Luna

Chapter Four

***Marcus***

I sat in my normal seat, by the right hand of the Iget. At least where the Iget would sit when he arrived at the meeting. With him at the head, me at his right hand and the 3 other counselors filling the other seats that edged the heavy wooden table. Nobody ever sat at the foot of the table, for that would be disrespectful to the Iget himself and a challenge to his rule. The maids did not even dare dust the chair that sat in that position, so it was the only thing in the room that did not glisten, sparkle, or some other way demonstrate the wealth of our leader.

The other three counselors were David Aethus whom sat directly across from me and desperately wanted my position, James Perch whom sat to my right and was vying for David's position, and Charles Beam whom sat diagonal to me and for a change seemed to be content with his position in the counsel. We were all to arrive before the Iget and not to speak until he arrived whether it pertained to his majesty or not.

After the normal long silence, the two guards opened the large ornate doors and the Iget entered the room, slowly approached his own seat which was embedded with gold, and seated himself. "What is on the Agenda today Pierce?" The Iget began and nodded in my direction.

"Everything looks well in Chora your majesty. Deliveries from the traders have all been delivered along with some generous donations from certain merchants." I paused to smile ever so slightly, "No disturbances in any of the tribes."

"If I may, your majesty, I have something that I would like to discuss." Aethus added to the end of my update. I wondered what it could be that he decided to bring to attention.

"Of course Aethus, what is the item?" The Iget turned his attention towards the speaker.

Aethus looked at me and smiled,"It has come to my attention that the girl with the red dragon has gone missing." The Iget seemed puzzled for a second.

"Aye, the prophesied one." The Iget nodded slowly, "I see. Do we know where she has gone?" The Iget looked directly at me, "Do you know why your daughter has fled?" I hadn't told anyone besides Ava and Ark that she was missing.

"Your majesty, she has only been gone one night, and my son informed me that she had been harassed by a boy named Dennis Aethus. Perhaps she was unnerved and is being a typical teenager. She takes great comfort in being alone with her dragon. I do believe that she will be home safely soon." I, however, knew that something far stranger was occurring. Ark had told me of the voices she heard. If those voices were in fact her dragon, Fidi could be a Kataigida.

The possibility of a Kataigida hatching was the reason that the Iget orders the destruction of any dragon and handler when a hatchling isn't normal, which is not common. I was hardly able to save my daughter from this fate. Fidi was the first abnormal dragon seen since the law was placed and I was able to convince the Iget that since she was my daughter we could keep an eye on the both of them. Now she was gone and he could order her execution.

"I will trust you as I have for many years, Pierce." The Iget began, "However, if the girl does not return soon then I will be forced to send men out to find her. The Kataigida cannot be left to roam Chora." I was shocked, the Iget had never openly said that Fidi was a Kataigida. It had all been speculation.

"With all due respect, your majesty, we have no proof that the red dragon is a Kataigida." I bowed my head and waited for a response.

"The only red dragon born to our knowledge should be enough proof, Pierce." Aethus spoke now, "If you cannot see that this dragon could bring destruction to our way of life, then you are blinded by familiarity." He nodded sharply and bowed his head.

"Aethus is right Pierce, this dragon and this girl could deliver the end to our ways." He paused, seemingly for dramatic effect, "If you don't, then we will. You have two months."

The word of the Iget rang in my ears the entire way home. Only two months before there would be a hit out on my daughter. I had to find her. I wasn't like I could just put posters up in the tribes. Even the tribesmen knew about Kataigida, only my daughter didn't know. We had managed to hide the term and the prophecy this long in the hopes of it never coming true.

"Dad!" Ark's shout broke me away from my thoughts and I looked to him. "I searched the entire border and there was no sign of her or Fidi. And it isn't like Fidi blends in. He's red!" I took a deep breath.

"We must find her son, in two months time, the Iget will mark her an enemy of Chora. Aethus has him convinced that Fidi is the Kataigida, here to destroy our traditions and way of life." Ark's eyes glassed over and he turned to the front door.

"I am heading out again to look. I will be back when I find her, or when Rocco needs to be fed." With that he slammed the door. And I collected my dinner which was now almost cold off of the counter, quickly ate it and headed to my room. There I found Ava, still in bed and still crying.

"It will be okay, my love. Luna will be fine, she is a strong woman." I rested my hand on her shoulder and received no response.