2

"I really hope we get an explanation of the rest of the city." James said.

"I doubt you will." Lysandra said calmly.

"Why?" I asked incredulously.

"How many citizens did you ask?" she questioned.

"Well none." I said hanging my head.

"Not surprised. But all I heard was that a demon-lady swooped from the sky riding a dragon. But she killed no one." She confided.

"Oh... so the demon lady wasn't that bad." Henry guessed.

"It appears so." She said gloomily. "But she did destroy the people's houses."

"So, is she on our side or is this a trap?" Alice asked.

"Chill sis, we'll talk about this inside, it's freezing out here." Lysandra chided.

I could see my friends' minds racing, about what was happening. In silence we entered through the broken door.



The interior was actually in much better shape, than the exterior, which was shocking since it was quite expensive, with riches and

magical weapons here and there. Sure, who ever raided it, didn't leave it looking good; like she threw the weapons from their stands, since servants were running here and there cleaning it, and trying to make it look how it must've been before the raid. I looked at my friends and they all save for Lysandra seemed shocked, who instead looked like she was trying to hide her disgust.

"What happened?" Veronica asked her. "You look like this is your house."

Lysandra tried for a smile and failed "Nothing, it's just why aren't they using magic to repair the house?"

I pondered that, maybe because they wanted to show themselves weak, but that didn't seem to make sense since they already were broken.

Lysandra started entering the main hall without knocking, when Sorscha pulled her back.

"What?" Lysandra snapped.

"We're here to discuss surrender terms, not raid them." Sorscha said calmly.

Lysandra rolled her eyes, but moved aside to let Sorscha handle it.

"Thank you." Sorscha muttered. And knocked three times then waited.

About instantly, a servant came and opened the doors. His jaw fell open when he saw us, and started to bow. I frowned "We aren't royalty, we just came on the Queen's behalf."

The servant gulped and looked at us all again, then rushed to the side of the door. Once he moved, I realized that this was not just some weak, city of the Dark Lord, its chandelier glowed with dark fire, the walls depicted images of the Ancient Days of Peace between the 2 forces, with the one on the right to the Queen and to the left to the Dark Lord, and on the ceiling the Great Mother and on the floor the Father of Death. The

table was made of pure Silomin gold. The chairs made of the dark Hiskromian iron, the edges lined with Silomin gold. It was breath taking, but what was more shocking was how did one person manage to destroy such a city. I glanced at my friends, who again except for Lysandra seemed shocked.

The doors at the other end opened, and a young man entered "Greetings." His accent was rich and pure.

Sorscha curtsied to the man. The Midnight sisters just rolled their eyes, and Veronica snorted. Sorscha looked quite awkward being the only one who bowed.

The man frowned at them, but nodded politely at Sorscha. "Please, have a seat." He motioned us to the table.

I looked at them, and sent my powers, silently checking if there were any traps there. Of course, there were. I raised my eyebrows at him "I take it you want to capture us?"

"Excuse me?" he asked, again formal.

"The traps..." My voice trailed off, since somehow all the traps vanished. "How?"

"I take it you had a hard day, but please don't accuse me pointlessly." He said, and I detected the fake plea in his voice. Lysandra looked relieved, then noticed that I was looking at her and snorted at me.

"Now, may we talk formally?" He asked "Sitting." He added.

James rolled his eyes, but moved to the table, the rest of us following him.

"Now," he steepled his fingers sitting at the front of the table. "We said we'd surrender, but now I was thinking something else."

Veronica raised an eyebrow "As in?"

"Well, of course we won't take you hostage since that is currently impossible." He answered "But we're still loyal to the Dark Lord."

Veronica clicked her tongue "So, what do you suggest."

He raised up his arms in surrender "All I'm saying is that if we have your permission, can we give you a third of all the riches of this house, not of the citizens please as their houses and food supplies are already destroyed, and we won't breath a word to this to The Dark Lord, unless someone already tells him. And I know that your Empire doesn't need riches, but a show of mercy could convert a number of The Fiblees to join you."

The Fiblees, all those people who thought that they shouldn't take sides on either Empire, so they stayed neutral, because they thought the Daughter of Chaos would return, if we continue fighting but some would leave from time to time due to poverty or just liked to fight or something else.

"Well, also give us the land, since technically we are supposed to own it when you people surrendered." James said.

"Of course, that goes without saying, as we have surrendered all ready." The man answered softly.

Then I realized that, he was being too casual on all this, giving up the land, the riches and only asking for his and his people's freedom, and the fact that he tried to take us hostage before removing the traps with powerful magic.

"Who are you?" Alice asked, talking the first time since she came here.

"I'm not the son of the king, of this land, but yes I'm the heir of a far more powerful state. Which's name I don't want to mention, so please

do not even ask me." He said this time, the plea not as fake.

"Of course, we ourselves don't share our private matters." Lysandra said suddenly.

I frowned at her, "Well, I can't argue with your statements, as they all make sense, but... I want your name."

"And if I refuse?" he asked, the first time showing that he didn't trust us.

"We won't agree to your requests, we'll take the city and give it to the generals and lords." I threatened calmly.

He raised an eyebrow, "So if someone doesn't agree to you, you'll destroy and enslave the person's people?"

"Not really, but if you think our leaders in that way then what should I do?"

He took out a scroll, and sighed "Through this scroll, I can't lie, if any of you can speak the Western Trolls."

Lysandra raised her hand "Right here."

He nodded, and motioned her towards him "Start with 'Avisma ivsa thekli Dotek Kinsa'."

I hardly knew any of the Ancient Language but 'Dotek Kinsa' was what I've been hearing since a kid, both as a hero and villain.

She nodded and started the chant, I caught a few vague words meaning 'death' 'Dark king' and 'lies'. After a few minutes, she paused and then added one more line "lordus batirow." When darkness slithered out of the scroll and went slowly toward the man, then upon reaching him it went into his mouth, and forced him to swallow it.

"There," he said "I'm the Heir of Glisteria, and no I wasn't trying to take

you hostage."

The moment he said that, I felt at so much peace suddenly, I don't know why, like there was tension and power in the air. Lysandra clearly also felt it, since her shoulders slumped in relief.

"Well now just make the oath of not telling anyone about of our current status." James said with relief in his voice.

He put a hand to his heart, "I swear to Veeva Goddess of Poisons that I won't tell anyone about your status unless someone already tells the Dark Lord, and I'll also try to convince the people of this city not to talk about this and also the governor of this city."

Lysandra asked him trembling, "Can't hold this much longer, are you done?" I cursed under my breath, since none of us actually prepared for magic or a fight.

"Yes." I answered for the man. She dropped the scroll as if it was made of flame, and the darkness climbed out of the man's throat to the scroll.

"Well nice knowing you, Prince but we now have more pending problems." James said with a tinge of tiredness in his voice.

"Yeah," Lysandra agreed "But first I need a drink."

Alice snapped her fingers and purple mist descended from her hands and a bottle of icy cold water was in her hand, she gave Lysandra a catch who with shaking hands still managed to catch it, and immediately sat and started swallowing it in.

"So much for not using magic," I said smirking, when Alice glared at me too shut up, which I didn't do exactly "Now I got a new rule for this cadre!"

James sighed "Ugh, what?"

I grinned wickedly "Always, always stay prepared, for a fight."

Alice and Veronica just rolled her eyes but Lysandra managed a small laugh, but Sorscha just nodded, clearly something else on her mind.

"What's up Sorscha? You don't really seem happy that we got a city without really doing anything." James teased.

She made a face at him but confessed "I was actually worried for Alice, she doesn't seem fine."

Alice whirled at her "What? You feel something weird around me?"

"Yes," she admitted "But not you weird, as if before the scroll the man's aura and your aura were kind of like the same."

That was one of Sorscha's powers, she could see people's bloodlines though vaguely, "Also with Lysandra." she added suddenly.

The color leeched from Lysandra's face "So you're saying we're related to the king of Glisteria?"

"Not necessarily but I guess with a scroll of truth being used my powers don't work." She said.

The man said "Well, now that my business here is done, I'll do my other work."

"Woohoo, at least I'm not the only one descended from royalty here!" James hooted.

Lysandra's shoulders sagged but Alice just rolled her eyes "Seriously James this isn't funny, if we're related to a royal family of the Dark Lord..." her voice trailed off.

"The leaders wouldn't accept you here." Henry finished for her.

Sorscha squared her shoulders "Well that doesn't matter," she chided but when she saw Veronica raise her eyebrows she added "And besides, not like we're going to tell anyone."

Alice smiled "Well, I'm sure that won't stay hidden forever but thanks anyways."

I shook my head, "Honestly, even if you don't go out with me as I say so," that got a snort from her "I'll still keep this hidden, and I'm sure so will the others." I assured her.

"Well, George I'm pretty sure no one else wants to go out with me but you." Alice retorted.

"Oh, well I have to admit no one here but you have many many fans outside."

"Guys seriously we have more pending problems than handling George's crush."

I raised my eyebrows with fake surprise "More important than my problems?"

"I'm afraid so," James said gravely.

"Guys enough," Lysandra snapped "You too James."

James bowed "Whatever you say milady."

Lysandra swatted his arm, "I said enough, unless I have to explain what it means stop this."

"Ah, a teacher, well let's see how far do you understand the Ancient Language?" James swaggered.

"How about Heslamian? Or Cylwer?" Lysandra retorted.

I watched in amusement how my best friend and Alice's sister were

coming closer to a fight, I didn't even try to intervene like the others because I knew it was just a matter of time when Sorscha would stop them, and how no one would ever get bored of their frequent fights.

"Yeah, hope you see, you can learn other languages but the Ancient Language is only gifted to some and learning that is nearly impossible." James bragged.

"Exactly, we're seeing who learned more, not the gifts bestowed upon one of us."

"Guys-" Sorscha started, but I put a hand in front of her, silently asking her to wait for a little longer, and she rolled her eyes but nodded. And they too ignored her.

"In that case," James started "You might know more languages which is kind of pointless but I on the other hand have more knowledge on the history of the Ancient Wars and of the Empires and- well guess I should stop now, eh?"

"No need," Lysandra said coolly "But let me just correct you of one thing, you say knowing history is more important than knowing more languages, how exactly?"

"So glad you asked," he answered with equal swagger "Language yeah useful when being a trader or spy- which you are, but history is more useful while meeting monsters and some random Immortal, so now which would you prefer?"

"Language, as learning new monsters' weaknesses in combat is more useful than learning it while keeping your nose in a book." Lysandra retorted.

"Hmm... and if some deity bothers to pay you a visit and you know nothing about them?"

"Same treatment for them too." Lysandra said without a hint of hesitation.

"Say that in a temple for me." James requested innocently.

"I'll shout it at them the day when your head will be in my hands." Lysandra promised.

"In your hands" he mused "I take it as you can't wield any sort of weapon. What are you going to do if magic vanishes? Surely you will have to do something as many people hate you."

"Firstly, I can use the bow, and secondly, magic will not vanish." She said coldly, "And let me assure you only half the amount of people who hate you hate me."

"So basically no one," he said grinning, glad he finally pissed her off "As you're the only person who hates me."

"James," Sorscha said calmly "You should know when to shut up."

James was taken back, not because she stopped him but because of the way her kind voice phrased it "Guess now's the time?" he asked innocently.

"Glad you know that much." Lysandra interrupted.

James winked at her "Don't worry, we will find peace one day." Then again, her shoulders knotted the way it had for the past few days, as if she was seriously stressed.

"Now, how about we check how it's going outside with the Prince, then we'll meet the governor." Alice said. "Agreed?"

"Yup." We all agreed.

As we exited I couldn't see the Prince anywhere then I heard the scream.