“Zoelyn don’t!” Caleb snapped and started to rise from his chair. His gaze flicked back to Shade and he ground his teeth in frustration.
“Jala, activate this gem.” Zoelyn ordered as pointed to a tiny blue stone and tossed the amulet to Jala.
Jala stared down at it bewildered for a moment, and glanced at Zoelyn once more before she activated the indicated stone.
At the slightest brush of magic against the amulet the blue gem flared to life and a tiny voice echoed through the room. “I miss you daddy, when are you coming home? Momma says you have been gone too long already. Will you bring me a puppy when you come back?”
“Syrah no! You don’t ask for things when sending love.” Another voice broke in with laughter hidden in the words and Zoelyn felt her eyes go glassy at the sound of Nel’s voice. It had been years since she had heard her, and a part of her had been praying Nel had escaped from Amdany and was in hiding. It was something she hadn’t allowed herself to think about at all, until Grim had stepped off of the ship today.
“So sorry. Love you daddy, just come home I don’t need the puppy. I just want you home again. We miss you. ” The tiny voice amended sweetly.
Caleb had frozen in place at the voices and the entire room was silent as the magic of the amulet went dormant once more. Tears had filled his dark eyes and Zoelyn could tell he was struggling to keep his emotions in check. “Damn you.” He muttered bitterly as he inhaled raggedly and tried desperately to focus on Shade’s wounds once more.
“I didn’t do it to hurt you Grim. I did it to remind you.” Zoelyn said softly. She met his eyes once more as a tear rolled slowly down her cheek. “I met Syrah before you did Grim. I was there when she was born, and I knew Nel better than anyone else other than you. You are walking the wrong path and I’m friend enough to tell you that no matter how much it hurts.”
“I do what needs to be done, and nothing more.” Caleb said quietly as he turned his full attention to Shade. Zoelyn could tell by his expression that he had pushed his emotions too far back for her to reason with him now. Grim was quite possibly the most stubborn person she knew, but then she was Delvay so she was more than up to the task of butting heads with him.
“You used to only say that when Micah sent you to do something you really didn’t want to do. No one gave you these orders Grim. You don’t have to follow them.” Zoelyn said quietly and stepped back against the wall once more. Jala was watching her and gave her an approving smile. She nodded in return and folded her arms across her chest.
Kevala’drin was a noble pursuit, and it required more courage than most possessed, but it was not something she would allow no matter how much she respected the man for suggesting it. It would have been hard enough to lose a friend no matter how noble the deed, but she wouldn’t allow Syrah to suffer more pain and loss than she already had.
“Rest easy where ever you are Nel. I won’t let him die, and Syrah won’t be alone.” Zoelyn promised in a voice so low her words wouldn’t carry to the others in the room.
*
Night had fallen before Zoelyn sought him out again. It wasn’t hard to track him down. Everyone else in the house had retired for the night, and the light in the kitchen led her right to him. He was seated with his back to the wall and holding the flower shaped amulet in his hands. Behind him water was boiling on the stove and Zoelyn recognized the scent of the herbs in it at once.
“Hero’s folly.” She observed quietly as she stepped into the room and let the door close softly behind her. The potion was a mixture of several very potent herbs and quite possibly the single most thing that healers despised more than violence itself. Once it was swallowed the potion would greatly increase natural regeneration and deaden the nerves allowing it’s user to fight far past the point they should. Dominic often said that only one in ten lived through the folly and the potion itself was often more deadly than the fight it was used for.
Caleb looked up silently and watched her as she approached. He look exhausted and so grief stricken that she felt like a bully for coming to pester him further. He gave a slight nod, but remained silent as he sat the amulet carefully down on the table before him.
“I take it that by brewing that I should accept that you haven’t changed your mind then.” Zoelyn muttered as she considered dumping the potion down the sink. He would likely throttle her for it though. The herbs used to make the potion were costly and very hard to find. He must have had them tucked into his backpack, because she knew Jala didn’t have them in her house.
Caleb closed his eyes and leaned forward to rest his chin on his arms still silent. One hand reached out to push lightly at the amulet and he looked up at her with a sad smile. “There is nothing worse than to be the last one standing Zoey.”
“Agreed.” Zoelyn said softly leaving the obvious words unspoken. So don’t do that to Syrah. She slid slowly down into the chair across from him and crossed her own arms on the table. “When I saw you step off of that ship today my heart soared. They said you were dead, but part of me refused to believe that. People like you don’t die easily. It’s been years Grim, and now here you are, and I’m about to lose you again.” Her voice grew faint and she felt fresh tears stinging her eyes.