Page 33 of In The Dark
My only job was to protect them.
And I failed.
My eyes flick to Ivy walking into the king’s study as I’m going through scrolls—curly hair controlled in tight braids going down the sides of her head. She halts a few feet away, clasping her hands together.
“Sir, we need a king,” she states.
“It will not be me. I won’t do it.” I shake my head, continuing to rummage through the scrolls, but she presses.
“It must be you, Rydian. With Elynor and Isa missing, the laws of succession are that if there are no royals left, the second-in-command is to take the throne—the decree of the Fates.”
“A second-in-command has never taken the throne before, Ivy.”
“But now there has to be. Youarethe second-in-command, and we need to do the ritual. We’ve already pulled Andre’s blood for the essence. We just need to complete?—”
“No, I don’t want it!” I shout, slamming my hands on the table as I stand, the items on the desk rattling from my outburst.
“We need you!” she shouts back, knowing me well enough to confront me on the issue. “We need someone on the throne. It’s been three weeks. I know you’re not royalty, a Vaelborne, but the people need a king, and that is you. It has to be you—wehave no other choice. I understand that you’re grieving Andre and that you want to find Elynor and Isa, but we can’t do that without a realm or a king. We can’t do that without you.”
Stepping back, I shove my hands through my hair, now touching the tips of my ears from the growth. Looking out the window from the castle, I see the depths of the ocean come into view amongst the city of Vyria, the realm’s capital.
I try to come to terms with the issue at hand, but I know deep down that it has to be me. Pain grips me, squeezing tight in my chest. I will never stop grieving the loss of him.
“I know,” I say finally, pacing the length of the window as I rub a hand over my jaw. My steps halt and I face her, my eyes closing on an exhale. “Let’s get it over with, then. We’ll do it tomorrow, and I’ll appoint you as my second-in-command.”
“Sir?” she asks, her eyes wide.
“You’re not afraid to confront me, and I need that by my side when times are tough. I want you as my second. You can choose my third if you want, but I want you in control of the army and strategizing. I watched you even before the battle and wanted to raise you up the ranks then. From the recent informants that I’ve sent out, King Elion believes that there is no Aurelia left and no royal on the throne. Let’s lie low for a while. I don’t want him suspecting that we survived.”
“Yes, my king. Thank you,” is all she says before leaving.
“I have something for you,” Ivy says.
We walk up the grand stairwell leading to the council chamber as I take the scroll from her.
“This just came in from our messenger hawk. They found Isa,” she says. I halt on a breath and turn with disbelief. It’s been five years since they were taken with no lead in sight.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
She stops with me. “Yes, but they think King Elion is wiping her memories somehow. We aren’t sure how they’re doing it, but Isa had a brief conversation with Orin a week ago. She doesn’t remember our realm, claiming that she’s an orphan of Elderheim and was raised amongst her friend Ezra. We found out that they keep moving her location, which is why it has been so difficult for us to track her. They’re hiding her somehow. Orin wants you to meet him in Arcan to talk to her. She’s ten and should still be able to Vision Walk. Maybe you can refresh her while you’re there.”
If she can Vision Walk, it would make it possible to refresh her memories. If I can get my hands on her face, it should be able to work. Shadovar tend to gain their unique capability at a young age, and hers was Vision Walking at age three. We didn’t know what her power was until she started talking, giving us insight to our own memories when we touched her face, revealing hidden truths. I remember that Elynor would flush in embarrassment over it.
We finally arrive in the council chamber with a swing of the doors to discuss what’s to happen while I am gone. Ivy, being second-in-command, will be in control of the armies. Should I not come back, we strategize my departure and come up with a solid plan.
I leave the chamber to ready myself for the long journey by grabbing a few of my weapons and Veil to the edge of the Elderheim border near a hole that allows me to make my way inside.
It takes me a moment to adjust as Elderheim’s power surges through me. Even though I can still access my magic, it’s not as strong as it is in my own realm, my reserves draining so much faster here.
Both realms have their own wards against the other, and right now, Elion has a border up, but there’s a crack in it near Red Hollow. And although we’re still able to access the realm and our magic, it’s muted upon entering, only allowing me toshift or walk in the Veil. Anything stronger and my power drains at a much faster rate.
With a glance down, I watch as the shadows on my fingertips disappear, feeling it settle beneath my skin. Once across the border, I visualize Arcan and take a step, quickly arriving at our meeting spot—a local tavern—while shifting my appearance. I have been to Arcan once before, but that was years ago, having met with a few discreet locals before the journey to find Isa began.
Orin is my third in command that Ivy appointed a few years ago. He offered to go in place of the other informant that I wanted to send, claiming that he was more skilled in tracking and was confident he could find Isa. Rightfully so.
Originally a large dark-haired male, Orin has also shifted into a new appearance. Only this time he’s shifted into a frail older male, and I’m assuming it’s to not scare Isa away.
“Orin.”I push the thought out, speaking in the Veil. His eyes lift as I slide into the chair across from him.“What have you found out?”