A/N: Oh. My. GOSH! This chapter took freaking forever and it's not even that long! It just would not write, but I've got to keep this story's momentum going before I lose traction. Thank you again to all of you who left feedback. Let me know what you think of this. Don't worry, the intense stuff is going to be coming soon.
When they had reached the throne room, their Dad turned to his advisor. "Viren, I need you to rally a search party for the elves. Track them down and have them stopped before the sun sets," he ordered in what Ezran called his 'King's Voice.' It got people around their father to listen, but Ez always thought that it sounded exhausting to keep using as testified by the bow of his dad's shoulders afterward.
Ezran looked between his dad and Viren, observing Viren's argumentative look. It set Ez on edge. What did Lord Viren know?
"My king. I must speak to you about a matter of greatest importance," said Viren.
"Whatever it is, it can wait until we assure the safety of my sons," Dad answered. "Go fetch Soren and have him lead a part of the Crownsguard. I'm sure you have a… way of finding them." Ezra noticed his dad's face twist in disgust about the "way" he spoke of, but the words seemed to have their desired affect.
Still looking peevish, Viren nodded and bowed before turning on his heel and leaving. Ezran made sure the door was shut behind Viren before tugging on his dad's sleeve.
"Dad, we really need to tell you something."
Harrow nodded absently, but started walking across the sweeping throne room to a panel on the left side of the king's dais. Having explored the castle since he could walk, Ezran recognized the secret sub-chamber beside the throne. Knowing Dad, he would keep him and Callum in there until Dad handled whatever threat seemed to be looming at their doorstep. But he didn't know about the egg or Rayla!
"Dad-"
"You can let me know what you found while exploring later," Dad interrupted. "Right now, my priority is to keep the two of you safe."
Callum tried next. "But King Harrow, the elf-"
"The Crownsguard will worry about the elf."
"No, you don't understand-"
Ezran squeezed Bait and screwed up his eyes. "DAD!"
Their father turned to his youngest, confusion and worry clearly etched in his features. It didn't fit. Their dad could handle anything. Ezran had never seen his dad so… distraught. But he remained still and quirked an eyebrow that said he was listening. For now. It was now or never.
Callum cleared his throat and spoke again, "King Harrow, we need to tell you about something we found. An elf made it to our room."
"WHAT?! HOW? WHEN?!"
Ezran shot his older brother a pointed look. Letting their dad know an elf infiltrated their home, got past all of the castle's defenses, and made it to the princes' chamber probably wasn't the best way to start.
"She was there to warn us, Dad," Ez ammended earnestly. "She said that if we didn't get the Dragon Prince back to her team as soon as possible, they would attack."
"Dragon Prince? What are you talking about, Ezran? Thunder's egg was destroyed in the battle. Viren said-"
"He lied sir," said Callum. "He's been keeping the egg a secret in some kind of laboratory."
"That's all the elves want, Dad: to return the egg to its mother. Now that they have it, they'll go home, and we won't have to worry anymore."
"Rayla?"
"The elf," Callum answered.
"And now she's gone with the dragon's egg," their dad clarified, looking between Ezran and Callum.
"Yes," Ez answered. "We should be okay now."
The younger boy watched his dad step backwards, thoughts and worries passed his features before he turned and looked dazedly out the window. This was when their dad retreated into his own mind, which seemed weird to the younger prince. Was something like this such a hard truth to process? Why?
Reaching for Callum's hand, Ez watched his father quietly. Callum gave Ezran a reassuring squeeze which spoke 'Please let things be okay.'
When their dad pulled out of whatever he was going through, he pointed to a nearby guard. "Go retrieve Viren and bring him back here."
With a quick bow, the guard fled to accomplish her task. Their dad then turned back to his sons. "We still need to send a squad to make sure the elves retreat peacefully. Once I know they have left Katolis, we can talk more about your adventures." He knelt before them with a grimace. "In the meantime, I need you to follow your guards and go pack for a weekend. You'll be staying at the Banther Lodge until everything has settled here."
"But Dad-"
"Of course, sir," Callum interrupted, earning a glare from Ezran, but he kept quiet. There was a grim determination in his brother's eyes that compelled Ezran to hold his peace and go along… for now.
The two princes were led up to their room, the guards staying in front of their door.
"Why do we need to go if Rayla has the egg? We're safe!" Ezran protested.
"You don't know if we're safe," Callum argued back, stuffing shirts into a carrier bag. "Rayla is an elf. She could change her mind and realize that taking out the king and you would be a good idea again."
"You can't believe that."
Callum heaved a sigh and fell backwards against his bed, fingers running through his hair. "I… I don't know what to believe anymore. King Harrow's most trusted advisor being duplicitous… elves talking crazy but being right…"
He attempted to shove his hands in his pockets, but something seemed to catch his attention. Callum dug a little more and pulled out the ring that Rayla had given him.
"And what's with this? Why did she give me a ring?"
"Maybe she likes you," Ezran teased, but it did little to lighten the somber mood that seemed to fill the space between them. Callum turned the ring over in his hands before slipping it onto his right ring finger. It slid into place with little problem, but suddenly his brother jolted and fell to his knees with a heavy thud, causing Ezran to stumble backwards in surprise.
"Callum? Callum! What's wrong?" Ezran grabbed his shoulders. His eyes stared distantly for an instant before blinking and coming to again.
"Ezran?"
"Callum! What happened to you?"
"Ez? I-" he shook his head and stood up. "Where's Rayla?"
"Don't go."
Runaan sighed, exasperated. "Rayla, you're not listening-"
"No! You're not listening!" Rayla snapped, drawing a few disapproving and nervous looks from the others. This had been the debate since their youngest member had returned from her half-crazed stint to the human castle with the Dragon Prince in her arms. "There's no reason to go through with the mission anymore!"
"There is every reason!" Runaan snapped. Glancing at the dragon egg resting comfortably in the shade of a tree, he took a breath and continued, "It is a blessed miracle that the Dragon Prince has been recovered unharmed, but our king- your king- was still slain by those monsters! His death must be avenged!"
"But what about Ezran? You don't need to take his life too! Doing that won't avenge anything!"
"We have bound ourselves, Rayla. The Dragon Prince may not have been murdered as we had believed, but he was still stolen and who knows what that human mage has done to the egg?!"
"So then let justice be carried out on Viren! Ezran is innocent! Killing him and the king will only keep this awful cycle going!"
"We are bound!"
"Then undo the binding!"
"It is not that simple! The only way an assassin's binding can be undone is either by completing the bound task or being granted pardon by the ruling dragon family. Even if we were to leave now, we would never make it back to Xadia in time to save our bodies. And the queen would never pardon us from a mission that she sanctioned."
"If we returned her son, she would. And we have the egg! If we can find a storm and hatch him-"
Runaan glared at her, appalled. How did she come up with such foolish, blasphemous ideas?
"You forget yourself, Rayla! To hatch a dragon's egg is not some flippant action to be done out of convenience. It is sacred!"
"But-"
"No!" Runaan stood tall, glaring down at his protégé. This arguing in circles would accomplish nothing. They were running out of time and so far, the mission had gone as smooth as dragon skin. They needed to prepare. Slinging his bow around his shoulders, he fixed Rayla with a stern, commanding look.
"You are not bound to this mission. Therefore you will complete a separate task; one more important than ours."
"Runaan-"
"You will spirit the Dragon Prince back to Xadia and return the egg to its mother."
"But Runaan-"
"That is an order, Rayla! Do not fail."
Rayla moved to protest, but her heart sank like lead. He wouldn't listen. None of them would listen. She had been so sure…
Spinning on her heel, Rayla grabbed up the bag with Zym's egg and stomped off away from her team. When she felt far enough away, she set Zym down as gently as possible, pulled out her swords, and began wailing them against a tree.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
This. Was. STUPID!
Why? Why couldn't Runaan just see reason? This was all for naught! Nothing would be gained from tonight! King Harrow might die, but that would only continue the steady march to oblivion for everyone: elf, dragon, and human alike. And Ez-
Ez! And Callum! They were in danger!
Looking up, Rayla saw the barest outline of the tops of Katolis Castle. She had told them that if she had been able to return Zym, they would be safe. Now her team was making her out to be a liar. Sheathing her blades, Rayla once again picked up Zym and secured the egg around her torso. She would not fail again. Not this time.
"She went to return the dragon egg to her team, but… you knew that…" Ezran studied his brother closer. He was different. Taller? More assured? Wearier? "You're not my Callum, are you?"
Callum knelt down to be eye level with Ezran. Wrapping the younger brother in a tight hug, Ezran could feel Callum smile against his shoulder.
"You were always so observant. I've missed you so much," Callum whispered, his voice breaking a little at the end. He drew back and looked Ezran over.
"I've heard you've been through a lot," said Ezran.
Callum snorted and pushed himself back to his feet. "That would be the understatement of the century. But I can tell you about it later… maybe. Right now, we need to find Claudia."
"Claudia?" Ez asked, confused. "But you just asked about Rayla. Why Claudia?"
"Because she has my primal stone."
Viren stepped up to his king, a box containing what may be their only means of tracking the would-be assassins tucked under his arm.
"You needed me again?"
"Yes, Viren," Harrow answered stiffly, arms rigidly held behind his back and eyes refusing to look at his advisor. "I need you to tell me all about the dragon egg you've been keeping for the last few months.