by L M Lacee
Meadow smiled as she said. “We thank you Dragon Lord and Lady for allowing us to attend today. If we may, we will take the representatives and their people to your conference room, where we can discuss this petition and talk about politics and their Queen and King.”
“By all means Queen Meadow and please will you and your Light as well as Queen Scarlett and King Elijah all join us for dinner. If Queen Isla and her Light are well enough, please convey our invitation to them as well.”
“We would enjoy that very much will the one known as Frankie be there?” King Zale asked.
Reighn inclined his head. “I believe she will be.”
“Outstanding!” The King said with a decided twinkle in his eyes.
“Dragon Lord the petition for the infants is withdrawn.” Stated High Queen Meadow.
“We thank you High Queen.”
Meadow bowed her head to Reighn she looked at the faeries still on their knees. “Rise my people we will depart. Until later Dragon Lord and Lady.”
With that she and her Light left the court. The faeries walked towards the door the Queen had left by. As the doors opened more Sparrow lead a contingent of guards that surrounded the visiting faeries. Reighn remained standing. “Come forth Finlay Slorah and June Slorah.”
They moved to stand in front of Reighn. “Your claim of the two hatchlings known as Breena Dawn, and Mirren Everly is granted from this day on they are yours to love and cherish for as long as you live.”
“We thank you Dragon Lord. “Fin said as June hugged him she smiled at Reighn and Sage. “Thank you all.” She looked out at her friends and family. “Everyone we really do thank you.”
Sage called out. “Bonding party next Saturday book baby sitters everyone.”
There was general laughter as June and Fin went back and sat with everyone else. Reighn let them all talk for a minute, Sage said. “So Frankie made an impression on the King it seems.” Reighn laughed. “She did, they adore her.”
“Is she alright?”
“Apparently she is thrilled her damping spell works so well.” Reighn grinned with pride for Frankie. “On the other hand the agent is furious as well as the other five Fin caught.”
“Too bad they broke the rules they pay the price.” Sage looked at her shadow. “You are angry?”
“Very! This is not how the Elturnian are meant to operate.”
“Well Fin enjoyed himself, Frankie told me.”
Reighn stared out at the smiling male and said. “Practice, he and Ace are very good at this kind of thing. Those agents had no chance. His talent is strategy when he turned his mind to Elturnian wishing to rescue the agent. It was as he said, a simple matter of logistics.”
“Whatever, it seemed to work.”
“That it did my love. That it did.”
Lars arrived. “My Lord I know you will be surprised to hear that there is a councilor for the Elturnian waiting to see you!”
Reighn grinned as the court went silent as Lars’s announcement. Fin looked at Reighn who told Sage. “My love please take Mama and sit with the others let us not allow them too much information.”
Sage smiled and agreed then with Verity left the stage, Rene’ said. “They know me so I will stay.”
When Fin came closer, he said. “As they know me.”
Reighn nodded. “In truth they probably know all of us, but why let them know we suspect?” He then said. “Alright Lars remain, but all others fade into seats and against the walls please.” Which they did swiftly. Fin and Rene` stood with Reighn and Lars as Johner announced. “They are on their way. Frankie is with them.” Reighn nodded. “Take her Johner and place her with Harper and Charlie. Let’s not let them see her.”
Johner looked relieved as just then Frankie slipped through the door ahead of the prisoners she called out. “They are a minute away.” Johner hugged her. She whispered. “I am okay I promise.”
“Good go sit with Harper and try to look innocent.” She laughed up at him he could see the tiredness in her eyes. He nodded as she went to where Harper and Charlie sat. Harper moved over one seat for her. “You look tired Frankie.” She nodded as she spoke quietly. “It becomes a strain but it is like a muscle just needs strengthening.”
She smiled at Harper’s concerned gaze. “I promise I am alright.”
“Good because the High King and Queen are here and they specifically asked Reighn if you would be having dinner with us and them.”
Frankie squealed in delight, Reighn laughed it looked like Frankie heard about the King’s question. Just then the side door that lead to the hall that lead to the cells opened and the six Elturnian agents entered.
The agent Faline Light-wind. Who they had captured first stood in the middle of the other five agents. She was not as defiant as she had been before, Reighn noticed. Having to come to the realization there were others more capable and better equipped than the organization you belong too must have taken the arrogance from her, or it could have been the easy capture of the other five agents the Elturnian had sent to rescue her. Thanks to Fin’s and Ace’s plans with Frankie’s dampening skills the attempt failed and the agents captured and placed in cells next to hers.
They seemed like ordinary beings. Reighn even spotted humans in among the other faeries, pixies and shifters. All were beings that could easily slip into Dragon’s Gap without raising suspicions. Anger pulsed the room as he thought about how easily they had done so. How many, he wondered over the years, had infiltrated his innocent town, and befriended his citizens. His eyes elongated and his voice deepened as his dragon rose to the surface. Johner opened one of the court doors and a male walked in. He was tall and carried himself with arrogance and self-confidence as some Royalty did.
Everything, from his tanned skin and deep blue eyes with slicked-back golden hair and black suit, covered by a deep blue cloak and handsome face, said there was not a being in the world that was better or more justified in being more alive than him. He was the master of knowledge, of power, no one moved in his sphere of control without his permission. His name was Quin Nightcall first councilor of the Elturnian.
He strode into the court as though he owned it. Looked around as a sheen of amber covered his blue eyes. He used his power to catalogue and store away the information of the abilities of each person in the room, or that is what was meant to happen. Fortunately with Frankie in the room he was rendered impotent, his abilities nulled. His blue eyes widened as he once more touched on each person there. He could not see the one who had the ability to null his power. And worse could not feel the dampening field so he had no idea how far it went. Was it just confined to the court room or all of the castle? Was it possible it was further? The possibilities fascinated him.
How wonderful to bring into his fold the one with this skill. He almost salivated with anticipation, to rub the other councilor’s noses in his new acquisition would be amusing. They had been against the need to send in agents to Dragon’s Gap. And if they knew he and his hand-picked agents had failed, and he was here, they would surely end his position on the council. If not his life. The Elturnian did not suffer fools easily and as it was turning out, this endeavor was proving to be a foolish mistake.
He should never have gone against the other councilors but when he took this null back with him as well as the two assassins that lived here. He would again be hailed the only true Elturnian and they would never question his decisions again. Rage rose quickly not just with the inability to bring forth his powers. No, it was with the Dragon Lord, how dear he hide these treasures from him, it was outrageous.
Reighn saw the male glance right over Frankie as if she was not even there and watched as his eyes almost lit with fire when he saw Charlie and Harper who gave him back blank looks. He lifted his top lip in a quirk of a smile at their looks. His eyes lit on Fin where they stopped. A frown marred the perfection of his face.
The male is certainly beautiful. Sage thought. Like a shiny gold coin he made her powers twitch with irr
itation.
What is he? She asked Reighn through their bond.
He replied not taking his eyes from the male. No one knows.
She laughed back at him as she returned. I bet you do?
That would be a sure bet!
Sneaky dragon!
Yes let us hope it is enough.
Quin Nightcall finally stood beside his agents, anger made his voice sharper and his eyes bluer as he addressed Reighn. “Dragon Lord I thank you for the invitation to your court.” His voice was like a winter’s night rough with a faint accent of something other worldly. It sent shivers down the backs of the shifters and humans alike.
Conor Tower, who had laid in the shadow in his massive lion form rumbled out a growl that vibrated against the floor and into everyone’s bones making the hair on the arms of most rise with the knowledge, danger lurked in the shadows.
Reighn inclined his head ignoring the grumble from the lion. “I am glad the Elturnian received my invitation. I would have thought the council would have come themselves and not sent the first councilor.”
Quin bit back the angry retort hovering on his lips that no one sent him anywhere. Instead, he bowed his head slightly. “It was deemed unnecessary to trouble the whole council with this matter.”
“I see, so I am to assume you are willing to explain your decisions?”
“What decision are you referring too?”
“The decision to invade my territories.”
Quin spread his hands. “I am here to collect my wayward agents. Not to answer inane questions.”
“Take care Councilor you are here at my invitation, it does not give you the right to be disrespectful to me or my court.”
“A misunderstanding only.” Quin hurriedly assured Reighn, he knew it would not do to let those he wished to take with him see his claws all at once.
“Lie.” Charlie said loud enough for all to hear. Quin spun around but he could not see who had spoken, every face looked only interested, not suspicious.
Reighn tired of the males posturing demanded. “Explain to me Quin Nightcall why I do not end your life and the lives of your agents now. You sent operatives into my territory without my knowledge or permission. And sent those same operatives into my house. What part of that is not a violation of our trust?”
“Dragon Lord we answer to no one. You are treading close to lines of enquiry that you are hardly privileged too!”
Reighn eyes misted over, his dragon raced under his skin and the room shook with his anger. In that moment the benign ruler had vanished. In his place stood the Dragon Lord whispered about in stories of mayhem and bloodshed.
Every dragon there shifted with unease the others held still not wanting his gaze to find them. His voice when he spoke was smooth as silk with an edge of death sliding along the vowels. “When did the credo of the Elturnian change?”
Quin sounded almost bored as he answered. “They are as they always have been.”
Reighn’s voice became colder. “No First councilor. Trespassing into a kingdom or world without the consent of the ruling or governing monarchs or government, was and as far as I know. Never in the rules of the Elturnian.”
The male said nothing he stood there knowing he had breached protocol and possibly exposed the Elturnian. Some of his confidence seeped from his bearing at Reighn’s tone. Reighn could see when he decided to exert his position once more. It was in the upturn of his chin. His face became harsh with the stamp of arrogance that seemed to be a habitual expression. The male was out of his depth. If he had looked to his left and seen the look of shame and anger on the faces of his agents he may have thought twice about what he was about to say. But unfortunately his arrogance and belief that the Dragon Lord had no power over him or his role as first councilor to the Elturnian would be his faikling.
“Better to return to your ignorance and leave the Elturnian to our own agendas, Dragon Lord. Go back to governing your corner of the world and let us look after the rest.”
“Oh, Quin you have no idea what you have just unleashed. You had no right to usurp the Elementals or my rule. The Elturnian code is to do no harm. Their mission is to only interject when a governing body calls for help or they have no choice. You had a choice first councilor, no one was under duress here. Dragon’s Gap is not ruled by a tyrant. We the dragons are the arm of justice for the Elementals, you should have listened when the councilors advised you to refrain from sending agents here without my knowledge. In essence Councilor Quin you should have talked to me.”
“Why? What benefit to the Elturnian are you Dragon Lord.” Quin Nightcall sneered as he felt the hand of trepidation slip over his skin.
“As of ten hours ago I am the Elturnian.”
“Lies…Lies! How is this possible?” Quin Nightcall snarled.
“Very easy I assure you. You and you councilors made two mistakes that caused this. Firstly my ancestor brought together a specific number of species to watch and help the world when needed. It was not always good honest people that were given power to rule worlds or countries. So to ensure no one stepped outside the rules set down by the Goddess and to stop rulers thinking they could become gods unto themselves. And in doing so hurting their populace. He put in place the Elturnian.
You first councilor have over stepped your own tenets. So as stated in the Elturnian’s own laws I am now required to step in and take over control of the Elturnian. Your second mistake was to exclude the Elementals. You, first councilor, placed the most powerful beings in our universe, if not all universes on bypass. One has to ask. Why you would do this?”
Yes first councilor of the Elturnian, Quin Nightcall explain to us and our Dragon Lord how it is you think your society has the right to do so. I like my brothers are very interested to know. In the room stood all four Elementals the one who had spoken stood slightly in front of the others and galaxies swirled in his eyes. Quin Nightcall could only stand there shaken from his normal arrogance and unable to utter one word.
Little agent explain, please.
Faline Light-wind swallowed and bowed. “Please Elementals I do not know. I am an agent, not a councilor.”
But are you not an intelligent agent?
“I am.”
We await you!
Faline looked at the Dragon Lord’s hard face and swallowed the bile that rose in her throat and started talking. “From all that I have observed and read also with a fair amount of supposition. I would say the council felt they had no need to explain their existence to the Elementals as they consider themselves long lived and smarter and their reach greater than the Elementals or the Dragon Lord.”
As we thought. We are not pleased Dragon lord with this!
“As I am not.”
We extracted much from the ones we took with us. A pile of folders appeared in Fin’s arms. You will find everything in there that these ones knew dragon Fin.
“We thank you Elementals.”
Do with these what you wish Dragon Lord. We will take the one called London Dark-child and this one called Faline Light-wind. When we have schooled them, they will return. You may place them as first and second trainers of the new Elturnian society.
“Thank you once more, and I will see to the new society.”
Choose your new councilors wisely. The Elemental that remained nodded. Do not take too long they are an invaluable tool. Erase the corruption within the society as you will. Then they were gone taking the two agents with them.
Reighn looked over the rest of the stunned agents and Quin Nightcall. “Johner remove them to the cells they can join the other councilors until I can talk to them all. Frankie, you are released with our thanks. The Elementals placed a dampening field around the cells.”
“Okay thank you.” Reighn could hear the relief in her voice. The doors opened and the guards came in to escort the agents and the bewildered councilor out. He was still dazed at the turn of events one agent asked. “My Lord, will Faline and London be alright?”
Reighn
nodded. “Yes in time they will be better than ever. Go now I will see you all tomorrow.”
“Thank you my Lord.” He bowed as the others did except for the councilor and then they walked from the court.
“Court is dismissed.” Lars called out. “Go with peace in your hearts.”
They all looked at him, some with shock, and others with amusement. “What? I am trying something new. It was meant to be a nice way of saying get the hell out!”
“Well, it was nice but weird.” Harper told him as she stood and stretched, she was still tired from her late night. “Creepy!” Charlie commented.
Olinda smiled at him. “I liked it Lars it was kinder.” Frankie agreed. “Made me feel all warm inside.”
Claire shook her head at him he raised an eyebrow in return. “You heard them it made them feel warm.”
“And creepy and just plain freaked out!” Edith called out to much laughter.
“None of you have a soul!” He retorted as he stormed from the room which caused more laughter. “So easy!” Claire declared.
“He really is.” Reighn agreed with her as Sage hugged him. June was getting hugged by everyone as Fin handed off the folders to his staff. June finally made it to Reighn and Sage. “Thank you both.”
“For what those hatchlings are yours. June, you were always destined to be their mother.” Sage told her softly. “I am proud of you. There was no wolf crazy.”
June blushed. “Well it was tough there for a minute but my Fin and babies deserve better than wolf crazy.”
“Well, they have that.” Reighn assured her.
“Yep,” Sage said, “you have finally grown up!”
“See that is just mean!” June pouted and spoilt it all with a laugh. She and Fin left to go pick up their hatchlings.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
L ater that night Reighn stood with a drink in hand on his balcony as Sage slipped her hands around the hard plains of his body. “What is it?”
“We know the name of the one who has orchestrated the war against us.”
“Is it war?”
