Kiora

Kiora blinks in shock. For a few moments, her mind is blank.

"You see, she knows nothing," Athan hisses. Kiora rolls her eyes and turns to the emperor.

"I was taken aback, is all, Emperor. It isn't every day one lays eyes on a beaten prisoner from another realm." The smug look immediately falls from Athan's face and Kiora suppresses a smirk.

General Castor steps toward the prisoner and glares down at him.

"What is it you need from me?" Kiora asks him. She looks back at the prisoner and winces as a thread of bloody drool spills from his swollen lips.

"Who is he and where is he from?" General Castor asks.

"He's from the Fourth Realm," Kiora replies, stepping closer. As she does so, the guards holding the prisoner immediately move in front of him. Kiora raises an eyebrow and looks down at his wrists, which have been rubbed raw by the heavy metal cuffs that have been locked around them.

"How do you know?" the general asks.

"His uniform is one from the Fourth Realm. The flag on his sleeve is that of Etrayer, the most powerful country in the realm."

"Wonderful, she can tell us what realm he's from. But that still doesn't tell us why he's here," Athan says, rising from his throne behind them.

The prisoner looks up at Kiora with bloodshot eyes, his expression pleading. It has been a while since she's spoken Etrayan. The last time she travelled to the fourth realm was going on five decades ago. She thinks for a few moments whilst the emperor bickers with General Castor.

She takes a deep breath and moves a little closer to the prisoner. The emperor reaches out, grabbing her arm roughly and pulling her back. She shoots him a harsh look and raises an eyebrow.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"Do you want to find out why he's here?" she asks.

"He is dangerous," the emperor replies, his voice a low growl.

"And are you saying you don't trust your guards, or General Castor, or even yourself to protect me should this chained and beaten man somehow attack me?"

The two share a heated glare as Kiora's question hangs heavily in the room.

"This was a mistake," he says through tight lips. Kiora gently pulls her arm out of his grip and turns from him. Then, she crouches down to look at the prisoner closer. He stares at her, his eyes widening with awe as he sees her properly. Kiora smiles softly and then speaks, her Etrayan slightly broken after years of not speaking it, but understandable.

"What is your name?" she asks, her voice soft.

Behind her, some of the lords and noblemen gasp in shock.

The prisoner gulps and tears gather in his eyes.

"Madden," he replies.

"Why are you in the Fifth Realm, Madden?"

"I..." he stammers, starting to tremble. "It was meant to be safe." His voice shakes with fear and Kiora smiles gently. Something about it feels off. She doesn't let that reflect in her expression though. She wants him to see her as naïve, and gentle.

"What was?" she continues.

"I was just here to observe. I wasn't even meant to step foot in a city or even be seen. Just stick to the jungles, they said. No one would find me." As he speaks, his words get quicker, his voice more shrill with panic.

"Calm down, Madden," Kiora says, keeping her voice calm. He breathes heavily, the pants loud and desperate.

"What were you here to observe?"

"This world," he gulps.

"Why?"

"To see if it was..." he trails off and looks down at the ground.

"To see if it was what?" Kiora pushes. His lips tighten and he refuses to look up. Kiora narrows her eyes and stands up again. She bites at her lips, thinking about her time in Etrayer fifty years ago and how, with the rising temperatures of their world, it was slightly harder to summon the storms.

She looks back at him, her eyes widening.

"You were seeing if this realm would be a suitable match to help yours, weren't you?"

His eyes widen and his mouth drops open slightly. For a second, all traces of fear leave his face, replaced by shock. He recovers quickly and starts trembling once more.

"What are you talking about? Who even are you?" he asks, almost shouting now.

Kiora turns and looks back at the general and switches back to his language. "I have an idea as to why he is here. I am done with him now."

The emperor clicks his fingers at the guards and they start pulling the man away.

"No!" he screams at Kiora. "Help me, please. I'll tell you anything! Please!"

She ignores him as he is dragged back into the secretive corridor, the door shutting behind him and muting him for good.

"So?" General Castor asks as he and the emperor take a seat again.

"What do you all know of the Fourth Realm?" Kiora asks, keeping her tone delicate. She would hate for these men to interpret her question as mocking their knowledge and intelligence.

"Not much," the General admits honestly.

"My focus is on my own realm," Athan says. "The Second Realm is the only one I have contact with."

"Yes, I am well aware of the relationship you have with the King of Orthanya," Kiora replies, unable to keep the sharp tone from her voice. Athan ignores it.

"The Fourth Realm has never been an issue," the general says. "Not for five hundred years at least."

"The last time they dared step foot in these lands, it didn't end well for them," one of the other military officials says. His comment gets a chuckle out of the others. Kiora ignores it.

"The Fourth Realm has changed drastically in the past five centuries," she tells them, cutting off their laughter. Some of them look at her with disdain at her interruption, but she doesn't care.

"How?" General Castor asks.

Kiora sighs, wondering how she is going to explain tanks and aircrafts to these people who still use horses and carts. Plus, her knowledge is outdated. She suspects that in the last fifty years, the technological advances of the Fourth Realm will be vastly different.

"They are more... advanced," she begins.

"Are you saying that we are less than them?" Athan asks curtly.

"No, different," Kiora replies. "They have spent a lot of time and money on developing, and inventing, and creating."

"Creating what?"

"Well..." Kiora stammers, still trying to think of a way to explain it to them.

"Advanced weaponry, fast travel, buildings that are lit and heated without fire."

"What are you talking about?" Athan interrupts, slamming his fist on the table, making her jump.

"They have found a way to make machines that fly. They have weapons that can fire small metal bullets in rapid succession, faster than arrows. They have created weapons that can be launched from miles away and upon hitting their target, can destroy everything within a certain radius."

"Impossible," Athan hisses.

Kiora grits her teeth in frustration but continues. "I have seen it for myself," she says.

"Then why have we not?" one of the lords asks.

"Because their man-made tools, and weapons, can't pass through the portals without being damaged," she explains. "So they cannot bring any of their weapons of mass destruction to this realm and without them, they are useless."

That makes Athan chuckle. Kiora rubs her temples, still trying to think as a barrage of questions are shouted at her.

"Silence!" General Castor shouts, making everyone jump. Kiora sighs and turns to him.

"It is very difficult to explain this to you all. You don't even have words in this language for many of the terminology or names of what they use."

"It is okay, Lady Kiora. We don't need to know the intricate details. What we need to know is why are they here, and are they a threat?"

"Okay," Kiroa says and looks around once more, ignoring the bored and uninterested looks from those around the room.

"Their creations need resources," Kiora says. "And the making of their creations also produces waste."

"Speak clearer," Athan orders.

Kiora grits her teeth in frustration and contemplates turning and storming out. She takes a calming breath and then speaks slowly.

"They are damaging their Realm," she says simply. "And they are running out of the resources they need."

The General nods his head.

"So, they're scouting for a realm with similar resources to them."

"Yes," Kiora says. "But they will not invade this one."

"How can you be sure?" Athan asks.

"Because, as I said, they can't get their weaponry or equipment through the portals and even if they could, most of it would still be useless against the dragons." That makes Athan smile smugly. Kiora continues. "This realm is not suitable. The realm they have the best chances with is, unfortunately, the Second Realm. Though the Second Realm isn't as advanced, they are the closest. The Fourth Realm won't be able to take their machines through the portals, but they would be able to build their own with the equipment already in the Second Realm. Here, they wouldn't have access to any of the parts they would need to build their flying contraptions or their bombs."

"So, what you're saying is we don't have to worry?" General Castor asks.

"From an outright invasion? No. They would not send an army through the portals," Kiora states.

"But?" Athan asks.

"They could have other tactics. Something is off about that prisoner," she warns.

"He's just a silly mortal," Athan says.

"There is magic in every realm, Emperor," Kiora warns. "This realm has you and your dragons alongside the fire wardens of the North."

Athan's eyes widen, and a strange silence falls through the hall. General Castor bites back a smirk as the faces of the officials pale slightly.

"What?" Kiora asks.

"You know of the fire wardens?" he asks.

"Yes," Kiora replies, confused.

"Continue with the magic, please, Kiora," General Castor interrupts.

"The Second Realm has its Dream Walkers, Skin Changers, and Portal Weavers."

"What are they?" One of the lords interrupts.

"Dream Walkers can take over other people's bodies whilst they sleep," Athan replies. "I dealt with one a few years ago."

Kiora nods her head.

"Skin Changers can change their appearance and Portal Weavers can make a portal to anywhere in their realm, as long as they know what it looks like."

"Right, and what magic does the Fourth Realm have?" Athan asks impatiently.

"Not much," Kiora replies. "It has faded a lot since they've focused on their inventions. They only really have two magic users now. The Seers and..." Kiora pauses and gulps.

"And what?" General Castor asks, narrowing his eyes.

"Shadow Crawlers," Kiora replies.

"What's a Shadow Crawler?" Athan asks.

"They can turn their bodies into shadows," Kiora replies. "And they are nearly impossible to catch or kill. They are deadly."

"So what you're saying is, they may not invade with a full force, but if they want something in this realm, they could send in one of these Shadow Crawlers and just kill all of us?" one of the lords asks.

"In theory," Kiora replies.

Athan sighs and rubs his temples. "Alright, that's enough for today. I've got a headache and I need to think. You're all dismissed."

At once, everyone stands. Kiora turns to walk away but Athan calls for her to stop. She turns and faces him. The two stare at each other as everyone leaves. Kiora's stomach twists with nerves, wondering if Athan is about to explode at her with rage for daring to show up here and talk to his precious war council.

"Sit," he says curtly. Kiora grinds her teeth together but does as he says. Silence hangs in the air between them, making it thick with tension.

"What you did today was unacceptable," Athan finally says.

Kiora scoffs and leans back in her chair. "I was asked to help and I did," she replies.

"You know exactly what you're doing, Kiora," he snarls. Kiora clenches her fists in frustration.

"I was helping. I gave you answers. Why can't you just say thank you and let me be on my way?"

"You embarrassed me!"

"You embarrassed yourself!" she screams back, standing up. They glare at each other. Kiora refuses to break eye contact. "You are the one who made this a bigger issue than it had to be. If you had just been respectful instead of making my presence an insult, then it would have saved you your pathetic embarrassment."

He doesn't answer and his eyes burn with rage.

"You need to be careful, Kiora," he says.

"I helped you today. I gave you answers that you needed and that's all you have to say?" she asks and scoffs in disgust. "You have a funny way of saying thank you."

"I am not thankful," he replies.

"Oh, so you've got someone else who can speak Etrayan, have you?" she asks sarcastically. "You have someone else who can educate you about a potential invading realm?"

He doesn't answer. Kiora shakes her head in disgust. "For all the power you have, Athan, you are a very weak man if you feel threatened from receiving help and information from your wife."

"I suggest you stop talking before you say something you regret," he warns lowly.

Kiora laughs dryly. "I won't regret anything I say," she replies. "You told me that we should be honest with each other as husband and wife. Well, this is me doing just that. So, don't you dare throw a temper tantrum now because it isn't going your way."

"This is far from what I meant."

"Oh, I know what you meant. You meant, be honest with each other, but only when it benefits you."

He stands up and walks over to her, not stopping until they are touching. Heat fills the air, and his scent of smoke and spices becomes almost suffocating. She looks up at him, defiant and unafraid. His jaw clenches and he lets out a shallow breath, shaking his head.

"You are a terrifying woman," he finally says. Kiora bites back her smile. She raises an eyebrow as he reaches out, grazing his thumb along her cheekbone before tucking some of her silver-lilac hair behind her ear.

"What am I going to do with you?" he asks.

"Trust me? Value me beyond just my body, perhaps?" Kiora asks, speaking a little softer this time. Athan ignores her and continues to examine her face intently.

"Fine," he finally says. "I want to find out more from the prisoner. But not yet. I need time to adjust my attitude and the attitude of my war council. We shall convene again in a week and this time; the prisoner will be properly interrogated."

He smirks arrogantly. "Do you think you'd be able to cope seeing that?" he asks.

"Yes," Kiora replies.

He gives her a disbelieving snort and Kiora resists the urge to roll her eyes.

"Very well. Now, changing the subject, there is a festival taking place in the city in two days."

Kiora's eyes widen and flutters of excitement pulse through her.

"You mean I'll be leaving the palace?" she asks.

"Yes, Kiora," he says, "you and all my wives. And, after today, I expect you to be on your best behaviour." The warning is clear and his tone sends chills down Kiora's spine.

"I won't step out of line, I promise," she says, not wanting to risk anything that may stop her from getting out of this wretched place.

"Good. Now go. I do not want to see you for the rest of the day."

Kiora stops herself from telling him that the feeling is mutual. Instead, she nods her head, curtsies, and turns, walking away quickly before he changes his mind.

Excitement curses through her and she bites back her giddy smile. Finally, after months of being trapped in these walls, she gets to leave.