Among Dragons (Editing)

Prologue

"The prophecy clearly states," The King spat out angrily, "That once the eighth dragon egg begins to hatch, a Seer will come into his power in the realm of logic. Do you question this prophecy that our ancestors have worshipped for hundreds of years? This peace between the dragons is coming to an end, and it is happening soon. We all know who will be the one to attack. "

The sound of his voice echoed in the cavernous throne room, hitting up high into the stones that domed above them in a ceiling. The air was chill, damp with the leftover feeling of rain.

His dark eyes burned into the boy who dared to give him protest on his demands. He was kneeling at the King's feet, the shame in his posture giving the King more reason to burn into him and set an example. What he ordered was iron set. He wouldn't stand for even the slightest doubt of his decisions.

He shifted in his throne, the deep velvet softly sliding under the palms of his hands. "The Seer must be found before Rhaegos strikes and shrouds this entire realm in the darkness of his fire!" His words cut into the air with a finality that could not be argued with.

The boy imagined what it would be like to see the realm roar up in flames and destruction under the darkness of the dragon's wrath. It was almost like a paradox to him to think about, that the fire would burn so darkly when normally it would be the source of light itself.

As much as it still baffled him, he couldn't deny that he had seen the fire once himself. The dragon Rhaegos' fire was as pitch black as shadows, the pureness of it evoking  the deepest fears that most did not know existed within themselves. He imagined an entire city burning in a darkness that would suffocate it with licking tendrils of shadows, and the screams that would be swallowed within it. The image sent a shiver to race up his spine with long fingers. He ducked his head in shame for even questioning the truth of the prophecy.

Another boy standing behind the throne snickered at him. His eyes were piercingly beautiful, and the armor adorning his frame shone in the sunlight that streamed through the tall, dramatic windows. A surprise for someone such as him to be rivaled by someone idiotic enough as to question the prophecy. It bothered him to think that so many people admired someone as foolish as that, but left him to fade into the shadows. A frown pushed its way onto his face, and he decided to force his thoughts elsewhere.

The King scowled as he looked down at the boy. "Go, Niram. Bring the Seer back to this realm. There will be others after him as well, so it will not be easy. Though if you fail, do not bother coming back. There will be nothing left of this world to return to."

The dark haired boy scrambled to his feet hurriedly, shame making his movements nearly clumsy. He bowed to the king respectfully. "I will not fail. You have my word, Father."