Page 32 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
“I’m assuming Mitsuki shares that opinion?”
“Indeed.” It disgusted Kitaro. “The only saving grace is they both have written Kisano off as unimportant and not even worth the time to disparage, so they leave him alone in his sanctuary of the library.”
The swirl of sadness and anger coming from Vanra intrigued Kitaro. The human mage said, “That’s horrible!”
Kitaro shrugged. “It is the preferred alternative to them trying to force him into being a warrior that he is not. Kisano prefers the company of books, so it is no hardship to him to be ignored.”
“Yeah, but still!”
It warmed Kitaro’s heart to hear Vanra passionately defend his older brother, whom he had yet to meet. “I appreciate your concern for his situation. Should your path cross with Kisano’s, I trust you will find him good company—if you can convince him notto run off and hide.” Kitaro tucked his hair behind his ear. “What thoughts did you have about my mother?”
“If she was the reason you’re so well-adjusted.”
The comment made Kitaro chuckle as he stretched, then settled into a comfortable position once more. “You would not be wrong to ascribe her a large portion of that credit. Despite being an ice dragon, she had a warmth that was uncommon in the higher ranks of aristocrats. It provided a much-needed balance to my father’s warlord tendencies.”
“Had?”
“Ah.” Some of Kitaro’s good humor faded. “Arenthia’s jealousy is legendary with my father. She did not take kindly to him taking my mother for a mistress.”
Vanra had a horrified expression. “She had your mother killed?”
“Not at first. Mother realized early on what Arenthia’s role was in my father’s life, so she took me to her family’s estate up north in Tozoko to stay out of the way. We lived there undisturbed for over a hundred years.”
“You weren’t raised around your father?”
Kitaro’s lips turned upward in a small smile. “My mother was a strong woman in her own right. She was not afraid to deny my father. I believe that was part of her appeal to him.”
“What happened?” Vanra hesitantly asked.
“My father grew tired of being told, ‘No,’ by mymother.” Kitaro sighed as he continued recounting the tale. “He demanded she bring me back here to train with him and Uncle Jaega. Mother refused to be parted from me. When she resisted in complying with his demands, he came in person to order she submit to his will. Mother was decidedly unimpressed with his argument, so he imposed his authority on her in other ways.”
“Meaning?”
“He forcibly kidnapped us back here,” Kitaro clarified. “After being denied her presence for over a hundred years, he made up for lost time in ways that Arenthia found objectionable.”
Although he was a mage, Vanra could easily infer the sexual implications. “Oh.”
“Arenthia believed that my mother had agency in her return and reacted correspondingly,” Kitaro continued.
“Arenthia murdered her?”
“Not directly, although I am sure Arenthia would have derived a great deal of satisfaction out of doing so. Mother tried to escape with me back to Tozoko, but bandits attacked us on the way. I have no direct proof they were acting on Arenthia’s orders, but it had all the hallmarks of her involvement. Arenthia’s subsequent rejoicing at the news of my mother’s death served as further confirmation.”
“That’s so awful.” Vanra’s deep anguishbrought comfort to him. “I’m so sorry, Kitaro. I can’t even imagine how traumatic that must have been for you.”
“My mother did not go down without a fight,” Kitaro stated with pride. “There were twenty assailants. Though I was but a child, I struck down five of them while my mother killed the remaining fifteen of them on her own despite having been mortally wounded by a Divine weapon.”
Vanra’s expression was full of admiration. “She must have been an incredible warrior in her own right to do that.”
“My mother’s side of the family was renowned for their magic abilities, so she had a masterful command of her immense powers. I am grateful that I learned as much as I did from her before her untimely demise.”
“She sounds amazing.”
“Indeed, she was a most remarkable person. I regret you will not have an opportunity to meet her. She would have found you a most curious creature.” Kitaro knew his mother would have grown quite fond of Vanra.
“I wish I could have met her.” Vanra’s emotions continued to swirl in a captivating way. “I can’t believe Arenthia could be so heartless.”
“She is a ruthless Power who has no time for those she sees as interfering in her plans,” Kitaro stated. “I suppose I should be fortunate that she did not see it fitting to finish what she had started by trying to kill me after I survived.”
