Originally uploaded Jul 12, 2024
Kathyln Pov
The bustling crowd of Xyrus city flowed around us like a river stream. Traveling merchants and traders gathered here in the city in hopes of making fortunes. Although compared to just a couple of years ago the crowds have grown less dense.
Yet even with the war raging on between the two continents life went on for most folks. I didn't blame them, they had to make a living somehow. Though it did make me wonder what kind of life I would have lived if I weren't born into a royal family?
I have never liked the pressure of the throne that loomed for me. Despite not being the first in line to inherit it I knew of the political moves one had to make if Dicathen were to be united as a whole continent.
I would be lucky if I were pawned off and married to some noble of the other races. Or even a high class house that acts as our sponsor.
I suppose that was the role that was prepared for me if I were to continue this existence. It wasn't a future I really looked forward to to say the least.
My mind continued to wonder as I was led by my brother, his hand gripped tightly around my cuff as he cut through the crowds like a blade.
We came heavily disguised of course, or else we wouldn't need to have dealt with this mess. We both wore simply heavy duty robes with hoods that came far down enough to cover our faces.
My brother reassured me that keeping a low cover was needed where we were going, but even after hounding him for a straight answer he never gave.
I stared down at the hand of my brother. The past several years felt like blur in my mind. So much has happened. My mind flashed back to my time at Xyrus academy, now reduced to no more than a simple teaching ground and training facility for younger mages.
But one event stuck out like a sore thumb even in the mess of the past. Grey, a person I had formerly known as Arthur Leywin laying claim to the Dicathen throne.
The announcement was a surprise to the both of us, while murmurs and rumors within the flying castle suggested the Dicathen council had a personal meeting with Arthur before the coronation we were in the dark about all of it like the rest of the population.
And having seen him fight against the Lances it wasn't a surprise why. I'm sure if Arthur truly wanted to he could level this whole city to the ground within moments. The type of magic he wielded was completely foreign to all of us, it made some of us even question if he was some king of asura planted here to led us through this war.
Nevertheless the sudden change in leadership did little but rattle everyone as the war effort continued on.
In fact it was running smoother than before. With the addition of Arthur's own forces to the mix everyday there were reports of victory after victory, as we pushed back against the invading Alacryans.
For the common citizen there wasn't much to complain about, many of the taxes and regulations was been loosened up under Arthur's rule as he dealt with many problems personally. Even going as far as to led armies himself on the front lines, which no doubt did wonders for morale.
But even so, many of the noble families weren't quiet pleased when a outside member suddenly bursts in with little regard for agreements or attached strings of the past. It wasn't pleasing to say but despite my family's status as royalty true political power was a carefully balanced scale.
With many rich and powerful families whispering contracts behind the scenes to stay in power or gain it. Our family only came out on top due to circumstance that luck. And Arthur destroyed the carefully balanced society when he laid claim to the throne by force.
No noble houses dared to oppose him, at least for now. But I have heard small murmurs being passed around, yet none would bare their fangs just yet. Not with the war happening.
But even Arthur must know the consequences of so forcefully attaining power. Even with all his power, it would place too many knives at his back. Unless he truly didn't care and would burn this world to the ground if it disobeyed him.
"We're here." My brother whispered.
As yes, my elder brother. The heir to Sapin. Or should I say that in the past tense. With Arthur reining as king my family domain had been reduced to dealing with Xyrus city and the surrounding territories.
He has changed much in that time. The usual aloof princely smirk of confidence he always wore was nowhere to be seen. Replaced by a stern look of a knight. When he was younger he was very much the stereotypical prince, quiet to anger if anything was not done to his will and flaunting his own position. And while the afterimage of that prince still lingered he was changed.
No doubt because of the things he had seen and done on the battlefield.
If I wasn't mistaken he had played a quiet active part in this whole campaign, and this was a large fragment of the little free time he had in between leading his battle group and tutoring in the lancer academy. While I was stuck in the city or the Dicathen castle aiding my mother and father in administrative tasks. Was this also a powermove done by Arthur?
Robbing my parents of their eldest son and casting him out into the winds of war so they had no male successor? Taunting them while reducing their role and importance. A sudden rage filled my heart. An usually rare emotion for me but one that was growing more apparent these days.
If he deemed it important to drag me here with him in the short vacation time he had then it must be truly important.
The place we stopped seemed to be of no importance. The exterior of the building just showed the building as a rundown old tavern that it appeared to be. Through the windows I could see the tavern's clients sitting by tall stools or at tables drinking.
'Don't tell me he dragged me all the way out here for a drink?' I thought in my mind, but soon I cast that thought aside for now. That was stupid, even for my brother.
Curtis pushed the door open and a bell chimed as it did. The door creaked and squeaked from the maintenance it lacked.
Despite the ear destroying sound the door made nobody turned our direction. Everyone merely continued to enjoy their drink and talk amongst themselves.
Still, I felt uneasy about this whole thing and pulled done my hood further down as I followed my brother to the bartender.
Despite being a tavern in Xyrus city the interior of this place matched the rundown exterior. A large light fixture that looked like any simple breeze would knock it down and tumbling to the ground hung from the ceiling.
The patrons of the tavern seemed to match the whole vibe and air of this place as well. Almost as if people and places with similar auras are attracted to each other. Many of them seemed to be middle-aged to older men and women. Most possessed no core, and the few who did reached no higher than light orange. So if there was an altercation at least we wouldn't be in any real danger.
Curtis reached the bartender. A large gentleman with a full bread that looked like it could use a shave or two. Faint scars ran up and down his exposed arms as he stood there with a stern look on his face cleaning a glass.
'Huh, that's strange.' I thought as I peered into his man. The air around him was different from the others. I couldn't sense his core but the mana danced around him like it would with a seasoned mage. A relic or tool that blocks mana detection perhaps.
Curtis stood there for a moment. Waiting for the bartender to address him. Which he did not. He just stood there, completely ignoring the newcomers presence and continued onto cleaning the next beer glass.
My brother stood awkwardly for a few moments before clearing his throat. Now this sound, it did draw the attention of a few close by drinkers.
Curtis spoke, purposefully trying to hide his own voice lest the people recognize him.
"Excuse me sir." He asked trying to emulate a rough tone, but it came out too tame and controlled. It fooled no one.
The burly bartender shot Curtis a cold glance. Sending even shivers down my back.
"What ya want?" He spat, as if speaking only three words to us was a wast of time.
Curtis took a small step back. His apprehension of this whole situation seemed to suggest this was his first time here as well. Was he introduced to this place by a third party? Or did he hear about his place from one of his friends? And if so what could the rumors speak of that was so interesting to drag me here.
Curtis looked back at me briefly, his face betrayed the false confidence he tried to show off. He quickly turned back to the bartender and closed the distance. Leaning over the counter he quickly withdrew something from under his robes and showed it to the man while whispering something so that only he could hear.
The man's face did not change. In fact he seemed more annoyed than anything. Curtis than pointing back at me, the man's eyes followed his fingers and met mine for a brief moment.
The eyes of a trained killer. Was what raced through my mind as his gaze seemed to pierce into my skin like a knife.
After looking back and forth at the both of us he pointed with his head towards the back door of the tavern.
Curtis nodded in response and beckoned me to follow. Without any other choice I followed him as we walked towards the door.
Coming close to it now it seemed quiet strange for such a clean looking entrance to be in such a place. In fact I hadn't even notice this door when we first entered here. And from this distance I could sense the subtle mana that surrounded this doorway. Like a spell purposefully placed here to make it less noticeable.
Which seemed like a strange thing to put in a tavern where many of its customers weren't in the best of mental state.
Before we walked through Curtis turned to me. And from his robes he withdrew a pair of white masks with two empty slits for eyes. It reminded me all too much of the mask Arthur used to hid his identity and pose as adventurer Grey.
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"Put this on. Our identities are a matter of life or death here." Curtis whispered as he placed one of the masks on his face.
"Death?" I almost blurted out before he swiftly placed a hand over my mouth.
"Just follow my lead and it should all be fine."
Oh how I wanted to bite down on his finger and scream out. Just what did my own brother dragged me into.
Curtis hastily placed the remaining mask on my own face as he pulled me along. And pushed open the door.
The backdoor opened to a long winding spiral staircase made of block of stone. Moss and vines grew upon the walls as small globes of light illuminated the way down. And still Curtis held my hand in his as he walked down.
Each step we took sent out echoes as the stairs seemed to continue on for a while. This place was far older than the tavern above it if the construction of this place was to be trusted.
"Just what is this place?" I spoke but my voice came out... different. A feature of the mask I wore I guessed.
Curtis hushed me with a finger to his emotionless mask as he dragged me further down.
I wondered how far down we had walked. It seemed like we have been descending for at least a minute by now. Why was just a long and deep staircase constructed in the first place?
Was this some remnants of the ancient mages that once inhabited Dicathen? Or was it something else entirely.
I suppose the answer really didn't matter right now as to what this place served as originally. I was more confused and anger as to why and how my brother knew about this place.
Just as I was about to ask a question again we reached the bottom of the staircase and a large room with a heavy metal door at the far end of it stood before us.
The entire room was in stark contrast to the worn down tavern and ancient looking staircase before it.
The stone bricks that made up the floor and walls were clearly well maintained. No speck of dust or moss marred their look. And a red and gold rug ran from the door to the staircase. It was well-worn but clean. Like something you would see at a old castle of a still living king with a dynasty that reached far back in time.
Curtis turned back to me and in a hushed tone spoke instructions.
"Never, under any reason do you reveal your identity. If you do you are signed our entire family's death warrant. Just stay quiet and follow me alright?" His voice came out in a deep baritone that wasn't his own.
I wanted to protest. To slap him in the face for bringing me to whatever cult meeting this clearly was. Just how desperate had he become after loosing his status? Has he gone mad?
I clenched my fists tightly, to the point that I could feel warm blood dripping down my hands.
Oh how I wanted to unleash a wave of frost at this idiot brother of mine. To drag him back home and have him reprimand.
But if this situation we were already in was a matter of life or death I could only imagine the consequence of such actions here. I tried to reason with myself in an effort to calm myself and before I knew it Curtis knocked heavily on the large metal doors.
The door creaked open, its weight could be felt as they drew back to allow us in. Inside was a room enclosed in utter darkness. Even with mana enhancing my vision I could not peer into the void. But from the echoes of our footsteps the room the large doors led to seemed to be even larger than the one before it.
In the center of the room sat a large round table draped in white fabric. With a lone white globe of light resting at the center. Curtis grabbed my hands again as he led me to the table.
As we approached closer I could feel something moving in the darkness. Despite my sense of sight some primordial instinct within me warned me of a danger within the impenetrable darkness.
Curtis and I came to rest at the table. And for a couple of seconds we were the only one illuminated by the globe's light. Yet things still moved within the void, it was like we were being judged from afar.
I glanced a look at Curtis. But I couldn't make out any emotion on his mask as he stared straight ahead, seemingly resolute.
And soon enough eight more figures donning similar blank white masks showed themselves to the light.
"It would seem you have invited one more to our cause." One of the voices spoke, I couldn't tell which one however. Something within this room was scrambling the sounds and dispersing them to be untraceable.
"I was done what I believe was necessary. This one will be of great assistance to us." I could make out Curtis' voice however as he stood close to me.
"It is still left to the rest of us to deem if they are of use to us." Another voice, this time one seemingly a bit more feminine. Although this could have been a purposeful trick.
"Ah ah. Let's not get too hasty now. Our little coalition here is still in its infancy. The more the merrier I say." The first voice responsed.
"You might see it that way. But the way I see it the more ears and mouths there are the possibility that our cover is blown grows." The feminine voice snapped back.
"Isn't that why we cover our true selves? Or perhaps even our own ranks have fallen victim to the sham cult going around about our new exalted king?" A different voice, this one sounding a bit more older responded.
'So is this whole thing about Arthur?' I wondered in my mind. But I dared not speak it.
"Don't joke with me. Only lowly and desperate commoners see that usurper as a god!" The feminine voice said as it pointed a gloved finger.
"Now now, I thought we agreed to leave our ranks and status at the door in our meetings." The first voice who now seemed to be the mediator or leader in all of this.
"Yes, we waste too much time. Let us discuss the important subject and be done with this." A new voice spoke, this time a very young man from the sound of it.
"Indeed. Oh how the great king Grey rules over his lands with such care and strength. Even now his legions of faceless warriors wage war on his behalf." The leader said in an exaggerated mocking tone.
"The boy-king's rule shall only be a medium. He shall serve his purpose with his armies and be discarded of after this whole war is over." The feminine voice added.
"He is far too young to be king. All he possess is raw strength. He is not fit to govern our continent. Not after we have reached unity after so long."
So these people, all seemed to hold a certain dislike and distrust for Arthur. I couldn't necessarily blame them. However going against him and forming such a council in the shadows seemed to be a disaster waiting to happen.
I haven't had too much contact with him. But from the short times I have dealt with Arthur at Xyrus academy, he was not a child. At in mannerisms or fighting prowess, to the way his mind worked. To believe him to be nothing but a strong brute was a foolish thing.
"Or perhaps he could still be used? Maybe offering him the hand of a princess to tie him down to one of the royal families will suffice. The forces he wields will no doubt bolster our continent-"
"The elven princess is out of the question. She holds too much real affection for the child. Perhaps than the human princess would be-"
"Tie him up with the Glayder's then what?" My brother spoke up.
"You've all seen him and read the reports. He think he would be deterred by a political marriage? And even than as you said the elven princess hold him in high regard and he no doubt does the same. They were childhood friends for god's sake!" Curtis said furiously. While I was a bit touched by how protective he was, it wasn't the best way to keep his cover from being blown.
"I was merely stating one possibility." The leader said and seemed to put an end to that subject.
"There are also problems with the dwarves. Many of them hold great admiration and respect for him. And Darv is growing into an economic center that eclipses Xyrus by the day. He holds too much power."
"And more reason why we should deal with him as soon as we came before he can solidify his grip. The soldiers only follow him because he leads them personally and is putting his attention there. But after the war concludes."
"Many noble houses still wear their distaste in his new polices on their sleeves. It won't be hard to win over their support."
"Than what? Have a bunch of good for nothing nobles who lounge around with their full bellies to lead a rebellion? Grey isn't someone who would be scared off with trade blocks."
"Indeed, he seems to enjoy bringing everything into his own control. Who knows what he is currently building in the depths of his home fortress under Darv."
"What's to say he doesn't already know of this council." I quietly said. I could feel Curtis next to me tense up. I could tell he wanted to turn towards me and scream at me but he stood silently.
"Oh? The newcomer finally speaks." The feminine voice laughed.
"Quiet an interesting remark there newcomer. Care to elaborate your reasoning?" The leader questioned.
I could feel a lump growing in my throat as I could feel sweat run down my back.
I didn't know who these people were. But from the pressure they gave off alone they were confident and powerful individuals. If not by physical force than by other means. Even if my identity and status as princess was revealed I doubt these people would even bat an eye at having me assassinated.
Slowly swallowing I began to speak. Making sure to cover any tracks that might trace back to my true self.
"I have my own sources within the Dicathen castle that tells the king Grey has been gone for a couple days now."
"We already know this information, although you having sources there is interesting." The older man spoke, and I could feel his peering gaze.
"He hasn't been in his fortress on Darv as well." The younger man added.
I cleared my throat and continued.
"Is that the reason why this council was held?" I asked.
"Partially yes." The leader answered after a few seconds of silence.
"If this Grey has an idea of this council don't you think this could be a trap, a false sense of security to lure out any opposition to his rule?" I questioned? It was a pretty farfetched idea but I had to reason myself out of the words I had blurted out.
The others of the council seemed to silently ponder my idea for a while before one of them spoke again.
"But there is no guarantee of that being the truth is there?"
"No guarantee but the chances are there. if true the detriments to our side are too large."
"But if he already know than how are we still alive?"
This time the leader answered. "To draw out more snakes hiding within the shadows and deal with them at once."
"A risky move no doubt. Killing one pocket of resistance may well spawn another." The older voice said.
"When aiming to kill go for the head. If you miss the threat will come back with vengeance in mind." The feminine voice agreed.
"Such rumors and hearsay will get us no where. If we are too scared to act than nothing will change and our fate will be sealed. This is the risk we take to insure a better future." The leader spoke up.
"For ourselves?" Another voice questioned sarcastically.
I could hear some of the other laugh lightly at such a remark.
The leader waited a few moments for the laughter to pass and cleared his throat.
"Killing the boy is not the move right now. He serves an useful purpose in winning this war for us for now."
"You believe he is capable of such a task?"
"He is our best shot for now." The leader quickly rebutted and continued.
"In the meantime we shall sow discord and distrust among the populous. As well as put effort in stomping out this growing religion and belief in our new king." The leader announced, putting emphasize on the word king as if it was a dirty word.
A plot against Arthur. As always with politics and the throne of power there always word and gestures traded in the dark behind everyone's backs. Arthur has only helped stoke the flames as he alienates most of the nobles. I knew in the back of mind that it was a possibility, perhaps even an eventuality.
But I didn't think it would have happened so soon. I would have at least thought it wouldn't come to pass until after the war concluded. But I seemed to have underestimated these people.
I wondered if I could escape this whole conspiracy before it got too out of hand. My identity was still save. But the problem laid with my brother. I had to find a way to convince him to leave with me.
I don't know just how deeply he had buried himself in all of this but if he were to stay...
I shuddered to think of the implications. If this whole ploy was discovered they would be put to death with their identities revealed to the public. And if a member of the Glayder family was uncovered than the rest of the family would also-
I stopped the thought in its' path. Do I play this thing I have been forced into to the end in order to have better control? Do I act as a spy in all of this and ask for mercy from Arthur to spare my family?
My mind whirled my thoughts and the terrible future that could be opened to me. As a princess I was used to having roles and expectations thrust upon me. But we were speaking of rebellion here. Something that will no doubt cause turmoil within our own people and cost their lives?
Was that something I wanted? The blood of my own people I have taught to lead and protect on my hands? All because Arthur took my family's birthright?
If I were to leave this council will just continue on without me. Actually, I am not even sure if they will allow me to leave. They said it themselves, the sources I could provide for them was priceless. The eyes and ears of a royal princess. And Arthur was someone I could call a friend. An acquaintance at the very least. I knew he trusted me to a certain extent and acknowledge my skills as a mage.
Do I betray that trust? Millions of thoughts danced across my conscious mind that I felt like I was falling deeper and deeper down a well. I found myself hard to breath, almost as if I was drowning.
I cursed my brother in my head for bringing me into the fold. But also felt sad for him. I am sure he felt the same confusion and bewilderment when he first came upon this council. Perhaps he reached out to me to find comfort and solace.
I reminded myself that he was still my brother. But the inner turmoil still bubbled away in my mind like hot lava.
The council continued on but I was silent. Fighting a battle within my own mind with my thoughts and ideas.
I wanted to scream, I wanted to silence all the thoughts that rang in my mind like bells and forget all of this. I wanted so much to just be a regular girl. Enjoying what girls enjoy.
I yearned for a simpler life. Not one wrapped in plotting and conspiracies that seemed natural for royal families.
I wanted freedom. I wanted joy and ignorance. I wanted my own life back.