"Please tell me this isn't what I think It is." Callum says staring at the glowing egg.
"But-"
"That's a rhetorical question, Ez. "
"It's the egg of Dragon Prince. I saw an illustration of it in one of dad's books."
The dim light of Viren's lab cast shadows everywhere, the strange objects and creatures in jars only made more terrifying by the bright glow of the egg, making everything darker by comparison.
"We need to tell King Harrow." Callum said.
Claudia came in just as Ezran was about to put the egg in Callum's pack.
"What are you doing in here?" Claudia asked.
"Claudia, did you know about this?" Callum asked, somehow keeping the hurt out of his voice.
"Yeah, I was the first person to find out the egg survived."
"But how? I thought it was destroyed."
"My father saved it."
"Saved it? From what?"
"From Xadia. He knew the elves and dragons would use it against us one day. This way no one gets hurt." She said.
"Except its mother who thinks her baby is dead." Ezran pointed out.
Claudia turned to him and gave him a look.
"Ezran, please give me the egg."
"No."
"Ezran, please. If anyone ever found out, it could spell disaster for Katolis."
Callum knew Claudia's heart was in the right place but he was hesitant to give her the egg. He knew his brother had already bonded to it from the way he was clutching the egg. He couldn't let it be harmed and he knew that's all that would happen if it was left in Viren's hands. But what were they going to do? The only exit was behind them and Callum didn't fancy their chances with their backs turned. Claudia knew magic and Callum...well, Callum was bad at everything.
Maybe they should just give her the egg and hope for the best?
"Callum." Ezran said, looking at him pleadingly.
That made him pause. Ezran was his brother. He already screwed up once today as a big brother, he didn't want to hurt him again. If king Harrow died...
He let that thought trail off and left it there.
Callum shared a look with Ezran and in that single gaze, he conveyed a simple message. Run.
Ezran ran down the passage with Bait, not needing to be told twice.
"Ezran, come back!" Claudia yelled.
She turned to Callum, "I promise not to hit Ez." and drew a rune of lightning. She was about to cast as Callum knocked the Primal source out of her hand and locked her in a chain.
"Callum! What are you doing?!"
"The right thing. I hope. I'm sorry Claudia!" He said before he scooped up the Primal stone and ran after Ezran. With the egg in Callum's pack, they fled up the stairs.
They ran through the hallways and corridors until they reached the familiar door of their parent's room.
Callum remembered happier days, sitting on the bed with their mother as she telling stories about faraway lands and happy endings. Ezran had still been too young at the time to remember her but Callum did. He remembered her gentle smiles and soothing voice or at least, he thinks he did.
The guilt he felt for forgetting her haunted him every day. Nothing ever felt the same after she died.
Two guards protected the door to king Harrow's chambers. Ezran wanted to go in but the two guards blocked them before they could so much as knock.
"I am sorry, my prince but the king is busy in a meeting with Lord Viren and cannot be disturbed." The one on the left said holding up a hand.
"But this is important! You have to let us through!" Ezran said.
"I'm sorry my prince, but orders are orders." He said.
"Do you know when their meeting will end? This is really important." Callum asked.
"I don't know Prince Callum, though they tend to last long. You should go pack for your journey. You can talk to the king later."
"But-" Just as Ezran was about to protest the doors opened and Lord Viren walked past them as quickly as he could, a basket clasped under his arm.
"Callum! Ezran! What are you doing here? You're suppose to be packing." King harrow said in surprise when he saw them through the open door.
"We needed to come talk to you. It's important. " Callum said awkwardly.
"Of course! Come in." He said and sat on one of the chairs, gesturing for them to sit. "What's on your mind?"
Callum looked down at the floor and not for the first time he wondered if his step-dad knew all along.
Callum stammered, trying to ask the question that could mean treason.
"What is it? You know you can talk to me about anything." Harrow said patiently.
"Did you know Lord Viren stole the Dragon Prince's egg?" Ezran asked, braver and blunter than Callum could ever hope to be in the king's presence.
"What are you talking about? The egg was destroyed. Its why this whole mess started." He said.
"The egg survived. We found it inside Lord Viren's creepy secret lab." Callum said.
"Secret lab? What secret lab are you talking about? Never mind. Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" The king asked as he tugged at his hair.
"No, we're certain." Callum said before he placed the egg on the table.
Harrow stared at the egg in wonder. The egg glowed a light blue, as if to say 'here I am!'. It was beautiful in every way.
"How could this be? I thought it was destroyed."
"What are we going to do, dad?" Ezran asked, clutching the egg tightly to his chest.
Harrow snapped back to reality and stared at his sons determinedly. He stood up and started to pace the room.
"First, you two are going to your room to pack for the journey. I'll deal with Viren. I want you to leave the egg here." I promise I'll keep the egg safe."
Ezran started to protest, he didn't want to let Lord Viren close to the egg, before King Harrow silenced him with a hand.
"I understand your concerns Ezran but I promise I'll keep the egg safe. I know you want to protect the egg and trust me when I say I don't want Viren anywhere near it, however, I will not tolerate putting you or the egg in danger." He said sternly.
They knew their dad and knew they would never win this argument, not when he felt so strongly about something. He was a stubborn man like that. With some reluctance Ezran gave in and petted the egg affectionately, saying goodbye.
Harrow called for one of the servants to find Lord Viren as the two princes got ready to leave again, the egg now placed on the table in a nest hastily made from the blankets on the bed. The egg was covered as to not attract attention as well as to keep it warm.
Sure, it might have stood in Viren's cold lab for nearly four months but that didn't mean it should be.
As they were about to leave, King Harrow called out,
"Prince Callum! I need to speak with you quickly before you go." He said.
Callum motioned for Ezran to go, "I'll catch up later."
He closed the door behind him, worry gnawing at him.
"Yes, sir? What is it you wanted to talk about?" Callum asked, bowing at the waist.
Harrow sighed. "None of that. I-I know I'm not your birth father but I want you to know that... this isn't easy, so the most important things I've written down." He said as he
"A letter?"
"I was going to give it to you later but I don't know when I will see you again. I want you to break the seal when...well you'll know when."
"If you get killed. But you have the egg! Why can't you just make peace with the elves?"
"It's not that simple Callum."
"It seems very simple to me. You don't want to die. I'm sure the elves and dragons don't want to die. Why can't you just give back the egg and make peace?"
"There are centuries of history, of wrongs committed on both sides. I have done many terrible things. I thought they were necessary but now...I don't know anymore."
" I'm going to give this back to you this weekend, okay. I'm not going to have to open this." Callum said nodding.
Harrow smiled sadly. "Take care of your brother for me."
Callum hesitated for a second before he hugged Harrow. It was a rather emotional hug that felt so right after years of not knowing where they stood with each other. It felt like home and family, the type of affection that only a dad can give.
They separated a second later.
"You'll be okay. The elves won't kill you and you won't have to kill them and everything will be fine. You'll see." Callum said.
There was a sudden knock on the door before Lord Viren walked through and bowed.
"My king, you called for me?" He asked.
The king turned towards him as Viren came further into the room.
"Yes. It has come to my attention that you did not destroy the egg of the Dragon Prince as you said and had instead brought it here. Explain yourself." The dreadlock king said.
"My king! What-I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Viren stuttered before his eyes fell on Callum, who stood slightly behind his step-father.
He sneered.
"What lies has the boy poisoned your mind with? He is far too spoiled! You-"
"I would hold your tongue if I were you. Callum is my son and you are not allowed to talk to either of the princes in such a way. " King Harrow said coldly.
"What have you done Viren? I've known you for years. What made you think this was a good idea?"
Suddenly Lord Viren became very angry.
"I couldn't let them use it against us. They would have used it as a weapon against us, another Thunder would replace the sky! I was protecting us!"
"You doomed us when you stole that egg!"
"You are so ungrateful! You are never satisfied with anything I do! Why can't you understand? I had to do it! We couldn't lose an opportunity to use their own weapon against them." Viren shouted.
"Its an egg!"
Callum stood awkwardly at the back of the room. They had forgotten he was there.
They continued shouting at each other until,
"You just have to blame me for everything! I am not the reason Sarai died. You did that all on your own! You killed your wife through your own actions, not mine!"
A sudden hush fell over the room.
"Don't you dare." King Harrow said in a deadly cold voice.
Viren laughed a nasty laugh.
"You know, I just realized something."
Callum had a bad feeling about this. It was always a bad sign when adults suddenly went from angry to calm.
Harrow seemed to agree if his suddenly tense shoulders and hand on his sword were any indications.
"Oh?"
"I have been serving you loyally for years, only to be repaid in harsh words and ungratefulness."
He turned around and Harrow drew his sword.
" I understand now that Katolis cannot win the war while a weak king sits on the throne."
He blew dust into the air and started chanting.
Hearing the chanting coming from the other side of the doorway, the two guards burst into the room with their swords drawn and tried to stop the dark mage from harming their king.
With a few uttered words three shadow wolves came to life and killed the soldiers. Callum stood frozen from his place by the wall, staring at the horror taking place around him
"Run Callum!" Harrow shouted.
He had some experience with the creatures and knew they wouldn't stop until he was dead. All he could hope was that he could distract Viren enough for Callum to escape.
Callum ran to the door and grabbed the egg on the way out before hesitating.
"What about you? I won't leave you!"
"Go! Take Ezran and Run!'' He said before he was covered by purple smoke.
Callum ran.
Moonshadow Elf camp
Sitting alone in self-pity and guilt for hours after she had been thrown off the mission, Rayla discovered, was a rather boring activity. The others were ignoring her, which in itself wasn't really the problem. They were assassins. They were a rather quiet lot, as they should be. After all, a loud assassin was a dead assassin.
The problem was that there was an undercurrent of animosity. Sure they didn't actually yell and scream and insult her but she felt their cold eyes on her at all times. They went on as if nothing was wrong and she felt so... Ugh about the whole affair. If only she could right her wrongs. If only she could prove herself.
Runaan was disappointed in her. That hurt, more than even she knew. He had raised her, taught her how to fight, how to scavenge for food in the wilderness, how to survive. He had taken care of her, had loved her as his own daughter, had shown her immense kindness, had believed in her and she had let him down.
Her mind was a loop of regret and despair, only having an odd thought or two that wasn't related to the above-mentioned topic before she spiraled down the same line of thought over and over again.
Runaan dropped down from where he had been scouting from a tree. He approached her and she stood up, not wanting to be sitting when she finally had a chance to stand without feeling awkward.
"Come with me." He said and walked past her. She started to follow when a sudden nerve-racking pain swept through her and, for a second she wondered if she had been killed her for her mistakes. The pain came and went so fast, however, she wondered if her mind wasn't just playing tricks on her. If it weren't for the fact that all of the other elves had collapsed at the same time she had, all except Runaan who had managed to stay on his knees, she would have had no cause to think differently.
"What happened?" She heard one of the others say but she didn't know who, too busy staring at the red ribbon which had been bound across her arm just a moment before.
Far into the distance, bells rang.
The king of Katolis, a good man and a kind king, a father of two children and man of great hair, was dead.