Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 807: Throne Room ()
A scent hung heavily in the air. It was the beginning of a storm carried on the wind across the Fae inner barrier.
"I’m not certain for how long Lord Fintan can hold on." Neveah noted. Crouching down, her palm touched the earth, sensing the vibrations.
"The Fae has always existed with caution for the dark empire. The dark magic suppressing spell he cast can only hinder the crack from opening this long..."
"Lord João should have located the marker by now, but he hasn’t made contact. It was my oversight to believe he would be swifter in a terrain more familiar to him."
"Do you think your trust in him was misplaced?" Jian asked,
Neveah shook her head slightly. "No. That look in his eyes when he saw the dead Fae guards...it was genuine."
"And if nothing else, I’m certain he now knows I didn’t kill Diandre. But Keila did. He may choose to stand against us, but he will not stand by her."
Xenon added, "I agree. Lord João has centuries worth of resentment for sorcery. With Keila allying with Beoruh, she has lost his faith."
"In any case. Track him." Jian decided. "If he went after the marker, it should be within his vicinity."
"He’s not far."
It wasn’t long before they arrived at a vast clearing with dozens of vines dangling high above. They were crisscrossed and drooped to form large cocoons, formed from tightly wrapped vines, intertwined with one another.
Arcane hummed quietly in the clearing, brushing against the tree barks and through the vines.
With a sigh, Neveah stretched a hand to the vines, clenching her hand into a fist. The vines hissed and shriveled, shrinking in on themselves till the cocoons dissolved, freeing at least a dozen Fae councilmen.
Lord João was unsurprisingly one of them.
They were surprised to find themselves staring up at the dragon king the moment they dropped out of the cocoon to the forest ground.
Most were more terrified than surprised.
"What happened here?" Jian demanded, eyeing the Fae councilmen with a dark glare.
Lord João spoke first. "She’s out of control. She’s drawing on our magic to turn Aloria into a living death forest. The councilmen who requested leave to return and protect their forests from the invasion have all been locked up. Nowhere is safe...not even for us."
Neveah frowned slightly. "Lodenworth said he would be a father by nightfall."
"She must have gone into labour and the Arcane is lashing out to keep her safe in her weakened state."
"She is extremely dangerous right now." Lord João confirmed.
"I tracked the marker to the throne room. But I can’t assure you’ll get there safely... I tried to keep my promise, but I couldn’t get through."
"No one could. We’re lucky she didn’t have the forest execute us but only trapped us here."
Xenon shrugged. "We’re not as incapable as the Fae. You are all under the mercy of one fairy... pathetic."
Jian didn’t comment. He nodded and strode past them, leading the way to the throne room.
Neveah hung behind for a moment, turning to Lord João. "Have you heard from Fintan recently?"
Lord João shook his head. "Lord Fintan is the most powerful magic wielder we have, just short of the Arcane. He will hold his ground."
"If the canyon hasn’t spread yet, one can only trust he fares well. But the Arcane is out to get anyone who opposes her and the forest bends to its will. He might be in danger."
"Go find him. Protect him, as you would your leader." Neveah urged. "The Fae will need someone like him...to pick up the pieces of whatever is left, after this."
"Forgive me. It was I who requested to be entrusted with your mission. I failed and caused you a delay." Lord João looked genuinely remorseful.
Neveah shook her head slightly. "You did your best. But this is our fight now."
"One more thing... I believe Lodenworth is also headed for the throne room." Lord João added.
Neveah exchanged a look with Xenon and they caught up with Jian.
The forest looked more like a jungle now than the enchanting forest from yesterday. All its haunting beauty swallowed up by the rough and careless pandemic of shifting, moving vines.
Some were blackened to the point they could be mistaken for inky tendrils.
The closer they got to the throne room, the more obvious the changes to the forest became. All the paths had been covered up, the trees closed up on all sides. And getting around them was a struggle.
It took much longer than it should have. Even with the aid of Neveah’s magic and Jian’s flames.
But after what felt like forever, they stared at the massive structure built into a hollowed out tree.
The Fae royal hall, which housed the throne room and the royal throne. It was sparsely guarded compared to what Neveah had heard. And the few guards looked panic stricken, like they were not there of their own accord.
Lord João was in charge of the safety of the royal bloodline. And Lord Fintan had the highest influence over the councilmen, and their Fae battalions.
With Aloria locked down and the councilmen imprisoned, prevented from returning to their respective forests while their people were in danger,
Keila had basically set herself up against everyone. Even her own people...her own dragon.
Was it the influence of the Arcane or the prospect of ultimate power that could blind one to reason, Neveah couldn’t tell.
Jian’s presence was enough to send the few guards scampering away, disappearing into the forest.
The forest was eerily silent. Until the silence was shattered by a shriek. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Xenon went on ahead, shoving the double doors open.
"You would hurt me?! You love me! I’m carrying your child, Lodenworth!" Keila shrieked.
The sight that greeted them was a disturbing one. Keila sat slumped on the throne, hand protectively clutching her protruding belly.
The light sheen of perspiration on her forehead attested to her critical condition. The child was coming.
Panicked healer fairies tried to get to her, but they couldn’t get past the gleaming barrier of arcane surrounding her, a barrier she unconsciously reinforced and strengthened in her emotional state.
And the only person within the barrier...was Lodenworth.
