Two Weeks Later

The valley was filled with lush tall green trees that towered to the sky housing a mixture of colorful birds and mischievous monkeys. A small stream wound its way through the valley floor, flowing over rocks and fallen logs to provide a serene and tranquil sound to listen to.

It did not sooth Emperor Rathner however. They were two days out of Prince Salren's city, and now impatience and frustration tempered his mood. Not only did he want to see his newborn twins, but there was also a dark cloud over his shoulders. He had learnt of what had happened to Teal and now, all he wanted was to get his hands onto Prince Yernal and break his neck.

Nonetheless, despite the air of urgency, Emperor Rathner's small party had stopped in a grassy nook to allow their horses to take a brief drink and rest, and for the men to take a few bites of food.

The Emperor was filled with guilt. He had assured Jale that Teal would be safe, and he worried at how Jale had taken the news. Jale would know by now. He had sent word back to Jale urging his calm and assurance that it must all be a misunderstanding. He wouldn't stop until Teal was safe and back at the palace. One fear that the Emperor could not shake off, was the fear of whether Teal was already dead. Surely, Prince Yernal would know if he murdered Teal, his life would be forfeit.

A firm hand patted his shoulder, and Emperor Rathner turned to face Ralen.

"The men are ready to keep moving," Ralen informed him.

"Give the horses another five minutes," Emperor Rathner replied. "We have been pushing them quite hard over the past couple of days. Make sure the men check them over to ensure they are all faring well."

Ralen nodded in response and turned to face the other men. He stopped short, and Emperor Rathner sensed his tension immediately.

"In the trees to the left," Ralen whispered.

Emperor Rathner used his peripheral vision to see if he could determine what Ralen had spied. He caught a rustle of movement, but before they had any chance to determine whether these people were friend or foe, a shout came from the trees startling all of Emperor Rathner's men into action.

The ambush was fast and short in duration. The horses spooked, but they were trained for battle and under the control of the men, they did not bolt. Instead, their ears went flat and their nostrils flared. Arrows spewed through the sky and to save being hit, several men tried to guide the horses over to the nearest trees, four sets of reins in each of their hands. One soldier mounted his horse to give himself an advantage, only to have an arrow land squarely in the middle of his chest. Dead, his body fell to the ground, his eyes wide open in shock.

"Protect the Emperor!" Ralen shouted across the melee.

Men raced to their positions and stood their ground, ready and willing to fight to the death for their Emperor.

The attacking men were roughly dressed as bandits, their clothes dirty and old. But the Emperor was not a fool. He could spy trained men when he saw or engaged with them. These were soldiers, highly trained soldiers who had been sent to see his demise.

Abruptly, amongst the chaos of swords clanging together and arrows flying through the air in coordinated attacks, there was a flicker of something else. Something, a blur of white, moving through the trees and joining the fight as well. It whirred past the Emperor and in his need to focus on the bandits as he fought one-on-one, he was unable to determine what it was.

Two men suddenly lunged at him, and his focus and concentration deepened. The Emperor had trained for all types of battle and situations, and he moved with fluid motion as he took on his aggressors. Their skill and mastery of their weapons was undeniable. One falter on his behalf would cost him his life.

Another blur of light whirled past the Emperor but still he fought. Were these bandits using some kind of magic? He blocked one swing of the sword only to have the blur of light return, flying full speed into one of the bandits and knocking him to the ground. In that one instant, the Emperor lost his focus. Whatever was moving through the trees was not with the bandits. As the thought crossed his mind, his eyes trained in on the sword of the second man, heading straight in his direction.

The Emperor took the full force of the sword, his armor buckling under its strike, and he felt the blade upon his skin. He fell back and landed heavily on a rock, his skull hitting its sharp edges without mercy. A cry escaped his lips and darkness suddenly encroached into his vision. Blinking hard against it, his sword held out in front, he tried to move only to find the bandit standing over him with a foot on his chest. The Emperor tried to focus, his eyesight blurred, the sun directly behind the bandit's head so he was unable to see his face. He caught the movement of the bandit's arms though, swinging up high above his head.

"A life for a life," the bandit said before he swung down with his sword.

<<<>>>

Empress Crael stood along the balcony of her sleeping quarters, her gaze steady on the mountains that led to the west. Her quarters were just above Jale's and held the same beautiful scenery of luscious forests and rolling mountains. Inside, her heart ached, and her whole body was filled with a sense of apprehension and concern.

She blinked against another surge of feelings that threatened her calm solitude. It was an unusual feeling, to have such racing and fluctuating emotions. The Empress was a compassionate person, but she had always been able to maintain control. Her lady-in-waiting and midwives had assured her it would pass as her body returned to normalcy.

The palace had not received communication from the Emperor in days. The journey on the road would have inhibited this. She longed for his return and to have him close by her side. Just the thought of his presence in the palace would fill her with confidence in protecting the twins.

After the markings had been placed on their wrists, the Empress had tightened security to her room. Now, only a select few were allowed in and out of her quarters, and she rarely left. Why they had been placed under protection from the Talekin Assassins remained a mystery. It was disconcerting not knowing in which direction the danger was meant to come from. As far as they were aware, no one else had been marked which only caused further underlying worry.

There would be only one other person who would enter her quarters and that would be the Empress Dowager. The Empress had been in contact with her to share the celebratory news of the twins' birth. The Empress had been carefully selective on what information she had passed on. It was best the Emperor inform his mother of the current events in the palace.

The Empress' thoughts trailed to her other cause of unease. Ladet had maintained frequent contact with her over the past two weeks, sending a pigeon at least every three days. He was now moving deeper into the Keglar Kingdom hiding with Princess Estina and Menelt while they tried to determine Teal's whereabouts.

Annoyingly, there had been limited communication from the Keglan capital concerning where Prince Yernal was, despite the Empress' orders to increase the Talbecan military presence along the border. The Keglan court was still in disarray with the death of the King and after the required mourning period, their new leader would be named. Empress Crael was not going to let this drawn-out delay discourage her however. She wanted answers. Her last communication with the Keglar court had included a threat to disrupt trade between the two nations.

One of the Empress servants interrupted her thoughts, a small cough coming from behind her.

"What is it?" she asked without turning around.

"Lana and Delba have asked for your audience," the servant informed her.

"Of course, let them in." Empress Crael left the balcony and went to meet the pair in the middle of her greeting room. She was filled with gratitude that both Lana and Delba were there to support her during this time. Not only to help her with the twins, but also with coping with having the men so far away.

A frown fell on her face as soon as she saw Lana. It was red with emotion, tears falling down her cheeks. "What's wrong?" she asked immediately.

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Lana only sobbed, her hand gripping Delba's arm tightly for support.

"Go on," Delba encouraged Lana.

Lana gulped, wiping at her tears with her free hand. The Empress could see how it was shaking.

"What is Lana?" the Empress asked softly.

"I'm with child," Lana suddenly blurted.

The Empress clapped her hands together in delight. "This is lovely news in such uncertain times," she beamed. "You stopped taking the flowers to keep pregnancy at bay? Oh Lana, why do you cry?"

"No, I didn't stop taking the flowers," Lana answered the Empress' first question. "I fell pregnant even though I was taking them."

The Empress' smile did not fade. "Don't fret, Lana. As surprising as this is, it is not bad news at all. This is wonderful news. The Emperor will be more than pleased."

Lana lifted her head, even in their empty void, Empress Crael could see her pain. "Lana?"

"I don't think it is the Emperor's," Lana whispered.

"Oh!" Empress Crael exclaimed in realization. "Teal?"

Tears continued to run down Lana's face. "The flowers have always worked in the past. I never wanted a child to bear the same fate as me. What if they are without sight as well? And now, to make matters worse, my child will not be of royal lineage."

Empress Crael took Lana's hand in her own. "Stop crying," she said kindly. "So what if your child is not of royal lineage in Talbec?"

"I'm afraid of how they will be treated though. This is unprecedented grounds. A concubine pregnant to someone who is not the Emperor?"

"I told her not to fear," Delba told the Empress. "I could easily have the same fate by sharing Ralen's bed. The Emperor is aware of this risk as well."

"Fear not," The Empress soothed, taking Lana into her embrace. "Your child will grow up with the twins. They will be educated and play together. They will still be a part of this palace just as much as the twins."

"Also," Delba cut in. "They may not be of royal lineage of Talbec, but they will still have royal blood within them if what they have said about Teal is true.”

"You're right!" Empress Crael agreed.

Lana stopped sniffling. "I had forgotten that.”

All of a sudden, Empress Crael's merriment fell away. "This makes it all so much more important that we get Teal back to us safe and well."

Delba and Empress Crael shared a glance as Lana took another sob. "I hope he is well," she said. "I hope they have not hurt him."

An interrupting voice cut into their conversation, and the three women startled.

"It's time," a female voice stated.

They spun to see who had intruded their space, and Delba immediately took a protective stance in front of the Empress and Lana.

"Which sect do you belong to and what are you doing here?" Delba asked.

The Talekan Assassin stepped out of the shadows, her face covered by her mask and framed by her long brown hair. "The True Path. The one that you follow," she said Delba. To the Empress she repeated authoritatively, "It is time."

"Time for what?" Delba asked.

"Who is this person?" Empress Crael demanded.

"It's time for me to take the twins."

"What?!" Empress Crael exclaimed. "Guards!" she ordered.

The Talekan Assassin did not shy at the sudden presence of the Empress' guards running into her greeting room or by their threateningly stance they took before her. From the corner of her eye, she saw one of the Empress' guards guide Lana towards the back of the room to keep her safe.

"You are not going anywhere near my children," the Empress hissed.

Calm and confident, the assassin took a step forward. "For their safety, I need to take them."

"Their safety?" the Empress cried. "Nowhere is safer than in my quarters."

"What is this danger that you insist will happen?" Delba asked the assassin.

"They are already happening. There have been major developments and for the twins' safety, they need to leave Dalenia immediately."

"What?" Delba asked. "Why, what has happened?"

"Prince Vox is going to try to take the throne and become the Emperor of Talbec."

Delba and the Empress shared a shocked look.

"Prince Vox?" the Empress belittled. "I don't think so. The only chance that Prince Vox would try to take the throne would be if the Emperor was dead."

The Talekan Assassin didn't respond, her face grim and steadfast.

The Empress' whole body began to shake at the silence that followed her statement. "He would only try that if he thought Rathner was dead!" she screamed.

"What are you implying?" Lana asked, her voice shaking.

Empress Crael sank to the floor, slipping out of Delba's hands, rocking her body. "No, no, it can't be so. He can't be dead. He can't be!" She lifted her head and stared at the assassin. "Tell me it isn't true," she begged.

The assassin didn't respond straightaway. She squatted in front of the Empress and when she spoke, her voice was soft and full of sympathy. "Our seers can only see so far into the future as the current path is changing so swiftly, but it does seem to be the case. The Emperor now walks with his ancestors."

Empress Crael screamed, and Delba and Lana sank to the floor beside her, pulling the Empress into their arms.

"Your twins are the only people stopping Prince Vox from having complete control of the Empire," the assassin continued. "They must leave with me now."

The Empress howled and covered her hands with her face. The horror of the news, so unexpected and dreadful. The man who had given her everything after she had lost her entire world. The man who had loved her and given her children. She lifted her head, her face red and filled with tears streaming down her cheeks. "They are all I have left," she croaked.

The assassin edged closer to the Empress, twisting her wrist while she whispered under her breath. A small murky glow of dust started to emerge above the palm of her hand, slowly taking more form and color. Now a soft blue haze, the assassin leaned her face closer to it, pursed her lips and blew it in the direction of the Empress.

"This should give you some comfort," the assassin told her. "You will see what I have seen."

The Empress had watched the assassin, mesmerized by the swirling dust and before she could move out of its way, the dust entered her mouth and up her nose as she breathed it in. The Empress gasped and fell back against Delba and Lana, her eyes closed as the assassin's vision engulfed her.

As quickly as her eyes had fallen shut, they reopened. But when their gaze fell to where the assassin had been, they found the space surprisingly empty. The Empress’ head spun to the twins' room.

"The twins!" Delba ordered the Empress' guards, pointing with her hand.

The guards bolted. Fueled by a mother's need to protect her children, the Empress launced to her feet to follow. She heard Delba close behind her. The double doors to the twins’ room were flung wide apart to reveal the assassin now standing over their cot.

"How in all the lands?" the Empress heard one of her guards utter.

"Get away from my children!" she screamed at the entrance of the room.

"You saw what you saw," the Talekan Assassin stated, still standing over the cot. "You saw them as children running in the meadow. They will be happy. You know that it must happen. They will be safe with me."

"NO!" The Empress cried, taking another step closer.

The Empress' guards jittered anxiously behind the Empress, their swords ready, waiting for the Empress to give her last instruction to attack. The entire group jumped at the sudden loud banging on the doors at the entrance of the Empress' quarters.

For the first time, panic filled the Talekan Assassin's voice. "I need to take them now. We're almost out of time. Compose yourself, Empress, so there is no suspicion on your behalf."

The Empress closed her eyes and tried to process, but the pounding at the door continued and she couldn’t think. When she opened her eyes again, the Empress saw that Delba had turned to her.

"I trust her," Delba said urgently as loud voices arguing could now be heard outside the Empress’ quarters. "I trust the Talekin Assassins. I lived with them for several years. If they think the twins are in danger, then they are in danger."

Empress Crael sobbed and shook her head. "I don't want them to go. I have just lost the Emperor and now, I'm going to lose my children?"

The Empress saw the tears in Delba's eyes. "Whatever has befallen the Emperor, we must now put all our attention onto the twins. The future of the Empire rests on their shoulders. They are the future of Talbec."

Empress Crael met Delba's eyes, and she felt her squeeze her shoulders in comfort.

"Go with them, Delba," Empress Crael suddenly decided. "Prince Vox shouldn't notice your absence for a while. I'm entrusting their safety with you."

Delba paused but nodded in agreement. She leaned forward and hugged the Empress briefly before she turned to the cot. "I'm coming with you," Delba told the assassin.

The assassin nodded. She leaned down and picked up one of the twins and passed the infant to Delba. The assassin turned and picked up the second child.

"Are you ready?" the assassin asked Delba. "Have you traveled through the vortex before?"

Delba steadied the baby within her arms and nodded. "Yes, I have."

The assassin didn't waste any more time. She turned to the empty space and with one utterance under her breath and a wave of her free hand, the space in front of her distorted. Gasps from the guards reached their ears, but the Empress saw that Delba did not waver. She had obviously seen this miracle before, it was the only answer.

“Delba,” the Empress called.

Delba glanced over her shoulder. The Empress couldn’t speak. Their eyes locked and then, she watched Delba walk into the distorted rippling air and disappear with her child.

The assassin paused at the cusp of the vortex and looked towards the Empress one last time. "You won't hear from me for a while, but the other assassins will be in touch. Take care, Empress."

Before anyone could respond, the assassin stepped through the rippling air and vanished just as Delba had. The strange space collapsed in on itself, and the room was as it was before.

A hard stillness filled the empty space in the room. No one knowing how to respond to what they had witnessed. Empress Crael heard careful slow steps walking towards her. She turned and looked at Lana.

"They're gone," she said, her voice cracking.

"I know," Lana responded. She reached for the Empress's hand. "We must continue to be strong and protect the Empire if what they say is true about the Emperor."

Empress Crael leaned closer to Lana as the continued banging on the Empress' doors brought them back to the present chaos. "Go with one of my guards to find Rodlet. Order him to send for the Empress Dowager now."

“Of course, Empress,” Lana replied.

"My greeting room now," The Empress ordered the rest of the guards and they obeyed, running to create a new defensive position to protect the Empress.

Empress Crael took one last moment to compose herself, standing in the empty twin's room. The fact that she had let her twins disappear into oblivion was too much to comprehend. She hadn't even had the chance to hold them to say goodbye. She hadn't even been given a chance to hold the Emperor to say goodbye. As the door to the twins' room clicked closed behind her, the doors to the Empress's quarters burst open and Prince Vox and some of his council stormed into the room.

Prince Vox stopped a short distance from the Empress. His face was red and his clothes disheveled.

"Empress Crael," he said. "I'm sorry to have to bring you this terrible news," he started, "but there has been an incident."

He held out his hand.

Empress Crael dropped to the floor and covered her face with her hands. There in his fingers was the Emperor's royal signet.