Dark Illumination

Chapter Sixteen

One of the things Dillan liked most about the Onyx Palace was the war room. It had a table which could project a holograph of the lay of the land. Or just about anything. He had snuck in once during that summer he lived in Teare and used The Light to create images using the table. He imagined armies battling it out on open fields, positioning troops to gain the upper hand. He even thought of a grand sea battle between his imaginary navy and a certain pirate king. It was every boy warrior’s dream. He must have spent hours in that room until one of his tutors had caught him. The scolding he had gotten was well worth the fun. With his experience, after all the battles he had fought and won, he believed he could imagine a scenario worthy of that table.

A grin spread across his face as he hurried to the war room after he had gotten the summons from Serena’s high priestess. He had been bathing at the time the telepathic message pinged in his head. His first thought was to cover himself, embarrassed at being caught unawares. Maybe he wasn’t at full capacity yet since he hadn’t felt the intrusion into his mind until well after the fact. But the healers had cleared him as fit for the coming stages of the union. Thank The Light there were not lasting effects of the Light Detonation technique. Although, he was advised to refrain from using said technique any time soon if he wanted to life a long and prosperous life.

He understood the implied ramifications. There were severe side effects of tapping into the purest form of The Light. Least among them was brain deterioration. The body, no matter how well trained, just couldn’t withstand that much energy coursing through it at any given time. Even with Serena’s help, he still couldn’t shake off the fatigue. Considering it had taken him a week to recover the last time, having him walking not a day later was a miracle.

That was another reason to smile. What would have happened if she hadn’t been there? He owed her a debt of gratitude for saving him. And he was never one to shrug off prices that need to be paid.

Seeing her again reminded him of the friendship they had cultivated during their summer together. Albeit grudgingly. She had come to him for sword lessons and hair braiding. And he had come to her for explanations on some of the lessons she had already completed before his arrival to Teare. Despite the inevitable arguments that exploded between them, he had enjoyed her company for the most part.

The idea of seeing her again was what put an extra spring in his step. After he had bathed and dressed in a simple tunic and leathers, he had one of the servants felt Kyle. He needed his third to be there when Sebastian and the manticore commander debriefed them. They were all in this together, especially after the union. The faster they became familiar with how each other’s minds worked the better they could defend against the ever looming threat of The Void. He would be responsible for the protection of two kingdoms once this was all over. The more support he had the better prepared he would be for the challenges to come.

The second he rounded a corner down the corridor of polished black crystal, Kyle joined him, walking a set behind as was customary. His cousin had chosen to wear his breastplate and cape, always the consummate Knight. He recalled the day they were all granted their knighthoods. None of them wanted to remove the vestments that marked their stations. Even after Dillan had become prince, becoming a Lumerian Knight was still an immense honor.

“We are not at war, Knight of Morningstar,” he said, unable to resist the jibe.

Kyle took it on the chin and said, “This after you barely returned from almost reuniting with The Light? If you weren’t my sovereign I would smack you.”

He heard the worry wrapped inside the humor and clapped his cousin’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t have survived without your help. I heard what you did, taking charge of the men. It was admirable.”

His third snorted. “It was the least I could don’t considering my prince was currently busy being stupid thinking if he sacrificed himself his men would be alright. If you had…”

Dillan squeezed his shoulder as one of the most powerful Knights in his realm was unable to finish his sentence. He could almost hear the lump that had formed in Kyle’s throat. Nothing more needed to be said. He had acted foolishly. No matter if it was for the good. In hindsight, had he died, the two kingdoms would have been worse off since The Light might not have found a new prince in time for the union. He banked the experience as something that made him wiser and vowed to consider other options before sacrificing himself. In his desperation to save his men, he had forgotten that there were bigger things at stake.

“What about the men?” He shifted the topic while making a mental note to visit the barracks and medical wing after this meeting.

“They have all been debriefed,” Kyle said. His tone reflected his relief in having to focus on something other than Dillan’s folly in decision making. “Those with more severe injuries have been seen to by the healers while the others have taken rooms at the barracks.”

Everything Serena had said. It was good to note that she kept nothing from him. Not that he had reason to doubt her. He just hadn’t seen her in just shy of a decade. He was sure that she was feeling him out just as much as he was her. He wouldn’t want it any other way between them if this union was to be successful. It was more about making a connection rather than feelings. He was pretty sure she understood this as well. Because if anyone expected them to have feelings for one another then they shouldn’t have been separated after the Ceremony of Introduction. Right now they were little more than strangers to one another. Strangers about to tie their lives to one another for as long as either one of them shall live. If they couldn’t be friends at the very least then it would definitely be a long and tedious life together.

When he and Kyle reached the war room, the gargoyles positioned on either side of the entrance pushed open the frosted glass doors. The protective energy of powerful wards skittered across his skin, assessing the kind of threat he was. If there was one place in all the kingdoms that was the safest, it would be this room. Centuries worth of sorcerers have reinforced the space with the strongest, most potent magic from both The Light and Dark. A true representation of what the union of both forces could do.

Inside stood five of the most important people in the realm already deep in discussion. Many a furrowed brow and tight lips among them. Sebastian pointed at a section of the holograph hovering above the table. It featured the two kingdoms, which formed an hourglass shape. Dust from riding clung to his brother’s armor and cape.

Beside him stood a dark-haired man in a gray, hooded travel cloak pinned closed by the emblem of a roaring lion’s head. From the confident way he stood, his bearing spoke of authority. He must be Bowen, the commander of the manticores. Fabled to be the only all white beast of his kind. His fighting prowess was legendary. Taking out a horde on his own was nothing to scoff at.

Next to the commander was Serena’s uncle. Besides being one of the most powerful sorcerers in the land, Lucius was one of his tutors when he lived in Teare. He had nothing but good memories of the patient man, who never tired of explaining anything that Dillan hadn’t understood the first or second time. Especially when it had to do with court politics—his worst subject, until today if Riona was to be believed.

“You’re late,” Serena said. She was flacked by her uncle and a small woman he could only assume was the high priestess Katarina in her ceremonial garb of pristine white. For a moment he wondered if she wore the robes or did the robes wear her. There was a brief pause while everyone in the room focused on the new arrivals.

His eyes immediately sought out Serena’s. He had to commend the palace matron’s skills. All that wild hair had been pulled back into a low chignon, fastened to the nape of her neck with a silver comb that featured the sacred heart of darkness. Simple yet elegant. Especially when paired with a cream, floor-length gown with black emeralds sewn into the bodice.

Serena was every bit the princess she had been chosen to become. Beautiful with a hint of mischief and mystery in that unblinking stare. He found himself enjoying watching her. Listening to the deliberateness of the way she spoke. Even the gestures she made with her hands, no matter how slight, was enthralling.

He bowed deeply when the silence grew strained. “I humbly apologize, Your Highness. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the palace. I had forgotten the location of the war room.” Partially the truth. Partially because he hadn’t thought they would start without him. He had gotten too used to being the head of any meeting that it unnerved him to remember in the Onyx Palace Serena ruled until they were united.

Suppressed chuckles came from his brother and cousin. He ignored them, vowing to make them pay at the sparring ring later, as he straightened. Serena noticed the insubordination as well and her eyes twinkled. She knew exactly what he was thinking about, and that didn’t bother him in the least.

“Before we continue with the meeting, I would like to hear your account of what happened the night you encountered the mega horde,” she said by way of accepting his apology.

Respecting her for choosing not to embarrass him for his tardiness, Dillan took up a position at the other end of the table. “Master Lucius, if you would clear the holograph for just a moment.”

Lucius tapped the end of his staff against the stone floor and rings of light rippled away from it. The holograph disappeared. Dillan nodded his thanks before he touched the table’s edge.

“Are you sure?” came Serena’s concerned question.

“It’s just a holograph,” he said. It wouldn’t need that much energy. Plus, he missed doing this. Concentrating his power on the palm of his hands then slowly spreading it out on the ancient wound that acted as a conduit. Then he envisioned the band of unclaimed land between Teare and Lumeria. It quickly manifested as colorful blurred lines of light that solidified and formed the landscape. Then he populated it with the rough estimate he had in his mind of the horde that night. Miniature versions of the ogres gathered, blocking the way into Teare.

Katarina gasped. “How is this possible?”

“Is that number right?” Serena asked at the same time.

“Looks just about right,” Kyle confirmed, studying the holograph. He hadn’t left Dillan’s side since they entered the war room. “Give or take a dozen. Nasty creatures, all of them. May they rot in The Void.” He flung a finger up in an obscene gesture toward the ogres.

Sebastian, Bowen, and Lucius all stared at the image with varying degrees of concern mixed with disbelief on their faces. When it became clear that no one else would speak, Dillan began narrating everything that he remembered, up until the point he blacked out after using the Light Detonation. He even told them about the attack on their camp which spurred them to ride hard toward the Onyx Palace.

“How have I not heard of this?” Sebastian asked with obvious heat in his tone.

“I was planning on telling you when we arrived,” Dillan said simply, not allowing for his brother’s rising temper to escalate further. Then he indicated the holograph. “We never expected this to happen. I have a feeling this is more than just the balance crumbling.”

“What are you saying?” Lucius pinned him with a pointed stare—more from genuine curiosity than with an intention to intimidate.

He crossed his arms as he returned his gaze on the horde. “I’ve been thinking about this since that attack at camp. The actions of these minions don’t make sense.”

“I agree,” Bowen said in a deep, rumbling voice. “With the wards we have in place and the quickness of our responses when there is an attempt at a breach, having these many minions without detection so far into our territory isn’t normal.”

Serena looked from her manticore commander to him. “Dillan?”

He met her gaze once more. “I think the minions are being controlled.”