The Imperial System: Architect of an Empire

Kael did not leave for the shepherd hut immediately.

Every instinct told him to.

That alone was enough reason not to.

He stood in Blackwood Manor’s courtyard while Captain Roland waited for orders, Sir Corren Valehart watched him with increasing interest, and Sir Darius Valen studied the eastern road.

The message remained in Kael’s head.

Tell the prince of Light that we have watched long enough.

Watched.

Not found.

Not heard about.

Watched.

Kael looked at Roland.

Where is Iris now?

Still at the hut, my lord.

Alone?

Elias Thorn reached her ten minutes ago. Victor Ravenshade is holding the nearest road.

Good.

Darius glanced toward him.

You are thinking about going personally.

Of course I am.

Of course.

Sir Corren folded his arms.

Would either of you care to explain why a woman dressed like a Solmaran cleric is waiting inside an abandoned hut on Imperial soil asking for Prince Kael?

Kael looked at Darius.

Darius looked back.

Neither answered.

Corren’s expression flattened.

Excellent. I enjoy arriving early to examinations.

Kael almost smiled.

Almost.

Then he turned to Roland.

Nobody brings her here.

Yes, my lord.

No civilians near the hut. Close the road without causing a panic.

Roland nodded.

And Captain—

Roland stopped.

If she tries to leave?

Kael thought before answering.

Do not attack her unless she attacks first.

Sir Corren’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Darius approved with a small nod.

Roland bowed.

Yes, my lord.

He hurried away.

Corren waited until the captain disappeared.

You intend to meet her.

Yes.

That may be unwise.

It probably is.

Corren looked toward Darius.

Does he always answer like that?

Frequently.

Kael frowned.

I’m standing here.

Both knights ignored him.

Darius finally turned.

We choose the ground.

Kael nodded.

Not the hut?

No.

Darius pointed toward the map marker outside the manor entrance.

There is an old stone bridge half a mile south of it. Open approaches. Tree line far enough back to see movement. No civilians.

Kael remembered it.

A narrow bridge over a shallow stream used mostly by shepherds.

Good.

Darius continued.

Iris brings her there.

Who comes with me?

Me.

Obviously.

Darius glanced at Corren.

Sir Corren as well.

Corren raised an eyebrow.

I was not aware I had volunteered.

You are an Imperial Registry knight standing in the courtyard when a representative of a hostile foreign religious state contacts an Imperial Prince.

Corren considered that.

Unfortunately, you are correct.

Kael looked between them.

I don’t need an examiner at a diplomatic meeting.

Corren’s expression became serious.

Today I am not attending as an examiner.

Then as what?

An Imperial knight who heard the message with his own ears.

That mattered.

Kael didn’t like it.

But hiding the contact from Aurelia after Corren had already witnessed it would create a worse problem.

Darius seemed to reach the same conclusion.

A neutral witness protects you.

From her?

From everyone afterward.

Kael exhaled.

Fine.

Who else?

Iris.

Kael nodded.

Grom?

No.

Why not?

Because if the conversation becomes irritating, Grom will eventually suggest solving theology with a spear.

That was a convincing argument.

Kael looked toward the training yard.

Damien Ravenmoor.

Darius considered.

Why Damien?

Kael answered before being challenged.

He is being considered for knighthood. If he intends to become a Black Dragon Knight, he should see what serving House Kael looks like when the danger isn’t swinging a sword.

Darius’s expression shifted slightly.

Good.

Corren noticed.

So this is part of the examination now?

Darius looked at him.

Everything is part of the examination.

Corren smiled.

That explains why your candidates look exhausted.

Kael started toward the manor.

Give me fifteen minutes.

Darius stopped him.

For?

Armor.

No ceremonial armor.

Kael frowned.

Why?

Because you are meeting one woman, not marching into Solmara.

Corren added.

And wearing full Imperial colors would turn a conversation into a statement before anyone speaks.

Kael looked at both knights.

This is becoming irritatingly educational.

Darius nodded.

Good.

The old stone bridge sat east of Blackwood’s central settlement, beyond the last cluster of cultivated fields but well before the abandoned shepherd lands.

Rain had softened the road.

The clouds had broken enough for afternoon light to catch on wet stone.

Kael arrived with Darius, Sir Corren, and Damien.

No banners.

No mounted escort.

No visible formation of soldiers.

That was Darius’s idea.

What the visitor could not see mattered as much as what she could.

Victor Ravenshade was somewhere north of the bridge.

Elias Thorn somewhere south.

Iris Hollow had placed both herself and the woman under observation before Kael ever arrived.

Damien stood behind Kael’s right shoulder.

His spear remained strapped across his back.

Sir Corren brought his squire, Tomas Pell, only as far as the western bend in the road.

Then he stopped.

Stay here.

Tomas looked toward the bridge.

Sir—

That was an instruction.

Yes, Sir.

The boy took both horses.

Kael noticed that Tomas did not complain again.

Squires learned differently from soldiers.

Kael was beginning to understand why knightly houses kept them.

Darius looked toward the eastern road.

Movement.

Iris appeared first.

She walked normally.

No urgency.

Behind her came the woman in white.

Kael had expected a priest.

He wasn’t sure why.

Perhaps someone elderly.

Soft-spoken.

Covered in symbols.

Instead, the woman looked no older than thirty.

Her white traveling robes ended above mud-stained leather boots. A pale-gold mantle covered one shoulder, fastened by a small metal emblem shaped like a rising sun crossed by a single wing.

No staff.

No crown.

No obvious jewelry.

A narrow sword hung at her left hip.

Darius noticed it before Kael did.

The woman stopped approximately twenty paces from the bridge.

Iris continued until she reached Kael.

My lord.

Report.

No additional movement. No second set of tracks approaching the hut. Elias found nothing on the southern slope.

Victor?

Still north.

Good.

Kael looked toward the stranger.

Name?

She answered for herself.

Keeper Ysara Bellune.

Her voice carried easily across the stream.

Kael remembered Tavian’s description.

Keeper.

Not the highest Sanctum rank.

Not insignificant either.

Kael remained where he was.

You entered Blackwood without permission.

Ysara inclined her head.

Yes, Lord Kael.

Not Your Highness.

Not Prince.

Lord Kael.

Interesting.

Sir Corren noticed too.

Kael continued.

Why?

Because asking permission would have announced my purpose to Aurelia before I reached you.

Sir Corren stepped slightly forward.

You are speaking to an Imperial Prince while standing inside the Asterion Empire.

Ysara’s attention moved to him.

Sir Corren Valehart.

Corren’s expression tightened.

You know me.

I know the knight sent to inspect House Kael.

Damien’s eyes shifted.

Kael felt Darius become more attentive.

Corren looked toward Kael.

That information was not public when I left Aurelia.

Ysara replied calmly.

It was not difficult to predict.

Corren did not look impressed.

Kael was.

Not because he liked the answer.

Because it told him something.

The Sanctum’s observers were not limited to Blackwood.

Kael looked at Ysara.

How long have you been watching me?

She said nothing.

That silence gave him the answer before the words did.

Longer than weeks.

How long?

Ysara looked directly at him.

Years.

Damien moved before he caught himself.

Only half a step.

Darius said nothing.

Kael did not move at all.

Years.

Before Blackwood?

Yes.

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

Why?

Ysara looked toward his hands.

Because of what you carry.

Kael did not summon Light.

My magic.

Your Light.

Sir Corren looked from her to Kael.

Darius’s hand rested loosely near his sword.

Ysara continued.

The first report reached Solmara when you were much younger.

Kael’s expression hardened.

What report?

A child of the Imperial bloodline displaying an affinity, our oldest records said, should be... uncommon.

Uncommon?

Ysara paused.

Impossible would be inaccurate.

Kael waited.

Troubling would be more honest.

Damien spoke before Kael could.

You watched Lord Kael as a child because he could use Light?

Darius turned his head slightly.

Damien stopped.

My apologies, my lord.

Kael looked at him.

No. It is a reasonable question.

Then he looked at Ysara.

Answer it.

We observed.

That is not the same thing as interfering.

I didn’t ask for your distinction.

Ysara accepted that.

Yes.

Kael felt anger rising.

Not explosive.

Colder than that.

Someone outside the Empire had been studying him before he ever knew Blackwood.

Before he knew why his own abilities were unusual.

And until yesterday, he had never heard their name.

Darius spoke.

Who authorized surveillance of an Imperial child?

Ysara looked at him.

That answer belongs above my station, Sir Darius.

Darius’s expression did not change.

Convenient.

True.

Corren looked toward her.

Does Solmara understand what it would mean if I reported that the Sanctum infiltrated the Empire to observe members of the Imperial family?

Ysara turned.

You will report it.

It was not a question.

Corren’s eyes narrowed.

You seem comfortable with that.

I was instructed to assume this meeting would eventually reach Aurelia.

Kael caught the wording.

Eventually.

You expected to meet me alone.

Ysara looked at him again.

I expected Sir Darius.

Not him.

Corren smiled without humor.

I am touched.

Kael’s mind moved quickly.

The Sanctum knew Darius traveled with him.

Knew Corren’s assignment.

Knew Kael’s Light.

Knew the old underground structure had reacted.

Too much.

Yet Ysara had come openly enough to give her name.

That meant one of two things.

The Sanctum had become careless.

Or it believed the time for secrecy was ending.

Kael suspected the second.

Why now?

Ysara’s composure shifted for the first time.

The old network beneath Blackwood has awakened.

Kael stared.

You know what it is.

Partly.

What is it?

An inheritance from an age none of our nations remember correctly.

Kael’s irritation returned.

That sounds like a priest avoiding an answer.

Ysara almost smiled.

It sounds like someone refusing to pretend certainty.

Kael thought of Tavian.

He disliked that the answer reminded him of the mage.

Darius spoke.

Does the Sanctum know how to stop the corruption?

Ysara looked toward him.

We know how to resist portions of it.

Not stop it?

Not alone.

Kael caught that too.

Then why have you been watching instead of helping?

Ysara’s eyes returned to him.

Because you are an Asterion.

The air changed.

Not magically.

Politically.

Sir Corren’s face hardened.

Damien’s hand tightened around his spear strap.

Darius became very still.

Kael’s anger cooled completely.

Good.

Cold was easier to use.

Explain.

Ysara took several seconds.

No.

Kael blinked.

No?

Not here.

You came into my territory, admitted your people have watched me for years, told me something beneath Blackwood is tied to ancient history, and now you’re refusing to explain why my surname matters?

Yes.

Damien looked almost offended on Kael’s behalf.

Darius merely studied her.

Kael stepped onto the first stone of the bridge.

Ysara did not retreat.

Why?

Because some truths are not mine to give.

Then why are you here?

To determine whether you are willing to find them.

Kael stared.

There it was.

Not a warning.

Not an offer of aid.

A test.

Kael disliked being tested by strangers.

I have enough people testing me.

Ysara glanced briefly at Sir Corren.

Apparently.

Corren’s mouth twitched.

Kael ignored him.

What do you want?

Ysara answered without ceremony.

Information.

Darius’s eyes hardened.

No.

Kael raised one hand.

Let her speak.

Darius said nothing more.

Ysara continued.

The Sanctum believes something within the Empire is connected to the corruption returning beneath your territory.

What?

We do not know.

Convenient again.

This time, she let the criticism pass.

We have fragments.

Records older than the current Imperial archives.

Accounts of the First War.

References to powers that vanished from accepted history.

And repeated warnings concerning the Imperial line.

Sir Corren’s expression changed.

Careful.

Ysara looked toward him.

I am being careful.

Corren stepped forward.

You are standing inside the Empire, implying the Asterion bloodline is connected to ancient corruption.

I am saying our records contain warnings.

Darius interrupted.

Warnings about what?

Ysara met his eyes.

Demons.

Nobody moved.

Kael knew the word.

Everyone did.

Stories.

Ancient texts.

The enemy that would one day return.

The twenty-five-year countdown hangs somewhere ahead of the world.

But hearing the word here felt different.

Not because it was new.

Because of where Ysara placed it.

Besides his family.

Kael’s voice remained steady.

You believe my family is demons.

Ysara did not answer immediately.

Kael saw something in her eyes.

Not certain.

That mattered.

No.

The answer surprised everyone.

Ysara continued.

Some within the Sanctum believe that.

Others believe the Imperial family serves something connected to them.

Others believe the oldest records have been misinterpreted for centuries.

And you?

Kael asked.

I believe ignorance has already killed too many people.

Darius watched her differently now.

Not trusting.

Listening.

Kael looked toward the wet road.

You still haven’t told me what you want from me.

Ysara’s answer came quietly.

Remain where you are.

Kael frowned.

That was not what he expected.

Build Blackwood.

Expand your influence.

Remain close enough to Aurelia that people continue speaking around you.

Listen.

Observe.

Report anything that does not fit.

Sir Corren gave a short laugh.

There it is.

Kael looked toward him.

Corren’s face had gone cold.

She wants to recruit an Imperial Prince as a spy.

Ysara did not deny it.

Damien looked genuinely stunned.

Darius looked like he had expected something worse.

Kael stared at Ysara.

You crossed the border to ask me to betray my father and my kingdom.

I crossed the border to ask you to discover whether your father deserves your trust.

Darius’s hand moved.

Not to his sword.

Enough.

His voice did not rise.

It did not need to.

Ysara looked at him.

Sir Darius—

You have said enough about Emperor Augustus in front of men sworn to the Empire.

There was something different in Darius now.

Kael had seen him annoyed.

Protective.

Suspicious.

This was older.

Loyalty sharpened by experience.

Ysara lowered her head slightly.

Understood.

Kael looked at Darius.

He knew Darius had served Kael’s mother.

Promised to protect him.

But Darius was also an Imperial Shield.

Whatever personal history existed between him and Augustus, Darius had not built his reputation by casually accepting accusations against the Emperor.

Kael turned back to Ysara.

Suppose I say no.

Then I return to Solmara.

And the people watching me?

Some will remain.

At least she did not lie.

Kael almost admired that.

I could arrest you.

Yes.

Darius’s eyes narrowed.

You sound confident.

Not confident.

Ysara looked toward Kael.

Prepared.

Kael understood the implication.

If she disappeared, someone would notice.

Possibly many someone’s.

He did not like being maneuvered.

So he changed the board.

I won’t spy for you.

Ysara’s expression remained calm.

I expected that answer.

I wasn’t finished.

That got her attention.

Kael stepped farther onto the bridge.

You want information from inside Aurelia.

I want information from Solmara.

Sir Corren slowly turned toward him.

Darius did not.

Kael continued.

You have old records.

Records: Imperial archives don’t.

You know something about the structures beneath Blackwood.

You know about the corruption.

You know enough about my Light to watch me for years.

Want anything from me?

Then information goes both ways.

Ysara studied him.

That would require authorization.

Then go get it.

Kael turned slightly as if the conversation were already ending.

Ysara spoke.

And if they refuse?

Kael looked back.

Then I refuse.

Simple.

For the first time, Keeper Ysara Bellune smiled.

Not warmly.

More like someone recognizing an unexpected move.

You are different from the reports.

Kael’s expression hardened.

You’ve read reports on me.

Many.

That did not improve his mood.

Ysara continued.

Most described you as impulsive.

Sir Darius made a small sound.

Kael looked at him.

Do not.

Darius said nothing.

Ysara’s smile grew by a fraction.

Some described you as difficult to control.

Those reports were better.

Damien failed to hide a smile.

Kael noticed.

He said nothing.

Ysara reached beneath her mantle.

Every weapon on Kael’s side of the bridge shifted.

Not drawn.

Ready.

She stopped.

Slowly.

Then removed a small white disk from an inner pocket.

No larger than two fingers across.

She placed it on the stone bridge between them.

A sun.

A wing.

The same symbol from beneath Blackwood.

Kael stared.

Darius’s expression finally changed.

You use the same mark.

Ysara looked toward the disk.

No.

Kael looked at her.

What?

Our symbol came from theirs.

Silence.

Ysara stepped backward.

The structures beneath Blackwood are older than the Sanctum.

How much older?

We don’t know.

What do you call the people who built them?

Ysara hesitated.

The First Keepers called them the Dawnwardens.

Kael repeated the name silently.

Not because he trusted it.

Because names mattered.

The Dawnwardens.

A people or order older than Solmara.

Light-aligned structures.

Ancient corruption.

Records tied to demons.

Kael looked at the disk.

Why leave this?

Because if the corruption enters another host, place it against the host’s skin.

Darius immediately spoke.

What will it do?

Ysara answered.

If the corruption is weak enough, it may force it outward.

May?

If it is strong, the disk will crack.

And then?

Run.

Victor would hate that answer.

Kael looked toward the tree line where he knew the tracker and the others were positioned.

One disk.

That’s all you’re giving us?

That’s all I was authorized to give you.

Kael frowned.

Your High Keeper sounds generous.

Ysara’s expression changed.

Very slightly.

Enough.

Kael noticed.

Darius noticed.

So did Corren.

None commented.

Ysara took another step backward.

I will carry your terms to Solmara.

When do I get an answer?

You will know.

Kael disliked that.

Naturally.

She looked toward Darius.

Sir Darius.

He gave no response beyond a slight inclination of his head.

Then Sir Corren.

Corren’s expression remained openly suspicious.

Keeper.

Finally Damien.

She studied the young spear wielder.

No title yet.

Damien’s jaw tightened.

Damien Ravenmoor.

Black Dragon.

Ysara nodded.

Remember which comes first.

Damien looked confused.

Kael did not like the remark.

What does that mean?

Ysara looked back toward him.

Titles change men.

Sometimes allegiance should not.

Then she turned.

Darius spoke.

You are not leaving alone.

Ysara stopped.

Iris will escort you to Blackwood’s boundary.

I know the way.

That was not a request.

Ysara looked over her shoulder.

There you are.

Darius’s eyes hardened.

What?

The man from the old records.

The silence that followed was different from all the others.

Kael looked at Darius.

So did Corren.

Darius’s face became stone.

What old records?

Ysara realized she had said too much.

Nothing that belongs to this conversation.

Darius took one step forward.

Keeper.

For the first time, Ysara’s composure showed a crack.

Only a small one.

But Kael saw it.

She knew Darius.

Not personally.

Historically.

Or something about the Valen name.

Ysara lowered her head.

Another day, Sir Darius.

Darius’s hand rested against his sword.

Kael spoke before the moment became something worse.

Iris.

The tracker emerged from the southern trees as though she had been standing five feet away the entire time.

My lord.

Escort Keeper Bellune to the border.

Do not enter Solmaran territory.

Ysara almost corrected him.

Then seemed to decide against it.

Iris nodded.

Yes, my lord.

Kael looked toward the Keeper.

If any of your observers approach Blackwood civilians without permission, I will consider them hostile agents.

Understood.

And stop following me badly enough for Darius to notice.

Ysara looked toward Darius.

That request may be impossible.

Darius did not smile.

They left.

Kael watched until white robes and dark tracker’s cloak disappeared between the trees.

Then Sir Corren spoke.

I arrived to examine two men for knighthood.

Kael looked at him.

Bad timing.

Corren stared at the white disk lying on the bridge.

A foreign holy state has illegally entered Imperial territory, admitted to years of surveillance on a member of the Imperial family, accused unspecified elements of Aurelia of possible demonic connection, attempted to recruit you as an intelligence source, and handed you an artifact linked to ancient ruins beneath Blackwood.

Kael considered it.

When you list everything together, it does sound worse.

Corren stared.

Darius sighed.

Damien looked toward the sky.

Kael bent toward the disk.

Darius caught his wrist.

Again.

Kael looked at him.

I was going to pick it up.

Exactly.

Sir Corren stared between them.

Does this happen often?

Far too often.

Darius removed a glove, wrapped the disk in cloth, and lifted it himself.

Kael frowned.

Why can you touch it?

Because if something happens, I would rather it happen to me.

Kael’s expression changed.

Darius noticed.

Do not make that face.

What face?

The one where you decide to argue about my job.

Your job is not to touch every dangerous object before I do.

It frequently feels that way.

Damien looked away.

Corren finally laughed.

Kael stared at him.

Something funny?

Sir Corren shook his head.

Only that Aurelia tells stories about Sir Darius Valen destroying armies.

Nobody mentions that his current greatest battle appears to be keeping you from touching ruins.

Darius handed the wrapped disk to Damien.

Take this to Tavian.

Damien accepted it carefully.

Yes, Sir.

Do not open it.

I wasn’t going to.

Kael pointed at Darius.

See? He trusts him.

Darius started walking toward the horses.

Damien has demonstrated judgment.

That was unnecessarily personal.

Sir Corren followed them.

I am going to have to report this to General Hector.

Kael’s humor disappeared.

I know.

Corren glanced toward Darius.

Your brother will not enjoy it.

Kael looked between them.

Darius’s face tightened.

No.

Hector would not.

Sir Corren continued.

Neither will the Imperial Court once word spreads.

Then don’t let it spread.

Corren looked at Kael.

I report to the Registry and General Hector. I did not say I report to every gossip in Aurelia.

Kael studied him.

Why help me?

I am not helping you.

Sir Corren mounted.

I am doing my duty correctly.

There was a difference.

Kael respected it.

Corren looked toward Damien.

And now I have considerably more interest in the men who intend to swear themselves to House Kael.

Why?

Because household knights eventually inherit their lord’s enemies.

His eyes went toward the eastern road where Ysara had disappeared.

Your men should understand exactly what kind of oath they are preparing to make.

Damien said nothing.

But Kael saw him absorb the words.

Black Dragon Knight.

It sounded impressive in a training yard.

Different on a wet bridge where a foreign agent had just tried to recruit his lord against the Imperial family.

Kael mounted his horse.

They rode back toward Blackwood.

Keeper Ysara Bellune and Iris Hollow traveled east for almost an hour without speaking.

Iris did not walk beside her.

She remained several steps behind.

Far enough to react.

Close enough to stop her.

Eventually Ysara spoke.

You are very good.

Iris looked ahead.

At what?

Following people who know they’re being followed.

Iris shrugged.

Most people become careless once they think they’ve found the tracker.

Ysara glanced back.

How many are watching us?

Iris smiled.

That was answer enough.

They continued.

The road narrowed.

The fields vanished behind them.

At the boundary marker separating Blackwood’s administered territory from the larger eastern provincial route, Iris stopped.

Here.

Ysara turned.

You don’t trust me.

No.

Your prince does even less.

Probably.

Yet he let me leave.

Iris looked toward the road behind them.

Lord Kael doesn’t need to trust you to prefer answers over corpses.

Ysara studied her.

You admire him.

I serve him.

Those are not the same.

No.

Iris’s smile disappeared.

But they can be.

Ysara nodded slowly.

Then she stepped beyond the marker.

Before leaving, she looked back.

Tell Sir Darius something.

Tell him yourself next time.

Ysara considered that.

Fair.

Then tell Lord Kael this instead.

Iris waited.

The Sanctum did not begin watching him because he was dangerous.

Why then?

Ysara’s gaze moved west.

Because someone else noticed him first.

Iris’s expression changed.

Who?

Ysara continued walking.

Iris did not follow.

The answer was not hers to chase beyond Blackwood.

But she remembered every word.

That night, Tavian Merrow placed the white disk beneath three layers of glass and refused to let Kael within arm’s reach of it.

Kael stood on the opposite side of the table.

This is excessive.

Tavian looked through a magnifying crystal.

Sir Darius said you touch things.

Everyone has decided this is my defining flaw.

Hugo Stone, working beside him, did not look up.

It is becoming competitive.

Kael ignored him.

What is it?

Tavian’s expression changed.

I don’t know.

Kael stared.

You have said that enough times that I am considering reducing your pay.

Then I will lie more confidently.

Kael sighed.

Tavian pointed toward the disk.

But I know what it is not.

Of course you do.

It is not a normal enchanted object.

Why?

No mana core.

No stored spell structure.

No ordinary inscription matrix.

Hugo tapped the edge of the glass.

But it reacts.

Tavian nodded.

To what?

Kael asked.

Neither man answered.

Kael looked between them.

What?

Hugo finally spoke.

You.

Kael stopped.

Tavian rotated the disk.

The pale-gold surface had begun glowing.

Not brightly.

Enough.

Kael had not summoned Light.

He was simply standing near it.

The same sun-and-wing emblem beneath Blackwood glowed faintly through the glass.

Kael stared.

Tavian looked more unsettled than excited.

That worried Kael.

What?

The disk is responding to you without active magic.

Kael looked toward the ancient symbol.

So?

So enchanted objects respond to mana.

Artifacts respond to triggers.

This—

Tavian removed his lenses.

—appears to recognize something before you actually release power.

Hugo looked toward Kael.

Like the old door.

Kael remembered.

The ancient door beneath western Blackwood had opened when his Light touched it.

The Sanctum claimed their own symbol descended from whatever people had built those structures.

The Dawnwardens.

Kael looked at Tavian.

Can you tell whether this is Radiance?

Eventually.

How long?

Days if you stop interrupting me.

Kael ignored that.

And the corruption?

Tavian looked toward another sealed tray.

We test tomorrow.

With my Light?

With the disk first.

Kael nodded.

Good.

Tavian watched him.

You agreed quickly.

I am learning caution.

Hugo laughed.

Kael looked at him.

You too?

My lord, you once almost touched an unstable ancient crystal before Sir Darius physically stopped you.

That happened once.

Twice.

Tavian raised a finger.

I have heard three versions.

Kael decided the laboratory had become hostile territory.

He turned toward the door.

Before leaving, Tavian called after him.

Kael.

He stopped.

Tavian rarely used his name without a title.

What?

The mage’s humor was gone.

Be careful with the Sanctum.

Kael leaned against the doorway.

Because they’re enemies of Aurelia?

No.

Because people who believe they are saving the world are often willing to spend other people’s lives doing it.

Kael thought of Keeper Ysara Bellune.

Calm.

Controlled.

Prepared to spy on an Imperial child for years because someone above her believed the reason justified it.

Kael nodded.

I know.

He left the room.

In Solmara, far beyond the western mountains, a white-gold flame rose inside a windowless chamber.

Keeper Ysara knelt before it.

The journey home had taken longer than any ordinary horse could have managed.

She had not traveled all of it by road.

A voice came through the flame.

Did he accept?

No.

The High Keeper remained silent.

Ysara continued.

He countered.

With?

Information for information.

Another pause.

And the Imperial Shield?

Ysara’s expression tightened.

Sir Darius Valen was present.

The flame flickered.

Did he recognize anything?

No.

Did you?

Ysara hesitated.

Yes.

That single word changed the room.

The voice became quieter.

Tell me.

Ysara looked down.

The old descriptions were accurate.

Sir Darius’s Aura...

She searched for the correct words.

...carries the same stillness.

The flame brightened.

Are you certain?

No.

A long silence.

Then the High Keeper spoke.

Good.

Ysara looked up.

Good?

Certainty makes fools move too early.

The white-gold flame lowered.

And Kael Asterion?

Ysara thought of the young prince standing on the bridge.

Angry when told he had been watched.

Careful enough not to arrest her.

Proud enough to refuse recruitment.

Practical enough to demand payment in knowledge.

He is not what the reports predicted.

The High Keeper answered softly.

They rarely are.

Ysara lowered her head.

What now?

The flame went still.

For years, we watched the prince because of his Light.

Now we watch because Blackwood has begun waking things that should have remained forgotten.

A pause.

And because Aurelia will soon realize we have approached him.

Ysara understood.

The quiet phase was ending.

Not war.

Not yet.

But something had shifted.

The High Keeper gave one final instruction.

Prepare the sealed records concerning House Asterion.

Ysara’s eyes lifted.

All of them?

No.

Only those he is ready to survive.

The flame vanished.

Darkness returned.

And hundreds of miles away, in Blackwood Manor, Kael stood before his map without knowing that for the first time in generations, the Sanctum of the First Light had begun opening records carrying his family name.