Chapter 16: Reunion

  Julien

  “So let me get this straight,” his uncle began. He had seated himself behind his massive desk once again and was rubbing his temples. Julien didn’t blame his uncle what he just told him was beyond uncredible. But also confusing, it was only made more so by the fact that all they had was guesses as to what had happened to them.

  “You fought the elf, all of you nearly died,” he paused and shook his head like he couldn’t believe what he was about to say.

  “Then the mountain swallowed you and you woke up in done kind of ancient refuge. More specifically in a pool that magically fixed your wounds and wrought changes to your bodies that you don’t understand.”

  When he finished Julien found himself scratching the back of his head. When said like that he could understand the Commanders reluctance to accept what they were saying. But all he could do was tell the truth.

  “But you believe we are who we say we are?” He asked cautiously. The Commander paused for a moment considering. Then he sighed, “yes I do. Your voices haven’t changed much and I know you all too much. Not to mention you are the only one that calls me Uncle openly.” He said theblast part with a baleful stare at Julien.

  “Are you going to tell me I shouldn’t. You used to enjoy it enough when I was younger.” The older man sighed again. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Then he reached under his desk and pulled out two cups. They were nothing special just tin cup covered in intricate patterns. Next he pulled out a bottle of wine, it was unmarked thus Julien had no way to identify the type. But smooth red wine was poured into each cup. He offered one cup to him the. Looked apologetically to the others.

  “Alas I only have two cup.” He smiled briefly but if not having wine bothered his friends no one said anything. He did however note the brief look of disappointment on Carlouse’s face. The Duke then took a long sip of the alcohol before slowly sinking deeper into his chair.

  “You must understand, that this,” he said gesturing at Julien’s body. “Will cause a massive uproar in the court. And I know you know we can’t hide such a thing not fully.”

  “Yeah I know it will cause problems but…”

  “No nephew, you don’t understand,” his uncle interrupted in a severe tone. He took another long sip of the wine before setting it down. The glass clinked softly against the wooden desk.

  “You father is already dealing with enough push back from the nobles faction from when he ordered the new mine excavated. But this… This will be no different than a direct challenging of the elves. What ever happened to you guys could start a war that could engulf all of the human Kingdoms. We are in new territory here and we have to be careful.”

  Once he finished speaking Julien didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t stupid he knew he had been sheltered and he knew very little about the situation his father was in. But still, war with the elves? That was a prospect that he wanted to think about. After their fight on the mountain he was painfully aware that their was no way they could defeat the elves not if all their warriors were even half as skilled as the one they had fought.

  “Can you bring my father here?” He asked finally. His mind was churning with ideas but first thing first he needed to clear things up with his father. So they could make a plan to figure out exactly what happened to them.

  “And Doctor Petra,” he amended. “If there is anyone in this world who can figure out what happened to us it’s her.” His uncle must’ve read the uncertainty in his face because he reached across the desk and grasped his shoulder. Julien looked up and saw his uncles eyes soften. There was still fear hidden in them like a deep red flame hidden in a deep dark cave. And for a second he could’ve sworn a red thread extended from the back of his uncles head up into the ceiling. Then he blinked and it was gone.

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  ”We will have to find out what has happened to you together. But first let’s get your father and mother over here. It’s only right that they know their son hasn’t perished.” His eyes flicked to Julien’s shoulder where Altaya was standing.

  “I’ll summon your father too. Last I heard he was torturing the elven prisoner in recompense for your death.” Julien felt Altaya visibly jolt beside him but she quickly mastered herself becoming once again still. She said nothing but Julien’s eyes were drawn to his uncle as he stood up. “I’ll have you guys wait with me in the side room with me for the king to arrive.” Julien stood up and followed as his uncle led them to a small nearly hidden door in the corner of the room that he hadn’t seen before. The rest of his squad followed.

  ———————

  “Why is Darien summoning us to the Academy so late at night,” Peter complained as he and his four guards fell into line beside Darius own royal guards.

  “I haven’t a clue, but I do trust my brother if he says he has something important to show then we need to be there.

  “He tore me away from my revenge!” Peter exclaimed. When Darius looked at him sharply he lowered his voice significantly. “ I’m sorry Your Majesty, I just..”

  Darius paused placing his hand on the shoulder of his friends blue and red doublet.

  “I know how you feel. There are few things I want more than to find and kill those assassins that had a hand in my son’s murder. But I trust my brother,

  he wouldn’t have bothered us in the manner he did if it wasn’t dire.” Darius continued down the street towards the Academy this late at night there wasn’t a sole to be seen in the nobles district. Many must’ve gotten word about the flurry of activity at the palace. Because not even the guards at the many estates were present. Darius almost chuckled at this. Did they fear him so much?

  The wind caught the edge of his cloak and blew it back forcing him to trap it against his body to prevent the chill night air out. Darius sniffed catching the sent of old metal on the breeze. It had been so long since he’d just taken a nightly stroll. It was almost relaxing.

  “Still, with the other elven guards still sleeping off the sleep draft we put in there food and already secure I don’t know what could possibly be the matter.” Peter pushed on.

  “Well we’ll be there shortly I guess we’ll find out when we arrive.

  As soon as they arrived at the gates to the massive compound that was the Academy they were ushered inside my a bit no older than ten years old. They were brought up to where Darius recognized his older brothers office was. When they entered he saw his brother tired looking but with a smile parting his trimmed beard.

  “Brother I’m sorry to pull you away from ruling at this hour! Come sit you’ll want to be seated for this. If front of the desk four chairs were set out two more than normal Darius recognized. What drew his eye was that one was occupied. It didn’t take him long to recognize his wife sitting in the chair a purple blouse with a brown hooded shawl over top to keep out the chill. Her red hair was unkempt and she wore a sword at her hip. Something she hadn’t done for years.

  “This better be damn important Darien,” he growled at his brother. “If you bothered my wife in her time of grief for no reason you will answer to me!” The anger was real anyone in the room could tell. His wife’s bleary eyes rose to meet his and a warm but subdued smile greeted him. He rushed to her but she just patted the seat next to her. She didn’t say anything but she didn’t have to. He could tell she was barely holding herself together.

  Darius looked up to see his brothers soft eyes looking back. But he waited until Peter took his seat as well. Darien’s eyes flicked to the guards briefly and Darius caught his meaning.

  So whatever he had to tell us he doesn’t want it getting out. Darius flicked his hand and the two royal knights he brought with him filed out of the room followed by Peter’s own guards. The door shut and Darius listened until he could no longer hear footsteps.

  “Now, what have you brought us here for?” Darien’s smile returned.

  “What have news about your son and his squad.” Darius felt his wife jolt beside him.

  “But it would be easier to show you than to try to explain. I will warn you this will be jarring. Please maintain your calm until the explanation is finished.

  Darius took a deep breath and reach to pull his wife closer. He was already assuming that they had recovered his son’s body. But he nodded to Darien.

  “Alright come in!” Darien called. Darius whirled around when he heard a side door opening somewhere behind them and saw two robed individuals walk out from side sitting room. He was about to turn back and ask who they were when they stepped into the torch light.

  A gasp tore from his wife’s throat and something like a mixture between fascination and horror settled into his stomach. As the face of his son was revealed. Except something was very different.

  “Oh Julien,” he heard himself saying. “What has been done to you.”