The amber glow of twilight spilled over Caelmont's white-stone walls, softening the jagged edges of its towers.
From the balcony of his guest chamber, Valerian Stormborne leaned against the carved rail, feeling the salt-and-steel tang of the evening breeze.
The trial had been long, draining, and prickly with unspoken tensions ....the kind of day where even the wind felt heavy.
For the first time all day, there was silence. No posturing lords, no ringing proclamations, no echo of voices bouncing off the marble dome of the Hall of Balance. Just the steady hush of wind and the rhythmic toll of the quarter-hour bells.
A knock broke the quiet.....three quick raps, polite but firm broke his thoughts.
"Enter," Valerian said without turning.
The door swung open to reveal not one, but four figures. At the front was a boy with hair like gold with a little bit of red, and eyes bright with mischief .... Vaelric.
Behind him, three young men stepped in, the kind of company that made hallways turn quiet when they walked by:
Kaelen, tall, broad-shouldered and grinning, wore that ever-present wry smile that could pass for charm or trouble, depending on the hour, like trouble was his second language.
Therion the calm shadow with a gaze that weighed everything; followed with the measured tread of a man who never wasted words, his dark eyes cool and assessing.
Rael, lean and quick, his easy smirk hiding the fact that he noticed everything, his confident stride filled the room as much as his voice usually did.
Valerian's brow arched. "I see you've brought an army, Vaelric."
The boy grinned. "They followed me."
"Followed you?" Kaelen laughed. "Your father ordered us to keep you from terrorizing Caelmont, little lord."
"I wasn't terrorizing," Vaelric shot back. "I was exploring."
"Exploring the kitchens, the stables, and...." Rael drawled, ".....the forbidden southern gallery?"
Vaelric's ears turned pink. "It wasn't forbidden, it just didn't have a sign."
"Well, this is a surprise," Valerian said, stepping back into the lamplight. "I was expecting my steward, not an entire delegation."
"Delegation?" Kaelen's grin widened. "We thought you might appreciate a little company after the… rather heated first day."
"Heated is one word for it," Rael said, dropping uninvited into one of the carved chairs. "I half-expected Frostmere and Ashmere to tear the Hall of Balance apart before sunset."
Valerian allowed himself a faint smirk. "If they had, I suspect you'd have enjoyed the spectacle far too much."
Therion, leaning against the wall with an ease that spoke of deliberate control, gave a slow shrug. "Not entirely undeserved. There's enough bad blood between those two to fill Caelmont's library...and most of it ends in bodies."
Valerian pinched the bridge of his nose, though his lips twitched with amusement. "I trust you three didn't let him cause too much chaos."
Therion shrugged. "We kept him from stealing a guard's spear."
"I wasn't stealing it," Vaelric protested. "I just wanted to see if it was heavier than mine."
"You don't have a spear," Valerian said dryly.
"That's why I wanted to borrow one," Vaelric reasoned, as if the logic was flawless.
Kaelen chuckled and leaned against the wall. "The boy's got your wit, Valerian. And your stubborn streak."
Valerian shot him a look. "That's not always a compliment."
They bantered a while longer .....a mix of trial talk and idle chatter. Rael brought up how the hall's atmosphere had felt tense enough to snap.
Kaelen complained about the endless ceremonial speeches. Therion quietly noted that the Frostmere delegation was unusually armed for a formal sitting. Valerian listened, weighing their words like pieces on a board.
But Vaelric had grown oddly quiet, fidgeting at the edge of the balcony light. Finally, he blurted, "Father… I want to ask you something."
Valerian turned to him fully. "Go on."
"Let me come with you tomorrow. To the Hall of Balance. I want to see the next trial myself ....not just hear the stories afterward, Not listening from behind closed doors.
Not hearing it second-hand from anyone....not even you. I want to see the proceedings for myself. The way the lords speak, the way judgment is weighed. I can't learn that from the shadows."
"You want to stand in the Hall during the trial?" Valerian asked, voice even but measured.
"Yes," Vaelric said. "By your side."
Valerian studied him for a long moment, gauging the boy's intent. "You're sure?"
"Yes." The answer was immediate, steady. "I want to understand how it works. I can behave."
Behind him, Kaelen snorted softly, and Therion gave him a warning glance.
Valerian's eyes narrowed just slightly. "You'll stand beside me on the podium reserved for the lords themselves. And if you cause trouble....."
"I won't," Vaelric said quickly. "I promise."
"....you'll answer to me, not these three." Valerian's tone held just enough steel to make the boy nod seriously.
"Deal." Vaelric's grin returned, bright and victorious.
"Oh ..... and I heard something. They say the High Oracle herself will be there. Elyria Venn. The one who sits on the Aether Throne."
Kaelen's eyebrows shot up. "You've been eavesdropping again?"
"Information is important," Vaelric said, repeating something Valerian himself had told him years ago.
That drew reactions. Even Kaelen's brows lifted.
"If that's true," Therion said slowly, "then tomorrow won't just be about Frostmere and Ashmere. Elyria doesn't attend unless the matter touches the fate of the realm."
Rael leaned forward, his earlier humor gone. "Then we'd best keep our eyes sharper than ever. If she's coming, something's already in motion....and it's bigger than any of us thought."
Valerian exhaled, half in resignation, half in amusement. "Yes… Elyria will be there. Which means tomorrow will be even more dangerous for your curiosity than usual."
The boy's eyes gleamed. "Then it will be worth seeing."
Valerian nodded, a mix of pride and concern flickering across his features. "Just remember, Vaelric, the Hall of Balance is not a place for games. What happens there can shape the future of our lands."
Vaelric's expression turned earnest. "I understand, Father. I'll be careful."
The room fell into a contemplative silence, each of them lost in their thoughts about the implications of the High Oracle's presence. The weight of the upcoming trial loomed large, and the stakes seemed higher than ever.
Kaelen broke the silence with a light-hearted remark, attempting to lift the mood. "Well, if we're to face such a momentous day, perhaps we should find some rest while we can."
Therion nodded in agreement. "A wise suggestion. We'll need our wits about us."
Rael rose from his chair, stretching his arms. "I'll make sure the guards are alert tonight. We can't afford any surprises."
Valerian gave them a grateful nod.
As the group began to disperse, Vaelric lingered by the balcony, gazing out at the darkening sky. Valerian joined him, placing a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder.
"Remember, Vaelric," he said softly, "knowledge is power, but wisdom is knowing how to use it."
Vaelric looked up at his father, determination in his eyes. "I'll remember, Father. I promise."
Together, they stood in silence, watching as the stars began to twinkle above Caelmont, each one a reminder of the vastness of the world and the challenges that awaited them.