The Dragon Brothers

* The Castle at Drakor; The Capital of the Chromos * Quentin POV

Lucian and I are walking down to the dungeon to perform Lord Aragon's execution. I've witnessed executions but I've never done one myself. To be honest I feel a bit nervous. Lucian must have noticed how I was feeling and put his hand on my shoulder. Our mother died when I was born so Lucian, as the eldest brother, was left to raise the rest of us. But as the youngest Lucian and I share a special bond so he can tell when I feel nervous about something by my body language. We enter the section of the dungeons where Lord Aragon is held as he's been separated from the rest of the prisoners. Prisoners that are being held for petty crimes and misdemeanors are in the first section of the dungeon, the next section is for prisoners on trial for capital crimes, the last section is for prisoners condemned to death. The last section is where Lord Aragon was imprisoned. When we opened the doors to the last section I could smell death, it hung in the air, never leaving. There were not many cells in this section because executions were carried out the day of the trial. Lucian unlocked Lord Aragon's cell when we stopped in front of it.

"Aragon, do you have anything to say to the girl's lives that you destroyed?" I couldn't help but ask. He answers by spitting in my face. In one move I swiftly use a knife that was in my hand and slice his throat. He falls down to his knees and then to one side with his eyes wide open his mouth open like he wanted to say something. I reach down and use a piece of his clothing to clean the blade.

As we leave a messenger from the northern army brings me a letter. The letter is from a kingdom just beyond our northern border. The Neopatras Kingdom has lost three villages and manors to trolls and is requesting assistance and in return they will pledge allegiance to the empire. I turn to Lucian with a question. "Hasn't both Cyprian and Wolf recently had problems with trolls? Isn't this sounding like more than just a coincidence?"

"Yes, I am beginning to think the same thing. As you make your way to Neopatras be extra careful." Lucian warns me. Elena POV

I'm sitting in my favorite spot in the gardens when Quentin walks up to me. "Love, we need to talk." I turn my head to him as he bends to one knee in front of me. "The Neopatras Kingdom just past our northern border has requested our assistance. I have to leave tomorrow morning. It may be dangerous as I'm not quite sure where the fighting will be but I don't think it's reached their castle yet. Would you like to come with me? I believe you would be safe at the castle." This man is so great. He wants to take me with him on his travels. I know it will be dangerous but I can handle that. I'm not as fragile as people think I am. Not that I want to join the army but I'm actually pretty good with a knife and I know how to use a sword.

"Quentin I never want to be separated from you again. I will follow you to the ends of the earth if I have to." I say as I cup his face in both of my hands. "You accept me along with all of my baggage. I love you!" Lucian POV

Angelus and Rohesia have been great, they call Viola and I mom and dad, and they are doing well in the city school that we enrolled them in. They're both very affectionate and love giving hugs and spending time with us. We've become a real family. It's their day off from school so I thought I would take Angelus to training with the royal army. Of course to be safe I would be the only one that would spar with him. Angelus was having a lot of fun sparring with me but I could tell he was getting tired so I said we should take a break so I could talk to the training coordinator, James. While I was talking with James I lost track of Angelus. I started looking for him and I finally saw him talking with Corporal Hoods but I didn't like the look on Angelus' face as he seemed upset so I started making my way towards them.

"Angelus, are you okay?" I am concerned because I can see that he looks like he wants to cry.

"I'm fine. I'm just ready to go to my room. I have homework to do." I can tell something is wrong because he is avoiding looking in my eyes instead he keeps looking down at his feet. Just a few minutes ago he was happy and was having a great time sparring with me while he was trying to convince me that he was old enough to use a sword and now he wants to leave the training field. I know something happened, I just don't know what, and whatever happened is pissing me off.

I look in the direction of Corporal Hoods. "What did you say to my son?"

"Oh, I was just giving him tips on fighting techniques." The corporal said smiling.

I told the training coordinator that I was leaving with Angelus and thanked him for letting me spar with my son. As we were walking back to the palace I turned to Angelus. "What did Corporal Hoods say to you?" "Just stuff about fighting." He shrugged his shoulders and mumbled his words.

I stop where we're walking and I bend down to his level. "Angelus, you know better than to lie to me right? You know how much trouble that will get you in right? If he threatened you or said something mean to you then he has to deal with me and I promise to protect you. But don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying." He barely whispers. I lift his chin so he has to look me in the eyes.

"Then why are you crying?" He just shakes his head. He won't tell me so I just wrap my arms around him and I let him cry it out on my shoulder. When he's done we walk back inside

Later that evening at dinner the family is talking and chatting except for Angelus. He's being unnaturally silent when usually he's the life of the party. At the end of the meal Angelus puts the icing on the cake.

"May I leave the table your highness?" Both Viola's and my mouths drop open.

"Since when did you start calling either one of us by our titles?" Now I'm really starting to get pissed off.

"I'm just trying to be respectful." Angelus replies. I can see tears welling up in his eyes again so I decide not to push it. *Salona Kingdom *

Wolf POV

As soon as I cut off Lieutenant Mannering's head I change back into my dragon form and take flight. I fly along the path that Emily should have taken back to the castle until I find her party. She and ten soldiers are fighting thirty trolls. They are surrounded but thankfully they are not covered by trees. I start swooping in and taking one troll at a time I lift them up and tear them in half. Soon there are no more trolls. That's when I notice that Emily is using a sword and has been fighting alongside the soldiers. She even has a troll at her feet with a severed head! I've never wanted a woman more than I want her right now.

She runs jumping into my arms and I hold her close to my heart for a few minutes. I can't believe I almost lost her. We finish the last leg of the trip to the castle and I immediately call my lieutenants together and tell them of Mannering's treachery. I am informed that he has not been at his post for over a week. We begin discussing who might be behind the attacks but we can't come up with any known enemies that can coordinate such a large scale attack. So, we start naming kingdoms and empires that we don't have alliances with that are close but beyond our borders and we come up with the Empire of Guelders. They are an empire run by a black witch, Queen Maeve. It would make sense that they would use trolls because there is a legend of black witches possessing trolls and forming whole armies of trolls to send out to create havoc. If we're right that we are facing Queen Maeve then we need to speak with Lucian to start bringing together different kings and queens of empires and kingdoms to fight against her.

*Kingdom of Cait *

Cyprian POV

Molle and I have just made it back to Cait and I have to call my lieutenants together to inquire on the investigation into the murder of Lieutenant Harms. We've been friends since childhood and I trusted that man with my life so this was a huge blow.

"Before we talk about Lieutenant Harms, send a messenger to the werewolf king with this letter inviting him here for negotiations on the treaty alliance. Now, where are we on the investigation into the murder?" I hand the letter to a messenger.

"From a brief conversation that I had with Lieutenant Harms that morning he had been contacted by someone that wanted to meet with him that had information on troll attack. But he was unsure whether to trust the source or not. He seemed like he didn't want to meet with the person at all. Then it was that afternoon myself and a platoon of soldiers found him dead." Lieutenant Bigge said. If Harmds was the first person I would turn to then Bigge would be the second. "What were you doing out and where was he found?" I ask curiously assuming I'm probably not going to like the answer.

"We had received reports of trolls attacking Silverkeep Village so we went to investigate and I chose to take a lesser known route and along the way we found Harms. It looked like he had been mauled by trolls. As much as I'm concerned about Harms I'm concerned about the troll attacks. This isn't normal troll behavior. I'm wondering if they're being controlled by a black witch." Bigge said and I could see the emotion in his eyes when he relived the moment he found Harms. "Two of my other brothers are having problems with troll attacks on their borders. The only person I can think of that can do something on this grand of a scale is Queen Maeve." I shake my head thinking of her. There was a time when she was a good witch. There was a time when I loved her.

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