The Royal Seal
900 Words
Evelyn stared at the pendant in her palm.
The silver metal was warm.
Too warm.
The symbol engraved across its surface seemed to shimmer beneath her fingers, almost as if it were alive.
“The rightful heir,” Kael repeated.
Evelyn looked up.
“You knew this would happen.”
Kael didn't answer.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“It is the only one I can give you right now.”
Evelyn closed her fingers around the pendant.
For the first time since discovering the truth about her family, something inside her settled.
Not peace.
Purpose.
“If I'm the rightful heir, why did my parents hide me?”
“Because being the heir made you a target.”
“And now?”
Kael's eyes hardened.
“Now the people who killed your mother know you're alive.”
A cold breeze moved through the trees.
Evelyn looked toward the darkness.
“Then we shouldn't stay here.”
“We won't.”
Kael turned toward the northern path.
“There is a safe house beyond the mountain.”
“You have a safe house?”
“I have several.”
Evelyn followed him, but her mind remained on the pendant.
“Kael.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“Did my mother know you?”
“Yes.”
“How well?”
Kael's expression became unreadable.
“Well enough for her to trust me.”
Evelyn studied him.
“And my father?”
“Your father trusted me with his life.”
“Then why did he tell me to trust you instead of telling me the truth himself?”
Kael was silent for a moment.
“Because he knew you would hate him for lying.”
Evelyn's chest tightened.
“He was right.”
They continued walking.
After several minutes, Evelyn noticed that Kael had become unusually quiet.
“You're hiding something again.”
“No.”
“You're a terrible liar.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“You've known me for less than a day.”
“And somehow I already know that.”
The smile disappeared.
Kael looked ahead.
“There was another reason your father wanted you to find me.”
Evelyn stopped.
“What reason?”
Kael turned around.
“He wanted me to train you.”
Evelyn blinked.
“Train me?”
“Your abilities.”
“I don't have any abilities.”
Kael glanced at the golden mark on her wrist.
“You just awakened a royal seal.”
“That doesn't mean I know how to use it.”
“Exactly.”
Evelyn crossed her arms.
“And you know how?”
“I know enough to keep you alive.”
She studied him.
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”
Kael stepped closer.
“But it may be enough.”
Before Evelyn could answer, the pendant suddenly began to glow.
Kael's face changed.
“What?”
“Don't move.”
Evelyn froze.
The golden light spread from the pendant to her wrist.
Then a strange sensation passed through her body.
For one brief moment, she heard voices.
Hundreds of them.
Whispers.
Crying.
Prayers.
Then one voice rose above the rest.
Find the throne.
Evelyn gasped.
The light vanished.
“What was that?”
Kael grabbed her shoulders.
“What did you hear?”
“Voices.”
“What did they say?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Find the throne.”
Kael went completely still.
“You heard it too?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look frightened?”
“Because no one has heard the royal call in decades.”
Evelyn's heart raced.
“What is the royal call?”
Kael released her.
“A message from the Moon Throne.”
“But the throne doesn't exist anymore.”
“It does.”
“Where?”
Kael looked toward the mountains.
“Hidden.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“You know where it is.”
“Yes.”
“Then take me there.”
“No.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because the throne is protected by an ancient oath.”
“What oath?”
Kael hesitated.
“Only the true heir can enter.”
Evelyn looked down at the pendant.
“Then what's stopping me?”
Kael's expression darkened.
“Your blood isn't the only thing that determines whether you're the heir.”
“What else does?”
“The throne must accept you.”
Before Evelyn could ask what that meant, a horn sounded in the distance.
Kael immediately turned.
His expression became serious.
“They found us.”
“How many?”
“Too many.”
Evelyn's pulse quickened.
“What do we do?”
Kael looked at her.
“For once, you're going to do exactly what I tell you.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I'll carry you.”
Evelyn glared at him.
“You wouldn't dare.”
A faint smirk appeared on Kael's face.
“I was hoping you'd say that.”
Another horn echoed through the mountains.
Kael drew his weapon.
“Stay close.”
Evelyn tightened her grip around the pendant.
For the first time, she wasn't running from the truth.
She was running toward it.
And somewhere beyond the mountains, an ancient throne was waiting for its queen.
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