Part V: Shielded in Shadows
Nex had secrets he never shared. Not with Lucy, his godmother; not with Sarah, his protector; not even with his closest friends, Actaeon and Tazan.
When Nex finally woke—his body exhausted from trying to tire himself into sleep—he found Sao standing by the door, arms crossed, half-asleep but watching patiently.
"Have you been watching me sleep, Sao?" Nex asked quietly.
Sao blinked, startled as if someone had thrown cold water on him.
"Never, Your Majesty," Sao said quickly. "I was just about to wake you up myself but remembered how little sleep you got yesterday. And since there wasn't any urgent reason to rouse you, I let you rest."
He paused, concern flickering in his eyes.
"But I have to admit, my prince... why are you so still in your sleep? Almost like death has already claimed you. After everything you endured at the Grand Bazaar—and being a slave—you'd expect someone to toss and turn, maybe even scream in their sleep."
"I suppose I should let you know—being my first sworn sword and all—you deserve to hear something no one else has ever known."
"So, what is that, my prince?"
"I don't dream. Never have. Every time I close my eyes and fall asleep, all I see is darkness. Silence. Nothing happens, nothing is said—just empty, silent blackness."
Sao blinked, caught off guard. "I'm not sure how to respond to that, Your Majesty. But… I know for certain that if you spent a night at one of the brothels down the street, you might start having dreams—voices... and maybe a bit more."
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
"Governor Tywin is calling for you, Prince Nex… and you as well, Sao. He wants you both in his office within two minutes."
"We'll be there when we're ready, guard!" Sao's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
Nex turned to Sao. "Well, we should get going then."
He hesitated a moment before adding, "And Sao—keep the oath secret for now. It's not official yet. Since it wasn't done in Veythari, no one but you and I will recognize it."
Sao raised an eyebrow. "I always thought the Veythari language was a badly written joke. But do high nobles and princesses really talk in their own secret language when they're alone?"
Nex smirked slightly. "Not always. Mostly just in ceremonies and official talks like this one. Otherwise, we stick to the common tongue."
"Very well, I'll keep it a secret, my prince," Sao said with a nod. "But when the time comes, and I must reveal it—for your sake alone—I will. My emperor."
Nex blinked, surprised. His voice came low but firm.
"Call me by my name. And don't call me emperor again... not until I've earned it."
Sao bowed slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Apologies, Your Majesty—Nex. I'll take my leave. We shouldn't keep my father waiting."
He turned with a soft chuckle, as if testing the young prince's pride had been deliberate. And when Nex corrected him, Soa knew he had made the right choice.
Nex would become emperor.
He was sure of it.
Far from Tywin's tower and the safety of Lumen's walls, two boys walked a worn path between rivers and ruined fields, one of them carrying an infant against his chest and the weight of three lives on his back.
Tazan's eyes scanned the horizon as he walked, every shadow a possible threat, every gust of wind brushing against the bundle in his arms with unwelcome chill. The child—silent, warm, and impossibly small—hadn't made a sound since morning.
Actaeon trudged beside him, sword strapped to his side, face weathered by sleepless nights and half-rations. His shoulders ached, and so did his feet, but his voice was steady when he spoke:
"Three more hills. That's what the farmer said. Once we pass the third, we'll see Lumen."
Tazan didn't answer right away. His hands clutched the child a little tighter.
"And if we don't?"
Actaeon sighed through his teeth, not in anger—but in exhaustion.
"Then we find another road."
A silence passed between them, heavy with fatigue and unspoken fear.
"Think he's rallied the High Knights yet?" Tazan asked, his voice light, a small laugh slipping through—like he still couldn't quite believe this was their plan to get home.
Actaeon snorted.
"Well, he is a charismatic little guy, isn't he? I bet the High Knights are already marching in circles around him just to keep him warm."
He glanced over, a smirk forming.
"And the young ladies in Lumen? Probably throwing flowers at his imperial highness."
Tazan chuckled quietly, but it faded fast.
The road ahead looked endless. And they were still just two boys—and a baby—alone in the Empire.