Eternal Ebony

Chapter 8

"OUT OF THE WAY! MOVE PLEASE! PROUD KING CARRYING QUEEN HERE!" Oblivion yelled. He was yelling at the startled court rushing to get out of the way. He surged down the halls, nearly trampling half the castle. He was going way too fast, but that wasn't what mattered. Ebon was nearly passing out on his back. He burst into the main hall, where he encountered Echo talking to some new trainees. They gasped when they saw Oblivion. "Echo!" he gasped. "Where's the..."

"Down the hall, third one to your left," he said immediately with a smile. Oblivion grinned through his soreness, lunging down the hall. He almost flew past the door he was looking for, and almost trampled several guests trying to get back to it. Oblivion knocked politely on the door, and was met by an anguished-looking Acrid. Her spots turned a smooth blue-purple mix when she saw Oblivion. He carefully lifted Ebon off his back. He looked at Acrid, exchanging a terrified glance before fixing his gaze on Ebon. "I see," Acrid said. She ran her talons carefully over Ebon's stomach and convulsing chest, which was aching for breath. Acrid yelled to someone behind her. Before long, two dragons appeared, lifting Ebon gently onto a stretcher. Acrid turned to Oblivion.

"Thank you," he said, nodding with a smile. Acrid bowed. "Always a pleasure to serve His Majesty." She looked, with a frightened glance, at Ebon, who was resting on a bed. "Or should I say," she said. "Your Majesties?" She smiled ruefully at Oblivion and closed the door gently. Oblivion paced for a moment. Oh god, he thought. I can't even handle this what should I do I am having so many thoughts right now oh god Ebon if you can think through the pain reach out to me please please please please plea..

STOP YOUR YAMMERING THIS INSTANT, her exasperated voice demanded in his head. He smiled in relief at hearing her, and Ebon mentally sighed. Please just...Go to your cliff where I can't hear you. You're flooding my mind and...

Not helping, Oblivion finished. That's fine. I can do that. Well...Good luck!

Thanks, Ebon thought back sarcastically.

Oblivion walked shakily through the hall back to the throne room. He looked around. No one else was here to see his panic. Suddenly, a guard walked through the room, and Oblivion coughed addressingly. The guard swiveled his head around, then looked at Oblivion, pointing to himself. Oblivion smiled and nodded pointing at the floor in front of him. The guard walked over to stand in front of him and bow.

"Oh, stop," Oblivion said, waving a talon. The guard rose uneasily. "Say, are you doing anything important?"

"No, Your Majesty," the guard answered. He had a small voice, as though he would rather be reading a book.

Oblivion smiled. "Well, today, you are going to be my personal guard! Isn't that exciting?" The guard looked up hopefully and smiled. But his smile faded, and he shuffled his feet. "The other court members say that such a low-ranking guard as myself shouldn't impede on the values of someone as important as a royal." He looked up at Oblivion sheepishly. "And I've never talked to a king before."

Oblivion waved his talon again. "Well who cares what those courtiers think? They're just jealous because they would hate to be shown up by anyone else, or to be more important to the all-powerful, amazing king!" He shifted his head, indicating to look tall and stand straight. He did very well, and was a majestic and fearsome-looking guard. Oblivion smiled. "What's your name?"

"It's Frostbite."

Oblivion tapped his chin thoughtfully. "That's a weird name for an Atra." He gave Frostbite a smug smile. "Or are you not an Atra?" The guard smiled and removed his helmet, revealing the white, ice-kissed scales underneath. An Opal, short for opalline, meaning looking like a milky white gem called opal, which is milky white criss-crossed with lines of iridescent pinks and blues. Frostbite put his helmet back on. He stood straight, making the spear he was brandishing stand erect on the floor.