Chapter Ten: Sister's Secrets

“Hello, Mother.”  Saber said as he approached her, in her study.  “I have a present for you, something you misplaced a very long time ago.”

            “Saber, hello darling come join me, and let me see my present, I love presents.”  She sat up eagerly.

            “I’m not sure you’re going to love this one.”  Saber mumbled.  He lifted the sword, and placed it across her lap.  The Crown Ruby glittered, in the fire light.

            “Oh my, what have you done, dear boy, to come upon this?  It’s old history son, not to be discussed, I tell you.  Where did you find this?  What else have you found?”  Queen Dana’s composure was slipping.  Saber had never seen his mother so rattled.

            “The Palace Guard is, right now placing the remains of a warrior in the Physicians Office.  I had no idea of where else to put it.”  Saber said.

            “You could have buried it, instead of bringing it out into the light.”  His Mother whispered, almost to herself.

            “I did not find it Mother; several workers did, along with my mate, at a work site today. 

So you see, there were, and are too many dragons involved now, for a secret midnight burial of Ragnor's brother.”  Saber sat back, waiting for a reaction.

            “Of course dear, I am sure Cherna was alarmed, please pass on my apologies.”  The Queen said absently. 

            “Mother, you do realize it’s not a secret anymore.  It’s all going to come out now.  The fight between brothers, the egg, you ascending the Thrown...”  Saber trailed off.  “Yes Mother, I figured it out. Only by agreeing to step down and become Ragnor’s life mate, did he agree to keep your secrets.  Yours and Darna’s.  You see Ragnor never had access to the Royal Sword, only Darna and you did.”  Saber leaned in questioning, “so was it you or Darna that killed him?  I figure he was attacking Darna, and you came in, saw what was happening and used the Royal Sword to stab him in the ribs.  He must have staggered back away from Darna, and she made her move.  Decapitation with the blade on the staff.  But it was too late, he had already mated with Darna, and she was in heat.  A hatchling was guaranteed.”  Saber paused looking at his mother’s white face.  “Darna laid a Red Dragon egg, didn’t she?  It was a small egg, and with all her years of experience she knew it was a female.  The first Red Dragon female?”  Saber kept going, “was she a Pure Red Dragon?“  He asked, not waiting for an answer.  “There could not be a Red Dragon Queen, you had to keep the Crown, and the Royal Bloodline clean.  That meant something had to be done to the egg.  It had to go.  No one must ever know.”   Saber breathed.

            “So you made your deal with Ragnor, but he couldn’t finish the job.  He stashed his brother’s body, where he hoped it would rest for all time, and he took the egg to destroy it.  But poor Ragnor didn’t even get that right, did he mother?”  Saber was gaining intensity, as his mother sat and listened, while her son recalled everything almost perfectly.  “She is beautiful, isn’t she?  Isn’t it a coincidence, she returned here to seek a mate, and swear fealty to the same family that tried so hard to destroy her.  And mating with Torch?  Diabolical. Maybe her hatchlings will be sick and die, before they hatch, or maybe this mating will provide Pure Red Dragons. And the way you all got me to do your bidding, amazing.”  Saber was running out of steam.  He hated hurting his mother like this, but she had to face it, the secrets are going to come out.  It was better that she step down from the Crown, then to bring all the ugliness out.  Lea would not ascend the thrown, it has already started on a different side of the Royal Bloodline.  Saber had no daughters, but his son did.  Bella, she is first born, and the ascendancy must go to the first born, in a direct line, before splitting and taking another path

            There would be no trial or inquiry.  The body will be buried and blamed on predators, in the forests hundreds of years ago.  The Sword will go to the Treasury.  Queen Dana will join the Clan, and become a doting grandmother, and great grandmother.  Ragnor will pass on at peace, and Darna will continue to suffer in silence, every time she lays eyes on her daughter, son and family. And Bella? Bella will ascend the thrown immediately.  She will move to the Castle nursery, where she will grow and receive education.

            Ryan, head of the Castle Guard, knocks softly on the door. 

            “Enter,” Saber calls out.

            “It is done my Lord.”  Ryan says softly.  Ryan had been head of the Castle Guard for almost two thousand years.  He knew how to keep Castle secrets.  Saber had not misplaced his trust.  A strong Alpha male, Ryan would always protect the Royal Family.

           

            This was a terrible part of his family’s history, but he is sure it won’t destroy them, he would make sure.