The small servant man rushed with haste through the corridors trying to get to the throne room as fast as he could. He passed by ornately painted oil pictures that ordained the pale walls of the castle. The only trace he left was his own shadow cast along the ground while gliding through the beams of light shining through each large paned window. His eyes were wide and he breathed heavily. There was no time to waste.
Statues of various past rulers of the Delvar Kingdom watched him run with soulless, white voided eyes. He nearly ran into a single potted plant that stood near a turn in the hallway when he curved the corner. A few posted king's guards turned to look in his direction as he burst through a door and into the throne room.
"My liege!" the small servant cried over heavy breaths. He was nearly sopping wet from sweat, drentching his brow.
At the front of the room sat a well fed, pale faced man, adorned with a red velvet crown with gold and jewels. Small wisps of sandy blonde hair poked out in small curls from underneath it and his blue eyes looked vague and distant while staring into a golden goblet. He twirled it around in his fingers, sloshing the liquid back and forth. His posture overall made him seem adrift with his thoughts.
The king's gaze lifted from his drink as he settled into a more upright position. "Yes?" he asked with a light sigh. "This had better be riveting. I am in the midst of my afternoon drink."
"You will be pleased to know that it is very intriguing, sir. An elf by the name of Zinlar requests your presence, sir. He has an offer he claims you cannot refuse," the servant answered, hoping his message compelled his king to say yes. He waited in anticipation while placing his fingertips together.
"An elf?" the king asked with interest, scratching his chin. "Do they even exist? I thought they died out centuries ago."
"He claims to have emerged from the wood after hiding out of sight for his own protection. He speaks of a place of power, the lost Kingdom of Zaniah, sir," the servant spoke.
The king seemed a bit baffled by the news and slumped in his chair. "Zaniah? The mythical kingdom? That place doesn't exist. Send him away," the king said, waving him off.
The servant bowed, nearly getting on his knees to plead. "Please, sire, hear him out at least. He insists," he urged, not mentioning he was threatened by the elf if he did not provide.
A frown creased the king's face and his eyes rolled around in his skull. "Send him in," he said with a sigh, clearly displeased with the situation.
The small servant vanished through the double doors of the throne room and soon returned trailed by a small group of men, led by Zinlar. The elf walked out onto the red rugs like a prize to be had. "Bring them in," he commanded. Captive in their group, bound by ropes and chains ,were Rin and Canin. His men tugged on their bindings, forcing them inside. "It is an honor," Zinlar said, addressing the king and taking a deep bow that caused his long black hair to tumble off his shoulders. His smile was less than kind as he straightened and looked at the king with devious, purple eyes. "I'm very pleased you agreed to our meeting, sir."
Zinlar piqued the king's interest and he surveyed the elf with curiosity. "It is clear my servant was not lying to me. It is a pleasure to be greeted by one such as yourself. I do ask you to make it quick, however," the king said, placing his goblet on the wide, wooden arm rest of his throne. "A king doesn't have all day."
"Of course, you must be a very busy man," Zinlar said, then waved for them to bring Rin and Canin forward.
Rin and Canin stubbornly tried to pull away from Zinlar's men, stumbling over their bound feet from being forced in front of the throne against their will. Canin had shifted back into his human form and was fully clothed and bound. Rin's belongings had been taken from him and he no longer wore the blood stained coat he had retrieved from Annabelle's corpse. Blades were held close to both of their necks and against their backs to insure they would not try to escape.
"I do not assume your most trusted servant here has told you a bit about our cause," Zinlar began. "Three souls search for the lost Kingdom of Zaniah. They intend to bring back power that was lost years ago to the fall of the kingdom. The gods reawaken along with the king and queen who will rise to power along with it. We thought you might find such news rather intriguing. It does with the possibility of overthrowing your established kingdom and your power along with it."
The king scrunched his lips, not very keen on the idea of losing his power or to the rise of another kingdom. "I find it interesting you speak of a threat to the Delvar kingdom. But what I don't understand is this "threat" being the Kingdom of Zaniah. It simply doesn't exist. It is a tall tale lost with time."
"We are well aware Zaniah has been said to be a myth," Zinlar said. "But, I assure you, it does exist. I have confirmed it from these two who were traveling with a man who has been there. These two men along with three others are looking for it with the plan of committing treason by overthrowing your rule, your highness."
The cultists pushed Rin forward. He fell to his knees and looked up at the king with a glare. "Don't believe a word he says! We do not plan to commit treason!" Rin yelled, then let out a loud cry when one of the cultist men used the blunt end of his hilt and hit him in the back of the neck. Rin flopped like a fish onto the ground with a groan feeling the rough of the carpet against his skin.
"Silence," the king said calmly, raising a hand to all. "I am suspicious of your intentions and why these two men would commit treason against the king of the Delvar Kingdom by overthrowing my rule. We are more than willing to accept alliances if they mean no ill will against us."
"That's just it, sire. They mean ill will. The others that these two men traveled with want to become king and queen and take your place, sire," Zinlar announced. "They crave power that you, the current king, could have for himself to rule with stronger authority."
"Stronger power?" the king asked, squinting. "What stronger power do you speak of?"
"They seek the pieces of a key, the key that opens the gates to the kingdom," Zinlar mused, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing the small gem. He raised it for all to see. "I have taken this from them. It was found on these men when we captured them. They tried to use its power against us and nearly killed one of our men. It contains power said to awaken souls to said greater power."
A laugh escaped the king's mouth, and a chorus of chuckles escaped his guards as well. "The threat to the kingdom is a small, red shard?" the king laughed. "This is ridiculous!"
The smile dropped from Zinlar's face as the king and his men chortled at him. "Silence!" the elf yelled. "I have not yet shown you its capabilities."
The king wiped tears from his eyes and raised a brow. "Show me, great lord, the power of your rock," he snarked.
"I have heard the language they speak to draw the power of the shards! I will show you now, its power!" Zinlar announced, and aggressively shoved the small shard into the back of one of his men's necks. "Una esha... okri!"
A deafening scream silenced the room. All eyes grew wide when the cult member Zinlar used the shard on suddenly burst into flame. His skin peeled away revealing muscles and bones and he melted like ice. His body and clothes turned charcoal black and he fell forward rolling about, screaming in pain. The flame only diminished when his body was left on the ground as a gray and black pile of dust and bones.
The king, startled by such a feat, rose to his feet and motioned for his guards to raise their weapons. "That is a barbaric power. I will not stand for such a thing in my presence or my kingdom!" he commanded. "Arrest this man for violence."
Zinlar put his hands up in defense, "I'd like to assure you. It doesn't do this to everyone," he said, the conniving smile returning to his face.
He moved up behind Canin and placed a hand on the wolf's strong jaw. "If you look here, he came to power as a lycan. These shards awakened his soul to a great power of strength and transformation."
Canin remained silent, but there was fury in his amber eyes and he pulled away from the elf's clutch with a deep growl.
The king turned his nose upward and replied, "What is this power that gives them such strength?"
"The power of Prana," Zinlar beamed. "Every soul has such a substance to achieve power. Touching the shard, it speaks to the Prana in your soul and you can do great things with it and come to great power. The Delvar Kingdom could become so much more than it is now. You could rule with great strength!"
The king hung on every word, growing more hungry for such power. He waved his hand downward and his guards lowered their weapons. "I now see why it is such a problem. What will it take to obtain the key and where do we find these three who are after it, elf?"
Zinlar spread his arms wide and answered, "I offer you a trade. No more, no less. With the aid of your men, we hunt down these three and imprison them so they cannot find the kingdom and rule and I will give you the shards as I find them. In return, I ask for one of your prisoners."
"Of whom do you speak of?" the king asked curiously.
"Her name is Isolde. Years ago she was brought here for treason and locked deep within the holds of your dungeons. I ask, no, beg for her release," Zinlar bargained. "I believe she has served her time and will need her at my side to help us get to Zaniah."
The king drummed two fingers against his chin. "Curious bargain, elf. Give me a few days to accept your offer. I do ask, do you know the way to Zaniah?"
"Of course, sir," Zinlar said with a bow. "And I will take you there myself when the path is clear."
"And what of these two men?" The king asked, pointing to Rin and Canin.
"Imprison the lycan. I have personal use for the other," he said.
"Guards, lock up the wolf," the king instructed, then his gaze moved to Zinlar. "I am trusting your word that you will keep this man under wraps," he said, nodding toward Rin.
"Of course, my king. He knows his destiny," Zinlar said cruelly. With that, Zinlar's men picked Rin up off the floor and dragged him from the throne room. The double doors shut with a heavy thud behind them.