Kings Game

Chapter 58 - The Invitation

(1)

Roran sat and stared at the paper before him. He'd read it a dozen times and it still didn't make any sense. He had no doubt of its authenticity. Even if Pelkha herself hadn't delivered it, the shimmering paper it was written on could only have come from one of the Kings. The paper was black and velvety to the touch, with the letters written in silver. Focus markings ran around the border of the letter, constantly flickering and shimmering.

Roran was so engrossed with the letter that he didn't look up when Nul came in. After settling in, Nul headed to Roran and peeked over his shoulder.

"What's that?"

"A letter from the Kings," said Roran, handing it over to them. "I don't understand it."

Accepting the letter, they read through it and their eyebrows shot up. They read through it again more slowly.

"What don't you understand? You've been invited to serve in King Tasos's Court."

"And that makes sense to you?"

"You conquered the Crucible and assisted in ending the Uhlaran war. They could see you as a potential ally."

Roran drummed his fingers on the table. "I don't think that's it. I haven't done anything that someone else hasn't already done but better. To receive an invitation to serve the Kings would require something grand, right?"

"I have a standing invitation."

"Yes, and you're the best etcher in the city. You're so good that they've killed people trying to copy your work. You're so good that you've created godspells better than the ones making them immortal."

"Are you going somewhere with this, or just pointlessly trying to flatter me?"

"What I'm saying is, that I'm not the best at anything. The Kings have no reason to want me as part of their court. Unless..."

"Yes?"

"Sarah."

"Yes?" said Sarah, appearing next to them.

"Sorry, that was a statement not a question. You're the only reason I can think the Kings would want to pull me into the inner circle. General Ahndor was afraid of you."

"No," said Sarah. "She was afraid of you because of me."

"How's that different?"

"We lyhlim are powerful, in our own way, but we're disorganized. We don't have armies or governments or technology, none of the things that make humans so inherently powerful. Outside of a loose hierarchy and willingness to help one another, we operate independently. That greatly limits what we can do. When a lyhlim is bound to a human, then they are subject to that person's hopes and dreams. People like you can use our strength for your own goals. That scares people like Ahndor and the Kings."

"I see your point," said Nul. "Ahndor is Balaki's Chosen Champion, she reports directly to him. Once she confirmed that you have a lyhlim in your shadow, she probably told him, and now they want to keep an eye on you."

"But why invite me to their court? Unless it's a trap to kill me, but there has to be an easier way to do that. They would just need to send a few good Champions to ambush me in a back alleyway and I'd never be heard from again. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Pelkha could do the job on her own."

"You know," began Nul, "This could be a perfect opportunity..."

"How do you mean?"

"This could be a chance for you to get close to the Kings. I still need to see their etchings so I can undo them. If you are serving in their court, and Sarah is in your shadow..."