Inside the small room, Aurora cried wholeheartedly. Tears seemed unending, but like anything else, they eventually ceased. She sighed, letting the calm overtake her as her queenly mask was put back in place.After regaining her composure, the Empress allowed Devrim to fill her in with all the adventures he experienced on his trip. The boatman, the gnomes, the duel, the escape, the water nymph, the Monster, Oblivion and even the food poisoning. The Empress listened as if she were hearing the tale of an epic ancient hero. Only the mention of names grounded her in his tale. She was surprised by the mention of Ashleigh and Fedelmid, but pleased by their help. But it was the attempted murder of her son that angered her the most."I cannot let that stand any more than I could let the assassination attempt on Mairwen go unpunished." Aurora said through gritted teeth. It upset her deeply that someone would act so contrary to her wishes on her behalf. In her fit of emotion, Aurora did not noti
Brinn was correct, and the doctor was indeed seeking the royals out. As he met them in the hall, his face was very grim. "My news is not good," the physician began."They know the prince is dying," Brinn interrupted."What?!?" a voice from a hidden alcove screamed."Mairwen, honey, come here," Aurora called gently. "I really should teach you my hiding skills." The Empress hugged the girl tightly. Tears were already streaming down Mairwen's pale cheeks.The princess had attempted to enter her twin's room earlier, but was denied. In her heart, she knew something was wrong beyond just her brother's actions. But the blue-eyed girl never suspected death to be an option for one so young."I am afraid the spymaster is right. I cannot explain all the damage he has suffered, but it is excessive. I am amazed that he can function as well as he is." The doctor gave his diagnosis."The damage was done by his practicing magic. I saw it more than once with my own eyes. Prince Alaron could not help
Alaron's body shook violently as Aurora, Devrim, their guards, and Brinn raced into the room. Nurlan and Devrim held down the boy to keep him from hurting himself, while Junayd went to fetch the doctor.The convulsions went on for a minute before the prince went completely still. If not for his breathing, those present would have assumed he was dead."What happened?" Mairwen asked, horrified. She had promised her brother healing, and had instead brought terrifying tremors.Brinn watched him, wondering the same thing. She had seen many humans, including most of those in the room, drink the water with no negative side effects. The doctor had been using the water too and had not mentioned anything like this."I think perhaps the magic did not want to leave his body peacefully. Or maybe the damage was so bad, that his body fought the treatment," the elf tried to make sense of what she was seeing.Closing her eyes, Brinn used her wind magic to listen to the prince as she had before. His he
Aurora was certain it was night, yet the place where she found herself was bright as day. Everything around her was alabaster and pristine. The high arched ceilings gave the tower room an austere look, and the silence was profound. Running her finger along the windowsill, Aurora sensed another presence in the room."I thought we were done with visions," the Empress said with a sigh. She recognized the place as a room in the Mystic Spires, but clearly the room was only a dream.Hanna appeared next to her with a neutral expression. Even her colorless irises seemed void of life. "My options for reaching you are becoming increasingly limited as the events draw near." Her lack of smile made Aurora tense. She much preferred a smiling Fate to an emotionless one."What do you mean? What events?" The woman's throat felt so dry that the words almost would not come."Prince Alaron is tearing the world apart, just as I warned." the Fate was not gloating, she was mourning."If you have come to tel
"No." Aurora said with a clenched jaw. "I have relayed the Fate's message to you. Hanna said that Alaron is the key. How can you even bring this up?"The Council sat around the table early that morning. The Empress thought she was bringing news of hope. But before she had even gotten to the part about going to the Mystic Spires, she was blindsided."A key? Made whole? It sounds like a bunch of gibberish to me." Councilman Meder scoffed. Although he was normally very quiet during meetings, he could not help but speak up. His bald head and piercing eyes made him seem unapproachable, and no one ever knew what went on in his head. The few comments he made were usually combative in nature. This was no exception."I have an idea of what to do," Aurora countered. "If you had not been so quick to change the subject, you would have heard it.""We can appreciate Your Majesty's concern, but we feel this is more urgent," Ezer said. In truth, the Council was worried about the leader's emotional sta
After having a private discussion with Zan, Aurora and the Guardian came to an understanding. The Council would hold trial, but the Empress would not attend. While the other Councilmen would find this out at the right time, Aurora respected the Chief enough not to blindside him."I do not suppose you will allow us to use the royal seal in your absence," the Chief asked politely. He stood at attention in the Empress's office out of deference for the woman before him. The seal was the only way to carry out a sentence for someone of noble birth."No, I will not," Aurora confirmed with her brow arched. Her face softened as she added, "Though I do wish you would come with me to the land of magic. We are politicians, and I could use all the creative maneuvering you naturally possess.""I am flattered, Your Majesty. I would be honored to work with the fairies. But then who could run the trial?" Zan gave her a knowing smile."You caught me. Perhaps my request had a double purpose." The Empres
"Wait, what?" Brinn chased after the Empress as she went back down from the parapet. "You cannot reason with them where a child is involved. You of all people know how irrational parents can be."Aurora ignored her insult. "Do the dragons speak ancient tongue?""Yes," Brinn responded."Good. You will be my translator." The Empress stated with authority."Great…" Brinn rolled her eyes."What are those?" Mairwen asked as they came into the tower's chamber. Zan and Gandr had joined them. The group was crowded around the tiny tower window peering at the approaching thunder."They are dragons," Aurora said quickly as she continued to descend past them."Dragons? Why are they coming?" Zan called as fell in line after his leader. The rest followed suit."Because Cafer had the Queen's egg hidden in the palace somewhere," Alaron offered. In everyone's haste, they had almost forgotten he was with them."That filthy fiend! We are doomed." Gandr cursed. He had only seen a dragon once, but knowled
Devrim watched in horror as a chasm formed where the sky bridge once was. The rest of them had made it safely inside, but Aurora, Zan and Gandr had been cut off by Deragona's vicious move. The Emperor watched in horror as the three fell toward the earth. He managed to catch Aurora's eyes as she dropped helplessly. Instead of horror, her face contained a final smile just for him.At the last possible moment, a familiar-looking portal opened and engulfed the trio before disappearing as quickly as it came."What did the dragons do to them?" Junayd asked, appalled."I do not think that was the dragons," Devrim responded, pointing at the spot where the three had disappeared. He looked around to realize that the prince, princess, Eira, and Brinn had all disappeared. The two of them should do the same.The Emperor and his guard descended the stairs as bells rang out around the castle. It was the second portion of the warning system which had been implemented. While the horns meant to seek sh