Chapter 2233

Grace was a half-breed Night fae assassin and the eldest daughter to Rhiannon de Moroingi, Queen of the Night Fae and the Unseelie Court. Normally Grace would be in line for the throne, but due to her mixed birth that honour went to her stepsister, Morgaine de Moroingi. Grace was bitter, but her stepfather, Pwyll de Dyfed, had held her in high regard and made sure she was heavily involved in the politics of the Night fae. Until she escaped their underground realm with help from her stepsister.

Brian and Jason were lovers and original members of Grace's former adventuring party. They had lost their other member, a spell caster named Eric Garcia, son of Duke Wilhelm Garcia of Lanceshire, over a year ago. It was Daniel who had discovered his corpse outside the town of Acron and had claimed looting rights and now possessed his ancestral spell book and the massive wealth Eric had carried in a bag of holding. He had also found the female phoenix egg that had been returned to the King by Grace, fulfilling her oath.

Jennifer was an oddity of sorts. As a paladin of

Syn, she had been sent on many callings centred around Daniel and his witches. She had managed to thwart the efforts of Quinten to dispose of Daniel and his witches. Quinten had been the orchestrator of wiping out almost all the witches in the Realm; a necessary and lawful exercise due to the pure evil witches were capable of with their bound spell casters. Jennifer had stood up for Daniel against Quinten. Then Grace had to do the same and then Glenda Gables, the only known good witch —but secretly a seer—had arrived and exposedall the evil Quinten had done and exposed his One God as none other than Loki, the Trickster.

The uproar across the Realm had been enormous. Quinten had been revered by many. A hero for the ages. Tales and songs of Quinten filled the repertoire of many the bar d who travelled the land. Now those songs were being tossed aside and were replaced by the glory of Daniel and his witches, the first good witches'circle to exist that anyone had heard of.

But the majority of the Realm would still not suffer a witch to live. It was far too engrained in society and culture to be tossed aside so quickly. Daniel knew he and his ladies would need to be

careful and watch their backs continuously. Many would never be convinced of their good intentions, being too obstinate and set in their beliefs to accept the truth. Broadsheets were churned out of printing presses decrying the acceptance of witches. Far too many uneducated people read them or had them read to them and believed them. Lies were spread and built on until people were only willing to believe what the lies told them.

Which was why Daniel was eager to leave Whitehaven and head west to the Wilds with his new party. He had always dreamed of being an adventurer and now was his chance. He vibrated with his need. The girls felt the same way.

But we're stuck here until we graduate from the Academy and the king releases us, he complained to himself. But hopefully that will be soon.

He turned his magic sight to Johnson, who looked plain and boring, and then he turned his sight to Sylvan for the first time and almost gasped out loud. He didn't appear to his sight. In his place was a strange void. He could see Sylvan, but where his sight would normally

show his aura, there was nothing there. He felt fire stir within him looking at Sylvan. The phoenix power was angry for some reason.

This startled him and he turned his head to whisper to Grace when the side door banged opened drawing his attention.

King Arbuckle strode in with purpose and then stood in front of the raised throne. He gazed out at his audience with a calm that seemed forced to Daniel. His eyes narrowed, looking down at Daniel, and then the king sat heavily on the throne and slapped his hands down on the armrests.

"We are here to speak of two things," he barked."The first gives me a small amount of pleasure.Headmaster Johnson has informed me that Daniel Davies, Amy Albright, Jasmine Juniper, and Amber Aine have all passed their mandatory classes at the Academy. I am pleased to present to them their diplomas and extend to them all the rights and privileges adventurers in the Realm enjoy. As of today, they are declared official adventurers and are entrusted with guarding the Realm from the threats from the Wilds. Step forward and receive your diplomas

and badges of your station."

The king nodded at Johnson. Johnson stepped forward and announced each of them in turn, and when they walked forward, he handed them a thin scroll case and a metal badge bearing the shield of the King. Daniel accepted his and shook Johnson's hand warmly. Once they all held their diplomas, Grace and the others gave them a warm round of applause. Daniel couldn't keep the grin off his face.

Finally!I'm an adventurer!

Headmaster Johnson bowed to the king. "Your majesty, presentations are complete. May I speak?"

"No. I have one other item of import to discusswith them. You may leave."

Johnson looked hurt, and he glanced at Daniel and his party and looked sorrowful."Ladies and gentlemen, it was my honour. Go forth and be safe and keep the Realm safe. Good luck."

"Out!"barked the king.

Daniel nodded to Johnson and watched him depart quietly and quickly. As soon as the door closed behind him, Daniel looked back at the king and saw his ir e was now exposed. He was clearly pissed off about something.

What's wrong now? he thought.

The king was glaring mostly at Grace. He glanced once at Sylvan and then looked at all of them.

"Where is it?" he demanded.

Grace looked first at Daniel before speaking. "Where is what?"

"The egg. You all know of it. Where is it?"

Daniel saw the look of confusion that crossed Grace's face. She has no idea.

"I have no idea. I haven't seen it since I handedit directly to you. I placed it in your hand."

The king smacked his armrest and glared at Grace."It has gone missing! An impossible act! The egg was in a most secure and secret

location in the castle!But now it has vanished. I can think of no other person who could have taken it."

"Well, there's Quinten. With Loki, there is muchhe could have done. Have you asked him? After you find him, I mean?"

Daniel could hear the mocking tone of Grace.

"It wasn't Quinten or Loki! And watch yourwords, Grace Gales!"

"Gales now, is it? How about Princess Grace deMoroingi? Hmm? Are you that sure of yourself that you would accuse a Night fae princess of theft, Arbuckle?"

The king's face went bright red, and he gnashed his teeth. Flecks of spittle escaped the corners of his mouth."Less insolence!Yes, I accuse you, Grace Gales!"

Daniel was impressed Grace was staying calm on the outside. He could feel through their partial bond that she was seething inside. The king had deeply insulted her. It appeared his anger was overriding his common sense.

Grace turned to Jennifer."Can you?"she asked politely.

Jennifer nodded and stepped forward."She speaks the truth. I give you my word as a paladin of Syn. Perhaps you can provide more detail and we can assist you in discovering what has happened? This is of significant import to the Realm. I saw what happened to Yanwey. For that to happen here in Whitehaven would be a tragedy beyond ken."

The king seethed for a moment longer and then seemed to deflate. He sank back on his throne and looked defeated. He raised his eyes and looked them over."I-I'm sorry. I am quite distraught. I was certain you were behind it, Grace. Only you have the skills to find it.

"But do not speak of Yanwe y again. Whathappened there was terrible beyond compare. I keep the roads closed and limit all discussion of the destruction. But word is getting out. Trade has clearly ceased with Yanwey, and the merchants are feeling it. My dukes and lords are picking and prodding at me, looking for any minor detail about what happened. They are frightened and rightly so.

"Losing the egg is terrible, I'm sure you realise. Ihad hoped to keep it safe under lock and key. I possessed it for less than a year. And now it is gone. Gone!

"Sylvan is turning over every rock. But whoeveris behind the theft eludes us. There are no clues as to who may have taken it. No magical traces. I had hoped you were responsible. I know the queens of the Light and Dark fae want it. They have only reminded me time and time again. But I cannot trust them. No one can. I can only trust myself."

The king drew quiet and thoughtful. Silence filled the room and Daniel looked around at the others, unsure of what to do or say. Jason shrugged at him, appearing unconcerned.

The king stirred and glanced at Sylvan before speaking."Very well, I believe you. I see your party is complete, but perhaps a little larger than normal. No matter. As your king, I task you to fulfil your duty and oaths to the Realm. Travel to the Wilds, kill anything that emerges, and keep my realm safe."