The War of the Gilded Beasts (Magnus Dynasty Saga Book 2) Read online

  Raising his serpentine head, Vaerox announced, “Good afternoon, friends. Are we ready to begin today’s training?”

  The Magnus children responded with a unanimous cheer. Shifting his head to the side, Vaerox revealed Numen sitting on his back with Gramfyre in hand. Vaerox lowered his shoulder, allowing Numen to dismount and join his family. Kemrin and his siblings gazed upon Numen with awe as he walked among them. They could feel Gramfyre’s power just by being near the sword.

  Holding up Gramfyre for all to see, Numen announced, “This is the Sword of Power our ancestor Vaegar Dragonsteel forged thousands of years ago. It was what allowed his son, Galen the Bull, to conquer Gradaia and establish the Empire. Only our bloodline can wield this blade and live. Gramfyre grants its master the power to rule this world, but at a terrible cost. I have held this sword for the past eighteen years. It allowed me to conquer this kingdom and quell every rebellion, but it has taken a serious toll on me. Over time, I feel slower, weaker, and more frail, as if I have aged twenty years sooner. When I am gone, one of you will wield this sword. I will hold onto Gramfyre for the time being.” After giving his children a good look at Gramfyre, Numen continued, “Now onto today’s lesson. Around the same time I acquired Gramfyre, I managed to save dragons from extinction. As a result, Vaerox and his offspring are our allies. Therefore, we must learn to fight alongside them like an army fighting as one. You will each mount your designated dragon and begin training. Commence!”

  On command, the Magnuses ran to their dragons and climbed onto their scaly backs. At that moment, the training began.

  ______

  Kemrin secured himself on the shoulders of his dragon, Razos. Razos was a magnificent beast that was almost as large as Vaerox and had scarlet scales. The sun reflected off of Razos’s scales with such intensity that he looked like a second sun in the sky. His wings possessed membranes that glittered like living gem stones while his wise eyes were dark copper. Overall, Razos was the most beautiful dragon in the entire flock.

  Around Kemrin were his brothers on their respective dragons. Daegar rode a muscular dragon named Mendryg, who looked as though he was coated in steel armor as a result of his silver scales. Caelum rode Rhea, a she-dragon who was white as snow and had sapphire eyes. Vaeron rode Nergal, another female dragon who was as black as night with eyes as pale as ice. Finally, Ymir rode a she-dragon named Faxia, who possessed green and bronze scales. Once the Magnuses were on their dragons, they took to the sky one by one. The unique coloration of the dragons’ scales were like a living rainbow that dazzled the world. On the ground, hundreds of spectators gathered to watch the majestic display in the sky. It was a sight they had not seen in over three hundred years.

  Kemrin remembered when Razos hatched for him. He was ten years old and Razos was the size of a chicken when he hatched from his egg. Due to the mystical connection of their bloodlines, the two of them bonded instantly and could feel one another’s thoughts and emotions. The other Magnuses underwent the same process with their dragons.

  Looking at Razos, Kemrin said, “Are you ready, Razos?”

  Emitting a guttural chuckle, Razos replied, “Aye! I always look forward to our flights! We both know I fly best when I am with you!”

  Affectionately patting Razos on the shoulder, Kemrin said, “Let’s go have some fun, old friend!”

  Numen and Vaerox took the lead of the flock and their kinsmen followed. Kemrin looked forward and held tightly to Razos’s back as the dragons flew in formation. When Kemrin first rode Razos he would become violently sick from the extreme motions, but after a few years of training Kemrin overcame that limitation. Now their mystical bond allowed them to fly together with perfect synchronization as dragon and rider became one. Neither fear nor doubt gripped them as they continued to soared through the clouds.

  Throughout the afternoon, Kemrin and Razos flew with their kin across the Umbran skies, from the swampy southern border to the cold northern Territories. The strong winds made their faces numb and eyes dry, but their discomforts were easily brushed aside as they traveled higher and farther across the realm. As they continued their flight, the dragons performed a number of intricate maneuvers and midair flips, pretending the clouds were airborne enemies. Whenever they passed a cloud, the dragons unleashed a blast of fire that made it evaporate instantly.

  Shouting over the roaring wind, Kemrin said, “At this rate, we will be ready for war if it ever comes!”

  Bellowing in agreement, Razos roared, “Aye! I just love how these clouds vanish like that! I am just frustrated that I don’t get to burn something living yet! Come on! Give me an opponent to burn!”

  In an urging tone, Kemrin said, “Patience, friend! A time will come when we see battle! Until then, we keep to our routine and train!”

  Scoffing, Razos countered, “Training is all well and good, but dragons need war to keep our boredom at bay. Otherwise we might burn the surrounding land if our martial needs are not met. We can’t keep holding ourselves back forever. Sooner or later, we need something or someone to fight.”

  “There are some minor rebellions from Baal loyalists from time to time. Is that not enough for you?”

  Chuckling, Razos replied, “Those rabble hardly count as a challenge! What we need is a full-scale war with plenty of opponents to burn!”

  Sighing, Kemrin said, “I know how you feel, friend, but be patient a while longer for me, please.”

  To enforce his point, Kemrin imprinted his thoughts and emotions harder than normal onto Razos’s psyche.

  Finally, the dragon relented, “All right. We will play your game for now.”

  “Now let’s continue training!”

  After that exchange, Kemrin and Razos returned their attention to the training and joined their kinsmen.

  CHAPTER 4

  Princess Lyra Rosa waded in the river and scanned the water, which covered her from the waist down. A couple of yards away on the shore were Lyra’s personal guards, who wore the best quality plate armor in Valai. Their surcoats bore the sigil of House Rosa, which was a white rose on a red field. All around them was the unrivaled beauty of Valai, numerous rivers and lakes that glittered in the sunlight, green fields that were peppered with busy farms, and lush forests that promised bountiful game and timber. Surrounding Valai were swamps in the north, mountains in the east and west, and dense woodlands in the south. It was a picture-perfect paradise in every way.

  Lyra wore only a sleeveless tunic and dark trousers, while her golden hair was tied in a bun. She held her slender yet strong hands over the water’s surface, waiting for her prey to come to her. Her muscular arms and shoulders flexed as she prepared to strike. At the first sign of movement, Lyra lunged into the water and felt something bite hard on her hand. Fortunately, the mysterious creature’s teeth felt more like rough tree bark instead of sharp points. With her grip secured, Lyra grunted as she dragged her quarry onto the shore. Using all of her upper-body strength, Lyra pulled a large catfish out of the river and slammed it to the ground in front of her guards, who flinched at the sight of the fish. Lyra climbed out of the river, her wet clothes sticking to her curvaceous and slender form. Her muscles were the product of years of swimming in rivers and wrestling catfish.

  One of Lyra’s guards came to her with a towel while the other three restrained the catfish. Taking the towel from her guard, Lyra said, “Thank you, good sir.”

  “This is quite a catch, my princess! How do you plan to cook it?” one guard asked as he slid a rope through the catfish’s mouth and out its gill.

  Shrugging, Lyra replied, “I’ll think of some ideas on the way back to Azulla Fort. I’ll even share some of it with you lads if you want.”

  Smiling, another guard said, “You are most generous, My Princess. You were a warrior bringing that beast to the surface. Your father will be proud.”

  Scowling, Lyra countered, “My father is always proud of everything my brothers and I do. Catching a catfish with my bare hands is nothing. Walter suc
ceeded in negotiating alliances with the neighboring kingdoms and Erik is a champion jouster, but I have yet to match either of their accomplishments. I want to do something great, something that will last until the end of time!”

  A third guard elaborated, “But you will do something great, Your Highness. There are rumors spreading across the valley regarding your marriage to Kemrin Magnus. They say that your marriage as well as the marriages of Kemrin’s brothers will unite the northern kingdoms in a way that hasn’t existed in centuries. That should be something to be proud of, Your Highness.”

  Rolling her eyes, Lyra said, “Marriage is one way, but I am seeking to win a glorious battle or something! Besides, Kemrin and I have known each other since we were ten years old. He is a good friend, but I don’t want to marry him. I admire his ambition and ego, but I don’t see us being a king and queen together. He has an insatiable hunger for the pleasures of the flesh, so I don’t expect him to be faithful to me even if we marry. There are rumors that he has already sired some bastards in the past few months.”

  Shrugging his shoulders, the first guard said, “Well, it is common for people to conceive bastards. Many powerful noble families were founded by bastards.”

  Bitterly, Lyra countered, “That may be, but they will always be a threat to my children’s inheritance. My legitimate children may outrank Kemrin’s bastards in the line of succession, but their half-siblings will always conspire to supplant them. Remember the Gyrion Revolt in Raevor, which was caused by King Oryk Daefaan, who fathered so many bastards that he left no coherent line of succession to his throne? After he died, his children each raised armies to seize the throne for themselves and the hills and rivers of Raevor ran red with blood for a generation. Eventually, the infighting ended when one Daefaan bastard family remained, House Faan, and Raevor had been ruled by them ever since. I don’t want my children or grandchildren to suffer the same way because of Kemrin’s selfishness.”

  Gripping the hilt of his sheathed sword, the fourth guard assured her, “If that happens, I will defend your children’s rights, Your Highness!”

  Smiling, Lyra cooed, “I am pleased to have your support. Now bring me my unicorn.”

  Once the catfish was secured and Lyra dried herself off, one of the guards went to the other side of clearing to lead an unnaturally regal animal to Lyra. The unicorn resembled a reindeer or caribou with silver fur and a single recurved horn instead of antlers.

  Letting the beautiful animal sniff her hand, Lyra commented, “Legends claimed that these creatures were as magical as the elves, but there is nothing magical about them at all. They are just so wondrous that they seem magical. Still, I would choose a unicorn over a horse any day.” After hoisting herself onto her saddle, Lyra ordered, “Let’s move to Azulla Fort.”

  ______

  Within an hour’s ride, Lyra and her bodyguards arrived at Azulla Fort, the capital of Valai. Azulla Fort was a castle that was as magnificent as the scenery around it. Like the Imperial Palace, Azulla Fort sat on an island in the middle of a large lake that operated like a natural moat. Three sets of curtain walls surrounded the keep and towers, each higher than the first. In between the curtain walls were granaries, barracks, and stables. The towers resembled roses that had yet to bloom while the keep took the form of an enormous cathedral. Hanging from the battlements and towers were the banners of House Rosa, a white rose on a red field. The only way in or out of the castle was a drawbridge that connected the island to the other side of the lake.

  Surrounding the lake was a complex network of farmland. The farmers were hard at work harvesting a wide array of different crops and livestock. Among the crops being grown were carrots, grapes, plums, artichokes, and every other fruit or vegetable imaginable. The livestock were just as diverse as the crops and ranged from chickens to pigs to cows. Beyond the farmlands was a city filled with traders from all over the Empire, exchanging every good and item imaginable. Overall, the entire area was alive with activity under Azulla Fort’s shadow.

  As Lyra and her bodyguards entered the front gate, they found her twin brother Prince Erik sparring with fellow men-at-arms. Lyra could not help but smile as she watched her brother wield his sword as though it were an extension of his arm. His movements were so graceful and fluid that it almost looked as though he was dancing instead of fighting. While clashing with his comrades, Erik laughed and sneered with supreme confidence.

  Teasing, Lyra hollered, “Has anyone beat you yet, Erik?”

  Cackling, Erik answered, “Not yet! I have pounded half a dozen squires so far and I plan to pound another half a dozen before supper!”

  Scowling, Lyra chided, “You should keep that ego of yours in check. If you are not careful, it will be your undoing at my wedding tourney.”

  Knocking a squire to the ground, Erik countered, “I doubt that. I am going to bring Kemrin down in front of all the northern kingdoms and it will be glorious! Maybe breaking him publicly will persuade him to be a good husband to you.”

  Chuckling, Lyra said, “I appreciate your brotherly love, but I don’t need your sword to break Kemrin Magnus.”

  His sneer disappearing, Erik said, “Father and Walter are expecting you inside the keep.”

  Nodding in acknowledgment, Lyra and her guards continued deeper into the castle.

  ______

  The interior of the keep was so magnificent and luxurious that it was fit more for an emperor than a king. Obsidian sculptures and ornate tapestries decorated the halls while the marble floor glittered in the torchlight. In the throne room, Lyra encountered her father, King Leroy Rosa, and her eldest brother, Prince Walter Rosa.

  Walter was a gaunt young man who was a few years older than Lyra and Erik. He wore lavish scarlet and silver robes with an intricately crafted livery collar wrapped around his shoulders. His face was long and had a hard expression like the immovable visage of a statue. Like everyone else in House Rosa, Walter had golden hair and crystal-blue eyes. A neatly trimmed goatee sprouted from Walter’s chin.

  King Leroy, on the other hand, was plump and pleasant like a pumpkin. He wore the finest silk with multiple jeweled rings on his fleshy fingers. The expression on Leroy’s bearded face was warm and welcoming like a child’s doll. The crown that rested on Leroy’s brow was a ringlet made of bronze that resembled intricately woven vines. A series of black iron spikes that looked like thorns sprouted from the top of the crown while a platinum rose was situated in the center with a large diamond embedded in it. The throne Leroy sat in was elaborately sculpted from solid oak and shone white. Overall, Leroy looked like a king who enjoyed his lifestyle.

  Smiling, Lyra gestured to the catfish her guards were carrying and said, “I brought dinner, Father!”

  Applauding, Leroy cheerfully said, “Well done, my daughter! Your mother would be proud if she was still here!”

  Coldly, Walter said, “You know that kind of fishing could kill you like it did Mother. While fishing, her quarry broke her wrist and drowned her!”

  Lyra glared at Walter and bitterly countered, “Mother was careless and you know it! Besides, she taught me well, so I won’t repeat her mistake!”

  Before Walter could argue further, Leroy ordered, “Enough! You two can bicker later. For now, we must discuss our preparations for tomorrow morning. Walter, how are we doing with the preparations?”

  Not looking at his father, Walter explained, “We have gathered hundreds of followers to our procession. By ourselves, we have assembled five hundred of our household knights and servants. Our barons did the same and each gathered around two or three hundred knights and servants. In total, our procession numbers to our two thousand strong. All of the knights will compete in the tournament and we have accumulated all of the delicacies Valai has to offer for the wedding feasts. The other northern kingdoms are doing the same thing, and their processes will rendezvous with ours just outside the Umbran border within two weeks.”

  Nodding in approval, Leroy turned to Lyra and asked, “Are you
ready to do what must be done for the good of the northern kingdoms, my daughter?”

  Lyra swallowed hard and answered, “I am, Father.”

  ______

  Princess Yarma Ganjol swam through a colorful reef filled with thousands of fish. In Yarma’s hands was a net full of exotic fruits. Like all of the people of Aemarr, Yarma possessed dark skin, golden eyes, and white hair. She was slender with well-defined muscles that flexed with each movement she made in the water. An intricate black tattoo engraved Yarma’s right thigh while she wore a silk, turquoise bikini as well as pearls wrapped around her neck, wrists, and ankles. Overall, Yarma resembled an angel of the seas.

  She held her breath underwater for a few minutes, but Yarma was not worried about drowning. As a sea-faring people, Aemarrans could hold their breath underwater for about half an hour. Yarma’s business would be completed long before then. Eventually, Yarma reached a vast patch of sand that stretched as far as the eye could see. Floating in the middle of the aquatic meadow were Yarma’s customers, half a dozen mermaids.

  The mermaids looked like a mixture between dolphin and human. They were hairless with leathery skin that was dark on their backs and light on their bellies. Their hands were webbed and the lower halves of their bodies slender tails that ended with flukes shaped like paddles. Eerily, the mermaids’ faces resembled those of humans except their blue eyes were larger and their brows were thicker. In their hands were spears made from stingray stingers wrapped to coral shafts with seaweed. One of the mermaids was also holding a net filled with deep sea fish.