(Drakken's POV)
"And what is your deal?" I asked Saera who was sitting down
She had her arms crossed and was looking away with a serious frown, not wanting to make eye contact. She didn't say anything, she simply sat there as Viktoria sat next to her, eating an apple. The little girl's big and round eyes were looking at me curiously as I stood in front of them.
"Why's Mama mad?" She asked as she chewed
"Hm, I got an idea." I said as I tilted my head, "I did this for his sake, Saera. You can't keep-"
"You're sending my son away. Another one. You're sending another son of mine away." She said with an angry tone, "I cannot believe you. And you don't punish the whore bitch queen. It is her fault and you do nothing."
"Don't tell me how to-" I started
She glared at me, "He's our son, Drakken!" She cut me off, "And you're sending him to war!!"
"Uh-oh." Viktor got off the couch and walked over to me, "She's very mad."
I reached for her and picked her up, "Saera, I won't argue with you." I told her, "My decision is final. I won't let him destroy himself with these urges."
"These urges are natural. He could learn how to control them!!" She scowled
"You're right. He will learn. This is how." I said as I held Viktoria in my arms
"No, not like this!" She stood up, "You're sending a boy to war? To conquer for you?! He's so young, Drakken!"
"He's the ripe age for battle." I told her, "This is what he is meant for. He is my Heir, he needs to prove himself. This is the best way for him to mold himself to be what he needs to be."
"I understand, but we can mold him to be that here." She said, "I don't trust that he will be alone, Drakken. Sylas was one thing, he warded at his grandsire's castle. He was among family, he was.....he wasn't alone."
"Riktor won't be alone." I told her, "He will be with the Duskguard. He is meant to lead them, after all."
She frowned, "Why?" she said, "Why must you keep breaking my heart this way? Don't do this to my boys.....please....."
"It is going to be done." I told her, "I don't need you to constantly smother then. We've been through this."
"They're my sons...." her lips quivered, "Don't do this.....I need to be with them....I need to be...please...."
I reached for her cheek, "Your insecurities...." I said with a soft tone, "About the fact that you couldn't give me a son.....they're the cause of these feelings. You want to be a Mother to those boys so badly....so that you can forget that you were unable to give me what you wanted to give me. But you need to let go of those feelings, Saera. Because it doesn't matter what you give me or what you didn't give me. You are my wife and the mother of my daughters, that is all I care about."
"Sometimes.....I hate you..." She said softly as she closed her eyes, "Your decisions anger me so...."
"Even you don't believe those words." I told her as I pulled away and turned around, "I am glad you love those boys."
"It puts me at ease."
**************************
"Why is Riktor leaving????" Astorias said with a scowl, "Huh???"
I was at the table, having Viktoria eat as she sat on my lap, "He's going to war." I told her, "He will leave shortly. He made a big mistake, and he is rectifying that mistake."
All of the children were at the table, including Sylas, whom Mya called over. Riktor was the only one who wasn't here; he was busy getting ready and preparing to leave.
"Father...." Vaella said softly, "Isn't it too risky to send him alone? Shouldn't someone else be with him?"
I shook my head as I spoon-fed Viktoria some stew as she giggled, "No." I said, "He needs to do this alone with the men I give him. That is the extent of the aid. Riktor needs to learn what it means to be Head of House Drakkengard, what it means to be a commander."
I noticed Sylas was looking down with a serious expression, saying nothing.
Maekar leaned on the table, "What did he do?"
"It is not something you should concern yourself with." I said as Viktorias was drinking water from a cup
"Probably something stupid." Astorias said
"You can say that." I said as I patted my girl's head
"But still, this punishment is too much." Vaella said, "You should not do this. I don't think it is a good idea."
"My sweet Vaella, you are too kind for your own good." I told her, "This is the right thing to do, trust me. When Riktor comes back and is a seasoned warrior and commander, he will be fit to lead this House. And when he does lead it, he will make sure that all of you are well protected."
"I don't need protection from him." Astorias scoffed, "I am strong."
"You need protection from others and from yourself, my dear." I told her, "Pure Power means nothing if you don't know much how to control it, how to guide it....how to discipline it. You still have much to learn."
She looked flustered and looked away, "And you don't wanna teach me...." She muttered
I noticed that Maelor was quiet, he was rubbing his eye while the conversation was happening.
"What's wrong with you?" I asked him
"My eye hurts." He said softly
I gestured him over, "Let me see."
He got off his chair and walked over as everyone watched him do this, even Sylas. As he reached me, I moved his hair out of the way to see his red eye. I patted his face and focused my sight to peer into his skull, seeing what could have been wrong with his nerves.
Nothing was out of the ordinary when it came to the way the nerves were wired but it did seem that there was a bit of ether leaking through his eye. It must have been causing some discomfort in his eye and that was bothering him.
"Go to your mother." I told him, "Tell her to apply the Soothing Perfume on you, but to focus it on this spot on your face. Do you understand?"
He nodded, "Fine...."
As he walked away, Astorias looked at him, "He's weird."
"Don't say that about your brother." I told her
She shrugged, "It's true."
"Astorias...." Vaella said
"Papa, I want more water." Viktoria raised the cup to me
I snapped my fingers and more water appeared on the cup and she giggled uncontrollably, drinking from the cup.
"How long will Riktor be gone?" Maekar asked
"I don't know." I said, "As long as it takes."
"Hm." He said, "He better not take long."
Sylas stood up from his seat and began to walk away.
"And you are going where?" I asked him
He stopped, "My chambers."
"Hm." I said, "You best not do anything stupid, Sylas."
"You hear me?"