The central room of City Hall was packed with the elite of Urith. Draven and Sygvar pushed past the crowd as they approached the central staircase. With President Nero's death, a new president was needed to rule in his absence. With Nero choosing Helkith as his regent, the council of senators deemed it reasonable for Helkith to become the new acting President until the next election.

Draven and Sygvar ascended the stairs. Reaching the top, they came face to face with Elinor and Rykar. The makeup covering Elinor's face was stained with tears. The handkerchief in her hand was stained with her makeup. Rykar's hair was messy, and his clothes were wrinkled and looked hastily thrown on. Both of them turned to face Sygvar and Draven. Pain and rage were evident on their faces.

Rykar quickly strutted forward, the footfalls of his boats loud against the marble floors. He looked both Sygvar and Draven up and down. "What do you two want?"

Sygvar looked confused, "We're here for the presidential ceremony and Nero's funeral like everyone else."

Rykar pressed his index finger into Sygvar's chest. "You failed the mission that my father tasked you with. You don't deserve to be here after what you did."

Draven pulled Rykar's hand away from his master. "Your father wasn't even supposed to be on the mission. If he had done what we asked and stayed away, he still would have been alive. You and your mother would have been safely reunited with him. And Raylen wouldn't be alive anymore."

Rykar snatched his hand from Draven. He then slapped Draven across the face. The sound caused the nearby guests to stop what they were doing and turn to face confrontation. "Don't you dare tell me what was supposed to happen? If my father came to the mission, that was his choice. He is …" Rykar stopped his. His voice cracked, and his eyes reddened, "... he was the ruler of Urith. Your primary job was to see that he lived. But no, you wanted to get revenge against Raylen. Look at my mother. She hasn't said a word since my father's death. Thank Solaris that she has stopped crying."

Draven looked to Elinor. The woman's eyes looked hollow, empty of life. She stood just behind her son, not saying a word. Her eyes were trained on the floor the whole time. She looked up at Draven, and tears began to flow from her eyes again. But no cry escaped her mouth—just tears streaming down her face, ruining her beautiful makeup as she stared at Draven with deep pain in her eyes.

"The fault of my father's death lays entirely on your shoulders," Rykar placed an arm around his mother's back and started guiding her away. Rykar's voice quivered and shook. He wiped away the tears from his eyes, "If you had just listened to your master. My father would still be alive."

"Ungreatful brat," Draven whispered to Sygvar. "I made the right choice. Raylen is a monster. Putting him down as soon as possible would be the best action."

Sygvar shook his head, "No, you made the wrong call. Partly because of your actions, we are now without a leader."

"No, we aren't. As much as I hate the idea, the council of senators voted for Helkith to become the new acting President," Draven shot back.

Sygvar looked at Draven flatly, "Helkith has been against us as soon as we arrived. Now we have to deal with him instead of Nero." Sygvar continued walking, "Enough arguing. We need to find Helkith."

Recognizing Draven and Sygvar, the City Hall Guards allow them to pass them and ascend the second set of stairs. At the top are the various senators, governors, business leaders, and friends of Helkith. They make their way over to Helkith, who was mumbling while reading a document.

"Helkith," Sygvar said right next to the man.

Helkith jumped a bit and looked at Sygvar with surprise. Then he let go of the breath he was holding and smiled, "Don't sneak up on me like that. You almost scared me to death."

"My bad president," Sygvar smiled back. "I just wanted to chat with you before the ceremony."

"Well, that depends on what you want to talk about," Helkith said, holding the document in his hand. I still have to practice my speech, go over Nero's funeral, and complete several other tasks. The life of a President is a busy one."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Pami wanted to know if the agreement between her and Nero would still be honored by you."

Helkith scoffed, "That woman still thinks that I would honor all her demands after she was partially responsible for Nero's death. She must be mad. There will still be an agreement, but I will not enact most of what she wants. Change should happen slowly, not all at once."

Draven clicked his tongue. "Nero swore an Oath on the Weave. That is not something done lightly. He may be dead, but he entrusted you as acting regent of Urith. And as acting regent, you must fulfill his wishes."

"Boy, you know nothing of politics. Don't tell me what I must and shouldn't do. I know what is best for Urith. What Nero had planned would tear this city-state apart. He swore that Oath in a moment of longing and desperation. The man was not thinking straight with his family taken from him. Now, if you both would excuse me," Helkith spun around on his heel and began walking away. "I have other matters to attend to."

Draven ground his teeth in frustration, "I fucking hate that prick."

---

Helkith stands in front of a podium overlooking the crowd assembled below him. They all stare up at him, quiet as Helkith gives his Presidential acceptance speech. Draven and Sygvar are behind Helkith, sitting in chairs with the other important people invited to sit next to Helkith.

"That's why I promise to root out the corruption in Urith and bring about a new age of peace and prosperity. My first action plan is to arrest all rebels in Urith and stop their nefarious actions. For too long, the rebels have been allowed to act unhinged within our borders with little to no consequences," Helkith declared.

"Finally, this is something I can get behind. The sooner we can go after Raylen, the better," Draven whispered to Sygvar.

"For these reasons, I will not honor the agreement between Nero and Pami." Helkith slammed his fist onto the podium.

The crowd was shocked and began to mumble. Then, one by one, the people below started to cheer.

Draven squeezed his master's arm, "I thought he said that he would honor some of the agreement. Now he's saying that he won't honor any of it. What is wrong with him?"

"Be quiet and let him finish. We will discuss this later."

"I can not tolerate cooperation with known terrorists. Pami and her people will get the same treatment as the rest of the rebels. I am also suspicious if she and her brother played a role in Nero's death. The rebels have been known to have each other's back. They are a sneaky and cutthroat bunch."

Draven shot to his feet, "You are a hypocrite! Nero swore an Oath to Pami! You were chosen by Nero as his regent; your job is to act in his good faith!"

Helkith slowly turned to face Draven, "I am acting in his best interest. Now sit down before things escalate."

Sygvar grabbed Draven's arm and pulled him back to his seat. Draven shook off his master, "Pami and her people are nonviolent. They have never committed any terrorist acts. They are progressives who want to see the lives of mundanes bettered. They don't deserve the same treatment as the rest of the rebellion."

"You shout your mouth, you murderer!" Elinor's high-pitched, screeching voice drew everyone's attention. Elinor stood up and pointed her finger at Draven. Tears streamed down her face as she continued to shout, "Because of them, my Nero is dead! We do not cooperate with rebels and terrorists. You should be locked up with them, too! If we had fled instead of fighting Raylen, Nero would still be here!"

"Mother, stop causing a scene," Rykar pulled his mother back into her seat.

"See, even Nero's widow agrees with me. The agreement between Pami and the government will be annulled," Helkith smiled at Draven.

Draven bolted forward and arrived in front of Helkith in seconds. He grabbed the President by his collar. His eyes glow with the reddish light of Essence. He lifted Helkith into the air, "You will do no such thing! Or so help me, I will bet you within an inch of your life!"

"Guards! Guards!" Helkith screamed as he looked around in panic, "Help me! Free me from this madman!"

City Hall guards rush forward, their guns pointed at Draven. "Release the President, or we will open fire," the guard captain commands.

Draven looked away from Helkith at the assembled guards surrounding him. He scoffed, "Make me."

Sygvar rushed forward, "Draven, put down the President!" Anger was in his eyes.

Draven paused in disbelief. He knew that he had messed up big time now. Rarely had Sygvar looked at him with anger and raised his voice at Draven. Draven put Helkith down gently and stepped away from the man.

Helkith smirked and fixed the wrinkles in his suit. "So the dog can listen. Guards arrest these two." At Helkith's command, the guards surrounding them rush forward. Detaining both Sygvar and Draven.

An explosion of telekinetic force blew the guards surrounding Draven away from him. "You will do no such thing! We are Al'Manti! We are not citizens of Urith!"

"Draven, please just stop and let this happen," Sygvar said.

"But master, he is arresting us without reason," Draven said.

The guards came forward once more. They attached enchanted cuffs to Draven and Sygvar, binding their arms behind the back. The cuffs cut off Draven's connection to the Weave, and the Essence within himself was sucked out and into the cuffs. Draining him dry of Essence.

"Oh, I have plenty of reason. You just threatened me, the President of Urith, and I have suspensions that you two aided in the death of Urith. Guards take them away."