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

LAVEN HEPHAESTUS ARVENALDI, II

Esme sits next to Ivella as we wait in the Healers Infirmary, the hallway we sit in is lit with candles and the flames flash over the stone walls and windows. At the end of the hall stand two doors that take you to the Healer’s Rooms where Ethel is.

Esme’s knee begins to rapidly bounce in anticipation.

Ethel should be on the mend, but that blow to her chest is deep, not even our healing powers could mend it.

For the third time, I see Ivella’s arm twitch, she tries to cover it by grabbing Esme’s hand but I can feel that something has happened to her that she is hiding.

“I am fine,” Ivella swats at me as I kneel in front of her and grab her arm. Ignoring her, I tear the leather of her suit; revealing the inflamed skin and darkening veins.

Looking up at her I rest my hand over her forearm and she flinches as I heal the damage done. “How often has this been happening?” I ask.

“First time.”

“Second,” Roaner aggressively corrects as he stares at her from his leaned position against the wall.

“You informant,” Ivella grumbles under her breath.

“This has happened before?” Esme takes the words from my mouth. “Have you spoken to uncle Naius?”

She tugs away her now healed arm and Esme looks between us before I stand.

“We need to speak of this,” Roaner says for me. “You cannot continue to reach this point and think nonchalantly of it. Control, Ivy, you need to learn to control how you allow your powers to overtake you.”

That is the downfall of having great strength. Sometimes we never know how strong we are until it reaches the point of harming ourselves while harming others.

“And the rogue prisoner that spoke of this.”

Ivella looks up at me. “What?”

“Phyv said he was talking about you and I went to go see what it was he spoke of.”

A Healer comes walking down the hall with Kaden and Esme darts from the bench we sit on.

“Your sister will heal just fine. Her sternum was broken and it nearly punctured her heart, it was possibly just an inch away. A few more days here and she will be back to normal. It may take some time before she operates as she used to but she will be just fine in due time.”

Esme sighs in relief. “May I see her?”

“Yes, she is not awake, but you may come see her if you would like.”

“I can go with you.” Roaner steps closer to Esme, and to my surprise, she accepts him.

“Laven,” Amias urgently calls down the bond. “We must meet with Vallehes and Penelope in the Consultation  Room. The ring has been examined, this was not just any ring Yaro’s son was wearing.”

Roaner hears this as well and I hold my hand up as he contemplates if he will stay with Esme, or come with us. “Go with Esme, we will be fine.”

“Inform me later.”

Kaden and the Healer lead Roaner and Esme down the hall, and they walk closely next to each other before I see their fingers gravitate to each other.

Now, only I and Ivella are left.

“Vallehes and Penelope are calling for us,” I say.

She stands and ascends without me.

Vallehes tosses me the ring as I end my ascension at the door of the Consultation Room. “You will hold this ring in a safe place, and as you have rogue prisoners, ask them what the ring does.”

“I believe it controls the rogues, or creates them. In some way, this ring has everything to do with what he has created.” Stravan says.

“If Ivella killed Yaro’s son,” Amias begins. “Would that mean the rogues we have imprisoned have died as well? We all saw it, when his son was being defeated so were the rogues. Then, as he died, they did too.”

I look at Stravan and at the same moment our heads sway from side to side.

“This ring he was wearing had possible control over the rogues, that could mean he only had control over the rogues we battled, not all of them.”

“Now the question is how many have that ring?” Penelope heavily exhales and sits in one of the chairs at the large table.

“I will speak with the prisoner again, he said his name is Jaxyn, but that is debatable.”

“I can see if it is true that he once resided in Galitan.” Morano says. “It will not be difficult to find him in their books, I know it is not possible for there to be one too many Jaxyn’s.”

Stravan nods. “Galitan will need to be looked into. If Jaxyn is truly from there, we will need to scope their land.”

“That is where he said he is from?” Vallehes questions.

“Doubtful. He was mouthing quite a lot when I spoke with him.” I choose not to go too in-depth. I know Ivella did not read my letter yet and I am unsure if this conversation is one she wishes to have in front of everyone here.

Even then, she is very quiet as she stands in the corner of the room looking down at her now healed arm and rubbing a hand over her skin.

“If he is telling the truth, Galitan has been breached without their knowing we will need to speak with them promptly.” I add.

“Ivella,” she looks to Amias who is scratching his chin and he does not look at me. “You received a letter of proposal from Prince Ozias of Galitan?”

I know exactly what he is to say next.

“Yes.”

“And did you deny him?”

“No.”

“Good.” I say and her eyes narrow at me. “We will use that as leverage to see if they are part of this mutation, or if they truly do not know that someone who says they are of their land is infected.”

“And then what from here?” Her tone is dagger sharp.

I tuck the ring into my pocket and look at everyone. “We will mourn our dead and be thankful for our triumphs. It will only get worse from here and on.”