Chapter 49 Love’s Doom
Misara still could not believe what was happening. She was only able to notice the assassin’s presence when Kort entered and plunged his sword into him. She saw that Beret was holding his stomach. Blood was all over his hands and a dagger protruded from his belly.
She stopped her prayer as Beret fell to floor. A sense of indescribable dread filled her. She then rushed beside him. Beret was trying to say something to her about the prayer. But all she could hear clearly was his declaration of love for her. Her Beret was dying! She thought in desperation.
She was aware that the eclipse was now upon them. But was she going to continue the Prayer of Banishment and let Beret die? How could the gods be so cruel? She thought. After all she had done to serve them! And what was the point of all this, if the man who loved and cared for her would perish in the end?
She reached down and held Beret’s wrist. She felt his pulse but it was getting weaker. She decided to begin the Healing Prayer. But memories of how she had failed to heal Master Ladris came flooding back. Her doubts began to return. She cannot fail, not this time! She thought.
She placed her hands on Beret’s stomach as she began to pray. There was still time to save him and finish the Prayer of Banishment, she reassured herself. But she felt no power flow through her. The horror of the inevitable began to sink in.
But as she struggled with her fear, the image of the boy with the lantern appeared clearly in her mind. She did not understand why this image entered her thoughts. Then all of a sudden, she felt peace flow through her. Her hands began to shimmer. The bleeding from Beret’s stomach slowly started to cease. And the wound began to heal.
She praised Misar silently with all her heart. When the healing was completed, Beret’s eyes opened. Upon seeing this, Misara was overwhelmed with joy. Beret was able to sit up immediately and embraced Misara tightly. She returned his embrace. She had almost lost Beret, she thought. And now she vowed never to let him go.
Long moments passed before Kort’s voice broke the silence.
“The eclipse is over,” Kort said. Defeat was apparent in his voice.
Misara slowly pulled her arms away from Beret. She had forgotten about completing the prayer!
What have I done? Misara thought in anguish.
Beret looked at Misara in bewilderment.
“What happened?” Beret asked.