The Dragon And His Savior

Three

“What about Mala?” Seraphina asked after a long silence that prevailed in the room.

Karstark had just informed that Niko had been killed by Nero’s Enchantress Murrya. And Seraphina and Ilaria, as they stood around the round table of the council room could only do their best to not allow themselves to mourn their loss.

Karstark sighed.

He knew better than to expect them to cry. These were warrior women and they understood exactly what it meant to be in the midst of a war.

Seraphina, a queen in her own right, one who had just lost her king and had the entirety of the kingdom resting on her shoulders. She would die rather than allow herself to succumb to the grief that was surrounding her. She would finish this war first, she would ensure the safety of her people first and then and only then will she shed a single tear to grieve the loss of her friend.

And Ilaria, the woman who had killed more enemies than anyone in the entire palace. The royal spy that was trusted with every bit of sensitive information there was to be discovered. The woman who had been the first one to know that war was on its way and the woman who had held the courage to go to the enemy’s doorstep and find out his plans. She would not fall weak. Not when her strength was demanded of her the most.

“My people reported that Mala had been on Niko’s back when a spear shot through his neck and led to his fall. Everyone believes that she died alongside him, under the surface of the water. No one could have survived the fall.” Karstark informed.

Seraphina had to take a deep breath to adjust her body to the blow that she had just received because of the news of her friends’ deaths.

She then nodded with a straight face, “alright, I would like to keep this news between us and the rest of the Frost court for now. No one in the lower courts or the people should know about this. Especially our soldiers. Please make sure that they don’t find out, because this news could have drastic effects on their morale.”

Karstark nodded his head, “I will ensure that my men don’t talk about this with yours. Is there anything else that I can do for you?” He asked, even though he had made it evident that he was only in the kingdom to repay Seraphina for an old debt but the longer time he spent in the queen’s presence the more respect the Drakarian General found himself having for her. He could see just why Drystan had admired her so much, he could see why the entirety of the Frost Court basically ate out of her hand and all of this simply had him feeling fatherly concern for her, knowing that she was putting herself under too much pressure and it might become difficult for her at some point.

But that point was not now.

“No, thank you, General. You can go back to the troops.” She announced and Karstark nodded, bowing his head out of respect before backing out of the room.

It was a few more silent moments before Seraphina spoke once again.

“We should tell the rest of our court about Niko.”

Ilaria didn’t respond. She was having a hard time controlling her anger as she clutched the edge of the round table only to have the wood splintering and piercing into her flesh.

Seraphina saw what she was going through but she knew better than to try to comfort Ilaria. Comfort was not what the raven haired spy needed at the moment.

Vengeance.

That was what Ilaria desired the most. Vengeance for Niko’s death. Vengeance for what Nero had done to Drystan and whatever he had planned for her kingdom.

“Do you think it is best if we don’t tell the Frost Court either?” Ilaria asked, her face expressionless but her eyes were bloodshot when she looked back up at Seraphina.

Seraphina shook her head, running her hand through her head as she took in another deep breath. “If they find out that we have lied about something this huge, they would never forgive us and we can’t have our court mistrusting her at the moment.”

“They would understand.” Ilaria retorted.

“Perhaps. But it would not be good for the long run. And besides, this is what Niko would have wanted.” Seraphina added in a softened tone; the only amount of emotion that she showed in the matter.

Ilaria couldn’t help the words that came out of her mouth next, “you don’t get to talk about what Niko would have wanted.” Her voice was almost quiet, her words vicious and laced with nothing but the hatred she used to hold for Seraphina. “Had it not been for your stupid decision of pursuing that fire-breathing b***h, Niko wouldn’t have been caught in the crossfire between her and her old nemesis. He would have been with us. Safe. Alive.”

Ilaria closed her eyes, hating the venomous taste her words had left on her tongue as she placed her palms on the table, and sunk down into her seat behind her.

Seraphina allowed Ilaria’s words to make their home in her heart. Knowing that what she was saying was true. She had no explanations for it. Because after all, it was her idea to go after Mala, an idea which had turned out to be a dead end after all. Mala was no help at all and now, because of that decision, Mala was dead and so was Niko.

However, she knew that now was not the time to blame herself or defend herself. She had a responsibility. Drystan trusted her to run things smoothly and she had to ensure that the Frost Kingdom won in this war.

So, she sighed and walked reached out to place her hand on Ilaria’s shoulder.

“I will take every blame that you have for me. But right now, I have to say that as easy as it would be for us to hide this news rather than reveal it to them all, it is better that they know. We have to think about this war and we can’t if we are keeping secrets from each other.” Seraphina stated in a soft voice.

Ilaria knew that she hadn’t meant a single one of her words that she had hurled at Seraphina. The auburn haired queen had been nothing but a good ruler for her court as well aa her kingdom. She knew just how much Seraphina loved Niko and she knew that she was wrong to accuse her of something that she had absolutely no control over.

She opened her silver orbs once again and looked up at Seraphina, finding her emerald eyes filled with nothing but understanding and sympathy even after the hurtful things that Ilaria had blamed her for.

“Forgive me.” Ilaria gulped down as she slowly found the strength to stand back up on her feet. “I shouldn’t have said those things to you.” She admitted.

Seraphina shook her head. “It’s not like you were wrong. This is all happening because of the decisions that I made. This is all entirely my fault. Niko’s death, Mala’s death, Drystan’s disappearance—”

“Don’t.” Ilaria stopped her by raising her palm in the air between them. “None of this is your fault, Seraphina. I was having a moment and it was wrong of me to blame you for Niko’s death. I know how much he meant to you and how you loved him. Perhaps even more than most of us in the Court. If anything, I should have empathised with you. You not only lost Niko but you also lost Mala. I know that she was your first love and no matter how happy you are with Drystan, one never forgets their first.” Ilaria sighed, shaking her head, reaching out to take Seraphina’s hand in her own, “I’m sorry.”

That was when Seraphina gave her an unconvinced smile. “How can I not blame myself, though?” She asked softly. “If I hadn’t suggested Mala’s name, Niko would have never accompanied me and Drystan to her chateau. And for what? It’s not like she was much of a help in this battle. Similarly, if I hadn’t provoked Krogon, he never would have agreed to invade our kingdom or attack the Drakarians. That is what led to Drystan getting captured. Nero has our king in his command and who knows what he plans to do with Drystan. Or if he’s even alive or—”

Seraphina could not bring herself to complete that statement.

The thought of Drystan’s death knocked all air out of her lungs as she stood there with a haunted look in her eyes knowing that the longer this war extended, there are chances that she would slowly start to lose everyone she cares about.

Beginning with her violet eyes, beautiful, and charming husband.

Drystan was the man who had shown her kindness in a foreign land. He was the one who had stood by her side as she had fought all of her demons. He had loved her in times when she had hated herself. He noticed her on days when she felt like disappearing into the winds. He treated her with the utmost level of love and passion and every time that he held her, she had felt safer than ever in her entire life. Drystan was the light in her darkest storms and the idea of losing him forever was something that Seraphina could not bear. She would rather die herself than live in a world without him.

She knew that she owed it to him to save his kingdom. Her kingdom. The kingdom that had accepted her with open arms and had given her a home when she thought that she had lost hers after losing her entire family to Krogon’s vile machinations.

She simply could not entertain the thought that her husband, Drystan, the man who could kill a thousand soldiers with his crystal blue flames and still smirk proudly, could die. She knew that it was very much a possibility but she wasn’t willing to give up her hope.

She would find him again. She would search the ends of the earth but find him again.

“How will I even face Drystan with this news. He would be shattered to know about Niko’s demise.” Seraphina choked on her words, unable to think of the dreadful moment when she would have to reveal this to her husband.

Her caring, darling husband.

Ilaria squeezed Seraphina’s hand softly, “breathe, High Flame.” She whispered. “You can’t think so far into things. Let’s tackle one problem at a time.”

Seraphina nodded her head, knowing that it was probably best that she listened to what Ilaria had to say.

“And as far as blaming yourself is concerned, know this that if you hadn’t married Drystan you would have still been Krogon’s slave and who knows what things he would have done with the full access to your magic then.” Ilaria continued, knowing that it was viable that Seraphina was feeling strong and powerful again. She knew that only the truth could do that. “He would have still joined Nero the moment Nero would have reached out to him. He would have used you to win the war against us and then he would have killed you when he was done with you. That is because he is a slimy piece of crap who is going to get every bit of hell that he deserves. And aside from that, you should know that Niko’s death is not on you. Mala and Niko were on their way here, and that means that he managed to get Mala on our side which means that your plan was not in vain. You are a queen Seraphina. You are a strategist. And Drystan is in a very sensitive situation right now but he is also not alone. He has you and he has us. We will save him, I promise.”

Seraphina looked at Ilaria with disbelieving eyes. She had no idea what to say to her.

She could only nod.

Ilaria gave her hand one last squeeze before rushing out of the door.

“I’ll get the rest of the Court so we can tell them about Niko.”

And then she was gone.