"Bring the Augur and tell him the good news!" Estelle cried, "A new Queen is to be crowned today!"

"No need my child, I'm here already." A man of Ithos's age stepped towards the arena. Where he went, a hush ran through the crowd as they bowed reverentially to the aged man. He was dressed in deep blue edged with white. It was a middle-aged face with a pepper beard and sharp, knowing eyes. He stood proudly above all. And though there were lines on his face, the years had been kind to him. He flowed down the steps, "It is rare for you to lose, my child. A new day is coming to the city."

Estelle only smiled, she grabbed Cybelline's hand and brought her forth to the high platform, "The Augur has been the oldest living entity within these walls. He is the most powerful mage of the city. He will crown you."

They stood above the crowd, the focal point of the festival. It seemed as if the entire city gazed upon the three.

The augur smiled benevolently at Cybelline, "Child, while I do not know what happened in the fog, you have been merciful to leave those who insult you alive. I believe you will be a good Queen." He looked at Estelle puzzled, "What is she to be called?"

She looked at Cybelline with a laugh, "You know, in all of this excitement, I don't even know your name."

Cybelline looked at the Augur for a moment longer before replying, "Cybelline."

A servant appeared with a small silver cup, the Augur took it and sipped it. He handed it to Estelle who took a sip. Estelle held it out to Cybelline, "Drink. It's part of the ceremony."

Phillip also had come down the steps and cleared his throat. "Well this is a surprise. Ithos's daughter inheriting the throne"

The Augur's eyes sharpened and the smile on his lips froze.

Cybelline shook her head with a grin, "Thank you, but I'm not thirsty."

Clank. The wine cup clattered to the floor and fell down the steps noisily.

An overeager servant who had not seen the quiet exchange between the speakers lit up in anticipation, the signal, it was time. Or so he thought.

-----

"My lord, the signal has been sighted. The wine cup has fallen ." A servant muttered to Lord Norian, "We are ready."

Lord Norian smiled, "Mother, your son will make you proud. Tonight we take the City of Thieves and Spies" He gently kissed her fingertips.

Lady Celia smiled lovingly, "My son, conquer them all. You are the true prince of your father's brood. And soon, you will be King."

Lord Norian smiled, he jumped lightly into the arena and strolled to the center, his hands behind his back.

A guard frowned and ran forward, "My lord, this is the coronation of the new Queen. Please leave the arena."

Lord Norian raised his hand and white light shone, the man stopped instantly. Blood seeped from his eyes and he screamed. Three more guards came and they too were swiftly dispatched

"There will be no new queen. Only a new king." He said with a cruel smile. He looked at Cybelline and called out greedily, "You are strong, but your strength can not match mine and my men. I will have you tonight."

"Who is that?" Cybelline asked Estelle. Estelle frowned, "The bastard son of a powerful king. A lord of Londaros. We have to be careful, he is powerful in a special type of light magic."

Londaros. Why did that name sound so familiar?

Lord Norian looked at the three people on the platform haughtily, "You've all been poisoned with the deadliest brew. I will give you to the count of ten to surrender and kneel."

The Augur and Queen Estelle looked at each other puzzled. Lord Norian's smile widened, mistaking their silence for acquiescence. He laughed haughtily, "Don't fear my pretty dears. I am in need of several concubines! Estelle, I've been craving you since the first time I laid eyes on you."

Then he looked at Cybelline with lust in his eyes, "And you. My delectable little morsel."



"Do I know you?" Cybelline asked, who was this lunatic? She itched to punch every teeth out of that face.

"I am your new husband, your new lord, you new mas---"

But before he could finish, he had flown out of the arena.

The crowd blinked, where had the man gone? He was just there? Was this a dream?

The man who had been standing prouder than a chicken, smiling victoriously as if he was their new lord, bounced and rolled as far as the eye could see, before crashing violently through the fence. Several fences.

In the middle of the arena, a man stood there.

He seemed to emanate power. Thunderclouds stormed his green eyes, making them aquamarine in his anger. He was gently wiping his hand, the spot which had connected to Lord Norian's now shattered jaw.

He looked up and the crowd gasped.

First out of awe at that face. Perfect was an imperfect word to describe his looks. The gods themselves must have shaped him with in their ethereal likeness. For this was a man who seemed to have been favored with all the good in the world. Every lady in attendance began to whisper with excitement. Who was this magnificent lord?

Then the fear set in. For those who recognized him quickly paled and began to scan for the nearest exit. This was the most feared man in all of the land. He was colder than ice and without mercy. At his command, kingdoms rose and fell. He was the nightmare of kings and the death knell of men. This was no angelic being but a demon of the deep. He was the lord of war. The harbinger of death.

Quietly, he began to climb the steps of the platform, his eyes sweeping over the Augur and Estelle, but landing on Cybelline.

"Hello." And smiled.

The women in the audience gaped in disbelief at the sight, as their hearts collectively skipped several beats. His smile was blinding in its joy, there was an innocence to it that made them want to throw themselves at his feet.They would die happy now that they had seen it, even if it wasn't directed at them. How could a simple movement of lips be so mesmerizing?

Cybelline was puzzled. Wasn't this handsome face supposed to be set in stone? She couldn't remember the man to have many emotions. He was unreadable and unreachable when she had met him the last two times. Why did he look at her like that?

"Umm...are you sick?" She asked tentatively.

Killian tripped on the last step and nearly face-planted into the floor.

All the women in the audience stood up and gasped, their arms out raised as if to catch him.

There was only one exception. Lady Celia looked at the Augur and lord Killian. She sighed, whatever her son had planned was clearly not going to happen.

Ah well, she had prepared for this possibility.

She flew out of the stands, her robes billowing around her. The noisy crowd went immediately silent, as if by spell.

The people on the platform frowned as they saw the woman who stood in air.

The Augur stepped forward, "Lady Celia of Londaros, why have you spelled my people? Surely you realized by now that your plans have fallen through."

"I want them to watch quietly as their Augur died by my hand." Celia said with a sweetly cloying smile.

In her hand was an onyx bow with a golden string. She held it up for the Augur to see. "I really wasn't planning to use this on you until we captured you privately. But I guess a demonstration is in order."

The Augur's eyes widened. Killian stepped forward and stood between Lady Celia and Cybelline.

"The Shadow Bow. H---how?" The Augur was shocked, he usually calm voice seemed to carry a waver that even he did not notice. Every citizen was shocked and terrified. Their Augur was ancient, older than anyone they knew. He was impassive and immovable, nothing could change his behavior. Not even the sky falling down.

What did this Lady Celia have that caused his voice to shake thus?

Norian crawled up from the post, coughing blood as he clawed he way out of the rubble. He heaved a mouthful of blood and looked up at his mother in the air. Celia gave him a smile, "Mother will give you this kingdom and kill your enemies."

Celia drew the bow, a thick shadow appeared, an arrow made of grey shadows form out of nothing, nocked and drawn. Celia loosed the arrow, aiming it directly at the people on the platform.

The Augur threw up a shield, it was too late to run. He threw everything in that barrier, praying that he could withstand its power for a little while. In that instant, Killian reached for Cybelline and threw all of his magic into a spell of his own as well.

BOOM, the impact shattered the shield. A large hole appeared where the barrier once was. The power of the explosion was so strong that it affected those too close to it, many outside the barrier died in a flash.

The magical barrier of the Augur, the strongest mage of the City of Thieves had been shattered by a single arrow.

The Augur staggered backwards and fell to the earth, where his hand had been was now a bloody stump. The platform had disintegrated. Estelle lay on the ground, unconscious and bleeding.

Only two people stood in the rubble, the man's head on the woman's shoulders.

Cybelline frowned and patted the arm around her waist, "Um..." Her voice was muffled as her face was uncomfortably shoved into a wide and warm chest. There was a strange familiarity about his smell. His hair ticked her cheek as he breathed into the crook of her neck. Cybelline disliked physical closeness, but in this moment, she knew that he had done it to protect her. So she resisted the urge kick him onto a roof again.

There were rips and tears along his sleeves, blood ran down freely. His blood dropped onto her clothes, like red petals on a white tapestry. Cybelline looked away from the sight.

He looked down at the girl with concern, "Are you alright?" She fit in his arms perfectly, as if they were made for each other. With her in his arms, nothing seemed to matter.

Cybelline gently pushed him away and looked down to straightened dress, "Fine."

Killian wobbled a little when she left his embrace. He preferred her in his arms.

"My Lord!" Lord Evan came at a run and hissed when he saw Killian's back. He paled as he saw the extent of Killian's injuries on his back.

The cloths had been ripped on his back as if by large claws. There was only a blackened mass of blood and long, bloody gashes that ran deep, so deep that bits of white seemed visible. A lesser man would have fainted from the pain alone. How was their lord still alive?

Cybelline saw Lord Evan's eyes. Quickly she turned around and saw the damage.

"You should get that looked at." She said quietly.

"A few scratches." He said carelessly, but his knees seemed to buckle. Lord Evan ran to catch him. He tried to push Lord Evan away but the man only shook his head and grabbed Lord Killian's arm resolutely. Lord Jacen also sprinted to the wreckage and supported their lord. He glared at Cybelline. Who was this woman to cause their invincible lord injury?

Lady Celia stood in front, savoring the defeat of her enemies. They had been the highest exalted of men, but now they lay at her feet, she could squash them easily as ants.

The augur's face was grey, "You are using magic you have no idea how to handle." He coughed blood as he looked at Celia, "It'll destroy everyone here. Yourself included."

"Lies, I am more powerful than all of you combined." Celia's smile was smug, "I always thought the shadow bow was a myth. Imagine, a bow that could cut through any barrier, strong enough to withstand even the power of the fae. With it, what can't I accomplish?"

She sighed, "It's too bad it took me this long to get it. The old fool of a king did know how to hid his treasures" And then her smile was even wider, her eyes crazier, "And now that I know that even the great Augur can not even protect himself against it, I'll have my king's head after this. But first, his mongrel of a son."

She swung up her bow again, this time, she pointed it at Killian who ignored her. She gritted her teeth, "Finally, to get rid of you, cursed beast."

Killian looked deeply into Cybelline's eyes. He knew that there wasn't much time and he wanted to relish the feeling of looking into those eyes. In that moment, he knew who she was. Not just the child, but every disguise she had used.

She had been imprinted in his mind since he was a child, he had drawn her in his mind's eye for so long that he knew those eyes. He had been blind at first, for he should have known it was her since the first moment. He didn't know why he was so certain that the youth at the palace was her, but instinct told him that he wasn't wrong. He was relieved he had realized it. It wasn't too late. He had not lost her, and that was all that mattered. He would be happy to die knowing that.

"There is still time, you have to get out of here. I'll make sure of it." He said, his voice low.

"What about you?"

The blinding smile returned, "I'll be fine."

There was much communicated in that smile, and Cybelline looked away. After a pause, she said quietly, "I'm not saving you because I'm a good person. I just don't like owing anyone."

Killian lunged at her as she walked forward to face Lady Celia, but she was too quick for the injured lord. The bow and arrow was now pointed directly at Cybelline's heart as she stood, shielding everyone behind her.

Celia's face lit with disbelief, "You dare?" She glared at the girl, "I want you for my son, move aside you thoughtless child."

Cybelline said nothing, only watched the lady coolly.

Celia shrugged, "I will find another hundred women to please my son. You overestimate your worth as a potential concubine. You are nothing."

An arrow of the same shadow quality, appeared on the drawn string. Celia smiled and let go, watching with pleasure as it traveled through the air, singing its song of death.

Killian called on his magic again, as he had done when the Augur had brought up his barrier. His face paled, Lord Evan's eyes widened, "My lord! You can't use your own life in the spell, it'll kill you!" He threw a hand on Killian's mouth so that he could not complete the spell. He and Jacen strugged to hold back their lord. Even injured he was formidable.

In that one moment of the spell being interrupted, the impossible happened.

Cybelline reached up and gripped the arrow. Her foot sank deep into the dirt a little as she gripped it, an inch from her heart. It was the most powerful and deadly kind of magic and it would kill anyone on contact.

Except, it seemed, Cybelline.

The skin of her hands, which had been refined by lightning, now cracked and bled as she held onto the arrow stubbornly. The arrow would go no further.

Sweat formed on her brow as she grappled with the shadow arrow. With a small smile, Cybelline's hand tightened. She bled freely now, there was even a thin line of blood from her mouth. She had bitten her cheek to keep conscious as the pain of the arrow seared her being.

CRACK.

The arrow shattered and disappeared. The crowd, rooted in their seats, bound by Celia's magic, watched in disbelief.And in that silence, the screech was even clearer, more piercing, and especially grating.

"Impossible! That's impossible!" Celia screamed, her face contorted in disbelief, "No one could stop me, not even the lady of light. No one!"

"Oh?" Cybelline asked her eyes now taking on a deadly glimmer, "How much are you willing to bet on that?"

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Author's Note: As always, I LOVE the comments and votes from my readers, you guys are so supportive and wonderful. I've read every single one, and while I don't always respond, please know that I am beyond grateful for the likes, comments, and support. This is a really long book, and I know that it's not everyone's cup of tea, which make everyone of you who read it extra special to me.

Thank you for the support! I'll be reading your comments as always!