Giving them all their powers would not be hard. Besides, it would make him feel lighter. Since the day he had begun carrying the extra weight of their magic, he felt tired easily.He heard a voice: “If you give them the power, make sure you teach them first not to look down on others who are not Eagles and treat them badly. The last Eagle Clan had these issues. It made some clans discontented with them.” It was the Old Eagle.Darian ran a hand through his hair. He thought he would drop the weight of this power soon, but he would have to wait. He whispered, “I am trying to rehabilitate the slaves and get their thinking structure right. I know that being in bondage for years has a way of inhibiting brightness and creativity. But I never thought Eagles would have issues, too.”The Old Eagle replied, “Should we go back down memory lane and discuss how many years it took for you to get to this point?”“Nope,” Darian shot back. “I want peace and happiness this morning.”The Old Eagle respon

The Princess and the Queen turned to each other; then, they burst out in laughter. Noel waited for them to finish.“You should have informed us that you are a jester,” the Queen mocked.The Princess added, “There are no Eagles in this world. They used to live a thousand years ago, but they were eradicated by the Ice Clan.”The Queen calmed herself and frowned. “We have no time for false talk. Stand up and be on your way.”Noel threw out a challenge: “Not just any Eagle. The Golden Eagle has returned.”“Do you not hear my mother? Or do you want your head to roll on a platter?” The Princess rose to her feet, placing her hands on her hips.Noel reached into his pocket quickly and pulled out the scroll. The guards, sensing the displeasure of the Queen and Princess, moved to drag Noel away since he refused to move on his own two feet.Noel raised the scroll and raised his voice. “If you were to see the seal of the Eagle Lord, would you believe me?”The Queen raised her right hand; her guar

Noel gave a dry chuckle. “I wonder if this is how lawless servants behave in this kingdom. I will do well to tell the Queen what I saw and tell the master who sent me. After all, I represent someone.”Color immediately drained from the chef’s face. He had not known that Noel had a master and had not come on his own. The Kingdom of Masac liked to masquerade as kind until they got the real fish on their bait. “Well, I did not know,” the chef said.Noel placed one leg vertically on top of the other. “Do you like the way I hit you? Now, if you do not leave, I will do even worse. I will punch you until your bloated belly leaks blood.”The chef shivered at the mention of that sentence.“Now, scram!” Noel yelled.The chef shivered visibly and turned to run out of the door. He did not just walk; he half-ran. The others behind him did the same.Destiny’s eyes flickered with light. He had not seen such a bold move in years. When the servants and the chef left the room and shut the door, Destiny

Darian received news from one of Noel’s old friends in the West Borderlands who was loyal to their cause. The contact told Darian that after Her Holiness failed to find Darian and Noel, she had considered Master Blade, Jean, and Adam Pearl useless. Subsequently, she had thrown them into prison and appointed Deji Fountain—the man who had reported Darian’s existence to her—as the new ruler of the West Borderlands.By evening, when Charles and Darian were alone in their room (they had secured a room in a local inn), they discussed the situation.Charles asked, “Any ideas?”Darian replied, “Deji Fountain cannot see me. He knows my face only too well.”“You have to end him then,” Charles said.Darian considered it. “That is the only option. I also have to burst Master Blade and the Pearl family out of jail.”Charles smiled. “We can do that. But the hard part will be to depose the present ruler and kill him. He must be surrounded by hundreds of guards. Besides, when they discover there is a

The gates opened, and Darian and his men stepped out with the Pearl family tied by their hands. Darian was among them. He had used a handkerchief to cover from his nose down. He knew that he had dyed his hair, but he did not want to take any chances—at least not yet. He did not want Deji Fountain to recognize him, not even slightly.Darian and his men dragged the bound Pearl family and Master Blade out. Darian stood directly behind Master Blade. Deji Fountain walked closer as he inspected the Pearl family and the men who had come out with them. He almost laughed. “Is it not a pity, Blade, that it is only foolish and lily-livered people who come to try to get you out? I just gave them a threat and a way out, and they have come out tying you up like an animal about to be killed. This is not the first time it has happened. But unlike other times, I will not just punish you or make your life a living hell. I will kill you all today.” He stopped in front of Master Blade.“Tell me, Blade, h