Nightfall: Book Two of the Chronicles of Arden (32 page)

Natori sighed as she watched them from the doorway. “Do either of you plan on solving this problem, or are you content to tear one another apart? Surely you must have taken into consideration that this is precisely what the persons behind this act are hoping for?”

King Rishi and Marc froze where they stood, not unlike scolded children.

The King sighed. “She makes a valid point. Why would they tear down a wall if the foundation is already weak? They’re just waiting for us to crumble.”

Marc plunked back down in his seat. “Yeah, I suppose so. Sorry.”

For a time, the room fell into awkward silence.

Finally, Aodan crossed his arms over his chest. “So they’ve shaken us. How do we proceed?”

The King heaved an exhale and dropped into the other chair. He used one hand to cover his pale face. “I don’t know. We’ll have to strategize in private—” His brow furrowed and he stole a look over at the youngest two in their company. “You two go.”

“Father?” Diddy balked.

King Rishi silenced the prince with one stern look. “Neither of you need be troubled any more today.”

“My family is worth any trouble I may encounter!”

The King locked his jaw, impatience thinly veiled behind dark eyes. Wordlessly, Gib grabbed Diddy’s elbow, and Aodan took the prince’s other arm. Together, they guided him toward the door.

“No one’s questionin’ your loyalty, Diddy. Ya know that,” the bodyguard said. “This is a discussion for the King and his advisors, not a young prince and an understudy. C’mon now, out with ya.”

Diddy grabbed Aodan’s arm. “If there’s anything I can do to help, I would.”

“We know.”

Once they were in the hall, Diddy lowered his voice. “Aodan, Father is under too much pressure. You must see it, too. Hasain has gone to the Northern Empire as an ambassador, Deegan is sitting in on the council meetings to fill his spot—I know I’m not a Radek, but I would do what either of them would. My only desire is to be a good son. Please—”

“Hey, enough of that.” Aodan put his hands on both of Diddy’s shoulders. “This isn’t about names or bloodlines. You
are
a good son, Didier, and there may come a time where yer called to do somethin’ dangerous or difficult. Rishi doesn’t give these tasks lightly. He had no choice sendin’ Hasain. And Deegan had ta grow up sooner or later. Don’t mistake his hesitance to use you as a lack of love or trust. He’s merely been able to keep you safe for a while longer. That’s all.”

Diddy wiped an errant tear from his cheek. “You will let him know I only wait for his call, won’t you?”

“He knows, but I’ll remind ’im if ya want. Now—” Aodan looked pointedly at the soldiers and Gib before returning his full focus to Diddy. “—do as yer king commands. Go back to the palace, check on yer mother and the young ones. And fer the love of The Two, hold yer head up like the prince ya are.”

Aodan returned to the office then, and Diddy and Gib, flanked by the four soldiers, began their trek down the empty corridor.

Gib cleared his throat. “I suppose I don’t need to go back to the palace. I could just go to my room.”

“All right,” replied Diddy. “I’m sure you have studies to catch up on.”

“Always.” Gib searched for something else to say, wishing he could avoid the obvious, but words came pouring out of his mouth without consent. He never had been good at avoiding the truth. “Diddy, if there’s anything I can do to help you, please let me know. I mean, I know there are things you can’t tell me, but despite that, I would help you in whatever capacity I’m able.”

Diddy twisted his hands together and cast a timid look around. “I suppose you’ll have to visit the library at some point, won’t you?”

Gib frowned. He wasn’t sure where Diddy was going with this. “I suppose. Why?”

“Might I suggest some study material?” Diddy leaned in close and dropped his voice so low Gib had to strain to hear it. “For any confusion you may have had today, I would highly recommend
Annals of the Unknown Peoples
. The fourth segment is particularly enlightening.”

A light went on in Gib’s mind.
He’s trying to tell me something important
.

“Th–thank you. I will check into that.”

His mind was heavy as he said farewell. It would no doubt bring him strife to investigate this matter further and perhaps it wouldn’t be worth the trouble—but his mind was already made up.

To the library it is
.
 

Joel wandered the stone corridors, heart numb and stomach bunched into queasy knots. The urge to vomit came and went, churning his guts and burning the back of his throat, and visions of bloodshed and violence weighed heavily in his thoughts. A gripping, horrible fear that he’d never be able to unsee the horrors witnessed earlier paralyzed his mind. Would he be stuck in this nightmare forever?

He stopped beside a pillar, leaning against the cold marble for support. Slamming his eyes closed, Joel bade himself to relax. He needed to calm down. He needed to think clearly. He needed to find Hasain.

Immediately following the gladiator tournament, Joel had returned to the Imperial palace in search of his cousin. Hasain had left the match so abruptly and in such distress that Joel was worried. He had to find Hasain, talk to him, and ensure he was all right—only the young Radek lord was nowhere to be found. He hadn’t been in his bedchamber within the suite nor was he sitting in the private garden outside. Joel had searched the library next, but Hasain wasn’t there either, leaving Joel to ramble aimlessly through the palace halls.

What am I doing? Why am I even here?
Tears welled beneath his closed eyelids.
I should be in Arden, with my family, with Gib. Not thousands of leagues away, in this vile empire where men are slaughtered like animals
—

“Lord Joel Adelwijn?”

Joel’s eyes flew open, the soft tenor voice catching him off guard. Blinking away blurry tears, he spun around so swiftly the newcomer took one uncertain step back.

Kirk Bhadrayu’s fair face pinched with concern. “I–I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to impose. I was just passing through and saw you standing there—and thought I’d make myself known.” His shameful green eyes shifted downward.

Joel cleared his throat, hoping the anguish in his soul wouldn’t be so apparent when he spoke. “No. It’s all right. You’re not imposing.”

Kirk lowered his voice a pitch further, barely more than a whisper. “Are you okay?”

For a moment, Joel couldn’t bring himself to utter a response. Even the stiff nod he gave was difficult. “I’m searching for one of my comrades—Lord Hasain. I lost track of him when I left the amphitheater earlier.”

Kirk’s demeanor grew darker yet. Letting out a sigh through tightly pursed lips, the mage trainee replied in a solemn tone, “You attended the arena match?”

Joel grimaced. “I’m afraid it wasn’t by choice.” He hesitated, glancing around to ensure they were alone. “Emperor Lichas insisted we go. I would have preferred to sit in the garden instead.”
Should I have said that?

Kirk nodded, a silent show of his understanding. “I’m sorry you had to see it.”

“Were you there today?”

“No. Thankfully my master doesn’t require we partake—though some of his other trainees opt to go.” A fleeting smile passed across Kirk’s lips. “Like you, I prefer the serenity of the gardens over the violence of the arena. Some would call me a coward for admitting such a thing—”

“I wouldn’t.”

They locked eyes, and Joel felt a strange sense of comradery toward the young mage trainee. Perhaps if fate had chosen differently and they’d grown up sharing the same country, he and Kirk could have been friends. Perhaps they still could be—

No
, Joel reprimanded himself for entertaining such dangerous thoughts.
Kirk is young, but he’s still an Imperial. No matter how honest or forthcoming he seems, I can’t fully trust him. Ever. And surely we cannot be friends. When I leave Teivel, it’s almost a certainty I’ll never see him again
.

A rosy colored flush settled on Kirk’s high cheekbones. “I’m afraid I haven’t seen Lord Hasain today. Perhaps he ventured into the royal courtyard. I often find it easy to clear my mind there. It’s worth a look if you haven’t yet searched there.” Kirk scraped one of his sandals across the tiled floor.

“Perhaps.”
I guess searching there is better than standing around looking like a lost soul
. Joel’s head spun as he tried to recall how to get to the royal gardens. “I’m afraid I don’t know the way. Might you point me in the correct direction?”

Kirk smiled. “I can show you there myself if you’d like.”

Joel hesitated, knowing he walked a fine line. The others would see this type of interaction as troubling or as fraternizing with the enemy. But Kirk wasn’t like the other Imperials! He was kind while they were cruel, modest despite the pomposity surrounding him, and genuine,
truly
sincere.

I do trust his word. Father and Hasain can call me foolish all they want, but I know Kirk isn’t being false. Not after the conversation I overheard in the garden. Not after I witnessed the way those other boys treated him. He’s an outcast, the same as I used to be
.
And I really could use someone to talk to
.

Joel allowed himself to smile back as the last bit of doubt was cast from his mind. “I’d like that very much. Pleasant companionship after such brutality would be most appreciated.”

Kirk bowed. “Allow me to lead the way, Lord Adelwijn.”

“Joel. Just Joel, if you would.”

A shy laugh filled the hall, and Kirk’s blush deepened as he led the way toward the courtyard. “Forgive me, Lord—Joel. I’m not used to such requests. Master Titus is very strict. If he caught me talking in such a way, I’m certain he’d punish me.”

Joel frowned. “That seems a bit extreme.”

“I’ve been reprimanded for lesser crimes. It’s just the way things are here. The Imperial highborns demand the utmost respect from their servants.”

The scent of saffron and wild flowers hung in the air as they left the palace and stepped onto the cobblestone path outside. The late afternoon sun lay low in the sky, casting shadows across the grass. The rays of light bathed Joel’s skin in drowsy warmth, and despite the horrors he’d witnessed earlier, he found his tense shoulders and queasy stomach beginning to relax.

“But you aren’t a servant,” he pointed out as they walked. “You’re a trainee. Soon you will be a mage—practically royalty, judging by the way the Northern Empire holds their mages in such high regard. Why does the Archmage treat you so poorly? Why do your fellow trainees torment you if you’re all destined to be mages anyway? If you’re all equals?”

“Equal?” Sadness filmed Kirk’s eyes as he stared at the flowering vines creeping up the palace walls. “I’ll never be their equal. Not really anyway.”

Joel knew he shouldn’t press the matter but couldn’t help himself. “Why not?”

Kirk wrapped his arms around his shoulders, as though his tunic suddenly wasn’t enough to keep his fair skin warm. “Because of my past. Archmage Titus never truly wanted to take me as an underling. The only reason he did is because I’m one of the most gifted mage trainees my age. But that doesn’t mean he has to like me. I’m lowborn, you see. When my mother grew ill five years ago, she was unable to work anymore, and we found ourselves tossed into the streets. Mother didn’t last long there. I was ten when she made the journey across the veil. My sister had barely seen her ninth Naming Day.”

Joel winced, unsure of what to say. “I’m—I’m sorry.”

“Kenisha and I were taken in by a local orphanage for the next two years. It was a rough life. Too many children living together and not nearly enough food to go around, but at least we had a roof above our heads. If we’d still been on the streets during the brutal winter, I have no doubt we would have perished.”

As the young trainee told his story, Joel couldn’t help but think of Gib. How many times growing up had Gib and his siblings gone to bed at night with empty, aching stomachs? How many times had they cried themselves to sleep because their parents weren’t there to tuck them in? He stole a glance at Kirk as they walked.
People like Gib, like his brothers and sister, like Kirk—they are stronger than any highborn I’ve ever known. To be thrown into such dire circumstances and somehow climb their way out—they’re heroes and they don’t even know it
.