Chapter 76

Mercurial

Away from Karthus and Acheron Achlys followed Viego. Deeper still into the temple he led and once more, the way became enveloped in shadows. No balefire was there to light her path this time, only the glow given off by Viego's crown. She couldn't recall the last time she had felt so blind.

Had it been her father before her, she would have asked to hold his hand (though the light Karthus gave off was more than sufficient to lead her through the dark) but she would not dream of asking such a thing from Viego. Not only did she feel it was inappropriate for her to do so, but the thought of having to do so filled her with shame. Someone with as many Finding Days as her should not need her hand held.

She looked down at where she knew her hands were and saw only the faintest outline of them in the darkness. She could conjure balefire of her own and light her own way, but if she did, was she over stepping her bounds? She knew from reading books that she was never supposed to turn a weapon against her ruler, but magic was her weapon, so would summoning it be the same as following him with a dagger drawn? No, it wasn't worth the risk of upsetting him, even a little, not if she did want everything to be fine.

She curled her fingers and imagined balefire flickering into existence around them as she tried to think of another solution when she abruptly felt herself bump into something.

"Mind yourself!"

"Sorry," Achlys responded reflexively.

A second later, her mind caught up to her reflexes and she realized what she had done.

"I'm sorry, my king," she repeated in a more formal tone, "I shouldn't be so clumsy."

Sheepishly she peeked up. Viego peered down at her, the light of his crown illuminating his features just enough so that Achlys could make out his annoyed expression. His piercing eyes were sharper yet in the dark and Achlys felt pinned by their gaze.

"It's just," she started, embarrassment compelling her to speak, "I can't see in the dark and oh, I shouldn't be making excuses. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to walk into you. I'm sorry."

With each word she spoke she felt more and more like she could just die on the spot.

"It was an innocent mistake," Viego said.

He waved his hand and balefire sprang up from dormant sconces along the hall.

"You should have spoken up sooner," he chided, "it is not my intent that my subjects should struggle needlessly."

"I will," Achlys answered, "thank you."

Viego continued walking down the hall and Achlys hastily finished blinking out the discomfort of the sudden shift in illumination to follow after him.

At last the hallway opened up into a space so large that Achlys thought they had gone back outside but no, it was far too bright to be outside. They entered a massive circular chamber that appeared to be a central nexus for several of Helia's other buildings. The ceiling here was even higher than the one in the cathedral, though how high it was Achlys could not tell since it was obscured by a bank of Black Mist. A massive lamp shaped like an astrolabe hung suspended in the air of this chamber. It shone with a scintillating teal light which reflected off mirrors installed along the walls to fill the room with light and shine it down each of the dozen corridors leading from it. This light also reflected off the markings inlaid in the marble that shone as though made of quicksilver, making the chamber glow from below as well as above.

Wraiths in all degrees of manifestation scurried from hall to hall. Many were scriveners, their forms made of parchment and vellum. Achlys's attention was drawn at once to one poor scrivener that was carrying an impossibly large stack of books three times its own height and, when met with the doorframe too short, had its stack of books bend impossibly back to fit under it. No sooner than it left then another strange wraith caught her attention. This one was hunched over a large tome it carried and wore a mask made of gold and iron. A heavy chain led from the spine of the tome up to a collar at the wraith's neck, ensuring that it could never turn from its study for long. Achlys wondered what important thing it was researching if its soul took a shape that demanded such commitment.

Viego gave no thoughts to these other wraiths and strode towards the center of the chamber.

"Stand there," he ordered to Achlys, pointing to a spot on the marble, "all others, clear away."

His words were clear, cutting through the others sounds around them. At once, every other wraith in the chamber scattered, moving towards whatever exit was nearest. In a matter of seconds the cavernous nexus was empty, save for the two of them.

"Now, child, Achlys," Viego addressed, "show me what it is you are able to do."

"Yes, I can do that," Achlys nodded confidently, "which magic did you want to see, my lord?"

"All you are able."

"Oh, okay, all of it," she conjured balefire to her hands, "I will do that."

The magic in her hands blazed with intertwining flares of teal and green with far more intensity than usual. The abundance of residual magic here made it easy to empower how own and being so close to the wellspring of her powers made her soul want to indulge in using it. And if there ever was a good time to show off, this was it.

"I can make balefire," she said while holding her hands out before her, "and I get better at it each year. I can make it glow bright, give it to Acheron, and I can throw it if I need to defend myself."

She cupped her hands, forming a balefire ball between them and threw it upwards. It arced steadily before bursting into a showing of chilling sparks. A smile broke out on Achlys's face at the dazzling display and she cautioned a peek over to Viego to see if his reaction was the same. She thought she saw him smile and relief or joy, she couldn't tell which, surged through her.

"And," Viego said, "what else?"

"I can levitate a little bit but someday I'll be able to it like my father."

Trying to think of every visualization trick she had ever used at once, Achlys focused her magic at her feet and took a step into the air. For eight steps, a new personal best, she walked and never once lost her balance. She touched back down with a sure step, her grin growing with her confidence.

"And?" Viego asked again, his voice now tinged with excitement, "what else?"

"What else? I can, umm. . . "

She thought and suddenly realized that there weren't many other and-what-elses she could do on her own.

"I can do things with Acheron," she continued, "but he's not here right now. Ah, what else? I can command wraiths! And I can calm their emotions or make them angry and can help them with their memories! But I don't know how to show you this without a wraith but I promise I am good at it."

"You require a wraith for all your remaining magic?"

Achlys nodded.

"Yeah, er, yes, my lord."

"A problem easily solved."

Viego held out his hand palm up. A tendril of Black Mist spiraled down from above to coil along his arm and gather in his hand. He curled his fingers around it and the Mist began to congeal into something more solid as green lights flickered from within. He turned his hand and let the thing fall from it. The tendril continued to swell in size for another moment as the shadowy form of a wraith pulled itself upwards.

The wraith's form was the simplest humanoid form that many wraiths shared, devoid of almost all features except for burning eyes and a wide mouth. It turned towards Achlys and hissed. Within its mouth a pair of glowing, green serpentine fangs flashed dangerously.

"Subdue it," Viego said, "let me see what you are capable of."

Achlys had only a moment to process what was happening before the wraith lunged at her. Instinct taking over, she jumped to the side as black claws slashed the air where she was a moment ago. The next second, balefire was in her hands.

"Show me your magic," Viego said, "show me what Karthus has been teaching you. Don't worry if you fail. I won't allow it to kill you."

Achlys didn't have time to respond. The wraith spun around with lightning speed and turned on her again. Achlys formed another balefire ball and slammed it down onto the ground before her as it drew near. The sparks that skittered from the impact stopped the wraith, forcing it back with a shriek. In its momentary distraction, Achlys reached towards it with her magic and ensnared it with ethereal threads.

"Stop," she commanded, "please!"

The wraith let out a rasping hiss and bared its fangs. Just as the magic here empowered Achlys, so too did it fill the wraith with vigor. It thrashed against the girl's will and lunged once more.

"I said stop!"

It stopped moving less than a hand's width from her. It snapped its maw shut and glared down at her before pulling back against the magic connecting them. From the corner of her eye, Achlys saw Viego watching her intently. She though she must look weak, struggling to calm a single wraith and that was something she absolutely did not want. She wanted to be done with this trial as swiftly as possible.

"Envision your magic like a barbed fishing hook. The more it struggles, the deeper your magic will embed itself."

Thresh's words flashed through her mind and just as quickly she pushed them out. Yes, his method would undoubtedly be fastest against a wraith like this but she didn't want to have to rely on one that would cause a wraith unnecessary distress, not while the sensation of the albatross was still fresh in her mind.

"Bow and ribbons," she reminded herself, "Braid the magic gently through it."

Fear, both of failure and bodily harm, gnawed at her concentration.

"Control your own emotions first."

She knew fear was the emotion that excited wraiths more than anything.

"Calm down together."

She took a deep breath.

"The way my blankets feel."

And exhaled.

"Rubbing the drakehound's belly."

And breathed in.

"Looking out over the ocean."

And exhaled.

Her magic flowed freely into the wraith and she felt its will give way as it calmed.

"We aren't going to hurt each other," she whispered to it, "we're going to be nice and calm."

She reached out and the wraith made a low growl, but allowed her to place a hand on its shoulder.

"Nice and calm."

The jarring sound of metal striking metal made both Achlys and the wraith flinch simultaneously.

"Fascinating," Viego said with another clap of his hands, "I have not seen a mortal do anything like that before."

He went over and walked around them, looking down at the now placid wraith with intrigue.

"And? What else? You said you can command them, correct? Do so."

"Yes, my lord."

She turned toward the wraith.

"Listen, please," she said to it, "Follow."

She took several steps backwards and the wraith slinked along after her.

"Good, now stop there and spin around three times."

The lower, formless half of the wraith did not move but its upper half spun around three times as requested.

"Yes!" Achlys cheered softly, "Thank you. One more thing," she twirled around back to Viego and curtseyed, "bow."

The wraith slumped forward toward Viego at the point where its hip would have been. Achlys held the pose for a moment before righting herself and motioning for the wraith to do the same. When she did, she found Viego watching with keen interest.

"What else, child? Achlys. What else can you show me?" his voice swelled with each question, "What else can you do with the power I have gifted you? What else? Is it something I can grant to other mortals? What else?"

The thrill that came with seeing new magic was well known to Achlys and she found his excitement infectious, so much so that she felt herself smiling despite knowing that she was very likely about to disappoint him.

"I'm sorry, my lord," she said, "but I don't think I can show you anything else interesting. The only other thing I can do with wraiths is help them with their memories and that can take a long time to do, but there are wraiths I have already helped if you-"

"Oh, that is all?" he said, the furor draining from his voice, "Pity."

He waved his hand through the wraith as one would wave a hand through smoke from an extinguished candle. The wraith turned back to Mist and Achlys was left with pins and needles in her fingers from the sudden severing of her connection with it.

"Still," Viego continued, "it is impressive what you are capable of. When I was your age my magic too was limited."

"Huh?" Achlys gasped, her curiosity overruling etiquette, "you could use magic?"

"I can use magic."

"Wow, really? What can you do? What does royal magic look like, err, my lord?"

"It is wondrous," he turned his face up, looking into the steadily rolling bank of Black Mist above them but seeing something else, "awe inspiring magic passed down from ancestor to ancestor. The power in my blood was one of Camavor's treasures. You – you should have seen it in its prime."

His eyes glowed with the dull shine Achlys had seen in the eyes of many wraiths; the distant gaze of chasing fragmented memories. For a moment, the thought crossed her mind that she should offer her magic to him. He was a wraith she could help with his memories. It was the best chance she would get to show off this skill but the thought of her using her magic on her monarch and peering into him felt wrong. She kept her thoughts to herself.

As he still seemed lost in thought, Viego began to mouth the words to something and closed his eyes in concentration. His fingers twitched as if they were recalling what needed to be done before his thoughts could. To Achlys, it looked as though his mind had become stuck on a memory. She took a step closer and conjured the tiniest amount of magic to her fingers. She would still rather not use it on him, but she also did not want him to remain like this.

"My king? Is everything al- "

Viego's eyes snapped open and he said a word that sounded like thunder.

It was as if a wave slammed into Achlys. She was knocked back onto the marble floor in an instant. A pained gasped was pulled from her lungs and she clenched her eyes shut from the discomfort. She hadn't expected Viego's outburst of magic to be so sudden or even something she had to worry about being struck by. Her head hurt, her chest hurt, and her butt hurt and there was not much that could be done about it. She was still trying to have an audience with her king so she forced herself to take a shaky breath and open her eyes.

Viego was there. His eyes were once more focused and in the present and he offered his hand down to her.

"Are you injured?"

Weakly, Achlys shook her head "no" and held up her hand. He grabbed her forearm and pulled her back to her feet. At his touch, the foggiest hint of a memory flashed through her mind.

Evening sun reflecting off polished marble. The sensation of magic still throbbing like a heartbeat in hand. An imposing man, the details of his face obscured by time, looks on. The words he speaks are those of approval, more rare and valuable than the gold he wears.

Still dazed from the fall, Achlys strained to make out what the foggy man was saying. She mumbled what she thought she heard.

"Well done."

Viego's grip on Achlys tightened.

"Yes, yes," he said, "it was impressive, was it not?"

There was an eagerness in his voice that gripped at her.

"It was," she agreed.

"I knew you would agree with me! You are able to walk, yes? Here, let me show you more!"

Without releasing her arm, Viego led her towards the side of the chamber. Despite the discomfort that she still felt from her fall, a smile found its way onto her face as she was tugged along. He was speaking with such an impassioned tone and moving with an uncharacteristic jovialness that she was beginning to feel a strange joy herself, as if his improved mood was bleeding into hers. She couldn't help it.

In the back of her mind a thought fluttered.

"This feeling in my head, it's like the Harrowing's call."

Viego held out his hand and, as before, the Black Mist curled down towards him. When the tendril had lowered itself enough, he moved his grip to Achlys's hand.

"You command wraiths," he said, "you should know how to call them to you. Think of one."

"Is an animal wraith okay?"

"Any wraith will do. All will answer me. Do you have one in mind?"

Just like she had with Thresh, she thought of the drakehound.

"Yes."

"Good."

He placed the palm of his hand flat on the back of hers and locked their fingers together before lowering their hands into the Mist. His magic pressed against hers and intertwined with it so that she could feel what he did. Visions flashed through Achlys's mind, fast and dizzying like those at the end of her nightmare, as he reached through the Mist. She kept her thought focused on the drakehound, just as her father hand instructed her to, and soon she could sense the familiar presence of its soul and reached out towards it with her own magic.

"This is the one?" Viego asked.

"Yes."

"Command it to you."

She spoke aloud even though it was far away.

"Come here."

With her words went her intent, and she could feel her will brush against the drakehound's own just as though it were standing next to her. She felt it lean into her in a desire to answer her summons. Then Viego's magic took over. It wrapped around the drakehound and pulled on its soul, like a hand plucking an apple from a tree. Achlys felt a similar gripping feeling at the mark on her throat.

A moment later she heard the sound of claws tapping down onto the stone. She turned and saw the drakehound standing beside her, looking up expectantly. Viego released her hand.

"You're here!" Achlys exclaimed.

She went and threw her arms around the shoulders of the wraith and scratched at the cold fur on its neck and belly.

"You got here so fast! Did you come through the Mist?"

"I moved your magic with mine so you should have felt how it was to call this beast," Viego said, "Karthus has spoken of how quickly you are able to learn magic and I could sense that potential within you. Remember how this magic felt and use it. In time you should be able to do far more impressive things than calling hounds."

"More impressive?"

He held out his hand to her.

"I will show you."

Achlys went to him and allowed him to place their hands into the Mist once more.

This time the presence Viego called on in the Mist was immense and entirely foreign to Achlys. Before she could figure out what it was he was calling, Achlys sensed the powerful wraith was approaching. The drakehound leaned into Achlys and made a low growl as it turned its head upwards. She followed its gaze.

It looked as though the entire bank of Black Mist was descending towards them as a funnel began to form at its center. Then, with a rumble like a storm, the funnel was ruptured by a serpentine head with eyes of glowering balefire. The rest of the creature's body dropped a moment later.

"It's a dragon!" Achlys gasped.

The dragon was massive, its body long enough that it could have coiled around the room and touched its tail with its snout. Dozens of battle scars, each a puncture or slash of green, mottled its body. Its wings looked like a shroud of fog draped over its slender body. It flapped them once and circled the room, but there was not enough space to fly. Gracefully, it tucked its wings close and clawed its way down the stone walls. It came to stop beside Viego, curling itself to fit in the room and laying down so that its head was little more than an arm's length away.

"There," Viego said emphatically, "see what can be done. Impressive, is it not?"

"Yes!" Achlys cheered, "Yes, absolutely! It's incredible!"

Her heart was going wild in her chest. Adrenaline surging from fear and excitement had her practically bouncing in place. Only the rapidly fading thought that she should not behave in such a way before her king kept her from actually jumping up. But how could she not be excited? There was the wraith of a dragon in front of her! She had read about them in books but never anticipated that she would ever actually see one here on the Isles.

"Can- can I pet it?" she asked.

"Yes," Viego laughed, "go ahead."

"Yes! Thank you, my lord!"

She was already moving as she spoke, pushing past the drakehound and rushing to the spot at the base of its head but stopped short of touching it immediately. Even though its eyes had become pupilless lights in hollowed out sockets, she could tell the dragon was watching her. Slowly she reached out and placed the palms of her hands against it. The dragon made no indication one way or another that it was pleased or displeased, and Achlys took that as the go ahead that she could pet it to her heart's content. It scales were cold and smooth like river stones. She stretched her arms up as far as she could reach and laid against the dragon's neck in as close of a semblance to a hug as she could. It was like something from a fairytale.

"This is amazing," she said.

Viego went over and placed a hand on the ridge of the dragon's brow. It made a low rumbling noise at his touch that could have been interpreted as a purr. Achlys laughed as she felt the vibrations beneath her.

"It is amazing," Viego said, "and this is not even the largest one."

"It isn't?"

"No, this one is only a juvenile. The Black Mist has consumed full grown ones as well."

"There are even bigger wraiths? Wow."

Viego looked at the dragon under his hand.

"No creature is so mighty that it can resist the Black Mist."

He ran a finger along the brow ridge.

"There is nothing I won't overcome in order to see her again."

The sound of his gauntlet sliding over the scales sounded like a sword being sharpened.

"Nothing I wouldn't do for her."

The malice that hung in that final line went unnoticed by Achlys. She nodded along to his words, enjoying how cool the dragon's scales felt against her cheek and wondering if someday she would be able to peer into its memories and see what it was like to fly. She was not so distracted though that she did not realize that she should respond to Viego.

"And I shall serve as I can," she said, choosing a reliable answer of promised loyalty, "I want what is best for the Isles."

"Then train harder, grow stronger, improve your magic," Viego said.

Wordlessly, he dismissed both the dragon and the drakehound so that once again he would command the girl's full attention. Achlys flinched back in surprise as the wraith became insubstantial vapors beneath her fingers and rejoined the Mist.

"Make it so that when you give yourself to the Mist you will become one of my most valuable vassals."

As he continued to speak, Achlys turned back to him and met his eyes.

"You will do this for me."

"I will, my lord," she said with a smile.

She placed her hand not over her heart, but at the mark on her neck.

"I promised I would and I always do my best to keep my promises."

Viego smiled.

"I will expect great thing of you," he said, "but now, come, let us get you back to Karthus."

As they walked back towards the throne room, Achlys could not stop feeling giddy about how well the whole thing had gone. Not only had her own fears been put to rest but she had actually seen Viego laugh and smile. He was in a good mood. She had put him in a good mood. And that put her in a good mood. A good enough mood that she felt emboldened.

"My king," she said, "may I ask you something?"

"You may," he responded without turning to her.

"You make the Harrowings happen."

"Yes."

"When that happens, all the wraiths you call get angry," she thought of earlier when he pulled her to her feet, "is your magic like mine? Are you making wraiths feel the same way you do?"

"What they experience is only a fraction of my sorrow."

So she was right.

Achlys remembered how the Harrowing had felt; a restless ache, frustration enough to make her weep, and a hot anger that made her want – that did make her – lash out with violence. These were awful feelings and she was saddened that they were what her king felt and she didn't want other wraiths on the Isles to feel them either. She knew her father did not want her asking these questions but she needed to ask.

"If I ask but say it like a suggestion, I won't be exactly doing what Father told me not to do," she reasoned to herself,"This is just guile, Auntie would say, and guile is a good thing and if this works things will get better for everyone here."

"In the fairytales, love always triumphs," she said.

"And it will," Viego cut her off, "and until then, the Harrowings will continue."

"Yes, but what if instead of sorrow, you gave the wraiths a different emotion to encourage them? The Harrowing should be a time for happy reunions!"

Her hopeful eyes were turned upwards. She did not see his fist clench.

"You love the queen so much," she continued, "maybe you could share that feeling? If-"

"Never!"

Viego turned on Achlys so suddenly that she staggered back as though she had been shoved.

"Our love is sacred. It is for no one but us! I will not 'share' it with anyone."

Achlys opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Shock stole the air from her lungs and fear closed its hands around her throat.

"I will not cheapen our love by sharing it with others who could never fathom it!"

She shrank down where she stood unable to either move or turn her eyes from him. Tears began to brim in them.

"There will be no happy reunions for others until I have mine. Do you understand?"

The question's demand for an answer allowed Achlys to find her voice.

"I understand," she managed to squeak out, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Swear you will not make such impudent suggestions again."

"I won't."

"Swear it."

The severity of his words rattled Achlys's soul. The mark at her throat glowed like a hot brand and pain flared from it.

"I swear I won't," Achlys heard herself pleading before she could fully understand what she was saying, "I swear I won't suggest anything like that again ever. I promise. Please, I'm sorry! I swear!"

For several heartbeats more, Viego glowered down at her before closing his eyes, his soul remembering the motion of a long, tired blink, and turned away.

"You are forgiven," he said.

The anger in his voice dissipated as quickly as it flared. And with it, went the painful grip on Achlys's soul.

"I will attribute your words to childish ignorance not disrespect, this time."

"I'm sorry, thank you, I'm sorry," she rubbed the tears from her eyes, "I just wanted to help."

"And you will. You are earnest, which is why I have spared you, but remember your place. You are here to serve."

"Yes, my lord."

The remainder of the walk to the throne room was spent in the iciest silence Achlys had ever experienced. When at last she saw Karthus waiting ahead in the hall, she felt more relief than if she had been held underwater and was being let up for air. Viego stopped walking and so did she.

"Go," he said.

He motioned for her to pass him and she did not hesitate a second.

"Both of you are dismissed."

Without further word, he turned and abandoned them for his throne.

"I'm ready to go home," Achlys said, already walking back towards the surface.

Karthus glided alongside her.

"You are troubled," Karthus said, "and recently Acheron grew restless. Are you well?"

She didn't want to admit to him what she had brought up to Viego. He would be disappointed in her and she didn't think she could manage having another grownup be mad at her. She would cry.

"I have a lot on my mind," she said, reaching out to run a hand over Acheron, "courtly manners are exhausting."

She forced a laugh.

"Is that all?"

He saw how her fingers on Acheron trembled.

"Mmm-hmm. Everything was fine."

Karthus understood that now was not the time to pry and Achlys was beginning to understand the situation she was in. It was not Viego's intent that his subjects should suffer needlessly, but he also did not care if they did. And she was bound to him.