4 • RAEHERYS

THE RICH AND RADIATING HEAT INSIDE AGGRONAR VOLCANO had kept thousands of dragon eggs alive despite the absence of their mothers’ warmth. Raeherys Alagor stood at the wide vent of the volcano, gazing down at the small pool of boiling lava far below. Around it settled all the hard-scaled eggs over the rocks and stones and tiny caves, with the sustainable heat supplying them with enough energy and strength.

Some eggs had hatched, some glowed like active embers in coal, and some remained stone-hard. Tiny screeches of newly born dragons made up the noise inside the volcano. With pink skin and bones of sticks, they crawled on the rock surface, careful of not touching the lava as they had yet grown any scales.

These hatchlings were the future of the Draconian Realm—and Raeherys Alagor would no chance let the human empire destroy it.

Seconds after, a mondra appeared from the thick smoke above, flying down for Raeherys.

When the dragon landed on the vent beside the king, he bowed his head along with his long neck, “Your Grace … The Lawdras have already been summoned to gather at the Draconi Falls by your command. They now await your presence.”

Raeherys nodded and took one last glance at the eggs. He must convince the old and wise men; otherwise these eggs … these little dragons would fall along with them. And he could not afford to lose any of it.

Raeherys curved his back and summoned his dragon wings, expanding wide in the shade of medallion-gold. Hyborns like him could not shape-shift in their Primal Form anytime they wanted. They could only do so every Dragon Festival as part of their Draconian Tradition—and of course, when wars and battles would arise.

Because of its tremendous energy usage, Hyborns had only been able to shape-shift once a day at most. So Raeherys would just make use of his wings often to fly around Draconos.

The strong flaps of his golden wings created a powerful gust of wind around, as he began his ascent from Aggronar, through the thick smoke, then out towards the skies. The freshness of the sea breeze howled against his face. Looking down, the ocean blue waves danced and flailed amidst the crystalline sea, separating the nine islands of Draconos.

They all vary in size, the islands. Aggronar, the one Raeherys just visited earlier, was the second-largest island with an active volcano that gave heat for the eggs and hatchlings.

Raeherys took course towards Volcron; the biggest volcano resting at the center of all islands. Four carved stairs upon its flank led the path towards the peak, with each one facing north, south, east, and west. Those four, long steps called the Dragon’s Ascent, had symbolized the four pillars of a dragon’s strength; physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual power. Two columns of granite statues lined in parallel on both sides of each stair. They were the Hyborns from the past generations that ruled Draconos during their times.

Raeherys flew around the enormous flank, passing through above hundreds and hundreds of dragon nests, all made of huge straws and leaves and small branches.

Ahead of Volcron, beyond another sea, the Draconi Island glimmered with grandeur under the afternoon sun. It’s where Raeherys had grown fond of spending his youth and fun days before all his responsibilities being the king had occupied his time.

The vast island was a paradise, blessed with green hills, waterfalls, valleys, streams, and forests that provided them plentiful resources of dragon fruits, finelities, berries, and more. More nests could be found above the Persea trees, hundreds of them, sheltering more families of dragons.

Raeherys couldn’t help but smile at the young dragons flying and playing on the colorful meadow filled with summer lupines and purple sages and needlegrass. But a speck of anxiety remained in his thoughts. The war caused by his brother had cost them more than half of the Draconian population. And what had been left of them were females, along with their dragon spawns.

The thought made him remember about the Phoenix Comet approaching. It had been given with several meanings and revelations from the prophets. But for Raeherys, it meant nothing more than destruction. The comet could escalate the power of the orb beyond its limits, they had said.

Before, the humans had used the orb to win the Red Century War. But now that the comet’s coming closer, Raeherys was certain that those merciless beings would use its new power to wipe out the Draconian Realm. With all these in thought, he needed to open up to the Lawdras what Mondramyr Gramad had told him earlier.

A few moments later, Raeherys arrived and landed on the grassy banks of River Serpent. He followed the waters upstream, leading towards the waterfall. Cold and clear, it spilled out of the high bedrock ahead. Raeherys claimed it as his own spot since the sound of the waterfall provided serenity in his ears—light and gentle as it streamed down through the mossy rocks.

In front of the splashing waters of Draconi Falls, several stones rose shallow above the blue river—and there, the five Lawdras settled. The old, wise men squatted patiently on top of each stone, waiting for the king’s arrival.

As Raeherys flew once again and helped himself to his vacant stone, the Lawdras stood and lowered their heads before him. “All hail, King Raeherys Alagor, Blood of the Hyborns, Descendant of Lord Hylos, King of Draconos, and Ruler of the Realm.”

“Rise, my wise Lawdras,” said Raeherys, settling down on his stone seat. “Forgive me for the immediate summons, but I believe there is a matter that must be addressed, as I have spoken with Mondramyr Gramad earlier this morning.”

There was silence as the Lawdras exchanged glances … until old Fetyr spoke. “Is this about his request again, Your Grace?”

“I’m afraid so,” said Raeherys. “I have given it some thoughts earlier, but it troubled me nonetheless. I would like to discuss further his concern with you, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Of course, not, My King.”

Raeherys nodded. “I ought to think it’s still not enough destroying those ships to prevent the humans from reaching our isles. Until we have taken the orb from them, Draconos is still in grave danger.”

“But Your Grace, it’s the only best option we have at this moment,” said Mydrad. “We don’t want putting more lives at risk—if what you’re suggesting is going south to obtain the orb from the human empire. That would be unwise.”

“I have to agree with Mydrad,” added Fetyr. “The humans could never sail without the ships from Ormir. The comet might only be days away, however, they will not have much time building their own ships. And even if they would ask ships from the other harbors, it will take them a week at least to sail and arrive here, if the winds are most kind to them.”

Raeherys tightened his hold on his knees, squatting over the stone. ‘They have underestimated the humans,’ the words of Gramad echoed back in his mind. He glanced down at the clear water flowing beneath them and saw his own reflection. He’s the king, but he’s unable to make decisions on his own. How could he? When he had so much fear of making a single mistake? Making that ‘same’ mistake? All he could do now was to persuade them.

“But what if they’ll arrive here while the comet is still at peak?” Raeherys looked at each one of them. “We don’t even know when it will last. So we cannot just stay here in the isles and do nothing … am I wrong?”

“We are not doing nothing, Your Grace,” said Olyvion. “Forgive me for saying this, but you are acting stubborn like your father and your brother once did—right before they fled to the south and died. You are still as young as a hundred-year-old dragon. As king, you ought to listen to us in these crucial times more than ever.”

Raeherys had to clench his fists to contain his anger. He hated being compared with his family, but it’s true. They had taken for granted the advice from the Lawdras, and so it led them to their end. As much as he wanted to take the orb, he needed to do his obligation of securing his realm into safety. Besides, what else could he do than get killed if he ever stepped into their lands? He could never trust any human. His father had once trusted them enough to make peaceful negotiations, but his death only proved how heartless they all were.

“I would agree with you all, but we have to do more than just destroying the ships,” said Raeherys.

“You might want to put this matter aside for now, Your Grace.” Fetyr gave him a worried look through his eyes. “We bear some ill news.”

“What is it now?”

“Spreading rumors across the isles,” Hashir reported. “Our own kinds from Seagrad Island are said to be grouping to revolt against us, as what we’ve heard.”

“Revolt?” said Raeherys, lifting his eyebrows to confirm. “Why? What do they want?”

“That’s what we are still finding out, Your Grace. But I believe they share the same purpose with Mondramyr Gramad … only that they’re willing to use force to get what they want,” said Mydrad, then he sighed. “In the meantime, My King, we will need your thoughts of what you intend to do about this.”

Raeherys froze, his mouth parted open as his breath caught in his throat. There it was again—hard decisions to solve difficult problems arising in the realm. Ever since the death of his family, he had grown afraid of deciding independently.

What if he would make a mistake? What if he would only cause the situation to grow worse than it did? He needed them. He needed their guidance.

“I … um … “ Raeherys cleared his throat. “Well, what do you have in mind?” Then he clenched his jaws.

The Lawdras glanced at each other for a brief moment. Their simultaneous nod told Raeherys they had already discussed about this matter without him. Finally, Fetyr broke the silence and said, “While we seek for more information, we advise you, My King, to strengthen the security in Volcron … and at the Dragon Temple. Place more mondras on guard, especially at night. We don’t know when they will cast this revolt, if the rumors are true.”

“That’s wise, Fetyr … wiser than what I had in mind.” Raeherys faked a smile, though he had actually none in mind. “If that’s for the best of our realm, then I shall give the command to Mondramyr Gramad.”

Their discussion went further to other matters concerning the cave mines of gold and diamonds, agricultural and fish harvests, reports of any human sightings in their ocean territory, and more.

The golden-red skies grew darker when they were finished. Something about their discussion gave Raeherys an idea of how to address the spreading rumors. He waited until the end of their gathering before he opened up what he had in mind. However, the Lawdras only responded with a frown after he told them about it.

“A hearing?” said Mydrad, rubbing his chin with stormed eyebrows.

Raeherys nodded. “I’d like to hear it in person, from our fellow brethren in Seagrad on the morrow. Maybe knowing about their problems and desires could help us prevent this revolution from happening. A king must always listen to all sides, wouldn’t you agree?”

It took the Lawdras a short moment of silence before they could reply. “That could be one way of addressing it, Your Grace. However, most of the dragons from Seagrad are the survivors under your brother’s host during his battle.”

“And what does that imply?”

“You may not find them very likable,” Fetyr pointed out. “They grew no love for you ever since you took your seat on the Hyborn Throne. And we are talking about such men who wanted to revolt … they might kill you on the spot if you misspeak a word during this … hearing.”

Raeherys took a deep breath as he stared down at the river. He found himself recalling the men from Seagrad who had begun to protest once they learned he would not allow any more dragons flying outside their borders. But that’s the reason he wanted—to hear their side of why they needed to go south. It would be hard, he knew, but he had to do this.

Because if he could not even solve the conflict within his realm … how much more could he not solve the hundred-year conflict with the humans?