Aetherian(Part 1): A War Begins

Illyria

 It was the second time the Silver Hawks had made an attempt on Trevor's life, and the second time was near the top of the Ivory Tower. This brought concern from the King and Guardian Commander alike, both for Trevor's safety as well as their own children's safety. They both talked to Trevor and Illyria in the chambers of the King's Council when the sun went down. They both suggested hunting down Rivenar Jarolan, but Illyria had said that he would be in Torriban, which was out of their jurisdiction without the leave of Torriban's Emperor. When they both suggested that Trevor had to be protected, Trevor naturally argued that he could look after himself.

"Trevor, this Rivenar person will come after you again," Commander Vestarr assured. "The only reason you're alive is because of Roderick and Arry."

"I handled myself just fine against five at once, Commander," Trevor reminded.

"Captain, they managed to get to the top of the Ivory Tower and no one noticed!" shouted King Robar. "And they were specifically after you!"

"And me," Illyria reminded, then she turned to Trevor and said "They're right, though. You need to be protected." She sensed doubt from Trevor. It didn't surprise her since both King Robar and Commander Vestarr had kept the existence of Valeria Karvine a secret from him his entire life. That day, he only trusted Commander Vestarr a little, and King Robar not at all.

"Your Grace..." Trevor started.

"Don't 'Your Grace' me, Captain," the King interrupted. "Your life is in danger, in my home."

"That doesn't mean that I have to be babysat by a bunch of Knights the whole day," Trevor snapped.

"Don't count on that," said Commander Vestarr. "All of the Dragon Knights are monitoring the cities that have yet to swear fealty to King Robar."

"I could look after him, Commander," Illyria suggested. Trevor quickly turned her way. "What?"

"The same girl that tried to murder him in the streets?" King Robar reminded. "How stupid do you think we are?" Illyria wasn't surprised by that. What King Robar said didn't matter, though. She knew that Trevor trusted her more than him.

"With all due respect, Your Grace, the girl who tried to murder me in the streets is also the only reason I'm alive, and everyone knows that you have it out for everyone with my last name," said Trevor. Illyria could sense anger from him, and then the King.

"How dare you, boy!?" he roared, standing from his seat. "I don't have to worry about wiping out your family because all of them are already dead!" Everyone then went silent. Rage came from Trevor. For a moment, he stared at King Robar with anger in his eyes, and Robar stared back. Illyria stood gaping. How could Aetherian's King say that?

"Robar," Commander Vestarr scolded, then he turned to Trevor and Illyria and said, "Leave us."

"Come on, Trevor," Illyria urged, gripping Trevor's hand. She felt his anger dwindle as she pulled him from the Council chambers. He began to storm down the hall, and Illyria followed.

"What a bastard," Trevor muttered.

"Trevor, please try and calm down," Illyria pleaded.

"Calm down!?" Trevor shouted. "That man in there betrayed my father and murdered him, my mother, and probably my older brother, he kept hidden that I had an older sister my entire life, and now, he's mocking me for it, and you want me to calm down?"

"How could you possibly know that he knew about Valeria this entire time?" asked Illyria. "She was smuggled out of the country, Trevor. And besides, your older sister is the least of your concerns, right now."

"Right," agreed Trevor, calming down a bit. "Rivenar."

"You know you won't be safe until he's dead," said Illyria.

"My own safety can't be my priority, Illyria," reminded Trevor. "I'm a Guardian, and there's something in Mistral that could threaten all of Aetherian. I have to do what I can to help stop it."

"Well, unless you want to be looking over your shoulder every five minutes..."

"I do that all the time! I was worried about the Queen and the rest of House Lysander for the past three days, and not to mention whatever's under the Ivory Tower."

"Let me help you find out what it is, then," Illyria suggested. She still sensed rage from Trevor, so she tried to console him, speaking in a soft voice. "I know you're angry, Trevor, and you have a right, but you shouldn't lose yourself like that. If you do, then how are you better than Robar?"

"I don't...I don't..." Trevor managed. He was at a loss for words.

"Don't let him get the better of you," said Illyria, with her hands on his shoulders. "You should be lucky to be alive. I thought that a war between families in this country only ended when one of those families was completely wiped out."

"I know," Trevor admitted. "But if that's the case, then why did Lady Vestarr take my sister and I as wards?"

"Does it matter?" asked Illyria.

"Well, it should," said Trevor. "What you said is absolutely true." They both realized something then, and Trevor's anger returned. They both went back to the King's Council chamber. Right as Commander Vestarr was about to speak, Illyria waved her hand to the King, and he froze where he stood, and Trevor grabbed his Commander by his brown jacket and slammed him against the wall.

"Trevor, what do you think you're doing!?" Vestarr shouted.

"Why did you take me and my sister as wards?" demanded Trevor.

"What did you do to the King?" asked the Commander, to Illyria.

"He's frozen in time," Illyria answered. "I think you owe Trevor some answers."

"Like what?" said Commander Vestarr.

"Don't play dumb, Commander," Trevor snapped. "Everyone knows that a war between houses doesn't end until one of those houses is completely dead, so why were my sister and I spared? Why weren't we murdered in our cribs all those years ago?"

"I convinced Robar not to," said Vestarr, but Illyria felt deceit from his words.

"Liar," Trevor hissed. "Tell me why!" Commander Vestarr wouldn't answer. Trevor must have known, though.

"We were hostages, weren't we?" said Trevor. "This whole damn time, my sister and I were leverage against Valeria so she would think twice about marching on this country." He threw Vestarr to the ground, shouting "My whole life was a lie!" Trevor stomped out of the Council Chamber, but Illyria lingered behind.

"Why would you do that to him, Vestarr?" she asked, as he rose to his feet.

"It was to protect him," Commander Vestarr assured. "If his sister would have marched here, Robar would have ordered my wife to kill him."

"I'm not talking about lying to him," Illyria corrected. "Why hold him hostage?"

"Illyria, his sister could be a threat to us all," said the Commander.

"What about whatever's under this city?" asked Illyria. "You think a twenty-year-old girl across the world is a bigger threat than something you don't even know what it is? Let me tell you something. I've been in this world for three hundred years, and nothing has made me sicker than this."