Humming, she clicked through the file. “I think… Ah, there it is. The last time the drones flew over this part of the region was several years ago.” She twisted in her chair, tugging the bottom of her ponytail in a way that reminded Nikhail far too much of River. “The intel is old, but…”
“It’s the best we have,” he finished for her. It was the only lead they’d uncovered after a week. Whistling low, he pulled his phone from his pocket. “We’re going to need reinforcements for this.”
“Welcome to Castle Sanguis,”Commander Conner Root, the military officer in charge of the team Nikhail had called for backup, said grimly as he cut the engine to their military vehicle on the edge of the snowy road.
The Earth Elf’s short cut of ginger hair resembled flames in the afternoon sunlight, and he wore a grim expression as he surveyed the black castle looming before them.
Nikhail’s stomach twisted as he jumped out of the dark SUV. Snow crunched beneath his feet, and he was grateful for his sunglasses as bright sunlight reflected off the expanse of snow. He kept his hands flat at his sides, his weapons within reach as he took in their surroundings with military sharpness.
They were parked on the edge of the Dead Forest, and the ancient fortress rose in front of them. Sands save him, but even though the building was technically a ruin, it was still an imposing sight.
Nikhail had heard stories about Castle Sanguis, of course. No one, fae or otherwise, grew up in this country without learning about the kingdoms that came before them.
He had heard of the mad queen with her Blood Ruby and how she’d used and discarded humans as though they were nothing but trash.
He’d studied the Battle of Balance and read about how the Carinoc Dragons had worked with the High Ladies of Life and Death to turn the tides and restore the balance. He knew of the feral First who had escaped the tombs at Hoarfrost Hollow and of the halfling prince and his vampire bodyguard who worked together to stop her before it was too late.
And, of course, he knew of the King of Darkness and his Sunwalking Queen. They were, perhaps, the most famous couple to have ever walked the land once known as Eleyta. Nikhail’s sisters had swooned over tales of the monarchs’ renowned love for each other, the king’s possessive nature, and the way he would do anything for his beloved bride.
Nikhail knew all the stories, but none of them had done Castle Sanguis justice. Not really.
This was a castle, but it was more than that. Black gargoyles stood guard atop stone walls of the same midnight shade. Snow-dusted spires reached for the heavens. Windows that would’ve once held violet Light Elf orbs now stood empty, their sills vacant.
The structure was a ruin—as empty as it was expansive—and there was an eeriness about it that had goose bumps crawling over Nikhail’s flesh. Death and darkness resided within Castle Sanguis, and even the sun couldn’t chase them away.
Snow drifted from the skies, and even though it was barelywinter, several feet of the white substance were already on the ground.
Keeping his gaze trained on the castle, Nikhail adjusted the weapons strapped to his black tactical gear. He had always preferred magic over guns, but only a fool would enter an unknown situation without protection. If he hadn’t had a weapon on him when the Black Night shot him a few weeks ago, he would’ve died.
An engine cut off behind him as the other half of their team arrived.
“Vampires don’tstilllive here, right?” Isobel had been riding in the other car and came up next to him, shifting from one foot to the other. Easily the smallest member of their team, she was the only human in their group. Her tactical gear seemed to wear her, not the other way round.
“No, it’s been empty for centuries.” He glanced at Isobel, who was wringing her hands in front of her. “Just in case, you have your wooden stakes, right?”
Isobel nodded, tapping the pair of whittled weapons strapped to her chest.
“Good.” Nikhail also had a set, as did the rest of the team. “Hopefully, they’re just a precaution, and we won’t have to use them.”
It was likely that whoever had been in Castle Sanguis had already moved on, but they had to check. They were here to clear the building, and on the off-chance they actually found something useful, they would bring it back for further analysis. Chancellor Rose wasn’t playing around, especially since, after leaving the Hub, Winterthread and his team had had more dire visions of what was to come.
The head of the government was clear: she wanted the rebels stopped, once and for all.
Personally, Nikhail thought that the rebels weren’t entirely off-base with their accusations that the Republic of Balance was unjustly run.
No one could listen to Laurie talk passionately about the subject for long and not come to that conclusion. The Representativesdidhold an inequitable amount of power, and something needed to be done about it.
The problem was that the rebels weren’t going about things the right way. Violence wasn’t the answer; it would only lead to more violence. There would be no peace if they kept murdering people.
Grave Blackwing was already being painted as a martyr for the Representative’s cause. There had to be some way to restore proper balance—true equality—to the Republic of Balancewithoutresorting to pure force.
But this wasn’t the moment for philosophical thoughts and ideals. They had a job to do and an ancient castle to clear. Thoughts about the rebels and the Representatives and the mess that the Republic of Balance had become would have to wait.
Commander Root strode to the front of their group, a green ribbon of Earth Elf magic winding around his arm like a vine. A precaution. A show of power. A reminder of his lineage, which ran all the way back to the High Lady of Life herself.
“Everyone ready?” the commander asked.
A chorus of agreement rose, and Nikhail nodded, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.