Page 53 of The Night Prince

“Aquilan could do it.I rather think he is unaware of his true strength,” Rhalyf said even as he thrummed at the idea of getting his own hands on those magics and mysteries.He, most definitely, could wield them to great effect.

“Aye, Aquilan is like the kings of old.Ailduin, specifically.”Helgrom stuck the end of his pipe between his lips and tipped the bowl so that the tobacco could catch fire from the candle on the table.

“Ailduin?Vex’s old foe?”Rhalyf blinked.

“Surely, you know that they were best friends before they were enemies?”Helgrom asked inbetween sucks on his pipe.He blew out fragrant tobacco smoke towards the fireplace.Its sweet scent lingered.

“Vex?Friends?And having abestfriend?I am having a hard time imagining that,” Rhalyf answered absently, forgetting his own stricture about knowing little to nothing about the Kindreth. But it was frightfully easy to talk to Helgrom about these things.

But he was also distracted again and not thinking.His gaze was on Finley once more, who had a foot on the bottom step, and was gazing up almost beseechingly at the second floor.Rhalyf would have been right with him, too, if he’d thought it would do any good.Aquilan had made it perfectly clear that he and Declan were to be leftalone.

He wasn’t worried about Aquilan’s safety with Declan.Not exactly.If Declan had been someone dangerous, he would never have allowed himself to be caught outside in the Sun like that without protection.No, the boy seemed… new.Inexperienced.Completely unaware of himself or the dangers.

But if he is unaware of his true nature then how could he have that clever glamour obscuring his real features?Rhalyf gritted his teeth.Will Aquilan see through it?And if he does, what will happen?

Considering Aquilan’s strike-first-and-ask-questions-later behavior with Vulre Vultorus, the young man might not make it out of the bedroom alive.Not that Rhalyf cared if he did or not.

Having one more Night Elf here is one Night Elf too many.His inexperience or carelessness could expose me.Fought too hard to get to this place.I will not lose it,Rhalyf growled internally.

But Aquilan’s reaction to the young man… nowthatwas concerning. Aquilan almost seemed dumbstruck by Declan.Stunned.Haunted.It was very odd. He would almost think that the king was under some fateful curse.Or in love.Either would be terrible. Again, there would be only one Night Elf in the Sun King’s life and that was him!

“Ailduin and Vex were determined to map the Under Dark together,” Helgrom was suddenly saying.“Illithor isnotjust a Vex city, but a combination of both their visions and powers.”

That had Rhalyf turning his attention back to the Dark Dwarf almost sharply.“Really?”

A nod.“Oh, yes. The merging of their magics and their lives brought such a fenaissance for a time among the Under Dark.Vex crafted his first Blood Weapon after Ailduin was hurt in battle.He thought his best friend would die.The anguish he experienced at the expected loss of Ailduin caused him to create a whole new school of magic.”

For a moment, Rhalyf imagined seeing Aquilan fall in battle.His brilliant golden friend laid low.And something in him tightened. But he was hardly like Vex or Vex was hardly like him.The Night King had no heart to break.So while he could very well see himself creating a Blood Weapon out of grief and pain, Vex doing the same thing?Vex creating such a weapon with no knowledge or understanding simply because his supposed best friend was going to be lost? It seemed unbelievable.

“I’ve never heard this,” Rhalyf said with a jaundiced eye.“Are you sure it isn’t some kind of–of fairytale?”

“The only tales we tell of the Kindreth and Vex aredarkones.You know this,” Helgrom chided him and let out a perfectly formed smoke ring.“This is no tale, but thetruth.”

“Well, that’s surprising,” he found himself unable to say more.

It disturbed him to think of Vex as anything other than the beautiful, if terrifying dark god he was now.To envision him as havingfriends, of caring for them so deeply that the first Blood Weapon would be created due to their perceived loss, made Vex seem… understandable. That would mean there was a time when he was like Rhalyf and maybe Aquilan was like Ailduin.He frowned.

“The two of them created many wonders together.They challenged each other to greater heights than they ever could have accomplished on their own,” Helgrom sounded wistful.Another smoke ring headed towards the fire.

“So what made them fall out?”Rhalyf asked.

“Lies,” Helgrom’s voice was gruff. Rhalyf stiffened as his own lies seemed very close at that moment.“Secrets and lies.”

Rhalyf swallowed.His eyes darted to the stairs.If Declanwasa Night Elf and Aquilan figured it out and… And what?The king was safe.If there was the least bit of danger, he would know and be up there in a thrice.No, what he was afraid of was that if Aquilan discoveredoneKindreth in his kingdom so innocently disguised, he might look formore.

Secrets and lies,the words whispered through Rhalyf’s mind.

He drained another glass of Chelios.If Aquilan wasn’t down in another few moments, hewouldbe going up there.He had to know what was going on.And if Aquilan hadn’t discovered any secret Declan might or might not have, Rhalyf would make sure he never would. If the boy couldn’t keep himself hidden then… then Rhalyf would hide him forever. He glared at the empty goblet. The war was over.His days of having to kill were supposed to be behind him.For a time at least.And now, he might have to kill Declan Wilde.

Damn it all.

“No need to give that glassware such a look, Rhalyf!”Helgrom laughed and filled his empty goblet up again.

Rhalyf gave him a tight smile.“Finley isn’t the only human who makes himself at home in the Dawn.The other one: Declan, is it?The one that Aquilan is… is taking care of?What can you tell me about him?”

Another sip of beer and puff on his pipe were the only responses for some time from Helgrom before the Dark Dwarf answered, “He is a good bartender.”

Rhalyf let out a sharp laugh.“A good bartender?That is all you have to say about him?”

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