by E. L. Todd
“You speak to me as if I have any authority in this matter.”
You do.
“That power belongs to Queen Delwyn.”
It belongs to the elves of Eden Star—and you lead the elves.
“You’re mistaken.”
I am not. I know a king when I see one—as do your people. They follow your orders—not hers. That tells me what I need to know.
Callon stepped away. “I’ve served as General Callon for thousands of years. They respect my dedication and sacrifice to our people. That’s all.”
They respect the general more than the ruler he serves—that’s telling.
“If your suggestion is to overthrow Queen Delwyn and take her crown, that’s barbaric. We’re not power-hungry and bloodthirsty like the very enemy we oppose.”
She’s corrupt—and you know it.
Callon looked away.
You may not be the general in name, but you are in heart. It is your duty to protect your people from this tyrant.
“Tyrant…that’s a strong word.”
We don’t trust her. Neither do you.
His eyes remained elsewhere. “I served King Tiberius, and I will serve his queen just as loyally.”
Your loyalty is unflinching. A great quality in a servant to the throne. But she does not have the same loyalty to her own people—otherwise, she wouldn’t hide Cora’s identity. I understand the struggle to reconcile the two parts of your identity. You want to serve—but you’re meant to lead.
“I have no interest in the throne.”
That’s exactly why it should be yours. A true leader understands the sacrifice the job entails—so takes it with reluctance rather than ambition.
Callon kept his eyes focused on the tree line, peering into the shadows.
The armies of the empire will march on Eden Star. And Queen Delwyn is unsuited to defend it.
He turned back. “Our armies are always prepared to protect our borders.”
It’s not the soldiers that concern me, but the one who gives the orders.
“She would do whatever was necessary to protect her people.”
She denies her people the daughter of Tiberius Riverglade, so I’m skeptical.
“Not the same thing…”
Cora is a threat to her power. Seems to me that she will do everything she can to protect that power—whatever the cost may be. Retaining her power comes first. Everything else is second.
Callon looked away again.
This time in Eden Star has given me a glimpse of your remarkable character. You care for your Sor-lei like a hatchling. The love you have for your family continues beyond the grave. You tolerate Queen Delwyn out of respect for your late brother. I’ve never known a man with greater loyalty.
“Let me make this clear.” Callon pivoted his body, his eyes on the ground. “I will not challenge my queen for her seat. I will not plot to overthrow her. I will serve her as I always have. This conversation is over.”
Then will you help us convince her to do what is necessary?
His eyes remained on the ground.
Because she will listen to you, Callon.
“I betrayed her, and she stripped me of my title.”
Because she had to—not because she wanted to.
“I blackmailed her.”
You shouldn’t have had to in the first place.
“I’m not entirely convinced I want this to happen anyway.” He lifted his gaze, a glimpse of anger on the surface. “You may admire my character, but I don’t admire yours. It’s ironic to listen to you question Queen Delwyn when you destroyed us all with your rulership.”
Ashe remained quiet, his mind withdrawing as if the words had physically marked him.
Cora spoke. “This is me now. There are a million reasons not to do this. But we need each other if we want to survive.”
“We’ve survived this long.”
“But not much longer. And is surviving the same as living?”
Callon clenched his jaw.
“I told my father about Ashe.”
His eyes immediately shifted, focusing on her face with deeper penetration.
“He’s lost as much as you have, but he knows we need to put our animosity aside. The preservation of Eden Star is all that matters in the end. Whatever that requires is insignificant.”
“He said that?” His anger dulled like an old blade.
“Yes.”
His eyes flicked away once more, deep in reflection.
“He is still your king, is he not?”
“Always.”
“Then this is what your king commands.”
After a deep breath, he looked at her once more. “Tiberius is like a flower. He can be plucked off the stem, but he’ll just grow another blossom and forget why he needed to grow it in the first place. His memory is short, his grudges even shorter. Me…I’ve never been that way.”
“I’ve noticed.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Sorry.”
“I will speak to her on your behalf. But I can’t promise it’ll work.”
“Even if she doesn’t listen to you, the elves do. And that can make all the difference.”
“They won’t listen to me if they dislike you, Cora. So, that’s something you need to work on.”
“I know.” She gave a nod, hearing Rush’s voice in her head. “Gotta make some friends…”
Ashe sat near the tree line, a dark contrast against the green canopy of the trees. With his shoulders back, his chest puffed up, he watched with ancient eyes.
With his sword in hand, Callon glanced at the dragon—time and time again.
Ashe met his look with gray eyes.
“Is this okay?” Cora asked. “He’s been cooped up for so long.”
Callon focused on Cora and gave a nod. “It’ll take some time to get used to.” He prepared his sword and took his stance.
Cora.
She held her sword at the ready, eyes on Callon. I need to focus, Ashe.
You need to use your other skills.
What other skills?
The power of your mind.
But…that’s cheating.
Is my fire cheating?
Well, no.
Then this is not cheating. This is a skill you have—and you need to use it to your advantage. You’re a hatchling, so you’ve never seen battle. It’s barbaric, brutal, and bloody. All that matters is the one who survives. Be the one who survives.
Callon circled her, spinning his sword with his wrist.
Do it, Cora.
Callon launched himself, swiping his sword down on her.
She blocked the hit then pushed her mind out.
Callon felt the effects and immediately backed away.
She moved forward, slamming her sword down to defeat him.
He blocked the hit with a weak hand, his eyes wincing from the assault to his mind. He recovered and responded with even more aggression, swiping left and right, murder in his eyes.
She blocked his hits then pushed again, assaulting his mind with invisible daggers.
Fuming, he gave a growl and pushed on harder.
Great. Now he’s just pissed off.
And unfocused.
His sword drove her back, his momentum forcing her backward across the grass. With gritted teeth and rage in his blood-red face, he was determined to strike her down. With speed and agility he’d never executed before, he came for her like she was King Lux in the flesh.
She instinctively pushed her mind out again, this time just to survive.
He gave a snarl as he grimaced, but he kept going.
She blocked hit after hit, but all her energy was focused on staying afloat, not striking back.
Come on, Cora.
I won’t do it more than that.
You must.
It might kill him.
You underestimate General Callon’s abilities.
She pushed again.
He faltered for just an instant
.
And that was enough for her to slam her knuckles into his face, kick him back, and yank the sword out of his hand.
The pride was in Ashe’s voice. Very good, Cora.
Callon was on his back for just a second. He recovered quickly, getting to his feet as if nothing happened. He yanked the sword out of the ground and drew it close to his side.
“I’m sorry. Ashe told me to do it…”
“Don’t be sorry.”
“Really?”
“You’ll never have the time to train the way I did. The way Weila did. Turnion. Any powerful warrior. This is the only way you’re going to compete against fighters like me, soldiers, other generals. Use it to your advantage, Cora.”
“Do you still want me to use it while we train?”
“Yes.”
“That seems a bit unfair to you…”
“How? I’m training you—and you’re training me.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I face someone with your powers, I’ll be prepared. It’s been a while since I’ve been challenged. I welcome it.” He took his stance with his sword at the ready. “Let’s go again.”
She entered the Cemetery of Spirits and passed through the mist.
General Callon is more exceptional than I realized.
Why do you say that?
A man who relishes new challenges is unafraid of failure. If you’re unafraid of failure, it means you’re confident in your abilities, that there’s success at the end of the road.
Yeah, he’s pretty great.
You’re very lucky to have him, Cora.
I know I am. She passed through the cemetery, the mist immediately cool against her warm skin. She passed gravestones until she reached her father’s final resting place. She sat on the bench and stared at the fireflies as she waited.
It took some time—but he came.
His power and majesty filled the space the instant he came into being, sending invisible ripples through the air around him. His bluish outline was visible, a subtle definition of his height and musculature. He joined her on the bench. “Hello, Cora.”
“Hello, Tiberius.”
“Give Ashe, King of Dragons, my regards as well.”
She smiled. “I will.”
I appreciate and reciprocate his hospitality.
“He gives you his regards as well.”
“His scales are midnight black, are they not?”
“Yes.”
“Gray eyes?”
“Yes.”
Tiberius gave a nod. “Wish I could see him for myself.”
“Callon has.”
A light chuckle escaped his lips. “I already suspect his reaction.”
“He wasn’t happy…”
“But I’m sure you made him come around.”
“He stormed off, actually.”
“Callon…he was always uptight.”
She chuckled. “I don’t know if I would describe him as that.”
“Ever since we were children, Callon has always been a devout rule-follower. I was the opposite…as you probably guessed.”
“I’ve never cared for the rules either.”
“Then you got something from me, after all.”
“Guess so.”
Tiberius turned quiet. “He came around?”
“A day later. I was actually afraid that would be the end of it…”
“Callon has his tantrums, but he always comes back around.”
She stared at her hands in her lap. “I don’t mean this in a disrespectful way…but I’m surprised you were the one who became king.”
“I’m difficult to offend, so you don’t need to worry about that.” He looked ahead at the statue of his likeness. “I believe an important quality of a ruler is the ability to adapt to change, to shift your perspective, to question practices rather than blindly following them. That’s exactly what I did as I led the elves. I challenged social norms when it was impossible for others. Perhaps that’s what got me killed…but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Callon is the longest-serving general Eden Star has had because his upstanding qualities make him suitable for the job. He’s selfless and dedicated. He wants to serve. He wants to sacrifice his life for something greater than himself. I think we both ended up exactly where we were meant to be.”
“That makes sense. Was it weird having your younger brother as your general?”
“I got to boss him around all day. It was wonderful.”
She chuckled.
He turned serious again. “It wasn’t weird at all. We were a perfect team, he and I. A king is only as good as the general who serves him.”
“What do you think about him being king?”
His eyes turned to regard her. “Is Queen Delwyn unwell?”
“No. I just…I’m not sure if she’s the best for the position.”
“I know you both have questioned her integrity. But until we know more, she deserves the benefit of the doubt. Ask her why she hasn’t come to me for these past twenty years. Ask her to join with the dragons and prepare for war. Her answers will tell us what we need to know.”
She gave a nod. “I think I already know how this will go…but I’ll try.”
He looked at the statue again, which was covered in a vine that wrapped around toward his arm. “Has Callon pledged his support?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“But only because of you.”
He turned back to her.
“You’re still his king.”
“I wholeheartedly believe he would have come around on his own. Because your influence is much more potent than my own.”
She looked at her hands once more.
“Is he still teaching you the sword?”
“Yes.”
“How have you progressed?”
“I’m much better than I was, but Callon agrees I’ll never meet his standards.”
“That’s an unfair thing to say. You’re a child, not a woman with the same years of experience.”
“When it comes to war, it doesn’t matter. I’m not good enough. I’ll never be good enough for what we’re about to face.”
He bowed his head.
“But I started using my…powers. I’m not sure what else to call them. That gave me an upper hand.”
“Powers?”
“It’s hard to explain, but…I can basically disarm someone’s mind with my own.”
Silence.
“It’s basically the Skull Crusher, but at a nonlethal level.”
More silence.
She regarded her father. “What is it?”
“That’s Death Magic.”
“I know…”
He remained quiet.
Ask him. Now’s your chance.
“I asked Callon this…but he refused to tell me.”
Tiberius straightened his body.
“Said it’s forbidden.”
“Because it is forbidden.”
“I need to know anyway. Because Death Magic is as intuitive to me as breathing.”
Silence.
“Please tell me, Tiberius. I’m entitled to this information. It could make all the difference in the world.”
He seemed to draw breath because his chest slowly rose before it fell once more. A moment was spent looking straight ahead, but then he eventually turned to regard her. “I can tell you what I know—but that doesn’t mean it’ll answer your questions.”
“Okay.”
Yes.
“But I will only share this with you—and not your other half.”
No.
“Why?”
“Because he’s not an elf.”
“We are one.” The comeback was harsh, flying out of her mouth like spit. “I have no secrets from him.”
“That’s my condition.”
It’s okay, Cora. You can tell me when the conversation has concluded. He drifted away, further and further until he was gone from her mind, like he was asleep. He had
no conscious presence.
“Okay, he’s gone. But I’ll tell him everything you share with me.”
“I don’t think you will.”
“Why?”
He looked ahead again. “Because you won’t want to. That is the real reason I requested privacy.”
Her heart fell into her stomach, followed by an avalanche of discomfort. Her core temperature spiked, and the mist no longer had a cooling effect on her skin. Her fingers immediately curled in and formed fists as she drew them closer to her body.
“Are you ready, Cora?”
She gave a nod, a hesitant one.
“Shamans aren’t any different from you or me—because they’re elves.”
Seconds turned into minutes.
Cora absorbed his confession like a dried-out sponge, soaking in every drop without saturation. Her steady breathing spiked into deep inhales and exhales. Overwhelmed, she didn’t know what to say. “I don’t understand…”
“A cursed elf becomes a dark elf. Then, in time, they become a Shaman. When men die, they go to heaven or hell. It’s our version of eternal suffering.”
She stared. “How does an elf become cursed?”
“By being cursed by another elf.”
“What…?”
“It’s a practice that has been outlawed for a very long time. The elves who commit atrocious crimes against their people have to be punished in some way, and the punishment must reflect the degree of their betrayal. The elves who can’t be forgiven…are cursed. They are dead, but they never pass on to our spirit world. It’s eternal damnation.”
She inhaled a slow and deep breath. “I think I’m in shock right now…”
“It never should have been done. It’s a shameful part of our history that we wish to forget.”
“So…where do they go?”
“No one knows.”
“So, all those Shamans I’ve seen…”
“Are elves cursed long ago.”
She remembered the black flower on the hike, the petals that whispered to her. “I saw this black flower outside Eden Star… Callon pulled me away and sliced it from the stem. He said it was death.”
“The Black Curse. That’s what we call it.”
“Is that…how you cursed them?”
He nodded. “We removed it from Eden Star…but sometimes it grows back.”
She turned away, her eyes back on her hands. “I understand why Callon didn’t want me to know.”