Page 29

King Lionel of Danzari was running out of options. The blight on his land had dragged on for three long years. Despite his best efforts, the crops continued to wither and the animals continued to perish at an alarming rate. Their silk worm population was half of what it once was. The people were barely hanging on, hungry and angry. If he didn’t do something drastic, Danzari would cease to be the beautiful, thriving country it had always been. Consequently, he found himself bouncing in his carriage on a rash journey into the lush land of Kelkona to speak with the infamous Dark King.

It had only been three years since Prince Drake was crowned King Kelkona, and already he had been given the dubious title of Dark King. This was due, in part, to the abrupt illness and deaths of the former King Kostis of Kelkona and his eldest son Crown Prince Conan, shortly after some festival. Many speculated that the Dark King had murdered them to ascend the throne.

Lionel shivered. If it weren’t for his desperation, he would never have come. But Kelkona’s rich thriving land was legendary. Perhaps therein lay the answers to saving his own kingdom. He was determined to find out.

Surely the rumors were unfounded.

They had nearly reached the castle when he and his entourage were forced to stop at the edge of a moat. Lionel waited for half an hour in the muggy heat while his men tried to find some way across. More stories of the Dark King assailed his mind: a disappearing cousin and unnatural sorcery. His rational mind tried to convince him to turn around and go home. He pushed these thoughts away. They are just stories, he told himself. He needed to focus on what he had come here to do: heal his land.

Startled exclamations erupted throughout the ranks of men as a dark stone archway abruptly appeared out of the mist. There was a groan as a bridge extended from a duplicate archway across the moat until it clicked into place. Men murmured in dissent, their ears still buzzing from the magic. Many refused to cross the unsettling bridge into the domain of the Dark King. Leaving them behind, Lionel’s carriage clanked across the bridge, accompanied by only his most loyal guards.

Before long, he entered the gray stone castle and stood before the Dark King.

King Kelkona seemed nothing like Lionel had hoped, and everything that rumor had claimed. The king’s dark form loomed above Lionel like a dragon watching its prey. Hooded brows accentuated dark, calculating eyes. A tall golden crown encrusted with silver branches, metallic leaves, and diamond flowers stood atop untamed curls. Light glinted off bronze skin revealing a ruthless expression that sent shivers down Lionel’s spine. He prayed that “dark” had more to do with the king’s overall appearance and less to do with his heart.

As he waited for King Kelkona’s greeting, Lionel took in the room itself. While vast and extravagant, it seemed somehow… empty. Lionel shrugged off the feeling. Any place would seem quiet when not filled with his daughters.

He refrained from fidgeting as the silence persisted—a skill developed over many years of sovereignty. A skill the younger King Kelkona had already mastered, his steely eyes assessing Lionel. No matter how uncomfortable the moment, Lionel would follow protocol and wait for King Kelkona to address him first.

Time stretched as the two kings assessed one another. Finally, King Kelkona broke the oppressive silence. “Danzari, why are you here?”

Lionel blinked, shocked at King Kelkona’s informal query. He had come to expect a certain amount of smooth talking and political niceties before discussing anything of importance. He certainly hadn’t expected King Kelkona to so tersely demand to know why he was here, while deliberately dropping his title.

Determined to remain unruffled, he executed a brief bow, as expected between kings. “I have come seeking your illustrious advice.”

King Kelkona’s brows shot up and he gave a dry, humorless laugh. “My advice? How could I advise you? I’d expect quite the opposite.”

“Then, perhaps we can help each other.”

King Kelkona scoffed and sank into his throne, leaving Lionel standing. “I doubt it, but do continue. I’m curious to know how I might be of any help too old, experienced Danzari.”

Lionel flinched at being called old, even if it was disguised as a compliment. No matter how irritating King Kelkona was, he needed help with his land. “It is said that Kelkona has the most fertile land in all of Vilastoria.”

King Kelkona raised his brows and tilted his head.

Lionel continued, “I hope I might entice you to share with me something of the secret to keeping your land so fertile. I am afraid a magic blight has been upon Danzari for three long years, and I have been unable to rectify the situation.”

King Kelkona fiddled nonchalantly with his signet ring. “Have you spoken to the nature dryads? They have a magical bond with the lands. Surely they are the ones to go to, not me.”

“I have indeed consulted with a dryad. After surveying my lands, she informed me that the magic had quite run out. She then insisted that the solution to my problem lay in the riches of Kelkona. This, along with your notoriety as a great enchanter, convinced me that you were the one to come to for aid.”

“I understand your problem. Unfortunately, I cannot give you what you need.”

Lionel’s face paled. The dryads had been so certain that this was the only way. Kelkona had to help. Perhaps if he could only see what he had to gain by helping. “I am prepared to offer you fifteen thousand drachma.” He quoted the beginning sum he and his advisors had previously agreed upon. King Kelkona’s face gave nothing away. Lionel continued, “In addition, I would like to offer you first pick of our acclaimed silk.”

King Kelkona drummed his fingers upon his throne. “I already told you, I cannot help you. At least not for another six mon—” He abruptly broke off as a lanky, silver-haired man—who Lionel had only just noticed by his side—approached.

The man whispered in the king’s ear. King Kelkona’s expression shifted, the hard lines clearing. For the first time he looked at Lionel squarely. “Are you in possession of several daughters?”

“Yes,” Lionel swallowed. “I have twelve daughters, Your Majesty.”

King Kelkona nodded, his eyes dangerously bright. “And your eldest daughter is the beautiful and well-known Princess Faelynn. The people are quite taken with her.”

“Yes. We are quite proud of Crown Princess Faelynn. However, her reputation has no bearing on this conversation.”

“That, Danzari, is where you are wrong.”

Lionel felt his mouth go dry.

“We might indeed help each other.” Cold eyes met his. “In six months’ time, I will have what you need to heal your land. In exchange, I would like to marry the renowned Crown Princess Faelynn. Surely, with twelve daughters, you can part with one.”

No . He had promised his wife, Damiya, that their daughters could have a say in whom they married, even if they couldn’t entirely choose. He simply could not agree to such an alliance, especially with the Dark King. Tension knotted Lionel’s stomach. He should have prepared for this turn of events. Such alliances were made all the time. How could he save his kingdom while still protecting his daughters?

“I will, of course, require half the ten thousand drachma I hear her dowry consists of, plus the fifteen thousand for helping you.” King Kelkona fiddled casually with his ring once more, looking unconcerned.

While a part of him was surprised that King Kelkona only asked for half her dowry, another part of him wanted to cut his losses and run. However, Lionel knew that King Kelkona held the key to saving his kingdom. Any other solution was more myth than reality.

Desperate to avoid any sort of marriage alliance, Lionel countered with twenty-five thousand plus exclusive silk rights—much more than previously discussed with his advisors.

King Kelkona would not be moved. “Keep your five thousand. I will accept your daughter plus the amount previously mentioned or there will be no deal.”

Sweat trailed down Lionel’s forehead. Somehow, he had to save his land while still protecting his daughters. Knowing this would take some delicate maneuvering, he began carefully, “I will give you my consent to marry one of my daughters, but only if she accepts your suit. I have promised them that they may have a say in whom they marry. Only then will you receive the dowry as well as the money. In exchange, you will give me what I need to heal my land.”

Dark eyes glinted. “That is agreeable. In six months, I will have what you seek. After I have married your daughter, then I will help heal Danzari. Besides, a union with Crown Princess Faelynn would merge our kingdoms.”

“After… merge our kingdoms—!” Sputtering, Lionel snapped his jaw closed to keep his reaction contained. How could he possibly put Faelynn or any of his daughters in such a position? Besides, merging Danzari and Kelkona hadn’t once crossed his mind when he began this journey. He had hoped to gain help without any undue attachment to the Dark King and his infamous reputation.

How had it come to this? He could not possibly tell his daughters that in order to heal Danzari, one of them, preferably Faelynn, must marry the Dark King. It was becoming abundantly clear that he could not hang all his hopes upon King Kelkona. Lionel resolved that King Kelkona would not be seeing a single gold piece unless he actually helped Danzari.

There had to be some other way. He could not, however, discount King Kelkona entirely. Perhaps the rumors were untrue and one of his daughters would agree to such a marriage. He sent up a quick prayer to the Great Creator for help and guidance. Resolved upon his course, he nodded. “I would expect nothing less. You will, of course, be paid in full after such information is shared and Danzari has been helped.”

King Kelkona’s lips twisted into what might pass for a smile. “I am glad we are of one accord. You can expect to see me within the next few weeks. I plan to claim the hand of your lovely daughter without delay.”

Lionel signed the agreement, even as he prayed for some other answer to manifest itself. Just what had he gotten himself into, and how would his daughters react to such news?