37 Aniyoh

Aniyoh could only watch the ordeal in stunned silence from on top of her horse. She could feel the immense amount of onya Caroline was pulling into her body even as far away from her vantage point on the road. The feelings of relief the witch had expierenced that morning at having finally been released from Walter Borund, the wealthy merchant who previously held her contract, quickly evaporated when she realized the younger witch had enough onya within her to level an area hundreds of meters wide in each direction.

The dread was short-lived though. When Caroline released her spell the world still stood. In fact, the sky had opened up and the wind that had been so loud the party was forced to practically yell at one another, had calmed to a smooth breeze. The sea that had been roiling now lapped to the shore in small waves, the calm waters sparkling in the sunlight.

Aniyoh had breathed a premature sigh because it was not long after Lucian collapsed and said the words that sent a sharp intake of breath into her lungs,

"You have doomed us, Caroline," Lucian said loud enough for everyone to hear. Ender had raced to his unconscious brother with inhuman speed but Aniyoh remained still, unsure what to do or how she could possibly help. She felt like an outsider at times, an intruder trying to befriend the trio of Caroline, Ender, and Lucian. The three of them held a bond that Aniyoh recognized she was envious of.

"Well, shit," Silas mumbled in his sandpaper voice from behind her. "Too many women on this journey if you ask me."

"I would say there's not enough," Aniyoh shot back at the curmudgeon turning to wink at him. It took him a moment to catch her meaning but had the decency to look embarrassed once he did.

"Beggin' ya pardon, miss. Just bad luck is all. Women on the battlefield are sure to draw the eye of the evil gods." Silas replied.

"Old wives tales," she muttered while watching the three on the beach still. Lucian had roused quickly but was still seated in the sand. He wasn't even bothering to brush the sand from his jacket, Aniyoh knew he must be distressed. Finally, the vampires and Caroline began to trudge their way back to the road and mounted their horses.

Aniyoh checked on Caroline as they began to ride toward their destination again. The younger witch assured her she could remain upright even though Aniyoh could tell Caroline was barely hanging onto consciousness. The fatigue would dissipate quickly enough but it would take some time.

Lucian relayed to the group what he had seen in the vision, leaving the group of five quiet for a long moment before they all started to throw questions at the vampire. Aniyoh could feel the confusion and shock of her friends radiating all around her, the sensation would be overwhelming if she wasn't so used to it by now.

"Wait, wait wait!" she shouted over them all. "Let me get this straight. You are saying that because Caroline lifted the curse on the Sea of Bones, the Ibudali army will mobilize their navy and just what? Sail off into the distance? We already know they can sail, Caroline says the army is Ovandale already. How are we 'doomed'?" she said. The vampire's vision did not seem as dire as he portrayed initially on the beach.

Lucian shot a look back to her from his horse, "Yes, we know they have traveled but only a small contingent arrived in Ovandale according to Caroline's account-"

"It didn't look small to me-" Caroline interjected quietly.

"Well, not everyone grew up on a farm with three people," Lucian snipped while rubbing at his temple. Clearly the vision was still causing him discomfort. Aniyoh hadn't even been sure vampires could feel pain until she saw Lucian collapse in the sand.

The vampire continued, "But it was only a small battalion of soldiers who arrive in Ovandale. Now that the sea has been calmed, Undair will not hesitate to use this to his advantage. What I saw, the vast number of ships, the King will mobilize all of his forces, including every Lord and their men, in Ibudal to wage war across the water."

"Lucian, do your visions always come true?" Caroline said weakly, some of the color had begun to return to her face though and Aniyoh knew the girl was regaining some of her strength after lifting the curse.

Aniyoh could only see the vampires from her spot in the riding order but she could tell her was thinking deeply for a moment before answering. "Most of the time," he said after a long moment, "In five hundred years, I can only think of a single occasion when a vision changed."

"What was different about that one?" Caroline asked.

"Ender and I, we tried to change the outcome. It was a trivial matter really. Father was going to send him to Ravin-Sha for a time, to learn the ways of the court and all that, but he emphatically did not want to go. So we...created a reason for him to stay." Lucian replied cryptically.

Aniyoh pondered the vampire's words, "So... we can alter the course of your vision and we are going to see the King after all. Maybe this all can be avoided."

"I suppose it is possible," Lucian said, skepticism clear in his tone. "How though? What possible leverage do we have over the King of Ibudal?"

Aniyoh grinned, "We have the most powerful witch in Ibudal and she will broker a peace deal on behalf of Ibudal."

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