Awakening (Telindell Book 1) (14 page)

Lord Draken sat alone in his throne room.  Six months had passed since Sarath’s murder of his son.  Roxees entered the room and approached Draken.

Darken looked upon Roxees in despair.  “Lady Roxees, it has been six months.”  He shook his head.  “My wife still is not with child.  Perhaps she is barren.”

Roxees smiled.  “Don’t fret, my Lord.  These things take time.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” said Draken.  His cold eyes stared past Roxees into the empty throne room.  “Leave me. I’d prefer to be alone.”

Roxees bowed to Draken.  “As you wish, my Lord Draken.”

Roxees returned to her chambers and approached the balcony.  “Excellent.  That hag is withered with age.”  Roxees laughed.  “She will not be able to conceive a child for that buffoon.”

She leapt from the balcony while her amulet glowed once again.  She morphed into a crow and flew away from the castle.  Once she was out of sight, she morphed back into the dreaded black dragon that had terrorized Kynlynn for years.  She soared through the night sky and approached the King’s castle.

She shrieked loudly, alerting all who resided within the castle. 
“This time they all die,”
Roxees thought.  She tucked her wings and dove toward the castle walls.  Roxees crashed into the wall and brought it crumbling down.  She roared and spewed flames all through the castle.  She snapped up and consumed those around her before taking flight and bursting through the castle.  She turned her head to the soldiers in the courtyard.  Roxees opened her mouth and unleashed hellfire upon them all, reducing them to ash.  Through the flames and smoke, a horse fled from the castle walls carrying one man. 

Roxees peered upon the man fleeing by horse and noticed a crown upon his head. 
“No escape for you, your majesty!”
she thought.  Roxees took flight toward the rider.  She swooped down on the King, her claws ready to grasp the fleeing monarch.  Grabbing him with one claw, she flew into the air.  She grasped his other half and ripped him in two.  She carried the ripped apart corpse to the castle gates and dropped it.

Roxees turned and flew north. 
“They should find him here,”
she thought. 
“Now, time to find those Elves.  Their land used to be to the far north.  Maybe they are still there.  I’m certain they would have found the boy and sword by now.”

Roxees climbed higher and higher into the sky peering down at the land and forest she crossed.  Before long, she spotted an outpost in the distance.

“An outpost,”
Roxees thought.
  “This far away from any civilization?  Must be the Elves.  I’ll have a closer look.”
  Roxees’ eyes glowed while she morphed back into the crow.  She dived closer to the outpost and came to perch upon one of the houses.  Roxees observed all those wandering around.  She studied all the elves keeping watch upon the ramparts of the outpost.

Roxees also noticed a human man walking through the outpost. 
“As I suspected,”
she thought.
  “The Elves are here, and the only human amongst them must be the boy.  He has grown.
 
Now, back to the castle.  I have a meeting of the Lords to crash.”

Roxees fluttered her wings and flew back towards the castle.  She arrived as the morning sun was beginning to rise.

Roxees flew into her chambers and morphed back into her human form.  “Just in time for court,” she said.  Roxees proceeded to the throne room and took her seat next to Draken.

Draken looked to Roxees.  “Good morning, Lady Roxees.”

Roxees looked to Draken and smiled.  “It is such a glorious morning, don’t you think?”

Draken chuckled.  “My, you are in a cheerful mood this morning.”

“I suppose I slept rather well last night,” said Roxees.  “Very satisfying.”

“That is good to hear, my dear,” he said, smiling.

A guard burst into the throne room.  He quickly approached Draken and kneeled.  “Urgent news, my lord,” he said, his voice shaking.

Draken leaned forward and raised an eyebrow.  “Tell me, what has happened?”

“The dragon attacked the King’s castle last night,” said the guard.  “The King was ripped to pieces.”

Draken gave Roxees an alarmed look, then returned his attention to the guard.  “His sons?  Any survivors?”

The guard shook his head.  “No, my lord.  One soldier survived the attack.  He died shortly after delivering the news a few moments ago.  He was burned severely.  His armor was melted to his skin.”

“That is dreadful news,” said Draken, his voice filled with despair.  “Dispatch messengers to Riverwood and Abinburrow.  Inform the Lords of the news and that we must hold a Lord’s meeting to decide the next King.  I will expect them three days from now.”

The soldier stood and brought his right arm across his chest as he nodded.  “Right away, my lord.”  The soldier promptly left the throne room. 

Draken looked to all of the nobles present in court and shouted, “Court is dismissed until further notice!  Return to your homes, we mourn the loss of our King for the next three days!”  The assembly quickly vacated the room.

Roxees looked to Draken and smiled.  “Now is your chance to become King, my Lord.”

Draken shook his head.  “They will never agree upon me.  I have no heir, and I believe my wife is incapable of bearing a child.”

“I will see to the Lords.  You will be King,” said Roxees.  “Your Majesty.”

“We shall see,” said Draken.  “We shall see.”

“Yes we shall,” she said.

Three days passed quickly.  The Lords of Riverwood and Abinburrow arrived.  Draken waited upon his throne.  The throne room remained empty besides Roxees and himself.  A man and woman entered the throne room and approached Draken and Roxees.  The man was portly with blonde hair and a black beard wearing elegant black clothing.  The woman was young and thin.  She had long flowing brown hair. 

The man bowed to Draken.  “Lord Elan Montu of Riverwood”

“Welcome.  You may rise,” said Draken.

The woman bowed shortly after.  “Countess Ana Ellenhar of Abinburrow.”

Draken raised an eyebrow at the young Ellenhar.  “Countess?  We were expecting Lord Ellenhar, I hope no ill has befallen your father.”

“I apologize, my Lord,” said Ana.  “My father passed the same night as the King’s murder.  I thought you were aware of his illness.  He had been sick for some time.”

“How unfortunate,” said Draken.  “I was not aware.  I am terribly sorry for your loss.  You have Allendale’s condolences.  You may rise.  I bid you welcome, Countess Ellenhar.”

“Thank you, my Lord,” said Ana, smiling pleasantly as she rose.

Draken nodded and looked at his guests.  “I trust you are both aware of the nature of this meeting.  Amongst the three of us, we must decide upon a new King.”  Draken looked to Ana.  “Or Queen for Kynlynn.”

Montu offered up a smug smile.  “Yes, we must.  Originally, I planned to endorse Lord Ellenhar, but considering his tragic passing; I must endorse myself.  With no disrespect to Countess Ellenhar, she does not have the experience required of a monarch.”

Ana angrily looked to Montu and shouted, “That is ridiculous! I have overseen my father’s court for nearly a year in his sickness!  Besides, I am young.  There is more than enough life left in me to establish a royal bloodline.  We all know you two are not getting any younger.”

Draken nodded.  “I agree with your youth Ana, but unfortunately one year of experience I cannot agree to.”

Montu chuckled.  “So, you agree to an endorsement of myself?”

Draken glared at Montu.  “Absolutely not.  You can barely keep your peasants in line, much less rule a kingdom!”

Ana laughed.  “He is right, you know.  My father complained for years of your peasants thieving from our crops.”

Montu snarled at them both.  “And we both know how your tactics work Draken.  You rule with oppression and cruelty.  If your people can’t pay their taxes, you not only take their possessions but you take their children.  I heard that one of those slaves murdered your son!”

Ana’s eyes widened as she looked to Draken.

“One more word of my deceased son and I will show you the full extent of my cruelty,” said Draken in a cold, calm voice.  “Are we understood?”

Montu’s eyes widened and he took a deep breath.  “Yes… Yes, my Lord Draken.”

Ana looked to Montu and smirked.  “You sure are easy to fold.  I give my endorsement to Lord Draken if, and only if, he can establish a royal bloodline with his wife.”

“Thank you,” said Draken.  “My wife and I are currently trying to conceive a child.  We have been for some time now.”

A sly smile crept across Montu’s face.  “I understand she has reached her mid-years.  She must be barren and unable.  With her being unable, I cannot endorse you Draken.”

Ana sighed at Montu and looked to Draken.   “If that is true, I cannot endorse you either.”

Roxees giggled lightly.  “I assure you, Lady Elanna is more than capable of providing an heir.”

Ana looked to Roxees, annoyed.  “And who might you be?”

“This is Lady Roxees,” said Draken.  “My court sorceress.”

Ana looked to Montu.  They both burst out laughing.  Ana then looked to Draken.  “I see you still believe in bedtime stories,” she said snickering.

Montu chuckled.  “Draken must be senile.”

Roxees giggled and looked to Draken, smiling devilishly.

Draken’s eyes widened at Roxees, then he looked to his laughing guests.  “Silence,” said Draken with a commanding tone.  “The last members of my court that doubted her power were consumed… from the inside, by all sorts of nasty insects.”

Montu and Ana’s eyes widened as they looked upon the skimpily dressed Roxees.

Roxees looked upon the two and grinned.  She held out her hand and the temperature in the throne room began to drop rapidly.  A blue flame erupted from her palm.  “I hope a demonstration will not be necessary.”

Montu stepped back, his hot breath visible in the freezing air.  “No, no it will not be, Lady Sorceress.”

Ana quickly shook her head, speechless.

Roxees snapped her hand shut and allowed the temperature to return to normal.  “Good.  Now, Lord Draken, shall I fetch Lady Elanna?  I’m sure our guests are eager to witness the youth she yet retains.”

Draken chuckled.  “Yes, that would be most appropriate.”

Roxees stood and bowed to the three, then exited the room.  Half an hour passed.

Montu glared at Draken out of impatience.  “Where is she Draken?

Ana nodded.  “Yes, she should have arrived by now.”

Draken nodded.  “I’m sure she will just be a few more--”

Draken was interrupted by the door to the throne room opening.  The three looked to see Lady Elanna entering the room.  She approached her husband’s throne and took the seat next to him.

Elanna looked to the guests.  “I apologize, Lord Montu and…?”

Ana smiled and graciously bowed.  “Countess Ana Ellenhar of Abinburrow.”

“Ah, I see,” said Elanna.  “I hope all is well with your father?”

Ana frowned.  “My Lady, he passed three nights ago.”

“How tragic,” said Elanna before giving Ana a sympathetic smile.  “I’m sure you will do him proud.”

Ana smiled.  “Thank you, my lady.”

Montu shook his head and shouted, “Now, to the matter at hand!  I grow weary of these ridiculous formalities.  Are you or are you not able to conceive a child?”

Elanna quickly stood and shouted, “How is that any concern of yours?”

Ana shook her head at Montu and looked to Elanna.  “My Lady, if I may, if your husband is to become King he must have the ability to establish a royal bloodline to protect the throne and ensure its continuity.  I mean no disrespect, my lady.  Unlike Lord Montu.”

Elanna looked to Draken, then shifted her gaze to Ana and Montu.  “This grows tiresome.  Every day he asks if I am with child,” said Elanna, giggling uncomfortably.  “I reply with ‘not yet,’ hoping that one day soon he will realize I am incapable. I mean, look at me, I’m old, and my face is becoming wrinkled.  I can’t have children. The thought is laughable at best.”  Elanna shook her head, laughing.

Ana covered her mouth momentarily.  “I… I am so sorry, my Lady.”

Montu smirked.  “Draken, your wife has been driven mad with grief.  No heir, no throne.  It is settled, I shall be King.

Elanna pulled a dagger from her side and shouted, “You shall never be King!”  Elanna leapt from the throne and pierced Montu’s heart.  She pulled away and looked to Ana.  The young girl screamed and began to back away.  Elanna swung the blade and sliced her throat.  Elanna turned and began to run from the throne room towards Roxees’ chamber.

Draken jumped up and screamed, “Guards! My wife just murdered them!”

Draken and a group of his guards chased after Elanna.  Elanna led them towards Roxees chambers.  She quickly opened the door and slammed it shut and locked it behind her.  Elanna looked to the corner of the room and saw another Elanna unconscious on the floor.  A red amulet under the dress of the conscious Elanna began to glow.