Aetherian(Part 1): A War Begins

Valeria

 The saber-toothed cat banners of House Lysander were thrown down from the walls of Green Hill once Valeria Karvine's fleet of Alessian ships arrived from the west after weeks of sailing across the ocean. Torinn Bloodbane led the Draconians and mercenaries through the city gates, smashing the Lysander army. For Valeria, it was strange to be walking on the shores of Aetherian again. The Highlands were even greener than the grasslands of Alessia, and the city of Green Hill was twice the size of Meridian. The Draconians rejoiced marching on Aetherian and throwing down Lysander banners.

"We're home, Caira," she said. "After all this time."

"Aetherian isn't what it once was, Your Grace," said Caira. "You won't like what we've learned from a few reputable sources."

"And what have we learned?" asked Val.

"Aetherian's at war with itself," Caira Vestarr reluctantly answered. "Apparently, it started with the death of my brother, Garrett."

"The Guardian Commander?" asked Valeria. "I thought he was Robar Busch's friend."

"Robar is dead," said Caira. "His son, Vorian, is the one who executed Garrett. Karlon Vestarr, my nephew, has taken up arms against Vorian." Val could sense a feeling of deceit in Caira's words. She was hiding something.

"There's something else," she said. "What?"

"Alyssa Busch is also in open revolt, as is House Williams of Red Harbor," Caira answered, but she still hid something.

"What else?" asked Val. "Caira, tell me."

"Your brother, Trevor, grew up in Snowfall, remember?" said Caira. "He and Karlon had known each other their entire lives."

"I know, he told us," said Valeria.

"Your brother was killed along with mine," Caira said, with a tear in her eye. "On the charge of treason, if you can believe it." Valeria couldn't believe what she was hearing. Trevor was the only brother she had left, as well as the last son of House Karvine. The thought of her younger brother being murdered brought tears to her eyes, and she thought about what he had said when they met. The blood of Gunnar Karvine sitting on the Dragon Throne was the only thing keeping the Dragon of the Abyss contained. Now that he was dead, Kidar might already be released.

Suddenly, Torinn Bloodbane came to her, saying "Your Grace, we have received a transmission from Karlon Vestarr, the Lord of Snowfall, as well as a woman who claims to be your mother. They both said they want to meet with you."

"My mother?" asked Valeria. "Where do they want to meet with me?"

"They said they wanted you to decide, Your Grace," Torinn answered. "What shall I tell them?"

"What do they want to meet for?" asked Val.

"They did not say, Your Grace," Torinn answered. "Only that they request an audience."

"Lord Karlon is one of the leaders rebelling against Vorian, isn't he?" said Valeria.

"Correct," said Torinn. "He marches past Riverford with an army of nearly four hundred thousand." House Vestarr of Snowfall had sworn their loyalty to the Karvines, but at the end of the Busch Rebellion, they swore their faith to Robar Busch. Maybe now that House Busch has murdered Lord Karlon's father, he would have a different view on who Aetherian's ruler should be.

"Tell them 'Green Hill'," Valeria commanded. Both Lord Karlon Vestarr and Kara Karvine arrived at Green Hill by nightfall. They stood before Valeria in the great hall of the keep, where the Karvine banners hanged where the Lysander banners once hanged. Val sat on a large throne with Torinn Bloodbane and Caira Vestarr at her sides. Standing with Lord Karlon was a spellsword Knight in brown armor under dark robes, and standing next to Val's mother was another Draconian with golden scales, who stared at Torrin with shock.

"Theon," Torinn whispered. It was Torinn's only son, Theon Bloodbane. Valeria had heard that he was the only reason that the Draconians, Val, and Harland, escaped Aetherian, and were able to make it to Alessia in the first place.

"Father?" said Theon. Torinn stepped to his son, who he hadn't seen in more than a decade, and they both threw their arms around each other.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Torinn asked, speaking in Draconic. "Come, Theon." They both left the hall with their arms around each other's shoulders.

"I've never seen Theon like that," said Kara. "Or Torinn."

"Lord Karlon," said Valeria. "I'm guessing you are here to ask for my assistance against the Lysanders."

"More than that, Your Grace," Lord Karlon corrected, and he drew a large, two-handed greatsword made from glass malakyte, laid it on the ground, and bent down on one of his knees. Karlon had no intention of fighting against Valeria. Maybe he did see her as his Queen.

"Rise, my lord," Val excused, and Lord Karlon stood, sheathing Blizzard.

"My army is past Riverford, Your Grace," said the Vestarr lord. "We prepare to march on the city of Autumnbrush. The Lysanders have captured it."

"I'll lend you some of my Draconian forces," said Valeria. "Return to your host, they'll be there by sunrise."

"Yes, Your Grace," said Karlon, and he left with his spellsword Knight.

"Your Grace, may I talk with my nephew?" asked Caira Vestarr. Val nodded her head, and Caira went after Karlon. Kara Karvine smiled at Valeria, with tears in her eyes. Valeria stood from the Lysander throne and threw her arms around her mother.

"I thought the worst had happened," Kara sobbed, with her hand on the back of Val's head. The last time Valeria and Kara saw each other was when her parents went to war against Robar Busch on their dragons.

"I can only imagine your shock," said Val, letting go of Kara. "I heard about Trevor."

"So did I," said Kara. "All these years, I thought all of my children were gone. Both of my sons are dead, and so is my younger daughter, but here you are. Where have you been all his time?"

"Alessia," Valeria answered. "I was trapped there ever since Mistral fell. What about you?"

"I remained in Aetherian," said Kara. "In the Sandlands, with Theon. This is the first time I've seen green in fourteen years. I brought something for you." Kara handed her daughter a sheathed sword. The guard was in the shape of the golden eagle on the winged shield, the sigil of the Guardians, and on the pommel was a bright, white crystal of radiant malakyte. When Valeria barely drew the blade out of the scabbard, it was a blade of teal glass malakyte with a faint glow to it.

"This is Dragonslayer," Val gasped. "The blade Gunnar Karvine used to slay Kidar at the Battle of the Giant's Scar."

"It's yours," said Kara. "You're the future of House Karvine and Aetherian with it. Everything rests on your shoulders." Val could feel her heart racing. She had just fought a war to escape Alessia, and now, she would be fighting a war to see herself on the Dragon Throne. Thousands more would die. Now that House Vestarr and the rest of the Snowlands have aligned with House Karvine, though, this war wouldn't last much longer.

"I have something to show you, too," said Val. She led her mother to the vaults below Green Hill, where the burning, radiant aura of the dragon eggs was coming from. Kara widened her eyes at the sight of the shining eggs.

"Where did you find these?" she asked.

"I hired a mercenary force from Toribban." Val answered. "Their leaders gave me these. They're alive, mother."

"Valeria, do you realize what this means?" Kara asked. Before Val could answer, she suddenly heard a whisper, "Araxes", and all four of the eggs shook.