To say that Icas was nervous would be an understatement. King Fane had just ordered him to come into his private office to talk to him. Icas's stride slowed as he approached the large doors at the end of the hallway. He took a deep breath and pushed open the doors.
A small fireplace burned in the corner of the room. A soft carpet made from the fur of what Icas recognized as Starglow wolf fur layed on the floor. The wall was covered with different swords and shields that were on display with a few paintings here and there. Overall, it was a very cozy room. One painting caught his eye. It depicted a large creature of pure shadow sneaking through a forest. The creature's silver eyes were void of any emotion as it searched mercilessly for its prey. A young girl with blond hair hid behind one of the trees.
"The Kivuli are nasty creatures," a voice said from a desk in front of the fireplace. Icas turned to see King Fane sitting in a chair with a quill in his hand. "They feed on all living things and come in great numbers."
"Yet you work with them," Icas said.
"Occasionally. I heard that your parents have fallen prey to them."
Icas's face darkened. "Yes," he said quietly.
"I know that there's more you want to say, but it's okay, you do not have to tell me."
Icas sat down in a chair across from the king. "I just want to be able to do something. All of these years, I wanted to teach those Kivuli a lesson. Revenge. For killing my parents."
"Oh, your parents aren't dead."
Icas's head jerked upwards. "What? How?"
"The Kivuli suck the life force out of its prey and the life force of a human keeps replenishing until it is too weak to do so. They do not kill them. Your parents are probably still alive, in the beast who took them."
"How do I defeat one?"
"Go to Eddeathra. There is a golden flower there. Find it and it will give you the power to save your parents."
"How do I get it?"
"Join me. We will conquer Eddeathra and you will be able to find the flower and save your parents."
Now to anyone else, this might sound stupid and like an obvious trap, but Icas had only one thing in his mind: to save his parents. In that instant, Icas completely forgot about the vision he had had. He nodded at King Fane. "Okay."
King Fane smiled a wicked and evil smile. "You will need help. Odi!"
The office doors opened and a dark-haired man with a blue soldier's uniform walked into the room. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"This is Icas Thornton, soon to be King of Eddeathra. You will serve as his captain and travel with him to Eddeathra."
Odi nodded. "Understood." Odi then left the room. Neither of them knew that Odi had heard their entire conversation. Odi ran to Elina's room. He knocked on the door.
Elina opened the door. "Can I help you?"
"I do not know how to tell you this but…"