Page 19 of Towering Future (The Emerald Realm 5)

“I’m sure you’re both curious as to why I called you here so urgently.” Father’s low voice reverberated throughout the cold space, filling every corner of the room with his powerful tone. “Allow me to relieve you of one truth. I will not be appointing my successor today. My decision has yet to be finalized, so consider this as an opportunity to gain further favor.”

I gave Conan a side-eyed glare from beneath my kneel, and he matched me with a cocky smile. I bit back a scoff and trained my eyes back on the reflective floor. Conan’s arrogance stemmed from his knowledge of Father’s ‘crystal ball’. He didn’t know nearly as much as he thought...

“I have gathered you both to inform you that a combined unit of Drancos and Isalla’s military has been spotted approaching our western border,” Father said pointedly.The western border? That meant they had entered through Sybettal.“They have yet to breach our land, but I’m certain, with their combined forces, it is only a matter of time. War will be upon us in only a few days’ time. You have both been well-educated in the art of battle and strategy. Tell me, what plans have you concocted to give Ashbourne the upper hand in a war against multiple formidable enemies?”

This is it, the moment I had been waiting for after all these years.A few days ago, I would have jumped at the opportunity to tell him my plan to utilize the hidden mages, but now... I knew that plan would include Elle... If I insisted we rely on magic, then Father might force her into sharing her visions. I wasn’t even certain where the other thousands of mages were hiding, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he had locked them up all over the kingdom.

There was no doubt that I still wanted to be king. No, Ineededto be king; otherwise, Elle and the other mages would still be left abandoned and trapped. If Conan became the next ruler, I had no doubt he would take advantage of Elle’s gifts the same way Father had.They had always shared the same ruthless outlook on life...I couldn’t let Conan win, but I couldn’t tell Father the plan I had created, either.

“I believe I have an idea, Father,” Conan stated proudly as he rose to his feet with a triumphant smile. I lifted my head and cast him a narrowed glare. He shifted his eyes toward me for a brief moment with a demeaning glint. “I have been doing some research on our kingdom’s history, and I noticed a strange error in our records...”

My eyes widened as every fiber in my body numbed with rising anger.He couldn’t possibly—

“It would seem that the mages you collected from Sybettal over two decades ago have vanished amongst our citizens,” he continued with a sickeningly proud sheen in his eyes. “Such powerful individuals would make excellent resources in a time of war. If we were to put a bit of effort into locating them, and made records of their abilities, then I’m certain we could gain a multitude of advantages over our enemies.”

My hand shook viciously with rage as I imagined strangling Conan’s voice out of his throat.That was my plan!There was no chance he had come up with it on his own. He must have snooped through my study while I was in the tower.That snake...Did he even know what he was doing? What type of harm he was going to cause to any mages who weren’t willing to participate in war? A grim shadow swept over my eyes as I recognized the answer to my question.

Of course, he did...

“Very impressive, Conan,” Father praised with his typical dull tone. “I agree that utilizing magic would be both unexpected and intelligent. With the vast variety of magical abilities in this world, I’m sure we could find numerous ways to enhance our armies. Well done. As for locating such mages, I believe I can be of some assistance in that task.”

My eyes shot to Father’s with piqued interest. He was stroking his dark beard with his gaudily ringed fingers in deep consideration.Is he planning to tell us about the mages? About Elle?My heart throbbed with a new fear that Conan would learn of Elle’s existence.What would he do to her?

Father’s eyes traced over to me as I fought to keep my expression calm and collected. “Miron, why don’t you handle the details of the supply and weapon distribution? Now that Killian is gone, we’ll need someone to oversee the more... trivial details. Your brother and I have some further discussing to do, so you are dismissed.” He waved me off with a flash of his sparkling rings, then turned his attention back to Conan.

I flicked my gaze between the two of them with a dumbfounded expression, uncertain of what had just occurred.Conan had stolen my plans... and now, Father only found me capable of taking on the abandoned job of a traitor.My blood boiled, but I withheld the urge to claw Conan’s eyes out. Whether I liked it or not, Father was likely about to share Elle’s existence with Conan. I needed to warn her, immediately.

“As you wish, Father.” I rose from the floor and met him with a full bow before turning from the room. Before I left, I caught the edge of Conan’s smug half-smile breaking through his stoic expression. I clenched my fists so hard that my knuckles turned as white as freshly fallen snow.

Smile while you can, Conan. I’m not letting you get to Elle.

The moment I exited the throne room, I sprinted at full speed to the library. Without breaking my stride, I raced up the hidden ladder and flew up the stairway before I could even think of checking my surroundings. When I recognized how sloppy I had been, I retraced my steps with heaving breaths, and fortunately, I didn’t see any followers.

Get it together, Miron. Since when did you stop being so cautious?

I picked the lock with haste, then began to push the door open before remembering I should have knocked. I slapped my hand over my eyes and called out into the quiet room. “Elle, it’s me. Grab your blindfold. I need to talk to you.” I waited patiently in the doorframe as a soft scurrying noise alerted me that she had heeded my request.

The scuffling stopped and I listened for her melodic voice. “It’s on, you can come in now.”

Slowly, I peeled my hand away from my eyes and took in the familiar tower. Elle stood beside her wardrobe with pristine posture and a surprised expression staining her face. I felt my heart let out an unrestrained throb as my eyes fell onto her enchanting hair. Normally she wore the lengthy locks in a tight braid, but today she had it unbound, hanging loose around her graceful features and trailing down her slender waist. It took me a moment to realize I was staring. Once my brain caught up with my strange emotions, I closed the door and crossed the room to face her directly.

“Elle, I know you don’t fully trust me yet, but I desperately need you to listen.” I knew she couldn’t see my pleading expression, so I tried to press all the severity I could into my voice. “Conan is going to know about you very soon, and he intends to use you and any other mages to aid in the war.” I paused, uncertain on how to proceed.I don’t want Elle to get hurt... But does removing her from my father’s control make me a traitor to my kingdom?

I fiercely shook the thought from my head. The mages were our citizens, too. I’m not betraying my people if I’m protecting our own.

Elle’s expression shifted, and I noticed that she looked a little unsteady as she swayed on her feet. “I already told the king that I wouldn’t permit him to use my visions. I’ll simply have to do the same with Conan.” She sounded brave, but I picked up a slight touch of fear in her voice.

She’s afraid of them...I couldn’t blame her, but I couldn’t sit back and watch her suffer, either. “You don’t have to tell them anything if you don’t want to. I know how to sneak through the shadows of this castle. We could leave right now, and they would never see you again.” I don’t know what compelled me to reach for her hand, but when I brushed my fingers against hers, she didn’t pull back.

In fact, she was entirely cold and stiff. She bit her lip and sighed. “I can’t leave yet. Not when there might be others who are trapped here, too.” She cast her blinded gaze over to the king’s door, and I felt a wave of guilt wash over me for not thinking of them.

I maintained a soft touch on her hand and noticed a light shaking in her fingers.Is she still afraid of me, too? Or was something else causing her to tremble?I watched her a little more intently and once again, I noticed a slight sway in her stance. I puckered my brow in thought as I scanned the room and noticed there weren’t any empty meal trays in the room.

My heart seized as I pressed a hand to her arm to help steady her stance. “Elle, when is the last time you ate anything?”

She flinched a bit at the question, then sunk her head a touch lower. “I was given some bread and cheese after your last visit. Since then, I’ve only received a daily pot of tea.” She weakly gestured over to the kettle, and I felt a rush of rage and grief race through my blood.

Why didn’t I visit yesterday!? Did Father really not let her eat all day?

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