ã€ŠThe Dreamers of Peaceã€‹


 Series Prologue: The Dreamers of Peace

    Leverians did not accept death as the end. They believed Divine Leverith would reunite them with their loved ones in an eternal paradise. ¡°Until next time,¡± they promised, clinging to those words like a shield against the sorrow of loss. Melody couldn¡¯t fault them for needing that comfort, even though she knew it was a lie.

    So when Melody of Mirrevar held her son for the last time, she felt only the sharp cut of finality tearing into her heart. How she wished she could believe in ¡°until next time¡± instead of knowing it was truly ¡°one last time.¡± It would have been so much easier to be swaddled in comfortable ignorance instead of weighted down by the bitter truth.

    Her son¡ªher Zander¡ªwould be left without his shield. This world would wound him deeper than any heart was meant to endure. Alive, she could protect him from that pain, but now her death would cut him deeper than any blade ever could. That truth tore Melody¡¯s heart into ribbons, and tears bled out of her eyes.

    Zander clung to her as though his love and strength could bind her to life. Through the blurry veil of tears, she gazed into his eyes, the color of the glowing moon, as deep and pure as the truest sapphire. His sorrow mirrored her own.

    Her own eyes, violet as amethyst, had glimpsed flashes of his future. But her visions had always been clouded by doubt¡ªmore questions than answers. Those doubts had haunted her through every choice, chasing her to this final moment. Still, she had to believe her son was one of the Dreamers of Peace, destined to help restore wholeness. She had to believe the Sunrise would join him, sharing the heavy burden she now placed on him. Otherwise, how could she justify leaving this weight for him to bear?

    Melody steeled herself, trying to harden her resolve. This sickbed, in dear Miri¡¯s immaculately tidy clinic, would be the final stage of her life, and Zander would be the last to hear her song.

    Then let me finish strong.

    Melody breathed out her sorrow, inhaling determination and hope. With the last of her strength, she rested a hand on Zander¡¯s cheek. Her boy crumbled beneath her touch, his quiet sobs turning into uncontrollable weeping. Leverith! The hardest part of dying was leaving behind the ones you love.

    Look forward, Melody reminded herself for the millionth time. Her free hand pressed against the silver locket at her chest, knowing what needed to be done to save their dying world.

    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me!¡± Zander¡¯s voice cracked with grief. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, Mom!¡±

    Melody stroked his auburn hair¡ªher legacy. He was so much like his father. Even without seeing her lover in her son, she would have remembered him every day. The pain of his absence left an invisible scar within Zander that no magic could heal.

    Now, I am leaving him too. She fought back a fresh wave of tears. It wasn¡¯t the first time that Melody had done the impossible.

    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me all alone!¡± Zander cried, his innocent voice more painful to her than her own death. He was only ten. By all rights, he should have had his parents for years to come.

    Look forward.

    Her eyes responded to her command, and in her mind, she saw the moments she would miss in his life. She saw him crying, night after night, clinging to the last piece of her. She saw him under the great tree with his life¡¯s mate, love streaming between them in waves of blue. She saw him rise to knighthood, basking in the light of hope. She saw him surrounded by green flames and crashing lightning, breaking apart and slowly becoming one again. She gleamed as they chanted his name, watching him eclipse every dream she ever had for him. Melody looked forward, trying to take it all in one last time before her foresight was occluded by the eternal dream.

    Her hand trembled as she held the locket. The magic within had kept her alive this long. Removing it would end her life, certain as the sunrise brought a new day. Visions of the Sunrise filled her mind, and for a moment, she smiled, seeing the light spread across the horizon, carrying love where once there had been only hate.

    That was what she needed¡ªwhat they all needed. She couldn¡¯t let Zamael triumph. She couldn¡¯t leave the world divided and peace shattered. She would not. Leverith¡¯s plan had to be fulfilled. Even if it killed her.

    Melody lifted the silver chain from her neck, feeling the last of her life slipping away. Her once nimble fingers fumbled, but she managed to drape the locket around Zander¡¯s neck, her hand trailing down to where the inverted heart pendant rested on his chest. ¡°You are not alone, Zander,¡± she whispered.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Tears choked her. Zander wouldn¡¯t be alone. She had to remember that. ¡°Mirielda will teach you compassion, and Edward will guide you to strength. Alfread¡­¡± Her voice cracked, her son wasn¡¯t the only dreamer she left behind, ¡°will be a brother to you. Kenneth¡­¡± Melody sobbed. ¡°will be the most loyal friend you could ever hope for. But most of all, my Zander, you will find your Sunrise.¡±

    ¡°All I want is you!¡± Zander stomped his foot, his face turning red. "Please! Don¡¯t leave me!¡±

    Her heart shattered at his plea, but she forced her voice to steady, her heart knowing the verses of her final song. ¡°Whenever life feels unbearable and you want to give in,¡± she pressed the locket to his heart, ¡°remember, I will always be here. My spirit. My dreams. My love.¡±

    Zander¡¯s fist pounded against the bed as he grasped the locket, his anger and sorrow flaring. ¡°I don¡¯t want you in here!¡± He buried his head in her shoulder and climbed onto the bed, his warmth a stark counterpoint to her cold, dying body. ¡°I need you here.¡±

    Melody rocked him, her tears mingling with his. This was the hardest moment of her life. She would rather endure an eternity of Zamael¡¯s Hells than inflict this pain on her son. But there would be no bargaining.

    Without the locket, she could no longer feel Leverith¡¯s familiar presence. Her amethyst eyes would close soon, and never wake from the eternal dream. Time, life¡¯s only finite quantity, an entity so often overlooked when in abundance, became more precious when it was at its end. She would give anything for one more angle with her son. She would be fortunate to have one final degree when each turn could be her last.

    Melody wiped her tears and accepted her fate. ¡°Leverith has a plan, my love. We must all play the part she has given us.¡±

    Zander lifted his head, his sobs quieter now, his angry roars giving way to soft pleading. ¡°It¡¯s not fair,¡± he whispered. ¡°It¡¯s not fair, Mom.¡±

    ¡°No, Zander,¡± she agreed softly. ¡°It¡¯s not fair. But that¡¯s why you¡¯re so special. You can make things right.¡±

    Zander rubbed his eyes, his bravery, genuineness, and love shining through. He was a good boy. Those traits would be what allowed him to bind this broken realm. But they also made leaving him more painful.

    ¡°Can you keep a promise?¡± she asked.

    He nodded, resolute, accepting the burden that would shape the fate of their world.

    Melody¡¯s fingers found the locket again. She could feel Leverith, albeit from a distance. ¡°Do you remember the Sunrise?¡±

    ¡°She is mine, and I am hers,¡± Zander recited, his voice steady.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Melody cried, her strength waning as she hugged him. ¡°One day, Leverith will answer your prayers. When that day comes, you must give this locket to your life¡¯s mate. Can you promise me that?¡±

    Zander clung to the locket. The pendant was a piece of silver shaped into Leveria itself, an inverted heart. She held him to her and massaged the crown of his head. It was becoming difficult to keep her eyes open. Melody¡¯s song was coming to an end. She could sing one last verse and hope that it left Zander some peace.

    She had sung ¡°The Dreamers of Peace¡± to Zander many times, yet she had never told him her interpretation of the words. Prophecy could not be planned. Fate could not be forced. Destiny could not be dictated. It was Leverith¡¯s will that Zander discover the song¡¯s meaning for himself.

    She sang, elongating these powerful syllables, her voice a perfect melody:

    In the beginning

    Justice was Father

    Peace was Mother

    Love was Child

    Then Death divided

    Peace was shattered

    Brother killed sister

    Darkness reigned alone

    Sun shall rise

    Heroes will return

    Dreamers of Peace

    Forged by the Second Peacemaker

    Son of Conqueror and Queen

    Born atop Goddess

    Fated to unite

    Scion of Hatred

    Ender of War

    Doomed to Death

    Made of Fire

    Light of Hope

    Bound to Freedom

    The Great Dreamer

    Queen of Love

    Destined to Wholeness

    Melody¡¯s hand slipped from Zander¡¯s crown, trailing down his face and coming to rest beside him on the bed.

    His moon eyes found hers as the world dimmed around her. ¡°I promise.¡±

    She was at peace. The final dream was upon her. With the last of her mortal strength, Melody wrapped Zander¡¯s hand around the locket. ¡°Leveria is in your hands¡­ my heir.¡±

 Character Portraits

    Alexia Bluerose

    Commentary: I love how this picture captures how Alexia''s hair changes from chestnut to gold when sunlight hits it, how it conveys her unique marigold eyes, and how her slightly darker skin tone reflects her Kavovan heritage. While I think the AI did a good job with her facial structure, the lips are larger than I envision, and she looks more airbrushed than I''d prefer (she should have pores like any normal human).

    Zander of Mirrevar

    Commentary: Zander''s face is spot on here, except his eyes should be a bit more ethereal (think White Walkers in the Game of Thrones show). While AI has difficulty showing size, I do picture Zander being even taller and more solid. While he wears simple tunics, with sleeves cut off the AI made the shirt look too modern. His silver chain is accurate, but I couldn''t get the AI to add the inverted heart pendant, which would normally go under his shirt.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Alfread son of Evan

    Commentary: This one is very close to my imagination of Alfread. His eyes should be amber/brown and the armor should have the Bearbreaker sigil, but otherwise this is a nigh perfect rendition.

    Maleon Stonebreaker

    Commentary: Facially, this is fantastic. Maleon wears more simple brown robes with the sigils of the five divine energies he has mastered, and this background is totally disconnected from anything in the story.

    Asa of Ferrickton

    Commentary: This image captures Asa''s heart-shaped face, eyes, Isihlan skin tone, and aura well. Similar to Alexia''s portrait this comes across as far too airbrushed and while it conveys her petite frame, it doesn''t capture her athleticism.

    More will be added. With these characters next in line:

    -Kenneth of Bear''s Crossing

    -Sir Timmeck Eckhard

    -Princess Serapheena Ruby

 Book One: Innocence Lost

    Innocence Lost

    We are born neither good nor evil. We are born innocent. It is when our innocence is lost that we discover who we shall become.

    ~Queen Alexia LeveriaThis tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    Leverians say that the greatest stories have two endings. But what of the infinity of possible beginnings? How far do we look back? Did our story begin with Melody¡¯s death or even the birth of Leverith? What of that fateful day when the Sunrise dawned before eyes of Moon? It is impossible to discern one finite, definitive beginning to our story. For all that, each beginning shares the same theme: Innocence Lost. That is where we will begin the greatest tale of our world.

    ~The First Voice of Peace

 Chapter 1: The Squire

    The squire¡¯s grip tightened on his sword hilt as he blocked the knight¡¯s strike with his shield. With a swift upward move, he threw the knight off balance. He¡¯d practiced this counter a thousand times, and now, instinct alone carried him through. Victory was on the horizon, certain as the sunrise. Zander became a force, a meladonite battering ram crashing through a straw gate. His shield slammed into the knight, sending him sliding through the mud.

    Zander finished strong, pressing the blunt tip of his sword into his opponent¡¯s neck before the knight could recover.

    ¡°Well done, Zander,¡± came the booming voice of Sir Edward Bladestorm, master of the Bear¡¯s Crossing squires.

    Zander laid down his blade and extended a hand to his sparring victim. ¡°Well fought, Sir Gaiton.¡±

    Gaiton accepted the hand with a nod, dusting himself off. ¡°Well fought indeed! I almost pity the Sapphires who¡¯ll face your blade.¡±

    A grin spread across Zander¡¯s chiseled face. His eyes went off into the distance as his thoughts drifted into dreams. Someday, he would be a great warrior renowned across both Leverian Kingdoms. His name would evoke as much adoration as Linus the Peacemaker and conjure as much fear as Sir Garrond the Dust. The sound of his name, Zander of Mirrevar, would be enough to send Sapphire children running for their mother¡¯s skirts while comely Ruby maids leapt out of theirs to greet him.

    Gaiton said something that failed to penetrate Zander¡¯s daydreams and took his leave. Zander¡¯s attention drifted through the training grounds where dozens of squires and a score of knights sparred under Sir Edward¡¯s watchful eye. Children gathered at the field¡¯s edge, eager to one day train under the renowned Bladestorm, a hero of the Peacewatch.

    Zander followed Sir Edward, silently mouthing the blademaster¡¯s critiques and affirmations. One day, he too would train squires and hoped to be half as capable as his mentor.

    A familiar voice cut through his focus. ¡°Swingin¡¯ at me all limp, like I¡¯m yer life¡¯s mate and ye can¡¯t git yer blood flowin¡¯.¡± Kenneth dodged Alfread¡¯s next blow, flapped his arms like a rooster, and crowed, ¡°Cuckle-doodle-doo!¡±

    The usually gentle Alfread charged as if Divine Seraxa held a flaming torch to his seat keeper, battering the stocky squire¡¯s defenses. Kenneth remained steady¡ªblocking, sidestepping, taunting about how he would cuckold his much more handsome opponent were he man enough to bed a woman. Zander saw where this was headed. Alfread would burn himself out and Kenneth would lash out like a lightning bolt at the pivotal moment.

    But battle rarely went as expected. Alfread¡¯s onslaught forced Kenneth into a divot, causing him to stumble. Alfread seized the advantage, swinging wildly at Kenneth¡¯s head. Kenneth barely managed to block, but his misstep threw him off balance. He staggered back, struggling to stay on his feet.

    With a kick to the chest, Alfread sent Kenneth sprawling into the mud. Alfread grinned, tasting victory like a boy about to feel a woman for the first time. Alas, as in many bawdy ballads, Alfread became overexcited and finished too soon. ¡°Who lost the duel? Could it be the fool?¡±

    Before Alfread could land his final blow, Kenneth rolled and swept Alfread¡¯s legs out from under him. Zander laughed as Alfread¡¯s expression shifted from triumph to shock.

    Kenneth finished strong, pouncing atop his prey, pressing his training dagger to Alfread¡¯s throat. Alfread struggled against his fate, his larger frame throwing Kenneth off, even as the tip of the blunted knife scraped against his throat.

    Kenneth jumped to his feet with a grin. ¡°Ye almos¡¯ had me, Al. Instead, ye owe me a flagon o¡¯ ale!¡±

    ¡°I had you downed!¡±

    Zander raised his voice. ¡°The Sapphires won¡¯t wait patiently for you to kill them if they lose their footing. You must finish strong!¡±

    ¡°Well spoken, Zander.¡±

    Zander turned to see Sir Edward behind him. The other sparring matches had ended, and now the whole group was watching.

    Sir Edward¡¯s voice was firm but kind. ¡°In the Gemstone War, the battle ends only when one of you is dead.¡± He paused, letting the words sink in. ¡°Only the dead give their opponent a second chance. Are any of you dead?¡±

    The squires shouted their denial. Kenneth pranced around Alfread like a Halamsul soulless, wobbling his arms and drawing laughter, much to Alfread¡¯s annoyance. Sir Edward¡¯s stern, fatherly glare cut Kenneth¡¯s act short, forcing him to stand at exaggerated attention¡ªthe shite-eating grin plastered on his face.

    Zander stood beside Alfread, frowning at Kenneth¡¯s antics. They both towered over the others, but where Alfread was tall and lean, Zander was a giant. Four years ago, Zander had been the tallest person in Bear¡¯s Crossing. Now, at seventeen, he was a redwood among saplings

    Sir Edward looked over the group¡ªa motley congregation of peasantry and gentry. Yet, Sir Edward treated them all with the same respect.

    ¡°When your eighteenth year dawns, you¡¯ll serve in Archlord Bearbreaker''s Peacewatch. If you¡¯re lucky, you¡¯ll spend more time tending horses than charging into battle. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll practice caring for our mounts.¡±

    The squires groaned. No one dreamed of winning glory by brushing a horse¡¯s arse. Kenneth, as usual, made the loudest objection, japing that he preferred to care for his mounts on a feather mattress after several flagons of ale. Alfread shot back that the only living creature who¡¯d share a bed free of charge with Kenneth was a horse and Kenneth would be the one doing the mounting. Laughter rippled through the training grounds.

    Zander¡¯s thoughts drifted away from Kenneth¡¯s lude rebuttal. He imagined winning the joust and the melee at a grand tourney, being offered an archlord¡¯s daughter¡¯s hand in marriage¡ªand, of course, politely declining. His heart belonged to someone else, his mind wandering to the locket tucked beneath his tunic. A few more tributes, he hoped, and then Leverith would answer his prayers with his Sunrise. Zander would hold her close, whispering that he loved her.

    Sir Edward¡¯s shout snapped him back to reality. ¡°Those who demonstrate proficiency in husbandry will practice the basics of mounted combat.¡± That brought cheers, Zander clapping the loudest. Sir Edward smiled faintly. ¡°You are dismissed.¡±

    Zander was ready for food, drink, and, at the least, foreplay. As they left the training grounds, he turned to Alfread. ¡°The Bald Bear or Old Iron?¡±

    Alfread sighed, but before he could answer, Sir Edward touched Zander¡¯s arm. ¡°I need a word with you.¡±

    The Bladestorm¡¯s tone was serious, almost somber like one delivering news of bereavement. Zander clenched his jaw, reminding himself that there was no family left to lose.

    ¡°See you at the Old Iron,¡± Alfread said, shaking his head. ¡°I owe Kenneth a flagon for flopping around like a pig in the mud.¡±

    Zander nodded and walked with Sir Edward through the now-empty grounds. The blademaster was stocky and battle-scarred. His graying hair, streaked with brown, reminded Zander of a squirrel.

    ¡°Do you understand what it means to be a knight?¡± Sir Edward asked.

    Zander stiffened. He had spent the last seven years training harder than anyone in Bear¡¯s Crossing, perfecting his technique, strengthening his body. He had memorized the vows. Sir Edward knew how devoted he was. The question felt absurd. ¡°A knight pledges his faith, life, and honor to Meladon and his Divine Scions. He fights against Zamael so that evil never triumphs. A knight is loyal to his king and archlord, protects the innocent, and brings justice to the evil.¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Sir Edward frowned, his scarred face creasing.

    Frustrated, Zander continued. ¡°A Peacewatch knight embodies justice, peace, and love. He serves the Divine Thirteen, King Ruby, and Archlord Bearbreaker.¡±

    The blademaster¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.

    Zander mentally reviewed the vows again, unable to find what he was missing. ¡°What am I not saying?¡± he snapped.

    Sir Edward grinned slightly, his gray eyes steady. ¡°Being a knight is more than rehearsed vows. You say a knight protects the innocent and brings justice to the evil. But do you know who the innocent are? Or what is truly evil? What if your archlord disagrees with your king? What if your archlord commands you to harm the innocent?¡±

    Zander¡¯s daydreams had never involved such dilemmas. He imagined clear lines¡ªgood and evil, hero and villain.

    ¡°When I was your age, I had the same dreams about knighthood,¡± Sir Edward said. ¡°But reality shattered that innocence. My vows pulled me apart when they should have held me together.¡±

    Zander hesitated, unsure how to respond. He wished he had Alfread¡¯s quick wit.

    ¡°You want to be a great warrior. You believe knighthood is your path to glory.¡± Sir Edward sighed. ¡°You have the makings of a great knight, Zander. You¡¯re strong, swift, determined. Your swordsmanship is among the best I¡¯ve seen. You have the heart to protect and the courage to stand up to those who exploit others.¡±

    Zander smiled at the praise, his earlier frustrations washing away like refuge down the Bear River.

    ¡°But,¡± Sir Edward continued, his tone more doubtful, ¡°do you have the wisdom to know what to do when the code demands that you must do something that you cannot?¡±

    Zander¡¯s anger surged against its restraints. He wasn¡¯t some child who couldn¡¯t distinguish good from evil. He tried to keep his tone subdued, but his words were edged with fury. ¡°Sir, I know the difference between good and evil.¡±

    Sir Edward raised an eyebrow, giving him the kind of look reserved for children with their head stuck in staircase railings. ¡°Are the Sapphires evil? What about a cruel archlord? A trader who sells faulty armor? A farmer who fails to meet his quota five consecutive harvests?¡±

    Zander responded confidently. ¡°The Sapphires plunder and ravage. They¡¯re Zamael¡¯s servants. A cruel archlord harms the innocent and carries Zamael¡¯s evil within him. The trader who sells defective armor is corrupt, caring only for coin and not the lives he endangers. That is Zamael¡¯s work.¡±

    Zander hesitated over the farmer, then concluded, ¡°A lazy farmer dishonors his archlord and is a disgrace to Divine Celegana and Divine Ovidon. While he may not be evil in his heart, he allows Zamael¡¯s influence to weaken him.¡±

    Zander stood tall, sure he had proven his point.

    Sir Edward groaned, rubbing his forehead. ¡°Zander. Good and evil aren¡¯t that simple. The farmer might fail because of situations beyond his control. He may have been summoned to go to war, his family suffering from illness, Dalis may not have blessed the fields with her rains, Seraxa might have been spitefully hot or Qoryxa unrelentingly cold.¡±

    Zander felt the sharp prick of doubt, nausea hitting him like a hangover. The feeling unfamiliar and unwelcome.

    ¡°Sir Evan failed to meet his quota five harvests in a row,¡± Sir Edward continued. ¡°Does that make him evil? This man who took you in after¡ª¡±

    ¡°You can say it,¡± Zander said softly. ¡°I¡¯m a man now, not a child. It¡¯s been seven years.¡±

    Sir Edward placed a hand on Zander¡¯s back. ¡°You have a man¡¯s body and a man¡¯s appetites, but being a man doesn¡¯t mean feeling no pain. Time doesn¡¯t heal all wounds.¡± His voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°I promise you that.¡±

    Zander instinctively touched the silver locket around his neck, feeling shame wash over him. Sir Evan, Alfread¡¯s father, was a good man. How could he have been so blind? The priestesses taught that indolence was Zamael lulling people away from the labors of Ovidon, but bad things happened to good people¡ªhadn¡¯t his mother¡¯s death taught him that?

    Sir Edward straightened, his voice firm again. ¡°The merchant who sold faulty armor isn¡¯t necessarily evil. Men are imperfect. We make mistakes.¡±

    ¡°A careless mistake that costs lives while lining your pockets is the work of Zamael,¡± Zander challenged.

    Edward shook his head. ¡°I bought a helmet before my second conscription. I nearly died because the visor was brittle.¡± He traced the scar on his forehead. ¡°When I returned to confront the merchant, I found his shop abandoned. I hammered on the door of his hovel, thirsting for vengeance.¡±

    Sir Edward¡¯s voice softened. ¡°When his daughter opened the door and told me both the merchant and his wife died of disease, when I saw that she was barely surviving, I realized that my coin had kept her alive through the winter. What was my scar compared to her pain?¡± Edward¡¯s eyes teared and he swallowed. ¡°Even though she is gone now, her children are still my wards. That merchant¡¯s grandson is one of your best friends.¡±

    ¡°Kenneth?¡± Zander asked, shocked.

    Sir Edward nodded.

    They reached a hill overlooking the Bear River. After a moment of reflection, Zander spoke again. ¡°The cruel archlord¡ªhe must be evil. How could abusing power ever be justified?¡±

    Sir Edward allowed himself a brief smile at Zander¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Cruelty can be Zamael¡¯s scythe, but it can also be Meladon¡¯s hammer. I¡¯ve known archlords of both kinds. Bennett Bearbreaker was the cruelest man I ever served. He spent his time enacting the Right of First Night, taking brides as concubines if they pleased him. When couples tried to wed in secret, Bennett paid informants to betray them, then forced husbands to watch as he raped and murdered their wives. Afterward, he fed the husbands to his bears. The things he did to the priestesses that performed the secret bondings¡­¡±

    Zander¡¯s hatred flared. The Right of First Night disgusted him¡ªone of the vilest sacrileges against Leverith ever devised. ¡°Do not tell me this man wasn¡¯t evil. I would¡¯ve killed him.¡±

    ¡°And I and every other knight in the Peacewatch followed every order that monster gave, regretting too many of them. Meladon smiled the day Bennett¡¯s lady plunged a dagger into his throat while he slept. Even then, the brute broke her neck before he choked on his life¡¯s blood.¡±

    ¡°She shouldn¡¯t have been the one to deliver justice to the evil,¡± Zander said, glaring at Edward. ¡°Why do you try to find fault with me when you failed to follow your vows?¡±

    ¡°Why would I want better men to follow me?¡± Sir Edward laughed, bitterly. ¡°I tell you this because you can succeed where I failed.¡±

    ¡°Then tell me how cruelty can ever be just?¡±

    Sir Edward¡¯s tone grew measured. ¡°Bennett¡¯s heir, Urson Bearbreaker, tried to make amends for his father¡¯s ruthlessness. He reduced Peacewatch conscriptions, lowered taxes, and ruled gently. But weakness breeds chaos. Bandits terrorized the countryside, charlatans thrived in Urzport, and bards sang songs about Urson¡¯s weakness in every tavern.¡±

    ¡°He didn¡¯t harm the innocent, but he couldn¡¯t protect them either,¡± Zander said, nodding.

    ¡°Aye. When his uncle tried to kill him, Urson fought back, feeding him to the bears. After that, he raised taxes, increased conscriptions, and his bears feasted upon bandits and conmen. His cruelty brought order.¡±

    ¡°He became strong, and his cruelty was justice,¡± Zander agreed.

    Zander turned east toward the Sapphire Kingdom, thinking of the stories regaled daily in the taverns and preached in the temple¡ªtales of rape, murder, and pillaging by Zamael-worshipping Sapphires. But his mother had always tried to teach him something else, something he had forgotten. He clutched at the Leveria-shaped locket and tried to remember her lessons. ¡°Sapphires are no more evil than Rubies. We are all Leverith¡¯s children, separated only by lines on a map.¡±

    Sir Edward¡¯s voice became distant. ¡°I raided Mirrevar as a young knight, ready to avenge the deaths of my father and his father before him. On Bennett Bearbreaker¡¯s orders, we put all the Sapphire settlers to the sword. Hopelessly outnumbered, their soldiers fought to protect them, down to the last slain child.¡±

    Zander took a step back, horrified. This man, who had taught him so much, had once stood over the bodies of children, their innocent blood dripping from his blade?

    Edward¡¯s anguish poured out as if a flood long contained by a levy. ¡°I still try to tell myself those soldiers deserved to die, that there was nothing I could do to stop what we did, but¡­¡±

    Edward¡¯s words trailed off, leaving Zander to consolidate his actions with his memories of a man who had done his best to train him, who cared for orphaned wards, who treated commoners no different from nobility. ¡°You were bound by your oath to Archlord Bearbreaker, just as the Sapphire were bound by their oaths. Neither of you were evil.¡±

    Edward¡¯s voice broke. ¡°But I have done evil.¡±

    Zander nodded solemnly, praying to the Divine Thirteen that he might succeed where Edward failed. ¡°I¡¯ll carry these lessons with me.¡±

    Sir Edward wiped his eyes and cleared his throat, restoring his usual stoic demeanor. ¡°Then it is time you begin your journey. I¡¯ve received orders from Urzport to eliminate a wolf pack ravaging farmlands north of Bear¡¯s Crossing. Gather your companions, make use of my stables, and vanquish them.¡±

    Zander accepted the quest with eagerness. ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint you, Sir!¡± He looked forward and witnessed the glory awaiting him. His days of being a mere squire were coming to a close.

 Chapter 2: The Second Great Wizard

    Ahead loomed Dalis¡¯s Wall, immense and beautiful¡ªa deep ocean blue waterfall trapped in stone. Enchanted by the legendary Love Queen, its magic captured the attention and soothed the emotions of would-be invaders. Master Alexia Bluerose couldn¡¯t look away, nor did she want to. The wall¡¯s majesty soothed her, much like watching fireflies, frostflies, and thunderbugs dancing over the still waters of Eagle Lake. Beyond it lay the only home she had ever known and the few people who truly understood her.

    ¡°Sapphirica! Good to see you again!¡± Sir Timmeck Eckhard turned his head, resisting the wall¡¯s alluring pull. ¡°Feel good to be home?¡± He winked with his blind eye.

    Alexia suppressed her relief and joy to be heading home, hiding it like the soft flesh within a tortoise¡¯s hardened shell. For now, she had to be the person the Sapphire Kingdom needed her to be. Not even her sworn shield¡ªhalf protector, half warden¡ªcould be allowed within her walls.

    ¡°I¡¯m only here for my next assignment.¡±

    A derisive snort came from the third member of their party, Maleon. The wizard was nearly as handsome as he was talented, and he was nearly as talented as he was confident. His voice carried the distinctive drawl of Degotus. ¡°You should be assigned back to the Arcanium. You may have a master¡¯s abilities, but you lack the temperament for battle.¡±

    His words struck deep, echoing her own hidden doubts. She longed to be back in the quiet of the Arcanium, surrounded by books, away from the violence and the need to kill.

    Sir Timmeck came to her defense. ¡°Back off, Stonebreaker! She¡¯s a better wizard than you!¡±

    Alexia averted her eyes, discomfort burning in her chest. She wished she could vanish, to observe life from behind the stands instead of being thrust center stage as the Second Great Wizard. But this was her role, and no one, least of all herself, let her forget it.

    She wanted to defend herself with the confidence expected of her, but she wasn¡¯t confident, nor charismatic. The mask of composure was all that stood between Alexia and the world seeing her uncertainty. As Maleon¡¯s gaze pierced her, the mask began to crack. Moments from breaking down into tears, she urged Moonstrider forward, leaving the perceptive cognitive-affectomancer behind.

    Her chestnut-brown hair fluttered in the wind, flashing dark gold where the sun kissed it¡ªa magical effect courtesy of her father¡¯s Kavovan heritage rather than her own Leverian magic. Away from the stares and expectations, she felt part of the larger whole and immersed herself into the divine energy that permeated the world around her. The power of gods flowed through her and she became akin to a leaf blowing in the breeze, a stone settling on the ground, a cloud floating across the sky, a smoldering flame, a snowflake forming, a shining sunbeam, a placid waterfall, and a loving soul. For a few turns, she felt peace.

    Above, a giant eagle soared¡ªemperor of the sky, free to choose its path. Alexia yearned for its freedom, to veer away from the path laid before her by the Divine Thirteen and King Gideon Sapphire. She could flee. But she wouldn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t abandon Leveria to the Gemstone War or give up on her dreams of peace. Her power was as much a gift as a burden, and she wouldn¡¯t squander it because she was scared or shy.

    Alexia kept her focus on peace, as Moonstrider carried her toward the Wizard¡¯s Gate.

    The Wizard Road was the most secluded route to Sapphirica¡ªno villages, no farms, only untamed wilderness. When Alexia arrived at the Wizard¡¯s Gate, it was deserted save for a single guard in silver chainmail with a blue Sapphireguard cloak. He removed his helm and smiled at her.

    Alexia tensed. Being alone with a man, especially an attractive one close to her age, unnerved her even more than a staring crowd. If eyes were hands, the guard¡¯s eyes would have ripped off her robes and grabbed handfuls of her. ¡°Leverith¡¯s love! What brings you to Sapphirica, o¡¯ fairest flower?¡±

    Alexia¡¯s parents and mentor had always emphasized the power of understanding. Leverians believed that devotion to Divine Leverith meant offering carnal tributes, with parents and priestesses alike encouraging frequent partnerships¡ªassuming they were the opposite sex and of an appropriate social class¡ªin pursuit of finding one¡¯s life¡¯s mate. Even if Alexia had been born with a singular interest in men, or what seemed to be the typical volume of carnal desire, she would still oppose this doctrine. Alexia had felt Leverith¡¯s spirit firsthand and knew the goddess¡¯s love wasn¡¯t rooted in physical passion.

    Leverith¡¯s love was the feeling of warmth and safety you felt when held by a parent, the desire to do anything to see your best friend smile, the unbreakable bond between life¡¯s mates that endured all trials. Alexia suspected love and lust could coexist, but they were not the same. It frustrated her that so many couldn¡¯t tell the difference, and it hurt all the more when men like this guard ogled her, thinking that fornicating with her was a sacred passage on their pilgrimage to true love.

    Understanding kept her anxiety and irritation in check, but no amount of empathy made her feel less exposed. Her sapphire-blue robes should have signaled her rank as a master at the Arcanium, and the patches on her sleeves marked her as a second-in-all-of-history master of cognitive-affectomancy. The guard should have known she was off-limits.

    Despite the arrival of another master wizard and a knight, the guard continued to stare at her as if she were the choice cut of meat at a royal banquet. Alexia glanced at Maleon, hoping he would intervene.

    Maleon waved his staff in front of the guard. ¡°Open the divinedamned gate! The king would prefer to hear about the land I won him rather than have you gawk at his pretty prodigy.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s discomfort festered. Everybody was keen to remind her of her beauty, bringing unwanted attention for the wrong reason. To her, beauty was just embellishment¡ªa sigil on the shield, not the shield itself. She hated how men¡¯s eyes pulled toward her as if she were as enchanting as Dalis¡¯s Wall.

    Thankfully, Maleon¡¯s sharp words broke the guard¡¯s stare. With hurried apologies, the gate was opened, and Alexia rode through without looking back.

    The tunnels beneath Dalis¡¯s Wall were enchanted to mimic the sound of a great waterfall while the ceiling was indistinguishable from a vast deluge. History was rife with tales of people drowned within these walls, making even seasoned travelers wary of these walls. Alexia urged Moonstrider forward, eager to leave the passage.

    Relief washed over her as she emerged into the open air of Sapphirica. The seaside city sprawled before her. In the distance, Saphirhold rose atop Azureale, the city¡¯s lone hill¡ªher home.

    Alexia thought of the miners in Azureale, risking their lives in unstable tunnels for sapphire and meladonite. Her father taught her that the common folk were the foundation of the pyramid, supporting the lords and the king above them. Eron Bluerose had been born from more humble origins and instilled in his daughter an empathy for those who labored the most and gained the least. Alexia dreamed of advocating for them, using her power to end the war that sent them to die, and to flatten the pyramid that left them trapped beneath the burdens placed upon them. These dreams were her comfort, more than ever after the battle in Vulcan.

    As they rode deeper into the city, another structure commanded her gaze: the Divincor, with its thirteen steeples and grand obelisk reaching toward the heavens. It was the heart of Sapphirica, where the Seeress of Meladon preached to a hundred thousand people on holy days. Alexia couldn¡¯t imagine addressing such a crowd. As the tendrils of anxiety began to wrap around her, she broke free and turned her thoughts to more calming places.

    The Arcanium, less grand but far more important to her, was like a perfect amethyst hidden among larger and flashier gems. Its buildings varied: the seemingly small Hall of Elixir sunk deep into the earth, the expansive Hall of Healing made of pink stone, the tree-shaped Grand Library stored vast knowledge in its trunk, branches, leaves, and roots, and the vast classrooms of the Hall of the Scholar. Her gaze lingered on the marble statue of Linus Peacemaker, the original great wizard disguised as Sunil of the Steppe.

    Maleon noticed her staring. ¡°No shame in being too sweethearted for battle, Bluerose. There you wouldn¡¯t have to hurt anyone, and you could heal those no one else can. You know that is where you belong.¡±

    The Stonebreaker¡¯s observation found its target, shattering it with well-placed words. Alexia¡¯s heart raced as memories of the battle flooded her¡ªthe scent of burnt bodies, the piercing screams of agony, the explosions of viscera and blood, the feeling of knowing you just put the final period on hundreds of stories. If she could choose her own path, she¡¯d never set foot on a battlefield again. Her heart was for love and peace, but she was too divinedamned effective at war. King Gideon wouldn¡¯t let his best weapon sequester itself in the Arcanium now that she had been unleashed.

    Maleon smirked, knowing he had delivered a direct hit. Alexia tried to focus on him, to distract herself from reliving the nightmares. He was attractive, his sandy blonde hair showing no gray, despite being a decade older than Timmeck and his gray, balding crop. Alexia found sanctuary in recalling her arcane studies, particularly the Lifespans treatise, which theorized that divine energy prolonged the lives of cognitive-affectomancers. Alexia believed it was Leverith¡¯s spirit that sustained her, just as it had the legendary Queen Alexia Leveria, who had looked youthful even at a hundred years old.

    Her mind wandered further, running from the threads of anxiety that tried to web her to those moments of battle. Thinking of Lifespans and the ancient Love Queen bearing her name, she recalled digging in the roots of the grand library for buried tomes. Once, she had found an ancient copy of a notebook written by Alexia Leveria musing on global politics and cognitive-affectomancy, which her master historian mother helped publish. Master Ione Bluerose teased Alexia for being so gifted at healing that she could restore even the legacy of the dead.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Nothing made her prouder than her skill with Leverith¡¯s healing energy. She recalled healing Izak Arpione, paralyzed from a fall while climbing the towers of his family¡¯s northern castle. The master witches told the little boy that dreamt of being a knight that he would never walk again, just as they told twelve-year-old Alexia the wound was too old for Leverith¡¯s energies to repair. Alexia blushed, wondering if she would ever attend the Pageant ball and work up the courage to talk to him again or if she would hide away the same as she did every year when the handsome knight came to court.

    No, she needed to guide her mind away from thoughts of her crippling shyness. Her proudest memory was saving the city of Tenacity from a blood plague. At thirteen, she had discovered the cure when the other master witches had been stumped. The Sapphire Kingdom had heralded her as the Savior of Tenacity ever since. Archlord Daravon had even suggested she marry his eldest grandson, though her father had thankfully rescued her from that situation¡ªfor now.

    They reached the intersection of the Wizard Road and the Dawn Road, where Alexia saw the Dawn Sea and the ships in the harbor, no more than wooden toys from this distance. She imagined Divine Ovidon smiling down from Paradise, pleased with the commerce, yet Sapphirica owed much of its prosperity to her father¡¯s efforts in negotiated trade agreements with Kavovan city-states, the Mahogany Isles, and even the Ice Tribe and Fire Tribe of Volqor.

    The smell of fishmongers filled the air as children hawked their families¡¯ catches. Timmeck bought a basket of clams and offered some to her and Maleon. ¡°A small thanks for saving my life in Vulcan,¡± he said, winking with his blind eye.

    As they ascended Azureale, the mansions grew more lavish, a stark contrast to the struggling peasants stacked into tenements below. Soon, the towering walls of Saphirhold came into view. The gate sentries heralded them as heroes, making Alexia wish she could flee down Azureale and bury herself in a hidden nook of the Grand Library. Timmeck exchanged quips with each guard, allowing Alexia to keep her head down and keep moving as the laughter did little to ease the screams in her mind. Alexia sighed with relief as they passed through the gates, over the fetid moat, and into the castle courtyard. She was home.

    Saphirhold housed granaries, forges, stables, courtyards, and expansive training grounds that produced the kingdom¡¯s finest warriors. Hundreds of lowborn families lived in the servant¡¯s wing, giving the castle the feel of a small, walled town. The distant clang of blunted blades and shouts from the training grounds echoed faintly through the air. In this courtyard, however, flowers and gardens prevailed. Alexia glanced wistfully at the towering acacia, sighing when she saw no sign of Azi. The princess was likely tending herbs at the Arcanium or indulging in the kitchens, thoughts of Azi in her natural elements restoring a smile to Alexia¡¯s face.

    Stableboys rushed to tend their horses. Alexia patted Moonstrider gently, humming as she fed him a carrot from her saddlebag. A steward soon approached, one of her father¡¯s men, who informed them King Gideon was holding court and awaiting their report. He congratulated them on their victory, Maleon calling him out for his overzealous praise. Alexia kept her eyes forward, staring blankly ahead to the moment she could seclude herself in her bedchamber.

    They entered the castle through Celegana¡¯s Hall, a grand room filled with ornately carved tables and hearths. Banners of the Eastern Leverian archlords hung above, and the hall¡¯s layout guided all eyes toward the dais, where the Sapphire family dined beneath their banner¡ªa giant sapphire on a field of silver. Two thousand souls gathered here daily to eat in view of their king. Alexia ran her hand over her family¡¯s table as they passed, her mind drifting away to easier times, though she hadn¡¯t known it then.

    King Gideon often encouraged Princess Azurianna to break bread with Alexia, much to Queen Hellena¡¯s dismay. Alexia herself had been invited to the king¡¯s table on occasion, though she dreaded the attention. King Gideon¡¯s interest in her made her anxious, worsened by Queen Hellena¡¯s cold nature and Prince Halius¡¯s covetous gaze. Memories of awkward evenings where she barely uttered a sound haunted her as they neared the great doors behind the dais.

    The steward led them past those waiting for an audience. An Azureknight pushed open the grand oak doors to the throne room, announcing their arrival. Maleon strutted toward the king, yearning for praise, like a dog wagging its tail excitedly before his master after fetching a bone, while Alexia trailed behind, hoping he would take the lead. As always, her meagre sociability evaporated in the king¡¯s presence, buried beneath a mountain of self-consciousness.

    To calm herself, Alexia studied the room. Thirteen silver pillars, each as broad as sequoia trunks, supported the towering ceiling. Statues of past Sapphire monarchs lined the walls, with the older dynasty figures hidden behind those of Maithus¡¯s lineage. Maithus, the blacksmith-turned-king who had led a peasant revolution in the Second Leverian Era took the Vile King¡¯s daughter as his wife. He preserved the old dynasty¡¯s statues as a reminder of their failings. Unfortunately, his heir went on to become known as the Viler King.

    Light poured in from thirteen stained-glass windows, each depicting one of the Divine Thirteen. Alexia¡¯s gaze lingered on Zamael¡¯s grim visage before settling on Leverith¡¯s gentle figure.

    They approached the stairs leading to the throne, a sapphire-blue rug beneath their feet. Twelve steps above, Alexia saw the seats for the king¡¯s closest advisors. Her father sat in the Steward¡¯s Seat, a stone monstrosity designed to prevent comfort or complacency. Opposite him, Prince Halius leaned forward on the Throne of the Heir, a smaller version of the Sapphire Throne.

    The Sapphire Throne resided on the thirteenth step, adorned with thirteen enormous sapphires. Yet it was King Gideon¡¯s presence that dominated over the room. Gideon¡¯s deep, commanding voice could have made Divine Balbaraq¡¯s thunder sound like a mouse¡¯s squeak. ¡°Has the Sapphire taken Vulcan?¡±

    A battle-hardened general, King Gideon had conquered more territory than any Sapphire in the last two centuries, including Vulcan before the Ruby reclaimed it a few years ago. King Gideon looked like how Alexia imagined Meladon himself ought to look, towering with sapphire eyes that mirrored the gems in his crown. Though not traditionally handsome, his rugged features and battle-scarred face exuded authority. Alexia flushed with shame, needled by the recollection of her fantasies about him in her youth, despite him being old enough to be her father.

    Alexia¡¯s knees would have buckled if they weren¡¯t already bent. Despite the simplicity of his question, she flinched.

    Thankfully, Maleon answered. ¡°Vulcan is yours, Your Majesty. The Ruby fled beyond the western range, and as you commanded, I destroyed the passes. Sir Alain Rolland holds the region and awaits your orders.¡±

    Alexia kept her eyes down, hoping to escape the audience without having to speak.

    ¡°Master Alexia Bluerose, tell me about the battle.¡±

    Panic flooded her, tightening her chest. She trembled, buying time by clearing her throat. Gathering her scattered thoughts, Alexia recited lines she had rehearsed. ¡°Our decoy force feigned a siege at Tintrea Pass to draw the defenders north, allowing Master Stonebreaker and I to tunnel through the eastern range. Under the cover of darkness, our infiltrator, using a cloaking draught and my muffling spell, assassinated the Ruby wizard at Tintrea. The assassin then threw a noralistone toward our decoy force, triggering Master Petra Lightwave¡¯s beam which signaled our force to invade through our tunnels.¡±

    She faltered as memories of burning men and their screams overwhelmed her. Tears welled in her eyes, her voice breaking.

    ¡°Our magical superiority won the day,¡± Maleon finished for her.

    King Gideon glared at Maleon. If eyes were stones, Maleon would have two massive boulders crushing his body. ¡°I was speaking to Master Alexia. I did not grant you leave to speak, Master Stonebreaker.¡±

    Maleon bit his lip. He was no longer the excited dog triumphantly returning a bone to his master, but a cat flicking his tail with indignation because he had been shoved away after delivering his owner a prize mouse. Alexia felt a pang of sympathy for him.

    ¡°Continue, Alexia,¡± Gideon prompted, his voice softer but still unyielding.

    She inhaled, held, and exhaled. ¡°As Master Maleon said, Your Majesty, our victory was absolute. The Ruby forces fled, and we destroyed the passes to prevent their return. Sir Alain has garrisoned the western fortifications, and the ruined terrain should make a counterassault nearly impossible. Master Lightwave remained in Vulcan to monitor whether Lira Tidecaller tries to use her fog to sneak in a Celvine fleet, but Vulcan¡¯s Hammer has decimated nearly every fleet that has ever tried to invade the northern cliffs.¡±

    She exhaled quietly, praying her report would satisfy the king.

    Applause startled her, but it did not belong to the king nor even her father. Prince Halius clapped, his strikingly handsome features twisted in a smirk. Alexia refused to meet his lime-green eyes, as she had for the past seven years.

    ¡°You are brilliant, Alexia,¡± Halius declared.

    Alexia froze, fixing her eyes on the pattern of the rug. Her father cut in, sparing her most mercifully. ¡°Have you any addendums to Master Bluerose¡¯s report, Master Stonebreaker?¡±

    It was subtle, but Alexia felt the chill in the room and it was not just coming from Sir Garrond the Dust¡¯s magical frostblade. Maleon was naturally pulling on Seraxa¡¯s heat, his anger feeding the divine energy into him. Yet he kept his voice professionally obedient. ¡°Master Bluerose¡¯s report is sufficient.¡±

    The king asked the question that Alexia most feared. ¡°Is she the sword that will end this war?¡±

    Maleon hesitated, but when the king barked ¡°Answer me!¡± he relented.

    ¡°Master Alexia¡¯s abilities are extraordinary,¡± he admitted reluctantly. ¡°But she is not your sword. Her heart is too soft, and another battle like this will break her mind.¡± He glanced now at Alexia¡¯s father. ¡°I implore you, do not force her to fight. She belongs in the Arcanium, where she can do much good with her talents.¡±

    Alexia absorbed his words, feeling the truth in them. A part of her hoped her father would echo Maleon and that the king would heed their words.

    Instead, her father turned his attentions to Sir Timmeck. ¡°Sir Timmeck Eckhard, do you have anything to add.¡±

    Timmeck cleared his throat. ¡°Master Alexia was beyond compare, Your Majesty. She tore the earth apart, creating walls of stone where we were vulnerable and chasms to stop the enemy from attacking our flank. She tossed a Ruby cavalry charge into her chasm with a windstorm, incinerated their archers with fireballs, caused pikemen to drop their guard by blinding them with light, and buried siege equipment in a blizzard. When arrows rained upon us, she redirected them back at the Ruby.¡±

    He removed his gorget, revealing a faint scar on his neck. ¡°She healed me after I took a lance to the throat. I¡¯d follow the Second Great Wizard into Zamael¡¯s Hells because she is not just your sword, Your Majesty, she is our shield.¡±

    Timmeck¡¯s declaration stunned Alexia. The king, prince, and her father nodded in agreement, and she felt the burden of their expectations.

    King Gideon met her eyes, a grin spreading across his usually stoic face. ¡°Yes. Alexia is the Second Great Wizard. With her power, we will make Leveria one again. My son will rule over the entire continent, and she will be his queen.¡±

 Chapter 3: Old Iron

    Bear¡¯s Crossing was named for the old iron bridge that spanned the Bear River. Zander couldn¡¯t recall which ancient Leverian monarch had commissioned it, but he knew Alfread would remind him soon enough.

    Like weeds clinging to the base of a mighty tree, Bear¡¯s Crossing had sprouted around the rust-colored behemoth. The wealthiest citizens of the town were those who controlled the docks under the bridge¡ªa locale affectionately known as ¡°The Skirts¡± by common folk like Zander of Mirrevar. Every day, river barges docked here, their cargo unloaded and shipped overland to Balbarian, often recruits for the never-ending battles in Balbaraq¡¯s Gap. The Skirts were also lined with emporiums carrying goods from Meridian to Qorath and often the countries beyond the sea.

    While Zander appreciated Mirielda¡¯s holyday purchases of frostwine or faraway spices, his own pocketbook had no space for such things. Zander didn¡¯t even have a pocketbook; he preferred to avoid books of all kinds, not just the little ones you kept in your pocket. His few precious coins were reserved for two of his three great pleasures: eating and drinking.

    Both pleasures¡ªand the third too¡ªwere well-served in Bear¡¯s Crossing¡¯s taverns. Old Iron Inn, nestled beneath the bridge¡¯s shadow on the western side of the Bear, was a long wooden building. The ground floor bustled with patrons while the upper levels served as both inn and pleasure house. Zander had spent ample time enjoying all the inn had to offer.

    He brushed his fingers against the rusty iron sign outside as he entered. Lorelei, a petite maid with dandelion-yellow hair, greeted him with a broad smile.

    ¡°Big Zander!¡± she called, caressing his arm. ¡°Will ye be havin¡¯ the Lorelei special today?¡±

    Against his instincts, he pulled away. ¡°Not today. Have you seen Alfread?¡±

    Her mood soured as she nodded toward a corner table. ¡°Over there, with that bastard Kenneth. Tell him to stop harassing my sister, will ya?¡±

    ¡°For you?¡± Zander teased, running his fingers through her hair. ¡°Of course.¡± He hesitated, then added, ¡°But only because I¡¯ve got a soft spot for you, Lorelei.¡± He caressed her rosy cheek. ¡°Though I doubt it will stay soft forever.¡±

    She winked. ¡°I sure hope not.¡±

    Zander chuckled and made his way to Alfread¡¯s table, where Kenneth¡¯s chants of ¡°Finish strong!¡± rang out as Alfread finished chugging and slammed an empty mug on the table. As handsome Alfread hooted victoriously, Dinah dropped her tray and sent a set of drinking horns spilling to the planks. The innkeeper¡¯s remarks were drowned out by Zander¡¯s booming voice.

    ¡°That¡¯s how you finish! Never let it be said that Alfread son of Evan failed to conquer the infamous flagon of mead!¡±

    Kenneth, face red from thunderous laughter, struggled to respond, ¡°I erd tha¡¯ flagon¡¯s been takin¡¯ drinkin¡¯ horns genst their will!¡±

    Alfread, playing along, raised a fist. ¡°Never again will they be forced to serve the lusty flagon! Freedom for the drinking horns!¡± He flexed dramatically, drawing attention from Dinah and half a dozen other maids.

    Grinning, Zander eased into a chair, feeling at home amidst the familiar camaraderie.

    The three of them were still laughing when Lucille approached. Unlike her older sister, Lucy lacked the same striking beauty, but she had undeniable charms. Zander struggled to make consistent eye contact when she was near.

    ¡°Hullo, Zander,¡± she said shyly. ¡°Meat or mead for ye?¡±

    Zander softened his voice and smiled, managing to meet her eyes. ¡°What can I get for two iotas, Lucy?¡± He tossed the small iron coins onto the table.

    Kenneth, ever crass, slapped her backside. ¡°I¡¯ll take a pair o¡¯ soft potatoes, Lucy. Trade ye for a ripe cucumber.¡±

    Lucille slapped his hand away, frowning. Though tavern maids were known for their role in providing tribute to Divine Leverith, they always chose who to serve¡ªand were free to determine the fee. It was Zander¡¯s duty, as an aspiring knight and frequent bedpartner to Lucy¡¯s sister, to honor her autonomy.

    ¡°You¡¯ll stop mistreating her,¡± Zander commanded, his voice hard.

    Kenneth looked dumbfounded. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Respect her,¡± Zander growled.

    Kenneth lowered his head. ¡°Lucy, I were jes¡¯ japin¡¯. Won¡¯t happen again.¡± He downed his drink and stared into the empty flagon as if he might find someplace to hide his shame at that bottom.

    Zander felt a surge of pride, like a knight in meladonite armor. ¡°I¡¯ll take a horn of Jacque¡¯s mead and a leg of chicken, Lucy.¡±

    Lucille¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°As ye wish.¡± She turned to Alfread. ¡°Anything for you?¡±

    Alfread smiled, keeping his gaze respectfully on her face. ¡°I¡¯m content. How far has our little friend gone?¡±

    ¡°We just met the dragon!¡± Lucille beamed.

    Alfread nodded, impressed. ¡°I bet you solved some riddles too.¡±

    Zander took a moment to realize they were talking about Alfread¡¯s reading lessons at the temple. It seemed Lucille was one of the few tavern maids and farmer¡¯s daughters that actually went there on Meladon¡¯s Day to learn rather than spend a morning hoping to catch Alfread¡¯s attention.

    ¡°I did!¡± she exclaimed.

    ¡°You¡¯re a clever lass,¡± Alfread said with an easy smile. ¡°Try this one: ¡®Her voice is a hiss, she¡¯s scary to kiss. She¡¯s needed to live, but death she can give.¡¯¡±

    Lucille repeated the riddle and then smiled. ¡°Let me think on it, Alfread.¡± She looked back at Zander as she walked toward the kitchen. ¡°A leg of chicken and a horn of mead.¡±

    Zander nodded with a smile.

    ¡°What did Sir Edward want?¡± Alfread asked, but before Zander could answer, Dinah leaned on the table, her Leverith-blessed figure capturing Zander¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Alfread,¡± she purred as if addressing a divinedamned prince, ¡°your flagon¡¯s empty. More mead?¡±

    Zander was forced to field many feminine inquiries about his incomparably handsome, tall, lean, honey-brown haired, amber-eyed, charming best friend regarding why he never offered tribute to Leverith with them. For years, the tavern maids had kept a running bet on who might conquer Alfread¡¯s virtue and make a true Leverian out of him. Zander doubted today would be the day someone would finally claim that coveted pot.

    ¡°No thank you, Dinah,¡± Alfread replied with a warm smile.

    Dinah leaned further, her cleavage on display, but Alfread courteously kept his eyes on hers while Zander and Kenneth were less-than-stellar paragons of propriety.

    ¡°Tell Jacque his mead was excellent today,¡± Alfread said.

    Dinah lingered, waiting for more, but when nothing came, she stood, a hint of disappointment on her pretty face. ¡°We¡¯ve got much better things on the menu, Alfread. Come see me if ye want a free sample.¡±

    She walked away, ignoring Kenneth flagging her with his empty flagon. ¡°Ain¡¯t I ¡®ere?¡± he shouted. ¡°I¡¯d¡¯ve bought more mead, wench!¡±

    Zander laughed. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for disrespecting women.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯d roll out a divinedamn barrel for Al and spoon-feed ¡®im her heated honey, but I can¡¯t even git my flagon filled!¡±

    Lucille returned with Zander¡¯s mead, beaming. ¡°Thanks, Lucy,¡± Zander said, slipping her an extra iota. ¡°For your troubles.¡±

    She flashed Zander a bright smile, which he missed, before turning to Alfread. ¡°Fire!¡±

    A few patrons looked around in alarm before Alfread apologetically explained Lucille had solved his riddle. He quickly recovered, flashing a smile at her. ¡°Well done, Lucille. I would¡¯ve also accepted Seraxa, the Divine of Fire.¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Lucille grinned. ¡°That¡¯s probably the better answer.¡± She gave Zander a friendly slap on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll be back with your food.¡±

    Kenneth, still waving his empty flagon, was pointedly ignored. ¡°Balbaraq¡¯s Balls!¡± he howled.

    Zander ignored Kenneth¡¯s grumbling. ¡°There¡¯s a wolf pack harassing the lands upriver. Archlord Bearbreaker wants them gone. Sir Edward says it¡¯s my task.¡±

    Alfread perked up. ¡°A mere wolf pack is no match for Zander of Mirrevar!¡±

    Zander grinned. ¡°For us, you mean.¡± He knew Alfread¡¯s skills with a bow and tracking would be essential. Finding the wolves would be the hard part. ¡°Will you join me on this hunt?¡±

    Alfread didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Of course, brother. Let¡¯s slay some beasts.¡±

    Zander drank to that. Then, he turned to Kenneth, who was smiling dumbly into his empty mug. Despite his crude jests, Kenneth was a ferocious fighter, one of the few people in Bear¡¯s Crossing Zander couldn¡¯t take lightly. Zander trusted Kenneth and had a fondness for him that he would never confess for the fear of never hearing the divinedamned end of it. ¡°There¡¯s room for one more. What say you, Kenneth?¡±

    Kenneth looked thunderstruck, blinking a few times before a grin spread across his square face. He nodded.

    Dinah returned with Zander¡¯s meal¡ªa chicken leg and a slice of buttered barley bread. She leaned in close and whispered, ¡°Lorelei wants to know if ye¡¯ll reconsider if I join in.¡±

    Zander took a long sip, trying to rein in his excitement. A glance at the soft bosom pressed against his shoulder did indeed inspire reconsideration. ¡°Tell her I¡¯ll consider it,¡± he said, keeping his tone businesslike despite the temptation.

    ¡°Bring your friend,¡± she added with a wink, then turned to Alfread. ¡°Until next time, Alfread.¡± She sashayed away.

    Kenneth smirked. ¡°Balbaraq¡¯s Balls! What was that whisperin¡¯ about?¡±

    ¡°Lorelei wants to honor Leverith with me this evening,¡± Zander replied, after a pause. Alfread raised a brow, but Kenneth believed it as if the shite had dribbled straight out of Meladon¡¯s arse.

    ¡°Pretty Lori? She¡¯s the secon¡¯ mos¡¯ comely wench this side o¡¯ the river.¡±

    Zander shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s the most beautiful maid in Bear¡¯s Crossing.¡±

    Kenneth snorted, launching into a comparison of Dinah and Lorelei. Zander barely listened, his eyes finding Lorelei across the room. She winked at him, her smile sultry.

    Zander remembered the first time he had stared into her eyes, four years ago on Purification. In honor of Dalis, Divine of Water, everyone immersed themselves in the river to purify themselves of Zamael¡¯s evils. Unsurprisingly, a few hundred people in varying states of nudity gathering in a river led to honoring Leverith too. Zander wore nothing but a locket, and Lorelei had been stunning in the sunlight, her yellow hair shining as they embraced in the Bear River. She had smelled of flowery fragrance, river, and sweat as they splashed away to a secluded islet.

    But even as they had lain together, Zander hadn¡¯t felt purified. Despite countless tributes to Leverith with more women than he could remember, the Divine of Love had yet to answer his prayers. He sighed and fingered the locket around his neck, hoping that one more tribute might guide him to Leverith¡¯s answer, to the Sunrise.

    Alfread¡¯s voice snapped him from his thoughts. ¡°What¡¯s the plan, Zander?¡±

    Zander tore into his chicken with renewed focus. ¡°We ride at first light, follow the River Road north until we find the wolves. Then we kill them in the name of Archlord Wayn Bearbreaker and King Adameon Ruby.¡±

    Kenneth leaned in with a serious expression. ¡°Ye forgot Meladon, Sir Edward Bladestorm, yer mom, the Love Queen, the unicorns on the moon, and the wench I bedded last night.¡± He placed his hands together and looked up at the ceiling. ¡°Bless ye, Leverith.¡±

    Alfread countered smoothly, ¡°Bless Ovidon for possessing however many iotas she charged you.¡±

    Zander¡¯s smile faded. Joking was one thing, but not about his mother. Kenneth should have known that better than anyone.

    Sensing danger, Kenneth jumped up. ¡°DISMISSED!¡± he shouted, bolting for the door. Zander shook his head, following him out. Alfread was close behind, narrowly avoiding a collision with Dinah as she bent over in his path, complaining of an itch on her lower back. Alfread politely informed her of an herb that could help with that and Zander emerged into the sunlight chuckling.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see ye at first light,¡± Kenneth promised.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you will be punctual,¡± Zander said, knowing he would be late.

    Kenneth bounded off toward Old Iron, where he lived with his sisters on Sir Edward¡¯s estate. Zander couldn¡¯t watch him nearing the old bridge without thinking about how Kenneth¡¯s mother had leapt to her death from the pinnacle when he was a toddler. Zander turned in the opposite direction toward home, eager to abandon those thoughts.

    As they walked home, Zander told Alfread about his conversation with Sir Edward. Alfread listened intently, as he always did, able to remember every word.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there is any such thing as good and evil,¡± Alfread said in his usual pedantic way. ¡°King Wilhelm Ruby had his reasons to act like a tyrant, even if they didn¡¯t justify his actions. Linus Peacemaker¡ªthe Great Wizard,¡± he added, though Zander didn¡¯t need reminding, ¡°killed hundreds before he forged the Great Peace. Only the children¡¯s stories have perfectly altruistic heroes and purely evil villains. Humans are more complex. We are dusk and dawn behind a gray overcast sky. We may shine light or summon the night when the clouds pass by.¡±

    ¡°You read that in a book,¡± Zander teased.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Alfread replied with a smirk, clearly ready to launch into a lecture or more of his divinedamned rhymes.

    Zander shoved him before he could start. Alfread, steady on his feet despite the mead, pushed him back, still grinning. ¡°Our minds are a greater weapon than your sword or my bow. You should read more.¡±

    They traded insults as they neared Sir Evan¡¯s manor, laughing by the time they arrived.

    The manor was a sturdy log house with a main chamber, loft, and two wings. Mirielda¡¯s clinic and library occupied the south wing, while Alfread¡¯s family slept in the north. Zander slept in the loft with Sir Evan¡¯s old armor and various other things that hardly saw use. Outside, a garden known throughout Bear¡¯s Crossing grew herbs that Mirielda used for healing and contraception. The forest beyond the fields was where Zander and Alfread hunted during the winter.

    They found Sir Evan and Mirielda in the barn, milking cows. Alfread had inherited his father¡¯s height and love of stories, but his university-educated mother¡¯s beauty and intelligence. To Zander, they were the perfect couple, their love strong and timeless like Old Iron. He touched his locket, praying to Leverith that he, too, would find such a love one day.

    ¡°Crack any skulls?¡± Sir Evan asked, grinning as he milked a cow.

    Mirielda scolded him. ¡°Evan!¡±

    ¡°No skulls today, though maybe a nose,¡± Alfread quipped.

    Sir Evan beamed at him. ¡°That¡¯s my boy!¡±

    Mirielda¡¯s glare was like the sun; warm and beautiful but if you looked too long you would get burnt. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±

    ¡°I smashed Kenneth¡¯s nose with my shield.¡±

    Sir Evan cheered, but Mirielda shook her head. ¡°You can¡¯t lie to your mother, Alfread son of Evan. I cleaned your arse when you were a babe¡ªI recognize the scent of your shit.¡±

    Alfread tried to keep his composure, but he was cracking like an egg beneath his mother¡¯s iron interrogation.

    ¡°Lying to you is futile, love,¡± Sir Evan said. ¡°We¡¯d have better success trying to trick the wise crone in the Trolltongue stories.¡±

    Mirielda turned her piercing gaze onto her husband. ¡°A villainous, hideous, cunning crone? Is that what you think of me?¡±

    Evan looked at Zander and spoke as if Mirielda was out of earshot. ¡°I¡¯m doomed, men. Lie, and she knows. Tell the truth, and I¡¯ll be sleeping in the stables with Workhorse all summer.¡±

    Alfread and Zander laughed heartily as a mule sounded off from his stable. Mirielda sighed. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I can tell you are lying, Evan.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Evan said. ¡°I¡¯m lucky that you are brighter than the stars. You are more beautiful today than the day we met, Miri.¡±

    Mirielda placed her hand on Sir Evan¡¯s adoring face. ¡°You¡¯re telling the truth¡ªor at least what your mind thinks is truth. Poor thing.¡±

    ¡°I am a thing?¡± Evan countered.

    She leaned closer to him until their noses were touching. ¡°I can envision no other words that come any closer to an adequate description of you, Evan of Astoria.¡±

    Evan pulled Mirielda into his arms, kissing her cheeks. Zander gripped his locket, dreaming of the day he would find the Sunrise.

    When his parents continued to embrace, Alfread cleared his throat. ¡°We have news.¡± Sir Evan broke off the kisses and turned toward his son, while concern clouded Mirielda¡¯s beautiful face. Every mother dreaded their son¡¯s eighteenth birthday¡ªthe day of involuntary conscription¡ªbut many knew that their children would volunteer before that. ¡°We have been tasked with a quest by Sir Edward Bladestorm.¡±

    Sir Evan smiled. ¡°Gidi¡¯s Greatsword! What quest?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re hunting a wolf pack ravaging the farmlands upriver.¡±

    Mirielda exhaled. She knew they could handle wolves.

    Sir Evan nodded. ¡°Important work. No farming today¡ªyou¡¯re warriors of the Peacewatch now!¡±

    Zander felt a rush of pride, hearing that for the first time.

    ¡°Now off with you.¡± Evan grinned. ¡°Miri and I have unfinished business.¡± He squeezed an udder, milk splattered into the bucket and Evan looked suggestively at his wife.

    Mirielda rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re encroaching on my territory.¡±

    ¡°Better come reclaim it then.¡±

    Alfread fled the barn, sprinting away as fast as he could, chased by laughter. Wherever he inherited his chastity, it wasn¡¯t from his parents.

    Zander and Alfread spent the afternoon preparing for the journey. They crossed Old Iron at dusk to borrow mounts from Sir Edward. Zander claimed the silvery-white destrier, Paladin, while Alfread selected a red palfrey and left a gray one for Kenneth.

    As the sun set, they returned across the bridge. Barges docked along the river, and weary workers made their way home or to the taverns. Zander turned Paladin away from the road leading to the manor once they reached the western bank.

    ¡°Lorelei and Dinah?¡± Alfread asked.

    Zander smirked. ¡°Leverith is stronger than our minds or weapons. You should offer tribute to her. Come with me¡ªLeverith knows Dinah would rather spend the night with you than me.¡±

    Alfread looked up at the stars and shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not the way my tale goes, dear friend.¡± He gave Zander a half-hearted smile before riding homeward.

    Beneath the shadow of Old Iron, Zander paid tribute to Divine Leverith, praying for her answer. Soon, the sun would rise, and the long, lonely night would end.

 Chapter 4: Princes and Parents

    And she will be his queen.

    The world saw Halius Sapphire as the perfect storybook prince, tasting the honey but not the poison it concealed. Long ago, Alexia had met the monster that lurked within that fairy-tale veneer, and she could never forget.

    Alexia was just eleven during the Year of Three Kings when a plague claimed King Ezekiel and his heir, Haddeon, leaving the throne to Ezekiel¡¯s second son, Gideon. One afternoon, she was reading The Peacemaker¡ªlearning about how Linus¡¯s powers manifested while he was an eleven-year-old trying to survive as an orphan on the cruel streets of Rubinia¡ªwhen Halius snatched her book. No matter how much she begged, he refused to give it back. He teased her until tears welled up in her eyes. Finally, the prince dangled the book just out of reach and promised to return it¡ªif she called him ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    Her face flushed with humiliation, but she didn¡¯t dare resist her tormentor. ¡°Please give me my book, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± He ran his hand through her hair like she was a doll. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be concerned with wars or wizards.¡± He stroked her cheek. ¡°You should only worry about looking pretty and managing your husband¡¯s household. My household.¡±

    She would never forget the stench of honeyed tea on his breath as he kissed her¡ªagain and again. A helpless anger burned within Alexia until she felt like she was ablaze. She begged him to stop.

    Halius threw The Peacemaker into the fire. ¡°Have you forgotten what happens when you displease your king?¡±

    He seized her, pinching cruelly, calling her a whiny, stupid bitch who didn¡¯t realize the honor she was being given. He pulled her hair and forced her to her knees. Alexia looked desperately at Sir Ryam, but the Azureknight was sworn to protect Halius, not the prince¡¯s victim.

    The pain of the young prince¡¯s grip was nothing compared to the heat raging through her bones. Her pleading turned to a scream, and as it did, the room became icy cold, the hearth fire extinguishing. All Alexia wanted was for Halius to burn. She saw it in her mind¡ªhis tunic catching fire. Her scream peaked, she gripped his tunic, and flames shot from her fingertips.

    Halius shrieked, his tunic ablaze. Fear instantly replaced Alexia¡¯s anger as the fire in the hearth roared back to life, scorching the remains of The Peacemaker.

    Sir Ryam doused the flames with his azure cloak, but Halius¡¯s fury couldn¡¯t be extinguished. He condemned her as a freak, demanding her execution.

    Alexia¡¯s pleas fell on deaf ears. Halius ordered Ryam to behead her, but the knight refused. Only the king could give such an order. Furious, Halius demanded they go to Queen Hellena, but Sir Ryam insisted it must be King Gideon.

    Sir Ryam dragged her toward the king, Halius hurling insults and threats and letting everybody know that Alexia dared to attack him. She sobbed for her parents, feeling more hopeless with each person that did nothing. King Gideon was the most terrifying figure she had ever known, a man who¡¯d ordered more executions in a few months than his father had in twenty years. She was going to die.

    Alexia whimpered as Halius told his story, ashamed that she couldn¡¯t even speak up for herself when her life depended on it. She closed her eyes, unable to look at the mighty king as he approached. Instead of beheading her, the king knelt and took her hand. ¡°Look into my eyes, child.¡±

    His eyes were unlike Halius¡¯s green orbs. They were bluer than any ocean or sky. Instead of seeing the executioner, the warrior king, Alexia saw her best friend Azi.

    ¡°Forgive me, Alexia,¡± Gideon said softly, tears welling in his eyes. ¡°I have spent most of my life away from Saphirhold and not enough time as a father to my own children. You, sweetheart, have been a far better companion to my daughter than I have, nor have I shielded you from my son¡¯s cruelty.¡±

    Halius scoffed, but Gideon ignored his protests, keeping his gaze on Alexia. ¡°You have always been important to me, and now you are important to all of Leveria.¡±

    Seven years later, King Gideon proposed to bind her to Halius. The betrayal was like a knife twisting in her gut.

    Prince Halius smiled warmly from the Throne of the Heir. ¡°I look forward to learning everything about you, Alexia. I wish to be a good king and an even better husband.¡±

    His voice was like the sweetest ballad, but Alexia only heard the boy who once commanded her death.

    Her heart ached at the possibility of never knowing a lover¡¯s embrace. Moments ago, she¡¯d felt trapped in her duties, and now she yearned for the freedom of this morning. People never truly grasped the value of freedom until they felt the weight of the chains.

    Alexia cursed Leverith and cursed herself even more for bringing this punishment upon herself with her heresy. She questioned her chastity, wondering if her lack of tribute led her here. Perhaps, if she had been more pious, this wouldn¡¯t have happened. Instead, she had avoided the advances of lordlings and wizards, their covetous eyes on her power, her body¡ªnever her. Their gazes made her feel less human, as if her purpose was only to be touched and used.

    She had always avoided places steeped in sexuality, clinging to Princess Azurianna or her parents when she must be at one of the queen¡¯s balls, hiding between lectures at the Arcanium, and steering clear of places meant for mingling. She defied the Temple and those who urged her to offer tribute to Leverith. Only her mother had ever said she didn¡¯t need to force herself to ¡°frolic.¡± Yet Alexia had never confessed her thoughts about frolicking, afraid that even her mother would be disappointed to know Alexia had those feelings for another woman.

    The Seeress had preached that there was no greater heresy than loving one¡¯s own gender. Despite years of consoling herself, of reading and rereading Annals of an Anathema, convincing herself that Leverith knew all love was valid, her doubts returned. Now, she felt punished for her chastity, for desiring another woman. And the cruelest part was that she blamed herself.

    Tears welled in her eyes, and Alexia stared at her feet to hide them. The betrayal of Leverith cut deeper than the king¡¯s. She had devoted herself to the goddess, healing with her spirit, dreaming of peace and love for all. And in return, Leverith had rewarded her piety with Halius. She wanted to scream at herself for ever believing she could have a storybook ending like Princess Pelianna and her Paladin.

    She kept her eyes down. Everyone was waiting for her reaction, but she couldn¡¯t offer one. She wanted nothing more than to be anywhere else. Her father spoke first. ¡°No official proclamations have been made, no contracts signed. While King Gideon and I believe that this bonding could be best for everyone, we won¡¯t proceed if either of you objects.¡±

    ¡°I only ask for a chance,¡± Halius said softly. ¡°I¡¯m not the boy I was, Alexia. I¡¯d be a devoted lover to you.¡±

    ¡°She will need more than words,¡± King Gideon cut in, sharp as a meladonite edge. ¡°What do you say, Alexia? Shall we strike the idea down now or give it a fair trial?¡±

    Alexia looked at her father for guidance. Eron Bluerose gave an encouraging nod. His betrayal eclipsed the king¡¯s or Leverith¡¯s. He spoke of her freedom to make this choice, but it felt like an illusion. Right now, she felt like property being auctioned by her own father. She did what she always did when socially overwhelmed: she stalled and avoided. ¡°I need time to absorb this.¡±

    ¡°It is not every day that one is offered to become a future queen,¡± Halius said with a humorous lilt that would have charmed nearly every other girl in the kingdom.

    Alexia met his eyes briefly before turning away. ¡°No. Not every day, Your Majesty.¡±

    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him flinch at the honorific. He remembered too.

    King Gideon glanced at her father. ¡°Brief them on the Ferrickton operation.¡±

    Eron rose from his seat, his voice now the smooth, silvery tongue of the royal steward. ¡°Ferrickton supplies more than half of the Ruby Kingdom¡¯s iron, located just a day¡¯s ride from the Bear River, where it¡¯s shipped anywhere from Qorath to Meridian. You are to report to Mirrevar, infiltrate the Ruby Kingdom, and use cognitive-affectomancy to collapse the mines.¡±

    ¡°Master Alexia will be in command,¡± King Gideon declared.

    Alexia sensed the shift in divine energy from Maleon¡¯s anger, the room chilling as he channeled Seraxa¡¯s heat. He said nothing, but the heat of his rage terrified her. She lowered her gaze, knowing Maleon was the better candidate, wishing he were sent alone on this quest.

    After discussing the details, King Gideon dismissed them. Maleon¡¯s silence quickened Alexia¡¯s pulse as he strode out of the throne room.

    ¡°Sweetheart.¡±

    She turned to see her father, but couldn¡¯t muster the will to do more than nod at the wall beside him.

    For once, his contagious smile failed to spread to her. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you return whole.¡±

    Alexia nodded again, though she didn¡¯t feel whole. How could she? She would never have her other half, and she was farther from becoming the person she wanted to be than ever.

    *************

    Lady Ione Bluerose dropped her book the moment Alexia appeared in the doorway. ¡°Lexi!¡± she cried, rushing to embrace her daughter. Before Alexia could speak, her mother¡¯s arms were around her.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    They pressed their foreheads together, as they had done for as long as Alexia could remember. As always, Ione tossed her golden hair forward like a veil, a habit that still amused Alexia even now that she was as tall as her graceful Heron mother. ¡°I missed you, my sweet sunshine,¡± Ione said, her voice warm with love.

    Wrapped in her mother¡¯s arms, Alexia felt a warmth she hadn¡¯t known since leaving Sapphirica. ¡°I missed you more,¡± she replied, hugging her tighter, a surprise tucked in her other hand.

    They pulled back and locked eyes. Ione smiled. ¡°I missed you so much that the only way I could deal with it was to write about you.¡±

    Alexia blushed, anxious to hear about her mother¡¯s latest project. She managed a grin and made the winning move. ¡°I missed you so much I brought this.¡±

    Alexia revealed her surprise: an almond pudding pie. Her mother¡¯s eyes widened. She reached for the pie, only for Alexia to pull it back with a teasing tsk.

    Ione chuckled. ¡°You missed me more,¡± she conceded with a laugh, her joy contagious.

    Alexia handed over the pie and flopped onto the sofa, flipping through the book her mother had been working on. Ione Bluerose nee Heron, a master of literature and history, had long since retreated into her role as a chronicler, preferring solitude over the limelight of lecturing. Alexia traced her finger over the title of the manuscript.

    ¡°The Savior of Tenacity?¡±

    ¡°I happen to know her,¡± Ione quipped. ¡°In fact, she¡¯s my absolute favorite. Not the Love Queen, the Peacemaker, or the Godseer. The Savior of Tenacity.¡±

    ¡°She must have the best mother of them all,¡± Alexia said.

    Ione set two plates of pie on the table and sat beside her daughter, leaning on her shoulder. ¡°Your words, not mine.¡±

    Alexia laughed and leaned back into her mother. It had been too long since she had been in safe harbors where she could laugh and love and be herself. ¡°You should put that quote in your book.¡±

    Ione laughed. ¡°The kingdom yearns to know more about you,¡± Ione explained. ¡°Your father¡¯s informants say you¡¯re the talk of the common folk. He and King Gideon made sure that ¡°On Cognitive-Affectomancy¡± was distributed throughout the kingdom. Bards and scholars recite your letter all over the kingdom every day, and songs are sung about how you saved Tenacity. You have healed people from every hold in the realm and they speak your name with hope, and even the old and cynical believe you might show them a better world. The Leverian people love you, dear. I would have them know just how right they are.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s hands trembled as she set her plate down. Overwhelmed, she collapsed into her mother¡¯s arms, sobbing. The weight of everything¡ªthe horrors she¡¯d committed in Vulcan, the looming betrothal, fear of Maleon Stonebreaker, the masks she must wear, another mission to hurt people, the crushing responsibility of so much pressure¡ªthreatened to drown her. She wasn¡¯t Linus Peacemaker or even a fraction of her namesake, Queen Alexia Leveria; she was just an anxious eighteen-year-old girl. If the people knew who she truly was¡ªquiet, uncertain, lost in her own dreams¡ªthey¡¯d know she was a fraud.

    Her mother didn¡¯t judge. She simply held her, squeezing her hand gently, letting her cry. After a long silence, Ione finally spoke. ¡°You don¡¯t think you deserve it, do you?¡±

    Alexia nodded through her tears.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a hard journey,¡± her mother said.

    Alexia couldn¡¯t bring herself to tell her mother the truth¡ªthat she was a monster, a freak. She had watched squadrons of soldiers die in agony because of magic she had unleashed. The screams haunted her, and everyone praised her for the pain she caused. She couldn¡¯t tell her mother what she really was. Instead, she laid her head in her mother¡¯s lap.

    Ione stroked Alexia¡¯s hair, gathering her thoughts. ¡°I have only ever been responsible for recording history, not making it. I will never know what it is like to fight in a war, to see my comrades die, or to be forced to kill. I can only imagine what you¡¯ve been through.¡±

    Alexia curled into a ball, unable to speak of memories she could not stop reimagining.

    Ione¡¯s tears fell upon Alexia¡¯s hair. Her voice broke with emotion. ¡°I don¡¯t have to imagine knowing who you are. That, I know better than anything else. I¡¯m prouder of you than I¡¯ve ever been of anything I¡¯ve done. I know your strength¡ªin magic, in mind, and most of all, in heart. I know the world is blessed to have you, that Leveria couldn¡¯t be in better hands, and I couldn¡¯t love you more.¡±

    Despite her mother¡¯s words, Alexia¡¯s doubts remained. She stared at her trembling hands, hearing the screams in her mind. ¡°Why me? Why am I the one who¡­,¡± she trailed off, unable to finish.

    Her mother pulled her close. ¡°You are meant for more than war. You are a lover and a peacemaker. Never be ashamed of who you are because your greatest magic has nothing to do with cognitive-affectomancy. Leverith chose you because your love will bring dreams to life. Vulcan is just a footnote in your chronicle of peace, undeserving of its own chapter.¡±

    For the first time since feeling betrayed, Alexia reached out to Leverith. ¡°I love you,¡± she whispered, letting divine love flow through her. Alexia reminded herself that she was safe here, that she was a strong, worthy person even without her stoic fa?ade. Here, she was loved just as she was, and always would be. Leverith¡¯s spirit answered her call until blue light streamed from her body and circulated the room. The screams receded. They would return, but not here¡ªnot now.

    Ione kissed her cheek. ¡°I love you more, Lexi.¡±

    Alexia snorted. She met her mother¡¯s eyes, grinning. ¡°I love you more than the moon loves the sun.¡±

    Ione wiped her own tears. ¡°I love you more than the sea loves the sky.¡±

    ¡°I love you more than the wind loves the trees.¡±

    ¡°I love you more than your father loves bacon.¡±

    Both of them laughed, blending sniffles with giggles. ¡°I love you more than anything,¡± they said together, holding hands, sharing a smile. In this moment, Alexia felt good enough. She chose not to look too far forward and lived in this moment because she knew tomorrow it would be gone.

    They savored the pie as their conversation drifted toward court gossip. Ione updated Alexia on the kingdom: her father¡¯s new tea plantations were boosting the economy, betrothals had been announced, including Alexia¡¯s cousin Robin Heron. Ione mentioned that Halius was due to meet his life¡¯s mate any day now, noting his dalliances with heiresses and serving girls with scorn, unaware of the proposed betrothal. Once Alexia told her about the scene in the throne room, her mother promised to talk sense into the royal steward.

    The vast portion of pie left Alexia drowsy, and she was ready for bed when her father entered the room, beaming. ¡°What a beautiful sight!¡± He kissed Ione and placed his hand on Alexia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ready, Alexia?¡±

    Alexia followed her father up the stairwell, mourning the nap she had been denied. His silver cloak, adorned with his blue rose sigil, flowed behind him. Many men mocked his Kavovan style as unmanly, but their wives were envious of the quiet wife the elegant steward had wed.

    Her father¡¯s office was meticulously arranged, a shrine to his work. Scrolls of governance were neatly stacked, maps with detailed notations adorned the walls, and shelves overflowed with books on law, history, and finance. He could have found anything he needed here, yet he often made trips to the Arcanium¡¯s Grand Library, where he would find her hiding away in some nook. She had realized over time that those ¡°serendipitous¡± encounters were deliberate. Despite being charged with managing the minutia involved in governing an entire kingdom, he took angles out of his days to find her while she was battling crippling self-doubt.

    Her father, Eron Bluerose, had always been her rock. It wasn¡¯t just his marigold eyes he had given her¡ªhe had given her strength when she was weak, picking up the pieces of her every time she broke.

    Eron settled into his chair, a cushioned masterpiece from the Mahogany Isles made to offset the pains of sitting the Steward¡¯s Seat, while Alexia took the more modest chair opposite him. The perfume of Maypine air fragrances filled the room, partly masking the scent of ink and parchment. Eron leaned forward, hands clasped. ¡°We need to talk about Prince Halius.¡±

    Alexia tensed. Her emotions, concealed from the royal steward, were not hidden from her father. Catharsis had come half a year early. ¡°I don¡¯t love him. I never will. Don¡¯t make me bond him.¡±

    Eron sighed. ¡°He¡¯s not the pompous prince who teased you, Alexia. He¡¯s changed.¡±

    She recoiled. ¡°Teased? He terrorized me for years! He still torments Azi!¡±

    Unfazed, Eron continued calmly. ¡°Azurianna gives him just as much as she gets and always has. Halius has grown into a responsible heir. He attends court alongside his father and shows respect for both those above and below him. He¡¯s proven himself a worthy heir for Monsoon in the training yard. Responsible. Handsome. Caring.¡± Eron smiled at her. ¡°He asks me about you all the time. The boy has always loved you, Alexia. Blame his grandfather¡¯s permissiveness, his mother¡¯s bitterness, or his father¡¯s absence for why he was what he was as a child. A child doesn¡¯t have control over who shapes them, only over how he shapes himself when he sees the world beyond them.¡±

    ¡°Loved me?¡± Alexia spat, incredulous. ¡°He tried to execute me! Has everyone forgotten that? I will never want him!¡±

    Eron¡¯s tone softened. ¡°You could be queen, Alexia. You could bring peace and prosperity to Leveria. If not for love of the prince, do it for the love of the people.¡±

    ¡°Linus didn¡¯t need to be a king to restore peace to Leveria!¡±

    ¡°Linus¡¯s peace only lasted ten years. Alexia Leveria¡¯s lasted centuries.¡± Eron leaned forward. ¡°One was an advisor, the other a queen.¡±

    Alexia crossed her arms, glaring. Her father¡¯s plan to help her achieve her dreams felt like a nightmare.

    ¡°Your children would be kings and archladies,¡± he pressed. ¡°Do it for them, for our family!¡±

    There it was. The curtain lifted, and Alexia saw the puppeteer holding the strings. ¡°Is that what this is about? A dynasty?¡±

    Eron Bluerose was an artist, and his brush was his silver tongue. Had he been a merchant, he would probably own half the city. Instead, he was her father and his ambitions were far steeper it seemed.

    ¡°My love,¡± he continued, ¡°is it wrong to want the best for your children and their children? My father was a homeless Kavovan refugee, yet he worked hard and became an Azureknight. Was it wrong of him to devote his life to ensuring I had opportunities to go to the Arcanium, that I might rise enough to be considered for the daughter of an archlord?¡±

    Alexia kept her arms crossed, but she shook her head.

    ¡°The only way I could repay the sacrifices he made for me was to do my best to make sure they weren¡¯t for naught,¡± Eron continued. ¡°I worked hard to make connections, to show my worth to people who thought I was an outsider, and took on the duties of a royal steward so that you could grow up in the safety of a castle, instead of at the bottom of the hill like most children of refugees, waiting for the scraps to trickle down. I would do anything to give you and your children the best life possible. Now, you can raise our family from peasantry to royalty in two generations.¡±

    Eron leaned back, his eyes stern. ¡°I will not pretend that securing the chance to match you with a mature, good, beautiful man who can give you the ability to fulfill your dreams of forging peace is anything less than a gift to you.¡±

    Alexia pondered his words. She could find love in her children. As queen, she could bring lasting peace, like Alexia Leveria had. The price was Halius Sapphire.

    She sighed, the indignation evaporated. ¡°Do I even have a choice? If King Gideon wants this, it¡¯ll be forced on me.¡±

    Eron shook his head. ¡°You will always have a choice. It was at his insistence that you decide. He needs you, Alexia.¡±

    Alexia leaned her head against the back of her chair and contemplated her alternatives. Confess to Azi how she felt? No, Azi would never feel the same. Reveal her love for women and risk being branded an anathema? No, that would ruin everything she worked for. Stall and find a man she loved that genuinely loved her too? No, everyone only saw her power and beauty. They wanted the Second Great Wizard, or her body¡ªshe would never be loved as she was.

    Her father¡¯s lips rose into a knowing smile. Silver though his tongue was, he knew when to be silent.

    Alexia closed her eyes. ¡°I¡ªI will consider it.¡±

    Eron leapt up, embracing her. ¡°I know you¡¯ll make the right decision. After all, you are my daughter.¡±

 Chapter 5: The Orphan

    Zander awoke wearing naught but the reminder that he had neither his mother nor his life¡¯s mate, feeling an emptiness that passion never filled. These nightly dalliances were like a sunset mistaken for a sunrise, where the promise of warm light always faded into cold darkness.

    Still, Zander clung to the locket, hoping that his devotion to Divine Leverith might lead him to the Sunrise, perhaps upriver, where fate might yet deliver him what he sought. With this emptiness pursuing him, even as he chased the promise of glory, he sought out the Divine Thirteen.

    He dressed and made his way to the west bank temple, its sandstone walls austere against the early morning mist. Inside, dim candlelight flickered before statues of the Divine Thirteen, casting long shadows that unsettled his heart. Zander hesitated before Zamael, the Dark Brother, whose dead eyes, long, tattered hair, and skeletal scythe chilled his soul.

    We fear death because we fear the unknown, his mother¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. He finished her words aloud, ¡°But within, there is peace.¡± Clutching her locket, he whispered, ¡°Guide me today, ma. Help me find peace.¡±

    Leaving Zamael behind him, Zander approached Meladon, the Divine King, whose mighty hands cupped the world. He knelt and lit a candle. ¡°Father of All, grant me permission to speak with your children.¡± One by one, he prayed to each of the Divine Scions¡ªGidi for strength, Yadeen for wisdom, or at least for Alfread to have wisdom, and so on, until he arrived at Leverith.

    Leverith¡¯s visage was a young woman holding a flower. Zander touched her stone hand with a tenderness that he felt only for her, cherishing her above all others. ¡°Dreaming Leverith, I hope that my deeds have pleased you.¡± He lit a candle and placed it in front of the statue with a white carnation he¡¯d plucked on his way to the temple. ¡°I pray you succeed in filling the world with love. I shall be your devoted instrument for all eternity.¡±

    His eyes fell again on Zamael as he turned to leave the temple. The Dark Brother seemed to fix his glare upon Leverith, scythe held firm in his decaying hands. ¡°Be gone, Death,¡± Zander growled.

    Outside, a warm breeze stirred the dandelions, but the echo of a low, mocking laughter haunted him. Zander pushed it away, trying to believe it was nothing more than the rustling of the wind. He sprinted the mile back to the manor, sweat slicking his skin as he touched the door. He forced a smile as he entered, trying to shake off the lingering fear as that cackle echoed through his mind.

    Alfread sat at the dining table, already enjoying his breakfast. Zander dropped into his chair, claiming the bowl Alfread set out for him. ¡°You owe me,¡± he said, a grin playing on his lips.

    Alfread glanced up, his face twisting into a playful smirk. ¡°Let me guess. Dinah will no longer be soliciting me because you made such orgasmic, life-altering, once-in-a-generation, Leverith-blessed, soul-shaping, trench-digging tribute with her?¡±

    Zander¡¯s grin widened, no longer forced.

    ¡°And you are sweating so much now because you celebrated this revelation the entirety of the night. And,¡± Alfread raised a finger, ¡°she will no longer be able to park her baggage train in my walking path because you have rendered her immobile with your lusty thrust.¡±

    ¡°She is bedridden, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Zander said. ¡°We may need to send a medican.¡±

    They laughed, but Zander¡¯s mind wandered back to the temple, to the laughter that didn¡¯t seem like his imagination. Alfread wouldn¡¯t mock him, but he¡¯d explain it away with scholarly terms and it was too early in the morning for a lecture; granted it was always too early for that as far as Zander was concerned.

    After breakfast, they readied themselves for the day. Zander looked down at his ill-fitting leather pieces, the mismatched colors a reminder that he didn¡¯t inherit anything from his father. While Mirielda didn¡¯t charge for visits to her clinic and Sir Evan¡¯s holdings produced a subsistence rather than a surplus, Alfread appeared immaculate in his father¡¯s armor. Truly, he wondered just how far Mirielda had fallen for Sir Evan because Alfread looked like a prince.

    Alfread¡¯s smile twisted into a frown when he saw Zander. ¡°Certain as the sunrise, you will be armored in steel when Archlord Bearbreaker learns of your skill.¡±

    ¡°Steel?¡± Zander laughed. ¡°I¡¯m more of a spell-enchanted meladonite man.¡± He sauntered out of the manor as though he was already outfitted as a Crimsonblade.

    Workhorse brayed as they entered the barn, the other animals beginning a chorus of whines. Alfread went to reprimand the mule and Workhorse blew out of his nose, leaving Alfread¡¯s attire decorated with mule snot. Zander felt much less envious after that.

    Alfread groaned. ¡°Count me among the grateful that you cannot breed, you infertile son of an ass!¡±

    In the end, Zander had to bribe Workhorse with an apple to get him to stay silent in order to calm the horses.

    Of course, Kenneth wasn¡¯t at the meeting place when they arrived. Zander clutched his locket, staring into the sunrise. He felt a sense of peace, waiting on the precipice of one of the most important days of his life.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°The sunrise is even more beautiful than usual,¡± Alfread remarked.

    ¡°The sunrise is always beautiful,¡± Zander said. ¡°More beautiful than any woman I¡¯ve known. She vanquishes the darkness of night and brings a new day full of light, a day where any dream is possible. The Sunrise is Leverith¡¯s answer.¡±

    ¡°Norali is the Divine Goddess of Light,¡± Alfread corrected.

    ¡°I know that,¡± Zander snapped.

    Then Kenneth appeared atop the gray palfrey they left behind. ¡°Top o¡¯ the mornin¡¯! Took me awhile to git mounted on this here girl.¡± He grinned. ¡°Didn¡¯t wait too long, did ya?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zander grunted.

    ¡°Good, I don¡¯ think I could¡¯ve lived with meself if I¡¯d disappointed the big man.¡±

    Zander ignored Kenneth and urged his Paladin northward. ¡°Ride forth! Our glory awaits!¡±

    *************

    The sun was high when they stopped at their third village. The first two had offered unlikely rumors of a massive wolf with silver eyes that led a pack of feral beasts. Zander¡¯s gut told him that this village would provide something more tangible than fanciful stories.

    It was barely a village¡ªtwo plantations, a few shacks, and a tiny temple. Most of the people were laboring on the western plantation, with a few fishing on the river. Mirielda¡¯s descriptions of Rubinia, Meridian, Urzport, and the other great cities of the kingdom had always given Zander the impression that Bear¡¯s Crossing was a backwater village and not a proper city. Even compared to Bear¡¯s Crossing, these villages were creeks that dried up in the summer heat.

    ¡°I don¡¯ think this place ¡®as a tavern. Travesty, I name it!¡± Kenneth said.

    ¡°We¡¯re here for the wolves, not wenches and wine,¡± Zander admonished.

    Alfread pointed to a signpost. ¡°The residents name this village Willet.¡± He dismounted. ¡°Shall we ask around?¡±

    Zander knew better than to let Kenneth question anyone, lest he offend someone or eye their daughters. Amazingly, Kenneth possessed some degree of self-awareness. ¡°I¡¯ll stay an¡¯ watch the horses.¡±

    Zander nodded.

    Alfread headed for the busy plantation while Zander approached a farmhouse by the river. He was about to knock when he heard laughter¡ªa father tossing his son into the air, the boy¡¯s giggles incessant. Zander wished he felt happy for the boy, but instead, sadness gnawed at him.

    He thought of the closest thing he had to a father. Sir Evan scolded him when he made childish mistakes, taught him bawdy jokes, showed him what it meant to love. Sir Evan told him stories so detailed you could almost envision yourself in them, and many a time he had even made Zander the heroic knight in those tales. Sir Evan loved him, when Zander¡¯s real father had given him nothing but absence and an empty space in his heart, but Sir Evan did not look at him the same way he did at Alfread.

    Watching this father play with his son was a knife to the heart. His own father never put a smile on his lips or made him laugh. He wasn¡¯t there to guide him when he felt lost or uncertain, to promise to him that everything would work out. Zander wished his mother had given him a name so that he could hate the man more fully. She had told him not to hate the man who left but to love the boy who he was. Well, times like these, Zander couldn¡¯t even love himself. How could he if his own father didn¡¯t?

    Zander knocked hard on the door, nearly breaking it, his frustration bubbling over. As he turned to leave, the door creaked open. A young maid stood there, her tangled blonde hair, thin frame, and unwashed scent betraying a hard life. Her bruised arms didn¡¯t escape his notice either. The fear on her beautiful heart-shaped face tugged at Zander¡¯s heartstrings.

    ¡°Hullo, sir,¡± she squeaked.

    ¡°Greetings,¡± Zander said. ¡°I¡¯m hunting wolves.¡±

    She retreated into the house, leaving the door open. Inside, the house was even more rundown. Paint peeled, the walls were crumbling. Zander¡¯s thoughts lingered on the girl. He fingered his locket, wondering if she might the Sunrise. Thinking of the bruises on her arms, he barely held back from rushing in, sword drawn, when he heard a man¡¯s voice, loud and drunken.

    The stench of alcohol hit him as the man appeared¡ªyellowed skin, bloated, and belligerent. He looked like a drunken pig taught to stand on its hind legs. The man took in the sight of Zander in his mismatched armor. ¡°Bearbreaker sends a stripling instead of proper Peacewatch.¡±

    Zander hated this man instantly. Zander stepped closer to the man, letting him see how outmatched he was. ¡°Bearbreaker sent the best warrior north of Urzport.¡±

    The man scoffed. ¡°Bearbreaker sent a disrespectful boy. The name¡¯s Sir Otis. A real Peacewatch knight.¡±

    Zander recoiled in disgust. This foul cretin was a knight? It was disgraceful. ¡°If you know anything about the wolves, speak.¡±

    The girl hovered beyond a doorway inside the house. Otis barked at her, ¡°This ain¡¯t yer business! Git back to work!¡±

    She flinched, her eyes meeting Zander¡¯s before she retreated. In that brief contact, Zander saw his own pain reflected in her sad, green eyes¡ªshe was an orphan, just like him.

    ¡°That your daughter?¡± he asked.

    Otis scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business, boy.¡±

    Zander¡¯s fists clenched. ¡°The wolves?¡± he said, unable to say more without shouting.

    Otis grinned. ¡°Yer one o¡¯ Edward¡¯s pissants, ain¡¯t ye?¡±

    ¡°Do you know about the wolves or not?¡± Zander demanded.

    ¡°That ain¡¯t how a squire talks to a knight, boy,¡± Otis sneered.

    ¡°You¡¯re no knight. You¡¯re a stain on the name of everyone who has ever been called sir.¡±

    Otis bared his teeth. ¡°Knighted by Edward ¡®imself.¡±

    A floorboard creaked and Otis¡¯s head snapped to the side. ¡°Damn it, girl! I told ye!¡± He stumbled into the house and slammed her into a wall.

    Her stifled sobs were the final straw. TEAR HIM APART, Zander thought as a nauseating rage burst inside of him. He slammed Otis into the wall, plaster and old boards giving way as the rotund man crashed through. The piece of shit reached for his dirk, but Zander was faster. His punch landed with bone-cracking force, sending Otis limp to the floor.

    Zander stood over him, chest heaving. In the eyes of Meladon, killing a man in his own home was a mortal sin. In the Ruby Kingdom, it was punishable by death.

 Chapter 6: Dangerous Allies

    Alexia jolted awake, heart racing, her silk sheets coated in sweat. She walked barefoot across cool stone and opened the window. The breeze from the Dawn Sea hit her face, sending shivers down her spine despite the warm night.

    Tonight¡¯s nightmare was different from those that had haunted her for the past moon. She dreamt of her own death. Alexia inhaled deeply, held it in, and slowly exhaled, repeating this until she could sort through her thoughts. Maleon Stonebreaker loomed large in her mind. A master of all five divine energies that men could channel, Maleon had proven himself so competent he no longer required a sworn shield. Yet, Alexia, an eighteen-year-old with one scarring battle, was to command a man who had known only war for decades.

    She could only fathom how he¡¯d respond to the demotion. Her nightmare remained fresh in her inner eye: Stonebreaker grinned as a boulder crushed her body, suffocating her. Panic rose, freezing her in place. The teachings of Theos Stormkin echoed in her mind. Master your emotion. Master your magic.

    ¡°Clear the plate,¡± she whispered. Alexia closed her eyes and focused on the feeling of warm blankets in the comfort of her bed. She imagined the scene vividly, peering into the window of her mind. She could feel the softness of the silk beneath her and the lightness of the pillow under her neck. Alexia heard Zafrir¡¯s breeze gusting through the window and filtering cool, fresh air into her chamber. The air was in perfect balance between Seraxa and Qoryxa; neither too hot nor too cold but just right. Alexia could taste the saliva on her tongue, the moist remnants of Dalis¡¯s pure water and the residual flavor of almond pudding pie. She could see the canopy of her bed, a shimmering silver patterned with blue moons. She rehearsed her safety mantra as many times as she needed. I am safe. I am strong. I am serene. I am a part of peace and peace is a part of me. I am a part of peace and peace is a part of me. I am¡­

    She had used this procedure thousands of times to neutralize her emotions and hone her mind¡¯s eye. A conjuror of divine energy had to be able to clear their mental plate, as Theos Stormkin called the process. Only a clear plate could be set with the optimal degree of focus and emotion required to harness her magic. Mental imagery was the first and most important thing that a wizard was taught. Alexia had always been possessed of a vibrant imagination, an introverted playground of infinite possibility. Now, that imagination created infinite reality through the divine energy she attuned herself to. The second most important thing was the ability to channel divine energy by attuning your emotions to the Divine. The Love Queen had given a name to the unique magic of the Leverians, Cognitive-Affectomancy, for how it merged thoughts and feelings to utilize the divine energy of Norali, Dalis, Leverith, Celegana, Seraxa, Qoryxa, Zafrir, and Balbaraq.

    But when she opened her eyes, her heart continued to beat furiously to the tune of her own death. Her powerful imagination, a force that could save thousands from deadly plague or reconnect severed nerves, betrayed her, turning into a prison where she relived her death.

    Alexia scrambled for another meditation. She focused on her father¡¯s arms being wrapped around her. Never did she feel as safe as when she was embraced by him. His strong arms radiated warmth through her and seemed a blanket of love. I am a part of peace and peace is a part of me. The image shifted and her father¡¯s warm smile morphed into a possessive grin. His head turned serpentine, and he tossed her, hissing with his serpent¡¯s tongue, to Prince Halius.

    Alexia grabbed her staff and tried to find a sensation of peace and wholeness. The spell-enchanted acacia staff had notches in it for embedded gemstones: ruby, emerald, topaz, peridot, tourmaline, amethyst, even sapphire. The staff felt warm in her hands, a steady reminder of boundless friendship and sisterhood.

    When Alexia was eleven, Princess Azurianna had climbed the Saphirhold acacia, defying Sir Gyan¡¯s shouts. Alexia watched in fear that her only friend would fall and become like the corpses she had to study in the Hall of Healing. Azi leapt from branch to branch, laughing while Alexia¡¯s heart did cartwheels. The princess broke off a branch, tossed it down to Alexia, and scurried down the tree with ease. Alexia met her with open arms and teary eyes when the princess told her that she would use it to bring the Second Great Peace.

    Alexia needed to see Azi. She slipped out of the Steward¡¯s Tower, unnoticed by Sir Timmeck. As she ventured down Azureale, she tried to keep her thoughts steady.

    Be here, Alexia thought. On the slopes, drunken lordlings whistled at her. At the bottom of the hill, half-naked women called to Sapphireguard from bordello verandas, orphans scavenged for scraps in alleyways, and the Sapphireguard threatened them. Focusing on where you were, it seemed, didn¡¯t help one feel better when they didn¡¯t want to be there.

    She tried reciting facts to clear the plate¡ªTwo-hundred-and-forty turns in each degree. Fifteen degrees in each angle. Twenty-four angles each day as the sun completes her cycle. Thirteen days in a span. Two spans each moon. Maleon staring down at my corpse, a full moon above him.

    She hoped sunny thinking would ease her dread. She had studied and practiced cognitive-affectomancy twelve angles a day, twelve days a span, for seven years. She was a true master of all eight divine energies, joined only by Linus Peacemaker in history¡¯s list of who could harness both the masculine and feminine powers. She was the Savior of Tenacity. Yet, her mind wondered how these things would shield her from being betrayed by an envious ally.

    Alexia tied Moonstrider to a post outside the Hall of Mastery. She brushed his head with a gentle affection that he, and every soul, deserved. The horse nickered happily to the sound of her melodic crooning, ¡°I will return soon. Wait for me, blue moon. I will light the way. Wait for me, please stay. Love, do not pursue. Wait for me, big blue. We¡¯ll bring the new day. Wait for me, please stay.¡±

    This act of affection soothed her far more than any of her other attempts, and gave her hope that time with Azi would give her what she needed.

    Alexia entered the Hall of Mastery, the heavy double doors echoing as they shut behind her. She gazed up through the high ceiling¡¯s glass, where the quarter-moon gleamed, its blue light brighter than Dalis¡¯s Wall. Legends whispered that stars had once fallen onto the moon, while nursery tales spoke of unicorns prancing across its surface. Temple doctrine called it Meladon¡¯s Paradise, taken from the world after the Divine Fratricide ended the Paradise Era. But it was the bards¡¯ tales that Alexia loved most¡ªa story of celestial lovers forever in pursuit of each other. Like all Leverian tales, there were two endings: one where the sun and moon chased each other and never reunited, the other where they met every twenty-sixth night when the moon was absent from the sky on Zamael Waning.

    A giant eagle soared past, briefly obscuring the moon and creating a scene as breathtaking as any painting in Saphirhold¡¯s ballroom. Alexia sighed. No lover would chase her across the skies. She might bond Gideon¡¯s son and bring peace, but Halius would never be the moon to her sun. She placed a hand over her chest, feeling the missing piece that Halius could never give her.

    Ascending the stairwell to Azi¡¯s floor, Alexia hurried to the master of herblore¡¯s door and knocked. Sir Gyan, Azi¡¯s burly ginger-haired sworn shield, appeared from the room next door. He relaxed at the sight of her. ¡°Back from Vulcan?¡±

    Alexia froze. She was a master in eight disciplines, but none of them seemed to help her find an answer to such a simple question. Azi rescued her, opening the door with a broad smile that set Alexia¡¯s heart pounding to the rhythms of love. She was even taller and more beautiful than Alexia remembered.

    ¡°What¡¯s left of her at least,¡± Azi quipped in her deep, boisterous voice. ¡°Did you get smaller, pretty girl.¡±

    Alexia grinned. She and her mother were tall women, but Azi was the portrait of statuesque with none of her mother¡¯s petite grace and all of her father¡¯s regal features¡ªsapphire eyes, thick brown hair, a strong jaw, and a muscular build that invited weak scrutiny from mean-spirited people like Queen Hellena Sapphire. To Alexia, whose love was beyond the binary, her best friend was an aesthetic masterpiece.

    ¡°No, you simply cannot stop growing things, Azurianna Sapphire,¡± Alexia said, her worries washed away. ¡°You are Covademara made woman.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s heart fluttered as Azi took her hand and pulled her into her quarters, slamming the door behind them. In here, Alexia daydreamed of what Azi¡¯s fond smile could mean, of the slim possibility that calling her ¡°pretty girl¡± meant something more. The princess gripped her in a bone-crushing hug, Alexia melting into her.

    The long embrace ended too soon. Azi poured them both wine¡ªsweet white for Alexia, dry red for herself. Alexia raised her glass. ¡°To our love and friendship.¡±

    ¡°To your sweet return,¡± Azi replied, clinking her glass.

    Azi downed her glass in one pass. ¡°Trying to make me pretty?¡± Alexia teased.

    Azi snorted. ¡°If I must drink to make you pretty, you¡¯d better have a bottle for yourself.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Alexia murmured, placing a hand on Azi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful.¡±

    Azi arched a thick brow. ¡°If only someone besides my best friend, who just happens to be the sweetest soul since Leverith, told me that, I might believe it.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s heart sank. She wished for the courage to confess her feelings, but found herself too afraid of losing the only friend she had. She finished her wine in silence.

    Azi refilled their glasses. ¡°This city is lonely without you, Alexia. Please, please, pretty flogging please, tell me you are staying forever.¡±

    ¡°I leave in the morning.¡±

    Azi groaned. ¡°I can see twice as much as one-eyed Timmeck. Take me instead.¡±

    Alexia laughed softly. ¡°I wish.¡±

    Azi pulled her to the Isihlan divan, then flopped atop Alexia¡¯s lap. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve been trapped in a cave-in. Sadly, it seems there will be no sunrise departures for Alexia Bluerose.¡±

    Alexia rested her head against Azi¡¯s back, tears forming in her eyes for the many things that couldn¡¯t be hers. ¡°Have you heard?¡±

    Azi plopped beside Alexia. ¡°About how our fathers are rockheads?¡± She brushed Alexia¡¯s hair. ¡°I told King Rockhead it¡¯d never work for you. I told him you¡¯d want to sacrifice yourself anyway, because that is who Alexia Bluerose is.¡± She tapped Alexia¡¯s head. ¡°You are not a rockhead. Put yourself first for once. Demand what you want. You deserve it!¡±

    ¡°You want me to refuse?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Azi sighed. ¡°Gidi¡¯s Greatsword, Alexia! You deserve to be with someone who loves you completely and has never ordered your execution!¡±

    Alexia put her head on Azi¡¯s shoulder, feeling the depth of unspoken love. Azi held her tightly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll always look out for your happiness,¡± Azi whispered. ¡°One of us has to.¡±

    ¡°Nobody makes me happier than you,¡± Alexia said, brushing as close to the truth as she dared.

    ¡°And nobody makes me happier than you,¡± Azi replied. They linked pinkies. ¡°Now go tell everyone off and stay here with me. Forever and ever.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    ¡°I wish it were that simple.¡±

    ¡°Then make it simple,¡± Azi urged. ¡°I swear, if I had your power, I would make those smoothbrains grow a few wrinkles.¡±

    Alexia chuckled, but the laughter quickly died as she remembered why she came here. ¡°Maleon Stonebreaker has wrinkles aplenty and our fathers made me his commander.¡± Alexia took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m worried he¡¯s going to kill me.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about the Stonebreaker,¡± Azi said. ¡°Go seek Tripsy¡¯s advice.¡±

    Alexia nodded. She would visit her mentor before leaving. But for now, she savored a few more degrees with Azi before saying, ¡°Until next time.¡±

    *************

    ¡°Good evening, Master Theos,¡± Alexia said, marveling his sapphire-blue bedrobe. ¡°I hope I¡¯m not disturbing you.¡±

    Archwizard Theos Stormkin looked at her like she was the most amusing thing he¡¯d ever seen. ¡°What day is it?¡±

    ¡°Celegana Waxing, Norali Moon!¡± Alexia giggled.

    ¡°And the year?¡±

    ¡°Master! 213 3LE!¡±

    Theos grinned, his facial scars shifting. ¡°I must¡¯ve lost a day,¡± he muttered, then added warmly, ¡°You never disturb me, dear girl. I¡¯ve been expecting you since I felt your return. Come in.¡±

    Stepping inside of the Archwizard¡¯s chambers always felt like entering another world for Alexia, like falling into the pages of The Tales of the Boy Wizard. A potioneering lab sat by the hearth, complete with glass instruments, potions, and reagents scattered on shelves, the lifelong remnants of his quest for the mythical panacea. Often, he fussed about how some old hag in the Ruby Kingdom managed to mix the legendary concoction and spent it on a low-ranking knight. His esoteric collection of books spanned works by Alexia Leveria, Darle, Queen Emeralda, and others. Along the back wall were racks of enchanted weapons: staves, swords, maces, and daggers, each bearing the legacy of Theos¡¯s experiments on the properties of casting mediums. Both Aurora¡ªAlexia¡¯s acacia staff¡ªand Sunfire¡ªher rapier¡ªhad been enchanted here.

    Fragments of beasts he¡¯d slain decorated the room: troll, ogre, minotaur, griffin, sephorn, pythanaji, kalagoth, yasmar, and even a chimaera from distant Vesarra. He often spoke of his desire to complete the collection with a Volqori dragon. The tale of how he killed Queen Kaidaxus Ruby, the ice queen who once rode the dragon Duilahir, was well-known, though the dragon itself had escaped.

    Theos Stormkin himself felt like a mythical creature that had escaped the pages of a book. Azi gave him the moniker ¡°Triple C¡± or ¡°Tripsy,¡± an abbreviation for ¡°cooked coconut cerebrum¡± due to the burn scarring on his face, the white fuzzy hair that grew in scattered patches, and frankly the genuine shape of his skull. Azi also said he acted like his brain had tripped down the stairs, and, like most of the Arcanium, believed the archwizard was growing increasingly demented in the twilight years of his almost century of life. Theos loved the sobriquet so much that he sent Azi a roasted coconut each year for the Harvest feast.

    Alexia knew better. She smiled at this dear old man, knowing that it was all an act. It was proof of his sharpness that everyone had fallen for it.

    He inhaled and smiled at his favorite pupil. ¡°What do you seek, Alexia?¡±

    ¡°Archwizard, I need to know how to deal with a dangerous ally.¡±

    He smiled, his tone turning philosophical. ¡°A dangerous ally? That contradicts. Tis oxymoronic! A friendly foe? A foely friend?¡± He raised his scorched eyebrow. ¡°Perhaps you mean to discern whether one is truly friend or foe?¡±

    Alexia shook her head, stepping into his riddle. ¡°You propose fixed categories when both are dimensional spectrums. Can one not bicker with a friend or find respect between rivals? Even enemies join hands when faced with a greater threat. No, Master Theos, I have a dangerous ally, and I need to discern how dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Maleon Stonebreaker is one of the finest cognitive-affectomancers of our time.¡±

    Alexia was not surprised that Theos had already picked up the trail. ¡°And now I command him. He was seething during our mission briefing, drawing on Seraxa.¡±

    ¡°How do you explain his reaction?¡±

    Alexia grinned; Theos Stormkin never gave away answers for free when he could make you work for them. ¡°He¡¯s more qualified but placed under me due to favoritism. His anger is justified.¡±

    Theos nodded. ¡°Tell me more. What drives Maleon Stonebreaker?¡±

    Alexia reflected. ¡°He prides himself on his abilities, his appearance, and his charisma. I surpass him in skill, and many would say, beauty, which makes him vulnerable to envy. But he¡¯s far more charismatic, and I suspect my leadership role irks him.¡±

    ¡°Your deductions are sound, except one: you do not lack charisma. When you speak with me, you are the most articulate student I¡¯ve ever taught. What you lack is comfort. Find that, and the history books will remember you as one of the most inspiring leaders the world has ever seen.¡±

    Alexia was unable to share his belief. He was not one to mask bitter with sweet, but it had taken her years of daily lessons to speak to this one man. She couldn''t do that with crowds, especially if they were full of Rubies who hated her. ¡°Maleon sees me as incapable of leading. He wanted me to stay at the Arcanium. He will never accept my leadership.¡±

    ¡°How does your mind make the leap from this to fearing him as dangerous?¡±

    Alexia shrugged. She wouldn¡¯t be here if she had an answer to that question. ¡°In Vulcan, I saw a man who turned slaughter into brutal calculus. In the throne room, I saw a man consumed by anger. He has the capacity, but I¡¯m uncertain about whether he has the intention.¡±

    Theos pulled a book from his shelf, setting it before her. ¡°What is the best predictor of the future?¡±

    ¡°The past,¡± Alexia replied.

    He opened the book to a map of the Battle of the Southern Eagle in 175 3LE. She analyzed the map and read through the passages as Theos summarized.

    ¡°King Ezekiel was newly coronated and eager to make his mark on history. He wanted us to crush Kai Blazelord once and for all. The Sapphire Kingdom put together a host with armies led by four different archlords and a cadre of twelve wizards. Then Maleon was added because of the king¡¯s last-minute decision to have a thirteenth wizard, one to represent each of the Divine. Perhaps he should have gone with twelve and left Zamael out of it, but if he had I would¡¯ve been claimed by the scythe that day."

    He pointed to the map. ¡°Blazelord trapped us between his army and the west bank of the Eagle, then set the river ablaze. I lay there, my vision blurring, my face burnt off, breathing what I thought were my last breaths, ready to surrender my life when I found one man who refused to give up. Maleon broke stones off the mountain and created a path across the river, saving thousands. From that day forward, he was known as Stonebreaker.¡±

    Theos sighed, scratching his head. ¡°What is the point of my long-winded story? I can¡¯t seem to remember.¡±

    Alexia felt comforted by knowing Maleon was once a hero, but even now the answer wasn¡¯t guaranteed. ¡°Maleon is an ally that is dangerous, but when it comes down to it, he will probably do what is best for the Sapphire Kingdom.¡±

    Theos nodded. ¡°And what did you notice about his actions in Vulcan?¡±

    ¡°He will do what he can to defeat the Ruby Kingdom.¡±

    Another nod. ¡°For the last thirty-eight years, he has sought every opportunity for battle with Kai Blazelord. He may resent your leadership role, but which ally gives him the best chance to win a duel against the Ruby¡¯s archwizard?¡±

    Now, she felt reassured. ¡°Thank you, Archwizard.¡±

    ¡°I have to still be good for something,¡± he said with a grin, ¡°else why bother stay alive?¡±

    Alexia frowned, sensing more than jest in his quip. How lonely of a life was it when everyone thought you were old, ugly, and insane? In Leveria, there were few words that could tell a person what they meant to you more clearly than the ones she gave him next. ¡°Until next time, Master Theos.¡±

    Theos smiled warmly as he saw her out. ¡°Until next time, Master Alexia. Be safe¡ªand be yourself.¡±

    *************

    Alexia awoke groggy and unprepared for an early encounter with Prince Halius Sapphire on her way to the stables.

    Halius approached with a warm smile, offering a red rose. ¡°I searched the gardens for the prettiest flower. Yet even this rose is but a weed next to you. No bouquet could ever match your beauty.¡±

    Alexia, frantic, glanced around the quiet courtyard. Sir Timmeck trailed her, carrying their travel sacks, but there were no onlookers to witness this uncomfortable scene. She stared at the rose, her mind racing. This was the last thing she wanted. She had no plan, no escape. Her only hope was to freeze and pray the moment passed.

    But Halius persisted.

    ¡°Please give me the chance to prove that I can be the man you deserve. Give me a chance to redeem myself. My love, like this rose, is yours. I just hope someday I¡¯ll be worthy.¡±

    Perhaps, to others, his words would''ve sounded sincere. To Alexia, they were like honey poured over excrement.

    ¡°You demanded my execution,¡± she whispered.

    She stood, still and stiff, praying for him to leave. The wind rustled the leaves and the sunrise broke over the horizon, lighting the world. She would be late. Maleon would love that.

    ¡°I wish I could undo that,¡± Halius finally said, his voice soft. ¡°I was a fool. All I can do now is hate the boy I was and strive to be a better man.¡±

    He dropped the rose and fell to his knees, hesitating as he reached for her hand. Alexia flinched and pulled her hand away. He withdrew, Alexia feeling more awkward than any time in memory. Halius pulled a ring from his pocket¡ªa silver band set with thirteen amethysts, engraved with a single word: Peace.

    Her breath caught. ¡°This is¡­ Linus¡¯s Ring of Peace,¡± she murmured, the childlike awe in her voice surprising even herself.

    All her previous anger momentarily vanished. She slipped the ring onto her finger, feeling its magic resonate with her. Alexia felt the call of Zafrir, Divine of Wind, yearning for her attention. She channeled Zafrir, using the wind to guide a falling leaf into Halius¡¯s hand, and, despite herself, Alexia smiled.

    Alexia twirled the ring on her finger. This was a literal dream come true, wearing an artifact of the Great Wizard. If Halius had thought of this himself, she was genuinely impressed. ¡°Halius¡­ thank you. I¡¯m not sure what to say.¡±

    ¡°Your smile says everything I need to hear.¡±

    Speechless, Alexia struggled with the conflicting emotions stirring inside her. The chaos made her more attuned with Zafrir, able to appreciate the power of the ring more fully, feeling the Divine of Wind as if he stood beside her. Had she more time, she would have tested her new power, perhaps even try to windwalk through the sky. But she was late already.

    ¡°I must go,¡± she said, gesturing toward the sunrise.

    Halius offered to carry her provisions to the stables, and Alexia, unable to find a polite way to refuse, awkwardly accepted. Timmeck quipped, ¡°What about my bags, Prince Halius?¡±

    Both Alexia and Halius laughed, sharing another smile, as the prince bundled two more bags over his shoulders. Alexia tried her best to experience these positive feelings toward him, to give him a chance. This wasn¡¯t love nor was this passion¡ªit was something bearable, something she could perhaps work with.

    Halius fastened the travel sacks to Moonstrider and Cally, Sir Timmeck¡¯s mount. Instead of politely excusing himself, he stared at her, his expectant expression turning Alexia sour. She forced a smile. ¡°I really need to go.¡±

    ¡°I know. I will be holding that smile in my memory until you return. Leverith! You are beautiful.¡±

    Alexia avoided his eyes at all costs. As she mounted Moonstrider, Halius touched her thigh. Startled, Alexia brushed him away. A brief flicker of anger crossed his face, but it was gone so quickly, she wondered if she had imagined it.

    ¡°Until next time,¡± he called, his voice strained.

    Alexia donned her mask, urging Moonstrider into a trot, leaving the prince behind without another word. She rode swiftly toward the Sapphire Gate without looking back.

    Sure enough, Maleon Stonebreaker was waiting. If eyes were gavels, judgment was being rendered. ¡°You¡¯re late, princess.¡±

    Alexia opened her mouth to apologize but stopped. Instead, she raised her left hand, displaying the ring. ¡°I was delayed.¡±

    Maleon leaned toward her. ¡°The Ring of Peace. So your sly father is helping the clueless prince worm his way into your heart? I don¡¯t know which I pity more, being pimped by your father for power, or lusted after by a boy who loves the idea of you but doesn¡¯t know you at all.¡±

    ¡°And you know me?¡±

    Maleon raised an eyebrow. ¡°Feeling bold today, fearless leader?¡±

    Timmeck finally caught up. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t ride so far ahead, Alexia.¡±

    ¡°I can and I did,¡± she replied, wishing there was no Halius or Maleon, that she could be with Azi instead of Timmeck, dreading the journey and the destination.

    Maleon chuckled. ¡°Careful, Timmy of Eckhard Hall. You¡¯re not the big bull here.¡±

    Alexia held her face impassive, wearing her mask over her confusion. As they approached Dalis¡¯s Wall, she steeled herself for the journey ahead. Alexia planned to take the Sapphire Road to its end and cross the Great Eagle Bridge into Mirrevar. From Mirrevar, they would infiltrate Urzport Hold, find a way past the Peacewatch, and into Ferrickton.

    She inhaled, held, and slowly exhaled. I can do this. Maleon Stonebreaker is my ally. He is dangerous, but I am not in danger. ¡°We ride until nightfall,¡± she commanded. ¡°If we keep a steady pace, we¡¯ll reach Mirrevar in six days.¡±

    She forced a smile at Maleon. Alexia thought she saw Maleon smile back. Or was that just sunny thinking?

 Chapter 7: Protector of the Innocent

    The oathbreaker was dead-still on the ground.

    Zander cursed, trembling. Meladon would cast judgment upon him, likely in the form of Archlord Bearbreaker¡¯s execution. He¡¯d be fed to the bears for striking down a Peacewatch knight in his own home.

    He frantically searched for a pulse, as Alfread or Mirielda might, but found none. Zander felt hollow, his spirit hovering above him, watching the empty shell that remained. He was too terrified to cry. His life was over¡ªno knighthood, no Sunrise, no giving her his locket. His mother left him with one promise, and he had failed.

    Clutching his locket, closing his eyes, Zander muttered a desperate prayer to Leverith, begging for the oathbreaker¡¯s life.

    Otis groaned.

    Zander¡¯s eyes shot open, watching the knight¡¯s chest rise and fall in disbelief. Otis¡¯s eyes fluttered, though he remained unconscious.

    Zander tucked away Otis¡¯s dirk and searched for the orphan girl. He found her huddled in the next room, quivering. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

    She recoiled, shrinking away as though his touch burned her. Seeing this beautiful, bruised girl shy from his comforting touch broke his heart. All she had probably known in this house was violence. He wished he could undo her suffering. He couldn¡¯t change her past, but Leverith, he would do everything he could to make sure her suffering didn¡¯t continue.

    Maintaining distance, he spoke softly. ¡°I will protect you.¡±

    The girl kept her head buried in her arms, sobbing. Zander stood in silence, unsure what to say. His usual charm was useless here. How could he make her feel safe when all she knew was fear? What would Mirielda do to comfort her?

    ¡°I¡¯m an orphan too,¡± he finally said, kneeling so his massive form wouldn¡¯t loom over her. ¡°My mother died of plague; my father left before I was born.¡±

    She glanced up briefly, her eyes haunted. ¡°Mom died having Mari. Papa died in the war. I don¡¯t even remember them.¡±

    Zander nodded, tears welling in his eyes. He had Mirielda and Evan. She had an abuser. His heart knew a solution, and he ignored the objections of his mind. He knew what was right. ¡°Is there anywhere else for you and your sister to go?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°No, Sir. Uncle Otis is all we ¡®ave.¡±

    Sir. Zander vowed to be worthy of the title. ¡°I swear by Leverith, I will take you and your sister to safety. What is your name?¡±

    ¡°Melissa,¡± she answered, her voice thick with emotion.

    ¡°I¡¯m Zander.¡± He extended a hand.

    Melissa hesitated, then took it. As he helped her up, her face lit up with a smile¡ªa sight that did more to fill the emptiness than any night spent on the upper floor of Old Iron Inn.

    ¡°I know a place where you and Mari will be safe,¡± he promised. ¡°Otis will never hurt you again.¡±

    Melissa stamped her feet with joy. ¡°Thank ye, Thank ye!¡±

    Zander turned at the sound of footsteps and saw a malnourished girl with a battered face limping toward him. ¡°Hello, young lady,¡± he said warmly, kneeling to meet her eye level. ¡°You must be Mari.¡±

    ¡°Marigold,¡± she corrected, her voice hoarse. She was so small and gaunt that he had initially thought she was about seven, yet she had the voice of a girl that already had her first blood.

    Zander placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°A lovely name for a lovely girl.¡± Tears twinkled in Marigold¡¯s little eyes, gray things that hadn''t seen enough light in their lives. ¡°Do you see how my blue eyes glow, Marigold?¡±

    Zander had heard from his mother many times that his eyes were the same hue as Leverith¡¯s spirit when used by witches to heal the wounded. When he was little, she said that his eyes had that color because he would spread love through the world just like Leverith. He was no witch, but he would be Leverith¡¯s instrument, doing whatever he could to spread love to Melissa and Marigold.

    Marigold nodded. ¡°They¡¯re very pretty.¡±

    ¡°They glow with Leverith¡¯s light,¡± he explained gently. ¡°I can see the beauty of someone¡¯s soul¡ªand yours is one of the most beautiful I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±

    Marigold choked, tears streaming down her face. A tentative smile broke through, as if she were trying it for the first time.

    ¡°Will you really take us to safety, Sir?¡±

    Zander nodded. ¡°I swear by Meladon and the Divine Scions, I¡¯ll protect you.¡±

    Otis groaned from the other room. ¡°We need to go,¡± Zander said, standing between the girls and their uncle. ¡°Gather your things. I¡¯ll make sure he never hurts you again.¡±

    As he stood guard, waiting for Otis to rise, Zander wrestled with his thoughts. He was certain that he was protecting the innocent and that this was the right thing to do. Would Sir Edward be proud of his actions, or would he condemn them?

    Melissa and Marigold returned with a single rucksack. Zander escorted them out of the house, away from their tormentor, toward where Kenneth and the horses waited. He explained his plan to take them to Sir Evan and Lady Mirielda¡ªthe loving family that had sheltered him when he was orphaned.

    ¡°These wenches know ¡®bout the wolves, Zander?¡± Kenneth shouted.

    Zander remembered two things: the reason he was in Willet and why he wanted Kenneth to stay with the horses.

    ¡°Wolves killed most of Lord Willet¡¯s livestock,¡± Melissa said.

    ¡°Where is Lord Willet¡¯s farm?¡± Zander asked.

    She pointed across the road. ¡°That big one.¡±

    Zander felt relief, knowing Alfread would have gotten to the bottom of the story without insulting the populace. They reached the horses, and Kenneth grinned. ¡°Where¡¯re yer manners, Zander? Introduce these lovelies.¡±

    Zander introduced Melissa and Marigold. The sisters stayed close to him, distrustful of Kenneth. Marigold kept glancing back at the farmhouse. Zander rested a hand on her shoulder. ¡°You are safe, Mari.¡±

    His mind echoed back to when his mother died, and Mirielda rocked him as he sobbed for angles, her voice soothing him with seven little words he never forgot. You are safe, Zander. You are family.

    ¡°You are¡ª

    Marigold clung to his hand, trembling. ¡°Don¡¯t let ¡®im ¡®ave us!¡±

    Otis stumbled out of the house, waving a longsword. ¡°Gimme back my girls!¡±

    Zander drew his blade, standing between Otis and his nieces. ¡°They¡¯re not your property. Let them go if you want to keep your disgrace of a life.¡±

    Spectators gathered as Otis charged like a depraved, bipedal pig. Zander sidestepped Otis¡¯s clumsy strike, deflecting it easily. The drunk staggered and fell, impaling himself on his own blade. He howled in pain, clutching his shoulder.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Melissa cheered, ¡°Get him, Zander!¡±

    Rage surged through him, urging him to bring justice to the evil as he thought about the bruises on Marigold¡¯s face, about how Melissa recoiled from his touch. He kicked the man¡¯s face, shattering teeth. Otis wailed as Zander flipped him to his back and ripped the sword from his shoulder.

    He barely heard Alfread shout for him to stop. He wasn¡¯t stopping, not while the best way to protect these girls was to make it impossible for this creature to follow them. Zander tossed the blade aside and lifted his own. Finish strong.

    Alfread seized his arm. ¡°He¡¯s down! This is murder!¡±

    Zander ripped free of his grip. ¡°No. This is justice.¡±

    He lifted the blade, then stumbled forward as Alfread slammed into him. Enraged, a darkness pulsed inside of Zander, demanding death.

    ¡°Death is Zamael¡¯s justice,¡± Alfread insisted. ¡°Would Leverith want this?¡±

    Zander held the blade, poised for the kill. He looked into Melissa and Marigold¡¯s eyes, remembering what was important. The crowd watched in tense silence, even Alfread done intervening. Zander gripped the locket, knowing what must be done. He wasn¡¯t Zamael¡¯s servant. He was Leverith¡¯s. Protecting the innocent, ensuring that these two girls had a life full of love, was her justice.

    ¡°Yield!¡± Zander ordered.

    Otis whimpered, ¡°I yield!¡±

    The wind howled and the river rushed, but all Willet watched in silence as Zander hauled Otis up by the throat. ¡°You inherited two innocent girls! You swore to protect them, not harm them! They¡¯re going someplace where you¡¯ll never find them. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Otis gasped.

    Zander gave his throat another squeeze. ¡°Swear on it! Make an oath to Leverith! It was her love that spared you today! Perhaps she can hold you to your vows better than Meladon.¡±

    ¡°I swear to Leverith!¡±

    Satisfied, Zander released him. The man crumbled to the ground, landing in a puddle of his blood, piss, and tears. He turned to Alfread. ¡°Can we leave him like that?¡± he quietly asked.

    Bear¡¯s Crossing¡¯s second-best medican took a moment to examine Otis¡¯s wound. ¡°He didn¡¯t pierce any vital bloodrivers. As long as he cleans it, he¡¯ll live.¡±

    ¡°Clean your wounds, Otis,¡± Zander said. ¡°Don¡¯t waste my mercy.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Sir,¡± Otis squeaked.

    Melissa snarled. ¡°He made us say that after beatin¡¯ us.¡±

    Zander placed a hand on her shoulder, wondering if she was the Sunrise he sought. ¡°He¡¯ll never hurt you again.¡±

    Melissa wrapped her arms around his waist. ¡°Thank you, Sir. For the first time, I mean it.¡±

    Zander didn¡¯t bother to remind her that he wasn¡¯t a knight. Yet. He felt like one and felt a certainty that he was on the right path in life.

    Marigold took a step toward her uncle. ¡°You¡¯ll never hit me again!¡±

    Otis wept on the ground, muttering apologies that came years too late. Alfread took her hand, and gently led her away from the farmhouse, toward her new life.

    ¡°Alfread¡ª

    ¡°Are you going to ask for permission to place them on my father¡¯s farm or are you going to thank me for preserving the sanctity of your soul?¡±

    Zander bowed his head, feeling like a boy who acted before thinking. Sir Edward had been right about him.

    Alfread¡¯s sharpness was nowhere to be found when he addressed the girls. ¡°Do you know how to work a farm?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± they exclaimed, Marigold reciting all the tasks they did for Otis while Melissa gazed comfortably at Alfread.

    Alfread beamed at them. ¡°I¡¯ll write to my parents. They will expect you to do your best and love you like family. Sound accurate, Zander?¡±

    Zander nodded. ¡°You¡¯ll earn your keep, just as I have.¡±

    Alfread measured Melissa and Marigold with a warm smile. ¡°I can tell you two are honest and capable with good hearts. You¡¯ll fit in perfectly.¡±

    Zander wasn¡¯t surprised to see the colors changing on their faces. Alfread never tried, yet never failed, to make women smitten with him.

    Marigold¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°Is this real? You¡¯d do that fer me?¡±

    Alfread knelt in front of Marigold and put her hand in his. ¡°You deserve to be safe and loved. Welcome to my family, Marigold.¡±

    Alfread is his mother¡¯s son, Zander reflected.

    Zander told stories about his time as a part of Alfread¡¯s family while Alfread put together a letter for them. When Marigold recited the directions to the estate perfectly in one go, Alfread commented that she had the memory of a medican, and that, should she choose, she could learn from his mother.

    Zander had seen few sweeter sights in all his life than Marigold blushing at Alfread¡¯s praise. The sisters thanked Alfread, Melissa kissing his hand, before turning to Zander.

    Zander placed a hand on their shoulders. ¡°You deserve peace and love,¡± he said, echoing Alfread¡¯s sentiments. ¡°You will find it where you¡¯re headed. Until next time.¡±

    ¡°Until next time,¡± they echoed softly.

    As the sisters walked away, Melissa glanced back and smiled¡ªa small, unpracticed smile that only made it more precious. Zander clutched his locket, wondering if it belonged to her.

    Kenneth, who blessedly remained mute through the ordeal, was the first to break the tension. ¡°That was truly somethin¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Where is Kenneth and what have you done with him?¡± Zander teased, unused to hearing anything from him that wasn¡¯t laced with vulgarity.

    Kenneth just shrugged, his gaze down.

    Alfread sighed.

    Zander braced himself for a lecture. ¡°Go on, Alfread.¡±

    ¡°You were reckless,¡± Alfread said, mounting the red mare.

    ¡°I protected two innocent girls from abuse. I¡¯d call that honor.¡±

    ¡°What you did was noble, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Here it comes,¡± Zander muttered.

    ¡°But,¡± Alfread continued, ¡°we can¡¯t save everyone. What if my family couldn¡¯t take them in? What if you had killed Otis and became an outlaw? What good is doing the honorable thing if it ends up doing more harm than good?¡±

    Zander spurred Paladin. ¡°What if all it takes for evil to prevail is good people doing nothing out of fear for what might go wrong!¡± He growled. ¡°It took all my restraint not to kill him.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Alfread corrected, ¡°it took my restraint.¡±

    Zander fell silent, stung by the truth.

    Alfread¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Our wolves attacked Lord Willet¡¯s farm.¡± His face tightened up and his voice hardened. ¡°They killed a baby boy and his mother. I spoke to the father.¡±

    ¡°These beasts will be slain,¡± Zander promised, putting his anger toward Alfread aside. ¡°Did you learn where they keep their lair?¡±

    ¡°North.¡±

    They rode on in silence, passing farmsteads ravaged by the wolves. Zander brooded. He imagined the agony of a father torn from his wife and child. His world would have no sunrise, it would be a perpetual darkness devoid of all melody. Should such a thing happen, he would traverse to the ends of Celegana¡¯s Earth in pursuit of his vengeance.

    Then, of course, he wondered if his own father had ever cried for the wife and son he abandoned in Mirrevar. He hoped that he did. He hoped that he regretted it every divinedamned angle of every divinedamned day. Zander prayed that it haunted him every divinedamned night when he tried to close his divinedamned eyes and that his dreams brought him no respite.

    The sun was starting to set in the west when Zander finally called a halt for supper. Seeing the sunset did not spark his spirits. He needed to break the silence and sunder his dark brooding. ¡°The weather has been pleasant today.¡±

    Alfread, weary, replied, ¡°It has. Zafrir and Qoryxa are unified, sending us a cool breeze. Dalis has not tried to drown us yet.¡± He gazed toward the sunset. ¡°And Norali guides our way, radiant as ever.¡±

    Kenneth piped up, ¡°Yesterday was hotter than the chili at the Bald Bear. That stuff makes me erupt out my arse fer days! Good thing we ate at Old Iron, else I¡¯d be saddle-sore and blowing fireballs that¡¯d make the Blazelord envious.¡±

    Zander chuckled. ¡°Only you would talk about eruptions out of your arse while eating dinner. What are we going to do with you?¡±

    Kenneth grinned. ¡°Ye could help me with Lorelei¡ªput a pot on her head, then sneak me in!¡±

    Zander nearly choked on his food. ¡°A pot ¡­ on her head?¡±

    ¡°Yup. When I¡¯m done pleasin¡¯ her, I¡¯ll yank it off, shout ¡®Surprise!¡¯ and plant a garden on her face!¡±

    Tickled, Zander let out his laughter. ¡°You¡¯d get banned from Old Iron for that. Spend the rest of your days erupting out of your arse at Bald Bear.¡±

    Kenneth waved away the notion. ¡°Nah, I¡¯d get invited back fer seconds!¡±

    Alfread groaned. ¡°Setting aside that it¡¯s morally bankrupt, it¡¯s the dumbest idea I¡¯ve ever heard. You really think she wouldn¡¯t notice her paramour shrunk?¡±

    ¡°All men¡¯re ¡®bout the same height on a bed, Al,¡± Kenneth said. ¡°Ye might know that if ye wenched. As fer the cock, she might think he ¡®ad a growth spurt.¡±

    Zander laughed again, but Alfread suddenly bolted ahead. A lone wolf prowled the road, and before Zander could react, Alfread had loosed an arrow. It struck true, felling the beast.

    They sprinted toward the kill, Alfread putting the dying animal out of its misery with a clean cut from his blade. ¡°Look at this,¡± he said, gesturing to tracks leading into a dense thicket.

    ¡°We¡¯ve found our den,¡± Zander said.

 Chapter 8: The Hero of the People

    They crossed blue-green streams and ventured through verdant valleys lush with growth. Merchant caravans bound for Sapphirica hauled raw materials, while those returning carried goods crafted in the capital¡¯s guildhalls. Young men headed toward the disputed territories, guided by veterans, with women¡ªsisters, lovers, or mothers¡ªalongside them to serve as soldiers or camp followers. Pilgrims journeyed to Sapphirica to see the Divincor or try their skills in the guilds. Alexia even saw a carriage carrying a noble child to court or the Arcanium. She sighed, knowing that the same types of folk traveling the Sapphire Road were wandering the Ruby Road, all just parts of the machine like the wheels of a carriage. She too had her ugly part to play in this operation, to travel through beautiful lands, only to destroy lives of everyday people in distant lands just as beautiful.

    On the fourth day, the rain came, painting Balbaraq¡¯s sky black. Despite the storm, Alexia insisted on maintaining their pace, ignoring Maleon and Timmeck¡¯s pleas to seek shelter. Instead, she conjured a charm that repelled the rain¡ªa spell of her own creation.

    Master Theos taught her that the combinations of the eight divine energies Alexia could harness were only limited by her imagination. If Alexia was confident in one thing, it was that her imagination was a fertile refuge against the pressures of a loud society. Thus, on a rainy day long ago when a downpour threatened to cancel her plans with Azi, Alexia first weaved Dalis¡¯s water, Zafrir¡¯s wind, and Leverith¡¯s spirit into a shield that deflected the rain. Since then, Alexia and the princess had taken to reading beneath the acacia whenever it poured.

    Today, the rain was diluvial, and not a soul had crossed their path until a distant scream pierced through the downpour. Urging her horse forward, Alexia raced along the muddy road, gripping her staff. Her focus sharpened as she rounded a bend and saw an ogre, eight feet tall, albino-skinned, squeezing the life out of a man.

    Reacting instinctively, she drew on years of training. She filled her heart with spite and vengeance, drawing power from the blackness above as she pulled Balbaraq¡¯s sky into her staff. In her mind¡¯s eye, Alexia focused on a mnemonic, Fulmine, imagining the energy channeled into thin bolts of lightning that burst from her staff toward the ogre¡¯s pink eyes. In less than three heartbeats, she gathered the power of the lightning god and solidified her cognitive focus. Combining emotion, thought, and the blessing of Divine Balbaraq, Alexia unleashed several lightning bolts that split through the air faster than arrows, striking the ogre in its runty head. Though the ogre¡¯s resistant hide negated the damage, the beast dropped its victim and clutched its face.

    Alexia dismounted Moonstrider, lowered her hood, and rolled her shoulders back, accentuating her feminine form. ¡°Over here!¡± she shrieked, making her voice as high-pitched as she could.

    Just as Cadlevin¡¯s Bestiary warned, the ogre neglected the vulnerable man collapsed in the mud. Unable to resist her, its ear-splitting roar cut through the storm as it charged.

    Alexia channeled the personality of Qoryxa, judging the ogre for his moral and physical ugliness, and strengthening her resolve to protect the defenseless man. Attuned to the Divine of Ice, she siphoned the little cold available on this hot day into her staff. Her mind recalled her Gelyxdar focus, a spell she created by associating imagery with the Volqori word for ¡°cold that slows.¡± A field of frost flurried toward the beast, impeding its charge.

    Her final spell required precision more than power. Recalling Cadlevin¡¯s Bestiary, she honed in on the ogre¡¯s lone vulnerability and started to summon Seraxa¡¯s heat. She felt herself cunning, using this sophisticated combination of spells, and she harnessed the wrath of the Divine of Fire, drawing on the intense heat natural to a midsummer day. Flumenignyx, she thought, instantaneously visualizing the stream and swirl of the flames that would carry her wrath to its target.

    ¡°Flumenignyx!¡±

    A jet of flame streamed from her staff, blasting into the ogre¡¯s face, swirling around its skull and incinerating its eyes. The beast collapsed, its cries and flailing extinguishing before the rain could douse the flames.

    Alexia drew Sunfire, her rapier, but decided against risking an approach. She fired a final bolt of lightning to ensure the ogre was truly dead. The blast thundered, and the ogre remained motionless.

    Alexia stowed Sunfire and gripped Aurora with both hands as she nervously approached the man. ¡°Hello?¡±

    He groaned, looking up from a curled position, his breathing labored. He tried to speak, but the pain silenced him.

    ¡°Focus on your breathing,¡± she said gently, guiding him with calm breaths.

    The ogre had crushed most of his ribs, but his spine was intact¡ªa rare stroke of luck, if one could be lucky to be attacked by an ogre. No time now to ponder the oddity of an ogre showing restraint. In order to fix something, one needed to first understand how it worked, how it was broken, and how to make it whole again. Alexia recalled the accumulated mastery of years of lessons on anatomy, endless diagrams she had labeled, and folks she had treated, until every bone, muscle, organ, bloodriver, and nerve were committed to memory with perfect precision. Then she mapped the ogre¡¯s attack against her pristine blueprint of the human body, visualizing which ribs had broken, the collapsed lungs, each impacted organ and bloodriver. Lastly, she turned her inner eye toward how she wanted each of these affected areas to function.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Her individualized focus prepared, Alexia channeled Leverith¡¯s spirit into her staff. She attuned herself to the personality of the Divine of Love, fostering compassion for the wounded man. A brilliant, moon-blue glow emanated from Aurora¡¯s tip and seeped into the man¡¯s wounds. She guided the energy with precision, mending bone, sealing bloodrivers, and restoring breath. The process took about twenty turns, which was slow for Alexia because she had no bond with this stranger but still faster than even Master Bluebeam could achieve. When Alexia channeled Leverith, she felt like she was exactly who she should be doing exactly what she was supposed to do.

    Besides, channeling Leverith made one feel what she called the effects of Leverith¡¯s Loop. In her own master treatise, Alexia theorized that channeling Leverith and healing someone created a feedback loop that caused the healer and the healed to have increasingly positive feelings toward each other as the healer conjured loving thoughts for the healed to channel Leverith, the healing and the affect of coming into contact with Leverith¡¯s spirit inspired loving feelings for the healer, then the positive, loving interactions that followed created an bond that fostered further positive feelings and thoughts and increased attunement to Leverith.

    Caught in the emotions instilled by Leverith¡¯s Loop, the man smiled adoringly at her and her shyness didn¡¯t feel the need to escape contact with this reciprocal love.

    ¡°How do you feel now?¡± she asked.

    Better than before,¡± he said, springing to his feet. ¡°Yer Alexia! The Savior of Ten Cities!¡±

    ¡°The Savior of Ten Cities!¡± Maleon quipped theatrically. Sir Timmeck chuckled, but Alexia frowned at their mockery. She despised this privileged arrogance; people who weren¡¯t taught shouldn¡¯t be blamed for what they didn¡¯t know.

    The lingering effects of Leverith¡¯s Loop softened her anxiety, freeing her to be herself without the usual self-consciousness. ¡°You know my name. May I have yours?¡±

    ¡°Endrei of Fritjof,¡± he replied, voice heavy with sorrow.

    Alexia remembered the town¡¯s name from her maps. ¡°Fritjof? Where the Sapphire Road crosses the Haliae River? How are things there?¡±

    ¡°Hard,¡± he admitted, barely meeting her gaze, eyes welling with tears. Her healing didn¡¯t fix everything that was broken within him. ¡°Ogres keep hittin¡¯ us, and the Buccaneers do nothin¡¯. So, I went lookin¡¯ for their lair.¡±

    ¡°With naught but a knife?¡± Timmeck asked, speaking aloud what Alexia thought. ¡°That was never going to end well, my man.¡±

    Endrei bowed his head. ¡°They took my Wyl.¡±

    ¡°How did they take your will?¡± Alexia asked.

    ¡°My son,¡± Endrei said, tears mixing with rain on his face. ¡°They took ¡®im. He¡¯s all I had.¡±

    Maleon nodded, compassion touching his usual callousness. ¡°What matters if you die, as long as you hurt the monsters who took everything from you?¡±

    Maleon''s words echoed in Alexia''s heart, as the heavy weight of grief settled on her chest.

    ¡°The Buccaneers do nothing!¡± Timmeck growled. ¡°That¡¯s unacceptable!¡±

    ¡°Constable says they¡¯re too busy watchin¡¯ the Grand Confluence,¡± Endrei said.

    Alexia clenched her fist. They¡¯d send her across the border to hurt the Ruby while Sapphires were being massacred in their own homes by beasts. Fighting for territory was pointless if she couldn¡¯t keep Leveria¡¯s people safe.

    She steadied her breath. ¡°It¡¯s our duty to protect the people of Leveria. We will slay these ogres.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Maleon said.

    ¡°Why not?¡± she asked, wishing the words had come with more authority.

    ¡°The risk is too great and it is not our responsibility to take it.¡± He eyed her with sympathy. ¡°You can¡¯t save everyone, Alexia. Learn that now, or it¡¯ll be a painful lesson later.¡±

    Alexia gaped at his heartlessness. This was the hero of the Southern Eagle? She wondered if there was anything left of that hero buried within this vengeful man. She had to believe there was, and that her compassion could bring it into the light.

    She stepped closer, voice trembling but determined. ¡°Maleon, I know there¡¯s still a hero in you.¡± She forced a smile. ¡°I want to see the man who broke the stone off the mountain.¡±

    Maleon sneered. ¡°You know nothing about me, princess. If you think you do, you''re as delusional as Linus before you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in charge here,¡± Alexia forced herself to say.

    Maleon shook his head. ¡°And your bleeding heart is going to get you, me, and a whole lot of other folks killed.¡±

    Her confidence shattered. ¡°I know that I¡¯m not a leader. You think I wanted to be put in charge of you?¡±

    ¡°Then stop trying to be what you¡¯re not. Be who you are.¡±

    Who I am? Alexia thought, trying not to scream or flee. Remembering who she was, she gathered her resolve. ¡°I may not be a leader, but I promise every day to do my best with the power I have. If I can make this world even a little less cruel for others, I intend to do what I can.¡± Her eyes burned with tears, but she held them back. ¡°Can you say the same, Stonebreaker?¡±

    Maleon faltered, lips twitching between a smirk and a frown.

    Alexia stood tall. ¡°We will fight these ogres.¡±

    Timmeck spoke as if she just yielded his life away to Zamael, ¡°I am with you, Alexia.¡± He forced a grin and gave her a wink from his blind eye. ¡°You look like a leader to me.¡±

    Maleon stayed silent for several turns, then muttered, ¡°Damn you, Meladon, for putting me in this position.¡±

    Alexia turned to Endrei, her voice gentle. ¡°Go back to Fritjof. If your son lives, I will bring him home. No matter what, I promise those responsible won¡¯t live to take another child.¡± She offered her hand, sealing her vow.

    Endrei grasped it. ¡°We believe in ye, Alexia. Yer the hero o¡¯ the people.¡±

 Chapter 9: Into the Wolves Den

    Zander squeezed his massive frame between thorny brambles, which snatched at him from each direction. He waddled forward like a duck to get through the brush. Wolves eat ducks, he mused. But this duck has more meat than they can chew, and an iron tooth.

    ¡°Damn arse pricklers!¡± Kenneth muttered from behind. ¡°I swear by Meladon, if Princess Serapheena herself were waitin¡¯ naked fer us in the middle o¡¯ this mess, I wouldn¡¯t be thankful.¡±

    ¡°Neither would I,¡± Alfread said. ¡°Princess Sebreena is the beauty.¡± With a dramatic pause, he broke into one of his divinedamned rhymes,

    When eyes befall,

    The belle of the ball,

    They become her thrall.

    Sebreena, fairest of all!

    Serapheena, nimble fighter,

    talented reader, eloquent writer,

    wittiest Ruby ear biter...

    not a visual delighter.

    Kenneth barked a laugh but winced when a thorn snagged his arse. ¡°I dunno about ye, Al. But when I see a naked princess, I don¡¯ get picky. I get prickly.¡±

    ¡°Put your prick away. You know you meant the beautiful one,¡± Alfread retorted. ¡°Besides, tradition dictates that a man may sleep below his station, but never a woman. She¡¯s as unreachable to us as the sun is to the moon.¡±

    ¡°Heh,¡± Kenneth snorted. ¡°They¡¯d be doin¡¯ no sleepin¡¯ on my dictate.¡±

    ¡°You know what I meant, jackanapes!¡±

    None could inspire annoyance as well as Kenneth and Zander expected none deserved a little annoyance as much as Alfread when he went lecturing. Zander grinned briefly before a thorn scored a line of blood on his hand.

    Kenneth snickered. ¡°They¡¯re prob¡¯ly the on¡¯y virgins left in Leveria, ¡®cept fer you. Yer prude arse wouldn¡¯ do nuthin¡¯ if a princess spread her legs right in front o¡¯ ye. No woman¡¯s good ¡®nough fer Alfread son o¡¯ Evan. He¡¯s waitin¡¯ fer a Goddess to come down from Paradise and flash her teats.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯ do nuthin¡¯?¡± Alfread mocked. ¡°That¡¯s a double negative, you dolt. Do you know what that means?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Zander said, voice cracking with restrained amusement. ¡°Keep bickering and you¡¯ll alert the wolves.¡±

    The banter died as the three squires pressed forward, tracking the faint pawprints etched in the dirt. After what felt like angles of battling thorns and dense underbrush, they emerged into a small clearing. The sun was a dim smudge on the horizon, its last light choked by the thick canopy of trees surrounding the glade. In the center, a still pond mirrored the fading sky. Of wolves, Zander saw none.

    He signaled for the others to join him. Kenneth crouched beside him and whispered, ¡°Ye see somethin¡¯?¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Zander saw much¡ªbut none of it made sense. Something gnawed at his gut that had nothing to do with the bad stew he¡¯d eaten earlier. He turned to the one person he could always count on to explain things for him. ¡°What do you make of it, Alfread?¡±

    Alfread¡¯s eyes flickered, eager to offer his analysis. He pointed toward the opening in the canopy. ¡°Wolves prefer to sleep beneath the moon. If you look closely, you can see where they bed down¡ªpacked leaves, there and there. This is their den.¡±

    Zander nodded in agreement. That much he was certain of and undisturbed by.

    Alfread continued, lowering his voice. ¡°Tracks lead to the pond, and look¡ªbones, scattered near the water. Deer, mostly. Wolves stalk their prey here, make an easy kill, feast like its Celegana''s Harvest, then rest.¡±

    Zander sighed. ¡°They have everything they need¡ªfood, water, shelter. So why attack villages miles away, only to flee back here?¡±

    Alfread shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s unnatural. Wolves avoid human settlements unless they¡¯re desperate, and these wolves are far from starving. No hunters, no loggers, no rival predators. Something¡¯s not right.¡±

    ¡°What could it be?¡± Kenneth asked, a twig snapping under his feet as he swayed.

    ¡°Perhaps a dotar has poisoned their minds?¡± Alfread offered, lacking conviction.

    Zander shook his head, doubting one of those orange apes were involved in much more than stories meant to scare children from straying too far from their homes. He clenched his jaw. The peculiarity of these wolves was like an intricately tangled knot. Zander had always preferred cutting through tough knots rather than unraveling them.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Zander said, inching closer to the clearing, leading with his sword.

    A flicker of movement caught his eye.

    ¡°Watch out!¡± Zander shouted.

    Wolves burst from the undergrowth, their assault coordinated and terrifyingly swift. They moved like shadows, their eyes gleaming with a cunning Zander had never seen in beasts.

    Zander raised his shield just in time to block a wolf¡¯s snapping maw. But Kenneth wasn¡¯t as fortunate. He sidestepped one wolf, only to be dragged down by another, its jaws sinking into his leg. Alfread dodged the fourth wolf¡¯s lunge, scrambling backward.

    Time slowed for Zander. His vision narrowed, instincts sharpening. The world shrank to the wolves and their relentless attacks. His body moved on reflex, sword and shield a blur as he fended off the circling beasts. But they were fast¡ªtoo fast, and too synchronized.

    Zander cut down one wolf, cleaving through its head and shoulder, but pain lanced through him as another slashed his back. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to keep moving, ignoring the blood trickling down his spine. He slashed at another wolf, dropping it before it could reform the deadly circle around him.

    The largest wolf he had ever seen¡ªhuge, black-furred, and with gleaming silver eyes¡ªcharged him. Zander blocked its lunge with his shield but staggered under the force of this bear-sized wolf. Zander baited it, feigning weakness, then unleashed a deathblow. The creature anticipated him, darting out of reach, its movements unnervingly prescient.

    With a growl from the emperor wolf, another wolf diverted from Alfread, and flanked Zander, circling him like shadows, constantly forcing him to pivot and expose his back. They struck in quick succession. Zander blocked one with his shield, ready to strike, but the massive wolf sank its fangs into his leg.

    The pain was distant, like it was happening to someone else. Bloodlust drowned out everything else. With a savage shield bash, he crushed the skull of the smaller wolf, its body crumpling like a broken toy.

    No more minions. Now it was just him and the giant wolf.

    The beast spat out a bloody chunk of leather and snarled, silver eyes shining with intelligence that didn''t belong to a wolf. Zander¡¯s locket slammed against his chest, and for a fleeting moment, he saw beyond the wolf¡ªa shaded warrior sat on a throne of earth and tree rising high over sea and endless stretches of forest. A giant, three-headed beast roared at Zander as the warrior dreamt upon his throne.

    Zander¡¯s stomach lurched forward as his senses returned. He banged his sword against his shield, growling, ¡°Come, demon. Die for your sins!¡±

    The wolf bared its fangs in a twisted grin but didn¡¯t charge. Instead, it bolted toward Kenneth, who was on his back, grappling with a smaller wolf that was gnashing its teeth at his face.

    Zander ran, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t reach Kenneth in time.

    Kenneth threw off the smaller wolf just as the massive beast lunged.

    Zander could only watch as the wolf fell upon his friend in a spray of red.

 Chapter 10: Into the Ogre Cave

    Alexia¡¯s boots sank deeper into the thick muck with each step. Her mind wandered into imagination as she recalled stories of the quicksands of Isihla. In her daydream, she fell, grasping at the hand of a faceless knight. Together, they warded off shadow monsters in the Subterra, Norali¡¯s light bursting from her fingertips as his sword carved through hordes of giant spiders.

    For a moment, she lingered in the fantasy, sharing adventures with her knight where they fought fiends by day and made love by night. But reality clawed her back. Isihla had fallen to the Celegan Tamers, she was bound to fighting in the Gemstone War, locked into a betrothal with Prince Halius, and she needed to focus on slaying ogres rather than living out her fairy tales. The muck seemed to weigh heavier now, like a ball-and-chain latched to her ankles

    Up ahead, Sir Timmeck pointed toward a cave¡ªa jagged opening in the hillside, dark and uninviting with a horrid stench. The bowels of the mountain, she thought, trying not to panic.

    Maleon pointed his wand toward the opening, Alexia sensing him pull on Celegana¡¯s earth, intending to collapse the stone.

    ¡°No! Endrei¡¯s son may be inside,¡± Alexia said.

    Maleon shook his head. ¡°Ogres don¡¯t take prisoners and I don¡¯t go into dark, cramped spaces with monsters that can break my spine.¡±

    ¡°Wyl was alive when the ogres carried him away,¡± Alexia argued, her voice trembling.

    Maleon sighed. ¡°Ogres don¡¯t take prisoners. They take food back to their lair.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not sealing the cave until we know for sure.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d risk us all for a slim hope? Harden your heart and do what must be done!¡±

    Alexia felt the fire of Seraxa rise in her chest, as she grew more passionate and angrier, as the Divine¡¯s altruism flared within her. Guided by the Divine, Alexia unleashed a fire in her heart that she didn¡¯t know she had. ¡°I see you clearly now, Maleon Stonebreaker. You¡¯re a vengeful coward who cares only for the enemies he can harm and not for the friends he can save. My heart is not too soft¡ªyou¡¯re heartless.¡±

    Seraxa¡¯s heat raged inside of her, chilling the air and heating her insides. She kept her glare fixed on his and did not back down when he approached. He tried to intimidate her, yet she looked down on him.

    ¡°A coward, am I?¡± Maleon said. ¡°See how well your heart does when you stand amidst the heat of your flames, unable to focus, when every ogre sees you as a woman and rushes to rip you apart, when one knight stands between you and them, unable to keep you safe. I fear not for my own life, but for yours. If you¡¯re not afraid, then you really are innocent.¡±

    She met his eyes, unblinking, yet shaken to her core. His confidence fueled her doubts, and her hold on Seraxa slipped away. Maleon sneered, sensing the change in divine energy around them, then turned his back on her, quietly cursing the Divine Thirteen for his predicament.

    Alexia sought Timmeck. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    Timmeck hesitated, tossing another log on the flames of her doubt. ¡°I trust your judgment, Alexia. For what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯ll follow you with no regrets.¡±

    Alexia breathed, letting his faith restore some of the cracks in her confidence. ¡°Your trust in me is worth much, Sir Timmeck.¡±

    He answered with a wink from his blind eye. For once, she returned his smile.

    She trusted in her own judgment, in the importance of being a hero to the people who looked to her for a light of hope in this dark world where monsters stole children away from their parents and strong men like Maleon Stonebreaker did nothing to save them. ¡°We go in,¡± she said with authority. ¡°If anyone wishes to stay behind, they may.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you,¡± Maleon said.

    ¡°I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll be too busy telling you I was right,¡± she replied.

    Maleon chuckled, a knowing smile gracing his handsome face. That smile, more than any of his challenges or sneers, set her at unease. The only other time she saw that smile was in her nightmare when he loomed over her broken body. She pushed it away, remembering the Stonebreaker¡¯s priorities. He would do what it took to get his vengeance, and she was a powerful tool he could use. He would fight to keep them all alive.

    She spent the next few degrees formulating and reviewing a plan. Then, when they were all agreed on their tactics, she pulled a small vial from her belt pouch and shook it, the glowing orange liquid inside swirling. ¡°Elixir of Darksight.¡±

    Maleon raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who brewed it?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡±

    His smile twisted. ¡°And what¡¯s the base?¡±

    ¡°Carrot juice,¡± she shot back.

    ¡°Catalytic reagent?¡±

    ¡°Bat¡¯s eye.¡±

    Alexia took the first sip. Her pupils dilated until the whites of her eyes were no longer visible. The world, occluded by darkness, became clear to her in shades of green, white, and black. The outlines of shapes became more distinct. Timmeck¡¯s body glowed fluorescent green with white edges. She handed the vial to Timmeck, who blinked as the elixir took effect.

    Maleon shook his head when she offered it to him. ¡°You ever used Elixir of Darksight in a confined space illuminated by fire? Bad idea, princess. But Zamael¡¯s Hells,¡± he cursed, ¡°I ain¡¯t in charge of you.¡±

    ¡°We shall see,¡± she said, struggling to maintain her confidence, ¡°when my sight allows us to avoid stumbling into a trap and allows me to kill them before they even know they¡¯re under attack.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll see,¡± Maleon said, winking. He clenched his jaw. ¡°Ready, Timmeck?¡±

    Timmeck took a deep breath. ¡°Stay by my side, Alexia¡±

    Alexia stepped into the cavern, Timmeck beside her and Maleon in the rear. The cave reeked of rot and filth, as if the bowels of this mountain had a severe digestive disease. The foul stench of ogre musk, decaying meat, and feces seared Alexia¡¯s nostrils. The humid air, thick with the smell, made her nauseous, and the darksight only worsened her queasiness. She fought back the urge to retch, gripping Aurora tightly as she ventured deeper into the lair.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Ahead, the sound of crunching bones made her stomach churn. Her enhanced eyes spotted a hulking ogre feasting on something unidentifiable. Alexia¡¯s mind screamed that Maleon had been right: there would be no survivors. Off to the side, three more ogres slept near a pile of stolen metal. Alexia pressed herself against the wall, moving with silent determination, struggling to focus as the ogre¡¯s grotesque meal filled the cave with sickening sounds.

    Sadness flooded her heart as she thought of Wyl, but she knew that neither grief nor attuning herself to Balbaraq¡¯s sorrow would help her here. She twisted her sorrow into anger, using it to fuel her magic. Swirling in the chaos of multiple emotions, she called on Zafrir¡¯s wind, summoning a gust that carried the ogre¡¯s attention toward the entrance. Hidden in the shadows, she stared at the bloodied maw of the beast, her sorrow fermenting into wrath. The anger burned within her, combining with a mental focus, to unleash a searing stream of fire that shot from her staff, illuminating the cavern with harsh light as it struck the ogre¡¯s eyes.

    The creature let out a muffled cry as Maleon¡¯s wind spell smothered its voice, then lowered it gently to the ground. Despite their plan¡¯s perfect execution, the remaining three ogres stirred, roused from their slumber. Stunned, Alexia¡¯s focus faltered, the shock pulling her away from her attunement with Divine Seraxa and her fires.

    ¡°Focus, girl!¡± Maleon growled.

    Alexia snapped back into focus, realigning with Seraxa and conjuring the Flumenignyx focus. The fiery blast engulfed an ogre¡¯s eyes while Maleon¡¯s fire took down a second. Both ogres fell with a heavy crash.

    Sir Timmeck charged the final ogre, his sword hacking at its thick leg. But his formidable strength was like that of a boy with a butter knife against the bulk and reinforced hide of an ogre. The ogre retaliated with a deep, rumbling growl that reverberated through the cave, sending a painful shockwave through Alexia. She lost concentration and her spell faltered. Maleon, however, stayed focused, sending an arc of fire that burst the ogre¡¯s eyes, ending the fight.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t so bad!¡± Timmeck laughed, the sound quickly drowned out by a chorus of roars echoing from deeper within the cave. The brave knight stood between Alexia and the crevasse leading deeper underground.

    ¡°Destroy the passage before they come!¡± Maleon yelled.

    Alexia hesitated, unwilling to completely give up hope that young Wyl could be alive, deeper in the cavern.

    ¡°He¡¯s dead!¡± Maleon roared, gripping her robes. ¡°All we can do now is make sure his killers share his tomb!¡±

    Alexia knew he was probably right, that he had been right about the darksight too, that he always seemed to be divinedamned right. The cacophony grew louder, signaling a large group of ogres coming for them, perhaps too many to safely fight. Logically, she knew what to do. Emotionally, she couldn¡¯t make that decision; she couldn¡¯t give up on Wyl, or the other people stolen from Fritjof. She wavered, divided by doubt, until she remembered that when things looked most hopeless was when it was most important to do the right thing.

    ¡°No,¡± Alexia said, breaking his grip. ¡°Wyl could be down there, or other survivors. Stand your ground.¡±

    Maleon¡¯s frustration boiled over, palpable as he drew Seraxa¡¯s divine energy. Between him and Alexia, the cavern¡¯s oppressive heat turned icy as they harnessed the warmth for their cognitive-affectomancy. Timmeck steeled himself, ready for the fight, clanging his sword against his shield.

    Seven ogres ascended from the depths. They were met with Alexia¡¯s fireball. The explosion shook the cave, causing stalactites to crash from the ceiling. Alexia stumbled to one knee, struggling to breathe in the heat and stench. Lowering her hood, she retched.

    Alexia hadn¡¯t trained for seven years to be passive and unprepared or to let oppressive heat or vomit stop her. She drew Seraxa¡¯s flames into her staff, cooling the air. Through the blinding light of Maleon¡¯s flames, Alexia lost count of their enemies. Timmeck rushed forward, bellowing to lure their focus away from Alexia, cutting into one monster¡¯s armpit.

    The diversion failed. The ogres charged at Alexia, shielding their runty heads from her flames in what was a most unnatural display of ogre intellect. The ogre barreled into her, knocking her to the ground. Pain shot through her shoulder, but she held on to her staff, channeling Seraxa¡¯s wrath.

    The beast loomed over her, hesitating as shouts filled the cavern. Alexia didn¡¯t share its hesitation. Reaching for the first focus she could grab, if not the best for the situation, a fireball erupted in the eight-foot-tall monster¡¯s face. The beast was flung backward, but the heat seared Alexia¡¯s eyes causing everything to turn white for several turns.

    Dizzy and disoriented, she vomited again, then wiped away her bile as the flames blurred her darkvision. Another ogre pushed toward her through the flames. Timmeck charged, his sword edge caught and ripped from his grasp by yet another unusually intelligent maneuver.

    Alexia gathered her focus and channeled Seraxa. Her flames sprawled toward Timmeck¡¯s ogre, but not before it delivered a crushing blow to Timmeck, flinging him across the cave. Timmeck¡¯s helm crashed into a wall as the ogre collapsed to the ground.

    ¡°Timmeck!¡± she yelled, rushing toward him.

    ¡°Hold!¡± Maleon shouted. He pointed his wand at the ground, illuminating the area with his flame. ¡°I¡¯m missing one ogre.¡±

    Alexia scanned the battlefield, littered in ogre corpses. Inching toward Timmeck, she counted ten dimming outlines, thinking there were four in the first group and seven in the second. As always, Maleon was right. He was unscathed while she was wounded and Timmeck might even be dead.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got ten out of eleven,¡± she said. ¡°It makes no sense,¡± she continued, approaching Timmeck. ¡°Ogres aren¡¯t known for cowardice or strategy.¡±

    Maleon shifted the flames until they illuminated the ceiling and glowed down into the cavern. ¡°Your first fireball might have incinerated the brute.¡±

    When Timmeck groaned, she knew she needed to get to him fast. The eleventh ogre crashed out of a crevice like a boulder out of a catapult. The beast slammed into her, driving her to the ground. A sickening crack echoed in her ears and she distantly recognized it as a collarbone fracture. She fought through the pain, trying to gather Seraxa¡¯s energy into her staff. The ogre ripped Aurora from her hands, throwing it across the cave, dispersing her gathered energy.

    She backed away, fear breaking her link to Seraxa as she screamed for Maleon¡¯s help. The ogre snatched her, clasping his hands around her waist. Turning from Maleon¡¯s flames, the ogre pinned her to the wall with a surprising gentleness for a creature that ought to fly into a rage at the sight of a woman. Light flashed from the ogre¡¯s eyes, instantly ending her darkvision.

    Now, backed into a corner, dispelled of darksight, she saw the beast¡¯s eyes glowing silver like two bright stars in the darkness. Perhaps they would have been beautiful, if not belonging to the monster that was about to kill her.

    Alexia squirmed, panicking, drawing on the dark sky she knew was beyond the cavern¡¯s mouth, and letting it flow directly into her body. Yet, the lightning energy crashed against an invisible wall as the ogre¡¯s eyes shone on her.

    Pinning Alexia to the ground, the brute clasped a golden bracelet around her wrist. No more could she harness divine energy, the link broken by her contact with gold. She tried to channel the chaos of feelings flooding her, but even Zafrir couldn¡¯t break through the gold that sealed cognitive-affectomancy.

    Alexia tried to reach for her rapier, but the ogre predicted her move, keeping her pinned with one hand and ripping the scabbard off and tossing it aside with the other. All that remained was to hope Maleon could kill the beast.

    The Stonebreaker¡¯s flames continued to strike the ceiling above the ogre¡¯s head, yet he made no effort to reposition. Crying, she realized that Maleon wasn¡¯t going to put himself in danger to rescue her. He merely waited for the ogre to snap her spine and turn its attentions to him from a safe distance.

    It was over. The beast pressed his body against hers and leaned in. It¡¯s breath would be the last thing she smelled, its glowing silver eyes the last sight, the jaggedness of the wall and the hardness of its body the last feeling. She refused to go to whatever afterlife awaited a person who had killed as many people as her staring into those eyes.

    Alexia Bluerose closed her marigold seers and dreamt of love she would never know and dreams she would never live.

 Chapter 11: The Wolves Den

    Zander plunged his blade deep into the wolf, feeling Balbaraq¡¯s vengeance coursing through him like lightning. His hands trembled like a child¡¯s, begging for comfort as he drove the sword further into the beast. Yet, killing it did not bring Kenneth back.

    Tears welled in his eyes, cutting through the haze of bloodlust. All his years of training, endless angles of practicing on his own, of strengthening his body, of heeding every lesson Sir Edward taught him, and it wasn¡¯t enough to save one of his closest friends.

    ¡°Behin¡¯ ye!¡±

    Zander moved on instinct. He wrenched his sword from the giant wolf¡¯s back and spun. A flash of gray fur and snarling teeth blurred his tear-veiled vision, but his blade found its mark, slicing through fur, flesh, and bone in a spray of red.

    A yelp echoed through the clearing. Zander blinked the blood from his eyes and saw Alfread finishing off the last of the wolves, slashing the throat of a wolf already pierced by three arrows. The clearing fell unnervingly silent, the only sound his own ragged breath and the dull throb of his temples. Zander¡¯s mind felt untethered, as if he stood on the edge of a nightmare, waiting to wake up. He could almost believe none of it had happened, that he¡¯d find himself back in bed with Lorelei and Dinah at any moment, ready to start this day over.

    Alfread approached, speaking, though Zander couldn¡¯t make out the words. It was as if his friend¡¯s voice came from far away, underwater. He knew Alfread was speaking Leverian, but the meaning was lost. The clearing, the bodies, Kenneth¡¯s lifeless form¡ªthey all felt distant. His mind had been flung somewhere beyond the battle, beyond the grief, to a place where time moved forward but life stood still.

    The giant wolf twitched.

    Zander¡¯s hand tightened around his sword, but his heart wasn¡¯t in it. What was there left to fight for?

    Alfread rushed toward the fallen beast, shouting something that barely reached Zander¡¯s ears. The wolf¡¯s massive body was hauled aside with a grunt, and Zander found himself watching, detached, like a spectator in his own life.

    ¡°Zander! Now!¡± Alfread¡¯s voice finally cut through the distance, shaking him from his stupor.

    Zander startled as if woken from a deep sleep. He hurried forward, his heart refilling with renewed purpose.

    Alfread tossed him a strip of cloth. ¡°Press this on the wound.¡±

    Zander knelt by Kenneth¡¯s side. Blood gushed from his friend¡¯s leg, refusing to slow. He pressed down as hard as he could, the wet fabric slick between his fingers. Kenneth¡¯s groan of pain jolted Zander, but he kept pressing.

    ¡°Harder,¡± Alfread said, steady like the seasoned medican he was.

    Zander obeyed, though the sight of his friend¡¯s blood made him nauseous. Kenneth was pale, his teeth clenched against the agony. But there was something in his eyes¡ªa glimmer, a stubborn spark. Zander had never seen Kenneth look so alive, even in the face of death.

    Alfread worked quickly, pulling a bottle from his pack with steady hands. ¡°This is going to sting, but it¡¯ll save your leg.¡± His tone was calm, compassionate, with meladonite confidence.

    As he poured the bubbling liquid over Kenneth¡¯s wounds, Kenneth let out a blood-curdling scream, his voice reverberating off the trees like thunder. ¡°Meladon ¡®ave mercy! Ye tryin'' ter kill me!¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°I know it hurts,¡± Alfread soothed. ¡°But you¡¯ll wake up with your life and your leg, my friend. I promise.¡±

    Alfread placed another layer of fabric over the wound and told Zander to hold the bandage in place. Despite all the pain, Zander was shocked to see a smile on Kenneth¡¯s face when Alfread slipped of his belt.

    ¡°Put yer cock away, Al. I don¡¯ wannit,¡± Kenneth groaned through clenched teeth.

    Alfread laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to yourself.¡± His grin faltered as he secured the tourniquet around Kenneth¡¯s leg.

    Kenneth¡¯s scream tore through the clearing again, scattering birds throughout the forest. Zander watched Alfread, the calm, sure way he handled the situation, and felt a strange discomfort rising within him. He had never doubted his own strength before, but something about today¡¯s battle put a fracture in his confidence. He tried to paint over the crack, telling himself that this was no different than losing his virginity. He would do better next time.

    Kenneth¡¯s screams subsided. His skin was pale as a cloud, and his breath came in short gasps. ¡°Am I gonna make it?¡±

    Alfread squeezed Kenneth¡¯s hand and nodded firmly. ¡°Worry not, my friend. Get some rest. We will watch over you.¡± Alfread turned his smile on Zander. ¡°Right?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re tougher than Old Iron,¡± Zander said, giving his friend a smile. ¡°Rest now, brother.¡±

    Smiling, Kenneth drifted into an uneasy sleep. Zander held his hand, the reality of his near-death shaking something loose in him. He had been ready to mourn Kenneth, but now, the realization of how much he cared for his friend brought a new ache. He glanced at Alfread. ¡°Is he really going to be alright?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll live,¡± Alfread assured him. ¡°He¡¯ll be back to wanting to put pots over heads again too soon.¡±

    Zander nodded, accepting the words but knowing they wouldn¡¯t erase the day¡¯s events. Kenneth would survive, but something in Zander had shifted. He hadn¡¯t been the hero tonight. That role belonged to Alfread, and though it stung, he forced himself to feel pride for his friend. ¡°Sir Evan and Mirielda would be proud of you. You found the beasts, killed almost as many wolves as me, helped Melissa and Marigold, kept me from killing Otis, and saved Kenneth¡¯s life. You were like a storybook hero.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s smile turned somber when he looked toward the massive wolf¡¯s body. Zander followed his gaze, noticing the dagger lodged in its throat. Kenneth had struck it before it fell on him. He also noticed the wolf¡¯s eyes¡ªdull gray now, but he remembered them as silver, bright as stars.

    Alfread sighed. ¡°The story has only just begun.¡±

    Zander thought of the shaded man he¡¯d seen through those silver eyes. For once, he wanted Alfread to explain away his superstition. ¡°It was almost as if they were,¡± he hesitated a few turns, wincing at the childishness of his idea, ¡°human.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s head shot up, his eyes meeting Zander¡¯s. The silence stretched between them. Zander half-hoped Alfread would call him batshite crazy. Sometimes, it was better to be wrong.

    But Alfread did the worst thing he could have; he agreed. ¡°I see no other possibility.¡±

    Alfread glanced at the sky, where sunset beckoned the stars into the world¡¯s canopy. ¡°Your mother told me stories about folk that could become beasts,¡± he said, his voice low. ¡°In Kavova, south of Meridian, metamorphs can change their appearance at will. Before Vesarra was conquered, the wildshapers of the Great Atmana Forest could transform into beasts. Worst of all, the tamers of the Celegan Hollows in northern Vesarra can possess minds from afar and control the actions of the creatures they tame. I cannot yet grasp why any of these folk would attack isolated Bearbreaker farmlands, oceans away from their home, but I also cannot wish away this story because I neither like the approaching climax or understand from whence it comes.¡±

    Zander inhaled the truth. This story had only just begun and was headed for a destination darker than he ever imagined. He gripped his locket. He needed to find the Sunrise before he ran out of chapters.

    Zander of Mirrevar decided then and there, in the wolves¡¯ den, that tomorrow would herald a new dawn for him. One more day of all the beautiful and loving things that got him this far: Mirielda and Evan, training with Sir Edward, frolicking at Old Iron or the Bald Bear, of friendship with Kenneth, and brotherhood with Alfread. For after tomorrow, he rode off into new beginnings that would see him to the end of this story, where he would finish strong.

    He clenched his locket¡ªLeveria shaped silver¡ªand remembered his mother¡¯s final words. Leveria is in your hands, my air.

    Whatever this foe was, he would protect Ruby and Sapphire. The sunset bathed the horizon in hues of purple and orange, but Zander longed instead for the sunrise. For his Sunrise.

 Chapter 12: The Ogre Cave Pt. 1

    Alexia surrendered to her fate, knowing she couldn¡¯t escape it. This would be her final day, her last moments.

    The massive silver-eyed ogre had her pinned against the cave wall, its body radiating heat and oppressive strength. Through her closed eyelids, she saw the silver glow of its eyes mingling with the flickering orange of Maleon¡¯s flames. The humidity was suffocating, as if the very air had turned against her, and sorrow welled up in her chest. Knowing the end was near wasn¡¯t the same as accepting it. She wouldn¡¯t live to see the moon rise tonight, nor the endless chase of it following the sun. She felt a kinship with those two distant lovers, forever apart, destined never to meet.

    Alexia sought peace in her thoughts, trying to accept her impending death. If she could just believe that she had done her best, that Leverith would welcome her into Paradise, maybe she could find solace. She imagined her grandfather, Sir Gabriel, the Kavovan refugee turned Azureknight, waiting for her. But doubt gnawed at her. What if there was nothing after death? No reunion, no peace¡ªjust bone and dust, fading away into nothingness.

    Her thoughts only deepened her despair. This wasn¡¯t how it was supposed to end. All her dreams¡ªgrand, beautiful dreams¡ªof making a difference in this broken world, of reforging peace, of finding love and being loved in return, were slipping away. She wasn¡¯t meant to die here, in a dark cave, fighting a monster. Not like this.

    No. She refused.

    Pain shot through her fractured collarbone as she twisted and thrashed against the ogre¡¯s grip. She kicked, trying to find any weak point in the beast¡¯s hulking form. Opening her eyes, she glared at the ogre, determined not to be defeated.

    But it was futile. She was no match for the creature¡¯s brute strength. A powerless girl, her magic sealed away by the gold bracelet. Yet something stirred inside her¡ªa defiance that refused to be silenced. This wasn¡¯t the end. It couldn¡¯t be.

    ¡°Let me down!¡± she roared.

    The ogre, without warning, lowered her to the ground and released its hold. Alexia stumbled, too shocked to react at first. The beast didn¡¯t tear her apart, didn¡¯t crush her like she¡¯d expected. Instead, it stepped away, disappearing into the shadows with surprising speed, its glowing silver eyes tracking Maleon.

    Maleon¡¯s flames lashed after the ogre, but they were futile. The beast¡¯s fireproof hide shrugged off the magical onslaught as it circled the cave, its glowing eyes locked onto the wizard, staying a step ahead of Maleon¡¯s every move. At last, it charged, and Maleon let out a roar, his flames surging in a final desperate attack. For a brief moment, hope flickered. But the ogre had its own magic. A beam of silvery light burst forth, cutting through Maleon¡¯s fire, snuffing it out as though it had never existed.

    ¡°Zamael¡¯s Hells!¡± Maleon cursed.

    The ogre slammed Maleon into the wall. The wizard gasped as the creature pummeled him, each brutal punch reverberating through the cave with sickening cracks. The ogre, it seemed, was enjoying itself, savoring the slow, deliberate destruction of its prey.

    Nothing about this made sense. Ogres weren¡¯t supposed to be this intelligent, this calculated. They were mindless, black-eyed beasts driven by rage and misogyny, not cunning. And yet here was one with silver eyes that wielded magic as easily as it dealt death.

    Alexia snapped back to reality, her eyes falling to the golden bracelet on her wrist. There was no breaking it. The lock, made of meladonite, was impervious to all but its key or another meladonite weapon. Her magic was gone, but all wasn''t lost.

    Thank Eron Bluerose, Alexia was not defenseless without her sorcery. She retrieved Sunfire, her ruby-crested, flame-enchanted silver rapier. She was used to wielding it in her left hand, but with her collarbone fractured, she swapped it to her right. The transition was seamless, her hands knowing no differences in coordination having trained for years under her father. Sunfire¡¯s flames would be enough. One thrust to the ogre¡¯s magic eye, and this nightmare would end.

    She winced as she heard another one of Maleon¡¯s bones snap. Dark thoughts whispered in her mind¡ªlet him die. He¡¯d have left her to die.

    But Alexia couldn¡¯t. She wasn¡¯t that person, couldn¡¯t let him die even if he would have let her. The world would never change if everyone only looked out for themselves and clung to unending grudges. His strangled cries tore at her, forcing her to act.

    Alexia raised Sunfire and drove it into the ogre¡¯s glowing eye.

    The creature let out a deafening scream, releasing Maleon as it staggered back. Alexia pushed harder, driving the blade deeper until the ogre¡¯s skull gave way, and flames erupted from the wound. The silver glow in its other eye flickered and died, reverting to the dull black eyes of its kind.

    The ogre collapsed, flames spouting from its eye. Alexia fell back, unable to free Sunfire from the creature¡¯s skull. The beast¡¯s massive body crashed to the ground, plunging the cave into eerie silence. Only the dying glow of the flames leaking from the ogre¡¯s head provided the briefest flicker of light.

    Alexia¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°Please, Leverith, let it be here,¡± she muttered, her hands trembling as she searched the ogre¡¯s leather harness. Her fingers fumbled, hope and dread warring in her chest. Each empty pocket deepened her despair. Maleon¡¯s shallow wheezes warned of a punctured lung and a quickly fading life.

    The light vanished, plunging her into darkness. At last, her fingers found cold metal. She felt her way through the bracelet¡¯s clasp, her arm burning from her fractured collarbone, until she heard the faint click. The golden bracelet fell to the stone floor with a clatter, and her heart surged with relief. A sob of joy escaped her, hope blooming once more in her chest.

    Summoning Norali¡¯s divine energy felt like reuniting with an old friend. After the dread of being cut off from her power, the connection brought an overwhelming sense of peace. Alexia gathered Norali¡¯s hope and willed herself to imagine a ray of light banishing the darkness. The divine energy filtered through Sunfire.

    Light flared above her, clinging to the ceiling like a newborn sun, illuminating the destruction wrought by their battle. The carnage was brutal¡ªMaleon and Timmeck lay unmoving, their bodies broken, barely clinging to life.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Alexia retrieved Aurora and clutched it tighter, drawing strength from Leverith. She tried to give herself the same compassion she offered everyone else, imagining what Leverith would say to her instead of the self-judgment and doubt Alexia had given herself. Her choices today were born of love. She separated intention from outcome and reminded herself that she did her best each step of the way in situations that were impossibly hard. She let the self-judgments pass and chose to love herself.

    Leverith¡¯s energy flowed through her staff, its moon-blue light bathing her body in warmth. As the divine magic mended her broken collarbone, sealed bruises, and soothed away her pain, she felt her self-love blossom as she became one with Leverith. She was whole again.

    With her own vitality restored, Alexia inspected Timmeck¡¯s wounds. The Seeker of Sin knight lay crumpled in his armor. Fear twisted her gut as she removed his helm and placed a hand on his forehead, feeling the heat of life still within him. His injuries were severe¡ªhead trauma from being thrown into the rock wall. If not for the helmet, he¡¯d certainly be dead.

    She recalled each section of the brain and visualized how it ought to function. Leverith¡¯s spirit poured through her as she healed him, drawing upon her affection for the knight who always stood up for her and risked his own life to aid her. He was more than just a protector now. He was a friend. Leverith knew Alexia didn¡¯t have many of those.

    Timmeck stirred, his eye fluttering open. A sleepy grin spread across his face. ¡°Is this Paradise?¡± he murmured.

    Alexia chuckled. ¡°Not quite,¡± she replied, lowering Aurora. Their reciprocal bond was growing strong, and she felt the love she imagined she would have for an uncle. Her lips rose into a rare genuine smile. ¡°Thank you, Timmeck. I wouldn¡¯t have survived without you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my honor to protect you,¡± Timmeck said, rising to his feet. ¡°Though, I owe you my life¡ªagain.¡±

    Alexia wasn¡¯t sure how to express the warmth she felt toward him. Being shy and self-conscious and trying to speak to people, even if you cared for them, was like trying to describe a flower when you were incapable of seeing color. She nodded in gratitude and turned her attention to Maleon.

    The Stonebreaker was slumped against the cave wall, his body a broken mess. His chest heaved with shallow breaths, his ribs shattered, one arm hanging limp with compartment syndrome, a clavicle protruding through his robes, his face bruised beyond recognition. Blood pooled around him, and his wheezing breaths grew weaker with each passing moment.

    She hesitated, her fingers brushing the hilt of Sunfire. Maleon had left her for dead. He¡¯d done nothing to save her, fully aware that his inaction would seal her fate. The thought twisted her stomach with nausea. She could let him die. Perhaps she should.

    But she couldn¡¯t. Alexia closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, forcing herself to remember who Maleon had once been¡ªthe hero who saved thousands. Even now, after everything, she believed in the possibility of redemption.

    She released her grip on the rapier and raised her staff toward him. ¡°Remember this,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Leverith lives in all of us. Even you, Maleon Stonebreaker.¡±

    His eyes, once filled with arrogance, now held only desperation. He nodded, too weak to speak.

    With a deep breath, Alexia forced herself to find love for him in her heart. It wasn¡¯t easy, but she thought of the man he had once been¡ªthe hero who saved her mentor and reshaped her life, and the hero he could become again. She focused on Maleon¡¯s extensive injuries, beginning with his punctured lungs and broken bones. Slowly, his breathing steadied, the protruding bones settled back into place, the internal bleeding sealed, and the bruises on his face faded. When it was done, he stood before her, whole once more.

    To her surprise, Maleon didn¡¯t recite all her misjudgments or take credit for their victory. Instead, he bowed his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, his voice low.

    Alexia blinked, startled by the sincerity

    . She wanted to believe that her healing had restored more than just his body¡ªthat it had sparked a change within him. But part of her remained cautious, unwilling to trust the man who had abandoned her.

    ¡°I was wrong about you,¡± he said.

    ¡°No, you called every wrong move I made, Maleon. You were more right about me than I was.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Maleon insisted, his voice firm. ¡°I was wrong. I am yours to command.¡± He extended his hand.

    She hesitated, questioning his sudden change. I must nurture the seeds of peace if they are to bloom into the flowers of love, Alexia thought, before taking his hand in her own.

    ¡°Leverith resides in you,¡± Maleon said softly.

    ¡°And in you,¡± Alexia replied, her eyes downcast. She wasn¡¯t ready to face him fully yet¡ªbut maybe, someday, she would be.

    Alexia stepped away from Maleon, relieved to escape the awkwardness. She surveilled the cavern, her heart sinking with each pile of human bones she found on the floor. Piles of weapons, armor, and glittering jewels lay in one corner, taken from the surrounding villages.

    She approached the remains of the first ogre she had slain and inspected his meal. The bones were small enough to belong to a child.

    Alexia lowered her head, tears sliding down her cheeks in silence. Her hair hung like a curtain of dark gold around her face, glinting in the light of her conjured sun. She wanted to hide inside that curtain.

    A voice echoed in her mind, cold and accusatory. You were made for war, not peace. To destroy, not restore. To sunder lives, not save them. Her thoughts snapped back to Vulcan, to the stench of burning bodies. Was she really any better than these monsters? Beneath the mask of heroism, was she just a killer?

    She sat on the ground, tears blurring her vision, unable to look away from the child¡¯s remains. Behind her, Maleon and Timmeck discussed the loot, their casual voices deepening her sorrow. Her sadness felt like a vast ocean, threatening to drown her. She closed her eyes, trying in vain to block out their voices, the screams of dying soldiers, and the crunching of children¡¯s bones between ogre teeth.

    She tried to use sunny thinking, to see the positive in having vanquished these monsters. The thoughts felt unreal, no more the sun than the magic orb she cast upon the ceiling.

    Then, from somewhere deep within the cave, a faint sound reached her like a drop of water that landed in an ocean of sadness and sent ripples of hope toward the shore. Alexia moved deeper into the cavern, her staff held aloft as rays of Norali¡¯s hopeful light streamed from Aurora¡¯s tip.

    The cavern expanded as she ventured further, its ceiling rising higher and higher, from ten feet to fifty. Multicolored stalactites hung from above, their beauty lost on Alexia, who felt too much hatred for this place to see anything lovely.

    Hatred is the most toxic poison when it is given the chance to fester. Alexia knew that and tried her best to never let hatred in for more than a few moments. Alas, once felt, hatred is hard to hinder. For hatred is the tool of Zamael¡ªthe vile shepherd down the path of corruption. It blinds those it touches by restricting one¡¯s ability to see points of view beyond their own hate-limited lens. Hate poisons perception so that the best parts of a thing are wholly shrouded by the perceived flaws. You can only see the geode¡¯s austere exterior and not the beauty within, only the oyster and not the pearl, only the bitter veteran and not the noble hero that once was. Hatred is the antagonist of love, which lets you see past any imperfection and find the good within anyone and anything. Alexia did not see the cave¡¯s beauty. Beauty is the first thing lost to hatred because hatred is an envious monster that only sees ugliness. All she could see was the darkness and despair of the deep earth, the dark cocoon and not the butterfly within.

    Yet the further she went, the more that hatred began to wane. The once-faint sound grew clearer¡ªvoices, hushed and fearful. Her heart raced with excitement. She had never been so relieved to hear someone crying.

 Chapter 12: The Ogre Cave Pt. 2

    The ancient Haliae Buccaneers used the region¡¯s many caves to hide their plundered treasures in ages past. Often those treasures included stolen daughters and wives, chauvinistically called ¡®booty.¡¯ Alexia found an aperture in the cavern wall sealed shut with an ancient and rusted gate. Behind the gate, a young boy sobbed while an adolescent girl tried to comfort him. Several others huddled in the shadows, each vying to be as far from the gate as possible. Alexia stared at the simple chain lock in disbelief. Never in all her studies had she heard of ogres like the ones in this cavern.

    Soon there would be time to analyze the truth of these ogres. She already had hypotheses clawing their way through more immediate concerns.

    Alexia channeled Celegana¡¯s strength, breaking a chunk of stone from the cave wall, and with Zafrir¡¯s power, she hurled it at the lock. The chain shattered, the gate groaned open and slammed against the stone wall.

    Stepping through, Alexia smiled at the prisoners, shining light and trying her best to radiate hope. There were six of them: two small boys, a girl about her own age, an old man, and two grown men. Their wide-eyed disbelief melted into joy as they realized they were saved.

    The teenage girl was the first to approach, her voice lacking the rural accent of most commoners. ¡°Oh, Leverith! Are the monsters dead?¡±

    Alexia met her gaze and, for once, found words easy to locate. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve come to take you home.¡±

    The girl¡¯s face lit up with relief, and the others erupted in gasps and cries of joy. ¡°You hear that, Wyl? We¡¯re saved!¡± the girl exclaimed, hugging one of the boys. Alexia saw the resemblance between Endrei and his son and bit down on her trembling lip, fighting back tears.

    The boy, Wyl, managed a small smile, and in that moment, every hardship she endured felt worth it. She would relive this day a hundred times over for that smile.

    The girl turned back to her. ¡°We held on to hope that a hero would come. I kept telling them, ¡®The Savior herself will come for us. She won¡¯t let us rot here.¡¯¡±

    Alexia¡¯s heart ached. Keeping her mask on was an epic struggle, but she bit her lip harder, willing herself not to cry. She couldn¡¯t speak without breaking. Be the Second Great Wizard, she reminded herself.

    Wyl¡¯s small voice broke through her thoughts. ¡°Are ye ¡®Lexia?¡±

    Her chest tightened. The weight of their expectations made her want to hide, to quench the light and disappear into the darkness. But this was her purpose, and she knew that she needed to step into this fear. She straightened, her voice steady but emotionless. ¡°I am Alexia Bluerose. Endrei of Fritjof told me people had been taken, and that the ogres would return for more.¡±

    Wyl beamed. ¡°That¡¯s my pa!¡±

    ¡°Your father is brave,¡± Alexia said, kneeling to Wyl¡¯s height. ¡°He was going to come here alone if he hadn¡¯t found us.¡±

    The boy, too overjoyed to contain himself, ran up and hugged her tightly. The awkwardness felt like the prickle of a thousand tiny needles, yet there was also warmth, and the feeling that she had done one thing right today.

    As the group began to speak amongst themselves, exclaiming their gratitude, Alexia forced a smile, but inside she felt the familiar discomfort of being the center of attention. For years, she had managed her fame by keeping her head down, waving, and moving quickly past the fanfare with a forced smile or a stoic mask. But today, there was no escape. She reminded herself constantly of her purpose. She could push through the discomfort¡ªshe had to.

    Alexia analyzed their wounds. With their open gratitude and adoration, she found it easy to channel Leverith¡¯s loving spirit. The dismal cave glowed softly as she worked, mending cuts, bruises, and more serious injuries. The warmth of Leverith¡¯s power filled the space, transforming the atmosphere from one of despair to hope as she led them toward the exit.

    Timmeck had organized the ogres¡¯ loot, binding it securely, while Maleon meticulously collected ogre teeth¡ªvaluable components for potioneering. When Timmeck saw the survivors trailing behind Alexia, his jaw dropped in astonishment.

    ¡°These are my companions,¡± Alexia introduced. ¡°Sir Timmeck Eckhard of the Seekers of Sin, and Master Maleon Stonebreaker. They helped me defeat the ogres.¡±

    The rescued group murmured their appreciation. Alexia kept a close eye on Maleon, curious how he¡¯d handle the sudden attention. He deflected the praise back to her with a grin. ¡°It was Master Alexia who believed you could still be saved and insisted on taking on the ogres. Once the fight began, she kept us alive.¡±

    Timmeck nodded in agreement. ¡°We¡¯re all blessed by Leverith¡¯s grace, thanks to her.¡±

    The second wave of gratitude washed over Alexia, making her just as uneasy as before. But amidst the awkwardness, a glimmer of hope sparked within her. For the first time, she saw herself not just as a dreamer, but as someone capable of leading.

    As they prepared to leave the cave, Maleon placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Believe it, Alexia. This is who you are¡ªand it¡¯s only a glimpse of what you¡¯ll become.¡±

    She turned to him, touched by the depth of his words. ¡°Blink twice if that¡¯s really you, Stonebreaker.¡±

    He humored her with two quick winks. ¡°I thought everyone else wanted to force the most magnificent of circles into becoming a square; I thought I was doing you a favor by trying to help you accept yourself. But I was wrong. You can be whatever shape you want to be¡ªand you¡¯ll be great at it.¡±

    He pointed toward the survivors, now following Timmeck through the dark, rainy forest. ¡°Despite my doubts, despite me fighting you every step of the way, you stood your ground. How can I not believe in you now?¡±

    Alexia¡¯s ears harvested every word as he built her confidence. She met his gaze, tears coalescing in her eyes.

    ¡°You inspired their love, their hope,¡± Maleon said, jabbing her shoulder gently. ¡°You can become anything you want.¡±

    Her eyes dropped, unable to hold his without crying. ¡°Thank you, Maleon.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Lifting her chin, he brought her gaze back to his. ¡°Head up, hero. You¡¯ve changed the most stubborn among us¡ªbut your work isn¡¯t done yet.¡±

    Alexia fought back the tears, but they came anyway. Maleon¡¯s warm smile never wavered. ¡°Good,¡± he said softly. ¡°You don¡¯t need that mask with me. Or with anyone. Be Alexia, and you¡¯ll be everything anyone ever needs you to be.¡±

    She nodded, letting the tears fall. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Maleon replied. ¡°And if I know you, you¡¯ll succeed.¡±

    As she moved to catch up with the rest of the group, Maleon¡¯s hand lightly touched her shoulder again. She turned, nerves fluttering.

    ¡°Alexia, I¡¯m sorry for letting you down earlier. That was inexcusable. It won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± she muttered, before hurrying after the others.

    On the road, they plodded through the rain, the horses trudging through thick mud. The teenage girl rode with Alexia, while Maleon and Timmeck took the younger boys. The misty air clung to them, visibility reduced to just a few feet ahead. Rain fell steadily, a muted rhythm against the earth.

    Every now and then, Alexia glanced at Maleon. He was talking to Wyl, making the boy laugh¡ªhis joy a small but bright light in the otherwise dreary evening.

    Alexia tried her best to make conversation with Lucille, who preferred to be called Lucy. She cautiously steered the discussion toward the ogres, needing to collect data for her hypotheses about their uncharacteristic behavior. The conversation was painful, guilt gnawing at Alexia as she dragged Lucy back into a nightmare. She had no choice; Leveria¡¯s future depended upon the answer to these questions.

    Lucy had been abducted from her father¡¯s mill three days ago. Her best friend, Ysabet, had been taken with her. They were thrown into the cage by the silver-eyed beast, who returned each day to select two captives. Ysabet had been chosen today. It was her bones Alexia heard crunching when she entered the cave.

    Lucy¡¯s story confirmed Alexia¡¯s deepest fear¡ªthese weren¡¯t the ogres she¡¯d studied in the Arcanium¡¯s Bestiary. Ogres were simple, obsessed with shiny objects, entranced by their own reflections, and stirred to murder at the mere presence of a woman. They weren¡¯t organized, cunning, or equipped with magic. Yet the ones Alexia had faced had none of the ogres¡¯ usual traits. The treasures they hoarded weren¡¯t reflective, they were sorted methodically, and they utilized items like the golden bracelets that blocked her magical abilities. They didn¡¯t keep women in cages, patiently waiting to feed on them, or restrain and release them. Most of all, those silver eyes that cast light and canceled cognitive-affectomancy¡ªthey didn¡¯t belong to an ogre.

    There was only one conclusion that fit the data, and it was by far the worst possibility. Certain as the moon chases after the sun, the ogres had been tamed. In particular, the silver-eyed ogre was tamed by a man who also possessed the capabilities of an Isihlan lightseer. She saw the Chimaera¡ªa force of destruction long believed confined to the far-off lands of Vesarra where each other power had fallen, including fabled Isihla. The conclusion was too terrifying; Alexia battled against it.

    As they neared Fritjof, Alexia¡¯s thoughts drifted to her father¡¯s favorite theorist, Darle, and his Theory of Pragmatic Inheritance. Could the ogres¡¯ behavior be some bizarre evolution or mutation? No. The changes were too radical. Nor could they be accounted by things in nature, like dotar toxin. The most narcissistic, misogynistic, and dunderheaded of beasts who shrieked at images of themselves reflected in metal didn¡¯t suddenly become clever from any herb. Even the mystical metamorphs of Kavova couldn¡¯t explain their intellect, not having returned to human form upon dying. Alexia tried hard to deny reality, but reality had a way of proving itself and becoming stronger with each disproven theory.

    The small settlement of Fritjof came into view, a collection of simple farmhouses and a logging mill along the Sapphire Road as it approached the Haliae River. Alexia felt uneasy, being in Haliae territory. Throughout history, the Buccaneer lords were pirates who harassed the Eagle and Haliae rivers while retreating, denying, and bowing each time a Leverian or Sapphire king came to place them in check. Worst of all, she mistrusted them for their role in Vara¡¯s Annals of an Anathema. Maddeck Eckhard¡ªa kindhearted cognitive-affectomancer persecuted for loving men¡ªhappened to be one of her greatest idols, and his struggles with the Haliae of Weiss were worth many chapters.

    She glanced at Timmeck, hoping he had more of Maddeck in him than Jorreck, but she¡¯d never tell him, or probably anyone, that given the choice she¡¯d happily take Azurianna over Halius.

    Her eyes cast over the destruction of Fritjof. Roofs caved in; walls torn apart. The ogres had been here, their violence leaving deep scars on the land. Alexia dismounted, helping Lucy down. Rain drizzled from the clouds, and a flash of lightning startled the survivors.

    Lucy turned to Alexia, her voice soft but determined. ¡°We owe you our lives.¡±

    ¡°You owe me nothing,¡± Alexia replied, averting her eyes.

    Lucy¡¯s voice hardened. ¡°Because of you, we can see a future where our fathers, lovers, and sons won¡¯t be sent away to never return or to come back not themselves anymore. You¡¯ve done more than save my life, you give me hope. We are yours, not the king¡¯s, and certainly not Archlord Haliae¡¯s. Remember that.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s breath caught in her throat. She felt the weight of holding the hopes of every woman born beneath the silver and blue banner, and with the knowledge that the Chimaera was attacking, the stakes had never been higher for forging peace. She had to believe that people like Lucy would support her, that men like King Gideon and Eron Bluerose would hear her pleas, that those born to hate her would heed her before it was too late. There were no Maddeck Eckhards, Tuya of the Hollows, or Zyryxas to save the world from the Chimaera this time. The task fell to her, and she felt awfully alone with it.

    Alexia clenched at her sternum, struggling to find her voice. ¡°I will not forget,¡± she whispered.

    She watched Lucy walk away toward the mill, a small figure in the rain, and felt the crushing weight of such responsibility. She wondered how her namesake, how Queen Alexia Leveria had felt, alone and trapped by three armies that agreed on one thing: her demise and the fall of the Leverian Dynasty. What of Maddeck Eckhard, staring down his brother and choosing to fight for goodness in a world that hated him? Even silver-eyed Tuya who gazed deep into the eyes of the same three-headed beast Alexia saw today, knowing that she was alone against the mightiest power in the history of the world? How had these people done the impossible beneath such crushing weight and with so much set against them?

    The answer came to her in the least expected of places.

    Maleon touched her shoulder, channeling Celegana and spreading that divine energy through her, grounding her rising anxiety. Alexia realized then¡ªheroes didn¡¯t face their battles alone. Tuya had Yaha, Maddeck had Larina, even Linus Peacemaker didn¡¯t forge his peace in solitude, nor did the Love Queen wander alone when she spread her melody of peace to every corner of this world.

    ¡°Thank you, Maleon,¡± she began, her voice wavering.

    He squeezed her shoulder, infusing the touch with Celegana¡¯s stubborn and wholesome flow. ¡°Sing your song, Alexia. The world needs to hear your voice.¡±

    She inhaled deeply, held the breath, and exhaled. She nodded. Ahead lay the path to Mirrevar and beyond. It was filled with uncertainty, but she wasn¡¯t walking it alone. She thought of the stories where broken people lost themselves and put themselves back together again, always with the love of someone who understood and cared about them. She would be that person for Maleon Stonebreaker, just as he was for her.

    ¡°Zamael tries to send heroes down dark paths,¡± she said. ¡°He corrupts until they are no longer heroes, but bitter remnants of their former selves. I know they can come back though. Zamael can never fully extinguish the hero¡¯s light, only hide it beneath layers of darkness. If they accept Leverith as their guide, if they embrace love, they get to become heroes again.¡±

    Maleon averted his eyes, gazing at the road ahead. ¡°I hope that you¡¯re right.¡±

    I am, she thought, praying that the road to Mirrevar followed the path of Leverith and not Zamael. She closed her eyes and saw a throne of earth and tree sitting atop the spire of a goddess. She would need Maleon when the Chimaera came¡ªas a hero, yes, but more importantly, a friend.

 Chapter 13: Family Pt. 1

    The monsters were twisted amalgamations of man and beast. Zander, armored in purple meladonite and a cloak of crimson and azure, faced them in an endless void of darkness. His great meladonite claymore gleamed crimson with the blood of his foes as he struck them down one by one. They kept coming, relentless, until he faced a three-headed, silver-eyed abomination, part lion, part snake, part ram.

    The Chimaera, whispered a young woman. Zander had heard that voice many times in his dreams. It was the loveliest sound in the world.

    As Zander fought the Chimaera, the sunrise stretched along the horizon¡¯s edge, more beautiful than ever before. The sweetest melody played for the whole world to hear, with voices joining in harmony¡ªsome familiar, others unknown. Zander added his voice to theirs, and suddenly, it felt like they were singing with one unified voice, a voice he knew as well as his own. As the darkness shattered, a towering tree emerged, reaching beyond the clouds, its branches heavy with every fruit and flower imaginable. The one voice sang, clear and resounding: ¡°I am Peace.¡±

    Zander didn¡¯t want to wake up. He didn¡¯t want to lose the warmth of that melody. But fate decreed he must arise.

    He groaned as his mind reoriented to the real world. His body was stiff from sleeping on the hard ground, and his leg throbbed where the giant wolf had torn into him. Despite Alfread¡¯s medical care last night, the ache remained. Kenneth¡¯s snores echoed through the misty morning, so loud they could shake a tree. Zander scowled at the fading fire. The damp mist had soaked everything, making it a miserable task to reignite the flames. Patience had never been his strong suit, especially when sore, hungry, and tired of listening to Kenneth¡¯s obnoxious snoring.

    By the time the fire spat to life, Zander was already muttering curses under his breath. Grumbling, he turned to skinning the wolves. He would leave one trophy for Gidi, and wolf pelts were always worth something at the Skirts. The meat, coarse as it was, would do for breakfast. His mood was no better by the time he had slabs of wolf steaks cooking over the fire.

    With the fire crackling and his chores done, Zander decided to wash the grime from his body. The pond nearby was freezing, but he waded in with a grimace, the cold biting at his skin. Zander fought the urge to shriek like a small child on Reaping when he submerged past his cock. He saw a few circles, shivering until his body adjusted to the temperature.

    Then something brushed against his arm. ¡°Balbaraq¡¯s bloody flogging balls!¡± he cursed, scrambling out of the pond. He ran naked through the clearing, swatting at the leeches, cursing such that no god, save for Leverith, was above his reproach.

    Kenneth continued snoring like a saw, but Alfread shot to his feet. The son-of-a-lovely-woman looked impeccable rising from his slumber with a half-laugh, half-yawn.

    ¡°Hold still.¡± Alfread chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll liberate you.¡±

    Several painstaking degrees later, Zander sat by the fire, leech-free and gnawing on a tough piece of wolf meat.

    ¡°At least none of them bit my member,¡± Zander muttered, taking another gamey bite.

    ¡°Not enough blood in tha¡¯ lil¡¯ thing, I ¡®erd,¡± came a raspy voice from across the fire.

    Zander looked over to see Kenneth awake, grinning. Alfread erupted in laughter.

    ¡°Plow you,¡± Zander retorted, grinning just as broadly as Kenneth. ¡°Why do you think the lasses always come back for more?¡±

    Kenneth turned to Alfread, eyes twinkling. ¡°Ye hear tha¡¯, Al? He wants to plow us now.¡±

    Alfread smirked. ¡°Seems like he¡¯s only interested in plowing you, Kenneth.¡±

    Zander couldn¡¯t help but laugh along with them. It was good to see Alfread back to his witty self today and Kenneth japing. Life went on, even after you fought magical wolves and nearly died. He tossed two steaks to Alfread, then dangled the last piece over Kenneth¡¯s head.

    ¡°No steak fer ye,¡± he teased, keeping it just out of reach.

    ¡°Sorry! I¡¯ll be a good boy! I promise!¡± His eyes caught sight of the butchered alpha wolf. ¡°Ye butchered my kill? Ye better gimme some, ye floggin¡¯ poacher.¡±

    Zander lowered the steak toward Kenneth¡¯s hand, only to yank it back at the last turn. ¡°Where are your manners, Kenneth?¡±

    Kenneth sighed. ¡°Zander, good brother, kind man, hon¡¯rable squire, conq¡¯ror o¡¯ tavern wenchies, poacher o¡¯ big-arse wolves, may I please ¡®ave my steak?¡±

    Zander lowered it again, teasingly pulling it away once more. Kenneth groaned, rubbing his temples. ¡°I ¡®pologize fer callin¡¯ yer member small. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s twice as big as the bigges¡¯ member the Sapphire Kingdom has e¡¯er beheld.¡±

    Grinning, Zander finally let Kenneth take the steak. ¡°See what good manners get you?¡±

    Alfread snorted. ¡°I suspect chicanery.¡±

    Kenneth smirked, biting into the meat. ¡°I tricked ye! Twice as big as the bigges¡¯ Sapphire member still means ye ¡®ave the smallest in the Ruby by half.¡±

    The three of them burst into laughter. Zander¡¯s laugh came loudest of all. Light entered the canopy, dispersing the mist. Sadly, Zander couldn¡¯t see the sunrise this morning.

    The journey back to Bear¡¯s Crossing was a slow and laborious one. Though Kenneth hid his pain well, Alfread kept calling for halts to check on his injuries.

    By the time they reached Bear¡¯s Crossing, dinner bells were ringing. Zander and Alfread left Kenneth in the care of his sister Joyce. She was The Bald Bear¡¯s most popular maid, as charismatic and beautiful as her brother was crude and homely. The two despised each other, and they made this known at every opportunity. Kenneth, in his infinite charm, greeted her as ¡°the bitch¡± and encouraged her to go back to the tavern and do the one thing she was good for. This, of course, earned him a retort about how she wished Zander had left the bastard to die in the woods with the other animals.

    They were half of the family they had left, but the scars of old wounds went deep and festered. Kenneth had followed Zander since they were little boys, and Joyce had been his first and, by far, most frequent tribute partner. He¡¯d held her deep into the night as she cried about her mother¡¯s suicide, listening and comforting her as a fellow orphan. Zander understood her pain, understood why she blamed Kenneth for their mother¡¯s death. But Kenneth had been barely more than a baby when it happened¡ªblaming him wasn¡¯t fair. Zander also understood the bitterness that festered in his friend because of Joyce¡¯s inability to let go of her resentment. Were he lucky enough to have a sister, he couldn¡¯t imagine being as cruel as they were to each other. He loved them both, which only made his helplessness to stop their hatred from fermenting even more agonizing.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    Zander pulled Joyce aside, allowing Alfread to tend to Kenneth¡¯s leg and administer a tonic that soon had him snoring. Alfread tactfully excused himself, returning to Sir Evan¡¯s manor to check on Melissa and Marigold.

    Alone with Joyce, Zander didn¡¯t resist as she pulled him close, her kisses urgent and hands hungry. The tonic must¡¯ve been strong, because Zander didn¡¯t restrain himself and neither did she. Tangled in bed with her, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel that a woman so beautiful hadn¡¯t bonded yet. She¡¯d turned down several suitors, and Zander found himself grateful for that several times a span.

    When it was over, Joyce clung to him, begging him to stay. He kissed her tenderly, reassured her with sweet words, but she only pleaded more. Zander couldn¡¯t stay for dinner or share the night with her, and she couldn¡¯t understand why he needed to speak with Sir Edward or check on Melissa and Marigold. Despite his best efforts, he had to peel her off and leave her crying.

    Zander pushed it away, assuring himself he did nothing wrong, and headed for Sir Edward¡¯s cabin. Smoke curled from the chimney, and the scent of bacon greeted him as he knocked on the door. Inside, the knight¡¯s home was as neat and orderly as always, the remnants of his estranged wife¡¯s belongings still meticulously sorted despite her living in Rubinia the past fifteen years. At the spit, cooking the evening meal, was Jayne¡ªKenneth¡¯s other sister. Unlike Joyce, Jayne was soft-spoken, with a plain face but a gentle presence that Zander found endearing.

    ¡°Greetings, Jayne,¡± Zander said with a smile.

    Jayne¡¯s shy smile was sweet, and her stuttering voice was barely above a whisper as she asked Sir Edward if she should make another plate for Zander.

    ¡°Please do, Jayne,¡± Sir Edward replied, eyeing Zander suspiciously. ¡°Zander and I have much to discuss.¡±

    As Jayne slipped into the back to fetch more bacon, Zander recounted his encounter with Sir Otis. He told Sir Edward of the abuse Otis had inflicted on his nieces and how he¡¯d chosen to intervene, carefully leaving out the details about Alfread stopping him from killing the oathbreaker.

    ¡°Meladon smiles upon your judgment,¡± Edward said. ¡°As do I. I¡¯m impressed with your decision to spare Sir Otis¡¯s life. War changes men, Zander. Otis wasn¡¯t always like this. After losing his brother in Mirrevar, something inside him broke. When news reached Mirrevar of his sister-in-law¡¯s death, I encouraged him to watch over his nieces. He didn¡¯t believe he could do it, but I thought it a chance for him to make meaning out of his misery and pain. Instead, it seems he passed his suffering to those little girls.¡±

    A heavy guilt settled over Zander. He never stopped to consider Otis¡¯s story. That did not excuse him trying to pull Melissa and Marigold down with him, but the explanation turned him from a vile monster into a broken human.

    Sir Edward continued, ¡°You did well, Zander. It¡¯s easy to forget that justice isn¡¯t always found at the end of a sword. It takes a hero to show mercy in the shadow of dark deeds, to see the good beneath the darkness of a man¡¯s soul. Remember that. True heroes, like Philladon Leveria, inspire those around him to be the best versions of themselves. They lift others up, nurturing the light until it overcomes the darkness.¡±

    Zander lowered his gaze, haunted by his lie. Feeling unworthy of the praise that belonged to Alfread.

    Jayne interrupted. The bacon sandwich she offered Sir Edward made her more appetizing. She returned Zander¡¯s compliment with flushed cheeks. He ogled her arse as she went back to fix his.

    ¡°The wolves, boy,¡± Edward said, sharp as a sword.

    Sir Edward grew tense when Zander described the battle, particularly his ward¡¯s injuries. Kenneth, Joyce, and Jayne weren¡¯t his only wards, but Zander loved Edward for taking care of them after their mother opted to leap off Old Iron.

    Jayne delivered and Zander paused to bite into his bacon sandwich, not even minding the lettuce and tomato. The flavors exploded on his tongue, and he wondered how the cook would taste when she exploded on him. He wondered how Kenneth would react and decided this venture ought to be pursued. ¡°You are a true culinary master, pretty girl,¡± Zander said, winking at Jayne and giving her his best smile. She didn¡¯t look plain now, glowing from his praise.

    ¡°The wolves, Zander!¡± Edward snapped.

    Old squirrel¡¯s just mad that he never feels a woman¡¯s love, Zander thought with a sour taste that ill-fit the sandwich.

    To Zander¡¯s surprise Edward neither laughed nor reprimanded Zander when he said that Alfread thought the wolves might¡¯ve been human.

    ¡°Alfread is wise,¡± Edward said. ¡°There¡¯s much in this world we don¡¯t understand. Report this to Archlord Bearbreaker and offer your service to him. His court witch may shed light on these oddities.¡±

    Years of training built to this moment. He was going to become a true member of the Peacewatch, and the next step of his journey would take him closer to understanding the threat posed by the shaded man with the silver eyes. He couldn¡¯t restrain his elation.

    ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, Sir. I¡¯ll head to Urzport tonight!¡±

    Edward waved off his haste. ¡°Easy, boy. The morning will serve you better. And take Paladin with you¡ªa gift for all your hard work over the years.¡±

    Zander was speechless for several turns. Paladin was a valuable warhorse, worth more coin than he¡¯d probably ever held. ¡°Thank you, Sir! I¡¯ll make you proud.¡±

    After a firm handshake and some words of wisdom, Zander left, his mind buzzing with dreams of glory.

    Sir Edward shouted after him, ¡°Remember what it means to be a hero. You¡¯re one of the few people with the potential to make a difference in this woeful world.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Zander hollowed, dashing off toward Old Iron.

    He didn¡¯t realize he left Paladin behind until his feet hit the old rusty monstrosity.

    Breathless, Zander returned to Edward¡¯s stables, only to find Jayne tending to the horses. Her shy smile met his. In a few whispered words and gentle touches, he found himself entwined with her in the hay. She was inexperienced, and he knew from his experience that his love needed to be slow and tender. She was breathless when they finished. Zander kissed her, ran his fingers through her hair, down her body, letting her know that she was beautiful all the way through. Jayne¡¯s contented smile followed him out of the stable and into the night.

    The air outside felt fresher after a tender romp in the stable. Zander walked away feeling like he¡¯d not only pleased Leverith but helped Jayne find a bit more confidence in herself. There was a giddy spring in his step as he brushed Paladin¡¯s silver-white mane. ¡°We¡¯re going to take care of each other and have many great adventures,¡± he murmured to the mighty destrier. ¡°The bards will sing our adventures for centuries.¡± Paladin neighed softly, nudging Zander¡¯s shoulder with surprising gentleness for such a powerful, battle-trained beast.

    As the sun sank beneath the horizon, painting the sky with fiery streaks, Zander rode to the temple. The scent of candles and incense welcomed him as he stepped inside. A few worshippers knelt in prayer. He exchanged a nod with the priestess, bowing slightly before the temple¡¯s leader sent a handmaiden to him. She offered him a nirathra leaf, which he accepted, chewing on the stem.

    Zander thanked her for the contraceptive and turned down her invitation to make tribute to Leverith. She was a bit younger than he preferred, and besides, he was spent. Leverith couldn¡¯t expect him to lay with every willing woman, could she? With his reputation, he¡¯d hardly have time for anything else.

    He turned his focus to the altars, offering his gratitude to Meladon, then a wolf pelt to Gidi. Lastly, he knelt before Leverith¡¯s shrine. His heart grew heavy, emotions knotted together, tangled like vines from separate trees entwined over time. ¡°Leverith, Divine Goddess of Love and Dreams, I thank you for family¡ªfor Alfread, Mirielda, and Evan. Because of you, they opened their hearts and home to me. Because of them, I am strong. Because of them, I still sing your loving song. Tomorrow, I leave them behind.¡±

    Zander swallowed, tears quietly falling down his cheeks. He carried on. ¡°Give Alfread the strength to be his own man, guide him to the love he needs and deserves; even though he doesn¡¯t offer tribute to you, he has so much to offer to the people he loves.¡±

    Zander¡¯s fingers clutched the locket around his neck. ¡°Please guide me to my own love, to my Sunrise.¡±

 Chapter 13: Family Pt. 2

    Zander lingered outside the doorway, listening to Alfread retelling their adventure. Alfread was in full storyteller mode, his voice rich with suspense and drama. ¡°The arrow flew,¡± Alfread mimicked the flight with his arm, adding a whooshing sound. ¡°One wolf fell, but its brother charged, teeth gnashing!¡± Alfread growled and gnashed his teeth, his voice deepening. He mimed shooting another arrow and spun in a half-circle. ¡°BAM!¡± he slapped his hands together. ¡°The fiend went crashing. The broadhead found his eye, and at once,¡± Alfread held up a single finger, ¡°monster did die.¡±

    Alfread took a swig of wine, continuing with flair. ¡°Snapping ferociously, his final brother shot toward me. Time was my enemy; wolf¡¯s malicious maw prevented my draw. I gripped bow in both hands,¡± Alfread mimicked the struggle, gripping an imaginary bow, ¡°rolling aside of wolf¡¯s evil plans. The wolf missed me, narrow. I nocked my final arrow, and¡ª¡± He released a pretend arrow with a quick whoosh. ¡°Shot him right in the heart.¡± Alfread lowered his voice, ¡°Slowly, did he depart. He slunk to the ground, emitting pitiful howl. I pulled my sword, and approached the beast so foul,¡± Alfread slashed through the air. ¡°And slit his murdering throat. Thus, was the last beast of the Wolves¡¯ Den smote.¡±

    A slow clap echoed through the room. Startled, Alfread and his audience turned to find Zander standing in the entryway, smiling.

    Alfread grinned, raising his flagon. His hair was damp from a recent bath, and he wore his evening robe. Sir Evan beamed proudly at his son, envisioning Alfread as both a warrior and a storyteller. Mirielda¡¯s eyes shone with pride, her smile warm and tender.

    ¡°Welcome home, Zander,¡± Mirielda greeted, her voice as soft as it was the day she took him in.

    Zander¡¯s heart ached, knowing this might be the last time he¡¯d see those kind amber eyes or rest beneath this roof. Mirielda had never tried to replace his mother, but she¡¯d given him all the love a mother could. How had he been so blind, longing for what he didn¡¯t have, when what he¡¯d been given was more than enough? A part of him wanted to flee now, avoid the pain of farewell¡ªbut he must finish strong.

    His gaze shifted to the others. Little Marigold sat nearby, smiling at everything around her. Her bruises were already fading thanks to Mirielda¡¯s care. She wore a dress far too big for her, pinned to keep it from slipping.

    Melissa, too, looked transformed. Her hair was brushed, her green eyes bright above the satin gown she now wore. She was far more beautiful than Zander remembered. He winked at her, and Melissa quickly dropped her gaze, blushing into her flagon.

    ¡°It warms my soul to see you both here,¡± Zander said, glancing at Evan and Mirielda to gauge their reactions.

    Sir Evan leaned forward, clasping his hands. ¡°You did well sending them here,¡± he said, his eyes shifting between Zander and Alfread. ¡°You¡¯re not boys anymore. Men,¡± he pounded his fist on the table, ¡°you have become! You¡¯ve found honest hearts to fill the voids you will soon leave behind.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Mirielda agreed, her smile gentle as she looked at the girls. ¡°Marigold has the makings of a master medican.¡±

    Marigold blushed at the praise, her face lighting up. Zander could already see her future blooming under Mirielda¡¯s nurturing care.

    ¡°And Melissa¡¯s a far better cook than any of us,¡± Evan added. He grinned at his wife. ¡°Far better than certain characters around this table.¡±

    Melissa beamed at the compliment, her joy palpable. Zander¡¯s heart swelled with pride¡ªhe¡¯d done something wholly good, something that would change lives for the better.

    ¡°Now some characters can focus on tenderizing meat instead of undercooking it,¡± Mirielda teased, a grin pointed back at her husband.

    ¡°Ha!¡± Evan roared with laughter, while Zander and Mirielda chuckled. Alfread, as usual, tried to ignore the innuendo. Sir Evan, of course, made that difficult. ¡°In love¡¯s embrace, nuzzled face to face, bound in your splendor, precious meat rendered tender. Just a little pink. Next day, no stink.¡±

    Zander, Mirielda, and Evan laughed heartily, while the girls seemed to miss the not-so-subtle subtext. Alfread turned to the girls. ¡°I can find you some place where you would never have to endure this base humor.¡±

    Melissa shook her head, grinning. ¡°I like it here.¡±

    Alfread sighed. Sir Evan slapped his back, trying to get him to perk up. But it was Marigold¡¯s small voice that surprised them all. ¡°Careful, Sir, ye don¡¯t wanna tenderize Alfread.¡±

    Laughter exploded from the group, Zander wiping a tear from his eye. It was a family memory Zander would bring with him and remember long after this night.

    ¡°Lady Mirielda is taking us to the Skirts tomorrow!¡± Marigold announced, her face glowing with restored innocence. Zander clutched his locket, knowing his mother would be proud.

    ¡°You ladies need proper attire,¡± Mirielda said with a smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re enjoying some female companionship, aren¡¯t you, mother?¡± Alfread teased.

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to have women to talk to,¡± Mirielda admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve been surrounded by men for far too long.¡±

    Zander expected a jape to escape Evan¡¯s mouth, a commentary on how joyous it would be to once more have people to discuss the highs and lows of menses with. Instead, Evan grew serious. ¡°My life has given me much to be grateful for. A wonderful wife who sacrificed a life of wealth for me, a son who surpasses me, and another who has been a son in all but blood.¡±

    Zander nodded, tears coalescing as he reflected on how this man taught him what it meant to be a man. True strength wasn¡¯t about fighting, but caring deeply for those you loved. It wasn¡¯t about dominance, but about lifting others up. It wasn¡¯t to turn away tasks as ¡°feminine,¡± but to share the load with others. Nor was masculinity hiding your heart within armor, but to give it to those you loved as often as you could. Evan¡¯s lessons had shaped Zander¡¯s character like a sculptor chiseling stone, molding him into the man he had become. Evan of Astoria was a far manlier man than his own father, the supposed ¡°great warrior,¡± who¡¯d left him and his mother in Mirrevar.

    Evan¡¯s gaze shifted to the girls. ¡°For all that I¡¯ve been given, Miri and I always wanted daughters too. If you¡¯ll have us, you can be Leverith¡¯s second chance at that dream and Yadeen¡¯s next chapter in our lives. No one replace the chapters we¡¯ve all lost, but I intend to make the best story with the lines dealt to me.¡±

    Melissa and Marigold exchanged a teary look. Melissa spoke first, her voice thick with emotion. ¡°This feels like a dream to me. I still expect to wake up back in Willet.¡±

    Marigold nodded, tears running down her little cheeks. ¡°I want to be part of your story, Sir,¡± she sobbed, looking at Mirielda, ¡°and yours too. I want to. More than anything.¡±

    ¡°Darling,¡± Mirielda said softly, placing a hand on Marigold¡¯s back. The girl flinched, then melted into the embrace. ¡°Marigold, you are safe. You are family.¡±

    Zander watched through the eyes of his younger self¡ªthe boy without a mother who had once needed those same words. The wave of emotion washed over him. For so long, he had looked forward to leaving the farm, counting the days. Now, with the end in sight, he found himself wanting to stay, savoring these final moments. He wished for one more Telling by the hearth, listening to stories and sharing a meal. He yearned to taste Mirielda¡¯s overcooked food and listen to Sir Evan¡¯s kindly japes. He longed to bicker and laugh with Alfread as they worked the fields, best friends and brothers wrapped in one. He would miss the safety of knowing that Mirielda would take care of him and that she would tuck him into bed with a kiss on the forehead. He would miss Sir Evan¡¯s reprimands when he broke a piece of farming equipment and his quick forgiveness. He would miss days spent hunting with Alfread, working together to provide food for their family¡ªfor Evan to undercook.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    As the last page of this chapter turned, he realized how much he¡¯d miss it all, and how he¡¯d spent so many years looking forward that he never saw how blessed he was.

    Like the man Evan had taught him to be, Zander raised his flagon to propose a toast.

    ¡°I want to thank you,¡± Zander said. ¡°All of you deserve to be celebrated. Sir Evan, Lady Mirielda,¡± he paused, locking eyes with them, ¡°you took me in when I had nowhere else. I wouldn¡¯t be half the man I am without you.¡±

    Mirielda clutched her dress, tears brimming, while Sir Evan managed a bittersweet smile.

    ¡°Evan, you taught me a knight is more than just a warrior¡ªhe is kind, compassionate. You showed me a great man doesn¡¯t just dream; he lives those dreams. And Mirielda,¡± Zander¡¯s voice cracked, but he pressed on, ¡°you made me feel safe. You made me feel like family.¡±

    Zander let the tears come, unashamed. ¡°You were better parents to me than my own father. You were always there, when my mother couldn¡¯t be. I love you.¡±

    Mirielda dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief while Sir Evan allowed his tears to flow freely.

    ¡°Melissa, Marigold,¡± Zander turned to the two sisters. ¡°You¡¯ve shown me that I can be a true knight. Your smiles fill me with hope, hope that I can bring the light of Leverith into this world. You are good people, and I wish for Leverith to bring you the peace and love you¡¯ve always deserved.¡± His gaze lingered on Marigold. ¡°You do deserve to be loved,¡± he said softly, before glancing at Melissa, who returned his look with a shy, sideways glance.

    Finally, he turned to Alfread. ¡°You, Alfread¡­ more than anyone else, have filled my life with joy. You¡¯ve been my best friend, my brother. I love you.¡±

    Alfread tossed his arm around Zander¡¯s back. ¡°I love you too, brother.¡±

    Zander clung to his brother, unwilling to let go. When he finally pulled back, he felt a heavy knot in his chest.

    ¡°But,¡± Zander said, voice faltering as he faced them all, ¡°Sir Evan is right. Tomorrow morning, I leave for Urzport. I will pledge myself to Archlord Bearbreaker and join the Peacewatch.¡±

    The room fell into stunned silence. Sir Evan bowed his head, filled with pride, while Mirielda, Melissa, and Marigold wore their sadness openly. Alfread stood in shocked disbelief, mouth opening as if to speak, but for once, no words came.

    Zander swallowed hard, then raised his flagon once more. ¡°A toast,¡± he said, ¡°to something I thought I¡¯d lost but was here all along¡ªfamily.¡±

    They clinked their vessels together in quiet solidarity. ¡°To family,¡± they echoed, and Zander downed his drink, memorizing their faces, committing this moment to memory.

    As he refilled his flagon, Sir Evan broke the somber silence. ¡°Zander, I never doubted the decision to take you in. You¡¯ll do great things. Remember,¡± he said, with a nod to Alfread, ¡°it¡¯s better to live one story than to tell a thousand.¡±

    Mirielda¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°I will miss you, dear. No matter where life takes you, you will always have a home here.¡±

    Alfread slammed his fist on the table. ¡°If you¡¯re going to Urzport, I¡¯m coming with you.¡±

    Zander hesitated, torn between wanting to bring his brother with him and knowing what was best for Alfread. ¡°Alfread, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Alfread interrupted. ¡°I can fight too.¡±

    ¡°You can fight,¡± Zander agreed, ¡°but that¡¯s not your path. You¡¯re meant for something greater. Go to the University. Your mind is too good to waste in the disputed territories with me.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the University!¡± Alfread shouted, shaking with anger, tears spilling down a beautiful face inherited through generations of highborn breeding. ¡°I¡¯m not going to waste my life trying to prove to a bunch of lordlings that I belong in a world that thinks I¡¯m a mistake!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not a mistake,¡± Mirielda said. ¡°You are the greatest gift I¡¯ve ever been given, and bonding your father was my greatest choice.¡±

    Her words softened Alfread¡¯s anger, but the sorrow in his eyes remained. ¡°I refuse to go crawling back to the people who threw you away.¡±

    Mirielda caressed his cheek, wiping his tears. ¡°I broke their hearts the day I spurned a prince for a man with no last name. Take a better road than them; choose to be understanding rather than to judge and banish. You could prove them wrong, not with vindictive spite, but by being yourself, by showing them you were not a mistake.¡±

    Alfread shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go.¡±

    Zander looked to Evan. The usually verbose man remained silent as his son wavered on the most important decision of his life. Melissa and Marigold dismissed themselves, retreating to the loft as Mirielda held her crying son.

    ¡°You were born for the University,¡± Zander said. ¡°A memory like yours¡ª¡±

    ¡°I get to choose what I was born for!¡± Alfread roared, pushing back his chair, he rose to his feet. ¡°And it was not to make nice with people who wish I was never born!¡±

    He stormed from the common room, slamming the door to his bedchamber.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zander said, hoping this wasn¡¯t the last memory he¡¯d have of his family.

    ¡°Miri and I no longer hold the quill,¡± Evan said. ¡°Alfread will author his own story.¡±

    Mirielda glared at her husband. ¡°Alfread is meant for peace, not war.¡±

    ¡°I agree,¡± Evan said. ¡°But we must let him find his way there on his own terms. If we try to author his destiny, he will never become who he is meant to be.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Mirielda said, choking back tears. ¡°He might become a corpse on some field or some wall, tossed into a pile with the rest, and burnt until our beloved boy is naught but ash.¡±

    Evan put his head in his hands, sighing. ¡°This can wait until the morning.¡± He staggered to his feet and limped to Zander, crushing him in a hearty embrace. ¡°Live your story, son.¡±

    Zander squeezed him back. ¡°Thanks for all you¡¯ve given me. I¡¯ll carry your lessons with me wherever I go.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Evan said. ¡°And bring new lessons home with you when you visit.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± Zander said, croaking through the thickness of his sorrow.

    ¡°I love you too, buddy. Until next time.¡±

    ¡°Until next time.¡±

    Evan pulled apart, gazed at Zander as if to imprint the image of him in his mind, then retreated to his bedchamber with a nod.

    Zander and Mirielda stood, trembling, gazing at each other through the tears. So many times, it had been just the two of them. Alfread and Evan would travel to Urzport, and he¡¯d volunteer to stay home, stealing moments like this one to be with the person who made him feel most secure. Now he was going to Urzport, and he might never have a moment like this again. He broke into sobs. Much like they had seven years ago, her arms cradled him.

    ¡°Tonight feels like a final sunset,¡± Mirielda whispered, rocking him. ¡°And it hurts, but the Sunrise awaits you, Zander.¡± Mirielda leaned back and gazed deeply into his eyes. ¡°Your mother would be as proud of you as I am. Always follow your heart and you will eclipse all of our dreams, child of love.¡±

    Zander clenched the locket, gripping it with all his might. Through Mirielda, he could feel his mother¡¯s pride. ¡°I will do my best.¡±

    Mirielda smiled. ¡°Until next time, Zander.¡±

    ¡°Until next time.¡±

    He cried all the way to his bed in the loft, where he found Melissa waiting for him beneath his sheets, her robe on the floor. Marigold slept on an assortment of blankets atop an old mattress, not too far away. Zander wasn¡¯t in the mood for this now and wished she¡¯d just go to her bed.

    ¡°May I lay with you for a few turns?¡± Melissa asked, her voice sweet.

    Zander exhaled, that old empty feeling inside of him craving momentary relief. Perhaps, he pondered, Melissa was the Sunrise. Her dandelion hair, her beautiful smile that lit him up, the way she made him feel like a hero. Perhaps, after nearly five years of tribute¡ªof bedding hundreds of women thousands of times¡ªLeverith answered his prayers.

    Feeling as uncertain as he ever had before, he slipped off his clothes.

    ¡°Ye really are Leverith-blessed, aren¡¯t ye?¡± she said, her eyes not on his moon-blue seers.

    Zander nestled into bed with her, taking pride in the compliment he''d heard a thousand times before. He cupped her face in his hands. ¡°I think she blessed you more,¡± he said.

    Moonlight shined through the loft window, illuminating her precious smile. Leverith! It felt good to borrow her warmth. He sensually kissed her neck, smelling the aroma of Mirielda¡¯s perfume. It wasn¡¯t long until he carried her out into the night, where they made love beneath a brilliant blue moon and a sea of stars.

    Zander woke before dawn crept over the horizon. With a heavy heart, he looked at her smiling in her sleep, pondering his options. A part of him wanted to climb back in bed and stay there until the day began. He wouldn''t have to leave his family. He could take Melissa as his wife and serve his conscription when he turned eighteen in a few moons. Perhaps Melissa could come and work at the war camp and they could be together. He¡¯d earn his knighthood and claim lands in Bear¡¯s Crossing. When his three years were up, he¡¯d return to a home and a family that loved him. He and Melissa could raise a family of their own and take in orphans as their wards. It would be a good, meaningful life.

    But it was not the life Zander was fated to live. Crying, he gripped his locket, opened it up, and gazed at the perfect sapphire inside of it. He remembered the promise he made his mom as she lay dying. He got dressed and quietly left behind the place that had been his home for the past seven years.

    The sun would rise soon.

 Chapter 14: Mirrevar Pt. 1

    Mirrevar.

    Alexia felt Leverith¡¯s magic pulsing stronger with every stride toward the fabled land. Mirrevar¡¯s power wasn¡¯t just a myth¡ªit was real, a place imbued with peace and love.

    Her horse stepped onto the Great Eagle Bridge, the only crossing of the Eagle River that could withstand the torrential floods from Balbaraq¡¯s Reach. The bridge¡¯s gleaming white marble remained unblemished, despite being over a thousand years old. Thirteen massive arches supported the mile-long span over the world¡¯s most powerful river. As magnificent as the bridge¡¯s engineering was, the enchantments of Queen Alexia Leveria were credited more with its immortality than the stones themselves.

    Maleon Stonebreaker rode beside her, and in just two days, he¡¯d become warm and familiar as the summer sun. They traded stories of Arcanium politics and arcane secrets. Alexia smiled at the memory of last night¡ªMaleon teaching her how to channel Celegana¡¯s energy to glide over the ground, scattering debris in her path. He had laughed when she realized she had to fix the land she¡¯d disturbed outside the Buccaneer¡¯s Bed, then helped her put thousands of pounds of dirt back in its proper place. Timmeck, ever the good sport, had volunteered for her experiment and been rewarded with another dose of Leverith¡¯s spirit to ease his sore back after being tossed into the air. The inn¡¯s common room had been filled with laughter and retellings of the event. With Maleon at her side, she¡¯d been able to smile through the attention, listening to strangers recount their versions of the story.

    ¡°Ready?¡± Maleon muttered, glancing her way. ¡°Remember, keep the mask off and see with clear eyes that you¡¯re more than enough.¡±

    Alexia nodded, drawing in a slow breath. Mask off, she told herself. She tapped into Celegana¡¯s energy, as Maleon had shown her, grounding herself to still the anxiety.

    A voice called from the ramparts. ¡°What treasure has Leverith delivered to me today?¡±

    She rode up to the gate, battling a flutter of anxiety. ¡°I am Master Alexia Bluerose,¡± she declared, holding up a parchment bearing the royal steward¡¯s signet¡ªthe unmistakable blue rose blooming from a sapphire. She usually didn¡¯t have to work hard to dispel flirtatious guards once they knew who she was. She received no such mercy today.

    The knight leaped over the wall, a twelve-foot drop. His armor, polished to a gleam, bore the insignia of Archlord Elagrimear¡¯s Horned Ape. His black cloak fluttered in the wind like a piece of night sky as he landed smoothly. He strutted toward her like a peacock, arms wide in a showy display as the gate swung open behind him.

    ¡°Hail, Alexia, Second Great Wizard! Welcome to Mirrevar!¡±

    He removed his bison-horned helmet, revealing a chiseled jaw, sharp eyes, and raven hair slick with sweat. Tall and broad-shouldered, he moved with a feline grace that belied his size.

    ¡°I am Sir Aldius of Lelac.¡± He extended a hand, radiating confidence.

    Alexia hesitated before shaking it, noting how his grip was strong but measured¡ªjust enough to showcase his power without threatening her. But for all his charisma, she wasn¡¯t about to buy whatever he was selling.

    ¡°The stories have understated your beauty,¡± Aldius said with a wink. ¡°Leverith truly blesses me with your presence.¡±

    Alexia said nothing but felt plenty and none if it good. Rather than don the mask and force pleasantries, she let the silence speak for her. To her relief, Aldius moved on, turning to greet Timmeck with the same overblown charm. The two knights exchanged banter¡ªtheir words laced with subtle rivalry as they held a pissing contest over their devotion to her. Alexia felt like a tree pissed on by two too many dogs.

    When Aldius approached Maleon, the Stonebreaker seized his hand with a grip bolstered by Celegana¡¯s energy. ¡°If I were you,¡± Maleon said evenly, ¡°I¡¯d show more respect to Master Alexia. She¡¯s a master of cognitive-affectomancy, not some five-iota maid from a Lelac tavern.¡±

    Aldius¡¯s smile faltered, but he quickly recovered, his laugh deep and condescending. He squeezed back, knuckles whitening. ¡°Welcome to Mirrevar, Stonebreaker.¡±

    With a final flourish, Aldius bowed dramatically before Alexia. ¡°Follow me, Great Master. I¡¯ll escort you to Conrad.¡±

    Alexia waited until Aldius was out of earshot before whispering to Maleon, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    He nodded, his gaze dark as it followed the knight. ¡°Pompous ass,¡± he muttered. ¡°Struts like an unbonded Mahagan emir.¡±

    Timmeck chuckled. ¡°He could be thirteen inches long and still his personality would be the cockiest part of him.¡±

    Maleon¡¯s hearty laugh echoed through the air, and Alexia covered a giggle with her hand. When her laughter subsided, she smiled warmly at both men. Too bad the smiles didn¡¯t last once they reached Master Conrad.

    Conrad wore simple sapphire-blue robes, adorned only with patches marking him as a master of Balbaraq¡¯s Sky and Seraxa¡¯s Flames. His figure, soft and slightly stooped, suggested a man who spent more time in tents than in the field. Alexia frowned, knowing how crucial physical training was to magical performance. She¡¯d spent at least an angle each day, twelve days a span, to swimming while channeling Dalis, running and jumping with Zafrir¡¯s wind, climbing or lifting with Celegana¡¯s earth, rapier training with Seraxa¡¯s flames, or meditative stretching with Qoryxa¡¯s ice and Leverith¡¯s spirit. Conrad lacked such discipline, and it made her doubt his prowess.

    His face, permanently fixed in a scowl as if he¡¯d just finished a grapefruit, soured further at the sight of Maleon. ¡°Stonebreaker,¡± he spat, voice thick with bitterness.

    ¡°Conrad of Basseter,¡± Maleon replied, his tone equally cold.

    Conrad ignored him, turning to Alexia with a stiff bow. ¡°King Gideon must want to make a move if he¡¯s sent us his finest.¡±

    ¡°Conrad!¡± Maleon cut in, sarcastically. ¡°Thanks for the lovely praise!¡±

    Conrad¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about you!¡± His anger flared, causing the air around them to chill as Seraxa¡¯s energy stirred dangerously within him.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    Alexia stepped in quickly, holding up the letter with her father¡¯s seal. ¡°Perhaps we should continue this conversation in private?¡±

    Conrad, still bristling but regaining composure, led them silently up the main road toward the heart of the encampment. Alexia assessed the defenses as they walked. The wooden walls surrounding the camp were a clear vulnerability, especially at the eastern gate where they had entered. The ramparts there were manned by a skeleton crew with watchtowers spread far apart¡ªlike a mouth with missing teeth. If the Ruby forces managed to cross the Eagle River and launch a surprise assault from the bridge, especially with a coordinated push from the west, taking the camp would be all too easy.

    Beyond the eastern wall, cranes and docks stretched along the riverbank, where supplies and soldiers arrived from the river¡¯s major ports¡ªMaypine, Ross, Lelac, Weiss, Eggerton, and Eaglerun. The camp itself was organized in a precise grid, with smiths, tailors, carpenters, apothecaries, medicans, and cooks working along every road. Taverns dotted the camp, catering to off-duty soldiers, and staffed by women who offered more than food and drink. Rows of tents housed the soldiers¡ªyoung recruits shared theirs with comrades, while more seasoned warriors enjoyed privacy. Many tents sheltered both husband and wife, with the women either serving in the army or supporting the camp¡¯s needs. At the center of it all stood Conrad¡¯s pavilion, positioned at the crossroads of the two main roads, flanked by Sir Lucius Elagrimear¡¯s command post and the fort¡¯s temple.

    ¡°How fares the battle?¡± Timmeck asked.

    ¡°Neither Sapphire nor Ruby have assaulted the main encampments since the plague ceasefire seven years ago,¡± Conrad said.

    ¡°The age-old war of attrition,¡± Timmeck said.

    Conrad nodded. ¡°Yes. We gain or lose an outpost every few moons, but the fighting stays close to the Cardian. Brighton¡¯s Hedgemen play defensively, as does Commander Lucius.¡±

    ¡°Losing Mirrevar is far more frightening than the glory of winning her,¡± Timmeck said.

    Conrad grunted as they approached his pavilion, a multi-chambered wooden structure covered in blue and silver canvas. A squire lifted the entry flap, and Alexia stepped inside. Maps and parchments cluttered the oak table at the center of the room. An older woman in sapphire robes, striped with silver, sat there, her sleeves adorned with the emblems of Dalis¡¯s water, Norali¡¯s light, and Leverith¡¯s spirit.

    ¡°Hello, dear,¡± she greeted, her voice warm but authoritative as she studied the eight emblems on Alexia¡¯s sleeves. Her silver hair framed a face that had once been stunning and now bore the grace of age. She hadn¡¯t neglected her physical condition as much as Conrad, and neither had nature neglected to bless her physique.

    ¡°I am Master Alexia Bluerose,¡± Alexia said. ¡°And my companions: Sir Timmeck Eckhard and Master Maleon Stonebreaker.¡±

    At the sight of Maleon, the woman¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Welcome, Master Bluerose, Sir Timmeck. I am Master Elianor Silverglow.¡± Her warm voice turned cold as she glared at Maleon. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Maleon stepped forward. ¡°Elly, for the sake of the love we once¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do not speak to me of love, Maleon! We both know you never loved me.¡±

    Maleon looked stricken. ¡°I did love you. The Blazelord¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is still alive!¡± Elianor cut him off. ¡°This conversation is as dead as you are to me.¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Timmeck stepped between them. ¡°We¡¯re here for a reason. Leave your grievances for another time.¡±

    Conrad, softening as he turned to Elianor, added, ¡°They¡¯ve been sent by the Blue Rose, Elly.¡± He waddled to her side, kissing her cheek in a gesture that felt as much a claim as affection. Maleon looked away, his arms crossed.

    Alexia wanted to be in some nook with a book, far away from battlefields and the drama of veteran cognitive-affectomancers who could turn to catastrophic violence at a moment¡¯s notice. Maleon nudged her, breaking her out of the cage of her own mind.

    ¡°We need to infiltrate the Ruby Kingdom,¡± she said, as casually as if asking for sugar in a cup of tea.

    Conrad sighed and gestured toward a map of the Ruby Kingdom. ¡°I thought you were here to claim Mirrevar as you did Vulcan.¡±

    ¡°Word travels fast,¡± Alexia said.

    ¡°As it always does along the Eagle River,¡± Conrad replied. ¡°What¡¯s your target? The Impwood Landbridge? Old Iron?¡±

    Alexia scanned a map and pointed. ¡°Ferrickton. We¡¯re to infiltrate, disable the iron mines, and exfiltrate.¡±

    Conrad grunted as they surveyed the map of Mirrevar. The Eagle River bordered it to the east, the Bear River to the west. The southwest saw the Bear splitting, partly diffusing into the Owl River, the main flow merging with the Eagle at the Grand Confluence beneath Goddess Hill. To the north lay the Impwood and beyond, the Balbaraq Mountains, where battle raged endlessly between the Roswell of Zafirton and the Tandande of Balbarian. The Cardian, a creek running north to south, bisected Mirrevar and marked the front line between Ruby and Sapphire forces.

    Alexia¡¯s mission would take her across the Bear River into Ferrickton. But five obstacles loomed: the Ruby encampment¡¯s palisade stretched along the Bear¡¯s banks, in clear view of the Impwood; Ruby scouts patrolled the land between the Cardian and Bear River, likely with hidden stations in the Impwood; a LaGrett navy blockaded the confluence of the Bear and Owl; frequent river traffic made crossing the Bear unnoticed unlikely; and even if they crossed, the Bearbreaker Peacewatch patrolled the west bank.

    Alexia was sapped after an angle of Elianor and Maleon bickering over the details, Conrad echoing his wife. Timmeck kept the peace, while Alexia attempted to mediate, offering suggestions with growing uncertainty. Finally, Alexia formulated a plan inspired by the tale of Maleon breaking stone from the mountain¡ªthough much of it was Maleon¡¯s revisions and Elianor¡¯s reluctant consent.

    Exhausted, Alexia exchanged parting words with Conrad and Elianor, eager to escape this room and spend the rest of the day hiding. As they were leaving, Maleon said, ¡°Until next time, Elly.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Elianor¡¯s voice cracked like a whip. ¡°You¡¯ve never loved anyone but yourself. You¡¯re a divinedamned narcissist, Stonebreaker! You use, you take, and you break until there¡¯s nothing left. In the end, you will die alone and despised.¡±

    ¡°Zamael grant that the scythe falls soon,¡± Conrad added, seething with venom.

    The ground trembled, the pavilion shaking as Maleon tore the tent flap free with a gust of Zafrir¡¯s wind. He stormed from the pavilion, his tempestuous channeling stirring Alexia¡¯s fears.

    ¡°Shite in Gidi¡¯s beard!¡± Timmeck exclaimed.

    Alexia clutched at her chest, conflicted. She wanted to believe in Maleon, in the boy who became the Stonebreaker, and the man who treated her like a friend these past few days.

    ¡°Don¡¯t trust him, Alexia,¡± Elianor implored. ¡°He doesn¡¯t love. Maleon Stonebreaker will bleed you dry until there is nothing left for him and you are empty. I¡¯m fortunate I escaped with my life.¡±

    Alexia stood her ground. ¡°I can¡¯t give up on him like everyone else has. I see the light buried in his soul, Master Silverglow. I believe he¡¯s capable of love.¡±

    Elianor shook her head, her silver hair shimmering like silk. ¡°You truly are Leverith¡¯s chosen, but don¡¯t let your instinct to love and heal blind you to darkness. I once thought I saw light in him too. Instead, I was consumed by shadows and left alone in the dark.¡±

    Alexia frowned and closed her eyes. She looked forward and saw herself fighting chimaeras side-by-side with Maleon. Then the vision shifted¡ªshe was buried deep beneath the earth, consuming all the wind in her tomb of shadows, while Maleon laughed. She opened her eyes, determined to forge the first path, not the second.

    ¡°Thanks for your guidance, Elianor, and your aid, Conrad,¡± Alexia said, bowing before leaving the pavilion.

 Chapter 14: Mirrevar Pt. 2

    The sun¡¯s warmth brushed Alexia¡¯s face, turning her chestnut hair to dark gold. Dimples bloomed on her cheeks as she closed her eyes and smiled, basking in the heat. She had always preferred warmth over cold, often heating her blankets with magic and curling beneath them with a book in hand. How she longed for a quiet moment with a story to calm her mind.

    Timmeck exhaled beside her. ¡°I hope I never have to be in the room with those three again.¡±

    Alexia echoed his sigh. ¡°They drained all my energy. I need some time to myself.¡±

    ¡°I get it,¡± Timmeck said. ¡°I¡¯ll speak with Lucius Elagrimear and make preparations.¡±

    Grateful for the reprieve, Alexia found a quiet spot between two tents to meditate. As she moved through familiar mantras, her mind drifted to Leverith and the land of Mirrevar. There was a palpable magic in the air here, something that resonated with her power. It made her believe in the legend that Leverith¡¯s love originated from Mirrevar itself. No wonder so many of Leveria¡¯s greatest love stories were born in Mirrevar.

    She guided her mind to her favorite tale¡ªa love story from a thousand years past. The legend of Elior, a lowly farmer¡¯s son who, through courage and fate, rescued Princess Pelianna and her younger brother from assassins. Legend said that Leverith linked their hearts the moment they first touched.

    But their love was not meant to be. Pelianna was already promised to the heir of Rubinia. Elior, undeterred, challenged the lordling to a duel. The notion seemed laughable¡ªa farmer going up against a famed knight¡ªbut it sparked an idea in King Pateros Leveria. He declared a grand tournament on Pageant, Qoryxa¡¯s holyday, with the victor winning his daughter¡¯s hand. Archlords and heirs from every corner of the realm came to fight for Pelianna, the fairest maiden in Leveria.

    King Pateros arranged for the transport of tens of thousands of commoners from across the kingdom and erected tournament grounds at the foot of Goddess Hill, beneath the canopy of Covademara. Never before and never since has such a spectacle been held.

    On the first day of the tourney, a mysterious figure known as ¡°The Paladin¡± emerged. Clad in battered armor, he captured the hearts of the commons. The Paladin endured ten lances against the unbonded archlord of Lelac. In the eleventh bout, the Paladin finally broke his own lance against Archlord Elagrimear¡¯s chest and sent him tumbling. For three more days, the mystery knight endured lance after lance against antique armor, supported by a young squire wearing a mask.

    In the semifinals, he faced Davanil Sapphire, the kingdom¡¯s most feared knight, known as the Monsoon. The commons and Princess Pelianna cheered for the Paladin while the lords applauded for the Sapphire lordling. Twelve times, they rode, and twelve times the Monsoon¡¯s lance broke upon the Paladin. The mystery knight slumped atop his horse, blood streaming from him in several places, his armor pierced and impacted beyond use. Pelianna begged her father to stop the fight, but when the Paladin removed his helm, lifted his lance to the princess, and declared his undying love, the king remained silent.

    On the thirteenth tilt, both lances shattered, and they fell to the ground. Elior lacked the strength to stand. The Monsoon demanded he yield, but Elior declared that he¡¯d rather die than surrender. Pelianna screaming in the king¡¯s box, the meladonite stormblade with the same name of the knight that wielded it descended.

    The Paladin caught the hilt of the blade, pulled Davanil Sapphire to the ground, threw the sword aside, pulled himself atop the Monsoon, and pummeled him into surrender with his bare hands. Elior was triumphant, but after defeating Davanil he was unable to rise for the final match.

    Sir Phyreon Ruby, the heir to Rubinia and Pelianna¡¯s original suitor, was all that was left between the Paladin and his life¡¯s mate. Yet, he couldn''t stand, let alone sit a horse. The Ruby heir rode out on his gallant white horse in his gallant armor with a red rose held between his lips. He looked up into the king¡¯s box and demanded his prize.

    Pelianna evaded her Dreamguard sworn shield and dashed down into the tourney grounds. Tears streamed from her amethyst eyes as she kissed Elior in front of the entire kingdom, and in that moment, a radiant blue light burst from her necklace, healing Elior¡¯s wounds.

    Prince Erosar, the heir to the Leverian throne, took off his own mask and revealed himself as Elior¡¯s squire. Prince and princess helped the Paladin back atop his horse, armored in nothing but the light of Leverith as it spiraled around his body, streaming from Pelianna¡¯s necklace. The commons roared for the Paladin even as the nobility¡¯s hisses were swallowed by Leverith¡¯s endorsement of true love. Yet none cheered louder than the princess and her brother as Elior exchanged but one pass with Phyreon before the lofty heir to Rubinia was sent to the mud.

    In the end, nary an eye remained dry and a voice intact as the commons and the nobility cheered the outcome. The king beckoned for silence, declared Elior his son-to-be, the truest defender of his daughter¡¯s honor and love.

    Alexia sighed, swept up in the romance of it all. Would anyone ever fight for her like that? She thought of Halius and imagined him trying to battle Sir Aldius of Lelac, Sir Garrond the Dust, Kai Blazelord, or Daichin ezen Celegan for her. But she couldn¡¯t. Halius was not her Elior. She exhaled, wiped at her eyes, and tried to push the thought away.

    She looked up at the sky, where a pair of giant eagles soared high above. I am not free, she thought. I am neither Pelianna nor the Sun. I am but a servant to war and politics, bound to a path I never chose.

    *************

    Alexia hid between tents, her gaze drawn to the battlements. The infantry and archers stationed on the wooden walkways served as a barrier between her and a dream she¡¯d held since childhood. She longed to climb one of the towers and look out across fabled Mirrevar, but the thought of being surrounded by strangers, their curious eyes and endless questions, kept her rooted in place.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Maleon crouched beside her. Together, they sat, neither speaking, both weighed down by unspoken thoughts. Every time Alexia dared to glance at him, the sadness etched into his face startled her. He looked older than she had ever seen him, his features sagging with defeat.

    ¡°What happened between you and Elianor?¡±

    Maleon sighed. ¡°That¡¯s a long, painful story, Alexia.¡±

    She met his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m here to listen.¡±

    His fingers fidgeted, twisting together as if he were trying to grasp something just out of reach. ¡°I left her behind when she needed me most. I chose vengeance over love, and in the end, I got neither.¡± His voice trembled, though no tears fell. ¡°That was the second worst day of my life.¡±

    ¡°The second?¡± Alexia asked, leaning closer. Gently, she rested a hand on his shoulder.

    Maleon¡¯s voice faltered, but he pressed on. ¡°I can¡¯t talk about the other day yet. Someday, maybe. When I have the strength to face it¡­ to tell you about the day my dreams died.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s heart ached as she absorbed his pain, her body trembling in empathy. ¡°You¡¯ve endured so much, Maleon,¡± she whispered. ¡°Few things hurt more than shattered dreams.¡± Her eyes reflected back his sorrow. ¡°I wonder if some of those dreams can still be revived. I¡¯ll do whatever I can to help you.¡±

    Alexia closed her eyes, retreating into herself for a moment. She wished she had the strength to climb one ladder and make her own dream come true. But her fears, as always, held her back.

    Maleon sniffled. ¡°I can¡¯t face my broken dreams yet, but you,¡± he pointed toward the nearest tower, ¡°can go there.¡±

    Alexia pulled her hand away, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. ¡°I¡¯m terrified,¡± she admitted, curling inward. ¡°I always have been.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Maleon said softly. ¡°But you faced your fears in Vulcan. When your allies needed you, you found your courage and led them.¡± His eyes searched hers, full of belief. ¡°You¡¯re a natural leader, Alexia. The world hasn¡¯t seen someone like you since Queen Alexia Leveria herself.¡± He glanced out at the bustling camp, where hundreds did their daily tasks unaware of the moment. ¡°Someday, you¡¯ll lead these people. You¡¯ll carry their dreams, and even though you¡¯re afraid, you¡¯ll rise and inspire them. That is who you are. That is your destiny.¡±

    He stood and offered her his hand. ¡°Come on. Never let fear stand between you and your dreams.¡±

    With a deep breath, Alexia took his hand, allowing him to guide her toward the watchtower. Fear still loomed over her, but Maleon¡¯s belief in her gave her the strength to wade through the anxiety. As they reached the ladder, she let go of his hand, and he nodded.

    Her heart raced as she climbed, her hands trembling on the rungs. At the top, three awestricken soldiers greeted her. Butterflies thrashing in her chest, she offered them a quiet hello and stepped past. Her eyes focused on the view she had longed for her entire life.

    The experience was matched against impossible expectations built upon thousands of dreams and paintings and stories of legendary Mirrevar, the very heart of Leveria. Looking into the west under the midafternoon sun, the impossible became possible as every description paled in comparison to the reality of this landscape. Neither word nor brush could do justice to the tapestry Leverith wove in Mirrevar.

    The land told a beautiful and tragic tale, a tale of innocence lost. Once, this was Leverith¡¯s paradise, a land of endless flowers and peace. But Leverith had been betrayed, and her descendants, the Leverians, were gone. Where life once flourished, war and death now reigned.

    Yet even in the shadow of bloodshed, Mirrevar¡¯s beauty endured. The rolling green hills, the sparkling blue streams, the vibrant flowers that painted the landscape in colors more vivid than any artist could capture¡ªit was all there, breathtaking and heartbreaking in equal measure. A gentle breeze carried the scent of a hundred different blooms, sweet and intoxicating.

    And then her gaze shifted southward, to the most striking sight of all: Goddess Hill. Covademara, a tree born of the sisterhood between Celegana and Leverith, towered above the clouds, its branches reaching skyward, each one adorned with trillions of flowers forever in bloom.

    Alexia¡¯s heart swelled with awe. She could imagine the Citadel of Dreams that once stood strong at Covademara¡¯s base, where the greatest monarchs had ruled over a unified Leveria. Now, only ruins remained, a testament to the passage of time and the ravages of war.

    Alexia dreamt of the peace that used to flow from Goddess Hill. In the Dark Era after the Divine Thirteen departed the world, a tribal warlord named Philladon slept beneath Covademara and was visited by Leverith in his dreams. She told him that Zamael had been master of humanity for too long. An eon of anarchy and tribal war ended when Philladon Godseer became King Philladon Leveria. It was from atop Goddess Hill where his dynasty reigned from the Dreamer¡¯s Throne in the Citadel of Dreams.

    But Zamael didn¡¯t relinquish his control over mankind easily. Short periods of war persevered throughout Leverian history, and conflicts never ceased as Zamael¡¯s influence lingered where love couldn''t vanquish hate. War and corruption within the royal family threatened to destroy Philladon¡¯s peace. Leverian killed Leverian for the crown. A dozen heirs were killed when the Citadel of Dreams was sacked by a Leverian usurper. Archlords rebelled. In one infamous battle, five Leverian kings were made and mourned at the swords of Ruby rebels.

    In her mind¡¯s eye, Alexia saw Queen Alexia Leveria, an unlikely eleven-year-old staring down from the ruins of the Citadel of Dreams as three separate armies planned her death and the division of her kingdom at the foot of Goddess Hill. The Love Queen did the impossible and conjured Pacisamorus, bathing the three armies in Leverith¡¯s sacred light, bringing peace to a land torn apart by hatred.

    But even her peace hadn¡¯t lasted forever. Seven-hundred-thirteen years ago, the last of the Leverians fell, and the land had been divided ever since, locked in a cycle of civil war between Ruby and Sapphire claimants. The Sapphires were founded as a cadet branch of Leverians from the remnants of when Sapphirica had served as the capital. Yet the Ruby bloodline carried just as much of the Dreamer¡¯s blood as the Love Queen¡¯s husband, King Elzeon, had been a Ruby, and their children¡¯s line still governed Rubinia even now in the Third Leverian Era.

    The sight of so much history stirred Alexia¡¯s heart making her yearn harder than ever for peace. Divided into east and west, death and war triumphed once more over peace and love. The Dreamer¡¯s Throne remained empty, and the continent¡¯s heart broken. The war continued for five centuries until Linus Peacemaker, atop Goddess Hill, conjured Pacisamorus and united Ruby and Sapphire again. Ten sweet years of peace, by far the longest since the fall of the Leverians, before an assassin poisoned Linus with cordesine and stopped his heart, again breaking Leveria apart.

    Alexia longed to ascend the Goddess and sit beneath Covademara. She imagined looking down at the union of the Bear and the Eagle rivers, the Grand Confluence. United together they were unstoppable, like the sun and the moon, like Pelianna and Elior, like the Ruby and the Sapphire. She looked forward and saw her life¡¯s dream. Peace and love will flow from the Goddess once more, she promised herself.

    Her hand pressed to her chest, she longed for the missing piece of her soul¡ªthe other half of her river, the one who would make her whole.

 Chapter 14: Mirrevar Pt. 3

    Much to Alexia¡¯s dismay, Lucius Elagrimear chose Sir Aldius to lead her escort.

    ¡°Lady Alexia,¡± Aldius said, his voice a hammer beating against cold steel, his serious demeanor a sharp contrast to the strutting at their first meeting.

    ¡°Sir Aldius,¡± she replied coolly, adopting the mantle of the Great Wizard.

    Aldius raised his sword, riding down the length of the column. ¡°Men! We ride to strike the fear of Meladon into the hearts of the Zamael-worshipping Ruby. For King Gideon. For Alexia!¡±

    ¡°For Alexia!¡± the force roared back.

    Alexia stiffened, her discomfort at their battle cries heavy in her chest as Vulcan flashed in her mind. She prayed there would be no battle ahead, knowing the plan rendered that improbable.

    The journey took them through fields of wildflowers and past repurposed farmsteads, their beauty now tainted by the presence of war. What was once peaceful countryside had turned into a staging ground for battle, the landscape dotted with military patrols in place of lovers. It was the grim reality of a kingdom on the brink.

    As the sun set behind the Cardian stream, which split Mirrevar in two, the world around them seemed to quiet in reverence. Lush arbors with purple flowers lined both sides of a stream glistening with the purity of a long-lost age, its surface a mirror for the rising moon. Fireflies, frostflies, and thunderbugs danced above the water, casting red, blue, and yellow glows, and emitting their evening nocturne while a gentle wind carried the scent of the flowers lining the banks.

    The serenity was almost enough to make Alexia forget the war they were heading into. She found herself longing for a different life¡ªa peaceful night spent by this very stream, far from the chaos of battle, with nothing but the moon and her life¡¯s mate to keep her company while they counted the stars until sunrise.

    Aldius¡¯s voice shattered her dreams. ¡°We¡¯re in Ruby territory now, men! Protect the Great Wizard! For Alexia!¡±

    Alexia cringed at the volume.

    ¡°He wants a fight,¡± Maleon drawled beside her. ¡°He¡¯s using you as bait.¡±

    In her quiet mediations and again on the journey from the encampment, Alexia prepared nearly two dozen focuses to be recalled in an instant. She didn¡¯t need Maleon¡¯s reminder when the twang of bowstrings cut through the air. Already her tempestuous emotions shifting from peaceful to anxious to angry fed her affinity with chaotic Zafrir and the Ring of Peace glowed green as she siphoned the wind into Aurora.

    ¡°Disseptum!¡±

    A shield of wind erupted before her, deflecting the incoming arrows like a wall made of howling air. Wood splintered, arrows shattered, and the sapphire force stood unharmed behind her barrier.

    Aldius¡¯s voice barely carried over her storm. ¡°Engage the enemy!¡±

    Alexia sent her windstorm surging forward, tossing the Ruby archers to the ground like scattered petals. Aldius and his cavalry charged, trampling the fallen with ruthless efficiency. Only the eerie echo of a Ruby horn signaled any resistance, and soon even that fell silent. The archers lay dead, their blood staining the flowered fields.

    One Sapphire knight had fallen, an arrow lodged deep in his neck. Alexia rushed to his side, tearing the shaft free as his life ebbed away. There was no time for hesitation or to wipe the blood he coughed onto her face. Alexia summoned her magic, imagining the wound closing as wisps of Leverith¡¯s ethereal blue spirit poured from her staff. Within moments, his skin knitted together, blood flow returned to normal, and the knight was back on his feet, as if he had never been struck.

    A larger Ruby force crested the hill, their cavalry spreading wide and charging down at the Sapphires with terrifying speed. Maleon¡¯s incantations rang out, and the trees lining the Cardian bent to his will, flinging themselves at the oncoming enemy. Fire and ice surged from his hands in deadly waves, tearing through the Ruby ranks. He wielded the elements with a mastery Alexia had never seen, using the drastic temperature shifts caused by his alternating channeling to strengthen his spells as he shifted from fiery Seraxa to cold Qoryxa. His seamless control of these antithetical powers was devastating.

    Alexia turned her focus to defense, creating barriers of wind to shield their forces. She healed wounds with Leverith¡¯s spirit before they could become fatal. Aldius fought like he was rivaling Gidi, but as the battle intensified, he struggled to command amidst the chaos as even more Rubies appeared, trumpeting for Alexia¡¯s defeat.

    Without hesitation, Alexia took control. She ordered the squad to stay tight, maximizing the protection of her barriers while Maleon unleashed devastation with boreal and blaze. Together, they held their ground, felling Rubies in droves as the night grew darker.

    When the battle finally ended, Aldius hollered their victory praising himself and his men, but Alexia knew the score. Maleon¡¯s magic had incinerated scores, the air thick with the stench of charred flesh. Groups of Rubies were mangled by debris, or frozen beside their horses. For all the lives Zamael claimed, none of them swore fealty to King Gideon Sapphire. Maleon huffed, his eyes furiously surveying the dead he was responsible for. Alexia¡¯s heart ached for this further shattering of his soul, wishing this night never was.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    She dismounted, her legs unsteady beneath her. Alexia stumbled through the carnage, her mind a haze. The horror of it all was too much. The dead, the smell, the blood¡ªit did not belong with the flowers and the stream, with the great canopy of Covademara.

    She collapsed to her knees, nausea rising like a tide. Alexia vomited, her body shaking from the shock. Coldness gripped her, spreading through her limbs until she felt frozen, distant from her own body. Sapphires executed the Rubies that survived the butchery, parting them from the last vestiges of their lives, and Alexia further numbed herself. Her head was a great, vast fog where nothing could be found. Somewhere deep within, tears were being shed, but they couldn¡¯t find their way to the surface.

    Through the haze, pain ripped through her leg¡ªa burning, searing pain that burst through her wall of numbness like fire through a thin, crumbling palisade. She collapsed onto her back, a Ruby knight crawling atop her, his dagger inches from her face. Half his face was melted from Maleon¡¯s flames, the other side pale with frost. Alexia blocked the blade with her staff, but the man was strong, his weight bearing down on her.

    A flash of lightning cracked the air. The Ruby knight was flung aside, his body convulsing as he hit the ground, dead.

    Maleon was there in an instant, shouting something she couldn¡¯t hear over the ringing in her ears. Sir Timmeck helped her up, his hands cold through his gauntlets. Her leg burned where the dagger had struck, the flame enchantment on the blade wreaking havoc on her flesh. Her mind, prepared for things like this after years of intense training, broke through the haze. Draw the fire. Seal the major bloodrivers. Bind the flesh together.

    Maleon drew the flames out for her, allowing her just to meld with Leverith. I want to restore peace, Alexia thought. I never want to see another battle. Attuned to peace and love, Leverith¡¯s spirit answered her call, combined with her visualizing the anatomy of her leg as it should be, closing bloodrivers and knitting flesh. She might carry scars from her encounter with the Ruby knight, but they would not be visible.

    Maleon offered his hand and pulled her up. ¡°I¡¯m glad I made it to you in time.¡±

    Aware that the eyes of the battalion were on them, Alexia was too embarrassed to find her voice. She nodded, trying to fade out of their awareness by acting like she was invisible.

    For once, Alexia was grateful for Sir Aldius¡¯s bravado.

    ¡°All right, you tough sons of Gidi! This was the warmup! Let¡¯s finish this! Move out!¡±

    The diversion force rode southwest toward the southern tip of the Ruby encampment, taking Moonstrider and Maleon¡¯s mounts with them, just as planned. Alexia allowed herself a brief but tender farewell to Moonstrider, nuzzling the horse¡¯s head.

    As the force disappeared into the distance, Alexia knelt beside the fallen Ruby knight that nearly ended her life. She pulled the dagger from his dead hands and studied its hilt, engraved with a grapevine and apple tree above an inscription: Brighton. She unfastened the knight¡¯s bloodstained Ruby cloak, and pocketed the dagger. She handed the cloak to Timmeck, who raised an eyebrow as he fastened it around his shoulders.

    ¡°Poetic choice,¡± Timmeck said with a blind-eyed wink.

    Alexia¡¯s gaze wandered over the carnage, tears finally breaking through now that it was just the three of them again. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±

    ¡°They charged us in force,¡± Timmeck said. ¡°You were amazing. Again. As always.¡±

    Alexia shook her head. ¡°If this is amazing, I don¡¯t want to be amazing.¡±

    ¡°You kept a lot of men alive today with your barriers and healing,¡± Maleon drawled

    Alexia shook her head. ¡°My hands aren¡¯t clean just because you did the killing.¡±

    Maleon clenched his jaw. ¡°Killing is the price of the peace you¡¯ll bring.¡±

    Alexia sighed, suppressing a sob. ¡°No. It¡¯s the cost of the war I dream to end.¡±

    Their eyes locked, Maleon¡¯s scowl speaking louder than any words could. They both saw the same destination, but vastly different pathways to reach it. Alexia couldn¡¯t argue now, not with the man that saved her life. ¡°We need to leave, while the diversion gives us a chance to bypass the Ruby.¡±

    They pushed through the night, using draught of fortitude to stay alert, awake, and moving steadily toward the Impwood. Only once did they stop¡ªto let a Ruby patrol pass.

    As they entered the forest, the strange, luminescent glow of the giant fungi lit their path. Mushrooms as large as trees, glowing in shades of green, purple, and orange, towered over them. Beneath the gibbous moon, it felt like stepping into a different world. For a fleeting moment, Alexia imagined she was in a fairy tale, one with the promise of a happy ending. How desperately she wished life were so simple. She glimpsed the bright light of floating imps throughout the wood, keen not to be lulled by the pretty colors into a trap that ended in being ripped apart by the vile tricksters.

    The rushing sound of water drew a collective sigh from the exhausted trio. Ahead lay the river, a half mile stretch that would be difficult to cross unnoticed in the moonlight. Alexia hoped her plan would work.

    They waited for several degrees, watching for signs of activity. The river seemed quiet¡ªno civilian boats in sight. Taking the opportunity, Alexia and Maleon constructed a makeshift raft from a fallen tree. Maleon anchored it with Celegana¡¯s magic, while Alexia channeled Dalis to guide their raft across the water.

    For a tense moment, it seemed their luck would break. A Peacewatch ship rounded the bend to the north. Trying hard to stay calm, Alexia shifted her Dalis focus from water propulsion to conjuring an obscuring mist. Voices carried over the river, as Timmeck hushed Cally, his horse. The boat drifted by, none the wiser, though Alexia felt several moons older from fear.

    They made it to the western bank of the Bear River, letting their raft drift downstream as refuse. Once ashore, they quickly changed into their disguises¡ªRuby peasant clothes that felt alien and wrong. Alexia missed the familiar weight of Aurora, the staff she had carried ever since Azi had thrown the acacia branch at her feet. Azi, her oasis, was far away. Her mother, her sanctuary, was unreachable. Theos, her guide, and her father, her advocate, were nowhere near.

    Yet, when she looked at her companions¡ªMaleon Stonebreaker and Sir Timmeck Eckhard¡ªshe found a flicker of reassurance. Alexia believed they would be enough.

    Yet, this was no fairy tale world she lived in.

 Chapter 15: Eyes on the Eastern Horizon

    Zander awoke on the cold, hard earth. The night clung to the sky, but the first rays of dawn were creeping through the hedgerow where he and Paladin had camped. He gazed east, taking comfort in the promise of sunrise.

    A frown tugged at his lips as a familiar solemnity settled over him. He gripped his locket, thinking of his mother and the many mornings he¡¯d found her staring at the horizon. Melody of Mirrevar wasn¡¯t unhappy, but her purple eyes often lingered on the eastern sky, as if searching for something beyond reach. Her voice echoed in his mind: Never forget the Sunrise, my air. Someday, she will be yours.

    ¡°What were you looking for, Mother?¡± Zander murmured, his thumb tracing the locket¡¯s edge. ¡°What did you see on the eastern horizon?¡±

    With a sigh, he stretched his stiff limbs. The bite from the wolf still ached, but it was the dampness seeping through his clothes that he cursed. His breeches were soaked, and he had no spare loincloths. The prospect of a day¡¯s ride with chafing made him groan.

    Zander glanced at his meager coinpurse. Hardly enough for an inn. Another sigh escaped him, this one tinged with resignation. The idea of charming a local lass flickered through his mind, but it quickly fizzled. He groaned again, louder this time.

    ¡°Road and rash it is,¡± he muttered, fastening his scabbard to his belt. He knelt by Paladin, rubbing the horse¡¯s head to rouse him. But a flicker of movement behind a tree snapped him into alertness. His hand flew to his sword. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he called, voice low and wary. ¡°Be you friend or foe?¡±

    ¡°A friend,¡± came the reply, familiar and teasing.

    Zander squinted at the figure edging around the tree. ¡°Alfread?¡± His disbelief made him blink, as if seeing a double sunrise.

    Alfread slipped into his usual theatrics. ¡°Thus, I was named,¡± he announced grandly. ¡°Tis not ¡®aresehole,¡¯ so distance it from thy tongue.¡±

    Despite himself, Zander felt a rush of warmth at seeing his best friend. He almost tackled him in a brotherly hug but restrained himself. ¡°I told you not to follow me.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s grin faltered. ¡°Zander, your words say one thing, but your face says another. You¡¯re glad to see me¡ªadmit it.¡±

    A bray from behind Alfread startled Zander, drawing his gaze to Workhorse, Alfread¡¯s stubborn mule. Zander shook his head, smiling despite himself, at the thought of Alfread battling the intractable half-ass yesterday to track him.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he relented. ¡°I admit it¡ªbut that doesn¡¯t change things. You¡¯ve never had the passion for swordplay like you¡¯ve had for stories. Go to Rubinia. Go where you belong, Alfread.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Alfread crossed his arms, standing tall. ¡°I won¡¯t defeat whatever controlled those wolves with storytelling.¡±

    Zander bit back his empty rebuttal. He couldn¡¯t debate the truth of that. Hadn¡¯t he spent years trying to convince Alfread that the sword was mightier than the tongue?

    ¡°I¡¯m a free man,¡± Alfread pressed on. ¡°I¡¯m going to Urzport whether you like it or not. Why not let me ride beside you?¡±

    ¡°Because this isn¡¯t some story, Alfread. You could die.¡±

    ¡°I know that!¡± Alfread¡¯s voice cracked with passion, light shining in his eyes and fire burning in his soul. ¡°But I need to know the truth! I won¡¯t sit in some library, surrounding by people who think I¡¯m a mistake, while you fight our battles alone!¡± The fire in Alfread¡¯s words softened. ¡°The world¡¯s clearer, the mead sweeter, and the heart beats stronger with a friend by your side. Don¡¯t cast me aside like a book you¡¯ve finished. Turn the page and see¡ªour story continues.¡±

    Zander knew Alfread wouldn¡¯t back down. With a groan, he relented, offering his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s write the next chapter¡ªtogether.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s smile lit up brighter than the stars. Ignoring the offered hand, he pulled Zander into a bear hug that lifted him off the ground, cracking his back. When his feet touched earth again, the world felt lighter, clearer. The scent of pine and dew filled the air, and the distant rush of the river hummed in the background.

    Laughing, Zander pushed Alfread away, wagging a finger in perfect Mirielda fashion were one of her boys to ¡°forget¡± to clean his dishes. ¡°Don¡¯t get too happy. I¡¯m still mad at you."

    Alfread rummaged through Workhorse¡¯s saddlebags. Without looking at Zander, he pulled out a clean loincloth and tossed it over his shoulder. ¡°You sure about that?¡±

    Zander caught it, shaking his head. ¡°How did you even find me?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t exactly difficult,¡± Alfread replied with a smirk. ¡°Tracking you is like tracking an ogre. If only the creature at the end of the trail were as pleasant to look at.¡±

    Zander rolled his eyes as Alfread snorted at his own joke. He¡¯d ridden until sunset and crossed paths with at least a hundred other travelers, taking care to mask his tracks and stay out of view of the road when he settled in the hedges. Either Alfread had a backarsed definition for hard or he could track a ghost in a fog.

    ¡°We passed Ferrickton yesterday,¡± Alfread said. ¡°We should reach Urzport before sunset.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s be the first to arrive for the dinner bell.¡± Zander mounted Paladin and rode south along the River Road.

    As they rode in the pre-dawn light, Zander¡¯s thoughts drifted. Guilt gnawed at him. ¡°How was Melissa?¡±

    Alfread shrugged. ¡°She was asleep when I left.¡± He narrowed an eye at Zander, then frowned deeply. ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Zander confessed.

    Alfread¡¯s silence was more judgmental than any words. Zander gripped his locket, feeling its warmth in his palm. Please, Leverith, send me a sign. Let me know that I¡¯m making the right choice.

    The road bent, opening to the east, and the sun broke over the Bear River, its light golden and warm, bathing the landscape in its glow. Zander¡¯s breath caught in his throat.

    A beast¡¯s roar shattered the moment. Ahead, three travelers fought off river bears. Among them, a woman¡¯s hair caught the sun, shifting from brown to gold with the light¡¯s caress.

    Zander¡¯s heart raced. Eyes on the eastern horizon, he rushed toward the Sunrise.

 Chapter 16: Leveriths Answer

    The she-bear slashed at Alexia with arms as long as Sunfire and easily ten times the girth. A mother enraged at being parted from her cubs, she fought with the raw fury of Zamael. Alexia didn¡¯t have time to curse her luck or see any divine message in her misfortune. Her entire focus was locked on survival, every iota of energy devoted to fending off this hairy half ton of hatred.

    But focus alone wasn¡¯t enough. Alexia was losing ground, step by step, edging closer to the river¡¯s steep drop. She feinted right, then pirouetted left, trying to outmaneuver the beast. The bear was quicker, cutting her off with a guttural growl. A voice nagged at the back of her mind: Use your magic. Her rapier skill alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to win this.

    She dodged another swipe, thrusting Sunfire toward the bear¡¯s exposed belly, but the beast swatted the blade aside with effortless strength, sending it skidding toward the riverbank. For a brief moment, Alexia¡¯s heart raced faster at the thought of losing her father¡¯s sword than it did at the bear¡¯s advance. That moment passed quickly.

    The bear charged, and Alexia dove, narrowly avoiding its bulk as it thundered past, nearly tumbling into the river itself. Scrambling to her feet, she let out a curse her mother would have scolded her for. The bear now stood between her and Sunfire.

    She had no choice. Alexia focused on the wind knowing it would be more subtle than other energies and better than being ripped apart. She was about the unleash a blast when a sound interrupted her¡ªthe unmistakable sound of hooves pounding the earth, followed by a voice, deep and resonant. It was a voice that could rival Balbaraq¡¯s most sonorous thunder, a voice fit for a king, deeper than the sea, and yet as majestic as a great tidal wave. Its ebb and flow were enough to cull the mightiest into submission. ¡°Away from the Sunrise!¡±

    The bear turned, distracted by the rider. The beast let out a deafening roar as a dagger found its mark in its shoulder, though to the bear, it was little more than a pinprick.

    Seeing her chance, Alexia sprinted for Sunfire. She grabbed the sword and, with a swift thrust, drove the blade between the bear¡¯s shoulder blades. Sunfire blazed to life, igniting the creature from within. As its heart incinerated, the rider¡¯s sword descended in a powerful arc, severing the she-bear¡¯s head in a single stroke as if slicing through cake on Harvest.

    The enormous body crumpled to the ground, a wave rippling through its coarse fur as it fell. Alexia exhaled, realizing she hadn¡¯t taken a breath since the battle began. The world seemed sharper, brighter, as though she¡¯d emerged from a long, suffocating darkness into the light. She smiled¡ªa relieved, triumphant grin¡ªas she cleaned Sunfire and sheathed it.

    That smile was the last of an era, the ending of an epoch. On Leverith Waxing, Norali Moon, 213 3LE, a goddess answered two prayers, merging two paths like rivers converging beneath a great hill.

    A large hand extended toward her. Alexia¡¯s eyes traced the arm up to its owner, her heart freezing mid-beat. In that moment, it was as though she¡¯d been plunged into icy waters, her breath caught in her chest. The wind, the rushing river, the world around her¡ªall vanished. All that remained were the eyes of the man standing before her.

    It was the moment the sun found the moon.

    His eyes were majestic¡ªa deep, enchanting blue that commanded her attention with an effortless power. They were more captivating than Dalis¡¯s Wall, more vivid than the purest sapphire. Twin moons reflecting the sunrise, they pierced through her exterior as if she were made of glass, seeing not just her form but her very essence. No mask could ever hide her from those eyes.

    Alexia¡¯s heartbeat remained steady, peaceful even, when it should have been racing. Time didn¡¯t freeze, but it felt as though the river of moments had slowed its currents, carrying her along as life resumed around her.

    When her hand met his, the simple touch rippled through her like a shockwave, shaking her to her core. The ground could''ve split beneath her feet, and she wouldn¡¯t have noticed, so overpowering was the sensation surging inside. The rapid bursts of intense emotion could have made the rapids of the Eagle River in flood feel weak and slow. Her body, outwardly still, was aflame with energy. Her nerves hummed as though Leverith herself played them like the strings of a harp, and her breath faltered, her chest tightening as if she were underwater.

    His lips moved, forming words, but Alexia couldn¡¯t hear. The only sound that reached her ears was the echo of a long-lost memory, a voice as distant and elusive as a dream. She felt like she knew this man¡ªlike she had always known him. This was no ordinary meeting, but a reunion long in the making.

    Her eyes drifted across his features, locking them into memory with an almost obsessive urgency. His face was long and strong, as if chiseled from stone, more impressive than any statue of Gidi she had ever seen. His auburn hair and beard glowed like embers from a dying fire. He reminded her of the Phoenix, the mythical Volqori bird that rose from its own ashes, immortal and eternal.

    He was the tallest man she¡¯d ever seen¡ªexceeding even King Gideon. His broad, muscular frame was sculpted with the grace and power of a warrior, not just a brute. The ogres she fought days ago seemed clumsy and soft in comparison. This man was built like Elior and already he¡¯d proven a true protector. Alexia found herself feeling an undeniable attraction that made everything before pale in comparison. Logically, she didn¡¯t believe in love at first sight, but staring into his eyes she felt Leverith threading their fate together in a grand tapestry of love.

    Around his neck hung a silver locket, shaped like Leveria¡¯s inverted heart. It seemed to pull toward her, as if it recognized something within her, something it was drawn to, something that longed to return home. Alexia yearned to welcome it.

    Then, finally, his words broke through her trance and time flowed again as a steady stream. Alexia felt like he¡¯d caught her in the rapids and pulled her safely to the shore. Her heart thundered in her chest as air filled her lungs once more. Amidst the chaos of her emotions, she grasped a single word, and it anchored her to the moment.

    ¡°...Sunrise?¡±

    Alexia felt a wave of embarrassment for missing the beginning of his question. She worried she looked foolish¡ªlike a character from one of those clich¨¦s she despised, a damsel in distress, waiting to be rescued.

    ¡°What are you looking for, Sunrise?¡±

    ¡°What am I looking for?¡± she echoed, feeling light as air. For once, conversation didn¡¯t feel like a burden. ¡°I think what you find is often more important than what you¡¯re looking for.¡±

    He grinned, his deep voice smooth like velvet. ¡°I agree wholeheartedly, Sunrise. Yet isn¡¯t it wonderful when you find exactly what you¡¯ve been searching for?"

    Her blush deepened, but she didn¡¯t look away. Rather than gazing at her feet, she leaned closer, eyes on his moon-blues. ¡°I have to agree with that wholeheartedly, Moon.¡± Encouraged by his smile, she continued, ¡°If I¡¯m the rising sun, then you must be the moon, chasing me across the horizon.¡± She took his other hand, feeling his warmth. Leverith, she felt giddy!

    ¡°I wonder,¡± he said, ¡°where I¡¯d have to chase you to see that light in your eyes again.¡±

    ¡°My father and I are bound for Ferrickton,¡± she said, her voice cracking under the pressure of realizing that she had to part ways with him. The thought of leaving him now filled her with a longing she had never felt¡ªnot even with Azi. She gripped his hands tightly, afraid that if she let go, she¡¯d lose this moment, this warmth, as if blown away by a cold breeze. The wind stirred around them, pulled by the chaos within her.

    In a flash of panic, Alexia remembered Timmeck. Her eyes darted toward the scene. The second bear lay dead, arrows protruding from its back, while Timmeck spoke with a mule rider. Maleon hovered nearby, his hand creeping toward his wand as he glared at their rescuers.

    "Ferrickton?" The Moon asked. ¡°Are you taking your skills with the rapier to the Peacewatch at the mines?¡±

    She noticed his fingers fidgeting with the silver locket around his neck, as if he wanted to remove it. ¡°I doubt the Peacewatch would want my blade.¡±

    He shook his head, smiling. ¡°Then they¡¯re fools. You move like a feather in flight, Sunrise. That she-bear didn¡¯t stand a chance with you on the battlefield. I¡¯d be honored to serve beside you.¡±

    He held her hand with tenderness, and she wished the moment could last forever. ¡°It was you who saved me, Moon. No distraction, no deathblow.¡±

    His smile made her want to melt. ¡°You¡¯re far too modest,¡± he said, leaning closer until their noses nearly touched. Alexia¡¯s stomach churned with excitement, and her breath caught in her throat. ¡°You know it too,¡± he added, his voice full of quiet confidence.

    Her wit sparked to life, something she wasn¡¯t used to around men¡ªor people in general. ¡°Do you say that to all the women you rescue from she-bears on the roadside?¡±

    He chuckled, lifted his free arm in mock surrender. ¡°You caught me, Sunrise. I am guilty as charged.¡±

    Her laughter bubbled up, light and free, unlike anything she had ever felt before. ¡°And do you call all of us ¡®Sunrise?¡¯¡±

    ¡°That,¡± he said, touching a finger to her sternum, ¡°is reserved for you, and only you, Sunrise.¡±

    ¡°Careful,¡± she teased, ¡°or I might start to feel special.¡±

    He winked. ¡°You are what you feel, and you feel what you are.¡±

    The words struck her¡ªwords she had read countless times in Queen Alexia Leveria¡¯s writings as she explained the principles of sunny thinking. They were the foundation of Alexia¡¯s own Theory of Reciprocal Love, something she now felt deeply. ¡°What do you feel?¡± she asked, swaying slightly, holding on to his hands as if the wind might carry her away.

    ¡°A clever woman takes a man¡¯s words and turns them against him,¡± he mused, sounding surprised.

    She smiled wider, surprised by how easy this was. ¡°A wise knight armors himself against his own weapons,¡± she quipped, ¡°so he never cuts himself.¡±

    He looked at her thoughtfully, fiddling with his locket. ¡°I feel blessed,¡± he answered with quiet conviction. ¡°Answered by Leverith.¡±

    Her heart raced at the significance of his words. Leverians only claimed to be ¡°answered by Leverith¡± when they believed they had met their life¡¯s mate. It wasn¡¯t a declaration to be made lightly. Following the stirrings of Leverith in her heart, Alexia replied, ¡°Then you are blessed, Leverith¡¯s answer.¡±

    Her gaze fell to his lips, and she felt as though she were standing on the edge of a cliff, the most beautiful lagoon below. The drop was terrifying, but his hands held hers, giving her the courage to jump. She leaned in, eyes closing as she prepared to make the leap.

    ¡°We need to keep moving!¡± Maleon¡¯s voice shattered the moment, jerking her eyes open.

    Alexia clung to her Moon¡¯s hands, not wanting the dream to slip away.

    ¡°We¡¯re exactly where we¡¯re meant to be,¡± he said, his big hands applying sweet pressure.

    Her smile faltered, mournful that she couldn¡¯t hear more of his words, each a song she longed to know by heart. ¡°My father thinks we can find work at the iron mine.¡±

    ¡°Is that what you want?¡± he asked.

    Alexia¡¯s gaze went to the ground. She didn¡¯t want him to see the tears forming fast in her eyes, like rainfall at sunrise.

    ¡°I¡¯m joining the Peacewatch,¡± her Moon said. ¡°I would love for you to come with me.¡±

    Her heart screamed yes! She wanted him to take her away, to hear his soul¡¯s song forever. For a moment, she forgot her mission. For a moment, she felt free. But the weight of reality settled back on her, heavy as iron. An eagle screeched above, a harsh reminder of her duty¡ªshe had no wings to fly where she pleased. She belonged to the people, not to him. She forced herself to say the words. ¡°I¡¯d love to, but my father needs me.¡±

    His smile faltered, and she wished she could take back the words.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°Come on, daughter,¡± Maleon called, frustration clear in his voice.

    The Moon claimed her hand, frowning at Maleon. ¡°I¡¯ll escort you to Ferrickton.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s heart swelled, but Maleon disagreed. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. You can unhand my daughter now.¡±

    The Moon didn¡¯t let go. For the first time, he seemed vulnerable. His usual confidence cracked, revealing a longing as desperate as the moon searching the night sky for its lost love. ¡°There¡¯ve been too many bodies found on the roads lately. The world would be dead and dreary without the sunrise. Let me make sure you reach your destination safely.¡±

    Alexia clutched his hand tighter, feeling an overwhelming urge to fall into his arms, to feel his locket on her chest, to tell him they¡¯d never be apart again.

    ¡°My daughter is a ray of light in a dark world,¡± Maleon said. ¡°But I am not as innocent as she is¡ªor perhaps you are. You¡¯ve only just met and don¡¯t even know each other¡¯s names. What you¡¯re feeling isn¡¯t the depths of true love, but the surface thrill of lust. We must go to Ferrickton, and I¡¯ve heard from your companion that you need to be in Urzport on urgent business. If Leverith wills it, you¡¯ll meet again.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Zander of Mirrevar,¡± the Moon said, holding Alexia¡¯s gaze and taking her other hand.

    Alexia smiled up at him. ¡°I¡¯m Alexia.¡±

    ¡°Like the Love Queen!¡±

    ¡°I like a man who knows his history.¡± She winked.

    ¡°I¡¯m no scholar, Sunrise, but I do have a keen interest in all things named Alexia.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± she teased, fluttering her lashes, ¡°I¡¯ll now take an interest in all things named Zander. Any advice for a novice?¡±

    He squeezed her hand. ¡°Hands-on experience is always best.¡±

    ¡°Like this?¡± She ran her fingers up his arms, tracing the firm muscles to his shoulders. He placed his hands on her waist, and for a moment, they were dancing without music, in perfect harmony to a melody made from the song of their souls.

    Even if Maleon was right, even if this was just a dizzying rush, it had to be an answer from Leverith. Even if she was spinning in rapid circles now, she was sure the slow dance of love was in their future. She gazed into Zander¡¯s eyes, filled with love and peace, and knew deep in her soul that she belonged with him. She knew it.

    The mule rider approached. ¡°Zander, we need to report to the archlord.¡±

    Zander didn¡¯t break his gaze. ¡°Wayn Bearbreaker has managed without us this long. One more night won¡¯t hurt him, Alfread.¡±

    Alexia glanced at Zander¡¯s friend. Alfread, impeccably handsome and masculine, would have been a heartthrob in Sapphirica. His eyes lingered on her shifting hair and yellow-orange eyes, his smile charming enough to win over any girl¡ªexcept her.

    Alfread dismounted and spoke with measured diplomacy, the same tone her father used to sway King Gideon. ¡°Zander, it¡¯s not Bearbreaker¡¯s patience I¡¯m worried about, but Leveria¡¯s fate. Wayn and King Adameon need to hear about the wolves. We don¡¯t want to be locked out of Urzport tonight.¡±

    ¡°Wolves?¡± Alexia asked, her mind drifting to the ogre cave.

    Alfread hesitated. Zander didn¡¯t. ¡°We killed a pack of wolves that acted with human intelligence and motives.¡±

    Alfread elaborated and Alexia¡¯s mind raced with the irrefutable proof of impending catastrophe. The Chimaera was active in both Ruby and Sapphire lands. The Gemstone War needed to end yesterday.

    Zander tightened his grip on her hands. ¡°When I faced the pack leader, I saw a vision¡ªa shaded man with silver eyes, sitting on a throne of tree and earth, high above the sea.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Zander, that¡¯s Celegana¡¯s Spire. The man you saw was the Ezen!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what that means,¡± Zander said.

    ¡°It means the Chimaera is coming for Leveria,¡± Alexia said. ¡°Neither Ruby nor Sapphire will be safe. The Gemstone War must end now, or we will all be slaves of the Celegan Empire.¡±

    Alfread nodded, impressed. ¡°You know your history, Alexia. Few Leverians, and even fewer Kavovans, know of the Celegans.¡±

    Alexia froze, fearful she¡¯d revealed too much. While her skin had a slight summer tan, how he¡¯d identified her Kavovan heritage so easily made her doubt whether the Peacewatch in Ferrickton wouldn¡¯t immediately identify her.

    Maleon stepped in. ¡°Alexia took classes at Erudition and her mother was a Kavovan refugee. I¡¯m afraid my daughter has an imagination too big for reality.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t imagine what I saw!¡± Zander insisted. ¡°Have you ever seen a wolf with eyes like stars?¡±

    Maleon grimaced but said nothing. It must have been the Celegan Ezen that tamed the silver-eyed ogre that had nearly killed him.

    Timmeck snorted. ¡°No king or archlord will take visions as proof of invasion.¡±

    Alexia squeezed Zander¡¯s hand. ¡°We live in a land where everyone believes a goddess spoke to a man while he was sleeping under a magic tree. I believe you, Zander.¡±

    His fierceness softened, his eyes moistening. ¡°Thank you,¡± he whispered.

    Alexia moved closer to him, wanting to protect him as he told his tale to Archlord Bearbreaker. She fantasized about running away with him, as Linus did as Sunil of the Steppe. Alas, Aixela of the River didn¡¯t have the same flow to it, and there was no chance Leveria would fall for that again if some random boy from the roadside could decipher her heritage. Her purpose was to convince Gideon Sapphire that the war must end. Zander and Alfread would need to do the same for Adameon Ruby.

    ¡°Come on, girl,¡± Maleon called, his patience worn thin.

    Alexia and Zander slowly unbound their fingers, the parting making her crave him more than she could bear. Her hand quickly closed around his, infused with Leverith¡¯s spirit, as she realized it had been since they first touched. She gazed into his moon-blue eyes, hoping he would chase her across the sky.

    Tears in his eyes, he lifted the locket from his neck, treating it with all the reverence a loving son would their aging mother. He pressed the inverted heart into her hand. ¡°This belongs to you, Sunrise.¡±

    As the silver touched her palm, a surge of divine energy flooded her. She felt her connection to the Divine Thirteen magnify, as though a door to the world had opened wide. Trembling, she placed the locket around her neck, feeling whole for the first time.

    Alexia fell into Zander¡¯s arms, gripping him tightly as the locket pressed between them. His embrace made her feel unstoppable, his strength shielding her in a cocoon of love and safety. This was peace.

    ¡°I¡¯ve waited all my life for this,¡± Zander whispered.

    ¡°You¡¯re a thief,¡± she whispered back. ¡°Stealing my words.¡±

    He grinned, his voice playful. ¡°And my punishment?¡±

    For once, she felt no concern whether the world watched her. ¡°The punishment will match the crime¡ªyou took something from my lips, so I¡¯ll deliver justice to yours.¡±

    She kissed him, feeling the divine energy of Leverith envelop her, wrapping them both in a perfect embrace.

    ¡°Leverith!¡± Alfread exclaimed. ¡°Alexia just awakened!¡±

    She opened her eyes to find the blue of Leverith¡¯s spirit energy swirling around them, emanating from the locket.

    ¡°I awakened?¡± she echoed, quickly grasping the story.

    ¡°By the Thirteen!¡± Timmeck gasped, less convincingly.

    ¡°Can you summon Leverith again?¡± Alfread asked.

    Alexia pretended to try and shook her head, then smirked. ¡°Perhaps if I kissed Zander again.¡±

    Maleon groaned, but she ignored him.

    ¡°Careful,¡± Zander teased, running his fingers through her hair, ¡°I¡¯m afraid my kisses are magical, and I cannot guarantee this one won¡¯t turn you into a toad.¡±

    ¡°Toad-aly worth it,¡± she laughed, pulling him in for another kiss.

    As they kissed, Leverith¡¯s spirit pulsed from the locket, swirling around them. Neither of them able to break off this intoxicating feeling, fueled by exponentially more of Leverith¡¯s spirit than she¡¯d ever held. Blue light streamed across the Bear River, up the road, into the forest, and toward the sky, overflowing the tremendous reservoir of the locket she wore. She could distantly hear the awe of sailors on morning boats, travelers on the road, and Maleon¡¯s grumbles. Alexia just didn¡¯t care, and that apathy to the anxieties that paralyzed her all her life was the most intoxicating thing of all.

    When they needed to gasp for air, Zander chuckled. ¡°Toad-aly my favorite moment in forever.¡±

    They laughed together, fingers intertwined. Alfread broke the moment. ¡°You need to go to the Leverian University. They will teach you how to channel Leverith, Norali, and Dalis. Maybe Zander can be your sworn shield.¡±

    ¡°We need to go to Ferrickton,¡± Maleon snapped. ¡°We¡¯ve just lost her mother, and we have family business to sort out.¡± He gripped her by her collar and pulled her from Zander. ¡°Enough of this!¡±

    Zander thundered toward Maleon, but Alexia stepped between them before Zamael¡¯s Hells broke lose, wrapping him in a hug before it turned to blows.

    ¡°I will go with you to Rubinia,¡± Zander promised.

    Alexia¡¯s mind was a whirlwind, as Maleon shouted that he would be going nowhere near her. She had to make calculations that determined the course of her life, no, all of Leveria in an instant. Her hearted leaned one way, her mind the other. Alas, she carried the responsibility of every soul on this continent on her shoulders and her mind needed to prevail.

    ¡°My father is right. Go speak with Archlord Bearbreaker, my love. We will meet again soon.¡±

    Zander looked crushed, but he nodded. ¡°I look forward to that day, Sunrise.¡±

    ¡°Until next time, Leverith¡¯s answer,¡± she said with a smile, tears filling her eyes.

    ¡°Now who¡¯s the thief?¡±

    She beamed, but Maleon cut in. ¡°Enough!¡±

    Ignoring the Stonebreaker, Zander kissed her hand. ¡°Until next time, Sunrise.¡±

    Watching Zander ride off atop his silvery-white warhorse, he looked majestic, more so than even Philladon Leveria could armored in ornamented meladonite with the Dreamer¡¯s Crown. Alexia waved, a smile frozen on her face as he disappeared around a bend. One last glance back from him made her wish she could relive every moment.

    She turned to Maleon, who scowled. ¡°We should kill them.¡±

    Alexia gasped. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Lover boy is the size of a minotaur and severs bear heads like they¡¯re pudding while dandy shoots arrows like Norali beams light. Men like them can turn the tide of battles. If we let them join the Peacewatch, they¡¯ll slaughter Sapphires by the hundreds.¡±

    Timmeck nodded in agreement. ¡°As a boy, I saw Gideon singlehandedly take out entire outposts with a good suit of meladonite and an enchanted blade. If Bearbreaker arms your Zander well, we¡¯ve just unleashed that upon our own people. Yet,¡± Timmeck sighed, ¡°how accursed would we be to slay those who aided us?¡±

    ¡°Irrelevant,¡± Maleon said. ¡°They must die.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s rage flared, drawing the summer heat into herself. ¡°You want me to kill my life¡¯s mate? Elianor was right about you. You don¡¯t understand love¡ªyou only see enemies to crush.¡±

    Maleon yanked out his wand and moved toward the horse. Alexia channeled Celegana, filtering massive torrents of divine energy through the locket, and shoved him to the ground.

    Timmeck rushed to get between them. ¡°Enough! Peacewatch could be on us at any moment and I¡¯m sure Iceheart would love to display our heads over Urz¡¯s End.¡±

    Maleon struggled up, glaring at Alexia. ¡°He is the enemy,¡± he snarled. ¡°You¡¯ll rue this day¡ªthe day you let your lust overcome your duty.¡± He spat at her feet, storming off down the road toward Ferrickton, channeling Seraxa¡¯s heat.

    His words gnawed at her. If Zander joined the Peacewatch, Sapphires would die by his hand. Every life lost would be on her. She felt unworthy of the love that the Sapphire common folk felt for her. How many of their sons and daughters had she just doomed? How many orphans had she just created? How many lovers would never touch again?

    Tears streamed down her face as she followed Maleon and Timmeck in silence. She didn¡¯t bother to hide her sorrow, even as other travelers passed by. Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine a world where love mattered more than war, but the reality refused to bend to her dreams.

    Gripping the locket tightly, she told herself to look forward. Her feelings spoke to her as though they were truths buried deep within. Zander wasn¡¯t destined to bring death¡ªhe was meant to bring peace. Alexia felt it in his touch, his vision, his voice. He was Leverith¡¯s answer to the evils of Zamael. His was the song of peace and it would play in perfect harmony with her loving song. Together, they would create a melody that could make even Zamael dream of peace.

    And she would fight for that dream.

    *************

    Zander imagined Alexia was still beside him, her hands clasped in his. He could see her clearly in his mind, every detail vivid. Her face, an elegant oval, was framed by long, flowing hair¡ªbrown at first but flashing gold under the sun¡¯s touch. Her eyes, a striking blend of yellow and orange like the sunrise, were the most beautiful he had ever seen. Her body was lithe and strong, a perfect harmony of curves and edges. She was crafted in the image of Leverith herself. But her true beauty went far beyond what his eyes could see.

    Alexia wasn¡¯t like a rose, lovely on the outside with hidden thorns beneath. She was more like the Citadel of Dreams from ancient tales, where every stone was perfectly laid, strong and pleasing to the eye. The citadel, with its towering arches and vast gardens, stood atop a hill overlooking verdant plains and crystal-clear streams. Travelers would cross the world to marvel at its splendor. But what made the citadel truly remarkable wasn''t its grandeur, but the love and dreams it held within. Without that, even the most magnificent castle felt hollow. Zander felt the same about Alexia. Her outward beauty was captivating, but it was her spirit, the love and dreams behind those sunrise eyes, that made her truly extraordinary.

    He loved the peace he felt in her presence, the way her touch grounded him. Even before she awakened as a witch, Zander sensed a connection between them¡ªsomething deeper, as if their souls exchanged a quiet magic whenever they held hands. It felt as though he had loved her forever, and he knew with unwavering certainty that he always would. Alexia was Leverith¡¯s answer. She was the Sunrise.

    Zander longed to abandon everything and follow her to Rubinia. He envisioned them side by side, her powers growing as he protected her, both becoming a voice of peace that could help end the Gemstone War. He imagined facing the shaded man on the earthen throne with her at his side. He pictured them standing together in the Citadel of Dreams, the place of his birth, sharing a life of love and purpose. He wished she were still with him now, holding his hand, her lips teasing his, and surrounding him with Leverith¡¯s spirit.

    But all things have their time and there is a time for all things. This was only the beginning, the overture of their song. The first page had been written, and the climax was still ahead. The happy ending didn¡¯t come before the climax. The chorus didn¡¯t arrive before the verse. Why should love be any different?

    Elior hadn¡¯t won Pelianna¡¯s hand the day he won her heart. Sir Evan didn¡¯t sweep Mirielda away the moment they met, even though he knew she was his life¡¯s mate. Zander wouldn¡¯t be passive, but he could be patient.

    Leverith had answered his prayer. Alexia, the Sunrise, wore his locket. The melody of their lives would unfold, where love and dreams would reign in a castle that was truly their own.

 Chapter 17: The Bearbreakers Pt. 1

    Zander finally asked Alfread what he had been curious about all afternoon. ¡°What did you think of her?¡±

    Alfread let out a low whistle. ¡°Kavova knows how to grow them.¡±

    ¡°How did you know she was one of the coffee people?¡±

    Alfread sighed, shaking his head but refraining from a lecture on the appropriateness of declaring an entire continent ¡®coffee people.¡¯ ¡°While her tan could be explained by coming from Meridian or Oshion like her southern father, her eye color and shifting hair are extremely rare but prized features among Kavovans.¡± Alfread inhaled. ¡°She¡¯s a breathtaking blend of Leverian and Kavovan, and now a cognitive-affectomancer on top of that, with considerable power too I¡¯d venture.¡±

    ¡°Careful, Alfread,¡± Zander teased. ¡°That¡¯s my life¡¯s mate.¡±

    Alfread chuckled. ¡°You know me, the kingdom¡¯s most notorious lecher.¡± He sang, ¡°Another man¡¯s lass, each day o¡¯ the span. Sweet love in the grass, I am the other man.¡±

    Zander laughed, the sound rumbling deep from his belly. ¡°I shan¡¯t leave you alone with my Sunrise then.¡±

    Alfread winked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s yours, just as much as you¡¯re hers. She¡¯ll never look at another man the way she looked at you today.¡±

    Zander smiled, already certain of Alexia¡¯s feelings but glad to hear the affirmation from someone else. Straightening in his saddle, he declared, ¡°I belong to her. I vow before Meladon and the Divine Scions¡ªno one else will ever feel my embrace. Alexia is my Sunrise.¡±

    Alfread smirked. ¡°What will the maids of Leveria do without you?¡±

    ¡°They still have you,¡± Zander shot back. ¡°It seems tribute works so well that one can turn their life¡¯s mate into a fountain of Leverith¡¯s spirit just by kissing them.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s expression soured. ¡°I have no interest in breaking hearts for the sake of tribute,¡± he said, holding up a hand before Zander could argue. ¡°Despite what the priestesses say, I guarantee men and women are heartbroken by being used as tribute and not being deemed worthy of love.¡±

    ¡°How would you know if you¡¯ve never done it?¡± Zander challenged.

    Alfread leaned in. ¡°Zander, Lorelai asked me endlessly if you were going to bond her when she and Lucille attended my lessons. And Joyce? She¡¯d kill to be your life¡¯s mate. What was just one of thirteen tributes a span to you was a deep yearning to be your life¡¯s mate to them. You did what you thought was best, and maybe it was, but I have no intention of paying for my happiness with the broken hearts I leave behind.¡±

    Zander felt like a lance had unhorsed him and sank deep into his gut. ¡°It wasn¡¯t always thirteen in a span,¡± he muttered, trying to downplay the pain he may have caused.

    ¡°How many this span?¡± Alfread asked.

    Zander thought back, counting on his fingers. ¡°Melissa. Jayne. Joyce. Dinah. Lorelei. Joyce. Jem¡¯s daughter. Cortney. Joyce. Lorelei. That northern girl from the riverboat. The new priestess. Joyce¡­¡± He trailed off, realizing with a grunt he¡¯d reached thirteen tributes long before he¡¯d reached thirteen days. ¡°They knew I was only looking to make tribute.¡±

    Alfread shook his head, his voice heavy with judgment. ¡°One of them an orphan you just saved that sees you as her hero. Another¡¯s the shyest, most vulnerable soul in Bear¡¯s Crossing. Three whose names you can¡¯t recall, but I guarantee they remember yours. Another who became a widow not even a moon ago. One who makes it known that she wants you to choose her, but who you only went to after she promised to bring Dinah in on it. Then one that¡¯s turned down knights and merchant¡¯s sons for you.¡±

    Zander¡¯s stomach churned. Alfread had taken all his joy and thrown it in the mud. Still, Zander defended himself. ¡°Jem¡¯s daughter never told me her name, but I was kind to her. Jayne¡¯s able to make her own decisions, and she felt better afterward. Cortney¡¯s allowed to have fun again, especially since Cobb died. And Melissa insisted, even though I told her I was leaving. As for Lorelei and Joyce¡ªthey¡¯re tavern maids, Alfread. They¡¯ve taken more men to bed than I¡¯ve made tributes. How was I supposed to know they wanted more?¡±

    Alfread¡¯s gaze softened, but his words remained steady. ¡°I know you never meant to hurt anyone. Your loving heart is one of the reasons I love you. But I wish Leveria would see that Leverith probably doesn¡¯t care how many we sleep with, but how well we love others. You got Leverith¡¯s answer today, Zander, despite your tributes. I¡¯d say the way you rescued Melissa and Marigold from Otis, or the toast you made for my family, meant infinitely more to Leverith than all those lusty nights ever could.¡±

    Zander stared down at the road, slumping in his saddle. Alfread had to be wrong. But his words were hard to shake.

    Alfread broke the silence. ¡°Being kind and loving to others is how I hope to pay tribute. That¡¯s why I worked so hard in the clinic, why I offered reading lessons, why I try my best to make people feel cared for. Maybe I¡¯m wrong, but I don¡¯t think so.¡± Alfread inhaled, then sang, ¡°There is one I most desire, one shining with radiant light, one who fuels my fire. She is queen of my dreams each night.¡±

    ¡°Did you see her again?¡± Zander asked, familiar with the rhyme he¡¯d been hearing for years now.

    ¡°Last night,¡± Alfread said. ¡°I can see her face, but it is cloudy, like there is a fog between us. She casts a radiant light that shines bright in the darkness and restores hope to the hopeless. Her radiance is brighter than the stars. I saw us together, dancing beneath the stars, both of us glowing.¡± He smiled ever briefly, before sorrow painted his handsome face. ¡°The dreams always end the same. We are separated by a wall of fire, lightning crashes, and she calls my name. But when I shout for her, nothing escapes my throat. Her radiance fades and I am left in the darkness without a light.¡±

    Zander would''ve comforted him, but Alfread¡¯s earlier words still stung. So, they continued south along the River Road, their spirits heavy as they encroached upon Urzport.

    *************

    They reached Urzport just before the dinner bells rang, with the sun sinking toward the horizon. Zander half-listened as Alfread lectured on the city¡¯s history. Lacking stone or the funds to procure it from the Tandande, the ancient Bearbreakers built walls from riverbed clay. The wall, a mere fifteen feet tall with visible cracks, had nonetheless withstood multiple sieges from the Sapphire Kingdom without ever yielding.

    Passing through the gate after a quick inspection by the Peacewatch, Alfread led Zander to the stables outside The Wrestling Bear. Alfread droned on about the tavern¡¯s history, but Zander¡¯s attention wandered to the bustling riverside. Thousands of people unloaded boats and carts, working like ants around tall houses, factories, smelters, bazaars, and temples. Compared to Urzport, Bear¡¯s Crossing felt like a backwater village.

    Noticing Zander¡¯s awe, Alfread explained that Urzport was the hub of commerce in Eastern Ruby, sending and receiving goods via the Bear River, which stretched north to the Sea of Qoryxa and south to the Owl River, one of the Spider¡¯s Legs. When Alfread mentioned Mirrevar, Zander daydreamed of taking Alexia to his birthplace atop Goddess Hill to watch the sun rise over two great rivers.

    The Wrestling Bear impressed Zander with its size and d¨¦cor. The centerpiece was a life-sized, chained bear on stage, apparently hibernating. The innkeeper, an ostentatious man wearing a multicolored doublet and floral perfume, greeted them at the bar with exaggerated flair.

    ¡°You must try our Wrestling Bear tonic! Surely a pair of young studs like you could challenge the bear! Winners get a golden Leverian and every maid on shift will dance on you until you pop your cork.¡±

    Zander stared at the bear on stage, now seeing the rise and fall of its breathing. ¡°Your patrons wrestle a flogging bear?¡±

    Alfread, likely having explained this already, sighed. The innkeeper confirmed it was a Bearbreaker tradition. Alfread dismissed the innkeeper, denying the fancy mead but ordering the ¡®world famous¡¯ bear stew.

    Seated, Zander asked, ¡°How many dunderheads actually wrestle the bear?¡±

    ¡°More than you¡¯d think,¡± Alfread began, slipping into his storytelling mode. ¡°During the early days of the Leverian Dynasty, Urzport was home to highly territorial river bears. Because of them, no settlements persisted. Then, about twelve-hundred years ago, a commoner from Mirrevar was dying, and the Love Queen¡ª"Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°What was he dying from?¡±

    Alfread bristled. ¡°It matters not.¡±

    Zander, grinning, shook his head. ¡°Tell the story proper or don¡¯t tell it at all.¡±

    Alfread rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Wayn was a blacksmith, poisoned by forge fumes from a bad batch of metal.¡±

    Zander nodded appreciatively as a glaring Alfread dared him to challenge his story. ¡°Go on,¡± Zander said, leaning in, genuinely interested. For once.

    ¡°The Love Queen healed him¡ª"

    ¡°Remind me,¡± Zander interrupted, ¡°what was the Love Queen¡¯s name?¡±

    Alfread chuckled. ¡°You can be a real bastard sometimes. Queen Alexia Leveria, the Love Queen, was a powerful cognitive-affecto¡ª¡±

    ¡°A witch,¡± Zander interrupted. ¡°Must¡¯ve been kissed by a fine gentleman who paid his tributes to Leverith.¡±

    ¡°Can I tell this story or do you want to take over?¡±

    Zander spread his arms wide and tipped his head. ¡°My ears are yours, O¡¯ Great Storyteller.¡±

    ¡°Queen Alexia healed Wayn with her unmatched prowess with Leverith¡¯s spirit,¡± Alfread said, pausing to see if Zander would interrupt. Zander leaned on the table, chin resting on his entwined hands.

    ¡°Wayn asked her what she would have from him and she told him all he needed to do was embrace peace and love.¡±

    ¡°Like in the Peacewatch oath?¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Alfread said. ¡°Wayn decided that to show his gratitude, he would seek battle with Urz, an undying, two-ton bear that ruled the land beneath our feet.¡±

    Zander slammed his hand on the table. ¡°An undying, two-ton bear? You¡¯ve got to be shitting me!¡± He roared with laughter.

    The tavern maid arrived with their food and mead. She might as well have been invisible to Zander until she gasped when Alfread smiled at her and gave her his name with usual flowery courtesy.

    ¡°Penelope,¡± she said, big doe eyes fluttering at Alfread. ¡°Ye can call me Penny,¡± she added, her cheeks in full bloom.

    Alfread took her hand and closed her fingers around a bronze bit. ¡°A token of my appreciation for the quick service rendered, Penny.¡±

    The girl giggled, her eyes lingering on Alfread before she blushed her way back toward the bar.

    ¡°You really did fall hard for Alexia,¡± Alfread said.

    ¡°You had it under control.¡± Grinning, Zander mimed his friend. ¡°¡®A token of my appreciation for the quick service rendered, Penny.¡¯¡±

    Alfread coughed. ¡°It figures.¡±

    Zander waited for an explanation, but Alfread dug into his meal. ¡°What figures?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re dealing with an exceptionally sly innkeeper, my brother.¡±

    ¡°Never trust a man decked out like a pricey tavern maid,¡± Zander interjected, stew juices dripping down his four-day grizzle.

    ¡°It has nothing to do with his clothes,¡± Alfread said. ¡°He thinks we gave him the short coin by not buying his special manly-man mead, which is likely supplemented with a small dose of courage tonic. So, what does he do?¡±

    ¡°Spits on our food and pisses in our flagons?¡± Zander said, gulping down half of his flagon in one pass.

    Alfread¡¯s grin became devious. ¡°He sends out his prettiest barmaid and has her act like she¡¯s smitten with us. He wants us to feel like we need to impress Penny. That is the natural way of men. We must strut for the women, fan our colored plumes and the rest of that show. He puts a bear on stage and asks his patrons to fight, he sends his best-looking barmaids to the men he thinks will put on a show.¡±

    ¡°Or,¡± Zander began in an argumentative tone, ¡°he wants us to pay up to bed down with said maid.¡±

    Alfread nodded. ¡°That is always on a good innkeeper¡¯s mind. However, when he gets people on that stage,¡± Alfread pointed to the bear, ¡°the crowd gets excited. Excited men buy overpriced mead and start trying to impress the maids. One man goes to wrestle the bear and then more men must follow to prove their manhood. The silver flows like an avalanche into our innkeeper¡¯s purse and he can buy the finest Rubinian doublets and rose perfumes to offend manly men like you into fighting the bear.¡±

    Zander grunted and wiped his face with the back of his hand. ¡°I know I¡¯m manly. I don¡¯t need to beat the stuffing out of this dandy¡¯s pet bear to prove it.¡±

    Penny returned, her eyes glazing as she stared at Alfread. ¡°I¡ªI,¡± she stammered, ¡°I cannot help but notice how strong and brave ye look. I¡¯s wonderin¡¯ if ye¡¯d be interested in the Wrestling Bear mead.¡±

    Alfread shot Zander a quiet I-told-you-so grin. ¡°Not tonight, Penny. I know I¡¯m manly. I don¡¯t need to beat the stuffing out of some poor bear to prove it.¡±

    Zander tossed his hands up in the air, feigning outrage that Alfread had stolen his line from him.

    Penny didn¡¯t lose a fraction of her smile. Instead, she leaned over the table and put her hand on Alfread¡¯s arm, her bust pushing into his face. ¡°I can already see how handsome ye are, Alfread. But you¡¯d be the king of my world if ye proved to me how tough ye are.¡± She ran her hand up his arm and pinched his cheek. Penny winked at Alfread before sashaying away from them.

    ¡°Speaking of beating bears,¡± Alfread said, regaining his storyteller voice. ¡°Like any good Leverian legend, this story has two endings. In the first, Wayn succeeded by killing Urz with his bare hands.¡±

    Alfread stopped for the pun or the expected disbelief, but Zander gave him an intentionally blank stare. Alfread sighed. ¡°The rest of the bears vacated the land and Wayn returned to Mirrevar to tell the Love Queen what he had done for her.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Zander interrupted. This time he saw a flash of irritation on Alfread¡¯s face. ¡°He killed a two-ton bear ... barehanded?¡±

    Alfread chuckled and called Zander an arse. Nodding, Alfread said, ¡°Yes. That¡¯s the first version. Believe me, it¡¯s the more believable of the two.¡±

    Zander raised an eyebrow. Alfread had his attention now.

    Alfread inhaled a deep breath and then let it go. ¡°Both your mother and my mom always told me the other version of events was established and perpetuated by rival archlords mocking the meager Bearbreaker beginnings. It claims that Wayn was Urz. He was able to shift between bear and human form and he tricked the Love Queen into giving him dominion over the Southern Bear.¡±

    Finally, Alfread got the reaction he craved. ¡°Balbaraq¡¯s balls!¡± Zander exclaimed, slamming his fist against the table. ¡°Was Wayn a¡ªa wolf thing?¡±

    Alfread shook his head. ¡°No, he wasn¡¯t Celegan. Your mother told me that people in Vesarra called the Atmana could turn into animals at will and they could even take on massive sizes. Melody insisted that the story was just slander, that Wayn was a blacksmith with a good heart. The other archlords concocted the rumor to belittle the Bearbreakers¡¯ stocky, hairy appearances and to imply that they¡¯re barbaric beasts incapable of wiping their arses without the benefit of a stream.¡±

    ¡°Divinedamned lordlings,¡± Zander spat. ¡°How¡¯d the story end?¡±

    ¡°Queen Alexia gave Wayn the title of ¡®Bearbreaker¡¯ and appointed him and his progeny to be archlords of the Southern Bear for time eternal. Wayn declared that the Bearbreaker heir must wrestle a bear before being named archlord. If he fails, he serves as castellan and the next Bearbreaker in line can claim lordship by breaking a bear.¡±

    Zander glanced at the bear on stage, imagining the countless drunken fools who¡¯d dreamt of being lords.

    ¡°Urzport is the fourth largest city in the Ruby Kingdom behind Rubinia, Meridian, and Gaelrich,¡± Alfread continued. ¡°Emboldened by this guy¡¯s spiked mead and the sight of luscious maidens, it isn¡¯t too hard to imagine many dreaming of having what it takes to be a Bearbreaker.¡±

    Rising from their seats, Penny accosted them one more time. ¡°Can I git ye anything else, Alfread?¡±

    Alfread rubbed his stomach. ¡°I¡¯m content.¡±

    ¡°Ye know nothin¡¯ of contentedness,¡± she said, pointing toward a nearby stairwell. ¡°I offer that upstairs. Sometimes,¡± she leaned in, ¡°I give it away for free.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid I must content myself with my lack of contentedness,¡± Alfread said, turning to leave.

    Chuckling, Zander followed him toward the exit. Penny gripped his arm. ¡°I bet ye could take that bear one-handed.¡± She leaned close. ¡°Bear beaters are archlords upstairs.¡±

    Zander gently removed her hand. ¡°Never wanted to be an archlord,¡± he said. ¡°Fare thee well, Penelope.¡±

    Zander had been so engrossed in Alfread¡¯s story that he hadn¡¯t noticed the dinner bells had drawn a thick, rowdy crowd. The tavern was packed, the air alive with laughter, shouting, and the strumming of a harpist playing ¡°The Good Queen¡¯s Promise,¡± a ballad about Queen Camellia Ruby.

    He and Alfread pushed their way through the mass, the clamor growing so loud it resembled the chaos of an invasion. Standing head and shoulders above the crowd, Zander spotted a stocky man stumble onto the stage, puffing out his chest and shouting as if he were twice Zander¡¯s size. The man rolled up his sweat-soaked sleeves, throwing exaggerated punches into the air, taunting the bear. The crowd was split¡ªsome cheering for the man, others for the bear, while wagers were shouted from all corners of the room.

    The bear sat calmly on its haunches, watching the fool dance about. The noise surged as the whole tavern waited for the inevitable clash. The innkeeper, grinning with gleeful malice, pulled a lever, and the bear charged, a blur of muscle and fury.

    It was over in an instant. The bear tackled the man, pinning him beneath its weight, hammering him with its massive paws. Blood splattered across the stage as the man¡¯s face took blow after brutal blow. The crowd roared in delight.

    ¡°It has no claws!¡± Alfread shouted over the din, pointing at the bear. He was right. The bear¡¯s claws had been removed, but the sheer force of its paws still turned the man¡¯s face into a bloody pulp.

    Zander¡¯s gut churned with rage. The innkeeper made no move to stop the slaughter, his attention fixed instead on Zander, offering him a knowing wink.

    The challenger¡¯s bloodied form lay still, unconscious, or worse, but the bear kept swinging. The crowd cheered louder. Zander¡¯s pulse pounded in his ears. He wasn¡¯t going to let the man die like this.

    Without thinking, he leapt onto the stage.

 Chapter 17: The Bearbreakers Pt. 2

    The crowd erupted when Zander hit the stage, their cheers blending with the bear¡¯s deep, menacing growl as it abandoned its broken victim. The beast charged, but Zander sidestepped with lightning reflexes, grabbing its hind legs. With a grunt, he heaved the bear into the air, dragging it across the wooden floor. Its front legs collapsed under the force, and its face slammed into the stage with a heavy thud.

    Zander was on it in an instant, crashing down with the weight of his body, forcing the wind from the bear¡¯s lungs. Bloodlust surged through him as he grabbed its legs, flipping the beast onto its back with a swift, practiced motion¡ªlike a cook flipping a pancake. The crowd¡¯s cheers became a distant roar, a storm of noise far removed from Zander¡¯s world, where only instinct guided him.

    He locked the bear¡¯s head and front leg in a tight hold, bracing his back against the iron pole to keep the animal pinned. The bear thrashed and snapped, its toothless maw biting at the air in vain. In the corner of his vision, Zander saw Alfread pulling the limp challenger off the stage, but his focus never wavered. The bear was helpless, its legs flailing like a fish out of water, unable to find purchase.

    The beast¡¯s roar pierced the air, a sound of fury, pain, and sorrow. But Zander had no room for pity. The fight was over, yet the innkeeper made no move to end it. The crowd wanted blood, but Zander wasn¡¯t their puppet.

    Releasing his hold, Zander sprang to his feet. The bear groaned in exhaustion, struggling to roll off its back. Zander seized two fistfuls of fur and muscle, yanked the creature upright, then rammed its head against the iron bar it was chained to. The metallic ring echoed through the tavern like a gong. The beast¡¯s legs crumpled beneath it, its eyes glazed over as it collapsed into unconsciousness.

    Zander stood over the defeated bear, every muscle in his body humming with exertion. His limbs felt heavy, like the time he¡¯d swam for miles then engaged in lovemaking with Joyce for half the night. The crowd¡¯s cheers swelled, a cacophony of incoherent chanting and thunderous applause, but it barely registered.

    He didn¡¯t bow, didn¡¯t bask in their praise. Without a word, he pushed through the throng, brushing off backslaps and drink offers. Women pressed against him, hands roaming over his chest and lower, but Zander¡¯s mind was elsewhere. The crowd, and especially the tavern maids themselves, called for him to return to the stage for his prize, but he had no interest in the reward. His thoughts were on Alexia, his purpose fixed on Archlord Bearbreaker.

    Finally breaking free from the tavern¡¯s suffocating air, Zander stepped outside, coated in sweat. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a humid, sticky night. He uncorked his water skin and drained most of it, pouring the rest over his head in a cooling rush.

    ¡°All right there, Zander?¡± Alfread asked, appearing beside him.

    Zander wiped his face, offering a weary smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He tilted his head toward the injured challenger. The man¡¯s face was a swollen, purple mess¡ªlike an overripe grape ready to burst.

    The innkeeper emerged from the tavern, dragging Penny along by the arm. He barked orders at a nearby stable boy, loud enough to be heard over the lingering noise. ¡°Fetch Master Asa!¡±

    The boy sprinted off as the innkeeper approached Zander with a simpering smile, a gleaming golden Leverian held out in offering. ¡°Well fought, sir.¡± Penny stood behind him, her body language a sultry invitation as she eyed Zander with intent.

    Zander glanced at the coin but didn¡¯t take it. He¡¯d never held a golden Leverian before, and tonight would be no different. Instead, he spat in the innkeeper¡¯s face, then walked away.

    *************

    Alfread led Zander through the cramped streets of Urzport where squalid, multilevel tenements lined the narrow roads like a suffocating maze. Each building seemed to lean against the next, barely leaving room for light. Alfread explained that families squeezed into the two-room spaces on each level, and over every cluster of these buildings loomed a mansion, walled and aloof. The landowners¡ªwhether vassal lords, wealthy merchants, or titled knights¡ªowned everything, charging the common folk for the privilege of living on their land. In turn, these lords paid their dues to the Bearbreakers, who then sent their share to the king.

    As they climbed a hill, Zander caught sight of Urz¡¯s End. The castle¡¯s stone walls stood twenty feet high, yet the towers soared even higher, their tops peeking over the fortifications. Zander marveled at the sheer size of it.

    ¡°This is the most modest archlord castle in all of Leveria,¡± Alfread said with a smirk.

    Zander struggled to fathom castles larger than this one. His world felt smaller with each step they took.

    At the gate, Peacewatch sentries barred their way, but Alfread¡¯s diplomatic persistence wore them down. After a tense few moments, a highborn squire arrived and ordered their entry.

    The squire couldn¡¯t have been older than fourteen, but he had the poise of someone much older. With his sinewy frame, crimson hair, and sharp copper eyes, he was handsome and confident. His armor was well-tailored and ornate, and on his breastplate, three sigils stood proudly: a man wrestling a bear on blue, thirteen rubies on gold, and a grapevine intertwined with an apple tree on green. Zander could tell from the symbols that the lad was no ordinary squire.

    ¡°I¡¯m Percival Brighton,¡± the boy announced with authority. ¡°Squire to Sir Whelan Bearbreaker.¡±

    Alfread was quick to put the pieces together, noting that Percival was the nephew of King Adameon Ruby, his mother being Rozalyn, the king¡¯s sister, and his grandmother, the late Queen Phaedra, a Bearbreaker herself. Zander¡¯s head spun with the tangled lineages, but Alfread neatly summarized it for him: Percival Brighton was Sir Whelan¡¯s distant cousin, grandson of Archlord Brighton, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªthe king¡¯s nephew. Yes, he was no ordinary squire.

    Percival seemed taken with Alfread¡¯s quick mind and led them into the castle¡¯s entrance hall. Zander¡¯s stomach churned as they stepped inside. He was a man built for the battlefield and boisterous mead halls, not this world of noble courtesies and looming stone walls. He felt more out of place than ever.

    The hall was dimly lit, and a massive fur rug stretched across the stone floor. Stuffed bears stood like sentinels on polished pedestals, their plaques engraved with dates and names. Zander stopped by the nearest one, reading aloud, ¡°Archlord Wayn Bearbreaker the Sixth, 201 3LE.¡±

    He turned to Percival. ¡°What do these inscriptions mean?¡±

    Percival lit up, eager to share his knowledge. ¡°These bears were slain by Bearbreakers to claim lordship. The one you¡¯re looking at was taken down by our current archlord twelve years ago, in the year 201 of the Third Leverian Era.

    As they continued down the fur-lined corridor, Zander had a sudden thought. ¡°Is Urz here?¡±

    Percival shook his head with a wry smile. ¡°Urz is the one bear we don¡¯t have. I¡¯ve asked that same question. My father tells me that if I want to see Urz, I should look in the crypts for Wayn the First¡¯s remains. Wayn the Sixth jokes that Urz is stuffed in his breeches. Sir Whelan thinks Wayn the First probably ate Urz.¡±

    Alfread and Percival continued chatting as they moved through winding corridors and climbed staircases. Zander, meanwhile, was lost in his thoughts, worrying about how he¡¯d handle himself in front of an archlord. He tried the breathing technique Alfread had taught him for steadying his aim, but it did little to calm his nerves for more than a few moments. Before he knew it, Percival knocked on a door, and they stood before the Bearbreaker steward.

    Master Tacitus Ogden was not what Zander had expected. Thin and gaunt, with round spectacles perched on his nose, Tacitus had an earthy smell and wore simple undyed cotton, a stark contrast to the image Zander had in his mind¡ªone more akin to the innkeeper at The Wrestling Bear. His study was a chaotic mess that would¡¯ve given Mirielda an aneurysm, but Zander felt an odd comfort in the clutter, which made the lordliness of the castle seem less intimidating.

    Tacitus dipped his quill into ink and began taking their report, scribbling notes as Alfread described the unusual behavior of the wolves. Zander¡¯s vision of the shaded man was omitted. Tacitus nodded thoughtfully, his quill scratching across parchment, only interrupting with the occasional ¡°uh-huh.¡± When Alfread suggested the wolves might¡¯ve been controlled by Celegan tamers, Tacitus paused, tapping his chin with a finger.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡°An intriguing theory,¡± Tacitus said, his voice calm but thoughtful. ¡°You do justice to your mother¡¯s intellect and your father¡¯s style.¡± Alfread beamed under the praise. ¡°This claim cannot be ignored. However, my knowledge of Celegan magic is limited. Fortunately, we have a brilliant cognitive-affectomancer here at Urz¡¯s End. You should share your story with her and the archlord.¡±

    Tacitus motioned to Percival. ¡°Send for Master Asa while I escort them to Wayn¡¯s chambers.¡±

    They followed Tacitus through more corridors and stairwells, ascending to the highest tower. At the top, a figure sat sharpening a blade. ¡°Fair evening, Sir Whelan,¡± Tacitus greeted the man with a respectful nod.

    Even Zander recognized the name. Whelan Bearbreaker, the heir to Urz¡¯s End, was renowned throughout Leveria for his skill in tourneys. He was muscular, his chainmail doing little to hide the power beneath. Despite the Bearbreaker family¡¯s reputation for rugged looks, Whelan¡¯s chiseled features defied that tradition. Zander wondered if he could hold his own in a spar against him.

    Whelan gave Tacitus a brief nod, barely acknowledging Zander and Alfread. ¡°What brings you here at this angle?¡±

    ¡°News from Bear¡¯s Crossing,¡± Tacitus replied. ¡°Your father will want to hear this.¡±

    Without a word, Whelan led them through a grand antechamber that overlooked the castle grounds and the Bear River, and then into a larger room. A fire crackled in the hearth, while a cold breeze blew through the balcony. Whelan must have disliked the breeze because he closed the balcony doorway with a look of cold disdain.

    At the far end of the room, a stout man sat at a battered dining table. Hairy and hulking, he was more bear than Bearbreaker, with a booming voice that filled the chamber. ¡°Tacitus! Whelan! And big guests!¡± he roared, pounding the table.

    In the midst of his son¡¯s cold introductions, Archlord Wayn Bearbreaker staggered to his feet and approached Zander, exuding an imposing presence. Just when Zander¡¯s nerves began to tighten, Wayn extended his hand with a surprising geniality. ¡°Welcome to Urzport, boy,¡± he said, locking Zander in a crushing handshake.

    Zander gritted his teeth. ¡°My name is Zander,¡± he managed through the pain.

    Wayn released Zander¡¯s hand and gave Alfread the same treatment, though Alfread was quicker to adapt, narrowly avoiding the same bone-crushing fate. ¡°Sit,¡± Wayn bellowed, gesturing to the table. ¡°Have some mead. Let¡¯s talk.¡± He turned to his retreating son. ¡°You too, Whelan! The only stiffs allowed in Urz¡¯s End tonight are the drinks.¡±

    Whelan sighed and reluctantly returned to the table, his posture rigid.

    Zander, still reeling from the archlord¡¯s unexpected informality, found himself liking Wayn immediately. He was rough around the edges, but Zander felt right at home.

    Wayn grinned at Alfread. ¡°Your father and I fought together in Mirrevar. Fine knight, that Evan. Could tell a story like it was happening right before your eyes.¡± He laughed. ¡°We watched each other¡¯s backs and drained many drinking horns before that poisoned blade lamed his leg.¡± The archlord sighed, taking a huge gulp of mead. He didn¡¯t bother to wipe the froth off his beard before he continued, ¡°Miri is one of my favorite people. Back in ¡®99, our medicans told me my little Talena wouldn¡¯t live the night. I rode that whole day and night to your mother in Bear¡¯s Crossing and she saved my little girl.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like my mother,¡± Alfread said.

    Bearbreaker grinned, wagging his finger at Alfread. ¡°I remember you were just a little yapper back then, barking questions up at me and your ma. After Talena was safe, Evan busted my balls telling me that I had to betroth her to you as payment for the healing.¡±

    Alfread leaned onto the table, looking severe. ¡°I¡¯ve come to claim my life¡¯s mate, Archlord Bearbreaker.¡±

    The room fell into a brief, uncomfortable silence as Archlord Bearbreaker¡¯s face turned serious. Sweat formed on Alfread¡¯s brow, but the archlord erupted into laughter. ¡°Archlord Bearbreaker? That was my father, boy. Meladon keep him safe from Zamael.¡± He pounded his chest. ¡°I¡¯m just Wayn. Leave the formalities outside, you big son of a lovely lady.¡±

    Zander couldn¡¯t prevent the laugh from escaping, spitting mead in the process. Wayn guffawed, pointing at Zander. ¡°See, Whelan?¡± he said, jabbing a finger at his son. ¡°You can break a bear and still know how to laugh.¡± He slapped Zander¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Why you spitting mead on my table, you big bastard?¡±

    ¡°Because piss is better out than in,¡± Zander said, raising his mug.

    Wayn laughed harder, clapping Zander¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve got the heart of a Bearbreaker, my boy!¡±

    ¡°And what is your lady¡¯s name?¡± Zander asked, gesturing toward the quiet woman beside the anything-but-quiet archlord.

    The petite woman cleared her throat, her voice calm and soothing. ¡°My mother was Lady Oshion, I¡¯m just Hanalei.¡±

    ¡°When I met her,¡± Wayn said, on the verge of laughter, ¡°she was a girl. By the end of the night, she was a lady.¡± He erupted into laughter, barely managing his punchline. ¡°Twice.¡±

    Zander was enamored with Wayn. It was like watching an actor masterfully playing the role of the jester and the archlord at once. He was simultaneously commanding, frightening, hilarious, and charming in a brutish way. Everyone couldn¡¯t help but laugh at his contagious laughter¡ªexcept for his own son who shook his head in exasperation.

    Wayn gathered his composure and turned his attention back to Zander. ¡°You¡¯re a divinedamn big son of a bitch! No offense to your mother. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s as lovely as the Love Queen herself. Ever thought of joining the Peacewatch? I could use a lad like you.¡±

    Zander raised an eyebrow, somehow at ease despite being given the offer he dreamt about since he was a little boy playing with toy swords. ¡°We didn¡¯t come all this way for the swill.¡±

    Wayn beamed. ¡°Tacitus, my good brother, can handle the paperwork and give you your enlistment coin. If my sister¡¯s man knows anything, it¡¯s how to lift his quill.¡±

    ¡°I can lift flagons too, boss.¡± Tacitus raised his flagon and drank. Speaking from within his flagon, he added, ¡°And your sister.¡±

    Wayn snorted. ¡°It was all simpler before Camellia¡¯s Good Service Promise. Divinedamn laws make my head hurt.¡±

    Striding to the hearth, he gestured for Zander and Alfread to kneel. As Zander¡¯s knee touched the fur rug, visions of glory filled his mind. He saw himself aiding the Bearbreakers to victory, earning his knighthood, and claiming the attention of even King Adameon. This was the start of everything. He would be the sorceress¡¯s knight. Sunrise and Moon, they¡¯d rise higher than all.

    Wayn¡¯s voice turned solemn, reverent even. ¡°The First Wayn was a simple man, a servant of the Love Queen¡¯s goodness. Though he was no poet, the Peacewatch Vow was his way to remind us of our true purpose. Repeat after me.¡± He closed his eyes, breathing deep. ¡°I pledge my service to Leveria¡¯s truest protectors, the Bearbreakers of Urzport. I vow to embrace peace and love, for that is the righteous cause. I swear on Meladon to see that justice always be done. I swear on the Love Queen that Leveria shall be one.¡±

    Zander and Alfread echoed his words, their voices firm with conviction. Zander felt the weight of the vow settle in his chest, a pride swelling that made him stand taller. He was honored to become a member of the Peacewatch and serve the greatest archlord in the realm.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Wayn said, gesturing for them to rise.

    ¡°Thank you, Wayn,¡± Zander replied, rising to his feet.

    Wayn¡¯s momentary seriousness vanished like smoke. ¡°Thank me? What for?! You¡¯re the one risking your life to fight for me, big man. That¡¯s right! You¡¯re men now, and I plan to put you to use as Asa¡¯s escorts. As much as I like having the little thunderbug around, she¡¯s needed in Mirrevar.¡±

    Zander¡¯s heart quickened, the excitement surging through him stronger than any mead. Mirrevar, he thought, my birthplace. His hand instinctively reached for his locket, only to realize it was gone. ¡°May I make a request?¡± he asked.

    Wayn raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course, but I may chuck it into the privy if its shite.¡±

    ¡°My life¡¯s mate awakened as a witch this sunrise,¡± Zander said, struggling to keep his voice steady. ¡°I want to serve as her sworn shield.¡±

    Wayn¡¯s eyes widened in surprise before a grin spread across his face. ¡°Now that¡¯s beautiful.¡± He gave Hanalei a nudge. ¡°No better guardian than a lover. Where is she?¡±

    ¡°Ferrickton.¡±

    Wayn chuckled. ¡°Ferrickton breeds them well. Asa¡¯s from there too. I¡¯ll send for your life¡¯s mate and have her trained by Asa in Mirrevar. Our girl is one of the brightest witches in the kingdom, she¡¯ll have your woman battle-ready in no time.¡±

    Zander fought back the tears. ¡°That would mean the world to me. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t entrust Asa¡¯s safety to two squires you just met!¡± Whelan objected. ¡°And sending an untrained cognitive-affectomancer into battle is reckless.¡±

    Wayn turned to his son, his voice losing its jovial tone. ¡°Whelan, for the sake of the Peacewatch, you need to learn to lead with your heart, not just decorum.¡± He pointed to Alfread. ¡°This man¡¯s mother saved your sister¡¯s life. His father saved mine. And this one,¡± he gestured at Zander, "bested a bear and speaks fluent Bearbreaker. For Leverith¡¯s sake, his life¡¯s mate awakened today, and he stands here, ready to serve. They¡¯ve been trained by one of the best blademasters in the realm and come with high recommendations. Someday, boy, you¡¯ll learn to follow your heart and watch for peace rather than run every feeling you have through a divinedamned blizzard of logic.¡±

    Whelan¡¯s expression remained stony, but he didn¡¯t argue.

    The door to the antechamber swung open, drawing all eyes. Percival entered, followed by a woman. The master of magic was nothing like Zander had imagined. Young, stunningly beautiful, with bronze skin that seemed to carry the warmth of distant sands. Her appearance reminded him of the shaded figure he¡¯d seen in the wolf¡¯s silver eyes.

    But that wasn¡¯t the biggest surprise.

    Master Asa of Ferrickton glowed like a star, her aura more brilliant than any noralistone. Golden hair shimmered around her, and her robes of red and white were embroidered with four symbols of power. In her hand, she held an alabaster staff, its pearly sheen amplifying her luminous presence. Her emerald eyes swept across the room, assessing Zander and Alfread in an instant. A warm smile illuminated her face, and her aura of golden light beamed more brilliantly.

    Zander felt Alfread nudge him sharply in the arm. ¡°That¡¯s her!¡± Alfread whispered, awe in his voice. ¡°The woman from my dreams!¡±

 Chapter 18: Ferrickton

    Ferrickton was a modest, peaceful town. Most homes were simple one-room cabins, save for the lord¡¯s mansion, the inn, and a few larger houses where the town¡¯s knights lived. It had no walls, but the Red Forest bordered it on all sides. The reddish-brown bark of the trees reminded Alexia of Zander¡¯s wild hair, and she daydreamed of walking through the woods with him, naming the colors of the leaves. She imagined his hand in hers, his smile warm as sunlight, and the way his eyes lit up when he looked at her. Touching her locket, she channeled Leverith¡¯s spirit, her thoughts drifting to kissing him again. She dreamed of taking him to Sapphirica, of him defending their love like Elior shielded Pelianna from Phyreon. But reality crashed in¡ªshe was to be married to Gideon¡¯s son. Fear rose in her belly and up into her chest imagining the reaction the king would have to her bringing this boy from the Ruby Kingdom home with her.

    Her mind had wandered like the ever-changing wind the last two days. She could stop thinking about Zander as easily as one of those trees could uproot itself and walk about the town on its canopy. His eyes were Leverith¡¯s twin moons, pulling her into orbit, even as the thought of what she must do repelled her.

    Thinking about the mission killed her happiness. Ferrickton¡¯s people had welcomed her and her companions with kindness. They had given her work at the lord¡¯s mansion, Maleon a job in the mines, and Sir Timmeck a position with the town guard. The townsfolk worked hard to provide for their families. They feared Zamael, revered Meladon, and worshiped Leverith, just like the people in her homeland. They reminded Alexia of the villagers she rescued in Fritjof. Here, she was the ogre.

    Alexia had slipped away to find some solitude during her break, but Allison, the adorable twelve-year-old girl, found her anyway. The child plopped down beside her, staring at the trees. Alexia couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Allison¡¯s sandy-brown Isihlan skin and wondered if her claim of being descended from the Shadowseer was true.

    Allison¡¯s innocent friendliness, more than anything else, awakened Alexia to the evils of her mission. From the moment Alexia arrived the previous morning, the girl had been an unrelenting source of joy. Gesturing to the Red Forest, Allison said, ¡°My dad says monsters live in those woods. Someday I¡¯m gonna grow strong like him and fight them.¡± She swung a stick at a nearby tree, giggling as it snapped in two.

    Alexia smiled but barely held back her tears. ¡°Allison the Almighty!¡±

    ¡°The Breaker of Sticks!¡± Allison curtsied dramatically, drawing a laugh from Alexia¡ªuntil her throat tightened.

    The little girl slid closer and put a hand on Alexia¡¯s back. ¡°Can you sing me another song, Alexia?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m in the mood,¡± Alexia replied, her voice strained.

    ¡°Please? I¡¯ll trade you a story for a song?¡±

    Alexia couldn¡¯t find it in her heart to deny such sweetness. ¡°This song is about the two greatest lovers ever,¡± she began.

    ¡°Pelianna and Elior!¡± Allison exclaimed.

    ¡°No,¡± Alexia corrected gently. ¡°It¡¯s the ¡®Ballad of the Sun and the Moon.¡¯ It¡¯s meant to be a duet, but I¡¯ll sing the Moon¡¯s verses too.¡±

    ¡°If you teach me, you won¡¯t have to sing alone!¡± Allison said eagerly.

    Alexia smiled, her fingers tightening around the locket Zander had given her. She let Leverith¡¯s spirit flow through her, the locket profoundly amplifying her power. It felt like her own piece of Mirrevar. How had Zander come to possess such a powerful conduit? Love flowing through her, she melded into the melody of her favorite song:

    Love¡¯s shining light

    Shines on us so bright,

    For all the world to see,

    The love of you and me.

    In all our innocent dreams,

    And all our lover¡¯s schemes,

    And all our heart¡¯s regimes,

    All feel our beams.

    Moon, I shine for you,

    I love you, big blue.

    I love you through and through,

    No words ever this true.

    Sun, ¡®tis you I embrace,

    When all the world¡¯s a race.

    ¡®Tis you I chase,

    My love¡¯s resting place.

    Love¡¯s shining light

    Shines on us so bright,

    For all the world to see.

    The love of you and me.

    No matter how far,

    You are always my star.

    No matter the time,

    You are worth the climb.

    No matter the wait,

    You are my life¡¯s mate.

    No matter what they say,

    You are always my way.

    No matter the fire,

    You are my desire.

    No matter the cold,

    ¡®Tis you I will hold.

    No matter the pain,

    Our love will never wane.

    Love¡¯s shining light

    Shines on us so bright,

    For all the world to see,

    The love of you and me.

    For all the world to see,

    The love of you and me.

    Alexia wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes. The words of the song had always seemed like a distant fantasy to her, something to aspire to. But now, thanks to Zander, she didn¡¯t have to dream anymore. She only had to hold onto the hope that she would see him again.

    Allison clapped and cheered, her voice bubbling with admiration. ¡°That was beautiful, Alexia! Have you ever thought about singing for the archlords?¡±

    Alexia chuckled through her tears. Singing had always been a private joy, shared only with her parents. Her father used to say she could be the greatest voice in Sapphirica if she just let people hear her. But the thought of performing in front of others terrified her. ¡°I don¡¯t think I could ever do that,¡± Alexia admitted.

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Because people terrify me.¡±

    Allison frowned, as though Alexia had just said the most nonsensical thing in the world. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be scared once you saw how much they love your voice.¡± She stood up, hands on her hips, and belted out the chorus of the song, her voice wildly off-key, but so full of heart that Alexia couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    ¡°See, I did it, and I don¡¯t even have the voice of a Divine.¡± Allison crossed her arms with a triumphant grin, daring Alexia to challenge her.

    Alexia smiled, tears welling in her eyes, Leverith¡¯s spirit flowing through her like a flooding river. ¡°I believe you owe me a story.¡±

    ¡°Ha! You¡¯re trying to dodge me, Alexia!¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re far too clever for your age,¡± Alexia replied, shaking her head with a smile. ¡°You¡¯d do well at the Leverian University or Meridian¡¯s Erudition.¡±

    Allison shook her head firmly. ¡°Nice try, Alexia, but flattery won¡¯t work either!¡± She leaned in closer, her cherubic smile almost too much to bear. ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll sing when people need to hear a song.¡±

    There was no escaping this persistent child. Alexia sighed in surrender. ¡°I¡¯ll share my song when the time comes.¡±

    ¡°Ha!¡± Allison picked up another stick, smacking it against a tree and snapping it in half. ¡°You can¡¯t escape the Breaker of Sticks!¡± she roared in her deepest voice.

    Alexia couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the little girl¡¯s antics, though her heart ached. She glanced toward the mines, the guilt stabbing her gut like a jagged blade.

    ¡°You know, my cousin went to the Leverian University,¡± Allison said. ¡°She awakened a few moons before I was born.¡±

    ¡°Now that sounds like a story,¡± Alexia said, hoping to shift her thoughts away from the mines.

    Allison nodded eagerly, launching into the tale of her cousin Asa¡¯s awakening. But as the child spoke, Alexia couldn¡¯t shake the dark thoughts swirling in her mind. Visions of dead miners and soldiers flashed before her eyes, along with Allison¡¯s lifeless face. Her heart twisted in knots. She didn¡¯t know how she was going to do this and ever be able to love herself again. She spent the remainder of the day trying not to think about the mission, but it was always there, looming like a full moon.

    As she left the lord¡¯s mansion at sunset, a small tug on her tunic startled her. ¡°Alexia?¡± Allison¡¯s soft voice called.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    Alexia exhaled slowly, calming her racing heart. ¡°Yes, Allison?¡±

    The girl¡¯s face beamed with a brightness that rivaled the setting sun. She grabbed Alexia¡¯s hands, her wide emerald eyes filled with hope. ¡°Do you wanna play with me? My cousin gave me a doll, and I wanna dress her up like you and make her sing!¡± She lifted the doll, her voice lilting in a playful tune. ¡°La la la. La la la!¡±

    Alexia¡¯s heart softened, and a smile tugged at her lips, despite the sorrow that dominated within her. She wished Leveria knew peace and not Zamael, wished she weren¡¯t bound by her duty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetling. I¡¯d love to, but my father is expecting me.¡±

    Allison¡¯s smile faltered, her shoulders slumping. ¡°You should be free to do what you want.¡±

    The simple statement struck Alexia hard, her throat tightening. When would she be free? Free to follow her heart, to do what felt right, to love Zander without fear, to befriend this sweet, precocious child who happened to be born on the wrong side of an invisible line? Would this always be her life? Committing one atrocity after another, serving Zamael in the name of loyalty and duty, bonded to a prince she didn¡¯t love, trying to conquer a kingdom full of people she could love. This wasn¡¯t the song she wanted to sing. This wasn¡¯t who she dreamt she would be. Her grandfather fled Kavova to escape indentured servitude, and now, what was she but a slave to the Gemstone War?

    Tears stung her eyes as hopelessness surged within her. She knelt down and pulled Allison into a tight embrace, clutching to the little girl she was ordered to harm when all she ever did was love her. ¡°You are a ray of light in a dark world. Never forget that. I love you.¡±

    ¡°I love you too, Alexia,¡± Allison whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. ¡°I¡¯ve been lonely since my mommy died, but you¡¯re changing that.¡±

    Alexia broke inside, her silent tears falling into the girl¡¯s golden hair. She held her tighter, guilt eviscerating her soul.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Alexia,¡± Allison said softly. ¡°Leverith watches over you. She wants you to be free too.¡±

    Alexia kissed the top of her head, wishing more than anything that the girl¡¯s innocent words were true.

    Alexia shifted the conversation as she walked Allison home, steering away from anything that might betray the storm brewing in her mind. When they reached the family¡¯s cabin, Sir Barnett greeted them at the door. He was a sturdy man, solid in a way that belied the softness in his eyes. He looked nothing like his daughter, but the warmth between them was unmistakable. The untitled knight sent his daughter into the cabin to help prepare dinner and then pulled Alexia aside.

    ¡°Allison adores you,¡± Sir Barnett said, his voice heavy with gratitude.

    Alexia managed a weak smile. ¡°I adore her too.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you came here, Alexia. I haven¡¯t seen her smile like this since her mother passed last year. She¡¯s been a shadow of herself and nothing I tried could bring back her light. But you¡¯ve brought her back. She¡¯s the little girl I remember again.¡±

    Alexia lowered her eyes, trying to hide another wave of tears. She felt like a monster, knowing that tonight she would dam the flow of this town¡¯s lifeblood.

    He extended his hand. ¡°My home is always open to you. You¡¯re welcome for supper, or just to spend time with Allison whenever you like.¡±

    The pit in Alexia¡¯s stomach widened. She hesitated before shaking his hand. ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡±

    He smiled kindly. ¡°Please, call me Barnett.¡±

    Alexia nodded. She met his eyes, wanting to tell him she didn¡¯t deserve his kindness. She was too much of a coward, but Barnett noticed her hesitation.

    ¡°I know that look. You¡¯re probably wondering if she¡¯s really mine?¡±

    Alexia took a breath, thankful for the diversion. ¡°Not that. Is she really descended from the Shadowseer?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what her mother and aunt believed. They came to Ferrickton as young girls, without their Isihlan mother, so I can¡¯t speak to the lineage myself. But I can vouch for their honesty. Neither of them were the type to lie or seek attention. Both Allison and Asa look like their mother and nothing like their fathers. I can¡¯t explain it.¡±

    Alexia nodded, grateful for his answer. The Shadowseer had always fascinated her¨Ca figure who had battled his inner darkness as fiercely as any enemy. She felt a sharp kinship with that struggle now.

    She thanked Barnett and took her leave, praying to Norali that she might light her way through this night, causing as little pain as possible.

    The night was cool and windy as the sun dipped below the horizon, and the chill only worsened Alexia¡¯s mood. It was Norali¡¯s Moon, the second of summer¡ªusually the sunniest and most hopeful of the thirteen moons. But tonight felt different, ominous. It was Zamael Waxing, the full moon just peeking over the northern horizon to catch the last rays of the sun. Many legends surrounded the full moon; all of them ended in tragedy. They were tales of death and devastation, of dreams turned to dust, of love twisted to hate, tales of innocence lost. Alexia could feel the Dark Brother¡¯s corrupting presence creeping into the air.

    Despite the dread gnawing at her, she steeled herself to do the best she could to let Leverith¡¯s spirit prevail tonight. She would sabotage the mines without harming anyone. Even though it would still hurt these people, there was no other way. She sighed, wishing she were as free as Allison believed her to be. But she had no choice. She couldn¡¯t disobey King Gideon Sapphire.

    Alexia tried to comfort herself. These people were strong; they would survive the mine¡¯s loss. Fewer weapons would be forged, fewer accidents like the one that had injured Allison¡¯s uncle. But her justifications felt flimsy, and she leaned on them only because she had nothing else.

    When she returned to her suite at The Rusty Pickaxe, the silence inside was as cold as the wind outside. Maleon stood by the hearth, stoking the flames with magic, while Timmeck sat on the floor, sharpening his blade. Neither of them looked up.

    ¡°You¡¯re late, princess,¡± Maleon said, his voice edged with hostility.

    Ignoring his tone, Alexia handed out their meals. ¡°What¡¯s the report tonight?¡±

    Timmeck stopped sharpening and looked at her. ¡°One sentry posted at the mine entrance. I¡¯ve got patrol duty.¡±

    Alexia nodded. ¡°I can put him to sleep, or you can lure him away. We¡¯ll sabotage the mines tonight, make it look like a natural cave-in. No one gets hurt, and we leave without suspicion tomorrow morning when our jobs are gone.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Maleon said. ¡°I know where to strike to shut down the mines for moons. Better yet, I can arrange an accident during the day. Hundreds of Rubies will go down there and never come back. No one will ever suspect us.¡±

    Alexia stared at him, horrified. This was the man who¡¯d been her friend and mentor, the man who¡¯d saved her life in Mirrevar. In the space of two days, he became unrecognizable. ¡°I can¡¯t let you do that. These people have done us no harm.¡±

    ¡°No?¡± Maleon¡¯s brown eyes flashed. ¡°What about the Hedgeman who nearly put a dagger in your heart? What if the families of those you killed in Vulcan got a hold of you? Would they do you no harm? The Ruby Kingdom is your enemy, child. You need to hit them hard, or they¡¯ll never surrender.¡±

    ¡°This war is my enemy,¡± Alexia said firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t end it by letting you kill innocent miners.¡±

    Maleon stood, his gaze dark. ¡°You¡¯ve got the power to conquer this kingdom, end the war, and make Leveria whole again. These miners? They¡¯ll be Ruby soldiers soon enough, out for your blood. Only conquest can truly end the Gemstone War. Let go of your innocence and embrace what you¡¯re capable of.¡±

    Alexia kept her voice calm, though her frustration simmered. ¡°You can¡¯t end a cycle of violence by adding more to it. War is not the solution to war.¡± Alexia clutched the locket, drawing on Leverith¡¯s spirit. ¡°Peace is the only solution. Leveria will only heal when we remember our true purpose¡ªLeverith¡¯s love. The Sapphire and the Ruby were once one kingdom. By the grace of Leverith, they can be united again.¡±

    Maleon let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°You¡¯re na?ve if you think love alone can fix this. Linus tried, and he died for it. The only thing that can forge lasting peace is power.¡±

    ¡°Queen Alexia Leveria¡ª¡±

    ¡°Overpowered three armies with a single spell,¡± Maleon said. ¡°Loving though she may have been¡ªlike you¡ªit was her power that people revered.¡± He stepped toward Alexia. ¡°You need to relinquish your desire for that boy and become a queen powerful enough to bind this realm together. After the blood has been spilled and the Ruby submits to you, lasting prosperity can be sustained through love. But remember, Philladon didn¡¯t create this kingdom with kisses and kind words. He broke everyone who wouldn¡¯t bend, and then uplifted them once his power was absolute. That is the only way.¡±

    Alexia trembled, unsure. Maleon¡¯s certainty chipped away at her fragile confidence. His argument rang true: Linus, Queen Alexia, King Philladon, their stories told of how power was the glue that held kingdoms together while love was the catalyst that made them thrive when they were unified. Love, on its own, wasn¡¯t enough. Still, she couldn¡¯t stomach his plan. She couldn¡¯t resign herself to hurting innocent girls like Allison, good men like Barnett, and her own life¡¯s mate.

    ¡°Gideon is a born conqueror," Maleon continued, like a hammer smashing into her confidence. "He knows he¡¯s winning and you¡¯re his ultimate weapon. You can make the Ruby submit, bond his son, and reign over a unified Leveria. Do you want the ten years of peace Linus¡¯s path bought, or the thousands that Philladon delivered? You must decide, Alexia, whether the millions of lives you¡¯ll save in the coming centuries justify the thousands you must take now.¡±

    Alexia slumped to the floor, clinging to her locket for an answer. Maleon¡¯s brutal calculus was undeniable; history supported his claim. The only thing in the way was her heart telling her it was wrong.

    Timmeck¡¯s voice broke through the silence. ¡°He¡¯s wrong, Alexia.¡± His expression was more serious than she¡¯d ever seen. ¡°The Divine Thirteen sent you to us for a reason¡ªto end the war without spilling innocent blood. You don¡¯t have to be like Philladon or Linus. All you have to be is Alexia Bluerose. Follow your heart, and you¡¯ll reforge peace.¡±

    His words strengthened her resolve. She turned to Maleon. ¡°We seal the mines tonight. No one gets hurt. If we¡¯re unseen, we leave in the morning. If we¡¯re spotted, we head for Mirrevar. Can you follow the plan?¡±

    Maleon¡¯s face twisted into a scowl. ¡°I¡¯ll follow your orders this time, but don¡¯t expect me to ever take them again.¡±

    Part of Alexia shared his sentiment, wishing she never had to rely on him again. But another part still hoped Maleon could find his way back to being the man she once admired. ¡°I don¡¯t want this to be the end of our story,¡± she said softly. ¡°I still believe in you. I believe you can be the hero who broke the stone off the mountain, who saved my life in Mirrevar, who gave me courage when I doubted myself. I know you¡¯re still in there, behind the cynical mask you wear.¡±

    Maleon¡¯s expression softened, vulnerable for the first time since their fight on the River Road. ¡°Forty years ago, I¡¯d have stood beside Timmeck and pledged myself to your cause. But dreamers don¡¯t change the world, Alexia; the world changes them. All I want now is to kill Rubies and see the Sapphire win this war.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be that man,¡± Alexia said, her voice breaking, tears filling her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not too late to dream again.¡±

    Maleon groaned, turning toward the door.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Alexia asked, worried.

    He gave her a sharp look. ¡°A man can¡¯t even piss without asking permission now?¡±

    Timmeck shot him a glare. ¡°No need to be a jackass, Maleon.¡±

    Without a word, Maleon opened the door.

    ¡°Maleon!¡± Alexia called after him. He hesitated but didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°It¡¯s not too late.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a degree,¡± he muttered, walking away.

    Alexia sat on the cold floor beside Sir Timmeck, her stomach roiling with dread. She tried to settle it with a few bites of food, but the unease in Ferrickton tonight was thicker than any meal could soothe.

    ¡°I¡¯m proud of you,¡± Timmeck said. ¡°When I first met you, you seemed untouchable, all skill and poise. But you weren¡¯t real¡ªyou were hiding inside a shell. What you¡¯ve been hiding, though, is the most beautiful part of you. I used to want to follow you into battle. Now, I dream of following you into peace.¡±

    Alexia set down her fork and looked up to meet his steady one-eyed gaze. ¡°I¡¯m proud of me, too,¡± she said, letting her armor fall. Her journey had taught her that the mask she wore to protect herself also held her back. It shielded her from judgment, but it kept her from reaching people. She couldn¡¯t touch the hearts of Maleon or the many Leverians craving vengeance by burying the dreamer within her.

    She slid closer to Timmeck until their shoulders touched. She cared about him, and he cared about her. There was no need to hide that. Together, they finished their meal in the quiet warmth of shared belief¡ªa fleeting calm before the storm.

    Maleon entered just as they finished.

    ¡°What took you so long?¡± Timmeck asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

    Maleon¡¯s face was unreadable, as flat as the barren walls of the room. ¡°After my piss, I figured I¡¯d replenish my fluids,¡± he muttered, his voice distant, almost hollow. Alexia frowned, sensing the undercurrent. Was he nervous about the mission? Or was he brooding over their earlier conversation? Either way, his detachment unnerved her.

    She stood, donning her robes and fastening her rapier at her hip. Her fingers curled around her staff¡ªAurora¡ªits familiar weight bringing a momentary sense of control. The locket was a stronger conduit for channeling the Divine, but she wasn¡¯t ready to part with the staff she¡¯d trained with for years. Silence hung in the air as they waited, hearts pounding. It was time.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with,¡± Maleon said, his tone flat, eyes distant.

    Alexia and Maleon leapt from the second-floor window, carried by Zafrir¡¯s wind to land soundlessly on the ground. Timmeck, already armored for patrol, joined them as they stepped into the freezing night, the full moon casting an eerie blue glow over the town. The wind howled, biting through their clothes, and Alexia clenched her jaw, every muscle taut with anticipation.

    The mine¡¯s entrance loomed ahead, but the sentry was missing. Unease coiled in her stomach, like water boiling over a cauldron. She glanced at the moon, uncertainty freezing her in place.

    ¡°Zamael¡¯s Hells!¡± Maleon hissed. Before Alexia could react, he bolted toward the mine. She lunged to grab him, but he slipped from her grasp. She and Timmeck followed in desperate pursuit.

    ¡°Halt!¡±

    The voice shattered the quiet like breaking glass, Alexia¡¯s heart shattering with the silence. Seven men emerged from the shadows of the trees, swords gleaming in the moonlight. Alexia went into hyperfocus, determined to make pain smaller. She wouldn¡¯t let these men die tonight. She summoned Leverith¡¯s spirit, visualizing the blue waves of love cradling the soldiers to sleep like a mother soothing her child.

    Thin tendrils of blue light, soft as moonbeams, curled toward the rearmost sentry. He resisted, but Alexia¡¯s will was stronger. His knees buckled, and he collapsed into the dirt, unconscious.

    But something was wrong. The air vibrated, a foul presence creeping into the space like a sickness. The darkness pressing down on her made her want to retch. She shoved the feeling aside¡ªher purpose too important to falter. She couldn¡¯t let this night become Zamael¡¯s triumph.

    Another sentry fell, then another. But the foulness in the air grew thicker, the vibrations stronger. She felt the dark energy pressing on her, smothering her every breath. Sweat drenched her palms. Three men still advanced, oblivious to their fallen comrades.

    The ground beneath her feet trembled like a scared child. Maleon groaned beside her, his body shuddering as if gripped by the same dark force. The dread reached a crescendo, and Alexia struggled to keep her focus. Two guards remained standing.

    Then, Maleon¡¯s voice ripped through the air. ¡°Chasmatius!¡±

    The earth screamed in response, splitting open with a deafening roar. Two deep chasms tore through the ground, the wails of the planet like a tortured soul. Alexia clapped her hands over her ears, staggering backwards as the ground shattered in front of her. The sound was unbearable¡ªan agonized cry that would echo for miles.

    Ferrickton awoke beneath the full moon to a nightmare.

 Chapter 19: Radiant Pt. 1

    The woman of Alfread¡¯s dreams shimmered with a radiant glow; her aura was reminiscent of the halo atop the Angel of Hope in Matron Mabel¡¯s stories. Her wavy hair fell in golden strands like starlight, cascading from her head to her hips. Short by Leverian standards¡ªat least a foot shorter than Alfread¡ªher soft, slender frame was perfectly proportioned. She was no ancient crone.

    Wayn shielded his eyes. ¡°Blast it, Asa! Turn off that light¡ªBrighten is next span!¡±

    The witch, Asa, smirked at Zander and Alfread before setting her sights on Wayn. ¡°Apologies, Archlord¡± she said with a devilish grin.

    Wayn¡¯s laughter echoed through the hall as he pulled her into a bear hug. After a moment, he released her and guided her to a seat beside Whelan. ¡°See, Whelan? She knows how to have fun.¡±

    Zander noticed the glance exchanged between the witch and the heir, hinting that Alfread¡¯s dream woman might not be as pure as he. Before he could dwell on it, Wayn¡¯s fist slammed against the table. ¡°Stop staring and sit!¡±

    Zander nudged Alfread into the seat across from Asa before Percival could slip into it.

    ¡°These men have a tale for us,¡± Wayn announced, pointing. ¡°The big one is Alfread son of Evan. The enormous one is Zander of Mirrevar.¡±

    Asa smiled, first at Alfread, then quickly averting her eyes at Zander. ¡°Enchanted,¡± she said, her grin charming enough to put any tavern maid to shame.

    Alfread cleared his throat, meeting her gaze. ¡°Radiant,¡± he managed. Her aura glowed fierce, causing everyone to avert their eyes. Alfread gulped from his flagon, his unnaturally steady hands tremoring for the first time in years.

    Wayn snorted. ¡°That divinedamned light never shuts off. Imagine having to sleep beside that, eh boys?¡±

    Alfread kept his gaze fixed on his flagon, and Whelan looked as far from the witch as he could.

    Asa twirled a wand between her fingers. ¡°So, who¡¯s the storyteller?¡±

    Alfread took a deep breath, then began. ¡°We killed the wolves in the north.¡± He paused, taking another breath, meeting Asa¡¯s gaze, his voice shaky. ¡°But they were corrupt.¡±

    Asa leaned forward. ¡°Corrupt? How?¡± She ran her hand along her staff, a pearly white stone thing with a pair of angel wings atop it.

    Alfread explained the situation, gaining composure as he detailed the oddities. When he finished, Wayn pounded on the table. ¡°I¡¯d kill ¡®em all again!¡±

    Asa tilted her head back, deep in thought. ¡°Were they traveling with an ape?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No dotar,¡± Alfread replied.

    Her eyebrows raised in surprise. She smiled at Alfread. ¡°Were they near a water source?¡±

    Alfread nodded, his excitement rising. ¡°Yes, a pond!¡±

    Asa leaned in, her emerald-green eyes on Zander. ¡°Was the water yellow? Did it smell acrid?¡±

    Alfread shook his head. ¡°No, just murky and full of leeches.¡± He smirked at Zander.

    Zander coughed. ¡°Water didn¡¯t give me the runs.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you were running, my friend,¡± Alfread said.

    Wayn cracked a smile, before pounding on the table. ¡°Get on with it! Tell me who I¡¯ve gotta bloody break!¡±

    ¡°Not a dotar and not Rubi¡¯s Perniciam,¡± Asa said, her aura dimming. ¡°After they died, did the wolves remain unchanged?¡±

    ¡°They weren¡¯t Kavovan metamorphs,¡± Alfread said.

    ¡°Or Atmana wildshapers,¡± Asa mused, studying Alfread closely before slumping in her chair, head in her hands, her glow dimmed.

    Wayn¡¯s voice cut through the silence. ¡°What is it, Asa?¡±

    ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± she muttered.

    Alfread reached across the table toward her. ¡°The wolves were tamed, weren¡¯t they?¡±

    Asa¡¯s eyes hovered over Alfread¡¯s hand, but Wayn¡¯s impatient demand interrupted her. ¡°Asa, you have to tell us! Who¡¯s behind these attacks?¡±

    ¡°Norali shade us from these dark shadows,¡± Asa mumbled. She inhaled deeply. ¡°The people responsible for the end of my foremothers¡¯ homeland.¡± Asa clenched her jaw, rage coloring her sandy-brown complexion. ¡°The descendants of the Celegan Hollows in Vesarra. They can project their consciousness into the minds of beasts¡ªor people¡ªfrom incredible distances, controlling them.¡±

    Wayn¡¯s fist crashed into the table again, fury popping the veins on his neck. ¡°We¡¯ll find these Sell Agains and feed them to the bears!¡±

    Asa¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Their bodies may not even be in Urzport Hold. They could be far away, across the sea even.¡±

    Tacitus spoke up, his tone somber. ¡°Historically, the Celegans stayed out of Leverian affairs. They spent a millennium subjugated and battling for their freedom from the Gidiite Empire until Gurgaldai ezen Celegan finished the last of the Sunset Kings. Then, in the last fifty years, they claimed all of Vesarra: Gidiite, Heiyan, Atmana, Isihla, all fallen. We never thought they¡¯d cross the seas.¡±

    Alfread, his voice grave, added ¡°They leave nothing of the conquered society¡¯s culture behind.¡±

    Asa nodded grimly. ¡°They massacre the men, defile the women, and enslave their own children. The Chimaera are upon us.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    Wayn¡¯s fists crashed into the table, splintering the wood. ¡°Zamael¡¯s Hells!¡± A jug of mead tipped over, but Alfread caught it in time. ¡°Tacitus, send word to Adameon. Now!¡± Wayn burst from his chair and paced the room.

    Tacitus swallowed nervously. ¡°What should I say?¡±

    ¡°Whatever you need to! Just get it done! Adameon needs to prepare!¡± Wayn¡¯s fist hammered into an armoire.

    ¡°Are you sure about this, Asa?¡± Hanalei asked.

    Asa met her gaze, shaking her head. ¡°Celegan taming is the only possibility.¡± Her voice softened. ¡°That said, this could be the work of renegades, or even just a scouting mission.¡± She forced a smile. ¡°Alfread and Zander may have scared them off for good.¡±

    Hope flickered in the room.

    ¡°We can¡¯t take that risk,¡± Whelan said. ¡°Let the scholars and stewards in Rubinia puzzle over this.¡±

    Wayn grunted. ¡°Tacitus! Make sure Serapheena gets a copy of the report. Tell the flaming genius I expect her to figure this out.¡±

    Tacitus hurried out of the chamber with Percival on his heels. Wayn looked out the window grumbling about how the foreigners would feel his wrath for what they¡¯d already done to his people.

    Zander admired Wayn¡¯s intense passion. He¡¯d always believed that the archlords just let shite roll downhill without a care for who gets smeared by it. Wayn was a man of action, trying to shield his folk from the shite that was coming at them. That, more than his informality, convinced Zander that he swore his service to the worthiest lord in the realm.

    ¡°Blackened Zamael, I almost forgot,¡± Wayn said. ¡°Asa, these men will escort you to Mirrevar tomorrow. Cerzein and Shaela are dead, killed by imps. Mirrevar needs a wizard and a witch, and I¡¯ve only got the witch to send.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to see Mirrevar,¡± Asa said, glancing at Zander and Alfread. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you at first light.¡±

    ¡°What about Alexia?¡± Zander asked.

    Wayn turned to Asa. ¡°You want an apprentice?¡±

    Asa leaned back. ¡°Depends.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a Ferrickton lass like you, and Zander¡¯s life¡¯s mate. You can use another hand.¡±

    Asa raised her hands. ¡°Here I thought I already had two.¡± Her smile faded along with Wayn¡¯s snort. ¡°She¡¯d be better served at the University. The first years after awakening require intensive training and constant supervision.¡±

    Whelan shot his father a triumphant glare, but Wayn ignored him. ¡°Just give her an introduction. I¡¯ll send her to Rubinia with Zander once Mirrevar is sorted.¡±

    Asa shrugged. ¡°Send her to me, but you may invoke Emmalyn¡¯s wrath.¡±

    Wayn snorted. ¡°That old bat doesn¡¯t scare me.¡± He turned to Zander. ¡°I¡¯ll put together an escort for her after Meladon¡¯s day. She¡¯ll join you in the Love Queen¡¯s land soon.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Zander said, his hand instinctively reaching for the locket before he realized it was where it belonged.

    Wayn ordered Whelan to escort Zander and Alfread to their guest room. As they departed, Wayn extended his hand to Zander again. This time, Zander gripped it firmly, locking eyes with the archlord in a silent battle of grip supremacy. ¡°Keep her safe,¡± Wayn said sternly. ¡°She¡¯s the best witch in this kingdom, and one of my own. I like you, but if she¡¯s harmed, I¡¯ll hunt you down.¡±

    Zander seized the dominant grip. ¡°I will guard her with my life.¡±

    Zander released, only for Wayn to dig back in and mercilessly crush his fingers. ¡°See that you keep that oath, Zander of Mirrevar.¡±

    Turning to Alfread, Wayn added, ¡°You too, Miri¡¯s son.¡±

    Alfread solemnly swore, ¡°By the Divine Thirteen, I¡¯ll protect her with all my might. I will do whatever it takes to shield her light.¡±

    Wayn slapped him on the back. ¡°Good. When the Celegans come, I¡¯ll wield Urzbane and lead the Peacewatch into battle myself. These bloody shits might control beasts, but Wayn Bearbreakers have been breaking beasts for over a thousand years.¡±

    They bade farewell to the archlord who would not be called archlord. Asa nodded to them as they left but stayed engaged in conversation with Lady Hanalei.

    Whelan guided them briskly through Urz¡¯s End. Just outside of Wayn¡¯s rooms, they encountered a stocky, hairy man lecturing a young boy. The child, short-haired and sullen, looked utterly defeated. The man stopped when he saw Whelan, giving him a thin smile. His greeting was as cold as a winter wind. ¡°Nephew.¡±

    Whelan inclined his head. ¡°Sir Werner.¡±

    Zander recognized the name¡ªWerner, commander of the Peacewatch, known as Iceheart.

    ¡°She thinks she¡¯ll be a knight,¡± Iceheart growled, gesturing to the girl Zander previously thought was a boy.

    Alfread spoke up. ¡°Elen of Qorath killed King Maleon Sapphire and his heir in two-on-one combat. Princess Serapheena trains with the Crimsonblades and is a prodigy with both the blade and bow. Her great-grandmother Queen Kaidaxus was the greatest fighter in Leveria while she lived. The greatest warrior of the last two centuries was either Zyryxa of Loxzua or Tuya of the Hollows. Bearbreakers make the best knights in the realm and being a woman doesn¡¯t disqualify one from being a great warrior. All should be free to choose their path in life.¡±

    Iceheart¡¯s eyes flashed with anger. ¡°Next time I need parenting advice, I¡¯ll be sure to consult you.¡± His voice dropped, cold and dangerous. ¡°Question me again and you¡¯ll regret it.¡±

    Werner turned back to the girl. ¡°Bearbreaker women don¡¯t play at war. They become ladies and marry knights or archlords. If I catch you with another stick, Winnifer, I¡¯ll tan your hide with it.¡±

    Winnifer Bearbreaker frowned at her feet, trying to hide her sobs. One look at her was enough to know that she¡¯d never be prized as a highborn lady. As a warrior, she might find a place where she belonged. Zander pondered on the situation until they arrived at their room, reaching the conclusion that Alfread¡¯s defense of her dreams was an act of honor.

    Their guest room was modest and unadorned, defying what Zander thought a castle bedroom ought to be. ¡°One bed?¡± Zander noted.

    Whelan shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s all my father allotted. Honestly, you shouldn¡¯t even have this. Peacewatch squires belong in the barracks.¡±

    ¡°Your father is a good man and respectable archlord,¡± Alfread said, pointedly leaving much unsaid.

    Whelan bristled. ¡°My father¡¯s a fighter, not an archlord. Master Tacitus runs things, and Sir Werner commands the Peacewatch. Without them, my father would be lost.¡±

    Zander wanted to cut into this spoiled lordling. He had no idea what Zander, or the thousands of orphans in Leveria, would have given to be raised by a father like Wayn. ¡°Your father¡¯s worth ten Icehearts.¡±

    Whelan¡¯s grin confirmed everything Zander believed about the arrogance of most lordlings. ¡°I¡¯m going to demand father assign knights to Asa¡¯s escort. The Peacewatch has hundreds of those, but Leveria only has one of her.¡±

    ¡°No harm will come to Asa while I still draw breath,¡± Alfread said, glaring at Whelan. The lordling sneered in return, shaking his head.

    Zander needed to get Whelan out of the room before he, or Alfread, started throwing fists. He strained to retain as much chivalry as he could. ¡°It was my honor to meet you, Sir Whelan.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Whelan said, raising a brow. ¡°Time will tell us what your honor is worth, Zander.¡±

    ¡°Your honor¡¯s worth more than his,¡± Alfread said after the lordling took his leave. ¡°Divinedamned lordling.¡±

    Zander couldn¡¯t agree more. His jaw and fists unclenched, he settled in for the night, trying to be grateful for a bed, even shared with Alfread.

    He and Alfread spent another angle talking, fawning over their prospective life¡¯s mates. But as Zander lay awake, his mind filled with grim images¡ªmen turning into beasts, murdering, raping, and enslaving He clutched his chest, trying to focus on thoughts of Alexia and dreams of love, but every time, she was stolen away by the shaded man on the earthen throne.

 Chapter 19: Radiant Pt. 2

    ¡°Rise and shine!¡± a sing-song voice called as blinding light flooded the room.

    Zander shielded his eyes as he adjusted to the brightness. Asa stood in the doorway, her staff glowing. She smiled, tilting her head with playful charm, brushing her golden hair.

    ¡°Sorry about the intrusion,¡± she said, though her impish grin suggested otherwise. She stole a quick glance at both Zander and Alfread, winked, and softly closed the door.

    Zander rolled out of bed and dressed quickly.

    ¡°Did you see the way she smiled at me?¡± Alfread beamed in his own radiant way as he got up. ¡°Zander, what do I do?¡±

    Zander stifled a laugh and forced a stern expression. ¡°First, forget every ribald jest your father ever used. Those are the things we get to say after we¡¯ve established our life¡¯s mate bonds.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s entire being was focused on Zander¡¯s advice as if he were the Seeress of Meladon, preaching the Divine King¡¯s word on the day of prayer. Seeing how utterly important this was to Alfread, Zander tried not to let him down.

    ¡°Alfread, you¡¯re the best looking, best listening, most poetic soul, and you might still ram your affection against Seraxa¡¯s Wall and splinter your heart into a thousand pieces if you overthink this. You¡¯re good enough for any woman¡ªeven this shining star. If it¡¯s meant to be, Leverith will make it so.¡±

    Alfread took a deep breath. ¡°Brighter than the stars,¡± he said.

    Zander clapped his friend¡¯s back. ¡°That¡¯s right. I love you, brother. She will too.¡±

    They emerged from the room¡ªZander in ill-fitting armor, Alfread looking princely in well-tailored leather. Asa leaned against the wall, wearing riding clothes that left her sandy-brown shoulders, toned arms, and chiseled calves exposed. She eyed them with a grin that made Zander believe she liked what she saw almost as much as Alfread must¡¯ve liked the tight fit at her ample chest and bottom. Zander, so stricken, looked away to keep true to his life¡¯s mate, and pictured Alexia wearing even more revealing clothes.

    ¡°Do you two always sleep together?¡± Asa asked.

    ¡°No!¡± Zander blurted, prepared to defend his manliness from the witch¡¯s accusations.

    Alfread more calmly replied, ¡°Only when my boss¡¯s heir abuses his privilege to play pranks on men that threaten his esteem.¡±

    Asa brushed her hair out of her eyes with one of the most endearing smiles Zander had ever seen. Alfread smiled back, bright and confident.

    She averted her gaze, as if shy. ¡°No judgment from me. I grew up in Ferrickton, sleeping on straw. The Leverian University was the first time I experienced actual comfort. Countless times Lira and I collapsed in the nearest bed after drilling together for a dozen or more angles.¡±

    ¡°How did your magic awaken?¡± Alfread asked.

    Good question, Zander thought. Keep her talking about herself.

    Asa led them down a stairwell. ¡°Do you want the long or short version?¡±

    Alfread rushed ahead of her, opening the door into the courtyard. He met her gaze with his best smile. ¡°I want the version you want to tell.¡±

    She brushed her hair again, the edges of her lips curving. ¡°The longer the better.¡±

    Charismatic Alfread¡¯s brief appearance was at its end. He blushed extravagantly as she brushed past him.

    ¡°I was twelve, working as a scullery maid in Lord Ferrickton¡¯s manor, when Uncle Barnett told me that my father¡¯s legs had been crushed in a cave-in.¡± Her aura seemed to dim. ¡°The town¡¯s medican said he¡¯d never walk again. I refused to accept it. I hugged my father, sobbing into his shoulder, unable to believe that this man I loved wouldn¡¯t walk again, that he wouldn¡¯t chase me when the leaves fell or toss me in the air and catch me. I pleaded to Norali and to Leverith, begging for a miracle, for a more hopeful future. I closed my eyes and tried to see a future where my father walked beside me again.¡±

    Asa inhaled, her lips trembling. ¡°He held me, promising me that everything would be okay. I told him it would, because I was going to take care of him. That¡¯s when I felt the energy flow into me¡ªlight and love¡ªit emerged, golden and blue, twining around my father¡¯s shattered legs as I saw the future of him throwing me into the air. When he stood and tossed me, it was one of the happiest moments of my life.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a beautiful story,¡± Alfread said. ¡°I shan¡¯t ever forget it.¡±

    Zander doubted Alfread ever forgot any story. The boy was a bipedal repository of books.

    ¡°Full of love and hope,¡± Alfread said, ¡°your prayers were answered by Norali and Leverith. Your strength, your love, your hope¡ªyou were an amazing girl.¡±

    Asa grinned and gestured toward herself, exuding charm. ¡°If I was amazing then, how did I become this?¡±

    ¡°Stellar question,¡± Alfread said, his voice trembling. ¡°How did you become amazing and radiant?¡±

    She laughed and waved a hand through the radiant light surrounding her. ¡°I think the light deceives you, Alfread.¡±

    As they reached the castle stables, Alfread said, ¡°I believe that the light shines with the radiance inside of you. How else do you explain your aura, Radiant?¡±

    Asa stopped and smiled, enjoying the flattery. ¡°That¡¯s my new favorite theory.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± he replied with a dramatic flourish.

    Asa chuckled. ¡°No other cognitive-affectomancers have had an aura of light they couldn¡¯t control or turn off. And I¡¯m the only one to have Isihlan ancestry. Master Emmalyn thought it was the interaction between Isihlan and Leverian magic.¡±

    Alfread examined her eyes. ¡°But you¡¯re not a lightseer.¡±

    ¡°Nor am I a shadow.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Still, the theory makes sense. And now I can trick people into thinking the light is just my inner beauty shining through.¡± She winked. ¡°Thanks for that.¡±

    Asa approached a small palfrey, its brown coat streaked with white, and stroked its mane. ¡°Good morning, Nora,¡± she sang, and the horse nickered in response.

    ¡°Let me help you up,¡± Alfread offered.

    ¡°I can mount my own horse,¡± Asa replied, her tone polite but lacking her usual charm. Alfread stepped back, watching her with clear admiration as she climbed into the saddle. Zander had to admit it was an impressive sight¡ªAsa was in remarkable shape. The University must make their witches carry thousands of books a day, squatting with every other step.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    ¡°Do you have mounts?¡± Asa asked, glancing at Zander.

    He quickly pulled his eyes off her, giving nothing but a nod. He didn¡¯t want to steal any of Alfread¡¯s fire.

    ¡°We left them at The Wrestling Bear,¡± Alfread said.

    Asa sighed. ¡°I was there last night. Some poor fool got his face pummeled by the bear. People were raving about a giant man with mystically blue eyes who knocked it out.¡± She fluttered her eyes at Zander.

    ¡°Alfread pulled the guy off the stage and took him to safety,¡± Zander said, trying to steer the conversation back to Alfread.

    Asa studied him. ¡°As I told Whelan last night when he begged me to take some more knights, I feel much safer knowing I have a bearbreaker escorting me.¡±

    Alfread frowned at his feet as they passed through the castle gate. Zander pointed at Asa¡¯s shortbow. ¡°You should feel safe because Alfread¡¯s with us. He¡¯s either the best archer in the kingdom or I¡¯m the smallest man.¡±

    Asa flashed a smile. ¡°You¡¯re definitely not the smallest man.¡± She glanced briefly at Alfread before her eyes flitted to her own bow. ¡°You¡¯re a marksman?¡±

    Alfread nodded, struggling to lift his frown. ¡°I am.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so humble, Alfread,¡± Zander said. ¡°He once shot a wolf between trees at twilight while on a galloping horse.¡±

    Alfread flushed, his gaze dropping.

    ¡°That sounds impressive,¡± Asa said, eyeing Alfread¡¯s arms. ¡°You have an archer¡¯s build. You know what they say: ¡®Long draw, heavy pull, make a man swole.¡¯¡±

    At first, Alfread beamed at the compliment, then cringed after Zander¡¯s laughter alerted him to the hidden thorns on this rose. This woman would fit right in with Kenneth, it seemed, and Zander didn¡¯t doubt that some of Alfread¡¯s arm strength stemmed from long draws and heavy pulling that had naught to do with archery but still sent projectiles flying.

    Alfread cleared his throat. ¡°I can¡¯t help but notice you¡¯re very athletic, Asa.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Her tone was playful, trapping Alfread like a mouse between the cat¡¯s paws.

    He stumbled through his words, losing that typical eloquence. ¡°I thought cognitive-affectomancers focused more on the sedentary studies of the mind.¡±

    ¡°The mind doesn¡¯t work without the body. We endure intense physical conditioning exercises so that we can improve our reaction times and draw divine energy in more physically demanding situations. Lira and I spent thousands of angles swimming and training in the Ivy Bay to master Dalis¡¯s water and our own bodies.¡± Her grin widened. ¡°You haven¡¯t truly lived until you¡¯ve swam naked in the sea for seven angles, with a master screaming at you to stay calm and channel Dalis.¡±

    The image of some old crone in a boat hollering at Asa and her companion, also sexy in his mind, while she battled exhaustion and the elements brought a smile to his face.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad my suffering amuses you,¡± Asa said, winking at Zander.

    ¡°Gidi knows I¡¯ve done similar things to myself to grow strong,¡± he said. ¡°Are you going to make Alexia thrash around in the Bear River while you throw stones at her?¡±

    Asa¡¯s devilish grin couldn¡¯t have looked more angelic. ¡°You¡¯d like that wouldn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be in the water with her,¡± Zander said, ¡°ensuring her safety from pythanaji.¡±

    Asa raised a brow. ¡°Pythanaji, eh?¡± She glanced down at Zander¡¯s crotch. ¡°Too much long drawing and heavy pulling in Bear¡¯s Crossing these days.¡±

    Zander averted his eyes, wishing he¡¯d been more aware of crossing the boundary, feeling like he was unfaithful to both Alexia and Alfread. He needed to be better, but old habits were hard to kill, and Asa was more charming, and far more beautiful, than any tavern wench he¡¯d ever bandied words with.

    Alfread forced a chuckle. ¡°What happened after you healed your father?¡±

    Asa¡¯s aura dimmed as she spoke. ¡°This light surrounded me constantly, but I couldn¡¯t cast another spell. Word reached Rubinia, and Master Emmalyn arrived telling me that I was to go with her to learn magic at the Leverian University. I was terrified. I didn¡¯t want to leave the only home I knew. My aunt was pregnant, and I wanted to be there when her daughter was born¡­¡± Her voice trailed off.

    Alfread¡¯s soft tone pulled her back. ¡°How did you know it would be a daughter?¡±

    Asa gazed at the rising sun. ¡°Because in my mother¡¯s line, every child for generations has been an Isihlan daughter, ever since Quresh Shadowseer fathered the first of us.¡±

    Alfread sounded like he just finished with long draw, heavy pull. ¡°The Shadowseer! You¡¯re descended from the Shadowseer!¡±

    ¡°That is what my aunt told me. All daughters, all Isihlan with nary a trace of our Leverian lineage showing. My aunt told me that I carried as much of Isihla¡¯s sands in my complexion as her mother did.¡±

    Zander had no idea what in Yadeen¡¯s name they were talking about, but Alfread was in his element. ¡°Incredible! You¡¯re like the daughters of the Sun Priestess! The Shadowseer! Norali shines upon thee, Asa!¡±

    Grinning, she dusted off her riding leathers.

    Alfread reined himself in. ¡°What happened when Master Emmalyn found you?¡±

    ¡°I told her I didn¡¯t want to go, but my father convinced me it was my fate. He told me that I¡¯d always been his light, but now I was Leveria¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°Leaving must have been hard,¡± Alfread said.

    ¡°It was very hard,¡± Asa said, aura dimming. ¡°I always thought I¡¯d have more time with them, but I was gone when both my father and my aunt died. Plague took them both, seven years ago. I was off fighting in Vulcan at the time. Moons passed before I even knew.¡±

    Zander averted his eyes, the pain touching too close to his own heart, tears brimming. At least he¡¯d been there, and he hadn¡¯t had the magic that could¡¯ve saved his own mother. His heart broke for Asa, and he wanted to protect her more fiercely than ever.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Alfread said with clear compassion.

    ¡°When I arrived in Rubinia,¡± Asa continued, ¡°Master Emmalyn and Kai Blazelord presented me to King Roni. I spent the morning of my thirteenth birthday on my knees swearing fealty. After that, learning how to master cognitive-affectomancy became my life. I went years without seeing my family or even leaving Rubinia.¡±

    ¡°You were a girl far from home, surrounded by strangers, few of them like you,¡± Alfread said, the echo of his mother¡¯s empathy.

    ¡°I was lonely,¡± Asa admitted. ¡°I grew up with my aunt in a small community that treated us like family. In Rubinia, I was a young girl trying to learn complex magic after years of cleaning dishes, where nobody looked like me, and most treated me like an exotic animal.¡±

    ¡°The light-skinned people born with silver spoons treated the brown-skinned girl with the radiant aura like a novelty rather than a person,¡± Alfread said, ¡°when you were a lonely girl far from home, doing her best to find her place in a new world where you didn''t fit in.¡±

    Asa nodded, sharing a brief gaze with Alfread before her eyes flitted away. Her aura glowed brighter, perhaps more radiant than ever before.

    ¡°You persevered,¡± Alfred continued, his voice choked, ¡°like a brilliant diamond forged by impossible pressure. You became a master. Like your father hoped, you are a light for Leveria.¡±

    Asa glanced at him, eyes uncertain. ¡°I had no choice. Emmalyn, Kai Blazelord, even Lira, never let me give up.¡±

    ¡°Asa,¡± Alfread said, moving closer to her, ¡°they might have pushed you, encouraged you, or even threatened you,¡± Asa laughed, and Alfread¡¯s smile expanded as wide as the Bear River, ¡°but you woke up each day and chose to become who you are today.¡±

    ¡°And who am I today?¡±

    ¡°Radiant.¡±

    Asa¡¯s aura flared, blinding Zander for several turns, before it returned to its usual piercing luminosity. ¡°Thank you for flattering me, Alfread. I think people sometimes forget that even cognitive-affectomancers have feelings, despite it being half our name.¡±

    ¡°How could it be flattery if every word is true?¡±

    As they approached The Wrestling Bear, Zander¡¯s heart burgeoned with warmth. Alfread was performing masterfully, but it was not truly a performance. Nothing that natural can rightly be called a performance. A river moving is not a performance, just as a star shining is not a performance. He was simply being himself. His words flowed smoother than any river and his smile shined brighter than any star. Zander believed then, despite Asa¡¯s averted gaze, that Alfread found his life¡¯s mate.

    She waited outside the stables while Zander and Alfread retrieved their mounts. Alfread sighed. ¡°Alexia couldn¡¯t stop looking at you. Why can¡¯t Asa meet my eyes without running away?¡±

    Zander opened his mouth to speak but Alfread didn''t relent. ¡°The more the sun turns above us, the more words she blows my way, the more I see her shine, the more I am convinced she is my life¡¯s mate. Alas, I know not whether I am hers.¡±

    Zander clapped his shoulder. ¡°Remember your parents. Love is about finding the right moment, and you¡¯re on the right path.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Alfread said, light shining in his eyes.

    ¡°I am the master of love,¡± Zander said, brushing Paladin¡¯s silver mane.

    The horse neighed happily and devoured the offered apple. ¡°We¡¯re headed to Mirrevar,¡± Zander whispered, ¡°where we¡¯ll become legends.¡±

    Zander inhaled, feeling the absence of his mother¡¯s locket, thinking of the home he¡¯d never known.

 Chapter 19: Radiant Pt. 3

    Alfread and Asa talked for the next two angles as they journeyed toward Mirrevar. Zander observed from a distance as their friendship to root, growing from a seed into a sapling. He hoped it would one day grow strong, bearing the fruits of love.

    They reached the heavily guarded Impwood Landbridge by midday. Peacewatch sentries questioned them, but Asa got them through with ease. The ¡°bridge¡± was nothing like Old Iron. It was formed by ancient redwood sequoias, petrified and toppled over the Bear River at a narrow bend. Asa explained how cognitive-affectomancers caused the trees to fall, but the real magic that kept the Impwood Landbridge together was Celegan in nature. Queen Alexia Leveria had brought a group of Celegan women home with her from her travels across the sea. It was these women that used Celegan magic to persuade the trees that becoming a bridge would give them purpose and power. Zander couldn¡¯t debate it; standing as trees, they¡¯d have been magnificent, but as a bridge, they were immortal, with a strange beauty.

    Unfortunately, the bridge was high over the river, and looking down made Zander want to retch. Only Workhorse trotted across confidently, like he was racing on solid ground. Nora and Paladin needed constant urging, with both Zander and Asa dismounting to lead them unwilling over the strange construct. Zander had to steel his own resolve; Peacewatch heckling him from the western ridge and Workhorse hee-hawing from the eastern landing. Fighting on this bridge, especially if surrounded by foes, would be a nightmare.

    Zander exhaled a long sigh of relief when his feet touched the landing, placing him in Mirrevar for the first time since he was a babe fleeing war in his mother¡¯s arms. Yet, these weren¡¯t the famed flowery fields of Mirrevar; the Impwood and their glowing mushroom trees were not the home he dreamt of.

    Asa stretched and smiled. ¡°We made it. Air fills my lungs,¡± she said, taking a deep breath, ¡°and I can finally breathe again.¡±

    Alfread chuckled, but Asa quickly regained her focus. ¡°Stay on guard,¡± she ordered. ¡°The Impwood is dangerous, and Sapphire forces may try to infiltrate. No talking until we reach the encampment. If you see danger, whistle.¡±

    Alfread whistled immediately, his eyes twinkling as he glanced at Asa. She rolled her eyes, grinning, and Zander couldn¡¯t help but think of Mirielda and Evan.

    Zander led the way through the dim, eerie forest. The dense canopy blotted out the midday sun. Most of their light came from Asa¡¯s guiding glow. The silence was deep, making every snapping twig sound like thunder. Zander¡¯s skin prickled with the sense of being watched, and the abandoned watchtowers dotting the landscape didn¡¯t help. He wasn¡¯t a tactician, but it made no sense that these would be abandoned this close to the bridge.

    Mushrooms, glowing and massive, dwarfed the trees in places, and Zander marveled at the alien beauty of it all. The white tail of a stag bobbed through the woods, making great, leaping strides away from them. Zander barely had time to react when Paladin reared up.

    A hulking, hairy beast lunged from behind one of the giant mushrooms. Zander raised his shield in time to catch the creature¡¯s powerful blow. The impact knocked him off balance, and Paladin bolted forward, leaving him to tumble hard to the ground. He rolled and sprang to his feet as the beast charged again, despite an arrowing slamming into its skull.

    It was even taller than Zander, but with a hunched back and less solid sinew. The beast stood on two legs, covered in coarse brown fur, with claws like knives. Zander sidestepped its next attack and slashed across its gut. The creature¡¯s intestines spilled out like bloody sausages.

    Despite the arrow in its head and the emptying of its guts, the beast didn¡¯t slow. It swiped sideways with immense force, tearing into Zander¡¯s shield arm with razor claws.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Zander growled, enraged, as he pulled back from another swipe, tossing the shield aside and gripping his blade in both hands. As he readied for a counter, two more arrows found the beast: one in the head and another in the heart.

    The beast staggered, collapsing to its knees like a man pleading for mercy at the visage of Meladon. Zander wasn¡¯t feeling merciful. His sword fell in a savage arc, severing the creature¡¯s head in one clean stroke. ¡°Finish strong,¡± Zander muttered, chastising himself for letting his guard down.

    Asa approached him quickly, her staff glowing. ¡°Hold still,¡± she said softly, focusing on his bleeding arm. Warm blue light enveloped the wound, and Zander felt a rush of affection, like his mother¡¯s embrace or Alexia¡¯s kiss. The pain vanished, replaced by a deep sense of peace and a brotherly fondness for Asa. He wanted to wrap her in a bear-like hug.

    When Leverith¡¯s spirit faded, his arm was whole again. The beast¡¯s claws had ripped through the leather, but no mark remained upon his flesh. He gaped at this incomprehensible wonder, his heart swelling with more affection.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said.

    ¡°Amazing!¡± Alfread exclaimed as he rushed over, examining Zander¡¯s arm. ¡°Better than any medica I¡¯ve ever seen. And your poison arrow to the heart took the fight out of the sasquatch!¡±

    Asa¡¯s aura illuminated the dark forest like a midday sun. She studied Zander¡¯s arm, caressing it with a touch as warm as a ray of light. ¡°You¡¯ve got a strong arm,¡± she said, squeezing the bicep and gazing into Zander¡¯s eyes.

    Zander pulled away.

    Asa knelt beside the beast. She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer, ¡°Meladon have mercy on your soul. Leverith return him to those he has lost.¡±

    Frowning, Zander asked, ¡°Why pray for a beast?¡±

    ¡°Sasquatches are peaceful creatures,¡± Asa said. ¡°They blend into the trees and avoid humans at all costs. Most people ignorantly deny their existence.¡± She sighed. ¡°What drove him to attack you? I can only pray that it was not the Celegans. Yet, in this I cannot be na?ve. They would¡¯ve killed me like they did Master Cerzein and Adept Shaela.¡±

    As Zander moved to gather Paladin, a gust of wind stirred the leaves, carrying them into the forest. He watched their lazy dance until the peaceful scene melted like ice in warm water. Blood. Pools of it.

    He stepped off the path, his breath catching as he found the mangled remains of several men and a horse. Limbs were scattered, flesh torn apart by the sasquatch¡¯s claws. The sheer carnage made it impossible to tell the original color of the horse¡¯s coat.

    He called for his companions with a calm voice that didn¡¯t seem to belong to him.

    Alfread and Asa arrived, their faces draining of color at the sight. ¡°Broken body of Gidi,¡± Alfread whispered, shaking his head. He picked up a blood-soaked parchment, torn beyond recognition. ¡°They were headed to Urzport before the sasquatch got them.

    Asa¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°We need to reach the encampment. Now.¡±

    ¡°What about these men?¡± Zander asked, not wanting to leave the dead unburied and unguided to Paradise.

    ¡°We¡¯ll send people back for them as soon as we can. But right now, I fear for the encampment¡¯s safety.¡±

    They pressed on, their pace urgent. With each empty watchtower and the felt absence of patrols, Asa spoke aloud Zander¡¯s feelings of ominous wrongness.

    Emerging from the forest, the wooden walls of the Ruby encampment waited ahead. A dour squire looked over the battlements. He disappeared for several turns before the wooden gate slid open, revealing the same boy.

    ¡°I am Master Asa of Ferrickton, court witch of the Bearbreakers. I have orders from Archlord Wayn Bearbreaker the Sixth to assist Sir Daven Brighton in the defense of Mirrevar.¡±

    The squire released a hollow, broken laugh that filled Zander with dread. His stomach roiled uncomfortably as the laughter continued, drifting into madness. He reminded Zander of some of the knights that came home from their enlistment, broken by battle, shells of their former selves.

    ¡°They¡¯re all dead!¡± The squire sobbed. He fell to his knees, not unlike the sasquatch just before it died. ¡°And we¡¯re next!¡±

 Chapter 20: The Monster

    The ground heaved as though a thousand legions marched to war. Alexia wanted to scream alongside Celegana. But no¡ªthe Great Wizard couldn¡¯t falter. She had to bring peace, both to herself and to the world.

    Alexia gritted her teeth, silencing the scream, clenching her staff until her knuckles turned white. She couldn¡¯t let the pain of Maleon¡¯s betrayal spill out, not yet. She struck the screaming earth with the foot of her staff, trying to bring stability within and without. Closing her eyes, shutting out the chaos, she forced her mind to still. Attuning with Celegana, her heartbeat slowed, syncing with her breath. She would keep everyone safe; she had to.

    The quake¡¯s roar subsided, soothed like a raging child caught in a gentle embrace. If only she could still her own mind enough to figure out what she should do.

    Inhale. Hold. Exhale. The earth stilled, but the rift inside of Alexia remained, like the two great chasms Maleon¡¯s spell had formed between the town and the mine entry. She opened her sunrise eyes, searching for a way to close the gaping wound in her soul.

    She could run. Abandon the mission. Leave Maleon behind to tear apart the town, to destroy everything and everyone in Ferrickton. She could vanish and never look back.

    But then she thought of Allison and her father. Maleon wouldn¡¯t stop until they were dead. She wouldn¡¯t let that happen. She couldn¡¯t.

    In the moon¡¯s blue light, she found Maleon descending into the dark maw of the mines. She ran after him, vengeance carving its way into her soul.

    Then the clash of iron yanked her back. Sir Timmeck was surrounded, seven-to-one, battling the awakened sentries. His armor took blow after blow, the metal ringing with every impact.

    Alexia couldn¡¯t kill the Peacewatch defending their home, but neither could she let Timmeck die. Her emotions swirled like a maelstrom as she attuned to Zafrir¡¯s wind, grasping for a solution.

    ¡°Vehementis!¡±

    The wind roared to life. It swept the sentries into the sky, tossing them to the ground like puppets. She had precious moments to decide how to protect them all.

    Frost and Fire were killers. Stone too imprecise. Wind was too ephemeral. Sky then. Alexia channeled Balbaraq, the vengeful protector as Theos called him. She would protect Timmeck and the Peacewatch from Maleon. Alexia raised her staff up above her, carefully channeling energy from the sky.

    ¡°Balbaro!¡±

    Several concentrated bolts of lightning crashed down from the sky, striking five of the seven sentries. Alexia had charged her spell with just enough divine energy to incapacitate the Ferrickton guards for several days, but not kill them. She hoped.

    Timmeck staggered to his feet, fending off the last two sentries. He held his ground, but the battle kept shifting. Any spell she cast now might strike him instead.

    With a sickening crunch, Timmeck sliced through one of his opponents. The dying man¡¯s scream was swallowed by the clanking of armor and the rage of voices in the night. Tears welled up in Alexia¡¯s eyes as Zamael¡¯s full moon cast its cold, indifferent light over the rest of the Ferrickton Peacewatch. There were dozens of them, all craving to carve her heart with their blades.

    She couldn¡¯t die here. Not when all Leveria counted on her to find the path to peace, not with Celegans poised to destroy them. Sickness swelled in her gut as she thought of what she must do, and why she must do it. She clenched her staff, rage flowing through her, pulling on Seraxa¡¯s flames. The air became colder, Alexia¡¯s teeth chattered, and her body wracked from something between a sob and a shiver. The heat overflowed the staff, filtering into the locket, and her focus formed in her mind¡¯s eye, wishing it was destined for Maleon rather than people just trying to protect their homes.

    Her fireball erupted in the heart of the guardsmen formation. Fire and flame spread across the land between the two chasms. Unarmored soldiers jumped into the chasms to end their suffering sooner. Iron armor melted with men inside. Screams echoed in the night air as knights were roasted like nacobon on a spit.

    A monster watched as honest Leverians died before her crying eyes. Some of them continued their charge. Some of them were on fire, human torches with smoke rising from their bodies. Alexia stood immobilized by her own atrocity.

    Timmeck slew the final sentry and placed himself between Alexia and the remnants of Ferrickton¡¯s Peacewatch. Brave Sir Timmeck Eckhard was a rocky outcrop jutting out of the sea waiting to be swallowed by a tsunami. He limped toward her and unfastened his helmet. Taking in a heavy breath, Timmeck roared, ¡°Run!¡±

    Her throat was raw, her voice barely more than a croak. ¡°Run with me!¡±

    Timmeck shook his head, taking one limping step toward her before rooting himself. ¡°Go!¡±

    Two knights and four footmen emerged through the flames, raining blows upon Timmeck. They swarmed over him, like ants climbing on a morsel of food.

    Her windstorm lashed out, wild and uncontrolled, scattering all seven. She attuned to the vengeful protector, clinging to the need to save Timmeck. ¡°Balbaro!¡±

    Lightning crashed down upon one of the knights. Two more bolts missed their target as she struggled to maintain her focus. Her emotions fueled the power of her spells yet rendered them harder to control with less calculated thoughts to guide them. Her spells were thrown wildly past her targets.

    Timmeck didn¡¯t stir. Barnett, the final knight, and the four remaining footmen charged toward her. She didn¡¯t have time to form a focus. Alexia ran toward the mines as fast as her legs would allow. Unencumbered by armor, longer in the leg, and enhanced by years of intense physical training, Alexia gained separation from her pursuit.

    Alexia murmured an incantation, and her staff emitted candescent light that illuminated a massive cavern that continued for several hundred feet at a steady downward slope. According to Maleon¡¯s reports, this first cavern had been mined extensively and picked clean of ore centuries ago. Cold anger surged through her as she thought of Maleon, the betrayer. She felt sick, her mind pulsing with dark thoughts that felt alien to her. KILL HIM.

    Alexia reached the terminus where the grand cavern split into five tunnels. The pursuit continued to close in. Frantically, she had to choose a spell that could stop them without triggering a collapse that would bury them all beneath thousands of tons of earth. Taking a breath, she let the frigid night and her cold anger toward Maleon guide her focus.

    The air warmed as she drew away its icy chill. She pointed her staff at the ground and whispered, ¡°Heim.¡± A layer of slick ice spread across the floor. Alexia bolted toward the furthest tunnel as the panicked shouts of her pursuers echoed behind her. Their iron-clad feet scrambled on the ice, bodies slamming into the walls as they slid down the slope like children sledding.

    The first man crashed into the wall with a bone-shattering thud, like an arrow into a boulder. The second collided into the first at breakneck speed. Barnett and the two others managed to veer into the rightmost tunnel. Alexia disappeared into the leftmost tunnel. She kept her staff raised, her mind on high alert for signs of Maleon channeling.

    ¡°MALEON!¡± she bellowed, her voice reverberating through the tunnels. ¡°MALEON, Maleon, Maleon...¡± Silence. KILL HIM, her thoughts hissed.

    ¡°Show yourself, traitor!¡± Still, no response. No villainous cackling. No snide derision or taunt. Not even a shifting pebble. She realized the depth of his betrayal. Not only did he sabotage her plan to execute the mission without killing, he hid, forcing her to slaughter the guards. Never in her life did she feel such immense hatred. The thoughts continued to pulse like a beating heart: KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

    The familiar clink of armor jolted her back to reality. She knew that sound all too well¡ªthe echo of mornings filled with men training in armor beneath her window. A wave of sorrow swept through her, knowing she was the monster they trained to fight. Sobbing, she inhaled sharply, the air warming around her as she drew on Qoryxa¡¯s power. ¡°Glacialis,¡± she whispered, her voice hollow.

    An icicle shot through the tunnel like a frozen arrow, piercing a guard¡¯s throat and exploding out the back of his head, shards of ice shattering against the ceiling.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Alexia gasped in pain as fire shot through her arm. She crouched down. The second arrow whizzed past her, soaring just over her head. She ducked into a side chamber, yelping as she yanked the arrow from her shoulder. The sight of her own blood made her dizzy, and for a moment, she longed to collapse.

    GIVE IN! the dark voice urged.

    No, she thought, an image of Zander flashing in her mind. Leverith¡¯s gentle spirit flowed from the locket, weaving a tapestry of calming blue light around her wound. The seething hatred dulled, leaving only sadness in its place.

    Allison¡¯s father and the remaining footman rounded the corner, entering her little cavern. Alexia backed into the cold stone wall, her heart sinking. This isn¡¯t a cavern. It¡¯s a tomb.

    Barnett charged, sword raised. ¡°Die, monster!¡± he snarled, swinging the blade. Alexia harnessed the chaos of panic and grief, summoning Zafrir¡¯s power. She blasted Barnett with wind. The righteous knight staggered, but kept coming through her wind tunnel. Alexia frantically pulled more energy, the Ring of Peace glistening green on her finger, then sent a gust from the side, slamming him against the far wall.

    ¡°Disseptum!¡± she cried, harnessing one of her oldest and most reflexive focuses. She pulled the wind back to her, forming a shield wall around her body that redirected the footman¡¯s arrow from her chest into the nearby wall.

    She dispersed the wind shield, sending a blast that knocked the footman to the ground. Barnett howled as he struggled to rise. ¡°I welcomed you into my home! We would have treated you like family!¡±

    Tears welled in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she whispered, her voice breaking.

    Barnett¡¯s face twisted in fury. ¡°You don¡¯t get to be sorry, monster.¡±

    He charged again. Alexia hesitated, guilt freezing her in place. Her locket pulsed with Zafrir¡¯s wind, her voice trembling as she cried, ¡°Vehementis!¡±

    The gale threw Barnett off his feet, slamming him into the wall again. Alexia didn¡¯t wait¡ªshe sprinted toward the exit, deflecting an arrow with a wind barrier. She turned her staff on the footman guarding the chamber¡¯s exit. ¡°Sopora,¡± she muttered, through a storm of sobs. The man staggered, trying to fight off the sleep overtaking him, collapsing to his knees as he impotently reached for his quiver.

    For the first time in her life, Alexia failed to summon Leverith¡¯s power. She had strayed too far from love, sinking into the darkness of Zamael. The archer fought off the sleep and readied another arrow.

    ¡°Fulmine,¡± Alexia cried, feeling like a failure. Sparks crackled from her staff. Lightning streaked across the cavern hitting the archer. He convulsed, his body jerking as his eyes glazed over. The arrows spilled from his quiver as he slumped to the ground.

    Barnett screamed, charging once more. Tears streamed down Alexia¡¯s face as she raised her staff toward the cavern¡¯s entrance. The focus she conjured was one meticulously memorized for this mission, but she never imagined using in this way. ¡°Petrapessum!¡±

    Barnett sprinted for the exit, hatred burning in his eyes, eyes that pierced her heart deeper than any blade ever could. His sword stretched out through the rubble as tons of stone crashed down, burying him beneath it.

    Alexia slumped against the cold tunnel wall, her body sinking to the floor. Heavy sobs hurt her chest. She thought of sweet, innocent Allison. How could she repay a child¡¯s love with the murder of her father? Only a monster would do such a thing.

    Alexia wept with her face buried in her hands, her tears mingling with the dust on the cavern floor. She wasn¡¯t a savior, nor a hero, nor the great wizard she once believed she could be. She was the evil monster she had sworn to fight. She had once dreamed of peace and love, of becoming something noble like Linus Peacemaker or Queen Alexia Leveria. But now, all she dreamed of was death¡ªher own deserved end.

    GIVE IN, the dark voice screeched in her mind. FIND PEACE IN DEATH.

    Maleon had been right all along. He had known the truth she had been too blind to see: dreamers didn¡¯t change the world; the world changed the dreamer. She wasn¡¯t the Peacemaker or the Love Queen. She was an innocent dreamer who had failed to grasp reality. Peace was a lie, and Alexia was nothing more than a weapon of war, a harbinger of death, a servant of Zamael.

    She closed her eyes, waiting for Maleon Stonebreaker to come and end her life. It was fitting that he would be the one to kill her. She was unwilling to live with what she had done. Sobbing, she punched the ground, her knuckles splitting open, but the pain wasn¡¯t enough. It would never be enough to atone for what she had done.

    But Maleon didn¡¯t come. Death lingered around her, cold and suffocating, yet it didn¡¯t claim her. Her sobbing ceased, and she curled up on the ground, too broken to even cry anymore. She lay there, numb and empty, as if the darkness of the cavern had swallowed her whole. This place, this grave beneath the earth, was where she belonged. How could she ever face the world again¡ªa world where Allison no longer had a father because of her? How could she ever believe in herself, when she was the monster who had torn apart dozens of families that had welcomed her into their lives?

    Alexia would have lain there forever had she not seen one final light. The locket pulsed against her chest, ethereal blue streams glowing in the void. She tried to ignore it, tried to shut it out, but Leverith¡¯s spirit persisted, moving without her will. Alexia reached for it, and a vision bloomed before her eyes.

    She was in Mirrevar, lying in a bed of flowers. Above her, Covademara flourished, its branches reaching toward the sky. Though she hurt, though blood and tears stained her robes, though her innocence was forever lost, blue light flowed around her. Zander took her hand. Together, they watched the sunrise together.

    Look forward, a melodic voice whispered in her mind, more beautiful than anything she had ever heard.

    ¡°Leverith?¡± Alexia asked, clutching the locket.

    The locket continued to emit blue light and Alexia decided to embrace it. She forced herself to stand. There was still a purpose for her in this life. She was a monster capable of terrible evil but as long as she could still feel love, she could still find her way back to Leverith¡¯s path. A tiny drop of hope splashed down into the dark abyss that she had fallen into.

    That fragile hope mingled with her other companions: remorse and self-loathing. She would have to nurture it, tend to it like a delicate seed, if she was ever to redeem herself. She couldn¡¯t wash these bloodstains from her soul, but she could start by trying to save Timmeck.

    Alexia emerged from the mineshaft into the moonlight. Bodies lay strewn across the killing grounds. The stench of burnt metal and charred flesh was a painful reminder of the evil she had sown. Whimpering, she fought to hold on to the tiny drop of hope in the abyss of self-hatred as she approached Timmeck¡¯s limp form. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum beating to Zamael¡¯s tune.

    ¡°Alexia,¡± Timmeck wheezed.

    His hand reached out weakly toward her, and she grasped it tightly. She stared at his broken body¡ªhis stomach torn open, his limbs slashed, and worst of all, the gaping hole in his skull.

    Tears silently streamed down her face as she held him, gazing into his dying eye. She focused on the wound in his head, willing the healing light to flow from her staff. Timmeck coughed up blood, the dark liquid splattering onto her face. She didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t wipe it away.

    ¡°Hold still!¡± she cried desperately, channeling her magic into him.

    His eye wavered open and closed, a lone tear leaking out of it.

    She whimpered as the spells failed to mend Timmeck¡¯s skull. She needed to save him; she had done so many terrible things tonight. She needed to do something good.

    Alexia cried harder as her spells failed to heal him despite the strength of their reciprocal bond. Darkness settled on her heart until it spread to her thoughts. LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH TO DEFEAT DEATH. GIVE IN.

    Alexia went numb and Leverith¡¯s spirit failed to flow through her, as if an invisible wall parted her from the most loving of the Divine Thirteen.

    Timmeck coughed up more blood. ¡°Remember this,¡± he rasped. His hand clasped hers. She knew that the strength of his grip was the only thing that fastened him to his fading life. ¡°Remember Ferrickton.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t go,¡± she whimpered.

    He coughed again, his breath shallow. ¡°Peace... you... restore.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Alexia sobbed. ¡°I¡¯m not Linus. I¡¯m just a stupid dreamer who thought she could be the hero. I¡¯m no great wizard. I¡¯m a monster.¡± The bandage over her emotions gave way to the flood of self-hatred and she sobbed uncontrollably.

    Timmeck¡¯s trembling hand reached for her locket. ¡°Not Linus¡­ You,¡± he rasped, his finger brushing the silver. ¡°You.¡±

    Despite his agony, despite his impending death, and her failure to save him, he smiled at her. That smile, so full of warmth and love, broke her heart. His hand slipped from the locket as his strength gave out.

    ¡°You, Alexia,¡± he whispered one final time, before his eye closed for the last time.

    She held his hand, trying to keep him with her for a few more moments. ¡°Timmeck Eckhard, beloved friend, I swear I will do my best,¡± she choked through her sobs. ¡°I promise to restore peace.¡±

    His smile, his tears, and his final words would stay with her forever. ¡°Until¡­ next¡­ time¡­¡± Timmeck¡¯s voice faded, and with one last, weak wink from his blind eye, he was gone.

    Alexia cradled his hand in hers, her body shaking with grief. She lowered his hand gently and stroked his face. ¡°Until next time, my friend. Until next time.¡±

    Summoning Celegana¡¯s power, Alexia made a grave for Timmeck beside the edge of the Red Forest. She wished she were physically strong enough, but she needed to use magic to lower his body into the ground. It was less than Sir Timmeck Eckhard deserved, but she was the only one there to perform the guiding. ¡°Father Meladon, guide his soul to your Paradise. Mighty Gidi, grant his body rest for his fights are past him. Arcane Yadeen, grant him peace of mind and wisdom in the next life. Mercantile Ovidon, allow him respite from his labors. Luminous Norali, shine your light so that he may always see. Bountiful Celegana, create soil for him so that he may always have firm footing. Tranquil Dalis, shower him with water so that he may be pure and never thirst. Brilliant Seraxa, ignite a fire so that he may always be warm. Cool Qoryxa, soothe him with your icy touch when he is hot. Changing Zafrir, send him a gentle breeze so that he may be comfortable. Mischievous Balbaraq, show him the clear sky of eternity. Dreaming Leverith, reunite him with all those he loved and lost. Dark Zamael, stay your wickedness, for you shall never touch him! Go with peace, Timmeck!¡±

    Her tears finally ran dry, and she stood at the edge of his grave, staring into the night. The mineshaft loomed ahead, and within, Maleon Stonebreaker waited.

 Chapter 21: Leverias Truest Protectors

    "We¡¯re going to die!¡± shrieked the pudgy squire, clinging to the hem of Asa¡¯s pants, his entire body trembling as his knees pressed into the dirt.

    Zander clenched his fists. Everything about this simpering wimp grated on him¡ªfrom corn-colored hair to the gaudy rings he flaunted like some glittery tavern maid. He looked every bit the pampered lordling, the kind who thought war was a grand adventure, a stroll in the woods with singing birds and faeries twirling around in the sunlight.

    Asa¡¯s aura, usually so radiant, dimmed as if some unseen cloud passed over her. ¡°Calm down,¡± she said gently, like an older sister comforting a frightened baby brother. Zander would¡¯ve rather employed his fists.

    ¡°The Sapphires!¡± he gasped.

    Zander imagined how easy it would be to kick him in his round, pampered face. The lordling seemed to have a pie caught in his throat. A series of suffocated sobs parted from his lips, with no further explanation. Useless.

    Sir Evan often told Zander that there were two types of male lordlings. The first type was a rough and haughty breed that was capable and responsible. This brand of lordling trained with swords as soon as he could hold a twig, believing themselves superior because they¡¯d been molded from a young age to lord over others. In short, the Whelan Bearbreakers of Leveria.

    The second type was like this dripping pool of melted butter. This breed of lordling expected everything to be sweet and easy because they¡¯d never done a hard day¡¯s work. They thought they were superior because they had a family name.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Asa asked with the patience of a priestess.

    ¡°Varon Von Gaelrich,¡± the boy stammered.

    Asa smiled. ¡°Von Gaelrich? Are you one of Archlord Heinrich¡¯s?¡±

    Varon shook his head. ¡°My father is second cousin to Archlord Heinrich. I was squire to Sir Helior Brighton.¡±

    Asa nodded, her voice warm as sunlight breaking through a rainstorm. ¡°Varon, I¡¯m here to help. Now, tell me what happened?¡±

    He stood, still cowering, though some of the fear drained from his face. ¡°On Zafrir Waxing, Sir Daven led our outpost forces in an assault on the Sapphire forces at Goddess Hill, hoping to catch them by surprise in the night. He never returned.¡±

    ¡°Go on,¡± Asa urged.

    Varon swallowed hard. ¡°The Sapphires¡­ they taunted us. Banged their swords on their shields, just out of range, daring us to strike. Sir Unger Vinton had command, expecting Sir Daven to back him up. He was so sure of our numbers, so sure we¡¯d crush the Sapphire between us.¡±

    Zander scanned the encampment, taking in the disarray. Ruby soldiers milled about aimlessly, their movements sluggish and undirected. The lady medicans all wore the same hollow expression¡ªlike women who¡¯d just learned their beloveds wouldn¡¯t be returning home. Zander even caught sight of a priestess of Meladon, her once-proud purple regalia tattered and dull. But she wasn¡¯t offering prayers for the dead or invoking Meladon¡¯s justice, Gidi¡¯s might, Celegana¡¯s perseverance, Ovidon¡¯s diligence, or even Balbaraq¡¯s jackassery. She looked just as broken as the soldiers, resigned to whatever fate Zamael had prepared for them.

    Asa¡¯s hand rested lightly on the crybaby lordling¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What happened next?¡±

    Varon shook, tears rushing down his cheeks. ¡°Sir Unger charged ahead, sure of victory. But the Sapphires didn¡¯t break. I watched from the bastion as they¡­ they cut through our ranks like they were nothing.¡± His voice caught again, another sob threatening to spill over. He turned his head away from Asa.

    ¡°People are looking to me because of my name, but I¡¯ve been waiting for help from the Impwood. We sent messengers for a Peacewatch army, but we haven¡¯t seen them or a single reinforcement from Nash.¡±

    ¡°Your messengers never made it through the Impwood,¡± Asa told Varon. Zander inhaled, remembering the grisly sight where the sasquatch ambushed them.

    Varon¡¯s lips quivered. ¡°Only three of you...¡±

    Asa¡¯s aura lost some shine, and her eyes went to her feet.

    Alfread¡¯s deep laugh broke the tension. ¡°Only three!¡± he roared, his voice as mighty as a regal lion addressing a legless pig covered in its own feces. He made a sweeping gesture toward Zander. ¡°Here stands Leveria¡¯s strongest warrior,¡± he thumbed his chest with a charismatic grin, ¡°and its finest archer,¡± he placed his hand on Asa¡¯s shoulder, ¡°and its most radiant witch.¡±

    Asa¡¯s eyes shot up, her aura brightened, and her face glowed with renewed confidence.

    Zander beamed. This was why he came home. For glory, for battle, for the chance to make his mark. His voice rang out with conviction: ¡°Mirrevar! We will persevere and triumph!¡±

    The soldiers turned their heads, eyes drawn to the newcomers. Hope flickered in their weary gazes.

    ¡°Gather the others,¡± Asa commanded Varon. ¡°Have them assemble by the east gate in a half angle.¡±

    ¡°I c-c-can do that,¡± he said, his voice wavering, the words half-question, half-statement.

    ¡°I know you can,¡± Asa said, her voice carrying enough conviction for the both of them.

    Varon smiled faintly, offering a very extravagant bow that must have been part of the lordling curriculum. He turned and sprinted off through the camp, moving with newfound purpose.

    Asa¡¯s aura drew the attention of every soldier and medican as they made their way through the camp. Zander noticed people staring at him too, sizing him up. He stood tall, muscles tense and ready, letting them see power to give them faith. Let them know we¡¯re here to win, he thought.

    Asa moved gracefully through the disarray, her eyes sharp, assessing everything with silent scrutiny. Her smile remained hopeful, though she spoke little, offering only nods and brief commands to those who approached. ¡°I¡¯ll see you at the east gate,¡± she¡¯d say, and without fail, the faces of those she passed seemed to brighten, a flicker of hope kindling in their eyes.

    Most of the soldiers wore green linen uniforms embroidered with a purple grapevine and an apple tree, marking them as Hedgemen from Noraligrove, Archlord Brighton¡¯s military. Scattered among them were a few in undyed linen bearing the emblem of a man wrestling a bear. They moved in disordered groups, and Zander noticed many of their weapons were poorly maintained. He hoped Sir Daven Brighton had prepared these troops for the night ahead, though his gut told him otherwise.

    Asa paused when they reached a hedge of apple trees, the branches forming a crude wall. But it was more holes than hedge. The Sapphire forces would slip through it with ease.

    Onagers and scorpions were set up by the east gate, but they sat unmanned, and only a handful of projectiles were ready. The palisade wall stood eerily empty except for four young men patrolling the battlements. They moved with purpose, their attire marking them as common soldiers. At least these few hadn¡¯t given up hope.

    Yet, one of them was anything but common. Though not as tall as Alfread, he was nearly as handsome, better groomed and with a confidence that radiated from him. He strode toward the three of them. ¡°Welcome to Mirrevar.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good to be home,¡± Zander said.

    The young man smiled, nodding. ¡°It¡¯s my home too, and it¡¯s worth saving.¡± He extended his hand. ¡°River.¡±

    Zander accepted his offer of friendship, gripping firmly. ¡°Zander.¡±

    River¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Glad to meet you, Zander. You look like someone who can help us bring peace to our home again.¡±

    Zander grinned in return, feeling seen by those stark grey eyes. There was something about River, a quiet charisma that made you want to be better. Zander recalled Sir Edward¡¯s final lesson before he left Bear¡¯s Crossing: heroes inspired those around him to become the best versions of themselves. Zander felt those words now, embodied in River.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see not everyone here has lost hope,¡± Asa interjected. ¡°I¡¯m Master Asa of Ferrickton.¡± She stepped forward, removing her hand from the tower¡¯s ladder and offering it to River.

    River took her hand with the same warmth he¡¯d shown Zander. ¡°We haven¡¯t lost hope, Master Asa,¡± he said, correcting her with a soft smile. ¡°It¡¯s only been misplaced. But I know your light will help us find it again.¡± His gaze shifted to the crowd gathering near the gate. ¡°Many here are already finding their way back. It¡¯s a blessing that you three arrived on the edge of such a long night.¡±

    Asa¡¯s aura brightened. ¡°What have you seen from the battlements?¡±

    ¡°Sapphire sent a couple of scouting parties this morning. Me and the Hometown Heroes shot at them.¡± He frowned. ¡°Sapphire knows we¡¯re vulnerable. Gordan thinks they¡¯ll attack under the full moon.¡±

    ¡°Hometown Heroes?¡± Alfread asked.

    River chuckled, gesturing to himself and the three boys on the battlements. ¡°The four of us. We¡¯re all born in Mirrevar, though we lost our homes as sucklings. We grew up in Nash, dreaming of reclaiming our birthplace. Sir Daven called us the ¡®Hometown Heroes¡¯ as a joke, but we wear it like a sigil carved into our hearts.¡± He looked meaningfully at Zander. ¡°The five of us now. You¡¯re one of us, Zander.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    River extended his hand to Alfread next. Alfread accepted it without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m Alfread. It¡¯s my honor to make your acquaintance, River.¡±

    ¡°The honor¡¯s mine, friend,¡± River said. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a man cast a such a long shadow. You must have some greatness burning within, just waiting to shine its light on the world.¡±

    Three sets of eyes drew toward Alfread¡¯s shadow. It was at least a dozen feet long, longer even than Zander¡¯s shadow. Alfread looked both delighted and discomfited by the unique introduction. River¡¯s face was earnest. He was either speaking with true feeling or he was particularly skilled at japing.

    He was skilled. River chuckled. ¡°Easy, friend. Have a laugh!¡±

    Alfread¡¯s mouth opened, then settled into a grin. River¡¯s hearty laugh filled the air, his dark curls bouncing as he clapped Alfread on the back.

    ¡°We¡¯ll continue our watch on the walls,¡± River said. ¡°Let us know how we can help guard the realm.¡±

    Asa bowed her head in thanks. ¡°Your watch is invaluable.¡±

    River bowed in return and headed back to the battlements with his companions.

    Zander watched him go. The Hometown Heroes. Lost children of Mirrevar. A group where I belong. A warm happiness grew within Zander.

    Asa was the first to ascend the watchtower¡¯s ladder, with Alfread and Zander trailing behind. ¡°This tower should never be empty,¡± Asa said, her aura dimming. ¡°The Sapphires will strike at any moment!¡± Her voice quivered with frustration, her long hair whipping like a horse¡¯s tail as she shook her head. Despite her small frame, the force of her anger was startling. ¡°They¡¯re just waiting to die¡­ except those for boys,¡± she muttered, her light brown cheeks flushing with rage. ¡°This is Leveria¡¯s most crucial disputed territory. Zamael¡¯s Hells! How could they let it get like this? Divinedamned Hedgemen!¡± She buried her face in her hands, her glow almost imperceptible.

    Zander stood by, uncertain how to console her. He exhaled heavily and turned his gaze beyond the palisades, toward the distant fields of his homeland. Rolling hills, streams, and vibrant flowers stretched endlessly across the landscape. From afar, the colossal tree where he was born ruled the skies, its canopies painting the horizon in more colors than Zander knew existed. For a moment, he had no thoughts of war or death. Love and peace filtered into his soul as though he were sharing a kiss with his life¡¯s mate. He reached his hand to his sternum, smiling that he no longer had somebody else¡¯s locket dangling there.

    ¡°All is not lost, Asa,¡± Alfread said gently, stepping toward her. ¡°The Sapphires haven¡¯t taken the encampment yet. We may not stand a chance in the field, but we still have the fortifications. If we use them well, we can win this.¡±

    Asa frowned at Alfread. ¡°Did you see the soldiers? Most of them are farm boys, barely more than children. They¡¯re the dregs of the Hedgeman, untrained and with no fight left in them. Even from behind these walls, they won¡¯t stand a chance against trained knights and cognitive-affectomancers.¡±

    Zander had heard enough. ¡°You underestimate them!¡± he barked, stepping closer to Asa, his voice rising with passion. ¡°They¡¯re every bit as valiant as lordlings! They just need hope! They need you to inspire them!¡±

    Asa recoiled, backing against the railing of the tower. She lowered her head and whispered, ¡°How can I give them hope when I have no hope myself?¡±

    ¡°Asa,¡± Alfread said softly, smiling at her, ¡°what are you best at? What did we talk about on the way here?¡±

    ¡°Poisons?¡± Asa¡¯s eyes widened as realization dawned on her, and her aura flared to life again. ¡°Of course! We can arm our best archers with poisoned arrows and use our height advantage to take out any knights or wizards that try to approach.¡±

    Alfread nodded. ¡°Exactly. But that alone won¡¯t be enough. Some of their forces will still reach the palisades. Then what?¡±

    Asa bit her lip, straining her mind. ¡°We don¡¯t have enough soldiers, arrows, or poison to stop all of them. They¡¯ll break through our line and overrun our forces.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where I come in,¡± Zander said, drawing his blade. ¡°They¡¯ll come for that gate,¡± he pointed to the east gate where the camp¡¯s forces assembled below, ¡°and they¡¯ll find no weakness where my sword meets them.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Alfread said.

    Asa scoffed. ¡°Your plan is to have Zander hold the gate against an entire army?¡± She reached out and squeezed Zander¡¯s bicep. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not even you are that good, Muscles.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Alfread replied, frowning. ¡°They will try to breach any weakness in the wall. We¡¯ll give them another way in, a way where they¡¯ll find no weakness.¡±

    Asa blinked, her eyes glazing as if that was the single most stupid idea that had ever been thought and she couldn¡¯t believe that Alfread lacked the filter to realize just how horrible the idea was. ¡°You want to give the enemy an opening?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Alfread said, grinning, ¡°I think I¡¯d like to give them two more openings.¡±

    Asa folded her arms over her chest. She shook her head, mouth slightly ajar. A disbelieving snort escaped.

    ¡°Think of the gate as if it was your mouth,¡± Alfread said.

    ¡°What?¡± she asked.

    Alfread held his fingers together and reached toward Asa¡¯s mouth. Her lips parted and his fingers breached the opening.

    Asa stepped back, her expression torn between bewilderment and anger. ¡°Alfread!¡±

    Zander leaned against the railing, eager to see where this gambit led.

    Alfread wagged his finger. ¡°Bear with me. If your mouth is the only opening the enemy can see to get inside of you¡ª

    ¡°Alfread!¡±

    Zander erupted with laughter while Asa¡¯s frown deepened but her aura glowed fierce.

    Alfread held up his hand. ¡°If the Sapphires see the gate as their only entry point, they¡¯ll focus all their forces there. That¡¯ll go just like how my combined fingers did against your mouth. Their condensed attack will break through no matter how hard your teeth, or our poisoned arrows, bite down.¡±

    Asa nodded. ¡°Probably. I still don¡¯t see how giving them two more openings will help beyond getting us killed three times as fast.¡±

    ¡°Asa Radiant,¡± Alfread said, tsk-tsking. ¡°Your face isn¡¯t just a mouth.¡±

    Zander had to give Alfread credit for continuing undeterred, above his raucous laughter and Asa¡¯s glowering.

    ¡°You have nostrils, eyes, even ears,¡± Alfread said, grinning. ¡°All these orifices that one might use to get inside of you.¡±

    ¡°Get to the point,¡± Asa commanded, stepping toward Alfread.

    Alfread held up his hand, this time his fingers were spread out. ¡°If I try to break inside of you by sending one finger at your mouth, one to each of your nostrils, and so on¡ª¡± Alfread did so. His lone finger at her mouth couldn¡¯t breach her lips, until she opened and chomped down.

    Alfread pulled his whole hand back, massaging the bit fingertip.

    ¡°Thou shalt not cross!¡± Asa declared, her voice as deep as she could make it.

    Alfread grinned. ¡°Master of the Amulet! I love that story!¡± He sized her up with his eyes, as if this was the determining factor in him fully committing to spending the rest of his life with this woman.

    Asa beamed. ¡°I see what you mean, though your metaphor wouldn¡¯t hold up at the Leverian University. What stops them from hitting each of the three openings like a fist, and how could we create openings that aren¡¯t easier to breach than the gate?¡±

    ¡°We lift the drawbridge and keep it sealed tight like a closed mouth.¡± Alfread pointed toward a section of wall to the north where the ground was particularly higher inside the camp than outside. ¡°We add a nostril there, put Zander and some of the encampment¡¯s best fighters alongside him while archers and onagers create a killing field beyond the trench. The Sapphires will either need to climb out of the trench, their heads exposed to Zander¡¯s blade, or cross a narrow ladder single file, running straight into,¡± Alfread swung his arm toward Zander, ¡°Zander¡¯s blade.¡± He clapped Zander on the back. ¡°Zander¡¯s blades haven¡¯t lost a battle in years, and I doubt these poor Sapphires stand a chance at changing that with such disadvantages.¡±

    Zander grunted in approval. It wouldn¡¯t be as glorious as he imagined his first battle, but he¡¯d revel in the easy conquest.

    Alfread pointed toward the cesspit, to the south of the gate. ¡°There¡¯s our other nostril. The Sapphire will be head-high in shite and unable to climb out while we slaughter them.¡±

    Asa nodded, a smile blooming on her precious face. ¡°We bite down on them from all three holes and they might retreat, thinking us more formidable than they assumed.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Alfread said. ¡°The Sapphire¡¯s forceful fist becomes the fumbling fingers. The Zanders guard the breaches while our Alfreads bite down on our disjointed enemies with poisoned teeth.¡±

    ¡°And what would you have our Asas do?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Asas?¡± Alfread said, in mock scorn. ¡°No, no, no. There is only one Asa. She¡¯s the most important of all. Her spells send our enemies into disarray and turn those fists into scattered fingers. She shines a light, like the white wizard from Master of the Amulet, which promises our victory. Asa Radiant is our hope.¡±

    Asa took in a deep breath, her aura shining brighter than the sun. ¡°Let¡¯s assume the Sapphire has a tactician that matches the cunning of a seventeen-year-old farmer from Bear¡¯s Crossing. What prevents them from detecting the trap and ignoring the breaches?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve scouted us,¡± Alfread said. ¡°They know how weakly this fort is held, and how easy it should be to run right through our breaches and drive us out of Mirrevar. Their greatest military minds also have calendars. Tomorrow is Meladon¡¯s Day, where it would be sacrilege for them to strike. But if they don¡¯t attack now, Urzport might flood the encampment with Peacewatch knights and soldiers that actually have received competent training.¡±

    ¡°They need a quick victory,¡± Zander said, acknowledging that his friend¡¯s talents were not wasted in the disputed territories, that he could find success beyond the confines of the Leverian University.

    ¡°Given that they need to win the camp tonight,¡± Asa said, ¡°they will leave behind equipment needed for a siege and the breaches will be as irresistible as honey to an alfur.¡±

    Alfread put his hand on Asa¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We can win this, Radiant. All you have to do is inspire them.¡± Alfread tilted his head toward the growing assembly of ramshackle forces at the gate.

    ¡°You¡¯re either the most brilliant boy I¡¯ve ever met,¡± Asa said, ¡°or a divinedamned fool.¡±

    Asa was descending the ladder before Alfread could respond. Zander clapped him on the back. ¡°Nice work, general.¡±

    Alfread grinned. ¡°That felt so right. So easy.¡±

    ¡°And to think it¡¯s all because I told you not to overthink it.¡±

    Alfread chortled. ¡°You¡¯re a good friend, Zander.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not too bad yourself,¡± Zander said, rushing to catch up with Asa.

    Zander and Alfread joined the assembled troops, towering over hundreds of soldiers, medicans, and camp followers that anxiously awaited Asa¡¯s speech. The four Hometown Heroes remained on the battlements, their gazes flitting from Asa to the flowery fields of Mirrevar.

    Asa stepped onto the battlements. Her aura pulsed with light, shining brighter than a star. When she spoke, her voice boomed magically. ¡°Brave warriors of the Ruby Kingdom! I have a plan!¡± She winked at Alfread, and the silence of anticipation settled over the crowd.

    ¡°We will smash them against our walls! Tear them open with a storm of arrows! They will flee like cravens once they face our light!¡± Rays of light beamed out of Asa¡¯s white staff. They burst in every direction, every angle, rising to the heavens. For all their luminosity, the aura around her was the most radiant light of all.

    Zander¡¯s blood stirred. He was unstoppable. They couldn¡¯t be defeated. Victory was theirs to seize. Tonight was the night that Zander of Mirrevar would become a legend, a true hero of Leveria.

    ¡°We are Leveria¡¯s truest protectors!¡± Asa declared. ¡°And our cause is the righteous one!¡±

    A thunderous cheer erupted from the camp, and Zander¡¯s own roars were loudest of all.

 Chapter 22: Stonebreaker Pt. 1

    The grand cavern glowed faintly under the light of Alexia¡¯s magic. The beating heart of Ferrickton was empty now, except for a pair of guards that would never have another heartbeat. Five tunnels stretched ahead of her, her gaze lingering on the tunnel where Sir Barnett was entombed. Maleon Stonebreaker was nowhere to be seen, but when she found him, she¡¯d break him with the very stones of Ferrickton.

    It was his fault that Timmeck was dead. His fault that she had become a monster. His fault that Allison was an orphan. His fault. Rage seared through her veins, summoning Seraxa. KILL HIM!

    A scream ripped from her throat as she unleashed Seraxa¡¯s fire. Flames ringed her and spiraled, leaving blackened scars in their wake. She called out through the inferno, ¡°Show yourself, Stonebreaker! Let¡¯s finish this, once and for all!¡±

    Her breath came in ragged gasps, the heat of her rage ebbing as she scanned the cavern for the man who broke her. She could never be Alexia the Dreamer again. Not after this. Not after Ferrickton, not after Allison, not after Timmeck. That girl was gone, replaced by a woman with a broken heart.

    But Maleon didn¡¯t appear.

    The flames flickered and died, leaving only smoke curling in the air. Alexia¡¯s anger wavered, and with it came the deep ache of grief. She pressed a hand to her eyes, willing the tears away, trying to stoke the fire again. But all she found was sorrow for the girl she had been.

    I dreamt that peace would come if I just loved. I thought that the gray could become radiant if I only guided them with my heart. Her lips trembled as the bitter truth settled over her. Maleon showed me the innocence of my dreams. Life is not an epic tale with a sunny ending waiting at the end of a road of roses. Life is a battlefield at dusk where darkness and deceit are etched on every heart. It is a trail of thorns and tears with Death waiting for us at the end.

    She thought of Leverith, murdered by her own brother. Love couldn¡¯t even save the Divine of Love. Love dies, but death is everlasting. Justice? A father¡¯s fallacy. Peace? A mother¡¯s dream. Love? A fragile child. But even frail children can grow into heroes.

    Alexia¡¯s fingers found her locket. She clutched tightly, recalling the feeling of Zander¡¯s strong arms around her, steadying her in ways nothing else could. She slowed her breath, stilled her shaking. Then she remembered the source of all her pain, of Maleon¡¯s betrayal, and the moment it was sealed when she refused to kill Zander.

    If he wouldn¡¯t come to her, she¡¯d force him into battle.

    Alexia strode toward the first tunnel on her left. The ground vibrated beneath her feet, and the air stilled. Her eyes fixed on the tunnel¡¯s ceiling, supported by iron beams wide enough for several carts to pass through. In her mind¡¯s eyes, she saw this tunnel becoming nothing more than a cairn marking the death of her dreams. The vibrations intensified as her will poured into the spell.

    ¡°Petrapessum!¡±

    The ceiling collapsed with a deafening roar, tons of rock and iron crashing down like a child¡¯s toy blocks. The destruction echoed through the cavern, stirring sorrow in Alexia¡¯s chest. This iron was Ferrickton¡¯s lifeblood, as essential as a farmer¡¯s crop. Alexia crushed the thought before it could slaughter her resolve. There could be no peace without King Gideon¡¯s goodwill, and Maleon would not face her unless she forced him out of hiding.

    She sealed the second tunnel as easily as the first. Still, Maleon didn¡¯t show himself. The earth hummed with his power¡ªCelegana¡¯s energy thrummed in the stillness. Alexia felt his presence, a silent promise of the battle to come.

    She moved to the third tunnel, the largest yet, but with each step her confidence wavered. The ground pulsed like a heartbeat, and her gut felt like a punching bag. Worry sprinted around in circles within her mind, screaming at her to be prepared without telling her how. She needed to regain control, before the anxiety crushed her.

    Focus. Alexia inhaled deeply, centering herself just as Master Theos had taught her. She stepped back from the tunnel, calling upon the mantra of a lesson that could never be taken away from her.

    Crush the worry before it crushes you. Crush the worry before it crushes you¡­

    *************

    ¡°Worry is most unhelpful to a cognitive-affectomancer,¡± Master Theos said, his voice rich with the depth of age, weathered by his ninety years of knowledge. ¡°Why is that?¡±

    Alexia brightened with confidence. ¡°Because it blocks us from attuning to the Divine Thirteen and prevents us from forming a clear mental image of our focus.¡±

    Theos grinned, though with his scarred face it looked more like a snarl. ¡°That¡¯s not helpful at all!¡± he declared with exaggerated exasperation, throwing his hands in the air like a frustrated child. ¡°If worry harms us, then why do we do it?¡±

    Theos Stormkin often asked question he already knew the answers to. ¡°To solve the riddle was to master it,¡± he explained to Alexia two years before during their very first lesson. Once you found your own answer, it became a part of you, etched into the soul. Conversely, an answer given was fleeting¡ªit would flee when you needed it because it was never yours to begin with.

    At thirteen, Alexia had gazed up at her master, uncertainty heavy on her brow. Why do we worry? She certainly mastered worrying, and she wasn¡¯t certain what it did for her beyond make her feel eternally unsure about herself, about others, about the world she inhabited. She pondered for long moments before offering, ¡°To remind ourselves?¡± Her voice pitched high, betraying her lack of confidence in the answer.

    Theos smiled, his weathered face lighting up, though Alexia knew that didn¡¯t necessarily mean she was right. He was pleased, yes¡ªbut that expression could either mean that she was close to the hidden truth of things or close to the perceived, but false, truth. They both evoked the same smitten smirk from her master. They both led to learning. Often, the latter provoked a greater understanding because it taught what wasn¡¯t as much as what was.

    ¡°To remind ourselves?¡± he echoed, mimicking her upward lilt as if savoring the taste of the words. ¡°Remind ourselves of what?¡±

    Alexia sighed, searching her soul for the hidden truth of things. She sifted through endless experiences of worry, searching for a pattern, a deeper reason. But no clear answer emerged from these tangled thoughts weighted down by self-criticism. Finally, she admitted, ¡°I don¡¯t know, Master.¡±

    Lowering her head, she felt the familiar pang of being disappointed in herself. But Theos chuckled warmly, and instead of unlocking the door for her, he provided a key. ¡°What would your father say about worry?¡±

    Her father? Alexia¡¯s face beamed with sudden enlightenment. ¡°He¡¯d ask why such an unpleasant feeling could be considered pragmatic.¡± Her father was a staunch believer in Darle¡¯s Theory of Pragmatic Inheritance, applying it to everything¡ªsociety, learning, religion, but especially human behavior.

    Theos nodded and leaned back in his chair, signaling that no further hints would be provided. Alexia grinned, the pieces falling into place. ¡°When we worry, we¡¯re reminding ourselves of our problems,¡± she said, her voice gaining momentum. ¡°We feel it so we can confront the issues that need solving. Once we deal with our problems, the worry fades, like washing a stain from our favorite robe. Then we feel better and are then motivated to solve our problems the next time we worry about them. Worry is a feedback loop! Like reciprocal love!¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Theos smiled, an expression of the pride that allowed her to keep struggling through his riddles. ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s more akin to¡­ releasing gas. The stomach feels so much better after that toxic release. Henceforth, we choose to fart rather than hold the toxic gas in.¡±

    Alexia grinned. ¡°It is not the stomach, but the colon that thanks you for your flatulence.¡±

    Theos raised his lone eyebrow. ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Alexia bit her lip to contain her laughter.

    Theos shrugged, then let loose a full, hearty laugh, one that echoed in his chambers. Theos often reminded Alexia that laughter was never meant to be mastered. It was meant to flow freely, like magic in its purest form. But soon enough, he brushed the laughter aside and returned to his lesson. ¡°Now, why do I ask you about worry, Alexia?¡±

    ¡°Because,¡± she said easily, ¡°as the second great wizard, I¡¯ll face many problems that need solving. If I¡¯m overburdened by worry, I¡¯ll lose myself. I need to master my worries before I can master my magic.¡±

    Theos nodded, though this time, the prideful smile was absent.

    Alexia hesitated, struggling to keep that pang of disappointment out of her voice. ¡°Did I miss something, Master? Is there a deeper truth I¡¯m overlooking?¡±

    Theos frowned. ¡°No, quite the contrary. You will battle your worries time and time again. They¡¯ll be your closest companion¡ªno, more like a nagging mother, always behind you, insisting you must do this and that.¡±

    ¡°My mother isn¡¯t like that.¡±

    ¡°She isn¡¯t?¡± Theos tilted his head, feigning skepticism before breaking into a smirk. ¡°Perhaps you are more dutiful than I was. Perhaps you are blessed with a mother who actually believes in you. Either way, you are blessed, child of love.¡±

    Alexia let this tangent pass, refocusing. ¡°Master, I can handle my worries. I just need to solve the problem, and they¡¯ll disappear.¡± She lowered her voice into a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Just like farting.¡±

    Theos managed to combine a grin and a scowl in a single twisted expression. To Alexia, it read clearly: You¡¯re amusing, but you¡¯ve missed the mark.

    Silence stretched between them, the lesson simmering as Theos breathed slowly. Alexia watched, recognizing the control he had over his emotions.

    Control. The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. ¡°Control!¡± she exclaimed, a brilliant smile spreading across her face. Solving these riddles always brought that satisfying sense of bringing order from chaos with nothing but your own mind.

    Theos failed to suppress a grin of his own. Alexia continued, brimming with enthusiasm. ¡°Some problems are beyond our control. No matter how much we worry, we can¡¯t solve them.¡±

    ¡°Such as?¡±

    Alexia hesitated only a turn before speaking her fears aloud. ¡°I can¡¯t control the fact that I¡¯ll be sent to war one day. I¡¯m terrified of dying. Of killing. Of becoming a weapon of war when all I¡¯ve ever dreamed of is peace.¡± She swallowed hard, her voice shaking. ¡°What if all my training leads to nothing but hurting Leveria?¡±

    Theos¡¯s eyes deepened with sorrow, with empathy, and maybe with his own suffering. ¡°A profound example. So how is worry pragmatic in that case?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Alexia answered without hesitation. ¡°Not all worries are helpful. Worry is bitter medicine when it drives us to solve our problems, but a poison when the problem is beyond our control.¡±

    Theos nodded, tears welling in his eyes as he studied his favorite pupil. ¡°Precisely, Alexia. And when you face a worry beyond your control, what is the best course of action?¡±

    The answer flowed from her with ease. ¡°You crush the worry¡­ before it crushes you.¡±

    *************

    Crush the worry before it crushes you.

    Eighteen-year-old Alexia exhaled slowly in the Ferrickton Mines. The lesson, ingrained over her years of training, came to her easily now. She repeated her mantra three times, letting the words guide her thoughts and steady her heart. Her mind turned to Dalis¡¯s peaceful waters, a gentle current that washed away worry. Inhale¡­ exhale. She shifted her focus to Zafrir¡¯s soothing breeze, feeling a faint sense of control return as the air stirred around her.

    Maleon¡¯s presence loomed at the edge of her awareness, his channeling of Celegana diminished but ever-present. She exhaled again, accepting her situation. I cannot control when Maleon will appear. I can only control how I prepare for him. I will force him to appear under my terms. And I will defeat him.

    Alexia released Zafrir¡¯s wind and anchored herself in Celegana¡¯s steady earth. As she leveled the third and largest of the five tunnels, Maleon remained hidden. She couldn¡¯t control that, but she was prepared and ready.

    His presence grew sharper as she approached the fourth tunnel. She scanned her surroundings, assessing the stone walls and seeking out shadowed corners. There was nowhere he could hide, except inside the tunnel. Without hesitation, Alexia collapsed the earth above, sealing the passage beneath layers of rock. Still, Maleon didn¡¯t show himself. She quelled her apprehension. There¡¯s nothing I can do about that.

    A feeling of control rose in her gut, stemming from the predictability of the situation. Maleon awaited her at the last tunnel. He might control the timing of his entrance, but she would be ready.

    Alexia¡¯s pace slowed as she neared the fifth tunnel. Five paces away, she scanned the entrance. No crevices, no hidden alcoves. Four steps¡ªnothing but the sound of her heartbeat pounding in her skull. Three steps¡ªthe earth vibrated with the force of his channeling, growing stronger as she neared. Two steps¡ªshe steadied herself with Celegana¡¯s divine energy, eyes flicking to the tunnel overhang. One step¡ªthis is it. Inhale, hold, exhale.

    Alexia squared her stance, raised her staff, and peered into the final tunnel. Nothing. He wasn¡¯t there.

    Her eyes flicked over the cavern, scanning every possible hiding place and finding none. He had to be inside the final tunnel. All she had to do was collapse the entrance and leave him behind. She aimed her staff at the ceiling but couldn''t form the final focus. Her hand trembled as she lowered the staff.

    For all his betrayal, for all the pain she suffered, for all the hate and rage she felt this night, she couldn¡¯t finish strong. Not like this.

    She needed to see Maleon one last time. To look into the eyes of the man who fractured her soul. She needed to understand why he turned against her, to see that all the light was gone from him before the end. ¡°I know you¡¯re in there, Stonebreaker!¡±

    Her voice echoed through the cavern. Silence answered.

    Alexia sighed, frustration mingling with despondency. Even after all he had done, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to seal him away, not without seeing him face-to-face. She had to look into the eyes that once gave her courage, into the face of the man who had once saved her life. She couldn¡¯t collapse this tunnel unless she knew it only led to darkness.

    Am I still innocent? she wondered. Maybe it was naivete, but she preferred hope to cynicism. Alexia would offer a chance at understanding, but she would balance forgiveness with skepticism. This was the compromise Maleon¡¯s lessons taught her. She¡¯d strive to see the best in others, and she wouldn¡¯t be blind to the worst.

    She resolved to be ready for either outcome¡ªreconciliation or destruction.

    A calm confidence settled over her. Alexia felt peace fill her heart, allowing her to channel the stubbornness and refusal to surrender that attuned her to Celegana, Divine of Earth and Harvest. Alexia was ready to reap the rewards or consequences of the seeds she¡¯d planted with Maleon. It was time to harvest what grew between them after all the love and hate that had nurtured and withered their relationship.

    ¡°Maleon,¡± she called, firm and gentle, ¡°it doesn¡¯t have to end this way. I remember how you saved me, how you helped me believe in myself. Come out. Speak to me. I believe we can still find an understanding, if you give it a chance.¡±

    She held tightly to Celegana¡¯s steadiness, but also to Norali¡¯s hope, illuminating Aurora with a soft light that shimmered in the darkness. She stepped cautiously into the tunnel, moving with deliberate steps. If Maleon was there, it was not at the mouth, but hidden deeper within the dark, winding stone chipped away by the Gemstone War¡¯s constant need for weapons.

    Her voice softened with love, not fear. ¡°One more chance, Maleon. Please take it.¡±

    Maleon took his chance. Alas, it was not the one Alexia offered.

    He unleashed his hold on Celegana, and the earth itself roared in response. Alexia held fast to her connection with the Divine of Earth, clinging to Celegana¡¯s strength as though she were hanging from the edge of a cliff, her grip the only thing preventing her fall into the abyss below.

    Tons of rock tore free from the ceiling above Alexia, crashing down with a deafening roar.

 Chapter 22: Stonebreaker Pt. 2

    Alexia staggered as Maleon¡¯s manipulations of Celegana¡¯s divine energy throttled her balance. She dropped to one knee, straining as though holding the collapsing ceiling aloft with her arms. Stone shattered and scattered around her, crashing to the ground in a storm of debris. Pebbles, dust, and dirt settled at her feet, but she refused to let go of Celegana.

    Unbidden, thoughts of Azi flashed through her mind. The princess was the most stubborn person she¡¯d ever known. Drawing strength from the memory of her best friend¡¯s resilience, Alexia gripped Aurora¡ªremembering how Azi climbed their acacia tree years ago to find the perfect stick¡ªand channeled Celegana until divine energy overflowed the staff and filtered into her body, feeling like Azi¡¯s arms were around her, telling her not to let some rockhead kill her with thousands of pounds of rocks.

    She held to Celegana, pushing the stone away from her, forcing it to shift to the side, adhering to the wall and back to the ceiling. Still, the stones piled up around her, trapping her between the tunnel¡¯s crumbling walls. The weight of the earth closed in, forming the edges of a tomb designed by Maleon¡¯s trickery. Alexia refused to let the lid close. The light of Norali¡¯s hope dimmed, leaving her in a suffocating darkness. The space grew smaller and smaller, until she could feel the stone pressing into her sides and millions of pebbles trap her legs in place.

    A voice¡ªdiscordant, cruel, and persistent¡ªscratched at her consciousness like steel on glass. GIVE IN! FIND PEACE IN DEATH!

    ¡°No!¡± she gasped, pushing back against the insidious whisper. But the pressure continued, the relentless force pressing the weight of the world onto her shoulders. The dark thoughts repeated, pounding in her mind. GIVE IN!

    Alexia gritted her teeth, holding fast to Celegana and her memories of Azi. She would not yield to these treacherous whispers.

    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± she groaned, tears of exertion streaking down her cheeks. Her strength was failing. In desperation, her mind turned to Zander. Her free hand reached for his locket. As her fingers brushed it, a burst of blue light flared from the silver inverted heart, glowing like his moonlit eyes. Power surged through her. The Divines¡ªeach one of them¡ªwaited for her to call them forth and bring them together within the locket. She gathered Celegana¡¯s energy, pulling it from Maleon¡¯s grasping hold and letting it settle into the locket¡¯s infinite embrace.

    The weight pressing down on her lifted. Celegana¡¯s power was hers and hers alone. The earth ceased its trembling, and the stone that had threatened to crush her stilled. Alexia willed the stones back into place, adhering them to the ceiling and the narrowed walls.

    Panting, Alexia used the locket¡¯s blue glow to assess her surroundings. She was trapped¡ªstone covered her legs up to her knees, and walls of rock pressed in from all sides. The space was so tight she could only crouch. Each breath was a struggle, and soon, she knew, she would need to constantly channel Zafrir¡¯s air just to survive. For now, she could still breathe¡ªthough barely.

    Suddenly, Maleon pulled at Celegana¡¯s divine energy again. Earth trembling, Alexia braced herself for another battle over the divine energy. She gripped the locket tightly, ready to retrieve Celegana. But instead of crushing her further, he opened small fissures in the rock that blocked her escape. Fresh air flowed through, bringing relief to her strained lungs. Yet with it came the sound of Maleon¡¯s voice. To her surprise, it was laden with melancholy.

    ¡°Alexia?¡±

    His sorrow ignited fury within her, her blood boiling at how he dared to be sad for killing her.

    ¡°Maleon Stonebreaker!¡±

    Alexia assessed her options as she waited for Maleon¡¯s response. If she tried to move the stone blocking her escape, it would trigger a collapse, bringing the entire ceiling down on her. Even if she could hold the ceiling, the displaced rock would have to go somewhere¡ªand with the tunnel sloping downhill, it would crush her against the stone wall below. She knew she couldn¡¯t free herself alone. It would take one person clearing the debris, pulling the stone uphill and away, while the other held the ceiling in place long enough for her to escape. Maleon had failed to kill her with his first attempt, but now all he needed to do was nothing, and she would be sealed in this tomb.

    Hopelessness crept in, her hand slipping from the locket, extinguishing Leverith¡¯s blue glow.

    ¡°Why?¡± she cried, her voice breaking. The pain of Maleon¡¯s betrayal had never felt so sharp. The hatred and the anger that had surged through her as she killed and watched good people die was replaced by a stabbing sorrow and confusion. Her lips quivered as she forced out the painful question. ¡°Why did you betray me?¡±

    ¡°Because this war won¡¯t end until one side stands over the broken corpse of the other,¡± Maleon said, his voice echoing through the fissures.

    Alexia shook, fury reigniting. His reason wasn¡¯t just against everything she believed¡ªit was illogical. ¡°So you betray and kill a powerful ally?¡± she spat, incredulous.

    Maleon scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re no ally, Alexia. You¡¯d only stall and smother true conquest, placing bandages over eternally bleeding wounds without ever cutting out the infection. You¡¯d let the rot spread.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong!¡± Alexia bellowed. ¡°Peace cannot come as long as the cycle of vengeance spins!¡±

    Maleon sighed, the sound filled with exasperation, as if speaking to a stubborn child. ¡°Once upon a time, I knew a boy who believed that with all his heart. He was an idealist. He idolized Linus Peacemaker. He was in love with someone who made those ideals stronger than meladonite.¡± His voice softened, distant, drifting into memories covered in the dust of decades of neglect.

    Alexia seized on his words, desperate. Despite everything, she believed there was still a part of him that remembered the values he once held¡ªthe boy who broke stone from mountains, not the man who trapped her in these mines. ¡°That boy was right,¡± she said gently.

    ¡°No, Alexia,¡± Maleon replied, not harshly, but with quiet conviction. ¡°That boy was as innocent as you. He didn¡¯t see that the cycle of vengeance would never stop spinning because he¡¯d never felt the call to vengeance. If you felt the same soul-crushing agony as most of the people who play pawn in this war, you¡¯d know that truth.¡±

    ¡°I felt that call to vengeance tonight, Maleon. I felt it calling me to kill you. Yet, even though vengeance pulled at me, it was the desire to understand you and make peace with you that prevailed. You can still choose to do the same. You can be that beautiful boy who believed in love¡¯s power to heal all wounds.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Maleon said with a bitter exhale. ¡°It¡¯s that foolishness that brought you here, into this trap. You can¡¯t make peace with everyone, Alexia.¡± His voice wavered, but he pressed on. ¡°Tonight, I needed to remind myself of that. You made me doubt. You made me wonder about that boy, if he was right. When you touched me with Leverith¡¯s spirit, you made me dream again. I imagined standing beside you, following Linus Peacemaker¡¯s path. When you lower your mask, you are a force. You trick a man¡¯s mind into seeing goodness. You make him believe the world can be better. And I still believe that if anyone could do the impossible, it would be you.¡±

    ¡°Then why?¡± Alexia asked. How could one person believe in her more than she believed in herself yet hurt her this way? She hugged her knees to her chest, as if that could shield her from this heartbreak.

    ¡°Because the cycle of vengeance spins too powerfully in me,¡± Maleon answered, his voice hollow. ¡°When I saw you with that boy, I remembered why I became the man I am. His blade will claim the lives of hundreds of our countrymen and you let him go. How many Sapphires did you doom then? How many people who falsely believe that you are their savior?¡±

    Alexia knew his words held truth. If Zander was unleashed on a battlefield, he could be devastating. But even so, she shook her head. She would never regret her choice.

    ¡°You refused to trap the miners tonight, again costing us untold Sapphire lives.¡± Maleon¡¯s voice hardened. ¡°You tried to quiet the vengeance inside of me. I haven¡¯t cared about anyone like I care about you in decades. I loved you like a daughter, like the closest friend I¡¯ve had in too many lonely years, but I can¡¯t let you forge a false peace when this war needs to end forever. I couldn¡¯t let you change me. I couldn¡¯t let go of my hatred for the Blazelord. That¡¯s why I left a message for the Peacewatch. I told them there¡¯d be an attack on the mines tonight.¡±

    Alexia screamed, her rage uncontrollable. Maleon¡¯s voice thundered over her cries. ¡°I¡¯ve saved more lives tonight than all my other actions combined. Your death may finally bring the future you dream of¡ªthe future where this war ends!¡±

    Her screams didn¡¯t stop, overwhelmed by his twisted logic. How could he believe so intensely in vengeance that he¡¯d kill someone he loved?

    ¡°Let it out, Alexia,¡± Maleon growled, his voice thick with passion. ¡°That¡¯s the scream of your innocence dying. I remember when I let out that same scream.¡± His laugh followed, bitter and broken, a lament for the boy he had once been, and for the girl Alexia still was. His laugh pulled at her anger and hatred, but Alexia fought to hold on to the hope that the boy inside him was still there.

    ¡°Elianor told me I was incapable of love. She was wrong!¡± Maleon slammed his fist into the rock between them. The air chilled as heat drained from the space. He panted, catching his breath, then laughed again¡ªthe mad laugh of a broken man who laughs at his own pain because that is the only course left to him besides weeping. The laughter faded into silence, leaving only melancholy behind. Sadness, Alexia realized, can never truly be burned away by the flames of wrath. It waits beneath the surface, always growing until it¡¯s let out.

    ¡°I had bonded my life¡¯s mate,¡± Maleon said softly, his tenderness surprising. ¡°Like you, she was the most beautiful woman at the Arcanium, both in spirit and in body.¡±

    Alexia listened closely, focusing on the faint blue glow of Leverith¡¯s light. The only way she was getting out of this tomb was with Maleon¡¯s help. Was he reaching out to her? Was his light trying to shine through at last? A warning voice inside told her not to be so innocent.

    ¡°We were as inseparable as only two young lovers full of dreams could be,¡± Maleon continued, his voice distant. ¡°We schemed of ways to end the war. We¡¯d never possess the political power of the Love Queen or Philladon Godseer. We needed to become well-known heroes, like Linus Peacemaker. Linus, oh how he gave us hope. The Peacemaker was a model to strive for. We got our big chance when Archwizard Theos Stormkin was recruiting cognitive-affectomancers for a battle against the unstoppable Kai Blazelord along the southern Eagle.¡±

    Maleon sighed. ¡°You know of the battle. It was a disaster. Poor leadership, poor planning. We fell into a trap. The Blazelord scattered us with fire. In the chaos, I lost sight of my life¡¯s mate...¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    He choked on the words, unable to speak her name. Alexia wondered how long it had been since he¡¯d said it and how much it tore at his heart almost forty years later. That, Alexia knew, would be her best chance to reach him, to remind him of who he used to be.

    ¡°Still alive, Alexia?¡± Maleon asked.

    ¡°For now.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± he said, his sorrow seeping through the cracks in the stone between them. ¡°I want you to know this. You deserve that much. I wasn¡¯t ready in Mirrevar, but I¡¯ll try to tell you now.¡±

    I¡¯m flattered, she thought with a sharp edge of sarcasm. But she quickly pushed the spite aside, drawing on Leverith¡¯s loving energy to center herself.

    ¡°I broke the stone off the mountain,¡± Maleon continued, his voice fading to a pained whisper. ¡°I thought she would see it, that she¡¯d run to safety. I waited and waited, fought the Ruby while the Sapphires fled across the Eagle. I waited until there was no one left to save.¡± Alexia pressed her ear against the fissure, straining to hear. ¡°She died along the bank of the Eagle River. Everything we dreamed of died with her.¡±

    Maleon sniffed, his voice shaking. Against all expectations, she felt empathy for him, her murderer. She could speak now, try to console him, nurture whatever heroic light remained inside the dark monster¡ªbut all things have their moment. Her instinct told her that he wasn¡¯t finished.

    ¡°That day, I learned why this war will never end. When they took her from me, I swore that I would dedicate my life to killing the Rubies. I wouldn¡¯t rest until I stood over Kai Blazelord¡¯s divinedamned corpse.¡±

    Alexia grasped her locket. His pain made sense now, the way it had consumed him, replacing his hope with a relentless thirst for retribution. She understood his grief, even if she didn¡¯t agree with what it had made him.

    ¡°There are a thousand stories like mine,¡± Maleon continued somberly. ¡°More are written each year. Vengeance compels the Ruby and the Sapphire to fight. As beautiful as your dream is, as beautiful as you are, Alexia, peace is impossible. There is nothing that can undo the hatred that has grown between the Ruby and the Sapphire. The only way this war ends is if one side is destroyed.¡±

    ¡°You are a coward,¡± Alexia cut in, her tone sharp and deliberate.

    Maleon scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m not ashamed to admit that you¡¯re stronger than me. If I had your power, the Blazelord would¡¯ve been dead years ago. So, I hid behind a stone wall of my own design, blended with the cavern to look like it had always been a part of the earth. I¡¯d rather be an alive coward than a dead fool.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not why you¡¯re a coward,¡± Alexia pressed, biting off renewed anger at his trickery. ¡°What was your wife¡¯s name?¡±

    The silence that followed was so long she nearly gave up hope. But then, finally, Maleon¡¯s voice came, low and full of pain.

    ¡°Laelynn.¡±

    ¡°Laelynn,¡± she repeated softly, letting the name echo in the narrow space between them. ¡°You¡¯re a coward because you¡¯ve spent most of your life dishonoring Laelynn.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Maleon¡¯s voice exploded with fury, and the earth quaked, shaking the walls of her little tomb. Alexia had to channel Celegana to keep the rocks from collapsing. ¡°Everything I do,¡± he roared, ¡°I do for her!¡±

    ¡°Laelynn spent her life dreaming of peace!¡± Alexia shouted back. ¡°Do you think Laelynn would have wanted you to devote yourself to the very war she wanted to end? You¡¯ve killed more Rubies than any other Sapphire alive, Maleon Stonebreaker!¡±

    ¡°Because they took her from me!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve strayed so far from Laelynn¡¯s path that you¡¯re here now, killing me. The woman you claim reminds you of her! Would you kill Laelynn too, if she stood in the way of your vengeance?¡±

    ¡°I would never!¡± Maleon boomed, but the cracks in his voice betrayed the fissures in his confidence.

    Her voice steadied, growing quiet but firm just like he¡¯d taught her to be. ¡°You¡¯ve spent the last thirty-eight years in defiance of Laelynn¡¯s dreams. You¡¯ve become the very thing she despised. You¡¯ve killed her memory over and over again, every day since the moment she died. You¡¯re killing me, not because I¡¯m your enemy, but because I remind you of who you once were¡ªof the man Laelynn loved.¡±

    Maleon¡¯s voice came in sputters, his denials weak and faltering. He begged her to stop using Laelynn¡¯s name, but Alexia pressed on, relentless.

    ¡°This is where your vengeance has led you, Maleon. You¡¯re not just fighting the Rubies¡ªyou¡¯re fighting Laelynn¡¯s memory. Do you think Laelynn would be proud of what you¡¯ve become?¡±

    ¡°What was I supposed to do?¡± he cried. ¡°Let the people who killed her live happily? No! I can¡¯t stop until Kai Blazelord is dead! He took the best part of me! She would,¡± he sobbed, his conviction breaking, ¡°understand.¡±

    ¡°She would understand,¡± Alexia said softly now, using her own gentle voice. ¡°She would understand the pain you¡¯ve endured. She would understand hatred¡¯s hold on your heart. She would understand your vengeance against her killer. She would understand that you loved her so much that you couldn¡¯t let her go. She would understand you and she would love you still.¡±

    Tears streamed down Alexia¡¯s face, as they would have Laelynn¡¯s, knowing that she would understand how that boy who dreamt of peace became this man enslaved to vengeance. Despite the hell he put her through, empathy was forever the antidote of anger.

    She pressed on. ¡°And she wouldn¡¯t approve of how you¡¯ve lived all those years. If there is a Paradise, Laelynn isn¡¯t smiling down at you. She would be heartbroken to see your existence continues to darken this world. She wouldn¡¯t be proud of you, Maleon. You¡¯ve broken her heart every single day for the last thirty-eight years.¡±

    The silence stretched on for what felt like angles. Alexia wondered if he had fled, but then Maleon¡¯s voice came from the other side of the cave-in, stripped of emotion.

    ¡°For what it is worth, I¡¯m sorry it had to end this way. If there is a Paradise, I know you¡¯ll go there.¡± Maleon choked on his next words. ¡°Tell Laelynn I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s chest tightened as the worries flooded in, making it feel like the walls were closing in again. Desperation clawed at her, and she shouted out, ¡°Wait! Maleon, you don¡¯t have to end it like this! You can still change! You can live the rest of your days making amends, and at the end of the road, meet her in peace. You can apologize to Laelynn yourself.¡±

    Maleon¡¯s cry was raw, broken. ¡°I am lost, Alexia. Divines be damned, you¡¯re right! I might as well have pissed on her grave for all I¡¯ve dishonored her! The boy I was is dead and this,¡± his voice shattered into a grief deeper than anything she¡¯d ever heard, ¡°is all that¡¯s left.¡±

    ¡°No, Maleon. It¡¯s not too late! The good that Laelynn saw in you is still there. I¡¯ve seen it! Together, we can bring the peace she dreamed of. You can still make her proud. If I can forgive you, she can too.¡±

    The silence on the other side of the barrier was suffocating, but Alexia could sense him there, at the crossroads of love and hate. She trembled, not just from the fear of death but from the truth in her own words. Despite everything, despite the betrayal and the pain, she knew she could still forgive him. If Maleon could become the man she glimpsed in Mirrevar¡ªthe man Laelynn loved¡ªhe could still be her ally against the Gemstone War and the Chimaera. Her heart ached for that possibility.

    ¡°You would forgive me?¡± he asked skeptically.

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    Maleon sighed. ¡°You truly are just like her,¡± he said, croaking out the words through his sorrow. ¡°Still, I can¡¯t forgive myself. I have become the very monster we swore to destroy. How did it come to this?¡±

    Alexia¡¯s breath hitched, her tears flowing freely now. ¡°We can still return to the path of Leverith. When peace is restored, you can join Laelynn in Paradise, knowing you changed and did everything you could to honor her dreams of peace. Your yesterday doesn¡¯t have to be your tomorrow. Believe in me, like I believe in you.¡±

    ¡°Alexia,¡± he said, his throat catching on her name, ¡°I do believe in you. I don¡¯t know if I can believe in myself.¡±

    ¡°Then believe in my belief in you,¡± she pleaded. ¡°Let me lead you. I¡¯ll carry your dreams until you¡¯re ready to believe in them yourself.¡±

    ¡°Alexia¡­¡± His voice wavered, teetering on the edge of decision.

    There was another pause that seemed to stretch on endlessly but only lasted a few fateful turns. Her life hung in the balance, yet she could feel haunting laughter echoing darkly in her mind. A voice that was distinctly not hers chanted in her skull, GIVE IN. FIND PEACE IN DEATH!

    A foul miasma seemed to permeate the air, invisible to the naked eye. A wave of nausea blasted her stomach, making her retch, corrupting her with intrusive thoughts to hate herself, to just die already, to despise Maleon Stonebreaker. Alexia grasped the locket at her sternum and summoned Leverith¡¯s spirit. The blue glow whirled around her in the tiny enclosure but was repelled at the fissures between her and Maleon. Maleon¡¯s voice came through the fissure, but it was no longer just his¡ªit carried the menace of that unseen force.

    ¡°Laelynn could never forgive me for what I¡¯ve done,¡± he declared with a cold finality. ¡°There is no redemption for Maleon Stonebreaker. I am the monster who destroyed this town tonight. I am the monster that can kill the one who reminds me of her.¡±

    He was just a few feet from Alexia, but he might as well have been oceans away. This darkness between them was impenetrable now, too strong to breach even with Leverith¡¯s love. She had failed and now despair wrapped around her heart. Maleon would never return to the man he once was. Worst of all, without him she was certain she would die here.

    Perhaps she deserved this for killing Sir Barnett and dozens of other men just trying to protect their homes from a monster. But even if that was true, Alexia had too much to live for to simply accept Zamael¡¯s claim on her soul. Timmeck¡¯s promise. Protecting the world from the Chimaera. Restoring peace. Zander¡¯s love. All these dreams and responsibilities wouldn¡¯t let her give in. She begged for her life, for the chance to love.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Maleon roared. ¡°I will hear no more. Die knowing this last promise I make you: your Ruby lover will follow you straight into Zamael¡¯s Hells! I will track him down and make sure he doesn¡¯t harm the Sapphire! You will both die, never knowing each other¡¯s love!¡± Maleon caught his breath then continued over Alexia¡¯s cries. ¡°This is the world we live in, girl. A world of broken people and broken dreams where love dies and innocence is lost!¡± His voice calmed, but only grew sharper in its hatred. ¡°Give in. Find peace in death.¡±

    He could kill her. She deserved it, after all. But the thought of Maleon killing Zander spawned a powerful yearning inside of Alexia. She needed to see him again. Zander was innocent of her crimes. He didn¡¯t deserve her pain. He was Leverith¡¯s answer. Her yearning grew, like a child inside of her. The air began to croon a melody, and she felt Zander here with her.

    Clutching the locket, Alexia screamed with all the strength she had left. The Ring of Peace on her finger flared green and divine energy poured from the locket, harnessing more power than she imagined possible. For that moment, she didn¡¯t just channel Zafrir¡¯s wind, she was Zafrir himself, commanding all the world¡¯s air. Had she been oceans away, there would be no wind. Had cognitive-affectomancers tried to summon the breeze, they would have failed. For it was hers. And she had complete control over it.

    Pebbles were eroded to nothing but dust, stones scattered from the epicenter of her blast, walls of boulders were rocketed across the grand cavern, and the ceiling itself lifted over her head, the very earth compressing and cowering as Alexia battered at it with more wind than was imaginable. The wind moved with Alexia, emanating from her with a deafening roar as she stepped through the opening. The ceiling collapsed behind her, sealing the final tunnel as she relinquished her hold over the Zafrir.

    She found Maleon crushed beneath a boulder, his body pinned from the waist down, helpless, over a hundred feet from the tunnel¡¯s shattered mouth. The Stonebreaker couldn¡¯t channel the earth to obey his commands. He couldn¡¯t break the stone that was breaking him.

    Their eyes met. She could break the stone, heal his broken body, but she couldn¡¯t restore his broken heart. This was the greatest lesson he would ever teach her. At last, she solved Maleon¡¯s riddle and earned the knowledge that came with it. Love did not always conquer hate. Not everyone could be redeemed.

    ¡°Any last words?¡± Alexia asked, her staff leveled at his face.

    She expected him to beg, to plead for mercy. But no, Maleon was not a coward in the end. ¡°Until next time,¡± he managed.

    Alexia trembled. Tears blurred her vision as she lowered her staff. ¡°Until next time,¡± she echoed softly.

    Maleon closed his eyes.

    Alexia¡¯s magic lifted a nearby boulder with ease, guiding it over his upper body. She thought of many things to say, verbose derisions and condescending remarks that would''ve been all too storybook and devoid of real meaning. In truth, her final words to him were already spoken. Their time together was at an end. Somewhere deep within their ephemeral relationship, love had resided. The love of a man remembering how great he could¡¯ve been and the woman he had lived for. And for Alexia, it was the love of the man who had saved her life and inspired her to face her fears; it was the love of a man who could''ve been one of her greatest allies and a true Leverian hero.

    Leverith, let us reunite when all is done and only remember the love. Until next time, Maleon Stonebreaker.

    Alexia let go of the stone.

 Chapter 23: Hometown Heroes Pt. 1

    The sun had progressed several angles, passing from midday to evening and finally sinking into dusk. Zamael¡¯s full moon peaked over the northern horizon as Norali¡¯s Sun fell into the west. Zander¡¯s gaze followed the path of both celestial bodies, wondering if the two would share a brief glimpse of each other across the heavens. He pressed his hand to his heart, thoughts drifting to Alexia. He needed to survive the night to witness another sunrise on the eastern horizon.

    Zander stood at the northern breach alongside his new companions. Fifteen of the finest lancers and spearmen waited at the southern breach, shoulder-high mounds of filth beside them¡ªan improvised defense made from the encampment¡¯s cesspit. It seemed that Asa had deemed each hometown hero the equivalent of three men plus a large pile of shite. Zander had grinned at his jest, unsure whether he ought to feel honored or insulted.

    Behind him, siege equipment stood ready, poised to rain stones over the trench to thin out the enemy before they attempted to breach the walls. The same preparations were made at the southern breach, with additional onagers stationed near the main gate, ready to hurl stones at any attackers in the flowery fields beyond.

    Anyone trained with a bow lined the battlements and watchtowers between the breaches, arrows dipped in Asa¡¯s poisons. Their orders were clear: target and kill the Sapphire leaders. Alfread stood among them, proudly positioned with Asa and the lordling Varon Von Gaelrich above the central gate¡¯s fortifications. The drawbridge had been removed and moved inside the camp, and siege engines were braced against the gate to make it nearly impenetrable.

    Asa had taken charge of all the poisons in the camp, combining them with her own stock. Medicans, potioneers, and apothecaries worked tirelessly to mix more, coating thousands of arrowheads with their venomous concoctions. According to Alfread, the arrowheads themselves were a marvel. Designed by Princess Serapheena, they could pierce metal plate. So intense was Alfread¡¯s infatuation with the platepiercers and the brilliance of Serapheena Ruby that Asa had teased whether he was planning to bond the precocious princess. Zander didn¡¯t hear Alfread comment any further on the arrowheads. He did, however, hear Alfread praising Asa¡¯s aura, battle plans, speech, and just about everything else that was praiseworthy.

    Even those untrained in battle had roles to fill. Medicans waited near the breaches, ready to tend the wounded, while the priestess of Meladon moved among the ranks, offering blessings in Gidi¡¯s name. When she touched Zander¡¯s muscled arm, she smiled, remarking that he was Gidi¡¯s blessing. Swelling with pride, Zander hoped that the craftsmen, camp wives, and orphans gathered near a line of apple trees inside the palisade would never need to fulfill their duty¡ªthat his strength would keep them safe and allow their frontline defenses to withstand until the Sapphire retreated.

    ¡°HEY, ZANDER!¡± Theo¡¯s voice boomed despite standing mere feet away. He was a wild one¡ªtall and gangly, with an eccentric sense of humor and a tendency toward bizarre outbursts. Zander found his antics endearing, and Theo was unexpectedly skilled with a sword, reminding him of Kenneth, despite being the physical opposite of the short, stout, square-faced squire from Bear¡¯s Crossing.

    ¡°HEY, THEO!¡± Zander shouted back, grinning.

    Vernon, the group¡¯s stickler for decorum, bellowed, ¡°SHUT UP!¡± His round face turned red with frustration.

    ¡°HEY, VERNON!¡± Theo howled, making Vernon¡¯s face flush even deeper. The others laughed.

    River patted Vernon¡¯s back. ¡°Come on, Vern. Take a breath.¡± River demonstrated, breathing in deeply, and Vernon followed. His pudgy, yet handsome face, lost its flush, his shoulders relaxed as the tension melted from him. For the first time in angles, he looked to be standing at ease, like he didn¡¯t have a stick wedged up his arse. Almost. The stick wasn¡¯t lodged as far in at least.

    ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± River said. A ferocious fighter, calm under pressure, quick with a smile, and an inspiring leader, River was everything Zander aspired to be.

    The Hometown Heroes looked at River the way Zander wanted people to look at him. He was their beloved hero, the keystone that held the group together. Zander wanted to be that someday for the entire Peacewatch.

    ¡°HEY, GORDAN!¡± River shouted, breaking the tension with a playful grin that made even Vernon chuckle.

    ¡°Hey, River,¡± Gordan said, looking at River with the same earnest love that River had for him. Gordan looked average in every way and, like Alfread, had a soul that seemed too gentle for battle. Alas, he bravely stood with his friends and shared River¡¯s strong convictions. Zander knew that, like Marigold, Gordan had an inner strength that betrayed his timid exterior. Zander knew that River saw his best friend¡¯s strength too, though the question was if Gordan saw it himself.

    River grabbed Gordan¡¯s hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. Their eyes locked and a smile spread across Gordan¡¯s face so far that Zander felt his own lips rise.

    Zander glanced over to the battlements where Alfread stood, looking out into Mirrevar. Then he glared at the full moon shining blue in the night sky. Folklore spoke of the full moon with fear. It was Zamael Waxing and when the moon was full, so was Zamael¡¯s influence. Zander exhaled hoping that the bonds shared by best friends such as them could withstand the evils of a night such as this.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Mission accomplished,¡± Theo announced dramatically, raising his arms in mock triumph like a performer after a grand show.

    ¡°At being a gaping doofus?¡± Vernon retorted, his tone light, followed by a chuckle.

    Theo flapped his arms like a bird, smiling wide. ¡°Now everybody knows everybody!¡±

    Vernon gaped at him. ¡°We already knew each other, Theo.¡±

    ¡°There are many layers of knowing,¡± Gordan chimed in, drawing quizzical looks from the group. ¡°Or so I¡¯ve heard.¡±

    ¡°I know this is a sword,¡± Zander said, unsheathing his blade and giving it a flourish. ¡°And I know that¡¯s a sword,¡± he pointed to River¡¯s bastard blade, ¡°but I know my sword more intimately.¡± He held the blade high, the moonlight glinting blue off the iron as he admired it. ¡°It¡¯s an extension of my arm.¡± He sliced through the air, the very same stroke that would soon fell countless Sapphires. His gut fluttered with excitement.

    ¡°It¡¯s like how I may¡¯ve seen some of you guys have a piss,¡± Theo added, flapping his bird wings, ¡°but I know my sword better than any of yours.¡±

    Laughter rippled through the group. ¡°We share a tent with you,¡± River said dryly. ¡°We know how well¡­ acquainted you are with that¡­ sword.¡±

    ¡°Truly inseparable,¡± Gordan chirped.

    ¡°Hand stuck to hilt,¡± Vernon contributed, miming.

    ¡°Some sticky adhesive,¡± River muttered loud enough for all to hear, as he too mimed being unable to free his hand from his hilt.

    ¡°Really strong grip,¡± Zander offered, his knuckles going white on his pommel.

    To his credit, Theo didn¡¯t blush. More likely, he didn¡¯t know how. He didn¡¯t seem to have an internal social moderator that told him when things were inappropriate. ¡°All true,¡± he confessed with a wide grin.

    ¡°Meladon gave us swords to swing them, right boys?¡± Gordan added in Theo¡¯s defense.

    ¡°Your divinedamn right!¡± Theo exclaimed.

    The Hometown Heroes kept up their lighthearted jabs, the banter masking their fears of the impending battle. Zander was proud to serve along each of them. These were his comrades, his friends, and he vowed they would all survive to see another dawn.

    The moon had risen high, casting its blue glow across the land when the war horns blared¡ªone from the bastion, another from the eastern fields. The Hometown Heroes drew their blades, the scrape of steel harmonizing with the growing symphony of war. Like music to Zander¡¯s hungry ears, the sound heralded the coming of his glory.

    River, standing in front of the breach, turned to face them, his shout resonating. ¡°Who are we?¡±

    ¡°Hometown Heroes!¡± they roared in unison.

    ¡°We are Leveria¡¯s truest protectors and our cause is the righteous one!¡± Zander added.

    ¡°Let¡¯s cut their bloody heads off and piss down their necks!¡± Theo bellowed with gleeful ferocity.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not and say you did,¡± Vernon reproached, his voice shaking.

    The camp roared to life as the enemy approached. Sapphires marched across the land, a living tide of iron crashing toward the Ruby encampment. Zander¡¯s heart danced frantically to the tune of excitement. He looked to the heavens, past the full moon, and thought of his mother looking down at him, remembering something she once told him.

    Life is a series of small moments that lead up to a few greater moments, the moments that define you, that determine where you¡¯re headed down life¡¯s path. This was one of those moments. The years of training, the hard-fought battles, all those small moments led him here. It felt preordained, as though the Divine Thirteen themselves had placed him in this exact moment, back in his homeland, beside these companions, where he would finally obtain his glory and become a great warrior.

    He closed his eyes for a fleeting turn, then opened them again, his irises as blue as the moon above, radiating an intensity that seemed inhuman. Just like that, in the blink of an eye, his thoughts were gone, and instinct reigned over his senses. The battle had begun.

    Asa¡¯s magic pierced the night, her aura blazing bright against the looming darkness. She raised her staff high and shouted a word that shook Zander to his core. ¡°Noralis!¡±

    A brilliant beam of silver light shot from her staff, cutting across the battlefield like the hand of Norali. The Sapphire army faltered, soldiers shielding their eyes from the blinding luminescence. Knights fell from their horses, men stumbled into one another, their formation collapsing. Zander stood in the breach, in awe of Asa¡¯s power.

    Her commands rang out, loud enough for the Sapphire to hear from their knees as the light continued to blind them. ¡°Archers! Draw! Aim! Loose!¡±

    A hundred bowstrings twanged, and the night sky filled with arrows, streaking toward the Sapphires like angry eagles swooping down toward a mischief of blind mice. Poison-tipped arrows found their marks, and the Sapphire lines crumbled. Soldiers twisted in agony¡ªsome froze in place, others collapsed, seizures wracked their bodies, while others thrashed blindly around them. Screams filled the air, but the onslaught continued, wave after wave of arrows thinning the Sapphire ranks as they stumbled forward through their blindness.

    Despite the heavy losses, the Sapphire pressed on. Zander¡¯s hand tightened around his sword¡¯s hilt. His moment of glory was fast approaching.

    Behind the main gate, the trebuchets fired, launching heavy stones crashing into the enemy¡¯s core. As Alfread predicted, the Sapphire force split into three, dividing their assault between the two breaches and the fortified gate.

    The turns stretched into eternity as Zander watched the horde approaching his breach. Sapphires scrambled toward the trench, struggling to avoid the rocks hurled by the onagers and the relentless hail of arrows from the battlements.

    ¡°Stand by me!¡± River bellowed, the Hometown Heroes forming a solid line¡ªshields and swords ready for the first wave.

    The Sapphires surged into the trench, a relentless wave of bodies colliding with the earth. Zander might have admired their bravery, might have seen them as fellow Leverians, but his mind had surrendered to the thrill. Glory filled his vision, not faces. His sword screamed to be unleashed, and his body was ready to oblige. A single thought echoed through his mind: Finish strong.

 Chapter 23: Hometown Heroes Pt. 2

    Asa summoned rain clouds over the trenches, but a Sapphire witch quickly dispelled them with light magic. Asa¡¯s water pooled into the breach, only to be siphoned away by the enemy witch. The Sapphires wouldn¡¯t have to wade through the breach as Asa had intended, but it made no difference to Zander. They still had to face his blade on their ascent.

    ¡°Mirrevar!¡± Zander bellowed, slashing the first Sapphire who braved the breach, sending the squire tumbling back into the trench. They kept coming¡ªknights, squires¡ªfalling one by one beneath his blade. Zander didn¡¯t see them as men or the occasional woman. They weren¡¯t people with families, conscripted into a war against their will. They weren¡¯t Leverians who believed that the Second Great Wizard would forge the great peace. Nor did he regard them as people fighting to avenge the friends and family they had lost to this war. His full moon eyes didn¡¯t see any of those things. They were soulless and lacked a story of their own. They were stepping stones along the path to glory. Zander leapt from stone to stone with relentless precision, a master carving out his destiny.

    River and the rest of the Hometown Heroes fought furiously at his side; their instincts worked together in such a seamless integration that they would¡¯ve embarrassed the Celegan-tamed wolves. Unlike Zander, they weren¡¯t fighting for personal glory, but for each other, for the land they wanted to see at peace once more. The trench became a mass grave, bodies piling up, giving the Sapphires a grotesque foothold to climb into the breach.

    The air turned cold, and a burst of fire surged toward the gate. Asa was ready; she summoned a mystical waterfall that drowned the flames. The Sapphire wizard tried to counter with lightning, hoping to disrupt the relentless barrage of arrows, but Asa¡¯s light outshone his efforts. Her radiance neutralized his magic, sending waves of enemies stumbling and blinded. The group charging Zander¡¯s breach were sent to their knees by a burst of light. A heartbeat later, an onager dropped a stone on them. Arrows from the nearby watchtowers pierced through plate and leather, punching deep into any Sapphires that survived the stones.

    Battle raged like a tempest on the Sinful Steppe, time speeding along as the Hometown Heroes held their ground. Everything seemed to go according to plan. The enemy¡¯s forces, though vast, were disorganized and overwhelmed by their defenses.

    Zander and River fought side by side, taking the lead. Zander rescued River from an ankle-biting cut by deflecting it with his sword while River skillfully put a cleft in the footman¡¯s head. River repaid Zander by deflecting a lance bound for Zander¡¯s abdomen. Zander cut through the lance¡¯s wooden shaft and the lancer was shot down by an arrow from above.

    The tempest raged on. Zander fought an invader on even ground as a Ruby archer fell off the wall and landed a few feet away with an arrow stuck in his chest. Zander battered the knight back into the trench, his head no longer atop his shoulders. He readied his blade to catch the next wave of invaders, but the steady stream of enemies had been dammed.

    ¡°Move aside!¡± Zander shouted.

    ¡°Get down!¡± River roared at the same moment.

    Arrows flooded the breach, whooshing past where Zander had been moments before. He heard a pained scream beside him: Gordan.

    Zander yanked the arrow from Gordan¡¯s side. The wounded boy clenched his teeth in agony. ¡°Run to the medicans! We¡¯ll hold the breach!¡± Zander ordered.

    ¡°No! I can still fight!¡± Gordan gasped, clutching his wound, his gaze fixed on River.

    River¡¯s voice was harsher than Zander had ever heard. He stepped toward Gordan with a force that made even Zander back away. ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn! You¡¯re no good to me dead!¡±

    Sometimes, words cut sharper than swords and pierced deeper than arrows. Crying, Gordan turned and limped toward the medicans.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Five Sapphires scrambled through the breach after the arrow barrage, and Zander quickly found himself in the center of chaos. Theo and Vernon engaged two of the Sapphires. Two knights turned toward him, while the third swung a blade at River.

    Zander moved with swift precision, his body responding with practiced ease. He had faced worse in training back at Bear¡¯s Crossing, where Sir Edward often pitted him against multiple opponents. Back then, he hadn¡¯t lost, and he had no intention of losing now. Blocking one knight¡¯s advance with his shield, he parried the other¡¯s strike with his sword. Both enemies pressed down, trying to split his strength and overwhelm him.

    With a grunt, Zander shifted his weight, bending his knees as he braced himself. In one powerful motion, he extended upward, shoving them back with a force that sent one knight tumbling and the other flying into the air.

    Finish strong.

    Zander drove his sword into the downed knight¡¯s visor, ending him instantly. But the second knight recovered quickly, swinging his blade toward Zander as he urgently rolled away¡ªhis sword still lodged in the first knight¡¯s helmet.

    Unarmed and facing a knight in full plate, Zander did the only rational thing he could¡ªhe closed the distance, tackling his opponent to the ground. The Sapphire knight¡¯s longsword flew from his grip as he hit the dirt. The knight reached for his knife, but Zander wrenched his arm backward, the sickening pop of ripping his arm from his torso followed by a howl of pain. Zander silenced him with a quick stab to the throat.

    Yanking his sword free from the dead knight¡¯s visor like the storybook king pulling the sword from the stone, Zander surveyed the chaos. River was locked in a fierce duel with another Sapphire, evenly matched. Theo had already felled his opponent and was now helping Vernon. But Zander¡¯s attention snapped back to the breach as five more Sapphires climbed through.

    Two of them fell immediately, felled by poisoned arrows, writhing as they tumbled back into the overflowing trench. Zander dropped his shield and took his sword in both hands, sweeping it in a deadly arc. The first two invaders collapsed, one nearly severed at the hip, the other with a deep gash that would bleed him out slowly. The third knight deflected the blow off his plate, managing to stay upright.

    The Sapphire knight, enraged, launched a wild counterattack. Zander parried the strike and pushed back, his feet planted firmly in the blood-soaked ground. Unable to match, Zander¡¯s strength, the enemy slipped in the mud, losing his balance. Finish strong. Zander¡¯s sword cut cleanly through his neck, sending the head toppling before the body slumped.

    Retrieving his shield, Zander prepared to aid River, but three more enemies crawled through the breach. He bashed one invader back into the trench, while another, intimidated by Zander¡¯s stature and brutality, jumped out of the breach. Zander met the last invader¡¯s strike, the man¡¯s voice calling out a name Zander couldn¡¯t make out in the heat of the battle. With a practiced maneuver that Sir Evan taught him, Zander disarmed him, then de-armed him at the shoulder in one swift motion. Blood gushed out like a river as the Sapphire screamed, clutching his severed limb.

    Zander hesitated, tendrils of pity clawing through his bloodlust. But the cold voice inside whispered, Finish strong. Zander thrust his blade into the man¡¯s abdomen. The boy cried for his mother as he died, his eyes wide with fear and pain. Seeing himself reflected in the dying boy¡¯s eyes, Zander didn¡¯t recognize the blood-drenched beast staring back at him. This couldn¡¯t be the same boy who once cried at his mother¡¯s deathbed, begging her not to go.

    Something inside him died as he pressed his leg against the dying boy¡¯s abdomen and kicked him back into the trench, using the corpse¡¯s momentum to pull his sword free. The blood on his blade glistened in the moonlight, and for the first time, Zander questioned his purpose. What am I doing? The Sapphires aren¡¯t evil...

    A cry of pain cut through his thoughts. Vernon had taken an arrow to the arm just as he finished off his opponent. Zander dropped to the ground, instinctively dodging a volley of arrows whizzing overhead. Then came the sound he dreaded¡ªthe thump of an arrow finding its mark.

    Zander looked up, his breath catching in his throat. River clutched at his chest, an arrow protruding from it. Their eyes met, a fleeting moment of recognition and despair. The Sapphire knight, his helm adorned with horns, slashed down in a merciless arc, cutting River open from waist to shoulder.

    ¡°NO!¡± Zander¡¯s scream tore through the battlefield as he charged, his vision consumed by a red haze. Pure hatred surged through him, drowning out all thought, all reason, all emotions beside hate. Darkness flooded his soul, and a single command echoed in his mind.

    KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL.

 Chapter 23: Hometown Heroes Pt. 3

    The Sapphire knight deflected blow after blow, countering with his own futile strikes. Zander barely registered Asa¡¯s command for the camp to fall back to the tree line. Theo and Vernon¡¯s shouts urging him to flee fell on deaf ears. Zander didn¡¯t care. He needed to avenge River.

    The Sapphire in the horned helm was unlike any opponent Zander had ever faced. They matched strike for strike, neither gaining ground, neither faltering. The knight¡¯s broad frame, wrapped in lobstered steel, made him look monstrous, and his black cloak billowed behind him with each powerful swing. His movements, though, were surprisingly swift¡ªfaster than Zander¡¯s, but less powerful.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name, giant?¡± the knight taunted, his voice laced with arrogance.

    Zander answered with an upward slash, which the knight easily parried.

    ¡°I like to know the names of worthy opponents,¡± the knight said, his arrogance a blade of its own. ¡°Like the last man I killed.¡±

    Rage overtook Zander, propelling him forward with reckless fury, driving the Sapphire across the camp. Yet, the knight held his ground, steady and unyielding. They were far from the breach now, but Zander hardly noticed. All that mattered was this fight.

    ¡°I am Zander of Mirrevar!¡± he shouted, slashing in rapid succession. The knight deflected the blows, as Zander sidestepped a counterstrike. He bashed forward with his shield. ¡°For River!¡±

    The Sapphire dodged, his defense impeccable. He remained infuriatingly calm. ¡°Zander of Mirrevar,¡± he replied, blocking another flurry of strikes with a grunt. ¡°You¡¯ll meet Zamael knowing you fell to Sir Aldius of Lelac.¡±

    A boulder crashed through the palisade. Another followed and the Sapphire forces surged through. The Rubies had already fled to the tree line¡ªexcept for Zander. He needed to finish Aldius, or he¡¯d be trapped on the wrong side of the killing ground. Abandoning caution, Zander charged, surprising the knight with his sudden intensity. Aldius lost his footing, spilling to the ground.

    Finish strong! Zander swung with all his might, but Aldius absorbed the blow with his armor and rolled to his feet.

    ¡°For Alexia!¡± the Sapphire knight shouted, targeting Zander¡¯s neck with a sweeping cut.

    Alexia. The name sent a vision flashing through Zander¡¯s mind¡ªAlexia, trapped in darkness, calling for him, her pain unbearable. She needed him. He had to survive for her. Suddenly, the rage that fueled him retreated, replaced by a desperate will to live, to see the Sunrise again. The desire for her love overcame the seduction of hatred.

    Zander stepped into Aldius¡¯s slash, parrying it with his blade. He feinted and misdirected his opponent, then dashed for the tree line, his mind now focused on survival. Alexia. Her name, her image, filled his thoughts as he ran. Every stride brought him closer to her. A warm wind pushed him forward, propelling his stride.

    ¡°NOW!¡± Asa¡¯s voice rang out.

    The crack of trees falling echoed through the camp as an entire orchard came crashing down. Zander dove headfirst, sliding through the mud beneath the falling branches, shielding his head as he prayed. The ground vibrated with the impact of trees hitting the earth, but only a few small branches landed on his legs.

    ¡°Zander! Over here!¡± Alfread shouted.

    Zander staggered to his feet, his body heavy and unsteady. He stumbled toward Alfread, who handed him a bow and quiver.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°All right, Zander?¡± Alfread asked, releasing an arrow into a Sapphire¡¯s neck across the barrier of fallen trees.

    ¡°No,¡± Zander replied, nocking an arrow of his own and sending it into the enemy ranks.

    Alfread made a low sound of agreement, acknowledging the pain. ¡°This is worse than the stories.¡±

    Zander nocked another arrow. ¡°Let¡¯s just survive the night¡ª¡± his voice trailed off.

    ¡°And greet the sunrise on the morrow,¡± Alfread finished, releasing another arrow.

    ¡°NORALIS!¡± Asa shouted from atop a makeshift scaffolding.

    A blinding silver light filled the sky, illuminating the Sapphires as they stumbled over the fallen trees, struggling to advance. The Rubies took advantage of the increased visibility. For several turns, Zander released arrow after arrow, the endless stream of Sapphires making easy targets. But the flood of enemies seemed unending, like a swarm of locusts. Every time one fell, three more took his place.

    Then, without reason, the Sapphire stopped attempting to cross the tree barrier. A cold dread settled over Zander, as the heat seemed to drain from the world. Alfread tapped his shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s happening.¡±

    Zander followed him up the scaffolding. Asa stood, her staff held high, scanning the tree line with an eerie calm. Her tranquility at odds with the murmur of voices on both sides of the tree line and the fear that permeated the expressions of those still alive.

    A man shouted across the treetops, sending shivers down Zander¡¯s spine. Then, flames erupted, casting the night in a fierce orange glow. The fallen trees blazed in an inferno, like a bonfire fit for Meladon and his scions. Asa mumbled something under her breath, summoning rain clouds to douse the flames, but the heat remained suffocating. The real danger came as the smoke gusted toward the Ruby defenders.

    The Rubies dissolved into a cacophonic symphony of coughing. Zander dropped from the scaffolding, pressing himself flat to the ground in a desperate attempt to avoid the deadly fumes. His thoughts drifted to Alexia, Leverith¡¯s answer. He yearned to see her, to hold her again. With his eyes closed, he felt her¡ªher pain, desperate and growing, echoing his own. She was thinking of him too, yearning for him, her suffering entwined with his. She couldn¡¯t let him suffer like her. He didn¡¯t deserve her pain. He was Leverith¡¯s answer.

    Then, the air grew still. The wizard¡¯s spell ceased, and the smoke no longer flooded his nostrils. The world seemed to freeze¡ªno sound, no air.

    ¡°Purita!¡± Asa gasped, the moment the wind returned.

    The smoke thinned, replaced by humid air that filled Zander¡¯s lungs with a breath more refreshing than any he¡¯d ever taken. It was like rising from the waters on Purification, renewed and revitalized. Dizzy from the smoke and exhaustion, Zander clambered to his feet. He steadied himself against the scaffolding and climbed back up.

    Asa¡¯s magic dispersed the smoke, and her rain quenched the flames. All around, Rubies regained their breath. Zander spotted the outline of the Sapphire wizard across the tree line. Yearning for survival, for another sunrise, he nocked his arrow. He and Alfread loosed in unison. The arrows struck true, piercing the wizard. He dropped his staff and collapsed, writhing on the ground from the poisoned platepiercers.

    A blue light quickly enveloped the fallen wizard, but it couldn¡¯t save him from the poison delivered by two lethal arrows. His body seized within a few turns before going still.

    A cry of anguish rang out across the treetops. ¡°Retreat! Fall back to the Cardian!¡± A woman¡¯s voice, laden with despair.

    The once proud Sapphire host fled across Mirrevar, scattering like ants fleeing from a dog about to piss and trample their hill. The once fearsome force now appeared broken and lost.

    ¡°We won! You did it!¡± Alfread cheered, wrapping his arms around Asa. She returned his embrace, burying her head against his shoulder, her face radiant with a joy that outshone her magical aura and the stars above.

    This is your moment, Alfread, Zander thought. Kiss her. Make her your radiant star.

    But Alfread missed his shot. Asa¡¯s smile faded; her embrace grew hesitant. They parted awkwardly, and she turned to Zander with a soft nod. ¡°You were glorious,¡± she said.

    Those three words hit him harder than any blow he¡¯d ever received. Zander turned away from her, striding away from the battle. For the first time in years, he felt completely unsure of where he was headed or what his purpose was. One thing was certain¡ªhis dreams were dust, and his innocence lost.

 Chapter 24: Innocence Lost

    Alexia felt hollow as she walked away from Maleon¡¯s stone-broken corpse. Her dream had always been clear: she was destined to be the second coming of Linus Peacemaker, her love and kindness bringing forth the Second Great Peace. She had believed she could make everyone whole.

    I was so innocent, she thought despondently. I thought I was the hero of the people, the Second Great Wizard... but I¡¯ve become the monster.

    The road ahead would be far darker and harder than she¡¯d ever imagined, filled with failures as much as successes, with Ferricktons and Tenacities. Uncertainty would shadow her every step. For all that, Alexia clung to the hope of a better future, the possibility of a peaceful ending. Tonight couldn¡¯t have been for nothing.

    Leverith guide me.

    Her hands tremored as she neared the edge of the mine, and her staff slipped from her grasp. She held her hands up in the moonlight, turning them over again and again. She needed to see them, to remember them. They were slick with blood, the kind that no amount of washing could cleanse. It wasn¡¯t just on her skin anymore¡ªit was in her soul, seeping deeper with every heartbeat. She could never be fully forgiven for what she had done tonight.

    After Allison had shown her nothing but love and kindness, Alexia had taken away her father. She understood what it meant to truly hate oneself. The pain was a void too vast for tears. She had already cried them all away. Now, the sorrow was covered by a veil of numbness, of absolute devastating apathy. She knew she cared intensely, but it was as if her body shielded her from the mind¡¯s agony by shutting down the ability to fully feel this pain.

    Retrieving her staff, she hugged it close, but she no longer felt Azurianna¡¯s comforting presence in the acacia branch. Her dearest friend had given her this to spread peace and love, yet now, every spell cast felt like a betrayal. Remorse gnawed at her like the great maw of a dragon. With Maleon gone, her fight was over, but now she was left to face the ruins of her own conscience as she devoured herself.

    Alexia trembled, fear breaking through the wall of numbness. She was terrified of who she was and what she could do. Sunny thinking was inaccessible to her. Deep breathing only made her hyperventilate. The mind refused to give her any comfort, for it believed she deserved none.

    When she stepped outside of the cavern, she was surrounded by a vast sea of hatred. The mob, armed with torches and pickaxes, closed in, their curses filling the air beneath the full moon. Each word cut deeper than any sword ever could. Demon. Monster. Evil. Heartless. These were the words that described her now.

    She almost welcomed it. Alexia wanted to let them tear her apart, to offer herself as a sacrifice to their pain. Maybe, in her death, they would find some small measure of peace. It would be easy to let them swarm her like bees defending their lifeless hive. That was the ending she deserved.

    No, I can¡¯t give up.

    Her punishment wasn¡¯t a swift death. Her penance was a long, grueling path. I have too many promises to keep. For everyone who died here tonight, I have to make it mean something.

    The mob hesitated to close in. Though filled with anger, they feared the monster. Alexia could fight her way out. Fire, ice, wind¡ªshe could bring them all down, cast them into Maleon¡¯s chasms. It would be easy. But her life wasn¡¯t meant to be easy. The thought of hurting them again, of adding to the suffering she already caused, would¡¯ve been too much to bear.

    She could try to reason her way out with words of love and promises of peace. But no, she wasn¡¯t innocent anymore. They wouldn¡¯t listen to her words, no matter how genuine and loving they were. Alexia knew that love was the only force that could defeat hate. Alas, love was doomed to fail tonight and on countless other nights against a wall of hatred that was too high for any act of love to climb over.

    There was only one act of love powerful enough to prevail: Pacisamorus, Leverith¡¯s ultimate spell. The embodiment of love and peace that could heal the deepest wounds and quench the fiercest hatreds, Pacisamorus had been the key used by the Love Queen and Linus Peacemaker to end their wars. If only she could cast it now, the mob would see her intentions were true.

    But Alexia had never managed to cast Pacisamorus. And tonight, beneath Zamael¡¯s full moon, standing in the blood of those she had killed and those she failed to save, she had never felt more disconnected from Leverith¡¯s spirit. The self-loathing in her heart was too deep. Without loving herself, she could never invoke such a spell. Hatred triumphed tonight, and love was just a childish dream she must let go of.

    Her only recourse was to flee. The mob slowly advanced, tightening the circle around her. The only gaps in their net were the two chasms carved by Maleon¡¯s treachery. But she¡¯d never been able to reliably windwalk with Zafrir¡¯s power. She was trapped and the only way out seemed to involve hurting more innocent people.

    Please, she thought, I just want to keep them safe from me.

    Alexia yearned for a solution as the mob encroached. Wind billowed around her as her emotions swirled beneath the numbness¡ªlove, guilt, sorrow, fear, self-hatred, longing¡ªall coalescing into a chaotic force she needed to control.

    Vehementis, she thought, trying to remember the well-practiced focus.

    A tornado formed, lifting the center of the mob and tossing them into the mob across the left chasm. They tumbled together in a tangled, confused heap. The portion of the mob across the right chasm were undeterred by the tornado; they charged at her, and Alexia blasted them back with another burst of wind, sending them spilling like dominos to the ground.

    She reached for her locket, drawing on Celegana¡¯s earth, trying to will feelings of wholeness, of stubbornly protecting these people even if what she protected them from was herself. Ironically, it was Maleon Stonebreaker who taught her the spell she¡¯d use to keep the people of Ferrickton alive. The ground trembled at her feet. Alexia surfed the tremors in the now empty space between the chasms, propelling herself forward faster than any man could run, leaving the land broken in her wake.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Knives whistled past her, but most hurled curses instead. The knives missed. The curses struck her heart like Zamael¡¯s scythe. She didn¡¯t look back. She couldn¡¯t.

    She didn¡¯t stop until she came to a halt outside the stables of The Rusty Pickaxe, her body aching from the tumultuous ride. She stumbled as she launched off the tremors, crashing shoulder-first into the stable¡¯s wall. She massaged the spot absently, not bothering to heal it. The bruise was the least of her pains, and she didn¡¯t deserve any relief. Her heart, twisted and broken, had no room for the self-compassion needed to heal even a simple wound. Behind her, the mob flickered in the distance, their torches swelling and receding like a distant tide of fire. She had plenty of time to escape but had no intentions of dallying.

    Sir Timmeck¡¯s bay courser sniffed her hands, offering a mournful whinny. The horse pressed its soft nose against her arm. Alexia patted Cally¡¯s head gently, her voice breaking into a lullaby, ¡°Long and far did we roam. One thing we did learn. Our weathered souls still yearn¡­ for a place to call our home.¡±

    ¡°Alexia?¡±

    The sweet voice was a knife to her heart. Alexia thought there were no more tears left to cry, that the well of sorrow had run dry. She¡¯d been wrong. Her heart skipped a beat, then broke anew, and when it beat again, it was a painful, rapid staccato. Facing the hatred of the mob was easier than seeing the confusion on Allison¡¯s sweet face.

    Allison clutched her doll tightly to her chest, eyes wide with bewilderment. Alexia¡¯s breath hitched when she noticed the doll¡¯s hair¡ªbrown streaked with gold. While Alexia had been killing her father, Allison had spent the evening crafting a doll to look like her. Whatever pieces of her weren¡¯t broken, shattered.

    Alexia¡¯s mouth quivered, and deep moans of anguish rose from her chest, uncontrollable. Tears welled up, burning her eyes, spilling down her face. She sobbed uncontrollably, her entire body shaking with the force of it. Of everything that had happened tonight, this was the worst¡ªthe sight of this innocent, sweet child, a life she had utterly destroyed. How in Zamael¡¯s Hells could she ever believe she was anything but a monster?

    ¡°Allison,¡± she managed through the sobs, her voice breaking. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± She leaned against the wall for support, failing to steady herself. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she croaked again, but the words felt inadequate, an empty offering compared to the enormity of her guilt.

    Allison¡¯s confusion deepened, her lower lip trembling. The precious, precocious child mirrored Alexia¡¯s sadness, tears spilling from her green eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± she whimpered, clutching the doll tighter to her chest. The sight of her sorrow could have softened even Zamael¡¯s darkened heart.

    Alexia struggled to regain some composure, her sobbing subsiding to quiet tremors. She forced herself to meet Allison¡¯s gaze, though every part of her wanted to collapse. ¡°Allison,¡± she began softly, her voice raw with emotion, ¡°we live in a cruel world. I thought love and peace could be our guides. I was wrong. Death, war, hatred, vengeance¡­ they are our true masters. They twist heroes into monsters.¡±

    Alexia paused, looking down at her bloodstained hands, hands that could never be washed clean. ¡°I wanted to be Leverith¡¯s answer to the evils of this world. I dreamt I could be a bright sunrise after a long, dark night. Instead¡­¡± Alexia looked up again, watching as comprehension dawned in Allison¡¯s eyes. ¡°Instead, I became the darkness itself.¡±

    Allison¡¯s gaze dropped to Alexia¡¯s hands, the hands that had killed her father. Something broke inside the child at that moment, and Alexia watched in horror as the innocence drained from her face. The tears stopped, and cold comprehension replaced them. ¡°Where is my Papa?¡± Her voice wavered, her chin trembling. ¡°Did you hurt him?¡±

    Alexia forced herself to meet Allison¡¯s eyes. She nodded slowly, her voice weak and strangled. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    Allison let out a high-pitched wail, throwing the doll at Alexia with all the strength her little arms could muster. The wooden doll struck Alexia¡¯s eye. The pain was blinding, but it was nothing compared to the crushing guilt in her heart for inflicting so much pain on somebody so innocent. Alexia lowered her gaze, unable to bear the sight of the child she had broken.

    Allison fell to her knees, pounding the earth with her fists, her cries piercing the night. ¡°Why, Leverith, why? Why? Why?¡± Her screams echoed in the darkness as she glared up at Alexia, her small frame shaking with rage. ¡°Why!¡±

    ¡°Allison,¡± Alexia sobbed, unable to regain some semblance of composure. ¡°I believe Leverith can make monsters into heroes again. I can never mend what I¡¯ve done tonight,¡± she said, clutching her locket as her voice filled with passion. ¡°But I will spend the rest of my life trying.¡±

    Allison¡¯s wailing quieted, though she didn¡¯t lift her face from the ground. Her voice, now hoarse, came in broken gasps. ¡°I¡¯m alone because of you. My papa will never hug me again, never kiss me goodnight. Nothing will ever make it right.¡± She let out a series of whimpers before her jaw stiffened. ¡°I wish you would die! I wish I could kill you!¡±

    Darkness swirled around Allison, bending and distorting the light. ¡°Someday, I will end you,¡± she snarled. ¡°I¡¯ll drive a knife through your heart and spit on your corpse!¡±

    Alexia watched, her heart breaking further as she grasped the meaning of the darkness flowing around Allison. She had taken this beautiful, innocent child and twisted her into a hopeless, hateful shadow. Isihla may have fallen, but tales of the deadly shadows that could bend light around themselves and become invisible persisted. Allison was a shadow¡ªjust like her forefather Quresh Shadowseer.

    Kneeling, Alexia picked up the doll Allison had crafted in her image. Cally neighed nervously as the mob¡¯s torches drew closer. Alexia looked one last time at the broken girl sprawled on the ground, her innocence lost forever. ¡°Leverith watch over you,¡± she whispered. ¡°You¡¯re not alone.¡±

    ¡°I AM alone!¡± Allison shrieked. ¡°Leverith doesn¡¯t care! She wouldn¡¯t let monsters like you exist if she did!¡±

    The child bawled, her pained howls echoing under the full moon of Zamael Waxing. Alexia¡¯s chest heaved, each panicked breath agonizing as she hopelessly tried to make this child¡¯s pain smaller. ¡°Leverith loves you. I love you.¡±

    Allison¡¯s image flickered faster, her form blending in and out of the shadows, only fragments of her remaining visible. Her eyes, once green as emeralds, were now dull and gray. ¡°I HATE YOU!¡± she screamed, repeating the words like a curse that would echo forever in Alexia¡¯s mind.

    ¡°I understand,¡± Alexia whispered, feeling dead and hollow inside. The only answer that came was Allison¡¯s broken mantra: the three most painful words Alexia ever heard, I hate you.

    Whimpering, Alexia tucked the doll into her robe. It would be a constant reminder of her failure, of innocence lost. She mounted Cally and when she went to look at Allison one final time, the child had vanished completely into the shadows.

    Alexia urged Cally forward, her body leaving Ferrickton behind as her mind remained captive, frozen in place. Numbed to all emotion, like an empty shell, Alexia couldn¡¯t feel divine energy in the world around her. Her hair streamed behind her as the horse galloped, but the wind in her face no longer brought joy. It was cold like the numbness she couldn¡¯t overcome. Her left eye throbbed where the doll had struck her, but she refused to even attempt to heal herself. The cold and the pain were her companions and her penance, though it would neither amend what she did in Ferrickton or assuage the monster of self-hatred growing in her mind.

    As the miles passed, her mind was a desolation, determined to revisit the evils of the evening again and again. Her soul, once a brightly burning fire, dimmed. Only a few dying embers remained, and she didn¡¯t know if the flame could ever be reignited.

 Chapter 25: Sunrise Pt. 1

    Thousands of stars glittered above the miraculous landscape of Mirrevar. Flowery fragrances permeated the air, carried on each gentle breeze. Wonders awaited deeper into Mirrevar: orchards where vines entwined with fruit-bearing trees, fields of vibrant, multi-colored flowers, and the colossal outline of Covademara¡¯s canopy stretching for miles. Zander longed to lose himself in the majesty of the great tree, hoping its beauty might wash away the haunting images trapped in his mind. Even the encampment¡¯s canal¡ªa small stream crafted by wizard¡¯s magic¡ªconspired with the natural beauty of the land. Bugs glowing red, yellow, and blue hovered over its surface, their soft, musical hums blending with the breeze. The full moon reflected off the water, bathing the scene in an ethereal blue glow. It was a night so beautiful that even the most miserable man might find some peace in it.

    For all that, Zander felt dead inside. He doubted whether he could ever feel at peace again.

    Zander undressed, discarding his ill-fitting leather armor on the dock. He¡¯d never wear it again; the memories and the bloodstains that clung to it were too much to bear. A few boats bearing the sigil of the Brightons of Noraligrove bobbed gently in the canal, their owners nowhere in sight. Zander was the only one seeking to cleanse himself in the water. With a sigh, he ran to the edge of the dock and leapt in.

    The shock of the cold water sharpened his senses. He swam with practiced strokes honed by countless days spent swimming beneath Old Iron, washing away the blood on his skin. But no amount of water could cleanse the deeper filth that stained his soul. He floated on his back, gazing up at the stars as he glided through the canal. Yet, no matter how much he swam or how many stars he counted, the images of the people he¡¯d killed chased him like shadows. The memory of River¡¯s death was the most tenacious shadow of all.

    If only he could turn back time. He would tell his younger self that dreams of glory were the greatest folly. There was no honor in killing Sapphires¡ªonly the pain of watching friends and heroes fall.

    He wished he could go back just seven days, to the time before Sir Edward had sent him to slay the wolves. Back then, he had been happy, though he hadn¡¯t realized it. He had been driven by the dream of becoming Leveria¡¯s greatest warrior, unaware that the price of that dream was his happiness. How could he ever be happy again when River was dead and his hands were stained with all this blood?

    But the innocence of his youth was as unreachable as the stars in the sky. Wayn had been right: the moment he took his oath, he had become a man. Looking back now was as futile as asking the sun to rise in the west.

    His thoughts returned to his conversation with Sir Edward that morning. Sir Edward had warned him that the Sapphires weren¡¯t truly evil, merely separated from the Rubies by name and history. Zander had seen the truth of that in the eyes of the men and women he¡¯d killed. He understood now. War itself was evil¡ªa tool of Zamael¡¯s to sow discord among the living.

    Zander had always believed that a well-fought battle would bring him fulfillment. Despite his victory, despite defending Urzport Hold from invasion, despite living out the very dream he had longed for, all he felt was loss. The glory he promised himself was nowhere to be found.

    He left the canal more burdened than before. The groans that escaped him sounded more like those of a ten-year-old boy than a seventeen-year-old warrior.

    Piece by piece, he hurled his armor into the canal. His sword followed, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Discarding the reminders of battle couldn¡¯t rid him of the memories seared in his mind.

    Dressing in his loincloth, tunic, and breeches, Zander felt the cold sweat on his skin, undoing whatever small comfort the swim had offered. He knew sleep wouldn¡¯t come tonight. He needed to see the battlefield with his own eyes. He needed to see his work, the work of Gidi and his master Zamael. He needed to find River and apologize for not being strong enough to save him. His thoughts kept circling back to that moment and all the decision he¡¯d made instead of going to help River sooner.

    When his mind wasn¡¯t consumed with River¡¯s fate, it fixated on his killer. Zander prayed to Gidi that he would find Sir Aldius dying, so he could crush the man¡¯s teeth beneath his boot. Aldius¡¯s divinedamned mouth was unworthy of speaking Alexia¡¯s name. Though Zander¡¯s mind struggled to comprehend it, his heart knew the truth: somehow, it had been his Alexia.

    The moon had shifted across the sky since the battle ended, and still Asa, Alfread, and the other medicans were busy tending to the wounded. Zander tried to slip past unnoticed as he reached the charred treetops.

    ¡°Zander!¡± Asa exclaimed, higher pitched than usual.

    Zander halted, sighed, and turned to face her. Asa wasn¡¯t looking at him yet, focused instead on a wounded soldier. ¡°How does your leg feel?¡±

    The soldier flexed his knee. To Zander¡¯s eyes, he appeared unharmed despite the blood all over his leg. ¡°It feels¡­ strong,¡± he said, his disbelief plain.

    Asa¡¯s aura brightened. ¡°Excellent. Rest now. You¡¯ve earned it.¡±

    ¡°Thank ye, m¡¯lady.¡± The soldier stood with ease. He offered Zander a nod before heading along the road.

    Asa straightened, standing as tall as her slight frame allowed, but her bloodshot eyes betrayed her exhaustion. She set her hand on his sword arm and massaged his biceps. ¡°You fought like a Divine.¡±

    Zander recoiled, her hand slipping from his arm. He stared at his hands, flipping them over and surprised that the canal had washed away the blood. ¡°The only Divine guiding me was Zamael.¡±

    Asa¡¯s smiled faded, but she set her hand back on his arm. Her sandy brown skin glowed under the starlight, long golden hair framing her heart-shaped face. She was so beautiful and he felt the empty craving for even the smallest taste of love. His own depravity disgusted him. This was his best friend¡¯s life¡¯s mate, he had his own life¡¯s mate and vowed to be true to her only a few days ago. Yet he couldn¡¯t pull away. After years of burying his pain in a woman¡¯s embrace, he ached for that familiar reprieve, even if his yearning was just another reason to despise himself.

    ¡°You¡¯re a true knight, Zander,¡± Asa said, her voice softer and warmer than anything he felt worthy of. ¡°It is noble to feel remorse.¡± Her hand slid down his arm, capturing his hand in hers. She placed her other hand on top, smiling up at him. ¡°If you ever need someone to talk to¡­ or hold you while you let it all out¡­¡±

    ¡°Asa!¡± Alfread¡¯s voice rang out.

    Zander snatched his hand back as Alfread appeared from behind a tent, carrying a wounded man. Guilt swarmed him. How much of a monster am I?

    The stench of the man¡¯s wound reached him before the sight of it¡ªa deep gash across his abdomen. Asa immediately turned her attention to the injury. Zander, too ashamed to face Alfread, headed toward the battlefield once more. He didn¡¯t get far before a tug on his shoulder stopped him.

    ¡°Zander, I want to ask you something,¡± Alfread said quietly.

    ¡°The genius who devised our defenses needs advice from a dull killer like me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not dull, Zander. I value your opinion.¡±

    The sincerity in Alfread¡¯s voice stung him. He turned, facing his best friend. Zander tried not to cry from the volatile cocktail of emotions roiling through him. Alfread eyed him with a loving expression and all Zander could think about was how his thoughts betrayed him.

    ¡°We may have won tonight, but the balance of power is broken,¡± Alfread said. ¡°If the Sapphire gets reinforcements before we do¡­ I want to send a messenger to Bear¡¯s Crossing. Do you think Sir Edward would be able to help?¡±The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Zander grasped that the stalemate was broken, that his hands would get bloody again soon. ¡°It¡¯s a good plan,¡± he said halfheartedly. Seeing his friend frown, Zander forced the enthusiasm. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ll be glad to see Kenneth again¡ªassuming the bastard is on his feet.¡±

    Alfread smiled. ¡°Me too. Let¡¯s run it by Her Radiance.¡±

    Asa had finished healing the man¡¯s gut wound. Even Zander realized how miraculous that was. Medicans could do little more than ease the passing for a man with his stomach torn open. All Zander felt good for was killing, which, as it turns out, didn¡¯t make him feel very good at all. Asa could stave off death and bring the hopeless back to life. As a self-proclaimed instrument of Leverith, Zander felt wholly inadequate.

    ¡°Asa!¡± Alfread exclaimed. ¡°We think a rider should go to Bear¡¯s Crossing, requesting reinforcements.¡±

    Asa considered for only a moment. ¡°I agree. To Urzport as well. With Sir Daven and his Hedgemen dead, the Bearbreakers will send a Peacewatch commander too. Probably Whelan or Iceheart.¡±

    Zander contemplated volunteering for the mission, if only to leave the memories of this place behind. But before he could speak, Asa shot the idea down.

    ¡°I can¡¯t spare either of you,¡± she said. ¡°Varon will do. I¡¯ll send him with letters and an escort in case the Celegans try to intercept him.¡±

    ¡°Wise choice,¡± Alfread said.

    Asa flashed a glowing smile. ¡°Sunrise is coming and I¡¯ve spent the entire night channeling. Would you help Varon get prepped to leave at first light?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it!¡± Alfread said. Zander doubted there was anything Alfread wouldn¡¯t do to get Asa to appreciate him.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Asa said. She wrapped her arms around Alfread, but the embrace was distant¡ªher upper body leaning into Alfread while her hips were kept away. It was an awkward way to embrace, and one that conveyed the feelings of a sister or a friend more than a lover. It was over before it began, Asa pulling back before Alfread could close the embrace.

    ¡°You saved me tonight,¡± she said. ¡°Your brilliant ideas and impeccable aim,¡± she turned to Zander, ¡°and your sword arm. I¡¯m glad that you two are here with me.¡±

    ¡°You saved us all, Asa,¡± Alfread said tenderly as the softest love ballad. ¡°You inspired us, healed us, organized us, bedazzled our foes, cleansed the very air that sought to suffocate us. It was you who guided us to this victory. You are more than you give yourself credit for, Asa Radiant. So much more.¡±

    Asa¡¯s aura flared with a sudden burst of radiance; the brilliance so intense Zander needed to avert his gaze. She bowed, offered a trembling good night, and retreated into the encampment at brisk pace.

    Beside him, Alfread sighed as if finally free. ¡°I love her.¡±

    Zander didn¡¯t want to break his heart. He remembered Asa¡¯s hand on his arm, the tension in her touch, and the hunger. It was so divinedamned frustrating that he stifled the urge to scream. Why do people always want the things they can¡¯t have? Why do they yearn for the poisons and not the panaceas? Was it the same reason they were fascinated with the sunset and took sunrise for granted?

    Zander took a deep breath and chose his words carefully. ¡°She is fond of you, but¡­ you need to be more than her friend.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s dazzling smile faded. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked, his tone edged with irritation.

    ¡°You need to make her see you as a lover and not her favorite brother.¡±

    Weariness overtook Alfread. Tired circles framed his eyes as they drifted downward. ¡°I need to prepare letters for Sir Edward and Wayn,¡± he muttered.

    Zander watched him go, fighting the urge to call after him and demand he draft those letters at Asa¡¯s side. He wanted to tell him to hold her, to confess all he felt. But he couldn¡¯t conjure the faith that it would make a difference. Could anything he do make a difference anymore? Beyond causing hurt and pain?

    Resentment rose in Zander¡¯s chest. How could Asa not see Alfread, his heart wide open, offering everything she could want? She had seen his worth¡ªyet she kept him in the orbit of friendship, leaving him burning with unfulfilled hope. Did she not understand how divinedamned lucky she was? Was she the dumbest flogging smart person in Leveria?

    Zander¡¯s sleep-deprived mind buzzed with frustration, hunger ate at his insides, while the bitter taste of helplessness lingered. He had wanted¡ªneeded¡ªto see the battlefield again, but they had kept him from it. He knew he¡¯d only be able to seek entrance to the Hall of Dreams once he surveyed the nightmare.

    Eyes on the eastern horizon, the squire saw that sunrise was near. He hoped to find Leverith¡¯s answer to all this pointless battle. He needed a sign that some good could come out of his service to the Bearbreakers. He needed to believe that he was a protector of the innocent, a true defender of Leveria, a hometown hero. These identities felt like radiant truths when he fought in the wolves¡¯ den. Now, all of those identities were called into question. He had thought they were a part of him, engrained as deeply as being the orphan¡ªenduring as Old Iron and as unbreakable as the bonds of family. But now he had a hard time believing in anything. The only thing that seemed to inspire him was the coming sunrise and the hope that new days were ahead of him where he could be Leverith¡¯s instrument again.

    He picked his way across charred and waterlogged tree trunks, a surreal mix of ash and soaked wood. Bodies lay strewn throughout, Sapphire and Ruby alike. Carrion birds pecked without discrimination. They saw no difference in the fallen. If even birds understood that death rendered all alike, why couldn¡¯t the living?

    Zander wished that he was a king. King Gideon, King Adameon, and all of their forefathers were responsible for this devastation. He hated them. He hated them damn near as much as he hated his own father, the ¡®great warrior.¡¯ What an oxymoron if there ever was one. It was almost as ironic as ¡®glorious battle.¡¯ His rage built up as he failed to find Aldius among the corpses.

    His heart ached as he approached the breach where he and the Hometown Heroes had made their stand against the Sapphires. He had to find River. It was his fault that the most promising of Leverians had been killed. He owed River his life. And though he could never repay the debt, he had to do something.

    Gordan cradled River in his lap. The young soldier¡¯s face was pale and hollow, his arms wrapped lovingly around his best friend¡¯s still form. He looked up, his bloodshot eyes meeting Zander¡¯s. ¡°Why?¡± he whispered, swallowing thickly. ¡°He could have done so much good with his life. Things I can never do.¡± A sob escaped as he looked down at River¡¯s empty gaze. ¡°I can¡¯t do anything without him.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Gordan,¡± Zander said. ¡°If anyone is to blame, it¡¯s me. I failed him when he needed me.¡±

    ¡°You stayed with him until the end,¡± Gordan replied bitterly, his clenched teeth fighting back a flood of tears. ¡°I¡¯ve never been any good for him! It should have been me!¡± His voice cracked, and he threw up his arms in anguish. ¡°I should have died in his place!¡±

    ¡°No! I told you to go! That was my decision! If you¡¯re going to blame someone, let it be me! I was here! I let them take the best of us!¡± He slammed his fist into a charred beam on the palisade. Pain flared in his hand, but it was nothing compared to the gaping wound in his heart. Breathless from screaming, Zander leaned against the palisade, allowing the tears to flow freely, finally breaking through the wall of numbness that had shielded him from the unfettered heartbreak.

    Zander lowered his voice. ¡°I tried to avenge him. I fought Aldius of Lelac with everything I had. But he escaped.¡± He met Gordan¡¯s gaze, his eyes also brimming with sorrow. ¡°Blame me.¡±

    Gordan shook his head. ¡°I know you did your best. I should¡¯ve been there with him.¡± Gordan sobbed. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to do without him.¡±

    Something stirred within Zander. Words had been buried deep within his soul, words he¡¯d never heard but knew as if they had always been there like a melody from a forgotten past. ¡°Remember him. Honor him. Live. The world needs more people like him, Gordan... and more people like you. Leveria is dimmer without him. Don¡¯t let it darken further by losing yourself.¡±

    A flicker of light sparkled in Gordan¡¯s eyes. ¡°I will always remember you and try to be the light for others that you were for me.¡± He kissed River¡¯s forehead, sealing the promise.

    Setting River¡¯s body gently onto the ground, Gordan closed his friend¡¯s eyes and stood. ¡°He belongs in Mirrevar. We¡¯ll bury him in the land that he dreamt of returning to all his life. Will you join us?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be there,¡± Zander promised.

    Gordan nodded and retreated into the encampment, leaving Zander alone with his fallen friend. Taking River¡¯s hand, Zander felt helplessness in a way he hadn¡¯t since the day he lost his mother. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, River,¡± he choked. ¡°You deserved so much more.¡±

    Zander squinted as the first rays of sunrise struck him in the eyes. The light illuminated the battlefield. Thousands of Sapphires lay dead in the trench and on the field outside the camp. Not nearly as many Rubies had died, but they too were strewn along the battlements and in the area surrounding the breaches and gate. How many of them made the world a brighter place? How many Rivers ceased flowing love into the world? Zander raged at all they had lost in exchange for nothing. Worst of all, he himself had sent dozens to Zamael himself. This monster he became was not the boy who promised his mother to find the Sunrise.

    A primal scream burst from him. Zander struck the ground with his fist, pain surging up his arm. Tears blurred his vision as he stared into Mirrevar.

    Through the haze of sorrow, he saw a figure emerge from the Impwood. Chestnut-brown hair flickered dark gold beneath the rising sun. After the longest night of his life, Zander glimpsed the Sunrise. He prayed that it could bring a new day, a better day. He raced into the encampment to find Paladin.

    Wait for me, my Sunrise.

 Chapter 25: Sunrise Pt. 2

    Sunrise.

    The pale, promising light brushed the edge of the Impwood, chasing the full moon from the sky and bringing an end to the worst night of Alexia¡¯s life. The sunrise brought a new day, a better day. It had to.

    Her body felt as hollow as a casket. It was cold, empty, and waiting for death to fill it. Her spirit seemed to be hiding, unable to reconcile all the terrible things that she had done in Ferrickton. She¡¯d been unable to feel anything last night. Even the pain, her tether to reality, her constant reminder of the evil she had done, went numb after a while. She operated on instinct alone as she made the daunting journey back to Mirrevar.

    The sunrise stirred her spirit, coaxed by the memory of Zander¡¯s voice calling her ¡®Sunrise.¡¯ Alexia focused on Zander, willing herself to feel Leverith¡¯s embrace once more, dreading that the Divine of Love might reject her after Ferrickton. But Leverith answered her call, spirit energy flowing into the locket. Divine Leverith soothed her weariness and her aches, though she didn¡¯t touch the scars left deep on her soul.

    Alexia reached for the small doll in her pocket, clutching it tightly. Turning to the rising sun, she vowed to remember Allison but to keep looking forward to forging peace.

    A giant eagle glided on the morning wind. Alexia was not free, nor did she deserve to be. She belonged to all of Leveria, not just the Sapphires. Her next move was clear: She would return to Sapphirica and convince King Gideon Sapphire to seek peace. The threat of a Celegan invasion had to make him see that peace was the only way Leveria would survive. She grabbed this tenuous thread and allowed it to give her pain a purpose.

    A southern wind brought the scent of death and smoke from the Ruby encampment. At least a thousand bodies were scattered amongst the countless flowers. The sight was a visual paradox. Death and beauty intertwined. Zamael and Leverith merged into one. Smoke drifted from the burned palisade walls where Master Conrad and the Horned Apes had assaulted the Rubies. Her actions had, no doubt, led to this. She tapped the Brighton dagger at her side. She and Maleon had taken down scores of knights that night, likely sparking this attack. More deaths on her conscience, more lives to atone for. One thousand reasons to end the Gemstone War.

    The fields were lifeless, disturbed only by carrion birds picking at the fallen. She gently rubbed Cally¡¯s head. The horse was exhausted from their flight, having avoided Peacewatch pursuit thrice in the moonlit dark. Alexia had called on Qoryxa¡ªthe only Divine that she could find in her cold numbness¡ªconjuring walls of frost that covered their tracks in slippery ice, slowing her pursuers to a halt. The Bear River had frozen to ice where she crossed, and only now was Alexia¡¯s heart beginning to thaw.

    ¡°Just a little more, Cally.¡± Alexia thought of Timmeck and channeled Leverith through the locket, hoping to ease his horse¡¯s exhaustion. The horse was one more victim of Alexia¡¯s night. She stroked her mane. ¡°We¡¯ll be home soon, girl.¡±

    Cally neighed softly, and Alexia climbed back into the saddle. They rode directly into the sun, trotting forward at an easy pace. Alexia lacked the heart to hasten her.

    She rode for over an angle, crossing the Cardian into Sapphire territory, leaving the past behind her. As she traveled, a deep ache bloomed in her chest, urging her hand to clutch the locket at her sternum. The silver Leveria pendant pressed sharply into her, as if it had a will of its own, insisting she turn back. But she was a prisoner to peace, and she was going to willingly serve her sentence.

    The ache grew stronger, like the rising sun behind her. A wind blew at her back, carrying with it not the smell of smoke and blood, but a sound¡ªthe unmistakable sound of hooves pounding the earth, followed by a voice, deep and resonant. It was a voice that could rival Balbaraq¡¯s most sonorous thunder, a voice fit for a king, deeper than the sea, and yet as majestic as a great tidal wave. Its ebb and flow were enough to cull the mightiest into submission. The call of her life¡¯s mate reached her as he chased her across fields of endless flowers.

    ¡°Wait for me, Sunrise!¡±

    Alexia glanced back, catching the sight of the rider: blue eyes bright as twin moons, auburn hair aglow in the dawn¡¯s light. Every fiber of her longed to stop, to turn toward him, to surrender to his judgment. But her path was set; like the sun itself, she had to keep moving. Leverian peace was her only purpose now, her only path to redemption. She didn¡¯t deserve to be loved. Even Zander would reject her if he knew what she had done. Alexia couldn¡¯t bear to face either his love or his rejection. She urged Cally onward and cast a wave of ice across the field, hoping to slow him down.

    But his silver destrier merely slid over the ice and found speed, closing the distance as Cally faltered, exhaustion impeding each stride. Panic overwhelmed Alexia¡¯s addled mind. The Sapphire Kingdom lay just ahead; she needed to reach the king. All that remained in her way was her Moon. Would he kiss her or condemn her? She couldn¡¯t risk either.

    She wove a desperate path, galloping into a thicket of high, swaying flowers, turning south to mislead him. For half an angle, she rode, never looking back, toward Covademara¡¯s trunk. Emerging from the flowers, she let out a cry, knowing she had taken away the only chance she might ever have to be held again by Leverith¡¯s answer to all her dreams of love.

    ¡°Sunrise!¡±

    ¡°My moon,¡± she whispered, a sad smile crossing her face, tears brimming her sore eyes. Everything in her wanted to stop, to surrender to the chase, to let¡ªfor once¡ªthe moon to catch the sun. But she felt the doll digging into her side, heard the echoes of soldiers screaming as she burnt them, saw the light of silver eyes shining in a dark cave, and knew she must go.

    Holding stubbornly to her need to restore wholeness to Leveria, Alexia channeled Divine Celegana. Executing her focus with a conflicted heart, the ground roared apart, creating a chasm that stretched hundreds of feet in either direction.

    Yet Zander¡¯s destrier thundered onward toward the deadly trench. Alexia¡¯s heart raced as he rode straight toward the abyss in order to pursue her. His horse leapt across, its hooves just managing to land safely.

    ¡°Wait for me, Sunrise!¡± His shout filled the air, not angry but pleading. A plea she needed to deny, though it was everything she ever dreamed of.

    ¡°I am not who you think I am! I¡¯ll only bring you pain! Go back!¡±

    ¡°You are exactly who I think you are, Alexia! You are the Sunrise!¡±

    His eyes held a resolve more beautiful than any she¡¯d ever seen. He didn¡¯t care that their destiny together would be full of death and despair; he was going to chase her across the sky no matter how much she ran. Zander would fight for her, like Elior for Pelianna. Her heart soared higher than Covademara, love blossoming like the billions of flowers growing on the tree over their heads.

    She couldn¡¯t escape him. He was faster, and his will to love her was stronger than her will to run. She touched Sunfire¡¯s hilt, then released it. There was too much pain already. No more blades, no more magic. Alexia dismounted. They had arrived at the foot of Goddess Hill where the ancient ruins of the Leverian monarchs circled Covademara''s trunk. She took a seat on the grounds where Elior won Pelianna¡¯s hand and where both Linus Peacemaker and Queen Alexia Leveria conjured Pacisamorus to unite a fractured continent.

    The Moon had caught the Sun, and there, on this most sacred ground in all of Leveria, she waited for his answer.

    Zander dismounted swiftly and sat beside her. Alexia leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. She trembled, unsure if she was more afraid of his love, his anger, his disappointment, or even apathy. The sun was fully visible now, casting a warm glow over the eastern horizon. Above them, Covademara stretched out, its flowering canopy draping the sky in delicate hues.

    He wrapped an arm around her back, leaning his head against hers. For what felt like a long time, they sat in silence. Alexia¡¯s thoughts turned inwards, down the same familiar paths of the last twenty-four angles. She couldn¡¯t utter the first word.

    ¡°You made the earth split apart.¡± Zander¡¯s voice was soft. ¡°And iced the ground. You¡¯re¡ª¡±

    ¡°I told you; I only bring pain.¡± Her fragile composure shattered. Alexia buried her face against his neck, hiding from his response.

    ¡°No.¡± Zander¡¯s voice held only love. ¡°You¡¯re the sunrise at the end of the longest night. Whatever you¡¯ve needed to do to get here, I love you. No matter where you¡¯ve come from or where you¡¯re going, I¡¯m with you.¡±

    Alexia turned to him, meeting his gaze. His acceptance pierced through the clouds of self-loathing like a brilliant blue light descending from the heavens, restoring pieces of her heart she thought were lost forever. She smiled. And he smiled back. Her heart fluttered back to life. She awakened with possibilities, believing that anything could be achieved as long as he was with her.

    She placed a hand over his heart, feeling warmth she hadn¡¯t believed she would ever feel again. Fire ignited within her. Each moment like this felt so precious that she could endure all the pain just to hold him.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide from me,¡± Zander said, his deep voice as soothing as the scent of the sweetest flower. He touched her cheek, and she leaned into his hand, trusting him completely.

    For once, Alexia wasn¡¯t afraid to show her true self. This man loved her as she was, and she let go of every mask, revealing her truest self in the sanctuary of those moon eyes. She felt a freedom that couldn¡¯t be chained.

    ¡°I am Master Alexia Bluerose, daughter of Eron Bluerose, the royal steward to King Gideon Sapphire. I have harnessed divine energy since I was eleven, and I¡¯m only the second person that could control all eight. I am the sworn enemy of your kingdom.¡± Alexia paused, studying his reaction but already trusting in what she would find: Acceptance.

    Zander¡¯s response was as firm as meladonite. ¡°I would forsake any vow that claimed you were my enemy.¡±

    Alexia kissed him, and in that moment, Leverith¡¯s spirit surged from the locket with a force she¡¯d never known. Pacisamorus danced around them, bathing them in radiant blue light as Divine Leverith reforged their hearts with peace and love. This was what allowed her to survive Ferrickton, the dream that kept her from giving in. This was the peace to be herself and not worry about what others wanted or needed her to be. This was the love of a person who would never give up on her or hate her if she was herself. This was happiness. She never thought she could feel this again.

    When their kiss broke, she laid her head against his chest, staring up into his eyes with newfound wonder. Goddess Hill, the Grand Confluence, and Covademara, the crowning beauty of Leveria¡ªno, the world, surrounded them. For all that, they were nothing compared to his smile. She could have spent forever in this moment, and still feel that it ended too soon.

    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d feel this way again,¡± Zander said softly. ¡°Last night shattered me, but your love puts me back together. With you, I find peace again.¡±

    ¡°You steal my heart and my words! I could say the same to you, and it would be just as true.¡± She lowered her eyes, the memories of Ferrickton intruding on the moment. ¡°You saved me last night,¡± she murmured. ¡°Twice.¡±

    ¡°And you saved me.¡±

    ¡°Twice?¡± She smirked, raising an eyebrow.

    Zander cradled her in his arms, lifting her into the air as he stood. This giddiness, this wondrous new feeling, she could get used to. She laughed, and he pressed his nose to hers until their foreheads touched, eyes meeting with mischievous glints. ¡°Tis not a contest,¡± he said.

    Alexia laughed again. She put her hands on his face and let herself savor this moment. She knew it couldn¡¯t last, but she wouldn¡¯t let go of it a moment earlier than she needed to.

    He hugged her closer, and she felt blessed in his cocoon of love. ¡°But I think I¡¯m winning,¡± he said, smirking.

    Her playful side escaped its meladonite cage with a sarcastic laugh. ¡°Technically, since we¡¯re life¡¯s mates, any time one of us saves the other, we save both of us. Therefore, I must conclude that it¡¯s a tie.¡±

    Zander smacked his lips, his triumphant smile widening. ¡°Flawless logic, Alexia Bluerose. I¡¯d even given you extra points for your clever way of confessing that we¡¯re life¡¯s mates. Tell me it¡¯s true, and not just a ploy to outwit me.¡±

    Alexia vaulted out of his arms. Heart fluttering, she took his hands and leaned closer, pressing her nose to his. ¡°We are life¡¯s mates,¡± she whispered, conspiratorially. She kissed his cheek. ¡°Forever.¡± She kissed his other cheek. ¡°And always.¡± She kissed his lips, guiding him to the ground until she straddled him. Leverith answered with a rush of divine energy that burst from the locket and encircled them.

    Zander rolled her onto her back. He kissed her neck, awakening a yearning in her. Her back arched, her toes curled, and she dug her nails into his shoulders, pulling him tight to her body. The intensity was beyond what she¡¯d imagined¡ªa craving that united her body, mind, and spirit in a singular desire for his touch. She wanted to give him every part of herself, right here, right now. She was on the edge of a cliff, looking down at that beautiful lagoon, wanting to make a splash that would ripple forever. She hesitated, knowing there was only one chance at making this leap for the first time, but she knew this was the person she wanted to take this plunge with and that there was no better place in the world. If time didn¡¯t concur, it would simply have to bear what was meant to be.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    She shook with anticipation, excitement roaring in her as she neared the leap. She embraced the moment, feeling any restraint vanish like mist as she kissed him.

    But Zander paused at the edge, his gaze drifting toward Covademara above. She pursued him with kisses to his neck, eager to give back what he had given her. Leverith¡¯s spirit spiraled around them, enveloping them in ethereal blue. The Goddess vanquished their weariness and washed away their woes like a blanket of love allowing only warmth within it. The Divine¡¯s blessing convinced her even more that this was meant to be.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have to rush this, Sunrise,¡± Zander murmured, caressing her cheek. ¡°I could spend all my days marveling at how beautiful you are, but my love for you is more than lust.¡±

    Did he have the slightest idea what his words meant to her? Her conviction that Zander was her life¡¯s mate went impossibly higher, crashing through new ceilings with each sentence he gave her. With each verse, he captured her soul and cradled it in the most loving embrace. His thoughtful words of caution only made her yearn more intensely for him. As certain as the sun rises each morning, every doubt was banished.

    Running her hand under his tunic, she felt his strong, sculpted muscles and lifted his shirt. Her heart pounded and her breath caught as her eyes drank in the sight of him. ¡°My Moon,¡± she whispered, locking her hands with his, their gazes entwining as if nothing else existed. ¡°What I feel transcends desire.¡± She smiled at the spirit energy permeating the area around them, traces of Leverith¡¯s love spreading hundreds of feet in every direction. ¡°Leverith joins us together: two souls, two minds, two bodies, meant to be fused into one whole.¡±

    ¡°I am yours and you are mine,¡± Zander assured her with a kiss.

    Alexia nodded. ¡°You are mine and I am yours.¡± She removed her robes, with his gentle assistance, and helped him out of his breeches, savoring each new discovery. She gazed at him, thoroughly enamored by his form, by his kind heart, and his playful wit. His eyes wide, mouth ajar, smiling sweetly, she knew he saw the same expression reflected on her face. Feeling blessed as a dream she never thought would come true came true, Alexia serenaded him as Leverith¡¯s light enveloped them beside Goddess Hill:

    Love¡¯s shining light

    Shines on us so bright,

    For all the world to see,

    The love of you and me.

    In all our innocent dreams,

    And all our lover¡¯s schemes,

    And all our heart¡¯s regimes,

    All feel our beams.

    Moon, I shine for you,

    I love you, big blue.

    I love you through and through,

    No words ever this true.

    Zander looked at her, awestruck, his eyes wide and his mouth parting in a silent ¡°Wow.¡± She nodded at him, hoping with all her heart that he could create this melody with her. Zander took a breath, then sang in a deep voice, untrained but rich with heartfelt passion:

    Sun, ¡®tis you I embrace,

    When all the world¡¯s a race.

    ¡®Tis you I chase,

    My love¡¯s resting place.

    Love¡¯s shining light

    Shines on us so bright,

    For all the world to see.

    The love of you and me.

    Tears of joy rimming their sunrise and moon eyes, they kissed. Leverith¡¯s spirit swept across Goddess Hill and over the Eagle River, spilling into the fields of flowers. Zander sang again, and they continued their duet, intertwining their voices and fingers as they alternated every two lines:

    No matter how far,

    You are always my star.

    No matter the time,

    You are worth the climb.

    No matter the wait,

    You are my life¡¯s mate.

    No matter what they say,

    You are always my way.

    No matter the fire,

    You are my desire.

    No matter the cold,

    ¡®Tis you I will hold.

    They held each other tightly, their bodies pressed close, the wholeness of Alexia¡¯s heart restored in his embrace. They merged together and became one voice, one body, one soul. Two lovers finished their song as one:

    No matter the pain,

    Our love will never wane.

    Love¡¯s shining light

    Shines on us so bright,

    For all the world to see,

    The love of you and me.

    For all the world to see,

    The love of you and me.

    On Meladon Waning, Norali Moon, 213 3LE, beneath a rising sun and enveloped in the light of the Divine of Love and Dreams, the moon and the sun became one. Hand in hand, they leapt from the cliff, plunging into the lagoon below. They merged, a grand confluence of body, mind, and spirit. Zander guided her gently through the water as they splashed into the wellspring of joy.

    Each kiss, every embrace, every thrust carried Alexia and Zander closer to a paradise of flowers and shimmering blue light. When they finished, creating a melody of another kind, Alexia laid on her back beside Zander and gazed up at Covademara as it stretched to infinity. The only thing either of them wore was her locket, and in that embrace, all felt whole.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always felt incomplete,¡± Zander said. ¡°I chased after the sunrise like the moon, but I could never catch it. I spent each night trying to find a fraction of the peace and love you give me, Alexia.¡± He put his hand on her chest, brushing against the locket. ¡°I¡¯d nearly given up hope. Moments before you arrived into my life¡ª¡±

    ¡°You arrived into my life, Zander,¡± Alexia said, smiling as she traced her fingers up his chest. ¡°A paladin atop his great steed, with a voice like thunder and eyes like the moon.¡±

    Zander smiled, chuckling as he took her hand. ¡°Moments before you arrived into my life¡­¡± He paused, daring her to challenge him. Some battles were supposed to be lost in order to win the war. She pinched his cheek and let him have this one. For when he won, she won.

    ¡°I asked Leverith to send me a sign.¡± Zander¡¯s eyes welled with happy tears. ¡°Then you were there. We battled a shebear.¡±

    They laughed. ¡°The first of many collaborations, I hope,¡± Alexia said.

    ¡°You know it,¡± Zander said, pulling her closer. ¡°I knew the moment I looked into your eyes that you were the answer to my prayer. Every moment since then, you¡¯ve proven me right. I feel more whole right now than I had even dreamed was possible. You¡¯re my life¡¯s mate, my Sunrise. I love you, Alexia.¡±

    ¡°I knew it too,¡± Alexia said. ¡°The moment I met your gaze, I felt it; you were the Moon that would chase me across the sky.¡±

    ¡°More like fields of flowers.¡±

    Alexia nodded blissfully and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Giddiness swept through her like a flood down the Eagle River. ¡°I¡¯ve dreamed of you all my life. Just when I had lost all hope that I¡¯d ever find you, there you were.¡± She squeezed his hand, feeling him there, fitting with her like a perfectly matched jigsaw piece. ¡°I love you too, Zander.¡±

    Zander nudged her face with his. The feeling of joy was sweeter when you thought it was one you¡¯d never experience again. Alexia battled the urge to cry and failed.

    He brushed her hair, his brows knitted with concern. ¡°What is it, Sunrise?¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to think about Halius and wanted to talk about him even less as it spoiled the joy in her heart. But she couldn¡¯t hide behind a mask of joy and pretend that all was well. Being with Zander taught her that dreams did come true, but like Pelianna and Elior, happily ever after didn¡¯t come right at the start. They would need to fight for their love to be accepted, and peace couldn¡¯t be the price.

    ¡°Whatever it is,¡± Zander said, ¡°we will face it together.¡±

    ¡°Before I left Sapphirica,¡± Alexia swallowed, feeling sick to her soul, ¡°King Gideon asked me to bond his son.¡± She searched his face, seeing a flicker of panic. She clutched his hand as tightly as she could, infusing her touch with Leverith and Celegana, stubbornly clinging to their love. ¡°I knew you were Leverith¡¯s answer the moment I first looked into your eyes. I knew yours was the song of peace and love that would play in synchrony with mine. I love you, Zander. With everything I am.¡±

    ¡°And I am yours, Alexia,¡± Zander said, traces of worry leaking through his confidence. ¡°I will do whatever it takes to be with you.¡±

    Many kisses and eruptions of Leverith¡¯s divine energy from the locket later, Alexia pulled apart, willing herself to move forward from this dream and forge the path toward peace. Watching him get dressed, she felt a longing to leap into his arms again; the very thought of this moment ending tore at her heart. She tried to plan for the path forward, but every road she considered ended in tragedy and she wasn¡¯t innocent enough anymore to believe that love would always triumph.

    ¡°Where do we go from here?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Wherever we want,¡± Zander answered. ¡°As long as we go together.¡±

    Alexia knew where she needed to go. The happiness inside of her snapped like a twig beneath the foot of a giant as reality crashed back into her. ¡°I must go back to Sapphirica. I need to face King Gideon.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Zander replied without hesitation.

    She averted her gaze. Despite her desire to have him by her side, she saw no happy ending to that road. Despair rose in her chest and threatened to suffocate the joys of the last angle.

    Zander tried to break through the darkness with a sunny, optimistic, but oh-so-unrealistic solution. ¡°We don¡¯t have to serve the Ruby or the Sapphire. We can stay here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not free,¡± Alexia said, her voice breaking. ¡°I can¡¯t abandon my responsibilities.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no glory in this war. We could leave it behind, start anew.¡± His voice grew desperate. ¡°Take my hand, and let¡¯s go. Just us.¡±

    Tears brimmed her eyes. She didn¡¯t want to be part of the war or the politics that kept it forever in motion. She reached into her pocket and felt the doll. Alexia would never forgive herself if she ran away. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± she whispered, choking back a sob.

    ¡°You can,¡± he insisted. ¡°We can be happy.¡± He reached for her, but she backed away from him. The sorrow writ upon his face was another dagger of guilt stabbing into the heart of joy.

    She shook her head. She didn¡¯t deserve such an easy fate after what she had done. Any joy she felt while hiding would be strangled by the guilt. A million Leverians relied on her to bring peace, to help them stand strong against the Chimaera, to make amends for the atrocities she committed in Vulcan, Mirrevar, and Ferrickton. A thousand souls reaped by Zamael far before their time demanded she go on in their stead, not abandon everything for her own selfish desire to be loved and left in peace.

    She held up her hands. ¡°The people of Ferrickton welcomed me with open arms. I destroyed their mines, the very lifeblood of every person in that community. I killed every soldier that tried to stop me, even the father of the sweetest little girl I ever met.¡± Alexia shook, remembering Allison fading to shadow. ¡°I need to bring the Second Great Peace.¡±

    Zander clenched his teeth, growling, before snapping back. ¡°You think I¡¯m innocent?¡± he asked, raising his hands for her to see. ¡°Last night, I killed dozens¡ªmaybe hundreds¡ªof your countrymen. I was nothing but a monster harvesting life beneath the full moon. When I wanted to give in, the only thing that kept me going was you. I could feel your pain echoing my own. I fought and fought and fought, just to get here with you, and I¡¯m not about to give up on us without fighting with everything I have.¡±

    His tone softened and he took her hand. ¡°This life is too hard to go alone. Wherever you go, I¡¯ll be with you. We don¡¯t have to run from responsibility to be together. Together, we can sing the melody that brings eternal peace.¡±

    Alexia knew he meant every word. He would accompany her on the journey to Sapphirica and he would fight for her with every fragment of his considerable power. He would be her Elior whether he had to battle chimaeras, princes, ogres, or her own self-doubts. Every part of her heart wanted to say yes, but every part of her mind warned her of the tragedy that road would bring.

    Nobody alive had better attunement with Leverith than her, and yet, she was also Eron Blueroses¡¯s rational daughter. Emotion and logic battled within her like two great forces determined to tear each other apart. Instead, they sundered her soul with their conflict. She tried so hard to envision a path where Zander could ride through the Sapphire encampment full of soldiers he just battled against without causing more bloodshed or tarnishing the love the people of the Sapphire Kingdom felt for her, where they declared their love before Gideon, Eron, and Halius, and where that conversation ended with the king throwing his hands up in joy and declaring that every fragment of his authority would be devoted to restoring peace. Her mind knew that what her heart wanted was nothing more than the innocent dreams of a girl who believed that love could triumph over all.

    But Alexia¡¯s innocence was lost. Maleon had taught her better of the darkness that resided in people¡¯s souls and how often and easily Zamael could triumph over love.

    ¡°I cannot take you where I must go,¡± she said, holding back the wave of sorrow that crashed against her heart. ¡°Do not chase me, Zander.¡±

    Zander fell to his knees and begged. ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Alexia. Don¡¯t leave me all alone.¡±

    It broke her heart to see such a grand man groveling. She forced herself to look away from him, doing everything she could to keep the sorrow at bay as it slammed into her.

    ¡°I will be your sworn shield,¡± he pleaded tearfully. ¡°I will protect you every step of the way. Please don¡¯t leave me.¡±

    Alexia turned her back on him to hide her tears. If only they lived in that dream world, she would be so much happier. But this wasn¡¯t a dream. Every future she saw where he came with her ended in tragedy, in Zander¡¯s death, in more war, and, ultimately, in defeat as the chimaeras came. She lifted the locket from her neck, instantly feeling her connection with the Divine, especially Leverith, weaken. Where once was a great flowing river, was a dried-up creek. She was no longer whole, but a broken woman trying to live with only a fraction of herself. Alas, if Leverith was to prevail over Zamael, if she was to break this cycle of endless hatred, vengeance, and death, she must finish strong.

    Alexia inhaled, held her breath, then exhaled. ¡°We are at war. This is not the season for love.¡± She turned and faced him, her eyes burning with all the fire of the sun, though her voice was as cold as Zamael¡¯s blackened heart. ¡°The next time we meet¡­¡± Alexia clung to the last trace of her innocence for one final moment, before it was lost forever. ¡°We will be enemies.¡±

 Book 1 Epilogue: Son and Shadow

    Emir Leoquo Mahagan placed his hand on Ulani¡¯s muscular back. She turned her head and met his charming grin with her coy smile. That smile was worth the entire world to Leoquo. Her pearly teeth set against the polished obsidian of her skin were wonders to his bright eyes. They said that the rains of Lake Dalazuli could cure a broken heart. Ulani¡¯s smile could make a heart whole. And it did. For Leoquo.

    ¡°I love you, my pearl,¡± Ulani softly whispered.

    Leoquo leaned in closer and adjusted the pearl on her necklace. In the Mahogany Isles, no man bonded his life¡¯s mate if he could not reach the ocean floor with his heart. Leoquo had proven his devotion. The sultan¡¯s son declared his love for Ulani as pure, dove into the depths, pushed beyond the point where his lungs were depleted, and was bestowed with Dalis¡¯s Gift. Leoquo could breathe and move beneath Dalis¡¯s Endless Blue as easily as he could on the ground.

    ¡°I love you too, my sky.¡±

    Mahagan were unlike their neighbors to the northwest in Leveria; he wouldn¡¯t consummate his bond until the proper ceremony was performed. Before then, the Mahagan had to sate their appetites with words and charismatic gestures. Tomorrow, that would change.

    Tomorrow. It was to be the greatest day of his life. Ulani would become his wife and spearmate. After consummating their bond, Ulani would leap from the cliffs and Zafrir would bless her legs and spear the same way that Dalis blessed Leoquo. His ferocious-in-competition and timid-in-conversation life¡¯s mate would be able to soar into the air and come crashing down with her spear while he moved with the fluidity of water on the ground.

    But enhanced combat prowess was not why Leoquo was sublimely excited and filled with endless bliss. The Mahagan Spears rarely had to face more than pirates and local monsters that wandered out of the jungles or the waters. No. She was more than a spear to him. Ulani was the woman he wanted to spend his life with. His heart beat for her and hers beat for his. In one more day, their bond would be made complete, and Leoquo would be complete. Thoughts of their bonding overflowed in his mind like ocean creeping up a sandy shore at high tide. He couldn¡¯t keep his mind on the proceedings going on in the Serena.

    The tranquil rain massaged his shoulders like a mother¡¯s touch. It always rained in the Everrain, the house of his family. His smiling eyes found his father sitting the Tranquil Throne. The sultan wore the extravagant plumed feathers of the Mahogany Isles and the lion cape of their family: the Mahagan. Sultan Leono Mahagan was the picture of the First Mahagan, the champion of the Love Queen¡¯s Sixty-Four.

    Leoquo dreamt of the day that he would sit the Tranquil Throne, a seat of mahogany and lapis lazuli, and be sultan to Ulani¡¯s sultana. He hoped it was a faraway day. He knew he wasn¡¯t ready to sit beside the Love Queen and the First Mahagan. No. Not yet. After he was bonded, he would take Ulani to Sapphirica. They would dine with the Leverian nobility, introduce themselves to King Gideon Sapphire and his family, and then journey to Mirrevar to see the lost citadel of the Love Queen and Covademara. Then, after at least another decade of studying under his father and serving his people as a spear, Leoquo would be ready to be the one on that chair. Only then would he fulfill his destiny to be the servant of the hundreds of thousands who dwelled on the white shores and within the tropic jungles of the nine islands where the mahogany trees grew. Until then, the sixty-four clans were unified and in good hands. No dangers would befall them while Sultan Leono Mahagan lived and Leoquo could be free to be just Ulani¡¯s man before he was property to all men and women of the nine isles.

    It was a slow, peaceful day in the Everrain¡¯s Serena. Then again, that was completely expected. Leoquo thanked Meladon that the court was only held on Ovidon and Yadeen. His mind, eyes, and hands wandered to Ulani while the sultan talked with the chiefs and the merchants about small things. He counted the raindrops that hit his shoulder, wanting the day to end so that he could take Ulani to the white sands of Caleel and watch the sun set over the Endless Blue.

    The final sunset of my life as half of myself. Tomorrow I will be made whole.

    Looking back, he wished that tranquil, boring moment could have lasted for all eternity. He wished he could stand there with his arm around Ulani, savoring that moment, innocent and blissful. He wished he never lost that innocence.

    He wished that he never seen the Shadow and the Chimaera.

    The roars of lions and the screams of men and women came from beyond the Serena. The sultan paused in the middle of arbitrating a dispute between two rival merchants and all eyes gaped as a strange monster smashed through the mahogany walls of the Everrain, sending stone and wood through the audience. People screamed, warriors retrieved their spears, and the rain continued ever uninterrupted.

    The massive horror had three heads: lion, ram, and serpent. The lion head alone was the size of any ten lions combined, with a maw thrice the size of the largest man Leoquo knew. The serpent trailed behind it, a long, scaly green tail ending in sharp teeth glistening with poison. The black head of the ram started to crackle as its ivory horns gathered lightning. The creature¡¯s legs were covered in dark hair that would blend into the night, lion-like in the front and ram-like in the rear. A massive man with the brown, sandy complexion of fallen Isihla, sat atop the creature with a meladonite scythe in his right hand and a zamaelic grin on his face. The most haunting part of this monster of a man was his grey, lifeless eyes. A student of history, Leoquo had heard the stories about Isihlan Shadows and Celegan Chimaeras. Those were stories of faraway lands that never seemed real until the last moment of his innocence.

    The beast proudly strode into the Serena as though it owned the whole world.

    The Mahagan Spears were determined to send this beast back from whence it came. Alas, who could fight against such a foe?

    Lightning arced from the ram¡¯s horns and murdered several defenders before they reacted. The thundering was echoed by dozens of spears being drawn, most of them empowered spearmates.

    Leoquo, Ulani, and the others charged at the beast with their spears. Female spearmates soared into the air while their partners moved like water toward the monster. Leoquo himself moved with fluidity, dodging attacks with unconceivable alacrity. The ram discharged more lightning. It might always be raining in the Everrain but never was there lightning. The thunder was accompanied by the charging of the lion and the thrashing of the serpent releasing its miasma. The shadowy rider disappeared, Duma¡¯s head was torn from his shoulders, and the shadow reappeared with blood on his scythe¡¯s edge before blinking out of existence once more.

    The Mahagan Spears were hopelessly outmatched. Lightning tore the spearwives from the sky before they could pierce the monster¡¯s evil hide. The wide sweeping of the serpent rendered spearhusband fluidity inert. The lion clawed down two men in a single swipe then bit off the head and torso of a windjumper whose spear scraped ineffectually against the creature¡¯s magical hide. Leoquo reeled over as the serpent smashed into his abdomen. The serpent reared back, baring incisors the size of swords and twice as sharp. The monster shot out at him like a coiled spring.

    Leoquo closed his eyes.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    A woman¡¯s scream split the air and his heart. Ulani fell into his arms, and they crashed to the grass. Pearl teeth and obsidian skin. Pale blue eyes. Pale blue eyes unseeing for all eternity, never to glimpse another sunrise. Never to bond and be made whole.

    Leoquo¡¯s tears were neither tranquil nor serene like the rains of Dalazuli. No, they were sorrow and anger. They were the tears of a broken heart. He wrapped his arms around Ulani¡¯s muscular back and wept. He screamed out his rage but did not release his sky. He would follow Ulani to Meladon¡¯s Paradise, and they would greet the Fourteenth together. His half-life on this earth was no longer worth living as it could never become whole.

    But the beast had stopped. The fighting had ceased. Leoquo grasped Ulani as powerfully as he could, but his arms were pried apart. Ulani was tossed aside, and the scythe was readied above him.

    ¡°No!¡± his father cried.

    The shadowy man stepped back. The light bent around him and shadows danced on the sands of the Serena. His voice came straight out of a nightmare and was heavily accented. ¡°This must be your seed, pretender.¡± A mighty kick took the air from Leoquo. A cruel laugh permeated the air. ¡°He is pathetic. What kind of a weak man lets a woman protect him?¡±

    Leoquo screamed as he leapt to his feet. He charged barehanded at the Shadow, moving with fluidity and grace despite his infinite rage. He wanted to die but first he would kill the monster that had slain his love.

    The man disappeared in the blink of an eye as though he had never been anything more than a wicked ray of light. Leoquo swung his fists at the air, but nothing was there. The demon laughed as it rematerialized from shadow and effortlessly swept Leoquo off his feet with the handle end of his scythe. His mighty hand wrapped around Leoquo¡¯s throat and lifted him into the air.

    ¡°Kill me!¡± Leoquo gasped.

    The Shadow''s lifeless eyes held nothing but evil and malice. ¡°Not yet.¡±

    The Shadow threw Leoquo several feet in the air and he landed hard on the sand. Leoquo felt broken, spirit and body. He arched his neck to look at the Shadow. The three-headed beast was no longer alone. It stood ahead of an army of lions and empagong. The two most sacred of creatures on the Mahogany Isle had turned against them. The lion was the symbol of his family and the empagong, the great tortoises, were the ancient protectors of their isles. Their betrayal was another stab into the center of Leoquo¡¯s broken heart.

    His father stood behind him and wrapped him in his arms. ¡°Stay away, beast!¡±

    The Shadow laughed sinisterly. He looked to the three-headed monster. ¡°Is it time, Great Ezen?¡±

    The three heads nodded and roared, hissed, and bleated approvingly. The beast moved forward with the Shadow beside it.

    The Shadow spread his arms as he spoke. ¡°Today is the luckiest day of your lives, pretenders.¡± His zamaelic grin rose higher.

    Leoquo couldn¡¯t suppress the anger. He yelled and screamed but his father held him back. Hot tears glided down his cheeks. He clenched his teeth. All he could see was water¡ªtainted and impure water. The Shadow had poisoned Dalazuli¡¯s rains with his darkness. Leoquo¡¯s broken heart would not mend no matter how long the rain pattered down onto his shaven head.

    The nightmarish voice rang out, ¡°The Son of Conqueror and Queen, born atop the Goddess, the Great Ezen, the One Master of Celegana¡¯s Earth, Daichin ezen Celegan, has decided that you shall have a choice in your fate!¡±

    The Shadow laughed and Leoquo¡¯s anger grew bigger than the massive, treacherous empagongs. His father held him tight, silently discouraging rebellion.

    ¡°What choice do we have!¡± Sultan Leono shouted. ¡°Slavery or death! What choices are those! We have been a free people since the Love Queen unified us! We¡¯re not beasts! We will not be tamed or chained!¡±

    The Shadow stared at him maliciously. The three-headed beast¡¯s lion head roared, shaking Leoquo¡¯s soul and flooding it with fright. It made the mahogany trees in the Serena tremble.

    ¡°I was hoping you would choose death.¡±

    The Shadow brandished his scythe and moved in to kill them. Leoquo scrambled to his feet but was instantly knocked back down by the scythe. The Shadow then disappeared and reappeared behind Leoquo¡¯s father. He gripped Leono by the back of the neck and slammed his face into the Love Queen¡¯s statue three times before discarding him into the sand. Leoquo stood to fight but the Serpent wrapped around him and constricted him. Leoquo felt his body breaking in the beast¡¯s foul grasp. He fought for air but though he could breathe underwater, he couldn''t breathe through suffocation. He set his eyes on Ulani and prepared to die.

    ¡°Is this your choice, pretender!¡± the Shadow roared, pointing his scythe at Leoquo.

    Sultan Leono crawled, his face a ruin, and he met his son¡¯s eyes. The serpent continued to squeeze. ¡°Stop!¡± he cried. ¡°I will pay any price!¡±

    The shame Leoquo felt could have swallowed all the Endless Blue and still had room for more. His father would demean his people to save his worthless life. This was a betrayal of all he stood for and all his father had worked for.

    The serpent tossed Leoquo at his father¡¯s feet. Leoquo gasped for air, a sensation he hadn''t experienced since diving for the pearl. Leono turned his head to the Love Queen¡¯s statue beside the Tranquil Throne. ¡°Fourteenth guide me,¡± he whispered, ¡°help us find freedom.¡±

    The Shadow laughed. ¡°Freedom is not one of your choices, slave. You have been claimed by the Great Ezen. The Son of Conqueror and the Queen will unite the world. The Chimaera will not stop until it has tamed every man on Celegana¡¯s Earth and made them one again!¡±

    Leoquo stood. ¡°What does he gain from our servitude? He is oceans away across the Endless Blue!¡±

    The Shadow shook his head. His voice held terrible wrath. ¡°Oceans away? Do you not recognize him? You stand before him, weakling pretender!¡±

    The voice of nightmares resonated against the rain as he knelt before the three-headed beast. This deadly warrior wrung his hands and begged to the lion head. ¡°Ezen, they are unworthy. We already have the Serpent and the Flame. We don¡¯t need them! Let us be done with this! Let me end them!¡± The Shadow spoke to the beast with extreme jubilance. He was no more than a fanatical, but rabid wolf, leashed by a master who would stop at nothing to make everyone in the world just as obedient and fervent.

    The three-headed beast shook all three heads.

    ¡°As you will, Great Ezen.¡± The Shadow stood up and addressed Leono. ¡°Your options are thus...¡± He grinned. ¡°You can be annihilated. The fathers and sons of your pathetic isles will be ravaged by your own lions as we fill your mothers and daughters with the seeds of Celegana¡¯s chosen.¡±

    Leoquo screamed again but his father held him back. He broke through and charged toward the Shadow. The lion¡¯s terrible head met him. Skull crashed into skull and Leoquo dropped to his back, certain that he was concussed.

    The Shadow raised his scythe for the merciful kill, but the lion head roared as the scythe descended. Leoquo¡¯s vision blurred, he prayed to Meladon to let the scythe reunite him with Ulani... to end his suffering...

    The scythe halted and the blade scraped against Leoquo¡¯s bare chest, doing no more than drawing blood and marking his defeat with a scar that would never fade. The Shadow sighed, ¡°Daichin ezen Celegan is most merciful. Sultan Leono,¡± the Shadow continued menacingly, ¡°what do you think of your first option?¡±

    Leoquo¡¯s father spat in disgust. The Shadow laughed. ¡°A wise man chooses the second choice. The Son of Conqueror and Queen is willing to spare you and your,¡± he stepped on Leoquo¡¯s broken heart and pressed down, ¡°pathetic heir if you complete a task for him.¡±

    ¡°I will do it! Let Leoquo go!¡±

    The Shadow removed his foot, but Leoquo¡¯s heart didn¡¯t mend. He felt the rain from above. The rain was like tears from Meladon¡¯s Paradise, tears from Ulani. Leoquo¡¯s tears joined hers, though his spirt was trapped here without her.

    All three of the beast heads made their noises of approval. The Shadow continued, ¡°Leveria must fall, and you have been chosen to play a part in their demise. You will capture Daichin ezen Celegan¡¯s empress. The Great Dreamer will be his! They will unite the world and restore her Wholeness! You will bring him the one called Alexia Bluerose: the Second Great Wizard!¡±

    Rain fell, as it always did in the Everrain, and for the first time in a thousand years, a Mahagan sultan had fallen alongside it. The innocence of this place of peace, lost.

 Appendices

    Appendix A: Map of Leveria

    Note: This map of Leveria was drawn, slightly out of scale¡ªallegedly for artistic reasons¡ªby The First Voice of Peace during their early childhood.

    Appendix B: The Bluerose Primer on Leveria

    My dear uncle and king, Adameon, Fifth of His Name,

    I discovered this in the possession of a Kavovan woman employed at Leverith¡¯s Touch. The initial text was in Kavovan, but Serapheena agreed to translate it. Sera retained a copy of her own and is analyzing it but she left this one free of her notations. The Kavovan woman has been placed in the Blood Cells and granted accommodations for gentle care, pending your evaluation and judgment of the situation. My initial questioning has led me to believe this to be the work of Gideon¡¯s Royal Steward, disguised as a helpful message to Kavovan refugees. Sera assures me that my hunches are not paranoid and if Eron Bluerose were truly concerned for their welfare, this woman would have been in Sapphirica rather than Rubinia. Unfortunately, I suspect that his information network in Rubinia may be more extensive than we thought and Kavovan spies, even metamorphs, may be among us.

    Yours Loyally,

    Captain Jaseon Ruby

    -------------

    My friend,

    I have enclosed summaries of the key elements of Leverian society that are often challenging for the people of our native lands to grasp. These basics will be essential to your ability to adapt to life here. I wish you all the best as you enjoy your freedom from the governors and their indentured servitude. Welcome to Leveria!

    <u>The Divine Thirteen</u>

    Meladon (MELL-uh-DIN)

    Titles: King of the Divine. Divine Father. Great Father. Father of All. The Just.

    Role: Meladon is credited with creating the world. Meladon departed the world with his Paradise during the Divine Fratricide. Some priestesses preach that he lives on the moon. It is believed that he welcomes those who live just lives into Paradise upon their death.

    Visage: Leverians depict him as a strong, fatherly man wearing a crown on his head and cupping a sphere in his hands.

    Traits: He is the embodiment of justice, lawfulness, righteousness, and leadership.

    Holyday: Rebirth. Meladon Waxing, Meladon Moon. Rebirth is the first day of the new year. Leverians believe it is a chance to begin anew and to pursue a more just existence. Traditionally, presents are given to celebrate this new beginning.

    Zamael (zah-MAY-ell)

    Titles: Divine of Death and Corruption. The Dark Brother.

    Role: Zamael is blamed for the deaths and departures of the Divine Thirteen. It is believed that Zamael reaps the souls of the dead who are unjust and banishes them to eternal damnation in his Hells. Zamael is the Brother of Meladon and uncle of the eleven Divine Scions. Zamael is the eternal enemy of Leverith, his antithesis.

    Visage: A shrouded figure with long, dark hair, a snarling grin, and scythe.

    Traits: Death incarnate, corruption, betrayal, jealousy, envy, brutality, mercilessness, hatred, and evil. Zamael seeks to destroy all traces of love and peace.

    Holyday: Reaping. Zamael Waxing, Zamael Moon. Reaping is spent trying to scare others, often wearing masks. It is intended to remind people of death and teach them that it is not to be feared. Reaping is seen as a triumph over death for another year.

    Gidi (gid-DEE¡­ yes, just like the word giddy)

    Titles: Divine of War and Strength. The Great Warrior. The Mighty.

    Role: Firstborn of Meladon.

    Visage: A bearded, physically robust, armored warrior holding a greatsword.

    Traits: Heroism, glory-seeking, uses strength to solve problems, and is emotionally expressive/explosive

    Holyday: Catharsis. Gidi Waning, Gidi Moon. Catharsis is a day devoted to feeling your emotions by venting all your frustrations. The goal is to share these and then leave behind the conflict and let go of the distress. This is a day devoted to disclosing things that people have been withholding and brooding upon. In Leveria, this is often facilitated with the potion Remembernot or its active reagent, the Oblivia herb; those without access to Oblivia or Remembernot use alcohol to facilitate forgetting the conflicts inevitably aroused by sharing negative emotions with loved ones.

    Yadeen (yah-DEEN)

    Titles: Divine of Wisdom, Learning, and Stories. The Arcane. The Scholar. The Storyteller.

    Role: Secondborn of Meladon.

    Visage: A tall bearded man holding a scroll in his left hand. Yadeen is sometimes depicted with a staff or with a musical instrument.

    Traits: Lover of stories, seeker of knowledge, curiosity, and great intellect.

    Holyday: Telling. Yadeen Waxing, Yadeen Moon. Telling is an entire day devoted to telling stories with your family and friends.

    Ovidon (AH-vee-DON)

    Titles: Divine of Commerce, Craftwork, and Labor. The Builder. The Mercantile.

    Role: Thirdborn of Meladon.

    Visage: A strong, young adult holding a hammer in one hand and a coin in the other.

    Traits: Efficient, organized, crafty, persuasive, and articulate.

    Holyday: Barter. Ovidon Waning, Ovidon Moon. A festival day where everyone buys, sells, and trades items with their family, friends, and neighbors. Leverians are encouraged to craft something specific for this day and to trade it for another thing that has been crafted for this day.

    Norali (nor-RALL-lee)

    Titles: Divine of Sun, Stars, and Light. The Illuminator. The Guide.

    Role: Fourthborn of Meladon and eldest of the Goddesses.

    Visage: A short woman with body length hair holding the stars in her hands.

    Traits: Hopeful, instills hope in others, guides those who are lost.

    Holyday: Brighten. Norali Waning, Norali Moon. Brighten is a day devoted to light, hope, and kindness. Each person lights a candle and gives it to somebody then says kind things to that person. The goal is to guide the person to happiness or hope for the future, to brighten their face with a smile.

    Celegana (SELL-uh-GAH-nuh)

    Titles: Divine of Earth and Nature. The Provider. The Bountiful.

    Role: Fifthborn of Meladon.

    Visage: A tall, sturdy, large-breasted woman holding a tree in her right hand and a stone in her left.

    Traits: Strong-minded, stubborn, growth-oriented, wholesome

    Holyday: Harvest. Celegana Waxing, Celegana Moon. This is a day of feasting on the bounties of Celegana. Eat. Drink. Eat some more.

    Dalis (dale-LISS)

    Titles: Divine of Water. The Tranquil. The Serene.

    Role: Sixthborn of Meladon.

    Visage: A slender lady with a tranquil expression and water in her cupped hands.

    Traits: Calm, steady, unemotional

    Holyday: Purification. Dalis Waxing, Dalis Moon. This day is devoted to immersing one¡¯s body in water, ideally unclothed, to purify sin and to cleanse one¡¯s spirit and body. In Leveria, this day is often accompanied with frolicking.

    Qoryxa (CORE-rick-ZAH)

    Titles: Divine of Ice and Cold. The Judge. The Aesthetic. The Vindictive.

    Role: Seventhborn of Meladon. Twin of Seraxa.

    Visage: A beautiful lady with snowflakes in her hair and hands and icicles growing off her body.

    Traits: Appreciates beauty, vindictive, envious, judgmental, traditional, conservative, charitable.

    Holyday: Pageant. Qoryxa Waning, Qoryxa Moon. A day devoted to competitions such as beauty contests, martial tournaments, musical rivalries, and any other aspect or performance that can be judged.

    Seraxa (seer-RAX-zah)

    Titles: Divine of Fire, Flames, and Heat. The Cunning. The Passionate. The Brilliant.

    Role: Eigthborn of Meladon. Twin of Qoryxa.

    Visage: An athletic woman with a cunning smile, fiery hair, and crossed arms.

    Traits: Passionate, clever, liberal, and altruistic.

    Holyday: Burning. Seraxa Waning, Seraxa Moon. A day devoted to brainstorming and reflection upon last year¡¯s failures and next year¡¯s successes. Families sit around a bonfire where they burn away the failures of the past to provide fuel for next year¡¯s success.

    Zafrir (ZAFF-rear)

    Titles: Divine of Wind and Chaos. The Everchanging.

    Role: Ninthborn of Meladon.

    Visage: A carefree boy forcing air out of his mouth.

    Traits: Unpredictable, capricious, and chaotic.

    Holyday: Respite. Zafrir Waning, Zafrir Moon. A day devoted to doing nothing at all.

    Balbaraq (BALL-burr-RACK)

    Titles: Divine of Sky, Storms, and Lightning. The Mischievous. The Storm. The Vengeful.

    Role: Tenthborn of Meladon.

    Visage: A boy wearing a snarky grin holding a lightning bolt in one hand while his other hand is behind his back.

    Traits: Vengeful, boisterous, immature, and inappropriate.

    Holyday: Shock. Balbaraq Waning, Balbaraq Moon. A day devoted to trying to shock, trick, and prank others. Unlike other holydays, Leverians continue their work duties on this day to facilitate the shenanigans.

    Leverith (LEV-ver-RITH)

    Titles: Divine of Love and Dreams. The Innocent. The Lover. The Dreamer.

    Role: Eleventhborn of Meladon. Youngest of the Divine Scions.

    Visage: A beautiful young woman holding a white carnation and smiling.

    Traits: Loving, peaceful, empathic, altruistic, and belief in goodness of others.

    Holyday: Embrace. Leverith Waxing, Leverith Moon. A day devoted entirely to spending with your life¡¯s mate. For those without life¡¯s mates, it is a day devoted to spending with someone who may become your life¡¯s mate.

    <u>Time</u>

    The units of measurement for time in Leveria are based on geometric principles. Days are also often called rotations, representing a complete rotation of the sun. Each day has 24 angles or 360 degrees. An angle is equivalent to the Kavovan hour. Angles are further subdivided into degrees. Each angle has 15 degrees. Degrees are the equivalent of 4 Kavovan minutes. Degrees can be further broken down into turns. Each degree has 240 turns. Turns are the equivalent of the Kavovan second.

    In summary, there are 240 turns in a degree, 15 degrees in an angle, 24 angles or 360 degrees in a rotation. In Kavovan terms, there is one second in a turn, 240 seconds or 4 minutes in a degree, 60 minutes or one hour in an angle, and 24 hours in a rotation.

    The Leverian year has 13 moons. Each moon consists of the 26-day cycle of the moon waxing into a full moon and waning to a new moon. Thus, the start of a moon is the first day after a new moon (the time when the moon is not visible in the sky) and the last day of the moon is a new moon. There are two 13-day spans within each moon representing whether the moon is waxing or waning. Each moon is named after one of the Divine Thirteen. Within each moon, days are named after the Divine based on birth order except that Zamael goes last in the order. Further, days are identified based on whether the current span is during the period where the moon grows (Waxing) or whether the moon is diminishing (Waning). Thus, each moon has twenty-six days in the following order: Meladon Waxing, Gidi Waxing, Yadeen Waxing, Ovidon Waxing, Norali Waxing, Celegana Waxing, Dalis Waxing, Qoryxa Waxing, Seraxa Waxing, Zafrir Waxing, Balbaraq Waxing, Leverith Waxing, Zamael Waxing, Meladon Waning, Gidi Waning, Yadeen Waning, Ovidon Waning, Norali Waning, Celegana Waning, Dalis Waning, Qoryxa Waning, Seraxa Waning, Zafrir Waning, Balbaraq Waning, Leverith Waning, and Zamael Waning. The full moon occurs on Zamael Waxing and the new moon occurs on Zamael Waning.

    It would perhaps be convenient if the ordering of the moons was also dependent on birth order excepting Zamael. However, this is not the case. The ordering of moons is based on seasonal characteristics. For instance, even though Qoryxa and Seraxa are twins, their moons are distal because fiery Seraxa is a summer moon whereas frigid Qoryxa is a winter moon. The Leverian calendar is broken down into seasons with the following ordering of moons:

    Spring ¨C Meladon, Leverith, Dalis, ? Balbaraq

    Summer ¨C ? Balbaraq, Norali, Seraxa, ? Zafrir

    Autumn ¨C ? Zafrir, Ovidon, Celegana, ? Gidi

    Winter ¨C ? Gidi, Qoryxa, Yadeen, Zamael

    The Leverians also have a system of dating the year based on the numbered year of the era. Leverians acknowledge five eras. First is the Paradise Era, the time when it is believed that the Divine Thirteen lived on the earth amongst humans. The Paradise Era, abbreviated PE, is considered to have taken place from Creation until Meladon abandoned the world and took his Paradise with him during the Divine Fratricide. The next era was the Dark Era, abbreviated DE. The Dark Era was a period of godlessness and evil that followed the Divine Fratricide and lasted until Philladon Godseer slept beneath Covademara and founded the Leverian Dynasty. The First Leverian Era, abbreviated 1LE, followed and lasted approximately two thousand years starting with Philladon¡¯s declaration and ending with the fall of the Leverian Dynasty. This Era is also called the Era of Love. Though this represents significant improvements form the Dark Era, it may exaggerate the level of peace during this time. The Second Leverian Era, abbreviated 2LE, lasted exactly 500 years. This era ranged from the end of the Leverian Dynasty to the Great Peace between the Ruby and Sapphire Kingdoms that was established by Linus Peacemaker. This was an era rife with near-constant strife between the two disputing inheritors of the Leverian Dynasty. Finally, the present era is called the Third Leverian Era, abbreviated 3LE. This era started with Great Peace and is in its 213<sup>th</sup> year. Taken together, Leverians report days in the following format: Leverith Waxing, Norali Moon, 213 3LE.

    <u>Currency</u>

    The Leverian currency system is standardized with several denominations of coin based on the value of the metal. The system has five types of coinage ranging from lowest denomination to highest: Iron iota, copper chip, bronze bit, silver lord, gold Leverian. Each gold leverian is worth 10 silver lords, 100 bronze bits, 200 copper chips, or 1,000 iron iotas. Thus, gold/silver is a 10:1 ratio; silver/bronze is a 10:1 ratio, bronze/copper is a 2:1 ratio, copper/iron is a 5:1 ratio. Golden leverians are imprinted with image of monarchs whereas silver lords are imprinted with the sigils of Leverian archlords. Bronze bits, copper chips, and iron iotas have no standardized adornments.

    <u>The Monarchs and Archlords of Leveria</u>

    Leverian kings and archlords pass power through hereditary means, prioritizing masculinity and relational proximity. The eldest son of the reigning monarch or archlord is the heir. If the son is deceased, the son¡¯s eldest son is the heir. In the absence of sons or grandsons, the eldest daughter is the heir. In the absence of children, the eldest brother is the heir. In the absence of brothers, the eldest sister is the heir. In the absence of siblings, the eldest uncle is heir. In the absence of uncles, the eldest aunt is the heir. Then to masculine cousins then feminine cousins in greater orders of separation. Finally, with no living family, the line ends.

    Ruby Kingdom:

    <u>Ruby</u>

    Location: Rubinia

    King: Adameon Ruby V

    Queen: Camellia Tandande

    Heir: Prince Adamo Ruby

    Seat of Power: The Ruby Castle

    Sigil: Thirteen rubies on a field of gold

    Military Force: The Rubyguard and Crimsonblades

    <u>Arax</u>

    Location: Spider¡¯s Head

    Archlord: Harvey Arax

    Lady: Tarise Rainwater

    Heir: Tegenaria Arax (daughter)

    Seat of Power: The Spider¡¯s Head

    Sigil: A red spider on a blue field

    Military Force: The Widowmakers

    <u>Bearbreaker</u>

    Location: Urzport

    Archlord: Wayn Bearbreaker VI

    Lady: Hanalei Oshion

    Heir: Whelan Bearbreaker (son)

    Seat of Power: Urz¡¯s End

    Sigil: A man wrestling a bear

    Military Force: The Peacewatch

    <u>Brighton</u>

    Location: Noraligrove

    Archlord: Remiel Brighton

    Lady: Winoa Vinton (deceased)

    Heir: Emeric Brighton (son)

    Seat of Power: Sungarden

    Sigil: Purple grapevine and apple tree on a green field

    Military Force: The Hedgemen

    <u>Celvine</u>

    Location: Qorath

    Archlord: Franseth Celvine

    Lady: Master Sameria Floodwater (deceased)

    Heir: Irvaine Celvine (grandson)

    Seat of Power: The Ice Palace

    Sigil: Red harpoon on blue ice field

    Military Force: Red Harpoons

    <u>Dalardor</u>

    Location: Meridian

    Archlord: Claudius Dalardor

    Lady: Ezrul Oceanrider (cognitive-affectomancer)

    Heir: Villiers Dalardor (son)

    Seat of Power: The Blue Flame/Erudition

    Sigil: Blue flame on a red sea

    Military Force: The Sea Blazers

    <u>LaGrett</u>

    Location: Vidacas

    Archlord: Belas LaGrett

    Lady: Aurielle Von Gaelrich

    Heir: Ramon LaGrett (son)

    Seat of Power: The Eye

    Sigil: An owl on a purple field

    Military Force: Venerable Howlers

    <u>Ogden</u>

    Location: Ogden

    Archlord: Tibero Ogden

    Lady: Colette Tandande

    Heir: Magnus Ogden (son)

    Seat of Power: The Silo

    Sigil: White gavel and sword crossing on a field of black

    Military Force: The Lawkeepers

    <u>Oshion</u>

    Location: Oshion

    Archlord: Waltaire Oshion

    Lady: Nalade of Kavova

    Heir: Selena Oshion (daughter)

    Seat of Power: The Hull

    Sigil: Black sailboat on blue field

    Military Force: The Bloodfins

    <u>Rainwater</u>

    Location: Hardstone

    Archlord: Loftlan Rainwater

    Lady: Coraline Tandande

    Heir: Aiden Rainwater (son)

    Seat of Power: The Labyrinth

    Sigil: Brown shepherd dog on a gray field

    Military Force: Stone Hounds

    <u>Tandande</u>

    Location: Balbarian

    Archlord: Gilebert Tandande

    Lady: Delphine Dalardor (deceased)

    Heir: Lamont Tandande (son)

    Seat of Power: Deepstone Keep

    Sigil: Golden lightningbolt striking a brown mountain

    Military Force: The Mountain Men

    <u>Von Gaelrich</u>

    Location: Gaelrich

    Archlord: Heinrick Von Gaelrich

    Lady: Gellina Celvine (deceased)

    Heir: Erich Von Gaelrich (son)

    Seat of Power: The Golden Vault

    Sigil: A black pickaxe on a field of gold

    Military Force: The Golden Blades

    Sapphire Kingdom:

    <u>Sapphire</u>

    Location: Sapphirica

    King: Gideon Sapphire

    Queen: Hellena Roswell

    Heir: Halius Sapphire (son)

    Seat of Power: Saphirhold

    Sigil: Sapphire on field of silver

    Military Force: Sapphireguard and Azureknights

    <u>Arpione</u>

    Location: Northold

    Archlord: Calvin Arpione

    Lady: Kira Daravon

    Heir: Fyodor Arpione (son)

    Seat of Power: The Furnace

    Sigil: Blue harpoon on red ice field

    Military Force: The Blue Harpoons

    <u>Bluvein</u>

    Location: Degotus

    Archlord: Vanaron Bluvein

    Lady: Bona Eckhard

    Heir: Ranavon Bluvein (son)

    Seat of Power: The Oasis

    Sigil: Four blue tears on a sea of sand

    Military Force: The (Queen¡¯s) Faithful

    <u>Daravon</u>

    Location: Tenacity

    Archlord: Vladovich Daravon

    Lady: Veraline Mercair

    Heir: Maxim Daravon (son)

    Seat of Power: The Rise

    Sigil: Gray Warhammer on field of brown

    Military Force: The Hammer Strikers

    <u>Eckhard</u>

    Location: Eckhard

    Archlord: Terreck Eckhard

    Lady: Valice Mercair

    Heir: Braddeck Eckhard (son)

    Seat of Power: Eckhard Hall

    Sigil: Charging bull on a field of red

    Military Force: The Seekers (of Sin)

    <u>Elagrimear</u>

    Location: Lelac

    Archlady: Elsbeth Elagrimear

    Lord: Sir Maxim Daravon

    Heir: Fiona Elagrimear (daughter)

    Seat of Power: Overwater Keep

    Sigil: Gorilla embracing a Bison on field of yellow

    Military Force: The Horned Apes

    <u>Haliae</u>

    Location: Weiss

    Archlord: Bardoc Haliae

    Lady: Larina Longmeadow (deceased)

    Heir: Eluf Haliae (brother)

    Seat of Power: The Hold

    Sigil: Black ship wheel on field of red

    Military Force: The Buccaneers

    <u>Heron</u>

    Location: Ross

    Archlord: Perrine RossStolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Lady: Belle Bluvein

    Heir: Robin Ross (son)

    Seat of Power: Talon¡¯s Tip

    Sigil: Blue heron on a silver field

    Military Force: Silver Herons

    <u>Longmeadow</u>

    Location: Eggerton

    Archlord: Edmond Longmeadow

    Lady: Hilda Haliae

    Heir: Willem Longmeadow (son)

    Seat of Power: Wizard¡¯s Watch

    Sigil: Brown boulder on blue water under a crimson sky

    Military Force: The Foebane

    <u>Mercair</u>

    Location: Eaglerun

    Archlord: Curtis Mercair

    Lady: Master Anastasia Lifekeeper (cognitive-affectomancer)

    Heir: Manfreid Mercair (son)

    Seat of Power: Eagle¡¯s Mouth

    Sigil: Silver ship with blue sails on a field of gray

    Military Force: The Bluejackets

    <u>Pinarus</u>

    Location: Maypine

    Archlord: Eton Pinarus

    Lady: Penelo Oakes (deceased)

    Heir: Falen Pinarus (son)

    Seat of Power: The Pinnacle

    Sigil: Twelve brown trees on a field of green

    Military Force: The Sentinels

    <u>Roswell</u>

    Location: Zafirton

    Archlord: Arcturus Roswell

    Lady: Master Bethany (cognitive-affectomancer)

    Heir: Yuri Roswell (son)

    Seat of Power: Windhome

    Sigil: A green gust of wind on a field of yellow

    Military Force: The Windbreakers

    <u>Rolland (provisional)</u>

    Location: Vulcan

    Archlord: Alain Rolland

    Lady: Kalina Daravon

    Heir: none

    Seat of Power: N/A

    Sigil: A cracked stone

    Military Force: N/A

    Appendix C: An Overview of Love in Leveria

    Love Across the World

    <u>Chapter One: An Overview of Love in Leveria</u>

    By Master Ione Bluerose of the Arcanium

    The world is a vast place where millions of people live and love in vastly different ways. Vesarran, Volqori, Kavovan, Mahagan, and Leverian societies have developed distinctive approaches to love throughout the course of our world¡¯s history. Within these continents, different practices have formed and can vary wildly across regions and the goal of this book is to examine these different cultural practices as they present in the world today and to understand the context of where these vast differences have originated from. The first chapter takes us to my home and the broader state of love norms in Leveria. Subsequent chapters will describe specific norms and the historical origins of these norms as well as the differences across Leverian regions.

    When people from other societies look at Leveria¡¯s love culture they often widen their eyes in alarm or shake their heads in disgust. Volqori who often lose their virginity after their 30<sup>th</sup> birthday or Mahagans who only have one mating partner their entire lives struggle to understand the intense promiscuity of Leverians. They have good reason to be shocked by Leverian love practices where it is not uncommon for an eighteen-year-old living in a Leverian city to have had over a hundred different mating partners. Yet, rarely do people from beyond Leveria understand the culture of why this occurs and how it usually happens in the absence of controversy. Let us examine why Leverians not only tolerate, but value, youthful promiscuity.

    To understand this, we need to understand Leverian religion. Leverians worship the Divine Leverith, Goddess of Love and Dreams above all other Divines. Leverith was the Divine who spoke to Philladon Godseer in his dreams beneath Covademara and she is the Divine that Philladon named the Leverian Dynasty after. Thus, Leverians believe that none of the Thirteen deserve their faith more than Leverith. Importantly, this means that Leverians are taught from the cradle that finding their life¡¯s mate is the most important thing they will ever do. How Leveria became the land of promiscuity is more difficult to explain and there are several competing theories put forth by different organizations and scholars throughout our history.

    The Leverian Temple, headed by the Seeress of Meladon has undoubtedly shaped the evolution of Leverian religious practice and sexuality norms. According to the Temple, one can earn the favor of Leverith by offering sexual acts as tribute to her. If one offers sufficient tribute, they will be presented with Leverith¡¯s Answer, a life¡¯s mate that was designed to be their other half. Thus, Leverians who engage in more intercourse will be more likely to find and bond their perfect partner. The Temple puts forth sermons on this every Meladon¡¯s Day, reinforcing these beliefs.

    The Temple¡¯s contributions to Leverian love norms do not end there. They are the distributors of the nirathra herb. The discovery of nirathra¡¯s properties is worth an entire book in itself. For our purposes, nirathra is distributed at Leverian temples to each unbonded male on Meladon¡¯s Day and if taken once every three moons, nirathra can prevent conception for an entire season of the year. Thus, contrary to expectations of other societies, Leverian sexual practices do not lead to an overabundance of children born out of love and bonding either. Equally important, nirathra is one of the reasons why there is extremely low rates of sexually transmitted diseases. The sexually transmitted diseases that plague regions such as Kavova are extremely rare in Leveria, despite having the highest amount of sexual activity. The Temple¡¯s distribution of nirathra and the healing practices of cognitive-affectomancers and medicans have all but eradicated these diseases with the exception of individuals who have engaged in bestiality. Importantly, bestiality is highly uncommon outside of certain regions where men born with little social status and lower levels of sexual attractiveness have few options.

    Yet, many theorists suggest that the Temple is not the only source for Leveria¡¯s love norms. Proponents of Darle¡¯s Theory of Pragmatic Inheritance suggest that extreme frolicking is a product of youth engaging in behaviors that would naturally allow them to reproduce and allow their traits to be inherited. Thus, some Leverians will say that Leverian love practices are a way to cope with the sexual urges that are endemic to being human. Rather than casting these natural behaviors as sinful in the cultural script, Leverians place them center stage as heroes and paragons of society. This interpretation of the behavior has gained popularity in recent years alongside Darle¡¯s theory. After all, who can argue against the logic of being yourself?

    Still, historians have argued several other reasons for the progressive development of Leverian sexuality. Another explanation that is not often addressed by the Temple is the theory that high levels of sexual activity in youth help Leverians develop their lovemaking abilities which often signal who Leverith¡¯s Answer is. That is, people who practice a skill get better at that skill whether it is copulation or cooking. Further, people who get better at a skill are more likely to impress people with that skill. The man who has practiced making love with a hundred partners is more likely to impress his 101<sup>st</sup> partner than his 1<sup>st</sup>. The emotional response to this lust when shared between people who have higher levels of skill is more likely to be interpreted as love. To be blunt, I would rather hire the culinarian who cooked the better meal and partners would rather bond the mate who gave them a more intense orgasm. Therefore, the practice becomes prophetic in that people are more likely to fall in love when they engage in more robust love making.

    The Temple has adopted another stance that is more in line with the benefits of having intercourse with dozens of partners. Most priestesses, highly sexually active members of society themselves, will argue that high levels of frolicking will eliminate later sexual curiosity after life¡¯s mates have bonded. Another important misconception of Leverian sexuality is that Leverians continue to be promiscuous after bonding their life¡¯s mate. While this does occur, often more frequently among affluent people who engage in consensual orgies which are often overlooked and rationalized, it does not happen to the extent that people would expect and it is considered sacrilegious by most of society. Thus, if Leverians have more sex, the theory goes, they will have less sinful sex later. Some scholars contest that this theory is not supported by actual behavior. That is, they claim that more promiscuous folk remain more promiscuous after bonding. Anecdotal evidence supports both claims and there exists no systematic research of sufficient methodological design to reliably and validly assess the truth of these diverging hypotheses. I will review the current research and anecdotes supporting and refuting each of these theories in later chapters.

    Finally, let us consider the impact of power in shaping these customs in Leveria. Historians often seek to understand why people in power make the decisions they do and Leverian history has ubiquitous examples of rulers who furthered and shaped these beliefs both by decree and personal example. Leverian rulers have advanced the message that offering tribute to Leverith is a dogma that cannot be challenged. The most commonly cited example of how rulers have shaped the evolution of love norms is how current practices only allow women to make tribute with men who have equal or higher social status while men are encouraged to engage in tribute with women who are of equal or lower status. History does not lie. Predominantly male rulers have allowed these norms to evolve to increase the sexual activity of highborn males and lowborn females and decrease the sexual activity of highborn females and lowborn males. The prince may sharpen his skills on the whetstones of countless serving maids while the princess must await her father¡¯s permission and her suitor¡¯s proposal.

    Given that princesses are often a king¡¯s most valuable political commodity, we can see why this love norm has been established. Highborn females are not permitted to fall in love with men of lower social class without fear of being banished from their families. Men of lower social status caught mating with a higher status female are often gelded or executed regardless of consent or love. As a woman and a historian who has witnessed these gender differences directly and studied them for most of my life, I will take a stand here and point to this practice as oppressive and against the spirit of what the Temple preaches.

    Leverian rulers have also shaped love norms in ways that have led to even more severe oppression. The modern Temple considers sexual acts between members of the same gender as anathema. This belief did not exist during the reign of the Leverian Dynasty and Queen Alexia Leveria herself wrote extensively in her memoirs about the importance of viewing love as love no matter who it is between. The shift from Queen Alexia¡¯s culture of love to our current state can be directly traced to a single event which has been reinforced in the centuries since.

    More than five centuries ago, King Mareon Ruby chose not to bond a queen, but rather another man. The two kings were criticized by the Sapphire Kingdom and Ruby archlords who used the situation to gain favor with King Mareon¡¯s younger brother, Melaron. This conspiracy eventually led to Sir Perron, commander of the Crimsonblades, pushing both the king and his husband out of the Ruby Tower and into the Dusk Sea. Perron gained the title Invertkiller and Melaron became king. Both kingdoms continued to use this as reason to demonize people who sexually loved people of the same gender, labelling them as inverts or, more frequently, anathema. These beliefs have been embedded so deeply into society that most Leverians will call for the execution of anyone who engages in sexual love with their own gender. Some sympathy has been garnered in the last century since the publication of Vara¡¯s Annals of an Anathema, a chronicle detailing the travels of Maddeck Eckhard, a cognitive-affectomancer hunted and hated for loving other men. However, much progress is needed before Leveria can return to the ¡°love is love¡± days of the Love Queen.

    Taken together, there are many reasons for Leverian sexual culture that can be explained and understood in context. These reasons explain why lust masquerades as love in Leveria and why very few people are able to resist these powerful social rules about how to find love. It is hard to stand out from the crowd when royalty, nobility, priestesses, parents, and peers are all pressuring you to join in on Leveria¡¯s sexual culture. People who do not engage are publicly pressured and considered deviants for daring to be different. The few people I have encountered with the bravery to do this are often quieter people who have beliefs about love that separate it from lust. Yet, in the face of this belief, anecdotes exist where these iconoclasts find life¡¯s mates, questioning the validity of the whole system. Regardless of these exemplars, Leveria seems deeply committed to these practices.

    Another thing many cultures scoff at is the age these practices begin. Youth as young as thirteen or fourteen years old begin on this ritualistic journey of offering tribute to Leverith in exchange for the hopes of Leverith¡¯s Answer, often with encouragement from parents. It is extremely common for a highborn girl to be given incentives to attempt to make tribute with higher born men or cognitive-affectomancers. Likewise, hoping to supplement their family income, parents often send their beautiful young daughters or, much less frequently, well-built sons, to the local tavern to charge fees for their tribute to Leverith.

    There are social norms about age differences such that older men who offer tribute with younger women are often ridiculed whereas younger men who offer tribute with older women are often celebrated. Regional differences exist in these age-related norms. However, it is generally considered despicable for a man older than eighteen to be offering tribute with women younger than sixteen. It is considered a vile and sacrilegious act of rape to fornicate with girls who have not yet had their first menstrual cycle. Most archlords have laws against these encounters and the standard is to geld the offending male and allow the young woman¡¯s father to hit him thirteen times with the gelded genitals or his own fists. Still, despite this taboo, kissing and touching between prepubescent children is tolerated more than discouraged, and amongst the participating boys, glorified.

    Few Leverians are virgins at the age of fifteen, even among men of low social class who may have less traditionally attractive features thanks to access to tavern maids who offer their bodies for a few iron iotas and priestesses who offer tribute in the Temple. The profession of tavern maid is even revered in Leverian society and protected whereas in other parts of the world it is criminalized and prostitution is often highly dangerous. In Leveria, men who violate consent with tavern maids are often gelded. However, these protections disappear when the man is of highborn status. Gruesome stories exist throughout Leverian history of bonded kings who attended brothels regularly and murdered their lowborn tavern maids just for becoming pregnant.

    Sexual violence still occurs, sometimes at appalling levels. During the Dark Era, it was common for clan chiefs to engage in the Right of the First Night which entailed them having permission to bed any bride on their bonding night. Many tribal warlords believed that the women belonged to the tribal warlord first and the husband second. I wish that I could say this practice was left in the Dark Era. Different archlords often revive this heinously oppressive violation of love and this practice is currently in effect by archlords such as Claudius Dalardor of Meridian and Bardoc Haliae of Weiss.

    Another equally inhumane violation of sexuality occurs in war. Military rape is ubiquitous in The Gemstone War due to the rage fueled, dehumanizing animosity felt between Ruby and Sapphire. The most extreme case of this frequently occurs among the aforementioned Haliae of Weiss and the Dalardor of Meridian whose archlords often capture attractive women from raids and keep them as sexual slaves. The rape does not discriminate based on social class either. Most unfortunate is the archlord¡¯s daughter captured by an opposing military force.

    Leverians often believe that rape is less frequent in Leveria than other societies because of the access to partners. However, the truth may be otherwise. Leveria is not a fantasy land of consent and rape it is a real threat for Leverian women who lack protections or power. It is dangerous to be a physically attractive woman in Leverian society, especially if she is lowborn, as she is a target and her consent is assumed, coerced, or forced. This is not helped by the belief that engaging in sexual behavior with a more traditionally attractive partner is considered to be indicative of greater value of tribute to Leverith.

    I will address this in greater detail within its own chapter, but Leverians culturally objectify and evaluate men and women based on their physical appearance at a higher rate than any society other than Kavova because of this belief. Leverians who are considered more aesthetically valuable are considered ¡°blessed by Leverith.¡± These beliefs have been partly shaped by the tendency for highborn to be more likely to be considered physically attractive after centuries of pragmatic inheritance dictating that aesthetically pleasing traits be passed down by the selection of more attractive partners. These beliefs are also passed down by legends that men of the Leverian Dynasty were extraordinarily well-endowed.

    These stories fill their own books but have led to an obsession of phallus size that can certainly be harmful for men who have smaller, average, or even above-average endowment. Men and women alike will laugh at stories of a tavern maid giving refunds and paying a man blessed by Leverith for time spent in embrace. Alas, there is evidence supporting this in the form of a study demonstrating that tavern maids who spent more time with a well-endowed partner were bonded significantly sooner. Of course, they typically ended up bonding that blessed man and were the man¡¯s primary partner as well as the most popular maid in the tavern. An astute mind might wonder if it was the size of the prize or the spending of time together and the beliefs about beauty being granted by divinity which blossomed their love.

    While it is hard for men who do not meet aesthetic or phallic standards, they are often perceived as much more than the size of their genitals or the shape of their body. Ladies who do not conform to societal beauty standards experience similar struggles and regularly receive messages that their value is only determined by their appearance. Therefore, while it is dangerous to be a beautiful woman in Leverian society, it is often depressing to be considered unattractive. Further, while the beautiful woman among the lowborn is at higher risk of being raped, the highborn woman falling beneath the beauty standards set by society is at much greater risk of taking their own life. Leverian society has utterly failed both these groups of women.

    The societal and personal impact of these cultural norms will be addressed in greater detail in the subsequent chapters. My hope is that this introduction allows you to understand why love is viewed through the lens of lust in Leveria and how Leverian youth are pressured to engage in frequent sexual acts. My hopes are also to illustrate that society has shaped these norms in many different ways and that these norms often enhance or oppress life and love in Leveria.

    Appendix D: On Cognitive-Affectomancy

    On Cognitive-Affectomancy:

    A Letter to the Leverian People

    By Master Alexia Bluerose of the Arcanium

    Dear Leveria,

    From a young age, all Leverians learn about Cognitive-Affectomancy, the mystical powers of wizards and witches. We are captivated by tales of people who can cause devastating infernos that can burn down forests, command the earth to create or level mountains, freeze lakes, fly on the breeze, summon lightning storms, flood a desert, turn night into day, bring a person back to life, and unite three competing armies. We are told stories about legends such as Linus Peacemaker, Pinarus, Queen Emeralda Leveria, and Queen Alexia Leveria who accomplished phenomenal feats with their magical abilities. Within these stories we find truths and myths intertwined and undistinguished. The purpose of my letter is to clarify wherein lies the truth and to dispel the myths surrounding Cognitive-Affectomancy.

    Magical powers that defy the laws of reality exist in most geographic regions of this world we share. It is known that some people can change their shapes, seize control of beasts, bond with dragons, breathe underwater, or jump impossibly high (just to list a few). Arcane masters, historians, and priestesses alike debate about why the magical powers present in one nation are nonexistent in others. However, we can conclude that only individuals of Leverian heritage possess the capacity to develop the powers of Cognitive-Affectomancy. That is, only people who have ancestry native to the Leverian continent have become wizards and witches. To support this claim, there are substantiated records of Leverians who developed the capacity for Cognitive-Affectomancy while not living on the Leverian continent but there are no such records of individuals with non-Leverian heritage developing the capacity for Cognitive-Affectomancy while living in Leveria. Therefore, it is ancestry that matters and not location. Cognitive-Affectomancy is unique to Leverians and it has been ever present in our history.

    Throughout the Dark Era and the early centuries of the First Leverian Era, we had no name to describe the powers of wizards and witches. The classical cognitive-affectomancers had far less understanding of how their magic worked and no schools were devoted to researching and teaching how to channel divine energy. Given this lack of understanding and the unpredictable potential of these powers, ancient wizards and witches were feared or revered; hunted or heralded. Many tribal warlords of the Dark Era would kill or banish individuals who developed the capacity out of fear of the calamities that a wizard or witch could bring to the tribe. Given the lack of control that ancient wizards had over their skill, this was not always unwise.

    Legends exist, passed down through oral tradition, surrounding wizards who accidentally incinerated their tribes. Likewise, legends help us remember that fear of these unknown powers led to heartrending tragedies where a warlord might kill his own child if they developed magical powers. We cannot confidently say what occurred during the Dark Era for our eyes are blind to that world and likely always will be. Neither legends of wizards ruining tribes nor fathers killing wizard sons can be corroborated with evidence. However, these legends cannot be dismissed. They serve as harrowing reminders of what happens when civilization encounters something that it does not understand. These potential tragedies that occurred millennia ago are the reason why this letter is necessary. We fear the unknown and therefore knowledge is the antidote to blind fear. The people of Leveria deserve to know how Cognitive-Affectomancy functions and what it is capable of. Likewise, the potential dangers of Cognitive-Affectomancy serve as the reason why wizards and witches need training institutes where they can learn to safely harness their powers and utilize them to benefit society. Together, proper training and public understanding can prevent these tragedies from recurring.

    Not all Dark Era wizards and witches were hunted. A few were heralded as leaders and champions of their tribes because of their unique power. The most famous of these is the original Pinarus, the forefather of the archlords of Maypine. This legend from the Dark Era is substantiated by tradition in Maypine and fits with the historical evidence of that region. However, Pinarus was the exception and although he used his magic to protect his tribe and maintain his resources, he was unable to share his knowledge with others and establish a tradition of safely harnessing and understanding Cognitive-Affectomancy. Pinarus was a lone wizard who achieved greatness independently while other wizards were being hunted or struggling to discover how to use their abilities. Fear and isolation prevented cognitive-affectomancers from congregating to learn more about their powers. Thus, each cognitive-affectomancer was their own master and had limited capacity to develop their skills in the absence of guidance from those who came before. Magical theory in Leveria was stymied until the Leverian Dynasty accepted wizards and witches as allies.

    Initially, Philladon, the first Leverian King, was averse to cognitive-affectomancers. In Godseer, the most popular account of Philladon¡¯s life, it is reported that his early experiences with wizards caused profound suffering. Even late into his quest to unite Leveria through diplomacy and conquest, he remained staunch on the purging of cognitive-affectomancers. Philladon feared those who had powers he did not possess and could not control. He was afraid that cognitive-affectomancers would cause substantial harm to his growing kingdom. He ordered the executions of wizards and witches for decades. The shift in this stance and the first important revolution in the history of Cognitive-Affectomancy occurred near the end of Philladon¡¯s life.

    King Philladon¡¯s second son, Prince Donovan Leveria, fell in love with Emeralda of the North after she healed him near the lake that has been named after her. Donovan hid his life¡¯s mate¡¯s powers from his father for several moons before the old king himself suffered an illness that looked to be fatal. Emeralda of the North used Leverith¡¯s Spirit to heal the king. This opened the Godseer¡¯s eyes to the utility of channeling divine energy through Cognitive-Affectomancy. At Prince Donovan¡¯s urging, this event led to a transformation where King Philladon and his sons recruited cognitive-affectomancers and offered them protected positions in the Leverian Kingdom. This policy, more than any other, served to reduce the classical fear held toward cognitive-affectomancers and decreased their isolation. After the death of King Philladon, Emeralda Leveria founded and led a council of wizards and witches that began to share strategies for channeling and focusing divine energy. For the first time in history, individual cognitive-affectomancers were not alone with their power.

    The council formed by Queen Emeralda continued to be an organization that led to advancements in Leverian magic. During Donovan and Emeralda¡¯s reign, the council standardized the use of mediums. By mediums, I refer to the device that cognitive-affectomancers use as a conduit to channel divine energy. The most common mediums include staffs, wands, scepters, and rods. However, any object that can hold divine energy can be used as a medium. These exemplars are the most common because they tend to be the most effective. Further, the quality of the medium varies depending on the materials in its composition. For instance, my staff is composed of acacia which has a higher affinity with Leverith¡¯s spirit energy. One area of continued research among cognitive-affectomancers is the further exploration of how the composition of the medium enhances or diminishes various divine energies. The findings of that research are beyond the scope of this letter. What is important is that the use of mediums have substantially decreased the risk of harm to the cognitive-affectomancer and improved the accuracy of their spells.

    To be clear, cognitive-affectomancers are capable of creating their magic without a medium. However, doing this is dangerous for several reasons. First, the cognitive-affectomancer risks channeling too much divine energy. This can have several outcomes including losing the ability to channel divine energy, severe internal damage, or death. For example, when a cognitive-affectomancer draws in Seraxa¡¯s flames, they can set their insides ablaze. This is prevented by storing that energy in a medium. Second, the use of a medium enhances the potency and the accuracy of the spell. The use of mediums can be traced back to Pinarus; his staff is still on display at the Pinnacle in Maypine. However, historical evidence suggests that Pinarus was the exception. The vast majority of cognitive-affectomancers did not use mediums until Emeralda and her council popularized their use.

    Emeralda and her contemporaries have another claim in the history of Cognitive-Affectomancy. They realized that the process of creating a spell required them to imagine it in their mind¡¯s eye, often called the third eye or the inner eye by cognitive-affectomancers. The cognitive-affectomancers of Emeralda¡¯s council and future councils explored techniques to improve the acuity of the inner eye. Many of their techniques are still used or are the progenitors of current best practices. Yet even Queen Emeralda Leveria, one of the most talented witches in history, lacked a detailed understanding of how she achieved her amazing feat of returning King Donovan to life or how she routinely flooded battlefields. In this era, wizards and witches assumed that their capacity to channel divine energy was locked to their natural affinity toward the Divine they channeled. That is, a wizard believed that his ability to channel Seraxa was entirely dependent upon his natural connection to Seraxa. Further, the ancients believed this natural ability was predetermined and could not be changed with any amount of practice. Thus, the ancient Leverians thought that magic was created by mentally focusing on the effect of divine energy and the power of the effect was determined by their affinity to the Divine they channeled. This was the prevailing school of thought for over a thousand years. However, Emeralda and her council were wrong.

    One figure changed our entire understanding of Leverian magic: Queen Alexia Leveria. Beyond all doubt, Queen Alexia Leveria was not only the most skilled witch who has ever lived but also the one responsible for the most advancement in understanding how our magic functions. She founded both the Leverian University and the Arcanium as centers of arcane training in addition to leading her own council of cognitive-affectomancers. Most importantly, she rejected the notion that Leverians were born with a static affinity for each Divine. Queen Alexia theorized that we can dynamically shift our attunement to each Divine through our emotional experience. Thus, our ability to channel the Divine is a product of both our ability to mentally imagine our spell with our inner eye and our present emotional state. In other words, our thoughts or cognitions determine the shape our spells take while our affect or emotions amplify how much divine energy we can channel. With her understanding of this process, Queen Alexia Leveria gave our magic its name: Cognitive-Affectomancy.

    Queen Alexia was so advanced in her understanding that her conceptualization of our unique Leverian magic has remained unaltered since her death. For almost two thousand years, our focus has been upon exploring how to most closely match our emotions to the Divine we seek to channel and to push the limits of our imagination to create new spells within the framework that Queen Alexia bequeathed us. Thus, covers the history of Cognitive-Affectomancy. The remainder of the letter will focus on demystifying this process and placing it into the present context.

    Here is the truth of Cognitive-Affectomancy. Divine energy surrounds us. Seraxa is the heat in the air whereas Qoryxa is the chill. Zafrir is the air itself. Balbaraq is the lightning and clouds. Celegana is in the rocks, the trees, and the dirt. Dalis resides in the water and in the clouds. Norali is in the sun and the stars. Finally, Leverith is more debated. We cannot conclude with absolute certainty where her divine energy comes from. I personally believe that Leverith¡¯s spirit is within us and that its strength is proportionate to the amount of love that resides within. Regardless, the cognitive-affectomancer has to channel this divine energy from its source and into themselves or their medium. The process of channeling is easier when there is more divine energy in the cognitive-affectomancer¡¯s vicinity. That is, a wizard can cast more powerful fire spells with less effort when the temperature is high whereas a witch will have tremendous difficulty conjuring water in a desert. However, the presence of divine energy in the cognitive-affectomancer¡¯s surroundings does not guarantee a successful spell. Drawing the divine energy requires an emotional/affective focus.

    Queen Alexia Leveria granted that many cognitive-affectomancers excelled at channeling specific Divine. However, she forever disconfirmed that cognitive-affectomancers were born with an unchanging ability to channel specific Divines. Rather, all people tend to experience certain emotions more easily and this masqueraded as the set-in-stone attunement that Queen Emeralda believed in. However, Queen Alexia taught us that the ability to channel divine energy fluctuated with their emotional state. Witches and wizards still debate how to most aptly attune their own emotions to the Divine. We will return to this later. For now, it is sufficient to say that the divine energy is drawn proportional to the degree that emotion matches the emotions of the Divine being channeled. That is, my ability to channel Leverith¡¯s spirit energy will be amplified if I feel the same emotion that was at the core of Leverith¡¯s personality: love. Still, drawing the divine energy is not enough to create an effective spell.

    The surrounding area will feel the loss of the energy. For instance, the air will grow warmer if I channel Qoryxa¡¯s cold energy. However, unless I mentally imagine the spell with my inner eye, the divine energy will do nothing as it slowly seeps back into the area around me. On the other hand, if I mentally imagine Qoryxa¡¯s frost forming into a blizzard and then I release the divine energy, the spell goes from imagination to reality. In summary, to create a magical blizzard I would do the following: 1) Attune my emotions to Qoryxa by conjuring thoughts that increase feelings of vindictive judgement or a cold, calculated rage; 2) Draw Qoryxa¡¯s divine energy into my staff, heating the area around me; 3) Using my inner eye, I mentally imagine the blizzard I want to create. I have to imagine the details of the blizzard very vividly for it to become effective; 4) Release the focus and expel the divine energy from my staff. This entire process can occur in as little as five turns. However, that level of speed requires a phenomenal degree of practice with both attuning one¡¯s emotions to Qoryxa and with mentally imagining a blizzard. This is the purpose of our training.

    Cognitive-affectomancers devote much effort to developing mnemonic memory techniques to more rapidly attune emotions and imagine their cognitive focuses. Repeatedly, we practice the same spell until it becomes habit. Though we do not require words or incantations, as many myths would have you believe, we often use a unique word to allow us to more rapidly access our focus and to add emotion to our spell¡¯s release. That is, we can strengthen our spell by amplifying our emotional focus with a shouted word. Since Alexia Leveria, cognitive-affectomancers have been drawing their mnemonic words from the Volqori language to reduce associations with Leverian words. Memorizing the mental imagery of a specific spell is a function of how complex that spell is. Despite it being quite powerful, visualizing a fireball is relatively simple. The challenge with the fireball is achieving a strong enough emotional attunement with Seraxa. On the other hand, imagining several fires breaking out at once is more complex. Casting spells using Leverith¡¯s spirit is infamously challenging. Witches spend thousands of angles studying anatomy alongside medicans because we need to be able to visualize the various organs, blood rivers, muscles, and bones that we hope to heal. Surface level wounds are easier to heal whereas deeper wounds require true mastery of both the body and Leverith. Arguably more challenging are spells that combine multiple divine energy sources. A very small subset of witches and wizards ever master this feat as it requires the cognitive-affectomancer to simultaneously attune to multiple Divines while mentally imagining multiple sources of divine energy combining. In the age of Emeralda and her council, this was the only training that cognitive-affectomancers received. One could easily spend their life practicing the cognitive component of Cognitive-Affectomancy. However, that would be insufficient to truly make the most out of one¡¯s power. The cognitive creates the spell but the affective gives the spell its power.

    Since Queen Alexia¡¯s magical renaissance, cognitive-affectomancers have been researching and debating how to best attune oneself to each Divine. Reviewing all of those debates is beyond the scope of this letter. However, my summary of those debates will be presented both to help everyone understand how Cognitive-Affectomancy works and to illuminate the truths that Cognitive-Affectomancy reveals about the Divine Thirteen. First, much of our progress since Queen Alexia has been centered around how to control and master our own emotions. To attune to the Divine, we need to be able to quickly shift what we are feeling or to take advantage of what is naturalistically occurring within us. We learn strategies for emptying ourselves of emotion and returning to a neutral state; Archwizard Theos Stormkin calls this ¡°clearing the plate.¡± Likewise, we develop skills with ¡°setting the plate¡± or priming ourselves to feel emotions that we believe facilitate our ability to channel the specific Divine we seek. However, one argument that I have been advocating is that artificially setting the plate leads to substantially weaker spells than utilizing more naturalistic responses to what is occurring to us. In other words, if I feel love towards the person I am healing, it is stronger than if I conjure loving feelings by reflecting on somebody else. Similarly, if I feel a passionate rage in a heated moment during combat, I will be more efficient and effective at channeling Seraxa than I would at channeling Qoryxa after spending time cleaning the plate and resetting it with Qoryxa¡¯s emotions. Therefore, cognitive-affectomancers must be prepared to quickly harness their natural emotions but also capable of shifting them to fit the needs of the situation. I cannot stress enough that this is the most challenging aspect of mastering our magic.

    There is a reason why a millennium passed between Emeralda¡¯s first council and the Love Queen¡¯s discovery that attunement to the Divine can be altered based on current emotions. The reason is that we are all born with temperaments and develop personalities that lead to greater occurrences of specific emotions. For cognitive-affectomancers with less flexible emotions, the task of attuning to some Divine becomes a near impossibility. If our emotional tendencies are inconsistent with a Divine, we often become ¡°blocked¡± from channeling that divine energy. For instance, a witch who struggles to feel calm will be unable to call upon Dalis¡¯s water energy while a wizard who cannot harness vindictive emotions will be blocked from Qoryxa¡¯s frost energy and so on. Our natural tendencies often make it easier to attune to specific Divine and these become our trademark talents. You will often be able to detect a wizard¡¯s trademark talent through their title (e.g., Theos Stormkin is presently unparalleled in channeling Balbaraq whereas the Ruby Archwizard Kai Blazelord is unmatched in channeling Seraxa). There is no shame in being a highly specialized cognitive-affectomancer; devoting oneself to attunement to one primary Divine will undoubtedly confer advantages. These individuals will likely be more efficient at channeling their specialty than cognitive-affectomancers who train in several different Divines. At the same time, the most well-rounded cognitive-affectomancers will pursue their masters in as many of the Divine as possible. Below, I will briefly review the emotional states that are most supported by research as bolstering the capacity to channel divine energy and within this I will disclose the most convincing methodology for this research: awakening.

    We do not know whether every Leverian is born with the latent capacity for Cognitive-Affectomancy or if only a few are selected by the Divine at birth. However, we do know that when a cognitive-affectomancer awakens and uses their powers for the first time, it is in situations that involve a very high level of attunement to the Divine they initially channel. Studying thousands of accounts of these awakenings through the ages, combined with practicing attunement in controlled, experimental situations, is the best method we have for assessing how to match our emotions with the Divine we channel. Most often these awakenings occur during intense moments of need; these are deeply personal experiences so I will use no names other than those that have been reported with the permission of the cognitive-affectomancer elsewhere. The dominant theory is that this near-perfect level of attunement is achieved by intense emotional experience but does not require a life-or-death situation. Further, the Divine seem to know when they are being manipulated and will refuse to grant powers in any contrived situation designed to cause an awakening. Tragically, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of individuals have been tortured or traumatized with the hopes of forcing them to awaken. There are a heartbreaking number of known cases where this led to the death of an innocent person, often at the hands of a parent, and most often among the children of highborn or cognitive-affectomancers. There is no documented case where this worked. None. The Divine cannot be tricked by our contrivances. But they can bestow their gifts in natural circumstances. Possibly, the study of this letter can allow for individuals to call upon divine energy when they are in need. However, I cannot promise that with any degree of confidence (even though I hope it to be true). Regardless, there is merit in aspiring to attune yourself to one of the Divine Thirteen. Below, I will summarize my conclusions drawn from almost two millennia of research.

    Before beginning, I will note that the views expressed here are controversial and will directly conflict with many of the things you have been told. The Divine are not as simple as some make them seem. Often, we can hypothesize that they have a core emotion, but that does an injustice to their complexity. To illustrate, let us first examine Balbaraq. The Divine of the Sky is characterized by the priestesses and theologians as a vengeful prankster. To an extent, they are correct. Attunement with Balbaraq is amplified by vengeful thoughts and feelings. Balbaraq has a penchant for spite, but that is again only looking at the surface of Balbaraq. Further, playing tricks on others tends to be a personality feature of those well-attuned to Balbaraq. For all that, very few reports of Balbaraq awakenings are demonstrations of pranks, spite, or selfish vengeance because these are only surface emotions and actions of Balbaraq. Rather, there are two deeper feelings we see in Balbaraq that the temples and the stories overlook.

    First, underneath Balbaraq¡¯s playful tricks is a deep underlying sadness. Many stories of awakenings occur in the context of the wizard wanting to be loved. Many Leverians are familiar with the story of Maddeck Eckhard popularized in ballads inspired by Vara¡¯s Annals of an Anathema. Maddeck awakened after being rejected by his family while his father forced him to have intercourse with a female servant of their household. Maddeck¡¯s sadness, his longing to be loved and accepted, resonated with Balbaraq, who always wanted the love of his brothers and sisters, but was often overlooked. Like Balbaraq, Maddeck was driven to put on a fa?ade that masked his sadness. Thus, he awakened by channeling Balbaraq¡¯s sky to escape the situation. Scholars or theologians who claim that Maddeck¡¯s act was one of vengeful spite miss the true emotions Maddeck experienced and miss the true secrets of Balbaraq. Second, Balbaraq¡¯s vengeance is not one of pure spite. His vengeance is one of wanting to protect the ones you love even at the cost of yourself. Legends tell us that Balbaraq died saving Gidi during The Divine Fratricide; this story is replayed in many awakenings. When the situation seems hopeless, or when a loved one is lost or in extreme danger, the sky beckons to be called. Therefore, Balbaraq is characterized as being a trickster who is vengeful and spiteful. However, I believe that the true path to the sky involves deep sadness and a protective, selfless vengeance. This is the truth of Balbaraq that no priestess can know without having the ability to channel Balbaraq, to feel his pain and longing. He was so much more than a vengeful prankster. Balbaraq was a selfless hero that would do anything to protect or avenge the ones he loved; he was a deeply sad individual who hid his longing for love beneath a mask of pranks.

    Let us review the typical emotional experiences of the other Divine channeled by Cognitive-Affectomancers. For male wizards, we have Seraxa¡¯s flames, Qoryxa¡¯s frost, Balbaraq¡¯s sky, Celegana¡¯s earth, and Zafrir¡¯s wind. Seraxa¡¯s flames tend to be associated with feelings of intense, burning passion. Seraxa responds well to altruism, open-mindedness, intellect, and rage. Her powers seem to be more about valence or intensity of emotion rather than honing in on any one of these sentiments. However, feeling passion, rage, open-mindedness, altruism, and using some cunning can deeply enhance the ability to channel Seraxa¡¯s heat. To illustrate, I will disclose my own awakening. I awakened with Seraxa during a moment of intense, passionate anger. Moments before, I was daydreaming about altruistic acts that broke from tradition. Specifically, I was reading Peacemaker and dreaming of peace and exploring how I could help bring peace to Leveria. Perhaps my thoughts had some level of cunning given that I was an eleven-year-old reflecting on how I could help my father arrange alliances or create economic conditions that favored open trade between Sapphire and Ruby. Thus, prior to my awakening I was passionately engaged in intellectualizing, altruism, and open-mindedness. The event that drove me into rage was when somebody stole my copy of Peacemaker and threw it into the hearth when I begged for its return. This event drove me into a hot-blooded rage. Thus, my awakening brought all of Seraxa¡¯s ingredients together. The passion-fueled emotional cocktail stirred until the flames entered my body and my inner eye dreamed of burning something that the source of my rage enjoyed. Thus, I became the first woman reported to channel Seraxa due to theorized perfect attunement. I continue to be naturally drawn to Seraxa and in most situations will find her flames readily awaiting my call. However, despite awakening with Seraxa, my greatest proficiencies lie elsewhere with Leverith¡¯s spirit. I share this anecdote to convey that awakening tends to be associated with an area of strength but that this is not always the case. Take Maddeck Eckhard for instance. Though he awakened with Balbaraq¡¯s sky, Celegana¡¯s earth became his trademark talent. Let us examine Seraxa¡¯s twin sister now.

    Qoryxa¡¯s frost operates with many disparities and similarities to Seraxa¡¯s fire. Qoryxa awakenings tend to occur in moments of powerful hatred and cold judgment. Truthfully, a large portion of these awakenings are executions; the wizard-to-be perceives some great wrong that has occurred and Qoryxa grants them the ability to blast an ice spear through the individual that committed injustice. In these cases, murder becomes etched on the heart of the person who calls Qoryxa. Qoryxa is drawn by emotions of cold, distant judgment; by deeming someone unworthy for life. Qoryxa is more complex than that though. Ice also comes when focusing on aesthetics. Many ice wizards are renowned for their emphasis on beauty. Still, Qoryxa¡¯s ice seems to be attuned with feeling envy, wanting something you do not have that somebody else possesses. Further, Qoryxa tends to have a valiant protective side too. She comes most often not in response to personal injury but to injuries to people who have less power. Qoryxa is a defender of public interest and manifests most often in city guards or justicars who believe in the law and order of things. A famous case of this includes King Helaeon Sapphire who famously manifested ice magic to execute a criminal who had been murdering orphans. Heleaon¡¯s awakening fits well with the theory that Qoryxa enjoyed brutal, vindictive punishment, but also with the theory that she longed to protect those who were less fortunate than her. Helaeon was also renowned for his tournaments and beauty contests and more than one historical report indicates that he was envious of people he believed were stronger, smarter, or more attractive than him. Therefore, Qoryxa channeling is facilitated by cold judgment that is either in relation to envy or a desire to protect people less fortunate (or both) and is often linked with an appreciation of beauty or pageantry.

    Notably, Helaeon awakened when he was fifty-nine years old. Awakenings can occur at any age but the ability of the cognitive-affectomancer is often predicted by the age of their awakening, with older awakenings predicting less ability. Helaeon continued to use his ice to execute criminals and create art but he never became a formidable or well-rounded wizard. On the other hand, the three youngest awakenings occurred in eleven-year-olds. Two of those awakenings are arguably the most impactful cognitive-affectomancers to ever live: Queen Alexia Leveria and Linus Peacemaker. The third eleven-year-old to awaken was myself. It is my aspiration to live up to the legends of those who came before me and to be the third cognitive-affectomancer to conjure Pacisamorus and bring peace to Leveria.

    Moving on, Celegana tends to be associated with feelings of wholesomeness and growth. Awakenings with Celegana tend to come from people who want to make things better or more whole. These awakenings also tend to be affiliated with stubbornness, a refusal to give in or surrender despite the odds. There is a diverse array of awakening stories to choose from, though Celegana tends to be far less popular of an awakening Divine than the previous three discussed. In battle, these powers often manifest when a good-natured soldier is holding a position against the odds and refuses to back down. Outside of battle, these powers may manifest in a farmer who has had many poor Harvests, refuses to leave his farm, and wants the land to provide more bounty. I have read dozens of historical reports that would fit into either of these categories. Ironically, Celegana¡¯s earth energy can be used to inflict destruction despite being incongruent with the underlying emotions of promoting growth. In my training, I have found it easier to use Celegana to protect rather than to destroy. That is, Celegana provides more energy when the motive is to preserve allies through altering the shape of the land relative to destroying enemies by having a chasm swallow them into the earth. Of course, Celegana can be summoned to do both but it will be harder to draw divine energy for malicious, destructive purposes.

    Zafrir¡¯s wind is possibly the most complex and perhaps the least understood divine energy. The nature of Zafrir is unpredictable and volatile. Zafrir¡¯s wind is in constant motion and the cognitive-affectomancer needs constantly changing emotion. Research has mounted supporting that fluctuation appears more important than specific emotions. The wind comes most easily to those who are flighty in their feelings or deeply ambivalent. Wind awakenings often come in situations where there is high indecision and much confusion about what to do. However, within these examples we find some evidence that Zafrir seems particularly apt to several conflicting emotions. First, and I would argue foremost, is a yearning feeling. This yearning can be for many things, but it often seems to be most powerful for something that is outside your grasp where there is a threat that it will never be made available. Many awakenings occur when a man is trying to rescue a woman he loves who is captured by enemy forces. One famous awakening occurred when a woman fell off a cliff and a man who yearned to be her lover eased her drop with his awakening. Other awakenings occur in moments of great conflict where paralyzing indecision and grave consequences are co-occurring such as a general has to decide between sacrificing one platoon to give the others a better chance of surviving. Others yet occur when despicable, selfish choices are made such as lusting for power or other personal gains. A famous Haliae Buccaneer awakened when pursuing a highborn prisoner who was fleeing her daily routine of being raped by him. Clearly, more research is needed to clarify Zafrir¡¯s wind. Alas, we may be fated to never truly know the ever-changing wind.

    One thing we do know, that many may claim as legend, is that history¡¯s great masters of Zafrir¡¯s wind energy have been able to channel the wind to simulate flying. No known living cognitive-affectomancer can achieve ¡°windwalking¡± with consistent effect or the confidence to maintain it at a great height or considerable speed. I personally have not attempted this, though levitating my body or another¡¯s is manageable. The skill required to channel that amount of wind for an extended period of time requires truly chaotic emotions that few people will ever possess, such as Burras Windrazor, a Ruby wizard who flew thousands of miles to escape being persecuted as anathema. That covers the five Divine accessed by wizards. Next, we will turn toward the female powers of Norali¡¯s light, Dalis¡¯s water, and Leverith¡¯s spirit.

    First, I¡¯d like to mention that it is far easier to combine the feminine Cognitive-Affectomancy together than the masculine. Norali, Dalis, and Leverith are not emotionally exclusive. Let me demonstrate. Norali is most often related to hope and optimism in the face of impossible situations. Those with high Norali attunement often seek to lead others who have lost hope and find the light in every dark situation. Many awakenings with Norali fit this mold. A common theme is that a medican on the battlefield will burst with radiance when persuading a severely wounded soldier that they will be okay. Alternatively, a female soldier will blast foes with blinding light when it seems inevitable that she will be overtaken. Female Cognitive-Affectomancy often gets a reputation for being harmless, but powerful bursts of Norali¡¯s light energy can kill, destroy minds, or permanently blind. Of particular and confusing note, Norali attunement tends to be associated with low hope or optimism in one¡¯s own abilities. These individuals often believe in others and have faith that things will end up okay, but usually not because of them. Many individuals will awaken by siphoning light out of the world and adding to its darkness when dwelling on thoughts of their own hopelessness. This contrasting level of external optimism and internal pessimism confounds channeling Norali. Thus, I find that when channeling Norali it is better to focus on the situation or other people than myself. I want to cast this light so that others can see or so that others can be guided or helped, but not for my own eyes or for my own needs. The lights that flicker out more quickly will be the ones cast to improve one¡¯s own condition in isolation of others. Of course, if the intention is to bring darkness, dwelling on the parts of oneself that are less loved will enhance the spell.

    In my experience, Dalis is well-represented by theology. The vast majority of the emotional work is in remaining calm and serene no matter the situation. Awakenings most commonly occur when staying calm amidst a life-threatening crisis. The following are recurring examples: female soldiers calmly flood a battlefield when in danger, lost women calmly conjuring drinking water when going days without, using Dalis¡¯s divine waters when shipwrecked and too far from shore or salvation. Other, rarer, awakenings reflect apathy or a lack of emotions. One example tells a tale of a captured concubine who was repeatedly abused and raped by a Dalardor of Meridian. The story goes that she became so numb and distant from any emotional feeling to protect herself from the pain and loss of control. Once she reached complete numbness, she summoned Dalis and drowned her captor. Again, Dalis and her waters can be just as dangerous as Seraxa and her flames. These awakenings characterized by emotional numbness or apathy tend to be consistent with the most powerfully attuned Dalis channelers. Regardless, Norali¡¯s hopefulness and Dalis¡¯s calmness can coexist relatively seamlessly as opposed to Seraxa¡¯s intense passion and Qoryxa¡¯s cold vindictiveness.

    Finally, we have reached the patron Divine of Leveria, Leverith. Leverith¡¯s spirit energy is the embodiment of all of the core values of our society: Love, peace, selflessness, empathy, and the belief in the goodness of others. Inevitably, Leverith awakenings occur when trying to heal people you love who are hurt. They occur when empathizing with the pain of others; they occur when dreaming of peace; they occur when believing that the person you are healing is inherently good. Leverith awakenings occur in the absence of hate. This combination of factors is simple enough to identify, but challenging to emulate for many in a world where vengeance and hatred are so easy to experience. Further, some will criticize these characteristics as being innocent or na?ve. Alas, I would rather be innocent and believe in the healing power of love and the inherent goodness of others than believe that the world is full of bad people who should be hated and scorned. Leverith¡¯s spirit energy creates reciprocal bonds that bring people closer together. Feeling love toward a person channels Leverith, which heals that person and makes them feel loved and in turn increases how much they love the witch who healed them. The increased mutual love increases the witch¡¯s ability to heal and feel love toward that individual. This creates a cycle that breaks the bonds of hatred and enhances love. This is the process by which Leverith¡¯s spirit creates Pacisamorus.

    Peace is created when love overpowers hate, when empathic understanding remedies vengeful anger. That is my dream, to live in a world where all Leverians live by the ideals of our patron, Divine Leverith. When this day comes, The Gemstone War will be no more. It is my hope that this letter brings greater understanding of Cognitive-Affectomancy and fosters this world that I dream for us. I hope that you all will dream with me.

    Sincerely yours with love,

    Alexia Bluerose

 Book 2 Prologue: The Precocious Princess

    An eloquent voice on the precipice of womanhood rang through the castle grounds. ¡°This is your last chance.¡±

    The knight laughed.

    Sera lunged forward, moving with the ferocity of a lion springing toward its prey. Her opponent¡¯s head recoiled, his laughter died, and his eyes went as wide as a gazelle¡¯s as the lion closed in. She planted the rapier¡¯s tip into the Crimsonblade¡¯s abdomen. Enslaved to instinct, he lowered his shield.

    Instinct is a whimsical wench, Sera mused. She will betray you or save you without so much as a conscious thought either way.

    Princess Serapheena Ruby¡¯s movement was like wildfire meeting an oilfield. In another blink, her rapier jabbed him in his exposed shoulder. Karl stumbled a step, but that lone step might have been a tumble down the highest hill.

    Pride falls, Sera quipped in one of her seven focuses.

    Another stream of consciousness continued its musings on instinct. Let¡¯s test her loyalty again.

    Sera slipped one hand off her rapier. She had practiced this movement thousands of times and exerted her own mastery of instinct. Sera snatched Karl¡¯s wrist and pressed on the nerves that controlled the grasping reflex. In less than a heartbeat, his treacherous fingers opened. The sword plummeted with his pride.

    Another betrayal. No wonder he took the oath of celibacy.

    Betrayal. One of the seven fragments of her consciousness diverted like a river suddenly deciding to flow in the other direction and start burning. Sera roared. Sir Karlaeon did not ignite these flames, but he would be burnt by them. Much like instinct, flames cared not who they scorched.

    Here comes the desperate shield bash, Sera thought in one of her combat focuses.

    She leapt back. Her vibrant orange-red hair lashed through the air like a whip made of fire. Karl¡¯s shield bash hit empty air. The force of his blow sent a light breeze toward Sera that barely ruffled her gold robe.

    Another breeze, and the scent it carried, captured the attention of a spare focus. Breakfast! she thought in a non-combat focus. Time to finish my snack.

    Sera feinted right, then spun to the left, then right again, sending her shoulder-length hair whirling. The speed of her movement was inhuman. Explosive understated her fiery motion. An eruption here. An inferno way over there. A small flare to this side. Then a blazing firestorm where you least expected it.

    Sera couldn¡¯t fault Karl for his inability to keep up with her or maintain steady feet beneath his solid frame. Nobody moved like her. Nobody processed information like her. The world was running a sack race and Serapheena Ruby was flying past them with dragon¡¯s wings.

    One part of her mind noted where Karl was most unprotected, another predicted his next movements, a third recalled her own movement pattern, a fourth held her vast knowledge of the body¡¯s weak points and how to exploit them. The fifth, and always the most important, fueled her passion and made her hungry for victory. Sera integrated five streams of consciousness, forming a grand intersection called Triumph.

    Sera struck the vulnerable point on the inside of Karl¡¯s right knee with her rapier¡¯s blunt tip. The Crimsonblade¡¯s knee crashed to the ground. Karl had to lower his shield arm to stabilize his body. Sera pressed the rapier to his exposed throat before his hand even touched the dirt.

    Princess Serapheena Ruby threw her practice weapon like a javelin. The blunt tip struck the training dummy forty feet away square in the heart, then ricocheted to the ground. For Karl, she gave her best imitation of his earlier laugh, loading it with snark until the parody was so absurd that Karl¡¯s teeth clenched with restrained laughter. His fa?ade broke and he burst with a hearty hoot.

    ¡°Well fought, Karlaeon.¡±

    Karl snorted. ¡°That was well fought?¡±

    Sera shrugged. ¡°For you it was.¡±

    Karlaeon¡¯s smile took over his whole face as he clambered off his knee and back to his feet. His smile accentuated his attractiveness. His Crimsonblade vow of celibacy was truly a loss for the women of Rubinia. Even worse, he honored his oaths. Mischief crept into his eloquent tenor. ¡°Are you practicing propriety?¡±

    Sera plopped her arse on a cushioned bench and slumped into the seating, magnifying her point. ¡°That carriage left the station eighteen years ago and I think the driver crashed it into a river, watched it shatter against the rocks, and drift out into the nearest ocean.¡±

    Karl closed his maw and contemplated his feet. Sera doubted he would find his words writ upon the ground.

    The precocious, but improper, princess clasped her hands behind her head and gazed skyward. The sun seared into view on the eastern horizon, peering over the outer walls of the castle grounds. The morning sun heralded another scorching day. Seraxa¡¯s Moon was known for being the hottest of the year and, unlike her twin, Serapheena loved it. She felt at home in the heat. The cold¡­ well the cold could go and stuff itself somewhere far away from Serapheena Ruby.

    The heat sparked a memory of the night before. Sebreena had commanded poor Barnabus Bitterbreeze to follow her and use his cold wind to keep her comfortable. Sera¡¯s lips curled upward for a moment before flattening as a separate focus crashed down the worn trail of sisterly inferiority. Though twins, Sebreena had been born a day sooner than Serapheena. It was not the only time that Sera would be upstaged by her perfect princess of a sister. Yadeen knew that was a trend that would likely last until the end of forever.

    Right on schedule. A large puff of orange spotted by black leapt onto the bench and commandeered her lap like a handsome prince claiming his dancing partner at a birthday ball. Sera stroked her feline companion¡¯s back as her thoughts traveled elsewhere. Seven different rivers of thought streamed at once in her mind.

    The dragon flew me over Mirrevar and on the Dreamer¡¯s Throne¡­

    Alfread son of Evan. Son of Master Mirielda. Nephew of Archlord¡­

    How to prove Kai Blazelord is bound to the Celegans? Is he acting alone or¡­

    Why is the Blazelord tamed by the Chimaera? What is his¡­

    The Chimaera will strike us soon and my father wants to pretend...

    I can¡¯t wait to eat those muffins. Divinedamned tradition, I wish someone would eat my¡­

    How long until Karl asks about the dragon dream? Aye, I bet he remarks on the muffins first.

    Linus started to knead her upper thighs as if they were dough. Sera¡¯s legs might have the unfortunately pale complexion of dough, but not the soft composition. Her long body was hard, like overheated bread that had grown harder because none would dare nibble it, and almost every ounce of it was eminently-defined, high-density Volqori muscle. She was reminded every day that it was not the body of a princess. Serapheena had callused hands and hard edges rather than a delicate touch and soft curves. Her too-long, too-narrow face was swarmed by too many freckles. Her lips were too thin. Her nose was too small. Her eyes were not red. Her hair was too red. Sera tried to fight these thoughts away. When she repelled them from one stream of consciousness, they pursued her in two more. Her mind was a haunted house where her thoughts were seven unrelenting ghosts and the whole world was just on the outside of the house, locking her inside, pointing at her, and holding up mirrors so she could see how ugly she was.

    The truth was writ in the eyes of the world and seared into her soul. Serapheena Ruby was not her sister. She was something less. Something wrong.

    There was at least one being who still loved her anyway. Serapheena scratched the big tom¡¯s ears and he vibrated on her leg. A smile graced her face. ¡°This is our anniversary, Linus. Do you remember?¡±

    The cat twisted his neck to lock eyes with Sera. She imagined his meow conveyed an intelligence that transcended feline nature.

    ¡°You do, you clever boy.¡± Sera kissed his forehead and was rewarded with a pronounced purr. ¡°Staring at Linus¡¯s portrait and claiming his name when I called it. Ten years and you are still the best birthday blessing ever bestowed on me.¡±

    Linus melted into her, pressing his shoulder against her stomach and caressing her hand with his head. Suddenly, her thoughts were her own again, liberated by the love of a big fifteen-pound pussy.

    Karl shared the same royal accent that Sera had perfected. ¡°Smells like a certain precocious princess¡¯s favorite.¡±

    Sera stretched back even further and grinned at her favorite person. ¡°And here I thought I had already broken my fast. Twas a soft piece of Crimsonblade cake fit for a princess on her eighteenth birthday.¡±

    Karl laughed. His was the prolonged laugh of a kind-hearted man feigning to be a good sport while pretending to be a poor sport.

    The melodramatic fa?ade faded, and her guardian held a fond smile with water-rimmed, copper eyes. ¡°I remember when you were just a little seed of a thing, Serapheena.¡± He held out his thumb and forefinger with an infinitesimal space between them. ¡°I remember the times I had to try so hard to let you win without letting you know that I let you win.¡± He sighed and condensation pooled in his eyes. ¡°You always knew and forced me into a rematch.¡±

    ¡°Again!¡± they declared, sharing memories and mirth.

    Karl laughed and rubbed his eyes as they gazed into the past.

    Sera nodded along with the happy memories. She split her seven focuses between loving recollection and looking forward to the approaching doom and its herald, Alfread son of Evan.

    Alfread was the catalyst that awakened Serapheena to the end of days with his discovery of Celegan-tamed wolves within the Ruby Kingdom. His report had been convincing, but it became undeniable with the inclusion of the master wolf having the silver eyes of a lightseer. The deadliest empire in the history of the world was preparing to annihilate the Ruby Kingdom.

    Sera did not give up when her father, abetted by Kai Blazelord, dismissed the truth as three farmboys from Bear¡¯s Crossing exaggerating their kills for clout or out of flea-bitten ignorance. She fought ignorance with data, reviewing the monster reports collected and filed over the past several centuries.

    The quantitative results were indisputable. Reported monster attacks in the Ruby Kingdom had risen steadily over the past two centuries correlating with the rise, fall, and rise of the Celegan tamers. The attacks had blasted through the roof during the reign of Gurgaldai ezen Celegan in the Celegan Hollows, fallen back to the ground for a century, then leapt toward the chandeliers in the past twenty years since the Celegan conquest of Isihla. Yet, if the attacks during Gurgaldai¡¯s era were through the roof, the past year was slapping at the top of Covademara. Sera had identified more monster attacks this year than any five-year period in the previous hundred.

    The qualitative data were even more convincing to Sera. The type of attacks became more bizarre, often comically incongruent, with the known nature of the beasts involved. The Celegans were taming Leverian beasts and using them to destabilize and weaken the Ruby Kingdom. Master Jaina Rainwater granted Sera the master patch in Ethology, a dragon, for the publication of her findings.

    Alas, that all meant little to her father, or really anyone, including Master Ethology. Yes, her methodology and her prose were fireproof. Yes, the correlation between monster attacks and significant historical events in the Celegan Empire was uncanny. Yes, the Celegans possess the power to infiltrate the minds of beasts and control them. Yes, that could theoretically explain her findings. No, Serapheena, you are a foolish little girl to dream of the Chimaera sailing across the ocean! Didn¡¯t you know that they think the ocean is evil? Or that they despise the construction of ships nearly as much as Leverians despise thinking realistically! Why in Yadeen¡¯s divinedamned name would they do something so bloody untraditional when they have demonstrated one consistent behavior of conquering their neighbors! Guess what, King Ignoramus and Archwizard Kai Turncloaker, Leveria is their neighbor now! Even children knew how to put two and two together but apparently kings forget that somewhere along the way if tradition says four cannot exist!

    Sera fumed, as her mind processed all of this information in the space of ten accelerating heartbeats. Her fingers closed into fists and images of strangling, maiming, stabbing, burning, decapitating, throwing, and battering Kai Blazelord flooded through her focuses.

    Sir Karlaeon sat beside her and deflated into the cushions, unaware of the heat growing beside him. ¡°Here I am, a grown man and Crimsonblade, allegedly one of the thirteen finest knights in western Leveria and a young lady can handle me as easily as she can handle a chocolate chip muffin. She considers me as easy as eating breakfast!¡±

    Karl¡¯s voice tethered her to the moment. She patted his arm and restrained her rage. ¡°Now, now, Karl,¡± Sera said in a lofty imitation of her twin. Sera bit off the sarcastic comment one focus had generated about the challenges of breakfast and getting food stuck between your teeth. Instead, she took Karl¡¯s hand and stared into his copper-red eyes.

    Nary a day went by that she did not wish that her uncle was her father. Her voice softened and her inflections deepened. ¡°You are one of the finest thirteen. For me, you are the best there ever could be. Philladon Leveria could roll his royal arse out of the grave and offer his services and I would shovel him back in myself.¡± Karl snorted and tears misted his eyes. Sera paused for a satisfied grin before finishing. She squeezed his hand. ¡°You are the best sworn shield to ever live.¡±

    Karl looked away and sniffled as the tears descended his handsome face. ¡°I cannot believe you are eighteen, Serapheena. You have grown into the most wonderful princess this realm has ever known.¡±

    ¡°Karl,¡± Sera said, elongating her words as if explaining something to a na?ve child, ¡°I think you might be the only person in the realm who thinks I am even the most wonderful princess today.¡±

    Linus meowed, and to Sera it seemed he mimicked her elongated syllables. The fire-eyed cat gazed into her eyes. She would have been more touched by the sentiment if the furball didn¡¯t have its incisor teeth dumbly hanging out of his mouth. She playfully mussed his head. Linus shook it off and stared at her out of the corner of his little red eyes, incisor teeth still proudly protruding.

    ¡°That is not true, Serapheena,¡± Karl admonished, his tone paternal.

    Sera shook her head, adamant. This was both the most endearing and frustrating part of Sir Karlaeon of the Crimsonblades. He understood how she defied the traditional image and decorum of a princess and he still regarded her as not only good enough, but wonderful beyond compare. He didn¡¯t try to change her or make her ashamed of herself as her father did. Yet, he thought that loving herself was as easy as just accepting who she was and who she was not. When the din of a million voices said you weren¡¯t who you were supposed to be, one voice might as well have been one soldier facing an army.

    Sera would never be the ¡®belle of the ball¡¯ or ¡®the fairest maiden of them all.¡¯ No, she was the ¡®wittiest Ruby ear biter, not a visual delighter.¡¯ Sebreena was the princess that was crowned on Pageant by Sir Adelgar after he won the melee. Serapheena was the disappointment that had taken her frustration so far in the training grounds that Lira Tidecaller had needed to preserve Adelgar''s life and vision after she had finished with him. Sebreena was the princess who attended lessons at the University to make friends and establish connections with haughty jackasses like Irvaine Celvine. Serapheena was the firebrand that embarrassed Irvaine Celvine in scholarly debate to the point that he stomped out of the lecture hall. Each shake of the head, roll of the eyes, and critical remark burned the truth deeper into her like a brand on her soul. Serapheena Ruby was supposed to be the ugly replica of her perfect sister and she didn¡¯t even come close.

    All these thoughts collided inside of her, and in the space of a few moments she shifted from feeling love for Karlaeon to being inundated by intermingled hatred and pity toward herself. Her frown shared but a fragment of the agony she felt as her mind barraged her. Instinct was a whimsical wench, for Sera had trained herself to turn self-pity into the guilt that fed self-hatred.

    Who was she to feel sorry for herself? Seven streams of thought proclaimed why she had no right to feel this way. She lived in a castle, was born a genius with unparalleled mental abilities, and her body was a world-class weapon freakishly inherited from her great grandmother Queen Kaidaxus, a Volqori dragonknight. There were people without homes, born with mental or physical limitations, who were held down in a world of oppression upheld by tradition. She measured her pain as meaningless compared to the woes of this world. Alas, by invalidating her own woes, she rendered herself meaningless in her ice-blue eyes.

    Thus, though she tried to numb the pain of those lyrics, they stung to the core. Sera dreamt that she would punch the lyricist¡¯s smart singing lips and compliment him on how visually delightful she had made him! Perhaps, she would bite his ear too. That would show him how flaming witty she was!

    Alfread. Alfread. Alfread.

    Sera stood up and began striding toward the Ruby Tower. It was Seraxa Waxing, Seraxa Moon, 213 3LE. Serapheena Ruby¡¯s eighteenth birthday. Per tradition, it would now be customary for the king to find her a suitable husband to solidify his political power. Whatever. It is not like any man would ever truly love her anyway.

    Sera wished in her heart, wishing to Seraxa and any other Divine that would hear her, that this birthday would finally be the day her father listened to her. She would bond an arrogant arse like Irvaine Celvine if that was what it took to see reason return to her father¡¯s skull.

    Sera sighed, knowing that her antagonist was the most asinine and persistent opponent you could face. Tradition. Traditionally, the Ruby Kingdom was at war with the Sapphire. They couldn¡¯t possibly be attacked by a merciless, slavery-supported empire from across a sea that¡¯s mission statement was to ¡®Tame the World!¡¯ By golly, Meladon, that would be impossible! What¡¯s next? Would someone discover that the Seeress of Meladon hid a hairy bush under that purple regalia!

    Sera clenched her fist. She should be ashamed of her perverse thoughts. Yet that was too traditional for Sera. If you could not be a perfect princess, you had to make fun of the notion otherwise she would have just been constantly hating herself instead of only hating herself part time. Alas, kings who believed in traditionalizing gender inequality had deemed that only princesses needed to be chaste and demure in Leverith¡¯s land. To spite that, Sera¡¯s favorite amusement was making Sebreena¡¯s face as red as her eyes or seeing her mother or father¡¯s mouths drop in horror. Even Karlaeon blushed when she waxed her raunchy wit. Her cousin Jaseon tried to bandy words with her, yet that was like Tyronn Trolltongue and an overconfident eight-year-old competing in a storytelling competition. As fun as it was seeing their scowls and loose jowls, it was a lonely existence not having anyone to spit your own fire back at you.

    Alfread. Alfread. Alfread.

    She tried not to feed that hope, but what were humans if not dreamers of a better tomorrow? Try as she might, Sera could not dam that stream of thought.

    Karl rushed to stay in step with her. ¡°Did you have the dream again this year?¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°We flew over Mirrevar. The fields were full of blooming flowers. I saw Goddess Hill overlooking the Grand Confluence. Atop the hill, I saw Covademara. The tree stretched above the clouds and held every fruit and flower imaginable. It was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen, Karl.¡±

    Karl nodded. He leaned toward her, smiling with bright eyes, enraptured in her unconscious fantasies. He wouldn¡¯t dismiss her dreams nor laugh at her and call her childish or silly. She leaned toward him and lowered her voice like she was sharing her secrets with him.

    ¡°We flew up and up and the tree ascended above the clouds until we reached the point where it was too cold for us to rise further. Millions of flowers that I have never seen blossomed in a million different hues. We dove down and skimmed the Bear River then we shot up once we reached the Grand Confluence. At the base of the tree, I saw the Citadel of Dreams.¡±

    Butterflies somersaulted in her stomach. The thrill she had felt seeing the man on the Dreamer¡¯s Throne was the most ecstatic sensation in her living memory. She could contain her euphoria as well as dried tinder could stop the spread of a forest fire. ¡°The Dreamer¡¯s Throne was not abandoned! The Children of Leverith were there! I saw a Leverian prince upon the throne!¡±

    Karl exhaled, closed his mouth, and straightened his lips. ¡°The Leverian Dynasty? You went back to the First Leverian Era?¡±

    Sera smiled and nodded but she knew that she hadn¡¯t been in the past. This was a secret she would keep to herself.

    Alfread. Alfread. Alfread. Tesmelfrea. Einlevte, Firemaiden.

    Sera¡¯s heart quickened and she sucked in her little lips, imagining their kiss.

    Love degraded into hate when she laid her eyes upon red flame insignias set against black fibers. The man inside the black and red robes didn¡¯t have a noteworthy figure, but his presence could quiet a room. Since his denial of the Celegan threat, Sera had only seen flame and death when encountering the Archwizard Kai Blazelord. The traitor made way for the Ruby Tower.

    Sera hurried after him and chased him up the steps leading to the Ruby Castle¡¯s highest tower. In her rush to eavesdrop on him, she placed her hand against the tower¡¯s outer wall and burnt it against the Seraxa-enchanted redstone. Sera pulled her hand back, marveling at how little the burns hurt. Sera opened one stray focus that pondered whether the enchantment was fading.

    The tower that housed the royal family was aptly, if unoriginally and traditionally, named the Ruby Tower. Meladon¡¯s mercy! My ancestors lacked creativity. Sera had taken to calling this primary tower ¡®The Burning Tower.¡¯ Alas, she might need to revise that to ¡®The Mildly and Inconveniently Hot Tower.¡¯ Her expression twisted as her fury and self-amusing humor tried to coexist.

    Serapheena found the Blazelord on the highest floor standing at the doorway to her father¡¯s overlook. He was barred by the massive figure of Sir Goren the Gigas, commander of the Crimsonblades. Sera swore that Goren must have ancestors that emigrated from the Gidiite Empire before their Celegan slaves overthrew them, extinguished their race, and took their place as the most vicious, totalitarian, imperialistic nation in the world. The Crimson Blade, a massive, glistening-red meladonite greatsword was sheathed behind the Gigas¡¯s back, which made him seem even larger. Goren¡¯s pigmentation was even paler than Sera¡¯s, which was akin to saying this snowflake was whiter than that one.

    The Gigas had a deep, harsh voice that made less courageous girls than Serapheena Ruby wince. ¡°The king wants no disturbances while his family celebrates his daughter¡¯s birthday.¡±

    Kai followed Goren¡¯s eyes to the stairwell. The Blazelord stepped toward her with a convincing false smile. ¡°Blessed birthday, Princess Serapheena. The eighteenth is a milestone in one¡¯s life.¡± The traitor had the audacity to extend his hand.

    Sera folded her arms, hoping this wouldn¡¯t be the only time she left him hanging. ¡°We both know you are not here on my behalf, Blazelord. Do you bring news from your Celegan masters?¡± Sera flashed an exaggerated smirk in mockery of his false face.

    ¡°You¡¯re a most intelligent and promising girl,¡± Kai said, his pedantic tone prophesizing his shit sandwich. ¡°I look forward to the day you sit beside me at the Master Table. However, you¡¯re no master on the Celegans.¡±

    Nor am I their slave, a rarity in present company, Sera thought in one of her focuses.

    ¡°Their spiritual beliefs prevent them from sailing across the sea,¡± the traitor said. ¡°Further, correlation isn¡¯t the equivalent of causation. You could tune your brilliant mind into finding the true cause of the patterns you have found and make possibly the greatest academic discovery of our generation.¡±

    Sera¡¯s eyes widened and she put her hands on her cheeks. Her voice was even more dramatic, pitched high enough to sound like a girl half her age. ¡°Dear Yadeen, how did I ever make such silly conclusions? Why would I not suspect a convoluted never-before-contemplated theory when the obvious truth is so inconvenient?¡± Sera sighed and folded her arms over her brawny chest. ¡°Archwizard, it is almost as if the truth does not care about our traditions or our desires. In fact,¡± Sera nodded, ¡°I stress the word fact because facts can be a challenge and a bother for many people to process. In fact, I daresay the simplest answer that accounts for the highest percentage of the data is the best answer. If only you could tune your,¡± Sera hesitated and cringed, ¡°experienced mind into preserving Leveria you might be remembered as one of the greatest heroes in all our history.¡±

    Sera felt the air grow cooler, the sign that a cognitive-affectomancer was pulling on Seraxa¡¯s Flames. Sera was ready for an attack. She wasn¡¯t prepared for the striking sincerity or the passion in his voice. He leaned toward her so close that she could feel the heat emanating from Pandemonium, his famed staff. ¡°I promise you this and I swear it on each of the Divine Thirteen. All I do is to preserve Leveria.¡±

    Prove it! Serapheena wanted to scream. She heard the door open behind Goren. One spare focus noted Sebreena in her periphery, while the others remained on Kai Blazelord. ¡°You say I am no master of the Celegans. Yet, you have studied them extensively. I could think of no finer birthday gift for my brilliant mind than you delivering a lecture series on the Celegans. Perhaps you might convince me of the error of my reasoning, and,¡± Sera chose to say the quiet part out loud this time, ¡°if I am right, you will have helped preserve Leveria as we face the greatest existential threat we have ever known.¡± She kept the quietest part to herself. If you are a traitor, this might give me the perfect opportunity to get you to reveal that and possibly the identities of other sycophants who might have defected with you.

    ¡°What a splendid idea!¡± Sebreena enthused. Without saying anything, Sebreena used her magical powers over men and both Goren and Kai moved aside as she stepped toward her sister. She walked like a princess, with shoulders high and back straight.

    Sera couldn¡¯t help but feel inconsequential as her sister fully entered her view. Sebreena wore a scintillating white and red dress that was snug in strategic places, accentuating Sebreena¡¯s perfect curves. Sera¡¯s shoulder-length flaming hair was tangled whereas Sebreena¡¯s sleek-and-shiny cool-blue hair was extravagantly braided and adorned with red and white flowers. Worst of all¡ªor best depending on perspective¡ªwas her sister¡¯s face. Several of Sera¡¯s focuses snapped onto memories of her own ugly reflection while one focus took in her sister¡¯s unblemished face that was likely crafted by Leverith herself to be flawless in every conceivable way.

    Sebreena opened her arms and embraced her. ¡°Blessed birthday, Serapheena, wisest sister.¡±

    Sera returned the embrace more tightly than was proper for a princess and pressed her head against the side of her twin¡¯s. They were evenly matched in height. Leverith couldn¡¯t even let Sera win that distinguished parameter. ¡°Thanks, Sebreena.¡± Sera sniffed. ¡°Smelliest sister.¡±

    Sera broke off the hug in order to regain her breath. She made a dramatic show of choking.

    Sebreena smiled. ¡°Now, now, Sera, do you like the perfume?¡±

    Sera chortled as Sebreena wrapped her arm around her, smothered her in that floral scent, and led her past Kai toward the royal overlook. Sera locked her arm tighter with her sister¡¯s and gagged theatrically.

    ¡°It¡­ is¡­ potent,¡± Sera coughed, only partially performative. ¡°I would wager it is lovely enough to trap an alfur. I think a subtle approach would work in your favor.¡±

    ¡°I might have gone too far with this perfume. The herbalist who sold it really needed the sale. She bought it for a premium from a Kavovan trader and nobody was buying.¡±

    Now everyone will buy it to smell like Sebreena.

    ¡°That was sweet of you.¡± Sera nudged her twin affectionately. They called their mother the Good Queen, but Sebreena would have made a greater queen. Thanks to tradition, Sebreena would instead be a pretty thing to be sold to the highest bidder.

    A grand table shaped like a perfectly cut ruby, a masterpiece made from redwood sequoia and topped gaudily with solid gold, looked out over the Dusk Sea. King Adameon, Queen Camellia, and Prince Adamo were already seated. Sir Braed and Sir Philibert of the Crimsonblades sat separately, in the hearth chairs, exotic seats made in Volqor from the bones and scales of a dragon. No fire burned in the hearths. The world already had enough fire during the Moon of Seraxa. Besides, The Mildly and Inconveniently Hot Tower had fire enchantments placed into its very stone that made the hearths no more than decorations during the chill of the winter moons.

    Sera took in the view. Ruby Castle was built atop a massive cliff overhanging the Dusk Sea. The balcony provided an overlook from a height exceeding a thousand feet. The sea was a place of endless majesty, especially at dusk. It was the only thing that had kept them safe for so long. Yet, her smile was not for the ocean view. Princess Serapheena Ruby beamed at her family and did her best to be one of them.

    ¡°Serve the wine! Send for the comeliest man in all Ruby! The birthday girl is here!¡± Sera declared.

    Prince Adamo chortled, and the queen smiled at her. Sera felt a spark of connection with her little brother and mother. King Adameon lowered his eyes and frowned at his more-expensive-than-a-village table. Sera wished that silent statement did not feel like he was stabbing her in her gut with Ruby Smile, his meladonite longsword. Balbaraq¡¯s Balls! Even Sir Braed snorted at her joke, and he was about as sunny as the underside of a stone.

    ¡°Happy blessed birthday, sweetling,¡± Queen Camellia said in her polished voice. Ever the Good Queen, her mother had to use an extra word of endearment. To her credit, her mother was nothing but warm to her and she only wanted what she thought was best for Sera.

    Alas, no matter how gently you shoved someone into a box, you were still shoving them into a box. It didn¡¯t help that Sera would never fit in the box no matter how much her mother tried to squeeze her into it. Even with the combined powers of a queen and a mother, you couldn¡¯t force a circle to be square. Sera merely wished that people could love the circle for what it was and see that it too had a place in the world of squares.

    Servants entered with trays of chocolate chip muffins, bacon, sausage, and slabs of honey ham. The last servant had fruit wines from Noraligrove. Sera took her seat and quickly set her plate. ¡°All of the breakfast essentials.¡± She winked at her mother, knowing she had arranged the meal.

    Linus curled up on Sera¡¯s lap and began to doze with his heavy head on her wrist. Sera was flanked by her siblings while her parents were seated on the opposite ends of the ruby Adameon was next to Adamo and Camellia next to Sebreena. Sera, as always, felt like the odd one out. Adamo was the image of a young Adameon and Sebreena had the same royal bearing as their mother, if not her darker, hardier Tandande features.

    Camellia put her arm around Sebreena. ¡°We are all together. That is the only thing in this world that is truly essential to me.¡± She shot a look at her husband.

    ¡°The Ruby is strong,¡± King Adameon added in his smooth tenor, ¡°because we are together.¡± He met Sera¡¯s eyes. ¡°I have always found it fitting that you sit in the midst of us, Serapheena.¡± Sera¡¯s mind rushed with skeptical thoughts of being the outlier in her family. Alas, her father slashed right through them. ¡°You are the glue that holds us together. I love you.¡±

    Sera felt a fierce fluttering in her stomach. For all that their eyes saw differently and all that their ideas diverged, her father¡¯s affection had always been the most impactful upon her. It never came in great frequency, but it arrived in great intensity and its coming was more powerful for its usual absence. She smiled and felt her eyes moistening. Her voice seemed small for a woman so tall. ¡°I love you too, father.¡±

    I will protect you, even if you refuse to see the danger that you are in. I will see it for you, and I will shield us from those who would see our line sundered and burnt into oblivion.

    ¡°Blazelord!¡± Sir Goren yelled from the corridor.

    The Ruby family glanced toward the door in unity. Kai Blazelord entered with Sir Goren on his heels.

    ¡°What is this, Kai?¡± the king demanded.

    The most powerful wizard alive bent to one knee. ¡°Your Grace, I bring terrible tidings.¡±

    King Adameon sighed. ¡°Let it wait until after breakfast. It is my Serapheena¡¯s birthday.¡±

    Kai looked deeply into the king¡¯s eyes. ¡°Your Grace, last we spoke on the subject, you told me to inform you immediately should it arise again.¡±

    King Adameon pushed away from the table and stood. Sera¡¯s attention snapped into focus. She had a feeling she knew who the subject was. The Celegan threat was easy to push away when a more apparent danger was right in front of you. What did it matter if that ¡®danger¡¯s¡¯ letter to both kingdoms was clearly a plea for peace?

    ¡°The Bluerose girl?¡± he asked.

    Kai¡¯s expression was subtle, but anger tugged at his lips and eyes. His nose scrunched. He was an emotional man that worked hard to contain and control his nature. ¡°The Sapphire would have us call her the second coming of Linus.¡± Sera¡¯s cat perked up at the mention of his name and his ears stayed attentive. ¡°That is a misnomer. She uses her twisted nature to destroy rather than mend. I would name her the Villain of Vulcan. I regret to inform you we can add another dreaded title to her name: The Monster of Ferrickton.¡±

    ¡°Ferrickton?¡± Queen Camellia spoke as if a part of her died inside.

    The Blazelord nodded. ¡°This Second Great Wizard murdered the Ferrickton town guard and decommissioned the iron mines.¡±

    Sera was horrified by news of the atrocity. One focus commiserated with all the pain and suffering that Alexia Bluerose had caused in Ferrickton. Another focus reflected on the potentials of a Second Linus. A woman, Sera mused. How untraditional. Her remaining five streams of consciousness analyzed the implications of the Second Great Wizard and her attack on Ferrickton.

    ¡°She will pay!¡± Sebreena shrieked as if summoning the executioner. Sera felt for her sister. Whatever empathy for Ferrickton Sera was dealing with, Sebreena was magnifying thirteenfold. True to form, Sebreena had tears in her eyes, sharing in the pain of those who were most vulnerable.

    Sera¡¯s father gave no indication of rage or panic, though Sera perceived he had to be experiencing both to some degree. ¡°Report the details, Kai,¡± the king coolly commanded.

    Kai Blazelord released a sigh, then stood straight and delivered a lengthy report of Alexia Bluerose¡¯s assault and sabotage of the Ferrickton mines on the eve of Zamael Waxing of last moon.

    One focus branched off to lament how slowly news spread through the kingdom. Twenty-one days since the event occurred and they were only hearing about it now! The Bearbreakers should have sent word of this much sooner. The intensified battle in Mirrevar was no excuse for this delay. She would slap Wayn Bearbreaker so hard next time she saw him that he wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything but wince for the next span! How she longed for the continental communication systems during the end of the Love Queen¡¯s reign!

    ¡°We need to send aid to Ferrickton,¡± Queen Camellia urged. ¡°They need our support. Coin. Food. Maybe even new guards to keep the beasts of the Red Forest at bay? Can our cognitive-affectomancers clear the tunnels?¡±

    Her father thought less about aiding the few and more about the larger repercussions for the kingdom. ¡°All that iron buried in stone.¡± He shook his head, lamenting the loss of his precious iron more than the people hurt. ¡°This monster will sabotage every resource we have, and we will lose the Gemstone War. We must arrange for her death, Blazelord. Do you think Lira could defeat her?¡±

    Kai opened his mouth but was overtaken by the unstoppable force that was the Crown Princess Sebreena Ruby. ¡°She is not Linus come again!¡± The cat dug his claws into Sera¡¯s robe and punctured into skin. ¡°What will the people of Ferrickton do without their mine?¡±

    The king was quick to deflect, ¡°Let me know if you have any ideas.¡±

    Sera rattled off her ideas, raising one finger per focus, ¡°They can log the Red Forest. They can become a center of skilled iron workers. We can send Master Clintaeon and his apprentices to salvage the mines. We can levy soldiers to clear the wreckage instead of exacerbating the war that caused it. Ha!¡± Sera boomed with cheerfulness, ¡°How about that, we could use taxes and tithe to actually help people instead of sending them to their deaths!¡±

    She held up four fingers and gave herself no time to pause for the scowls around the room. ¡°With help, they can hunt real monsters in the Red Forest, depleting the Celegan¡¯s resources.¡± All five fingers of her free hand risen, she slammed them down onto the table. ¡°Most importantly, they can spread the word of the Second Great Wizard¡¯s mercy. Of how Alexia Bluerose took a miserable situation that spun out of her control and mitigated the misery she inflicted. Then we can answer by sending a delegation to meet with her in Mirrevar, trading an inevitable bloodbath that will kill thousands for the beginnings of the Second Great Peace.¡±

    Sebreena folded her arms and glared at Sera with her fiery eyes. Adamo rubbed his chin, his gaze flitted from person to person, trying to determine what he should feel and think. Even the Good Queen frowned and shook her head, her disappointment a classic response to every step Sera had ever taken. Linus thrummed on Sera¡¯s lap with purrs and nudged her arm with his head. Kai Blazelord kept his expression flat and still as he gazed across the sea toward his masters. Adameon scoffed. ¡°She is a monster, Sera. All I shall send her is an assassin.¡± He turned to Kai, ¡°Lira¡ª¡±

    Sera slammed her fists on the table. ¡°She is a person condemned by our bloody traditions!¡± Her anger suffocated her agony. ¡°Alexia tries her best minimize the pain she inflicts while carrying out the orders imposed on her by a tradition of hatred and violence.¡± She set her glare toward the Blazelord. ¡°The Celegans are the monsters.¡±

    King Adameon¡¯s temper finally gave out. Sera had long been the only person that could break the master diplomat¡¯s meladonite charm. ¡°Do not force me to discuss this again! Not on your birthday!¡±

    ¡°I am trying to save you! Let me be the glue that keeps us bound together! Us used to be all of Leveria,¡± Serapheena pleaded.

    ¡°Us?¡± the king spat distastefully. ¡°The Sapphire kills our fathers and sons, destroys our mines, razes our villages, rapes our people, steals our lands, and wages endless war. They are not us anymore, Serapheena! The Ruby and the Sapphire do not meld! Alexia Leveria¡¯s blood flows through our veins; we are the true Leverian Kingdom!¡±

    All of her focuses burned in anger and Sera was loud enough to shout over them all. ¡°There has not been a true Leverian Kingdom for seven hundred and thirteen years! We are nothing more than misguided children pretending to be our parents after we killed our parents!¡±

    ¡°The only misguided child here is you!¡± the Queen yelled.

    Her mother¡¯s condemnation took the anger out of her and left her with nothing but agonizing sadness. Sera¡¯s voice shook, ¡°I am sorry to be such a disappointment to you all. I assure you that I hate my failure to be good enough for you even more than you hate me.¡± She pushed away from the table and launched out of her chair. Linus spilled off her lap, hissed, and twisted to land on his feet.

    ¡°We do not hate you,¡± her mother forced out. Her exasperated sigh did little to reassure Sera.

    ¡°No. Perhaps not,¡± Sera spat. ¡°Just everything about me.¡±

    ¡°Sit down, Serapheena,¡± her father commanded.

    Sera folded her arms and stood her ground.

    ¡°If you were not always trying to spoil our mood, maybe it would not be so hard to see that we love you,¡± the king added.

    Sera stayed on her feet. ¡°I would rather piss on your parade than shut my mouth and watch you die.¡±

    ¡°I will speak with you later, Your¡ª

    ¡°No, we finish this now, Kai,¡± Adameon demanded. ¡°How do we kill someone that is as powerful as the Bluerose girl?¡±

    Kai bowed and nodded his head like an appropriately subservient traitor. He was good at it too. Not even the barest traces of a grin on his lips with his triumph.

    The Blazelord opened his mouth but was again interrupted by a princess. Sera took her seat and resumed the ruining of yet another family meal. ¡°Did you listen to the Archwizard¡¯s report? Can you not see the love within this girl?¡±

    The king didn¡¯t even turn his neck to meet her eyes. ¡°I must have been listening to a different report. One where she sabotaged one of our most valuable resources and murdered dozens of our citizens. She has as much love within her as a yasmar.¡±

    ¡°She channeled that windstorm and harmed none in her escape! What kind of monster worries about the safety of hundreds trying to kill her? The monster your eyes see would have sent them all into the chasm with no remorse. That monster would have murdered the Peacewatch pursuit rather than prevent them from chasing her! That monster does not exist!¡±

    ¡°The windstorm was a miscalculation,¡± Adameon retorted with the certainty of a meladonite blade and the dullness of tradition.

    Sera smirked. She knew she was right. Truth would close in around her father on this point. She pressed hard. ¡°Which is it, father? Is she an all-powerful monster or such a ninny that she accidentally and flawlessly saves hundreds?¡± Sera shook her head. ¡°A miscalculation is when you hit the rim of the privy pot in the middle of the night and piss splashes on the floor and dribbles onto your foot. An all-powerful cognitive-affectomancer does not safely redirect a hostile mob of hundreds over an abyssal chasm without a single casualty by accident! How do you not see that?¡±

    Sebreena leaned away from Sera. Her voice chilled Sera. ¡°Say that to the orphans in Ferrickton, Sera. Tell them how much the monster who killed their parents loved them. Tell it to the widows. Tell it to the sons who supported their families in those mines. Tell it to the soldiers and settlers who escaped Vulcan, having lost everyone they lived beside for the past few years. Tell it to the dead.¡±

    The proud glint in the eyes of the king and queen as they gazed at Sebreena was easily the most painful thing to happen in the room. Echoes of a thousand times this scene had been performed resounded in her mind and seven streams of consciousness multiplied their volume. Sera lowered her head and tried to stop the tears from falling. She had almost managed to hold them at bay until she saw her horrid face reflected on the golden tabletop.

    The Blazelord broke the solemn silence. ¡°I will consult with Master Tidecaller, Your Grace. When you seek me out at tonight¡¯s ball, I will offer some options for eliminating Bluerose.¡± He went for the exit but couldn¡¯t resist basking in his triumph. ¡°Master Serapheena.¡±

    Sera raised her tear-veiled eyes to the triumphant traitor. His sympathetic gaze helped her filter rage into the pit of pure sadness she had fallen into. She wanted to rip out his treacherous trachea and gag him with it. ¡°Your intentions are pure. You seek to end the war, preserve your family, and make Leveria whole. Our purposes are the same. I won¡¯t always agree with your conclusions, but I will always listen to them. For instance, you make valid points about the girl¡¯s windstorm. It would have been far easier for her to use lethal force, but she tried very hard to keep them alive. I wonder whether her intent was to preserve lives or tales of her power. Thanks to you, I will search hard for options to restrain Alexia¡¯s powers in gold. If she is the person you believe, I would give her a chance to prove that. Have a blessed birthday.¡±

    Kai Blazelord bowed, having delivered what he must have believed an award-winning performance of sincerity. Sera fixed her eyes on him, trying to burn the lies out with a glare. ¡°I will never give up on my family,¡± she told him. Even though they give up on me.

    Kai nodded. ¡°You don¡¯t have to help them alone, Master Serapheena.¡±

    Kai turned and strode for the door.

    ¡°I know,¡± Sera hollered at his heels. Kai Blazelord smiled back at her, but she had no further eyes, ears, or words for the traitor.

    Within her, a focus burned with hope that she wouldn¡¯t be alone for long.

    Alfread. Alfread. Alfread¡­

 Book Two: Look Forward

    LOOK FORWARD

    It was my ability to look forward and see the future that made me great. Still, all of that would have meant nothing if I lost sight of the present moment and forgot to live each day. Lost too we would have been had I forgotten where I came from. Thus, I have arrived here in this present moment. Thus, I look forward to those who come after me. Thus, I look back to find these words, lessons written into my soul after a long life. Thus, I discovered that the Divine gave us two eyes when, really, we need three. One, never forget where you came from. Two, always remember where you are. Lastly, and most importantly, shine a light ahead of you wherever you go. Look forward, because that is what will make you great.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ~ Queen Alexia Leveria

    Immediately following moments of great suffering and tragedy, the mind needs to seek shelter. In order to act, in order to move on, in order to grow from their tragedy, Alexia and Zander needed to first look forward. When looking back leaves you with nothing but night, you need to look forward and see that tomorrow the sun will rise.

    ~The First Voice of Peace

 Chapter 26: Look Forward

    Alexia forced herself to keep her sunrise-colored eyes looking forward. She rode toward the sun but away from her moon. She rode away from love but toward peace. It felt wrong to disjoint love from peace. In a better world, the two would never be sundered. Peace and love were meant to be together, to be one. However, for Ruby and Sapphire to become one again¡ªas they were meant to be¡ªAlexia needed to look forward and not back to the place she yearned to be. Yet, though she looked forward toward peace, her mind was at war.

    ¡°Look forward.¡±

    Yet almost everything in her wanted to look back. The muscles in her neck tensed with the temptation of turning around. Her thoughts raced toward Goddess Hill, yearning to send her back into Zander¡¯s arms. Her logic stretched, searching for a way to bring him with her. Her emotions throttled her, begging her to find a way to keep him behind without breaking his heart. Every fiber of her being felt less whole without Zander and the locket.

    Alexia gripped at her sternum, where the locket belonged. The power of that magic conduit was nonpareil, and it seduced her toward hindsight. Memories of Zander¡¯s lips, of his embrace, of ecstasy and belonging at the end of the worst night of her life¡­ Her neck twisted to the side and her eyes reached for her rear. She stopped midway and moaned.

    ¡°Look forward,¡± she choked, forcing the words past the lump in her throat. Her chest heaved with the unfathomable weight of those two little words.

    Alexia tried her best to harness foresight. Alexia imagined Ruby and Sapphire gathered in Mirrevar, signing a peace treaty atop Goddess Hill. She gazed farther ahead, envisioning a unified Leveria prevailing over the Chimaeras of the Celegan Hollows. She found peace in a future beyond the wars to come. Alexia and Zander would be together again, claiming a home in Mirrevar and living happily ever after in a world where peace was restored.

    Looking forward, she knew she should not go back. This was how it had to be. Alas, just because you knew something logically didn¡¯t mean you could accept it emotionally.

    Alexia clutched at her sternum, to the place where his locket should be. She should be with him. She should be able to bring him with her! She should not have to hide her love! The love of a Sapphire cognitive-affectomancer and a Ruby soldier should be proof that peace is the proper course. It was not divinedamned right! It¡­

    It was what she deserved. Alexia gasped and her stomach roiled with the truth of what should be. She reached into her bloodstained robes and felt at the wooden doll that Allison had thrown at her. I should be alone, just like that poor girl.

    Alexia screamed. The memory of Ferrickton burned her insides. She tried to fight the pull of the past, but it was a battle she couldn¡¯t win.

    ¡°Look forward,¡± she commanded, trying to find a way toward redemption, a way to make what happened in Ferrickton acceptable. That was a future she couldn¡¯t see. No matter what she did, no matter how many lives she saved, nor how much love she made possible, nothing would erase Ferrickton. Nor could anything stop the flood that hit her now.

    Allison¡¯s father, Sir Barnett, screamed for her death as she collapsed a tunnel on him. Timmeck Eckhard¡¯s shattered skull, both eyes forever unseeing, dead because of her failure. ¡°Look forward,¡± she pleaded with her mind. Instead, a little girl who had given her nothing but love screamed her oath of vengeance as she faded into shadow. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Ferrickton was destroyed and nothing, nothing, Alexia could do would change that. She tried and failed to look forward. Neither could she look backward without further breaking herself. She lacked the strength to look at this moment, too burdened by the ever-chasing past and the challenging future that could not wipe the slate clean.

    Alexia lost sight. Time continued its unstoppable flow, but she didn¡¯t flow with it. The world seemed only to exist from a faraway place through a foggy lens. The echoes of yesterday became distant and quiet things. Those fires burning so bright were dim lights from a faraway place, aching to be remembered. Alexia ceased to be. She didn¡¯t see the vibrant flowers around her nor smell their wondrous fragrance. Lastly, and most importantly, this empty vessel did not gaze ahead into the distance and see herself becoming whole again.

    Alexia¡¯s sensation was deadened, like a tree in the winter, awaiting the heat and light that would awaken her back to life once more. Oblivious to the world, angles passed as the sun mounted the sky. Yet, the day¡¯s growing heat and light did little to stir her soul out of its slumber.

    The sight of the palisade walls slowly brought her back to life, back to the moment. Alexia took in the beauty with all of her senses. Fields of flowers, endless arrays of wondrous colors filled her vision. The scents were ushered to her by the whistling wind. Their strength and splendor stirred the feeling of life within her. She felt the heat on her head, metamorphing her hair color from her father¡¯s chestnut brown to her mother¡¯s dark gold. She ran her fingers through her hair, gliding along the waves as they spilled to the small of her back. Aware of her intense thirst, she drained the last of her waterskin, tasting the earthy flavors of the Bear River.

    At last, Alexia looked back. A part of her hoped to see Zander chasing her. Alas, the other part of her had ensured that he wouldn¡¯t follow. She clutched at her sternum, gazing across the miles between her and Goddess Hill. Covademara loomed in the sky above the hill, its branches and blooms rising to infinity. She placed her hand on her heart and dreamt she could return to the place she belonged with the person who she knew in her heart was her life¡¯s mate.

    ¡°Look forward,¡± she whispered, gazing upon the hill where the Leverians once reigned.

    Alexia had looked forward when Zander had passionately declared that he would go with her. As surely as she knew that a rose was beautiful and had thorns, Alexia knew that she couldn¡¯t bring Zander to the Sapphire encampment the day after he had killed scores of Sapphires. Even if she could navigate around the camp, Alexia knew that King Gideon¡¯s reaction to Zander would have been powerful and extreme. He had plans to betroth Alexia to his son and heir. Prince Halius would demand Zander¡¯s demise just as he had once demanded hers.

    Alexia smirked. Zander would fight for her like Elior fought for Pelianna and she didn¡¯t doubt that he would win that battle. Alas, the cost of that victory was peace. That was a price Leveria couldn¡¯t afford.

    Alexia took the doll out of a pocket of her blood-stained, sapphire-blue master¡¯s robes. Allison had painted the doll to have Alexia¡¯s two-colored hair back when she had hoped Alexia would be her friend. The doll was her reminder to look forward. Her life didn¡¯t belong to her. It belonged to Allison. It belonged to the Leverian people. For as far as her eyes could see, she would strive toward seeing peace restored to the Leverian people so that no other child would suffer Allison¡¯s fate.

    Alas, she was ever a dreamer and she dreamt beyond the sight of her eyes. She dreamt of a day where Leveria was whole and free from the Celegan threat. She dreamt of a day where she was not chained to Halius nor indebted to forge peace. She dreamt of a day where she could return to Covademara and once again rest in Zander¡¯s arms. It would be a long road to peace. She might never be redeemed but she would spend every day striving to do the right thing. Hopefully, at the end of this long road, Zander would be there to welcome her.

 Chapter 27: Upon the Hill

    Life was everywhere. Vibrant flowers of every color bombarded his vision; magnificent scents filled his nose. He could hear the two rivers join and rush southward in unison. Above him still, Covademara stretched to infinity. Every flower and every fruit imaginable grew from its massive branches. Legends claimed that all plant life had been born of this tree. During the Paradise Era when the Divine Thirteen guided humanity, Celegana and her faithful dispersed each flower and each fruit to the ends of the world and nourished them. The trunk itself climbed beyond the confines of Zander¡¯s vision into the sky.

    It was as his mother had told him. Goddess Hill was a place of miracles and wonder. Melody of Mirrevar had promised Zander that he would return here someday and that¡ªif her dreams came true¡ªthis place would be his home. Yet, Zander couldn¡¯t feel the wonder. He didn¡¯t believe in miracles anymore. All those flowers might as well have been wilting and black and those scents could have been the rotting of corpses. The rushing of the colliding rivers was not one of peace. The confluence was the thrashing of two forces forever fighting each other for supremacy. The tree wasn¡¯t the font of life that it was fabled to be. Zander felt like he had dropped from the top and hit every divinedamned branch as he fell from the highest height of his life to the lowest abyss. This might have been the place of his birth, but Zander felt that it could also be the setting of his end.

    Zander sprawled on the ground and bawled beside a patch of white roses. He huddled himself into a tight ball and wept. Neath this tree, his father had abandoned his pregnant mother. Neath this tree, his father left Zander and never looked back. Now, seventeen years later, the Sunrise had abandoned him. Alexia had vowed to be his enemy. This wasn¡¯t a place of life and love. This was a place of death and sorrow. This wasn¡¯t the Citadel of Dreams, the ancient seat of the Leverian Dynasty. This was the place where dreams went to die.

    All his life, Zander had two dreams that he pursued. His mother had told him that his father was a great warrior. Zander had believed that the scar of his father¡¯s leaving would be healed when he too became a great warrior. He dreamt of glory on the battlefield. He trained tirelessly for the last seven years to become the strongest, fastest, most skilled fighter he could. He studied under Sir Edward Bladestorm and sparred with knights. He was certain that last night would be the dawning of his glory. Yet last night was the death of that innocent dream. He didn¡¯t find glory on the battlefield. He found crushed dreams and misery. He had killed until the bodies of men and women filled the trench outside of his breach. He killed until he was layered in the blood of people who could have been his neighbors. He had killed and killed and killed. Alas, he hadn¡¯t been able to save.

    Zander wasn¡¯t a glorious knight serving a higher cause. He wasn¡¯t protecting innocence and delivering justice to the evil. Zander hadn¡¯t fought evil. He had been evil¡¯s servant. Zander had been a monster of a man brought to life beneath the full moon of Zamael. The scar of his father¡¯s leaving did not close. Now it was joined by the wounds of what he had done and what he had not been able to do.

    Yet even those wounds could have been healed. The sweetness of love promised him fulfillment. His other dream had been to find the Sunrise, his life¡¯s mate, and give her his locket. He had spent years offering tribute to Leverith, praying that she would answer him with the Sunrise. Zander gripped the locket and trembled with sobs. The short time he spent with Alexia had allowed him to feel peace and love. Holding her and sharing his heart with her had been a rebirth. Yet all too soon, those feelings of elation died.

    Zander lay amidst the flowers questioning his purpose. He questioned whether he should continue.

    His thoughts pushed him closer to the cliffs. Zander crawled through the flowers and past the ruins of the ancient Leverians. His life would only bring more death. His death would preserve life. If the Sunrise were to be his enemy, he had no purpose for life. If his death could save her life¡­

    He peered over the edge, staring at a doom drop several thousand feet along a rocky cliffside. His corpse would be fought over by the merger of the Eagle and the Bear and washed away. Crying, he contemplated what he had left to live for. Alfread, his Peacewatch Oath, fighting against the Celegans¡­

    These reasons that had been important yesterday felt weak beside the loss of his juggernauts of purpose. They meant nothing without the Sunrise. He stared at death and accepted this end was better than fighting against the woman he loved.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Zander squeezed the locket, a silver inversed heart shaped like the Leverian continent. His promise to his mother tethered him to life. ¡°I tried, mom. I did everything I could.¡± Zander closed his eyes, even still the tears crept out. ¡°I cannot go on like this.¡±

    The locket pulsed with an energy that felt like the blue light Alexia and he had created at sunrise. Leverith¡¯s spirit tried to reach him and force her way through his closed heart. An echo of memory slipped through the cracks. Whenever life feels unbearable and you want to give in, remember I will always be here.

    The force of his anger propelled him to his feet. He roared at the great tree, ¡°Liar! You left me too, Melody! You left me when I needed you! All those days training! All those nights serving Leverith! FOR WHAT!¡± His shouts echoed in the shattered halls of the ancient citadel.

    Zander clenched the locket harder, trying to render it as broken as his heart. ¡°Everyone¡­leaves¡­me!¡±

    Zander charged at the tree. ¡°I found the Sunrise, mother! You told me that I was hers and she was mine! She left me too!¡± Zander yanked the locket from his neck and hurled it at the tree.

    Impulses intruded. His emotions compelled him to sprint the distance to the edge of the hill and dive to his death below. His thoughts conspired with despair. His father, his mother, and now his Sunrise, led him back to the site of his birth to close the circle. Zander visualized himself falling from the Goddess and fulfilling his final abandonment: self-abandonment.

    Zander clenched his mouth shut and narrowed his eyes toward the final destination. He started toward the edge, before his attention was commandeered.

    Wind blustered around the tree, shaking flowers, branches, and fruit. Petals of every color whirled in the air. The locket levitated in the center of it all. Zander shivered as the air chilled. Ice coalesced upon the locket and snowflakes blew eastward, taken by the everchanging wind. The mystical blue light, light the same color as Zander¡¯s eyes, flowed freely, untouched by the wind. The millions of flowers on the hill reacted to Leverith¡¯s caress, leaning toward the light and flourishing at its kiss. Warmth washed over the hill, the locket glimmered ruby-red and embers erupted from its core. Following on the heels of the flames, the purest water Zander had ever seen cascaded from the locket, spilling atop the embers, attempting to douse their intensity. Sparks shot from the inversed heart, streaks of lighting blasting in a circle around the locket. Light burst from the locket and dispersed in waves of silver. All around the tree, the ground trembled, rising and falling, separating and becoming whole again. Then, as soon as it began, the magic waned. The lightning crashed, the ice melted, the wind halted, the water seeped into the ground, the light faded, the land calmed, and the flames cooled. Last of all was the blue light. It merged, like a thousand streams forming a river, then was fired like an arrow at Zander¡¯s heart.

    Zander fell backward, though not by physical force as the light was ethereal. He crawled to his knees, embracing the light as it gathered around him like moon-blue mist.

    Echoes of memories flooded him. Nights spent on hillsides stargazing, goodnight kisses, morning hugs, her booming ¡®I love you,¡¯ and her soothing voice singing the sweetest melodies. This light was his mother¡¯s touch. He could feel her embrace so powerfully that it felt like she truly was here beside him, giving him the strength to go on when he wanted to give in.

    Tears treaded down his face. ¡°You left me,¡± he whispered. He picked up the locket and set it around his neck. Zander pressed it to his heart. ¡°But you¡¯re still here,¡± Zander croaked.

    He turned his back to the deadly drop at the edge of Goddess Hill and looked forward into Mirrevar. Now, he could see the wonder and the miracles. This land was an endless display of life and beauty. He could imagine waking up and seeing this sight every day. He could understand why his mother had lived here and why she dreamt for this to be his home.

    Zander realized now that his dreams hadn¡¯t been crushed. Yes, they¡¯d been slammed into the dirt and stomped on until they were within Zamael¡¯s darkened grasp, but they clung to life and to Leverith. His childhood dreams had died and been born anew. His glory was not in fighting the war, but in ending the war.

    The sun had risen high enough that it could no longer be heralded as a sunrise. Yet, Zander could see a dot moving amongst the flowers. Alexia rode northeast toward the Sapphire encampment. He knew that she too dreamt of peace. He didn¡¯t know her reasons, but he placed his faith in her.

    Zander of Mirrevar clenched his locket and felt his purpose reforged. ¡°I will never be your enemy! NEVER!¡±

    Zander held the Leveria locket in his palm. ¡°Even though we are apart, we are still together.¡± He watched Alexia go where he couldn¡¯t follow. ¡°I am yours and, someday, you will be mine again.¡±

    Zander released the locket and moved toward the hill¡¯s slope. ¡°Until next time, Sunrise.¡±

 Chapter 28: Someday

    The Sapphire encampment loomed ahead. Wooden walls made a massive half-circle, securing Sapphire access to the Great Eagle Bridge. The walls were periodically blanketed by banners bearing the Horned Ape of Archlord Elagrimear and the Sapphire of King Gideon. Rising above the palisades, a series of watchtowers strived for the sky. From this far, rooted amongst billions of flowers and rows of fruit-bearing trees, Alexia could see archers in those towers and didn¡¯t doubt that she had been spotted. Soon, she would need to face them.

    Alexia¡¯s fears began to dig into her, building trenches where anxiety flooded through. She would be the focus of attention and surrounded by people who just suffered a catastrophic defeat. They would want her to lead them, to give them hope, and to find the solution to their problems. Alexia wanted to soothe them, to offer hope, and to endear them toward peace. Alexia froze, unable to soothe herself let alone all those people who needed her. The prospect of talking to even one person in that encampment paralyzed her. To do what she needed to do, she would need to talk to hundreds. At once.

    Her mind was a barrage of doomed prophecy. She looked forward and saw her weakness on display and picked apart by angry men. She knew that her words would fumble and then she would lose her tongue altogether. Her mind would be blank save for the terror of all those eyes upon her. Then, after failing, she would have to endure both her own shame and the loss of faith as others marveled at her deficiency. Her whole message would be lost and her incompetence magnified, burning a deeper hole into her heart as though a magnifying glass had been held between her heart and the summer sun. Deeper than all that, Leveria would take one more step toward demise. If only she were different, she could make a difference today and change course toward peace.

    Alexia hated much about herself right now. Most of those hatreds were fresh cuts that bled raw. Yet, the deepest of them all was a scar that had never stopped bleeding and was cut anew each day. She wished she had inherited her father¡¯s charisma rather than her mother¡¯s crippling shyness. She wished she could deliver grand and eloquent speeches like the heroes in the stories her mother had loved to read to her as a child. She wished that she didn¡¯t freeze and lose her wit every single time eyes were on her. She wished with every fragment of herself that she had the courage to stand tall and face these fears rather than cower. She wished she didn¡¯t dream of hiding amongst the flowers of Mirrevar and never reemerging.

    I can¡¯t do this, her mind told her. I can¡¯t speak to these people. I can¡¯t be the hero they need. I can¡¯t lead them to peace. I am terrified. I always will be.

    Yet again, Alexia started to cry. Leverith! Would the divinedamned tears never end! Her time with Zander¡ªand the massive intake of Leverith¡¯s spirit energy their love had caused¡ªhad replenished her enough to be drained all over again. Alexia reached for the locket, reached for wholeness, and found nothing but emptiness and sternum.

    Whimpering, she rolled off the side of Timmeck¡¯s horse, dropped to the ground, and curled her knees toward her chin. Rocking, she cried, ¡°I can¡¯t do this. I¡¯m no leader.¡±

    Through trembling quakes of cowardice and the misted eyes of self-degradation, Alexia Bluerose looked toward the encampment. ¡°I am sorry,¡± she whispered.

    Alexia remembered all the people she let down as she hid in the flowers. Allison. Timmeck Eckhard. Theos Stormkin. Azurianna Sapphire. Her parents. Zander. The soldiers of the encampment. Leveria. Leverith. Even Maleon Stonebreaker.

    Alexia closed her eyes, but the tears didn¡¯t stop for their weak seals. How she wished to feel nothing ever again for Maleon divinedamned Stonebreaker. Yet, her insides twisted and turned, trying to find a way to be indifferent about the man who had profoundly impacted her life for better and worse. She wished he could be either the bitter man who betrayed and broke her heart in Ferrickton or the friend and mentor who had saved her life and inspired her in Mirrevar. Alas, he was both and both held power over her. His legacy was engraved on the scars and strongholds of her soul, determined to bolster or barricade Alexia on her path toward her dreams.

    Alexia remembered a time not too long ago in this very land where she felt paralyzed by her shyness. The words Maleon had shared with her were etched on the tablets of memory, and through the fear, she recalled them, giving them a new voice. ¡°Someday,¡± Alexia sobbed, staring toward the encampment, ¡°you¡¯ll lead these people. You¡¯ll carry their dreams, and even though you¡¯re afraid, you¡¯ll rise and inspire them.¡±

    Alexia uncurled herself, inhaled, held, and exhaled. She pressed off the ground, channeling Celegana as Maleon had taught her, and stood. Her heart pounded and her breath quickened. Panic threatened to thrash her and drive her back to the ground. Alas, Alexia was the ground, and she was the woman shaped by her mentor and friend, and she had to push forward because of the brokenness and betrayal.

    Alexia clenched her jaw and nodded toward the encampment. Fear was like a hurricane pushing her away, but she strode forward, tethered to the earth and to her dreams. ¡°I won¡¯t let fear get in my way, Maleon.¡± She closed her fists. ¡°I won¡¯t!¡±

    The myriad of techniques she learned to control her emotions as a cognitive-affectomancer returned to her. She inhaled, held, exhaled, and repeated. Alexia briefly retreated into her inner peace and meditated upon everything that gave her strength. She imagined her parents, Azi, Theos, Zander, Timmeck, and even Maleon supporting her and holding her hand. Their touch, their words, and Celegana¡¯s divine energy drove her forward. She actively changed her stream of thoughts. Yes, I am terrified, and I can do this. I will lead them to peace. I will not let fear get in my way. I will rise above this fear. I will do this.

    Alexia held the reins and guided Cally toward the encampment¡¯s large wooden gate. With each step, she rallied against her fears, recycling images of the people who believed in her and the words that empowered her. Most of all, she looked ahead and saw more than the wooden spikes of war that had been driven into this land of peace and love. This fear wouldn¡¯t stop her from making her dreams come to life.

    She did halt when a horn-helmed knight shouted for her to identify herself. Alexia inhaled at the sight of an archer line taking aim at her, held her ground, and exhaled as she focused upon the knight rather than the arrows. ¡°I am Master Alexia Bluerose of the Arcanium. I offer whatever assistance I can.¡±

    The wall guardians lowered their bows and burst into murmured conversation. More of them were women than men and almost all of them gazed into the encampment behind them. Alexia heard a shrill howl of pain from within.

    ¡°You are the light of dawn after endless night,¡± the horn-helmed man answered. He was already turning the gate¡¯s wheel. The mechanism grinded and the gate lowered into a drawbridge, slamming against the ground over the encampment¡¯s trench.

    Alexia nodded, tried to hide her nervous heart, and walked forth as though she were in the world¡¯s thinnest tunnel.

    Her vision expanded with horror. She had expected a triage area with medicans working away at the few dozen wounded that made the journey back from last night¡¯s battle. Instead, a few dozen medicans worked on hundreds of dying Leverians. Blood and viscera blended with sorrow and agony in a quantity that exceeded Alexia¡¯s imagination. Missing from the sight was Master Elianor Silverglow, who should¡¯ve been leading these efforts.

    Alexia strode into that role. This fit her like the locket, like Zander¡¯s love, like Azi¡¯s friendship. Her confidence in her bond with Leverith banished everything else. She attuned her thoughts and feelings with the Divine of Love and Dreams.

    Alexia cared. She cared whether the people here lived or died. She cared whether love filled their hearts or hate. She cared whether they strived for vengeance or peace. She looked forward and saw all the children of Leverith here moved toward ending the Gemstone War so scenes like this would never happen again. Leverith answered her and her spirit energy flocked to her, flowing in massive torrents and streaming blue light around Alexia¡¯s acacia staff and emitting a moon-blue glow from her as it overflowed the staff and filtered into her body like a salve for the soul.

    Alexia took in a breath, held, and exhaled as she focused on her task. Her eyes were not for the crowds of people watching her. She had a purpose and that was all she could see ahead of her. Purpose gave her a drive to action. Action overrode self-consciousness. She heard people saying her name, but she tuned it out and became one with Leverith, giving all of her attention to the wounded bodies right in front of her. In that moment, she wasn¡¯t Alexia Bluerose, the crowd-shy girl who hid in nooks and hoped the world wouldn¡¯t find her. She was a conduit of Leverith and she was exactly where she had to be.

    Alexia assessed the situation. The medicans scrambled from person to person with no leadership to guide them and they shouted and screamed at each other asking for supplies or a hand with an injured soldier here or there. Soldiers littered upon the ground begged for help, called for their loved ones, groaned in agony, or whimpered as they felt the world spinning out of control. All of this pain and panic went straight to Alexia¡¯s heart and pulled at her.

    She chose not to get lost in the sea, instead focusing on the first drop of water in this ocean of misery. The man looked up at her, emitting weak gasps. Medicans had bandaged a deep gash in the soldier¡¯s torso, but his life was fading nonetheless. Alexia relied on years of studying the body and diagnosis. Her training answered her summons just as Leverith had and in the space of five rapid heartbeats, she analyzed the wound. His bloodrivers would likely be carrying infection and the wound itself cut near the vital areas that housed the heart and lungs. Alexia noted the symptoms of hypoxia: short, irregular breathing, rapid heart rate, feverish sweating, and pale, bluish skin. The internal bleeding was an imminent threat to his life.

    Leverith¡¯s divine energy resonated within her as Alexia allocated her love of all people to love for this specific man who needed her. He was a piece of the whole and his wholeness would help make peace. Emotion alone wouldn¡¯t save this soldier. Alexia needed vision too. She used her inner eye to visualize Leverith¡¯s divine energy cleansing the tainted bloodrivers, mending the viscera and bone that had been sundered, and closing the gash on his chest. She released her focus and Leverith¡¯s spirit, a brilliant blue light, flooded toward the man¡¯s wounds. Within another three turns, the wound was closed and the man stood up.

    Tears in his eyes and trembling with overwhelming emotion, the man clambered to his feet and gave Alexia a hug. His touch awakened something in her and she felt echoes of Maleon¡¯s lessons. It wasn¡¯t cold professionalism and distance that mended misery. It was her, soul and heart bared, sharing Leverith¡¯s love with others that would light the way forward. Disinhibited by purpose and action, Alexia lowered her stoic mask and returned the embrace.

    Leverith¡¯s Loop, reciprocal love that established a cycle of love and peace, spun against Leveria¡¯s cycle of hatred and vengeance. Alexia felt it and knew then what she must do. Shockwaves of ethereal blue pulsed from her, sweeping over the medicans, the wounded, and all the helpless onlookers. Wounds wouldn¡¯t be healed by these waves of blue. Instead, Leverith¡¯s divine energy tethered everyone it touched to Alexia¡¯s love. She exposed her fragile heart, knowing that her compassion might give a dying man the strength to hold on a little longer.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Eyes were on her, but she saw only the path forward. Alexia took command of the medicans, ordering them to work together to guide her toward people most in need, to keep them alive, and to be prepared to provide her with an assessment of their wounds as she arrived. ¡°Leverith¡¯s love will guide us all,¡± she promised them.

    Alexia opened her heart to each person she healed. She smiled at them, tears of compassion glistening on the edges of her eyes, as she gazed into their eyes rather than avoiding them. Sometimes she would reassure them softly, other times a silent smile was more than sufficient. Alexia¡¯s love attuned to Leverith¡¯s love and both the girl and the goddess mended body and soul. Alexia felt the reciprocal love of each person she touched. Their eyes lifted and widened, mouths turned upward, and tension released. Many shared words of gratitude or blessed her. Some complimented her, touching on topics as varied as her eyes or her kindness. Their love pushed her forward, giving her the strength to give more of herself and keep her compassion strong.

    Alexia continued to emit shockwaves of Leverith¡¯s divine energy, giving those who waited for her something to hold on to. In her periphery, she could hear the once demoralized observers sharing words of encouragement with the wounded and making promises of hope on Alexia¡¯s behalf. The medicans gave their diagnoses with increasing confidence and calm. Alexia worked faster than she ever had before. She was driven by love but also by need. She needed to do something good, something loving, something so opposite to what she had done in Ferrickton. She needed to believe in herself again.

    Not everyone could be saved and those losses cut into her, but she kept moving as long as there was still one more person she could reach in time. The encampment cheered her on, believing in her before she believed in herself. With their faith and love to lift her up, Alexia wielded Leverith in her heart, reclaiming hundreds of souls from Zamael. At last, after at least two angles of ceaseless channeling, one of the medicans told her that they had done everything they could.

    Alexia glanced at the medicans that had become a fluid team as the sun rose higher in the midday sky. ¡°You make Leverith proud,¡± she told them, wiping at her eyes. ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done this alone. You make me proud.¡±

    Ever a team, their lips quivered, and they nodded at her. Most began to wipe at their own eyes. One-by-one Alexia moved to them, embracing them and thanking them by their name. Many clung tight to her. Others leaned into her and cried tears of pride. Around them, the encampment celebrated. Their walls lowered by Alexia, soldiers rushed to meet each other and share embraces. Several pockets of chanting formed, and Alexia¡¯s name echoed in Mirrevar.

    Alexia watched the scenery that was more beautiful to her than Mirrevar itself. Her compassion turned inward, and confident thoughts flowed through her. Hers was a feat of endurance and skill that would be lauded in the Arcanium as one of the finest demonstrations of Leverith¡¯s spirit in the Third Leverian Era. She estimated that she had healed five hundred in a space of two to three angles. All the lives those five hundred touched were spared from the pain of their passing. The dread and hopelessness of the encampment was vanquished. Now, these were people caught in Leverith¡¯s Loop, and they looked forward and dreamt of better days. With Alexia in their midst, they saw those futures not only as a possibility but a certainty. No words could ever adequately convey how their renewed dreams empowered Alexia.

    Someday, she thought, glancing toward the area of tents where she had hidden beside Maleon a few days ago. Before that conversation with the Stonebreaker, she would¡¯ve never imagined she could do what she was about to do.

    Alexia strode into the eye of the crowd, the center of everyone¡¯s focus. They chanted her name and titles. The Second Great Wizard. The Savior of Tenacity. A new moniker arose from somewhere in the crowd and the encampment rallied around it.

    The Hero of Leverith.

    Flashes of Ferrickton intruded and her mind struggled to distinguish this chanting crowd from the mob in Ferrickton. Alexia felt them both, calling her villain and hero. She didn¡¯t batter away reminders of Ferrickton nor did she lose this moment to the intrusion. She was the villain who had destroyed Ferrickton just as she was the hero who saved hundreds today. Today did not erase the atrocity of last night nor did last night render today meaningless. Ferrickton gave her purpose to change course and to remember the evil she was capable of. Mirrevar reminded her that her bond with Leverith was still powerful and gave her hope that she could heal herself and this world. She held both the hero and the villain in her heart and mind as she stood in the heart of Leveria, trying to cleanse the infection at her core.

    Alexia was terrified. She trembled and her throat seemed clogged by primordial shyness. Her eyes darted from face to face, registering the hundreds of eyes focused on her. For a moment, she slipped the mask back on and forced her facial expression to flatness. Then her eyes fixed once more on where she hid from these people last span.

    Someday.

    A large part of her wanted that someday to be another day. Her scared, shy, self-conscious soul wanted to pass this responsibility to future Alexia. She could don the mask and strategically retreat. She could wrap her tender heart in a shell of stoicism.

    They continued to chant her name and crowd around her. Leverith¡¯s divine energy drew them to her and opened their hearts. Alexia couldn¡¯t have dreamt of a better opportunity or place to make someday into today.

    Never let fear get in the way of my dreams.

    Alexia tore the mask from her face, opening herself to these hundreds that had opened themselves to her.

    ¡°My family,¡± Alexia called.

    As one, they stopped chanting.

    Alexia had no premeditated speech and no experience in public speaking. Her enemy was hatred buried deep by over seven hundred years of fighting and freshly sharpened by last night¡¯s horrific battle. She wasn¡¯t innocent. Alexia knew that love didn¡¯t always prevail over hatred. Yet, she knew that it was the only thing that could and the only thing she had to offer. Heart and mind¡ªAlexia¡¯s internal antagonists¡ªagreed that peace was the most important thing to her; she needed to speak her dream in order to inspire others to live it with her. Through her paralyzing terror, through the shades of self-doubt, and through the haze of physical and mental exhaustion, she let her dreams bleed out of her unfiltered and unfettered.

    ¡°Last night, many of us nearly died and all of us lost friends.¡±

    Alexia kept her mask down and shed tears for Sir Timmeck. She gazed at the crowd, rotating and witnessing hundreds that mirrored her sorrow with tears of their own. Just as many muttered or hollered condemnation of the Ruby. Alexia understood their anger. It was the wrath she felt toward Maleon last night and it was Allison¡¯s rage. The anger spun the wheel of vengeance, and the hatred for the one who harmed you overshadowed love for the one you lost.

    ¡°You are angry. You hate those that hurt us and killed our friends. You want to see them hurt the same way you are, or dead the same way our loved ones are.¡±

    The head nods and the amplified condemnation of the Ruby startled her but didn¡¯t surprise her.

    Alexia inhaled, held, and exhaled. She elevated her voice, forcing power and confidence into it. ¡°Your pain is real, my loved ones. Your anger, your sadness, even your hatred, all of that pain is justified. We all have wounds that I cannot heal with magic.¡±

    The crowd continued to take up rallying cries. Like a rising tide, they shouted for Alexia to lead them back to the Ruby walls and finish what they started last night. They chanted her name once more, confident in her ability to guide them to victory and vengeance.

    Doubt crept into Alexia; she felt her dreams slipping away. Judgments about her inability to speak poked at her and led to urges of running away from the crowd. Yet, Alexia stared toward last span¡¯s hiding place. Someday, you¡¯ll lead these people.

    Breathing heavy and tears flowing freely, Alexia pulled the wooden doll out of her pocket and held it high to the crowd. ¡°Hear me!¡±

    She waited for them to quiet before continuing. ¡°Last span, I infiltrated the Ruby Kingdom to sabotage a mine in a town called Ferrickton. While I was planning the assault, I was befriended by a Ruby girl. Allison.¡± Alexia choked on her emotion. She let out a sob but found her voice. ¡°Allison was a twelve-year-old who worked with me in the town lord¡¯s manor. She told me stories, listened to my songs, and invited me to her hearth. Her family welcomed me just as well as anybody has ever welcomed anyone. When she saw my sadness, she hugged me and told me everything would be alright. She gave me nothing but love as I plotted how to destroy the livelihood of her town.¡±

    Alexia¡¯s jaw tightened. She refused to wipe away her tears. She didn¡¯t have to be either the Second Great Wizard or a dreamer of peace. She could be both. She could be a powerful leader capable of phenomenal magic and a loving, vulnerable, imaginative girl. The crowd was silent. In her mind, Alexia saw Allison on the ground outside The Rusty Pickaxe, fading into darkness. She held the doll aloft. ¡°Her father told me that Allison hadn¡¯t smiled the way she did around me since before her mother had died. She cared for me so much that she decorated one of her only possessions to look like me.¡± Alexia¡¯s voice broke, ¡°Do you know how I repaid her?¡±

    Most of the crowd lowered their eyes, knowing where she was headed. A few soldiers shook their heads while others said ¡°no¡± or asked ¡°how?¡± Among them, none brandished open judgment of her vulnerability. She found the courage to continue.

    ¡°Last night, I killed that innocent girl¡¯s father and dozens of people who fought to protect their homes from a monster. Last night, I ruined the life of a child! A sweet girl who only wanted to love me.¡± Alexia¡¯s tears clung to her eyes and covered her cheeks. She sobbed several times before reclaiming enough of her composure to speak. ¡°That girl has every right to hate me and wish for my death!¡± Alexia paused. She inhaled, held, and exhaled. ¡°Are your wounds any different from the wounds of Allison of Ferrickton?¡±

    Silence. Only the distant rushing of the Eagle River and the squawk of a giant eagle flying over the encampment ventured into that vast quiet.

    Alexia sniffled and scanned the crowd. Many had somber, tearful countenances, and that inspired her. Some of them mouthed ¡°no¡± or shook their heads. She couldn¡¯t find a single face that seemed angry with her and that kept her from losing momentum. Sure, some looked skeptical as they resisted the possibility that the Ruby people could be just as human as themselves. Alexia couldn¡¯t fault them, but she would help them see and feel the truth she had learned last night.

    ¡°The people of Ferrickton who surrounded me and screamed for my death are no different than those of us who call for us to march on the Ruby encampment. The Ruby people have every right to hate us just as we have every right to hate them. We have all been wounded. We have all lost our innocence. Yet, I ask you, my dear friends, where does this lead us? What will our lives reap if we sow naught but vengeance? That path of hatred holds naught but death. I ask you, what path would Leverith have us walk?¡±

    Alexia forced herself to look forward. She put the doll in her chest pocket and took the hands of the people closest to her and waited until the whole encampment was connected in a chain of hands. ¡°We can choose to keep hatred in our hearts. We can choose to pursue vengeance. We can choose to hurt the children of the people who hurt our parents. We can choose to allow this war to go on and pass the torch of vengeance to our children and let them suffer just as we have!¡±

    Alexia closed her eyes and looked forward in her mind. She inhaled, held, and exhaled. She opened her eyes and tried to look into the eyes of as many people as she could. She felt exhilarated. Her anxiety was banished by passion and purpose as she became one with her words and one with the emotions of the crowd. She didn¡¯t find judgment or hatred in their eyes. These people loved her, not despite her words of peace, but because of them.

    Without her bidding, Leverith¡¯s spirit rushed into her in torrents and blue light spiraled around her like a cyclone. Leverith¡¯s Loop, she realized. Just as hatred begets hatred, love begets love. Her words rang loud and left her throat sore from the passion and the power of her song. ¡°I say that we choose to end the endless cycle of hatred! I say that we choose to embrace peace and love! I say that last night was the last night that we choose vengeance!¡±

    Alexia didn¡¯t know how the army would react when she decided to share her dream. She doubted her ability to speak and thought herself devoid of charisma. She knew that hatred and vengeance were mighty foes that so often crushed love. She knew that these people had just been battered and would want retribution. For all of that, she knew she had to try. She couldn¡¯t let her fear get in the way of her dreams. As their resounding sounds erupted around her, she looked toward the nook where she had hidden several days ago and recalled the words Maleon had spoken to her.

    Someday.

    As the crowd applauded and called for an end to the Gemstone War, Alexia knew that someday had arrived. She knew, for the first time, that Maleon was right about her and that she had the capability to lead Leveria to peace. Alexia believed that someday this would be remembered as a turning point. Not only for Leveria, but for her. Someday, peace would return to Mirrevar and to Leveria. Someday.

 Chapter 29: A True Leverian Hero

    Four pillars of black smoke loomed ahead and arced into Mirrevar. The smoke reached for the heavens as though the souls of the dead were striving to enter Paradise, only to be dragged down into Zamael¡¯s Hells.

    Outside the remnants of the palisade walls of the Ruby encampment, work crews stripped and burnt the Sapphire dead. Zander sat atop Paladin, his silvery-white warhorse, absorbing the nightmare scenery. His entire body felt heavy and slumped with the invisible weight of all this death. Each of the four pillars were fueled by hundreds of corpses. The quantity of dead, many of them felled by his own blade, froze him in place. The carelessness with which they were treated opened his eyes once again and filled him with a sensation of wrongness. None of the people he killed would see their loved ones again for there were none here to speak for the dead Sapphires and few who likely even cared that their souls were damned to Zamael¡¯s Hells.

    This is not justice. This is not peace. This is not love. How many were good people? How many had an impact on others or a bright future like River? How many had children or lovers waiting for them to return home? How many had parents or grandparents awaiting their arrival in Paradise? How many were just in the wrong place at the wrong time fighting a meaningless war against their will?

    Halfway through a sigh, Zander growled. Anger overrode sadness. It was easier to blame than to sit with sorrow. Zander clenched his fist and breathed heavily as he identified who needed to answer for this atrocity. Zander glared beyond the smoke to the west, to Rubinia. Adameon. He looked behind him and glared eastward toward Sapphirica. Gideon.

    ¡°I will make them pay for this,¡± he promised himself and the dead.

    A tall, gangly man rushed toward him, wielding a shovel. He opened his mouth, but only exhaled. Theo led Zander to a hole in the ground under a lone sequoia beyond the camp¡¯s palisade walls. The tree was in an open field surrounded by flowers. It was a beautiful place for a beautiful person. Alas, River shouldn¡¯t be in a hole in the ground. Zander swore silent vengeance upon Sir Aldius of Lelac, the man who struck River down.

    The setting sun cast a waning, golden-orange light on the Hometown Heroes as they mourned and guided their beloved leader. Slender Gordan nodded at Zander. His eyes were rimmed red, and his arms were covered in dirt. Zander nodded back even though very little was right in this divinedamned world.

    ¡°Here lies River of Mirrevar. He¡­he¡­¡± Gordan¡¯s voice broke, and tears burst from his eyes. Zander put his hand on Gordan¡¯s shoulder and shed a tear for the young man bereaved of his best friend.

    ¡°River was alive for nineteen years,¡± Vernon said. ¡°Yet, he lived those nineteen years like they were a hundred.¡± Vernon stopped as tears welled in his eyes. ¡°He was always ready,¡± Vernon choked, ¡°to help someone in need, even if they didn¡¯t ask for it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Theo muttered, his voice uncharacteristically solemn.

    ¡°He would help anyone,¡± Gordan said with a smile behind the tears. He stood tall and Zander let his hand drop from his shoulder. ¡°Do you guys remember when he saved old man Warren from Keefe?¡± Both Vernon and Theo nodded, smiles now contrasting their sorrow.

    Vernon looked at Zander and explained, ¡°Old man Warren was a heartless codpiece. He used to set his mutts on anyone who wandered near his shack.¡± Vernon grimaced and looked down.

    Theo released a pained snort, that came out like a pig¡¯s oink. ¡°They chomped a piece out of Vernon¡¯s arse once.¡±

    Vernon moved the story along, eager to shift the topic away from recollections of his arsechomping. ¡°Keefe was the son of a titled knight. We worked on his father¡¯s land. He was too high to associate with us, but he too suffered at the mouth of Warren¡¯s mutts.¡±

    Gordan picked up the tale. ¡°Keefe made plans to seek revenge against old man Warren. River overheard Keefe tell one of his lackeys that he was going to burn down old man Warren¡¯s shack. When River told us that he wanted to stop Keefe, we all told him to ignore it. Old man Warren was a nasty codger. It seemed Meladon¡¯s justice would be delivered at last. River refused to listen to us. He stood vigil alone outside of old man Warren¡¯s shack and caught Keefe and his minions in the act. They held River back and beat him as he tried to stop them. Still, River ran into the burning shack. He was bit by the dogs several times, but he carried old man Warren to safety. Warren never gave River a word of gratitude for it.¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t understand why he did it,¡± Vernon added. ¡°Getting his arse beaten and risking his life for that old piece of shite.¡±

    ¡°None of us could at first. I will never forget what River told us when I asked him why,¡± Gordan continued. A sad smile graced his lips and the words that left them wobbled. ¡°He told us that everyone has good in them. He told us that even a mean old man like Warren must have done some good in his life or that he could still do something worthwhile later. He was bit and beaten all over, but he told us that he had no regrets.¡± Gordan choked but pushed through his sadness. ¡°He would do it again, every time, because it was the right thing to do.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Zander wiped at his teary eyes. This story had only consolidated and reinforced his conviction that River had been a great man. While the others took solace in this memory, it struck Zander hard that he had only spent one day with River. He felt like he had been robbed of one of the greatest gifts he had ever received. This aching pulled on all the other gifts that were taken too soon, tearing at the scars of Alexia¡¯s and his own mother¡¯s departures. Thus, Zander of Mirrevar wept for himself, longing to have more time with these people that inspired him to be better, and thus he resolved to cling tighter to those he still had. He gazed at the three men who survived River and thought of his own best friend awaiting him in the encampment and vowed to take none of them for granted, expecting that it would not be long before they too were torn from his life.

    ¡°That is how River thought about everyone. He saw the best in us,¡± Vernon began to breathe heavily as he fought sobs, ¡°even when we couldn¡¯t see it.¡±

    ¡°He accepted me,¡± Theo somberly added. ¡°He invited me to become one of you when my own family had disowned me. I was an outcast. Everyone thought I was raving mad. And I was,¡± Theo¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°Until he put me together for the first time in my life.¡± Theo paused, working to stifle his tears. ¡°I remember how hesitant you two were about letting me in the group. Not River. River welcomed me with open arms. I was wild, violent, and would erupt at the slightest hint of provocation. Unlike my own ma, River didn¡¯t give up on me when I screwed up and made life harder for him.¡± Theo grimaced. ¡°If I never met him, I would¡¯ve died years ago. Crazed and alone.¡± Theo stopped, seemingly holding his breath to keep from moaning out his grief.

    ¡°I am sorry, Theo,¡± Vernon offered. The stocky man set his hand on the lanky man¡¯s shoulder. The consoling touch seemed to set Theo free as the welled-up tears slid down his cheeks and his moaning, adenoidal cry escaped his restraints. ¡°He did the same for me. I had nowhere to go when my dad died in the war and my mother lost her will to live. I was weak and scared. I still am! River told me that I had the soul of a hero. He said that I would one day become strong and brave.¡± Vernon paused and looked down at River. ¡°He smiled at me when he said it. I was broken. I was down. River lifted me back up when no one else cared two shites about me. He made me believe when all I had was doubt.¡±

    ¡°He gave us all strength,¡± Gordan said quietly. ¡°He was my best friend for as long as I could remember. My ¡­ father hated me. My mom died in childbed and my brother died in the sacking of Mirrevar. I was only a baby during the sacking. Father said that their dying was my fault. He said that I slowed him down and it cost my brother his life. My father told me again and again that it should¡¯ve been me that died. My brother was strong, not me. My brother was good, not me.¡± Gordan shook and kept his eyes fixed on River. ¡°I believed him. I was only happy when I was spending time with River.¡±

    Gordan paused to weep, but everyone could tell that he wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°When I was thirteen¡­ I¡­ I¡­ tried to kill myself,¡± he whispered. ¡°My father had a particularly strong fit of rage. He beat me and told me that I would be more useful dead.¡±

    ¡°Gordan,¡± Zander muttered softly. He knew those feelings all too freshly.

    Gordan met Zander¡¯s eyes. ¡°I walked to the top of Nash Cliff. I planned on jumping onto the rocks below. I didn¡¯t know that River was following me. I was prepared to jump when he tackled me. I begged him to let me go. I was worthless and deserved to die. He told me that I was not worthless to him. He told me that I had a purpose because I was his,¡± Gordan frowned and finished in a whisper, ¡°best friend.¡±

    Gordan lowered his eyes back to River and sniffled. ¡°He looked forward and told me that I would be better than my father. He told me I would grow old and wise. He told me that I¡¯d spread love and kindness through the world. He told me all these things¡­things he can never do...¡± Gordan stopped, unable to speak through the sorrow.

    There were a few moments of silence before Zander spoke, keeping his eyes on River. ¡°I didn¡¯t know him as well as you, Gordan. Yet, listening to your stories, I know that River did use his life to spread love and kindness through the world. I know that the gifts he gave you will lead to a more loving and kinder world.¡±

    Gordan sobbed and nodded, grasping for a purpose behind his pain, yearning for something to look forward to in a world without his brightest source of light.

    Zander continued, ¡°I felt inspired to be the best I could be when I was near him. The world is a drearier place without his soul to brighten it. It is up to us to keep his light shining, and to give his gift to others. Spreading his light to others who will pass the light onward and onward, now and forever. That is how his influence will live on, enduring and immortal, long after all of us are gone. He will continue to be a beacon of goodness in a world dimmed by evil.¡± Zander stared long into the grave, tears brimming in his eyes. ¡°River of Mirrevar, a true Leverian hero.¡±

    ¡°A true Leverian hero,¡± Gordan repeated with a smile on his quivering lips. Vernon and Theo nodded heartily.

    ¡°Shall we say the words?¡± Vernon asked anxiously.

    Zander, Gordan, and Theo nodded.

    All four men locked their hands together and raised them in front of their downcast faces. They spoke with solemn voices in unison. ¡°Father Meladon, guide his soul to your Paradise. Mighty Gidi, grant his body rest for his fights are past him. Arcane Yadeen, grant him peace of mind and wisdom in the next life. Mercantile Ovidon, allow him respite from his labors. Luminous Norali, shine your light so that he may always see. Bountiful Celegana, create soil for him so that he may always have firm footing. Tranquil Dalis, shower him with water so that he may be pure and never thirst. Brilliant Seraxa, ignite a fire so that he may always be warm. Cool Qoryxa, soothe him with your icy touch when he is hot. Changing Zafrir, send him a gentle breeze so that he may be comfortable. Mischievous Balbaraq, show him the clear sky of eternity. Dreaming Leverith, reunite him with all those he loved and lost. Dark Zamael, stay your wickedness, for you shall never touch him! Go with Peace, River!¡±

    They let a few moments pass in silence, hands held, as River¡¯s soul was guided to Meladon¡¯s Paradise. Then, taking turns, they filled the hole. They marked the grave with River¡¯s bastard sword, a fine double-edged iron blade with a flat crossguard. The sword might be looted or lost to time, but Zander would never forget River. He would remember the position of that sequoia until the end of his days. He vowed to bring his children there someday and show them the grave of a true Leverian hero. He vowed to see Mirrevar at peace, to help create the world River dreamed of. Most of all, he vowed to do his best to see the best in others and carry River¡¯s light forward.

 Chapter 30: Surrounded

    Alexia lowered her head and smiled to herself. She had held her self-consciousness at bay long enough to say what she needed to say, and she even believed she had said it well. For now, there was no rush of anxious thoughts cross-examining every word she said and highlighting each blunder with regret.

    I did it, she realized. I really did it. She shook from pride as she grasped the significance of her internal victory. I can do it again.

    This bud of confidence was young but received massive nourishment from the surrounding crowd. Close to a thousand people gathered around her, singing her praises and echoing the call to end the war amidst an encampment built to sustain war. Their words, their rush of positive emotions, testified to the truth. Alexia had lowered her guard, dropped her mask, and spoken her dreams to a group of people enthralled by hate and vengeance, and somehow changed their hearts.

    Leverith! She had needed this! Her smile grew with the dreams she had planted today for all these people.

    Alas, one did not become gregarious after a single speech. She was still Alexia. This Alexia could speak her dreams to a loving crowd bound to her by Leverith and she could do it better than she had ever imagined possible. However, she was still the same person who was lost in everyday conversation, who struggled to find her words or measured them far too long before releasing them. She was still the woman who was terrified of attention, particularly when it fixated on her appearance. Alexia was the girl who had been ridiculed by princes and queens for being soft of heart, and driven to hide herself by envious teachers who would criticize everything about her. She was, at her core, still the person who was worn out by being around groups of people. The old Alexia needed permanent vacations from socialization. This new Alexia needed to escape and take a break before draining herself once more.

    When she had spoken to the encampment, she had temporarily broken free of the self-conscious cage that had forever enclosed her. The walls were closing in again. She scanned the crowd, trying to identify the people who weren¡¯t joining in on her dream of peace. Sir Aldius''s hungry eyes devoured her like she was the tastiest morsel. Alexia folded her arms over her chest and trembled. The adrenaline and Leverith¡¯s spirit were waning, siphoning away her courage. Her reflex was to escape, shut down, and protect her vulnerable core. She needed to isolate and insulate herself. Her thoughts became an endless river flowing toward this conclusion. Unfortunately, Alexia was surrounded by people who expected her to be something more than a timid girl.

    The higher-ranking knights and master medicans surrounded her for impassioned discourse. She startled, her heartrate vaulting even higher as a knight put his hand on her shoulder. They closed in, all talking to her at once. The air seemed to vanish from her lungs and expel from her mouth with haste. Everyone was closing in on her. She was surrounded.

    Their words passed by her unheard. Alexia¡¯s focus was internal; her eyes saw nothing but blurred images of the crowd. A scream climbed her throat, gathering energy with each external noise. She restrained it, with tremendous effort. She struggled to breathe. Alexia tried to teleport her mind, but her distant eyes saw the sea of people closing her in. A hand patted her back and a shriek escaped into the Mirrevar afternoon.

    One of the medicans, bless her until the end of all eternity, called for the others to stop crowding her. Alexia barely heard any of the words that followed. Her eyes turned inward, critical of that shriek and wondering how many now thought her the scared little girl with the soft heart. From a distance, she heard commentary on her sudden paleness or her heavy breathing.

    She clung to one utterance, as it broke through her overwhelm. ¡°She needs rest.¡±

    It was the intervening medican. Alexia reached after her words like a swimmer drowning in a river grasped for a lifebuoy. ¡°Rest,¡± was all she was able to utter.

    ¡°I will take care of her.¡± It was the knight who had allowed her passage into the camp that volunteered to escort her. She followed him, head down, as he forced his way through the crowd, shouting for people to clear out. Alexia fixated on his boots and kept her arms folded over her chest. People reached for her, touching her arm and shoulder, and threw their words of gratitude and adulation her way. She shivered and recoiled at each passing touch. The crowd seemed endless, everyone focusing on her. Alexia drew up her hood, making herself as small as she could, and not just to fit through the gaps in the crowd.

    The knight led her down the main east-west road toward the center of the camp. Chants of her name followed them. Alexia looked forward, avoiding eye contact with the Horned Ape.

    The knight did not avoid her.

    ¡°We crushed the Ruby outside of their walls the night we crossed Mirrevar with you,¡± the knight told her. ¡°You and Master Stonebreaker helped us defeat the bulk of their elite force and I swear to Gidi that your influence made us stronger outside of their walls. You empower those you touch, both with your words and your magic. Today is further proof of that.¡±

    Alexia sighed. She was so tired.

    He continued, oblivious or uncaring. ¡°I only wish that we had waited for your return. Our scouts and spies had all agreed that the Ruby encampment was vulnerable. No leadership. No cognitive-affectomancy. Master Conrad deemed that our victory was certain, and Sir Lucius agreed to rush an assault last night.¡± The knight groaned. ¡°For all the wounded you saved today, twice as many didn¡¯t return with us to camp.¡±

    Alexia closed her eyes and frowned. She didn¡¯t want to hear this now but knew that she needed to.

    ¡°We were deceived. The Ruby had a sorceress, a master of Norali¡¯s light, who blinded our entire force while her army barraged us with poisoned arrows that somehow penetrated steel. She knocked Sir Lucius Elagrimear off his horse, then he was killed by a poisoned ally who thrashed out with his blade in his final moments. Sir Lucius¡¯s son was second-in-command. He tried to rally our offensive and died fighting a monster of a man that stood a hand taller than any other man I¡¯ve ever seen. Another arrow claimed our most talented knight, Sir Edric the Everbloody. Arrow punched right through his gorget from over a hundred yards as he was commanding the assault on the Ruby¡¯s main gate.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Alexia stopped in her tracks. Maleon had been right. Zander and Alfread had turned the tide of the battle. A thousand Sapphire corpses, forever unguided, likely burned in western Mirrevar because she hadn¡¯t saved them. They would burn forever in Zamael¡¯s Hells because she loved the man that killed them. That wasn¡¯t all either. Alexia clutched at Allison¡¯s doll. Maleon had turned against her the moment she spared Zander. Could the killing in Ferrickton have been prevented?

    The knight gave her no space to process this revelation as he dealt another crushing blow to her. ¡°Master Conrad had nearly defeated the Ruby within their walls. We heard them suffocate as he covered them in smoke. But his spell failed. The Ruby witch cleansed the air and a moment later, Conrad was struck by a pair of poisoned arrows and Elianor failed to resuscitate him.¡±

    Alexia listened, stunned. His spell failure¡­ he had been using Zafrir¡¯s wind energy to blow smoke into the Ruby encampment. While she had been trapped in the mine, she had harnessed a massive amount of Zafrir¡¯s wind in the locket. She reached for her sternum, gripping at the space where the locket belonged. She had stolen the energy Conrad had been using for his spell.

    ¡°Master Silverglow ordered the retreat, but she''s issued no commands since then. Our command structure is in disarray and even though you healed hundreds, this army is broken.¡±

    The knight stopped and turned to her. He was an older, heavyset warrior with a crescent shaped birthmark on his cheek. This close, she recalled him from the night she traveled across Mirrevar with Maleon and Timmeck. She had saved this man¡¯s life, healing him after he had taken an arrow. ¡°What is your name?¡±

    ¡°Sir Hammond,¡± he answered with a bow.

    Alexia cut to the heart of his unspoken message. ¡°The stalemate is broken, the Ruby has momentum, and this encampment is without leadership. Even if I have rallied us toward peace, the Bearbreakers will reinforce the Ruby. They will push an assault on us.¡± Alexia frowned and held the last words longer, not wanting them to be true. ¡°You believe I need to take the lead to save this encampment.¡±

    Sir Hammond nodded.

    Just like that Alexia was surrounded again. She cursed several of the Divine Thirteen under her breath. The logical wheels in her mind spun, slamming her heart into wall after wall. If she left Mirrevar, the Ruby would sweep the Sapphire across the Eagle and all the people she inspired would be dead or deterred from peace. If she stayed in Mirrevar, she couldn¡¯t exert pressure on King Gideon to end this war and she would have little authority to make peace with the Ruby in Mirrevar. Worse, if she stayed, she might fail. Alexia had little training in military strategy. Besides, leadership would overdraw on her ability to be someone she was not. Yet, if she returned to Sapphirica, King Gideon could brush away her plea for peace and kick her back to Mirrevar anyway.

    Her anxieties surrounded her from every direction. The Ruby would never come to peace with her. Not after Ferrickton and Vulcan. King Gideon wouldn¡¯t stop pressing her for more victories. The Sapphire and his archlords wouldn¡¯t be swayed like the common folk who paid the price of the Gemstone War. She would be Zander¡¯s enemy! Would she die at his blade or would she kill him? Whoever remained would follow behind as the Chimaera devoured a divided Leveria.

    Alexia lowered her eyes. She was too exhausted, too hopeless, to cry or whimper. Nobody would believe her about the Celegans, even if she tried that tact. The Ruby would see it as a manipulation. The Sapphire would refute it as inconvenient. She had no physical proof to force them to see the truth of the impending Celegan invasion.

    Everywhere she looked, she found only impossibility and defeat.

    ¡°We need you,¡± Sir Hammond reiterated. ¡°Master Silverglow should be in charge, but I fear she will abandon the task. We have several knights of equal standing in the Horned Apes that could claim the command. I am one of them. However, I expect that Sir Aldius of Lelac will formally take leadership even though he is young. Aldius is the best man for the job, and he desires it the most. Yet, being the best doesn¡¯t make him sufficient to face the coming wrath of the Bearbreakers. We need you, Master Alexia.¡±

    Aldius. The nightmare only further shattered her dreams. Aldius was a phenomenal swordsman and an arrogant warmonger. He had taken advantage of her and Maleon and lured the Ruby to attack them when the goal was just to escort Alexia to the Impwood. Then, instead of distracting the Ruby from their infiltration, Aldius had led an assault against the Ruby encampment. This was the last man she wanted in charge of this army that she just redirected toward peace. She couldn¡¯t leave Aldius in command. Yet she had to leave.

    Alexia sighed. She gazed up at the sky and a breeze tossed waves of dark gold and chestnut brown hair on her shoulders and back. ¡°I need time to rest and reflect, Sir Hammond.¡±

    Sir Hammond nodded and guided her along a side road for half a degree without another word. He stopped outside a mid-sized tent. ¡°This is my own personal tent. My squire was another of the casualties.¡± He heaved a sigh and his voice grew despondent. ¡°I will see that you aren¡¯t bothered while you recover from your ordeals.¡±

    Sir Hammond saluted her and took his leave.

    ¡°Hammond,¡± she called after him. He glanced back over his shoulder. ¡°The Sapphire and the Ruby have bled enough. My priority is peace.¡±

    Hammond drew his sword. Alexia reached for Aurora. She was back in Ferrickton watching Sir Barnett approach her with his blade drawn. Alexia channeled Zafrir¡¯s wind into her staff as her emotions spiraled out of control.

    Hammond held his sword horizontally in both hands and knelt. Alexia¡¯s breathing remained fast, even though she knew logically that he wasn¡¯t going to attack her. A part of her couldn¡¯t believe what her eyes knew to be true.

    ¡°I pledge my blade to you, Master Alexia Bluerose. I pledge my body to protect you. I pledge my soul to your cause.¡± He looked up at her. ¡°I believe in you and whatever choice you make.¡±

    Alexia looked away, scrambled for the stoic mask, and searched for the words she was supposed to say in situations like this. ¡°Thank you, Sir Hammond¡­ I am¡­ honored.¡±

    Hammond stood and bowed again. He smiled as he replied, ¡°The honor is mine.¡±

    Alexia retreated into the tent, exhaled, and monitored her breathing for several degrees. Inhale, hold, exhale. Imagine the anxiety floating away like autumn leaves fallen on a stream. With nearly each breath, those leaves engulfed her and prevented her from reaching an inner peace. She was surrounded by problems past, present, and future. Somehow, she had to find the answers.

 Chapter 31: The Quill of Destiny

    Zander found Alfread inside of a large, two-room tent at the center of the encampment. Alfread and Asa were standing beside each other, leaning on a well-crafted oak table, pointing to various parchments, both holding quills and making notations as they discussed encampment logistics. Where and when to send patrols. Which positions to fortify with outposts. How to manage resource procurement.

    Zander observed unseen, grinning, as they spoke with familiarity and companionship. He watched the tilt of how they leaned, both toward each other, closer than was necessary. Asa¡¯s hand brushed against Alfread¡¯s as they reached for a document and shared a bashful smile. Alfread complimented Asa on each brilliant thought, calling her radiant. Her aura of silver light gleamed brighter each time they grew closer.

    Zander¡¯s morose thoughts were pushed to the back of his mind as he beamed for his best friend. The scene before him looked like it could be from one of the love stories Alfread told on Telling, where two beautiful people fell in love and overcame whatever obstacles were bound to push them apart. Alfread and Asa were breathtaking and together they looked like a painted masterpiece. Alfread was tall, fair, powerfully built, and immaculately handsome, dressed in fine leather armor atop chainmail. Asa was petite, bronze, and divinely gorgeous, wearing a crimson and white robe. Her golden hair flowed behind her in waves like strands of Norali¡¯s sunlight and her magical aura shone brilliantly as it illuminated and accentuated their beauty. Together they shone like stars in the night sky.

    Alfread sighed. ¡°I left my home to help Leveria defend herself from the Celegans. Yet, I feel as though we work to hasten her demise with all this planning.¡±

    Asa¡¯s hand went to Alfread¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I know,¡± she said, her voice a gentle reflection of Alfread¡¯s lament. ¡°Leveria is anemic. Another battle will only bleed her further.¡±

    This shift brought back Zander¡¯s rage. He closed his fists and cursed the two kings who were responsible for all the bleeding. ¡°Then let it end,¡± Zander announced.

    Zander¡¯s sudden proclamation reminded them that other people existed in this world of theirs. Alfread and Asa startled, both looking like they were caught doing something they were told not to. Asa withdrew her hand from Alfread¡¯s shoulder and leaned against the table. Alfread went a shade paler. ¡°Zander?¡±

    ¡°It is I,¡± he answered, grinning for a moment before his lips arched downward. He set his eyes on Asa. ¡°There can be no more fighting. Adameon and Gideon have bled us enough. Let those vampires go thirsty. This war ends now.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Alfread agreed, mouth rising. ¡°End it must. No more will the blood of the lowborn and the innocent be spilled for the kings in their high towers.¡±

    ¡°How do we stop it?¡± Zander asked Asa.

    Asa exhaled and shook her head at them like she was a big sister babysitting her childish little brothers. ¡°We cannot stop this wagon. We can argue about who pushed it down the hill, but we are so far down the hill that we cannot see the crest.¡± The elfin woman folded her arms over her chest and frowned. ¡°The stalemate is broken. Last night was a beginning, not an end.¡±

    Zander gripped his locket. He refused to become Alexia¡¯s enemy. ¡°You command this camp,¡± he said, his tone trading sweet for sour. ¡°Command us back into a stalemate.¡±

    Asa¡¯s aura lost luster, shifting from silver to gray. ¡°The Bearbreakers are going to rush in before the span is out. Sir Werner will eject me from his counsel and attempt to conquer Mirrevar.¡±

    ¡°Might Wayn send Whelan?¡± Alfread asked.

    Zander tried to gauge Alfread, wondering whether he had deduced that Asa had been involved in a dalliance with the Bearbreaker heir.

    The cognitive-affectomancer lowered her head and shrugged. ¡°It is possible.¡±

    ¡°And he may be more tractable to your counsel?¡± Alfread asked, leaning against the table, crossing his arms.

    Asa¡¯s light remained faint and gray. Combined with the setting sun, the tent was dim. Her normal charm and confidence were as absent as her brightness. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°If he believes in his oaths, if he watches for peace, if he trusts your judgment that those wolves were Celegan,¡± if he cares for you, ¡°he will listen,¡± Zander said.

    ¡°Then let us hope for the son and not the brother,¡± Alfread said, his voice miserable.

    So, you are not blind, Zander realized. He tried to envision what Alfread must be experiencing, hoping that Asa¡¯s former paramour¡ªa handsome, competent, heir¡ªbe sent to Mirrevar. Zander squeezed the locket. It probably felt akin to your lover returning to the castle where her betrothed prince awaited.

    ¡°I hope for a good night¡¯s rest,¡± Asa muttered. She moved toward the flap of the second chamber in the tent. Asa pulled it aside, revealing a large bed with all the luxurious trappings of a lordling¡¯s sleeping chamber.

    Alfread rose to his full height. ¡°I believe in you, Asa Radiant. No matter the Bearbreaker in command, I will be by your side.¡±

    Asa¡¯s aura flashed, going from gray to silver. Zander had to shield his eyes, before it returned to its baseline luminosity.

    The master cognitive-affectomancer kept her back to them. ¡°I am growing fond of that title. If only you were a king, Alfread, I¡¯d be able to truly claim it.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s lips rose into a fond smile. ¡°Though I will never be your regent, I look forward to being the reagent that helps you shine brighter than the stars.¡±

    Asa¡¯s aura flashed once more. Whelan Bearbreaker stood no chance. His cause was just as hopeless as Halius Sapphire¡¯s. Zander and Alfread would prevail. Love would prevail.

    Asa stood still. Her voice was as dim as her light was bright. ¡°Have a good night, Alfread.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s eyelids looked heavy upon his half-closed seers. His lips twitched before he offered, ¡°Until next time, Radiant.¡± Alfread bowed to his beloved¡¯s back, with a well-performed flourish, and left the tent.

    Zander moved to follow him out into the setting sun. He prepared his rallying speech to get Alfread back in that tent and to finish strong. As he read it, Asa was all his.

    ¡°Not you, Zander. I have a few more words for you.¡±

    Zander¡¯s eyebrows arched. He held the flap of Asa¡¯s tent open and watched Alfread cross the road to another tent. He wondered whether the witch would confide her interest in Alfread and ask his advice. Zander put a finger up to Alfread and his friend nodded. ¡°This is ours,¡± Alfread called across the road, opening the flap.

    Zander nodded. ¡°I will be there in a degree.¡±

    Alfread returned the nod and ducked through the opening.

    Zander closed the opening to Asa¡¯s tent and strode back into the tent. He lifted his eyes to meet hers and froze. She was lying sideways on her bed. Her head was tilted, one hand on her cheek, while she supported herself with her elbow. Zander¡¯s vision focused on the slight opening between her lips.

    He flinched, hoping the mirage would fade when he opened his eyes. His eyes betrayed his heart and left his mind confused and dazzled. The gray-lit beauty was still seductively displayed before him like wet sand on a beach inviting him to lay beside her. She patted her bed. ¡°Come closer.¡±

    Zander stomped toward the exit. His anger shadowed by his disbelief. He reached for the exit.

    ¡°No!¡±

    The desperation of her command left him with one hand on the tent flap. He shivered like a cold bucket of water had been dumped on his head. Asa¡¯s desperation echoed in his memory, pulling recollections of Joyce pleading for him to stay the night and hold her until the dawn. He sighed, heartbroken for Alfread and for Kenneth¡¯s sister. Zander gripped his locket and cursed Leverith under his breath. Why did women choose him when he was sworn to the Sunrise? Why did the one woman he wanted leave him behind? Had he not been devout and offered enough tribute? Or did Leverith have more in common with Zamael than he previously believed? No matter the truth of these questions, the certainty was that Zander¡¯s faith in the Divine of Love was weakened and that felt irreparable.

    Zander gripped the tent flap and closed his fingers around it. He wanted to rip it off and roar. Why in Zamael¡¯s burning Hells was this happening! He tried to steady his breath before chastising her for doing this to Alfread. He tried to gather the words, thinking before reacting, but articulation was elusive.

    ¡°Come hold me with those strong hands, hero.¡±

    Growling, he rotated to rebuke her. The words were stuck in his throat. Zander stared, unable to process what he saw.

    Asa sat up on the bed, dim gray light illumined each slender edge and full curve of her sandy brown body. She twirled the rope that previously cinched her discarded robe and tossed it at him. She bit the corner of her lip, pressed her palms into the mattress, and arched her shoulders back. He marveled for several turns, his traitorous eyes absorbing every glorious detail of her. She gazed at him with heavy, hungry eyes, tossed her long, golden hair, then flashed him the most devilish smile he had ever seen.

    Zander ignored her seductive words and finally snapped free of his fixation. He turned his back to her, not trusting his eyes or his body. She knew he had a life¡¯s mate. She knew Alfread was his best friend. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± Zander made a noise that was half grunt and half growl. ¡°Are you truly this poisonous?¡±

    She didn¡¯t call after him as he stormed from the tent, gripping his locket, and hiding his shame. He was determined never to allow himself to be alone with her again. He paced the road for a degree, before steeling himself to enter his tent and address Alfread. The tent was large enough that Zander wouldn¡¯t need to crouch to fit inside, which automatically exceeded his expectations. Neither was it a large barracks to be shared with a squad, but the private tent of a knight and his squire.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Zander entered. The inside contained two cots with austere bedding, two packs full of clothing that wouldn¡¯t fit Zander, and a grindstone to sharpen blades. Alfread sat on one of the cots and nodded at Zander when he shut the flap. Zander claimed the open cot and glanced nervously toward Alfread. Zander¡¯s best friend sat on the other cot, studying him.

    ¡°What?¡± Zander demanded. His heart was quickened by dread that Alfread may have deduced what Asa had done or that he could sense how Zander had been aroused by it.

    ¡°Where to begin?¡± Alfread spread his arms open and grinned. ¡°I see two roads we can go down. First, Asa,¡± Zander flinched, ¡°is going to suggest you for knighthood when reinforcements arrive from the Peacewatch. You earned it, Zander. Sir Zander of Mirrevar.¡±

    For most of his life, Zander dreamt of becoming a knight. One span ago, the promise of knighthood would¡¯ve been the greatest moment of his life. Years of hard work finally fulfilled. Now, that dream felt hollow. Zander set his eyes on the gray canvas ceiling. ¡°I killed perhaps a hundred Sapphires last night.¡± Zander slammed a fist into the cot. ¡°One hundred!¡±

    ¡°Zander,¡± Alfread began, his concern not reaching Zander.

    ¡°I honored my oath to serve the Bearbreakers as I pissed on my oath to watch for peace! I tried to protect my friends, yet River is dead, and I killed men and women that could have been my neighbors! Every time I see a sword or look at these hands,¡± Zander lifted his hands up toward Alfread, ¡°all I see is their blood and all I hear is their agony as I cut them down.¡±

    ¡°Zander,¡± Alfread repeated, leaning forward and reaching a hand across the tent.

    Zander¡¯s voice gained momentum, rising in a crescendo alongside his fury. ¡°The real enemy are these Celegans and here I am killing people that should be our allies! For what! So Adameon and Gideon can claim a few parcels of land!¡±

    ¡°You are right, my brother. This battle further infected the wound that festers at the heart of Leveria. I believe that it would have been worse had we not been here, but that does not change this feeling that we have done wrong.¡±

    Zander tried to imagine what would¡¯ve happened if he hadn¡¯t been here. The Ruby encampment would have fallen. The Hometown Heroes would¡¯ve all been killed and substantially more Rubies and less Sapphires would¡¯ve died. Mirrevar would belong to Gideon Sapphire and the Sapphire would¡¯ve free reign to raid the area around Urzport and Vidacas. Innocent lives would be in danger. ¡°We contained the damage to Mirrevar,¡± Zander knew. ¡°Yet, that does not make what we did glorious or good.¡±

    Alfread nodded. ¡°Leverians who could have been our friends and allies are now smoke and ash. Your blade, my arrows, and my plans sealed their fate.¡± Alfread looked down at his own hands. They trembled.

    Zander sat up and exhaled. ¡°You did the right thing, Alfread. Everybody in this encampment owes you their life.¡±

    Alfread grinned toward Zander. ¡°How easily I could say those same words to you.¡± He looked up at their roof. ¡°Why then are they so hard to say to ourselves?¡±

    Zander snorted. ¡°That arrow strikes true.¡±

    ¡°Aha! The curse of impossible personal standards. Ever has Alfread son of Evan and Zander of Mirrevar nitpicked themselves for perfection and excused each other¡¯s imperfections.¡±

    Zander snarled. ¡°While not seeing that we were just trying our best with what life threw at us.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Alfread agreed with a wink. ¡°And your best, Zander, deserves to be recognized. Nobody can deny you have the skill of a knight. I would say that your feelings, your pain today, demonstrate that you possess the heart of a knight.¡±

    Zander looked down. He knew that Alfread¡¯s words were true. He felt wrong for the wrongness that had been done and wanted to stop it from happening again. That was a sign that he was one with Leverith and not Zamael. Right?

    Alfread interrupted Zander¡¯s reflection. ¡°I prayed to Meladon today that we need not fight the Sapphire again.¡±

    ¡°Divinedamned Meladon,¡± Zander cursed and turned his face to the tent¡¯s wall. ¡°He abandoned us. Typical king. He sits cozy in his Paradise while his children fight and die. Pray to Leverith. She is the only one that can save us from this war.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right, Zander. Though it makes for a fine story, I am just troubled to think of how love can heal these wounds between the Ruby and the Sapphire.¡±

    Zander curled up on the cot, turning toward the tent¡¯s wall. Head on a hard pillow and body beneath a coarse, woolen blanket, he closed his eyes and tried to find sleep. He put his hand to his locket and only felt heartbreak.

    ¡°The other road,¡± Alfread muttered, six feet away. He slid off his cot and sat on the edge of Zander¡¯s. Zander ignored him and kept his eyes shut, tears leaking out as he thought of Alexia. He managed to restrain any noise that would reveal his sadness.

    ¡°What happened with Alexia?¡±

    Zander wasn¡¯t surprised Alfread figured it out. All he needed to see was the locket once more around Zander¡¯s neck to make the pieces fit together. Alfread placed his hand on Zander¡¯s back and Zander broke. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need me.¡±

    Alfread squeezed Zander¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡± Zander¡¯s fury rushed out of him, boiling over the cold sadness that had previously smothered it. ¡°For a while it seemed that everything in the world was right and would end up okay. Then, she took it away! Like everybody else! She left me at the foot of the Goddess! I wanted to run away with her or go with her to the Sapphire Kingdom to make Gideon end the fighting. Some oathkeeper I am!¡± Zander exhaled and the sadness re-smothered the fury. ¡°I wanted to share her dreams. I wanted to be her sworn shield, her confidant, her life¡¯s mate.¡± Zander choked and the mental wound he had previously bandaged broke open and bled tears. ¡°Instead, she left me with the locket and a promise that we would be enemies the next time we met.¡±

    Alfread, being Alfread, fixated on the plot twist. ¡°Alexia is the Alexia? Alexia Bluerose? The Second Great Wizard? You are in love with the Second Great Wizard?¡±

    Zander snorted and wiped the snot that blasted from his nose on his hand. He rubbed it off on the edge of his bed. ¡°My Sunrise will always eclipse me. She has no use for me, so she left me.¡±

    Alfread was silent for a moment, his hand steady on Zander¡¯s back. ¡°I believe that someday she will shine brighter because of you and that you both have need for each other. I believe that all of Leveria needs you two.¡±

    ¡°Tell that to her,¡± Zander spat.

    ¡°I would if I could, brother.¡± Alfread massaged Zander¡¯s head. That was Mirielda¡¯s trick. Alfread¡¯s hands were not quite so effective at it, but Zander allowed his attempt at consolation. He was hungry for any closeness and Alfread was feeding him. ¡°Search your heart. Do you believe that she wants to love you or that she wants to be your enemy?¡±

    Zander remembered the magic pouring from his mother¡¯s locket when he held Alexia. That magic belonged to Leverith and Alexia had created it with him. ¡°She wants to love me,¡± he admitted to himself.

    ¡°Remember that,¡± Alfread implored. ¡°Remember that her love for you is brighter than the stars and more powerful than war. Remember that she too dreams of peace and your hearts are bound together. Remember that, in her dreams, she will be with you. This nightmare will pass. The sun will rise once more. You will be together again.¡±

    Zander reflected upon all the bad things that happened in his life: his mother dying, his father abandoning them, the Gemstone War, the battle last night, Alexia leaving him heartbroken at the foot of Goddess Hill, even Asa choosing Zander over Alfread. He was learning that even the beautiful love stories, like Mirielda and Evan, came with curses such as Evan¡¯s crippling and Mirielda¡¯s disinheritance.

    Zander lived in a world without happy endings, a world of war and agony, a world where people hardly got what they needed and rarely, if ever, got what they wanted. He lived in a world without justice where kings could live in palaces and eat plum pudding while ordering thousands to die fighting for a pointless cause. ¡°Good people seem to have a way of never getting what they want, Alfread. We don¡¯t live in one of your storybooks. To think that everything has a happy ending is a child¡¯s innocence. The Divine Thirteen are cruel. The dreams of mortals mean nothing to them.¡±

    This day wasn¡¯t destined to be the first that Alfread yielded a philosophical argument to Zander. ¡°Yes, believing that everything has a happy ending is innocent and believing that nothing has a happy ending is equally cynical. Our lives are like stories, Zander. We have the power to author them, to live in a way that will give us our best chance to write our own happy endings. We may try our hardest to get what we want and still not get it. We are subjects of the Divine, of sovereigns, of fateful chance. Yet even though we can never control all the characters and the settings in our story, we can still write pretty good stories for ourselves if we are willing to pick up the quill of our own destiny rather than give in and let others write our stories for us.¡±

    Zander sighed. There was sense in Alfread¡¯s words and beneath Zander¡¯s pain, he believed in them. He needed to keep pushing the quill against the parchment until Alexia was back in his life and wearing his locket. She wanted to be with him but couldn¡¯t. Zander wished he understood why. Half a degree passed in silence as Zander pondered and Alfread patiently waited.

    Alas, Alfread¡¯s patience waned, and the lecture continued. ¡°Leverith wouldn¡¯t have guided you and Alexia into each other¡¯s lives if she didn¡¯t care. Your love will be the sunlight and rain that allows peace to blossom. That is Leverith¡¯s plan.¡± Alfread shifted, both his body and his tone of voice. Where he was confident and composed, he became more inquisitive and uncertain. ¡°However, there must be a reason why Alexia left you behind.¡±

    Zander was blank, but he held to every word Alfread said as though they kept him from falling off a cliff. Alfread didn¡¯t ponder long, using his sharp mind to unravel the knot. ¡°Imagine if Asa started the day by announcing to everyone that River¡¯s killer was her new lover. Imagine that she ushered him into camp, fully enamored with him, and told you that you had to welcome him.¡±

    Zander shot up in the cot and glared at Alfread. His mind was back in the battle, trading cuts with Sir Aldius of Lelac, desperately fighting for vengeance as the camp burned and the Ruby fled back behind the tree line. ¡°I would kill him!¡±

    Alfread smiled. ¡°Aye. Now imagine Alexia bringing you to the Sapphire encampment this morning.¡±

    Zander¡¯s heart pounded and his breathing hastened. The Sapphire would recognize him. He''d be attacked and would have to defend himself. Alexia would be tarnished in their eyes. He lowered his head. ¡°She couldn¡¯t bring me there. Not today.¡±

    ¡°Yet, she needed to go there. To cross the river, to heal the wounded, to sow the seeds of peace, to rest and recover from her own journey. Now, if she had told you that she couldn¡¯t bring you and why, what would you have done?¡±

    Zander snorted. ¡°She tried to. Nothing was going to stop me from being beside her.¡±

    ¡°Except for giving you the locket and telling you that she would be your enemy.¡±

    Zander exhaled and felt as though he deflated all the air that had ever been in his lungs. He sobbed. He nodded. He accepted Alfread¡¯s logic as truth.

    ¡°Alexia didn¡¯t leave you, Zander. She couldn¡¯t take you. Can you see the difference?¡±

    ¡°I can,¡± he mumbled. This shift in perspective allowed him to hold the locket and look forward to the day it would be hers again rather than look behind him to this morning. He leaned into his friend and embraced him, one arm below and one arm above the shoulder as was proper male custom. ¡°Thank you, Alfread.¡±

    Alfread held him tight. ¡°Now, the quill of your destiny is in your hands. What will you do with it?¡±

    Zander leaned back and broke the embrace. Purpose rose within him. ¡°Alexia returned to Sapphirica, to make Gideon Sapphire stop the fighting. I cannot sway Adameon Ruby, nor can I chase after her. But I¡¯ll be here to welcome her when she returns. Until then, I will do everything I can to make sure she returns to a land that has been kept at peace. That is my purpose. That is how I share her dream, even when I am not with her.¡±

    Alfread nodded, misty-eyed. ¡°And you are not alone in that.¡±

    Zander cried aloud and embraced his friend again. ¡°You are the best friend I could ever hope for, Alfread.¡±

    Alfread tightened his grip. ¡°You are the best friend I could hope for too, Zander. I thank you for your hard advice on Asa last night.¡±

    Zander felt a pit in his stomach and battled with whether to share what Asa had just done. But the embrace ended before he could muster the courage.

    Alfread stepped into the center of the spacious tent and held his arms open. ¡°Life is a story, and we are the authors!¡± Alfread rose to his full height and grandiloquence. ¡°I am the author of this story, Zander. In the next chapter, I will take control of my story and write the ending that I want.¡± Alfread headed toward the tent flap with the flourish of a professional showman, leaving his audience gaping in amused disbelief.

    ¡°Alfread,¡± Zander called. Alfread stopped at the tent flap and glanced at Zander. The setting sun cast an orange glow, illuminating Alfread¡¯s princely figure. If she were able to see sense, Asa would be the most fortunate woman in Leveria. ¡°I love you and any woman with any sense would too.¡±

    Alfread nodded. ¡°I love you too, Zander.¡±

    ¡°Write your story, brother.¡±

    Alfread winked. ¡°Brighter than the Stars. That is the title of my next chapter.¡±

    Zander smiled. That was the story of how Alfread¡¯s parents fell in love, here in Mirrevar. Zander could surmise Alfread¡¯s next move. He only hoped Asa would choose the panacea this time. Regardless, Zander wouldn¡¯t give her the poison.

    Alfread left the tent wearing a smile that shone brighter than the fading light. Zander knew that the next chapter of his own story involved entry into the Hall of Dreams. At last, the long night was over, and, thanks to Alfread, Zander had found peace.

 Chapter 32: Leveriths Chosen

    Alexia startled awake. Her heart slammed in her chest. Sweat covered her in a thick sheet. A frantic, frenetic energy drove her into blind action. She dove for her staff and clung to it with white knuckles. Her breath came in faster than it came out and she trembled, holding tight to Aurora. She scanned, jerking her head left to right and right to left to up to down and up again. She did this for several turns before she believed that she was alone in the tent.

    Sir Barnett and his sword were not here. Nor was Maleon Stonebreaker and his cutting words. The weight of the entire planet was not crashing down on her. Her shoulders were not straining to lift that burden. Her legs were not aching, trying to move under that impossible load. There was no skeleton begging for her to save him despite the massive, bloody hole in his head. Of shadows, there were a few. The sun was high in the sky of Gidi¡¯s day, like the war looming over her. Her shadow cast upon the canvas, always behind her no matter how much she strived toward the light.

    Alexia gathered herself, whimpering and correcting her breathing the way she had been trained. Those early lessons¡ªinstilled by teachers like Master Lyle and Master Theos¡ªwere deeply embedded into her and came even when her body wanted to hyperventilate and scream into the sky. She did nothing other than breathe for several degrees. She counted her breaths until they numbered a thousand, closing her eyes and visualizing each number dancing in front of her. Intruders tried to sever her focus. Alexia let them in and saw them with her inner eye, then shifted back to those dancing numbers. As she counted higher, she added truths to counter the lies. She was safe in the tent. Barnett and Maleon were dead. She couldn¡¯t have saved Timmeck. Allison wasn¡¯t chasing her. Only her conscience followed her and all she could do was look forward. Just like she had read in Queen Alexia¡¯s journals: Look forward, because that is what will make you great.

    Alexia set Aurora down and opened her eyes. She was still alone in the tent. A midday sun crowned the sky. Some of those mental intruders couldn¡¯t be refuted for they were truths. Alexia was nauseous from an entire day of deprivation, drowsy from oversleeping, and dirtier than she cared to be. She longed for her mother to take care of her. Alas, Ione Bluerose was three hundred miles away in Sapphirica. An entire world of problems separated Alexia from her home and destination.

    Alexia groaned, wishing everything didn¡¯t have to be so hard. She was tired of hard, of an endless series of challenges no matter if she looked back, forward, or at the present moment. Yet, she knew she could start a journey with a single step and that step didn¡¯t have to be a great leap forward but only an opening of a door and a single toe onward. Thus, today¡¯s trials could begin with the procurement of much needed sustenance.

    Alas, Alexia¡¯s hand froze on the tent flap. Even opening your door and wiggling a single toe into the world could seem the most daunting of tasks when the thought of being surrounded by people threatened to curl you into a paralyzed globe. Her thoughts were a billion blades sharpened on the grindstones of ¡®what if¡¯ and ¡®I can¡¯t.¡¯

    She sat down, folded her legs, and crossed her arms. Alexia stared at that tent flap as her stomach growled and felt powerless. Alexia wished her parents were here to play accomplices in her avoidance. Were Azi here, the princess could be bombastic to the point that Alexia could fade into the background. Had the world been the way she wished, Zander could bring her breakfast and then spark her confidence with his affection and passion. The burst of confidence she had felt yesterday when she healed the wounded and spoke her dreams seemed to happen to another woman. How could that woman be the same person as this helpless little girl?

    Alexia lowered her eyes and told herself that woman yesterday was a mirage. She expected that most of the encampment had already forgotten their commitments to peace. Zamael¡¯s Hells, soon they would be throwing open the tent flap and dragging her back out into the fields of flowers to spill more blood. Worse, she would do it because her divinedamned emotionless mask would plaster itself back onto her face and she would go along with whatever they said because she was fundamentally incapable of saying no or of intentionally disappointing others who expected things of her.

    The sun turned in the sky until it started to wind down, her stomach growling until it felt like she could never possibly eat food again with how much it ached. Yet, Alexia sat there with a blank expression as her mind tortured itself with all the worst-case imaginings of embarrassing herself or disappointing others. The web of self-doubt she spun entangled her in her self-made fears, ensuring they would return to snare her another day if not every day. As was oft the case, she was rescued by another, an unknowing savior.

    Alexia froze when she saw the shadow outside the tent. A broad man bent down near the flap and set something upon the ground. It clattered and clanged when it scraped against another object that the man retrieved from just outside her tent.

    The Second Great Wizard cursed herself. She had trapped herself in her own misery for angles with only the company of her growling stomach and self-sabotaging brain while a platter of food had been waiting just beyond the flap.

    Alexia counted to a hundred, even though the man¡¯s shadow had long disappeared by then, then peeked outside. She reached for the platter and pulled it back into her hideaway.

    The pit in her stomach wasn¡¯t sated by food and drink. Alexia released a dry sob, wishing that the world was different. Zamael¡¯s Hells! She enumerated her problems: Mirrevar, the Gemstone War, the Celegans. Beneath those umbrella problems were countless more problems. She had no idea what to do. She wished the problems would disappear or that somebody else could solve them. She prayed to the Divine Thirteen, begging them to make things right.

    She put both hands over her face and massaged her temples, knowing that the answers to the world¡¯s problems needed to come from her and that no Divine was going to solve them for her. Her father¡¯s philosophies reached her, pushing her into a pragmatic survival mode. Just wishing something to be different wouldn¡¯t make it so. That path led only to the failure to accept reality and that would only bring her pain and make what she had to do harder. No. This was not the season for helpless tears and paralyzing fears. Alexia needed to swallow the reality of the situation like bitter medicine then stomach the struggle ahead of her. The wallowing needed to end.

    Look forward.

    Alexia inhaled, held, and exhaled. She looked far enough ahead to visualize her next step. Now she needed to walk the road to her answers.

    Sir Hammond sat on the opposite side of the street, faithfully watching. He lurched to his feet. ¡°Leverith!¡± he declared, his cheerful voice matching his smile, ¡°you know how to sleep!¡±

    Naturally, every nearby camp worker tuned into his exclamations, ceased everything they were doing, and found her amidst them. Her hand returned to the tent flap, longing to avoid this and everything that would follow. She exhaled. Her lips rose and her voice was sunshine, but her weary eyes were no true sunrise. ¡°Good evening, Sir Hammond!¡±

    Alexia stared at the ground, scrambling for ideas to get out of this. Her mind wandered to legends about witches who could disappear and reappear, channeling Dalis¡¯s divine energy to morph themselves into mist. Her father¡¯s spies reported that Lira Tidecaller had rediscovered that power. How Alexia wished she could evaporate from this place and condense inside of Elianor¡¯s tent. Alas, Alexia was not that talented with Dalis nor was she inside some fantasy.

    She was out of place in these everyday human interactions, surrounded by strangers and acquaintances that expected her to be capable of engaging in the social dance that seemed to come naturally to most people. But Alexia couldn¡¯t find the steps nor the rhythm to dance with them. Instead of trying her best to keep up, she spent so much time staring at her feet, waiting for everyone to notice how incapable she was.

    She was lost in the prolonged silence, waiting for a lifebuoy to grasp onto. Sir Hammond threw one. ¡°Is there anything I can do for you, Alexia.¡±

    Alexia nodded and her eyes flitted to him. He probably had to strain his ears to hear her unsteady utterance. ¡°Can you escort me to Master Silverglow?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Sir Hammond strode to her side. ¡°Right this way.¡±

    Alexia walked as though she were moving through the world¡¯s most narrow tunnel. Her eyes stayed ahead, locked in place, focused on the goal and nothing else. Hammond quickly gave up on getting her to be his dance partner, as she defaulted to single word responses that cut the dance short.

    ¡°Elianor Silverglow hasn¡¯t left since we returned,¡± Hammond warned as they arrived at the command pavilion. ¡°But perhaps you can rouse her.¡±

    Alexia hesitated. The original flap had been blown away by Maleon, and its replacement clashed with the rest of the pavilion¡¯s design. ¡°I will try,¡± Alexia promised, braving through the flap.

    So much and so little had changed since Alexia was last here. Maps and parchment haphazardly covered a well-crafted oak table in the center of a spacious room. Master Elianor Silverglow, dressed in sapphire robes striped with silver, sat alone in a cushioned chair that faced away from the entrance. She stirred, rising to her feet, and painstakingly rotated. Elianor moved like she was down to her last breath.

    Alexia was astonished by what she saw. Elianor¡¯s face had aged fifteen years in five days. Her extravagant beauty, so evident a few days ago, was obscured by the pall of her grief. The silver-haired witch wore lines and wrinkles where once smooth surfaces existed. Her shoulders slumped and her body sagged. Cognitive-affectomancers aged much more slowly than their peers. Alexia had never seen the anti-aging effects undone as if decades of delayed aging flooded through, washing away all traces of the shining diamond and leaving behind dull quartz.

    Alexia¡¯s heart thrummed with sadness as her mind echoed Elianor¡¯s pain. That intense emotional resonance shattered shyness and self-consciousness. There would be no social dancing here. Instead, they ventured into Alexia¡¯s realm, where she formed deeper bonds with individuals who were in pain and needed some love. Alexia, eyes glistening, embraced her. ¡°I am sorry.¡±

    Elianor leaned into her, her arms hanging at her side. The shorter woman rested her head against Alexia¡¯s chest and sniffled once before closing the embrace and letting silenced sobs sneak away from her guarded heart.

    When last Alexia was within these walls, she had realized that Elianor was the only light in Conrad¡¯s life. She now realized that the reverse held true. Without Conrad, Elianor could no longer glow.

    Parted from Zander, Alexia felt a fragment of Elianor¡¯s agony. She multiplied that feeling by a lifetime spent together and was amazed this woman could stand. As it was, Elianor¡¯s channeling was muted like the pulse of a dying man. The master was hemorrhaging divine energy. The loss of her power and her grief left Elianor a husk of the great woman she had been. Alexia held her and tried to inject Leverith back into her life. Shockwaves of blue light emitted from Alexia like compressions to the chest to reawaken a stilled heart.

    Elianor¡¯s spirit rejected Leverith. The waves of love crashed against her shores, finding sand that could not hold water. The water was sent back into the sea. Leverith¡¯s light rebounded back into Alexia, where it found a home in her caring heart.

    ¡°Elianor,¡± Alexia lamented.

    ¡°You truly are Leverith¡¯s chosen,¡± Elianor tonelessly muttered. ¡°Leverith has abandoned me. May she never do the same to you, child.¡±

    Alexia held Elianor¡¯s words as much as she held her.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°If only you had been here sooner. No. If only I had stalled them longer.¡±

    Sir Hammond cleared his throat. ¡°Sir Aldius advised Master Conrad and Sir Lucius to assault the Ruby encampment after our victories the night you crossed Mirrevar. He declared that we ought to claim Mirrevar in your name, Alexia, in order to facilitate your safe return. Sir Lucius and Master Conrad wanted to press the assault immediately. Only Master Elianor¡¯s wisdom held them back. Then our scouts errantly confirmed Aldius¡¯s observations that the Ruby was broken and¡ª¡±

    ¡°And I should have still objected,¡± Elianor interjected.

    Sighing, Elianor let Alexia go and collapsed into her chair. ¡°I wanted him to wait for you and Maleon to return. But Conrad had always felt threatened by Maleon. Maleon and he were in the same training cohorts and Conrad had never matched Maleon once. The relationship Maleon and I once shared only deepened his wound. Then Maleon achieved more in one day than Conrad had achieved in years.¡±

    Elianor''s features tightened. ¡°I was a fool to mention waiting for Maleon! Conrad shouted at me. He would be a better man than the divinedamned Stonebreaker!¡±

    Elianor stifled a sob and swallowed. ¡°I told him.¡± She ground her teeth and set her eyes on Alexia¡¯s. ¡°I told him that he was a better man than Maleon. He had made me feel cared for in ways Maleon was incapable of.¡± She lowered her eyes and seemed to exhale any trace of joy. ¡°He told me that wasn¡¯t enough. He¡¯d prove to everyone, but most of all, himself that he wasn¡¯t inferior.¡±

    Alexia put her hand on Elianor¡¯s shoulder, hating how one man¡¯s pride cost this woman everything. ¡°You did your best to stop him.¡±

    Elianor shook her head. ¡°I should¡¯ve pressed him to abandon the assault once Sir Lucius had fallen. I should¡¯ve stopped him thirteen other times.¡±

    ¡°He needed his life¡¯s mate to believe in him.¡± Alexia choked back a sob, thinking of Zander. ¡°Your doubt would have broken him, Elianor.¡±

    ¡°And I wanted to believe in him,¡± she said, wiping away tears on her silver sleeve. ¡°I wanted him o feel like he was just as good as Maleon, even though I knew he wasn¡¯t. Now he is dead and¡ª¡± Elianor reached for Leverith, unable to draw on the Divine of Love even in the place where her power was most abundant. She wept.

    ¡°Maleon is dead too.¡±

    Elianor wrapped her arms around herself and rocked back and forth. Alexia embraced her again, caressing Elianor¡¯s back as she sobbed. Alexia felt like she should say something. Alas, none of her words seemed worthy. There was nothing but misery here and nothing Alexia said could soften that or cast it in a sunny light.

    Elianor retrieved her ash staff and tried to produce a spell. Only a tiny sliver of Leverith¡¯s spirit left the tip of her staff and it quickly diffused. Elianor shook her head, dropped her staff, and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m of no use to anyone.¡±

    Elianor couldn¡¯t channel Leverith, Norali, or Dalis. Likely, the power still existed within her but her connection to the three Divine was severed emotionally. That connection could be reestablished. Alexia had to give her a purpose. She had to give Elianor a reason to live, a reason to love, a reason to hope, and guide her back toward serenity and confidence. She didn¡¯t have to search hard.

    ¡°I need you,¡± Alexia told her. ¡°Every day, Leveria¡¯s beloved part because of this war. The women of Leveria watch as their men are conscripted. We wait for them and often never see them again or we see men return broken by what they have seen. We volunteer to go with them and then watch as they die in our arms. These stories are our stories, Elianor. They are the stories of millions of Leverian women over the last seven hundred and thirteen years. If nothing changes, these will be the stories of our daughters who have yet to be born.¡±

    Alexia took her hand. ¡°Unless we rewrite the script. I need you to help me end this war so that no more lovers must part like this. I need you to help me prevent what has happened to you from happening again.¡±

    Elianor let out a mirthless laugh that baffled Alexia. Alexia began to doubt her charisma again. She lowered her head as a cloud of shame gathered over her.

    A moment later, Elianor spoke with a more pleasant voice than any Alexia had heard from her today. ¡°You speak with a powerful magnetism, Bluerose. I might believe that you might just achieve the impossible.¡± Elianor raised her eyebrow. ¡°Maybe.¡±

    Alexia looked up and smiled at the witch, feeling her fragile esteem return to a comfortable position atop of a rickety wall that could fall apart at the slightest breeze.

    Elianor shook her head and rose straighter in her chair. ¡°I do not believe that the Divine Thirteen care about the stories of women. They have a father but no mother. Zamael¡¯s Hells! Celegana, Qoryxa, and Seraxa betray us. They grant men access to five divine energies and women only three.¡± Elianor pressed her finger into Alexia¡¯s chest. ¡°Except for you. They care about you and perhaps that is why you can end this war.¡±

    Alexia took a seat across from Elianor, her back to the entrance. ¡°I think the Divine Thirteen do care, Elianor. If I had to choose between the five and the three, I would take the three every time. Seraxa¡¯s fire, Qoryxa¡¯s ice, Zafrir¡¯s wind, Balbaraq¡¯s sky, and Celegana¡¯s earth can be mighty assets on a battlefield. However, Dalis¡¯s water, Norali¡¯s light, and Leverith¡¯s spirit are more fundamental to life. In fact, I would choose Leverith¡¯s spirit over the rest of them together. Dalis and Norali are bargains. We are blessed with the power to heal what is broken. Fix this nation with me. Help me bind it together so that our suffering can end.¡±

    Elianor nodded. Then she shocked Alexia by smiling. Elianor inhaled, held, and exhaled. ¡°Alright, Leverith¡¯s Chosen, I¡¯m with you.¡±

    ¡°Leverith¡¯s Chosen,¡± a strong voice repeated from behind Alexia. ¡°A fitting title for you, Alexia. Your unmatched beauty is a gift from the Divine of Love.¡±

    Alexia turned and saw the raven-haired Sir Aldius of Lelac standing beside Sir Hammond. Wearing a tight sleeveless tunic, Aldius struck an imposing figure, especially beside portly Hammond. His masculine face¡ªframed with a broad forehead and hard jawline¡ªwould be enough to enrapture most Leverian women. And he knew it so well that he couldn¡¯t accept when one didn¡¯t yearn for him. His dark eyes devoured Alexia with ravenous lust.

    She knew her reputation and her appearance made men like Aldius view her as a grand conquest, an epic tribute to Leverith, or even the one they¡¯d want to bond for their own shallow avarice. In this case, understanding didn¡¯t make her hate being coveted any less. It seemed that every time she started feeling comfortable in her own body someone would remind her of how she failed to learn the steps in Leveria¡¯s social dance. Couldn¡¯t she just be left alone? Why did everything have to be so hard?

    Aldius grinned at her and strode forth with his head cocked. He ran a hand through her hair. Alexia shriveled at his touch. ¡°Even your hair is magical,¡± he said, his voice a deep coo. ¡°Yesterday waves of golden greatness and today a perfect brown more beautiful than the bark of Covademara. How do you do that?¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m half Kavovan,¡± she answered, hoping the appeasement would get him to leave her alone. A foolish hope, counting on appeasement to satiate one entitled to adoration.

    He towered above her as she sat in the chair, his hand stopped along her cheeks. ¡°You cannot convince me that you¡¯re not a Kavovan metamorph, shaping yourself to perfection.¡± Aldius¡¯s invading hand glided along her hair from root to shoulder. He gave her a squeeze. ¡°You hide an athletic shape beneath these scholar¡¯s robes too. I wonder what other secrets there are to discover. Shall we find the answers? You and I, astride my horse. Tonight. We could inspect Goddess Hill and plan for re-fortification. Then rise in the morning beneath a Covademara sunrise far wiser.¡±

    He took her hand and pulled it toward his mouth. Alexia broke through the ice that had frozen her thus far and retracted from him.

    ¡°That is enough, Aldius,¡± Hammond rebuked. ¡°She isn¡¯t some tavern wench.¡±

    Elianor grunted. ¡°Seat yourself, Aldius, and stay your hands.¡±

    Aldius held his hands aloft as he eased into the chair beside Alexia. ¡°Very well. Then let us discuss our destiny.¡± He turned his eyes back onto Alexia. ¡°Fair goddess, I can make all of your dreams come true.¡±

    ¡°You know how to end the fighting?¡± Nobody could mistake the personal assault Elianor volleyed at Aldius.

    ¡°Come sit, Hammond,¡± Aldius ordered. Hammond obliged, claiming the seat beside Elianor. Aldius leaned toward Hammond. ¡°You were with us when we crossed Mirrevar. You witnessed our small squadron destroy an entire battalion of knights without a single casualty.¡±

    Hammond nodded at Alexia. ¡°Stonebreaker was incredible, but you were legendary.

    Aldius pounded a fist against the table. ¡°Exactly! Alexia will not fail us as Silverglow and Conrad did. She is worth thirteen of each of them.¡± He glared at Elianor and leaned forward, daring her to challenge him. ¡°You let that shiny little bitch control the battlefield. Alexia will render her as useless as she made you. The Ruby have no more traps waiting for us. Conrad, in all his brilliance, already led us into each one of them. I will slay their red devil. We take Mirrevar, reinforce our hold upon it, and force Adameon Ruby to the negotiation table.¡±

    Aldius set his hand back on Alexia¡¯s cheek. She was too stunned to do more than open her mouth and let it hang ajar. She couldn¡¯t leave this man in charge of the encampment. The only thing that exceeded his lust for her was his lust for conquest.

    ¡°Let Adameon know that he cannot face you in war, Alexia. Let him know that his only hope is to befriend you in peace. Afterward, you can host a gathering here in Mirrevar and end this war on your terms. The Second Great Peace shall be yours.¡±

    Alexia leaned away from Aldius. His hand fell and he pulled it away. ¡°I cannot demand peace by waging war,¡± Alexia countered. ¡°If there is to be peace, let it begin now. I will not attack the Ruby Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°And what will you do when the Ruby attacks us?¡± Aldius asked. ¡°We defeated the Brighton Hedgemen but either the LaGrett Howlers or the much more powerful Bearbreaker Peacewatch will supplant them soon. Do you think they will sit in their encampment waiting for us to reinforce our defenses? Another fight is inevitable whether you want it or not, Alexia. Fight now while the prospect of victory is best. A small battle to end all battles is a small price to pay. The price of any other course you take is far steeper.¡±

    Elianor sighed. ¡°He speaks truth. If we do nothing, Iceheart will come with a Peacewatch host and drive us from Mirrevar. Our best move is to strike immediately, choke the Peacewatch at the Impwood Landbridge, and have Alexia destroy the LaGrett fleet at the Owlbear Confluence. That decisive victory will force Adameon Ruby to negotiate with you, Alexia.¡±

    She felt the knots slipping around her, binding her hands. Fight against Zander, destroy a Ruby fleet, cause more deaths, more suffering, more orphaned Allisons, more Elianors never to see their beloved again. She clenched her fists and refused their advice. ¡°We cannot continue to fight the Ruby. What if we abandon Mirrevar? That is, if they are poised to attack us.¡±

    Alexia looked to Elianor for an answer, but it was Aldius who responded fastest, his patronizing tone thinly veiled. ¡°That is not an option. If we lose Mirrevar, half of the Sapphire Kingdom will be vulnerable to Ruby raiding.¡±

    ¡°Iceheart would not stop while he has an army at full strength.¡± Elianor pointed at a larger map of the Sapphire Kingdom. ¡°They could assault Maypine and Weiss by land. They could also target Zafirton, Ross, Lelac, Eggerton, or Eagle¡¯s Run by water. Any of those cities would be outmatched by an unhindered Bearbreaker army, especially if that shiny witch and her red devil are with them. Even worse, the people outside those cities would be defenseless.¡± She looked up and set her gaze firmly on Alexia. ¡°Under those circumstances, Adameon Ruby would laugh at any attempt to call for peace.¡±

    The assault hit Alexia from all sides as Hammond joined the voices of devastating reason. ¡°Alexia, with your help, I know we would win against the Ruby army that is garrisoned in Mirrevar now. Had you been with us two nights ago, we would already be uncontested.¡±

    ¡°Aye,¡± Aldius added. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have been a contest with Alexia or the Stonebreaker. Where is he?¡±

    ¡°Dead.¡± That was all Alexia could manage.

    ¡°What a pity. I can¡¯t say I liked the man, but he was certainly a more competent wizard than others I knew.¡±

    Elianor glared at Aldius. These two would divide this army in half if Alexia didn¡¯t find a solution. Yet, seeking guidance had only taken her further from the path she dreamed of. Could she buy peace at the cost of more war? Could more death ultimately buy life for Leveria? Could another battle be the answer? She knew what Maleon would say. He would call her innocent for thinking it possible to avoid this battle. He would tell her that her destiny was to make the Ruby submit and that would save Leveria.

    Alexia reached a hand into her robe pocket and brushed it against the doll. She had to protect all Leverians, including the Ruby soldiers in Mirrevar. Yet, how could she protect them if the Ruby brought the fight to the Sapphire? Was she still being innocent? Even after Ferrickton, had she not learned? Sometimes love wasn¡¯t enough on its own. Sometimes heroes played the part of villains. Linus Peacemaker had battled the Sapphire Kingdom repeatedly before forging the Great Peace. Did she have to fight one more battle? Against the red devil? Against Zander?

    The idea of such a future tore at the seams of her fragile heart. If she looked forward and saw only that possibility, it would render her as broken as Elianor. Yet, what other futures could be forged with these options? She had to prevent another battle to keep both armies safe and she had to simultaneously travel to Sapphirica to speak with King Gideon to stop the battles that were waged in the other disputed territories.

    And neither could wait. Peace was not just a girl¡¯s dream. Peace was the only way they could survive the Chimaera. If they could even survive then. She had to leave, but if she did, another battle would break out and more Leverians would die. Worst of all, if the Ruby held Mirrevar they wouldn¡¯t be open to peace.

    The broken witch and the two knights stared at her. She tuned out Aldius¡¯s encouragement that they would achieve her goals if she committed to the plan.

    Look forward. Look forward. Look forward! That is what will make you great.

    Alexia closed her eyes and clutched at her sternum. She felt the place the locket belonged and tried to reach for it. Instead, Leverith¡¯s divine energy answered. Alexia surrendered to the Divine of Love¡¯s caress. Her inner eye began to untie the knots, clarity coming to her as it had to Queen Alexia Leveria when she stared down three competing armies from atop Goddess Hill.

    The path to peace would be neither easy nor straight. Alexia would have to become the woman she had been yesterday, have to do the very thing she dreaded, and, most frightening of all, she¡¯d have to do it very well. Yet, Alexia had lost her innocence. She knew now that life demanded more from her than loving and dreaming her problems away. Leverith would be her guide, but love needed a voice. Further, she had to accept that no matter what she did, love could fail¡­and yet, it was the only answer she had.

 Chapter 33: Brighter than the Stars

    Alfread held the quill of destiny in his hand. With it he would write his story, determined to brighten Asa¡¯s aura every day. The story he wrote would be a life with her, brightened every day by the radiant smile and light which gave him hope that she would guide him to better days in this world replete with darkness. Today, on Norali¡¯s holyday, they would be each other¡¯s candles. Finally, Asa would see him shine. Tonight, tonight. The moment will be right. Under a sea of stars, love will be ours.

    Alfread held the catalyst of tonight¡¯s climactic moment in his hand. He lifted the luminous tonic aloft. The liquid shifted from pumpkin orange to forest green to star-bright silver. Little flecks of glowing substance flitted around and changed color a fraction of a turn ahead of the fluid that enveloped them. It was¡­

    ¡°Beautiful,¡± Asa remarked, taking the vial in her hand for closer inspection.

    Alfread¡¯s heart quickened at the sound of her voice. High-pitched and energetic, Asa¡¯s voice struck a chord within him that none ever had. She found the exact frequency that shattered his emotional inhibitions, sliding into his behavioral restraints like the one-and-only key that could. Just one word from her and he was at the mercy of overpowering love and desire. He gazed at her with as much awe and adoration as she had for the potion.

    The aura of silver light that surrounded her could only ever be approximated by that one word that defined Asa of Ferrickton: Radiant. Beautiful would suffice to describe the rest of her, but Alfread knew that radiant was again the best fit here. Her golden hair glimmered brighter than the sun and he imagined that gliding his fingers from root to end would be like caressing waves of light. He somehow restrained the impulse to run his hands through her hair and test the thought.

    Asa smiled up at him. Alfread memorized every detail of that wondrous image, stored in his perfect recall for all the ages that would follow this moment. Her eyes were vibrant emeralds emanating the vivacious life within her. Her skin was sand along the shores of Isihla or dunes in the Ugwadule where her ancestors had worshiped the radiance of Norali. Her lovely face was heart-shaped like Leveria and, to Alfread, was a mirror to her loving heart. How he longed to hold her cheeks in his hands and tell her the story of his own loving heart! Asa grinned that unparalleled clever smile of hers that only underestimated a brilliant mind brighter than all the stars. Her teeth shone at him like pearls within a mouth far prettier than any oyster. Alfread imagined his tongue brushing against her lush lips, sweeter than any apple could ever be.

    What is stopping you?

    A rush of anxiety swept through him and his hand trembled slightly while he tried to contain it. Alfread rallied with his mantra of the day: Tonight, tonight. The moment will be right. Under a sea of stars, love will be ours.

    ¡°Beautiful,¡± he agreed, his voice shaking ever so slightly, his eyes never leaving hers.

    Asa¡¯s aura gained a few lumens. Her eyes focused on his, for once not fleeing contact.

    Her eyes! Her eyes! Like emerald skies. I can look forever. My soul¡¯s true endeavor.

    Asa touched his arm, giving his bicep a squeeze. Naturally, as a result, Alfread felt that touch in his stomach. Excitement and nervousness spiraled, turning his stomach like a wheel. The Coward wanted to wheel away far from the nervousness. The brave author tried to pick up destiny¡¯s quill and seize the excitement. Write your story. Write your story!

    He couldn¡¯t even find the first line.

    Asa¡¯s hand glided down his arm until her fingertips brushed against his. Alfread startled and did the opposite of his intention, pulling the hand away on divinedamned reflex.

    Light shifted in the tent and Alfread couldn¡¯t tell if Asa had lost luster or if a cloud had passed between the sun and land. Asa¡¯s voice did not betray any loss within her. ¡°Beautiful as this tonic is, it is not the draught I ordered, Alfread.¡±

    His name rolled off her tongue with a drawn-out rumble, almost like a snake¡¯s hiss: ale-FREEEEED. Asa tried to look like a disappointed professor, but Alfread could see her smile glowing beneath like a ruby sun trying to hide behind a cloud. The gentle hand that had touched him now folded under her opposite elbow. Her arms crossed in front of her to convey her displeasure at his disobedience.

    He prostrated himself before her. Alfread portrayed himself like a sinner before the Seeress of Meladon. ¡°Let me explain, Master,¡± he said with drama thirteenfold what the situation merited.

    Asa chuckled and bit her lip to restrain her laughter. His insides felt alight, like Norali was shining the light of hope within, but that hope could fly away leaving him in a deeper darkness for its absence.

    ¡°Eyes on me,¡± Asa commanded.

    She dangled the vial of starbright in his face. This concoction was not what Asa had asked him to make. Of course, Alfread had mixed a cauldron of vinwine too, but he was not going to spoil the playfulness of this moment by disclosing that. Starbright served no military function. It would not enhance a fighter¡¯s strength or reduce pain¡¯s hold over the body as vinwine would.

    Asa¡¯s voice was as stern as thunder, too reminiscent of his own mother¡¯s when he woke her irritable side from hibernation. ¡°You have eight words to explain yourself!¡±

    Asa covered her mouth to conceal her muffled giggles. Alfread wanted to feel the tremors of joy that made her body shake. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and step from the realm of friend into the kingdom of lover.

    Tonight, tonight. The moment will be right. Under a sea of stars, love will be ours.

    ¡°Do you think I have all day? Speak!¡±

    Alfread¡¯s reflexes acted the part by starting with a jolt. A strangled chortle burst through her charade. He knew that Asa had been the recipient of this academic management before by the way she spoke of Emmalyn Panacea and was happy to offer her this catharsis.

    Alfread held a remorseful, subservient expression, channeling his inner puppy. His eyes climbed from her feet to her smile. The journey was brief but blessed. As commanded, he parsed his poetry into eight words. He knew Asa would solve the beginning of the puzzle. Whether she would respond to it ¡­ that was what filled the Coward with terror. ¡°West sunset, two met. Stars bright, in moonlight.¡±

    Asa rolled her eyes. This time it was genuine. Alfread reached for his tonic, but Asa had anticipated his reach and pulled back her arm in a swift retreat. She held a triumphant grin on her angelic face.

    I want to kiss you.

    Do it, the brave author thought.

    This is not the moment, the Coward cried.

    Alfread reached for the stars. Again, she drew back. Giggling, Asa fled to the opposite end of her command center. Heart full of excitement, Alfread chased after her.

    She burst away from the potioneering lab and slid under the table that was stationed in the center of the tent beneath a red canvas sky. Alfread leaned over the table with arms long and strong, but he couldn¡¯t reach her on the opposite side of the pine barrier.

    Asa stuck out her tongue. Swelling with excited thoughts of tonight, Alfread climbed over the top of the table; ledgers full of numbers left behind by the deceased Sir Daven Brighton of the Hedgemen slid out of order in Alfread¡¯s pursuit of radiance. He didn¡¯t care; he hadn¡¯t had such honest fun since before the wolves. His thoughts were never far from the Celegan Empire and their chimaeras. In this moment of youthful shenanigans, he was free of worry.

    Asa was not the cognitive-affectomancer in command of the most crucial disputed territory in Leveria. She was giggling like a young girl playing tag in a land far from war as she deftly circled around the table.

    Alfread slipped off the table and landed on his feet with the balance of a cat with vinwine coursing through its already dexterous body. His knees were slightly sore from sliding across the pine table¡¯s rough surface, yet he didn¡¯t feel the little splinters piercing through his breeches and into his leg. He felt the fluttering in his chest, the beating of his heart, and the yearning to catch Asa and wrap his arms around her.

    He circled around the table after her. Asa chortled, her sprint ne¡¯er slowing. Alfread knew better than to expect her to tire. Her physical training was more intensive than his own and he imagined for the thousandth time how the contours and curves of her athletic body would look beneath the white and red robes that concealed her from neck to ankle. Neither did his longer legs provide him with advantage. Asa was able to more quickly round each corner of the table, canceling out the length of Alfread¡¯s stride. Only trickery would avail him here.

    Alfread slowed and waited until she reached the corner and rounded to the long side of the rectangular table before he reversed. Asa kept charging forth as she reached the shorter side of the table. Giggling, she glanced behind her just as Alfread turned onto the other end. Ecstatic, he opened his arms to catch her. Asa saw him at the last moment, her eyes went wide, and she released the cutest little gasp that Alfread had ever heard before they collided.

    The starbright vial shot into the air. Alfread left one arm wrapped around Asa¡¯s back, stabilizing her, and caught the flask in his free hand. Then he held it aloft, stretching his arm toward the Ruby-red canvas sky.

    Asa gripped his brigandine in one hand and tried to jump for the vial. Alfread¡¯s heart somehow handled the feeling of her body brushing against his without bursting. He took his freedom, placing a hand on her back, feeling her muscles working as she worked with a lower gravitational center and tried to reach beyond hope¡¯s grasp. Their exchange of laughter and smiles made Alfread reach a new pinnacle of joy. He taunted her by lowering the vial within reach before pulling it back toward the stars.

    The Radiant groaned and leaned into him. Her aura expanded like a supernova and Alfread lowered the vial hand to close the embrace. He had acted with heart and not head.

    Asa twisted, her hand lashing out like a whip. She pried his fingers open with surprising tenacity, claiming the stars as her own. Victorious, Asa taunted Alfread, striding around the tent with a sashaying victory dance that claimed every spare thought he had, indelibly leaving him starstruck by her.

    ¡°Are you offering me an Alfreadian candle to brighten my day?¡± she asked.

    Alfread winked. Her words were technical truths, but she was as far off as the stars. ¡°Are you offering me an Asilan candle to brighten my day?¡±

    Asa winked. She sat on her bed and inspected the vial. ¡°What is this?¡± She eyed him curiously. ¡°I have never seen anything like it.¡±

    ¡°West sunset, two met. Stars bright, in moonlight.¡±

    Asa snorted. That cute laugh tormented his soul. Alfread took a step toward her¡ªthe brave author yearning to sit beside her and return his hand to her back. The Coward gripped him as though clinging to life, holding him back from testing his destiny.

    Tonight, tonight. The moment will be right. Under a sea of stars, love will be ours.

    Asa held her gaze on the vial. ¡°I cannot remember the last time I laughed like that.¡±

    ¡°Me neither. Every day I get to see you is Brighten.¡± Alfread swallowed and the Coward kept the rest of what he wanted to say trapped in his own head. You¡¯re the candle that brightens my life.

    Alfread studied her, hoping her eyes would rise and find his, hoping that she would take the first step in their perilous dance. She made no such move. Her smile waned like a setting sun as her gaze stayed on the starbright. Asa''s aura dimmed until the light shifted from silver to grey, casting clouds over Alfread''s mood.

    Alfread¡¯s perfect memory smashed into his consciousness. A thousand times he dreamt of a radiant light calling to him from beyond a towering wall of burning flame. Every divinedamned time he failed to reach the light before it extinguished.

    The brave author inside him urged him to move forward and step through the flames, to declare his love. The Coward screamed within, warning him that his love was unreciprocated. It whispered far worse. The Coward was keen to threaten his confidence with promises that Asa preferred Zander or Whelan Bearbreaker over him.

    Gordan called through the tent flap. ¡°I have this morning¡¯s scouting report, Master Asa.¡±

    ¡°One moment, Gordan,¡± Asa answered.

    Alfread looked down, knowing that he had missed a shot. He turned to leave the command pavilion in cowardly silence.

    ¡°Alfread!¡± Asa called, her pitch even higher. She held the vial. ¡°What am I to do with this?¡±

    Alfred kept his head down. He tried to speak with strength and confidence, but the words came out weak and uncertain. ¡°West sunset, two met. Stars bright, in moonlight.¡±

    Alfread fled, forever the Coward.

    *************

    West sunset, two met. Stars bright, in moonlight.

    The sun was setting over the Impwood as Alfread kept watch on the western gate. No clouds presided over the world and a healthy waning gibbous moon was cresting in pursuit of the sun. As always, moon and sun were headed in different directions, sharing the purpose of lighting the world but not sharing themselves with each other. The moon chased after the light, only to find the dark, and the sun went through the dark until it would reemerge into the light.

    He knew a Bearbreaker army wouldn¡¯t arrive for several days, but he expected to see Sir Whelan riding ahead of it, sunset over his shoulder, armored in lordly meladonite. The handsome heir of Urzport would instantaneously stake his claim over the encampment and Asa.

    Alfread gripped the palisade¡¯s battlements, feeling like tonight was do or die. His body did not distinguish the fears of Norali Waning from the battle on Zamael Waxing. Alfread knew that the two situations were different. Thousands of soldiers were not marching on this wall, threatening to murder him where he stood and forcing him to rain arrows upon them. Instead, one woman and her rejection threatened to assassinate his hopes and dreams, depriving his life of light.

    Alfread tried to understand, evaluate, and challenge the thoughts that fueled these feelings. As his mother had taught him, he investigated the likelihood of rejection. He gathered observations, stored in perfect memory for conscious reexamination, that supported or refuted his expected rejection. Piles of data accumulated for both the rejection and the non-rejection hypotheses. Asa did brighten when he was with her. Alas, couldn¡¯t a best friend provide a person joy without there being a romantic love to fuel that? Asa struggled to make prolonged eye contact with him. Alas, could that be a sign of shyness? Alfread snorted disdainfully at the notion that the charming and charismatic woman could possess even a hint of shyness. His analysis continued to refute each point that supported the hypothesis that she did want him and counter each alternative reasoning for the observations that she didn¡¯t want him. He left the process even more convinced that his rejection was inevitable.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Alfread tried to shift his mind again, focusing on the intensity of the feared outcome rather than the likelihood. Instead of determining whether the monster would arrive and attack, he tried to imagine how he would protect himself from the monster and continue to live. Alas, Alfread found himself unable to try and find a way to accept how he could live without Asa¡¯s love. He couldn¡¯t dive into that rejection and armor himself against it.

    If he could not defeat his anxiety, he would look away from it. Taking a deep breath, Alfread redirected his painful inner monologue to a place that would distract from his fears and the pain of those thoughts. He wore his ¡®lordly leather¡¯, as Zander had taken to calling it. The leather brigandine covered his torso and his arms, with its Bearbreaker sigil, a man wrestling a bear on a field of blue, emblazoned over the heart. A thin layer of chainmail extended all the way to the wrist. It was an archer¡¯s armor, designed for flexibility and swift movement.

    His short sword hung in its scabbard at his side. The blade was double-edged iron that narrowed into a point at its tip. The sword was built for both thrusting and slashing. His quiver and bow were strapped to his back. The quiver widened at the top so that the arrows wouldn¡¯t get stuck between his fingers when he tried to retrieve them. He felt through the quiver, counting twelve arrows. The arrows were carefully selected to maximize his efficiency with shafts made from maple, an ideal balance of strength and weight. Alfread had cut them himself to be the exact length of his draw. He used duck feathers for the fletchings. The feathers had been trimmed smaller than the typical arrow fletching, for the smaller feather gained acceleration longer, which allowed more range in his shot while sacrificing the piercing power at a close distance. Each arrow had three duck feathers glued to the back end of the shafts in the parabolic style, an arching shape. Alfread had always preferred that parabolic to the typical shield shape, which trimmed the feathers in a straight line, both for appearance and function.

    This attention to detail that most would find boring¡ªtheir minds pleading for it to stop as their eyes scrolled in search of an end¡ªallowed him to find a pathway in his mind that the Coward didn¡¯t control.

    The arrowheads themselves were a marvel. Serapheena Ruby had named her invention platepiercers. The platepiercers had a small, dagger-like tip that focused the arrow¡¯s force. With a high enough draw, they could break through plate armor. Alfread had seen the truth of that, imagining the memories of killing on Zamael Waxing would remain with him forever, even had he lacked perfect recall of every moment of his life.

    Alfread inhaled and exhaled, just like he was preparing to operate in his mother¡¯s clinic. He affirmed that he did the best thing he could have in the situation and had done it well. He was not the war, and he would do what he could to end it. He thought further on his daydreams of how that could be achieved. Alfread doubted that the vast majority of lordlings would shift an arsecheek on their high horses to end this war and the two kings crowned that list. If he had to put his faith in any highborn in the Ruby Kingdom, it was the precocious princess.

    The hearsay that reached Bear¡¯s Crossing had endeared him to the genius warrior princess with outspoken and radical views on society. Perhaps peace would be possible if Alfread could find a way to put Alexia Bluerose in the same room as Serapheena Ruby. He simulated scenarios in his mind of how that might come to pass.

    Grandiose distractions could only take him so far before he came full circle. The heart always beckoned him home. This chapter in his life, ¡°Brighter than the Stars,¡± was not the first chapter titled thus. He reached for the predecessor to find the courage to quell the Coward and live out his dream.

    Alfread had been born on Telling. Memories of Yadeen¡¯s holyday welled within him, giving him strength, as those wintry days spent in front of a warm hearth and telling stories with his parents, Zander, and Melody played in his mind. He could taste crispy strips of bacon and hot cakes covered in syrup washed down with hot apple cider. He could see beautiful faces adorned with tears after Melody¡¯s emotional telling of Elior and Pelianna¡¯s story. Alfread¡¯s mind revived the sound of laughter and the asinine hilarity of his father¡¯s comedies that were so detailed you could envision yourself in his fictional worlds witnessing his characters making an endless wave of mistakes.

    Those stories were a part of Alfread and once he heard a tale, he never forgot a single line or detail. His perfect recall only applied to stories and not medica manuals, unfortunately, but he had discovered how to memorize his own autobiographical story by perceiving it as a legend in the making. In Alfread¡¯s mind, his legend began with a story told annually on Telling: Brighter than the Stars. The story of his parents falling in love.

    Evan of Astoria had been a young knight serving the Bearbreakers in Mirrevar while Mirielda was the daughter of an archlord volunteering as a medican. Their story started parallel to Alfread and Asa¡¯s with friendship and laughter before it alighted to the stars. Evan invited Mirielda for an evening stroll along the Bear and they danced in a field of purple flowers beneath the moonlight alongside a nocturne of insects and owls. Stars shining above, two unspoken lovers knew in that moment that their dance partner, their true life¡¯s mate, was brighter than the stars. Like all great Leverian tales, the story had two endings. Mirielda would say that was the moment she followed her heart and eclipsed all of her dreams. Alfread¡¯s father told the tale a few steps further, much to Alfread¡¯s embarrassment.

    Alfread sought to replicate both endings. Alas, Evan did not raise a son who lacked his romantic showmanship. Alfread had a trick up Asa¡¯s sleeve that would elevate his legend, making the telling of his story more than another uninspired retelling of a beloved classic.

    Yet, despite the grand story his quill prepared to pen, he couldn¡¯t write it without the ink that completed it. Degrees had passed since another sentry took his place atop the western ramparts. Candles could be seen lit throughout the encampment as friends supported each other. Alfread¡¯s candle was unseen, and the world¡¯s candle grew dim, hope waning with it. The cowardly voice inside Alfread waxed like the blue half-moon brimming against a dark north-eastern horizon.

    She does not love you. You are not what she wants. Remember how she gazes into his eyes and avoids yours. How could you ever compare to him? Next to him, you are nothing. You are less than a shadow. Run! Fly forth into one of your storybooks! Hide away from the pains of reality! She does not love you! She never will.

    The sun set and only the stars and moon lit the flowers of Mirrevar. Alfread leapt off the ramparts and stormed toward his tent. He would grab his gear, bid Zander his until next time, and flee this place. He didn¡¯t know where he would go next, only that he couldn¡¯t stay here anymore.

    ¡°Alfread!¡±

    He stopped hard, remaining still for several turns, an interval that felt like it lasted several degrees, as he performed breathing exercises to calm his angry soul.

    ¡°Alfread?¡±

    There is hope yet.

    He pretended to wipe sweat from his brow. At last, he turned and saw her emitting her radiant light. Her eyes met his and lingered there. Her eyes, her eyes. Like two emerald skies. I can look forever. My soul¡¯s true endeavor.

    Asa grinned at him, flashing the vial of starbright before returning it to her pocket. She folded her arms over her chest and glanced skyward. ¡°West sunset. Two met. I am late I suppose.¡±

    Alfread grinned, lines from stories filling his head, he shared one she would recognize. ¡°A cognitive-affectomancer is never late, Asa Radiant.¡±

    ¡°Nor is she early,¡± Asa answered, her aura brightening.

    Alfread¡¯s grin matched hers. He was in another world than the one he walked mere moments ago. Everything was perfect and exactly as it should be. The setting, the characters, the plot, they all were arranged to tell the greatest tale. How could he have ever doubted?

    ¡°You are precisely on time,¡± Alfread assured her. He inclined his head and made an abbreviated tilting nod, thinking that likely suave but not overly so.

    ¡°The stars and moon shine bright but I have not solved your riddle about what this is for,¡± Asa said, raising her eyebrow and holding up the vial in the starlight.

    Alfread shrugged before spontaneously rushing the west gate. He slammed into its center, lowered his hips and pushed with his arms, driving the massive iron-reinforced oaken doors open until his arms were fully extended. Alfread couldn¡¯t suppress the grunt that accompanied the exertion. He decided mid-motion that it was better that he did not. Let her see that he too was man enough. He was not just a scholarly friend. He could be the man that protected her and satisfied the urges of her body.

    Alfread¡¯s self-consciousness flared at the excess of his display of machismo. He dared a glance back to assess Asa¡¯s reaction. Norali¡¯s Lights! She was radiant and resplendent and golden and good! Alfread¡¯s heart hammered. He seemed short of the air required to take in such a beautiful sight. Asa tilted her head at him, eyebrows raised, beaming her broad smile.

    She stifled a chuckle. Alfread lowered his eyes, fixing his stare upon the ground at her feet. Soon, she filled his vision, closing the distance between them with her hand gently landing upon his arm. The brightness of her aura contrasted the night, making him squint.

    ¡°My papa always told me not to walk with strangers at night.¡±

    ¡°Not even after they have given you a gift?¡± Alfread reached in her robe and retrieved the vial of starbright. He offered it back to her with a flourish. Within, the Coward criticized him for not offering a candle. The Coward warned him about violating the tradition of Brighten. Alas, the brave author had won that battle and determined the candle he would offer her would be far more memorable.

    Asa leaned in so close that he could smell cinnamon on her breath and an aroma of flowers in her hair. ¡°Especially if they offer me gifts, Alfread.¡±

    Deftly, she reclaimed the vial.

    Alfread violated his desire to stay close and breathe in her scent, catching one last whiff of rose as he took a few steps back. He sighed, as if deflating his lungs, and shook his head. ¡°I guess you will never get that explanation then. That is unfortunate. The mystery will tantalize you for the remainder of your life. You will grow old, sit in your fancy rocking chair on the veranda, and you will think, ¡®Oh Yadeen, whatever was Alfread trying to tell me?¡¯¡±

    Asa grinned, no doubt appreciating Alfread¡¯s attempt at her lofty pitch. She put one hand on her hip as the other gestured to the stars. She howled to the sky, ¡°How could I survive such torment and regret!¡±

    Alfread shrugged. ¡°Some mysteries remain unsolved. It is tragic, I know.¡±

    ¡°Fortunately for me, I did not say that I wouldn¡¯t walk with you. You are no stranger. You,¡± she jabbed him in his abdomen with a finger, ¡°are my dear friend, Alfread.¡±

    Alfread alighted at her words. The feelings in his heart grew, threatening to burst through every shell that could contain them. Yet, they were tainted by the fears of the Coward. You are just a friend. Her favorite brother, not her most desired lover.

    ¡°And what was your papa¡¯s policy concerning starlit walks with your dear friend?¡±

    Asa seized his hand, her fingers closing around his. She elevated her voice and attempted to make it sound masculine; it came out effeminate with a twanging sound that reminded Alfread of Kenneth¡¯s uncouth speech. ¡°Asa belle, we on¡¯y ¡®ave this one life ¡®ere. Make the most of et.¡±

    The stars aligned. Norali shined. Blessed by Yadeen, Alfread embraced the scene. This was it. A perfect fit. The final skit. Time to be lit. Brighter than the stars. Love will be ours.

    Alfread took her hand in his and squeezed tenderly as though she were the most precious entity to ever exist. She guided him out into the dark.

    They held hands, strolling south along the Bear River. Alfread sought the perfect place to shine brighter than the stars. Asa steered the conversation from her failed attempt to defeat Alfread in archery to a discussion of their favorite stories. She promised to take him to the grand performances in Rubinia to see stories come to life. Alfread embraced the dream and envisioned his future with Asa. They would change the world and see its wonders, all while knowing their greatest wonders were beside them.

    The night was tranquil, with the occasional hoot of an owl or the gentle rush of the Bear River. The moon, the stars, and Asa lit up the darkness. Billions of flowers blossomed on the Mirrevar side of the Bear, surrounding patches of fruit-bearing trees with otherworldly leaves that reminded Alfread of the botanical variant of a peacock. Alfread and Asa identified them by name, listing their uses in potioneering and medica. The wind blew strange scents from flowers distant and near. All along, she continued to hold his hand, and the fire continued to burn nervously within him as the brave author¡¯s excitement clashed with the Coward¡¯s nervousness.

    At last, Asa¡¯s hand slipped from his and she looked out over the Bear River. Fireflies, frostflies, and thunderbugs buzzed in symphony above the mile-wide currents. The lights they emitted¡ªred, blue, and yellow¡ªadded to the colors of the night. Owls joined them in song and a great howler flew across the moon and soared toward Goddess Hill. Covademara herself oversaw them, her canopy majestic, a symbol of Leverian love and dreams. Stars shone in the clear sky and the heat was balanced with an easy breeze. A half-moon crowned the sky with the same blue hue of Leverith¡¯s healing light. This was the setting. Now was the time for Alfread¡¯s legend to unfold.

    None of his shots in the battle felt as important as this one. Nerves and excitement slamming into each other like two great waves crashing, he held out his hand. Asa raised her brow and retrieved the vial. Alfread nodded and the Radiant placed the glass in Alfread¡¯s open hand. Alfread popped the stopper and held destiny in his hands.

    Tonight, tonight. The moment will be right. Under a sea of stars, love will be ours.

    Alfread took a deep breath and drained the concoction in one long gulp. Asa leaned back and put a hand on her chin, studying him with caution. Her mouth opened a fraction of an inch as he prepared to take her breath away. At last, her eyes stayed on him.

    Alfread had no candle to offer Asa to celebrate Brighten, but he would offer himself. The taste of starbright was remarkably good, sweeter than honey. The burning inside of him softened a little.

    Only one voice whispered in his head. It was his mother¡¯s soft, loving song. Write your destiny, child of love. You will eclipse all of your dreams.

    Courage surged, overpowering the wave of nervousness. Alfread seized Asa¡¯s hands and led her into a dance. Her excited eyes-wide smile etched happiness into Alfread¡¯s heart. She shone brighter than all the stars and Alfread was enamored by her radiance such that everything else disappeared from the beautiful setting like a billion candles failing to be perceivable in the light of the brightest star.

    They followed the music of the night in a traditional ball dance, moving in passionate but precise circles. Alfread led them through the smooth steps with the confidence and skill of a king dancing with a queen in their castle. He twirled her and she gracefully moved with the experience of a professional ballroom dancer, no doubt trained from her years in Rubinian court. She spun into his arms, and he caught her. For a moment, Alfread embraced her with all his heart and leaned his face into hers, noses touching and eyes locked together. Then they moved into more advanced, more evocative dance, their bodies making enough friction to set a great inferno of passion and desire ablaze inside Alfread.

    Asa gathered enough air to speak through her breathlessness. ¡°So ¡­ an elixir of dancing?¡±

    They shared a laugh. Without letting her catch a breath, Alfread launched her into the air. Her beautiful gasp sent him soaring higher and higher, and smiling brighter and brighter. Asa¡¯s acrobatics leapt over his wildest expectations as she twirled a half circle in the air. Alfread caught her and spun her to face him. When he pulled her back in close, her smile was a dream come true.

    The moment felt like the perfect first page to a love story that would last forever and become one of the greatest. Asa¡¯s mouth and eyes went wide. Her aura was not the only light brighter than the stars. An aura of white-silver light enveloped Alfread. Asa¡¯s feet stalled. ¡°You shine!¡± she exclaimed.

    Alfread held both of her hands and squeezed. ¡°Said the star to the star,¡± Alfread quipped, with a lusty wink.

    Alfread twirled her before she could respond. She swirled at dizzying speeds, a cyclone of light. Alfread stabilized her. Asa giggled as she fell, off-balance, into his arms. He dipped her backward and she looked up into his eyes with her mouth open and inviting. He pulled her up and held her hands as she held his heart.

    ¡°At west gate by sunset, two hopeful lovers met. Like two stars shining bright, they danced in blue moonlight.¡±

    Asa¡¯s eyes locked onto his. For a moment, they seemed to shift color in the light, flashing silver in the burst of illumination as her aura expanded. Alfread wanted to throw away the key and leave them locked there forever. Alas, he did not have the key. Asa rested her head against his chest and held her arms around him while they continued to move in slow, graceful circles.

    ¡°You are...¡± she trailed off as if catching an arrow being shot. ¡°You are a really good dancer,¡± she said softly.

    Alfread held her to him, never wanting to let go of her or this moment. Even without perfect autobiographical memory, he knew he would remember the scent of roses in her hair, the softness of her touch, the sway of her body as it brushed his, the sounds of the bugs and birds, the radiance of their light shining the brightest he had ever seen, and the wonderful taste of starbright.

    He lowered his head, so that he could see the top of her pretty face. ¡°My mother was the daughter of an archlord before they disowned her for loving a commoner. She taught me how to perform the dances of kings and queens. You are an exceptional dancer, Asa Radiant.¡±

    She squeezed him tighter. ¡°I have been going to the royal balls for a decade. I have danced with archlords and lordlings. I have danced with Rubies. I have shared dances with both Adameon and Camellia Ruby. But never with anyone like you, Alfread. You move like the Leverian kings of legend.¡±

    ¡°You know,¡± Alfread said in his best deadpan, ¡°just this morning, after I beat you at the targets, I was thinking I should have a crown atop my head and a throne to sit upon.¡±

    Asa laughed the sweetest laugh and buried her head back into his chest. Alfread joined her with a few chortles of his own. After they caught their breath, she lifted her eyes to meet his. She tried to look down again, but he caught her by the chin and gently tilted her head back up until her eyes found his. ¡°You have the prettiest face, Asa Radiant.¡±

    To his surprise she frowned deeply. Her aura flickered.

    ¡°Alas,¡± he said, ¡°it is your wit and wisdom, your charm and laughter, your prowess as a cognitive-affectomancer and a leader, your ability to bring light in the darkness and hope to the hopeless that makes you shine brighter than the stars.¡±

    Her aura flared, dwarfing the light that he emitted with starbright. Her eyes blinded him as light burst from them. Together, they had celebrated Brighten.

    Tonight, tonight. The moment will be right. Under a sea of stars. Love will be ours.

    Alfread leaned toward her, his lips the arrow and hers the target. This is my moment. I will be the author of my story. Alfread closed his eyes and seized his perfect storybook ending. His lips pressed awkwardly into her forehead. Alfread opened his eyes, his heart falling from the heavens and descending into an abyssal hell. Asa¡¯s radiance had dispersed, leaving behind a faint gray light in the night. Her emerald eyes dimmed with fright as she lowered them to the ground.

    Zamael seemed to be laughing his ridicule in Alfread¡¯s ear, fueling the Coward¡¯s voice that was never far. You are not good enough for her. She does not love you. You are not HIM.

    Asa took a step back. Her hand separated from his. Alfread¡¯s arm swung dead at his side. Every muscle in Alfread¡¯s body slouched and though he felt a deeper wound than ever before, he was too shocked, too devastated, to weep.

    Asa hid her face in her golden hair. Her voice came out weak and full of shame. ¡°You are my best friend, Alfread.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s starbright faded.

    Rubbing tears from her eyes, Asa ran back toward the encampment, leaving Alfread alone in the dark without a light.

 Chapter 34: The Blademaster

    Zander circled around his sparring partner, flowing with the grace of his stance. ¡°Observe how my feet are placed. By leaning on my leading foot, I always have my weight moving toward my opponent. Your feet should never be still. Your legs should never be straight.¡±

    Zander sprang toward his partner. Theo was thrown off his feet and onto his arse. The wind rushed out of the lanky warrior as his back hammered into the ground. ¡°That is how you fall down and die,¡± Zander said as casually as if he was explaining that princesses wore gowns. ¡°Do not fall down and die...¡± Zander paused as murmurs of laughter came and went. ¡°Do not keep your feet under your trunk. It works for trees...¡± Theo stood at his side nodding, with his feet under him. Zander sent him back to the dirt with a mighty push. ¡°But we are not trees.¡±

    Theo launched back to his feet. This time he staggered his footing. Zander pushed hard and Theo was thrown back but maintained his footing.

    ¡°Much better,¡± Zander declared in an orotund voice that carried through the training yard. Zander stood tall at the front of the pasture. He looked every part the blademaster that they thought he was. At long last, Zander wore the matching breastplate, pauldrons, rerebraces, vambraces, gauntlets, tassets, cuisses, greaves, and sabatons of a distinguished warrior. Ovidon¡¯s Forge! They even fit!

    ¡°Observe how my knees are bent. In your basic warrior¡¯s stance, your front knee should be bent slightly more than your hind knee. You should be pushing toward your enemy, forcing them to lose ground. If you keep your opponent moving backwards, they are much more likely to stumble. They cannot see where they¡¯re going, and they don¡¯t have their weight centered. Your opponent is fighting their own body to keep balance! When they stumble, their strength is gone, and you finish strong.¡±

    Theo held the stance that Zander had taught. Without warning, Zander charged him. Theo kept his feet, but Zander kept driving him backward. He drove successively harder until Theo stumbled to the ground.

    The lanky Hometown Hero rolled, springing back to his feet. He stepped into the warrior¡¯s stance and pushed toward Zander. Zander let him push, testing to see if he would overextend himself. Theo did well, maintaining a good stance until Zander was backed against the cattle fence.

    ¡°Well done, Theo!¡± He rallied the squires until they applauded the Hometown Hero. Zander elaborated on what Theo had done well and how Zander had maintained his stance to keep from falling, while still eventually running out of room. He set the squires into dyads with instructions to take turns practicing both the role of the warrior stance aggressor and the defensive footwork role. Theo sported a delighted grin as Zander sent him off to train with Vernon and Gordan.

    Zander gave each training dyad several turns under his warm scrutiny as they practiced this basic stance. He highlighted everything they did well and worked with each squire to correct and adjust any errors in their form. He moved with them, helping them learn to flow in the stance, until they were able to execute it with their partner. His goal was to help them learn from their mistakes without becoming their mistakes or feeling like failures. Always, he finished strong, sharing his pride in their growth and fostering their confidence that their hard work would turn into great skill.

    The soldiers stood taller when he came near, they beamed at his praise and eagerly responded to his instruction. Truthfully, they made him stand taller and smile broader too. This task and their devotion to him pushed away thoughts of Alexia¡¯s absence, of the death he wrought, and channeled his sadness at River¡¯s death into purpose. On the first day of his appointment, Zander had been appalled that even though most of the Brighton Hedgeman had been in Mirrevar for moons, many of them were woefully underprepared. He learned that they hadn¡¯t received training until they arrived in the encampment and the Hedgemen regiment was inadequate and even counterproductive. They received little specific instruction and their blademasters had let them practice fighting without individual correction. Errors had been embedded into habits. Those habits would get them and their companions killed. The few Bearbreaker Peacewatch in the camp were almost universally better prepared, but even they had much to learn.

    Zander noticed within himself the giddy pride he felt when Vernon kept his feet after a vicious assault, or when Harriet of Noraligrove was able to keep her weight on her front foot and drive her sister Henrietta back to the posts. He provided gentle, but firm feedback and effusive praise for the rapid growth his squires demonstrated. The dyads saluted him and thanked him for his feedback. Each day more of the camp followers, often women with nowhere else to go who found themselves performing menial roles in the encampment, joined in on his sessions. Zander welcomed them all and even a few of the medican women who had fathers important enough to give them a second name hopped over the fence to participate in Zander¡¯s drills. Of course, they often found themselves somewhere close to Alfread and were varying levels of shy about their flirtation with Zander.

    Zander gave all of his squires respect and that respect increased with each passing session, and they seemed to work harder each day. Zander was a peg that had found its slot. He had oft dreamt of taking over as blademaster for Sir Edward, but to experience this fulfillment before he was even knighted helped him in ways he hadn¡¯t dreamed. He felt called to the role of blademaster as if the Divine Thirteen had chosen this fate for him before he was in the cradle. He was not to be the sword that slayed but the whetstone that sharpened the blades of peace.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Toward the end of his rounds, Zander nodded at the person who assigned him the position. Asa watched the morning¡¯s training session from the edge of the pasture. Her light was dim; her face faraway and gloomy. She returned the nod and gestured for him to continue his work. Several of the medican holdouts and camp followers watched beside Asa. They were the gossipy members of the lot, and they giggled whenever Zander¡¯s attention went their way. He couldn¡¯t believe he used to savor adoration like that. Only a few moons ago, he would leave Sir Edward¡¯s training grounds with an admirer and tally up the tribute for Leverith. Now, his admiration was for those willing to try to learn, and his goal was to fortify the confidence of those who made that effort, whether they were a comely lass or the leanest lad.

    Zander gaped when he reached Alfread¡¯s dyad. This feral beast before him was not his gentle best friend. Alfread unleashed a relentless assault on his partner, Petr of Noraligrove, sending him sprawling to the ground. Alfread¡¯s form was far from perfect. Alas, flaws in form could be forgiven when executed with brutality, speed, and strength against a weaker foe.

    ¡°Well done, Alfread.¡±

    Alfread¡¯s only response was an enraged grunt that sent Zander¡¯s brow furling.

    For years, Zander had been trying to coerce Alfread¡¯s inner beast onto the training ground. Alfread had the strength, the stature, and the dexterity to be an elite swordsman. Yet, he had lacked the disposition to excel. This sudden change was jarring. This battle demon hadn¡¯t been in the training grounds yesterday nor the days before. Zander stole another glance toward Asa and wondered just how she had unchained this caged beast last night.

    Zander helped up Petr. ¡°Show me what you can do, Petr.¡±

    Petr set his feet and attempted to rush Alfread. His stance work was sloppy, but his effort was everything Zander had hoped for, or at least it would have been had Alfread allowed it to be. Alfread ignored the instructions of the drill, battered Petr¡¯s training sword out of his hand, sidestepped and shoved Petr down to the ground with his shield.

    ¡°Alfread!¡±

    Zander¡¯s anger welled up and was ready to burst. Yet, surprise overtook anger as forcefully as Alfread had taken over Petr. Evan¡¯s son took a dramatic bow toward Asa and threw sword and shield toward the witch¡¯s feet before marching off the training grounds.

    ¡°That horseshite is not welcome in my training grounds! Get out!¡±

    Alfread dared to howl back. ¡°I am getting out, you bastard.¡±

    Zander wanted to chase him down and throttle him. If Alfread thought he could bully the other squires, Zander would knock his arse down until the ground slammed some sense back into him. He stomped after the fleeing Alfread before noting the forlorn faces around him. Clenching his teeth, he set Alfread aside for later.

    Zander finished the sun-up training session distracted with thoughts of Alfread and Asa. He gave less scrutiny and less praise, nodding and saying a more passive ¡°good job,¡± rather than fulfilling his duty.

    When Alfread hadn¡¯t returned to their tent last night, Zander assumed that meant that Alfread had given Asa his candle and that they had kept it lit all night long. However, Alfread¡¯s were not the actions of a man who had a delightful evening.

    Zander remembered his first time. Joyce had guided him through it and been understanding when he finished almost instantly after arriving. Rather than embarrass him, Joyce had normalized his experience and stayed with him. She taught him how to use his mouth and hands as she used hers with the practiced skill of an elite tavern maid. Later that evening, in his second passage on the great journey of love, he had found the wondrous pleasure of reaching the destination in synchrony.

    Alfread¡¯s actions were the deeds of a man embarrassed who had to prove his manhood. Like swordsmanship, lovemaking needed practice and experience to become skilled. Zander decided that rather than berate Alfread, he would share the story of his first time and offer whatever strategies he could.

    Zander dismissed the training session, to preoccupied to finish strong for his squires. He rushed to the finale, as if this was his virgin session as a blademaster. ¡°I was pleased with your effort this morning! Practice the warrior¡¯s stance for a degree each angle. Tonight, you will learn how to counter that stance. Dismissed.¡±

    Zander rushed headlong, hoping to find Alfread in the mess hall. Asa accosted him first. He hoped the terseness in his greeting would deter her. ¡°Master Asa.¡±

    Her light was pale and gray in the morning sun. She was no match for the sunrise. Nor was she deterred. ¡°You are the best blademaster I have ever had the privilege to observe, and I have observed Crimsonblades and seasoned knights from most of the militias. Your charges are devoted to you, and they are learning fast. You would make Philladon Godseer look like Werner Bearbreaker!¡±

    Zander resisted the urge to grin. ¡°How was your Brighten?¡±

    ¡°How was yours?¡± she countered, tapping his gauntlet.

    Zander had given his candle to Gordan and joined him on a morning patrol yesterday. He told Gordan some of the Mirrevar stories he heard from his mother growing up, such as the tale of Alexia Leveria constructing a tunnel that was supposed to run beneath the Eagle River.

    Zander kept that to himself. ¡°I asked you first.¡±

    Asa sucked in her lips, nervous rather than seductive. Her voice shook and she seemed to keep her words brief to stop from losing her composure. ¡°Report to me after your meal. Alone.¡±

    Zander shrugged. ¡°I have a patrol scheduled.¡±

    ¡°Then meet me in my tent tonight, Zander.¡±

    ¡°Forget it,¡± he told her.

    He quickened his pace to leave her behind his longer stride. Zander stalled, unable to outpace his anger, he drew his mouth for battle like he would a sword. ¡°I believe in you, and I gladly fight for you.¡± Zander approached and leaned into her until his face was inches from hers. ¡°And you will never get what you seek from me.¡±

    Without looking back, he left her and sought out Alfread.

 Chapter 35: Inverts and Anathema

    Zander went up and down every aisle of the mess, failing to find his friend. His stomach growled. Perhaps this was best. Any difficult conversations would be held hostage by hunger-induced irritability.

    He claimed a seat on the bench beside the Hometown Heroes.

    Gordan eyed him and nodded. Zander returned the nod. His respect for Gordan had vaulted as he watched him take responsibilities around the camp and handle them competently.

    The studious young man made another astute observation. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve misplaced something and cannot find it, Zander.¡±

    ¡°Only my best friend,¡± Zander answered with a forced grin.

    Theo snorted. ¡°Methinks someone plucked one of his arsefeathers the way he rushed out of here when the crowd came in.¡±

    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s got a manmate?¡± Vernon whispered, leaning in to dish gossip.

    Gordan shifted and coughed. ¡°You still think that Alfread is¡ª¡± Gordan stalled for a moment, nervously searching for a word¡ª ¡°an invert.¡±

    Zander sighed, folded his arms, and looked away from them. Discussing homosexual relations was taboo and anytime the topic was broached Zander felt intense discomfort. His mother had taught him that love was love and that anytime two souls connected in consensual love it was blessed by Leverith. The Leverian Temple, the experts on the Divine Thirteen, decreed that inverted love was anathema that should be scoured from Leveria. The Temple preached that anathema were of Zamael, and as long as they were allowed to defile Leverith, evils such as the Gemstone War, rape, and banditry would persist. The Leverian populace was far more aligned, as far as Zander could discern, with the Temple¡¯s perspective. Zander was twisted like a pretzel unable to straighten out his own perspective. Torn between love for his mother and loyalty to the Temple, he put his head down and tried not to hear any talk of anathema. He hid from the topic, turning a blind eye lest he offend either his mother¡¯s values or the Temple¡¯s doctrines. Zander wasn''t an invert, and neither was anyone he had ever met. Then again, if a rose could hide its thorn in a bouquet, an invert could hide their ways in a crowd. Zander was glad that they did.

    Theo reached his arms out toward Gordan. ¡°Come on, Gordan! Alfread could be sticking his stiff in every lady medican in the camp! Yet, he tucks into his cot in Zander¡¯s tent every night instead of blowing the flaps off medican row!¡±

    Gordan put his hands over his eyes. ¡°Alfread isn¡¯t an invert.¡±

    ¡°What are you some sort of anathema oracle?¡± Theo countered.

    Zander furiously chewed his food, quickly devouring his morning fare of eggs, ham, and hotcakes. Focus on the flavors. Ignore the conversation.

    ¡°He¡¯s an anathema,¡± Vernon added, his tone leaving no space for dissent. ¡°If I looked like Alfread and used big words like him, I would not be spending every night listening to Theo¡¯s snoring.¡±

    ¡°Yer divinedamned right!¡± Theo shouted as he pounded on the table. ¡°Us regular folk are thinking about Mary Sue medican and creaming our nighties with two other gents in the tent when this guy could be running down the lane bonking Mary Sue and Betty Lou too! He¡¯s anathema, Gordan!¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Zander growled. By now, most of the mess hall was glancing at them due to Theo¡¯s theatrics. ¡°Tend to yourselves,¡± Zander commanded, promptly dispersing them. He whispered, anger seething from his lips, ¡°Alfread is not an invert.¡±

    ¡°Bah!¡± Theo shouted, ¡°Balbaraq¡¯s Balls! You¡¯re a ham-witted egghead if you believe that!¡±

    Vernon leaned forward. ¡°Hold on, Theo. Let¡¯s hear what Zander has to say.¡±

    ¡°Alfread favors Master Asa,¡± Gordan told them. ¡°He believes she¡¯s his life¡¯s mate.¡±

    Zander mumbled through a mouthful of egg, ¡°Gordan has it.¡±

    ¡°Bonking the boss! Reaching for the stars!¡± Theo looked to Gordan like a child looks to their parent for an explanation of something beyond their ability to comprehend. ¡°Isn¡¯t she out of his reach?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Gordan paused. ¡°I believe that cognitive-affectomancers are in-between highborn and common, unless they were born from lordship.¡±

    ¡°So, she is out of his reach?¡± Vernon asked.

    Zander shrugged as he took another mouthful of egg. ¡°Whatever the rules, he tried to grab those stars last night.¡±

    ¡°Those are some nice stars.¡± Vernon said. ¡°I¡¯ve fantasized about more than a cuddle with the master.¡±

    ¡°No denying that,¡± Theo concurred. ¡°Betty Lou and Mary Sue can move aside for the exotic queen of all of our wet dreams.¡±

    Vernon¡¯s eyes danced from Zander to his plate. ¡°I thought those stars shone for you, blademaster?¡±

    Zander swallowed his food and cut through the idea. ¡°I¡¯m not reaching for them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a shame, blademaster,¡± Vernon countered. ¡°You¡¯re tall enough to reach whatever you want. Don¡¯t act like an anathema.¡±

    ¡°Hey, Vernon!¡± Theo shouted. ¡°Zander is so manly that if he were sighted mouthing a meatpole then everyone else would start doing it to be manly like him. I know you¡¯d be first in line!¡±

    Vernon coughed out a mouthful of hotcakes. ¡°Would not!¡±

    ¡°Can you two leave Zander and Alfread alone?¡± Gordan pleaded. He pointed his eyes and words at Vernon. ¡°How would you like it if Theo started bedding your girl?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like it!¡± Theo said, before howling like a wolf beneath a full moon.

    ¡°For about three thrusts,¡± Vernon challenged.

    Theo slapped his knees and laughed dramatically. ¡°Still three more than you get!¡±

    Zander hoped that Theo and Kenneth were never in the same room together. A moon ago, all this chatter would¡¯ve lifted his spirits. He would have joined in the juvenile japery. Now it just made him feel sick and old. Less than a span ago, Theo and Vernon had watched one of their best friends die and instead of hardening and maturing they seemed to have devolved into children.

    ¡°This conversation is over.¡± Theo and Vernon both cowed at Zander¡¯s command.

    Zander devoured his food, sprinting to leave this discomfort before it made him leap for someone¡¯s throat.

    Gordan followed him to the exit while Theo and Vernon finished their breakfasts.

    Zander grunted at Gordan. ¡°Zamael¡¯s Hells! They act like their first pubes just sprouted a few days ago!¡±

    Gordan frowned.

    Zander shook his head. ¡°They¡¯ve forgotten him!¡±

    Gordan put his hand on Zander¡¯s arm. Dalis, he had a soothing presence. ¡°They are doing the best they can to move forward with the pain. River was¡­¡± Gordan paused, fighting off the urge to weep. ¡°He was our everything.¡±

    ¡°And yet you are acting like a man and they¡¯re being children.¡± Zander clapped his shoulder. ¡°Keep being who you are, Gordan.¡±

    Gordan looked up to Zander, tears in his eyes. ¡°And who is that?¡±

    ¡°A good man.¡±