"Thank you, Commander. I'm going to need all the help I can get. The truth is . . . I don't have any idea what I'm doing. None. I wasn't ready for this."
"I know. If you'd like, you can place all control of the military in my hands until you are able to deal with it yourself and appoint more officers to the necessary positions."
"Yes, that sounds good. Is there anything else you have for me, Commander?" Jaylen asked.
"Actually, yes." Tyrin slipped a scroll from his belt then handed it to Jaylen. "I believe it will explain itself."
Jaylen glanced over at Zeriel before spreading the scroll out on the table and reading over it.
His Majesty Jaylen Corrifus, King of Vilyron:
I pray to the elements that this reaches you in fine condition. Your coronation came to me in a vision, so I knew that you were going to be king instead of your uncle. May the spirits guide his soul. Now, to the reason I am attempting to contact you. Over the past ten years, there has been a growing presence of goblins in the foothills of Ka'tayl who are threatening to deface the last few remnants of our divine people. They have been using the corpses of our people to summon wraiths that have been devouring the holy spirits in the few remaining forests and streams that have not been frozen over. If Ka'tayl is going to stand a chance against Wolfekin and its nefarious allies, we require your assistance. In exchange for your help in defeating the goblins and their wraiths, I am prepared to offer you an alliance between our two nations. I will contact you again once you set foot on our sacred shores. My new wife will be on the Northern Shore to greet you and serve as your guard to the palace. You have my gratitude, Your Majesty. I look forward to working with you in order to forge our alliance in the coming Angelic War. If you need more information, speak to Xair Korvin.
A'culin mata-ven alv,
Mawrin Tivera, Sultana of Ka'tayl
"Are you sure about this?" Jaylen asked. "I thought all the Ka'taylins were dead."
"So did we, but you seem to have one in your employ, do you not?"
"Xair isn't exactly working for me. He kind of just hangs around and helps us out. I don't really know what he wants. But Xair said he's the last of his people."
Commander Tyrin tapped the scroll on the wall. "This letter mentions him, so I would suggest speaking with him for more information. Then we will gather an envoy to go initiate these peace talks in the dead continent."
"That won't be necessary. I will go personally. This is a matter of extreme importance for my kingdom. If this sultana wishes to meet with me in person, then I will oblige."
"I trust that you will be leaving domestic affairs in the hands of someone capable while you are away? I would hate to see someone try to claim the throne in your absence."
"Is that a threat?" Jaylen asked.
"I am merely bringing the true threats to your attention. As king, you have done nothing to garner support from the people or the clergy. Do not forget for one second that High Priest Corin is still every bit your enemy as he was months ago. That hasn't changed. Yes, you were the rightful heir to the throne, but every leader has his challengers, people who disagree with him holding the power. Leaving the kingdom for an undetermined amount of time will only give those rebels the prime opportunity to strike. Choose your advisors well, Your Majesty. Or when you return, you may find yourself on the wrong end of a hangman's noose instead of being the one handing down punishment."
He had a point. "You're the only person I can trust, Tyrin. Would you be willing to lead the kingdom while I am gone?"
"I would be honored, Your Majesty. Please take some time to write out your will so I can adhere to your wishes."
* * *
Jaylen watched his personal servant who was on his knees polishing his shoes. The young boy couldn't have been more than twelve years old. He wore plain brown clothes and a purple circlet on his short black hair. The boy didn't say much at all, but Jaylen could see a thousand thoughts in the boy's brown eyes. "Servant?"
The boy crawled over to him and remained looking down at the floor. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"I don't think I caught your name."
"My name is Tristan Merith from Lorm."
"Lorm?" Jaylen asked. "The town that borders Wolfekin?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Stand up. Talk, please. Tell me about yourself and how you're from a city that was rumored to be destroyed in the Eight Night War."
Tristan stood up then began straightening the velvet curtains hanging in front of the windows. "I was taken as a baby by paladins who saved me and brought me to Ilyan. They raised me and trained me to be a servant for a king. I hope you can continue to teach me and that I am doing well enough. I know I'm young, but I have prepared my entire life to serve you, my king."
"Are there others like you? Other children being trained to be servants?"
"Yes, but they picked me because they know how you don't like females."
"How I don't like females?" Jaylen asked, very confused. "Oh, as in my vows?"
"Yes. They didn't want you to be tempted in any way."
"I see."
Tristan fluffed the silk-covered pillows on the bed. "That's why I had to leave my twin behind."
"Your twin?"
"My sister, Abby. She was trained with me and we've never been apart, but they told her she wouldn't be welcome here."
"Where is Abby now?" Jaylen asked.
"Down in the servant's quarters. I like it a lot better here, though. There are no rats and it's warm."
"Is that where you sleep? In the servant's quarters as well?"
The boy shrugged his shoulders then poured the basin by the dresser full with fresh water. "Only sometimes. The grownups get the beds. When there's no room on the floor, my sister and I are sent outside. But I don't get to see my sister anymore. They are sending her off to a brothel in Calchedona."
"A brothel? How old are you two?"
"Eleven."
"I see." Jaylen went to the door and opened it. He tapped on the shoulder of the man standing guard. "You there, guard."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Bring me Abby Merith, the servant girl. I will be employing her as my servant as well. On top of that, I want the extra room that joins onto my bedchambers to be changed into a bedroom for both of my servants."
The guard laughed. "But that is your closet."
"I don't need a huge closet. Let me have my servants sleep near me so they can assist me in the middle of the night if I have nightmares."
"If that is your wish, Your Majesty."
"It is." Jaylen went back inside then shut the door, nearly tripping over Tristan who had obviously been eavesdropping. "It's not polite to spy on people."
Tristan knelt down in front of him and kissed his shoes. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Stand up. I'm not angry. Just know that if anyone other than me catches you eavesdropping, they won't think twice about punishing you." Jaylen went to the dresser and changed into his boots. "So you heard about your sister?"
"Why are you doing this, Your Majesty?"
"Because I can. Call me Jaylen. It's okay. I don't want you to be afraid of me. I don't want you to be away from your sister, either. You need to be together. Oh, and the thought of you two sleeping in an awful place like that is sickening. You will have a warm and clean place to sleep in my closet . . . well, it won't be a closet for long."
Tristan slowly stood up and bowed his head. "But I'm a slave."
"You don't get paid for this?"
"No. I'm you're slave. Don't you know that already?" Tristan asked.
"I do now, and I'm not pleased." Jaylen checked his reflection in the mirror. "Tristan?"
"Yes, Jaylen?"
"I am going out for a while. Once your sister arrives, I want both of you to stack up my papers and organize my desk, make my bed, then dust the bookcase. After that, you two are under my direct orders to go out into the garden and play until the mage-glow dims for the night. Oh, and feel free to fin
ish off the tea and cookies. I don't want them."
* * *
Zeriel was the one who opened the door to what used to be Jaylen's house. He looked surprised. "Jaylen? What are you doing here?"
Oviel hit Zeriel on the arm. "Don't call him that. He's king now, remember?"
"No, it's okay. Just call me Jaylen. Nothing has changed." Jaylen stepped inside then looked around the main room at them all. "Where is Liam?"
Trevor, with Brinx on his arm as always, walked into the room and smoothed his scruffy brown beard. "He left with his dragon about two hours ago. Liam told us that they were flying down to the tropical islands of Tilhana to get coconuts."
"Coconuts? Are you serious?"
"One hundred percent serious." Gavin crossed his arms and frowned. "They took my dragon as well. I miss Gavy already."
"You mean Talix?" Jaylen asked. "Let him have some time with his brother. They will be back soon enough."
Gavin glared at them. "His name is Gavy. I named him that and he likes it."
Jaylen only rolled his eyes and went to the back bedroom. "Xair, come in here with me for a minute, please. It's important."
"What is it?"
"Just come with me. It's important. Zeriel, you too." Jaylen closed the door behind them then spread a map on the wall and pinned it there. "Do you know of anyone named Mawrin Tivera?"
Xair grunted then closed his eyes. "Why do you want to know? How did you even learn her name?"
Jaylen held out the letter. "Because I received this letter from Paladin Commander Tyrin."
Xair read the scroll then groaned and rolled it back up. "I can't believe it."
"So? Who is she?"
"My mother." Xair leaned back against the wall and shook his head. "I thought she was dead. I thought everyone was dead."
"What does that line of Ka'taylin language mean?" Jaylen asked.
"A'culin mata-ven alv? It means 'Angels can be demons.' It is from an old story my people used to tell to their children."
"Meaning?"
"It's a warning." Xair said. "Things aren't always what they seem. Something about this letter doesn't feel right to me. Then there's that warning my mother added. We need to sail to Ka'tayl as soon as possible. So, we must find a ship and leave at once."
"Don't you think it's a bit odd, receiving a letter from your dead mother in a country that was supposed to be wiped off the face of the planet? This is obviously a trap."
"No. I have to go back there to make sure that the remains of my people are not being desecrated and destroyed. On top of that, if there is any possibility of my mother being alive, then I have to meet with her."
Zeriel rolled the scroll back up and handed it to Jaylen. "We're not going."
"And now you're king?" Jaylen asked. "I am the one making the decisions now, remember? If there is any possibility of forging an alliance with Ka'tayl, then I will take the risk."
Xair nodded pensively then motioned towards the door. "Zeriel, I would like to speak with Jaylen alone for a few minutes if you don't mind."
"Oh, I mind."
Jaylen glared at him. "Don't be like this, Zeriel. Why don't you go make yourself useful and tell the others to begin packing for the trip to Ka'tayl?"
"They're all going? Why?"
"Because I need them. That's why."
Zeriel mumbled to himself under his breath as he left the room and shut the door behind him.
Jaylen turned his attention back to the map on the wall. "How long of a voyage is this?"
"It will take at least a month to sail there. This is not a journey to be taken lightly."
"What if we only took those who can fly?" Jaylen asked. "We could get there much faster."
"No. There is still a magic barrier in place over the continent, much like the one that Carvael placed around Cilona. The only way into Ka'tayl is by a ship bearing the sigil that will allow it to pass through into the harbor. I will be able to guide us with no issues."
"Actually . . . there is one issue I needed to speak to you about. Amari. Don't think I haven't noticed. Gavin told me about you using parts of her body for spells. I can't support that."
Xair seemed to immediately become defensive. "It is my religion, the sacred practices of my people. You cannot understand what you do not know."
"No, you're right about that. However, I will not watch you cut up a human being. You cut out her eyes, tongue, and vocal chords, Xair."
"I did no such thing. How dare you blame me for that?" Xair asked.
"Gavin told me that they were used in spells."
"They were. Not by me. Amari was taken from my room in the palace in Ka'tayl by a rebel group who wanted nothing more than to make money. They harvested parts of her body and either sold them on the black market or used them for their own spells. When I tracked her down and rescued her, that was the state she was in. I would never do something so heinous. The most I have ever taken from Amari are the tips of her fingers. Those generally grow back well enough."
"And you expect me to believe that?"
Xair sighed, frustrated, then untied the front of his pants and pulled them down past his hipbones to reveal a small disk of gold embedded in his skin on the right side. "Do you see this? It is my vow I took to protect her. She has one was well."
"What is that?" Jaylen asked.
"Think of it as a wedding ring, only permanent. I cannot remove it without removing my skin and muscle that has grown around it." Xair fixed his pants and smoothed his robes. "Oh, yes. I believe I figured out the word to describe what Ili-Anan means in your culture. Spouse."
"Spouse?"
He placed his hand over his heart. "Yes. Amari is my wife. I married her before Ka'taylin was destroyed. It was against my religion to marry an albino woman, but I loved her dearly. I have been faithful to her ever since. That is why I would never butcher her like those evil bastards did."
"Why was it against your religion?" Jaylen asked.
"It is difficult to explain."
Jaylen raised an eyebrow. "I have time."
"It goes far back, very early in history. When the dragons disobeyed Sola and stole a bunch of souls, they flew through the human world to reach Hell. On the way, a handful of those souls escaped from the dragons' grasp and fell. They screamed out, crying to Sola for help. Somehow, those few lost souls became the first humans. They were the very first Ka'taylins. We are the oldest race . . . or, we were. Over time, the population grew and our religion was born. We would leash demons and harness their power for ourselves, much like I do today. However, things were not perfect. A few of the early Ka'taylins began leashing demons, but then abused them. They mated with those demons in truly awful ways involving chains and shackles made from arcane energies. When the arcane energies are misused, they become angry and vengeful. The children born from the Ka'taylins and the demons they raped were born albino. But it is not normal albinism. It is magical albinism. Without the shimmering black skin, those unholy children would never be able to use magic of any kind. But their magic was dormant, stored inside parts of their bodies. Now do you understand?"
"But you could have children." Jaylen suggested. "You could rebuild your race."
"Not possible. A pure Ka'taylin and an albino Ka'taylin cannot produce a pure Ka'taylin. Ever. Any children I have with Amari will be void of magic and have white skin."
"That's horrible."
"How do you think it makes me feel?" Xair asked. "But I loved her, even with her pale skin. She is still so beautiful inside and out. I can't imagine myself with anyone else."
"You swear you aren't hurting her?"
"I swear on the memories of my people."
Jaylen held out his hand to the man. "Then that's good enough for me."
Xair didn't take his hand. He remained serious as he stepped backwards then locked the door. He reached to his belt and drew his purple glass dagger from its sheath. "Today, I enact my vengeance. You have caused too many people to suffer. Too much blood is on y
our hands, Jaylen Corrifus. With this marked dagger, I will kill you and fulfill the will of the Arcanas."
Jaylen dropped to his knees, narrowly avoiding the purple blade. He drew a ceremonial dagger from underneath his robe and slashed out at him. "What are you doing?"
"Settling things." Xair jumped over the table and caught Jaylen's leg, bringing him back down to the floor as well. He punched Jaylen in the face then brought the dagger down, missing, and embedding it to the hilt in the wooden floor.
Jaylen kicked him in the stomach then rolled away when Xair was stunned. He ran to the door, knowing that he didn't stand a chance against a Ka'taylin and his arcane magic. His best chance at survival was to run and alert the others in the main room. "Zeriel! Gavin!" Jaylen glanced back to see Xair lunge at him. He jumped out of the way then screamed as the glass dagger sliced through his right arm, spilling blood onto the carpet below his feet.
Xair gasped then dropped his dagger. He fell to his knees at Jaylen's feet. "I have failed to kill you in one hit from my dagger. My life is now yours for the taking. I have failed."
Jaylen did his best to hold onto the wound and stop the pressure without his left hand. He was breathing hard and let out a groan from the pain. "What the hell?"
"Kill me. It is your duty now. I have failed in delivering my vengeance. Now is your chance to punish me. It is the Ka'taylin way."
Jaylen reached down and picked up the ancient purple glass dagger. He ran his fingers over the black marks in the hilt. Seeing the once proud and mighty Ka'taylin on his knees prepared for death was more than he could take. He held out the dagger to his friend. "This may be the way things are done in Ka'tayl . . . but I'm not Ka'taylin."
Chapter 12
The cold salty breeze of the sea rustled through Jaylen's hair as the seagulls flew across the sky and darted down into the water where they scooped up tiny silver fish in the waves. He held his ankle-length brown leather jacket tightly around his yellow silk tunic and brown pants. As he walked up to the bow of the frigate, his knee-high black boots clicked on the wood that was slick from the misty rain that continued to fall through the thick grey fog.
Angel of Darkness Books 1-5 Page 60