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

PHYV

V aigon is a dream I have dreamt. Sometimes, I think I have seen it before, though I have never been here other than now. The people of Voschantai Universe, old and new, speak of the beauty of Provas towering above all nations, but there is something darker and mesmeric about Vaigon that calls me home. I have always coveted to be more; in Provas, where I was known as my weakest due to my upbringing in the orphanage, is not where I feel I can be more. Here is where I feel it.

Summer Solstice was never something I truly celebrated with great intent like most here are doing. All Solstices were just a day to consume high amounts of alcohol without remorse and to bed multiple people because the Brovita has filled us with such a sexual high there was no one else more meaningful to lie with.

Here, they all celebrate Solstice together as one. They use this time as their moment to just be with one another, laugh, eat well, and mingle with loved ones. Although Solstice only comes twice a year, they take this time with one another and spend it well because who knows when you will have moments as this ever again.

I could not deny the strong brotherhood between Laven, Amias, Morano, and Roaner. Their brotherhood is not built on just silly interactions from their past. Most of the people in Levora’s life are close because of bonding through trauma and building beauty from it.

‘Laven met Amias first. Axynth, who is like an uncle to me and my brother, is Amias’s father.’

‘Yes,’ Greyce nods. ‘I remember you mentioning that your father and Axynth are brothers through the Blood Bond Ritual.’

‘And then Laven and Amias became brothers through the Blood Bond Ritual. They grew up together so closely that they vowed to stay together all their life. Next they met Roaner, and their original interaction was not what you think would build a bond as strong as theirs. Some people think that Roaner and Laven have known each other longer than Laven and Amias have. Sometimes, there is no time frame for an unbreakable union to be built.’

‘How did they meet?’ I ask.

‘In passing on their way home from Vuamsati Academy. Roaner and Amias had met in previous days beforehand, but Laven and Roaner met that day. This was during the time my brother was still carefree and living happily. He was playing around on their walk home and bumped into a grouchy Roaner that was already having a bad day. Roaner called Laven out of his name and Laven retaliated with his fists.’

I laugh imagining it. During my time in the orphanage many fights like this happened daily.

‘What made them grow closer?’ Greyce wonders.

‘There was a gathering at the Orshe Waterfall in the Eastern Woods and there was cliff diving. The friends that Roaner had at the time were not true to him. He told them that he could not swim and the friends said they forgot, but only after pushing him over the ledge. No one other than Laven dove in to save him. Even through his hatred for Roaner, Laven always lives by what is right within his own measures.’

‘Live and die by principle.’ I nod.

‘That is him,’ Levora smiles thinking of her brother. ‘And from there they worked on their friendship, promised each other a new beginning and grew to where they are now. Through time they both discovered they are more alike than they thought, but still, in their own ways. Right at the time that Laven and Roaner’s relationship was on the mend was when my mother miscarried our youngest brother. And through that my father felt like Roaner was that child they missed out on, so he proceeded to be the father figure that Roaner lost.’

‘And Morano?’ I ask about the last.

Levora weakly smiles. ‘Morano was found. His parents were selling him.’

Greyce quietly gasps as her hand presses to her chest. ‘Not in the way you mean?’

‘Sexually,’ Levora nods. ‘They had a beautiful child, they were pinching for coin, and did not have a care in the world about what they put their child through. All they knew, was that they needed money and they had a gorgeous son.’

‘How did Laven find him?’ I ask.

‘Laven was walking the streets of Precydes, our most busy city. He was fetching me my favorite bread from a baker and while leaving he saw a young boy hiding in a short dark alley. He was naked and filthy, Morano was nearly flesh and bone and nothing more. Laven approached him with ease, he was afraid he would frighten him off. But Laven offered him his cloak and Morano urgently took it, then he offered him the bread, that he took too. It was not easy for Laven to persuade Morano to leave with him given his past, and Morano did not want anything to do with our mother when Laven brought her. He feared adults deeply and rightfully. Laven gained Morano’s trust through protection and teaching him combative skills. It was only until then did Morano finally come around others because he now knew how to fight.’

‘Where did Morano stay after Laven found him?’ Greyce asks.

‘Ryverian House, our safe house when it was small and nothing but the size of a shed. The safe house became larger when my father realized Morano was there, and he turned it into a home for him and that home turned into the safe house for all of us. It was called a safe house because Morano named it that, that tiny shed turned into a large mansion was what he knew as safety.’

‘Any word of his parents through that time?’ How could you just give up your child to anyone and everyone?

Levora smiles. ‘No, his parents chose to have nothing to do with him after realizing he was in the hands of Royals, my father gave a firm threat that if they came after him it would be their execution. Besides Amias who has amazing parents, my mother and father became Second Guardian of Morano to hold him as their own. Even Roaner, who still has his mother, was inducted into the family because during this time his mother was still making her way through the trauma of losing her husband and my parents were there for him in every way he needed until his mother was better.’

It is interesting to see four almost entirely different personalities flow so well together in a bond. It is not the Blood Bond Ritual that makes them so tightly knit with each other. They were meant to be brothers and live on together. This I crave.

Ivella who was previously with Laven on the balcony has returned after what seems to be a quite heated conversation.

“Ivella, darling, you look ravishing.” Morano says as he hugs her. “How have you been since I have last seen your beautiful face?”

“I have been fine, and yourself?” She asks while embracing him.

“Same as well,” he nods while holding her hands. “It is good to see you well, Ivella, I mean that.”

“Move over, I want my hug as well,” Amias pushes Morano and Ivella laughs as he bear hugs her with his large Warrior frame.

Levora stands quickly, waiting for one of her brothers to introduce her.

Instead, Ivella turns to Levora herself and this gives her all the more excitement.

“Hello,” her voice is soft and deep. “I am Ivella–”

“Fondali,” Levora urgently interrupts her, and I smile.

Ivella’s eyebrows raise, and she simpers as she looks over Levora trying to identify her face. “Have we met?”

“No, I–I read about you years ago in past morning papers. When I read the many articles about you and your winning streak in the Quamfasian Games it inspired me. I was speaking of you to my mother not long ago, I had no idea Laven knew you.”

That may be the most impressive piece of information I have heard since coming here.

Winning repeatedly in The Games is not something that happens often, if I am certain, The Games are no longer held unless other nations still use them as training tactics.

Ivella grins at Levora’s tiny ramble. “Yes, Laven does know me,” she regrettably speaks. “Too well, if I must say.”

“My brother is a handful; I am sorry if he has ever rubbed you the wrong way.”

“Rubbed the wrong way?” Morano laughs. “That is one way to put it.”

Ivella sharply turns to Morano, and he quiets.

It seems while Levora was gone these four men found a new ring leader, it is hard to not see the respect they hold for Ivella.

“Your brother, Levora, is an amazing man. A man that did a considerable amount for me in life that it will be impossible for me to pay him back for it all. There is not much that your brother could do that I would consider inexcusable.”

Levora smiles and I see her drift into profound thought. She shakes them. “I am glad to know you hold him so dearly.”

“Ivy,” her friend Lourdes calls. “We must be going; the Solstice Gala in Xenathi is commencing. Our Courts are arriving as we speak.”

Morano cannot keep his eyes off of Lourdes, and quite frankly, I understand him.

Lourdes has the beauty, I would die a thousand lives to see. Similar in height to Ivella, she is built just as thick, but firmer in shape, dark skin and eyes, and hair of the night with curls like tunneling waves.

The women here on the Immortal Lands are by far more appealing than the humans I consistently saw.

“But you,” Ivella turns to me, and looks me over. “What is your name? I have not seen you before.” Next, she examines my pointed ears and my face once more.

“I am Phyv, pleasure to meet you.” I stand and she takes my hand.

The moment her hand touches mine visions of multiple different elements cloud my sight. Fire is first, then oceans that rise high and crash deep, after, the deep cracking of the earth and strong gusts of wind that turn into lightning and thunderstorms.

I quickly blink away what is ripping through my mind.

“You as well,” she precariously gazes at me, and Levora takes my hand that Ivella was holding.

“I hope to speak with the both of you more when I am not being bombarded.” Ivella laughs.

“Oh, when do you plan to return?” Levora asks.

“Soon,” Ivella touches her hand. “I hope the rest of you enjoy your Solstice.”

She says one final goodbye to Morano and Amias before taking her friend’s hand and ascending.

“You have finally met our soon-to-be sister.” Morano hangs his arm over Levora’s shoulders.

She looks up at him perplexed. “What do you mean?”

“Ivella, Laven. Laven, Ivella.” Amias connects the dots for her.

“Are they arranged? Laven swore he would never be an arranged man and that he would only be with his mate.” Levora searches for questions and answers all at once.

Neither Amias nor Morano seem surprised by this, they just smile.

“She is Laven’s mate, but she is unaware of it.” Amias explains. “In time she will know.”

“Then who is Maivena that my mother spoke of?”

“Ivella was Maivena.” Morano clarifies.

“Was? What does was mean?”

“This will all make sense one day little sister.” Amias laughs. “Now, as we were.” He raises his glass.

“Oh, Phyv, I see an old friend! Come meet him.” She grabs my arm and pulls me in the direction where he stands waving.

“Are you all right?” Levora whispers as we make our way over.

I smile. “Why would I not be?”

“Because I know you just had another vision.” She stops walking and stares up at me intently. “You can tell me what you saw.”

“I will, later. Let us go meet your friend first, then we can go find where Nyt and Salem have run off to.” I can hear him running around in the distance below now.