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Eva armour clicked with every step she took closer to the throne room. Her chest felt heavy, fear was building up inside her, but she knew the road that would lead to the general title would be filled with thorns and blood.

Eva understood the impact of this title and position, being under the King directly could make her life. Or it could end it.

Stoned faced royal guards opened the great gold door before the gathering crowd waiting to enter the diamond halls.

The elegance of the massive reviving chambers of the throne caught her breath. The hard floor was made of dark marble with a faint hint of golden veins. Finally, the chandeliers dripped with thousands of tear-shaped diamonds.

The size of the diamond hall was enormous, fitting the mighty status of Xuclistan. From these shameless halls, the King could show the disgusting wealth of his.

The people who filled these halls were not any better. Highly valued silk was covering most of them. Badges of war were on full display declaring some of their ranks with some rare jewels.

At the far end of the vast space. A long flight of white steps led up to the black throne. What caught Eva's eyes was the bright red-blooded tattoos that covered some of the Kings visible chest and hands. Forbidden power and fake magic were running through his veins. Some said that whatever powered his disturbing magic was buried somewhere in Xascon and that why he wanted to have full control over that land.

Eva worked so hard her entire life; she could hardly believe that this was happening. The rumours were already dancing around the throne halls that tonight she would be named the officer of Xascon. For more than three hundred years, different wardens tried to tame that land. But tonight Eva felt something else running through her veins. She could feel the wealth was to come along the high prestige of being the very first female officer in the King's royal army.

The land of Xascon was to be hers; she was to get it all. But her happiness was short-lived as she remembered Nania's words. She remembered her warning about the old souls, and she was to guide him back. But how was she supposed to know him? Let alone find him?

Eva's thoughts were short-lived as the last living warden was called into the throne room. An old aged man moved forward climbing the white steps. Xascon was a hard land to live in, for some reason it looked as if sucked the life out of the old warden.
"Eva Windweaver. Present yourself to his royal highness." The voice of the high Lord Anakin was loud.

There was some strange belief that the king could see through the people facade. It was told long ago that he sacrificed the most valued thing to keep his throne.

The king finally spoke. "Eva, for long five years you sacrificed everything dearest to your heart to become the very first high ranked female officer. But most importantly you served me well, Eva, and you managed to accomplish what other failed."

The king's word was not meaningless, she thought. No man could bring back the long-lost magical book. It was buried in the depth of Xascon and Eva managed to snatch it.

Even though Eva was aware of what was about to come yet, she felt a great fear consuming her. Eva felt as if she was walking on fire, she could feel a heavy weight on her heart.

The King spoke once more. "Rise and be known as general Eva wind weaver."

She did it! Eva became the general she always wanted. She finally managed to separate her path from her family noble states.

The king summoned one of the royal guards. The royal guard held out a long, tasselled pillow. From it the king lifted a magnificent golden sword, matching one of the banners. "This is an enchanted sword. The pride and power of Xuclistan."

Eva jaw almost dropped open. Enchanted? Old magic touched this sword? But how?

The King planned to gift her with such a powerful weapon? That only meant that Anakin trusted her to ask the king to gift her such a strong magical weapon. Eva didn't try to contain her pride.

Lord Anakin faced the warden again, who stood by the side of the throne. "Had me the keys to your the residence."

The old man held his hand out, and in his palm was a huge, ugly key. Lord Anakin reached for the key. But there was a small notice coming from behind the throne.

Eva saw princess Illyria, Theodore' daughter and heir to the throne, slipping from behind the throne. She had an hourglass figure with long dark hair with dark eyes.

Anakin hand paused over the key.

Eva watched silently as Anakin fought so hard to tear his gaze away from the mysterious princess. Eva was confident that the young princess was as devious and intelligent as her sire, if not even as powerful. Theodore listened as she leaned closer to whisper in his ear. But Eva heard some of it.

"Nania told someone a secret... she spoke in silent... the prophecy appears to be real... We don't know what she saw... We need to use the forbidden magic."

The king's expression changed. And without a second look, he stood and followed his daughter through the private doorway behind the throne.

Illyria led her father and king through a stoned hallway leading toward Nania's chamber. King Theodore's master of torture did not need hot iron or blood or cutting; the man was more civilised. All he needed was a hint of the old magic, and they would speak. The old magic of the ancients.

"Sire, they won't speak. After Nania's death, they won't speak. This one was speaking of Xascon before she heard the news."

Illyria studied the master of torture more closely. He was a young man with a great knowledge of dark and time magic.

"Xascon seems to become restless." King Theodore said.

Illyria hadn't paid any attention to the land of Xascon since Anakin led the army to it and broke that land old magical council member. Anakin didn't manage to kill any of the great magical council members, but he captured a few young mages. Anakin failed to claim that land and almost caused Theodore to send the special royal army, forcing Xuclistan to wage a never-ending war in Xascon.

King Theodore stepped near one of the young captured mages, who was struggling against the ancient magic.

"Tell me what Nania saw!" The king command was of pure electrical shot designed to force the young mage to show him.

Illyria watched as the young mage struggled to contain the visions, but his defence fell so fast as his eyes turned white. Illyria tried to force her mind into the link of the vision, but it slipped away.

"Tell me what you see young mage!" Said King Theodore forcefully.

Once again Illyria tries to force her mind into the link and this time she succeeded. "So powerful..." Illyria fell to her knees as her voice was filled with bitterness. "Is this possible?" When Illyria allowed her father to see through her eyes, King Theodore eyes widen in something wavering between fear and awe as he saw the vision unfold.

The Young mage laughed bitterly making everyone in the room jump. Then a bolt of the fire was forming in the hand of the young mage for all in the room to see. The young mage blinked a couple of times around the room. The king saw that the young mage was ejected from his vision. Illyria frowned, she was glad that she summoned her King.

The young mage announced to the King, "My Sire has reminded me of who I am. He showed me that our hope is not lost. The resistance is not weak." His voice gained strength. "I will not grant you this vision, Theodore of Xuclistan. This might be the end of me, but your end will be much worse."

Fear and shock rolled within Illyria a feeling she never experienced before. No one ever spoke like this to the King.

Theodore was losing it as she stepped forward grasping the young mage throat. "Show me the vision!" He ordered.

"I will... Never... give... it up." The words sounded weak from the young mage's throat.

And then he hissed, "May I forget thee; I shall resist it all. Oh, my Sire gains me the strength to deny him this final vision. Die alone, die blind, die in fear, never knowing when he will come to claim it all. Stealer of the dream."

The forging firebolt was finally released only it was directed into the young mage's heart. The young mage's body became a limp, lifeless.

Theodore cast his lifeless body on the ground filled with disgust.

"Should I revive him, father?" Asked Illyria.

"No, you saw it I wasn't the one who killed him. This mage ended it. He's protecting someone, and he will do it again."

Once again fear started to build its way into Illyria's heart. Who was this person who so many people began to protect even if he wasn't near them yet?

Annamarie feral, the beautiful young duchess of Exolia, smiled bitterly as gossip was spreading around her. Why was there an interruption in the naming of the very first female general? What crisis called the king from his throne?

Personally, she thought that Eva windweaver was a poor choice for the job. She heard that lord Anakin was behind her every step of the way assuring her that the title was to be hers even if he'll break loose.

Her husband was concerned as a candidate to become the general in Xascon. And her husband was trusted and the kings fifth in command. But the people loved her husband more than heartless King Theodore.

When Annamarie realised how deadly her thought turned, she shifted her attention back to Eva Windweaver. Her impression of Eva was not like others. Annamarie understood where Eva stood, she knew of her noble background, but she knew better about the challenges that faced her every day. Annamarie heard from the ladies in court what Eva did and how she defined her family to build her own life. She challenged both of her parents, and it seemed that she finally got what she always dreamt.

"Something came up, my dear," Vulen whispered. "I have business to take care of now. Knight Elduin will you keep my wife accompany in my absence?"

"It would be a great honour, my Lord." Annamarie's husband knight stated, taking a position next to her.

A smile formed on Annamarie's lips when she heard her husbands words. Elduin was her childhood friend. Exolia was essential to Theodore because of its precious resources, especially gold and titanium.

"Elduin, come. Let us greet Lady Olivia."

Everything around her was fascinating and expensive. Annamarie's chest started to tightened it was hard to breathe.

"Come," Elduin murmured. "Your breathing doesn't sound good. The old sickness is back?"

"Yes," Annamarie whispered. "The stress and perfumes are causing this."

Elduin pulled gently into a dim alcove.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" A male voice said from with the alcove.

Annamarie winced at the power showing from his voice. Ivran Windoom, Son of high Lord Anakin the King's right hand and Knight. But most Importantly, he was her lover before she married Vulen, Yet Annamarie had a duty to fulfil and heritage to protect. Her People needed her more than anything and shouldn't turn her back on it all. Ever since she walked away, her illness started to grow, but she preferred to separate making Ivarn believe that she never fell in love with him. All she ever sought was power, but she knew better, marrying Vulen would open all the closed doors and keep her father off her back.

"My apologies, High Lord Windoom." She said carefully. "We did not see that this area was taken. We shall leave you to rest your highness."

"Nay, Join me. I insist."

Elduin glanced at her, he knew about her past, and he knew about their relationship.

"Tell me, high Lord. Are you enjoying this evening entertainment?" Annamarie asked innocently.

"I was greatly unaffected by all this until you were delivered to me, darling." He hissed.

Annamarie did miss his hidden words. "May I convey a message to Exolia Lord, your highness?"

Ivran laughed bitterly, "Not to worry my dear. Your husband will know when I decide to send a message to him. Or maybe I should break my silence, love. Does he know? Did you tell him that you laid with another man?"

A fist shot past her so fast and smashed into Ivran's nose. Ivran winced in pain. But then it hit her there was a huge price to pay after all Ivran was a high Lord and Elduin just a Knight. Elduin will be killed, and her entire family would be tortured. And all that was because Eldun chose to protect her from that man.

When Annamarie Looked back at Elduin, he looked like he's in pain and all the color was drained from his face. Then she looked back at Ivran, there was blood on his face, but nothing serious yet there was something else covering his face. She could see victory in his eyes as if he planned all this.

"Elduin, call my husband now," Annamarie ordered.

"Not so fast, he will not leave. He will die now! What he did is treason." Ivran hissed.

"You planned this!" She whispered. "I will not allow this man to die because of your games! Do you hear me?"

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