Godart

Severe lacerations covered Avira. The injuries were lighter against her chest thanks to the thick fur, but her abdomen looked bad. Similarly, her uncovered right arm looked much worse than her covered one. There wasn't danger of her intestines being affected, and she couldn't smell her stomach through the wound. She wasn't nauseous either, though she was barely lucid and not talking.

Godart bound the injuries the best she could to prevent blood loss while stitching them shut. The now moving wagon was making it a challenge, each bump nearly making her stab Avira with the needle.

Godart focused on her abdomen first, as it was the hardest to stop bleeding there. There were just two slashes across her abs, so it was a quick patch job. She dug out some anti-infection ointment from her bag, slathered it liberally along the cut, and bandaged her efficiently.

“When we're done, we're going to have a serious talk about your armor,” Godart told Avira sternly, bandaging the cuts that didn't need stitching.

“Mm...” Avira muttered, staring forward blankly. She was in shock, but wasn't panicking.

Godart moved to her right arm and quickly assessed the damage. Four slashes along the outside of the forearm, though they weren't down to the bone. “You're lucky that you have so much experience at hand-to-hand combat. If you hadn't dodged just right, your arm would probably be gone now.”

No response from Avira. That wasn't good. Her bandages were already soaking red with blood, which was worrying. How much had she lost? She had to stop the flow.

Godart sewed up her arms as quickly as she could while still being careful not to stab her. It was simpler to close a forearm wound than a stomach wound at least. Nine stitches for each cut, medicine applied and bandages wrapped in five minutes.

Two steps left. She had to clot her blood quickly and replenish what she lost. Three spells would do the job. Godart was nervous, being out of practice with magic. Still, she needed to do this for Avira.

She strapped her mask back on, wiping her hands on a rag and pulling them through her gloves. The gloves were leather, with the magical sigil she needed for her spells stitched onto the backside. She had to dig in her rucksack once again to find the grimoire that had her incantations inscribed inside. One was on her glove, but that was for alchemy.

It was a thin tome, worn heavily from being neglected at the bottom of her bag. She was nervous about reading the text aloud, but it was a skill you never lost after learning it.

Her mask vibrated as she began the spell, hovering a hand over Avira. The sigil on her glove illuminated the wagon. Tearing a piece of her soul off always felt like a stab in the chest. She had enough training to stand three spells of this level.

Godart's soul fragment flowed through her hand and over Avira, visible blue energy soaking into her injuries. It took her more effort than she expected for the spell to take effect on the wolf girl. She knew this might happen beforehand thanks to Mareth telling her about it, so Godart was prepared to put in the extra magic. Avira's lacerations began to clot over until she stopped bleeding completely. Godart felt her pulse to ensure her heart was still working, then began her next spell.

Another chant resonated through the wagon, this time sending out a pulse of energy. As it illuminated everyone, including Kalani and Mareth outside, the knowledge of whose blood could be mixed with Avira's popped into her head.

Hawke was the only match. Godart examined him, barely lucid as he sat there staring into space. Avira would almost certainly get sick from a blood transfusion in her state, and Hawke might take a turn for the worse with how weak he already was. But if she didn't, Avira wasn't waking up.

Godart made sure to sanitize her knife, then addressed Hawke, “hey.”

“Mm...?” Hawke murmured, turning his head slightly towards her.

“I need your blood. Not all of it, just enough to replenish Avira. It could get you sicker, but... I need to save her.”

A moment of silence punctuated her request. “Okay,” Hawke agreed.

“Thank you. I'll do my best to take care of you afterwards. Come here.” Godart helped Hawke crawl over and placed his arm next to Avira's. She used her knife and punctured their forearms, enough for a trickle of blood to flow out.

One last spell. Her hands were shaking from the effort as she began the process of tearing away a piece of her soul and channeling it into energy again. It felt like she was being cut open from the collarbone to the gut.

The magic energy targeted the fresh injuries on both of their arms. Hawke's injury started bubbling over, globules of blood detaching and flowing into Avira's wound. Hawke watched it with furrowed eyebrows, while Godart was straining to finish the spell.

It took a full minute before enough blood had been transferred to stop the spell. Godart released a breath she'd been holding in since the start, though hurriedly put a bandage on the small punctures before doing anything else. Hawke was paler now, but still lucid. He laid down, taking shallow breaths.

Avira's heartbeat was getting back to a steady rate. She'd wake soon. Godart sighed with relief when she realized she'd saved Avira and promptly collapsed.

#

Kalani

“You think you'd be smart enough to know how dangerous a daemon is! You're the perfect example of why being well-read doesn't equate to intelligence!” Kalani chewed Mareth out as the mage studied the map and guided Kalani, who was steering.

“Well, knowledge is built on trial and error,” Mareth remarked, tracing a route with his finger.

“Error my plumes, that was you being a moron.” Kalani shot him a glare.

“That's fair,” Mareth accepted the insult.

Kalani scoffed and handed him the reins. “Take over. I'm gonna check on the others,” she ordered him and receded into the wagon.

The rabbit maid was sitting up, rubbing her head. Everyone else was laying next to each other. Kalani made sure to check that Hawke was still alive before checking on Godart, who was lying on her front.

Kalani shook the girl lightly, to which she stirred.

“Ugh... Kalani?” Godart strained to look at her.

“Yeah. You alright?” Kalani frowned. Was Godart sick?

“I think so. I'm still lucid, I just have... no energy. I did too much magic, I think.”

“Magicked out, eh? You can't have done that many spells.” Kalani helped her to lay on her back.

“Just three. I'm not that trained in magic is all. Plus Avira needs more energy than what's typical. She's like a sponge.”

Of course the feral would be that much trouble. “So is everyone alright, then?” Kalani asked.

“Not quite. We all need some medicine, and to eat something and replenish our energy.”

“I'm not much of a cook,” Kalani crossed her wings.

“I can help,” the maid spoke up meekly. Suzie stood and looked around, “my head's killing me, but I can cook something nutritious up.”

“That leaves you for the medicine.” Godart told the harpy, “and it's probably best you and Suzie wear a cloth mask. I've labeled the medicine with the word 'cold'.”

Kalani followed Godart's directions, strapping on the mask and pouring the medicine into two cups.

“Give it to Avira first. She needs it to fight off the infection.”

Kalani would have refused, but she knew better than to argue with Godart in terms of medicine. She knelt over the wolf girl, who was still laying with her eyes closed. “Hey, Avira,” she stated loudly. No response. She spoke a few more times, then had to shake her awake.

Avira's eyes shot open and she yelled out, almost sitting up but calming as she registered Kalani. “Why are you the first face I see?” she grumbled.

“Funny. Now drink this, it's medicine,” Kalani told her, showing her the cup.

Avira turned her head to see Godart, then looked back at the cup. “I can still move my arms, go take care of your boyfriend.” She gestured towards Hawke.

Kalani felt a blush heat her face. “And you've got your girlfriend to worry about,” she responded curtly.

Avira's instant embarrassment was supremely satisfying. Kalani couldn't help but smirk as she moved to Hawke. He had his eyes open but was barely reacting to anything. It was better than the constant vomiting that came before.

“Hey Princeling.” Kalani rubbed his forehead, taking on a gentler demeanor.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Mm... hi...” Hawke murmured.

“I've got some medicine for you. Think you can stomach it?”

“Think so,” Hawke said weakly, “haven't puked all day. Think that's a good sign.”

“Hopefully. Here, prop your head up on my lap.” Kalani spoke, patting her feathered thigh.

He managed to do so on his own, looking up to Kalani with a smile. “Thanks.”

Kalani smiled back. “Don't thank me yet. The medicine tastes terrible, remember?”

“Right...” Hawke grimaced.

After making sure he drank all his medicine, Kalani sat there watching the prince, rubbing his head gently. She wasn't used to nursing him like this, but it was a nice feeling. She almost wished he stayed sick a little longer, though she was glad that, according to Godart, the worst was over. For now, Kalani was content to watch him sleep.

#

Avira

Over the next day Avira came down ill. Her symptoms were much lighter than Hawke's, who was still sick albeit much more responsive. The great meal Suzie cooked up for them helped to bolster their bodies as they continued on the road.

“So, Suzie,” Avira spoke to the maid, who was tending to her and Godart. “I should have asked this earlier, but why exactly are you here?”

“Oh, right. I haven't told anyone yet. When my... father was speaking to me before passing, he told me to come with you. He must have also told Brutus to help me along. Apparently he didn't think Hunter or Terrance would treat their servants well after he was gone.” Suzie rubbed her lopped ear between her fingers as she spoke, “I hope I'm not a burden.”

“Nonsense, you're a good cook so it's worth having you around,” Avira joked with a smirk, “I'm glad to get you out of that snake pit though. Those people may have seemed nice, but they're all just looking for a reason to lynch people like you and me.”

Suzie sighed, “yes, I'm aware. I was never allowed to go far from the manor without my father for that reason.”

“What are you planning to do now? We're headed to Vakia through the Deadlands.” Godart spoke, having regained her energy. She was currently sitting next to Avira, nursing her.

“That's a good question.” Suzie crossed her arms, thinking on it. “If we're going to the Deadlands I'd love to meet my mom's people, but I don't think I have it in me to live a tribal life. If anything, I'm good at being a housemaid, so I'll probably look for an opportunity there.”

Avira frowned. “Just a servant? You could pick up a different trade.”

“Vakia's full of opportunity, to hybrid and human alike,” Godart suggested.

Suzie hesitated. “I'll think about it.”

Avira felt the wagon turning and slow to a halt and picked her head up. “We stopping?”

“Feels like it.” Suzie nodded. “It's about time to settle for the night, I think. I'll go talk to Mareth.”

“Mm. We still need to chew him out for earlier,” Avira muttered as Suzie walked to the front of the wagon. She looked around the carriage while waiting for her. It was going to get pretty cramped considering it was too cold to sleep outside. She focused on Godart as something occurred to her. “Y'know, we'll probably end up sleeping next to each other.”

Godart froze up at that, staring at Avira with a blush no doubt painted on her face “Uh— I mean— yeah...” she stuttered, fidgeting with a cloth in her hands.

“Oh my god, just kiss and get over with it,” Kalani grumbled, loud enough for both of them to hear it.

Avira would have blushed, but she found herself more agitated by the hypocrisy of Kalani saying that while having Hawke sleeping with his head on her lap. She bade her tongue from throwing insults, not wanting to ruin the moment anymore. That was when Mareth walked into the wagon.

"The horses are fed and we're in a secure spot. It's best for everyone to rest for the night," Mareth spoke.

"Good, then. Now that we're settled we need to have a talk. Godart, help me up." Avira spoke bluntly, making Godart flinch. The Plague Doctor was careful as she propped Avira up, keeping a hand on her stomach to feel the stitches.

"Oh dear, this talk then? I apologize for the whole daemon business, really," Mareth continued to speak in his typical flat tone, which ticked Avira off, "but it won't be a problem for the rest of the trip. No more spirits shackled to me except Witness, who won't be a problem, and the ones in my amulet."

"Listen, I don't give a shit that it went sideways. I care that one: you kept it a secret from us, and two: that that was the girl I killed back in Drima. What the fuck were you doing with her soul? She would have come after me the second she gained physicality anyways."

"Wait, who was the daemon?" Godart asked. Kalani was also listening intently.

"Right, you weren't there. There was a Kathan soldier after me, I killed her in Drima. Same one I met at the border of The Wilds."

"Oh. Okay, continue." Godart nodded.

"I summoned Valisa because I was curious to know how she'd found you in Drima, and in the bathhouse specifically," Mareth began to explain.

Avira crossed her arms. "And?"

"The Hanged Men told her. It's why Penn directed us to that bathhouse in the first place." Mareth put a hand to his chin as he spoke, "I confirmed it with the man myself."

Avira narrowed her eyes. "Those backstabbing pricks... and you didn't tell me why exactly?"

"Wasn't relevant. It'd already happened and their type wouldn't have enough loyalty to the employer to pull something after they were dead," Mareth explained, though Avira clearly wasn't satisfied, "and I did make sure it was repaid, hence why Penn let you at your jailer"

That was a surprise for Avira. Mareth convinced him to do that? "Huh. That's... appreciated, but I'd still rather you'd told me."

"I understand. Unfortunately, there wasn't much we could have done anyways. I didn't account for Valisa being able to become a daemon at the time, so when I pulled her soul out the only choices were to rip her apart, let her go, or shackle her to me. I don't like the destruction of souls, and letting her go would have almost certainly caused much more trouble for people," Mareth explained.

"I hate that I'm not as mad anymore," Avira huffed.

"I will admit that for this scenario I'm entirely at fault for not warning of the possible daemon and experimenting under a more controlled environment. I'll accept any punishment you want to give me." Mareth smiled, gesturing to himself.

Avira looked at Godart and Kalani. "Opinions?"

Godart sighed, "I agree that it was a stupid thing to do, but I don't think there's going to be a repeat incident. No more ghosts around that are capable of that."

"We're too close to the border to kick him out, and magic might be useful in the Deadland," Kalani spoke, "though it's best to keep an eye on him."

Avira crossed her arms and stared at Mareth. Still the same smile on his face, but as far as she could tell he was being truthful. "Fine. But one thing I want to know. You've been gathering spirits this whole journey in that amulet of yours, yeah?"

Mareth looked down to the amulet around his neck and lifted it to show Avira, "Indeed, a veritable museum of them. Was that the question, or...?"

"I'm getting to it. I know you're a creepy necromancer type, though you don't raise the dead all that often. So your obsession with collecting souls leads me to believe there's something more to it. What are you planning?" Avira's eyes burrowed into Mareth's skull, making his smile falter a moment.

"Ah, well It's a more personal matter." Mareth looked away, embarrassment a new sight on him. "Godart is aware of this. Kalani, Avira, you're both knowledgeable about why spirits aren't moving on to the other world, correct?"

"Human spirits and hybrids outside the forest, yeah." Avira nodded. "Mages fucked up and broke everything, right?"

"Broke the afterlife, specifically," Kalani added.

"The Ethereal Tear is definitely a terrible thing," Godart agreed.

"Right. Well, the original experiments weren't related to the afterlife at all, contrary to popular belief. They were trying to unlock teleportation," Mareth exclaimed, now sitting down. Suzie, nearby, had her ears perked as she listened in.

"Teleportation?" Avira cocked her head.

"I heard they were attempting to tap into the power of the afterlife to fuel their spells," Kalani added.

"Using spirits as fuel was rarely used before this, mainly for golems and even then multiple mages typically used parts of their own soul to form one golem. The practice of tearing apart a spirit and using them for energy was heavily frowned upon," Mareth continued to explain.

"Obviously something changed," Kalani said.

"Right," Mareth replied, "the Tear. The theories aren't fully settled, but the accepted one is that by trying to meet two points in space together like that, they instead tore a hole into the dimension itself."

Avira wasn't sure how to interpret that. Too technical for her. Still, her mind searched for a proper analogy. "So... it's like you were trying to make an underground tunnel and burrow into a lake, flooding the cave."

Mareth seemed pleased by that analogy. "Very astute. It's fitting, except in this case it means that water can no longer be added to the lake because the rain itself has left. Not to get lost in the metaphor, the tear has essentially disrupted everything, breaking the process for souls to cross. Hence ghosts travel the earth, hence daemons, hence the Maternal Curse which kills many mothers during childbirth because of how hard creating new souls is now."

"And ensuring that the mages continue to exist, now that they have to deal with the ghosts and daemons everywhere," Kalani spoke with some venom.

"They did use it as a foothold, correct," Mareth accepted.

"So then how does this tie to your amulet?" Avira asked.

"Right, back on track. It's my— and my father before me's— theory that enough souls all together in one vessel could harness enough magical power to seal the Tear." Mareth said.

Avira and Kalani perked their heads up for that. Kalani spoke first, "one vessel? Does that mean your amulet?"

Mareth shook his head. "The amulet is a temporary container. The final act will take my body."

"Your body? That sounds like suicide." Avira was perplexed.

"Indeed it does. But I made up my mind a long time ago, which is why I've been traveling the world and collecting spirits for my entire life. It's best to leave a positive legacy, especially when the issue hangs on your family name." Mareth paused as he saw the curious looks. "Right. The originator of that experiment was my great-grandfather, Manfred."

That jogged Kalani's memory. "Manfred Morsum, right! I didn't know he was the cause of the Tear. I just thought your family had been blacklisted for the necromancy."

"One last kindness from the greater magic society. If the knowledge was public my family would be murdered." Mareth grinned.

"I mean, I wouldn't hold it against them. Still, you sure you want to do that?" Avira asked, "you're still young. Older than most of us, but still." Avira glanced over to Suzie, who now had the mantle of oldest person there.

"Absolutely I am. The best a person can do is leave a legacy. And something like fixing the Tear would be quite the legacy indeed." Mareth smiled. "Now I believe we should be getting some sleep. I'll keep watch tonight."

"Okay," Avira replied, then looked to Godart who helped her lay back down. Avira noticed Kalani laying down next to Hawke and decided to pull Godart down, holding her close as she laid there.

An 'eep' escaped Godart as Avira's arms wrapped around her. She was rigid for a moment, but relaxed in Avira's arms. Godart leaned back into her, cuddling up as the two got some much-needed rest.