They were also in the process of being covered by that mud-like substance, but only a third of that was complete. Even so, the trees were so perfectly fit together that it looked like a gigantic, endless piece of wood.
The mountain-face of Soul’s Rest itself was covered in scaffolding, and Celia noticed the tiny figures of what must have been Grauda moving around as they broke away pieces of rock to shape the fortress to be.
“Wow…” Melody said with wide, sparkling eyes, taking it all in. “How did this all get here?”
Celia held back a chuckle as she placed a hand on Melody’s shoulder. This must have been an even bigger shock to the Beastkin—the last time she had been here, it was all untouched forest.
“Is that Soul’s Rest?” Duren asked as he and Issac joined them.
Celia shook her head and pointed beyond the construction. “Soul’s Rest is that mountain, and it is where my Master Aziel waits. All the rest is only the beginnings of what is to be the capital of the Fallen.”
“To think all of this was being built in the Central Wilds without anyone hearing a word of it,” Issac said.
“That is all recent,” Melody pointed out. “The inside of Soul’s Rest isn’t, but this was just forest not too long ago.”
Duren and Issac stared at Melody as if she had grown an extra fluffy ear. “This kind of construction would take months. I’d say four to five months for a fulltime professional crew with minor magical support for that one building,” Duren said, pointing at the Conclave. “I don’t know how long such a wall would take, but simply moving those giant trees whole is an undertaking in itself.”
Celia couldn’t argue with that. The Grauda were exceptionally quick to build and smart about how they moved heavy objects. They also didn’t stop working until a female told them to do so. Add Astrel’s Skill for coordination, and you had the perfect conditions for structures to sprout out of the ground in no time. But even knowing all this, it was an impressive level of progress.
Now, if only they could build roads to avoid experiencing the same issues they had on the way here again. With this pace of construction, keeping Soul’s Rest hidden was no longer a possibility. The Fallen were officially on the map. Celia smiled at the thought.
“Well, enough staring. Let’s head in.”
The caravan of thousands of humans rolled down the main path to Soul’s Rest. There were Grauda everywhere now, moving material, and conducting various construction jobs. There were also many unexpected guests among them, which would have had Celia tossing fire in all directions if not for their peaceful interactions with the Grauda. Celia flinched at the sight of them. Arachne… what were they doing here?
Melody shuffled closer to Celia, her focus also fixed upon them. “Demon,” Celia heard, and turned to see Astrel grinning at her from the entrance of the Conclave. “You have returned. How do you like it?” Then her grin soured as her gaze drifted over the humans walking behind and beside her.
Celia eyed the queen, then lifted her eyebrows meaningfully at a nearby Arachne, which was using its web to connect two planks of wood together. “I missed quite a bit, it seems.”
The Grauda queen stepped closer to Celia, four other Grauda females behind her. “My king confronted the Arachne queen, and she submitted to him,” Astrel replied. “Their leader, Queen Trikk, is inside, along with the Ogre’i. The two Dryad Blossoms also arrived a short while ago.”
Celia was taken aback—it was clear she had missed more than just a bit. Her Master appeared to have united the rest of the Wilds as she had hunted Wervins and retrieved the Grove Heart. To think he had won over the Arachne was a surprise, but the Ogre’i too?
Just as she was about to make a comment, a thundering thud followed by another announced the arrival of a massive blue figure made of muscle from behind the Conclave, with two large trees slung across its shoulders. It carried them as if they were twigs.
“And those must be the Ogre’i?” she asked, as most of the humans around her let out frightened gasps while others sank deeper into their carts, as if hiding amongst their belongings might afford them some kind of protection.
“They are not yet sworn to my king or to the Fallen,” Astrel said, watching the Ogre’i toss the two trunks atop a similar heap, before it made its way back to fetch some more. “They were growing restless waiting for the duel, so they decided to do some heavy lifting.” Astrel shrugged. “They aren’t really helping, they just carry the heaviest thing they can find and toss it in a stack before moving that same stack to another place. It’s like they’re training.”
Indeed, Celia saw now that another Ogre’i had moved to pick up the same two trees and move them elsewhere. She laughed before realizing what Astrel had said.
“Duel? What duel?”
Astrel frowned. “My king has decided to battle the Khan…” She paused, giving a twist of her lips, then continued, “…one of the leaders of the Ogre’i, to prove his worth. The outcome will determine if they join the Fallen.”
Celia’s lips parted as she took in Astrel’s annoyed look. “Well… I don’t think Master should have much trouble fighting one.”
“No weaving is allowed,” Astrel said.
“He can weave again?” Celia asked in surprise.
“Oh… you have been away for longer than I thought. The little Dryad healed him. Well… she isn’t very little anymore.”
How much had happened while she was gone? Apparently everything had changed. “So, let me understand this: he can’t weave, but Master is still strong without using his magic. And if he is healed, then he is in full strength, and with his sword—”
“No enchanted items,” Astrel interrupted.
Celia frowned. “He has to fight one of those things with normal weapons?”
“You’re complaining to the wrong person. I am fully against this duel, but I could not convince him to pull out.” Astrel pointed at one of the male Ogre’i in the distance. “If you think they look intimidating, wait until you see their khan.”
Celia was about to reply, but shrank back to avoid being touched by another Arachne as it pulled a sled past her carrying a collection of clay pots filled with mud. “That is going to take getting used to,” she muttered.
Astrel nodded in agreement before folding her arms. “Speaking of getting used to, humans?” she asked, her honey-colored eyes gazing at the caravan.
Celia smiled, glancing behind her at the humans, who looked half terrified and half entranced by what was happening around them. Some of the human children even tried to run up to an Ogre’i, but their mothers caught them in time. “They are here to join the Fallen. The Wervins are dead, aaand…” She dug into her pack and pulled out the Grove Heart. “Heart retrieved.” Celia’s smile turned into a proud grin.
Astrel nodded before tilting her head in the direction of Soul’s Rest. “Then go give my king the good news. I’m sure you will find many things to explore now that you are back.” Astrel was just about to re-enter the Conclave and return to work when she paused and slowly scanned the crowd. “The lich?” she asked.
Celia took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Now that is another story,” she admitted.
Chapter 24
“This is impossible,” Rhene swore. “How could something such as this exist in the Wilds for so long without us noticing?”
Rosaline placed a delicate hand against one of the Capital Crystals and took a slow inward breath before looking around Aziel’s place of power. She turned to look up at the massive tree, then back at Aziel and Niyela who stood next to one another. The young Dryad’s arms were loosely draped around him, and her head rested against his shoulder.
“This mana, it is strange yet pleasant,” Rosaline said, her eyes closed as if to focus on the sensations. “You have chosen well, Niyela.” Though she hid it well, Aziel could hear a small undercurrent of bitterness in her voice. Not even the kind Rosaline was immune to jealousy, it seemed.
“Chosen well?” Rhene said, a finger pointed at N
iyela. “This goes against every tradition—it is unacceptable!”
“That is true, sister, but are you going to be the one to enforce it?” Rosaline asked. “Niyela is not just a Greater, but an Elder Dryad now. Only mother, the Blossom of the Jade Grove, is her equal, which means she arguably has more authority over our race than us two.”
“Don’t worry,” Niyela said as she released Aziel. “Once you two swear fealty to my Grove Master, all the politics will be a thing of the past. We will all be Dryads of the Fallen.”
Even though it wasn’t directed at him, Aziel could practically feel Rhene’s glare as she fumed at these words, but she did not speak.
“Which reminds me,” Niyela continued as she took a step behind Aziel, her hands wrapping around his chest, allowed her head to peep out over his shoulder. Aziel almost laughed; while Niyela did like to cling to him whenever she could, this was clearly a power move—she was trying to show how close she was to him, and therefore demonstrate her influence here. “Mother, did my Grove Master not complete your quest?”
Rosaline glanced away, in the direction of the throne room. “I have met with Queen Trikk, and you are correct.”
Aziel raised a hand to stop the conversation, which was rapidly becoming an argument. He closed his eyes; there was a strong concentration of vessels moving into the cleared space between Soul’s Rest and its new exterior wall. Thousands of them.
He had already been told of the arrival of the humans, and he still did not know how to feel about it. Humans had only been his enemy since returning to this world, and having so many near his home was concerning.
But he knew exactly how he felt about seeing Celia again, and given that a few vessels had separated from the mass to begin their trek through the long hallway into the throne room, he would be seeing her very soon indeed. Hers was a vessel he would never mistake for anyone else’s.
Separating himself from Niyela, he strode toward the corridor that led to the throne room, all three Dryads following suit. There, along with the Grauda guards, stood Queen Trikk of Arachne, her black coloring slightly altered now that she was on her way to becoming the queen she was. She was larger, and a few streaks marked the top of her spider abdomen while the tips of her legs were a rusty red now, giving her an overall more intimidating look.
Standing across from the Arachne queen was Kavali, the Khan of the largest and strongest Ogre’i clan. Her massive maul rested atop her shoulder as she watched Aziel enter the throne with her piercing blue eyes. He stared at the now doorless and much enlarged opening to the throne room—an adjustment they would have to make to most entrances in Soul’s Rest if the Ogre’i were going to be able to move around freely.
With his heart beating faster with every passing second, Aziel waited until she finally stepped into the well-illuminated space of the throne room. Her beauty still made him catch his breath, even now. Celia’s eyes locked onto his as she began the long journey from the door to his throne, the clicking of her high heels resounding around the marble and obsidian hall. Just as she reached the raised dais, she knelt and produced an object he had seen before. She held it in her open palm, offering it to him.
“Master, I have completed the quest,” she said, a proud grin on her face.
Aziel returned the smile as he stepped down from the dais and reached out to accept the Grove Heart. “Well done, my Champion,” he said, then held her hand and gently helped her to feet before pulling her into an embrace. “I’ve missed you, Celia,” he whispered into her ear.
Celia’s tail began to slowly wrap around him. “Do you really need me to say it?” she purred back.
Aziel chuckled. “No, but it’s always nice to be reminded.”
Celia leaned closer. “I’ve missed you, Master,” she whispered softly.
Aziel released her from the embrace before pulling her to his side, just as three human men entered and… was that—?
“Melody?” Aziel asked, unable to conceal his surprise. He had convinced himself the Beastkin had either perished or escaped. There had been no mention of Melody being part of the group Celia was leading here, nor did the report give any detail about the humans.
“Uhh, hello,” Melody said as she fidgeted in place before remembering where she was and bowed, her ears standing stiffly up.
Feeling a slight pinch in his side, Aziel glanced down to catch Celia indicating Melody with her eyes. He frowned, not knowing what she was trying to convey. Celia’s eyes narrowed before gesturing again with a more explicit head bob.
Aziel had forgotten how protective Celia was when it came to Melody. Even when she had technically been their enemy, Celia had been an advocate for her recruitment into the Fallen. Clearing his throat now, Aziel let go of Celia’s hand and approached Melody, who stiffened as he placed a hand on her head, between her ears. “You had me worried,” he said with a smile.
Melody’s ears lost their rigidity as Aziel stroked her head. She looked up at him, one eye slightly closed as he continued to pet her, and he could have sworn he heard a soft rumbling purr escape her. “I’m glad you have returned here safe and well,” Aziel added, which seemed to break Melody from her daze.
Then the Beastkin’s eyes snapped open wide before she dashed away, surprising Aziel with her agile movements. Not a moment later, she returned with one of the three humans who had accompanied them, pushing him to the front. He was a dark-skinned man wrapped in what Aziel could only describe as an explosion of colorful overlapping fabrics. “This is Master Grendel,” Melody said, proudly. “He is a representative of the Crane Company and the Bank of Tijar!”
Grendel bowed from the waist. “A true pleasure to be invited into this stunning hall, Lord Aziel. Fabulous, really, very Caelian in design and structure. If I believed in fairy tales, I would even say this place is the mythical Rolani Palace. Your suit, too—stunning. Is it what I think it is? I had my doubts when I saw Celia’s dress, but this suit…”
“They are the Caelian Emperor’s suit and the Empress’s dress,” Aziel replied before tilting his head slightly. “Rolani Palace?”
Grendel’s eyes lit up at the very prospect of seeing armor once belonging to the former Caelian Emperor, but he soon controlled himself. “Indeed, Rolani Palace. Sanctuary Palace in the common tongue—have you never heard of it? Ah, I suppose only those who had access to the last Emperor’s journal would know of it, of course.”
“The last Caelian Emperor kept a journal?” Aziel asked, thinking how much Vhal might like to see inside that.
“He did! It wasn’t in great shape, but what a ravenous writer he was. Though the last few entries were… well, let’s be kind to the departed and call them chaotic in nature.” Grendel gave a slight shrug. “As many might know, the Emperor became quite tyrannical and paranoid in the last years of his rule. He imposed higher and higher taxes on both the populace and the noble houses, to the point where some houses collapsed under the strain. That, of course was why they revolted, which was the beginning of the end of the Empire.”
“And these taxes were used to build this palace you mentioned?” Aziel asked, his interest piqued. Soul’s Rest and Rolani Palace must be one and the same. Aziel had already entertained many doubts that this place was intended as a new capital city. It made far more sense that it was some form of luxurious imperial retreat—or shelter.
Though the Grauda had been going through their stock at a worrisome rate, the large stores of preserved foods discovered within Soul’s Rest would have lasted a much smaller number of people a long time—a single family and their most immediate servants, for example. Being built deep within a mountain with entrances forged of aranite, a supposedly extremely rare and expensive metal, also showed the lengths they had gone to in order to keep something out. Aziel had found references to aranite in the books he had read from the great library, usually mentioning its magical potential and sometimes its use in small articles of jewelry, but never for something even close to the size of the entrance gates. None of the
m even mentioned aranite as a plausible construction material, in fact.
Grendel smiled. “No one knew why the Emperor suddenly decided to loot his own empire until the Geskian Theocracy were able to retrieve his journal. The Emperor wrote of a great power lurking within Kadora, waiting for the right time to claim us all. A great war festering since ancient times, ready to erupt and engulf the world in a blanket of death and despair. And of course, a secret palace being built in tribute to this mysterious power and to survive the coming storm.”
This was fascinating new information. Perhaps Aziel might be able to negotiate with this man, to allow Vhal access to this journal… But where was Vhal? Aziel glanced over Grendel’s shoulder, but the open entryway to the throne room remained empty. He could not detect the lich’s vessel, either.
Just as Aziel was about to ask his whereabouts, Celia stepped closer and gestured to the other two human men to come forward. She pointed to the first, an old man with wispy hair. “May I introduce Issac, a representative of the human settlements within the Central Wilds, here to negotiate and swear his allegiance to you and the Fallen.”
“A true honor, Lord Aziel,” the old man said as he bowed low.
Once again, before Aziel could reply, Celia shifted his attention to the second man. At first, Aziel had thought he was human, but now that he could see him up close, he noticed pointed ears. An elf, then?
“This is Duren, a former priest of the Geskian Theocracy,” Celia said as Duren bowed his head. “He is also here to swear to serve you and the Fallen.”
“The Geskian Theocracy,” Aziel said. “That is the second time they have been mentioned to me in a short time. Are they the ones who oversee the Ascended and their compliance with… what was it you called it?” He glanced at Melody.
Melody stared blankly for a few moments before realizing he had been addressing her. “The Vala Pact,” she answered, hurriedly.
“Yes, the Vala Pact. Thank you, Melody.”
The Beastkin smiled, her tail lifting at his praise.
Fallen Ambitions Page 39