book title

The two Palace Guards took a step back. The taller held out his hand. ‘Lady Harlyn, please. You must complete the official papers to request an audience with Lord Kernlow. He is currently in a meeting with his inner Council. If you wish to speak with him, you must go through the Castellan to—’

‘Enough! The time has long passed for filing official papers.’ She set her stance. ‘Now. Do you open the door? Or do I have to step over your dead bodies and then open it?’

‘Ma’am, no blood has ever been spilled in the citadel, this is not—’

Elodi drew her sword. ‘Then you can decide whether yours is to be the first. I do not wish to take such action, but if you do not grant me access, I have no choice.’ She raised the tip of her blade to the throat of the first guard.

The guards drew their weapons. ‘Please, ma’am. We have our duty to perform, and we will not shirk from carrying out our orders.’

Elodi held the man’s gaze. ‘And while I admire your dedication to duty, you should know I have faced stronger opponents than the two of you, far stronger I hasten to add. Therefore, I suggest you stand back and grant me entry. One day, the people of the realms will thank you, and you shall live to tell the tale. But trust me, Lord Kernlow will be grateful to hear what I have to tell him. He must be made aware that the time for action is now.’ She nodded to the door. ‘While he sits on his large… throne, our enemy is making their move.’ Elodi pointed her sword at each in turn. ‘You are soldiers, defenders of the realms. You must not stand idle while unarmed people in the north are enslaved and slaughtered. If you insist on preventing my entry into the hall, you will be responsible for many more deaths.’ She took a step, leveling her blade. ‘This is your last chance.’

The first guard glanced at his colleague. He nodded. They sheathed their weapons and withdrew. ‘Very well, ma’am. And please, know we never wanted to cause you harm.’

Elodi scoffed, putting away her sword. ‘Then rest assured you would have been disarmed and flat on your backs before you could have laid a finger on me.’

‘Thank you, ma’am. I admit we were not confident in taking on an Amayan of your standing.’

She pointed to the door. ‘Are you planning to open it now?’

‘Ah… yes, but…’ he glanced at Elodi’s sword. ‘I cannot allow you to—’

‘No.’ Elodi’s hand clenched the handle. ‘You’re not taking it from me again.’

His hand rested on the door. ‘But it’s not permissible to enter the Great Hall armed, ma’am. Palace protocol dictates—’

‘We’ve had this discussion, Captain. You have my word that I will not even look at Lord Kernlow in a displeasing manner. And if you cannot accept the promise of the leader of a realm, then our enemy has already won.’

The guard relented. ‘Then the word of the Lady of Harlyn is accepted.’

Elodi relaxed. ‘Thank you, Captain. And I appreciate your understanding. I acknowledge your loyalty to Lord Kernlow, but your ability to place the needs of the realms first is worthy. I will ensure the lord is—’

‘Ma’am?’ Elodi spun around. Marrick hurried towards her. He recovered his breath. ‘Apologies for my interruption, ma’am, but I believe you’d wish to hear of my discovery prior to entering the hall.’

Elodi held her hand up to the guard to delay opening the door. 'Thank you, Marrick. Please, do tell.’

He glanced at the Palace Guards and lowered his voice. ‘It is as I thought. While the Castellan was not directly responsible for your father’s death, his failure to act allowed it to happen.’

Elodi grabbed her sword. She spat out her words. ‘He’ll suffer for this! I’ll remove his head from—’

Marrick stepped in front. ‘Ma’am. You cannot—’

‘Out of my way! I will see justice done.’

Marrick stood firm. ‘Justice shall be done, but in court. The last thing Archonholm needs is the Lady Harlyn standing accused of beheading the Castellan. He must be brought to trial.’

Her shoulders sagged. ‘Now it is I who should apologize. I cannot allow a rash action to hamper the war effort.’ She looked at Marrick and took a deep breath. ‘How did the Castellan allow my father's murder?’

‘He made it possible for the Nordleng to enter Archonholm, arranged for the guard to be changed on the bridge, then stood in the way of a full investigation, ma’am. He will argue he was following the Archon’s orders, but he must have known he was complicit in a most cowardly crime.’

Elodi spoke through clenched teeth. ‘That he would have. And to think he had the gall to look me in the eye and offer his condolences, and then spin his tale of deceit.’ She looked at the door. ‘Justice will be done. I will have to be patient, but it will be done. Please, wait here and follow the guards when they enter shortly.’

Elodi turned back to the sentries. ‘I see you both wear the burgundy band of Harlyn beside the palace colors.’

The tall guard nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am. We both hail from Darrow and have seen action on the Nordruuk border.’

‘Then you would have sworn allegiance to my father before you were enlisted into service here in Archonholm.’

‘That is so, ma’am.’

‘Then, as Lord Harlyn’s successor, I ask one more favor of you. Would one of you inform the Castellan I have forced my way into the Great Hall, and then both of you accompany him when he inevitably intervenes.’

The guard could not prevent a grin spreading across his face. ‘It will be an honor, ma’am.’ He turned and opened the door.

The first time Elodi had entered the Great Hall, she had been in awe of its grandeur, and anxious about meeting the Archon. Today was a different matter altogether. She marched towards Kernlow and his Council, unconcerned by their shocked gasps.

The Proctor clambered to his feet. He opened his mouth, but Elodi’s stare trapped his protest in his throat as he fell back onto his stool. Her footsteps echoed through the hall, announcing her purpose before she spoke. Lord Kernlow was the last at the table to look her way.

Elodi spoke as she strode to the table. ‘Lord Kernlow. Council Members. I will not apologize for the manner of my entry. If you object’ — she patted her sword — ‘please take it up with my new advisor.’ She stopped opposite Kernlow. ‘I appreciate I have not filed the official papers, but I deemed the nature of my interruption overrides that need.’ Elodi sheathed her sword and looked at the faces of the Council, still unsure of what to make of the intrusion. She took a deep breath. ‘While you have all sat in your long meetings with little to show for it, our enemy have not been idle. I doubt they spend as long debating their next move as do you. But know this. We can no longer call ourselves the Five Realms. Nordryn, I will not belittle the title to refer to him as a lord, has aligned himself with the Ruuk.’ Elodi paused, satisfied her message had achieved its intended purpose, judging by the gasps and gaping mouths around the table.

Lord Kernlow stood. ‘How… how do you know this? We have received no word from Broon.’

Elodi lowered her voice. ‘Would you expect Nordryn to inform you of his treachery, Lord? But if the Castellan had carried out his duties, Captain Amyndra of Broon could have informed you of the situation in Lunn.’

Kernlow scratched his head. ‘This news of Lord… of Nordryn changes everything. We must… surely, we have to—’

‘There is more, Lord.’ Elodi waited for Kernlow to sit. ‘A second rider arrived this morning. Much of Lunn north of the River Kel is lost, and thousands flee south. Broon is now in a state of civil war. The enemy are massing on the north banks of the Kel. Forces loyal to the Five Realms have mounted a defense on the south side. But bear in mind this news is at least fifteen days old. It’s likely our forces will be heavily outnumbered and may have to fall back to the border at Ormsk before long, if that is not already the case. And I don’t need to inform you of the consequences should the Ruuk occupy the forests. Our efforts to extend our fleet will be brought to a shuddering halt should we lose the supply of wood.’

The blood drained from Kernlow’s puffy cheeks, and pools of sweat glistened under his eyes. He blustered. ‘Ah yes. Wood. We must have wood for the ships. But shouldn’t we—’

‘I’m afraid that is not all. If they reach… when they reach the plains, more farms will fall into their hands. If that happens, we will experience a food shortage for the increasing numbers fleeing the invaders.’ Footsteps echoed outside the door. Elodi’s hand rested on her sword. ‘I have more I wish to say, but first I have a pressing matter that can wait no longer, Lord.’

The door burst open. The Castellan marched in accompanied by the two Palace Guards and Marrick. He yelled at Elodi. ‘You have made a grave error of judgment, Lady Harlyn. This is—’

‘Guards!’ Elodi drew her sword and jabbed it towards the Castellan. ‘Arrest that man.’

Kernlow found his voice. ‘Lady Harlyn! What in the name of—?’

‘The Castellan is guilty of a gross dereliction of duty, Lord.’ Elodi raised her voice over the objections of the Council. ‘Under his watch he allowed my father to be murdered by Nordleng cowards acting for the Archon.’

The Castellan gaped at Kernlow. He approached the table, flanked by the Palace Guards. ‘But… Lord, I protest. She has no authority—’

‘I have every authority, Castellan. Read the laws of the realms. I have evidence you stood by and did nothing. That makes you complicit in the death of Harlyn’s ruler, and as the current leader of that realm, I have the authority to place you under arrest until you can prove otherwise.’

Kernlow gasped. ‘Is this true, Castellan? Did you know of the plot to… to murder Lord Harlyn?’

The Castellan scowled. ‘This is all in Lady Harlyn’s head, Lord. She has spent too much time in the company of that mad witch, of which we know very little.’ He turned on Elodi. ‘Retract your accusation now, or I’ll see you suffer for this… this atrocity.’

Elodi glared. ‘The atrocity was committed last summer by you, Castellan. Advisor Marrick has the evidence.’ Her face burned. ‘I should have you thrown from the bridge, but that would be too good for you. It would be a more suitable punishment to let you rot in your own dungeon.’

The Castellan bellowed. ‘This is preposterous, Lord. I will not listen to any more of these fairy tales. I have been loyal to the Archon and to you. I have—’ His eyes flashed at Elodi. She stiffened, seeing something in his face she had not noticed before. The Castellan stood taller and grinned. ‘I have been observing Lady Harlyn these past weeks, Lord.’ He kept his eyes on Elodi as he addressed Kernlow. His mouth twisted. ‘She plots against you, Lord.’ He poked his finger at her. ‘She is just like her father. Not to be trusted, a traitor even. He had little respect for—’

‘How dare you sully his good name!’ Elodi leaped onto the table and lunged at the Castellan, thrusting her sword to within an inch of his throat. The Council Members jumped back, sending chairs clattering to the floor.

But the Castellan stood firm and glared back. He folded his arms. ‘Ha! The good Lady Harlyn has just proved my point.’ He held up a hand. ‘See, my lord. She behaves as an unruly Ruuk. She has no respect for the civilized ways of the realms.’

A faint orange glow spread along Elodi’s blade. She met his gaze. ‘It appears you were right for once, Castellan. My sword is a threat. But as I stated at the time, only a threat to my enemies.’

Kernlow held up his hand. ‘Lady Harlyn, we cannot have weapons held at throats in the Great Hall. Please, stand down and let us resolve this in a manner befitting of this place.’

She turned. ‘Then allow these guards to escort the Castellan to one of his cells. I demand he is held while he awaits to stand trial. Marrick will present the case. He has evidence the Castellan cannot—’

‘Never!’ The Castellan lunged at Elodi. Her blade ignited, blinding her with a blazing, blue light. Heat surged through her arm into her chest. Elodi cried out as a fire burned within. Yet all was silent in the hall. Faces around the table, bathed in her blue light, stared wide-eyed as if into empty space. Time had stopped — except for her and the Castellan. Elodi beheld him. Deep inside, she knew and feared what stood defiant at the end of her sword.

The Castellan’s face rippled. Two moist, black eyes formed, bulging from a thin, stone-gray face. The eyes were not those of a man, but those of a warlock. Elodi froze, unable to tear her gaze from the apparition, oddly curious to know more. His hateful mien marred what had once been the face of a noble and powerful ruler. But the centuries consumed by the Dark Verses had long since distorted his features. The warlock’s eyes bored into Elodi. The fire within her died. His cruel mouth stretched and grinned, taking pleasure from her curiosity. She saw into his past. He rode astride a monstrous corruption of a horse as it thundered towards a city of breathtaking beauty. But its splendor pained the warlock. Driven by his lust for destruction, his dark hosts stormed the walls, slaughtered its people, and razed its tall towers to the ground.

But Elodi was deceived. Too late did she realize she had not witnessed the warlock’s victory from afar — he had dragged her into his Verse. His harsh voice vibrated in her chest, promising her glory and immortality. His will forced its way into her as if icy fingers groped for her soul. She had to resist. Elodi’s hand still clenched her sword, but her limbs were numb. She could not move. The dread seeped into her bones, chilling her heart, freezing her blood. Yet… the warlock’s words soothed her, and Elodi took pleasure from the cold dulling her angst. He pledged to wipe clean her past, free her from her duties, absolve her failures, and erase her guilt. She need never know pain or sorrow again. Elodi would be free to do whatever she desired without fear of consequence or judgement. And she was tempted. All he asked was she give herself to him — she only need speak his name.

Elodi recoiled as if the fierce sun itself had crashed through the doors. A woman, cloaked in a brilliant white light, strode towards her. But Elodi resisted her offer of help. No. She would side with the warlock and accept the riches pledged to her. The warlock hurled his curses at the intruder but still she advanced. The woman raised her arms, then spoke Elodi’s name. A warm hand took hers and led her out of the Dark Verse. Elodi’s numb lips formed a word. ‘Nyomae.’