Anathema

The fourth Letalisz, Ravezio, is an Eremician who was also imprisoned by the Solassions, like Zevander and Kazhimyr. Eremicians have barely noticeable scales and are treated like animals. Ravezio brings Zevander the guard from the Hagsmist, who reports that a mortal woman crossed the Umbravale into Aethyria. The guards took her to Bonesguard to torture her. Zevander accompanies the guard to Bonesguard in Costelwick.

Before leaving, Zevander visits Dolion in the dungeon, where he provides Dolion with bedding, drink, and food. Dolion interprets the woman crossing the Umbravale as a sign of her magic and insists that Zevander save her. He uses the small bloodstone of the woman’s blood that Zevander made to determine that she is one of the Corvikae.

The guards bring Maevyth to a cell and discuss letting other prisoners assault her. Maevyth searches for a weapon, but the guards open the door and send in Ferrys, a prisoner scheduled to be killed in the morning. One guard gives Ferrys a knife, but he gives the knife to Maevyth as a joke. Maevyth cuts herself and claims that her blood is diseased. She notices that the guards are no longer talking, and a giant shadow appears. Something stabs Ferrys, and Maevyth turns to find a giant scorpion standing over her. She faints.

Maevyth wakes up bound on a horse with a man who smells like leather. She begs to be released and explains that Aleysia is still in the forest. Maevyth refuses to believe that her sister is dead, but the man covers her mouth.

A nearby creature that looks like a massive toad is hobbling in their direction. The toad lunges at Maevyth, but a blade emerges from black smoke, impaling it. The man emerges from the smoke, and Maevyth recognizes him from her room. He tells her that his name is Zevander, and she tells him that her name is Maevyth.

Zevander gives her a canteen, but when Maevyth returns the canteen, she is disappointed that he does not lower his mask to drink. She marvels at how large he is. His scent makes her hungry, but her mind goes back to Aleysia. Maevyth explains that they were attacked by a wrathavor, a half-man, half-stag creature, in the forest. They arrive at Eidolon, and Zevander whispers a spell to make Maevyth fall asleep.

Zevander carries Maevyth into the castle, and Rykaia follows him, asking about her. Rykaia notes Maevyth’s orange scent, but Zevander sends her away. In the dungeon, Dolion is excited to see Maevyth, and Zevander places her in the cell usually reserved for Rykaia during her withdrawals.

Zevander reports how Maevyth broke through the Umbravale, pursued by a wrathavor, and Dolion fears that the creature is Cadavros. Without vivicantem, Cadavros may be weak, but Dolion suspects that there is a specific reason why Cadavros is alive at all. He spreads vivicantem over Maevyth’s neck, and the death sigil appears, confirming that she is part of the Corvikae bloodline. Zevander struggles to restrain his arousal over Maevyth’s body.

Dolion takes out a book and tells Zevander that the Corvikae passed their power down with a baptism using Corvugon blood. The ritual bound the child to a Corvugon protector. Dolion suspects that Maevyth has the power to open the book, which is a Corvikae puzzle book.

Zevander leads Dolion to a locked door and opens it, allowing a giant, black spider to lunge at Dolion. Zevander kills the spider and uses a mirror to show Dolion that Branimir is inside the cell, warped and mutated by the sablefyre curse. Zevander wants a cure for himself and his brother. Dolion says that the gods chose another path for him, which does not involve killing Maevyth. Dolion wants Zevander to train Maevyth to use magic, and he suggests finding a bone scribe at the Citadel.

Maevyth dreams that Aleysia is in the cell with her, telling Maevyth to escape. Aleysia transforms into a beast that tries to attack Maevyth. Maevyth realizes that she is likely seeing Aleysia because her sister is dead.

Maevyth wakes up and sees Rykaia outside the cell eating an apple. Rykaia asks about Maevyth’s dream, and Maevyth is relieved that she was not awake and seeing her dead sister. Rykaia says that Zevander never brings anyone home, and she is curious why Maevyth is special. Dolion wakes up and is excited to meet Maevyth. He reveals that he is 630 years old, while Rykaia is 206, which shocks Maevyth (in Mortasia, people usually live to about 80).

Rykaia and Dolion are impressed that Maevyth speaks Nyxterosi, and Rykaia jokes that Maevyth needs a bath. She gives Maevyth food and says that Zevander is traveling to Costelwick to meet the king. Rykaia leaves, and Dolion brings Maevyth the Corvikae puzzle book. Maevyth shows Dolion the sigil on her palm and explains how she summoned bones in Foxglove. Dolion tells Maevyth that she possesses a power that no one in Aethyria has seen in centuries, but mages are hunting her to make a weapon out of her blood.

In Costelwick, Zevander sends Kazhimyr to get the bone scribe, Allura Makabe. In King Sagaerin’s conference room, Zevander finds Magelord Akmyrios, the Imperial Captain Zivant, and a woman named Melantha. Like the other Letalisz, Zevander’s identity is secret, and he usually meets the king alone. Zivant accuses Zevander of killing guards, but he denies any involvement, saying that Dolion did it.

Melantha says that she found a Corvikae aura on the guard. She gives Zevander Nilmirth, a truth serum, but Zevander has a resistance to Nilmirth. He lies through the serum until everyone is satisfied.

The king announces that Princess Calisza’s Becoming Ceremony is approaching, and the Solassions, led by King Jeret, will be attending with General Loyce. Zevander panics at the thought of confronting his former abuser, but he promises to guard Prince Dorjan and Princess Calisza. The king shows Zevander a black amulet, which will unleash an unstoppable plague if Dorjan dies. The king pays Zevander money and vivicantem.

Zevander vomits outside, and Melantha approaches him, noting his immunity to Nilmirth. She suspects that he is involved in the deaths of the guards and three mages, but he denies it. She flirts with him, but he ignores her.

At Eidolon, Rykaia pesters Zevander about Maevyth, and he tells her to stay away. He asks Torryn to train Maevyth, hoping that the training will bring out her magic. Torryn reports that he cannot find the flammelian in the Hovel, and Zevander plans to join the hunt to spread disinformation and distract Melantha.

Zevander brings Maevyth another meal. She asks why he is holding her prisoner, but he won’t reveal anything. He complains about mortals, calling them weak and diseased, but tells Maevyth that she will begin training the next day.

Maevyth tells Zevander to release her, and when he denies her, she throws her food at him. He pins her to the bed and says that he does not want to keep Maevyth, but she serves a purpose. He lets go of her and leaves.

Zevander suppresses his rage as he walks away from the dungeon. Finding Dolion in the hallway, Zevander pulls him to another room, where they find Rykaia lounging. He orders her to leave, and she says that she will go bathe Maevyth, upsetting him by mentioning the prisoner.

Zevander tells Dolion about his meeting with the king, including how Melantha detected a Corvikae aura. He suggests that the king’s amulet, which will spread pestilence if Prince Durjan dies, could be the source of Dolion’s apocalyptic vision. Dolion agrees, but in his vision, Cadavros also returns, leading him to think that there is more to learn about the amulet and Zevander’s curse.

Dolion wants to bring the six bloodstones to Calyxar, an island in his home kingdom of Elvynira that has impeccable security. Zevander reluctantly accepts Dolion’s plan, taking his gold bands as collateral. When Dolion asks about Maevyth’s training, Zevander says that Torryn will start her training and that Kazhimyr should arrive with Allura Makabe any day.

Dolion rejects Torryn as a trainer, saying that Zevander should train Maevyth himself. Both Zevander and Maevyth possess magic that is largely unknown, and he would be able to both relate to her struggle and guide her to understanding. Pushed by his curiosity about her resistance to his magic, he agrees to train her for the two weeks leading up to Calisza’s Becoming. During the Becoming, Dolion will flee to Calyxar with Maevyth and the six bloodstones.

Rykaia brings Maevyth to a bedroom, promising her a bath. Maevyth marvels at Edilion’s rooms but recoils when Rykaia reveals that they are in Zevander’s bedroom. Rykaia leads her into Zevander’s bathroom. The bath is huge, and the ceiling has a painting of the Moon Gods, the Lunadei. Rykaia says that Zevander is too busy reading to disturb Maevyth’s bath, which surprises her.

Rykaia asks if she would return to Foxglove with Aleysia if she could, which prompts Maevyth to tell Rykaia about her reputation in Foxglove. After Maevyth tells her about Lilleven’s death, Rykaia sympathizes, noting how unique or unusual women are often demonized. She brings Maevyth a white garment before leaving her to enjoy the bath. Alone, Maevyth cries while thinking about Aleysia. She uses Zevander’s soap, which smells woodsy.

As she gets out of the bath, Zevander enters, covering his face with his hand. Maevyth notices that his scorpion tattoo has moved, and she wonders why he covers his face. She discovers that the white garment is one of his tunics and is aroused by the situation.

They apologize for their fight earlier, and he offers to move Maevyth into a locked room instead of the dungeon. Maevyth chooses the dungeon. Zevander offers to have her clothes washed, and they go to Magdah, his housekeeper. On the way, they flirt, and Maevyth expresses her confusion that Zevander thinks she speaks Nyxterosi when she only speaks Vonkovyan. Vonkovyan is a dead language in Aethyria, and Maevyth suspects that Zevander thinks she is a spy.

Magdah is rude to Maevyth but agrees to wash her clothes. In the dungeon, Zevander notes the Deimosi, fears that get left behind when someone dies and goes to Nethyria. They make Maevyth uncomfortable, and she struggles to understand the way Zevander looks at her.