The Siege Of Drakkon: Book Three Of The Drakkon Series

Chapter Nine

Alessandra Drakkon

Queen of the Drakkon Empire

"Lord Grahl, thank you for coming. I hope I didn't disrupt your day too much." Because I knew that even if any of the nobles had plans, a request for a meeting with your ruler, meant that you dropped whatever you were doing as soon as you could.

"No, no, not at all. To be honest I was pleased to receive your invitation, I admit that I wasn't sure how good our relations were going or not, I don't really remember much of the party at my Nyri farm. I've brought a bottle for us to share, I hope that's alright." I smile, acting like I find his forgetfulness normal, not that he should know any different.

"Oh yes, I'd love to have some. And well, I think that bottle of Night Nyri hit us all a lot harder than we thought it would. Speaking of your Nyri farm, I have a proposition for you." He raises a brow, looking intrigued as he sipped on the Dark Nyri that a servant had just poured from the offered bottle.

"Oh? What is it exactly that you would need my assistance in, your majesty?" He looked very curious, not even the slightest bit hesitant about what I may ask of him.

"Well, it is something I would like to offer you actually. I am going to be terraforming the royal forest to better suit the Ikari's needs, and I would actually like to offer you part of the land behind your Nyri farm, whether to keep it as is, or expand your farm land, it is up to you. Just a little something to show you that I appreciate you remaining loyal to the rightful heir of Drakkon in troubled times." He sits up straighter in his chair, fully realizing the weight of what I was saying.

"I would be honored to have the land your majesty. But you do not need to buy my loyalty, I will always remain true to the Drakkon Royal line." I smile and nod, like I know he would, when in reality I would prefer him be only loyal to me, if I had to buy his loyalty with possessions I had more than enough money to do so.

"Yes, of course. As I've said I just want to show you my appreciation for your loyalty. I would say about twelve acres of land should be more than enough." His eyes widen and he shakes his head up and down quickly, obviously very excited to have the land, even if he said he didn't need it.

"You honor me your majesty. May you rule as long as your father." I smile and toasted his raised glass, knowing I had secured a noble in my favor even if he hadn't been against me to start with.

We talked about nonessential things, merely taking our time to eat lunch, even if I had just eaten some breakfast not that long ago. Before long there wasn't any more meals we could talk before, we were finished lunch, I allowed him to leave after he insisted on thanking me again for the land.

"Truly your majesty, it is an honor." I smile and wave him off, acting as bubbly as he was, even if I truly didn't feel it on the inside. As soon as he leaves the room, I get up and rush back to my rooms, eager to see how my mother was doing, I stumble to a halt as I come into the room and see her standing in front of the mirror, touching her throat with a pensive expression.

"There isn't even a mark, in fact all of my scars are gone, it's like it all never happened, like it was some sort of bizarre dream." She was repeatedly stroking her hand across the skin of her neck, like she thought she might eventually feel a scar if she just touched it enough.

"That is what the ambrosia does, do you want us to add a scar there? I'm not positive its possible, but I'll imagine they have something they can do." She looks away from the mirror and back towards me finally.

"Yes, I think I'd like that. My scars tell my story, they're a symbol of all I've fought, all I've survived, to not have them makes me feel like a different person, that I never really experienced those things." I give her a small nod, unsure of how to respond to her words.