Lord Starfall’s POV

I adjusted my silver robe nervously, making sure that all my hidden foci were still hidden. My part in the plan was going to be the least dangerous, but one of the most difficult. I had spoken with the Seer previously, and she did approve of me bringing in backup, which was what was saving me.

“Are you two doing ok?” I whispered to the twins, Selene and Pithian.

“We’re ok Paw Paw.” Selene said, though she was concentrating fiercely.

“No matter what, I’m proud of you for stepping up. Hold the spell as long as you can, I’m sure it will be long enough.” I reassured them, resisting patting them on the heads. Instead I prepared myself for the heavy lifting that was ahead, as we followed behind Lord Goldenlake’s entourage.

As with most things royal, this was taking its sweet time getting everyone in. The steward had to announce everyone, including their lineage and titles back three generations. With as long lived as elves are, it always took far too long.

Once inside, we split off to our political side, even though it would be harder on the twins to maintain the magic. It was also time for me to get to work, so I closed my eyes and concentrated. I heard a few muttered apologies as my guards turned away friends, but a small insult was necessary. It wasn’t often that I was asked to start lifting the enchantment that dampened magic in the throne room. Most thought it impossible, which was how we were pulling off our daring plan.

Like most royalty, the elves had a strict no weapons policy in their presence. This was enforced by the royal guard, and was easy. Much harder was the room enchantment that suppressed all magic. That was my job, to slowly lift it so that the twins could hold the enchantment on the weapons Lord Goldenlake’s men had smuggled in.

It truly was a brilliant plan. They had used a shrink item spell on a set of crossbows and quarrels, and had turned them into fake broaches to hold up their cloaks. To protect them from the royal guard that would no doubt respond to the threat immediately, their cloaks had weights added to the bottom, allowing them to be used as nets to tangle the polearms of the royal guards. That was the job of Lord Hemlock’s men. My own men would delay any who made it through, our starfall field was in actuality a cleverly disguised mace and shield combination.

“Thanks Grandfather, but any more and people will notice. We’ll be fine.” Pithian spoke quietly.

“Such a great grandson.” I said, smiling as I held my efforts. The strain wasn’t too bad, I just hoped it wouldn’t last too long. Holding an enchantment partially at bay was like holding a three pound rock at arm’s length. Anyone could do it, but it rapidly became a test of endurance and holding it steady grew much harder. Then when everything was in motion, I would have to life and hold a metaphorical boulder.

“Our noble brethren!” The crowd quieted as King Duerse stood from his throne. He had his strange armor set on, and just at the edge of the shadows was his cowardly brother with his black robes. “We wish to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing your support for us on this, our wedding day! Today shall be a turning point for our kingdom, as we all work together to usher in a new era of prosperity!” Several families were cheering at the proclamation, though it didn’t quite sound like all of them were. I truly wished I could turn and look, but my mind was starting to tremble with the strain.

“As is tradition, we wish to announce our bride to be to the assembled, and then we shall open the floor for objections.” Duerse said, getting yet another round of applause. Once it died down, hidden musicians started playing the traditional wedding melody, as the very un-traditional bride took her first steps through the aisle of noblemen and women. “Saphielle Mistfall, of Clan Mistfall.”

Wearing black silk ensemble that resembled scales, she sinuously moved through the aisle. Her dress had two incredibly thin straps over the shoulders. Twin slits on the sides allowed for free movement, and both the front and back plunged downward toward her waist. Nothing was revealed, though there were hints of tattoos beneath. I heard a few mutters, but none dared say anything loud enough to be heard.

“I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart on what is sure to be the happiest day of my life.” She called out as she took her position next to Duerse.

“And now to get the obligatory objections part out of the way.” Duerse said in a joking manner, ever confident in himself. “Should any have cause to oppose this union, let them stand forward now and air their grievances.”

Seer Victoria didn’t even let him finish his statement, having crossed half the cleared area before planting a staff into the central array with a pulse of magic. “Oh don’t mind me, just making sure that my duty is fulfilled.” She waved off the glare he was giving her.

“Duty? We thought all your duties discharged when we banished you from the capital.”

“And it served my purpose to let you think that.” She countered. “But I will not be the first of the line of Royal Seers that abandons their duty. Let it be my honor to be the first to condemn both this marriage, and to officially declare you unfit to lead the elven nation on the grounds of treason.”

Everyone froze for several moments at this thunderous accusation. I assumed that elves all over the empire were frozen as well, as the magic array she had activated ensured that all city squares displayed a magical rendering of what was occurring in the throne room.

“HA!” bellowed Olearis from his position. “HAHAHAHAHA! I must admit that your joke was perfect. However, one should never joke about treason.” As he spoke the last words, the shadows near him seemed to deepen.

“And I assure you and all present that I stand by my words. I name you three traitors, not just to the elven race, but to all life on Vitae.”

“Your lack of evidence notwithstanding, you still lack the noble backing to level such charges.” Duerse calmly said. “Everyone can see you stand alone in your accusation.”

“Not alone!” Boomed the voice of Lord Ronald as he boldly strode across the floor, his entourage following closely. “I have personally weighed the evidence, and as ever the Goldenlake clan stands with the Royal Seers. We shall be the first of the noble houses to support the charge of treason.”

“Throughout the history of our race, the Goldenlakes have proven to be a righteous and worthy adversary that has countered our house time and time again. Yet having seen the evidence with my own eyes, it is my pleasure to cast off that history and stand side by side, united in purpose. Let Clan Hemlock be the second house that stands with the Seer in support of the charge of treason.” The murmuring through the crowds let me know that our plan was working. Clan Hemlock and Clan Goldenlake were well known for representing the opposite political parties on nearly everything. To have both of them united in one purpose?

“It’s time. Walk forward with me, though stay just behind me little ones.” I whispered before standing to my full height. “Clan Starfall also supports the Seer and her accusations. Having seen the evidence presented, as well as things uncovered independently, there is no doubt.” This was where we were supposed to initiate the plan, but things never go to plan.

“Clan Woodtamer stands with the Seer.” A sole elf strode forward, the leader of the clan that built the most elaborate of structures. “We have long suspected heart rot has been allowed to fester in our empire, and the word of the Seer is all the word we need. Lady Victoria, you have our support.”

“The church of Shalora, rightful patron of the elves, stands with the seer.” The high priestess herself strode down the hall, not having ben in the room at the beginning. “I also add to their accusations. What are these fell creatures that you call your royal guard? Our banishment now makes sense, as any of our priests would sense that these are mere elf shells and that their souls are gone.”

“Clan Unseen stands with the seer.” Came a hissing voice that seemed to emanate from all the shadows at once. “We are the purveyors of dark deeds in the darkest of nights, and yet an organization that is willing to cross lines we dare not has arisen and been battling us for years. We care not for your own evidence, the evidence we have is more than compelling enough.”

*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*

“We must say, we are impressed with your thoroughness.” Duerse mocked while clapping. “You sit here, claiming that I have betrayed Vitae and my own people. And yet all I hear are hollow accusations. No evidence, nothing of substance. Tell me, are all your accusations the same Seer? Whispers in the wind?”

“Not all, dearest brother!” A voice called out, one that tickled my memories. A kind of elf I had never seen before strode forward, her skin the color of plums that had been threaded through with veins of blue. Her hair was deep purple that faded to the same vibrant blue at the tips.

“And who are you that call me Brother?” Duerse mocked.

“Do you not recognize me? I admit it has been several decades, and I am missing the last thing you and Olearis ever gave me. A collar of enchanted gold, binding me into slavery? Placed upon your unsuspecting sister you held paralyzed as three young elves supposedly hunted down a white stag.”

“Elendria?” Olearis asked, eyes widening in fear.

“At least one of you remembers your dark deeds, though I can tell from here that you have gone and traveled much further into the darkness.” She snarled, and the king’s brother flinched.

“Bah, as if anyone would believe that the Frozen Lily stands before us. She died long ago.” Saphielle mocked.

“At least Jeanay recognized me before her soul was torn asunder by the abomination planted on her by the thing you are marrying.” Elendria countered. “Tell me, Saphielle, what happened to our group? You were one of four handmaidens of mine, and we were inseparable. Do you even know where they are? What horrors have been inflicted upon them?”

For a fleeting moment, Duerse looked confused. “Horrors? Whatever are you talking about? I have it on good authority that the handmaidens my sister grew up with have been working incredibly hard for the kingdom.”

“Don’t let their lies get to you my dear.” Saphielle said, drawing her hand up the King’s arm. “They offer nothing but lies.”

“How amusing, the one snake in our midst accusing everyone of spreading lies.” Came a voice from the group behind the seer, and to everyone’s surprise a human walked out! “What made you turn on your friends Saphielle? How far back does your betrayal go?”

“A human? Lecturing an elf on betrayal?” She held her head back and laughed.

“More than just a human.” He countered. “The chosen of Ariana. One who has foiled your true master’s plan time and time again.”

“And now you claim to know my true master?”

“Indeed. How’s his eye?” The human asked, and everyone saw the unbridled rage flash across Saphielle’s face.

“I dared then, and I will do far worse to him, though I do believe your run is at its end. Shall I simply call you Adder from now on?”

“Hrmph.” She smirked, and her entire demeanor changed. “You humans, so full of hubris. You think that shutting down one batch of operations is enough to stop us? Jeanay’s usefulness was nearing the end anyway. Her loss is no setback.”

“How callously you speak of having a creature devour the soul of your friend in order to birth the elite armors of your army. Though I do see you found a way to work around it by substituting goblin souls at the cost of your other friends. Don’t worry, I recently freed them both and destroyed that too. There will be no more larval soul leeches born on Vitae.”

“Devoured souls? What’s he talking about?” Duerse asked, looking confused.

“It’s nothing.” She waved him off, only to see him finally lose his temper.

“IF ELVES ARE LOSING THEIR SOULS, THEN IT IS A BIG DEAL!” He thundered, stepping back. “That wasn’t the deal we struck!”

“Sacrifices need to be made for the good of the whole!” She hissed back, not realizing that someone had activated the sound boosting array. “We will hold our end of the deal, and your people will survive the world’s assimilation! Now you need to hold your end!”

The voice of the Unseen Clan’s leader hissed out in amusement, “Hehehehee, and there we have it. Even the darkest of agreements must eventually see the light.”

“Well, time to make a choice.” Adder hissed. “Your hands are as bloody as mine. Will you stand by our deal, or will I cut you down where you stand?”

Duerse looked at her, then his people a few times, before taking a deep sigh. “Seize them.”

As the guards moved to circle us, I placed a hand on each of my grandchildren. “Release the spells.” I girded myself against the resistance, and forced everything I had to disable the anti-magic enchantment on the throne room and cried out the one set of orders I could. “Soldiers of House Starfall! Let none approach the Seer, the High Priestess, and our allies that have joined in the final hour!”

Halberds lowered, the royal guard started to encircle us when the Unseen Clan struck. “Allow us one parting gift, as open combat is not our style.” The shadows hissed as all the celebratory tapestries dropped onto the unsuspecting guards. In their moment of distraction, the crossbows were released and a chorus of bolts thunking into bodies echoed out. To our surprise, the bodies simply stood back up.

“MAY THE LIGHT OF SHALORA BLESS ALL WHO STAND AGAINST THE DARKNESS THIS DAY! LOSE NO HEART, FOR OUR GODS ARE WITH US! WE WILL SLAY THESE CREAURES THAT USE OUR KIN AS PUPPETS, AND THEN TURN OUR BLADES UPON THEIR MASTER!” The priestess shouted out, and a light blasted from the tip of her staff, enveloping us all before settling on our weapons. Those bolts that were still in the royal guard glowed as well, and we finally heard screeches of pain. Knowing I couldn’t afford any distractions, I closed my eyes and placed my faith in my fellow elves and in Shalora.