Kings of Muraine: A Tyr Retelling – Norse God of Justice

Chapter 24: Midnight Anemones (excerpt)

Bathing in full moonlight is the empty scene of bloodstained shamrock-grass. It’s where memories exploded from Nyrim, then me. Memories I still can’t remember, no matter how I try. What currently disregards my grievance now, though, is this mocking object resting on the rock. The second Enigma Star, beside me. Still unsolved. Aloud, I state, “Even with everything I’ve been able to do, I can’t figure you out.” Silently, I continue, Not my dad’s secrecy, nor his death. This Enigma, or the Vardiya’s message. Awngeleik, or the journals, either. But Soren’s interest in Gemma disturbs me. How does everything fit, in what my dad was running from?

The field of Midnight Anemones beckons me to look, and I do. And when I do, something deep within my soul is brought to the surface. An inner summon, which calls from across the stained grass.

It is a cool breeze and warm sunlight.

It is fear and courage.

A contradiction of sensation, all felt at once.

Sighing, I seize the Enigma Star. Whether I’m ready, or not, I prepare myself for the presence of contradiction: the Geldryn device displayed on her wrist. Though Callie of Dysarda’s out of sight, I sense the device nearing with every step.

The cool breeze turns to ice.

The warm sunlight to a scorching desert.

Fear to horror.

Courage to carelessness.

Sweat beads on my brow, and I claw at my neck, until a gentle wind carries the calming sugar-musk scent of Midnight Anemones. At the field’s border I stand, taken aback by their glow. Blue toward the center of unreflecting black, each flower boasts of six glowing petals edged with white.

Sensing that I’ve been here before, once again, familiarity fills me. Through the intoxicating knee-high flowers I wade, calling for Callie. The one uniform reply is from the Arkivara’s leaves rustling their own rhythm. It’s like thousands of little replies, really. Unable to resist, I flop down in the elegant flowers the same way I would in my favorite patch of grass back home. With a long, single inhale, my lungs soak in my new favorite smell of Midnight Anemones.

Time passes, though I know not how much, when I sit up to think, If she’s not here, where would she go?

A grove of fruit trees, nearby, looks promising. Reluctantly getting up, I wander deep into its dark shadows, echoing to her, Callie. You in here?

Behind me, hurrying footsteps rustle through the Midnight Anemones. Someone’s in the grove with me. Fear takes hold, when heat returns to my veins. That same heat felt near Mirror Lake. I dash farther into the grove. But I collide with something. Someone. We plummet to the ground, together.