The Dragon King's Servant: Rise of the Daemon King

Chapter Twenty: The Seer

Kelly had walked into the dining hall, followed by Maalceus. While Maalceus was wearing his typical apparel of black pants and shirt, under a flowing black robe which had garnet and citrine stones sewn into the fabric, giving it the familiar look of his daemonic dragon form; Kelly looked stunning. Wearing a strapless slimming dress of yellow and orange, she walked in front of Maalceus who was just as eager to see their son.

Maaltaire, the same height as his father and looking like a carbon copy, had stood up and met his parents. Kelly wrapped her arms around their son, followed by Maalceus who wrapped them both in a huge embrace. Maaltaire had missed his parents. He had been away from home for extended periods of time in the past. Having trained with the Vervanian army had taken four straight months out on the borders.

Learning tactics, strategies and combative prowess. However, spending months with politicians who were just as blood thirsty as some of the foreign kingdoms. He had a duty to do. His job was the chief administration of politics and foreign relations which often sent him away from time to time. Sometimes for a few weeks, other times for a few months. After Maaltaire had briefed his parents on the happenings of the meeting with the royals, the entire group moved to walk the palace, showing Lucian what had changed.

All the while, Maaltaire picked at Lucian's brain trying to learn all that he could from his uncle who in turn was learning about his nephew. Melanie and Kelly walked side by side as the newly acquainted uncle and nephew spoke at length.

"Is it true that you killed the entire Vikara army in a single attack?" Maaltaire asked.

"What? Don't believe your father's telling of it?" Maalceus asked.

Lucian chuckled and nodded.

"Yes, though knowing what we do now, I think that wouldn't have been nearly as easy if they hadn't planned on dying." Lucian replied. "It was a poor tactical strike by my hand."

"Hang on. I thought you did it to support the army and prevent a war from breaking out?" Maaltaire asked.

"Which is true. However, it also led to a brutal overtaking and breach that might not have happened if I hadn't-"

"Stop." Maalceus said, voice deep. "The kingdom pulled together because of what happened."

"How many had to die for that to happen though?" Lucian asked. "Too many." He answered, not waiting for his brother to reply.

"What about your dragon form? Is it really a big as dad's?" Maaltaire asked.

Lucian glanced at his brother who glanced away, pretending to have taken interest in something far off in the distance. Lucian smirked and shook his head.

"What of your form? I have yet to see it-" he glanced back at the two Drakkon ladies, "-which also goes for you two. I would very much like a demonstration of yours as well."

"Our what?" Kelly asked.

"The king here has requested demonstrations of draconic forms." Maalceus said.

"Oh! Yeah I hadn't thought about that." Melanie smiled, "you never did see mine."

"Nope and I think it is high time I do."

*****

Lord Elkwood moved out from the main hut that sat in the center of the village. Several dozen elven children ran around the village, their blonde, brown, tan and green hair flowed behind them in a variety of weaves. They wore flowing clothing that matched the woodlands surrounding them. The children all ranged from seven years old to fifteen. All of them paused and bowed their heads to the lord of Elkwood village. When he bobbed his head back, they continued their playful running.

Lord Elkwood watched them for another moment before he made his way across the village and stopped at the base of a grandmother tree. It was easily twenty arm lengths around and had been carved into a massive spire. Two elven guards posted outside the open doorway leading up to the tree. Like him, they had long blonde hair, bright green eyes and wore swords at their backs and bows strung over their chest.

They watched him warily, knowing that he had business with the grand elder of the village.

"I seek an audience with the seer." Lord Elkwood said.

The guards waited, eyes unfocused as they recieved word from the grand elder. Looking like husks, empty and lifeless, the two guards stood silent. Faces slack and expressions removed of all emotion. Then, without warning, their eyes snapped to focus on lord Elkwood who had said nothing for long moments.

"The seer will have you." One guard said.

"Make haste. Much hangs in the balance." The other guard added.

Lord Elkwood nodded and moved past them. The core of the tree had been sculpted into a spiraled staircase that went up one hundred steps. Every fifth step had a cluster of glowing toadstool mushrooms that illuminated the otherwise dark corridor of the hollowed out tree. He moved up the staircase, taking each step slowly. It was part of the ritual to ascend the way to the seer. Skipping or missing a step was both a mindless and careless insult to the seer who had spent decades to get to the path.

As lord Elkwood reached the top, he found himself at the entry way leading into a hollowed out chamber. Sitting on a cushion of weaved fabric and vines was the grand elder. A woman of immaculate beauty who looked no older than thirty but was well into her sixth century of life.

"Sit. We have much to speak about."