Dragon Twins (Pending rewrite)

Chapter 23

Aden

"WHAT DO you mean, 'Kiara's gone'?" Father stood up, and paced back and forth.

Counselor Muggins slammed his fist on the table. "She better show up soon. The coronation is in one week. We can't delay it any further."

Since this morning, my connection with Kiara has dimmed. I haven't been able to locate her anywhere. Yesterday, we spent all day planning her escape, but she ended up going against my plans and go do her own thing.

"Father, I haven't seen her since yesterday morning. The servant came in to wake her up, but all she found was a note with an address and a ransom."

Kalliarkos stroked his beard thoughtfully, "You're Majesty, may I suggest we send guards to look for her? Or will you accept the ransom?"

"You think I haven't done that, Jared? I've had guards search the whole of Odin, but none of them have found my daughter." Which is the problem of the whole situation. If Kiara isn't at the address that the note suggested, then we'd have to have guards search all of Mordar. That would take longer than a week. But if we just had them wait it out, Kiara would probably return home.

Aw, you'd think I'd return to that junking hulk of stone. You're such a caring brother.

Of course she's listening in. But I haven't been able to contact her once. It's like she disappeared off the face of the earth. Only, how can she contact me?

I'm sleeping right now. It's pretty tiring to fly around all ni-

"Aden?"

My head snapped up so fast, I cracked my neck. Groaning, I put a hand to the back of my neck, and looked over all the counselors looking at me expectantly.

"A- What?" I asked, turning a bright shade of red.

Father sighed, "We were discussing if we should send troops into Gerald Forest. Do you agree, Aden?"

Wow, looks like someone needs to pay more attention.

"Um- Yes. I think it would be an excellent idea to send troops there."

Counselor Boan murmured her disapproval. "It could take weeks to search just one part of the Gerald Forest.We'll never find her in time." Counselor Boan is the only female Counselor, she likes to make her presence known. The only way she can do that is by disagreeing with everything.

Father noticed this, "It would do you well to shut your mouth, Boan."

She nodded and sank into her chair, "Yes, Your Majesty."

I think I like her.

~~~

"So where do you think she went?" Marcus asked as our swords clashed.

But I wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. All I could see was his facial features. Now that I'm looking closely, I can see everything that doesn't resemble Kalliarkos. His hair is just a few shades lighter than Kalliarkos's, and he just has too strong of a jaw-line to Kalliarkos's thin face.

Marcus whacked me with the broadside of his sword. "Aden? Earth to Aden."

"Ow."

"Are you thinking of a secret lover?" Marcus batted his eyelashes at me. Which allowed me to whack him back.

"There's no secret lover. I'm just stressed out about what's going on."

"I didn't think Kiara would run."

My eyes snapped to meet his. He had a challenging grin on his face.

"Kiara was kidnapped, Marcus. She didn't run."

He clapped a hand on my shoulder, "Aden, we've known each other since we were small. I know when you're lying."

This just makes me want to tell him who his real father is. Hey Marcus, my sister just told me that your father is Mordar's drug lord, and not, in fact, Jared Kalliarkos.

I look him straight in the eye, "Kiara. Was. Kidnapped." But then I do something stupid. I don't feel sad. I don't fake any emotion that would tell him that I actually care for my sister. He stares at me expectantly.

"Okay, fine! She wasn't kidnapped, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else."

"Not even Rebecca?"

"Not even Rebecca. Kiara told me she doesn't trust her."

"Who wouldn't trust Rebecca?"

I shrugged. I really didn't know either. "I don't know, she won't tell me until she's done dealing with other matters."

"May I ask what those matters are?"

"I'll tell you when we're not being observed." I gester to the guards guarding the perimeters of the training grounds. "Meet with me in my chambers after the Twelfth Hour."

"De-"

A guard came crashing through the room. "Your Highness! Come quick! Princess Kiara's Tiara has been stolen!"