Deadly Intentions (Blood Feud - Volume 2)

by David Temrick

  Even now Tulio could be seen directing elvish workers who were busy rebuilding the central inn. The owner looked on, torn between joy at the reconstruction of his business and what appeared to be a lanky orc overseeing the process. Frose would probably be sharing his trepidation if the Queen wasn’t working her charms on the old war dog. Mina looked over at his rising alarm at Giani’s attention with a mixture of sympathy and amusement.

  “How’s the work on the gateway coming along?” Dion asked as he walked towards the group.

  “Me cousin says it’ll be dun in less than a week yer Highness.” Neran replied with a grin. The pair of them had hit it off weeks ago over a cask of lager Tristan had been saving for just such an occasion.

  They made a quick pass around town, the King joining their observation of the reconstructions. Eventually they made their way back to the palace where everyone entered the throne room and took their seats around the dining table. Talk around the table turned to the mundane until Queen Annadora entered with Eurydice in tow. Limping behind them came Lesa being helped along by Otis. The pair of them had become nearly inseparable since their battle with the sorcerers and their mystical purple dragons.

  In their draconic form they didn’t look nearly as odd the couple as an ancient looking white bearded man and a young vivacious golden haired beauty. Drake entered last, looking much better from the last week of rest and healing though he still limped slightly. The sun shone through the many windows in the throne room, adding to everyone’s good humor.

  It was bound to happen, and it was appropriate that the eldest person in the room be the one to break the mood. Drake sat opposite his son-in-law and looked around the table, staring each person in the eye, before asking;

  “What do you intend to do now?” He asked, looking between Tristan and Dion.

  Tristan had put this very subject out of his mind for weeks. A courier had been sent to Alison informing her of her husbands’ death. Two days later everyone had packed their best clothing, mounted the closest dragon and flown to Kenting to entomb Prince Kevin and hold a public service.

  “I see no reason why Tristan can’t continue to rule in Terum.” Dion stated.

  Tristan looked up at his father, though they shared moments such as these, he rarely thought of them or dove into the unsaid words that followed these proclamations. He was proud to be a part of this family and proud to have done his part in safeguarding it. The truth was though, that he was tired. So very tired.

  “I can.” He said.

  All eyes snapped towards him around the table, though he felt little discomfort. He cleared his throat dramatically before continuing.

  “I’m ceding lordship of Terum to Princess Alison until Prince Nathan is of age to take the throne.”

  “Why?” Euri asked with concern.

  “I’m tired of death little sister. I’ve seen all the killing I can stomach, and suffered enough at the hands of our enemies for five lifetimes.” Tristan admitted, turning to his grandfather in human form. “If it would be acceptable to you, I’d like to build our home on your mountain and help to train and raise the younglings.”

  Drake looked hard at Tristan, and the young Prince could feel the pressure of his grandfather probing around in his mind. Typically he would lock out intruders, but he wanted to show how serious he was, so he allowed his mind to be freely explored. After a time Drake closed his eyes and looked down at his human hands.

  “I would like that very much.” He said, looking up at Tristan and then at Dion and Annadora.

  “Well I wouldn’t.” Dion interjected. “I wanted to retire damnit.” He said in mock outrage.

  Turning slightly more serious, he looked at Tristan and asked; “What would you like to see happen?”

  Tristan knew it was a test before the question was completed. His mother regarded him with a look he’d never seen on her face before. He knew she and his father were tired too, tired of the mantle of royalty, everyone depending on them to solve their problems. He could empathize.

  “Eurydice should serve as Queen until Jonathan is of age. I can perform magic, but I can’t control it. He’s likely to have the same difficulty and she’s the most likely to teach him well. Oceana is lost to us until we have a youngling powerful enough to control the elements there.” He began.

  “Alison should be Queen of Terum, Euri the Queen of Vallius. When the boys are of age we’ll find them appropriate wives and perhaps we can have some peace for a time.”

  “Ye sure ye don’ wanna be King lad?” Neran interrupted.

  Tristan looked up at him questioningly. “Ye’ve the knack.” The dwarf Prince said with a wink.

  Everyone around the table laughed as food was brought out. Tristan sat back, enjoying having his family near to him and happy. He only wished his older brother could have been here.

  Epilogue

  Binos floated in a black void. The darkness was impenetrable and oppressive. A small beacon of light began to form in front of him and it drew him like a moth to a flame. Slowly the beacon began to light its surroundings. He was inside a large citadel and the beacon was in the highest tower.

  A thunderclap overhead signaled a life nourishing rain.

  Tin roves clanged with the tempo of a heavy rainstorm and he drew his cloak tightly around himself to keep warm. A robed figure walked through a doorway into the beacon tower. It was tall and slim, though its hood was up. Slowly the figure made its way around the battlements to stand before him. Its hood was deep, obscuring all of its features in shadow.

  Feminine hands reached up and grasped either side of the hood, pulling it up and casting it backwards just as a lightning strike hit the beacon tower. Light as bright as the sun illuminated Veronica Rhodes’ face.

  “Hello my son.” She said.

  The 7 Kingdoms & The Isle of Deus

  Index

  Countries

  Vallius – a peaceful large kingdom, primary businesses include shipbuilding, forestation and fine jewel crafters.

  Terum – a country with rich soil unused in recent years as the former King called all sons to service in the army.

  Guis – a kingdom of quiet introspective people, heavy into art of all kinds, music and literature.

  Malus – a kingdom with a vast mountain range to the north they mine heavily for arms and armor production, they also protect Guis who make magically endowed jewelry for them.

  Sutten – no King, just a loose alliance of farmers and peasants who live in a Clan structure, each clan takes its turn administering one of the four cities for three years.

  Oceana – the best navy on the continent, in an alliance with all of the countries south of the Great Expanse.

  The Great Expanse – East; nomadic tribes of savages who only band together to fight the west who have been trying for 200 years to bring the entire Expanse under their command.

  The Great Expanse – West; a kingdom of rich farmland and bountiful forests, largely a wild area with villages and cities built like Forts to keep the animals and Eastland Savages at bay.

  Deus – an island of sorcerers and a rather large school devoted to the magical arts, not much is known about the island or its inhabitants.

  Patron Dragons

  In olden times each country paid homage to their patron dragon. Not a King or a ruler, just a dragon benefactor of each nation. Each country reflected the splendor of their patron dragon and went to war as the dragons warred. For over 1,000 years there was peace between the mighty dragons, and thusly there was peace between their nations. These are the dragon patrons of each nation.

  Silver Dragon – Draconis (Drake) - patron of Vallius, oldest of the dragons and their King, lives in the mountainous region near Teris Pass.

  Bronze Dragon – Lesariu (Lesa) – patron of Guis, a large golden serpent-like dragon, lives in the great dunes to the southeast.

  Blue Dragon – Raithia (Ruth) – patron of Oceana, a large powerfully built dragon with a horn protruding from the center of i
ts head, lives in the caves on the islands surrounding the Oceanic coast.

  Red Dragon – Kumanius – patron of Terum, second only in size to Draconis and similar in appearance, though possesses a shorter neck and smaller wings, used to live along the west coast in the cliffs looking out into the sea. – Deceased.

  White Dragon – Socolis (Otis) – patron of Sutten, smallest of the great dragons but very quick and cunning in warfare, lives in the vast forests of Sutten.

  Green Dragon – Ryanite – patron of Malus, has long green snout like an alligator, large wings and able to fly vast distances, used to live in a vast cave beneath a waterfall that fed The Great River into the Careless Sea. – Deceased.

  Black Dragon – Henjis (Ben) – patron of The Great Expanse, most knowledgeable of the dragons, often pilgrims would travel for years for the chance to learn from him. He used to live inside the cliffs to the south of the Eastern Expanse. – Deceased.

  Cities and Villages

  Metao, Vallius –a harbor city of over 200,000 people, housing a large navy and construction facilities along the harbor. A large portion of the population serves in the military, work in the castle or tends the fields and ranches around the city.

  Kenting, Vallius – Kevins’ border keep town, 20,000 soldiers and 30,000 citizens.

  Irudin, Vallius – the “Crossroad of the Kingdom”, all main roads run through Irudin, which is overseen by the brother of Kevin’s deceased mother, a very experienced patrician and leader. Over 100,000 citizens including the soldiers and nearby farmers, Irudin is the commercial capital of Vallius.

  Durshire, Vallius – eastern border town, large trade centre from Guis to Vallius.

  The Great River – a violent rapids that runs from the Great Sea out to the Careless Sea. A few sections along the river are calm enough for bridges to have been built, but the raging waters make it very dangerous to cross through it.

  Delhi, Guis – a majestic sprawling city, the palace is a huge affair with spiraling spires pointing up to various star formations. Large ponds, some filled with plants and fish, others kept immaculately clean. Large courtyards and flower gardens litter the middle of the palace.

  Heatherington, Sutten – defendable fortress town near the border with Terum & Oceana. Brisk trade with Oceana and a tumultuous relationship with Terum.

  Kumia, Terum – the capital of Terum and the seat of its power. Kumia is a fortress, built by elfish and dwarfish hands shortly after the construction of the Terious Wall. It rises high up on a lone mountain; the walls are carved stone from the mountain itself and rivers of elfish creation run from one end of the fortress to the other.