Dragon Diary

Looming Dread

Eira's POV

As much as I wanted to be happy to see my brother's dark blue face and familiar blue eyes, I also knew the reasons my mate had sent him to exile. It could not be a coincidence that he showed up while my mate was away.

"Brother? I am surprised to see you here." I said to him cautiously. He smiled at me and I saw his eyes slowly move to look at Ruinar, still in my arms.

Ruinar's own emerald colored eyes were wide in shock. I had almost forgotten that Kram had saved the whelps life before he left, as Ruinar had saved mine at childbirth.

"I think you may have the wrong baby. That one is the wrong color and gender to be yours." He spoke with his usual deep emotionless tone. It reminded me too much of our previous king.

I chuckled a bit and gave my older brother a nod. I was trying not to show the sadness I had inside me that his comment had poked at. Laughing was my best way to try and cover up my grief and pain.

"Well, if you must know. My baby is gone. Gaelon's magic has seen to that."

I was not about to give him any details. I rather he think Gaelon killed her than have him wondering what is really going on. He has no right to know. He is an exile, brother or not.

Kram suddenly started to laugh. His laugh had always made me shiver, but now even more so. He had no sense of remorse for lost loved ones. I grew up with a totally different brother from who I have now. Gaelon did this to him, just like he did to Ruinar. Too bad my brother is too far gone to save.

"Little sister... I could have told you pissing of and evil king would not go well for your future. Dark magic can do anything. It is only limited by our knowledge and imagination."

I snarled at him defensively. "So we should have let him destroy us all, all of Angoleth itself?"

Kram snorted and shook his head at me. "What makes you think he still can't? I know you do not trust me, and I do not blame you for it, but you do not know what you are up against. I do care about you, sis. I just don't see the point in what Cand is doing. There is not even a magical shield up around this Palace to protect it. I was able to walk right in with an invisibility spell. If Cand destroys all magic then there will be nothing left to fight Gaelon with!"

I shook my head in frustration and set Ruinar down gently on the floor beside me as I stood to stand my ground against my brother. He is at least twice my size right now, and growing larger every time I see him. I suspect the dark magic makes a dragon grow larger than normal.

"I am going to set the shields on this place. I only need a little longer to study my spell." Ruinar shouted up at the huge form of Kram.

Kram laughed again and leaned down to glare at the little red whelp with one eye. "Is this your Royal Adviser?" He asked me skeptically.

I snorted and gave him a confident nod. "He saved my life and has done many brave things in the name of honor. He was the one who gave Gaelon that serum remember? You could have done it yourself just as easy. You WERE his adviser after all. Ruinar is much stronger than he appears."

I saw the little red dragon start to beam with pride. I guess I do not compliment him  as much as I should. I realized I have not really been a good mother to him. I have just been afraid, afraid of what he can do. What kind of a mother thinks her own son would betray her? Am I terrible?

"Well, it is a sorry state when the Royal Adviser is a whelp. What has Angoleth turned into?" He groaned at me. Ruinar was glaring up at him but he was eying me, not noticing Ruinar anymore.

"What the heck do you want Kram?" I snarled in frustration. I was in no mood to deal with his bullshit. I had just lost my baby, dammit!

My brother froze, suddenly sensing my foul mood. He sighed and gave me another bow. "Is it a crime to miss my sister and want to see her?"

"Well, actually yes, your an exile remember?" I reminded him with a faint hint of challenge in my eyes.

He growled but lowered his guard. "Fine, I will go. This time it will actually be forever... I do not want to be a part of this family. On my way in I saw Cand. At first I did not recognize him, but his voice was the giveaway. It was odd to see him in a strange form. He was holding a similar, human looking, baby in one hand and a summoning stone in the other."

He paused for a moment to watch my reaction. Then he snarled and finished. "I highly doubt that your baby is dead... Gone yes, but not dead. Cand is a fool. She is going to turn dragon and eat some humans, then end up in a cage her whole life. That world is no safer than ours."

He then growled and turned to walk away. I hate the fact that my brother always leaves me feeling like I have a pit in my stomach. Guilt.

"Ruinar, please make sure he actually leaves and does not try to take anything on his way out."

Ruinar gulped and nodded in silent agreement. He knew as well as me that we could not let any more of those evil books fall into outside hands.

After the both of them were gone and I was almost afraid to be alone with my thoughts, Almira showed up with a tray of food.

"Arod sent me." She said with a cheerful smile. Food was just what I needed to calm my jittery nerves.

(AN: Here is a fun little bonus chapter. I love you guys. Thanks for reading my story, especially if you got this far. Next chapter is coming soon.)