Game of Dice and Dominos (Domino Series #1)

"A war? What do you mean a wa--" But Timo did not get his answer.

As soon as the sound of rapidly growing vines and branches interrupted them, Zara was already too many steps ahead of him.

He turned to his front to see that a stone archway had opened up at the base where the statue sat. Marcus appeared from the archway as Zara disappeared through it.

"Whoa there," he said as his gaze followed Zara back into where he came from. "Looks like I interrupted a deep conversation there, huh?" He turned back to Timo.

"Why are Everlune and the Nachtkinderen at war?" Timo asked, getting right to the point.

"Um, they're not the ones at war, per se."

"What do you mean?" Timo's voice echoed in the cave at the other side of the stone archway.

Lanterns hung from posts emitted a pale golden light that seemed like pieces of the sun were captured in a glass cage.

"Well, if you are the heir to one of the clans, I guess you might as well hear the story."

"Story? What story?"

Timo jerked his head to the sound of grating stone. The entrance slowly disappeared behind them.

"You've lived amongst humdrums your entire life, huh? You know how they always start a war for power, influence, to mark their territory and all the damn stupid things they do? Yadda yadda yadda..."

Humdrums? Humans? But they are humans too -- we are humans too.

"A peaceful place once, Domino. Each clan knew how to deal with their own people and shit. Everything was fair too, no corrupt politics you see in humdrum history books, no. But that all changed when Everlune wanted things to go differently."

"Different, how?"

"A bad sort of different. 'Strengthen our alliance', they said. 'It will make Domino more unified' they said." He let out a mirthless laugh. "Unified my fucking ass. We're not unified, we're on the brink of insanity!"

"What exactly did Everlune do?" he asked cautiously.

"They wanted all the lands of Domino to themselves. All that alliance bullshit was just a ploy to get all of the thirteen clans under their rule."

"So does that mean we are all under Evelune's jurisdiction?"

"No. The hell of course not. Clans like ours chose to fight," -- Marcus jabbed his thumb toward himself and wrapped an arm over his shoulder -- "called ourselves the Ivory Confederation, even.

"As a matter of fact, Truscott was one of the first clans to stand up to the Everlune bullies. The other clans even appointed your clan as the diplomatic representative, you know, for when our side needs to talk with the Farefall Union, err, the other side. But your father's literally been out of it ever since they...well...lost you. So, the clan Vandarrick stepped in.

"Why, the Nachtkinderen are Vandarrick people, you see. I don't know how, but I guess they got themselves tangled in Everlune business and got on their bad side, couple hundred years ago. Now look where they ended up."

One heir down, one to go.

"I heard Zara and Dark talk about two missing heirs."

"Nah, just one left. I mean, we already found you, didn't we?" He smirked, flicking Timo a sideways glance.

"When Zara and Dark abducted me and brought me to that warehouse, I woke up to them talking about the heirs of Truscott and Everlune specifically. What does that have to do with anything? Hypothetically speaking, even if you did manage to find us, when things are as bad enough as it is, how would two found heirs, who know absolutely nothing about this world, make the situation any better?"

"The thing is, the both of you are the only people who can end this mayhem."

"But how--"

"Guys, we're here!" Zara called back to them, ecstatic.

Marcus quickened his pace to join her at what seems to be another stone archway. Pale, yellow lights greeted them as they went through. Timo squinted to adjust his eyes to the dim light and saw people who he was certain were human, but didn't seem to look the part.

Long sleeved shirts and turtlenecks garbed these non-humans. Some wore knitted shirts paired with industrial boots and baggy pants. Others preferred soft boots with fur sewn on the fringes.

Each wore different clothes, but there was one thing similar about all of them: their clothes almost covered their whole bodies, leaving only their faces and hands to be seen. Their skin was pale, as if the blood running in their veins was but a white liquid.

As they walked along the cobbled path, his surroundings became more vivid as his eyes grew accustomed to the pale glow of the street lanterns.

Banners hung at each store they passed, each with a different colors and emblems. One was a forest green banner with a flower-like emblem. Another was a black banner with a pair of axes crossed over each other.

Some stores had draped windows, although it seemed that the ones without banners weren't stores at all. The buildings must have been constructed so that they would have no space in between.

Passersby did not greet them, nor did they bore their stares into them. Which was weird, considering that they were strangers in this place. Perhaps they just didn't care. It sort of made Timo feel bad for gawking at each sight he came across and decided to look straight ahead to wherever they were headed.

Wood creaked and boots thumped as non-humans footsteps pounded on the small flights of stairs that led to the thresholds of the buildings they passed.

Timo, too busy looking around to watch where he was going, bumped into Zara as they stopped in front of one of the bannerless buildings. She only hissed, said nothing of it, and went inside.

As something landed on his back, Timo flinched and jerked his head at the culprit to find that it was Marcus.

"Don't worry, pal. You'll get the hang of it." He wrapped his arm over Timo's shoulder and pulled him to follow inside the building.

The building they entered had drapes covering the front window. A lounging area with a few couches greeted them on the right, and a line of doors on the left. The door closest to the entrance creaked open to reveal another pale non-human who wore a leather, monk's robe.

"Greetings, children of the Ancient Alterans" -- he bowed his head then turned to Zara and Marcus -- "progenies of Aldrige" -- he turned to Timo -- "the heir of Truscott. I am the Elder One of the Nachtkind. We are pleased to have you join us after a quite traumatic event."

"Happy to help!" Marcus beamed. However that still didn't change the chill in the air that the Elder One brought.

"Have a seat inside, your highness." The Elder One went back into the room, behind an antique desk, and gestured to a chair in front of it. Timo, unsure, looked back to Zara and Marcus, who only shrugged in response.

The floor creaked as he took slow steps inside the room. Dragging the chair from the desk, he inched down toward it until he was completely seated, as if he made a decision and could never turn back.

"A word in private, if you please?" Timo nodded slowly.

A shuffle. Timo turned back to Zara and Marcus and saw a few men had appeared near the doorframe, ushering them outside. They exchanged worried looks and then turned back to Timo. Zara's boots clicked on the wooden floor as she walked to where he sat. Wrapping her arms around him and patting his chest, an icy patch poked him.

Oh right, the dog tag.

"We'll be close by," Zara whispered into his ear as he held his breath. Her boots clicked again, growing fainter and fainter, and were soon joined by Marcus' heavy footsteps as they both disappeared into the doorway. The door creaked and clicked. Timo and the Elder One were now alone.

"Welcome back to Domino, your highness. I trust you found your way safely," the Elder One started as he poured some tea into a cup.

"More or less." The night when he woke up tied to a chair in that warehouse flashed through his mind. How long has it been since then? A few days? Weeks?

How long has it been since he found out that he was the heir to a kingdom he knew nothing about?

"You seem troubled, highness," he inquired after taking a sip from the cup.

"I was just...thinking." He shook his head. "Domino...what does that even mean? And 'Truscott'? What does it mean to be the heir of Truscott? Am I expected to rule a kingdom, now? A country?" The desperation choked his voice.

"Now, now, I do not hold the answers of which you seek. However, if you keep faith in your companions, I have no doubt you will find what you are looking for." The corners of the Elder One's lips curled upward. "The reason why you were cast away from Domino, you are aware of, yes?"

He shook his head and gulped, his throat was dry.

"Your father desired to protect you." He paused. "He feared your fate as the heir would doom your freedom."

~**~

[Word count: 1557]

Yep, I know, another short chappie but also needs a lot of explaining. Thanks for reaching this far into my book, I reall appreciate it! *Hands u a cookie*

Feel free to comment any thoughts and suggestions (me wuvs comments and replying to them tee-hee) <3

That's pretty much it! (my brain is outta juice since it's almost 12 AM here and I woke up at like 7 AM this morning for some reaason, but then again, when did my brain ever get juice? xD) See you next chapter (fingers crossed xD)

-axeli <3