CHAPTER 67: HE’S THE DRAGON REBORN

"Why is the Lord Chancellor absent from today’s council meeting?" King Tharyn, who sat on his throne facing the council members standing before him, asked.

At once, the council became quiet. Every lord lowered his head slightly and was not willing to be the first to speak.

Finally, Lord Daryn, known as Vanýr ’s ally, stepped forward. He bowed slightly before speaking.

"Your Majesty, perhaps it is because the time you gave him to provide proof has passed. Proof of the matter concerning the dragon rider... that he is the son of the late Lucian Velzorah. The Chancellor promised he would bring evidence, but until now, he has brought nothing."

The lords muttered among themselves, and before the King could answer, another voice spoke boldly.

"Or perhaps," said Lord Lucius as he took a step forward, "it is because he is the prime suspect in the poisoning of the Queen."

Every eye in the hall turned to Lord Lucius. Some gasped aloud, others frowned. They couldn’t believe he said that which they were muttering.

"What?" Lord Daryn snapped. "How dare you, Lucius! How dare you accuse the Lord Chancellor of poisoning the Queen, and in front of His Majesty, without a shred of evidence!"

Lucius did not flinch. He remained calm as he looked around the council.

"Mind you, I did not say he is guilty," Lucius replied. "I said he is the prime suspect. Everyone here knows the truth, that Lord Vanýr and the Queen are not on good terms. It was he who demanded her arrest, did he not? So I only spoke aloud what lies in the minds of every single person standing here."

The murmurs became louder.

Lucius then turned to the King and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, I request that Lord Vanýr be summoned at once. And if he refuses to appear before this council, then he must be arrested and held until this matter is resolved."

"I agree with Lord Lucius," came the voice of Lady Nymera. She stepped forward gracefully and continued. "We cannot allow the matter of the Queen’s poisoning to pass unanswered. If Lord Vanýr is indeed the prime suspect, then he must face this council and answer for himself. And if he will not, then he must be taken."

The King lifted his hand, and at once the noises stopped. "That is enough. It is already grievous that the Queen was poisoned. But it is worse still that one of our own councilors is under suspicion. Lord Vanýr will be summoned immediately. Until this matter is resolved, he is hereby suspended from his duties and his position. If he refuses to appear, he will be captured as a criminal."

The council bowed their heads in agreement.

But Lord Daryn, who wasn’t willing to let the matter rest, raised his voice once more.

"Your Majesty, there is another matter. Have you gone to the prison cell? Have you seen what happened there? That boy, the one they call the Dragon Rider. Indeed, he has fire magic. He burned down the iron cells. Yes, he saved the Queen with that power, but he still burned the cells to ash."

"Do we not remember why we captured him in the first place? Because his power is dangerous, because we do not know its limit. And yet now he walks freely within this palace. What if Lord Vanýr was right all along? What if the boy truly is a foe from within? What if the day comes when he turns against us, when we are already weak and vulnerable? What then?"

The whispers in the high hall became louder as Lord Daryn ended his statement.

It was then that the High Marshal, Lord Arvel, stepped forward. "That boy has proven himself, time and time again, to be no enemy to us," he said firmly. "I do not know why you are trying so hard for him to be captured, Daryn. Yes, he wields great power, power beyond what we understand. But has he not risked himself for this kingdom? He saved the Queen. Should we not think wisely? Rather than make him our prisoner, should we not make him our ally?"

Then Lord Edgar stepped forward and bowed before speaking.

"Your Majesty," he said, "since we are already speaking of the boy who rides the dragon, I must ask your pardon for not bringing this matter sooner. You have been occupied with the Queen’s health, and I thought it best to wait. A watcher is currently waiting for you, seeking an audience. She has come with word about the boy."

"A watcher?" the King asked.

"Yes, your Majesty," Edgar replied. "She has been waiting patiently and insists that what she bears is urgent. She says it concerns the boy and the fate of the kingdom."

The King leaned back against his throne and said. "It has been a long time since we had a watcher in these halls. Not since that day... sixteen years ago." His voice became bitter. "The day when one of them brought us a prophecy that cursed us more than it blessed us. I have not forgotten. I do not trust them."

Still, after a while, he shook his head and sighed. "But we have no choice. If she has dared to enter my palace, then let her in."

The guards at the doors bowed and stepped aside. Slowly, the tall doors of the High Hall opened and an old woman entered.

She was leaning upon a long staff of dark wood. Her hair was very white and her back bent with age.

When she reached the center of the hall, she lowered her head and spoke in a frail voice. "Greetings to His Royal Majesty, King Tharyn, and to the High Lords and Ladies of the realm."

The King inclined his head stiffly. "Greetings, old watcher. Speak. What brings you to my hall?"

The woman raised her eyes. "I come with one purpose, and one purpose alone. To tell you that the Dragon Reborn must be allowed to fulfill his destiny."

"By Dragon Reborn... you speak of the boy? The one who rides the dragon?"

The watcher shook her head slowly. "He is not merely a rider of dragons, my king. He is a dragon. The spirit of the flame lives in him. He is the rebirth of what was long thought lost."

The King’s voice hardened. "And what destiny is this, woman? What is it you claim?"

The watcher lifted her staff and stroked it gently on the floor as she spoke. "His destiny is to save this world from the evils that are now awakening. Evils greater than your eyes can yet see."

The King frowned. "What nonsense is this? Speak plain, woman! What do you mean, saving the world from evil? As if there’s any evil other than the one we are about to face in the West? Even now, enemies march upon us, and you dare speak of evils worse than that?"

The watcher continued. "That is the least of the evils the dragon reborn is destined to face. Much greater evil will rise. That is why the dragon was reborn in him. The gods themselves brought him to the world to save us as they are aware of the evil that is awakening. The world will need him, for desperate times demand desperate measures."

The King became angrier and weary. He rose slightly from his throne and pointed at her.

"Sixteen years ago, a watcher came here, into my hall, in my very presence, and spoke of a boy of Velzorah blood who would bring destruction to my kingdom. Because of her words, I acted in haste. I made choices I regret to this day. And from that day, I swore never again to heed the tongues of watchers. Tell me, woman, why should I listen now?"

The old woman’s expression softened, and she bowed her head. "Sixteen years ago, the one who came here was Nysarra. She was a blind watcher, Your Majesty, blind not only in sight but in spirit. We held her once, but she escaped, spreading false visions and false prophecy. Her words were twisted. Her prophecy was wrongly read. She led you astray."

She raised her gaze again. "This is the truth. I plead, that you allow the dragon reborn, and support him to master his true abilities, as he is yet to develop them. If you cast him aside, if you chain him, or if you allow him to be destroyed, then you doom not only this kingdom but the whole world. The darkness will cover all lands, and no throne, no crown, no kingdom will stand against it."

The chamber was quiet. No one said a word again, not even the king. And just as he was about to speak, a guard burst the door open and rushed inside.

"Your Majesty!" he cried, falling to one knee. "Dozens of Ashantis have stormed the palace! They march toward the royal chambers as we speak!"

The King was shocked to hear that. He rose to his feet immediately. "What?" he shouted. "Summon the Phoenix Guard immediately!"