Teal obeyed and breathed in and out.

“There is an energy,” Princess Aleeria started, “an energy that connects the sentient world together. The Lombock can reach this energy, this space. Just like you felt the presence of the tiger within you, if you concentrate, you can reach out and feel all those that are in existence. If you reach out further, you can even feel those who have lived in the past. And if you’re really skilful, you might even catch glimpses of the future for there is no past, present or future in the Everold. There is just being, just life.

“What?! Really?” Teal asked, opening his eyes.

Thereden tutted. “How else do you think people were able to see possible scenarios of your future, Teal?”

“The Talekan Assassins?” he asked.

“Yes,” Princess Aleeria said. “We call those distant cousins seers. Now close your eyes again.”

Teal did so and continued to listen.

“Relax your thoughts, let your mind wander. We’ll find it and pull you in.”

Teal was unconvinced, but her voice was soothing and trance like. Soon his breathing evened out and lengthened. The muscles in his shoulders relaxed and his mind started to wander.

He gasped. All of a sudden, he could feel an energy, so much energy. It took him a moment to realize that it was coming through Princess Aleria’s and Thereden’s fingers. It hit his inner senses. He couldn’t process it or see it, only feel it.

“Eventually, you will be able to do this yourself,” she said.

“Maybe start with something simple,” Thereden suggested.

“The tiger that has always been with you,” Princess Aleeria said, “you are not tied to him here, but you should still be able to find him. He may be the easiest for you to find since you know him so well.”

Teal reached out. He could feel power, love and control, but who owned those feelings, he did not know. The energy continued to build under his skin, light started to flash beneath his closed eyes, and a burning smell started to creep upon his nostrils. A sudden force hit him in the chest. He didn’t know whether his body jolted with response because all of a sudden, he was floored by the colourful lights before him.

It was just like before when he had been asleep during his rescue. This time however, he could sense Princess Aleeria and Thereden beside him and around him.

“Try to feel the energy of the other lifeforms close to you,” Princess Aleeria said.

Teal floated within the Everold. He had no idea whether Aleeria had said those words and he had heard them or whether they had simply appeared in his brain or had swirled around before him. He remembered that when he had been asleep, she had not communicated with him. Here though, her words were everywhere, and so was he.

“Find those lifeforms around you. That would be the easiest for the moment.”

Teal let himself fall into the depth of life, to the living energy that swirled. He drifted, his body falling down and then floating back up, immersing himself in it. He felt anger, grief, love, fear, and friendship; the feelings of the souls floating around him. There was a sudden tug in a particular direction. Teal started to pull himself up, and there, he felt it.

The life. The energy. The power.

The shock of it thrust Teal out of the Everold. Wind howled in his ears and his mind fell freefall. Gasping, he opened his eyes only to be consumed by dizziness. Not able to control the momentum of his senses, he fell back onto the pillows behind him.

“Careful,” Princess Aleria said. “You need to come out of the Everold slowly at first.”

Teal continued to gasp for air, shock permeating through every pore. His body heaved as he drew in large gasps of air. “Why didn’t you tell me?!” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

“Aaah,” Thereden said. “You found our guest. That is impressive.”

Princess Aleria’s shoulders dropped, but her features remained calm. “I asked mother and father to show you when you first arrived, but they wanted you to get familiar with all of us first.”

She rose to her feet and held out her hand. “Easy,” she said. “You’ll still be dizzy.”

Teal took her hand and staggered to his feet. His head swirled again, but he was determined.

“I knew you would find them eventually,” Princess Aleria continued. She gave Thereden a quick glance and he shrugged.

“I told you it was going to happen sooner or later. I really didn’t think he would do it so quickly though.”

Teal leaned down and placed his hands on his thighs as his head continued to swirl. He drew in another shaky breath. “Take me there now.”

“Are you sure?” she asked. “You don’t want to rest?”

Teal shook his head. “No. I want to go now.”

She stared at him before she finally gave her acquiescence. “Come on then. I’ll take you now.” She turned to Thereden. “It might be best to let mother know.”

Teal was too shocked to process the conversation they were having. His head was swirling, but he was frantically trying to gain control. His thoughts were not steady. Was he dreaming? Was it fake? “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked again, only noticing now that Thereden had left them.

She started to guide Teal down the stairs. Uncharacteristically, he held onto the railing. He still couldn’t trust his ability to stay steady on his feet.

“Mother and Father wanted you to know about us first,” she repeated.

She took him over several bridges and across three different floating islands until they reached the palace. He walked in a daze. The journey in the Everold had drained him. Walking inside the palace, Princess Aleria guided him up another two flights of stairs.

Slowly, his senses started to settle. Teal could feel his whole body still shaking, but it wasn’t down to the Everold. This was something else. He wouldn’t believe it until he saw with his own eyes.

Princess Aleria walked down a long hallway. Here, there was security. Lombock guards stood at regular points down the hallway. They bowed as they both walked past. She stopped outside one door. The only door that had two Lombock guards standing in front of it.

She turned to face Teal. “Please remember. We’re so happy that you are back home with us. Do you want to wait for mother?” she asked.

Heart pounding, Teal shook his head. Princess Alerria nodded, and she turned and opened the door.

Teal took a deep breath and walked inside. It was an exquisite, spacious living area for a person to reside in. On one side there was a large bed surrounded by green leafy plants and tables. In the middle of the room, a deep pit covered with cushions created a lounge area. Additional small tables were scattered around the room covered in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Ornaments of purple and pink, matching the blossom tree forest, decorated the entire space. Large braziers lined the arched walls that looked out over the immense city.

Teal walked deeper into his room, and his eyes fell on the person he had sensed and felt in the Everold. Mouth dry, Teal approached. There were no words on the tip of his tongue.

He walked towards the man standing before him and stopped at an arm’s reach. They stared at each other, their eyes locked, both sharing a similar disbelief. Teal lifted his hand and placed it gently on the man’s chest and closed his eyes. He breathed in deeply, taking in the familiar scent and found it intoxicating now with the extra urge for human flesh. His skin was smooth, warm and real under his fingers. Teal opened his eyes.

“Emperor Rathner,” he whispered.

Teal,” Emperor Rathner said.

“You’re alive?” he asked, running his hands over his chest just to be sure.

“Yes Teal, I’m very much alive.”

>>

Lana crouched as best she could behind the tree. Her stomach protruded out from under her clothes. She wrapped her hand around her stomach, a natural act to protect herself and her unborn child.

The sound of the two soldiers jeering and laughing reached her ears. They had found their camp. Whether it had been the smell of their fire or the tracks their horse had left in the dirt as they had travelled, she didn’t know. All that mattered was that she was in imminent danger.

Somewhere on the other side of the clearing, Empress Crael was hopefully hiding or even better, on the run. They had come to a shaky agreement, one that Empress Crael did not agree with but one that Lana demanded. Empress Crael needed to find the twins and that meant in the worst-case scenario, the Empress would leave her behind in order to continue searching.

Lana slid her hand over her stomach. She still had her child.

The soldier’s footsteps grew closer and she tried her best to cower. She couldn’t run. The terrain was unfamiliar, and where would she run too?

The crunch of dirt sounded before her.

“Well, well, well,” one soldier said. “Do you know who this is?” he asked.

“No,” the second soldier stated. His voice was thick and throaty.

“Look at the tattoo on her arm,” he said. A rough hand clasped around her forearm and she was tugged to her feet. “That is the late Emperor’s concubine tattoo. This blind lady here is the famous blind concubine. Has a great set of ears on her apparently.”

“She’s got a great set of something else on her too,” the other soldier chuckled. “Concubine? I bet she knows some tricks or two.” He must have leaned in close for he whispered his next words. “What do you think?”

Lana’s stomach churned in fear. Couldn’t they see she was with child? She tried to struggle out of the soldier’s grip, but his hold was tight. A loud thud reached her ears as a fist hit flesh. Fortunately, it wasn’t hers.

“Don’t be stupid,” the first soldier said. “We need her in one piece and she’s with child, you fool.” All of a sudden, she could feel his breath on her skin. “It’s not the late Emperor’s though is it, little lady?”

Lana didn’t respond.

“It’s the Lombock’s child, isn’t it?” the soldier hissed into her ear. “That’s what the rumours are saying.”

“What you getting at?” the second soldier asked. His voice was muffled, and Lana suspected he was holding his hand over a possible bloodied nose.

“Don’t you read?” the first soldier snapped. “The Lombock has gotten free from Prince Yernal. Princess Estina helped him to escape.”

“What’s that got to do with the Talbecan Empire?” the second soldier asked.

The first soldier sighed deeply. “Not bright this one, is he?” the first soldier said to Lana.

She didn’t respond. Fear pounded in her ears, but she revelled in the news that Teal had escaped. A sudden thought of Jale overwhelmed her, and she wondered if he was free as well.

“I bet Prince Tolder and Prince Vox will love to have our lovely lady here back in the palace at Dalenia. We can use her unborn child to bait Teal. That could be enough to bring the Lombock out of hiding and back to the Empire. Think of the reward if we can be the ones to get Teal back to Prince Yernal. Think of the financial gain.” He leaned again. His breath was rank. “Where’s the Empress?” he asked. “I heard she’s missing too. Now that’s a woman I wouldn’t mind getting my hands onto either.”

Lana couldn’t help the whimper that escaped her lips.

“Speak, woman,” the soldier hissed, grabbing her roughly by the hair. “I know you’re not mute.”

“I don’t know where she is. We got separated,” Lana gasped. “I haven’t seen her in over a week.”

“So, you’re wandering around the wilderness all by yourself, unable to see.” Lana didn’t think it was possible, but he leaned in even closer. “I don’t believe you.” He pulled back. “Go search the surrounding area. She’s got to be here somewhere.”

Lana tried to struggle out of his hold, but it was impossible to get out of his grip. “Don’t waste your energy,” he said. “You’re not going anywhere. I’m sure the Lombock will do everything in his power to try to get to his child.”

A/N:

I have waited sooooo long to drop that surprise. As if I would ever kill off the Emperor! I think I have actually lost readers because of that, but I never wanted to put anything related to character death in the tags as it would have spoiled the surprise in this chapter.

Now to the bad news: I am pausing in updating. I need to write, write and write. There's still so much that needs to happen and I have so many different storylines to bring back together. I fear writing one chapter at a time and posting as I know I will have to change things. I know exactly how this is going to end (I have the last scene in my head). I am going to give myself about a six month deadline. I think I'm very good with my self-imposed deadlines, so if you have gotten this far, please do not fear. I will record how my writing is going as I have in the past, so if people go to this story, they will know that it has not been abandoned - far from it. This world lives rent free in my head.