rned twenty-five in less than six months. Time was running out for him to strike. The attacks on his life were frequent, but subtle. No one co

ibution against the crown would be his undoing. Jealousy from

at him while he was out riding, would demise where nothing else had. The s

ound staring up at the Yrurrian skies, Death looking him in the face when his horse jump

promised himself and he assured those

ssing his arms over his meager chest. "

ce as shadowy as the dimly lit corrido

finds you out. Be careful of her, please, Sire. What if

was also necessary, for Santh had become like a younger

ting." Tiran smiled reassuringly, a gesture that fought to reach his eyes, or through his drowning

nd starting arguments with men three times his size and age. Santh never showed fear. His devotion to the cause was without regret or mercy. He was damned loyal. Best of all, no one suspected him at espionag

things turn to shit. I'll ne

salute, ready to war. Ready to do what

ing. Fire and light, ice, and darkness. Time to show his cards

hat she will rot in hell before I let her gain anything more over me. Find out the Assass

Santh obediently followin

ouncement of execution. I'll question the servants and those courtier

and heard it in his answer. Such a war wasn't fo

time to attack, and any games once played are over. By the time I reach my majority, she'll ha

the importance of his previous order. This was the

t back to me. Divert him and any other if

ill be accomplishe

servant's quarters to rally up information, Tiran going right and heading

bastard never left his rooms. Not anymore and not for many years

, for he doubted he could hold off from staging war against his mother's domination for much longer. But when truth revealed itself and the declaration ha

ccording to prophecy, the Regent's reign would end with violence and terrible downfall. If Majid were right, a distant enemy would take her do

ribute. If anyone tried to fulfill Tiran's de

ways. Even she respected magical law, for it kept those in her reign under fear, subjugated and destitute, completely submitted to her will and whim. The commoners and the cour

they appeared. What grand and mocking jest it would be if the Regent's command to send the Ass

n, it wouldn't be long now. His ascension to the throne was imminent and not even his mother could stop it. One day h

heated and rose. He banged, shifting angrily from booted foot to booted foot. This was no time for dallying.

side. Tiran feverishly raised his voice. "Your king wishes to see you. Unless you'd rat

man's face, both twisted and grotesque, and his massive, lumbering body sent silent shivers creeping up

ce into the sanctuary didn't mean the man liked company. The Seer tolerate

interr

inside the strong musculature of a man. The seer wrung his hands, trembling before Tiran, e

-filled room until he reached a corner with two chairs sitting adjacent. It w

facing the large man who plodded towards him. Majid once confessed that his visions blurred the line between reality and dream, crea

gers as the seer walked forward. The king had not come for tea, but for

ver known. From time's beginning, the seers connected the common people to their gods. If the Ancients, or any oth

partly the reason the elderly man stayed hidden, cooped up in the majestic lay of room

moment, the air turned stale with disaster. Thankfully, Majid bowed his head at the mistake

. Perhaps the seer was right to put trust in the leather-bound tomes instead of man. Books never ran away, screaming in fright. They condoned the secrets of the realm Beyond without terror or do

a strong, fermented tea, he confessed it was the weight, the smell of th

ded, ruthlessly feared. Tiran didn't fear Majid's words, a lie he consistently repeated. After all, believing them meant his future, and he'd be a fool not t

essed by others, he grew up alone. Some called him crazy, and perhaps he was. Freakish, he was an anomaly among the commoners, even among the greater sized warriors and men of the royal

e of his entrance into the royal household. It didn't matter to him he earned his position with every correct prediction, every dream shared.

his tea forgotten. "

took a sip of the foul brew

ak. I don't have

's law and boundary made him stiffen and his fingers tremble. But Tiran wasn't royalty for nothing. Letting

he clock mounted on a spare spread of wall fille

se to his feet. A beefy hand reached ou

me. I don't

wait because I have

the man's face, excitement in his voic

nothing. He

lly differential for a royal, Tiran braced himself for the magnificence re

le

le

enc

und all that surrounded him, the thread binding the se

id

voice boomed, and another stack of precariously perched books at the side of him fell as the noise echoed through the large-chambered rooms. Tiran

Anc

were long gone, back to another Realm. The Ancients could not break free of their prison, attempting reconciliatio

ncients truly disappeared. Maybe the old tales, recited and adulated, were falsely claimed. Thunder, lig

gainst and across him. It hurt; it fucking killed. Tiran's chest felt torn asunder, his heart ripped and pulled out for dis

p, bass-toned dirge. It was demonic. Angelic. Frightful. Tiran hurried and covered his ears, but he could

Darkness. The Light

sun. The seer's empty sockets met his, shimmering light from beyond. Death and Destruction. It was them, the Ancients. Perhaps not in form, but with terr

d. He did

s spoke. Th

the Seer's vile, gnashing words and terrible

e. They had al

t and the

adicated, burned. Those ancient ones filled him. They spoke in garish refrain. The Seer continued, helpless, as useless among the oldest power of the worlds as

Ignoring the beast wouldn't make it go away. Neither w

ith her raised sword and mighty arm. She comes, as our queen gathers for the impending war. Be on the watch, y

and dug into the buttery wood while the Seer's throat muscles jagged and reflexed. They were breaking him. They demanded tribute. Effused with dark

o man, would save him? Perhaps, but it was an uncertainty. Underneath, the cushion of his seat wetted and stained as urine release

ones. Our queen is coming. O you of i

lume of smoke dissipating in the breeze, the Ancients disappeared. Tiran didn't bother to consider the other man's

dn't giv

thing on his mind, only escape and never, ever returning to the seer's elaborate show of rooms again. Let the man destroy himself by the vi

isions could go back to

ai

as weak. Troubled.

re. Let m

d door. He unlatched it. The door s

fingers. Forcing his voice to stabilize, for he had to keep some amount

or this, Seer. You'v

dy miraculously mended. His eyes, however, were empty sockets. They hadn't restored

u forget who you s

and you won't destroy them. This I know. Listen, your Majest

, pausing. He'd listen. Bu

's coming, my king, and you won't stop her. The queen of the Ancients will a