Chapter three
“You are very quiet today,” Noor muttered after our third glass of wine. Luz and Fynn were dancing, swaying to the music from the harpist in the corner of the room.
“I’m tired. That’s all.” It wasn’t far from the truth.
The sound of water cascading behind the tavern was relaxing me a little too much.
My eyes were feeling heavy. As I gazed out at Dallethas, sprawled before us, I noted that the palace’s towers, set in gold trim, were glimmering in the distance.
From this view, the palace looked quite intimidating.
Twelve impenetrable turrets were connected by a giant, heavy, white stone wall.
The greenery of a few trees and ivy stood out against the stone.
The courtyard and living space were built inside the walls.
Various buildings were set in white marble: bathing pools, private quarters, a library, army barracks, and a living space that could be shared.
The palace had stood for almost five hundred thousand years.
It had been built by my grandfather as a gift for his fated one, my grandmother.
A handful of waterfalls flowed into various rivers below the great mountain that the palace stood on.
My grandfather had chiselled away at the great mountain with his power, laying the foundation for the grand structure and making it the most secure place in Afterlight.
The only way to reach it was by the large drawbridge, which led to two massive, warded, metal gates that were manned by my father’s guards.
My father had put a spell over the palace to ward off intruders.
You could only step foot in the palace by invitation from a member of the royal bloodline.
That was the only way the wards would drop for someone who had never visited before.
I never had to fear for my life while I was there.
Only trusted people could get into the palace, and only a select few could get into my chamber.
At the moment, it was only Noor and my Father.
“Come and dance, Alora!” Luz pulled me out, spinning me around. “You need to let that silver hair of yours down more.”
“She’s the princess, Luz.” Fynn pointed out the obvious.
“I don’t think she is allowed to do that.
” Fynn’s powers were general light. Most Dylins gained this power once it manifested.
Being able to shield yourself with light and harness it as a small bolt was enough to arm yourself against the Noxlin or any beasts that we encountered.
We knew little about why stronger powers manifested in different Dylin.
It was all thought to be about bloodline, but Nell had been researching the idea for the last millennium, and we were still no clearer.
“My father doesn’t even know that I come here. He’s too wrapped up in Elin to care, honestly. Besides, I have forbidden Xaiver to tell him!”
“You play a dangerous game with the general.” Fynn shook his head.
His mid-length, dirty blond hair caught a stream of light as our suns began to pull away from each other again.
“He made me do three drills today because I coughed while he was speaking.” That did sound like Xavier.
If I wasn’t the princess, I’d have no hold over him.
He was a task master, and would push our soldiers past their limits.
I had witnessed it enough times while watching the training grounds.
“At least you get to wield a light sword,” I commented, looking towards the door.
I rolled my eyes at the sight of Xavier by the doorway.
Someone must have told him I was here. Couldn’t I have one evening alone with my friends?
Fynn froze at seeing his general, then almost standing to attention as Xavier stormed over.
“I expected more of you, Soldier!” Xavier glared at Fynn. “You know Alora shouldn’t be in a place like this. She needs to be under constant protection.”
“She has Luz, me and Fynn!” Noor snapped. “Zohar doesn’t keep her locked away in her tower! What gives you the right to demand what Alora does?”
“Watch your tongue, Noor, or I might burn it off!” Xavier snarled, flicking his fingertips so a spark of flame appeared.
“Oh, I would like to see you try!” She pulled the power of the wind between her hands. “I’d love to blow that pathetic flame of yours out.”
“Is that a challenge?” When he narrowed his eyes at Noor, I knew I’d have to intervene before a fight broke out.
“Xavier, stop it.” Pushing at his chest, I made him look down at me. “I am doing nothing wrong. I’m having a few drinks with my friends, in the safe part of the tavern. No harm has been done.”
“Until your powers manifest, you are in danger, Alora. You know this. You can’t keep sneaking out. You’re acting like a commoner.”
“Is that such a bad thing? I love my kind as they love me.” I wasn’t going to be some caged creature. Xavier didn’t hold that kind of power over me...not yet anyway.
“If your father knew...”
“He’s not going to find out! I’ll never forgive you if you tell him.” His face looked perplexed. “It’s a few drinks and a bit of dancing. You can’t deny me that,” I pleaded, touching his chest softly.
“Will you allow me to watch you from a distance and keep you safe?” It wasn’t ideal, but I didn’t want to leave the tavern yet.
“Yes,” I sighed, removing my hand.
“Then I’ll escort you back to the palace when you are ready to leave.” Nodding, I motioned to the others to make our way back to the bar.
I needed more wine.
****
IT WAS SAFE TO SAY that by the time Xavier escorted me back home, I was under the influence of the wine.
He gripped my waist tightly as we both rode on his light leaper, Soleil.
Light leapers were captured just outside of our lands at a young age, with the help of Jarious, Xavier’s other right hand man.
Jarious could manipulate light and sun creatures into doing his bidding.
It was easy to make the beasts hand over their young when Jarious was inside their heads.
Only supreme Dylins were assigned the beasts, usually those that would go into battle.
Light leapers had the appearance of a gigantic cat but with a longer neck.
They came in a variety of sizes. They all had large paws with claws sharper than any dagger, and ranged in colour from pure white to a sandy yellow.
Their sharp fangs could cut through anything.
As a species, they were deadly from adolescence, but if a Dylin befriended a beast, it would purr like a kitten, sealing the bond.
Soleil had been Xavier’s beast in battle for over five hundred years.
He was white with a few grey stripes on his back.
As we rode, I ran my hands through the soft hair on his back. Soleil made a low purr.
“He likes you,” Xavier whispered against my neck, pulling me closer against his body. “Soleil only ever purrs for me. He must know we are promised. These are sacred animals, full of power and ancient magic.”
“Must you bring everything back to us being promised? You know nothing about me!” The wine was making me bold and confrontational. “You make no attempt to get to know me and win my heart. As a princess, don’t you think I deserve that?”
“Why would I need to woo what is already mine?” The nerve of him...treating me like I was his property already. “When your powers begin to manifest, you’ll understand that I’m the right choice, Alora. Power seeks power. You’ll be drawn to me.”
“You are so sure of yourself,” I snapped, shuffling a little. The heat of his body against mine was making me uncomfortable.
“I’m your father’s general. Zohar trusts me to lead his army against the Noxlin scum. There is no greater honour other than to claim you as my own. Why wouldn’t I be sure of myself?”
“Don’t you wish to know anything about me?”
“We have an eternity to learn about each other once we are bonded.” Soleil turned right and the palace came into view.
The midnight sun cascaded a beautiful pink haze over the marble.
This was the darkest Dallethas ever got.
We never saw a night sky, unlike the lands of the Noxlin.
They were set in eternal darkness with a touch of twilight, depending on the time of the year.
“Are you attracted to me at all, Alora? Do you find any male attractive yet?” I might have been over fifteen hundred years old, but without my powers, I was still classed as a fledgling. “Have you had any desires?”
“Do you honestly think I would tell you if I had?” He gripped my waist painfully, making me turn to look at him.
His eyes were a burning fire as I gazed into them.
“You may be the general, but I out rank you. I’m the Dylin princess, and you will stop these advances towards me or I will speak to my father! ”
“You have been spending too much time with Noor. You are getting her attitude.” His hands on me loosened a little. I took his statement as a compliment. We rode in silence the rest of the way. Xavier helped me off his beast, and I slid down his strong, muscled body.
“Sweet dreams, Princess,” he called as I stormed off towards my bedchamber. Xavier had been wounded by my words, but I knew it would take more than that to make him back off.
I sat in my chamber as my maids attended to my hair and helped me dress in my sleeping robes. I ushered them away after that, needing to be alone with my thoughts.
I had immortality, yet I wasn’t in charge of my own fate. What right did my father or Xavier have to take that from me? I knew my bloodline gave me certain obligations, but what if I didn’t want to be promised or bonded to anyone?
I wanted to be a warrior. My only desire was to avenge my mother’s death and take down the Noxlin bloodline. As I lay with my thoughts, my eyelids grew tired. Soon, I found myself dreaming of happy times, when my mother, Duska, had been alive.