Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #14 May 2015 | Page 48

Asmoran clasped hands over his belly. “My operation thrives on the undying loyalty of my servants.”
He waved at one of the side rooms the guards had
hidden in. “Come on out. It’s perfectly safe now.”

Favriel stepped into sight, Eogwen at his side. She
clutched one of his hands while holding her wooden
fork in the other. For once, Khellus found himself
dumbfounded.

“How...” The fava-drul thorn should’ve kept Favriel
insensate until the following evening at least.

“I gave daddy his medicine,” Eogwen said. “It
woke him up.”

Favriel grimaced. “Our little flower is a resourceful
one, even if she doesn’t exactly understand what
she’s attempting to do.”

“I do too,” Eogwen cried. “You use medicine all’a
time. I gave you more.”

“Dravillish,” Khellus said flatly. “You lied about
not being involved in the drug operations.” The
man’s blond hair hid that sign well enough and the
floral perfume he wore concealed the citrus scent of
a habitual user.

Favriel flushed. “About myself, perhaps. Abrodail
and our little flower remain innocent, though, and I
sacrifice myself to keep them that way. I’ll do anything to make sure we’re cared for. That includes
stopping you from destroying our master. Once I
woke, I caught a carriage here straightaway and
managed to arrive just a bit ahead of you.”

Khellus sighed. “Favriel, you utter fool. You don’t
realize what you’ve done here, do you?”

The other man frowned and made to speak, but
cut off as guards escorted Abrodail into the room.
She looked confounded at the scene, but then her

confusion melted into relief at seeing Favriel and
Eogwen. Her husband rushed to embrace her while
Eogwan tried to cling to both their legs. Abrodail
crouched to kiss her daughter’s forehead, and then
rose, hand-in-hand with Favriel.

“What’s happened?” she asked. Then she focused
on Asmoran and curtsied. “M’lord? It’s good to see
you safe.”

He smiled softly.

“Eogwen got into your husband’s dravillish stash,”
Khellus said. “She dosed him, thinking it was medicine and woke him up from the stupor.” He met her
astounded gaze. “It was never lethal, Abby. I lied to
trick you into helping me.”

“Dravillish?” Abrodail turned to Favriel, who
wouldn’t meet her eye. “But you said... ”

“Heartbreaking to see each of us deceived in our
way,” said Asmoran. He gestured to one group of
guards. “Take them. Bring the girl to me.”

Abrodail and Favriel were too shocked to struggle
as guards clamped down on them with merciless
hands. Eogwen wailed as another guard dragged her
over to Asmoran’s side.

Favriel jerked against those holding him. “Wait.
Lord Asmoran. What is this?