“We will stay the night,” Dracon said to Satana, “Tomorrow we will return home.”
“With our blessing, and thanks,” Queen Jenzenya said.
“Why don’t you see to your ladies, Venalina, I wish to discuss trade between Qinkas and Ganlin,” Dracon said urging her to leave, she knew he was up to something and it made her happy.
“Yes, of course,” She said then left them alone. Satana sat at the table in Venalina’s seat after she left the room.
“I don’t mean to sound selfish, your highness,” Satana explained as she sat, “It just seems impossible to go home and help you. It would require staying, and even if we did stay, these nobles would think that we couldn’t get home. Then they would have no fear of us, or reprisals.”
“She is right,” Queen Jenzenya said, “In either case, it seems I am on my own.” Dracon sat back in his seat, smiling.
“What?” Satana asked, “I know that look, what do you have in mind?”
“You do realize,” He said, “Venalina can open a portal home whenever she pleases, and vice versa?” Satana’s eyes lit up. Queen Jenzenya sat up in her seat hopeful.
“That’s right!” Satana exclaimed, “If they knew we could come and go as we please?”
“Then our words have more weight,” Dracon said, “Let’s set a meeting with the nobles, the three leaders of this would-be rebellion.”
“At once.” Queen Jenzenya stood from the table, leaving them alone.
“Go get Venalina for me.” Dracon ordered Satana.
Venalina returned shortly with Satana. Dracon let them know his mind, “Are you able? Or do you need to feed?” He asked wanting to make sure she was going to be at full strength for the display of magic he intended for her to perform.
She smiled deviously, “No, I will be just fine.”
“Let’s scare the revolt right out of these soft asses!” Satana growled, smiling.
“Satana,” Dracon said, “Where are Simon and the others?”
“I relieved them, they are probably at a local tavern, Simon is probably with Elyon’s niece again.” She said.
“I’m not going to need you for this,” Dracon said walking around the table opposite to the door, “Go collect them and get ready to go home.”
Satana’s face lit up, “Yes my lord, right away!” She almost ran from the room. It wasn’t long before Queen Jenzenya arrived with the nobles. Tasar entered first, then Castien and Elyon. Another man Dracon had not met before, trailed them into the room. Queen Jenzenya walked over to Dracon, “My lord, you all know each other,” she said then looked at the new young man, “This is Hagen Olana, eldest son of Durlan, overseeing his dealings while he is a way,” The young man walked over to Dracon and shook his hand eagerly.
“It is an honor to meet you, your grace,” He said then bowed his head after shaking his hand, “How fares my father? I hope all is well with him?”
“It is indeed, in fact, I have letters from him for each of you, I think you’ll be pleased.” Dracon walked to the head of the table and sat where Queen Jenzenya had been sitting earlier, she joined him to his left. Castien sat across from Dracon, Tasar sat to his right along with Elyon. Hagen sat on his left.
“Welcome back, your grace,” Castien said as Dracon put four letters on the table, then Venalina made a blowing motion with her lips pursed together, making each letter find their proper place before the men. Hagen looked at Venalina with awe and wonder. Tasar, however looked at her with disgust.
“I must say, Tasar,” Dracon said sitting very relaxed in his seat, “The way you look at my queen, makes me want to tear your throat out.” Tasar looked at Dracon in the same way. Castien sat up in his seat, surprised at Dracon’s words, then looked at Tasar, then back to Dracon.
“I’m sure he meant no disrespect, your grace,” Castien said, Elyon and Hagen also sat up, concerned about the comment. Dracon and Tasar stared at each other with a mutual disgust.
“Your grace,” He said almost spitting the words, “We have only your word, you are a king and we opened up our city to you like a flower in the sun,” Tasar looked around at every one of his countrymen, “You all make me sick!” Tasar stood up, stepping toward the door a few steps then turned back around.
“Tasar!” Castien stood up walking over to him.
“No! This charade has gone on long enough!” he said jerking away from Castien. Dracon remained seated and relaxed. Venalina reflected the same, very relaxed, unconcerned posture, as her king, “Who’s to say he doesn’t return in full force and take Qinkas! He has the Priests of O’on, like Terrax, and like Terrax, he has a kina!” Dracon looked over at Venalina, “How long until he shows his colors! And you all belly up to him like dogs!” Castien stepped away from Tasar, not being able to stop him from his outburst. He stood looking at Dracon with a snarl, waiting.
“What do you want, Tasar?” Dracon finally asked, “Do you wish to have it out with me? Maybe send some of your men to try and kill me?” he smirked. Tasar stared at him with such contempt it almost made Dracon laugh.
“I want you and that thing out of my kingdom!” Tasar yelled back.
“Your kingdom,” Dracon replied, “I think I see the truth of it now.”
“Your grace,” Castien started, “Maybe we should take a break?”
“From what?” Dracon asked, “The truth?”
“Maybe cooler heads,” Castien replied.
“Did you know he forbade Alyndra from seeing me?” Tasar said to Castien cutting him off, “We had a deal! She belongs to me!” Dracon chuckled and stood up.
“Castien’s daughter’s? Is that what bothers you?” Dracon nodded to Venalina, who motioned for Queen Jenzenya to stand behind her. Tasar started to speak when Venalina began hissing a spell at the wall behind Dracon, she pointed at it as she hissed her words, then with both hands in front of her, like she was ripping open curtains, she ripped open space and time, creating a tear in the wall to the lands of Ganlin, on a cliff overlooking a magnificent city, with a towering palace on a hill at its center. Fresh night air filled the room with a breeze behind it, “Behold,” Dracon said standing and turning to face the portal, “Ganlin…” he trailed off to a whisper, awed by what he saw. A palace, a city, on his lands? He looked intently into the portal, almost drawn to stepping through. He verified they were looking out from the cliff that was on the edge of Charnio’s region, he knew the area well. It was his home, but far from how he left it. Venalina looked back at him smiling, then her smile left, replaced with concern. She thought that maybe she made a mistake. Dracon spotted her look, then smiled, knowing what she was thinking, “I can go and return at my pleasure,” Dracon turned back around, “If it was my intention to steal Queen Jenzenya’s throne, I would not have saved you from any of it,” He said taking his seat again, “Sit down,” Dracon said staring at Tasar. Their faces spoke volumes. Behind Dracon the portal shut, “I have legions and my disposal, my brothers each have an army of their own. What you saw there was my humble home. I have five siblings, each with a region and home of their own. Our capital is much larger than my home.”
“Why don’t you just return and leave us be,” Tasar said much more subdued.
“We can be friends, we can be allies, we can be enemies,” Dracon said narrowing his eyes at Tasar, “You have that choice to make, as for Queen Jenzenya, I stand at her side, I will support her in full force. Consider carefully your next words.” The men looked at each other not wanting to have a debate in front of Dracon. Then Castien spoke up.
“May we have some time alone, your grace?” he said. Dracon gave him a nod then stood and offered his arm to Venalina. They walked out together, but before leaving the room, Dracon turned to Tasar.
“Don’t run off, Tasar, or I will come find you.” He said then they left them alone with their queen.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Queen Menina sat in her throne room watching a band of traveling acrobats that had entered the city. They disgusted her. Th
ey were dirty, poor, and desperate to please her. Ohmbryn suggested she allow them to perform for her, to make the people see her as a patron of arts, even arts of the common people. Their performance wasn’t too horrible to watch, but she could not get passed how dirty they appeared. Making it worse, they wore white face paint that made them look gray. Renic arrived at the side of the court as the performance of acrobats stopped, being replaced by a minstrel who began to sing a ballad of Dracon. Queen Menina almost laughed outright at them, hardly able to contain herself. She would have preferred to hear an elven lyre and singing, in the beautiful elven tongue by an elven musician. They were much less sophisticated than what she was used to. She saw Renic waiting in the wings, away from her throne, then nodded him over to join her side. She shooed Ohmbryn away with a wave of her hand, Renic replaced him standing at the right side of her throne.
“Sit here, Renic,” She motioned for him to sit in her father’s throne, the same one Menina sat in growing up, watching her mother rule. Now she sat in her mother’s throne, for no other reason than to feel close to her in her absence. Renic was apprehensive, staring at his father’s throne. Queen Menina may have grown up sitting in it, but none of her brothers would have never dared, even now he shied away, “Oh come on, it’s just a chair,” She said, Renic relented. He sat down like he was sitting on an egg, making Queen Menina laugh at him, “You’re almost as funny as this pathetic performance,” She said, “What do you want?” She said smiling at the minstrel, pretending to enjoy his song.
“I think we should watch Charnio,” He said, “He may do something…”
“Stupid?” She said without looking at him.
“Impetuous,” Renic said choosing not to call his brother stupid.
“That’s what I said,” She giggled to herself, amused, “What do you want me to do Renic? You’ve always been the smart one.” She said mocking him.
“Too bad brains are no match for deceit,” He replied. She glared over at him.
“Do you want to do this now?” She asked, “Do you want another necklace, is that what you want?” He took a deep breath and grimaced.
“I think he is going act, sooner than later,” Renic said, “I want to put a man in his manor.”
“He’ll kill him,” Queen Menina said right away, “Charnio will not take on any new men, especially any that served his hated brothers, unless they came from Dracon? That Alkwin is not as stupid as Charnio is.”
“So, do I have your permission?” Renic asked.
“No, he’ll sniff it out, what’s the point? We’ll learn nothing and lose a soldier,” Queen Menina said, “You can’t spare any men with all that already left to join Velen, at Dragons claw.” Renic sat back in his father’s throne.
“Have you seen it?” He asked after a minute.
“Seen what?” She asked.
“Dragons claw,” He said. She scoffed then chuckled.
“I’ve seen it before, it’s just a cold dead mountain, why he chose to put a home on that cliffs edge at the top of a small mountain, I’ll never know.” Queen Menina said shaking her head.
“It was strategic, only one way up,” Renic said.
“And out, he would be trapped if attacked,” Queen Menina replied.
“You don’t understand war, or your brother,” She laughed at him as he spoke, “He was the greatest battle strategist Ganlin has ever known. Why do you think father favored him so? He has won every battle he fought, since he was old enough to fight. It was he that drove Terrax to call for a final battle.”
“Oh, you hero worship him, I get it, he was fathers favorite and that’s what you wanted to be, all of you give him too much credit.” Queen Menina sat back relaxing in her throne.
“The city is not as it was when he left, dear sister, it outshines even Urixis now,” Renic said satisfied with the knowledge, even if she didn’t believe him.
“I know people went there, but how big could it really be? I think you’re exaggerating,” Queen Menina turned in her seat to face him.
“How do you think not trading with Dragons Claw almost crippled Urixis, no small village would have that kind of effect on the great city of Urixis?” Renic said, “It is a capital city now, Menina, you’d do well to take a look, ignorance of its political, and economic power, could be crippling. I, even have to trade with it more than with Urixis,” She scowled at him for that bit of information, “Don’t look at me like that, they have surpluses of food we can’t even begin to make for ourselves. My region has no farms, only mines of silver and iron, nowhere can we grow food. Urixis barely feeds itself let alone the rest of us like it used to.”
“Maybe we’ll investigate it,” She said looking back at a new performance that began, a simple magician. She shook her head at the absurdity of it. She was true magic; this simpleton and his card tricks was more a comedian, than magician.
“And Charnio?” he asked.
“I’ll think about it,” Queen Menina said waving her hand at him dismissively, “Go away now, stand with the others over there, you irritate me.” She pointed at others who stood to the side of the court in attendance. Renic did as he was told. She sat back once again in her throne and started to slouch down in it, like she was going to go to sleep. Renic had good points, but just like when they were young, she would never admit it to his face. The troupe of performers finished their show and stood before Queen Menina, taking a bow, the crowd around them clapped. Queen Menina stood and thanked the performers for a delightful show. She made sure they were paid enough to brag about. She wanted the people to love her, even if she despised most of them. A string quartet began to play, making her smile, she could see Ohmbryn next to the group of elven musicians who were playing for her. She loved it. It made her sway like she was dancing all the way back to her throne, and continue to sway back and forth while she sat. Ohmbryn approached her and bowed low.
“Your highness,” He said.
“Ohmbryn, how did you know I wanted to hear them play?” She asked.
“Oh, I assumed after that display of so called entertainment, you might be in the mood for a palette cleanser,” He said with a smile, “Wine your highness?”
“Oh, yes, bring me wine, and Elmyra,” She smiled, then she noticed something behind Ohmbryn near the center of the court. It made him turn around to look as well. Queen Menina could see it was magic in the air, she recognized it immediately, “Guards!” she yelled, her elven guards moved in front of her in a semi-circle around the throne to protect her on all sides. Unlike Queen Menina, no one else could see it, yet. A visible rip tore through the air before her, she looked on in awe, she knew what it was, then just as quickly, who that meant it had to be, “Dracon,” She whispered to herself. She could see the people on the other side of the portal.
Dracon was speaking to Queen Jenzenya then he shook her hand and faced the portal. He stepped through to the throne room floor followed by Venalina on his right and Satana on his left. Then Venalina’s ladies stepped through timidly, and finally, Danyll and Fowlin. The Portal vanished behind them, and the world was whole again. People screamed, frightened by the event and the sudden appearance of Dracon and his men. Dracon stepped forward toward Queen Menina, the elven guards pointed their spears at him, “Stand down!” Queen Menina yelled at them. The guards stepped aside. Queen Menina stood from her throne and walked down the steps to Dracon. She feared everything his arrival meant, suddenly all her plans evaporated, all her scheming was gone. She looked up into her brother’s face, his warm smile looking back at her. She mustered an overwhelming sadness, long lost and deep inside her. She threw her arms around him and collapsed into him. The only plan left to her was one of the little scared girl inside her, she wept, like sad little girl. She made herself remember the loss of Treska and Ayana. She used the memory to make herself cry. Dracon returned her hug. Ohmbryn watched on horrified at what he thought was her losing her nerve. She was very convincing.
“I’m home, Menina.” Dracon whispered to her.
>
Copyright © 2018 by Michael T. Payne
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing, 2018
ISBN #:
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Michael T. Payne
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