The Emperor's New Foes Chapter 3 (WIP) (Patreon)

Kuvilo, Barafu, Mojota and Jabali flew briskly through the air over the cityscape of The Sovereign Isle. They didn’t need to fly so far above the streets: It just felt good to take in the fresh air as well as the sights. With the way the sun was setting to the east, it cast the whole landscape in dazzling shades of red.

As Cerven flew though the sky, he patted Kuvilo on the neck and sighed in satisfaction. There was just so much to enjoy about flying. He and Kuvilo had gone flying at least once or twice a week ever since training on the Isle started. The view was always breathtaking: He could even see part of Mount Haxabraxis from where they were.

Cerven got himself a big whiff of the air over the city. Oh, It was so peaceful…

“This is cool!” Ozy exclaimed. The half-elf was riding with Cerven, with Raduva tucked away in his egg-shaped backpack. “I think I can see The Escutcheon from here!”

“Ozy…” Cerven muttered irritably. “Try not to ruin the mood, will ya?”

“Sorry, Your Grand Most High Excellency.” Ozy chuckled.

“Hardy har har…” Cerven rolled his eyes. He leaned forwards and patted Kuvilo’s head to get his attention. “I think we should head back soon, Kuvilo. The others need to relax sooner or later.”

“Are you sure it’s not just to get Ozy off my back?” Kuvilo asked.

“I’m being serious, kiddo. Bring this party to a landing.”

“Alright…” Kuvilo said glumly. “Hold on, I’ll lead the way…”

Kuvilo flapped his wings to signal the other dragons to follow him. They swerved together in the air, never once breaking formation as they slowed down to hover over the landing platform down below.

Even though the Recruit Training Command had a barracks, Cerven and his allies weren’t staying there. One reason was that it was still being refurbished, and another was that there were only five students: The lot of them. So instead, Karae arranged for the young riders to stay in a stone tower on the southern side of the RTC.

As the dragons came to a landing, Ozy leaped off of Kuvilo and held Raduva over his head.

“Ozy, what are you doing?” Mythra asked as she descended from Mojota’s back.

“I’m trying to help him practice flying.” Ozy said. He gave the baby dragon a little toss over his head before catching.

“I used to do that with Kuvilo.” Cerven chuckled.

“Yeah, but usually it’s done on an airship.” Mythra said. “The salty air helps stimulate thoughts of flight. That’s what Shippai… err, I mean Kenshin used to tell me.”

“Well I can’t exactly go flying on any of the Scouters around the city.” Ozy shrugged. He rushed inside with Raduva clinging to his back. “Come on, guys!”

“You have to commend him for his effort.” Cole said as he got down from Jabali. “He’s really trying.”

“I guess so…” Said Dardarax, who was already halfway to the door. “But it didn’t take any of the other dragons this long to start flying.”

“Harping on him won’t get it done any faster.” Cerven said. “Let’s just head inside, guys.”

Kuvilo and the other dragons lifted off to fly up to a few of the balconies scattered around the upper portions of the tower, while Cerven and his friends stepped through the doors and into the common room. he common room was decorated with most of the amenities one would fine in a study or living room in a mansion. A few staircases on the side led up to the different bedrooms for each of the young riders.

Everyone took off their armor and relaxed in their civilian clothing. Cole leaned against the wall and pulled a small book from his backpack. Ozy sat with Raduva by the window and glanced out at the sky. Dardarax went to the fridge to pull out the ingredients for a sandwich. Mythra drew one of her scimitars and sharpened it in the corner. And Cerven sat down on the couch and used a magic wand to turn on the picture-box mounted on a dresser.

“THIS IS SNN! THE SOVEREIGN NEWS NETWORK!” The picture-box roared. “WITH YOUR HOSTS, NATHAN VA’AN AND SAMANTHA CRESCENT!”

“Turn that thing down!” Cole snapped. “It’s distracting.”

“Err, sorry!” Cerven exclaimed. He fumbled with the magic wand to lower the volume.

“Who had it up so loud anyway?” Mythra asked.

“Sorry, that was my fault.” Dardarax said. “The wavelength I was looking at last night was corrupted, so I had to raise the volume.”

“Whatever…” Cerven stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it around as he tried to concentrate on the news anchors.

“Good evening, everyone.” Nathan Va’an said with that slick smile. “We’ve received the latest updates on the hunt for the rogue dragon riders that have plagued the empire since the first quarter of the year. So far, nearly thirteen of the rogues involved in various attacks have been taken into custody, with their leader still locked away in a Tajirid jail cell.”

“Ugh, of all the things to be reminded of…” Mythra grimaced. “I’m still reeling after seeing that guard’s leg get crushed.

“Since the coronation of the young Emperor Cerven, numbers of attacks have dwindled by a drastic seventy percent.” Samantha said as a graphic appeared beside her onscreen. “This may have something to do with the arrest of two known traitors, Karilis Rosalind and Tekton Ermete.”

Cerven grimaced as the faces of Karilis and Tekton appeared on screen. He silently turned his head to see if Mythra and Cole were staring. Both of them tried their best not to look up. Perhaps this was a bad time to watch the news.

“Though the former dragon riders are locked away in the main jail complex on Frakes Island, their accomplices Thulun Oghear and Cuya Nyhil remain at large.” Nathan continued. “If you believe you’ve spotted either of these two in your area, contact Durandal or the dragon riders immediately.”

“Why did you have to turn that on?” Dardarax demanded.

“I just wanted to see what’s on in current events.” Cerven shrugged. “Like how we’d watch the news back in Majinchi, you know?”

“Yeah, but back then you didn’t really care as much.”

“I kind of have to now.” Cerven said. “I’m the emperor. I’ve got to find emperor stuff to do.”

“You certainly don’t act like an emperor.” Ozy said.

“Hey, I’m working on it!” Cerven exclaimed. Cerven groaned and turned his attention back to the picture-box.

“Continuing on our list of stories, we’d like to remind everyone at home that the Flood of Light is fast approaching.” Samantha said. “In edition, the five island nations have been hard at work gathering all eligible young men and woman to select the future dragon riders.”

“Following after the first emperor crowned in over forty years, everyone’s excited for the future of our empire.” Nathan said. “As such, a national holiday has been declared by the Lord Regent: All non-vital businesses across the empire are encouraged to close down during the Flood of Light.”

Cerven turned the picture-box off and sighed. He stood up and walked around to get a snack from the fridge. “So, what do you guys hope to do once you’re all back home?”

“I… don’t really know.” Dardarax shrugged. “There are a few things I that I left hanging back in Majinchi, and I’ve probably got a bit of… work to do.”

“Same here.” Cole nodded. “I might spend some time with my mother, though. She needs more than her poetry club friends to keep her happy.”

“Well I’m hoping to hang out around the airship docks on my free days.” Ozy said eagerly.

“I don’t really know if I’ll be shipping out like the rest of you guys.” Mythra said.

Ozy gave her an odd look. “Why not?”

“Well, I’ve got this feeling that my parents will be arriving on The Sovereign Isle soon.” Mythra sat down at the table and shrugged. “Something about a political gathering of various members of the courts across the empire.”

“Really?” Cerven asked. “I don’t remember hearing anything about that.”

“Neither have I.” Dardarax scratched his chin.

“Well I don’t really know what’s going on myself, so don’t quote me on that.” Mythra said. “All that matters right now is that my parents are coming here with my sisters, so at least I get to see them a bit earlier than expected.”

“Good for you, Mythra.” Cole smiled. “I’ve always wondered what having sisters was like.”

“Yeah…” Cerven said. “I think… I think I’m gonna head upstairs early. You guys take care, alright?”

“Got it.” Dardarax replied.

“Enjoy your rest, your Excellency.” Cole gave a salute.

“Come on, man.” Cerven frowned. You know can just call me Cerven when we’re not in front of a crowd.”

“I know…” Cole smirked. “I just think it’s funny seeing you flinch up.”

The others around the room had a quick laugh. Cerven chuckled a bit and rolled his eyes. After Cole waved him off, Cerven nodded and turned around. “Goodnight, guys.”

Cerven made his way up the stairs to his private quarters. He sighed as he heard his friends chatting amongst themselves. Even though Cerven wanted to talk to them about their problems, he felt like it wasn’t his business.

Cerven’s private quarters were a bit smaller than his apartment back in Majinchi, but he wasn’t too perturbed by that. Cerven didn’t have many possessions to his name from back them: Most of his property was destroyed when his apartment was set ablaze when the Brón’nape first attacked. But now Cerven found himself in a single room with a large bed and a few shelves. At least there was a doorway to a balcony wide enough for Kuvilo to lay curled up in a ball.

Speaking of Kuvilo, the black dragon was sticking his head through the doorway. He mewled happily as Cerven sat down beside him.

“Too bored with the picture-box tonight?” Kuvilo asked.

“Eh, the news was repeating the same stuff I already knew…” Cerven said. “That and a few topics were getting a bit awkward. So I thought I’d just relax up here.”

Cerven walked over to his dresser and removed the padlock he’d put on it. He reached inside and pulled out the one thing he had from his old life: His green-covered book. Cerven sat down and flipped through is book with a smile.

A small bit of paper poked its way out of the back pages. Cerven grimaced as he tucked it back into its hiding place.

“Isn’t that the note Cuya Nyhil left you?” Kuvilo asked.

“Yeah…” Cerven said with a sneer. “Keep your voice down, Kuvilo.”

“Sorry…” The dragon’s ear frills drooped. He lowered his voice to a whisper as his neck inched closer. “But why are you keeping it a secret?”

“Because there’s too much going on right now, Kuvilo.” Cerven said. “Karae and Kenshin are at each other’s throats enough as it is. Besides, they already have to worry about the Brón’nape lurking around somewhere. This note is just reminder that they’re out there.”

“But it could be very important.” Kuvilo insisted.

“Whether it’s important or not isn’t their business.” Cerven said. He flipped a page in his book and searched for a story to read. “It’s my problem. I’ll deal with it on my own.”

Cuya Nyhil. Cerven hated thinking about that illusive man. Cerven first met Cuya in a bar back in Majinchi on the day he was first attacked by the Brón’nape. Cuya was always very cryptic in the way he behaved. It became worse when Cerven discovered that not only was Cuya working with the people out to kill him, but that Cerven could wield Wintergreen: That mean he had to be a Ferrum. As far as Cerven could tell, Cuya lost almost all of the Brón’nape trust after that reveal. But Cuya still had the aid of several traitors who nearly helped him become the next emperor.

And yet, despite all of that, Cuya was trying to help Cerven. When Cerven met him again before Wintergreen’s resting place, Cuya tried talking him into going home. Cuya had even drawn the sword as a means of distracting the Brón’nape. And even when he and Cerven had a grueling clash with magic and swords, it was all one big distraction to leave Cerven looking like a hero, with Wintergreen under his control.

Nothing Cuya Nyhil did made any sense. Cerven sighed. I still think he might have been Kife Ferrum. But I won’t know for sure until I see him again… if I ever do.

Just thinking of Wintergreen gave Cerven the chills. He glanced across the way at the foot of his bed. Wintergreen lay there, wrapped in a thick sheath across from Ace of Spades. The broadsword contained a power too great for mortal comprehension. And yet it was his, by right of birth. Cerven looked away from it and shivered again. Try as he might not to think about it, wielding Wintergreen would be a daunting task in the coming years.

Cerven eventually tired of his book and closed it. He put it in the drawer and locked it up before rising up. He glanced at Wintergreen one last time before hurrying to head out onto the balcony. Kuvilo backed up and rested on his haunches as Cerven walked by and patted his head.

Cerven walked to the edge of his balcony and glanced out across the expanse of The Sovereign Isle. The sun had finally set, and the countless windows shined bright amongst the distant buildings. Cerven could see so many skyscrapers looming on the distant horizon. Countless cars drove across the streets. And as he glanced at the sky, Cerven could spot the stars as they came into view.

“What do you think life will be like here?” Cerven asked.

“What do you mean, Cerven?” Kuvilo replied. He stepped forwards and tilted his head. “We’re already living here, aren’t we?”

“I’m talking about, well… being royalty.” Cerven said. He glanced out across the cityscape. “Ruling over millions of people, most of whom I’ll likely never meet... Having to make decisions that will affect their lives…”

“I don’t know, Cerven.” Kuvilo frowned. “It’s too vast of a concept for me to grasp. I know I made the decision to accept this mantle, and I’ll stick by it… I just I had an idea what to expect.”

“Wouldn’t Mythra know what you’re going through?” Kuvilo asked. “Maybe she could give you some advice.”

“Maybe you’re right… although she’s in line to become the ruler of just the orc kingdom. I, on the other hand, have to rule the entire empire.” Cerven gestured with his hands the difference in sizes. “I barely know the names of the five main islands. I’ll have to memorize the names of all the islands in the surrounding archipelago! Did you know that there was an entire archipelago of provinces?! Because I sure didn’t! Not before moving here!”

“Cerven, calm down.” Kuvilo said. He lowered his head and nuzzled Cerven’s forehead. “You’re getting yourself worked up for nothing.”

“I…” Cerven groaned. He reached up and patted Kuvilo’s head. “I guess you’re right.”

“Whatever you want to do as emperor, Cerven, I’ll stand by your decision.” The dragon said. “Well… so long as it doesn’t involve me doing something horrible.”

“And what would be too horrible of a command for you to follow?” Cerven asked.

“Hmm…” Kuvilo wriggled his ear frills as he thought. “Eating any more of that nasty stuff in the cafeteria.”

“Ah, getting too tired of Name-brand Dragon Chow?” Cerven laughed. “I wouldn’t eat that sludge either, even if I was the dragon.”

“Now we’re finally on the same page.” Kuvilo gave a chortle.

It was good that Cerven could still joke around with his dragon: It helped distract him from what was coming in the future. Tomorrow he’d have to meet the High Quorum, and who knows who or what was coming after that.