Across Eternity: Book 6 – Chapter 11

The Path Back

Noah awoke the next morning to find Shannon clinging to him tightly. After everything that had happened during Knight’s Day, her shaken heart drove her to seek Noah and Valia’s comfort. They spent the night immersed in passion, helping alleviate her anxiety. Rather than getting up, Noah stayed there for a few minutes, holding her close and stroking her hair, with his gentle affection causing her to stir like a flower opening its petals to the rising sun.

“My Lord,” she murmured, doing everything she could to get even closer to him.

“Good morning,” he whispered, kissing her.

“Well, don’t the two of you look adorable?” said Valia, entering the bedroom, as naked as when she went to sleep. She climbed back into bed, but instead of lying beside Noah with him in the middle as they usually slept, he curled up against Shannon, sandwiching her between them. “How’d you sleep?” she asked as her hand slid under the covers and caressed Shannon’s soft skin.

Shannon hummed from Valia’s touch. “Wonderfully.”

“You sure seem to be in good spirits now,” said Noah, his hand slipping between her legs.

Shannon began to pant as their gentle caressing became more daring, with the sensual flames of the previous evening once again coming alight. As Noah and Valia’s lips found her supple breasts, she began to whimper happily while their fingers entered her and fought for space in her pussy. Her hand grasped Noah’s member, solid with morning rigidity and waiting for her to fulfill her duties. She got on his lap, his cock entering her and finding the reservoir of seed he had deposited the previous night. Having just woken up, she wasn’t quite ready to start bouncing, so she took it slow and gentle while watching her Lord and Lady share a passionate kiss to welcome the morning.

They had just gotten started when there was a knock on the front door.

“Who in the world could that be?” Valia asked, annoyed.

“That’s not the knock of someone coming to make an arrest. Maybe if we just don’t answer, they’ll leave,” replied Noah. However, the knocking continued and refused to be ignored. Noah grudgingly got out of bed and put on a robe, making sure his erection wasn’t pointing out. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“My Lord, let me,” said Shannon.

“No, you stay there. I’ll finish you off in just a minute.” He went downstairs and answered the door, finding a royal messenger there.

“Sir Noah, your presence is requested at the palace by Sir Berholm and Sir Tarnas.” He handed Noah a notice of summoning, and Noah skimmed it. It didn’t say he was in trouble, only that he was needed.

“Very well, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Noah shut the door before the messenger could say anything more and then promptly returned upstairs, where Valia and Shannon were waiting for him. After a thoroughly lustful cavalcade, Noah, Valia, and Shannon got dressed, had a quick bite to eat, and made their way to the palace, where they met Berholm and Tarnas in the War Room.

“Multiple assassination attempts were made on Prince Seraph last night,” said Berholm.

“Assassination? Did you apprehend the culprits?” Valia asked.

“Most of them were drunk. One of them was a mage, barely able to stand, launching fireballs at the prince’s window and calling him a beastman lover,” said Tarnas.

“That is neither surprising nor dire, so why call us?” Noah asked.

“Because that is merely a fraction of the people with a bone to pick with the prince. Fortunately, you managed to prevent a riot during his speech, but after you left, plenty of angry people were still directing their wrath at Seraph and even tried to attack him. Sir Tarnas and I have decided that he is not safe in Colbrand.”

“Is he really in that much danger? Don’t you have guards for that kind of thing?” Shannon asked. Berholm and Tarnas both glanced at her but said nothing. Though she wasn’t invited to this meeting, it was too late to object.

“It’s not the public you’re afraid of; it’s Ziradith, isn’t it?” Noah surmised.

“Correct,” said Tarnas. “Though he has regained a small amount of his original power, Seraph’s still at the level of an average paladin. He also has no militaristic or domestic achievements, a tainted record on top of being humiliated in the arena, and his speech last night angered a lot of people. At the moment, Seraph is more of a liability than an asset, both for our side and Ziradith’s. We can’t hope to put him on the throne, not as long as Galvin is alive, and Ziradith knows this, but he also remains a potential threat to her, and a source of criticism from the public. He’s a weapon she can’t use but can be used against her, meaning if she has any sense, she’ll try to get rid of him, perhaps turn him into an example or a martyr for her cause.”

Noah rubbed his chin in thought. “Regardless of the demerits, he’s too important of a piece in this game to risk losing. I told Ziradith I’d give her a chance to prove her quality to rule, but that’s only until she screws up. We’ll have to hold off on removing her and Galvin until we can turn Seraph into a worthy candidate, someone the people will back. There is only one way to do it.”

“Find a way to return his powers,” said Valia.

“I’ve been trying to do that for a year. The embers remain, but the fire refuses to burn,” Tarnas growled.

“Maybe you need a different approach,” said Noah.

“Is Galvin still not awake?” asked Valia.

“No, which is another problem we have to worry about,” said Berholm. “It should be possible for Seraph to use the Wassengel manacle if the need arises, but considering Ziradith’s threat, I’m hesitant to remove it from Galvin’s arm. Noah, what did you do to him?”

“I inflicted pain that wouldn’t leave a mark, but it was no different from what I did to the guards in front of him, so unless they’re comatose like he is, the problem resides elsewhere, likely due to Ziradith’s mind control, or perhaps its absence. However, the fact that Galvin is indisposed may be a stroke of luck, at least regarding Seraph. Ziradith said she could control the Wassengel, either through Galvin or by using his blood as a catalyst, but there is no way to know how well she can do it, if she was even telling the truth. If the Wassengel can’t be activated under present circumstances, then Seraph is our one remaining hope for using it, to us and Ziradith. She likely won’t make a move against him, at least until Galvin is awake.”

“And until then?” Shannon asked.

“I’ll look for possible solutions to restoring Seraph’s power. I have a couple of ideas, though that’s all they are. Let’s meet again, once I have something substantial.”

“Agreed,” said Berholm.

Noah, Valia, and Shannon then departed from the palace. As they left, Noah received wary and fearful glances from everyone he passed, and looks of shock that he hadn’t been arrested. Bronze and silver-ranked knights, those who had scoffed at the rumors and reputation following him, now stood at attention as he walked. Those who had faced down the basilisk would never forget the pain that Noah inflicted on them, and the fact that Noah could use that technique whenever he wished made them rightfully afraid.

“To think, I now have to undo what I did at the last Knight’s Day. What a pain,” Noah said as they stepped outside.

“Let that be a lesson to you, then. The next time you decide to punish someone and think you’re going easy on them, you aren’t,” Valia chided.

“Yes, dear, whatever you say.”

“What should we do?” Shannon asked.

“What if we were to take Seraph to Sylphtoria? Maybe the light of the star you made could return his powers,” Valia offered.

“That star simply reflects and augments the holy energy of the Nadoku’s prayers, elven energy. Besides, it would take months to get there and back. If he was an elf, I would say it’s a good idea, but I don’t know if it could restore him. If the title of Light’s Emissary is befitting, then we need something more… divine, something more closely related to Lumendori. However, that gets me thinking. Perhaps the church might know of such a source of divine light, something that can reignite the flame. Let’s speak with my contact in the church. Maybe she knows something.”

“Your contact is a woman?” Valia asked with a raised eyebrow.

“It’s someone you know, and I haven’t slept with her if that’s what you’re wondering. After our last meeting, I can’t imagine she’d be too eager to test the legend, so to speak.”

Valia giggled. “The legend?”

Noah smiled and shrugged. “Hey, I got a reputation. Ask the people who live on our street; you’re a part of it.”

Valia averted her gaze, just as her neighbors often did when she passed by, all with red cheeks and hushed whispering.

Shannon clung to Noah’s arm. “I love being part of your reputation,” she said sweetly.

“Well, I certainly hope so, or I’m not doing my job.”

The trio then set off towards the center of town with Noah in the lead. In his hand, he held a compass he made, but the needle didn’t point north. It was actually pointing to a corresponding gem that he had stuck on Bojena’s clothes when she attacked him. It was a prototype he hoped to someday use to find Valon or the Profane base, but magical tracking got exponentially more difficult as the distance increased. He theorized that mana in the environment caused interference, requiring more powerful materials and craftsmanship. The gem he had given Bella was the same kind, and would hopefully be able to transmit her location once she found the base and he improved the compass.

They eventually arrived at a tea house, where Bojena was drinking at a table outside. Summer was fully upon the city, but she remained hooded and cloaked to hide her identity. Bojena was shocked when Noah, Valia, and Shannon sat across from her.

“How did you find me?” she cursed.

“You act like I’m some bounty hunter out to collect your head, or a stalker that’s madly in love with you. I’m here to talk business.” He raised his hand, calling over a servant girl, and ordered a cup of tea.

“It’s good to see you, Bojena,” said Valia.

“You as well. I was disheartened when you left us to pursue your brother, but I understand. After all, I, too, have obligations higher than that of the knighthood.”

“Still, it breaks my heart that you ended up at war with the Knight’s Sheath, trying to kill Alexis and Sophia. I knew you were a devoted member of the church, but I never imagined you’d commit such crimes in its name.”

“Do not ask me to apologize for doing what I believe is right. The will of the gods is my conscience, and I still believe that Cyrilo’s book program will do more harm than good.”

“We’re not here to talk about faith,” said Noah. “You told me before that your superiors wanted Galvin out of the way and Seraph put on the throne. I want to help.”

“You do?”

“Yes, but something needs to be done about his current condition. At the moment, Seraph is despised and mocked by most of the city. Our only way to remedy that and get him some support is to return his powers as Light’s Emissary. I’m hoping that somewhere deep in the church’s archives, there is a secret that may help us.”

Bojena was silent for several moments. “I may know of something that might help, but like you said, it’s a secret I’m sworn to maintain. I shouldn’t even be talking about it, especially to someone like you.”

“Someone like me? Then would you tell someone like Adwith Tarnas and Marcus Berholm?”

“So that they can arrest me the moment they see my face? Not likely.”

“What if I could ensure that wouldn’t happen?”

“And how can you do that?”

“Valia and I are gold-rank knights, and contrary to how various officials might feel, that entitles us to a certain level of authority that you once possessed. Besides, so long as you agree to help restore Seraph and defeat the Profane, I’m sure they’ll agree that locking you in the dungeon would be a waste of your skills and talent.”

Bojena mulled it over. “I’ll have to confirm with my superiors. Assuming they agree and allow me to divulge confidential knowledge, then I will help you. I should have a response by tomorrow.”

“Excellent. I expect to hear from you soon.”

Bojena left some money on the table for her tea and departed, leaving Noah, Valia, and Shannon.

“What now?” Valia asked.

“Even if she refuses to divulge, I can simply use truth serum to get her to reveal what she knows. That said, we shouldn’t assume that she’ll bring the answers to our prayers. We should keep looking for solutions. I suggest splitting up. The two of you go to the academy and see if Elyot might have any ideas or can suggest some books from the library. I’ll go to the Knight’s Sheath. Cyrilo’s book collection is the second largest source of knowledge in the city, and hopefully, there will be something we can use.

“Lewis should be busy with classes, but perhaps he’d be willing to take a break to help us on official business,” said Valia.

The group split up, with Noah journeying to the Knight’s Sheath.