The Dragon's Kiss

The Dragon's Kiss - Chapter 2 - Two: This Is Goodbye

Kel blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the dazzling sunlight flooding the room. Dash and a few other guards she recognized were already gathered around a small table. The king stood at the head of the table, directing the discussion.

At the announcement of her arrival, all the guards turned and bowed politely.

“It seems Kel has arrived.” The king greeted her, suppressing his laughter at the guards’ shocked expressions at the mention of her name. “It’s about time I introduced you all to my daughter’s surrogate.”

The soldiers gawked at Kel with mouths wide open. Although she wasn’t particularly close to any of them, she knew these men. She’d trained with them, occasionally gone on missions with them and even shared food at the same table. She understood their bewilderment but couldn’t help being amused by their reactions.
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“Please join us.” The king motioned her over. Turning to the men around the table, he added, “There will be plenty of time in the coming days to satisfy your curiosity.”

The soldiers reluctantly turned their attention back to the king as the briefing continued.

“Marked here on the map is the route you will take to Pandreia.” The king pointed to a line drawn with blue chalk. It started at the capital city of Mevani, their current location, and ran all the way down to the capital of Pandreia.

The journey would be difficult, but the real mission would begin once they reached their destination. In the princess’s place, Kel would complete a marriage ceremony to secure Pandreia’s alliance. As the continent’s leader in sea trade, Pandreia’s favor was vital, particularly for a land-locked country like Mevani.

Kel studied the line uneasily. This route was the fastest way to the capital, but also the most dangerous. It would lead them directly along the westernmost tip of the Serin Empire.

“Speak,” the king ordered, perceiving Kel’s reluctance.

“It’s just that,” she began carefully, “maybe if we adjusted the route westward and traveled near the eastern edge of Vitocia instead?”

Seeing the king and Dash exchange glances, she quickly added, “It shouldn’t take more than an extra day.”

“We had originally planned a route along Vitocia to begin with,” Dash responded. “We decided to go with this alternative route after considering a recent report from the Vitocian border.”

“What was the report?” Kel queried.

The man standing directly across from her cleared his throat after a nudge from Dash. He was around ten years older than Kel and among the higher ranking officers in their division.

“Serin soldiers have set a trap in Vitocia, close to the border. The only explanation we can think of…” he trailed off.

“Is a spy,” Kel finished, “I see.”

This was exactly why she had been assigned as a substitute for the princess in the first place. Serin possessed multiple covert footholds in the western kingdoms, so it was impossible to make a move as significant as a marriage alliance without the empire finding out. Now that they knew, Serin forces would undoubtedly try to intervene.

“From this point on, there is nobody we can trust,” the king announced. “You will take this path and get to Pandreia as quickly and inconspicuously as possible.”

After hastily covering a few more details, the meeting ended. Everyone agreed it was in their best interest to depart immediately. Everyone filed out the door, except for Kel, whom the king asked to remain.