Page 91 of Killian
“If you refuse to stop calling me Reverent Knight, then I cannot drop royal address either, Your Highness,” Conley replied with a cheeky grin.
Aleksander had met the pair once a lifetime ago, but he remembered it well. Drystan and Conley were different now. Their eye colors had changed, and Aleksander did not miss the suffering in those gazes. They had been taken from Castle Draconis to defend The Council, so it must’ve been difficult for the pair to watch so many villages burn.
“Very well,” Aleksander said. “I will honor your request to be informal. How can we help you?”
“From what little we have learned of what you endured at Castle Draconis, it is admirable that you yearn for peace,” Conley replied. “Hopefully you have found some of that here, but I need you to understand it will not last. Yes, the dragons have not located you yet. But you must realize that they will. Things may grow more dire after the dragons have fewer magickind in their path. Their violence will not stop. They have grown too accustomed to hurting others. The dragons will find new prey. Since 1369, they have learned nothing of compassion and acceptance. If anything, their hatred and intolerance burns brighter.”
“When they find you, they will not be merciful,” Drystan added. “I am not here to scare you or steal away the harmony of your home and land. Pain awaits you. Death, even. We could not live without ourselves if we did not make a plea today for you to join The Council. Although Dravyn is mated to Killian the Dwyer, no one outside our Council leaders knows the name D’Vaire. That is to protect you. We can continue to keep your name quiet if that is what you prefer.”
Conley nodded. “We discussed it last eve, and you can join without being part of the formal government, if that is what you desire. In our new land, we can find a quiet spot and aid youin building a home. Or you can do it alone. If you ever change your mind and want a seat and a vote, it is yours. But the most important thing is your safety.”
“Please consider it,” Dravyn begged, tears in his eyes. “They are right. The dragons will find you. Even if I am being selfish, I would prefer if you remained with me. As Killian and I have done, we could switch between our homes at night. Killian can bring my plants, and I will happily tend them to see us fed.”
“You are no servant, Dravyn,” Aleksander said. “The gardening is your chore because you asked to do it. If you wish for something else, by all means, do what pleases you.”
“What will please me is if my family comes with The Council,” Dravyn pleaded.
Noirin sniffed loudly and squeezed Aleksander’s hand. “I am sorry, everyone. Know that I love you, but I cannot stay either. The dragons have seen us suffer so. Should any of you be captured…I cannot stomach it again.”
Before the Reverent Knights had arrived, Aleksander had already known what decision had to be made. Fear gripped him again, but he forced himself to stay in the present. Peace was an illusion anyway. He had not found it here. Aleksander doubted it existed anywhere for him, but that did not matter. The men and women who’d pledged fealty to him did.
“Is there anyone who wishes to stay?” Aleksander asked the D’Vaires.
Around the room, the dragons glanced at each other, but no one spoke.
“Things are different now, Aleksander,” Zane said. “If they find us, they already consider us enemies. Without The Council to hunt, they will need new prey, just as the Reverent Knights mentioned. My father…he started this war. Even his death did not stop it. I fear nothing will.”
“Zane, you were a fine boy who loved his father,” Drystan remarked. “There is no shame in that.”
“For a time, I believed in a man incapable of love,” Zane bit out. “Someone so evil that you stand here murdered because of him. I will never forgive him.”
“You need not,” Conley replied. “But forgive yourself, for you did nothing wrong and you deserve no blame for what happened to us or anyone else. It was not your dragon fire that burned anything, nor did you lift a sword to pierce my heart.”
Drystan laid his hands heavily on Conley’s shoulders. “Con, let us not relive it.”
Reaching up, Conley caressed Drystan’s fingers. “I know, my words got away from me.”
“I am sorry for what you endured,” Aleksander said. “If you can guarantee I need not change my life other than to be uprooted, then we will join your Council. I do not want a voice in your government, and The Council needs no further reminders of dragons. We cannot help what we are. Our beasts roar proudly. They are creatures of dignity and grace. We respect our dragons. We must. We will not be judged for it. A rude thing to say, given the plight of The Council, but we have no choice.”
Drystan nodded. “You should be proud of who you are, and no beast will tolerate being hated. It would be impossible to live with any peace if you were at war with yourself. Do not apologize. We understand. I will speak to the Grand Warlock, and we will plan for you to join us. Dravyn can aid us with keeping the lines of communication open.”
“Perhaps you could mention to the Grand Warlock that he has already taken it upon himself to speak for us,” Brogan said. “We are glad to have Mac join us, but the Grand Warlock might discuss matters with us first before writing letters to other dragon Kings on our behalf.”
With a grin that told Aleksander it would be a fun assignment, Conley chuckled. “I will convey your words exactly to the Grand Warlock.”
“Aleksander, we will ensure you and your family do not regret this decision,” Drystan stated.
“Thank you for visiting us and your insistence on finding a solution for our unique situation,” Aleksander commented.
“We will see you all soon,” Conley replied. “The Council has much to do and wants to move as swiftly as possible, so we must go, but we will be in contact.”
Along with his family, Aleksander thanked the Reverent Knights, then he let out a surprised grunt when Dravyn threw himself in his arms.
“I could not be without Killian, but I hated to leave my family,” Dravyn whispered.
“Start packing,” Noirin ordered. “We will not have The Council waiting on us.”
“I fear our Duchess will punish us if we do not heed her words,” Aleksander told Dravyn. “But please know, none of us relished the thought of being parted from you either.”
