The Shadow of Gloom

Chapter 27 - Bump in the Plan

Altair wasn't surprised, humans were the conniving type. August had seemed to have a hold over Gloom and Leuthar, meaning he held a powerful tongue and manipulative ways. That posed a threat to Altair if August were able to control The Remnant by using Gloom. Altair had heard enough to give him reason to target August until Judd spoke up again.

"I had cut his throat with my knife, but he didn't drop dead in front of me nor bleed from where I had cut him. A mere blade couldn't harm his skin," he finished, reciting the event like it had happened the other day. "I didn't have a chance to understand what he was before one of his friend's saved him. It wasn't until I was sent back to Aegar and found Lara that I understood."

Altair couldn't find reason behind Judd's words. Humans possessed no such a capability, and if they did then that would pose a great threat to all mages in Laelmos. Altair could not let Cassian nor any of the Miltos know of August or that would give them hope to become as powerful as mages one day. For as long as they had existed, humans had always looked for ways to become stronger than they were, all from potions to pathetic spells with their weak auras, and now it was their obsession with the Vale. None of that was for them, but Altair let them believe they could try for the purpose of using them.

However, Altair wasn't certain why Judd had told him this and what he wanted. There had to be something he wanted and it would come to light soon. The question was if Altair would provide what he wanted...

When the guard had brought out the girl, Lara, she shook like a leaf in the wind and made herself small. She refused to look Altair in his gaze, making him step up to her and grab her chin. She had foresight, Altair could tell when he stared into her hollow, shaken eyes. He had to be careful not to let her see into him and only demand for what he wanted from her.

"Are his words true, is August not what he seems?" he asked directly, and then nodded for the silencing spell to be lifted.

When it was removed, she didn't scream, only her lips trembled, and her fingers knitted together as she clutched her hands in one another. Judd shifted towards her, and when he did, she cowered and flinched away. How she knew he was there, Altair didn't know, but at least he had made her talk.

"The Blood Hand speaks of a darkblood and with him the storm of chaos rides at his back," she muttered in Istthir, then inhaled sharply and began to quiver as black tears seeped from her eyes, pouring down her cheeks. "I have been tainted, touched by his poison. I cannot escape it. Help me, help—"

"Get rid of her. She is tainted by the Vale," Altair spat as he reeled away from her in horror. He'd allowed a valeman into his presence half-turned. How had he not seen it until now? Her skin was chalky and dry, her lips were chapped, and her hair had tiny ice particles forming. "Send her to Merk and have them banish her to the White Wall before she turns and wreaks havoc. The Red Ball is in one day, we do not need this disruption."

She shook her head when she understood his words, and then collapsed at his feet, grabbing at the hem of his robe, sobbing and pleading. "Please, I do not want to die."

"Think of it as a new life, like you are being reborn," he stated before he kicked her off him, and then commanded his guards to remove her, "Away with her! Her presence is a stain on Krak."

"I have seen your lies, deceiver!" she shouted, but Altair would not hear anymore. 

A piercing scream shred from her when a guard grabbed her under her arms and dragged her back into her cell. Altair grimaced, and with one look at another guard, her placed the silencing spell back onto her, leaving her to scream in silence and writhe to no avail. He held no sympathy for weaklings who couldn't stand against the Vale and capture its power, instead they let it control them. Pathetic.