Once they discussed all possible approaches for their task, they got ready to return to the palace's centre. Gawyn went through their inventory to ensure they only carried the most necessary things while Skylar kept guard in the hallway.

"It's pretty empty here, no?" asked Alarat materialising next to her.

Skylar suppressed a shudder. "Could you stop doing that? Appearing out of thin air? It's annoying."

"Sorry." Alarat raised his hands placatingly. "I keep forgetting how it was to be a human. You know, being dead for years does that to you."

"Fine. I'm just on edge since we came to this blasted place." She sighed and turned to look at him. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Ask away."

"There is one thing that keeps bothering me, and since you were murdered, I thought I would never know."

"Sounds intriguing. Go on." Alarat rubbed his beard, looking at her with a glint in his eyes.

"Eight years ago, when we were hosting the banquet at Evergreen, you asked me for a private meeting regarding the Blighted Lands. We never got to it with all that happened afterwards, but I kept wondering. With all I heard about your... reputation, I was pretty angry at you. But then Elinora turned out to be a traitor, so I didn't know what to think anymore...."

"And your question is?" Alarat prompted, but his smirk made clear he knew exactly what he meant.

"Did you honestly want to seek my counsel, or was it just a ruse to try to seduce me?" Skylar asked bluntly.

Alarat laughed and rubbed his neck. "Yeah, I deserved that one. I did have a reputation as a womaniser. Yes, that much is true. But I swear that I never had any ill intentions towards you. I would never hurt Gawyn this way. He's my brother, and I love him."

Skylar sighed, relieved. "That's good to hear. I honestly didn't know what to think. I didn't want to believe all those nasty things Elinora accused you of."

The ghost shrugged. "All were probably mostly true. Our marriage was a political affair, and unlike you and Gawyn, we weren't a good match. But we were both excellent in pretending and keeping the pretences, so it wasn't obvious." He rubbed his jaw, looking at something in the distance. "Since I died, I was considering that maybe if I tried a little bit harder, Elinora wouldn't have to turn to the Blighted Lands and end up killing me." He sighed and shrugged. "But I guess we will never know."

"I guess we don't." Skylar nodded.

They stayed silent until Gawyn came out of the room. "Are we ready to move out?"

"Yes, let's get it over with," Skylar said, putting a hand on the hilt of her dagger.

Alarat led them, choosing the way in a complicated maze of hallways and staircases without a second thought. They kept ascending, and soon, they saw a vast platform seemingly suspended in the air, overshadowing everything around them.

"What is that thing?" asked Skylar. "And how is it just hanging there and not falling? Is it magic?"

"No, it's engineering," Gawyn replied and pointed to the corners of the platforms. "There are pillars there connected to those beams that are the backbone of the whole thing. They are built from sturdy and durable material, so they could stand loads of weight and not collapse over time."

Skylar frowned. "And since when are you an engineer?"

He shrugged. "I just read about it somewhere."

When they were still three levels below the platform, the red light appeared once again, and before they could even draw their weapons, it exploded, blowing past them like a warm breeze. Their surroundings changed once again. The grey and cracked walls turned white, and a red carpet covered the stairs under their feet.

The haunted silence was broken by a lively waltz played by the group of musicians up above their heads. The music sounded good, but there was something eerie about it – some of the notes seemed discordant and made Skylar's skin crawls.

"Well, that's a nice greeting we are receiving," Gawyn said.

Skylar drew the dagger from her boot. "Let's make sure we thank them accordingly. Be careful now. I'm sure they are just lurking somewhere up there waiting for us to walk into the trap."

"How about we go around?" Gawyn asked looking at Alarat.

"We can, but we would have to go back down again and pick a different route."

"Still better than walking into a trap." Skylar shrugged. She turned on her heel to descend the stairs again, but she stopped when her foot hit an invisible wall. "What the─" She raised her hand and pressed it to the empty air in front of her. It felt like a solid stone wall.

"It seems we don't have much choice in that matter." Gawyn sighed.

"I don't like it," Skylar said, going back up to join him and looking warily at the platform above them. The discordant music was getting onto her nerves. "I feel like a mouse trapped and walking straight into a cat's paws."

"Can't argue with that, but since our host so kindly cut off our other options, let's show him that this mouse can bite back. Alarat, can you go up there unseen and check out the premises for us?"

"Will do." The man nodded, and suddenly he paled until he was barely a blur in the surroundings.

"Woah, he can do that?" Skylar asked in awe.

Gawyn shrugged. "He's a ghost, after all. And tend to disappear when the situation gets tough. I thought it would be wise to learn what exactly he can do so we can use it."

After a moment, Alarat appeared again, giving Skylar a start.

"The place is full of projected people."

"You mean illusions?" Gawyn asked.

"Yes. I also spotted three sorcerers."

"Three is not that bad." Skylar fixed her grip on a dagger.

"Yes, but still. Be on your guard," Gawyn said and started walking up the stairs, his sword in his hand already.

They crossed the last three staircases and stopped at the entry point to the platform, gaping at the spectacle in front of them. The whole place was crowded with people dressed in fancy clothes and waltzing in circles in synch with the music. But something about their rapid movements makes the hair on their bodies stand on ends.

The people, or rather their memory, did not look happy. Their faces were twisted in confusion and fear. It seemed as if the discordant music was doing something to them, sending a strange compulsion to their minds making them unable to break the dance.

The instruments were placed in the far corner of the small dais, but no musicians played them. Yet, the music was still playing, possibly produced by the devices themselves.

"This is madness," Skylar said, looking around with disbelief.

"Let's move. I don't like it any more than you," Gawyn said, pointing at the staircase leading up on the other side of the platform.

When they crossed the dancefloor, the couples were naturally floating around them, as if they were yet another obstacle on their course. But before they reached half of the platform, the slow clapping sound silenced the music, and all the dancers vanished without a trace.

The four robed figures stood at the bottom of the stairs. Three of them wore simple black clothes most of the sorcerers had, but the man in front of them looked completely different. He was young and incredibly handsome, with a mane of blonde hair, a strong jaw and piercing blue eyes like clear winter skies. His face was lined with blacked inked tattoos, but the patterns were so intricate they looked beautiful, unlike those of the other sorcerers. His head was adorned with a heavy-looking gold crown. His robes were lavish, made from the most expensive cloth and white as snow.

"Welcome, travellers!" he boomed, his voice echoed from the pristine white walls as the most beautiful music. "Welcome to my humble palace! I was awaiting you most impatiently!"

"We'll be here faster if you wouldn't throw your henchmen at us," Skylar growled.

One of the robed sorcerers took a step forward. "Silence, you filth! Don't you dare to speak to the Emperor without his explicit permission!" He raised his hand, and Skylar gasped when the electric shock erupted in her body.

Another man stepped forward and said, "Kneel before the Emperor, you lowland scums!" He raised his hands, and more crackling energy shot from under Sky and Gawyn's feet, throwing them to their knees with painful gasps.

"Now, now," the Emperor said, raising his hand. "I'm sure there is no need for such drastic measures. We can talk like a civilised people, can't we?"

"Civilised? Funny, I didn't know you were familiar with that term." Skylar scoffed.

"And here I thought Queen Aliyah would send skilled diplomats. What a shame. I was looking forward to some entertaining negotiations. It can be so dreadfully boring here, sometimes."

"Well, maybe you shouldn't purge your people then if you miss the company so much."

"Sky," Gawyn whispered.

"Why are you here then?" the Emperor asked cocking his head. "If not for negotiation? I've heard Lamyria is not doing very well with that new, dreadful plague. I'm sure I could help you with that... for a price."

"A price? You'd take all our lands, and you call that a price?" Skylar growled.

"Is a piece of land more precious for you than people living there, Skylar Gryphonheart?" Skylar looked up at him in surprise. "Oh yes, I know who you are—the beacon of the Spirit that ruined my plans eight years ago. I am so glad it's you. You see, I have so many plans for you."

Skylar felt her skin crawl at the strange hunger haunting the Emperor's voice. She gritted her teeth and stood up. "Too bad. I'm not going to stay here long." She threw her dagger forward with one swift movement, sending it straight at the Emperor.

The blade flew true and hit the man straight in the chest.

And then went through it and landed in a loud clank on the stairs behind him.

The three other sorcerers raised their hands, and Skylar was thrown back so hard she flew a few feet and landed hard on her back.

"Sky!" Gawyn was already in motion, charging at the sorcerers. But before he reached them, he was thrown back as well, landing next to her with a groan.

"Oh, you poor fools." The Emperor sighed. "You thought I would just come down here to face you personally? I'm afraid you have a too high opinion of yourself. You are not worth such trouble. I'm already bored with your presence." He waved his hand, and more sorcerers appeared on the platform, surrounding them. "Take them away. Prepare them for the siphon procedure. I would gladly taste that light of theirs," he added with an awful smile.

Skylar tried to get up but found herself weak and sluggish, her vision already blurring at the edges. The last thing she felt was rough hands grabbing her and pulling away.