Chapter Text
In a land of myth and legend, the world was once divided between different kingdoms. Magic is aplenty and the wielders of the elemental powers rose to be the most powerful. It was not within strive between them.
A century long wars locked them in a seemingly endless conflict. Water and Ice used to be allies, being so closely related, and they joined even closer together in an effort to halt the other powers. Water drenched Fire, Ice froze Earth, so nothing could grow, and Air was encased and smothered. The smaller powers were also crushed beneath their joint power with all the big ones taken off the board. The two kingdoms rose victorious.
But it wasn’t enough for Ice. Their champion did not want to share the seat of power, not when they were one of the last two major players left on the board. Ice froze Water and claimed the title of Supreme Conqueror for themselves.
The era of war was followed by an era of peace, if only because the other former kingdoms found themselves diminished and unable to fight back. Ice ruled their new empire with an iron fist, but even their champion could not avoid death forever.
In their old age, the champion fell victim to poison, poured by a once loyal servant. A new champion arose after them, and took on a new title of Emperor in an attempt to distance herself from the former champion. But even during the supposed time of peace, enemy factions rose in the shadows, planning and plotting Ice’s downfall.
The new champion survived several attempts on her life, but it only took once. She was slain but she had moved a successor into place. He tried to be cleverer than her, and he did last marginally longer on the throne, but his fall was all the more spectacular.
Himself and all of his inner circle of magic users were vanquished in one big coup orchestrated by the remaining elemental mages.
It left the champion title to fall to a rather unsuspecting magic wielder, far out in the line of succession.
One Philip Lester rose to the seat of power. He had wanted to refuse it when the guards first showed up at his door. He was a talented Ice mage but he had never imagined that he’d be crowned the champion of the Ice empire. Two dozen more talented mages had died, and he couldn’t refuse the cry from his people.
He took the seat, the crown and the staff.
But he too tried to learn from those that had come before him. The people were angry. He could understand them. Any elemental magic that wasn’t Ice had been outlawed under the previous champions in an attempt to quell rebellion.
It was clearly not working. In half a century since the original betrayal of Water, champion after champion had been slain as soon as the original terror of the first champion had started to wane. The other former kingdoms had been gathering their strengths regardless of that ban.
“Emporer Lester, you must be sensible,” one of the royal advisors told him when Phil had laid out his plan. “You simply cannot lift the ban on elemental magic.”
Phil looked around at his board of advisors. All of them were technically as new to the role as he had been. The former board of advisors had been wiped out with the former champion, but his board had all been trained by those that came before.
Phil had never received any such training. He’d only been taught how to wield magic well. If anything, he was more of a warrior than a diplomat. He hadn’t chosen this life for himself but he had to try to make the most of this opportunity.
“It is already a widespread practice regardless. Fire played a key role in disposing of the last champion and his inner circle,” Phil said, and he saw the shivers of his advisors. It was to be expected. Everyone here always feared Fire the most. It was only logical. Back during the original wars, Ice had only won over Fire because they still had been allied with Water.
“All the more reason to keep it down!”
“It’s cruel,” Phil said and he watched as a hush fell over the crowd. He sighed and closed his eyes. They had to listen to him. It was how the power structure had been formed. They could advise but he had ultimate power. It had been that way since the first champion had created this position.
They’d been so power-hungry that they’d slain their own closet ally. They wouldn’t have given power to anyone else, even within their own castle. Phil was going to reap the benefits for that now. Maybe he could do something good with it.
“It is my decree. Elemental magic is the very lifeblood of our lands. I know not all of you are Ice wielders but it is… intrinsic to your very being,” Phil said and he pulled some of the moisture from his hands and made it glaze over with frost. He shook his hands slightly and the tiny ice crystals flaked off in a shimmer. “I want no one in my empire to be suffocated from the inside out. They must still follow our laws, but they will not be punished for their mere existence. For that is what we are doing now. They do not just wield magic, they are magic. Lift the ban. I say make it so.”
Some of the braver advisors had tried to argue with Phil, but none of them had a proper leg to stand on. Their own structures of power worked against them. They had to obey.
Phil’s decision left a wave of confusion in its wake, but no one dared challenge him. Well, almost no one. A couple lesser Ice mages did try to claim his life. It would have been the first time in history that a champion would have been defeated by their own ranks.
They had underestimated him. Phil warded off their attacks quite easily, and for their crimes, they were sent away to confinement for years. His advisors told him that they really should be executed, but Phil also refused that.
And so, Phil’s first year as emperor passed relatively peacefully. Those of his guards in the ranks that wouldn’t stop harassment of magic wielders were dismissed bit by bit. Crime by way of elemental magic did not rise. Phil was pleased to have been proved right.
He came up with another new practice. A chance to have an audience with the emperor. Any of his subjects would be able to submit a request to be brought before him with his concern or request.
At first, people seemed scared to put themselves before him. Phil couldn’t really blame them. He still carried the ruthless legacy of the past champions like the cloak around him. Some days he even felt it like a heavy weight. But the more people seemed to survive the audiences and sometimes even get help with their woes, more started to show up.
The advisors thought it rather a waste of his time, and they kept telling him that he should instead be prepared for another attempt on his life. The rebellion had quieted but it would only be for a moment. In wiping out the former champion, the majority of their greatest forces had also been killed.
More would rise up in their place eventually. They always did. It was the way of life. It was the way of power. Whomever held it should hold on tightly, or it would be snatched away from them.
The advisors likely thought Phil a fool. He was not. He was aware that an early death warrant had been signed the moment that he rose to be the champion and emperor of Ice. He had just vowed to himself that he’d do as much good as he could while the staff was in his hand. It was all that he could do.
And when a particular and peculiar request came though, he wondered if his time was already up, not even two years into his reign.
“Sire, you told us to let anyone apply to your audiences,” Phil’s assistant Wentworth told him, “but you do mean your Ice subjects and the peasants, yes?”
Phil lifted his head up from his papers where he had been trying to figure out if they should somehow lift some of the trade restrictions on fishing along the northern border. Water had once had a thriving fishing industry in that area but it had been diminished in the last half a century since Ice took over. It seemed that the lift on the elemental magic ban had enabled them to pick up some old practices, but they still needed more assistance.
“I am the emperor of the land,” Phil said and he had gotten used to saying it without grimacing now. “Everyone is my subject, are they not?”
“Well, yes, of course, sire, but it is just… this is not just anyone. It is a prominent Fire mage, our sources say.”
Phil froze for a moment. An appropriate gesture really. He had not anticipated that. So far, no elemental magic wielders had stepped forward to the audiences. Phil had hoped to see some from Water and maybe Earth eventually, when they didn’t fear for their life. He had not anticipated that Fire would do so.
“Let me see that,” Phil said.
Everyone who submitted a request for an audience had to state the general nature of their request and a fair bit of information about themselves, so their identity could be confirmed. It was in an attempt to not let an assassin sneak through the cracks, which his advisors had been understandably worried about.
Phil half expected the background check to have turned out that a Fire mage was hiding behind some peasant disguise, so he was rather shocked when that fact had been submitted by the man himself.
Name: Dan Howell
Magic gifts: Elemental
Magic type (if applicable): Fire
It was strange to see black and white. A proud proclamation. It was a strange thing but Phil instantly knew what he was going to say to this request, as ill-advised as it would be.
“And he’s prominent, you say?” Phil said and scanned down over the rest of the request. It was a bit vague. Dan wished to speak with Phil about the former ban on elemental magic. It said nothing more.
“Yes, your scouts confirmed it, sire. He was captured a few years ago and imprisoned after a rather big display of magic in your southern lands. He broke out of the prison and they have been unable to find him.”
“Did he hurt anyone in his escape?” Phil asked, scanning the application page once more as if more words would appear. He was most certainly an unexpected person to find seeking an audience with the Ice emperor.
“I believe there might have been some property damage but no people were hurt. He was simply detained for displaying his Fire magic. It was outlawed at the time. But he is also suspected to have assisted in the assassination of the former emperor.”
Ah. Phil had thought that most of those Fire mages had lost their lives that day. Of course, there were so many. It was possible that some had made it out in the chaos of it all. It could just be a rumour though.
“Did you show this audience to my advisors?”
“Not yet, sire, but I will happily-”
“No,” Phil said. “Don’t let them see this one. Undoubtedly, they’ll wish to throw this Dan back into imprisonment when he shows up, even if we would have no grounds to hold him. I deigned that everyone imprisoned for merely possessing other elemental magic should have been released already. He is a free man.”
“He escaped prison, sire. And he might have assisted in the assassination of an emperor.”
“I wouldn’t fault him for the escape, and the other accusation is conjecture, is it not? He would have been captured and killed, if we knew that for certain.”
“Yes, but-”
“Then I see no issue why he shouldn’t be given his audience,” Phil said, even if he felt a bit like his heart was in his throat.
There were many reasons a man such as Dan might seek to be in front of him. Most of them were not good. Most of them were very bad.
Wentworth seemed to hesitate. Phil saw the internal debate on his face as to whether he should speak up or not. Phil was almost proud when his mouth opened. He liked that slowly but surely, he had proved that he wouldn’t punish his staff for speaking their mind.
“Sire, far be it for me to question your judgement, but if he is a prominent Fire mage, he might very well be able to take our life, even with your guards present.”
Phil managed a smile. It was probably a bit strained.
“I thank you for your concern. I am aware Fire melts Ice. But I will not discriminate between my subjects. This Dan may come stand before me like any other person in my empire.”
“Sire, if you die… the next champion will not be kind. You know this.”
Phil did know this. Most of the close runners up to the champion seat were the very mages who’d tried to take his life. Since he hadn’t ordered them to be executed, they could simply be freed from prison upon his death and then claim his seat.
“Yes, but that’s how it must be. This seat can only ever be borrowed for a time. All I have is doing what I want with my time.”
Wentworth looked downright chestfallen but he still nodded and backed down. “So it shall be.”
It would still be more than a full turn of the moon before the audience with Dan but Phil found that he started treating it like a bit of a deadline. His life would be on the line. To come face to face with a Fire mage was objectively foolish.
His advisors did find out. Phil had expected as much, though he trusted that it was not his assistant who had tattled. If Phil did one good thing, it was to inspire the loyalty of those around him. It had helped him when other Ice mages had come for him. He did have people in his corner, even if many still didn’t understand the way that he ran things.
Once the gossip had spread to his advisors, it was only a matter of time before it moved out even further. Phil was informed by Wentworth that even people in the castle town had started to talk about his impending meeting with a Fire mage.
It might have been wiser for Phil not to listen to the gossip, but he couldn’t help asking about it. He had always been rather curious about how he was perceived by his people, and he’d liked upending people’s expectations.
This wasn’t exactly like that. Evidently the theories were absolutely wild. Some thought that it meant that a joint venture between Fire and Ice might be established. Some thought that Phil was trying to get himself killed on purpose. And a small minority thought that maybe it was the dawn of a new age where all elemental mages didn’t have to hate each other.
Phil hoped that they were right, even if he knew that hope was slim.
He couldn’t know what Dan intended with him, he could only guess. He knew it was far more likely that it might be another assasination attempt than any dawning of a new age of collaboration. Dan being honest in his application was odd if that was the case, but maybe he was just exploiting Phil’s intention of peace and community. If he’d lied and been caught on the false application, he’d not have been granted an audience.
One must be truthful of their intentions and their personhood or they’d be turned away.
The last weekly meeting with his advisors before the audience descended into chaos. Everyone was shouting across the table, arguing for or against Phil going through with this. Phil unfortunately suspected that some of the ones that wanted him to do it just saw it as a convenient way to get him out of dodge. To get a new emperor on the seat who might listen better.
It once more reminded Phil that maybe should have dismissed and hired new advisors more likely to agree with him. But he liked the challenge, unlike his predecessors, and for all their animosity, the advisors did want what was best for the empire. They just didn’t always draw the empire’s borders correctly.
“I am doing it,” Phil told them definitively after having listened to the squabble for more than half an hour. “I am curious what he will have to say. I am not ignorant of the fact that he might be an agent of Fire sent here to kill me. A bold statement, but they were known for those before. I am aware, even if some of you think me foolish. You cannot change my mind and I am your emperor. It is my decision.”
No one dared to argue with that.
It didn’t mean that Phil had a restful sleep the night before the day. He twisted and turned and he couldn’t turn off his brain. So many possibilities of how tomorrow might go. Part of him had wanted to send word to the family members that he had left, but he wasn’t close with any of them.
Phil was one of the Ice mages that had supposedly grown up in the era of peace after long periods of war, but death had still claimed many lives in the following rebellions against the Supreme Conqueror's reign. Those who could master Ice had been big targets, once the conquered kingdoms started to build up their resistances again.
And while none of the spies from the Ice empire had been able to confirm it yet, they had heard rumblings that a counter council of sorts between the old kingdoms might be pulling some strings as the head of the rebellion.
Dan might be such a string.
That morning when Phil was helped into his big robe by his manservant, he found himself considering that Dan already felt like a somewhat familiar entity, despite the fact that they had never actually met. He’d had weeks to consider what kind of man he might be and what his true intentions were to ask for an audience. Seeing his name and being struck by the boldness of his request had felt too much like fate for Phil to not grab this chance to look into the eyes of this man.
He bowed his head to let himself be adorned with the crown of icicles that would have felt uncomfortable or even melted on anyone but a very talented Ice mage. Phil focused on the water vapor in the room and pulled it in close around his head, keeping the temperature level.
The last thing he needed was to take his staff. It was the one thing that hadn’t changed. Every emperor had made modifications to the crown and the robes. Personal flairs, though the colour scheme had remained rather consistent. The ice cold blue was the signature of the empire and branding was important, Phil had been told.
The staff matched the colours too, though it was also decorated with dark blue crystals. Five totals, three on top, and two more on the sides. A legend surrounded them. Phil wasn’t sure if he believed it, or maybe it was just the fact that he didn’t want to believe it.
Back during the time of the original champion, it was said that they’d crushed the five most powerful Water mages into nothing but crystals. They had taken all of the water in their body and crushed and pressed until flesh shriveled up and fell apart around it.
It should probably have been red if it was somehow crystalised blood, but the legend said that upon the freezing, the champion had placed an enchantment upon them.
On more than one occasion, Phil had wondered what might happen if he tossed the staff against the wall. He wondered if he could use Ice to crush open the crystals. They were supposedly a symbol of the power of Ice. But they also showed that they were the kind of rulers who would betray anyone, even their closest allies, for their own gain. For power. Power corrupted by nature. Phil had seen it his whole life.
It was the reason that he was trying to strain so hard against it, but he knew it would only be a matter of time before it got its claws in him too. It was a tempting life to just have everyone agree with you all of the time. It was addicting.
Phil felt like he’d held strong for now, but his reign was not even two years old. Maybe it would be a mercy to be killed before he could turn cold and cruel. It might be fitting to melt in the heat of the Fire.
Though the stories of the wars waged by Fire before the reign of Ice was terrifying. Whereas Ice had wanted control of the lands, everything frozen in their design, Fire had wanted everything else gone. Scorched from the lands until nothing was left but themselves. Though Phil was not blind to the fact that it might just have been the story written by the victors. Time had washed away many specifics and records had been lost, on purpose or not.
Phil’s hand closed around the staff and he made his way to the throne room, servants trailing behind him. He had practice putting on his regal exterior. He let it drop at times with his advisors, but he did understand the importance of image. Perhaps now more than ever.
Phil had requested that Dan Howell would be the last person on the docket for the day. He was regretting that a bit now, because it made the waiting more anguished, and Phil wasn’t honestly presenting his best face to the rest of his subjects.
His reasoning at the time had felt sound. If he was killed, then he wouldn’t have been able to hear out the other grievances. It was also the reason that he made sure to talk to Wentworth, acting as his scribe, about any of his decisions immediately today.
Normally, he would like to take a day or two of consideration on the more complicated matters, but he wasn’t sure he would have the time now. But anything he decided while he still drew breath shouldn’t be refuted. Of course, he would not be here to object, if they decided to go against his decisions.
Phil was rather relieved that no one brought issues of geopolitics today. Most of it was smaller grievances. Feuds or struggles that Phil actually had the option to help fix. It felt good. It felt right.
The previous champions would probably have gasped at the amount of the amassed fortune in the Ice castle that Phil had moved from the treasury to give back to the people in one way or another. But he wasn’t just giving money away. Already now he could start to see areas prosper.
A polluted well cleaned had meant less sickness and a greater harvest because of it.
A modification to the tax law had meant trade flourished and population health improved.
A better compensation for the guards had brought more prestige to the position and a more dedicated and loyal men in arms.
A magic ban lifted meant the creative ways that magic aided life had been allowed to flourish once more.
Some were bigger, some were smaller, but Phil was generally trying to make stuff better. He’d made some bad calls too. People had taken advantage of his generosity, but most were all caught eventually. He wasn’t going to stop doing good because someone would use his good intentions to bad.
“That was the penultimate one, sire,” Wentworth informed him, when they waved off the farmer who was worried about the wolf packs eating his sheep. Phil had asked for some of his more experienced hunters to go help with it. He didn’t like to cull animal populations but that stretch of forest was too spare to feed such a big pack. Taking out a few animals could lessen the burden as a temporary solution.
If he was alive tomorrow, he’d ask his researchers to find a better space for the wolves where they wouldn’t threaten a farmer’s livelihood. Some of the great forests near the old Earth kingdom would be a much more suitable place for them. He’d spare the funds to have them transported. But it was not an order that he could do from the throne room, and he was out of time.
“You should head out for the rest of the day,” Phil told Wentworth. He didn’t want him to see this.
“I should take down your decision on the last audience’s request too, sire.”
Phil cracked a smile, even if it didn’t fit his elaborate regalia. “No, it is fine. I will… need more consideration time on this one, if it comes to that. You should go put those into effect instead,” he said, nodding towards the notes. “Just in case.”
“Sire.”
“Do as I say, Wentworth.”
“You do not have to do this.”
“I do,” Phi insisted. “It is my way. Every champion has had their own way. This is mine. I said any subject of mine could submit to stand before me. I am not a man who goes back on my word.”
Phil could see the conflict in Wentworth’s eyes. He’d been given an order by his emperor and he should just go, but he wanted to argue. Maybe he wanted to remind Phil of the horrors of how Fire had slaughtered their enemies during the wars.
It was a torturous death. Phil had been forced to read about it during his early education. Every Ice mage had, which seemed almost cruel as it was said that those made of Ice killed by Fire felt it tenfold more than anyone else.
“Go.”
Wentworth’s whole body seemed to radiate protest but he bowed his head and went.
Like everyone did. Phil always had the last word. He could allow them to argue and he did because he wanted to hear other’s perspective but technically, it was all for show. He held all the power.
He looked towards his staff once more. Crystallised Water mages embedded into it. Phil wondered what Fire would have done, if they had stood as the conqueror at the end of it all. Something equally horrifying perhaps.
“Send in my last audience,” Phil told the guards.
He’d had to give explicit orders that no one was to stop the Fire mage from getting into the caste. He was a welcome guest, just like any other subject. He must wait his turn, but he would be treated with the same respect. Phil had half wondered if the audience was just a ruse to get into the castle, and Dan would have run off, but he would have heard if something had gone wrong.
Nothing had.
He must be waiting patiently.
The big double doors were opened and Phil could immediately see the difference in posture of the guards who accompanied this subject, as opposed to all those who had come before him.
They were standing rigid, and just a bit further away than before. They had also doubled in number, like they might try to overpower him. It would be a losing cause. Ice mages were weak to Fire, of course.
And the empire only employed Ice mages in their guards. Phil had a plan to change that, but it was a bigger hurdle than lifting the magic ban. Maybe if he’d had more time.
The guards parted as they moved into the room, and Phil got a good look at the man who might be his demise.
He was somehow exactly what Phil had expected and nothing like it at all. It only now dawned on Phil that he’d never really seen a Fire mage, or at least not one who didn’t have to hide their true nature.
He was like a bright orange and red glow in the middle of the cold blue ice. The first thing Phil noticed was the literal flames that danced along brown curls without burning them. They seemed to dance and sparkle.
The next thing was the softness of his features. Pure squish and warmth, and a healthy flush to his cheeks, which was exacerbated by a genuinely friendly smile and eyes crinkling.
His attire was black and red, adorned with details of flames and his skirt itself looked as if it might be a blaze. It moved in a soft way as he walked with confident steps forward, seemingly unbothered by the tension of the guards around him.
He was only looking towards Phil.
Something in his gaze almost made Phil want to squirm in his seat. He wanted to stand up. He wanted to run away, or maybe run into him. He might be no better than a moth who saw a bright light and hurried towards it.
Dan Howell was a vision, and Phil found himself thinking that at least he would enjoy the view as he was melted into nothing but a puddle.
The guards were watching Dan closely, hands on their own staves, undoubtedly preparing to cast anything if he moved a muscle wrong. Dan walked up the aisle unhurriedly, as the guards fell back to stand at the side.
He came to a stop at a respectable distance, right on the mark that had been put where subjects were meant to say in deference to their emperor.
Most would fall to their knees in front of Phil as a greeting. It always made him feel a little bad, in particular when it was an older person who clearly struggled to get down and up again.
Dan did no such thing, but he did put his hands, slowly, to the edges of his skirt and courtesy. It was the picture of poise and Phil was transfixed. His mouth felt dry. He licked his lips but it didn’t help.
Dan’s smile looked more like a smirk now that he’d come closer. His eyes looked like they sparkled too. Phil wondered if fire danced within his pupils. It wouldn’t really surprise him.
“Your excellency, emperor Lester,” Dan said, midway through his courtesy.
“My loyal subject,” Phil said. It was a patented phrase. He’d said it many times, even today, but his words trembled now.
The corner of Dan’s mouth twitched. “An honour.”
Phil had a feeling that wasn’t really what he’d wanted to say. Phil was still watching him for any sudden movements, but he just straightened up and let his hands hang at his sides. Fire mages often rubbed their palms together from what Phil knew of their ways of magic. Keeping his hands separated might seem rude in terms of decorum but it almost felt like a show of trust.
“Speak your piece,” Phil said, and he tried to relax, but he was tense too. He was no better than the guards, too waiting with baited breath.
Maybe Dan just had a genuine grievance. It would be anticlimactic but it would also speak of a brighter future. A future that many around Phil thought impossible, but he wanted it so desperately. He wasn’t ready to give up hope on the notion yet.
“Your excellency, may I request that the guards and servants leave the room? I wish for only your ears to hear it,” Dan said with a slight bow of his head.
It was against protocol. Phil was never alone with anyone ever. Always had guards or servants circulating him, or at the very least his assistant at his side. Dan had no claim to have an audience alone. It was not how things were done.
“No words you say here will be repeated by any of my guards or servants, I assure you,” Phil said.
Dan clicked his tongue. “Forgive me for the rudeness, but I must insist.”
The guards all looked towards Phil, probably waiting for him to explode at the indignity of it. But the guards couldn’t truly stop Dan if he wanted to kill Phil, not when he’d already gotten this close.
A powerful Fire mage indeed. Phil had never heard of any who literally had flames coming off their body before. He wondered if it was an effect that Dan was maintaining or it happened subconsciously.
“Guards and servants, leave us,” Phil said.
It shook everyone in the room, including Dan, who didn’t mask the slight widening of his eyes well enough with how closely Phil had been watching him. He’d not expected Phil to agree. Well, at least they could surprise each other. It felt good.
The head of his personal guard looked like he might try to argue, while glaring daggers in the direction of Dan. They were being asked to leave their emperor alone with an enemy. Phil accepting it made him seem insane, he was aware.
They might try to get him declared insane if he survived this.
“I will not repeat myself,” Phil said, and there were benefits to being in his throne room. Ice decorated the very walls and it was the easiest thing for Phil to make parts of them break off into a bit of an ice vapour as if the room itself puffed out its chest.
The guards started to move slowly. The servants were faster at making themselves scarce. Phil had already sent away his scribe.
Every footfall of the heavily armoured guards seemed to hit the marble floor so loudly, even as they were retreating. Phil only listened, barely taking his eyes off of Dan.
It was only when he heard the heavy doors close that he let his eyes leave Dan, just for a moment.
At the sound, Dan eased a little too. Posture less rigid and he moved to popping out his hip just slightly.
“Satisfied?” Phil asked, and he surprised himself by sounding amused. It was genuine too. He realised that no one had ever demanded something of him since he’d become the emperor. It was a surprising change of pace. Against all reason, it felt good to experience it again.
“Very,” Dan said with a mischievous grin.
Phil watched his hands, but he kept them at his side.
Curiosity was eating up at Phil and now that it was just the two of them in the room, he didn’t really need to be all that formal. Whatever Dan might say about Phil not behaving like a proper emperor would never be believed anyway.
“Why are you here?” Phil asked.
Dan frowned slightly, and toyed with the bottom of his lip for a beat. Phil’s eyes followed the movement without meaning to. His lips looked so pink and soft. They were probably warm to the touch, not like Phil’s own who never quite lost their slight sheen of frost.
Dan shifted his weight from one foot to another.
“I have come here to kill you,” Dan said, but made no movement to carry through the threat. In fact, he stood eerily still and watched Phil as if to take in his reaction.
Phil had no idea what to do with his face. The words felt like a punch in the gut but they strangely also were accompanied with some sort of relief. All of the tension of the last month seemed to be released at once. He finally had his answer and it was as bad as everyone had anticipated.
Phil would be another emperor to fall to an assassination. History repeating itself yet again.
He let out a slight laugh. It wasn’t mocking, it was tinged by desperation and maybe some hysteria. It was a strange thing to look your own end in the eyes. In those warm eyes.
The castle had always been so cold. Dan looked bright and warm. Phil had tried to bring the light and warmth back to their lands, but maybe one made of Ice never could do that.
Maybe someone like Dan had a better shot.