The Dragon Prince - Marked

Part 16

A poor thirteen-year-old boy sat bored in a meeting in which he knew nothing of the topic.

"And how does the king favor?"

"Huh?" Ezran said looking up from bait chewing on the leg of the table and at the groups of council members.

"This is what I mean. Why do we even need him here, he knows nothing of what it takes to run a country. He's just a waste of our time." Ezran looking down at his hands. He had taken the throne three years ago, but still without his official advisor, he sat in a throne far to big for the small boy.

"And that waste of time is your king, I'd suggest you remember that." A voice boomed in anger from the behind the rude council man, scaring both him and Ezran as well as all the others who hadn't notice Callum's entrance. Ezran quickly recognized the voice and looked up to see Callum Glaring at the council man and Rayla leaning from behind him smiling and waving at the young king.

"P, Prince Callum?! I...forgive me,, it was a poor choice of words." Callum stood far taller than the old man and just looked as if her were a giant when compared to most other royals. Still glaring at the man, Callum again spoke in his stern 'warrior' voice as Ezran put it.

"You Insult my brother, your King, and expect forgiveness. I could very well have your tongue for such insolence!" Callum boomed.

"I'm sorry my prince, I just.."

"You, Just. What?"

"I...I..."

While Callum was scaring the soul out of the old man, Rayla had gone up to the young prince. After the two hugged, they looked back to see Callum struggling to hold back his smile.

"As punishment for your insults to the King of Katolis," as the council man expected the worst, Callum's face broke into a childish smile, "You must perform the 'Jerk face Dance' at the next royal gala." All but the old council man was laughing. While everyone was distracted by their own laughter, Callum leaned close to the man.

"Should I here of you speaking those words again to Ezran, I will rip your tongue from your head myself." He spoke sternly. While Callum was well mannered, his many battles and indomitable will was terrifying to any who tried to hurt his loved ones. Apparently this council man forgot that, but Callum was happy to provide a reminder. Standing back up to address the entire council, Callum returned to his calmer demeanor. "Greetings everyone. I apologize for my sudden entrance, but I must ask that this meeting be postponed to a later date. I have not seen my brother in some time after all. I would also like to announce that I shall be staying in the castle for the foreseeable future. That being said, I will now be present at all council meetings, acting as the King's royal advisor." With words of approval and a welcome home, the council ended their meeting and left the trio alone.

"Callum!" Ezran shouted in excitement, hugging his brother.

"Hey bud, how's it going." Callum asked, returning to his relaxed voice rather than the one he uses when acting as a prince.

"I've been so bored. These meetings just get longer and longer." The young kind complained.

"Where's Claudia and Soren?" Rayla asked confused by their absence. Callum and Rayla were Ezran's official advisor and guard, but the siblings filled in when the couple were away, which was far more often than either party would've liked.

"Soren is leading a battalion to aid another kingdom in attacking anti-human activists. And Claudia is in the infirmary, we were attacked a few days ago. No casualties, but a lot of the soldiers got hurt." Ezran told them, "We barely held them off, I was really scared for a while. But now that you're here, you'll beat them right?" Ezran asked the older couple. Rayla and Callum looked at each other and smiled.

"Well no duh" Rayla told the young king. After another 10 minutes of laughing, talking, and catching up, Callum excused himself going to try and help in healing the soldiers.

"How did Callum get that scar?" Rayla looked down at Ezran. He held a look of worry.

"Don't worry Ezran, Callum's fine. On our way here, the big idiot thought it was a good idea to combine fire an lightning while flyin. He fell down and got scraped up. But, he's Callum. He walked it off." Rayla told the young king smiling, stretching the truth to spare him the gory details.

"I really worry for the two of you ya know. I'm scared that the next time you leave will be the last time I see you." Ezran was watching Callum walk to the infirmary through the window. "I already lost both my parents. I don't know what Id do if I lost Callum too." Rayla didn't mind when Ezran didn't say her name, she understood the boy's worry. Leaning over to hug the boy, Rayla spoke.

"Don't worry too much Ezran. It's Callum, he'ssaved me more times than I can count, protected hundreds, and through it all,he's never been beaten. He worries about you too, that's why he won't lose. Youand I rely on him and he knows it. Now come on, I can hear your belly growlin. Let'sgo raid the kitchen for some sweets." Rayla said smiling brightly. Ezran tookone last look at Callum before turning to catch up to Rayla, now smiling histrademark grin.