The road to the Neverdie Realm crossed volcanic plains, dark forests, and rivers of cooled lava. Kael, Drakk, and Kira traveled on horseback, escorted by a column of soldiers in black armor. The sky above Noctyra was a deep violet, streaked with red clouds like wounds.
Drakk rode at Kael's right. Kira brought up the rear, silent. For the first few hours, no one spoke. Then Kael broke the silence.
"Tell me about the kings."
Drakk turned his head slightly.
"The Demon Kings?"
"Those who rule today. Those who changed. Those I need to know before I set foot in my palace again."
"There are ten now."
"Ten."
"Yes. The landscape shifted. Some died. Others took advantage of the voids. And a few emerged through force or cunning."
"Tell me everything."
Drakk took a breath.
"The oldest is King Osskar. He rules over the Bone Lands, to the west. A necromancer. He survived all the wars by staying in the shadows. They say he never sleeps, that he listens to the dead speak."
"Did he support my kingdom?"
"He never took sides. He observes."
"Next?"
"Queen Sylva. She governs the Black Forest, to the north. An ancient sylvan demon, bound to trees and roots. She hates humans. She kills them without warning."
"Has she changed?"
"No. She is still just as wild. But she hasn't attacked the Neverdie Realm. She only cares about her territory."
"Who else?"
"King Varka. The Blood Plains, to the east. A warlord. He founded his kingdom by subjugating barbarian clans. He lives only for combat."
"Is he strong?"
"Yes. Brutal. But loyal to those who defeat him."
"Did he fight me?"
"He wasn't king at the time. He emerged after your fall."
"Continue."
Drakk nodded.
"King Maëldor. The Court of Ashes, to the south. Young, ambitious, charismatic. He ascended the throne six years ago after overthrowing his predecessor. He wields ash and glass magic. He is dangerous."
"He covets my lands."
"Yes. He does so openly."
"The others?"
"King Tarval. The Iron Marches, to the northeast. An industrialist. He transforms rock, metal, fire. His kingdom is a giant forge. He trades with the other kings, but he is not a warrior."
"Is he reliable?"
"As long as he's paid."
"And the last five?"
"Queen Selyna. The Mirror Waters, to the southwest. A manipulator. She uses reflections, mirrors, lies. She changes appearance as easily as she changes her mind."
"Did she profit from my absence?"
"She mostly sowed discord elsewhere. Not with us."
"King Brakka. The Chasms, underground. A blind, immense demon who rules the depths. He doesn't like the surface. But he sometimes sends his creatures."
"I remember him."
"Queen Lyssa. The Ash Fields, to the east. A mage. She settled on the ruins of an ancient demon kingdom. She is calm, but very powerful."
"She founded her territory?"
"Yes. And she was recognized as Queen after killing three pretenders in one night."
"The last two?"
"King Morvan. The High Peaks, in the mountains. He is solitary. He almost never descends. His lands are frozen, but he has ice creatures."
"And the tenth?"
Drakk hesitated.
"King Xelphar. The City of Broken Mirrors, in the center-east. He appeared recently. No one knows where he comes from. He took an abandoned territory and rebuilt it in two years."
"No one stopped him?"
"Yes. Several kings tried. None returned."
Kael was silent for a moment. The horses' hooves echoed on the dark earth.
"Ten kings," he finally said. "And me."
"Eleven, if you reclaim your throne."
"I never stopped being king."
"Legally, no. But in practice, the Neverdie Realm is considered a weakened territory."
"By whom?"
"By everyone. Especially Maëldor and Selyna. They think your absence created a void they can fill."
"They're wrong."
"I know."
"And how is the kingdom seen, exactly?"
Drakk glanced at Kael.
"The Neverdie Realm is still respected. Feared, even. But it is no longer at the center of the balance. Before, you weighed in on every decision, every war, every alliance. Now, you are ignored."
"And my people?"
"They wait. They held on. But they doubt."
"About what?"
"About your return. About the possibility of renewal. Some have stopped believing."
"And others?"
"Others never stopped believing. The elders, especially. Those who served you. Those who saw you reign."
Kael tightened his reins.
"Describe the Neverdie Realm to me. Not the borders. Not the fortifications. The land. The light."
Drakk seemed surprised by the question.
"The Realm is magnificent. You know that."
"I want to hear it from your mouth."
"It is a territory covered in dense forests, golden plains, slow rivers. The soil is rich, dark, nourished by centuries of magic. Flowers grow there even in winter. And the sky..."
"The sky."
"The sky is unique. It alternates between long purple twilights, even in full day, and nights filled with stars so close you feel you could touch them."
"That's right."
"The Realm is not just a land. It is a painting. A work of art."
"I have always loved beauty."
"Yes. Even if you never admit it."
Kael turned his head toward Drakk.
"You remember that?"
"Yes. You chose this place precisely for its light. You said a king should rule over a kingdom worthy of his dreams."
"I was young."
"You were sincere."
Kael didn't answer. He looked ahead, toward the horizon where the land began to change. Volcanic rock gave way to tall grasses, trees with silver leaves, gentle hills.
"We're close," Kira said from behind.
"Yes," Drakk confirmed.
Kael felt something tighten in his chest. Not fear. Not anxiety.
An older emotion.
Deeper.
Return.