions and the danger of my retaliation.

“Tell me, if you were in my position. What would you do in this circumstance?”

I could see his thoughts crossing the distance in his eyes as he tried to decide what he would do with someone like him. “…I will accept any punishment you give, but please, I am begging you. Punish me, and me alone.”

I sighed; of course he would assume the worst of me. “Markos, you are my cousin, and I am not my father. I would not have you harmed, nor would I harm your Pets.”

“What will you do then..?”

“I’ve already told you. Your punishment is that you may not do as you please until after you have told her brother of your involvement with his torture.”

Understanding dawned on him slowly, “…If she knew, she would never agree to a contract.”

“Possibly not. So either you may not break contract, or you will have to face the consequences of your actions. The decision is yours.”

He smiled coldly, “You’re more cruel than you know.”

I shrugged, “Perhaps.”

─── .✦········· ───

As I left, I wondered if I was too harsh with Markos. I wondered if Claire had spoken to Eric about her situation yet, and if that was perhaps why Markos was suddenly interested in a contract with her? There was a further irony in his request, given that little Miss Walsh had also made a request of me.

Only a few days prior, I had been hiding from my brother in the back of the gardens. As much as I hated being separated from him, I did not particularly miss his endless concerns: ‘Careful of Eric’, ‘You let too many untrained humans stay among us’, ‘You shouldn’t have knelt before the ghouls’ and on and on—his worries were continual and abrasive. I almost preferred it when he looked at me and would cry instead. Being separated was difficult for him as well, and he held a certain level of guilt over the matter.

“Hey Nathaniel!” Claire interrupted as she sat heavily beside me on the grass, nearly drowning me in her dress. It was ridiculously frilly, and I had no doubt Markos had it made for her.

“What do you want?” I answered irritably; she was disturbing my peace.

“So, the way I figure it, you owe me one, and I’d like a favor.”

I snorted, “I owe you nothing.”

“No? What about the whole, ‘you must not tell anyone until you tell Eric’-thing, huh?”

“What of it?”

“It was rude. Therefore, you owe me if you don’t want me to tell Markos about it.”

“Tell him what you like. I don’t care. In case you haven’t noticed, I can and will do whatever I like.”

“Right, I forget how much of an arrogant prick you are.”

I snorted, moving to leave; if she wasn’t going to go, I certainly could.

“Wait, wait,” she grabbed my arm, “I’m sorry; I do need a favor though. Please?”

“𝐷𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑚𝑒,” I commanded firmly, and she released me involuntarily.

“Sorry, but please. I need to have something made, and I don’t know how to do it…”

I hesitated begrudgingly; curiosity was getting the better of me, “What is it?”

Shyly, she handed me a piece of paper, and I unfolded it with trepidation. On it was a hand-drawn picture of a set of wedding bands, and I looked them over as Claire explained. “I guess I could have had them made in, like, a normal place, but I want them quickly, and I feel like it’ll mean more if they’re made here, you know? Maybe with a little bit of magic or something? But I think if I asked the forge myself, they would say no… so… would you be able to do it, please?”

The intricate rings would undoubtedly challenge our blacksmith, Jørn, “Who are they for?”

“…They’re for Markos, obviously. I’m going to propose to him…”

“You understand that the Fae meaning of marriage differs from the human meaning? And that rings aren’t necessary…”

“I know, I know, but you wear a lot of rings, so I figured you knew how to do it, and I want a human marriage because I love him, so could you please, please, have them made?”

“Fine. But you will owe me a favor in the future.”

“This is supposed to be your repayment for being a jerk.”

“I owe you nothing, and I don’t do favors for free.”

She looked mildly annoyed but eventually agreed, “Fine. But I won’t do anything really bad, okay?”

I withheld my agreement; it’s not as if she would have a choice should I command her to do something. “I will ask Jørn to make these for you; though, if he refuses, I will not demand it.”

“…Will he refuse?”

I thought for a moment, “No. He enjoys a challenge.”

She looked excited and squealed quietly. It was as if she had too much energy to contain, and she threw herself at me, hugging me tight. Her grip strength was surprising for a human, and I struggled to push her away. Not because of her strength, but because each time I pushed an arm off, it came back.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“𝐺𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑒,” I commanded, again, and she was forced to let go. Her behavior was undignified, and I straightened my shirt with a huff of frustration.

“Sorry! I’m just so happy, thank you!”

“It’s fine.”

“Oh, and you can’t tell Markos, okay? I want it to be a surprise!”

That was some time ago now, and as expected, Jørn had accepted the challenge. He prefers making small, delicate things to weaponry; especially if it takes concentration. So I expect those rings will be ready soon.

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