All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 22

Nel jumped in surprise and stared at Tralin in alarm.

"What is it, Nel?" Tralin asked, concerned.

"Your hair is on fire, Trae, and your eyes are all yellow."

"What?" Tralin asked. He put his hand to his head and, feeling nothing, looked confused. "I'm not on fire, Nel."

The moglin extended a hand cautiously toward Tralin's head and touched in gently. He appeared even more startled then before. "It looks like yellow and blue crackling fire, but it's cold."

"Magical energy..."

"Hmm.."

"I am leaking magical energy..."

"Why? How?"

"I consumed particularly strong Metanoia in Stone Deep."

"Trae!" Nel scolded severely. "You could have died...You are smarter then that..."

"I was sapped, Nel, and someone needed to deal with the undead... The side effects will wear off with time"

Aboveboard, a ship's hand shouted, "Land ho!"

"So we return...." Tralin sighed. "Now to deal with the Drakel."

Tralin went above and approached Darin, who looked at him with alarm.

"I need you to bring Cerin and Jano to the ship quietly."

"Why? We can just land and you can see them in the palace."

"No. I will be King of Deren before I leave this ship. I need the current regent to release the throne and I need the First Knight to coronate me."

"Court politics are beyond me..." Darin sighed, shaking his head. "What’s wrong with your eyes?"

"Metanoia..." Tralin answered.

"You should have listened to Myr."

"That’s enough, Commander. Please do as I have requested."

"Yes, master," Darin said, marching off abruptly and appearing hurt.

"You were hard on him, Trae," Nel scolded.

"I know him, Nel. You need to be direct for him to do anything."

"Maybe. But maybe he cares what you think and how you treat him."

"Darin does not like me. He can hardly be bothered by this."

Nel grunted disagreement and Tralin, not knowing what to say, lapsed into silence.