Dragon Diary

Entry 40: Royal Adviser

Hello Diary,
At first I was afraid. I did not understand why the king would still want me to take the job. For all he knew I was a spy for my father or I could be under his control. Of course I wasn't, but Cand should not trust me.

Wait, what am I saying? Why would I want him to loose his faith in me? He is the only dragon who has really cared about me. He is my true father. That single thought made my hesitation falter.

"Yes sir! I will do it. I will do whatever it takes to protect Angoleth from my father's evil. But, why? Why do you want someone like me as your second?"

I felt silly after I asked. I felt like a newborn whelp without a clue to what I need to do. Then my mind thought of the last dragon to hold the Royal Adviser position.

Kram...
I had not known him very well. He had been secretive and powerful. He knew a lot of the Ancient Language and some powerful dark magic spells. I gulped back my shocking thoughts. Maybe I am more like Kram then Gaelon. That thought somehow made me cringe even worse then thoughts of Gaelon himself. Gaelon I knew, Kram was mysterious.

My thoughts were cut off when Cand gave me a loving smile, then leaned his head closer to nuzzle my shoulder.

"Why not you? Look how clever and powerful you are, and only just a whelp. I do not know anyone more perfect for the job." He said proudly. He gave me a wink and smiled even wider. "By the time you come of age imagine how powerful you will be? You will be able to beat me in a dual for sure. You have your father's strength and my determination. Mind you, I won't be easy to defeat, nor will I go easy on you when you start training."

I smiled big. It was the first heartfelt smile I had in a long while.

"For now, you look like you need good rest. I will have Arod show you to your new chamber. I must go tell everyone that your home." By the look in his eye, I knew he was a proud father who had found his lost son. How could I have left him the way I did?

He slowly left the room and I could tell he was hesitant to leave my side. When he finally scurried away Cyra let out a tired groan.

"I really am glad you are safe. I hope you didn't get the wrong idea, I was just shocked. I could not believe that a tiny whelp like you could survive for so long on your own. He is right to offer you such a position. You will do great things for Angoleth, little dragon." She said with a smile. I think it may be the first time she has ever smiled at me. I smiled right back and gave her a nod.

"I will make Cand proud of me," I said to her.

She gave me a nod but then both our attention was drawn to the entryway as Arod trotted in. He gave Cyra a shy nod in greeting but was then running over to engulf my body with his hug.

"Ruinar!! Oh am I glad you are home." He said with relief flooding over him. His green body had overtaken my own as he hugged me and let happy tears run down his face.

Once he let me breathe again I gave him a tired smile and hugged him back. "Arod, I am happy to see you too." I said, trying to fight back a flood of my own tears.

"You look exhausted, hop on my back. I will take you to your new room." He offered politely. He really must have missed me cause he never let me ride on him before. How could I say no?

It was a good thing too. I expected him to take me downstairs to the servants rooms, or even on the third floor warriors quarters, but he continued up to the top. The level reserved for the royal family and guests.

I gulped as I noticed the golden statues and marbled floors. Had I really gone from a room in the servants quarters below the Palace to a luxury suit on the top floor?

This felt strange and unnatural. I do not feel like a king, but I guess I am now the adviser of one.

My heart started pounding even harder as Arod took me down a long shimmering hallway. It looked different on this floor from when my father was king. It was bright, happy and glowing. My excitement was peaking when he stopped in front of a huge door. The outside of it had a golden plaque that read 'Royal Adviser'.

Arod confidently walked inside and my jaw literally dropped at the sight of the room we walked into. It was a huge study, like a private library with a desk and chair for working. There was a fireplace off on one wall, a huge bookshelf on another, and in the far right corner was another entryway into an inner chamber.

"Holly crap! This room is amazing. How is one little tiny me supposed to happily live up here while the rest of you cram in those rooms below?"

Arod started to laugh and slowly carried me into the second doorway that led to the bed chamber, my bed chamber.

"You are just like Cand. He says the same thing, almost every night in fact... Truthfully you deserve to have your own little piece of privacy. You have been through a lot, or have you forgotten about all the shit Gaelon put you through?" Arod said.

I could sense some anger building in him and I was resisting my urge to break into his mental barrier. I could probably guess why he was mad at me without reading his mind. I had told him I was going into exile, not into the den of our former king. He was mad because I lied to him.

"I try to forget it Arod. I try to forget that I have killed but I can't. My own pain and suffering is nothing compared to the killing. Today I added three more deaths to my growing murder count. How many more will I need to kill? Probably countless more as time goes on. I hope it might get easier to cope with." I snarled in my tired anger. I think the fatigue was getting to me.

I decided that my tiredness was more pressing than my curiosity about the room. I could investigate later.

I jumped from Arod's back onto the huge flat mattress bed. I was tiny on it but it made me feel safe, even with the big open window in the wall to my left.

It was one of those big windows for flying in and out of, one I had always wanted. I squirmed with excitement as I tried to settle on the bed.

"Arod, bring me all the books you can find about Royal Advisers. I have some job learning to do when I wake up."

(Whoa, what a room huh? Above I shared a drawing I did of the dragon Palace's floor plan. The image was done for my book Angoleth's Sacrifice. Until the next chapter...)