Page 9 of The Silent Mountain
“It’s not like I enjoy doing it,” I say.
“I know.”
“My kingdom needs a good healer. That’s more important than my own feelings.”
Stefan glances at me first before scanning my office. His attention halts at a drawing of my family. A drawing from when we had better times and everyone was still alive. “Nothing like this should have happened,” he says. “You didn’t deserve it, your family didn’t deserve it, and the other shifters didn’t either.” He turns to look at me. “For what it’s worth, my king, you were always bright and very intelligent, even as a child. Your father had high hopes for you, and not just because you were a golden dragon.”
That’s news to me. “Did he really?”
“He constantly praised you,” Stefan says. “And believed that you would lead the kingdom back to prosperity. And when the witch began to destroy us, and he finally understood what was happening, he tried everything to secure the future of the kingdom.” He pauses. “I know he wasn’t always nice to you.”
That’s an understatement. I believe my father loved me in his own way, and he raised me the way he was raised. He didn’t know better.
“But when he died, his last thoughts were with you and Prince Elio. At the end of the day, he wanted to save his children. That’s why I won’t leave your side. I am here to fulfil his dying wish.”
His words sadden me.
I loved my father and looked up to him, although he wasn’t a particularly good leader. He was still my father. But I didn’t lie to Alana when I told her royal dragons have a hands-on approach with their kids. My father had a rod he would use whenever he thought I had disobeyed, which is why a part of me feared him, and another part felt insufficient at times. To be fair, he did show me kindness too.
But he wasn’t the best ruler, unfortunately.
Maybe that’s the reason he pushed me to study and train so much, even at an early age. Maybe he knew he lacked potential. He was not blessed like I was. He was not a golden dragon, and as such, he did not have a deity bound to him like I do with Favia.
I sigh, rubbing my temples. “I wish he had listened to you, Stefan. I know you saw the threat before anyone else did.” I pause. “That’s the reason why I am working with you.”
“He didn’t want to see it,” Stefan says quietly. “The truth.”
Because it would have meant to admit failure.
“Sometimes, it’s not about what we want,” I mutter, turning my gaze back to Stefan. “That’s why I agreed to find a witch.”
I feel drained after I wrap things up with Stefan. There is still so much to do to rebuild this kingdom. Whenever I take a step, I find new tasks and problems ahead of me. It’s like I can never reach my goal.
Well, it was to be expected that it’s tough work.
I glance outside, noticing that it’s pitch-black already. There are clouds covering the night sky, letting no light through. It’s not a particularly beautiful night. On my way through the castle, I stop by the guards to talk a bit to them. I want them to know that I am here and present, and that I respect the work they do.
We still aren’t many in number, but we are enough to run this clan.
Most of the staff of the castle sleep at their own houses. They all want a sense of normality back in their lives, and I didn’t want to force them to live here in the castle. However, a few maids and guards chose to reside here. It makes it feel less empty.
Now that Alana lives here too, it’s like a fresh wind blows through the corridors. She is waking everyone up from their depression with her fiery hair and fierce attitude. She was the one who brought horses here, and while it might not look like something special, it is something new for us, something exciting.
Dragon shifters were never keen on mingling with other shifters, but I can see that their attitude has changed. They appreciate Alana’s presence here because she is a distraction to them, something interesting and fascinating.
Silence lingers around the lands now as most of us are sleeping. I walk towards my own chambers on the top floor of the castle. Only Elio, Alana, and I have our chambers here. I made sure Alana got the most beautiful room we had to offer with lots of space, so she has a safe space to retreat to. I want her to be able to truly feel at home here.
Elio stays in a single room, but he prefers it that way. A guard is stationed in front of it. He was the man who made sure Elio could flee and survive. He protected him all those years while they hid away.
“My king,” he whispers.
“Theodor,” I smile at him. “We are not in danger anymore; you can rest too.”
“I got used to it,” he admits. “To watch over him at night and make sure no one harms him.”
“I appreciate that,” I say. “He was able to survive thanks to you.”
Theodor blushes at my words, the praise making his eyes light up. He is a fairly young man. He was only seventeen when I sent him away, together with Elio and Elio’s nanny, to hide until it was safe to return. A difficult task, especially for someone so young. It went without saying that he was made a royal guard the moment they returned. I don’t care if he is of royal blood or not; it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that he saved my little brother.
