Page 7 of One Last Promise
“Are you giving me acompliment?”he joked with a smirk.
“I’m one of the oldest Dylinswithouttheir power yet.Don’t you think that is a little disconcerting?”
“You worry too much, Alora.Nell and Uri have already told you it’s about timing.Our suns must align, but you also have to be strong enough to harness it.Uri has already seen that your power is going to be the greatest we have ever seen.”
“His visions are subjective, though.”
“Not when they concern you.Have a little faith in Holy Etherandyourself.”Nodding, I watched him dart away from me to join Lito.They were probably heading to training.They usually did after The Blessing ritual.
“Alora!”Noor called from behind me.“Luz, Fynn, and I were thinking of getting some wine?Are you in?”That meant they wanted to head down to the tavern that lay beneath our great waterfall.We nicknamed it ‘The Falls’ centuries ago.It had the best view of the city, and a separate area for the palace staff and myself.We were all there most weeks.
“Yeah, I’m in,” I grinned.Wine sounded like a good plan.
Chapter three
“You are very quiettoday,” Noor muttered after our third glass of wine.Luz and Fynn were dancing, swaying to the music from the harpist in the corner of the room.
“I’m tired.That’s all.”It wasn’t far from the truth.The sound of water cascading behind the tavern was relaxing me a little too much.My eyes were feeling heavy.As I gazed out at Dallethas, sprawled before us, I noted that the palace’s towers, set in gold trim, were glimmering in the distance.From this view, the palace looked quite intimidating.Twelve impenetrable turrets were connected by a giant, heavy, white stone wall.The greenery of a few trees and ivy stood out against the stone.The courtyard and living space were built inside the walls.Various buildings were set in white marble: bathing pools, private quarters, a library, army barracks, and a living space that could be shared.The palace had stood for almost five hundred thousand years.It had been built by my grandfather as a gift for his fated one, my grandmother.A handful of waterfalls flowed into various rivers below the great mountain that the palace stood on.My grandfather had chiselled away at the great mountain with his power, laying the foundation for the grand structure and making it the most secure place in Afterlight.The only way to reach it was by the large drawbridge, which led to two massive, warded, metal gates that were manned by my father’s guards.
My father had put a spell over the palace to ward off intruders.You could only step foot in the palace by invitation from a member of the royal bloodline.That was the only way the wards would drop for someone who had never visited before.I never had to fear for my life while I was there.Only trusted people could get into the palace, and only a select few could get into my chamber.At the moment, it was only Noor and my Father.
“Come and dance, Alora!”Luz pulled me out, spinning me around.“You need to let that silver hair of yours down more.”
“She’s the princess, Luz.”Fynn pointed out the obvious.“I don’t think she is allowed to do that.”Fynn’s powers were general light.Most Dylins gained this power once it manifested.Being able to shield yourself with light and harness it as a small bolt was enough to arm yourself against the Noxlin or any beasts that we encountered.We knew little about why stronger powers manifested in different Dylin.It was all thought to be about bloodline, but Nell had been researching the idea for the last millennium, and we were still no clearer.
“My father doesn’t even know that I come here.He’s too wrapped up in Elin to care, honestly.Besides, I have forbidden Xaiver to tell him!”
“You play a dangerous game with the general.”Fynn shook his head.His mid-length, dirty blond hair caught a stream of light as our suns began to pull away from each other again.“He made me dothreedrills today because I coughed while he was speaking.”That did sound like Xavier.If I wasn’t the princess, I’d have no hold over him.He was a task master, and would push our soldiers past their limits.I had witnessed it enough times while watching the training grounds.
“At least you get to wield a light sword,” I commented, looking towards the door.I rolled my eyes at the sight of Xavier by the doorway.Someone must have told him I was here.Couldn’t I haveoneevening alone with my friends?Fynn froze at seeing his general, then almost standing to attention as Xavier stormed over.
“I expected more of you, Soldier!”Xavier glared at Fynn.“You know Alora shouldn’t be in a place like this.She needs to be under constant protection.”
“She has Luz, me and Fynn!”Noor snapped.“Zohar doesn’t keep her locked away in her tower!What gives you the right to demand what Alora does?”
“Watch your tongue, Noor, or I might burn it off!”Xavier snarled, flicking his fingertips so a spark of flame appeared.
