Three weeks later the Capital is still in disarray as Duchess Eluna remains missing. The King’s health is improving due to several gifts of rare herbs and medicines from various nobles all looking to ingratiate themselves with the King. Meanwhile in a dilapidated estate several miles away from the Capital four people stand locked inside a room with guards outside controlling the doors.

“Well?” Lord Drax asked impatiently.

“She is indeed pregnant, Lord Drax.” A short middle-aged midwife commented without emotion.

“Finally, now we can start to put plans in place for the future.” He gleefully rubbed his hands. “With the rewards being touted by sources close to the King thanks to those expensive restorative panaceas that Duchess Huntington put me on to I could soon be elevated to a Duke. None of the other gifts even came close to improving the Kings vitality as mine did.”

As he was gloating Duchess Eluna had moved close to the midwife’s bag and grabbed a small blade which she pressed against her own throat. She gathered all her strength and spoke while glaring at Lord Drax

"If you come near me ever again I will take my own life and you will have nothing."

"I see that fiery temper is something you share with your husband. Don't worry, I won't touch you or the child as long as you promise you will tell the King that you no longer wish to be with Henrick and that instead you have chosen me."

“Lord Drax, Is that wise? What if she goes back on her word? I already have one of the more perverse alchemists working on a binding solution. Once she gives me her word, she will be unable to tell anyone outside the Drax family name of her predicament lest her and all her children will die, including Crius.”

“Crius, Crius Lives?” Happy tears pouring down her face.

“Yes, your cripple of a Son lives. Luckily the attack damaged his core or this plan would have been useless. Now, will you swear to tell the King what we just discussed?”

"I… I will." She answered reluctantly knowing it would mean she would probably never get to see and hold Crius again.

"Sally, keep her here and make sure she is healthy throughout the pregnancy. I won't be back for several months but send a messenger if anything changes or the birth happens prematurely."

"Yes, Lord Drax." She bowed as he exited with Walter.

Eluna broke down and wept after Lord Drax left the room. Uncontrollable sobs escaping her lips as she dry heaved from working herself up.

"It's okay, it's okay." Sally, put her arm round Eluna to calm her down "you’re further along than three weeks, I'd say closer to six or seven."

“You mean?” She grinned grasping Sally’s shoulders.

“Yes” she chuckled

“It is Henrick's baby!” Uncontrollable mirth escaping as she pulled Sally into the biggest of hugs.

"Yes, Yes, Your Grace." She laughed unable to escape the infectious joy that was filling the room.

"Thank Goodness and please just Eluna from now on. It seems you may well be the only friend I will have." She said after calming a little "I can't imagine how I would have coped carrying that vile man's child in the future."

“I thought that would be the case and it is why I didn’t tell you before he came in. Might have been hard for you to hide your excitement.” She raised her eyebrows with an expression of knowing exactly how Duchess Eluna felt "You'll possibly need to hide their powers from Drax in the future but that won't be until they're teenagers. As for the pregnancy we will just tell him they arrived early."

"They’re?" Eluna

"Ah yes. It looks like you are having twins. I sensed two life forces growing within your womb and if I’m not mistaken it was a boy and a girl.”

*****************************************

Across the Kingdom in a small, abandoned settlement the forces of Nox Reges had set up their camp for their ‘Trials of Ascension’. Two hundred and fifty candidates had been whittled down to a mere twenty. The final twenty stood in a neck deep trench filled with ice water, and glacial serpents. They weren’t actual serpents, more like small ice-coloured snakes that loved freezing water. They would vary rarely attack humans as normally they wouldn’t enter their territory but for the unlucky few who entered ice water without controlling their outward aura and body temperature would quickly find themselves bitten. The toxin they carried would cause their blood to crystalise making it near impossible for them to carry oxygen to the heart. Should the toxin reach the heart even that would begin to turn to look like a perfect crystal unless an antivenom was administered in under twenty seconds.

Nox Reges wasn’t looking to kill its loyal members, so they had several non-candidates on hand to quickly give them an injection of the antivenom should they be struck.

In a large luxuriously outfitted tent on the edge of the camp Duchess Huntington was entertaining a guest on a couple of golden sofas with soft velvety purple cushions. Between them on a table was a fine tea set, made of the finest jade and carved with mythical scenes from history, a gift from a dignitary of another Kingdom far off on another continent.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“More tea, Lady Kimaris?” She politely asked as she reached out.

“I’m afraid not, as delicious as it was. They have me on a strict regiment at the minute in hopes of fully forcing open the third gate.”

“I must say it was very enlightening in our last talk to learn of your methods.”

“Indeed, they are closely guarded secrets that only the seal bearers may learn and as you know that is part of why we are here today. We need your ranks full for when the next seal stirs. I would strongly like to recommend you to the conclave. It is awfully stuffy with only men around and I could use an ally against Lord Malthus and all his scheming.”

“Speaking of… the first test? How do I say this? That elixir was stronger than previous ones you have had us take.”

“New and improved. I’m impressed so many of your people passed the test. It is a testament to you and your incredible recruiting methods.”

“But it’s purpose? You mean the markings that come after drinking it?”

Duchess Huntington just nodded.

“Well, the symbol represents the conclave you are most likely to match although that isn’t a given. The number of stars above it represents the strength of the seal that you are most likely to be compatible with. That is only a starting point though, the true power you can obtain comes after that. Your marking puts you about level with Lord Paimon when he first took on the seal but… well I’ve said enough. All I mean is you would be a strong candidate, if our conclave wasn’t already full.”

“But I’m ready for more now. I’ve worked hard to learn all that you passed me. My power is almost to the point where I feel I should contend for a spot in the rankings. Please, help me become more than a human?”

“Well, it would definitely be more fun with you around.” She smirked and looked to a man tied naked to a lavish bed in the centre of the tent, his mouth gagged, eyes covered, and ears muffled. “I’m just hopeful that your power means another conclave’s seal would also be accepting of you.”

“Ah don’t mind him. I’m just breaking in my next husband. His political ties could be useful to my plans and I’m hopeful that he can impregnate me, and his bloodline will awaken my Father’s dormant bloodline for me and my child.”

“The legendary Shadow Panther bloodline? Now it would be interesting to see that in the Kingdom again. Your father was a great man and the steps he took for our cause are still praised by many. He slayed the former King, both the current King’s brothers, his wife, and several others of the previous generation too, didn’t he? Leaving only the single line of succession that you yourself have currently helped to disrupt.”

“It’s our family’s greatest honour to serve the conclave.”

“I know. I can openly say he would have been granted a seal had he survived the counterattack from Sturm and Arien. Didn’t that Aldan’s father also assist.”

“Indeed, it’s part of why I despise the three so much although I was fortunate, they allowed me to keep my hereditary title after my fathers dying oath that I had no involvement in the attacks.”

“Yes, political power can certainly do as much damage as physical power in the right arena. Would I be right in thinking that is why you help that snivelling waste, Drax?”

“He’s a useful distraction for those in the royalist faction of Zelos and Aldan and ultimately the scapegoat for all our plans.”

“I do love how dastardly and deceitful your mind is.”

Chuckling she responded. “Why, thank you. Should we go and look over how the candidates are progressing?”

“Ooo, yes please.”

As they stepped out of the tent and walked over to where the testing was taking place only five candidates remained. These were the elites who stood in mere undergarments still dripping with ice cold water and had a ferocious look in their eyes, an aftereffect of the earlier potion.

The five runner ups were then given a command to each recruit four other individuals and attack one of the five candidates. If this twenty five could overwhelm the five original candidates then they would take their spots.

After the recruiting fierce battles broke out. One of the winning candidates was quickly pulverising his enemies ensuring that every strike broke a limb and left them incapacitated, he didn’t wish to be caught by another group of contenders joining force with his group providing better odds. Another of the candidates was making similar progress, she wasn’t quite as destructive, but her strikes had a deadly finesse and accuracy where every attack left a limb numb and unusable. These two candidates partnered up as the other three candidates were overwhelmed and they found fifteen runner ups circling them. They shared a look, nodded and then ran at the surrounding group looking to break the links of the circle. Three were quickly dropped, one by the destructive male, and two by the accurate female who struck nerve points on the groins of two hopefuls and then delivered swift kicks to their heads as they toppled to the ground.

It didn’t take long for the duo to be stood with injured combatants around them.

Lady Kimaris clapped as she looked on, “quite the show you two. Would I be correct in thinking you are related?”

The male grunted while the female nodded her head quickly several times, pleased for the praise.

“You look familiar to me. What’s your name candidate?”

“Thatcher, William Thatcher.”

“Any relation to Finley by any chance?”

“He was my little brother, it’s why I” a nudge connected with his side from the female’s elbow “It’s why we, want to get stronger.” He corrected “We owe Duke Aldan a world of pain for Finn.”

“And you young lady?”

“Fawn Shadesknot”

“You are related but have different names.”

“Our Mother remarried after our father passed in an accident. That’s when Fawn came along.” William answered concisely.

“I like your fire, but you must always keep a calm mind. Don’t let your desire for vengeance cloud your judgement and get you killed. You are now designated Four and Five.”

She then looked out into the surrounding crowd for the one footed man formerly ranked third.

“Four, you have been relieved of your post. Luckily for you Lady Kimaris has a place for you. If you work hard, they have rewards that may even see your lost limb restored. Are you willing to go with her?”

Three quickly hopped forward and dropped to his knees before Lady Kimaris. “It would be my honour to serve you.”

“Perfect, it won’t be pleasant work, but your former talent shouldn’t be wasted because of a single mistake. We leave immediately so I hope you have everything you need with you.”

“Yes, Lady Kimaris.”

“Now the rest of you.” One called out “It is time for us to return to the Capital and make House Aldan pay for the disgrace they brought to our organisation. I expect the camp to be packed within the hour.”