Chapter 30 Return to Dawnport
Chapter 30 Return to Dawnport
The entire flight back to Dawnport, Aizurah felt blissful. She allowed all her concerns to fall away and simply enjoyed her flight beside Zeidan and Varynx. Every so often, the drakes spun and looped around one another. Aizurah watched as the sun sank low on the horizon, casting rays of pink and scarlet across the bay.
When the pair touched down and dismounted, Aizurah gave Starlyght a loving pat before allowing the dragons to wander off into the mouth of the caverns.
Zeidan and the princess walked hand in hand up the beach and into the gates of Dawnport, stopping occasionally to watch the shows or purchase candied fruit.
It was the first time she and her husband had enjoyed a night out in the city in many years. She paused, for a moment, when they passed a pair of frail-looking children huddling against the wall of a tavern.
The princess turned and held her hand out to Zeidan expectantly. He rolled his eyes at her but produced his coin purse. The children stared at her with wide, shocked gazes as she laid coins in their palms.
“You’re too charitable, Princess,” Zeidan said softly, planting a kiss on her temple as she handed him back the bag of coins.
“Aren’t you the one who was always reminding me that it matters what the common rabble thinks of us?” she teased, retaking his hand. “All of our subjects matter, don’t they?”
They reached the castle in a cheerful mood. Sir Arden Stonewell, however, was not in a cheerful mood when he came across them.
“Princess, I must kindly insist that the next time you leave the gates without Zeidan or me, you wait for a proper escort.” Aizurah’s eyes narrowed at him.
“Did I not best Sir Moryce this morning? Can I not be trusted to defend myself?” she scoffed.
“Of course, princess,” he deferred. “But, should any harm happen to befall you, I would never forgive myself for allowing your departure. Similarly, any guard on duty would likely lose his head.” She sighed, knowing he was right.
“Well, if you’re to be her sworn shield, it is your duty to keep your eye on her, isn’t it?” Zeidan interjected. They both looked at him in surprise. Aizurah had been considering making Arden her personal guard, but she had yet to voice the idea to her husband.
“My Prince, I would be honored,” Sir Stonewell said with a bow. Aizurah looked at Zeidan in surprise and admiration.
“Wonderful, I will let the King know, and we will plan your ceremony,” Zeidan told him.
“How did you know I’ve been wanting to do that?” she asked.
“I didn’t,” he replied with a grin, “but he seems very concerned, and you do need a sworn sword; someone you can trust. As Arden Stonewell’s father is the King’s royal advisor, he is a good choice.”
Aizurah left Zeidan in the hall outside the throne room and made for her father’s royal apartments. The King sat in his chair, hovering over a pile of books, reading as he worked on some clay statue of a dragon, his hands trembling.
“How are you, father?” she asked, kissing his cheek and glancing over the table. “What are you working on tonight?” The King dove into a lecture on the histories of the Kingdom and how the ancient rulers used their command of the great elemental dragons to keep their lords in line, but Aizurah didn’t quite understand what that had to do with the tiny carved drake in his hand. She listened on and off while he droned on about her duties and their ultimate goal as the rulers of the Kingdom.
“In the end, perhaps you marrying Zeidan was the correct choice for your future.” She focused on her father again.
“What?”
“Well, you both seem very much contented with one another. Perhaps being happy is just as important as being a good ruler. A ruler who has less discontentment in their own home can better focus on what’s best for the realm, yes?” Aizurah smiled and nodded. In that moment, Rayneir could have told her that the sky was red, and she would have agreed, as long as it meant he was fully accepting her marriage.
“Thank you father. I am very happy,” she assured him.
“And hopefully I will have another grandchild soon?” His question hit her like a blow to the chest, but she smiled. She did hope to have another child someday. But the memory of her loss was still too great.
“Perhaps,” she replied softly. Eventually, she kissed him on the head and left him to his work, wandering the corridors of the castle.
“Oh, Aizurah, there you are,” Sylene said when they very nearly bumped into each other. “Zeidan wasn’t quite sure where you’d gone.”
“Yes, your majesty, what can I do for you?” Aizurah asked politely, glancing around for Sylene’s father. Aside from Sir Moryce, they were alone.
“You and Zeidan should have supper with us in a few minutes, since he has been very much absent of late.”
“He’s always hated your father…” Aizurah said, fighting a smirk.
“Yes, I know,” the Queen replied with an eye roll, “but my father will not be joining us this evening.”
“As you wish, your grace, we will attend.” They parted ways, and Aizurah returned to her quarters to find Zeidan…
Aizurah rather enjoyed supper with the Queen and her husband. While she hadn’t forgotten that she was playing a tactical game, Sylene’s frosty demeanor had dissipated, and the two women were getting along well. It was almost easy to forget all the bad blood that had flowed between them over the years.
Zeidan watched them interact from the end of the table as he ate. He noticed the way their eyes darted back and forth to one another. It was clear to him that Sylene was playing the same game Aizurah was. There was a thin veil between what was part of the game and what was genuine. He wondered if, given the proper push, their friendship could become strong enough to rid him of Sebastian Kane’s presence permanently. He would never implicate himself or his wife, of course, but perhaps they could come to some sort of understanding…