by Ben Wolf
Lilly chuckled. “It’s not that. I just don’t think you’ll ever actually let us go.”
“You can’t fault me for wanting you around. You’re my one and only daughter, and I love you.”
“I love you too, Father.” Lilly pulled away from him. “But we need to leave tonight.”
Avian sighed, but nodded. “If that’s what you desire, then so be it.”
“Nice.” Riley smirked. When Avian glowered at him again, he started to back into the shadow of one of the pillars. “You know what? Just ignore me. I’m not even here.”
“Ganosh will provide you with the rest of your supplies,” Avian said.
Lilly hugged Avian and smiled. “Thank you.”
After their hug, Avian grabbed Falcroné by the sides of his breastplate as he had earlier that day. “Protect her. If she’s not with you when you return, don’t bother returning at all.”
Falcroné nodded. “I understand.”
“Go.” Avian waved them away. “Before I change my decision, go. And don’t forget to say goodbye to your mother, Lilly.”
She smiled again. “I won’t.”
Calum saluted Avian again and bowed. “Thank you, Premier. We’ll bring her back safely.”
Axel, Magnus, Kanton, and Riley followed Calum toward the doors, and Lilly and Falcroné landed next to him and walked alongside him.
Then the throne room doors swung open before them, stopping the group in their tracks as a cluster of large dark-green figures stepped inside. Not Saurians—Sobeks, like Magnus. Six of them.
A pristine golden breastplate decorated the chest of the lead Sobek, who towered over the rest of the Sobeks by at least six inches. He had to be nearly eight feet tall—even larger than Magnus.
Four of the others wore black breastplates, and the last Sobek, shorter and stockier than the others yet still over seven feet tall, wore a scratched-up brown breastplate. His scarred face was stuck somewhere between a snarl and a perpetual sneer.
Calum couldn’t help but stare as he passed them. They didn’t give him a second look, but the lead Sobek eyed Magnus for a moment before refocusing on Avian.
“That’s Vandorian in the lead,” Falcroné whispered to Calum. “He’s the nephew of Kahn, the Dragon King of Reptilius.”
“He’s huge. And I thought Magnus was big.” Calum glanced over his shoulder. “Do you know him, Magnus?”
But Magnus wasn’t walking behind them anymore.
Instead, he followed the group of Sobeks—and his hand was clamped around the hilt of his broadsword.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The shing of Magnus’s broadsword leaving its sheath sent shivers ratcheting through Riley’s body. There wasn’t supposed to be a fight here, now, but Magnus was starting one anyway.
One by one, the Sobeks turned back to face Magnus as he charged toward them with a room-rattling roar.
The first Sobek took the worst blow—a deadening shot to his scaled snout from Magnus’s left fist. Magnus passed by the Sobek with the brown armor, who stepped well clear of Magnus’s path and didn’t even try to intervene. Then Magnus drove his shoulder into another of the Sobeks in black.
The final two Sobeks in black drew their own swords and positioned themselves between Magnus and the tall Sobek in gold, who finally turned back to assess the commotion behind him. Magnus ducked under the first Sobek’s swing, parried the second Sobek’s blow, and broke through to the lead Sobek with ease.
With another roar, he leaped at the Sobek in gold with his sword raised.
The lead Sobek showed no sign of fear, concern, or any emotion. Instead, he lunged forward as Magnus began to swing his blade and delivered a colossal blow to Magnus’s breastplate with his fist.
The punch reversed Magnus’s trajectory and knocked him back several feet. He skidded along the marble floor, and as his back smacked against one of the pillars, his broadsword clattered out of reach.
Three of the four Sobeks in black swarmed Magnus with their swords ready.
Riley had seen enough. Anyone who could hit Magnus hard enough to make him drop his sword was someone Riley had no intention of tangling with.
Amid the shouts of Calum, Falcroné, and Avian, Riley darted away from the group and took refuge in the shadow of one of the pillars. Fighting now was a terrible idea. Definitely not against six Sobeks.
Falcroné took to the air and zipped toward the Premier, whose four guards formed a barrier between him and the Sobeks’ scuffle.
Calum drew his sword and hurried to join Magnus, and Lilly, Kanton, and Axel followed him, but the Sobek in brown, still upright, positioned himself between them and Magnus. He hissed at them and drew a ragged-looking curved sword.
“Enough,” a thunderous voice boomed, shaking Riley to his core.
The lead Sobek still hadn’t drawn his sword, but the entire room ceased to move at his command. He stood in place, his face as calm as when he had leveled Magnus, and all eyes watched him.
“Get him up,” he ordered. “Hold him.”
The three Sobeks pulled Magnus to his feet. He strained against them, but they anchored him in place.
The lead Sobek tilted his head. “Bring him to me.”
They dragged Magnus over to within ten feet of him, and Magnus roared, but he still couldn’t get free.
“Be silent.” The lead Sobek narrowed his eyes. “I know you, do I not?”
Magnus hissed at him, long and low. Riley had scarcely ever heard a more threatening sound, and it sent chills spiraling through his body.
“Please, Magnus.” The lead Sobek shook his head. “That is no way to treat your brother, is it?”
Riley’s eyes widened.
The tension in Calum’s body went slack. Vandorian and Magnus were brothers? But that meant—
“Calum!” Axel shouted.
Calum barely got his sword into position in time to absorb the blow from the Sobek in brown, and Axel joined him. But the force of his swing sent both Calum and Axel sliding across the marble floor until they smacked into one of the pillars, just as Magnus had.
“Hold, Oren.” Vandorian’s voice filled the whole throne room once again.
“No one ’oo raises arms ’gainst my lord or me gets off wiffout punishment.” Oren almost spat the words.
“You have made your point. Hold.”
“What is the meaning of this?” Avian asked from behind his Royal Guard.
“Patience, Premier.” Vandorian gave a slight bow and held his right fist against his gilded chest. When he spoke, his voice carried an air of distinction and superiority to it. “All will be revealed soon.”
Calum pushed himself up first, then helped Axel to his feet. Kanton and Lilly darted over to them, their weapons ready should Oren attack again, but instead he sheathed his weathered old curved sword and scowled at them.
“I hardly recognized you—until you chose to attack me.” A smirk formed on Vandorian’s lips. “But now you stand before me, wearing our father’s old Blood Ore breastplate, and wielding his old broadsword. When last I saw you, you were a tiny lizard. Now you’re a Sobek, just like me. You have certainly grown, brother.”
Little? To Calum, Magnus had never been little.
“You ceased to be my brother the day our father died,” Magnus uttered.
“That was a tragic day, indeed. I am surprised you survived, to tell you the truth.” Vandorian clacked his talons on his breastplate, just like Magnus often did. “We thought you were dead.”
Avian motioned for Falcroné to come near. He whispered something to him, and Falcroné darted through one of the throne room’s side doors.
“It takes more than the likes of you and your seditious warriors to kill me.”
With every word, Magnus’s mysterious past further unraveled before Calum’s eyes.
“Clearly.” Vandorian stepped closer to Magnus. “Tell me, brother, where you came by a Dragon Emerald?”
“That is none of your concern,” Magnus growled.
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“It is my concern. There are no more Dragon Emeralds in Reptilius, or anywhere, that we know of.” Vandorian eyed the leather pouch that hung from Magnus’s belt.
“Take your query to our uncle instead.”
Vandorian snorted. “Or I can take yours.”
Magnus jerked and thrashed against the Sobeks who held him, but he couldn’t get free.
Vandorian reached for the pouch.
“Stop this at once, Vandorian.” Avian’s voice split the commotion. He hovered behind his guards with steel in his eyes. “I did not receive you into my realm that you might steal from my guests.”
Vandorian retracted his hand. He glanced at Calum and faced Avian. “No, Premier, but your ‘guests’ have attacked my warriors and me.”
“Then we will deal with them under our laws. They are not subject to your command, nor is any of their property.”
“This Saurian is a wanted fugitive, partially responsible for the death of our father, the mighty Dragon King Praetorius.”
“That’s a lie!” Magnus shouted.
Calum’s mouth dropped open. It all made sense now.
“He fled the Crimson Keep five years ago, unbeknownst to us. We thought he was killed the same day of his rebellion.” Vandorian’s head swiveled and he stared at Magnus. “I am taking him back with me for judgment.”
“No, you are not.”
Vandorian turned back and he glared at Avian. His voice lowered and sharpened, losing most of its regal tone. “What did you just say to me?”
“I said you’re not taking them with you.” Avian returned Vandorian’s glare with one of his own. “Magnus has attained citizenship here and is partly responsible for my daughter’s safe return. He is now under my authority, and thus he is mine to protect.”
“I am taking him, and that is final,” Vandorian insisted. His voice low and threatening again, he added, “And you cannot stop me.”
Avian floated toward him, beyond the safety of his men, until they were eye to eye. “If you remove him or any of his property from this fortress—even from this room—I will treat it as an act of war.”
Calum glanced at Lilly, but she just gave him a slight shrug. An act of war? Over Magnus? What had gotten into Avian all of a sudden?
Vandorian’s jaw hardened, and he exhaled a long hiss through his nose. “You would not dare. We would annihilate your people and destroy your fortress within less than one day. We have Kahn, a direct descendant of the original Saurians first created by the Overlord, the only dragon known to Kanarah. You tiny birds are no match for his might.”
A loud slam sounded from the back of the room. All heads turned for a look as General Balena stormed into the throne room, followed by dozens of armored Wisps and Windgale soldiers who filled the air. They surrounded Vandorian and his Sobeks with weapons brandished and blocked the exits.
“Sheathe your weapons immediately,” General Balena bellowed, “or we will view your noncompliance as a threat to the Premier’s security, and we will be forced to attack.”
At the word “attack,” every Windgale soldier in the room pointed the tips of their weapons at the Sobeks. Calum froze in place until Axel and Kanton pointed their weapons at Oren, then Calum did as well. Like Avian had said—they were not taking Magnus.
Oren drew his old curved sword again and beckoned them forward with his long green fingers. “C’mere, li’l babies. Let’s see ’ow you fare.”
“Easy, Oren.” Vandorian chuckled, at first, then he shook his head. “Premier, I came here as a gesture of goodwill to honor your daughter for her engagement, and you receive me with a third of your army?”
“The engagement party was several days ago, and this isn’t even close to a third of our army.” Avian’s voice didn’t waver. “Now do as General Balena commands, and tell your warriors to sheathe their swords, or we will take action against you. We may be ‘tiny birds,’ but with enough of us, we can yet peck you to death. There is no need for you to die today.”
After a long pause, Vandorian nodded to his Sobeks. “Do as he says.”
All of them except Oren complied. Instead, he leaned toward Calum, Axel, and Kanton and bared his jagged teeth in what almost passed for a smile. “I ain’t afraid of any o’ you bugs. Come at me, an’ you’ll learn the true meanin’ of sufferin’. Make your move, li’l babies.”
“Oren.” Vandorian’s voice cut through the tension. “Sheathe your sword, or I’ll use your hide to reupholster my throne.”
Oren grunted but straightened his spine and sheathed his old sword. “Next time, babies. Next time.”
“Release Magnus,” Avian said.
Vandorian straightened to his full height. “By Saurian law, we are within our rights to—”
“Look around you, Vandorian,” Avian cut in. “You’re not in Reptilius. These walls are blue crystal, not red granite. The floors are white marble, not black obsidian. In the Sky Realm, you will obey Sky Realm laws. Those who do not will be punished.”
“And what will happen to Magnus for his attack on me?” Vandorian tilted his head. “What justice will you dole out, oh great and powerful Premier?”
“The punishment will fit the crime, but it is no concern of yours. We will deal with him in our own way, as we would any citizen of our realm.”
“How can I be assured—”
“You can’t,” Avian snapped. “But as I said, it is not your concern. You will leave him to us for judgment, and then you will leave.”
“We traveled a great distance to pay homage to your daughter and her fiancé. You would send us away?”
“My daughter is in this very room, hovering near your anxious friend in the brown breastplate.” Avian nodded toward Lilly. “You’ll know her by her blonde hair, her pink armor, and her overly ambitious personality. You may honor her this very moment.”
Vandorian’s head turned, and he found Lilly. He started toward her with a cunning grin on his face that made Calum want to put himself between the two of them, but Avian’s voice stopped Vandorian’s progress first.
“That’s far enough, Vandorian. You can wish her well from that distance.”
“Had I wanted to do that, I would not have journeyed so far to do it in person.”
“Even so, you’ll do it now all the same.”
Vandorian grunted, then he donned a malicious smile. “All the best, Princess, to both of you in your forthcoming nuptials. I had a gift for the both of you, but in light of all this chaos, I seemed to have—misplaced it. Do forgive my thoughtlessness. I’ll just have to bring you something extra on your wedding day.”
Lilly lowered her bow and arrow and faked a smile of her own. “Thank you for your kind words, Lord Vandorian. I trust our peoples can continue to live in peace, despite this small, isolated incident. You are always welcome in my court as an honored guest—any time after today, at least.”
Vandorian clacked the talons of his right hand against his golden breastplate, then he closed his fingers into a fist and pressed it against his chest. “May the Overlord bless your union and give you peace, long life, and many children.”
“Again, thank you.” Lilly nodded.
“There. You’ve given your regards to my daughter,” Avian said. “Now release Magnus and go in peace.”
“In almost four hundred years of life, I have never experienced such rudeness and disregard from anyone, let alone the ruler of an entire realm.” Vandorian shook his head and faced Avian. “Your hospitality has atrophied of late, Premier.”
“Enough words, enough games. Release Magnus, or we will take him from you by force, whatever the cost.” Avian’s hands balled into fists. “Now.”
Vandorian stepped near Magnus and leaned his head close. He half-whispered, “It is too bad you failed to kill me, brother. Now I know you yet live. We will meet again, and I will finish what I started the day our father died.”
Magnus didn’t say a word. He just continued glowering at his older brother.
“Now
, Vandorian,” Avian nearly shouted.
Vandorian sighed and stepped back. “Release him.”
The Sobeks shoved Magnus to the floor and backed away. He immediately pushed himself to his feet and stood face-to-face with Vandorian.
“I look forward to that day.” Then Magnus left Vandorian behind, bent down and picked up his broadsword, sheathed it, and stood next to Avian with his huge arms folded.
Vandorian knocked his fist against his breastplate again and gave Avian a slight bow. “By your leave, then.”
The Sobeks helped their injured friend—the first one Magnus hit—to his feet, and started toward the main throne room doors. All around them, the Windgale soldiers parted so as not to impede their progress, but neither did they lower their weapons.
They walked out the doors with Oren at the rear of the group. He turned back one last time, shot Calum a wink, gave a flourishing gesture with his hand, and then he disappeared around a corner.
Two Windgale soldiers shut the doors behind them, and immediately every weapon in the room reset to a relaxed position, including Calum’s. He started toward Magnus.
“Thank you, Premier,” Magnus said. “I owe you my life.”
“You are Praetorius’s heir. Why didn’t you reveal this to me when first we met?” Avian asked.
“As you said the day we returned Lilly to you, ‘there are few people in this world who are unquestionably trustworthy.’ This is a secret I have kept from everyone, not just you.” Magnus eyed Calum, who now stood next to him. “My companions did not even know the truth of my identity.”
Axel scoffed and folded his arms. “You can say that again.”
“Like my daughter, you are wise to have withheld this information.” Avian nodded to General Balena, who motioned toward the doors. The soldiers began to form lines and file out of the throne room.
“But I am not my father’s heir.” Magnus hung his head. “Vandorian is.”
“Vandorian is also a co-conspirator in your father’s death.”
Magnus looked up at him. “You know this? How?”
“The whole of Kanarah knows by now. It has been almost five years since Praetorius’s untimely death. Everyone thought you perished along with the rest of his children. Besides, when Kahn and Vandorian arose from the ashes to take power, the rest wasn’t hard to fill in.”