Prince Tolder rode through the southern gates of former Emperor Rathner’s palace. Behind him was one small caravan led by a soldier from the Keglar Kingdom who had been assigned to help bring his personal belongings. It was the first time Prince Tolder had ever been in Dalenia. He was impressed with its size and the grandness of the buildings along with the beach and cove the palace looked over. At the same time, a heavy jealousy and rage filled every inch of his body. His homeland had been wiped and destroyed, and he had spent the past ten years either on the run or living with the scourge of society in the Emperor’s labor camps, while the Emperor had lived in luxury.

He breathed deeply and dismounted from his horse as a stable boy came jogging forward. He was here now. That’s all that mattered. His years of planning and patience had paid off. The Emperor was dead and he, the Hummingbird, was now standing in his palace grounds. He should be chuckling to himself at how his plans had been so successful, but there was still work that needed to be completed.

Prince Tolder turned around and looked across the sandy floored courtyard. There, near the back, a man dressed in gawdy bright regal slacks and a sleeveless jacket, typical of Talbecan style, was walking towards him. To his eye, Talbecan clothing tried to overcompensate for their minimalism. He poked his finger inside his own collar and tried to loosen it. Sweat was stale on his skin, and this was supposed to be the be the end of summer!

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Prince Tolder,” the man stated once he was standing before him. “I am Prince Vox. I hope your journey was well?”

“Yes, it was,” Prince Tolder responded simply. He eyed Prince Vox. He had heard much from Prince Yernal, and from the communications he had shared with Prince Vox, he had a good impression of just how weak, unconfident and indecisive this man really was. He was small, nervous with fidgeting-fingers, and eyes that darted around suspiciously. He was going to be easy to control and manipulate. “May I suggest you show me to my private quarters where we may talk without ears listening.”

“Of course, of course,” Prince Vox blurted, holding his hand out to show Prince Tolder the way. “I’ve arranged to have food waiting for your arrival so you can eat and rest. We can discuss our next steps the following morning.”

“No,” Prince Tolder stated, his eyes taking in everything that passed him, drawing it into his memory. “We talk now.”

“Of course, of course,” Prince Vox responded.

They walked in silence the rest of the way, Prince Vox taking a quick pace as if he didn’t want anyone to see his guest. It was rather bold of him to allow such a villain into the palace after all this time the Emperor had been hunting him. Prince Tolder smiled wryly. If only he could walk within these walls in such a position right in front of Emperor Rathner when he had been alive. That would have been the ultimate pleasure.

They rounded a stone corner along the path and were greeted with several small buildings, each with their own protective wall and entrance to provide privacy.

“These are some of our guest quarters,” Prince Vox explained leading him to one closed wooden door. “You’ll have privacy, and for the most part, no one in the central palace building will know you are here.”

Despite himself, Prince Tolder liked the design. It was so different to how guests were accommodated back when he had been in the Keglar Kingdom. Prince Vox guided him through the door and into a small courtyard. A one floor building with a half-hipped roof and a wide veranda where he could sit in the evenings if he so wished. Frequently spaced latticed windows wound the building from what he could see, providing much needed fresh air. Trees with thin hanging branches swayed gently providing shade. The only way to reach the building was over a small bridge due to a large pond filled with colorful fish that swam blissfully unaware of their presence.

“I hope you will find this more than suitable,” Prince Vox said.

He would find this more than suitable, but he wouldn’t let Prince Vox know that. Instead, he marched over the bridge and flung the double wooden entrance doors open. There was a main lounge area and several rooms he guessed for sleeping. He turned to face Prince Vox whose footsteps had followed him.

“Let’s get straight down to business,” he said. It wasn’t a suggestion. It was an order.

“Of course,” Prince Vox replied, and he motioned with his hand for Prince Tolder to sit on the cushions as several servants raced forward to place drinks and a variety of fruits and bread-based snacks.

“First of all,” Prince Tolder instructed, “empty my quarters of your staff. I do not want our conversation to be heard by anyone other than ourselves.”

Prince Vox clapped his hands drawing the attention of the servants in the building. “Leave us all now,” he ordered.

There was a quiet scuttling of feet as the servants hurried out. Prince Tolder gave one last look around to ensure their privacy, and then sat slowly on the cushions on the ground in front of the table.

He sighed. “I have never gotten used to this disgusting Talbecan custom of sitting on the floor, especially to eat,” he seethed.

He watched Prince Vox easily slide onto his cushion opposite him. If he was offended by his words, he didn’t say anything.

“How are things in the Keglar Kingdom?” Prince Vox asked.

“Good,” Prince Tolder informed him. “Prince Yernal is making steady progress in gaining more control. He is working hard and enjoying tormenting his new toy.”

“Teal?” Prince Vox asked.

“Yes. He is proving to be a great asset in that he is helping to persuade even the most reluctant officials and powerful families in supporting Prince Yernal.” Prince Tolder wriggled on the cushion trying to get comfortable.

“It was a good idea to take him,” Prince Vox stated. “My mother would never have allowed Teal to be used in such a way. Will you be letting Empress Crael know you are here?”

“Empress Crael?” Prince Tolder scoffed. “Some Empress. Traitor more like it. I can’t believe a member of my own family would even consider copulating with a Talbecan.” He paused, and let his hands fall into his lap. “No, I won’t inform her. Not for the moment. Not until we are more organised and secure.”

“Speaking of traitors,” Prince Vox leaned forward and spoke conspiratorially, “We have Jale. Prince Salren caught him and brought him back to Dalenia.”

Prince Tolder leaned back in his seat and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. This was unexpected. After all this time, one of the men he despised the most was within the same place as he was. Oh, to go to Jale and cause him pain, just like Jale had caused him so much pain years before. To have all that research on the plague wasted and burnt to a cinder. He had watched, hiding behind trees as the snow fell. He had seen what they had done to the caravans at the Arina Pass. He was more than aware that they had killed all of the people he had been working on. Such arrogance by Jale and Emperor Rathner. Didn’t they know how frustrating it was to start and be in the middle of something only to have it taken away so it couldn’t be finished?

“Where exactly is he?” Prince Tolder asked, the need to see the man itching beneath his skin.

“He’s in the guest quarters. Two doors down from you,” Prince Vox told him.

The man was that close?! Only two doors down? “The guest quarters?” Prince Tolder hissed. “That is no place for such a vile human being!”

“My mother insisted,” Prince Vox spoke hurriedly. “She has said he is a free man but must return to the Keglar Kingdom on the morrow.”

“Your mother is here as well?”

“Yes,” Prince Vox confirmed.

Prince Tolder leaned forward and eyed Prince Vox closely. “There comes a time when hard decisions need to be made, Prince Vox,” he began. “If we want to see the fruits of our efforts, very, very hard decisions need to be made.”

“Of course, of course,” Prince Vox stated, but from his hurried response, Prince Tolder could tell he didn’t understand.

“To be able to make decisions, to really be in control of one’s Empire, those in the way need to be eliminated.”

A cold, heavy silence filled the space between them. Prince Tolder saw Prince Vox become rigid, frozen in his spot on the cushion.

“You have already come so far,” Prince Tolder continued in a soothing voice. “You have already made so many gains. You can’t stop now.”

“The twins have disappeared,” Prince Vox said. “No one knows where they are unfortunately, but we expect that Empress Crael may know.”

“They do not matter for the moment,” Prince Tolder said quietly. “There are others who need to be dealt with first, do you understand?”

Prince Tolder met Prince Vox’s eyes, cold and hard. Prince Vox swallowed deeply and nodded. “Of course,” he croaked. “I understand.”

“Good,” Prince Tolder responded with a smile. “Now, back to Jale. As much as I would like to see Jale’s demise, I promised Prince Yernal he could have that honor. I don’t know why he is so eager,” he waved his hand to show it wasn’t important. “Some kind of old childhood grudge as far as I’m aware.”

“Yes, Prince Yernal seemed very pleased when you were able to confirm that his cousin is still alive,” Prince Vox stated.

Prince Tolder paused to think, and then continued, “I don’t think the guest quarters are a suitable place for Jale though. I think the palace dungeons would be far more appropriate accommodations before he is returned to the Keglar Kingdom.”

“Yes, I agree as well,” Prince Vox responded.