City of Light (The Traveler's Gate Trilogy) (57 page)

Simon made his way up to the podium next to the throne, where everyone else had made their speeches. They had practiced this. He would be fine.

Woodenly, he recited his speech.

“I, Simon, son of Kalman, accept the burden of Valinhall’s leader. On behalf of all Valinhall Travelers present and future, I commit my Territory to the service of Damasca, and pledge my sword in defense of the ruling monarch and the nation.” As if he were about to take a plunge into icy water, he took a deep breath and forged ahead. “As the primary duty of Valinhall, I hereby agree to supervise the Incarnations of all eleven Territories, taking action when and if my Queen decrees them an issue of the nation’s safety.”

That created a buzz. He’d heard from Leah that no one knew how she was planning on handling the Incarnations now that the Hanging Trees were destroyed, and it had been a source of much speculation. Handing the job over to a new, mysterious Territory must have created quite an impression.

“On behalf of the Damascan crown, I accept your service,” Leah said. Then she departed from the script. “As a token of which service, I ask you to receive these symbolic cloaks representing your new office.”

A train of servants appeared from behind the throne, each carrying a folded black cloak. Simon had wondered why she insisted that he wear his cloak over the uniform; he had assumed she wanted him to look more like Indirial. Now it made sense.

The Eldest is going to kill us all for this,
Simon thought, but he had to accept. The Nye were going to think these ‘fake’ cloaks were mocking them, since most of the people wearing them wouldn’t actually have access to the Nye essence. Maybe they could get away with only wearing them outside the House.

“And on a more personal note, I’d like to address the absence of Overlord Indirial,” Leah said, still ignoring the lines they’d practiced. “Due to his…binding personal responsibilities…he will be away from the capital for the foreseeable future. He will still be able to oversee the day-to-day management of his realm from within Valinhall, but he has left another vacancy that must be filled.”

She smiled straight at Simon, and he had a moment of panic. “I need a bodyguard.”

Simon had fallen off cliffs and walked away feeling less stunned. “I…you…I have many other responsibilities, uh, Your Highness.”

Leah adopted a regretful look. “That’s too bad, since I expect my safety will be seriously threatened over the next few years. I already have guards for my day-to-day activities, but who else would you recommend to oversee my security on missions involving great personal risk?”

Simon struggled with that for a moment, glad for once that he didn’t have a doll with him. Finally, he snapped his heels together and swept a bow that would have done Indirial proud.

“I would be honored to accept the position of your personal protector, Your Highness.”

Leah’s smile widened, and she nodded graciously. The room burst into spontaneous applause, and Andra looked like she would choke herself laughing.

“Stand behind me,” Leah whispered, so softly that only he could hear it over the applause. He took up a position behind the throne as if it was his idea, and tried to look intimidating instead of bored.

“I realize not all of you here today are Travelers,” Leah went on. “However, I trust the impact of my next announcement will not escape you.”

Simon perked up. They had practiced this, but he was still looking forward to it.

Leah nodded to a teenage girl sitting on a nearby bench. “The City of Light, Elysia, is now accepting students.”

Shai stood, in her own white-and-gold uniform. She executed a bow that was much better than most of what Simon could manage, and stepped forward. Then, in the full view of the whole room, she tore open a Gate to Elysia.

She had angled the Gate so that Leah could see inside, for which Simon was grateful, because otherwise he would have been staring at the featureless back of a portal.

Alin stood inside on the Elysian fields, and Rhalia drifted next to him. His golden armor had been repaired, and he already looked much less like an Incarnation. His skin was still a little pale, and his eyes still looked like rainbows, but at least they didn’t glow.

And he was smiling.

“Lords and ladies of Damasca,” Alin said, “welcome to the City of Light.”

He got a much warmer round of applause than Simon had.

“In the past, I have been your enemy,” Alin confessed. “I have hated you, and set myself against you, and even tried to destroy you. I tell you all that to show you that I am now as sincere as I have ever been in my life. We in Elysia are now taking students. We will train students from Damasca, from Enosh, from the villages, from the Western Isles…anyone, of any age, may be tested. For we seek to build a force of Travelers that benefits not only Damasca, but all of mankind.”

He sketched a bow—
How does everyone get so good at bowing? Do they practice?
—and turned to Rhalia.

She smiled at everyone before she began to speak. “There were a few bloodlines that produced natural Elysian Travelers, but in the old days, most Travelers of Elysia were trained. With the permission of the Damascan throne, we would like you to send volunteers for testing. In the City of Light, all are welcome.”

Leah applauded, and everyone else followed suit, if with a great deal of whispering among themselves. They’d do it eventually, though. Elysia had a reputation as the most powerful Territory, and the opportunity to get involved with the founding of a new Territory—or the re-founding of a new one—was too tempting for most people.

Looking at Leah’s smile, Simon couldn’t help but think,
I doubt she cares much for all of mankind, but she definitely sees some benefit for Damasca.

Not that he blamed her. He wasn’t sure how he felt about more potential Elysian Incarnations running around.

It was another two hours before Simon was allowed to go home.

As he placed Mithra on her rack in the entry hall, Simon realized that there was a girl he didn’t know standing in the hall, looking up at Vasha. She had pale skin and short blond hair, and she looked eighteen or nineteen, at most. She turned, slightly, and Simon realized where he’d seen her before.

“You’re…Indirial’s daughter, right?”

She got the rest of her coloring from her mother, but she had her father’s eyes.

“Elaina,” she said. Then she pointed up to Vasha. “My father has the strength to swing this with one hand.”

“He does,” Simon said warily.

“That’s a power he earned in Valinhall.”

“Yes…”

She turned a confident smile on him. “So when do I learn that?”

Simon begged off for the moment, pleading exhaustion, but he had to promise tutoring later. She didn’t seem interested in any explanation that the Fang itself would have to approve of her, and that it would probably take months of training before she could lift a blade of Vasha’s size.

At last, he made it back to his bedroom.

The thirteenth bedroom, the room Valin had built for himself, was certainly…big. The bed was twice the size of Kai’s, and all the furnishings were trimmed in gold. It even had a little door that stepped into a private outhouse, though Simon found himself wondering if the hole simply emptied into an infinite abyss.

But there were no shelves. No dolls. No one whispering at all hours of the night, keeping him awake.

He couldn’t stand it.

Today, though, he was tired enough that he didn’t let it bother him. Simon tossed himself on to the bed, lying fully clothed on the blankets while staring up at the ceiling. It wasn’t long before he fell asleep.

He woke to something tickling his face, and he swatted his own nose out of reflex before it occurred to him to open his eyes.

Curly blond hair and a blue bonnet filled his vision, along with a painted wooden frown. Caela stood over him, her hands on her hips, expression disapproving.

It’s your first day of
three
new jobs, and you decide to sleep?

Caela,
he sent.
I didn’t think…

She waved a hand through the air, which was the most motion he’d seen from a doll since Kai’s death.
Advising the bearer of Azura is more of a career than a necessity. I can speak with whomever I wish, and there are plenty of my sisters around. I think I’ll allow you to carry me a little while longer.

Simon’s spirits lifted, and he couldn’t stop a smile.
I’d like that,
he said.

She scowled at him again and kicked his shoulder.
Then you’d better get to work!

The Eldest materialized out of shadow next to the bed, which was a much less pleasant surprise. His voice scraped out of an unseen throat. “She’s right,” he said. “You foolishly accepted the positions of royal protector and custodian of the Incarnations, when you already must see to your responsibilities as Founder of Valinhall.”

“I will begin my search for the lost Fangs tomorrow,” Simon promised. “It’s the first thing I’ll do.”

The Nye shook his hood. “No,” he said. “I have another job for you. You recently met the last soldier of the Dragon Army, the one who has all but abandoned her Territory. She did not aid us when the Incarnation was freed, nor when the House was attacked by foreign forces. Yet she still holds her Dragon’s Fang. If she does not return to her duties as a Traveler, then she should relinquish her blade to someone else who can use it.”

“Why does it matter?” Simon asked. “Kai barely did anything when he was here. Kathrin’s still a Valinhall Traveler, so she can do what she wants.”

The Eldest chuckled. “You understand nothing. A bond to this Territory works both ways. If she wishes to enjoy Valinhall’s powers, then she must pay her debts.”

“Who says?”

The Nye bowed. “You, Master.”

He tried to think of a way out, but the Eldest had a point. If he was going to act like the Founder of Valinhall, he might as well start now.

Simon sighed and rolled out of bed. “I’ll get my cloak.”

THE END

Of the Traveler’s Gate Trilogy

Coming This Fall:

A NEW SERIES!

(Book #1 of Some New Series)

Available Autumn 2014

Also check out Will’s website for book updates, news, occasional fiction, and the antidote.

www.WillWight.com

DON’T WORRY:

The Traveler’s Gate universe will return!

…Eventually.