Chapter 25
Venom
The storm passed, and the sun peeked through the clouds. Instead of the crow of a rooster, the group awoke to the incessant howls of Ryker clawing at the door.
"Thar ye mutt!" Red growled as he wiped the sleep from his eyes and pulled the door open. "Get on out da door ye flea ridden hound."
Ryker turned on Red, flashing his large teeth and growling. Red fired back with a growl of his own. Ryker cocked his head to the side, considering the Pirate's actions. The Hormut bolted outside to attend to his morning business.
"It seems that Thaddeus's beast has more manners than you do, Red," Urganox called out.
"Hardy har har!" Red said, laughing. "Da mutt got more manners dan me, and more brains dan you!"
"You are fortunate that I have grown fond of you," Urganox replied.
"Awww, ye loves me," Red said as he put his arm around Urganox. "Give ole Red a hug."
Urganox grabbed Red by the seat of his britches and hoisted him into the air. "That will be the last mistake you ever make," Urganox said.
"Put me down ye big goat!" Red cried.
"If you wish," Urganox said as he released his grip on Red.
The Pirate landed on his hands and knees. He stood back up and dusted himself off saying, "Dat's what me thought."
"No breakfast?" Oggy asked as he came into the room. "I miss my kingdom already."
"Two dozen yarkle eggs, ham, and some fresh bread would serve us well," Urganox replied.
"Ah," Oggy said. "A healthy appetite. I cannot say that I have ever eaten yarkle eggs."
"When this is all over, the two of us will feast like the kings we are. Yarkle eggs, ham, bread, wine, and women!" Urganox proclaimed.
"What about me?" Lot asked.
"It be's about time ye gets out of bed," Red said.
"Look who's talking!" Lot said. "This is the first time I have seen you out of bed before everyone else."
"I be's tryin to take more resposurbility," Red replied.
"The only reason he is up is because Thaddeus's mutt woke him," Urganox added.
"You would not willingly rise this early," Lot said.
Azonis came into the room and took at seat at the table. He sat in silence watching his companions chide and tease one another. I should join them. What am I thinking? They do not wish for my company. I acted the part of a fool last night. I will be lucky if I can join them in casual conversation.
Rasmere came into the room and took a seat on the window seal.
"Good morning, Rasmere," Azonis said, acting as if nothing were wrong.
Rasmere turned to the Sestian and gave him a queer look before nodding his head and turning away.
"It seems that everyone is in good spirits this morning," Locmire called out as he strolled into the room with River by his side.
"Good morning, River," Lot said.
"Good morning, Lot," she replied with a large grin. "Good morning, everyone."
"Ye feelin beddar?" Red asked.
"Much better," she replied. "I have not felt this good in a long time."
"Good to hear, little lady. It is good to see you better," Oggy said.
"Who are ye to be callin someone lil?" Red asked.
This brought smiles and laughter to the entire room. Even Azonis and Rasmere smiled.
"Good morning, Azonis," Locmire said. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Azonis replied. "I wanted to thank you for what you did last night."
"No thanks are necessary. We Wizards are known to be able to work a small amount of healing magic."
Caleb came out of his room and stood next to Azonis.
"Your face," Caleb said.
"The Wizard worked his magic on me," Azonis replied.
"Good," Caleb replied. "I did not know how much longer I could stand to be around you. Your temper was quite volatile."
"I apologize for my actions. It was very selfish of me to behave in such a manner over something so vain," Azonis responded.
"All is well," Caleb said. He patted Azonis on the shoulder. He went to Rasmere and sat beside him on the window seal.
"How are you, Rasmere?" Caleb asked.
The Sword turned to him. "I am well. You?"
"Good," Caleb said. "Still a bit shaken, but I'll be fine."
"I would begin to wonder about you if you had not been frightened over the events that took place last night," Rasmere replied.
"Seems like everyone is in good spirits," said Caleb.
"So it seems. Azonis even seems to be in a temperate mood. I have not seen him act like this for many years," Rasmere replied, glancing at the Sestian. "There is a peace about him. It is hard to describe."
"That is good. Right?" Caleb asked.
"It concerns me," Rasmere replied, staring back out the window.
"Has anyone saw Thaddeus?" Azonis asked.
"Not since last night," Urganox answered. He turned to Azonis. "You look better, Sestian. Amazing what a good night of sleep can do for the body."
"Da Old One laid dem thar hands on ye, huh? Don't feel bad. He been fixin me up fur days now."
"He did quite the job," Azonis said. "Locmire, have you seen Thaddeus?"
"No, and it is not like him to sleep so long," Locmire said. "Lot, will you check in on him?"
Why would he ask me to check on Thaddeus? I am sure he would rather be woken by anyone else. "Sure," Lot said.
Lot pushed Thaddeus's door open. The room was black. A thick set of purple curtains blocked out the morning light. A pungent odor filled the room, making it hard for him to take a breath. He curled his nose. What is that smell? Fumbling in the darkness, he found the curtains and pulled them open. A small sliver of light crept into the room, just enough to see. He looked over at Thaddeus and his heart plummeted from his chest.
"Locmire!" Lot cried. "Locmire! I need you now!"
Within an instant everyone rushed into Thaddeus's room and huddled around his bed.
"Give me space," Locmire said as he pushed the others out of the way.
Thaddeus looked like he had just come in out of the storm. Sweat drenched both his body and bed. His hair lay matted to his head. The King was pale, his skin the color of snow, but with a light green tint.
"What is wrong with him?" Lot asked.
"Someone give me a dagger," Locmire said as he held his hand out to his side.
Rasmere pulled a dagger and placed it in Locmire's palm.
Locmire cut Thaddeus's shirt open and examined his torso. There were no visible markings, but the color of his chest matched that of his face.
River laid her hand on his head. "He is burning up," she gasped.
"I will go fetch water and rags," Azonis said as he exited the room.
Locmire cut open Thaddeus's sleeves. And there lies the problem. Thaddeus's arm was solid black from the tips of his fingers to the upper portion of his arm. A thick, green liquid oozed from his flesh.
"By the gods!" Lot cried. "What is it?"
"He has been poisoned," Locmire replied.
"Poisoned?" Lot wondered. "By the demon?"
"Not the demon, but of what I am not certain," Locmire answered.
"A Cold Heart," Urganox said. "This is the bite of a Cold Heart."
"He never said anything about being bitten," Caleb said.
"He never said anything," Rasmere said. "The village healer was tending to him before the events of last night. We mentioned that we had a run in with a den of Cold Hearts on the previous day. I suppose with all the excitement, the severity of his condition slipped our minds."
"The fool!" Lot cried. "Thaddeus! Wake up!"
"He cannot hear you," Urganox said.
"What can we do for him?" Oggy asked.
"Unless we can get him to Dead Marsh within the next few minutes. . . nothing," Urganox said. "I am sorry. This bite is so far advanced, I am not even sure the Raptilians can help him."
"No, there must be another way," Lot pleaded. "Locmire,
can you heal him like you did with Red's arm and Azonis's face?"
"Sadly, no. We can only heal flesh and bone. Poison is a different beast all together," Locmire replied. "Urganox, take him and place him on the dining table. Lot, find some lengths of rope. Red, get me a piece of leather. River, fetch more water and rags. Caleb, try to find a bottle of wine. Hurry."
"What are you going to do?" Lot asked.
"What must be done," Locmire said as he left the room.
"You heard the Wizard!" Urganox called out. "Get a move on! He does not have much time."
It took a few minutes for everyone to round up their assigned supplies. Thaddeus lay lifeless on the table.
"The poison has traveled even further up his arm," River said.
"If it reaches his body, he is dead," Urganox explained.
"Is his arm and legs bound well?" Locmire asked.
Oggy gave each rope a good tug, checking the tightness of Lot's knots. "Good and tight," Oggy replied.
"Fold up the leather strap and place it between his teeth," Locmire ordered Red.
"Aye aye," Red said, as he slid the strap in between Thaddeus's teeth.
"Bring me his axe," Locmire said, without a quaver in his voice.
Urganox handed Locmire Thaddeus's dragon bone axe. To King Skullsplitters surprise, Locmire handled the heavy axe with ease.
"Hold him down," Locmire said.
Oggy and Urganox held Thaddeus's unaffected arm and legs for good measure while Lot secured his head into place. Azonis and Rasmere stretched his blackened arm out to the side.
Before anyone could react, Locmire brought the axe high into the air and sank it into Thaddeus's arm. Thaddeus came to life at once, screaming in pain. Rasmere and Azonis fell backward onto the floor when the King's arm came free from his body. He fought with all of his might to free himself from his bonds. The green fluid poured from his severed arm, but red blood flowed from his stump.
I think I severed it in the right place, Locmire thought.
Locmire moved out of the way and River doused his bloody stump with the bottle of wine. Thaddeus howled in agony. Rasmere grabbed the rags and pressed them against his stump, but the blood flow was too great. The rags became saturated with his life fluid in seconds.
"This is not going to work," Rasmere said. "He is going to bleed out in a few moments if we do not do something. Tighten the tourniquet!"
"It is as tight as it can be," Lot said.
"Remove the rags," Locmire ordered.
Rasmere pulled the rags from Thaddeus's stumps. Blood gushed from its end. Locmire held out his right hand, and it became engulfed with flame. He pressed his hand against the bloody stump. It sounded like grease hitting a hot skillet. Thaddeus roared in agony once more. He tried to free himself, but he was too weak. The room filled with the stench of charred flesh, but when Locmire pulled his hand back, the wound had clotted.
How is he still conscious? Azonis thought.
Thaddeus lay on the table panting. "Wine," he called out. "Wine." River put the bottle to his lips and gave him a small drink. "More," he said.
When it was all said and done, Thaddeus had drank the remainder of the bottle. His breathing slowed, and the fever left him.
"Untie me," Thaddeus said.
Lot looked to Locmire for a nod of approval, which he received. He unbound Thaddeus's arm and legs.
"Help me to sit," Thaddeus requested.
Lot helped his brother to a seated position. Thaddeus looked down to find his arm amputated between his shoulder and elbow. He moved the stump around in circles.
"I suppose I can fasten a shield to it," he said. "But I doubt it will be very useful."
"Thaddeus. I am sorry. We had no other choice," Lot choked out with tears building in his eyes.
"You all did what you had to do," Thaddeus said. "If the lot of you had not the stomach for such doings, I would be dead. Thank you."
Ryker cried out at the door, pawing and scratching to be let inside.
"Can someone please go let Ryker in?"
Red opened the door and Ryker charged in, bearing his teeth.
"Calm down, boy. All is well," Thaddeus assured the Hormut.
Ryker lowered his head and lay down at his master's feet, whimpering.
"You may not be invincible, or untouchable, but you are the toughest creature I have ever met," Urganox said. "I never witnessed anyone let a Cold Heart bite go so long untreated and live to tell the tale."
Thaddeus smiled, "I am not ready to die just yet. I have much to do."
Azonis placed a hand on Thaddeus's shoulder and said, "I am glad you are alive, old friend."
"I see your wounds have gotten better," Thaddeus said.
Azonis rubbed his hands over his smooth face. "Yes, yes they have," Azonis laughed. "Here you sit with your arm removed and ask me of my face."
Azonis took Thaddeus by his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. Thaddeus returned the gesture with a nod and grin.
"Do we have anything to eat?" King Graystone asked.
Here he sits asking for food, when only moments ago an axe took off his arm. The stories I heard about him must be true, Oggy thought.
Urganox helped Thaddeus outside on the porch. River brought him more wine, and Lot made a meal not fit for a king, but did the best he could with what little food he found in the pantry.
For all Thaddeus had been through in the past day, he was coming along well. His color was returning, and he looked stronger by the minute. Cold Heart venom proved to be a nasty business.
"When do we leave?" Thaddeus asked.
"Leave?" Lot asked. "What do you mean, leave? You are in no shape to depart just yet."
"Do not speak to me of my capabilities," Thaddeus said. "We do not have time to waste."
"Thaddeus, he is right. You are in no shape to leave. Even so, what do you think you can accomplish with a stump that could burst open any moment?" River asked.
"They are right, Thaddeus. You cannot travel to Dead Marsh just yet," Locmire said.
"I will not sit and debate this matter. I am-"
"The others will set out without us. We must travel to Fogarth," Locmire said.
"Fogarth?" Thaddeus asked. "Why?"
"You need not worry about that. Finish your food. We leave momentarily," Locmire said.
"What will you have us do?" Lot asked.
"The rest of you will travel to Dead Marsh and speak to Queen Venumroot. Thaddeus and I will join you shortly," Locmire said as he gave Lot another portation stone. "I am leaving Lot in charge. Place this stone in Dead Marsh once you get there. We will be back by day's end."
"I do not have a good feeling about this. Can we not wait here?" Lot asked.
"No," Locmire said firmly. "We must push forward. Much is at stake. We must reach the Raptilian Queen before Hasbarie does."
"Will someone bring me my armor and weapons?" Thaddeus asked.
"I already have them," Locmire assured him.
"You do?" Thaddeus asked, scratching his temple. "Where are they?"
Locmire patted the satchel on his side.
"You mean to tell me that my armor and weapons are in that little bag?" Thaddeus asked.
"I am a Wizard, remember," Locmire said, smiling. "Come now, it is time go."
"Very well. We will see you soon," Lot said.
Lot and the others gathered their belongings and met at the front gates. Lot turned to tell Thaddeus and Locmire to be careful, but they had disappeared.
Good travels, brother. "Come, let us leave. We can make it to Dead Marsh in a few hours if we are not held up along the way."