by JD Franx
The king’s first Pillar, the Knight, drew his sword, wrapping his hands around the pommel. A hush of quiet panic permeated the Hall of Nobles. Holding his sword to his chest with the blade pointing down, the Knight descended the raised dais of the king’s throne. Armoured in enchanted plate, his heavy boots struck the stairs with a hollow thud as he approached the Duchess. Swallowing hard as the mysterious knight came to a stop in front of her, the duchess went pale with fear.
“King Bale has issued a challenge of war to a high noble. Do you accept, Duchess Tania Vakaran?” The Knight gently placed the tip of his sword at the Duchess’ feet and held the crossbar, offering her the handle. The assembled nobility watched with breath held as the Duchess chewed her bottom lip. Finally, she sighed, surrendering.
“No, Your Majesty,” the duchess said. “I won’t condemn our people to war with each other. Not now. I hope your daughter is alive, King Bale. I do. But it has been months, and the chances of her survival shrink every day. At some point you will have to step down, even if she’s not found.” The First Pillar lifted his sword. Re-sheathing it, the Knight returned to his seat at King Bale’s side.
King Bale stared at the duchess, his eyes cold and emotionless. “You still make demands of your king? If you were not your father’s daughter, I would have you executed at dawn for this treasonous debate. For the little bit of life left in Sterling Vakaran’s body, I won’t do that, but do not push me. I have more important things to deal with than this gathering you’ve incited. It could have waited until the nobles’ court next week. If you are going to take over your father’s lands and responsibility, I suggest you learn how to behave, Duchess, or else hand your Duchy to your younger sister. Now go home.” The six Pillars of Rule stood, signalling the end of the gathering. As the second Pillar, the Priestess, raised her hands above her head in prayer, the Wizard and the Knight moved to the left and right hand side of King Bale.
“May the gods bless all your travels,” the Priestess said, “so you arrive home to your families safely.”
As the nobles cleared out of the main meeting hall of the Cascade Citadel, King Bale and the Pillars of Rule waited until everyone had left.
“It won’t keep those against you quiet for long, Your Majesty,” the Wizard said.
“I know, old friend. Let’s just hope Giddeon returns soon, and with good news.” The fourth Pillar grunted her doubt. The Spy had returned only moments before the gathering convened and had yet to report.
“If the Mistress of Secrets has something to add,” the Corsair said, “then perhaps she should say it.” The sixth and final Pillar of Rule’s dislike of the Spy was more than obvious. It earned him a sideways grin from her.
“They are already moving,” she said. “The wind whispers, but the Grand Duke refuses to meet with the conspirators. It is possible that he will remain loyal.”
King Bale snorted his disagreement. “No one remains loyal when they have the chance to be king.” Turning to the Spy, he added, “Is the Duchess at the head of the nobles who moved against us so quickly?”
The Spy shook her head. “I know not. I’ve yet to get someone inside the inner group. They’re careful, Your Majesty. Very careful. Someone with power and intelligence is at the head of these traitors.”
“If my daughter isn’t found soon, they won’t be traitors. They’ll be well within their rights to demand that I step down.” King Bale rubbed his forehead, the stresses of the day showing clearly.
“I don’t think so, Your Majesty,” the Priestess said, frowning. “Tania Vakaran gains nothing if the Grand Duke takes the throne. She won’t win the confidence vote even if she were considered. Pointless anyway. The law is clear. The Cethosian crown was granted by the gods on the agreement that a direct-blood descendant ensured the monarch’s power. It says nothing about the heir having to be in court. Until the princess’s body is recovered, we Pillars will ensure you remain on the throne of Cethos. It is why the gods created our positions and why the initiation ceremony kills one in three prospects. Once we are unleashed we will not fail to keep you on this throne.”
Quiet and off to the side as if not really there, like the ranger he was, the final Pillar, the Hunter, nodded. “I have rangers stationed in every banner, Your Majesty,” he said, quietly. “Several carry the black mask.”
The Knight grunted, but said nothing.
King Bale shook his head. “We’re not assassinating nobles. They have a legitimate concern, even if their claim for me to step down isn’t,” he said.
“It may come to that, Your Majesty,” the Spy counselled. “You cannot surrender the throne with everything that is happening. A new monarch would be disastrous. The southern tribes will attack in force, which means war. There is a DeathWizard on the loose somewhere, and that may eventually mean war. If the creature named Sythrnax tells the truth and there will be war between Ellorya and DormaSai, the last thing Cethos needs is a change in leadership. Assassination of upstart nobles may be our only option.”
King Bale sighed, rubbing his eyes. “Perhaps, Mistress Spy. But not yet. Right now, all of you focus on your duties and on finding my daughter. I can’t imagine what she must be going through.”
“My rangers, the Corsair’s sailors, or the Spy’s whispers will find her, Your Majesty, and all will risk their lives to see her home,” the Hunter said.
“I know.” King Bale sighed again. “It is why Cethos is the only country to still honour the Pillars of Rule. Take care, old friends.”
The six Pillars of Rule bowed and left the Hall of Nobles, each with the full intention of doing what they could to ensure their king’s reign.
The End
Acknowledgements
My son and daughter:
Thank you for the constant support and belief that I could and can do this. You both will always mean the world to me.
Stacy Jones:
For all your incredible support and enthusiasm for this series and the world of Talohna, thank you. As for all the hours you spent beta reading and proofing, or your help with brain storming and writing blurbs, I will be forever grateful.
Joel Lagerwall and Stefan Celic:
Thank you both for your amazing work on the cover art for Blood of the Lost. You are both incredibly talented artists.
Fiona Skye from Casa Cielo Editing:
Thank you for the countless hours of hard work and the constant support, but most of all for helping me to become a better writer.
Addison Winchester:
For taking on Blood of the Lost at the last possible minute and giving it that extra polish and typo check, thank you. I appreciate it more than you know.
To the members of the Facebook group The Dragon’s Rocketship and their writing sub group called Speed Dragons, thank you for all the amazing support over the years. I wish you all the best in your individual endeavours.
To everyone else:
Thank you. I can’t possibly name everybody, but you know who you are, and know that I do appreciate you all.
Please enjoy a sneak peek from the upcoming 3rd book from the Darkness Within Saga.
Coming soon:
The Darkness Within Saga:
Book 3
The Fallen Sepulchre.
Chapter One
“To my beloved Kael,
Today is the one year anniversary of your death. It’s been a very long and difficult year. You would be sad to see what is happening to our surrogate home. Talohna has become a true, living nightmare for many people. The Wildland tribes have attacked Yusat and are now at war with the Blood Kingdoms and three months ago there was a Black Sun event. It was terrifying and surreal, but incredibly beautiful all at the same time. The eerie darkness lasted for four hours. The child wasn’t found and we pray that there was only one because there is no one left to find him or her. The ArchWizard, his daughter, Kasik... all are still missing.
Max, Yrlissa, and I have taken refuge in DormaSai under the protection of its king and queen. Pro
tection that was short-lived, for now we are threatened by war as well. Ellorya’s emperor blusters and threatens while having the audacity to demand my hand in marriage. As Talohna’s only living Fae, it was to be expected, I guess. Thankfully, King and Queen Kohl refuse to bend under his pressure and war will be the likely outcome. I will never marry again.
Nekrosa and Sephi’s help inside Kazzador Mountain that dreadful day saved our lives, though not everyone made it out alive. I miss you more and more with each passing day, my love. Forgive me, Kael, please. We should have reached you in time. I failed you when you needed me the most. I am so sorry. I know I’ll see you again some day, even if it is in the Hall’s of Paradise after my own death.”
Excerpt from Ember Syme’s
personal diary, 5026 PC
DORMASAI, SOUTHERN KINGDOM
SUMMER’S DAWN, 5026 PC
Darkness settled over DormaSai’s Capitol city of Drae’Kahn. Torches positioned throughout the city cast their light into the darkest alleys of the blackest neighbourhoods as music and sounds of revelling from the taverns drifted on the night air. Even though threatened with war, the city and those living in it continued with their lives.
Ember Symes, the last Fae in Talohna watched the flickering lights as the evening breeze peaked and she listened to the sounds of happiness while standing on the balcony of her room high up in BlackVoid Castle; the home of DormaSai’s king and queen.
The previous king had been the vilest of tyrants and had eventually led his country into civil war. A war that Nekrosa and Sephi Kohl had won. Ten years had passed and DormaSai prospered under their rule, but Ember knew their lenient laws on magic would always make them a target for the rest of Talohna. Even though Nekrosa and Sephi had risen to power on a wave of blood and undead magic, Ember had never felt safer since arriving in Talohna than she had while being with the two necromancers.
Nekrosa and Sephi granted Max, Ember, and Aravae, along with Yrlissa and her daughter Cassie, official sanctuary after returning from the Dyrannai Forest where they had interred Ember’s husband. Kael Symes had been murdered deep beneath Kazzador City’s soaring mountain peaks by a Broken Blade assassin working for King Bale of Cethos and possibly his ArchWizard, Giddeon Zirakus. The running fight from one end of the old Dwarven city to the other had taken the life of Nekrosa’s friend, Luthian Bathory, and left Max mortally wounded. Ember used her Fae magic and realm-jumped them to the Dyrannai Forest using Yrlissa’s knowledge of the area.
Ember couldn’t help but think of the chaos that followed during their months in the ancient Elvehn forest. Rumours that the DragonKin had captured the ArchWizard, Saleece and Kasik, along with a priestess of Mylla, Sister Nikki, just moments before Ember, Max and their new allies arrived at the Animus Seal ran with intense abandon throughout the cities and towns of Talohna. Wildly exaggerated tales that the Ancients had returned to Talohna were also spreading like an uncontrolled wildfire. Many of Talohna’s citizens believed it was only a matter of days or weeks before it became public knowledge. After countless millennia of worshipping the Ancients as the founders of modern magic and civilization, the people of Talohna had real hope for the future.
Ember shook her head. She was beginning to doubt all she’d heard over the last year. Though she’d always remain loyal to Nekrosa and Sephi for their help, Yrlissa Blackmist’s warnings were starting to fall on deaf ears. The woman who’s words she once trusted over all others now seemed tainted with the lies and personal agendas of the assassin she was. But then, betrayal will do that, assassin or not.
A light knock rapped on the door to her room. Without even making a conscious effort, Ember’s magic told her it was the Queen, she could feel the woman’s powerful presence through the heavy wood and iron door. Ember’s powers had grown in leaps and bounds over the past year, most of it during their time in the Dyrannai Forest located deep within the Ancient’s abandoned kingdom. As if the enchanted forest had slowly eaten away at the remaining wall inside her mind that held back all that she was. She remembered everything. Her birth mother, grandmother and even where the Fae were hiding—a secret she’d told no one. Genetic memory Yrlissa called it.
“Come in,” Ember called. Dressed in a flowing, sleeveless, white silk gown Sephi Kohl seemed to glide across the room’s polished marble flooring without actually stepping on it before coming to a stop beside her on the balcony. Ember smiled as she felt the queen bump gently against her. Sephi Kohl was a warrior few could rival and an even more impressive friend.
“Are you ready, my dear?” Sephi asked, her voice tight with the edge of her station. “The Conclave is about to begin.”
“As I’ll ever be, I guess,” Ember replied. Not making eye-contact, she continued to stare out into the city. Sephi put her left arm around Ember’s shoulders and held her tight, her voice returned to the softness it normally held.
“I know the past year has been hard, hun. Kael’s death was a senseless loss caused by ignorant fools. I am so sorry this meeting has to be tonight.”
Using the back of her hands, Ember dried the moisture from her eyes and took a deep breath. “I miss him, Sephi. Death took him from me but it hasn’t taken my love for him. We lost so much under that mountain.”
The queen laid her right hand on Ember’s shoulder with the softest touch. “We did and the biggest loss was Kael and Luthian, but we need to start making up for it, especially tonight. If Emperor Mero sees that you are not here against your will then he should stand down and we can focus on the things Yrlissa has told us about. Things of which you need to speak with her about, Ember. It has been eight months now since we’ve returned to Drae’Kahn from the forest.”
“I can’t, Sephi. If she had told us earlier what she knew... what she was. We could have done things differently. Had Max and I known, we would have left Giddeon behind and travelled faster. Kael would still be alive. I’m not sure I even believe her anymore. The Ancient’s are worshipped by everyone in Talohna. They created so much beauty. If they have returned, how can they be evil like she claims?”
“I agree with you, hun, you know I do. She should have trusted in you and Max enough to be honest, especially after she found out you were Fae. But she didn’t and it is the past. The secrets she kept from you... it was for the right reasons. Time and experience will show you that sometimes you must do things that will hurt your loved ones, especially if it keeps them safe. Had Giddeon overheard or suspected, or had you been captured; the Dead Sisters were a lot closer than we thought—ahead of us and behind us. It was a no-win situation for her. There was no right call, Ember. I believe deep down you know that.”
“I disagree,” Ember said, shaking her head. “You don’t tell a trusted friend one thing and then keep your own agenda hidden. We had two chances to leave Giddeon behind. We could have travelled faster, used her knowledge to realm-jump to Kael. She never even mentioned such a thing was possible until her life and her agenda were in danger. Why? We could have jumped to him... The choices were endless, it’s like she didn’t want us to catch up to him... Kael might still be alive if she had. I will never forgive her for that!”
Sephi sighed. “You are hurt because she kept it from you and that is normal, but we must work together in order to push on. She has knowledge and skills we need. You know her secrets now, and you know what is coming.”
“If what she says is true.”
“Because of the library below us, we know that some of what she said is true. And we must prepare for if the Sepulchre falls.”
“Fair enough, My Queen.” Ember frowned as she bowed.
“Don’t you dare,” Sephi said, gently grabbing Ember’s arm to interrupt the bow. “The Fae do not bow to kings and queens and what I just said to you is as a friend not a queen. Ultimately, Ember, you must decide whether you will forgive Yrlissa or not, but we still must work together towards our common goals.”
Ember nodded. With her heart lifted a smallest bit, she gave Sephi a hug. The two women walked f
rom the room and headed to the peace conclave between DormaSai and Ellorya with the hopes of averting what could become the start of a Talohna-wide world war.
As they walked to the peace gathering, Ember tried to send her mind elsewhere. Anywhere would be better than worrying about threats of a forced marriage to a power-hungry emperor. She felt the magic inside her slowly wrap around her mind. The Fae ability was both a gift and a curse. With a part of their mind fractured off in the memories of the past, the Fae could relive those events with frightening detail. Ember had used the overwhelming Fae magic by mistake once after discovering it in the Dyrannai Forest. The wash of Fae-heightened emotions and crystal clear memories made her relive Kael’s death and the days that followed as if it were the very moment it happened. Reliving the crushing loss a second time so soon after it happened nearly broke her. With a year passed now, she was no longer afraid of what she’d feel. Instead, she sought the strength the emotions would bring in the days ahead while dealing with the greedy emperor and a dishonest assassin or whatever else might find its way to DormaSai.
Part of her mind drifted back, one year, to far beyond the Black Kasym and deep into the long abandoned kingdom of the Ancients. No longer in DormaSai, Ember opened her eyes and saw the Field of the Fallen, the ancient burial ground where DeathWizards were laid to rest whenever possible. She recognized the memory. They had just arrived in the Dyrannai Forest, which meant...