Chapter Four: Sypher/Vel…

I cannot believe you are mortal again. This is madness, Ember growled, her wings beating steadily as she led the group towards Eden. She’d been griping about the news since Sypher had first told her. You are more at risk now than ever. This was the worst time to take your power.

“Relax, will you?” Vel replied, patting the scales on the back of her neck. “Hephaestus said my regeneration would settle once my body got used to the absence of magic.”

And how long will that take? A month? A year? You are too vulnerable to be acting like you’re still the Soul Forge, nirehni.

“I am still the Soul Forge. Magic doesn’t decide that for me. You’re either with me or you’re not, Em. Which is it?” he asked.

I would follow you across the fire pits of Shade, nirehni, and I would spend the entire journey calling you an idiot, she huffed, a low grumble vibrating through her chest.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Vel grinned, squinting at the city forming on the horizon. “That’s Eden. Better give them notice that we’ve arrived.”

Ember threw back her head and roared, the sound rattling the skies as it exploded in Eden’s direction, no doubt startling the entire city. Elda laughed when Cain copied his mother, complete with a jet of crimson flame. Syd weaved between them, switching from the air pocket behind Ember to the one behind Cain and back again. Brady whooped and hollered on the saddle behind Julian.

“Always excited,” Gira remarked from behind Vel, glancing over at the bear Shifter. “She’s good to have around.”

“Julian certainly seems to think so,” the demon replied. “As long as he’s not about to throw himself to his death he can keep company with whoever he wants.”

We should land outside the gates. I can see the ballistae on the walls from here and I do not want them mistaking us for an enemy, Ember cut in.

"As long as you're okay with being paraded through the streets," Vel said with a shrug. "Once the civilians realise a pair of living, breathing dragons are nearby you'll become a spectacle."

I am not averse to people appreciating how impressive I am, Ember preened, circling gracefully to land before the gates. The guards lowered their weapons the moment they realised who was on her back.

"Well, well, well," a female voice called out. Vel's eyes strayed to a woman standing in the gateway just outside the portcullis, clad from head to toe in polished golden armour with a heavy mace strapped across her back. "What a surprise this is, Your Grace."

"Captain Reiner?" Elda asked.

"The one and only," the woman grinned. "Never expected a dainty little thing like you to ride in on a dragon, of all things."

"I'm full of surprises," Elda answered tightly. The interaction between them was strange - the Captain was polite and jovial, but her jaw was tense and her fists stayed clenched. Elda had a furrow between her delicate brows.

"Last time I saw you, my unit saved you from becoming demon fodder," Reiner remarked, and suddenly Vel recognised jealousy and hostility in her tone. He slid down from Ember's back, landing lightly on the balls of his feet and approaching the Captain.

"You must be one of the King's favoured soldiers, since you hold the rank of Captain," he commented, stopping in front of her and drawing himself to his full height. She was tall, but he was taller.

"Yes, Your Grace." Her chest swelled with pride.

"Hmm." Vel tilted his head, studying the hard lines of her face for a second. "You'd have thought such a favourable relationship with the King would have taught you some manners."

"Pardon, Sir?"

"The demon fodder on the back of that dragon outranks you in both status and ability, Captain." Reiner's skin paled. "She is the Keeper of the Soul Blade of Light. She is your future Queen. Most importantly to me, she is my wife. I expect you to show the deference and respect a Captain should show their superior. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Saviour. My apologies." Reiner's bravado crumbled, but she kept her back straight and saluted respectfully, crossing her fist over her chest and bowing her head.

"Don't be so hard on her." The voice at his elbow was kind. "I was a devious little shit before I met you," Elda chuckled, her warmth returning. "The Captain had to drag me back to Eden more than once." She laid a hand on his arm, her lips curving up at the corners. "You've frightened her enough."

"At ease," Vel conceded, turning back to the Captain. She dropped the salute and studied Elda with a shrewd gaze.

"You're not the brat I used to have to chase into the woods anymore, are you?"

"Oh I'm definitely still a brat," the Princess chuckled. "But I know now what sort of danger I was walking into whenever I left the walls. Back then I didn't understand."

“The danger is greater than ever these days,” Reiner sighed. “Everyone is on edge after hearing Bratus has gone dark. They’re hoping you’re the miracle they need.”

“I hope so too,” Elda nodded. “Can you prepare the people for the arrival of two dragons?”

“Of course.” Captain Reiner glanced between the two scaled creatures and chewed her lip. “No fire within the walls unless there’s an emergency. We don’t need to be tackling blazes on top of everything else,” she decided eventually.

We are more than capable of controlling our fire, Cain scoffed, baring his teeth at her.

“Oh, you talk,” Reiner noted. “The King will be delighted. This way.” She turned and mounted the horse waiting beyond the gates. The Soul Forge retook his place on Ember’s back in front of Gira, and Elda mounted Cain in front of Clover again. Syd followed with Julian and Brady on her back, tucking her wings in and trotting behind the two dragons.

Ember had to tuck her limbs in to get through the portcullis, but Cain managed to walk through without making himself smaller. As soon as his mother emerged inside the city she raised her dark head and lifted her wings.

The people of Eden stared at the odd procession, more and more crowds gathering as word spread of two dragons entering the city for the first time in centuries. Ember kept a leisurely pace, content to follow behind Captain Reiner and let people admire her.

Cain let out a couple of low grumbles, making it obvious that he didn’t enjoy being a spectacle nearly as much as his mother did. Syd nosed along behind him, swishing her tail curiously and sniffing at everything she passed despite Julian’s attempts to rein her in.

By the time they reached the palace, the whole city had gathered along the main roads to watch them. The inner portcullis opened to welcome them and a row of guards exited to keep the crowds from following them into the palace grounds. Once again, Ember had to tuck herself in to get through the gate. Cain followed as easily as the first time, and the portcullis slid shut behind them once Syd was through with her passengers.

The King and Queen stood on the wide steps leading to the main entrance, dressed in all their royal finery in case the public caught a glimpse of them through the gates. The dragons stopped at the base of the stairs, allowing their riders and passengers to dismount.

“Welcome home,” King Hrothgar greeted, descending the stairs to fold Elda into a hug. “I’m glad you’re safe.” She looked like she wanted to speak, but Meridia enveloped her in a flowery embrace soon after.

When the monarchs released their daughter, they turned to survey the Soul Forge warily. Vel still hadn’t entirely forgiven Hrothgar for his outright hostility when he realised he was a demon, but Sypher was ready to move on. He stepped forwards and held a hand out to the King.

“It’s good to see you, Your Majesty,” he said politely. Hrothgar’s shoulders relaxed and he shook Sypher’s hand with a smile.

“You too. I trust you’ve come with news?”

“Bratus is dead,” Elda said immediately. “The monolith there is destroyed. When we returned from the Dragon Isles we found it half corrupted by Malakai. The residents of Bratus are dead and their bodies are gone. We don’t know where.”

“We managed to stop the corruption from completing, but the people were already lost,” Sypher finished, casting Elda a sideways glance. She nodded her head almost imperceptibly, accepting that it was best to keep the truth a secret in case Aeon decided to check in.

“That is terrible news,” Meridia sighed, her brow furrowing. “We’d hoped the people had just fled when we heard the rumours trickling in from Valdren.”

“The smell was unmistakeable,” Gira commented, bowing his head respectfully towards the King and Queen. “We think that the bodies were in the roost of the Calyx tree when we arrived, but by the time we finished searching they were gone and the smell had begun to fade.”

“What would anyone need with the bodies of an entire city?” Hrothgar mused.

“Malakai is aligned with Cynthia,” Sypher answered simply. “She was a powerful Necromancer in her own right before she bonded Lazarus. Her Spirit link has been severed and her weapon destroyed, but Malakai managed to enhance her somehow. Perhaps the bodies will help compensate for her loss of power when I destroyed Lazarus.”

“You think she kept them?” the King balked, his face paling. “Spirits, that’s twisted.”

“Don’t expect humanity from her,” Elda replied. “If you expect anything more than hatred and self-preservation from a woman like Cynthia, she’ll kill you before you know what’s happening.”

“I see,” Hrothgar frowned. “In any case, we have much to discuss. I can see by the presence of the dragons and the absence of the rune, that your trip to the Dragon Isles was a success.”

“It was. We’ve returned to check on the monolith beneath Eden,” Julian stated, also bowing his head towards the monarchs. “We believe it will be Malakai’s next target.”

“Ah. Then yes, we have much to discuss. Your dragons can stay where they wish as long as they don’t eat my people or set fire to my kingdom. The rest of you should come inside. We can talk more in the chancery.”

We dragons are not mindless beasts, King Hrothgar, Ember warned, raising her wings and her head to display her full beauty and power. Your people are safe as long as they do not hunt us.

“I see,” the King mumbled, staring up at the great black dragon. Cain made a sound that was suspiciously like a laugh, earning a grin from Elda. “My apologies. My people won’t hunt you.”

Good. For now, my son and I will stay within the palace courtyard. We will hunt in the forest when we get hungry.

Hrothgar nodded and turned away, heading for the double doors leading into the palace a shade quicker than usual. Julian arched an eyebrow, which made Elda snort and earned her a glare from her mother. The Soul Forge watched the Princess roll her eyes and follow along behind her parents, waving goodbye to Cain just before she disappeared inside.

“And to think I was under the impression she was well-behaved when we met.” Sypher remarked.

Julian turned and blinked at his friend. “Who the fuck told you that?” he snorted. “That girl is a force of nature. I refuse to believe you didn’t see that coming the moment you laid eyes on her.”

The Vampire winked at him and led Syd away to the stables, leaving Gira, Clover and Brady to follow Sypher into the palace. Brady stared up at the high ceilings and enchanted lamps like a small child looking at a fairytale castle, her mouth hanging open.

“Your wife really lives here?” she asked eventually.

“Yes,” Sypher replied. “And I suppose I do to. Have you never been inside a palace?”

“I grew up on a boat,” she shrugged. “You don’t find many palaces out on the ocean.”

Their conversation ended when the chancery doors swung open to reveal Hrothgar seated in his high-backed chair behind the desk, Meridia opposite him and Elda leaning against the wall nearby.

“Elda, will you please sit down?” Meridia asked through clenched teeth.

“No. My friends will have to stand, so I stand too. I’m a Keeper and their companion before I’m a Princess, mother.” She pushed away from the wall to stand beside Sypher. “I won’t bow to tradition or etiquette ever again.”