Chapter 6: The Voice Beneath the Palace
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Queen Eleanor stood beside the glowing doorway, her face drained of color. Prince Adrian had drawn his sword, while Captain Marcus positioned himself between the queen and Elia.
But Elia could hear only one thing.
Tell my sister not to trust the queen.
The voice had sounded young. Perhaps twenty years old. It had carried the same strange melody she remembered from Mara's lullaby.
"Who are you?"" Elia whispered.
A faint vibration traveled through the floor.
Then the voice answered.
"My name is Elias.""
Queen Eleanor covered her mouth.
Adrian lowered his sword slightly.
"That's impossible.""
The voice continued.
"I have waited eighteen years for you to come home.""
Elia dropped to her knees beside the golden outline.
"Are you really my brother?""
"Yes.""
"Where are you?""
"Below the palace.""
"Are you trapped?""
There was a pause.
"Not exactly.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"Identify yourself. How do we know you're not using some kind of illusion?""
A quiet laugh came from beneath the floor.
"You still sound like Father, Adrian.""
The prince froze.
Nobody in the palace had ever heard him speak like that except their father.
King Edmund had died when Adrian was twelve. He had been the kind of man who never raised his voice, even when angry. He always said that a royal sword should be used only when words had failed.
Adrian slowly lowered his weapon.
"How do you know that?""
"Because I heard you practicing speeches outside the nursery when you were eight. You used to stand beside the window and pretend you were addressing the council.""
Adrian's expression changed.
It was a memory he had never shared with anyone.
"Who are you?"" he whispered.
"I already told you.""
Elia touched the golden symbol.
The pendant around her neck became warm.
A small section of the floor shifted.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Captain Marcus immediately grabbed Elia's arm.
"Your Highness, step away!""
But the girl refused to move.
"He's my brother.""
"We don't know what's beneath that door.""
Eleanor approached.
"Marcus, release her.""
"Your Majesty, this could be dangerous.""
"Then we will face it together.""
Adrian sheathed his sword.
"There's a staircase beneath the old chapel. The palace records mention it.""
Captain Marcus nodded.
"I know the entrance.""
Elia looked at the glowing floor.
"Can we open it?""
Eleanor studied the two stars.
"Perhaps.""
She reached toward the silver symbol.
Nothing happened.
Then Elia placed her hand over the golden star.
The two symbols brightened.
A deep mechanical sound echoed through the nursery.
The wooden floor separated.
Beneath it was a spiral staircase descending into darkness.
Cold air rushed upward, carrying the smell of damp stone and something metallic.
Adrian raised a lantern.
"Nobody goes down alone.""
Elia stepped forward.
"I'll go first.""
"No," Adrian said immediately.
"He's calling me.""
"And you're my sister. That means I won't let you walk into a place we know nothing about.""
For the first time, Elia looked at Adrian differently.
He had spent the evening treating her like a political problem.
Now he was standing between her and the darkness.
"Then we go together," she said.
Eleanor took her hand.
"All of us.""
They descended.
The staircase seemed endless.
The walls were covered with ancient carvings depicting kings, queens, and strange symbols that resembled the Crystal Hand.
At the bottom stood a massive stone corridor.
Golden lanterns illuminated themselves as the group approached.
At its end was a circular chamber.
And in the center stood a young man.
He wore a dark shirt and black trousers. His brown hair fell across his forehead, and his face was pale from years spent underground.
His wrists were surrounded by thin silver bands.
Elia stopped.
The young man looked at her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he smiled.
"You have Mara's eyes.""
Elia's throat tightened.
"You know about Mara?""
"She saved you.""
He looked toward the queen.
"And you let her raise my sister without ever looking for her.""
Eleanor took a step forward.
"Elias...""
The young man immediately turned away.
"Don't.""
The queen's eyes filled.
"Please, son.""
"You don't get to call me that.""
Adrian approached cautiously.
"How did you survive?""
Elias looked at him.
"I was brought here the night we were born.""
"By whom?""
"Lord Vale.""
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"And he kept you here?""
Elias nodded.
"He said the kingdom needed a prince who could control the ancient power beneath the palace. He told me my mother had died and my sister had been murdered.""
Elia felt sick.
"What?""
"He said you were dead.""
Eleanor pressed a hand against her chest.
"No...""
Elias looked directly at her.
"I believed him.""
He raised his wrists.
"Every time I tried to leave, these bands tightened. Every time I asked about my family, he told me the throne had already chosen someone else.""
Adrian inspected the silver bands.
"Can they be removed?""
"Not by ordinary hands.""
Elia stepped closer.
"May I try?""
Elias looked at her.
"That's why the crystal called you.""
He held out his wrists.
Elia touched the first band.
A flash of blue light erupted.
The silver cracked.
Elias gasped.
Then the second band shattered.
Both pieces fell to the stone floor.
For the first time in eighteen years, he was free.
But the moment the restraints broke, the entire chamber shook.
A deep rumbling came from somewhere beneath them.
Golden symbols appeared across the walls.
Eleanor looked around.
"What is happening?""
Elias staggered.
"The seal.""
Adrian grabbed his arm.
"What seal?""
Elias looked toward a massive stone door at the far end of the chamber.
"The one keeping the old power asleep.""
A thin line of light appeared along its edges.
Elia's pendant began glowing again.
Elias grabbed her wrist.
"Listen carefully. The Crystal Hand chose you because you can open the seal. But you must not do it.""
"Why?""
"Because the man who imprisoned me wants what lies beyond that door.""
"Lord Vale?""
Elias nodded.
"He needs both of us.""
Adrian frowned.
"Why would he need Elia if he already has the royal signet?""
"Because the signet only opens the outer chamber. The blood of the twins opens the inner one.""
Eleanor looked toward her son.
"What is inside?""
Elias hesitated.
Then he answered.
"The original royal crown.""
Adrian looked confused.
"The crown is in the treasury.""
"That's a replica.""
Elias pointed toward the stone door.
"The real crown contains the power that established the kingdom. Whoever wears it can command the ancient guardians of Valoria.""
A cold silence settled over the chamber.
Elia looked at the broken restraints.
"Then why did Vale keep you alive?""
Elias looked toward the door.
"Because he couldn't make the crown obey him.""
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Captain Marcus turned.
"Someone is coming.""
Adrian drew his sword.
A voice rang through the corridor.
"Your Majesty!""
It was one of the palace guards.
He hurried into the chamber, breathing heavily.
"Your Majesty, Lord Vale has taken control of the palace.""
Eleanor stiffened.
"What?""
"The royal council has been surrounded. The duke has escaped custody. And Lord Vale has ordered the guards to seize the Crystal Hand.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"How many men?""
"At least forty.""
The guard swallowed.
"And Your Majesty...""
"What?""
"Lord Vale has announced that the queen is mentally unfit to rule.""
Elias closed his eyes.
"He has begun.""
Elia looked at him.
"Begun what?""
Her brother turned toward the stone door.
"The coronation of a false king.""
Then the door behind them slammed shut.
And a familiar voice echoed through the chamber.
May you like
"Thank you for bringing my children together, Eleanor.""
Lord Cedric Vale had found them.
