Chapter 5
Blaze walked into the receiving room later that evening and stiffened as he listened to the raised voices. It was regarding the alien threat to their people. Tensions were high, but it seemed as if things had escalated.
“What would you have us do?” one of the high-ranking councilmen asked.
King Zocor glanced around the room. He spotted Blaze and gave him a nod before turning his head to his right to look at Arena. The queen looked pale and worried. She shook her head but the king just narrowed his eyes and faced the rest of the room.
“The Council of Kings will be meeting at King Reichardt’s territory to discuss the invaders and what we should do about them.”
“We need to launch an attack, full on with everything we got!” the councilman yelled out.
Soon the room erupted into loud voices, cries and shouting. The warrior guards kept the crowd from rushing toward the raised platform. The king stood and raised his hands in the air to calm everyone.
“Everyone, calm yourselves. We will not start a battle at this point.”
“Then what do you plan to do? Have discussions and eat a fancy meal while the rest of us sit on pins and needles with fear?” the councilman questioned.
“I will go to the Council of Kings, and we will decide as a collective how our people will respond. This is too large a task for just one region to take on. We need to combine our efforts and our armies. While I am gone, I am leaving good people behind to help organize an escape plan in case the situation calls for it. I expect full cooperation. The mage leaders are also working on another alternative to a last resort. Now go back to your families and prepare to assist with our people’s safe exit.”
The guards ushered the rest of the people out of the room, leaving Blaze, the king and Arena behind. Arena stood up and placed her hand on his arm.
“I’m going with you, my king,” Arena told him.
Zocor shook his head. “I want you here, where you will be safe.”
“If these aliens mean to destroy Drakonia,I choose to be by your side,” Arena insisted.
Blaze had to admit, Arena was loyal and protective of those she cared about. He may envy his father for the woman he mated, but he also was grateful that Zocor had someone who cared so much for him. Maybe one day Blaze would be lucky enough to find someone like Arena. Maybe…
He stepped forward, moving up the platform to stand before his father. “I wish to also go with you to Reichardt’s region to protect you.”
Zocor looked at Arena. “Leave us. I will meet you by the front entrance and then we’ll leave.”
Arena nodded. When she walked by Blaze, her eyes were full of fear and determination. She gave Blaze a strange look before rushing past him.
Zocor waited until she left. He shook his head. “I need you to stay here to oversee the mages’ alternate escape route.”
“What do they plan?”
“The mage leaders believe they can open the portal to send our people to another planet.”
“I thought the portals could only be used to send people from one region to another. Interplanetary travel has never been done this way.”
“It will be tricky, and they cannot guarantee that there won’t be a disturbance in time sequencing. However, if they can do it, it will be the best way to transport masses of our people to safety.”
“And if it can’t be done?”
“Then helping transport as many families to our battlecruisers as possible will also be an option. But the priority will be to get our people to the safety of the mountains. There are caves there than can provide shelter if the battle comes to the castle.”
“You expect the worst, don’t you?” Blaze had a bad feeling that the worst was about to happen. Fear filled him he would not see his father again. “Let me go with you.”
Zocor placed his hands on Blaze’s shoulders, a rare show of care. “My son, I am proud to be your father. When I return, I will claim you before all as my heir.”
He choked a little as several emotions overwhelmed him. “Father…”
“My son.”
They embraced. His father patted him on the back. When they pulled away, both had tears in their eyes. His father cleared his throat. “Take great care of yourself.”
“Safe travels, until we see each other again,” Blaze said. He feared it would be the last he saw of his father.
