Niyx

by Samantha Kroese

  “She’s your responsibility. If she makes any trouble, I will kill her,” Niyx warned with a glare at Callistra before he and Kiril moved past to tend to the new dragon.

  “He looks just like you,” Callistra muttered to Onyx, staring at Niyx.

  “He’s my twin, of course he does.” Onyx rolled his eyes and started through the tunnels. He’d claimed his old room here, the familiarity of it giving him some comfort in spite of occasional pangs of loss and guilt over Jadeia.

  Callistra followed him. She looked lost and out of place. Her wide eyes roamed over their chilly surroundings, and she cringed toward him any time they passed one of the Night Creatures. They glared at her with distrust, sensing her light magic and recognizing her armor. When they got to Onyx’s room, Callistra pushed past him, and sat on his bed.

  Onyx blinked in surprise, then crossed his arms as he stepped into the room, stopping by the door. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “They hate me here. They distrust me. I’m not safe out there. You have to protect me,” Callistra insisted with a frown. “Your twin said I’m your responsibility.”

  Onyx shut the door behind him with a grumble, then dropped his weapons on the chair nearest the bed. He pulled off the most restricting of his leather armor, then flopped on the bed, too tired to argue with her. “Fine. Stay here if you want. I thought you didn’t like me and what I do. And I did just kill your step-father.”

  Callistra looked down at her hands. They were shaking. She stood to peel off her heavy metal armor and sat it carefully in the corner. Then she joined him on the bed, wearing only simple cotton clothes. “I think I misjudged you. I thought you were just some arrogant womanizing killer. If you were, you wouldn’t have risked your life to save a dragon. Or me. I’d like to get to know you. And, honestly, I don’t have much of a choice.” She lay down next to him, looking as exhausted as he felt.

  “Get some rest,” Onyx groused as he pulled a heavy blanket over them to keep out his twin’s icy air. For once, he drifted off to deep dreamless sleep.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Snow flurries filled the air around Niyx. Icicles crackling across his armor was the only sound that broke the silence. He stood in the center of the ancient throne room of Aderaan. The king sitting on the throne looked just as ancient. The withered old elf who had looked powerful from a distance at the party now looked defeated and worn.

  King Skydris steepled his boney fingers in front of him as his steel-grey gaze met Niyx’s ice blue stare. “King Niyx, it seems that the unsanctioned actions of my former servants have angered you. As you can see, they have been stripped of their positions.” Skydris paused to wave a finger toward the corner of them room where Raijin and the Templars who had attacked the forest knelt bound and stripped down to their small clothes. “It grieves me to know they have broken the treaty of peace between our two peoples.”

  Niyx glanced at the former Templars, but not even Raijin would look up at him in defiance. A willing sacrifice, were they? Or defeated because their own King, who had sent them on this mission, was now betraying them? Niyx didn’t believe Skydris for a moment. He knew the King had sent the Templars to his forest, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he just turned his displeased gaze back on their King.

  “Restitution of the treaty is in both our people’s best interests. So here is what I propose, king to king.” Skydris rose from his throne with only a bit of a tremble and stalked to the Templars, scowling at them. “You will be given these prisoners first and foremost, so that you may punish them in any manner you see fit for their crimes against your people.”

  Niyx arched an eyebrow just slightly. Part of him ached to rip out Raijin’s throat and drink deeply of the Templar’s blood because of their past. It was a small part, though. He was not moved by the King’s attempt at reconciliation so far if, in fact, that is what it was. “Am I supposed to be impressed?” Niyx asked, impatient.

  Skydris hesitated at that and turned to look at his guest. Then he waved a hand to a scribe in the corner who unrolled a long scroll. Skydris smiled, an attempt to be charming and warm. “This is my royal decree, deeding the entire forest back to your people. A wall shall be built between our kingdoms and whatever security measures you wish to employ will be allowed.”

  Niyx crossed his arms and fought the urge to roll his eyes. The fool actually thought he owned the forest so he had the right to deed it to the Night Creatures? The forest was already theirs by ancient law. How stupid did this elf think he was? Still, Niyx kept his peace, letting the old fool rattle on with his promises. As much as he ached to have his ancient graveyard back, it was not enough.

  “We will even acknowledge your kingdom and you as the sovereign of your people. The Night Creatures will be decreed people, not monsters. They will have their freedom, and Aderaan will protect them should any other races come to challenge you.” Skydris walked closer, a pleased smile on his cracked lips. “It will be my great honor to offer you an alliance, oh great King of Winter.”

  Niyx closed his eyes, arms still crossed. He stood silently. Let Skydris think he was considering it. When Skydris shifted in the uncomfortable silence, Niyx finally snapped open his eyes. “And what of the dragons you have enslaved?”

  Skydris changed immediately from warm and charming to cruel at the mention of the dragons. “With all due respect, King Niyx, the dragons are not your concern.”

  “How am I to trust you enough to sign a treaty with you while you have yet another intelligent race you betrayed chained beneath your houses? What will stop you from finding similar uses for my people?” Niyx asked boldly.

  “The dragons are beasts. No better than animals,” Skydris said with a growl.

  “I seem to remember that my people were no more than monsters to you until I proved the power of your ancient city to be no match for my own. Should the Night Creatures have had any other king at this time, they would no doubt be in shackles or worse as we speak,” Niyx hissed, baring his fangs, all pretense of civility gone.

  Skydris narrowed his eyes. “You should realize what a gracious offer this is, King Niyx. I have made no such offer to any other King, although many would have gladly accepted these terms. The elves of Aderaan have not signed a treaty with anyone since the end of the world war.”

  “I will accept your offer,” Niyx started slowly, deliberately waiting for Skydris to smile as though he had won before he continued, “If you free the dragons into my custody as a gesture of your sincerity.”

  Skydris visibly shook with rage, gripping the arms of his throne as he sank into it. It took a bit of time for him to regain sufficient composure to respond. “I am afraid the dragons are vital to life in Aderaan. I am not willing to release them. Please be reasonable, King Niyx. I have been more than fair. I could have simply sent my Templars to hunt you.”

  Niyx walked closer to the throne his heavy plate armor boots clanking against the fancy marble tiles of the floor. He bared his long fangs when he stood before the throne and snarled, “I thought I was being more than fair to allow you to live. Now I see that your time to rule has ended.” Before anyone else in the room could react, Niyx drew his heavy blade from his back and skewered Skydris on the massive sword. Skydris let out one shocked croak before he died, his royal blood seeping over the throne and floor.

  Raijin and the Templars no longer kept their heads lowered obediently, but stared openly as Niyx slid the corpse off his sword and threw the body out of the way as though it were a ragdoll. He sheathed the sword, then waved a hand lazily at the scribe. His words, however, brooked no argument. “We have a new decree. Lord Ruel Hrral’tyn will be named Skydris’s successor and will be crowned as King of Aderaan within two days. Anyone who opposes this decree will be put to death. All dragons in the city will be freed within a week. Under these terms, the Night Creatures will accept an alliance with Aderaan. If the conditions are not obeyed, I will bury this city in hoarfrost and all that will remain are the bones of the damned.”<
br />
  The shocked scribe scribbled furiously, quill scraping against paper in an entirely unpleasant sound. Meanwhile, Niyx walked over to Raijin and scowled. “I will be taking Raijin as my prisoner. The rest are to be freed and reinstated to their positions, but the days of hunting Night Creatures are over. Understood?”

  “It will be done, King Niyx,” all the other Templar prisoners answered in unison. The only reaction from Raijin was a death glare. Niyx snorted then bent down and grabbed Raijin by his bound arm and dragged him forcefully from the castle. Raijin struggled, trying to free his hands. Niyx used his hoarfrost to seal the bonds, knowing that the Templar’s light magic relied on hand gestures and movements.

  Ice awaited him on the lawn of the castle, the dragon’s blue scales gleaming in the moonlight like hundreds of tiny gems. Niyx threw Raijin onto the dragon’s back and climbed up behind him. “Home, Ice.”

  Ice let out a fierce roar and rose into the sky, for a moment blocking the pale moonlight and casting a dark shadow across the city.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Onyx made his way to Ruel’s manor after being rudely awakened by his twin. Now it was his job to go inform Ruel of what had happened the previous night or at least Niyx’s version of what had happened. When he found Ruel he calmly explained as much as he could.

  “Niyx did what?” Ruel exclaimed. He sank into the chair behind the desk and ran a hand through his flaming red hair. “I don’t know how to be a king! That’s not exactly listed in my magical library of knowledge.” A loud meow sounded at Ruel’s distress. Floof, Ruel’s magical cat, strode out of the shadows and leapt onto Ruel’s lap. The cat curled up and purred as though to say everything would be fine. Ruel dropped a hand to pet the cat out of habit.

  Onyx shrugged his shoulders. “You’ll figure it out. How much different could it be than being a Lord? It’s just being a Lord over more people.”

  Rebekah interrupted their conversation by bolting into the room, breathless. “Ruel! The entire army of Templars is outside on the lawn!”

  Floof yowled in displeasure at her sudden entrance and leapt to Ruel’s shoulder, claws digging in and his long hair standing on end. He looked like a giant puff of black fur with yellow eyes and deadly claws. Ruel winced and reached up to gently detach the cat’s claws from his skin. “It’s okay, Floof. Let go.” When the cat was sufficiently calmed to retract his claws, Ruel picked him up and set Floof on the ground before standing up and adjusting his clothes to make sure he looked professional. Nevertheless, the look Ruel gave Onyx clearly conveyed that he was worried. Ruel offered Rebekah his arm and they started out of the room together.

  Onyx fell into step behind them, his hands twitching over the daggers at his belt. Thoughts of Callistra warm in his bed next to him distracted him. He had not had time to anything besides sleep before Niyx sent him to Aderaan. Onyx sighed and tried to focus on the current situation. He was still Ruel’s bodyguard as well as an assassin. He couldn’t take on the entire army of Templars alone though. What was his twin thinking threatening the entire city like that? What would it feel like to have that kind of power?

  The scraping and clanging sounds of metal armor rang through the courtyard. Ruel stumbled to a stop as the entire legion of Templars bowed to him. When he finally muttered that they could rise, the Supreme Commander walked over to talk to him quietly, showing him the documents that made Ruel King of Aderaan.

  Onyx watched with crossed arms. He looked over the army before them and out over the city where people were starting to gather in the streets. He didn’t trust this. It could not be that easy to take over this city could it? Just kill the original King and demand another in his place?

  His gaze drifted to the ruins of the fallen house that Niyx had destroyed. Snow still blew only around that house and it was half buried in snow and ice now. The city had given up on saving it. Instead they had contained it temporarily with shifts of mages throwing fire to melt the spreading hoarfrost off the streets. As he glanced at the people wandering the streets, he saw one thing on their faces. Fear. The people of Aderaan had been powerful and peaceful for so long they did not know how to handle this threat.

  “Are you coming, Onyx?” Ruel asked, drawing Onyx’s attention.

  Onyx flattened his ears as the Templars parted to make a path for Ruel and Rebekah. “Of course I am. I am your bodyguard.” He ignored the displeased looks on some of the Templar’s faces. He recognized them as the Night Creature hunting division of Templars, but their commander Raijin was notably missing, and they wore the standard armor once again. If their looks could kill, though, Onyx would have had a hard time staying alive.

  As they moved out into the streets of the city with the Supreme guard surrounding them, the nobility of Aderaan poured out onto the streets. Onyx fought the urge to pull his daggers when he saw the looks of hostility on the nobles’ faces. Aderaan’s nobility did not approve of Ruel’s promotion, that much was clear. Fortunately, the only assassin allowed to operate in Aderaan was Onyx. Onyx glanced down at Floof. The cat was walking just ahead of Ruel like the procession was for him and he was now king of the city. The cat held his head and his plumed tail high as he ignored the people like he thought them beneath him. Onyx relaxed. What was he worried about? Ruel commanded dark forces, thanks to his blood-line pact with the dragon.

  They made it to the massive castle in the city’s heart and wound through the maze of hallways and doors until they arrived at the throne room. Onyx watched Ruel’s coronation ceremony with little interest beyond making sure Ruel was safe. He was busy scanning the room, making note of which Houses looked displeased, who might be trouble later.

  The room fell into a stunned silence as the door to the throne room blew open with a fierce winter wind. Snow flurried through the door as Niyx stepped inside with Kiril at his side. Behind them a group of Night Creatures followed, including Riven and several of the more important and intact ones. As they walked up the fancy tiles to the throne where Ruel now sat, a ghoul’s dragging arm fell off, and when it paused to reattach it, several of the elven nobles turned green and covered their faces.

  Niyx strode confidently to the throne and inclined his head to Ruel. “King Ruel. It is the honor of the Night Creatures to forge an alliance with you. Will you accept this alliance?”

  The room broke out in loud protests, as the nobles tried to shout their concerns over each other. Ruel gripped the arms of the throne, looking a bit overwhelmed. The tiny fluffy cat that had been sitting at Ruel’s feet got up, trotted forward, then changed form into a massive black lion. When Floof roared, the crowd stilled. Once they were quiet, the cat returned to his tiny form and licked a paw as though nothing had happened.

  Ruel stood up, crossed his arms, and looked around the room. “King Niyx has offered to spare Aderaan only if we ally with the Night Creatures. Only if we recognize them as a people with their own rights and kingdom,” Ruel commenced, but he was drowned out again by people protesting and screaming about monsters.

  Kiril had remained silent at Niyx’s side, but she could constrain herself no longer. She scowled, and with a gesture of her hands, the loudest protester fell to the ground, frozen solid. The noble shattered on impact with the floor, scattering pieces all around their feet. “This is not a negotiation, nobles of Aderaan,” her voice rang out. “Your city has broken the ancient pact. Accept the alliance or face the consequences.”

  Onyx slipped closer to the throne as the room fell into an uneasy silence again. No one dared speak up now, but he could see the hatred burning in their eyes. Their objections would not end once Niyx left.

  Ruel bowed to Niyx and extended his hand. “We accept the alliance with your proud people, King Niyx. Aderaan is grieved that our brave Templars would act in a way to destroy an ancient pact made to protect both our peoples. Please let us know if you need restitution in the way of supplies as a way of showing our deep apology and gratitude.”

  Niyx narrowed his glowing icy blue eyes as though he w
as determining the sincerity of Ruel’s words. Satisfied, he then glared around the room. “In accordance to the documents you hold, you will order the nobles to release every dragon within the city into my custody, or I will do it for them.”

  Ruel cringed at the glares from the nobles around him, but nodded. “Of course, King Niyx. I’m sure the nobles of Aderaan had no idea the impact they were having on our world by enslaving the dragons. They will be informed.”

  Niyx exchanged an understanding gaze, gripped Ruel’s hand in the customary fashion, then released it. Without another word, he turned and stalked out with his entourage following.

  Once the heavy doors to the throne room closed behind the Night Creatures, the room erupted again in a cacophony of sound with angry nobles trying to out-shout each other. Ruel sighed and sank back onto the throne, resting his chin on a fist contemplatively, as he let them argue for a bit. Finally, he cleared his throat and called out over the din. “If you would let me speak!”

  The nobles grew quiet reluctantly, and all gazes turned to their new king. Ruel shifted under the unfriendly glares, but regained his confidence and frowned. “We have been made aware that the dragons are guardians of our world. They keep our world healthy and alive. Surely you understand the magnitude of this knowledge? We are killing our world by draining the dragons of their magic. Having magic is not going to do anyone any good if the world withers and rots beneath our feet. If we allow that to happen, the world will truly belong to the Night Creatures because they’ll be the only ones left!”

  “How do we know King Niyx is telling the truth? Maybe he just wants to strip us defenseless so he can take over our city and enslave us!” One of the noblewomen called out.

  “Madam, I believe King Niyx has more than proven he can take this city any time he wants to,” Ruel pointed out with a raised brow as Floof jumped into his lap.