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“With Gaelin gone, we do have time to get you up to date on the courts. Alright, where to begin? I guess it begins with the gods. Freyr is the alfar’s creator. Originally, he arrived in the kingdom of Asgard as a hostage, but he soon became a friend with the gods and then shortly after one of them. He looked down upon our mortal race and found us beautiful and honorable. We treated our world with love and respect. We tended to the fields and saw every creature and living thing as something to be cherished and protected. Freyr and Frigga granted us the gift of immortality, and the gift of nature and magic to continue to bring beauty into the world.
“This lasted for centuries. We would often have interactions with the Norse gods and goddesses. Our powers began to grow, and with time no longer an obstacle, we brought in the Golden Age. We crafted magnificent architecture, art, music, inventions. Everyone lived peacefully, no matter what race you were. We thrived, and in a way, became God-like.
“When the humans’ Christian god exiled Lucifer and a third of his angels from heaven, that is when everything changed. The demons ravaged our world, killing, possessing, eating, and laying waste to everyone and everything. The alfar weren’t warriors. We had never had to fight. We were farmers and philosophers. We weren’t ready for what was to come.
“Since the demons were celestial beings, nothing we had killed them. We could cut them down, dismember them, burn them, and yet they would still come back. They descended on this world like it was their very own buffet for the taking. Not wanting to get their hands dirty, the Norse gods broke the Bifrost gate, severing our physical connection between the two worlds.
“We were on our own and we were desperate. After decades of war our most revered general, Maleki Drezmore, refused to continue the endless cycle of bloodshed. We had lost three-fourths of our population and the other races had given up fighting altogether. He hated the Norse gods for turning their backs on us in our time of need, so he turned to other sources of power. He found a fire god named Azeer and made a deal to save our people.
“In order to save our race and our world, Maleki agreed to Azeer’s terms. The god wanted an eternity of worship from our kind. He wanted us to turn away from Odin and the other gods, and worship him in their stead. He demanded human, virgin, and innocent sacrifices to be brought before altars built in his honor. He also demanded that Maleki and his whole infantry be the first to kneel and sacrifice their lives to broker the deal. In exchange, he would give our people a weapon that would rid us not only of the demonic threat that plagued our lands, but any celestial being that dared threaten us again.
“Without consulting the other leaders of our people, Maleki took the deal. He and his infantry knelt before Azeer and took their own lives. Three days later, Maleki and his infantry awoke unexpectedly. They thought their sacrifice was final, but Azeer had other plans. The infantry now possessed abilities, unlike anything we had ever seen. They could manipulate the mind, cause pain without even touching you, shield themselves from attacks. They could break bones with a single snap of their fingers or cause someone to do their bidding with a single smile.
“Maleki’s gift was the dark flame. He could destroy any celestial being. The flame is described as the most beautiful and cleansing form of magic anyone has ever experienced. Maleki and his infantry swept over the land with their new gifts, sending the demons scattering to the ends of the universe. When our world was once again safe, Maleki told our leaders of the bargain he had struck with Azeer. They refused to honor the deal and would not turn away from Freyr and Frigga.
“Rage overtook Maleki and his infantry. They saw the others' refusal to comply as a sign of disrespect for their sacrifice. Their powers and abilities continued to grow in force and number. When Azeer demanded his payment in sacrifices, the elders of our community forbid Maleki and the others to continue with the rituals. They were forced from our lands and that is when they formed the Kingdom of Doonak.
“Maleki took the throne, creating the dark court. They performed the required sacrifices and honored Azeer as the savior of our world. The dark power that Maleki and the others consumed began to change them not only physically, but morally. We heard rumors of rape, brutality, and torture being conducted at the court. When we tried to intervene, they closed their gates to us and no longer allowed communication between the two courts.”
I was sprawled on the couch, in awe of the history that belonged to a part of me. When he paused, I sat up, still eager for more. “So, why don’t you just kill them all and end their lines?” I asked bluntly.
Levos laughed at me as if I were a child. “Oh, sweet Genevieve. If only it were that simple. Yes, the dark alfar make up a very small percentage of our population. I believe it’s something like one of them to ten of us, but their powers are not to be underestimated. They are strong and clever little beasts. They also train everyone in their kingdom as if they are warriors. Though we have a greater population, the high houses do not entertain the idea of battle. They are content to live their sophisticated lives behind these walls while others do the fighting for them. The dark alfar know we have the numbers, so they want every member of their court to be prepared if we ever did decide to attack.”
“So what? You just sit on your hands and let them kill innocents?” I demanded.
“We don’t agree with their way of life, but we must choose our battles. Each race is responsible for its own people. Though we try to protect the meek, we cannot be everywhere all the time. We cannot control what other races eat or how they choose to find pleasure or even what god they chose to worship. We are not all powerful.”
“And what about the dark flame? Does the king of Doonak have this ability?” I asked.
“No, thank the heavens. Maleki was the only one that ever possessed that gift. King Drezmore possesses the power of paralysis shock.”
“And what does that exactly do?”
“It mutes all power from being used. He can also paralyze your body. Causing your heart to stop, preventing you from moving. He can even stop you from breathing.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound pleasant.”
Levos laughed, standing up from his chair. “No, it doesn’t and thankfully, we will never have to experience his power. The light and dark court have only recently been on some level of good terms these past few years, because of the little pests trolling our lands. Personally, I would love to have gone with Gaelin to see the court firsthand. I’m not essential, so I get to stay here and babysit Gaelin’s mare.”
“Ha, ha. Why would you want to go there anyway? Sounds horrifying and disgusting.”
“Maybe some parts, but I was told they have what they call Jestu twice a month. I wouldn’t mind getting an invite to that.”
“Are you going to make me ask what a ‘Jestu’ is?”
“Just did. Jestu is like a sexual exploration of sorts. The whole court partakes. You’re allowed to have anyone and anything regardless of race.”
“Disgusting,” I said.
“Oh, come on, it doesn’t sound that bad. Plus, they don’t have all the rules and formalities the light court does. Don’t get me wrong, I would never want to live there, but a visit may be nice.”
“I may have to disown you as a friend for saying that.”
He placed his hand across his chest. “Aw, Gen, am I officially your friend?”
“You were promoted and demoted all on the same day. Only you could pull that off,” I moved to the door. “So, what am I to do when Gaelin is away?”
Levos rushed to my side as we walked down the halls of the palace. “Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. Princess Daealla would like a private audience with you in…ah, ten minutes.”