Hi all
This will be the last section of Brucel making peace with his family, but there is one more person that he needs to address. Look forward to that with next week's update.
Jethron had spent the last year consulting with the various elders to find out more about the Fell Dragon. Between them, and his brother, they had managed to find logs that dated back centuries about the creatures forced to be the simultaneous Champions and Dragons. Yet, search as much as they could, the information they had, halted before the Dragon that was currently awake. The only reason they had gathered that much was from the final message that Edzeeker had left for them in their notes.
“‘She will want for everything. She took the head and gave intelligence.’” Quoted Jethron as he read through the copy of the notes that Edzeeker had made.
While the originals had been given to Saita, he had ensured that copies were kept and scoured over to find some clues on how to get to the current Dragon. Yet, there was nothing that could help them.
Refusing to believe that a Dragon had managed to remain hidden for as long as this one had been, Jethron sent out prized spies and soldiers to find out more. If the Dragon was free, there had to be other signs of her besides Edzeeker’s corpse.
These thoughts had given Jethron many sleepless nights. He was joined to Saita and the more time that passed, the more concerned he became that he had made a terrible mistake. However, he never brought this up to anyone and only continued to train his son Kadel to take his place in case the worst came to be.
Aife gave as much support as possible, sending her own spies throughout the known galaxy. She wasn’t as concerned over her husband as she was over the collapse of the world if the Dragon got what it wanted.
“I don’t understand this passage about wanting.” Said Jethron as he paged through the papers before him.
He and Aife were sitting in their private library, pouring over reports and paperwork, both to do with their kingdom and the hunt for the Dragon.
“I don’t think you are meant to understand what goes on in that creature’s head. The poor thing.” Said Aife softly.
“You pity it?”
“You don’t? It wanted no part of this. It’s exactly what Saita is. A creature who was torn apart to fight the Dragon before it. The same can be said for the creature before her. The monsters are us, dear.”
Jethron wanted to argue but he knew it was true. The Dekai had created this problem, and he had no idea how it was going to be rectified. The more he thought about it, the more he realised that Edzeeker had been right to build in the cellular degradation that he had. That way, even if Saita could kill the Fell Dragon and assume its position, she would eventually die, destroying the line of the Fell Dragons.
Jethron sighed and pushed the papers away. He could have used the advice of his Aid right now, but they were separated by too much space for him to effectively communicate with Sedeath. He would have to meditate to speak to him.
There was a knock at the door of the library and Aife gave permission for the person to enter. A dark-skinned servant bowed as he stepped into the room. He cupped his hands and brought them to a bowed head before saying, “A call from the Saith.”
Jethron looked at the man in confusion. If anyone from his family wanted to speak to him, they all knew how to call to him without the need for technology. He felt the blood leave his face when he realised there was only one person who would want to speak to him in this fashion. His brother had warned him that this event would likely occur soon, but Jethron had hoped he had had more time to prepare himself for what tirade was to come his way.
“Husband?”
For the most part, Aife wasn’t privy to the developments in Jethron’s family, but she knew her husband was hurting over what had happened the last time they had been on the planet. The servant remained bowed until Jethron eventually found his voice.
“I’ll take it privately.”
“Very well, my Lord.” The servant lowered his hands before digging into a satchel to give him a data tablet.
Aife didn’t ask a second time, hoping that her husband would confide in her. Jethron knew the call was on hold, and that the person on the other end had taken a lot of time to get to this point. It had been more than a year since their last meeting, and honestly, Jethron had been so concerned for his family, that he had made them leave as soon as possible. For the man to reach out to him now…he didn’t know what to think.
“Aife, could I have some privacy?” he muttered softly.
Aife didn’t question him. She got to her feet, leaned over to kiss the top of his head, and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Ever since Jethron had heard that his father had reappeared, he had hoped and prayed for the day that they could be reunited as a family. However, he had had such venom spat at him when they had been face-to-face last time, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to even talk to the Saith on the other side of the data pad. However, he knew that the man on the other side had had time to deal with what he had been through. The Dekai took a few deep breaths, set the data pad on a stand on the table before him, and connected the call.
It was still strange to see his father’s aged face staring back at him. While he wasn’t as grey as what Saasha was becoming, there were definite signs of aging. The Saith on the other side of the screen seemed to be struggling with maintaining eye contact. Jethron was sure that if they were in the same room, he would be able to feel the hate seeping out of the man’s pores.
They sat in silence for a long time before Jethron finally spoke up, “Greetings Royal Guard, how may I be of assistance?”
The Saith tensed at the use of his family name, a name he had gifted his eldest while murdering his second. He swallowed hard, sighed softly, and said, “I want to be free.”
At first, Jethron didn’t understand, so Brucel continued.
“I can’t keep hating you, but it is so difficult not to blame you for everything. I would still have my wife if your kind didn’t come looking for you.”
This had been a sore point for Jethron for decades. It was the same hateful voice in the back of his head, reminding him that his father would still be alive if his Dekai brother hadn’t been ordered by their father to come looking for him.
“I am so tired of living like this.” Whispered the Saith. “I want…”
Brucel fell silent, gritting his teeth as tears of frustration came to his eyes.
“I want to forgive but it’s easier to hate you.” He eventually admitted.
It felt like a gut punch to the Dekai king. He didn’t know what he was expecting. He couldn’t change the hurt that Brucel felt in his heart. It didn’t matter how much Jethron loved him and missed him, there was never going to be a reconciliation. He was never going to see the father that his brothers were getting to experience.
He was so busy wallowing in his heartache that he missed the question that was posed to him. He snapped back to reality when Brucel asked a second time. “Can I have more time to see beyond what happened?”
Jethron’s heart tightened at the question. Was the Saith truly extending a bridge of reconciliation for the future? It was more than Jethron could ever dream of being possible. The King took a deep breath and released it slowly.
“I have three children, two sons, and a daughter. I also have five grandchildren, two from my eldest son, and three from my youngest son, his eldest will take the throne after him.”
Brucel took a few seconds to digest the information. He wasn’t sure why the Dekai had divulged that information. He thought on it for a minute or so and realised that he wanted to give something to the Saith in return for his lying his soul bear. He couldn’t help but feel a smile at the corner of his lips. There was a hint of joy, actual joy at knowing that the son he had murdered in his time had flourished here. He had three more grandchildren and another five great-grandchildren. It wasn’t too late to make things right with the son he had crushed below his boot.
He let out a shuddered breath and smiled at the Dekai son who was desperate to feel his love once more. He took a long breath in and said, “I’d like to meet them, one day.”
Jethron couldn’t help the tears gathering in his eyes as he answered, “I’d like that.”
Now after all of that, is Saasha willing to take the steps to forgive Brucel Royal Guard? I guess we'll see.
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, Book 6 here, and Book 7 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 8>>You are Here>>Part 10
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