The company approached the gates of Solions at sunset the next day, as well dressed, or disguised, as they could be after a day and night on the road. As the sun began to set over the giant city, a large and angry crowd of people gathered at the gates, demanding to be allowed entry. The crowd was a mix of peasants, merchants, and travellers who had been on the road for hours and were eager to reach the safety and shelter of the city before nightfall. The mood grew more and more heated, with some shouting and cursing at the guards and others pushing against the gates in frustration. The guards stood their ground, brandishing their weapons and warning the crowd to stay back.
"What is going on here?" asked Kalou incredulously. They marched up to the gates and observed as a man shouted at the guards.
"But I live here, I only left to go fishing this morning. I want to go home!" he cried, stamping on the ground. The guards only raised their silver spears until one grazed his neck and he stumbled backwards, falling into the people behind him.
"We are under orders not to let anyone in or anyone out. If you want to argue, argue with the Empress!" Kalou pushed through and approached.
"Excuse me, but what happened?" One guard narrowed his eyes, although opened his mouth as someone finally asked politely.
"There have been a series of kidnappings, and now a noblewoman has gone missing. We are under the crown's orders not to let anyone pass. The city is on lockdown." He said grimly. A further uproar exploded, screaming that it only mattered when nobility went missing. Kalou cast back a knowing look to the others who appeared behind him. Kidnappings. A silent conversation passed between their eyes, judging whether it was worth the undoubted gossip of revealing their identities here. Stolas groaned at the result and lowered his hood, revealing the drake coiled around his neck.
"Sir, you must let my companions pass. Do you recognise my brother and I?" said Stolas.
"Why the hell would I, who are you for me to ignore the crown's orders?" He huffed. "Step back!" His spear rose and before it reached even a few inches high, it snapped in half and was turned back on his own throat. "How dare-"
Michaeas clutched the spear and drew a single drop of blood from his neck.
"If you value the air that flows through your lungs, you will show some respect." He hissed with a venom that blackened the atmosphere and rendered the crowd silent. Kalou smirked and Stolas paled. The angel continued in perfect Lohurian. "Who are you to deny us?"
"Do you want to look again?" Said Kalou leering at the baffled guard as his friends stood frozen. Fear turned the man's face green as he stuttered.
"Princes- I, I truly didn't know. I would not know, I'm just a gate… gate guard." He winced.
A trumpet sounded from the back of the congregation, and suddenly all eyes turned to the source. A bowing path appeared in the centre, letting five people pass through on beautiful horses covered in mud and game. Stolas' stomach sank as a female figure dressed in fine hunting gear gilded in blood came into view, followed by four high ranking nobles. The woman's dark brown, cat-like eyes scanned the crowd. In the golden light, her olive skin and chocolate brown hair glowed a bright orange. She carried an austere beauty as she dismounted her horse and placed a firm gloved hand on her sword.
"Guards, why are you not letting these people through? They want to go home, let them." Her voice like silk caressed the ears of all that heard her, yet it carried an icy hostility and made most shiver. The guard dropped to his knees, dripping in sweat.
"Your highness, this is-"
"Stolas!" She screamed. Her eyes widened and a giant smile transformed her face into one of childish joy. She sprinted at him, wrapping her arms around him in a vice grip. "You have come to visit me! I am so happy, why did you not come sooner? I have heard of what you did for Lazeria, I never knew that you could be even more amazing."
"Ah, yes, Eloise. Watch the dragon." He said, somewhat choking on her hair. She pulled back but only slightly still pacing both of her arms on his shoulders. Although Stolas did not trump his brother in terms of height, he still grew to be taller than most, and her head fit snugly just under his chin. "Eloise, may my friends and I come in?" The glacial hostility returned to her features as she turned to the guard.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Your highness, the Empress cast a decree that no one may enter or leave, a noble woman has been kidnapped."
"And does 'no one' include your princess and her fiancé?"
"It seems that way." Chuckled Kalou. Michaeas tossed the broken spear to the side and, although not intentionally, he cast it with enough force that the remaining wood shattered on impact with the wall. The guard yelped like a kicked dog.
"No! No, of course not, please, come through."
"Right, well…" Eloise trailed off. "All of you, get off of your horses, clean them up and carry the carcasses." She ordered. The nobles obediently did as they were told. "Stolas, there are not enough horses for all of you, will you ride with me?" she asked, but Stolas' attention settled on the angel as he grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.
"You speak Lohurian? Since when!"
Micheas leant down. "I have known it for one hundred and eighty years," he whispered into his ear. "My apologies, Balit el, I did not know you spoke this language." Stolas just smiled at him, putting 'one hundred and eighty years' to the side for now.
"I am not angry," Micheas took on a quizzical expression.
"Your tone felt hostile."
"I can finally have a real conversation with you, this is the best news," he said with a laugh. "Come, ride with me, we can talk." Just as he turned to go, Michaeas grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back within whispering distance. His heart jumped.
"I think your princess wanted to ride with you." He paused. His eyes flicked up behind his mask to meet her piercing stare. "She does not seem to like me. I believe a compromise is in order for you to maintain goodwill with the imperial princess Eloise. Use my horse. I shall walk." Stolas did not pay much attention to his words, but the fact he said so many of them. He sensed the angel's personality begin to shine through just a little; straightforward yet considerate. Instead of his poor grasp of Lazerian, his voice felt different in this accent, deeper, more luxurious. He spoke with the cadence of someone who should be dressed in luxury, housing a glass of red wine between his fingers and bestowing orders on those lesser. The angel's commanding presence made him eager to listen to him.
"Alright then."
The narrow cobblestone streets bathed in the soft, flickering light of torches and oil lamps, creating a gentle glow that danced upon the facades of the ancient stone buildings. Majestic cathedrals with towering spires dominated the skyline, their intricate stained glass windows catching the fading sunlight and scattering vibrant colours onto the surrounding surfaces. The city walls they crossed through, adorned with weathered battlements and watchtowers, stood as steadfast guardians, casting long shadows that stretched towards the outskirts. As they travelled to the palace, Stolas observed the city's bustling marketplace begin to wind down. Merchants packed up their stalls, but a few lingered, offering their wares to those seeking a last-minute bargain. The aroma of freshly baked bread and aromatic spices wafted through the air, enticing him to stop and indulge in the tantalising street food on offer. A low grumble emanated from his stomach, like distant thunder before a storm. In the distance, the sound of a bell tolled, marking the end of the day and summoning the faithful to evening prayer.
"Micha, does Ascha listen to prayers somehow?" Stolas discreetly asked. At the mention of that name his face seemed to sour again.
"No. He is deaf and blind to the worries of humans. He abandoned your people long ago, just as he did mine." Stolas let out a small hum.
"I guessed as much." He wanted to continue, to ask how much of the Aschan Testament was accurate, but his gut twisted and he kept his questions behind pursed lips.
The steady clap of metal horseshoes on stone grew louder from behind him.
"Stolas," Eloise poked his arm playfully. "Are you going to introduce me to this hooded man?"
"This is Micha, he is my friend." he said with a smile.
"My pleasure, your grace."
"Where are you from? Your accent, I have not heard it before." Although almost perfect, a native could pick out slight flaws in his pronunciation.
"He is from the far North of Lazeria, the Frostlands." Stolas lied. His eyes trailed back to the angel, who tilted his face away and kept his hands in his pockets. "A truly fascinating culture. Did you know that they must cover their eyes?" A stab of guilt hit him in the gut. As predicted, Eloise asked why, and Stolas nibbled on the inside of his cheek as he awaited Michaeas' explanation.
"Our eyes may only be seen by blood." He stated, a hint of annoyance colouring his tone. "Or one whose blood we intend to shed." His cold aura crept into Stolas' clothes and punished him for his manipulation, chilling him to the bone and forcing him to fall back as Michaeas strode ahead. Shit… he cursed inwardly, I should not have asked. Iron coated his tongue as his cheek bled, but he continued to gnaw on it as his eyes dropped.
The group reached the silver palace gates and immediately they opened. Like a giant mouth, Stolas eyed the silver fang like prongs that could snap back on them if this failed. If they got caught. Trumpets again flared and announced their arrival. Dismounting in the courtyard, he jolted and stumbled off of his horse as a booming voice cheered greetings their way.
"Stolas and Kalou Innovia! How are you?" roared the Empress with a fat smile on her rather round head. Stolas forced himself to turn and look as it occurred to him that the royal line may have shifted. No. Empress Julienne Solieste in all of her glory greeted him with a smile. His mouth opened slightly and he failed to answer her as this woman never looked at him with bright and cheerful eyes until today. He racked his brain in an attempt to decipher exactly why, until he noticed the green tint of greed in her eyes. "My future son-in-law, are you well?"
"Yes. Your imperial majesty, thank you." He said, bowing without breaking his stare. "Forgive us for showing up so suddenly. I wanted to surprise Eloise. I think it would be nice for us to spend some more time together before we are wed," Stolas repressed the acid rising in the back of his throat as these words left his mouth. Sparing a glance at Eloise, her skin blushed the shade of poisoned strawberries. "However, it is our understanding that a noblewoman has gone missing, we can help solve this problem for you." Her smile faltered.
"The lady Helena. She was taken last night from the palace." The group's eyes widened.
"Your beasts are getting rather bold." Caine whispered into Michaeas' ear. He went to pull away but Caine pointed the swallow into the small of his back. "You must know, the only reason you are still standing is because Stolas has grown attached to you. He plays with new and shiny things but soon you will be a toy grown bored with. Do not think you have so easily earned a place in his trust, nor the royal house, monster."
"Your hatred is quite blatant, Master VanCourts, yet I must disappoint you: Balit el is my friend."
Stolas heard the heated whispers and took a few sly steps in between the two of them, batting away the swallow's blade. He flashed Caine a warning glance and his mentor's face shadowed, as if thunder clouds lurked above his head.
Following every pleasantry, they cleaned themselves up, explained their tumultuous journey with a burning carriage, and Stolas produced the food for the following feast to the Empress' delight. Kalou and Éirean took over the conversation with the Empress and recorded the details of Lady Helena's disappearance inside the palace war office as the others all sat in the hall with wine flowing. Michaeas' glass remained undisturbed the entire night and not a word escaped him. Stolas knocked back drink after drink as he attempted to dodge Eloise's advancements. Caine grumbled more and more under his breath, his volume increasing with each drink as he chatted with the nobles. When the others joined them an hour later, both Stolas and Caine saw them sit down with blurred vision and greeted them with slurred words, tripping as they bowed to the Empress.