novelxo Chapter CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Tyran entered his office and found his sister leisurely sitting on one of his chairs. He was fully sated when he left his little wifey to her slumber again. Tyran guessed the best way to keep Noelle out of trouble was to make love to her. That way she would fall asleep quickly and stay in his bed while he took care of business.
“You sure took your sweet time.” Lyrah turned to him, her dark eyes filled with mirth.
Tyran scowled. “I had business to take care of. What were you doing out in the gardens practicing with warriors when you know you were supposed to be resting?”
Lyrah sighed and looked away. “I’m much better now...plus I needed to stretch a bit—why didn’t you warn me Noelle was such a good archer?”
Tyran’s eyebrows arched up. He didn’t know it himself. He never took her for a fighter but her skill with the bow left him baffled. She could hardly pick up the sword in their room yet with the bow she was an expert.
“This is not about Noelle, it’s about you. She’s had her share of my fury--”
Lyrah quirked her eyebrow. “I’m sure she has.”
Tyran growled as his younger sister. “Your color has drained from your face. I can see the quivering of your body. You can barely stay on your feet.”
Lyrah turned away and sighed. “I didn’t mean to scare you...but I was bored. Besides, it was with new recruits--”
“The recruits are good warriors from the general army. Warriors are warriors. I forbid you to leave the fortress until I feel that you are fit enough--”
Lyrah shot up from the chair. “You can’t do that, Tyran.”
“I’m Lord Mage, I can do anything.” Tyran said viciously.
Lyrah’s chin perked up stubbornly. She eyed her brother for a moment and said. “Good luck with that.” She didn’t wait for Tyran to add anything and walked out.
Tyran watched his sister walk out and felt like howling. Lyrah and Noelle were a bad combination. It meant nothing but trouble for him. He had a lot to think about; like the public execution of Olena and the Union ceremony coming up soon enough, not to mention the arrival of the kings and queens, high lords and ladies and other nobles from the other Realms.
Tyran settled in his chair and turned to look outside the gardens. There was an uneasiness in the air. It was something all too familiar yet he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He once experienced this feeling and now it was back like a dark shadow over his heart.
Ron and the King Fae were still out of sight. Not even his best warriors could sniff them out. Was Ron part of this big conspiracy about the True King? Was he also using black arts to cloak himself?
Tyran was an ancient and he never knew any True King of the enchanted world. There was only one ancient leader greedy enough to dub himself that and he was long gone from that world. The war of the Dark energy was fought many eons ago. What happened became legend and finally legend became myth. Very few ancients remembered the real story of what happened. The secrets were buried deep in the five Realms where not even the bravest could venture.
Tyran stalked out of his office and down the hallway. He entered the large library and proceeded down the large ancient shelves holding books long forgotten, ancient spells and history of the five realms. He placed his hand on the round carve on the end wall of the room in a dark corner that wouldn’t hold any interest to the people using the room and the circle illuminated. He whispered a spell and the circle pushed inside.
Dust puffed around the closest bookshelf and groaned as it swung open. The tunnel was dark and a cool draft sent Tyran’s skin crawling with goose-bumps. One by one, the lamps down the tunnel turned on. The steps leading down were made of old stone and were damp. The roof of the arched tunnel had cobwebs and little spiders that followed Tyran’s movements down the tunnel with their beady black eyes.
Tyran hadn’t been down there for the longest time and never thought he would have to but now he wasn’t so sure.
Tyran followed the lamps until he arrived to the circular opening where a pedestal stood in the center with the big black book on it. Tyran stopped just before the entrance and looked around. He protected the room with a blood-bond. Only he could enter and if he died, the Mortal Book was lost forever unless someone was able to overcome his spells and tear down the entire fortress.
Tyran bit hard on his thumb until blood trickled down from the wound he created then touched the invisible barrier against the entrance to the chamber and it shimmered away. He entered the chamber and ran his hand over the cool black leather cover of the Mortal Book. It held the strongest spells for the Mage. These spells were so strong that they could corrupt the user and even kill them. Only the royal ancients practiced the spells. This was one of the five Mortal Locks used to lock away the Dark Energy after it was unleashed by the Leader of the Ghouls.
Once, the Ghouls were a civilization much like the Mage; The Bach’uane. They manipulated energy from nature and used it for good but their greed for power attracted the Dark energy. It seduced them to do evil things and to try and take over the enchanted world.
Their greedy leader embraced the Dark energy with the dream that one day he would become the king of the enchanted world. It changed Aidan’s heart, tainted it with untold evil. There was so much evil in him that it even morphed his physical features and he became more of a blood-thirsty monster. He made his army by using the Dark Energy on his followers and they too became tainted and turned to what they were now, Ghouls. They preyed on the other races, fed on flesh and caused great chaos in the Realm of the Dark. They began to spread to other parts of the Enchanted World.
The five leaders of the realms came together and battled Aidan. They destroyed him and his army and locked the Dark Energy deep in the earth in an undisclosed location using the five Mortal Locks; the Coral Spear from the Realm of Water, The Thyest Bow from the Realm of the Dark, The Scarlet Shield from the Realm of Fire, the Light Sword from the Realm of Light and the Mortal Book from the Realm of Spells.
Tyran sighed. He prayed that he was just overreacting. His gut feeling had never been wrong but this time he hoped he was just over-thinking because if what he suspected was true then they were all in grave danger.
Noelle stretched leisurely and opened her eyes. Evening had fallen and the room was lit softly with the wall lamps around the corners. Her nose flared as she inhaled in the mouth-watering aroma of food. She sat up and saw the tray of food just next to the bed. She didn’t know how hungry she was until she saw it.
She didn’t waste time. She quickly pulled the tray to her and ate quietly. She wondered if Tyran sedated her one more time. Her body hummed to a new tune. There was no other lover for her other than Tyran and he was a great lover in bed. She was not ashamed to say that he knew her body more than herself. Whatever he did on her only enhanced her pleasure.
She smiled lightly when she remembered his grim face as he approached her and Lyrah in the gardens. She wondered if he scolded her yet. There was no chance Lyrah was walking away unscathed by his fury.
After she finished her meal, she went to sooth her aching body with a hot shower then went in search of Lyrah in her room. The helpers were very busy in the hallways getting the fortress ready for more royals who were coming. Lyrah wasn’t in her room and there was only one other place Noelle thought the young woman was. As she made her way down towards the gardens, she heard the musical laughter of a female coming from one of the lounges. She frowned and approached the slightly opened door only to find a tall slender and elegant female embracing the Lord Mage. She had magnificent red hair tumbling down to her waist in shimmering waves and her dress hugged all the right places and it shone like fish-scales in the sun, her face was enchanting and her skin like living marble; Queen Seranis.
Noelle could tell a mermaid from a mile away because she had always envied their ivory skins and their large eyes. She remembered seeing Queen Seranis one time when she was back home. The Queen had traveled to have a meeting with her father...she always had a good looking guard walking around with her—oh, there he was. Noelle looked at the large buffed merman with pale blue hair who was settled casually on one of the plush couches with a glass of wine in one hand. Another female with silver hair sat opposite the male and she too had a glass in her hand. Her eyes were cast down as Tyran and Queen Seranis greeted each other. Lady Oriel, Noelle remembered her too. She was Queen Seranis’ younger sister and the High lady of the Realm of Water.
Noelle didn’t care that they were all there. She cared about what they thought of Tyran. Everyone dubbed him the culprit behind the war. They refused to aid him even though he lost an entire village. Now, Queen Seranis had the audacity to hug her mate like a lover! She couldn’t hide away any longer. With a short knock, Noelle entered the lounge.
Tyran turned to her and his eyebrows arched up in surprise. “My queen.” He stepped away from Queen Seranis and made his way to her side. “I hope you rested well.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips.
Noelle smiled shyly at him and nodded. “I feel well rested, thank you.” Then she looked around the Lord Mage and smiled softly at Queen Seranis. “Queen Seranis, welcome to our Realm.”
Seranis smiled though the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Queen Noelle, it’s been a while since we met. You still clung to your nanny’s skirts when visitors came the last time saw you. Look at you now, a beautiful young light Fae.”
“Queen Noelle.” Both Oriel and the merman got up and bowed to her.
Noelle tried her hardest not to frown or to say something that would make Tyran look bad so she swallowed back the hot insult itching on her tongue. “You look well too, Queen Seranis. I hope you had a pleasant journey across the lands.”
She knew the mer-people needed to be around water quite often because of their delicate skins, she just wondered if the queen traveled in an over-sized fish bowl!
“Pleasant indeed. I loved the silk and lavender fields as we crossed the Agailan Bridge. With all that is happening across the Realm, they remain pure and beautiful than ever.” Seranis’ eyebrow arched up elegantly. “I never expected you here though I did hear the rumors that you have returned. The Human Realm wasn’t to your liking anymore?”
Maybe Noelle was exaggerating but she could have sworn that Seranis was taunting her. Was she in love with the Lord Mage? Did she have high hopes that one day she was going to be his Queen? Was she angry with him for taking her back into his life and maybe that was the reason why she didn’t want to align herself with him? “The Human Realm was a lifetime ago.” She assured her and looked up at the male standing next to her. He refused to look at her and stared at a spot just above Seranis’ head. Noelle felt her heart heave as she turned her attention back to the fellow queen. “I have responsibilities here and it’s the only place I would like to be now.”
“Well stated. There is no other better place a queen should be than beside her king. It’s a shame mine passed before his time. Now, I have Claus beside me like a shadow.” She turned to the merman who lifted his glass up at her and sipped the contents quietly.
Was there something going on between the two? Noelle wondered.
“I better leave you to your business.” She turned one more time to Tyran but he still avoided her gaze. What did she do now? She wondered as she acknowledged everyone and turned to the door. Tyran escorted her to it with his hand warmly settled against the small of her back. Just as he opened the door for her, Jax entered and turned to Tyran.
“My king.” He bowed lightly. “Queen Malenna has arrived and is expecting you in your office.”
Tyran nodded and turned to Seranis. “Would you excuse me for a moment, Queen Seranis, while I see Queen Malenna.”
But Seranis wasn’t paying attention to Tyran. She had her eyes fixed on Jax. There was a strange light in them as she stared shamelessly at Jax. Noelle turned to Jax and saw the bland expression he had. He turned to her just as Tyran passed beside them and offered his hand to her.
“High Lady Lyrah is expecting you in the greenhouse.” He told her.
Noelle nodded and accepted the hand.
“Jax.” Seranis’ voice stopped them as they turned to leave.
Already, Claus was up and stood between his queen and them.
Jax stopped but he didn’t turn. He stared dead at the long corridor and answered. “Yes, Queen Seranis.” His voice cracked and it was evidence how vulnerable he felt in the presence of his Queen. Noelle’s instincts went out to him and she wanted to protect him from her, take him away from Seranis as far away as possible.
“You cleared.” Seranis said and took a deep breath. “You are no longer exiled from the Realm of Water.”
Noelle’s eyes widened. Jax was exiled! It was not her place to ask why and she could see the look on Jax’s face that he was very uncomfortable in the situation so instead she squeezed his hand lightly, assuring him that she was there to support him.
“Thank you, my queen but I have a new home here in the Realm of Spells. I have a family that had been with me through thick and thin. I don’t think I can return to a place where I might be doubted again in the future.” Jax said tightly.
Seranis’ eyes turned down. “I understand and--”
Before she could finish her sentence, Jax was already moving down the corridor. Noelle had to jog a bit to keep up with him as he took her away from the lounge.
“Stop!” She finally exclaimed and dug her shoes hard into the floor. She was breathless and when Jax turned to her, he looked so lost that she wanted to hug his sorrow away.
“Forgive me, my queen.” He inclined his head at her lightly. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
Noelle’s eyes narrowed with concern as she looked at the merman. “Do you wish you talk about it?”
Jax turned to the corridor once more and started moving again. This time he walked slower. “It’s in the past, my queen and it is something I wish to forget.”
Noelle pursed her lips and nodded lightly. “I understand. You are very brave, Jax. Whatever it is that happened to you, I think you have already forgotten about it as it does not interfere with your work.”
Jax stopped and looked down at her. One side of his mouth curled up in a half smile. “You are not so bad yourself, my queen.”
Noelle grinned at the merman as they went out into the cool night.
Malenna was devastated when she heard the news of Dragons attacking Lyrah. Tyran didn’t want the female to have to suffer but he had to tell her of what happened, of what he feared might be happening.
Drake stood so still behind Tyran that he was almost a statue. Tyran could feel the male’s anger beating at him like a jackhammer.
“Were they...” Malenna was even afraid to inquire about the Dragons. Her voice cracked and her eyes widened in terror as she looked up at him. She pleaded with him not to confirm what she suspected but Tyran had no choice but to tell her of the truth.
“They had the mark.” Tyran stated quietly.
Malenna’s beautiful face leached of color. Her hands came up and clasped in front of her mouth as she tried to contemplate on what this meant.
No one knew for sure who the new leader behind the pack was but Tyran doubted it very much that Kruk rose from the dead. The extraction of the heart from a Dragon’s body was the most effective way to kill them. After the extraction of Kruk’s heart, Tyran burnt both the body and the heart until there was nothing but ashes.
There was definitely a new leader of the pack. Could they have banded together with Ron and try to destroy him because he killed their leader? None of the attacks made sense and it terrified him to have to wait until they did. It could be too late when finally they realized what was happening and he didn’t want it to reach to that moment.
“Do you think...” Again, Malenna’s voice broke, her face stunned.
“Kruk is dead. This is someone else carrying out his legacy.” Tyran assured her and sighed. “We have a spy in custody. She was giving the dragons information about the royals. She’s a dragon.”
Malenna gasped sharply as she looked at Drake for confirmation. Drake nodded lightly.
“Olena of the Glaeder clan. Her family was exiled due to their ties with Kruk.” Drake stated.
Malenna stood up and turned to Tyran. “I need to see her. I need to talk to her--”
“I don’t advise it, my queen.” Drake stepped forward. “She blames you for what happened to her family and would love to see you dead even if it cost her, her life. She has nothing to lose.”
Malenna’s shoulders sagged as if all of a sudden a heavy weight was put there. “How could this happen?”
“We think these rogue Dragons have banded with Ron. Let’s face it, I’m the most hated king in the enchanted world at the moment. Everyone wants a piece of me and everyone has a reason to. You’ll be surprised at what extremes people endure to catch my attention.” Tyran shrugged his shoulders.
Malenna couldn’t help but smile. “Indeed you are as popular as Aidan.”
Tyran chuckled lightly. “I hope this conference will bring to light what has been happening and we get some quick solutions before everything we fought for all those years back goes to waste.”
Malenna nodded and sighed. “Who else is here?”
“Queen Seranis is here together with High Lady Oriel and Florian and Luna, members of the Fae court.” Drake answered.
Malenna’s mouth curled into a sneer. “So, all the snort-nosed members are here. The faster Rhol graces us with his presence the faster I can get back.”
Tyran couldn’t help but smile. “You should go and say hi. I don’t remember the last time we were ever together under one roof like this.”
Malenna got up and approached Tyran. She placed her hand on his and said. “I’m only here because you asked me to and I was also curious to meet your queen.”
Tyran’s eyes darkened at the mention of Noelle. She was in the greenhouse with his sister. He remembered Jax announcing it. When she entered the lounge, she looked so beautiful that Tyran ran out of words to say. She conducted herself as the queen she was. Though Seranis tried to get under her skin like the way she usually did with the others, Noelle held her ground. He had never been so proud of her like the way he was at that moment.
He was not the male to get emotional but all he wanted was to take her back into their quarters and just show her how happy she made him. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to let her attend the conference.
“You’ll meet her soon enough.” Tyran assured the queen.
Malenna smiled lightly as she looked around and frowned when her eyes settled on the silan carpet. “Is that a charred patch on my carpet?”
Tyran groaned lightly. Zach was dead!