Outside his office, Zuher paused to regard the lingering guards. His eyes fell on the two that accompanied Aria, and he smiled. "You two, go fetch our other guest."

Aria turned to the guards and flashed her hands through several foreign motions. They saluted her in turn, before disappearing down the hall. Iliana filed the exchange away in her mind for later consideration.

When Aria had said they couldn't hear her, she had meant it literally. If Iliana wanted to pull them to her side, she'd have to learn the hand signs.

Without warning, Zuher started walking again. He dragged her to a large, stone courtyard. Carefully maintained gardens decorated the base of the surrounding buildings, but beyond a single, elegant throne, the rest of the courtyard was bare. The most particular thing about the space was that the outer part of the courtyard ground was a soft, natural shade of gray, before being broken up by a large black circle. The longer Iliana stared at the black stones, the more gold they felt in her senses.

Were they magicked?

The sensation was odd.

The longer Iliana focused on it, the stronger the sensation seemed to become. It drew awareness into her being as the demonic black of the emperor played at the edges of her senses. The feeling was akin to breathing--until she'd focused on it, she hadn't noticed the twisting colors.

It reminded her of being in Nokos, and studying Lykos' neck until she saw his scars. Back then, she hadn't realized what she was doing. It'd been too fuzzy, too weak a sensation. Now, though, it occurred to her that she'd seen past Eumelia's golden magic to the skin that laid beneath.

Once again, something had changed.

When she had first walked into the palace, only the demons emanated that shadowy-black feeling. Now, it seemed to seep from the very walls of the palace. Gold flowed from the black stones, and from various items on the guards' persons. And as she focused on sensing it--on trying to find the different auras in the air--Iliana realized it even flowed, if only faintly, from the tattoo on her shoulder.

Something about Reotak had slowly increased her senses.

The isolation had kept her from that realization, and she wasn't sure how to feel about it. Each time she seemed to find her footing with her new body, something new occurred. Were these experiences she was supposed to be having, or was it something else the gods' had interfered with?

Iliana's very being felt entrenched in slipping sand.

The emperor sat on his throne, then gestured for Iliana to join him. As his was the only seat, she hesitated, before slowly stepping up next to it. He frowned, but seemed to decide her position was good enough for now. Which was unsettling.

What did he have planned that her near-insubordination wasn't worth dealing with?

As the minutes passed in silence, an audience gathered around the courtyard. Lacking anything else to do, Iliana focused on her senses. Instead of the usual, dull colors that floated through her mind, vivid aura registered within the surrounding world. Not everyone standing to watch were demons.

A few lacked a single color--they were human, she guessed. A piece of each of the gods carefully crafted to contain a soul. Others felt like a dark, unsettling midnight blue. It sent a chill down her spine and urged her to avert her eyes. So, she looked away from the crowd and to the courtyard itself.

The violet of Aion flashed among the flowers--faeries just out of sight. Were they here by choice? Or were they like her? It stirred hope in the depths of her heart. If they were members of the menagerie, then would she, too, eventually be allowed to roam without watch?

How much trust would she have to gain with Zuher for that to be allowed? How many times would she have to offer up her pride? How many pieces of what made her her would have to be given away?

Would it be worth it?

The crowd parted, allowing guards through their mix. And, for a moment, Iliana's heart froze.

They were dragging Kain in by his arms.

Pain pricked her chest as her lungs screamed for air. The world swam, and she caught the arm of Zuher's throne to keep from collapsing. The man smirked and propped his chin up on his curled fingers.

"Oh? Did I not tell you? In order to do a proper investigation of this rumor, all parties have to be present."

The details trickled into place as logic strangled her panic.

Kain couldn't be here.

He had been trapped behind falling stone during the wyvern attack. Without the aid of the gods themselves, there was no way he found a secondary path across Fractured Pass in late autumn.

Plus, at a second glance, the man before her looked nothing like her friend. His eyes may have been the same, rich shade of dark-brown, but his face was older, and darker black. He was taller. Kain was all soft, muscled edges, where this man was sharp and solid. Starvation had stripped him of whatever weight he may have once had, but his bare, athletic build was just barely visible in the remnants.

As her mind calmed, a different panic began to curl in her chest.

This was Del. She finally had a face for her voice in the dark.

She desperately wished they could go back to being strangers.

Zuher waved a hand, and the guards tossed him beyond the black stones. A shiver of golden power licked the air, raising goosebumps on Iliana's arms. Zuher's fingers tapped a slow pattern on the arm of his throne.

"Come, now, even a prince must bow in a foreign country. Where are your manners?"

Iliana's nails dug into her palms as she resisted the urge to snap at Zuher, or throw herself into the circle. Neither reaction would help Del, or herself.

Del drew himself to his feet, a fire burning behind his eyes. Despite everything, each movement was smooth, hiding the weakness that his frame suggested. A faint smile stole his lips, and he swept his arm out as he slipped into an elegant bow.

"My apologies, Zuher. I would claim the fault in this situation, but as you saw, it was not mine. And princes should only claim their own mistakes, you see."

The emperor clicked his tongue, the faintest twitch of his brow betraying his annoyance. Del's smile only grew. Worry pricked at Iliana's mind as her eyes flicked between them.

Gods, is this what I sound like when I talk? she wondered. He's insane.

Taunting Zuher was insane.

As it was, the emperor's attention flicked to the guards outside the circle. He waved a hand at Aria. "Fetch the whelp."

The woman's hands flashed through signs, with Iliana taking careful note of each twist of her hands. She might not have been able to decipher them now, with so little to go on, but later, perhaps. Would Aria explain?

Once again, Aria's instructions were followed by a salute and the departure of Iliana's other, regular guards. Zuher frowned, his hand returning to it's previous task of drumming against the arm of his throne. Silence took over the courtyard, not even interrupted by the buzz of whispers. It spoke volumes about how much control he held over his court.

"I would like to hear a bit about what happened last night," Zuher began. His eyes settled on Del, indicating the request wasn't for Iliana. "If you would."

Del rose from his bow, and tension settled on Iliana's shoulders. Was etiquette different in these circumstances? Did his title allow for him to rise without permission, or was this another line that Del was toeing with dangerous disregard?

"You mean the noise," Del observed. His easy smile eased a bit of the weight from Iliana's form, even if she knew it was likely false bravado. "I am surprised to hear you bothered by the news. Isn't the sole purpose of the Black Tower to break minds?"

Zuher's fingers curled over the arm of his chair, the drumming paused in favor of thick silence. "The answer.

Del shrugged, hands slipping into the threadbare pockets of his pants. The self-assurance in his action only seemed to further irritate Zuher, who scowled.

"A nightmare, if you must know," Del cocked his head, eyes slipping over Zuher before amusement tugged at his lips. "Staring the grandest nightmare himself. You should be flattered."

A buzz of shocked whispers flooded the courtyard. Iliana couldn't bring herself to try and track the words--all her focus had been captured by Del.

It appeared she didn't need to worry about pissing Zuher off with her words this time around. The prince had it handled--a realization that settled fear along her spine. The sensation only grew as Zuher slipped his hand further over the arm of his chair, leaning towards Del with violence in his black eyes.

"You live because it is my will," he reminded Del. "There is nothing stopping me from ordering any one of my people to remove your throat. You would be wise to hold your tongue."

Del scoffed, confidence straightening his shoulders. "No. I am alive because you've ensured my father has no other heirs. You need me to restrain my people."

An unspoken 'for now' hung in the air following Del's challenge. The growing tension shattered as the departed guards returned. Strolling between them, holding himself with a familiar, cock-sure attitude, was Lykos.

He'd lost weight since Iliana last saw him.

It felt odd, since it couldn't have been that long ago. Then again, the dark made time hard to measure.

How long had they been in the palace?

Lykos' eyes flicked over her, lingering for a second, before they settled on Zuher. Without hesitation, he stepped over the black stones, only pausing when he drew even with Del. Lykos then dipped into a low bow, his dirty-blonde locks slipping clear of his neck. Angry red welts encircled his neck. It matched his old scars and nearly sent a shudder down her spine.

"Master," Lykos greeted.

The greeting left Iliana biting the inside of her cheek, even if she'd already begun to suspect the exact nature of Lykos' relationship with Zuher.

Lykos was a slave.

Or, the closest someone could be to one without the official rank. Otherwise, there was no reason someone with Lykos' pride would choose that title over the more official, 'His Imperial Majesty.' The realization was inline with what she knew from his nightmare, and how the peerage had reacted to his arrival. Still, it felt odd to hear it said aloud.

It was as if every time they met she lost more and more of her inclination towards hatred. She would never forgive his actions, but that didn't mean she wasn't coming to understand him. If she had been raised in this environment, if she had, had to endure Zuher for years upon years...

Iliana wasn't sure she would've handled it as smoothly as he had. She wouldn't be planning rebellion in the shadows--she'd be struggling to survive.

Zuher waited a long minute, just as he did with Iliana. It gave her a moment to watch Del, and note how he steadily ignored Lykos' arrival, as well as Iliana herself. His undaunted gaze remained on Zuher, apparently unwilling to look away from the biggest threat in the room.

"Ales, a pleasure as always."

Lykos straightened. Like before, Iliana found it hard to find a trace of Lykos' anger in his eyes. Despite the two months she traveled with him, she couldn't locate a trace of that ever-present emotion in the lax way he held his shoulders and the even press of his lips. Even his steel-gray eyes were steady.

How does he do it? she wondered. Practice?

"I grow bored," Zuher continued. "And, obviously my guest has too much time on his hands if he's harassing my guards. I thought you two might entertain me once more."

Lykos dipped his head in silent agreement. Apparently, he was following the rules today. A faint memory of her first meeting with Zuher flooded Iliana's mind. Lykos hadn't followed any rules of etiquette back then. He didn't greet Zuher, nor did he bow or wait to be addressed. Had something changed since then, or had he simply found some semblance of self-preservation while they'd been apart?

"Aria," Zuher called.

The guard hesitated, then drew her sword. She gestured to one of the men who had escorted Lykos, and he too drew his weapon. Both were tossed into the circle to be retrieved by the two men. Del twirled the weapon in his grip, weighing the sword, as Lykos settled his own blade at his side.

"So you want to see me sliced up again," Del observed. "Or, you want her to see it. Very well."

Iliana bit her tongue. She knew silence was the best choice for her in these circumstances, but curses and protests were begging her to be voiced. If Del was right and this was a show put on for her benefit, what was the purpose? Did Zuher assume she would care if one of them was hurt? Was he implying that she would take one of their places in the future?

Possibilities spun with dizzying speed through her mind as Lykos and Del drew apart. They took up positions on opposite sides of the circle, before offering shallow bows to one-another. Iliana's stomach twisted into a knot as they paused, awaiting approval.

"Begin."

Lykos jumped forward, sword swinging in a heavy arc.

Del met his blow and followed it up with several of his own, swift strikes. They spun around one another, practiced ease slipping them from one attack to another as each measured the skill of the other. Iliana's heart raced. Zuher's hand caught her wrist, startling her mid-step.

She hadn't realized she was moving until he stopped her. His smile was amused, as he pulled her hand into his lap, grasping it between both hands. Her skin crawled where it touched his, and she dug her nails into the palm of her free hand. She couldn't pull away. She couldn't get sent back to the dark and not be allowed to witness this.

Iliana had to endure.

"You stay here," he ordered.

She shuddered, but didn't protest. Her attention snapped back to the duel. Neither had landed a full blow. They'd continued to circle each other, sweat already breaking out on Del's brow. A witch's magic couldn't make up for starvation, or imprisonment. If the fight came down to stamina, Lykos would win.

Perhaps Del came to the same realization, because he lunged forward, swinging his blade for Lykos' side. The mercenary blocked, just in time for Del to bring his knee up in a low blow. It landed, and Lykos stumbled back. Del lunged with his sword, only to spring back as Lykos jabbed his weapon between them, not near as staggered as he'd pretended.

"Who do you think will win?" Zuher questioned lightly. "Oh, I know, we can make it a bet."

Despite her fear, Iliana looked away from the fight. Zuher studied her with a dangerous smile, the weight of his words settling heavy on her shoulders. A bet from an emperor. It would likely be weighted in his favor, as she doubted he would allow for anything else, but was Iliana actually allowed to decline?

"What is the wager?" she ventured.

Zuher released her hand in favor of propping his head up on his curled fingers, elbow digging into the arm of his chair. "The wager...hm."

She pulled her hand back to her chest, rubbing at the skin. It did nothing to ease the disgusting tingle crawling over her skin, reminding her of his touch, but it couldn't be helped. At least he hadn't struck out, that meant she'd done something right, right?

"Ah, I've got it. If the Cieonian draws first blood, I'll move your room to something more desirable to you. If it's my whelp..." he tilted his head, pursing his lips in thought. "Oh, perhaps you could stay in the room adjoining mine. It's meant for an empress, but mine sadly passed. I'm sure you heard the story. So, it's free. Perfect. I think we'll go with this."

Numb knowledge that this wasn't how a bet worked sprawled through her mind, but she didn't dare protest. Her eyes flicked back to the fight as an awareness that Zuher held all the power in this situation flooded her tense frame.

His empress. Who had that been? She couldn't recall the name of the last woman to marry Zuher, which she realized should have been another hint at his immortal identity.

She couldn't remember any names tied to the royalty of Reotak besides his and Asha. Iliana knew they existed, but they'd been before her time, and she hadn't held much interest in Reotak as a child. Not that it mattered.

No, the only thing she should worry about at the moment was the outcome of the duel.

Lykos and Del had continued to trade blows during the conversation, attacking one another without landing any true strikes with their blades. Their skills seemed even, preventing one from easily slipping past the other with anything less than dirty moves. It was a punch that landed, a strike of the knee, a trip of the foot.

It was Del that stumbled on the last. Lykos swung his blade towards the man's neck, and despite Zuher's previous words, Iliana stumbled forward. "Del!"

His blade struck up like a snake, skimming Lykos's chest as Del dropped below the sweep of the mercenary's blade. It was a risky blow that in real combat would leave him at the mercy of his opponent.

But this wasn't real combat. It was a duel for blood. Which Del's blade found with a rush of relief through Iliana's whole frame. She nearly collapsed as the two men stopped, chests heaving with exertion. Del's final attack had severed Lykos' shirt, leaving the majority of his red-marked chest bare. It gripped Iliana with a harsh sweep of complicated emotion.

New, angry scars decorated his battered chest even beyond the scope of the gash Del had created.

How much of that was the fault of her errant tongue? Of Lykos stepping between her and Zuher?

"Hm, it would seem you won," Zuher mused. "A new room it is." 

A/N: Things are getting more complicated.

Was the duel easy enough to follow? I wasn't quite feeling it, which is probably why it ended up being so vague. I might come back to fix that on a later occasion. 

Was Iliana right to react passively to this all? Or, do you think there was something she should have done? 

What of Del? You finally get to see his face, and a bit of his personality beyond being a voice in the dark. Any opinions about him? 

See you next week!