Hi all!
I have managed to not get the Con flu, but still haven't had the time to write up my experience of working in Cape Town Comicon or take pictures of the loot. There is so much!
Anyway, I decided to spoil all of you withe a longer-than-normal update, so please enjoy it!
Pura had been communicating with Karesh when he got word that the transport carrying the soon-to-be-queen was to arrive soon. He was thrilled. Time had been harsh on him and the illness that was cropping up more and more had all but run its course on his body. He was exhausted and all he ever wanted to do these days was sleep.
Karesh waved his hands in front of the king and started signing something. When it became clear that the previous king’s voice wasn’t returning, he had taken up learning sign language. Most of his family had taken the time to learn as well, allowing him to communicate more efficiently with those around him.
“Yes, she’s coming home to stay.”
Karesh smiled and continued to sign.
“Likely he will join her. She has made it clear what their intent is.”
Karesh continued to sign with more speed and Pura had to indicate that he should slow down.
“You’re not putting me in the middle of that fight and no, before you say it, it was not my fault.”
Karesh crossed his arms to indicate that he was done talking about the matter.
“I know the original intent was for Astec and her to continue your line, but that isn’t possible anymore and I am not going to make her choose a human.”
Karesh shrugged his shoulders and looked away.
“She’s happy, that should be enough for you.” Pura got to his feet, “Let’s go greet them.”
Karesh waved him off, but Pura wasn’t going to let him be stubborn.
“Your daughter is coming home with the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. You owe her your attendance at the very least.”
Karesh sighed and got to his feet while continuing to sign.
“Myla and Kiai are likely already waiting to leave if they haven’t already left.”
Karesh shoved his hands into his pockets as they walked to where the pair knew the women would be waiting for them to eagerly join. Many within the castle had picked up on his new form of communication, but knew when his hands were in his pockets, he was in no mood to talk.
There was only one other time he wouldn’t speak, and that was when he was holding his wife’s hand. The previous year, since Saita had left to train with the Saith, Karesh had made active steps to rejoining his family and seeking forgiveness from those he had wronged. It had been a difficult and painful journey for the old king, but he had made it. It was not to say everyone forgave him, but there was room to heal now.
Pura had been right about the women eagerly waiting to leave. He was sure that his sister had heard the news and was only just being kept in check by Myla. The last time that Saita had been on the planet, Kiai had missed her as she was on the other planet with her husband.
Pura smiled. He had had no idea that his sister had fallen in love with a Saith or even produced a child from the union. There were a lot of things he had to learn about after his capture. The boy, a little younger than Myla and Karesh’s youngest pair, a little older than Aidan, was already showing signs of becoming a highly intelligent young man. Something, Pura was sure, they would need in the future.
Kiai grinned when she saw his brother, but Pura could see the sadness in her eyes. He was sure that she had noticed his rapid deterioration since the last time she had seen him.
“Should you be out of bed?” she asked gently when he joined them.
“It is not a far trip, and it would only be right for me to be there.”
“You look like hell.” Said Myla.
“Is that your medical opinion?”
“My medical opinion is that you were placed on bed rest, but you continue to flail around like a fish out of water. The sooner Saita takes the throne the better for your health.”
“Myla, this is…”
“I know.” She snapped without meaning to.
No one said another word, as they took the arranged transport to the spaceport. No one wanted to talk about Pura’s condition, much less that it was terminal. The disease was spreading rapidly. While some managed to hold it off longer than others, in the end, all who caught it would die. There was no pattern or way to contain it. It wasn’t contagious as with other diseases, but it was somehow spreading. Many people believed it was a sickness of the soul and many cults had risen because of the nonsense. People had to believe in something, and until the Fell Dragon decided to show itself, there was nothing else they could use their energy against.
Pura sat in silence as the rest of the family communicated one way or another. There was so much that he needed to teach Saita once she stepped foot on the planet and he didn’t know if he had the time to do it. He had asked Karesh to step in if anything happened to him, but the old king had been reluctant, citing that the previous encounter with his daughter as king had destroyed the connection they had once had. Even when Saita had forgiven the family, it was clear that what they once had wasn’t nearly as strong anymore. Pura needed them to band together. The Fell Dragon was going to tear this world apart and he needed them to be unit before he moved on to the next realm of existence.
Karesh tapped his knee after some time and the current king turned his attention to him. He signed a few words almost hesitantly, stopped, then tried again. Pura had some difficulty following what he was trying to say, so he looked up to Myla who was watching him closely. She also seemed confused by what Karesh was trying to say.
“You want us to lie to Saita about you being able to communicate?” asked Kiai.
Karesh nodded his head and then continued to sign.
“That’s a stupid reason.” Said Kiai as she brushed aside his signing.
The old king continued to sign, furiously this time, trying to get his point across.
“You’re going to have to talk to her at some point.” Said Myla as she placed her hands over his. “I know you two had a good talk last time.”
Karesh shook his head and pulled one hand free to continue signing.
“She did most of the talking and you listened.” Repeated Kiai. “But now you can communicate without having to write. It’s a good opportunity for the two of you to truly bury the hatchet.”
Karesh shook his head and raised his two index fingers, bringing one down onto the other, as if flicking it.
“You can’t or you won’t?” said Pura.
Karesh ignored the question and continued to sign furiously. Myla once more covered his hands and said, “Okay, okay. For a little while. But you know that your son has gone to visit, and she may already know.”
The rest of the trip was done in relative silence and Pura’s thoughts were pulled back to the lessons he had planned for the girl. There was a lot she needed to learn, but she wouldn’t need to shoulder the responsibility on her own. Bolx had a sound mind, and if Saita was going to pursue a long-term relationship with him, he may as well learn with her.
He shared Karesh’s reluctance at the Saith being with Saita, but Myla had told both of them that they were not to interfere at all. She had seen how the Saith had been with Saita when she had been injured. He hadn’t left her side and was fiercely protective of her. Pura knew that there would likely be no need to assign additional castle guards to her as long as Bolx was at her side. He found himself smiling as they reached their destination. It would be good to see her again after all this time.
The spaceport had been cleared for this flight. Likely the only person who could sneak in at this point would be Saseric, and Pura wouldn’t put it past the lizard. Saseric had made it very clear that he would only be working with Saita as soon as the crown was upon her brow, and she was sitting on the throne. The lizard-human treaty had been tentative at best, with relations becoming more strained as Pura got sicker. The girl couldn’t get home fast enough.
The family waited for those on the ship to descend and was surprised when a completely unknown Saith was the first to exit. He was a hulking brute with long, bushy black hair that was messily tied up. However, he was wearing the blue uniform of a Captain of the Royal Guard. After him came Saita and Bolx. The latter pair looking far happier.
Saita noticed the empty spaceport and her family waiting and immediately blushed at the unwanted attention. Bolx whispered something in her ear, and she batted him away playfully. The Saith in the front turned to fix the pair with a withered look before resigning himself to their behaviour. As he continued to move toward the group, Doran made his appearance, quickly catching up to the pair in front of him.
Pura caught Karesh signing something to Myla and she smiled broadly, “Yes, he makes her very happy.”
Karesh smiled and then surprised everyone by stepping forward and putting a hand forward to the large Saith that had approached them. The Saith didn’t hesitate to accept his hand, despite towering over the old king.
Myla stepped forward to talk on behalf of Karesh, but Saita came to stand next to the Saith and said, “Captain Brucel, this is Karesh and Myla, my parents.”
Pura didn’t miss the smile on Karesh’s face at his introduction.
“Mom, Dad, this is Captain Brucel of the Royal Guard. Queen Saasha has requested that he help fortify and build relations with us.
The Saith released Karesh’s hand, turned to Myla, and bowed.
“He doesn’t speak any of our dialects, but I believe he knows a few trade languages. That said, he’s not much of a talker.”
“I talk when I have something to say.” Said Brucel gruffly.
“Welcome to our planet Captain Brucel.” Said Pura as he stepped forward.
Brucel’s reaction went from shock to one full of pity when he saw the current human king. He knew the signs of the wasting disease and it was clear that the human was not long for the world.
“This is our current King. Lord Pura.” Said Saita, “He is Karesh’s nephew.”
“Your cousin then?”
“Yes.”
The Saith then turned to Pura and bowed deeply, “My condolences.”
Pura knew what he meant and only nodded his head.
“That over there is Kiai, his younger sister.”
“Lady Kiai.” Brucel inclined his head.
Kiai waved her hands before her and laughed, “No, no, no. I have no title. I am a businesswoman.”
“She’s married to a Saith by the name of Barik. Has a son named after me.” Said Saita rather proudly.
Brucel had to bite his tongue at the mention of another half-breed. He had never been a purist, but for some reason, the thought of a Human-Saith hybrid irritated him.
“You’re forgetting someone.” Said Kiai slyly as she looked at the Saith behind Saita.
“That is Bolx.” Said Doran. “Saita’s partner.”
Kiai squealed like a child and pulled Saita into a hug and exclaimed, “I heard the rumours and almost couldn’t believe it!”
“There are rumours already?’ chuckled Bolx as he stepped forward to accept Karesh’s hand.
Karesh viewed the man before him. He looked tough as nails. This man had seen hell. Yet, as his gaze left Karesh’s face to look at Saita embracing her cousin, he saw the immediate change in the man. He was enamoured by the woman at his side.
“Thank you for everything you did for my son.” Whispered Saita in her cousin’s ear. “I owe you everything.”
Kiai only chuckled and hugged her tighter, “That is what family is for.”
They stood like that for a while longer before Kia released her and said, “You simply must tell me how the two of you met! Barik and Saita would love to see you at some point if you can make time in your busy schedule.”
Kiai grinned maliciously, “And there are a few things I need to share with you when it comes to Saith biology.”
“I already know.”
Kiai continued to grin and said, “Good for you. You need to finally be in charge of your life.”
Saita then turned to Pura and said, “I’m ready now.”
I know I said that book 7 was going to be the last in the series, but then I noted how many pages were still left in the story and realised that there was WAY too much for book 7. So, please consider this the end of Book 7, and Book 8 will start on Friday. See you all then!
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 25>>You are Here>>The End. Move on to Book 8
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