The Elder's Curse by Andrew Walbrown (ereader for textbooks TXT) 📕

to make healing potions.” She smiled, though it was faint and full of pain. “I’ve always wondered if he knew what was happening in our house, and that’s why he started teaching me different herbs from such an early age.”

Amantius shrugged. “Maybe. It could have been a coincidence also.”

“Perhaps, although I think the universe is too lazy for coincidences. Regardless, I returned to an empty home that day. I’ll never forget what that felt like, being left behind, completely abandoned like an unwanted dog. And I knew she wasn’t coming back either because the emergency fund Mother kept hidden in a small iron box under the stove was gone as well.”

For the first time in his life, Amantius was not sure what to say. He wanted to be her rock, just as she had been for him, but there was a part of him that feared he was prying too deeply. “Kona, we don’t have to talk about this. I’m sorry if I overstepped any boundaries.”

“No, it’s fine. It actually feels cathartic to talk about it with someone. I can’t speak about these things with other Kalikkis because my father was such a well-respected member of society. I don’t know how Mother lived with him for as long as she did.” Kona sighed and shook her head. “She would put on a smile in public so his reputation would stay intact, and then as soon as they stepped through the door he would beat the hell out of her. It didn’t matter why. It could be because he lost too much money gambling, or because of something trivial like stepping on a tangerine in the yard. And whenever one of my sisters or I would break a plate or spill milk on the floor, Mother would intervene and take the punishment instead.”

“So she willingly made herself the target of his rage so he wouldn’t hit you or your sisters?”

Kona nodded, the pain of betrayal lurking behind her eyes. “But if she cared so much about our well-being, then why did she leave me behind?”

Amantius had no answers for her, though he wished he did. He could not fathom why anyone would leave a child behind in an abusive home, but he was certain there was a reason why Kona’s mother had done so. “I don’t know, maybe she meant to take you as well, but she couldn’t find you and her window of opportunity was closing?”

“Maybe. Doesn’t matter now.”

“Can I ask,” Amantius took a deep breath, unsure if he should continue. “What happened when your father came home and saw she was gone?”

“At first nothing. He was stunned. He couldn’t believe his wife would leave him and take three of his four children.” Her lips formed a scowl as her clenched hands began to shake. “In public, he played the role of the victim; he acted like a loving husband and father, as though Mother had done him wrong.”

“And what about at home?” Amantius almost did not want to ask, because he did not want to hear the answer. Although, he guessed he already knew what she was going to say.

“Without Mother, I became the new target.”

Kona sat on the floor and wrapped her arms around herself, forming a little ball. Amantius said nothing, patiently waiting for her to proceed if she wished. Don’t press her. If she wants to keep going, that’s fine, but if she doesn’t, that’s fine as well.

“He hit me every night for months,” she continued, her eyes focused on the white marble floor, “Sometimes he hit me so hard he would knock me out cold. I considered those the good nights because then at least I couldn’t feel the punches anymore.”

“Wasn’t he worried he would leave marks or bruises on you? Surely someone noticed.”

Kona laughed, though it was forced and hollow. “Have you ever tried to find a bruise on a gray Kalikki? It’s next to impossible. Besides, how a parent chooses to discipline their child is no business of anyone else.”

“Kona, that wasn’t disciplining,” Amantius said, “that was abuse.”

She said nothing, her eyes still focused on the floor.

“Kona.”

“Yes?”

“Will you look at me?”

Slowly she turned her eyes to him. Tears were building in the corners, waiting to spill over.

“You know you’re not the reason everything happened, right?”

She nodded. “Sure.”

“No,” Amantius shook his head, fighting back his own tears. “Listen to me. You’re not the reason why your father hit your mother. You’re not the reason why your mother left. You’re not the reason why she didn’t take you when she did. You’re not the reason why your father hit you after she was gone, either. You’re not the reason for any of it, and you didn’t deserve a single second of that life. Nobody does.”

“But what about…”

“No, Kona. It doesn’t matter. None of it was your fault. It never was, and never will be.”

Chapter 19

Ulam

“Well, that was anticlimactic, no?”

Together Ulam and Mazargo sat on the floor, staring at an iron lever in the center of the room. The lever was stuck in the same position, not even all of Ulam’s might could return it to its original state. Initially, Mazargo tried disenchanting the device, as well as the door, thinking some mysterious force prevented them from advancing to the next room, but his efforts were in vain. All that his magical prowess managed to do was change the color of the lever from dark gray to fuchsia, which was impressive in its own right, but also entirely useless.

“Well, at least Mazargo has brightened the room a little.”

Ulam grunted. While they waited he retrieved a walnut pipe from his bag, packed it with the last of his ebonbrier, and used a match as a light. Ever since Mazargo described the obsidian realm he experienced while unconscious, Ulam kept trying to remember all the details surrounding his own incident, though his memories were difficult to uncover. They were buried deep in his mind like ancient ruins forgotten by time, waiting to be excavated, and