Dragonborne

Chapter 10

When the Princess said that I am to speak with her at her palace, I once again prepared myself to see another interpretation of the word palace.

Though I did expect it to be glamorous. After all, Dragonscale is the city of fashion and clothing.

My expectations weren't for naught this time. Princess Celestia's palace was indeed worthy of being called a palace.

Gold and white were the dominating colors. The two colors that I never saw on the city itself. The city was more on red, blue, and orange. I walked past the golden gates of the palace and entered the castle.

"Welcome to the Palace of Thousand Suns." Princess Celestia from the top floor's terrace. "I'll have my servants lead you to my reading room." And she disappeared back into the second floor. I looked at the servant and he nodded at me and he led me to the hallway to our right.

A few doors down, I saw a door chained. "What's in here?" I asked. The servant just gave me a furtive look and gestured for me to go on.

The servant pushed the door open and I saw the most extravagant reading room. Floor to ceiling windows were before a two-person table, a tea set brimmed with gold was on it. Everything was hued gold and white. A chandelier that seemed to be glowing with stars, though it was unlit, was hanging at the center of the room.

"This tea set is from your father," Princess Celestia said. "I have acquired it through some rigorous bidding. I must say, your father has an eye for exquisite items and does not part with them easily. Take a seat."

I nodded and took a seat opposite the Princess. I didn't mention how insensitive she was when she brought up a memory of my father that I so remembered him well for. I was about to speak when a servant entered and poured us some tea.

"Let me do the talking, if you don't mind." The Princess adjusted herself on her seat. "You seem to be the type of person who'd appreciate honesty rather than beating around the bush, so let me bury the hatchet. Your parents were not just assassinated by a single individual but by an organization, a cult, a gathering, or whatever you wish to call a group of people with the same beliefs."

Suddenly, the sunlight from the setting sun coming through the gigantic glass window became dull. "What is this organization called?"

"They call themselves the Red Party." The Princess took a sip of her tea. "They claim themselves to be the third party in this war between Dragons and Faeries. Though as far as we have observed, their actions are just random."

"And they murdered my parents." I said. As of now, that's what the only action that matters.

"You must feel very vengeful, Lady Corvette." Lady Corvette sounded sympathetic, it made me feel pitiful. "I, too, hold a grudge against them."

"What did they do?"

"They killed a sister of mine."

"Oh." I haven't heard about this sister of theirs. "I'm sorry."

"I bet that you haven't heard about that one," the Princess heaved a sigh. "She was supposed to be younger than Levi by just a few months. Practically twins, so to speak." Princess Celestia took another sip from her tea. "So, how do you plan on taking your vengeance? Many have turned too old to die young in their pursuit of vengeance."

"Doesn't matter." I said, resolutely. "It doesn't matter when it takes my whole lifetime to take revenge, because my whole lifetime wouldn't be worth living if let my parent's murderesrs slip past."

"But haven't you thought that they may have a bigger end game planned?" The Princess said

"No. Have you?"

The Princess remained silent. "Not really. I have said what I want to say. Know that I am very much open to aid you in your pursuit for vengeance. You may leave now."

"Thank you, Fair Princess." I said.

-oOo-

I found the tavern when it was already late. I wasn't in the mood to speak. And most of all, I was never on the mood to accept pity, especially from a Princess.

I recalled my talk with Princess Celestia to Alyse as quickly as I can. Then I crawled on my bed and fell asleep. And when I was deeply sleeping, I dreamed.

My surroundings were pitch black except for a straight path, a hallway actually. I tried looking at what's at the end of this hallway but it seemed endless. With that thought in mind, I walked forward.

After a several I came upon a door, the door was quite familiar. Then I heard a piercing shriek of pain and terror harmonizing in perfect pitch. I pushed the door opened.

The door led to my parent's bedroom, where I saw them dead, and that very scene was replaying before me again. But perhaps a few moments backwards.

Instead of seeing my parents with their slit throat and dead eyes, I saw the murderer. Actually, I'm seeing his back, he is unmistakably male. And he was wrapping a barbed wire around my father's throat. My mother was screaming. I tried to rush forward but I can't.

My father slumped a few seconds later, dead. The murderer then moved on to my mother, he wrapped the barbed thing around mother and killed her. But not before my mother hit the hood of his cloak, revealing the murderer's face.

It was only for a moment but it was all it took for me to remember.

The next morning I woke up knowing the murderer's face. I am now one step closer to my revenge.