The Dragon Realms Saga

“Can you pass the honey, Wildeye?” asked Koda as he yawned through his words. Last night was rough. The assassination attempt left him shaken. He had dealt with them before, but to his own knowledge, an attempt on his life was not made since the Varis war. He always felt safe in Calsoon’s hands. He missed him dearly, but Elucard knew what he was doing. The would-be assassin failed to even inflict a single scratch on his head, and for that, Koda was grateful. Nonetheless, he failed to get any more shut-eye since then and the wolf kicking him off the mattress didn’t help in the least bit. However, he welcomed the company of his familiar over the company of Alanna.

“I must confess that I am at a loss for words that someone could sneak into my palace to end your life, dear Koda.” Greyblade muttered in shame. “My home should be the most secure place to stay in all of the kingdom! It is outrageous to think some fiend would waltz through a window and take a life!”

“Who do you think sent him?” asked Elucard as he dropped from the rafters onto the dining table.

“I say! Can you not?” huffed Greyblade.

Elucard ignored the comment. He took a seat next to Wildeye and grabbed a plump sausage. “I have a theory of my own.”

Koda scratched his head. “There are more than enough political enemies that could want me dead,” he said. “Does the Anti-Rogue Ops have any information on any new assassin clans that I should be informed about?”

Elucard pulled down his mask and stuffed the morsel in his mouth. He swallowed fast when he caught both Greyblade and Koda glaring at him for an answer.

“There is a new terrorist cell that ARO has been keeping tabs on for the last six months,” said Elucard.

“And why have I not been informed of this group until now?”

Elucard wiped off the grease from his mouth with a napkin before answering. “There are a lot of monsters underneath your bed that I don’t think you need to hear about to have a goodnight’s sleep. Trust me, it is better to be kept in the dark sometimes.”

Koda tightened his fist in anger. He ground his teeth as he spit out his next words. “Do not keep me in the dark for anything. Ever again.”

Elucard narrowed his eyes. “As you say, my king.”

“Now, you will tell me all you know of this terrorist group that apparently has a writ for my death.”

Elucard curled his lip, but continued with his explanation all the same. “They are called the Spellbreakers. We know little of their organization other than that they are large, worldwide, and want to bring down the mages.”

“Who leads them, lad?” asked Greyblade.

Elucard shook his head. “We don’t know.”

“So these Spellbreakers sent this assassin?” questioned Koda. “If they think they can deter me from becoming a Master Mage or keep me from fulfilling my duties as a king, then they are in for a rude awakening!”

“That’s the spirit, lad!” cheered Greyblade.

“As threatening as they seem, I am confident in my abilities to keep you safe,” said Elucard.

“Yes, I am convinced that with you as my elemental shroud and the Long Whisper escort, I am far from any true danger,” Koda said.

“And last night was not something you would call danger?” asked Wildeye.

“I had that situation under control,” answered Elucard with a hint of annoyance hidden in his voice.

“I can’t say I am entirely convinced, Koda,” Wildeye scoffed. She turned to Elucard. “I was told that you lost control of your magic, crippled over in pain, and if the assailant decided to stay, he could have murdered the both of you!”

“Elucard has saved my life too many times to count, girl. Yours too,” said Koda.

“And I will continue to.” Elucard nodded. “I will learn how to control my Magi arm and use it to my advantage.”

“Hm,” mumbled Wildeye. She slouched in her chair and folded her arms.

Elucard eyed another sausage.

“Well, then.” Aemor gestured to Elucard. “Eat up lads, you set off for the Grassy Sea later this morning. It will be quite the windy ride.”

Elucard snatched a helping of eggs, sausages, and a glass of plum juice. “Don’t mind if I do,” he chuckled.

***

The prairie skiffs careened through the grasslands as fast and as turbulent as the winds pushed their large sails. The skiffs were long wooden boats, not the size of the clippers that Koda was used to riding in. More like larger canoes or like smaller longboats. Tall masts caught the blustery gales that covered the massive plains of the Grassy Sea. Koda admitted to himself that it was the only way to travel long distances.

Koda pulled out a letter given to him before he left for his trip, written by Nora Greyblade, eldest of Aemor’s children and serving mayor of Warren Town. A peculiar name given that the city’s former name was Imperious, capital city of the Estinian empire. Koda wasn’t sure if Warren Town was an intentional jab to demasculinize its symbol of power, but either way, he liked the new name better.

Clutching the parchment as tight as he could so that the high winds wouldn't carry it away, he read,

Dear King Dawnedge,

I would formally like to invite you as a guest in my city, Warren Town. It would overjoy me if you stayed with me as you challenged our prestigious Warren Town Wind Mage School.

The Dawnedge name is still despised by the Estinian people, so be wary of your welcome in my city. Not even I have an easy time walking down the streets, but I can assure you that no harm will come to you.

With warm regards,

Princess Nora Greyblade

Koda folded the letter and stuck it in his pocket. He turned to Elucard. “Could it have been possible that the Estinians hired the assassin?”

Elucard threw up his hood to keep his ears warm in the cool Southtail morning. “I suppose that would make a lot of sense.”

“I wish we weren't going to Estinia,” Wildeye whispered to herself, just loud enough for Elucard and Koda to hear. “Even if it is colonized now.”

Koda took a claw to comfort her. “Too many bad memories, my friend?”

Wildeye dropped her head. “Yes. The most dreaded nightmares of that prison cell still haunt me.”

“I am sorry, girl, but sometimes we must face that which frightens us most to move past it.”

“And I will be with you. I swear upon my blade no harm will come to either of you!” Elucard promised. He looked to the looming cliffs that rose from the horizon. “We are here.”

***

Koda stepped off the elevator onto the snowy, white ground with a crunch. Warren Town was situated high into the mountains of Eastern Southtail, once known as the imposing Estinia. Tall mountain walls surrounded the city acting as a natural defense from invaders that managed to make it up the dizzying tall cliffs. Flight of Skyborne Military drakes roamed the clouds from their roosts. Although Koda had seen drakes before, he was still in awe of their magnificence and grace when skimming through the skies.

The howling wind numbed Koda’s chim and battered his body. He took shelter from the gale behind his royal guards.

The weather out here is nearly unbearable! It is no wonder why the Estinians are so cruel if they have to deal with these winds at all times, Koda thought to himself.

To his delight Warren Town building acted as a makeshift valley that blocked the blustery weather.

The head of Koda’s royal guard, Captain Blueleaf, moved Koda and Wildeye behind him. “Allow our vanguard to protect you, your majesty.”

Koda and his familiar nodded. One by one the elven soldiers fell in a cheveron and pushed back a gathering crowd of unruly Estinians.

Koda hide away from jeers and nasty looks. Vegetables splattered on wooden kite shields.

“Go home, Elf!”

“Down vith the Dawnedge brat!”

“Long Vhisper isn’t welcomed here!”

“I can see why Nora didn’t want to meet us outside the castle walls,” Koda joked as he raised his voice over the rowdy crowd.

“Let’s just hope we make it there in one piece,” muttered Elucard.

***

“You made the trip unharmed?” greeted Nora as Koda’s escort entered the former Estinian castle’s throne room. She swept her arms open for a tight hug. “I am so glad you are here, Koda. Papa has told me so much about you!”

Koda grunted, crushed by Nora’s immense hug. Despite her small size, Nora’s strength matched her father’s. “I hope all is well,” he managed to peep out.

Nora dropped the king. “We experienced some resistance when Papa first took over, but that has died down some since I was installed as mayor. We keep our security tight with a large military presence of ready and willing harekins, each with a stiff upper lip.”

Koda smiled. “I am glad things have run more or less smoothly after the war.” He turned to Wildeye and Elucard. “My friends. Wildeye my familiar and Elucard my most trusted bodyguard.”

Nora curtseyed. “I have heard much of you both. Although,” she tapped her chin in confusion, as if looking for the proper words. “I thought your familiar was a wolf, not a kanis.”

Wildeye chuckled and shook her head. “It is a story I don’t entirely understand myself. However, I am not a kanis, I am indeed a wolf—or was.”

Nora tilted her head, still perplexed.

“Perhaps we may discuss Koda’s trial with the Wind Mage Academy?” Elucard jumped in. “Will it be safe for Koda to challenge an Estinain school?”

“Or have all the Estinian mages been let go? Perhaps replaced by harekins?” asked Koda.

“No, of course not! The civil unrest would be greater than it is now if we did that!” said Nora accompanied by a nervous laugh, “Koda will be fine. Between Elucard, your royal escort, and my guards, Koda will only have to worry about his match.”

“Are you ready for your battle Koda?” asked Wildeye, “You haven’t dueled another mage, beside Megan.”

Koda frowned. No, he was not ready. He never practiced combat magic on other mages. Sure he beat Megan once and the draconian, Ro'Tan, but other than those two battles years apart, he never challenged another mage or fought another magical inclined opponent.