Victor of Tucson-Chapter 27Book 10: : A Solitary Meal

27 – A Solitary Meal

At Kynna’s words, Victor felt his heart rate quicken. “Really?”

She nodded, her smile broadening further. “Yes! One of the envoys I sent to Sojourn has returned bearing an item won at auction. Of course, I wanted to present it publicly, along with more commendations for your valor, but I know time is of the essence. You’d more likely be annoyed by the ceremony than grateful, in any case, so…” She shrugged, allowing her sentence to go unfinished, and then she held out her hand and a polished, black, wooden box appeared in her palm.

Victor stepped closer, first looking at the box, then shifting his gaze to Kynna’s face and the white flames flickering inside her crystalline eyes. “I appreciate the lengths you’ve been going to. I know epic bloodline treasures are uncommon. What is it?”

“Take it and see.” Again, Kynna proffered the box, and Victor nodded, taking it from her hand. It was square—about the size of a Rubik's cube he’d gotten from one of his aunties that he’d never had the patience to solve.

“Should I open it?” He asked the question because he knew some natural treasures lost their potency rapidly when exposed to the air. Kynna nodded, her eyebrows tilting up in the center with eager anticipation. Victor lifted the lid off the box. It was delicately crafted and lined with black velour padding. Inside, sat a walnut about the size of a tennis ball. Clearly, it wasn’t exactly a walnut. For one thing, the shell was dark brown—almost black. And, while the nut had the wrinkles in its shell similar to a walnut, it was too round.

Victor’s nose instantly picked up the woodsy, coffee-ground scent of the nut, and, underneath that strong odor, a hint of sweet vanilla that made his mouth water. He lifted it to his nose and sniffed, his eyes going wide with the wonderful aroma. “It makes me want to try to crunch that shell with my teeth!”

Kynna laughed. “The authentication documents say that anyone who catches a whiff of the meat inside that shell will be powerless in the face of the temptation.”

Victor smiled and held the open box out toward Bryn. “Smell that.”

She leaned close and sniffed. Her mouth dropped open, her eyes bulged, and Victor saw a trickle of drool begin to slide out of the corner of her lips. He laughed, and pulled it back, holding it out to Arona. She took a step back, shaking her head. “You think it’s funny to torture people. Look at poor Bryn!”

Victor clicked his tongue, continuing to chuckle as he put the lid back on the box. “I dunno, I’d want to know what it smelled like if I was standing in Bryn’s shoes.”

Bryn laughed, nodding good naturedly, even as she blushed. “I did! I was desperate to know!”

Victor looked at Kynna. “Thank you, My Queen. What’s it called?”

She produced a small black card with gilded silver letters on one side. She squinted at them and, haltingly, pronounced, “A Yan’grovashee World Tree seed.” She shrugged and handed Victor the card. “I hope it helps you, Victor. I hope it provides some insight into your curse, or perhaps greater resistance.”

“I do too.” Victor sighed and, with a shrug, sent the magical seed into his best storage ring.

Kynna looked from Bryn to Arona, perhaps judging whether she should ask for some privacy. Apparently, she decided not to; she looked at Victor and asked, “Any progress?”

“Um, a bit, yeah.” He shrugged. “I’m doing what I can to gain strength and, if things go well, I’ll try to battle the curse on the spirit plane soon. I imagine I’ll be out of it for a while when I consume your gift. Do you have any news regarding my next duel?”

Kynna shook her head. “I continue to pressure House Voth, but Bomar Lund has stockpiled enormous resource caches, and the other great houses support him. I believe he can resist my efforts to force a duel for a very long time. As I consolidate power on this continent, however, I know it rankles House Khaliday; every week their empire diminishes. They won’t stand for it, not for long. Soon they’ll pressure one of the other houses to come forward with a champion they hope can slay you.”

“Your Majesty,” Arona said, stepping a little closer to the two of them, “don’t you fear assassination?”

“The veil walkers are still on war footing after the attempt on Lohanse’s life. They limit movement between continents to the established teleportation networks, making sneaking a kill squad into Victor’s duchy much more difficult. Moreover, even if such an attempt was made, we’ve spent the last half year reinforcing the defenses of this keep.” She smiled and looked around, her eyes lingering on the stone walls of the tower. “The bones of this place are ancient and they run deep. It’s well situated atop this hill, and having the city five miles away is a tactical advantage my palace in Gloria lacks.”

Arona looked at Victor, pressing her palms together as she performed a strange half-bow, something he’d never seen her do before. In her raspy voice, she very solemnly said, “I will stand guard over this place while you undergo whatever that potent seed does to you.”

Kynna cocked her head to the side, making it clear that her tall, crystalline crown magically held its position. “That’s very noble of you, Arona Moonshadow.”

Arona turned to the queen, her palms still pressed together, her head still bowed. “I owe Victor much, and I intend to do my part to see his mission on this world completed.”

“Then, if Victor is willing, I will name you a Champion of the Realm. It’s only fitting that you have the respect your actions demand.” She looked at Victor, an eyebrow arched questioningly.

Victor shook his head. “No, My Queen. Make her a captain of the Queensguard if you want, but not a champion. If this nut knocks me out for a month and you need someone to fight one of the champions of the great houses, I won’t have Arona step into that role.”

Kynna’s mouth partially opened, and Victor wasn’t sure if she was going to deny that intention or if she was going to argue that he should allow it, but she must have thought better of her words in either case. She closed her mouth, nodding. “I understand.”

“Thanks.” Victor turned to Arona. “Thank you for watching things around here while I’m out of it, though.”

“Um, Your Grace,” Bryn said, shifting so her golden glaive sizzled and flickered with Energy, “Let’s not forget that quite a few capable folks are already guarding this palace!”

Arona turned to Bryn, looking up from her solemn bow. “Of course, Baroness. I meant no offense.”

Bryn nodded, cheeks flushing, clearly uncomfortable speaking up in front of the queen. “None taken.”

Victor felt like he needed to put an end to the impromptu little meeting before someone did take offense, so he cleared his throat and motioned vaguely toward the door. “I suppose I should consume this thing right away. The sooner I do, the sooner I’ll be done with whatever ordeal it puts me through, right?”

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Kynna nodded. “I wouldn’t have immediately brought it to you if I disagreed. Will you do it here?”

Victor nodded and absently rubbed his chest near the constant, roiling fire at the center of it. He honestly didn’t know how he was able to chat and laugh; it felt like he was being branded with a hot iron on a constant basis. Someone, maybe a coach, once told him that a person can get used to any level of misery over time. Victor wasn’t sure that was true, but he was definitely less grouchy than when the curse had first afflicted him. “Yeah,” he said after a few seconds of thought. “In my cultivation chamber. It’s secure and the thick Energies should help stave off the void.”

Kynna watched his hand where it pressed against the edge of his pectoral, carefully avoiding the center of his breastbone. “Is it terribly uncomfortable?”

Victor cocked a lopsided grin and lowered his hand. “Nah, it’s not bad.”

“Liar,” Bryn muttered.

Kynna looked at her sharply, then at Victor with more concern. “Hiding the truth from us will not make anything easier.” She stepped closer and reached out to grasp his shoulder, her fingers surprisingly strong as she gripped his muscles. “Let us in, Victor.”

Victor took a long deep breath through his nose, then shrugged. “It’s awful. I’m worried something is wrong with me. How can I periodically forget about something this fucking painful? Am I losing my mind? I was laughing earlier. I was excited about my completed cultivation chamber! My stomach was rumbling and I was thinking about barbecuing some Lava King flesh to eat—long story. Still, how can I do all that when this is going on?” He reached up to his collar and ripped his shirt open, revealing the marble-sized sphere of nothingness that was eating his flesh, just a tiny bit faster than it could regenerate.

Bryn hissed through her teeth and blurted, “It’s so much bigger!”

Kynna looked at Bryn and then Arona. “Is it?”

Victor answered before his friend had to. “Yeah, it is. It’s nothing like when Loss cast the spell, though. It’s only growing a tiny bit every day, but I guess if it’s a percentage, the pace will become unmanageable.” Victor summoned the treasure Kynna had given him and held the polished box up. “Hopefully this will help. Maybe it will improve my regeneration. Maybe I’ll have some other kind of breakthrough.”

“Hopefully,” Kynna agreed. “Even if it does, or if it doesn’t, you need to rely on us more. I am a queen, yes, but I’m also your friend. You wouldn’t have that curse if not for me—my kingdom.”

Victor shook his head. “Nah, Kynna. This is on me and, maybe a little on Ranish Dar.” He chuckled ruefully. “You’ve tried to stop me half a dozen times.”

“She’s right, though,” Arona rasped, her dry voice cutting through any nonsense. “I owe you everything. Let me help you more. If nothing else, you should feel comfortable enough to vent to me. Your mind isn’t broken, though; I can tell you that right now. Your subconscious knows you can’t do anything about the pain. When you don’t think about it, part of you is tuning it out so that you can continue living and hopefully find a solution to the problem.” freёwebnoѵel.com

“She’s right,” Bryn added. “My father tamed a Fellhawk when I was a girl. We watched it hunting the slopes near our home for months before he finally coaxed it close enough to get a good look at it. He had a broken-off arrow in his wing, the barbed arrowhead had scar tissue grown around it, but even so, every time he flapped his wings, the blades would cut his flesh. I remember thinking how difficult it must be to hunt with that constant pain. My father told me that the mind and body can adapt to much when it comes to survival.”

Kynna looked at Bryn with an appraising expression. “I’ve never heard you speak so much at once, Bryn. I’m impressed—and heartened—by your story. Do you hear that, Victor? It’s natural for you to learn to function through your pain.”

Victor forced a smile, though he wasn’t feeling very jovial at the moment. Even so, he appreciated what the three of them were trying to do, so he said what they wanted to hear, “I know you’re right. I should confide in you more.”

“Go then!” Kynna said with a firm nod. “Go.” She turned to Bryn. “You’ll keep me posted on his status?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” Brynn straightened into attention and saluted for good measure.

Kynna turned to the door. “Come see me when you’re done, Victor, and don’t worry about us. Everything will be fine while you’re busy.”

“I will.” Victor watched her leave, then turned to Arona. “I guess I’ll be in my cultivation chamber.”

“No one can open that if you lock it, Victor,” Bryn said as though he’d forgotten.

“Exactly.” He deftly tossed the box with the priceless treasure inside it from one hand to the other, then turned and walked back to his workshop. Naturally, both women followed him.

“What if we need to help you? How will we look in on you?” Arona asked.

“Here.” Victor held his hand to the smooth section of amber ore on the door. After the locks disengaged, he kept his hand there until a circle of faintly glowing silvery runes appeared. He removed his hand and said, “Put your hand there, now, Arona.” Arona quickly stepped forward and held her palm on the metal. A moment later the silvery runes flashed and faded. “Now you can lock and unlock the door.”

Arona lowered her arm and leaned her shoulder against the door. “Bryn should have permission, too.”

Victor shook his head, looking directly into Bryn’s eyes. “I trust Bryn, but she’s not as strong as you—yet. Someone could force her to open this door against her will. You understand, Bryn?”

The former guardswoman nodded, smiling reassuringly. “I do, Victor. It’s enough that one of us can reach you.”

Arona still stood between Victor and the door and when she didn’t move, he said, “Well?”

“Are you sure you want to do this now? An epic bloodline treasure could take weeks for your body to process.”

“Yeah, I think the last one I ate was about a week.” Victor shrugged. “I mean, I’m hungry. I was going to go and cook something; that much was true. I have snacks in my ring.” He didn’t mention that the “snacks” were behemoth hearts. “I’ll probably sit in there and meditate for a while. I’ll have a solitary meal and then I’m going to eat this magical nut for dessert.” He held up the box. “There’s no point waiting.” He gestured to his chest where his ripped shirt hung open. “Every day this thing gets bigger.”

“We’ll be here, Victor,” Bryn said, thumping the butt of her glaive’s haft on the hardwood flooring.

“Thank you.” Victor reached past Arona and pulled the door open, forcing the much smaller woman to step away hurriedly. “See you two soon.” He could tell Arona wanted to say something more, but she didn’t and he didn’t want to drag the moment out any longer. He stepped into the vault, looked into each of their eyes one more time, then pulled it closed with a resounding clang. He touched his hand to the smooth surface at the center and held it there until the locks thunked into place.

Already, the air in his cultivation chamber was thick with the elemental Energies of blue ice and magma. He could feel them as he inhaled, seeping into the wide pathway leading from his lungs and into his Breath Core. It was very satisfying, and he thought he could feel a slight relief in his chest where the void busily worked to eradicate his flesh. Was its influence lessened there in his cultivation chamber? Did the thick currents of Energy make it harder for the absence of anything to assert itself? He hoped so.

He climbed the steps to the platform at the sphere's center and sat down. The platform was large enough for him to sit comfortably, and he thought there was even enough room left over to lie down. Sitting there, he decided to make good on his promise to eat something. He summoned one of the behemoth hearts from his last dungeon run. The thing was enormous, though not as large as the gargantuopod’s. Even so, Victor didn’t think he’d be able to eat more than one at a time.

Without any ceremony or hesitation, he began to bite hunks out of the hot, tough flesh. He chewed absently, enjoying the flavor as always, but his mind wandered. He thought about Kynna and her words, about how concerned everyone seemed. He thought about Valla and Rellia and felt a little guilty for not seeing them again while he and Arona were on Fanwath to run the dungeon. In the back of his mind, he knew why he was having those thoughts: some part of him wondered if he might die in that chamber.

If the treasure knocked him out for weeks and did nothing to slow the curse's progress, it could grow large enough to consume part of his heart. Could his regeneration keep him alive as his heart was constantly eroded? He swallowed the last hunk of the behemoth’s heart and summoned a flask of wine to rinse his mouth.

The meat in his gut was hot and full of Energy, but no vision overcame him. He didn’t lose consciousness, and he didn’t get any System messages. Nevertheless, he felt those deep wells of Energy flow into his Core and flood it with power. It swelled and strained, fighting against the pressure that kept it from advancing.

His Spirit Core was on the third rank of the epic tier, and Victor had a feeling another heart like the one he just ate would push it into the fourth. Considering some of the people he’d met on Sojourn spent years trying to cultivate enough Energy to advance through an epic rank, Victor wouldn’t complain about that.

As the heat in his gut dissipated, and he finished the flask of wine, he picked up the box containing the natural treasure. “Time for dessert, I guess.”