~
Trik stepped into the court of the Light Elves. He had been surprised that he was able to get through. His kind was usually blocked from entry. He stared into the large throne room. The soft light glowed off of the pearl stone that fashioned the room. The lights seemed to come from the stone, illuminating everything, removing all shadows. Trik looked down and noticed his shadow was very light, but it was still a black spot in the room of white.
“What brings you to my court, Triktapic?” Tamsin walked out of one of the side walls. Trik realized that the pearl walls put off reflections allowing them to be used as openings to other realms.
“I have come to seek your council.” Trik knelt down on one knee and bowed his head before the Light Elf King, something that he would not normally do if he hadn’t been there to ask him for a favor.
“The world must be coming to an end if the Great Triktapic kneels before us,” a feminine voice spoke across the room, her voice carried as it bounced off the high walls.
“He comes with a request,” Tamsin told his Chosen as she came to stand next to him.
Syndra made an impatient noise as she looked down at the usually proud assassin. “Good grief Trik, stand up. What situation have you gotten yourself into that you would come to your enemies?”
Trik stood slowly and lifted his head. His eyes swam with emotion, emotion so deep it was like looking into a deep well and not being able to see the bottom.
Syndra took a step towards him. “What has happened?”
“Nothing. Not yet anyway.” Trik took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before speaking again. “I have come to ask an oath of protection on my Chosen.”
Tamsin and Syndra both frowned. “We already told you we would protect her.”
“If I chose not to,” Trik qualified. “You said that you would protect her if I chose not to. Now I need you to protect her in the case that I fail to.”
“Why would you fail? When have you ever failed to protect your target or to take it out?”
Just then Trik made a decision, one that he’d always feared that he would eventually have to make. Trik’s presence seemed to swell and suddenly he was bathed in a bright light and his radiance. His power filled the room making it feel small and inconsequential. His hair shimmered, black as night, and the silver of his eyes nearly became metallic with the intensity of their gleam. Tamsin and Syndra both took a step back, their mouths dropping open.
“You’re a Royal,” Syndra spoke quietly as she stared at Trik’s Royal form.
He nodded once.
“Does Lorsan know?” Tamsin asked.
“No. He would have killed me long ago.”
“You are right about that.” Syndra snorted.
“I don’t want to lead. I have never wanted to be King.”
“How did you wind up as the King’s right hand man?”
“That is a story for another time. I need to keep my secret from Lorsan for as long as possible. It is the only chance I have at defeating him.”
“You are going to attack Lorsan?” Tamsin’s voice was skeptical.
“If it comes to that. Cassie has asked me to walk away from him. I told her I would. She is under the impression that I’ve already done just that.”
“You haven’t?” Syndra frowned in disapproval.
“I have to do this strategically. I can’t just walk into his court and tell him that I’m leaving. Cassie won’t understand that. I have to appear to still be on board with his plan in order to protect her.”
“If he thinks that she is the reason that you are leaving then she will be the first thing he goes after,” Tamsin reasoned.
“Exactly.”
“So you want us to protect Cassie if Lorsan decides to take you out?”
“I know she is not of your court.”
Syndra held up a hand to stop him. “She is a pure one. She belongs here more than in your court. We will protect her, I give you my word.” Syndra bowed to Trik.
“Thank you,” Trik nodded and reached out to take her hand. Syndra placed it in his and her eyes widened as she felt him push pure, royal power into her.
“How?” She whispered to him.
He stepped away and without another word walked towards the pearl walls.
“What was that about?” Tamsin asked.
Syndra’s eyes stayed on the wall where Trik had just disappeared through. Her mind was still trying to wrap around the revelation that Trik had just shared. Finally she turned to her Sh'mai, “He is the King.”
“Yes, he is supposed to be the Dark King.”
“No, Tamsin, my love. Triktapic is THE King.”
Tamsin’s mouth dropped just as Syndra’s had. “Of the entire race?”
She nodded.
“How?”
“I have no idea.”