Dawn hadn’t even broken yet when Mardu heard the doors of his cell rattle open, and a small contingent of guards pulled him out. Not roughly, but they definitely weren’t waiting for him to make the decision to move on his own. They didn’t speak to him as they moved up into the palace, and he found himself deposited within one of the palace’s guest-rooms. Fresh clothing had been set out on the bed, and before the door was pulled shut, one of the guards explained.

  “The Duchess has arranged for your transport, Your Grace. You are to make yourself presentable. Assistance will be provided. In one hour, we will escort you to the ship.”

  Click.

  Mardu could only stand for a few more seconds before his legs went out from under him, and a wave of relief washed over him. He could feel his whole body trembling – though whether it was from the hunger-strike he’d imposed on himself or excitement – he couldn’t tell. The tears fell like streams from his eyes, and his arms felt heavy where he tried to lift his hands to his face.

  For a mercy, when the knocking came next, it was the ‘assistance.’ There were three attendants who came in and quickly went to help him back to his feet, and gently warned him that they needed to go quickly.

  The hour seemed to go by faster than anything Mardu had ever experienced in his life, but his spirits were lifted when the grime of those days in the cell washed away. He let his relief get away from him when he spotted Latheroux under the portico as he was brought out of the palace. They exchanged glances, but Latheroux was stoney-faced, held with his arms bound behind his back by Regulus.

  “Of course…you would immediately notice your treacherous friend first.” Far’nah’s voice caught Mardu’s attention, and his head whipped around to spot the woman standing a bit further away. She had her personal guard, but otherwise, they were alone. Far’nah looked on with fatigue and annoyance, and a short distance behind her – parked on the expertly-manicured lawn – the transporter opened its hangar door, ready to accept its royal inventory, “No matter. Soon, you’ll be your cousin’s problem, and I can focus on the future.”

  “…I have nothing more to say. The sooner I’m gone, the sooner we’ll all be in a better place.” Mardu argued contentiously.

  “On that, we can agree.” She said stiffly, and gestured for the escort to move the man towards the vessel. When he was guided by, Far’nah didn’t bother turning her head to watch him go, “I will grieve for what could have been, but what became will be remembered less fondly. I hope you one day realize what it was you threw away. Goodbye, Mardu.”

  The former Duke looked back, “What about Latheroux?”

  “He’s staying.”

  “…Then what was the point of bringing him out here?”

  “That’s not your concern.”

  The escort pushed him forward after that, and Mardu looked back with worry, “Don’t hurt him! Please!”

  The pleading and shrieking was annoying almost as quickly as it began, but Far’nah managed to hold her tongue for the minute that was needed for Mardu to get onto the ship. Instead, she made her way up the short steps of the portico, a stern eye on their final captive.

  Latheroux didn’t look phased at all, even with Regulus holding fast to the shackles at his wrists.

  “Not even going to say goodbye?” The Duchess wondered, “Over 20 years, and in the end, you just watch him leave without a word.”

  “I’ve already achieved everything I set out to do. Whatever happens next – whatever happens to me – is irrelevant.”

  “Irrelevant, is it?” Far’nah mused, “Wasn’t putting him on the throne in my place your intention? He’s flying off into the night, chased by the dawn as if the light itself has rejected him being in Kitez.”

  “As soon as Mardu arrives in Trazad, we’ll be one step closer to getting you out of the way, and putting him on the throne in your place. A much more pliable and agreeable leader, wouldn’t you say?”

  The woman just laughed, “Well, well, if that isn’t the most honest thing you’ve ever said to me… I certainly hope you and yours have a good time at your Dawn of Ages celebration. I hear it’s going to be a real blast this year.”

  Regulus sneered slightly, and he held tightly to the bar between Latheroux’s wrists.

  Latheroux, however, tilted his head ever-so-slightly. His one visible eye drifted out towards the ship as it began to lift into the air…then opened wide, and he twisted back to snap at the Duchess, “Call it back. Now.”

  “Why?” She mused, “What are you going to do if I don’t?”

  “If anything happens to or because of that ship, not even the Hadiran Accord will be able to temper Rylen’s fury.”

  “Good!”

  “What have you done!?”

  “Apparently, it’s irrelevant. But what are you going to do?” Far’nah taunted, “Those bindings around your wrists and ankles are practically just for show. You struggle against their confines but we all know, nothing is actually keeping you here.”

  Latheroux stared intensely, but realization struck, The pods getting disconnected… They somehow figured out how to access the network? But how…? He drew in a breath and moved his arms forward – pulling the binding-shackles straight through his gut – and held them up in front of himself. The sight of the nanotech shifting and reshaping itself came as no shock to anyone except the Duchess’ guards, and Latheroux pulled his hands free, tossing the manacle to the polished stone floor, “Then let’s dispose of the pageantry.”

  “You were right.” Far’nah looked on in amazement; behind Latheroux, Regulus withdrew the glasses from his uniform-pocket and slipped them over his nose, “All this time…we had an Eidolon in our court.”

  That masked figure turned to see the glasses, and his brow furrowed slightly, Those are Kourin’s…! How did he get them!?

  “Aren’t you going to try and stop the ship?” Far’nah wondered, a jeer in her tone, “Aren’t you all-powerful?”

  “But the Eidolon aren’t all-powerful, Your Grace.” Regulus chimed-in, and stepped forward to stand by her side, “Out here, where there’s no World Cloud to draw more nanotech from…”

  “You are so right.” Far’nah mused; it was clear they’d had time to think about what they wanted to say. Their lines sounded too rehearsed, “You can’t manually catch-up with that ship anymore; it’s too fast and too far away for one of your little animal-mantles to fly after. You can’t manifest aboard the vessel either; the border-barrier holds back the Cloud, and you don’t have enough container-pods to make-up for that.”

  Regulus gestured with one hand, and Latheroux got the notification that one pod after another was being disconnected.

  “So, which one are you, then?” The Duchess continued, and began to walk a slow circle around the mantle standing before her, “Surely not Lord Rylen. If he had the wherewithal to create an alter ego here, he would have found a clever way to kill me a long time ago. Xanarken, perhaps? No…he’s been trying for decades to get Kitez to join the Hadiran Accord; what purpose could there be to posing as a man who wants to keep the Council out? He’d be working against his own interests. Maybe it’s that mysterious Third Eidolon that no one ever sees or hears from? The one whose continued secretive existence makes people believe the Eidolon as a body is just some sad A.I. playing at personalities – a relic of a bygone era, refusing to move on.” She made her way all the way back to Regulus’ other side, and curiously, set a hand onto his shoulder, “My ever-faithful servant here also suggested that you may be a proxy instead, since the Eidolon appear to be bestowing their power onto others publicly now. Perhaps you’ve been an agent of one of them all this time, bestowed with a mantle to keep your secrets safe in case we found out.”

  Latheroux noticed a strange ripple in the light that spread across Regulus’ frame, but he couldn’t tell what it meant or what it was.

  Far’nah kept her hand where it was, “You Luminaries are always so eager to talk. Yet there you stand in sil-” The invisible aura around her suddenly shimmered and quaked, reacting viscerally to some unknown force. Far’nah was equal parts horrified and amazed, and she managed to finally laugh, “Incredible…you actually tried for it. So it’s you.”

  She has a shield that keeps out nanotech!? Latheroux thought in a panic, but he collected himself, and his mantle never gave-away his concern, “By the time you learn whether you’re right or not, Kitez will be a smoldering ruin.” He threatened, and reforged the back-half of his mantle, where he’d sacrificed a portion of it in the attempt, “But you still have time to bring that ship back. My only goal was to protect this place.”

  “You are relieved of your duty, Latheroux.” Far’nah taunted, “I can’t wait to see what you do. If you understand what’s at stake, you have the chance to stop it before the worst happens…but you would likely be forced to reveal your duplicity. Or you could protect your second life here and not say a word…but you’ll spend the rest of your immortal existence knowing this was coming. You have about 10 hours to decide. Good luck!”

  “And goodbye.” Regulus finished…and with one last gesture, Latheroux’s mantle fell apart.

  Far’nah let go of his shoulder, and she drew in an excited breath, “And thus, the fuse is lit.”

  “The Council will be here by nightfall. Some of their forces will arrive much sooner.” Regulus commented, and pulled the glasses from his face. He took a knee as the confused guard formed a protective perimeter around them, and offered the glasses up in both hands, “I stand ready to lead our people against Luminary tyranny.”

  Far’nah accepted the spectacles, looked at them curiously…and threw them to the ground, smashing them under the heel of her boot until the glass was dust and the frame was bent beyond recognition. She gestured forward with an open hand, “Let this Dawn of Ages cast its light onto a new era; one where the Luminary Council is in ruins, the Hadiran Accord is dissolved, and Kitez leads the world into the future. A clear, independent future where we can all decide for ourselves how we wish to live, no longer choking under the boot of the old guard.”

  The Magistrate rose back to his feet, and left to make-good on the order. He set a finger to his ear-piece, “It’s done. Destroy the pods.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  .

  On a rocky beach about a mile north of Oceanside, an unseen heavy object created imprints in the soil before coming into view; the Lucid Dream had landed. The side-door opened, and Kourin looked outside, trying to spot the approach of her pick-up.

  Tallus came into her sights a few seconds later, having replaced his Magistrate’s uniform with much-more civilian attire, and a long jacket overtop to protect against the sea-spray. He quickly hopped aboard, and pulled the door across to lock it into place, “…I hope all this set-up is worth it, in the end. All three of us are now withdrawn from public discourse, and we’re stuck counting on the capricious nature of a literal demon, whose only bond to us is a verbal arrangement.”

  Kourin’s eyes were still alight, and she re-cloaked her skiff, “Earth-legends often make mention of demons that enjoy deal-making. Maybe this isn’t the first time Scyrexian’s made itself known to people.”

  “Has it taken Gabriel yet?”

  “…No.”

  Tallus rubbed his temples, “I don’t like this…”

  “I saw it at the funeral service.” Kourin noted, and watched the older figure rummage-around at the back of the skiff. She lifted a brow, “What are you doing?”

  “I’m looking for the hand-hold to pull the cot down. I’m exhausted. I had to walk all the way out here and it’s not an easy hike.”

  “Higher…to the right; there.”

  Tallus pushed his fingers into an easily-missed divet, flat against the walls of the skiff except for the outline of the flap that blended it with the rest of the interior. With a press, a section of the wall came down, and a wide cot tilted into view.

  “If I knew you were going to need it, I would’ve made it up.” Kourin noted, and pulled back on the lift-controls to raise the Lucid Dream back into the air, “I think there’s blankets in the lower compartment, but they probably stink. It’s been years since anything in here was looked at properly.”

  “It’s fine…I’ll be out in 3-seconds flat anyway. Let’s just get back to the Wanderer. If this place descends into bedlam after the Duke’s transfer, I don’t want to be anywhere close to it.”

  .

  It was just after 5am when Ren arrived in a small city near the Sargon-Kitez border, and sleepless fatigue was gnawing at the front of her mind. She’d turned her tech back on as soon as she felt herself pass through the barrier-wall, and by that point, she could see the hotel she’d booked a room in. From the sky, she finished the self-check-in, searched through the upper-level parking garage for the spot she’d been given, landed and exited from her armor, and threw on a quick nanotech outfit alongside the black coloration to her hair – though this time she added a green streak to it, so it wouldn’t look so suspicious.

  A call from Rylen – three calls, actually – had to be addressed, but she wanted to get to her room first. All she needed was her room-key from the front desk, and she quickly grabbed it and made her way down. The door clicked behind her and she swallowed a nervous breath, then sent a response that she was available.

  A window popped-up a few moments later asking if she would accept the Eidolon’s manifestation, and she went back towards the door in preparation to open it, then tapped ‘Yes.’

  It was really weird to hear the shifting-sand sound come from behind her then, and she quickly turned to find her Eidolon standing there in the open room, “L-Lord Rylen! I…thought you would appear in the hall.”

  The First looked around curiously, “Seems we still have some work to do in Sargon. This hotel must not-yet have been mapped to count as a domicile. In any case…” He turned his eyes towards her, “Are you here alone?”

  “Yessir.”

  “Where is the Captain? I thought you two left Agartha together.”

  “We parted ways some time ago. I’m not sure where he chose to go.” She answered; technically true, but with omissions.

  “You’re still wearing your flight-suit, so I imagine you have your armor here somewhere.” The Eidolon noted, nudging his face towards the obvious neck-portion of the uniform that poked through her outfit, “Where are you heading after this?”

  “To Trazad, sir. I was curious about how the Sargonians plan to celebrate with us.”

  “Very good. The Armada is the closest SkyFortress to the city. There’s been some developments; if you’re not opposed to coming off leave early, I want you to be part of it. The briefing will be tomorrow morning; you can do it from the Armada.” The First explained, “And the Captain, if anyone can reach him by then.”

  “I’m happy to do something productive, sir.”

  “…And you’re certain you don’t know where he is?” Rylen looked a bit skeptical, “I thought you two were…”

  Ren wouldn’t betray herself with a sad look on her face, and kept a stiff upper lip, “…There’s been some developments. It’s…complicated.”

  “I’m not about to regret the allowances I’ve given you two, am I?”

  “No, sir. In fact…I would like to formally request a performance review.”

  “To what end?”

  She looked directly into the Eidolon’s eyes, “I am challenging Captain Rydell for command of the Aegis and the Fafnir Knights.”

  That was a shock, and Rylen stared in stunned silence for a few seconds. When he got his bearings back, he nodded, “…Complicated developments, indeed.” He turned and rubbed his chin, “Very well. Consider the mission-briefing tomorrow to be the official beginning of your review. You have command. I’ll add the details to your calendar.”

  “Yessir. Thank you for the opportunity, sir.”

  “Until then, Dame Ren.” Rylen dissolved his mantle, and she was left alone in that Sargonian hotel-room…with her heart pounding so hard, she thought it could be heard from where he once stood.

  She let out a breath she’d been holding, and waved-away the nanotech garb she’d assembled. Stepping into the bathroom, she set her hands to the vanity, and looked at herself in the mirror. The stare she leveled at her own reflection was adamant, but she found herself blinking hard and shaking her head anyway. A hand went up to cover her tired eyes, “…Where did that come from? I know this is what I want, but…we agreed he’d voluntarily step-down when the time came…” She asked herself, and took a few steps back from the mirror, leaning against the opposite wall, “…I shouldn’t have left him out there like that… I’m getting power-hungry, now, too…but damn him, he keeps getting in my way…” She looked forward again, “…It’ll take him till tonight to get back, in the condition I left him in. Assuming he just pushes through…” Ren shook her head and peeled the flight-suit off her thin frame, “…I’ll catch a nap before I finish the flight. I may be able to stay up another day, but that doesn’t mean I have to.”

  .

  The Sargonian transport-vessel parked inconspicuously at the main dock at the palace cliff-side. There weren’t any guards posted specifically for it, so when Gabriel showed up ahead of time, there was hardly a soul around.

  It was finally the Dawn of Ages…and it was just about noon.

  “Just when you think it can’t get any worse, right?” Xanarken’s voice came, and Gabriel turned to spot the Eidolon finish forming his mantle on approach.

  “There’s always a way for things to get worse. I can only sit back and marvel at the creative ways people decide to make it happen.” Gabriel sighed, “Is this why you’re giving it up? Handling problems with the rest of the Accord must be a cake-walk.”

  “Ah…I suppose so. Yesterday I occupied my time with the annual pre-Dawn Mediators’ Gala, then attended a state dinner at the Mayrainese consulate.”

  Gabriel stared with narrowed eyes, “How come I didn’t get invited to the pre-Dawn Gala?”

  “You were, but it was happening way out in Gesh’ko this year. Some things are more important.” Xanarken answered, and hooked his thumbs into the top of his wide belt, “I told them it was my fault you weren’t there.”

  “Well, at least you admitted it…”

  “Next year you’ll be using a mantle and can go anywhere you want, at any time.”

  “…Yeah.”

  “So how come you’re waiting out here anyway?” The Fourth wondered.

  “Iresha and Seth came together from Agartha, with plans to check out the pre-party festivities. Seth suddenly found himself kicked out of the palace, so he asked me to pass along a message if I saw the Prince again.” The blonde explained, “It’s the least I could do, I guess, since I’m the reason they’re friends. Now I feel like I’m part of why they’re being split up.”

  “You said Iresha volunteered. What was he thinking? I thought he was looking forward to going to the College.”

  “I thought so, too, especially since Seth was gonna be there.” Gabriel shook his head, and leaned against a nearby tree-trunk, “But Iresha apparently got it into his head that proving himself was more important, only to realize like three minutes later that it was, in fact, a terrible idea.”

  “To be young and dumb again…”

  “I know you don’t want to know, but Rylen and I have been figuring out contingencies.” Gabriel noted, and crossed his arms across his chest, “I offered the option of a preemptive maneuver, but the Emperor shot me down. He absolutely doesn’t want to throw hands with Kitez, especially not if his son is in the middle of the field.”

  “Valid.”

  “Yeah…but after.”

  “What kind of contingencies, then?”

  “We’re going to try to get the Tuonela back from Far’nah first.” Gabriel explained, “He’s trying to call in the Fafnir but…two of them are conspicuously non-communicative, and it’s kind of making him mad.”

  Xanarken quirked a brow, “…Oh boy. Ren’s one, isn’t it?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  “I’ve actually gotten hold of her.” Rylen’s voice suddenly added to the commentary, and the pair spotted a large familiar owl in the tree directly above, “Sorry, I’ve been here a minute, but I almost fell asleep.”

  “You were saying, you got hold of Ren?”

  “Yeah, around 5am.” The First responded, those large saucer-eyes narrowed to nearly-closed; even his owl-mantle couldn’t hide the yawn. Feathers fluffed, and he seemed to sink into himself a little, “Still can’t reach the Captain though.”

  “Wouldn’t Ren know where he is?”

  “You’d think.”

  “…But she doesn’t?”

  “No one does. Dame Ren said they both shut their tech off, but went their own ways.”

  Gabriel felt a pang of worry, “I see…” He glanced to Xanarken, but the Fourth could only shrug.

  “If the Captain wants to stay offline, then…by rights, for the moment, he’s entitled to do so.” Xanarken explained, and turned his eyes back up to the exhausted owl, “Why are you trying to call them in if they’re on leave anyway?”

  “Because everyone except the Captain is apparently eager to get back to work, and I have a project for them. A joint operation with the Inquisitors.”

  “Again? Didn’t that go badly last time?”

  Orange eyes opened slightly, but blinked slowly as they turned down towards the Fourth, “This is far more standard than a demon-possessed Warp Magi, thank you very much. I’m sure they’d be happy for a quick in-and-out. Something to refocus the team and get them back into a winning mindset.”

  “Maybe you can give the mission leadership to Ren then?” Gabriel suggested, “She’s already Wing Commander. If the Captain is doing his own thing, Ren would be itching for the chance.”

  “You’re the last person I need giving suggestions on what to do with Dame Ren.”

  The Vice’s face just went red, “…Fine, sorry.”

  “There’s the royal entourage. I’m not sure where they plan to cross the border, but the blockade is keeping an eye on things. Kitez has permission for one vessel to get through…everything else gets shot down.” Rylen finished, and yawned one more time, “Anyway, I’ve been up all night. I’m going to sleep. I’ll be back for the party.”

  Xanarken waved, and Gabriel gave a simple ‘cya’ as the owl dissolved. The Fourth couldn’t help but puff a laugh, “It’s funny how Rylen’s faces flip like a coin. One minute he’s keenly engaged, and the next, he’s telling you to buzz off.”

  “Something is going on with Ren and I’m not allowed to know.” Gabriel grumbled, “That’s the most I could get out of Seth, anyway. Rylen is probably involved… I’ll bet it’s fallout from my decision to go to the Aegis, when he got mad at her…”

  “I faintly recall mentioning before that Rylen doesn’t like it when people touch his things.” Xanarken tapped the side of his fist against the man’s shoulder, “Gentlemen’s agreement to stay in our own lanes, et cetera.”

  “Yeah, yeah…”

  They went quiet as the Sargonians finished their approach, and the duo went to meet them at the loading-ramp. Both the Elder and the Younger Iresha looked like they hadn’t slept much either, but the Prince was the only one between them who was willing to speak, “…Lugios.”

  “Your Majesty.” He gave a head-bow.

  “You and I have often butted-heads, but…thanks, anyway…for everything you’ve done to help us.” Iresha said quietly.

  “…Yeah. Sure.” He answered, “…Seth says he’s sorry. I told him that nothing happening here was his fault, but since he got kicked out, he feels like he must’ve done something wrong. I’ll explain it to him myself once the trade’s official and everyone knows.”

  The Prince looked down, “…Thanks…”

  Xanarken stepped around and gestured for the teen to follow him, and Iresha – confused – looked around before following after. The Fourth looked on at him contemplatively, but then set a hand on each of those armored shoulders, and spoke softly, “I don’t think I’ll ever understand exactly why you decided to do this to yourself…but since you have, let me add my voice to the chorus of people telling you to be careful out there. The Duchess is a wildcard, and there’s…really no telling what she plans to do once this exchange is finalized. But if there’s one thing I can say for certain, it’s that…”

  No one else could hear what was said, but they could see the Prince’s eyes widen with worried surprise. Xanarken pulled back then, pat one shoulder, and released, then took a step back. Iresha swallowed a nervous lump in his throat, eyes fixed on the Eidolon, only to find himself pulled away for the final goodbye with his father.

  Gabriel watched as his Eidolon returned, and asked in a hushed tone, “What’d you say to him? It looked like you just kicked his dog, and he doesn’t even have one.”

  The Fourth had no chuckle to answer to that, and spoke seriously, “I told him it’s time for him to become a man. If he wants to play this role, he needs to take it seriously. This was a fool’s move…but he can still fix it.”

  “Fix it how?”

  Xanarken just crossed his arms, “That’s up to him.”