Isle of Wysteria: The Monolith Crumbles (57 page)

I…don’t…understand.

Everything was out of focus. Through the haze, Athel watched herself close her brown eyes and slam her staff down. The trees grew around her, forming a cocoon.

I gave them everything...

The cocoon opened and the Queen emerged with hazel eyes.

I gave them my whole soul…

Sitting on a throne of chains, the Queen held her staff, drawing in all the fear, all the pain into herself.

I don’t understand…

Starving, the Queen pushed food away to hold court.

What more could I have done?

Exhausted, the Queen turned away from her bed to work through the night.

What more could I have sacrificed?

Standing before Juniper, the Queen collapsed, her body trembling with pain.

I bore it all…

Unable to walk, the Queen sat in her bed as Alder brushed her hair, large clumps falling out.

I lived in constant pain…

The Queen lay back on her pillow, so thin she was little more than a skeleton.

It hurt so bad I thought I would die…

The Queen keeled over, retching blood onto the ground.

I did it for them…for my beloved forest.

Dahlia leveled her rifle and fired.

The hate...

More Treesingers took out their rifles and fired.

The hate in their eyes...

All the women pulled out their rifles and fired.

Why do they hate me?

The women of the Forsythia family stood around her in a circle, disgust in their eyes.

I did it all for them…

The Queen was forced to the ground, a collar placed around her neck.

I was trying to save them…

Shackles were placed around her wrists and ankles.

I was trying to save everyone…

The Queen’s crown was torn from her head.

Everyone…

Her crown was crushed beneath a boot.

I don’t understand…

Dahlia grinned in satisfaction as she fired.

I gave up my freedom…

The Queen looked down, blood pouring out of the hole in her heart.

I sacrificed my own heart…

The Queen fell backwards, disbelief in her eyes.

I set aside everything I wanted to be…

The Queen knelt in the water before the statue of Milia.

I let go of everything I wanted to do…

The Queen sat on a throne of chains, the links coiling around her like serpents.

I died and became the forest…

The Queen sent Privet away with Setsuna.

Was it not enough?

The Queen set her children down to be judged by the Priestesses.

Did I fail my forest?

Lady Bursage stepped out through the mist, standing over Athel, judgment in her eyes. “You lie.”

No, it’s the truth.

High Priestess Oleander stepped forward. “You have shamed us all. You loved your son more than you loved Milia.”

Is that why I failed? Because I wouldn’t let my child be killed?

Lady Greenbrier stepped forward. “You loved Alder more than you loved your forest.”

Is that why you hate me? Because I wouldn’t consent to killing my own husband?

Lady Buckthorn stepped forward. “You gave your love beneath your station. You loved Privet more than you loved us.”

Is that why I failed?

Lady Lotebush stepped forward. “You are guilty.”

Because I allowed myself to fall in love?

Lady Cypress stepped forward. “Guilty.”

Is the Queen not a woman? Is she not allowed to love?

Lady Balsam stepped forward. “Guilty.”

I tried, don’t you know I tried?

Sister Boronia stepped forward. “Guilty.”

I tried to shut it away, I tried to hide my feelings!

Lady Gladiolus stepped forward. “Guilty.”

But, in the end, I couldn’t do it.

Lady Peony stepped forward. “Guilty.”

I couldn’t defeat...my own heart.

Madam Aster stepped forward. “Guilty.”

I failed...

Lady Orchid stepped forward. “Guilty.”

I failed my forest...

Scholar Riverwood stepped forward. “Guilty.”

I failed everyone…

Archivist Teak stepped forward. “Guilty.”

Surrounded on all sides, the floor disappeared and Athel fell through a tunnel of darkness.

Nikki reached out to her. “Athel, why couldn’t you save me?”

Nikki! No!

Blood poured out of Nikki’s wounds. “You saved our enemies, but you let me die!”

I wanted to save you! I wanted to save everybody!

Nikki evaporated into a skeleton. “Why couldn’t you save me? I loved you as a sister!”

I was desperate to save you...

Her bones turned into dust. “You let me die!”

Athel landed in a cold stone cell. The steel doors slammed shut, and were locked with a key.

I tried so hard...

Athel curled up, trembling on the floor.

I’m guilty…

Athel tightened her eyes.

“I’m guilty.”

She felt tears roll down the sides of her face.

It felt like she was flying. A faint wind in her ears, a cool breeze touching her skin.

“Athel?” a voice asked.

“I failed everyone…”

“Hey, everyone, she’s waking up!” the voice said, growing excited.

Athel weakly cracked open one eye. The light was blinding, but she thought she could make out some faces hovering over her.

“Give her some space,” Dr. Griffin said, pushing some people away.

Athel furrowed her brow. “I…don’t want him treating me…”

“Oh, he didn’t, sweetie,” Mina assured. “He’s just been watching over you.”

“And we made sure he was never alone with you,” Captain Evere added.

Dr. Griffin didn’t think that was very funny.

Mina held up Ash, who cooed happily to see her. “See, look, there’s mommy,” she sang.

Mina set down Ash next to her.

“Hi little bud,” Athel greeted, weakly leaning over to give him a kiss.

From behind everybody, there was a sparkle of light.

“Trillium says hi too.”

Rachael took out a handkerchief and wiped her face, her mascara running. “I’m so glad to see you awake. For a while there, we thought we’d lost you.”

“For a while, you did. How long was I out?”

“Two weeks,” Ryin reported.

“Ryin. When did you get back?”

“Yesterday,” Mina explained. “We sent an Eriia out to fetch him. He almost wandered into the dead zone west of Wysteria trying to find us.”

“Yeah, we nearly fell like a rock, me and Pops.”

Ryin looked around. “At least I think so. Hmm. Come to think of it, where is Pops?”

“We’re still traveling to Boeth?” Athel coughed, releasing a stab of pain.

“Yes, we arrive in a week,” Andolf Kummeritas explained, stoking his purple whiskers. There hasn’t been the slightest sign of any League forces. It looks like your plan is working so far.”

Athel tried to move, and was rewarded with a sharp jolt in her chest.

“Careful, careful,” Dr. Griffin warned, holding his hand out. “The shot shattered two of your ribs fore and aft and clipped your heart. It took seven healers working round the clock to save your life.”

Athel winced at the pain. “So, it wasn’t a dream.”

“I’m afraid not. Frankly it’s a miracle we were able to save you.”

Athel noticed Talliun laying in a bed opposite her. “Is she all right?”

“She’s just anemic. You needed a lot of blood, and she was the only Wysterian we had. A few days’ rest and she’ll be right as rain.”

Athel reached up to touch her bandages, then decided against it. Even without seeing them, she could feel the deep layers of stitches running across her chest over her heart.

“There will be a lot of scarring,” Dr. Griffin warned. “But, I’m told that Deutzia can heal your wounds fully.”

“No,” Athel said, shaking her head wearily. “If I do that, I’ll be taking life force from Alder. He could die. I’ll heal naturally, or not at all, but I won’t hurt him ever again.”

Athel’s eyes went wide as she remembered something. “Alder, Privet, are they all right?”

Everyone grew sad at the question.

Athel looked up worriedly. “What happened? Tell me.”

Dr. Griffin took off his glasses. “Without a doubt, he saved your life. They did everything they could for…”

“Tell me!”

Dr. Griffin backed up, and motioned to Alder, who was sleeping peacefully, then he stepped away, revealing Privet laying in a medical bed, his entire body bandaged with dimly glowing wraps, tubes coming out of his mouth and nose.

“Privet!”

Athel tried to sit up, but a sharp jolt of pain made her wince.

“Careful, you’ll…”

“Take me to him!”

Athel’s wound burned like fire in her chest as she was wheeled closer. Privet was barely breathing. Despite the pain, she reached out and took his hand. She squeezed it, but he didn’t squeeze back.

“What…what happened to him?” Athel panted, her heart pounding in agony.

Dr. Griffin looked away sadly. “His spine was severed in seven different places. He’ll never walk again.”

Athel felt like a knife entered her chest. “What? No!”

“I’m sorry.”

Athel’s eyes quivered. “You’re sorry? But…but you’re an Advan master, can’t you do anything?”

“It took every drop of magic we had just to save his life. He was shot seventeen times. There’s nothing more anyone can do for him.”

“What do you mean there’s nothing you can do? Don’t tell me that, you have the finest medicines and equipment in the world. You’re a disciple of Odesi, the god of healing.”

“There are some things even our magic can’t fix.”

“Well then what good are you!” she screamed, tears running down her cheeks. “Why do we even keep you around? Huh?”

She shoved Dr. Griffin away, her rage pushing past the pain. “What good are you if you can’t even save the life of one man?”

Her anger collapsed in on itself, and she fell on top of Privet, weeping bitterly.

“Careful, you’ll reopen your wounds.”

“I don’t care, don’t touch me!” she screamed.

“Just back off and give her some room, lads.”

The agony Athel felt was indescribable, like a pressure within her body, inflating her and tearing her apart from within. She grabbed onto his bandages, balling her fists so tightly she threatened to tear them off. The noise that came out of her wasn’t a sob, it was more like a howl. A pitiful, wailing moan as her soul withered and died inside of her. Even hardened soldiers like Captain Evere had to look away. In all his years, he had never seen anyone weep as completely as that young woman did before him that day.

One by one, they all filed out, leaving Athel alone, Alder dying beside her, Privet lying paralyzed next to her. She cried so hard that her eyes nearly swelled shut from the pressure. Her stitches screamed in protest, her broken heart wailing at the strain that tore at the sutures that held it together. But, the physical pain was nothing compared to what she felt in her heart.

“Privet, I’m so sorry,” she wept. “This is all my fault. I brought you into this mess. I took a strong vibrant man, and I stripped him of every good and happy thing he had. I broke you down into a pile of rubble, to live in crippled misery. I wish you had never known me. I wish you had stayed away. I…I cursed you by being near you. And now, you’ll have to pay for my mistakes for the rest of your life.”

Her crying finally woke him, and he stirred weakly beneath her, but only his upper body moved.

Athel wailed in misery to see it.

Privet opened his eyes. Despite all his training to hide his feelings, she could tell that he had been crying too.

Athel opened her mouth, her lips quavering. “Oh Privet, I’m so sorry. By the gods, I am so sorry.”

Privet reached up and pulled the tubes out of his mouth and nose. His breathing sounded terrible. Raspy, woody, incomplete, stuttered, as if he barely had control over his lungs.

A tear rolled down his cheek, and he took her hand. “Tell me,” he said, “Tell me, I need to hear it from you.”

“What?” she sobbed, her face red with pain.

He squeezed her hand. “Tell me that this is all worth it. Tell me there was a reason for this. All that we’ve given up, all that we’ve sacrificed, for your forest. Tell me it is worth it. Tell me your forest is worth saving!”

Athel’s heart shrieked within her.

“I…I don’t even know anymore,” she admitted.

He pulled her in close, and they wept in each other’s arms.

* * *

Disturbed, Admiral Roapes and his staff looked around as they were led down a tunnel of bubbling stone, the doorways shaped like wailing faces, the doors positioned in their gaping maws. Clusters of red crystals like fungus sickly clung here and there, dripping out a wilted light. Even the leaders of the Himitsu secret police that were with them kept their hands in close so as to avoid touching anything.

“What happened to the crew of the Bastion?” Roapes asked, a drop of red light pattering on his epaulette.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that,” Blair soothed, his needle-like eyes glinting in the crimson light.

“And the crew of the Defiance, the Invicta, and the Mariner?”

“Please, please, you are so tense right now.” Blair reached out and pinched his cheek. “It’s bad for your skin.”

“Don’t touch me,” Roapes snapped, swatting the man’s hand away. “They are my responsibility. I have a right to inquire about them.”

“Inquire all you want, but right now, no ships can leave Boeth, not until the flight web gets repaired. Creates kind of a logistical problem for us, you see. Deadlines and all that. You’re an administrator, you understand. So, since you can’t bring in any more shipments of people, this seemed like a good time to let you visit your family.”