Iᴍᴘᴇʀɪᴜᴍ (Bᴏᴏᴋ 1) (editing)

Chapter 19- It's Just the Beginning (Part 1)

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Jace turned to the men, pulling out his sword, he shouted. "To Queen Rayna Imperium! Long may she reign!"

The other men followed suit, every one of them pulling out their swords. "To Queen Rayna, long may she reign!" They chanted back. Rayna turned her head ever so slightly to the right to see if a certain Bellator followed suit. Her heart soared when she looked to see Theo's sword raised as well. He caught her eye and smiled at her, bowing his head to her.

At that moment, she had never felt more like a true queen.

And she swore in her heart she would not fail them

Part 1

All ninety-three Bellator's stood inside the Hidden Castle, listening to the plan of their journey as Kalevi explained it. Only twenty would be joining them, the rest would be staying behind protecting the people, spreading the word the true heir to the throne was alive.

Every time someone uttered those words she would cast a worried glance to Theo. But he happily talked on and strategized with the rest of them. Even though he seemed calm now, Rayna was waiting for the anger to appear. She knew something was going to trigger it. But she tried to take her focus off of him and focus on the plans they all were making.

First plan: Set Catherina free.

They were trying to determine who was to go search the castle for Catherina, to find out where they have her hidden before word gets out officially that Rayna was alive.

Right now they were all trying to figure out how to get in. The men wanted to steal the new guard uniforms to sneak in. Rayna had another idea.

"Just let me cast the body cloaking spell." She sighed, frustrated discussing this with the five men who were going into the castle, including Theo.

"It's out of the question Rayna," Kalevi said.

She glared at him, "I don't see why it is. They will have a greater chance of being caught if they go in disguise. With this spell, they won't even be seen."

"But Rayna, wouldn't you have to go with them?" Cyrus questioned her. "Wouldn't you have to be with them, or touching them for them to stay invisible?"

Rayna hesitated, her eyes darting around the men. Kalevi spoke before her though, "That's not the spell she was planning to use. She is planning to use the spell she cast in the jungle this past week." Kalevi gave Cyrus a meaningful look.

Cyrus' eyes went wide with understanding. "It's out of the question."

Rayna ran her fingers through her hair and tugged, a frustrated sigh leaving her lips. She was glad she had taken the crown off, whenever she was frustrated she always ran her fingers through her hair. She would have knocked it right off.

"Why is it so bad if she cast that spell?" Theo asked, curious as ever looking at Rayna's frustration, Cyrus' fear and Kalevi's anger. "What would happen to us?"

Kalevi shook his head, "It's not a matter of what would happen to the five of you." He gave a meaningful look in Rayna's direction. "It's what would happen to her."

"What would happen to her?" Jace asked, so did Andrew, Luke, and Milo, the other Bellators going on the journey to the kingdom.

Kalevi looked at Rayna, waiting for her to answer them. She sighed and mumbled the answer loud enough for them to hear. "It's a dark magic spell. And... and if I used it, it would drain me a little."

A scoff was heard, "A little. You cloaked it over one person, yourself, the last time and you nearly passed out, your limbs were so weak. Imagine what would happen if you needed to use that magic on five grown men?" Cyrus was animated as he spoke, with nothing but concern for his cousin.