"Your Empress already knows."

Her words rung through his mind on a nonstop loop. The silence of the march back to the city not helping things.

Abner looked down at his weary horse then at the fields surrounding him. The chief had been speaking the truth- that he could not deny. The rivers created for beauty in the city had diverted their natural flow, meaning the crops were dry and wilting.

The Empress had justified it by saying that the rain season would fill the wells and water the fields, but it was late this year and that meant that there wasn't enough food to go around. The imports from the other countries could only be afforded by the rich, leaving the poor without food and with very little water.

He was surprised that there hadn't been an uprising yet, but perhaps the people trusted the Empress so explicitly that when she says it will rain, it will.

Should he trust her? Not only did he feel as though she was taking vanity over her people's welfare but then the warning from Sister Eboni.

It was not in the Sister's nature to lie. No traveller from God's land had come to the city in over 300 years, it was a shock to see both her and Brother Bren- unaccompanied- never mind that the Chief of Sher Woods and his brother had left their home of their own free will. The stories of the people of Sher Woods were renowned, so them being here and together, had to mean something.

They said they were on a journey prophesised by Elementi- to eradicate the Darkness once and for all. As Commander of the Army of Admari he was privy to the information that Tozaro was off limits and had been scrubbed off maps that were used in schools.

Had the Empress truly been turned against the light? He was sure it was possible, every person had their weakness and lack of power was the Empresses greatest one. She had remained constantly bitter about not being Empress of Cerina as well as Admari, but that title had been lost by her ancestors many years ago.

The dry and barren fields turned into lush fields of grass and orchards as they passed the point where the rivers from the city met. He led the army across the first of many bridges now conscious of how they followed his every command and whim. The army he had control of would be formidable in the wrong hands.

He had made good time on the journey back. Ordering his men back to the barracks he dismounted from his horse and walked through the city. People stopped and smiled at him, children waved hello and stall holders nodded in respect.

Deciding that embarrassment over accusing the Empress of such a crime would be a much better fate than seeing these people look at him with hatred and mistrust should he be wrong in his thoughts, he made his way to the pulley at the base of the mountain.

Climbing higher in the air he began to go over sentences in his head, trying to make them as light and unamusing as possible.

'Empress, it had been brought to my attention that the group of travellers who passed through your city today think you have turned from the light of our creator Elementi, and sided with the Dark Ones of Tozaro and their master Darkness. Such preposterous ideas should be dealt with immediately, what do you wish to say?'

He said it over and over in his head to make sure it sounded right, and steeling himself he excited the wooden box and made his way through the hall to the throne room.

Seeing the door was shut he circled around and through the corridor that led to the secret passage into the room, that only he and the Empress could use.

He slowed his paces as a he heard the Empress conversing with another. Stopping outside the door, he slowly opened it. A piece of cloth hung in the door way, but he could see through it and into the room. It was built in case espionage was required. During a banquet, he would stand here and the suspected guest would be placed for dinner nearby.

He could hear and see everything. Debating whether to show himself he froze as a man- who had been stood at the foot of the stairs to the throne, as was the usual custom- slowly walked up the stairs, perching on the thrones arm.

No man would ever be allowed to show such disrespect. Looking at the man he was even more confused, he had never seen this man before in court and there had been no announcement of his arrival by boat.

Deciding a moments snooping would not cause much harm he stayed silent, listening and watching.

"They are so blind it is beginning to be funny." The Empress said throwing her head back filling the cavernous room with laughter.

The man beside her smiled smugly as her leaned back into the throne.

He held his breath. Dread settling in his stomach as he saw the black soulless eyes of the man beside his ruler.

Dark One.

"It's all gone as planned, those little balls of light are doing my job for me." The Dark One chuckled with glee.

"What is next my love?" The Empress laid her head on the man's lap sighing contently.

"We wait for their return."

A sharp know sliced through the air startling the Empress. With his heart pounding in his ears the commander struggled to keep himself together as the throne room struggled open.

Two more men in light blue city guard robes walked in, dragging a woman behind them.

The man sitting on the throne made no motion to move as his eyes flickered from the guards to the woman now lying on the floor.

Her sobs were muffled by a rag tied round her mouth. The Empress sat straight in her chair.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion?" her voice was cold as her eyes landed on the woman.

"Our apologies most high ones." One of the guards said stepping forward bowing deeply.

High Ones? The Commander narrowed his eyes at the guards. They knew something about this man. He studied their faces so he could find them out later and interrogate them.

"We caught this servant in the city asking for a man who is known to be able to cross the border into Cerina, searching her we found this." He produced a letter from his pocket handing it to the Empress with another bow.

She pursed her lips as she scanned the pages in her hand, the man beside her reading over her shoulder a smirk on his lips.

The woman on the floor looked up and met the cool gaze of the Empress.

"Un gag her." She ordered. "You plot against me and do not advert your gaze?"

The woman on the floor held her head high, staring defiantly back at her.

"I will not advert my eyes for anyone who has chosen Darkness. You shame our land. When the people find out-"

The Empress laughed, cutting her off.

"The people will not find out until it is too late. There's nothing you can do. You of course understand that I will now have to kill you."

The woman whimpered but held her stance. "I guessed as much. People will miss me- they will notice I am gone and won't stop until they find out what really happened to me. Your plan for Darkness will be uncovered and you and your- King" -She spat "Will be lynched for your crimes."

Both the Empress and the Dark One laughed this time.

"I have ways of making things look like an accident, girl. You may be missed but that will be all." She turned to the guards waiting and watching patiently.

"You know what to do." She ordered.

Before anyone could move the door swung open again. A swirl of red entering the room as a cloak was removed from its owner's shoulders.

Frey.

The motherly figure who had been with the court since he was a child. There would be only one reason why Frey would be here now. She had seen something. She had seen this.

The Empress and the Dark One stood as Frey walked towards them- her expression blank.

She helped the woman off the floor, wrapping her cloak around her shoulders giving her a soft sympathetic sile.

"What do you want Seer?" The man asked coldly walking forward until he was within touching distance.

Frey ignored him, instead turning to the two guards who visibly cowered under her powerful gaze.

"You have turned against our creator, I see divine punishment in your future. You have chosen your path, there is nothing you can do to save yourself now.

Both guards turned drip white, quivering, and stepping back trying to distance themselves from the Empress- or Frey- he couldn't tell.

"What is your name?" She asked turning back to the woman.

"Lulu."

"Lulu, I want you to go outside and wait by the statue with the three eyes. Someone will meet you there. They will be wearing a blue cloak- you know and trust them. Be safe my child- go."

The Empress took a step forward, her face growing red. "I am the Empress!" She thundered. "You are my subjects, you do what I say- all of you bow down to me!" her eyes ablaze with fury.

"The definition of Empress of Admari is- ruler chosen by our creator Elementi, who follows the light and defends the people. You may have the chosen blood but you are sending you people into the Darkness. Elementi cannot forgive you for such a crime." Frey said walking in front of the woman who was trying to escape the room.

"You don't understand anything Seer! I have embraced the Darkness and the power is unlike anything I have ever known. I can open my people's eyes to this power." She grinned stepping back to the middle of the room, extending her arms and looking to the ceiling painted as the night sky.

"This world is nothing! It's weak." She spat on the floor before smiling and walking over to the Dark One who was grinning at her proudly. "We can make it strong, we can make it powerful." She whispered, stroking his cheek affectionately.

Frey nudged Lulu towards the door and she silently crept out of the room.

The Commander watched her leave, debating whether he should go after her to make sure that she was OK. But Frey said that she would be met by someone she trusted, wearing a blue cloak. The statue with three eyes was close to the secret tunnel entrance, so he was close by in case she needed him.

He took a deep breath, looking down to his shaking hands before returning his gaze to the people in front of him.

Frey was standing tall as the Empress walking back to her throne. The guards were still stood on the edge of the room, now seemingly frozen in place, their gaze fixed on the Dark One.

He strode towards Frey, not stopping until they were face to face. His hand moving in a blur of silver.

They stood for a halted moment before Frey slowly dropped to the floor. Blood flowed from her neck, seeping onto the stone floor. Encircling her body in a perfect circle as though creating a barrier from the evil in the room.

The Dark One stepped back. Silently making his way towards the throne.

The guards wore the same expression as the Commander. Silent, unmoving shock.

"How am I supposed to explain this?" The Empress whined putting up at the man beside her.

The Commander snapped out of his daze. He had seen enough. He had seen more than enough.

Turning on his heel he quietly exited the passageway, turning around the corner towards the statue with three eyes. He was relieved to see that Lulu was still there. She stood with the hood up, looking down to a small piece of paper. She glanced up in a start when she heard him approaching her, quickly looking relieved to be in his presence.

"Frey said you would come!" She gushed, smiling.

He frowned, only understanding when he caught his reflection in an ornate mirror.

He was the trusted person in the blue cloak.

Grabbing Lulu's hand, he pulled her towards one of the many secret exits out of the palace.

"Is Frey OK? I knew you would still be on our side! When I overheard the Empress and that man I was shocked, but I never liked her anyway. I tried to send word to that girl I attended to at the feast- I figured she was there to stop the Empress and that man when they talked about killing her when that group came back. I thought you should know, but then I didn't know if you were in on it either." She paused to take a breath.

"Lulu, be quiet." He said, sending her a sharp look.

"Sorry, I talk when I get nervous." She grimaced "Frey said you have to take me to Elementi's house- here she left us both a letter in the pocket of this cloak." She whispered,

The Commander nodded, pushing her through a secret door in a brick wall and down through a tunnel under the city leading to the house.

"We don't have long until the group returns, we better start thinking of a good plan." He said as he unlatched a door on the side of one of the tunnels.

He followed her up a flight of stairs cut out of the stone in the earth, his heart sinking as he realised that Frey was gone- and his Empress was a Dark One intent on turning them all. 

What do you think to the Commanders Point Of View chapter? What do you think he will do?!