Conflict: The Queen

by Pierce Smith

Thydin’s eyes went wide as Solomon bellowed at their newest member. He knew full well what Cezzot was capable of, and he hoped Solomon didn’t tell Cezzot who had botched the job. “Now, Solomon, you know you can’t tell Cezzot what happened, only that Sam wasn’t killed. We both know that Cezzot will kill her,” he nodded his head in the direction of the new member.

  FIG: a mystical palace where Cezz is hidden. The lights are the gates to this living dragon. This living dragon is also a guardian to this realm.

  Far away from Solomon’s hidden residence, Cezzot hid behind a magical dragon, Osaza. It was only Osaza on whose back she managed to escape. Flying to Yomiri in her dragon form was impossible, the distance too great. She couldn’t fly for so long, without damaging her dragon. Osaza was the only means Cezzot had to flee. Though, her ship was ready, she couldn’t reach it in time. Luckily her servants stole it; flying it to a safe location ready for her disposal. Cezzot’s servants then joined her, happy to serve their queen.

  Osaza was a gem, a mystery that few knew about.. He could transform into a transparent portal and create a world within himself. In this way the person living inside Osaza could never be found. On the outside Osaza could sit there for uncounted years as a living stone carving, his eyes peering deep into the universe, surveying the darkness and all its secrets.. .

  Cezzot accepted Solomon’s proposal to settle for the time being at his planet, but she couldn’t rely on them. Rascals and rogues were the words to define Thydin and his team. They could attack and arrest her too, so she kept her safety the top priority and settled inside her pet.

  Cezzot paced the room. She should have heard from Solomon hours ago and each minute that passed beyond that hour made her increasingly angry. She had summoned them to her magical place. Osaza had assured her that anyone entering inside would lose all their powers without knowing about it. She rubbed her palms together in frustration, striding in the room from corner to corner. Getting impatient, her dragon barked telepathically, “Where the hell are you Solomon? You had better not have screwed this up. I’ve planned for years to take over the ruling of Byndra and I almost succeeded. You blundered the whole process by jumping the gun and destroying my plan,” She swore out loud continuing her pacing. She spun around when she heard the door swish open. “Well, it’s about time!” she stormed.

  Bowing to her, Solomon, Thydin and the new member lowered themselves down on one knee. Solomon spoke for the three, “We are sorry, Your Majesty, for being gone so long. Our newest member set Kyg’s and Sam’s living quarters on fire while Sam was alone in the rooms. Unfortunately, Kyg saved him, so now we must go back to the drawing board and figure out a new way to kill the two.” The three remained on their knees head bowed.

  “How hard can it be to kill the two of them? Honestly you are one of the oldest dragons on our planet and it seems you are the weakest link. Solomon, I chose you, because you have the wisdom of countless books and knowledge acquired throughout the universe available to you. Tell me, why can’t you find a way to destroy Kyg and Sam?” Cezzot shouted at him as she sat at her desk. Her fingers were rubbing her temples, her eyes closed. Her head was pounding and if she thought she could get the job done quicker then she would have killed all three of them that knelt before her.

  She finally looked at them, “Oh, get up for god’s sake. We need to plan, we need to figure out a way to infiltrate the palace and kill Kyg and Sam. We must also take out Xeg otherwise our actions are useless. There has to be no ruling Royal Family left in order for me to take over the kingdom.” She stood in front of the table, picking up a glass egg, Cezzot slammed it on the table to get their attention. “You have one more chance to kill my husband, Kyg, his mate and my stepson. There can be none of his lineage left standing. Then and only then can I take the throne. DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND?” She enunciated each word, as she partially shifted allowing her deep dragon voice to command the three.

  Solomon looked at her and growled back. “You cannot command me, Cezzot. I am older than you are and I am an alpha. You will never have command of me. I am here of my own free will, because placing you on the throne of Byndra is my goal. So, do not fucking pull that shit with me again. DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND?” His alpha voice bringing her to her knees.

  Cezzot had forgotten the older dragon’s age and alpha status, but his fierce voice reminded her quickly that she was fucking with the wrong dragon. She bowed her head, not the least bit happy she had to show this display of submissiveness in front of Thydin and her handmaiden, Mai, who Cezzot had commissioned to join their group to overthrow the kingdom. Not trusting anyone around her, Cezzot had to trust her own personal maid to aid in their fight. Walls had ears and Mai would gladly inform Cezzot of any traitors.

  With head bowed she spoke, “Forgive me, Solomon. I was caught up in the moment and shall not make that mistake again.”

  When he spoke again it was with a softer voice and his power released her to stand before him again. “You are forgiven, Queen Cezzot. We are as anxious as you to put this thing behind us. I suggest we sit and plan again on how we are going to kill them.”

  THE SITUATION BETWEEN Alpha Solomon and angry Cezzot soon settled and they sat together chalking out the plan.

  “My Queen, do you have any plans?” Thydin asked. He was anxious of the two dragons bellowing to prove who was the alpha.

  “No. I don’t. And that’s why I have called you all?” Cezzot replied, in the same anger.

  She sighed and settled her fury. Thydin stared at Solomon and the third guy. “Attacking them directly won’t solve our problem, right?” Thydin added.

  “Are you fool enough to still think that anyone can attack them and win the game? Huh?” clenched mouthed, Cezzot spoke. “Treachery and wickedness is the only option.”

  “Got you,” Thydin replied. He knew it was useless speaking between the two. He was there to take his old revenge on Kyg and Xeg, and get the booty of his reward from his heir. He had nothing to do with these two idiots who were fighting for the throne on this planet. Rather, he would love to destroy this planet and add another accolade to his fame.

  “Sam.” Solomon’s deep voice broke his thoughts. “Sergeant Sam is the only key to disturb Kyg. If we could kill him, then Kyg will be mentally devastated and easy for us to take control of him... maybe,” he snorted, at his own uncertainty.

  “There’s Xeg too...” Cezzot added. “That fucking trans. I never liked him around.” She thumped her fist on the table.

  “My Queen, you need to control your rage. We all need calm minds to kill those alphas.” Solomon suggested, and smiled at her.

  “I got you. But I’m not able to make my mind calm. I was so near to the throne and then it was taken so far from me. Those fucking princes were almost dead and now they are enjoying and breeding.” She thumped again, making the crystal egg to jump from its place and fall on the floor. Consequently it broke into pieces. “I want their hands to be smashed on the ground like this. Before my feet.”

  “Breeding...” Thydin caught Cezzot’s word and he looked at Solomon.

  “You mean we need to get Xeg on the job too?” Solomon asked.

  And in reply Thydin only nodded. Looking at Cezzot and the third guy who was silent so far, he spoke for the first time. “Get your person before Xeg. Make him fall for them, whatever is possible, because now anything is possible, and make them kill Xeg.”

  Cezzot, though angry at the thought of Xeg breeding, smiled at the third person. “Nice. I like your dirty mind.”

  “Who is going to volunteer for this?” Thydin smiled at the wicked mind.

  “I feel you’re perfect for Xeg. You’re skilled in the art of seduction too.” Cezzot added humor to it.

  “No. I think I know someone who could be best for Xeg.”

  “Who is he?” Cezzot’s curiosity was clear on her face.

  “I will let you all know. First, Thydin needs to ask them,” Solomon said cryptically.

  “Them? More than one?” Thydin asked.r />
  “Huh, you’ll not understand now. I only ask you to keep an eye over Byndra,” Solomon said, revealing nothing to the others.

  “Okay. But, I want all updates posted to me, regularly,” Cezzot demanded.

  “That will be done.” Solomon said, and thereafter they left Cezzot alone.

  AS THEY LEFT CEZZOT, she kept sitting, hissing at those fools who were nothing but puppets in her play. Her luck, in all the fighting against her, was working for her. She could have died in the battle, but she survived. Moreover, all these culprits kept gathering in her troop without her invitation. But, the self-learned experience was the biggest teaching. From the last conflict she knew these were nothing but a dust before the Princes of Byndra. So, she planned more in between the last struggle and this day.

  A door opened from the side and a maid bowed before her, “What now?” Cez hissed in anger. Royal traditions out of the palace were not soothing her air. “Speak up,”

  “Osaza caught a comet while you were in your meeting and a person coming through it wants to meet with you... ” the maid kept wobbling until Cez barked again.

  “A person wants to meet me who came in the comet? You wanted to say this?”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” the maid added.

  “Send him in and make sure no one enters in the room thereafter.” The maid bowed and left. “I’m fucked-up planning and plotting all these shits. Seems I am standing at the point from where I began ages back.” While she talked to herself, the door swung open again.

  A person dressed in a long purple veil entered. He kept standing just inside the doorway until Mai walked out, shutting the door quietly behind her, leaving the two alone. Removing the cover from his face, he smiled. “I appreciate your help, Queen Cezzot,”

  “Zamza, welcome to this nasty place.” Cezzot gestured him to sit at a chair. “I wish I could have done this earlier. I wish I could have welcomed you in Byndra... there’s so many wishes and all unfulfilled.” she chuckled deep in frustration. “I hope you traveled safely?”

  “Your comet was an excellent idea,” Zamza spoke and smiled. The calmness carried on his face added value to his magical expertise. This warlock tried to read Cezzot’s mind, but failed. He smiled.

  She smiled back at him. “Zamza, not with me. You know I’m a wicked mistress of this bullshit magic, right?”

  “Partially right, My Queen. This is a magic for which many die to have. I worked my ass hard to get them in line and trained myself to handle it adequately,” he sighed, silencing all the chaos raising in the room. “Firstly, I’m thankful you got me free from Kasandra. Secondly, I want to know why you did.” Zamza silently stared at his queen, who carried a faint wicked smile on her lips.

  “There’s so much to do now, warlock. As per the rule of Kasandra, I got you free, so you owe one life to me, right?”

  “Right.”

  “But, I don’t need your life. I want you to help me in getting the throne back.”

  “You already have Solomon and the team. Where do I stand before them?”

  “You have your own unique traits, Zamza. I want to keep you as my advisor.” she huffed for the minute, anticipating any reaction from Zamza, but he was deeper than her. “And you can continue your post when I get to be queen too.”

  “Sounds like music to my ears.” Zamza was pleased.

  “What are your sixth senses saying now?” Doubt came through her words?

  “I’ll see you back to Byndra...” Zamza said.

  “Yes... that’s what I want.” she chuckled. “So, what is your first suggestion which will move us near to Byndra and Kyg...?”

  “Get one mate for him.”

  “What?” she screamed, as if Zamza had gone mad.

  “Yes. He is an alpha and he needs a mate to satisfy his Spring Equinox rutting heat. Kyg neither has a harem, nor now is Sam able to gratify his thirst. It’s a perfect time to get your spy in his bed.”

  “I love your wicked mind. Now that Kyg has foregone the tradition of using a harem, he will need a mate to help with his heat. ” Cezzot chuckled back. How marvelous that Kyg forgoing his harem would be his downfall. Remembering how her husband couldn’t get enough of her when he started to rut. Alpha dragons were at the mercy of their hormones during the rutting season around this time of year. She thought Sam was no mate to Kyg, and couldn’t quench the sexual arousal Kyg would go through.

  “Anything for you,” Zamza said, and smiled.

  “Who do you think is the perfect mate for Kyg?”

  “I haven’t seen him in ages. I don’t know how he looks now. First, I need to look at him.” So speaking, he turned his hand in the air and a murky cloud appeared, showing Kyg’s face in it. Slowly Kyg appeared fully in the clouds. He lay naked beside Sam and both were talking, laughing and cuddling. “You need an enticer. Someone who can love him and keep his nakedness in his bed all day and night.”

  “And who could be a good bait?”

  “You can decide that. I suggested you, Cezzot.”

  “Huh,” she grunted.

  Ignoring Cezzot’s anger, Zamza left the room.

  Chapter Four

  Investigating Accidents

  XEG HAD BEEN INVESTIGATING the fire and looking at all the evidence to see if he could place this nasty deed on one of the palace’s staff members. He started to rise when he noticed a brooch pin that was worn by the queen’s handmaidens. He lifted it and wiped the ash from the face of it. There, in hammered letters, he saw the name. Ifrida. He remembered her as he had personally vetted her before hiring her to be one of Cezzot’s personal maids. He looked up at the cameras and realized that there was one camera that had not been destroyed by the flames. He rushed back to his office and pulled up the camera that had been spared. He rewound the tape and there, plain as day, he saw Ifrida standing splashing a fire accelerant over the floor and furniture of Kyg’s royal suite.

  He rose heading to the throne room to tell Kyg his findings. As Xeg entered the room, he stood listening to a complaining woman. Rolling his eyes he was thankful he wasn’t the king, he was sure he would lose his patience with most of the complaints being idiotic as they were. When he looked at Kyg, he nodded, letting his brother know he had news.

  “I am taking a break, I will return in thirty minutes.” Kyg stood from his throne and walked to Xeg, then led him to his personal private office. Shutting the door, he asked, “You have found something?”

  Xeg replied, “Yes, and you are not going to like it.”

  Kyg slammed his fist down on his desk. “I want her found and arrested. I want you to interrogate her and find who got to her?”

  Xeg rose and bowed slightly to Kyg, “Yes, Your Majesty.” Xeg left and went to the servants’ rooms to find Ifrida. He had searched her quarters, and then asked the head housekeeper Shemne where Ifrida was?

  “I do not know, Your Highness. I have not seen her in a day or so,” Shemne responded, her head bowed.

  “And you did not think to report her absences?” Xeg growled at the head housekeeper.

  “I did, sir, I gave a report to one of your elite warriors to give to you.”

  “Which one, Shemne?”

  “Holgex, Your Highness.”

  His mind raced. He knew Holgex, but he was one of the newer recruits. He thanked Shemne and left her to go and find Holgex. Arriving in the training arena he looked around and saw Sridge and called him over to him. “Sridge have you seen Holgex this day?”

  “Yes, Commander. He is in the gym, working out with one of the older warriors who is training him in hand to hand combat.”

  “Thanks Sridge.”

  Xeg was exasperated by how many times he had to seek out those he wanted. Damn, he was a prince and a commander. He shouldn’t have to find his men, but he grudgingly walked to the gym area and found who he was seeking fighting with Ukud. Xeg walked to the ring and called attention to Ukud, “I need to speak with Holgex.”

  “Yes, Commander.” Ukud left the ring, so Xeg
and Holgex could speak privately.

  “Holgex, Shemne said she’d given you the report that Ifrida is missing? It is not logged in and I am wondering where this report is?” Xeg asked, glaring at the new young recruit.

  “Sir, I gave it to Eza to log in, sir. I do not have that priority level yet, sir.” He stood ramrod stiff as he addressed his commanding officer.

  Eza? Hadn’t he just signed a leave request for him. “Thank you, cadet. You may resume your training.”

  Xeg headed back to his office. What a clusterfuck to be sure. As he walked through the door, he saw Kyg was sitting in front of his desk. His brother looked horrible. Going to the side bar he poured two glasses of fire whiskey and sat one in front of Kyg. “Brother, you look like shit.”

  Kyg grunted. “Thanks for the news flash.” He took his whiskey and drank some down, letting the burn flow from his throat to his stomach, warming him. “So, what did you find out?”

  Xeg did the same thing, taking a long drink and letting it burn all the way down, before answering, “You mean before or after I had a whirlwind tour of our palace?”

  Kyg’s puzzled face looked at him, “What are you talking about, brother? Don’t fucking confuse me.”

  Xeg chuckled, “I mean, my investigation took me on a scavenger hunt, until I finally found someone who knew where to look. I was just returning from that person and was going to check my log as to the amount of time Eza has taken leave for. It appears he was supposed to post Ifrida’s absence in my log, but he never did. I signed his leave request a couple of days ago and I need to find out the leave status, so give me a minute and I will log in to my leave reports.”

  Kyg waited, letting the fire whiskey warm his body and numb his senses. He’d checked in on Sam three times today, finding one of the many female friends he’d made while here. They were laughing and looking through baby catalogs. He was relieved to know Sam was not alone and he appreciated the fact the Urco had agreed to keep Sam busy today while Kyg attended his royal duties in court.