[Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on My Patreon, Royal Road and Tapas. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]

A discomforting sting on his left cheek brought Caeden back to consciousness. His head snapped up and he frowned as his brother’s worried face warped into focus. Kael tried shaking him awake before planting another hard slap on his cheek, finally chasing the last dregs of Caeden’s drugged stupor away.

Angry, he pushed Kael’s hands away from his face and tried to orient himself while the stinging sensation abated. His brother heaved him up and placed him in a sitting position against the stairs.

Oswin and his study group were here. As were Ser Morley and Datura, both regarding the other as if they were not present. Yet another the Knight Commander seemed to not get along well with. Not that the assassin’s opinion of Morley mattered.

All of them watched him expectantly. Accursed woman! It was enough that she slipped out from under his watch once again, but to leave him face down for others to find infuriated him. Once she and the Fire Spirit were safe and secure, that woman would know my wrath!

“How long has it been?” he croaked. He hesitantly accepted a canteen of water from Adept Graeyson, sniffing the contents before downing it. His mouth felt as thick and dry as cotton.

“Since Ser Derric’s funeral? Six hours,” Kael answered, watching him curiously. “My guards grew suspicious when you did not emerge after some time and came to find me. The door would not respond to my request until a few minutes ago and we found you as you were.”

“That was probably due to Ava, or the fountain’s magics. She commands the door charms like no other I have seen.”

With his faculties returning, Caeden struggled to a stand with his brother’s assistance.

“Then it was she who drugged you,” Kael smirked. “I think I like her more every day.”

Irritated, Caeden pulled his arm from Kael’s grip. He rested his hands on his knees and shook the fog clear from his mind. What sedative did she use? Its effects were a struggle to shrug off. The gods know she had had ample opportunity to squirrel away a bottle or two recently.

He straightened, the faculties of his mind slowly returning to him.

“How did she escape? My guards did not see her leave,” Kael asked.

Caeden lifted his hand to the concealed door, requesting it to open.

“A long-forgotten emergency exit,” he answered.

The pattern in the wall parted, revealing the exit tunnel. Did Ava time lock it like the entrance door? Was she expecting him to follow? Or was this the Fountain’s doing? So many unknowns, yet she willingly runs straight to them with some half-baked, brain-dead plan in that stubborn head.

“I need my light armour. Ava might think she is capable of doing this alone, but she is still weak. If she makes it to the Wyvern, she will be at the Emperor’s mercy afterwards. I must follow and minimize the potential consequences. Oswin, Ser Morley, prepare yourselves. We need to slip out without drawing notice,” he ordered.

This will have repercussions. Severe ones. He was disobeying direct Imperial orders with this action. A problem he would have to navigate through after securing Ava and the Spirit.

“No, Knight-Commander Morley stays with me,” Kael stated, waving his order away.

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Caeden’s brows furrowed. This was not the time to indulge in resentments.

“I need him to rally the Royal Guard. We march to join you and Ava in the Ashen Fields as soon as they are ready,” Kael explained.

“You realise what you are saying, Kael?” he asked, panicked.

He might get away with it with a small party, the benefit to the Empire outweighing the risk. But what Kael was suggesting was large-scale treason. No King, no emperor would stand for it.

“I am not sure what you mean,” Kael responded, a smirk playing on his lips. “I have been called to act on Father’s behalf through this crisis. This is an Imperial order.

“Though, I would suggest sending your mother to father to keep him… at ease. At least until we have a handle on the situation.”

Kael paced the floor, his irritation clear in his stilted movements. Current events were wearing on his brother. As much as he tried to hide it behind a blithe comment or a sly smile, his brother’s composure was slipping.

Caeden rubbed his jaw in contemplation. He was certain the emperor did not sanction this directly. He had already allowed the situation with the Wyvern to spiral, despite numerous warnings and calls for action by the Empire itself. The emperor, he assumed, would not make the Empire seem weak by being the first and only power to willingly give up its Great Spirit. Nor could he afford to lose the leverage he had on Caeden for the dwarven firearms. As if the Empire would lord the feat while they stood upon the ashen ruins of their land.

But, in that fear and short-sightedness lay an opportunity. If the Wyvern is to be claimed, then the Empire needs to be the one who claims it. If both his sons were seen to be acting on Imperial order in doing so, it would be hard for the emperor to gainsay them without him looking like a weak fool who had lost control of both the Empire and his sons. He would have no choice but to go along with the deception to save face.

Kael risked much with this plot. But if it succeeded, his brother would build on the goodwill he had gained with his management of the evacuation, earning the trust of both the people and the nobility. While Caeden would be free to pursue his mission with Ava as his brother prepared the Empire for the inevitable battle against Azael. Yes, this could work, but he needed the right people in the know.

“No, not my mother. Keep him comforted however you wish, but leave her out of this,” Caeden muttered.

“But why?” Kael whined before he caught himself and smirked. “Interesting, you do not trust your mother.” He looked to Ser Morley and the Knight-Commander averted his gaze. “I wonder what brought this on. Datura, your intelligence is lacking.

“Fine, loathe as she would be to do it, mother still holds some influence over father. I am sure she could find something of great importance to talk to him about if I asked for this favour.”

Kael frowned as if he did not find the thought of asking her appealing. But he shrugged it off and continued, “There is something more. King Raeburn is riding to Castle Caedence with the purpose of receiving restitution for his daughter’s death. Whatever upper hand we had with him from her transgressions, we lost by failing to protect her adequately.

“Reports state he is lucid. Recovered. Mostly back to his old self, barring a few strange ticks. All thanks to our Grand Master Gildaen, who rides at his side.”

“Gods dammit!” Caeden exclaimed, irate.

“Then you understand the gravity of the situation,” Kael responded. “Gildaen’s true aims are still unclear, but he has become far too power hungry, far too arrogant and far too bold in his disdain for the Imperial family. We must assume he could be using Raeburn’s madness to turn him against us, sowing instability within the Empire.”

“Surely High Master Earland would not stand for such treachery. I may not like the man, but he has always been fiercely loyal to the Empire and his king!” Adept Graeyson interjected.

“I would normally agree, but Earland has always had a reverence toward Gildaen and his magical hierarchy,” Oswin added. “He will defer to the Grand Master and follow his instruction, despite his better judgement.”

“Earland does not trust blindly, he would turn on Gildaen if provided with evidence,” Elise responded.

“A notion we will revisit later. For now, success in securing the Fire Spirit is imperative and might ease the growing tensions between Daaria and Everard. At the very least it would rob King Raeburn and Gildaen of using the Wyvern crisis as an anchor to rally support for a rebellion. If not, the Empire could fracture into the civil war we have been trying to avoid,” Kael responded, looking to Caeden.

“Then we plan our next moves with purpose,” Caeden responded.

Moments passed as the group plotted the way forward and Caeden and Oswin changed into their light armour. It was not what he preferred but far better suited for fast travel, small scuffles and the heat he knew awaited them at the Ashen Fields. Oswin entered the tunnel first, bedecked in all manner of runed curios this study group deemed necessary and lit the way.

His brother stopped him as he entered with a firm hand on his shoulder and Caeden stared at him curiously.

“Caeden… About Bethany and I…” Kael started, uncertain on how to continue. Guilt danced in his eyes.

“If you are about to apologize. Do not,” Caeden grumbled. “I cannot say I relish the thought of becoming a wittol or leashed in my marriage to my own brother had events played out differently. But Lady Bethany and I were not close. Nor am I innocent in this game. You outmaneuvered me in the Grand Dance, Kael. Let us leave it at that.”

Kael nodded with a half-smile that did not reach his eyes as Caeden entered the tunnel. He stopped and turned back.

“Though it does not excuse Lady Bethany’s actions, I regret how her life came to an end.”

“As do I,” his brother whispered into the darkness.