The Arch Falls

"The Kennari, my King."

Caden and her Kennari were thrown down to the carpet upon which Dared stood. They rose to their feet and stood, facing the King. Flames of rage and disgust flared in Dared's eyes. He growled at the Kennari.

"You and your...student," he turned his eyes slightly, indicating the girl, "will show proper obeisance when brought before me." Caden realized that her hood had stayed up through all her rough treatment, and her father did not know her. Perhaps that was best for now...

"Do not pretend to be surprised that I am here. You have long known of the danger that is now upon your doorstep. I do not ask you to accept me. I only beg that you let me save your people."

"CORRUPT MY PEOPLE!" Dared roared, and lurched forward, grabbing Caden's arm painfully, pulling her toward him. "As you have corrupted this..."

The words died in his throat as he ripped the fur lined hood back and recognized the face concealed within the fur. For a long moment, her father stared into her eyes, the flame within his eyes growing more and more crazed, his grip growing tighter and more painful. Then the King shoved his heir into the arms of her Kennari and stared at them, silent.

Caden had learned her father's subtleties from infancy. She knew the intricate web the man could weave, and more than that, she knew her father.

Dared was going to kill her Kennari.

"Father..." she began, but he cut her off with a violent chop of his hand through the air.

"Dared," the Kennari tried again. "They will all die."

"And better so, than survive through your means, Suljemen" The king spat.

The sound of the name flowed into Caden. It slid along her veins, tingling as it went, until it crept into her heart and warmth spread through her, making her tremble.

The men stared at one another without a word, silence battling silence.

Caden trembled again, this one seeming to radiate from her and shake the whole room.

Both men looked up in surprise, and Caden realized that it was the city that was quaking.
And then she realized: the city had been still.

When Caden had last felt one of the small tremors common in Ebon, she couldn't recall any more than she could the last time she'd felt her heart beat.

And the city shook again.

The tremors were strong and following one another quickly.

A high-pitched scream ripped Caden's attention to the high-arched window. As the pitch rose, her eyes darted, searching for the source of the terrible noise. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the wail ended, and Caden knew.

"The Arch" she breathed.

She reached for her Kennari's arm, willing his heat to reach through her, warm the icy tendril of fear as it snaked around her heart.

The Buried City sighed heavily, sending a great whoosh of icy air over Ebon, and The East Arch disappeared beneath the ice.