Chapter 1
Talear
The Ebony Fortress
Mordrick stood nearly motionless on a polished stone terrace that jutted high above the vast valley below, behind him, wispy crimson curtains whipped and snapped in the gusty breeze.
He surveyed Talear’s sweeping waves of rolling wind-sculptured dunes to where they disappeared into the blazing horizon. The scorching sun and biting winds of Talear were relentless, yet Mordrick stood unyielding, a sovereign over the unforgiving land that bent to his will.
Well-formed, with chiseled features and silky black hair that curled at his shoulders, Mordrick might have been the envy of many despite his age, but the cruel twist of his lips and the icy glint in his eyes cast a shadow that sent shivers down the spines of those who dared to meet his gaze.
It has come as no surprise to him to discover that people called him Mordrick the Mad of Talear– never to his face, of course.
In fact, his lips curled into a wry smile whenever he heard the whispers of ‘Mordrick the Mad’ echoing through the halls.
Indeed, the moniker danced off his shoulders like a cloak he wore with pride, a badge of his cunning and ambition.
Mordrick's gaze swept the once awe-inspiring waves of sandy dunes.
He drummed his fingers on the stone railing, yearning for the thrill of conquest that lay beyond the horizon.
Then he stilled, his hands gripping the railing.
Just once, he wished he could glimpse the Valerian moon in the darkening sky.
But it was impossible to view his hated enemy.
The planet Calypsta would forever stand between them.
A bitter reminder.
Hearing the echo of footsteps in his chambers, he spun towards the entrance, his dark silk mantle swirling his boots.
A stout balding man, with sparse wisps of silver hair that clung stubbornly over his ears, shrewd beady eyes and a weak chin stepped onto the veranda.
Sporadic wind tousled layered brown robes that seemed too heavy for his hunched shoulders, as if they were a burden he was doomed to carry, a testament to his unwavering, if not reluctant, loyalty.
“My lord.” His loyal counselor bowed his head in respect. “It’s done. They are dead, but…”
“Wonderful,” Mordrick interrupted with a smile that bordered on perversion. “I must witness this magnificent event for myself.”
He departed his chamber with long purposeful strides. He descended a steep circular stone staircase carved from the fortress walls centuries ago, and into the dank bowels of his mountain lair. At the bottom, a cavernous alcove lit by flickering torches greeted him.
In the center of the archaic cave, stood twelve druids wearing long hooded robes that flowed to the floor, their cowls drawn deep over their brows, casting deep shadows that hid their faces.
They formed a silent circle around a stone pedestal that held the Taleari royal moonstone; a large glass-like orb with smokey movements that swirled with a will of its own, hovered above the stone surface, seeming to defy gravity.
As their master approached, the druids parted to let him pass to the pedestal, each moving without a sound, in an eerie choreographed fashion.
Mordrick shed one dark glove, took a deep breath, and reached towards the silvery moonstone, letting his palm and fingertips caress the smooth cool surface. “Show me the wedding.”
A bright light exploded, blinding him, until his mind’s eye transported him to another realm.
It was a beautiful day for a wedding, haunting bells rang throughout the peaceful town that stretched below the white ivory palace, nestled beneath snow-peaked mountains.
The sky was a crisp azure-blue and the sun shone brightly, a rarity on Valeria.
Inside the towering chapel, beneath colorful stained-glass windows, a wispy blonde bride with a joyful smile and her royal groom prepared to take their marriage vows.
The richly clothed lords and ladies and well-wishers that filled the chapel grew quiet as the priest began the words that would join them in matrimony.
As the priest concluded his blessings, they turned to face each other, their eyes alight with mutual adoration. The groom, tall and regal with long ashy-blond hair, took a step closer and lifted her veil.
He smiled, gently cupping her cheek.
The congregation sighed with envy as their lips met in a tender kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of eternal love, of shared dreams and unwavering commitment. The warmth of their connection seemed to envelop them.
Applause erupted as the kiss ended, and they turned to face their cheerful witnesses.
A flash of light exploded.
Reddish smoke oozed from the corners of the chapel.
The startled crowd glanced around in stunned silence as red waves swiftly engulfed the room.
Someone started coughing and fear erupted as everyone stampeded towards the doors in a fearful panic, but every entrance was barred from the outside.
They were trapped.
The red waves thickened until the chapel filled with a fog so dense, it was almost impossible to see. Screams, coughing and gagging, frantic pounding, desperate pleas for help all echoed in the blur of red darkness.
Screams faded to pitiful moans.
Coughing faded to slight gasps for air.
Pounding faded to silence.
Eventually, the hazy fog cleared, revealing a sea of layered bodies, a dusty red residue covering the dead like a silky shroud.
They were all dead—Every. Last. One.
Mordrick broke contact with the moonstone, the vision returning him to the present. A wicked grin spread across his face, his steps light and triumphant as he ascended the spiral staircase, each footfall echoing his dark satisfaction.
“Do you realize.” His eyes crinkled with the depth of his jovial grin as he re-entered his chambers several minutes later, his gloved fist clenched in triumph. “That this event will be recorded as the most pivotal event in Taleari history and the fall of our most hated enemy?”
“Of course, my lord, but…”
“The red death added just the right touch, wouldn’t you agree?” Mordrick inquired. “It was a symbol, you know. A reminder of our shared past. I wanted those hated Valerians to understand that Talear has never forgotten how they destroyed our home world all those years ago.”
“It was a masterful plan, but…”
“It took me years to simulate enough of that toxic red ash to kill the entire Kunnetsov family in one…swift…brilliant…stroke.” He snapped his gloved finger with a subdued click.
A bead of sweat formed on Magnius’s brow. “My lord, um…there is something you need to know.”
“Get on with it then,” Mordrick growled with impatience. “Plans need to be finalized. When those greedy Valerian barons begin to war over the throne, I need to be ready. I expect it shouldn’t take long, and timing is key to my successful invasion.”
“Well, my lord, there lies…the...um…problem,” Magnius squeaked out the last few words. “It doesn’t appear that the barons have taken up arms as anticipated, at least not as of yet.”
“It has only been a day. Perhaps they need more time to gather their forces.”
“Perhaps, but…”
“But what?” Mordrick narrowed his icy eyes. “What are you hiding?”
Magnius swiped his sweaty forehead with the back of a shaky hand. “Well, my lord, it’s possible that not every Kunnetsov has been…um…killed as expected.”
A flicker of fury flashed in his darkening gaze, but Mordrick remained calm as he stalked forward with measured steps. He loomed above Magnius. “I witnessed the event. No one escaped. My trap was perfect…wait.” Mordrick’s brow furrowed into deep creases. “Was someone immune to the toxin?”
“Well…er…no.”
“Interesting.” Mordrick began pacing back and forth like a starving feline caged in a cell.
“Are you by chance familiar with Valerian law? It clearly states that a marriage by any member of the royal family must be witnessed by the entire royal family for legality. Even a child born the day before is required to attend or the wedding isn’t binding.
” Steady pacing continued, his footfalls growing louder with each step.
“So how is it possible that the king’s son was able to wed without the entire Kunnetsov family in attendance? ”
“Well…um.”
“My plan was simple, exact. I left no room for error.” Mordrick took a deep, fuming breath and stared at the ceiling, a vein throbbing at his temple. “The entire line should be dead, yet here you stand, informing me it isn’t so." His gaze settled on Magnius. "Explain!”
“Your…p-plan,” Magnius stuttered and wiped his sweaty palms on his robe.
“Was p-pure genius my lord, no doubt about that. Perhaps it would be best if you listen for yourself.” He headed to the communication center built into the stone walls of Mordrick's chamber and slid a thin info-disc into the console.
“This conversation was recorded by our spies on Valeria.”
Several angered voices rattled through the comm.
“Mordrick needs to be dealt with, and quickly, before he moves against us.”
“I agree with Lord Mika. We need to repay this outrage with our own vengeance.”
“Yes, of course, we will retaliate, but we have a more important concern—succession. With the entire line dead there is no heir.”
“That was Mordrick’s plan, no doubt. To create strife and war among us.”
“What about Princess Kendra? I don’t believe she is dead.”
“Lord Ivo, that’s absurd. Of course, she’s dead, there was a witness. One who claimed she died in a Dracarian prison years ago.”
“When did this witness come forward? Just last month, wasn’t it?”
“I tend to agree with Lord Ivo, the timing does seem too convenient after all these years. I believe the witness was paid, or coerced, to lie so the prince could wed.”
“I certainly wouldn’t put it past the bride’s father, Lord Versili, to bribe someone to make false claims.”
“Where is this witness now?”
“Missing. Gone without a trace.”
“Another suspicious convenience. The witness is probably lying in a ditch, throat cut, a bag of Tokeneks still lining their pockets.”
“I still say she is dead. And this debate is utterly pointless.”
“Lords, since we seem to be at an impasse, I say we send out our spies to determine the truth of the matter. If there is even the slightest chance Kendra Kunnetsov lives, she must be returned to Valeria immediately to take her rightful place.”
“And if it is proven she is indeed dead, as the witness claimed?”
“Then my lords, we prepare to go to war.”
The voices faded and were replaced with the sound of buzzing static.
Mordrick’s black brows snapped together. “Who is this…Kendra?”
“One of the king's five daughters, the youngest, I believe.”
Stalking forward, he wrapped his fists in Magnius’s robe and lifted him from the floor with ease. “How is it that I’m just finding out about this possibility now?” He flung Magnius with such force, he slammed the stone wall and crumpled to the polished floor.
Magnius stifled a grunt as he picked himself up and dusted his heavy brown robes. “From the limited information I’ve been able to gather, the Valerian King traded her to the Dracarians five years ago.”
“A Dracarion? In trade for what?”
“Unknown, my lord.”
Mordrick ran his fingers through thick ebony hair in frustration and strode back onto the veranda. The setting sun had dipped below the horizon, casting layered whirls of shadows across the darkening desert.
A Kunnetsov. A daughter. Alive.
His lips curled into a knowing smirk, the thought of manipulating a mere pawn—a female pawn in his grand scheme only adding fuel to his insidious ambitions.
Mordrick re-entered his chamber. “Assuming this daughter lives, where would she be now?”
“Also, unknown. She hasn’t been seen or heard from in over five years. Not since the day she was sold to the Dracarians.”
Mordrick tapped his chin as he pondered the information. “Have our spies gather as much information on her as they can. Once done, have Reyne sent for.”
“Reyne?” Magnius replied with a sneer of displeasure.
“Yes, Reyne.” Mordrick snapped, his icy tone inferring his request was not intended for debate. “Be sure that he returns with due haste…and Magnius.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“If Reyne gives you any trouble, do remind him of his duty to the Order of the Ramachii.”
“With pleasure.” Magnius bowed with unnecessary flourish and scurried away as if hounds of hell were nipping at his fleeing heels.