Page 4 of King of Fire and Scales

“I just received a message of great importance, and I know the war council would want to hear of it immediately.”

The hair on the back of Drake's neck rose and his mouth went dry. Pyralis, despite his annoying demeanor, had a finger in every pie in the Dragon Mountain Kingdom.

In fact, Pyralis was such a huge gossip that he usually knew about Lucien's attacks before even Drake was alerted to them.

“Please.” Drake made his voice as pleasant as possible and gestured for Pyralis to step into the center of the room. “Tell us what you have learned.”

As Pyralis shuffled to the center of the room, Drake's thoughts raced, tripping and stumbling over one another.

Has there been another attack? One more desperate, more destructive than the last?

Drake forced himself to focus on Pyralis. He wouldn't know what had happened until the royal historian opened his damned mouth. Until then, he couldn't allow himself to become swayed by the possible news he was about to hear.

Finally, Pyralis spoke. Drake couldn't help but smile at the exasperated looks on the faces of the rest of the war council.

He knew that they all found Pyralis more annoying than Yarra if that was possible.

“I have contacted the kingdom's oracles in order to locate the base of Lucien's operations. I know that this is something that Your Majesty has been struggling with until now.”

Drake’s back straightened, his hands balling into fists, as Pyralis spoke. Locating Lucien's base of operations had been a thorn in his side. One that apparently Pyralis knew how to solve.

“And?” Drake's voice was tinged with impatience. Pyralis smiled his gentle smile.

“Unfortunately, Your Majesty, the oracles could not help me with the matter of Lucien Dastow. But they gave me some valuable information about something else, which I am sure Your Majesty would like to know.”

Drake remained quiet. Pyralis was practically preening himself, so whatever the oracles had told him had to be good.

“We have learned about the existence of a Creation Sorceress,” Pyralis said triumphantly. “I am currently trying, with the help of the oracles, to locate her.”

Silence fell over the war council room as everyone in it tried to digest the news Pyralis had just dropped on them.

“What in the name of the Dragon Goddess is a Creation Sorceress?” Brigg muttered from where he leaned against the wall.

Drake was quite well up to date with the history of the kingdom. But he knew that was not the case for everybody. Brigg had always hated studying his history books and preferred learning how to fight.

“Pyralis,” Drake spoke in his low voice, “why don't you explain what a Creation Sorceress is?”

He sat back and listened as Pyralis recited a passage from one of the oldest history books. At that moment, Drake couldn't help but admire the old historian, who had dedicated his life to knowledge.

He's still annoying, though, a brief thought flickered through his head.

Pyralis cleared his throat.

“The Dragon Kingdom has always been powerful. It has derived its power from the king, the kingdom's military, and the kingdom's magic. But most importantly, the Dragon Kingdom has always had a Creation Sorcerer or Sorceress. Someone who can wield the magic and essence of creation. Of life itself. That is where we obtain our ultimate power.”

Drake looked to see that Yarra nodded, and he knew the old advisor was remembering the old days.

Pyralis continued.

“We lost our last Creation Sorcerer a few centuries ago. And then, once peace reigned across all the lands, we lost the need for one. And eventually, everyone forgot that the position even existed.”

“What is so special about a Creation Sorceress? What is the Essence of Creation?” This question came from the back of the room, the voice dripping with petulance.

Drake knew that most of the younger dragon shifters of the kingdom didn't believe in the old folk tales about how magic used to rule the lands.

Drake nodded at Pyralis to answer the question.

“Lucien Dastow is a clever shifter. He seeks the Creation Sorceress because alive, she can create whatever he desires. Such as the most powerful weapons you ever dreamed of. And worse, were she dead, her power can be distilled and absorbed. And what do you think will happen if Lucien absorbs her power?”

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