(Emperor Ternac's POV)

Sightlessly, I gazed out upon my deserted throneroom. The crystal structures that surrounded me blurred together as I struggled to focus on hardening my thoughts. The tide pushed against my mind, and the barriers threatened to break, but I stood firm. A single voice shouted through the shield I had erected.

"Traitor, bloodspiller, murderer!" It shouted and I tried to remember who that voice belonged to. Was it one of the peasants caught tormenting others with his powers, or a filthy-blooded noble that rose through the ranks intimidating others with their powers. The names he called me were better suited for himself.

I pictured my mind as an island, surrounded by an ocean of murderous tongues. Upon the island I created walls of solid iron to prevent even a shred of a thought to enter my oasis, and placed myself in the center. Alas, blessed silence.

I allowed my sight to return to see a courier standing with a terrified look in his eyes. The fear I instilled was unfortunate but necessary, lest any slip in my authority be the catalyst for the return of magic. I waved my hand in a careless gesture to signal him to speak.

"Your majesty." He began with an elaborate bow that seemed slightly rushed. "We have just received word through-" I flashed him a warning look, we couldn't speak of those terrible devices where they may be overheard. "-one of our alternate sources, that Jack and Alice have made contact with the rebels in Frostrun. They were just to be guided to the Frozen Caves of Belmouth when our informant was located."

Forcing my face into a mask of composure, I gestured for the courier to be removed from my presence. He bowed quickly again and departed swiftly. Alone at last, I allowed my face to fall. "Foolish!" I whispered furiously to myself. I had allowed myself to be fooled by my son, and to be made the jester in front of my court.

I had promised him that were he to desert, and to perform any act I could percieve to be treason, the consequences would be swift and brutal. I had promised.

Clenching my fists, I rose from my golden throne and glided gracefully to the center of the room. I held together my facade of indifference until I spun on the crystalline floors and allowed the magic to erupt from me in undiluted waves. Raw pure magic ripping out from the pores in my skin and filling the room.

I was less delighted and more satisfied to see that the crystals were undamaged but the stream of power tearing through them. Crystals, the one mineral capable of absorbing and containing magic.

I explored every inch of my being and tore into every pocket of borrowed magic, and funneled it into my release. I tilted my head back and laughed. A cold heartless laugh. My son betrayed me, as every rebel too ignorant to see the efforts I had gone through to protect and preserve them. Magic was a plight on this land, and those gifted with it had a natural advantage over those who did not. Why couldn't they see that by eliminating magic, I saved their lives?

I turned my head toward the crystal at my feet, and threw my fist into it with blinding speed. The crystal cracked, but the integrity of the structure remained sound. A drop of water fell to the cracked gem, and before I could stop it, I was crying.

I cried for the blood that I had to spill, I cried for the kingdom I never wanted, but had to rule for those that depended on me for their safety, but most of all I cried for the son who would never love me. I had tried to form him into the man that I was never able to be, and hoped that by showing him mercy and giving him extravagant gifts available to none other in the kingdom, I could win his favor, but no. He would rather tramp around with the Whore Aliendra. I had known her identity since she let that image of her home slip, and I kept her alive for his sake. She, who was the very personification of the ideals I hated, I had preserved for him.

I wiped a calloused hand across my eyes, adjusted the dark iron blade at my side, and strode over to my throne. I sat myself upon the burning gold, but ignored the pain. Calling out to whomever was listening, I feigned nonchalance.

A few guards walked in obediently, and bowed awaiting their orders. I took a steadying breath, and with no hesitation shown I ordered "Bring my wife and daughter to the gallows tonight. Allow them a single night to make peace with god, and then tomorrow at noon they shall hang."

The guards looked shocked, but bowed obediently. I waved them away, and added "Also be sure that none disturb me tonight unless it is an absolute emergency." The broken madman needed time to mourn.

(Alice's POV)

As we walked away from the cave, to say we were hopeless would have been a severe understatement. The frosted air did nothing to help alleviate our fear. How were we supposed to kill an emperor with near unlimited power, armed only with the knowledge that he was far more powerful than us? I looked to Jack and could tell that he was thinking the same thing, even without our bond.

What do you suppose we do? I asked.

We do what we're doing now, help the rebels and eventually kill the emperor. He said it with such conviction that I knew that he would stop at nothing to tear his corrupt father from the throne. A furious assassin and an angry witch, for a moment I almost felt sorry for Emperor Ternac.

Well whatever we do, I want to start it off by getting out of this blasted cold. I demanded.

That sounds like a good first step. He agreed.

The storm seemed to pick up, and ravage the landscape so furiously and thoroughly that it looked as if it were trying to tear the land up and build it anew. Our fingers and toes were already numb, and I didn't even have to look to know that my lips were blue, and my face unnaturally pale. The blizzard stung, but we endured it and marched through trying to find the general.

After a few minutes of struggling against the wind, a few flickering torchlights alerted us to the mobilized army. They walked with refined speed and efficiency, especially considering the storm. We searched through the huddle faces, but the general was impossible to discern from the rest, until we saw a single solitary figure at the front of the rebels. We fought closer until we were fortunate to see the general paving the way for his troops.

He didn't notice us, and kept stomping forward the blizzard beginning to block him from sight even though he was only ten feet away. We pushed even closer, and I had to touch him on the shoulder before he would notice. He whirled around his blade flashing and had it pinned at my throat before I could make a sound. His eyes widened and he returned the blade to its sheath.

"I'm sorry your majesty please forgive me." He said.

"I'm not royalty, Alena is the queen." I snapped a little harsher than intended. "It's fine, reflexes like that will save your life on the battlefield."

Noticeably relieved, but slightly troubled he said. "What will you do now? I am to believe that you have no intention of remaining with my liberation force, so where will you go?"

Jack spoke up "We're thinking of returning to Vellhaven to see if Queen Alena has anything she needs done."

"If I may, the fight in Spera fares poorly. I understand that you aren't soldiers, but Aliendra-" I growled lowly. "- if you were to reveal your identity to them, you might give them the spirit it takes to win this war."

"No!" I snapped. "Absolutely not, I will not be a puppet to be paraded around. If you want a warrior fine, I can fight on the battlefield. Although I will not be a pawn!" Jack looked sympathetically at me, but said nothing. He understood, and I had said everything that needed to be said.

"Why are you so unwilling to take up your throne?" He asked, shocking me. Without time to think I responded with the easiest answer to come up with, but the hardest to say. "Because I don't deserve it."

Then I spun on my heels and stomped into the storm.

Author's note- I don't know about this chapter. I tried a bit of foreshadowing and character development for Alice and the emperor, and a little bit for the nameless general. I also tried to set the stage for the final battle a little bit, but I will say nothing more on the subject. Thank you for reading.