Dragon Heartstone > Chapter 31–Unexpected News

---

Looking west off the palace veranda toward the distant and still dark green waters of the Allurian Sea, Dathon sipped a cup of tea. He let the hot liquid slide down his throat, enjoying its warmth, which helped offset the cold morning air. He heard footsteps approaching but made no effort to identify the source. Instead, he lingered on the rapidly lightening sky. Not until the footfalls stopped beside him did he warrant a look.

Viperious stood looking sidelong at him, a crooked smile on his face. “Edwyn is dead,” he said.

Dathon stared, almost not believing what he had heard. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Our people in Landros sent the news this morning.”

With another glance at the horizon, Dathon took in the pale azure sky. The plan had always been to work toward getting rid of Edwyn, but this certainly was unexpected. “How did it happen?”

“Alric’s daughter killed him and took the throne,” Viperious replied. “Quite the irony, eh?”

“What?” Dathon whipped around, then gritted his teeth as tea seared his fingers. He had hardly expected the harpy from Cazidor to be capable of killing anyone. “So, she is now Queen of Bretagne?”

“Yes, and you know what that means?”

“I certainly do,” Dathon answered. “Brecc is also King of Bretagne.” The implications began to cascade in his mind, but the wellspring of hope quickly soured his stomach. “This is good news, but we aren’t ready to implement part two of the plan.”

“I disagree. We must act immediately. Otherwise, we risk letting Britta establish herself.”

 “If we issue a call-to-arms now, we risk alienating the entire population. It will take weeks to secure the rest of the country.”

“We act now. Have Brecc issue a call-to-arms. We will move on Bretagne as soon as we can.”

Dathon sighed. “And what if nobody answers the call? What do we do then? Throw rocks at Bretagne?”

Viperious waved away the concern. “Don’t worry. The Council has other means of waging war. If we can’t get the rabble to comply, we will force them and bring others to do our bidding.”

“Do you mean mercenaries? They are dangerously unreliable.”

“They will obey whoever holds their purse strings.”

I’ve heard that before. Dathon stared hard at the Council representative. The stupid fool’s impatience would cost them everything they’ve gained. “If you insist on this, give me time to get the people on our side.”

“You have a week, then we march on Landros.” Viperious turned and walked away.

Dathon pursed his lips but stayed silent. Looking back east, the sun erupted from the sea, painting the sky in bright blue tones. None of that mattered to him now. Success was slipping away once again, this time driven by reckless foolishness. He rubbed his eyes, mulling over the similarities of this situation with what had happened in Bretagne. The only difference was that he had traded a treacherous delegate for an over-ambitious Council member.

He turned and walked through the palace towards Brecc’s private quarters. It suddenly occurred to him that he hadn’t seen the man for the last day and a half. How easy it was to forget someone who hardly mattered. At the entrance to the man’s quarters, the guards stepped aside, and Dathon shoved the heavy door open. Darkness surrounded him, the only light coming from the periphery of the heavy drapes around the windows. A nondescript lump lay on the bed, and loud snores came from it. He marched over and threw back the curtains. Light spilled into the room, revealing the bed and wine bottles lying around it.

A loud groan rose, along with a plaintive wail, “Get out!”

“Get up,” Dathon barked.

Brecc sat up, his eyes red and hair disheveled. Through one opened eye, he studied Dathon. “What do you want? Can’t you see I’m sleeping?”

Kicking aside a wine bottle, Dathon said, “Or recovering, it appears. Nevertheless, we have work to do, and I need you awake, if not sober.”

* * *

By noon, Dathon managed to get Brecc presentable. However, the man did not fully comprehend the documents being shoved before him for signature. Nevertheless, the King of Cazidor signed off on a general call-to-arms, a request to all parts of Cazidor for troops and supplies to wage war on Bretagne and return it to his control. Dathon watched silently as Brecc tried to read the spidery script on the parchment. Would anyone answer the call? The other document Brecc signed, mobilized, and ordered all elements of the Cazidoran army to gather in Wolfbern. Taking a deep breath, Dathon tried to avoid his doubts. What would happen if a war was declared, and no one showed up to fight it? He hoped, without any real optimism, not to find out.