Nectar of War: The Song of Verity and Serenity (The Nectar of War Series Book 1)

LAVEN HEPHAESTUS ARVENALDI, II

A s I enter Carmen’s study, the six people who retain a position in his Circle are at a table. They are discussing the potentialities of war and making sure their people are prepared for what could come given recent events.

“I have layouts for you all while I am gone,” I say, setting down a paper that is folded and sealed with wax.

At the table are General Vanytha, her wife Isaren, and Carsten. Then, Amorni, Carmen’s Assassin and Emissary. She is also the woman who seeks out any information he may need—she and Morano are close confidants and look to one another when necessary for guidance on assignments. Amorni trained alongside Vanytha and Isaren yesterday and today. She will be commanding Partalos and advising the Duchesses of the reforms we are planning.

Lastly is Carmen’s Right Hand, Stefan, and Lorena’s Right Hand, Jain. They both take over if Carmen and Lorena are gone. Jain is being sent to Vaigon Citadel to attend to my mother. She is needed in the mainland so the government can operate placidly while I am withdrawn. Axynth would assist my mother; however, he will be too immersed in training with Morano. So, Jain will keep the continent under firm power when my mother is next to train for the coming days.

Carsten will be traveling through every Court within our realm for assistance in developing an inoculation. He then plans to comb through the other realms for expert Healers to aid him; considering I am unaware of who created such a virus, Carsten will be discreet in his search.

Although Vorian may have abolished most of the rogues here in Gordanta, he did not kill them all. I have coordinated patrol within the lands. If there were rogues near my home, I know they could be lingering elsewhere.

Because Gordanta is near the equivalent size of the citadel, it has compelled them to function as if they are their own continent–that making them my most vital Court. If I ever oblige any support on the citadel Carmen and his Circle is whom I go to; they handle their own and know how to defend it.

“When do you depart for Nadrexi?” Carmen asks as we walk down the hall leaving his study and the others to read over the layouts.

“I am waiting for Maivena to wake. There was an attempted rogue attack this morning near my home. It provoked her powers, and it has completely ridden her to the bed until she can sleep it off.”

“That lucky contraception has side effects like that. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“You are already helping me quite sufficiently, Carmen.” I could not ask him to do more than he and his Circle are doing.

Carmen prepares his hand. “Do not force me to slap you.”

He walks to the balcony that presents the expanse of the sea. If I strengthen my sight, I can see the backs of the Water Dragons lifting through the water as they swim by. Now is the time they are migrating back here.

“Tell me what it is that you need my help with.”

“Trees,” I exhale. “Trees on the estate of my home were splintered in half when Maivena’s capabilities erupted. Could you restore them? I do not want her to wake and see that there was carnage during her outburst. She would feel culpable for ravaging them.”

Carmen’s eyes widen. “She split trees in half?”

“Yes,” I nod. “We are still determining the depth her powers can go to.”

“Well, I will inform you now. If she was capable of splitting trees in half, she is an Elemental Bender.”

“There is more,” I add. “The sea rose to heights of waves I have never seen; the sky went dull as if it were about to hurricane.”

Carmen’s eyebrows furrow. “That is what that was?”

I do not answer him.

I begin to wonder just how far her powers expand.

“Laven, if she has the strength to make the tides of an entire sea convulse, break the earth, and change the weather over just one Court, she can do much more. Someone rarely possesses the power to dominate all elements of the universe.”

“Wait,” I stop him. “When Maivena killed the rogues, they fell like ash and bones.” They did not have all their bones, but most of them.

Carmen promptly regards what I am stating. “She burned them from the inside out.” He says in disbelief.

Fire.

“How did she do it? How did she wield her powers?” He urgently asks.

Carmen hastily walks away, and I follow.

“She screamed.”

He chuckles. “I had a feeling,” he waves a finger. “You need to teach Maivena to manage her powers and fast. If her anger rises, or if something—just the slightest thing ticks her off—she could assassinate someone with a simple fuck you.”

“You know of her abilities?” I ask as we enter his library.

Carmen grabs my arm, ascending us upstairs. We stop inside a library and he pulls a book in one of the shelves and it pushes open, revealing another hidden library on the inside.

“This library was here when Old Quamfasi ruled.” The shelf slowly closes behind us after he motions for me to enter. “There is a book on her gifts; I will give it to you to take to her. It is written by the hand of the first person of her bloodline. They explain every possible way to manage her powers. It also emphasizes that there are plenty of accidents that occur; they could say something and unintentionally cause someone’s death. I am surprised she was able to mutilate more than one body at once, but I should not be, her powers are extraordinary.”

He continues around the small, squared library in search.

Small torches flare the further we move through.

“Do you know the precise title of her powers?”

“They were first identified with the Orviantes, the Originals.” He roams through the books as he walks along the cupboards. “Here it is,” he pulls a red leather book from the shelf. “Throughout time they were soon distinguished as Vaultai’s. I will say, it is rare for our kind to have this power, it is usually only Sorcerers and Fae. This does not mean it is impossible for a Wolf to have them.”

The cover reads THE VAULTAI in gold print.

“Let her view this. I am assured you would desire to know more, so you should learn as well.”

As I sweep through the pages, various symbols of fire, ice, water, earth, and wind are drawn. Then an eerie picture of a screaming head that has been cut from its body and held by its hair.

THE ASSASSINATION OF NELDA

ELDEST DAUGHTER OF THE RUMASTI CLAN

I cringe at the drawn image and close the book.

I look to Carmen. “Do you think there are more books like this?”

“Most definitely. There is no possibility that other Orviantes from first origins have not written similar books; some could be more in-depth than this one. The only way to distinguish is to seek.

“I shall also add, there is only a matter of time before her powers reach outside of just mere elements and she finds everything that controls our universe and learns to bend that as well.”

“The Gods?” I ask.

Carmen laughs. “Deeper than the Gods. Elements that created them.”

This is when I need my father most. He was an Orviante and could help me uncover everything I needed to know.

“There are reasons her lineage was killed off or kept their abilities hidden. The Gods could never imagine ruling over beings that were stronger than them. And we all know how the Gods feel about being overpowered.”

I nod at him. “Thank you for this.” I say in reference to the book.

“Any time, it is important for you to be aware of her abilities in case matters are taken to the point of needing to keep her hidden.”

As we leave the hidden library, I see the sun beginning to set. However, the sky is bright. There is still sufficient time to arrive in Nadrexi within an acceptable hour.

*  *  *

I enter the house after Carmen leaves. When I get to my chamber, Maivena is standing by the doors of the balcony. She is clothed in her shift and robe, staring undeviatingly at the trees. The trees that now seem as if she never ruined them.

“I did that,” Maivena says in a sunken voice.

I had a feeling she was watching Carmen bring the trees back to life.

“It was an accident.” I walk closer, hoping to close this distance. But, instead, I sit down, ignorant to if she still prefers to keep a distance between us.

She studies the book in my hands. “What are you reading?”

“It is for you.” I elucidate.

Her walk is deliberate as she progresses forward. Ultimately, when she retrieves the book, I mark the recognition snapping within her eyes.

“Vaultai’s,” it is almost as if she is saying it to herself, coming to terms with her capabilities. She does not seem surprised by this book.

Has she known she has the power of a Vaultai?

“It is yours,” I nod.

I wait a moment and let her absorb the first few details of the book before she slams it shut.

“Do you want to talk about what happened?” I dare to ask.

Immediately her head shakes.

Then, I remember her telling me how she felt it unfair that I knew more about her than she does of me. I do not push it. Instead, I stand and extract a small box out of my pocket. It is velvet, black, and tiny in my palm as I hold it out.

“This is yours as well,” I speak.

Her eyes broaden, peering down at the box and back up at me.

I erupt in laughter at her apprehension. “Do not fret, it is not the sort of ring you are imagining . . . open it.” I hold it out further.

I can recognize the hesitance in her eyes.

“Maivena, if you do not prefer to take it, you do not have to.”

“No, I want it.” She sets the book down as she advances closer.

I am uncertain if she is saying this to please me or because she genuinely wants the gift. So, I choose not to overthink it and wait as she opens it.

The tiny silver latch is pulled, and the box gradually opens in her hands.

A smile takes over my face as her eyes illuminate.

“Blue Tigers Eye,” I declare. “It helps to soothe your mind and enhance mental dexterity. With you now being alert of your strength, I am hoping by wearing this it can help core you in some way.”

Maivena’s eyes well and she looks away from me to hide herself as she removes the ring from the box.

The ring is white gold—the engravings are labyrinthine with vines and leaves as the band leads to the middle to encompass the oval stone. There are even a few thorns along with the vines that reach to wrap around the Blue Tigers Eye.

She places the ring upon her index finger on her right hand. The fit is not ideal; this was deliberate. So, when she obtains the rest of her weight back, the ring is still comfortable on her finger.

“Thank you,” she smiles, gazing down at the ring. “Wait here,” Maivena says before hastening down the hall to the chamber she stayed in last night.

When she returns, she is holding her mother’s scarf delicately in her hands.

“Here, I would desire you to have it.”

Her mother’s scarf?

“Maivena–”

“Please, I want you to have it. I know you would take care of it, you have before. I know it is safe with you. You can even pass it on in time to anyone, our men, women, and those unidentified wear them. It is well known for them to be given at birth to anyone. They are also given as gifts of gratitude.” Her optimistic eyes glimmer as she holds it out to me.

There is no shred of doubt that I find when I look her over. She sincerely wishes for me to have this. I think it may even hurt her if I do not take it.

Leisurely, I take it from her. I have always been able to recognize how well she cared for this, the fabric still looks new, and the scent of her is intensely embedded in the scarf.

“My mother, who raised my brother and me as her own, gave that to me. In case you were querying.” I was, but I was not going to ask. “In Quamfasi we call them Porvienia’s.” Her simper is playful as it emerges.

“I will cherish this.” My smile grows to meet hers.

“I know you will.”