The Dragon Prince

Chapter 23

King Felix Andry

Iron City, Sarkin

I turned around at the sound of the Great Hall doors opening. The room already had several people in it, my parents, Jasper and Josie, Jaymie and Mickaela, even Leticia and Cyrus, so I was confused as to who would enter. "Raleigh." I laughed, recognizing instantly my youngest brother in my family. I walked over and hugged him, happy to see him after being away for months. Occasionally we would get a letter, letting us know he was still alive, but no one saw him. He was different now. His blue eyes now gray, and the dark circles gave away his lack of sleep. He no longer stood tall with pride, but hunched slightly from exhaustion and hopelessness. I slowly began to wonder if this was what it was like for Marina, or anyone who had come out searching for me, Raleigh included. The only difference was they didn't know who took me, but we know who took Elleana. The Reapers. The same group who was hired to kidnap me and take me to another hired group. Did they do the same to Elleana? Was she targeted by them specifically, or were they hired? If so, why take her? Unless the rebels wished to turn her against us? Use her against us?

After a few seconds of embrace he pulled back, with a serious expression and a flat tone. "Nikolas and Tom are leading the rebellion here. They will be here at dawn. We might be able to hold off the rebellion until help arrives." I stared at him for a few seconds, hoping and praying that this was a joke. We had only just arrived back home not a few hours before. This must have been their plan. To attack when either we were away, or when we had just returned and couldn't prepare. After the incident, I stayed only long enough to see Derrick married, and left the next morning. I didn't want to test fate, but it seems that fate has other plans.

Tomas Wells stepped forward. I hadn't seen him enter behind Raleigh, but I registered him now, and I have seen that the months away have taken its toll on him as well. As far as I knew, Elleana's whereabouts were still unknown. I do not know what I would do if Jaymie was ever taken away from me. I would stop at nothing. "You can try, You're Majesty, but my sources also say that their forces are so massive that they are splitting, directing them in all different direction. Your allies are targets as well."

I shook my head. "Impossible." No one army could go after that many allies. However, I began to realize that it wasn't just one army. It was many, whether they were together or not. Several stronghold leaders in the entire realm have been caught and labeled traitors, but that was just a few to the supposed masses. Each stronghold has an army, not to mention the other villages. Each village would have strong men and women who would want to defend their village if their stronghold couldn't, or be corrupted to fight. Who knows how many soldiers Tom and Nikolas could have corrupted.

Tomas shook his head. "Not impossible. Quite clever actually. Going to war with your allies in their own cities, and not allowing them to come aid you in yours. They are cutting you off from help."

I sighed, closing my eyes and shaking my head. "They can't defeat us all, but what they can do is distract them, while the real war is taking place." I turned around, looking to Jasper. "Send out a message to our allies. Tell them not to come here, but to protect their own cities."

Jasper shook his head, with a worrisome scowl. "We can't defeat an army by ourselves."

"We are not by ourselves." I shrugged. "We have our dragons. It is a very dangerous risk, but it will be one that we will have to take." I glanced between my parents, Josie, Jasper and Raleigh. Azurean would still be with Aohlee, and where ever she is, I hoped she is safe. "However, I will not force you to make that risk. It must be your decision. Emerask will fight. We are stronger now and he has doubled in size since my return."