Book 2: Chapter 72: A Long Ten Minutes

    Stepping through the portal, Arthur let it snap shut behind him.

    The only sound he made was a single footfall, but in order to survive in the borderland village, one must always be prepared. His father’s long snore cut off immediately. A dark shape laying on a simple bed roll on the other side of the room stirred.

    “Who’s there?” his father rasped. “I’m armed.”

    A feeling of relief threatened to overwhelm Arthur, tightening his throat. He had tried not to let himself worry too much about why his father had been absent from the cottage, but concern had been a constant companion in the back of his mind anyway.

    Plus, it had been a long, trying day.

    “Dad, it’s me, Arthur.”

    “Arthur?”

    Sitting up, his father reached for the wood stove. The cottage was small enough that nearly everything was within arm’s length. He opened the door, which let out more light.

    “Arthur!” he said again, then stumbled out of bed to pull him into a rough hug. “I got your letter, but I didn’t expect you so soon. What’s—” he caught a glimpse of Brixaby — or more likely, the red glint of his eyes — and stepped back.

    “Greetings!” Brixaby boomed, extending all four wings. “I applaud you on the procreation of my rider. He has proved quite useful!”

    “This is Brixaby,” Arthur said. “He is my dragon.”

    Calvan simply stared, then glanced back at his rumpled cot. Arthur suspected he was wondering if he was dreaming or not.

    “He just recently hatched,” Arthur explained. “Dad, I don’t have much time, but we need to talk. I just came back from a meeting with the king.”

    “The king?” Instantly, Calvan’s attention turned back to Arthur. He looked him up and down as if checking to make sure he was still in one piece.

    Arthur knew the feeling.

    “It was close,” he said, and Brixaby snorted. “Dad, I’m sorry to hit you with this, but I have—” he checked the timer on the Sun Ring Portal spell, “less than nine minutes before I have to return to the hive. I need to know why our family was sent to the border. What exactly was your crime?”

    His father looked like someone had just knocked him over the head. “That is... a long story, son.”

    “Then you must speak quickly!” Brixaby said. “Arthur, perhaps there is a quick story skill... ah, you would need an appropriate card for that. Never mind.”?v€l?1n.

    Arthur stepped forward. “I know it’s painful, but living in ignorance is going to come back and bite me.”

    It already had.

    “I... yes.” Calvan nodded. “You’re a man now, and it’s... it’s well past time.”

    He sank down to the cot, gathering himself.

    Arthur wanted to scream at him to hurry up because this was only the first of his questions, but the man still looked shocked.

    Calvan spoke. “When I inherited the dukedom from my father, your grandfather, I discovered a rot within the kingdom. It’s something all high-leveled nobles come to learn. If you’ve met the king, you know how he is: An old man trapped in a young man’s body. But his mind has not been so well preserved.”

    “I noticed,” Arthur said grimly.

    “He is not the only ruler like this. Some are worse, some are better, to less and greater degrees.”

    “You mean other kingdoms,” Arthur said.

    Calvan nodded. “We are so cut off from one another that rumors of other kingdoms have become no better than myths. But from what little information there is, the rulers are in agreement: None want to give up their power and few wish to see anyone climb the ranks.”

    “Brix, do you sense an oath card in his heart deck?”

    “Ohh.” Brixaby’s eyes were little pinpoint specks of red in the gloom.

    Sensing his attention, his father stepped back.

    “There is something,” Brixaby said. “Not in the heart deck, exactly. Just outside of it but latched on like a parasite.”

    “Take it,” Arthur said.

    “Now wait a minute,” his father said. “You can’t just—!” He broke off in a sharp shout.

    Brixaby, always eager for any new card, zipped over to Calvan and ripped it out of his chest before the man could begin to swat him away.

    Calvan gave a choked gasp, looking like the wind had been knocked out of him.

    Brixaby returned to his perch on Arthur’s shoulder.

    Taking the card, Arthur looked it over.

    The oath his father had been required to take was like a wrapping of heavy chains compared to the light leash of Arthur’s.

    In Calvan’s handwriting, the card read he swore he would give up all claims to his lands and individual rights, that he would never again take any cards, that he would stay within Baron Kane’s lands until his death.

    The king’s handwriting was much simpler: Witnessed.

    Even as Arthur read the card, it disintegrated to dust between his fingers. Arthur looked up to see his father staring.

    “Dad, are you okay?”

    “I feel... good.” he took in a deep, bracing breath. “The oath is gone. It’s really gone. You... taught your dragon to do that?”

    Brixaby bristled. “Stealing cards happens to be my specialty.”

    “Amazing.” Calvan stood up straighter. He blinked, and his eyes looked suddenly clear.

    “Dad,” Arthur said urgently. The seconds were counting down. “Come with me to the hive. I can hide you.”

    “No, Arthur.” He shook his head. “There is... well, a very special lady here. Now, I can see you were right. I need to hide. But I won’t leave her.”

    That helped explain why his father had been absent from the cottage. Arthur was glad. He deserved someone in his life.

    “Is she bound by an oath? Brix could—”

    “Twenty-three seconds left,” Brixaby said. He looked regretful, like he would very much enjoy taking another card.

    “Go,” his father said, “I’ll manage. Don’t get trapped here, Arthur.”

    With a frustrated sound, Arthur turned and reached for the Sun Ring Portal. It took a few precious seconds to open it back up to his new suite in the hive.

    Before stepping through, Arthur looked over his shoulder. “Tell the parents of the children I took that they’re doing well, and... and I’m not done with this village. Brixaby has to grow up, and I have to train to get stronger. Once we’re ready, I’ll be back for anyone else who wants to leave.”

    His father smiled. It was a clearer expression than he remembered seeing. “I’ll tell them. I’m proud of you, son.”

    Arthur stepped through just as the last seconds counted to zero.