Dark Illumination

Chapter Nineteen

By the end of the week no other unusual minion attacks had been reported. The creatures that attacked the borders continued, which was what both kingdoms were used to. Reports from Dillan’s Knight of Fractured Light in Lumeria have been similar to those Bowen have been sending her from the front lines. No more minions have been sighted within the borders.

The apprentices accompanied by masters Lucius sent out have not reported any holes in the wards. All their defenses seem up to optimal functionality. But they hadn’t checked the entire grid yet. Serena hoped this mystery of the attacks would be solved as soon as possible.

When she wasn’t reading reports or overseeing preparations for the union, she had been spending her time with Dillan. They would take walks in the gardens, shared all their meals together, and would discuss everything they had done by the fire at the end of the day. It was a wonderful routine that she welcomed with open arms. It allowed them to get to know each other, understand both their likes and dislikes. Katarina encouraged it, saying their renewed bond would certainly help make the stages they must complete easier.

In the days leading to the first stage, she had become adept in avoiding Sebastian. Short of banishing him from the kingdom all together, she drew a relieved breath when Dillan assigned him to assist Bowen in fortifying their forces. This kept the Duke of Lightning busy enough that Serena hadn’t seen him at all.

There were moments of weakness where she wondered what the Duke had been doing, but she quickly shoved the thought away. Why should she even be thinking of the horrid man when all her focus should be on the prince? The more time she spent with Dillan the more at ease she felt about their coming union. He had been an utter gentleman. But she enjoyed his teasing the most. He had asked to braid her hair, but she had refused, citing it was too intimate a task. After he had left Teare that summer they were introduced, Serena had researched the braiding custom of Lumeria. It shocked her to find out that the braiding of hair was a form of courtship and something only mated pairs did for one another. She couldn’t stop blushing for a month after that. Thankfully, he hadn’t argued at her refusal. It seemed he understood as well what her acquiescence would mean.

The morning of the first stage in the union, Serena woke early and completed all her prayers. Then she dressed in her most comfortable riding habit and met the entourage that would be accompanying her and Dillan to the Immortal Mountains at the palace courtyard. A group of sorcerers would be coming in place of her uncle to oversee the task set out along with a guard made up of six manticores, two Knights, and eight Legionnaires. She sent The Dark a prayer of thanks for Sebastian’s absence.

During their first dinner together, she had been sorely tempted to tell Dillan about his brother. What stopped her from saying anything was the chance of cultivating a friendship with the prince. She didn’t want to mar their second chance at forming a bond by Sebastian’s clearly misguided attraction that led him to make stupid decisions.

Her white unicorn pawed at the ground in welcome upon seeing her. She had missed riding her precious Starfire. She was unique in that her horn was black and translucent. Serena had saved the animal after it was born and had to be put down because it was deemed too weak. She silently gloated on a daily basis every time she saw her mighty mount. Starfire was healthy and actually grew to a size bigger than what was expected of her kind.

Beside Starfire, in the hands of another groom, stood another magnificent Barbaro Colt. His steel gray coat gleamed under the sun. She caught him giving her unicorn glances and giggled. There was none as beautiful as her Starfire, she thought as she approached them.

Her groom bowed and she gave him a benediction before she reached into her cloak and retrieved a juicy red apple. Starfire sneakered then nuzzled Serena’s hair in thanks. Serena kissed her neck and murmured a greeting then gave the animal the coveted apple. She was afraid that giving treats would spoil Starfire, but the unicorn had been grateful for each one. It warmed her heart to no end.

Afterwards she neared the massive steed beside her own. The Barbaro Colt eyed her, intelligence evident in his stare. She grinned.

“Hello there,” she said. “Aren’t you a handsome boy?”

“Best be careful, Your Highness,” his groom warned, rubbing the steed’s neck in an attempt to keep him calm. “Ambrose can be temperamental.”

“Ambrose.” She nodded once, placing her hands on her hips. “That is a powerful name indeed. But you’re all warm and fuzzy, aren’t you?” She reached into her cloak and produced another apple.

Ambrose’s attention immediately went to the red fruit.

“Do you want this?” Serena threw the apple in the air and caught it. The Barbaro Colt followed the movement, nodding its huge head. “Then come and get it.”

Without hesitation, Ambrose stepped forward and snatched the apple from her palm. He was already crunching happily even before Serena could blink. She laughed in delight.

“You keep doing that and Ambrose will become fatter than a holler boar,” Dillan said from behind her, obvious humor in his voice.

Serena whirled around to face him and her breath caught. The prince stood there with his tousled dark locks and travel leathers consisting of pants tucked into boots and an intricate vest over a soft cotton tunic. Instead of a cloak, he preferred his cape. It no longer looked too long for his tall frame. Besides his circlet and vambrace, it was the only symbol of his status. If the Knights and Legionnaires weren’t in their breastplates he would definitely blend in with them.

“Dillan,” she breathed out. Then she cleared her throat and straightened her stance. “You’re late.”

He took her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles as he had done every time he had seen her since arriving at the palace. “I do beg your pardon, my lady. I was merely replying to all correspondents before we left for the first stage. I didn’t want anything to be disturbing the task we must complete. Time is of the essence.”

Inclining her head to the side, she smiled. “You’re forgiven. But do be punctual next time. I am nervous enough as it is.”

“I will be the first one here for the next stage, I promise you that.”

She loved how free their teasing banter made her feel. With Dillan she didn’t have to worry about being too formal. They were of the same rank. And he made her feel like she could do no wrong. Breaches of protocol be damned. But, of course, when they were in sight of courtiers they made sure to perform according to what was expected of their stature.

“Your Highness,” the Knight of Morningstar said. “We are ready for you.”

Dillan nodded at his cousin. “Then let’s mount up. We want to make it to the Immortal Mountains before sundown.”

Kyle gave the command and a frenzy of movement followed. Dillan took her hand and led her to Starfire. Even if they wore riding gloves she was sure she could feel the warmth of his palm in hers. A slight blush she blamed on the crisp morning air colored her cheeks.

“She’s beautiful,” he said, stroking Starfire’s flank. “I’ve never seen a unicorn with a black horn before.”

“She is the love of my life,” Serena said as she mounted and settled herself on the saddle. “And I think your Ambrose is smitten with her.”

Dillan looked around Starfire at his own mount. “Is that true, you brute?”

Ambrose merely turned his head away as if in embarrassment.

“I say keep them apart while in the stables,” he suggested, eyes gleaming. “Or we may have a half unicorn half Barbaro Colt fowl in the future. Ambrose can be quite a rogue.”

“Thank you for the warning.” She feigned shock. “I will make sure to inform the Stable Master.”

He gave her serious nod that he finished off with a wink before he strode to his steed and mounted without much effort. It was certainly a sight to behold, the man on his war horse. He was every bit the prince she had imagined him to be. The fact that he was kind, courteous, and possessed a naughty streak that rivaled her own were all pluses.

Kyle gave the signal to move out, and as one, their unit moved forward. She and Dillan at the center while their escort surrounded them. The sorcerers on their own mounts would bring up the rear. Katarina was already at the base of the Immortal Mountains waiting for them. It would be half a day’s ride barring any complications along the way.

Serena sent another silent prayer to both The Light and Dark for protection. What they were about to embark upon would mean the protection of their people. In order to maintain the balance. No matter how she tried to calm herself, a heavy unease still settled in her stomach. Something didn’t feel right.

“Is everything alright?” Dillan asked, startling her back into the present.

They had been in the process of crossing the palace gates. She plastered a smile on her face and waved at the Teareans that came out to see them off. A rain of flower petals ushered them off, its scent glorious.

“I’m fine,” she said without breaking her smile.

He reached across them and squeezed the hand she used to hold on to Starfire’s reins. Only then did she realize that she had been clutching the leather straps in a death grip. When she loosened her fingers, tingles accompanied the rush of blood back into the digits.

“If you’re having doubts—”

“It’s not that,” she cut him off. Using her thighs to hang on, she let go of the reins so she could entwine their fingers. She looked into the obvious concern in his eyes. “Of this I have no doubts. I will accomplish all the stages with you.”

“Then what’s the meaning of the deep furrow between your eyebrows?”

She let go of his hand in favor of touching her forehead. Indeed there was a furrow there that she hadn’t felt she had been making. She returned both her hands on the reins and stared forward at the road ahead.

“I guess you can say I am unsettled,” she admitted. Their guard were far enough away that their conversation wouldn’t be heard. But just to be safe, she summoned a cone of silence that shielded them both.

Dillan shifted in his saddle as Ambrose snorted. Both man and animal must have felt her powers shrouding them. But other than that they didn’t protest the precaution she felt she needed to take.

“I’m assuming we can no longer be heard?” Dillan asked.

She dipped her chin once in confirmation. “I just don’t want what I’m about to say to be misunderstood by anyone else.”

“Then what is troubling you, my lady.”

Every time the words “my lady” left his lips, a measure of comfort enveloped her. He was such a strong figure, even just sitting still. His mere presence made her feel secure. That she could trust him implicitly.

“I am not entirely sure yet.” She gave him a sidelong glance. He was facing forward like she was, but the seriousness in his expression told her he listened. “But I do have an uneasy feeling about this.”

“About the task? About the journey?”

“I cannot be sure.” She shook her head in frustration. “It’s just an unease at the pit of my stomach that I cannot explain.”

A part of her expected that he would crack a joke or make light of the situation. Instead she felt his powers break through her cone of silence. Then he heard his voice inside her head as he sent a telepathic message to Kyle, who rode at the head of the column, to be on alert.

Her eyes widened. Dillan trusted her enough to take her concerns seriously and actually let her listen to his orders to his men. For the first time since they mounted, her nerves settled enough to allow her to breathe freely.

Dillan must have felt her relax because he grinned at her and said, “Now let’s go. We have a bridge to build.”