Tales of Love and Power

Chapter 5: Abzalin

"Make way for His Majesty, King Abzalin Khraz The First," Zukul announced as they reached the chamber doors.

As he walked through the entrance, the council members stood and bowed to him. He made his way to the throne and faced his council. He raised his hands in front of his chest, his fingertips raised to the sky, and his palm turned towards him.

"In the name of Azlah the all-powerful, I commence this meeting." He finished speaking and sat on his throne before waving towards the council allowing them to rise from their bow.

"What is the status of our national treasury?"

The treasurer took a step forward and politely addressed his king.

"Thanks to our Late King Razdor, our treasury is full, Your Majesty. We currently have-" The treasurer opened his ledger and read from it. "Seven million three hundred seventy-nine thousand six hundred fifty Krawnz. Our annual income is ten million golden Krawnz."

As the treasurer closed his ledger and stepped back into the line of lords and advisors Abzalin nodded his head and addressed his council. "Good, Pay 3,000 silver coins to the soldiers and commanders as my enthronement tribute and 2,000 to the population of the capital," Abzalin commanded him, his voice dignified and decisive. Though he was a young king in comparison to the kingdom's past leaders, he would show that he was as deserving and as great as his ancestors were.

"Commander Kazim, in one of my final correspondences with my father, he mentioned that the governor of Taznak has allied himself with the western infidels. How do you plan on dealing with him?"

Commander Kazim stepped forward and after giving Abzalin a small bow he began to speak. "His Majesty the Late King Razdor had just received reports detailing Governor Hantuk's treachery. In my final meeting with him, he suggested that we send an envoy to the governor with a letter demanding for Hantuk to step down and return to the capital to face his crimes"

"Do you advise diplomacy, Commander Kazim?" Abzalin asked with interest.

"In order to avoid a war and the unnecessary loss of life of our kingdom's citizens, I would like to attempt to reason with him."

"I agree with your thinking. Negotiation first then if he refuses to surrender we will burn them with the might of Azlah. I will write a letter with my demands and give it to General Hekiz. He shall go as our envoy." The elderly commander bowed obediently to his king and stepped back in line with the others in attendance.

"Dragon Master Aalar, how goes the search for dragon eggs? As you well know my son Prince Uzma will now require a dragon to be bonded with."

The Dragon master stepped forward his cane tapping the floor as he came to a resting position. "Your majesty there are three dragon eggs ready for our young prince to bond with. Two are from your aunt's dragon Hanzaghan and the last is a wild Egg found by the Baltun Mountains."

"Have we any idea of this egg's origin Dragon Master?" Abzalin questioned. 

"No, Your Majesty, it is quite possible that this dragon egg had been lost for a very long time. There have been no dragons sighted there for many years so it may be mother had long died. "

"Will the hatchling be healthy? Can it have a bond to a rider?" Wild dragons were not like those bred and raised in the palace. While some turn out to be powerful others have been know to be untamed as did not have experience with the care of humans. It was risky for even the most experienced dragon Lord to bond with a wind dragon let alone a child. His child.

"The dragon is healthy by all accounts Your Majesty but as for if it can bond with our prince I can not guarantee it. It would be best to bond Prince Uzma to one of the offspring of a more familial dragon."