The Eating Woods, #2
Eldritch
by Keri Lake
Contents
Chapter 11
Overview
Maevyth tends to an unresponsive Aleysia and battles Morsana’s compulsion to kill her, resisting at the last moment. Searching the Eating Woods, Maevyth finds Zevander entranced at Aethyria’s arch, trying to burn the barrier and nearly striking her before recovering. They discuss Aleysia’s ominous black mass, Zevander’s worsening curse without vivicantem, and the risk of his lapses. An accidental flare of sablefyre transforms Maevyth’s melted whistle into a bloodstone. They decide to wait one more day for Aleysia to wake, then seek vivicantem in town.
Summary
Maevyth nurses an unresponsive Aleysia, despairing over dwindling supplies and the suffocating cabin. While washing Aleysia, Maevyth discovers a large black mass with vein-like tendrils beneath her skin. Morsana’s voice urges Maevyth to kill Aleysia, and Maevyth almost obeys before violently rejecting the compulsion, vowing she will not harm her sister. Aleysia seems to whisper Maevyth’s name, but then falls silent.
Realizing Zevander has been gone too long, Maevyth searches the cottage, finds her melted bird-whistle in his cloak, and ventures into the Eating Woods following his tracks. She navigates hostile creatures and decay before reaching the arch to Aethyria, where Zevander stands entranced, chanting a Primyrian phrase—te’igniret abysira, “burn it down”—while trying to scorch the barrier with black fire. When Maevyth approaches, Zevander whirls with an axe as if to strike, then snaps back to himself, horrified he might have hurt her.
They piece together what happened: Zevander doesn’t recall leaving the forest’s edge, and the barrier resisted his sablefyre. Maevyth describes Aleysia’s black-veined mass and fears of a curse; Zevander doubts a mortal could survive sablefyre but concedes the similarity to his spreading scar, which worsens when he lacks vivicantem. Maevyth reassures him about his scar and they share a tender moment.
When Maevyth returns the melted whistle, Zevander unintentionally unleashes sablefyre that forges it into a silver bloodstone—an anomalous result he cannot explain. Concerned about Zevander’s lapses, they discuss a signal to confirm he’s present in his mind. Maevyth proposes seeking vivicantem from Moros in town, but Zevander refuses to leave until they know Aleysia won’t harm her. They agree to wait one more day for Aleysia to wake, then pursue the vivicantem if necessary.
Who Appears
- MaevythCares for comatose Aleysia, resists Morsana’s killing compulsion, tracks Zevander into the woods, and proposes seeking vivicantem.
- ZevanderFalls into a trance at Aethyria’s arch, nearly attacks with an axe, recovers; sablefyre turns whistle into a bloodstone; needs vivicantem.
- AleysiaUnconscious, possibly whispers Maevyth’s name; bears a black mass with spreading veins suggesting a sinister affliction.
- MorsanaInsidious inner voice compelling Maevyth to kill Aleysia; resisted but intensifies Maevyth’s fear of her own magic.