Chapter 11

Eleven

T he town center of Drindal was a dreadful sight to behold, even in the cool stillness of early morning. Smoke still curled from the wreckage of the recent siege, the acrid stench of it mingling with the earthy scent of fresh demon blood and the sharp, metallic tang of human. Chained human laborers and lesser demons toiled to clear the debris and tend to the wounded, while the twisted forms of the more heavily wounded humans and the remains of the town guard served as a warning to any who might dare to resist.

Aric' tried to calm his racing heart as the demon guards hauled him up the grand staircase and through the towering doors of the town hall, the stench of smoke and blood thick in the air. The marble floors had been scrubbed clean, but the dark stains still lingered in the cracks and crevices, and the walls had been lined with chains and implements of torture. The air echoed with the sounds of screams and the crack of a whip, and the harsh grating of stone on stone as a demon hauled a heavy load from the wreckage.

No one paid them much heed as they approached the grand staircase that led up to the overlook, but the scent of fear hung heavy in the air. Even the demons showed little of the confidence they'd exhibited during the siege.

The guards yanked Aric forward, and he stumbled up the stairs, his hands bound behind his back. His skin was already slick with sweat, his pulse racing with a heady mix of fear and adrenaline. He scanned the overlook, searching for a way out, but it was hopeless. The guards flanking him were massive, their demon forms towering over him, and more were stationed at every exit, their eyes glinting with malice.

The crowd at the overlook fell silent as Aric was dragged through the throng, hundreds of pairs of eyes turning to watch his passage with expressions that ranged from morbid curiosity to open hatred. The demon lords lined the walls, their wings twitching with restless energy as they whispered to one another, and Aric caught snatches of his name amidst the hissing laughter.

At the far end of the overlook, seated on a grotesque throne cobbled together from blackened wood and bone, was Sovereign Zaxos. His obsidian skin seemed to absorb the light, and his eyes glowed with a fierce intensity as he stared at Aric. A cruel smile tugged at his black lips, and Aric shivered, the icy grip of his fear threatening to overwhelm him.

The guards forced Aric to his knees before the Onyx Throne, the stone cool and unyielding beneath his bare skin. Sovereign Zaxos said nothing as he regarded Aric, his expression a mask of pure malice. Aric held his head up, his gaze steady, but he could feel a cold sweat trickling down his back, and he knew his face must be drained of all color.

"Human," Zaxos said at last, his voice a low rumble that echoed in the vast chamber. "I hope your time in the cells has offered you some reflection on your sins."

The crowd chattered and hissed amongst themselves, and Aric fought to keep his chin high. "Your kind feasts on sin. Why should I feel remorse or guilt? Does that not defeat the point?"

"Do not get clever with me. What have you got to say for yourself, human?" Zaxos's lips peeled back in a grotesque grin. "Do you beg for mercy? Plead your case, and perhaps I will deign to show you some small measure of clemency."

Aric's jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists behind his back. He'd sooner die than grovel at this monster's feet. But before he could give voice to the fiery retort burning on his tongue, Malekith stepped forward.

His movements were fluid and graceful, and all eyes turned toward him, drawn by his otherworldly presence. In one hand, he held an ancient scroll, its parchment crackling as he unrolled it. A hush fell over the crowd as he began to speak, his voice carrying through the vast chamber.

"By the authority vested in me as the prince of House Ixion, I claim the right of the Accused to Trial by Fire," Malekith intoned. "As is our ancient custom, the accused is permitted to undergo a series of trials to prove his worth and his loyalty to demonkind."

Aric's heart leaped in his chest. He'd never heard of any such law, but he wasn't about to question Malekith, not when the demon prince was staking his own reputation on it. A silent message passed between them, a flicker of understanding, and Aric realized that he needed to play his part in this charade.

"I offer myself as champion for the human's trials," Malekith said, his voice never wavering. "And vouch for his loyalty to the demon realm."

Zaxos's eyes narrowed, and he sat back on his throne, considering Malekith's words. The other demon lords exchanged uneasy glances, and Aric knew that he was far from the only one who sensed the trap closing around them.

"Convince us," Zaxos said at last.

"Esteemed members of the war council," Malekith said, his eyes scanning the assembled demon lords. "I bring before you a matter of great import. This human, Aric Solarian, is in possession of knowledge that could prove invaluable to our cause."

A fresh wave of murmurs rippled through the chamber, this time tinged with disbelief. Aric met Malekith's gaze, and the demon prince winked at him, a sly, secret reassurance. Aric's heart swelled in his chest, a surge of hope coursing through his veins. Malekith was playing to the crowd, setting the stage for whatever trick he had up his sleeve.

"You know of what I speak, Sovereign," Malekith said, turning back to Zaxos. "The schematics for a devastating human weapon, one that could shatter our forces with a single blow. We witnessed it for ourselves on the fields outside Brenville. We know it is a threat. We need him to dismantle it."

Zaxos's eyes blazed, and his claws dug into the arms of his throne. Aric had never seen the demon sovereign up close before, and the raw power that emanated from him was almost suffocating. But Malekith held his ground, his posture relaxed, his expression cool and composed.

"Imagine the devastation we could unleash with such a weapon in our arsenal. We could bring the human realm to its knees, forcing them to beg for mercy."

Several of the demon lords were nodding, their eyes gleaming with avarice. But others scowled, clearly not swayed by Malekith's words.

"Or we could use it as a bargaining chip, to force them to accept our terms," Zaxos said.

"And what terms would those be, Sovereign?" Malekith asked. "The subjugation of our kind? A return to the shadows, while the humans bask in their false victory? I, for one, will not rest until demonkind is the true master of both realms. And with the human's weapon in our grasp, that dream can become a reality."

The demon lords erupted into chaos, shouting and arguing amongst themselves. Malekith's words had struck a nerve, setting the chamber aflame with the promise of power and victory. Zaxos remained silent, his expression unreadable as he regarded Malekith.

Before Zaxos could respond, however, a new voice cut through the chaos. Sylthris glided forward, her silver hair shimmering in the torchlight as she moved. The demon lords parted to allow her passage, their earlier arguments forgotten as they turned their attention to her.

"Perhaps the prince has a point," Sylthris said, her voice a haunting melody. "The Accused's right to Trial by Fire is enshrined in our most ancient laws. And as much as I admire your creative approach to leading us, Sovereign, even you cannot simply discard the laws of our kind at a whim."

Sylthris bowed to Zaxos, her movements graceful and deliberate. Aric caught a flash of something passing between her and Malekith, a silent understanding that left him both uneasy and strangely exhilarated.

"You claim to have the schematics for this human weapon in your possession?" Sylthris asked, turning her lavender-midnight blue eyes on Aric. "I trust they are with you, then."

Aric nodded, his throat dry. "They're concealed in my memories. A safeguard, to keep them out of demon hands."

Sylthris's lips curved in a smile, her fangs frightfully sharp. "Clever. But I can extract them. I can't promise it will be pleasant for you."

"I've endured worse," Aric said, meeting her gaze with as much defiance as he could muster.

"Undoubtedly." Sylthris straightened, her attention returning to Malekith. "But it seems the human's fate is in your hands, Malekith. Will you take up the mantle of champion for his trials, and prove his loyalty to our kind?"

The demon lords were silent, their eyes darting between Malekith and Zaxos, the tension in the chamber trembling like lightning. Aric held his breath, his entire being focused on the silent exchange between the three demons before him.

"I will," Malekith said at last, his voice firm and unwavering.

Aric's heart soared at the note of determination in Malekith's tone. For all Malekith's skill at manipulation and political games, there was no mistaking the truth in his words. Malekith was willing to risk everything to save him, and it was a heady, intoxicating realization.

Zaxos leaned forward on his throne, his molten gold eyes gleaming with interest as he surveyed Aric and Malekith. The vast chamber was silent, the others holding their breath, waiting to see how their sovereign would respond.

"A bold proposal, Prince Malekith," Zaxos said at last. "And one that certainly warrants consideration."

Aric's heart was pounding in his ears, the blood rushing so loud he could barely hear the sovereign's words. He was all too aware of the guards' tight grip on his arms, ready to yank him back at the first sign of trouble. He forced himself to remain still, to keep his face schooled in an expression of defiance, but it was a struggle not to glance at Malekith, to search his face for some sign of what was to come.

Zaxos steepled his long, razor-sharp claws, the points of them glinting in the torchlight. "If we are to proceed with these trials, then I will lay out the terms."

Aric's mouth had gone dry, his whole body tensed as he waited for the other shoe to drop. He knew Zaxos well enough by now to understand that the sovereign would not make this easy. Whatever trials he had in mind would be designed to test Aric's loyalty and worthiness in the most brutal ways.

"The human weapon you speak of is a threat that must be taken seriously," Zaxos said. "And our response to it will be equally significant. Therefore, I propose three trials to test the human's mettle and his loyalty to our kind."

Aric's stomach dropped. He had been right. Zaxos was going to make him pay for his treachery, for aiding the demons' enemies, even if it had been unintentional. But he kept his face carefully blank, his gaze fixed on Zaxos, refusing to show any sign of weakness.

"The first trial will test your mind," Zaxos said. "Demanding conviction that you cannot possibly display. The second trial will test your magic. A feat of power that even the most gifted human mage could not hope to achieve."

Aric's fingers twitched, the memory of his powers bound and useless still too fresh in his mind.

"And the third trial will test your loyalty," Zaxos said. "A choice that will determine the fate of both our kind and yours."

The words hung in the air, heavy and portentous. Aric knew he was being given a chance, a slim hope of redemption in the face of his betrayal. But the price of failure would be steep, and he had no illusions about the consequences. Death would be a mercy compared to what Zaxos had in store for him.

Vizra surged forward like a viper striking, her honey-colored skin flushed with anger. "This is an outrage, Sovereign!" she hissed, her eyes flashing like molten gold. "The human has consorted with our enemies, and even now, a spy in our midst seeks to undermine our cause. His fate is already sealed, and yet you would reward his treachery with such leniency?"

A hushed silence fell over the chamber, the other demons shrinking back, unwilling to be caught in the crossfire. Zaxos's gaze never left Malekith's, his eyes burning with silent challenge.

"Vizra speaks true, my Sovereign," Sylthris said. "The human has committed a grave crime, one that cannot go unpunished. But perhaps in his trials, we will discover whether his treachery is a stain that can be cleansed, or a disease that must be excised."

The demon lords shifted uneasily, torn between their allegiance to Zaxos and the sense that Vizra was the one speaking their true desires. Malekith's jaw clenched, his fingers white-knuckled where they rested on the arm of Aric's chair.

Vizra, however, was not so easily cowed. Her eyes blazed with fury, the air around her crackling with power. "Sovereign, you cannot be serious. To grant such leniency to an enemy of our kind?—"

"Sovereign Zaxos's word is absolute." The words were soft, but they silenced Vizra instantly. Zaxos rose to his full height, a mountain of shadow and flame, and towered over Aric and the other demons gathered. "The trials will commence in three days. This is the sovereign's will."

Vizra's jaw clenched, her entire body trembling with suppressed rage. But after a long moment, she bowed low. "As you command, my Sovereign."

Zaxos's gaze swept over the chamber once more, and the other demon lords quickly followed Vizra's lead, bowing before their sovereign. The guards dragged Aric to his feet, and he stumbled forward in a clumsy attempt at a bow, his mind reeling. He had known Zaxos's trials would be no easy path, but this—this was a death sentence, a slow and agonizing torment designed to break him, body and soul.

"Then it is settled," Zaxos said. "May the trials reveal the truth of the human's heart, and guide us in the path that is right."

As Zaxos seated himself once more, the guards yanked Aric back, binding his hands and shoving him forward. Malekith's eyes burned with a fierce light as he watched Aric go, and though he was silent, it was as if Aric could still hear Malekith's voice echoing in his head, a balm to his bruised and battered spirit.

Aric, I swear to you, I will protect you. No matter the cost.

Sovereign Zaxos eyed the human with unreadable eyes, seeing him only as a piece to be moved, unknowing, in a greater game.

Aric's entire being felt shredded, broken, raw. Malekith had vouched for him in the face of certain destruction. And for what? Aric had led the demons to two critical defeats in the human territories. The Sovereign had every right to execute him for his incompetence.

But as Aric scanned the assembly's faces, he did not see disappointment or malice. He saw hunger, curiosity, a few shreds of disbelief. The gathered demons were practically salivating at the prospect of the trials, at the chance to witness whatever gruesome fate awaited him.

He straightened his back, refusing to be cowed, and met Zaxos's gaze head-on.

"I accept," he said, his voice miraculously steady. The guards pushed him forward, and as he passed Zaxos, the ancient demon grinned at him, rows of jagged teeth glinting in the firelight.

A ripple of whispered shock followed him as he was dragged from the throne room. The demon guards threw him back in his cell, and the heavy iron door clanged shut, sealing him once more in darkness.

But it was a different kind of darkness that haunted Aric as he sat on the stone floor, his thoughts a turbulent maelstrom. A darkness that lingered in the touch of Malekith's hands, and the heat of his body, and the promise in his eyes.

Dawn broke over the mountains in a wash of golden light, but Aric still felt as if he was falling, endlessly falling, into the depths of those shadows, unable and unwilling to find his way back to the surface.

It was done. His fate was sealed, bound up in the enigma of the stone and the trials that awaited him. If he wanted to survive—and, he had to admit, if he wanted to keep the demons from gaining the weapon he carried within him—then he had no choice but to face whatever horrors Zaxos had in store.

And to trust, however hesitantly, in Malekith's assurance that he would not face them alone.