The Journey 40.

Autumn. Cimvac. Dolparn. Terrindim.

"Damn it" mutters lord Ganulf as a bit of burning debris crashes down beside him.
The lord of Highsun looks up at the half built airship above him that's ablaze as he runs underneath it.
Silently praying to the gods Glaine, Galavin and Torros that it doesn't fall on top of him in a burning pyre.
Waving smoke out of the way of his face, he grins as he's got clear from beneath the half built airship that's well and truly alight.
The nobleman from the northern province of Hanamede swings up his sword as a screaming man runs at him through the smoke, swinging a sword of his own.
It's one of the Golmard guards, who staggers, and gurgles in pain, after lord Ganulf whips his sword across the enemy guard's throat.
The lord of the city of Highsun, advisor to crown prince Waniq, continues on his way.
As all around him, the largest shipbuilding yard in the city of Cimvac, here in the eastern province of Dolparn, burns this night.
Lord Ganulf peers through the smoke, and after he flinches as there's a large explosion somewhere behind him.
And he looks up and spots the dragon Sunflame flying above the shipbuilding yard this night.
He dashes away to his right through the smoke when he hears voices in that direction.
The nobleman from the mountainous north of the kingdom, just hopes it's the Balford company he came to city of Cimvac with this night.
Looking away through the smoke as he's behind some of the others, able airman Orvick spots someone approaching from their left.
The teenage airman with the clubfoot who has kept close to Cedric the bosun, as the company along with the dragon Sunflame has set this massive shipbuilding yard on fire.
Can see pretty clearly even though it's nighttime, and there's a lot of smoke about. As the fires give off a lot of light to see by
The able airman, who previously served on the battlecruiser the Dragon's Revenge. Sees who it's that's coming their way.
"My lord this way!" calls out able airman Orvick.
Lord Ganulf hears his new aide, and runs towards him. He soon sees Orvick, along with his offsider Cedric. And about a dozen soldiers in the company from the Balford faction.
"Right lads" calls out the bosun Cedric, followed by "That way, now hurry".
The lord of Highsun wryly smiles, as he sees that they're all wearing cloths or scarves wrapped around their faces, to help them breathe with all this smoke that's about.
He should of done likewise, but he was too busy trying to see if they had set every warship and other vessels on fire, here in the yard, that exclusively builds airships for the Golmard faction.
"Thought we had lost you my lord" says the young able airman who is from the capital city Fanile.
"I thought i was lost too" sourly says the advisor to crown prince Waniq as he and his aide follow the others.
The way they're going, the smoke is starting to thin out, as a bit of a breeze starts to pick up, here in the largest shipbuilding yard in the city of Cimvac.
They run into a couple of enemy guards, who stagger through the smoke.
The soldiers in the Balford faction easily, and quickly cut them down. As behind them, an airdock that's well and truly ablaze, collapses.
Sending sparks, and burning debris, flying up into the night sky.
The burning shipyard can be seen across the city, which is one of the largest cities in the eastern region of the kingdom.
"Through the fence!" calls out the bosun Cedric when he spots some of the others in their company, running through a section of the wooden fence surrounding the shipbuilding yard. That looks like it's been blasted with a spell. That's exactly what's happened to it.
And the twelve Balford soldiers, along with lord Ganulf, his offsider, and his aide.
Follow some of the others in their company through the gap in the fence. While behind them, the massive shipbuilding yard continues to burn.
"That's the first bit done" says the lord of Highsun, who coughs from the smoke.
Next to him, his aide, able airman Orvick, who even with his clubfoot, and his limping gait, easily keeps pace with the advisor to prince Waniq.
Tightly grins as to what they've accomplished so far this night, and in fairly quick time too.
Those with cloths and scarves covering their faces, quickly take them off. As people have come out onto the streets, to see what's happening.
Hoping that his offsider Cedric, who is leading the group, knows where he's going, lord Ganulf asks his new aide "You know where we're going Orvick?".
The lord of Highsun, who is the advisor to the crown prince of Terrindim, continues with "Or where the hell we are?".
"Ah" says the able airman in a hesitant tone, who continues on with "We're in Cimvac" followed by "To another one of the targets".
As they and the others hurry down a street, lord Ganulf looks sideways at his aide, and sourly smiles.
The nobleman from the northern province of Hanamede sees his aide, with a tight grin upon his face as they follow the others.
The lord of the city of Highsun, who was previously in the Salmain faction, until he quit, and joined the Balford faction a few years ago.
Can't help but grin as he looks at the teenage airman, who is limping along beside him.
"Indeed we are Orvick" says lord Ganulf with a chuckle, followed by "Indeed we are".
A short while later, and they find themselves in a dark alleyway. The lord of the city of Highsun, followed by his aide. Pushes forward, to where his offsider, the bosun Cedric is standing at the other end of alleyway.
"You know where you're going Cedric?" quietly asks the advisor to the crown prince.
"Er" says Cedric the bosun "I guess i do my lord" adds the offsider to lord Ganulf.
The well known, and rather accomplished nobleborn duelist, frowns then asks "You sure about that?" he follows that with "Have you lived here in Cimvac before?".
The lord of Highsun frowns, then he adds "I thought you were from the capital?".
"I am my lord" says the senior bosun, who previously served alongside able airman Orvick, onboard the battlecruiser the Dragon's Revenge.
"And i know exactly where we're going" adds Cedric, who is lord Ganulf's new offsider, he briefly pauses, before saying "I've got an image in my mind on where to go, and to what streets to go by, to get there".
The nobleman from the mountainous north of the kingdom of Terrindim grunts, then he asks "Sunflame?".
"That's who my lord" replies the bosun Cedric, who along with able airman Orvick, and lord Ganulf himself.
Are the only survivors of the Balford faction's battlecruiser, the Dragon's Revenge. Which was destroyed in battle against the Golmard faction, in the central province of Smalsare.
The senior bosun, who is more than capable with the sabre like sword he wields, who is getting directions on where to go from the dragon Sunflame, says to lord Ganulf "We go left here, then turn the next right, and cross a square" followed by "It's on the first street on the west side of the square".
Cedric the bosun pauses for a moment, then he says "Sir Solvik and Sunflame are fighting an enemy dragon now".
They all hear the two dragons in the night sky above the city of Cimvac roar, followed by a pair of explosions.
Slightly grimacing, the advisor to prince Waniq says "They better live" followed in a dry tone with "They're our way back to the capital".
Then the nobleman from the northern province of Hanamede, says to the air sailor who he recently made his offsider "Lead the way Cedric".
The senior bosun in the air fleets of the Balford faction, looks out of the alleyway, looks both ways, then turns left.
Lord Ganulf and his aide Orvick let the rest of the group go by. Then they make their way behind them.
As they quickly walk down a street that heads around to the right, and goes to a city square.
Able airman Orvick quietly asks the advisor to the crown prince of Terrindim "Think it'll work my lord?".
Looking back in the general direction they've come from, where he can see the glow of the burning shipbuilding yard, lord Ganulf says "Sure thing".
The lord of the city of Highsun continues with "The first part is working" followed by "And that's the most important" he then says "The second part is a bonus really" lord Ganulf then silently adds, a damn good bonus hopefully.
They hurry across the square, and those people there, rush to get out of their way. As a group of armed and armoured men moving about at night, can mean only one thing.
One faction in a faction war, is going to attack their enemy. Which is indeed what's happening here in the city of Cimvac, in the eastern province of Dolparn.
They head down the west facing street from the city square. Shouts can be heard down the street, as members of their company are already there.
Fighting can be heard coming from quite a well maintained two storey house. And what looks to be a warehouse that's adjacent to it.
"Just set it alight" says lord Ganulf who has noticed that two of the soldiers with them, are carrying two of the smaller barrels that they've brought with them from the city of Fanile.
With the help of bosun Cedric, one of the soldiers throws the barrel he's been carrying, right through a glass window on the ground floor of the house.
Hearing the sound of fighting coming from inside, senior bosun Cedric shouts "Get out of there!".
Hoping that those of the Balford faction who are inside fighting, quickly get out of the house.
Lord Ganulf, gestures for his aide Orvick to help the other soldier, who is pouring the contents of his barrel along the front of the house.
The lord of Highsun's new offsider shouts out again "Get out of there!".
Then he quickly backs away from the smashed in glass window. As one of the soldiers, who has swiped one of the lit street lamps.
Biffs it inside, which is followed by a loud whooshing sound, then fire erupts in the ground floor room.
Which is followed by more fire as the swamp gas poured along the front of the house catches alight.
"Think he's in my lord?" asks Orvick the aide.
"One can hope so" says the nobleman from the mountainous north of the kingdom as the fire starts spreading quickly, with flames leaping over to adjoining warehouse.
"But i doubt it" adds the advisor to prince Waniq, the crown prince of Terrindim.
As they watch the residence of senior admiral Talarg catch on fire.
Sir Talarg, who is a senior admiral in the fleet of the Golmard faction.
Who oversees a lot of the shipbuilding taking place in the largest of shipbuilding yards, here in the city of Cimvac.
"Round the back!" calls out the bosun Cedric, who waves around to the Balford faction soldiers with them, to get around to the back of the house.
"We've got to go my lord" says the the newly appointed offsider to lord Ganulf.
"Sunflame doesn't know if he can wait long enough to send up back to the capital" quietly adds the bosun Cedric.
"For all our sakes, i hope he can" mutters the advisor to prince Ganulf, as they follow Cedric to around the back of the house that's well and truly on fire.
There's a few scuffles with enemy guards and soldiers coming out of the house, and others who have been in the adjacent warehouse.
The Balford faction's soldiers attack them, as since more of them have turned up from fleeing the burning shipbuilding yards.
They make short work of the enemy soldiers, who definitely didn't expect what's happened this night, to what's actually happening.
There's a park behind the burning two storey house.
And as Sunflame the dragon, engages with an enemy dragon up in the cool night sky above the city of Cimvac, here in the province of Dolparn.
A rift suddenly appears in the park, obviously too large to be cast by a human spellcaster.
"Through the rift!" shouts Cedric the bosun, lord Ganulf echoes that. And soldiers in the Balford faction start running through the large rift.
Amongst the last of the company to go through the rift, is the nobleman from the province of Hanamede, and his offsider, and young aide.
"Always escaping through a rift eh lads" dryly says lord Ganulf to the members of his staff. Which is his aide, and his offsider.
Both able airman Orvick, and bosun chuckle at that, as they run through the rift alongside lord Ganulf, and return to the capital city of Fanile.
The last through is the company captain. Well last through on the ground that is.
As the rift suddenly expands after the company captain came through it.
The dragon Sunflame and his rider fly out through the rift, which disappears behind him.
And the dragon circles above the staging grounds of the Balford faction here in the capital city.
While those who returned to the city of Fanile, cheers him and his rider.
"A good start" says lord Ganulf to his new staff, all two of them.
The lord of the city of Highsun then pats his tunic and leather vest, to free himself of the soot and ash covering him.
Then the advisor to the crown prince dryly adds "I need a bath".
Then he grins, as the hasty plans he came up with this afternoon, actually seem to have been successful.
Something he wasn't entirely sure of, as lord Ganulf didn't expect them to work so easily.
But they did, much to his surprise, which causes the lord of Highsun to grin again . . . . . .

The Journey 39.

Autumn. Throughout The Kingdom Of Terrindim.

"I hope this works" mutters lord Ganulf.
"Well, it's your damn plan" says crown prince Waniq, who then quietly adds "So if it goes wrong, it's your fault".
The crown prince of Terrindim looks at his advisor, then shakes his head before quietly telling the nobleman from the northern province of Hanamede "I don't know why you're going anyway".
"Like you said, it's my damn plan" says the advisor to the crown prince "Might as well see it through".
Prince Waniq grunts, then says "Fair enough" he tells his advisor in a quiet tone "Don't get yourself killed, i want you and others back alright".
"We'll come back highness" quietly says lord Ganulf, who then silently adds, i don't know what shape we'll be in, but we'll come back.
The crown prince nods, then says "I'll get going" followed by "And get back to the palace".
Prince Waniq who has given a quick speech for inspiration for those who are going, nods then shakes the hand of his advisor, before he makes his way outside with his guards, and a couple of the officers who are spellcasters.
It's nighttime, and they're in one of the barracks, here in the staging grounds of the Balford faction. Which is located on the northeast fringes of the city of Fanile, the capital of the kingdom of Terrindim.
Lord Ganulf looks at his offsider Cedric, and his aide Orvick, and quietly asks them "Ready?". They both reply with nods of their heads.
Then the lord of the city of Highsun, which is located up in the mountainous north of the kingdom.
Makes his way to one of the backdoors of the particular barracks they're in.
He's followed by his offsider and aide, who are his personal staff.
They head outside where a company of soldiers and others in the Balford faction are waiting this night.
Lord Ganulf joins the captain in command, and the dragon rider Solvik, whose dragon Sunflame lies nearby.
Listening to what the two are talking about, the advisor to the crown prince quietly says "It doesn't matter if they've got a dragon there or not".
He looks at the rider Solvik and asks him "If there is, they'll know we're coming anyway, right".
"Indeed my lord" says Solvik the dragon rider, who has been a messenger between the capital, and the first fleet of the Balford faction for the most part.
But now, tonight, he will do something completely different.
"Another dragon will sense us immediately" adds the rider Solvik, as they stand a little bit apart from the waiting company.
Lord Ganulf nods, as he figured as much, then he asks the dragon rider who is a commoner "How well do you know the place?".
"Quite well my lord" says the rider of the dragon Sunflame, who grins as he continues with "I was born there, and grew up there" followed by "And i return often as a lot of my family still live there".
The lord of Highsun nods at hearing that, then he looks at the company who are patiently waiting, a fair number of them with barrels of various sizes.
Barrels containing pitch, and an accelerate known as mine, or swamp gas. Which is actually a liquid, not a gas.
"Ready when you are" says lord Ganulf with a nod to the dragon rider Solvik, who turns and looks at his dragon Sunflame.
There's a few spellcasters with the company in the Balford faction. But what they're about to do this night. Needs a dragon, as the spellcasters can't cast a spell powerful enough to get them where they want to go.
A few moments later, and a fairly large rift appears. And without a command from the captain.
The first of the company rush through it, followed by the others.
Lord Ganulf, along with his offsider Cedric, and his aide Orvick are the last to go through.
With the exception of the dragon Sunflame and his rider Solvik.
Cimvac, is a city in the eastern province of Dolparn. In a region that's abundant with forests.
Infact Cimvac is basically surrounded by forest. As the city is predominantly known for it's shipbuilding yards.
And one of the yards, the largest one in Cimvac to be exact. Has the exclusive rights to build airships, and warships here in the province of Dolparn, for the Golmard faction.
A shipbuilding yard that the otherside of the large rift is, which the company in the Balford faction who have just left the capital city Fanile have run out through. Followed by the dragon Sunflame who is airborne.
Meanwhile, back in the capital city. Prince Waniq has quickly returned to the Royal Palace of Terrindim.
He's crossing the large courtyard within the inner sanctum of the palace, where he's met by sir Gilbane. A member of the Balford faction, who happens to be a sorcerer.
Though like any spellcaster who happens to be inside the so called real palace. He doesn't cast a thing. Unless he wants to risk the ire of the twin dragons, Blackflame and Whitefire. Who watch the crown prince and the sorcerer walking towards the main keep.
After prince Waniq waves to the twins, he quietly says "They've gone" in reply to sir Gilbane asking him "They get going?".
The sorcerer, who is of a similar age to the crown prince, who is one of his closest friends, as they grew up together here in the Royal Palace of Terrindim, then quietly says "You're brother is here".
Prince Waniq slightly frowns as he looks at the main keep, the front of which is lit up this night, by the numerous lamps on stands, that run along the front of it.
"Dalvin?" asks the crown prince, as he knows his youngest sibling likes to keep away from the inner sanctum of the palace, for the simple reason their mother the queen, disapproves of his recent marriage.
"You're other brother" sourly says sir Gilbane the sorcerer.
Prince Waniq can't help but grin at hearing that tone from his friend the spellcaster.
Who has never liked prince Sormis. And for good reason, as they both courted the same woman a number of years ago. Who ended up marrying the lady Kerra over sir Gilbane.
The crown prince is of the opinion the sorcerer got the better of that deal, says "His wife too?".
The spellcaster from here in the capital city just grunts for an answer, which prince Waniq takes for a yes.
They enter the main keep, and the crown prince quietly says to his good friend "You Gilbane, don't know how lucky you are" followed by "You know how their marriage is" he continues with "And he just got lucky my parents choose her for him to marry".
Prince Waniq flashes a grin, before he adds "And look how that marriage has turned out".
The sorcerer just gives a tight lipped smile to that as they head to set of stairs.
Sir Gilbane then says "Well, be that as it may" followed by "He still hates you".
"Half of my family hates me" dryly says the crown prince of Terrindim, who continues on with "My mother, and Sormis, as well as Chrisabol".
The prince, who essentially leads the Balford faction then quietly says "And one of them wants me dead" he briefly pauses, before continuing with "Maybe two of them actually" he pauses again, before adding in a dry tone "Well, probably all three of them".
"Probably" sourly says sir Gilbane as they make their way up the stairs, who then quietly adds "I overheard something interesting a little earlier" followed by "From some of the servants".
"Oh?" says prince Waniq, who then asks "What was that?".
The sorcerer tells the crown prince how his mother, queen Pania. Wasn't seen wearing a mourning cloth for the death of princess Laenna the dragon rider.
The crown prince who hasn't seen his mother since the family meal back on the seventh day.
Bristles that she didn't show any mourning for her sister inlaw, the rider Laenna.
Sir Gilbane then tells his good friend, prince Waniq, that the queen was seen in her quarters, wearing a black cloth of mourning, just after word got here, about the death of lord Kinvar, the lord of the exchequer this morning, at the hands of the king's youngest brother, prince Fallins.
"Just like her eh" mutters the crown prince of Terrindim, who then says "She won't step out of the main keep i bet" followed by "Definitely not out out of the inner palace here, too scared my uncle Fallins will kill her".
Sir Gilbane nods in agreement, then quietly says "That he definitely will". For they both know, that prince Fallins, who has returned to the capital city for the first time in years. Has always hated queen Pania, and has wanted her dead for years. Even more so now, as it's pretty obvious she had something to do with the death of princess Laenna the dragon rider, who was the wife of prince Fallins.
They head down a hallway, halfway down which is the suite of crown prince Waniq.
Sir Gilbane has the smaller quarters next to where prince Waniq lives with his wife and daughter.
As they approach the prince's suite, his good friend the sorcerer Gilbane slips a small rolled up parchment into his left hand.
"Night" says sir Gilbane "Night" replies the crown prince, and his friend the spellcaster continues onto his own suite.
While the crown prince of Terrindim, after quickly reading the missive the sorcerer gave him, he enters his rooms.
He finds his uncle Paldim and cousin Craefar at the table in the main room, with his wife Kelriss.
With a look towards his wife, she nods to the hallway that leads to the bedrooms.
The crown prince after a brief greeting to his uncle and cousin, makes his way to the hallway, and down it.
He looks in through the slightly ajar door to his daughter's room. And sees Sarsha is fast asleep on her bed.
Prince Waniq sighs as he realises his daughter is most likely asleep with exhaustion.
As it's been a trying day for her, ever since he and his wife informed her this afternoon of the death of princess Laenna.
The young girl's favourite person in the world, as she absolutely adored the dragon rider who was her great aunt.
The crown prince who is just glad that the twins didn't tell her. He asked them not to, and told them it was her parents duty to tell her something like that.
Which to his surprise, the royal dragons agreed to. Though this was after their sojourn in the morning, when they went off and killed the Golmard dragons and riders who were responsible for the death of princess Laenna and her dragon Greenfire.
And though they tried to hide it from him, prince Waniq had never seen the twin dragons look so smug, than they did this morning after the destruction they wrought in the province of Wilshaw.
The fact that the usually lazy, and undemonstrative Whitefire was so talkative to him when he chatted to them in the early afternoon when they had their play time with Sarsha, who he and his wife had yet to tell of the death of princess Laenna.
Was a dead giveaway that the twin dragons were reveling in what they did against the Golmard dragons. All due to a request from prince Fallins, one of the few people they consider a friend. And all without the permission of their rider, king Crassil of Terrindim.
After one last look at his sleeping daughter, the crown prince heads back to the main room here in his suite of rooms.
"They leave alright lad?" quietly asks prince Paldim.
"They did uncle" is the reply from prince Waniq, who as he sits at the table, sees that his uncle, is drinking a fruit punch, and not wine.
"I hope they burn them all" mutters prince Craefar.
The crown prince looks over at his wife Kelriss, who he sees slightly nods. Though he knows she, just like he does. That no matter what they do in their faction's war against the Golmard faction.
It will only truly be over when one side has been decimated, or if the leader of either faction is eliminated.
Prince Waniq knows that means his death, which he's doing his best to avoid.
Or the death of his mother, queen Pania of Terrindim, who is effectively the leader of the Golmard faction.
"Here" says the crown prince as he takes the small rolled parchment given to him by the sorcerer sir Gilbane, and hands it to his wife.
Who quickly reads it, and hands down to prince Craefar, who faintly grins after he reads it.
The young fleet admiral in the Balford fleet, then hands it across to his father.
"Hell" says prince Paldim with a shake of his head, who can't help but grin as he adds "My little brother eh".
The middle royal brother shakes his head again, as says in disbelief "Walked into his manse, killed his guards, then killed him, just like he did this morning to that prick Kinvar".
The crown prince nods in agreement, then he slightly smiles as he says "My advisor Ganulf is going to be disappointed when he finds out about this".
"Oh, why's that?" asks prince Craefar.
"Because he's challenged him a number of times to a duel, and he's always refused" replies prince Waniq.
"Well he can't refuse him now" dryly says prince Paldim who then adds "Because he's dead" before he chuckles.
The crown prince slightly smiles again, then he quietly says "Guess that steel breastplate he always wears was useless after all".
As he thinks of sir Porscin of the Golmard faction, a renowned duelist. Who was killed earlier this evening in his home by prince Fallins, who is still exacting revenge for the death of his wife, the princess Laenna.
"You think uncle will kill mother?" quietly asks prince Craefar as he looks at his father.
"Maybe" is the quiet reply from prince Paldim, who then looks across the table at his nephew the crown prince and tells him "He'll definitely kill your mother if he gets the chance lad".
"I know" says prince Waniq, who then silently adds, i hope he does . . . . . .

The Journey 38.

Autumn. Terrindim.

"Well, things are a little complicated for sure" says lord Ganulf in a slightly dry tone of voice.
"You think?" says prince Paldim, the king's brother in a sarcastic tone of voice.
Who then lets out a heavy breath, then says "Sorry" to the lord of Highsun.
"No need to apologise your highness" says the nobleman from the northern province of Hanamede, who after a brief pause, adds "You're right though".
The royal brother grunts, then looks out of one of the open windows, then mutters an oath in disgust.
Able airman Orvick looks between the nobleman he's the aide to, and the prince, who previously led the Balford faction.
The young local from here in the city of Fanile, glances sideways at the bosun Cedric who is sitting close by.
The bosun, who is the new offsider to lord Ganulf, sees able airman look his way. And he slightly shrugs to show what he thinks.
As the two of them find themselves in the middle of the largest upheaval in events in the kingdom of Terrindim in recent history.
They're in the offices of prince Waniq, here in the headquarters of the Balford faction in the Royal Palace of Terrindim.
It's near evening, and earlier in the day, in the morning infact. The twin dragons Blackflame and Whitefire left the capital after prince Fallins turned up for the first time in years and spoke to the royal dragons.
They weren't gone long. But a short time after, the rider Daeliss and her dragon Sunbeam showed up in the capital.
And they learnt what happened in the province of Wilshaw, where the Balford and Golmard factions where fighting along a wide battlefront.
At the same time, here in the city of Fanile. Prince Fallins was also going about exacting revenge for the death of his wife, princess Laenna. As the twin dragons apparently did for him as well.
Prince Paldim snorts, and not for the first time today, says "My little brother eh" followed by "He doesn't mess around, that's for sure".
The middle royal brother shakes his head, then loudly mutters "Shame he didn't kill that bitch in there". As he nods in the direction of the so called real palace, which lies behind the nearby high walls.
Prince Paldim, who until about a decade ago, actually led the Balford faction. Until his drinking got in the way, and he thought it best others should lead one of the largest factions in the kingdom.
Lets out a breath, a sigh really, then he quietly says "Ah well, we know why he didn't" followed by "He honours our older brother too much, and won't spill blood in there if he can help it".
As once again, he nods in the direction of the inner sanctum here in the Royal Palace of Terrindim.
Prince Paldim looks over at the lord of Highsun, and asks him "Any idea who my brother will name the new lord of the exchequer?".
"No idea highness" says lord Ganulf the advisor to the crown prince of Terrindim.
"Nor i" says the middle of the royal brothers, who after a moment's pause adds "Well whoever it is, it can't be worse than that asshole Kinvar.
"Thank the gods" says prince Paldim, who grins as he continues with "And thank my little brother" followed by "That he's dead" he then adds in a mutter "Good riddance to him".
There's only a small number of them in the office. Lord Ganulf and his immediate staff. They being his new aide, and new offsider.
As well as a pair of officers, going over the messages and reports that are coming in from throughout the kingdom.
Along with prince Paldim. And his son, prince Craefar. Who at the moment, is asleep on one of the couches here in the office.
He has taken the death of his beloved aunt, princess Laenna the dragon rider quite hard.
And one of the officers, who is a spellcaster, put him to sleep as requested by prince Paldim.
They're waiting for crown prince Waniq to show up. He sent a message earlier in the afternoon that he'd come to the headquarters of the Balford faction.
But he's rather occupied with things in the so called real palace at the moment.
And prince Paldim won't go over there at the moment. For the simple reason his wife the lady Desamo is in there, visiting her cousin, queen Pania.
Both of whom prince Paldim detests. Especially his sister inlaw, the queen, who he absolutely loathes. Especially now, after what's happened in the last couple of days.
Thinking of his wife, along with the queen, the royal brother looks over at the nobleman from the mountainous north of the kingdom, and asks him "You've never married, have you Ganulf?".
After a quick glance at his aide, and his offsider, the lord of the city of Highsun says "No highness, i haven't".
"Lucky you" dryly says the king's brother.
"My family tried to arrange a number of marriages for me, but i refused each one" says lord Ganulf, who slyly grins as he adds "It's one of the reason they hate me so much".
Prince Paldim chuckles for a bit, then he sighs, and says "Wish i could of refused".
The royal brother looks at his sleeping son, then quietly adds "Though, there is my children, I'll be forever grateful i got them out of my stinking marriage".
Prince Paldim looks over to the bench that able airman Orvick and bosun Cedric are sitting on, and tells them "You might not know it lads, but you as commoners have something over the nobleborn like myself and your lord".
The royal brother, the middle one of the three, continues with "You get to marry who you like" followed by "Unlike us".
Both Orvick and Cedric nod. As over the years, they've both heard how most noble marriages are arranged by the respective families.
And for the most part, a lot of the nobleborn's marriages aren't exactly happy, or even healthy.
Prince Paldim, who has made no secret that it's his marriage to the lady Desamo that's driven him to drink, says "Not many of us have marriages that one would call happy".
He's silent for a few moments, before he quietly adds "Fallins got lucky with Laenna" followed by "They were the exception amongst a lot of the nobility".
Lord Ganulf nods in agreement, for he knows few marriages amongst the noble class of Terrindim, where the marriage is a happy one.
Prince Waniq is in such a one. As is young prince Dalvin, the youngest of the king's children. Who at seventeen, recently married who he wanted to. Against the wishes of his mother the queen.
A few tears come to the eyes of prince Paldim, who dashes them away with a quick rub of a hand, then after clearing his throat, he asks "Anything new about my little brother?".
Able airman Orvick looks quickly over to the table the two officers are sitting at on the opposite side of the large chamber, here on the third floor of the keep that's the headquarters of the Balford faction.
The officers, both shake their heads no, and Orvick the aide to lord Ganulf says to the royal brother "Nothing new since earlier highness".
"Hmmmmm" murmurs prince Paldim, who is the tallest, and largest of the three royal brothers.
"Wonder if he's gone off and killed anyone else?" muses prince Paldim who led the Balford faction for over a dozen years before he quit as leader about a decade ago.
"We can hope so" quietly says lord Ganulf, who looked up to, and modeled himself after the youngest of the royal brothers, prince Fallins the swordsman.
The royal brothers, who though have similar facial features. Are completely different in looks and temperament than three brothers could ever be.
The oldest, king Crassil of Terrindim. Is the more considered one of the three. Who is of average height, and is lean like his four children.
While prince Paldim, isn't just the largest in size of the three. He's the one with the largest personality too.
He's what people call brash, and that's putting it lightly.
Though he's much more subdued at the moment. Because of the death of his sister inlaw, the rider Laenna.
And because he's totally sober, as he hasn't had a drop of anything to drink since he found out about the death of princess Laenna the dragon rider.
While the youngest of the three royal brothers, prince Fallins. Is lean like his oldest brother the king. But he's not particularly tall at all.
He's the quietest of the three by far. Considered the calm and thoughtful one of the trio of royal brothers.
He's also by far, the deadliest of three. Who trained with the sword since he was a child. And is a master swordsman.
"You think he'll go off and kill anyone else of significance highness?" asks lord Ganulf, who is standing and leaning back against a table behind him.
"Most definitely" is the reply of prince Paldim who is sitting on one of the couches here in third floor chamber that's one of the offices of prince Waniq in the headquarters of Balford faction.
"You think he might kill your niece?" quietly asks the lord of Highsun who is the advisor to crown prince Waniq.
The middle royal brother grimaces, then quietly replies with "He might just do" followed by "If he finds out what Chrisabol has been up to".
Prince Paldim is silent for a few moments, before he says "Though only if she had anything to do with Laenna's death".
"She probably did" quietly says lord Ganulf.
The prince grimaces again, as he's in agreement, that his brother, king Crassil's daughter, the princess Chrisabol. Most likely had something to do with the death of the dragon rider Laenna.
"That girl was always to damn close to her mother" mutters prince Paldim, followed by "And always to much involved with that stupid bloody church".
The middle of the royal brothers, has made it no secret over the years that he doesn't particularly like the churches and temples here in the kingdom of Terrindim.
And though the average Terrindiam is a devout individual. And all the factions in the kingdom honour and worship a trio of the gods.
Prince Paldim does not, as he's basically an atheist, something of a rarity in the kingdom of Terrindim. Especially as a member of the royal family.
"I think you may be right your highness" says the nobleman from the northern province of Hanamede.
"I know I'm right" sourly says prince Paldim, who falls silent as an officer enters the chamber.
Who delivers a message to the two officers sitting at one of the table.
Then he goes over to another of the tables to where able airman Orvick, and bosun Cedric are sitting on a bench.
He whispers something to the newly appointed aide to lord Ganulf, before he exits the chamber.
"Highness, my lord" says Orvick to the prince and the lord "The Lombac faction has declared faction war upon the Welmid faction" adds the teenage airman with the club foot.
The lord of the city of Highsun just shakes his head, while prince Paldim just snorts in disgust, then says "The idiots should of just declared war upon my little brother".
The middle of the royal brothers who previously led the Balford faction then says "He's just going about exacting revenge upon those who had anything to do with his wife's death" followed by "He couldn't give a shit about which faction they belong to".
Lord Ganulf nods in agreement. As he thinks the Lombac faction, which lord Kinvar belonged to. Has made a grave mistake declaring a faction war upon the Welmid faction. Which prince Fallins, and his deceased wife Laenna are part of.
"Kinvar was only with them to look like he was neutral" quietly says the lord of Highsun, who continues with "Everyone and their dog knows he had strong links with his sister's faction, our enemy the Golmard's".
The others all nod in agreement. Then they all look to the open door, as the crown prince of Terrindim, prince Waniq enters the chamber.
"Sorry I'm a bit late" says prince Waniq, who follows that with "I had to settle Sarsha" he slightly winces as he continues with "It was difficult telling her of princess Laenna's death".
Prince Paldim nods, and looks over at his sleeping son, fleet admiral Craefar. Who has also taken the death of the rider Laenna with difficulty too.
The crown prince looks at his advisor, and asks him "What is it that you wanted to tell me?".
"Highness, with what's happening, and with the death of those four Golmard dragons and riders" says lord Ganulf, who continues with "And the death of the lord of the exchequer" followed by "And whoever else your uncle Fallins has gone off and killed".
The lord of the city of Highsun briefly pauses then says "We've got the opportunity to take advantage of the situation with our war against the Golmard and Salmain factions".
After a few moments, the crown prince of Terrindim, who is effectively the leader of the Balford faction, nods his head, then says "I'm listening".
Lord Ganulf then explains what they should do, as he's thought up something to take advantage of what's happening at the moment in the kingdom . . . . . .

The Journey 37.

Autumn. The Province Of Wilshaw.

"Well one of them knows what the fuck they're doing" says lord Farque who then adds in a sour tone "Unfortunately".
The undead warlord points away to the west, and then to the northwest as he continues with "See they're patrolling in grids" followed by "With their quicker ships, their cutters and the like, on the outer fringes keeping an eye out for their enemies".
The heavily armoured deathlord is silent for a few moments, before he says "No doubt they've sent their dragons out to look for them too".
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque briefly pauses before he adds "Which might be the only good thing really" he follows that with "If we proceed cautiously we might be able to continue westwards" the lord of the death realm then mutters "Well i fucking hope that we can".
They set down this morning after following the battlefront between the Balford and Golmard factions here in the province of Wilshaw.
The reason they landed the Quick Gull, was because the battle. Well more like skirmishes on a long front that goes for miles.
Broke apart when the black and white dragons, the royal pair from the capital Fanile.
Suddenly turned up and killed a quartet of red dragons in the Golmard faction. And as suddenly they appeared, they disappeared.
The effect of which sent airships and armies in both warring factions, scattering across the sky, and the across countryside below.
Though they followed at some distance, lord Farque along with Helbe the elven thief, Jarjin Littlefoot the halfling, and Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy.
Along with the two spellcasters, Mira Reinholt the mage, and Beldane the cleric all witnessed the attack by the royal dragons on the Golmard faction's dragons.
With the lord and ruler of the lands Farque saying as they watched, that finally there were two dragons acting like dragons elsewhere in the world would act and behave.
Without riders, and more vicious than the tame dragons of the various factions they've seen whilst here in the kingdom of Terrindim.
The heavily armoured deathlord who is on the stern deck of the Quick Gull with the members of his personal council, looks to the north and points, and says "A merchant vessel".
"And they're going to intercept it" says Helbe the elven thief as in the distance, those with longsight, see a few of the quicker Balford faction vessels heading towards the slow moving trading vessel.
The undead warlord, who is also known by the name of Draugadrottin to the people of his lands, grunts when he sees this, then mutters something in a language the others don't understand.
Then in the elven language, which they're speaking, the heavily armoured deathlord says "There's a village away to the north of us" followed by "We'll head there, and wait to see if they continue these new patrols, or if they'll go off and fight that other lot again".
The undead being, who has the elven name of Des'tier, which means The Destroyer, turns to the captain of the Quick Gull and tells him in the common language, to lift off, and head due north.
It's not too long before the small, sleek looking airship, originally from the Sultanate of Dreese, which is on the east coast of the continent.
Is heading north in the late morning sunshine, on what's a cold autumn day here in the province of Wilshaw. The province considered the first of the western provinces in the kingdom of Terrindim.
They get to the village just seven miles to the north fairly quickly, arriving just before midday.
Where they put down just outside the decent sized village that's in the middle of some farmland here in the province of Wilshaw.
A province that definitely has more wilderness than in the central provinces they've gone through.
Only some of the eastern provinces with their thick forests, can compare to what they've seen so far in places here in Wilshaw.
And apparently the further west you go in the kingdom, the more uninhibited and wild looking it becomes.
Which isn't much an advantage to them as they continue their journey westwards back to the Southlands in the western half of the continent.
It's more of a disadvantage really, considering the various factions here in Terrindim who are war with one another.
Like to fight where there's little to none of the population. Making the west of the kingdom, the ideal battleground for those factions who are at war.
Though it's only been two days since they left the capital city of Fanile, where they last got supplies, and a number of other things.
Some of them head into the village to see what they can buy, as well as find out anymore information as to what's happening further to the west, not just here in the province of Wilshaw, but in the other provinces in the western half of the kingdom.
While everyone else remains onboard the Quick Gull, keeping an eye for both airships and dragons, from the Balford and Golmard factions.
Who until earlier in the morning, were fighting across a long battlefront that stretched for dozens and dozens of miles, mainly from southeast to northwest, here in the province of Wilshaw.
There's a couple of farmers who have come into the village to sell their wares. Mainly stone fruit, and root vegetables, considering it is autumn after all.
And after they sold some of their produce just after dawn when they arrived here in the village. They're selling the rest of it at midday.
Which the mage Reinholt buys all of, and for a good price to the farmers as well.
And after the once powerful mage has a few of the Quick Gull's crew carry the fresh produce back to the airship that just sits outside the village.
The spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil, who happens to also be a highly skilled swordmaster. Along with Tovis the war engineer, gets to chatting with the pair of farmers, whose farms are next to one another, just a few miles to the north of the village.
"A lot of airships in the sky of late" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who like the others onboard the Quick Gull, doesn't bother trying to hide the fact that they're foreigners.
They've learnt that in most places that they've stopped at here in the kingdom of Terrindim. The locals like to chat with people from outside their kingdom, as they don't get that many in Terrindim.
It's no different here in this village, where they haven't seen foreign visitors for years.
"Aye that there is" says the older of the two neighbouring farmers, who continues with "Always the way out this way, the factions at war always seem to fight here, and further west in the kingdom".
"It's the way it's always been" says the other farmer, who might not be grey like his neighbour, but he's definitely bald. 
The two of them go through those factions, that they know of, who are at war with one another.
Turns out there's quite a lot actually, for there's more than a dozen factions in the kingdom who are warring against one another.
It's just that the two largest factions in Terrindim, the Balford and Golmard factions. Are just the latest war in the kingdom. A war that earlier in the week, had the Salmain faction join in on the action.
And though that war is just a few weeks old. As the two largest factions fight over the right to have a family of wild dragon egg hunters join them.
There's other wars that have been going on for years. Infact some have been going on for decades.
The two farmers, who belong to the Lombac faction, who they proudly state the queen's own brother, lord Kinvar, the lord of the exchequer is essentially the leader of.
Rather appreciate the various wars that have been continually going on for years.
As more often than not, they get to sell most of their produce to various factions who stop here in the village, and at the surrounding farms, including their own.
"Not to mention the dragons and their riders who always stop off" says the older of the two local farmers "They pay well for any stock the beasts be wanting to eat, when they get sick of hunting wild deer and the like".
"No matter what faction they be, they all pay well for a cow or sheep, and even hogs" adds the younger of the two farmers, whose properties lie just a few miles away to the north.
The mage Reinholt, who always wondered how the kingdom could sustain so many dragons within it's borders.
Nods his hooded head in understanding, as he sees how the people of the villages and towns help supply the dragons with their feed and upkeep. And for a good price by the sounds of it.
"That i am" says Tovis the war engineer, who continues with "More of an engineer than a blacksmith really".
In response to one of the farmers asking him if he's a blacksmith, considering the young engineer wears a leather smock like apron similar to what blacksmiths wear.
While the war engineer from the kingdom of Druvic, and the Vexilian mage in exile continue to chat with the two farmers.
Elsewhere in the village, as Helbe the elven thief, without anyone seeing him. Wanders around reading the minds of the unsuspecting locals.
Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit, and Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy. Who have just left a dry goods store. Where they've bought barrels and sacks of pulse, milled wheat and grain. And had them delivered to the Quick Gull. Which sits just outside the large village.
Enter a tavern that's just picking up in business, as it's now noon. And people are coming in for the midday meal.
The halfling, Jarjin Littlefoot, who the locals, and everyone else he's met so far in the kingdom of Terrindim, thinks he's a beardless, or at the very least, a very young dwarf. From one of the northern provinces, where there's a sizeable dwarven population in the mountainous region of the kingdom.
Looks around, and picks a table, which he and the spy Tanith sit at.
After ordering their drinks, and something to eat. They end up chatting to a small group of apprentices of various masters. Who are sitting at the table next to their's.
Who are ever grateful to speak with a pair of outsiders, one of whom they think is a dwarf. The other they have absolutely know idea about. As there's no elves here in the kingdom of Terrindim.
They find out the apprentices who are on their break, belong to various factions. Thankfully none who are at war with one another. As that tends to end friendships.
After the serving maid brings them their ale and food, Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit says to the lot sitting at the next table "Bit of action going on just to the west of here".
The halfling who is a former air sailor, who previously served in the fleet of the Sultan of Dreese, then adds "It's why we stopped in at your village, didn't want to get caught up in it".
The hobbit, who is not what he seems, continues with "Hopefully we're able to continue on our way to the very west of the kingdom".
"You should be alright" says the apprentice baker, who then spits to the side in disgust, before he adds "Well, you'd hope so, but you can never tell with that Balford lot".
The apprentice baker, obviously a member of the Golmard faction then says "You'd be safe if you ran across any of the warships in the Golmard faction".
"I don't know about that" dryly murmurs Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy in his native language to the hobbit sitting beside him.
The halfling former air sailor, who is not who he appears to be. As he's actually a human by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of the former air sailor from the Sultanate of Dreese.
Slightly nods his head in agreement with the elven spy sitting beside him, before he takes a drink from his mug of ale.
Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman then asks the youngsters at the next table "Any others we have to be careful of if we continue our journey west?".
"Quite a few actually" says a big young man, who is the striker for the blacksmith in town.
"But over the last couple of days, apart from the Golmard and Balford faction fleets in the skies here abouts" continues the blacksmith's apprentice, who then adds "We've caught sight of a few of who we think are the Salmain faction".
"Don't usually see them down these ways" says another apprentice, who works in the nearby mill "What them being from the northern mountains".
He nods at the halfling who he thinks is a dwarf, as he says "You'd probably know more about them than us.
"Fairly dark looking ships?" says the hobbit who is a member of lord Farque's personal council, who then describes the colours flown from the Salmain faction.
Jarjin aka Zubutai the son of Timagin, then adds "Blue dragons too" followed by "Mainly darker blue ones".
"That's them alright" says another of the apprentices at the table next to the one that the halfling and elf are sitting at.
"They've been lurking around for the last few days" adds the apprentice, who by the looks of him, and his attire, works in a shop of some kind here in the village.
"They'd be wanting to move in on the big war between the Balford and Golmard faction no doubt" says the blacksmith's apprentice.
"More like on Balford faction" says the baker's apprentice, who then adds "That lord Ganulf was in the Salmain faction until a few years ago, and his family still run it, and they still aren't all that pleased he went and left them" he follows that with "They'll be wanting to kill him for sure".
The other apprentices at the table nod in agreement, and though they don't know a lot about the various factions at war.
They do know that the two largest factions in Terrindim, are hell bent on having a family of wild dragon egg hunters join them.
And the one of the largest of the so called smaller factions, the Salmain faction.
Want to disrupt that war, by declaring war upon the Balford faction. Because of who is the advisor to the crown prince.
Even in this fairly remote farming village in this corner of the kingdom, they know about this.
Even though the war between the Balford and Golmard factions is still only a few weeks old.
Jarjin Littlefoot and Dalinvardél Tanith share a look, as they wonder if the Quick Gull, will ever be able to get free. And fly westwards without being interrupted by a warship or a dragon from any faction.
Particularly from the Balford and Golmard factions. And to a lesser extent, the Salmain faction.
They both rather doubt it, as they continue to chat with the table of apprentices next to them.
Here in the village tavern, on this cold, but clear and sunny autumn day, in the province of Wilshaw, in the kingdom of Terrindim . . . . . .

The Journey 36.

Autumn. The Kingdom Of Terrindim.

"Something's definitely happened" says captain Jarmic Komav, who then adds "And idea?".
"No idea captain" says the sorcerer Sarvon who serves onboard captain Jarmic's battlecruiser, the Dragon Flame.
The warship captain grunts, as the two of them walk over to where a bunch of their fellow airship captains, and officers in the second fleet of the Balford faction are standing.
"We'll know soon enough when Dae gets back" says the captain of the Dragon Flame.
The sorcerer, who like the warship captain is from the western province of Halvarc, nods in agreement with him.
The warring factions, Balford and Golmard. Here in the province of Wilshaw. The first of the western provinces in the kingdom. Have broken off from their battlefront, that stretches for miles through the province.
For the simple reason that the royal dragons, the twins Blackflame and Whitefire turned up. And quickly killed four of the Golmard dragons.
The trio of dragons known as the Golmard three. And another dragon in the faction that's at war with the Balford faction.
And as quickly as the twin dragons turned up, they disappeared again. Most likely back to the capital city Fanile.
The Balford faction, those that witnessed the devastation wrought by the royal dragons.
Were too stunned to give chase to the enemy, who fled after four of their dragons and riders were killed in short succession.
Captain Jarmic still can't believe what he saw when the twins Blackflame and Whitefire suddenly turned up.
Though when he looks away to the right, to the east. On the side of a hill, behind a farm. Is a clear reminder of what happened just a short time ago.
Half a red dragon lies splattered across the hillside. The warship captain assumes the other half lies on the otherside of the hill. After it was ripped in two by the royal dragons.
After captain Jarmic and the sorcerer Sarvon, who is essentially his first officer join the others.
One of the other warship captains asks "Any idea why they did that highness?".
"I have absolutely no idea" says captain Craefar, who looks just as stunned as the others.
The young warship captain, who is the son of prince Paldim and lady Desamo, and is a fleet admiral in the Balford faction, adds "I've only spoken to them a handful of times in my life" followed by "And to be honest i never would of thought they would of got involved in a faction war".
His highness is silent for a few moments, before he continues with ""They've never really cared or bothered what the factions get up to".
He briefly pauses again, before he says "Hell, i don't even know the last time they left the capital".
A few of the Balford dragon riders walk over and join them, after they've checked on the state of the second fleet, and the accompanying armies.
The question is asked of them about when the last time the royal dragons left the capital city Fanile.
It's sir Malfane the dragon rider who responds with "Firelight says they last left the capital when his majesty took the throne".
Prince Craefar nods his head, then says "That's right, about thirty years ago" followed by "Apparently there was a royal procession that traveled the kingdom when my uncle was crowned".
Sir Malfane nods, then says "I was just a lad at the time, and i do recall it" the nobleman from the western province of Halvarc continues with "They set down with the king at our neighbour's manse, all the local nobles and commoners alike went and saw them one morning, to greet the new king and the twins, before they continued on northwards through Halvarc".
The nobleborn dragon rider then nods away to the hilltop to the east of them, and says "The next time i saw them outside of the capital, i didn't think they'd do that" followed by "That was absolutely brutal".
The other Balford dragon riders, as well as the airship captains and officers nod in agreement with him.
For none of them have ever seen a dragon, let alone two. Act with wild ferocity like the twin dragons did a little earlier this morning, here in the province of Wilshaw, the first of the western provinces of the kingdom of Terrindim.
Prince Craefar, who is definitely more like his father prince Paldim, than he is his mother, the lady Desamo, then says "Well, at least there's one good thing to come out of all this" he briefly pauses before adding "There's four less of their blasted dragons to deal with" followed by "For that, I'm grateful to the twins".
The others all nod and murmur in agreement with his highness, the nephew of the king.
Captain Craefar looks over at captain Jarmic of the Dragon Flame, and says "Hopefully your cousin, the rider Daeliss brings word back of what's happening" followed by "Because something must of set the twins off" he then adds "Because they wouldn't of done that otherwise".
The commonborn warship captain nods in agreement, then says "Hopefully she returns soon highness".
As he like the others, are all wondering what's happening. As to why the twin dragons Blackflame and Whitefire did what they did. On this cold autumn morning, here in the province of Wilshaw.
It's just a short while later, and a rift appears in the morning sky nearby. And a large, burnt orange coloured dragon, comes flying out of it.
It's the dragon Sunbeam, and his rider Daeliss Komav.
They circle the group standing not that far from prince Craefar's battlecruiser.
Before setting down on the ground, next to a few of the other Balford dragons.
The rider Daeliss, who has just returned from the capital city Fanile. Quickly walks to join the group who have gathered here in a middle of some fields.
The commonborn dragon rider with a quick nod of her head to acknowledge the bows directed at her, walks up to prince Craefar.
"Highness, a quiet word with you" says Daeliss Komav the dragon rider.
Captain Jarmic who knows his younger cousin well. Can see that she's clearly suppressing her emotions.
And he's pretty certain the emotion she's suppressing the most, is rage.
The captain of the battlecruiser the Dragon Flame looks quickly at the other dragon riders.
And almost at the same time, he's sees looks of disbelief on their faces, followed by anger.
He realises that his cousin Daeliss, through her dragon Sunbeam, must of told them whatever it is she's found out after her quick journey back to the capital Fanile.
The commonborn warship captain from the province of Halvarc watches as his cousin and the prince walk away.
As they do, the young dragon rider explains to captain Craefar what it is she's found out, as to why the royal dragons, the twins Blackflame and Whitefire suddenly turned up here, and killed four of the enemy Golmard dragons.
The two of them stop about thirty yards away from the others.
And after a moment as the rider Daeliss finishes telling him something, prince Craefar drops to his haunches, and lets out a scream of anguish.
The commonborn dragon rider from the province of Halvarc, puts a hand on his shoulder.
Then looks at the others and shakes her head no, when some of them move to attend to his highness, who though only in his early twenties, is a fleet admiral in the Balford faction.
The others remain where they are, with the exception of sir Malfane the dragon rider, after Daeliss nods to him.
The nobleborn dragon rider makes his way over, and kneels down next to the king's nephew. Puts an arm around his shoulder, and quietly speaks to him.
After a few moments, the two dragon riders help the young fleet admiral to stand.
Then with his arm still around prince Craefar, who is clearly crying. Sir Malfane helps him walk over to where his dragon Firelight is.
While the rider Daeliss Komav, slowly makes her way to where her cousin Jarmic and the others are standing.
"Sir Malfane and Firelight will be taking the prince back to the capital" quietly says the lean, blonde, rider of the dragon Sunbeam.
Captain Jarmic blinks in surprise when he hears that, for the simple reason dragons don't let anyone apart from their riders upon their backs when they fly.
Seeing the questioning look from her cousin Jarmic and the other airship captains and officers, Daeliss says "Firelight will make this one exception, and allow his highness upon her back" she briefly pauses before she quietly adds "With good reason".
It's not until Firelight and sir Malfane, along with prince Craefar are airborne, and they disappear through a rift in the sky, that the rider Daeliss tells the others what's happened.
Captain Jarmic Komav of the battlecruiser the Dragon Flame listens on in disbelief as his young cousin tells him and the other airship captains and officers.
That princess Laenna the dragon rider, along with her dragon Greenfire, are dead.
Attacked and killed in the south of the kingdom, by five dragons in the Golmard faction.
And though Greenfire, who along with the rider Laenna. Are the most well known dragon and rider in all of Terrindim, behind his majesty, king Crassil, and the twin dragons, Blackflame and Whitefire.
Were able to kill one of the Golmard dragons that attacked them. The other four, three of them being the trio known as the Golmard three. Killed them down in the province of Cramoor yesterday.
There's silence from the gathered crowd, which is eventually broken by captain Jarmic, who loudly mutters "Hell".
Others nod in agreement with that from the commonborn warship captain from the western province of Halvarc.
Looking at her older cousin the captain of the Dragon Flame, the rider Daeliss asks him "You notice anything about the twins?".
Jarmic Komav, a man not yet thirty, who though has a reputation of a bit of womanizer, who has fathered a bastard or two across the kingdom, is a highly accomplished airship captain, frowns as he looks at his young cousin, and says "No, not really".
Apart from them being totally wild, the warship captain thinks to himself, who then blinks in surprise, when Daeliss tells him and the others "His majesty wasn't with them" followed by "They did this by themselves".
She nods over to where the half a dead dragon on the side of the nearby hilltop lies, and says "Killing the four remaining Golmard dragons who killed princess Laenna and her dragon Greenfire" she continues with "They decided to do this".
The commonborn dragon rider then tells the others that prince Fallins turned up in the capital earlier this morning. A city he hasn't visited in a number of years. Where he spoke to the royal dragons, the twins Blackflame and Whitefire.
"After he left the palace, his highness prince Fallins went to the residence of the queen's brother, lord Kinvar" says the rider Daeliss, who after a moment's pause, adds "The kingdom now needs a new lord of the exchequer".
"Hell" mutters captain Jarmic, and he's not the only one to mutter that, or something similar.
Knowing that the king's youngest brother, prince Fallins is the last royal family member to be in a duel, the captain of Dragon Flame asks his cousin the dragon rider "Did lord Kinvar accept the prince's challenge to a duel?".
Daeliss Komav shakes her head no, then says "The prince didn't challenge him" followed by "He entered the lord of the exchequer's home, killed any of lord Kinvar's guards who got in his way, then cut the queen's brother down as he tried to flee".
The others are all silent after they hear that, a silence that's only broken when captain Jarmic finally mutters "Fucking hell".
After a moment, he asks his cousin Daeliss "Is the Welmid faction at war with the Golmard faction then?".
As prince Fallins, like his now deceased wife, princess Laenna the dragon rider, is a member of the Welmid faction.
Shaking her head no again, the rider Daeliss says "They haven't as yet".
"Well they might not be" says captain Jarmic is a slightly dry tone, who continues in the same tone with "But his highness, prince Fallins certainly has".
There's nods of agreement with that, then the sorcerer Sarvon says "I'm surprised he didn't kill the queen when he went to speak with the twins" he then adds "Everyone knows how much he hates her" followed by "I bet she had something to do with the death of princess Laenna".
"Most definitely" says captain Jarmic in agreement with his first officer.
"It's because of his majesty the king and our own prince Waniq" says Daeliss the dragon rider, followed by "They were the only ones out infront of the main keep when he showed up to speak with twins Blackflame and Whitefire".
Nodding his head, one of the other warship captains says "Everyone knows how much he loves and honours his older brother, the king" he continues with "But i suspect if the king was not there, and only prince Waniq was there to greet his uncle prince Fallins, the queen would be dead" followed by "The two of them have the same thing in common, the queen dislikes them both, and wants them dead".
There's nods and murmurs of agreement with that. Then the rider Daeliss tells them what else she was able to hurriedly find out at what's happening after she quickly rushed back to the capital city Fanile.
After the commonborn dragon rider from the province of Halvarc finishes explaining what she found out from her hasty journey to the capital.
There's a few moments of silence, before one of the other airship captains asks "Now what?".
Though there's no fleet admirals with this group, there are a couple of senior captains who are nobleborn.
But they, along with the other warship captains and officers look over at captain Jarmic, who stands with his first officer, and his teenage cousin the dragon rider.
Jarmic Komav hears his cousin Daeliss in his mind telling him, that it looks like he's in command for the moment.
The captain of the battlecruiser the Dragon Flame clears his throat says "Right, we should probably she get moving" followed by "After all, we're still at war".
Captain Jarmic Komav then starts issuing orders to those in these wings of the second fleet of the Balford faction, who until a little while ago was in the middle of a battle against the enemy, the Golmard faction . . . . . .

The Journey 35.

Autumn. The Province Of Wilshaw.

"Head down again?" asks Sunbeam the dragon.
"Might as well" replies Daeliss the dragon rider, who continues with "Go for their cavalry this time.
The large, burnt orange coloured dragon rumbles that he will. Then he dives down out of the morning sky towards the enemy.
They're in the middle of a battle, well it's more like a skirmish really. Here in the province of Wilshaw. Which is considered the first of the western provinces in the kingdom of Terrindim.
There's a battlefront here in Wilshaw, that goes for miles. Where the Balford faction is fighting the Golmard faction.
The rider Daeliss, with her dragon Sunbeam. Who are with the second fleet of the Balford faction.
Are concentrating their efforts this morning upon the enemy ground forces.
For here in Wilshaw, compared to where they were previously fighting in the central provinces of the kingdom.
There's a lot more action taking place down on the ground. As there's more of the armies from both sides of faction war, here in the province of Wilshaw.
As he swoops down out of the morning sky, Sunbeam the dragon sprays fire from his mouth at an enemy formation.
The largest dragon in the Balford faction flings a ball of lightning from his front right claws at the same time.
Which explodes amongst an enemy mounted formation. Whose horses are running in panic as they smell, and see the massive airborne predator coming down at them.
As he scorches hundreds of the enemy army, Daeliss hears her dragon Sunbeam rumbling with laughter.
The large dragon tilts his right wing up, and he sweeps away to the left. Quite low to the ground as he does so.
The commonborn dragon rider from the western province of Halvarc feels Sunbeam grab something.
Then she sees him flip something up into the air. It's a horse, and an enemy soldier still in the saddle.
Daeliss blinks as she realises it's a high ranking officer in the Golmard faction's army, most likely a nobleman.
Who is screaming in an uncontrolled manner, as his mount which is dead after Sunbeam's claws skewered it.
Goes tumbling up into the air, with the enemy officer clinging onto it for dear life.
They drop towards the ground, rider and horse. Until they land amongst their own army. Killing a number on the ground, as they die from the impact.
Cheers come from away to the left, where a substantial force in the Balford army are.
They cheer the dragon, and rider. Who have a growing reputation, not just in their own faction.
But now throughout the kingdom, as word of their recent deeds start to spread across Terrindim.
Daeliss waves to their nearby forces, before Sunbeam rises up into the sky. Heading more to the northwest, where in the distance, some of warships from their second fleet, have engaged in battle with some of the vessels in the Golmard faction who are in this area of the province of Wilshaw.
"That's definitely one of the three" says Sunbeam, referring to the three Golmard dragons, who spend a lot of their time on the staging grounds of the Golmard faction, in the capital city Fanile.
"The other two are here as well" says Daeliss the dragon rider, as word has got to them, that all three of Golmard dragons, known collectively as the three.
Are here on the battlefront, that goes for dozens of miles throughout the province of Wilshaw. The first of what's known as the western provinces in the kingdom of Terrindim.
"Best keep an eye out for them" adds the lean, blonde teenager who has been the rider of Sunbeam for the last three years.
"I will" says the large dragon who has been in the Komav family since the egg.
Both Daeliss and Sunbeam know that through they fight well in unison with sir Malfane and his dragon Firelight.
They're not as accomplished in fighting together as the Golmard dragons known as the three.
Who have fought side by side for generations, more than a hundred and fifty years. With a number of different riders.
Experience like that in battle is hard to come by. And the three, are often thought of as the best fighting dragons in the Golmard faction.
Though the recent accomplishments of Daeliss and Sunbeam, is something that not even the three have done.
Killing two dragons in a matter of days. Not done by a single dragon in recent memory.
Hopefully the enemy will be cautious of us, the commonborn dragon rider from the western province of Halvarc thinks to herself, who then calls out "Beam get us there quick!".
The next moment, the two of them disappear, as the large, burnt orange coloured dragon teleports them away.
Even though the province of Wilshaw, is immediately to the west of the province of Galmede, in which the capital city of Fanile lies.
Wilshaw is considered the first of the western provinces because of the low population it has.
It's why the battlefront between the Balford and Golmard factions here in Wilshaw goes for miles and miles.
Going across either fairly empty farmland, or more often than not, actual wilderness. Which you'll see an occasional dirt road going through.
Above one such road, the dragon Sunbeam reappears. And he shoots up into the morning sky, beneath some of the enemy warships. Who have engaged with those in the second fleet of the Balford faction.
As Sunbeam darts upwards into the sky, and blasts apart an enemy frigate with a spell.
The rider Daeliss looks away to the right, and as debris of the destroyed enemy vessel falls all around her and Sunbeam.
She spots her cousin Jarmic's battlecruiser, the Dragon Flame. Locked together with an enemy vessel of a similar size. With members of both crews, boarding the other vessel.
With barely a glance that way, Sunbeam casts a spell. And the next moment, a large number of the enemy crew still onboard their triple masted vessel.
Find themselves in midair, away from their warship. And falling out of the sky.
Even from where they are, Daeliss can see her cousin's crew, and the Balford faction soldiers onboard with them.
Cheering as over fifty of the enemy of the vessel they've locked up with. Are falling out of sky, dropping rapidly towards the ground, on this cold autumn morning, here in the province of Wilshaw.
The rider Daeliss looks quickly around in the sky, and spots an enemy dragon nearby.
It's one of the three, and Sunbeam has spotted it as well.
Though both rider and dragon are cautious to take it on. For the simple reason it could be bait for a trap.
As that's a well known tactic of dragons who work in unison during battle. Especially those dragons in the Golmard faction known as the three.
The commonborn dragon rider from the western province of Halvarc doesn't know which one of the three it is.
As they all look similar, especially considering they're all the same shade of red.
It's only by their slight size differences, and the protrusions two of them have on their heads, that you can tell them apart.
"Hold back?" is what Sunbeam the dragon asks of his rider.
"For now" says Daeliss, whose family has had Sunbeam since the egg.
"The other two close by?" asks the teenage dragon rider.
"A few miles away to the west, fighting further along the battlefront" is the reply of the large, burnt orange dragon, who after biffing an energyball at an enemy warship, is hovering in midair, a good thousand feet above the action.
The rider Daeliss then sees within her mind, vision of the two other dragons in the Golmard faction, who make up the three.
They're attacking more of the vessels in the Balford faction's second fleet, further away to the northwest.
She sees sir Malfane and his dragon Firelight, and two other dragons in the Balford faction, trying to repel them.
"There's another one close by" says Sunbeam, after the vision in the mind of Daeliss disappears, after he dragon drops the viewing spell he was showing her.
"Attacking our ground forces" adds the large dragon that's been in the Komav family for about a century, though he didn't actually hatch until about eighty years ago.
"I see it" says Daeliss, who at the age of sixteen was the youngest dragon rider in the kingdom, and infact at nineteen, still is.
After a quick look in the direction of her cousin Jarmic's battlecruiser, she says to her dragon "Go for it".
The largest dragon in the Balford faction rumbles in pleasure, then he dives down out of the sky.
He flings an energyball at an enemy airship, and whips his tail at another one, as he goes shooting down between them.
With Daeliss clinging onto the saddle, the large, burnt orange coloured dragon heads straight for an enemy dragon, flying low over some fields, spraying fire at a formation in the Balford faction's army.
At the last moment, the enemy dragon, a smaller beast. Darts forward, to avoid getting smashed into by Sunbeam, who dropped with all four sets of claws, extended out below.
There's a squawk like sound that escapes from the enemy dragon's maw as it evades the much larger dragon in the Balford faction.
In the saddle, Daeliss has her small hand held crossbow ready, as her dragon Sunbeam gives chase.
And in just a few quick wing strokes, the large, burnt orange coloured dragon is upon the enemy dragon.
Who lets out another squawk as Sunbeam batters it's wards. Almost depleting them by half. Just before it vanishes when it teleports away.
The Balford dragon could follow it, but instead he turns on his side to the left, and with his claws out to the side, he slashes at another enemy dragon that's suddenly appeared next to him.
It's one of the Golmard three that was nearby. Which slams into Sunbeam, sending them both tumbling through the air.
Daeliss clinches onto the saddle with all her strength. Seeing the ground, then sky, and the red enemy dragon. And so on, and so on, as they all tumble sideways through the air.
The two dragons that are clenched together by the claws, are flung apart, upwards into the morning sky.
They end up being just five hundred feet apart, at under a thousand feet in altitude.
Both Daeliss and Sunbeam recognise the red dragon from the Golmard faction, as Redflame. The so called middle dragon of the three. Simply because he's the middle in age.
The pointed horns, like bull horns really. Are the dead giveaway that it's Redflame.
Who though shorter in length that Sunbeam, is almost as bulky as the large, burnt orange coloured dragon who has been in the Komav family since the egg.
The two dragons from enemy factions who are at war with each other.
Briefly eye one another up. Then they both fly at one another. Not bothering to cast any spells. As this fight will come down to strength, agility, guile, and straight out viciousness to see who the victor is.
As they try to be the first to deplete the other's wards, so that they can try and deliver a lethal blow upon their opponent.
As they fly at the Golmard dragon Redflame, the rider Daeliss silently tells Sunbeam to be weary of the two others in the three, away to the northwest along the battlefront, who could turn up out of nowhere.
The large Balford faction dragon tells her that he will, just before he smashes into the dragon Redflame.
The two dragons, with their riders clinging onto their saddles. Grapple as they bite and claw at one another. Trying to deplete one another's wards.
Sunbeam with his greater wingspan, as he grabs onto the enemy dragon, drops down out of the sky.
Redflame, seeing that the larger dragon intends to fly him into the ground.
Breaks free, and wings away, before disappearing. He doesn't go far, as he reappears just a couple of thousand feet away. Circling around, and heading back in this direction.
Sunbeam who doesn't bother to cast in a battle like this. As he has learnt that those precious moments in casting. Could cost you a chance in defeating an opponent's wards to deliver a killing blow.
Comes to a halt in midair, backwinging to keep in position.
The rider Daeliss, who in the last week and bit, has been in this position quite a lot. Where an enemy dragon is trying to kill her and Sunbeam.
Once again silently cautions her dragon about the other two dragons in the group known as the Golmard three.
Sunbeam who silently tells her that he's keeping an eye on them, as they fight further along the battlefront to the northwest.
Snaps his wings forward, then sweeps them back, and shoots forward as he sees the dragon Redflame is flying directly at him again.
The large burnt orange coloured dragon in the Balford faction lets out a startled squawk. And quickly veers away to the left, as suddenly a pair of rifts appear in the sky. Right in the path between him and enemy dragon Redflame.
The rider Daeliss can't actually believe what's she's seeing. For after she blinks in surprise at the two rifts suddenly appearing.
And as her dragon Sunbeam veers away. She sees the twin royal dragons, Blackflame and Whitefire shoot out of the rifts. Right into the Golmard dragon Redflame.
The commonborn dragon rider from the western province of Halvarc can hear the loud squawk of alarm from the Golmard dragon from where she is. Just before the dragons known as the twins, slam into it.
Blackflame and Whitefire, the two largest dragons in the kingdom of Terrindim. Who are at least thirty feet longer than Sunbeam, and even bulkier.
Crash into the dragon Redflame at speed, with so much force. That his wards are basically wiped out in an instant.
Daeliss after the battle she and Sunbeam had against the Golmard dragon Deepsun in the province of Smalsare, where they killed the enemy dragon. Thought she knew how vicious dragons can be in battle.
But her thoughts on that completely change as she watches the massive black and white dragons of the king of Terrindim.
Blackflame and Whitefire look completely feral, almost wild and out of control as they attack the Golmard dragon Redflame.
Whitefire has the left wing of Redflame in her maw. And she thrashes her head from side to side like a ferret ripping apart a rat.
Meanwhile Blackflame, who is the slightly larger of the twins. Who are smothering the smaller red dragon.
Has Redflame's throat between his massive jaws.
And as he bites down upon the neck of the Golmard faction dragon, he rips his rear claws down the belly of Redflame.
In just mere moments, the dragon Redflame is falling dead out of the sky, with his left wing ripped off. His stomach torn open, and entrails falling out of them. While his head hangs by basically a thread.
As he falls out of the sky, the momentum tears his head from what's left of his neck.
While further up in the sky, the dragon Whitefire is chewing on something. It's Redflame's rider, as the large white dragon eats him and the saddle he's on, whole.
There's a loud bugle like roar from the dragon Blackflame that can be heard across the sky.
And the rider Daeliss as she looks at the twins, sees the wild look in their eyes as they scan the skies.
The commonborn dragon rider who has noticed the alarming fact that the twin's rider, king Crassil of Terrindim isn't with them.
Looks around and sees that in this part of the battlefront, the combatants are breaking off from one another.
In the sky, airships from the Golmard and Balford faction are quickly moving away from each other.
While down on the ground, the opposing forces are also disengaging after what they've just witnessed in the sky.
Suddenly the royal dragons Blackflame and Whitefire disappear.
Sunbeam who is backwinging to keep in place, says in a stunned tone of voice "They're going after the two". Referring to the remaining two dragons known as the Golmard three.
"Hell" says Daeliss Komav as she tries to take in the complete and utter destruction of a dragon by the twin royal dragons.
"Something's happened" says the commonborn dragon rider, who then asks "Do you know what?".
"I don't" is the reply from Sunbeam who is just as stunned as his rider and what they've just seen.
"We better go and find out" says the rider Daeliss as she wonders what has happened, that it's got the twin dragons Blackflame and Whitefire to leave the capital Fanile and attack the dragons known as the Golmard three . . . . . .

The Journey 34.

Autumn. The Capital City.

Prince Waniq is up early the next morning, still feeling completely numb at what happened yesterday.
His wife, princess Kelriss is up early too. And the two of them have an almost silent breakfast in their suite.
They've yet to tell their daughter Sarsha what's happened. They're both dreading it. But they know they'll have to tell her sometime today.
The crown prince of Terrindim looks out the windows of the main room of their suite as much as he eats his breakfast, which he barely tastes as he eats.
After finishing their breakfast, the couple quietly chat about when they'll tell their daughter who they've let sleep in this morning. Until there's a knock on the door of their suite, which one of the servants answers.
The prince shares a look with his wife, then he makes his way to the double doors, where a senior officer in the king's guard waits.
"Highness, his majesty wishes to see you" says the senior officer after he bows to the crown prince of Terrindim, he continues with "He'll be down, out infront".
"I'll be down shortly" says crown prince Waniq.
The senior officer bows to his highness, then walks away. It's not lost on the crown prince that his father sent one of the senior officers of the king's guard to deliver that message.
As the events of yesterday are that important. For more than likely the course of politics in the kingdom of Terrindim have been changed forever.
Prince Waniq embraces his wife, who holds onto him tightly, princess Kelriss then murmurs "Be careful".
"I will" replies the crown prince, who then slightly winces as his wife almost hisses "And keep your temper in check" before she lets him go.
Waniq, the crown prince of Terrindim, quickly looks at himself in one of the wall mirrors, before he kisses his wife, and exits their suite.
He then makes his way to the right down the hallway, heading to the stairs, which will take him down to the ground level of the main keep, here in the so called real palace.
The crown prince hardly sees anyone as he heads downstairs, and when he does. Either a servant, or one of the king's guards, they stop, and bow in silence to him.
What prince Waniq does see, is that all of the servants and guards he sees, are wearing the black cloth of mourning.
Women with a scarf upon their heads. Men with one wrapped around their upper right arm, as the crown prince is wearing.
Prince Waniq gets down to the massive reception chamber on the ground floor, where a small squad of king's guards are standing, they bow in silence to him as he walks by.
The crown prince of Terrindim slows down when he gets to the open doors, he takes a deep, calming breath.
Before he steps outside into the cold morning air, and makes his way down the steps, at the base of which, stands his father, the king of Terrindim.
"Father" quietly says prince Waniq.
"Son" replies king Crassil of Terrindim, with a nod of greeting to his oldest child.
The king, a man who turned fifty in the summertime, is of similar stature as his son Waniq.
Lean, not particularity tall like a lot in the kingdom. Though the king has grey in his hair, unlike his son.
The king is looking out across the large courtyard, that's a size of one of largest squares, here in the city of Fanile. He's looking out towards the open gates, as if he's waiting for something, or someone.
The crown prince who notices that they're alone out here infront of the main keep, looks away to the left.
And sees the twin dragons, Blackflame and Whitefire. Lying in the early morning sunshine. Watching the father and son out infront of the main keep.
Prince Waniq who sees his father is also wearing a mourning cloth wrapped around his upper right arm.
Stays silent, as he knows his father will eventually say what he wants to say, whenever he wants, and not before time.
So it's a little while later as the two of them stand side by side, infront of the main keep, that the king of Terrindim finally says "We got a message in the middle of the night".
King Crassil briefly pauses before he continues with "He'll be here this morning, quite soon to be exact".
Crown prince Waniq nods, as he expected as much. He glances sideways at his father, and wonders what his reaction will be.
For his sake, and the kingdom's, he hopes his father doesn't say the wrong thing.
Outside of the walled off section, that contains the so called real palace. Not far from it, members of the Balford faction are standing on the path that leads to the roadway that goes to the gates of the real palace.
There's others on the rooftop of the keep that's their headquarters. All standing still in the cold morning air this autumn day.
Likewise, throughout the vast complex that's the Royal Palace of Terrindim. Others, whether members of various factions, or court officials, are standing on the pathways close to the roadway, or on the rooftops of keeps.
Looking at the roadway that leads to the walled section of the vast palace complex. A roadway that is completely empty this morning.
Lord Ganulf, like the others around him on the path infront of the headquarters of their faction, is wearing a black cloth of mourning.
Next to the lord of Highsun, stands prince Paldim. And it's about the only time that lord Ganulf can recall, seeing the king's brother completely sober. For if he's not drunk, he's at least slightly tipsy.
The prince, who no longer has any day to day activity in the faction he was once the leader of. Is dead set sober, even though his eyes are red.
The lord of Highsun can imagine the king's brother has been crying on and off, ever since he got word of what happened yesterday.
The nobleman from the northern province of Hanamede, who still can't believe what's happened. Refrains from sighing, as he wonders what's going to happen now.
He'd like one thing to happen, but he knows even though it's a possibility. He suspects the person responsible, or at least partially responsible, is keeping themselves scarce this morning.
The lord of Highsun looks towards the walled off section of the palace, then he looks the other way, down the roadway, when someone in the group behind him on the path, quietly says "He's here" followed by "He's heading this way".
Lord Ganulf hears prince Paldim sigh, then take a step forward. Then he like everyone else on the path infront of the headquarters of the Balford faction, and up on the rooftop, look down the roadway to the their left.
On the other paths, keeps, headquarters, and buildings. Others are doing exactly the same thing, watching the empty roadway. Where in the distance, to the south, a lone figure has appeared, who is walking along the roadway, heading in the direction of the so called real palace.
As he walks by, those waiting on the various paths, walkways, keeps and buildings, bow low to him.
He doesn't acknowledge them, as he walks purposefully along the roadway, heading quickly towards the walled off section of the vast palace complex.
As the man on the roadway gets closer, lord Ganulf sees that he's wearing a sword at his side. A highly rare sight, considering he's a member of the royal family.
The lord of Highsun, murmurs "Hell" when he sees this. As he looks at the man, who inspired him to take up the sword, and become a duelist.
Then the advisor to crown prince Waniq hears the king's brother, prince Paldim hold back a sob, before he bows to the figure walking by them on the roadway.
Then lord Ganulf and the rest of the Balford group on the path, and the others up on the rooftop of their headquarters, bow to the man walking along the empty roadway.
Who hasn't acknowledged anyone, until now. But now he nods his head to the king's brother, prince Paldim. After all, they're brothers too.
Crown prince Waniq looks out through the open gates across the large courtyard, when he sees the king's guards out there bowing.
They remain in a bowing posture, as a figure walks between them, and enters through the tall gates, and walks through the thick wall. He didn't need permission to enter. And he wouldn't of stopped, if had to.
Prince Waniq darts a quick look in the direction of the twin dragons, and sees they're now both in a crouching position.
The crown prince looks sideways at his father the king, who only has eyes for the figure making his way across large courtyard, towards the main keep.
Prince Waniq looks at him too, and a lump forms in his throat. Then he forces himself not to cry as he watches the man walking this way.
The crown prince of Terrindim, then notices the sword at the hip of the man walking this way.
"Fucking hell" prince Waniq mutters to himself, and looks quickly at his father, king Crassil, who has noticed the same thing.
Then the man gets closer, and there's an obvious resemblance between the three of them, as they're all close family members.
He stops infront of the father and son, standing infront of the main keep of the so called real palace. And it's the newcomer who speaks first.
"Brother" says prince Fallins.
"Brother" replies king Crassil, who holds out his right arm, which his youngest brother Fallins clasps in greeting.
The youngest of the three royal brothers then looks at the crown prince then says "Nephew".
"Uncle" is what prince Waniq barely gets out, as tears threaten to fall again. The next thing he knows, his uncle Fallins is holding him, and hugging him in a tight embrace.
Prince Fallins then lets him go, and steps back, the crown prince quickly wipes his eyes, as a few tears fell as his uncle hugged him.
Then the youngest of the three royal brothers, after looking at his brother the king, and his nephew the crown prince.
Looks up, and to his left, at the main keep in the so called real palace. Looking towards what is the queen's quarters.
Prince Waniq, who hasn't seen his uncle Fallins in a few years. As he shuns the capital Fanile, and lives down in the province of Cramoor.
Sees the dangerous look in the eyes of the youngest of the royal brothers.
And knows that if his mother, queen Pania was out here. She would be dead at the hands of prince Fallins. Who has always hated her. And now, has even more reason to do so.
The crown prince looks at his uncle's sword, and sees a black cloth of mourning wrapped around it's hilt.
Prince Waniq recognises it as the same sword his uncle has always had.
The same sword, that was last used by his uncle when Waniq was still a child, over twenty years ago.
When prince Fallins, not yet twenty himself at the time. Was the last royal family member to be in a duel.
Not just any duel, but a sword fight, where he fought three noblemen at once, who he had challenged, and they accepted.
The crown prince looks up, and finds his uncle looking at him, the youngest of the three royal brothers slightly nods, then looks at his brother the king.
Prince Fallins, who is the younger brother by a decade, says to his oldest brother "Mind if i speak with the twins?" as he nods over to where the royal dragons, are crouching, watching the three of them out infront of main keep, here in the inner sanctum of the Royal Palace of Terrindim.
"Of course, go ahead" says king Crassil to his youngest brother.
Prince Fallins nods, then he walks towards the dragons Blackflame and Whitefire.
Crown prince Waniq watches him, knowing that his uncle Fallins is the only other person the royal dragons consider a friend.
Father and son, watch as the twins slightly rise, then lower their heads to prince Fallins as if bowing to him as he stops infront of the two of them.
Blackflame lets out a rumbling mournful call, which is echoed by his twin sister Whitefire.
Before they lower their heads even further, and get close the youngest of the royal brothers.
The three of them are close together, as prince Fallins talks to them about something.
Whatever it is, the king and crown prince can't hear what it is. As the twin dragons have silenced their conversation with the royal brother who has returned to the capital for the first time in a number of years.
Prince Waniq glances at his father, who is watching his youngest brother and his dragons.
Then without looking this way, infact they make sure not to look this way at all.
Whitefire lifts off in a rush of wings, followed by her brother Blackflame. The twin dragons head straight up into the air, and disappear through a pair of rifts that they cast in the morning sky.
"Hell" is what prince Waniq hears his father the king mutter.
The crown prince knows that although his father is the twins rider. They will do whatever they want to do, when they see fit. As it seems to be the case now, after speaking with prince Fallins. Especially considering they didn't look this way towards their rider at all as they were speaking with prince Fallins.
Who is walking back across the large courtyard, here in the front of the inner sanctum of the Royal Palace of Terrindim.
The youngest royal brother briefly stops infront of his brother and nephew.
And after he looks up in the direction of the queen's quarters in the main keep again, prince Fallins nods to the king, and crown prince and says "Brother" followed by "Nephew".
Before he turns around, and starts walking across the large courtyard, back in the direction of the gates.
King Crassil of Terrindim calls out to his youngest brother "Brother, where are you going?".
Without stopping, or looking back, prince Fallins says "I'm going to kill a man".
He continues a few more yards, before he briefly stops, and looks back and says to his oldest brother "You'll need to get yourself a new lord of the exchequer, the current one is about to die".
"Fucking hell" this time it's king Crassil who mutters this.
As he along with his son, crown prince Waniq watch the youngest of the royal brothers walk away.
As prince Fallins goes off to exact some revenge for the death of his wife, princess Laenna the dragon rider, and her dragon Greenfire, who were killed yesterday morning . . . . . .