ZAVIER
21:11. A surge of strong, magical energy sizzles through my body, and I know I'm not that far from its source. Right now, I'm thrilled I sent my men to the smaller city south and the big town north and decided to keep Caligar, the capital of the Wessian Kingdom, to myself. I suspected the late queen would not have liked to stay near a portal. But still, wouldn't want to stay in a town knowing that her daughter would be easier to find in such a small setting. Also, witches are deemed important in Wessian society, so probably the only people that could know about the girl had to be in the capital city.
Humans are curious creatures. Fascinating really. How they build these impressive structures without any magic is beyond me. The feat of engineering it took to erect a city over water seems no short of a miracle, but at the same time, they are so… simple-minded. Their life span is so brief that they throw themselves into stupid things like children and then expect to come out of them unscathed. Ridiculous. But their naivety suits us well; it helps us hide in the shadows. Every human, except a select few, has forgotten that once we lived among them, we thrived, and in retaliation, they hunted us.
– Non est hîc – I hear a whisper in Endolat from the south and another from the north.
– Est hîc – I whisper back in both directions to confirm her location, glad we at least get to message each other in this rustic form.
The limited amount of magic we can do in this realm is annoying. I understand the Gods didn't want us to abuse the power they gave us, but limiting our defense mechanisms to mere parlor tricks here seems abusive. Balance, they call it, but the so-called "balanced" system is also a ruse and a poor excuse to discriminate and play favorites.
That didn't stop us, but it certainly became an inconvenience when the time to plan came. We can't do any complex magic or anything that damages humans here; our power won't allow it. My father told me I shouldn't even try using more advanced spells because a fae of my power level could get seriously damaged while attempting it here. It would drain me; the land would absorb my power like a sponge and take it away. The only people that could make magic in the human realm as well as in the magical realm are the witches. They never go into the magical realm, but they could. They aren't as powerful as us, but they can do some amazing things with the elements on this side of the border.
The human realm does have its own advantages though. The magic that binds the royal lines in the magical realm so we cannot lay a hand on each other does not exist here. Which is why we can attempt to take the Solarian princess in the first place. Were she in the magical realm, we wouldn't be able to touch or harm her, which is why the accusations against my father when the late queen's family died, and she disappeared were preposterous. I was a little older than one at the time, so I don't remember any of it. What I do remember, though, is the stink eye every single member of the Aurean council has given us ever since. Not a single shred of evidence supports the sun court's accusations against my father, so they can't deem us unfit to sit on the moon court's throne, but we know what everyone thinks, what they say behind our backs. The sun slayer, they call him, and even though I've never shared this with anyone, I think my father secretly likes the nickname.
One time he said to me: "Their arrogance will be their downfall. Doesn't matter what they call me because I'm not the real slayer; their egos are." I think he's right. I have never understood why everyone in the magical realm hates our court so much. Darkness does not equate to evil, and light does not equate to virtue. They have pushed and pushed until they have given us no choice but to take extreme measures to negotiate. I really wish it hadn't come to this.
Belyo, my horse, gallops at full speed towards the wealthy section of the city. I should have known. Of course, the late queen would not mix with a low-born man, a noble Solarian would never stoop so low. The incarnation of perfection that they are, or at least pretend to be.
While the lights dance as I pass them by and the wind applies its futile resistance, an estate the size of a small town comes into view. The Wessian Kingdom, contrary to what the name may indicate, doesn't have kings or queens, they have councils for everything, but if they had royalty, I'm sure this would be their place of residence, the palace. Its grand entrance seems framed by an arch of plants, flowers, and lights. The whole building is surrounded by the flowing water below the city, and the green banners fly proudly. It's astonishing, especially with all the decorations that seem to hang from every column, in honor of the bastard princess on her birthday, no doubt.
I felt kind of bad when Father told me about the lost princess growing up in a world that wasn't her own, alone and afraid. But now, looking at all these, my sympathy is gone; she clearly wanted for nothing and didn't have to sacrifice anything in return. Life is about to get a whole lot more complicated for her. Boo freaking hoo.
As I dismount, a valet receives my horse, arranging my tailored suit from riding at speed for almost all day. Everything is decorated in deep green and golden notes, the gold of the sun court, no doubt. Maybe our information was wrong, and she does know who she is. It baffles me that someone could be so selfish, knowing they have a responsibility towards a whole court, and ignore them just to stay safely tucked away from the political games that must be played during a cold war.
I go through the plan once more in my head while walking towards the entrance. It should be simple enough. I will pretend to be a Lord's son from a faraway land. I will court her and then ask permission to take her on a walk in the gardens, where my men will be waiting for us to run. Although if she does know of her heritage it may get more… messy. I cross the threshold and turn to my right. Claps sound inside of what appears to be the ballroom, so I head there and enter.
My eyes finally fall on her; the lost princess, the fae/human bastard, the useless so-called sun court ruler, and the last royal of the Solarian line. She is breathtaking, with an inhuman glow, wild red hair, and soft, creamy skin. The eyes of who I presume is her father and another man besides her, watching her full of joy and pride. Her charming smile seems delighted, that is, until her gaze lands upon me, and her mask cracks with confusion and what seems like recognition. So, she does know. Go figure. Father was right; she deserves to be the bargaining chip her mother made her to be.
– Come on, everyone! Let's start the feist! – her father says, and everyone takes a seat.
Everyone but me, of course, while she is only able to stare at me, searching my features, as if my face held some kind of answer she has been searching for.
– To Lady Valtara Solis Amberan! – the other man at the table of honor chants as he raises his glass towards the room. Everyone cheers in answer, and I can't avoid the smirk that takes over my mouth as she analyzes me, seizing the threat I oppose.
Her eyes shine with realization, and a panicked look takes over her. She knows I've come for her. She knows who I am, and although no one seems to notice, our magic recognizes each other as electricity appears to run wild through the room, raising the hairs on the back of my neck.
I smile and raise my glass towards her. She raises hers towards mine in fear. What a blatant and absurd nickname her mother chose to hide her real last name. What a pathetic attempt at trying to shield her coddled daughter from the world that she always knew would come to claim her back. Finally, I stand before her and bow. Her father nods in my direction.
– Happy birthday Lady Solis. – I say. The other man at the table eyes me suspiciously when he notices Valtara's reaction.
– Who are you? – she asks bluntly. I chuckle. "Your nemesis," I wish to answer.
– Valtara! Manners! – her father chastises her.
– I'm Lord Zavier Vespi from the Surean kingdom, and I've come to this event expecting to get to know Lady Solis. If not to court, then to establish a diplomatic relationship between our… nations.
– Lord Vespi, huh? Haven't heard about you. – the man to her right says while he sips his wine.
– That would be because my country keeps the names of its nobility close, Lord. You know this is a standard operating procedure since the Great Opposing War. – I say praying that the info we got about the Surean Kingdom was accurate and that the man beside Valtara is indeed a Lord.
The father of Valtara nods in understanding.
– Please sit Lord Vespi. I'm sorry about the attitude my children are displaying. You must understand that they are used to being defensive towards strangers since many people come close to them with nefarious intentions.
– Not only strangers… – Valtara says under her breath while she sips her wine. I chuckle.
– I am intimately acquainted with the feeling, my Lords and Lady. – I say while I take a sit and the service comes to set the table in my place.
– You are the first man to approach me tonight. You must be fearless. – Valtara says with a glint in her eye, and I have the feeling that she is making fun of me.
– Or very… dense – her brother smiles – I am talking about the aura of power that covers you from head to toe, of course, my Lord. – I smile. He doesn't know how accurate his assessment is, even though he clearly says it to annoy me.
– Of course – her brother smiles in return. Her father seems a bit mortified but reticent to stop them.
– Pay them no mind, my Lord. Their chatter and teasing are always relentless.
– I've seen it before with siblings. I wouldn't know myself since I'm an only child, but I've heard it's expected.
Her father nods in agreement, and we all keep silent for a minute while we eat. We chatter about little stuff, and although Valtara still seems tense, she enjoys spending time with her brother and father. Her eyes rarely leave me, and her father interprets her interest as a romantic one instead of what it is, a weary one.
– I still remember attending the coming-of-age ball of Malden's mother. I was a nervous wreck, and I've never been exceptionally versed in the art of courting a lady. Fortunately for me, neither Samantha nor Espara found that trait of mine annoying; they seemed to find it endearing.
– Because it is, Father. – Valtara answers and then locks eyes with mine – Sometimes, an overabundance of confidence can be detrimental. Wouldn't you agree, Lord Vespi? – I chuckle
– Well, I'm no expert but in my experience, it's all about timing my Lady. That and knowing how to read people – I say as I assess her – knowing when they are hiding their hand only for you to lean closer. It's a game. – Valtara snorts at my answer
– It's a waste of time; it's what that is. There are many more important things to be worried about. – She answers.
– You will have to excuse my sister, my Lord. She doesn't believe in love nor is interested in pursuing it at the moment.
– It isn't that I don't believe in it. Is just that I find it distracting and, contrary to what our community thinks, unnecessary to be a functional and high-ranking member of society – she says confidently. Her response amazed me; I would have guessed she was just as eager to marry as any of the humans she grew up with.
– We can agree on that, my Lady. – the men at the table look at me, surprised. A smile takes over her father's face, and her brother seizes my words to know if I'm being honest or just trying to charm my way into his sister's undergarments. Such an overbearing big brother. He is going to be a problem; I know it.
We finish our dinner, and the music goes from an environmental style to a dancing one, and everyone starts to get out of their seats. Some suitors are waiting on the periphery for a chance to speak with Lady Valtara, but I didn't work this hard on her family to let her slip away. Not when so much depends on her gullible father and overprotective brother letting me take her for a walk.
– So, Lord Herrald, do you dance? – I ask. Malden chuckles.
– I do indeed. Are you about to ask me for a dance? – he wiggles his brows, teasing me.
– Well, since I doubt your sister will give me the honor, I had to try with some other member of your house and since your father's heart has already been given twice, I guessed he wouldn't be interested.
Malden and his father laugh with me while she eyes me with suspicion.
– He is already spoken for, my Lord. To Lady Emerald, his soon-to-be fiancé. – she answers
– I'm afraid my sister is right, my Lord, you will have to risk your neck and ask her after all. – A challenge glints in her brother's eyes, and I know I got him on board. I realize these men are not impressed by money, status, or power. They are impressed by wit and personality. They are not as simple-minded as I first thought, for being humans, at least. They judge my character based on my actions and thoughts instead of just the façade I presented them with.
I turn towards Lady Valtara with a smile on my face. She tenses up and grabs her brother's leg as he chuckles and pats her hand. Malden whispers something in Valtara's ear, and she shakes her head, pleading with her eyes. He just holds her gaze, and finally, she turns to me.
– Care for a dance, my Lady? – I say to her as I extend my hand, never shifting my eyes from hers. She watches me intently, trying to figure out my intentions but coming out empty-handed, unsure.
– I feel like you are trouble – she answers my request, and I smirk at her.
– Oh. You have no idea, Lady. – I say to her as my hand gets closer to hers, and she takes it. I don't know why, but the moment our hands meet, a chill runs through both of us, and I'm as sure as I'm the heir of the moon court that Lady Valtara Solis is much more than what she appears.
If she knows her heritage, she is a wolf dressed as a lamb; if she doesn't, the raw power flowing through her is enough to make her dangerous. Maybe, I have finally found a worthy opponent; it is time to find out.