Dragonborne

Chapter 2

Steel. Everywhere.

From the gates, to the arcs, and even up to the walls of the palace. It was all steel.

We walked through the main gate, the only opening on the outermost wall. And when there's an outermost wall, there's the innermost wall which is just beyond a moat. A drawbridge was lowered.

"Careful not to fall over." The Prince warned as he crossed the bridge I walk in stride with my parents as we cross the drawbridge. I flinched in surprise as a little hand takes mine.

"What's down there, sis?" Nathan, my nine year old cousin, said. His hands clutching mine.

"I would love to never find it out," I replied. Nathan's parents, my father's sister and brother in-law died in a skirmish between the Dragons and the Faeries a few years back when Nathan was still a baby. Since then, he has been under my family's care and thinks that I'm his sister. "You'd love that too." I heard him giggle childishly.

After crossing the drawbridge,  the whole caravan was then led into the castle. Upon entering, we found ourselves in a wide space with the floor decorated with the sigil of the Palace of War, a red Dragon shooting flames into the sky.

"I'll leave it to you to arrange the goods meant for Dragonfang." The Prince said. "When you are done, feel free to enter the throne room and present the goods to me." And he went up on the grand staircase, disappearing into the second floor.

"This place is huge." Nathan exclaims. "We could play tag here all day long. Are we going to live here?"

"No, silly." I replied. I have to admit though, this place is impressive. But still made of steel. "It's quite hot, though."

"Because of the steel everywhere." My mother sad. "In this summer, this house could feel like the inside of an oven."

"Let's move to the throne room." My father said. Some of my distant.cousins are already carrying crates. "Hopefully, it'll be much cooler there."

The throne room was stupefying. Usually, a throne room would be an actual room, with four walls. However, Prince Aeon's throne room was very much different. There was no wall behind the throne. My mouth was agape when I saw that single detail. And it was cooler there.

The Prince must've noticed my reaction because he looked at me and a grin flashed on his face. He stood up and addressed us formally.

"What is it that you have delivered now." The Prince said after the formalities of introduction. Father gestured and my cousins opened the crates. Nathan, my mother, and I stood aside.

I saw that the crates contained mostly steel. I'm feeling fed up of looking at the dull, gray, and lusterless material, I've had enough of looking at that thing.

"This, my Prince, is what you have requested." My father went before the throne and presented an open treasure chest containing something that glows with a blue light. "This is all that we could mine at the moment. But should you wish to acquire more, then we cannot promise to procure another as much as this."

I craned my neck to see what it was inside the chest. Surely, it couldn't be that big. The treasure chest was no more bigger than a garden pot. I am tempted to ask my father from where I'm standing but I caught a look from my mother, prompting me to stay put.

"This'll be enough." The Prince said with a smile akin to a nobleman given the title of High King. "I am very much grateful for your effort in acquiring this. I am in your families' debt."

For a Prince to go as far as feel indebted to a merchant family. I am officially curious as to what was that thing.

-oOo-

Dinner was held in the castle's banquet hall. The long table was occupied by a variety of dishes. But it was dominated by the roasted war hog, that single thing occupied a half of the long table. The roasted hog itself was even taller than me when standing.

"War hogs are quite common in this region of the kingdom." The Prince said. "Fact is, they're so common that we keep half of the hunt as food while the other half to train as war animals."

"This one... it's huge." I said. I've seen war hogs before but not as big as this, not even close. Also, I spoke out of turn.

The Prince turns his attention to me. "I see that you have brought your daughter with you, Lord Felix. What is your name young lady?"

"Feyre is my name, noble prince." I replied. Slightly embarassed for speaking out of turn.

"Yes," my father said. "She is my daughter. And it'll be her first time to be out of Dragonheart. I have always wanted for her to see the rest of the kingdom. It has been quite peaceful lately so I took the chance."

It's true. My father has always wanted to take our whole family all around the kingdom. But the Prince may have tuned out that part.

"How old is your daughter?" Prince Aeon asked my father. I had to make a conscious effort to stop myself from saying something.

A rumor has been going all around the kingdom that Prince Aeon is looking for a wife. The Prince talking to my father about me...could this be why my father brought me here? Not just to travel but to marry me off?

No, I refuse to think about it.

"She is sixteen years of age," my father answered.

"Ah," the Prince sounded as if he was contemplating something. "The same age as our youngest brother."

"Yes, your brother." My father said. "I heard that he's here in the city."

"Yes," the Prince took a sip from his goblet. "Though he is on one of the outposts along the wall."

My heart skipped a beat in relief. Finally, the conversation was redirected to the youngest member of the royal family, Prince Levi.

"Oh, I see." My father said. "I'm hoping that this period of peace will stay for long."

"Mmhmm," the Prince said. "We are still at war, though. And..." he trailed off when a man dressed as a messenger approached the Prince. The messenger whispered something to the Prince. A look of fear marked the Prince's fair features but it was quickly masked by the Prince's calm demeanour.

Everyone shifted uncomfortably on their seats but said nothing. Something is apparently wrong but it is not our place as guests to pry or inquire about it.

But apparently, children don't really understand that concept. "Is something wrong, fair Prince?" Nathan casually asked Prince Aeon.

"There is actually," the Prince said, his features struggling to stay calm. "Excuse me, but I have some thing to attend to. Your accomodations have already been arranged. You'll be staying here in my palace. The city is no place for nobles like yourselves to stay in." With that, he left.