The Death of the Lake (10)

A dark fantasy

Chapter 10: The summer of Snakes

The guests stayed on Thilia island a few days. Ulise’s father was most grateful to Merush for saving her from Lord Morten, but he wasn’t all pleased with her choice of a husband, 

“A Dragonling and a poet, dearest daughter!” Ulise’s father shook his head smiling, but the two indeed were glowing with happiness. 

The day of their departure came. Lord Hadrian was unpleasantly surprised when Luke was about to step upon the ship with the rest of them.

“Father, I must return. Somebody on the Snakeling island needs my help. It’s a matter of life and death, so… so, a serious matter,” Luke stammered with tears in his eyes; he wished to stay on Thilia with all his heart. 

“I understand, my son. A decent man doesn’t avoid his responsibilities. You’ve grown up to be a good man,” Lord Hadrian embraced Luke. 

***

Anaish stood in the courtyard of the Snakeling castle. The springtime sun shone warmly on her skin; this year spring came early. The girl wore Snakeling clothes - a long grey tunica, with a leather belt. Lord Merush had given her clothes and food to last for a while; all her belongings were tied upon her back. The Elders had come out to witness the banishing. Mari and Ulise looked at the blind girl, both crying. Anaish couldn’t cry - Snakelings were unable to do so. The three young women embraced. 

“From this day, Anaish the one with darkened eyes, you are banished from Snakeling town into the deepest forests of the island, and you are not to set a foot back here!” the Elders hissed. 

Merush couldn’t do anything, the Snakeling laws were strict.

“I must beg… I must beg for somebody to lead me into the forest, for I do not know the way!” Anaish’s frail figure with the giant load upon her back appeared pathetic and lost in the large courtyard. 

“I will go with you! I’m banished as well, so we’re heading in the same direction anyway,” Luke said marching into the courtyard. He wore Snakeling clothes; a dark grey tunica with a belt, breeches and a pair of leather boots. He also had a load tied on his back. 

“I thought you’d stay in Thilia,”

“I changed my mind. Now, I think we must start moving. It’s a long way to the deepest forest, isn’t it?” Luke appeared almost cheerful. He took Anaish’s hand, but she stubbornly pulled it back.

“I don’t need your pity!”

“But you need my help to find the deepest forests. Since I’m heading there too, I can lead you. Afterward you can die alone, if you wish,” Luke shrugged, grabbed her hand and along they went, with Luke waving goodbye to Herki. 

“Don’t you dare dying alone in the forest, brother! I’ll visit you soon!”

“I won’t die before I see you again, my brother,” Luke replied smiling. 

The further they went, the deeper and darker the pinewood forest became. Both walked for hours and hours until Luke saw a small black river flowing before them. It led to a dark, narrow lake. 

“The stream I hear - is it a river ahead of us?” Anaish finally broke the silence. Luke had tried to hold a conversation with the girl, but all his well-meant words hit a wall of the girl’s hateful ignorance and spite. The last few hours the weather had been hot and humid, Luke’s back was covered in dripping sweat, but he went on, cursing each time he stumbled upon a tree root or a stone. 

“Yes, it’s a little river,” 

“This is the place for the banished,”

“Oh!” Luke assessed their surroundings; the forest was indeed dark and unwelcoming here - tall black fir and pine trees spread their wide branches over moss and bush covered land. Luke got an eerie feeling of being watched by hostile creatures lurking from the shadows. 

“And where are the other banished people?” he asked innocently.

Anaish grinned.

“I don’t think they survived. The cold nights and hunger are not the only dangers around here,”

“Oh… what else is here?” Luke asked and grabbed the hilt of his sword. 

“I’ve heard stories of giant lizards living in the marshes across the Serpent lake, nasty creatures with teeth as sharp as daggers and poisonous bites,” Anaish spoke holding back a grin; she clearly was attempting to frighten Luke. 

“Good thing I brought my sword with me. Now, I think we should eat,”

“I think you should leave!” Anaish retorted. 

“Listen! You may not need my help, but I need yours,” 

“You need my help?” Anaish said with disbelief. 

“I can’t cook. I don’t know how to make a fire. I’ve lived in a castle all my life,”

Anaish sighed, but didn’t tell him to go away. Together they made a fire and Luke watched Anaish prepare the meal, with her fingers moving quickly. She cooked a simple stew, and Luke ate most of it.

“You eat too much. Soon enough you’ll be all out of supplies,” Anaish shook her head, while both of them drank herb tea. 

“I can do the fishing. Merush gave me a fishing rod,” Luke said cheerfully. With his stomach full of warm meal, the forest didn’t seem all that gloomy.

“You are not staying. Find your own place to die and leave me here!” 

“I am not going to sit around waiting for death! I’ve got you into this mess, I’m staying here no matter what you say!” Luke’s loud voice resounded amongst the dark trees.

“Hush! You’re too loud!” Anaish looked around. Indeed, some branches cracked near them - Luke’s voice had startled somebody. It was late in the afternoon, soon enough the darkness would cover the forest. 

“I think we should make a shelter. I’m not going away, and it will be safer and warmer if we stick together,”

Anaish nodded unwillingly, because she too felt frightened by the forest sounds.

Luke had taken a small axe with him, and a piece of rope. He chopped down some fir branches and slender birch trunks, Anaish helped him tie those together. The shelter was small, but at least they made it just in time - the dusk came right after sunset and there was nothing quite as unsettling as darkness of the night-time forest. Luke and Anaish sat by the fire most of the night shivering from the cold; it was still early spring. After a while Luke moved closer to the girl, and she did not object. Both heard horrifying hisses all around their camp, but whatever the creatures were, they didn’t dare to step into the firelight. Luke threw a couple of large branches into the fire.

“Maybe we should try and get some sleep,” he was tired to death.

Anaish stalled just before climbing into their shelter.

“Don’t worry, I do not intend to steal your virtue,” 

“Of course, you wouldn’t! But will the girl left waiting for you in the castle think so as well? It’s the Birdling Healer, I know. Mari and Ulise heard the rumours,” Anaish said.

“We… were not meant to be. She chose to stay a Healer,” 

“I’m sorry. You sound unhappy,”

“I am,” Luke sighed. Both got into their small shelter. They laid closely together. At least it wasn’t cold.

Although the flames blazed brightly, the horrible hisses kept them awake long into the night. Luke held his sword in one hand, embracing Anaish with the other. The poor girl shook from fear uncontrollably. She would’ve cried if she could. Luke was just as frightened, he effortlessly tried to hide his shaking. After a bone-chilling cry from the dark forest, Anaish shrieked and snugged under Lukes arm, he held her close and hummed his mother’s lullaby - to sooth both Anaish and himself. 

Luke woke up still very much alive. He held Anaish close, her body felt warm and pleasant. For a moment Luke desired to pull her even closer, and kiss her, and… no, no no! Luke shook and regained control over his thoughts. An honourable man would not allow himself to delve into such dirty ponderings. He got out of the shelter quickly.  What had got into him?!

The fire had gone out, of course; a white serpent of smoke viewed into the dusky treetops. Luke shivered. This should become his home for now. At least until Anaish learns to take care of herself. Luke had no doubt she would manage, if the girl had a proper house, that is. But would she be safe from the monsters they heard at night? Cold chills ran down Luke’s spine. He began humming the lullaby once again. 

Maybe Luke could take Anaish with him to Thilia? They were banished anyway, surely the Elders wouldn’t care, as long as they don’t enter the Snakeling town. Luke comprehended - no matter where he’d take Anaish, she would always depend on him. A sense of a heavy burden laid on his soul.

“Why did you go quiet? You make beautiful sounds. Could you sing some more?” said Anaish getting out of their shelter. Luke sighed and sang, making the fire. 

Both prepared breakfast. 

“I’m going to build you a new shack. After all, you lost your home because of me,”

“I don’t want to be anybody’s burden. You can leave whenever you want,” Anaish guessed his thoughts.

“You’re not a burden!”

“Don’t lie!” 

Luke didn’t answer, angrily poking the fire with a stick.

“Your voice changes when you lie,” Anaish explained. 

“Alright! I’ll tell you the truth! I wish to return home to Thilia. I’ll build you a nice, safe shack, and then I’ll leave,” Luke barked at her.

“I agree. I’ll be fine,”

“Now you’re lying! You won’t be fine! Come with me to Thilia!” Luke yelled.

“I won’t! And you’re too loud!”

“You’re too damn quiet!” He retorted, grabbed his axe and began to chop tall, young birches growing nearby. 

“I’ll build you the best damn shack I can!” Luke yelled every word out with a swing of the axe. They heard the hissing again. The uproar had awakened the monsters and they clearly were not at all happy for his rampage. The silence of the deep forest suffocated Luke’s soul. Anaish could stay silent for hours. He began to sing loudly, just to ease his soul. Strangely enough, the hissing monsters went quiet and later their voices resounded from across the nearby lake. 

“They’re afraid of your song! Keep singing!” Anaish urged him. While Luke took down the trees, she picked berries touching the bushes with her sensitive fingers. Later both went fishing, then prepared a meal. So, the day went its course, at night they laid close, listening to the fire roaring, the owls hooting, and the river flowing. The monsters indeed didn’t dare to approach their camp, at least not until they would get used to the unusual sound of Luke’s singing. 

Days passed, summer had come - blazing hot and unbearably humid in the forest. Anaish went to swim in the lake; Luke could not. 

He worked to build the shack every day. Although a High-born, Luke turned out to be a naturally gifted woodworker. The shack was slowly rising. His hands were covered in blisters and splinters, but Luke felt immensely proud of his work. 

“You don’t have to work so hard. Take a break!” Anaish said, hearing his rapid breathing after Luke had carried a large log to the shack. 

He would not confess, but Luke worked himself to death, just to fall asleep as soon as he laid down near the girl. Something about the scent of her skin was strangely alluring, and Luke found it hard not to pull her closer into his lap. The mornings were the worst; the desire burned him from inside, and although he was not a Dragonling like Herki, and he felt no pain, the growing urge drove Luke mad! 

 Luke nearly ran out of their shelter at dawn, otherwise the lust clouded his mind. He shall not disgrace Anaish! She obviously did not share Luke’s struggles - the cold-blooded Snakeling girl seemed completely calm around him, even when they laid close in the shelter.  

The summer was in its prime, and the shack was nearly done. 

It was the hottest day ever, Luke still worked all day long, finishing the roof by evening. Anaish had got to know the surroundings of their camp well, she went to the lake on her own and found her way back hearing Luke’s voice; he sang whenever Anaish wandered around. 

She came back wearing one of Luke’s shirts. He had brought two of those with him. The Snakeling tunica was too thick to wear in the heat. Luke looked at her and nearly fell off the roof - the shirt barely covered her thighs, it was wet, because she swam in it and the fabric displayed her body quite openly. 

“Come down, we should cook!” Anaish went to the fire. The sun was setting behind the black trees. 

“I’ll get the water,”

Luke climbed down and ran to the river, just to keep himself further away from Anaish. 

Eventually he had to come to the fire. Luke could not control his eyes. Anaish wouldn’t see him staring, but Luke was determined not to, which made his struggles even harder. 

“What’s wrong? Are you not hungry?” She asked, because there was only one thought on Luke’s mind and it did not concern dinner. 

He was certain Anaish felt nothing toward him. They were on friendly terms, but she didn’t show any signs of affection. Luke couldn’t stand it any longer. Before he had thought it through, he heard himself say,

“Anaish, I want to ask you something. Would you… I mean.. could you… could you teach me how to swim?” Luke had no courage to ask what he desired. No decent man would ask a maiden if she wanted to sleep with him! Instead he yet again spewed out the first thing that popped into his mind - about swimming, because her shirt was still wet. Luckily, she didn’t see poor Luke blush.  

“Me? Teach you? Of course! Finally, you’ll cool down in this heat,” Anaish gladly agreed. Sha smiled with her lovely dimples showing and Luke struggled not to kiss her.

“Can we go now?”

“Now? Yes, it would be better not to swim with a full stomach,” 

Luke followed her to the lake. As terrified as he was, Luke was relieved - all lustful thoughts retreated when facing his worst fear. 

“No, I can’t!” Luke screamed shaking, he could not go into the lake, although the evening was beautiful; the blaze of the late sunset lingered above the dark waters. 

Anaish thought for a while, went to the camp and returned with a piece of cloth. 

“What are you doing?” Luke didn’t understand. Anaish touched his face and tied the cloth around his eyes. 

“When I was little, I was afraid to swim. But I learned how to trust the lake, and how to trust myself,” she explained.

“I cannot believe I’m letting a blind girl lead me into a lake blindfolded,” Luke said out loud.

“That’s what I like about you, Luke. You say exactly what you think,” Anaish laughed.

“Don’t think about the water. Feel it. Is it cool or warm? Is the touch of the water pleasant? How does it feel?” Anaish told him, slowly dragging Luke into the lake, step by step. Indeed, Luke thought of all the sensations the water evoked in him, until they stood in waist-high water. 

“Stop thinking! Just feel,” she spoke softly, sensing that Luke had begun to breathe more rapidly. 

Luke could not remember the last time he had felt calm standing in the water. 

The next couple of days he was busy not only finishing the shack, but also learning how to swim with Anaish. Her calm voice helped him overcome his fear and slowly Luke regained his trust in water. The new occupation also provided the much needed exercise - Luke was so beaten, he fell asleep even more quickly than before. In the morning, still the lust would haunt him, and he jumped out of the shelter barely awake. 

After a week the shack was finished, and Luke was so fond of the lake, he spent nearly all day laughing, swimming and enjoying himself. Anaish joined him, but she seemed strangely distant, and would not come too close.

“Tonight we’ll move into our new home!” Luke exulted sitting by the fire. They had just finished dinner. Luke observed Anaish - how did he not notice her quiet beauty before? The way her black hair fell across the girl’s face, when she leaned to take the tea cup he gave her. The softness of her skin, when she accidentally touched his hand. The lovely dimples of her cheeky smile. And the scent of her skin - it smelled of sunshine and the sweet water of the lake. Luke wished to touch Anaish’s skin and feel her nearness more than he ever wished for anything. 

“Luke, can I ask you something?”

“What?” He said almost too eagerly.

“Can I touch your face? I didn’t dare to ask. I know you find me unpleasant. I just wish to understand your face before you leave,”

“Of course, you can touch me! I mean, my face. Why would I leave?!”

“The shack is finished. The monsters are gone. Now you can go home,” she explained calmly, while her fingers gently touched Luke’s face. He closed his eyes, stopped thinking and gave into the feeling of her soft hands caressing his skin.

“I don’t find you unpleasant, not at all,”

“You have a beard!” She giggled. Indeed, while living in the forest, Luke hadn’t shaved. 

“You are kind, but don’t lie to me. Your voice just changed,” she continued.

“It’s true. I lied. I don’t find you unpleasant; I like you. No, more than that! Anaish, I love you!” 

The girl pulled back.

“Now you’re lying to yourself. It’s just because there is no other girl here to tempt you. If Crane was standing in my place, I doubt you would still choose me,”

Luke frowned and indeed imagined Crane standing next to him. And Ulise.

Ulise was never his. No matter how much he wanted Crane, she always felt distant like a star on a cold winter’s night.

Anaish was here, living and breathing, Luke had grown to love her quiet nature, her calmness, even the dreamy look in her blind, green eyes. And her scent drove him wild.

“Anaish, I want you,” he said heatedly and pulled her close, “I would marry you here and now if I could,”

“But you can’t! I am not to be wed,”

“Does it matter? We’re banished anyway! And… and… maybe we can!” Luke remembered Herki’s wedding. 

“It’s the ancient law of Autumnian wedding. We can get married by ourselves…” Luke explained frantically searching his belongings for something. 

“Luke, we’re not in Autumna. I am a Snakeling. If Snakelings find out - they would be allowed to kill me, so that I couldn’t give birth to ill young,” 

“I’ll protect you! There, I found it!” Luke pulled a golden ring out. It was his father’s gift for the boys sixteenth birthday. Luke also found an iron hook from his fishing supplies and bent it into a small ring.

“Not as pretty as mine, but it fits,” Luke tried it on the girl’s finger. 

“I can’t see it anyway,” she laughed, “you’re mad!”

“Come!” Luke grabbed her hand, both ran to the shore of the Serpent lake. The last traces of sunlight touched the lake’s surface. The first stars shone in the sapphire-blue sky. A narrow crescent of the new moon rose above them.

“Perfect!” Luke exclaimed.

He got on his knees and shouted,

“Foreverold! I’m begging you to wed me to this girl! The prettiest girl in the world! Anaish is her name and I want to love her forever!”

Anaish laughed. 

“Will you be my wife?”

“I will,” Her words were as quiet as the rising mist. 

They exchanged rings. 

Luke carried her into the shack; their new home.

“Will you be mine?” he whispered.

“I will,”

He laid his bride down on the bed Luke had made himself. Finally, he could dive deep into Anaish’s skin and breath her in with his every breath. She replied with more passion than he would’ve expected.

“You don’t know how many nights I longed for your warm hands to touch me,” Anaish whispered laying in his embrace with their rapid breaths aligned. 

“You sure did hide it well,” Luke replied and both laughed in the darkness. 

The morning greeted Luke with raindrops gently tapping on the roof of the shack. He looked at Anaish still sleeping peacefully in his arms; the most beautiful creature and the most precious gift he had ever received. He woke the girl gently singing. 

“You won’t run away like every morning, will you?” she whispered.

“So, you noticed? I am never running away. I’m forever yours and if I go somewhere, I’ll take you with me,” Luke kissed her. They lingered in the shack all morning. The rain had stopped, hot midday sun shone through the dark fir and pine branches, when Luke finally went out to chop some firewood. He heard an unusual noise coming from the forest - something was approaching. Something big. He heard voices. Luke rushed inside the shack to grab his sword.

“What is it?” Anaish asked startled.

“Please, stay in the shack until I say it’s safe to come out!”

Luke ran out, but he laughed loudly at the sight of the one approaching. 

“Brother!” Luke yelled at the top of his longs. 

Herki was riding his way through the forest! He rushed his black horse, then jumped off to run toward Luke. Both clashed together in a brotherly embrace. 

“I’m so happy to find you alive, brother!” Herki said laughing, “the beard! You have a beard!”

Herki looked at Luke - his friend had changed. Not only the beard - Luke seemed much stronger, with wider shoulders. His skin was tanned, his hair appeared more golden than ever before and his blue eyes had a strangely calm and wise expression about them.

“You’ve grown, my friend,” Herki tapped him on the shoulder.

“I’m glad you haven’t changed a bit, Herks,”

Herki looked at the forest.

“I’m not alone,”

He was followed by Lord Merush, Crane and a couple of bodyguards. 

“We would have come sooner, but we got delayed. Ulise was ill, and forming of the fleet took up a lot of time,”

“She’s much better now. And the baby,” Herki added.

“You’ll be a father soon,” 

“Just few more weeks. I’m so happy Ulise got better. Crane was right - we should have been more cautious; swimming in the cold lake was dangerous,”

“I see you have built yourself a castle,” Herki smirked.

“Anything for my princess,” Luke replied with his eyes radiating love.

“Ah, am I to congratulate you with falling in love?” Herki asked, but Luke didn’t reply as the riders approached. 

Lord Merush greeted both Luke and Anaish who had come out of the shack. Crane couldn’t hide the warmth in her sight as she bowed to Luke. Though Luke knew he cannot look at Crane as just a friend, he felt she was nothing more than a friend either. 

“What noble visitors we received today! If we would’ve known you’d come, we’d set up a festive dinner for you,” Luke joked. 

“Not only have we come to visit you and bring more supplies. We’ve come to invite you to join our fleet. It is high time to attack Autumna, Morten is soon to recover,” Merush explained. 

“Of course, I will join the battle! I won’t miss the chance to see my brother beating that scumbag and saving the lake!” Luke exclaimed.

“If only the chances were even…” Lord Merush said quietly.

“My answer is still “no”!” Herki grunted. It appears they had been discussing the matter many times. 

“Are you well, Lord Lukean? Crane volunteered to accompany us, if you or Anaish needed some healing,”

“Thank you, we are… very well,” Luke glanced at Anaish lovingly. 

“You have been touched by the sun…” Crane whispered looking at Anaish. 

Lord Merush squinted his eyes looking at the banished. 

“Young Lord Lukean, there is a matter we should discuss with you. A Snakeling matter. I must beg Anaish and Lord Herkian to leave us alone,”

“Oh? Alright! I think I saw a nice little lake around here.Would Anaish accompany me there?” Herki said cheerfully, and added, “don’t bother trying to get Luke on your side, Lord Merush, he is loyal to me, always.” And away he went with Anaish.

“Are you sharing a bed with Anaish?” Lord Merush asked Luke, as soon as the door closer.

Luke stood silent, stubbornly staring at the wall. 

“We got married by Autumnian laws,” he replied after a while. 

“Do you know she is forbidden to be wed and have children?” Merush continued coldly.

“What? You’re coming after her? If you or the Elders, or anybody tries to hurt her, I’ll cut his throat with this sword!” Luke yelled. 

“That is not the reason we came here. In fact, I might even consider helping you to protect Anaish risking my own position. But in return, I need your help, and your secrecy. Let me explain…” 

Herki dived into the lake; the water was cool even on a hot day like this, but he enjoyed the cold. Especially after Ulise got ill and they could not take pleasure in each other’s nearness. He had to cool down the flame. Herki blamed himself for Ulise’s illness; she obviously got cold in the icy lake, and afterward developed a fever and a terrible cough, and the child’s life was in danger. Luckily Crane managed to save both the mother and the child, but Ulise was to avoid making love until the child was born and she would’ve recovered from labour. Herki was tortured by the flame, but he would willingly suffer to keep Ulise and the baby safe. 

Anaish lingered on the shore.

“Will you join me for a swim?” Herki shouted.

“I’m sorry… I have to go…” the girl was restless, she had to know what is the Snakeling Lord discussing with Luke. Anaish went back, but when she came nearer, the girl turned into a small, black snake. Snakelings rarely used their power to become snakes at will. The animal slithered past the Lord’s bodyguards, hid near the shack and listened under the gap of the door. 

“Do you understand the gravity of this matter?” The Lord asked Luke sternly. 

“I do, but it still seems wrong,” Luke replied.

“It needs to be done! We cannot leave it to fate. Our whole existence is at stake. We can’t close our eyes to this,” Lord Merush tried to persuade Luke.

“It is for the best, Luke! For your future as well,” Crane said softly.

Luke sighed heavily.

“Alright. Do what you’ve planned. I’ll help,”

The little snake didn’t listen any longer, it slithered away from the door, turned into a girl and ran frantically with the guards staring after her. She ran past the lake, Herki called her, but she vanished behind the trees. Herki shrugged, got out of the water, dressed and went back to the shack. 

“Whatever you were discussing, Anaish wasn’t pleased. She ran away like mad! Now, where’s that dinner you promised, Luke? Luke?!” Herki entered the shack carelessly. Lord Merush and Crane stood in front of him. The door slammed shut behind him. 

“Forgive me, brother!”

With a blunt noise somebody wacked Herki over the head, everything became dark and Herki fell to the floor. Luke was standing behind him, and hit his friend’s head with the hilt of the sword. 

“Will he be alright? Did I hit too hard?” Luke kneeled beside him, “he said something about Anaish. I should go look for her,”

“No time for it now! We must do the infusion,” Crane examined Herki’s state. Merush also kneeled down, he pulled a large thorn out of his belt. It was covered with a black substance. Merush pricked Herki’s neck with the thorn.

“What’s that? You didn’t say anything about stabbing him with thorns!” Luke shouted. 

“It will keep Lord Herki asleep for the time of infusion. He’ll wake up after some hours. It’s Snakegrass potion,” replied Merush, hiding the thorn. 

“Are you sure he’ll wake up?” Luke asked worriedly.

“He will, don’t fear,” Crane whispered.

“And you?”

Crane stood silent. 

“I’ll give as much blood as I can to make him more powerful than the vile one,”

Luke shook his head, but still helped Merush and Crane put Herki into bed. Crane had brought a potion and an ivy string to do the blood infusion. She had instructed Merush how and when to stop the blood flow. Luke watched horrified as the Healer cut the large blood vessels on Herki’s hand to insert the ivy in it, then she did the same with her own hand, singing the enchantment. The blood began to flow. Crane grew more pale by the minute. Her voice became weaker and weaker. She would not remain conscious for long. Merush observed it with an icy stare, while Luke paced back and forth nervously.

“We can’t let Crane give all her blood!”

“He must receive at least as much as Morten did. It will save the young Lord’s life and save the lake,” Merush replied. 

Suddenly the guards banged on the door.

“My Lord! We need help! We heard a noise - the banished girl was attacked by the giant lizard monster! She is badly hurt! Please!”

“Anaish!” Luke exclaimed and opened the door. The guards carried the girl inside - all covered in bite marks and blood. Her throat was badly injured, she was bleeding heavily. 

“Crane, help!” Luke cried. Poor Crane could barely speak. She pointed at the ivy, then at Anaish. 

“We must give Crane’s blood to her!” Luke yelled, but Lord Merush did nothing.

“Stop the infusion!”

“You don’t understand! The lake depends on it,” Lord Merush grunted.

“I don’t care about the lake! I care for her! If Mari was in her place, you wouldn’t hesitate!” Luke kept shouting, “when did you exchange your heart for a cold stone?”

Merush swiftly grabbed the silver dagger to cut the cord. Crane instructed him, because she was already too weak to do it. Merush tied the cord around Herki’s hand to avoid blood loss, then he cut Anaish blood vessels and inserted the ivy still connected to Crane. The Healer sang her enchantment in a weary voice. Her blood flowed to Anaish. As Crane fainted, Anaish opened her eyes.

“It hurts, Luke! It hurts! The monster attacked…”

“You’ll be alright! I’m here, my beautiful,” Luke kneeled by her. 

Crane was deadly pale when Merush cut the ivy between her and Anaish. 

“She’s still alive,” the Lord said after hearing her heartbeat.

Afterward Merush rolled up his sleeves and helped Luke clean and treat all of Anaish’s injuries. The Birdling blood worked wonders - the smallest scratches healed before their eyes. The deeper wounds would take longer.

“I heard… I thought… you were to kill me…” Anaish whispered.

“No, no! It wasn’t about you! It was about…” Luke glanced back at Herki with pain in his eyes, “forgive me, brother,”

***

Herki opened his eyes to an unfamiliar sight. He stared at a roughly made wooden ceiling; it was not the Snakeling castle. 

Herki turned his head and felt even more bewildered. Crane laid pale and lifeless on the floor, covered with a blanket. Near her sat Luke, he had turned his back to Herki, singing softly to Anaish, who seemed badly wounded. Merush sat on the floor behind them, holding a steaming hot tea cup in his hands. His snake eyes widened meeting Herki’s sight.

Herki sat up. Where was he? He couldn’t remember yesterday at all! But strange enough, he felt a new strength flowing through his veins. An ivy string was tied tightly around his arm. Herki’s frightened sight darted from his hand to Crane, to Merush, then back to his own hand. 

“What have you done?” Herki whispered. 

“Herks, it’s done for the best!” Luke jumped on his feet.

“What have you done?!” Herki yelled. The scorching hot tea flew up from Merush’s cup and would’ve hit his eyes, if Merush hadn’t covered his face with both hands. The Snakeling Lord screamed in pain; Herki wasn’t in control of his amplified powers. 

“Calm down, Herks! Let’s talk!” Luke begged.

“You betrayed me! You knew I would never agree to take Crane’s blood! You made me as bad as my father!” Herki shouted, got up and barged out of the shack into the night-time forest. 

“No Herks! I wanted to help you! To help us all survive!” Luke ran after him.

“You’re despicable!” Herki retorted. 

The Serpent lake rose when Herki approached. 

“See? You lifted it up like a tiny puddle! Now just put it down!” Luke had caught up with him by the lake.

“I could drown you for what you’ve done to me!” Herki yelled with flames burning in his eyes and made the lake fly above their heads. 

“I only wished to protect my brother, my love and my home…” Luke replied teary-eyed. 

A couple of terrible minutes Luke thought that Herki would indeed kill him. But then the flames in Herki’s eyes were drowned by tears. He made the lake return back in its place, and fell to his knees crying. 

Luke sat down near him.

“Forgive me, brother! But if Morten wins, you know what would happen to the islands. They shall become tiny patches of land surrounded by Morten’s kingdom. He would chew them up,”

Herki did not reply, still shaking and crying.

“Besides, you didn’t receive as much blood as he did - Anaish got badly injured. Crane gave her blood that was meant for you,”

“Will Crane live?” Herki asked.

“I think she will,”

“Merush tricked me. I never imagined he and Crane tagged along to make the infusion. Lord Hadrian was right - a snake shall be a snake…”

“Merush wanted to keep it a secret, the infusion. Where better than here, in the deep forest? He didn’t want any harm. Only the best for everybody,”

“But does it justify betrayal?”

Luke hung his head and silently sat in the dark.