Keep of Dragons (The Azuleah Trilogy Book 3)

by Daniel Adorno

  Thankfully, the mile-long march through the cave didn’t last as Lucius feared. The walls around them gradually widened and light became visible at the end of the long tunnel. As they reached the exit, Naphtali set the lit torch down on the ground where it continued to burn. They couldn’t risk using the torch outside the passage or they would surely be spotted by a roaming dragon. Outside the tunnel, the rocky landscape sloped down steeply. Lucius crouched to avoid losing his balance on the rocks. Everyone descended slowly, ghosting down the leaning crag with little noise made among them. At the bottom, another gravel trail wound beneath an overhang of rocks. The group walked beneath the stone formation and rounded the corner where they came to a fork in the road. To their right, the path elevated further into seemingly endless mountainous terrain. And to their left, it descended gradually then curved out of sight.

  Naphtali’s eyes shifted nervously, scrutinizing each path. “I do not remember this,” he said.

  “You were here only a few months ago. How could you have forgotten already?” Simeon questioned.

  “My brother led the way, Al-Abya. I merely followed,” he said. A dark shadow passed over his face and Lucius could detect the grief in his voice. Naphtali’s brother had died in the Draknoir raid and unfortunately, could not be of any help to them now.

  Simeon put his hand on the man’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. He sighed then came to a decision. “We’ll have to split up. Siegfried, you and Naphtali take the higher road up into the mountains. Lucius, you and I will go down here. The entrance should be near so don’t wander too far if you haven’t found it.”

  “Why can’t I go with Siegfried?” Lucius asked. He realized the question sounded rather childish when he said it, but being alone with his father right now was not something he desired.

  “I need Siegfried’s acute eyesight to see high above the mountain landscape. He’ll be able to spot any threats along here easily in an elevated position. Aside from that, he’s an archer and if he should run into a dragon, he’ll be better equipped to deal with it than you are. With Naphtali’s knowledge of the terrain, they make a good team for scouting the area while you and I take the low path,” Simeon explained.

  The reasoning seemed to make perfect sense to everyone and Lucius knew he had no choice but to go along with the plan. He resigned himself to go with his father after he relayed instructions to Siegfried and Naphtali.

  “Be safe along the path,” Simeon said then the two parties split up.

  Lucius followed his father down the path which curved into a cave cut into the black rock. Inside the cave, he heard drops of water falling into shallow pools along the path. He could barely see anything in front of them, so he used his hand to feel along the rough wall as they progressed.

  “I wish we had that torch,” Simeon said absently.

  Lucius nodded, forgetting his father couldn’t see him. “That would be nice,” he replied.

  There was a long silence between them as they cautiously groped through the dark cave.

  “Lucius, I’m sorry about the other night. I shouldn’t have forced my own aspirations for the throne onto you. It wasn’t right of me,” Simeon said, breaking the silence.

  “Oh, I... I know you meant well, father,” Lucius said awkwardly. He hadn’t expected Simeon to bring this matter up just now.

  “You probably think I was trying to influence you and take advantage of the power you’d wield in Aldron. Please know this was never my intent, son. I only wished to give you an opportunity that was never available to me,” Simeon said sadly. “When you have a child of your own, you'll understand.”

  Lucius sighed. He understood his father's desire, it mirrored that of Helmer who wished only for Lucius to fulfill his role as the Ellyllei. That wish propelled him on this journey for the last year. He couldn't fault his true father from encouraging the pursuit of a similar role even though he didn't care for it.

  “Father, I'm sorry if I disappointed you by abandoning my royal heritage. It's just not a role that appeals to me. And besides that, King Silas is a good friend and I don't desire to supplant him even though it is my birthright.”

  Though he couldn't see him in the darkness, Lucius imagined his father was nodding. “Yes, Siegfried told me you were close,” Simeon said.

  “You spoke with Siegfried?”

  “We discussed many things a few nights ago when we shared guard duty over the camp. He told me you had died in Neroterra in a fight with Draknoir. And that you went to Caelum and back. Is that true?”

  Lucius hesitated for a moment. “It's true. I saw the glory of Yéwa's heavenly realm and spoke with Yesu. He told me I needed to finish my work here as Ellyllei. Though in truth, I wanted to stay,” he admitted.

  Simeon stopped walking and turned to face him in the darkness. “You saw her didn't you?”

  “Saw who?”

  “Your mother. She was there wasn't she?”

  Lucius swallowed hard. “Yes, I saw her. She was beautiful. I didn't want to leave her. She misses you. I don't think she blames you for what happened, Father.”

  “I know,” Simeon said, his voice cracking. “But it still doesn't take away the guilt.”

  “It might not seem like much comfort now, but Yesu said one day you would be reunited with her. One day our family will be whole again.”

  “Indeed, my son. Come, we've got a ways to go yet.”

  They continued on the path, making slow progress in the darkness. Rounding a bend, Lucius saw a shaft of light illuminating the exit. He followed his father to the mouth of the cave. But before he could step out Simeon stopped him. His father's eyes were wide in the moonlight. Following his gaze, Lucius saw a large entrance to another cave across from them. Lying down in front of the entrance was a golden-scaled dragon who slumbered noisily.

  “Well, we've found the entrance to the dens,” Simeon said. “And one of the sentries you feared might be here.”

  Lucius sighed. “I hate it when I'm right.”

  Chapter 17

  Silas paced anxiously on the balcony overlooking the courtyard of Gilead Palace. Every so often he would turn to the doors leading inside the great hall where any moment he expected his fiancée, Violet. He had sent the page out to retrieve her over an hour ago. She was working hard in Aldron’s peasant district to administer the cure for crow's blight amongst the populace. He hated to interrupt her work, but with only a day left until he planned to leave, he needed to settle everything with his future queen.

  The door to the great hall suddenly swung open, and an attendant stepped out. “King Silas, Lady Violet is here to see you as you asked,” the attendant said.

  “Send her along,” Silas said with a wave of his hand.

  The attendant disappeared and Violet rushed out the door and onto the balcony. A worried look crossed her face as she stepped closer to them.

  “I received a summons, Silas. The page said it was urgent. What’s the matter?” Violet asked, breathlessly.

  Silas offered a faint smile. “The time is come, my darling. The army is moving out tomorrow to engage Memnon and the dragons.”

  Violet’s eyes widened. “But I thought you planned to defend the city from a possible dragon attack. Isn’t that why you built all the new fortifications and defenses?” She asked.

  “That was the original idea, yes. But with the delay of Sangre’s forces, we’ve had to change plans and accelerate the timetable.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means that I’m leaving to join the assault on Arkadeus. To see this thing through, Violet. My family has suffered greatly at the hands of our enemies and now I must rally our people to face the looming threat of Kraegyn and Memnon,” he said resolutely.

  Violet shook her head. “No, Silas. You can’t leave! Not before we...” She turned away from him and he could hear her quiet sobbing. He stepped close, wrapping his arms around her.

  “I know this is difficult, Violet—” />
  “Difficult?” Violet said suddenly. She wrested herself from his embrace. “Difficult is hardly the word I would use to describe this, Silas. How about excruciating? Or heartbreaking? You would leave me here alone while you go die in battle? Is this what I’m to expect as your wife and queen?”

  Silas was taken aback by her sudden outburst. Violet was usually an even-tempered woman for as long as he'd known her. But perhaps Avani was right. Perhaps he had expected too much of her in this situation.

  “We are not yet wed, Silas, and I am to wait for you to return?” Violet continued. “And what if you don't return?”

  Tears ran down her pale cheeks and she quickly dabbed at them with her hands. She walked to the edge of the balcony, resting her arms on the stone rail looking down at the city. Silas hesitated, not sure how to proceed. He steeled himself and walked closer to her.

  “Violet,” he said softly. “I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you. You know that is not my intent. Believe me when I say that I never wanted this crown. For so long, I struggled to grasp my father’s vision for this kingdom. I ran away from it. Shunned it. But now that it is upon me, I must yield to its weight on my life. You’ve experienced that yourself recently.”

  Violet turned to him, eyebrows furrowed in a question. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’ve heard of what you’ve done in the peasant district. The stories of the angel of Aldron,” he said. Violet rolled her eyes at the title, but he continued. “You’ve done that which you set out to do. Shown the common folk of the city that they have a queen who cares for them. Who sacrificed time and energy to save them from a formidable disease. You've carried a burden much like the one I carry — that is the weight of our positions. We sacrifice much to help the helpless.”

  “Yes, but you are going off to war to settle a score against Memnon,” Violet shot back.

  Silas took a deep breath. She was right. He needed to settle the score against the wicked sorcerer. But in Silas’s mind, there was more to it than that. If the armies of Aldron could see their own king riding alongside them, fighting with them, they would have hope in defeating this unyielding enemy. He communicated the sentiment to Violet, and she seemed to soften for a moment.

  “I suppose that is a noble reason for you to go,” Violet admitted. “But that doesn’t mean that I have to like it, Silas.”

  He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. “I know, my love. But perhaps I can soften the blow by telling you that I wish to marry you before I go. No more waiting,” he said.

  Violet’s mouth was agape, and she stared at him in disbelief. “A wedding? You are not serious? But there’s so much to do if you’ll be leaving—”

  Silas smiled and gestured for her to listen. “Avani and the others have already made the arrangements, Violet. Forgive me this couldn't be done at a better time. I only need to know that you still wish to be my wife and my queen and we shall make it so.”

  New tears welled up in the corners of Violet’s eyes, but they were tears of joy. “Oh, Silas. All I wish in my life is to be with you. So yes. Yes, I still wish to be your wife.”

  Silas held her close and kissed her gently on the balcony. After a moment alone, he called for the attendant and told him to take Violet to her quarters. He said goodbye for now as they separated to busy themselves for Aldron's first royal wedding in decades.

  The chapel on the second level of the palace was exquisitely decorated with thousands of wreaths filled with white lilies and mauve ribbons. Banners displaying the family crest of Dermont hung throughout the chapel and candelabras lit the interior with beeswax candles. The sanctuary held twenty rows of pews in two columns. Between the pews, a single aisle with a red carpet led to the altar where Brother Elendon stood. The priest wore a golden robe with a white triquetra embroidered on either side of his chest. Avani stood to his right, wearing an elegant jade dress with her hair pulled up and holding a bouquet with a colorful assortment of flowers. On Elendon’s left, stood Duke Weifar who, for the first time since Violet met the man, had a clean-shaven face. He wore a green doublet with a distinguished brocade design.

  Next to Weifar, stood Silas who looked stoic and handsome in his royal garments and purple cape. Violet read from his expression that he was both nervous and uncomfortable. That is until his eyes turned toward her. She strode down the aisle in a shimmering white dress that gleamed in the daylight pouring in from the chapel windows on each side of her. Amid the pews, where noblemen and ladies sat, she heard several whispers.

  “She really is the angel of Aldron,” one woman said and others nodded their approval.

  Violet couldn’t help but smile especially as she neared the altar where Silas appeared breathless. The king held out his hand to her, and she took it as she stepped next to him.

  “You look... amazing, Violet,” Silas whispered in her ear.

  “You look rather dapper yourself, your Majesty,” she said coyly.

  Avani took a step toward them, smiling at Violet as she took the bridal bouquet in her free hand. “Yéwa smiles upon you both today,” she said. Then she resumed her place on the altar and all attention was on Brother Elendon, who addressed the crowd.

  “It is with unbridled joy and humbled hearts we come together this day to witness the marital union of King Silas Dermont and Lady Violet Pulfer beneath the sight of Yesu and a host of witnesses,” Ellendon declared.

  The ceremony included a bevy of royal traditions unknown to Violet including a kneeling ritual before the altar to swear fealty to Yéwa and the kingdom. Though she hadn’t rehearsed the service previously, she followed Silas’ lead and a few visual cues from Ellendon or Avani. But the final part of the wedding was no mystery to her. Every young girl dreams of the day when she can stand face to face with her mate and hear the words, “by Yéwa’s blessing, you may kiss the bride.” Once Elendon uttered the words, she had to resist herself from lunging forward to kiss Silas before he reacted. The same thought seemed to go through his mind as he pulled her close and kissed her with a passion she didn't imagine possible.

  Cheering broke out among the gathered nobles along with a few exuberant yells from a certain dwarf in the front row. Behind Ulric, Morton and Caldwell clapped enthusiastically for the new Queen of Aldron—their broad smiles bringing a wide grin to Violet’s face. Though most of her closest friends and acquaintances were present at the ceremony, she wished the peasantry received an invitation. Silas assured her a larger celebration for their marriage would occur for everyone in Aldron to attend, but that would have to wait until the war was over. Still, she wished Lucius and Siegfried could have been here. The two brothers were close allies of the kingdom and dear friends to both her and Silas. She wondered where they might be now and how they fared on their journey to Ghadarya. The thought of the evil place brought an unwelcome shadow on this beautiful day and she thought no more of it, contenting herself with a prayer for Lucius and Siegfried.

  In typical Aldronian custom, a large feast followed the wedding and Violet was all too eager for it. All the preparation for the ceremony and her earlier excursion in the peasant district forced her to forego eating anything. Now as servants brought a roasted pig to the head table, she couldn’t keep her mouth from watering. Footmen served her a heaping dish of roasted pork, potatoes, and a delicious gravy that complimented the meal nicely. Throughout the feast, many nobles stood up and made toasts to the newlywed couple including Ulric. Unfortunately, the dwarf was a bit inebriated and she couldn’t make out his words due to his slurred speech. Thankfully, Avani rescued the awkward toast with her own.

  “King Silas and Queen Violet, how honored I am to know you both as allies and friends,” Avani began. She stood tall and faced them from the head table. “We have endured much together and there are still perilous paths we must tread before peace in our time can be achieved. But I am ever so grateful to stand with you through the storm and celebrate the love that has brought you together in spite of it all. Long live the House of Dermont
!”

  “Long live the House of Dermont!” The crowd repeated loudly. Everyone sipped their wine, and the merriment continued late into the night.

  A little after midnight, Silas and Violet enjoyed a moment away from the feast on the balcony where they'd spoken earlier. She stood wrapped by his arms as they gazed at the starry sky together. Neither said a word, content to share a moment alone in the quiet of the starlight.

  “’Twas a beautiful wedding, Silas,” Violet said finally. “Thank you for organizing it all. I’m sure it wasn’t easy with the campaign underway.”

  “Thank Avani. She did most of the planning along with Weifar. Apparently, they were both anxious to get us married and weren’t sure why we waited so long,” he said.

  “Why you waited so long, you mean?” Violet corrected him.

  Silas laughed. “I guess I deserve that. Sorry for springing it on you at the last possible moment. You’re not angry with me?”

  Violet shook her head. “How could I be? You made my dreams come true, Silas. A foolish girl married to her dashing prince. It’s every woman’s fantasy, you know.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  A calm silence passed between them before Violet spoke again. “You’re leaving early tomorrow.” It was a statement more than a question.

  “Yes,” he said grimly.

  Violet was no longer upset over the matter. She didn’t like that their time as husband and wife would be cut short by the imminent war, but there was little she could do about it. To rail against the coming battle would be like fighting a hurricane with a stick. It was inevitable and she could not resent Silas for it. As king, he would make plenty of hard decisions throughout their marriage and she needed to stick by him rather than cast doubt on his actions. He had supported her plan to find a cure for crow’s blight and, though he was reluctant initially, Silas never questioned her ability to solve the problem. She needed to do the same regarding his military exploits. He was a skilled fighter and trusted veteran on the battlefield. His presence among his army would certainly increase the morale of his senior officers and the fighting men who swore allegiance to the crown. She only hoped she could inspire such courage as queen when tasked with the defense of Aldron.