Prince of Dragons

Chapter 48 - New journeys

Arwund and Enorwin were riding through the grassy hills of Dracherwold, the wind rustling through their hair. It was springtime; clouds dotted the blue sky and the sun was shining for the first time in weeks. The temperature was comfortable and the plants, flowers and trees were regaining their colour.

Castle Dracherwold appeared in sight. After duke Hadufried had surrendered, it had quickly become the centre of a new, peaceful Dracherwold. The old wounds of its citizens were beginning to heal. Life was returning to these once-dead lands.

Arwund smiled. All had ended so well. Darfith had been defeated, peaceful uprisings all over the country had removed its oppressive rulers from power, dragon's fever had stopped as quickly as it had appeared. After Enorwin had fought Darfith with the help of his friends, the group had returned to the Flaming Lands, where earl Raynnard had given his support to the Dracherwold revolt and officially pardoned Arwund. Amahilda, the woman Arwund had met during the rebellion, had been crowned the new duchess of Dracherwold. Vaciana and Maréin were working with her to rebuild the duchy; Bedreigh had been named commander of the guard there.

"Wanna see who gets there first?" Arwund asked, looking at Enorwin.

The prince grinned. "Sure."

They urged on their horses, galloping up the hill leading to the castle. Arwund seemed to be winning at first... but then Enorwin's mare Jessia caught up with him. As they approached the drawbridge, the prince proved to be the superior rider. One after the other, the two crossed the bridge, the guards looking after them in surprise.

As they descended from their horses in the courtyard, both of them laughing, Amahilda, Bedreigh, Vaciana and Maréin appeared. They were all smiling; all seemed happy. And all of them, even Maréin, were clean and wore new clothes. They'd washed of the dirt of their adventure.

"We're so glad you could come!" Amahilda said. "I wanted us all to get together. Two very special people have arrived."

The four stepped aside, clearing a path in front of the door they had come through. The door was opened. At first, a woman stepped out, middle-aged in appearance. Then a man, about the same age, with bright red hair. They both smiled proudly.

Arwund's eyes widened in amazement. He shook his head in disbelief as a wide grin spread across his face. He hurried towards them.

"Mom! Dad!"

He embraced them.

At first, he was filled with happiness. But suddenly, something began to feel off. It was a gut feeling.

"Arwund?" Maréin asked him. "When did you grow scales?"

Arwund immediately let go off his parents. They were still smiling proudly at their son.

He looked at his hands. They'd become claws, draconic claws, covered in pitch-black scales.

"Don't worry, son," his mother said. "You'll grow used to it. You are just discovering who you really are."

And now Arwund noticed that his dad, too, now had scales, golden ones. His face had got longer, his mouth turning into the maw of a dragon. "This is you, Arwund," he emphasised, still smiling as only dragons could smile. "Turn around."

Heart throbbing, Arwund did as his father said. The sky had darkened; a thunderstorm was beginning to rumble. The courtyard was now filled with fire, flames blazing all across it, scorching the stone walls. People were running around in panic. Several of them were on fire. He saw his friends: Bedreigh was lying dead, sword in hand; Enorwin was standing in a corner, staring, paralysed, at his hands, which were bloody; Vaciana was trying, but failing, to fight off an entire group of attackers with her bare hands; Maréin was wailing uncontrollably at the sight of it all - and Amahilda stood at the centre of the courtyard, hands outstretched towards Arwund, and cried, "You promised you'd defend us!"