Chapter One

“Will you stay?” My question was directed at Axxon, who was working beside me. We were using magic to raise long-drowned stones from the lakebed to reform the bridge connecting the island to the mainland. I didn’t dare look at the king of earth. Our magic combined was achieving remarkable things. Which was part of the reason I didn’t quite dare to look into his face. I was afraid of what I might find. “Or do you wish me to send you back to sleep?”

With the newly-awakened magic coursing through me, I could do it. Provided the kings agreed. Together, we could achieve wonders – like raising a bridge from the rubble that had been drowned for a decade.

Since defeating the Stalwart Emperor and the soultaker, our magical powers had changed, as though they knew they were no longer needed with such urgency. Or as though the magic itself understood that no one person should have such power, in case they were tempted to become a tyrant like the Stalwart Emperor.

The kings’ magic was still remarkable, but they had lost the ability to call underworld creatures into our world. And my magic… Well, I had magic again. It could no longer raise the dead as it had done in the minutes after we’d defeated the Emperor and the soultaker, but no one would want that terrifying talent. I could cast small enchantments, and that was enough for now, especially when the kings were around to help. Together, we could do whatever was needed for Charnrosa.

If the kings chose to return to their enchanted sleep, we would have to work together to cast the enchantment. And once they slumbered, I would be left alone, like all the guardians before me.

The idea of bidding the kings goodbye, of not having them close by, scooped a void of emptiness into my chest. I didn’t want to face the truth, but there was no escaping it: my bond with the four kings had become something else, a crush I couldn’t seem to control.

If they returned to slumber, I wanted only to join them – and that was impossible.

So, I waited with my breath held for Axxon’s reply.

“I’m in no hurry to sleep,” he muttered gruffly.

My breath sighed out. I wanted to throw my arms around Axxon in gratitude, but I didn’t want him to know my foolish insecurities.

He turned from his work. There was only a short stretch of bridge that still needed repair. “I should like to stay and enjoy Charnrosa during ordinary times.” A smile hitched one corner of his mouth. His brown eyes were soft and I never wanted to look away from him. “If we can figure out what ordinary is.”

I forced a slow breath, glad that the king of earth couldn’t read my thoughts. “It might take a while to remember what normal is.”

“All this will soon be behind us,” he promised.

I looked past Axxon, to the clearing on the other side of the lake. A day earlier it had been a battlefield, the Stalwart Emperor’s shadow army facing our forces. Now it was empty except for the pyre fed by Rey and set ablaze by Fon, king of fire. It was being used to cremate those who hadn’t survived the battle.

We had magic to thank – or perhaps the goddess herself – that only a few people had died.

Almost all the shadow soldiers had survived, their souls returned to bodies magically healed of their wounds. It was only those who’d been dead longer than three days who had remained corpses.

Which meant my father had been one of the first to be laid on the pyre, his body turning to ashes while I’d spoken the prayers to ease his progress through the underworld. I hoped the soultaker had been sufficiently wounded by his experiences here that he would be unable to visit his anger with me on my father’s soul.

“Let’s finish our work, Kyann.” Axxon touched my elbow to bring me back to the moment.

I turned away from the bright pyre and the smoke rising from it. Swirls of magic curled blue along my arms as I summoned my strength to help Axxon complete the bridge so the Silent Castle was, finally, connected with the mainland.

The seat of leadership in Charnrosa was no longer isolated from the Empire, it lay at its heart. And I was determined it would always stay that way.

~

The heart of leadership turned out to also be the heart of arguments and bickering.

The council chamber was hot and airless, and packed with more people than could make themselves heard. Especially when they all spoke at once.

“Silence!” Axxon roared his command and silence fell. People tended not to argue with Axxon. “We are here today to establish a council that will rule over Charnrosa for the good of all. Members of the four deputy families should stay, as may a representative from each town in the Empire who is here. Everyone else should now leave.”

Grumbling filled the air, but so did movement. Ten minutes later the room was half-empty. Apart from myself and the kings, there was Lord Hullar; Leea Baloa, who I supposed was Lady Baloa now, head of her family; Lady Pardal cradling her infant son; and someone I hadn’t met yet who must represent the Ullagar family, last of the four deputy families. Three people I took to be elders also stayed, along with Arlo representing Ullavale village. The four of them stood together against the wall and threw uncertain looks at the rest of the company as though unsure of their welcome.

“Please, take a seat, everyone. This may take some time.” I moved to the large, round table in the middle of the room. When everyone was seated, I was first to speak.

There were a great number of matters to be settled as Charnrosa returned to peace, but only one circled my brain, needing an answer. I knew Axxon’s plans, but not the others. I turned to the four kings. “What are your intentions? Do you plan to stay, or will you return to sleep?”

My heart beat hard.

“You know I will stay,” Axxon said, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine.

“I’m having far too much fun to sleep,” Fon declared with a grin.

Vashri’s brown eyes settled on me, a promise in their depths that let my tense shoulders relax. “I’ll stay and help rule,” he confirmed.

“We will all stay as long as Charnrosa needs us,” Rey summarised. Relief flooded through me, worry unspooling at the knowledge that I wouldn’t lose the men I’d grown so close to.

“We have just overthrown a tyrant. Charnrosa will not allow itself to be oppressed again,” a strident voice called.

My gaze drifted to the solid, sullen man who claimed to represent the Ullagar lands. Horris; I recalled the name after a moment’s thought. He had been Lady Ullagar’s second-in-command. Right now, that connection didn’t stand him in good stead.

He spoke as though he expected an argument, but all he’d said so far was the plainest good sense.

Vashri stepped forward. Wise and sensible, he was the ideal person to take the lead today. “That is why we intend to gather a council to provide guidance across the Empire. Peace has been hard-won. We need to ensure it holds.”

Horris huffed and looked across the table for support. “We cannot rely on the kings. Charnrosa must rule itself, as we have grown accustomed to doing.”

“Charnrosa did not, in fact, rule itself,” Vashri pointed out calmly. “You were instructed by the Stalwart Emperor and did very little to persuade or force him to a different path.”

“I knew it.” The sour stranger fisted his hands, leaning on the table as he strained towards the kings. “You intend to take back your kingdoms. By force if necessary.”

Fon stepped forward, and Rey put a hand on his arm to hold him back. “We wish only to serve Charnrosa.”

Horris’s lips twisted. “What use is a king without a kingdom?” He glanced around the table, seeking allies. “You are fools if you think you will be allowed to keep your lands.”

Lord Hullar faced him calmly. “Nothing has been decided yet, Horris. Take your seat and try to think of the Empire rather than just yourself. I have every faith in the kings, having fought alongside them this past week.”

I stifled a smile. It was a subtle dig at the other man, who’d hidden away on the Ullagar lands until the outcome of the battle was known.

He took a seat, just in time for Lord Hullar’s parting shot. “Besides which, you have no lands at present, so no one can take anything from you.”

Horris shot to his feet. “I—”

“Enough!” Axxon snapped.

“Let us cover that point now,” Vashri said. “What’s your story? How do you come to represent Lady Ullagar, and what makes you fit to take her place?”

The woman had no children, so a change of ruler was inevitable. I was far from certain that this man ought to be in charge of so large a part of Charnrosa.

“I served by her side for twenty years.”

“And did not guide her away from evil?” I demanded. Lady Ullagar had rivalled the Stalwart Emperor in both ambition and power. Anyone who thought along the same lines as her should be kept well away from power in the new Charnrosa.

He faced me squarely, not flinching from my words. “I am a man of action, and I was loyal to my mistress. She believed she was doing what was best for her people. It was not my place to disagree.”

Which was an easy excuse – duty over morality. I met Vashri’s gaze and knew we were both thinking the same thing.

“I have no magic,” he added. “I’m no threat to you.”

Vashri’s expression didn’t change. No threat. That had been true even of the Emperor once.

“You are used to following, not leading. What makes you suited to administer a quarter of Charnrosa’s land and people?” Rey asked.

“I followed my lady. But I led others, her guards and servants.” He spread his hands. “If you have a better candidate, I would be happy to stand aside.”

“I’m sure we could find one,” Lord Hullar growled.

Horris glared. “You want to replace me with your own puppet and rule a half of the Empire?” he sneered.

“I want everyone to put Charnrosa’s good at the heart of what they do. I have seen no evidence that you care for Charnrosa’s welfare. You forced untrained and unwilling peasants to fight.”

“I followed orders.” He scanned the room. “As I would follow the orders given to me by the council.”

“Arlo?” Arlo twitched to be singled out by me. “Your village lies in the Ullagar lands. What is your opinion of this man?”

Arlo cleared his throat, getting to his feet. “He was fair. Ruthless, but he held no favourites and dealt equally with all.”

“You would consider him capable to lead?”

“I see no reason for him to be incapable.”

Horris seemed pleased by that, standing straighter and puffing his chest out. I considered it faint praise, but there weren’t any other candidates at present.

Vashri made the decision. “I propose that you take the role for the present, but we will be watching you carefully, Horris. Consider yourself on probation.” Murmurs of agreement confirmed the council’s view.

Horris’s face tightened, then he nodded. “That is fair. I accept your terms.”

He took his seat, but that was only one of the matters we had to deal with.

“Who will administer our lands?” Lady Pardal spoke up. The child on her lap looked around the room with wide eyes. The lady was a slight woman, and younger than her husband had been. Her tone was full of strident anxiety. “Will my son receive his birthright, or will he be disinherited for the actions of his father?”

“We don’t intend to punish anyone for another’s actions,” Vashri said.

“Provided your son is raised to be loyal to Charnrosa and to serve its people,” Rey added, “there is no reason why the Pardal lands should not be waiting for him to lead when he reaches his manhood. Will you stand as his regent?”

“Of course.” She looked relieved, finding a smile for the child.

“I suggest you form your own council,” Vashri said. “Men and women who will both advise you and guide your son as he grows. Ask the elders of your villages who they recommend.”

She nodded. “I will do so.”

“Do I take my father’s place?” Leea Baloa was pale, but her voice was clear, and the tilt of her chin determined. She was young, but as I’d seen before, she wasn’t stupid, and she had powerful magic.

“Do you want to?” Rey challenged.

“Yes.” Her chin lifted further. “My father served Charnrosa well and died trying to make things better for his people. I would be proud to follow in his footsteps.”

“Then we are pleased to offer you a seat on Charnrosa’s council.”

“Thank you.” She glanced at Lady Pardal. “I, too, will assemble a local council to assist me.”

“That’s wise,” Vashri said.

We drew the elders and Arlo into the conversation. I would willingly have given them a place on the council, but they said they would defer to their deputy leaders rather than attending the council themselves.

“The council should hold regular meetings,” Rey said. “Would you be willing to travel to the Silent Castle each month to meet together?”

Everyone agreed with that, and the first formal meeting of the council of Charnrosa was planned for a month’s time at full moon.

 “I think that would be the appropriate time for all council members to kneel and swear allegiance,” Fon added.

“Agreed.” Lord Hullar rose. “But who do we swear allegiance to?”

“The council,” Vashri replied.

Hullar made a dissenting noise. “The council is a good and worthwhile body made up of people who will do everything they can to ensure Charnrosa remains peaceful and prosperous. But we need a figurehead. One person to stand in overall charge. We don’t need the Stalwart Emperor, but we do need an Emperor who will unify all our lands.” His gaze slid over the four kings and swung to me. “Or an Empress.”