The castle doors closed behind them.
The audience hall was immense. White stone columns rose toward a vaulted ceiling where the branches of the Great Tree intertwined with the beams. Golden light poured through the windows. Everything smelled of flowers and ancient wood.
Aelthas sat upon a throne of roots. His black robes contrasted sharply with the white hall.
Beside him stood Aria.
Dressed in white.
Motionless.
Like a statue.
Her gaze was empty. She looked at no one. But when she saw the hooded figures, something flickered in her eyes.
Only for an instant.
Behind them, a communication crystal glowed with faint light. On its surface appeared the image of the Dark Elf King—a stern-faced man with gray skin and violet-burning eyes.
King Kaelen Umbra watched in silence.
Zareth advanced. Lyra and Draven flanked him. Darian, Varkas, and Kára remained behind, hoods lowered.
Darian saw her.
Aria.
After weeks.
After the beach.
After everything.
She was there.
Alive.
But she didn't look like herself. She looked like an empty version of who she had been.
Something tightened in his chest. A knot. A pressure.
He looked at her and wanted to rip that expression off Aelthas's face.
Varkas nudged him with his elbow.
Barely.
Enough to remind him that he couldn't do anything.
Not yet.
—Zareth Nightfallen —Aelthas said—. Welcome to Eldoria.
—Thank you for receiving me, Lord Aelthas.
—The occasion deserves it. Today, we seal peace between our peoples.
Zareth nodded. He approached Aria and offered her his hand.
Aria took it without expression.
Her fingers were cold.
Zareth bowed and kissed the back of her hand.
—She is beautiful —Aelthas said, placing a hand on Aria's shoulder.
She did not move.
—Don't you agree, Prince?
—Yes —Zareth replied—. She is very beautiful. I am fortunate to marry her.
Aria looked at him.
Not with gratitude.
With contempt.
She hated Aelthas.
She hated Zareth.
She hated that dress.
She hated everything.
Aelthas smiled.
—Perfect. This union will bring our kingdoms the peace they need. The disputes will end. The wounds will heal. All thanks to the two of you.
Zareth noticed something.
His eyes scanned the hall.
The guards.
The doors.
Too many guards.
The attack should have begun by now.
The smoke screens.
The chaos.
But nothing happened.
—Is something wrong, Prince? —Aelthas asked.
—No. Nothing.
Aelthas smiled.
Then raised one hand.
—Bring in the intruders.
---
The side doors opened.
Six guards entered, dragging two bodies.
Seryn and Vex.
Beaten.
Bloodied.
Chained.
They were thrown onto the floor before the throne.
Zareth did not move.
His face showed nothing.
But inside, everything shattered.
Lyra lowered her gaze.
Draven clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms.
—These two attempted to infiltrate the castle —Aelthas said. —Do you know anything about this?
He spoke toward the communication crystal.
Toward King Kaelen.
The king looked at the bodies.
He saw Seryn.
Saw Vex.
He knew them.
They were from his kingdom.
From his army.
And his son was there, standing in the hall, pretending.
If he said anything—
If he showed doubt—
His son would die.
—No —he said.
His lips barely moved.
—I don't know who they are.
Zareth read the truth in his father's face.
There was no sound.
Only the movement of his lips.
His father was protecting him.
Aelthas nodded.
He walked toward the prisoners and stopped beside Seryn. With the tip of his boot, he lifted her head.
—Anything to say?
Seryn spat at him.
The saliva landed on Aelthas's boot.
He didn't wipe it away.
He smiled.
Cold.
Almost amused.
—Very well.
He gestured.
A guard drew his sword.
The blade gleamed.
Seryn looked at Zareth.
Only for an instant.
She said nothing.
She didn't need to.
The strike was clean.
Blood stained the white marble.
Vex stirred on the floor. Tried to stand. The chains stopped him.
He looked at Aelthas.
Then at Zareth.
His lips moved.
The words never came.
Only Zareth could read them.
The king… something…
Aelthas raised his hand.
Another guard drew his blade.
The strike cut Vex's words short.
He fell beside Seryn.
Aria looked away.
Zareth remained still.
Inside, everything screamed.
Aelthas walked between the bodies. His boots left red footprints across the marble.
—It seems some citizens do not want peace. —He laughed softly, almost pleasantly. —But no matter. Remove the trash.
The guards dragged the bodies away.
The doors closed.
—Let us continue with the formalities.
---
The ceremony was brief.
Aelthas announced the wedding would take place in two days. King Kaelen nodded from within the crystal. His face remained stern, but his eyes burned with restrained fury.
He had just watched two of his own die.
And he had been unable to do anything.
The transmission ended.
Aelthas approached Zareth and placed a hand on his shoulder.
—Perfect. This union will bring our kingdoms the peace they need.
Then he leaned close to his ear.
His voice became a whisper.
—I know what you're plotting.
Zareth froze.
—Very ugly, letting your people die like that. —Aelthas smiled. —But it doesn't matter. I'll let you play a little longer.
He looked at Darian.
At Varkas.
At Kára.
His green eyes examined them calmly.
—Those disguises fool no one.
A chill ran through Darian.
Varkas tensed.
Kára's hand moved toward her hammer.
Aelthas released Zareth, turned away, and walked over the bloodstains.
Zareth said nothing.
He signaled.
Everyone followed.
---
Zareth's room was spacious.
Its windows overlooked the Great Tree.
Lyra closed the door and leaned against the wall. Then slid down to the floor, covering her face with both hands.
Draven punched the wall.
Once.
Twice.
The third time, he stopped with his forehead pressed against the stone. His shoulders trembled.
Zareth stood in the center of the room.
Motionless.
Silent.
His gaze lost.
—Damn it —Draven said. —Damn it.
—He knows —Zareth whispered. His voice was barely there. —He knows everything.
—How? —Kára asked. —We were careful.
—I don't know. But he knows.
—And now? —Varkas asked.
Zareth did not answer.
Lyra remained on the floor.
Draven stayed against the wall.
Darian leaned against the window frame.
Vael peeked out from beneath his cloak and made a soft clicking sound.
—Two days —Darian said. —We have two days.
—If we make it that long —Zareth replied.
—Vex tried to say something —Kára said. —Before he died. He said the king has something.
—Something like what?
—He couldn't finish.
Zareth turned.
His eyes were no longer lost.
Now they burned.
—Aelthas knew. He knew we were coming. He knew about the attack. He knew who you were. And we don't know how.
—Then we find out —Darian said.
—How?
—I don't know yet. But we find something.
Zareth looked at him.
For once, he didn't argue.
—Seryn and Vex are dead —Lyra said from the floor. Her voice was flat. Lifeless. —They died for us. And we can do nothing.
—We can —Darian said. —In two days, this ends. One way or another.
—I won't let Aelthas get away with this —Zareth said.
—Neither will I.
They looked at each other.
It wasn't friendship.
It wasn't trust.
But it was something.
—Good —Zareth said. —Then we think. If Aelthas has something that allows him to know everything, we find it. And we destroy it.
—Or steal it —Kára said.
—Or both —Varkas added.
Darian stepped away from the window.
—Tomorrow —he said. —Today, we're dead on our feet. Tomorrow, we think.
Zareth nodded.
There was nothing else to say.