Algernon Black || The Rise of a God ||

(Chapter 27) Death isn't a Mistake Made Twice

"Loy, this guest is one of great importance," Devane drawled to the Loy's dwelling back. "And your hours late to your own gala."

Loy fretted with his belt and pretended to care about his outfit. "Every guest that arrives by your account is of great importance. It makes it quite hard to figure out if any of them actually are."

Devane laced his fingers in front of him until his jeweled rings stacked up in a perfect row. "Well, this guest has become one of the most successful men in the world, by raising a nation of ashes into one of the most powerful countries in the world. An achievement accomplished in only 20 years of his time. 3 years less than you've been alive." The advisor spoke to his young prince's wide back but knew in the way Loy had stopped fidgeting, he had earned his attention. "I wonder how powerful his kingdom of Estera will grow to be once it's the same age as you are now."

Devane left without another glimpse back, knowing he had either piqued Loy's interest enough to meet the man, or he wouldn't come at all.

"What's his name?" Loy asked as he caught up with Devane in the sand white hallways being dyed red by a parting pink sunset.

"He's called the king of no man," Devane replied. The crisp cold breeze from the sea was kept away by stone torches, but a chill remained in the back of Devane's mind. "Some call him King Lear. His real name remains unknown. By his own doing, I assume."

"The king of no man," Loy repeated, trying the name out on his tongue. "Does that not seem like a contradiction?"

"The truth of this world only exists in contradictions," Devane said. A phrase he had tried to instill in Loy countless times over the years. "But he's a man that prefers not to talk about the politics of his country."

"Sounds like my favorite kind of politician," Loy replied.

"But he's quick to ask about the politics and workings of other countries," Devane added.

Loy retreated quietly into his thought while fiddling with his chain necklace as they arrived at the gala's entrance. 

"Sounds like the most dangerous kind of politician," Loy amended, as two servants opened the white doors to the sounds and grandeurs of a bustling party.

Loy proceeded inside first, captaining their entrance while Devane interlocked his hands behind his back; the stance he used to face politicians and rulers was different from the one he used in his time in war, but the feelings and stakes were ever the same.

Devane peered around at the buffets stocked to the highest quality. There was enough food for each man and woman to eat double their own body weight, and enough liquor for everyone to drown in, which they happily did. Almost everyone in attendance was drunk on the nectar of the gods as music rolled out through the strumming's of a small orchestra that weaved vibrations as relaxing for the mind as the over-abundant liquor.

None of it had any effect on Devane. He was a warrior, on guard at his newest battlefront. And these victories and failures were the most important because, after close to 30 years of working on each side of the fight, he knew it was in rooms like this where the fires of war began and had to be put out before they consumed everything.

Ballrooms and king's quarters, Devane thought as he moved further into the hive of swarming bodies, the most deadly battlefield of all.

Guests soon took notice of Loy's entrance and lifted gold goblets in his honor. He smiled back, playing his role as host and prince as well as he always did when he cared enough to make an appearance.

Etilia's nobles' eyes hooked into his back. Loy's personality formed a notable reputation over the years for making everything interesting by unconventional means. It gave way to a lot of misunderstanding about who the prince truly was, with Devane being one of the few people to know the difference between the mask Loy exposed the public and the true face he protected behind it. But on battlefields like this, the advisor knew the armor was more than necessary.