Light and the Night Sky

The Silent War

Lirael spoke then, breaking the tense moment between the two of them. “Biological warfare, what is this?” His tone unsure. They had a word for it, but the definition must mean something different. Or they had never resorted to something so low.

Breaking eye contact with Riven, she turned back to Lirael. “It is something that was developed to end wars with minimal friendly losses. There is no magic in my homeland, so we used science. It was unpredictable. At best, they infect the enemy from afar, unaware. It would immobilize them. Make them vulnerable or even kill them. At the worst, it would spread to the home side, decimating both sides until the worst passes.” She walked next to Lirael and sat down next to him on the bench. “Epidemics have been started that raged across the world, unchecked and up controllable because of this. What I see in Iridessa has clear signs of intent. There is a sigil, and runes intertwined in the tendrils. Has there ever been a case of magical sickness?”

He looked thoughtful, but tension creased his brow. His dark blond hair, pulled back into a loose braid, was wisping out onto his face. His scar above his left eye was barely visible beneath his cascading bangs. “None that have been recorded.”

“Have you seen anything about a plague, any plague ever, that is not indiscriminate?” Daphne softened her tone, she knew she was dancing a line now. She was questioning what they knew about something that likely took many people from them. Something they had never questioned.

“Not everyone is weak to the burn and fae do not succumb to illness as humans do.” Lirael said matter-of-factly. He meant no harm, but it was as if he had said it a thousand times.

“That is not my question. Is any plague indiscriminate?”

“Yes, except for the fae it comes for all equally. Those that survive are either lucky or strong.”

“If this is a plague, why do none of you have any trace of it? You are strong, but there would be evidence of it left on you. I see nothing. Riven, of all of you should be covered in the darkness and yet you are not.” Daphne heard him shift behind her, but she continued, “The only one that has a trace of it is her. Even that makes me curious. It is clear that Iridessa is important to Riven, and this peace is still in its infancy. What would happen if she died while in your lands? Would his grief cause him to do something stupid and cause the war to begin again?”

“I would not do that.” Riven’s deep voice cut her off, his tone wasn’t angry, almost disappointed. “Enough of my people have suffered through an unnecessary war.”

Looking back at him, she spoke softly. “I believe you, however it is possible that your aggression led others to believe otherwise.” She let that settle for a moment before continuing. “Biological warfare’s main goal is to manipulate people from the shadows so the creators have the chance to appear innocent or uninvolved if lucky, if unlucky they still have the upper hand.”

The door to the shrine opened then, cutting off their conversation. A young fae, well they all looked young, with dark brown hair and eyes to match strode in. He wore a black tunic and leather pants, clearly out training from the sweat on his brow. He stopped in front of Riven, placed a hand over his heart with two fingers up for a moment then waited.

“The woman requires you to test if you are a match for Iridessa. Are you willing?” Riven asked sternly.

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, looked at the new fae. At least Riven called her woman rather than human.

“As you command my Lord.” The fae male turned to her and bowed his head slightly and asked, “What do you require of me?”

“As part of Iridessa’s healing, we need to artificially increase her energy levels. It needs to be a similar match to her or her body might reject it, I was hoping because of your familial relations it would make you a better match than someone random.” When he just nodded, she motioned him closer to Iridessa who had fallen asleep during their conversations. When Daphne gently touched her on the arm, she jolted awake. “Hi, I am sorry is it ok if we try an infusion really quick? The sooner we know the better.”

“Yes.” Her words were weak, but she held out a hand to her cousin. Their cold actions toward each other were like strangers, then it was family by blood alone then.

Looking at the male, she asked “May I place my hand on yours?”

“Yes.” He followed her lead, grabbing his cousin’s hand lightly and let Daphne rest her hand on top of his.

“Slowly, funnel a little of your energy into your hand. For now, I will do the rest.” Closing her eyes, she could see everything else. Something she was still coming to terms with, but for now it was useful. Slowly she watched as the energy pooled into his hand, gathering around Iridessa’s. When there was enough, Daphne gently reached out and coaxed a bit of it into the energy lines in her hand.

Daphne knew immediately that it wasn’t close enough of a match as she saw most of the energy swirl away from the lines, not like it missed the lines but like they were two magnets being repelled from each other. Back to square one.

Letting go, Daphne opened her eyes and shook her head. “It is not enough. Thank you for trying.” The fae male stood, turned on his heil and left without much thought.