The hoofbeats grew louder, echoing against the mountain walls. Two soldiers moved to the watchtower, hands resting on their weapons. Standard protocol for any unexpected arrival after sunset.
I exchanged a glance with Lyra. "Seems early for a response from Lady Ilyana."
She nodded, moving to the window. "Too fast, even for the Pendragon messenger network."
The outpost erupted into activity as the rider came into view. Not because of speed or urgency, but because of the colors they bore. Crimson and gold flashed in the torchlight, unmistakable even at a distance.
"Royal messenger," I said, the words tasting strange. The Vire family rarely concerned themselves with echo investigation missions, especially those assigned to Pendragons.
The captain hurried past our door, barking orders. "Royal standards! Full protocol!"
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Interesting timing."
"Very," I agreed, adjusting Ashthorn at my belt. The blade hummed gently against my hip, more a comfort than the usual resistance. Whatever had changed in the echo chamber seemed to be holding. Not a complete synchronization, but something better than before. As though the blade and I had reached some unspoken understanding.
We moved outside just as the rider dismounted. A woman in her thirties, bearing the insignia of the Royal Guard rather than a simple messenger. Her posture spoke of years of combat training, and the echo-blade at her hip had the distinctive craftsmanship of the royal forges.
"Commander Varis," the captain said, saluting. "We weren't expecting royal representation."
"Few ever are," she replied, her voice clipped. Her eyes scanned the gathered soldiers before landing on us. Recognition flickered across her face when she saw me. "Juno Pendragon. The crown was right about your whereabouts."
I stepped forward, offering a formal bow to a representative of the royal family. "Commander. An honor. May I present Lyra Ashveil of House Pendragon."
Lyra bowed as well, precision perfect. "Commander."
Varis nodded to her, then turned back to me. "Your presence is requested at the capital. Both of you. Immediately."
The captain frowned. "With respect, Commander, they're on official Pendragon business. Lady Ilyana herself—"
"Has been informed," Varis cut in. "This supersedes House jurisdiction. Royal interest has been expressed in the echo phenomenon at Azmere Pass."
I kept my expression neutral despite my surprise. Royal interest in echo matters typically meant one thing.
"The twins are involved," I said. Not a question.
Varis's lips tightened slightly. "Prince Alaric and Princess Elysia have taken personal interest in your report."
"What report?" Lyra asked. "We only just dispatched our preliminary findings to Lady Ilyana. They couldn't have reached the capital yet."
A slight smile crossed Varis's face. "You'd be surprised how quickly information travels when it interests the right people." She turned to the captain. "My soldiers will arrive by morning. We leave at first light. Please ensure appropriate accommodations."
The captain saluted again, obviously uncomfortable with the change in authority but unwilling to challenge a royal command.
As Varis strode away with the captain, Lyra turned to me. "The twins. Your childhood friends, yes?"
I nodded, memories flooding back unbidden. Summer training sessions in the royal gardens. State functions where Alaric, Elysia, and I had escaped the tedious ceremonies to explore forbidden wings of the palace. Competitions that always ended in good-natured rivalry rather than true conflict.
"They're a year older," I said. "Finished at the Academy last season."
"I know of them," Lyra said. "Everyone does. The royal prodigies. Each with a True Echo and a high-grade pseudo. Unprecedented even by Vire standards."
"They're more than their echoes," I found myself saying. "Alaric has the sharpest tactical mind I've ever encountered. And Elysia..." I paused, unsure how to describe the princess's particular brilliance. "She sees patterns where others see chaos."
"You sound fond of them."
"We grew up together, in a way," I admitted. "Pendragons and Vires have always been closely aligned. When I was at the capital for training or family obligations, we spent time together."
What I didn't say was how complicated that relationship had always been. The genuine friendship accompanied by the ever-present awareness that our families, while allies, maintained a careful distance. The Vire monarchy had ruled for five centuries, but the Pendragons had power that sometimes rivaled the crown. An unspoken tension that even children could sense.
"I'm surprised they're involving themselves in this," I continued, glancing toward the pass. "Echo investigation is typically beneath royal attention unless it directly threatens the realm."
"Perhaps it does," Lyra said quietly.
I looked at her sharply. "What do you mean?"
She shook her head. "Just a feeling. That chamber was... different. Ancient. And your blade's reaction was unprecedented."
Ashthorn warmed slightly at my hip, as if acknowledging the mention. I resisted the urge to touch its hilt.
"We should prepare for tomorrow," I said instead of pursuing the unsettling thought. "The journey to the capital will take three days, even at royal pace."
Lyra nodded, but her eyes remained thoughtful. "Your friends," she said after a moment. "What are they like? Beyond their abilities."
I considered the question as we walked back to our quarters. "Alaric is... intense. Focused. Everything is a strategy to him, but not coldly. He cares deeply about the kingdom, about his responsibilities." I smiled slightly at a memory. "He once organized an entire mock battle with the palace staff just to test a theory about echo resonance patterns."
"And the princess?"
"Elysia is harder to describe. Brilliant but restless. Always seeking something new to understand. She can master a skill in days that takes others months, then abandon it once she's satisfied her curiosity." I shook my head. "She's warm one moment, distant the next. Like trying to hold sunlight."
Lyra studied me with an expression I couldn't read. "They sound like fitting companions for a Pendragon."
I laughed softly. "We balanced each other, I suppose. They had the freedom of royalty with all its privileges and burdens. I had the discipline of House training with its structure and expectations."
"And now they want to see what we found at Azmere."
I nodded, sobering. "Which means they know something we don't. The twins don't involve themselves in routine matters."
Back in our room, I found myself restless. Sleep seemed impossible with the knowledge that tomorrow would bring a reunion I hadn't anticipated. I hadn't seen Alaric or Elysia since before my final year at the Academy began. Our paths had diverged as they took on more royal responsibilities and I focused on completing my training.
"Try it," Lyra said suddenly.
I looked up from where I'd been absently checking my pack. "Try what?"
"Your blade." She nodded toward Ashthorn. "It feels different, doesn't it? Since the chamber."
I hesitated, then drew the sword. It slid from its sheath with unusual smoothness, the metal catching the lamplight. The echo-script along its spine glowed faintly, no longer forming words as it had earlier, but pulsing with steady light.
"It feels..." I searched for the right word. "More attuned. Not fully synchronized, but as if something that was blocked is now flowing more freely."
Lyra watched with interest. "Try the Seventh Form. The one you were practicing last week."
I raised an eyebrow. I hadn't realized she'd been watching my training sessions. The Seventh Form was one of the most difficult in the Pendragon bladework canon, requiring precise echo manipulation throughout the sequence. I'd been struggling with the transition between the third and fourth movements, where the echo current needed to flow from edge to spine without interruption.
I took a breath and began the form. The first movements came easily, my body falling into the familiar patterns. As I approached the difficult transition, I felt the usual resistance in Ashthorn, the subtle push against my will.
But this time, instead of forcing the blade to comply, I remembered the chamber. The truth I'd admitted to Lyra. The release I'd felt afterward.
I let go of the struggle, allowed the movement to flow naturally. And somehow, Ashthorn responded. Not perfectly, but better than ever before. The echo current rippled along the blade, shifting from edge to spine with only minor turbulence. I completed the sequence and ended in the final position, blade extended, point unwavering.
"Better," Lyra said softly.
I lowered Ashthorn, surprised at how natural it had felt. "It's responding differently."
"Because you're approaching it differently." She came closer, studying the blade. "The chamber changed something between you."
"Between us," I corrected, meeting her eyes. "All of us."
She smiled slightly, understanding my meaning. "Yes. I suppose it did."
I resheathed Ashthorn, its weight comfortable against my hip. "We should get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day."
As I settled onto my narrow bed, staring at the ceiling, I found myself wondering what Alaric and Elysia would make of what we'd discovered. What they already knew that had prompted royal intervention. And how it would affect this fragile new understanding between Lyra and myself.
Sleep came eventually, but my dreams were filled with echo-script that rearranged itself into words I could almost, but not quite, read.
***
The royal escort arrived at dawn, a dozen soldiers in crimson and gold. Commander Varis organized our departure with military precision, and by mid-morning, we were well on our way to the capital.
Lyra rode beside me, silent but watchful. The events of yesterday seemed to hang between us, neither mentioned nor forgotten. The vulnerability we'd shared in the echo chamber and afterward in our quarters had created something delicate and unnamed. Something I wasn't sure how to nurture in the harsh light of day and pressing duty.
"Tell me about the capital," she said eventually, breaking the silence. "I've never been."
I looked at her in surprise. "Never? Even after joining House Pendragon?"
She shook her head. "My training has been focused at the estate and the Academy. Lady Ilyana mentioned presenting me at court eventually, but it hasn't been a priority."
I considered this. It was unusual for a talent of Lyra's caliber not to be introduced at court, especially one affiliated with House Pendragon. Perhaps Lady Ilyana had reasons for keeping her somewhat hidden from royal attention.
"The capital is... overwhelming at first," I said. "Three tiers rising from the valley floor to the peak of Mount Solus. The lower tier is commerce and common housing. The middle holds the grand academies, administrative buildings, and noble residences. And the upper tier is reserved for the royal palace and its grounds."
"And echo concentration increases with elevation," she added. "I've read that echo density at the peak is nearly triple that of the lower city."
I nodded. "You can feel it as you ascend. The air itself seems to vibrate with potential by the time you reach the palace."
"Where do the Pendragons reside when at court?"
"Upper middle tier. A mansion that's been in the family since the founding of the capital. Close enough to the palace for convenience, far enough for independence."
Lyra absorbed this information with her usual quick understanding. "And the twins? What's their position in court?"
"Unique," I admitted. "As the only children of the king, they're naturally central to court life. But they've carved out their own spheres of influence beyond the expected roles. Alaric has been reforming the Royal Guard's echo training protocols since he was sixteen. Elysia runs an echo research collective from the East Wing that rivals the formal Academy in some respects."
"Sounds like they don't simply rest on royal privilege."
"They never have," I said. "That's what makes them..." I paused, searching for the right word.
"Worthy of respect?" Lyra suggested.
"Yes. Exactly."
We rode in companionable silence for a while, the mountains gradually giving way to forested foothills. Commander Varis maintained a brisk pace, clearly intent on making good time to the capital.
"What do you think they want with our discovery?" Lyra asked eventually, her voice low enough that only I could hear.
I glanced at the royal soldiers riding ahead of us. "I'm not sure. But the timing is suspicious. How did they even know we were at Azmere?"
"Perhaps they've been monitoring echo activity in the region."
"Perhaps," I agreed, though it seemed unlikely. "Or perhaps there's more to this echo phenomenon than we realized."
Ashthorn hummed gently at my hip, as if affirming the thought. I'd noticed throughout the morning that the blade seemed more responsive, adapting to my movements with less resistance than usual. Not full synchronization, but progress nonetheless.
By evening, we'd reached the first royal waystation, a fortified outpost marking the halfway point between Azmere and the provincial capital of Eastmark. From there, it would be another day to Eastmark, and then a final day's journey to the capital itself.
As we unsaddled our mounts and prepared for the night, Commander Varis approached me.
"A message arrived ahead of us," she said, offering a sealed scroll bearing the royal insignia. "For your eyes, Pendragon."
I took the scroll with a formal nod of thanks. The wax seal bore the twin griffins of the Vire crest, but with a subtle variation that indicated it came from Alaric specifically rather than the king.
I broke the seal once I had privacy, unrolling the parchment carefully.
Juno,
Word of your discovery at Azmere reached us through channels I'll explain when you arrive. Suffice to say, it confirms suspicions Elysia and I have harbored for some time regarding pre-Imperial echo knowledge.
Your companion interests us greatly. Lady Ilyana has kept her talents largely sequestered, which now appears prescient given what you encountered. We've monitored her progress from afar, but this is the first indication that our theories about her abilities may be correct.
The memory chamber you found matches descriptions in certain restricted texts dating from the early Empire. Its appearance now, and your blade's reaction to it, suggests a pattern Elysia has been tracking for nearly a year.
Travel swiftly. Speak of this to no one, not even your companion. Court has grown complicated in your absence, with factions I don't trust taking interest in echo matters that should remain academic.
Your friend,A
P.S. Elysia insists I mention she's looking forward to seeing you again. She's been insufferable since hearing of your imminent arrival. You've been warned.
I read the message twice, then carefully burned it as royal protocol required for private communications. Alaric's words raised more questions than they answered. What theories did the twins have about Lyra? What pattern had Elysia been tracking? And what factions at court were taking interest in echo matters?
When I returned to the common area, Lyra was in conversation with one of the royal soldiers, asking detailed questions about the echo-forged armor they wore. I watched her for a moment, struck by how easily she engaged with people when echo theory was involved. The usual barriers of rank and background seemed to dissolve when she spoke about her passion.
She caught my eye and excused herself from the conversation, joining me by the fire.
"News?" she asked quietly.
I hesitated, Alaric's warning echoing in my mind. But the memory chamber had shown me the cost of keeping Lyra at a distance, of maintaining walls between us.
"From Alaric," I said, keeping my voice low. "They've been expecting something like what we found at Azmere. They have theories about pre-Imperial echo knowledge that our discovery seems to confirm."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Pre-Imperial? That would rewrite much of what we understand about echo history."
"Apparently they've been researching it for some time." I paused, weighing how much to share. "And they mentioned you specifically. It seems they've been aware of your abilities and find them relevant to whatever they're investigating."
"Me?" Genuine surprise crossed her face. "Why would the royal twins take interest in an orphan from the provinces?"
"You're hardly just that anymore," I pointed out. "You're the most talented echo wielder of our generation, affiliated with House Pendragon, and you just experienced a memory chamber that apparently shouldn't exist according to conventional echo theory."
She considered this. "Fair point. Still, royal attention is rarely comfortable."
"No," I agreed, thinking of the complicated history between our families. "It rarely is."
"What aren't you telling me?" she asked suddenly, her gaze piercing.
I met her eyes, torn between Alaric's warning and my new commitment to honesty with Lyra. "There's political complexity at court. Factions taking interest in echo matters. Alaric advised caution."
She nodded slowly. "The eternal dance between Pendragons and Vires continues, I see."
"It's more than that," I said. "The twins and I have always maintained friendship despite the family tensions. For Alaric to warn me this way suggests something beyond the usual political maneuvering."
Lyra glanced toward Commander Varis, who was reviewing tomorrow's route with her lieutenants. "Do you trust her?"
"Varis? Yes, she's been loyal to the twins for years. One of the few royal officers who earned her position through merit rather than connection."
"Good," Lyra said. "Because I have a feeling we'll need allies when we reach the capital."
I couldn't argue with that assessment. The royal summons, Alaric's cryptic message, the unprecedented memory chamber, Ashthorn's strange behavior... all pointed to something larger unfolding around us.
That night, as we prepared for sleep in the waystation's simple quarters, I found myself watching Lyra as she meticulously cleaned her spear, checking the echo-conductive elements along its shaft. Her movements were precise, efficient, beautiful in their economy.
"What?" she asked, not looking up.
"I was just thinking," I said, "about how much has changed since yesterday."
Now she did look up, her eyes meeting mine across the small room. "And how much hasn't."
I understood her meaning. Despite the revelations in the echo chamber, despite our new understanding, some fundamentals remained unchanged. The external pressures. The expectations of our positions. The complex world waiting for us at the capital.
"We'll face it together," I said, echoing our agreement from the previous night.
She smiled slightly. "Yes. Though I suspect 'together' will be tested sooner rather than later."
I thought of Alaric's letter, of the political complexities awaiting us, of whatever theories the twins had developed about Lyra and the echo chamber.
"Probably," I admitted. "But I meant what I said."
She nodded, returning to her work. But the slight smile remained on her lips, and Ashthorn hummed contentedly at my side, as if approving my recommitment to honesty.
Whatever awaited us at the capital, whatever game the twins were playing, whatever truth lay behind the memory chamber's existence, I would face it with Lyra at my side. Not as a rival. Not as a measuring stick for my inadequacies. But as a partner.
And for the first time in years, that thought brought peace rather than anxiety.