Author's note: Final chapter! Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the story!
Chapter 16
The Pantomime
She was yanked back to herself with a violent, dizzying whirl. Gasping, she bolted upright from where she'd been lying with her head on Amon's chest, and for a moment she was so nauseous from the transition she was afraid she would vomit.
But it passed. She unsteadily got to her feet, swayed, collapsed to the floor, and crawled to the kitchen. She drank some cold tea, and hastily ate a slice of bread and a handful of walnuts, She didn't know how long she'd been in Amon's mind, but it felt like she hadn't eaten in days.
Then she found her calligraphy box and returned to Amon's room.
Using a few drops of tea to mix the ink, Robin painted the rune wheel on the paper screen nearest Amon's bed. She began writing the runes. She finished the Craft in a few minutes, then watched Amon for any sign that it worked.
It came almost immediately. A giant shadow blackbird appeared in the room. It was so large that each time it flapped its elegant wings, they would pass right through the walls and ceiling. Another appeared. It dove with claws outstretched, passing right through Robin without so much as a breath of air, and moving through the wall.
Overcome with curiosity, Robin opened the door and looked outside. In the waning evening light, a dozen giant blackbirds whirled and dove, tearing at invisible foes with beaks and claws.
She watched the performance in amazement for a couple of minutes, and then returned to Amon's side, leaving the door open so she could have a better view of what was happening.
She examined Amon's shoulder. The area of the infection, which before had been ghostly pale, had turned red and swollen.
In a kaleidoscope of ethereal feathers, half a dozen of Amon's blackbirds suddenly somersaulted through the room. The fight must have been fierce.
Orbo absorbed power even from the Hunters who wore it, Robin recalled. Perhaps in a small way, she could aid in the battle. She created a fire, just a small one, near Amon. The flame levitated in the air above him, as close to the site of the Orbo infection as she dared come without burning him. Perhaps her power could add to his own, even if it was just a small contribution, to combat the Orbo.
Her fire flickered, sputtered. She could feel the Orbo sucking at her power, weakly but greedily.
After another minute or so, the dark birds began to fade. Some of them disappeared completely, but those that remained continued attacking their unseen enemy.
His strength was giving out.
"Amon, don't give up. You have to keep fighting. You have to. We have to win." She pressed her hand to his chest. "Please. We're beating them. I can sense it. You just have to fight for a little longer."
The remaining birds rallied themselves, attacking with renewed zeal, but without their initial force.
Her own strength was faltering. The fire she kept burning was taking a great deal of energy and concentration. She couldn't maintain it. The fire sputtered out.
Moments later, the birds joined together into another shape, something long, serpentine.
A dragon, she realized.
The shadow-dragon circled around, only some of it visible, partly within the cottage, mostly outside. But she could see the dragon was coiling around something, something huge.
The last stand of the Orbo.
The dragon curled into a ball, smaller and smaller. And then suddenly it disappeared.
It was over. But had they won or lost?
She looked at Amon. He was still unconscious.
"Amon? Amon, wake up." She shook him, but couldn't rouse him.
His shoulder was still streaked with livid red marks from where the Orbo had spread. Did that mean it was still in him, or just that his body hadn't healed? He seemed to be asleep, soundly. Perhaps he just needed rest.
She lay her head on his chest, reassured by the rise and fall of his breathing and the beating of his heart.
A tear slid down her cheek.
What would she do if he didn't wake up? What else was there to try?
She awoke and opened her eyes slowly. From the light she could tell it was morning, a pink dawn. She sat up. She was in Amon's room, in his bed, under his blankets. There was no sign of him.
"Amon?" she called blearily.
He came in from the next room. He was freshly bathed and freshly shaved.
"You're awake," he said.
She stood up. "You're awake. Do you remember what happened?"
He crossed the room to her, wrapped one strong arm around her waist, pulled her to him, and pressed his lips to hers. She felt like her legs were melting from beneath her, and she had to wrap her arms around his neck to keep from falling.
He ended the kiss and just held her. "I remember everything," he said. "You came for me."
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"Weak," he admitted. "But I don't feel like I'm being sucked dry. All these years that I used Orbo without understanding where it came from or how it worked, or what it could do to me. To think I thought you were foolish for refusing to use it."
"I was thinking... I think you should use your power, just a little bit, every day until we're sure the Orbo is out of your system."
He hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly nodded.
Robin smiled, then kissed him, then slipped out of his arms. "I need to call Karasuma. I promised to tell her when you woke up."
When she was at the door, Amon stopped her. "Robin, wait a moment."
She turned back.
He looked at her with fondness and sadness. "I don't hate Witches. There was a long time when I did, but I learned better. Master is a Witch, and he has been like a father to me. And I could never hate you."
"There is nothing I hold against you, Amon," Robin replied. "Especially now, knowing where you came from."
"I couldn't blame you for being angry at the things I've kept from you."
"I'm not. But... I wish you told me about the Orbo, what it was doing to you."
"I didn't understand what was happening. I didn't know why my power was suddenly becoming active, without my conscious control. And I didn't want to worry you."
"I know. And because of that I almost lost you." She smiled softly at him, and took his hand. "How about from now on no more keeping things from each other. We're together now."
He smiled. It was a small, ghostly smile, almost nothing. But it was something. "Yes we are." He kissed her hand. "Go call Karasuma. She must be worried."
At the door of the room, Robin glanced back. Amon was watching her.
They were together, he'd agreed. They were no longer alone. He was hers as much as she had always been his, and that thought was terrifying as well as elating. There was no illusion that their relationship would be an easy one—they were both too used to being alone. But she also had no doubt that they loved each other, and they needed each other.
The most important thing, as far as she was concerned, was that Amon was alive. They would go from there.
The End