Valken Kingdom

"ALRIGHT RITTER, YOU ARE LEAVING YOURSELF OPEN TO ATTACKS, WHILE COMING TOWARDS YOUR OPPONENT, PROTECT YOURSELF AT THE SAME TIME" DAGON TOLD THE 17YRS OLD SQUIRE. THE BOY HAD A SHORT MOP OF UNRULY BROWN WAVES WITH DETERMINED HONEY EYES. HE LAUNCHED TOWARDS DAGON WITH ANNOYANCE ONLY FOR DAGON TO EASILY STEP ASIDE, TRIPPING THE BOY.

"DON'T ATTACK IN ANGER, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR LIFE IN A REAL BATTLE" DAGON TOLD HIM.

RITTER LOOKED UP AT HIM FROM HIS NOW SITTING POSITION ON THE DIRTY GROUND. DAGON WAS QUITE TALL HAD BROAD SHOULDERS AND THE BUILT OF A HUNDRED MEN. HE WAS HANDSOME WITH COBALT BLUE EYES AND ONYX BLACK SHORT HAIR WITH WILD BANGS. HE REACHED DOWN AND GAVE RITTER A HAND UP.

“MY LORD, WILL YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE WAR GAMES KING THERON IS HAVING SOON?” RITTER ASKED.

“OF COURSE, IT IS OUR KING’S REQUEST THAT I PERFORM” DAGON TOLD HIM.



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RITTER LOOKED AT HIS MENTOR. THIS MAN THAT STOOD BEFORE HIM WAS WIDELY KNOWN, THE VALKEN KING'S FAVORITE WARRIOR. DAGON HAD DEFENDED AND DEFEATED HUNDREDS OF ARMIES AND ENEMIES IN THE NAME OF VALKEN KINGDOM, IN HONOR OF THEIR KING. LADIES FAWNED OVER HIM AND MEN DREAMED OF BEING HIM. YET THIS STRONG MAN HAD TAKEN HIM AS HIS SQUIRE. RITTER STILL DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY, OUT OF HIS CLASS, MANY WERE MUCH STRONGER THEN HE YET DAGON HAD CHOSEN HIM. HE HAD TOLD HIM IT WAS BECAUSE HE HAD HEART. RITTER STILL WASN'T SURE. BUT HE DID HAVE THE BEST SCORES AS A WARRIOR ON PAPER. WHEN IT CAME TO THE CODE OF CHIVALRY AND RULES OF COURTLY LOVE, RITTER COULD RECITE ALL OF THEM IN SECONDS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. HE HAD A STRONG MIND FOR LEARNING, AND HE SUPPOSED THAT THAT WAS WHY DAGON AURELIUS PICKED HIM AS HIS SQUIRE.

"AGAIN" DAGON SAID AS THEY TOOK THEIR STANCES.

A ROYAL SERVANT SUDDENLY APPEARED BEFORE DAGON, KNEELING. "DARK KNIGHT, KING THERON HAS REQUESTED YOUR PRESENCE IN HIS LIBRARY."

"THANK YOU" DAGON TOLD THE SERVANT, WHICH DISAPPEARED AS QUICKLY AS HE HAD APPEARED.

"WELL WILL CONTINUE LATER" DAGON TOLD RITTER AND MADE HIS WAY INTO THE CASTLE. RITTER STAYED BOWED TILL HE WAS CERTAIN THE KNIGHT WAS GONE. HE WAS DETERMINED TO IMPROVE HIS WARRIOR SKILLS AND BECOME A GREAT KNIGHT LIKE DAGON.

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AS DAGON MADE HIS WAY TOWARDS THE LIBRARY, HE WATCHED AS A FORANG SERVANT RAN AWAY FROM THE LIBRARY IN A HUSHED HURRY. HE CONTINUED ON, CURIOUS OF THE VISITOR.

"YOU SUMMONED ME, MY LORD?" DAGON SAID AS HE WALKED INTO THE LARGE ROYAL LIBRARY. BOOKS OF CENTURIES OF EPIC TALES OF FACTS WITH EXAGGERATED VERSIONS OF TRUTHS BEHIND EACH COVER, DROWNED IN DUST STOOD OUT IN REDS AND DARK COLORED VOLUMES.

KING THERON SAT AT HIS DESK, OVERLOOKING A MAP. HE LOOKED UP AT DAGON AND STOOD, ROUNDING THE DESK AND WALKING TOWARDS THE KNIGHT. KING THERON WAS ALMOST AS TALL, HE LOOKED STRONG AND EVERYONE FEARED HIM ACCORDINGLY, HIS LONG BLACK HAIR PULLED BACK IN A STERN CUE AND HIS GREY EYES SEEMED TO CONSTANTLY DANCE IN ANGER AND MISCHIEF.

"THERE IS A WAR APPROACHING AND A NEIGHBOR KINGDOM HAS ASKED FOR OUR ASSISTANCE" THE KING STARTED.

DAGON FROWNED. "A NEIGHBOR KINGDOM? DON'T THEY KNOW-"

"THEY KNOW, AND THAT IS THEIR REASON FOR ASKING US TO FORM AN ALLIANCE" THE KING INTERRUPTED.

"I SEE, SO THE MESSENGER I SAW IN THE HALL WAS FROM THAT KINGDOM" THE KING NODDED.

"YES, KING SAUL SENT HIM TO PLEAD HIS CASE."

"AND YOU AGREE? YOU BELIEVE THE THREAT IS REAL?"DAGON ASKED.

THE KING TURNED AWAY FROM DAGON AND WALKED TOWARDS THE WIDE NORTHERN WINDOW, EYEING THE MOUNTAINS.

"I WANT YOU TO GO TO ELOUERA KINGDOM. MAKE SURE THE KING.... IS AWARE OF WHAT HE IS ASKING AND OFFERING" THERON TOLD HIM, AND THEN LOOKED BACK AT HIM.

"DAGON THE WAR IS AGAINST KING TZURIEL. THERE'S RUMOR OF ZEV LEADING HIS ARMY."

"ZEV?" DAGON SAID ANGRILY.


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"THEY HAVE SLAUGHTERED HUNDREDS, VILLAGES AND MINOR KINGDOMS, MUCH LIKE ELOUERA KINGDOM ARE BEING DESTROYED BY HIS ARMY IN ORDER FOR HIM TO GAIN THE POWER HE SEEKS. EVENTUALLY HE WILL BE BRAZEN ENOUGH TO COME AGAINST US. I DON'T WISH TO SEE UNNECESSARY BLOODSHED FOR PERSONAL GAIN." KING THERON TOLD HIM.

KING THERON LOOKED DAGON IN THE EYE. "I'VE MANAGED TO KEEP VALKEN KINGDOM SAFE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, WITH YOUR HELP OF COURSE. OUR KIND HERE IN VALKEN, AND HUMANS IN THEIR KINGDOMS, APART AND AWAY FROM US. BUT TIMES CHANGE AND KING TZURIEL IS FORCING HUMANS TO SEEK HELP FROM WHAT THEY FEAR THE MOST. US."

DAGON NODDED. "WHAT IS KING SAUL OFFERING FOR YOU TO AGREE TO FORM THE ALLIANCE BESIDES WANTING TO PUT A STOP TO TZURIEL?"

"SAUL HAS THREE DAUGHTERS, WHICH I’M TOLD ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL" KING THERON STARTED. “I WANT YOU TO INVITE THE KING AND HIS DAUGHTERS TO COME HERE. I WANT THEM TO COME AND ENJOY THE WAR GAMES. I COULD ALSO USE IT AS A FORM OF CELEBRATION FOR IAN’S MARRIAGE…”

DAGON NODDED.

"YOU AGREED FOR IAN TO MARRY ONE OF THEM AS A SIGN OF MUTUAL ALLIANCE, THERE IN SECURING ELOUERA KINGDOM AND VALKEN KINGDOM OF FUTURE RULERS" DAGON FINISHED FOR HIM.

KING THERON NODDED. "THAT IS THE IDEA. MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT IAN DOESN'T COMPLETELY SHARE IN MY VIEWS OF OUR KIND AND HUMANS CO-EXISTING PEACEFULLY. HOWEVER, IF MY ELDEST SON WAS TO-"

DAGON INTERRUPTED HIM. "I WILL GO AND PREPARE THE OTHERS" HE TURNED TOWARDS THE DOORS TO EXIT WHEN THE KING STOPPED HIM.

"IAN ISN'T FIT TO RULE VALKEN. HE IS... GETTING WORSE. I WILL DO WHAT I MUST FOR THIS KINGDOM, HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT DAGON, CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE. AS A ROYAL, WHAT WE DESIRE AND WHAT WE MUST DO ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS AND RARELY EVER ONE IN THE SAME." THERON SAID.

DAGON SAID NOTHING AND EXITED THE LIBRARY.

QUICKLY HE MADE HIS WAY TO HIS LOYALS'S TRAINING QUARTERS.

ANOTHER WAR, AND THIS TIME HE WAS TO PROTECT VALKEN KINGDOM AND ELOUERA KINGDOM. A SLIGHT SMILE RAN ACROSS IS LIPS AT THE ANTICIPATION OF WAR CRY. THE SMELL, SOUND AND SIGHT OF THE BATTLE FIELD RAN THREW HIS MIND. HE WAS BORN TO BE A WARRIOR AND THE PATH THAT CAME WITH IT WAS HIS RIGHT. HE COULDN'T IMAGINE ANYTHING WOULD EVER POSSIBLY MAKE HIM CHANGE HIS WAY. TO BE A WARRIOR, WAS TO BE A MAN OF HIS WORD AND A MAN WAS ONLY AS GOOD AS HIS WORD. HONOR AND RESPECT WERE ALL THERE WAS TO IT.

"CONRAD, AJA, NOIN, ANGEL, JAKUB, KAELAN!" HE YELLED, WITHIN SECONDS, HIS SIX LOYALS HE HAD FOUGHT COUNTLESS TIMES ALONG SIDE WITH APPEARED BEFORE HIM KNEELING.

"COMMANDER" HIS RIGHT HAND CONRAD SAID, WAITING HIS INSTRUCTIONS. CONRAD WAS AS TALL AS DAGON, HAD EAR LENGTH LIGHT BROWN STRAIGHT HAIR AND HAZEL EYES.

"PACK UP, WE HAVE A MISSION. BRING RITTER" DAGON TOLD HIM.

CONRAD LOOKED UP AT HIS FRIEND, ARCHING A BROW. "RITTER?"

DAGON SMIRKED AND NODDED. "WE MOVE OUT AT SUN UP"



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---ELOUERA KINGDOM


"DO YOU BELIEVE THIS IS A TRAP?"CONRAD ASKED.

THE SOFT THUD OF THEIR HORSES GALLOPS SOUNDED THREW THE SMALL DIRT PATH SURROUNDED BY RICH FARM LAND. FULL AND BRIGHT GREEN GRASS, FLOWERS BLOOMED AND TREES STOOD TALL WITH VIBRANT COLORS. THE SMALL KINGDOM OF ELOUERA WAS BREATH TAKING.

KNOWN FOR ITS BEAUTY OF ITS LANDS AND THEIR PEACEFUL PEOPLE, ELOUERA WAS PERFECT FOR A HARD WORKING FAMILY.

"NO. I DON'T BELIEVE HUMANS WOULD BE THIS FOOLISH. BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE FOR OUR KING" THE KNIGHT TOLD HIM.

"THIS KINGDOM IS HUMBLY TINY COMPARED TO OURS." KAELAN REMARKED.

"YES, BUT BEAUTIFUL. IT’S RARE TO SEE HUMANS THIS.... PEACEFUL" NOIN SAID, MAKING THE KNIGHT SMIRK. AS THE EIGHT HORSEMEN CONTINUED ON, THEY COULD SEE CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE STREETS, WHILE FARMERS, POACHERS AND TAILORS TENDED TO THEIR LIVELY SHOPS.

RITTER EYED THE PEOPLE. HE THEN LOOKED AHEAD AT THE SEVEN KNIGHTS IN FRONT OF HIM. HEAD KNIGHT DAGON LEADING THE PATH, FOLLOWED BY HIS SIX LOYALS HE HAD HANDPICKED HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE, THEN FINALLY HE WAS BEHIND THEM FOLLOWING QUIETLY. HIS MENTOR HAD DECIDED TO BRING HIM ALONG. RITTER KNEW THIS WAS HIS CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF. HE STAYED QUIET AND TROTTED ALONG BEHIND THEM DUTIFULLY.

THE KINGDOM'S PEOPLE WATCHED ON IN AWE, MAKING SURE TO CLEAR A PATH AND RESPECTFULLY LOWERED THEIR HEADS.

THEY REACHED THE CASTLE'S DOORS SHORTLY.



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----------INSIDE ELOUERA CASTLE

AS THE SLIGHT WAVE OF FEAR AND CHAOS RAN THRU THE CASTLE, THE ADVISORS STILL QUESTIONED THE KING'S DECISION, INVITING THE GUESTS INTO THEIR QUIET WORLD.

"MY LORD, I DON'T FULLY AGREE WITH THIS IDEA" ONE OF KING SAUL'S ADVISORS PROTESTED.

"I’VE GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT, AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY." KING SAUL TOLD HIM.

EVERYONE IN THE CASTLE WAS BUSY ATTENDING TO ONE THING OR ANOTHER, MAKING SURE ALL PREPARATIONS FOR THE GUESTS WERE IN ORDER.



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"WELCOME KNIGHTS OF VALKEN" TWO SOLDIERS MADE THEIR WAY TO THEM.

"THANK YOU" CONRAD SAID. ONE OF THE GUARDS NODDED AND DISAPPEARED BEHIND A SIDE DOORS. SECONDS LATER THE LARGE WOODEN DOORS OF THE CASTLE COURT YARD OPENED AND THEY WERE PROMPTLY SHOWED INSIDE.

"GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM XANDER, KING SAUL'S PERSONAL SERVANT. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE FOLLOW ME" XANDER WAS SMALL AND SLENDER. HE HAD SHORT BLOND HAIR AND SEEMED SHY, HE COULDN'T QUITE LOOK UP AT DAGON AFTER HIS RESPECTFUL BOW.

DAGON LOOKED AROUND, THE COURTYARD WAS LIVELY. GUARDS WENT ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS ALONG WITH QUITE A FEW MERCHANTS AND FLOWER MAIDENS. THEY FOLLOWED XANDER INSIDE THE MAIN ENTRANCE.

AS THEY WALKED THE GREAT HALLS, PAINTINGS OF KINGS, QUEENS, PRINCE AND PRINCESSES HUNG TASTEFULLY THROUGHOUT THE WALLS.

"HERE WE ARE" XANDER SAID AS HE STOPPED IN FRONT OF LARGE CLOSED DOORS. THE GUARDS AT THE DOOR BOWED THEN OPENED THE DOORS.

THE KNIGHT AND THE SIX LOYALS STARTED INSIDE FOLLOWING XANDER WHEN CONRAD TURNED TO RITTER.

"YOU STAY OUT HERE" HE TOLD HIM FIRMLY. RITTER NODDED AND STOOD BY THE DOOR AS THE GUARDS CLOSED THE DOORS BEHIND THEM.

AS THEY STEPPED INSIDE, DAGON COULD SEE NO MORE THAN FIVE PEOPLE, TWO ADVISORS, THE SERVANT XANDER, A KNIGHT, NO DOUBT THE HEAD KNIGHT WHICH BORE DAGON DEATH LOOKS AND THEN THE KING. DAGON AND HIS LOYALS BOWED TO THE KING.

“KING SAUL” DAGON SAID AS HE RESPECTFULLY BOWED.

"I AM HONORED TO HAVE YOU IN MY HOME. I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE THE HEAD KNIGHT OF VALKEN KINGDOM. YOUR ELDER'S RIGHT HAND" THE KING SAID. AS HE WATCHED THE KNIGHT STAND TALL AND HIS COBALT BLUE EYES BORE OVER HIM, THE KING FELT A WAVE OF FEAR.

"I RESPECT YOUR KING FOR SENDING YOU AHEAD. I UNDERSTAND HIS UNCERTAINTY" THE KING SAID, WALKING TOWARDS THE KNIGHT. HIS CONCERN AND FEAR DISPLAYED ON HIS FACE.

DAGON FROWNED. HE WANTED KING SAUL TO QUICKLY REALIZE WHAT WAS AT STAKE.

"YOU FEAR US, YET YOU ASK US TO FORM THIS ALLIANCE. WHY?" THE KNIGHT ASKED, GETTING STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. HE COULD SMELL THE FEAR ROLLING IN WAVES OFF THE KING. HE HAD TO BE SURE KING SAUL KNEW WHAT HE WAS GETTING INTO.

THE KING WAS MUCH SHORTER THAN THE KNIGHT, HAD A LARGE BELLY AND A SOFT LOOKING FACE. THE KING SMILED SADLY AT THE KNIGHT.

"I WILL GET STRAIGHT TO IT THEN" KING SAUL STARTED.

"YOUR PEOPLE ARE VERY STRONG AND HAVE NEVER ATTACKED US NOR DEMANDED ANYTHING BUT TO LEAVE YOU BE AS US. MY PEOPLE ARE GOOD PEOPLE. THEY WORK HARD AND DESERVE LASTING PEACE. THE PEACE WE HAVE NOW IS THREATENED BY KING TZURIEL, HIS ARMY HAS ALREADY DESTROYED AND KILLED MANY VILLAGES AND KINGDOMS AND HE IS HEADING OUR WAY. WE ARE A PEACEFUL KINGDOM AND WE ONLY HAVE A SMALL ARMY. WE HAVE NO CHANCE AGAINST HIM." THE KING TOLD THE KNIGHT.

"SO YOU ARE WILLING TO MAKE A DEAL WITH VAMPIRES" THE KNIGHT FINISHED FOR HIM. THE KING NODDED AND STARTED FOR A CLOSE BY SERVANT THAT HELD OUT CUPS OF WINE, THE KNIGHT FOLLOWED.

"YOU ARE ADMITTING THAT YOU ARE VULNERABLE TO ME. AREN'T YOU AFRAID I WILL DECIDE TO JUST KILL YOU ALL?" THE KNIGHT SAID AS HE TOOK THE OFFERED WINE.

"YES, BUT I WAS TOLD YOU VAMPIRES ARE HONORABLE CREATURES AND I WISH TO BELIEVE THAT" THE KING TOLD HIM STRONGLY.

THE KNIGHT LOOKED AT HIM. THIS KING... THIS HUMAN WAS WILLING TO PUT HIMSELF AT RISK FOR HIS PEOPLE, HIS KINGDOM. THE KNIGHT DECIDED HE RESPECTED HIM.

DAGON TOOK A SIP OF THE WINE. THEN GLANCED AROUND THE ROOM DISCRETELY. PAINTINGS OF THREE GIRLS GOING BACK SINCE TODDLERS WERE PROUDLY DISPLAYED AROUND THE ROOM WALLS. THE CASTLES ATMOSPHERE AND STYLE WAS QUITE IF NOT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM VALKEN CASTLE.

"COME" KING SAUL TOLD HIM, BRINGING THE KNIGHT OUT INTO THE DAY ON THE BALCONY. IT OVERLOOKED MOST OF THE ELOUERA KINGDOM TOWARDS THE SOUTH.

"I LOVE MY KINGDOM DEAR KNIGHT. I LOVE ITS PEOPLE. MY DAUGHTERS WILL UNDERSTAND" THE KING SAID. FROM HIS TONE, DAGON COULD TELL THIS DECISION HAD BEEN A DIFFICULT ONE FOR THE PLUMP MAN. HE OBVIOUSLY LOVED HIS DAUGHTERS DEARLY.

"I UNDERSTAND THAT MY PRINCE WILL HAVE YOUR THREE DAUGHTERS TO CHOOSE FROM AS A BRIDE" THE KNIGHT SAID AS HE SIPPED HIS WINE. THE KING NODDED.

"YES, MY ELDEST DAUGHTER RELINA IS QUITE... COMFORTABLE WITH HERSELF" THE KING STARTED, TRYING TO FIND HIS WORDS. "KATHERINA IS MORE OF A FIRECRACKER REALLY. SHE LOVES POLITICS AND PROVING HERSELF USEFUL. AND AS FOR MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER MELINA, WELL SHE TENDS TO BE... WELL SHE LIKES TO WONDER OUT OF THE CASTLE AND... SHE IS STRONG MINDED" HE FINISHED, FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE.

"I SEE" THE KNIGHT SAID. “KING SAUL, YOU DO UNDERSTAND THAT VALKEN IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THEN HERE. THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE DAUGHTER THAT WILL BE CHOSEN-“

"MAY I ASK YOUR NAME? I'VE JUST NOW REALIZED I HADN'T ASKED. MY APOLOGIES" THE KING INTERRUPTED.

"DAGON AURELIUS" THE KING NODDED, THEN MOTIONED FOR HIM TO FOLLOW.

“BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THAT I HAVE THOUGHT OF AND LOOKED FOR ANY OTHER OPTION BUT THIS. THE SAFETY AND HAPPINESS OF MY DAUGHTERS HAS ALWAYS BEEN PRIMARY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, AS A KING I MUST MAKE VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES AND DECISIONS. AND I TRULY FEAR THAT WHICHEVER DAUGHTER YOUR PRINCE PICKS AS HIS BRIDE, THAT SHE WILL NEVER FORGIVE ME AND MAYBE EVEN HATE ME” KING SAUL SAID, HIS VOICE HEAVY WITH EMOTIONS AS HE TURNED TO FACE THE KNIGHT. “AS A FATHER, IT IS A PAINFUL THOUGHT TO HAVE YOUR CHILD ANGRY WITH YOU. BUT AS A KING, ONE LIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE THOUSANDS… WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN MY PLACE?”

“I WOULD COME TO THE SAME DECISION” DAGON ANSWERED HONESTLY.

"THANK YOU KNIGHT AURELIUS FOR COMING. AND FOR UNDERSTANDING" KING SAUL TOLD HIM. DAGON DECIDED THEN THAT HE WOULD HONORABLY AND RESPECTFULLY SERVE AND DEFEND THIS KING.

DAGON FOLLOWED HIM BACK INTO THE GRAND ROOM. THE AIR THICK WITH FEAR FROM THE ADVISORS AND ANGER FROM THE ELOUERAN KNIGHT. THE SIX LOYALS STOOD STILL AT ATTENTION.

"KING SAUL, THESE ARE MY LOYALS, CONRAD, AJA, NOIN, ANGEL, JAKUB, AND KAELAN" AS HE SAID THEIR NAMES, THEY EACH BOWED RESPECTFULLY AND TO THEIR SURPRISE, KING SAUL RETURNED EACH OF THEIR BOWS.

"I AM TRULY HONORED AND HAPPY TO HAVE YOU IN MY KINGDOM." SAUL TOLD THEM.

"THANK YOU KING SAUL" THEY SAID IN UNISON.

"DEAR KNIGHT, THESE ARE MY TWO CLOSES ADVISORS AND FRIENDS, YOU'VE MET XANDER AND THIS IS MY HEAD KNIGHT RADEK"

THE TWO ADVISORS WERE AS OLD IF NOT OLDER THEN KING SAUL. ONE HAD WHITE LONG HAIR AND A MATCHING BEARD WITH PLEASANT EYES. THE OTHER HAD SHORT SALT AND PEPPER HAIR WITH WIDE EYES. THEY BOWED THEIR HELLOS AS DID DAGON.

RADEK LOOKED AT DAGON COLDLY. HE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T WANT THE VAMPIRES IN THEIR HOME. RADEK HAD SHOULDER LENGTH BLACK HAIR AND BLACK EYES. HE WAS SLIGHTLY SHORTER THEN DAGON.

DAGON RETURNED THE COLD LOOK, SMELLING SOME OF RADEK'S FEAR. DAGON SMIRKED, AND THEN POLITELY TURNED TO KING SAUL.



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“I HAVE A REQUEST FROM MY KING” DAGON STARTED.

“I AM ALL EARS DEAR KNIGHT” KING SAUL SAID AS HE TOOK A SEAT IN HIS HOMELY THROWN. THE THROWN WAS LARGE, MADE OF WOOD AND SOME GOLD. KING SAUL WAS HUMBLE BY ALL MEANS AND HIS MANNERISMS AND THE DECORATIONS OF THE CASTLE EXPRESSED SO. DAGON DECIDED HE LIKED THE KING EVEN MORE.

“KING THERON AS REQUESTED FOR YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTERS TO COME TO VALKEN KINGDOM AS OUR GUESTS. IN A FEW DAYS TIME, KING THERON WILL BE STARTING A TIME HONORED TRADITION OF VALKEN KINGDOM. WAR GAMES. AND HE WISHES TO SHARE WITH YOU ITS GLORY AND HOPE TO USE THE EVENTS AS A PART OF CELEBRATION IN THE TWO KINGDOMS UNION. HE WISHES FOR HIS SON, PRINCE IAN, TO HAVE CHOSEN HIS BRIDE BY THEN.” DAGON TOLD HIM THEN BOWED.

“I SEE. WELL, IT WOULD BE QUITE RUDE TO REFUSE SUCH A GRAND INVITATION” THE KING SAID HAPPILY. “I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I DON’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I’VE TRAVELLED!”

“SHOULD I TAKE IT AS YOU ARE ACCEPTING THE INVITATION KING SAUL” DAGON ASKED. HE COULDN’T HELP BUT SMIRK AT THE KING’S BUBBLY DEMEANOR.

“YES.”

“MY KING WILL BE GLAD OF THE NEWS” DAGON TOLD HIM.

"OH DEAR ME, MY MANNERS. I'VE HAD ROOMS PREPARED FOR YOU ONCE THE MESSENGER CONFIRMED YOUR KING'S ACCEPTANCE. PLEASE, XANDER SHOW THEM TO THEIR ROOMS." KING SAUL TOLD THEM.

XANDER BOWED AND STARTED FOR THE DOOR.

"WE WILL SPEAK MORE LATER, AFTER I SPEAK TO MY DAUGHTERS, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU. THEY ARE PRESENTLY DOING LESSONS" HE WENT ON.

"I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING THEM.”

“TOMORROW NIGHT I AM HAVING A SMALL BALL. I WILL INTRODUCE YOU THEN” KING SAUL INFORMED HIM. “PLEASE TAKE TODAY AND TONIGHT TO ENJOY ELOUERA. RADEK AND THE OTHER SOLDIERS COULD SHOW YOU AROUND OUR KINGDOM” KING SAUL SAID, LOOKING AT RADEK WHO BOWED IN AFFIRMATION.

“I WOULD LIKE THAT, THANK YOU” DAGON SAID, LOOKING FROM THE KING TO RADEK. “SHOULD WE MEET IN THE COURTYARD AFTER LUNCH?” HE THEN ASKED LOOKING AT RADEK.

“THAT WOULD BE FINE” RADEK SAID.

AS THEY STEPPED OUT OF THE ROOM, RITTER STOOD QUICKLY. DAGON SHOOK HIS HEAD AS HE MADE HIS WAY TOWARDS XANDER.

THEY FOLLOWED XANDER TOWARDS THE NORTH EASTERN WING OF THE CASTLE. "THIS IS OUR GUEST WING, I TRULY HOPE YOU WILL ALL BE SATISFIED WITH YOUR ROOMS" HE SAID AS HE SHOWED EACH LOYAL TO THEIR ROOM, DAGON WAS THE LAST ONE LEFT.

"EXCUSE ME, XANDER, RITTER IS MY SQUIRE, I'M SURE YOU HAVE A BOARD FOR HIM" DAGON TOLD THE YOUNG SERVANT, AS THEY STOPPED IN FRONT OF A CHAMBER DOOR.

"OF COURSE"

DAGON DISAPPEARED INTO HIS ROOM.

THE ROOM WAS QUITE LARGE. FANCY IN ITS RIGHT. RICH COLORS OF REDS, MAROONS, BLACKS AND GOLD’S, WOODEN FURNITURE CRAFTED TO PERFECTION WITH DETAILS. THE BED ITSELF WAS EMANCE AND WELCOMING.

DAGON SMIRKED AT THE ROOM. HIS BAGS WERE ALREADY ON THE FLOOR NEXT TO THE DOOR. HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE BALCONY AND OPENED THE DOORS, LETTING THE WARM BREEZE IN. HE LEANED HIS ARMS ON THE STONE RAILING AS HE LEANED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE KINGDOM. SMALL, BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL.

HE COULD FEEL AND SMELL THE FEAR IN THE AIR. THE SCARE OF A WAR COMING WAS PANICKING KING SAUL’S PEOPLE. AS FAR AS DAGON COULD TELL, THIS KINGDOM HAD NEVER SEEN WAR. AT LEAST NOT IN THE CAPITAL SINCE WHICH KING TZURIEL REPRESENTED. AND NOW FROM WHAT KING THERON HAD TOLD HIM, RUMORS OF ZEV WORKING FOR KING TZURIEL WAS NOT A SURPRISE BUT NOT A WELCOMED THOUGHT EITHER.

HE RETURNED INSIDE AND SAT AT THE DESK IN THE ROOM. QUICKLY HE WROTE A NOTE AND RETURNED TO THE BALCONY AND WHISTLED LOUDLY. SUDDENLY A BEAUTIFUL HAWK APPEARED AND HEADED STRAIGHT FOR HIM. DAGON LIFTED UP HIS LEFT ARM AND THE HAWK PERCHED ITSELF ON IN.

“HELLO LEAH” DAGON SAID, PETTING THE GORGEOUS BIRD.

LEAH GAVE HIM A SOFT ‘CAH’ AS A REPLY. DAGON SMIRKED.

“I NEED YOU TO RELAY A MESSAGE TO THERON FOR ME” HE TOLD THE BIRD AS HE ATTACHED THE ROLLED UP PARCHMENT TO HER LEFT LEG.

LEAH ‘CAHD’ ONCE AGAIN THEN TOOK FLIGHT FROM DAGON’S ARM.

HE WATCHED HER TILL HE COULD NO LONGER SEE HER.

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LUNCH WITH THEIR FATHER WAS NORMALLY OUTSIDE BY THE GARDENS AND WAS USUALLY LIGHT AND FUN. BUT THIS AFTERNOON THE ROYAL PRINCESSES FOUND THEMSELVES INSIDE ONE OF THEIR DINING ROOMS.

THEIR FATHER PACED BACK AND FORTH AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE. XANDER STOOD QUIETLY BY THE DOOR.
“YOU SENT FOR US FATHER?”
KING SAUL TURNED TO SEE HIS THREE BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS LOOKING AT HIM QUESTIONABLY.
"FATHER… IS THIS TRUE? VAMPIRES ARE HERE?" KATHERINA ASKED AS SHE MADE HER WAY TO HIM.

"KATHERINA..." THE KING STARTED.

"SO IT’S TRUE?" MELINA THE YOUNGEST ASKED.

"I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE... I BET TALL AND..." RELINA THE ELDEST STARTED ONLY FOR KATHERINA TO TURN TO HER AND GIVE HER A HARD LOOK.

MELINA SMILED, RELINA COULD ALWAYS MAKE LIGHT OF A SITUATION.

"MY LOVES, PLEASE. I WILL PROPERLY INTRODUCE YOU TO THE HEAD KNIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE BALL" THEIR FATHER SAID SOFTLY.

KING SAUL LOOKED AT HIS CHILDREN PLEADINGLY AND SIGHED. “PLEASE, SIT GIRLS.” HE TOLD THEM AS HE STOOD BEHIND HIS CHAIR. FRUITS, BREAD AND CHEESES HAD BEEN BROUGHT OUT FOR THEIR LUNCH AND KING SAUL STARRED AT THE FOOD DRAINED.

THE PRINCESSES SAT, KEEPING THEIR EYES ON THEIR FATHER.

"YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE AND CHERISH EACH OF YOU."HE STARTED, GRASPING THE BACK OF THE CHAIR. "MY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS... I HOPE YOU FORGIVE ME ONE DAY BUT I HAD NO CHOICE." ALL THREE DAUGHTERS LOOKED AT HIM PUZZLED.

"FATHER, WHY ARE THE VAMPIRES HERE?" RELINA QUESTIONED QUIETLY.

"YOU'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT KING TZURIEL'S TIRADE. KILLING VILLAGES AND WHOLE KINGDOMS IN HIS CONQUEST. WE CANNOT DEFEAT HIM. WE HAVE NO CHANCE WITH OUR SMALL ARMY. WE ARE A PEACEFUL KINGDOM. I MUST DO WHAT I CAN FOR THE PEOPLE AND KEEP THEM SAFE AS WELL AS US" HE SAID, LOOKING AT THEM WAITING FOR WHATEVER ELSE HE WAS TO SAY.

"THE VAMPIRE KING AND I HAVE COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING TO FORM AN ALLIANCE. I OFFERED HIM FOR THE VAMPIRE PRINCE, TO PICK AND MARRY ONE OF YOU" HE SAID, TEARS DANCING IN HIS EYES.

RELINA SAID NOTHING AND JUST LOOKED AT HER FATHER SURPRISED. KATHERINA FIXED HER GAZE ON HER FRIGITTING HANDS ON HER LAP, HER EXPRESSION FEARFUL. MELINA LOOKED AT THE FATHER BLANKLY.

ONE OF THEM WAS TO MARRY A VAMPIRE.

AFTER A MOMENT KING SAUL TOOK A BREATH AND STARTED FOR THE DOOR, XANDER IN TOW.

“I HOPE TO SEE THE THREE OF YOU AT TOMORROW NIGHT’S EVENTS… ALSO, TELL YOUR CHAMBER MAIDS TO PREPARE FOR A TRIP. IN A FEW DAYS WE WILL BE TRAVELING TO VALKEN KINGDOM” HE TOLD THEM, TRYING TO STAY STRONG AND KEEP FROM LETTING HIS EMOTIONS OVER TAKE HIM. HE TOOK ANOTHER DEEP BREATH AND EXITED THE ROOM.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE FATHER DID THIS!" KATHERINA CRIED.

"COME NOW, IF I THOUGHT ANYONE COULD UNDERSTAND WHY HE DID THIS, IT’S YOU KAT. ALWAYS SO QUICK TO JUMP ON THE POLITICAL AFFAIRS DEAR DADDY HAS TO DEAL WITH. IF I CAN SEE WHY, BY GODS I KNOW YOU DO TO" RELINA SAID AS SHE STEPPED IN FRONT OF HER SISTER.

KATHERINA LOOKED AT HER ANNOYED. SHE WAS RIGHT. SHE DID UNDERSTAND WHY. THE VAMPIRES WOULD PROTECT THEM AND PEACE WOULD RESUME IN THEIR KINGDOM. AND ONLY ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE TO SACRIFICE THEIR HAPPINESS IF NOT THEIR LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF THOUSANDS.

"YOU SAW HOW HEARTBROKEN FATHER IS ABOUT THIS..." MELINA MURMURED. THEIR FATHER LOVED THEM AND CHERISHED THEM, THIS DECISION HAD HAD TO BE A PAINFUL ONE.

"DON'T WORRY DEAR SISTERS, I'M SURE THE PRINCE WILL TAKE ONE LOOK AT ME AND PICK ME" RELINA SAID, SOUNDING SURE OF HERSELF.

"AREN’T YOU EVEN JUST A LITTLE BOTHERED BY THIS RELINA?" KATHERINA ASKED IRRITATED WITH HER SISTER’S NONCHALANT WAY. RELINA LOOKED AT HER.

"NO"

KATHERINA GROWLED AT HER AND WALKED AWAY. RELINA SMIRKED THEN LOOKED AT MELINA.

“WELL, I SHOULD GO AND PICK OUT A GREAT DRESS FOR TOMORROW” RELINA SAID AS SHE WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM.

MELINA STARED BLANKLY AHEAD. IF ONE OF HER SISTERS OR HERSELF WHERE TO MARRY THE VAMPIRE PRINCE, WHERE WOULD THAT SISTER LIVE? HERE? NO, MOST LIKELY IN THE VALKEN KINGDOM, FAR AND AWAY FROM ANYTHING THEY HAD EVER KNOWN...


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