Relana's silver eyes expressed worry. "I do not know how the Vonacks could have made it here, or why they would have come. But we won't have long before he knows I am here. And I fear the spell I used will have consequences that even I cannot stop."
"What are the Vonacks?" Angelo inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity and concern.
"They—" She did not get to finish her sentence when someone new entered the room.
"Relana! I came as soon as I heard!" The voice was urgent and familiar.
"Roku!" She rushed over to him, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. "I had no choice; I broke my vow to the Keepers."
Roku frowned, his expression serious. "We do not have time to stress over that. I have brought news from the prince. He wrote you a letter. He said if everything goes as he desires, he will only be a day or so behind me."
Roku handed her the letter he was sent to bring. He paused for a moment, his eyes softening. "Relana? Things will work out."
"I know, but I am still worried. We are not ready for my grandson." She swallowed hard and opened the note from the prince.
Relana Wavelander, Keeper of the Solhain Trees,
I need twelve pies. I pray that you can get enough berries from the Ether vines, the Solhain forest out here is already dead.
The Horror has evolved, and we have colossal problems.
We are on the losing end of this. I fear I might have to seek out Teathies to secure a plan B.
The Obsidian Cabal is on track to obtain their goals. We are in desperate need of the Hellfire in her full glory. I will be there as soon as I can tie up loose ends here.
Prince Nodran,
The Crowned Prince of Finna
Cursing, she turned back to Roku. She picked up her cane and candle from his bedside. The aches in her body became clear again as the adrenaline drained from her system.
Relana limped down the stairs and back to the sink in her kitchen. She leaned over it and sighed.
"Roku, I am so tired. I often wonder if this life is really worth it or not. I mean, all the fight; I just don't know that I have what it takes to see this through. I just feel so old."
"Relana, you know as well as I do, you won't give up. You have been at this so long; you cannot leave just when you are about to succeed."
"I know, I know. Come help me collect the berries Nodran needs." She paused. "Actually, will you stay with my son? I am not sure that I am very comfortable leaving Redkin with Angelo. I do not trust him."
"I agree, not after what he did twelve years ago. I will send him out to collect berries with you, and I will sit with Redkin."
Roku sighed and looked at the ground. He saw two wooden buckets, one stacked inside the other in the corner.
He walked over and picked them up. They were made of ash wood. He smiled softly and turned to Relana, handing her one of the buckets.
"I will take this to Angelo."
Relana nodded. He took the other bucket and headed into Redkin's room.
"Angelo, take this." He handed the bucket to the armored man.
Angelo just stared at him, his eyes narrowing.
Roku rolled his eyes and put the bucket down on the ground. He shifted his attention to Redkin, frowning as he touched the boy's forehead.
Now that his armor was not covering his body, Roku noticed something interesting. Concern came over his face.
He shifted Redkin's shirt, revealing a scar over his heart with black veins that seemed to pulse to their own rhythm.
"RELANA!" Roku called her with fear in his voice.
Relana came as quickly as she could, slightly out of breath but her voice full of worry. "What is it, Roku?"
"Look at this. What do you make of it?"
Relana frowned, leaning over her son's chest. She let her fingers trace the thick black vessels that pulsed with life.
"Roku, this is the side effect of the soul sword used on him years ago. But they have gotten bigger. Perhaps it is because his genetics are unlike any a poetic has given a heart to?"
Roku frowned. "I do not know. I will have to ask Weaver because it does not look right. Help me turn him on his side?"
Relana only nodded. Together they got the boy on his side. Redkin groaned softly in pain under their touch.
"No, this is not right. There is something strange here. Come look at this."
Relana came around to where Roku was, her fear escalating.
"Roku, he is going to die, and so will Talveran if we do not get the Hellfire's magic on this. There is no other that I know that can counter this poison. His heart is under attack. He is only alive now because of the nature of his heart." Relana shook her head.
"Is there anything we can do?" Roku's voice was heavy with love. "I feel like he is my boy, Relana. What is the point of all of this if we have all this power and cannot save the ones that mean the most to us?"
"I understand. I have thought that myself many times. I will go see if I can find a solution to this problem in my books. I think I might have seen something mentioned in one of them."
Relana shuffled out of the room, each step heavy with fear and grief.
"Fuck, I am so sorry, my boy. I pray we can save you."
Angelo stood and growled after Relana left. "He is mine, Roku."
Roku laughed. "That all depends on how you look at it. Does he have your heart or mine? It is funny you waited till she left to make that claim. His transformation is almost complete."
Angelo snapped, "He is my son, Roku. My loyalties are to him."
"Correction, Angelo. Your loyalty is to Talveran, not to your son. You killed your son a long time ago."
Angelo scowled. He took the bucket and headed down the stairs to the kitchen. "Let's go, Relana." He stormed out of the house.