The Dragon's Blade_The Last Guardian

by Michael R. Miller

  Arkus pursed his lips but said nothing. It seemed that was to be the end of it. He returned to his work.

  Cassandra carefully leaned forwards, hands upon the desk. “Oranna wasn’t the only reason why I’m here.”

  “Oh,” Arkus sniffed, without looking up at her.

  “Listen to me. I’m trying to help you, but you won’t hear it. Step away from the desk and the throne for a moment before—”

  “Before what?”

  “Before you go too far. Killing Annandale unnerved most of the assembly. I could feel it. I saw it in their eyes.”

  Arkus glanced up then, his lip curling up. “That was sort of the point, Cass.”

  “Father, look at what you’re doing. Placing armed soldiers into the household of all your lords and ladies, I fear it’s a step too far. You never discussed it with us beforehand.”

  “Oh, and I should have sought your expertise, should I?” he said. She had his full attention now. “I wouldn’t be so quick to throw that one in my face. I wasn’t the one who blundered into bleating about Chelos and leading Annandale straight to the dragons and their secret tunnels. That knowledge would have been best kept between the few of us who knew. Now the whole world knows. Bringing in our new soldiers seemed like the best way I could make them feel safe and secure at short notice. I admit, gifting a small company to each of them was something I had only been considering until then, but I was inspired to act in the moment. It’s a move that shows the Crown supports them.”

  “It’s holding a knife to their throats and you know it.”

  Arkus grinned and chuckled. “Good. You’re learning. And so will they. You’re right, I do get a benefit out of it too. But I capitalised on your mistake.”

  Cassandra backed away from the desk. “My mistake?” Her voice wavered.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Arkus said. “It worked out well for us in the end. You’ll learn to control your emotions in public better with practice.”

  Cassandra swallowed her pride. “I’m more worried that another rebellion might be caused by this. I’m worried things will be upended.”

  “You needn’t be worried. I have everything very much under control; everything on this side of the world at least.” He nodded to one of the extra chairs sat by the wall. “Why don’t you bring that over and I’ll tell you everything. I’ve tried not to burden you and Oranna with these matters, but it seems that was a mistake.”

  Biting her lip, anxious and intrigued all at once, she grabbed herself a seat and dragged it over. The chair’s back was rather stiff and uncomfortable, made to make even high-ranking Chevaliers and nobles understand their place before the King.

  “This is very sensitive information, Cassandra, and if you blunder this out in public, we could have far worse than an Assembly with ruffled feathers. Swear to it – that you will tell no one else without express permission.”

  “I swear.” And she meant it.

  Arkus clasped his hands together as a healer might who has ill news to bear.

  “Darnuir reached out to me via the scrying orb a few days ago.”

  Cassandra sat bolt upright. The last they had heard, Darnuir had been stuck in some magical fever and Blaine was in charge. A hundred thoughts and questions raced through her mind – what was happening, had they marched on Kar’drun, who was still alive, was it over – but she restrained herself, and merely nodded instead.

  “It was not with good news,” Arkus said. “Although he has now recovered from his illness, he was too late to prevent the deaths of many humans at the hands of a mad group of dragons.” He went on to explain in full, as best he understood it, the tragedy that had occurred in Aurisha. It left her throat dry.

  “That’s terrible,” was all she found she could say. She dug her nails into the arms of her chair for want of something more helpful to do. “You’re right, this can’t get out. Who else knows?”

  “For now, only Gellick. He was present when Darnuir contacted me. Others will have to know soon; Oranna for one, and the White Seven. We’ll have to keep a closer eye on the camps and remain vigilant. I’m sure many of the dragons out there hold the same beliefs as Blaine.” He rubbed at his eyes. “Damned, but I’ll be thankful when we ship them all home. Bringing them here so soon was a mistake.”

  “When will you go?” Cassandra asked.

  “We’ll sail as soon as the weather becomes more predictable, which should not be long with spring here. We’re still replacing or repairing ships lost during the storm that hit the fleet on its return journey. Blaine and Darnuir might risk human lives in a winter voyage, but I won’t. In the meantime, I’ll be putting more musket-bearing companies on the streets and in the camps to show our strength.”

  “Balack says the dragons are starving.”

  “We give them all we can spare,” Arkus said. “Food is scarce, you know this.”

  “Our kitchens aren’t.”

  Arkus frowned. “If you want to live off hard bread and water for the next few months be my guest. Even if I sent all of our personal supplies out to the camp it wouldn’t make a dent in the problem. Less than a hundred people are fed and watered each day in the palace while there are thousands upon thousands of dragons out there. Our priority is to stockpile enough for the army to go and win this war. I’d have thought the dragons of all people would understand that. We must put our people first, Cassandra. Don’t ever forget that. And on that note.”

  He raised a finger indicating she should wait, then leaned back and turned a key in a desk drawer. He pulled an ornately patterned sheet of parchment, the stuff of official royal business, and sat it before her so she could read it. For a moment she thought it was the declaration that Annandale had made proclaiming Castallan as King, but it lacked the colourful seals of the families of the Dales, though there was space left at the bottom to indicate where seals would be added.

  “A royal charter?” she said aloud. “The Renewal of the Unity of the Kingdom.”

  “Read it,” Arkus said with a wry smile.

  She did, and by the time she’d finished she was more certain than ever that Arkus was going too far too fast. She dropped the charter as though it were poisonous.

  “I don’t think you should do this.”

  “In practice, little would change.”

  “Except all the nobles would technically owe their lands and powers to you. Meaning you would hold it over their heads.”

  “Which hopefully I’ll never have to do.”

  “Father,” Cassandra said, trying to implore him, trying to make him understand, “I know you think your friends turned against you, and maybe they did, but they said it was because of things like this; and not even anything as extreme as this. You cut them out, took too much power for yourself.”

  Arkus leaned back, bringing his fingers together in a steeple. “And rather than talk to me about it, they started plotting.”

  “Well, I’m here, talking to you right now.” Her voice wavered a little, her nerves creeping to the surface as she trod closer to dangerous ground. “I’m telling you, I think you’ve gone far enough. You’ll only make it worse if you force people to sign this charter.”

  “It is for your benefit as well.”

  “I don’t see how if it causes distress amongst the assembly.”

  “You don’t see?” He closed his eyes, as though in deep thought. “People rarely see as I do. They’re frightened by change, scared by progress, terrified that the status quo might shift. Robert and Geoff were such men.”

  “Annandale said you shut them both out.”

  Arkus’ eyes flashed. “They tried to hold us back, not just me, but all of humanity. They would rather our capital city was left with inadequate defences, even though the dragons were defeated, and a demon host had landed not far from the city’s doorstep. Had we lost the battle of Demon’s Folly, Brevia wouldn
’t have lasted a day. And they bleated about taxes and conscriptions. It was war. It has been war ever since we were born. No one had a plan on how to end it, not my father, and certainly not any so-called Great Lords. I, Cassandra, I alone had the vision. We would not have the navy we do now, we would not have our new weapons, and if I have to start being more aggressive in order to make them all fall into line, then so be it. I will end this war, I will do what those before me could not, and I will make our family safe. And if a few lazy lords in their manors are upset that their purses are lighter or some dragons go hungry a while longer, then I think that’s a small price to pay. So,” he added in something akin to a growl. “Do you still have any issues you’d like to raise?”

  She searched his shrewd eyes, trying to decide whether he genuinely believed what he said or it was more of his theatre. The trouble was, with Arkus, she found it hard to tell. You couldn’t read him like other people. He was too guarded.

  Whatever his beliefs, she still thought the charter was dangerous. He’d already gotten all he needed to achieve his goals and this was overreaching. She was sure of it. Yet it was clear he had no intention of changing his attitude; Oranna would still leave, Kymethra wouldn’t come back. She’d failed.

  Finally, she said the only thing that she could. “No. I have nothing more to raise.”

  “I’m glad,” Arkus said. “Now, if you don’t mind, I must finish these orders recalling the bulk our troops stationed in the Dales. We’ll need them retrained with muskets quickly if they are to join the expedition east.”

  Cassandra got to her feet and walked slowly to the door.

  Before she left, Arkus called out, “I’ll arrange a special ride into the country with Oranna. Just her, myself and Thane. Having it be just us again might help to recall simpler times. She’s always been fond of wilder lands and besides, you can’t ride. You won’t mind, will you?”

  She kept her back to him. “No, father. I won’t mind at all.”

  With that, she stepped out of his council chamber and closed the door. A hot tear ran down her cheek. She’d lied, of course. She did mind. Oranna wasn’t upset with Arkus for bringing Cassandra into the palace, quite the opposite. She knew Oranna valued her company and being able to have someone she could speak freely to. To insinuate that Oranna would rather have a family trip without her was not true. Did he not understand? Had he even listened to what she’d just said? Did he not believe he could be the one at fault? Would he ever see?

  No, don’t be foolish, she told herself. Arkus was the one causing strife and he was only going to get worse. Yet for now, she was unsure of what her next move would be. Swinging a sword in the Chevalier training room might help clear her head. It had been a while, and it would be empty right now.

  She trudged down the black carpeted halls in a foul mood and found the grand doors of the Chevalier hall already ajar. Soft echoing thuds rang from within. Cassandra slipped inside to find Balack standing in the centre of the arena, feet wedged into the sand underfoot and taking aim with his bow. Even Balack’s arrows were tailored to him these days. Black paint covered the shafts, and pristine white feathers made up the fletching.

  She made it all the way down to the combat pit without him noticing and entered through the swing door behind him. The creak of the hinge gave her away and Balack spun around, his latest arrow still drawn back and ready to fire.

  “Oh, it’s you.”

  “Hello,” Cassandra said curtly.

  They hadn’t spoken since their spat outside the dungeons and she certainly hadn’t forgiven him yet. She tied her hair back and nodded towards the rack of swords.

  “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Not at all, Princess,” he said, all too formerly. “Shall I withdraw to give you privacy?”

  Cassandra considered sending him away. If he was going to act obtuse, she’d let him. In the end, she said, “No, you can stay, Hero.” She bit down on his so-called title. He grimaced, inclined his head, then returned to his target practice.

  Chevalier blades were made of the finest steel that Brevian smiths could provide, though it had been so long since she’d last gripped a sword that her shoulder and forearm struggled with the weight. Without a sparring partner, she had two options. Practice her positions and footwork, or whack a stationary target dummy herself to no real avail. Balack cleared his throat in a manner crafted for annoyance. She chose the latter option.

  Steadying the weight with her free hand, she assaulted her target with unnecessarily brutal swings. Chips of wood ripped free as she struck at its bulky chest, her own laboured breath punctured only by the whistle and thunk of Balack’s arrows. She swung again, and again, and again, not training at all, only throwing all of her frustration and fear behind each blow. Her vision narrowed as she homed in on the arm of the dummy that she hacked clean away. All breath left her as she screamed with her next strike against its shield. The impact against the metal boss rent a deafening clang and sent a painful kickback up her arms. Hands numb and sore, she staggered back, and only then heard her name.

  “Cass!”

  Breathing hard, she turned slowly to face him. Balack had lowered his bow, and was staring at her with a mixture of concern and disgust.

  “What’s wrong now?” He threw up a hand. “If it’s Arkus again—”

  “You’ll what?” she spat.

  He struggled for a moment to keep his own composure. “I’ll ask you what’s really going on. You were fine for months. What’s changed?”

  Sniffing, Cassandra stared back at Balack and pictured him not being there at all. When the only person left who’d care how she felt would be Arkus, and only then when it suited him. She saw the training pit truly empty, saw herself walking the palace grounds alone or escorted into Brevia by guards she barely knew. She saw herself back in her chamber atop the Bastion, during the longest portion of the day when Chelos could not be there with her and she remembered how quiet it had been.

  She dropped the sword onto the sand. “Everyone’s leaving!”

  Balack’s expression softened and he made his way over to her.

  Unable to fight the tears, feeling stupid and ashamed, she planted her face into the rough leather over his shoulder.

  “I’m sorry for before,” he said. “About Annandale and what I said; I shouldn’t have said it. You should feel able to confide in me.”

  Cassandra sobbed a choked sob. “It was selfish of me to drag you down there with me and risk your favour with Arkus. You’ve earned it.”

  “Why do you think you’re going to be alone?”

  “Because he’s being stubborn and dangerous. Orrana isn’t comfortable around him anymore and after seeing what happened to Annandale who could blame her, who could blame any of them. She’s going away soon, and she’ll take Thane with her.”

  “But she’s the Queen. She has to come back.”

  “Maybe, but there’s precedent for royal children to tour the kingdom at a certain age. If she prefers to stay away, she might use that as an excuse to move around for years.”

  “I’ll still be here.”

  “You’ll be here until Arkus sends you south to your new Lordship.”

  “I suppose,” Balack said solemnly.

  She pulled herself away from him, feeling she had calmed down. “It’s not just about me. What he’s doing, it’s not right. I thought that if I could convince him to change, then it would be alright. But he won’t.” And in a painful moment of realisation, it dawned on her what she had to do. “So, we’ll have to make him change.”

  Balack’s eyes popped. “That sounds dangerously close to—”

  “Nothing violent,” Cassandra hastened to add, shocked he’d even think that’s what she meant. “We just need to get a majority of the Assembly to oppose his new measure. In fact…” She started to ramble, unsure of whether Balack was even aware of the prop
osed Charter of Unity that would ruin what semblance of contentment was left amongst the powerful families.

  “That’s not what I meant,” he said cutting over her. “I meant you came dangerously close to involving me in all of this.”

  She frowned. “You won’t help at all? This would affect your future too.”

  “You’ll do what you must. Just don’t tell me anything, okay? I can’t report facts that I do not know.”

  “And would you?

  “If I knew there was going to be a threat on my King’s life or a threat to the ruling of the kingdom, yes. The war isn’t even over yet. Stability at home is critical. So, don’t tell me anything and I won’t be able to hinder your efforts.”

  “But you won’t help me either.”

  “Not in this, Cass,” he said and was quite firm on it. “Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. I have my hands full with the camps. You want my opinion, you should be trying to improve things there. Try to get more food and clothes sent. It’s painful to see.”

  She nodded dimly. Truthfully, she hadn’t thought much about the camps of late. Her experience there, seeing all that suffering and then what happened to Boreac – she’d tried to put it out of her mind. But nothing would change if she couldn’t get through to Arkus in the first place.

  “I’ll try,” she said.

  He smiled and nodded. “Very well. Then we each have our tasks. Remember, don’t tell me a thing.” He then took his leave, heading up to the exit which led directly into the Chevalier barracks.

  Cassandra replaced her fallen sword upon the rack and left the training hall through the door on the opposite side, back the way she’d came. Of all the matters that lay before her, the most difficult would be gathering all those she had to convince together in secret without Arkus knowing. No small task in itself. And she wasn’t sure where to even begin.

  Chapter 16

  TROUBLE IN THE STABLES

  “You will imbue honour and strength; your presence will bring fear and admiration. Yet always remember, you are nothing without your horse.”