Iselvheim, 21th of Einmánudr, 816 A.C.
War is a slippery slope.
Raiden knew this better than most, and ever since he'd Ascended, he'd started to understand this even better.
He clasped his hands behind his back and gazed at the young boy he had seen grow into a man, a leader, and a monarch. The winters had been kind to him, transforming the formerly scrawny, timid boy he had been into a broad-shouldered, clear-minded, and sharp-witted young man.
Now, finally, after twelve years of preparation to ascend the throne and fulfill the role he had been destined for, he was to be crowned.
It felt like only yesterday he'd been a boy.
Ceyx Thorden was dressed in beautiful attire, a pair of white, satin trousers and a tunic set stitched with golden thread. Over the tunic, he'd put on his lamellar armor, fitted to his chest that protected his thorax and abdomen. His golden hair was cut short and combed neatly into place, leaving the sharpness of his crystalline eyes naked with only the long and curled dust-colored eyelashes framing his eyes. There was a subtle stubble over his jaw that he hadn't bothered to shave in the morning.
He looked as much like a king as any Crown Prince could ever look.
He looked ready.
The young prince adjusted the light-brown furred cloak over his shoulders, fastening the brooch encrusted with the kingdom's coat of arms — the two hammers crossed over a round shield with the images of a wolf and a crow on each — to secure it into place. As his eyes lifted to the body-long mirror in front of him, a titillating excitement mixed with a glazed fear glowed in his eyes. It was the look one reserved for times when life was placing a challenge he knew, deep down, he was ready to take on, although an inner doubt made it hard to yearn for it fully.
Wiser than his age would suggest.
Raiden noticed the expression on his brother's face and, with a slight tilt of his head and a narrowing of his eyes, he understood that Ceyx had the necessary qualities to become a great king, more than any other evidence he could find. Without the influence of his father's toxicity and with the guidance of his mother's intelligence and wisdom, he would develop into a suitable ruler, bringing prosperity to his subjects and the Continent. To be honest, Raiden liked to believe that his years of training were what made him so powerful and self-assured — just like a ruler should be —, but he was aware that there was more to it than that.
Raiden had been right, before.
Ceyx was ready to wear a crown.
He'd been born for this.
And he would excel at it.
"What are you staring at?" Ceyx questioned, voice rough.
He stood before Raiden, blue eyes cool and face impassive, though a small curl at the corner tipped his lips in an endearing smirk. His back was straight, his posture perfect as he stared at himself in the mirror, and at Raiden at his back through it.
Pride blossomed in an unexpected bud on Raiden's chest.
"Are you ready?" Raiden asked, keeping his voice low and even.
He wasn't sure why he bothered to ask at all. No one would be ready to assume the power Ceyx was about to claim as his own. Still, he wanted to make sure that Ceyx was aware of what it meant to take the crown and the throne. No matter the fact that both were his by birthright, it was a responsibility he'd shoulder at a quite young age to the end of his days.
The boy's eyes narrowed. "Am I —" He snorted. "Are you joking?" He spoke slowly, as if afraid to say anything that could offend his brother. His voice trembled, and Raiden noticed he was nervous as he laughed awkwardly. "Of course, I'm not ready."
Raiden hadn't expected anything else. "It's understandable if you feel insecure. No one would blame you. Today will change your entire life."
"The aspect of ruling doesn't scare me."
Raiden lifted a brow. "But something does?"
Sucking in a breath, Ceyx turned to face his older brother. "It's just… staring at you, seeing what you've become, speaking to you, hearing your advice… I don't feel like any of this is mine." His eyes dropped to the floor and despite his height and stature, he looked as small as the day Raiden had first seen him. "I guess I just… struggle with the idea that this is to be my fate."
A butterfly flapped its wings in Raiden's chest.
It was the most innocent of insecurities, but so pure and genuine that it was a wonder Raiden hadn't guessed it before. Ceyx had been bred to be king, but he hadn't been made blind to the truth in all these past winters. He'd always known the truth and he'd agreed, a long time ago, to what was to happen, today. As the child he'd been, Raiden had expected at some point he'd go back on his word and somehow use the knowledge he had as a weapon against his brother, but he hadn't. He'd remained true to all the quiet words whispered at King Demir's tomb.
Even if he didn't deserve that either of them followed his wishes post-mortem.
In good truth, Raiden had always felt a sense of guilt and responsibility for what was to come, but the decision he'd made twelve winters ago stood, to this day, as the only certainty he had in life. He didn't want the throne. He'd never wanted it, but after all that had happened, this was the right thing. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for his brother, of course, but he also felt a sense of duty to guarantee his family's legacy — even if not through him directly —, and see to it that it ruled with fairness and justice.
Ceyx would accomplish that.
Raiden took a deep breath and closed his eyes, remembering the promise he had made to his brother. He knew that today's events would be difficult, but he was determined to see them through to the end.
He needed to see them through to the end.
"Do you not want it to be?"
"If I could've chosen… no, I wouldn't want it," the Crown Prince admitted heavily. "Mainly because when I look at you and remember that you taught me all I know, I feel like an usurper. Like I am stealing your place, where you should rightfully be."
"You're not," Raiden rushed to deny, head shaking. "It was never mine. And what little I know will never be enough to fully prepare you to rule the kingdom, but it should be enough for you to start and learn the rest by yourself."
Ceyx's eyes welled up.
With a heavy heart, Raiden walked up to his brother, placing a heavy hand on his shoulder, which made him whip his gaze to Raiden's eyes. "And I'm sorry, Ceyx."
"It's not your fault."
"I placed this burden on your shoulders."
He blinked. "No. Our Father did, the day he decided to not accept you as his son," he countered bleakly, brows furrowing. "He made a mistake that day, and he was never capable of righting it. This is more than fair. You deserve the life you were born for."
Raiden nodded, his throat tight with emotion as he squeezed his fist around his brother's shoulder. "Thank you, Ceyx. Your words mean a lot to me." He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, looking at the mirror behind Ceyx over his head. His own amethyst eyes stared right back, seeming to scold him for abandoning the responsibility he didn't want while forcing his brother to carry it. Despite all the reasons it was the right thing to do, it still felt selfish. "But it doesn't strip me of my own blame."
It surely did not.
He'd learned through time to accept the consequences of his actions, but he was unbiased enough to see that it wasn't at all fair to Ceyx to shoulder the burden of ruling just because Raiden wouldn't.
He continued to stare at his reflection, the weight of his decision heavy on his shoulders, and the sorrow sang a melody in his voice when he spoke again. "I'm sorry for putting this burden on you, Ceyx."
Ceyx gave him a small smile, a glimmer of pride and love in his eyes. "I know you are, brother, but I made my choice. It was my idea. It was the only way you could truly be free to follow your path," he said. "No one forced me to accept the throne, just like no one forced me to promote the lie of your death. I did it for you, but also because I believe it's what's right."
He knew so.
It didn't make it any easier to accept, though.
Raiden often used the argument that this outcome was the right thing, but he just as often wondered if it truly was. If the reasons he'd used to convince himself and his family that this was the right thing to do weren't, at their core, merely self-serving instead of rationally sensible and justifiable. Obviously, he knew that his decision had consequences, and he couldn't help but question whether he was truly doing what was best for his people or just what was best for himself. Despite these doubts, Raiden knew that he had to continue down this path and hope that it would lead to a better future for everyone. Just as he'd known back when he'd agreed with Ceyx that he would take the throne when it was time, he couldn't afford to let his doubts consume him, not when so much was at stake. The fate of his people hung in the balance, and Raiden knew that he wasn't the one who'd lead them. Not if he meant to keep them safe. He had to trust in his own judgment, even when it felt like he was flying blind. It was a heavy burden to bear for both boys, but Raiden had always known that leadership came with sacrifices.
He just hoped that both his and his brother's sacrifices would be enough to ensure the survival of his people.
"I know, but I never meant for you to take the throne so early. I thought you'd have more time."
Ceyx placed his own hand on his older brother's shoulder, the same way he'd done. "It's time, Raiden. The war is coming, and if we mean to fight it, we need to be ready." He nodded as if affirming himself. "I can't afford to have the nobles doubt the strength of the Thorden bloodline, and the only way to do that is to take the throne. They need to see someone they think worthy crowned to rule." He took another deep breath as he turned toward Raiden, who smiled reassuringly. "And I need them to believe I am capable of ruling before it's time for them to follow me." Then Ceyx grinned, his blue eyes bright. "Isn't that what you told Mother?"
Raiden smirked.
He was turning his own words against him.
Raiden nodded, trying to keep his concern hidden, after all, it would only serve to worry Ceyx further, anyway. "Yes, it is what I told the Queen, although I'm not sure how you know about that since we were alone."
Ceyx's eyes took on a childish gleam. "I know everything that happens in my Court, brother. So much so that I know you and Mother argued yesterday."
Raiden's expression grew slightly somber as he looked at his younger brother, worrying for the child he'd watched grow but piously believing the conscientious young man he'd become. "I see." His jaw worked. "Still, we could wait a few more months and crown you in the winter —"
He was interrupted by a raised brow and a scoff. "There isn't time to wait. You know this," he bit out through clenched teeth. "I've heard the hushes of rebellion. The nobles never wanted a woman on the throne, and if they see a hint of Mother's weakness, they will rebel against the crown. They'll try to put others on the throne, ones they can trust to keep strong, firm men on the throne."
Of course.
Clay Children will always be Clay Children.
Rash, foolish, and blind.
Ceyx took a deep breath, blinking slowly. "I've thought this through, Raiden. Waiting for winter would only make matters worse, with food shortages, supplies dwindling, and tensions rising. The best way to prevent that is to secure the throne and prevent any rebellion from gaining traction."
"Have you parlied with your mother upon this matter?"
Ceyx's head tipped to the side. "My mother?"
A muscle flexed in Raiden's jaw as he strained to keep his voice unadulterated. "Yes."
Ceyx ran a hand through his hair and stubble, sighing as if to say he gave up trying to understand the machinations of Raiden's thoughts and feelings. "She won't confirm that there have been voices in the Court inciting a mutiny against the crown, but she hasn't been capable of denying it, either. I know she will never ask me to take the throne, because she secretly expects I won't have to, but the truth is if I don't, blood will run within these walls, and as heir, it's my duty to protect my kingdom, especially with this war coming. I need loyal noble support if we have any chance to fight this war."
Raiden took a deep breath.
Indeed, Ceyx was right.
Action had to be taken — and decisively — to prevent any further unrest within the kingdom. He made a mental list of all the noble houses he could trust and those he suspected might be involved in the whispered words of rebellion Ceyx was talking about. He also knew that, as a young ruler, Ceyx would need to tread carefully, as any wrong move could result in a full-blown civil war.
Raiden studied his brother as he walked out onto the balcony, leaning against the marble rail with a hand clasped tightly around its surface. Ceyx looked away to the horizon and Raiden wondered, not for the first time, why he liked to look out through his balcony into the lands below the castle. Ever since he'd been a child, he'd done it. Raiden supposed it was because there was something he wanted to see beyond the sky.
Something he hoped could give him answers when he finally found them.
"Are you sure the nobles will be loyal to you once you assume the throne?"
Ceyx gave a sardonic smile. "Oh, no. I'm guessing many will need quite a bit of encouragement. I expect a few will fight the transition of power, but once they see the kind of king I can be, they'll fall in line."
Raiden nodded, impressed by Ceyx's confidence. "I guess there's a plan for that, as well?"
He turned slightly to face Raiden. "I have a few, but it all depends on the reaction of the Court to my ascension to the throne." The light glinted off the blue gems embedded in his eyes, reflecting like shards of ice against his irises. "After all, I am not my father. I won't rule like he did, nor will I treat my people the way he did." The way his gaze slid up to Raiden's face announced his words weren't only for the people of Arszden but for the man before him, as well.
Raiden felt something clogging his throat, keeping him from breathing in. "You can't right his wrongs, Ceyx, and no one will expect you to."
"But I can do better than him."
It was Raiden's turn to look out into the horizon, looking for guidance, conflict sparring a war inside of him as he looked at his brother from under his lashes. "You already do."
Ceyx's expression softened as he watched his brother struggle with his emotions. "Raiden, I know you feel responsible for what happened to our family, but you can't carry that burden forever. It's not yours to carry, nor mine or even Mother's," he murmured in a fragile voice, like someone had taken a blade to it and cut it open to let out all the emotions it carried. "I'm not saying I'll correct Father's wrongs because I can't, even though I vow not to repeat them. What I can promise, instead, is to do better than him, if you'll accept such a vow."
Raiden nodded slowly, his gaze still fixed on the distant landscape. "I know you will." He placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, offering him a small smile. "And I'll be here to help and protect you."
"We'll stand together, as we have since we've known each other."
Raiden nodded wordlessly.
Ceyx sighed. "Do you know when the war will come?"
Raiden stared at his brother blankly for several moments before letting a heavy laugh leave his lips, a cynic smile crossing his features as he did so. It didn't last very long as it was quickly replaced by frustration. "You have no idea how it's haunted me that I have no idea. I know it's coming, but I have no idea when or how. I've seen how dangerous the Helborn is, and I've seen the creatures he's sent to pave his path before him, but I don't know when it will happen. And it's worried me ever since I've learned of this war that you'll be dragged into it."
"Me?"
Raiden nodded again.
"Do you know how this war ends?"
Raiden sighed. "No. But I know enough to wish I could protect what I love."
Ceyx's gaze softened as he took a step closer. "You once told me this Helborn was coming intent on destroying the world. That's the truth?"
It wasn't entirely true, as his intent was truly only to kill the Gods as revenge, and destroying the world was actually an added bonus, but it wasn't a lie either.
"It's true."
"Will these creatures he'll send massacre my people?"
Raiden's eyes fell shut. "Yes."
More than any other kingdom's.
"Then, it is my duty to protect what I love, as well."
Raiden ran a hand through his hair, changing his weight restlessly. "At the cost of what could possibly be your own life?"
"Isn't that the purpose of a king? To live and die at the service of his kingdom?"
Raiden shook his head gently. "I need you alive."
Ceyx glared at his brother, his gaze fierce and defiant. "So do I, Raiden. Why is it that your need surpasses mine?"
"Because you are a king."
"That's not true, and you know it well." Ceyx barked out the words and waited for his reply but since Raiden couldn't deny it, he stayed silent, which made Ceyx's jaw clench in response, a muscle ticking along his jaw.
At the mention of the buried lies of his past, Raiden's fingers gripped the railing tightly.
He was right, of course.
Technically, Ceyx was no king. But, in truth, he was, because Raiden had denied the throne the day he'd decided to disappear without a trace and refuse his birthright. It was a lie that'd cost him no sacrifice, leaving behind a legacy he didn't want at all, though it'd come with a cost, of course. But even though he'd denied his heritage, he couldn't deny his feelings. He knew enough to guess that Ceyx would rush to protect his kingdom and his brother when the time came, and Raiden couldn't allow that.
If Arszden went to war… they'd lose.
"Don't ever speak those words again, Ceyx."
"But it's the truth. You might not want to hear it, but it is the truth, Raiden."
"And it will stop being the truth the second you take the throne," he growled.
Ceyx's voice lowered as he spoke once more. "If I don't intervene, will you die?" His voice was quiet as he glanced down at the ground beneath the balcony, to the ocean waves rippling against the bay cliffs', the sun reflecting off the crystalline water from behind the clear skies to illuminate his brother's features and reveal his eyes in their full glory, a mercurial purple-blue.
Raiden was a god, he couldn't truly die.
And yet, he could come to the brink of death.
Raiden shook his head, but Ceyx didn't miss his frown. "As close as I can come to it, yes."
"And if I do intervene?"
Raiden settled his hard gaze on his brother, head tipping to the side as a breeze blew over their golden hairs.
He didn't answer.
Which was a clear enough answer in and of itself.
Ceyx swallowed nervously, turning away from his brother, hearing the sound of the city down below erupting to life with the new day strolling in. Ships docked on the bay were unloading the fresh fish to sell on the market. The sound of chatter and laughter floated up to their balconies like smoke from a bonfire. He breathed out a long sigh, unable to bring himself to look back at Raiden as the older brother he'd idolized since he'd first met him turned sideways to the large white mountain behind him, his breath loud in the silence between them. He'd noticed it before, but just standing there seemed like something of importance to Raiden, for his mere presence seemed to fill every inch of any room. Bathed in sunlight, with the mountain in front of him, he looked more godly than Ceyx had ever seen him, his shoulders tense as he struggled with both parts of himself. His hair was longer than he'd ever seen it before, and Raiden never bothered to push it back, so it moved with the breeze in a perfect mime of Raiden's thoughts.
"War is a slippery slope, brother."
Raiden lifted his head with an exhausted sigh. "You dare to walk on it at your own peril, and after you slip, you can only hold on until, eventually, you fall."
"Yes," Ceyx mumbled quietly. He lowered his lashes as a quiet sigh left him. "I know you and Mother argued yesterday."
This again.
Raiden's expression grew darker as a heaviness pressed on his chest. His jaw worked but he forced himself to speak through teeth that clenched at the pain corroding his heart. "My issues with your mother are far beyond repair, at this point, Ceyx."
"I don't mean to pry, Raiden, but I've seen what it does to both of you and it seems foolish to perpetuate something that seems to cause such anguish to the both of you. Is whatever stands between you so grievous it cannot be solved?"
He wanted to say yes.
But he didn't.
Because there was a part of him that wished he could let go of his resentment, but he'd never been able to. In all these winters, part of him had held on to the pain and the bitterness of what'd happened, and even though he'd done his best to forget, he hadn't been able to. He'd forgiven, and that had allowed for him to be civil toward the Queen, but nothing beyond that. The love he'd felt for her as a child remained, but it wasn't enough to make him overlook all that'd been done to him.
Or how it'd made him bend and break.
"She would tell you it isn't," he answered truthfully, voice gruff. "But I don't agree."
"Why?"
Raiden turned, moving toward the table where a jar of root beer sat. Moving purposefully much slower than he was able to, he filled an empty glass and took a drink from it, letting the bitter-sweetness of the liquid burn away the emotions in his chest. "I know what happened to me was unavoidable, Ceyx. I've forgiven her for her part in that," he finally admitted through a scratchy voice. "I don't blame her for it any more than I would blame you." Raiden turned the glass in his hands, watching the brown liquid swirl. "But she made choices during that time. Choices she could have made differently."
Ceyx leaned his hip on the dresser, crossing his arms above his chest. "So, you resent her?"
Raiden's eyes lifted to meet his brother's. "I once loved her more than my own breath."
"And you don't anymore?"
"It's…" Raiden searched for the right words as they escaped him. "Not that simple."
Ceyx's eyes narrowed as he noticed the clear dodge to the question. "But it's not enough, is it?" Ceyx shook his head, making his hair bounce around his temples. A sad smile touched his lips as he frowned, a saddened glow filling his eyes. "I never thought I'd live to see the day you'd resemble Father in any way other than your appearance."
That made a fury stronger than any other rise within him and Raiden sensibly decided to put the glass down on the table before he smashed it in his palm. "I am nothing like him."
"You sound a lot like him, though," Ceyx countered bleakly, brows rising. "And it's disappointing that you do, when you know so well how it feels to spend a lifetime paying for a choice that wasn't really yours to make."
Raiden's heart stung and his hands automatically closed into tight fists. "Yes, I didn't choose to be born, Ceyx. But she chose to forsake me. I didn't make that choice, but she did," Raiden's voice sounded cut from stone, and even though he didn't mean to be harsh with Ceyx because he knew his brother only meant to unite his family, he sounded furious. "And she chose to let me be tortured. She chose to let me be exiled. She chose to abandon me, Ceyx. And I know you're trying to mend our relationship, but she ruined it the day she went to Stalsgard to see me and left me there."
There was silence for a few moments as Ceyx digested this information. "What in the Hel happened to you in Stalsgard?"
Raiden's teeth clenched so tight he could barely speak through them.
He didn't answer, brushing his lashes down to hide his eyes and the torment that lived within them.
Ceyx looked at his brother with concern, taking in the tension that seemed to radiate from Raiden's body. Though they were close, there were clearly parts of Raiden's past that remained shrouded in mystery. "Brother, you don't have to tell me anything you don't wish to," Ceyx said gently. "But know that I'm here for you, and whatever ghosts haunt you, sharing the burden may ease it."
Raiden turned his gaze to the view of the city and harbor below, though Ceyx doubted he actually saw it. His eyes had a faraway look, peering into memories that Ceyx couldn't see.
He didn't want to share anything.
Raiden had never been a sharer, but after all that'd transpired, his past was a shut door behind him and he had no desire to go opening it again or searching through the cracks what lied closed inside.
He just wanted to forget it.
Raiden couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for snapping at Ceyx. After all, his brother was only trying to mend their relationship and bring their family back together.
But there were some things that Raiden couldn't bring himself to talk about.
Ever.
Several moments passed before Raiden spoke again, his voice low. "There are some things too painful to give voice to. Even after all these winters… there are things I…." He paused, dragging a hand over his face. "I've tried to forget, to leave it all behind me. But the scars remain, inside and out."
Ceyx's heart ached for his brother, wanting to comfort him yet knowing Raiden's pride would refuse it. "The past shapes us, that is undeniably true. But it doesn't have to define you, unless you let it."
Raiden lifted his eyes to his brother. "I don't believe that."
"How so?"
"The past is the very thing that defines us."
He was taken back to his winters in Stalsgard.
He hid the shudder that coursed through him as he was taken back to all that'd happened that had led him to Stalsgard. Though he knew his time there hadn't all been bad, as it had serviced him well in teaching him more about himself and his boundaries, it'd changed him completely from the naive prince he'd been to the warrior he'd been forced to become — the monster. More than anything, Stalsgard had been a true test of his strength and fiber, having forced him to prove himself in every way that left scars deeper than the skin. Most of his memories were a blur of pain, both physical and emotional. The harsh winters and brutal training had toughened him up, but at the same time, they had chipped away at his innocence and youth. He remembered the endless days spent training in the snow, with his muscles screaming in agony as he pushed himself to become stronger. He remembered Kerim and the soldiers, and he remembered their cold, unfeeling eyes who seemed to take pleasure in breaking him down.
Like they had purposefully taken him apart only to put him back together.
The flashes of how he'd been chained, tortured, beaten, and prodded in order to mold him and carve him into the monster they'd meant to turn him into crashed through his eyes, tormenting him all over again with the pain, sorrow, loneliness, and helplessness he'd felt. He'd never forget how he'd been made essentially a prisoner at first, only to then be progressively given more and more time outside of his cage, even if always under strict supervision. It'd taken winters before Kerim and the soldiers started to trust him enough to let him out of his cage and to stop disciplining him and begin training him.
When he'd been shipped to Stalsgard, he hadn't been a stranger to pain, but the winters exiled turned him bitter and resented.
And even now, faced with the memories of what he'd endured in order to become a warrior, he couldn't shake off the scars — both physical and mental — that still haunted him.
Ceyx tilted his head, brows furrowing.
Raiden let out a weary sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of his thoughts. "You're young yet, Ceyx. Untouched by the kind of darkness that can break a man's spirit beyond repair." He moved to the window, gazing out at the city below without really seeing it. "There are some things that you don't come back from, some choices you can't take back. They leave a stain on your soul that never washes clean." Raiden was quiet for a long moment before he continued softly. "I've tried to be just. But there is anger in me, and bitterness too. They are a poison I've carried for so long they've become a part of me." Turning back to Ceyx, Raiden gave him a sad, rueful smile. "So you see, the past has shaped me into who I am, flaws and all. I can try to be better, but those scars will always remain."
Ceyx's expression was grave as he listened to his brother, hearing the raw pain in Raiden's voice. He wished desperately that he could take some of that burden from him. "You sell yourself short, brother," Ceyx rebutted in a clipped tone. "You've overcome things that define humanity."
Raiden scoffed. "That's hardly true." He looked away, pushing strands of hair off his face. "Look at me. I've overcome nothing."
Ceyx's chest tightened at his brother's haunted words. He stepped closer, yearning to ease his brother's burden but knowing, deep down, he couldn't do much than ask him to share it, even though he knew Raiden would never do that. "That's not true."
Raiden wanted to believe that, but he knew it wasn't true.
He had changed, been reforged by pain and trauma into someone harder.
Colder. Sharper. Angrier.
"And your argument with Mother yesterday? What was it about?"
Raiden let out a heavy, guttural sigh, the same sound a mule would make after trudging through deep snow and biting winds in the northern mountains, after all, the weight of his burdens seemed to weigh him down just as heavily. "She wants something from me that she knows I can't give her."
"Your forgiveness?"
Raiden ran a hand over his face, seeming to age years in mere moments as the painful memories surfaced. "The argument was… regrettable. I spoke harshly, words I can never take back, though I don't feel like they're lies, and that seems worse than merely saying them." He rose to his feet and moved to the window, gazing sightlessly over the city below. "She worries for me, but more than worrying, she wants everything to go back to how it was before and she can't see or accept that I've changed. That Stalsgard changed me." Raiden gave a bitter laugh. "She's not wrong. The boy who left these walls did not return. He was broken and remade into something… different." Raiden turned back to Ceyx, eyes haunted. Several heartbeats passed before he continued, so softly Ceyx had to strain to hear. "I dream of it still. The cold. The pain." His voice broke and he looked away. Raiden stared down at his hands as if seeing blood upon them. "And I can't forget her part in it."
Ceyx felt tears prick his eyes hearing his brother's anguish.
He knew Raiden wouldn't let him comfort him. That wasn't how his brother worked. It wasn't how he was wired. He carried his past like a burden, not because he wanted to, but because he thought he had no other choice. And while everyone could clearly see it was exhausting, it was also damning, because sooner rather than later, Raiden would be sinking from all the weight he walked around with.
"She loves you."
"I have no doubt."
"Does that change anything to you?"
Raiden shrugged. "No."
"I don't know what else to do." The young man shook his head. "Seems whether you speak to her or not, she's always torn apart by this."
Raiden knew what he was talking about.
Every time he stared into his mother's eyes, he could see it. The remorse of her choices. It'd been there that first day he'd returned from Stalsgard, the same way that it was today. Her mistakes caused her to suffer almost as much as they did him because she knew there was more she could have done. There was more she should have done, but hadn't. She'd been a quitter. Not a coward, because surely that would imply she lacked the courage, and that wasn't the case. Both of them knew better than anyone what the tight control of the late king felt like, and they both knew how devious he could be to those who defied him, but she knew, in her heart, what she'd done hadn't been out of fear or helplessness.
She'd simply given up.
How could she ever be forgiven for that?
And that is what haunted her.
No matter how much she'd loved Raiden — and he had no doubt of that —, she'd given up the day he'd been dragged to Stalsgard because it'd been easier and more important to her to protect the new boy she'd birthed. Raiden understood that and he didn't blame her for wanting to protect Ceyx, as he didn't blame Ceyx for having been sheltered by her, but he'd never forget she'd given up on him.
That's the part he couldn't forget.
That she'd chosen to abandon him.
For the mother she'd been before Ceyx was born would have broken any rule to either be with him in Stalsgard or bring him home to her.
And she hadn't.
She hadn't bothered. She simply accepted her loss and moved on.
He'd never forget that.
Misery weighted heavily on Raiden's shoulders. "There is nothing we can do to change the past. And whatever can be done to remedy our relationship, it's already been done."
"I wish it didn't have to be this way, Raiden."
Raiden moved to the table and picked up the glass again, admiring the swishing alcohol before draining it to the last drop and setting it down on the table once more. "As do I, but now all we can do is live with the outcome."
Ceyx sighed.
The silence fell between them once more and Raiden didn't turn or move an inch. When he felt Ceyx's eyes on him, his shoulders tensed as he waited for what was inevitably going to be more prodding of his thoughts and feelings.
Though it never came.
"I have to go."
Raiden nodded grimly.
He closed his eyes briefly as he listened to the silence fill his ears.
A silence that he thought he knew well. A silence that was a constant companion during his years in Stahlrim and throughout all his training. A silence that he was grateful for, although his mind always tried to remind him of its absence. A silence that had led to so many sleepless nights. A silence that seemed to speak of the darkness that surrounded them — the darkness they were fighting against.
Ceyx's voice unexpectedly came softly from behind Raiden in a quiet whisper. "Promise me something, brother, before I'm crowned."
Raiden didn't move or breathe.
"Promise me you will fight. Promise you will never abandon this family and the world you gave everything for."
So simple, yet so pure.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Raiden's lips. "I promise, Ceyx," he whispered, hissing when a bindrune glowed in his forearm, burning as it was carved into his skin and highlighted by the thunder in his blood as a sign of his unbreakable promise, just before it disappeared to the naked eye. "Only in death shall I be kept from this oath, and even then, I shall grant you protection from Valhalla."
Finally, Raiden glanced back, seeing Ceyx staring at him with an expression similar to fear and sorrow mixed together, his expression softening as he walked towards Raiden, resting a hand on his shoulder. Raiden allowed him to stand behind him, and he turned to face his brother properly, looking into those eyes filled with worry and fear as the pain in his chest only grew, knowing the chaos that awaited them all.
"Be safe," Ceyx finally whispered to him, pulling him into a tight hug.
Raiden wrapped his arms around Ceyx's, his younger brother, who now reached around his height, holding onto his robes and inhaling deeply as if trying to capture the scent of the boy he'd watch grow into a king as if it were the last time. And then, he let him go, watching as Ceyx retreated through the bed chamber's doors and down the stairs, the guards in the hallway flanking him as he left for his own coronation.
Raiden remained standing on the balcony overlooking his home, listening to the sounds of cheers, shouts, chants, and horns blaring, the smell of food wafting through the air. He watched as the sun began to tip upright in the sky, its glow painting everything with yellow and golden hues, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the railing that stretched across the edge of the balcony.
Raiden closed his eyes.
Soon, the laughter of the children playing and the fair chants of the elder would be drowned out by the screams of the dying, the roar of the battle, the drums of the war, the trampling of the horses, and the smell of the burning pyres.
But he would protect them, no matter the outcome.
I swear it on my honor, on my blood, and on the gods.
Raiden stood in silence for a while longer, lost in thought and memories. But as time passed by, he found himself getting restless and decided it was best to leave before anyone else came looking for him.
He got up from his seat and made his way out of the room.
As soon as he stepped out into the fresh air, Raiden took a deep breath and felt all the tension leave his body.
He started for the stairs at the end of the southeastern wing of the palace where the royal quarters were housed, moving briskly. As he came to the first level of the palace, he walked around until he found the throne room where the festivities would take place, with its open doors that spilled onto the gardens, taking in the buzzing excitement that rumbled off the walls surrounding his brother's coronation. His eyes ran quickly over the dais where the throne of Arszden sat, with the crowd already gathered scattered around the tapestries and drawings that covered the walls with the history of the kingdom. The dying sunlight streamed in through the open doors, illuminating the room with warm sunshine. Behind the dais, the Royal Tree rose on the wall, the painting of Ceyx and the crown drawn above his head visible even from where he stood.
A sigh escaped him.
Music and laughter filled the air, along with delicious smells wafting from the banquet tables. Children ran around in colorful garments, their laughter bubbling over as they played games and chased each other. Adults gathered in groups, some raising glasses in toasts while others engaged in lively conversations. The banquet tables were adorned with an array of delectable dishes, decorated with vibrant fruits and herbs. The aroma of savory meats roasting over open flames mingled with the sweet scent of fresh fruits and pastries, creating a mouth-watering smell that wafted through the air. The sounds of lively music filled every corner of the palace, from the upbeat rhythm of drums to the soft melodies of flutes and harps. Laughter and chatter echoed through the halls, adding to the festive atmosphere. The gardens were alive with greenery and flowers, adding to the visual feast of the celebration.
Despite the joyous atmosphere, a shadow lingered in Raiden's mind.
He knew these carefree days would soon come to an end when war arrived at their doorstep. As heir to the throne, the burden of leadership now fell to Ceyx. Raiden vowed he would stand by his brother's side and help guide him through the difficult days ahead.
He'd certainly need it more than ever.
Lost in thought, Raiden wandered through the room, not failing to hear the whispers that followed him as he moved, quiet conversations halting as Raiden entered, all eyes turning to him. No matter how discreet he tried to be, he inevitably stood out among the crowd, who knew very little about him to guess accurately who he was other than the Crown Prince's trusted counselor. After having shed the identity of the elder prince of Arszden, he'd assumed a different name and the time in Stalsgard had changed him enough for his appearance to be dismissed as coincidence and remain unsuspecting, even with the startling resemblance with Ceyx. It helped that what little amount of nobles had ever laid eyes on him had only seen him as a boy.
He was thankful for that.
Raiden moved to the back of the room, slipping under the cover of a column where he leaned his shoulder and crossed his ankles, his hands moving to the pockets of his black breeches.
"So, am I to assume we're staying?"
Raiden's mouth quirked up in a smirk. "Tired of mingling with Arszden's wealthiest?"
Kerim dropped a long sigh as he appeared beside Raiden, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "They may be wealthy, and while I respect nobility as much as the next man, I have had my fill of simpering lords and ladies for a lifetime," he grumbled. Kerim's eyes scanned the room as he leaned against the pillar next to Raiden. Though dressed in fine silks like the nobles he spoke of, he looked utterly out of place among the jewel-adorned guests. "If I have to kiss one more perfumed hand or listen to boasts about ancestral lands, I may strangle someone with my bare hands."
Raiden chuckled softly. "Patience, my friend. They may be insufferable, but they are a lesser evil, at the moment."
Kerim shot him a sideways glance. "You seem rather calm, considering the circumstances. Shouldn't you be preparing for your brother's coronation?"
At that, Raiden's face darkened, his features hardening into an icy expression. "My involvement in my brother's coronation has come to the full extent possible." He gazed out at the jubilant crowd, their carefree revelry a stark contrast to the heavy burden of duty pressing down on him once more. "Getting involved any further would not only be a foolish mistake, but dangerous as well."
"Is that so?"
Raiden's eyes narrowed. "Kerim."
Kerim raised an eyebrow, regarding Raiden closely. "You speak as if getting involved in your own brother's coronation would be an act of treason. Yet not so long ago, it would have been your rightful place upon that throne."
Raiden's jaw tightened, old wounds threatening to tear open once more. "My rightful place was lost the moment I chose to walk away. I gave up any claim to the crown a long time ago." His voice dropped to a bitter whisper. "And you know as well as I do that my father would never have allowed me to rule."
Silence reigned between the two men for a few seconds.
Raiden's shoulders tensed as he fought to keep his emotions in check. Usually, no one dared to mention the circumstances surrounding his exile, and while he preferred it that way, he should have known Kerim would fight his decision for as long as he breathed, for that's all he'd done since Raiden had decided to return fully and renounce the crown in favor of his brother while staying as his advisor until he took the throne.
"Well, he's not alive, is he?" Kerim remarked quietly.
Raiden's eyes clouded with memories.
He did not want to talk about this.
"I made my choice," Raiden murmured. "Ceyx is the rightful king."
Kerim studied him for a few long seconds, looking like he wanted to argue but wisely decided not to.
"And what is your plan from here on out?"
Raiden felt a shiver race down his spine at the mention of the uncertain future ahead of them. "The storm gathers while the people feast and make merry," he murmured. "War looms on the horizon, even though they don't see it. But for now, we will let them enjoy their revelry. The time will come for them to face reality and prepare for battle."
Kerim followed his gaze, a grim understanding passing between them.
They both knew the fragile peace would not last.
Darker days lay ahead.
"So, you do intend to stay," Kerim noted.
It wasn't a question.
Raiden glanced over at Kerim and gave a slight nod. "These are the last days of reprieve before the chaos descends. Best let my brother enjoy them while he can." His gaze drifted over the festive crowd as a pang of regret pierced his heart. If only he could freeze this moment and preserve their joy and innocence forever, he'd feel a lot better. But the looming threat could not be ignored or outrun. As he thought of the vow he'd made Ceyx earlier, the bindrune glowed in his skin, lest he forget it was there. He glanced at Kerim, a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "I have been away too long and though I loathe the memories of what I've endured here, my place is here."
"You didn't think so when you came back. You told me you would've preferred to have stayed in Stalsgard."
"I've changed my mind," Raiden noted with a nonchalant shrug.
Kerim studied Raiden for a moment, sensing there was more to his sudden change of heart than he was letting on. But he decided not to press the issue, at least for now. He clasped a hand on Raiden's shoulder. "You made an oath, didn't you?" He asked, voice silent, but the way his eyes moved to the bindrune on Raiden's skin told him he knew it hadn't been there before and its meaning.
Raiden gave a solemn nod. "I swore an oath to stand beside my brother through the coming war. These final days of peace may be an illusion, but I intend to honor my word."
Kerim laughed. "Most people would have settled for a simple commitment," he commented dismissively. "But not you. No, you had to make a vow that will ultimately be your demise if you break it."
Raiden smiled wryly. "You know me well enough to realize I don't make oaths lightly. Especially ones I don't intend to keep."
"Your words do matter quite a deal more than any other man's I've ever met."
Raiden smiled fully, now. "Indeed."
In a moment of earnest loyalty, Raiden had sealed his fate alongside his brother's and there was no turning back now.
Kerim shook his head. "I keep thinking there will be a moment when I will finally understand you enough to predict your decisions, but through all this time, you keep surprising me, Leif."
The old nickname made Raiden smile. "Predictable is boring."
"And you surely aren't that," he groaned under his breath. "You have far too many secrets to ever be considered predictable."
A sly smirk played across Raiden's lips, but deep down, he knew Kerim was right. His secrets were like a fortress risen around him, the walls as high as skyscrapers, and he would do anything to protect them. "Is that judgment I hear?"
"No." The older man shrugged. "But all I know about you up to this point has been divulged to me at your own pace and need. And if even I don't know your entire story, after knowing you this long, I can only imagine how many more secrets you've been keeping."
Raiden recognized that if there was anyone he'd ever be inclined to tell the entire truth to, it would be Kerim, but something had always kept him from doing just that.
Clearly, it hadn't gone unnoticed.
Raiden considered Kerim's words carefully.
It was true, he had kept much of his past concealed even from his closest friend. The full truth was too painful — too dangerous — to reveal. Yet Kerim had proven himself trustworthy time and again. Perhaps it was finally time to pull back the curtain and let him see the man behind the mask.
"You're right," Raiden said quietly. "I haven't told you everything. There are parts of my past better left buried and I know you accept that there's a chance I'll never share them with you, though I don't think that has ever deterred you."
"I don't follow you for your truth nor your secrets, Leif," Kerim answered bleakly, changing his weight as he crossed his arms over his broad chest, blue eyes flashing. "I follow you for you. For the man that I know you are. I've never asked you for the truth and though it would be nice to know it, I don't need it. What you share is your own choice and what you don't share is your burden to carry." His voice was derisive, but there was no aggression behind the words. "I've stood by you despite your secrets, not because of your truth. Or the lack of it. I've accepted both."
Well, he would be the first.
"And the Stalsgard squad?"
"They follow you for your strength. They value your power and recognize it, which promotes loyalty from their ranks."
Raiden nodded — he'd guessed as much himself. "I'm currently feeling the strangest urge to thank you."
"Thank me the day I learn all the truth and don't stab you for not telling me."
Raiden's lips quirked in a faint smile. "Ever the stalwart warrior, Kerim."
The other man snorted.
Their attention was drawn by a sudden swell of cheers and applause as the music stopped completely, bathing the room in whispering silence as the excitement of the crowd bubbled. The crowd parted to allow the Crown Prince Ceyx to pass through from the door on the right side of the throne room, resplendent in royal silks and gleaming armor. At his side, his mother walked beside him, their hands linked.
She looked as beautiful as always.
The prince's mother was a vision of grace and beauty, her long red dress flowing elegantly as she walked. Her hand was linked with her son's, both adorned in fine royal garments. Her ginger hair was styled in intricate braids and curls, with a golden tiara embezzled with blue gems resting on top. Her eyes sparkled with pride and joy as she walked beside her son, exuding a regal aura. The deep red of her dress complemented her fair skin, giving her an ethereal appearance.
There was no doubt that she was a queen in every sense of the word.
All eyes were fixed on them as they made their way to the dais.
Raiden surveyed his brother pensively.
Across the room, Ceyx greeted his subjects as he walked, his hair glinting in the fading sunlight. He wore an easy smile as he exchanged pleasantries, showing no outward signs of the weight soon to be upon his shoulders. Raiden envied his brother's ability to put duty above self and carry on with strength and optimism.
He hoped Ceyx would retain that spirit in the bleak days to come.
As if sensing their gaze, Ceyx glanced over and met Raiden's eyes. An unspoken understanding passed between them. The soon-to-be king nodded subtly, a silent acknowledgment of the shared path that lay ahead of them all.
Raiden's head swiveled in the softest movement to the side in curtsy.
His mother's eyes found him as well, but a sadness resided in them instead of the joy from seconds before. Certainly, she was grieving the fact that Raiden wasn't the one walking to the throne beside her, or maybe it was just the usual sorrow that colored her eyes whenever she set eyes on him because she knew how deeply his ache and bitterness had scarred him to not allow him to ever see her the same way. Either way, the look made his heart grow heavy and his throat close with the boulder that took residence there, making it hard to breathe or swallow.
"Have the scouts returned with any news?" Raiden asked quietly, breaking eye contact with his mother.
Kerim's expression turned grim, and Raiden had his answer before he even spoke. "There were five more beast sightings in the northern lands, and their numbers have been increasing through the past months. No one can tell where they are coming from, but they're clearly gathering."
Raiden exhaled slowly, his shoulders sinking. "Then there is no more time to waste. We must begin preparations."
Kerim studied him with concern. "And your brother? Should he not be told?"
Raiden glanced toward the dais where Ceyx now rose the few steps and then turned to help the Queen do the same, smiling gaily, oblivious to the darkening horizon. "Not yet. Let him be carefree a while longer. I will tell him soon enough."
Raiden sighed, his eyes still fixed on his brother's smiling face.
Perhaps Ceyx was right to savor these last moments of joy — once informed of the coming danger, his carefree spirit would be extinguished. Still, Raiden knew his own solemn duty. The beasts' growing numbers could not be ignored.
Or what that inherently meant.
The battle was approaching.
Quickly.
Ceyx knelt in front of the throne and the Queen walked to stand before him, facing him before the throne. On a white stone stand with a velvet blue pillow, the crown of Arszden rested for all to view, magnificent in the dying sunlight filtering into the room. The intricate design of the crown was glimmering, catching every last ray of light before dusk settled in. It was a simple design, made of pure gold patterned with rhombus all around, each with its center adorned with a vibrant, fluorescent blue diamond. At its center, right atop the Ceyx's forehead, the biggest of all the diamonds rested, shaped like a teardrop, catching every last bit of sunlight. Each of the jewels reflected on Ceyx's face as he lifted his head to his mother to accept the weight of responsibility.
It was of amazing workmanship, indeed.
A crown fit for the greatest of kings.
The Queen gazed down upon her son, a young prince of sixteen years, as he knelt before her. Though he appeared calm on the surface, she knew her son well enough to see the nervous excitement in his eyes. This was the moment he had been preparing for his entire life. "I stand before my kingdom today as Queen Regent of Arszden, to place upon my son's head the crown of the kingdom he is to inherit and see prosper. You, Ceyx, are not my firstborn, but the days since your birth have shown me that you were born to rule as no other king I've ever laid eyes upon," she began, voice hauntingly clear in the silence installed in the room.
Raiden felt his heart race in his chest at the mention of himself, wondering if she'd dare to say anything else.
Ceyx's head whipped up to stare at her in response, as surprised as Raiden at her words, his shoulders stiffening for a few seconds.
The Queen kept a steady gaze upon the room, though, speaking in a serene voice that echoed all around. "The loss of your brother crippled the kingdom as much as it does my heart every single day. May we both carry our memories of your brother for as long as we both shall live, and allow them to fight for a better tomorrow." Her words slowed as her voice grew pained, cracking under the ache of the loss she carried in her heart, now made bare for all to see. Unshed tears glowed in her eyes, but she took a deep breath and forced herself to continue. "Thus, drowned in the glow of his departure, the wyrd then decided to give you to this kingdom, and no better ruler could be chosen to stand before me today."
Raiden lowered his gaze, the old grief rising to clutch at his heart. He had not expected his mother to speak so openly of him, not here in front of the entire kingdom.
Ceyx reached up and gently squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with empathy.
The Queen managed a watery smile at her younger son, grateful for his support.
She took a deep breath to compose herself before continuing the ceremony, blinking quickly to dissipate the tears. "May today allow the Gods to see you take your rightful place as king of the Thorden lands and sit on the throne forged by your ancestors. May you rule well, with wisdom and justice, to see the lands of the North thrive and flourish under the power of your blood, through times of peace and times of war." The Queen lifted the crown from its pillow. "Do you wish to swear a vow to your people?"
"Yes." Ceyx's voice boomed in the room.
"Then, do so, now."
"I vow to cherish and protect. Love and forgive. Save and rule. I vow to make my people thrive and protect them from all danger. I promise to put the kingdom before me and all that I love," Ceyx started, raising his chin as his eyes traveled to his mother and the crown she held in her hands. "As King, I call forth my ancestors to watch over me and those I today take under my wing. I swear, on this day, that I shall be the bearer of freedom for us all and fight for what is right to the end of my days," he stopped, taking a deep breath. "And when I die, I shall leave a free kingdom as my legacy."
"Then by the power vested in me, I crown you, Prince Ceyx Killian Thorden, King of Arszden." She lowered the crown onto his head, where it settled amidst his golden curls.
The moment it touched him, the room erupted into thunderous applause and cheers for the new king.
"All hail the King!" Queen Jordhanna bellowed.
Raiden looked over all the faces in the room.
"All hail the King!" They all intoned.
Ceyx rose.
The new King of Arszden got to his feet and turned to face his subjects. He cut an imposing figure in his fine tunic and cloak, the crown nestled amidst his golden curls.
It suited him.
Raiden watched his brother standing tall and proud, the crown upon his head. Though Raiden knew that, at some point, it had been his duty as the eldest son to rule, he could not deny that Ceyx looked every inch a king. The cheers rang out as Ceyx raised a hand to acknowledge his people. Raiden was reminded suddenly of all the time he'd spent training Ceyx — teaching him how to be a king —, and how the boy had always faced his teaching with as much excitement as dread, though it'd never escaped Raiden's eyes how delighted Ceyx had always been, dreaming of the day he might wear the real crown, craving to rule with all the knowledge he'd been encompassed by his training.
Now here he stood, no longer playing pretend.
The crown was truly his.
Raiden felt a swell of bittersweet emotion. He was happy for his brother, yet wistful for how it all came to be. Because as Ceyx rose to the throne, dark times lay ahead. The beasts were gathering. War was coming. He would stand at his brother's side and help guide him through the coming storm. For if Ceyx was to be king, he would need his brother's wisdom and experience. Raiden would share the burden of leadership, serving his kingdom as advisor and protector.
He was the eldest.
It was his duty.
Queen Jordhanna stepped aside and though Raiden wanted to deny having seen it, he saw how her eyes quickly made work of the crowd in the room and found him standing at the back where he still leaned against the stone pillar. The pain etched in her features was unmistakable, a deep ache that seemed to radiate from within.
It cracked Raiden's heart wide open, shattering it into a thousand pieces as he looked back, transcended by the love and regret he saw there. It was as if every harsh word he had spoken to her had left a visible mark, one that now seemed to weigh heavily on her heart. But beneath the pain, there was also love and regret, a longing for something that could have been but never was.
Still, and despite his own confusing emotions towards her, he saw in her eyes that she truly and plainly loved him and regretted the fact that he'd been denied — or had denied himself — the kingdom he was heir to. And as the smallest smile brushed her lips, with the lines around her eyes deepening, it was like he could see straight through to her soul, which cried for years of pain and longing, as she looked at the man she'd birthed who had once been her beloved son and now denied her at every opportunity.
Such anguish broke through the tough exterior Raiden had built up.
It was as if the emotions she held inside were spilling out and engulfing him in a wave of emotion. He could see the love she had for him, a love that had never died despite all the hurtful words he had thrown at her. And in that moment, all he felt was regret and a deep longing for what could have been.
But hadn't.
Raiden was startled by the sound of exploding cheers as Ceyx sat on his father's throne.
Though he now wore the crown, Raiden knew his brother's real test was yet to come.
Ruling a kingdom was no easy task, especially for one so young.
The beginning of the end has come, a voice whispered in his mind that he'd recognize anywhere. The end of all things is coming and chaos shall ravage these lands before peace can be conquered.
Raiden felt a chill run down his spine as the ghostly words echoed through his mind. He knew better than to ignore such a foreboding message.
His runes glowed in his skin, lightning blue in the light streaming in through the open doors. He closed his eyes and focused on his wards, feeling them strengthen beneath his skin as his blood ran in his veins, electrified by the now sweetly known lightning zapping over his skin.
These runes were what kept him connected to both this realm and the realms beyond. They were also what allowed him to see and sense things that others couldn't. And right now, they sensed something that couldn't be explained through words or thoughts.
Raiden took a deep breath and focused his senses, reaching out to probe the darkness gathering on the horizon. Though the celebration continued around him, he felt a chill creep into his bones. The wards on his skin flickered ominously as he stretched his awareness farther, searching for the source of the foreboding that gripped him.
There.
On the edges of his perception, slinking shadows seemed to twist and coil. Formless, but undeniably malevolent, he could feel the pulsing malice that heralded the coming storm His skin tingled in awareness. This was no ordinary threat that could be met with a sword and shield. Something ancient was awakening, an evil that had slumbered for eons beneath the earth.
Now, called forth by some unseen hand, it hungered to devour all light and life.
Raiden withdrew quickly, knowing deep in his bones what those lurking shadows were.
Beasts.
His expression was grim as he opened his eyes.
Around him, oblivious nobles laughed and cheered, unaware of the doom that crept toward their shining kingdom. Raiden glanced at his brother, resplendent on the throne and Ceyx met his gaze almost immediately, his smile fading as he noted Raiden's bleak look. Raiden gave him an almost imperceptible nod, his mouth set in a grim line and his jaw clenched. Through the worry eating away at him, he remained still, feeling his shoulders tense as his intuition told him that while he couldn't pinpoint what prompted the change, something had undeniably changed.
The beasts were coming.
Kerim's voice rang out from next to Raiden. His eyes flicked toward the glowing marks on his skin, and he knew Kerim saw them, too. "Does that mean what I think it means?" Kerim asked urgently.
Raiden tipped his eyes to the wards still glowing in his skin. "It means they're coming."
"May Odin have mercy on us all," Kerim murmured.
Raiden snorted.
His father had mercy for no creature.
And he doubted his mercy would influence the outcome of the war brewing in the shadows.
"Well, I suppose I should try to mingle a bit more before slipping away to my chambers," Kerim said with a put-upon sigh. "Wouldn't want to seem rude to our gracious court."
Raiden smirked. "Yes, go charm the perfumed ladies with your roguish wit. I'm sure they'll be fawning all over the mysterious northern lord before long."
Kerim rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small smile in return.
Their banter felt comfortable and familiar, like the old days back in Stalsgard before everything had changed so drastically.
"What about you?" Kerim asked. "Will you be staying here in the shadows all night?"
Raiden glanced back out at the celebration, his expression unreadable. "For now. I prefer to observe for the time being."
Kerim studied him for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "Well then, I shall leave you to it," he said as he walked out into the crowd, shoulders held high and a tense smile on his lips that spoke of his unease in the setting he loathed. "Brooding masochist," he walked away grumbling under his breath.
Raiden shook his head, snorting.
Still, his runes flickered as a sense of unease crept through him. Though laughter and cheer filled the hall, he could feel dark tendrils slithering at the edges of his perception. A heavy weight settled on his shoulders as he glanced at his brother, completely unaware. For a few seconds, he actually found himself wishing he could allow Ceyx to remain in this last moment of joy, but the runes on his skin pulsed once more in warning.
I am always with you, my son, and to the day either of us should die, I shall come to your aid and protection. But take heed of these words I'm about to speak, Odin's voice invaded Raiden's head once more. For the end is coming, your strength shall be tested and it will remind you that steel will never become a sword without being burned and beaten.
Raiden's shoulders squared as he came to his full height.
Steel will never become a sword without being burned and beaten, his father had said.
So be it.
He'd fight and he'd keep his vow to his brother. He'd fulfill the wyrd he's been born for. After all, war was indeed a slippery slope and he knew that when the time came, someone would fall.
But he'd make sure it wouldn't be Arszden.