Jules grunted as he fished through the pocket hidden under his armor. It was tiring work inspecting the palace corridors. Especially after Sir Hontus was absent; Jules had no choice but to cover for him. But Jules now had a moment's reprieve, and he intended to enjoy it.
Jules finally retrieved his pipe as he pushed the palace gates open. The guards gave a salute as he walked down the steps, his pipe in his mouth. Jules looked out at the skyline of Glenhaven as he inhaled. Smoke came from his nostrils, only to be blown away in the wind. Jules shut his eyes, letting the stress melt away.
I know I promised Mimet I wouldn't use this pipe as much anymore, Jules sighed internally. He blew more smoke from his nostrils, letting the aroma overtake his senses. But being Captain of the Guardians isn't an easy job.
The flapping of wings interrupted Jules' thoughts. He doused his pipe and put it away as someone landed behind him. Jules turned around to see Hontus come to a landing.
"Pardon me, Captain." Hontus bowed his head.
"You're certainly back much sooner than I expected." Jules wracked his talons on the pavement. "Didn't you say something about taking the afternoon off?"
"I know what I said..." Hontus stepped closer to speak in a quieter tone. "I had to fetch a dreamstone for my son."
Jules gave Hontus a suspicious look, his neck bend back away from the red drake. "Why are you whispering, Hontus?"
"You could've spoken to Elder Telus about it."
"Bah." Jules rolled his eyes. He turned back the way he was facing with a shake of his wings. "Clearly it wasn't important enough to tell me initially."
Hontus walked over to stand at Jules's side. He kept his hushed tone. "I needed to get a dreamstone for Rune."
Jules blinked. He glanced up at Hontus. "And why exactly does he need one?"
Hontus started to explain to Jules the situation. The captain sat back on his haunches as he listened. He was aware that Telus had some vested interest in Rune's development. It had been this way for six years now, ever since Rune was adopted by Hontus's family. But for the life of him, Jules couldn't understand why details about the youngling were kept so confidential...
"...And the Elders want me to tell them if it works." Hontus finished, having sat back as well.
"I see." Jules nodded. He stood on all fours, stretching out his back. "So why have you returned here so soon?"
"I have just enough time to do a inspection of the grounds before turning to the library."
"Don't bother, Hontus." Jules waved him off.
Hontus tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean, Captain?"
"For starters, I've already covered your afternoon shift for you." Jules reached for his pipe again. "As for your son, if the Elders want you tending to-"
Jules's pipe fell from his lips as something like an explosion sounded in the distance. Surprised, he sprung into a battle stance immediately. He looked this way and that, a snarl in his throat. What had happened? What exploded?
"Sir, look!" Hontus shouted, pointing with a forepaw towards the south. Jules followed his gaze with a scowl. It didn't take long for Jules to see a geyser of black mist rising up from the south.
"It looks like it's coming from the market district!" Jules declared, his talons digging into the ground.
"Should I go investigate, sir?" Hontus asked.
"Nay!" Jules shouted as he snatched his pipe from the ground.. "I'll handle this!"
"Yes, sir!" Hontus saluted.
The captain roared into the air, signaling several guards on duty. They came towards Jules as he made a running start to fly. The other dragons soon followed him into the air, and they all charged towards the market district.
Being the Captain of the Guardians wasn't an easy job. But it was HIS job to serve and protect the people of Glenhaven. And Jules wasn't about to let stress get in his way!
~~...~~
Rune was scared nearly out of his wits. He had nowhere to run: Albanion and Elza stood in front of him, while Aegis flanked him from the side. As the black smoke finally cleared, Roxanne and Blankridge looked upon him incredulously, while the adult dragons seemed unable to comprehend his form.
"Rune...?" Roxanne asked worriedly.
Rune's heart beat harshly against his ribcage. He couldn't stop hyperventilating. What was this?! Why was he black?! What were these markings on his legs?!
"Impossible!" Albanion exclaimed. He brought his head down to look Rune over completely.
"St-stay back!" Rune shouted. He backed up until he accidentally slammed into a wall.
"Tell me what you did to him!" Blankridge screamed. He ran forwards in an attempt to bite Albanion's leg. But the orange drake was frozen in place by Aegis's magic again.
"Enough of that." Aegis snapped.
Blankridge thrashed and snarled as he tried to escape the magic. Aegis glanced over at Roxanne, who only stood in place, whimpering in fear. Rune's fear was partially replaced with pain as he looked upon his helpless friends.
Aegis frowned at Rune, and then looked towards his companions. "I don't quite understand. You said boy is... Prince Rune?"
"Y-Yes." Elza said. Something seemed to light up in her eyes. "We've found Prince Rune!"
There it was again. Prince Rune? Why was she calling him that? Rune looked down at himself again. He felt... something strange inside himself. His panic died down a little, but not by much. He looked up again to see Albanion and Elza looking down at him.
"This must be some kind of trick." Albanion said. He waved a forepaw around and muttered something in ancient draconian. Nothing seemed to happen.
"I can't sense any magical auras around him other than his own natural magic." Aegis said. "He seems real enough."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Rune shouted. "What have you done to me?!"
"Rune..." Elza stepped closer, causing Rune to step back. The dragoness frowned.
"You don't recognize me?" She asked.
"Of course not!" Rune spat, nearly tripping over himself. And yet something at the back of his mind DID.
The dragoness's features slumped, but then she perked up. "It has been a long time. Maybe just my voice isn't enough..."
Elza reached up to pull her hood back. She held a forepaw before her face and created a small orb of dark mist. Albanion glared at her incredulously. He glared at her in anger, and motioned towards Rune's friends. Elza looked at them, but then looked pleadingly at Albanion. She nudged him with a wing to look at Rune. Albanion looked down at the floor, shutting his eyes. He sighed, and then pulled back his own hood.
What was that all about? Rune wondered.
He soon found his answer. Albanion and Elza each had their own dark obs. The held them before themselves, which spread the mist over their bodies. Once they were completely covered, the mist faded away. Rune looked on in shock as the dragons' appearances changed completely.
Albanion had dark grey scales. Blood red horns grew around a bronze mane. His eyes were the same red hue. Elza's body was dark olive in color. Her silver horns jutted out like lightning-bolts, and her mane was a dark blue.
"No way!" Blankridge shouted. Roxanne nearly screamed.
Elza looked back down at Rune and smiled. "Can you recognize either of us?"
Rune looked between their faces. Without a doubt, they were dark dragons. But as he looked them over, something stirred within him. Ever since his encounter with them at the palace, Rune felt like he had met these two before. But here and now, Albanion and Elza had the same faces as the two smiling dragons from his mind.
And in an instant, Rune remembered something. All of Rune's fear melted away. His eyes watered as he stepped closer to Elza.
"You're..." He said slowly. "You're my Aunt Elza."
"Aunt?" Roxanne repeated incredulously.
Elza gave a warm smiled. She wrapped a foreleg around Rune. She lowered her head to his shoulder, on the verge of tears of her own.
"I.. I can't believe that you're alive!" Elza's lip quivered. "By the ancestors, I've missed you so much!"
Rune looked up at Albanion. Uncle Albanion. The dark grey dragon was still unable to comprehend what was happening. Rune let go of Elza and gave a hug to Albanion's foreleg. The dark dragon looked down at him awkwardly. He slowly lifted a forepaw towards Rune's back, only to move it away cautiously. Albanion seemed to be trying not to tear up.
Rune couldn't explain it. Just a few moments ago they were complete strangers. But now vivid memories flashed through his mind of Albanion and Elza raising him and... someone else.
"Rune, what's going on?" Blankridge asked, still struggling against Aegis's magic. "Why are you hugging those weirdoes?"
Rune backed up from Albanion and looked over to Aegis. "Could you... please let my friends go?"
Aegis looked over towards his companions, still very confused. Albanion nodded yes, and Aegis merely shrugged his shoulders. With the spell gone, Blankridge toppled to the floor. He stood up with a grumble and a sneer.
Roxanne walked carefully around the adult dragons and stood beside Rune. "Hey, what's going on, Rune? You're acting... and looking... so strange."
Rune frowned. He sat back on his haunches and looked himself over again. Black scales. Why did he look like this?
"Why are you creeps acting so friendly all of a sudden?!" Blankridge demanded, rubbing his muzzle where he hit the floor.
"I... I think I know them, Blank." Rune said. "Well, these two at least. They're my Uncle Albanion and Aunt Elza. They're from when I was little."
"But they're dark dragons!" Roxanne exclaimed. "And you're a... a..."
"A black dragon!" Someone shouted.
Rune gasped. That voice wasn't anyone in the building. Albanion and Elza seemed just as shocked by it. Rune turned to look out the window. With all the commotion of what had happened, nobody had paid attention to the windows. And standing behind the window was a palace guard.
"Captain Jules!" The guard shouted. "Over here!"
"Blast!" Albanion shouted.
Rune could hear the sounds of soldiers charging towards the area. The horses outside whinnied and bucked wildly. Albanion and Elza scrambled to create more orbs of black mist. While they were distracted, Rune felt Roxanne shove him towards the window.
"Hey!" He yelled as he hit the wall.
"Run, run!" Roxanne pleaded.
With no time to think, Rune leaped forwards to scramble out the window, Roxanne following behind. Blankridge wasted no time leaping through one of the other windows.
Elza stopped her magic and ran to the window. "Rune, wait!"
Rune landed with a grunt on the hard ground. He bruised his paws and part of his tail. Blankridge and Roxanne landed on either side of him shortly afterwards. Several gasps filled the either from the far side of the alleyway. Wincing, Rune stood upright and looked towards them. He froze; several palace guards had come to investigate.
"What are those kids doing here?!" One of them asked.
"Look!" Another one screamed at the top of his voice. That one's a... a black dragon!"
Rune's eyes went wide. He saw the guard reel back to inhale a puff of air. Rune instinctively shielded himself with his wings, fearing a blast of flames.
"Hold your fire, idiot!" A familiar voice snapped. Rune looked up to see Captain Jules appear at the front of the crowd. Jules looked down at Rune and the other younglings.
"The captain's here?" Roxanne asked.
"We're saved!" Blankridge cheered. He stood up and ran for the guards. "Guys, come on!"
Roxanne was eager to follow Blankridge to safety, but Rune couldn't budge. He was initially grateful, but he was filled with dread as the captain gave him a curious look, and the guards looked down at him with disdain.
"That black dragon looks like... Hontus's boy." Jules said. He lowered his head for a closer look, his eyes scrutinizing him.
"It's me!" Rune exclaimed.
Before he could say another word, the door to the hovel was thrown open. Elza ran out the door and unleashed a current of wind upon several of the guards.
"Rune, this way!" She shouted towards him, motioning with a wing.
Rune looked back at her, his heart racing. He made several strides to follow her... but then Blankridge and Roxanne called out to him.
"Rune, come on!" Blankridge said hurriedly.
"But..." Rune stammered.
"Rune, please." Roxanne added.
Rune looked between the faces of his friends, and then over at Elza. The dragoness seemed desperate for Rune to come with her. He couldn't decide what to do. Where should he go? Ultimately, someone decided for him. Rune was lifted up by the gruff of his neck and carried backwards. He howled and kicked his legs, only to realize it was Jules who grabbed him.
"Let me go!" Rune pleaded.
Jules plopped Rune down between a pair of guards and looked him in the eyes. "Wait HERE."
"Give him back!" Elza shrieked.
"Another dark dragon!" Someone shouted.
Elza charged forwards, but the guards all prepared elemental attacks. But before they fired, Albanion emerged from the hovel, with Aegis at his heels. They moved to stand on either side of Elza. Albanion whispered something with anger at Elza, but Rune couldn't hear it. Elza whispered back sadly, wings drooping again. Aegis was muttering something under his breath, his eyes shut tight.
Jules was briefly shocked by the sight of the dark dragons, but he quickly snapped himself out of it. The captain stepped forwards and stomped his forepaw. "AHEM!"
Albanion and Elza stopped and looked forwards, while Aegis kept chanting. The air grew colder. Albanion seemed to glare at Elza again but stepping forwards.
Jules motioned towards the emblem on his armor. "As captain of the Glenhaven Guardians, I demand to know what you were doing with these children!"
Albanion briefly locked eyes with Rune, seemingly with disappointment. The robed drake then glared at the captain.
"We were minding our own business, until we found those younglings spying on us." Albanion said. "We were unaware who THAT ONE really is."
Rune stepped back worriedly. Jules blocked him with a wing.
"I hereby place you three under arrest!" Jules declared. He stepped forwards, as did the guards. "Surrender, or be prepared to fight!'
Rune peaked around to look at the robed dragons. He saw Albanion slowly stick a forepaw into his pouch. His eyes flashed white for a brief moment.
"There is a third option..." Albanion said. He pulled a strange, purple object out of his pouch. It shined in the air like a gem, but Rune had never seen its like before.
"Halt!" Jules roared. "I order you to HALT!"
"Aegis, NOW!" Albanion roared.
Gasping, Jules quickly turned around and grabbed Rune by the gruff again. There was a sound like an explosion as blasts of fire, ice and earth ripped through the air. Jules also shoved Blankridge and Roxanne forwards to get them away.
"H-Hey!" Blankridge gasped.
"What's going on?!" Roxanne cried out.
After running out into the open, Jules put Rune down and spun about. Rune did the same, groaning at the soreness of his neck. Rune gasped when he looked back at the alleyway.
Flames, Ice shards and boulders had torn apart the alleyway. Every single attack had been deflected away from the robed dragons. Aegis kept his eyes focused on the guards, his eyes flashing again. The guards were frozen in place. They hissed and growled as they tried to free themselves.
"What is this magic?!" One of the guards howled.
Albanion tossed the purple crystal behind himself. Rune braced himself for another explosion. But this one was... different. The sound was lower, and the blast was confined to the alley. A large burst of black smoke rose up behind the dark dragons. The black smoke twisted in on itself, becoming some kind of... hole.
"This is where we leave." Albanion said.
The guards struggled to break free again, to no avail. Aegis wasted no time hobbling into the swirling black portal. Albanion rushed to jump in after him, stopping only to shout back at Elza. "COME ON!"
Elza glanced between Albanion and Rune. She looked down at him sadly, pleading with her eyes for him to follow her. Rune only took a single step forwards before Jules held grabbed him.
Jules held a firm grip on Rune's shoulder and glare down at him. "What do you think you're doing?"
Rune couldn't answer. He just shut his eyes and looked at his forepaws. He heard a brief, but mournful howl as Elza jumped through the portal. When Rune opened his eyes, the dark dragons had all vanished, and the portal was gone.
A pit formed in Rune's stomach. He had just rediscovered family, only to lose them. He tried to ignore the gasps and shouts of the citizens of Glenhaven as they looked his way. Rune looked up fearfully at the scowling visage of Captain Jules.
"You're coming with me, boy." Jules said coldly. "You and your friends."
~~...~~
When the binding magic on the guards finally wore off, Jules ordered a search of the surrounding desert to find the three dark dragons. But it proved fruitless. In the meantime, Jules brought Rune and the other younglings to the palace.
It was hours later. Rune sat dead center in the Elders' meeting chamber. Jules had summoned all of the Guardians to the meeting. Rune's entire adoptive family was there as well. Roxanne stood with her parents, since she acted as a witness to what had happened.
All the eyes of the Guardians were on Rune's back. He shivered in fear. Suddenly being in the company of the dark dragons wasn't so bad. Rune looked over at Hontus and Seraph. Seraph seemed horrified to see Rune in this state. Hontus had a similar face, but his seemed mixed with something else... dread? guilt? Rune couldn't tell. Nellie was constantly on the verge of silent tears, while Blankridge tried not to look at him.
Why was Rune's family looking at him like that? Were they afraid of him? Rune's heart started to break.
Elder Telus was the first to speak. He looked down at Rune in pity, and then addressed the Guardians.
"First of all, we need to make it clear exactly what happened earlier today. Blankridge, Roxanne, please step forwards."
Blankridge gulped. When he didn't move at first, Seraph nudged him forwards with a wing. Roxanne was motivated by her own parents in the same manner.
"Well..." Blankridge took a nervous breath. "It started when Rune, Roxy and I followed those three weirdoes to that alleyway. Rune got interested in their book and wanted to read it. We formed a plan to sneak him inside, and..."
"You just let him walk right in?!" Seraph exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Blankridge gulped.
"Enough." Telus snapped. "Continue the story."
"They found Rune and I in a closet." Roxanne said. "After that, the big one made him hold still, saying something about a 'shroud' thingy. Then the big guy drew a strange black energy thing off of Rune, like this..." Roxanne mimicked the motions with her forepaw. "...When he finished, Rune looked like... this." She motioned towards him.
Rune bent his head low, his wings falling to the floor.
"They wouldn't say what they did to him!" Blankridge exclaimed. Tears welled in his eyes. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen! I just wanted to take Rune on an adventure! I..."
"That's quite enough, Blankridge." Telus said. "You and Roxanne can stand aside for now. Rune, look at me."
Rune picked his head up as Blankridge and Roxanne walked back to their families. A shiver crept up Rune's spine as the earth elder studied his features. Telus took a long sigh, and spoke calmly.
"Rune... I want you to know that you're not in any trouble. I just want to ask you a few questions."
"Y... yes, sir." Rune said, still shivering. He sat back on his haunches.
"Do you feel any different than you did this morning? Are you in any physical pain?"
"No." Rune shook his head. "In fact... I feel kind of... good. Almost better."
"What do you mean, little one?"
"I don't know..." Rune shook his shoulders around and stretched out his tail. "It feels like some small weight has been plucked from my mind."
"And you're sure that those dark dragons haven't done anything to hurt you?"
"I'm sure." Rune nodded. "And in fact... I think I know them. They felt like family, Elder."
"Family?" Telus repeated with wide eyes.
"Yes, Elder. The ones named Albanion and Elza are my Uncle and Aunt."
Telus tilted his head back in thought. Rune heard the Guardians start murmuring behind him. Rune shivered again.
Whatever Telus says, I'm definitely in deep trouble. Rune gulped.
"So, does this mean you've remembered something, Rune?" Telus asked.
"Kind of?" Rune flapped his wings. "When I saw them remove their disguises, I recognized them immediately. They felt like family I hadn't seen in years. But... I can't remember where I lived back them. I don't recall who the rest of my family was. Just those two."
"I see..." Telus shut his eyes in thought.
"Are we going to continue to ignore the dreadwing in the room?" Jules asked. He stepped forwards and flapped his wings irritably. "Rune is a black dragon. Several of my men, and quite a number of witnesses, spotted Rune in this state."
A murmur began to fill the room as the Guardians spoke amongst themselves. Rune bent his head low, almost on the verge of tears. He looked over at Hontus and Seraph. They still weren't sure what to make of his new form. The pit in Rune's heart grew deeper.
"Word is bound to spread through Glenhaven like wildfire." Jules continued. "And the flames will only be aided by word of those dark dragons. Nobody's going to keep quiet about sightings of dark dragons."
"I for one find it fascinating." Voden said from across the room. "I was right all along! The dark dragons WERE disguising themselves!"
"But how many of them are there?" Attonita wondered. "And more importantly, how many more of them are hiding amongst those nomads?"
"We could do a search of their caravan, Mother." Jules suggested. "But I'm not sure how we can identify dark dragons. Their magic is beyond me."
"Perhaps a normal investigation is in order." Krystallos said, straightening himself upon his cushion. "Speak to members of the caravan about the dragons named Albanion and Elza. Maybe someone will know something."
"But until the investigation is over, we can't allow those nomads to leave Glenhaven." Telus declared. "We'll begin the search on the morrow."
"What's going to happen to me?" Rune asked nervously.
Telus blinked He looked down at Rune with pity and patted him on the shoulder. "Come now, little one. I already told you you're not in trouble."
"But, I'm a..." Rune stammered, wracking his talons on the floor. "...a black dragon. What does that mean? Where did I come from?"
Telus sighed. He glanced over at Hontus and Seraph, who glanced back in sadness. Telus returned his gaze to Rune. "I can't claim to know everything. But what little I do know, this isn't the time to tell you. I'm sorry, Rune."
Rune bent his head low again. What did Telus know? Why wouldn't he tell him?
"Uh, Elder sir?" Blankridge called from the other side of the room. "There's one other thing I forgot to say.
Telus grunted and looked over at him. "Yes, Blankridge, what is it?"
"Those dark dragons called you and the other Elders a weird name. Culmu-somthing."
Telus's eyes lit up. His head rose high. "Excuse me?"
"I think it was Culmubrine or Culmubrae-"
"BE SILENT!" Telus bellowed. Blankridge yelped in surprise and felt back against Seraph's foreleg. Rune also yelped, but kept standing. The Guardians looked upon Telus in confusion. Even Attonita and Krystallos were caught off-guard by Telus's rage. The earth elder blinked and shook his head. He sat back on his haunches and took a deep breath.
"My apologies." He said. "I had hoped that that word would never be known here."
"What is Culmubrae?" Voden asked.
Telus went silent for a time, his eyes shut tight. Finally he opened them and spoke loudly and clearly.
"The Order of Culmubrae is a name." He said. His talons dug at the floor as though he were furious. "A group of dragons that I'd rather forget."
"Why, Elder?" Rune asked.
Telus looked down at him with a frown. "There are some things you're better off not knowing, Rune."
Rune sighed and looked away. "If you say so, Elder."
Telus stood upright. "I believe this meeting is finished. Parents, bring your children home."
"Yes, Elder." Roxanne's parents said together. They tugged Roxanne by the wing so she'd follow them to the door.
"Yes, Elder." Hontus and Seraph were a bit slower to say.
They walked forwards a short distance, Blankridge and Nellie close behind them. Rune turned to look at them, unsure if he should follow. Seraph seemed so horrified at the sight of him, like Rune had come away from a terrible accident. It was enough to make Rune wonder...
Does... Does she still...?
"Come on, kiddo." Hontus nudged Rune's neck, making him shake his head. Rune looked up at Hontus in confusion. "It's time to go home."
"Oh..." Rune stammered. "Okay, Hontus..."
Rune went carefully and quietly with Hontus, Seraph, and the others. But he didn't say another word.
~~...~~
Albanion, Elza and Aegis emerged several miles east of Glenhaven. With no time to waste, they fled further from the city across the sands. In order to keep up with his companions, Aegis used his magic to levitate himself. He floated through the air just behind them so he wasn't a burden. The three dragons travelled in silence until they came upon an oasis.
"This seems like as good a place as any to stop for the night." Aegis said.
A large ring of green and white plants encircled a clear pond. A stone statue of a dragons stood in the center of the pond. Fruit-bearing trees were scattered about the area, most of them bent over the pond. In the distance, a series of grand rock formations could be seen about the desert.
Elza set to work preparing a campsite. Aegis gathered flint and tinder from his satchel and started a campfire. He sat beside the flames and opened his book, flipping decisively through the pages.
Albanion sat down beside the pond, panting. "I can't bear this damned desert heat any longer!"
He drew a water flask from his pouch and refilled it in the pond. He wasted no time guzzling down the water in big gulps. He briefly acknowledged the statue looming over him. Elza sat down beside Aegis.
"We need to in form the king!" Elza declared, stretching out her back. "We need to tell him that Prince Rune is alive!"
Albanion finished drinking his water and stood up.
"I never would have imagined this..." He said as he approached. "Nobody caught in that explosion could have survived. Not in one piece. So many were crushed... burned alive..."
"Perhaps a higher power intervened?" Aegis suggested, turning a page.
"But if Rune survived, how did he end up in Glenhaven?" Elza asked.
"These are questions for a later time." Aegis stated. He finally stopped at the page he wanted. "Right now, we must contact His Majesty about what we've found. But first..."
Aegis took a great sigh before pulling back his hood. He sighed in satisfaction after removing his Shroud of Darkness. His scales were a dark shade of umber. His near-black mane was great and bushy, which served as a contrast to his neatly groomed beard. One of his bulky brown horns was cracked and blunt, while the other was smooth and sharp.
Aegis stood up and held a forepaw out to create an orb of black mist. He launched it into the open air before the three dragons, where it hung in place. After a moment, the orb grew in size and turned into a flat "window" in the middle of the air. After a moment, two golden eyes appeared in the darkness. They eyes were accompanied by a deep, powerful voice.
"Who beckons me?" The voice demanded.
"It's I, Your Highness." Albanion answered. He and the other dark dragons bowed their heads in allegiance.
"Albanion? Why have you contacted me?" The king asked. "You should know that I'm busy."
"My lord, we bring important news regarding your son." Albanion said, standing upright. "We haven't found Prince Cyrus yet, but we now know his reason for running away."
"What is it, then?"
"We have reason to believe that Prince Cyrus is travelling to the Well of Souls, my lord."
"What?!" The king bellowed. "Why would he go there?! Mount Erebus has been abandoned for nearly a decade!"
"I've discovered something ancient and powerful in an old tome in Glenhaven, my lord." Aegis said. He lifted the book via telepathy and showed it to the king. "It's called, the Revival Ritual."
"Revival Ritual? Explain."
"The book is written in ancient draconic, and most of the words are faded, but I'm able to translate most of it." Aegis cleared his throat so he could recite the lines he could translate:
In the cold heart of Erebus,
When the Eight are combined as one,
The Spirits will walk among us,
And death itself shall be undone.
The king was silent for the entire time Aegis spoke. The dark brown drake cleared his throat again.
"Your Highness?" Aegis asked.
"Are you certain that such a ritual is legitimate?"
"I can't say, my lord, but some time ago, Prince Cyrus was inquiring about the Well of Souls. If he discovered the Revival Ritual, it could be that he's travelling to the north to revive Queen Elenar. It's the best, and only, lead we have."
"Hmm..." The king focused his gaze on Albanion. "Very well. You have my permission to travel north to Mount Erebus to find my son. Be sure to move with increased haste."
"Why, Your Highness?"
"A few nights ago, King Horus of Ignys was... taken out of the picture."
Albanion glanced between Elza and Aegis. An air of dread hung over them. The death of the leader of the city of Ignys was a sign of troubling times ahead.
"In the last few days, warnings have been sent to the other members of the Order of Culmubrae. They will be on the alert. Never stay in one place for too long."
"Very well, my lord." Albanion bowed his head again.
"Now then, if there's nothing left to discuss..."
"Wait, Your Highness!" Elza exclaimed. "There's more!"
"Why are you so frantic, Elza? That is unbecoming of you."
"I apologize, Your Highness." Elza bowed again, but quickly stood back up. "It's just that we've made an incredible discovery!"
"And that would be?" The king demanded.
"Prince Rune is alive!" Elza flapped her wings in joy.
The king was silent for a moment. Albanion wondered if the news was sinking in.
"What do you mean, Elza?"
"We discovered Prince Rune while we were searching through Glenhaven."
"You lie." The king spat.
"Why would we lie about something like this?" Albanion snapped. "We speak the truth!"
Another moment of silence passed.
"If Rune is alive, then where is he now?" The king asked coldly.
"Unfortunately, Your Highness, he's still in Glenhaven. We were separated from him when we fled Glenhaven."
"Are you certain that it was Rune?"
"There was no mistaking it."
The king paused yet again, this time in thought.
"I refuse to believe such foolhardiness. You will drop this nonsense from your memory and continue your mission."
"But My lord!" Elza pleaded.
"Those orders are absolute." The king interrupted. "This conversation is OVER."
And with that, the golden eyes vanished from view. The window of darkness faded into nothingness. Elza howled out in frustration. She ran across the way and slashed at a tree.
"Why wouldn't Lord Bane believe us?!" She hissed. "We found him! He was right in front of us!"
"Elza..." Albanion said. He approached cautiously, but she hissed at him. Albanion frowned at her, hoping she'd calm down.
"Elza, think about it." Aegis said, closing his book. "If you watched your son die, and believed he was dead for six years, only to be told he was alive, would you be so quick to accept it?"
"Even so, we can't just FORGET what happened today!" Elza snapped. She slashed the tree again. "We simply MUST go back to find Rune!"
"That would be disobeying a direct order from the king."
"That doesn't matter! Once His Highness sees his other son alive and well, he'll practically thank us!"
"Thanks us?" Aegis laughed. "Surely you're joking, Elza."
"I don't joke!" Elza scowled.
"That's enough!" Albanion approached Elza and glared into her eyes. "Compose yourself, Elza!"
The dragoness looked him in the eyes. Her rage finally subsided. "Albanion... What do you think we should do?"
Albanion stepped back and took a breath of air. He looked between her and Aegis.
"Elza is correct. We'll need to find Prince Rune and bring him to the king."
"Thank you, Albanion." She smiled. She stepped closer, but he stopped her with a forepaw.
"However, that will have to wait until Prince Cyrus has been found. After all, it seems that Rune is safe in Glenhaven for now. We can return to retrieve him later."
"But Albanion..." Elza frowned. "Who knows what trouble could brew in the meantime. We'll no doubt have more trouble returning to Glenhaven now after that incident."
"That's a concern for another day." Albanion stated. "We need to get moving immediately. It's only a matter of time before forces from Glenhaven are hot on our trail. Or, worse yet, the Order of Culmubrae."
Albanion doused the campfire with water from his flask. He spread his wings in preparation of flight. "Come, you two. We must travel north."
Elza and Aegis exchanged glances before moving after Albanion. Once the three dragons were in the air, they began flying north. But as Albanion flapped his wings, he heard a distant rumbling noise. He turned towards the northwest, focusing his ear frills. Far in the distance, more rumbling sounds echoed out.
"Thunder...?" He questioned.
"What is it?" Elza asked.
Albanion shook his head. "It's nothing. Let's go."
And with that, the three dragons continued their journey.
~~...~~
Greetings, friends and loved ones.
I'll admit, it's a little weird writing these messages at the end of chapters. It was an idea that my buddy Dardarax told me to try. Anyway, this chapter was by far the hardest one to try. It's the last one to come before all the exciting parts finally take off. I couldn't just jump into the action; Stories require the right pacing. But I'm confident that the next batch of chapters will be even better now. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter for what little excitement there was.
Tenebra ecce Veritas