CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
April 1987 — Reno, Nevada
The convention hall crackled with anticipation. Outside, heavy security stood guard, checking the special passes of every entrant. These weren't just VIP passes; they were Aelinian Oath tokens. Everyone inside, every single fan, had sworn the oath. They knew the truth. They knew about the cloaked island nation of Aelin, about the Veil, about the Brotherhood waiting backstage, who were not just a rock band but the generation prophesied to end the war.
Mitch Kelly, a local radio personality from the Reno area, stepped up to the microphone, his voice booming through the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen... Welcome to Hall H! I'm Mitch Kelly from KOZZ 105, along with Roxy Ruegar from Aelin's broadcast scene. Brothers and sisters of Aelin and those committed through the Aelinian Oath, you know why you are here. You know who they are. But tonight, we honor them properly."
Roxy Ruegar stepped up to the second mic.
"Please welcome the High General of our armies and Governor of Neart, Erik Hahn! The Conjurer and Governor of Draíocht, Nathan Dallenger! The Visionary and Governor of Léirstinach, Connor Braydee! The Sentinel and Governor of Ainmhithe, Ricky Strathan! And... The Guardian of Aelin, Governor of Harmonytis County, and the High King of Aelin...Jason Elias!"
The roar was deafening, not just cheering, but loyalty and love with nowhere left to go but up.
"BATTLE CRY!" Mitch shouted.
The five men walked out onto the stage. They were dressed in the traditional fashion of their homeland, a stark and beautiful contrast to the usual leather and denim of a Battle Cry tour. These were the garments of rulers, still leather, still Battle Cry, but carrying the weight of something far older.
Jace led the way, dressed in the colors of Harmonytis County. His vest was a masterpiece of black leather with stunning colored embroidery, depicting the crest of the Royal Castle of Elders, subtle and regal, in all of the county colors of Aelin. Beneath it, he wore a crisp white long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, fitted black leather pants, and polished boots. The white opal of his Guardian amulet glowed softly against the fabric, and the silver circlet with its matching opal rested on his brow, his brown hair framing it perfectly, falling in long waves almost to his waist. Jace grinned at the crowd and waved, throwing out a few kisses.
Behind him came Erik, representing Neart County, a vision of strength in deep blue, the color of the island's farming and agriculture. His vest was rich sapphire blue leather, embroidered with silver and light blue stalks of wheat and waves of grain, honoring the county that sustains the island. He also wore a white long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled, blue leather pants and boots. His sapphire amulet and circlet shone brightly against the dark fabric, his long blond hair framing his face beautifully. Erik waved and smiled his shyest smile.
Nathan followed, clad in the deep red of Draíocht County. As the Conjurer and governor of the island's seat of higher learning, his attire reflected the pursuit of knowledge. His vest was a striking crimson leather, embroidered with silver geometric patterns representing alchemy and mathematics, the symbols of Daerdon University. Crimson leather pants and boots, a white button-down shirt beneath the vest. His garnet amulet burned like a coal in the center of his chest. Nathan scanned the crowd and smiled, waving to a few familiar faces in the front rows.
Connor walked next, wearing the vibrant green of Léirstinach County. As the Visionary and governor of the county of artisans, his attire was the most elaborate of the five. His vest was rich emerald green leather, embroidered with intricate musical notes, artist's palettes, and needles, symbols of the craftsmen, tailors, seamstresses, and musicians who call his county home. He wore a white long-sleeved shirt, sleeves rolled, under the vest, emerald green leather pants and boots. The emerald amulet at his chest and the circlet on his forehead seemed to glow with their own inner light. Connor's naturally curly black ringlets spilled across his shoulders and down his back, bouncing with each step. He waved to the audience and smiled warmly.
Ricky brought up the rear, dressed in the sleek black and silver of Ainmhithe County. His vest was black leather, embroidered with shimmering silver designs of fish, wild game, and livestock, honoring the county that balances animal care with the ranching and fishing industries that sustain the island. He wore a light grey long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled, black leather pants and boots. His onyx amulet absorbed the stage lights, contrasting sharply with the silver of his attire. The circlet with its matching onyx sat on his brow, framed by his natural light auburn ringlet curls. Ricky let out a whoop and pumped his fist in the air as he hit the stage.
They took their seats on the couches lined up across the stage, the colors of their counties, white, blue, red, green, and silver, creating a stunning visual spectrum of Aelinian unity.
Mitch raised a hand to quiet the room.
"Alright, settle down. We have a lot to get through tonight. We have questions about the new album, questions about your powers, and questions about some very specific rumors involving hide-and-seek games."
Ricky leaned back on the couch and folded his arms.
"Oh god. Here we go."
Mitch pointed to the front row.
"First question comes from a young lady right here in the front. Go ahead."
A young woman stepped up to the microphone. She looked nervous but determined.
"Hi! I wanted to ask about the song 'Not Your Possession' on the new album. The lyrics are... really intense. They talk about chains and violation and shards in the soul. It's different from your usual stuff. What's that song about?"
The room went quiet. The easy warmth of the moment shifted on a dime.
Connor sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He looked at the floor for a second, collecting his thoughts. When he looked up, his expression was open, raw.
"It's about something that happened a couple of years ago. I was... taken. By a sorceress named Sorienne."
A collective gasp moved through the crowd, not shock, but shared pain.
"She was a disciple of Aldus," Connor continued. "A follower of the Conqueror."
The room stilled at the mention of that name.
"She kidnapped me. She used magic to subdue me. And she... she violated me. Not just physically, but mentally. She put a shard of her soul inside me so she could always find me, always control me. She used her magic to force my body to react against my will. The lyrics in the song... 'Hands above my head,' 'Enchanted chains at my wrists'... that's literal. That's exactly what happened."
Connor took a deep breath.
"Writing it was the only way I could get it out of my system. It's a crusher of a song, but it's the truth. And I'm okay now. I've dealt with it. I have the best therapy in the world, and brothers who can help me carry the weight."
The fan standing next to Mitch was frozen. She hadn't expected the answer to be so visceral. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them. She wiped them away quickly, looking horrified at herself for asking something that caused him pain.
Ricky leaned in, his voice dropping to a loud whisper.
"Oh great. Now I think about fifty percent of the room wants to hug the Visionary."
Nathan rolled his eyes playfully, his tone comedic.
"Oh hell, why don't we just start the line right now? Everybody forms a queue, get your hugs in."
He pointed at the stage, grinning. A couple of fans near the front actually started to rise.
"Let her start the line…no wait…kidding! I'm just kidding! Stay seated!"
"Great, dude," Ricky replied, laughing. "You just tempted fans into creating a Battle Cry kissing booth!"
Everyone was laughing, except Connor. He saw the fan wiping her face. He saw the guilt in her posture. He stood up immediately and walked toward her, holding out his hand.
"Come here, darlin'."
The fan hesitated, looking at Mitch, who nodded her toward the stairs. She walked up to the stage, her steps shaky. When she reached him, Connor didn't hesitate. He pulled her into a warm, firm hug.
"It's okay. It's okay that you asked. It helps when I talk about it, too. Really."
She held onto him, taking a slow breath. When she pulled back, she managed a weak smile.
"I'm... I'm glad you're okay."
"Thank you," Connor said softly. "Now you go be okay, too, hmm?"
She nodded as Connor gave her one last small hug and a sweet kiss on the forehead before she walked back to her seat and the crowd applauded softly.
Roxy wiped a tear from her eye.
"Oh hell, I want to hug you too!"
Connor chuckled at her and let Roxy run to him and attack him with her best bear hug. He laughed and told her he was fine and she didn't have to be crying anymore. Roxy giggled and told him she wasn't crying; she just wanted to get next to his sexy body. Connor laughed heartily, falling away from her dramatically and dissolving onto his green couch in a heap, giggling like a schoolboy. Roxy playfully strutted back to her chair, snickering.
The rest of the band playfully chastised her.
"You bad girl!" Ricky admonished. "Come here! You need a spanking!"
"Nuh-uh!" Jace exclaimed, holding his hand out at Ricky.
"No-no-no-no-no!" Erik babbled at him.
"Strat Cat…don't touch that," Nathan warned. "You don't know where it's been."
Connor had no comment. None. He was laughing too hard to manage a word.
It took a solid minute before the room found its breath again.
"SO!" Roxy called out. "Back to the question!"
Connor laughed softly, shaking his head.
"I'm fine, guys. Seriously. I got it out of the system. The song is the exorcism."
Jace chimed in from his couch.
"He's tougher than he looks."
Mitch chuckled and shook his head at Roxy.
"We have another question about the new album," Mitch announced, moving to a man in the front, who asked, "I love the video you guys did for 'Thank You Very Little,' and just wanted to know who came up with the concept for it, and just how many costume changes did you all have to do?"
The band all chuckled at Connor, pointing at him. Connor grinned knowingly and said, "I'm still plotting my revenge..."
"Revenge?" Roxy asked with a laugh. "Against which guys?"
"Every. Damned. One!" Connor emphasized with a smirk. "It's still on, man!"
Jace looked at the audience and explained, "Ya see, we spent twelve hours purposely doing everything we could think of to piss Connor off. The whole shoot. I whacked a cymbal next to his head for about five minutes. It was fantastic! It was mean, but it worked!"
"I've got a jar of spiders with your name on it, dude," Connor replied flatly.
Jace winced.
"Spiders?" Mitch gasped.
"Not just any spiders, either," Connor enthused. "Aelinian spiders. They glow. It's creepy, but really cool."
"Spiders in Aelin…glow?" Mitch asked, swallowing hard.
"Yeah," Nathan answered, surveying Mitch with slight concern. "You going to throw up or something?"
"I hate spiders," Mitch admitted. "Evil things, I think!"
Jace instantly got up, bounced down the stairs and high-fived him, then clapped a hand on Mitch's shoulder before bounding back up the stairs and dropping into his white couch.
The whole audience roared with laughter at this quick affirmation of shared arachnid hatred. Mitch was laughing just as hard, giving Jace a thumbs up.
"Smart man!" Jace called. "Very smart man!"
"You mean to tell me a big, strong, sexy man like you is afraid of a bug, Your Majesty," Roxy asked.
Jace squinted at her.
"They're creepy…" he said, dramatically playful. "And the ones in Aelin hum, too, and that only makes it worse!"
Mitch looked slightly pale at this, then quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.
"We have a more serious question now, about the 1986 kidnapping."
A fan stood.
"Hi gentlemen, I had heard that you all were kidnapped recently, and that it affected how you made Shadowlands. The record says it was recorded in Los Angeles, but I had heard you built a studio on Aelin and did it all there after the kidnapping happened. Are you all afraid to try recording in America again after having to endure two major abductions?"
"You know," Nathan admitted, "that's a fair question. When we were all taken and endured what we did, we felt like we were targets, like we had no safeguards anymore. The most logical choice was to retreat somewhere we could actually breathe, be safe, and heal from what happened to all of us. We all took a hit in one way or another. It became clear that Aelin was more than a sanctuary. It was home."
Connor nodded at Nathan and added, "I couldn't think of setting foot in Los Angeles again. I was afraid to leave Aelin for a long time."
"Part of me just wanted to hide," Erik recounted. "I didn't experience nearly what everyone else did, but I still had nightmares. I was still shaken."
Ricky went quiet, which immediately caught Roxy's attention. His face was troubled, his eyes glistening slightly.
"Sentinel," she called carefully. "You look a little sad."
"Not sad," Ricky told her softly. "Just wish I didn't remember any of it. The pain, all the fear. What we could all hear whenever they took any of us upstairs…and what we couldn't hear."
"The pain was shared," Jace explained. "I felt their pain…Connor and Nathan felt mine. Ricky and Erik heard it. We all could hear Connor's. Sure, we took an elixir to help us cope and heal from what happened, but the truth is…we will never be able to forget. And even over time it will still hurt."
Mitch exhaled slowly, visibly moved.
"Wow. That's...really heavy. Thank you for sharing that, Jason."
"You know," Roxy said, tearful, "I think I really do want to hug all of you, and it has nothing to do with how hot you all are, either. It's just very hard for me, a citizen of the island you are governing, to know how much you had to endure to ensure the security of Aelin. I just want to thank you all."
Quietly, she stood up and went to Jace first, giving him a tight hug, whispering something to him that no one else heard. She then hugged each member of the band, giving each of them a private whispered message. Then she backed up, dropped into a deep, reverent curtsy, and returned to her seat.
Mitch nodded and quipped, "I feel like hugging the whole lot of you too, but I'll spare you that horror."
The band managed a chuckle, and Ricky asked with mock surprise, "You just want to get next to our hot bods, too?"
"So NOT what I said," Mitch laughed. "Definitely not what I was saying! So… let's pivot to something lighter before we all lose it."
"Too late," Erik quipped.
"We have a question about some interesting rumors," Roxy called out. "Something about hide-and-seek?"
A fan in the middle of the room stood up.
"Hey guys! I've heard a crazy rumor that you play hide-and-seek at hotels and venues sometimes…and occasionally invite other bands to hide with you. Is that true?"
Ricky grinned.
"Oh, it's true! And let me tell you, depending on where we do it, it's the most dangerous game of tag ever played."
Erik nodded.
"We had four bands hiding one time. We almost destroyed a shopping mall. Literally."
"You played in a mall?" Mitch asked, incredulous.
Jace shrugged.
"Our friend Isabella owns it. Or, she did. We're not allowed back in the atrium anymore."
"Long story," Nathan quipped. "And for the record, none of us were anywhere near that fountain."
"I think a good question to ask," Mitch said curiously, "is why do you guys play hide-and-seek?"
"It actually works on our evasive skills," Jace explained. "It makes us all think about paying attention to what is around us: noticing small changes that hint there are others nearby, and taking covert steps to remain undiscovered."
"Are you all good at it?" Roxy asked.
Jace and Connor laughed a little and looked at Ricky, who glanced back curiously.
"What?" he asked.
"You suck at the game," Connor told him.
"I do not!" Ricky exclaimed. "I just get bored easy."
"And so he gives himself away," Nathan said. "Usually so he can eat or flirt."
"Flirt?" Roxy asked. "Who's hunting you guys in this hide-and-seek?"
"A very fine group of ladies we lovingly refer to as 'The Ladies of the Chase,'" Jace said. "A friend of ours from our early days who enjoys making us run and hide for the fun of it."
Mitch laughed and turned to the crowd.
"Alright, shifting gears. We have another question about Shadowlands."
A fan near the front stood up, holding a copy of the vinyl.
"I have to ask about 'How About No.' Jace, your vocals on that track are incredible, so gritty and breathy. And the video! The black-and-white video where you're walking through that dark house... it's intense. What was the inspiration?"
The crowd cheered loudly at the mention of the video.
Jace leaned back, draping an arm over the back of the couch. A smirk played on his lips, but there was a hardness in his eyes that hadn't been there before.
"That song," Jace said, his voice dropping into the same gritty baritone as the recording, "came from a different kind of frustration. After everything with Connor, after the attacks from Aldus... after the kidnapping… we were all tested. Sexually. Physically. People thought because we were rock stars, or because we had these powers, that we were public property. That we were up for grabs."
He sat forward slightly.
"I wrote 'How About No' because I was done. I'm done being a target. I'm not a prize to be won. I am not a piece of meat. I'm not an object to be used and abused. None of us are."
Nathan nodded.
"The video was Jace's idea. He wanted it to feel claustrophobic. Angry."
"It was filmed in this old Victorian house we found," Jace explained. "Totally dark inside. Chaotic. I walk through it, shirtless, sweating, just... angry. We filmed it in black and white to strip away the color, leaving just the emotion and the shadows. Sexy, sure, but mostly? A dismissal."
"A very hot dismissal," Roxy muttered into her mic, causing the crowd to laugh.
Jace grinned.
"Hot, maybe. But firm. The message is simple: Stop knocking. I'm not going out with you."
"Which is a message we all probably need to hear sometimes," Mitch added. "But Jace... that high note on the chorus? When you hit the word 'no' in your head voice? That gave me chills."
Jace chuckled.
"Gotta use the range. But yeah, that note... that was me screaming at the universe to back off."
Connor leaned in.
"It's a great song. But watching the video... even I was like, 'Damn, Jace. Back up.'"
The crowd laughed again.
"Hey, if you got it, flaunt it," Ricky joked.
"Within reason," Jace corrected. "And only on my terms."
Mitch nodded.
"Shadowlands is a hell of an album. Darker, harder... but it feels real."
"It is real," Jace said softly. "It's where we've been living for a while."
Mitch cleared his throat.
"Alright, shifting to the heavy magic stuff. A fan in the back wants to know about the Guardian's powers."
A fan stood up.
"Hi! This is for Jace. We know you're the Guardian, and we know you can use the other guys' powers. But what are your core powers? Like, if you were completely alone, what could you do? And is it true you can turn into a dragon?"
The crowd murmured excitedly. Jace sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Is it true? Yeah. Do I like doing it? Well, I haven't done it yet. It's... a last resort thing. A very, very painful last resort."
"Painful how?" Roxy asked, looking genuinely concerned.
Jace looked at her solemnly.
"Let's just say the first time I shift into that form, I won't walk away from it. It'll kill me."
The room pulled in a single collective breath.
"The amulet has to bring me back," Jace continued. "It's not a party trick. It's for when loss is imminent. When there's no other choice."
"So it's a last resort that can kill you," Mitch said solemnly. "But you resurrect."
"Yes," Jace replied. "And since we haven't trained for the Sacrifice of the Brotherhood, I don't know how it will feel, or how much damage it could do to me."
"Wait…" Mitch asked carefully. "The Sacrifice of the Brotherhood?"
"It's a real thing, Mitch," Roxy informed him. "I remember studying about it in school. The Guardian stands center while his brothers surround him: Visionary to the West, Conjurer to the North, Warrior to the East, and the Sentinel to the South. The four brothers completely relinquish the power of their amulets to the Guardian, who is then empowered enough to become the Guardian Dragon, if he was born with it in him…which I understand that you were, Jace. No other generation of the Brotherhood has ever had the ability of the Guardian Dragon until now."
"Not since the first Guardian, King Daeron," Jace told her. "I guess I have the ability because of him. I am descended from his line. Through my mother."
"Woah, then you are legitimate royalty," Mitch exclaimed. "Are any of the rest of you descended from other Brotherhood lines?"
"Not unless one of them was Persian," Connor quipped.
"Or a Viking," Erik joked.
"I just found out about my lineage recently," Jace admitted. "Until I was bestowed with the amulet, I always thought I was born here in Reno."
"So, you were born in Aelin then?" Mitch asked. "But why were you never told?"
Erik spoke up and answered the question.
"Because time ran out. Both of his parents passed away before they could tell him, and the rest of his tribe were told to stay quiet. They didn't do it to hurt him. It was more like they were trying to honor the promise to Aelin until he became the Guardian."
Jace nodded, a little surprised that Erik knew all of this. He let out a slow breath, then continued, his tone lighter.
"But as for my power? My core is empathy. I can feel what people are feeling: trauma, fear, joy, and I can project a sense of calm to help them heal. I also put up barriers. Energy shields. I can attack with that same energy and channel it through any weapon I use. I can manipulate the weather, both good and bad. But the big thing... I'm the anchor for the other four amulets. If they relinquish their power to me, I can wield it all, which includes becoming the Guardian Dragon."
"You guys may never get to see it," Connor said to the audience, "but he's incredible to watch in battle. He uses rhythm a lot to fight, and it's amazing to see. Especially when he fights in the air."
Ricky shuddered dramatically.
"Which is terrifying, by the way. Seeing Jace with opaline light shooting out of his hands while he's floating twenty feet up? Nothing prepares you for it."
"Floating?" Mitch asked. "You mean you can levitate, Jace?"
"Yeah," Jace said. "When I'm fully powered up, I can rise. Attack from the air. It's not flying, exactly. It's more like... the air holds me."
"Do it! Show us!" a fan shouted from the crowd.
The chant started slowly, then built to a roar.
"Show us! Show us! Show us!"
Jace looked around the room.
"Ah, guys... I feel silly doing it in here. Usually, I have to be in battle."
"You could pretend Aldus is standing next to Mitch or something," Nathan joked.
"No…then I WOULD shoot at him," Jace countered. "You know how my imagination is."
"True," Nathan agreed, nodding.
"Come on, Your Majesty! Humble the peasants!" Ricky shouted.
Jace looked at his bandmates. They all shrugged, grinning.
"Why not?" Connor said. "Safe space, right?"
"Just try not to blind everybody," Nathan chuckled.
Jace stood up.
"Fine. But I can't guarantee you won't walk out of here with your hair standing on end."
He closed his eyes, centering himself. The first thing to happen was the amulet. It flared: white, blue, green, red, and silver swirling together like a captured storm. The light grew brighter and brighter, forcing the crowd to shield their eyes.
The opal in his crown began to glow as well, matching the light of the amulet.
Then, Jace opened his eyes.
His amber-gold eyes were gone. In their place was a blinding, glowing white. Eerie, beautiful, and terrifying.
Slowly, the palms of his hands began to glow with that same white light. A shimmering aura rose from his body, swirling with opaline colors.
Then, he began to rise.
His boots left the carpet. He drifted upward, one foot slightly higher than the other, palms turned outward as if conducting the energy itself.
The crowd went wild. Mitch had stopped trying to moderate anything. Roxy stood with a hand over her mouth, tears in her eyes.
As he rose higher, level with the lighting rig, the aura intensified. Then a bow of white opaline light arced over his head, curving down around him like a halo, connecting with the aura at his waist. He was fully encased in light, hovering above the stage, looking majestic and breathtaking.
The audience stared in total silence, the only time all night the hall had gone quiet by choice.
"Yeah. Good job, Jace," Ricky murmured.
"I don't know if I'll ever completely get used to seeing him do that," Erik whispered.
Jace hovered there, the bow of light pulsing slowly. Then, he began to lower.
As he descended, the bow of light faded. The aura dimmed. The moment his boots touched the stage, the light vanished completely.
His eyes were downcast, closed. He stood there for a second, breathing slowly, letting the power recede.
Then, he raised his head and opened his eyes.
They were back to that warm, human amber-gold.
The crowd erupted. A standing ovation. Jace smiled, a little embarrassed, and took a bow before sitting back down.
"Holy shit," Mitch breathed. "That was... that was incredible!"
"It was so beautiful, Guardian," Roxy told him. "Truly breathtaking!"
"Thank you both," Jace said. "Like I said…lots of electricity."
"That was truly something, Your Majesty," Mitch said.
Roxy was right on the ball with the next question.
"Okay, so we've seen the Guardian. What about the rest of you? Any demonstrations?"
Connor stood up.
"I can do something."
He looked out at the crowd, his emerald eyes faintly glowing.
He was used to the dull roar of thoughts in a room this size, but usually he kept it filtered. He allowed his mind to open to the audience, focusing on the first two rows. Getting up from his couch, he walked to the edge of the stage and pointed at a man, asking him to stand.
"You're thinking about your mother," Connor said matter-of-factly. "About her health. A lump found under her arm."
The man nodded.
"Yes, Visionary. They just found the lump this week. She's had cancer before. We're just afraid it's come back."
Connor nodded, the man's fear settling into him through the bond, genuine, bone-deep dread of losing her again. His eyes slowly began to glow in the same emerald light as his amulet. He saw a vision of this man sitting with his mother, laughing. Years in the future. Then heard a doctor's voice: "The biopsy is benign. It's just a cyst we can easily remove."
Smiling, he looked at Garrett and said, "It's a cyst. It's not the cancer coming back. They'll still be able to remove it and she'll be fine."
"Really?"
"Really," Connor answered. "You'll see, Garrett. Just be with her and wait for the results."
"Thank you, Visionary," Garrett said with a smile.
Connor smiled back and nodded.
"When you get the results, send a message through our manager. We'll get it."
Garrett nodded, thanked him, and sat down, clearly much more relaxed.
Connor turned back around and started for his couch. He glanced over at the commentators' booth. Roxy was staring at Jace with an expression of pure adoration, but her mind was wandering. In a few directions.
He sat down to a murmur of compliments about Garrett, and then his eyebrows shot up. He looked over at Nathan, then back at Roxy, and started laughing.
"What? What is it?" Nathan asked.
"Nothing. Nothing," Connor said, grinning. "Roxy's thoughts are just... extremely vivid."
He grinned at her and then said, as if answering a question she hadn't spoken: "Why yes, I can do that with my tongue, dear. You looking to find out?"
Roxy blushed bright red.
"What!?"
"I'm the Visionary, Roxy," Connor said. "I hear thoughts. And right now... yours are very loud. And naughty..."
"Naughty? About Jace?" Nathan asked.
"Let's just say she's not thinking only about Jace," Connor teased.
Nathan blinked.
"Who else?"
Connor laughed.
"She thinks you have very nice hands, Nate. And she's imagining what they might feel like... elsewhere."
Ricky burst out laughing.
"Oh shit. This is gonna be good."
"Then she wondered about how limber my tongue really was…" Connor continued.
The audience erupted into whistles and laughter. Then a female voice from the crowd called out, "So do I!"
Connor straightened up in surprise and looked around the audience.
"Who said that? Mitch, find out who and get her number!"
Mitch and the band all cracked up. Roxy almost dissolved into hysterical laughter along with the rest of the audience.
"Down, Connor! Down!" Ricky commanded.
Nathan looked at Roxy, his eyes wide.
"I... I have no words."
Roxy was beet red, her hands covering her face.
"I can't believe I'm thinking this in front of you guys!"
"For some reason, I can!" Ricky chuckled.
Connor grinned.
"It's okay, Roxy. It's just thoughts. We won't tell anyone."
Jace chuckled.
"Except you just did, ya idiot."
"Alright, alright," Mitch said, trying to regain control, mostly of his own laughter. "Next question!"
A fan stood up.
"Hey, Nathan! Can you show us the crowns you made? I've heard they're more comfortable than the official ones."
Nathan smiled and stood. He reached up and unclipped the circlet from his forehead, holding it up for the crowd to see. The garnet stone glinted in the stage lights.
"Yeah, these are custom," Nathan explained. "The official crowns are heavy and give you a headache after a while. These are lighter, more comfortable. They fit onto the usual depressions on your head and don't pinch or cause pain, they actually prevent the headaches."
He handed the crown to Mitch, who turned it over in his hands, examining it.
"This is impressive, Nathan. Really well made," Mitch said. "They're beautiful!"
"Thanks," Nathan replied. "I wanted something practical for everyday wear. The official ones are for ceremonies and formal events. These are for when we're out and about, or on stage."
Roxy leaned in.
"And they look amazing. The stones match the amulets perfectly."
"That was the idea," Nathan said. "To tie them together. To show that we're not just rock stars; we're the Brotherhood. We're the rulers of Aelin."
Mitch nodded.
"Speaking of Aelin... we have a question about prophecy."
A fan in the front stood up slowly.
"This is for Connor. You've mentioned visions before. Is there anything new? Anything about... the end?"
The room went silent. This was the question everyone was thinking but no one wanted to ask.
Connor took a deep breath. His eyes glowed a little brighter, the emerald light swirling.
"Yes. I've seen it," he said softly. "Because this is how the prophecy came to me... 'A Brotherhood Five, tied empathic three, to destroy the Conqueror is now destiny.'"
The crowd whispered the words back.
"For six generations," Connor explained, "every Visionary got this prophecy, the same words, six times: 'A Brotherhood five, tied empathic three, to destroy The Conqueror will be destiny.' I'm the seventh, and for me it said, 'to destroy The Conqueror is now destiny.'"
"So," Roxy started, "does this mean that you are…"
"We are the generation," Connor interrupted, his voice ringing out. "The tri-fold bond between Jace, Nathan, and myself... it's never happened before. We are the ones meant to stand against Aldus. To end this."
"And we will," Jace said firmly.
"We have to," Nathan added.
"That's heavy and a little scary," Mitch said. "But I think everyone in this room holds this prophecy to be true."
The room cheered and applauded in agreement.
"Alright, we have room for a couple more questions. Let's make them count."
Mitch went to a young girl, about twelve years old, standing with her mother.
"Hi," she said nervously. "I have a question for Erik. When you were my age, did you ever wish you could be a superhero, and now that you are one, do you ever wish you were normal again?"
Erik smiled through the whole question.
"Well, I don't know if I'm really a superhero," he began, "but I do remember really getting into the stories my mother would read to me and my sister at night, Norse mythology. I wanted to be Thor and my sister insisted she was Loki. We'd run around the house trying to 'smite' each other."
"Did you ever get…smote?" Ricky asked.
"Way too often," Erik lamented. "She was the perfect Loki."
"And now you're Thor!" Connor chuckled, making Jace dissolve into chuckles.
"I don't even have a hammer!" Erik whined playfully.
"No, you have your sword. Durandach." Jace reminded him. "And you brought it."
The audience began to excitedly chatter, and Roxy exclaimed, "Oh, Lord! You brought Durandach? I've never seen it in real life, only ever read about it. Can we see Durandach, Erik? Please?"
The audience cheered enthusiastically, some chanting Erik's name. Before Erik could move, Ricky popped off the stage, a silvery ripple, and was back a moment later, handing Erik his sword in its sheath before dropping back onto his couch with a thump.
"Yer welcome, dude."
The audience went crazy the moment they saw Ricky disappear and reappear. Erik held the sword in his hands, then glanced at Ricky and asked, "What did I say about touching my sword, man?"
"Yeah, like I ever remember what you tell me, dude," Ricky answered. "Just show them the sword."
Erik smirked at him and looked over at Jace, who just shrugged and said, "Sentinel Courier Service…service with a side of smart ass!"
Everyone but Ricky laughed.
"This is Sentinel abuse!" Ricky complained theatrically.
"Oh, quiet…before I give you a wound Jace can't heal," Erik muttered.
Mitch caught that.
"Heal? Jace can heal?"
Erik winced, then looked at Jace and grinned. Jace just smirked.
"It's okay, big guy," Jace told Erik. "I keep forgetting I have a healing ability."
He looked at the audience.
"Yes, I can heal. I can heal wounds, ease sickness and pain depending on severity. But I cannot resurrect, cannot heal fatal wounds or illnesses. It's a battle skill. If someone gets injured, I can help them recover and return to fighting."
"He healed my finger once," Ricky enthused. "Felt funky, but it's like the cut never happened."
"Yeah, but like I said, Ricky," Jace reminded him. "It's to heal the sick and the injured, not the stupid."
The whole audience groaned, making Jace laugh.
"Ya see how I get treated, guys?!" Ricky exclaimed dramatically. "And all over him healing a cut."
"A cut because you touched Durandach and it bit you!" Erik stated firmly.
"Yeah, speaking of…I brought it to you for a reason," Ricky replied.
The fans roared in approval and rose to their feet, chanting Erik's name, until he stood up, unlatched the sheath from the sword's handle, and very swiftly drew it out.
The crowd cheered wildly, but Erik wasn't done. Drawing on some of his most practiced training warm-ups, he began to slash and flip the sword through the air, his footwork skilled and precise. He flipped the sword in his hand and hoisted it high, Warrior power crackling from his sapphire amulet and traveling over his body and up to Durandach. The sapphires on the hilt began to glow and blue light crackled over the blade.
The audience roared and rose to their feet again. Erik slowly lowered Durandach, smiling his thanks at the crowd. He brought it down in front of him, sapphires facing the audience. Almost on cue, the Warrior amulet pulsed brightly, and the sapphires on both Durandach and his crown responded in kind.
Connor leaned toward Jace and said, "He's going to feel the afterglow of this for a very long time."
Jace grinned and replied, "Weeks."
"More like months," Nathan chimed in. "Unless Ricky says something stupid."
"You're not Thor, Erik," Ricky suddenly proclaimed. "You're He-Man!"
"Like that?" Jace asked, deadpan.
The fans seemed to agree with Ricky and cheered even louder. Erik turned around and looked at Ricky with a crooked grin that suggested a Warrior-and-Sentinel hide-and-seek session on the Paiute reservation might be in the near future. He put Durandach back in the sheath and latched it tight, pretending to play keep-away with Ricky.
"Well, we have room for one more question," Mitch announced.
A fan waved her hand excitedly.
"Hi! This is for all of you. What's next for Battle Cry? Any big plans or announcements?"
Jace looked at his bandmates, a small smile playing on his lips.
"We're getting ready to tour for Shadowlands starting in the summer," Jace said. "We'll be on tour for almost a year. And... after that we're heading back to Aelin…to get ready for something very important."
Connor grinned at him, raising his eyebrows. Jace nodded.
"There's going to be a Royal Wedding soon," Jace said simply. "Aelin will have a queen. But we haven't officially announced it to Congress yet, so…"
The audience roared enthusiastically, and Jace stopped talking and shook his head.
"You're going to have to announce it to Congress now, dude," Ricky told him. "No way you'll get out of it once Galena finds out about this."
"Definitely," Nathan agreed. "You'll get a speech in Russian before she settles back to English."
Once the crowd settled down, Mitch smiled at Jace and asked, "Are you at liberty to tell us the future queen's name?"
Jace looked offstage, where Samantha was standing with her hand over her mouth in complete shock that he was even thinking about announcing their engagement to the fans. Jace held his hand out to her, his fingers beckoning her forward. She stepped onto the stage, taking a breath with each step, and made her way to Jace's side.
The audience applauded and cheered for her, and Samantha felt their love in it, genuinely felt it. Jace wrapped his arm around her, whispering, "I'm tired of waiting."
Samantha smiled at him, feeling the sincerity and the truth of that statement.
"This, friends and citizens of Aelin," Jace announced, "is my drum tech, my conscience, the love I never knew existed until we met, and Aelin's future queen, Samantha Wallace."
The cheers were nearly deafening. There was no taking it back now; they'd need to reach Congress before Roxy had a chance to get a full report back to Aelin Broadcasting.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty," Mitch cried happily. "Such a fantastic way to wrap this all up, and Samantha, you are as lovely as I have been told. God bless you!"
"Aelin looks forward to seeing the wedding," Roxy said emotionally, "when you will be our new High Votaress and Queen!"
Samantha thanked her and bowed to the audience graciously. Jace pulled her into a tight hug, then kissed her gently, which made the audience roar in approval.
"Okay, break it up, love birds," Ricky teased. "Are we gonna need to get you two a room?"
"Yes, quickly…" Jace quipped with an evil grin, which got a playful swat from Samantha.
Once the applause died down, Mitch turned to the crowd.
"Alright, before we wrap up, we have a little treat for you. We're going to play an excerpt from the 'How About No' video. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, here's a sneak peek."
Jace sat back down on his white couch with Samantha by his side, his arm around her.
The lights dimmed, and the video began to play on the large screen behind the band. The crowd watched in rapt attention as Jace, shirtless and sweaty, stormed through the chaotic house, debris flying around him. The black-and-white footage highlighted his muscular frame and intense expression, angry and magnetic.
As the video played, the band watched with varying expressions of amusement and embarrassment. Samantha pointed at the screen a few times, making Jace laugh or wince depending on the moment. When it ended, the crowd erupted in cheers and whistles.
Roxy, unable to contain herself, blurted out: "Oh. My. GOD…You're hot as fuck, Jace!"
She clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with shock at her own outburst. The crowd roared with laughter, and the band cracked up. The laughter turned into cheers and whistles, fans adding their own enthusiastic endorsements.
The Brotherhood's collective reaction was even better. Two of the five were on the stage floor cracking up, one had his face buried in the couch, one held his fist against his mouth to contain his laughter, and the last one, the one holding the girl who was laughing just as hard as everyone else, was approximately the color of a radish.
Mitch, trying to regain control through his own laughter, managed: "Well, Roxy, you said it. Jace, how does it feel to have such an impact on the audience?"
Jace emitted a sharp laugh, trying not to completely join Connor and Ricky on the floor.
"It feels... surreal," he managed. "I mean, I knew the video was intense, but to hear it straight from the source like that? It's humbling."
"Humbling?" Ricky chimed in, still laughing. "Dude, you look like a god. A sweaty, angry god."
Nathan nodded.
"Yeah, Jace. You're hot as fuck. Even I have to admit it."
Erik leaned in.
"And the crowd loves it. Just look at them."
The crowd was indeed going wild, chanting Jace's name and demanding more.
Jace laughed, running a hand through his hair, still blushing.
"Well, I'm glad you all enjoy it. But remember, it's just a video. The real me is just a guy who likes to play drums and sing."
"A guy who looks hot as fuck doing it," Samantha added, snickering, and it was apparently heard over Jace's lapel mic, because the crowd and Roxy both erupted in approval.
Jace laughed and bowed forward, pulling all of his hair in front of his face and holding it there. Samantha tried to get him to stop looking like Cousin It, until Jace finally flipped his hair back into place and allowed her to smooth it out for him. He double-checked to make sure the crown was still in place, then sat on the couch quietly. His face hadn't found its way back from crimson yet.
Mitch nodded.
"And now that we've all embarrassed the ever-loving hell out of King Elias, it's time to wrap up. Thank you to Battle Cry for joining us and giving us such an incredible evening. Remember, Shadowlands is out now, and the tour starts this summer. Don't miss it! You can find the video for 'How About No' in heavy rotation on MTV. Thank you all for being here tonight!"
The crowd cheered as the band stood up, waving to the audience. They walked off the stage, leaving the hall filled with the echo of their music and the love of their fans.
After the panel ended and the crowd had dispersed, Mitch and Roxy found the Brotherhood backstage in the green room. The band was still in their formal Aelinian attire, though Jace had removed his crown and was running his fingers through his hair, working out the tension from wearing it for so long.
"That was incredible, you guys," Mitch said, shaking hands with each of them. "Seriously. Best panel I've ever moderated."
"Best panel I've ever been part of," Roxy added, and her eyes kept finding Jace and Samantha, sitting close together on one of the couches. "And speaking of incredible... can we talk about that bombshell announcement?"
Jace looked up, his expression both sheepish and resolute.
"Yeah. About that."
Roxy held up her hands.
"Before you say anything, I want you to know, I'm not going to air anything about the engagement until you've made the official announcement to the Aelinian Congress. I promise."
Jace's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Thank you, Roxy. That means a lot."
"Are you kidding?" Roxy grinned, her eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement. "I'm just honored to be one of the first in the media to know. This is huge, Jace. Aelin's been waiting for their king to choose a queen for... well, since you took the throne."
"I didn't choose her because of the throne," Jace said quietly, his hand finding Samantha's. "I chose her because I love her."
"We know," Roxy said softly. "Anyone watching you two can see that. And that's what makes it beautiful."
Mitch stepped forward, extending his hand to Jace.
"Congratulations, man. To both of you." He shook Jace's hand firmly, then turned to Samantha. "You're getting a good one. Crazy, maybe. But good."
Samantha laughed.
"I'm learning that."
"So," Mitch said, his tone shifting to business, "when will the regular media be able to report on this? Just as a Battle Cry story, my station would love to be the first to break the news."
Jace glanced at Nathan, who shrugged with a knowing smile.
"We'll make sure to give you the heads up before the rest of the press," Jace promised. "Your station can be the first to report it. You've earned that."
Mitch's face lit up.
"Seriously? Man, thank you. That's... that's huge for us."
"Just don't jump the gun," Nathan warned. "We need to tell Congress first. Galena will have our heads if we don't follow protocol."
"Especially mine," Jace muttered.
Roxy laughed.
"Oh, you're definitely going to get an earful from the Prime Minister. But hey, you're the king. What's she going to do?"
Jace gave her a flat look.
"You clearly haven't experienced Galena when she's angry."
"Fair point," Roxy conceded. "I've seen her negotiate with world leaders. She's terrifying."
Connor, listening from his spot on the other couch, grinned.
"She's going to give you the full Russian lecture before she switches back to English. Complete with hand gestures. She might even throw something."
"And probably a few choice words about protocol and proper procedure," Erik added.
Ricky snickered.
"And then she'll hug you and tell you she's happy for you."
"After she's done being furious," Nathan clarified.
Jace sighed.
"Yeah. I know. But it's worth it."
Samantha squeezed his hand.
"You sure about that?"
"Absolutely," Jace said, looking at her with such open affection that Roxy actually put a hand over her heart.
"Okay, that's it," Roxy said. "I can't handle how sweet you two are. I'm going to cry again, and I've already cried twice tonight."
Mitch laughed.
"Alright, we'll let you guys get out of here. You've had a long night." He paused at the door. "Seriously, though. Thank you for being so open with the fans. And with us. It meant a lot."
"Thank you for giving us the space to do it," Jace replied.
After Mitch and Roxy left, the Brotherhood began to pack up their formal attire, preparing for the drive back to the reservation. The energy was lighter now, the weight of the panel already lifting.
"I still can't believe you levitated in front of a thousand people," Ricky said, shaking his head.
"I can't believe Roxy called you hot as fuck," Connor countered, grinning at Jace.
"Neither can I," Samantha added, laughing.
Jace buried his face in his hands.
"Can we please never speak of that again?"
"Absolutely not," Nathan said cheerfully. "That's going to be brought up for years."
"Decades," Erik corrected.
"The rest of your life," Ricky finished.
Jace groaned, but he was smiling.
The drive back to the reservation was quiet, the SUVs cutting through the Nevada night with only the soft glow of headlights illuminating the desert road. Jace sat in the passenger seat again, Samantha's hand in his from the back seat.
When they arrived at Tobin's house, the rest of the Brotherhood dispersed to their various sleeping arrangements, leaving Jace and Samantha alone in the room they'd been sharing.
Samantha sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Jace carefully hung up his formal vest and removed his boots. He moved slowly, methodically.
"How are you feeling?" she asked softly.
Jace looked up at her, something still processing behind his eyes.
"Honestly? I don't know yet."
Samantha patted the bed beside her, and he came over, sitting down with a sigh. She took his hand, her thumb tracing gentle circles over his knuckles.
"Talk to me," she said. "How did it feel, talking about the kidnapping? About everything?"
Jace was quiet, staring at their joined hands.
"It was... harder than I expected," he admitted. "But also easier, in a way. The fans, the Oath Holders, they already know the stakes. They know what we're fighting. I didn't have to explain or justify or soften anything. I could just... tell the truth."
"And Connor," Samantha said gently. "That must have been hard for him too."
"It was," Jace agreed. "But he handled it beautifully. He always does." He paused. "Seeing that fan cry because she asked... that hit me. She felt guilty for making him relive it. But Connor turned it into a moment of healing. For both of them."
Samantha nodded.
"He has a gift for that. For finding the light even in the darkest moments."
"We all do, I think," Jace said. "We've had to."
They sat in silence before Samantha spoke again.
"What about the other part? The 'hot as fuck' part?"
Jace groaned, dropping his head into his hands.
"Please don't."
Samantha laughed, nudging him with her shoulder.
"Come on. You had to know people would react that way to the video. You're walking through that house shirtless, sweaty, looking like some kind of angry god. It's incredibly sexy."
"It's supposed to be angry," Jace protested.
"It's both," Samantha said. "Angry and sexy. And clearly, I'm not the only one who thinks so."
Jace looked at her, his amber-gold eyes searching hers.
"Does it bother you? Women being that blatant about it?"
Samantha considered the question.
"Honestly? No. Because at the end of the day, you're coming home to me. They can look, they can fantasize, they can even shout about it at conventions. But you're mine."
Jace smiled, a slow, warm smile that undid her.
"Damn right I am."
"So why did you announce it?" Samantha asked. "To the fans, before Congress? You had to know Galena would be furious."
Jace's expression turned serious.
"Because I'm tired of waiting," he said simply. "I'm tired of keeping us a secret. I'm tired of pretending that you're just my drum tech when you're so much more than that. You're the love of my life, Samantha. You're going to be my wife, my queen. And I want the world to know it."
Samantha felt tears prick her eyes.
"Even if it means facing Galena's wrath?"
"Even then," Jace said firmly. "She'll lecture me. She'll probably yell at me in Russian. But she'll understand eventually. And if she doesn't..." He shrugged. "I'm the king."
Samantha laughed, wiping at her eyes.
"It's good to be the king," she quoted, doing her best Mel Brooks impression.
Jace blinked, then burst out laughing.
"Did you just quote History of the World, Part I at me?"
"I did," Samantha said, grinning. "And I stand by it."
Jace pulled her close, still laughing.
"God, I love you."
"I love you too," Samantha whispered against his chest.
They stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms. Then Jace pulled back slightly, his hand coming up to cup her face.
"Thank you," he said softly. "For standing beside me tonight. For being brave enough to step onto that stage. For agreeing to this insane life."
"Thank you for choosing me," Samantha replied. "For loving me. For trusting me with your heart."
Jace kissed her then, slow at first, and then deeper, more urgent, until they tumbled back onto the bed together, hands exploring, the rest of the world forgotten.
They made love slowly, tenderly, in no hurry at all. Afterward, they lay tangled together in the sheets, Samantha's head resting on Jace's chest, his fingers trailing lazy patterns over her bare shoulder.
"I'm so happy," Samantha murmured, half-asleep.
"Me too," Jace whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
As he drifted off to sleep, a thought surfaced, distant, almost amused.
He could practically hear Galena's Russian irritation all the way from Aelin.
He smiled into the darkness.
Let her be angry. He'd deal with it tomorrow.
Tonight, he was exactly where he was meant to be.