The Source (Creasan #1)

Favian paced his study anxiously, worrying his lip. His bright red hair stuck up every which way, standing up straight beneath his crown. There were dark purple circles beneath his gleaming green eyes, and his skin was paler than a sick person’s. Yet his energy was higher than it had ever been.

The door opened and Destrian cautiously entered the room. “The queen bid me check on you,” the old man said.

Favian laughed. “Why? Because I’ve not been to her bed?”

Destrian looked away awkwardly. “She did not say, sire. But…” He brought his cloudy gaze back to the king, brows furrowed. “I must say, my king, you do not look well. Perhaps I ought to send for a healer.”

The king waved dismissively. “I’m fine, Destrian. Now tell me of my brother. Has he been found? Is he with the prisoners?”

Destrian bowed apologetically. “He is still missing, Your Majesty.”

Favian blinked in time to the pounding in his head. “And what of the Guards sent out? Have they any clues? Any hints as to where he might have gone?”

“I’m afraid not, Your Majesty.”

“Well, have you any good news?” he burst. Favian spun on his heel and charged toward the other side of the room.

Destrian followed his form with apprehension. “The medicine the healer prescribed last time you’d been to see him…has it stopped working, sire?”

“Everything has stopped working, Destrian. Everything.”

“It will all fall apart, eventually.”

“Gah!” Favian twisted around, eyes searching the eaves of the ceiling. “No, I won’t let it,” he said.

Destrian blinked. “Sorry, sire?”

“I will make sure it does. I will bring it crashing down around you.”

“No, no, you won’t!”

“I won’t, what, Your Majesty?”

“You will try to take everything from me. You may even succeed. But when you think you have finally rid yourself of me, I will be there. I will always have the last laugh, Highness.”

“It is ‘Majesty’!”

Destrian licked his lips nervously and approached Favian slowly. “I think Queen Ana was right. I will send for the healer—“

Favian whirled on the adviser. “No! I do not want that dreadful man anywhere near me.”

“You need him, sire. You are not well.”

“I’m fine!”

“I will never be gone. I am here—“

The words seem to come from the fireplace and Favian flew across the room.

“—and I am there.”

Favian screeched to a halt, his gaze flying to the desk. An enormous bell gonged in his head and he cringed. “No!” He hurried to the desk, standing on top and jumping up and down, squashing papers beneath his feet.

Destrian’s mouth fell open. “Sire!” He sounded appalled.

“Even now, I’ve already taken something from you. Do you think you know what it is?”

“You have nothing of mine.”

“Oh, but I do. I wonder how long it shall be before you realize just how much I have taken.”

Favian bared his teeth into the space directly in front of him. “I will slice your head off with my own blade and your children will—“

“Father?”

Favian’s words stuttered and he brought his gaze to his son’s trembling form standing in the doorway.

Destrian quickly stepped in front of the child. “Do not worry, Young Highness. Your father isn’t feeling very well. Go back to your room and I will—“

“No, no, come here, Althalos.” Favian hopped off the desk and crouched.

Destrian said, “I don’t think that is wise—“

Favian held out his arms. “Come here, my son. It’s all right. I just want to talk to you.”

Althalos glanced between Destrian and Favian uncertainly. The king gestured impatiently, and Althalos saw no other option but to venture further into the room.

Favian grabbed hold of his arms and drew him closer. The king’s face was covered in sweat and there was spittle collecting in the corners of his mouth. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Althalos, I have a very important job for you.” He glanced up at Destrian and glared at the eavesdropper. He pulled his son closer. “There is a man who wanders the halls of the palace,” he said, his words barely more than a breath. “He is a bad man. A very dangerous man. He means to harm our family. I am trying to catch him, to protect us, but he is very smart. I need you to help me capture him.”

Althalos cringed away from his father. “He sounds very scary.”

Favian nodded fervently. “He is! He is very scary. That is why we need to catch him. Would you like to help me do that?”

“Father, you’re hurting me.”

He looked at where his fingers clutched the thin arms of his son’s but he didn’t let up. Althalos needed to understand how serious this was. He shook him slightly. “Help me, Althalos.”

Tears of fear had started to well up in the little boy’s eyes but he nodded bravely. “Okay, Father. I will help you.”

Favian smiled widely.

A crazed smile.

Varug looked down sadly at Thea. “I don’t think we can help you.”

She held back a shiver from the morning air. “You would have helped Lief. Surely your morals are not dependent upon who’s in charge?”

“They’re not, but…” He shook his head as he tried to come up with the kindest way to phrase it. “You, more than anyone, must understand, I have to do what is best for my people. Though not nearly as much as we need, the king provides us with food. Without his supply, my people will suffer.”

Thea nodded, understanding what he hadn’t said. “You think I will fail.”

Varug sighed. “You are taking on a very perilous journey and an impossible objective. It is a flimsy plan with a lot hinging on a creature that has not been spotted in centuries, whose very existence hinges on a legend.”

Her brows rose high. “Are you suggesting Aestus does not exist?”

He shrugged. “I have never seen a dragon in my entire life. If Aestus was flying around, would we not have spotted him at least once?”

Thea kept her mouth shut, though her blood boiled dangerously.

“Look,” Varug said, “you’re a strong woman, so I will speak plainly. Your plan is little more than a pilgrimage that is doomed to disappointment. It has given your people hope, it has given even you hope—I can see it clear in your face—but it is feeble. I cannot give my word to support an organization whose leader might very well be wiped out on a pointless journey in the next couple of weeks.”

Three breaths, she heard Lief urge. Control your emotions.

She drew three breaths quickly. Then she drew three more. And another three. Her face still felt hot and her heart continued to pound in her chest.

Varug’s yellow eyes shone apologetically. “I am sorry, Thea. I truly am. I had wished for Lief’s success and now I wish for yours. Should you make it back, please come see me again. I can promise that this conversation will go much differently.”

She nodded jerkingly, clenching her hands into fists. “Thank you. And thank you for letting us stay here as long as we have. You can rely on us returning the favor, should you ever need it.”

He smiled and nodded his appreciation. “Good luck, Thea Wyvern.”

Thea burst into Carac’s room like a bull. She didn’t look at anyone or anything as she hoisted up her pack, slid her sword into place at her side, and slung her crossbow across her back. “Let’s go. We leave now.”

When there was no movement or words of agreement, she stalled and glanced about the room.

The bed was empty and made. All their packs and weapons were gone. Only one person stood in the room, looking a bit smug.

She scoffed and shook her head. They didn’t have time for this. “Where are they, Highness?”

“I’m supposed to give you a message.”

“From prince to errand boy. How’s that feel?”

His shoulders tensed, just the slightest, and Thea would be lying if she said it didn’t bring her a bit of joy. “‘I’m ready to go whenever you are.’ That was the message.”

“Is Merek trying to make some sort of statement because I hurt—“

“The message is from Carac.”

Was he…One look at Fendrel’s voice told Thea that he was in fact not joking. She growled in frustration and then pointed at Fendrel. “I’m going to kill you.” Then she spun around and headed out the door.

The prince hurried to keep up. “I was simply doing as I was told. Like you wanted me to do.”

“I wanted you to do as I told. Not what they did.”

He shrugged with a smirk. “Suppose you ought to be more specific.”

“I told you I am king. How much more specific did you need me to be?” She urged her legs faster. “Where are they?”

“That’s a good question.” Fendrel stopped walking. “If only there was someone you could ask.”

Thea stopped walking too, letting her lids drift shut. She was about two seconds away from spontaneously combusting. “Prince, if you know where they are, you have two seconds to tell me before—“

“You kill me?” Fendrel shrugged. “Go ahead. You won’t be any closer to finding your friends, though.”

Slowly, Thea turned around. “Is this why you’re not king?”

He raised his brows questioningly.

“You’re too stupid to be king.”

“And you’re too hotheaded to keep track of your own friends.” He tsked mockingly.

“Prince, I—“

“Relax, I’ll take you to them.” Fendrel came up beside her, grinning. “But that means you’ll have to follow me. Think you can handle it?”

Her nails dug into her palm. “The minute we find them, I’m going to—“

“Careful, Thea. With that tone, I may not want to help you.”

That’s it! She brushed past him. “I’ll find them myself.”

“Fine. I’m sure you know this place well enough. After all, you’ve probably come to visit Gentis several times throughout your life and it isn’t that big of a place. Good luck, my king.” He bowed dramatically.

Thea vanished around a corner, and Fendrel leaned his shoulder against a stone wall and grinned. He watched her cross back and forth through the road as she tried to find her through the village. He bit his lip to stop a laugh from breaking free.

He reckoned about half an hour went by before Thea returned. Her body was practically vibrating with aggravation. She wanted to smack that grin right off his face. “Where are they?” she demanded.

“Ready to follow me then?”

She just had to find her friends and get out of that blasted place. Then she could do whatever she liked to this infuriating man. She set her shoulders and nodded.

“Now, there, was that so hard?” He stepped in front of her and led her easily through the streets.

But Thea just couldn’t stop herself from saying, “Must be nice to be followed for once.”

“You seem to think I have this need to rule,” he responded. “But I am perfectly happy where I am.”

“Dear Aestus, isn’t it exhausting?”

“What?”

“Lying to yourself.”

“I’m not.”

“What am I to you?”

Thea was proud to see that took Fendrel by surprise and his eyes jerked to hers. “Pardon?”

“You’re pushing me. Since you joined us, you’ve pushed me. Why?”

He shrugged. “Probably the same reason you’ve been pushing me.”

“Mine is simple curiosity. But the way you look at me is more than curiosity. What is it?”

Fendrel didn’t respond, staring stonily ahead.

“More than a puzzle. Is it the defiance?”

Again, he said nothing, but there was a certain tightness to his jaw. She grinned. Finally, she’d read his mind. “That’s it, isn’t it? I’m the first person—besides your brother—that hasn’t done exactly what you’ve said. It drives you mad, and you want to know what it will take to break me.”

“Is that not what you’re doing to me?” Fendrel retorted. “You told me that day in the woods that you want to see what it is like for me to lose control. You want to break me as well.”

She smirked at him. “Here’s hoping we don’t destroy each other.”

Fendrel stopped and faced her, staring seriously. Those tranquil blue eyes gathering storm clouds. “Here’s hoping we do. So that we might finally be free.”

Thea gazed up at him curiously, studying his face. He stared straight back with creased brows. Strangely, the expression on his face made her heart rate pick up. She nearly opened her mouth to ask another question—

“There you two are!” Carac called.

They broke eye contact. Thea gazed in the direction of the voice to find Carac waving at them, a cloth wrapped around his eyes and a wooden staff was in his hands. The others looked up in surprise as if Carac had spotted them first, which Thea knew to be impossible. They were standing at the border between Gentis and the forest, where they’d originally entered the district.

Fendrel and Thea quickly approached the group, and Thea pointed at Carac as she looked at Merek and Isolde. “I gave very specific instructions.”

“I can still be useful,” Carac answered.

“We tried to explain what you said,” Isolde told her. “But he refused to listen.”

“You need Perry,” Carac said. “That’s why you brought him to begin with. He cannot stay behind.”

“Carac,” Thea began softly, cursing internally, “as much as we want you there—“

“You think I’ll get killed because I’ve been made blind.” He nodded as if he understood. “But I can be helpful.”

“I’m sure,” she assured, “but when we’re out there—“

“I’ve been practicing,” he said. “I knew you and Fendrel were here before any of them did.”

“He did,” Peronell confirmed.

“Which was impressive,” Thea allowed. She took a breath and explained, “I know you want to go, Carac. And we all want you there. But it’s not just combat that will be a risk for you. Even simple tasks, like walking through the trees—“

“I can do it!” Carac didn’t even wait for a response before twirling around and heading straight for the tree line.

Thea made to follow him, but Peronell held out his arm to block her. “Just watch,” he urged.

Blinking, she did. Carac didn’t even stumble as he beelined for the forest. Just when Thea thought he was going to run straight into a tree, he paused. Set his hand on the trunk. Then with a breath, he grabbed hold of it and hoisted himself up.

Thea’s eyes flew wide. “Carac, what are you doing?!”

He climbed the tree with ease, crawling his way across the branch as if he were made for the sport. Carac looked their way with a grin, then jumped off the branch, landing lightly on his feet. He threw his arms wide as if to say Ta-da!

Thea stared, open-mouthed. Carac had hardly been able to climb when he had perfect eyesight. It didn’t make any sense that—when utterly blind—he could…

“Thea,” Merek said, moving into her line of view, “I think he should come with us. He might be even more useful than before.”

“Hey!” Carac called.

“Sorry, mate!”

“He heard you?” Thea tracked the several yards of distance. “From all the way over there?”

Isolde stepped forward. “He’s more than all right, Thea. He’s strong and healthy and intuitive. He will be more than helpful to us. He’ll be an asset.”

Thea’s disbelieving eyes moved to Peronell who was grinning proudly. “How did he learn to do this?” she asked.

“Merek was always telling him to trust his instincts more. Promised he’d be a better fighter that way.” Peronell shrugged and gazed at Carac. “Now he doesn’t have a choice.”

Thea let a slow breath trail out of her mouth and shook her head in amazement. “Well, all right, then,” she said. “Let’s get a move on.”

Ana stood beside Destrian in Favian’s bedroom, staring at her husband as he struggled to put on his socks. His hands trembled and his breath stuttered out of him. “How long has he been like this?” Ana asked.

Destrian shook his head. “At least a week. Each day seems to get worse.”

She turned to him, lowering her voice so Favian wouldn’t hear. “Favian often warned that the curse would get worse before it finally took him completely. There must be something we can do. He cannot meet his advisers or see the people like this.”

Favian looked up suddenly, his eyes focusing on the window as if there was someone standing there. He shouted, “You are mine, you rotten bastard! You shall never see the light of day again!”

Ana gazed at him fearfully. “I don’t want Althalos to see him like this.”

“I’m afraid he already has.”

The queen gaped at him. “What do you mean? You let him in here?”

“I didn’t have a choice, Your Majesty.” Destrian clasped his hands in front of him as he watched the king. “He wandered in and His Majesty commanded that I let him stay.”

Ana felt her heart beat faster. “Did he say anything to him?”

“I couldn’t hear them,” he answered. “His Majesty made sure of that.”

She nodded, her eyes glued to her husband’s form. His eyes seemed wide and manic, but behind all that, Favian seemed frightened. Ana took a few steps closer to him. “Favian? Favian, darling, can you hear me?”

He whipped his head in her direction and let out a deep sigh of relief. “Anastas, thank Aestus!” Favian rushed over and pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her neck.

Ana blinked several times, stunned into place. She didn’t really have much time to react though because Favian pulled back, holding on to her shoulders, and stared deeply into her eyes. “He’s back,” he told her.

She shook her head, ignoring the blood rushing in her ears. “That’s impossible, Favian.”

“But it’s true. Listen!” The king turned his face toward the corner of the room, eyes narrowed and ears straining. He whispered, “Can’t you hear him?”

Ana licked her lips as a chill passed over her. “Favian,” she said, “you are not well. Come, let’s get you to bed and I will send for the healer.”

He shook off her guiding hands and turned his wild eyes on her. “I do not want to see that insufferable old man. I have to find him. Once I find him, it’ll all go back to the way it was.” He turned to his left. “Yes, it will!”

“You are scaring me,” Ana told him truthfully. “And you’re going to scare Althalos. We need to get this under control. You yourself told me of the dangers of this curse. Surely you must be in agony. Just let me help you.“

“Althalos!” He started nodding so fast that his hair looked suspended in space. “Yes, yes, I should speak with him. He might have information—“

As he moved toward the door, Ana stepped in front of him, slamming her hand against his chest, blocking his path. “No.” Her voice brokered no argument.

Favian ignored it. “I must see—“

“No,” she repeated. “You will not speak to my son until you are better. I will not have his memory of his father be tainted so. That kind of contamination can ruin a man. Or a king,” she added as she looked into her husband’s eyes. It ruined you, she thought.

“You cannot keep me from seeing my son,” he said, his voice raising and that look Ana had seen so many times before began to bleed into his eyes. That look that meant she’d wake up with a bruise the next morning.

But that was when it was her own well-being on the line. This was her son’s. “Destrian,” she said calmly, “see to it that His Majesty remains in his rooms until he is better.” Ana refused to break eye contact with Favian.

Destrian frowned as he gazed at the back of her head. “But, Queen Ana—“

“You will bring the healer to see him,” she continued. “You will ignore any refusals from His Majesty to be tended to. It does not matter what he says or what he commands. For his own safety and reputation, King Favian must not leave this room.”

A muscle popped in Favian’s jaw as he stared off against his wife. His already rapid breathing came faster and his eyes shone dangerously.

Now Ana met Destrian’s gaze. “Lock him up if you must.”