Decision

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CHAPTER 10

Aragorn's gaze lingered on the other kings before him and when it came back to Zephyr's face, a slow smile erased the creases between his brows.

"Hmm, an untold hatred. You are a warlock. I wonder what he did wrong?"

"Do I still need a reason to despise him after all the havoc he has caused and the many lives ruined?" Zephyr challenged without hiding the animosity in his tone.

"Zephyr! Know your place. This is a meeting for kings," Jared hollered at him.

He understood his rage alright but now wasn't the time. They were here to plead for the realm's help in subduing the dragon king and not to get on their nerves.

But understanding his point, this was not a case to plead as they all knew the moment Xavier broke out, it meant his payback was going to come for all.

Had he not taken Raven away, then all the kingdoms would have had a taste of his wrath for sure.

"It's alright," Aragorn started with a wave of his hand while keeping his gaze focused on the other rulers. "Now, shall we begin?"

"Yes," Karahan instantly agreed to everyone's surprise.

Usually, when things went out of balance like this, the demons weren't always the first to agree on things.

Regardless though, that was not the biggest problem the realm had just yet.

"No one knows where he is hiding, am I right?" Another king spoke up, earning an arched brow from Jared.

"No, Azriel. Why?" Jared questioned.

"Nothing, but if we don't know, then that is a bad thing."

Several brows knitted at his words seeing as they were not getting the picture he was trying to paint.

"You do not understand," Azriel began. "The dragon king…"

"The disposed Dragon King," Jared corrected. His fist clenched at his side.

He hated the fact that others still referred to Xavier as the king, even in his presence.

Ignoring his output, Azriel shifted his gaze from him and looked at the others. "Disposed or not. He was a king and you cannot deny that fact."

"You are right. Jared, please calm down and let us talk sensibly. Just because he was mentioned that way doesn't mean the throne would be taken from you," someone else reminded him.

His eyes narrowed at the one who spoke while holding back himself from unleashing his full rage. "Blaine. You are a werewolf, know your place."

"As should you," Blaine retorted "Or did you forget that this mess all began from your kingdom?"

Everyone knew the werewolves were sometimes short when it came to their temper and the reason was as a result of the fact that many saw them as weaker after the humans in the food chain.

"We are all suffering a consequence that the other kingdoms know nothing about. This is not a time for respect. We need to find a way to tame him."

"As we would if your lousy mouths would just shut up about trivial things for a minute," another king thundered in rage, getting to his feet.

"Stop acting like babies or newly born princes. You are rulers damn it. Behave as one!" He finalized.

His chest rose and fell as the silent deathly glare flashed in his eyes while looking at each and every one of them.

"We are in trouble, Jared. I would not blame your race for the mistake of one being but we cannot deny that he came from your people. However, this is a problem beyond you but not beyond us which was why the assembly of kings was formed in the first place."

"True, you have spoken well Vortigern," Aragorn applauded with a nod, signaling him to take his seat.

This was something he did not expect from the ruler of the dark elves. Usually he was against them but now, he spoke rightly.

"Aye."

Suddenly, towards their left, another king rose to his feet but the moment he opened his mouth to speak, several heads turned about in search of the one who spoke.

"Fair greetings your majesties," a voice greeted politely.

"I may be a dwarf but it seems like I am the only sensible one amongst the assembly of kings."

"You said what?" Vortigern questioned mid-way, keeping his brows arched.

"Now look at who is taking his own advice," Azriel pointed out. "In my own opinion, Leonidas is right. Please rise," Azriel stated, ignoring the warning look he got from Vortigern.

To their surprise as soon as the words fell out of his mouth, he stretched forth his fingers in the direction where the voice came from and instantly, a bluish light formed in his hand as his eyes lit up.

Without saying anything, he directed it at the voice. Immediately, all eyes fell on the head of the person who spoke as he was once again hoisted up and brought to stand on his seat.

"Is this better, my friend or do you wish for me to make you a tall man?" The Mage King inquired with a hint of joke in his tone.

"Thank you, Azriel. I am okay this way," Leonidas bowed his head a little.

"Please, continue," Aragorn prompted, earning a smile of appreciation from him.

"Yes, as I was saying. Am I the only one asking the foremost important question here or are we all ignoring the fact that this is important?"

"What is?" Jared questioned quickly.

Since he had ended up making a fuss over something unimportant to the others, he hoped to gain grounds in redeeming himself by speaking as someone who really was bothered by the problem.

And whether he liked it or not, he knew the other kings saw his greed through it all.

He was bothered, alright, but not for the same reason as they were.

His focus was on his throne that was being threatened indirectly.

"Who unsealed the dragon king?"

A heavy sound seemed to echo in the ears of all the kings and trusted advisers present from the question that was raised.

Indeed, they had failed to think properly in that direction, which was true.

"As we all know, it took several people from each race to be able to subdue the Dragon King. And although that seal had been for ten thousand years, not one thing shook it. It may have been growing weak, but not enough to let him out of his graveyard."

He took a deep breath, keeping his stern gaze on everyone present, both kings and advisors.

"So, whoever broke him free must have an agenda?" Vortigern chipped in questioningly.

"Maybe," Jared announced.

"Maybe?" Aragorn's eyes narrowed at him, hoping for a better explanation and when he failed to get one, he asked, "Why?"

"No one knows exactly what made him break loose."

"And you expect us to believe that?" Blaine interrogated.

"I expect nothing from you, werewolf," Jared spat out.

"Silence all of you!" Aragorn yelled and instantly the room fell dead silent. He was tired of their bickering.

One thing he had that the others did not, was the Unanimous Vote from the rulers back then for the light elven ruler to have a say that could out rule the others.

Also, they could raise their plague to cancel out any rule and save themselves should the assembly make a rule to get the secret scrolls used in mastering the spells to seal the king, that they did not deem fit was needed except for a situation like this.

All the weapons used back then, all types of magic spells, sealing techniques, and weapons of destruction, were kept hidden by the royals of the light elves.

Due to this, respect was given when he spoke as the realm regarded them as the purest.

"Not another word of insult from any of you," he warned sternly. "Jared, speak. What do you know? Or is there anyone else who has a thought to share?"

"Yes," Leonidas signified with a raise of his left hand.

"Carry on."

"I believe the one who did this should be called to justice," he fiercely decided. "He must account for his crimes and reveal his goal for doing such," Leonidas finalized.

Instantly, Zephyr's eyes darkened at the mention of such punishment.

Although he did not know the exact truth of what happened that caused Xavier to be unsealed, one thing he did know, the villagers reported seeing Raven flying from the same direction Xavier came from and she was the one to warn them.

How would she know about all that if she did not have a hand in it?

With that thought pestering his head, he knew better than anyone that if she was mentioned, things would not go well.

"So, who best but the current Dragon King to tell us what happened?"

With Leonidas' final words, Jared fastened his fingers into a fist by his side as he tried to maintain a calm front.

"I heard from a little birdie that the kidnapped girl was the one who lit the torch of Drakenvow and warned the first village that was attacked," Vortigern informed.

"What?"

"A girl?"

"Are you sure?"

With several questions being flung about the place, Zephyr was growing impatient.

"Jared, who is this girl and how powerful is she?" Aragorn questioned.

"And why do you keep it from us?" Blaine inquired as well.

"I would say, she got what she deserved. Rescuing her should not be in our best interest. Instead, we should focus on how to tame…"

"And why would it not be in your best interest!" Zephyr bellowed at him, leaving Leonidas stunned and frightened.

Without bothering about what thoughts the others might have, Zephyr stormed his way forward until his feet came to a stop close to the table.

"She, like every other being in this realm, has the right to her life and you should dare not pronounce her as the culprit without finding out yourself," he corrected sharply.

For the next few seconds, everyone kept mute as they took in all he said. He did not lie, though he spoke out of place, that wasn't why they were silent.

His reaction instead was suspicious and they were left wondering.

"I asked before, why? I sensed so much rage and hatred but now I see," Aragorn pointed out as he inhaled deeply.

The look in his eyes remained sharp and piercing as though he could see into the depths of Zephyr's heart.

And like a prestigious all-knowing being, he parted his lips to address the matter swiftly hitting the nail on the head.

"She is your daughter, isn't she?"

Their eyes went wide with shock as most of the rulers turned their attention to Zephyr. They would never have guessed it right but indeed it was true.

Seeing as he was already cornered, Zephyr did not bother to hide anything anymore and came out clean with a bold front.

"Yes, she is. My only child was taken captive by the Dragon King and unlike you all, I know she wouldn't do such a thing. Besides, he may have taken her captive to make a demand from the realm."

"On one hand that is true," Azriel nodded at him.

"And on the other hand?" Aragorn inquired.

"On the other hand, it is not. Who knows, perhaps the Dragon King took her captive since she broke him free. My guess, but it is a theory we cannot discard."

"Whichever one it is, she would never do so intentionally. She knows the tale of dread better than anyone. Raven would never do that. And as such, I plead with the assembly, make plans to save my daughter."

"And what if she doesn't need saving?" Karahan voiced out after keeping silent the entire time.

"She does and she will."

"Then it is settled then, we shall take this into great consideration while we find a way out. Time for even bigger business, your majesties," Aragorn finalized.