Chapter 84 - Reflections of my Heart and More Tidings (2)

[70 Days Remaining]

Time is a slow poison, I thought to myself of something I had heard before. One poison can counteract another poison, even working as medicine.

“Good morning, Baron Gustav Serle,” I said, bowing a little toward the ten year old who had short, jet-black hair and the characteristic grey eyes of the Serle family. Judging from his handsome, yet somewhat beautiful face, I could tell that he would grow up to be quite charismatic. Beside the boy were the two Ministers of War, Gria Tearon and Lia Tearon. Due to the baron's young age, they were acting as close advisers.

“Morning, Verath,” Gustav said in a voice that was still somewhat sad. It was only natural since not even close to a month's time could eradicate the overhanging sadness of Calina's death. And to add to that, his father and four sisters had been killed only a while ago.

Yes, time could not work its numbing poison that quickly, nor perhaps ever fully. Baron Gustav Serle would always be marred by these deaths. Thus, the boy still had a somewhat haunted expression while sitting on the extravagant and cushioned red chair, which seemed out of place in comparison to him.

“I bring news from Castle Bastion,” I said toward Gustav, though it was, in reality, toward the two Ministers of War standing beside him.

“Very well, continue Commander Vearth,” Gustav said in a high-mannered tone, trying to adjust to his role as the baron of the northern region.

“We are ordered to prepare defenses against an attack from our northern neighbor, Falinor Kingdom, while the king prepares to gather his forces,” I said in a serious voice.

Baron Gustav Serle only looked lost and a little dazed from my words. “War?”

I nodded at that.

“Indeed. It seems like the king's spymaster has finally made a move. No worries though, we have already been preparing some defenses,” Gria said in an informative voice.

Lia, his twin brother, smoothly continued for Gria. It was somewhat alarming to see the two people so in sync with each other, almost as if they knew what each other was thinking. “There is an army gathering at the southern borders of Falinor Kingdom, but it is still missing some hosts and nobles. From the reports I have received, I would estimate that it would take a little over two months before they reach us.”

“Anyway,” Gria said, continuing for his twin brother, “this will give King Balan enough time to gather the Royal Army, soldiers from the southern and western region, and prepare the Mages Corps. I suspect, however, that they will still be late to reinforce us in time. There seems to be some secret plans in motion.”

“Very well,” I said, already knowing a little of the twin brothers' defenses. “I shall go meet up with General Ochram and General Lavok.”

“Oh, by the way, Gold Knight Commander Verath, we have decided, with Baron Gustav's permission, to promote you into a general. And though stranger you are, you have been a valuable, competent asset to the Serle family and the northern region,” Gria smoothly added in.

I nodded a little at the two Ministers of War. “I shall endeavor to do my best.”

To the right of Baron Gustav Serle, Minister Lia said, “I trust you will do fine, now that the organization Malice has been destroyed.”

I gave a half bow toward the ten year old boy who looked out of place in the large living room and a little nod toward the smiling ministers.

Then I turned to leave, all the time thinking that the two twin spymasters were not to be underestimated. They had extensive connections everywhere inside the kingdom and had destroyed Malice in the western region after working in concert with the king's spymaster.

I suppose that was another matter laid to rest—Veena's father, Celdric Shadow, who had been secretly working with Falinor Kingdom, had finally been killed. An anticlimactic occurrence, but dead was dead.

Having exited the First Manor House, I walked toward the Fourth Manor House where General Ochram and General Lavok were waiting in the meeting room. As I passed the one of the many gardens and pathway connecting the Third Manor House and the Fourth Manor House, I sensed the threads of magic forming from above me.

They were powerful and felt familiar to me.

My thoughts of the magic were soon confirmed when two naked women fell from five feet above my head.

I quickly backed up a few steps, dodging their fall. Then I observed the two women hit the stone pathway to the front of me with a loud thud, their bare legs tangled together due to the fall.

“What the hell!” Eden, the taller and delicately tanned female shouted. Then she untangled herself from Kiara, the other female, before standing up, her fairly sized breasts displayed proudly before me, though it was smaller than the other female.

I looked with calm indifference at Eden while Kiara also stood up. My outward calm indifference, however, masked the surprise that was running through my mind. Never would I have expected two of my dragon peers I had met after my first tribulation to drop on me. Actually, before me, since I had dodged their fall.

“You could have at least caught us, jester!” Eden complained in her sharp voice.

“As usual, you are full of belligerence, Eden,” I replied back in a monotone voice.

“Good afternoon, Verath,” Kiara sweetly said from beside Eden, a blooming smile evident on her elegant and small face. It perfectly fit her short stature and beautiful appearance that was comparable to Eden, the taller of the two.

To the woman with the long silky black hair which complimented her snow-white skin , I said in a friendly voice, “Good afternoon, Kiara.”

“You seem to have gotten taller, Verath,” Kiara commented, her golden eyes tinted with hints of white and red meeting my own light green eyes, which were similar to Eden, except hers were of a darker color.

“Thank you. That said, why have you two come here,” I said bluntly, showing a questioning expression at the two naked dragons in their human forms.

“We were sent to check up on you, since we are...” Kiara said, her voice trailing off as a blush came over her face. She looked down shyly at the ground.

“Why are you getting embarrassed,” Eden said toward Kiara.

“But, you and I are now...marr—” Kiara said, the last half of her sentence trailing off again.

At that, Eden turned toward me, a hand smoothing her blonde hair. I could only think of it as an arrogant display. “Consider yourself lucky, jester. Kiara and I are to be married to you.”

“Wait!” I said, not able to keep my voice from getting loud. It was a good thing that there was no one to witness us in this part of the desolate garden. “Repeat that again!”

Eden only let out an ostentatious sigh. “Did you not hear me? We are, at the behest of the eldest of our Arkanan clan, Astlan Dragon King Navra Bloodseeker, to be engaged.”

This time, her words cut through the surprise that was slithering like a large snake inside my mind. I strangled the snake into obedience and under my control. “Oh. For what reasons?”

Eden only gave me a glaring look. “Why don't you go ask your broodkeeper, eh?”

“Umm...Eden means to say that we are all the same age and in the same clan, so...” Kiara interjected. She gave a sudden bow, her female parts—the breasts, to be blunt—following the sudden motion. “Please take care of me!”

Eden affixed her left hand to the side of her slender waist and her other hand pointed toward me in a challenging gesture. “Just so you know, you indifferent clown. I shall be the dominant one in our relationship!” Eden declared in a voice that would not allow any objections.

Even for me, this sudden turn of event was just too surprising. I could not suppress the words that came out of my mouth.

“Bloody ashes,” I muttered to myself, cursing a little at Lady Fate and the Eldest playing around with my life. Or perhaps it was some other ancient entity like the Goddess who had marked me as her champion, her Deathwalker.