Everglow

Chapter 6

Waiting in the main hall at the crystal table once more was agony. I was not used to relying on others to get started or complete a task, and once I had been given my orders I carried them out alone. The fact that whoever we were waiting for was late did not give me the slightest glimmer of hope as I sharpened a small carving knife against the metal panel on the outside of my boot. With a sigh, I threw my head to a side, looking to Xand who had the gentlest of smiles on his face at my impatience. His eyes glittered with amusement as I rocked back and forth on the crystal chairs precariously, wanting nothing more than for us to set out and find the Necromancers. His smile was contagious though, and as I looked at him I felt a gentleness settle over me that I had not felt wash over me so fully in so long. I felt a strange comfort in the fact that this was my choice, perhaps my very first real choice ever. Though I was doing this for him, I was doing it under my own wishes, not the orders of my aunt. 

"You look at peace," Xand hummed softly as he watched my impatience with a gentleness. He had an uncanny ability to read every thought in my mind, and though we had a task at hand that needed to be literally executed as swiftly as possible, I did feel that way. I didn't know if it was the herbal bath or sleeping in an actual bed for the first time in years, but there was something spectacular in the trappings of normalcy. I found myself wanting it with increased need as I thought of the fact I had been used my whole life. If I could even call it a life. It had been a death sentence from the moment of my conception, one I was finally escaping. 

I heard a clattering of footsteps and take a stand at the table as Xandro follows suit, moving a step closer to me as we both turn to face the doorway the noise is coming from. What sounds distinctly like an argument is soon made clear to us a small group of arguing people billow into the room in a sweep of noise and clutter. Rolling my eyes I lean slightly toward Xand with a disgruntled look on my face as this pack of loudmouth continued to argue with one another, the Queen billowing in after them with a look of pure exasperation on her face. Her eyes caught my and with a gentle smile, the same on Xandro wore, she gave me a soft nod. 

Looking amongst the group I would have to take care of, I realised that I would barely get a moment of treasured silence to myself. Having Xand tag along was bad enough, ever mind this unruly lot. In total there were 4 of them, though they made enough noise to give the impression there were 40. Huffing to myself, and wanting just a brief reprise from their bickering, I placed my fingers to my lips and let out a shrill whistle that pulled their arguing to a stop with the piercing noise echoing from the crystal walls. 

"If you would all kindly shut up before I shut you up, I believe your Queen has something she wishes to share with you," I huff grumpily at them as I turn to the table which Victoria stands at the head off. Her billowing robes float with a perfect daintiness as she sits herself down, the rest of us following suit.  The group was made of three men and one woman, and each notably of a different race which must have attested to their ability to gel with one another, though it had not sounded like they got along at all. 

"I would like to introduce you to some of our highest-ranking military officials, though this morning they sounded more like bickering children than professionals, I can assure you they are an excellent team," Victoria began with a pointed look at the group as their backs straightened in embarrassment, each one of them eyeing me up in a way I felt I hadn't been stared at in quite some time. Though there was some disgust within the stare, there was also something else, a vague intrigue and respect that I had never seen mixed together. 

"And that is Flynn, she will be your leader upon this mission and it is your job to follow her every order, is that understood?" Victoria hummed as she looked toward the group closely. They all nodded their understanding par from the man in the middle. His face held an iciness that I was all too used to, a look of murderous intent wrapped in several layers of absolute loathing. He was a distinctly attractive man, with fair hair and hazel eyes that looked to be finding the absolute best way to kill me as he continued to stare me down. I leaned back in my chair with a smile as I thought of how easily I could get rid of him now. One flick of my hand and he would be engulfed in flame before he even knew what had consumed him.