ALAJAN
AS THE OTHERS TRAILED INTO THE HOVEN, AIDING THOSE WHO were freshly healed and those who were drained of energy, wobbling on their feet, Jan scanned their surroundings. Confirming that all alive were accounted for, he looked to those who had been killed, awaiting their Burning in the morning. Trizz had already sent to Midge, relaying Jan’s orders for Calla and the rest of the Pack and youngest Grons who had stayed safeguarded within the mountains.
"Alajan."
Nothing had given away her arrival. Jan found the Seer standing before him, her hood drawn over the river of her black hair, her ethereal Seership robe shimmering like the night sky overhead where it lay draped over her form, puddling in folds around her bare feet.
“Iryn,” Jan greeted, surprised.
“It’s a relief to see you well, Gift bearer, if not completely whole.” Her emerald eyes that found his severed arm had lost the majority of the milky mist that normally flowed through them. “The Dark threads that you have frayed here today have enraged Coerce. And frightened her. She will channel all of her influence on your kingdom now. The time draws nigh.”
It took a moment for Jan to get his voice to work. “When you say she’s angry…”
“Don’t fret over your Liiara’s wellbeing.”
“Do you know where Kal is?” he pressed.
“She is with herself,” was the Seer’s answer.
His growl rumbled through his bones, rattling the pebbles by his feet. “Answer me.”
Iryn merely regarded him levelly. “You have asked Kaleen to trust you all this time. She’s done so. Now it’s your turn to trust in her. Your Flaw of overprotecting must surrender to her reliance upon herself.”
Her words stung him, and he swallowed down another growl, looking away. “It can’t be said I haven’t been trying.”
“It’s been bravely done.”
"Why are you here? What do you need?"
"I am here because of what you need," she replied, unfolding her arms from where her hands had been drawn up her sleeves. She reached out, letting her fingers hover over the damaged arm he kept to his side. "I have something to teach you."
Jan looked to his arm, then lifted what remained of it, and the Seer placed her hands over it, one above and one below. "Now watch carefully. I am going to teach you to expand your ability. It will become a part of your being and the life before you." She formed an orb of white light, suspended between her two palms, directly before his injured limb. "You will be as the Guides, Crownless One. If you are to save your people, you must be stronger. Be healing and cleansing."
The orb burst into countless ribbons of light that swirled around his arm, blindingly bright. The Seer’s eyes glowed, her Seership rustling with the aura of power that surged around them. Ripples of light expanded from beneath her feet, like a stone tossed into a pond.
"You already know that song keeps Life in its place, for songs are Emotion. As Kaleen’s mind-song carries the healing of Emotions, so now does yours."
Jan startled when he felt a tugging where the flames wrapped around him, growing into an almost unbearable, continual surge. Impossibly, the light intensified as the Seer drew her hands down, forcing him to shield his eyes with his free arm. The power that sang through him took him to his knees.
“Return what has been taken. Mend what lies broken. Heal and be healed, endless and always.”
The flames died.
Blinking bright spots from his vision, Jan looked to the Seer. She gave him a small smile, returning her hands to her sleeves. Slowly, so slowly, he lifted his hand to let it hover before his eyes. The hand that shouldn't have been there.
The Sacra Band dangled from his renewed fingertips, shining softly in the dark.
SIX DAYS HAD PASSED SINCE THE DEAD BELONGING TO THE GRONS and the Pack had been lit with flames on pyres, their ashes dancing upwards to join the stars above. Six days since the mound of stone that entombed more than half of the Grons was named sacred and untouchable, a resting place for their loved ones. Six days since tears had marked the ground with sorrow.
Five days had passed since Jan had returned the Sacra Band to Nate. Five days since he had left them, heading out to journey through his kingdom, as his pramiites had spread the word across the breadth and width of Calladon. Five days since Malin and Rya had nodded at Jan, already knowing this step in the plan of their uprising. Five days since the Pack, with a new urgency in their movements, saw their long-awaited plan begin.
Four days since they had left the Hoven behind; for the Nalii, never to return.
Six years since Jan, at the age of sixteen, lost his parents.
Ten years since the Pack had formed under dissent of having the Head Advisor take control of Calladon
Ten years since the overthrow of Caraak had begun.
Something stirred within Calladon. Something that had been awakened years before, hiding under the plague of Dark emotions that had long-since dominated the kingdom. Carefully, it had gathered within her, in the midst of her people.
It had begun when her Crown Prince had wandered, visiting villages, visiting towns, entering the lives of Nalii everywhere across the kingdom he was one day going to rule. That something sparked to life, sluggishly and steadily gathering force, growing in strength. Ready for the day when it would be called to fight against the Dark that imprisoned Callorah. Ready for the day when it would be called to free the White City.
Something stirred within Calladon.
Revolution.
Wherever Jan went, his people remembered him. It was impossible not to. Not in the way he stood, or the way he carried the weight of his responsibilities. Not in the way his red eyes seemed to read the very thoughts in their minds; or felt the very things within their hearts. Not in the way he embodied their Hope.
His unexpected appearance would draw a crowd, and with patience he would listen to them shout in their anger or cry in their sadness. Asking when they would be freed from Caraak, and in turn Coerce's, control. Then he would open his mouth, begin speaking, and power would roll forth.
They would stand transfixed as he would announce the time had come. He would describe to them the heartbreak he was carrying because his Liiara was within Coerce's grasp. He would explain the years he had endured, watching his kingdom wilt beneath Caraak's hands. And, everywhere throughout Calladon, in various places, his pramiites would relay the message.
"I've said before a king is no greater than those he serves," Alajan said in sincerity, turning slowly in a circle to face the whole crowd. "You make a name for yourselves, not me. It's your choice."
"Where will you lead us to, king?"
A small smile toyed on Jan's lips. "To Callorah. I've wandered this far before to see your home. Would you care to see mine?"
A young man, hardly stepping out of boyhood, shifted forward. His hands twisted his clothes in nervousness, his slim tail curled under as he looked up to the king, who waited silently for him to speak. His eyes dropped as he stammered, "Can—can I come please?"
Jan crouched, coming to eye level with the youth. The nervous boy tried meeting the Crownless King's gaze. "Why are you afraid?"
"Aren’t you ever afraid?"
"Often. But I know that one shouldn’t run from emotions—if you do, they become shadows that fester into Darkness. Face what you feel straight on. Let it become part of your strength. The only difference between you and I, is that my life belongs to you."
One by one, Nalii stepped forward, lowering to one knee, tapping the ends of whatever weapons they held on to the ground before the Crownless King's feet.
NATE
HUGGING CALLA, NATE DECIDED, WAS LIKE RETURNING HOME.
"How are you, my dear?" she asked him, brushing a hand through his hair before planting a kiss on his head. Nate stood from where he had knelt beside her chair.
"I'm very sorry," Malin said sheepishly, holding out the needlework she had dropped earlier. "If we had our pramiites, you wouldn't have been startled at our arrival."
Playfully, Calla swatted him with the materials before setting it on her chair as she rose to stand. "My heart is old, you colt. It struggles with surprises." She let out a warm laugh, hugging him in turn. "It's been rather lonely without my boys around."
"The Pack and the Grons will be arriving soon outside Callorah," Malin told her, settling himself on the edge of her table. "We’ve split them into groups, led by the Pack leaders, to make moving them easier. And once Jan returns from his task..." He shook his head. "I can't believe we've finally reached this point."
"I've felt its approach, as we all have. It is time."
"I haven't been around as long as anyone else, and I'm sick and tired of Caraak," Nate grumbled. "Probably due to the fact he tried to kill me." He looked up, eyes gleaming mischievously. "I get to punch him in the nose for that, right?"
As Malin chuckled, Calla heaved a sigh, shaking her head. But she was smiling. "So much like your sister." Her expression became sober. "How I miss her."
Nate swallowed, looking away.
"She's all right, wherever Coerce has her," Malin said firmly, setting a hand on Nate’s shoulder. "We have to trust her."
Calla looked around her room. "To think that this is where it began." Oh, Jan, she sighed in her heart, thinking of Gerrin, I feel for you.
SONIIYA
SONIIYA ENTAI AVVIRANT, QUEEN OF CALLADON, STOOD BEFORE THE SOLITARY throne in the great hall and glared.
"I don't recall giving you my consent to invite these things into my kingdom, Caraak," she spat, clenching her nails into the folds of her cream-and-blue gown, "let alone bring them into my capital!"
"Last I was concerned," Caraak replied flatly, sitting on the throne, "your permission wasn't required."
Elyx was barely more than a mass of darkness with his wings folded around him. He smiled cruelly where he stood on the stairway that led to the white-stone throne. "You have no reason to be uncomfortable with our presence, Majesty." His lidded-over eyes pulsed a deep yellow.
Soniiya suppressed a shiver, glancing towards the windows arching across the upper half of the large room, taking note of the shadowy forms flying past in intervals. "Remove yourselves at once, Elyx," she commanded icily, fixing her narrowed eyes back on the Vynn leader. "I wear the crown of this kingdom and you have no welcome here."
"You?" Caraak scoffed at her, leaning forward where he sat. "Queen of Calladon you may be, Soniiya, but even your father has realized the amount of power you have in governing anything." He smirked. "How disappointed he was in realizing you could give him no advantage in his positions." He waved a hand towards Elyx. "These are my brethren."
"Then when they leave my kingdom, go back with them!" Soniiya snapped, the black waves of her hair spilling over her shoulders in her fury.
Caraak regarded her in disgust before waving a hand. "You are dismissed. You are not needed here."
The queen froze where she stood, her beautiful face stunned for several moments before it darkened. "How dare—?"
"Your king did not want you," Caraak said impatiently, ruthlessly. "Your kingdom does not need you. And you have broken the bond between your mind and the Dark Lady—so even Coerce herself does not want you. You may leave."
Taking one step back, and then another. Soniiya spun on her heels, striding fast, her back straight, her head held high with pride. She refused to acknowledge the panic writhing deep inside her.
Serrin, she told herself. Find Serrin.
NATE
IN A SMALL WAY, NATE FELT GUILTY KNEELING WITH HIS EAR PRESSED against the door. Calla and Malin expected him to be asleep, not listening in on their hushed conversation.
But, in a bigger way, he didn't.
"—going to Terek's manor to alert him," Malin said quietly. From his tone of voice, Nate could picture the seriousness that rarely overcame him doing so now. "Nate knows to behave. I'll return to bring him with me when the others have reached Callorah." He blew out his breath, and Nate could see through the crack in the door that he was running a hand through his hair. "It's a good thing we're here, from what you've been telling me."
"Soniiya is in a perilous position," Calla spoke just as quietly, looking sad. "Deceived as she was, because of her own decisions, it's far too late for her to appeal to the Lords of Court to remove Caraak from his position as Head Advisor. Now, his manipulation has brought Callorah into his hands." She drew in a steadying breath. "That's why the Vynn are here."
Malin's eyes flew wide. "The Vynn? Here?"
Calla nodded gravely.
"WE ARE AGREED, THEN?" ELYX DEMANDED, HIS WINGS PARTIALLY unfolded. His form looked carved from sheer darkness.
Caraak sneered coldly. "I have fulfilled my orders to Coerce. I have twisted the mind-songs of the Nalii so imperceptibly with Dark emotions that, when Coerce comes to claim them, they are hers. Completely."
"And?"
"Once Callorah falls, Calladon will be no more." Caraak's black eyes glinted as he glanced around carelessly. "These white-stone walls will be yours to destroy, just as you did to the first capital from the First War."
Elyx spread his wings out fully. "Well done, brother."
Caraak watched as Elyx flew upwards, breaking apart a window as he burst into the dark sky cloaking the world.
NATE
"BRIGHT STARS ABOVE," MALIN WHISPERED IN HORROR, HIS EYES A STORM of emotions.
Calla bowed her head. "Caraak's hold on Callorah is too strong. There will be none here to join you in fighting against him."
A sick feeling twisted Nate's gut as he carefully pulled away from the door, setting his back to the cold wall beside it. His thoughts were a spinning, tangled mess and he didn't know where to begin to unravel them.
Doomed. That's what they were saying. That's what Caraak had done to this place. He had doomed all the Nalii here. And Kal, who was supposed to save them... They had tossed her aside as if she was worthless, straight into Coerce's evil hands.
Everything swam before his eyes as he stepped forward, pressing his palms to the window opposite him, overlooking the Sanoak Forest and the lake beyond. Everything blurred as his eyes unfocused. He felt as if he and everyone he cared about were standing on the brink of a cliff, about to be pushed over the edge.
Kal has already been pushed, Nate told himself. The world flared into focus again. She's falling. She hates falling.
Was it too late? Was it really too late for Soniiya to step forward and be the queen she should have been all along, removing Caraak from his place as Jan would have done the moment he was Crowned? Anger made Nate's hands curl against the glass to coil into fists.
Soniiya. The one who had caught him and brought him to Caraak in the first place. Who had married Jan because of a twisted love, built on her need to be accepted by her father. Who had, from what the others had been willing to tell him, which wasn't much, put Kal through unbearable things. Who was blind to the damage she brought upon her twin and had allowed Kal to be given to Coerce.
Kal was supposed to save Callorah. And Soniiya had stopped that from happening.
Something burst from a cage in Nate's head, racing through his blood. Determination.
Kal was his sister. The one who had kept him going when their mother had died and had kept him alive when their home world began to fall apart so rapidly and dangerously. She’d always had his back, always put him first.
She was who he wanted to be like.
"I'll make her help you, Kal," he whispered, looking to the dark horizon, before spinning around. A quick peek through the door showed that Calla and Malin had left, and Nate, moving as silently as possible, slipped through it into the corridor beyond. There was one person who could get Soniiya to listen and act.
Serrin, he told himself. Find Serrin.