“Whose side are you on, sister?” Urien demanded.
Ann grabbed his arm, dragging him into an empty chamber so people wouldn’t be able to overhear them. She shut the door behind him. “That is not important. We have other things to worry about.” She pushed her hair off her face. “I found that seer again. She said her prophecy is going to come true. Very soon. What have you found out about Byron and the other leaders who are coming to the meeting?”
Urien picked up a silver tray and glanced at his reflection. “Argh, damn, our little brother can hit better than I thought.” He dropped the tray with a clunk. “It seems Byron has been gathering a lot of troops lately close to his fortress in Nordige. I’ve sent a scout out there to see what they can find out. There may be at least another day before we have any news.”
Ann sighed. “We need more than rumours and hearsay to convince Papa not to go ahead with the meeting.” She paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. “Think. There must be something we can do. We are his children. We are hardly powerless.”
“We’ll find something. Perhaps we need to get a little closer to Byron.”
Chapter Five
Ed glanced around, feeling uneasy as Ann’s spell unlocked the door to Byron’s chamber. To his relief, it appeared empty.
He motioned for her to follow as he stalked inside. The room was nothing special. A couple of simple tapestries depicting oak trees covered the stone walls, a green rug covered the flagstone floor and a small four-poster bed sat in the centre of the room. Along with a table and a couple of chairs and a small wardrobe.
“What are we looking for?” Ed whispered.
“Anything to indicate how those ogres who attacked us were linked to Byron.” Ann moved past him to the foot of the four-poster bed. A large wooden trunk sat there. It gleamed with runes. “He spelled it.” She snorted. “Not very well either.” She muttered words of power and the trunk’s lid hissed open.
“Are you sure we should be here?” Ed remarked. “I doubt Byron would leave evidence in plain sight like this.”
“He’s involved in that attack somehow. I can feel it.”
Ed stifled a sigh and moved to her side. Together they pulled out clothing, a couple of books, a collection of daggers and a seal ring. It had strange markings on it. A triangle with a rune through it.
Ed took the ring from her. “I know the symbol. It belongs to a group of rebels. But this still doesn’t prove anything.”
He pulled out a stack of parchment. They looked like letters marked with the same seal as the ring and had picked up.
“There must be something here,” Ann said as she rummaged deeper.
Ed opened one of the letters and read it aloud, “Byron, upon arrival in Caselhelm be sure to enjoy dinner. I hear the berry dessert is to die for.” He frowned. “Odd letter.” Ed picked up another one at which read: “Be sure to give A.D. my regards. I’m sure he will be delighted to see you. Being apart from each other breaks his heart.”
Ann grabbed one of the letters, her brow creasing. “Who are they from? Maybe they are written in some kind of code.”
“I don’t know but—”
An alarm ran out on a bell sounded. A warning bell meaning all of the Black were being summoned.
“Something is wrong,” Ed said.
He took off down the corridor.
Ann ran after him grabbed his arm. “Wait!” Orbs of blue light enveloped them as her magic transported them out.
Ed repressed a scream as his body turned into energy. It felt like being sucked up into a whirlwind then being dropped back to earth again. “Ann, don’t do that,” he gasped. “You can’t even control that power.” Ed let out a breath as they materialised outside the great hall.
“I got us here, didn’t I?”
He and Ann hurried into the hall where Urien had Byron on the ground. Two of the Black also had their swords out.
“What’s going on?” Ann asked, glancing from her father to her brother and the guards.
Urien looked up. “He tried to kill our father. I stopped him.”
Further exploration of Byron’s chamber revealed the same seal the sorcerer and the ogres had possessed.
Byron was taken into custody and interrogated. But something still didn’t seem right to Ed. Why would this seer have warned them if catching the would-be assassin had been so easy?
He wanted to question Byron himself but Reevus wouldn’t allow it.
Ed spent most of the evening trying to help Ann figure out what that strange seer had seen.
She tried talking to get Darius again, but he’d brushed off her concerns. He had said because Byron had been captured, there was nothing else to worry about.
Ed left Ann’s chamber once she’d fallen asleep. He moved back through the secret passage and headed to his own chamber. A guard stood there waiting for him.
Now what? Oh spirits, I hope no one found I’ve been in Ann’s chamber. I don’t need more rumours going around about us.
“The archdruid wishes to see you. You are to report to his chamber at once,” the guard told him.
Ed’s stomach twisted. That couldn’t be good. Why would the archdruid summon him? Did he believe the endless rumours about his friendship with Ann?
He hurried through the halls until he finally reached the archdruid’s private chamber. He hesitated as he raised his hand to knock, which earned him curiously looks from the guard stationed down the hall.
Get a grip, Rohn. You’ve got nothing to worry about because Ann is just a friend. That’s all.
Still, facing the archdruid often felt far more terrifying than taking on a whole army.
He knocked once and took a deep breath.
“Come,” came Darius’ sharp reply.
Ed let out a breath again. Relax, you’re one of the Black. You don’t cower in front of the archdruid.
Ed pushed the door open. “My lord.” He bowed his head as he came in. “You sent for me.” He had no idea what Darius would want to talk about. Did it have something to do with Byron’s assassination attempt? If so, why would he want to talk to Ed? Ed was just a captain in the guard, not a high-ranking general like Reevus.
Darius stood with his back to him, staring into the crackling flames in the fireplace. The archdruid said nothing for a few moments as he moved around his desk and scribbled something on a piece of parchment.
Ed’s heart thudded in his ears. Come on, tell me what you want. Don’t make me stand here like a—
“Tell me how you feel about my daughter.” Darius looked up then.
“Sir?” Ed gaped at him, unsure what to say or do. What kind of question is that? Why would you even ask that? It seemed like an unusual thing to ask after everything that happened that day.
“She… We’re just friends, I assure you,” he insisted. “We’ve been best friends ever since the day she saved my life when I washed up on the shores of Trin.” His heart started pounding harder, almost jumping out of his chest.
If Darius believed the rumours about them, what would he do?
Ed couldn’t bear the thought of being sent away. Becoming one of the Black had always been his dream. It made him who he was. They were part of his family, especially being with his foster brother, Jax.
But how could he leave Ann? She meant more to him than life itself. They had rarely ever been apart—even when he’d been in training for the Black, he’d gone to visit her every weekend.
“I didn’t ask what you were. I asked how you feel about her,” Darius said.
“Sir, I’d never cross that line. Never. She’s my oldest friend, family even.” He sighed, feeling the weight of Darius’ stare. “I don’t know how to put my feelings for her into words.”
“Do you love her?”
“No, what I feel for her goes beyond love. I feel like she’s the other half of me. Like I’m not complete without her.” He smiled. “She’s everything to me. You can send me away if you want, but I’d never leave her. If she needs me,
I’ll always be there for her,” he said. “I’ve never told her about my true feelings. Like I said, I won’t cross that line.”
“Will you stand by her?” Darius asked. “Even if the house of Valeran falls and Caselhelm is plunged into chaos? Even if she were no longer who she is now?”
“Yes, of course I would. I’d always be there for her.” Ed frowned, wondering why Darius would even need to ask such a thing. Did Darius really believe in the seer’s prophecy? If so, why didn’t he seem to do anything about it?
“Good.” Darius moved around his desk and placed his hand on Ed’s forehead.
Energy jolted through Ed, making him stumble backward. He clutched his head as pain seeped through his skull. “What the… What did you just do?”
“It will all become clear when the time is right,” Darius told him. “Whatever happens, keep Rhiannon safe.” He waved his hand. “You are dismissed.”
Ed left the room, dazed. He had no idea what had just happened.
He headed to his chamber that he shared with Jax and found his brother already there. “Hey, have you heard the news?” Jax said. “The meeting’s been called off. And I hear Urien is the hero of the hour. Saving his papa and all.”
“I guess.” Ed shrugged.
“You don’t seem very happy.”
“Something still doesn’t feel right about this.”
“Of course not, Byron tried to kill off the archdruid.”
“No, not just that. Why attack Darius during dinner?”
“Reevus found poison on the dagger. It wouldn’t have taken much to finish the job.”
“What?” Ed muttered, mind still reeling from whatever Darius had done to him.
“Darius called off the meeting, said it was too much of a security risk. Reevus wants to investigate Byron further,” Jax told him. “Good, less of a security risk for us to worry about. Maybe it’ll get people to settle down for a few days at least.” Jax stopped polishing his sword. “Hey, I thought you were off duty hours ago? But I didn’t see you at dinner.”
“I-I was busy helping Ann.” He decided against mentioning his nightly excursion with an into Byron’s chamber. There was no point in telling Jax. They hadn’t found anything. Not really.
Jax grinned. “Oh, I bet. Don’t know why you don’t just admit you are a couple. It’s pretty obvious.”
“What?” Ed shook his head to clear it. “We’re not a couple. She’s my best friend and I’m one of the Black. I can—” He gritted his teeth. “I wish people would stop suggesting we’re a couple because we’re not.”
“But you want to be, right?” Jax persisted.
Ed flopped onto his bed. “Even if I did, we couldn’t be. She is the archdruid’s heir,” he said. “I can never be with her. Plus, she doesn’t see me that way.”
“How do you know unless you tell her how you feel?”
“Jax, not tonight, okay?” He sighed. “It’s been a long day.”
“You and Ann been off chasing invisible people?” Jax laughed. “Like that woman she thinks she saw in the woods yesterday?”
“She did see a woman yesterday. I saw her today, too,” he added.
“What did she do?” Jax leaned forward.
“She said the house of Valeran will fall, the stars will darken, and Ann’s path will become clear,” Ed told him. “And before you ask, no, I have no idea what it means. Ann tried talking to the seer, but she didn’t tell her anything.”
Jax dropped his sword and rose. “What? Did you tell Reevus?”
“Of course I did, but all he did was double up on security.” He wrapped his hands behind his head. “We can’t stop a potential threat if we don’t know who or what is.”
Jax said, “Maybe the threat has passed. The meeting’s been postponed. Whatever leader who might have attacked now won’t.”
“If it was a leader.” Ed lay there staring at the stone ceiling.
He had no idea what Darius had done to him or why.
Why had he even summoned Ed in the first place? The archdruid rarely ever spoke to him even when Ed was growing up. And Ed understood that. After all, he’d just been an unwanted orphan who’d washed up on the druid’s isle with no name and no idea where he’d come from. He’d never be a good match for Ann either.
But he had meant what he told Darius. He would always be there for Ann no matter what happened.
“You’ll know when the time comes,” Darius had told him.
But what did it mean?
What had Darius done and why? Thoughts whirled through his head as Jax snuffed out the lamps to go to sleep.
Ed still lay there, unable to sleep. Just because the meeting of the three realms had been cancelled didn’t stop his unease.
He turned over and closed his eyes, but his thoughts continued to race.
“The house of Valeran shall fall, blood will darken the stars and with it, the crimson will grow.” A cool breeze whipped through the room.
Ed bolted up, grabbing his sword as he went. He scanned the room but found no one there. Only Jax snoring on the other side of the room. The window was closed, how could a breeze even get in?
Sword still in hand, he moved over to the window. Below, he spotted a figure staring back at him. It looked like the silhouette of a woman, but she was shrouded in shadow, so he couldn’t tell who it was.
Ed pulled the window open with a creek, climbed onto the sill and jumped. Air rushed past him and he knew anyone would think him suicidal if they spotted him, but he knew the jump wouldn’t hurt him.
Ed landed easily and ran over to the figure, relieved she hadn’t left.
The woman looked even more alarming up close with her shining black eyes.
“What do you want?” Ed asked. “More prophecies that make no sense?”
“The house of Valeran will fall—”
“How? If someone means my family harm, tell me.”
She arched a brow. “You consider yourself one of them?”
“My mother is a Valeran so, yes, in a way I am one, even if I’m not their blood.” He gripped his sword tighter. “Who’s going to hurt them? The meeting’s been postponed.”
“That meeting will never come to pass.”
“I’ll ask you one last time, why are you here?” he demanded.
“Because your fate is intertwined with hers. The choices you both make tonight will determine both your futures,” she replied.
Ed frowned. “You’re an elder, aren’t you?” Elders were beings who’d been around for thousands of years. They didn’t walk much on this side of the veil.
The woman’s lips curved into a smile. “Very good, I’m glad you haven’t completely forgotten who you are, Rohn.”
“What does… Wait, do you who I am?”
“You’ve never questioned who you are before now, have you?”
“No, I haven’t needed to. I know who I am.” He lowered his sword. “Please, if something bad happens to Ann, you have to tell me. Why else would you come here? Elders don’t interfere.”
“I’m only here to see what happens next. You’re more powerful than you think, Rohn.”
“Ann is right, you’re not going to tell us anything.” He gritted his teeth and turned to go.
“There’s still a chance.”
“For what?” He stared at her.
“To stop him.”
Chapter Six
Ed’s words about this seeming too easy kept Ann from being able to fall asleep that night. So she climbed out of bed and went to see Byron herself. None of the guards objected to her presence as she made her way through the blackness of the dungeons. The air smelt damp and musty down here as she headed inside Byron’s cell.
It was a tiny little room with barely more than a metal bunk and a bucket. The man himself stood shackled to the wall, his face black and bloodied from a beating no doubt.
“Why did your men attack me today?” Ann asked. “What good would it have done?”
Byron looked up, one eye s
wollen shut. “I failed; what does it matter?”
“You attacked my father when he was surrounded by his men. That seemed like a stupid thing to do.” She crossed her arms. “And you tried to attack me. Why?”
“Why do you care?”
“Because either you’re the worst assassin on Erthea or you are just a distraction.” Her eyes narrowed. “Who are you working for?”
He laughed. “You have no idea, do you? There are forces in this world, hidden in the shadows. The leaders you think are ruling on mere puppets. Just like your father.”
Her brow creased into a frown. What is this lunatic talking about? Her father didn’t answer to anyone. During his long reign, he’d broken away both from the druid order and from the council of elders that traditionally governed the five realms.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Byron sneered that was all she got out of him.
Reading his mind yielded no results either.
But Byron’s words kept ringing her ears. For her own peace of mind, Ann went to check on her father just to make sure he was all right. As she neared his chamber, she sensed him in there with Urien.
See, everything is fine.
Plus, they had already thwarted an assassin for one night and the meeting had been cancelled. What else could go wrong?
Ann woke a while later sweat pouring down her face, her hair stuck to her brow. A chill ran over her, a warning resounding inside her mind. She rubbed sleep from her eyes and scanned the room with her mind. How long have I been asleep? It felt like hardly any time had passed at all.
Nothing. The room remained calm and still with only a faint breeze blowing in from the open window.
So, what had dragged her from the depths of sleep? It must’ve taken at least an hour just to doze off.
Ann got out of bed and padded across the flagstone floor. When she reached the door handle, heat flared against her skin, making her yelp. was that? She reached for it again. No doubt about it. A spell barred her way.
Why would anyone try to lock her in? It made no sense.
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