《Kingdom of Illusion: Book One of the Kingdoms of Saelyn Series First THREE Chapters》 Chapter One-READ A/N 1 Eli stood at the entrance to a long, dimly-lit alabaster tunnel. His webbed, ridged feet gripped the stone floor, and his toes clenched with bored impatience. From his perch in the tunnel, he saw the nobles down below, waiting, outside the tunnel and all throughout the Palace Circle, to wish him and his Takers well on their mission. They made up a large, flashy congregation. Their cheerful chatter buzzed in Eli¡¯s mind. Eli felt the pressure of a scaly hand on his shoulder and the gentle outward ripple of Dad¡¯s presence, his aura reaching out to touch Eli¡¯s. Emotions glowed like colors in Dad¡¯s aura¡ª blues, teals, and golds, calm, pride, and satisfaction. ¡°Steady, son.¡± The words echoed in Eli¡¯s mind. ¡°You know the drill.¡± Eli nodded and pulled in a deep lungful of water, releasing it in a heavy sigh. He was always impatient on these nights, the monthly full moon Taking. The Eltana, their reclusive goddess, had ordained these Takings from the very foundations of the Tognir kingdom. So he¡¯d been taught, anyway. His fingers fiddled with the clasp holding long, glittering blue robes around his shoulders. His blues. He smiled as the fabric caught the light from the glowstones ensconced in the walls. For five years he¡¯d been Guardian, and he hadn¡¯t tired of seeing those blues shine yet. Being Guardian meant he held third-in-command ranking from the King¡ªit was a highly-coveted position, and not without its lavish benefits. But being Guardian also meant the heavy responsibility of ensuring the Takings went off without a hitch. His smile faded as he noted the shifting movements of the Takers, his men, behind him. They stared at him, waiting, their eyes stark against the dark scales of their faces. Eli turned back and scowled at the palace. ¡°Come on, come on, come on.¡± For all King Dom¡¯s bragging piety towards the Eltana, he sure did like to make her wait. Dom was usually late for announcing the Taking, but his tardiness grated at Eli¡¯s nerves even more than usual tonight. The little, bratty king thought he could show up whenever it pleased him. But they had things to do and places to be. The nobles burst into polite cheers. Eli fixed his eyes on the shining, white palace, rising to touch the cavern ceiling which terminated in darkness high above where the glowstone¡¯s feeble light could reach. From the top of the lowest tower came Dom, golden chains hanging from his pale neck, dark hair swirling around his face, green eyes aglow with the strange, musical power all Tognir kings possessed. He beamed and his rainbow-colored aura filled the Palace Circle. The nobles cheered louder. Eli rolled his eyes. ¡°I see we are all assembled.¡± Dom¡¯s words bubbled as his feet touched and gripped the lip of the tunnel where Eli stood with his men. Eli crossed his arms. ¡°It¡¯s about time you showed up.¡± Dom shot him a glare that only he could see. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck.¡± Eli smirked. He could get away with antagonizing Dom in ways not even Dad, who was second-in-command, dared to try. Growing up side by side in the Tognir court with the little brat had stripped away whatever respect Eli might have had for Dom. Not to mention the fact that he could lay Dom out, any time, any day. Dom knew it, too. Still, he maintained some shred of formal respect for the King. After all, Dom did hold the power to strip him of everything he had. It was a delicate balance of power, but it worked. Dom extended his arms in welcome, first to Eli and the Takers, who responded with their kneeling salute, and then turning, to the nobles who sunk into bows. ¡°We gather tonight to ask the Eltana¡¯s favor on our humble mission to please her. We ask that she may aid our quest to find a victim for her just rage, a subject for her terrible vengeance, a suitable sacrifice that she will accept.¡± Dom gestured back towards Dad. ¡°May our High Guardian, Luc and Guardian, Eli, lead the Takers ably and swiftly, that the Eltana may be avenged, our kingdom may thrive, and be spared from the consequences of the Eltana¡¯s horrible wrath.¡± ¡°May it happen so.¡± Eli repeated the words with the others. His fingers clenched and unclenched. This was taking forever, as usual. Dad¡¯s grip tightened on Eli¡¯s shoulder. He tried to relax. ¡°For Mom,¡± Dad said in the soft tones of a ritual, so that only Eli could hear. Eli nodded. ¡°For Mom.¡± They moved forward then, at Dom¡¯s signal, and passed through the crowd of nobles, whose auras touched theirs with sentiments like blessings. Then, as a unit, Eli, Dad and the Takers turned and bowed to the people. The nobles returned the gesture. Eli and Dad made brief eye contact before kicking themselves up through the water, up to the dark outline of a cave high in the outer wall of the Palace Circle. They reached the cave, and as the Takers caught up, they all filed inside. No glowstones lit its interior, but each of them knew its circular layout by heart. It was simple, large enough to fit twenty Tognir comfortably inside, and rough, free from the alabaster that covered nearly everything else in the kingdom. And on the back wall, shimmering in Eli¡¯s vision, was the Threshold, the gateway to the human world. The Takers assembled in their two-by-two ranks behind the Threshold. Eli walked the length of them; fourteen of the best Tognir in the Kingdom stood waiting for his command. He paused at the front of their lines. They waited, the whites of their eyes radiant in the dark cavern. ¡°Ready.¡± Eli swept off his glittering cloak, and the Takers imitated him in one smooth motion, revealing the mud-colored tunics and pants of their profession. Eli grinned. ¡°Remember. First to find one wins.¡± Pale grins blossomed in the darkness at his words. He saluted his men, then Dad. The Takers returned the gesture and, with Eli at their head, filed through the Threshold. Dad stayed behind as always, the vigilant High Guardian, ready to guide them and take over should something go awry. The water temperature rose as Eli passed through. Though it was well into the night in the human world, the late August sun had scorched the river through the day. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. He kicked up from the river bed, glancing down as he always did toward the circular stone, embedded near the bottom of the tall bank, that marked the Threshold¡¯s location. The Takers continued to pour from the stone¡¯s circumference like shadows, and they followed him to the Claw, their hiding place, a mass of tree roots that dangled down into the river from the park banks. Tiny, circular ripples dotted the river¡¯s surface, highlighted by the dim glow of a hidden full moon. Eli smiled. Looked like rain. ¡°It¡¯s very dark tonight, gentlemen,¡± Eli said as they assembled in the Claw. ¡°Raining. Perfect weather. So I don¡¯t want to hear any excuses.¡± Ron and Ian, two of Eli¡¯s best men, exchanged glances in the front row. Ned gulped in the back of the line, and his aura flashed violet. ¡°You know your sectors. Ned.¡± The youth glanced at Eli. ¡°I want you to tag along with Ron and Ian this time. See how they do things.¡± The two veterans leveled a glare at Eli, but he ignored them and saluted in dismissal. As the Tognir dispersed, Eli heard Ron¡¯s muffled complaints and saw the venomous look Ian shot him over his shoulder. He laughed. They¡¯d get over it. ¡°Eli. Status report.¡± Dad¡¯s voice rumbled deep in Eli¡¯s mind. ¡°Just sent them out.¡± Eli replied. ¡°I¡¯m worried about Ned.¡± Eli shrugged. ¡°The kid¡¯ll be fine. Just needs some on-the-job training.¡± ¡°He¡¯s too nervous. Too jittery. One wrong move can cost us a Kar-Tog.¡± ¡°Do you remember my first day?¡± Dad paused then, and a moment later Eli heard his hearty chuckle. ¡°I wish I could forget it.¡± ¡°Look at me now. Five years later, and I¡¯m leading Tognir twice my age. Trust me, he¡¯ll be fine.¡± Dad¡¯s aura swirled with aquamarine pride. ¡°You¡¯re right, son. But with every new Taker, there¡¯s more of a chance-¡± ¡°Dad.¡± Dad sighed. ¡°Alright. Update me when you get one.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Dad¡¯s aura faded as their thoughts disconnected. Eli emerged from the Claw and hauled himself up onto the banks. The air felt only a bit thinner than the water, and a steady rain blanketed the park with soft patters of white noise. He stepped silently into the shelter of a giant oak. Once settled, he reached out to the Taker¡¯s auras and slipped inside their thoughts one by one. To call them outright might interrupt a Taking in progress, but Eli knew well how to get the information he sought. His findings confirmed they were hot on the trail of a potential Kar-Tog already, their minds focused as one, their feet fast approaching the target. So Eli sat, and he waited, listening to the droning frog song amid the steady fall of water on earth. He didn¡¯t mind it so much. He¡¯d had his fair share of scoping for humans as a Taker. Most of his teenage life had been spent on Taking missions with Dad, who¡¯d always try to hide a little disappointment if Eli hadn¡¯t been the one to find a victim. But for the last five years he¡¯d been Guardian, and out of those five years there hadn¡¯t been a single failed Taking. When they confirmed a human, he¡¯d be on the scene to finish the job, and there¡¯d be plenty enough excitement for the night. Until then, it was his duty to watch and wait. He didn¡¯t have to wait long. ¡°Eli. I win. Sector 9.¡± Cor¡¯s voice cut through his thoughts. Eli grinned. He leapt up and ran through the trees along the riverside, toward the bridge that towered high above the open park. ¡°On my way.¡± His webbed feet flung mud as he ran, his eyes opened wide to catch every detail in the rain-shrouded vegetation around him. He pushed out his aura just ahead of him. A flood of light touch the edge of his mind, throbbing with terror. He shielded his mind against the blinding brightness of the human¡¯s aura. It was close, just beyond the bridge near the edge of the river. He grimaced. It had to be a kid. That was the only factor that could keep the Kar-Tog¡¯s typically-bright aura blinding even when the Takers had them stupefied. But what was a kid doing out in the rain so late at night? Eli pushed the thought away before it could prick his sympathies. Doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯ve got a victim. That means the Eltana gets her revenge, and we stay safe for another month. He was in sight of his men now, who¡¯d formed a circle around one of the bridge¡¯s support beams. ¡°Sir, he¡¯s fighting us,¡± Ned called. The Takers held the kid there with a paralyzing lullaby that gained its strength from numbers. Eli felt the strain in their auras, especially Ned¡¯s. The kids always fought. Always. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Eli emerged from the trees and approached the ring of Takers. As he drew closer, he glimpsed the human kid over their tall figures. A boy, no older than twelve, and terrified. His knotted, blond hair and clothes hanging with dirty threads told Eli all he needed to know. He frowned. That¡¯s about how old he¡¯d been when¡­ ¡°Sir,¡± Ron insisted, jerking his head toward the kid, then at Ned¡¯s trembling form. His aura strained harder than the rest. He was pulling Ned¡¯s weight. Eli gathered himself and nodded. ¡°Right.¡± He strode between the Tognir and stood in front of the kid. The boy, his aura bright as the sun and quivering like flame, stared at Eli, unable to move. ¡°What are you?¡± he thought. ¡°We are the Tognir,¡± Eli said. ¡°And you¡¯re coming home with us.¡± Before he could let the kid¡¯s innocence change his mind, Eli plunged deep into his mind and wove a tight song around his thoughts. He saw, like a mirror reflected, the boy¡¯s grotesque vision of him¡ª his aquamarine eyes burned like lanterns in the dark, and his teeth glowed white in a menacing smile. Eli¡¯s song pierced deeper, and the boy cried out. Eli grimaced but didn¡¯t relent. ¡°Mom! Mommy!¡± The words struck too close. Eli and Ned both faltered. The boy began to crawl backwards. Thirteen minds clamped down hard on the kid¡¯s instinct to run. Frozen in place, the boy gaped up at Eli while tears leaked onto his face. Eli stared at him and heaved in a couple of ragged breaths. ¡°Sir.¡± Understanding and strain fought for control in Ian¡¯s tone. ¡°You¡¯ve got to do it. Now.¡± Eli nodded, but his eyes were still fixed on the boy¡¯s. ¡°For your mother, sir,¡± Ron put in. ¡°Remember Rin.¡± An image of her, dark hair floating, green eyes crinkled and smiling, surged through his mind and infused him with strength. Eli¡¯s thoughts began to pull themselves back in order. Looking through the boy¡¯s mind, he saw himself straighten and his glowing eyes narrow in determination. ¡°For Mom.¡± Without hesitation, he delved back into the kid¡¯s mind and began to weave his song. The notes shut down the boy¡¯s consciousness one thought at a time. Eli watched his mind go black. The boy¡¯s eyes closed. His breathing paused. He finished the song, making sure it was woven tight, and then released it. The Takers, too, released the kid. Now he was ready. When he woke up, he¡¯d be one of them. Eli felt hands on his shoulders and back, pushing hard, and realized he was falling. ¡°Whoa, sir. Steady.¡± Eli struggled to catch his breath and let the Takers lower him to the ground. The boy, the ground, even the sky seemed to be spinning. This always happened. Every time. Every time it was a kid. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t picked a stupid kid,¡± Eli began, then stopped. Speaking made him feel even woozier. He knelt beside the child and dug in his pocket for the drug. ¡°Hey. He was the easiest target,¡± Cor put in. ¡°And I know you want to get to the party.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Eli snorted. ¡°I¡¯ll have a lot of fun stumbling around the ballroom, let me tell you.¡± The Takers laughed. Eli opened the shell vial and drained its contents into the child¡¯s mouth. ¡°Hey, Ned!¡± he called. The Takers quieted and parted to let Ned approach Eli. Eli put the stopper back in the vial. ¡°You¡¯ve got to get it together, okay? There isn¡¯t room for cowards here. You can¡¯t have everyone else pulling your load.¡± ¡°I tried, sir-¡± ¡°Well, try harder.¡± Eli clutched his forehead. ¡°This is a team effort. If I don¡¯t have fourteen Tognir holding kids like this down, I can¡¯t do my job. There may be only one of me, but I need fourteen of you.¡± ¡°But what about you, sir?¡± Eli narrowed his eyes and struggled to keep his stomach from churning. The figures of his men swam before his eyes. Ned¡¯s dull brown gaze pierced the darkness. ¡°You hesitated. You needed help.¡± ¡°I did my job,¡± Eli hissed. ¡°You abandoned your comrades when they needed you most.¡± Ned lowered his gaze. ¡°I think a little re-training is in order. Next week, you¡¯ll be with me. Next full moon, you stay in.¡± ¡°Sir-¡± ¡°That¡¯s final, Ned.¡± The Tognir youth stared at him for a long moment. Eli glared back. ¡°Am I clear?¡± Ned gave a stiff salute and retreated behind the other Takers. Eli held his head in his hands. The throbbing was getting worse. ¡°We¡¯ll bring the kid down,¡± said Ron. ¡°You go and pull yourself together, sir.¡± Eli nodded and got to his feet, but now his vision was fading fast. ¡°Sir?¡± He saw the ground rushing to meet him, felt scaled hands grabbing for him, and then, nothing. Chapter Two 2 Eli stirred. A bright light glowed red through his closed eyelids. He opened them and stared up at a familiar swirling, carved pattern, the King¡¯s emblem, on an alabaster ceiling high above. Red glowstones bathed the room in scarlet light. The infirmary. He sat up and rubbed his sore head. The room stayed still, and the pain was tolerable. ¡°Good, you¡¯re awake,¡± said a female voice. He glanced to the side of the bed he lay on. Lady Ana looked back at him, her amber eyes glittering with relief. ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d have to miss the celebration. How do you feel?¡± Eli sat up. He was still a bit light-headed, but could keep his balance well enough. ¡°Better,¡± he said. He glanced at Lady Ana, Ron¡¯s daughter, a countess¡ªand his best friend since childhood. She shone in a sparkling gown of violet and blue, with her golden-brown hair piled up and glittering with gems. ¡°And why aren¡¯t you there, dancing away the night in some nobleman¡¯s arms?¡± The scales on her face darkened, and she dropped her gaze to the floor. ¡°Well, I had to come make sure you were okay.¡± Eli swung his legs over the side of the bed and made to stand. ¡°No, no, sit down!¡± She tugged on his arm. ¡°But I cannot sit in the presence of such a fine lady.¡± ¡°Oh, shush.¡± Ana snorted. Still, she let go his arm. He stood, stretched to his full height, and saw something glittering in the corner of his eye. ¡°My blues.¡± He snatched his robes from the chair in the corner. ¡°Your dad brought them,¡± Ana said. ¡°Just in case you were awake for the celebration.¡± Eli swung the robes over his shoulders. Ana rushed to fasten the clasp at his neck. ¡°Many thanks, milady.¡± Eli offered his arm. She took it and beamed at him. He beckoned to the doorway. ¡°Shall we?¡± They wound their way through the palace halls and arrived at the celebration in the grand ball room a few moments later. The ball room was a long, sparkling white hall lit with towering mosaics of glowstones arranged to form the images of kings past. Gentle melodies brushed against their thoughts as they approached the entrance. Ladies in vibrant dresses swirled past as they stood beneath the carved arched doorway, and the men, their ruffled tunics and pants no less colorful, nodded slightly in their direction as they danced. ¡°Announcing the honored Guardian Eli and his guest, the Lady Ana.¡± Those dancing paused and bowed. Eli took Ana¡¯s hand and led her into the crowd. ¡°You owe me two dances tonight,¡± Ana said. Eli raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t dance with me at the last ball.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t?¡± Ana shook her head. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Eli spun her under his arm. ¡°Neglectful of me.¡± They danced in an amiable silence, for which Eli was grateful. His head still retained a bit of fog. He needed all his concentration to glide from step to step. ¡°I see you made it back.¡± Eli rolled his eyes as they danced past Dom. ¡°And you didn¡¯t even bother to greet your king.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± Eli swept Ana in a wide circle, away from Dom and closer to the glowing alabaster walls. ¡°That¡¯s all I get?¡± Dom followed him, moving his partner around the other frilly couples on the floor. ¡°I¡¯d like to be left in peace, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± Eli retorted. ¡°I¡¯ve had a rough night.¡± ¡°So I heard,¡± Dom said with a sniff. He winked at Ana as she stepped around Eli, in time with the rhythm of the melody. She blushed. Eli frowned. ¡°You have a worthy partner, Lady Ana.¡± Dom spun his partner away and dismissed her with a wave. ¡°But even worthier is the king¡¯s company.¡± He bowed low, his royal chains glinting in the light, and gave Ana his most charming smile. He looked up through dark lashes at her. Not this again. Eli tugged on Ana to pull her back into the dance, but she stood still. Her eyes flicked back to Eli¡¯s, her lips turned up in a half-smile, and Eli heard her thoughts. Fought over by the king and the Guardian¡­what more could a girl ask for? Eli rolled his eyes at her, but her smile held. She wouldn¡¯t desert him, and he knew it. She gave Dom a polite curtsy and rested her hands on Eli¡¯s chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty. You will have to choose another.¡± Eli stood tall and smirked at Dom. Dom forced a smile, bowed, and stalked away, his rainbow colors shifting with irritation. Eli chuckled. He didn¡¯t know why Dom still tried to lure Ana away from him. Time after time she¡¯d turned him down, and yet he still pursued her. Probably because she was Eli¡¯s best friend¡ªand the only lady who held even a modicum of distaste for Dom among all the nobles. Ana laughed as they resumed the dance. ¡°Works every time.¡± ¡°And you just eat it up.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Eli shook his head. ¡°You know, you¡¯re awfully vain.¡± She stuck her tongue out at him. ¡°You¡¯re one to talk, Mr. Blues.¡± Eli gave her a lopsided smile. He couldn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Son, there you are!¡± Dad made his way through the dancing crowd as the song drew to a close. Ana made a curtsy, which Dad returned with a respectful nod. ¡°Lady Ana.¡± He turned back to Eli and touched his shoulder. ¡°How do you feel? When I lost you earlier¡­¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m fine. It was a kid, that¡¯s all.¡± Eli shrugged. Dad nodded and shook Eli¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I know. They¡¯re difficult for you.¡± He sighed. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re okay.¡± Eli grinned. ¡°You know I wouldn¡¯t miss the party.¡± ¡°Come talk to the nobles. They want to hear about the Taking.¡± Eli glanced at Ana. Dad glanced at her, too, as if just remembering her presence there. ¡°That is, if you don¡¯t mind, Lady Ana.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Ana waved at Eli. He winked at her and, just to outdo Dom, blew her a kiss as he turned to leave. Ana laughed, and even as Dad steered Eli toward the nobles, Dom¡¯s aura sparked with irritation. Eli grinned. The drama surrounding Eli¡¯s latest catch continued through the next two weeks. They were fast approaching the new moon ceremony, where the human kid would be killed in the monthly sacrifice. Until then, one of the Takers would keep him tucked away in their home. Each time Eli thought about the kid, he stifled a flutter of guilt. The kid was so young. But Cor, who¡¯d claimed the boy, would give him a chance. He would be given the chance to become one of them. And if he didn¡¯t, he¡¯d suffer the same fate as every other idiotic Kar-Tog they¡¯d ever taken. He¡¯d die instead of adapting to new life. Eli knew it was the truth, and the truth rebuked the part of him that ached in sympathy. The kid was a Kar-Tog. Eli was a Tognir. The Kar-Togs were inferior. They were lesser. Child or not, he wasn¡¯t worthy of Eli¡¯s sympathy. It was simply the way things were. Added to the truth was the buoyant support of the nobles. They¡¯d crowded around him at the party, much to Dom¡¯s chagrin, and eaten up his story. They all knew Eli¡¯s loss. They remembered him, 11 years old, weak and thin with grief. ¡°Rin would be proud to see the warrior you¡¯ve become,¡± the Baron Ric had told him. They had shared a quiet moment of remembrance. Mom¡¯s image had blossomed in his mind¡¯s eye, with her dark, dark hair falling over her shoulders and her eyes half-lidded and smiling as she sung him to sleep. It was safe to remember her there, among the nobles, with their hands pressed on his back and shoulders. She was the reason he fought. She was the reason neither he nor Dad would accept failure. And she was the reason Eli could not waver in his duties, whether the Eltana¡¯s victim was child or man, whether or not he understood her insatiable human bloodlust. *??*??* Two weeks later, Eli sighed as he tried to push Mom¡¯s image out of his mind. He grounded himself to where he was, in the palace anteroom, standing next to Dad in his blue regalia as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Now was not the time for weakness. ¡°Get ready, son.¡± Dad squeezed his shoulder. Eli glanced up at him. Dad¡¯s blue eyes held a familiar mix of concern and pride. He smiled. The sacrificial knife hung heavy and cold in Eli¡¯s pocket. He forced himself to smile back. Chapter Three-READ A/N Ron nudged Eli. ¡°Look. He¡¯s primping.¡± Eli glanced at Dom. The king had just stepped into the anteroom and was inspecting his face in the looking glass beside the entrance to the platform. Eli snorted. Dom turned from the looking glass and beckoned them. Eli fell in line behind Luc, and as one they put on a grave demeanor. They stepped one at a time out onto the platform in solemn procession. The Tognir people quieted in reverent awe as they took their places on the platform, Dom on the left of the Stone Throne¡ªthe ceremonial seat of power in the kingdom¡ª Eli and Dad standing to the right. Behind them came the Takers carrying the Kar-Tog child, bound hand and foot. The human¡¯s eyes found theirs, wide with fright. Eli sneered to hide a grimace. ¡°Today is the day we offer our homage to the eternal queen, the Eltana,¡± Dom intoned. ¡°May it please her to accept this life and spare ours.¡± ¡°May it please her,¡± echoed Eli and the Tognir as one. He then produced the sacred knife from within his robes and with both hands presented it to Dad. ¡°We accept the knife from the hands of the Guardian,¡± Dad said, ¡°whose diligence we honor in obtaining this sacrifice.¡± Eli thrilled a bit at the words. Though they were only ceremonial, Dad always laced them with a trace of aquamarine pride. Dad then crossed the stage and knelt to present the knife to Dom, who took it and touched the top of Dad¡¯s bent head with the still-wrapped blade. ¡°We accept the knife from the hands of the High Guardian, whose vigilance we honor in ensuring this sacrifice.¡± Dad stood and retreated to his spot. The Takers led the kid to the carved and gilded Stone Throne and forced him to kneel before it. Fear, sharp and pungent, coursed through the Kar-Tog¡¯s presence as Dom unwrapped the blade and held it up for the crowd to see. Crimson, made of stone, it did not shine in the light, though it gave a dim pulse of some internal light that thirsted for blood. ¡°Now we offer the sacrifice, instituted from the new moon, in vengeance and in worshipful adoration.¡± Dom strode to take his place, turned the Kar-Tog to face the crowd, and standing behind him, yanked his hair. The kid straightened. His aura lit up with vibrant, pained greens. ¡°Your ancestor murdered mine,¡± Dom announced, ¡°on this night, when no moonlight shone. You are guilty of the blood of the Eltana¡¯s chosen King, first among my fathers. Now due vengeance will be had. You die to please the Eltana.¡± Without a further word, Dom plunged the blade in. The crowd stilled. Eli bit his lip. The Kar-Tog stiffened. Both the blade in his heart and the orb enshrined in the back of the Stone Throne flashed brilliant red, filling the Palace Circle with crimson light. Dad caught Eli¡¯s eye and smiled. His blue eyes twinkled with pride, and aquamarine coursed through his aura, strengthening Eli without a word. Dad was proud of him. He¡¯d done what he needed to, for Mom, for the Tognir. And that was the most honorable thing he could do. ¡°The sacrifice has been accepted. The Eltana is pleased, and we are preserved from her wrath. Give thanks.¡± The Takers retrieved the Kar-Tog¡¯s limp body. Dom nodded at Eli and Dad and strode to the edge of the platform, where the Tognir people jostled to form a line and handed over their gifts, offerings of sparkling gems, delicacies, and vibrantly-dyed cloths. They followed him and took their places to receive the offerings. A smiling baroness pushed a sparkling crystal goblet into Dad¡¯s hands. The violet gems embedded around the rim of the cup sparked with their own internal brilliance as Dad inspected it. ¡°A fine offering,¡± he commended the baroness, whose presence glowed with turquoise pride. ¡°The Eltana will be pleased at the honor you pay her servants.¡± Something twinged nearby. Eli glanced at Dom¡ªthe brat glowered at Dad, and envy boiled verdant in his aura. ¡°Such a gift is not worthy of you.¡± Dom strode across the stage. ¡°Give it here.¡± ¡°He received it,¡± Eli growled. Dom shoved past him and snatched the goblet from Dad. ¡°It is mine.¡± He examined the crystal, his eyes shining with avarice. ¡°Yes, this will do nicely for my table.¡± ¡°I had hoped,¡± Dad began, but Dom¡¯s eyes began to glow, and Dad dropped to his knees. His aura pulsed green. His teeth clenched in pain. ¡°It is mine. You have no right to it.¡± Eli¡¯s fists curled. ¡°Of course he has a right to it. He received it. It¡¯s his.¡± Dom shifted his glowing gaze to Eli, his eyes narrowed in warning. ¡°Do you really wish to dispute this?¡± ¡°Eli, just drop it,¡± Dad said. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Eli glanced between them, his blood racing. Dad¡¯s pained gaze made him relent. ¡°Fine.¡± He hauled Dad off the floor. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go.¡± They returned to the anteroom, where Dad began to arrange the offerings in an organized pile. There was plenty to share, but Eli¡¯s heart still galloped hard. Dad worked in silence, though darkness gathered in his aura. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. It wasn¡¯t right. King or not, Dom¡¯s bullying had gone too far. He and Dad had both put up with the brat¡¯s childish boasting when the people had chosen him rather than let Dad be regent, as had been the late king¡¯s request. They¡¯d put up with Dom¡¯s ever-changing whims, and even now Dad kept the kingdom from falling in around their ears, dealing with all the issues Dom wouldn¡¯t ¡°stoop¡± to address. But there was something strange about it all. Dom had never attempted to use his terrifying power to threaten Dad in public, and Eli never would have guessed Dom would even try to over something so trivial. Either the brat was getting cockier, or Dad was going soft. He didn¡¯t like it either way. They went back out together to gather more. Dad approached Dom, whose arms overflowed with treasures. ¡°Let me help you with those, Your Majesty-¡± ¡°Get away from me.¡± Dom kept a smile on his face. The raised walls in his mind meant the crowd could not hear him. ¡°I¡¯m busy right now. I want to make sure you¡¯re not going to steal any more priceless treasures from me.¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± Dad said. His aura was anything but calm, though he put on a steady face and continued to receive gifts. Eli looked first at his seething father, then glared at Dom. He¡¯d had enough. ¡°You¡¯re just jealous, Dom.¡± Eli said it loud so the crowd could hear him. The Tognir quieted. Dom smiled. He lowered his gifts to the ground at his feet and bent to retrieve another, but the Tognir who¡¯d been handing him a trinket had stopped to stare at Eli. He sighed and straightened. ¡°And what do I have to be jealous of?¡± Dom spread his arms wide. ¡°I have everything I could want. I merely wished to preserve that particular piece for the Eltana¡¯s pleasure, and I had to protect it.¡± ¡°Liar. You wanted it for yourself.¡± Dom¡¯s eyes glowed. He grinned at Eli, then turned and faced the crowd. Eli¡¯s gut sank. The stupid kid was going to trick them. Just like he always did. It was how he¡¯d gained the throne, and how he¡¯d kept it despite his haphazard command. It wasn¡¯t right. ¡°Who will you listen to in this petty debate? I want nothing to do with it.¡± He spun a convincing web of sincerity into his words. ¡°I know what I was doing was pious and noble, and you know it as well.¡± The Tognir, under his spell, murmured their forced agreement. Eli¡¯s insides seethed. No way would he get away with this one. He stormed across the stage, swung Dom around by the collar of his colorful robes, and smashed his fist into the brat¡¯s nose. Dom toppled to the platform floor. The Tognir women shrieked. Dad¡¯s presence flickered aqua pride, golden satisfaction, and violet fear. Eli stood over Dom, his breath ragged. His fist throbbed, and he bit back a satisfied grin. Two Takers rushed to heave Dom off the floor. The disgruntled prince, covering his nose and the cloud of blood coming from it, glared at Eli. ¡°You have committed a grave dishonor, Eli, an offense near sacrilege.¡± The Tognir muttered their agreement. Eli sobered, his fist unfurling, and he sought the protection of Dad¡¯s gaze. Dad refused to look at him. The triumph pulsing through him chilled to fear. ¡°I think it only fitting that an officer who would attack my person, publicly at that, should be tried for treason and imprisoned.¡± Eli froze even as the Takers moved to seize him. The reality of what he¡¯d done hit home as the Tognir shouted their assent. Treason? Prison? Was it all over for him so quickly? ¡°No!¡± Dad cried as the Takers moved to seize Eli. ¡°Not that.¡± They hesitated. Dom¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What would you propose, High Guardian Luc, as a fitting punishment? He must be punished.¡± The Tognir again sounded their agreement. Eli felt their stares on him, hot and angry like sunbeams. He made himself stand tall. Dad would find a way out. He always did. ¡°An offense this grave could merit death,¡± Dom said. ¡°My suggestion of imprisonment was really quite merciful.¡± Death? Eli¡¯s mind reeled. ¡°Let me decide.¡± Dad put a protective hand on Eli¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He is under my command.¡± ¡°Pretty talk coming from his father,¡± Dom countered. ¡°Suggest to me a fitting punishment, and I will give my approval or disapproval.¡± Dad glared at Dom. The prince gave a condescending smile. ¡°I¡¯ll take away his Guardianship for a time.¡± The Tognir murmured, and Dom¡¯s smile twitched up a bit. Eli glanced at his blue robes, glinting in the dim light. His heart sank. There went everything he held dear. ¡°Very good to begin with,¡± Dom said. ¡°What else?¡± Eli shot Dom an incredulous glare. ¡°Is that not dishonor enough?¡± Dad¡¯s voice pleaded. Dom sniffed. ¡°I think not. I think perhaps a little public penance is due. I think he should be made to retrain among the new Takers and learn again what honor is due to his king.¡± Eli opened his mouth, but Dom glared at him, his green eyes glowing. An edge of lime-colored pain penetrated his mind. He forced his mouth closed and resigned himself to glowering. ¡°And I think his probation should last until he is able to pay me the proper honor with sincerity.¡± Dom nodded at Dad. ¡°I will approve this method of punishment with my addition. I think it is a reasonable and merciful course of action.¡± ¡°Dad,¡± Eli whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t let him do this to me.¡± Dad¡¯s gaze was firm, his aura edged with deep violet disappointment. Eli looked away. There was nothing he could do, nothing he would do. He knew he¡¯d gotten off easy. He couldn¡¯t ask for any more. ¡°Face it with courage,¡± said Dad. ¡°And be grateful you are not in prison.¡± He turned to Dom. ¡°His probation is effective immediately. I will see to it that he is retrained.¡± Dad made a short bow and towed Eli toward the anteroom. ¡°Luc.¡± Dad paused. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°The robes are to stay with me.¡± ¡°I will make sure they¡¯re sent to you.¡± ¡°Now, Luc.¡± Dad¡¯s arm stiffened against Eli¡¯s back. ¡°Give him your robes, son.¡± Dad¡¯s voice shook. Eli forced himself to turn back towards the crowd and stared at the ground. ¡°Look up.¡± Dad¡¯s aura pried at his, summoning the last remnants of pride he had. Eli obeyed, composing his features into a poisonous glare. He wasn¡¯t sorry. He wouldn¡¯t be sorry. And he would face the consequences of his actions. Dom simply smiled. Eli reached up, wrenched his blues loose. The garments draped into his arms, and he folded them with dignity. Dom snatched them away and tucked them under his arm. ¡°Thank you. You are dismissed until further notice from the Guardianship.¡± He waved his hand in dismissal. Eli gritted his teeth, refusing to bow as was proper, and let the steady pressure of Dad¡¯s hand guide him away. He knew Dad wasn¡¯t calm as they entered the anteroom. Still, shock rippled through him as Dad shoved him against the wall. ¡°What in the Eltana¡¯s name were you thinking?¡± Eli stared at the floor. No one could make him look up now. Tears he couldn¡¯t shed burned his nose and throat. ¡°All those years of training, gone just like that.¡± ¡°He was insulting you, Dad!¡± Dad¡¯s stormy brow softened, and his grip loosened. ¡°I know, son. But¡­¡± He shook his head and let Eli go. ¡°You¡¯ve caused more harm than good. It would have been better to just let it go. I know he¡¯s¡­¡± Dad¡¯s fingers curled into a fist, and he forced them to relax. ¡°He¡¯s a good-for-nothing idiot. Nothing like his father.¡± ¡°You¡¯re supposed to stick up for me.¡± ¡°How can I defend a man who¡¯s just attacked his own king?¡± Dad growled back. ¡°What would your mother think? You think she¡¯d be proud of what you¡¯ve just done?¡± Eli scowled at the floor as his blood turned to fire. Mom would have done the same thing. ¡°You realize this means I¡¯m going to have to take your place out there.¡± Dad sighed. ¡°This is unacceptable.¡± ¡°I can get it back.¡± Dad looked at him with one hand pressed to his forehead and the other resting on his hip. His aura was a maze of vivid red-oranges and deep, melancholy blues. His blue eyes searched Eli¡¯s. ¡°You can. And you had better.¡± Dom sauntered into the anteroom, his arms loaded with new treasures, and paid them no mind. Dad added, just so Eli could hear, ¡°Or heaven help you both.¡±