Page 88 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
Vanra’s fierce loyalty to Kisano touched him deeply. “I thank you for that kindness, but it is unnecessary.”
“You’re worth it,” Vanra insisted.
“I am happiest here in my library, away from all the fighting and warfare,” Kisano insisted. “It is not a bad thing that Father hates me. I honestly prefer it at this point.”
Vanra was silent for a moment as he tapped the rim of his goblet. “If he truly hated you, he would never let you have a library of this size, right? That means he has to care at least a little.”
Kisano blinked in surprise. “I had not considered that. But it is true Father has never questioned myspending habits on expanding the library or my use of the Enchanters to make it bigger.”
“Wait, you guys can do that?” Vanra asked Fersen. “Just enchant the library with magic to be bigger and have more shelves?”
“I personally have no idea how to do that, but it doesn’t surprise me there are Enchanters who can do such an incredible thing,” Fersen replied.
“It is an awe-inspiring thing to witness,” Kisano added. He didn’t understand why Vanra suddenly seemed so sad.
Vanra looked around with a wistful expression. “My brother would lose his mind at finding out there’s an ever-expanding library of infinite books. This would be his very own Divine Realm. I really hope he gets to see this someday.”
“He would be welcome here,” Kisano told him. From everything he had heard of Vanra’s younger brother, he was sure to be just as sweet and kind. It would be nice to have another friend who wasn’t a relative.
Chapter 42
Kitaro
Asense of foreboding dread made Kitaro uneasy. He wasn’t sure what his dragon was so unsettled by, but he had a feeling he was about to find out when he was summoned to a conference room to meet with his father.
Tatsuki and Jaega were already present. Their serious expressions made Kitaro fear for the worse.
“What is wrong?” Kitaro asked as he took a seat at the table next to his uncle.
Before they could answer, Mitsuki arrived. Instead of his usual foul mood, he had a malevolent sense of joy that troubled Kitaro. “Since you have summoned me, am I to presume that the campaign against the snake shifters is finally going forward?” He sat on his father’s left side, across from Jaega.
“Yes, we will invade Galinor in a fortnight. They have grown bolder and more reckless in their rebellionafter the fall of King Decius of Shadron. We will not stand for it.”
“I look forward to killing as many of those snake bastards as I can.” The genuine glee of bloodlust emanating from Mitsuki made Kitaro uncomfortable. It was only by a small miracle that Uncle Jaega did not rejoice in violence the same way. Otherwise, Valzerna would have been a very different kingdom. Mitsuki turned his attention to Kitaro. “What ishedoing here?”
“He will join us on the front lines,” Tatsuki declared.
Kitaro’s heart sank. He had always known the day would come when he would be called to fight in one of his father’s campaigns, but he wasn’t prepared for it to happen while he was with Vanra. He could only imagine how distraught the human mage would be at the news.
To his surprise, his uncle objected before he got the chance to do so. “Respectfully, I disagree with this decision. Kitaro should stay and protect the castle.”
“No one is suicidal enough to attack our home while we are away. Our decision stands.”
“You have tasked Kitaro with the job of protecting and assisting Vanra. With Kitaro gone for months, it will impede Vanra’s training.” Jaega leveled a warning look at his oldest nephew when he scoffed. “That will set them back months, making their journey even more difficult in the summer with the heat. Iappreciate you want Kitaro to earn his birthright on the battlefield, but this is not the battle for that.”
Tatsuki frowned, stroking his chin. “We had not considered that.”
“He cannot give the fight his full attention when he is worried about Vanra being alone. It would be the death of him,” Jaega argued. “All it would take to put Vanra in peril is a single servant who disapproves of him and is emboldened by the absence of his protector.”
Tatsuki heaved a heavy sigh. “Fine, you have made your point, brother. Kitaro, you will stay here and continue training Vanra in our absence.”
Kitaro relied on his centuries of training not to show the relief he felt at avoiding the front lines. “Understood, Father.”
“It will be a different story once you have completed your journey to Satsuma’s. You need to prepare yourself for that time. It will come sooner than you think.”
Kitaro bowed his head in acknowledgment but said nothing. He would worry about it later. For now, it was enough that he would not be parted from Vanra’s side for precious months they didn’t have to lose.
A servant entered with a low bow. “Forgive the intrusion, but the ambassador from Quintox is here.”
