by M. L. Greye
“As you can see, the Other Worlds have no more need of High Royalty,” Talik snarled, pulling back Olinia’s attention. “The peoples of our realm have me now.”
He nodded at the three nearest Velvitors – a wolf, coyote, and lioness – before pointing to Yrond and Archelda. “Feast.”
In the blink of an eye, the beasts attacked. Zedgry and Olinia simultaneously screamed as the flesh was devoured from their grandparents. Zedgry struggled to free himself from whatever force held him still, but his attempts were futile. Yrond and Archelda cried out, but couldn’t move a muscle in their own defense. Even in death, the gifted Ethons detained them.
Will pulled Olinia into his arms, but she was barely aware of his touch. She watched in horror as what was left of her grandparents laid on the now blood-covered stone. She felt ill. Tiara hunched over, dry-heaving onto the courtyard. Olinia covered her mouth with her hand to stop herself from joining Tiara.
When it was over the beasts returned to their former positions in the crowd, revealing the remains of the king and queen. Olinia’s stomach lurched again. She swallowed it back, averting her gaze to her twin. His face was twisted in agony and shock while Talik grinned down at him.
“Now for you, young Lantz.” Talik reached into the folds of his cloak and retrieved his black hilted saber.
Olinia’s insides suddenly went cold. She dug her nails into Will’s arms. “No,” she breathed.
Zedgry held Talik’s gaze. “To murder High Royalty is unforgivable. My sister will not forget this.”
“Your sister will not be able to do much with a Bead inside of her,” Talik retorted.
“What do I have inside me?” Olinia blinked.
“I don’t think you’ve ever felt the full force of her rage before,” Zedgry spat out. “I pity you.”
“I’ll take my chances.” Talik grunted and swung his sword, severing Zedgry’s head.
“NO!” Olinia shrieked, her legs giving out beneath her. Will held her up as Zedgry’s body went limp and his head rolled toward them – his brown eyes staring upward rebelliously.
This time Olinia did retch. She fell to her knees. Will crouched down beside her, holding back her hair. Grief mixed with distress ripped through her. This couldn’t be real. Zedgry couldn’t be dead.
Olinia glanced down at her left shoulder, pulling down the tank’s sleeve. Her birthmark was still silver! Zedgry wasn’t dead, at least not yet. Tiara had indeed visited the future. She whirled to Tiara.
The Drivian was slowly backing away from the carnage, her face dazed. Olinia had seen that same look on Tiara’s face in Ethon – just before they left for the Other Worlds. This must have been what Tiara saw.
“We should go.” Will said softly, lifting Olinia back onto her feet. “Olinia, I’m so sorry.”
She shook her head. “It’s not real, not yet.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Tiara’s seeing the future.” She pointed to her shoulder. “Look at my birthmark. If this were the past then it wouldn’t be silver anymore.”
Will gripped onto her shoulder, brushing the skin of her birthmark with his thumb. “We can’t let this happen.”
“I know,” Olinia said and snapped her fingers.
As the comfort of the Hidden Mansion came into focus, Will released his hold on Olinia and dropped onto the couch. He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. He desperately wanted the movement to scour out the images of Zedgry’s death from his brain. It had left him thoroughly disturbed.
Olinia lowered herself next to him, burying her head into his chest. “Ohreen doveem naunt.”
He wrapped an arm around her, holding her tightly against him. “Yeah, that was the worst thing you’ve ever shown me.”
“We shouldn’t be here.” She straightened so she could look at his eyes.
“Where would you rather us be?” He blinked.
She took a deep breath. “We aren’t there, at the battle. It makes me think that it’s because we’re here in Sivean, waiting for the storm to pass.”
Will unfortunately saw where she was going with this. She wanted to leave Sivean, but the only way to do so was to go down to ground level. If they opened a portal from up here then they’d fall to their deaths in whichever world they went. He sighed. “You want to go back outside, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I don’t see any other options. I’m not going to let Zedge die.”
“Neither will I,” he sighed, resigned to the fact he had to get drenched again. “We’ll go once you’ve rested.”
“Rested?” Olinia’s brow furrowed. “We’ve got to go immediately.”
“You just Globed. Aren’t you exhausted?”
“I’m sure I will be eventually.” She let out a short laugh. “At the moment though, I have enough adrenaline coursing through me that I could face the bear version of Talik by myself.”
He raised an eyebrow. “In order to prevent Zedge from dying, I think we need to come up with a plan.”
Olinia fingered Will’s Silver Heart at her neck with one hand. “I have a crazy idea.”
: : : : :
Tiara snapped her fingers, but the scene in her head didn’t open. Instead, she felt an immense pain – like her lungs were closing in on themselves. She gulped in air greedily and fell back a step – out of Voiel’s grasp on her shoulder. Archrin reached out from his spot near the desk and steadied her. What was happening? She struggled through a few more breaths before she realized what it was.
“Ecknreef,” she gasped, grabbing the back of her neck with one hand.
“What’s going on here?” Voiel asked, his voice revealing his irritation.
She whirled to him. “I can’t show you. Talik’s Bead won’t let me.”
“Talik the Velvitor?” Voiel frowned.
“Yes,” she nodded, “I had an encounter with him in Ethon.”
Archrin was still holding onto her. “What did he do to you?”
Tiara decided to ignore his question for now by slipping away from him to put herself closer to the general. “Talik is planning the destruction of the Eves,” she winced at the memory of what she saw while Globing, “and he will win, unless we do something to stop him.”
“You wish to assist the Eves in their war with the Velvitors?” Voiel looked at Tiara as if she were insane. “You aren’t even queen yet and you already want to send your men into battle? It’s madness.”
If you saw what I saw, you’d feel a little crazy too, she muttered to herself. Out loud, she said, “Then crown me queen because Talik won’t stop with just the Eves. He will quickly move onto the Saerds. If we don’t help the Eves, my reign will be very short lived.”
“That is no guarantee that your sovereignty will be any longer.” He grunted and sank down into the chair at his desk. “You could be killed or have your new people rise against you in anarchy simply because they dislike your choice. It’s a horrible political move.”
Tiara cared very little for politics at the moment. She leaned over the edge of the desk on her hands, placing her face closer to Voiel’s. “Answer me this, what’s worse – me losing my rule or the Other Worlds falling victim to the whims of the arrogant, spell-casting Velvitors?” She internally acknowledged that the Velvitors really weren’t that magical, but it wasn’t something she wished to explain to Voiel. She lowered her voice slightly. “I choose the Other Worlds, General. If we don’t give aid to the Eves, we all die anyway.”
Voiel sighed and passed a hand across his eyes. “It will be difficult to unite former Kendren armies with Eves. Many of your troops have had family and friends killed in combat by those with Eveon blood. Your people don’t trust the Eves.”
He had a valid argument. Tiara straightened. It would take a great deal of convincing to join her armies with the Eves, and Tiara wasn’t sure of how to go about it.
“General,” Sazx’s voice made Tiara turn, “I may be able to inspire your men for you.”
The general fro
wned. “I don’t believe I ever caught your name.”
Without even blinking, Sazx’s appearance changed. Tiara stared. He became gray as if it were as natural as breathing. She didn’t know that he could do that. Voiel rose to his feet behind her. “Who are you?” He demanded.
Sazx offered a tight smile. “I was once Captain of the Nagreth. If I can alter my allegiance, then so can your forces.”
: : : : :
As the afternoon sun gleamed over the exquisite willow fountain, Zedgry sat down onto its edge. He glared down into the trickling water, feeling annoyed and restless. He was in the garden of Fuladrik’s home, surrounded by beauty but unwilling to enjoy it. The continuous absence of his sister was infuriating. He had half a mind to desert Willowvale and join his grandparents at the Crystal Castle.
“Hi, Zedge.”
Her voice made him whirl. Olinia and Will, in Ethon clothes, were standing in front of the fountain, creating a puddle over the gravel pathway. They were both panting and thoroughly soaked from head to toe – their hair plastered to their faces.
Zedgry blinked. “Why are you wet?”
She let out a short laugh and shook her hair out a little. “We went for a swim.”
“While fully dressed?”
“We need to talk to Yrond,” Will broke in, tousling his hair with his hand, which released a spray of water.
“He’s not here.” Zedgry frowned. “He and Archelda are at the Crystal Castle.”
Will exchanged a quick glance with Olinia, who was grimacing. “We’ve got to hurry,” she said.
“Hurry?” Zedgry’s eyes darted between them. “What’s going on?”
“Talik is going to attack Evedon,” she replied.
“When?”
“We don’t know exactly,” Will admitted, “but we do know it will be soon.”
Zedgry nodded. “Alright, let’s go warn Yrond and Archelda.”
“You’ll have to go without us,” his twin said, tossing another look at Will. “There are a few more things we need to do.”
“Like what?”
She smiled slightly. “I’ll be sending you some help. Keep an eye out for them, would you?”
19
------------------
Treveri Trosse watched as his new bride of two weeks, Caiden Derent Trosse, tipped back her head to catch the last few rays of sunshine for the day on her face. He once again reflected upon how lucky he was to have her in his somewhat mediocre life. If she had never walked in on him that night almost three months ago, he didn’t know what he’d be doing with himself right now.
Since the fall of the Dark, the Eves had employed Treveri and Caiden in the overseeing of its utter removal. It was hard, grimy, and disturbing work. Only just that morning had they deemed the Dark completely cleared. The dungeons of the former Avyrithe Castle were now only that – no longer vessels of rotting flesh. It was satisfying to know that the Dark was extinct, thanks to the princess.
Caprith had taken a remarkable leap for the better. The entire world was humming with talk of their princess. Everyone wondered when she would return to rule her home, speculated if she would restore her castle, and concocted eligible suitors for her to marry. Even though Treveri held no taste for local gossip, he would be lying to himself if he didn’t admit that he, too, anticipated Olinia’s arrival. She had done the impossible – she destroyed the Dark. Her world had hit its low point; it was time to rebuild. Treveri didn’t doubt Olinia’s competence as future sovereign.
“I forgot to tell you,” Caiden said, breaking into his thoughts. “Your mother asked if we would come for dinner this Friday.”
“Was she here today?” Friday was two days from now. With Treveri’s assignment at the Dark, he’d left the Fenmark for the capital. He and Caiden were living in what had been the Captain’s Quarters, along with the few Eves who had stayed to keep the peace and help with the removal of the Dark. Avyrithe was a three-hour ride from the Fenmark. If his mother had made the small journey that day, he was disappointed that he’d missed her.
Caiden shook her head. “No, she sent a messenger.”
That made more sense. “Alright, we should be able to go.”
“Oh, good, you’re together.”
Treveri spun in his seat before jumping up. “Princess!”
Olinia and Will were at the bottom of the steps Treveri had just been sitting on with Caiden. Both were garbed in short tunics and blue trousers. Treveri lowered his eyebrows. If Olinia was trying to disguise herself as a boy, it wasn’t working. Her clothes were far too tight to fool anyone, not to mention, she was drenched. Her long-sleeved gray top stuck to her skin like she’d been dipped in honey.
“I almost didn’t recognize this place,” Will commented, looking upward.
“What? Where are we?” Olinia followed his gaze and had a quick intake of breath. “The Dark?”
“No, your highness, it’s just Avyrithe Castle again,” Caiden corrected.
“It’s not cold here anymore.” Olinia glanced back at Treveri. “You look happier than the last time we met. I’m glad to see the Dark isn’t the only thing that’s changed.”
Treveri could feel himself blushing. “Caiden’s responsible for that. We’ve been wed since you left.”
“You have?” Olinia blinked. “How long have I been gone?”
“I think she means ‘congratulations,’” Will remarked.
“It’s been nearly three months,” Caiden told them, with a face that suggested she questioned why the princess didn’t know.
Olinia looked at Will. “I didn’t realize Zedge waited weeks for us.”
“Does it matter?” He shrugged.
“With Legann it does,” she replied.
“It’s alright,” Will assured. “We’ll finish up here, and then you can try to talk to him.”
This was an odd exchange between them. Treveri’s forehead creased as his brow drew together. “Princess, do you have business with us?”
“Since when do you call me princess?” She grunted, facing him again. “If I remember correctly, I’ve always been the erratic Olinia to you.”
“Fine, Olinia, what brings you to Caprith?” He retorted.
“That’s better.” She smiled. “I need the help of the Silver Hearts once again, which includes Caiden, and I’m assuming you as well.”
Dread filled Treveri’s stomach. His days as a hero were supposed to be over. He’d done his duty to Caprith. What more could Olinia possibly want of him and his wife?
“What must we do?” Caiden asked, straightening slightly.
“We need to defeat the Velvitors.”
“How?” Treveri blurted.
Olinia bit at her lower lip for a moment. Then, “Would you let me send you to Evedon?”
: : : : :
Legann was in some sort of backyard to a small mansion. He sat on a stone bench in the midst of untended shrubbery. The garden must have once been beautiful, but over the past few months it had clearly fallen victim to negligence. Between the rows of weed-filled flowerbeds and bushes that had long since outgrown their shapes, paths paved with fine gravel led the way from the house to the back gate of the property. The array of disrepair was solely the fault of the Nagreth who had commandeered the dwelling as the location for their new headquarters.
It was also because of the Nagreth that Legann was currently on the bench, guarded by two of them. Dagon was inside the estate with his new Captain. Legann was being forced to wait outside, while his stomach growled loudly. With all the ruckus it was creating, he was sure the entire Vrenyx world was aware of how empty his stomach was. It was more than just the hunger that bothered him, though – he was practically bored to tears.
He sighed and tipped his head back to gaze up at the stars. Night fell within the hour of his entrance to the Other Worlds. It since had been at least three hours. Other than the stars and light from the mansion that managed to sneak through the curtains into the garden, Legann’s two Nagreth held one staff
each – lit at the top end to create a long torch. He watched as the smoke from the torches swirled upward to mingle with the heavens. How much longer was his uncle going to be? Legann wanted to discover Dagon’s plans so that he could begin to contrive an escape.
Just then, a white owl landed on the unlit lantern post beside Legann’s bench. He turned as it hooted softly. Legann smiled. An animal came to rescue him from his boredom. The Nagreth only glanced at the creature once before dismissing it as below their attention. Legann, on the other hand, began the process of getting into its head.
Slowly, so as to not frighten away his one chance at some entertainment, Legann eased into the bird’s thoughts. He was greeted with his own reflection as the owl detected his internal presence. It wasn’t surprised to hear him. In fact, it was pleased that he’d chosen to speak so soon.
Confused, Legann sent a greeting in image form – a picture of a nest mixed with the emotion of warmth. In his experience, to get an animal to trust him, he first needed to show them something that made them think of safety, usually that meant their home. In the owl’s case, Legann visualized a nest, assuming it lived in one.
The owl didn’t respond with an image, as Legann expected it to. Instead, it sent him in Eveon, Even-tide, Legann.
Legann stared. The owl spoke! It was like the time he’d ventured into a panther’s head only to discover it was Archrin. Was this owl a Craele as well?
The owl scoffed at his trail of thought. I am the Velvitor heir, not some mere Craele.
Are you sure we’ve met? He had no recollection of ever meeting the Velvitor heir. The only Velvitors he’d ever encountered were those he’d killed.
Various scenes from his high school popped into his head. All were of himself whenever he was with Lillie. Legann blinked. Lillie?
Lilleia Palrt, actually, she grunted. Now, listen. I’m going to create a diversion for you to run out into the woods behind this house. Hide until I return. I have my Sinith. I’ll take you to Evedon.
