Chapter 10

1469

Castle Leolinnia

Killian bowed his head and swallowed thickly. It was no use fighting his tears, so he didn't bother. Around him, the other rulers of The Council struggled with their emotions too.

"What can we do to aid the Circle of Mages?" Kaedan asked, his voice breaking on the words.

"I know not," Egidius replied. "A missive arrived soon after I did at Jurdann's castle, stating that a new Magus Superus has already been selected by Fate. He is called Egann and is an ignis mage."

"I suppose we should be grateful for the speed with which Fate worked to replace Jurdann," Chander stated. "How did Jurdann die?"

Drystan crossed his arms and huffed out a breath. "Dragons cut him down while he visited a recently ravaged town. The trail has led us to the grounds of Court Kestle. We did not know King Kestle in our short years as Emperors. I know not yet if he was involved, but if he was, I will not hesitate to order his execution. Once, we would have hesitated before killing one of Fate's chosen, but they have preyed upon us for a century. It is not revenge. It is not even justice. But it is the best we can do. We are lucky to have a trail to follow; most of the time we are led to recently abandoned caves."

"Nothing will bring Jurdann back," Conley growled, anger blazing in his amber eyes. "But I will be damned if any of the people responsible will get away with murder."

"We are so grateful to have you on our side," Saura remarked. "I do not know what we would do without you and your fallen knights."

"It is obvious," Egidius snarled. "Without the fallen knights, we would all be dead. Look at Chand. How many attempts have there been on your life? Your entire elder council has been executed because they refused to accept that you are their rightful leader. They left behind ashes. Full pockets of people committed to their cause to destroy you. The dragons have been eager to aid them. We dare not step one foot off on our own land for fear of being killed. Jurdann was doing what he must. He was in a village checking on his people, and the entire place was razed by dragon fire."

"Our people live in constant fear," Killian lamented. "We are doing everything we can, but it is not enough. Even the dragons who do not prey upon us refuse to communicate with us. How are we to find allies among them?"

"We are left to mourn the dead while they celebrate victory," Kaedan snarled. "Yet what choice can I suggest? I will not send our people into a war. I cannot justify sacrificing a single sorcerer, phoenix, or fallen knight to fight hordes of dragons. We are peaceful. Most of us are not warriors. All I am begged to do is find a way to allow our people to live as they desire. As a ruler, I cannot offer safety to anyone. Hatred boils in my blood, and it cannot be helped. I can hardly heal from one tragedy when the next one strikes."

With a sigh, Chander settled his elbows on the table. "I understand your feelings well. I carry a bitter heart and haven't slept easy in a hundred years. It does not help to know I am making the right choice by not seeking revenge. All I do is grow angrier with each pyre that burns. To say nothing of the attempts on my own life."

"We endure," Kolsten said. "It is all we can do. Like you, I do not want war. It would not help. The dragons are everywhere, and we know not who is friend or foe. There are tribes of people dotted along the land who are neither dragon nor in our Council. What of them? Do they aid us or take up swords against us? What powers do they yield?"

"What time do we have to court them to join us?" Renny asked. Kaedan's familiar was a powerful force in their government and kept Kaedan informed of everything. The Grand Warlock often teased that without his familiar he would be wandering in the dark, wondering what to do or who he was supposed to meet with next.

"What could we offer them?" Egidius queried. "I wish to offer no slight to anyone, but we cannot protect ourselves."

"We know the fallen knights and Eldrvalkyria do everything they can," Killian agreed. "But we have things to offer. Our dances each month provide our people with everything they need to survive."

"Oh, how it is has changed you," Saura said, a smile finally crossing her troubled face. "Those specks of gilt in your eyes are only a hint of the power you've unlocked by pushing yourself so forcefully to provide food for thousands."

"It is quite a sight to see the vines cover your form," T'Eirick added. "I believe I spied leaves sprouting in your hair this last dance."

Killian nearly chuckled, but it was difficult to find any lightness of heart with the Magus Superus so recently murdered. "So Aloisa says. Her praise was effusive. I had to beg her to stop or risk walking around with red cheeks until the next dance. It took hours for my body to return to normal. It left me with such a surge of energy inside when I thought to be depleted. I certainly emptied every bit of magick in my soul."

"The druids are lucky to have you as their leader," Conley responded. "I know you often lament that Aloisa refuses to take up a spot next to you at these meetings, but I hope you have found peace in her decision to stay out of the limelight."

"She works so hard, I hate that all the glory is given to me," Killian said. "But my sister is stubborn and will not listen to me begging her to join me here any longer. If I mention it, she walks away. But let us focus on what to do about the mages."

"Nothing for now," Kaedan replied. "We wait for Egann to assume his title and offer him what aid we can muster."

"Jurdann was a quiet man who often told me about his discomfort in being Magus Superus," Egidius stated. "But he grew as a leader and did not deserve his fate."

Before anyone could respond to the Arch Wizard, Wullem—the son of the Leolinnia cook, Hilanore—walked in. Wullem was blond like his mother, and while he had not been granted much power at birth, it made no difference to anyone in the castle. Eager to aid his people, Kaedan had supplied a spell and the magick to allow Wullem to summon his familiar, Leopold. The pair were often studying ancient tomes with T'Eirick.

"Oh, Wullem, what is it?" Saura asked.

"Sorry to bother you," Wullem said, ducking his head slightly. "A party has arrived at the castle gates. The guards wish for the Reverent Knights to attend them if you are willing."

Drystan and Conley were already on their feet. "Do you know why we are needed?"

"There are Fate-chosen among them, though they are not races familiar to our Council," Wullem replied.

Grabbing Drystan's hand, Conley raced to the door. "I could use some excitement and good news this day. I hope they are here for a respectable purpose."

After Wullem departed with the fallen knights, Saura rose and rested her palms on Egidius's shoulders. "Would you plan the pyre?" she asked the Arch Wizard softly. "He was closest to you. I know this is not easy, but the honor should be yours."

"My letter to Magus Superus Egann offering my services has already been sent," Egidius said, swiping a tear from his cheek, then patting Saura's fingers. "I thank you for your comfort."

"Get up, get up," Saura demanded. "I need a hug."

It was not only Egidius who stood; everyone left their chairs to embrace each other.

"My Masse refuses to take a seat alongside me," Kolsten said. "He insists Fate intended him to be my consort. But I cannot leave him home any longer when I travel here."

"Are you asking me if he can roam the castle while we meet?" Kaedan asked. "You should know by now what my answer would be. Masse has the full run of our home whenever he wishes. That goes for anyone that wants to accompany any leader on our mornings here."

"I hate being sad," Chander snarled. "I hate the loss of any sense of safety. This is not the life we wished for our people."

"Let us watch how much we speak ill of dragons though," Saura said. "We detest those who have preyed upon us, but we do not hate dragonkind. We cannot. They have gifted us with Drystan and Conley, and we should not forget that our dear, dear Killian has a dragon mate."

"We stole those bodies, Saura," Killian responded. "It is not a gift if we take it against their wishes. As for my mate, we can hardly call him that, can we? A century gone. One hundred years without a single missive. He has no use for druids."

"The world is in turmoil," Saura argued. "You know not why he keeps his silence. Pray do not harden your heart to him without granting him a chance to explain. Yes, decades have passed. But you are both immortal. In all these years, we have heard of dragon Kings. We know Kestle, Ethelin, Varius, Stenet, and Draconis to be foes. Mardas, Tremblay, and Starn appear to be neutral. Yet all we have heard of D'Vaire are whispers of curses. The missive we sent to his King somehow bounced back to Kaedan's hand. It was most unusual, and we cannot explain it. I scry for them, and the water turns black. Nothing else but darkness. Killian, I worry for them."

It was not the first time Saura had told Killian about her findings, and he was doing his best to follow her advice, but it was not always easy. He yearned for a relationship like those of the others in the room who were mated. But all he had was emptiness. Thankfully, the doors to the castle swung open before Killian could be backed into promising that he would keep himself from growing irritated by the century lost to him and Dravyn.

Drystan and Conley stood with a group of seven men. Five of them had pointed ears, marking them as elves. They were not all the same tribe. Two were blond with lavender at the ends of their hair, a pair had lovely skin the color of a summer sky, and the last had raven locks with vivid red painting the bottom few inches. The two men who were not elves were brown eyed, and Killian recognized them as shifters, though he could not determine their beasts.

The Reverent Knights quickly filled in their guests on the names and titles of the Council people in attendance.

"Thank you for this audience," one of the shifters said. "I am Archon Aristos Centaurus, leader of the centaurs. On my left, holding my hand, is the love of my life, Chieftain Kalthekor of the Valzadari tribe. The custom of elves is not to touch strangers. They do not seek to insult by bypassing any handshake; it is forbidden by their traditions."

"Have no fear," Baxter replied. "My mate and I are of a similar culture and do not touch others."

"Thank you for your understanding," Chieftain Kalthekor responded with a smile. He was the taller of the two blue elves, and his hair glittered with gorgeous beads. His clothing was pure embroidered finery in deep shades of azure and purple. "This is my cousin, Evlithar, and his other half, Cadlyr. He was born into a warring tribe, and we will not speak their name."

"I must introduce my brother, Strategos Timotheus Centaurus," Archon Aristos said. "He will not allow me to travel anywhere alone."

The raven-haired elf lifted a brow at the others, then rolled his blue eyes. "I guess I shall introduce myself. I am Chieftain Lorcan of the Acwellan tribe, and this is my mate, Chieftain-mate Talfryn of the Acwellan."

Chieftain-mate Talfryn grinned, and mischief twinkled in his lavender gaze. Like the Valzadari elves, he wore a long tunic and loose pants. His hair was heavily embellished with dark beads, but his clothing was the exact shade of his irises. "We are connected to the Valzadari by blood. Cadlyr is my older brother."

"Please have a seat," Saura said, ushering their guests into empty chairs.

"What can we do for you?" Chander asked.

Chieftain Lorcan cocked his head as he studied Chander. "You brought us here."

"Excuse me?" Chander replied.

"Do you not feel it?" Chieftain Lorcan asked. "Your blood is close to mine, though we are not the same. But like you, I am very proud of my beautiful wings. Mine are red. All the Acwellan have red thanks to a distant demonic ancestor."

"Demonic?" Benton sputtered.

Chander nodded. "I do feel it. It is close to my own. I know nothing of my origins. Demons. I did not know they existed."

"We have searched for the demons, but I know not where to find them," Chieftain Lorcan replied. "All I have left are stories passed down through generations and my wings. My eyes turn red as well. You are far, far stronger than me. We heard about you and your pride in this unknown side of yourself. It took some encouraging to get our people to agree to this meeting, but we believe we can be of use to each other."

"What do you mean?" Kolsten asked.

"The Valzadari are a rich tribe," Chieftain Kalthekor replied. "Our bead making is unparalleled. My mate's centaurs are brewers. You will not find a finer ale or mead in any other hall but ours. We are merchants."

"But they suffer for their connection to my people," Chieftain Lorcan said. "Elves are notoriously simple-minded. They ignore the color of Valzadari skin because of their gifts with beads. But they refuse to leave my winged people alone."

"We want to join your Council," Archon Aristos added. "We would offer what riches we can spare and the defense of my centaurs."

"There are three other tribes who work closely with me and my people," Chieftain Kalthekor said. "They feared meeting with you, and we promised to go in their stead, but Chieftains Sae'Varis, Indrenakas, and Mystamre are interested in joining you too."

"Do you understand you invite the ire of dragons by joining our Council?" Kaedan asked.

"Their feud with you is no secret," Archon Aristos replied. "But please understand, the centaurs do not invite war. We will not fight if you decide to go on the offensive. My father, the former Archon, was a butcher who spent his entire reign picking on everyone he could find. He was incensed by my love of reading and sent me away to live with one of his strategos. The point was to mold me into a warrior. It worked, but not in the way he intended, for I had the distance to understand that he cared nothing for the lives of anyone, including his own people. Eventually, I was allowed back to his palace, and I confronted him. He drew his sword against me, and I happily soaked the tiles with his blood. I vowed I would not become him, and I promised my people peace. But we are trained warriors, happy to defend. Just not to incite."

"Yesterday, the ruler of the Circle of Mages was killed," Egidius stated, his voice hoarse. "Yet even the death of a leader leaves us unwilling to march our people into violence. We understand and respect your position."

"We welcome negotiations to discover if our people can work cooperatively. If we can form a treaty benefiting everyone, we will add you to The Council," Kaedan said. "Should we not be able to reach an accord, I hope you will provide whatever information you can to the Arch Lich regarding your almost-common ancestry. Since his wings first sprouted, he has desired to know more about his abilities and history."

"Of course," Chieftain Lorcan said. "It would be my pleasure to educate you, Arch Lich, however I can. Although we are hunted for our differences, the Acwellan are proud of who we are."

Although the day was miserable thanks to the dragons, Killian was grateful to meet their new friends. They had much to learn about each other, but Killian was optimistic. As for the dragon who continued to ignore him, Killian preferred not to think of Dravyn at all.