War of Torment by Ronie Kendig

Author:Ronie Kendig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Christian, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9798886050417
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Published: 2022-12-03T00:00:00+00:00

“He is especially hard toward the Faa’Cris.”

“You have only yourselves to blame.” Tigo entered the chamber they would use for the night.

Jez pulled him around. “How can you—”

“Think”—Tigo flicked fingers to his temple—“what he is going through! His wife was just murdered by the dogs Symmachia sent in . . . all in a war coming to fruition simply to end a centuries-long argument between two Faa’Cris factions.”

“You oversimplify, Licitus.”

Tigo slid toward her. “The only time you use that derogatory term is when I hit the tender mark on that cold heart of yours.”

Her expression slipped and slid into contrition by the powerful hand of hurt. She stepped inside their alcove and turned to him. “I sensed much concern from you during the conversation. Did you feel Marco was confrontational?”

“Not entirely . . .” Tigo tossed his ruck on the bed in the nearest room, then turned and scratched his head. “Mostly, I felt he wasn’t himself. He was cold, hard.”

“He’s a Kynigos, trained—”

“No. I met that man on the Macedon. Saw his intensity and focus.” He tucked his hands under his armpits. “No, this Marco . . .”

“His wife just died.”

“Yeah.” He frowned, thinking. Wondering at the change. “No. No, there was more there. Something . . . dark.”

Jez drew closer, angling her head. “I detected that, too,” she said in a soft voice, “but could not make sense of it. I find it intriguing that you could sense it as well.”

“I think we were right to separate and let me speak to him alone.” He grabbed a cup of water. “He and Isaura used Lifespeech when he was in Kuru.”

Her eyebrows winged up. “How—”

“He guesses because of the baby Isaura carried.”

“Aeliana,” Jez whispered, her face awash with grief. “I cannot imagine what it must be like to have a potior ripped from that channel through which Lifespeech forges its connection. The empty hollowness . . .”

“I think you’re understanding on a level I can’t. What do you mean channel?”

“There is a connection that forms between two preferred persons—potiors—and it . . .” She framed her face and whimpered. “I would not will that loss on anyone. It is impossible to explain with words.”

“Please. Try.” He had to understand what was happening in Marco if he was to continue to advise and help him.

Jez nodded, her caramel skin rippling with emotion. “You sense not only what I say in Lifespeech, but what I feel when I say it. Yes?” When he nodded she went on. “Through that same channel that is forged between us, you can throw me a warning, a thought, a smile . . . and you feel it. I feel it. But it’s not just a superficial thing. It’s instantly deep and grounding. In a sense, it drives your direction, your path. Now imagine that I am gone, but the channel remains. And you reach into it to tell me something only . . .”

“You’re not there.”

Another nod, this one smaller, sadder. “It would be like walking an empty, dark hall—for eternity.

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