The Dragon and His Prince{ManxMan}

*Chapter 3

Zavian

I entered the large hall which was brightly lit as all the curtains were pulled back and the fresh air filtered through which allowed the old men who chose to smoke at this time not to be much of a bother. As usual my father had yet to arrive.

The ten Lords all stood and bowed at the waist, a chorus of "Your highness" rung through and I gave my own greeting before I sat at the head of the table like I always did.

"I trust you all had a pleasant weekend." I said for polite conversation. This gave my father some time to make an appearance. If he ever did. I received murmured words of pleasantry.

"Your highness, my petition for a well, I trust you have read through it." I nodded and raised my hand toward the boy at the door. He opened it and soon another younger boy emerged with a stack of documents piled on a small wooden table.

"I approved the manufacturing of this well, Lord Buxton. You'll find these to be my notes on this project. Read them carefully and get back to me with any queries on your end." I explained handing the particular piece to the boy who brought the stack of documents so he could pass them to Lord Buxton.

We continued like that, notifying them of which acts I felt were more appropriate in the running of my future kingdom and which of their petitions I felt should not be approved. There was bickering here and there before we settled everything.

"While I have done my best in giving my most honest view, I advise, should you feel I am not enough, that these be seen by my father. However, I do not see why you cannot proceed with my rulings. I am due to be king soon, after all." There was a scoff which I had anticipated, this particular individual, I had said what I said for him.

"That is very wise of you." He smirked a bit and gave a nod. "It pleases me that you at least acknowledge your still lacking authority." Lord Stewart's ginger hair ruffled due to the wind from the nearest window, his sea green eyes were cold as they stared me down and dared me to say anything. I only smirked silently and moved on.

"Right. Now, I would like to discus my most recent request." They all turned to one another.

"Which one? The ridiculous notion that the Mage folk be made free? Giving them rights, or the notion of allocating them with their own land?" The snort from Lord Greene caused my brow to twitch.

"All of the above." I spread my hands. "I'm rather impressed you even remember. Gives me hope that you've actually thought them through."

"You uproot the peace already existing in our kingdom with such notions, Your Highness. How can I forget such a threat to our developing society?"

"I hardly see it as a threat." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "This is giving people their most basic rights, attending to their most potent needs."

"Your Highness, while I sympathize with your efforts, why the urgency? Mages are nearly extinct, I doubt that even if one or two were around anymore, it wouldn't do them much to have such an act passed." I clenched my jaw then.

"Do you by chance... know a few? How many, if that is so? And why have we not seen them?" A bursting of questions and statements fell then and I met the arrogant gaze of Lord Stewart who smirked silently. I held up a hand.

"The number should not be the concern. Nor should you be alarmed by my wish. If it were one of you, would you not wish you had the same rights as any other human being. Mages, like you or I have needs, food, shelter, they have family, unfortunately they have had to lose them because of our greed, our fear." I was standing then and panting, I looked down at the table and sighed, my eyes closing silently, my fingers on the table. "The very few left, if at all, I'm deeply moved for their cause. Despite the lacking numbers, I cannot want for anything other than a rule for them... A show of peace for the future generation, should the Mage exist again," I gave a pointed look towards Lord Steward. "I plead with you to reconsider, hopefully next time you will grant me this one wish."