CHAPTER 36: THE RIDER MUST BE FOUND

"Congratulations on winning the war, my king," Lord Arvel, the High Marshal of the realm, said loudly in the High Hall. "It was indeed a fierce battle. I witnessed it and though it seemed we were close to losing, we came out victorious."

The gathered councillors all nodded in agreement. "Yes, Your Majesty," they echoed in unison. "The people rejoice, and the land is safe once more."

The king, sitting on his throne, gave a nod. "I appreciate all of you for your support," King Tharyn replied. "Without each and every one of you working together, this victory would not have been possible. I especially want to thank Lord Arvel and Lord Lucius for their leadership on the battlefield. They were the ones who devised the strategies, organized the soldiers, and made sure we stood strong."

"Even the Sandborns felt it. Their defeat wasn’t just about our strength; it was a result of their well-planned strategy. I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to Lord Edgar, who stayed in Velgard in my place and ensured that everything ran smoothly in the kingdom while we were away. His efforts were invaluable."

Then King Tharyn turned toward them. "I also appreciate how you all cooperated with my daughter, the princess, in managing the kingdom’s affairs. If it weren’t for your leadership and support, we might not have regained our momentum on the battlefield when it seemed all hope was lost. I especially commend the Lord Chancellor for his dedication and wise counsel during these trying times."

The councillors all made a slight bow after the king’s appreciations, and the room was filled with silence again. But then, lord Vanýr broke it.

"Your Majesty," He called out loud in the hall. "We won the war, yes. But I must speak of a matter that troubles me deeply. We may have been victorious, but we were helped by a creature no one thought existed. A creature that turned the tide of this battle. A dragon."

Everyone went quiet and all eyes were now on Lord Vanýr as he continued.

"That creature still roams our lands. It helped us, fought beside us, and in the end, brought us victory, yes. But what happens tomorrow, Your Majesty? What happens if that same creature decides to turn its back on us? What if it becomes our enemy and we become its prey?"

Lord Vanýr’s voice became louder. "The people are already in a state of panic. They heard the rumors, and now they know the truth. The dragon is real, and it exists within our kingdom. It’s no longer a myth, but a fact. And what if, in the near future, we are the ones hunted by it?"

He looked around the room and met the eyes of each of the councillors who had all been complicit in celebrating their victory. Now, none of them was at ease, and they began murmuring in the hall.

"Your Majesty," Lord Vanýr continued, "I urge you to take action before it’s too late. We cannot allow this beast to roam free in our kingdom. It is a weapon, one with the power to destroy us and everything we’ve worked for, everything we’ve built."

Lord Daryn, as usual, stood beside Lord Vanýr, his closest ally in the council. With a firm tone, he said,

"It is true, Your Majesty. We must act now. Either we attack the beast now or wait for it to destroy us later."

King Tharyn sat with a grim expression as he gave Lord Daryn a thoughtful look.

"You think I haven’t thought about it?" the king asked in a low voice.

"This dragon... It’s been troubling my mind since the day it appeared. Dragons have been gone from this world for hundreds of years. I still find it hard to believe one is truly back."

He stopped and looked at each of the lords in the room.

"Mind you, this isn’t just any dragon. This one is... massive, and it breathes fire. So tell me, how do you expect us to attack such a creature? We don’t even know where it hides."

For a few seconds after the king’s statement, no one made a sound.

Then Lord Edgar, the Lord Arbiter, stepped forward calmly and said in a clear voice. "Your Majesty, may I remind you, this dragon first appeared in the north. Remember? When Princess Nyella was attacked. And again, during the Battle at Velgard. Both times... it showed up in the north."

The king who was intrigued, raised his brows. "Go on," he said.

"If it lives somewhere, it must be there," Lord Edgar continued. "In the north. That region has the mountains, and the wildlands... enough space for a creature that size to hide. But attacking it directly is not our best move, at least not yet."

The lords kept mute and listened closely.

"I have reason to believe someone has ridden the dragon," Edgar added. "I believe even Your Majesty witnessed it. A young boy was seen atop the dragon. That alone is strange."

"If we’re to get a hold of this dragon and capture it, then he’s the key. We need to find that boy first. It’s only if he’s nowhere to be found, that we can consider every other option. But is there a soul that can hide from the king of Ivarion in this kingdom?"

King Tharyn slowly nodded, he was indeed impressed.

"You just solved a puzzle that’s been in my head for days," he said with a slight smile. "We’ve been thinking of the dragon as the threat. But maybe... It’s the rider we should be worried about."

He stood up. "You said the north right?" the king asked as he turned to Lord Edgar.

"Yes, Your Majesty. If the dragon has a home, that’s where it will be."

King Tharyn raised his voice for all to hear.

"Then to the north it is. Find this boy. Find the dragon."

The lords all bowed in agreement.