Page 25 of The Night Prince

He started walking down the street that bore little resemblance to the town he’d grown up in.The boxy ranch houses and multi-story Victorians had been destroyed in the original battle and had been replaced with the elegant and magically-created architecture of the Aravae.

Graceful white stone homes with delicate glass domes were everywhere, corinthian columns held up the soaring ceilings of spacious buildings, and vast plazas dotted the sprawling town where people could perambulate with a cup of aromatic tea or icy wine in one’s hand.And all of it was overflowing with flowers and greenery.

Life bursted, bloomed and flowed in Tyrael and the smell of those flowers and growing things filled Declan’s nostrils with sweet scents as he made it to the sidewalk.The asphalt streets were long gone, replaced with perfectly level stone walkways for there were no cars any longer.They were not allowed inside the shield in any case.The Separatists might still run the belching, gas-guzzling cars and trucks that were slowly rusting and falling apart, but to live under the auspices–and greater safety–of the Aravae Empire was to eschew all that polluted and contaminated and embrace the magical.

The storm sewer was located half a block downstream from the squat, but comfortable Dawn.The inn’s use of dark wood, round windows and curving doors was quite a bit different than the light and airy Aravae structures around it, but the dwarves prided themselves on bringing their own flavor to the town and the Dawn was a favorite with all species.The dwarves’ home in the Under Dark had been lost to the Kindreth long ago and they had joined the Empire then. Seeing that they had assimilated so well gave the general hope that humanity would too.But Declan wondered if that was true. The dwarves lived long and used the magic of the earth.Humans were truly the odd one out.

That block walk from the inn to the storm sewer felt like a marathon.Cold sweat ran down Declan’s spine as he dropped the keg down to the ground and crouched beside it right next to the metal grate.He could hear water rushing far below.He imagined the cool darkness that water flowed through and wished bitterly to experience it himself.

He rested one forearm against the top of the keg as he struggled to catch his breath.His left hand was far more exposed to the sunlight when he did that.Though his flesh did not smoke or blacken, it felt like it was.Those few moments of full exposure made it feel as if flames were running along his skin.

He cursed himself for not bringing the pair of supple, black leather gloves that Shonda had given him for his birthday.He knew exactly where they were: neatly folded on top of his dresser at home.He had considered grabbing them earlier this afternoon, but it was almost summer and too warm for them.People would have stared and wondered what he was on about wearing those. But he’d been foolish to worry about that type of heat and attention.He wrenched his sleeves down further to cover all but the tips of his fingers.

Everything will be fine.Just have to open the keg and let it drain, he told himself.

His fingers, suddenly clumsy and numb, fumbled with the metal spigot at the bottom of the keg.He let out a low cry of frustration as he couldn’t quite seem to get the spigot to open.His body shook with cold despite being out under the hot Sun.

There is no need to panic.This will take but a moment. Everything will be fine.

The spigot finally turned and the honey brew–definitely sour and stinking–started to flow out into the drain.He let out a sigh of relief.He could wait for it to empty in the shadow of a nearby tree.Just a few feet away, he saw the edges of one of those shadows, lacy and soft, but it would offer some respite.He reached towards it only to see the shadow retreat.

What the hell?!

It was getting brighter.As bright as noon.But that shouldn’t be!Thatcouldn’tbe!He looked up at the sky in confusion as the light increased and pushed back all the shadows.The light was flooding everything.Pure golden sunshine.

His tongue clove to the top of his mouth that was dry as dust.This light… he’d seen it before.One time.Five years before nearly to the day.It had spelled safety back then.The light had blown the Leviathan apart.It had eventually saved the world.But now?

Now?

The light of the Aravae extinguished all shadows.Conquered the darkness.It left nowhere for those afraid of its brilliance to hide.

Sun King Aquilan Fairlynn had come home to Tyrael.

And Declan Wilde was trapped in his light.

The Shadow Appears

“Elasha, would you be so kind as to head to the Eryas Palace and let Vesslan know that I willnotbe arriving before sunset this evening?”Aquilan asked his niece.

Her eyes flickered between him and Baston as she said, “Uncle, I think I should remain–”

“You should do what the king commands you to do,” Rhalyf cut in with a dark look at her, which so rarely appeared on his handsome face.

He thinks Vesslan has done something against the humans, too,Aquilan thought.Some violence.

Aquilan didn’t know if he wanted to curse his elder brother for abusing his position or himself for letting Vesslan have the opportunity to abuse it.

“O-of course, I w-will!Ah, when will you arrive at the palace, Uncle?”Elasha asked as she took the reins of her horse.

“I do not know,” he answered.“So canceleverythingthat you and Vesslan have arranged.I will set my own schedule when I arrive.”

Her cheeks burned and she lowered her head.“Yes, Uncle.It will be as you say.”

“Commander Sevren, you and the rest of the Protectors shall accompany Lady Fairlynn.Perhaps you would send your people with them as well, General?”Aquilan suggested the latter to Baston.

Elasha opened her mouth to object, undoubtedly, to say something about howhumanswould add nothing to her protection, but she wisely shut it without speaking.

“My king, perhaps myself and a few of the Protectors should stay with you,” Sevren began, but it was Rhalyf who stopped him.

---