“I’m glad you’re both here. I think it’s time we all had a chat.”
Defeated and disheartened, I opened the door wider and stood back, but kept one arm back to corral Diadre behind me, so he had to get through me to reach her.
Hever floated into the room and closed the door, then stood just in front of it facing us.
“Not everything that seems dark, is,” he rasped, eyes flicking back and forth between me and Diadre, who’d leaned around my side. “Not everything that you would choose is good for you.” When neither of us responded, he sighed. “Shall we sit? We may be a while.”
30. Eat Your Fill
SOUNDTRACK:As Above So Belowby Cxssidy
~ MELEK ~
The day after the last of the allied troops had been carried over the Raven Peaks, the city was in a furor.
Thank God the night was dark enough that Yilan could shroud us, because the city was alight with torches and lanterns and fireworks. We’d crammed ourselves into a shadow on the outer wall that circled a stable yard of the palace.
Gall was returning after an unexplained absence of days, and the city was abuzz with rumors of the news he would bring.
We’d been waiting hours, but the moment he entered the city gates, we knew. The roar preceded him through the streets.
I leaned forward, as the crowds near the palace murmured and peered up the street for their first glimpse of ourking.
When it finally happened, I gaped.
What had Lucifer done to my son?
Resplendent in the rich purple of a King’s robes, the golden circlet of feathers on his brow, Gall proudly rode the Khalrion stallion his birth-father had been so proud of, through the streets of Valgorath City amid cheers and roars to rival the Coliseum on the night he’d beenresurrected.
The Khalrion, half-horse, half-lion, was barrel chested with a rich, dark coat and rolling, golden feline eyes. His neck and shoulders were so thickly muscled, he dwarfed the Neph guards that surrounded the king. As Gall rode, chin high and eyes sharp along the final street to the palace, the beast—its limbs and feet the thick legs and clawed paws of a lion—pinned its ears, opened its mouth, and snaked its head, almost taking out the Nephilim guard walking closest to his head. If he hadn’t been muzzled, that man would be dead.
I knew, because even though I’d enjoyed a solid, meaningful bond with Baelor, the Khalrion Gault had awarded me, I’d had to keep the beast muzzled.
Gall had no such trust or rapport built up with this beast—its foaming mouth and rolling eyes evidenced that. Yet its glistening neck remained arched, the thick mane fluttering and swaying with its movement, and the double-reins attached to the fiendish bit in its mouth kept it in line. When it tried to strike, Gall barely moved, one jerk on the reins snapping it back into line.
It trotted for a few paces, swishing its tail. But it didn’t try to unseat him.
I was stunned.
It generally took months to gain enough trust with a stallion that they wouldn’t toss you to the ground, and open your belly with their claws. How the hell had Gall already forced this beast to submit?
There were no answers for my questions. The streets already hummed with the gathering crowds, but as Gall rode the parade, he was at times obscured in the winding road by the leaping,shouting Nephilim marking his progress—and any sound we might have caught was entirely masked by the increasing volume of their cheers.
My nerves were shredded watching my countrymen—all half-drunk, and tense with excitement, because they’d been told by the Fallen that their king was arriving with a great announcement. For those who, perhaps, would not have thrilled at the thought of an address from Gall, there was always the threat of the Fallen’s displeasure if they didn’t show enthusiasm.
Genuine, or not, the Nephilim of Valgorath City appearedecstaticto see their king—and while I dreaded the risk of frenzy, I also silently urged them on. Let them exhaust themselves. Let them dance, and fight, and drink, and feast for days—as long as they lacked sleep and their senses were dulled. Now that all our fighters were here, we planned to bring our attack on the city within days. We’d hoped, before Gall and Lucifer returned. But the last of our men needed more rest after their travels.
When news reached Jann that we could expect them back today, we’d hurriedly spread loyal Neph around the city, who weren’t known by the others to be our allies. As activity near the palace increased, they’d watch for any nefarious movements in the darkened, deserted streets. Meanwhile, I kept my attention on their king. My son. Who seemed… cold.
When the crowds parted, and Gall appeared on the high street above us and the cheers rose, I went still, shaking my head. Here, at the base of the palace, the city streets curled up and around, so that all the Nephilim lining the lanes and alleys, standing on rooftops and balconies, and surging into the streets, could all see him. We couldallsee him.
If I hadn’t known Gall, I would have been impressed by his appearance. As it was, he seemed bigger. Broader. To the point that hefitthe Khalrion’s immense size. The impression was aided by the ermine-lined cloak that thickened his shoulders,and swept back over the stallion’s haunches. As the beast flowed up the final walk to the palace walls, and the cheers grew loud enough to batter our ears, Gall raised one hand in a fist, his eyes blazing with triumph and smile broad, and my heart sank as the watching crowd responded with another earth-trembling roar.
When they reached the wide gates into the palace walls, Khalrion handlers rushed forward as Gall swung off his mount and the steed lunged with lion speed, attempting to take his head off.
To my surprise, Gall didn’t flinch, but whipped one hand up in a defensive move I’d taught him, giving the beast’s muzzle a clout so that it reared back. The handlers, shouting instructions to each other, leaped for its reins and wrestled the stallion back to snorting submission, as Gall strode proudly across the cobblestones to a hastily erected dais next to the gates, lit by several lanterns and torches set up on a frame overhead so he was easily visible in the night-darkened street.
The Neph continued to cheer and roar, calling Gall’s name, and Lucifer’s, and snarling when others tried to push them from their best view.
