Frost and Flame, Foes in the Dark (book 2)

Chapter 2, Preparation for Depature

Akana perused the messages. Most of them was of little interest but three of them did caught his interest. The first was a letter from the Auonian watakaus that he had sponsored to journey into the desert of Kaharian, the land east of Noterra, and try to get information of the origin of the Auons. Akana started to read the conent of the letter to Sidastir in hope of some advice.

They have reported that they have started to raid with the nomadtribes of Masu Lin, the desert that reaches all over the southern part of Kaharian and into Auone, but even though the negotiations have been fruitful there was no traces of their origin. The nomads was without a doubt relatives of the Auons since they have the same dark skin and white hair, but they knew not of where they come from or where their unique abilities origin.

The Watakaus had tried to travel into the Northern part of Kaharian, haunted by eternal winter, in the hope of being able to travel over the mountain range Walang Livis to Eitir. Unfortunately, the desert ships weren't built for the snow and the mechanics of the ship froze after just a few minute in the tundra. The Auons had no choice but to abandoned the watakaus which was apprehended by Kaharians hostile ice elves.

"Your sand ship are lost. The Ice elves of Kaharian are isolated from the rest of the races since they see them as barbaric and hostile. Despite the ice elves of Eitir originally being from Kaharian we have mixed with the races of Noterra and according the Kaharian's ice elves we are little more than bastards." Sidastir shook his head before shrugging. "We aren't considered ice elves anymore and they will surely not listen to a request from me."

"I thought ice elves was one of the few pureblooded elves left in the world," Akana said absently as he wrote down his reply to the Auons.

Sidastir let out a snort," I cannot speak for the rest of the world, but if you seek a pureblooded elf then you should look towards the Dark elves under the mountain of Donfell or the mountain elves of Allenbeinn. Both of these races have isolated themselves from the rest of Noterra and kept most of their pure blood intact."

"Donfell... You mean the Gashir mountains? the mountains separating Eitir and Auone. Allenbeinn... Isn't that a mountain in Eitir. Is the mountain elves and the Dark elves citizen of Eitir?" asked Akana who couldn't recall this being mentioned before.

"Once they were. Eitir was created by mountain, ice- and dark elves. The ice elves was elected as regents but after many years they became arrogant and saw themselves better then the other two elven races. The result was the Dark elves going back to their subterranean cities and the mountain elves locking themselves into their city built into the mountain of Allenbeinn," Sidastir explained as he sat himself down in the chair.

"The large, advanced forges underneath the palace east part, along the Walang Livis, are built by the mountain elves. The magical, royal sword Riagaul were created by the mountains elves."

Akana pondered this information before he declared that he would contact the mountain elves. Sidastir only chuckled, much to Akana's bemusement since he couldn't fathom what was so funny. Akana just ignored him and focused on the second message. Ensuring that he didn't look at his husband he perused the content from Ceva.

They were to meet by Eitir border to travel together to Virtus Scolaris. She had also sent the date for their meeting. There was still a month left before school started again but Akana suspected that Ceva had grown tired of her father, the Raven King, who wanted information so that he could lead raids along the border of Balkrav. Neither of this was important though as the piece of information that was written at the end. Ceva has found a small village made up of Ice elves in Balkrav. From what she can tell, they escaped the war and fled to Balkrav, settling down. They haven't responded to Akana and he wasn't sure how to tell Sidastir about this discovery. Maybe it would only bring forth more pain, instead he put it aside and looked at the last letter.

The third letter though was a mystery. The sigil adorning the letter was in the shape of a bird with a scepter to the right and a flame to the left. If Akana remember correctly, his class in diplomacy mentioned that this was the royal sigil of Relevium. Careful not to damage the sigil, in case he would need it later, he opened the letter to read.

Allow Lucis to bless you Draconis, Akana den Rifabeinn of the family A Baeldraegan, Dragon of the North

It has come to my attention that you will shine your presence of the Trinetournament. It pleases my heart as I have planned our meeting during a long time. I hope that I aren't to forward when I ask to get news of your arrival to the glorious capital of Relevium, Parcis, so that I can personally greet you, Dragon of the North. I await your favorable answer and look forward to our meeting.

Blessings be with you, wishes Victoria Ardor, the Phoenix princess.

Akana sighed, his titles has expanded again. A Baeldragon was the name Sidastir created for him since only one of their children can be named den Rifabeinn. Only the heir. The rest would be named after him and he had no name so he was given one. That Sidastir have him a surname meaning fire dragon only spurred on Dailain and Domor who declared him the Dragon of the North. Now Relevium decided to give him the name Draconis, meaning dragon. Of course it would catch on. The noble families of Noterra are so dramatic.

Replying to the foreign princess, he saw at the corner of his eyes Sidastir smirking, clearly amused by his new name. He sealed the letter with his own new sigil of his new surname, a dragon head in front of a throne with a flame above it. The ring had been forged by the best forges in Domor after Akana had complained about having his own sigil. It didn't look good that he used the Rial's sigil when he was the Rial Caraid.

"I hope that I don't have to share you to much in Parcis. I'm a jealous man after all," Said Sidastir with a irritated tone after his eyes perused the letter from the princess. No longer amused by the titles, and the tone suggested a hint of truth.

"Don't worry, as Rial it's your task to pander to your Rial Caraid so you will be spending all your time courting me in Parcis," said Akana and Sidastir let out a dramatic sigh, like he was bothered, but he look like pleased by the thought of caring for Akana.

This might have been a spontaneous, arranged marriage but Sidastir was awfully delighted when giving attention to Akana. Something Akana knew all too well as he often spent a large amount of his time sneaking away from his over protective husband. Akana had no idea how Sidastir would be able to be without him for a month.

That would without a doubt be an ordeal.