Chapter 20: The Throne

"King Ezran is dead."

Opelli's wide eyes glared back at General Pryce, as he spoke.

"His crown...found amongst the ruins of Etheros." Pryce continued, placing it before the empty throne. "The next in line, Prince Callum, is also dead. We do not know what attacked Etheros. Or what killed them. But it is likely headed here. We will need a strong blockade around the city."

Opelli looked at him with eyes of suspicion. And anger.

"Did anyone survive?" She asked.

"Only the elf." Pryce replied, looking up at her with razor sharp eyes of his own. "She deserted them. Left them for dead. She's being transported back to Katolis as we speak. As a prisoner."

Opelli's eyes narrowed further.

"It seems you were right about everything, General. I suppose we owe you an apology."

"None necessary. I serve Katolis. It is my duty."

"Send for General Amaya." Opelli commanded. "With the boys...deceased...I wish to name her regent of Katolis. Until a new line is formed."

There was the slightest flinch in General Pryce's eyes. It was enough.

He swiftly nodded.

"Of course, Opelli."

"I am anxious to speak to Rayla, upon her return." Opelli added, stepping forward.

"The word of a traitorous elf should mean little..." Pryce said with disgust in his tone.

"Be that as it may, she was among the late King's most trusted advisors. So it does still hold meaning." Opelli corrected calmly.

The door to the room opened, and Corvus strode in.

"Well...I suppose you'll have your chance." Pryce said, walking up to Corvus.

"General Pryce, I'm surprised. I didn't expect you to arrive before me." Corvus stated. "I'm afraid I come empty handed."

Pryce's eyes darkened.

"What?" He practically spat.

"The moonshadow elf. Rayla. She's escaped. I found the prisoner wagon empty, save for two unconscious guards." Corvus stated. "I did not see which way she went."

Pryce stepped towards him, and puffed out his chest, anger on his face.

"And you did not pursue? You are our greatest tracker."

Corvus sighed.

"She's a moonshadow elf. Even the greatest human tracker alive would have no luck. She's a ghost. She's gone."

"It was still your duty to try!" Pryce shouted.

Corvus looked up into his eyes.

"It was the duty of all of us to keep the young king alive. For the moment...we have all failed."

Pryce's lip quivered with rage.

"I will have you stripped of rank for this, soldier." He snarled.

"You do not have the right to do that, actually." Opelli interjected. "General Amaya has been sent for. When she takes the throne, it will be her decision to make."

General Pryce let out a sigh.

"But she hasn't been sent for." He stated.

He turned, eyeing a platoon of his soldiers that stood around the door.

"Gentlemen. I have served with you through so many campaigns. We've won together. We've lost...dear friends together. But your trust in me has never wavered, has it?"

The soldiers exchanged looks.

"No sir!" One of them exclaimed, with a salute.

Pryce nodded.

"Gentlemen. Arrest these two." He said, pointing to Opelli and Corvus.

Opelli's eyes widened in anger.

"So soon after the fall of Lord Viren, and you choose to make the same mistake, General?"

"I have served my kingdom for decades. I have bled for this throne." He said angrily. "I have watched soldiers die for this throne. All while their best interests were ignored by those who sat in it! Three Kings came and went in that time! We were nothing but fodder for their foolish campaigns!"

The soldiers surrounded Opelli and Corvus, weapons raised.

Pryce walked over, and sat down in the throne.

"I have as much a right to this throne as anyone!"

"This is treason, Pryce." Corvus warned. "You had better hope King Ezran is as dead as you say."

Pryce narrowed his eyes, glaring down at the two.

"He is. Take them to the dungeon." He commanded.

The very not dead King Ezran slid down a snowy hill, using his backside as a sled, as beside him, Prince Callum slid down on his feet, trying to keep balanced.

And inevitably failing.

Ezran whooped with joy as he slid to the bottom, Callum faceplanting beside him.

"I forgot how much I love winter!" He exclaimed.

Callum pulled his now very red, cold face out of the snow.

"I know, right? This is great!"

"We can make a snowman!" Ezran exclaimed.

"I mean...I think it should probably wait until the band of lunatics isn't following us anymore."

"They might not be. You did kinda bury them in an avalanche." Ezran pointed out.

"Yeah...this Azrael guy has a thing for coming back though. I mean, if he was dad's problem, and now he's our problem..." Callum noted.

"Yeah...we gotta get home anyway." Ezran agreed. He paused.

"Callum...what do you think dad did? Why would this guy hate him so much?"

Callum sighed, looking down at the ground.

"When he made me feel all that pain...I saw dad for a second. I don't know what he was doing. They were in the castle. Your throne room. And I..." he paused, trying to focus, trying to think back. "I don't know Ez, it really hurts to think back on that stuff. Like it doesn't want me to."

"I get that he doesn't like elves. They killed his people. But...what does dad have to do with it?"

Callum paused, trying to think on it some more.

The more he did, the more splitting the pain in his head became. He let out a groan, then a quick breath, and hung his head.

"I'm sorry Ez. I can't...I can't see any more than that."

"It's okay." Ezran replied, patting his back. "Don't hurt yourself. I...just don't understand how anyone could hate dad like that."

"I think it may just be part of being a king." Callum replied, sitting back on the snow. "You make enemies. No matter what you do."

Ezran shrugged.

"I won't."

"You kinda already did." Callum replied with a chuckle. "This guy is after you too. And you yelling at him probably didn't help."

Ezran sighed.

"Yeah, he's definitely more enemy than friend. Do you think Zym has any enemies yet?"

Callum looked at him with wide eyes.

"What kind of monster would...?"

"I know right?!" Ezran agreed. "He's sooo cute!"

"He doesn't count though." Callum pointed out. "Not a king yet. Still a prince."

"What? He still counts!" Ezran exclaimed.

"As an adorable baby dragon? Yes. As a prince? Yes. As a king? No."

"That's a technicality. He will be a king." Ezran replied matter of factly.

"Wow. Technicality. Look at my little brother. Using grown up words, and correctly!" Callum exclaimed, leaning over and roughly tousling his brother's hair.

He stood up, wiping the snow off what was left of his royal garments.

"Aren't you cold?" Ezran asked.

"Meh. I'm getting used to it." Callum replied with a shrug. "Either that or I have frostbite. Let's keep moving."

Rayla darted across the treetops.

The sky was clear today. No sign of Borvir. She smirked, as she covered mile by mile.

She was making exceptional pace.

Any time now, she'd spot those two under the treeline. She knew it.

She had to.

She swung from a branch, doing a flip, and landing on a different one.

As she prepared to pounce to a different tree, there was a whistling sound.

And suddenly, the branch was gone from beneath her.

She let out a short cry, as she dropped.

Landing painfully on her injured leg, in the middle of the snow.

She let out a groan, as she stood up slowly, shaking the snow out of her white hair.

"Annoyin branches." She grumbled.

"Graceful." A voice hissed.

She turned, eyes widening.

As the dual wielding, hooded Talon stepped towards her.

"I'm sorry, elf." He said, eyes narrowed. "Your journey ends here."