Chapter 44
Chapter
Forty-Four
Wraith stood on the upper floor of the ballroom, gazing out over the celebrations for the completion of the peace treaty. He tilted his head.
It all looks a bit … depressing.
The ballroom was only about a quarter full, and most of those in attendance were actually just guards or warrior monks.
Many from the different kingdoms had already returned home. Those who remained stood in small clusters, whispering together and glancing furtively around. They all gathered close to the walls as if worried of a sudden attack from behind.
The music swirled. But there was little laughter, and no one danced at present. The dead moving around the ballroom appeared livelier than the living.
Perhaps part of the issue was that the treaty had not yet been finalised and everyone worried it would not be. After all, those who had been working against the treaty had not been caught. Furthermore, the grand healer was dead and the murderer unknown. So everyone was understandably on edge.
However, the necromancers were different. Unlike the other kingdoms, the number of those from Necros had not decreased. Right now, his mother spoke to the grand monk. Wraith could not see the shadow king, but Vex and Harrow laughed and talked with several others from Necros.
Wraith had gone to his family’s quarters the day after he got the letter from his mother. But she’d said she no longer needed to speak to him. His siblings had been crueller than usual, as if they’d gotten used to not seeing him and now could not tolerate the sight of him.
“What are you doing back?” Harrow had barked.
“Seriously, Wraith. Just get the fuck out of here!” Vex had said.
Harrow had sneered. “No one wants you around.”
So Wraith had left.
Wraith knew Konrad did not like nor trust those from Necros. But Konrad was still not sure if they were the ones who’d killed his father and were trying to stop the peace treaty from being completed.
Wraith wasn’t sure either. He was from Necros. He was a necromancer. But he’d been kept on the outside his entire life. As such, he had no idea if any necromancer was involved with the plotting.
A couple of ghosts danced out across the ballroom floor.
Ghosts interacting was rare. It usually meant they’d been close in life and death.
He’d seen mothers and fathers carrying babies and young children, he’d seen soldiers charging together at an invisible enemy, and he’d recently seen those two men fishing.
“There you are, Wraith.” Elias strode towards him, holding two goblets. A tall man with steady brown eyes accompanied him. Elias held out a goblet towards Wraith. “This is for you.”
Wraith took it. “Thank you.”
Then Elias gestured to the man by his side. “And this is my stepbrother, Crown Prince Matteo, future ruler of the combined Kingdoms of Zephyrias and Voltaria.”
Prince Matteo inclined his head. “Pleasure to meet you, King Consort Wraith.”
“Thank you, Prince Matteo,” Wraith said. “It’s a pleasure meeting you too.”
Prince Matteo smiled and then turned to Elias. “As I was saying, Elias, I would appreciate some assistance dealing with Emperor Hugo.”
Elias smiled brightly. “No chance.”
Prince Matteo’s jaw ticked.
“Look, Matteo, if my father drunkenly stumbling around as he mourns your mother, the woman who wanted him and his son dead, is bothering you, just ask the monks to put you somewhere else. Then you won’t have to look at my father again. Problem solved.”
“He is still your father, Elias,” Prince Matteo bit out.
Elias sipped his wine, not acknowledging Prince Matteo’s comment. “Actually, I have a great idea! When you return to Zephyrias, just leave him here and let the monks take care of him. You can make a large donation to them in exchange for their assistance.”
“He is still the emperor.”
“Only in name.” Elias waved a hand. “He hasn’t been running any kingdom since his traitorous, not-so-loving wife died.” Then he placed his hand on Matteo’s arm. “Sorry to speak poorly of your dead mother.”
Prince Matteo exhaled. “I am going to go speak to Queen Azalea Rosewood. I have matters to discuss with her.”
Elias raised his goblet. “Good luck.”
As soon as Prince Matteo was out of earshot, Elias exhaled loudly.
“He will be an excellent ruler or is an excellent ruler, since he is actually the one running our kingdoms right now, but flash and lightning, he is such a dullard of a human being. A real damp cloth. And he just goes on and on, telling me what to do. I do not like being told what to do! Anyway, how are you enjoying the ball so far?”
“It’s been nice. Have you seen Konrad?” Wraith had lost track of his husband earlier in the evening.
“He’s over there with Gerard and Senta.” Elias gestured to the other side of the ballroom. “They are talking important and official stuff about plotting and security and whatnot.”
“Oh.” That was all above Wraith’s head. He was glad to not be involved. From watching Konrad, he felt that being king was extremely stressful.
“Oh, look. Warden Jade is here.” Elias gestured with his wine glass. Warden Jade stood by the glass terrace doors with Onyx and Luther. “I am surprised she is still here. I assumed she’d return to the Grey Mountains, especially since so many of her compatriots have returned.”
Jade clutched her goblet to her chest. She darted glances around.
“Onyx probably lured her out. I have barely seen her since her father tried to kill Onyx and Luther.” Elias leaned forward, looking down at her. “Onyx, Luther, and Gerard do not believe she was working alongside her father. But many think otherwise.”
“What do you think?” Wraith asked, feeling he should try to be a part of the conversation, even though he was only vaguely aware of all that was going on.
No one usually talked to Wraith like this.
He was not used to people taking him into their confidence.
Even though it was a bit beyond him, he relished that Elias seemed to trust him.
Konrad seemed to as well. He felt like he was part of something, a circle of people who actually included him in important matters. Wraith did not want to let them down.
Elias didn’t answer immediately. He seemed to be thinking.
“I do not know. I do not think she was originally involved in her father’s plot.
But since her father’s death, she has been ostracised and called a traitor repeatedly.
That has made her vulnerable. Right now, she’d probably be very susceptible to a sympathetic ear. ”
Elias tapped his long fingers on the balustrade. “But there are eyes on her, and no one has reported anything suspicious about her behaviour.” He turned to Wraith. “How do you like the wine?”
Wraith sipped. “It’s good.” Although, honestly, he had no idea how to tell if a wine was good or not. He’d not really drunk much in the past. In fact, he’d drunk more wine at the peace assembly than in his entire life together.
For the next half an hour, the two talked and drank wine. Wraith described to Elias the different dead spirits in the room. Wraith had to get used to people being so interested in the ghosts he could see.
Then Elias told him how he and Gerard had fucked in one of the side rooms. “It was just down there.” He gestured.
“Really?”
Elias nodded. Then he pulled out a small clear glass jar with a metal lid and raised his eyebrows. “I am always prepared for any opportunity.”
“What is it?” Wraith asked.
“It’s an ointment. To smooth the way,” Elias said.
Wraith stared at the glass jar. Then Elias’s meaning hit him. “Oh! Oh, I see!”
Elias laughed and held it out. “Actually, you take it.” He winked. “Just in case.”
Cheeks burning, Wraith pocketed the ointment, placing it alongside a vial he had in his pocket.
For a second, he considered telling Elias about the vial.
He would appreciate someone else’s input on its contents, since he was nervous about talking to Konrad about it.
But Elias would no doubt just encourage him to use it.
As he drank more wine, Wraith found himself opening up more and more and even talking about how he was involved in creating the dread knights during the war.
“I saw the dread knights!” Elias placed a hand on his arm. “Never fought them, of course, since we were allies. But they looked terrifying.” He wrinkled his nose. “They didn’t smell the best either. Did you really make them?”
“Some of them,” Wraith said.
Elias frowned. “You said they are volunteers. So they chose to be killed and turned into those creatures.”
Wraith nodded. The past few days, he’d shared a lot about necromancers with Konrad and the others. He knew his family would be upset by this. But if they didn’t want him, then why should he keep their secrets? Why would he keep being loyal to those who were only ever mean to him?
He glanced towards his mother, who spoke to the shadow king. His mother had never been mean.
But … that wasn’t actually true. She had been mean. Cruel even. She’d not been as mean and cruel as the others. So he’d mistaken that for kindness. But after being around Konrad, Elias, and the others, he now knew what true kindness was.
Yet the scraps of attention she’d thrown his way had been the bright sparks of light in his life. Even now he still wanted and wished to make her proud. He wished to earn her love, even though he knew deep down he never could.
“Why would anyone volunteer to become a dread knight? It sounds horrible,” Elias said.
“The individuals who train to become dread knights are impoverished in life.” Wraith rubbed his finger along the stem of his goblet.
“And for many, that is their only chance at …
well, anything other than being a poor villager, labouring in a field, day after day, just trying to earn enough to stop their family from starving.
If they are a dread knight, they can be part of the eternal army.
They will receive honour and glory. Furthermore, money is sent back to their family and village.
“The dread knights will even parade through villages,” Wraith said. “Everyone comes out to watch them. They applaud and cheer. The dread knights throw coin. The idea of being a dread knight must be so exciting to these poor children.”
“I suppose that makes sense. Even though it sounds horrid. Are there many who volunteer?” Elias asked.
“Too many.”
“Really?” Elias’s brows rose.
Wraith nodded. “So many children go to the training camps, but only a quarter of them, the best fighters, become the Chosen and are turned into dread knights when they reach adulthood.”
“What happens to those who aren’t good enough?” Elias sipped his wine.
“They join the regular living army,” Wraith said.
“They don’t become the reanimated?”
Wraith shook his head. “The reanimated skeletons and corpses don’t have souls. They are empty vassals controlled by a necromancer.”
“Huh. Do you have any books on necromancy? I’d like to learn more.”
“I have a few. Although, no official texts or anything like that.” Wraith had never received formal education. His training to create dread knights had been hands on, and his abilities as a reaper had all developed naturally or he’d taught himself.
He did have that journal somewhere from that old reaper. Was that in his chests? Actually, he’d not packed with a plan to never return to Necros. Would all his belongings be sent to the Castle of the Dragons? Or would he lose them?
“I don’t mind. I’d love to look at any books you have,” Elias said.
“There you two are,” Konrad said as he and Gerard approached. He wrapped an arm around Wraith’s waist. “Are you having a good time?”
“We are having a very nice time!” Wraith smiled.
Konrad’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “How many goblets of wine have you drunk?”
“Not that many.” Although, honestly, Wraith couldn’t remember. But his head and body felt delightfully light.
Konrad chuckled. Then he looked at Elias. “Do you mind if I steal my husband away?”