Astral chuckled, bowing his head slightly. “It’s good to see you too, Fenn.” He looked over at Zane. “And of course you, Zane.” Zane nodded, smiling a little.
As we walked across the graveled earth past the Mages who still rested on one knee, my head dipped low in embarrassment. I wasn’t sure what to say or if I should even say anything at all. Not with everything that had happened. My hand stuck out by my side and gave a weak attempt at a wave.
Zane chuckled from beside me, a sound that used to irritate me. I smirked up at him.
We took the stone steps two at a time, trying to catch up to Lexi who was dead-set on reaching the top. The steps seemed to go on forever, high into the clouds.
“I can’t believe it,” Fenn whispered to me, his head pointing to Lexi. He reached out for my hand, my skin tingling from his long lost touch, and squeezed it.
“It suits her though,” said Zane. “Her attitude fits that of a higher being.” All three of us smirked at that.
When we reached the top of the steps, Kaede was already there, waiting beneath his mithril armor. He bowed at the waist and then stood back up, pressing his arms to his sides.
Raven-colored hair rested against his back in a thick, tight braid with strings of gold woven throughout. An intricate goatee and mustache with shaven swirling designs wrapped around his thin, pale lips. Slanted brows shadowed his bronze eyes lined in black liner.
“Progeny.” His accent was sharp. He bowed his head in my direction.
I bowed in return as a knee-jerk reaction, glad to be behind my scales. “My Liege,” I said.
“For someone so young, you have experienced so much pain.” His words and his sympathetic tone hit home. He leaned in close enough for only the two of us to hear. “But you know what they say. Those who never give up have better odds at winning.” He winked at me, his bronze eyes full of wisdom.
I felt an odd grin prick at the corners of my mouth. He was not what I expected him to be. He was…better.
“Alexis, I presume,” he said as he turned in her direction, bowing. She bowed slightly, wearing a mechanical smile. “Astral,” he said, extending his hand instead of bowing. Astral chuckled as he shook it.
He clapped merrily. “You must come inside at once. This is a joyous day, one that we have waited far too long for. We have much to discuss and even more to celebrate.” He motioned for us all to follow him as he headed into the Lyceum. “I was just on my way to meet with my advisors. They will be pleasantly surprised.”
Fenn’s hand still held mine as we followed Kaede through the winding halls. Kaede told us the walls were made from a rare chocolate-colored cypress wood. Sliding wooden doors were paneled with paper and separated each room. Most of the light came through the paper, giving the rooms we passed through a flat glow.
He explained that the paintings and intricate carvings decorating the top panels of every room told the history of the Lyceum from the time of its creation.
We rounded a corner and came to a long hallway with a strip of red carpet lining the center of the floor. Kaede slowed to a stop and started to speak before he turned to face me. “At the end of this hall is my advisory room. My advisors do not yet know of your return so do not be afraid of their shock. They are all Archion Mages and older than any Arch Mage alive.”
“I am honored,” I said quietly, ignoring the butterflies that bombarded my empty stomach.
His eyes creased in pleasure, and then he turned and proceeded down the hall, his hands folded neatly behind his back. When we approached the sliding door, two heavily armed guards stepped aside, bowing in Kaede’s direction. He bowed back.
I bowed to them as well, unsure of what else I should do. I suppressed my giggle when Fenn and Astral both followed suit, looking just as unsure as I felt.
When Kaede slid the door open, all three of his advisors turned to face us, their faces compressed in puzzlement. Two oddly familiar faces were there, but they looked somehow out of place.
It only took a second for their gazes to turn from confused to aware. Fully aware. At the same time, they all rose up to their knees, bowing on the pillows they had been sitting on.
“The Progeny has returned,” one of the Archion Mages said in awe. His silvery beard covered his entire wrinkled face in scraggly curls. Long, thin strands of snow white hair were combed back atop his head. Black eyes gleamed with canniness beneath his bushy eyebrows.
“She has, Mizu,” Kaede agreed gleefully, “and I have invited her to sit with us.” He presented me with an arm wave and gestured to a plush scarlet pillow at the opposite end of the long coffee table that the advisors sat around.
“Of course,” Mizu said at once, his voice and eyebrows rising in excitement.
Fenn and Astral followed and sat on either side of me. Lexi and Zane sat on the right side of Mizu. An eerie echo filled the room from the sound of the wind beating against the thick paper.
I looked around, noting that the council sat with their legs crossed. I did the same. A Geisha in an elaborate violet-colored kimono approached the three of us, offering warm tea on a bamboo tray.
“Thank you,” I murmured, taking it and sipping greedily. Within seconds, my cup was empty, and I was left licking my lips. The fresh, sweet floral taste awakened my taste buds and left me craving more. My empty stomach felt like I had just eaten a full meal. The tea was enchanted.
The Geisha must have seen how thirsty I was because, without asking, she moved her sleeve aside and leaned in with perfected discipline to refill my cup. The delicious aroma of plum blossoms rose before me with the swirling steam, making my mouth water.
Fenn quietly sipped on his tea, smirking behind the rim of his cup as he watched me. I bit my lip, trying to hide my smile.
Kaede cleared his throat after finishing his tea with one hearty sip. “First, let me introduce you to my most trusted advisors. You’ve already met Mizu,” he said, pointing in his direction. Mizu slightly bowed his head. I smiled over the rim of my tea.
“That is Lian.” Kaede gestured to a bald, wrinkly little man to the left of Mizu. Lian bowed his shiny head, his shaven face bearing no emotion. “Next to him is Banjamin—he is the eldest of the advisors.”
Banjamin was like all the rest, quiet featured and emanating wisdom. He had white hair that was pulled back into a tight bun and a beard that fell below his waist, twisted with thin wooden bands. He politely tipped his head in my direction. “Far too long we have awaited your rise from the embers.” His majestic voice slurred with an accent like Kaede’s.
A different Geisha appeared at his side, pouring more tea into his cup. He waved her off, still staring in my direction. “You will return us to prosperity, Progeny…no matter the cost.” There was no threat in his voice, just a pure statement of truth.
“He is a Seer,” Kaede explained, moving to stand behind him. In a gesture of brotherhood, he placed his hands on both Banjamin and Lian’s shoulders. “These three men you see here are my most trusted advisors. They have each served the Liege before me and have remained faithful to our people over the centuries.” His kind eyes beamed with pride.
The other two Mages, the ones who seemed familiar, looked up at Kaede impatiently. Kaede laughed. “Oh yes, and this is Albert and Ghandus. They used to serve Zordon.”
“Before he turned evil,” Albert added.
“He was always evil, Albert,” Ghandus scolded.
Albert elbowed Ghandus in the side. “You don’t know that for sure.”
Ghandus winced and then elbowed him back. “Do too!”
“Gentlemen,” Kaede said through a strained smile, “we are welcoming the Progeny.”
The twins lowered their argument to a mutter as Kaede took his seat on the other side of Lexi. After another short swig of tea, he looked up at us pensively. “Reports from our Runner
s came in early this morning. It seems the Nymph Magium is considering the Draconta’s request to aid them should there be another battle. That was before the news of your return. More Runners have been sent out to alert the remaining dragons and factions of your arrival. And of course,” he looked directly at me, “to alert the Draconta King and Queen.”
A nervous, dreaded tingle tickled underneath my scales and up my arms. The last time I had been with my grandparents I had done nothing but disrespect them. Would they even want to see me?
Lian’s old, crinkly voice chimed in. “I have prayed so many years for this day.” What seemed like a smile broke the imprinted frown on his ancient face.
“We never gave up hope that this day would come,” Kaede added, steering me away from my inward thoughts. “And now we can begin to gather a strong army that will protect both of the realms from more destruction.” He looked confident of both himself and me as he sat back into his pillow and took another healthy sip of tea.
I shifted uncomfortably. “How will we be able to accomplish this? Zordon is now a Fate. He is immortal.”
Zane stiffened and tilted his cup up to his mouth, hiding behind the rim.
I looked over at Astral for help. He seemed to be transfixed with the pattern of tea leaves that rested at the bottom of his cup. I knew that he knew I was looking at him. He was always in my mind. So why was he avoiding this subject?
“Astral.” Kaede’s smile was stern. “You didn’t inform the young Progeny?”
Astral side-eyed me, setting his teacup back down on the table and leaning into the conversation. “You know how quickly things change, Kaede. How words are misinterpreted. I didn’t want to tell her unless I knew for sure.” He kept his head tilted down.
Kaede nodded and then looked back at me, piercing me with his gaze. “Then I guess luck is on my side today. I get to bear the good news.”
“Good news?” I asked, narrowing my eyes on Astral.
“While I was in the good graces of Zordon, I did some digging,” Kaede continued. “I found something that, if known to the general public, could place the race of Priests in danger.”
I was officially lost.
His eyes grew spirited as he lowered his tone. “There is rumor of an elixir, Progeny. An elixir that can make an immortal mortal once more.”
The already quiet room grew deafeningly quiet.
“Kaede.” There was clear warning in Astral’s voice as he turned in my direction, palms flat on the table. “It is not a sure thing, Little Flame.” He looked dead at Kaede. “Which is why I have not said anything yet.”
Kaede rolled his eyes, his head following the motion and landing in his propped up palm.
“Remember that discussion we had long ago about the Priests? About how dangerous and untrustworthy they are?” Astral continued, looking back at me. “Even if they did create such an elixir that could undo immortality, it would be near impossible to retrieve. Especially after your last encounter with them. It is too dangerous.”
I shuddered from the memory of our last encounter. The one that involved Zordon stealing a drop from the Pool of Virtue and Fenn and Eve going missing. The one where one of the sacred Priests died, leaving the rest to take their vengeance out on Zane, Zhax, and me. It was the day everything I had so carefully planned spun out of control.
“We should search for other possibilities and not such fascinating, unrealistic stories,” Astral finished evenly. He made sure to meet eyes with everyone around the table.
My stomach dropped. “But—”
I was cut off by a light knock on the door. It slid open. Brohm stepped through and bowed. When his eyes found Lexi’s, his face filled with a mixture of anguish, confusion, and joy.
“Alexis, you’re—”
“Brohm,” Kaede said airily, his mood shifting back to civility. “Have you brought word concerning our enemy’s current endeavors?”
He was a Runner?
Brohm nodded, painfully looking away from Lexi and towards Kaede. “My Liege, Zordon’s focus has solely been on the other realm. Word is that he is meeting with the Liege in the Polar Magium in a few days.”
“Perfect,” Kaede said, rubbing his hands together. “This is our opportunity to stay under the radar. Our first strike will be on his headquarters—the Lyceum on Pyre Island. If we can take it out, we are one step closer to weakening his hold on this realm.”
I tried to refrain from staring at Kaede with an open mouth. “The Lyceum on Pyre Island?”
His face screwed up.
I shook my head to shake the confusion. “I meant to say, we are going to attack the Lyceum?”
Brohm exchanged glances with Kaede. A long, trying minute passed before Kaede’s face erupted into a smile. “As soon as our army is strong enough, we will. Isn’t that what we should be doing?”
Banjamin shifted on his pillow. “Shouldn’t we let the Progeny rest? We have days before the other Runners return from Nymph Island. There is plenty of time to set plans in stone and recruit the army needed to accomplish this. She needs to adjust to all that has happened around her.”
Brohm looked displaced as he stared at the side of Lexi’s face. She hadn’t even noticed him yet. I wondered if she even remembered their relationship.
I could feel Kaede watching me and looked over at him. He eyed me thoughtfully, as if he hadn’t even considered letting me rest. As if I should be leaping into action at this very moment. Suddenly a huge smile stretched across his face, and he clapped his hands excitedly. “Excellent idea, Banjamin,” he said jubilantly. “It will give us ample time to prepare the celebration of the Progeny’s return. It will be held tonight.” He hesitated, the delight in his eyes shadowed with doubt. “You will be rested enough for that?”
“Oh, yes,” I said instantly. It was my first day back, and already I was stirring up a new batch of doubts. I made a vow to myself to change that this time around.
His smile brightened at once. “Good. Throwing a grand party is my wife’s forte, and she will be thrilled to begin.” He leaned into the table, his eyes perking up in secret. “And I have to admit, we haven’t had much to celebrate in quite some time.”
The other men promptly nodded in unison, agreeing with the sad truth.
Kaede continued. “A guard will escort you to your room where you can rest for a while. I’m sure a moment of quiet solitude would be good for you now that you have returned. You will be notified before the festivities begin.” He stood. The rest of the men stood right after him, awaiting my departure.
I blinked. That was it?
“Thank you.” I bowed, took Fenn’s hand, and walked out. I peered over at Lexi and Zane who remained seated. They were in no hurry to leave. As I passed Brohm, I placed my hand on his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic smile before crossing into the hallway.
Astral followed me, sliding the door closed behind us. Following the guard, I slouched down the hallway towards our rooms.
“Sometimes I can’t help but wonder, why me?” I was having trouble wrapping my mind around everything that had changed. Around everything that would probably never change.
“Because despite what you may think, you’re strong and smart and meant for this,” Fenn said as he braided his fingers through mine.
The main reason why I was upset surfaced and spilled out of my lips. “It was my fault.” I didn’t bother with hiding the guilt in my faint voice. “Even if she returns to her old self over time, she will probably never forgive me. I can’t even forgive myself.”
I couldn’t say her name. I didn’t feel I had the right to speak it out loud. She never deserved the fate she was dealt, and now, now she would never have the life she deserved.
Both Astral and Fenn stopped and looked at me. Astral was the first to speak. “Though the circumstances m
ay have led you to believe that it was your fault in choosing her death, you must remember one thing—The Fates have ultimately done this to us. Saeth and his betrayal to their laws have caused all of this.”
He looked away in anguish, seeming to regret his last words. Even though he spoke the truth, I knew it still wasn’t easy for him to openly go against those he had served for so long.
“How?”
“Because of greed, Aurora. After Gidius created the dragons, Saeth felt he could do even better. He could create a being more cunning and powerful. A spawn from his very flesh. That is how Zordon came to be.”
“Is that when I was created?”
Astral looked over at me. “Though his Oraculus was ripped in half and deemed for another, you weren’t created for a while. It took Iliana some time to find the perfect solution to create an ultimate rival. A dragon creation against the human creation.”
“Or more plainly, Gidius versus Saeth,” I said.
The guard stopped at the end of the hall in between two sliding doors. He guided Astral to one and Fenn and I to the other. He bowed and then left.
Astral paused just outside his door, partially sliding it open. “Sadly, yes. We can only hope that Iliana had intended for all of this to happen.” There was something in his words and in his eyes that told me he held something back. He always wore a solemn look when he kept information I should know to himself.
“What do you mean? What aren’t you telling me?”
He forced a smile. The same smile he always used when he wasn’t going to explain any further. “Rest up, Little Flame. There will be plenty of time to discuss the matter. I’m sure Fenn has enough to share with you.”
I frowned at his back as he slid the door shut behind him. Fenn didn’t hesitate to pull me into our room.
My shoulders slumped forward. “Of course he can’t just come out and say it. I feel so lost.”
From the Embers (The Born in Flames Trilogy) Page 3