Fall of the Arch Lich (D'Vaire, Book 6)

by Jessamyn Kingley

  The Lich Sentinel then ceded the podium to the Reverent Knights who announced the three men would take questions from the flock of reporters. Chander realized he’d been sitting there listening for the last several minutes without taking a bite of his lunch. He tore into the bread with his teeth as his brain did cartwheels. He thought he’d known what Sigimund was capable of, but he was surprised the rest of the Council was allowing him to trounce all over their norms.

  Drystan pointed to one of the shouting journalists. “This question is for both the Reverent Knights and the Lich Sentinel. In light of this petition brought forth by the Order of Necromancia, how likely are you to remove your races from the Council?”

  “If no action is taken to curtail the Order of Necromancia, you can consider it imminent,” Drystan said. Chander was shocked; he knew how dedicated Drystan was to the Council, but he couldn’t blame the guy. They’d allowed Sigimund to question whether he was fit for his role.

  “The Sentinel Brotherhood is of the same mind as the Order of the Fallen Knights. The Emperor, as well as the Council, needs to prevent the Order of Necromancia from making ridiculous claims which question our ability to rule. They may have used political pressure to steal power from their own leader before petitioning to have him displaced, but we will not allow them to malign us in this manner.”

  “Lich Sentinel, do you feel the Order of Necromancia should have been punished for petitioning to have former Arch Lich Daray removed?”

  “It was a failure of this Council to not discipline the elder council from proposing such a petition. It’s my opinion that when the former Arch Lich came of age, his duties should have been stripped from an elder council which was comprised of members who had all been declared by their own people as unfit rulers. I’m still amazed the necromancers themselves did not rise up to see any of these injustices addressed.”

  Another reporter hopped to her feet. “Lich Sentinel, do you consider your opinion biased because despite official separation papers, the former Arch Lich is your fated mate?”

  Chander watched Alaric’s smile flash for an instant. “I will not argue that I have a certain regard for Chander Daray.”

  Baxter chuckled. “Yeah, he could say that. He could also say he shoves his tongue in Chander Daray’s mouth at every given opportunity.”

  “And takes him to bed almost every night,” Benton added.

  “Shut up so I can hear,” Chander barked out.

  From the back, a journalist threw out the next question. “Reverent Knights, do you think it’s realistic to expect either the Emperor or the other Council leaders to reprimand the Order of Necromancia? They are one of the original races to be asked to join.”

  Conley took a turn at the podium and spoke. “I have it on good authority it was former Arch Lich Daray who accepted that invitation—without the approval of the elder council who has spent the last six centuries undermining his leadership. The man who calls himself Arch Lich today didn’t wish to join this Council and has shown he has no respect for it. If the Emperor chooses not to take action, then the Order of the Fallen Knights will convene to decide what is the best path for us outside of the Council.”

  Chander grabbed his large cup and sucked down soda. He was still in suspended disbelief over what he was watching, but he could understand how they all felt. The Council should have slapped Sigimund down for suggesting the Reverent Knights and the Lich Sentinel were poor leaders who should look to him for decision-making. It was as absurd a notion as it was insulting.

  “Reverent Knights, do you think it is fair to issue an ultimatum to Emperor Draconis or the other leaders of this Council?”

  “If this Council is willing to entertain a petition that caused a leader who built this Council from virtually nothing and oversaw it for over four centuries to resign then, no, I do not. They were also willing to entertain a petition that questions the judgment and ability of not only myself and my mate but of the Lich Sentinel, and you’re damn right I’m going to start making demands. The former elder council and the current Arch Lich have accomplished nothing since their inception but have instead demonstrated a shocking lack of competence and complete disregard for the well-being of their people. When you consider the source, I think you’ll begin to understand the stance that the Order of the Fallen Knights and the Sentinel Brotherhood are taking. The leadership of our races has been handled by the three of us alone, and our people have no cause for complaint because we serve them to the best of our abilities. We are entitled to respect the same as any other race,” Drystan said. “Thank you all for your time.” As soon as Drystan finished his response, the camera panned back as the three resurrected leaders left the room.

  Chander had no desire to listen to the television commentators dissect every second of the press conference, so he hit the power button and then wadded up the paper from his sandwich. Benton grabbed it from his hand and dumped all their trash into the can.

  “That was entertaining,” Baxter observed.

  “Should be interesting talking with Alaric later,” Chander replied. His phone, which was laying on the coffee table, vibrated. Someone had texted him. He snatched it up and saw it was from Drystan.

  Alaric says you guys can meet Con and me later for beers if it’s okay with you.

  Chander typed in his response with agile fingers.

  Meeting with Skellie 7 and then we’ll see you at Redmilla’s.

  Perfect was the immediate response.

  Filling in his sentinels on the update to their plans, Chander finished off his drink and wondered how his average Wednesday had managed to become thrust into insanity. He headed into his room to unpack his dirty clothes from the previous night and replace them with clean ones when Baxter came charging in. “We turned the television back on. Chrys is supposed to make a statement.”

  Chrysander must have been writing the damn thing while the resurrected men were speaking, Chander thought as he followed Baxter back into the living room. They waited for several minutes and listened to the perfect faces on the screen fill the air space with assumptions about what he’d say and the incoming reactions from the statements made several minutes before. After what seemed to be an eternity, Emperor Chrysander walked behind the same podium Alaric and the fallen knights had used.

  His black eyes with the gold ring given to him by Fate were nearly as irritated as Drystan’s. When he spoke, his voice was terse. “Thank you all. As you are all aware by now, the Order of Necromancia petitioned to have the resurrected races of our Council moved under their leadership. They contended that the Reverent Knights and the Lich Sentinel were, by the nature of their creation, unable to competently serve their respective people. As the ruler of this Council, it is not my job to decide what petition has merit and which one does not. Council rules state I must bring forth any petition that is legally completed and filed. However, it is my duty to oversee this Council, and I will not allow one race to wreak havoc amongst our members.

  “The Order of Necromancia has functioned under unique rules for much of its existence, and I must agree with the contention that it was a failure of this Council to not address this issue. That situation has been remedied but not before a man who served as leader of this Council and brought it to its current glory was compelled to resign. I regret that I did not do more to help the Fate-born leader of the necromancers. The elected Arch Lich, Sigimund Roth has continued to show his penchant for inflicting unrest by the mere suggestion the Reverent Knights and Lich Sentinel are as unfit as he contended the Fate-born Arch Lich was.

  “I will not allow a man who has not proven himself to be worthy of his current post to undo all the arduous work of myself, Chander Daray, and the creators of this Council, Grand Warlock T’Eirick and Grand Summoner Saura. In response to the dethroning of Mr. Daray and the petition filed this morning, I have asked Alpha Artair Ursus Arctos, Prism Wizard Vadimas Porfyra and Vampyress Irina Volkov to each select a member of their race to oversee a new committee who wil
l review any petition completed by the Order of Necromancia. It will not be filed for Council leaders unless it is one of merit. The committee will also conduct a review to decide what further punishment is valid. While under investigation, the Order of Necromancia will be suspended from the Main Assembly Hall. Thank you.”

  Chrysander didn’t take a single question despite the excited throng that was shouting after him as he walked out of the room.

  “Maybe I’ll just leave off the necromancer part when I meet someone new,” Chander said. “Tell everyone I’m demonic and leave it at that.”

  “Good plan,” Baxter responded.

  Rising from the couch to ready himself for his sleepover, Chander wondered what the hell kind of evening was in store for him.

  Chapter 31

  The Lich Sentinel walked into his home and was delighted to see Chander had already arrived. Chander strode over to him and slid his fingers next to Alaric’s daggers. Cupping his face in his large hands, Alaric fitted his lips to Chander’s. When the hybrid’s tongue darted out and met his, Alaric deepened the kiss. When his blood began to heat and threatened to flow south, he eased out of the caress. Opening his eyes, he saw Chander’s pewter ones were dilated, and it filled him with satisfaction.

  “Hey.” Alaric stroked a thumb over his cheek.

  “I feel like I don’t need to ask how your day was,” Chander said. “I already know it sucked.”

  “My afternoon was better.”

  “Good, now let’s eat before the Skeleton Seven get here.”

  Alaric did as he was told and grabbed a chair at the table. Their housekeeper and chef had prepared chicken, potatoes, and a mix of peas and carrots that Chander was poking at with his fork. “Eat it,” he ordered as he dug in. Chander made a face but did as he’d been instructed. They ate mostly in silence. The atmosphere wasn’t tense, although Alaric knew there must be plenty Chander and the other three at the table wished to discuss. Once the plates were cleared and the dishes were done, the condo began filling with the seven men who helped rule over the Sentinel Brotherhood. He hadn’t had a chance to catch them up on the events of the morning, so he ran down that information as soon as everyone was seated.

  “How did the other Council leaders react to the petition?” Cassius asked.

  “It wasn’t universally dismissed which is why, I believe, the Reverent Knights were so incensed,” Alaric replied. “The Sentinel Brotherhood is new, and we already know how the necromancers feel about us. The fallen knights are a different story. I didn’t get much of a chance to discuss things with Drystan and Conley. There was no time and it wasn’t the place. I’m interested in getting more of their feelings on the subject when Chand and I meet with them later.”

  “We’re spending a great deal of money on a complex,” Albrecht stated. “What happens if we decide to leave the Council?”

  “I’m not sure,” Alaric replied.

  “You’ll have two options. The properties like this one where you share the building with other Council folks will have to be purchased from you by the Council at market value. Land where you’ve developed your own structures like where the complex is being constructed they can either buy you out or they can sign the land over to you. It will be your choice,” Chander explained.

  “That’s a relief,” Gedeon said. “We don’t want to lose all we’ve done so far.”

  “How does everyone feel about the idea of leaving the Council?” Alaric inquired.

  “I believe if the fallen knights leave, it is the sensible route to go,” Eduard responded. “The Council will lack an unbiased race to oversee crime and punishment. Chaos will surely follow, and we do not want to get stuck in all of that.”

  “The truth is that thus far the Council has offered us little. We have moved forward because of the generosity of certain individuals and Chand’s hard work,” Brynnius remarked.

  “There is also the possibility the dragons will leave,” Gavrael said. “Our king is not happy with the current state of affairs and he is not alone.”

  “What a mess,” Chander commented.

  “Serves them all right for allowing that fucking elder council to even exist,” Baxter stated. “The original Council allowed the Order of Necromancia’s bylaws to be altered so that Chand had no power. From that point forward, they refused to intervene. The necromancers were powerful because of Chand’s popularity and all he did for the Council. It helped establish them as a race to be reckoned with. Then those fuckers used that to punish Chand, and now they are living with the consequences. To hell with the Council if they can’t fix this.”

  “You’re rather biased,” Chander pointed out.

  “I agree with Bax,” Alaric told Chander who crinkled his nose. There was a great deal of nodding and it was the consensus of the Skeleton Seven that Baxter’s view was shared by them all.

  Victor, who sat in on all their meetings, asked, “Chand, is it possible for me to continue working for you guys if my race stays with the Council?”

  “If your leader okays it, yes,” Chander replied. “But if the dragons leave, the shifters are going to follow. He’s the glue that holds magickind and shifters together.”

  “I’ll be the first one writing to my leader to leave if the dragons go,” Victor announced.

  “Does anyone have anything else to add, or are there more questions?” Alaric asked. He wanted to get to Redmilla’s so he could find out how the fallen knights were feeling and how close they were to rebellion after Chrysander’s statement. No one responded. “Good, Chand and I are going to head to our meeting. We’ll fill everyone in tomorrow on what we learn.”

  “You two don’t need to go if you don’t want to,” Chander told the sentinels who were once bound to his soul.

  “We could stay here and break in the new gaming system we bought,” Baxter suggested.

  “I would like to try that,” Cassius replied.

  “We have a gaming system at D’Vaire, and none of you have ever been interested in playing there,” Gedeon complained.

  “It seemed rude to play at Aleksander’s home when so many others had interest,” Cassius said.

  “Fine, then Gav and I are staying to play,” Gedeon retorted. “Are you playing, Victor?”

  “Oh no, I’m going out with Evergreen. It’s mani and pedi night,” Victor confided. “The only decision I have to make is what color to have my toenails painted.”

  The room became abuzz with suggestions for Victor. Alaric turned to Chander. “Ready to head out?”

  Chander stood, gave him a quick kiss, and held out his hand. Alaric rose and accepted his invitation. They left the condo after saying their good-byes and grabbed the elevator down to the lobby.

  “What a fucking mess.”

  Alaric nodded. “Yeah.”

  “I don’t even know who to be mad at anymore. Sigimund’s an asshole for sure, but I’m the one who resigned. Chrys and the other Council leaders should have helped but didn’t. The blame is everywhere.”

  “No guilt for this. It’s not your fault.” Chander remained silent and so Alaric knew he didn’t agree but he wasn’t going to tolerate him taking the blame for what had transpired in the Council session or anything else that Sigimund and the elders had done. “I really hate the idea of you beating yourself up over what happened this morning.”

  “No, I’m really not blaming myself for this morning. I just wish I’d done more to fight the elders.” Chander grinned evilly. “I should have figured out a way to leave them in Europe with the Consilium Veneficus.”

  Alaric smirked and they walked the rest of the way to the bar favored by the fallen knights in companionable silence. When they arrived, Chander was greeted warmly by a woman with red hair that he introduced to Alaric as the namesake and owner of the establishment. She handed them both tall pilsner glasses filled with beer, and they headed to the back where Drystan and Conley were already seated with their Venerable Knights, Vann and Roman. Chairs were grabbed, and Alaric was nestled
close to his demonic necromancer. He slung an arm over the back of his chair and Chander slid even closer and once settled placed a hand on Alaric’s thigh.

  “I can see how pissed you all are,” Chander remarked to the men he had resurrected.

  “Unfuckingbelievable,” Vann threw out. “Protect everyone and serve the Council faithfully for over six hundred years. Suddenly we need someone like Sigimund making decisions for us.”

  Drystan pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Shit, Chrys is on his way over.”

  “How did he know to come here?” Alaric asked.

  “We have no lives. We’re always here when we aren’t working,” Roman explained.

  “Ah.”

  “This committee Chrysander created better throw down a real punishment on the Order of Necromancia. I’m not going to stand for this shit,” Conley said.

  “The Skeleton Seven are ready to walk if the fallen knights do.”

  “Good, I prefer us to stay united,” Drystan remarked.

  A hush fell over the bar and Alaric looked toward the door and saw Chrysander and his brother, Imperial Duke Damian Draconis, walk in. He could see a few other black-eyed dragons taking up places near the door. He was the Emperor, and they were there to see to his protection. As she’d done for Chander, Redmilla greeted the dragon leader and his brother and handed them drinks. The patrons went back to their own lives as Chrysander and Damian worked their way toward their group. Two more chairs were shoved around the tables they’d pushed together. As soon as Chrysander sat down, he turned to Chander. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “The Lich Sentinel and I are working on reestablishing our matebond,” Chander replied as he gave Alaric’s thigh a squeeze.