Something Immortal

30: The House of Rosenkrantz Part Five

Vegard Rolf Alsgaard lay in his bed of fur, dreaming. Not until the sun burned through the window, infusing the light timber and flesh colors of his chamber in a milky glow did he open his eyes. The surrounding was quiet and serene, a stark contrast to his dream that was filled with blood and celebration. Yesterday, grave news had welcomed him back, returning to the Valor Watch, the stronghold where the bloodline of the hydra clan resides.

In the courtyard of the palatial residence was a boiling pool, and steamed of coolness floated in the coolness of the winter morning. Vegard stared down at this pool and gazed at his own reflection. Just like all the other draconian with regal bloodlines, Vegard was blessed with handsome features, jewel-like eyes fringed with long lashes, and thick, unruly eyebrows. A chiseled face with stubble and a few days' growth of beard made his overall steely appearance too much to behold.

Displeased by both the current state of affairs mixed with his failure and the fact that the date of Sigurd's crowning was coming soon, he waved his hand, and the steam cleared away, only to be replaced with something more frightening than his upcoming sentence.

"You fail me..."

Vegard's heart almost stopped beating. Though he expected his presence, he didn't think it would be this soon. "My Lord—"

The handsome draconian in dark blue robes raised his head in a smile, looking at his face across thousands of miles. "I've given you plenty of chances, Vegard. I only asked you to delay Sigurd's crowning, and you couldn't even do that."

Though the words coming from his mouth were venom, he didn't look that part. His countenance and even his expression were amused, delighted even. It was quite problematic to understand whether he was disappointed or simply infuriated.

But Vegard was also mad, for he found it unfair that this young master was in a place safe from the punishment of the draconian race while he did all the work for years. "I did what you asked! I couldn't possibly hold that child's right to take over the crown. And you did nothing for me!"

The corner of the young lord's mouth curved upward, yet his eyes went cold. He stood up from his throne, walking close to the pool as though he was physically there. Vegard found himself stepping backward, and the fear on his face was evident despite trying to fight this.

"My intelligence tells me that the diplomat of the hydra clan is hidden in one of the territories of the erinyes. By the first day of the month of awakening, should you fail to assassinate him, he would stand as a witness at the magistrate, and you will be executed."

"But Lord!"

"I would help you escape, only if you get me the keys to the Dragontooth," the master spoke.

Vegard shook, "The—the Dragontooth?! No other draconian has ever stepped foot on that place unless you're the Dragon Emperor. There was not even a map to it. What makes you think there is a key?!"

"Oh, there is," said the other playfully, sharpening his nails with a bone of an unknown fauna. "There is one key that can be found in the vault of treasures of the Dragon Emperor. That key opens the entrance to the Dragontooth's dungeon and that one special prison that housed a very special prisoner."

Vegard was outraged. "I'm not that foolish enough to try and steal something from the vault of the Dragon King and be cursed for ten years!" This was a known creed that any draconian who dared steal from their emperor should be cursed for ten years and would automatically be an outcast.

"Only when you get caught..."

"Even so!"

"Then, have it your way. You're a dead man, anyway."