2025-12-16 05:03:42
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The road to Trim
Snake returned to his chambers quietly.Dragon was already fast asleep, sprawled across the bed as if the world itself could not move him. Snake smiled faintly, then his gaze caught on something hanging opposite the doorway.A painting.Lady Maya. Assassin. Lady Prim.It was done in soft tones, too gentle for Intraw’s sharp stone. Maya stood between them, her smile serene, luminous, as though her entire world revolved around the man beside her. Assassin’s hand rested near hers, not touching, yet close enough to speak of restraint and longing. Prim stood just behind, proud, complicated, enduring.Snake exhaled slowly.“What a sweet fantasy,” he murmured.Maya’s painted smile glowed faintly in the torchlight, and for the first time, Snake understood how love could exist quietly inside rules meant to destroy it.The next morning came quickly.They met Curse at the lower gates, final preparations made to return with him to Trim, the city under Tan’s rule.It was almost laughable.A Liroid
Lady Maya
Snake wandered the lower terraces of Intraw Palace while Dragon buried himself in ledgers, maps, and whispered truths with Voices. The city hummed softly, stone breathing, water murmuring secrets into roots.That was when he found Maya.She was kneeling in a small inner garden, trimming silver-veined vines that grew along a shallow fountain. Her movements were slow, careful, reverent, as though the plants themselves were old warriors deserving respect.Without looking up, she spoke.“Exploring, Prince Snake?”He paused, then smiled.“Yes. This place is… a bit too much. No matter how often I visit, I still don’t understand it.”She chuckled softly.“Neither do most who live here.”She rose with a faint wince, and Snake instinctively stepped forward, offering his arm. She accepted it lightly and settled onto the stone edge of the fountain.“We’re here visiting Lady Prim’s grandchildren,” she said. “Their mother, Caution, is helping my lord husband recruit new assassins. Her husband is b
The city of Intelligence
As dawn bled faint silver into the horizon, the great company divided.Those bound for Freya, the hunting dogs’ town, marched east with banners and eager blood. Laughter and challenge followed them like smoke.Snake and Dragon, however, turned away from the open sky.Their path led downward.Intraw: City of WhispersThe entrance to Intraw yawned beneath the Lat Kingdom like the mouth of an ancient beast. Vast stone ramps spiraled into darkness, walls etched with moving sigils that drank sound itself. Every step swallowed noise. Every breath felt measured.This was the seat of the Intelligence Guild,a city built for secrets, ruled by Lady Caution.Snake felt it immediately.Eyes everywhere.Dragon muttered, “I hate places that listen back.”Snake smiled faintly. “Then don’t think too loudly.”From the shadows ahead came light, soft, blue-veined glowstone, and with it a young woman stepped forward, head bowed.“Lord Snake. Lord Dragon.”She straightened with practiced grace.Voices Lir
A night under the stars
Night settled thick and warm over the Isle of Darkness, the feast’s noise finally ebbing into embers and distant laughter. Above the lower courts, on a wide balcony veined with violet light, Snake and Dragon sat with Rebellion, Red, and Center, cups in hand, watching the realm breathe below them.Nearby, Assassin was thoroughly drunk, collapsed against Armageddon, who slept like a felled mountain. Below the terrace, Malice moved through his forms, blade whispering through the air as he practiced alone, every motion sharp with restrained fury.Snake exhaled slowly.“I wonder when we will ever have peace.”Center didn’t hesitate.“Maybe when Tan is dead.”Dragon’s smile was thin and dangerous.“I can’t wait for that day.”Rebellion swirled his wine.“It will be hard. Years, maybe centuries.Tan will only fall if the gods stand with us.”Center leaned back.“For that to happen, Evilside would need to marry her blood into every major line.Control the norm lands. Bind the gods through the
Goodbyes
The trials ended not with celebration, but with reckoning.Those who were not chosen were quietly pulled aside, their names etched into the secondary rolls. They would train harder, bleed longer, and return in five years to face judgment again. Some wept. Some burned with resolve.Concubines scolded and soothed in equal measure.Fathers watched in silence, disappointed, proud, or both.AFTERMATH OF SELECTIONGeneral Risk Liroid approached Flavor with a bow deeper than protocol demanded.“Thank you, my lord.For allowing Devour a chance.”Flavor’s gaze followed the boy across the grounds, already surrounded by guild markings.“The child is too good to be wasted.Darkside had to wrestle the Assassin Guild for him.”Darkside inclined her head faintly.“He will be honed properly.”Risk turned to her and bowed again.“You have my gratitude.”Snake watched it all with mild amusement.“Interesting trials,” he said.“Now the Dogs get a turn.”Center cracked his knuckles.“My guild is ready.T
The Final
The dawn broke wrong.The sky over the arena was pale, washed thin as if the sun itself hesitated to rise. No banners flew. No music played. The air felt listening.This was not a trial of skill.This was judgment.The arena fell silent in a way that felt wrong, as if the Isle itself had drawn breath and refused to release it.No wind.No murmurs.Even the concubines stilled.High above, the elders and guild heads watched as the Final Trial circle awakened. The stone floor darkened, veins of root-light threading through it like living thoughts.TRIAL SIX: ALTER.The divine families gathered in their tiers, tension threaded through every glance.Forbidden glanced sideways at his father and grimaced.“You look awful.”Flavor didn’t deny it.“That’s why you don’t show which child you favor more.”Red snorted.“But you favor me more.”Flavor gave him a dry look.“You’re Tamy’s son. Of course I will.”Punishment laughed openly.“You contradict yourself, old man.”Tamy smiled, unbothered.“
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