Zandria Reclaim - Goshawk Rescue

.....In the courtyard below was more than just the mere guards. Padrad had been escorted by guards to be put on his knees before the Emperor's presence. Panic flooded Sky Fall's blood like raw ice burning his vitals. It was an open interrogation. Isinn was running down the steps toward her husband. The guards were quick to grab hold of her, stopping her from coming near. White Mane was nowhere to be seen down there, which was another alarming detail. He went back inside only to be locked out. The Empress was there with his baby cradled in her arms and Revvine sitting fearfully on the side of the bed. Goddess, why didn't he listen to Isinn? He turned back to the edge of the balcony to witness the event below. Dregin stood there, enraged in expression, though his wrath was contained enough to square Padrad coolly. He wanted answers. "Tell me about the Duchess of Niele." "I have nothing to tell, your Imperial Majesty." "You do." "You have an audience here. Must I speak of clandestine things that offend you?" The guards were gestured to bring Isinn by Padrad's side. There was a look from Dregin which was enough to command the guards to retreat. Once the guards were out of sight, Padrad spoke: "Since you speak of her title already, I assume she has made herself known to you." "I want to hear what you know of her." "Ikrah is your daughter with the Niele woman named Sidora. She must be a strong spirit to survive the Empire." "Tell me the full history." "She was captured at age two. Kept a political prisoner in the Prison Tower of Falcon's Spire until the age of six. After that, she disappeared. Her name reappeared at age fourteen as a page to then Squire Taye of Tarenne through a Battle Royale. After that, she became a Royal Squire to King Legran of Tarenne. Somehow or other, she gained the title Lady of Tare. After that, she ended up in Niele hands and they coronated her Duchess of Niele. That is all given to me from Trink before she died and the Duchess spoke to me but once since." "And how do you know she died?" "The only explanation why the roses left in Grace by the Empress bled. They bled like sorrowful tears. I felt that pain." "Is that why you chose fealty to the Duchess?" "I have not done so, even though she had asked." "Then, why, pray tell, is the House of Grace deserted?" Padrad sighed to seem patient. "You have me and Isinn here. Are we not good enough bargain chips for you?" The golden-eyed man narrowed his eyelids several degrees. "Lord Goshawk, you are an interesting man." "I'm an ordinary man, Imperial Majesty. I just happen to be a husband twice and three times the father with a household to have concern over." Dregin looked up to find Sky Fall was watching from his balcony. The uncle was hardly surprised to see him up there. There was a moment's consideration. He spoke to Padrad again: "Swear your fealty to me. Or none of this will end well. You know too much and yet you know so little." "Must I choose sides, Emperor?" "You are the grandfather of Prince Sundarin. I will have my guarantee. If not, I can have you killed and take Isinn as my consort." "Padrad!" Isinn cried, holding onto him in trembles. He wrapped his arms around his wife, frowning near tears himself. Swallowing visibly, he stared at how horrified she looked. Cupping her face, he drew her closer pressing his forehead to her temple. "I love you, Isinn," he whispered. Dregin folded his arms waiting with a cold expression. "I swear..." Padrad hoarsed, "my loyalty and fealty to the Imperial----" "No. Just me. I want your loyalty personally." The Goshawk looked up in dismay a moment, eyes at the brink of tears. "I-swear-my-fealty-to-you, THE DRAGON DREGIN OF FALSHIRE!" Padrad shouted those words, while holding his wife. The Emperor laughed, and his voice grew louder into a roaring marvelous laugh. The sky began to fill with clouds tumbling like an avalanche of white and grey massive gases. Lightning struck and thunder rumbled in receiving the Dragon that flew majestically in its Element. It circled until changing direction to land behind him, drawing lightning with it corruscating overhead like a crowning. He reached forth groping Padrad's wrist, pulling him to his feet. Isinn screamed being ripped from her husband as Dregin had raised a palm to set an invisible force over her. He placed that palm over Padrad's shoulder as their faces met. The lightning streamed around them like serpentine tendrils ready to dig into the mortal's body. Just then, a hawk shrieked in the sky nose-diving for Dregin's head. The Dragon air-lifted itself instantly snapping the bird in its jaws before landing again protectively around the two men. "Come on out, Ikrah!" Dregin shouted. That was when Sky Fall felt drafts blew past him as mist poured down beside him where he stood. Within moments, out of the mist, she materialized in all her glory, dressed in sky blue robes and a veil that covered her dark auburn hair. In her hand was a white arrow tied to red and gold ribbons. He didn't even have a moment to react as she struck him with a bolt of lightning. He fell to the ground in a slump. "Hello, cousin," she greeted in a mockingly pleasant tone. She dragged him by the hair lifting him to lean on the balustrade. The arrow was poised with the point set on the artery in his neck. Dregin wasn't laughing then, but retained his smile looking at the two situations. "Is this your idea of a family reunion?" he called out to her. "Release the Goshawk and his wife, and the Crown Prince of Falshire lives long enough for his ascension." "And if I won't?" "You won't have an heir to either Kingdom or surrogate the Empire." She had implied a threat to the Emperor himself. "How dare you!" "I dare to be the thorn in your foot, Emperor! The Empress may be strong, but I'm faster! Release them or I will end your brother's bloodline." Dregin shook his head slowly looking at someone behind her. She narrowed her eyes, knowing who he was signaling to. White Mane stepped back from the glass doors. The wooden panes began to sprout out briars as a barrier. Revvine trembled where she sat, unsure what was going on. She jumped to see another lightning bolt outside. Her baby was being held by the Empress in a strangely calm maternal embrace. Back outside, Dregin was still unwilling to compromise. He called lightning on her again. She countered with bolts of her own. Momentarily, he released Padrad, but seeing the ploy didn't trick her into loosening her hold over Sky Fall, he switched to snatching up Isinn in his clutch. The Dragon thrashed at Padrad with its claw, throwing him back and away from Dregin. Ikrah's breath caught upon seeing the Lord Goshawk was struck down that way, but he crawled weakly to lift his head where he lay on the ground, because of Isinn. Winds of storm whipped into the courtyard blowing through their robes. Sky Fall could barely move, but he heard every word exchanged between them. He thought about his son. His own son with the legacy one day to the throne without him. What strength he had left, he drew on it to make a move. She felt him stir and struck him with another bolt of lightning causing a grunt out of him. He tried again, but learned to speak this time. "I will...help you, Ikrah." "How can you help me? You can't even move." "Throw me at the Dragon and I will do the rest." "I only came for Padrad and Isinn." "Then leave my son alone." She considered his offer. "You will have a daughter in three years with Revvine. That's my gratitude to you, cousin. Brace yourself. I'm about to take battle to the Emperor in his Element." He groaned drawing on all the magery inside of him. "Ready when you are." She lifted him with a gesture of her raised palm. He was in flight thrashing with his limbs in mid-air colliding into the Dragon. Dregin watched in surprise as volatile mage-spheres were summoned to explode on contact when the Dragon caught his nephew. Blasts of lights mixed with multiple lightning strikes overwhelmed his eyes for several moments. In a whip of Wind, Isinn was taken from him as he had loosened his hold over her. He realized it instantly and bound forth grabbing Ikrah by the shoulder yanking her back while Isinn ran toward Padrad on the ground. She struck back with the arrow. He dodged her moves, then countered with lightning whips to blind her. She ducked and matched his moves with counter moves of her own. The Dragon was standing on the side waiting for the moment to pounce on her. Suddenly iron-clad timber wolves the size of men came running into the scene jumping on the Dragon ferociously. Their claws were plated with iron as they struck at the lizard beast, tearing into its wings. It cried out in pain, causing Dregin to fall back. Ikrah had him within grasp in defeat. Him backing away with the Winds turning up around them. She had the arrow ready to stab him. Their eyes were locked in that moment as if for eternity. Instead, she chose to kick him and somersaulted backwards landing on the ground dozens of strides away out of his reach. Standing on either side of her were Dirben and Barakan in their battle gear with weapons ready. "Did you think you were going to be here alone?" Dirben asked jovially. "How did you get in here?" "Silly girl," Barakan retorted. "We can go anywhere so long as you carry the Road to Summons." The arrow in her hand was a key to teleportation. She hadn't realized that until now. "This? I picked it up on my way through Grace coming down here. Someone left it on the roadside for me....Glad you're here. Grab hold of everybody. Let's get out of here." They backed away toward Padrad and Isinn. Dregin and his Dragon were supporting each other while Sky Fall lay on the ground unconscious. The Niele gathered around the couple. Ikrah summoned a misty tornado to cover over them. And in an instant, they disappeared as the swirling mist dispersed.