A week passed. The kingdom worked.
Villages stirred. Soldiers trained. Fields came back to life, nourished by Kael's magic. The palace itself seemed brighter, as if the stones remembered their splendor.
Then, one morning, a sentinel knocked at the royal quarters.
"My king. A visitor."
Kael, already dressed, turned.
"Who?"
"Queen Selyna. She's at the north gate. She says she comes without escort."
Kael exchanged a glance with Kira, who had just entered.
"She came herself," said Kira.
"Yes."
"Did you expect it?"
"Not so soon."
"Will you receive her?"
"Yes. But not in the throne room."
"Where, then?"
"In the gardens. Under the sky. I don't want her to feel at home."
Kira nodded.
"I'll fetch her."
"No. Send a servant. You stay with me."
"Alright."
They descended to the hanging gardens. The sky was a soft purple, crossed with bands of gold. Dark flowers exhaled a sweet perfume. The water in the basins gleamed.
Selyna arrived a few minutes later.
She was exactly as the reports described. Tall, slender, dressed in a liquid robe that seemed to flow along her body. Her silver-blonde hair moved with the wind. Her pale eyes fixed on Kael without blinking.
"Demon King of the Neverdie Realm," she said in a silken voice. "You are as impressive as ever."
"Queen Selyna," Kael replied. "You came alone."
"I need no escort."
"That's brave."
"That's prudent. An army would have been provocation."
"And a visit without escort is a mark of trust."
"Call it a mark of curiosity."
Kael smiled slightly.
"Let's sit."
They took seats on a stone bench, facing a basin. Kira remained standing, a few paces away.
"You have a beautiful kingdom," said Selyna.
"Yes."
"It has suffered, though."
"It's recovering."
"Thanks to you."
"Thanks to those who stayed."
Selyna turned her head.
"You're modest."
"No. Realistic."
"Kings aren't realistic. They're proud."
"Then I'm a bad king."
"No. You're a tired king."
Kael looked at her.
"What do you want, Selyna?"
"You know what I want."
"An alliance."
"An understanding."
"That's different."
"Yes. An alliance is signed. An understanding is built."
"Then let's build."
Selyna smiled.
"I like your directness."
"Time is precious."
"Yours, perhaps. Mine is infinite."
"Then don't waste it on implications."
Selyna crossed her legs.
"Very well. Here's what I propose: I help you retake the Krell basins. In exchange, the Neverdie Realm signs a non-aggression pact with the Mirror Waters."
"That's all?"
"And a trade route between our territories."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because the Vorlath are a nuisance. And because Maëldor is becoming too powerful."
"You want to weaken him."
"I want to balance him."
"By using me."
"By supporting you."
Kael stood. He paced a few steps, hands clasped behind his back.
"If I retake the basins, Maëldor will react."
"Yes."
"He'll send his armies."
"Probably."
"And where will you be?"
"On your rear, in support."
"That's vague."
"That's war. Everything is vague."
Kael turned to her.
"I don't like vague."
"Then let's be precise. If Maëldor attacks, I raise my forces. I strike his southern routes. I cut his supplies."
"And if you don't?"
"Then you'll know I'm no better than the others."
"And you, what do you gain if I win?"
"A stable neighbor. A powerful ally. And the satisfaction of having bet on the right king."
Kael sat back down.
"You're betting a lot."
"I never bet blind."
"And what do you see in me?"
"A king who survived ten years of dreams and emerged more dangerous than before."
"More dangerous?"
"Yes. Because you now know what it's like to lose."
The silence stretched.
"I'll think about it," said Kael.
"That's all I ask."
"But I won't sign anything today."
"I didn't come to sign."
"Then why did you come?"
Selyna stood in turn.
"To look you in the eyes. To know if you had truly returned."
"And?"
"And yes. You're here. And you won't bend."
"You know your kings."
"I know power."
She stepped toward the basin.
"Do you know what your people say?"
"No."
"They say the Demon King has found his aura again. That he rebuilt the border in a week. That he spoke to the villages like a father."
"That's not false."
"Then I want to be on the right side of history."
"The right side doesn't exist."
"No. But there are safer sides."
Kael stood.
"I'll let you know my answer."
"When?"
"Soon."
"I'll wait."
She extended her hand. Kael took it.
"It was a pleasure," she said.
"A curiosity, you mean."
"Also."
She smiled, then withdrew, walking through the gardens with liquid steps.
Kira approached.
"Well?"
"She's clever."
"She's a queen."
"She's more than that."
"Will you accept her offer?"
"Perhaps."
"Do you trust her?"
"No."
"Then why hesitate?"
"Because I don't need to trust her. I need her troops."
Kira nodded.
"And if she betrays you?"
"Then I'll break her."
"You say that about everyone."
"Because it's true."
They remained in the gardens, watching the sky change.
"She has beautiful eyes," said Kira.
"Yes. And cold."
"Like yours."
Kael smiled.
"Perhaps."
"That's why you understand each other."
"No. That's why we watch each other."
They returned to the palace, leaving the basin reflecting the purple sky.