Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Fia sat on a bench beside the bed where Argus rested. It had taken several hours to mend him the best she could, and it had been hours now that he slept. She had called on all that her mum and grandmother had taught her and prayed it was enough, prayed he would survive, for his fate no longer rested with her.
Varrick returned to the cottage from time to time to see how Argus was doing, but he had much to see to after the battle, things Argus would have done. With each brief visit, he pleaded with her to save his brother.
Merry and Berta had been much help to her as had been Dysa, but now there was nothing more left for anyone to do, than to pray.
“You need some sleep. I can sit with him.”
Fia didn’t turn to see who had entered the cottage, she knew who it was. She had gotten used to the woman’s soft footfalls. “Thank you, Dysa, but I prefer to stay with him.”
“You will do him no good if you do not tend to your own rest and care.”
“I am good, worry not,” Fia said.
“I will fetch you a hot brew,” Dyas said.
Fia felt a swirling wind before she heard the door open.
“How does he do?” Varrick asked, stepping in and shutting the door.
Argus’s eyes opened suddenly. “He is here. I feel him. The God of Death has come for me.” He reached his hand out slowly to Fia. “Do not let him take me, my lady.”
Varrick hurried to his friend’s side to see Fia take hold of Argus’s hand.
A strange feeling gripped her when her hand closed around Argus’s, and it frightened her. It was almost as if she could feel his life beginning to fade away.
“He is close. So close,” Argus said and shivered.
“You can save him,” Varrick said with confidence in his wife.
Fia wondered if she could, feeling a heaviness of sorts fill the room.
Fight him!
Fia recognized that voice. It was her grandmother’s and it filled her with courage. She gripped Argus’s hand tightly.
“You will not take him!” Fia called out.
“You sound as strong as your grandmother.”
Varrick’s hand went to grab his sword.
“Your sword will do no good against me.”
Fia turned to see a dark shadow hovering in the corner of the room.
“I am not here for you, Varrick. I never came here for you,” the powerful voice said. “You do not possess what it takes to fight me, but your wife does.”
“I do, and I am as strong as my grandmother was, and I will fight you as she did,” Fia challenged.
“Wilona was a worthy opponent and beat me often. I quite enjoyed our encounters. It was the reason I took her fast when Lord David came upon her in the woods. I did not want to see her suffer.”
“For that I thank you,” Fia said, relieved that the horrific memory of what her grandmother had suffered was dispelled forever. “I am curious as to what brought you and your hell hounds here.”
It was difficult for Varrick to admit this was a battle he had no knowledge of how to fight, and it angered him. He had no choice but to leave it to his wife. Besides, he was as curious as she was as to what had brought the God of Death to his doorstep.
“Deaths that were blamed on me but not of my doing. I know what you do, Fia, and you cannot delay me with talk. I will take Argus.”
“Nay, my lady. Nay. Do not let him take me,” Argus pleaded.
“Do not worry, Argus. I will fight—”
“And lose,” came the powerful voice.
Fia shook her head. “You are wrong, Arawn, God of Death, I have already won. I can feel the strong, steady beat of his heart, sense his body fighting to heal, feel his strength to live, and you can feel my determination to keep him alive. His power and mine combined are greater than yours, so take your leave. He will not be going with you today.” She turned her attention to the other corner of the room. “Show yourself Dysa. I know you are there, waiting for your husband to finish.”
Varrick shook his head confused but remained silent.
“I told you she would know,” Dysa said as the darkness faded away to reveal her.
“When and how did you realize that she is my wife?” Arawn asked as the darkness left him as well to reveal the man she knew as Seth.
“Truthfully, only a short time ago. I realized how I had gotten accustomed to Dysa’s light footfalls. It was like she hovered rather than walked and that got me thinking about the one light footprint in the snow and how a slight hover could have made them. Then I recalled my grandmother telling me how much the God of Death loved his wife and would not go anywhere without her and how Dysa talked about how much you loved her. But it was the name of the God of Death’s wife that brought it all together… Rhodysa.”