Celine opened a portal in the Elves’ throne room, where no one had expected her to. It was rectangular, with a high roof and many pillars. A big window in the center of the roof let the light fall onto the throne where an Elf who could only be King Aego sat. He held his head high and had an arm on each armrest. He almost looked as if he was a part of the throne. Just like the other Elves, he had long gray hair and a fair complexion.
Prince Basil was leaning against one of the pillars but straightened when Celine appeared. An Elf was standing in front of the throne, and all eyes had been on him before Celine had entered through the portal. Several other Elves were present – all of them guards. Their silver armor covered every inch of their skin, and they reached for their swords with gauntleted hands once they realized Celine and her companions were armed.
Celine immediately held up her hands in the air. “We come in peace.”
“Is that her?” The Elf King spoke with an ageless voice.
“Yes,” Prince Basil said. What exactly had he had told his father about her? Basil then ordered the soldiers to back off, which they did without question. The king nodded to the Elf before the throne – dismissing him. He got to his feet and stared at the intruders before he left.
Celine approached the throne, and Caynin, Rane, and Dagan accompanied her. All four bowed simultaneously.
“Majesty, my name is Celine LeVane, and these are my companions Caynin Quicksilver, Dagan Greenfield, and Rane Worden.”
“If you come in peace, why do you bring weapons into my throne room?” Aego eyed Celine’s missing tooth.
“We weren’t sure if we were welcome,” Caynin said.
“Of course, you aren’t welcome,” King Aego snapped, “but I must admit, meeting the human who outsmarted my son and beat him in single combat does amuse me.”
Prince Basil tensed, obviously embarrassed about losing against her. He had been angry and had accused her of cheating. Clearly, his father saw things differently. He openly admired her and didn’t look away once Dagan started speaking.
“Having us here is in your best interests,” Dagan said. “We have come to warn you of a threat.”
“A threat?” The king looked at Celine as if she was the thing he should fear.
“The Prenumbras are parasites that came to Erken many years ago—”
“Don’t bore me with your history lessons, boy,” Aego snapped at Dagan. “I know all about Prenumbras.”
Celine had never heard anyone speak to Dagan like that before. It felt weird that Aego saw Dagan as nothing more than a boy when he was an Eternity Prince. Then again, the Elves were the eldest Fata, and compared to Aego, Dagan was still a child.
She immediately felt the need to defend him. “Then you would know that the Prenumbras pose a threat to all Fata. This means they are a threat to you – since you have the most magic.”
“I myself was a victim,” Rane told the king. “The Prenumbras are incredibly strong and fast, and all they seem to crave is magic.”
“What do you want from me?” King Aego asked.
Caynin looked at Prince Basil. “When Tarragon beat you in single combat, you gave him your sword. That sword is the only weapon that can kill the Prenumbras.”
“And you have come here hoping that we would give you more.” The king laughed.
“It’s in your own best interest,” Dagan said. “If you don’t help us, the Prenumbras will consume Earth. And do you really think they will stop there? No, they will come here next and kill all of you.”
“The only way the Prenumbras can come here is if they have the Egress Key.” He studied Celine. “I could just keep you here, or kill you, and then they will never ever come here.”
Celine should have considered this. The Fata never did anything out of the goodness of their hearts, and she had nothing to offer him.
The guards drew their swords, and slowly approached Celine and her companions. Dagan, Caynin, and Rane also drew their swords.
“I don’t want to fight.” Celine drew closer to the Elf King. She did not draw her weapon, and he didn’t flinch as she approached. “If our words can’t convince you to help us, I can show you what will happen if you don’t.”
Before the Elf King could respond, Celine opened a portal beneath them. The Elf King, his throne, and Celine fell through. The portal closed before anyone else could jump into it.
“Where have you brought me?” King Aego leapt to his feet. Celine kept a good distance between them as the king looked around at the once-glorious world. Recognition spread over his face like clouds would cover the sky.
“This is Erken,” Celine told him.
The very life had been drained from Erken, leaving it cold and dead. The plants didn’t grow, and there was no water, so black cracks covered the ground. The castle was in pieces, pillars shattered, roofs caved in. King Aego gazed about him in horror.
“Without your swords, we can’t kill the Prenumbras on Earth,” Celine said. “They will kill us and use my magic to come to you. Then Moon World will look like this.” She gestured at their surroundings.
The king looked around. “We have to leave! The Prenumbras will be drawn to my magic. They are probably already on their way.”
“I am not leaving until you promise to forge the swords we need and give them to us. I also want safe passage home for me and my friends.”
“And if I refuse?” The king regarded her with those ancient eyes.
Months ago, Celine would have trembled if he looked at her like that. Now she held her head high as if she was wearing the crown which was rightfully hers. She was a princess, and she was in control of her magic. She was not going to let this grandpa bully her.
“Then I will leave you here,” she told him.
Aego was smart enough to not call her bluff. “I, King Aego of Moon World, promise to forge the swords Celine LeVane needs to kill the Prenumbras and give them to her. I also promise that you and your friends will have safe passage home.”
His words were binding, and Celine didn’t hesitate to open a portal back to the throne room in Moon World. Both stepped through but left the throne behind.
“Father!” Prince Basil cried.
“Put down your weapons,” the Elf King said. Everyone obeyed. “We are amongst friends.” His gazed at Celine coldly. Did he still admire her, or did he despise her?
“We will forge the Shatterproof Swords – as many as needed,” he announced before looking back at Celine. “You may collect them after three days.”
“Thank you,” Celine said.
Her friends sheathed their swords as they realized the Elves were not going to attack. They expected Celine to immediately open a portal and take them home, but then Prince Basil spoke.
“You beat me in single combat. I have accepted this, and it has humbled me.” He approached Celine.
Celine assumed he was lying. He had not been humbled; he had been humiliated. Both Dagan and Caynin were ready to rip out his throat should he attack her. But instead of attacking, he opened his hand to reveal a gift.
If you were to win a duel with an Elf, they were to give you a gift. Rejecting the gift would insult the Elf. Tarragon had earned the No-Name sword. And Celine had earned… a tooth. In the Elf Prince’s palm lay a silver canine with a pointy tip, like those of the Fata.
“May I?” the prince asked.
“Yes.” She slowly opened her mouth. She did not want the tooth, but she feared that if she rejected it, she would damage the alliance.
“It was forged by our most famous jeweler, Calarel,” he explained. He was so close it made her uncomfortable. The fear and humiliation of him beating her in the colosseum was fresh in her mind, and her hand drifted to the hilt of her sword.
The tooth neared her mouth, and Prince Basil pushed it in. Surprisingly, it did not hurt and fit perfectly. She ran her tongue over it and felt its pointy tip.
“Thank you,” she said as Prince Basil stepped away from her.
“Farewell. We will see you soon,” Celine said.
She opened a portal, and they stepped though it and arrived on the beach in the Evergreen Kingdom.
“You never cease to amaze,” Rane said.
He was most likely thinking the same things she was: what had become of the terrified human who had first wandered into the Everwhite Kingdom? Gone was the shaking, fearful, and wide-eyed girl. She had been replaced by one who seemed much older, wiser, and fearless.
“Where did you go? What did you show the king?” Caynin asked. Through their connection she sensed he was wondering when Celine had learned to bargain instead of being fooled by the Elves. When had she become such a leader? When had she gotten everyone to follow her and listen to her orders?
“I took him to Erken,” she said.
“That was a foolish move,” Dagan snapped.
“It was a calculated risk,” she argued.
“It worked, and that is all that matters,” Rane said.
“I don’t think you should return to Moon World, Celine,” Caynin warned.
“Why?” she asked.
“The Elf King could go back on his word. He could trap or kill you.”
“I agree,” Dagan said.
“I made him promise to give us safe passage,” Celine informed them.
“Did he promise safe passage every time or just this once?” Dagan asked.
Celine cursed. “Just this one time.”
“Then you can’t go back,” Rane agreed.
It was three against one, and Celine could not win this argument, not if Dagan, Caynin, and Rane stood together. “Fine. Who will go then?”
“Rane and I will go,” Caynin said. “It should be us, because the Prenumbras are in my kingdom.”
“Fine,” Celine agreed. “I will open a portal in three days’ time.”
From then, everything seemed straightforward and easy. Celine had a feeling the worst was behind them. They would retrieve the swords, slay the Prenumbras, and then Celine could work on plans to free the humans and dethrone Severin.
What could go wrong?