Previous Chapters:
Part IX
*Roar!!! *
The king heard a terrifying roar!
Running out of the commander's tent, he saw a sight that he would never forget for the rest of his life!
Dragons!
Yes, the roar is from a dragon, a huge shadowy dragon is attacking the camp! It was another dragon called the shadow dragon. The sudden development leaves the king dumbstruck but is awaken of similar but weaker roars!
*Roar! * *Roar! * *Roar! *
Lesser dragons! And there are atleast ten of these lesser dragons!
"Your majesty! It's dangerous here! Please find shelter!" Plead the knight captain.
"H-how? How did this happened?!" The king said, enraged.
He was then led by several knights to safety. Meanwhile, the generals led the soldiers to drive away the shadow dragon and the lesser dragons.
After half-day of fighting they manages to injure the shadow dragon and kill six lesser dragons. But no one celebrates, because they've lost more than a hundred soldiers in that short skirmish—this count did not include the wounded that more than doubled that number. Worst still, the traitorous rebels manages to escape in that mayhem.
Back at the castle...
A scribe reports the outcome of the fight to the king and his generals. Describing the devastating losses and the escape of the rebels. Hearing the report from the scribe, the king clenched his fist that so tightly that it turned white.
"Did the black dragon sent the shadow dragon to help the rebels escape?" The king asked with a grim face.
"The seemed to be the case, your majesty," a general solemnly answered.
Everyone's expressions are dark and serious. They thought that they have the rebels cornered, who would have thought that the black dragon would interfere at the crucial moment.
"How is lord silver dragon's ongoing healing?" The king asked.
"Thanks to the silver-winged dahlias, lord silver dragon's injuries are healing very quick," answered another general. "But it would still require a bit of time before he could fight again."
"We could only wait then," sigh the king. "Summon Matthew and his group. I have a task for them."
Meanwhile...
*Knock! * *Knock! * *Knock! *
Matthew is currently tinkering an unusual tool when he heard several knocks. Opening the door he saw his mother looking at him worriedly.
"Son, did you do anything illegal recently?" His mother asked.
Strips of Black lines covered Matthew's face due to his mother's question.
"Mum, what are you talking about?" Matthew asked his mum exasperatedly.
Matthew knows himself and he believed that his a law abiding citizen, so his mother's question, exasperates him.
"Well, there are soldiers downstairs looking for you," she answered. "Are you sure you didn't do anything illeg—"
"I didn't!" Matthew yelled, cutting the words his mother was about to say.
Going downstairs, Matthew saw four men dressed as soldiers waiting. Seeing him a soldier gave a salute and passed him an edict—telling him to go to the castle as per the king's order.
Hearing the order, Matthew's expression became more serious. After saying goodbye to his worried mother, Matthew rode a carriage to the castle.
To be continued...
