Stillborn 2 - The Fire Within: Chapter 10

 

10.

”My prayers have been answered!” Aladra exclaimed with a shivering voice as she was stroking her son's hairy cheek. The ceremony had been long and fruitless as it seemed at first that Tharos could not hear her pleas, but then, all of a sudden, everything had changed. Aladra was happier than ever before since she had lost her husband and son with the doomed mining expedition so many years ago. Other clerics were amazed and cheerful for they had never witnessed such a miracle before. If it was not for the Gargoyles and their cursed darkness, Aladra would be working as a fully recognized vicar in the great city of Astaroth by now, but unfortunately things were not all that well in the world, and the life-consuming darkness had spread everywhere. Astaroth was in ruins, but still the miracles were witnessed here and there, keeping the weak flame of hope lingering for a little longer. The might of the Immortals had diminished, but there was still some of it left in the wood and stone of Falchrest.

Angwar raised his head and looked around confusedly. He recognized the chapel immediately, but it was so hard to believe that he was actually there - in Othrond, far from the vicious hands of the Arathans. And as he thought about the Arathans, he remembered Aniceth and gasped sharply.

”What is the matter, my son?” Aladra asked softly.

”Where is Aniceth?” Angwar inquired, causing his mother to raise an eyebrow curiously.

”There was an Arathan with me when I faced the wrath of the Draugar,” Angwar explained impatiently, afraid that something had happened to his friend.

”Calm down, my son,” Aladra exhorted. ”The Arathan is in jail, badly wounded but alive.”

Angwar attempted to get up from the tressle that was used to carry him to the altar, but his body was too weak. He dropped down to his knees and groaned painfully. Aladra hurried to help him while ordering the other clerics to do the same.

”You are still far from being strong enough to walk, my dear son, but once we are back at the temple, I would like you to tell me a little about this Arathan that came here with you. Perhaps I can help you - and him - after I have gathered a little more information.”

Angwar laid down and sighed deeply. ”Thank you,” he whispered wearily as the clerics carried him away.

Once he was lying safely at the temple, Aladra approached him again.

”Would you like to rest for a while before we talk?” She wished to know, watching Angwar's pale face with great concern.

Angwar was exhausted, but he would never leave Aniceth after everything he had done to help him. He used the pillow to support his head better, so he could lie in a half-sitting position.

”Before I begin, I wish to know what is his current condition?” he said with a voice that allowed no arguing, eyes glowing with such determination that could not be resisted.

Aladra explained the state of his friend based on all the information she had received. Angwar listened carefully and then nodded slightly. He was relieved to hear about Aniceth, but he also realized that to help him, he would have to tell the entire long story starting all the way from the outskirts of Gelendras.

After two hours of talking with a quiet, soft voice, Angwar finally got his story concluded in the Crypt of the Kings. He did not mention the Gargoyle side of his friend to Aladra at all, and only pointed out that according to his observations, Aniceth was an exceptionally powerful Arathan.

She stared at her son silently, amazed by how such an alliance had born in the darkest hour, helping Angwar to escape from the Dark Kingdom. She had her secret doubts about Aniceth, as after all, he was an advocate of their most dreaded enemy - a possible spy - but there was not enough reason why she should publicly question her son's words.

”I will make sure that your Arathan friend will get his wounds treated as it seems that he has more than deserved it, but I am afraid I cannot grant him freedom before you are strong enough to speak for him by yourself.”

Angwar understood and appreciated what his mother was willing to do for him. The Darfins hated the Arathans deeply, and he was actually surprised, as well as relieved, that Galdri and his men had not slain him at the crypt.

”Now, I need to ask something else from you,” Angwar whispered weakly, as all the talking had drained his strength.

”What is it, my son?” Aladra asked.

”Can you make sure that there is enough bluedust fungus to get me all well? I want to make sure that Aniceth will gain his freedom despite of my own fate. I have to arrange that before I can attempt to fight against this cursed addiction, I owe him that much.”

Aladra was touched by his son's words. She did not want to drag out the usage of the fungus any longer than it was absolutely necessary, but she had to respect Angwar's noble wish. Aladra shared the deep hatred towards the Arathans as arch enemies of her people with the rest of her kin, but Angwar's will could not be ignored, and so she made an exception to her own principles, solely for the love of her son.

”I will make sure that the Arathan is treated properly,” she promised, and as soon as she came out from Angwar's chamber she called for Daarli, her trusted healer in the temple of Tharos.

 

* * *

 

The high fever made him shiver violently in the cold darkness of the cell. The sharp pain that reflected all around his ribcage from the broken bone had turned into dull throbbing. Aniceth was going to die, and he knew it. There was not too many days left before the severe injury would claim his life. He was too sick to pay attention to the person who quietly entered the cell, he was not in the condition to really care. But then he felt soft, careful hands gently running on his skin, exploring both sides of his chest without forgetting all the other wounds he bore. Aniceth groaned every now and then as the healer proceeded with her work. She needed to find out if there were any other injuries that required care before she could start preparing the proper support and bandage for the broken rib. Greatly suprised by this sudden attention, Aniceth tried to express his gratitude, but his hazy mind refused to focus enough to form words.

After an hour of torture, he had a clean white bandage running around his chest, covering a light leather support that had been placed against the ribs to provide support. Then the healer took out some bottles with strange liquids in them, and made him a drink that helped with the pain and fever. Finally, she ordered the guard to bring a lot of water for the prisoner.

Before leaving the cell, she gave a promise that she would return the next day, then she covered him under a thick blanket made from bear fur and left without speaking any further.

 

* * *

 

”Who are you?” Aniceth asked after a couple of days had passed and he was feeling a lot better.

”Do not worry about that, Arathan,” the healer said with a cold voice, ”I am here to obey the order of my mistress, that is all.”

Aniceth looked at the healer in the darkness, the red reptilian eyes had no problems seeing in there, but there was not much to see. The woman who was treating him wore a long green gown with a deep hood covering her face, but the few words she had said revealed her to be an elder, well educated expert of her profession. Aniceth appreciated her work and tried to be polite in any way he could, understanding very well that this cleric was not enjoying her work the slightest. The Arathans and Darfins were enemies, had been for as long as the generations go back in the mists of time, and will be for as long as there is blood running in their veins. This cleric was ordered to treat an enemy and she had every reason to dislike the task she was granted.

”Can you tell me who is your mistress?” Aniceth then asked, assuming more formal attitude toward the cleric, hoping it would ease her stormy mind.

”Aladra Frostfire,” she replied shortly, but that was enough for Aniceth to smile.

”That leads me to assume that Angwar is alive and well?” he wanted to know anxiously.

The woman glanced at his strange eyes shortly and nodded firmly. ”Yes, my mistress saved his soul from the darkness of the Draugar, but he is still under the influence of bluedust fungus.” She did not feel comfortable talking too much with this Arathan, but she was able to hear genuine concern in his voice as he asked about his companion. It did not change the way she felt about the Arathans, but it did make her think that maybe there was a slight chance that under certain conditions, even an Arathan could learn to care. She had already learned the story of Angwar and Aniceth from her mistress, but it had sounded like delusional fantasy to her until now.

”That is great news! Thank you, cleric,” Aniceth said softly as he laid his head back on the pillow.

The healer sighed quietly. ”Daarli,” she then said.

”Excuse me?” Aniceth looked puzzled.

”Daarli Skyforge. That is my name,” she explained while preparing to leave once more.

Aniceth smiled at her. ”Thank you, Daarli Skyforge,” he said, closing his eyes and hoping that sometime soon Angwar would get the chance to come visit him, and maybe they could figure out a way to get him out of this dungeon.

Daarli left quietly and closed the sturdy iron door behind her. Aniceth was recovering fast, and it would not be long before he could get up from the bed and walk again. Then Angwar could take care of his Arathan friend and Daarli's task would be finished. She was eagerly waiting for that day as she found everything about this Arathan to be very disturbing. She was raised to believe that all Arathans were evil, and yet she had just witnessed one of them being solely worried over a Darfin, which just seemed so unreal. It was a detail that would keep her awake during the next few nights as it abruptly fought against the deepest principles of her entire society.