Curse Breaker by Melinda Kucsera

Author:Melinda Kucsera
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: epic fantasy, fantasy, Sword & Sorcery
Publisher: Melinda Kucsera
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Second Chances

When he opened his eyes again, Ragnes lay on a carpet of silver leaves. Another wraith knelt beside him, but his liquid-black mask pulled back to reveal Dirk’s concerned face.

“Where’s Gore?” he asked as Ragnes stirred.

“Gone, I hope. He embraced his wraith-hood, and I think he fed it, strengthening that side of his nature until it was dominant. There wasn’t much left of the Gore we knew.”

“But you didn’t?” Dirk took his arm and helped him up.

Ragnes shook his head and regarded his empty hands—hands he would never use to take anything else that did not rightfully belong to him. That part of his life was done and over with, and now it was time to repent and make reparations if he could.

“I couldn’t do it. I felt the hunger, but I couldn’t give in to it. Dirk, it wanted to feed on the souls of the Foundlings, and I just couldn’t do that. They’re only children.”

Ragnes met his friend’s eyes hoping for understanding. He found it. Dirk squeezed his shoulder.

“Did Gore feed on any of the Foundlings?” Bear asked.

“I don't know. I couldn’t go inside to check. I was afraid to get too close to them lest that same hunger claim me too.”

Ragnes gazed at the ground, his shoulders slumped as he professed the very thing his friends had always accused him of—cowardice. Part of him hadn’t wanted to know if anyone had been harmed by Gore. There wasn’t anything he could have done for them anyway, but that didn't make him feel any better about it.

Bear shook his head but not in disgust. “Add that to the list of things we need to deal with later.”

“So, you’re saying Gore can’t be brought back because he went too far into the darkness?” Dirk looked from Ragnes to the silver tree ablaze with the same light that had purified him.

She inclined her crown, but it was the stuffed bear perched on one of her branches who answered. Maybe she couldn’t, and that was okay. He had a feeling if she ever did speak directly to him, he wouldn’t survive the experience.

“That’s my guess, but whether he’s gone or temporarily disrupted—I can’t answer that.”

“So, you’re saying he could pull himself together?”

“Yes, wraiths are hard to destroy.”

“Then I must go back. I must protect the Foundlings. He’ll claim their souls if I don’t stop him. You must send me back right now.” Ragnes beseeched the Queen of All Trees.

“Gore would never do that.”

“He’s not the man you knew anymore. He’s anger and hunger and darkness all wrapped up in an indestructible package.”

“I don’t’ believe it.” Dirk folded his arms and shook his head.

“You didn’t see his eyes. That hunger is consuming him. He would have eaten my soul if he could have gotten to it.” And that brought up an interesting question. One Ragnes needed answered. “Do I still have a soul?”

“Yes, the Adversary owns it, but not even he can stop my Queen from taking your soul back under the right circumstances.

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