Shadows in the Trees: Book 1

Chapter 42

Damon paced his father's study restlessly. His mother and father sat in the armchairs facing the crackling fire. Though they seemed calm, they were clasping each other's hands tightly. His mother's mouth was pressed into a thin line, and his father was tapping his foot. 

"How much longer will it make us wait?" Damon barked. He was surprised by the harshness of his voice. Lately, his restraint had been failing him. He spent most of his days locked away in his room, refusing visitors. He only emerged for his mother, who often visited him in the afternoons. She, too, had been hiding in the castle, until she and father decided when the time was right to tell the people.  

"Patience, my love," Queen Cordelia said. "It has to come under the cover of night. It may even be coming from Khepri." 

Damon scoffed. "Khepri? Of course. You couldn't stand an alliance with Khepri made by Julian, but with this creature it is tolerable." 

"If you remember, I allowed Julian to marry the princess," Wilhelm said, a warning flashing in his eyes. Damon glanced toward his mother. Keeping the truth from her had taken a toll on him. He found himself lacking an appetite, and after she visited him he was often sick. 

"I'm sure Julian did everything he could to do what is best for Elohine," Cordelia said, her voice pained. "But this creature is more powerful than any of us. If it believes an alliance with Khepri is necessary, then we must accept it." 

"Or what? It will take you away?" Damon said. His mother looked at her feet. "We are slaves to fear! Can't you see --"

"That is enough!" Wilhelm said, rising from his chair. "I will hear no more from you. If you do not wish to be present for this meeting, then return to your chambers." 

Rage, hot and painful, coursed through his body. But, as he always did, he backed down from his father. He took a seat near his father's desk and waited. 

After what seemed like hours of waiting in silence, there was a scratching at the window. It swung open, and the creature, shrouded in a dark cloak, slunk in. Damon shivered. It was taller than he expected, its limbs long and thin. The hood of the cloak fell back, revealing mottled green skin and a shock of white hair. As it turned toward the fire, Damon realized with horror that its eyes had no irises, or whites; they were completely brown, almost like a dog's eyes. 

Damon felt the blood drain from his face. Had he been eating, he probably would have vomited. He knew he would not be sleeping tonight. 

His parents stood and bowed to the creature. It stared. Its face was vaguely humanoid, with sharper, smaller features, except for its eyes -- its eyes were large for its face. Damon could detect no emotion in its expression. 

The creature turned towards him, and Damon felt his breath catch. He thought perhaps he should stand and bow as his parents had, but he was frozen. 

"And who is this?" the creature asked. Its voice was smooth, soothing, and though it was deep it was distinctly feminine. 

"My son, Damon," Wilhelm said. 

"Damon," she said, as if tasting his name. He shuddered. "I have heard much about you." Damon said nothing. His parents were staring at him, silently urging him to say something, to bow, to do anything, with the panicked look in their eyes. 

"I apologize," Wilhelm said finally. "I believe he --"

"It is time," the creature said, returning its attention to his father. Wilhelm gaped for a moment before regaining his composure. 

"We are not ready. We have yet to tell the people about the queen," he said reaching back for Cordelia's hand. 

"Then make yourself ready. Tell the people. We must move now," the creature responded. 

Wilhelm swallowed. "With all due respect, it is a delicate subject. I'm afraid we cannot simply --"

"My sister marches north now, searching for allies against us," the creature said. "She travels with other humans. Your son is among them." 

"Julian is alive?" Damon said. His mother gasped, clutching her chest as she sank down into her chair. 

"Are you certain? How can this be?" Wilhelm asked.

"My sister must have found him in the forest. She travels with other Sylph, and several other humans. I am not sure who they are, but your son was unmistakable. He looks just like you." 

Damon nearly laughed. His brother was alive, somehow. Of course he was, the stubborn bastard. 

"They have already reached Tole, and they move for Thrael next," the creature continued. 

"It will take them some time to reach Thrael," Wilhelm said. "The marshes will slow them down." 

"Which will give us enough time to mobilize our forces and ambush them there. They will be outnumbered, and our soldiers can be regenerated after every battle. It will not be long before they are defeated." 

"And your sister? Should we be concerned about her?" Cordelia asked. 

"Leave my sister to me," the creature said. 

"And my son? Will she hurt him?" Cordelia asked. 

The creature paused. "Not so long as he is useful." His mother let out a sharp breath. "Prepare to mobilize your forces. We will march in a week's time." 

"What do we tell the people?" Wilhelm asked. 

"Tell them you have found eternal life for all who wish it. Show the queen as proof. I am sure they will be overjoyed." With that, the creature pulled her hood back up and left the way she came. The cool night air sifted through the open window, raising goosebumps on Damon's skin. 

"Oh thank the One God," his mother cried, her face falling into her hands. "Our son is alive. Our son is alive." Wilhelm held her as she sobbed, his face unreadable. 

"My love, Julian is with the enemy." Her weeping paused, and she looked up into her husband's eyes. 

"He will come back to us when he sees Elohinian forces. We will free him from his captor," she said, her voice wavering. 

"We cannot know what he will do," Wilhelm said. "We must face the possibility that --"

"There is hope yet, Mother," Damon cut in, giving his father a hard look. Wilhelm glared back. "Julian is resourceful and resilient, more so than we thought. He may come back to us." His mother nodded and her tense shoulders relaxed. Wilhelm's grip around her tightened. 

"It is late," Wilhelm said curtly. "Some sleep will do us all well." They stood, and Cordelia let Wilhelm lead her to their chambers. 

Damon left quickly, wanting to avoid a word with his father. He knew he would have to stand next to him for the announcement tomorrow and act as if nothing was wrong. He knew most of the people would be overjoyed to see their queen alive, to be told that death was no longer something to be feared. The rest would be too afraid to speak up, or too afraid to lose their returned loved ones. 

He also knew his father would do everything in his power to bury his secret on that battlefield. Despite what he told his mother, he doubted he would ever see his brother alive again.