---------------PLAGUE---------------
NINE: Guilt

Peachblossom seemed to rumble with anticipation as Kel drove him out the stable. She was too out of breath, too panicked, to do the same.

Upon spotting the approaching immortals, she and Wolset had torn back to camp in a frenzy, only to find the news of wing-born enemies had preceded them. They had not known it until Raoul greeted them at the west entrance, an eagle preening itself distractedly on his shoulder. It might have been comical if not for the grim furrows in his brow.

"Bad news," he had said, ushering them to walk beside him to the stables. "Daine here tells me we have something novel on our hands."

"We saw griffins or something – lots of them," Wolset blurted, punctuating with wheezes. Kel herself was panting from the pace he had pushed as they fled back to camp, and did not speak.

"Would that they were griffins, and I hate them well enough," Raoul had grimaced. "What Daine tells me is far more worrying."

At this, the eagle had cast her intelligent eyes over Kel and Wolset, and opened her beak. Despite having seen Daine speak in animal form before, Kel had still found it somewhat disconcerting to see words spill from a bird's mouth, when logic told her it was not possible. "I received word of strange activity in the Divine Realms yesterday, and it was the very beasts that approach you," Daine had said. "I've read of these creatures before, but I honestly thought them legends, as did those in the Immortal Realms; but it seems some foul sorcerer has taken these legends and made them real. This is the first sighting, so we know little, except for what I could glean from ancient bestiaries. They are winged snakes called amphitheres, larger than common snakes, and with a fiercer bite."

Kel had thought of the snakes of nightmares, that were feared in deserts and far lands for the fatality of their bite, and the less potent of the wilderness, which were not often deadly. "Are they venomous?"

"We don't know. Avoid getting bitten at all costs, to be safe; and turn your path to the infirmary if you do. Although who knows whether we'd be able to do anything without an anti venom."

Wolset and Kel had exchanged timorous glances. Neither liked the ominous feel to Raoul's warning, and, from the foreboding air of those they passed, they knew nobody was optimistic about the battle ahead.

Now Wolset accompanied her, saddled on his roan gelding, to the camp's outer perimeter. The hope was to man the walls with archers and simultaneously attack from horseback; not the best formulated of tactics, but with so little to go on, it seemed the best bet. As they rode past, Kel heard orders cried to bring early specimens of the creatures to the infirmary, in hope they could begin work on an anti-venom as soon as possible. It was only disheartening to wonder how long it would take to make one, and whether it would be quick enough to save the life of a victim.

Kel halted Peachblossom as they joined the crowd congregating on the plains outside the gates. Already, her comrades looked to the sky; in the distance, a black cloud of the beasts could be seen, which seemed to grow like a foul stain seeping across the sky.

"A worthy challenge, but we will best them," Wolset said cheerfully, but his face was tight with worry as he grinned. "I think the ground will be thick with their bodies in minutes, we will slay them so easily."

Kel, feeling somewhat dazed, managed a smile in return. "I hope you're right."

"I'm going to scavenge news from the others," Wolset said, as he tugged the reins of his steed. "Goddess protect you, Kel." Before she could make a similar reply, he was gone. If their victory came as quickly as he had said, Kel thought, he would not be needing a god looking after him, anyway.

It was a matter of minutes before the amphitheres reached them. Archers began to pick them off as soon as they were within bowshot, but they were not easy foes to target. Perhaps an arm span long, they were skinny all along the length of their lithe bodies, save for the centre, where they were a little fatter. From there sprouted leathery wings – small but surprisingly powerful – and when they drew close, the air was heavy with their wing beats. Their scales were like none Kel had seen before, as blinding as glass or polished metal with their sheen. But the most terrifying sight was their fangs. As they approached the ranks collected outside the walls, those at the front of the flying formation pressed their wings back against their bodies like arrows and sprang into a dive, mouths gaping with frighteningly sharp teeth on display. The fangs were not large but skinny, which was frankly more concerning; perhaps chain mail would have deflected a large fang, where a smaller one would slip through the links. As the diving serpents drew closer to their targets, those below scattered in fright like skittish horses. The amphitheres finally threw open their wings several metres from the ground, and then the battle begun.

Kel soon discovered the beasts were easily felled, but it was not this which concerned her. She feared most of all their speed; it took only a split-second for them to lunge, which was not sufficient time to notice one from the side, above or behind. For the best part, comrades tried to watch each other's backs, but it seemed not much could be done as no one, no matter how much they desired it, had eyes in the backs of their heads.

Kel, finding the area she occupied suddenly clear of enemies, quickly wiped her sweaty brow with the back of her hand. Her nerves felt shot from several close calls, but she had been lucky, and had not seen anyone bitten either.

Suddenly she looked across, and her eyes fell on Lerant a few metres away. He was engaged with one of the amphitheres. As she watched he stabbed at it, but its agile body evaded his blade with ease, and, to Kel's absolute horror, it pitched right at his face, fangs screaming for a bite. Her entire body lurched in terror, feeling winded and nauseous and petrified. And worse was that Lerant fell out of view as the snake pounced at his face, and she did not see the result.

Without thought, her heartbeat rabid and frenzied, she charged Peachblossom through the fray, immediately forgetting her fears as if they had fallen with him; each second that passed seemed a sickly abyss between her and Lerant, who surely now lay trampled and infected and dying on the ground, his face, the face that lately haunted her, marred where the fangs had punctured him.

She barely registered a shout behind her, but felt a sudden stir of air to the back of her head, and spun round, besieged on all sides by her fears. An amphithere opened wide its jaws like the gates of death to entice her in, but it did not reach her, and beat its wings ever more furiously in trying. And then it realised that it would not advance because it was held, its tail was prisoner. Wolset had stopped the amphithere by seizing it, and saved her, as it went for Kel's unguarded back.

Wolset grinned at her wildly, and she came to her senses. But not in time, not quickly enough, for the amphithere, livid with rage, lashed back and plunged its fangs into his arm, and Kel hacked it down, but knew the damage had already been done. By her own foolishness, by some insanity that had possessed and blinded her, Wolset had been bitten. And there were no words, not in any language, that could express the overwhelming cataclysm of guilt that took her.

He spoke, which was just as well, as Kel could not get any words out. "I am fine," Wolset reassured her, but he was already a measure paler than before. "I can get to the infirmary by myself. Better to watch your back than worry about others, eh?" He glanced at her, and seemed to perceive in an instant the very depth of her panic, and she knew he had guessed the reason behind her blind flight across the battlefield. "Be on guard," he said light-heartedly, seeming to seek in his manner to console her. "When your tongue is not so tied, and our lives not in such danger, we can speak of this. I will be fine." Then he smiled again, weakly, and retreated.

Kel returned to her fighting with stinging tears in her eyes. Even as she fought the winged snakes, she fought herself. A caustic ache within her shrieked for news of Lerant, and it was not easily ignored.

After the battle was done some hours later, and she had stabled and cared for Peachblossom, she marched with purpose to the infirmary. She was surprised to cross paths with Dom on the way there, and far too impatient to play along with his matchmaking game.

"I hear Wolset has been hurt," he said, looking at her sidelong.

"I know," she said, with considerable bitterness at the reminder, and his light-hearted air. "I am off to see him now." She paused, about to sweep by him icily, but paused and inquired, "Is Lerant in the infirmary?"

"I brought him in myself," Dom replied, his tone a little colder for her impatient attitude. "He is bruised a little from falling from his horse, but otherwise fine."

"Thank you," she said, feeling a small weight lift from her shoulders, only to accentuate that left behind, for Wolset. Its burden meant she rushed off without saying goodbye.

Inside the infirmary, she saw with dismay that many beds were laden with the injured, but barely registered any of the faces. At the very end of the room was a bed with a curtain pulled half round it, and she knew it was Wolset's. For now, she thought, I cannot worry for Lerant, because I carry a weight of guilt. She hurried across the breadth of the room, her expression such that no one dared intercept.

She drew near to his bed, and finally stopped to look at him. For one horrible, heart-stopping moment, she thought him dead; his face was paler than any she had seen, and his eyes were closed firmly. But she felt, with considerable relief, the warmth rolling off his body as she moved closer. Her entire body seemed to tremble with black guilt, which consumed her utterly.

Someone approached behind. "We gave him a sleeping draught," Neal said softly. "The amphitheres are indeed venomous, although we think not fatal. We are lucky to have a healer with some experience in the area, who prevented with various tactics the venom from causing any serious effects, and we have already administered an anti-venom, speeded with some charms. He'll be awake soon, if you want to sit by his side." Neal seemed to have noticed Kel was on the verge of tears, and patted her shoulder before leaving.

She took a stool and sat by his side for a long time, feeling the guilt heavy in her, and dwelling in it, for she felt she deserved to be punished.

He stirred some time near dusk, and took her hand, for at first she didn't notice he had woken. The corners of his mouth turned up in a weak smile, and she stared at him.

"Have you been here long?" he asked.

"A couple of hours, I think." She paused. "Wolset, I am so unbelievably sorry. You cannot imagine how guilty I have felt, losing my head in battle and causing you this. I had almost convinced myself you were going to die."

He still held her hand, and squeezed it reassuringly. "I think you are putting more weight on this situation than is due."

She smiled awkwardly. "Please don't brush it off like that. I almost want you to scold me."

"I think you have scolded yourself plenty," he grinned. He pressed her hand again, as if to prove he was in no serious state. "As it is, I'm glad you're okay; at least I didn't get bitten for nothing."

Kel looked down at her hands, feeling very small. "I'd like to repay you somehow."

He laughed. "You don't owe me anything."

"No, I do. If you need a favour, no matter what it is, just ask me. It'll make me feel better."

For a long time, she did not look at him, and he did not say anything.

Then he said, "If you want to do me a favour, go and check on Lerant. He's been staring at your back quite bitterly for several minutes now."

Startled, Kel looked over her shoulder, just in time to see Lerant, who glowered at her, avert his gaze. He was lying in the bed second-closest to the door, and, as usual, had his arms folded stubbornly.

Kel turned back to Wolset. "I will come visit you again," she said. He gripped her hand appreciatively and farewelled her. Timidly, not liking the look on Lerant's face, Kel crossed the room to his bed.

"Hello, Lerant," she said, and briefly thought she was foolish for trying to be nice to him. By his expression, he was not going to be kind back. "How are you?"

He did not look at her. "I am fine," he said, in a biting tone. The sarcasm was heavily evident. "Thank you for your concern."

Kel stared at him for some time, at once both dismayed and angered. Any temptation to speak was quickly quenched by the look on his face. He was, it seemed, holding yet another petty grudge against her.

Bitterly, she strode out the room, not looking back despite her desire to. Lerant's attitude hurt her more than she cared to let him know.

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Hello again. It feels like a disconcertingly short time since I last updated, and yet it's been a month and a half already... I have been reading furiously for the past week, and was suddenly struck with inspiration. Hm. Well, Happy New Year to everyone. I hope to update soon... (but how soon is soon?) Haha. Apparently my laziness has not changed all these years. (A couple of days ago, I passed my third anniversary here, and I find that quite hard to believe!! Things, it seem, change a lot, but writing sticks with me still.) Oh well, enough rambling. Thank you for reading, and for all your kind reviews! I greatly appreciate them.