CHAPTER THREE
DROCCO
The historian was becoming a severe distraction.
Drocco was unsure exactly what it was, but something about her aroused and intrigued him, sparking a fierce need to dominate her. It was a strange feeling—one he’d never had before. He sat in the corner of the research room watching her daily for nearly a month trying to figure it out. It couldn’t be her smart mouth—he most definitely preferred submissive types, even in Betas. Her bland scent wasn’t enticing, so it couldn’t be that. It couldn’t be her dynamic since he was looking for his Omega. Betas were sufficient to slake his needs, but the pleasures an Omega could give were known to be incomparable. It could be the historian’s looks. It would seem as though a studious woman in shapeless clothing with brown hair and eyes would be easily forgettable, but it was quite the opposite. She was uniquely attractive in a way he found slightly fascinating. Yes, that had to be it. She was beautiful and he wanted a taste of her, yet was forced to wait. That must be what caused this unhealthy draw to her. He’d never had to wait to fuck anyone before.
After meeting her that first time, he had summoned a Beta female known for her talented mouth to relieve him of his arousal, but as she knelt to tend to him, he lost interest. She had been stunned when he ordered her away and, in truth, he had surprised himself; however, he had still been reeling from the historian’s bluntly antagonistic comments and he couldn’t focus on gratification. He spent the rest of the evening looking over the profile of her that they had obtained when they had learned she was coming. It suggested nothing of her personal life or personality—it just contained dry, factual information about her impressive abilities and skills as a historian.
As Drocco continued to watch her, he noticed little things about her manner. When she read something she found interesting, she played with her right earlobe. She pursed her full lips when she read something she didn’t quite like and bit her bottom lip when she was trying to decide where something should go on the Chron Line. The way she moved around the room was sexy as hell, smooth and fluid, very feline, and when she knelt on the floor sorting random files, her rich copper curls bouncing over them, he had to grip the arms of his chair to stop himself heading over there, pinning her to the ground and ripping away her clothes. The simplest thing would be to stay away from her completely, but when he wasn’t in the room, he thought about her constantly. He hated it. He was always in control of everything and this impulse was too wild. He couldn’t wait for the day the investigation ended so he could claim what he wanted and move on.
“Your Imperial Majesty,” came a soft voice from beside him.
He turned to see a servant standing by the door.
The man grimaced. “You have a visitor.”
“Who?” His gaze returned to Cailyn.
“Commander Torin, your Imperial Majesty.”
Drocco nodded, rose from his chair, and headed outside. He had told the guard at the door that he didn’t want anyone entering unannounced. He hadn’t liked the way Cailyn had looked at Torin when he had last been in the room. They were both Betas and Torin was possibly the most accomplished Beta male in Ashens—a great prospect for any Beta female—but the idea Cailyn might find him attractive irritated Drocco beyond all reason.
“Drocco,” Torin greeted. “Good morning.”
Drocco returned the greeting.
“You have instructed that no one enter?” Torin asked somewhat incredulously, gesturing to the research room. Drocco had never refused him entry to any area of the Palace.
“I don’t want Miss Lefroy interrupted,” Drocco said, briskly. “What is it?”
Torin’s eyes swept over him. “You have been very focused on this investigation, Drocco.”
“That is the intention, Torin,” Drocco said lightly. “I made a vow and I’m trying to keep it.”
“How is it going?”
“Well so far,” Drocco said. “Miss Lefroy is ordering the information and highlighting key points to focus on. I’ve sent scouts to a couple of cities to look into a number of loose ends. I trust you have made contact with the ruler of Neka?”
Torin nodded. “Yes, I am dealing with it. I’m glad it is going well. We’ve had communication from Eiros.”
Drocco’s mood darkened. “And?”
“Malloron would like to meet.”
“When?”
“In two days. He has suggested a portal.”
“He is not entering my Empire through a portal,” Drocco said, his voice low.
“No, he wishes to talk through it,” Torin explained. “To use it as a method of communicating.”
Drocco lifted his head in understanding. He needed to speak to Malloron and make his own position clear, as the ruler of Lox Empire, but the distance between them meant their communication was always prolonged. Eiros was situated in the Western Lands, which was across the White Ocean, and it took months for messages to pass between them. If they could talk face to face it would secure things much more quickly.
“He is very keen to meet via this method and has insisted that nothing untoward will come of it,” Torin said, after a few long moments of silence.
“Your thoughts?” Drocco asked.
“I think it will be good to face him directly, as I’m sure you realize,” Torin said. “You are very persuasive in person.”
“If he can create a portal here to communicate, he can create a portal at any time to use as a doorway,” Drocco said, an edge in his voice at the idea.
“Yes,” Torin admitted. “That is a possibility.”
Drocco exhaled harshly. “This is why I want the use of the Talent disabled as soon as possible, Torin!”
“If we are to make significant headway protecting ourselves from the Talent, this opportunity to analyze a portal would be of great benefit.”
“Hmm…” Drocco let out a throaty grumble.
“If he truly can create a doorway here, he will do so if he wishes, whether we agree to the meet or not,” Torin pointed out. “At least if you agree, we will have a time and place to focus our attention to learn more about the Talent.”
That was true. “All right,” Drocco said. “Set it up.”
Torin nodded. “He said he will make an attempt in two days, so I will ensure we are ready to receive him.” He glanced at the research room. “Is this where you can be found now?”
“Yes,” Drocco replied. “But I only want to be interrupted if it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Understood.” With that, Torin bowed and headed down the corridor.
When Drocco entered the research room, he automatically swept the room for Cailyn. She stood in one corner, her head tilted, her lips pursed and a frown on her face.
“What is it?” he asked.
“These records have big gaps,” she murmured, almost to herself.
“What are they?”
“Records of the Omega population before they went missing.”
Drocco crossed the room to her. “That is important. How do you know there are gaps?”
“The King of Ashens had a count completed when he first came into power. It totaled over one hundred and twenty-five thousand. There were only seven thousand in the most recent count. That’s too low. There’s data missing.”
Drocco looked at the files, leaning into her to breathe in her scent. Even though it was bland, he took every opportunity to experience it—another strange behavior he didn’t understand. He pushed the thought away and focused on the topic at hand. They needed accurate figures of the number of Omegas at all times. “How many counts did the king do?”
“I’ve only found two so far.”
Drocco nodded. “Tomorrow we will go to the Records Keep and find out the accurate number.”
Cailyn blinked at him. “The Records Keep?”
“Yes, in Ashens. They keep all important records for the Eastern Lands,” Drocco said, settling into his chair. “It’s one of the reasons why Ashens is the most influential territory in the East. I have yet to visit it but I knew my investigations would take me there eventually.” He frowned. “I’m sure you would’ve been there before.”
“A few times yes.” She stood thinking for a moment. “I don’t mind going on my own if you have things to do.”
“We will go at midday,” Drocco said, ending the conversation.
Cailyn nodded slowly before going back to her work.
***
In the carriage on the way to the Records Keep, Cailyn was restless. She wouldn’t look at him, barely spoke to him, and subtly fidgeted in the seat opposite. Drocco simply watched her. She was like a pet that needed to be soothed. She had snapped at him the previous afternoon and seemed to have a looser hold on her tongue since he entered the research room that morning. Something about the trip was making her apprehensive, but he couldn’t figure out what. After watching her for a few minutes, he stopped caring. Her curly hair was up today, exposing her slim neck and showing off her neckline and shoulders. Every time she moved he wanted to bite every inch of exposed flesh, suck on her, lick her… a thrill went through him at the thought of her response—the breathy sounds she would utter, her moans and whispers. As his eyes traveled down her body, stopping at every curve he could almost see that he wanted to explore, he noticed her knees were pressed tightly together. He glanced up at her but she was staring fixedly out of the carriage window. He suppressed a dark smile.
The Records Keep stood in the center of Ashens. Tall and cream-colored, with elegant swirls engraved into its walls, it was surrounded by equally sophisticated buildings important to the running of Ashens, but not all of them had survived the Lox invasion as well as the Records Keep. It seemed the King of Ashens had been particularly precious about making his city look bland and boring. Drocco found the broken jagged buildings that had suffered the effects of battle to be more interesting. Redesigning his Empire to look strong and powerful was something he looked forward to.
A number of emerald-robed record keepers nervously greeted him and his traveling party, all gathered at the entrance of the Keep at his arrival.
“Greetings, your Imperial Majesty,” each of them murmured as they bowed low. They all seemed to look the same with pale skin and blond hair, and all were Betas.
One of them rose first, an older man with slanted eyes and a neat, gray beard. “I am Head Keeper Galan,” he said. “We are honored to have you visit, Emperor. Would you like a tour of the Keep?”
“No,” Drocco said. “I want a guide.”
“I would be happy to assist you with anything you need, your Imperial Majesty,” the keeper said, bowing again.
“I want the records on the population count of the Eastern Lands over the last four hundred years.”
The keeper nodded. He led them through the quiet building, up a few flights of stairs, and along a number of slim corridors. Bookshelves and filing cabinets made up most of the interior with a number of windows punctuated throughout to let in natural light. They passed a number of gray-robed clerks filing large piles of parchment or scribbling intensely on desks tucked away in slightly obscured corners. A peaceful silence swamped the building that made even their muffled footsteps on the carpet seem too loud. Finally, the keeper arrived at a long room with windows along one wall and floor-to-ceiling shelves on the other.
“All population count results are kept here,” the keeper said. “We knew that you might soon be interested in information about Omegas, so we cataloged some information specifically for you, your Imperial Majesty.”
“Information like what?” Drocco asked, his interest peaked.
“Mainly information about birth rates of different dynamics, jobs Omegas tended to thrive in, the number of bonded partners, rare dynamic variants, that kind of thing.”
“Do you have that information readily available?”
The head keeper nodded. “Of course, follow me.”
“I’ll stay and look at these documents, if that’s all right, Emperor?” Cailyn interjected.
He nodded. “Compare them to my data.” He signaled to his guards to stay with Cailyn and followed the head keeper.
As they climbed the stairs a few floors, the head keeper explained how the Records Keep worked. The previous four Kings of Ashens hired clerks who spread far and wide into the Eastern Lands and, over the years, recorded their observations in an objective, methodical manner. Sometimes they were given specific information to collect, other times they were told to explore or investigate, while others recorded things by chance, but all were sent back to the Records Keep for filing and recording. The recently deceased King of Ashens made a point of always keeping up-to-date with all of the records, and that was how he became the most powerful ruler in the Eastern Lands—he simply knew more than most of the other territories combined and could choose to interfere in ways they didn’t understand.
Drocco found it illuminating. He listened carefully, interjecting questions where necessary to form a complete picture of the value of the Records Keep. He had been keeping his records in a muddled mess of information, but the King of Ashens had turned it into a weapon. And without spilling blood. For the first time, he felt a glimmer of admiration toward the Beta king. Even though the man had made many unwise choices, his use of this facility was not one of them.
As he spoke, the head keeper led Drocco upstairs until he became out of breath and then walked across an entire floor to regain his strength. When they reached the stairs on the other side, the keeper continued his ascent. This pattern repeated until they arrived on the top floor.
“This is the floor we have been arranging just for you, your Imperial Majesty,” the head keeper said, wheezing a little. “It has every piece of information that pertains to Omegas since the first disappearance. We are still copying files but within the next month or so it should be complete. You are welcome to visit anytime to peruse at your leisure or with the guidance of a keeper.” The keeper’s hands twitched and he glanced around the room. “Of course, if you prefer to dismantle the Records Keep we can assist with storage or—”
“I will not be dismantling this facility,” Drocco confirmed. This was one of the most impressive things he had ever seen in the Eastern Lands so far, and he finally understood why many held it in such high esteem. He would definitely not be getting rid of it.
The keeper seemed to let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, your Imperial Majesty. We wondered what may become of everything here; it would be a shame for such information to be lost.” He paused, looking around the room. “Would you like to browse anything while you’re here?”
For the next hour, Drocco looked at the factual data around birth rates. It was as bad as he had imagined. Over the decades, Alphas birth rates were in steady decline since the Omegas disappearance. This trend was true in every territory and there was even data from the Western Lands showing the same.
Drocco left the floor in a somber mood but was impressed by the quality of data collected about the Western Lands. Clearly, the King of Ashens had sent clerks over there too. He questioned the head keeper about this at length and resolved to talk to Torin about it. If Malloron had the gall to send spies to Drocco, it wouldn’t hurt to send a fleet to pressure him in his own territory.
He headed back down to the population room, and as he crossed the floor he froze at the sight that greeted him. Cailyn stood laughing and talking to a clerk just outside the room—a Beta male clerk who stood too close to her and looked at her in a way that suggested he was very familiar with her.
A rush of darkness embraced Drocco, and he was moving toward them before he could even register it.
As he neared, Cailyn’s brown eyes widened, the smile dropping from her face, while the Beta shrank back.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Drocco bellowed. “Is this your job? Standing around socializing like you haven’t a thought in your head?” His voice rose to almost a roar and seemed to bound off every surface in the quiet building.
Cailyn opened her mouth but nothing came out.
He turned to advance on the Beta, his body moving almost without control. “Run” was all the warning he could get out.
As the Beta escaped, Cailyn found her voice. Although it shook, it stopped him in his tracks. “I finished looking at the population data. I was waiting for you to—”
“Do not test me, Cailyn Lefroy,” Drocco said in a hoarse, low voice, stalking toward her. “I leave you for five minutes and you’re talking in a very friendly manner to a member of staff who is no doubt still loyal to the King of Ashens.”
Cailyn backed away into the room, her eyes fiery as she looked up at him. “You have been gone close to two hours, Emperor.”
“That does not explain your behavior!” Drocco barked, forcing her back until she reached the wall. “When we are out of the Palace, I expect you to behave as though you are—”
He bit off the word about to come out of his mouth, a sudden shock dampening his rage.
Mine.
No. That’s not what he had intended to say… was it?
He floundered, searching for words. “…capable of common sense,” he finished. “If you cannot do that, you are inappropriately skilled to do anything on this investigation that is of use to me.”
Cailyn was silent for a long moment. “I would like to resign my post, Emperor.”
Drocco’s jaw slacked. “What?”
“I don’t think I’m right for your investigation. I think you could find a more suitable historian for your needs.”
Drocco laughed, low and hard. “Do you think you are still in Vamore?” He planted his wide hands on either side of her head and leaned down. “Or Neka, or Grence? Do you think you’re even in Ashens? You are in the Lox Empire, kitten. And your employment doesn’t end until I fucking end it.”
Cailyn stared at him steadily, her eyes hard, no fear or shock present, and something fierce bloomed in Drocco’s chest. He glanced at her perfect mouth, a raw desperation rising to take it—fuck waiting.
“The Omegas were dying,” she said, bitterly.
Drocco frowned at the sudden change in topic. “What?”
“The Omegas were dying at unnatural rates before their disappearance.” She ducked under his arm and headed to a pile she had collated on the floor. Drocco exhaled harshly, pushing away the anger that had almost risen to an acute peak. Or was that desire? He approached Cailyn’s pile stack wearily. This woman loved her piles of parchment.
“The data in these files match the data we have,” she said, shoving a stack into Drocco’s hands. “There was a serious decline in Omegas from the first count to the last. There were too many deaths for it to be a natural occurrence.”
Drocco stood gripping the files, for a long moment. This, he had never heard before. Omegas had been dying? That couldn’t be possible. It hadn’t ever been reported.
“Head Keeper!” he called.
Within seconds the head keeper appeared at the door of the room. “How can I help you, Emperor?”
“Explain why Omegas were dying.”
The man clasped his hands in front of him as he headed into the room. “I’m afraid that is something we do not have data on.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“No one reported or recorded any information on it, your Imperial Majesty,” he responded, his voice trembling. “Please remember, the data gathered is most comprehensive from when the late king’s family came into power. Before that, there was no culture of recording events or occurrences. We have noticed the declining numbers of Omegas but we cannot explain it with factual information.”
“What theory would you surmise based on the information you do have?” Cailyn asked.
The head keeper hesitated. “We don’t like to theorize—”
“Answer,” Drocco ordered.
The head keeper swallowed. “It’s possible the Omegas were under some kind of attack,” he said, carefully. “But we cannot guess what kind of attack and we do not recommend you take that theory seriously, your Imperial Majesty.”
A short moment of silence expanded in the room as Drocco digested the information. If Omegas were under attack, it had to be by Betas. They were the most numerous dynamic and had much to gain by killing Omegas and thereby reducing the birth rates of Alphas. Before he could think it through properly, Cailyn headed to the door.
“Where are you going?” Drocco said sharply.
“We’re finished here, aren’t we?” she snapped, her eyes flashing at him.
The head keeper blanched as she stormed past him while Drocco watched her. Her anger was causing her to be carelessly willful and surprisingly entertaining, despite the rudeness.
He inclined his head at his guards at the door and they blocked her path. She tried to push past them and they grabbed her, holding onto her arms until she stilled. A dust of rage skimmed over Drocco at the sight of their hands on her, but he forced himself to ignore it. She was causing the restraint to be necessary.
“I’ll be back to look into the documents you have selected for me in more detail, Head Keeper,” he told the man as he turned to go. “I will also consider how your facility may be of full use to the Lox Empire. In the meantime, notify the Palace if you or your keepers or clerks find anything that you think would be of use to me.”
The head keeper bowed deeply. “I shall, your Imperial Majesty. We look forward to your next visit.”
As he passed the guards, Drocco served Cailyn with a fierce look, heavy with all the rage rocketing within him. She immediately relaxed into a submissive pose, and a gleam of satisfaction pierced through him at her reaction. Yes, he would enjoy training this one.
“You will walk, unaided, to my carriage,” he said, harshly. “And you will get yourself under control. It is your choice whether you continue working on this investigation with all of your limbs intact. Understood?”
Cailyn nodded, her head low, in the correct position, yet Drocco was momentarily annoyed he couldn’t see her face.
“Good. Let her go.”
On the return journey, Cailyn kept quiet. She sat with her head down and her hands in her lap, as she should. Drocco still couldn’t keep his eyes off her and found himself thinking back to the smile she had given the clerk. He had initially thought that nothing about her pleasing features stood out as being remarkable, but he had been wrong—her smile was. It had enhanced her petite features so beautifully and even in the short glimpse he had witnessed of it, it was mesmerizing. It infuriated him that he hadn’t received anything close to a smile from her in all this time—over a month of watching her—yet he was the only one who deserved it. He was the fucking Emperor. He brooded in his seat, considering if he should take her to bed that very night, but one thought of the Omegas threw that notion away. He had to figure out why the Omegas had been dying, and why his father and grandfather failed to mention it. Cailyn was the route to that knowledge.
He stared at her, a dark mood crawling over him at the restrictions on him. He would fuck her raw as soon as the investigation ended. The minute they found the Omegas he would drag Cailyn into his— His thoughts shuddered to a stop. When they found the Omegas he would need to prioritize selecting the one that belonged him. He wouldn’t have time for Cailyn. Fuck! He ground his teeth, his eyes boring into her. He wanted that smile on him, that body underneath him, that bouncy hair in his fist.
He descended into deep thought while the carriage swayed, jostling them about as it entered the cobbled Palace grounds. Maybe he could keep her around and fuck her just before he bonded with his Omega. There wouldn’t be much time though; he would need to complete the bond as soon as possible.
When the carriage arrived at the Palace, his frustrations were even stronger than when they had started the journey, and he retreated to the training grounds to work off his agitation. Later that night, he tried again to find relief in the throat of a Beta female, but once again, he had to send her away without even undoing his pants. He could think of nothing but the smile that had not been for him.
***
“Greetings, King Malloron.”
“Greetings, Emperor Drocco.”
The portal hovered in front of Drocco, a transparent slash of vibrant energy through which he finally saw his only real adversary. King Malloron. The man certainly seemed to be a formidable looking Alpha. Wide and muscled, he seemed similar in stature to Drocco only with slightly browner skin and a more relaxed look in his dark eyes, but when dealing with a man who specialized in tricks, looks meant nothing. Drocco stood firm, broad arms crossed, staring at the richly dressed man through the portal. At least he wasn’t wearing a ridiculous crown, like the King of Ashens had.
“May Eiros thrive and be wealthy,” Drocco said, reciting the mantra of Eiros.
“And may the mighty Lox Empire remain eternally dominant and just,” King Malloron returned.
Around the edges of the room, behind the portal, three black-robed Talent-crafters gathered. They clasped hands with each other, linking them together as they watched the portal. Torin stood with them observing.
“I’m pleased we finally have a chance to talk,” King Malloron added.
“As am I,” Drocco replied, fully aware he did not sound pleased at all. “I want no misunderstandings developing about the Lox Empire and what its existence means for everyone else.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” King Malloron said, inclining his head. “I just want to make it clear that I speak as ruler of Eiros, the largest and most developed territory in the Western Lands. I do not speak on behalf of any of the other territories here.”
“Understood.”
King Malloron dipped his head sharply. “Firstly, will you still allow trade across the White Ocean?”
“As long as traders are willing to be more open to declaring their wares, yes.”
King Malloron lifted his head a touch. “Many of the old territories that are now under Lox ruling did not appreciate some of the more… unique wares the Western Lands had to offer. I wonder how lenient the Lox Empire will be?”
“You need not wonder, just ask,” Drocco said, forcing himself to remain calm. Why didn’t kings ever just speak plainly?
“Intoxicants like mutated wine, rare spirits, tobacco enhancers, recreational and medicinal substances including hallucinogens and Haze recreators,” the king reeled off quickly.
“Fine as long as they are declared,” Drocco said.
“Voluntary manual and sexual labor workers of any age?”
“Fine.”
“Involuntary manual and sexual labor workers of any age?”
“Only criminals.”
The king’s eyebrows shot up and a slow smile spread across his face. “Agreed. What about goods that make use of the Talent?”
Drocco had to force himself not to flinch. “I’ll need more time to consider that. Send a list of the kind of goods you’re referring to and I’ll think about it.” He uncrossed his arms. “Regarding the proposal you made in your last letter, I fail to see how it would be of benefit to me.”
The king sobered, his jaw becoming tight. “You don’t see the value in acquiring the Talent?”
“What would I possibly need it for?” Drocco countered, dryly. “I don’t spy—that activity has no honor. I’m also not interested in being an entertainer.”
The king’s nostrils flared and his whole body seemed to expand. “You think that is all the Talent is good for?”
Drocco remained silent, watching him with care. Much could be gleaned about a man when he burned in anger.
“I will assume you are unaware of whom you are speaking to, since my ancestors discovered and developed the Talent.” The king’s voice deepened and became harsher. “They were the first Talent-crafters to exist. The art has been honed and refined throughout the decades into something more powerful than anything any other Land could create. You may have experienced it through semi-skilled hacks and entertainers looking for quick coin, but I assure you, the Talent can do wondrous and incredible things, especially by an accomplished crafter.” He leaned forward. “It could instantly unify your Empire without the need for Lox warriors in every city. It could aid you in finding the Omegas. It could seek out the perfect Omega for each Alpha. Imagine that,” he said, his eyes narrowing with his intense expression. “Imagine if every Alpha could instantly locate their true mate?” He shook his head and leaned back. “You cannot say you truly understand the Talent if, as the ruler of such a powerful nation, you’re telling me you don’t want or need it.”
Drocco held his eye and kept his stance unchanged while he thought carefully. Although he was fully aware of Malloron’s obvious performance, he couldn’t automatically refuse anything that might help him find the Omegas. “If the Talent can do all that, why haven’t you done it?”
The king shook his head. “I willingly admit that the Talent cannot do everything,” he said, his voice quieter. “The Talent is used in ways here that would interfere with any kind of use of that scale. Plus there are many accomplished crafters here.” He smiled ruefully. “If my ancestors had been smarter, they wouldn’t have given the knowledge away so freely. But the point is, the Western Lands are not united under one ruler like the Eastern Lands are now. In the Lox Empire, the Talent would catapult you to the greatest ruler history will ever know.”
Drocco said nothing. Without a deeper understanding of the Talent, he had no idea if that was true or not but he wouldn’t be coerced by empty statements aimed to stroke his ego.
“All I’m asking for in return is some of your warriors and training practices,” the king continued, observing Drocco.
“My warriors are with me by choice, Malloron,” Drocco said, dropping the formal title. He noticed Malloron stiffen very slightly—clearly he didn’t like it. “I don’t force them to stay and I will not force them to go.”
“They stay with you because of your ridiculous vow to give each of them an Omega,” Malloron snapped. “The only way you would even be able to do that is to make use of the Talent.” He glared at Drocco. “All I want is your process of creating such a formidable army. It is an excellent trade considering the multiple uses of the Talent.”
“Yes, unless you build an army to rival mine and decide to cross the White Ocean,” Drocco shot back. “Then it would be a shit trade, wouldn’t it? I would be handing you the potential knowledge to overthrow me.”
Malloron’s mouth tightened as he glared at Drocco, both of them remaining locked in a hot gaze.
“Eventually your army will leave you and you will be vulnerable, Drocco,” Malloron glowered, rising from his seat. “All I need to do is wait until that day. You would be a fool to wait until then also. I’ll give you a month to reconsider.”
The portal shimmered brighter and then faded into nothing.
Drocco turned to Torin and watched the Talent-crafters release their hold on each other and begin to discuss. He had never truly considered using the Talent to aid him in ruling his Empire. In fact, the Lox had been ordered to cut down any and all Talent-crafters until Torin had pointed out that he would need them to defend against Malloron’s sneaky intrusions. The most skilled Talent-crafters in the Eastern Lands had been offered the chance to pledge their loyalty to the Lox, which involved offering the life of a family member as a sacrificial gift, but Drocco had no idea how skilled they actually were. According to Malloron, skill was everything.
After speaking with the crafters, Torin approached him.
“Did you get what you needed?” Drocco asked.
“Yes,” he said. “They say they have enough information now to find a way to block the Talent in a specific enclosed area.”
“How long will it take?”
“A week or two. Where would you like them to set it up?”
“The Great Hall.”
Torin raised an eyebrow. “For the celebration?”
“Exactly. We will have visitors from all territories. It’s the perfect time to test loyalties. They only have five days to do it.”
Torin nodded and was silent for a moment. “Do you want to discuss Malloron’s offer?”
“I need to know more about how the Talent works before I can make any decision.”
“From what I understand from our Lox crafters, the Talent is the ability to affect and manipulate the magic that surrounds and penetrates everything that exists,” Torin explained. “The magic responds to ‘spells,’ which can be formed using certain words in the Ancient Tongue or certain actions of the hands, but is most powerful when bent by will. The mind has to reach a certain level of thought vibration to affect it by will.”
“Thought vibration…” Drocco muttered. “This is why most Talent-crafters go insane at a young age.”
Torin nodded. “The most skilled ones tend to, yes. And it’s why most tend to use word or hand spells.”
Drocco nodded, deep in thought.
“Would you like to meet with the Talent-crafters? They can explain it better than I can.”
“Not right now,” Drocco said, turning away from him. He hadn’t been to see Cailyn that morning and a pressing urge to visit the research room had risen. “Make sure they are working on protecting the Great Hall by the time of the celebration.”