The Duke of Tremont II - Bloodspell

Chapter 21

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Father Ryan was jolted from sleep to the sound of a loud crack that was almost like thunder and the walls of his cell shaking violently. An unearthly scream echoed throughout the dungeons and then all fell still and silent. He sat up on the small cot and rubbed his eyes, wondering what on earth was happening.

After a few more moments of listening, Father Ryan stood and slowly made his way to the door of his cell. The oil lights out in the corridor were still lit and he grabbed the bars on the window of the door so he could pull himself up to peer out. He jumped back in surprise when the door slowly swung open. His cell was unlocked! He cautiously stepped out and peered down the hall. Oddly, the place was deserted, and the eerie silence was almost scarier than being held captive.

Then he noticed a guard unconscious on the floor. Ryan did not see any obvious wounds, but he did not stop to check either. He approached the room he knew was Mage Kipton's private work chamber, the place he knew the foul man had been holed up, torturing that poor boy. That door was wide open as well, and Ryan could not resist his curiosity and stopped to peer inside.

What he saw inside literally took his breath away. The room, which was littered with broken furniture and debris, was destroyed. He saw Kipton lying on the floor, curled in on himself, what looked like the remains of his right hand held close to his body. Across the room lay the young blond man whom Ryan had been caring for just that morning. He ran to the young man's side, and dropped to his knees, mindless of the blood pooled everywhere. He checked for a pulse, and was relieved to find one, though it was faint. He sucked in a breath when he saw the gash in the man’s head, correctly guessing that it was the most urgent injury. He began ripping a strip off of his own robe to help staunch the wound.

So caught up in his work was he, that he didn't notice the glowing ball of light that floated into the room, growing larger, until King Dryden himself, stood just behind the frantic priest. "I hope for your sake you are working to save the lad," Dryden's cold voice pierced the air, startling Ryan.

The priest turned and stared at the imposing man, who could be mistaken for none other than one of the fairy race. "I...my cell was open...the guard was just lying there...I found him here," Ryan stuttered. "I was ordered to help him earlier today," he finished lamely.

"You were a prisoner here?" Dryden knelt next to Justin, running a gentle hand over his brow.

"Yes, I am considered to be a traitor, since I am loyal to our lawful king, Tristan of Maynor."

"Then you shall come with us." Dryden gathered Justin into his arms and stood easily, as if he were a small child.

"Go...go where?" Father Ryan asked hesitantly.

"I must take him back to his lover to be healed and then on to Pennington where you will be reunited with your prince. The mage and his guards will probably wake soon. The guards are laced with Kipton's magic and they were probably knocked out when Justin broke the blood spell.

"Mage Kipton has done horrible things, my lord." Ryan dared to look into Dryden's eyes.
"Not the least of which were to this young man."

"I see that," Dryden sighed as he bent his head to place a gentle kiss to Justin's brow. He looked over to where the man in question still lay. "I say let him live with the deformity Justin has bestowed upon him. The dastardly spell he once wrought has now been broken and he is no longer a threat. It will be up to Pennington's king to deal with the Duke of Stockwell. Now quickly, hold my arm. We have no time to lose."

Father Ryan only hesitated for a moment before he took a deep breath and grabbed onto the strange fairy's arm. At this point anything was better than his cell here, and the man did say he could see Tristan again. How on earth had Tristan gotten all the way to Pennington? His thoughts were interrupted by a bright flash and then it felt as if his stomach dropped to his toes.

 

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Brian was just coming around when Dryden, Justin and Ryan flashed into the clearing near their fire. Dryden tossed a bright light above them, so they could all see in the dark night. "Justin!" Brian called as he scrambled to his feet and made his way to Dryden's side. He looked up into the fairy's eyes. "Thank you for saving him."

Dryden cradled the young man's body closer to him. "He called, dluthchara," he answered Brian, whose eyes immediately went to Justin's blood encrusted ring.

Brian leaned down and gently kissed Justin's head and then placed his forehead on Dryden's shoulder. "He did not really call you," he almost whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "And yet you came anyway."

"Since you have been gone, the two of you have never left my heart." Dryden kissed Brian's forehead gently. "Now we need to lay him down so you can help him. Quickly! He's fading."

Brian pulled away and looked at his friends, who were all staring at Dryden in awe. There was no question that this was the king of the fairies, of whom Brian and Justin were so fond. "Michael, bring a bedroll to lay Justin on! Hurry!"

Brian's sharp order broke all of them out of their reverie, and Michael hurried to do his task.

"Father Ryan?" Blake finally noticed the other man. "How did you come to be here?"

"Ah, my lord, it is good to see a friendly face," the priest addressed Blake. "I was being held prisoner by Mage Kipton for speaking out against the duke. Kipton had me nurse that one after he had tortured him. Tonight Kipton took him again, and I fell asleep in my cell. I awoke to thunder and screaming, and my cell door was open. That is when I came upon this young man in Kipton's chamber. He was bleeding and unconscious, as was Kipton, then this…uh…man arrived." He pointed to Dryden. "And here we are."

"Yes, that is it in a nutshell," Dryden added dryly as he lay Justin down on the bed Michael had brought. Brian was already at the younger man's side, working his healing magic.

"God, he's a mess," Ben breathed out quietly.

"He has been sorely mistreated by that monster," agreed Father Ryan.

"What of Kipton? What happened? Brian has been unable to tell us anything," Blake asked the fairy king.

"Young Justin was able to destroy the catalyst," replied Dryden. "The blood spell cast on both your kingdoms has been broken."

Blake almost sank to his knees in relief. "Thank God," he replied. "And Kipton?"

"He lives, but he has been sorely maimed by our young friend."

Brian moaned softly and sat back, swaying woozily. "Brian!" Dryden cried as he moved to steady the man.

Brian let himself sag into the king's arms. "I've healed the major injuries, but there is so much damage." His voice broke a little. "I'm too tired to do any more now."

They all looked at Justin, and saw that the gaping head wound was gone, but he was still unconscious, battered and bruised. "He'll be all right for now," Dryden replied. "Now all of you gather your things and your horses."

"Where are we going?" asked Tim.

"There's no way Brian and Justin can travel," interjected Michael.

"I don't think…" began Blake.

Dryden held up a hand. "I'm sending you all back to Pennington. Sylvania to be exact."

"But, what about Duke James? He has a huge army. He must be stopped," Tim argued.

"And you are going to do this alone?" Dryden asked. "No, I think not. Your father will be recovered shortly, young prince. You have all accomplished what you came to do. The blood spell has been broken. Duke James' army is a fight for another day."

"You are right," Brian agreed with Dryden. "But we still cannot travel right now, highness." He slumped a bit more in Dryden's arms.

"I will send you all through a fairy portal, but then I must go. I have interfered enough in the affairs of men. I must get back to my own kingdom."

"Thank you, again." Brian laid his hand over Dryden's where the other man's arm was still holding him steady. "All of you do as he says. Gather the supplies and horses. We are going home."

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Daphne and Kelton glowed bright blue as they worked on ridding King Jonathan of his illness. Queen Elaine sat in a chair nearby, unconsciously wringing her hands as she observed how pale and ill her husband looked. She knew in her heart that he would not last much longer.

Suddenly the healers sat back in surprise as their aura disappeared.

"What is it?" Elaine asked. She got out of her chair and moved closer. "Oh my God," she exclaimed when she looked at her husband.

His brown eyes stared back at her in confusion. "Elaine?" he asked weakly.

"My God! Jonathan! You are awake." She turned to Daphne. "What does this mean?"

“I…I don't know," Daphne answered in shock. She laid a hand on Jonathan again and
focused her sight inward. "It's gone!" she exclaimed. "The illness is gone!"

"Does that mean…" Elaine started.

"They did it!" Daphne nodded as her smile grew. "They broke the spell!"

Before anyone could say anything else the door to the chamber burst open and Young Brian, Charles, Hunter and Timothy all crowded in.

"Timothy!" called Elaine when she saw her second eldest son come in with the others.

"Mother, we're back!" he cried as he hurried over to embrace his mother.

"Help me up," Jonathan called weakly to no one in particular. "I want to see."
Kelton quickly moved to the king's side and helped the weakened king to sit up, propping pillows behind his back.

Just as Kelton moved away, a bedraggled and unshaven Brian stepped into the room.

"Brother," Brian breathed out when he saw Jonathan sitting up.

"I told you I would wait for you." The king smiled as Brian moved to sit on the edge of his bed. "I knew you would save me."

"It was Justin," Brian replied softly. "Justin saved you."

"Where is he?" Daphne looked to the door and then back to Brian. "Where is Justin?"

"They are taking him to their room," Tim replied for his uncle. "I think it's best if you go to him, Daphne."

"Oh, God." Daphne stood, pulling Kelton with her. "Let's go." They exited quickly.

"Brian," Jonathan called his brother. Brian remained still as he stared at a point across the room. "Brian, what happened? What's wrong with Justin?" Jonathan weakly reached for his brother, trying to elicit a response.

Brian finally focused his attention back to his brother. "Everything," he replied simply, as his face crumpled, the stress and horrors of the last few days finally crashing in on him now that they were all relatively safe. He leaned forward so his head lay on Jonathan's lap, shoulders heaving as he sobbed.

Jonathan reached a hand to his wife as he imparted with one look that he would be fine and she should take the others out of the room. Elaine smiled a tearful smile at her husband, knowing they would have plenty of time for their own joyful reunion later. It was obvious Brian needed his brother. "Come on, boys," she spoke to her sons. "Your father and uncle need to rest. Let us go and see how young Tristan is faring. He should be awake too."

When the others left, Jonathan simply ran a gentle hand through his brother's hair, as the younger man sobbed out the story of all they had been through the last few days. A few tears trickled down Jonathan's own cheek, when Brian described Justin's ordeal.

When Queen Elaine came back to check on them a half hour later both brothers were sound asleep in the king's vast bed.
 

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"Who are you?" Brian asked sharply a few hours later when he entered the chambers that he and Justin always shared when they stayed in Sylvania.

"I am Kelton," replied the young healer, a bit disconcerted by Brian's blunt question.

Brian ignored him turning to Daphne. "Who is he?"

"Brian, be nice," Daphne admonished. "He is a healer like me, and he is my lover. Kelton, this is Prince Brian, Duke of Tremont."

Kelton bowed slightly. "I am pleased to meet you, my lord."

"We shall see." Brian stared at him for a moment without saying anything else. He finally turned his attention to his pale lover, who lay unmoving in their bed. He noticed immediately that his cuts and bruises had faded a bit. "He looks better," he exclaimed with surprise.

Daphne nodded and took Justin's hand. "Kelton and I have discovered that we work well together. We can form a healing meld that is twice as effective as working alone. It has helped greatly to keep Tristan and the king alive."

"Good," Brian replied shortly. He noticed how tired they both looked. "You should get some sleep."

"Brian, the spell," Daphne asked. "Is it really broken? How did you…"

Brian put up a hand. "Not now, Daph. When Justin is better we will tell all of you at once." He moved to sit down on the bed next to his lover. "We still have plans to make, but I cannot do anything, but help him now. Has he woken at all?"

Daphne stood up and kissed Brian's cheek. "No, he hasn't, but he will. He's strong, Brian. He'll be all right."

"I know," Brian replied as he picked up Justin's limp hand in his. "Get some sleep, both of you." He pinned Kelton with a pointed stare. "And I will be having a chat with you later, when I'm more of myself."

"Uh…yes…um, my lord…uh…sir," Kelton stuttered back as Daphne led him from the room.

"Well, sunshine," Brian spoke softly as he stood up to remove his pants. "It's just you and me now, and we're finally in our own bed." He crawled in beside his lover. I love you, Justin. Please come back to me. He spoke the last part into Justin's mind.

His only reply was silence.
 

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