Page 39 of The Night Prince 3
Aquilan looked down at the ground. He was clearly confused about his own actions and frowned deeply. “I… perhaps I am a hypocrite, Rhalyf. But I just can’t believe ill of Declan. I can’t see him as I have other Kindreth in the past.”
Declan felt a wash of warmth go through him. But it was followed by a chill. Aquilan was holding off on judging him when maybe he shouldn’t.
“Changing your mind isn’t a bad thing,” Rhalyf said quietly. “Judging a person for themself and not their family or their species is… is a good thing. Can be. Sometimes. Especially if they’ve shown you over time that they are someone to be trusted.”
Aquilan’s head lifted and he searched Rhalyf’s face.
“I’m sure there are good Night Elves, right?” Elasha asked with a helpless shrug.
“They are good people and bad people in every species,” Helgrom crossed his arms over his chest. “And, Aquilan, you’ve always believed that about me even though I am a Dark Dwarf. You’ve given many people a chance to prove themselves. So you aren’t being a hypocrite by being open to believing in Declan. You’re actually living up to what you normally are. I know… I know you have understandable feelings about the Kindreth, but–”
“The possibility of me being whatever I am makes me dangerous to you, Aquilan. You shouldn’t make any decisions until you know the truth. You might feel differently,” Declan told him and stepped out from under his hand. He felt the loss of it like a brand on his skin. Aquilan didn’t drop his hand, but still held it out to him. “I have no idea who or what I am. Let’s just wait.”
“Well, we have quite a wait ahead of us for the next rift to Illithor,” Elasha said as she hunkered down on the ground. “You said there wouldn’t be another one for a few hours, Darcassan?”
“And I said you were not coming,” Declan told her firmly.
“Oh, I think we’re coming. My uncle is the Sun King and if he’s going then we’re going,” Elasha said. “And my uncle is going with you.”
“Yes, I am, Declan. I will go with you to Illithor to get Finley and to meet this elf who might know who you are,” Aquilan said just as firmly as he had. He mulishly stuck his chin out. “I will not have you face this alone.”
“Nor will I,” Helgrom said with a nod.
“Declan big boss! Glom and me go with you,” Snaglak nodded.
“I wish to see Illithor,” Darcassan answered.
Rhalyf was the last to speak. He sighed and then let out a laugh. A wild and reckless laugh. “Vex will be at the end of this road, you know?”
“Yes,” Aquilan spoke simply. “And I would speak with him. I have questions for him. About my parents. About the wards. About everything. The Sun King and the Night King shall meet.”
“Then I must go!” Rhalyf laughed wildly again. “If only to give you time to escape him, my king.”
“It will not come to that,” Aquilan said with conviction. “He must know I am with Declan. He must know that I will come too.”
“Yes, like a spider waiting in the center of his web,” Rhalyf agreed. “But we are going!”
“We are.” Aquilan nodded. “Now we should spread out so that if a rift opens–”
“I see something,” Declan interrupted.
“What?” Aquilan turned around and let out a hiss between his teeth.
“Oh!” Elasha gasped.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it. Above the ghostly essence of Finley. A crack. Green light seeped through it. It was six feet tall. It glowed. Pulsed.
“That is most definitely a rift, but it's closed!” Darcassan exclaimed. “How will we open it?”
“With a key,” Declan murmured.
He brought Sorrow’s End up. The tip of the sword quivered. It was leading him. It was showing him what to do. He thrust the tip of the blade into the crack of light. It sank in an inch, two inches, three. He drew the blade downwards. There was a grinding sound as the rift opened.
Everyone crowded round.
“By the gods…” Rhalyf whispered.
“So it's true,” Aquilan breathed.
