Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 43

[ Garrett ]

“So, you were saying?” I decided to strike up the conversation we had been having before he passed out.

“Huh? Sorry, I’m still really hot.” He croaked.

“You said Willis was jealous of Ta… Esther. Why?” My brain was struggling to comprehend what Zach was seeing and I wasn’t. Sure I had slept with both of them but Willis had known at that time that things were casual between us. They were sleeping with other people too. Not sure about Taiya, we never had that conversation. It couldn't be Taiya’s standing that they were jealous of. Jo was a trusted and valued member of the King’s Guard and Taiya was a thief, a murder, a criminal that lived in some bolt hole like the rat she was. Although Jo had been upset that Taiya got to swan around as ‘Lady’ unlike Jo. The King could have easily bestowed a title for the duration of the mission. So that just left magic but they were both blue, why would she be jealous when it was the same? Oh. It wasn’t the same. “I’m being thick aren’t I?”

“Yeh.” Zach made an odd sound.

“You alright lad?” I put my icy hand against his forehead, sweeping some of his wet green hair out of the way as I did. He was still pretty warm.

“Feel sick.” He grumbled.

“Ok, hang tight a sec.” There was a wooden bowl full of flower petals at the side of the bath. After tipping them out I helped Zach stand in the water and floated the bowl in front of him. Jo’s words from earlier tonight were ringing in my head, ‘I hate it, it's not even real.’. Taiya’s magic must be bright blue because she could physically morph into another person’s form. The auburn hair and sickly pale skin that she had right now were physically there, they didn’t simply cover the dark curls and olive skin I’d seen her with before but Jo, Jo’s magic was a watered down version. Like all pale shades.

More coloured hair equaled more magic but brighter shades were top tier versions of the magic. Often a pale shade could only perform one of the colour associated magics or a weaker/similar version. It was complex. Each colour had their little unique quirks. Jo could project an image, mimicking another person's appearance or a background, they could also project onto something or someone else. As every hair Willis possessed was in powder blue they had a lot of magic. Taiya must have bright blue somewhere, that's the only way she could fully shift but it was confusing.

Her eye’s didn’t glow and there was no blue hair that I had seen. Unless it was the Remnant? That didn’t make sense either. Taiya was the Blue Shadow. She had been known to frequent parties as this ‘Lady Esther’ character before so the shifting ability wasn’t new. That meant the Taiya I knew wasn’t how she really looked. So she could change her hair and somehow cover the glow of her eyes. I had thought that unusual but considering it again Jo’s eyes didn’t always glow when they mimicked and projected. They just overlay an image to cover their eyes. Taiya must be shifting her eyes as well as the rest of her. I wondered if she had a full head of blue hair like Willis did.

She had to, it was the only way she could be holding a form for so long but then why was she experiencing a buildup of magic and not a burnout right now? Taiya had been in her dark haired persona for at least two weeks, that was with syphoning cuffs too, and ‘Lady Esther’ for another three months or so. Willis could go a week at the most. It was a conundrum. I tried to shake it off. Overall King Leoré had taken Taiya off my hands.

The important thing now was Zach and then Willis later.

“So you think because Willis can’t physically be who they feel like inside on the outside the way Esther can that they are jealous?” I checked with Zach. It made sense. With full shifting magic they could be Josephine or Joseph or just Jo with only a thought. I saw them though, for who they were, it hurt that that wasn’t enough, that I wasn’t enough but our love was young. Maybe one day they would see what I saw.

“Yeh, haven’t you ever been jealous, wished you had magic?” Zach was leaning on me tiredly. He was shivering a little.

“Nope, not really and especially after I learned crazy things like getting stuck in a wall can happen!” My manner was light and teasing but Zach went stiff.

“I-Iii,” He started to sob and it dawned on me. He hadn’t just had a burnout, he had almost trapped us in the wall. “almost k-killed u-us.”

“It’s ok, we’re ok. You didn’t know.” I pulled him in for a hug. Poor lad.

“But I did.” He sobbed harder. That surprised me but he was a child after all. It was a stupid thing to have done but we all did stupid things; at least this time the price hadn’t been too high. “And now you know, and it’s meant to be a secret.” He shivered and cried and gulped down air trying to calm himself.

“It’s still a secret, we’re on the same side. The King knows?” Zach nodded and shivered harder. His teeth were chattering. “Let’s see your eyes.”

Zach looked at me with sad teary eyes that were finally at a normal dilation.

“Congratulations, you have your sister's violet eyes.” I told the lad. He looked horrified.

“N-no one can know.” He was terrified, the cold wasn’t the only thing shaking him now. I knew Zach had a sister but until now I hadn't realised it was Han.

“Seems it’s a night for secrets to come out.” My smile was warm even if the rest of me wasn’t. “I won’t tell.”

“Are you going to tell people I cried?” Zach gave me an odd look. I gave him an odd look back.

“What does it matter that you cried?” Genuinely I was confused.

“Boy’s shouldn’t cry.” He looked away, shivering hard. Ye Gods, tonight was just out to test me and break my heart.

“Zach, look at me.” My basic brown eyes connected with his special violet ones. The lad only had his sister as far as I knew and they had been here five years. Five years of this green haired menace popping out of walls, dancing around, talking gibberish and making me fall down the stairs more than once and I hadn’t really thought much of him until this moment. “Everyone is allowed to cry. Everyone. I’m not going to go around telling people because there is nothing to tell. It’s been a s**t night, you have every right to shed some tears. Ye Gods know when I get a minute, I’ll have some tears of my own to shed.”

“You will?” There were silent tears still running down his face.

“I will. I’ll even tell you a secret.” There was an eagerness that lit up his face when I said that and I almost laughed. “I told Willis I loved them, and they didn’t say it back. There will be plenty of tears over that.”

“I’m sorry.” Zach said through chattering teeth.

“Come on, let's get you out of the cold. I think the danger is over now.” I turned off the tap that was still spewing half frozen water into the tub and lifted Zach onto the side. The steps felt too far away.

“Captain.” Benton greeted walking in with a pile of clothes and towels. He placed them on the sideboard.

“What brings you here, Benton?” I asked as he reached down to help me get out the tub. Good job too, I was near frozen solid.

“Thought you might need some things, Captain.” He said knowingly. I nodded appreciatively. Benton’s sight, strange though it was, helped in the oddest of situations. “You did well Zach.” The ghostly looking Benton praised.

“Yup, real trooper.” I grabbed some of the dry towels and started stripping Zach. He swayed tiredly, and despite being a little embarrassed didn’t resist me taking off his wet clothes and towelling him dry. Benton had brought dry clothes for both of us. Zach had marks on his back consistent with being lashed. It made my blood boil and my hands shake with anger on top of the cold. Ye Gods, if Willis and I ever had kids they would never have to face this kind of s**t.

I stopped in my tracks and smiled at the thought. Willis and I having children. Bless the Earth and Sky. That was a beautiful thought.

Once Zach was dry and dressed, Benton put him on a turquoise sofa where he promptly fell asleep. I couldn’t believe there was a sofa in the bathroom. The obsessive colour schemes bugged me too. People tended to be more comfortable around the colours of their magic, it led to some very interesting decor choices.

“Is there something else, Benton?” I asked buttoning up the dry shirt he had brought me. I knew him well enough to realise he was lurking for another reason. While I wanted to be mad for whatever he had told Zach that had resulted in this situation I knew that Benton had no ill intentions. Once I asked him how it worked and he couldn’t even explain. The most I understood was that he saw a point that a path would split, zero context, just a phrase that came to mind as a lynch pin. Less important things he saw with more clarity, in this instance I guessed he had seen us both sopping wet.

“I only told him ‘under the moon heed the call, don’t stop or we all shall fall’. I didn’t know what it was for or that this would happen.” Benton sighed.

“I know.” I looked at the sleeping lad sadly.

“I’ve got one for you, Captain.” Benton said in a heavy tone. s**t.

“Let me have it.” Turning to him, I braced myself, this was going to be serious. It had been the night for it.

“The Yelka tree blooms its fullest after the hardest winter, encased in ice and snow, the weight making it’s boughs appear to weep but the summer is long and sweet, the blooms plentiful. Appearances can be deceiving, trust what you know. Not all is as you see.” Benton said gravely.

“It doesn’t mean anything to me.” I told him.

“I know. It feels… more than what usually comes to me and at the same time less. I see the same for Willis. Whatever it is, whatever it means the two of you are linked. On this your fate is intertwined.” He closed his white eyes and rubbed a hand over his bald head. “There is something more there, I keep trying to look but I think there are still too many decisions in the way. It’s often the way, it’s only clearer a moment before it’s too late. This one is a hardline Captain, definitive, no going back.”

“Thanks for the warning Benton, whatever it means.” I repeated more simply.

“Captain. I, I think you die. Both of you. There is a chance that you don’t but,” He looked at me with sad eyes, “it’s not evenly split but I can't see which way it’s weighed, it shifts.”

“It shifts.” I repeated, like Willis shifts, like Taiya shifts. Who was the tree, what was the winter? Would I even see it coming? Probably not. I’d be like Zach holding the heart and releasing I couldn’t stop.

“If I get more I’ll let you know. What is very clear though is that your quarters are trashed, you’ll need somewhere else to sleep tonight.” I gave him a quizzical look, Benton shrugged. “Didn’t need sight for that one.” He gestured at my clothes.

“Ah, right, been a long night, running a bit slow I think.” Benton gave me a knowing smile. I looked at Zach. “He was very brave, but he shouldn’t have to be. He’s just a child.” Benton sighed in agreement with my words.

“You should take him to bed, Captain.” He walked away without being dismissed. My limbs felt heavy, exhaustion was pulling at every muscle and I really wanted to go find Jo and make everything right but Zach needed me.

“Time for bed Zach.” As carefully as I could I picked him up, because of his height I tucked his head against my shoulder. Zach mumbled something unintelligible. “It’s alright lad, I’ve got you.”

In the sitting room everyone was crowded around Taiya, although Amerise wasn’t present.

“Grace.” I hadn't intended on interrupting but I realised I didn’t know where I was taking Zach.

“Yes, Captain?” Grace said, stepping away from the hubbub. I could see Esther through the gap, she was struggling to breath, her back was arching off of the chaise longue and she had several cuffs clipped around both arms and ankles but instead of using the restraints properly they had only clipped one half on. I presumed to fit more on, in the hopes of syphoning more magic. It wasn't how they worked and it didn’t look good. “Captain, I have other business that is quite pressing, what do you want?” She snipped as sharp tongued as ever.

“First off, the cuffs don’t work unless the circuit is complete, you have to close the side that is empty.” I announced loudly to everyone. “Secondly Dr. Heathson, there better not be any acetaminophen in that dose you are preparing; Lady Esther has an allergy to that particular medication. A severe allergy. Finally, where is Zach’s room?” I saw Han looking at her Brother, wide eyes that begged to know if he was alright.

Poflorin had put the papers he was reading down right on top of Esther and started closing the cuffs. As they snapped shut Esther’s back eased back down and her breathing evened out. Dr Heathson had put down the syringe and was fishing something else out of his bag. Grace was scowling.

“Lower servants quarters, final door on the right.” Grace had always displayed her disdain for me but it seemed double with the green haired lad in my arms. A protectiveness surged in me, made me want to punch the snobby old woman in her face. There was no way Zach had done anything to the Housekeeper to earn such animosity. Ye Gods, he had walked in on me with my d**k inside Willis and I wasn’t even mad at him.

“Thank you Head Housekeeper Grace. Healer Poflorin check Zach for me before I go please, it's a long way to come back.” Grace huffed and turned back to Esther. Poflorin came over and placed his hands on Zach, one on the side of his head, one on his hip. “Dilation is normal and his teeth were chattering when I took him out of the bath.”

“Good, everything seems fine, Captain. He is just exhausted.” Healer Poflorin said loudly. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Han sag in relief.

“Thank you Healer, I’ll be on my way.” I held Zach a little closer. “Good night to you all.” I left without waiting for any ‘pleasantries’. Zach slept soundly the entire way to his room. There were a few yawns from me and I almost tripped a couple of times but I made it in the end.

Zach’s room had my blood boiling once again. The room was small and dark. It had one wooden chair, one bed that was too short for him with a thin blanket and lumpy mattress. Under the bed there was one box. Clothes I presumed. The lad ran himself ragged for this castle and they gave him this s**t excuse of a room.

Regardless we were here now and there was no way I could carry him elsewhere right now so I set him down on the bed. He clung sleepily to my shirt mumbling. I think he said ‘Dad’ but he definitely said don’t go.

“It’s alright, Zach, I’ll be here when you wake up.” After pulling his hands from my shirt and pulling the blanket over him, I settled in the wooden chair for what I knew was going to be a very uncomfortable sleep.