Faustus left the sorcerer and so much death behind, focused on a future he refused to let fall into the malevolent hands of an uncaring fate.
But something inside him said to be cautious, because the darkness that gathered would continue to grow until it unleashed the building storm.
Chapter1
Darius
High atop the battlements of the castle, Tanselm’s legendary royal sorcerer stood, an intimidating defense against the invading army.Alongside Arim, dozens of our best mages and archers rained spells and arrows upon our enemy, and the battle din grew like thunder over our kingdom.
Normally safe from attack within the enchanted castle, Arim had to suddenly duck to avoid a bolt of flaming heat that nearly seared his face off.
I didn’t have time to apologize for the stray blast, too busy forcing a fiery storm of destruction upon the encroaching Netharat, our hated enemy and a scourge upon our lands.As one of the Royal Four, I had a duty to my people and to our world.Letting this evil get the best of us would never be an option.
A haze of heat surrounded me as I leaned over the stone wall.I narrowed my eyes at the enemy and with outstretched hands summoned my internal fire, directing its path of destruction through flaming fingertips over a large distance.The surge drew upon my stamina, but the tingle of heat as I set fire to those who would do us harm recharged me, and I let the sear of victory take over.
A glance to my side showed Arim focused on the enemy below, where I noticed the Netharat at the castle gate suddenly turn to bodies of solid rock that crumbled to pieces as a swift wind carried them into the moat.
We princes had power, but no one had more than the Royal Sorcerer, not even my parents—well, just my mother now.
I had to blink back tears at thoughts of my recently deceased father.No point, or time, to dwell on my grief.
Arim’s eyes turned a deep black, signifying a great use of power.I felt the hum of our defenses returning, putting the castle back under the great sorcerer’s protection.He was breathing hard as he said, “The shields will hold.Go and gather your brothers in my chamber.”
“You need my help.I’ve got this.”The urge to hurt those who’d hurtusgrew, the burn of vengeance growing in my chest.
“Now,Darius.”
I wanted to argue, but the fury darkening Arim’s eyes told me now wasn’t the time to push.Though it grated me to withdraw, I left Arim and the other spellcasters to fetch my brothers.
I found Marcus, Cadmus, and Aerolus staking the eastern turret, raining deluges of water, rippling shocks of rock, and powerful blasts of wind upon the enemy steadily approaching the castle’s defensive perimeter.Muttered spells and intent stares, stabbing hands and sweeping arms commanded the elements to do my brothers’ bidding.I watched them battle, impressed despite my familiarity with such sights.But Arim’s orders were not to be ignored.
“Cease your attacks and come with me,” I called to my brothers after torching one wraith bent on bridging the now frozen moat surrounding the castle.The creature shrieked and flailed, trying to douse my flames, to no avail.
Since my siblings made no move to join me, I said with some heat, “Arim ordered us to his chamber.”
“But—” Cadmus tried to protest.
“No buts.”I looked out over the castle wall and cursed as I spotted the dimensional gateway through which the enemy had entered.Far in the distance, the gateway looked like a molten pool of fire against the pale blue sky.Unfortunately, cascading down from that pool onto the ground came another wave of Netharat, a foul river of corruption staining the very land they touched.
“We have to go,” Aerolus agreed, his voice calm in contrast to the chaos surrounding us.
As one, we raced through the castle to Arim’s chamber deep in the heart of our home.The moment we approached the hardy oak door, it swung open, allowing us entry into a room teeming with magic.
Like the steady droning of bees, a subtle hum vibrated within the stone walls, making the air crackle with energy.A narrow bed lay along one wall while a nearby desk filled with parchment and quills graced the adjoining wall.Tables and flat workstations filled the rest of the spacious room.On every surface except the bed lay glass pitchers and clay bowls filled with the sorcerer’s spell castings.
“It took you long enough.”I jumped as my mother closed the door with a wave of her hand, stepping out from its shadow.She narrowed her eyes, lingering on Cadmus.“When Arim gives an order, you obey.”
Tall and stately, with the catlike eyes and dark black hair she’d passed to us all, my mother watched her Royal Four like a bird of prey about to swoop.Her understated power seemed to thrive in Arim’s chamber, her cheeks flushed and her eyes blazing as she studied us.I didn’t think I’d ever felt so much power from her in my life.
“Mother.”My body was taut with the effort to contain the powerful force seething around me, and I noticed my brothers looking equally uneasy.“Shouldn’t you be in your tower under guard?”
She scoffed and motioned us to move deeper into the room.“You do take after your father, don’t you?”She smiled sadly, a grim reminder of Father’s recent passing.“I am just as strong as Faustus was, Darius.I may not command the winds, but there’s more to my strength than elemental magic.”Her eyes narrowed.“And not one word about my frail state of mind.I just lost my husband, but I’m not an invalid.I’ve power enough to stop these invaders from taking my crown.”
I blinked at the reprimand and glanced at my brothers to see what they made of the “gentle” queen and saw them equally confused.Indeed, Mother certainly appeared more warrior than royal lady.Her green eyes were lit with an inner fierceness, her stance both battle-ready and aggressive.
Gone were her royal robes of blue.No seal of power draped around her throat.She wore a long-sleeved red tunic and black trousers, very similar to the garb Arim had been wearing.
As if my thoughts conjured the sorcerer, Arim suddenly appeared in a corner of the room, bringing a rush of energy into the already saturated area.“Quickly, we have little time.”
