For Lord and Land

For Lord and Land
By: Delilah deSora
Part 3
Chapter 1

**

“Papa!”

“Stay back, Luca!”

“Papa! Mama! Where are you taking them? Leave them alone!”

“Damnit Mihael, take care of this girl will you? She’s going to get in the way of the execution.”

“Stop! What are you doing? They haven’t done anything to you!”

“They’ve spoken out against our Emperor, little one. That’s reason enough. You’d do well to remember that.”

“He’s not our Emperor!”

“This is his country now. The deLunnen family is gone and Ventae no longer has a king. There is only Ardae and the Emperor. Remember, little one. Remember what happens when people speak out against our god.”

-Fall 2023

**

They were flocking around him again.

The dragon inside of Ardel seethed as narrowed green eyes watched the small gathering exclaiming over his hated rival’s newest bit of work. Blue eyes lowered demurely as the scholar’s peers pointed and traced figures twinning up the edges of the document. Ardel could catch glimpses of gold paint as the document was turned this way and that. He could well guess what the serpentine figures were. Ever since his arrival Sibley Varden had pioneered a new set of seals that involved not just the Ardaen dragon but also the representative protectorates of the other three lands that were currently under Ardaen control.

To build a sense of pride and companionship in the other lands as the scholar had put it.

Ardel hated it but his advisors thought it a most wonderful idea, as they thought of all of the annoying Aquilaen’s ideas. He gritted his teeth and turned away to stare down at the rest of his court. There was nothing he could say about it. Everyone loved the idea and the dragon was still the promenant feature on the design. To argue it now would only insult those in his court from the Ventaen, Glacaen, or Aquilaen provinces.

Unable to help himself he glanced over at the small gathering and caught the sly look he received from the black haired scholar. The fires within him flared and it was only sheer willpower that kept him from losing his temper. At first he hadn’t been sure but now he was positive that the Aquilaen was taunting him. Everything the scholar did was geared towards irritating him.

His head scribe was bringing the document over to him proudly and he forced a smile as he took it. Red dragons twined about golden latticework, one forming the first letter of the document. As he had expected a peacock stood proudly at the bottom of the document, staring defiantly at the silver wolf creeping up on it from the other corner. And twinning up the side was a delicately drawn leviathan, peering at the dragon across from it. His own signature had even been decorated so that it appeared to be burned into the document. Ardel smirked and had to resist the urge to show the little scribe what burned letters really looked like.

Look at your court, he reminded himself, forcing his eyes away from the document and out over the gathered nobles.

Five minutes later his eyes were fixed firmly back on the softly smiling black haired man and the silver ring that shone on his finger. The scowl returned. Dante had taken to wearing his promise ring on a chain around his neck. He’d been playing dumb about the ring, not wanting to make his Leviathan suspicious by recognizing it. At least Dante wasn’t wearing it on his finger.

But it still hurt!

Dante was supposed to be his! Completely, utterly, and without contest! So who was this perfect piece of Aquilaen fluff to come around and mess with that fact? Oh forget the fact that Ardel himself had been planning on luring him to the palace. He was half convinced that the man had tricked him into bringing him to the palace.

No he didn’t, came that annoying voice of reason in his head, interrupting his satisfying ranting about Dante’s former lover, he’s just trying to start a new life. Leave him alone!.

Oh go drown in an ocean. He snarled at the voice.

The reminder of his lover, however, brought him back to another problem he had on his hands. They were quickly approaching the solstice and his present for Dante was in danger of not being completed in time. He’d had it begun in early summer and it had been coming along well until fall had brought an unusual occurance. Storms had raged over the country, bringing much needed rain but also bringing danger. The river had overflowed its banks, pouring water across the plain and into the palace itself. Mudslides had come roaring down the volcano, burying the towns that were nestled at its base. Crops were destroyed and the vats they’d constructed to store the water were contaminated with mud. Even Dante’s pool had to be left empty lest it also became nothing more than a giant puddle of mud.

When the storms showed no signs of abating Ardel had begged Dante to stop them. His Leviathan had done what he could to keep the rain from falling so hard that it tore the tiles off of roofs and to keep the river from changing course, a potential disaster that Ardel had feared more then anything, for if the river changed course the southern cities and towns would lose their water and turn into ghost towns.

Finally the rains had ceased and the clouds dissipated, leaving a drowned city, destroyed crops, dead livestock, and a drained Leviathan who had gone straight to bed and slept for days. Ardel had been forced to abandon Dante’s present while he focused on rebuilding his capital city. To his relief the three other main cities in Ardae had been spared but the towns to the south were in desperate need of help as well as the river carried floodwaters their way.

Emergency supplies had been sent from Aquilae and Ventae. He’d been loath to take supplies from his Glacae provinces since they had their own winter to store for. His Aquilaen lords had been angry at his request for constant shipments of fish and rice all winter but he’d ignored their protests, knowing that it was loss of profit not the danger of their own people starving that caused their worries. Aquilae never lacked for food and they could stand losing winter profits. He wouldn’t let his lords down south grow fat while they starved in his own capital city.

Fah’vale, to his relief, had been more than accommodating. Ever since his visit they’d been keeping their protests silent and had responded obediently to all of his requests. Unfortunately the rest of Ventae wasn’t being so helpful. A few months ago he’d received word that they’d set up a child as their new king. The rumors had spoken of this child having power over wind. He’d sent a few of his knights out to discover if this rumor held any truth. He was still waiting for their return.

There was something huge and glittering approaching him from the far end of the hall and Ardel grimaced as he recognized the lord. He stood before the lord could call his attention and moved towards the door that would take him back to his rooms, essentially ending the day’s session. Breven hurried to his side and held the door for him. He nodded slightly in acknowledgement before drifting out into the rapidly darkening halls.

Soon servants would appear bearing lighting sticks and the palace would be bathed in fire’s gentle light. He sighed softly at that thought. It always soothed him to be surrounded by his element. Winter was a hard season for him. He was always cold, no matter how many layers he wore. The fires in his audience hall had been built higher at his request and though people complained at the heat it still wasn’t enough to warm him. The only place where he could be warm was his own room, which he kept so hot even his Leviathan refused to set foot in it.

He smiled slightly. Soon winter would be over and, if all went well, he’d be able to share his Leviathan’s present as well. It would be nice to lie out and let the sun warm him. He laughed softly at the thought. As though he would be able to find enough time to just relax without someone hunting him down and asking him inane questions that anyone could answer.

His attention was drawn to the floor to ceiling windows the looked out to the river valley just beyond the palace. The sky was painted in the colors of sunset and he could just make out the glitter of light on the slowly flowing river. With a sigh he moved on.

He was grateful to find that his wing was empty, no advisors or messengers haunting his door. He left word with Breven to make sure it staid that way for the rest of the night. His pair of servants where waiting for him and he took pity on their sweat drenched forms and sent them away. He drifted through his own room, dropping his rival’s work of art carelessly on his desk as he passed, and pushed aside the heavy curtain that separated his from a room even larger than his own.

Water trickled down the far wall, dancing playfully over grooves and ledges eroded out of the stone from over a thousand years of use. The waterfall had been a marvel of arcitecture both in its time and now. Ardel still didn’t fully understand the mechanics needed to pull the water from its source up the three stories to the roof of the palace. The palace had been forced to employ learned men who focused entirely on just keeping the water flowing. Most of the time they did nothing but keep the shafts clear and the filters clean but occasionally they were needed to rebuild some important piece of equipment.

During the fall storms they’d had to install diverters to keep the excess water from damaging the whole system. As it was the waterfall had overflowed, sending hordes of water flowing through and forcing them to abandon the room until the flow of water was stopped. Fortunately the heavy glass on the bookcase and quick action had kept the room’s most treasured possessions from being destroyed. They’d even set up heavy boards to keep the flow of water from entering his room.

His slippered feet hissed against the bare floor and he made a mental note to check on when the new rugs were to be finished. Dante seemed to favor the stone floor but he found it far too cold to lie against, and he so hated to have to pause in the middle of certain activities to find a softer spot.

The water in the pool circulated gently and he peered within the pool. Emerald water plants fanned out in the deepest part of the pool, catching the last light of the setting sun. They were a new addition that his Leviathan had asked for, citing that they would help raise the air content of the water. He hadn’t fully understood that either but had acquiesced. He knew nothing of the ways of water.

Besides, it made his Leviathan happy to have them and there were so few things that could do that.

He turned his attention to the “livable” area of the room. His Leviathan was a dark shape under the vibrant blue sheets of the ancient bed. If Ardel didn’t know him better he’d swear the other man didn’t know he’d returned. Smiling soft he skirted the edge of the pool until he reached the sleeping man’s side. Gathering his robes he sat, reaching out to brush his hand over the pale cheek. Blue eyes peered at him sleepily from under black lashes and he brushed a kiss over his Leviathan’s forehead, frowning slightly to still find it warm.

An arm slid about his waist and he leaned forward against his Leviathan’s broad chest, closing his eyes in bliss as all the troubling thoughts of the day fading in his mind until there was nothing but the gentle flow of fire and water that bound the two of them together. Dante’s hand brushed against his back and he smiled as that simple touch sent cooling power though his body, banking the fires that had been seething all day

“Feeling better?” He asked as he had asked everyday for the last week.

He felt Dante’s shrug. “It is passing.”

Ardel opened his mouth to point out that if the other man would just take the herbal tea the healers sent for him the after effects of the winter illness would have passed but after a moment’s thought he thought better of it. Being ill put his lover in a foul mood and he was growing tired of the constant bickering that seemed to blossom between them over the fact. The fever wasn’t getting worse and Dante was a grown man. Beside he could put up with a bit of stubbornness from his Leviathan.

He sighed and closed his eyes, dozing in the heat coming off the body beside him.

**

She didn’t know whether to be disappointed or wary of the building stretched out before her. She had expected the palace that housed the Emperor to be grander. Oh she had to admit that it was a rather intimidating structure with all the braziers of fire illuminating its many balconies and columns but hardly a place to house a god. Where were all the jewels? All the feats of artistic and architecture ingenuity? The palace looked more like a glorified fortress than the capital of the western world. Then again Ardae had never been much interested in anything other than war she mused. She shrugged absently, pulling at the carefully crafted costume for the hundredth time, earning a sharp slap to the hand.

She hissed and glared at the man beside her. “Do that again, Raelius, and I’ll jump ship right here and now.” She threatened.

Her companion glared at her with his narrowed violet eyes. “Then what would you do? Go back to whoring and thieving? Do you know what they do to your kind here, Andaluca? I can assure you it would make what they did to your parents look like a merciful killing. Now shut up and do what you’re told.”

Luca scowled but kept her mouth shut, unable to argue. Raelius waght ght anyway. She hadn’t come all the way to Aidus to go back to scrabbling just to make a life. She was tired of killing Ardae soldiers and minor nobles that had come to her town to try to make a quick fortune. Ending their lives never solved any of her peoples’ problems.

No, she mused as she stared up at the fire basked palace, she was done playing around with those who had no power. When Raelius deLunnan had come to her offering her this chance to satisfy the inner hate that had festered within her since the death of her parents for speaking out against the Emperor she had been more than willing to accept it.

She bit back the snarl that came to her throat as they entered the main hall and her eyes found the likeness of her own country’s protectorate among the gathering of protectorates simpering below the golden dragon that rose above them all. She’d show this country of high nosed fools what happens when pride blinds them to the danger just below their view.

“I remember,” she whispered to the ghost of that soldier from so long ago, “Now let us see if you all remember what happens when you invade a land that is not your own.”

Gathering her skirts she turned from the offensive tapestry and followed her disposed prince deeper into the palace as an obedient present to the Emperor should.

**

The captain of his father’s guard was praising his skill with the sword again and Ardel couldn\'t help but stand a bit taller as pride welled up within him.

A strong hand clapped his shoulder, making him nearly giddy with pleasure as he met his father’s approving gaze. His father’s smile was infectious and he practically beamed as he took the seat beside his father’s at the table. He wrinkled his nose as the man teasingly snatched a well-cooked cactus from the top of his duck and held the limp thing between the silver sticks in front of his son\'s face.

The servants returned with a second set of plates and Ardel lost his smile as his father’s attention was diverted from him to the man who drifted silently from the other room, sitting across from him and receiving a gentle touch on the arm from his father. He was forced to satisfy himself with conversation with his father’s guard but even that didn’t satisfy him and he eventually fell silent, glaring from under his lashes at the black haired man across from him.

His time with his father was terribly limited and it grated on him to know that this man could capture his father’s attention more than he could. The Emperor was his father! Who was this silent slave to steal his father’s attention away from him. He didn’t understand it and no one would explain it to him.

“When you’re older, Ardel.” Was all the answer he ever got.

There was the sudden sound of glass shattering and something heavy striking the floor. He looked up and time seemed to take on a mind of its own. He stared in frozen confusion as his father fell to the floor, his breath coming unnaturally as his hand clawed at his chest. His father’s slave was at his side, pale hands frantically trying to determine what was wrong.

Then his father’s guard fell and time seemed to suddenly speed up.

Blood.

There was blood on his father’s hands, flowing onto the floor as someone screamed. He moved forward to help his father but something was suddenly holding him back. His father looked up and he saw blood on his lips and blood flowed like tears from his eyes. Something was said but he couldn’t hear it over his own cries. Arms wrapped about his waist and he was being pulled away from the one man he wanted to be near.

He was shouting again as blue silk covered his face, blocking his view of his father. He clawed at the gn fin figures on the cloth, cursing the man holding him back from his father. His nails found purchase in the pale skin and he grinned in satisfaction as he tore a sharp cry from the man who had always stood between him and his father.

Then he remembered that his father’s Leviathan never made a sound.

With a gasp and sharp shake Ardel opened his eyes.

Dante was glaring down at him with a mixture of worry and exasperation. His blue robe was torn and Ardel winced as he caught sight of a set of angry red scratches. They were both panting for breath and he realized the covers were tangled about his legs.

“Sorry.” He murmured, trying to turn away.

Dante’s strong arms wrapped about him and pulled him back down when he tried to get up. Fingers ran through his tangled hair and he shuddered unconsciously. “It’s alright,” his lover whispered, stroking his hair until he stopped trembling, “It’s just a dream, nothing more.”

Ardel closed his eyes, letting his lover’s hands chase away his final memories of his father. “It wasn’t fair,” he whispered, “my father didn’t deserve that.”

Dante’s hand stilled and Ardel found himself pulled tighter against his lover’s form as he always was when that dream plagued his nights. “I know. The world is rarely a fair place.”

Ardel sighed. “My grandfather was killed too. I don’t know how but my father would wake up with nightmares of it. He could never understand why anyone would kill him, he wasn’t even the Emperor.”

“He wasn’t?” Dante asked.

Ardel shook his head. “No. My great-grandfather was still Emperor when my grandfather was killed. Nobody even expected my grandfather to take the throne since my father had already been born by then and the current Emperor was still in good health. In cases like that the power tends to skip from grandfather to grandson but someone killed him anyway.”

Dante brushed his lips across the crown of Ardel’s head. “Don’t worry,” he murmured, “no one’s going to kill you. You’ll live to a grand old age and be grumpy all the time and your progeny will be praying to Aidan to take you so they can take over and not hear anymore stories about ‘back in your day’.”

Ardel laughed softly. “Mmm, and maybe by then fate will have seen fit to give me a new Leviathan. Something young and nubile . . .”

Dante dipped his head and nipped at the bared shoulder, stopping his lover’s dreamy words. “No such luck,” he growled, “I’ll be just as old and grumpy as you.”

Ardel rolled onto his back and reached up to take his lover’s face in his hands, green eyes gone serious. “Promise?”

Dante smiled softly and pressed a soft kiss to his dragon prince’s lips. “Promise.”