Eternal Darkness (The Amagarians 1)
***
Drac perched on the turret high and looked out into the dark and wildness of his kingdom. They were threatened, and war hovered with intensity. He slowly rose when his king arrived with Lachlan and Talon.
Tehdra and Tzar arrived behind them with his father on their heels. After disposing of the Mevians and the elder, he had moved directly to the turret and pondered deeply on how to move forward. It seemed as if war gathered despite Gidon’s attempt to start his reign without one.
“The Mevian was a high chancellor on business for his emperor,” Drac said. “They have an agreement with certain Darkans in our land. When your reign is no more, Gidon, they will have an alliance with us.”
“The Mevian nation desires an alliance with us?” Raki demanded. “Why not approach us so we can negotiate?”
“What I have been able to glean is that Mevia’s emperor has a plan that can only be brought to fruition with Darkans by his side.” Drac replied softly.
They all considered that.
“What are they thinking?” Tehdra asked. “They could have approached our liege to discuss an alliance.”
“It’s the kind of alliance they want, Tehdra. They want our skills in delivering death.”
Coldness swept through all of them.
“I have been approached by Mevia and Avindar for our services as killers. I turned them away. Those are not the grounds that we seek to negotiate on anymore. We are not only war and blood-letters. Many on the council disagreed,” Gidon confirmed flatly.
“It has been years since we sold our might,” Talon said.
Tzar spoke through gritted teeth. “The Mevians intend to declare war?”
“To what end?” Lachlan snapped as he prowled, the only one in motion. “There is no conflict. Peace has reigned and the kingdoms are prosperous since the second Great War.”
“Under what circumstances would they want our skills and might, if not for war?” Tehdra asked.
“Gidon,” Drac said, “your ideals are anathema to what they desire. Many of our elders believe that the vision we are trying to fulfill is the wrong path. They desire the fear and cruelty that we resided under. The Mevians are confident that there will be a new ruler soon who will not oppose to their vision.”
“The Kingmaker,” Raki said.
Yes
“And what is their vision?” Gidon asked flatly, reining his darkness with ruthless intensity.
“The High chancellor did not seem privy to that information.”
Gidon’s body uncoiled into motion and glided around the turret thinking deeply. They stood motionless as they watched their king.
“They assassinated my father because of our vision to rise out of the dark ashes of death. They believed I would have been more malleable?” He cocked his head thoughtfully. “No, they intend to try and remove me as well and claim my throne. The attack will come, and it has not been executed yet, because they need to succeed at the first wave. Whatever Mevia’s plan is, they cannot achieve it unless we are with them.”
“Possibly,” Lachlan mused, “it could also be that with your reign, you would oppose their move when they make it.”
“Would we?” Tehdra said. “Would we interfere where we have no alliance or allegiance?”
“If our kingdom were consumed in flames of war, we would move against them. Thus the peace Gidon advocates contravenes their plan,” Drac said.
“Why did they try to prevent the princess from fulfilling her kingdom’s promise to the Nurian king?” Gidon asked.
Drac analyzed all her had learned before he spoke, “The emperor did not want the Nurian king to form any other alliance or allegiance. Whatever their plan is, it relies on that as well, and it is critical he forms no attachment. What I gleaned from the Mevian is that Darkans, Mevians and Nurians are working together to ensure your death Gidon, and the death of the King Ajali.”
“There are Darkans in the kingdom of eternal fire?” Talon queried sharply.
“Yes, working with traitors of that kingdom,” Drac growled.
“If they are there to kill the Nurian king and they succeed and it is traced to the D