Chapter 5: Secrets of the Flame
The tension in Ilyana's chest didn't ease even after she and Valeria slipped back into the safety of the palace's dim corridors. Her father's voice still echoed in her mind—"She must not know." Whatever they were keeping from her, it wasn't just some trivial matter. It was something that could potentially change her fate, and possibly, the fate of both kingdoms.
Valeria remained silent as they made their way through the winding halls. The princess of Frost moved with a practiced ease, her cloak blending into the shadows as they hurried away from the war room. Ilyana, however, was far less calm. Her thoughts raced, swirling with questions she couldn't yet answer.
They reached a secluded alcove in the palace gardens, hidden from view by a lattice of thick ivy and towering stone walls. The warm air from the nearby forges filled the space, but Ilyana barely noticed the comforting heat. She turned to Valeria, her expression tense.
"They're keeping something from me," Ilyana said, her voice low but sharp. "Something important."
Valeria nodded. "It seems so. And whatever it is, your father and Draelen are determined to make sure you stay in the dark."
Ilyana paced, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Her fiery temper, something she usually kept under strict control, flared in moments like this. She could feel the heat rising within her, the ember of her frustration threatening to ignite into a blaze.
"Why would they do that?" she asked aloud, more to herself than to Valeria. "I'm not a child. I deserve to know what's happening."
"Perhaps they think they're protecting you," Valeria suggested, though her tone was skeptical. "Or perhaps it's something far more personal. You are the center of this alliance, after all. If there's a secret, it might have something to do with that."
Ilyana stopped pacing and stared at Valeria. The thought hadn't fully struck her until now, but it made sense. The alliance between their kingdoms was fragile at best—held together by the thin thread of her marriage to Draelen. If there was a secret that threatened to unravel that thread, then it was no wonder her father and Draelen would go to great lengths to keep it hidden from her.
But Ilyana wasn't content to sit back and wait for answers to be spoon-fed to her. She had always been active, always fought for her own decisions. Even now, as her life seemed to spiral beyond her control, she refused to be a passive player in this dangerous game.
"We have to find out what they're hiding," Ilyana said with sudden resolve. "If there's something going on that could endanger both our kingdoms, I won't stand idly by and let it happen."
Valeria's eyes glimmered with a mix of approval and caution. "I had a feeling you'd say that," she said. "But are you sure? This could be dangerous. The kind of information they're hiding might not just be political. There could be... darker forces involved."
Ilyana's mind flashed back to the earlier mention of Prince Kaelen and the Kingdom of Storms. She knew little about the Storm kingdom's current ambitions, but it was clear that Kaelen was no ordinary rival. If Draelen and her father were discussing Kaelen in such grave tones, then perhaps he was a far greater threat than they realized.
And yet, despite the looming danger, Ilyana couldn't shake the feeling that there was something even more sinister at play—something beneath the surface, lurking in the shadows.
"I can't just sit here and do nothing," Ilyana said firmly. "If there's a threat to us, I need to know."
Valeria studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well," she said, her voice softening. "But we have to be smart about this. We can't just barge into their meetings and demand answers. If we're going to uncover the truth, we need to do it carefully—without them realizing we're digging into their secrets."
Ilyana took a deep breath, her mind already racing with possibilities. How could they discover the truth? Who could they trust? The palace was full of eyes and ears, many loyal to her father, but perhaps there were a few who could be swayed to their side.
"What about the council?" Ilyana asked. "There must be someone on the inside who's not completely loyal to my father. Someone who might know more about these threats."
Valeria's expression darkened. "Possibly. But be careful who you trust. The council may not be as unified as it seems. And besides..." She hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. "There are forces at work that even the council might not be aware of."
Ilyana frowned. "What do you mean?"
Valeria hesitated again, as if debating whether to speak further. Finally, she sighed. "My brother Draelen has been keeping more than just political secrets from you," she said quietly. "There's... there's something dark in our kingdom. An ancient power, tied to the Frost, that Draelen has been investigating for months. He hasn't told me everything, but I know enough to be worried. He suspects there's a force manipulating events behind the scenes, pulling strings that neither your father nor my brother can fully understand."
Ilyana felt a chill run down her spine. A dark power? Manipulating events? This sounded more like the stuff of legends than reality. And yet, the fear in Valeria's voice was unmistakable.
"Why hasn't Draelen told me this?" Ilyana demanded, her frustration spiking again. "If we're supposed to be working together, how am I supposed to help if I don't know the full story?"
Valeria shook her head. "He's protective. Overprotective, even. He probably thinks he's keeping you safe by keeping you in the dark. But I agree with you—if you're going to stand by his side in this, you deserve to know the truth."
Ilyana's resolve hardened. She had already suspected Draelen was hiding something from her, but now that suspicion had been confirmed. If Draelen wasn't going to tell her the truth willingly, she would have to find it out herself.
"I need to speak to Draelen," she said, determination coursing through her. "He won't like it, but he owes me an explanation."
Valeria gave a small nod of approval. "Then I'll help you. But be careful. Draelen isn't the only one keeping secrets."
Later that evening, Ilyana found herself standing outside Draelen's chambers. The heavy wooden door loomed before her, almost as if it was a barrier not just to his room, but to the truth she was about to confront him with.
She knocked, the sound echoing in the silent corridor. A few moments later, the door creaked open, and Draelen appeared in the doorway, his expression unreadable as usual.
"Ilyana," he greeted, his tone neutral. "What brings you here?"
Ilyana met his gaze, her resolve firm. "We need to talk."
He studied her for a moment, then stepped aside, allowing her to enter. As the door closed behind them, Ilyana knew that this conversation would be a turning point. Whatever secrets Draelen had been hiding, she was determined to uncover them—no matter the cost.