A Baron of Bonds (Conduit of Light #2)

45. Rev

Chapter 45

Rev

Karus burst through the Fortress doors shouting the name of everyone she’d ever met here in Felgren, and just as I would have done, just as I would always do, they came running.

Moira flew.

Only Pompeii was missing, and I was glad of it if it meant he was getting some rest.

In a burst of joy that was green, she hugged every one of them, introducing each to her brother and his former guard, quickly explaining our plan to train more channelers. She left out exactly why, but no one seemed to care as grins spread across their faces, and they all agreed how happy they were to see her safely back home.

“Oh!” she continued, “And one more thing. Baron Revich and I…we’ve gone through the bonding ceremony. We’re companions.”

An outcry of excitement, and some small disappointment that they’d missed it, filtered through the gasps and squeals. I kept my hands deep in my pockets, my fingers toying with the rhyzolm as I watched her glow.

I watched the people who loved and cared for her extend their congratulations and embrace her, Moira sitting at her shoulder. Karus was the only human I’d ever seen her touch.

I liked to think there were moments in time that I could hold onto forever.

Memories I could brand into my soul, so that I could keep them and pull them back to me when times were dark.

I’d had some of them in those seven years of waiting.

Her first look upon Viridis.

The night of our first kiss under the light of the full moon and the nitor moths.

The night not long after when I had declared my love for her, no longer willing to keep it to myself another minute.

There were several more I looked back upon often, but those three were my favorite. In those years of missing her, like old friends, they’d sheltered me when the storm of pain and loss threatened my horizon for the foreseeable future.

And this moment, this one I told myself to hold onto as well.

Lia caught sight of me leaning against the black stone wall, and she smiled with tears on her face. I pushed myself off and walked to Karus’s side, receiving hugs from everyone, Philius excluded.

Even Moira’s lips curled into a grin, though still with the hint of menace she couldn’t quite ever rid herself of.

“Should we have a party?” Rell asked in buzzing excitement, her red curls bouncing just like her sister’s as Renn said, “We have two companion bonds to celebrate!”

Talon caught my gaze sheepishly, and I nodded. “Yes, we should have a party. After Pompeii is well.” I addressed Lia then, “How long would you need to prepare cakes and food for a celebration?”

“And cinnamon buns!” Moira shouted with her long sage fingers cupping her mouth.

Lia lowered her gaze, mumbling to herself for a moment. “Three days, love. I could have something together by then with some help.” She eyed some of the other servants and they all nodded.

“It’s settled then. In three days time, we’ll have a party. Then it’s back to training for all of you.” I met each of my six channeler’s gazes in turn.

“We have three more days off?” Rell questioned, nudging her sister.

“You have three days to do as you please in the Fortress or Felgren. Rell and Renn, kindly show Mychael and Philius to their rooms in the tallest tower. I expect you to help them settle in for a few days and show them the dining hall and library. You may take them to the lumen den if you wish.”

I turned to Talon and Ilyenna. “You two, come with us to Pompeii where we will discuss your further duties.”

We all dispersed, Rell and Renn talking excitedly with Mychael and Philius who held overwhelmed expressions hearing them speak. It would take time to get used to their quick words full of too much information at once, but we’d all gotten there eventually.

Karus slipped her hand into mine, and we headed to the kitchens where Lia had already bustled off to, listing duties to the servants along the way.

“I’m going to be gone for a few days, Karus,” Moira casually mentioned on her shoulder.

“Where are you going?” Karus asked.

“Just fae things in Felgren. The Growers have asked for a meeting, and since I am the official expert on all things human ,” she spoke the word in slight disgust, “I suppose I should be there.”

“Alright. We’ll see you at the party?”

Moira nodded and was off, flitting through the open back door in the kitchens.

We turned down the corridor that led to the servants’ quarters. I noticed Karus’s eyes flicker briefly to the third door on the left—the room Sylva had occupied years ago. The largest door at the end of the hall was Pompeii’s and one I had rarely entered.

I knocked gently, calling, “Pompeii? Are you accepting visitors?”

We heard a weak, “Yes, please come in.”

I opened the door, peering in at my Overseer and friend. His room was simply furnished, though as colorful as its occupant always displayed himself to be. A red and gold woven rug lay under a modest sized bed of opulently carved wood with spindles on each corner. A dark purple chair sat next to the fire and a small wooden table with a single wooden seat sat nearby, a white vase of yellow daffodils casting a cheery mood throughout the room.

I neared his bed, my brows furrowing at how frail he looked there in a silky woven robe of copper trimmings. Kohl no longer swiped along his eyes as it had been every day I’d known him.

His hair was pulled back messily, another detail he’d always kept pristine, and I frowned further seeing his usual olive skin wan, his cheeks sunken.

I reached for his hand to feel his pulse, pressing two of my fingers into his veins just as I’d seen Clairannia do to her own patients. She’d taught me a thing or two from her apprenticeship after passing the trials and joining other medicus conduits in the Spire.

I was feeling for a steady, strong pulse and was met with a racing, erratic one. I placed the back of my hand on his forehead, searching for signs of a fever.

“How long have you been like this, Pompeii?” I questioned, nodding toward his neck, my hands hovering at each side. “May I?” I asked next, and he nodded weakly.

He cleared his throat and rasped, “Just a day, Baron.”

I used my fingers to feel my way around the sides of his neck, something Clairannia had also taught me, looking for swelling or a gasp of pain, finding neither.

“Karus?” he whispered. “Is Karus well?”

Leaving Talon and Ilyenna in the doorway, she moved to sit on the other side of his bed and took his hand in hers. “Yes, Pompeii. I am here and well.” She looked to me with the same worry I knew my own face reflected. “Can you do anything to help him?”

I nodded, brushing his forehead once more as a dazed look crossed his face. He was warm, but not feverish, though I could tell his mind was clouded. “Pompeii,” I murmured, leaning in close to catch his gaze, “I’m going to use an enhancement spell to help you sleep. Then, I’ll be bringing you something to eat. You need rest and food to give you strength.”

He nodded slightly, his eyes already drifting.

“Talon and Ilyenna will continue to check in on you, but so will I.”

I looked back to Karus and saw her magic pooling around her hands, clutching one of his.

“ Soporen, ” I spoke softly, helping him slip into a place of rest.

Before his eyes shut completely, he mumbled something I could not quite catch, but Karus instantly straightened, cocking her head at me.

“What did he mean?” she asked, squinting at his chest, pulling back part of his robe.

“I couldn’t make out what he said.” I pulled at the other side, seeing dark, swollen skin over his chest like a deep purple bruise.

She leaned closer, in confusion, lightly touching his skin with her magic, and mumbling, “I think he said something like ‘laboratorium’?”

My eyes shot to her, wide in revelation. “ Fuck. ”