The Queen of Elysium

Chapter 8 - Deliverance

Antares leaps from the wall of Babylon, his gargantuan wings spreading out as they gently glide down to the ground far below. Kai remains seated as the moonless sky fills with dragons. The final dragon to descend is Azora, carrying Seraphina, Queen of the Dragonites on her back.

Azora lands and lets out a torrent of fire causing the pyre of hawthorn and cypress to roar to life.

Seraphina's voice rings out, "This night, spring passes unto summer. Take the sacred fire back to your hearths so that Ishtar may protect your households."

Kai watches numbly as Dragonites step forward, lighting branches in the flames and a procession of burning torches weaves back towards the city.  He even ignores the scent of roasting meats, although his stomach grumbles.

Antares snaps, For Ishtar's sake, go and eat. I for one, wish to enjoy this night.

Moodily, Kai jumps down and pointedly avoids the females who circle him like vultures. He makes his way towards the trestle tables groaning under the weight of food.  Only last year, he had taken advantage of all that Beltane had to offer, now he cannot get his mind away from one small female.

When fingers slide seductively down his arm, he gives a low threatening growl and is met with the tinkling laughter of the queen.

"Kai darling, that face could surely curdle milk." Seraphina slips her arm through his. "I am to travel to Avalon. I want my best warrior by my side to protect me."

He scoffs at the thought of Seraphina needing protecting; she is one of the fiercest fighters he knows. However, his inner flames flicker excitedly at the thought of returning to Avalon and to Elissa.

.....

Aren stomps down the corridor, thinking bitterly, You would think that my own father would support me.

He should not keep me from my female, the tiger growls in his mind.

Yeah. How can he think to take Leo to Avalon and not me?

"You look like you could do with some liquor." He is startled by Drake's voice. Drake flourishes an arm towards his chambers. "Would you care to join me?"

An alcoholic beverage or two is just what Aren needs to wash away the bitter taste of the argument he has just had with his father. He walks inside and sinks into one of Drake's armchairs.

His best friend, bless him, furnishes him with a large tumbler filled with amber spirit. At first it burns, but the second glass slips down much more smoothly.

"I need to get to Avalon and see Elissa. That tyrannical, self-appointed 'High King' is keeping her prisoner."

"Maybe Torbjorn is trying to protect you. Bel says..." Drake hesitates before carefully continuing, "There are rumours that Elissa is set to become the High Queen."

"I do not care what your sister, nor for that matter, what anyone says. I refuse to believe that my beloved would forsake me."

Drake refills their glasses, gently reasoning. "You only knew her for few moons and it has been several moons since she left Arcadia. Perhaps, it would be better for you both to move on."

"Desist. Mother has already tried that. I cannot possibly think of another. The truth is that I fell in love with her before we even got home."

He stares unseeing into the depths of his glass. He misses her so desperately and does not feel whole with her gone. Not wishing to get too morose, he tries to lighten the mood. "So, tell me Drake, how are you treating my cousin?"