Victor of Tucson Book 10: Chapter 27: A Solitary Meal

27 – A Solitary al

At Kynna’s words, Victor felt his heart rate quicken. “Really?”

She nodded, her smile broadening further. “Yes! One of the envoys I sent to Sojourn has returned bearing an item won at auction. Of course, I wanted to present it publicly, along with more comndations for your valor, but I know ti is of the essence. You’d more likely be annoyed by the ceremony than grateful, in any case, so…” She shrugged, allowing her sentence to go unfinished, and then she held out her hand and a polished, black, wooden box appeared in her palm.

Victor stepped closer, first looking at the box, then shifting his gaze to Kynna’s face and the white flas flickering inside her crystalline eyes. “I appreciate the lengths you’ve been going to. I know epic bloodline treasures are uncommon. What is it?”

“Take it and see.” Again, Kynna proffered the box, and Victor nodded, taking it from her hand. It was square—about the size of a Rubik's cube he’d gotten from one of his aunties that he’d never had the patience to solve.

“Should I open it?” He asked the question because he knew so natural treasures lost their potency rapidly when exposed to the air. Kynna nodded, her eyebrows tilting up in the center with eager anticipation. Victor lifted the lid off the box. It was delicately crafted and lined with black velour padding. Inside, sat a walnut about the size of a tennis ball. Clearly, it wasn’t exactly a walnut. For one thing, the shell was dark brown—almost black. And, while the nut had the wrinkles in its shell similar to a walnut, it was too round.

Victor’s nose instantly picked up the woodsy, coffee-ground scent of the nut, and, underneath that strong odor, a hint of sweet vanilla that made his mouth water. He lifted it to his nose and sniffed, his eyes going wide with the wonderful aroma. “It makes want to try to crunch that shell with my teeth!”

Kynna laughed. “The authentication docunts say that anyone who catches a whiff of the at inside that shell will be powerless in the face of the temptation.”

Victor smiled and held the open box out toward Bryn. “Sll that.”

She leaned close and sniffed. Her mouth dropped open, her eyes bulged, and Victor saw a trickle of drool begin to slide out of the corner of her lips. He laughed, and pulled it back, holding it out to Arona. She took a step back, shaking her head. “You think it’s funny to torture people. Look at poor Bryn!”

Victor clicked his tongue, continuing to chuckle as he put the lid back on the box. “I dunno, I’d want to know what it slled like if I was standing in Bryn’s shoes.”

Bryn laughed, nodding good naturedly, even as she blushed. “I did! I was desperate to know!”

Victor looked at Kynna. “Thank you, My Queen. What’s it called?”

She produced a small black card with gilded silver letters on one side. She squinted at them and, haltingly, pronounced, “A Yan’grovashee World Tree seed.” She shrugged and handed Victor the card. “I hope it helps you, Victor. I hope it provides so insight into your curse, or perhaps greater resistance.”

“I do too.” Victor sighed and, with a shrug, sent the magical seed into his best storage ring.

Kynna looked from Bryn to Arona, perhaps judging whether she should ask for so privacy. Apparently, she decided not to; she looked at Victor and asked, “Any progress?”

“Um, a bit, yeah.” He shrugged. “I’m doing what I can to gain strength and, if things go well, I’ll try to battle the curse on the spirit plane soon. I imagine I’ll be out of it for a while when I consu your gift. Do you have any news regarding my next duel?”

Kynna shook her head. “I continue to pressure House Voth, but Bomar Lund has stockpiled enormous resource caches, and the other great houses support him. I believe he can resist my efforts to force a duel for a very long ti. As I consolidate power on this continent, however, I know it rankles House Khaliday; every week their empire diminishes. They won’t stand for it, not for long. Soon they’ll pressure one of the other houses to co forward with a champion they hope can slay you.”

“Your Majesty,” Arona said, stepping a little closer to the two of them, “don’t you fear assassination?”

“The veil walkers are still on war footing after the attempt on Lohanse’s life. They limit movent between continents to the established teleportation networks, making sneaking a kill squad into Victor’s duchy much more difficult. Moreover, even if such an attempt was made, we’ve spent the last half year reinforcing the defenses of this keep.” She smiled and looked around, her eyes lingering on the stone walls of the tower. “The bones of this place are ancient and they run deep. It’s well situated atop this hill, and having the city five miles away is a tactical advantage my palace in Gloria lacks.”

Arona looked at Victor, pressing her palms together as she perford a strange half-bow, sothing he’d never seen her do before. In her raspy voice, she very solemnly said, “I will stand guard over this place while you undergo whatever that potent seed does to you.”

Kynna cocked her head to the side, making it clear that her tall, crystalline crown magically held its position. “That’s very noble of you, Arona Moonshadow.”

Arona turned to the queen, her palms still pressed together, her head still bowed. “I owe Victor much, and I intend to do my part to see his mission on this world completed.”

“Then, if Victor is willing, I will na you a Champion of the Realm. It’s only fitting that you have the respect your actions demand.” She looked at Victor, an eyebrow arched questioningly.

Victor shook his head. “No, My Queen. Make her a captain of the Queensguard if you want, but not a champion. If this nut knocks out for a month and you need soone to fight one of the champions of the great houses, I won’t have Arona step into that role.”

Kynna’s mouth partially opened, and Victor wasn’t sure if she was going to deny that intention or if she was going to argue that he should allow it, but she must have thought better of her words in either case. She closed her mouth, nodding. “I understand.”

“Thanks.” Victor turned to Arona. “Thank you for watching things around here while I’m out of it, though.”

“Um, Your Grace,” Bryn said, shifting so her golden glaive sizzled and flickered with Energy, “Let’s not forget that quite a few capable folks are already guarding this palace!”

Arona turned to Bryn, looking up from her solemn bow. “Of course, Baroness. I ant no offense.”

Bryn nodded, cheeks flushing, clearly uncomfortable speaking up in front of the queen. “None taken.”

Victor felt like he needed to put an end to the impromptu little eting before soone did take offense, so he cleared his throat and motioned vaguely toward the door. “I suppose I should consu this thing right away. The sooner I do, the sooner I’ll be done with whatever ordeal it puts through, right?”

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Kynna nodded. “I wouldn’t have imdiately brought it to you if I disagreed. Will you do it here?”

Victor nodded and absently rubbed his chest near the constant, roiling fire at the center of it. He honestly didn’t know how he was able to chat and laugh; it felt like he was being branded with a hot iron on a constant basis. Soone, maybe a coach, once told him that a person can get used to any level of misery over ti. Victor wasn’t sure that was true, but he was definitely less grouchy than when the curse had first afflicted him. “Yeah,” he said after a few seconds of thought. “In my cultivation chamber. It’s secure and the thick Energies should help stave off the void.”

Kynna watched his hand where it pressed against the edge of his pectoral, carefully avoiding the center of his breastbone. “Is it terribly uncomfortable?”

Victor cocked a lopsided grin and lowered his hand. “Nah, it’s not bad.”

“Liar,” Bryn muttered.

Kynna looked at her sharply, then at Victor with more concern. “Hiding the truth from us will not make anything easier.” She stepped closer and reached out to grasp his shoulder, her fingers surprisingly strong as she gripped his muscles. “Let us in, Victor.”

Victor took a long deep breath through his nose, then shrugged. “It’s awful. I’m worried sothing is wrong with . How can I periodically forget about sothing this fucking painful? Am I losing my mind? I was laughing earlier. I was excited about my completed cultivation chamber! My stomach was rumbling and I was thinking about barbecuing so Lava King flesh to eat—long story. Still, how can I do all that when this is going on?” He reached up to his collar and ripped his shirt open, revealing the marble-sized sphere of nothingness that was eating his flesh, just a tiny bit faster than it could regenerate.

Bryn hissed through her teeth and blurted, “It’s so much bigger!”

Kynna looked at Bryn and then Arona. “Is it?”

Victor answered before his friend had to. “Yeah, it is. It’s nothing like when Loss cast the spell, though. It’s only growing a tiny bit every day, but I guess if it’s a percentage, the pace will beco unmanageable.” Victor summoned the treasure Kynna had given him and held the polished box up. “Hopefully this will help. Maybe it will improve my regeneration. Maybe I’ll have so other kind of breakthrough.”

“Hopefully,” Kynna agreed. “Even if it does, or if it doesn’t, you need to rely on us more. I am a queen, yes, but I’m also your friend. You wouldn’t have that curse if not for —my kingdom.”

Victor shook his head. “Nah, Kynna. This is on and, maybe a little on Ranish Dar.” He chuckled ruefully. “You’ve tried to stop half a dozen tis.”

“She’s right, though,” Arona rasped, her dry voice cutting through any nonsense. “I owe you everything. Let help you more. If nothing else, you should feel comfortable enough to vent to . Your mind isn’t broken, though; I can tell you that right now. Your subconscious knows you can’t do anything about the pain. When you don’t think about it, part of you is tuning it out so that you can continue living and hopefully find a solution to the problem.”

“She’s right,” Bryn added. “My father tad a Fellhawk when I was a girl. We watched it hunting the slopes near our ho for months before he finally coaxed it close enough to get a good look at it. He had a broken-off arrow in his wing, the barbed arrowhead had scar tissue grown around it, but even so, every ti he flapped his wings, the blades would cut his flesh. I rember thinking how difficult it must be to hunt with that constant pain. My father told that the mind and body can adapt to much when it cos to survival.”

Kynna looked at Bryn with an appraising expression. “I’ve never heard you speak so much at once, Bryn. I’m impressed—and heartened—by your story. Do you hear that, Victor? It’s natural for you to learn to function through your pain.”

Victor forced a smile, though he wasn’t feeling very jovial at the mont. Even so, he appreciated what the three of them were trying to do, so he said what they wanted to hear, “I know you’re right. I should confide in you more.”

“Go then!” Kynna said with a firm nod. “Go.” She turned to Bryn. “You’ll keep posted on his status?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” Brynn straightened into attention and saluted for good asure.

Kynna turned to the door. “Co see when you’re done, Victor, and don’t worry about us. Everything will be fine while you’re busy.”

“I will.” Victor watched her leave, then turned to Arona. “I guess I’ll be in my cultivation chamber.”

“No one can open that if you lock it, Victor,” Bryn said as though he’d forgotten.

“Exactly.” He deftly tossed the box with the priceless treasure inside it from one hand to the other, then turned and walked back to his workshop. Naturally, both won followed him.

“What if we need to help you? How will we look in on you?” Arona asked.

“Here.” Victor held his hand to the smooth section of amber ore on the door. After the locks disengaged, he kept his hand there until a circle of faintly glowing silvery runes appeared. He removed his hand and said, “Put your hand there, now, Arona.” Arona quickly stepped forward and held her palm on the tal. A mont later the silvery runes flashed and faded. “Now you can lock and unlock the door.”

Arona lowered her arm and leaned her shoulder against the door. “Bryn should have permission, too.”

Victor shook his head, looking directly into Bryn’s eyes. “I trust Bryn, but she’s not as strong as you—yet. Soone could force her to open this door against her will. You understand, Bryn?”

The forr guardswoman nodded, smiling reassuringly. “I do, Victor. It’s enough that one of us can reach you.”

Arona still stood between Victor and the door and when she didn’t move, he said, “Well?”

“Are you sure you want to do this now? An epic bloodline treasure could take weeks for your body to process.”

“Yeah, I think the last one I ate was about a week.” Victor shrugged. “I an, I’m hungry. I was going to go and cook sothing; that much was true. I have snacks in my ring.” He didn’t ntion that the “snacks” were behemoth hearts. “I’ll probably sit in there and ditate for a while. I’ll have a solitary al and then I’m going to eat this magical nut for dessert.” He held up the box. “There’s no point waiting.” He gestured to his chest where his ripped shirt hung open. “Every day this thing gets bigger.”

“We’ll be here, Victor,” Bryn said, thumping the butt of her glaive’s haft on the hardwood flooring.

“Thank you.” Victor reached past Arona and pulled the door open, forcing the much smaller woman to step away hurriedly. “See you two soon.” He could tell Arona wanted to say sothing more, but she didn’t and he didn’t want to drag the mont out any longer. He stepped into the vault, looked into each of their eyes one more ti, then pulled it closed with a resounding clang. He touched his hand to the smooth surface at the center and held it there until the locks thunked into place.

Already, the air in his cultivation chamber was thick with the elental Energies of blue ice and magma. He could feel them as he inhaled, seeping into the wide pathway leading from his lungs and into his Breath Core. It was very satisfying, and he thought he could feel a slight relief in his chest where the void busily worked to eradicate his flesh. Was its influence lessened there in his cultivation chamber? Did the thick currents of Energy make it harder for the absence of anything to assert itself? He hoped so.

He climbed the steps to the platform at the sphere's center and sat down. The platform was large enough for him to sit comfortably, and he thought there was even enough room left over to lie down. Sitting there, he decided to make good on his promise to eat sothing. He summoned one of the behemoth hearts from his last dungeon run. The thing was enormous, though not as large as the gargantuopod’s. Even so, Victor didn’t think he’d be able to eat more than one at a ti.

Without any ceremony or hesitation, he began to bite hunks out of the hot, tough flesh. He chewed absently, enjoying the flavor as always, but his mind wandered. He thought about Kynna and her words, about how concerned everyone seed. He thought about Valla and Rellia and felt a little guilty for not seeing them again while he and Arona were on Fanwath to run the dungeon. In the back of his mind, he knew why he was having those thoughts: so part of him wondered if he might die in that chamber.

If the treasure knocked him out for weeks and did nothing to slow the curse's progress, it could grow large enough to consu part of his heart. Could his regeneration keep him alive as his heart was constantly eroded? He swallowed the last hunk of the behemoth’s heart and summoned a flask of wine to rinse his mouth.

The at in his gut was hot and full of Energy, but no vision overca him. He didn’t lose consciousness, and he didn’t get any System ssages. Nevertheless, he felt those deep wells of Energy flow into his Core and flood it with power. It swelled and strained, fighting against the pressure that kept it from advancing.

His Spirit Core was on the third rank of the epic tier, and Victor had a feeling another heart like the one he just ate would push it into the fourth. Considering so of the people he’d t on Sojourn spent years trying to cultivate enough Energy to advance through an epic rank, Victor wouldn’t complain about that.

As the heat in his gut dissipated, and he finished the flask of wine, he picked up the box containing the natural treasure. “Ti for dessert, I guess.”