The Father of Withering

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Quest is Set

 Days later, news came to Estela about her fiancee.

She'd enjoyed her time spent walking the gardens of her youth with Teran. While it wasn't the same without Otto and Rinseld, it was still home. Father, for his part, hardly said two words to her. He spent his days, as always, holed up in his study while writing letters. Several times

Estela sat in on him, mediating disputes between the commoners.

He was decisive but not unfair. Often, he would come in on the side of a poorer man, even when the richer one stood to gain. But it was always done based on the case. Estela remembered something he'd once told Otto.

"Reputation is everything," he'd said, not seeing Estela. "Money is worthless if your reputation is in ruins. Ruling with justice is essential to maintain respect from our people."

He'd always said things like that to Otto, his heir. Rinseld, Cadia, and her had always been on the outskirts. Now, here she was, sitting on the outskirts again, even if she was within King Tyus' meeting room.

Then Father entered, flanked by his men. His expression was grim, as always. "We've found him. "

"Well, where is he? "asked Estela. "And why the delay? "

"He's at the pass of Dragon Bones," said Father. "It seems he veered off to fight with the Heir of Kings."

So Estela hadn't met her fiancée because Father had dragged her here, then? Ironic and a bit satisfying. "Then we'll go to meet him. "

"You will not go, "said Tyus quickly. "Word has come to me that the Black Dragons under Wrynncurth have landed. "

"Wrynncurth? "asked Estela. "I know him. "

Tyus raised an eyebrow. "You do? "

"Yes, I might help in negotiations. "said Estela.

Tyus nodded. "...Very well, then. Pack your things. We're leaving today. "

And leave they did. The Queen of House Endorean went with them, her white armored soldiers marching. Together, they made their way through the lands at a swift pace. They rested on the road and only briefly. Estela saw several new castles where there had been none before.

"When were these built?" she asked Father.

"The Foundation was there of old, "said Father. "But they were cast down during the civil war before you were born. Arengeth had us restore lands we had taken to the other house."

"So this has been planned for some time," said Estela.

"Yes," said the Queen. "We wish a permanent end to the war, so Escor may be united."

Estela said nothing. They spoke little as they came into empty lands and neared the domain of the Pass of Dragon Bones. Then Estela saw the fort she'd heard so many stories above, surrounded by blackened lands. No grass grew around it, and the earth was packed tight. Weapons meant for killing dragons bristled along the walls.

And they were met there by a man, a giant with a huge war hammer on his back. He was sitting upon a stump just beyond the barrens, carving a wood block. He looked up with dull eyes and put it down. Rising, he retrieved his war hammer and leaned on it.

"King Tyus. Mother, "said the man.

The Queen, what was her name again, dismounted and moved to him. "Jomas, what are you doing here? You were supposed to come to Vortegex's Capital."

"I saw smoke and heard battle, "said Jomas. "I came to help. "

The Queen looked to Tyus. "I'm sorry, Tyus; please forgive my son. He has a tendency to get sidetracked. Where is your valet? "