As the royal attendant to King Knos, Lorelai enjoyed many privileges. At least, she once considered them privileges. Over time, the more she learned, the more shackled she became. Especially with her involvement in the king’s intelligence network. Though she was privy to most things, she knew quite clearly that there were many details the king withheld from her. It was wise of him to do so, of course. Lorelai would have done the same thing in his position. The king was no fool. Despite his supposed disinterest in the affairs of the kingdom, he spent more time working on improvements than most people realized.

One of the secrets she’d come to learn, perhaps one of the strangest of them all, was that King Knos was a Grimnir. Most likely a Vitugr. For some reason, he kept his magic a secret. The only reason she even knew was that she’d gone looking for him late one night because she’d heard a sound outside his room and checked to see if he was inside. He had not been, but his room looked undisturbed. Before alerting the guards, she searched for him, stumbling upon his robe on the stairs leading to the upper floors of the Tower of Tarn.

She’d climbed higher, searching each floor until she arrived at the fifth floor, candlelight glowing from one of the rooms. She’d approached it carefully, peaking through the crack of the door to see the king inside, an ancient tomb open before him as magical tendrils snaked across the ground. But why keep it a secret? She was sure that no other person was aware of his abilities. That meant he’d had to venture through Vanalf all on his own, something Grimnirs were never supposed to do. That, or all who’d accompanied him were dead.

Lorelai shook her head from the reverie. That was when her shackles had truly been attached. There was nothing she could do about all that now.

The hour was late, but Lorelai had come across some unfortunate news that she knew the king would want to know immediately. She did not know why the information was unfortunate, only that the king would be displeased by it. The king had a habit of staying up late anyway, so she knew she would not be disturbing him.

True to the point, she found the king in the planning office, overlooking a large drawing of his new estate.

Knos looked up at her as she entered, his dark blue eyes settling unblinkingly. “You couldn’t sleep either, I see,” his voice rumbled.

“No,” Lorelai said, unsure how he would receive her message.

“I’m glad you came,” he said, resting the knuckles of his hands on the table before him. “I’ve been thinking, and I want to get married.”

Lorelai’s eyes widened, and it felt as though she’d been slugged in the stomach. Sure, she’d worked with the king for years, but she’d never suspected such a thing of him. But he certainly couldn’t have meant her. That would not be reasonable. She scolded herself for even thinking that he meant her.

Knos grunted. “Not to you, Lorelai.” He shook his head.

“Of course not,” Lorelai said, quickly suppressing the reaction. “You will look at some of the other powerful families in Dalstava. I simply haven’t seen you express any interest in marriage before. Such a comment takes me by surprise.”

“I wasn’t sure much could take you by surprise.”

“Consider this a rare occasion,” Lorelai said, grateful for the moment of reprieve before delivering her news. “What sparks the interest?”

“Dark times,” Knos said, standing up straight, one hand stroking the edge of his sword hilt. “The people could use a bit of good news at a time like this.”

Lorelai took a deep breath. She needed to tell him. It would be interesting to see his response. She would be direct. “Captain Mikel Vigsen sent Grimnirs to investigate all the portals.”

Knos’s reaction was subtle. A mere darkening of his countenance, a fierce expression in the dim candlelight. “He doubts me.”

This was a topic Lorelai had yet to understand. “Is it not wise to ensure the portals have not been compromised?”

“It’s foolish,” Knos snapped. “Only Voyagers can open the portals, but there are no Voyagers.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“But there could be,” Lorelai pressed. “They’ve only gone missing. Isn’t it possible that a Voyager could be out there acting of their own volition?”

“No,” Knos said, his face calmer than she would have expected. “It is not. The Voyagers are all dead, Lorelai.” His gaze was even, his voice steady and sure.

He was so certain of himself that Lorelai’s mind immediately went to the worst possible conclusion. It all made sense now. She nodded slowly, stilling the fear that came with the revelation. “I see. You had them killed.”

Knos did not deny it. He only blinked at her. “Without Voyagers, the portals cannot be opened. If the portals cannot be opened, Avskild is secure. The only reason we were invaded before was because a rogue Voyager opened the portals to an army of trolls. No such threat can present itself again.” He rounded the table and took one step toward her.

Lorelai held her ground. She’d never experienced violence from the king before, but his looming presence made her question his intentions. He wielded magic after all. Even if his skill with a sword was untested in her eyes, she had no idea what he could summon. If he was a Vitugr, as she suspected, then fire was not out of the question.

“Doesn’t the magic of the Voyagers also strengthen Avskild and the shield from outside corruption?” she said.

“I have taken care of that as well.”

“Not to question your wisdom, King Knos,” she said carefully, “but what are your conclusions regarding the draugr ship.”

“You heard Captain Vigsen yourself,” Knos said. “It could have been dormant.”

Lorelai shook her head ever-so-slightly. “He said that to appease you. That’s not how draugr work. They do not lie dormant. I’d run an investigation on everything there. The condition of the ship, the weapons and clothing of the draugr. It all suggests they had died only recently, and they were not people of Avskild.”

Knos’s jaw set and she could feel the rumbling in his chest as he growled.

She pressed on, hoping to make her point—not just to be proven correct—but for the sake of Avskild. “You must recognize that there are other ways for the portals to be breached. Magic works in many mysterious ways.”

“But I have secured them,” he said, voice quiet but firm. “Of course it would be unwise to assume that everything is foolproof, but I have done more than just execute all the Voyagers.”

Lorelai’s mind spun, unsure what he could have possibly done to secure the portals. Perhaps it had something to do with him becoming a Grimnir. “What do you mean?” she dared ask. She dropped to her knees before him. “I only desire to help secure the safety of your people, my king. I wish to know so that I can help you.”

“You have indeed been loyal, Lorelai, but there are some things that must remain my burden alone.”

Lorelai dropped her head, gritting her teeth against the rising fury. She would not give up so easily. “I know you are wise, my king, but surely you recognize that much of the power of a ruler lies not only in their own body and mind, but in the strength and wisdom of those they command as well. I am at your command. Let my strength and wisdom be at your disposal.”

“I thought it already was,” Knos grumbled. “You have your role. There are administrative tasks that need to be done, like finding me a wife. Work on that. The defense of Avskild is up to me and Daelen. I have divided roles for a reason. It is not necessary for me to reveal everything to you in order to maintain your allegiance, is it?”

“Of course not,” Lorelai said, rising back to her feet, but dropping her head. “I only invite you to utilize me for all of my assets.”

Knos nodded, eyes narrowing. Perhaps Lorelai had come off too eager. The king was not too shrewd most of the time, but on occasion would display a rare sense of perception. “We will see. Thank you for bringing me this news, but the hour is late. We should get our rest. I expect you to start communicating with some of the other houses tomorrow.”

Lorelai dipped her head lower, mostly to give her enough time to hide her displeasure, a craft she was always improving. “As you wish.” She flashed the smallest flicker of a smile. “I am eager to see how your courtships progress.”

“I’m sure you are.” He gestured to the door. “Peace.”

“Peace,” Lorelai replied as she turned to leave the room, though peace felt far from reach.

Footsteps approached, thudding at a rapid pace. Lorelai held her ground just outside the door, hand ready to withdraw the knife hidden up her sleeve. Who could possibly be charging toward the king at a time like this?

“My king,” a voice called, lantern bouncing in his hand. She recognized the voice as Daelen’s. She relaxed and stepped aside as Daelen slid a stop in front of the king, but not before Lorelai caught a glimpse of his expression. Wide-eyed. Shocked.

Daelen took a gasp of breath. “Captain Vigsen sent word. One of the Valtyra has reported that a portal has been destroyed.”

Unable to contain herself, Lorelai gasped audibly, clutching a hand to her chest as she gaped at Daelen. Such a thing was unheard of. A tragedy, the consequences of which could very well threaten all of Avskild.

King Knos shook his head as the idea settled in. “How did it happen?”

“No idea. The report was that the site looked… corrupted.”

Knos growled and clenched his fists. “Such a thing should not be possible.” He slammed a palm against the wall, and his eyes settled on Lorelai. “Perhaps I will make additional use of your wisdom after all, Lorelai.”

Lorelai nodded, but something within her felt as though she would regret this night.