The Dragon Tree

Royalty

Royalty

Tonka rose. He turned and store at the beasts dead eye.

Why today? Why come back after 100 years of peaceful times? Why today?

His thoughts where broken by screams. Tonka looked at the hill the castle rested upon. Vanessa. He ran to the hill top and whistled. Cail came at his call. Tonka mounted and rode off. He passed the other Kian people. He headed for the cellar. It was open. He rode back to the castle doors. Vanessa was laying over a corpse.

Tonka dismounted. Men where trying to pull Vanessa off the corpse. Tonka crouched down to her level. He looked at her and at the corpse. Gold armor. White cape. He ripped Vanessa off her grip. He looked and his heart sunk so deeply into his chest it would take forever for it to get back.

His father laid dead. His golden armor covered in his own blood. Most pieces were broken. Others were ripped off. Tonka lowered his head to his father's chest piece. He lifted his head up and threw it back to face the sky. He screamed. And continued to scream. Tears dripping from Vanessa's face. He never cared for his step mom but she was beautiful. He knew she made Kosmin happy and that's all that mattered.

Tonka grabbed Kosmin's helmet and stood up. Staring at where his father's face should be. He let the helmet roll of his fingers. He dropped to his knees again grabbed his father's sword. He stabbed it into the ground. He placed the helmet on the swords grip. Tonka stared at the helmet and then stood up once more.

Vanessa stared and so did everyone else. He walked off and paused at the gate.

"Burn the beast. Keep the claws and fangs. We eat the heart, no dragon shall attack the Dragon Heart eaters." He walked forward. No one followed. No one spoke. The soldiers listened and ran past him. Tonka walked forward and it began to rain. He looked up at the sky and then walked faster. He whistled. Cail trotted up to him and came to a stop. He mounted and rubbed the side of the horse.

Smooth and wet. The black coating was smooth and wet. He patted the horse lightly in front of the saddle. Cail began a slow trot. Tonka swung his cape over to the side of Cail. The rain picked up and thunder began.

Not the Thundering Roars and Thundering Stomps.

Just plain thunder. It was more peaceful.

Cail finally got to the edge of Kia. The treeline that began the vast unconquered territory. He stopped and snorted. Tonka reassured the horse. Patting his side and rubbing him.

They trotted together. His armor tapping together. Tonka squeezed the horses side lightly and Cail picked up speed.

For years Tonka and Cail had taken this route. Today it had new meaning. His sadness turned to rage. Any dragon willing to take on the warriors of Kai and kill the king of Kai will go through him first. He will not go out without a fight. I will avenge my father.

They finally got to the edge where a large oak tree waited for them. He dismounted. And walked up to the tree.

Tonka climbed to the top. He reached the highest and sturdiest branch of the tree. He sat on it and looked at the carving. Elder Kosmin and Lord Tonka. The future of Kia.

Tonka ran his thumb over the words. He wrote this when he was 7. Kosmin promised the throne to him. Until he married Vanessa. Then her first born would be the eire to the throne. And she was pregnant. He took out a wooden pipe his father gave him for good luck. He climbed down with it. Tonka lightly placed the wooden pipe at the base of the tree and mounted Cail. They rode back to Kai. They must have been their for a while because the moon was near setting. And the dragon was already almost done burning.

He dismounted and patted Cail to walk off. He headed up to the castle. Kosmin's body was removed. But his helmet and sword was still there. Tonka walked inside. He brushed off his armor. The cape still damp so he unclipped the links. The cape fell behind him. He wasn't like Vanessa who would have the maids pick up when they saw it. He picked it up and rested it on the stairwell.

"Coralie!" Tonka yelled.

"Yes Sir Tonka?" A young maiden called from above the stairs, probably cleaning Vanessa's room.

"My cape is a little wet. When it stops raining would you be so kind to set it out to dry?" Tonka placed a gold coins in side the cape. Coralie will find it he reassured himself.

"Yes Tonka. Oh I believe they are expecting you in the meeting hall." The maiden walked out of Vanessa's room. Her sleek blonde hair pulled into a bun. She was wearing a shade of lipstick that she stole from Vanessa which made Tonka laugh. Her blue eyes meet his. She was a kind lady. She always looked out for Tonka. She knew not to talk about Kosmin. Especially now.

"Thank you Coralie." He headed for the meeting hall. Yeah a meeting to determine king until Vanessa gives birth.

He opened the doors ever so slightly he peered through. Everyone went silent. Kosmin's crown placed in the center of the table. Tonka stared at it then took his seat and continued to stare.

"Tonka." Sire Lucius spoke. "Son of Kosmin. And first born with the blood of kings."

Tonka stood and bowed graciously. No one bowed back. "Yes Sire Lucius?"

"Vanessa has not yet birthed the child for the throne. And the child will not be the first born. It will not have the blood of... A Dragon Killer." Lucius changed Kings to Dragon killer for a reason. Why? Why change the title? I have only killed one dragon. Not multiple. I am not a king either. That pathetic child will be. "You are the eire to the throne. You are Lord Tonka." Everyone bowed. Even Vanessa. Tonka stood. Shocked. A new crown was given to him. Made of Rubies, not gold. Covered in Black, not white. The banners hanging around the hall had been covered with Ruby and Black ones.

Lord Tonka will rise. Lord Tonka. Lord Tonka.

It had a nice ring to it. Everyone was seated. Tonka staid standing he drew his sword and laid the tip of it on his father's crystal jewel. "I, Sir Tonka, accept the place as King. I shall defend Kia. Not just the town but the people. With my life, my soul and my last breath."

Everyone pushed their chairs back and knelt. "All hail Lord Tonka. All hail Lord Tonka." It echoed throughout the hall.

Lord Tonka.