Greetings Readers
I hope you have all had a fantastic week! I have been so busy with work only to have clients disappear when it comes time to accept their projects. A typical hurry-up-and-wait situation, It's just a pity that unfortunately, bills don't wait.
But anyway. The story must go on. Please enjoy this update as it has a small piece of happiness that I've been looking forward to.
Saasha refused to talk to Lardan about the man who made his appearance the day before. She was too busy making arrangements to have her entire family, extended, blood, and adopted to arrive throughout the day. She needed to remain busy. She couldn’t think of the man that was somewhere on the planet.
From what she had heard from Gatex, the man had vanished soon after attacking Saita, and no one knew where he was now. Saasha wasn’t sure if she was grateful or terrified. She knew the kind of power he wasn’t afraid to wield.
Lardan eventually gave up trying to speak to his mother as he had his own plans to put in place for the afternoon’s plans. He had quite an extensive family with Danna and his grandchildren. While the plans to have everyone gather in the castle were months in the making, there were things he still needed to arrange. However, the thought of his father being somewhere ate at him, and he couldn’t understand why his mother had refused to speak to the man.
He remembered the times he had been home from the Academy when he heard his mother crying softly in her room for the love of her life. As he grew older, the tears and sobs dried up, but he would often catch her looking at the fading black scar on her right palm and he knew she was thinking of his father. The only person whom he had been able to talk to about his father was Jethron, and even he didn’t always want to talk about the man who had raised him.
Lardan knew tonight Jethron, and his extended family would be here with Brucel’s family. It would be the first time Brucel would be able to see his young son who had been born in Jethron’s palace a few months ago. The Dekai doctors had been happy enough with Shannon and the boy’s condition that they said they were allowed to travel. They hoped that having spent most of her pregnancy on the Dekai home world, Shannon and the boy were finally strong enough to fight the effects of the Wasting Disease. Lardan hoped so too, for his brother had been miserable since his wife had left. He hadn’t even been able to be there for the birth of his first son as he had been there for his daughter. He had simply gotten a late-night message saying his son had taken his first breath. He couldn’t wait to see the look on his brother’s face when he got to hold his son for the first time.
Lardan had barely finished his preparations when the first of the guests started appearing. Aurus and Tomax were the first, as always, followed by the twins and their gaggle of offspring. Several soldiers informed Lardan that Jethron and Brucel had arrived, and he had missed the joyous occasion of Brucel crumbling under the emotions he had been holding onto for months. Deciding that he had done enough work, he delegated the rest of his work to the castle soldiers and made his way to the large hall that had been decorated for the festivities.
Once he entered the hall, his young niece Marie spotted him first and ran up to him to hug him tightly. She had inherited her mother’s green eyes, but her father’s dark hair and grey tail. She was starting to get tall now, and Lardan was sure her father was grooming her to take his throne.
“Uncle!”
He twirled her around once, and her blue dress billowed out around her.
“Stop growing every time I see you!” chuckled Lardan as he set her down.
“No! I’m going to grow at least as tall as Mother!” she pouted.
“Of course you are dear. Have you seen your little brother yet?”
“I did!” she grinned, “Grandmother was showing baby pictures and he looks exactly like Dad did when he was born.”
Lardan grinned, “Oh this I have to see myself.”
Marie took her uncle to where her father and mother were standing, showing off their son. Brucel had clearly been crying and seemed unsure if he should be holding his son or embracing his wife.
“Congratulations, brother.” Said Lardan as he came to see his nephew himself.
Marie was right, the boy looked exactly like his father had when he was born. Lardan smiled and accepted the boy as Brucel handed him over. The sleeping child barely opened an eye before he snuggled against his uncle.
“He looks exactly like you did at this age. Guess we’ll see if he retains his blue eyes or if he gets his mother’s green ones as he gets older. Have you two thought of naming him yet?”
Brucel looked to Shannon who nodded her head and the Saith turned to Lardan and said, “I was thinking of naming him after dad, you know, keep it in the family.”
Lardan then realised that his brother had no idea what had happened. He could almost not contain himself and was just about to tell his brother when Shannon looked up.
“Oh, look at you! Finally starting to pick up weight.”
Lardan turned to see Saita and Aidan had entered the hall. Saita was in her usually black formal wear, while Aidan seemed to be in some sort of human formal wear. Saita was sporting a blue eye with plaster under her right eye. Lardan wasn’t sure how she had been injured and wondered if it had something to do with his father appearing.
Saita shyly approached the group as Aidan boldly walked up to Lardan. He looked up at the Saith and grinned, “Another prince, the queen must be so proud.”
“And who might you be?” asked Shannon as she squatted before the boy.
“This is Aidan, my son.” Said Saita as she put a hand on the boy’s head.
“I knew there was a child, but I had no idea he was this old already.” Shannon looked up at Brucel, “You didn’t think to tell me they were living on the planet?”
“I didn’t think you needed the extra stress with the baby.”
“What handsome young man. It’s nice to meet you.” The second queen of the Saith extended her hand and Aidan shook it hard.
Lardan snorted and said softly to Saita, “He’s never met a lady before clearly.”
Saita chuckled before inclining her head to Brucel, “We haven’t had the chance to meet face-to-face. I see the family resemblance.”
Brucel was taken aback by the comment and looked to Lardan, “Were you showing off pictures of Dad again?”
“Well, actually, there is something I need to tell you.”
“Oh, don’t tell me Mother is planning to pull a Silens on us and have more children. I don’t know what I would do if I got a baby brother or sister now.”
Just as Lardan was about to tell him the news, Jethron made his appearance with his three sons and daughter. Seeing so many Dekai in one place, made Saita flinch at first, but she got her emotions under control quickly.
Amarra ran up to Lardan, gave him a swift hug from the side, cooed at the baby, and then asked, “Where is Truhan?”
Lardan roared with laughter and said, “In the usual place. He said he’s waiting there for you.”
The girl was practically giddy as she danced away from her Saith uncle. The three older brothers, Balder, Kadel, and Benek immediately followed suit. Lardan raised an eyebrow at Jethron as he came to stand next to him.
“What was that about?”
“My council has decided that they will allow a joining between Amarra and Truhan. I think she has gone to ask your son for his hand in marriage. The boys are going to make sure he agrees. Their children and wives will be along shortly.”
“About time!” laughed Lardan.
Jethron looked over to where Saita stood and was pleased to see her condition had improved considerably since the last time he had seen her.
“How have you been?” he asked.
“I’m getting there. Discussing a lot of things in therapy, making positive steps, and all that.”
“I’m glad.” He then frowned, “I need to talk to you about something later, probably tomorrow, but it is important that we discuss it.”
“Talking of important things that need to be said.” Interrupted Lardan. “Dad’s back!”
Those gathered stared at the General of the Royal Guard in confusion until Lardan turned to Saita and Aidan and asked, “Tell them my father was in your lounge yesterday.”
Not sure what else to say, Saita nodded her head, while Aidan said, “He was scary. Hit my mom and then forced her to lie in the dirt. He had strange metal things around his wrists and didn’t seem as nice as you told me he would be Uncle Lardan.”
Brucel and Jethron immediately lost all colour in their faces and looked at each other. Then as one, they turned to locate where Saasha was before making their way to her.
“Hold on! What is going on?” Lardan handed the infant to Saita and followed after his brothers.
For those of you that didn't read the Introductory update. This alternative timeline Brucel is already well known to King Brucel and Jethron. They know the kind of mental anguish his appearance would bring to their mother, which is why they went looking for her.
Anyway, hope to all of you on Tuesday. I really hope you're all enjoying the updates!
For those of you who have never heard of Fell Dragon you can find Book 1 here, Book 2 here, Book 3 here, and Book 4 here, Book 5 here, and Book 6 here
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I love discussing my books!
As the series continues, it will combine with another book series I wrote. To avoid confusion about what is happening, introductory chapters will be introduced separately so that you don't have to be lost. However, these chapters will contain spoilers. You can find these chapters here:
Races Explained
Banishment
Royal Guard
Saasha’s Direct Family
Saith Characters Recap
Human Characters Recap
Alternate Timeline Brucel
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Haven't read the other parts yet? Follow these handy links:
Part 4>>You are Here>>Part 6
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