The Crown of Dusk and Flames

Chapter 5 - Azaroth

The flickering flames of the hearth cast long shadows across the dim study, dancing on the stone walls like specters of the past. The air hung heavy with the scent of ancient tomes and rich, dark wood, an intoxicating blend that enveloped me in the familiar embrace of my sanctuary. Here, in the confines of my private chamber, I stood across from my firstborn, Alaric- a restless storm of ambition and uncertainty. He was a reflection of me in so many ways, yet his resolve wavered like a candle flickering in the draft. Be was my pride. And I know he was also my only possible companion for my plans. For a moment I just watched this shadowy mess of smoke like hair move around his head, mine had already gotten some white strands Seraphina liked to remind me about. I stoped loving her the second we meet. I only used her to gain access to the throne. Now there I stood, being married but blocked away from the throne due to not being a royal lung dragon. What an awful tradition that has always been.. I needed to change that. Rapidly.

"Father,"
Alaric said, his voice a delicate thread of bravado wrapped around an undercurrent of fear.
"What is the plan? I need to understand."
His eyes flickered to the sprawling map laid out on the desk, every inch filled with intricate details of our realm- the Kingdom of Eldoria, a delicate tapestry of floating islands suspended among the clouds, divided sharply between Drakhelm and Valtoria. I took a deep breath, allowing the weight of the moment to settle.
"This world,"
I began, my voice low and hypnotic, manipulating him has always been my favorite activity. I am certain he got that mind from his mother, could not possibly be from me. How disgusting.
"is built upon a façade, Alaric. The humans cling to their treaties and laws, believing they can maintain control. But they are fools, blind to the power that lies dormant beneath the surface."
Alaric leaned in, hunger glistening in his eyes as he tried to unravel the mystery before him. That's what K liked about that boy. He gets me.
"They believe they can maintain peace, but they don't know the depths of our strength. We are destined to rule, aren't we?"
"Exactly,"
I said, a smile curling on my lips, cold and calculating.
"And that is where our advantage lies. The assassins you met tonight are merely the first step in a grand design. They will strike at the heart of the human leadership, eliminating key figures, sowing discord and chaos."
Alaric nodded, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to snap into place, and I could feel his eagerness rising like a tide threatening to swallow a ship.
"But how does this lead to our victory?"
"Chaos breeds opportunity,"
I replied, my voice barely above a whisper, as though sharing a sacred secret.
"When the humans are divided and fighting among themselves, we will launch our assault. The armies of Drakhelm will sweep across Valtoria, and those pitiful humans will fall like wheat before the scythe."
I stepped closer to him, the flickering firelight casting an eerie glow on my face, I let my hair consume more of my body, accentuating the sharp angles and shadows that made me appear more specter than man. I watched as Alaric's breath quickened, caught between fear and an intoxicating thrill. Good. Fear me.

"But there is more to this, Alaric. It is not just about the conquest of Valtoria. It is about the power that comes with it."
He blinked, as if the weight of my words pressed against him, his mind racing.
"What do you mean?"
I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"With the fall of Valtoria, we will not only claim the throne of the humans; we will gain their lands, their resources, and their influence. But most importantly, we will instill fear, the kind that will keep them submissive for generations to come. We will rewrite history, and our reign will echo through time."
A dark thrill danced in Alaric's eyes, but uncertainty still lingered there.
"But what about Evander and Valentina?"
he asked, his voice suddenly urgent, the weight of his siblings' loyalties pressing down on him.
"They can't find out about this. They'll try to stop us."
I straightened, my expression hardening like stone. Valentina has a big mouth, but Evander is the one I feared the most. Or let's not call it feared.. I respected. I was warching him. Studying him. Over all those years I had been pressing my powers and authority down in this boy. But there was always something in him that I just couldn't comprehend. This boy was an open book for me, with a language that I could not understand. But this is where my firstborn should have been a good partner in crime. He was closer to the rest of my children then I was. Not close.. but closer.

"That is why I need you, Alaric. You must become the shadow that guides this plan. We cannot afford any missteps, especially from your siblings. They must believe you are on their side, a loyal son, a protective brother."
"Of course, Father,"
he said, his resolve visibly strengthening.
"I'll do whatever it takes. I can control them, keep them in the dark. They'll never see it coming."
"Good,"
I said, feeling a surge of pride mixed with something darker. "You see, Alaric, power is a game of shadows. You must be willing to do what others will not. The throne is not given; it is taken."
The fire crackled behind me, sending embers spiraling into the air like lost souls escaping the confines of our dark designs. I moved back to the map, tracing my finger along the jagged borders that divided Drakhelm from Valtoria.
"Look at this,"
I said, my voice steady and deliberate.
"These lines, these borders—they are nothing more than lines drawn in the sand. The humans think they can control Eldoria with their treaties and alliances, but their grasp is weak. All it takes is a single act of defiance to unravel it all."
Alaric stared at the map, his expression a mix of fascination and hunger, the thrill of our impending conquest igniting the darkness within him.
"What about the people? The commoners?"
he asked, a flicker of morality breaking through his ambitious haze.
"Won't they fight back?"
I laughed softly, a dark and mirthless sound.
"The commoners? They are but pawns in this game, Alaric. Their lives are a flicker in the grand scheme of power. They will submit to the stronger force, and when we rise, they will either fall in line or be crushed underfoot. Fear will be our ally. We will create a legend of our brutality that will silence any who dare to oppose us."

His eyes glimmered with understanding, the last vestiges of doubt washed away in the tide of ambition.
"I understand now, Father. When the first blood is spilled, we will show them the true power of Drakhelm. They will tremble at the name Ashbourne."
"Yes,"
I affirmed, the satisfaction rolling through me like a wave of heat. I knew about his deep hatred against Evander. Everybody noticed that. And I will use that hate and jealousy for my own benefit.
"And when we seize Valtoria, the throne will be yours. No longer will you linger in Evander's shadow. You will rule, and together, we will expand our empire to consume all of Eldoria."
The thought sent a shiver of delight through me, as intoxicating as the finest wine. I envisioned it- the humans bowing before us, the Ashbourne name rising to heights untold. It would be a reign built on blood and fear, and the world would remember our legacy long after we had faded into myth.

"But what if Evander and Valentina suspect something?" Alaric pressed, a new determination hardening his features.
"What if they start asking questions?"
I stepped back, a calculated glint in my eye.
"That is why you must act carefully. Gain their trust. Draw them into your web of deceit. Evander is too noble for his own good, and Valentina... she is a reckless spark, always seeking the next thrill. Use that against them. Keep them preoccupied while we execute our plan."
As I spoke, I could almost feel the darkness wrapping around us, weaving our fates together. The flickering fire illuminated Alaric's face, revealing a mask of resolve and hunger that mirrored my own. I knew then that he was ready to embrace the shadows, to become a part of the darkness that would soon envelop Eldoria.
"What about Mother. She won't be pleased with a war.. and currently she has the last word."
Alaric tilted his head some and leaned closer to me, almost begging for an answer with his eyes.
"Don't worry about Seraphina. The current Queen will not be a problem for a long time.."
I saw that he understood. He straightened his back again and I saw the twitch of his brows. Uncertaincy. Bad for him. I would get this out of his head eventually.

"Now, go,"
I commanded, my voice laced with authority, and I pointed toward the door, which seemed to grow larger as the weight of our conversation lingered in the air.
"Prepare yourself. We move soon, and I expect you to be ready to play your part. The time for hesitation has passed. You are my heir, Alaric, and you will not fail."
Alaric straightened, the remnants of uncertainty gone, replaced by a fierce determination that ignited his very being.
"I won't let you down, Father. I will keep them in the dark, and when the time comes, I will be ready to take what is rightfully mine."

I watched him leave, the heavy door closing with a resounding thud that echoed through the stillness of the room. Alone again, I turned back to the map, my fingers tracing the borders of our future dominion, feeling the power pulsing beneath my skin. The night outside grew darker, a fitting omen for the storm we were about to unleash upon Eldoria. I could almost hear the cries of war, the clash of steel and the thundering of hooves as our armies surged forth to claim what was ours. The realm would soon know the name Ashbourne as a harbinger of doom, a legacy forged in blood and ambition. With a final glance at the map, I felt a wicked smile spread across my face. The pieces were in place, and the game was set. War was coming, and with it, the promise of ultimate power. I would not rest until the entire realm lay beneath my feet, and all would kneel before the Ashbourne name, terrified of what we had become.