Nectar of War: The Song of Verity and Serenity (The Nectar of War Series Book 1)

LAVEN HEPHAESTUS ARVENALDI, II

Stravan and I have begun planning for investigative parties. I did not expect him to want to arrange something such as this for Dyena’s search, I figured he would want to comb through this land himself. It was my last thought that he would trust others to say they found her. I would not trust anyone to search for Ivella without me there.

“Explain what is being spread. Just how exactly the rogues become rogues.” Stravan speaks as we mark all pertinent areas to search on the map of Vaigon Citadel.

“It is by a scratch, or you are bitten. Depending upon the size of a person is how long it would take to spread and entirely take over your body with no return.” I explain as I draw a large red X over the Terseian Mountains.

“Is there anyone you know that has been bitten?”

“Yes,” I nod. “Myself.”

His eyebrows raise and he looks up from the map. “And how are you still yourself? How are you not a rabid being like the others?”

“I had an expert Healer.” I leave it at that.

Stravan stands with his arms crossed over his chest. “Is that so? Then why has this expert Healer not been able to heal others?”

“They did not have the power to get to every person.”

He quietly hums while nodding. “And is this Healer of Quamfasian descent?”

“No, they are from Nadrexi and lived a short period in Old Quamfasi before the war.”

I continue to trail along the map marking all places to search for Dyena while he speculates who it could be that healed me.

“You had them use the Tree of Gods, did you not?”

Of course he knows the tree is a viable source for healing.

“I did not have them use it; they chose to use it. I had not thought of it,” I respond honestly. “And I will not ask the Quamfasian people for the tree because I know the harm that will come their way after my people and other nations know that it is still standing and was never destroyed as they said.”

“No matter what you will have to use the tree.”

I look up. “And why is that?”

He smirks. “Because during the war the only way to save those bitten and scratched is to use the moss from the tree. That is if people can be taken to the Healing Tents fast enough before they are killed to be put out of their misery. No matter what, that tree will have to be used. I have my own way of protecting it, I will place a shield over it only myself and Vallehes know how to get through.”

“Speaking of shields. Would you mind teaching Roaner more about shields?”

Stravan laughs. “Why? Because Vorian told you he got through it?”

Through my silence, he can sense my confusion.

Stravan nods. “Comprehensible.”

“Roaner is cautious of those who are around his mother as well, I would not be the one to ask. There could be a possibility that he would take you to her, but it will be under supervision.”

“No, it is fine. I will not contravene boundaries while I am here.” He sits down at the table in my study and glances out of the large windows and through the woods. His eyes slowly begin to narrow.

“Laven, does the Lady by the Lake still reside in the Northern Woods?”

I cringe at the thought of that woman. “She does.”

Stravan chuckles. “I know, she is a peculiar one, but she is older than time. What if we went to her? Do you believe she will have knowledge of who is starting this war?”

“As much as I would like to avoid that eerie woman entirely,” I exhale heavily. “I do believe so.”

The Lady by the Lake knows and speaks all futures, pasts, and presents. Nevertheless, not without a cost.

“What will we bring her?” I ask.

“Oh, trust me. We will be enough. Agivath and I have quite the history, as long as I am there with you, there is no gift needed.”

He smirks as my eyes widen.

“Not the history you think. My mother brought Agivath something no one else could after her home was attacked centuries ago.”

“And that is?”

“Beauty. An assembly of people from a newer generation that were afraid of Agivath set her home on fire when her prophecies they did not like the result of followed through. You see, people are petrified of things they do not understand. They were terrified by her aptitude to vision all life, so they ambushed her. They thought it was impossible for her to see so far into a being’s life, but when she proved them wrong, they attacked. They set her home to fire, and Agivath had nearly burned to death before my mother got to her cottage. My mother asked her what she wanted in return for her pain, and it was the beauty of a hundred women—that strength of beauty can make one eerily attractive. It is no wonder that people are startled by her, only Agivath has never harmed. She tells the truth and that is what is horrifying.” He stops and warily gazes at me. “When we go to her, I want you to be very careful with the questions you ask. And be sure you are prepared for the response.”

*  *  *

Our Pegasi’s hooves pound into the earth as they dip between the trees, following the trail that will lead to Agivath’s cottage. Their wings tuck in tightly as the deep woods narrow and widen.

The woods to Agivath’s home are the grounds that no one has touched. Some were too afraid to come near her grounds and some say they knew better than to try to take land from someone who has been here longer than any of us.

“Whoa, Axvin,” I call to my Pegasus.

Stravan comes to a stop next to me as I see Agivath near the lake, she is wholly naked as she scoops up a bucket of water.

As she stands her long black hair falls down her back in heavy curls. Her pristine dark skin radiates from the water cascading over her rather buxom body.

“Ah, you brought a High King with you,” Agivath says in delight. Her eyes are filled with a clouded orange as she looks between Stravan and I. “Not just any High King, a High King that will always live and die by principle.”

As we come down from our Pegasi. I tilt my head to her.

“Yes, I am aware you are familiar with Stravan.”

“I was not speaking to you,” a smile appears on her face. “I was speaking to Stravan, the King with hair white as winter.”

“I am no High King, I am–”

“You will be a High King in due time. By the drive of a Queen’s golden blade, you will be King.” She is staring at me—through me—like she is reading my fate through the depths of my eyes.

The moment I go to speak, Stravan raises his hand.

“Remember what I told you, Laven.” He warns me. “Be cautious of the questions you ask and the form you ask them in.”

“Oh, Stravan, how lovely it is to hear your voice.” Agivath sits down her wooden bucket of water and holds her hand out to him.

He places his palm in her slender hand and her other palm covers the top of his hand. Her eyes close and she smiles.

“Your bloodline will run strong.” She calmly speaks.

She lets go of his hand and with her eyes still closed she gestures for mine next.

Her hands engulf my own. “As will yours,” her clouded eyes open and she turns over my palm. She traces the lines in my palm before moving toward the cut in my wrist from the Blood Bond Ritual. “Watch over your brothers. Four can become three.”

A sharp stab pinches in my chest. “When?” I demand to know.

“When what?” She asks.

“Laven,” Stravan pulls me away. He shakes his head. “Agivath, we are here because we need help discovering the person who created this disease being spread across the Realm of Wolves.”

Her head tilts with a smile. “Your family is from great leaders of Old Voschantai, but not all are great. Not all have the purest of hearts as your mother who is the first of nine. That sixth has always had a way about him.”

As he takes in her words, he stands there, pondering. “Sixth.” He mumbles.

“That wretched sixth child.” Agivath says as if she knows him well, which she may as well given her ability to see all life. “He did not keep the best companions around him, did he?”

“Do you know the person spreading this, Stravan?” I step closer to him.

He takes a moment to respond. His jaw clenches. “Unfortunately, I believe I do. Although, I have not seen him in nearly twenty years.”

Lifting his head back up to Agivath, Stravan begins his next question. “Dyena is missing. She has been missing for the past twenty-four years. By the time Summer is at its hottest is when it will be twenty-five years. Can you tell me anything that will help me find her?”

Agivath clicks her tongue as her finger ticks from side to side. “Oh, finding her is a depth of powers that mine do not even reach.” She exhales slowly before giggling. “Two Mad Kings that have raged for love stand before me; how delightful this day has become.”

Stravan looks in my direction and I ignore him. “Who is to be Queen when I am King?”

She only smiles and shakes her head. “I do not reply to questions you already know the answer to.”

“I do not know the answer.” I push harder to hear the exact name.

“But you do, you just do not know how it could be possible with her predicament and your failure to realize you have overcome your past. Having bad days does not mean you are unhealed, beautiful Laven . . .” she pauses and her eyes close again as her hand presses to my chest. “There is a sweet song that plays in your heart, but your soul thunders.”

I look toward Stravan and nod for us to leave.

“Thank you, Agivath.” I say with a tilt of my head. Stravan does the same next.

“I do hope to meet her; you will come back here, and I will need no payment. I wish to see into the child blessed by the God’s, or I will come to you myself.”

Child blessed by the God’s?

“Yes, I will be sure of it.” I promise and choose not to question any further.

As we top the Pegasi, Agivath calls out my name one last time.

“You must embrace her for dear life. In destruction, in beauty, at the end of the world. She will always be the last one standing.”

Leisurely, Agivath reaches down, grasping her bucket of water before trailing toward her cottage.