WAR, BLOOD AND DRAGONS

Chapter 8: Sunrise

"Gahh!!" The king screamed in pain as he collapsed to the ground whilst Marilyn fled

"Your Majesty!" Lord Dover yelled as he rushed to his aid, commotion swept through the crowd and people began scrambling to vacate the amphitheatre, the King's guards left Greynor at once and rushed to the King's aid as well.

"Stop her from leaving" Evan larr orderd and they chased after her, the exit was at the North side which was where she headed but it was crawling with people trying to leave, Marilyn jammed her palms together and when she opened them, a strong force emanated from her and threw aside everyone in her path.

"Sorcerer!!" People yelled in terror as she made her way out and the whole amphitheatre was filled with commotion and violent hysteria, Leah made it onto the row where the royals were, they couldn't leave as well but they were guarded by knights and Caine men who wouldn't let her through so she left to find safety somewhere else.

Eventually the imposter was caught by the King's guards who traditionally wore dragonscales to fend against magic, she was forced to eat a piece of her hair which removed the glamour she wore to look like the princess, the detachment of Kings guards that followed her in were also imposters as was Nina and they had all disappeared although one was later found but he was killed in the ensuing struggle, this however meant that the actual princess and her detail had either been abducted or perhaps met a worse fate, soldiers were sent in search of them, combing through the woods and everywhere in-between, the whole city was shaken by the assault on the king and were kept in anxiety concerning the extent of his injuries, even the unusual quiet in the city was telling enough.

Lord Bent was the physician who tended to the King's injury aided by lower ranking physicians and at first he was optimistic about Greymon's chances but when the King's blood started turning black, Bent had to study the dagger, it was a poisoned dagger and the poison was a rare and lethal mixture not known to have a singular cure, Lord Bent had promised to do his best to help the king but he wasn't as optimistic anymore.

It was twilight now and Greymon's children were distraught, Greyson locked himself in his chambers whilst Greynor sat in the throne room at the steps ascending the ivory throne itself, he'd told Lord Dover and Lord ballak that he wished not to be disturbed unless it pertained to his father, however, he was paid a visit by the last person he expected - Lady Hearst.

"My sympathies concerning your father, my Prince" she said and he chuckled lightly, the light from the burning candles giving him a strange sinister glow

"Of all the people who had come to offer sympathies to me, your visit means the most to me because I know it's ingenuine, you must be so satisfied...seeing the man who killed your traitor father be struck down"

"I have not come to fight" Matar defended

"No, you have come to gloat and it makes perfect sense, Marilyn was taken just before you arrived with an army of witch hunters all of whom conveniently failed in sensing the sorcerer masquerading as my sister"

"We identify sorcerers by smell and I never got close to the imposter to smell it but I did see her glamour which I assumed was the work of the Dragonsbane. I bathed the soils with sorcerers blood in the second southern cleanse, any sane mage still alive would sooner kill me than kill for me, I had nothing to do with the attack on your father or the kidnapping of my sister-in-law but the people who took her are sorcerers just like the imposter and since you hadn't thought of sending any of your.....witch hunters, I took the liberty of sending the very best of them, you may not like him but Oscar is as effective as can be" Matar concluded and Greynor responded with another chuckle, more ominous this time, he stood up from the steps and slowly walked towards her, the dried blood on his hands and on his red coat made obvious as the red in his eye, he was in pain and equally afraid.

Greynor loathes the stress of regulating his emotions, he preferred the dazzling comfort of suppressing them and shaming others for their weaknesses to prove his masculine superiority and if he found no weaknesses to exploit he would often double down with violence, a trait his father feared would get him killed and this conversation was gently heading in that direction but Lord Barvis Bent interrupted.

"My Prince" Lady Hearst nodded as she excused herself

"What a repulsive bitch" Greynor said once she had left

"She is still our guest, my Prince" Bent pitched but he paid it no mind

"How is my father?" The Prince asked as he retraced his steps back to the throne's foot

"That is what I have come to speak to you about" Lord Bent said with a despondent look, he was hesitatant to go further as the words seemed too heavy but Greynor wasn't too pleased to be kept in suspense.

"I brewed a potion for the king" He finally said

"And?" Greynor stressed in frustration

"His condition is no different, it worsens by the hour and at this rate, only the gods can save him now" Bent said

"How long until..." Greynor spoke but the words choked at his throat

"Sunrise" Bent said, Greynor ran silent due to the sheer weight of his unfortunate predicament and Lord Bent sat next to him offering comfort

"Our enemies will not succeed" He croaked but with a runny nose, watering eyes and a voiced that sounded defeated.

"My sister must not die, tell Evan larr to announce that house Caine is willing to offer a reward to..." His words choked yet again as he sniffled and wiped the falling tears from his face.

"Whomever finds my sister and brings me her captors alive or dead shall ask and receive their heart desire" He said more clearly this time and Lord Bent obliged and sallied forth.