Page 29 of The Night Prince

“Yes, but whenallof your time can be filled with leisure then it loses its spark and people lose hope,” Baston explained.“Humans need to be integrated into the world more, King Aquilan.Not just for our sake, but for society’s.Your brother barely tolerates us and he does not think that humans have anything to offer.But that simply isn’t true.A mortal’s perspective can help some of the gridlock that has developed in your government, among many other things.”

“And you feel my brother is not giving humanity that chance?”Aquilan asked.

“He isn’t interested in doing so,” Baston qualified.“Think of it as mostly benign–and some malignant–neglect.In the human world, before all this happened, we found that diversity of people, experiences, backgrounds and more led to a far more vibrant and successful society overall.”

It was themalignantaspects Baston had mentioned that Aquilan was most concerned about. He knew there was more of that than the General knew or would say.

“I will think about what you have said, General,” Aquilan answered evenly.

“Do not think too long, King Aquilan.Our lives are brief compared to yours and any delay can impact generation after generation,” Baston counseled.

They had passed into Tyrael’s outskirts when the discussion had started.Now, the General had them turning down a broad avenue, graced with many large trees that had been magically quickened after the war.They now looked like they had been there for 100 years.Still terribly young, butsettled.

While the avenue was lovely and spacious with the scent of flowers perfuming the air, Aquilan found himself tensing up the deeper they moved into Tyrael.He knew they would reach the inn at any moment and inside would be the Shadow.Declan, he corrected.But such a normal name didn’t suit the Shadow.

Unless it does and I have built him up into something he is not.I must be rational about all of this,he chided himself.

But he found his eyes constantly roving around as if looking for the young man and that was how he actually found him.

The Shadow was collapsed on the ground near a keg that was opened and draining its contents into a sewer.He was mostly covered with a long hooded, black jacket.But his face was turned to the side and Aquilan would recognize that visage anywhere.It was not the meeting that he had imagined in any way.For the Shadow–forDeclan–was crawling towards the thin shadows cast by the nearby trees.His fingers dug desperately into the earth as he dragged himself forward.

“Declan?!My God, what’s wrong?What happened?”The General cried as he leaped off of his horse and ran to the young, slender figure.“Are you injured?Are you sick?”

“L-light.So… sobright.Need… darkness,” Declan wheezed weakly.

Declan cried out in agony when the General tried turning him on his back and exposed his face to the light.The young man turtled in on himself, seeking darkness above all else.

Aquilan jumped off of his horse and moved to join the General.He’d been so stunned by seeing the Shadow that he’d been shocked into immobility for a moment.But now he felt almost as much alarm as the General was experiencing.To his surprise, Rhalyf made no such move.

As he rushed past his best friend, he glanced up and saw the strangest expression on Rhalyf’s handsome face.First, there was shock, utter and complete shock, and then… Rhalyf’s lips writhed back from his teeth and he was glaring at Declan as if his sheer existence angered him.Enraged him.The expression was gone so quickly though that he believed he must have been mistaken.Why would Rhalyf be angry at a young man he’d never met?But the thought fled as he crouched down by Declan’s side.

“What is the matter?Has he ever been ill like this before?”Aquilan asked as his hands glowed with golden light.

“No, never.Declan’s as healthy as a horse!I’ve never even seen him catch a cold!”Baston explained as he gripped one of Declan’s shoulders.

Concern was carved into his ebony face.Death and loss had been so severe during the war for humanity, Aquilan guessed that to see someone even ill was to be thrown back into those dark times.

He moved his hands swiftly over the curled up form of the young man.His magical senses detected no wounds, but Declan’s whole body was convulsing.He was suffering that was clear even if Aquilan couldn’t identify the cause.

“The light,” Rhalyf’s voice rose up behind him, deeper than usual.

He glanced over his shoulder at his best friend.“What?”

“He mentioned the light,” Rhalfy answered, his expression so studiously neutral as to be alarming.“Looks like he was draining that fairy cursed beer when the… the light became too much for him. Get him inside and he should be fine.”

“Light?Why would that…” Aquilan frowned as he turned back to the young man who was literally hiding every part of his skin from the sunlight. Whatever the reason, Declan clearly was light sensitive and suffering from exposure. “Let’s get him inside.”

“Declan, can you walk?”Baston asked.

“No need for that, General.I can carry him,” Aquilan said as he easily lifted the young man into his arms.

Declan was not small, but he felt light to Aquilan.Declan didn’t unturtle himself, but cringed further down into Aquilan’s arms, turning his front so that he could bury his head against Aquilan’s chest.If he could have crawledinsideof Aquilan’s armor, the king guessed, he would have.

“The inn is just there,” Baston said as he jumped to his feet and pointed towards the low, dark wood building a block away.

“Rhalyf, take care of the horses.We’ll meet you inside,” Aquilan said as he briskly started carrying Declan towards the homely dwarven structure with Baston racing after him.

As they neared the entrance to the Dawn, he realized that the Shadow was murmuring something over and over again.He caught part of what Declan said, “...you.Of course, it would beyou.”

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