Chapter 161 An Emperor Ignored

Chapter 161 An Emperor Ignored
Vaelric

The moment I crossed the palace threshold, the cheers of the crowd faded behind me.

But not the cheers in my mind.

I had won.

The dragon was in chains, and by dawn, he would be dead. The Cursed Forest would soon be ash. And before another sunset, the Empire's reserve of Celestial blood would belong to me.

At last...

My reign would be secure.

Yet the triumph tasted strangely hollow.

Serafina.

A flicker of regret crossed my thoughts before I buried it.

She would have made the perfect Empress. Together, we would have forged an heir unlike any the world had ever seen—one blessed with the blood of House Sable, House Valcor, and House Valen. A child of unrivaled strength, born to rule an eternal Empire.

Instead, she had chosen the dragon. A foolish choice. Now she was dead.

How unfortunate.

Still, all was not lost.

The boy remained in Arcanis.

Once he completed his metamorphosis, the Fleshwrights would harvest his seed. From it, they would create a new bloodline—one I would strengthen further by choosing a suitable mother for my heir.

If my calculations were correct, the transformation should be complete. He would finally be old enough to sire a child.

Servants hurried to either side of the grand entrance, bowing as I passed.

"You," I said, pointing to the nearest maid. "Prepare my chambers."

She bowed so deeply her forehead nearly touched the marble floor. "At once, Your Majesty."

I turned to another servant. "Tell the kitchens I want a feast. Venison. Fresh bread. Spiced wine." A smile returned to my lips. "Tonight, we celebrate."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The servants scattered in every direction.

Good. I had earned this.

Years of careful planning. Years of patience. Years spent waiting for the Kade bloodline to destroy itself.

In the end...

I had been right to wait.

The throne room stood only a short walk away. Pale light filtered through the stained-glass windows, spilling crimson and violet across the polished marble floor. The colors stretched before me like pools of blood, broken only by the long shadows cast by the towering columns.

As I climbed the steps, I brushed two fingers across the black crown resting upon my brow.

Florian.

Silence.

A slight frown crossed my face. Perhaps he was occupied.

I reached farther. Florian. Your Emperor summons you.

Nothing. Strange.

Instead, I reached for another mind. Ravencroft.

The answer came at once. Yes, Your Majesty.

Speed up production, I commanded. By nightfall, the Celestial blood will be secured.

As you command.

I withdrew my thoughts.

Florian was ignoring me.

There was only one person capable of convincing my steward to defy me.

My manipulative sister.

This time, I pressed my entire palm against the crown as I continued toward the throne room.

Elyndra. I require you and Florian in Palace Aetheria's throne room immediately. Use the arch beneath the castle.

I waited. Still nothing. My pace slowed.

Elyndra.

Silence.

Elyndra!

I drove the command through the crown with enough force to make the runes pulse beneath my hand.

Once again, I was met with silence.

I lowered my hand, my jaw tightening.

She had ignored my summons once before.
Centuries ago. And she had regretted it.

I was about to summon her again when footsteps echoed through the corridor behind me.

I turned to find the Head Engineer hurrying toward me, a leather case of blueprints tucked beneath one arm. Soot blackened his sleeves, and exhaustion lined his face.

He immediately dropped to one knee. "Your Majesty."

"You've been busy."

"The repairs continue without interruption."

I inclined my head. "And the ballistae?"

"The final emplacements were completed this morning. Every tower overlooking the city walls now has a clear line of fire."

Excellent.

"If the dragon attempts to escape tomorrow," the engineer continued, "he will be met by more than a hundred enchanted bolts before he reaches the forest."

A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. "Very good."

I resumed walking, gesturing for him to follow. He hurried to keep pace beside me.

"The travel arch in the courtyard?"

His face brightened. "Completed, Your Majesty. Every stabilizing rune has been carved into the inner and outer rings."

"Stable?"

"Completely. The enchanted gazebo your grandfather gifted the former Emperor of Aetheria contained remarkable stabilizing inscriptions. We copied each one and incorporated them into the arch. It may now be used repeatedly without the doorway collapsing."

I nodded in approval. "When I die," I said, "I shall thank my grandfather personally. His mastery of travel magic surpassed even my own."

I glanced through the palace windows toward the courtyard below. The great stone arch stood proudly at its center, its engraved runes glowing with a soft silver light.

Unlike the enchanted gazebo, the arch had not been built for diplomacy. It had been built for conquest.

For armies, weapons, and siege machines.

For my empire.

"We were fortunate the gazebo served as a doorway to Aetherion," I said.

"It exceeded every expectation, Sire."

"But it has fulfilled its purpose."

The engineer bowed his head. "The arch is stronger."

"It had better be."

"I assure you, Your Majesty... it is."

Satisfied, I turned toward the courtyard. "I shall test it myself. I must return to Arcanis and retrieve my steward. I tire of delegating his responsibilities to others."

The engineer blinked. "Your steward? I believe he is already here, Your Majesty."

I stopped walking. "When did you see him?"

"Not long ago." He pointed toward the southern side of the palace. "Near the barracks."

My eyes narrowed. "And my sister?"

He hesitated. "I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but I do not know what Lady Elyndra looks like. I have seen only a portrait. When I saw Steward Florian... he appeared to be alone."

Alone?

I dismissed him with a flick of my fingers. "Return to your duties."

He bowed deeply. "As you command."

The corridor fell silent once more.

I touched the Black Crown once more.

Florian.

Nothing again. My irritation deepened.

Elyndra. Show yourself.

Silence.

No one ignored the Black Crown. Not willingly.

I stopped in the middle of the corridor. One hand rested upon my crown, the other upon the Sable brooch fastened to my robes. Through the twin enchantments, I reached for every bond tying my subjects to me.

This time, I poured my will into them.

Come.

The command echoed through the magic.

I waited.

Then my heartbeat faltered. It slowed.

A strange heaviness settled over my chest. I released the brooch and clutched at my robes as a sharp pain spread through my heart.

What—

A familiar voice brushed against my thoughts, soft, calm and amused.

Forgive me, brother.

My eyes narrowed. Elyndra...

I cannot come when summoned... though I admit, it is painful to resist. A quiet laugh followed. But I have far more important things to do.

The connection vanished. My heartbeat slowed further. Pain blossomed through my chest.

I staggered against the nearest marble column, gripping it until the stone groaned beneath my hand.

Elyndra...

She had recovered her power. The dragon had returned the Sable Ring.

After several long breaths, the pain finally eased.

Only the Ring could resist the Black Crown. Only the Ring could deny my command.

I placed a hand over my Sable brooch once more, reaching for the Ring's magic so I could see through Elyndra's eyes. I found only darkness.

My jaw clenched. With a roar, I swept a gilded vase from its pedestal. It exploded against the marble floor, shards skittering in every direction.

Servants flinched. None dared move.

"Elyndra..."

I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white.

She had defied me. Again.

I pressed two fingers against the Black Crown.

General Sallow.

A burst of green light flared a few paces away. The air rippled as General Sallow stepped through the portal and immediately dropped to one knee.

"You summoned me, Your Majesty?"

"I did."

He rose. "What are your orders?"

"My sister is somewhere within Aetheria." I took a slow step toward him. "I have summoned her repeatedly."

"And?"

"She refuses to answer."

For the first time since Ashwood, surprise crossed the general's face. "That is... unlike Lady Elyndra."

"It is." A cold smile crept across my face. "But she possesses an heirloom of House Sable."

Understanding dawned immediately. "The Sable Ring?"

I inclined my head. "Yes," I replied. "Find her and bring her to me."

He placed a fist over his heart. "Alive?"

"Alive, of course." My smile widened. "The people now whisper that I murdered my sister. Imagine their disappointment when she appears alive at my side. Azerath's lies will unravel before their eyes."

"And Steward Florian?"

"He is with her."

Sallow nodded once. "I will search every tower, every corridor, every hidden chamber if I must."

"You will." I clasped my hands behind my back. "And Sallow, if either of them attempts to leave Aetheria..."

I let the threat linger.

Understanding flashed in his eyes. "They won't."

"And while you search..." I added, "...continue looking for Aurelion Kade's body. It is somewhere within this city."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Another pulse of green light engulfed him. Then he was gone.

I stood alone in the silent corridor.

The feast no longer interested me. The dragon could wait. Even tomorrow's execution had become secondary.

Because for the first time in centuries...

My sister had chosen someone else's side.

And somehow...

That troubled me more than anything the dragon had said before the entire Empire.

But Elyndra could hide from my summons. She could not hide from my shadows.

I lowered my gaze to the darkness pooling at my feet. It stirred, writhing like living smoke as though awaiting my command.

"Find my sister," I said.

Without a sound, the shadows peeled away from the floor and slipped into every corridor of the palace, spreading through Aetheria in search of her.