The Kindred's Curse Saga, #2
Glow of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 5
Overview
Diem forgives Princess Lilian for confiding in Luther and arranges for Teller to be smuggled into the palace. She spars verbally and physically with Luther, forcing a truce when Sorae’s rage shakes the palace, and extracts a promise of information about her mother tomorrow. Diem accepts a tour from Aemonn, secures guarded quarters, and rejects Luther’s tentative goodwill despite his thoughtful gift of blades, reaffirming him as an adversary.
Summary
As the family disperses, Diem confronts Princess Lilian about telling Luther her secret. Diem forgives Lily, recognizing her intent to help, and enlists her to secretly bring Teller to the palace the next day. Luther approaches, offering help and cautioning that secrecy is impossible; he admits he only guessed Diem’s parentage and defends revealing it as the safer path.
Diem presses Luther about her mother, but Aemonn interrupts, flirts, and offers a tour, which Diem accepts to unsettle Luther. Luther escorts Diem through the palace to secure guest quarters near his chambers. Along the way, they exchange guarded truths about their upbringings; Luther claims his destiny is to serve the Crown rather than wear it.
Outside her rooms, tensions explode when Diem challenges Luther. A swift struggle ends with Luther restraining Diem, prompting Sorae to shake the palace in alarm. Luther bargains: if Diem calms Sorae, he will share what he can about her mother tomorrow. Diem reassures Sorae through their bond, and Luther then savages the guards for failing to protect their Queen.
Alone, Diem reflects on the living Crown hovering above her head, bathes, and is interrupted by Luther at her door. He returns her dagger and gifts a sack of concealed Fortosian knives to help her feel safer. When he tries to address their earlier charged moment, Diem slams the door, hardening her stance: whatever the chemistry, Luther remains a target in her larger war.
Who Appears
- Diem BellatorNewly crowned Queen; forgives Lily, plans to bring Teller, duels Luther, calms Sorae, demands news of her mother, rebuffs Luther.
- Luther CorboisPrince-regent figure; reveals guess about Diem’s heritage, arranges security, spars with Diem, bargains information, disciplines guards, brings knives.
- Princess Lilian (Lily) CorboisConfesses telling Luther; is forgiven; agrees to secretly bring Teller into the palace.
- Aemonn CorboisCousin; interrupts tense exchange, flatters Diem, and secures a palace tour with her to irk Luther.
- SoraeDiem’s bonded gryvern; senses danger, shakes the palace in rage, calms after Diem’s reassurance.
- Palace guardsFail to intervene during the scuffle; later threatened by Luther to protect the Queen without hesitation.