Arie glanced at the darkening sky, then looked inward at her own Gift. That little bit of magic she had used had drained what little she had gotten back from her resting. She would be next to useless if she went and visited the man's family now. Then there was also the promise she made to Sun. Arie sighed,
"It will have to wait until tomorrow morning after I have had some more food and rest. Besides if we want to make this meeting then we had better hurry back."
Lerant shrugged, and started walking back up. Arie followed close behind him. She glanced around at the homes and buildings they passed and wondered who had witnessed her talking to the air. She sighed, no need to worry until something actually happens she thought as she continued to trudge along the road back to the castle. It took a while to get back to her room and when she finally did Nadia was there and waiting for her. This time the young woman carried a light grey dress that matched Arie's eyes perfectly. Once again; to Nadia's great distaste, Arie asked her to help tie up her hair so that the blue-green was hidden. Then she lead Arie to the dining hall.
Again Imrah sat at the head of the table while Raoul, Flynn, and Abba sat at the left. There was an empty seat on Imrah's right as usual. Beside that empty chair sat Kel and then Arie's seat beside her. Arie strode to her seat and she felt not only the weight of the silence, but the stares of Imrah, Raoul, and Flynn. Arie sat down and made a show of arranging her skirts before looking at everyone.
"I'm sorry I'm late. There was someone that needed my assistance before I arrived." When the silence stretched out even longer Arie sighed. Manors be damned, she thought. "Well is there something on my face or have I broken the some sacred noble honor by being late to dinner?" Then she noticed their expressions. Raoul looked angry, Flynn expectant, Abba furious, and Imrah looked like stone.
It was Imrah's voice who broke the silence. "I have spent the day talking with several different people. Including the prisoner Lord Raoul brought with him here. I have been informed that the magic you posses is death magic."
Something unpleasant unfurled inside Arie. A mixture of fear and cold rage. She clenched her fists and crossed her arms around her chest. "And of course you believed the person attempted to murder your people instead of the person who has been patching up your people."
"I spoke to some of the Lord's men who witnessed you stripping an entire field of life. They say that the man's bodies glowed and you were able to write their full names beside them. Lord Raoul has vouched for you."
Raoul, Arie noticed, looked extremely unhappy that his men had been questioned. And Arie noticed Flynn looked not worried but almost guilty. So she now knew who had allowed or maybe even suggested Imrah speak with the King's Own. And if she was betting she Bet Sir Jorrey had had a hand in this too. A glance at Abba showed the older woman was livid and not with Arie but with Imrah. The older woman's lips were pursed and her glare was daggers.
"Say what you mean your Grace. I tire of this dancing around the subject. Ask the real question you want to ask," Arie snarled at Imrah. Several people shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
"Did you bind those men's soul?"
"No," she said through clenched teeth.
"Then how did you know their names?"
Arie remained silence.
"The two options I have are, you are a necromancer or you know an awful lot about things you have no business knowing. I have those under me to think of and my people's safety to think of."
Arie snorted derisively. Images of her mother struggling for breath crept into her mind. The man in front of her hadn't even cared enough to see Arie when she had come to beg for his help to save his own daughter. The pent up resentment and frustration from the battle was boiling in her veins. It was on the tip of her tongue to snarl accusations at the lord who sat a few feet from her. It was only the sudden feeling of a knobby hand on her shoulder that helped her hold her tongue. The door behind Raoul burst open,
"Lord Imrah," It was Lerant who was standing there his face flushed with perhaps anger, but Arie couldn't be sure because the young man was bowing to Imrah. "I know I no longer have much standing in court, but I have watched Arie work." When no one rebuked him he continued, "She has cried, bled, and worked tirelessly to save not just The King's Own and the Riders, but the common people as well. She nearly died saving a little girl and myself. What's more she swore to the Dark God, Goddess, and Mithros a blood oath that she would do whatever was in her power to stop the ones behind this."
That's right, she remembered, Lerant had been there for that promise. She also noted that everyone else sat up a little straighter; surprise playing across everyone's face, when Lerant mentioned the blood oath. By making such a promise she had basically offered her life up as collateral if she failed. A way to buy some of a grieving mother's pain, allowing her to rest easier. And the three Gods she had named would collect.
Imrah looked from Lerant to Arie, the suspicion in his eyes softened by concern. "I see," he said after a moment of thought. He tapped a finger on the table. "Thank you, Lerant for this information, you are excused."
Lerant stiffened and looked worried, but did as he was bid. There was silence for a long moment after the door shut behind Lerant. Imrah seemed to be choosing his next words very carefully.
"Your oath changes how I look at this, however I still have concerns."
The hand on Arie's shoulder squeezed gently, encouraging her. Fear lit in Arie's gut as she glanced at her shoulder. No surprise there was no one there, but then again her sister had ways of making her desires known without saying them. Arie knew what she wanted, for her to be honest. But by the Gods this was a big gamble even for her sister. One wrong move and Lord Imrah would have her thrown in prison, possibly even executed. She swallowed once and with a shaking hand showed the strip of fabric torn from her father's cloak.
"The Gods want this stopped. The Dark God himself offered this to me in order to help with that goal. I believe he gave me the names of the dead to soften the blow of their loss for their families. He is kind like that. As to why me, I believe it is because my magic has an affinity with death."
She reached for an apple in the bowel in front of her. Then she took her knife and cut the whole thing in half. Arie removed a single seed from the apple and held it in one hand and the rest of the apple in her other hand.
"I tend to know when the Dark God comes for someone. Usually I'm called to meet with him and act as a send off of sorts for the soul. For many it is a comfort, not to be alone, but there are some who don't like it or don't want me there. I respect the souls who decide they would rather I wasn't there. My Gift also has a more practical use. I can take life energy from anything that rots, decays, or breaks apart and I can transfer it to something else."
She flooded her Gift into the apple. Everyone gasped as the apple withered and turned to dust in her hands. Arie concentrated on funneling the energy into the seed in her other hand. The tough outer part burst open and tiny leaves, roots, and vine broke out. Gently she detached the little plant from her hand and placed it on the table.
"This is what allowed me to share the memories with you, it is also how I cleansed that field. I spent all that energy maintaining a connection to the Dark God who whispered their names."
"Could you do that to living humans? Steal their life?"
Arie nodded.
Silence.
Imrah looked like he was very deep in thought. Arie wasn't even sure how many minutes passed in silence before he asked, "If you took a field or two could you cleanse the whole city of this poison?"
Arie shook her head no. "Cleansing a person of this poison is a delicate process. Think of the difference between a battle axe and surgeon's knife. I would kill almost everyone if I tried that way. Only those who had been affected for hours might be saved. Furthermore the amount of energy I can have in my body is limited. I would burst apart long before I gathered enough to cleanse the whole city; which would strip all plant life within five leagues of here if I could."
Everyone around her simply stared at the table as they digested this information. Arie had to admit she had dropped a lot onto them, but none of them seemed to be reaching for their weapons. And if she was being honest with herself she felt good that the information was out. Worried, but oddly soothing at the same time. Maybe, she thought to herself, just maybe her sister's gamble had paid off.
Abba cleared her throat. "As far as I can tell, this information changes nothing. Arie has worked hard for our people. I'm not sure what I expected, but even had she been a necromancer I'd still say she has earned our respect and trust."
Arie's cheeks burned and she ducked her head to stare at the little sapling she had made.
"I agree, and as I stated previously on the matter. I owe this woman my life and likely the lives of many of my men. I certainly don't make a habit of forgetting my debts," Raoul's words very comforting. "And next my Lord, I'd appreciate if you talked to me before you spoke with my men."
Lord Imrah merely shrugged. "I asked."
Arie noticed that Flynn looked mildly uncomfortable. Raoul glanced at the other commander. They traded expressions that were too fast her to follow, but she guessed the men would have words later. Everyone else seemed to relax into their chairs and dinner was a light affair after such tense talks.