Page 3 of The Night Prince 3
“Nothing,” Finley said with a shake of his head. “You owe me nothing for this. I’m happy to help.”
“You are too kind, Finley. I will remember this.” Aquilan inclined his head. He would remember it. While his Shadow was very skilled–he knew this to his bones–Finley was not a warrior. He was going into danger to help them. To help his family. “We will make sure that you are safe.”
While he was saying this to Finley, he was promising this to Declan. His Shadow understood what he was saying and gave a faint nod.
“We are truly grateful for the help. For, as I said, the ruins might be even more dangerous than usual!” Elasha then told everyone of what she had learned from her sources in more detail and why her brother had gone to the ruins in the first place.
If I had gone back to the palace last night and heard Darcassan’s concerns about the Levithan, could I have stopped this foolish expedition he went on? Aquilan thought grimly.
But he was wrenched away from those grim thoughts as, again, neither Finley nor Rhalyf looked particularly surprised by what Elasha was saying. He wondered what was going on there. Evidently, they had gotten up to something that day. In fact, both of them glanced back at the woods then towards one another and then towards the party.
“I didn’t see the rift to Illithor in Chicago though,” Finley said after she had finished.
“Yes, but Darcassan knew that the one you did see wouldn’t be reopening,” Rhalyf reminded him. “It being under the dome and all. So he had to go someplace where he knew there would be many rifts.”
“I suppose it is logical then that he would go to Chicago. If there was one rift to Illithor, there might be others and that’s where the majority opened,” Finley tapped his chin.
“Yes, logical indeed to think you could reach Illithor from there.” Rhalyf looked strange for a moment. A mixture of longing and dread crossed his handsome features. “On the one hand, while I’m glad you reported what you saw, Finley, I really wish you were wrong about it.”
“Well… isn’t he? I mean…” Elasha looked between Finley and Rhalyf.
“I saw his sketches of the city he glimpsed,” Rhalyf said. “It is Illithor.”
Aquilan frowned deeply. “That is dire indeed if true. While the Kindreth no longer dwell there, Vex is said to have left powerful magics to guard the city.”
“Magics which are not working as they should.” Rhalyf pursed his lips. “Maybe that is how the Leviathan broke through. If Illithor was found then things are definitely not as they should be. And then… Well, who knows what happened. But if the Leviathan are mucking about near Illithor then…”
Aquilan’s stomach clenched. He could not shake the fact that the Leviathan’s appearance on Earth was his fault. His failure to do or not do something. Or many things.
“Then what?” Elasha was pale as milk.
“Beyond the great magics that are supposed to guard Illithor,” Helgrom broke in, “it is said that if anyone attempts to enter it then the Night King will know.”
“And he doesn’t like sharing, does he?” Finley guessed.
“No, lad, he doesn’t.” Helgrom stroked his beard and muttered, “While the Levithan sticking their coils in Illithor is bad enough for an Aravae to do it…”
Aquilan felt a wash of cold go through him. But also something else. His parents had gone on a peace mission to the Kindreth and had died on it. He had never gotten a straight answer as to why they had done this. Why seek peace with a people no longer there? The Kindreth were long gone from the top levels of the Under Dark. To find them would have required his parents to delve deep into the layers of the nighted plane. Danger would have lurked around every corner. The Sun–and its attendant power–would have been out of reach. His parents had, undoubtedly, brought Sun Stones, but they were no replacement. Yet they had pursued this insane course of action for what benefit he had no idea.
And they had died.
In the dark.
For nothing.
Had they reached the Kindreth? Had Vex destroyed them? Or had they died from one of the many dangers the Under Dark held? Before the Leviathan, he had been certain that his great and powerful parents could only have been taken out by Vex himself. He’d been so certain of it that he’d destroyed the Night Elves that had dared to enter his realm without hearing a word from their lips.
Why was I so quick? Why didn’t I ask them why they were there? Why did I not restrain myself?
But his grief and pain had risen up in him upon seeing their white hair and red eyes like a tidal wave. Skulking into his empire! Trying to slip through as if he wouldn’t know the moment they passed through the veil… Well, wouldn’t Vex know just the same when Darcassan crossed into the Under Dark near Illithor? Would he turn his face up towards the surface at that breach? Would he march with his Kindreth against the Aravae? Would another war start?
“We should not delay any longer,” Aquilan said grimly, which had Declan glancing over at him concernedly. “I do not think there is any time to waste.”
No longer was it just his beloved nephew’s life at stake, but it could be so much more.
If Vex senses Darcassan near Illithor… no! I must stop this before it starts!
“You can ride with me, Finley,” Rhalyf said just as Declan had opened his mouth, likely to offer.
