On the other side of the Lake, though, Krai wasn’t done with that fight. Maybe its Master’s state had brought despair over the Purple Dragon, but it wasn’t giving up. It didn’t let the Black Dragon win, and instead, the two of them exchanged injury after injury.
It couldn’t last this way. The more Krai was injured, the less the black dragon could help Kairen, and the War God was still trapped inside. The image of Kairen being furiously grabbed and pulled back inside the Throne Room just minutes ago was still printed in Cassandra’s mind. She had to do something. She turned to the Water God, but it was here to help her, not injure the other dragons!
Their eyes met, and for several long seconds, she didn’t dare say anything. It was a horrible feeling. The Water God was not one to fight. The mythic creature from all her tribe’s songs, they had talked about it being a God of love, not war. It was obvious the creature’s whole body wasn’t even made for a fight, and it probably couldn’t even breathe fire.Somehow, they were alike. Not fighters and not ones that would kill either. Her kind wasn’t like that. Once again, Cassandra felt utterly powerless. What could she do? Her eyes went to the opening in which Kairen had disappeared, and she could still hear ruckus inside. There was no proof her lover was even surviving the battle.
“Lys, you bastard of a snake!” suddenly yelled a voice behind her.
Cassandra turned around, and with shock, saw Opheus running across the garden, his weapon in hand. The Fourth Prince! She had almost forgotten about him, with everything that had happened. Right as he ran towards her, another giant shadow appeared above them. Phe, the White Dragon! Without waiting for a second longer, the Fourth Prince’s dragon flew inside through the opening she had created earlier and started attacking the Purple Dragon too, relieving a bit of Krai’s burden. The Black Dragon stumbled aside, blood flowing on its flank. Krai was still furious and growling, but obviously in need of that little break too. After a few seconds of rest, the two of them jumped on Lys, the Purple Dragon again, with the clear intent to finish him off. They were both bigger and stronger, and this time, the Purple Dragon was completely defeated. Bitten furiously at the throat by Krai, dragged on his back, the Purple Dragon died in a horrible screech of pain. That sound was unbearable to hear. Cassandra shuddered, unable to look that way.
Meanwhile, Opheus finally reached her, just when Cassandra fell on her knees. Though the Fourth Prince gently held her shoulder as she almost collapsed, Opheus had his eyes riveted on the Water God, in shock. The peaceful Creature was looking down at him, strangely calm compared to everything going on around them.
“What the... What is that... thing?”
“I don’t have time to explain!” exclaimed Cassandra, grabbing his clothing, panicked. “Have you seen my sister?”
“Y-Yes. I met Anour on the way, he was carrying her out, he told me what happened. Lady Kareen, she went to hide with your child. But Cassandra, we have a bigger problem.”
“What?”
“Phemera,” he said. “The girl...That woman we took out of the cell, it really is Vrehan’s younger sister. Your sister made her talk, she told us everything. That bastard had been impregnating his younger sister like a cow to try and breed more powerful dragons!”
“W...what?”
More dragons? Cassandra went horribly pale. She suddenly remembered Phetra’s words. Vrehan’s secret, why he couldn’t kill Phetra yet.
“Vrehan doesn’t only have two sons. He’s got more dragons stashed away somewhere!”
Cassandra’s heart went cold. More dragons? Her eyes went to Krai, still staggering and trying to lick the injuries. Next to it, Phe wasn’t too bad, but the white dragon had gotten an injury on its shoulder too. Meanwhile, Kian just jumped out of the water, running on the grass as the other two young dragons that had targeted the baby dragon were struggling to swim their way out of the water. Their wings had been completely destroyed by the silver dragon’s repeated attacks.
Cassandra couldn’t rejoice in the slightest. They only had three to help them, including a baby one that had hatched only a week ago. How could they fight more? How could Vrehan have even gathered more dragons without anyone knowing? She turned to Opheus, her energy ignited by panic alone.
“How many? Where?”
“She didn’t know where her sons and their dragons had been taken! Vrehan hid the sons and their dragons from her. He killed the girls before they were even born!”
That explained the abortion potion they had caught the young Princess buying at the market. As soon as there was no egg to hatch, they knew it was a girl, and Vrehan ensured they ended the pregnancy. Cassandra felt like throwing up. Vrehan was even more of a monster than she had fathomed, and she was even more hell bent on defeating him. If a man like him got on the throne, it was truly going to be the end of this Empire.
“We need to find him or where he hides his sons and their dragons,” she whispered.
“I thought he was fighting Kairen inside!” exclaimed Opheus, pointing at the opening.
Cassandra shook her head, getting back on her feet.
“No... No, Vrehan fled in the confusion. Only his men and his dragon are still there. He probably went to get his sons’ dragons, then... Who knows how big they are.”
“We have to find them then!”
Cassandra nodded, but how? She saw Krai and Phe running towards them from the other side of the Lake, joined by Kian. She had to think quickly. How could she find the young dragons inside this wretched Palace? It was so big! She looked around, and her eyes fell on the Lake. She turned towards the Water God, who seemed to be patiently waiting for her to ask. She let out a long sigh.
“Cassandra?” called Opheus, confusion lacing his words..
“I know what to do, but... You may want to take cover,” she whispered.
The Fourth Prince was utterly confused. He had only truly known Cassandra for a few hours, it seemed, yet that frail-looking woman was shattering all of his expectations, one by one. He couldn’t understand. There was a giant half-snake, half-dragon looking creature basically wrapped around her, and he had no idea what that creature was. Or more importantly, why it seemed to obey the young concubine. He glanced towards the side, as Krai and Phe were walking around the lake to come to them. He was also in awe of the fact Caassandra had basically almost managed to kill Lephys by herself!
Cassandra turned to the Water God and spoke to it in that strange foreign tongue of hers. Meanwhile, the screams of pain coming from Lephys could still be heard, and Opheus kept his hand on his sword. If he was still alive, he could still heal. He was ready for his Fifth Brother to come back at any moment.
Strangely, he was actually a bit more concerned about whatever the young concubine was about to do. She looked like she had gone through hell, really. She was covered in so much blood and dirt, not much of her skin was white anymore. Her hair was all over the place, and her dress had even been ripped in several places. Not to mention her ankle, which had turned a horrid dark purple color.
