Dyna kept close to Zev, wary of the castle’s dark, and empty corridors. Torches lined the polished walls. Two Royal Guards marched behind them while Prince Cassiel led them through the west wing. She was not a “stupid human” as he had called her. It was clear even to her that their presence in Hilos was wrong. Prince Malakel’s outburst and the tangible abhorrence from each Celestial that met her eyes more than proved it.
Why had the High King invited them here?
Among the many questions circling in her head, the one she asked aloud had brought the dining room to a standstill. It appeared breaks in conversation was a common thing among the Celestials, and it spoke much louder than words. Whatever the answer to her question, the subject was so ominous they were being ushered somewhere else, deeper into the castle, away from other ears.
They followed Cassiel down several more corridors, leaving her disoriented. She tried to keep track of how many turns they made, but the halls were a maze. The walls melded together in endless marble and finery. It would be impossible to find her way out without guidance.
Zev sniffed the air of each hall they entered, his eyes constantly studying. His head was canted as he listened beyond the thumps of their footsteps. It must be a lot for his senses to take in. She felt overwhelmed herself. The view coming into the kingdom was breathtaking, the lavish castle equally magnificent. All of it felt surreal—and daunting.
They passed by massive portraits of who she assumed were the past rulers of Hilos. The most recent was of King Yoel with Queen Mirah at his side. The one before that bore one Celestial alone. Dyna almost didn’t recognize him for his face was soft and youthful. At the crest of becoming a man. The painter had captured the High King’s vacant expression, detailed brush strokes shaping his withdrawn, glassy eyes. She recognized that look for she had worn it as well when she lost her family.
Dread hung over her. Heavy and suffocating as a blanket during the humid heat of summer.
If the events during dinner were any sign, the history of this place was grim, but her curiosity begged to uncover it. A part of her identified with the darkness here. Her village had a sinister past of its own.
They came before a strip of orange light slicing through the dark corridor from a door left ajar. The Royal Guards took their posts outside of the study and opened the door for them to enter. Zev hesitated, then led her in after Prince Cassiel. Dyna jumped at the sound of the heavy door shutting behind them. Zev stiffened and she sensed his apprehension at being trapped in an unknown place.
She peeked past Cassiel’s shoulder and took in the spacious and opulent study. A fire crackled in a great corner fireplace encased in polished white stone that twinkled in the firelight. Encircling it was an arrangement of velvet settees and leather chaises positioned atop a plush blue rug. An ornate desk of dark wood and an empty wingback chair sat upon a raised platform on the other side of the room
Iron candle stands set throughout the room cast flickering candlelight over the several bookshelves constructing the soaring walls. Innumerable books and scrolls lined the shelves. Some were so old they gathered a layer of thick dust. Gilded pillars held up the curved ceiling. It was painted with golden lined clouds so detailed, they almost seemed to glow as though it was a window of the Heavens.
Prince Cassiel moved to stand by the massive windows. They opened to a broad view of Hilos below. Winged figures in the distance flew against the light of the moon.
Being here, seeing such incredible things, it solidified her reality and skewed it.
“Please, make yourselves comfortable,” King Yoel said. He searched through the tomes at the top of a bookshelf, his graceful wings keeping him in the air.
Cassiel motioned to the seating area. Dyna chose a tufted sofa and Zev settled next to her.
“I believe Miss Dynalya asked a rather important question,” the High King said to a book he was considering. “Care to share the answer, Master Wolf?”
Zev shifted in his seat. Tension creased his brow and his throat flexed. Several times he attempted to speak but no words came. At his stalled silence, the High King and the Prince glanced at him then at each other. She frowned. There was a nuance in their silent exchange that she didn’t quite follow.
The King flew down with a large book and handed it to her before taking a seat in an armchair across from them. The book was large and heavy; fastened shut by thick metal clasps colored by oxidation. The brittle, leather cover had seen more wear than her journal, the edges peeled and worn to the core.The Fall of Gamorwas stamped on the center in old Urnian.
“Dynalya, are you familiar with the city of Gamor?” King Yoel asked.
“It used to lay not too far from here,” she answered, “in the southern boundary of the Azure Kingdom. It perished in a great fire five centuries ago. That place is now a ruin.”
The High King and his son shared another look. What did Gamor have to do with them?
Zev picked at a frayed hole in his trousers, avoiding her gaze.
She crossed her arms. “You know what happened, and you knew Celestials lived within miles of North Star. Grandmother always coddled me with half-truths but why would you keep this from me?”
Zev exhaled a heavy breath. “Your Majesty?”
King Yoel nodded. “For tonight, I grant you leave to speak on this matter.”
“Thank you.” Zev turned to her. “I couldn’t reveal the existence of Celestials because I am sworn to never speak of it. All mystical creatures are bound to secrecy, and their rulers have passed that pact down generation after generation. The Pack Alphas, the Elvin Kings, the Fae Gentry, and the sovereign of every creature in this world. All because of Celestial history.”
Dyna searched his troubled green eyes. It was the only feature they had in common, but his were expressive like her father’s, displaying his thoughts and emotions like his worry.
“You need not protect me from the past, Zev,” she said. “Ignorance does no one any good, and I nearly died because of it.”
He cringed at the reminder. “There is no happy ending to this story, Dyna.”
That was something she was familiar with.
