King Jian sat in his throne room long after dismissing his subordinates, his eyes were closed in meditation and his head was rested against his closed fist.

From where he sat, Jian could hear the activities going on in the nearest levels of the Keep as the dragon lords and dragon guards were mustered to execute the orders of the dragon king.

It would not be long now, Jian knew his dragons would find him the answers he needed and more, the dragons would win... always.

The world knew it too and yet time without number, they dared oppose the dragons.

The dwarves... the black network, and the loss of contact with Fort Blazed, it was one thing after the other.

The decades long of peace in the stronghold was now being threatened, but threats were not a new reality to the beasts of Asvar.

The black network had long been a looming threat, Jian knew he would have to see to them soon, he had hoped to avoid another blood bath but it became clearer as the days passed that it was inevitable.

Jian’s hand unconsciously moved to his lower abdomen where the marking of his bond with the King’s guard lay, the exact place he had felt Menarx’s pain earlier in the day.

Jian could still recall the panic he had felt, more particularly at that moment when the bells began tolling... those tolling bells that brought with them memories of the past.

Of the times were the world was young and new...a time where the fate of his people did not rest on his shoulders but on that of the one Jian had once deemed more worthy than he.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The mournful tolls of the funeral bells still echoed across Dragon Keep, a constant reminder of the passing of the great dragon king, Agardan the vanquisher.

It was the third month already and the mourning period should rightly have been over, but no one could bring themselves to step up and make the official declaration.

No one could dare say the words, demanding dragon kind to let go of a King who had returned to them their freedom and granted them a supreme dynasty.

Within the confines of the keep, the dragon lords all mourned in their own way, yet none could despair as much as the two princes, Asrig and Jian.

"My Liege." Jian greeted in a low tone as he stepped into his brother’s quarters, lowering his head to a bow in greeting.

Jian’s silver tresses were unkept, he could not remember the last time he had spared his appearance a look.

All Jian had been doing, all he wanted to do was hole himself up in a cave, one that was dark with no light seeping through.

A place where the world could be still and Jian could wallow in his pain and despair.

And Jian had done that too, for the past three months but on this day, Jian knew there was someone who would need him... and so he had come.

"Brother...there you are." Dragon King Asrig acknowledged as he glanced over his shoulder, furrowing his brows slightly.

"Set aside these formalities Jian...not today..." Asrig dismissed, sucking in a shaky breath.

"You will be crowned on the morrow, Asrig. This is the way..." Jian reminded as he walked over to stand beside his brother who gazed down from the balcony.

"The said time is yet to come... I will not have it, not today..." Asrig replied with a shake of his head.

"The council is concerned, you have yet to give the order..." Jian spoke again after a moment of quiet.

"They sought you out?" Asrig asked, passing a glance to Jian before he averted his gaze with a mirthless chuckle.

"My council to be takes their concerns to you first... perhaps you should be King, you surely have the right colored scales." Asrig said, still chuckling.

"Do not be silly, Asrig. Father left you his throne and his dynasty and there is no one more worthy. The color of your scales change nothing." Jian replied firmly, placing a hand on Asrig’s shoulder.

"Jian... I fear they expect too much of me. Father was too great a man, how shall I carry on his legacy?" Asrig whispered.

"Your legacy...it is your legacy now, Asrig. Your legend need not be as father’s was, you are Asrig... and that is who the stronghold needs." Jian reminded.

"I will leave you to your thoughts, My Liege." Jian said as he headed out but Asrig’s words stopped him.

"Jian, at dawn I shall become the most powerful dragon amongst our kind... and a King never pleads."

"So I shall make my plea today...if ever I should go down a wrong path, promise me... that you will kill me." Asrig asked in a low whisper.

Jian glanced back at his brother for a moment before he chuckled quietly.

"It is alright to be nervous and uncertain Asrig. But rest assured, you will do just fine... I know it." Jian assured.

"Very well... pass on my order. The bells...may lay still now." Asrig replied, passing Jian a smile before he resumed his aimless staring down from the balcony.

Jian’s gaze lingered on his brother for a moment, an uneasy feeling in his heart before he headed out.

"By order of Dragon King Asrig, the bells are to be stilled..." Jian declared to the council, though Asrig’s words weighed heavily on his heart.

~~~~~~~~~

"My Liege." Lord Rodrick’s voice interrupted Jian’s thoughts.

Jian hummed in response to Lord Rodrick’s arrival.

"I have seen to Lady Neveah as you instructed. Master Maloway certainly understood the message... and Lady Neveah clearly did not appreciate it." Lord Rodrick reported.

Jian’s eyes fluttered open and he passed Lord Rodrick a glance.

"Tell me." Jian asked.

"The dragon guards report an attack by a large... raging wolf..." Lord Rodrick replied.

"Oh?" Jian murmured, the darkness of his memories flitted away, his lips twitching ever so slightly.