XLIII

A Black Marble Dinner

The Soo family was gracious and kind when we left in the morning, so nice that they made us a heavy breakfast to last us for quite a while. My tummy aches at the thought of all that food I ate this morning. It's still going to take us most of the day to get us to Sanseong, we'll get there right in time for dinner with the Cha family. Even if my stomach twists at the thought of being back in that castle. So much good, but so much bad in that House of Acid. Zsoka and Hyunshik stayed in Red Blaze, my parents considered traitors now no doubt, if not traitors, at least defectors. Luckily, Lucijan granted them a house in the village below the castle in Lángók. I don't blame them and neither do my parents. Especially my father. He knew what it was like once you betrayed a Cha.

"It's time to saddle up, it's going to take us most of the day to reach Sanseong." Jaejin breaks the silence and we pack what little food we have left, along with the snacks that the Soo family packed for us. I mount Kígyó and we go flying up in the air, right beside Jaejin riding Seung. The air is clean, crisp, and there's a slight wind to help the dragons glide in the air. Black Soul is a beautiful Kingdom to be in, but I am biased, Black Soul is my home, just as much as Jaejin is. I grew up there, and I had my select few of friends here. My family and my siblings know and breathe Red Blaze, but I know and breathe Sanseong. I know the best restaurants, and I know the pubs that will give alcoholic drinks to underage kids (by a year max) and I for sure knew all the places to have a good time. Zsoka and I would still open a farmers market stand, luckily nobody would ever recognize us, those are some of the happiest memories that I have here in Sanseong. The flight to Sanseong will take us 9 and a half hours, Jaejin isn't very kind about breaks either. That's okay. I need to get more flight time in with Kígyó and she would happily agree with me. Her wings flap every once in a while but she tries to glide as much as she can.

The endless trees we fly above is a key to the habitat that Black Dragons prefer. They prefer the boggy swamps or marshes over the trees which is why it wasn't a mistake when they moved the castle to Sanseong. Sanseong has some trees don't get me wrong but a mile into the forest behind the castle is endless miles of swamp land. Black Dragons for whatever reason like the muggy area, unlike most of the other dragons. Reds and Silvers for sure like the mountain ranges, and to look over cities when picking out a lair. Blacks like the swamps. Purples like the desert and rocky underground caves that they burrow themselves. The list could go on, but most dragons don't care for the humid temperature of the swamps. Not that I blame them, I cared more about the forest than I did the swamp.

Black Dragons have always been a mystery to most of the population, questions arise all the time about them. How do Acid spitting Dragons dwell in swamps when the very breath weapon they hold could destroy the habitat they reside in? Easy, since it is so muggy and a comfortable temperature for them, they don't feel the need to use their breath weapon unless threatened. The public believes that they constantly have acid dripping from their jowls but that's definitely not the case. Seung for example, Jaejin's dragon, he likes the swamp, a lot. If he isn't with Jaejin, he's in the swamp with the biggest cave. Being the future King's Dragon gives you some perks among the others.

Four hours pass by when Jaejin grants us the permission to land so we can feed and rest for a tiny bit. We let the Dragons lay if they want to, most of them do so they can rest their wings. Not Kígyó, she's on recon the moment I slide down her forearm. I tell her to rest but arguing with a Red dragon is like arguing with a red brick wall. Whatever. I grab the food we packed for her and throw it in front of her which she gladly feasts on. I grab my water satchel that is made of black leather, drinking the fresh water we grabbed from the Spring at the Soo residence. It's Orion who comes up to me and I notice the way that Nyíl watches from afar. He might be feasting on his food but his yellow feline eyes never stop watching his rider. Nyíl has always been the one that I watch my back with, if he bonded with my brother of all people, he had to be mentally unstable just like my brother.

"His eyes never leave you." I tell my brother and my brother turns around to Nyíl to just confirm my statement.

"I'm aware. All Dragons are like that. I came over to ask you a question." My older brother tells me and I nod. His lips then straighten into a tight line and I'm not sure if I like the idea of my brother asking me a question.

"Go for it."

"Why does Seung keep doing that thing?" My brother actually looks concerned and I look over to Seung who keeps going from sniffing the air to sniffing the ground. His spiked tail at the end of his tail, letting us know that he's a male Dragon. The females have the swordtail. For Black Dragons anyway.

"He's scenting. He's making sure he doesn't smell anything that could bring us danger or any other Dragons with the same threat." I explain to my brother and that's exactly why Nyíl could be on edge, watching my brother like he's willing to snatch him up and fly off to safety. They aren't used to the best trackers of Dragons around them, constantly having the upper hand. It doesn't surprise me that Nyíl is uncomfortable, Kígyó is used to it after the few months with Seung, and Kos? Kos doesn't seem to care really, he just keeps watching my parents. Charys sits next to Kos, after practically growing up together, they seem to have a platonic relationship. Sevasti, my sister's newly attained Silver Dragon, still watches Nova at all times. Their bond is questionable at times, Sevesti kinda does what she wants, and it's frowned upon, while flying you could see the warning Charys would give with her fangs. I think Nova is going to have her hands full, especially when it comes to flying with a new dragon. Charys and Nova had an understanding, Charys loves to fly, and Nova hadn't bonded just yet. Something tells me that Seung won't smell trouble except for when we get to the Castle.

We landed in Sanseong and to the castle just in time to freshen up right before dinner. It's home to me. The smells, the sounds, the sight of it, and I can almost taste the fresh air of the woodland territory that's behind the Castle. The Black Marble of Sanseong, the House of Acid that's been housing and protecting the Cha family since 4000. Kígyó lands in the soft grass behind the castle, where there's two big stable houses. It's usually for the wyrmlings, the eggs, and the Royal Dragons. Seung doesn't rest here, he finds it claustrophobic, and I don't blame him. Not when a few miles behind the castle, in the swamps, he has one of the biggest caves. I can hear the chirping of the sea hawks, and the wind's breeze through the trees. Although, that might be Astraea or Nova depending on how edge they are being here in Black Soul. 

"Gelditu!" Nova yells and I snap my head towards that direction. Sevasti is growling and baring his teeth at Black dragon wyrmlings at his feet, trying to playfully nip at him. They want to play right before they are put to sleep. Then hell breaks loose, Seung is baring his teeth and growling at Sevasti. Then of course, Kígyó, backs Seung up by growling at Sevasti as well. Seung and Kígyó have established a relationship since the Peak, they respect and trust each other. Seung trusts her to protect Jaejin, and Kígyó trusts him to protect me. It's not a friendship at all, but more like being allies and trusting each other's judgment. 

"For Demis sake! Control your damn dragons, I do not want to send Kos in to break it up!" My father snaps at all of us, and he's not lying. Kos has the corner of his upper lip lifted up, the ghost of a growl ready to escape him. Kos is for sure the leader here, and the younger dragons know that. Charys respects Kos, and expects him to nip it in the tail. Charys is the last resort, and nobody messes with her. 

"Utzi!" I tell Kígyó to leave it, and she looks back at me as if she's about to ignore me. "Kígyó." I warn her and she huffs, turning around to come to my side. Jaejin whistles sharply at Seung and Seung isn't backing down, not that I blame him. Some of those Wyrmlings could belong to Seung, and although they weren't the greatest of parents; they were fiercely protective of eggs and wyrmlings. Seung doesn't back down and Sevasti is dumb enough to click his fangs together, making a loud clacking sound that we all hear. Seung doesn't appreciate the disrespect from the juvenile. Seung is 5 years older than Jaejin, which means he's only 2 years older than Sevasti. Age means everything to Dragons, and Sevasti knows that. So Seung drools acid from his jowls, a warning, a warning before Sevasti gets burned. 

"That's it!" My father snaps at us, and looks at Kos. Kos was already taking steps forward though. He steps in front of Seung, facing Sevasti head on. Nova takes that to slide down his forearm and to come stand next to me. Kos growls at Sevasti and Sevasti thinks about it, I can see it in his body language. Seung threatened him and Sevasti, still being young, wants to fight him. 

"Aita, just let Charys deal with Sevasti." I tell him and he agrees, because Kos walks back to Charys, nudging her with his snout. She's pissed because she was laying in the grass comfortably already, so she lets out a nasty roar at her son. Sevasti takes a step forward towards Seung but Charys charges. She steps in front of Seung and she gets up in her son's face, showing all of her dangerous fangs to him. A warning. She snaps her teeth in his face, and her chest rumbles. Seung walks away, taking his leave through the forest and straight back to his cave. Kos, Nyíl, and Kígyó get taken towards the guest stables, them being more of the well-behaved Dragons, follow the Stable leads and into a comfortable stall. Soon as the doors get latched shut, Kígyó is in my mind with comforting Draconei. 

'If anything goes awry, tell me Pluto. I will be there as soon as I can.' 

'Nothing will happen. Jaejin will make sure of that.' Seung argues and sends his comforting voice down our bond. He knows why I am uneasy and how to comfort me, Kígyó just wants me to watch my six. We wait another 10 minutes of Charys staring down Sevasti and he finally gives up, he knows not to mess with his mother. Although Charys has never seen War, and hopefully she would never have to, she has fought other Black Dragons in a fight when the Kingdom got burned down. She's a force not to be reckoned with. 

"This way, Kardos family." Jaejin announces and we all follow him, warriors and butlers come out of the Castle. Jaejin talks to them in Zraeg, his language, and they listen. They take bags and anything else, promising Jaejin to tell them where my family will stay. Jaejin pushes the door open, both of the black marble doors gliding with ease and opening to show the inside. We walk in, the black tile underneath my feet. Home sweet home. 

An hour later, we got to the dining room. The tension is almost unbearable to be in, the atmosphere is thick and makes my skin itch. I want to be anywhere but here, I want to be anywhere but this Demis forsaken room. 

"Prince Heir Jaejin Cha," A staff bangs into the tile, "King Lucijan Kardos, Queen Astraea Kallis-Kardos, Prince Heir Orion Kardos the II, Princess and High General Nova Kardos, and Prince Pluto Kardos the III." As we walk in, a guard announces us and our titles. Prince as my Title still makes me feel uneasy, still makes me feel like that this is all a fever dream, and that I'm going to wake up to being that scared little boy who didn't know he could wield fire. Minjun sits at one end of the table while Haeun sits to his right. Lucijan sits at the other end of the table with Astraea at his left. Orion sits on my dad's right while Jaejin sits on his dad's left. I'm left to sit in the middle between Jaejin and Orion. Nova is in the middle between Haeun and Astraea. Practically boys on one side and girls on the other.

"King Lucijan. Queen Astraea." Minjun curtly nods as a sign of respect and my father returns the nod. 

"King Minjun. Queen Haeun." My father replies and the first course is being served by butlers and maids. I don't really pay attention to the food, Orion is enjoying himself though because I can tell every time he takes a bite, he lets out a content sigh and a soft moan. Who knew my brother was such a pornographic eater? By Demis sake. 

"Thank you for giving us the letter and the chance for a united Eclia. That was very thoughtful of you, King Kardos." Haeun says and she's genuine because she's just way too nice of a person. She's always been a pushover, especially when it came to her Mate. 

"You will have to thank our children, I'm afraid. Pluto, Orion, Nova, and Jaejin were the ones to present the idea to the Court of Flames. Not much of me, I apologize." My father dryly tells her and she smiles at him. 

"Like my son, to think of the next step. Hopefully he'll learn from my mistakes, Lucijan." Minjun says and I can't believe it but was that a step towards an apology? 

"That's what children and history is for, is it not? To be better, to live better, and to learn from the past." My father replies and I for sure am about to pass out. They are getting along, they aren't going for each other's throat. Minjun is playing nice, Haeun keeps small talk with my sister and my mother doesn't seem uneasy at all. How is that possible? 

"Tomorrow I figured you guys would want to rest and maybe explore Sanseong, I figured we will do the Treaty the day after tomorrow, that way you don't feel rushed to leave. Sanseong is beautiful and it would be a waste not to explore." Minjun explains and I grab my mate's hand, smiling at him. I can't even hide the excitement in my voice when I announce to my siblings about our plans tomorrow.

"Get ready Nova and Orion, you guys are stuck with us tomorrow. We're gonna explore Sanseong, it's my turn to show you my home."