Page 38 of The White Dragon Revealed

“Why, Caden, I thought you were a peaceable Dragon!” Rose laughed. “You sound almost rational with this running away business!”

He grinned at her. “I think Kaila needs to let off some steam. That’s probably one of her powers as she is another water Dragon. Seriously, though, we should go talk to Valerius and Marban about what we want to do in the Below. Kaila was right about that. But I think she sort of gets on Valerius’ nerves.”

“Because she’s not impressed with him?” Rose smirked.

“How did you guess that?”

“She doesn’t seem impressed by anyone.”

They hustled down the stairs and headed towards the throne room. Even before they neared the side doors, Caden could hear raised voices coming from inside. He and Rose exchanged worried glances. They slowed just as they came to the side doors. Without speaking, both stopped just out of sight and listened. Caden had expected to hear Valerius’ gruff growl and Marban’s calming one. But that wasnotwho was speaking.

“King Valerius, I demand to see my son,” his father’s voice rose up.

“Oh, my God,Dad?” Caden whispered. “What is he doing here?”

Rose shook her head in confusion. They both continued to listen.

“It was my understanding that you were the one not speaking to Caden,” Valerius actually sounded reasonable. He was keeping his temper despite Caden’s father’s tone.

“We had an argument and I let my temper get ahead of me. I thinkyoucan appreciate that,” his father said tightly. “But though my son thinks he can do everything on his own, he cannot. He needs help. Especially with all of the Dragons here trying to stake their claim to him like that Illarion creature.”

“He is not alone,” it was Marban who spoke, which had Caden andRose exchanging shocked glances. Marban and Valerius were working together! “We are all here to assist Caden in making the right choices.”

“Who are you?” His father snapped. “Oh, yes, you’re that gangster! You have criminals by your side, King Valerius? Criminals who seek to get their claws into my son!”

Caden pinched the top of his nose.

But though his father had meant to insult Marban, the wily, old Swarm Shifter seemed completely unmoved by it, “Mr. Bryce, there is something you should know about becoming a Shifter. It places each of us in a certain sphere. As a Swarm Shifter, my sphere was not so exalted. I made the best of it. But even though Caden has joined the highest of the high, he will need the wits I learned at the bottom.”

Rose bit her lower lip again. Her gaze was inward. What was she thinking? That she was in the lowest sphere? She wasn’t. She was here with him and she had every right to be. He reached over and touched her shoulder. She lifted her head and focused on him. She seemed to know what he was thinking. She smiled, but faintly.

“I have some wit myself,” his father said.

“Oh, yes, top of your class at Harvard Law School,” Marban listed off. “You apprenticed with Justice Whyler of the Second Circuit. You wrote several influential papers. And then you became a partner at your firm.”

“Yes, I did,” his father sounded less certain all of a sudden.

“But I am betting that despite all of your accomplishments that this is the most sure of yourself you've been in a long time. Perhaps this is the most respect you have ever had from your partners,” Marban guessed, and Caden knew he guessed right.

“Marban always knows a person’s weakness,” Rose whispered.

“I have done good work,” his father said, but weakly.

“Of course, you have. I didn’t say you haven’t. I spoke of certainty and respect!” Marban chuckled. “Those two things are sorarewhen you are down on the bottom. I know this. And, if you are honest with yourself, you know it too. So I speak to you as a fellow man whose talents and strengths have beenignoreduntil recently.”

“I never ignored you, Marban,” Valerius said tightly.

“You are too kind to say so, my king,” Marban answered. “But, like you, Mr. Bryce, my usefulness was not apparent to some people until Caden joined with his Spirit.”

“I am not here for myself!” his father objected tersely. “I am here for myson. All the Dragons are coming here and, before they leave, I will have justice for Caden.”

“What does justice look like in your eyes, Mr. Bryant?” Valerius asked.

“That Caden has his own territory so he is dependent on no one,” his father answered and Caden grimaced.

Not this again!

“The other Dragons will not agree. It will cause war,” Valerius told his father.

---