Against the Crown

Chapter Nine

They walked out of the portal and into a large library, with shelves of books adorning the walls, and a redwood desk prominently placed beside a lit fireplace. Rugs and chairs artfully dotted the space, and there was a fresh smell of mint and sage.

"How did the staff know I was coming?" the prince asked.

"I told them," Malachi said, eyes coolly taking in the room. "We have a network of sorts. It allows us to alert guards, soldiers, and house staff when our royal charges are going to a certain location."

"But..."

"Given the possibility that the Queen may have infiltrated all royal staff, we made sure the network was secure. Each royal residence has someone who vets all the staff and removes those who have gone to Darkness."

Prince Lucius looked at Malachi, wide-eyed. Malachi looked at him, his eyes softening.

"We suspected that the Queen had killed the king, but we didn't know how or what for. So we started taking precautions. Samson is here," he said abruptly, face hardening into a warrior mask.

Seconds later, the huge door to the library opened, and a man taller and larger than Malachi stepped in. With close-cropped red hair and muscled skin the color of coffee grounds, Samson was intimidating. Even his smile, revealing perfect white teeth, was menacing.

"A dove and a pigeon sat before a mirror," he rumbled.

"The pigeon laid an egg, and the dove died of loneliness," Malachi replied. Brynn, Dhara, and the prince stared at them like they had lost their minds.

Samson's expression lightened, and he let out a booming laugh, going to Malachi with an outstretched arm. Malachi gripped it, smiling as well.

"You know that is the most absurd code ever, right?" Malachi asked. Samson grinned, then bent one knee before the prince.

"Your Highness, it is an honor to serve you in the Malian Royal Residence. You are most welcome."

"Thank you. Rise," Prince Lucius said officiously. Samson rose to his full height and looked down at the boy. Lucius stared at him frankly, then turned to Malachi, who shrugged.

"Everyone, meet Samson Reith, the head of this house' staff, and creator of our network. It goes without saying that his bark is much, much worse than his bite. Samson, this is Brynn Callaway and Dhara Torner.

Samson's smile became brighter as he bowed to the ladies. "It is a pleasure and an honor. I have heard much about the Analyst and the Charm Weaver."

"Will you look at that? We are celebs," Brynn drawled. Dhara smirked, inclining her head at Samson.

"The pleasure is ours, Codemaster."

Samson guffawed, throwing his red head back. "I love them, Malachi! Please, follow me. Your bags arrived a few minutes before you did, and the servants have placed them in your rooms. They didn't risk arranging them, in case you have a specific way you want your things arranged."

"Wise," Brynn and Dhara murmured. They left the library and entered a wide hallway, the walls decorated with large paintings of people and floral arrangements. Samson turned left, and they followed, passing a few closed doors. They reached the landing of the staircase and walked past, going to the other wing of the mansion.

Something drifted out of the wall ahead of them and solidified into a curvy, ashen woman with hair blacker than a void. It was difficult to look at her.

"A wraith," Dhara breathed, Brynn gaping beside her. Everyone had read about the elusive creatures, one of the few that existed In-Between – not of Darkness, but not of Light. They got to choose who to serve, and this one being in this house could mean...

"Ladies, Your Highness, meet Forlorn, servant of Light."

Brynn and Dhara breathed deeply. The wraith looked at them and smiled, a truly terrifying sight. They faced her stonily, stuffing their cringes deep inside. Forlorn nodded, respect in her gaze.

"Forlorn is our resident spymaster, and she will also serve as His Highness' protocol," Samson stated.

Malachi growled, shifting closer to the prince. Forlorn chose to see that as a challenge, and before anyone could blink, she had closed the few feet between them and was reaching a hand toward the prince.

Then she froze.

A sword glinted at her throat. No one had seen Malachi move.

"I know more ways to kill beings like you than you know," he muttered sinisterly. "You only came this close because I let you. Do you understand me?"

Forlorn couldn't speak or nod for fear of the sword slicing through her throat. Prince Lucius just stared, shocked and awed, at what, no one was sure.

"Malachi, I don't think she can respond with your oversized knife threatening her jugular," Dhara said, oozing nonchalance. He grunted and removed his sword. Forlorn straightened, faced him, and made a deep curtsey.

"Malachi Stone, 'tis honored I am to serve you." Her voice made one think of thin cobwebs – wispy, faint, and oddly cold. Malachi gave her a curt nod, and Forlorn faded into the floor.

"She was meant to assist you, you know," Samson broke the silence. Malachi glared at him.

"Can we get the tour over with? His Highness and the ladies need to rest. It has been an eventful day."

Samson bowed and walked them to their rooms, which were on the same floor as the prince. Malachi did not have a room on that floor, so Dhara assumed that meant he would sleep at the prince's door or something. Her room was right beside Brynn's, a door connecting their rooms.

"If you need anything, push this button," Samson showed them a button beside the light switch on the wall by the headboard. Dhara thanked him, told Brynn she would check out her room later, and locked both doors.

Her room was done up in soft lavender and cream colors. The bed was a massive four-poster, complete with hanging curtains, and Dhara wondered if this was stereotypical for all bedrooms of those with old money.

She saw her bag by the large, blackwood wardrobe, and started to unpack. Since Queen Edna married King Dorian, all mages were always prepared for all and any flight or flight circumstances. Every mage had an emergency bag that was spelled to pack and move once the mage knew that they were fighting major odds. The bag usually arrived at the new destination before the mage got there, as long as the mage knows where they are going.

Dhara unpacked, arranging her charm making items, clothes, shoes, toiletries, and other necessities. She went into the opulent bathroom, took a quick shower, wore a soft robe that reminded of her spring, and climbed into bed. A box of her favorite chocolates had appeared on her bedside table while she was in the bathroom, and she wondered if Forlorn was doubling as a maid as well.

She ate some, carefully not thinking of Malachi, realizing it was a hopeless cause, then closed the box and laid down to sleep, mentally making plans to call her parents the next day.