Page 89 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“Is he expecting me to run into any problems?”

Toyne shook his head rigorously.

“Not at all. His Majesty believes this is something you could accomplish alone. However…” He hesitated. “He wanted to prevent incidents that may occur if you were to be discovered.”

Rain’s jaw tightened.

“And what is within that tower?”

“I am not at lib—”

“Liberty to discuss. Blah blah blah,” Rain snapped. “yes, I heard you.”

He slid the pole upward, pressing it against Toyne’s throat, cutting off his air. The General’s eyes bulged.

“I command you, General Toyne. Tell me what I am to retrieve from that tower.”

He didn’t loosen his grip. Instead, he dove into the man’s energy, searching for the truth buried beneath the king’s influence. As the man panicked, gasping tiny amounts air, he felt it—faint, flickering, desperate to surface.

“TELL ME!” Rain roared, spit flying, fully cutting off Toyne’s air.

As the General’s energy shifted into survival mode, the king’s influence weakened.

“What is in the tower?” Rain probed again.

A single word flitted into his mind.

Female.

Rain stepped back, dropping the pole. Success. His power held Toyne upright as he gasped for air.

“Thank you, General. I apologise for having to do that to you.” Rain’s voice softened, genuine remorse in his eyes. “Now that I have the answer… can you tell me what my father wants with a female locked away in a tower? Who is she?”

Toyne’s eyes widened. Rain released him. The General collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest as he fought to breathe.

After a painful minute, he rasped:

“All I know is that the king has an unlikely Red ally. They specifically requested that you rescue the female. I… I don’t know who it is, I swear. In return, they will attempt to assassinate King Drazier from within.”

The king’s influence had finally broken.

Interesting.

Rain recalled Raymon’s warning; Drazier had bigger threats within his own court. This could still be a trap, but it was unlike Azrien to trust an enemy’s word. Cruel and reckless as he was, he was also calculating.

Rain’s earlier apprehension began to ease. He wasn’t being sent into the heart of battle after all. Despite the Gods granting him better control, he wasn’t eager to test the limits of that control in open warfare.

“Your Highness!” a voice called from the crowd. “Your Highness!”

Rain turned as a stocky redhead pushed forward. His tag read Corporal.

He saluted. “Permission to speak, sir.”

“At ease, Corporal. Permission granted.”

“Corporal Hamish, sir. I have been ordered to escort you. I am one of the five selected to accompany you on this mission.”

He nodded, then turned back to Toyne.