"The goddess is no longer safe here; she must return to her castle before the Empire returns in force. The Union will not tolerate this foolishness any longer!"
Caim stared in awe of the fuming elder as his voice brought the throne room to a standstill. He was able to hear the voices from his chamber and knew more or less what was going on, but seeing it in person was another matter entirely. There was not a man in the realm in that would dare speak to his father in such a tone, much less while insulting the security of his kingdom. Perhaps the hierarch of the Union truly carried enough authority to throw his weight around in such a manner, or perhaps he was a suicidal fool. It was becoming harder to tell by the moment.
King Gaap was a mighty man in all respects. His towering stature dwarfed that of most other men, his face, while not unattractive, was fierce enough to teach even the lesser races fear. His blade had not seen the battlefield since he brought Ipris to heel, but few doubted that it remained among the most deadly in the land. His rage was feared by the spirits themselves, and everyone present was relieved that he had the temperance to hold it back.
"I'm not sure if you're aware, Verdelet," the king began, "but my son and marshal drove off an imperial force three times their size not even a month ago. Can anyone in your Union say the same?"
"A fluke of a battle won under questionable circumstances," the hierarch answered. "The Union clashes with the Empire almost daily, yet I've not once heard of the Red Eyes retreating."
"Caerleon stands victorious all the same. Meanwhile, your mighty Union is stretched thin across nearly all of Midgard. The paltry force you have guarding the very castle you would send her to didn't even arrive in time to do their duty. I fail to see how her situation would be improved in your custody."
The elder gathered himself, refocusing on his main point. "Every day the goddess has spent here has been an insult to all of the women that gave their lives in her position in the past. Hers is a sacred duty, and it is being defiled by childish defiance and selfishness."
"Asherah is giving her life to the seal, just as they all did. If that is not enough for you, then perhaps your gods aren't as righteous as you claim, old man."
The elder man shook with rage at the king's comment, gripping his staff tightly enough for his veins to appear as though they would pop out of his hand entirely. Caim could tell this discussion was going to become far more heated if he let the hierarch speak. He raised his own voice, fighting against his aching body the entire time.
"I understand this is a matter of great importance to you, Hierarch, but I would much prefer the discussion be put off until at least after the banquet. Our enemies are beyond the castle walls, not within them, and we have had the rare fortune of winning a decisive victory against them. It wouldn't do for a celebration of our people's heroism to be spoiled by foul moods, now would it?"
The king and hierarch traded glances, subtly acknowledging the prince's point. "Very well," the hierarch said, "but we will continue this conversation."
Caim and Gaap watched silently as Verdelet left the throne room, paying no mind to the numerous ill-intended mutterings that spilled from his mouth as he departed.
"The Hero of Caerleon graces us with his presence!" Gaap called, turning his attention to his son. "What are you doing out of bed? You should be well rested for tonight's festivities."
"I just came to check on the commotion," he said. "To be honest, I'm finding it hard to stay put while the rest of the castle is brimming with so much energy."
A playful smile lifted the king's mustache. "If you're having so much trouble staying in bed, maybe you should find yourself a maiden to keep you there. Your mother has been pestering me about grandchildren lately, and I have to say I am of a similar mind."
"You still have a long reign ahead of you, Father. I won't have to consider women for quite some time, I'm sure."
"A long reign, is it?" Gaap questioned with a hearty chuckle. "I'm glad at least someone thinks so. Nonetheless, you will need an heir, and I'm sure every maiden in Caerleon is eagerly awaiting the day Prince Caim shows interest in anything other than his sword."
"Tease me all you like, my sword is one of the reasons we're preparing for a feast instead of a siege."
"So I've heard. I'm told you killed more than even the mighty Ipris himself. It's good to see all those hours you spent flailing about on the balcony went to good use. I always feared the shadows you were swinging at would get the best of you one of these days."
Caim rolled his eyes as his father erupted into a fit of laughter. Sensing he wasn't going to stop anytime soon, the prince tried to think of another diversion to occupy his time.
Unfortunately, his mother was likely bogged down with preparations for the banquet, and Inuart and Ipris wouldn't be arriving for a few hours yet. As much as he wanted to defy his father's suggestion of seeking the company of women, it seemed he was left no choice but to find Furiae and Shirley.
A minute's walk through the castle's narrow stone halls saw the prince to the door of Furiae's bedchambers, where he was met by a familiar voice.
"Prince Caim!"
His name was accompanied by the sound of freshly washed sheets and pillows falling to the floor. Shirley had always been about as skittish as she was energetic, and this was especially true when it came to him.
"You're supposed to be in bed. What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you, actually. I've been kind of-" his words drifted off as he turned to his maidservant and took in her disheveled appearance. "Goodness, Shirley, are you alright? You look like you haven't slept in days."
"And to think you aren't engaged yet," she teased. A stern look from the prince promptly scared away the playful façade, and the blonde girl found herself owing an answer. She hesitated, casting her eyes away from her longtime friend. Their relationship had always been tempered by the professionalism demanded by their respective stations, but since the riots she had promised that she would be as open with him as she possibly could. It was the only way she could get better.
"I… The nightmares…" The young woman took a deep breath and collected herself. "I didn't get any sleep," she finally managed. "No matter what I tried, I couldn't stop seeing his face."
Without saying a word, Caim reached out and took Shirley into his arms, pulling her close to him. Fear and humility saw her resist for a brief moment before she surrendered herself and sank into him completely. He kept her there as she quietly heaved in his embrace, the warmth of fresh tears spreading across his shirt.
Caim didn't put much faith in any gods, but there were times he wondered if this was some form of divine punishment. He had spent countless hours cultivating strength to defend his kingdom from the monsters that plagued Midgard, yet fate saw fit to make him turn his blade on servants and soldiers he had known since he was a child before any beast. Through all of that, keeping those closest to him alive still wasn't enough. While they were spared violent and gruesome deaths at the hands of the Red Eyes, Furiae and Shirley had been assaulted in other ways. Both were pressured by the elf Nero to engage in explicit acts, and when his advances were rebuffed, the bastard took advantage of the chaos of the riots to lock Shirley away and force himself on her.
All of this right under his nose.
When she was discovered naked and defiled in the aftermath of the chaos, Caim brought all that remained of the castle's forces to bear on foreign duo, but they managed to escape. He had failed to protect her, he had failed to bring those who wronged her to justice, and every time she came to him, he failed to heal the wounds that lingered in her heart. For all his strength, he was powerless when it mattered most. All he could do was hold her as she cried and pray the next night wouldn't bring more of the same.
There used to be more than this heavy silence. In the beginning, there were admissions of pain and empty promises that Caerleon would bring the strangers to justice. Caim had come to know very well how Shirley now suffered, how aware of her own vulnerability she had become. She lacked the skill and power to properly defend herself from even other women, and that knowledge brought with it constant fear. Any of the dozens of people in the castle could violate her in the same way if they had a mind for it. To most it was nothing more than an unlikely fantasy, but to her it was a nightmare that could very easily be revisited.
Caim was a friend, but with his strong body and martial skill, he was among the greatest potential threats to her safety there was. It had taken weeks of daily visits for her to regain some semblance of comfort when alone with him, and even longer for her to accept his touch. That he could comfort her like this only six months later was nothing short of a miracle to him.
"Thank you, Caim. I hope I didn't keep you overlong."
"Don't worry about that," the prince said, releasing the girl. "I only wish I could give you more than just my time."
"Your time is enough, I promise. But, if you really want to do more, I'd like you to forget about those two. I've noticed how much you trouble yourself over them, and I won't have it. I know you want justice every bit as much as me, but One and Nero are long gone, and they aren't likely to return. It's best if you just let it go."
Her suggestion fell on deaf ears. "By the way, where's Furiae?" Caim asked. "I thought she would be with you."
"I mean it, Caim!" It wasn't like him to try to avoid subjects like this. Shirley knew it could only mean this was a real issue for him. If only she could find a way to bypass his stubborn nature and get him to listen…
"How much joy do you think it would bring the elf to know that he plagues your thoughts, even now?"
As the words left her mouth, the warm aura around her prince quickly turned cold. Kindness had left his face, and gaze passed straight through her. Did she say something wrong? Had she offended him? How could the man she just had in her arms suddenly feel so far away?
He spent a moment considering his response, and when he was ready, his focus returned to her. "I appreciate your concern, but know that I have pain I must face alone just as you do." His blue eyes bored into her as he spoke, and for the first time since the riot, she found herself face to face not with the kind and noble prince of Caerleon, but with the vengeful warrior that had laid a legion at his feet. "One and Nero will not be forgiven so long as Caerleon stands, and there is no blade in the kingdom more suited to meting out the justice they deserve than my own."
He knew it was selfish, that this refusal made him a hypocrite. He had told her he would do anything for her, but vengeance was the one thing he could not concede. He wanted to help her, but more than that, he wanted to take the elf's smug face in his hands and break his skull over a rock. While One was perhaps a less egregious case, he was resolved to ensure that Nero died a horrible death, and all the virtue in the world wouldn't change his mind.
She didn't understand, but she knew better than to press such a grim topic on a day of celebration. "As you say, My Prince. If you're still looking for her, Princess Furiae is in the wardrobe preparing her outfit for tonight."
The sudden formality was a blow to the prince in and of itself, even if she had not responded to him directly. "Already?"
"Lord Inuart is to be in attendance, lest you've forgotten," she said through a mischievous smile. "I know she'll always be a child in your eyes, but the world sees her as a woman now, and a betrothed one at that."
"I'd almost forgotten," Caim said. "I suppose it was always expected, but for them to be officially engaged… the whole thing seems like it's happening too fast."
The maid picked up her dropped laundry, her face now concealed behind the mass of bedding. "Women have been married earlier. We should be grateful we've had so much time with her."
"What are you talking about? Won't you be going with her when she leaves to live in his estate?" he asked, opening his sister's door for the encumbered maid.
"If she chooses to take me. However, she's not the only royal in Caerleon. If you or the king and queen wish for me to stay, I will. At any rate, the days we all spent together will soon be coming to an end."
A bittersweet truth to be certain. Caim never expected this chapter of his life to last forever, but he wished it had a few more pages than this.
"A toast! To Caerleon's brave defenders!"
King Gaap raised a jeweled goblet filled with the kingdom's finest wine, and the nobility of the land met his toast in unison. It had been ages since Caim had seen the dining hall this lively. Drunken shouts and howls filled the castle as old friends and strangers alike gathered to celebrate the kingdom's successful defense of its borders, gorging themselves as if they had no plans to see the morning.
Caim lifted his cup with the rest of his peers, but the crimson liquid splashed upon closed lips. The edge from recent events had not left him, and the prince could not find it within himself to risk drinking when catastrophes fell upon Caerleon like rain. This was especially true with so many of the kingdom's prominent figures gathered in one place. An assassin could strike, the red eyes could reemerge, the Empire's scattered army could return to their soil… whatever came, Caim could not fail his kingdom again.
"Not drinking?" Inuart asked from the chair next to him, halfway through his own cup. "Isn't there a law against being stiff at your own party?"
"Leave him be, Inuart." Furiae scolded from his side. "Are you well, Caim?"
"I'm fine," he said. "I just don't feel like losing myself in drink tonight."
"Caerleon's valiant prince spares not even a moment for merriment in his eternal vigil." Inuart reached for Caim's wine and added it to his own portion. "Your sacrifice will not be forgotten, My Prince."
The prince cracked a smile at his friend's jest, sinking just a bit further into his chair. "I just hope father is doing well. I only know a fragment of the burden he shoulders."
"He seems fine to me," Inuart said. "Though with the headache he'll be waking up with, I doubt I could say the same tomorrow."
"Speaking of headaches," Caim said, "the Union's hierarch is here. It seems they want their goddess back."
"Why?" asked Inuart. "The goddess's castle is only a two day's ride from here, and I'm pretty sure castle Caerleon is more heavily fortified. It's not like she'll be any more secure."
"When I heard them speak earlier, it had to do with the integrity of her station. Apparently they don't think she's doing a good enough job suffering."
"That's probably not it," Furiae said in a hushed voice. "I heard from Shirley that there are rumors about the goddess among the servants. They say she's consumed by lust, and that father often visits her chambers to make his bed with her. There's no doubt word has reached the Union."
Caim hadn't heard a more preposterous rumor in all his life. King Gaap was devoted to his queen, and even should he choose to seek another woman, he could do much better than someone as frail as the goddess.
"Asherah was never popular to begin with," Caim said, "and that discontent spread to our father when he agreed to house her. It shouldn't surprise anyone that people are willing to spread falsehoods about them."
"Even if that's so, the Union can't just sit back while their image is dragged through the dirt. I'd have expected them to protest sooner, to be honest," Inuart said. "I mean, imagine if the person in the position you revered the most was a wh-"
Caim lifted a hand in front of Inuart's face in a gesture to silence him, his eyes focused on something in the distance. Inuart obeyed, following his friend's gaze to one of the massive windows of the dining room. Moments passed, but he could not find what had caught the prince's attention. "Is something wrong, Caim?"
"I… I thought I saw something out there."
Inuart looked out the window again, but he saw nothing in the night sky. He was about to give up, but the object of their search found them instead. Before anyone could tell what was happening, the roar of the dining hall's chatter was overtaken by shattering stone that cracked like thunder. A terrible force knocked the trio back, and dust dominated the space around them.
Caim rushed to gather himself, his senses flooded by the pain of being thrown across the room and the screams of those caught under the rubble of the collapsed ceiling. He couldn't see well enough to know what had caused the commotion, but he needed to get everyone as far away from it as possible.
The prince began to drag himself along the floor, still too shaken to stand. Furiae and Inuart had to be close; as long as he drew breath he would work to see them through this. Soon enough, the image of Furiae curled in Inuart's arms came into view. He couldn't know their injuries, but at the very least they were alive. Now if he could only find his parents. Caim raised himself to a knee, and surveyed the area once again.
It was then that the sound came. From beyond the haze and debris, a deafening and alien cry rang through the air. Caim found himself paralyzed by a primal fear as the beast's voice tore through him. Even after it ended, its echo resounded within his head, plaguing him for what felt like an eternity. Then, the revelation.
With only a single flap of its wings, the creature cleared the air, revealing its terrible form to all who were fortunate enough to have held on to their lives. Standing over the corpses of the king and queen was a dragon as black as night. Its frame was long and slim, with a tail the size of the rest of its body. The beast was unnaturally thin, and bones shone clearly through its scaled hide as though it had been starved to the brink of death. For all its features, Caim thought it more likely a demon than any natural beast.
There was no fight to be had. He couldn't imagine what had brought this beast here, but there was nothing in Caerleon that could match it. Caim turned back to his companions and gave them what would be his final orders as their prince.
"Run! You have to go NOW!"
Inuart looked back at his liege, still taken by panic.
"GO!"
The musician shook himself from his fear-induced trance and brought his fiancée to her feet. Without a word, the pair fled the dining hall, not daring to look back and see what horrific fate awaited their prince.
Their frenzied steps sounded throughout the hall, pulling the beast's attention in their direction. The two had gone, but Caim remained on the floor. The dragon's ruby eyes locked onto him, and the prince's heart fell through the floor. He had never felt fear like this. Even when he faced thousands of imperial blades, he held onto his courage. This… this was different… primal. This was the fear of an animal that had come face to face with its predator. This was nature itself screaming at him to flee.
Embers grew in the back of the dragon's throat as it postured itself to breathe. The prince panicked, but where mind failed, instinct prevailed. Every cell in his body dedicated itself to his escape, forcing the young man to his feet and away from danger. Before he knew it, he found himself in a mad dash toward the nearest window, caring not what damage the jump may do to him. An overwhelming surge of flame and hot air rushed behind the prince, but it would not find him. Caim braced himself and broke through the glass, gravity pulling him out of the path of the dragonfire that engulfed the dining hall. Ordinarily he could manage a fall of this distance relatively safely, but the rushing air from the fireball had misaligned his body for the landing. The prince could only hope for the best as he plummeted to the earth below.
Caim opened his eyes to completely different scenery. The night sky had been replaced by a stone ceiling, and what should have been scorched earth beneath him was instead a soft, warm bed. Only when the disoriented prince fully regained his faculties did it strike him that he had no idea where he was or how he had gotten there.
His eyes raced to gather information about his surroundings, but they would not have a chance to finish.
"You're awake!"
Before he could even look to see who had spoken, a young brunette woman fell on top of him in tears. He knew from instinct alone that his assailant was Furiae, his arms wrapping around her before he could even think.
"Furiae, you're alive… how?"
"I should be asking you the same thing. We didn't think you made it out of the dining hall. Everyone else that was there… Mom and Dad… they're all gone."
Caim's stomach flipped as the image of his parents' mangled bodies returned to his mind. He had seen men eviscerated on the battlefield, but watching his own parents be crushed to death had a uniquely profound effect on him.
Yet for all the nausea the image of their corpses brought, he couldn't match Furiae's tears or trembling voice. Instead, his heart had seemingly gone numb. All of the pain and sorrow he expected to be overcome by was entirely absent, replaced by the guilt he felt over his own apathy.
"How did you make it out?"
"I jumped out of one of the windows. I don't really remember much after that though."
"I'd imagine not," Furiae giggled, wiping away her tears. "You've been unconscious for over a day now. You must have taken quite a hit your head. How are you feeling?"
"I'm in a bit of pain, but I don't think it's anything serious. Tell me, where are we?"
"That's right, you would have been asleep for the entire ride here. We're in the Castle of the Goddess. The hierarch had to take Asherah back to Union territory and insisted we accompany him. Ah, that reminds me. He wanted to know when you woke up. I'll send for him, so you stay there and get some more rest."
The Prince sat up and swung his legs off of the bed. "It's alright. Just tell me where he is and I'll go."
"Caim, please, you're injured."
"I told you I'm fine, Furiae," he said with a warm smile. "If you really want to help me, let me know where I can find something to eat. I'm absolutely starving."
The princess wanted to insist, but the last thing her brother needed right now was an argument. "I guess you would be. The hierarch is in the Great Hall with one of the Union's generals. Go meet him and I'll send Shirley over with a hot meal. I'm sure she'd be glad to see you well."
After a long embrace the two went their separate ways, the prince anxiously traversing the halls of the mighty fortress. Conveniently for him, the Castle of the Goddess wasn't far from Caerleon, and he had visited it numerous times in his youth to meet with foreign scholars for his studies. These walls were nearly as familiar to him as those of his own home. Before long he was in the great hall, met with the sight of the hierarch and another man hunched over a war table wearing some of the grimmest expressions he had ever seen.
"I'm told you wanted to see me?" Caim called, catching the pair's attention.
"Prince Caim, you're awake, and well enough to walk it seems," the hierarch noted. "Come join us. We have much to discuss."
"Mind your manners Verdelet," the other man said. "Lest you have already forgotten, we are in the company of a king."
Words that Caim had not expected to hear for many years to come. At only eighteen, he was king and he was already being called to do his duty. Hierarch Verdelet was a representative of the Union. If he wished to discuss official business, Caim was obliged to comply. Caim took a closer look at the stranger and quickly identified him. Blond hair, a full beard, and twin short swords sheathed at his waist. There was no mistaking it.
"To think we're joined by the Twin Blade General… this must be serious."
"I see my reputation precedes me," the blond-haired man said, "Or perhaps you're just particularly well informed. Either way, it is a pleasure, King Caim."
"Likewise, General Oror. Now, what is it you needed me for?"
"First," the general began, "I would like for you to recount the attack on the castle. Plenty of people were there, but none of them were as close to the action as you. There may be a crucial detail we're missing that only you can provide."
"There isn't much to say. A black dragon broke through the roof and killed almost everyone at the feast. My sister Furiae fled with Lord Ipris's son, and I jumped out of a window."
"That would explain why we found you outside," Verdelet said. "You'll be pleased to know that Lord Inuart survived the attack along with most of your service staff. However, the king and queen and many nobles are still unaccounted for. Since you were there, we wanted to confirm-"
"They're all dead. If they weren't burned then they were crushed by either the rubble or the beast itself."
"Then it is as we feared," Oror lamented. A solemn silence fell on the group as the reality of the situation came to light. "However, we are not without recourse. As tragic as the circumstances are, you are now Caerleon's king, and as such, you wield the power of negotiation for your kingdom. That being said, regardless of how our discussion goes, given recent events, there are things our leaders must inform you of in confidence."
"I see. And what was it that you wanted to 'negotiate'?"
The hierarch took a deep breath. "We would ask of you what we asked of your father. Commit Caerleon's armies to the Union, that we may fight the Empire together."
Gaap was always cooperative, as was necessary when housing the Union's goddess, but he had never fully pledged Caerleon to the Union as a member. Caim was sure his father had his reasons, but at present, Caim couldn't think of a reason to refuse membership. This attack had effectively guaranteed the nation's death. The Red Eye plague ravaged their population months prior, and now almost every noble and ranking official in Caerleon had been killed in one fell swoop. They would recover in time, but they could no longer stand against the Empire alone.
"Very well, Caerleon shall join the ranks of the Union. Our armies are yours."
"It feels wrong to thrust this decision upon you in the wake of such tragedy, but I assure you that you're making the right choice for both your kingdom and your people. Gods willing, you can claim vengeance on the Empire for the murder of your parents."
A curiously worded statement. "A dragon killed my parents, not the Empire."
"They are one and the same," Oror said. "How often do you hear of dragons coming down from the highlands to attack a single building and leave? How often is their target the monarchs of a nation that managed to withstand an imperial assault not even a week prior?"
"I admit it's suspicious, but for the Empire to have dragons under their command…"
"It's unbelievable, I know, but the Union has known about this for some time. At first, our soldiers were finding the bodies of dragons bound and mutilated in old ruins. We didn't know why they were being hunted, but we went to great lengths to find out. Sure enough, a few interrogations revealed that the empire has been hunting and taming dragons, and testimony from imperial defectors corroborated it."
Caim couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Why wouldn't you make this known? If the rest of the independent states knew that the Empire was going to bring dragons to their borders, they'd flock to the Union in droves. All of Midgard would want to see this threat stopped before it reached their own homelands."
"Maybe so, but we fear it is more likely that they would submit to the Empire without a fight. Winning this war is a daunting enough task; we cannot risk the Empire growing any stronger than it already is."
It was a good point. If they revealed that the Empire had tamed dragons, there would undoubtedly be cowards that would refuse to rise against them. "I expect this is what you want me to keep this secret?"
"Indeed. Can you do that?"
"Of course."
"So can I," a feminine voice called. The approaching woman was instantly recognized as Shirley, who had arrived with Caim's meal. "We've still some time until the cooks prepare the next meal, so you'll have to make do with rations from the barracks. I hope that's alright."
"It's fine, thank you," Caim said. "You can leave the tray here."
The blonde placed the tray on a nearby table and left the room as if there was nothing out of place at all.
Oror and Verdelet glared at Caim, both silently asking the same question.
"Don't worry about Shirley. To trust me is to trust her as well." As always, the sight of his old friend brought up memories of her attacker and the rage that accompanied them. This time though, they could prove to be quite useful. The Prince scanned the map on the war table, his gaze fixing on the forests marked 'Niflheim'.
"So, does the Union have a plan to combat the dragons?"
"Nothing concrete yet," Oror answered. "We figure if the Empire can bring them down with conventional military tactics, we can too. It will likely be more difficult when you consider that we'll be facing the beasts amidst pitched battles with the Empire instead of hunting them in isolation, but we're working on a few ideas that seem promising."
"I see. In that case, I may know something that can be of use. Six months ago two vagrants called One and Nero were welcomed as guests in Caerleon. Nero, an elf, claimed that he and his partner had warded off dragons by using crossbow bolts coated in his blood. From what he said, it seems elf blood acts as a form of poison to dragons and weakens them drastically. If we could secure the cooperation of an elf tribe, we may be able to replicate the strategy."
"Even if this is true, the elves have remained abstained human conflicts longer than any nation of the Union has stood," Verdelet said. "They will not forsake their treaties of neutrality lightly."
The general stroked his beard as he stared at the war table. "What Verdelet says is true. The elves will likely not agree to aid us in this conflict, especially not in such an obscure manner. Even if they would, I'm not sure we could spare the manpower to send guarded envoy to each of their tribes."
"General, we may not even need the allegiance of the tribes at all. If we can convince even a small number of individuals to aid our cause independent of the tribes' ruling it could turn the entirety of the war in our favor."
"The king is right," Verdelet said. "The Empire has already reached the territory of the eastern elf tribes. Neutral or not, unease surely stirs in the heart of many a young elf."
Oror took a moment to consider a plan of action. "Since you're so confident, King Caim, perhaps Caerleon could spare the men and supplies needed to make the journey to the forests of Niflheim. I know your kingdom is in a precarious position at the moment, but this could prove an invaluable opportunity. Can you perform this service for the Union?"
A menacing grin overtook the young king's face. "I'll… make the journey myself."
"Yourself?" Verdelet questioned. "Are you sure that's wise? So many of Caerleon's nobility have died that the ruling class has surely fallen into chaos. Your kingdom needs its king, now more than ever."
"What my kingdom needs is a skilled administrator. I am renowned among my people as a fighter, but unfortunately that is all I am. If Caerleon is to be seen through this crisis intact, it will not be by my leadership. I will return home and appoint a council to oversee the recovery effort and maintain relations with the Union in my absence."
"King Caim, are you certain the measures you're taking aren't too drastic?" Oror pressed. "With all due respect, it seems to me that you may simply be running away from your duties as ruler."
"Is it commonplace for the Union to greet its new member states by telling their kings how to rule their kingdoms?" Caim asked. "If so then I may be inclined to reconsider just how cooperative Caerleon is to be with our newfound allies."
"Of all the arrogant-" The hierarch had exploded at this comment with energy unthinkable for one of his age, but had been signaled by the general to desist.
Caim and Oror traded prolonged glares before the general broke the general spoke up. "If this is what you think is best, we'll proceed as you described."
"Good. I'll return home with Furiae and the rest of my people tomorrow. You'll receive word from Caerleon as soon as the regency council is able to send it. Gods willing, we'll tear the Empire's dragons right out of the sky. Now, is there anything else you needed me for?"
"No, we can handle the rest. Feel free to get some rest; you'll need it for the journey you have ahead of you."
The general and hierarch watched in silence as Caim grabbed his tray and left the great hall.
"What a curious fellow." Oror said. "You visited Caerleon regularly to check on the goddess, did you not Verdelet? Did you know much of Caim before today?"
"He was rather withdrawn for the most part, but even then he seemed a mild-mannered and thoughtful young man. I see now he's just as impulsive and hot-headed as his father."
"Perhaps, but that didn't seem like impulse to me. Didn't you notice? The moment that servant of his walked in it was like he became another person. I've seen those eyes before. Whatever he's after, he's wanted it for a long time. It's probably for the better we let him loose than keep him penned up here ready to explode. I only regret he had to lie about a solution to our dragon problem to make it happen."
"No, that part might be true. Though, how he claims to have come to possess such knowledge is… troubling."
"What? More of your church secrets old man?"
"I'm afraid so. But fret not. No matter what terrors reveal themselves, the gods are on our side."
A/N: I live. Previous author's note about being almost done with the chapter ended up being wildly inaccurate. I plan on releasing future chapters in a much more timely manner. Thanks for reading.