to see the bright, red-orange eye of A’ree above, its sister, Nu’ree swinging through the heavens above it. Soon A’ree would swallow its sibling and the Great Tumult would be upon them.

“If you would eat, come,” Uthul held his gloved hand out to Cael.

At the thought of food, Cael grasped the Sha’ree’s hand and let the man pull him to his feet. “Food would be great.” His stomach grumbled in agreement.

Uthul broke the contact quickly, but didn’t shy away. He gestured toward a nearby tree that grew small and alone out of the barren dirt, a few feet from the darkness of the woods. Eyeball-sized, deep purple fruit hung in over-abundance upon its thin, dark branches that were covered in tiny, scythe-like red thorns.

Uthul walked to the tree. Cael left the orb where it lay, for between it, the light of A’ree, and the glimmers of the font, he could see clearly as he followed Uthul.

“This is Ah Zer oh Ree: The Succor of Ree.” He plucked one of the small fruits, careful to avoid the thorny branches, and passed it to Cael.

It sat heavy in his hand like a stone, and felt strange against his skin. Its flesh was soft, but furred like a beast, and warm to the touch. Cael looked at it a moment, unsure, its appearance unappetizing. His hunger far less picky, pressed for appeasement and Cael lifted the fruit to his mouth.

“A moment, Cael,” Uthul said as he held up a warning hand. He drew his sword as Cael took a step back. “Hold the Succor out, in your palm.”

His hand shaking, Cael did as he was asked, his eyes on the gleaming edge of the weapon. With the gentlest of touches, Uthul set the sharpened blade against the skin of the fruit and pressed. The sword cut the slightest groove in the fruit and Uthul pulled his blade away quick.

“Hold it tight and way from you, and give it a gentle squeeze,” the Sha’ree told him.

Not knowing what to expect, Cael leaned his face away as he complied. The fruit split as though seamed, and wisps of greenish smoke billowed out from inside the Succor. A honeyed smell wafted up thick, tinged with the vague scent of rot, fading away as the cloud dispersed.

“Pluck the seed from inside and cast it beside the tree.” Uthul mimed the motion. “The fruit is edible, but you must never devour the seed of the Succor.”

“What would happen?” Cael wasn’t sure he wanted to know, but he asked anyway, plucking the seed from within the moist cavity of the fruit.

“You would die slow, in horrible agony.”

Cael tossed the seed aside as though it were poison.

“The seed of the Succor knows not the dirt in which it is buried; it knows only that it must grow. Were you to swallow such a seed, it would germinate within you, its spiny branches emerging from the seed to skewer your innards. It would grow until its tendrils were so knotted up inside you that your body could contain it no more. It would then burst from your flesh, branches creeping through your eyes and nose and ears, seeking the easiest routes from within, until it split you apart. There where you fell, the Succor would take root once more and grow another of its kind, feeding its new life on your blood and entrails.”

Cael held the fruit at arm’s length, the rumbling of his stomach silenced by Uthul’s tale. He felt he could make it another day or two, before his hunger hindered him too greatly.

Uthul smiled in his bland way, taking another fruit from the tree. He did the same as he had with the one Cael held, slicing the skin open to free the stench before plucking the seed and tossing it to the tree. He nodded to Cael and devoured the fruit whole, purple juice running down his chin.

Cael looked to the fruit again and drew in a deep breath. He closed his eyes and shoved it into his mouth. The moment it touched his tongue, Uthul’s warning was cast aside.

Succulent like no fruit he’d ever tasted before, the Succor seemed to melt in his mouth. The best of his people’s grapes were nothing compared to the rich flavor that set his tongue alight with pleasure. He looked to Uthul as his tongue flickered at his lips to ensure none of the fruit remained wasted on his cheeks or chin, his eyes pleading for another.

Uthul plucked one more from the tree and prepared it before handing it over. “It is best if you eat no more than two your first time. A delicacy such as the Succor will sicken you in ways you would not like to experience, should you overindulge.”

Cael shoved the second fruit into his mouth and moaned as its juice flooded his senses. The morsel gone too soon, he looked to the tree.

Uthul laughed. “They are intoxicating, are they not?”

Cael had to agree.

The Sha’ree plucked several more of the fruit and slipped them inside a small bag he wore, hidden beneath the shadows of his cloak. “For our journey.”

Cael sighed as Uthul set a gloved hand on his shoulder and led him away from the Succor tree.

“Worry not, Cael, two will suffice to temper your hunger, if not your appetite.” He took him back to where Zalee waited, sitting cross-legged on the dirt. “We have need of your assistance.”

Cael cast a sideways glance at the tree and licked his lips once more, before turning back to look at the Sha’ree. “Of course.”

Uthul dropped beside Zalee, casting off his cloak, both sitting to face the mystical font. He pulled the small bag from his back and set it before him. He dug inside a moment, pulling forth a short crystal phial. Cael could see a pinkish fluid inside. Obviously thick, it shifted only slightly as Uthul handed it up to him.

Cael accepted the crystal, its surface cold to the touch. He held it with a gentle grip, fearful of breaking it.

“We must spend a few moments communing with the goddess, so that she might favor us on our journey.” He gestured to the phial. “Once we lower our heads and begin our prayer, you must take the crystal and cast it into the font. It is our sacrifice to Ree.”

Cael glanced at the hill running rife with the flowing essence of magic and felt his legs tremble.

“You must be careful to not touch the blood of Ree, for it is virulent and dangerous for one not versed in its proper handling.”

“Thanks,” Cael replied, the word dragged out. He looked back to the font as a spark flickered to life at the pool, casting a tongue of fire several feet into the air. “Ready when you are, I suppose.” His voice lacked confidence.

“Thank you,” Uthul told him before bending over to place his forehead against the sandy ground.

Zalee did so as well, in unison. After a moment, the pair began to speak as though they were one, their voices a lilting cadence, which Cael understood none of.

Believing it best to simply get the task over with, Cael urged his feet forward and walked toward the font. He plotted his route as he went, looking to walk where the least amount of pure magic soaked the ground. He could feel the heat growing as he drew closer, beads of sweat forming at his brow. His tunic clung to him as he neared and he grasped the crystal with both hands, fearful he might lose his grip.

As he neared the edge of the pool, a burst of fire sprung up before him. His heart roared to a gallop and he nearly fell as he stumbled to be away from the gout. The flame flickered and died as he righted himself, the voices of the Sha’ree rising behind him as though in encouragement.

He tightened his grip on the crystal once more, letting it sit in one hand only, as he inched to the edge of the pool. It flowed out close to fifteen feet from the base of the hill, further than he’d pictured it from where he started, at the side of the Sha’ree. His aim would have to be true.

He held his breath and leaned over the bubbling pool to get as close as he could to the hill. Sweat dripped from his forehead and sizzled when it struck the glowing essence beneath him. He could smell the fiery tang as though he were drawing breath in a forge. Worried another spark would explode and sear his face from his skull he drew back his arm and let the crystal fly.

He staggered away from the pool, his eyes on the tiny phial. It flipped end over end as it arched into the air. His breath stagnant in his lungs, he exhaled as the offering began to drop, letting the last loose as it careened over the lip of the mouth and disappeared inside the font.

The earth rumbled beneath his feet like thunder, jets of iridescent fire roared out of the mouth, searing their colors onto his eyes. Cael stumbled away from the font as waves of heat buffered him, its force instantly drying the sweat that had clung to his face. Pressed by the whipping winds, which rose up from nowhere, Cael turned and ran flat out across the trembling earth. He didn’t dare to look back.

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