Chapter 137: Dragons
The next morning Vacuse was off again with his attendants after he had worked with the High Commander to access some of the vaults in the Standpoint fortress.
But what really made the High Commander start making moves was that a letter came from the Dragon Lord and some authority was actually transferred to Vacuse's ring.
Before Vacuse left the Standpoint fortress, the High Commander had already begun calling out orders, and Standpoint was waking up. But Vacuse didn't wait behind to see all of that as he was already on his way to the Kragthar.
Soon a week flew by and they could see Kragthar in their view.
Once inside, Vacuse saw the influence of the army camp near the city in the way everyone was dull and twitchy. There was a great expectation and tiredness that clung to them in the form of dark skin around their eyes.
It was as if they wanted it to be done with already, the war. Not only that, with the lockdown that the Red Leaves initiated, some goods were becoming dangerously hard to find and the prices for most things had skyrocketed.
The news that the Dragon heir was back rocked Kragthar.
Weeks ago, rumors had spread that the Dragon heir had gone to look for help to remove the army camp at Last Tooth fortress and that his coming would change things for them.
Vacuse didn't know how such rumors spread or who did it but he was glad to see the Dragon palace once more.
"The Dragon Lord is still in Last Tooth fortress, together with the Kragthar Commander. Your orders are to report to them when you return, My Lord."
It was one of the instructions that Drenvar left him through one of his attendants, and immediately Vacuse swung into action. He went to his place to wash and then he changed into a new robe with red and black Dragon patterns.
Then he went back down to find a fresh mount to take to Last Tooth fortress.
But just then, something extraordinary happened.
A cry echoed out from inside the palace. It was a cry of excitement and joy but it was made by someone with an impressive Soulbearer power, and the sound shook everyone that heard it right to the core.
Vacuse, who was about to jump on the monster horse, paused and frowned. "What...?"
Captain Mera frowned and came to his side, a pensive look on her face as her eyes began to flash purple.
Before they could do anything more, a beam of green light shot out from the palace and approached them at a high speed, turning into the figure of Duke Frexon.
Vacuse watched him in shock and his mind reeled. Isn't this the man that was supposed to be in a coma? He had even asked about him from the Head Healer immediately he returned and he was told the man was still in a coma.
So... how?
Vacuse narrowed his eyes as a look of understanding appeared on his face. The Duke... the Duke must not have been in a coma all this while. He must have been waiting behind to see how things with Lyra and Ragna would go.
He didn't want the other Dukes to join the war so that it would only be him that took the bigger share out of Kragthar. But now things had changed. Lyra and Ragna were dead and now the only thing that remained was to take things by force.
Vacuse smiled. "Duke Frexon. What a crafty old fox you are. To think you have your hand on so many things at once. Or... are you also part of the Black Accord as well?"
The Duke hung in the air, still wearing a sick robe but his face was lively as he stared at Vacuse. This time there was no need for the two of them to hide anything from each other. "Vacuse, I must admit that for someone so powerless and in such a pathetic place to fight from, you are an incredibly formidable fighter that might have been a total roadblock for me if you were given time.
"But I won't. I didn't want to share Kragthar and its resources before but now I am going to have to, I have no choice. You have forced me to this."
Vacuse looked at the Duke. "Duke Frexon Sevrix. I'm going to ask you one more time to stop all of this and submit to the authority of the Grand Duke of the Western Region and the Dragon."
The Duke looked thoughtful for a long time and then he shook his head. "Vacuse, do you know why my family submitted so easily to the Vorrakyn of old? It is actually simple. You were much more powerful than us and you used that power to farm a lot of resources for the Western Region.
"It was a simple thing actually. The Vorrakyn were the sword of the Western Region, where a lot of people went to cut their heads. But now, you'll disappear if a light shines a little brighter on you."
Vacuse agreed, and now that he was closer to the Duke than in his past life, he had also gained a little respect for him. Why submit to someone that is not strong enough to protect you?
The Vorrakyn were weak. The Frexon were not.
But still...
Vacuse tried one last time. It was what he owed to someone that his family had served for so long. "Duke Frexon, you really are making the most foolish decisions."
For an instant a bit of doubt entered the Duke's face, but then he frowned as he thought about it carefully. No matter how much he thought about it, he didn't see how the Vorrakyn could survive.
The plan to use the Orcs to force out the Emperor had failed and they had no allies. Even the Emperor would look away. The whole Empire would turn its back.
Duke Frexon smiled.
His teeth gleamed.
"Vacuse, enjoy the last bit left. I hate to share but the other Dukes will now fight together. The Western Region will unite against you, Dragons."