Sweet Waters Throne

TheprinceofMaldonia,PrinceArtemisofHouseArteides,thebearkiller,theslayeroftheelvesiscrownedKingwhenhisfatherKingArteidesdies.ThewholekingdomofMaldoniadependsonhimnow,butheputsthethroneinjeopardyafterherefusestomarryPrincessThelmaofHouseTaelinfromthekingdomofProphisandopttomarryAuroraKholin,theloveofhislife.Auroraisaseerandapowerfulwitchwhohasyettoaknowledgeherpowers,onlyArtemisknowsofit.LucianMithandirisinexilerecruitinganarmytofightPrinceCastellanofhouseTaelinforthethroneofProphis.Artemiswantsnopartsofthiswar,butheisveryawarewhoeverwinsthewarwilllaterturntoMaldonia.Artemishasnocluethatabiggerwariscomingwhichwillsetkingdomsonfire,Aurorahasseenitinherdreamsandit’sfortheSweetWatersThroneinMaldonia.Theendisuncertainbutthewaysareclearer,whowillsitonthethroneafterthewarbetweenLordGandalfofHouseOldCitywhoownsmightyhugelionsandKingArtemisofMaldoniawhohasAuroraanddragonsbreathingfire.~ExcerptScene~Themenofthesecretcouncilremainedbehindafterthekingwalkedawaytofurtherdiscussthesituationatthebordersofthekingdom.ThebattlefieldwasnamedStonedanceandthat’sbecauseofitsstonysurfaceandthispartoftheplacewasusuallyabandonedandwithoutinhabitants.SomepeopleclaimedStonedancewascursed,that’sbecauseitlaidinthemiddleoftwopowerfulkingdoms.StonedancewasneithercoldnorhumidasitstoodbetweenthehotandshiningMaldonia,andthefreezingandgothicProphis.Itwastheperfectplacetofightandcamp,thetwobattalionshadallthespacetothemselvestoprepareforwar.ThreehundredthousandmenloyaltoKingCastellanTaelinofProphislaidontheEast,andtwohundredthousandmenkeentokeepLucianMithandir.WhateverwasgoingoninStonedancewasofnoArtemis’sconcernashefocusedmoreonsharpeninghisswordsmanshipskills.Hetrainedfrommorningtonoon,withthelordcommanderofhiskingsguard,SirDanteLucanwhohebefriendedandthesetwobecameinseparableinaspanofjustaweek.“Cometome!Hard”Artemisurgedhislordcommandertonotbeeasyonhim.“IfIgohardonyouYourGrace,weshallbeleftwithoutakingtorule”repliedSirDanteLucanwithasmile.“Youaregettingbetterdaybyday;mayIaskwhythesuddeninterestinswordsmanship?”.....“IamacelebratedknightSirDante.IhavefoughtinwarseversinceIwasnine”“ExactlymypointYourGrace.Youaregoodwithyoursword,andhavebeenforsometime”SirDantesmiledsoftly“IsitthewarinStonedancewhichmakesHisGracenervous?”“SomesayIamoughttojoinmyuncle,supportthehousemymothercalledithome.WhileotherssaymyunclebetrayedmetheveryfirstdayhetookMithandirinsidehiswalls”“Andwhatdoyousay,YourGrace?”AurorajoinedthemandSirDanteexcusedhimself.Ithadbeenaweekandfourdayssincetheywerelastseeingatcourt.“IamawarlockArtemis”ForthefirsttimeeversinceArtemisknewAurora,thiswasthefirstshe’sdeclaredandacceptedhertruenature.“Iamaseer,spaewife,oranyotherwordsyoumaywanttousebutIamnotnormal”“WehavetalkedaboutthisAurora,whenthetimeisright…”Aurorainterrupted“Thetimeisnow!”shesaid.“Icanfeeltheflamesinmydreamsgettinghotter.IfIdon’tseekthehelpIneednow,Ifearformyownexistence.Isawmyselfridinga─”shepausedsoftly.Artemisleanedontoher“Ridingawhat?”heaskedsuspiciously.“Itmaysoundcrazy,ImeanIhaveneverheardofsuchcreaturesandeveniftheyexist…”“WhatwereyouridingAurora?”AfterafewsecondsofnotbeingsurehowwillArtemisreactortakeit,Aurorafinallyexhaledsoftlyandbroughtherselftospeak“Adragon”andthenshepausedwaitingtoseehowwillArtemistakeallofit.