Chapter 4

 

Moments ago, he had been mapping out villages on the King’s map, a map that had been intricately drawn of the Crikerian kingdom.

 

Hours after he had chased out Zarek, the rightful King, he had called forth the Royal Council to devise plans on annexing human territories. The Royal Council was the King’s most trusted advisors, having lived for centuries, who provided much needed sage advice.

 

He was finally able to do what Zarek had failed to do all of these years and grow the size of Crikeria so the dragonkin could have the territory they needed!

 

Glee filled his heart.

 

Feeling like a young boy again, he had set in motion his dreams.

 

Tauric and Samelle, the oldest member on the council, were finalizing the plans to set his agenda in motion when a guard delivered a message.

 

“Your h-highness,” the young woman sputtered, her eyes wide in fear, “I bring unsavory news that will trouble you.”

 

On quick feet, she approached the table and extended the scroll towards the group of men surrounding it.

 

Tauric’s mouth tightened as he snatched the scroll from her outstretched hand, “You’re dismissed.”

 

The guard bowed at the waist crossing her right arm over her chest before she quickly left the room.

 

The tension in the room rose as Tauric cut the string keeping the scroll closed and unfurled it.

 

---

 

Your highness, King Tauric, first of his name. The rumors are true. Zarek is alive. He’s headed to you. Take precaution.

Zarek travels with famed dragon slayer Freja of the Midlands. This wench has more kills under her name than Death herself. Take precaution.

By the Mother,

Astalar

---

Red.

 

Red filled the traitor’s eyes as he dropped the scroll, horror and fear clutching his breast in a chokehold.

 

Zarek was coming for him. He knew it.

 

The spy he used never failed, unlike his men.

 

His men had failed to kill that bastard.

 

Over and over again he had instructed his men on how to kill Zarek, the King of Dragons.

 

The King who could rip him in half and could ruin everything he had fought for.

 

Rage filled his heart as he screamed for the Royal Council to get the fuck out. They knew better than to stick around and quickly took their leave.

 

He was now alone.

 

The heat from the enormous fireplace behind him felt like it was burning him alive, like everything he had done in the past week was returning to haunt him. Burning to death was a possible likelihood given how dragons could spew fire from their maws, and he didn’t need the reminder.

 

Under the large iron chandelier, hanging from the ceiling thirty feet above, he paced in circles across the lush blue rug covering the cool stone floor.

 

Even though the candles in the room provided the light necessary to see, he felt the darkness in the corners closing in to seize his throat.

 

Fear.

 

He was terrified!

 

He knew what a pissed off dragon could do to a human. Working by Zarek’s side since childhood, he had seen it before his own eyes more times than he could count over the years.

 

Dragons were the apex predators of the known world. They evolved to be massive killing machines.

 

Visions from the past of huge teeth and razor sharp claws filled his mind.

 

Thirty-seven years later, he could still hear the sound of human flesh being ripped apart.

 

The sound! Oh the sound!

The sound would haunt him for the rest of his days!

 

He tugged at his shaggy blond hair, a nervous habit carried from boyhood when he was anxious or scared.

 

Tauric needed ale; fast.

 

He wanted to drink his fear away before he had to face the consequences of his actions. He didn’t want to face reality.

 

Not yet, anyways.

 

Tomorrow he would plan.