The Books of the Shadows III- Silver Tiger

26

Out in the War Council room- emergency meeting

The ministers were all speaking at the same time, in low voices that made the room look like a buzzing wasp's nest. The massive wooden doors stepped aside and Silver, Moon and Alane, the Royal Blood, stepped in front of them.

Prince Silver caught everyone's eye as he made his way to his mother's throne. His face was no longer covered by the mask he had worn since he was a child, and with which everyone knew him. He was already a handsome, imposing man of strong stature, and he looked like his mother, with blue eyes, large and penetrating as if they saw through you, already making the ministers shake as he made his way to the throne. His waist-length and black locks framed his white face and gave him a magical air, close to an icy and unreal beauty. 

His presence seemed imposing for the first time, an extension of his mother, cold and calculated. He could not afford to lose from that moment. He was wearing on his shoulders, over his usually black shirt, the white fur of a tiger, covering his shoulders and giving him a hunter's or a warrior's attitude. He was defiant, and he kept his head up, looking over them all. Proud like a God. 

Ministers bowed their heads cautiously, but it was not clear what would happen or what had happened. Silver turned to them, seconded by Alane on one side and Moon on the other, and officially addressed them, in a confident voice that did not betray the slightest tremor: 

-From today, and until the king returns, I, Silver Tiger, who belong to the House of Warchild and Shadow Assassins, will do my duty as Crown Prince and take over the duties of the king with the right of the firstborn and the support of my older brother, King Alane of the Moutai People and my blood sister, princes Silver Moon from the house of Warchild and Shadow Assassins!

For a moment there was silence, and the room seemed deserted. The next moment, she saw Lord Zicon opened his mouth and in his place, Moon hurried to be heard throughout the room: 

-I, Princess Moon, the Royal Blood of Shadows, belonging to the House of Warchild and Shadow Assassins, I second my brother's position, and I recognize his rank as Crown Prince and I support him to do his duty until the king returns, just like my mother would do.

-And I, King Alane of the Moutai People, will stay around for a while, as I second my brother's position, and I recognize his rank as Crown Prince and I support him to do his duty until the king returns, just like my mother would do.

In front of them, the ministers had nothing to complain about and bowed in recognition. Prince Silver sat on his mother's throne and looked like a faithful copy of her, only he was taller and more masculine. Princess Moon sat on his left and King Alane sat at his right, and the War Council started, letting them all know what has happened.

A portal opened. Again. Only that, through it, nobody emerged, but the king and the Lord Commander passed through, into the other world, like they were sucked into that other world. Until today, nobody knew this can be done in this way too, they only knew that soldiers come out and start shooting them. But today, they have learned that it is possible for them as well to travel through the portals. The problem was that... they did not know when they would open and how to travel. 

So it has been decided to give the proper job to the House of the Sun, the scientist's house. They had the task to study this portal magic and bring the king back. Until then, Prince Silver would fill the king's position. Princess Moon was in charge of the study process and King Alane would spend some time as a guest of the shadow kingdom, in order to serve as a councilor for the Royal Blood.

-Why do you need a light councilor, My Prince? Lord Zicon asked in an insolent tone.

-Because he is already a King, that you are not, Lord Zicon, Silver smiled at him provocatively, and the ministers already felt the animosity building around them two. Who better to counsel me than a king who is already ruling over his people?

-Your own Council, My Prince.

-He will be My Council, Lord Zicon, along with my sister, Princess Moon, and the War Council. In the meantime, I want you to leave to the West, to secure the border there, in the fortress of our dear aunt, your wife, as in any moment the lights will find out that the king has gone missing, I am sure you will do your job well and secure the borders, at any cost. 

-My Prince, may I suggest you to...

-You may not, Princess Moon smiled at him, locking on his eyes with an intoxicating look, heading in front of him and making him back away at the same time. You heard the DIRECT ORDER of the royal blood acting king, did you not?

-I did... almost whined the Lord, and immediately realizing that he was fooled and spoke what she wanted to hear and that was not what he meant to do. Are you...

-Defying the order, Lord? King Alane turned to him this time, and they all acted like a pack of wolves corning a bear. It seemed as if they were all speaking the same language in the mind space they shared throughout their mind link established by their mother. And they were all against him. And all the ministers saw the opportunity and the reality because they did not even dream to back the Lord up and none tried to speak in his defense, as he alone has dug his grave long ago. 

Their mother did not execute him, but if the prince was grasping the power now, with the support of his brothers, the ministers understood that there was no point in standing behind someone who was not in the throne's favor.

Princess Moon had another twin brother, that was currently away guarding the Southern border, and expected already to come back, and the ministers thought that, if these two brothers were backing Silver up, they would all expect to do the same, so they did not want to lose their chance to be seen and recognized as a support to the crown.

Prince Silver smiled at him, while Lord Zicon only wanted to bite his head off but bowed in front of him as it was not the time to provoke such an impertinent brat and also untamed just like his mother. Princes Moon smiled inside and King Alane did the same, looking at the Lord leaving in a hurry and presenting an insulted mood in front of everyone. Playing the victim card, would not suit him, they would have to keep an eye on this one. 

They went straight into the building of the Sun House where the main scientists were already studying the portals to learn how to send the strangers home. They received Prince Silver with a bow, looking at him with wondering eyes, because he was wearing his power necklace, which was already announcing his role as a Crown Prince, in charge of ruling the kingdom already. He was 18 now. 

They all went through the information they had at this point and established the new objective to do anything to get the king back home. That suited Kaion as well. He was all happy about the opportunity presented, as well as anxious about a secret meeting proposed to him.

Moon and Tiger visited the dungeon again, later that night. Tiger felt the need to train even more right now, that he had no more parents around him, no one to help him with the changing. Things we not looking well from this point. They were scared. Their parents were gone and as they knew, none of those who ever came into their world, none came back to their home. So they needed to make a plan, a good plan to survive. 

They were indeed a pack of wolves into a bear's home. And there were many bears around them, the pups of the wolves.