Dragonoak: The Complete History of Kastelir

by Sam Farren

  “No, no. My, we aren't quite so similar to Felheim, dear. My mother might be a Queen, but that doesn't make me a Princess, or anything of the sort,” Kouris said, apparently charmed by my blunder. “Our rulers are voted onto the throne. That was the theoretical basis for Kastelir, at least, but my mother and uncles always find reasons to extend their reign indefinitely, and... ah, no, you aren't concerned with that. My point is, just Kouris will do. Lady Kouris, officially, but that's rather formal, don't you think?”

  “Then it's nice to meet you... Kouris?” I tried.

  She frowned, tapping a finger against her chin.

  “Yes, I do see how that would be bizarre for you. Goodness, I'm usually the first and only Kouris people have ever met. This is new for me, as well.” She paused, humming thoughtfully. “How's this: my middle-name is Katja. I believe the woman who gave birth to me insisted that my mother keep it as some part of my name, though my mother never did bother giving me too many sentimental details. I shouldn't imagine that I'd be adverse to you calling me that, should you wish. What do you think?”

  “It's a nice name,” I said, feeling a lot better. The sickness was still there, but it was pushed down by good company.

  “I'm glad you think so! I do so apologise if I don't respond to it immediately—it's nothing against you, dear, trust me,” she went on to say. “Oh! Yes, I wanted to ask if you lived anywhere near Thule. I was just there visiting my fiancé, you see, and wondered if you might be familiar with the area.”

  Had I been born in Thule, there was no way I'd so much as recognise the places Katja had been. Akela might've told her my name, might've described what I looked like, but Katja had yet to grasp my station.

  “I'm from the south of Felheim, not far from the coast. Praxis is the closest I've been to Thule, and that was only a few months ago,” I explained.

  Katja seemed a little disappointed by the news, but it soon dawned on her that it'd be far more interesting to talk to me about places she'd never been.

  “I'm certain you're more than a little busy at the moment, goodness knows we all are, but might I trouble you for your company, some time? I'd love to know more about Felheim—especially if I'm to marry a Felheimer! It only seems smart, don't you think? Sadly, we've had little contact with your Kingdom. This whole marriage situation is taking everyone by surprise. Me most of all.”

  I felt oddly qualified to answer any questions she might have, already able to predict what they might be. Had I ever seen a dragon? How often had my village been attacked? Did we have many pane? How many Knights had I met, other than Sir Ightham? What did the Felheimish think of Kastelirians?

  Katja had a light, easy way about her, and I found myself readily agreeing.

  “It wouldn't be any trouble at all, if you don't mind hearing a lot about farms and sheep, because that's all I really know,” I said, and Katja laughed under her breath, uncertain whether I was joking or not.

  “This is where I leave you, Commander,” she said to Akela, who bowed deeply, “Do ask my mother to stop by my chambers this evening, should she get a chance to.”

  Katja reiterated that it was nice to have met me and made herself scarce, heading towards a group of wealthy scholars, none of whom were dressed half as nicely as she was. Akela rocked on the balls of her feet, watching her go, and dropped herself off on a bench, half covered by the shadow of a leafy bear.

  The sickness subsided as soon as I was off my feet and in the shade, and Akela fiddled with the cuffs of her armour as she hummed under her breath. Distracted though she was, Akela did a commendable job of remaining as upbeat as she'd always been, when the an wasn't in her hand. I'd little doubt that she was occupied with thoughts revolving around the upcoming meeting, and in order to take both of our minds off it, I glanced around for something to talk about.

  Akela was still in her armour, though not officially on duty, judging by the way she was idling in the courtyard. It was all brown leather plates over dark blue mesh and chains, proudly displaying scuffs and scratches across it. It was far more beaten than anything any of the guards wore, bearing three red stripes on the left shoulder.

  “What does this mean?” I asked, tapping the stripes. “I've not seen them on the guards' uniforms.”

  “Hah! I should not be thinking so—these stripes, these are only for those who are fighting, yes? Not just standing in the castle, holding spear, becoming part of the furniture,” Akela said, eager to indulge me. “The colours, they are ferocity! Well, Their Highness, they are saying they are for rank, and I am saying, this is the same thing, yes? Grey for the footman, yellow for the lieutenants, orange for captains – I am missing some, I am not remembering every rank – and for me, because I am the Commander – The Commander, with the big t, you are hearing this? – I am wearing red.

  “Ah, and the stripes. They are time. Three years, six, nine—in only two more years, I am getting another. Impressive, yes?”

  I'd met no shortage of impressive people since leaving my village, but that did nothing to render Akela's accomplishments any less remarkable. In all of Michael's stories, the leaders of mighty armies had been—well, older than Akela appeared to be. She was around the same age as Claire, though she had more wear to show for the years, and I understood Claire being a Knight at her age. There were no ranks to climb; either you had what it took to slay dragons or you didn't.

  “Is it usual to rise through the ranks that quickly?” I asked, once I'd found the right way to phrase my question.

  “Not at all!” Akela declared. Apparently, it was a source of pride for her. “The last Commander, she is working for King Jonas for eighteen years before finally, she is the new Commander. But you are wanting to know my secret, yes? Queen Kidira, she is liking me very much.”

  Through some intervention of the gods who had abandoned us, I managed to stop myself from saying Does Queen Kidira actually like anyone?

  “No, no. I am joking, only joking. Mostly. Actually, many years ago, on the battlefield, I am saving King Atthis' son. Now, this boy, he is excellent with the strategies, but he is no warrior—and I, I am getting the chance to illustrate how good I am! So the King, he is getting his son back, he is in one piece, and I am getting promoted. Everyone is happy.

  “Except the man I am defeating. He is having an axe between his eyes and not laughing about it at all.”

  No matter how macabre the topic, Akela manage to force a breathy laugh out of me. I could see her thriving on the battlefield, lifting her troops' spirits without shying away from the reality of things, always fighting at the front, in the thick of the action. It was almost as though she'd been born a few decades too late, what with the Territory Wars long over.

  “Wait. You saved King Atthis' son from who?” I asked, swivelling on the bench to face her.

  “Hm?”

  “You said you saved King Atthis' son in a battle—but Kastelir hasn't attacked Felheim, ever, and I don't think Agados is big enough to wage war on a Kingdom like this one. I'd never heard of it before! So who were you fighting?”

  “Ah, you are knowing how it is. Sometimes, we are having pirates from Canth sail up, and they are taking whatever it is they are wanting from the ports. And Kastelir, it is only a young country. We are still having problems – well, I am thinking Felheim is still having problems, yes? – and some, they are wishing that the territories would return, because they are not happy unless they are fighting. Sometimes, there are problems,” Akela said, concluding her point with a shrug.

  I doubted enough pirates made it to Kastelir to invoke the wrath of an entire army. Kastelir was, in some ways, as I had always imagined it, and the shift in Akela's features told me that it went deeper than the people merely fighting against themselves for the fun of it. Knowing better than to push the subject, I waited patiently for the Kings and Queen to arrive, promising myself that I'd finally speak to Claire properly, just as soon as I knew what had kept her awake for so very long.

  The Kings Atthis and Jon
as arrived with little fanfare. Those in the courtyard barely did more than glance their way, and nobody working looked up. Ultimately, they were just people, making their way from one place to the next; I shouldn't have expected a procession.

  Two guards pushed the doors open and Akela jumped to her feet, following the Kings inside. I hesitated, not moving until I saw Kouris and Claire trailing behind. I walked ahead of them, lest they promptly change their minds and tell me to turn back.

  The room was not as large as I was expecting it to be, but it was grander. An eight-sided table sat in the centre, with chairs that felt like thrones at four of the sides. The seat reserved for Kouris was more than big enough for her, finials of wooden horns flowing from the sides of the crestrail. King Atthis sat opposite her, his own seat similarly decorated with a crown of antlers, and to see the Kings look at her was to know that her seat had been empty for a very, very long time.

  There were three smaller chairs placed along the other four edges, and Claire took her place next to Kouris, while Akela sat by the empty chair Queen Kidira was to fill. I moved to Kouris' other side, seeing the whole of Kastelir spread out before me as I sat.

  The table was a map in and of itself, carved from wood, rivers filled with meticulously cut and sanded glass. Hills rose and fell along the uneven surface, and all the settlements, from Riverhurst to Isin, were cast in miniature. Mountains ran across the edges Kouris, Claire and I sat along, and deep lines divided the map in quarters, marking the former territories.

  King Atthis drummed his fingers on the edge of the table, already certain that it was a waste of his time, and the rest of us sat in silence, waiting for Queen Kidira to arrive. The doors had been closed behind us, guards stationed on the other side, and when they were pushed back open, it was by Queen Kidira herself. Akela shot to her feet, hands clasped behind her back, and Queen Kidira locked the doors behind her, taking her seat without a glance in Akela's direction.

  Akela cleared her throat and stood straighter, chest pushed out.

  “Do take a seat, Commander,” Queen Kidira said dryly, and Akela bowed too formally to be taken seriously, falling back into her chair.

  I thought that would set the meeting in action, but everyone merely looked at each other, not knowing where to start. Eventually, King Atthis sighed, tilting his head towards Claire.

  “Well, Knight?”

  The back legs of Claire's chair scraped uncomfortably across the floor as she stood.

  “Your Majesties,” she said, greeting the room, “Commander.”

  “Are you quite recovered, Sir Ightham?” King Jonas took the time to ask, before things were too far under way.

  “I am, Your Highness. Thanks to the healers within the castle,” she said, taking a breath and pausing for the briefest moment. “I am here to petition you for your assistance. This time with the support of both Queen Kouris and Queen Kidira.”

  “Queen Kouris is pushing it a little, don't you think?” Atthis said, pressing two fingers to his temple. “She's spent the last few decades living as a pirate on the other side of the globe. Don't plead your case too hard, Ightham. It's unbecoming.”

  Kouris narrowed her gaze, shooting Atthis a look so cold that he lifted both of his hands, relenting without another word.

  “Then I come here with the support of Queen Kidira, and that of my friend Kouris,” she corrected herself. “I would ask that Kastelir lends its forces in an effort to liberate the people of Felheim.”

  “From—?” King Atthis asked, well aware of the answer.

  “From a ruling class that no longer has a sense of perspective when it comes to the safety of its people and borders,” Claire said bluntly.

  “No,” King Atthis returned, leaning back in his seat. “You would not merely have us dethrone your King and Queen—and that, Knight, would already be asking too much. What you want is for us to blindly charge into the maw of a dragon.”

  Had anyone been under the impression that I knew what was happening, it was soon dispelled. I tried to keep my expression neutral and focus on what was being said, building together a sense of the whole problem from the scraps that were being thrown around, but at the mention of dragons, I turned to Claire, confusion lighting up my face. She kept her eyes fixed on King Atthis, not once looking my way.

  “I am asking nothing of the sort, Your Highness. I simply wi—”

  “You wish to make threats against Kastelir in the guise of a warning, in order to cajole us into aiding your mutiny.”

  Would that I could've brought my fist against the table and snapped at the King to let Claire speak. Luckily, King Jonas handled it a lot more sensitively than I wanted to, and Kouris leant back in her seat, letting out a growl of a breath.

  “Atthis, we are never going to get anywhere if you refuse to hear her out. I am as sceptical as you are, friend, but I am hardly pushing my fingers in my ears and waiting for it to all blow over,” he said. “Sir—if you would continue.”

  King Atthis propped his chin up on his palm, granting Claire permission to speak with a wave of his hand.

  “I am not here in an effort to betray Felheim. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have spent my entire life serving Felheim, and in coming here, I serve it still. As a people, we have always been proud of the peace within our Kingdom, and our history of avoiding conflict with larger, stronger nations; both Kastelir and the territories before. However, I cannot abide the methods that have been employed to shape the country, or what is likely to become of Felheim and Kastelir both,” Claire said, and I was grasping, trying to make sense of it all. But there wasn't enough; I was out of my depth, while everyone in the room listened in, knowing exactly what Claire referred to.

  King Atthis continued to look unimpressed. King Jonas listened, at the very least, and it was impossible to tell what Queen Kidira was thinking, even if Claire supposedly already had her support.

  “Your Highness. Might I ask you a question?”

  “You might,” King Atthis said.

  “What reasons do dragons have to acknowledge borders set by humans? Dragons reside along the entire mountain range, and yet Agados and Kastelir remain safe, while Felheim is plagued by a dozen dragon attacks a year. Why might this be?”

  King Atthis shrugged in what I was certain was a very kingly fashion.

  “And a question to all of you. In the time of the territories, the borders never remained fixed for long. The leaders were ever stealing land from one another, expanding their own territories, and going so far as to claim portions of what was once Agados. Yet no attempts were ever made on Felheim. Why?”

  Queen Kidira took the question when the Kings only frowned.

  “By the time each of us came into power within our respective territories, it had long since been established that we would not be able rule a land plagued by dragons. It would simply not be worth it,” she said.

  “Exactly. You must believe what I am telling you and heed this warning, even if you will not lend me your aid,” Claire said. “The first dragon fell to the Priorys the same year this land crumbled into territories, leading to a two-hundred and forty-seven year string of dragon-attacks. During which time Felheim has not been threatened by outside forces once. The dragons are being manipulated in order to sacrifice a few for the greater good of the country.”

  There are always dragons, Claire had told me, stood on the ashes of what had once been a village. The dragons around Kyrindval tore through my mind, curled up, peaceful, diving into the lake, playing. She was right. Instinctively, I knew Claire was right, and if the Kings would not believe her, then I would.

  I was desperate for her to turn my way, to catch my eye for half a second. I wanted her to know that I was there for her, if Kastelir was not; I wanted her to know that I would not doubt her, whatever little that meant.

  I wanted her to know that I knew, finally.

  But she did not look.

  “And how does one manipulate a dragon?” King Atthis asked, wholly un
impressed by what she'd said, picking her words apart as though it was one of Michael's particularly tedious stories.

  “By abusing it,” Kouris said, slamming her open palm down on the edge of the table, almost causing the mountains to topple. “Atthis, I swear to Isjin and all the others, I love you in a way that makes me think I might be understanding what a brother is, but you are doing everything you can to test my patience. How do you think they're manipulating dragons? The same way people are forcing their dogs to tear each other to pieces. Mistreat 'em enough and they'll spend their whole lives terrified, and the moment you let them fly free, aye, they're going to be burning down the first thing they see.

  “The dragon are my kin, Atthis, but it goes beyond that. In the mountains, the pane, we're always looking after the dragons. We know how they work, what makes them sick, how to make them better—the Felheimish, they're twisting that. They're taking us, forcing us to turn against our own. So don't be sitting there, bored, when I should be all the proof you're needing. Twenty-seven years I've been gone, Atthis, and this, this is what finally brings me back. Never thought I'd return, but the moment I found out what was happening, I was on a boat before I could blink.”

  Queen Kidira watched Kouris as she spoke, not flinching at the clear implication that nothing else could have brought her back to Kastelir. Questions tore through my mind – how had Kouris found out, all the way down in Canth? – and King Atthis rose to his feet, not about to leave what Kouris said unchallenged.

  “You think I am bored by all this, Kouris? You think I am so stubborn that I am ignoring the very clear facts laid out in front of me? I am being cautious, Kouris. For thirty years, I have done everything in my power to stop Kastelir from slipping back into another war, a civil war, and gods know it hasn't been easy. Gods know we could've used you around,” he said, “What am I to do for this Knight, for Felheim, when I can barely do enough for my own Kingdom? If we take on Felheim, we will fall. If we leave Felheim as it is, there is the chance that Kastelir will be able to become all that it ought to be.”