Jasper's jumpkey dumped them right outside the gates of the hidden city. As soon as they touched down, the compact, wooden spikes serving as a wall swung open. Battlemages clad in Viking armor poured through the opening with weapons and magic in their hands. Leading them was an older, broad-shouldered woman with hair the color of marmalade.
Sebastian knew her as Catherine the Vanquisher, wife of the chief of House Brynjir. After a brief period of questioning, the woman let him and his friends inside their gates. A few healers took Makaela's unconscious body to the infirmary while Sebastian and the others were led to the barracks. Letting them take her alone was the last thing on his mind, but Catherine insisted on letting her doctors work in private.
That was two days ago.
Makaela had yet to open her eyes.
Sebastian had been reduced to nothing more than a bundle of nerves since then. He couldn't even celebrate his victory. Not only had they escaped the Order, but he also managed to find the Illumio before they left.
None of that mattered if Makaela didn't wake up again, though.
Every few hours he would visit her in the infirmary, sitting next to her bed and studying her still features as he waited for her to wake up. He noted how cute her button-shaped nose looked on her face and how her rich complexion caught the light of the candles burning on the walls at night.
According to Hodvekt's head healer, she was alive. Nearly all of her vitalae had been drained in Nightfall. Sebastian wasn't sure how, but he was glad he got to her when he did. Had it been fully exhausted...
He clenched his jaw.
Shadows crossed his face as he sat in the infirmary. Rows of beds lined either wall of the long room, most unoccupied. Though, a few injured battlemages were sprawled out on the small beds. Makaela's was towards the end of the room, away from everyone else.
Sebastian had fallen asleep in the chair next to her cot. He hadn't meant to, but he wanted to be there when she woke up-whenever that ended up being.
Sighing, he rubbed his temples.
This was screwing with his head. Caring for someone other than himself wasn't typical of him. He didn't even care when his sister nearly died during a duel when they were thirteen. The last time he cared about someone, they vanished from his life.
He vowed to never make the mistake again.
Up until now, he had been making good on his promise. Makaela made him break it. He wished she hadn't. His heart wouldn't be able to take it if she wasn't alright. She had to be alright. The group needed her. The prophecy needed her.
He needed her.
"She will wake up," someone said behind him.
Sebastian whipped his head around. He sighed. "What're you doing here. Catherine?"
"Bringing the girl some more vithea," she explained. Steam rose from the wooden mug in her hands.
Sebastian's mouth watered at the mention of the life-giving tea. Vithea was harvested from a rare plant native to the frozen mountains of Tibet and only harvestable during a short period in the spring. With House Vaya closing its doors to the outside world ten years ago, vithea was nearly impossible to come by.
Catherine set the tea down on the table next to Makaela's table. "Make sure she drinks this when she wakes up. I'm sure you'll still be here when she does."
Nodding, Sebastian rested his chin on his palm. His eyes were starting to get heavy.
"Achilles will be back tomorrow," the woman told him. "He'll speak with you then."
He would've preferred to speak to the chief of House Brynjir immediately, but he'd take what he could get. Rubbing the back of his neck, he gave the woman an appreciative glance.
"Thank you again for taking us in. I know House Tenebris and House Brynjir don't get along, so I appreciate your hospitality."
"I don't have a problem with you shadoweavers." She sent him a wry smile. "Though, Achilles might not be too happy to see you. He and your father have a...tricky relationship."
Sebastian groaned into his hand.
"I can see that you really care for her," Catherine said. "Everyone always said you two would make a great couple ever since you were children." She peered out the window and at the fading moon. "Fate has a funny way of bringing people back together."
His face reddened.
"We're not a couple," he told her.
"You're not? Could've fooled me."
Sebastian rolled his eyes.
"Take care of her." Catherine patted his shoulder. She gestured at the tea on the table. "And make sure she drinks that."
"I will. Thank you."
The woman nodded and left the room. In her absence, he mulled over her words.
Was it that obvious?
The sound of bed sheets rustling hit his ears. Sitting up in his chair, he rubbed his eyes and peered at the girl in the bed beside him. It was the first time he had seen her move. A hopeful glint brightened his eyes.
Through the window opposite him, he took note of the sun's position in the dark blue sky above. Morning was approaching.
Makaela shifted again, her eyes moving rapidly behind her eyelids.
He shot up from his chair, nearly tripping over himself, and knelt next to her. Gently brushing her wet curls out her face, he watched her intently as she emerged from her prolonged slumber.
Golden eyes met his umber ones. Flecks of brown dotted her brilliant irises as he stared deeply into them. She blinked a few times, freezing against the cot as she looked around. Confusion filled her face. Fear followed.
He quickly placed his hands on her shoulders, urging her to calm down.
She whimpered, body shaking as she stared back at him. Her bottom lip trembled. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.
"Where..." She swallowed hard before continuing. "Where am I?"
"The infirmary," he answered. Smiling, he stroked the top of her head. Her hair was softer than sheep's wool. "You're safe. We made it to Hodvekt."
A sigh of relief left her lips. She dropped back onto the bed and closed her eyes again. Then she started coughing. She was able to croak out a single word before being afflicted by the coughs again.
Water.
Sebastian swiftly grabbed the mug one of the healers left on the table next to her bed. While it wasn't water, the brew inside would help her feel better. The herbalists within the village made her a tea that would assist with rebuilding her vitalae reserves. It would take some time, but she should've been back in top shape within the next day or so.
He brought the cup to her quaking lips and ordered her to drink.
She did.
"Thank you," she said breathlessly after wiping her mouth. A smile settled on her mouth. "I can't believe we made it."
"You and me both."
Her eyes widened. "Remy?"
"He's asleep. Imogen's with him."
She went silent, her eyes traveling to the window. "Have you been here all night?"
Sebastian's face warmed. "Maybe."
Her smile grew. "Who knew you were such a softie."
"I'm not," he said, his tone flat. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Mhmm." She patted his forearm. "Your secret is safe with me."
He rolled his eyes. He'd tolerate her teasing for now. After all, she had just awoken from a coma. But he wasn't a softie. He couldn't have something like that attached to his name. He had a reputation to uphold.
"Go get some rest," she told him.
He frowned down at her. "Huh?"
"No offense, but you look terrible. You need to sleep."
"I'm fine."
In actuality, he wasn't. He had only gotten a few minutes of sleep in the chair, and it wasn't exactly the most comfortable resting place. Aches and pains riddled his bruised body. Still, he didn't want to leave her alone. The healers wouldn't be awake for the next few hours. What if she needed him?
"Sebastian," Makaela said sternly. "Go to bed. It's not a request."
"You can't boss me around."
"Oh really?" She lifted an eyebrow at her.
Exhaling in defeat, he rose to his feet. "Alright, alright." He half-turned away from her. "You sure you're going to be okay in here?"
"Yes," she said. "I'm not a child. I can take care of myself."
Those were bold words from someone who had been moments away from death. He supposed he shouldn't have expected anything else from the girl, though. She would've never admitted to needing help even if her life was on the line. Pride, while admirable at times, was a dangerous thing.
"I'll come get you before breakfast starts."
He had been told they were serving French toast in the mess hall later that day. Something told him Makaela wouldn't want to miss out on that.
She nodded gratefully at him.
Giving her one last look, Sebastian turned and left the infirmary.
❁
Makaela attacked her stack of French toast as if she'd never seen food before. Sebastian had to tell her to slow down, fearing she'd choke on her breakfast. She didn't seem to be too concerned.
As she chomped away at a thick slice of bacon, a couple of the magicians sitting at the tables littered around the huge mess hall shot her amused looks. Some of them even chanted encouragingly at her as she wolfed it down.
Sebastian chuckled to himself as he nibbled on a slice of crispy bacon. He was just glad she was out of the infirmary.
"Looks like someone was hungry," Remy quipped from across their table. He held an ice pack against the bruise on his head. It had started to go down, reduced to a small purplish splotch against his fair skin.
Makaela rolled her eyes while wiping syrup from her mouth. "You'd be starving too if you were asleep for two whole days."
"Touché."
Out the corner of his eye, Sebastian spotted a party of magicians entered the opened doors of the cafeteria. They were headed by Catherine and a burly man with a thick, orange beard. The pair shared the same eyes, greener than the flags hanging from the rafters above.
Sebastian grinned.
No way.
He stood up, his arms folded as the group made its way toward them.
"Uh, who is that?" Imogen asked. The battlemages had given her a new jacket-one made of brown leather with House Brynjir patches stitched into the shoulders. They hadn't found out she was an ordinaire yet. Upon their arrival in Hodvekt, Sebastian and Remy managed to convince them that she was a Solaire they met in Canada.
Luckily, no one asked to see her nonexistent mark.
"That," Sebastian began, "is-"
"Sebastian!" the orange-bearded man said as he stomped up the group's table. A huge, lopsided grin stretched across his wide face. Freckles dotted his cheeks like a constellation of orange stars. His long, fiery hair touched the tops of his shoulders. Reaching out, he grabbed Sebastian with a paw-like hand.
"Ajax Washington," Sebastian coughed out as he was forced to hug the battlemage. "It's been a while."
"A while?" Ajax laughed obnoxiously before letting him go. "I haven't seen you in years, little prince." He cocked his head at the others sitting at the table. "I heard from the scouts you want to speak to Father."
Sebastian grit his teeth at the use of his nickname. He knew better than to say anything. Ajax could kill him with a single punch if he wanted to. He was built like a titan and fought like one too.
It was hard to believe the two boys were the same age. Sebastian was even older by a few months. Ajax looked like a fully grown man, though, with his massive shoulders, bulging muscles, and facial hair. He blended right in with some of the more seasoned battlemages of his house.
"Ajax?!" Makaela squealed as she shot up from the wooden bench. She rushed over to the ginger boy and wrapped him in a hug. "Oh, my gods, you're so tall!"
He hugged her back, lifting her about a foot off the ground as he did so. Sebastian bit the inside of his cheek and looked away. "Makaela! You're alive!" He smiled weakly at her. "We weren't sure. After the purge, we all feared the worst."
Her face fell.
"Who are they?" someone in Ajax's party asked while gesturing at Remy and Imogen.
"Remy Moreau," the boy said with a wave, revealing his mark of House Lumai. "Makaela's cousin, if you hadn't pieced that together yet." A few people turned their heads, eyes wide with intrigue. It was likely the first time they had seen a lightweaver in a decade. Maybe even a lifetime.
"And you, girl?"
All eyes were on Imogen now.
Clearing her throat, the ordinaire stood up and looked around at everyone. "Uh, hi. I'm Imogen. Nice to meet you all. This is a...lovely place. Really digging the vibes."
The warrior smiled at her. "I like you!" He slammed his hand down onto their table and demanded someone bring him a plate of scrambled eggs.
Makaela gave Ajax a once over before lifting an eyebrow at him. "Um, why are you covered in dirt and blood?"
The other magicians, except for his mother Catherine, were also covered in grime. Come to think of it, Sebastian hadn't seen their faces around the village over the last few days. Catherine did mention something about a hunt that was going on. It was why Achilles couldn't speak with them until tomorrow.
"Wendigos," was all Ajax said. The warriors behind clapped their hands onto his backs, grunting in approval.
"Um, can you elaborate please?" Remy asked.
Catherine smiled proudly at her son. "A pack of wendigos has been terrorizing our farms for a few weeks now. They're quite elusive creatures; difficult to track and even harder to kill. Last week, we put together a house-wide hunting party. Whoever brought back the most heads would get a feast in their name."
Turning around, Ajax grabbed a burlap sack from one of the men behind him. Grinning, he pulled a severed head from inside.
Sebastian flinched backward at the horrific sight. Black blood dripped from where it was ripped away from its body. Dull, yellow eyes stared back at him. A long tongue fell out of the head's slack mouth, flopping around as Ajax showed it around the mess hall.
The battlemages cheered. They beat their mugs and silverware against the tables, creating a chorus of thundering booms throughout the room.
Sebastian cringed at the sight. He never understood House Brynjir's traditions. His father always said they were savages. He was starting to see why.
"For my feast," Ajax began, "I want cheesecake."
❁
Most of the day was spent preparing for the feast dedicated to Ajax's hunting party. The heads of the wendigos they beheaded were placed on pikes in the center of the village. Sebastian made sure to stay away from them.
The Order of the Black Lotus often dealt in dark creatures, but he still wasn't used to seeing them up close like that. He was grateful they were dead. From what he knew about them, fighting one often resulted in death.
Ajax and Catherine took Sebastian and his group on a tour of Hodvekt.
Wooden cabins were placed all over the grassy hills. Magicians milled about, smiling warmly at them as they passed by. Sebastian spotted a group of women hauling an elk on their shoulders to a slaughterhouse. Children ran about, zapping each other with harmless sparks of magic.
Sebastian smiled.
Hodvekt was just how he imagined.
They passed by the infamous dueling arena, which was more like a coliseum. Wooden scaffolding covered the stone arches outside. Flags with Hodvekt's symbol draped down from the domed roof. Banners with shimmering faces of past victors were placed between them. Sebastian spotted a few familiar faces, including Ajax's.
His eyes lit up.
Once this was all over, he'd get his face on one of those banners. Ajax owed him a duel anyways. The two of them sparred often when they attended academy at the Eldenarian Palace. But that was years ago.
Things had changed a lot since then.
He wasn't that scrawny little boy who cried whenever he thought about his mother anymore. Well, he was still kind of scrawny. His lanky frame refused to put on a substantial amount of muscle no matter how hard he trained.
He certainly didn't cry, though. His brain couldn't even recall the last time he truly cried.
Hopefully, it stayed that way for a long time.
Ajax's feast later that day was eventful, to say the least. Speeches were given on his behalf, congratulating him for driving the wendigos away from their settlement. They ate and drank and laughed. A brawl even broke out amongst the rowdy warrior magicians. Though, it ended faster than it began after Catherine grabbed two large battlemages and smacked their heads together. Everyone knew better than to mess with that lady. Achilles might've been the leader of their house, but she was the real enforcer.
After the feast, everyone followed Ajax and his family into the woods. Fireflies flitted through the trees, illuminating the evening air. The sun was gone, replaced by a full moon in the darkened sky. Smoke from torches rose through the leaves. Laughter and chants filled Sebastian's ears.
Eventually, they arrived at a small beach bordering two rivers that snaked around the entirety of Hodvekt. They branched away from each other at first like two snakes before entwining into a single lake. According to Remy, the rivers were referred to as the Kerlaugar.
Long, wooden ships with carved dragonhead masts were docked alongside the shore. Stone firepits were built into the sand. With a few quick spells, multiple bonfires sparked to life. Everyone sat around the roaring flames licking at the night sky. Crickets chirping filled Sebastian's ears as he sat down next to Makaela.
Her face was alight with joy, her eyes wide as she listened to the stories being told around the fires. Elder members of House Brynjir took turns telling fables of old warriors and ancient wars. She watched on in awe.
Sebastian couldn't help but smile at her.
She rested her head on his shoulder. He carefully wrapped an arm around her. The two of them seemed to fit like a puzzle piece.
The night ended with the two of them walking alone to the cabin given to them by Catherine and the other battlemages. They headed slowly down a gravel path, their hands inches away from each other as they failed to meet each other's eyes.
The two of them sat there on the wooden log, listening to the unruly group of warrior magicians tell tales of adventure as the embers of the fire crackled, its glow illuminating the night.
Sebastian hoped she couldn't hear his heart jackhammering inside his chest.
As they walked, nearing the cabin with every step, he stole a glance at her. The silver moonlight cast itself upon her mane of black curls, giving her an ethereal aura. She caught him staring and blushed.
"Yes, Sebastian?"
Clearing his throat, he looked away.
"Nothing."
He mentally scolding himself. Out the corner of his eye, he spotted her holding back a grin. His heart was doing flips now. Clenching his jaw, he shook his head.
Get a grip, you idiot.
Soon, the two of them arrived at the door of the log cabin. He jammed his hands into his pockets as she reached for the doorbell.
This was his chance.
Yet, he couldn't seem to move. He felt like someone hit him with a petrification spell.
Makaela turned around, her hands dropping to her side. She made her way up to him, chin angled upward slightly so she could look him in the eye. He counted every fleck of bronze he found in her bright irises, hoping it would help him steady his breath.
"I'm glad we came here," she told him.
"Me too," was all he could muster.
A brief period of silence settled between them. Eventually, Makaela turned back around. He could see the disappointment radiating from her. Cursing himself, he grabbed her hand.
Here goes nothing.
"What-"
He grabbed her waist, pulling her to him. Her breath hitched, her eyes growing larger than dinner plates. She placed her hands on his chest, melting under his touch. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her small ears.
"Sebastian..." she breathed out.
Their lips crashed into each other like a raging sea into a high cliff. Sebastian's arms tightened around her. She gasped into his mouth, her eyes closing as she draped her arms around his neck.
They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. Sebastian never wanted to let go.
Kissing her felt like his entire body had been electrocuted. It was a dizzying, yet addicting, feeling. His mind went blank as she pressed her lips against his, pulling his neck lower so she could meet him further.
He was forced to pull away so he could breathe.
The two of them stared at each other, breathing heavily as if they just ran a marathon.
Makaela beamed at him.
"Goodnight, Sebastian."
"Goodnight, Makaela."
She swiftly disappeared behind the door of the cabin, leaving him outside with a stupid grin on his face.
His head was still spinning. He held a finger to his lips.
He could still feel her there.
Turning around, he made his way back to his room for the night.