Calradian Chronicles: Coming Darkness

Chapter 4: Answers

Argoron, capital of the Calradian Empire

Drosios once again withdrew the burning blade from the man's body. Watching the assassin wimped in pain as the sword was pulled from his chest.

Drosios:
I will ask you one last time. Who sent you?

Assassin:
Comnos! It was Archon Phelien Comnos! He wants to take the throne for himself.

Drosios then plunges the sword into the cauldron of water, cooling the blade.

Drosios:
Lock him away.

Drosios walks away as the two guards take hold of the assassin and drag him back to his cell. Drosios turns to Vadrios, who had been the shadows throughout the entire interrogation.

Drosios:
You know you didn't have to sit through that, son.

Vadrios:
But I did. What you did was an act you must commit as the emperor, and as heir to the Calradian Empire, I must act upon it as well.

Drosios:
That is very good, son. Now we must tell your mother of this.

Drosios and Vadrios then exit the dungeon, descending up the stairs. Upon their arrival, Rhegaea waited for them in n the great hall.

Rhegaea:
Have you found who sent those men?

Drosios:
We have, it was Archon Phelian Comnos.

Rhegaea:
I can't believe him, Phelian has been nothing but loyal to us for the past twenty years.

Drosios:
That is true, but we both know what time can do to a man. If he desires the throne, I fear this may lead to a war.

Rhegaea:
If it does, we can't keep Presciana or Alea here. It's not safe. We will send them to Sturgia, I'm sure they will be safe there.

Drosios nervously rests his arms on the wall as he becomes depressed. Vadrios and Rhegaea attempted to run towards him, but he spoke before either of them could.

Drosios:
One by one, I'm forced to send my children away. I only hope I'm doing the right thing.

Vadrios:
Of course you are, father. You must keep them safe, so we must send them away.

Drosios:
I suppose so, send a raven to Prince Harald Gundaraving, make him aware of our daughters' arrival. Rhegaea, inform them about this.

Rhegaea left the room while Drosios began writing a letter to the Sturgians. Rhegaea approached the hall and found Presciana and Alea in the hallway. The two turned towards their mother, who seemed worried.

Alea:
Did you find out who sent those men to kill us?

Rhegaea:
We did, and unfortunately, it was a traitor in our midst. In case this is to lead to a war, you two will be sent to Sturgia.

Presciana:
What? Mother, we can still fight! You don't have to send us away.

Rhegaea:
I wish you two could stay, but it's not safe here anymore. You will be staying with Prince Harald Gundaraving, he will foster you both until this threat passes.

Alea:
I don't want to go, mother.

Rhegaea:
It won't be long, no more than a few months. We will bring you both back before you know it.

Presciana and Alea left to prepare for their departure to Sturgia. Later that day, the two ride on horseback, along with Rhegaea and a battalion of imperial guards marching along side them. Drosios somberly waved from the steps as he watched the departure of his wife and daughters.

Vadrios:
You know it's alright, father.

Drosios:
I suppose, I just hope we can stop this war before it has begun.

Drosios once again entered the palace, now accompanied by Vadrios. Looking out a window, Drosios looked to the large marble statue in the middle of the city.

Drosios:
Vadrios, do you remember where you got your name?

Vadrios:
Of course, from our ancestor, Emperor Vadrios I Nebranos, the founder of our dynasty.

Drosios:
Yes, but do you know how it was he truly managed to reunite the Empire? When the barbarians split the empire into a three-way dispute, he was born the son of merchants, yet he could lead so many diverse people into reuniting the empire.

Vadrios:
He was truly a good man.

Drosios:
He was, but now there is a coming war, one we must stop before it has begun.

Drosios sets down at a table and takes a parchment and quill. Using the quill, he writes: I, Drosios of house Nebranos, emperor of the Calradian Empire, call King Amorcon dey Meroc to a battle on Jalmarys. A war must end before it has started. He signed the letter, and rolled it up.

Vadrios:
This will work. With King Amorcon's army combined with ours, we are sure to stop this.

Drosios:
That is true, but we must begin training the soldiers, we march for Jalmarys in two days time.

Drosios attaches the letter to a raven and sends it to Vlandia. Drosios and Vadrios walk away and towards the training field. The emperor only hopes that this threat can be prevented.

To be continued