The Final Storm by Wayne Thomas Batson

him?” Trenna asked.
    “It is an herb called yarrow, or staunchweed in the common tongue,” Oswyn said. “Then I remembered how quickly the Golden Tear restores a knight’s energy, and I thought perhaps it would speed this healing herb to unknown wounds within Aelic.”
    “You are brilliant!” Thrivenbard exclaimed.
    “We have great need of such wisdom in this room,” Queen Illaria said, and she looked kindly upon Oswyn.
    “Do not lavish accolades upon me,” Oswyn replied. “Aelic is improving, and for that we have King Eliam to thank.”
    Oswyn went to Kaliam, leaned toward him, and whispered, “The next few hours will tell us much, but I still do not know if I caught it in time.”
    “Aelic, lad, you are made of sterner stuff than those trees in Nock’s forest!” Mallik laughed. “To tangle with a Sleeper, and then last for days at the bottom of a pit? I agree with your pa, that was valiant!”
    Aelic smiled at Mallik, but then he coughed and winced in pain. “The wolvin was far beyond my skill,” Aelic said. “It brushed me aside like an insect.”
    “And if I ever find that wolvin,” Mallik said, “he will pay ten-fold what he did to you, and I will collect with my hammer!”
    “Well, it should be easy to recognize it,” Aelic said, closing his eyes. “Before I fell, I saw Gabby take a chunk out of the back of the Sleeper’s neck.”
    “I will remember that,” Mallik said.
    “Kaliam,” Aelic called. His voice sounded weaker than before. “Kearn took her. He took Antoinette. He said he would take her beyond the Gate of Despair—that she would be tortured.”
    Kaliam knelt by Aelic. “Aelic, do not fear,” he said.
    “Kaliam, I know she wrongfully left our company, but we cannot abandon her to that dark place and—”
    “We will not abandon her, Sir Aelic,” Kaliam assured him. “King Eliam has a plan for her rescue, of this I am certain. And even in that place, she is not alone.”
    Aelic turned to look at his father. “What about Mother?” he asked.
    “She was in Acacia for a time,” King Ravelle said. And in his voice there dwelled an ancient sorrow. “I have searched there many times, but in vain. I dispatched messengers there before we left Alleble to come here.”
    “You were in Alleble?”
    “Yes, all of Mithegard dwells there now—safer than being a close neighbor to the enemy!”
    “It makes me glad,” Aelic said with a soft chuckle, “. . . even in such a time as this. For the Glimpses who serve the everlasting King should be together. Does it not seem so?”
    “Yes, it does, my son. It is now as it always should have been.” King Ravelle looked up at Queen Illaria and shook his head slowly. “How so many, including myself, distanced ourselves from Alleble . . . abandoned Alleble . . . it was folly.”
    Aelic nodded, coughed again, and then suddenly clutched at his stomach. He yelled and fell backward. Oswyn was there in a flash. He delicately pressed his fingers at various places on Aelic’s stomach. At one place he paused, felt again, and then he looked up grimly.
    “Oswyn?” King Ravelle cried. “What is happening?”
    “Mallik, Kaliam, please take King Ravelle outside,” Oswyn said gently, but urgency ran through his words like a current. Kaliam and Mallik firmly escorted King Ravelle from the room.

    Some time later, Sir Oswyn and Queen Illaria emerged from the chamber and found Kaliam, Mallik, and King Ravelle sitting along a wide hearth.
    “Oswyn!” King Ravelle exclaimed, and they all stood. “How is my son?”
    “He is resting,” Os replied. “Aelic had worked himself up, and jostled his wounds before they were healed. A little more yarrow and Golden Tear I gave him, and now he rests.”
    “Will he survive this?” King Ravelle asked plaintively.
    “I cannot say,” Os replied. “But I suspect that those wounds which remain will—” A shrill scream followed by the breaking of glass cut Oswyn’s words, and they all raced into the house