Chapter Eight: Facing the Tribunal

Rhylix

Please, Eriadren, forgive yourself for something you had no control over.

The human boy’s body slackened into sleep, and I watched the first rise and fall of his chest with thin lips.

“You like this one,” my constant nuisance said at my side.

“Perhaps.”

I had yet to determine the answer to that question. It had been ages since my barren heart had held the capacity for even the most basic of connections, but Raimie had come close to nudging me into it. He was so earnest and in some ways, untouched by the world’s evils, so lost in the face of his life’s upheaval, but he also… wasn’t.

I’d seen coiled violence in Raimie when we’d first met. For a moment, the teenager’s eyes had unfocused, and he’d looked like every experienced fighter I’d ever met.

“I don’t know whether I should be horrified or pleased that your ally has made an impression this time.”

Sinking onto the cot, my constant nuisance played its fingers in the air over Raimie’s face.

“This one’s fascinating,” it said. “It’s been centuries since I’ve encountered someone who’s yet to pick a side.”

“I saw your counterparts huddling over him earlier,” I said, crossing my arms. “One of yours and one of theirs together. Shouldn’t that be impossible?”

“Not as much as you might think,” my constant nuisance said. “Don’t you have a ‘meeting’ to attend?”

Well, that had clearly been a brush-off. Clicking my tongue, I spun in place, leaving the nuisance sitting beside Raimie. At my clinic’s entrance, a Zrelnach trainee was shifting from foot to foot, and as I approached, his relief was palpable.

“Thank you for letting me finish here,” I said.

“It was the least I could do,” Dath said. “Is that the human?”

He peered into the clinic with a sick fascination sparkling in his eyes.

“His name is Raimie,” I said, “and yes.”

As I started down the hall, I made sure to stare straight at today’s shadow when I passed her. What was the point in feigning ignorance anymore? They knew that I was aware of their watching eyes. They had to, now that I’d snuck past them not only when I’d left Allanovian but also twice upon returning, once with Raimie and once with Aramar. They’d only noticed my intrusion with the older man, and only Aramar’s mention of Gistrick, his friend among the Zrelnach, had saved his life.

I’d been wary of leaving someone who knew my greatest secrets with Allanovian’s elite warriors. If Aramar decided to blab, fighting my way to freedom through the Zrelnach would be irritating, but at that moment, I couldn’t think of a reason for him to stay by my side. I’d have to trust in his gratitude, the only thing keeping him quiet.

Maybe if I hadn’t been so exhausted, I could have kept Aramar with me, but I was going on…

Frowning, I counted on my fingers. The daylight hours after leaving Allanovian. The night to complete my work outside Fissid. Making the return trip. From morning until halfway through the afternoon, getting my human companions into the village. The rest of the evening, spent explaining what I’d done while waiting for Raimie to wake up. The teenager had done that as the sun had been setting which meant…

A day and a half. I’d been awake for a day and a half, and my lack of sleep had begun to affect me, which wasn’t good considering what I was headed to do.

“Um… Rhylix?” Dath said at my back. “You missed the entrance.”

Stopping short, I took note of my surroundings while vigorously shaking my head.

“So I have,” I said. “Thank you, trainee.”

“No problem,” Dath said.

He flashed me a toothy grin, which made me pause before entering.

“Why did they send you to fetch me, I wonder?” I said.

“I imagine it has something to do with this—”

Dath waved his splinted arm in the air.

“—and the fact that I’m the only person you’ve warmed up to in years.”

They thought I’d made friends with this boy?

In a way, it made sense. I’d shared drinks with him and treated an injury that his instructors would have made him suffer through. To others, it probably looked as if I’d become friendly with Dath, but I hadn’t. I’d only done what had seemed right in each moment.

“I see,” I said.

How could I divest myself of this boy before he got hurt?

“I was wondering if I might ask for a favor,” Dath blurted.

Raising an eyebrow, I said, “You can ask.”

Dath squirmed in place, which had my finger tapping against my thigh, but the trainee gathered his courage soon enough.

“My instructors told me about you. I never would have guessed…”

At my glare, Dath gulped.

“Will you please let me fight you?” he squeaked.

Predictable. Fight came easily to the eager, the quick-tempered, and the young. Those yet to be disillusioned.

This would, however, be an effective means of distancing Dath before I left. After all, he’d want to train before our proposed fight.

“Why not?” I said. “But only after your arm heals.”

“Yes!” Dath yelped. “Thank you!”

“It’s nothing.”

It truly wasn’t.

“May I enter now?”

“Oh, right. I forgot why we’re here,” Dath said. “Good luck in there, Rhy.”

And I tensed.

-lix. It was Rhylix. Why did people insist on shortening my name today?

“Hopefully, I won’t need luck,” I said.

Striding down the corridor that we’d been standing beside, I soon entered the chamber at its end, and after reading the room’s mood, I internally winced.

Oh, I was fucked. I’d expected that they’d be upset but this…

Four people were waiting for me here, the varied members of Allanovian’s Council. Ferin, my only ally, gave me a weak smile from the corner she was slouched in, and I returned it as best I could, ignoring the other three.

Shafoth, the Councilman in charge of feeding Allanovian, remained a relative unknown to me, as he’d been appointed to the position last year, but the man’s previous decisions had trended more logical in nature, which might benefit me. I’d see soon enough.

The other two hated me, each for their own reasons. Hemly, who oversaw the care of Allanovian’s youths, blamed me for the disgrace of his cousin, the last Zrelnach commander. Yrit, Allanovian’s arbitrator and treasurer, loathed me because I came from outside the city, a dislike that applied to everything that lay beyond these stone walls.

These men stood in a loose circle, chatting when I arrived, but as I took my position in front of them, they fell silent. The Council, including Ferin, seemed intent on ruining my ease, staring at me with not a word spoken.

Did they think I’d lose my patience and cause a scene? If so, I couldn’t blame them. A short temper had been part of the persona that I’d presented in this city, but that presentation wasn’t me, merely another layer in my mask. One they’d stripped away.

I wished they’d get on with this, though. Before Raimie woke up, I’d like to get some sleep, and more chores besides attending to the Council’s pleasure awaited me before I could partake of that indulgence.

With fatigue eating at me, I rocked back on my heels, distractedly humming under my breath. Would my constant nuisance keep watch over Raimie until I could return? Already, that teenager seemed to attract trouble, and I wasn’t comfortable with leaving him alone yet. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it until after I’d assessed his capabilities.

“I’m sorry. Do you not understand why you’re here?” Yrit snapped. “Troublesome brat that you are, you should be well acquainted with what we do in this room.”

Cutting my hum off, I looked about this plain chamber and sighed.

“I have stood here often enough, haven’t I?” I said.

Before Yrit could snap at me again, Ferin left her corner to join the men.

“Why don’t you tell us what happened, Rhy?” she asked.

They didn’t already know? It seemed obvious to me.

Maybe they hadn’t questioned Aramar yet, though, or perhaps Ferin hoped the details that only I could provide would excuse my behavior. I sincerely doubted that would happen, but what harm was there in talking?

“I’ve been getting restless lately,” I said with a shrug.

Technically true.

“Even years later, I haven’t gotten used to Allanovian’s enclosed confines. As always when this happens, whether you know about it or not, I set out to spend time under an open sky, but I traveled a bit further than I usually do.

“Seeing flames on the horizon, I decided to investigate. With it being dry season, I was worried the fire might rage long enough to reach Allanovian’s forest.

“When I arrived, I found the fire constrained by a surprisingly full creek. I also found the two humans that I brought back with me. With both badly injured, I thought returning to Allanovian would be best. Here, I’d have full access to my supplies, meaning I needn’t rely on magic to heal them.”

“You did this, fully aware of our policy about the inferior race?” Hemly snarled. “You’ve polluted Allanovian with their presence.”

I hadn’t been finished with my tale, but this interruption might help my case more than the rest of what I’d meant to say.

Cocking my head, I asked, “How?”

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“How?” Yrit sputtered. “You brought humans into our midst, spreading their filth through this city!”

“It’s my understanding that these humans have visited Allanovian before,” I said, “or has the Audish royal family’s open invitation been rescinded?”

Yrit worked his jaw while Shafoth chuckled at his side.

“So, you learned who they are, did you?” he said.

“With the village in an uproar over Eledis’ arrival, it was hard not to,” I said. “Am I wrong about their right to be here?”

“No.”

Crossing her arms, Ferin watched me with an unreadable expression.

“Of all the human’s in Ada’ir, this nation’s King or Queen and the Audish royals have always had leave to walk down our halls,” she said.

“Because of a promise our ancestors made generations ago!” Hemly protested. “Surely they can’t expect us to honor it three centuries later.”

“Yes. They can.”

As I’d spoken, each of my words had been coolly bitten off, which had the Council members jerking back toward me.

“The only reason you’re here instead of suffering under Doldimar’s reign is because of that family,” I continued. “You owe your very existence to them.”

At that, Hemly bristled as if to speak, but Shafoth cut him off.

“He’s right,” he said. “The last king brought our ancestors with him when he fled Auden. He could have left them there.”

“That doesn’t mean we have to uphold a promise made-”

“We can discuss it later,” Ferin snapped. “Let’s get on with our business. Rhy has provided a reasonable explanation for the crime you lot would accuse him of. Do we have any other reason to keep him from his duties?”

“We have plenty of them,” Yrit growled. “This… man has admitted to leaving Allanovian without supervision, breaking an agreement he made with us and therefore breaking our laws. We should strip him of his healer status and put him to work on runs to the tear-”

“Technically, I broke neither your laws nor our agreement,” I interrupted.

I glanced at them over an examination of my fingernails.

“I promised to repay this community for everything you’ve given me, and I’ve done so through my efforts to keep your warriors in good health. Never did I say I would stay in the village while doing that,” I said. “I’ve endured your paranoia, ignoring the Zrelnach you’ve sent to monitor me, and honestly? Having them looking over my shoulder hasn’t been a bother. Don’t, however, insult me by claiming that I haven’t kept to a promise I never made.

“As for your laws, I have ever tried to respect them but remember. I never became an Allanovian citizen. My loyalty has and always will be with my home. So, yes. I follow every rule and custom that you’ve laid down but only up to the point that they conflict with my home’s safety.

“I understand your need for a scapegoat, though. To keep the city’s populace appeased, you need someone to blame for the recent uproar. I can be that for you. I’ll take whatever punishment is needed to calm them down, so long as you remember that not only will it be a pretense but I’ll be leaving with the humans when they eventually depart these halls.”

“Leaving?” Yrit sputtered. “So, you mean to break your promise regardless?”

I took a calming breath. Why did this man always stoke my temper? That he affected me was annoying, and yet, I was grateful for the proof that something could stir my emptiness, even if it wasn’t the most pleasant of sensations.

As I cooled off, I summoned the words I’d need to soothe a stubborn bastard, but someone beat me to it.

“He’s given us eight years of service as a healer,” Shafoth said. “That’s almost a third of your life, is it not?”

With my lips curling, I said, “Something like that, Councilman.”

Nodding, Shafoth faced the others.

“Such a length of time is more than enough payment for what Allanovian once provided, something that, if we’re to believe the reports, Rhylix never needed in the first place,” he said. “We should take what he’s offered and leave it be. Too many crises demand our attention to devote more time here.”

Under his withering glare, Yrit and Hemly reluctantly nodded, all while Ferin grinned. She would enjoy this berating of two people she’d long considered her enemies.

“Rhylix, the Council would request that you remain within Allanovian’s walls until this situation is resolved,” Shafoth continued. “Acceptable?”

Bowing, I said, “As the Council decrees.”

I caught Ferin’s eyeroll as I rose.

“Get out of here, Rhy,” she said with a chuckle. “I’ll swing by with our pronouncement when I can.”

“I look forward to it,” I said.

Almost as much as I anticipated leaving this room. When it lay far behind me, I leaned against a wall, gritting my teeth.

Fuck politics. It and magic could dive straight into the void.

Shaking myself, I straightened, working to shuck exhaustion from me with a brisk stride. I had chores to complete before I could sleep.

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Visiting Salna was always a trial and a pleasure. On the one hand, the smith was one of the only people in Allanovian who treated me as if I wasn’t a pariah, letting me use her forge when I liked. On the other, she was a stubborn woman, and it was impossible to change her mind once she’d made it up.

Which was why I approached her shop with trepidation. She was sure to know why I’d come as soon as she saw me, so would my first steps in this place herald an argument or an animated discussion?

No one occupied the front end of her shop. Through an opening in a wall, I heard the clang of a hammer on metal and smiled. Salna was always in a better mood after she’d been working.

I rang a bell on the counter as loudly as I could, waiting while the clashes in the back fell silent. After a moment, the smith ambled into view, wiping sweat from the back of her neck. On noticing me, she spread her arms wide.

“Rhylix! It’s good to see you!” she boomed. “Are you here about the sword?”

See? She’d already guessed what I wanted.

“You know me well, Salna,” I said. “Will you take the job?”

Grinning, Salna jerked her thumb over her shoulder.

“I already have,” she said. “Thought you’d want a hand and a half blade to match Shadowsteal. Was I right?”

Why was I not surprised that she’d already gotten a look at that legendary blade?

Shrugging, I said, “I’d like it as close to Shadowsteal as you can get it. Raimie won’t always be able use the sword, and when he has to fight with another blade, I’d rather if he wasn’t tripped up by differences in length or weight.”

Salna turned wistful.

“I can’t believe I’m making a sword for that boy,” she said. “Time was… well. Time was.”

I gave her a moment to compose herself, even curious as I was about how she might know Raimie.

“When can I expect it finished?” I eventually asked.

“Hmm?”

Jerking her head up, Salna flapped a hand at me.

“It’ll be done before you need it, don’t you worry,” she said. “If I were to guess, though, I’d say a week. Maybe. It’s become my top priority, but I won’t lower the quality of my work because we’re short on time.”

“Nor would I ask you to,” I said. “A week should be fine.”

“Do you have any requests for its name?” Salna asked.

I paused, narrowing my eyes.

“You want to name this sword?” I asked. “Do you want to bring its future bearers bad luck?”

“Don’t be silly. I’d never wish such a thing on anyone,” Salna said, “but it will belong to a king. It needs a name.”

Making a face, I said, “Fine, but you have to choose it. I want nothing to do with cursing a sword.”

“I’m thinking… Silverblade,” Salna said. “Or something like that. Sound good?”

Rubbing my eyes, I released a long sigh.

“Salna, I just said I don’t want anything to do with it,” I said. “Now, here’s your payment. I hope it helps with your back.”

After digging in my cloak’s pocket, I set several containers on the countertop, and Salna descended on them like an addict would on a drug of choice.

“Thank you, Rhylix,” she said. “I don’t know what I’d do without these salves.”

With a strained smile, I said, “You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a week.”

Patting the woman’s hand, I stalked out of her shop. If I had the time, I should make more of that salve so Salna would have a stockpile when I left. If I had time…

As a broken chuckle burst from me, I hurried along. One more errand and I could go home. With trudging feet and a slight wobble, I took a path long abandoned, eventually turning down a corridor that I hadn’t walked in eight years.

With sleep roaring my name, I could almost ignore the whispers rising behind me and the hostile stares directed my way. I’d expected a reception like this, though, which made it easier to let the Zrelnach’s loathing slide off my back.

What else was I supposed to do? Stay away from their quarters when the man I must meet was here?

At least with night having fallen, less warriors populated the corridors outside their rooms than normal, and I didn’t need to invade their sanctuary too much. I followed laughter and the sounds of conversation to a narrow entrance, and when my shadow darkened the room behind it, silence fell while the three people inside threw sour looks at me.

“Good evening, gentlemen,” I said.

With a huff, the man closest to the door—I couldn’t remember his name for the life of me—strode into the corridor, roughly brushing me as he passed, which left two.

One of them was lounging on the bed. Bits of a metal ring peeked from beneath his tunic’s hem, and noticing my eyes on that, he tugged the cloth down.

I didn’t know why he’d done that. I’d gotten the damn thing in place earlier.

The other man leaned against a wall, crossing his arm across his chest. A bandage wrapped his shoulder where a second limb should go, and on viewing the two, I fought to keep from pinching my nose.

“You shouldn’t be on your feet,” I said to the man wrapped in black leather.

“I know. We were waiting for a cot so both of us can rest,” Gistrick said. “Can I help you, Rhylix?”

“I was hoping to speak with my patient,” I answered. “Privately, if possible.”

With air hissing between his teeth, Gistrick looked to the other man for advice, and Aramar inclined his head. Pushing off of the wall, Gistrick made to leave, but he paused as he passed me.

“Thank you for saving my life,” he stiffly said.

“I wish I could have done more.”

Clicking his tongue, Gistrick strolled out of view, and for a moment, I merely watched Aramar fidget, perfectly aware of the tension in the air. When he looked uncomfortable enough, I glided into Gistrick’s room, squeezing between the bed’s foot and a wall. Once I’d settled in the corner opposite the room’s entrance, I waved at Aramar’s waistline.

“How are you adjusting to it?” I asked.

Aramar snapped his eyes to slits.

“Slowly,” he answered. “Why are you here? Has something happened with Raimie?”

“Overall, he’s fine. We’ll get to him in a moment,” I said. “Right now, you, not your son, are my patient, so I need to know if you’re having any problems. Integration can be a tricky process.”

Looking away, Aramar said, “There’ve been some twinges when I move, but I can handle that.”

“Still. I’d like to look at it the next time you come to my clinic,” I said. “You can visit Raimie while you’re there.”

Aramar curled his fingers into the blanket.

“He’s awake, then?” he asked.

“Awake and extremely confused. I haven’t seen someone as lost as him in ages. He could use an explanation from his father,” I said, “as I’d like one about him at some point. He acted oddly in my clinic and those nightmares on the way here…”

Flinching, Aramar said, “He’s always had those, although they’ve gotten worse since his mother died. As for his behavior, he’s never been normal.”

Pursing my lips, I examined the man cringing before me. That explanation had sounded like a brush-off. Perhaps something more lay in what I’d asked, but I couldn’t explore it further. I’d pushed hard enough for now.

“I gave him a tincture to help him sleep, and with my oversight, he should be prepared for his trials within the next week,” I said. “On that note, I’d ask that you withhold the news of what’s happened to you, at least until after he’s completed them.”

Aramar whipped his gaze to me, leveling a glare.

“Of course I’m not telling him yet,” he growled. “I remember my own trials perfectly well. He doesn’t need anything to distract him.”

Smirking, I said, “Forgive me. I had to know whether years of sedentary living had dulled the legendary Aramar.”

“I’m as sharp as I’ve ever been,” Aramar grumbled.

“Yes. I saw glimpses of that when you fought Teron,” I said. “I have to ask. Did your talent rub off on your son? How likely is he to pass his trials? He seems tenacious enough for it.”

A smile quirked Aramar’s lips.

“Raimie will be fine,” was all he’d say on the matter.

After a moment, I jerked my head in a nod, straightening as if to leave, but I made no move toward the entrance.

“I’m alive,” I said. “I take that to mean you’ve kept my secret.”

Aramar pulled his lips into a flat line.

“I told you I would,” he said. “I don’t go back on my word.”

“I didn’t think that would happen,” I said. “I had to check anyway.”

Cocking my head, I stared at Aramar, the first to learn this particular secret in a while. I could live in fear of him retracting his promise or…

Scanning the human from head to foot, I sighed before sinking onto the bed’s foot.

“I know you don’t trust me, and I can’t blame you for it,” I said. “Not only am I a stranger but I’m a… you know what. Given that, I’ll understand if you don’t want to answer me, but besides everything else, I am a healer. I have to ensure my patient’s wellbeing, in every capacity.

“So, how are you, Aramar? In the last few days, you’ve lost more than anyone should and learned that your son is the subject of a foretelling.

“I know you’re not ok. I suppose… I suppose I’m saying that if you need someone to talk to, I’m willing to listen.”

I didn’t think he’d take me up on the offer, especially given who he’d been before retreating to the woods. So, when he turned aside with his fingers almost tearing through his tunic, I started getting up to leave.

“I trained my whole life to fulfill that blasted foretelling.”

Frozen in place, I felt my mouth gaping as a red-faced man spilled his turmoil onto an unknown.

“I did my damnedest to be worthy of it because I wanted to make my dad and Eledis proud,” Aramar said. “So, a part of me is sickeningly jealous of my son, and that kills me. Especially… especially…

“Alouin! His life’s already been difficult enough. Have you read the foretellings about him? I know looking into the future rarely yields exact results but…

“Damn! I just wanted him… wanted us to have a quiet life. To live out our days in an empty corner of the world and hopefully, end our cursed family line with him. How… why did this happen? Why my son?”

Wet eyes begged me for an answer, and I had so many empty platitudes I could give, so many ways to cultivate a potential ally, but meeting Aramar’s gaze, something ripped that plan to shreds. The stirrings my heart had experienced over the last few days decided they’d had enough of my placidity. They squeezed my chest, hard enough that I couldn’t breathe, and only truth could emerge from my closed-off throat.

“Life is a bitch,” I said. “She’s always throwing challenges at you, expecting you to trip, and when you don’t, she brings them on more quickly until all you can do is fall.”

This was truth, and from his drooping head, Aramar must know it. It wasn’t the whole truth, though.

“The great thing about being alive, however, is that when life sends you skidding across the ground, you can get back up and spit blood in her face,” I continued. “Persist long enough with this refusal to surrender, and life will impart a gift on you rather than a challenge.

“Finding a love so deep that your core aches when you’re not with them. Swapping stories with friends as close to you as brothers. The birth of a child whose significance might one day eclipse your own. In my humble opinion, these glorious moments in life far overshadow the times when she makes you fall.

“I don’t know why Raimie is a foretold child or why you’ve lost all that you have, Aramar. I can’t tell you why life is the way it is, but I know that if you rise from this, something wonderful awaits you. You just have to fight for it.”

Tears threatened to fall from Aramar’s eyes, and sniffing, he rubbed at them.

“You’re wise for someone so young,” he said.

I managed to wrangle my manic giggle under control before Aramar lowered his hands.

“Thank you,” he said. “I wasn’t sure about sharing my troubles with you, but I’m glad I did.”

“Any time.”

Slapping my knees, I got to my feet.

“I expect to see you in my clinic-”

Someone burst into the room, catching his stumble on the bed with a single arm.

“You need to come with me,” Gistrick gasped, fixing his eyes on Aramar.

“What? Why-?”

“It’s Raimie,” Gistrick said. “He got in a fight. With a Zrelnach.”

Cursing, Aramar lifted a hand for help to his feet while I slapped a palm to my face, groaning. This ally was going to kill me.