Sweet Waters Throne

173 Chapter 17Did Jordy make it hard for her son to choose his fate? Maybe she did, especially since she lied to him about his true nature. At first she made him believe that he was a bastard until they were safe in Whitebridge that’s when she revealed the whole truth. But the truth had come late and there was nothing Aprophil could do even if he wanted to.

For now it was even more impossible to take his throne than before, Artemis had a dragon and who defeats a dragon rider? The answer was no one, not even the ancient Dragon Hunters who defeated Euric Morrow — the last Dragon. These Dragon Hunters were put to torch for generations after generations, and the tales tell it that they succeeded because Euric Morrow was poisoned and from there House Morrow crumbled not to mention many of their dragons were dead during that time.

If it wasn’t for the assassination of Euric Morrow, the last Dragon then House Morrow would continue to rule all lands from their capital Dark Town for centuries to come. Hence Aprophil knew the hardship of overcoming a dragon rider, and if the catastrophe in Lawsend’s City taught him nothing then he must be a fool to challenge his half brother for Sweet Waters throne.

But in Amabel he saw a purpose. He saw his lost self in the boy and he wanted desperately to put him on the throne, and as he put it, “I want it for my own equilibrium. I need to be able to see it that it’s possible for one’s right to return to him, that’s all I need” he said to his mother with tears rolling down between his cheeks.

Jordy remained silent because she still didn’t accept the idea of Aprophil going to war which wasn’t his. But he was a man grown now and not a child anymore, Jordy knew she had to acknowledge that and let him be.

“I didn’t give you a choice to choose because I wanted you to live. I will never regret that, I chose you over power or wealth. Any mother would do the same...” said Jordy. Then she quietly left the council chamber and walked back to her space.

Miranda was listening to the conversation from outside of the council chamber, she was holding her son Arteides while shaking. This war Aprophil allowed it inside their walls wasn’t going to be fruitful and she knew it, she feared for her husband’s safety and that of their son’s.

Back in Blackmount Aurora seemed to enjoy the company of the three savages who visited a week earlier, but they weren’t savages anymore because Aurora treated them like one of her own people for which they were. By names they go by Toro, Sundar and Alienor.

Toro was the tallest one amongst the three, he stood by six foot five, taller than even Artemis. Sundar’s height was average but he was the most masculine one amongst the three and the most powerful, they refered to him as “Lion Sundar”. Alienor, took the name from the first Morrow King who conquered and colonized lands from Prophis to Maldonia and from across the Silent Sea, all cities recognized none but one King and his name was Alienor Morrow. Although the real Alienor was tall, this one was the shortest amongst the three and even Aurora was taller than her.

.....

Toro, Sundar and Alienor forged a very strong bond with Aurora and her dragons. They taught her ways of flying in style even though they had never flown before, new vocabularies in Low Moor and sometimes Toro would braid Aurora’s silver hairs while telling her ancient stories.

Toro had thick brown hairs which went from smelling manure, to smelling flowery perfumes and scented oils. In just a week he fully adopted to city’s ways and dropped the rugs for silks and satins and leather. Sundar also adapted quickly, it was Alienor who was slow and reluctant to leave his lifestyle behind.

Even though she was with child Aurora still rode her dragon, Vizoro and sometimes she would take Toro and Sundar with her to the skies as she once flew with Torgo just for practices. Flying on a dragon completely changes a person, just as it did Artemis and the longer these three men stayed inside Aurora’s Hill, the more they got to see Artemis flying his dragon from time time. Not to mention he had pale silver hairs while he wasn’t a Morrow.

When Aurora invited these men to her home, it was Torgo first who warned her about them. But she thought maybe he was just jealous and that’s because Torgo may have thought he and his people back in his village were the last descendants of House Morrow until these men showed up.

That was Aurora’s way of thinking, but Torgo knew it that House Morrow was a proud house. They wouldn’t be so pleased in seeing Artemis with a dragon while it was them who waited for the chosen one to bring back the age of dragons. The promise of the chosen one didn’t mean every Morrow descendant would get a dragon once the chosen one hatches the stone eggs, but they sure didn’t expect a non Morrow to claim a dragon and with that the most important part of their symbol — the silver hairs.

Toro and Sundar were the ones pissed off in seeing Artemis with his dragon, and not just any dragon but the biggest dragon amongst the five and a male. They also heard how he destroyed a city and burned sixty thousand men and turned them to ashes and dry woods. Although their means was motivated by jealousy, Toro suggested that it was driven by concern when he approached Aurora on one beautiful day when she was out in the garden with Artemis.

Even from a far one could tell how in love these two were, and their love grew stronger each day. Toro was jealous of their connection, and he thought the chosen one should be with her own blood — a true Morrow descendant and not some diluted mixed blood foreigner who was handed a dragon to him.

At first Toro hesitated in approaching Aurora and Artemis. But when he made up his mind, he cleared his throat.

Aurora turned back to look, she was so excited in seeing Toro. “Toro” she called out.

Artemis turned back too and he smiled when he saw Toro, he had no any hate against him or others.

“Your Graces” said Toro with his hands backwards.

“You can approach Toro” Artemis quipped.

Then Artemis stood up to give way to Toro, he kissed Aurora’s lips, then he reached out for the belly and kissed it too. With that he was off and when he passed right through Toro, he managed a smile and walked away. Toro was envious of Artemis’s shining silver hairs which seemed to dazzle so much in the sun. It should have been him since he was the true Morrow descendant.

Aurora noticed how Toro seemed so taken by Artemis. “Isn’t he marvelous?” she quipped in. “His shining silver hairs must remind you of Alienor Morrow wouldn’t you say so Toro?” then she added in Low Moor.

Toro wasn’t convinced, “He’s not a Morrow” he said in his thick Low Moor accent. “What are you doing with a foreign blood?”

This all sounded new to Aurora. She wasn’t used to this version of Toro, he sounded jealous and not as kind as he usually is. Hence she asked him in Low Moor “Are you alright Toro?”

“I am my Queen. But something troubles me... why does he get to ride a dragon? You gave him a dragon and he is not a Morrow”

Now this time Aurora wasn’t pleased. “The dragons are mine and I give them to whoever I want” she replied.

“No!” Toro said angrily. “The dragons are ours, every Morrow descendant has a right to the dragons. You were chosen to bring them to life, and they should mate and hatch more eggs. More eggs equals more dragons, and then every Morrow will claim a dragon and grow our silver hairs. That is your task my Queen”

Well, the air between these two was thick as a layer of silk even though there were outside in the garden and it was a good day to be outside.

Aurora remembered Torgo’s words a week ago when she invited these men into her home. Now Toro was speaking back at her with a frown look on his face and demanded a dragon. Or worse he demanded the dragons should be mated quickly so they produce more eggs — more eggs equaled more dragons.

“And more dragons equals chaos, and chaos leads to extinction” These words were on Aurora’s lips but she couldn’t get them out. She knew very well what happened the last time Alienor Morrow and his generations of Morrow had dragons. They became easy to attack and Dragon Hunters killed them one by one, of course Aurora didn’t want to be a ruler who hands out dragons to just anybody who claimed to be a Morrow descendant because she understood the result of doing such things.