Blue lamps on the walls had shone the dim bath chamber, blue flames flickering inside every glass. Servants entered and brought towels and cinnamons and azalea flowers, some sprinkling the petals on the clear waters. Then the aroma came to welcome the king. Kael Denvorn followed inside before closing the doors behind.
“Have a cup, Sir Kael,” King Arth said as he went to the round table that stood right at the edge of the steaming pool of bath, then he began pouring the silver flagon. “I know you love cherry wine.” He handed out one cup about half-full.
“If it pleases you, My King,” Kael replied, taking the cup, then he took a sip. As he did, he watched King Arth walk around the pool, with his white robe covering his naked body. The young king sat on the edge and submerged his legs through the steaming water, his face blank as he drank in his cup.
“Is something the matter, Your Highness?” Kael had to ask once all the servants had taken their leave out of the chamber.
King Arth placed his cup beside him. “It’s nothing too serious, I guess.”
“Is it about your last session earlier?”
“Partly … but it’s the least thing that’s running in my mind right now,” King Arth replied, playing his legs on the waters.
Kael knew better than to ask further, as he could see how deep it meant. The matter might be too personal. “You skipped your session once again. Is it becoming one of your hobbies now, Your Highness?”
“Sir Kael, it wasn’t an excuse when I said I will be visiting a sick friend … After my bath, I’ll go and check on him.”
“The half-demon friend you mean, My King?”
King Arth raised his head to look, “My friend has a name. Don’t call him like that … Besides, someone might mishear you speaking of a demon living in this castle. It is a secret that must be kept.”
“As you wish, Your Highness,” Kael lowered his head, before he took another sip of his wine, “How is your friend, Janshai, then?”
The look on the king’s face frowned as he stared at his reflection on the waters shone by the blue lamps. “His condition is slowly getting worse every single day … I’m becoming more worried.”
As Kael studied the king’s expressions, he could see how concerned King Arth was to his friend. It began months after the undead invasion that Janshai had said he felt something odd in his body. Then, as weeks and months passed, he had grown weaker and sicker. Kael tried to help the king find some of the best herbalists in and out of Glacia … but King Arth did not want the identity of Janshai to be known by more people. In the end, all herbalists the king had consulted never found a cure for Janshai’s illness. It might be a curse he had—a demon curse—Kael believed.
“And those dreams, My King?” Kael asked. “He’s still having them?”
King Arth gave a slight nod. “But the last time I visited him, he had a new one …” He furrowed his brows, as if trying to remember. “He told me he woke up in the Underworld … he found his entire body stuck on a dark tree … the biggest tree he had ever seen, with extremely wide branches and red-orange leaves. There, he talked with someone, but he couldn’t remember who that was or what they talked about.”
Kael blinked several times.
“Do you have any clue about what it meant?”
“Well,” Kael went to sit on the chair beside the round table and returned his empty cup of wine, “I only know one tree … the biggest tree, he said? Here in our world, it’s the Tree of Genesis … the source of life in Earthos.”
“Where is it?”
“In the country of Asveneas … the tree stood at the center where the three borders meet … the kingdom of the elves … the faes … and the druids.”
“Asveneas?” King Arth said, eyebrows furrowed, “Isn’t that the place where Luna came from?”
Kael pursed his lips and shrugged. Hearing her name had made his heart skip a beat. It occurred to his mind the flashback of what they’d done the previous night, drinking out bottles of wine, chatting until they ended up doing that again. He had to shake his head to clear off the memory from his thoughts.
“I need to know what Janshai’s dream means …” the king spoke again. “It’s like the Tree of Genesis, you say … but it’s in the Underworld. If I go back there … perhaps I can find more clues—“
“Your Highness,” Kael interrupted, “You do not mean to open the portal again, do you? That would be madness, risking all the lives of the people in our country.”
“Of course, not,” King Arth replied casually, but his tone hinted uncertainty, “I would never do that … but I might want to go near the portal ...”
“I hate to say this, My King, but you are not to go anywhere near Stone Glacier Ruins.”
The king looked at Kael with hopeful eyes. “But I’ll have you to come with me … a couple of Grand Knights as well. Isn’t that enough?”
Kael’s gaze dropped to his empty cup. Although he had never lost his position as the Divine Knight during King Arth’s coronation, the world still saw him as a failure … someone who’s unworthy of the honor. This made him recall what the High Councilors had told him. They said Kael was the luckiest fool in this world. After failing his only job of protecting King Terrowin’s head, he had no right of accepting another chance to play his position.
The High Councilors had warned Kael of another failure in protecting King Arth this time. And Kael must never fail again … he had to become more careful with the king he’s serving now … or else the people of Glacia would never forgive him for letting another king die in his protection.
“I’m afraid not, Your Highness,” Kael replied when he found his voice. “I must always have you inside the walls of the citadel—“
Kael paused at the sound of a knock on the door behind, causing him to look over his shoulder.
The door flipped open, revealing a young steward, his head lowered in respect. “Forgive me for the sudden interruption, Your Highness. High Steward Laurel would like to have the meeting be moved into this hour, as the Archmages have just entered the citadel.
“Right now?” Arth quickly stood, his face a bit surprised. “They’re already here?”
“Aye, My King. They now await your presence in the Council Chamber.”
As the steward closed the door and left, Kael returned his glance towards the king. “Archmages?” He said, wondering why Galadhor would send high-ranking mages instead of the ones in standard ranks.
“They must be very serious with the message they carry,” King Arth said thoughtfully.
Kael nodded, thinking their message would be a warning for the threat that’s about to come in Glacia. The worst thing he could think of … was the Legion.
“We’ve been expecting you,” Arth said, seated at the head of the long table along with his four High Councilors.“Your Highness,” the two Archmages greeted as they kneeled on the floor of the Council Chamber. The hood of their white cloak had covered their hair, and one of them had long silver chains that hung around his neck, jingling as they stood.“Have a seat. You must’ve had an exhausting journey from Galadhor.” Arth gestured at the vacant chairs on the side of the table. He had been informed days ago of their coming, and something about it had made him unhappy. Usually the Temple of Archmagi from Galadhor would send low-ranking mages across the world to deliver messages and—most of the times—a glimpse of their fate, and all of these were from the words of the Elder Magus who could tell what’s ahead of their time.But these two who just came to Arth’s country were
The clock was ticking. Tristan had long been waiting in his seat along with five elderly people, staring at the wall that had just struck past nine in the morning. The Central Library looked less interesting than what he had expected, and he’d finished checking out with his eyes the old leather-bounds in the towering bookshelves on the ground floor. He’d finished studying the bland, silver chandelier that hung from the high ceiling—where it had been painted of people and mountains and rivers he could’ve never cared at all.He’d been trying to catch the eyes of the old lady on the front desk for almost a hundred times already. All the things he needed to take himself out of boredom had been done. But his name had yet been called.Fingers tapping on his folded arms, Tristan stared once again at the fierce-looking lady ahead, who had been burying her face in the enormous book she’s reading. He had to meet the keep
“You don’t have to go with me,” Arth said as he descended on the staircases, heading to the depths of the underground dungeon. “I can go there alone.”“Eh? That would be unwise, Your Highness,” Sir Valor replied as he followed along with two of his fellow Grand Knights. “It’s our duty to take over Sir Kael’s absence on your guard. The dungeon is far more dangerous with you heading there alone.”Arth had to roll his eyes, as if he couldn’t protect himself with the power he had now. He only had one reason for entering the dungeon; to speak with the person whom he had his last visit a year ago. He had to know what’s happening in Glacia right now. Some things he had yet to understand in his kingdom kept on bothering him in his sleep every night.Darkness crept through the maze tunnels of the dungeon; only the torchlights held by the Grand Knights giving light, with s
A sharp, irritated look was all Tristan could show as the people watched him ride down the mainroad along with a cavalry of knights, led by Sir Kael. They trotted their way through the gatehouse, entering the castle grounds.“How can I not have the right to refuse?”“Because he is the king.”“You know how I despise nobility, much more for royalty,” Tristan said. “I was supposed to make it for my ride to Cold Hills. Why does he want to see me now?”“I can only say that it is a confidential matter that must be discussed between the two of you … alone.”Tristan rolled his eyes. He hated it when his agendas were being interrupted. He already had turmoil from his late appointment with the archive keeper earlier, and he had gotten worse when he discovered how impossible it would be for him to search for his father. “It better be important,&rd
“What on Earthos has gotten into your head, Sir Denvorn?” Councilor Tomen spoke once all servants and guards left the five of them alone in the Council Chamber. “Have you not learned from the countless failures you had during Terrowin’s reign?”Kael had his eyes on the table, his one hand on his lap, thinking of how stupid he was. He never thought King Arth would send him away just to visit Lucas in the dungeons.“I assume you still remember the most important task you have as the Divine Knight. You are not to let the King slip out of your sight. No matter what he tells you, his safety and protection must always come on top. Do you understand?”“I understand,” Kael replied, his voice lowered.Councilor Vornell shook his head. “We cannot let this pass, I say. He left the King to speak with the most dangerous prisoner in the dungeons … alone. The Crown’s Council
Tristan was back at home after a long day of travel. The village of Cold Hills would always give him a sense of comfort … and he could not tell what part of it exactly … perhaps it’s just everything about the village. The northern wind sent a cold brush on Tristan’s face as he rode on an open carriage. They reached the eastern entrance of the village, passing through the watchtowers and guards, before they made their way down the road. The breeze carried the scent of winter cherry trees. Considering the place having the highest population among all the villages of Glacia, most people of Cold Hills had still been suffering from poverty, despite the higher funds and aids given by the new reigning king for the supply of the village. And the darker side of that, what you would see out in the sun was not what it seemed. The village might’ve had less violence and crimes, but at night, far worse things would happen … unimaginable things done secretly by those nobles … the r
The fireplace crackled and disrupted the silence in the small room. Arth sat on the huge chair, facing the hearth, his eyes dazing on the flames. He could never imagine what would’ve happened had they got caught by the archmages. Everyone would know about Janshai’s identity. All the people in Glacia would go mad and wild if they discovered their king had been keeping a demon in the castle for almost a year now. Trusts would be broken and suspicions would arise. As much as Arth could not want to break his people’s trust, he also couldn’t afford to let Janshai fall into danger from the archmages … much more now that he’s ill. He promised himself he would protect his friend no matter what. And now, he’d been faced with a hard time, not knowing what to do to address both needs. It was of pure luck that the archmages had yet to find them, despite taking Janshai out of the concealment barrier in his chamber. They could’ve traced them by now. But a day had come by since the
Tristan plunged through the crowds in Western Market, wincing at the booming yells and noise of the sellers and merchants. The space had only made him more irritated as if every person he’d encountered meant to bump him on the shoulder. But he had no other choice. It was the shortest path he could take towards the Northwest Harbor. And he was … well, not in a hurry … not at all, damn it. He only had to catch his ship, which would leave a few minutes from now. The disgusting smell of fish and crab and shrimp in the market was the worst. Tristan hated every type of seafood, and only the smell of it had already made him want to throw up. This was why he kept on having second thoughts about this quest. He’d have to spend most of his time traveling on the ship. The smell of the sea, along with his motion sickness, would already kill him even before he’d reach Drava. “Fresh salmon from Northern Bay!” “Queen Crabs you want, good Sir?” “Giant Tuna! Giant Tuna