The Dragon Prince - Marked

Part 38

The castle was booming with movement and energy. In the few days since Ezran discovered Callum was alive, the young king wasted no time putting plans into motion. Along with the news of Callum, Astoria told Ezran that a battle was coming for them. One that would prove far larger than anything Katolis had seen.

"I will rally whoever I can, but we still have our battles as well. Plan for no Xadian support. If I do not see you before the battle occurs, good luck my friend." With that, the Dragon King Azymondias took to the skies, hurrying back to his keep. Ezran took off running towards the castle.

"What are you going to do?" Astoria called. Ezran stopped for a moment to face the elf.

"Tell Aunt Amaya. Begin plans. Speak to the kingdom. And then figure out how I'll tell Rayla. Now come on, we've got things to do!" Astoria smiled as once again the young boy surprised her. Once inside the castle, Ezran didn't even bother with formalities. He knew Amaya was covering for him in a meeting. The tired guards were only aware of a small brown-haired blur for a second before the large doors to the Throne room were pushed open. Without looking, one of the council men was scolding what he thought was a guard.

"Don't you know better than to just.."

"Callum's alive." Ezran cut the man off. Very quickly all eyes were on Ezran. Once he saw that Amaya was looking at him, he repeated. "Callum is alive." He spoke deliberately so that there were no misunderstood words to the lip reader. Amaya's mouth dropped as tears began to fall.

"That's impossible King Ezran. Astoria confirmed it." Gren spoke up. As if on que, Astoria entered the room, out of breath from trying to keep pace with the small king.

"I.....Lied...." Astoria spoke in between breathes. "Needed...to.....be sure.....you'd all move forward first......" She took a large breath before continuing. "Ezran! I am eight hundred and thirty-four years old. I cannot keep up with you anymore. Regardless. I didn't want you to get your hopes up. I have no idea where he is or what his condition is. All I know is that he lives."

"So, you knew, this whole time and you just played along with our feelings?" Gren said, angered by the elf's secrecy.

"It hurts to lose a loved one. It hurts far worse to gain hope only for it to be ripped away again."

"So, then what makes you so sure now?"

"Ezran's words to not give up and his determination to move forward, even without Callum. I needed to know that he could stand on his own feet and that you all realize that what we've built is larger than all of us no matter how important we may seem. But along with the good news comes bad. There's a war coming. I don't know when or what the opponent will be, but I know that it will be soon." Now it was Ezran's turn to speak and he didn't waste his moment.

"I know you all have questions and mixed emotions, but right now we have things to do. Gren, I need you to arrange for me to speak to the citizens. Their concerns need to be put to rest and I'll need to rally them for the oncoming fight. Also, send for our standing troops to prepare for battle, we don't know where the enemy will come from. Aunt Amaya, you'll be in charge of strategy. Make it purely defensive. Everyone, we are now on high alert."

The days had past and still there was plenty to be done. When Ezran addressed the kingdom, he spoke of the attempted assassination on the royal family and how Callum was taken. A slight twist on the truth but he followed it by telling the kingdom of its coming battle. Fear spread like wildfire, yet the thirteen-year-old stood taller than anyone had seen.

"We cannot give in to their tactics. The enemy, who ever they may be, are trying to break us. Their attempt on my life failed because I had the help of my friends. So, I ask you all now. Will you break like they want you too, or will you fight? I'm not asking you to fight for me. I'm calling on you to stand and defend your families, your friends. Look to the people around you. This kingdom has prospered on it's melding of Katolin and Xadian people. It's built on trust and peace. Now when that ideal is tested, will you let it fall. I believe in the work you have all done to make this alliance work. As king I can only do so much. It is up to you, the people, to make everything work. I, King Ezran of Katolis, promise you all this. I will fight until my dying breath to ensure that this peace wasn't for nothing. I say let them come. Let them bring their hatred like the others have. And just like the others, we will prevail. We will take whatever they have, and we will bring it right back down on them." At this point, the entire kingdom was up in arms. The brave, unwavering words of the young king sending a shockwave of power through the ground itself igniting the passion of the people. Amaya looked at her nephew with pride, taking a moment to wonder what his parents would've thought of their son. It wasn't a question really. Pride.