《These Sacred Bones》 Chapter 1 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 2 Rian hesitated for only a moment at the edge of the forest. At least it was daytime. He was tense all over as the village disappeared behind him. He was going to find out what was going on with Arwel. He stopped when he saw a man up ahead. The man was staring at him, a terrible sadness in his dark gray eyes. His short brown hair was a mess. There was dirt all over his clothes, and dried blood on the side of his neck. ¡°Gavin?¡± Rian had only spoken to the man a few times. He was a village hunter, and one of the four people who had gone missing. Gavin blinked. ¡°You can see me?¡± He hurried closer. ¡°Please, can you help me find it? I have to find it.¡± Rian took a step back when the man reached for him. ¡°I don¡¯t know where it is!¡± Gavin said. Rian almost turned and ran, but then he heard a voice in his head. A man¡¯s voice that usually only spoke to him when he was in danger. ¡°Help him find what he seeks,¡± the voice said. Gavin was staring at Rian with tears in his eyes. What had him so frightened? Where had he been all this time? He¡¯d been missing the longest, for almost a year. ¡°I¡¯ll help you,¡± Rian said. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know it when you find it,¡± the voice said. Rian hesitated, then started walking. Gavin followed close behind him. Rian hadn¡¯t gone much further before he felt something. It was as though something was calling to him from the ground. The ground didn¡¯t look disturbed, but he had an overwhelming feeling there was something there, beneath the dirt. Rian looked at Gavin. ¡°There¡¯s something here.¡± Gavin said nothing, only staring at the ground. A chill ran through Rian. There was something strange going on here, but what? He knelt and began to dig. He didn¡¯t dig far before he unburied a skeletal hand, closely followed by the rest of the arm. Rian dug further, finding the skull. He stumbled to his feet and turned to face Gavin. The man smiled, then he faded away into nothing. ¡°Some souls are trapped and will not move on so easily,¡± the voice said in Rian¡¯s head. ¡°This one merely needed his body to be found.¡± Had he just spoken to a ghost? Rian looked back down at the half unburied skeleton. The clothes were ragged and torn, but that was Gavin¡¯s dagger at the belt. Rian¡¯s father had made that dagger, and Rian had helped make the sheath. That feeling of something beneath the ground hadn¡¯t gone away. There were more bodies, he knew there were. But how did he know? Rian ran back to the village. He didn¡¯t stop running until he reached the forge. His father was there, hammering away at something on the anvil near the back of the forge. He stopped when he saw Rian. ¡°Everything alright?¡± Andred asked. Rian was catching his breath. ¡°I found one of the missing villagers. I found his body out in the forest.¡± He hesitated. ¡°I think the others might be there too.¡± Andred had gone pale. The two of them went back to the house, where Mae was tending to the small field. After telling her what Rian had found, they gathered a few villagers and went back out into the forest. Rian had to go with them, to lead them to where he found Gavin¡¯s bones. It didn¡¯t take long to find the spot. Rian and a few others went back to the village for more shovels. It was late in the day when all four of the missing villagers had been dug up. ¡°Go home,¡± Mae whispered to Rian. ¡°You don¡¯t need to see any more of this.¡± He would already have nightmares about what he had seen. He went home. On the way, he saw the man with the dark gray cloak, but this time the man didn¡¯t stop or say anything. Arwel wasn¡¯t home when Rian got there. He didn¡¯t want to be alone right then and had hoped his brother would be there. What had happened in the forest? Had he really spoken to a dead man? How had he known the bodies were buried there? His parents came home not long later, Arwel arriving soon after. He looked surprised when Andred and Mae told him about the bodies found in the forest, but it was a different kind of surprise. Rian tried to ignore it, but he thought Arwel was surprised the bodies had been found, not that they¡¯d been there. There was an odd delay before he said anything. ¡°It¡¯s terrible those villagers were killed,¡± Arwel said. ¡°Everyone who was missing was buried out there,¡± Andred said. Several villagers were working on figuring out what had killed those people. Rian didn¡¯t recall seeing any wounds on Gavin other than the blood on his neck. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°How did you come across them?¡± Mae asked Rian. ¡°Why were you out there?¡± Rian hesitated. He didn¡¯t know what to think of what had happened, and it didn¡¯t sound likely. He had met Gavin¡¯s ghost and a voice in his head had told him to help Gavin. Then he had sensed bodies buried in the forest. ¡°I just found him out there,¡± Rian said, looking away from his parents and his brother. He knew that wasn¡¯t believable, but was the truth any more believable? His parents looked worried, but they didn¡¯t ask any more questions. None of them spoke during dinner. Late that night, Rian woke up again. Surprisingly, he hadn¡¯t been having any nightmares when he woke up. It was the creak of Arwel¡¯s window that had woken him. Rian hurried to his own window, pulling back the curtain only a little, just in time to see Arwel going into the forest again. Rian hesitated, but only for a moment. He wanted to know why his brother was distant and distracted. He opened his window carefully. His didn¡¯t creak. Rian slipped out into the surprisingly warm night, closing his window gently behind him. The grass was slightly damp beneath his bare feet. A sudden, cold wind blew past. The shirt and pants he wore to bed were too ragged to wear during the day, and the pants were too short since he¡¯d grown. He shivered, but he wasn¡¯t going back inside. He ran across the cold grass, then into the forest. He moved slower in the forest, so he wouldn¡¯t trip, and so Arwel wouldn¡¯t hear him following. Arwel was just up ahead. The moon was bright, shining through the leaves, casting deep shadows on the forest floor. Arwel disappeared behind a tree. Rian moved closer carefully, then he saw a clearing. The man with the dark gray cloak was waiting in the clearing. The hood of his cloak was still up, his face hidden in shadows. ¡°Are you prepared?¡± the man asked. ¡°I am,¡± Arwel said. ¡°Then do it,¡± the man said. Arwel closed his eyes, just standing there and breathing deeply for a moment. Then he opened his eyes. The dirt not far from Arwel and the cloaked man churned. The skeleton of a squirrel crept out of the dirt, then that of a small bird not far off. The two skeletal animals calmly sat, as though waiting for something. Arwel breathed out quietly. The two skeletons fell to the ground, the bones scattering again. Arwel closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, they were a pale shade of grayish red that glowed faintly in the darkness. Rian¡¯s breath caught. He didn¡¯t dare move, not wanting Arwel and the man to know he was there. ¡°You did well,¡± the cloaked man said. He looked at the tree Rian was hiding behind. Rian pulled further behind the tree quickly, his heart pounding. Had he been seen? ¡°Come out,¡± the cloaked man said. ¡°I know you were watching.¡± Rian hesitated, then he stepped out into the clearing. He didn¡¯t move closer. His brother frowned, staring at Rian with those strange eyes. The cloaked man sighed. ¡°It would be a waste to kill one with such potential.¡± ¡°I want him left out of this,¡± Arwel said. The man sighed. ¡°Very well.¡± ¡°Go home,¡± Arwel said to Rian. ¡°Stay out of this. Norris and I are going to free Virida from the Sancta and bring back a true god. Maybe someday I¡¯ll come back.¡± He looked doubtful. Arwel and Norris left the clearing, going deeper into the forest rather than back toward Fen. Rian didn¡¯t move for a long moment. What had Arwel meant by a true god? A cold wind blew through the clearing. Rian shivered hard. He ran back through the forest, not stopping until he reached the house, then only stopping to open the front door. Rian froze in the darkness. His parents stopped talking. They were sitting in the dark, at the kitchen table. Rian closed the front door behind him. His parents were staring at him, waiting. Rian was still breathing hard. He didn¡¯t want what had happened in the clearing to be real, but it was. His legs shook as he walked to the table and sat down. ¡°I followed Arwel into the forest,¡± Rian said. He told them everything. After he finished, the two looked more worried than he had ever seen them. They told him to go back to bed. Rian went to his room, closing the door gently behind him. He heard the front door open and close a moment later. His parents had left the house. What had he just witnessed out in the forest? Had that been necromancy? But his father¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t look like that. Who was Norris? He had told Rian he already had an apprentice. He must have meant Arwel, but what was Norris? Rian didn¡¯t go back to sleep that night. He lay awake, watching the moonlight creep across the ceiling. How would Arwel and Norris wake a true god and free Virida from the Sancta? The Sancta despised all magic that didn¡¯t come from the gods, calling it wild magic, but Rian¡¯s parents had explained not all magic was wild. Rian had heard of wild mages, but he didn¡¯t know how to tell the difference between someone who could use magic and someone whose magic was using them. Either way, if the Sancta heard about this, they would send knights after Arwel and Norris. The only reason they left Andred alone was because he never used his magic, and because of his part in defeating Unris. Then there were the dead villagers in the forest¡­ Rian hoped whatever Arwel and Norris were up to didn¡¯t have to do with the dead villagers. These thoughts kept him awake for the rest of the night. When morning finally came, Rian joined his parents for breakfast. His parents were eating quickly. The three of them said nothing until they finished. ¡°We¡¯re going to leave Fen for a few days,¡± Mae said. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Rian said. Mae shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re going after Arwel.¡± ¡°We know you want to come, but you¡¯ll be safer here,¡± Andred said. ¡°You¡¯ll stay with Ora until we get back.¡± Rian reluctantly packed some clothes in a small bag, then went with his mother to Ora¡¯s house. The house was small, near the other end of the village. The forest was right behind the weathered house. Ora was waiting outside. ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch of him, make sure there¡¯s no trouble,¡± Ora said. ¡°Thank you,¡± Mae said. She hugged Rian tightly, then walked away. Chapter 3 ¡°Come inside,¡± Ora said, staring at Rian with her usual frown. Rian followed her into the musty house. Ora closed and locked the door behind them. The main room was small. The curtains were drawn, hardly letting any light in. Ora pulled aside the curtain over the kitchen basin. The harsh light of morning didn¡¯t improve the room. Everything was dusty. Ora turned to look at Rian, still frowning. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised Arwel ran off. I always suspected he would become a necromancer, that he was already defiled.¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°I suspect you are defiled as well. You couldn¡¯t have just happened upon the bodies of the buried villagers. You must go to the Sancta and become a knight or a priest. Perhaps in a year or two.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to join the Sancta.¡± Rian knew it was a mistake as soon as he said it. Ora scowled, her entire face scrunching up. ¡°It is your father¡¯s fault that you and Arwel inherited that cursed magic. He should not have messed with such things.¡± Fortunately she seemed to ignore what he¡¯d said. Ora set Rian to work cleaning the house. It needed it. He lay awake in the guest room that night, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling. The window was on the wrong side of the house for the moonlight to shine across the ceiling. He lay there in complete darkness, his thoughts going back to what Ora had said that morning. Did he have magic? Was that how he found the bodies in the forest? He closed his eyes, slipping into the usual nightmare. He awoke to the dark, musty cave. The voices whispered all around him, but he covered his ears. The dead hands touched him, trying to get his attention. At last he woke up to the sun rising. Ora put him to work again, this time around the village. She told him hard work would keep him out of trouble, would keep him from finding the same trouble as Arwel. Rian had the nightmare again that night. He¡¯d had it almost every night for the last year, but he continued to ignore the voices, to block out what they were saying. The dead things touching him were harder to ignore. Three days passed. He worked so hard during the day that he was exhausted at night, but he wasn¡¯t rested in the morning. He had the nightmare every night. On the morning of the fourth day, rumors reached Fen of a pair of wild mages evading the Sancta. Wild mages claiming they would bring back the old god of Virida and free the country from the Sancta. According to the two mages, Virida had become weak with the Sancta controlling everything. Ora told Rian about it during breakfast, frowning at him as though he was the one fighting the Sancta. ¡°I don¡¯t doubt your brother is one of the two wild mages. He has committed the worst sort of blasphemy. The gods will never forgive him. The Sancta will no doubt send a knight to execute Arwel. That is the only way to save him from himself now. Those people found in the forest were probably sacrificed for some terrible ritual. They were all drained of blood.¡± ¡°Arwel can still be saved,¡± Rian said, weariness making him forget he couldn¡¯t reason with her. ¡°He was condemned the moment he used necromancy,¡± Ora said, glaring piercingly with her cold gray eyes. He¡¯d had enough of Ora constantly telling him he, his father, and his brother were damned. ¡°My father must have used it at some point, and no one came and killed him. He helped stop Unris¡ª¡± Ora¡¯s face turned a deep shade of red, almost purple. She stood suddenly, almost knocking her chair over. She grabbed Rian by the front of his shirt, pulling him to his feet. She led him around to the back of the house. He didn¡¯t dare try to pull away. What had he gotten himself into now? The doors into the cellar stood at the back of the house, facing the forest. Ora pulled the doors open, keeping a tight grip on Rian¡¯s shirt with her other hand. Chains lay on the ground in front of the doors, not in use. Ora pushed Rian through the dark opening. He narrowly avoided falling down the stairs. As soon as he was out of the way of the doors, she slammed them shut. He heard Ora tying the doors shut with the chains. Rian moved down the stairs carefully, one hand on the slightly damp stone wall of the cellar. He sat on the lowest step, seeing only complete darkness everywhere he looked. It was cold down there. He shivered, pulling his knees in close. He wasn¡¯t down there long before the whispers started. The whispers from his nightmares. He felt hands on his shoulders, then his face. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the whispers and the cold, bony hands. He couldn¡¯t tell if he was awake or asleep. ¡°Listen,¡± the voice in his head said. ¡°Who are you?¡± Rian asked. The voice didn¡¯t answer. There was no knowing if time had passed, or if it only felt like an eternity. Finally the whispers and the hands were gone, leaving him alone in the cold darkness. A creak came from above, then the light of early morning crept down the stairs. Rian blinked in the sudden light. When his eyes adjusted, he saw Ora standing at the cellar doors, frowning down at him. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. He tried not to hurry up the stairs, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of knowing he¡¯d been terrified down there. She closed the doors, not saying anything. Rian considered running into the forest, but where would he go? Ora turned to face him. ¡°Have you seen reason?¡± Rian said nothing. Nothing he could say would help matters. Ora frowned again. ¡°I will send word to the Sancta. A knight will come and take you to the Sancta. If you wait to join them, you will go the same way as your brother.¡± Rian continued to say nothing. She set him to work around the village again. That night, there was a knock on the door just after dinner. Ora opened the door and let Rian¡¯s parents in. Andred and Mae both looked exhausted and worried. Rian stood from the table, hoping he was about to leave Ora¡¯s house and never go back. Ora frowned sternly. ¡°I will send word to the Sancta in the morning. Rian must join the Sancta, or he will go down the same path as his brother.¡± Mae¡¯s frown was much scarier than Ora¡¯s. ¡°You have no right to send our son away.¡± Ora blinked. ¡°It is for the sake of his soul.¡± ¡°He will join the Sancta if that¡¯s what he wants,¡± Andred said. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want to, then he won¡¯t.¡± He looked at Rian. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Ora sputtered, looking confused for the first time Rian had seen. Rian left the house with his parents. He almost didn¡¯t dare ask. ¡°Did you find Arwel?¡± ¡°No,¡± Mae said. ¡°Not yet.¡± Rian had the nightmare yet again that night. Despite having had it every night for a while now, he still told no one. Arwel was the only one he had ever told about the nightmare. In the morning, Rian and his parents left Fen for a gathering of the court of Virida in Derwen, the main city. They reached the main city at night, going to the inn. It was warm and crowded in there, but not particularly loud. He followed his parents to a table in a far, dark corner of the room where three people were waiting. The woman wore soft looking tan clothes, with a polished light gray cuirass. The symbol on her cuirass made Rian tense. Four circles inside a larger one, with a gap at the bottom. The symbol of the Sancta. The woman¡¯s long blond hair was streaked with dark gray. It was tied messily in a braid, hanging over her right shoulder. She smiled and nodded to Mae and Andred. The man was older, with short dark gray hair. His dark blue eyes looked weary. He wore the pale yellow robes of a priest of Vitir, with a metal symbol of the Sancta on a piece of a leather around his neck. The third at the table wore a somewhat ragged black cloak with the hood up. Rian had seen that ragged cloak before. His cloak looked loose on him, how it always did. Mae introduced the man and woman to Rian. The knight was Frida, an old friend. Dow was a priest of Vitir who had helped them before. Rian could tell his parents trusted the two. That made him less nervous about the Sancta being there. ¡°And you¡¯ve met Halbert,¡± Andred said. Halbert nodded. As usual, he kept the hood of his cloak up. ¡°We have little time before the meeting,¡± Dow said. ¡°There are things we need to discuss.¡± He glanced around at the room. ¡°I have gotten us a room upstairs, where we may talk without being disturbed.¡± Mae looked at Rian and hesitated. ¡°I will stay down here with him,¡± Halbert said. Oddly, Rian¡¯s mother didn¡¯t look reassured by that, but she went upstairs with Andred, Dow, and Frida. ¡°Your parents told me you found bodies buried in the forest of Fen,¡± Halbert said. Rian nodded, not wanting to talk about this. He could feel Halbert staring at him, even though he couldn¡¯t see the man¡¯s face. The hood of Halbert¡¯s cloak was deep enough that Rian had never seen Halbert¡¯s face, or any other part of him. Not even a hand. ¡°How did you find them?¡± Halbert asked. Rian hesitated. ¡°Did one of the missing villagers ask you to find a body?¡± Halbert asked. Rian¡¯s breath caught. How had he known? Halbert nodded slowly. ¡°The soul must have moved on when you found the body. It would be clear if it hadn¡¯t, and I¡¯m not sure if you would instinctively know how to use the magic.¡± Rian was about to tell him what he¡¯d felt in the forest, how he¡¯d sensed the bodies beneath the ground, but his parents came back with Dow and Frida right then. ¡°We should head for the castle,¡± Dow said. ¡°It won¡¯t do to be late.¡± As they left the inn, Rian hoped he would get a chance to talk to Halbert more later. How had he guessed Rian had spoken to a missing villager? And he knew about the soul moving on. Maybe Ora was right and Rian did have a necromancer¡¯s magic, but what did that mean? A terrible feeling fell over him. Would he become like Arwel? He wasn¡¯t entirely sure what had happened to his brother, why his eyes had changed after he raised those bones with magic. Chapter 4 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Of course they wouldn¡¯t find anything about Trivius at the Sancta.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 5 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Call on your magic,¡± the man¡¯s voice said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡°Return them to their rest.¡± ¡° Chapter 6 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°You cannot hide from your magic forever,¡± the voice said in his head. ¡°Who are you?¡± Rian thought, but there was no answer. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 7 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°You did well.¡± ¡° ¡° The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 8 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°How did you know Trivius¡¯s name?¡± Rian thought. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 9 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Keep fighting it,¡± the voice said in his mind. ¡°Burial ground can bring you back from this if you are willing. So long as you don¡¯t drink the blood of the living.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 10 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Hers is not the true land of the dead,¡± the voice in his head said. ¡°Necromancers send souls to the true land of the dead.¡± ¡°We will aid you,¡± the raspy woman said in his mind. He recognized it as a voice of the dead from the dream. ¡°Be our Speaker. Call on us for strength and we will aid you in your time of need.¡± ¡°Lend me your strength,¡± he thought. The sacrifice would be much more than if he did this on his own, but there was no way he could do this on his own. ¡°The sacrifice?¡± a man asked, his voice also in Rian¡¯s head, also a voice of the dead. Chapter 11 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°You did well,¡± the voice in Rian¡¯s mind said. ¡° ¡° ¡° Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 12 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Focus on stopping Norris,¡± the voice said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡°He is up to something. He isn¡¯t from Virida, so why would he want to help free them from the Sancta?¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Derwen hasn¡¯t changed,¡± the voice said in Rian¡¯s head. ¡°Are you from here?¡± Rian thought. There was no answer. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 13 The sun was setting when Rian, Halbert, and Eiva reached a clearing. Thorned vines surrounded the edges of the clearing. At least the vines were low enough to step over without being poked by them. The ground of the clearing was devoid of life, the moon shining brightly on the bare ground. Not even grass grew there. Halbert stood at the center of the clearing. Rian hesitated for only a moment before joining him there. Eiva stayed at the edge of the clearing. ¡°You may need the help of the souls of the dead to stop Norris and Arwel,¡± Halbert said. ¡°And you will have to be willing to sacrifice all that you must.¡± Rian took a breath, trying to mentally prepare himself for this. That breath was all the time it took for Norris and Arwel to come running into the clearing. Eiva drew her sword, but Norris struck her with his arm, throwing her against the tree behind her. Halbert brought forth a spectral sword just in time to block Arwel¡¯s. Norris rushed at Rian, moving so fast he was almost a blur. His blade raked across Rian¡¯s side. A gasp slipped out, heat flaring along Rian¡¯s left side. He fell to his knees, pressing his left hand over the wound. Red seeped out around his hand and between the bones. Halbert pulled Rian to his feet, pulling him back just as deep cracks spread through the ground under him. The cracks in the ground made a circle at the center of the clearing, separating Rian, Halbert, and Eiva from Norris and Arwel. Arwel had set the objects on the ground in a circle and was muttering something. Rian couldn¡¯t make out the words, but it wasn¡¯t any language he knew. The ground sank in at the center of the clearing, leaving a dark hole. Norris and Arwel jumped into the hole. ¡°The way is open,¡± Halbert said. ¡°Then we¡¯re too late?¡± Eiva asked. ¡°Not yet,¡± Halbert said. ¡°Rian and I will go after them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going with you,¡± Eiva said. Halbert shook his head. ¡°The Bone Garden is no place for the living.¡± The cracks in the ground weren¡¯t so far they wouldn¡¯t be able to jump across, but Rian was barely staying on his feet. Halbert was holding onto him, keeping him upright. Eiva¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding.¡± ¡°The wound is deep,¡± Halbert said. ¡°We don¡¯t have long to do this. Wait out here, Eiva. Stay among the trees, out of sight of anything that might come out of there.¡± Halbert let go of Rian, ran at the crack in the ground, and jumped across. Rian tried to get a hold of his senses, but everything just spun more. He ran, hoping the crack wasn¡¯t further than it looked. He jumped, the movement pulling on the gushing wound in his side. He landed on his hands and knees on the other side. Rian stumbled to his feet, following Halbert to the hole in the ground. The objects had vanished. Had they fallen into the hole? Halbert grabbed Rian¡¯s arm, then jumped, pulling them both down into the darkness. Rian didn¡¯t feel himself land, he was just suddenly standing in a vast, dark cave. The smell of rot and death hung thick in the air. There were piles of bones everywhere. All the bones looked ancient, but none were the least bit damaged. Rian and Halbert moved among the piles quietly. Rian heard voices up ahead. He barely stayed on his feet, blood running freely from his side. Halbert stopped so suddenly Rian almost walked into him. Over the pile next to them, Rian could barely see Arwel and Norris at what appeared to be the center of the cave. A huge skull loomed over the two of them, with long, curving horns similar to those of a deer. The empty eye sockets were deep, dark holes. ¡°Trivius,¡± Halbert whispered at the same time as the voice in Rian¡¯s head, but there was fear in Halbert¡¯s voice and reverence in the other. ¡°The time has come,¡± Norris said, staring up at the huge skull. The hood of his cloak had fallen back. ¡°How do we wake him?¡± Arwel asked. Norris turned to face Arwel, summoning his spectral sword. Arwel summoned his before Norris could strike, disarming Norris, and running him through. ¡°I thought that might be what you were planning,¡± Arwel said. ¡°Though I had hoped I was wrong.¡± Norris gasped, struggling against the blade through his middle. Arwel pulled the sword out. Norris stumbled back. Arwel struck again, cutting off Norris¡¯s head. Dark blood seeped across the stones of the cave floor. A deep red light flared to life in the sockets of the giant skull. A strange feeling swept through the cave, as though the entire place had just sighed. Arwel closed his eyes. The red in the eyes of Trivius¡¯s skull rushed into Arwel. The piles of bones throughout the cave stirred, skeletal knights wearing rusted armor pulling themselves free. The pile of bones in front of Rian and Halbert stirred as well. Halbert pulled Rian toward a slanted bit of rock behind them that was low to the ground. The two of them barely fit under it. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Through the crack, Rian saw Trivius¡¯s army leaving, with Arwel at the front. Did Trivius have control of Arwel? Had this always been the plan? No, it couldn¡¯t have been. Norris had tried to sacrifice Arwel instead, which meant Trivius would have been in Norris. At last the sounds of the piles of bones moving ceased. ¡°Neither Arwel nor Norris could truly free Trivius,¡± the voice said in Rian¡¯s mind with a sigh. Had he wanted Trivius freed? Halbert helped Rian out from under the rock. Rian could barely move, but they couldn¡¯t stay there. Trivius and his army were loose in Virida. The cave was much emptier than before. Most of the bone piles were gone, though the massive skull remained. ¡°Trivius has control of Arwel,¡± Halbert said. ¡°Is it too late to stop him?¡± Rian asked. Halbert seemed to be staring at the giant skull. ¡°No. We have to get Arwel back here and trap Trivius¡¯s soul.¡± He looked at Rian. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to Eiva, make sure she didn¡¯t get caught in the path of Trivius and his army.¡± Rian took a step and almost fell over. His side was still bleeding. He steadied himself against the wall of the cave, then started walking again. He and Halbert made their way back among the now smaller piles of bones until they came to a dark hole in the ground. The two jumped down, landing back in the clearing, next to the hole that led into the Bone Garden. Eiva ran out of the forest, jumping across the crack in the ground. ¡°What happened?¡± Eiva asked. ¡°An army of dead knights just appeared in the clearing, with Arwel leading them.¡± ¡°Trivius is in Arwel,¡± Halbert said. ¡°Norris is dead. I suspect Norris always planned to sacrifice Arwel to free Trivius, but I don¡¯t know if Norris knew Trivius would have possessed him. He likely planned for Trivius to end the Sancta for him. What direction were they headed in?¡± ¡°Back the way we came,¡± Eiva said. ¡°They could be going anywhere.¡± ¡°We should warn Derwen,¡± Halbert said. ¡°If we can get Arwel back into the Bone Garden, we can seal Trivius again.¡± ¡°To do that, we have to know where he is,¡± Eiva said. Halbert nodded. He looked at Rian. ¡°Can you walk?¡± Rian wasn¡¯t sure he could, but the alternative was to stay there and die. ¡°I¡¯ll make it.¡± The three of them didn¡¯t come across Trivius and his army on the way back through the forest. Rian barely stayed on his feet. Halbert kept him from falling over several times. They reached Derwen at night. It was quiet, as though everything was normal. Rian was ready to collapse and not get back up. While Eiva went to talk to the king and queen, Halbert and Rian went to the graveyard. Rian felt a little better as soon as he was touching burial ground. Halbert left, returning with bandages. He covered Rian¡¯s wound, but the bandage was soaked through right away. Rian tried not to think of what had happened in the Bone Garden yet, of what it meant, but he couldn¡¯t avoid it forever. Was Arwel still alive with Trivius inside of him? Rian doubted Norris had planned to be possessed by Trivius, so it wasn¡¯t likely Arwel had known this would happen. Rian¡¯s wound was still deep, but the bleeding had slowed now that he was on burial ground. Halbert sat beside him, pressing his bony hands into the dirt. ¡°What will Trivius be after?¡± Rian asked. ¡°He¡¯ll want Virida back under his control,¡± Halbert said. ¡°He¡¯ll want them to worship him and not the gods. Derwen may be his first target.¡± Rian hesitated. ¡°How can we stop him?¡± His voice came out quiet. ¡°We need to get Trivius back into the Bone Garden,¡± Halbert said. ¡°It will be far from easy, but we have to find a way.¡± Rian was losing hope they could stop Trivius, losing hope of getting Arwel back. ¡°And if we can¡¯t?¡± Halbert seemed to stare at Rian for a long moment. ¡°We won¡¯t think about that yet.¡± Rian heard something in the distance, something that was steadily getting louder. Eiva came running into the graveyard. ¡°Trivius and his knights are here,¡± Eiva said. ¡°They¡¯ve already made it through the gate.¡± Rian and Halbert got to their feet. Eiva had an extra sword with her and gave it to Rian. Rian knew little about swords, but at least he wouldn¡¯t be hiding behind Halbert and Eiva. The three of them went further into Derwen, where the knights were fighting Trivius and his army. When the Knights of Derwen struck down a skeletal knight, it just got back up. A sword came at Rian from off to the side. Rian barely managed to block, his sword even heavier than he¡¯d thought it would be. Arwel pressed his spectral sword hard against Rian¡¯s. He stared at Rian without expression, his eyes dull and distant, other than the deep red light burning in his irises. Suddenly his eyes focused, and he frowned hard, but he still kept his sword pressed against Rian¡¯s. The dark red light had gone from his eyes. ¡°Run.¡± Arwel¡¯s voice was strained. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not running,¡± Rian said. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to get Trivius out of you.¡± Arwel shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be the one to stop me. You don¡¯t have to be the Speaker of the Dead.¡± Two knights wearing the armor of the Sancta grabbed Arwel from behind, pulling him away from Rian. Arwel struggled against them, but more Sancta Knights came. They forced Arwel to the ground, taking his sword, which vanished the moment it was out of his hand. They tied his hands in front of him with rope. Arwel had no expression again, his eyes distant, with that dark red light glowing in them. Trivius had control again. Frida came to stand beside Rian, decapitating two of Trivius¡¯s knights. ¡°To the castle!¡± she said. The Sancta Knights led Arwel toward the castle, with Rian and Frida close behind. Chapter 14 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡° ¡° ¡°I need your help,¡± Rian thought. They had heard him before. ¡°You will have it,¡± the raspy woman said. ¡°Don¡¯t look away from the skull,¡± the raspy woman said. ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 1 Fiddle was quiet as Rian and Halbert walked through it toward the inn. The sun had almost finished setting when they reached the village on the plains of Caerulis. Now that the two of them had been traveling for a while, Rian knew the names of the villages. He and Halbert kept the hoods of their black cloaks up, so they wouldn¡¯t terrify the few villagers still out. The quiet of the village vanished when they entered the inn. Almost every table on the main floor of the small building was full. The sounds of many loud conversations blended together into a constant noise Rian couldn¡¯t distinguish individual words from. Halbert got the two of them a room, carefully not revealing his hands when he set the coins on the counter. Rian and Halbert found a table at the back of the room. They wouldn¡¯t eat or drink, as they didn¡¯t need either of those things. What they did need was to listen. The voices of the dead had led them to this village, but they hadn¡¯t said much. The voices had only told Rian that a man was dead and his body must be found and properly buried. Rian glanced at the inn¡¯s front window. The sun had almost finished vanishing for the night. It would be warm out, as this was the beginning of Green, the warmest part of the year. Over the chatter of the inn, and the man singing loudly and badly on the other side of the room, Rian heard a few villagers at a nearby table. The three lived in the village and had come in for an afternoon drink. A man was missing. He had been missing for so long he was assumed dead. The man had last been seen heading for the forest between Caerulis and Haren, where he often went hunting. The border forest was half a day¡¯s walk from Fiddle. Rian hoped no one was very hopeful of finding the man alive, the man he already knew to be dead. He looked at Halbert but couldn¡¯t see his face in the darkness of his hood. Not that he would have had an expression that would tell Rian anything. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Halbert said quietly. If Rian hadn¡¯t been sitting next to him, he wouldn¡¯t have heard him over the sounds of the inn. The two of them left, heading back toward the forest. ¡°Why did you pay for a room?¡± Rian asked. Neither of them had need of an inn room. ¡°So we wouldn¡¯t look suspicious,¡± Halbert said. ¡°It was either that or pay for food and drink we wouldn¡¯t touch. That would look even more suspicious.¡± Rian hadn¡¯t thought of that. Even after a year, he had a lot to learn about being undead. Halbert seemed to know all there was and had been teaching Rian while they traveled. The two of them went wherever the voices of the dead told Rian to go. Rian hadn¡¯t been back to Fen since Arwel¡¯s burial. He wondered how his parents were doing, but going back there would only bring trouble for them with the other villagers. Especially with Ora, the village elder. It was even darker out when Rian and Halbert reached the edge of the forest. The moon was a small sliver, not giving much light, not that either of them needed it. The two of them entered the forest. They didn¡¯t search where they had come through from Haren, as they would have found the body on the way if it was near there. Before long, the two of them stopped. They were in a slight clearing, but some plants had grown into the grassy circle. Rian could sense a lot of dead buried beneath their feet, but none who might be recently dead. This was a big burial ground for being out in the forest, far from any villages. ¡°Was there a village here?¡± Rian asked. Halbert nodded. ¡°Many years ago, there was a wild Ectu village out here. They were killed and buried here. I don¡¯t know who killed them or why.¡± Wild Ectu used to despise humans and the idea of living with them, but now only some of them did. Had humans killed these Ectu? Rian hadn¡¯t met many Ectu, and he had met even fewer wild ones, who lived out in the forests. He and Halbert crossed the clearing. Rian barely looked where he was going, focusing on the feeling of the dead beneath the ground. So far they were all buried. The man they were looking for wouldn¡¯t be. Rian was about to reach out with his magic, to sense any dead further out, when he found the man. He felt a body nearby when he and Halbert reached the other side of the clearing. Someone more recently dead who wasn¡¯t buried. A booted foot stuck out of the green bushes. Rian and Halbert pulled the man out of the bushes, which had many broken branches, as though the man had fallen into them from the tree above. The bushes hadn¡¯t broken his fall enough. He had several deep wounds from the branches, as well as a broken neck. Rian glimpsed a man standing among the trees, watching, just before the man faded away. That must have been the man¡¯s soul, moving on now that his body had been found. Rian and Halbert managed to carry the man back through the forest. They reached Fiddle when the sun had almost finished rising. Several villagers called out when they saw the man. A wind had picked up across the flat plains. Rian and Halbert carefully lowered the man to the ground. They backed away as the villagers gathered around the body. Another wind blew, this one harder. It blew back Rian¡¯s and Halbert¡¯s cloaks, as well as their hoods. The two of them pulled their hoods up quickly, but the villagers had all gone silent and were staring at them. They had seen. Whispers spread through the villagers, along with fear. The fear was the worst part, the way they stared at Rian and Halbert as though they were monsters. Without a word, Rian and Halbert ran from the village. No one followed. The two of them had only been seen one other time, and the villagers hadn¡¯t followed then either. The two of them stopped running when Fiddle was out of sight behind them. Now the wind had stopped. ¡°At least we got the body back to the village,¡± Halbert said. ¡°They might think we killed the man,¡± Rian said. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Halbert sighed. ¡°They may. Either way, he was returned to them and can be properly buried. His soul moved on.¡± He looked at Rian, not saying anything for a moment. ¡°I know you¡¯re bothered by it, by people being afraid of us even when we¡¯re there to help.¡± Rian didn¡¯t know what to say to that. ¡°Aren¡¯t you bothered by it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gotten used to it,¡± Halbert said. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t bother me, but I¡¯m used to it.¡± They walked in silence awhile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I pulled you into this.¡± Rian shook his head. ¡°It was my own choice, to have a chance to get Arwel back, or at least stop what he and Norris were planning.¡± They had managed one of those things. ¡°I don¡¯t regret it. Given the chance, I would make the same choice again.¡± ¡°So would I,¡± Halbert said. Rian hesitated. ¡°Why did you become undead?¡± ¡°I made a deal with Mortua without knowing the full of it,¡± Halbert said. ¡°She didn¡¯t give me a chance to refuse. She took my wife, Beth, who was ill. That is why I made the deal with Mortua. She said she would save Beth, but not that she would take her. I didn¡¯t want to serve Mortua forever, so I sought necromancy, knowing the undead are out of Mortua¡¯s reach. I don¡¯t regret taking myself out of her reach. I do regret that I don¡¯t know if Beth¡¯s soul is at peace, despite Mortua having taken it.¡± ¡°Would Mortua stop a soul from finding peace?¡± Rian asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t helping the souls of the dead find peace what she does?¡± He didn¡¯t trust Mortua, but a lot of people did. ¡°In theory,¡± Halbert said. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put it past her to do otherwise. She is not known for her mercy.¡± Neither of them said anything more while they walked. Was there a way to find out if Beth¡¯s soul was at peace? Rian couldn¡¯t think of one. The voices of the dead were those who were out of Mortua¡¯s reach, but Rian didn¡¯t know how they had achieved that without becoming undead. He didn¡¯t know what became of those Mortua had taken, but the other voice had told him hers wasn¡¯t the true land of the dead. Rian hadn¡¯t heard that other voice, the one he suspected wasn¡¯t a voice of the dead, since sealing Trivius back into the Bone Garden. The voice had been present all his life, but so had the voices of the dead. Rian knew little about either of them, and he didn¡¯t know where to find out more. Rian and Halbert reached the main city of Caerulis at night. Chayer was also the country¡¯s main harbor and the home of the Sancta. So far the Sancta had left Rian and Halbert alone after the two had stopped Arwel and Norris and stopped Trivius from roaming free. The Sancta had set out to purify the objects needed to reseal the Bone Garden, where Trivius was sealed, but Rian and Halbert hadn¡¯t heard from them in the last year. The two of them would be needed to reseal the Bone Garden. Chayer had two large graveyards, one of which Rian and Halbert stopped in for the night. It was the bigger of the two, closer to the city wall. There was no one in sight. The sun had long since gone down, leaving the graveyard in shadows. Rian and Halbert took off their cloaks, leaving them under a tree. Rian¡¯s clothes were now almost as ragged as Halbert¡¯s and were just as loose. The two of them were entirely just bones, with no skin or anything else that had been there. Rian lay on the ground near the tree, the energy of burial ground already flowing into him. He and Halbert had to rest on burial ground eventually. Rian let himself stop seeing, then he let the ground swallow him. He didn¡¯t want to watch the dirt pull him under, but resting out in the open wasn¡¯t a good idea. They could be spotted lying there. He wasn¡¯t sure all of the Sancta would leave them be. Necromancers were considered wild mages, one of the many things the Sancta didn¡¯t approve of. The Sancta tended to express their disapproval by destroying the source of it. Rian blocked these thoughts from mind, trying to rest. He awoke to a dark, musty cave that was slightly damp. The voices of the dead were all around him, but they didn¡¯t grab at him anymore. They knew they had his attention. ¡°We know you don¡¯t like being feared,¡± the raspy woman said. ¡°You must not let it get in the way of your duty as Speaker,¡± a young girl said. Rian had always heard the voices of the dead that were out of Mortua¡¯s reach, but now that he was fully undead, he was officially the Speaker of the Dead. ¡°We found the man¡¯s body,¡± Rian said. ¡°Where to next?¡± ¡°The dead are restless,¡± a man said. ¡°We do not yet know why. We will tell you when we do know.¡± The darkness of the cave rushed in, but Rian didn¡¯t let himself see yet. He would only see darkness if he did. He could still feel the burial ground all around him. It wasn¡¯t uncomfortable, rather it was oddly comforting. What was uncomfortable was that he couldn¡¯t move, which wasn¡¯t the usual for resting in the ground. Something was stopping him from moving. He wasn¡¯t alone in the darkness, but the dark was all he saw, even when he let himself see. There were several presences all around him, and they were massively strong. ¡°You must go to Divius,¡± Vitir said. He was the God of Life. Rian knew whose voice it was when he heard it. It just came to mind who it was. Supposedly the gods always let people know which one was speaking when they spoke to people, not that they went around talking to people often. ¡°I can¡¯t reach Divius,¡± Rian said. The sacred forest, and the sacred lake at its center, kept itself blocked off unless the gods allowed entry. Divius was a holy place, at the center of the countries. ¡°We will allow you entry,¡± Dienia, Goddess of Knowledge, said. ¡°We must speak to you there. Alone.¡± The presences faded away. Rian returned to the surface in the graveyard. The sun was rising. Halbert was already up, putting his cloak back on, pulling the hood up. Rian did the same. ¡°The dead are restless, but the voices of the dead don¡¯t know why yet.¡± Rian hesitated. ¡°What else did they say?¡± Halbert asked. ¡°Vitir and Dienia told me to go Divius, that the gods want to speak to me alone,¡± Rian said. He didn¡¯t want to talk to them, definitely not alone, but he doubted this was just a suggestion. What if Mortua was there? ¡°I will go with you to the edge of the forest,¡± Halbert said, sounding worried. ¡°Be careful.¡± Rian nodded, though he doubted there was anything he could do if the gods meant him harm. He didn¡¯t think they did mean him harm, other than Mortua. Her hatred of undead was well known. Chapter 2 ¡° ¡°Mortua, calm yourself,¡± Vitir said. ¡°The dead are restless,¡± Amoris, God of Love, said. ¡° ¡°Several groups of followers of Mortua have been misled,¡± Vitir said. ¡°They have all received a dagger they believe is from Mortua and have been led to believe Mortua wants sacrifices. The dagger stops the souls of the sacrifices from moving on. It takes both Mortua and I to free the souls. Speaking to you now is all the time we have to spare. We need the help of the Speaker of the Dead.¡± ¡°Says you,¡± Mortua, Goddess of Death, growled. ¡°Says us all,¡± Dienia said. ¡°Don¡¯t be a fool, Mortua. You know you need his help. Helping the dead is his duty as well.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Mortua¡¯s reluctance was clear in her voice. ¡°I do not want his help, but it is needed.¡± ¡°Take it,¡± Mortua said. ¡°It will aid you. You are to show it to Ransey, my most loyal. He has been trying to infiltrate the cults.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 3 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 4 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 5 Rian, Halbert, and Ransey left the Sancta, leaving Chayer that morning. They reached Fiddle again at night. Ransey went to the inn. Rian went to the graveyard with Halbert, neither of them saying anything. The smell around Rian had gotten worse, though only Ransey complained about it. Rian¡¯s entire right arm was rotting now, along with other parts of him. Sleep didn¡¯t give him energy, and neither did resting on burial ground. The next night they were in Marl. Despite the snow, Rian went to the graveyard with Halbert. It was a cold night, but Rian stayed in the graveyard, huddled against a tree. When they reached Noantha the next night, the snow was coming down in thick drifts. ¡°It¡¯s too cold for you to sleep outside,¡± Halbert said. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the inn with you.¡± Ransey sighed. ¡°Maybe the cold in the room will lessen the smell.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your lady that did this,¡± Halbert said. ¡°I thought you said it was a gift.¡± ¡°Not the smell,¡± Ransey said. Rian wondered about what Percival had said, about the Speaker of the Dead having opposed Mortua. Maybe that was why Mortua wanted him dead and in her grasp, other than her just not liking undead. It was warmer in the inn, bringing Rian¡¯s thoughts back to the moment. The three of them sat at a table in the back corner. The other tables were full. A woman joined them at the table, the hood of her dark brown cloak back. Her long black hair was tied in two loose braids. Her eyes were a light shade of brown. Her clothes looked weathered, though not so ragged as Rian¡¯s and Halbert¡¯s. She had a sheathed sword at her belt. Ransey raised a brow at her but said nothing. ¡°Eiva,¡± Halbert said with a nod. Eiva smiled. ¡°Halbert. Rian.¡± She nodded to both of them. Ransey sighed. ¡°You must be the wayward Sancta Knight these two led astray.¡± Eiva¡¯s smile vanished. She gave Ransey a cold look. ¡°It¡¯s the Sancta who led me astray.¡± She looked at Rian and Halbert. ¡°I stopped by the Sancta to officially resign and heard Mortua allowed the two of you to get involved in her problem.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a problem for all of Ivrua,¡± Ransey said. Eiva ignored him. ¡°I¡¯m worried about her motives.¡± ¡°As am I,¡± Halbert said. ¡°She¡¯s done something to Rian, to get him in her grasp.¡± Eiva looked at Rian. ¡°What has she done?¡± She sniffed. ¡°And what¡¯s rotting?¡± ¡°Me,¡± Rian said. He lowered his hood and showed her his arm. Eiva frowned hard. She looked at Ransey with a frightening glare. ¡°Perhaps she is repaying him for his help,¡± Ransey said. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why all of you think being eternally bound to restless bones is preferable to a proper death.¡± ¡°Preferable to rotting to death,¡± Eiva said. Ransey sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll let the three of you catch up. I¡¯ll be in the room.¡± He left the table and went upstairs. ¡°Did you find out more about your magic?¡± Rian asked. Eiva frowned. ¡°I was searching for the one known as the Raven Witch. There¡¯s mostly only rumors and legends about her, but I believe she may be my mother. Maybe she can help me understand my magic, why ravens are so drawn to me.¡± She sighed. ¡°I can continue that search later. I¡¯m going with you to stop the cults.¡± ¡°The Sancta¡ª¡± Halbert began. ¡°The Sancta is busy with their pointless trial,¡± Eiva said. ¡°What¡¯s the point of a trial if all involved believe the accused is guilty? I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll be paying attention to this, even if Ransey does find out about my magic. They expect this to be dealt with by Ransey and those chosen by the gods. Did you know most of the Sancta doesn¡¯t know the gods chose a necromancer to help Ransey?¡± She smiled. ¡°I wonder what they would think of that.¡± ¡°I think it was a way to get the Speaker of the Dead out of the way,¡± Halbert said. ¡°Clearly there¡¯s more to that title than the dead told me.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t tell me anything about it either,¡± Rian said. Eiva frowned. ¡°All the more reason to go with you. You¡¯ll need an ally. Ransey certainly isn¡¯t your ally.¡± The three of them shared the room with Ransey that night. In the morning, the four of them left Noantha for a village not far from the mountain ruins. It was even colder out there. Rian had never been to this village before and didn¡¯t know its name. It was medium sized, with a good sized graveyard at the edge. Rian shivered against the snow, more than Eiva and Ransey. He had his hood up again as part of his neck was rotting. ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can find the house Frida said to look for,¡± Ransey said. ¡°Hopefully I can make a good start on getting us in there tomorrow morning. Meet me at the inn.¡± ¡°Is he always so demanding?¡± Eiva asked. Halbert nodded. ¡°He¡¯s always been like that.¡± The three of them went to the inn, finding a table in a back corner of the main room. Ransey joined them there a while later. He and Eiva ate. ¡°How did it go?¡± Eiva asked. ¡°It went well,¡± Ransey said. ¡°You, me, and Rian will search the house tomorrow.¡± He frowned at Rian. ¡°Though that smell could become a problem.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Did the house smell particularly good?¡± Eiva asked. ¡°No,¡± Ransey said. ¡°I said it could become a problem, not that it will be.¡± In the morning, Halbert went to the graveyard while Rian and Eiva went with Ransey to a house that looked about to collapse. The wood appeared wet in places. Ransey knocked on the front door, which was answered by a man wearing a dirty black apron. Were those bloodstains on the apron? It was hard to tell. The man smiled when he saw Ransey and opened the door further. ¡°Who have you brought with you?¡± the man asked. ¡°This is Rian and Eiva,¡± Ransey said. Rian kept the hood of his cloak up. The man nodded. ¡°The more the better.¡± The three of them entered the narrow hall that smelled of mold. ¡°The others are already here,¡± the man said. ¡°In the back.¡± They followed him along the hall, passing a few closed doors along the way. The man opened the door at the end of the hall. The room was crowded, like the basement at the other cult house. The one window had been boarded over. There were a lot of candles lit on small tables around the room. At the front of the room was a long wooden table, but no one was strapped to it. The man moved to the front of the room and started the meeting. ¡°Eiva,¡± Ransey whispered. ¡°Are you good at sneaking around?¡± ¡°Possibly,¡± Eiva said. ¡°I haven¡¯t done much of it.¡± ¡°Look for a dagger with a dark blade,¡± Ransey said. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it with him.¡± Eiva left the room. The man at the front of the room was talking, but Rian barely heard him. Something else had his attention. The feeling from before was back, a feeling of something stirring inside of him. He still didn¡¯t know what it was, or why it felt familiar. He hadn¡¯t felt it on the way back to Haren, or much on the way back to the Sancta before. Rian tried to focus on what the man was saying, but he couldn¡¯t. He wanted nothing more than to sleep, not that it would do any good. Eiva came back before long. ¡°I didn¡¯t find any daggers,¡± she whispered. Ransey frowned hard. The meeting concluded without any mention of a dagger, or of future sacrifices. Ransey, Eiva, and Rian met up with Halbert at the graveyard. Rian felt the energy of the burial ground as soon as he entered the graveyard, but it still couldn¡¯t reach him past what Mortua had done. ¡°We didn¡¯t find the dagger,¡± Ransey said. ¡°I will return there tonight and see what I can find.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be at the inn,¡± Eiva said, shivering in the light snow. For now they all went to the inn, finding a table in a far corner. There weren¡¯t many people at the inn. The day dragged on. When the sun had set, Ransey left for the cult house alone. Rian was relieved Ransey hadn¡¯t wanted him and Eiva to come. He was certain the house had smelled worse than he did. ¡°Have you heard the voices of the dead recently?¡± Halbert asked Rian. ¡°No,¡± Rian said. ¡°What Mortua did is stopping them from reaching me.¡± Sometimes he thought he heard them in the distance, or heard far off whispers when he slept. ¡°Likely part of her plan,¡± Halbert said. Eiva frowned. ¡°Do we have any idea how to undo what she did?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Halbert said. Ransey joined them at the table, grinning. ¡°The cult leader has been in constant contact with someone in Urvus. I believe the next cult could be in Veron.¡± His grin faded. ¡°This cult is going to sacrifice someone out in the forest tomorrow night.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be there,¡± Eiva said. Ransey nodded. ¡°They¡¯ll do it when the sun goes down.¡± The four of them went up to the one inn room. Rian barely slept. In the morning, more of him was rotting than before, and the feeling of wrongness had gotten only stronger. Ransey started grumbling about the smell as soon as he was awake. Rian, Halbert, and Eiva went to wait at the graveyard. They would meet Ransey at the inn just before sunset. Rian sat at the base of a tree, shivering. He pulled his cloak closer around him, but it didn¡¯t help much. His cloak was soaked through in places by what was seeping out of the rotting parts of him. His clothes were even more wet and stained. The energy of the burial ground tried to go into him, but it couldn¡¯t. He desperately wanted it to. Halbert and Eiva were talking quietly not far off. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t eat and can¡¯t draw energy from burial ground, then what¡¯s sustaining him?¡± Eiva asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think anything is,¡± Halbert said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much longer we have to undo this.¡± Rian closed his eyes. He thought he heard the voices of the dead in the distance, but the voices didn¡¯t get any closer and soon faded away again. When the sun was setting, the three of them met up with Ransey back at the inn, then headed for the small group of trees not far from the village. It wasn¡¯t quite a forest compared to the ones at the borders of the countries, but Ransey seemed certain this was the right place. The four of them moved more quietly when they reached the trees. Rian heard talking up ahead. The cult was making no effort to be quiet. Soon he saw the group from the house in the village up ahead. A man lay on the ground at the front of the group, his hands bound with rope. The cult leader, with his stained black apron, knelt beside the man. He raised the dark dagger. Ransey reached for the hilt of his sword. Ravens cried out overhead, a loud chorus from at least forty of them. The ravens swooped down on the gathered cultists. The cultists screamed, running in every direction. The leader lowered his dagger, fending off two ravens. Rian, Ransey, Eiva, and Halbert left the cover of the trees. Eiva looked worried, glancing around at the ravens. Had she called them? Something stirred inside of Rian again, fighting what Mortua had done. Whatever it was, it couldn¡¯t stop what Mortua had done. The feeling faded quickly. The cult leader tried to run when Ransey drew his sword, light glowing along the blade. Was it Mortua approving of what he was doing, or all of the gods? The cult leader lunged with the dagger. Ransey blocked, swiping the dagger out of the man¡¯s hand easily. The cult leader ran. Ransey took the dagger from the ground, then untied the ropes on the would be sacrifice¡¯s hands and helped him to his feet. All the cultists had run. The ravens had flown away, leaving the forest quiet again. Ransey talked to the man who had almost been sacrificed, while Rian, Halbert, and Eiva waited nearby. Eiva was frowning. ¡°I didn¡¯t call those ravens intentionally,¡± she said quietly. ¡°My magic keeps getting stronger.¡± ¡°Maybe we can find the Raven Witch along the way while stopping the cults,¡± Rian said, though he knew Ransey wouldn¡¯t like that idea, and it would be best if he didn¡¯t find out about Eiva¡¯s magic. Eiva nodded, looking no less worried. ¡°Maybe.¡± The four of them escorted the man back to the village. Ransey went to talk to the village guards about the cultists. Rian, Halbert, and Eiva went back to the inn room. The four of them left for Urvus, the next country over, first thing in the morning. Veron was the main city. Rian tried not to think of what had happened the last time he¡¯d been there, of trying and failing to stop Arwel and Norris at the castle. By night, they had made it out of the forest, and the air was much warmer. There was no sign of the frost that had covered the plains of Haren. They had reached Urvus. The group stopped for the night in the small village of Rose. Chapter 6 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 7 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°I have no more need to take over,¡± Trivius said, his voice clear in Rian¡¯s head, as though Trivius was standing right next to him. ¡°I won¡¯t free you,¡± Rian thought. ¡°We both would have died if you hadn¡¯t drank from him,¡± Trivius said in his mind. ¡°The blood of the living would rid us of what Mortua has done,¡± Trivius said. ¡°I won¡¯t do it,¡± Rian thought. ¡°Eventually you will. It¡¯s that or die by Mortua¡¯s hand. I know you cannot resist the thirst for much longer. I need only wait.¡± Chapter 8 ¡° ¡° ¡°You could escape these bonds easily,¡± Trivius said. ¡°It might not work,¡± Trivius said. ¡°If you die, this part of me goes with you. I would certainly prefer you be a true undead, not one that relies on the blood of the living, but I will not risk death.¡± ¡° ¡° Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 9 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 10 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 11 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Now is the moment for my return,¡± Trivius said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡°He will be the sacrifice.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 12 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 13 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Open the way,¡± the raspy woman said in his mind. ¡°What you seek is in Mortua¡¯s Sanctum.¡± ¡°No,¡± Rian thought. ¡°We¡¯ll find another way.¡± ¡°There is no other way,¡± the young girl said. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 14 ¡° ¡° ¡°It is a part of you,¡± Trivius said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡°I gave it to you.¡± ¡°When?¡± Rian thought. ¡°You will remember, in time,¡± Trivius said. ¡° ¡° ¡° If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 1 The sun had barely finished rising when Rian, Halbert, and Eiva continued across the plains of Acra. They had barely stopped to rest, and they hadn¡¯t gone near any villages. Even seemingly alone on the plains, the three of them kept the hoods of their cloaks up. So far, they hadn¡¯t come across any Sancta Knights, but the Sancta would be looking for them. To execute them. Eiva was slowing down, but so were Rian and Halbert. She needed to rest and they needed burial ground. Rian didn¡¯t know where they would find proper burial ground that wasn¡¯t near a village, but hopefully Eiva could rest in the forest. The group was headed toward Blossom and Leaf¡¯s village of wild Ectu in the forest between Acra and Urvus. ¡°What village did you grow up in?¡± Rian asked Eiva, hoping the conversation would distract them both from their exhaustion. ¡°Oat village in Virida,¡± Eiva said. ¡°It¡¯s north of Derwen. The man who raised me was an herbalist in Brush.¡± She hesitated. ¡°He took me in after my father died. The herbalist moved to Oat with me not long after.¡± Her hood hid her expression, but he heard a smile in her voice. ¡°He taught me about herbs and antidotes.¡± She sighed. ¡°He was old when he took me in and died just before I left Oat. Many in the village were wary of me because of ravens being drawn to me, and they knew the herbalist found me under strange circumstances. I knew I couldn¡¯t stay there.¡± ¡°So you joined the Sancta,¡± Halbert said. Eiva nodded. ¡°I had hoped serving the gods would rid me of my strange magic.¡± She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe Dienia would turn against Mortua like this. People were sacrificed and their souls were trapped, and for what?¡± ¡°There is more to the gods than we know,¡± Halbert said. ¡°Especially Mortua,¡± Rian said. The silence returned again. ¡°Where do you think Ransey will go next?¡± Eiva asked, her voice quiet. ¡°He will go anywhere his lady sends him,¡± Halbert said, ¡°and do anything she asks of him.¡± Rian hesitated. ¡°You said he settled in Rise. Where is he from?¡± He almost tripped on a rock hidden in the grass, his exhaustion making it hard to focus. ¡°He was raised in Aster, in Urvus,¡± Halbert said. ¡°He had no family and was taken in by a priest of Mortua, who taught him loyalty to the Lady of the Perished. Eventually Ransey set out to spread the word of Mortua. He settled in Rise, in Caerulis. There was an abandoned shrine there. He made it a shrine to Mortua. That is where I met him.¡± Rian wasn¡¯t surprised Ransey was raised in Aster. The entire village was fanatically loyal to Mortua. The three of them continued across the plains in silence. Rian couldn¡¯t help but think about things along the way. He knew there were many things Trivius wasn¡¯t telling him. Things about himself that Trivius knew and he didn¡¯t. Halbert still carried the bag with the objects used to seal the Bone Garden, or to open the way. The skull of a former ruler of Haren, a stone from an old crown of Urvus, a carved statue of a vulture, a withered plant that grew only in the abandoned village of Marlar, and a crescent shaped stone. Since sealing the Bone Garden, they hadn¡¯t yet had a chance to find hiding places for the objects. Rian wasn¡¯t sure what to think of Trivius anymore. He was a god, not just a powerful being that had pretended to be one, or had been worshiped as one. Not only that, he was the brother of Quidvis, the All-Keeper. Trivius was the true God of Death, and Rian was his Speaker. The part of Trivius in Rian said nothing to these thoughts. The group reached the edge of the forest and stopped to rest again. The sun was setting when they reached a small clearing. Dark clouds had moved in overhead, not quite obscuring the light of sunset. The wild Ectu didn¡¯t live in houses. Several were sitting in a circle together, others were standing off to the sides. Their clothes were made of various plants and some hide. The wild Ectu glanced at Rian, Halbert, and Eiva, but continued their conversations. Rian noticed there were a lot of Ectu in the clearing and some who might have been half Ectu. Some wore clothes like those in cities and villages. Blossom and Leaf left the circle, coming over to Rian and the others. Leaf was about the same height as Eiva. Blossom was only a little shorter than Leaf, with long, pointed ears. Leaf¡¯s eyes were a pale shade of purple from his pact with an animal, something only Ectu magic could achieve. ¡°We heard about the execution,¡± Blossom said. ¡°My father escaped,¡± Rian said. ¡°We don¡¯t know where he¡¯s gone.¡± There was more to it than that, but he was too tired to talk about this. ¡°There are many here,¡± Halbert said. Blossom nodded. ¡°Wild and nonwild Ectu have come to my village for protection against the Sancta.¡± She frowned. ¡°The Sancta is searching for you. If you stay here, the village will be in even more danger, but you need to rest.¡± ¡°We should continue on our way,¡± Eiva said. Blossom shook her head. ¡°Not yet.¡± Leaf and Blossom led the three of them further among the trees, barely out of sight of the clearing. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°The Sancta¡¯s new focus on Ectu won¡¯t end well,¡± Leaf said. ¡°More Ectu are leaving the cities and villages, shunned by the Sancta and those loyal to the Sancta. The Sancta has attacked several wild Ectu villages already. The Sancta fears our innate magic, and many Ectu and Half Ectu who have never lived in the wild fear their own magic.¡± Blossom was frowning hard. ¡°King Tierney of Acra has taken an interest in Ectu magic. That can¡¯t mean good things for us.¡± ¡°Tierney is working with Dienia,¡± Eiva said. She told Blossom and Leaf all they had discovered. Leaf sighed. ¡°Even if we knew why Dienia gave Tierney magic and turned against Mortua, I doubt it¡¯s a good reason.¡± Blossom was scowling. ¡°I always thought the gods were too good to be true. The Sancta makes it sound like they¡¯re beings of ultimate wisdom.¡± ¡°I was in Isley a few days ago,¡± Leaf said. ¡°I heard Percival is now High Priest of the All-Keeper, the new head of the Sancta. He¡¯s seeking the sword of the All-Keeper.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a myth?¡± Eiva asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t think even the Sancta believed it was real.¡± ¡°Percival believes,¡± Leaf said. ¡°He also believes the sword will allow him to end wild magic and all who use it.¡± A heavy silence fell over the five of them. ¡°You should stay here for the night,¡± Blossom said. ¡°But we¡¯ll be endangering the village¡ª¡± Eiva started. ¡°It¡¯s already in danger,¡± Blossom said. ¡°You need rest. This might be the safest place you will find for a long time.¡± Blossom and Leaf led them back to the clearing and got Eiva food and water. Leaf led Rian and Halbert to the unmarked burial ground further among the trees. Rian took his cloak off and lay on the burial ground, the energy flowing into him. He let himself stop seeing, then he let the ground pull him under. Everything slipped away, but he didn¡¯t see the musty cave where the dead sometimes spoke to him, or the Bone Garden where the rest of Trivius was. He saw memories that weren¡¯t his. He saw Derwen, the main city of Virida. Ruari, Knight of Derwen, didn¡¯t believe in the gods. Rian knew Ruari¡¯s name, knew these were Ruari¡¯s memories, but not why he would be seeing them. He knew what had happened, what was said, but the memory was silent. Ruari¡¯s friend, Dion, was also a Knight of Derwen. He believed in the gods, but was wary of them. The two were sent to look into a disturbance in the forest near Derwen, long before Fen village had been built there. Ruari and Dion talked on the way, about the weather, their captain never doing any of the work himself, and what they might find in the forest. It was strange for Rian to see the plains and the familiar forest without his home village there. Ruari and Dion entered the forest, neither speaking now that they were there. The sun was setting. They hadn¡¯t gone far before they found an old stone shrine, barely intact. Some pillars had collapsed, and there was no roof, if there ever had been one. A stone altar stood at the center of the shrine, with nothing on it other than cracks and a bit of dirt. The light of sunset shone through the pillars, across the altar. As the sun finished setting, something flickered over the altar. It flickered again, then held steady for only a moment. The faint gray light held the shape of a towering skeletal being with long, curving horns. Ruari felt something flowing into him and mentioned it to Dion, who felt the same thing. The being didn¡¯t appear again. Rian knew, but he didn¡¯t know how he knew, that Trivius had given Ruari and Dion magic then. At the time, neither knight had known what had happened. Rian woke up back on the surface of the Ectu burial ground. The sun was rising, and Halbert had returned to the surface as well. Halbert and Rian put their cloaks on and pulled up their hoods. Rian was certain he¡¯d seen a memory, not a dream, but why would he be seeing someone else¡¯s memories? The memories of someone who had come across Trivius a long time ago. ¡°Did the dead speak to you?¡± Halbert asked. Rian hesitated. ¡°No. I saw the memories of a Knight of Derwen from a long time ago. He found a shrine to Trivius out in the forest near Fen, but Fen hadn¡¯t been built yet. Trivius gave him magic.¡± Halbert was quiet for a long moment, then he sighed. A long, weary sigh despite having no breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you would be seeing that, or how to stop it. Or what it means. Much of what I learned from Norris¡¯s book is wrong, and that is where I learned all I know about necromancy and being undead. I don¡¯t know how much of it was wrong.¡± ¡°Where could we find out more?¡± Rian asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Halbert said. ¡°That was the only book that I know of, the only book Norris knew of.¡± The two of them returned to the clearing. The Ectu were waking up. Eiva was eating with them. Leaf joined Halbert and Rian, where they stood at the edge of the clearing. Leaf sighed. ¡°I want to help you warn the royal family of Urvus. They have been our allies for so long¡­¡± He shook his head. ¡°The village needs Blossom and I here. We will likely have to move soon, or the Sancta will find us.¡± ¡°Is there anything we can do to help?¡± Rian asked. Leaf smiled briefly, but it didn¡¯t touch the sadness in his eyes. ¡°Warning Urvus about Tierney is enough.¡± He frowned. When he spoke again, he lowered his voice. ¡°I believe Tarthala is real. The forest in Urvus, that only Ectu can enter. The forest at the mountains. Blossom believes too, but she doesn¡¯t want to abandon her home.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure Ninette and Odell would allow you to enter Tarthala,¡± Halbert said. Leaf nodded, looking away. ¡°I know they would. I don¡¯t want that to be our only option, but the Sancta is hunting Ectu and half Ectu, in the forests and in settlements. Now Tierney¡¯s taken an interest in us as well. I know not everyone agrees with what the Sancta is doing to us, but the Sancta is too strong for a few dissenting voices to help us.¡± ¡°Urvus would help you,¡± Halbert said. ¡°Perhaps not openly, as that would invite retaliation from the Sancta, but they would aid you.¡± Leaf sighed. ¡°I hope so. We cannot stay here much longer.¡± He frowned hard and put a hand on Rian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, for all that¡¯s happened. I wish it was safe for you to stay with us, but it isn¡¯t.¡± He looked at Halbert. ¡°What of Andred?¡± ¡°He has gone the same way as Arwel and Norris,¡± Halbert said. ¡°He regrets it, but I don¡¯t know if that is enough to bring him back. For now, we don¡¯t know where he¡¯s gone.¡± Leaf started to say something, but Eiva joined them there. ¡°Good luck out there,¡± he said. Chapter 2 Rian, Halbert, and Eiva continued through the forest toward Urvus. Soon they were out of the forest and crossing the plains. The dark clouds of the day before had gone, without leaving any rain. The three of them hadn¡¯t gone far on the plains before Rian saw three Sancta Knights approaching from up ahead. All three knights wore a pale gray cuirass with the symbol of the Sancta pressed into the metal, as well as the tan clothes and tan cloak of the Sancta Knights. The symbol of the Sancta was a circle, with four smaller circles inside and room for a missing fifth at the bottom. The knights had already seen Rian, Halbert, and Eiva. All three knights were men, with an older one at the front and two younger ones behind him. ¡°Halt!¡± the knight at the front said. Rian, Halbert, and Eiva stopped. All three had the hoods of their cloaks up. The knights frowned at the group. ¡°Lower your hoods,¡± the knight at the front said. The two younger knights had their hands on the hilts of their swords, ready to draw them. ¡°We¡¯re only travelers,¡± Eiva said. The old knight glared. ¡°I¡¯ll need to see that for myself. We¡¯re searching for enemies of the Sancta. Lower your hoods.¡± This wasn¡¯t going to end well. Eiva reached up for her hood first, Halbert and Rian doing the same. As soon as Rian and the others lowered their hoods, all three knights drew their swords. Ravens cried out above them, too many to count swooping out of the sky at the three knights. ¡°No¡­¡± Eiva muttered. ¡°I can¡¯t call them off.¡± Rian, Halbert, and Eiva ran, leaving the knights to fight the ravens. Rian glanced back and saw the knights running across the plains toward a village in the distance. Aster village. Rian and the others stopped running when the knights and Aster had been out of sight for a while. The three of them pulled the hoods of their cloaks back up. ¡°I couldn¡¯t call them off,¡± Eiva said quietly. ¡°I still can¡¯t control when they come, or what they do when they come.¡± She was silent for a moment. Rian could hear her catching her breath from running for so long. ¡°Korva said they will only follow my will if I show them my will is to be followed.¡± She seemed to shiver, but it was hard to tell through her cloak. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do that without becoming like her. I don¡¯t want to become like her.¡± Korva was the Raven Witch, powerful and likely ancient. She was Eiva¡¯s mother, and the one who had killed Eiva¡¯s father. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Halbert said. ¡°We know so little about her kind of magic. I¡¯m sorry we can¡¯t help you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone can,¡± Eiva said. Rian knew that wasn¡¯t true. Eiva herself was the only one who could control her ravens, but could she do it without becoming like Korva? Was there a way for her to stop the ravens from coming when she was in danger? Her ravens had saved them several times, but they had also killed Thorley when Eiva hadn¡¯t intended them to. The three of them said nothing more on the way across the plains. Neither did they come across any more Sancta Knights. They reached Veron at night, just after sunset, and went straight to the castle. Halbert spoke to the knights out front, who let the three of them inside, where a knight led them into the throne hall. The throne hall was long, with a high ceiling. Pale blue arches reached far above. There were many windows along the hall, but only a little moonlight shone through. A few torches along the walls kept the room warmly lit. At the far end of the hall were two wooden thrones, both of which were occupied. Queen Ninette sat on the throne to the right, with King Odell on the left. The knight who had led them in bowed low. ¡°Your Highnesses, Halbert of Rise, Rian of Fen, and Eiva of Brush have come to speak with you.¡± Ninette nodded to the knight, who turned and left the throne hall. Two more knights stood at the doors. ¡°What has happened?¡± Ninette asked. ¡°I¡¯ve heard several things from the Sancta.¡± Rian tensed. Would she side with the Sancta? ¡°The Sancta is after us,¡± Eiva said. ¡°Mortua has betrayed us.¡± Ninette nodded slowly. ¡°I know you can be trusted. I will not tell the Sancta where you are, but neither can I openly go against the Sancta without endangering my entire country.¡± ¡°War is coming to Urvus regardless,¡± Odell said. Ninette¡¯s brows furrowed, then she sighed deeply. ¡°Yes, it is.¡± ¡°Acra?¡± Halbert asked. ¡°We received word from Acra this morning,¡± Odell said. ¡°An official declaration of war.¡± He scowled. ¡°And a personal, disgusting letter from Tierney about how Ninette can¡¯t do better than him and can¡¯t rule on her own, but it¡¯s too late to turn away from her mistakes.¡± Ninette gripped Odell¡¯s hand where it rested on the arm of his throne. ¡°War is coming to Urvus.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Then we¡¯ll help fight,¡± Eiva said suddenly. ¡°Yes,¡± Rian said. ¡°We¡¯ll help.¡± Halbert nodded. Ninette looked surprised, but Odell didn¡¯t. The queen smiled a little. ¡°Thank you¡­ But this is not your fight.¡± ¡°There is more about Tierney that you must know,¡± Halbert said. He told the King and Queen of Urvus all they had discovered about Tierney. ¡°Working with Dienia?¡± Odell groaned. ¡°Things just keep getting worse.¡± Ninette had gone ashen, sitting stiffly upright. ¡°We must prepare for war. Eiva, you may stay at the inn for free. Halbert and Rian may rest in the graveyard.¡± Rian, Halbert, and Eiva left the castle. Eiva set off for the inn, and Rian and Halbert made their way to the graveyard. There was hardly anyone still out now that the sun had been gone for a while. At the graveyard, Rian and Halbert took their cloaks off and lay on the ground. The energy of burial ground always felt good. Rian let himself stop seeing, then he let the ground pull him under. He still didn¡¯t like watching the dirt surround him and pull him beneath the ground. As soon as the dirt stopped moving, he was standing in the Bone Garden before the huge skull with long, curving horns. Red light glowed in the eye sockets of the skull. ¡°I won¡¯t free you,¡± Rian said when Trivius said nothing. Trivius laughed, the sound echoing all around them. ¡°Are you certain?¡± The light from his eyes was barely enough to see the piles of bones in the cave. ¡°I know you have questions.¡± Trivius was waiting for something. Rian had many questions, but he had a feeling which one Trivius wanted. Rian wanted the answer enough to ask it, even if it meant doing what Trivius wanted him to do. ¡°I saw the memories of a knight named Ruari,¡± Rian said. ¡°Why did I see them? Who was he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s you,¡± Trivius said. Rian stared at the flickering red lights in the sockets of the skull. ¡°I was never a Knight of Derwen. Ruari was around back before Fen was even built.¡± ¡°You have Ruari¡¯s soul,¡± Trivius said. ¡°The soul of the first Speaker of the Dead, my most trusted knight. Andred is a descendant of Ruari. You are Ruari.¡± Rian thought about this, though he definitely didn¡¯t want to. ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°You will recover more of your memories,¡± Trivius said. ¡°Then I will not need to explain.¡± The Bone Garden faded away. Rian returned to the surface of the graveyard in Veron. The sun was rising and Halbert was putting on his cloak. Rian put on his own cloak, lost in terrible thoughts. Was it true? Could it be true? And what did it mean if it was? Ruari¡¯s memories hadn¡¯t felt like his. Rian didn¡¯t want to be someone else. Especially not Trivius¡¯s most trusted knight. ¡°Have the dead spoken to you?¡± Halbert asked. ¡°No.¡± Rian hesitated. ¡°What did Trivius say?¡± Halbert asked. ¡°Those memories I saw belonged to Ruari,¡± Rian said. ¡°The first Speaker of the Dead. Trivius told me I have Ruari¡¯s soul, that I am Ruari.¡± Now that he¡¯d begun, it all came rushing out. ¡°He said my father is a descendant of Ruari¡¯s. He didn¡¯t explain how I could have Ruari¡¯s soul. Trivius said my memories will return, then he won¡¯t have to explain.¡± Halbert said nothing for a long time. ¡°Do you think he lied?¡± Rian asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. ¡°He might have, but I don¡¯t know why he would want you to believe it,¡± Halbert said. ¡°That would be a strange thing to lie about. And if you saw Ruari¡¯s memories, then maybe Trivius was right¡­ I don¡¯t know how that¡¯s possible, but maybe he is right.¡± That made Rian feel only worse. ¡°Even if it is true,¡± Halbert said, ¡°which it may not be, you are still who you are now. You don¡¯t have to be someone else, someone you don¡¯t remember.¡± Rian nodded, despite his worries that he would remember. After all, he had already started to remember. He didn¡¯t share this thought, not wanting to worry Halbert further. And he didn¡¯t want Halbert to change his mind and say Rian was definitely this other person. Rian didn¡¯t want to be Ruari. Over the next two days, Rian, Halbert, and Eiva helped Veron prepare for war. Rian didn¡¯t see any more memories of Ruari or the Bone Garden in those days. On the morning of the second day, Rian was helping Gale sharpen swords at the forge. A heavy feeling came over Rian when he thought of the times he had done this with his father back in Fen. ¡°How have things been with the nobles?¡± Rian asked. Gale was twenty-nine. His short black hair was messy, and he was shorter than the average human. He was a half Ectu, Odell¡¯s son, whom Ninette had named heir to the throne of Urvus. ¡°They still disapprove of Ninette marrying my father.¡± Gale smiled. ¡°But now they¡¯re united in their desperation to not have Tierney ruling their country.¡± His smile faltered. ¡°I want to help fight, but I know so little about my magic, and I¡¯m still learning how to wield a sword. At least I can help sharpen the swords.¡± For a while, the only sound was once again the stones they slid along the blades of the swords. Gale shook his head. ¡°I never liked the Sancta, but I hadn¡¯t thought the gods would turn against each other. Why would Dienia give magic to Tierney, of all people?¡± ¡°And why would she turn against Mortua?¡± Rian asked. ¡°Those cults sacrificed innocent people, whose souls were trapped until Vitir and Mortua freed them.¡± Gale stiffened. ¡°There¡¯s no reason Dienia could have that would justify such a thing.¡± By midday, they had finished sharpening the swords, which they had started sharpening the day before. Rian met up with Halbert and Eiva at the graveyard. Eiva didn¡¯t have a cloak on. She was sweaty and looked exhausted, having been helping forge new armor. The two were talking about Ransey when Rian got there. Eiva frowned hard. ¡°Ransey heard what Davena said, so Mortua knows. If Mortua knows, wouldn¡¯t she have gone after Dienia?¡± She sat at the base of a tree. ¡°Maybe Mortua did go after Dienia and the Sancta is hiding it.¡± ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Halbert said. ¡°I think they would do that,¡± Rian said. ¡°If the gods are attacking each other, the Sancta wouldn¡¯t go around telling people. If the Sancta knows.¡± Chapter 3 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 4 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Stolen story; please report. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 5 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Is there a way to help my father?¡± ¡°There is a ritual,¡± Trivius said in Rian¡¯s mind, his voice more distant than ever. ¡°A way to send his soul to the true land of the dead. It will only work if he¡¯s willing, which is why you couldn¡¯t use it on Norris and Arwel. Having fed on the living, there is no way for Andred to become a true undead, such as you and Halbert.¡± ¡°What will happen if his magic has burned away his soul?¡± Rian asked. He was afraid to ask what had happened to Arwel, and he wasn¡¯t ready to hear the answer. ¡°There was nothing left of Norris¡¯s soul, nothing left to move on,¡± Trivius said. ¡°It is unlikely your father will have used his magic if he has resisted his need for blood. Use your magic. You don¡¯t need to free me to fully embrace your power as the Speaker of the Dead.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t free you,¡± Rian thought. ¡°Not yet,¡± Trivius said, sounding amused. His presence faded into the back of Rian¡¯s mind again. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 6 ¡° ¡°I will guide you through the ritual,¡± Trivius said in his mind, his voice surprisingly gentle. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°You dare defy me!¡± Mortua¡¯s voice was an unpleasant pressure in his ears, her voice speaking directly into his mind. Ruari,¡± she snarled. ¡°Then you will live,¡± Mortua said. ¡°You will have eternity as what you¡¯ve become.¡± The vision of her and the terrible weight of her presence vanished. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 7 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Quidvis is a devious liar,¡± Ruari said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡°Don¡¯t believe anything he says. The only thing you can believe is that he is Quidvis.¡± ¡°Why were you hiding from Trivius?¡± Rian thought, but Ruari didn¡¯t answer. ¡° ¡° ¡° This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Don¡¯t fight the magic,¡± Ruari said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡°You¡¯re losing control.¡± ¡°We can work together,¡± Ruari said. ¡°Together we can free Trivius.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t free him,¡± Rian thought. ¡°Why did Trivius think I was you?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t know I let you live. Your soul was still there when you were born, but it was very weak. I hadn¡¯t thought it would recover, so I let you live. Your soul survived and became stronger, perhaps because I was within you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t free Trivius,¡± Rian thought again. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to do this the hard way,¡± Ruari said. ¡°I will free him myself.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 8 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°That¡¯s a lie,¡± Ruari said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Run!¡± Ruari said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡°Trivius cannot take our will,¡± Ruari said in his mind. ¡°If he could, the part of him that was in you before would have taken over and freed himself from the Bone Garden. Even fully free, Trivius does not control us.¡± ¡°I do not know.¡± Ruari sounded worried. ¡°His plans for Halbert can¡¯t be good. You must stay out of Quidvis¡¯s reach, so that he can¡¯t do the same to you. With Trivius¡¯s help, we could easily rescue Halbert from Quidvis.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find another way,¡± Rian thought. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°They¡¯re far off yet,¡± Ruari said. ¡°You can still escape.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Ruari said. ¡°At least you have the sense to be wary of Quidvis,¡± Ruari said. ¡°Take us to the Bone Garden and free Trivius.¡± ¡°No,¡± Rian thought. ¡°Then stop running,¡± Ruari said in Rian¡¯s mind, his voice more gentle than usual. ¡°Go to the Bone Garden and free our god.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have to try if you would go to the Bone Garden,¡± Ruari said quietly in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡° Chapter 9 ¡°This is pointless,¡± Ruari said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡°Give in to the magic. Fully become the Speaker of the Dead. You can¡¯t stop it forever, you might as well give in.¡± ¡°No,¡± Rian thought, barely forcing Ruari back. ¡° ¡°You are needed in Noantha,¡± the raspy woman said. ¡°You must free a soul. He is tied to Ivrua by his regrets in life, but now he is dead. You must help him leave Ivrua.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°You¡¯ll feel him when he¡¯s close,¡± Ruari said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡° ¡°Have you ever freed a soul before?¡± Rian thought. ¡°Many times,¡± Ruari said. ¡°That is the purpose of necromancers. The Sancta wanted to be rid of us because Mortua wanted to be rid of us. Hers is not the true land of the dead, and she cannot reach the true land of the dead.¡± ¡° You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡° ¡°Had you not been fully undead, using your magic would have cost you flesh,¡± Ruari said in his mind. ¡°This is not a curse that Trivius gave you. Our magic has a cost, and necromancers have a purpose.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Eventually you will give in,¡± Ruari said in Rian¡¯s mind. ¡°You are the Speaker of the Dead, no matter how much you try to deny it.¡± ¡° ¡° Chapter 10 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°You¡¯re taking too long to see reason,¡± Ruari thought. ¡°I¡¯ll have to try something else.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t admit that to them, so neither will I,¡± Ruari thought. He knew Rian too well. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Did you think I was distracted?¡± he thought. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t harm them,¡± Ruari thought. ¡°Not Halbert or Eiva. I have no qualms about hurting Quidvis.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 11 ¡°By then your body will fully be mine,¡± Ruari thought. ¡°For now,¡± Ruari thought. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Don¡¯t want to admit you let me live?¡± Rian thought. ¡° ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± Ruari thought. ¡°We could have worked together.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°It¡¯s not me¡ª¡± Rian thought. ¡° ¡° ¡°Then Quidvis isn¡¯t as weak as he wanted us to think,¡± Rian thought. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Don¡¯t trust him,¡± Ruari thought, his voice strained. ¡°Our magic has a purpose. It is not a curse. You will always be the Speaker of the Dead.¡± Chapter 12 ¡°All is not lost¡­¡± the raspy woman¡¯s voice said, sounding far away. ¡°You will always be the Speaker of the Dead,¡± a man¡¯s voice said, another voice of the dead. He sounded just as distant. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 13 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Call on the magic,¡± the raspy woman said in his mind, her voice far in the distance. ¡°You are our Speaker.¡± The man¡¯s voice was even further away. ¡°Trivius wasn¡¯t the fool Quidvis took him for,¡± the raspy woman said. ¡°He ensured the survival of the land of the dead without him. Without him, the land of the dead would have perished. It remains because you remain. You must continue to remain, even if Quidvis has other plans, which he will when he discovers what Trivius did.¡± What did Trivius do?¡± he thought. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°You must discover that for yourself,¡± a young girl said, her voice slightly clearer than the woman¡¯s. ¡°We know the truth now, that you are not Ruari and you never were. You have a chance he didn¡¯t, a chance to not be consumed by your magic.¡± ¡°A chance does not guarantee it,¡± the man said. ¡°A chance means it¡¯s possible, not that it is inevitable.¡± ¡°Do not trust Quidvis,¡± the raspy woman said. ¡°Trivius trusted him once, and this gave Quidvis the chance to betray him. Quidvis¡¯s grip on your magic gets stronger by the moment. Soon, we will not be able to reach you.¡± Why did you help me seal Trivius back into the Bone Garden after he was in Arwel?¡± ¡°Because we knew you would one day properly bring Trivius back,¡± the raspy woman said. ¡°His full return was much preferred to his spirit being within a host. When we helped you seal him away, when your brother helped, Trivius saw you. He saw you were his Speaker, which gave him hope.¡± ¡°Do not trust Quidvis,¡± the raspy woman said, her voice so quiet he wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d heard it. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 14 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 15 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 16 ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°