Flower of Light | Chapter 5
Flower of Light: The Eternal Stones 1 by Allison Wade.
The full book is available in ebook and print on Amazon.
Emperor’s portrait by Neutronboar.
5. Mercenaries
Even though ten years had passed, the burn on his face always gave him a tingling sensation when the weather was about to change.
Romar Veniin, the Palace Steward, ran a hand over his disfigured cheek and looked grimly at the gray clouds that were covering the sky above the Imperial Court.
It was almost dusk and getting darker. His duties for the day were concluded, only one last thing remained. The most delicate part.
He entered through the main door leading to the banquet hall and took the stairs to the keep, where the Imperial quarters were located. They had once hosted the entire Bluand family, but now, only one person was left. Christopher. The eldest son. The last Emperor.
Upon reaching the third floor, Romar slipped his key into the padlock and opened the door to the study where Christopher Bluand used to spend his days when he was not on the grounds for his daily training.
Besides Romar, there was only one other person who had the key to the Imperial rooms and could grant servants access, and that was Arjanna Blankette. Not that the Steward had ever entirely trusted her, but she was still the General’s wife.
He gave an annoyed sigh and entered, announcing himself with a cough. “Your Highness?”
The Emperor was seated in a fine embroidered armchair, gazing into emptiness.
At twenty-six, having ascended the throne when he was sixteen, his was a life of solitude. Rather thin for his height, his light blond hair slightly wavy, always well combed, his face hollowed out with a hint of a beard.
When he heard Lord Veniin enter, he turned toward him slowly. The look in the Emperor’s sky-blue eyes seemed empty, as if his mind were somewhere else.
He didn’t respond to the greeting, and Romar didn’t expect him to do so.
“Your Highness, your cousin wishes to meet you. Follow me.” There was something sour about the Steward’s tone, but Christopher would never have noticed it. He merely stared at him with a confused look.
“Brayn Bluand of the Waterfall. Remember your cousin? He came here for the High Council.”
The Emperor nodded without changing his expression. “Oh, of course, my cousin. I see.” He got up from the chair and followed Romar, without adding anything else.
Veniin accompanied him down the stairs and through the corridors to the audience room on the ground floor. “Be cordial and rely on Lord Zarkon’s decisions,” he said before opening the door for him.
Christopher just nodded.
As soon as the two entered, Brayn Bluand sprang to his feet and walked over to them. “Cousin! At last!” he exclaimed, giving him a fleeting hug that the Emperor barely reciprocated.
“Have you been informed of what happened?” the prince continued as the two sat down. “I am still shaken by all this commotion. It’s obvious that I’ve been targeted, I really didn’t think our enemies had come all the way to the Island. I hope you will do something to settle the matter.”
Before Christopher could open his mouth, Zarkon, towering behind him like a vulture, intruded into the conversation. “We were just about to update His Highness. Obviously, we too are concerned about this situation.”
“We all know who’s plotting against the Waterfall. News has reached us from the Dusk, the new king is conspiring with the Mists, and I’m certain their aims won’t stop at our borders.”
“This will be discussed in a few days at the High Council. I’m sure we’ll find a way to deal with the situation. Right now, we are concerned with ensuring your safety.”
“I hope so,” huffed Brayn, crossing his arms. “My father is seriously ill; the weight of the kingdom is all on my shoulders. I certainly can’t leave it in the hands of my six-year-old son or my sister!”
“Please, Your Highness, don’t get heated. We’ll take care of that, too…” Zarkon began, but Brayn turned back to look at his cousin.
“And you, Christopher, how can you be so calm? With what is happening in the Empire! We’re surrounded by enemies. It’s time to do something before it’s too late.”
“I…” stammered Christopher, dazed. “I don’t think it’s prudent to open another front…”
“The front has opened itself,” Brayn responded. “And we can’t waste any more time with diplomacy. As soon as I return to Silverfalls, I will give orders to my Lords to deploy troops to the border.”
“It’s important not to make rash decisions,” Zarkon interjected again. “We need more time; we are not yet ready to face what comes from the Mists.”
Brayn looked at him with his brows furrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“We are on the way to reuniting the Flower of Light. After we find the Wardens, we’ll be ready to counter the Mists once and for all.”
The prince snorted. “Again with these magic ramblings? You saw what it brought to Cousin Leif and his family. One thing my father always says is not to mess with the Constellations.”
Zarkon frowned. “No one here is messing around. That’s why we need the Wardens. The knight who saved you, Sir Silverhart, now that he has manifested the star, he will have to serve the Emperor.”
“That boy? I don’t even know how he did it. Are you sure?”
“My wife can confirm this. You know very well who she is.”
Brayn scratched his chin. “What’s in it for me?” His gaze shifted to his cousin.
Christopher reciprocated with a blank expression.
“You will have our backing and support,” Zarkon continued. “Give us a few weeks, a month at the most, and we will send you reinforcements to counter whatever attack is directed at you. For now, just think about strengthening your defenses.”
Brayn snapped to his feet. “Don’t tell me how to rule my kingdom.” He turned back to Christopher, looking for signs of life.
“I agree with Lord Zarkon,” the Emperor finally replied. “Be prudent.”
The prince gave an annoyed sigh. “I will remain for the first session of the Council, to hear what the other rulers have to say, but then I plan to depart immediately.”
“As stated, we only ask that you leave Sir Silverhart with us. Fear not, we will provide you with the necessary escort for a safe return to your kingdom,” replied Zarkon, obligingly.
“It’s the least you could do. So be it, keep the boy, but make sure you honor your promises,” Brayn Bluand concluded.
“We will,” confirmed the General.
The prince turned his back on him and hurried out without waiting to be dismissed.
Zarkon cursed under his breath. “That spoiled little brat…” Ignoring Christopher, who was sitting with his gaze once again fixed on the void, he headed for the door and met Romar, who was standing outside, waiting. The General almost jumped in surprise at finding that sinister figure hidden in the shadows. He let out a sigh of frustration. “You can take the Emperor back to his chambers. And make sure to prepare him for the Council meetings. Let him be a little more alert or someone will start asking uncomfortable questions.”
“Whatever you say, Farquhar,” Veniin replied, then went back in to get Christopher.
* * *
Upon his return to Dalswol’s inn, Kris had managed to lie down for a few hours to compensate for the sleepless night.
When he finally awoke, in the late afternoon, he found himself completely alone.
The rest of the Forests delegation had already left for the Imperial City, but Councilor Saiba had given him permission to remain and cooperate with the guards.
And since the search had proved fruitless, he was supposed to join the rest of his companions, but instead, he was stuck there, not knowing the way, waiting for the guards to be called back so they could escort him to the Imperial Court.
He got out of bed and opened the shutters, letting in the afternoon light. The northern weather was colder than that of the lands beyond the Rift, and for a moment, it seemed to him that winter had returned.
He dressed and fastened his belt with the short sword, then shouldered his bow and quiver, leaving only his travel bags beside his bed, before going down to the common room to get updated on the situation.
He found a couple of Lorenz Gendon’s men, who had stayed with him during the search. They were sitting at a table with two mugs of beer and waved when they saw him approaching.
The more mature man, thick brown beard and tanned skin – Kris remembered his name was Hayk Qanash – spoke up cordially. “Oh, there’s the man of Geb. Come sit with us.”
“Is there any news?” Kris joined him.
“Maybe. Wej asked around.” Qanash pointed to his companion, a young man with brown hair and the same shape of eyes. Both were most likely from Ur. “Someone saw outsiders dealing with the reptiles.”
Kris frowned. “Are there many lizard men around here?”
“There is a nest outside the village, just below the mountain. They usually stay away unless they are hungry. But there is always someone willing to pay them for some dirty work. Your encounter the other night was no accident.”
“Do you think the lizards are involved in the attempted assassination?”
Qanash laughed. “Of course. Where there’s shady business, there’s always a scaly tail crawling in the shadows. I’m afraid we’ll have to pay them a little visit.”
“How many men do we have?”
“Hold your horses. We don’t move until the order comes from Captain Gendon. And don’t listen to the village guard, they are always ready to call in favors as soon as they see a big man with a good sword.”
Kris nodded thoughtfully. “The representatives of the Forests are waiting for me at court, I just wish we could resolve this situation quickly.”
“I’m under orders to keep you here for the time being, you’re the only one who has seen the damned man’s face. Can I trust you or should I send my little brother after you?”
Kris shifted his gaze to the young man. Wej, he said his name was. Then he stared back at Hayk. “I’m a man of my word, I won’t leave as long as I’m needed.”
The guard took a sip from his mug and gave a half-smile. “Men of their word, a rare commodity these days. You’re free but stick around.”
Kris nodded and stood up. “I will go for a walk in the village. I’ll be back before sunset. I don’t like to stay indoors for too long.”
Qanash raised the mug. “See you later.”
The warrior of the Forests took his leave and went out into the cool of the afternoon.
* * *
“Now that you know the story of the Flower of Light, you are ready to embark on your journey,” said Yaf, serious, her eyebrows furrowed in slight concern.
Kyra’s eyes were downcast, fixed on the books. “The last part is missing, though. What happened that night…”
“I couldn’t know, since I had to run away with you,” the Fay answered her with a sad smile. “What happened in the last ten years, you will have to find out for yourself.”
Kyra got up and looked out the window at the red sun disappearing behind the mountains. “I would love to see Gensteth again…”
“In due time.” Yaf stood beside her, laying a hand on her shoulder. “When you get your stone, everything will be right again.”
“I have to find the Waterfall Knight.”
The Fay nodded. “You will meet him at the crossroads. His Light will guide you through the shadows.”
Kyra stared back at that timeless face. “Won’t you come with me?”
Yaf shook her head. “I still have work to do here, before Eterna returns. And this is no longer my journey. It’s time for you to follow your destiny. Fear not, the Constellations are watching over you.”
Kyra smiled, but a tear sprang from the corner of her eye. She squeezed the Fay tightly in her arms. “Thank you, Yaf. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“It was just my duty,” she replied, placing a kiss on the girl’s forehead.
* * *
The inn door opened, giving a glimpse of the red sunset sky, then something flew through the air, landing with a slimy thud on one of the tables.
Hayk Qanash leaped back with a grimace of disgust as he saw that it was the severed head of a lizard man. “What the hell?” he muttered and turned back to the big man who had thrown it.
Slightly balding, with thin, blond-gray hair touching his shoulders. Small brown eyes and a beard that framed a face made rougher by time and a thousand battles. “You seem to have a lizard problem around here,” he exclaimed in a deep voice, then let out a heavy laugh.
Qanash sighed and shook his head. “Ulrich Xarke, are you the reinforcement sent by the Court?”
“Me and my team, of course. When there’s cleanup to do, we’re always the first ones called,” he huffed in a tone that sounded more like annoyance than anything else. “We paid a little visit to the lizard nest. They didn’t give us much information, only that they worked for some outsiders staying in a shack on the outskirts of the village. One thing’s for sure, they won’t be back to bother you for quite a while.”
“Did you find the outsiders?” asked Qanash, amazed.
Ulrich shook his head. “Just empty rooms. They got away in a hurry. And this is where you tell us what to do.”
Qanash shifted his gaze to the severed head. “First, would you do me the courtesy of taking this off the table?”
Ulrich sneered and turned back. “Can you take care of that, Nat?”
The guard frowned, noticing only at that moment that someone else had entered with the mercenary. A guy wrapped in a cloak, with a thin face, brown and stringy hair. His narrow-cut yellowish eyes made him look like a snake. Natrix Golem was the name by which he liked to be called, but no one knew what his true identity or history was. All they knew was that it was best to stay away from him.
“I’m not paid to be a maid,” he replied in an almost hissing tone, while he stuck the scabbard of a curved sword out from under his cloak and used the end to roll the lizard head to the floor, then swiped it outside with his foot.
From beyond the entrance came a burst of female laughter.
“Laugh all you want, Inka, the next time we are surrounded by lizard pieces, I will make you clean them up,” muttered Natrix.
“That’s Kara,” another voice said in a vexed tone, then a woman entered. Cold green eyes, dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, well-defined facial features, and bronze skin that betrayed her origins from the desert lands. A second woman followed her, and it was immediately apparent that the two were almost identical. The DeYong twins. Dressed alike, in masculine, battle-ready clothes. The only thing that distinguished them was their weapons. In addition to short swords, one had a rolled whip hanging from her side and the other a crossbow.
“The whole team?” asked Qanash, but Ulrich shook his head. “One is missing, but we can do without. It’s been an easy job so far.”
“What do we do now?” exclaimed Natrix, seating himself and taking a sip directly from a flask of wine on the table.
Qanash scratched his head. “What are your orders? We have only been asked to wait.”
“We wouldn’t be here if there was only waiting.” Ulrich came straight to the point. “Lord Zarkon has asked us to find out who tried to kill the Prince of the Waterfall, and we will not stop until we get our hands on him. He also said you have a witness.”
The guard nodded. “Wasa, one of the men from the Forests. He saw his face.”
“And where is this Wasa?”
“He went out, but he should be back in a little while.”
“Nat, go get him.”
“How do I know where…” he began, but then huffed and got up from the table, walking toward the exit. “Fine. Let’s find this Forests Man.”
Ulrich’s eyes followed him, then went back to Hayk Qanash. “Do you have any idea where those men from the West might have escaped to, or are we groping in the dark on this front as well?”
“Sorry. Even talking to the villagers, we came up empty. But if they were here to kill the Prince of the Waterfall, maybe they are still following him.”
“So they have moved toward the Imperial Court? That seems like a pretty suicidal strategy to me.”
Qanash shrugged. “Right now, it’s the only lead we have. And there is no point in staying if there is no one left. You can spend the night here; we will leave for Gensteth in the morning. It’s dark now, there’s nothing else we can do.”
“Considering that you didn’t do anything,” laughed Ulrich. “So be it, we’ll go back. At least we’ve done some cleaning.”
“The village guards will be grateful,” replied Qanash.
“I hope they’ll pay for our stay, since that was their job,” sneered the big Northman, signaling the innkeeper to bring food and drink.
