1. Chapter 1

1

Chapter 1

" Y ou want me to go?" Dahlia could hear the shock in her own voice despite her attempts to remain professional.

The two necromancers before her, both high-ranking officers in the Dead Court of Daosbor, stared at her with motionless expressions. The silence stretched, and it became obvious that Dahlia was not going to say anything else. The man on the right sighed slightly, and his eyelids finally twitched in a blink.

"Yes, Adept Mortis—the Grand Magus believes you will do Daosbor proud as one of our representatives. Once in Lucinne, you will be joined by several other Daosans from other cities," he all but repeated the words that had caused her shock in the first place.

Dahlia had heard that there was to be a great celebration in Ichorna for the turn of the millennium, but she had assumed people more important than her would be accepting the invitation to represent Daosbor. She couldn't believe she was being asked, but she supposed she should say something.

"Of course, I'm honored. Is there anything I should prepare before I go? My workshop will need tending in my absence. Are there any diplomatic conversations I should have while I'm there? I've never really done anything of the sort, so I'm not sure I'm the most qualified…" she trailed off at the annoyed looks on their faces. After a long pause, the man continued.

"Adept Mortis, your duties here will be handled in your absence. No preparation is needed on your part other than packing your things to begin your journey tomorrow," he droned.

"So soon?" Dahlia couldn't believe what she was hearing. The last day of the year was over a month away.

"You have a long journey ahead of you, and the invitation we received specified that the celebration would last a full month leading up to the new year."

All Dahlia could do was nod for once, but she felt herself smiling at the thought of leaving the Dead City so soon. She loved her home, but she had longed for the opportunity to explore more of Domhan na Rùin for as long as she could remember.

The other necromancers turned to leave her little workshop. The door had barely snicked shut before she squealed. She heard a familiar rattling of bones and looked down to see her cat, Fluffy, rubbing his bony little skull against her legs. She had reanimated his skeleton during her necromancy training and had grown so attached to him that she'd kept him around ever since.

"Fluffy, we are going on an adventure!"

The cat stopped, planted his paws on her foot, and started to knead.

Dahlia's mind raced with all she would need to do to prepare for her journey.

"I need to make a list!" She said brightly, and bent to scoop him up before hurrying over to her desk to find pen and paper.

After a flurry of packing and talking to Fluffy about their trip, Dahlia lay awake in her small bed, her imagination overflowing with all of the possibilities of the journey ahead.