Journey To Mille Voix

The breakfast was amazing as everyone ate as much as they could. A buffet full of suckling pigs, soups, loaves of bread, rice and fruits filled the table. Such a spread has not been seen since the wars. The journey will be long as everyone has packed their items and said their farewells to the people who have made their stay comfortable and have gotten to know them. Lei felt devasted as he didn't want to see his friend leave. He sat at the table only eating a few plain grains of rice. He sighs heavily as Chin nudges his shoulder to get his attention.

"You look, happy brother," Chin says. "I have seen happier prisoners." His beloved wife Shu-Lan helps him eat, as she grabs chopsticks full of pork and places it into the Grand Prince's mouth. He happily moans and smiles. The pork is delicious and juicy. it has been so long since he has eaten pork.

Fen looks dirty and informal as she has returned from sword practice. Dropping her sword and bag on the floor with a large thunk, next to her as she breaks her fast. She has grown up so much in these past few months. She behaves in court and has started dressing up like her sister. Having no doubt, she is relieved that she will not have to marry Sazan Sana. Mother makes it clear however she will be wed eventually. Her reply was "They will have to fight me."

Lei sat thinking to himself as he watches as Aaron, Iolene and Lexi were making lighthearted jokes and laughing. Mali talks to Stein as the small man decides to treat himself to a farewell drink. Beau and Iymp murmur in dragon tongue as Fred and Duryss keep quiet to themselves. Lei didn't mind that Fred didn't speak. What do I do now? Lei thought as he felt so confused. He tried to propose to Aika. But everyone refused... To many of his citizens, he is a hero. But his scandal still lives inside the minds of the court and his mother... What will I do? He loves his mother, Chin, Cheng and Fen. But there is a whole world out there... This year has been interesting and sad putting it lightly. His life changed when he left to search for Stein.

His home then got enraptured by the civil war. Which destroyed an ancient Castle. It has been reported that the people of the south and Unmei have begun to rebuild. Many of Sazan Jona's worshippers and workers committed seppuku. Leaving his mother to send northern lords to oversee the scope of damage in the south.

Lei looks down at his rice as he can hear muffled voices. He then gets back to reality as Iolene is asking if he is okay. Lei quickly says yes as he looks at her face. She looked genuinely worried for him. Lei then looks on at Lexi and Aaron.

It was at that moment his decision is made. He loves his family, there is no disputing it. He has served home well… He quickly leaves the table to everyone's surprise. Lexi, Aaron and Iolene tried to follow as Lei tells them to have their breakfast.

His mother the Empress sits in the throne room. The place is crowded as a long line can be seen far outreaching the palace walls. Many must have travelled far as they look dishevelled, filthy and tired. Walking into the throne room where his mother sat on the blue throne. The lighting bolt designs crowning her like a god.

She looks down at her youngest son, her royal emotionless tone is as it was before the war.

"Mother… May I speak," Lei asks.

"You may." She says as she tells everyone to leave the room. The Empress remains on her seat looking at her son with a glare. You will never be able to tell what she is thinking.

He bows low to her and then stands. "Mother I ask. May I go with Stein and Iolene to Mille Voix?"

His mother still staring at him. She then looks down and playfully scoffs. "My son... You wish to leave us so soon?" The Empress says lightly smiling. Her realizing that Lei has changed so much since she sent him away. Once a boy now is a man and now he is making his own choices. But in her heart, she is not surprised by this... He is not like her other children. A quiet one who loved to read, dance and cook. But he was always the odd one to love. She knew this... Realizing that after his failed proposal to Mai and Aika, there will be nothing to save his reputation in court. She nods once yes in reply to his request.

Lei bows low and then walks away stopping at the throne room doors once again looking at her. She smiles quickly and then returns to her monotone state.

Lei asks the servants to prepare his things and a personal carriage. He comes back into the dining room announcing that he will be journeying with them. Iolene claps with excitement as everyone cheers. Except for Chin who found it hard. He has seen Lei every day and loves his youngest brother. He and Cheng have not seen each other at all but hearing the words he is going mad sent shivers down his spine. Chin absolving himself that if something happens to him Lei should be named as his heir until his child boy or girl is born. To Chin's relief when his mother abolished primogeniture so if a girl is to be born she shall be the heir.

Chin looks intently as Lei speaks to Aaron, he sounded so excited. Best let that subject be...

Aaron, Beau, Iolene, Lei, Lexi, Stein, Mali, Fred, Duryss, Iymp and Ponderrah walk to the palace entrance. Two large carriages set up as two dragons each are prepared to pull them. The Empress is generous by giving them more than enough food for the three-week journey. With six servants to help with their every need.

As Chin could not be seen in the public eye yet Fen stands in place as they do their final preparations. "I cannot believe you are going. Where did my cook brother go?" Fen says sadly as she looks up at her older brother. He hugs her lovingly and messes her hair up even more.

"Farewell Fen... I shall be back when time needs me to be. In the meantime,..." Lei leans forward to whisper in her ear. "Kick everyone's ass who gets in our family's way..."

"I will brother" she replies cheekily.

"Here we go!" Iolene says excitedly as she enters a carriage Stein and Mali follow her, While Lexi, Fred, Aaron and Lei enter the other. Beau and the other dragons walk beside the carriage with Ponderrah tied up to Lei's carriage.

Aaron feeling oddly restless tries his hardest to get comfortable. Even though the seats are soft as pillows. Understanding why Lei tore apart his carriage to sleep on the pillows in Macdan.

"Never ridden in a carriage before?" Fred jests as Lexi gives him a look of annoyance.

"Once..." Aaron replied. Tells of the time, he had the honour of being in Master Odessa Sombra's carriage. He had no permission to sit on anything, but it was nice not to walk.

"Oh, a Sombra!" Lei and Fred say with surprise looking at each other.

"You know who she is?" Aaron asks.

"Who is that?" Lexi asked feeling that she is left out.

"The Sombra family is one of the most ancient families in the world," Lei explains. "The Sombra family started off as devout followers of Adrianus Ovideus, a seer who had the gift of the future. Following him to the other side of the world. Helping to build Inclementia into the capital it is known today. They are wealthy and are labelled wardens of the West. They rule the city of Ozul... I hear their son works with Armageddon as a ward."

"Huh..." Lexi chuffs then looks at Fred as he feels his biceps. "Why are you with us?" Lexi straight up asks Fred. He has been in every brothel in the city as he brags to everyone. With Iolene saying he should be careful of diseases. The end of the war celebrations led to much excitement as he was glad to experience it. His favourite is the exotic Dominus Saraha woman.

"Mali loves me..." Fred says with a sly smile. As much as it was hard... He oddly couldn't stop thinking of his family as much as it annoyed him. Spread across the world, with Mali saying that Xavier and Gunther are north working with Shu Lan's family. He misses his castle home and everything that came with it. Folding his arms, he opens the window as the sky is a clear blue. They are now out of the city limits. Much to his relief, he began to loathe the place. He is a prince he said, yet they treated him like a slave. Washing the floors, making beds, setting up tables... If his father saw him do such things, he would have been ashamed. Missing his father most of all... His loud laugh and drinking habits.

The smell of the grass and trees felt refreshing to everyone as the carriage is pulled along.

Aaron looks out his window as he sees Beau and Iymp race around. He smiles as Beau looks playful. Taking off his disguise for a while his gold scales glittered in the sunlight. He looked gorgeous a stunning creature. "Stop the carriage!" Aaron says excitedly. They stopped as Aaron quickly exits. Tapping the carriage as it continues onward.

"Beau!" Aaron shouts. The dragon and Iymp look at Aaron. Beau tilting head not knowing what Aaron wanted. He waves at the playful dragons as Iymp then looks at Beau.

"Go on… He is calling you!" Iymp tells Beau in.

Beau hesitates about what to do. He didn't want to be ridden, he and Aaron are not training today. Beau trots away to Aaron's disappointment. Iymp shrugs his shoulders as he follows Beau as they talk. Aaron stands as Duryss walks past him. He softly smiles at the large bulky dragon tongue. walks on his own.

"Hi," Aaron says kindly, he marvels at the muscles working underneath Duryss's scales. He is as large as the carriage as the earth trembles as each step are taken. His hooves make large footprints on the loose gravel. The large dragon looks to his left and sees him.

"The Iqosha right?" Duryss speaks in the human tongue.

"Yes..." Aaron replied simply.

Duryss sighs as he wanted to be alone. It was enough to listen to Fred's rambling he didn't want to hear anyone else's. Aaron begins to ask questions about what the Green Empire is like.

"Cold." He replies. Aaron looked at him curiously it clearly wasn't a good enough answer. Aaron asks again as Duryss decides to discuss Demir. The capital city of the Green Empire. The mountain City of Demir is a sight to behold. The whole mountain is a city, where the poorest are segregated at the bottom and the wealthiest and noble families live on the top. With the palace being the centrepiece of the mountain. Duryss missed it terribly as he loved living there, he was amongst other bull class dragons like him. The blue dragons were alien to him, everything about them. With their appearance and voices, he couldn't help but notice their superiority over him. They hate differences, he quickly noticed.

Aaron then tells him that Mille Voix has many bull-class dragons like him there. He gives him hope that he could make a few friends.

"I don't want friends… I want my home back and my stupid human is helpless to do anything about it." Duryss says angrily.

Aaron had nothing to say to that. Knowing that Demir is now occupied by the Red Empire and Black Empire has taken what is left of the royal family. Duryss can walk away anytime, but he is all Fred has left. If he went home he will be imprisoned and questioned about where the siblings will be. Then sold to the highest bidder that can be anyone…

Aaron nods his head as he understands that fear all too well. Explaining that being sold is a horrifying experience, you never know who comes your way. Only hoping for the best scenario that your new master is kind which is rare. Being sold to Master Isil for cheap at a young age, getting dragged around barefoot and naked for the whole world to see. Then be thrown in a cell with other young naked boys. Aaron shudders as he shakes his head wanting to forget.

Duryss gained a new respect for him at that moment. They never talked to each other all that much, even though their journey to Unmei. The dragon grins at Aaron as he replies in kind. With Aaron glancing up at Duryss saddle, it is built differently than a normal saddle. Looking a bit worse for wear as it is the only saddle that he and Fred possess. Bull-class dragons have massive shoulders and look hunchback. The saddle looks like a chair attached to him. With massive straps wrapped around his belly and thighs to hold it in place.

"You want to try? Just don't tell Fred." Duryss jests. He knows that Aaron is not an experienced dragon rider only learning recently. Aaron says yes as he climbs on the saddle. It felt comfortable as he sits up straight, playing with the reins that are connected to Duryss's forehead.

"Not so bad!" Aaron says happily.

Beau and Iymp look over seeing Aaron riding Duryss. Beau feels a strange feeling in his gut that he has never felt before. Iymp glanced at him for a moment immediately knowing what that feeling is. But wouldn't mention it now… Beau has to learn himself he is not a pup he thinks to himself. Beau is still learning the ways of the human world as much as he doesn't want to.

Beau stands watching Aaron as he rides Duryss. He would give anything to be with his herd. Looking at his tail as his gold patterns shimmer in the sun. Too dangerous… He sighs sadly. He wonders where his mother and sister are. His brother never gave him an answer… Even though Ironclad never cared for them. This is as close to freedom as he can get, running around.

"I wonder what Mille Voix is like?" Lexi asks excitedly.

"Sex, assassinations…" Lei begins to talk. Remembering the time the ambassadors attended the feast on the anniversary of his family coming into power. They were very forward with their talk as they had no shame in saying it out loud.

"Sexy assassinations." Fred interrupts as Lei laughs as Lexi chuckles along with them.

"I expect no less from the city of love," Lei says. Having never been to Mille Voix he has tasted some of their food cultures and it is exquisite. He looks forward to that the most and hopes to attend a ball. His home only hosted dinner parties as servants danced as people ate. A grand ball in the Palace of voices would make anyone want to go.

The three then lean forward as they discuss their plans of what to do. Lexi's and Fred's are similar as they want to see the Hall of Love. Leo laughs as he is not shocked.

Iolene, Stein and Mali discuss the next step of the journey. Mali glanced out the window to see Beau and Iymp running around.

"What are they like the King and Queen?" She asks as she places one of her mothers' letters back into the box.

Stein looks at her seriously as he always does. "Well, I didn't know them as King and Queen at the time. But like all others, they are selfish and only serve their own power. We must be careful… I still cannot believe Constant Mercer told of your existence to Queen Avery De Vilier." Saying it with a frustrating tone.

"I trust that man with my life… He has helped us for many years." Mali says in reply. Thinking back after living in exile for years alone, he arrived back on Constant's doorstep. Ragged, filthy, depressed and lonely. Constant welcomed him with open arms as Mali couldn't help but cry. He failed his mission in hoping to create a gold priest sect to one day take back Loan. Many of those who followed betrayed him for gold and honours for the Black Empire.

"I hope that man has not changed and that he did this for an excellent reason," Stein said.

"To help get us back Loan? I am sure that is reason enough." Mali says smiling at Iolene as he drinks from his water tankard.

"Speaking of that, Iolene…" Stein saying this is surprisingly soft. Iolene looks at him and replies yes. She felt like a mag bolt hit her. He seemed nervous to bring this up.

"Marriage," Stein says. Iolene's heart began to beat fast. She knew this subject will be brought up eventually. She is sixteen in a few days, many girls are already wed by the age of fourteen or fifteen. Iolene grabs the curtain as she at this moment wants to run away. The last time marriage was spoken of to her was when Akvor proposed to her. Her family tried to sneak her away as they did not want this wedding to take place. Her ex-friend Marsh betrayed her and spoke of the plan to Akvor. He came in drunk and assaulted her, in retaliation, she grabbed a candle and stabbed him in the eye. He lost his eye and was then exiled to Dominus Sahara. The subject of marriage was never brought up again. But it has almost been a year since the incident.

"You will need someone who will support our cause and can bring anything to the table. Armies, ships, money, hopefully even a whole country to support us." Stein says seriously. "I will be looking into possible political matches for you."

Iolene remained silent. She knew that the hope of marrying for love was a small possibility. Her task is to become Empress and get Loan freed from their oppressors. It has many prices to pay and she will have to sacrifice herself to pay. To make herself feel better she thought of tragic love history. The story of Empress Evangeline and the poor man Elric. Both were slaughtered at their wedding for Evangeline was betrothed to another, Duke Belen who was Evangeline's cousin. It happened thousands of years ago but remains a warning to those who break their oaths.

Iolene then opens her curtain as she sees Beau and Iymp race around the carriages. She then sees Aaron riding Duryss as they play around happily. She grins ear to ear as she can see him laugh and smile. I cannot make that mistake…