Dark Times: Gates of Fate

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1

The road was bordered by nocturnal shadows. No one knew the human being hidden in the darkness of the silent night. He could kill them with his arrows, but he didn’t have to catch their attention. He knew it. No one could find him, and no one had to find him.

The black-haired guy, with thick eyebrows and green eyes, walked through the dark and sinister streets. No one could dare to come in, and nobody had to discover his plan if he wanted what he wished.

Inside an alley was a hidden door by the shadows, and it was at the end. He was walking to it, until he arrived and opened it. He went in. It wasn’t the first, nor the last time he was there.

The interior was a red hall decorated with bows on the walls. He walked through it until he arrived at a hall with rounded tables and chairs around them. There was also a bar table, behind it was a guy with black hair and cut beard. It was a bar for hunters and nobody, except the ones who came in, knew about it. The queen didn’t know about it.

They were completely safe and sound there.

He walked to the bar table, sitting on a chair. He had a meeting there with another hunter, and he hoped he attended. He had to attend.

The barman looked at the guy with brown hair, thick brows, gray eyes and red lips. It was his first night working there. “What do you want?”

The archer gave him a slight stare. He knew perfectly the name of each drink in the bar. “Bring me a cup with Orallo.”

The barman turned around, looking at the barrels full of drinks, and he took a cup. He put it down the faucet of a barrel and lifted the lever. The green liquid came out.

He turned to look at him and put the cup with Orallo before him.

The guy took the cup to his lips and sipped the sweet flavor. It had a bit of cherry juice. He nodded, assuring it was right.

“How was it?” The archer looked above his shoulder to the one who asked it. It was exactly the person he had been waiting there.

He had light brown hair, blue eyes and fine lips. It wasn’t the first nor the last time they could meet, and they knew it.

2

“It was time,” commented the archer, keeping his stare on the guy. “Queen Feran and that lord Deep-punch will search me, but they will not find me. We are doing the impossible.” He returned his stare to the drink while the guy walked toward him.

“I knew you could do it.” He sat at his right and asked the barman for a cup with Orallo. The barman retired and came back with the cup.

The guy gave it a sip. They were there to continue their plan against the queen and her most loyal nobles. They had to do it.

The queen and no one had to know what they were planning… for the great of Alpstraum. They were the ones with the right to know what was going to happen if they succeeded.

“The queen don’t expects something,” affirmed the archer and looked around him. None of the other hunters were looking at them. The archer sighed softly, “We’re going to do it, but first we need to handle the guards and lord Deep-punch.” The guy looked directly ay the archer. Their plan was going like they expected, yet they wished it continued on the same road of success. The plan had to do it.

“Lord Deep-Punch is the major problem.” The guy smiled slightly. They were sure they needed to finish the commander of floats.

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Wake up, Ameera.

The Queen of Alpstraum heard her mother’s voice, lost by the legendary Nygher Daryne. She had suffered so much because him.

Wake up, Ameera.

A month had passed since Winad Artum had shot an arrow, and it thrusted through the wall of her room with a note—daring her to play his game.

Wake up, Ameera.

The woman didn’t want to play it. She had denied to look at him by herself.

Ameera didn’t want her secrets to come out nor her people against her.

Wake up, Ameera.

She had ordered Kai Deep-Punch to search Winad Artum, and both knew he was a danger for the kingdom she loved so much. The queen hoped they didn’t have to kill Winad, yet she wanted to know all the secrets he had.

Wake up, Ameera.

Her emerald eyes watched the window of her room, waiting that someone should enter. A month had passed since the last time they met. Not Kai, The God of War, Kewar.

Wake up, Ameera.

The god hadn’t appeared, but she heard the voice again and again. She didn’t know why she only heard it in her lodgings. Maybe her mother was advising her or simply was saying she had to wake from the deep dream. Each minute was important for her, each minute was closer to the fearful destiny if she and Kai didn’t find Winad.

Wake up, Ameera.

The queen opened her eyes, waking from the dream she was calmly submerged to. She didn’t know if Lord Deep-Punch already found Winad, wishing he already doned it. She watched her room carefully. It belonged to her parents. They governed like a true king and queen. Ameera governed like a girl who wanted to fill with pride the best Governors of Alpstraum who lived.

Wake up, Ameera.

It was the last time she heard the voice, hoping to never hear it. Ameera wished to always remember her mother’s voice.

5

~~~~~~~~~~~~ The tables were against the walls, and the guards sitting on them clapped. The door opened softly while a guard entered. He walked between them.

Alaric spun to the left, dodging an attack, and hit Siegfried’s face. His opponent yielded a step backward. The captain rolled on the ground to dodge his next attack and took his sword.

The Commander of Floats launched another attack to the Captain of the Guard, but he blocked it and pulled the blade against the shoulder. Alaric was strong enough.

His blade hurt him softly.

The guard arrived at the front of the circle around them, watching the training carefully. It was interesting, but he knew their aim was bad. He could defeat them from long distances.

Siegfried half spun to the left, pointing his sword to the eye of his opponent.

Alaric sighed softly and analyzed it, thinking for a way to defeat him.

The captain ducked, dodging the attack, and thrust his sword throughout his foot.

The commander moaned softly, and the captain drew two daggers—hidden in his silken sleeve.

Kai took the sword and walked, limping, to him. Alaric knew immediately it was an error to hurt his foot, but it was a training. Now he had two swords.

The commander launched an attack against the captain, but he blocked it and spun swiftly until he was behind Kai. Alaric took him and put one dagger against his armor.

The guard watched them, walking to their front. Kai didn’t know him. Alaric withdrew his daggers, watching the guard carefully. Siegfried stood at his right. He was Sahem Armis, his most reliablel guard.

Sahem had green eyes and light brown hair, his eyebrows slightly thick and his feline stare on them. He was handsome.

“Lord Edynius, Lord Deep-Punch.” He revered and watched Kai. “The queen calls you.”

They blinked once while Sahem walked, leading them to the throne room. Kai had been one month without visiting it, but that month he visited Ameera in her lodgings.

They finally arrived at the room and entered. The queen already on her throne. A throne that now was completely hers.

“Finally, Lord Deep-punch, meet Sahem Armis.” Siegfried blinked. He only hear the surname one time, when they were preparing for the rebel attack.

Alaric knew immediately that she called them for something important. “Your Majesty, why did you call us?” He bowed slightly.

Ameera stood and walked toward them. “A month had passed since the first menace of Winad Artum, did you already find him?” They shook their heads. “Is it so hard? We have three months left!”

6

“We will find him, Your Majesty.” Kai looked at her emerald eyes. He hadn’t noticed her beauty.

“I hope we find him, lords. We need to find them. Today I’ll start to help you.” The guys blinked strangely.

An arrow cut the wind and thrust through her throne. It had a second note.

Ameera turned while they walked to it, taking and reading the note.

From: Winad Artum.

To: Ameera and her loyals.

Nightmares live.

Archers hunt.

Beers clash.

Onares fly.

Monsters were born.

You’ll lose.

It was a riddle, a clue to Winad’s location. They had to solve it. It was their only way, or Winad wouldl shoot them another clue and reveal their deepest secrets.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ They had been travelling for a month, and they were now in Maral—a town of Stodra. It’s buildings were on a tree. The tree was ancient and the houses were prettier than she imagined.

Aziza wanted to return to her home, but she had to achieve her mission. Helyrra was already free and every town talked about it. In the homes, there was happiness: wives received their husbands with open arms, children returned with help of friends.

Sonaro—the beginning of summer—was close and everyone was preparing to celebrate it. Habitants were walking from one side to the other, filling buckets with water.

They had bridges to descend from the tree and to visit other squares, but it was the center. Other trees were small squares, and there lived the ones who did not want to be part of a prophecy.

The main tree had a hole blocked with a wooden door. In it lived someone that never exited, but the people talked about and they said it was a future reader.

The princess walked across the town, and her Hands were behind her. TIA was somewhere else with his Hands. They had separated a week ago, when they arrived at the town.

She wanted to know what he was doing, wanted to tell him they were going to see the future reader.

“Let’s buy food, Aziza,” said the silver-eyed, Sork, and Aziza looked at him directly at his moonlight eyes.

“There are some restaurants. Do we eat while we walk or we sit?” Aziza replied.

7

“Sit,” answered the golden-eyed, Rasko. The princess looked at him and they walked to a restaurant, but everyone served the same type of food: fruit salads, bird meat and natural juices. It wasn’t different.

They entered a restaurant. Its wooden walls were covered with leaves and the tables were coming out from branches. It was the most beautiful restaurant she had ever seen.

The waiter watched them. “What do I serve you?” he asked.

“An apple sal–” “We don’t serve salads here, this is the only different restaurant. I’ll pass you the menu.” He took some menus and passed them to Aziza and her Royal Hands.

They walked to a table and sat, reading the menus: cakes, jellies, wolf meat. It had everything they wished to eat since they arrived.

The waiter walked toward them. He had a paper in his hand and a quill wet with ink.

“I want a strawberry cake,” said Aziza.

“Bring me an orange jelly,” ordered Rasko.

“Give me cooked wolf meat,” replied Sork.

The waiter wrote down their orders and retired to the kitchen. After few minutes later, they had their orders served on plates.

“The search is lasting an eternity.” Aziza looked at them. She had to remember the myths of the first King of Alpstraum. She could have the location written on her drowned memories, or maybe she couldn’t have it. But it was important.

The princess didn’t want to meet the future reader, but her Royal Hands convinced her. She had to search in the deepest corner of her memories. Aziza knew she could remember the location of the weapon. She had to remember it.

A strange woman stood from a table and walked, pushing the chair of Aziza slightly.

“Hey!” Aziza blurted and turned around. The woman walked, ignoring her.

The princess watched the table, and Sork put his hand in his pocket.

“What is this?” He took out a folded paper and put it at the center. They read it.

See me near the Main Tree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ He was clashing a cup full of Orallo against the ones of his Royal Hands. They had been there a week—when the princess and her Royal Hands separated to find someone who could know the location of the lost weapon.

“What are we celebrating?” asked a man.

“The liberty of Helyrra,” replied Rolent and clashed his cup against the man’s cup.

The barman watched them and sighed. He had a busy month. Everyday his bar filled and the celebrations never ended, but he hoped they could end someday.

8

“But the liberation happened a month ago,” said T.I.A., and put his cup on the table. “We are celebrating the mission of Aziza.”

Everyone, except T.I.A. and his counsellors, blinked strangely. They didn’t know anything about it, and T.I.A. knew he didn’t have to say anything but grated silently they could not remember anything.

“I want to go,” a man said. After him, another one said the same, and another, and another. Everyone wanted to accompany them.

A boom shook everything, and everything went silent. Everyone didn’t know from what it was, but it was suspicious. It was the first time it happened. A branch fell on the roof and everyone looked at the ceiling. Then another branch fell, and another. Branches were raining, and it never happened on Maral.

“What is happening?” the barman asked and T.I.A. couldn’t believe he didn’t know it. Something was happening outside.

TIA walked to the door and opened it, exiting the tavern.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ They were riding on a wall. It was the road to Anvres—also called as the Town of Darkness. Nygher hoped Yemonsu couldn’t find him, and it was his only desire. But he was there, riding to his death.

No one, except them, knew Anvres was the most powerful town for Yemonsu.

She knew everything that happened in it.

“Why are we riding to Anvres?” asked Okon and watched above the edge of the road. Around them were green hills and mountains. From there they could see Alpstraum completely.

“I want to confront Yemonsu,” replied Nygher.

They rode until they arrived at the gates of stone. The guards watched them and opened them.

Nygher and his Hands entered undoubtedly. He was ready to confront a goddess.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yemonsu and Kewar were in the Lunar throne room. They were waiting Mawu-sin. The gods had a month to prepare, and they approached it.

The gates opened while the God of the Moons entered. He walked to his throne and sat on it. Kewar looked at him and blinked rudely.

“Our fate begins today,” Mawu-sin simply said.

The gods knew it was their last meeting before their mission, and it was to talk about their plan.

“Kewar and I can attack and you, what can you do?” Yemonsu asked, underestimating the god.

9

“I control the moon, but on our way I can attack. I will know when someone will attack us,” Mawu-sin replied.

Kewar blinked. “How can you know it?”

Mawu-sin laughed slightly. The gods were underestimating his ability. They will be with their mouths open.

“You know I know everything.” The god watched them and smiled.

“Are you sure?” Kewar underestimated him. Mawu-sin knew the gods were working as a team.

“We should begin.” Mawu stood and walked to the gates. The gods followed him until they went through them. It was the beginning of their mission.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dhareur was building a mansion. It was for the Lord of Dhareur. He could need it, and Rebyghtare was helping them.

Arnom was standing next to him, smashing a hammer against a nail. The metallic hit echoed through the town.

A man walked toward them and watched everything. He was a stranger.

Rebyghtare stopped and watched him, analyzing his face.

“Are you the Lord of Dhareur?” Rebyghtare nodded and watched him carefully. “I defy you.”

Silence drowned the town, and everyone was open-mouthed. It was completely unexpected.

Rebyghtare looked him carefully. He seemed to be a good man. “I accept.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~ The fire burned before them. They were riding to Verdifae—a town of Qayiheld, another kingdom. They still had enough munitions, and they prayed to the gods for their arrival. Nuriel hadn’t told them their true identity, and he had been with them more than a month.

“Fygo, have you heard that the King of Atsusa disappeared?” He saw Brantley and nodded. The rumor spread slowly.

“We should go to Toplotehyte and reclaim the throne, shouldn’t we?” asked Toris.

The Solid Times looked at them open-mouthed.

“We’ll go to Toplotehyte when we find my daughter, right?” It was a lie. He needed them to complete his mission—the mission Lumilla gave him.

Silence invaded and everyone went to sleep, everyone but Nuriel. He stayed awake, thinking about his daughter and his mission.

10

Night had come, and nightmares walked on Khawf as if they were good dreams.

Thieves and assassins were out of their cages—ready to attack their enemies and receive their payments.

The queen was in her room, safe from the outside menaces and reading ​Silent War​. Alaric was on the headquarters. They had rooms for the soldiers and one only for the captain. Siegfried was in his lodgings, thinking about the riddle—a nonsense riddle.

Nightmares live​.

Alpstraum was a kingdom full of nightmares and its capital, Khawf, had the worst ones. It was clearly Winad was on Khawf.

He stood and walked to the window, watching the fearless darkness. Siegfried sighed and closed his eyes. The darkness reminded him his fears. He walked to the bed and fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everything was red like blood, and silence surrounded him. He didn’t know where he was. It was the first time he saw the place, wanting to know where it was.

A scream came from the farness. The guy turned, drawing Gursam. Someone was suffering. He had to save them. Or had to try. He ran to the sound, trying to reach it.

But it went farther and farther. The scream was impossible to reach.

He ran alone for minutes while the scream faded slowly, and something was wrong. Siegfried felt it in the deepest corner of his heart. Something was calling him. It was his right to the Throne of Stodra. The only thing he feared was the responsibility to be the one his people depended on.

Siegfried could never accept the throne for his own happiness. When he lived in Stodra, they had hard minds like a stone gargoyle and tough hearts. They only fell in love with other Stodranians. They had to learn he wasn’t his last hope. He hoped they learned it in five years.

A metallic sound echoed behind him. He turned and nothing was there. Then it resounded again. There was someone following him. He kept his attention on the surroundings, ready to defend himself.

“Who is there?” No reply, maybe the dream played him a bad illusion.

11

The guy walked in silence for few minutes. He was sure someone was following him. He kept his guards high and sighed slightly. His gait was senseless, but he didn’t have another place to go. The red surrounding turned to a green one.

A woman’s body appeared and descended from the sky. She was completely beautiful. Her black hair moved like a sea of darkness and her light-blue eyes were like the ocean, hiding the beauty of everyone but also the ugliness.

The body finally touched the floor, and silence seemed to want to sing. She was a good goddess.

“I am Hefita, the Goddess of Beauty and Ugliness.” She noted he was watching her strangely. “It isn’t the first time someone sees me strangely like you.”

A throne of roses and ashes appeared. She sat on it, and the scream he heard had gone. It was completely strange.

“What do you want?” Siegfried asked, hoping she could convince the gods to give him peace. he already had it, but wanted more.

The goddess sighed beautifully, giving him the ugliest stare he had seen, fearless but calm. She was weird.

“Siegfried, you know it perfectly,” she said sweetly and snapped her fingers.

The green surrounding turned into a beautiful lake. On it some snowy hills were reflected. It was the Glassean Lake and the hills were the Muzix hills. It was the prettiest landscape he had seen, and he wanted to remember it for his entire life.

Slowly, the crystalline waters froze and the reflection banished, but it was still beautiful. It was more beautiful than before. It was a little demonstration of her power.

“What are you doing?” asked the guy, and watched the snowy, far, hills.

“I am showing you your new mission,” the god simply replied.

He blinked strangely, or maybe Otieno sent his new mission with her. It had to be, or maybe Otieno was sent by her.

Trees around the frozen lake shook and fell to the ground while others stayed at their places, completely petrified. He knew immediately his new mission was something with nature.

Ice trembled and jumped into the lake, shaping a frozen statue of him. Before it, the ice formed another statue—one of a throne, the Throne of Stodra.

Nightmares live​.

Maybe he was wrong. Maybe the nightmares were Stodra and Winad lived on Stodra. Or maybe he had to travel to Smaragd—capital of Stodra.

Behind the frozen throne, the ice created a statue of an archer, with his arrow ready to shoot it against the throne.

Archers hunt.​ Someone could hunt him for the Throne of Stodra, or someone was going to hunt Ameera and her throne. Maybe it was Winad Artum, maybe not.

Next to the statues appeared a frozen tavern, and in it was a statue of T.I.A.. He was holding a cup and around him were his counsellors.

Beers clash.​ T.I.A. had to do something with him. They should meet.

12

Snowflakes fell and shaped orioles coming from the mountains. They were strange on other continents. Helyrra was their preferred home.

Orioles fly​.

Helyrra could be the most affected continent in the future events, and maybe the other continents could not be involved.

The ice transformed into monsters with red eyes and black skin. He didn’t recognize them, but they were born from other monsters.

Monsters were born.​ The monsters could come from somewhere, and he needed to know. Or maybe the monsters were the mortal dangers.

A statue of a strange man appeared sitting on the throne. It didn’t show his face.

Siegfried knew he was Winad.

You’ll loose​.

Winad had more probabilities to win than them, but they were still trying to win it.

“Is the clue a prophecy?” Hefita nodded and watched him.

“You need to find him, or you and Ameera will die.” Siegfried blinked. He didn’t want it.

Hefita snapped her fingers and disappeared, leaving him alone.

Siegfried walked inside the forest, hoping he could arrive at a new place. His dream was trying to tell him something.

After few minutes he was in a black area as the darkness.

Kai tried to run away, but something locked him in it. He had to find something.

A roar came from the shadows. Something was there and it could kill him. He tried to run, but he always ended up on the same place before a locked door. It had to be the exit.

“Help!” Siegfried screamed, and the shadows devoured a rat. No one came. He was with something.

The shadows ran swiftly against a wall, trying to break it. Something there wanted to escape, wanted freedom. Aziza could definitely liberate him, without caring about the consequences.

“Free me,” begged a strange voice. He had never heard it.

The guy walked through the room until he found a solid shadow bed. On it was a strange man. He had black hair like the night, and his eyes were the same color. His skin was completely dark. It had some dots of red and green. He had to be a god.

“Free me,” the man murmured. He wasn’t asleep, but he couldn’t move.

Siegfried wanted to liberate him, but didn’t know how. The man needed his help.

Kai blinked, and the dark room disappeared. He was in a cave with three doors: one red, another green and the last one black. There were moonstones decorating the room. It had to be the palace of a god.

A gate opened behind him, and a man of black skin–a god–entered.

“Good evening, Siegfried Syner, choose a door.” The god looked at him.

The guy looked at the three doors. He couldn’t decide. They meant something.

13

The red door maybe was the scream, and the green one had to be the goddess while the black maybe was the strange voice. The three doors were strange, and he had to choose one.

“What if I don’t want to choose?” the guy defied, hoping it was a good decision.

“You have a mission, and I will say a prophecy when you choose.” Siegfried didn’t like the prophecies. They were confusing.

He watched them, thinking about what could be behind them. The safest was the green one. He had to travel if he chose the other two.

“I will choose the black one,” replied Siegfried, walking, opening it and entering.

He wasn’t in the black, dark, room. He was in a throne room, and the god was sitting on a throne. The guy stared above his shoulder to the door. Next to it were the other two. The god tricked him.

“It was the one I predicted.” Siegfried blinked. Choosing a door was for nothing.

“Did you trick me two times?” The god nodded silently, watching him. “​Three doors: blood on one, leaves on the other and darkness on the last. A decision hunts, peace and princess works together. The hunter a failure is, the game of danger kills. Choose wisely.​” It was the confusing prophecy. The reason why he hated them. The god snapped his fingers, and the throne room disappeared.

14

They were around the Main Tree, sitting on a bench of branches. A stranger wanted to meet with them there, and they didn’t know who it was.

The whispers of wind and leaves falling slowly were the only sound. People walked around them to their houses. The princess wanted to know them and their necessities.

Her Royal Hands were sitting next to her, while the people were watching the surroundings, assuring any menace could get close to them.

A silhouette with a cape walked toward them. The people watched it quietly as if it was someone great. It walked toward them and took the hood off.

It was a man with dark eyes and pale skin. His face was rounded. He didn’t have the appearance of a future reader.

The reader stopped walking when he arrived at Aziza and her Royal Hands.

“Aziza, I am Fyner Ranvon. Accompany me.” It was impossible he could know her name.

The princess watched her Royal Hands. They nodded slightly. Fyner walked and she followed him. The town was seeing them and they arrived at a door embedded in the Main Tree.

“This is where I read the future,” Fyner said and opened it, entering the Main Tree.

Aziza blinked, doubtfully, but she entered. Her Hands walked to the door, protecting it.

In the Main Tree was a table built with branches and, around the branches, were chairs made with branches. They walked and sat on chairs.

“What are we doing here?”

“I am going to read your future.”

She looked at a cup in a glass vitrine. It was so beautiful. It had fire sculpted and doves, the symbol of peace, next to it.

Fyner took some cards from his pockets and put them on the table, organizing them in three different hands.

“Take one hand.” He slid the hands to her.

15

The princess watched the hands carefully: three hands, three futures, one to choose. Aziza had to choose the best one, but they seemed to be the same. She slid her forefinger on the hands and stopped on the second one.

He smiled wickedly and took the hand, flipping the cards. The five cards were different drawings.

One card had a skull and a flower bloomed from its eye.

“A love blooms after someone important to you dies. Be ready.” Aziza didn’t believe him.

Fyner watched the second card. It was a finger on a mouth. Around it were daggers with blood. He said, “Death comes silently, Mawt is taking someone.”

She watched the third card. A golden crown decorated with snakes.

“Royalty is on your head, be careful. It also is a poison you wouldn’t want.”

The future reader watched the forth card. It had horns coming out from a flower.

“An evil force blooms from the most beautiful and innocent life,” he said and watched the fifth and last card.

It was an ancient wynark, symbols of the first humans, and a key next to it.

“A god sent you to a mission. The destiny is ancient, and you already have the key. You have to discover it.” Aziza blinked. It was impossible she already knew how to arrive with the ancient sword.

Silence invaded the room and Fyner took the other hands, without showing the other fates. Aziza stood and turned toward the door.

She was opening the door, but Fyner pushed it, closing it. The princess turned around and watched him. He had her trapped against the door. Fyner drew a dagger and put it against her.

“You should not exit. Follow me,” he threaten her, forcing her to walk until they arrived at a cook’s shelf.

Fyner pulled a spoon, and the branches slid, opening a hidden staircase.

Aziza sighed. She had her sword, maybe she had an option to escape. They entered into the hidden room and disappeared in the fearless darkness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ A day had passed since they heard the thunderous boom, and it was a mystery for everyone.

“Have you heard? The Princess of Atsusa is with Fyner in the Main Tree,” a man told them.

It was the first time in a week they hear her name. T.I.A. knew Fyner was a bad man, and the princess needed his help. She was a damsel in distress and he had to save her.

T.I.A. stood and his counsellors looked at him strangely. He knew them.

“Where are you going?” asked Vertov. He was the most careful of them. He always worried about them, but he didn’t have to.

16

“Aziza needs my help,” he simply replied and walked to the door, opening it and exiting from the tavern. It wasn’t the only tavern. Aziza and her Royal Hands slept in another, or he could have seen her.

T.I.A. walked until he lost himself in the crowd. His councellors couldn’t find him unless they were following him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aziza’s Royal Hands were protecting the entrance to the Main Tree. She had been in with Fyner too much time. Maybe they had to enter and verify everything was fine, but they didn’t dare to. Maybe they were doing something personal and they were avoiding everyone.

The crowd was walking around them, but still they recognized someone walking in it, T.I.A. He didn’t have to be there unless…, T.I.A. had to hear a rumour about Aziza in the tavern. Rasko’s sun eyes looked at the moon eyes of Sork. Aziza was in the Main Tree, and they had to protect her. TI.A. couldn’t enter.

“What are you doing here, T.I.A.?” Sork blurted out and T.I.A. looked him directly at the eyes.

“Fyner is a bad guy.” T.I.A. walked to the door but Sork and Rasko drew their daggers and put them against him.

“You shouldn’t enter,” replied Rasko.

“Aziza is in danger, I know Fyner. He tried to take me, so let me in.”

They shook their heads, and T.I.A. sighed softly. He was a little bit different, but he was going to do something he could regret after.

“I am going in,” he threatened and left him, opening the door and entering. Sork was still alive. T.I.A. knew he was important to Aziza, and he couldn’t hurt her Royal Hands.

Rasko stood there, watching the surroundings and assuring none entered. Aziza was inside with Fyner.

17

Darkness was around them, and Anvres was clearly the Town of Darkness. A thief could steal their stuff and they couldn’t notice, or someone could follow them, but they had learned to survive in the most fearful darkness.

Nygher was hoping Yemonsu was there. She had to appear. He wanted to confront her and beat her. It was his only way to survive her.

His counsellors were walking behind him, with their spears ready to defend him and themselves against thieves. They knew Anvres could be the best hideout for the thieves’ guild, but maybe they could trade their services for their safety.

They hoped Yemonsu could hear the whispers of Darkness and meet with them.

She always appeared where the darkness was. But this time she seemed not to care about them. Something strange was happening.

Silence drowned the dark alley. The town was in a cave, and the houses were painted dark. They left their horses in the stables, in a stoned structure near the entrance.

The guys were walking to the center of the town. The perfect place to decide where they were going after Nygher could defeat Yemonsu.

“We should go to Scado,” suggested Nox. “Or to Waflah,” commented Okon. Waflah was a town of Qayiheld.

“Guys, we are going to where fate takes us,” said Nygher, and the guys arrived at the center of the town.

There was a well of stones. It was impossible a river was close. Maybe beneath the cave was some running water connected to the Ghynnen river, the border river between Alpstraum and Atsusa.

Benched of stones and houses were on the surroundings were, but people walked around and some entered their homes.

Nygher and his counsellors walked to a bench and sat, watching the people carefully. Anvres’ people were common and peaceful.

The well seemed to be normal. Okon stood and walked toward the well. His brother followed him, and they watched in the well.

Nox ducked and took a rock. Nygher stood and walked toward them. Nox put the rock above the well and let it fall. It had to have an end.

18

A wet sound echoed through the stoned walls, arriving to their ears. Water was beneath the cave of Anvres. It could be their way to abandon Anvres after Nygher defeats Yemonsu, the Goddess of the Night, the one that wanted Ameera dead.

“We should jump,” said Nox. It could be their way to Scado.

A dagger cut the wind and thrusted in a post of stone, so close to one of them.

The dagger had moon drawings that no one recognized. But it was a menace.

They turned around, staring a man covered by a black mask. They couldn’t see his face. It had to be someone, surely not a god or goddess.

The guys watched him carefully while silence burned the space between them and the unknown. It walked slowly like a stealthy cat watching its prey. They couldn’t be its prey.

He had to be following them, the only way he could notice them.

“Who are you?” Nygher finally said, and the unknown stopped suddenly his gait.

The sky eyes, hidden by the mask, watched them and it took away his mask.

Beneath it was a pale face with slender lips, a man. His hair was burnt umber, and he was beautiful.

The torch lit the silver of his daggers, the ones he was trying to hide in his clothes.

“I am no one,” he simply replied and drew one dagger.

Nygher watched Edevane’s brothers. Surely the unknown didn’t know whom he was challenging.

“Everyone is someone,” said Nygher and drew his dagger, pointing to the unknown.

“I am just a thief,” the unknown said and pointed his dagger to Nygher, didn’t knowing against what he was going to fight.

The thief, in a swift movement, threw his dagger at Nygher’s shoulder, but the leader turned around to the right and took the dagger.

Nygher threw the thief’s dagger against his knee. The unknown thief dodged it and drew another dagger, throwing it to Nygher. Nygher dodged it. His opponent was really good, but he already had a plan.

The guy walked closer to the thief, keeping his defensive position. His opponent could attack him at any moment.

The thief drew another dagger, hidden in his sleeve, and kept his stare on his opponent.

Nygher’s counsellors were watching the fight They knew he didn’t want their help.

It was his fight, and he was honorable.

“What are you waiting for?” Nygher blurted.

“Nothing,” replied the thief and moved his hand swiftly to the floor, throwing a smoke bomb. He ran in the smoke to the shadows, assuring that Nygher and his counsellors couldn’t see where he was.

Nygher blinked with surprise. It was the first time he saw a smoke bomb working right.

19

He turned to his counsellors, and they walked deeper into the shadows, wanting to find a tavern or an inn to sleep on comfortable beds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shadows embraced his silhouette. He was running to the main hideout of the thieves’ guild. He had to organize a gathering with the other thieves.

When he arrived at the hideout, a dark door with a bag sculpted on it, he entered it. The thief walked through the halls, protecting other thieves. It was a huge hideout.

He arrived at the meeting room, and a thief with stony eyes and his menacing face was there, watching the darkness beyond everyone.

“Robean, did you find them?“ asked the other thief and turned to him. Robean nodded.

“I found them, Rinow,” he replied.

Rinow smiled softly, wickedly, like a panther. And Robean knew Rinow could call the other thieves to a special meeting. The thieves called them Meetole.

“What are you going to do?” Robean asked too late. Rinow was already taking the wosick, a wooden and large horn with silent sounds. The thieves were the ones who could hear it. Rinow blew into it and no sound came out, but a few seconds later he heard a slashing dagger cutting the air. He turned and there wasn’t a dagger. It was the silent sound of the wosick.

Silence drowned the main room and, slowly, every thief from Anvres and near its surroundings came to the call.

On the front of the thieves around Rinow and Robean was a thief with pale skin, like snow. She could camouflage herself in snow.

“Why are we here?” she asked roughly. Rinaw watched her and gestured to silence everyone there. The thieves obeyed.

“Robean is going to talk to you all,” Rinaw replied and watched him.

Robean walked to the front, watching everyone there. They were waiting for his speech.

“Good Darkness, everyone. I found Nygher Daryne and his Counsellors. I know they know T.I.A., and they could take us to our leader,” Robean said.

Murmurs drowned the thieves guild. That was Robean wanted. He walked back to his place, and everyone continued murmuring until they went to their rooms and fell asleep.

20

The people of Dhareur were walking to their homes. The battle for the title was going to happen in two weeks. It was enough time to prepare.

Rebyghtare was walking to the decks, where Lyren Dyltone had to be. He hadn’t heard the name of his opponent, but he wanted to learn it.

He heard chit chats of the crowd. Everyone was talking about his close fight. It was already a rumor and, probably, everyone in Alpstraum already knew it.

The guy arrived at a ship, called Frebel, and he walked to the deck, where Lyren was cleaning it.

When Rebyghtare was at his side, Lyren stopped and stood up, watching him challengingly. Rebyghtare recognized the wish of liberty in his stare. He wanted to give him liberty. “​Milord,​ ” said Lyren, holding his stare.

“You can go to your house now,” Rebyghtare ordered, watching the deck. Lyren left it cleaner than when Kai and Alaric were there.

“Are you sure? There is too much left to do,” replied Lyren.

Rebyghtare nodded and walked to a wooden door. Behind it were the stairs to lower floors and, on one floor, was the door to the captain’s cabin. There he had slept since his arrival to Dhareur. There he had to sleep until the mansion for the Lords of Dhareur was completely built. “​Milord,​ someone came,” Lyren interrupted his gait, and Rebyghtare stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

“Who?” “A blond man, a few inches shorter than you. He asked about the day of the challenge. What challenge?”

Rebyghtare turned to him. Lyren described the man that challenged him.

“He wants to be the Lord of Dhareur and challenged me,” answered Rebyghtare.

“Someone else came.”

“Who else?”

“He said he was your brother, a man with same hair as yours and one inch shorter than you.”

Rebyghtare’s face turned pale as if he was sick. His brother was searching for him. Or maybe a man like him feigned it. His brother couldn’t be there.

“Did he tell you his name?”

“Ranom Shadynous,” Lyren replied.

21

Ranom.​ It was his brother’s name of his brother. How could he find him? It was impossible.

Rebyghtare opened the door. “You can go,” he ordered Lyren and walked through the door, closing it behind him.

He walked downstairs until he found the door to the captain’s cabin, opening it.

There was a soft bed for his size, and no one was there. He laid on it and closed his eyes.

The door opened softly, slowly. “Hello, brother,” someone purred. It was his brother’s voice. Impossible. He opened his eyes, and there he was. There was his brother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ The wooden table was between them, acting as a border. The border of years they hadn’t seen each other, the years Helyrra was governed completely by Alpstraum.

An hour had passed with them sitting on the wooden chairs, in uncomfortable silence. They seemed not to have much to talk about, but Ranom didn’t know Rebyghtare fought for freedom while he sat at a chair and waited for something to happen.

Rebyghtare wanted to tell him some offensive stuff, but Ranom’s kind smile made it impossible. He was his brother. Maybe he should tell him he could be crowned as Lord of Dhareur.

Ranom took his cup and drank a sip of his strawberry tea, called Tirry.

Rebyghtare watched him seriously, wanting him to finish his tea.

“Brother, five years had passed since the last time we met. How was the rebel war?” asked Ranom.

“Nothing interesting, brother.” He watched Ranom. “I met Aziza Featoh, princess of Atsusa. And we liberated Helyrra, Aziza fought against the commander of the queen.

She liberated us, and Ameera crowned me as Lord of Dhareur.” Rebyghtare didn’t care if Ranom knew too much about his life. He knew his brother was inoffensive.

“I have to be here when the priest gives you the Crown of Dhareur, the crown of our home since we were kids.” Rebyghtare forgot the old days, days he had with his tedious brother. But he was the only one that cared for him, and now Dhareur cared for him, and he cared for it.

“Are you going away?”

Ranom nodded.

“Where?” Rebyghtare asked softly.

“It doesn’t matter, does it?” It was a challenge to beg him to stay, but Rebyghtare didn’t care much about him. Ranom tried to convince him to do nothing with rebels, but, if he hadn’t been with rebels and met with Aziza and other rebel leader—Helyrra couldn’t be free.

“Helyrra have five kingdom again, but you can do what you want. And yes, it doesn’t matter if you stay or not, Ranom.”

22

His brother blinked. Rebyghtare knew him, and he wasn’t going to do something to make him stay.

Rebyghtare stood up from the chair, and walked to a bookshelf. There was a book called ​Silent War,​ a book he had read and used to play a silent war. Now he needed it, knowing his brother was playing another silent war with him.

“I met a woman. She is everything I needed in my life, and I will marry her.”

Rebyghtare sighed softly, knowing he couldn’t last enough with her. Silence came. After it, his brother only said: “Could you congratulate me? I will get married, and I am happy.” Rebyghtare looked at the ​Silent War ​book. His brother couldn’t win the war, but Rebyghtare could win it.

“Go away,” Rebyghtare simply ordered. His brother didn’t stand up from the chair.

“Force me, like the old times.” Ranom put all his weight on the chair.

Rebyghtare turned his soft stare to him, a silent threat. “Just go,” he repeated.

Ranom smiled grimly, ready to attack him. “You changed, brother.”

“I told you to go.” Rebyghtare walked heavily to the chair and grabbed it, moving it out of the bedroom with his brother on it.

His brother stood and turned around, but the door was already closed.

23

They had begun their mission on Fown—a kingdom of Blynour. The town where they were was Nangel, and each house was blue marine. They had sails above them. It was a unique town, like every other town.

The entrance to Santomer was unknown, but every story coincided with it on the oldest continent of Friedenkrieg, where everything was created. The actual gods and goddess hadn’t lived at the Golden Days.

Everyone around them was walking to fish shops. It was probably their usual lunch of everyday. The gods walked through the streets.

“I think Blynour is where everything began,” said Mawu-sin, and the gods turned their stares to him.

“You think?” He nodded softly. “Didn’t the stars tell you?” asked Yemonsu.

Kewar’s brow was furrowed. He also believed the stars told Mawu-sin where was Samonter. Mawu-sin denied with his head.

“If they didn’t tell you, what are we doing here?” Kewar blurted.

Around them, a group of habitants gathered and walked to a big house.

Something was happening there, and everyone in the shops walked out to gather with the group.

“The stars told me we had to come here, to help them,” Mawu-sin simply replied, walking deeper into the crowd around them.

Yemonsu grabbed his wrist, and he stopped softly. He watched her above his shoulder.

Kewar sighed softly, between Mawu-sin and Yemonsu was a past attraction vibe.

Kewar born five years after they born.

“What are you doing?” threatened Yemonsu.

“I am doing what I have to do.”

Yemonsu held his wrist harder while Kewar smiled softly. It was clear she hadn’t forgotten her love with the Moon completely her love.

“Stay.”

“We have to help them.”

Kewar nodded, walking to Mawu-sin, and Yemonsu stopped holding him.

“Stay,” she begged, but the God was already lost in the crowd.

24

Kewar gave her a last rude stare and turned, running toward the crowd.

Yemonsu sighed, and a tear came out, running across her skin. She walked into the crowd, getting lost as if she was like them and hoping Mawu-sin was right. The God had to be right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ He was running in the crowd. Yemonsu and Kewar were following him until they arrived at a house.

An old man was on a dais, watching the crowd around him. His stare ended on the gods.

“Good day, ladies and gentlemen. We had always live in the slavery of ​poverty​, but today that ends. Today we begin the revolution, since everyone will have the necessary stuff to survive,” said the man. The crowd clapped and cheered. They turned around to a street, walking through it.

He will die,​ someone whispered in his mind, a whisper of a moonstone.

Mawu-sin ran through the crowd, reaching the old man leading them. He took his shoulder, and the crowd stopped.

“Sir, you don’t know me, but I have something to tell you.” The old man looked at him, waiting for what the god had to say. “I am Mawu-sin, the God of the Moons, and a moonstone told me you will die if you attack now. Don’t fight today, and I will tell you when to attack.” The crowd laughed as if they didn’t believe his words.

“Show us,” the old man said.

Mawu-sin opened a hand in front of the old man’s face, and a moonstone appeared above it, floating.

“Do you believe me?” The crowd nodded, also the old man. “Don’t fight today, and you will survive when I tell you to fight.”

Yemonsu and Kewar arrived to Mawu-sin side.

“Are they gods too?”

Mawu-sin nodded.

“Who are they?”

Kewar snapped his tongue and a sword appeared, floating, while Yemonsu focused, using his power to invoke a shadow holding the floating sword.

“The God of War and…, “The Goddess of the Night,” interrupted the goddess, watching the old man.

“Who are you?”

Mawu-sin turned to his companions, watching them carefully.

The old man looked at the crowd and smiled softly, opening his lips, but Mawu-sin said: “His name is Wasold Notut.” The old man’s skin turned pale, thinking how he knew it, but then he remembered Mawu-sin was the God of Moons and maybe a moonstone told him his name.

“I asked him, not to you,” blurted Yemonsu.

25

“I know, but he was going to lie to you.”

Kewar stood between the gods, watching them.

“Stop, this isn’t the time to fight, right?” Kewar watched Wasold, whom nodded.

Mawu-sin walked to the old man, watching him.

“Follow me,” said the old man, leading them through the streets to his house.

The old man’s house was little; The walls were blue marine like other boring houses, but it was what the mayor gave everyone to live.

Where did he live? In a mansion filled with money when his people needed help?

Mawu-sin knew it was unfair, and maybe that was why the moonstones told him to go there, to stop it. But how could he stop it without hurting someone?

Wasold walked into his house while the gods followed him, entering into the main room.

The main room was empty, only filled by a little table for four humans. It had porcelain plates and cups on the table, maybe it was the dinner room. There were doors, two wooden doors: one to the left and other to the right.

The man walked to the right door, opening it. Mawu-sin saw it was a bathroom.

The man closed the door behind him.

Few minutes later, Wasold was in the dinner room again. The four plates had meat on them, and the cups were full of apple juice—red as blood. He sat, watching the gods.

“Take a seat.” The gods walked to the chairs and sat. “I know it isn’t what you usually eat, but is all I have,” Wasold said.

“Thank you, but why are you doing this?” asked Mawu-sin.

“You want to help me with the revolution, so consider this a little payment,” answered Wasold.

Mawu-sin took a fork and a knife, cutting the soft meat into pieces. He embedded the fork in the meat and took it to his lips, biting it. The god watched Wasold, cutting the meat hardly. It was probably soft for immortals, but hard as a rock for mortals.

“Let me help you,” said Mawu-sin. Wasold watched him.

“I can do it by myself,” Wasold said, cutting the meat. After a pair of cuts, he passed it to the god. “Okay, do it.”

Mawu-sin embedded his fork in the meat, then crossed the knife with it and cut the meat into small pieces. He passed the plate to Wasold.

“Thank you,” said Wasold.

“Don’t thank me.”

They stayed there, eating until they finished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ “So your plan is to convince the people to join you and fight against the major?” asked Kewar. Wasold nodded. “It is a draft. It needs to be a plan. Let me help you, and together we’ll make a way to attack without bloodshed.”

“But it is my plan,” said Wasold.

26

“Wasold, trust in him. Kewar knows what he does, and planning is the only thing he is good at,” said Mawu-sin. Yemonsu laughed behind him, watching Kewar.

“And his better plan was when Helyrra was freed from Alpstraum” said Yemonsu.

Kewar looked Yemonsu with a threatening stare, but he blinked once. A chalkboard and a plaster appeared on a wall.

He walked to it while Wasold followed him.

When they arrived at the chalkboard, Yemonsu looked at it and a map of Fown appeared drawn on it. Kewar took the plaster.

“This is your house.” Kewar wrote ​Wasold’s house on a little square. “And you want to fight against the mayor here.” He wrote ​city hall​ on the center.

“Yeah, and your plan is?” asked Wasold, looking at the map.

“If you want a peaceful revolution, you need to obligate the mayor to change this town. You can do it entering the city hall and looking at him, so follow this road.” Kewar drew the road of Wasold with another plaster. “And you enter here.” He wrote ​entrance behind the city hall.

Yemonsu walked to Kewar’s side, looking at the Fown’s map.

“And how can I enter there?”

“That is the easiest part. I will open it,” said Yemonsu.

“This is my plan, not yours,” blurted Kewar.

“I like ruining your plans, just like the last one,” said Yemonsu.

Kewar summoned a silver dagger in his hand.

“Did you ruin the Alpstraum’s government?”

Yemonsu nodded. “Why?” “I wanted some fun,” replied the goddess.

Mawu-sin walked toward them.

“But we can’t intervene in human’s stuff,” Kewar blurted.

“Sorry, but we can intervene if the moonstones tell us to. And a moonstone told me Yemonsu had to intervene,” said Mawu-sin.

“You what? Are you serious about it?” Mawu-sin nodded, but he was lying like Yemonsu, and Kewar didn’t have to know it.

“Continue with your plan, Kewar,” said Yemonsu. She snapped her fingers, disappearing from the room. Mawu-sin also disappeared.

Kewar stayed there for hours, thinking and showing Wasold every plan that could help him until they found the perfect one. When they found it, the god sat before Wasold.

“I will come to help you,” said Kewar. “Don’t act until I tell you, right?” Wasold nodded.

Kewar snapped his fingers, disappeared from the room.

27

A few days had passed since his meeting with his team mate. They had decided how to kill Kai Deep-Punch, and they had to be smarter than him. It was for the good of Alpstraum, for the town they loved so much.

He walked through the streets of Alpstraum, watching the dark streets.

Everything happened on the streets. At the end of the street, he crossed to the right, walking into a crowd crowned with laughs.

The floor was black as darkness watching them, watching lovely couples kissing and peace standing between them.

The sky was dyed with pale colors, and the sun was hiding beneath the gray mountains on the west of the city.

The guy walked in the crowd, watching some people in restaurants, eating meat and everything they could imagine, and he saw kids playing.

The archer stopped in front of a wooden house, his house, and walked to the porch. He knocked once, but it didn’t open. His friend hadn’t heard. He knocked twice, thrice.

Some steps through the other side were going to the door, and his friend had heard him.

“Who?” asked a sweet voice, the voice of a kid.

“It’s me,” he answered. “Winad Artum, kid.”

The door opened. Behind it was a little kid that seemed to be eight years old.

“You came back,” the kid said.

“Of course I came back.” He watched him softly, ready to play with him. “I always come back, Horcher Flerow.”

The man walked in, closing the door behind him and ducking. The kid hugged him as if he was his father.

“What are we going to play?” asked the archer, lifting him up until their faces were a few inches apart, and he turned around swiftly again and again.

“Let me down,” Horcher hardly said, laughing.

“What are we playing?”

“We are hunting,” he answered.

Winad left him on the floor.

The kid was a little dizzy, but he walked to a wall, leaning his back against it.

28

“How can we play that?” asked Winad, walking and sitting in front of him.

“Take me to one of your hunts,” he replied.

The archer shook his head. A hunt was too dangerous for little kids.

“I can’t.” He stared him into his eyes, his stare was sad. “But I promise one day, when you are bigger, I’ll take you with me and teach you to use a bow, okay?” The kid looked at him, in his stare was a slight shine, and nodded. “Can we hunt here?”

“But what can we hunt?” asked Horcher, looking around them.

There weren’t any animal to hunt, only insects.

“Bugs, we can hunt bugs,” replied Winad.

“That sounds cool,” said the kid, looking for insects around them. “Oh, I found one.” He pointed at an ant walking on the wall.

“We need a trap.”

“How can we make a trap?” asked the little kid.

“What does an ant like?” He watched the kid, and smiled.

“Uh…,” Horcher watched around, “sugar?” The man nodded. “Can we build a trap with sugar?”

“If you are a true hunter, you can build a trap with anything. Where is the sugar?”

The kid ran to the kitchen and took a glass jar full of sugar. He came back, running, toward the man.

“Here it is!” He lent the jar to Winad, took it, and looked him again.

“Now we need an empty vase, can you show me where one is?”

The kid nodded, taking him by the wrist and pulling him to the kitchen. He opened a drawer full of jars, all of them empty, and took one.

“Thanks,” the man said. He took the jar from the kid. “Now, we left some sugar on the table and we should wait until it comes.”

Winad put the jars on the table. The kid was already on a chair, watching it.

“Do you want to open it?”

Horcher nodded while the hunter lent him the jar. The kid opened it.

“Now, take some and put it on a plate,” he said to the Horcher.

The kid got off the chair, ran to a drawer and opened it. He took a plate and came back, putting the plate on the table. Horcher took his hand into the jar with sugar, taking some, and put it on the plate.

“Now, what?” he asked.

“We hide and wait,” replied Winad. “Where can we hide?”

“Uh…, behind the door?”

“That is a great place.” He looked at the other jar. “Open and bring it.”

Horcher took the empty jar, opening it.

They went to the door, hiding behind it, and waited.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ The sugar on the plate was full of ants, walking on every side.

They watched it and laughed.

29

“Put it,” said Winad, still laughing.

The kid put the empty jar on the plate, trapping the ants inside. He laughed harder than Winad.

“Now, what are we going to play?”

Horcher yawned. Winad watched Horcher.

“Let’s go to bed,” he said, lifting up the kid and walking upstairs, to Horcher’s room.

The room had a big bed at a corner and a wooden box full of toys.

Horcher moved the bedspread, putting Horcher in it, and covered him.

“Sleep well,” said Winad, turning around and walking to the door. He turned off the light, watching the kid.

“Win?” asked the kid.

“Yes, Hor?” “Can you tell me a story? Please!” The hunter nodded, turning on the light.

He walked to the bookshelf, reading every title, until he took a book called ​The Hunter​. On the cover, a little kid with a bow was watching a wolf in the woods.

“That’s my favourite,” Horcher said.

Winad walked to the bed, laying next to the kid.

“Let’s start,” he said, watching Hor. He leaned his head on Winad’s chest.

“Let’s start,” Hor repeated.

Winad opened the book and started reading: “​Once upon a time, in a little town, there lived a kid that wanted to be a hunter​.”

He changed to the next page. “​One day, he went into the woods with his wooden bow and an arrow. He found a wolf and pointed to it, but…,”​ he changed to the last page.

There was a drawing of the kid laying on the grass.

“But?” asked Horcher. “​But the wolf fell in a trap, and the kid thought he trapped it​,” Winad lied “​The end​.”

“One day, I want to be a hunter, just like you,” said the kid.

“You will be, one day.” Horcher was sleeping.

He stood from the bed and walked, stopping in front of the box with toys. On it was a paper, with Horcher’s letter. Winad took it and read it: From: Horcher For: Winad Dear Winad, I wrote this letter thinking of all your adventures you told me about. I want you to know one day you should take me with you, and I don’t understand why you still haven’​ ​t do it.

If you take me with you, I promise I will not be a problem.

His letter had much curves, but Horcher will have a better letter, better than his.

He saved it in his pocket, and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

30

Winad wanted to take him to a hunt, and he wanted it for the next day. He opened his room’s door and entered.

His walls were full of bows and quivers with arrows. Horcher wasn’t allowed to enter there.

The man walked to his bed and laid on his bed. When he closed his eyes, something knocked on his window.

He opened his eyes, looking at the window. There was his team mate, waiting for him.

Winad stood from his bed and walked to the window, opening it.

“What?” he asked, watching the guy cautiously.

The guy looked around him, assuring no one could hear him.

“What?” Winad repeated, waiting.

The guy looked him and said: “I have information about Ameera and his loyals.”

The guy entered into Winad’s room and watched everything.

“You are a true archer,” he said, walking to an iron bow.

“What information do you have?” asked Winad.

“Lord Deep-punch started looking for us. It’s our opportunity to make a better plan to kill him.”

“What do you recommend?” The guy smiled slightly.

“You hide on a roof while I walk on the street, and I put smoke only us can see on him. I already bought it.”

“That sounds like a good plan, but it is so obvious. We need something less obvious.”

“Wait, here comes the best part. When he thinks he’ll see smoke, you are making a fire on a roof, and he will run. You run on roofs to an invisible point and shoot him.”

“Let’s get the other plan, right?”

“But I hadn’t changed the plan. We should use the smoke to know where he is, and we should continue with the other plan.”

“That sounds better. Let’s do it.”

The guy exited through the window, running on the roofs to his house.

Winad walked to his bed, laying on his bed, and fell asleep.

31

The empty tree trunk bordered them, expanding. Torches burned on the walls, illuminating the circular stairs. At the bottom was nothing more than silence.

She walked to the bottom, forced by Fyner. A wooden door laid on a wall, waiting to reveal the secrets behind it.

“Wait here,” Fyner ordered, opening the door.

Behind it, a garden was filled with different plants. A golden butterfly, a Folden, was flying above a yellow flower, an amephus. How was it possible? The amephus only bloomed at Atsusa.

“What is this?” she asked, and the only answer was her voice echoing.

Fyner took a syringe, and took the pollen of a green flower. When the syringe was full, he turned around, walking toward the princess.

“You should need this, take it,” he said, giving her the syringe.

“What is it?” Aziza asked.

“This could keep someone alive. Use it when the time comes,” the future reader simply answered. In a moment, the syringe was taken by her. “You are going to change your future. You are going to have a better future.”

A tall body fell from the stairs, standing between her and Fyner.

It was T.I.A.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Let’s go,” he said, punching Fyner’s nose. The reader moaned, sliding his finger below his nose. There was blood falling like a river.

“What are you doing?” Aziza blurted, looking T.I.A.’s face.

His penetrating stare captivated her, but something there was different. T.I.A. wasn’t the man that looked freedom anymore. He had a brighter shine in his eyes.

“How?” Fyner asked.

“You forgot something: I already knew your secrets,” replied T.I.A. “Go.” The reader obeyed, walking upstairs.

Around them, red ivy slid through the trunk, and on its way were some heart-shaped orange flowers.

Aziza leaned against the trunk, watching him carefully. How was he there? How did he know she was there?

32

“What are you doing here?” she blurted.

TIA walked toward her, trapping her in the trunk. Their breaths joined in an invisible mist.

“Fyner is dangerous,” he replied, looking her caramel eyes. His fingers stroked her red hair.

“You needed my help. Fyner turned you into a damsel in distress.”

The princess’ punch smashed against his face, and her eyes turned to the door.

She wanted him to disappear.

“I didn’t need your help, T.I.A.” She walked to the stairs. Before she walked a step to the first stair, T.I.A.’s hand held her wrist. She looked him on her shoulder.

The guy stared at her, begging her silently to obey him. He walked toward her until their mouths were a few inches away, and he moved his mouth against hers. T.I.A. didn’t know what he was doing.

Aziza pushed him, finishing the kiss.

“What are you doing?” She turned around. “Tell me, or I’ll continue my mission alone.” He stayed in silence, watching her beauty. She was more beautiful when she showed she didn’t need a charming prince. “I knew it.” She walked upstairs.

He watched her walking away from him, like everyone did with him. T.I.A. sighed, knowing he should regret it. He ran upstairs to her until he reached her, and he held her shoulders.

Aziza turned around, looking his sky eyes and light brown hair. His penetrating stare was beautiful, but he didn’t help her so much.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, but trust me. I thought I lost you when we separated our ways on Ghybi, and I don’t want to be without you one more day.” T.I.A. said, but Aziza turned around.

“You are only my friend. We were that in Ghybi, and we are that.” The princess said, walking upstairs until he vanished in the tree.

T.I.A. heard her scream, and ran upstairs until he opened the door. Behind it was Fyner’s empty body, laying on the floor.

Aziza’s Royal Hands entered and saw the body. Their skin turned pale until it was snow. They looked at T.I.A..

“What happened here?” someone else asked, entering the tree. “Oh, this happened. You four, come with me.” He was the captain of Maral’s guard.

They walked behind him. He led them until the dungeons.

33

Nygher and his Hands found a tavern, and they had their own rooms. He walked out from the tavern, hoping that the goddess could appear in front of him.

Yemonsu didn’t appear, and that was strange. She usually appeared past midnight.

The guy lit fire, throwing food in it. He watched the flames consuming them, shaping them to ashes. He said: “Oh, Eternal Darkness. I, the Gods’ Blade, am in your lodgings, hoping you could hear me. I ask you to come to me.”

Silence governed the town, and Nigher knew she didn’t hear her pray. Where was she?

He stood, walking to the tavern, but a knife cut the air beside him. Nigher turned around swiftly, staring at the thief they met that morning. Why was he there?

The thief walked through the darkness until he reached to Nighter, who was already defensive.

“Why are you here, thief?” Nighter blurted.

He turned around, walking to the tavern, but the thief held his shoulders.

“You are Nygher Daryne, the Gods’ Blade, and you know T.I.A.,” replied the thief.

Nygher turned around to him, walking toward him. “We, the thieves’ guild, want to find T.I.A. You know where is he?”

Nygher froze. How did he know T.I.A.? The thief stared at the tavern, where a door opened and T.I.A.’s hands walked out, with their weapons pointing at him.

He took a smoke bomb, throwing it on the floor, and smoke invaded around them. The thief took him by the wrist, running away from the tavern. Where was he taking him?

The smoke around them didn’t let them see more than five steps, and they ran until they arrived at a mysterious door. Where were they?

The thief opened the door, entering into a dark room, but he watched some knives on a table, lighted by a candle’s flame. He walked to a chair, sitting around the table.

“I am Robean Rannhart, Second Hand of the Thieves and the Shadow of Stealth.” He pointed to an empty chair.

Nigher sat on the empty chair, waiting for more about Robean.

“Why are you here?” the thief asked him.

34

The door opened behind Nigher, and a servant entered, putting plates with red meat and cups with juice in front of them.

He thrust his fork in the meat, cutting it into pieces, but didn’t take it to his mouth.

He took the meat to his nose, smelling it. The thief laughed.

“Do you think I want to poison you? Smell the juice and assure yourself.”

Nigher took the cup to his nose, and smelled it. The juice didn’t have poison.

“I don’t play with poison,” the thief said.

The door opened, but no one entered. Robean knew who was him. In a moment, someone entered through a window behind him.

“But I do,” he said. Nygher stood, watching him. “I am Rinow Treford, the First Hand of Thieves.”

“Why am I here?” Nygher asked.

Rinow stared at Robean as if it wasn’t what he expected, as if it was better.

“We want you to join us, to join the thieves, and help us find T.I.A.,our leader.”

Rinow answered.

Nigher blinked twice. He was wrong all the time, though they wanted to kill him.

Rinow’s proposal was his best way to survive against Yemonsu. The thieves could protect him in the darkest hours.

He stared at them, and his counsellors entered through the windows.

“How did you find me?” he asked.

“The smoke can’t stop us,” answered Nox. He had his spear pointing at the thieves.

“They don’t want to kill us, they want us to join with the thieves.” The Edevane’s brothers turned their stares to him.

“Why would two thieves want it?” Okon asked.

Rinow walked toward Okon, the Edevane pointing at him.

“You three play with shadows all the time. Now the thieves need some of your shadows, and we want to find T.I.A.” The brothers opened their eyes widely. How did two thieves know T.I.A.?

Nigher walked to them, but they nodded before he reached them. He turned to Rinow and Robean, and he said: “We should join the thieves.”

35

The Queen of Alpstraum was in the throne room, sitting silently and waiting for Kai Deep-punch. He had to tell her how his plan was going. His mission to find Winad Artum.

Shadows covered half of her face, hiding his right eye. The light, entering through the windows, didn’t reach her.

The ebony door opened, rumbling, and her Captain of the Guard entered. He walked until he was at the end of the carpet, and he knelt before her.

“Did you call me?” he asked in a loyal voice. His chestnut and straight hair fell to his forehead.

She stood from her throne, revealing her right eye, and she walked down the dais. When Ameera was before Alaric, she put her forefinger below his chin, lifting it until their eyes met.

“I want you to stay here while I talk with Kai, could you?” Alaric nodded. It was the first time he could act as a Right Hand. “When I finish talking with him, I want your opinion. We’ll discuss what to do with Winad.” Ameera looked at him seriously, but he stayed staring at her green marine eyes. “And I know you’ll be excited about a decision I had taken.”

Alaric stood, but his queen lean her left hand against his shoulders, forcing him to stay knelt. He knew her decision while she took a sword, leaning it’s blade against his shoulders, and said: “I, Ameera Feran, Queen of Alpstraum and the Queen of Nightmares, I name you, Alaric Edynius, as my Right Hand and legitimate Heir of Nightmares. You are the Heir of Alpstraum if I never get pregnant.”

He lifted his stare to her. His breathing slowed, and his mouth opened widely.

The queen nodded, answering his silent question: ​was she choosing right?

She extended her hand to him. The captain held it, and stood, looking at the throne room. He stared at an iron, black, throne next to hers.

The iron throne had some ghosts embedded. A horned head decorated the top.

He walked to it, and sat.

“Your presence cheers up the town, and they know you are a good man. They chose you many months ago,” said Ameera.

36

Alaric couldn’t believe it—his queen had never heard her people’s opinion for her court, for the Court of Fears.

“I try my best.”

At that moment, the gates opened again. Alaric turned his stare to them, watching the man walking on the carpet.

He stopped at the end, but he didn’t kneel before him and Ameera.

The queen turned her stare to her Right Hand, and she said: “I want a private moment with him.”

Alaric stood from his throne, and walked out of the room, leaving her alone with the man.

The man stared at her green marine eyes, her beauty shining through them.

“Do you have something, Kai?” He walked until they were a few inches away, and he watched the throne room around them. No one was there, but maybe Winad was watching them through one black window, “He hides everywhere. I can’t find him, but he can’t hide forever, can’t he?”

Ameera nodded, and stood.

The queen stared at his hazel eyes, and his peaceful face.

“If he knows our secrets, let’s give him a secret everyone could love.”

Kai. Siegfried, nodded, understanding her, and his lips joined slowly against hers, savoring her sweet lips, tasting mint.

“Is this the secret we want them to know?” Ameera asked him, but her hands were still around his neck, and his smile was the brightest Kai had seen in his life.

“This is the secret they have to know, Amy,” replied Kai. He didn’t care now if she discovered his true name, the name of the lost king of Stodra.

“I knew deep down we were forged together, and separated in other lives-” “But now we found each other, and we are destined to build a great empire.

Kai hugged her waist, getting her closer against his body, and he kissed her lips again.

“This was your first time tasting my lips. Did you fall in love with them?” Ameera asked him, and Kai nodded. “But this isn’t time to taste them always, you need to find Winad, and I’ll help you, Kai. His eyes opened widely as if it was the first time someone he loved did something important.

“Are you sure?”

“We are together in this.”

They separated, and turned to the door. Kai simply said: “Let’s find that archer.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~ The streets were crowded, but everyone stopped when their stares found them—Ameera and Kai. Their queen wore a dress as black as the night, and Kai was wearing a gray shirt like a stone.

37

Through the crowd, someone wrote something on a paper.

Kai looked at Ameera, moving his eyes to the unknown, but she said: “He is a rumorist. Don’t worry about him.”

“Where could he be?”

An arrow cut the wind next them, and it thrust against a wall. Ameera’s people screamed, but she turned to the arrow.

They walked to the arrow, taking it. It didn’t have a note, but through its track something was written. They read it: From: Winad Artum To: Ameera and her loyals Thanks! I have another secret from you, thanks for your kissing. Your town will know you kissed him, and I’ll reveal who you really are.

Kisses

38

When the first sunray touched his face, caressing his cheeks, he opened his hazel eyes. Around him, the ​Solid Times were sleeping. He was always the first man to wake up, as a king commanding his army.

Fygo, Nuriel, put his hands on the wet grass, standing. He was leading them to his daughter, to the Princess of Atsusa, but they didn’t know he was the King of Atsusa.

He walked through their camp until he was next to a tree, and he laid his back against its trunk, watching them sleeping. The ​Solid Times were mercenaries, but not as dangerous as a true mercenary could be.

The king counted them. There were ten. Where were Brantley and Toris? He turned to the forest behind him, watching the humid trees. He sighed, and entered into the forest.

When he was far enough from the camp, he whispered softly, assuring the wild creatures couldn’t hear him: “Brantley, Toris! Where are you? Are you hunting?

A tree branch crackled beneath him.

He walked in silence through the forest, hoping his friends were safe and sound.

One second happened, and he heard screams next to him. He turned to the sound and ran while his heart beats accelerated, wishing the screams weren’t from his friends.

“Brantley, Toris!” he screamed, sliding the leaves before his face to the sides, but the screams faded slowly.

Fygo ran until he reached a glare, from there came the screams, but his friends weren’t there.

“Silence,” whispered a human voice, not from Brantley or Toris, but a human voice behind a tree.

He turned to the tree, watching it carefully, and walked to it.

“Who are you?”

“Silence,” the voice said, but it wasn’t behind the tree anymore. It sounded behind him, and it was closer.

“Why are you hiding?”

“I am here, silence,” the voice said, and it was next to his ear.

Fygo turned his stare to his right, but there wasn’t someone.

“What do you want?”

39

“I know your secret,” replied the voice above him, and Nuriel stayed unmovable, hoping his movement couldn’t call the thing.

“If you know it, tell me what it is,” ordered Fygo, watching the forest before him.

“You are-” the voice slided down, splatting to him, “dead”.

“Dead?” Fygo asked, turning his stare to the leaves above him, but it was late.

Something behind him pulled him against the ground, and he felt something biting his shoulder.

“Dead,” it replied, and the voice faded into the forest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ When he returned to the camp, his friends were there, asking about him to the other ​Solid Times.​ Fygo watched the world shaking around him. What did the voice do to him?

“Here you are, are you fine?” asked Brantley, walking toward him, but Fygo put his hand against a tree and puked.

He lifted his left hand to the group, ordering them to wait, and puked all his intestines until he was empty.

“I am fine,” Fygo replied.

Brantley walked toward him, putting his hand on his abdomen, and Toris walked to his side.

“You are not fine, you are sick. Let’s find a tavern for you, and we’ll make you feel better,” Brantley said, lifting his body, but Fygo puked again.

“Not a tavern, take me to Toplotehyte,” ordered Fygo, and everyone turned their stares swiftly to him.

“Are you sure?” asked Toris, and Fygo nodded. “A hundred percent sure?”

“I want to say something, privately, to Brantley,” he said to Toris, watching him.

Toris nodded, walking toward the group.

“I am here, Fygo. What do you want?” Brantley asked, staring at his pale skin.

Fygo was sick.

“Take me to Toplotehyte, and find my daughter, Aziza Fyner, the Princess of Atsusa.”

Brantley watched him swiftly, hoping he wasn’t hearing badly.

“Y-you-your daughter is the Princess of Atsusa?” Fygo nodded. “Are you…,” “I am Nuriel Fyner, the King of Atsusa and the King of Eternal Fire.” There he understood the mision Lumilla gave him, a prophecy about his daughter, and the last line still didn’t happen: ​the antique flame would turns off.​ “We are going to Toplotehyte, and I’ll guarantee your daughter could see you alive and healthy.” But Nuriel shook his head.

“My daughter isn’t going to see me again, my friend, but I guarantee she could be a better queen than I was,” he ordered, looking at him.

Brantley stared at his group, and took Nuriel with him.

40

“Get ready! We’re going to Toplotehyte!” he said as a leader, and everyone prepared their stuff.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ An hour passed until everyone was ready, and they found a horse. Nuriel was above it while a red-haired man watched him. Surprisingly they had a healer.

“Nuriel, you’ll see your daughter again,” Brantley said. “Let’s go!” Everyone walked at the same time. It was the beginning of their journey to Toplotehyte, to Nuriel’s home.

41

The sun reflected through the glassy sea, revealing some colorful fish and corals.

The town was standing before a gray and big wall, and the town was waiting for his lord.

When Rebyghtare came out, he walked across them as if he was one more of them, as if he wasn’t the Lord of Dhareur.

The crowd whirled around him while he walked through the streets, hoping his brother wasn’t there.

He stared at a fancy restaurant and entered, but there he saw the giant body of the man that defied him. Rebyghtare walked to a chair and sat next to him.

“You didn’t tell me your name, did you?” he asked him, turning his stare to his face.

A waiter walked toward them, watching his lord, and Rebyghtare looked at him.

“I want salmon, please,” Rebyghtare ordered. The waiter walked away from them.

The black-haired man turned his face toward him, and he simply replied: “I am your enemy. Don’t you know me?” His only enemy was… everything didn’t have sense.

Why did he wanted to be the lord?

Rebyghtare stood, walking away from him, but he took his shoulder, stopping him. Why was he there? Why did he vanish for so many years?

He turned furiously at him, wishing it was all a dream, wishing it was the last time he saw him.

“Don’t you know me?” he repeated, staring him into his almond eyes, eyes he hadn’t seen in five years. He walked away from Helyrra, to Blucurra, when Alpstraum conquered the continent.

Why did he return? He didn’t love Helyrra, and he always said to Rebyghtare.

Blucurra was a better place for him, for someone with his strength. Did he want to improve Helyrra?

Rebyghtare nodded subtly while he turned to the door, and he walked swiftly to it, exiting the restaurant.

The door behind him opened. He recognized the boots hitting the rocks, his opponent’s steps. Why?

42

When Rebyghtare turned at him, he was sitting near a tree, and his stare was sliding through her body, from his black hair to his iron sword, the same he gave him after a fight.

“You still have it.” He looked at the leather sheath with fire flames drawn on it.

Rebyghtare walked furiously at him, but when he reached to him, he was already turning around.

“When the soldiers took control, I thought you died, ” he spat, his face red watching him when he walked through the alley.

His enemy stopped suddenly when he saw Ranom, Rebyghtare’s brother, there.

Next to him was a black-haired woman, his enemy’s sister.

Rebyghtare looked at a ring on her index finger, and knew she was her brother’s fiancé. Was it all a plan? A plan to make him fall?

His enemy turned to him, walking until they were few feet apart. Ranom’s stare slid to his fiancé, and she beamed as if he was the best man in the world, in the universe.

“I am Tarosis, and I found my fate with your brother’s future throne.” What was he talking about? A throne for Rebyghtare’s brother?

Rebyghtare looked at Tarosis, and he understood why he challenged him for the title of Lord of Dhareur. He had to tell something to Ameera. He had to show his loyalty to the future of Alpstraum.

His brother walked to Tarosis’ side, and his fiancé looked at the town.

“I want you to be part of my future court, brother,” Tarosis said, extending his right hand to Rebyghtare.

He watched his hand, his chill stare, but he turned around, ignoring his brother.

“You plan to kill Ameera Feran, but she conquered us because she wanted her father’s pride-” “So, what? She still conquered us, and we want our revenge, making her a slave,” interrupted Ranom.

Rebyghtare looked at him above his shoulder. Ranom knew he wasn’t going to help him conquer Khawf, Alpstraum’s capital.

“Ameera and the new court of Alpstraum is the better future you wanted,” Rebyghtare spat, and he started walking into the alley, but his brother started coughing again and again.

“Brother, take me to a healer.” Ranom coughed again. Rebyghtare turned around to find Ranom kneeling on the ground, and his fiancé was already kneeling beside him.

Ranom crawled until he was on his brother’s feet. Rebyghtare knelt before his brother, looking at him into his eyes.

“Help him,” said his fiancé, her voice a soft whisper, breaking almost into a sob.

Tarosis walked to Ranom’s side, unsheathing a dagger, but Rebyghtare noticed it and pushed him against the floor. “Don’t touch him.”

Ranom looked at his brother and coughed again. What was he doing? He needed a healer, but his brother was standing like nothing was happening. “TAKE ME

43

TO A HEALER, NOW,” he roared, begging Rebyghtare to leave Tarosis and fight him another day.

His fiancé crawled to Tarosis, and she sobbed, begging Rebyghtare to help Ranom.

Rebyghtare looked her and walked toward his brother, helping him to stand up.

“Thank you,” she said while tears slid slowly down her cheeks.

“I don’t want my brother to die coughing, Benesis.” He walked into the alley, helping his brother. Benesis followed him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ His brother was sitting next to a healer. The healer’s hands were on Ranom’s bare chest, touching him until he could find the origin of the coughs.

“What did you find?” Rebyghtare asked, but the healer looked at him sadly. He knew something was wrong, something was happening or someone did something to Ranom.

The healer shook his head, and he walked with Rebyghtare until they were out of the room.

“What is happening?”

The healer’s stare was enough. He said, “Your brother was injected with Smod, let’s beg the gods for his health.”

Rebyghtare’s face turned red in a moment, and he felt his blood heating inside him as if something had been sleeping his entire life.

The healer walked back inside the room. That moment, Rebyghtare closed his hand in a fist, and he hit it against a stoned wall.

The wall trembled while some rocks fell, but any rock fell on his head. They fell around him, and they shattered into tiny pieces.

Rebyghtare’s skin turned pale as snow, wondering what he had done. He didn’t believed his heating blood allowed him that. He didn’t wanted it.

“Rebyghtare?” a female voice asked beside him. His brother’s fiancé had seen everything.

She walked slowly toward him. Had he truly hit the wall hard enough and made stones fall?

Benesis stopped next to him, staring at the shattered stones around them.

“Benesis, what are you doing here?” He asked her, hoping it was all a dream. He turned around, laying his back against the wall.

“How did you do it?” It was enough to know it wasn’t a dream.

“I don’t know. It is the first time I did it.” He watched the door, hoping Ranom was better.

Benesis put his hand on the doorknob, and she watching at him above her shoulder.

“Keep it hidden, or Tarosis is going to kill you.”

She opened the door, entering into the room and closing it behind her.

44

 Rebyghtare stayed there, waiting for his brother and hoping Tarosis couldn’t find out his magic.

45

Silence whirled around him while the first sun rays of the day shone as if they were saluting him, wanting him to shoot his arrows toward the sun.

He stood of the roof, watching the town around him. It was dawning, and he was there to spy for Ameera and Lord Deep-Punch, like every dawn since he had planned it with his ally.

Winad turned his stare toward a window, open curtains, and watched Horcher through the transparent glass. He was sleeping sweetly in his bed, and Winad knew he wanted him to stay alive no matter what. Horcher was an innocent little kid, careless about the dangers of true hunts.

The black curtains of the throne room opened, and the ebony main gates opened with a boom. The archer looket to it, staring at a muscular and tall body entering the palace. Rebyghtare was there. His old ally was there.

The archer kept his stare on Rebyghtare’s gait, hoping he was there not to negotiate about more freedom, but to manipulate the queen to renounce the Crown of Fears.

He watched Rebyghtare’s gait until he got lost into the throne room. Black windows were forbidding the spies from out. Winad needed to enter somehow. He needed to avoid the guards and hear what the queen and Rebyghtare were going to talk of.

Winad ran into the roofs, losing himself. He was going to try to infiltrate in the Castle of Dread.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the dark alley, the body of a man was hidden into the shadows, waiting for his ally.

He could almost hear it. He could almost hear the archer walking above the roofs.

A moment later, Winad was already before him, staring at him into his eyes.

What was he doing?

“I need your help,” Winad said, laying his back on the wall behind him.

“For what?” he asked, watching the archer crossing his arms. Winad was going to do something dumb. The crossing was the sign he was going to do something dumb.

46

Winad took his bow, pointing to the sky, and took an arrow.

“To enter into the palace.”

His skin turned pale. It was a crazy idea. What was happening with Winad?

“I want a world without secrets,” Winad said, turning his stare to the right, to the alley’s exit.

“You hide secrets from Horcher, if you want a world without secrets tell him yours,” he spat.

A moment later, the archer was already with the edge of an arrow against her knee.

“Say that one more time, and you’ll regret about it,” Winad menaced him.

He turned around and exited the alley, leaving his ally alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ He was sitting around a wooden table. The waitress had already taken his order, and he was there, waiting for Horcher.

When he watched a blonde woman entering the restaurant, he stood and walked toward her. She was walking with Horcher grabbing her hand.

Winad reached them. He stared at her blue sapphire eyes, and extended his hand to Horcher.

“How was his day?” he asked her like it was their routine every week.

The blonde turned around, ignoring him, but she stared at him above her shoulder.

Horcher beamed, watching the tables and imagining everything a child could imagine.

“Winad, we don’t have to do it anymore. Horcher needs to stay with one of the two forever.” She turned to him, walking toward him.

He knew what she meant. He knew she wanted Horcher only for her.

“Gredu, we don’t have to talk about it now.”

“Yeah, if we don’t talk about it now, when?” Gredu spatt, walking to a table and sitting.

Winad took Horcher’s hand, guiding him between the tables until they reached theirs, and they sat with her.

“Horcher can’t live with a hunter. It isn’t good, and you know someday they will catch you.”

Winad always told her he hid in places the guard couldn’t find him, and his neighbors thought his name was Orin.

“He is better if he knows you and me. He needs a paternal figure.”

Gredu stood from her chair, watching Winad. She said: “Wardun is his paternal figure. You are always busy, hunting the queen and his court.”

She walked until she wasn’t in the restaurant anymore, leaving Winad thinking about the best decision.

47