“You are a naïve and ignorant fool.”
Micah did not give Conway Edlen the satisfaction of turning around.
Dinner had been a strained event. Josiah hadn’t said a word all evening and the royal guards were just as silent. They’d eaten alone at the dining hall, their clinking utensils the only sound that transpired between the group.
Micah had sensed the air of frustration and disappointment. He recognized and acknowledged he’d overstepped by speaking about the Noir Users in such a reformist way, especially considering Calder had sent him on this tour to slap the wrists of the kingdoms who allowed such leeway with sorcery.
He’d gone completely against Concordia’s principles.
Another political misstep, yes, but he was not going to cower.
His proposition was new. A budding, nearly intangible taste of an idea that could grow into something impressively beneficial for everyone involved. He just needed t
“The Eurus Empire proclaims the attack on Concordia’s royal prince was a result of a domestic extremist group,” Josiah spoke to Micah’s barely conscious form.“They apologized profusely. Healed you and replenished your lost blood, while simultaneously attempting their best with Captain Edlen’s several fractured bones. They then sent us on our way with armed guards and gifts for Calder. A flimsy and futile hope that the king will somehow overlook the attack on his heir. Calder will only use this as future leverage.”Micah’s unconsciousness slipped from his grasp at Agni’s words.His awareness thrummed and wavered, but eventually sharpened and persevered. Gifts for Calder, Micah mused in his mind.Perhaps they were similar to Calder’s gifts to the Eurus Empire.Packaged in coffins.Micah kept his eyes closed as he responded to the man sitting at his bedside. “The rulers of all t
Neutral tans and golds decorated the council chambers. Micah found little to appreciate in the neutral wash with the exception of the large table. Wide, rustic planks made up the table top, polished and gleaming with deep cherry undertones.It was handsome.It was also the focus of his attention during the tedious summit.On one side, six Unda councilmembers sat with the Igni members directly across from them. Naturally, Calder occupied the head of the table with Josiah sitting at the other end. Micah, on the other hand, sat on Josiah’s right. He assumed, once he had his coronation, he’d take Josiah’s place at the head.For now, he was content being invisible.Better to observe others this way.So far, he’d made eye contact with Sachiel long enough to know the man wanted to speak with him privately after the meeting. Hopefully, he had good news regarding Kai.Cain’s mother—Cordelia Abital—also nodded her greeting.Seeing her reminded Micah of his team and it made him yearn to see them
“I need to speak with him.”It was too early in the morning for an unfamiliar voice to resonate so loudly from the corridor. Dressed and groomed for the day, Micah exited his quarters quietly, assessing the situation through weary eyes.“You need to make an appointment like everyone else,” one of the guards exclaimed, blocking Micah’s line of sight. “Lingering outside His Royal Highness’ personal quarters is an extreme lapse in protocol. You should know this.”Micah gazed past the wall of royal guards, catching the eyes of a young Unda female.She perked up. “Your Highness, I need to speak with you!”“You can make an appointment,” he said unemotionally.He began walking down the corridor, surrounded once again by Josiah’s guards. After the conversation with Cordelia and Sachiel yesterday, Micah had little patience for further politics, especially so early in the morning.Especially with haughty, young aristocrats.“Kai would be disappointed if you put rigid protocols before his well b
In the end, Haken proved remarkably resourceful.Micah had grossly underestimated him—a mere Healer—who claimed himself capable of combat with an Element he’d never used to cause harm. The same young man desperate enough to appear confident for the sole purpose of impressing his reluctant Chosen.He had certainly delivered.As soon as the guards advanced outside Micah’s quarters, Haken adopted an air of cool professionalism despite Micah readying his stance for confrontation.The words that had spewed from the Healer’s mouth were both confident and authoritative as he explained a fabricated ailment that seemingly inflicted Micah. He had explained, being as they were Chosen, Micah and Josiah possessed an intuition when the other wasn’t feeling well. Considering Micah’s ailing state, he knew Josiah needed prompt attention.Prompt attention—immediately.It was in the guards’ best interest to allow them passageway to Josiah’s quarters. While the guards obliged, albeit in a state of confus
“Talia never pushes us this hard.” Viktor bemoaned. “We’re out of practice.”“Faster,” Micah urged unsympathetically. He was just as out of practice as the rest of them, though he’d never tell them that.They sprinted through the hazy maze of the train depot, having just knocked three guards unconscious. It wouldn’t be long until other guards took notice of their unconscious comrades and gathered more numbers.They had no time for confrontations.As Agni had pointed out earlier, Calder would close the train system down if he hadn’t already issued the order.Between the steam from the trains, the smoke from the distant riots, and their dust-covered surroundings, a heavy wall of fog ghosted the surface of the ground and hovered just above waist level.The street lamps cast golden hues across the train yard, emphasizing the thickness of the fog and casting everything else in various shades of silhouettes. In the distance, the palace siren continued to blare. Because they were so far away
“Micah!”Jerking violently awake, Micah pulled down his hood and frantically searched his surroundings. His chest heaved frantically to accommodate his racing pulse, certainly not accustomed to jarring awake so abruptly, especially when his mind had dipped down into a deep, heavy sleep.Across from him, Viktor danced on one foot, then the other, before cupping his groin.“Where do we pee ?”Behind him, Talia shook her head exasperatedly.Micah stared blankly at Viktor. “ What? ” he exclaimed sharply. “What are you doing?”“I need to pee,” he repeated. “I don’t know where we should go. Is there a designated area or…?”Groggy and still fighting the faint clutch of sleepiness, Micah looked at his team. They were in various states of awareness, some appearing just as jarred as he felt, others wide-awake and irritated over Viktor’s antics, Agni especially.“What?” Micah asked again stupidly.The boy slouched petulantly. “Pee. I have to pee.”“Go!” Micah demanded, his tongue slurring with s
Thirteen Years Ago Unimpressed eyes stared down at the young child. “Get lost, boy.” The small boy lifted his chin. “I said you need to give me my change.” His pubescent voice hardened with authority. “I gave you a gold coin.” He gestured to the bag of large potatoes. “For two potatoes. I need nine silver pieces back from you.”“And just how old are you? Do you even know the difference between gold and silver?” The vendor sneered. “Get lost!”Around the quarreling young child and the potato vendor, men and women hustled through the streets. The dying sun cast deep, orange and red hues across the desert village. White and beige buildings, made entirely of clay and other desert materials, stood out from the darkening atmosphere.Most civilians of this outskirt village in Region 10 just wanted to get home to their families before dark. The nightlife was far from convivial and every bit unfriendly.The warmth that the sun had provided earlier that day gradually disappeared. In its plac
“They are not beacons, child, but entities who wish to remain undetected,” Micah impersonated, pitching his voice to sound like Agni.Said entity offered him an uninspired look.“I said until they do not,” Agni emphasized. “Evidently, they do not wish to remain undetected. They are hailing us almost as subtly as your teammate is hiding that pain in her fractured wrist.”Micah stayed back as his team clambered into the inner region conveyance train. The conveyance unit resembled a carriage more than it did a traditional train. However, instead of a horse as the power source, the small, single-compartment unit ran off the bulky coal and steam engine situated in the front.It was a broken-down piece of rusted equipment used to shuttle the residents between the desert settlements of Region 20. Judging from the noises it emitted, and the noxious scent of rust, Micah imagined it was close to its expiration.Fortunately, the place they believed Kai to be located had tracks close by.Otherwis