Warmth spread through a room within Uruk as morning light caught a glimpse of gold embroidery on black silk robes.
Vaedon Ignisar stood still at his desk. His presence filled the room without effort. Long dark hair with platinum streaks fell past his shoulders. Tied loosely. The kind of beauty that made people forget to breathe when he entered a room.
But it wasn't his appearance that mattered. It was the weight he carried. The certainty. The way power settled around him like a second skin.
Maps spread before him. Territory lines,Trade routes, information networks drawn in red ink.
Behind him, on the bed. Two women lay tangled in silk sheets. One dark-haired, completely naked, chest bare. The other blonde, wearing nothing but thin lace that concealed nothing. Their lips had been on each other when he'd risen a few minutes ago.
They'd stopped when he moved to the desk. Hoping he'd return..
"My lord..." The brunette's voice was honey. Invitation wrapped in silk. "Won't you come join us?"
Vaedon's finger traced a route on the eastern map. Didn't look up. He didn't answer. His silence enough to state his stance.
"We've been waiting." The blonde shifted. Lace sliding against skin. Breasts pressing together as she arched. "Surely your work can wait a few—"
He merely half-turned. His eyes bored holes into the blonde's soul. He then turned to what mattered on the desk.
They fell silent. The brunette bit her lip. Glanced at her companion. Then smiled mischievously.
"Since you're not interested right now..." Her hand slid across the blonde's bare stomach, descending further down her milky skin. "Why don't you watch us instead?"
The blonde's breath caught sharply. A short and intentional gasp.
"Would you like that, my lord?"
Vaedon picked up his glass of wine. Held it without drinking.
"Act as you please... Impress me!"
This was permission granted. The brunette kissed the blonde's neck. Hands sliding lower. The blonde gasped softly. Her body shuddered.
Vaedon studied his maps.
Territory, power,. control. Everything else comes after.
---
A sealed letter lay beside the eastern province map. Castor's crest in red wax. Dragon coiled around tower. Vaedon broke the seal. Scanned the contents.
Castor's report read eastern border trade routes secured as discussed. Merchants report smooth passage.
Marten confirms council votes proceeding as predicted. Third Prince continues isolation pattern.
His network status: Stable. No concerns.
Also my Lord, Marten has increased communication frequency. Eight ravens in two days. Claims heightened caution due to Third Prince's recent... changes.
Assess whether concern warranted.
—LC
Vaedon set it down. His crimson eyes dull and calm. Marten's panicking. Eight ravens in forty-eight hours. That's fear. Not caution.
He considered.
What's changed?
*Auryn survived the poison. I saw him at Triarch Council—looked like death but walked and spoke.
The ambush afterward... twelve assassins dead. That's impressive. But he had help.
That dwarf is quite the nuisance.
So survival isn't the question. What exactly is Marten afraid of now?
His fingers found the desk.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Pause.
Tap. Tap.
Pause.
Tap.
Little brother's changing. Not just surviving. Acting differently huh.
Refused council meeting, Training aggressively. That's... not the Auryn I know.
He picked up the wine. Took a sip.
Poison can't change personality. Near-death experiences don't remake someone completely.
So what happened? What's driving him?
The question hung there with no immediate answer.
This is getting interesting. He set the glass down. Moved to the table on the side.
Where a chess set waited. Pieces positioned. A game in progress against himself.
White pieces
- King: Draelor (tallest, gilded, controlling center)
- Knight: Small piece on edge (Auryn's position)
- Bishops and pawns: Various territories and assets
Black pieces
- King: Himself (obsidian, commanding)
- Bishop: Castor (eastern support)
- Knight: Grayed, separated (Aldous, unclaimed potential)
Vaedon picked up the white knight.
Auryn.
You survived twice. Was it luck or skill or maybe you finally realized you're a dragon?
He studied the piece. If you expose Marten, I lose one thread. Inconvenient. Not crippling.
I have Castor. The merchants. Capital nobles. Layers upon layers.
But you...
He turned the knight slowly.
You're becoming interesting and unpredictable.But you still a pawn
He knocked it over.
His attention shifted to the grayed knight. Aldous.
Tomorrow. Boon Ceremony. King Ephraim brings his desperate son to beg Draelor for a dragon boon
He rolled his eyes. Draelor will refuse. The boy's weak. Unworthy. It will be a public humiliation.
Vaedon picked up the piece. Felt its weight.
And after humiliation...A kind word. Understanding. Someone who sees potential where others saw failure.
A simply gesture. A shoulder for a child. Desperation breeds pawns
He positioned the knight near black pieces. Close but not touching.
First kingdom. First ally bound by gratitude and desperation. Then the next. And the next.
His hand moved across the board. Tracing paths and possibilities.
He stepped back. Surveyed the board with the eyes of a man who saw ten moves ahead.
Checkmate doesn't announce itself. It arrives quietly. Inevitably. When every piece is exactly where it needs to be.
Behind him, one of the women gasped. Her moans vibrating through the room but Vaedon didn't turn. Only smirked at their efforts.
---
Suddenly there was a knock.
"May I?"
Vaedon merely looked back at the women still playing with each other.
He scoffed softly.
"You may"
A young female entered. She was nervous but immediately her eyes met his. She suddenly felt calm. He had the most believable smile.
"My lord. Message from the palace. The candidates have arrived. The Boon Ceremony is tomorrow morning."
"I'll attend."
"Will you require... company, my lord?"
Vaedon glanced at the bed. The women had stopped. Watching him. Waiting for his attention.
"You haven't impressed me yet" he smirked.
The servant's face turned red at the atmosphere in the room. Her head still bowed. He sensed her embarrassment and waved her off.
She left immediately and Vaedon's attention returned to the board. He picked up the grayed knight one more time.
Tomorrow. Draelor crushes you. I offer hope.And you'll take it.Because desperate men always do.
He placed the piece with precision. A hand slid down his chest from behind. Tracing through his frame. The blonde knelt before him. Hands on his robe. Her head on his thighs.
He smirked. First move. First kingdom.
The game begins.
Two hundred miles east, another game was ending.
Afternoon sun filtered through forest canopy. Auryn waited in shadow. Borin beside him. Four guards positioned in trees behind.
The road stretched empty. Quiet except for birds and wind.
"He's late," Borin muttered.
"He'll come. Stewards keep schedules."
Suddenly the sounds of galloping horses could be heard. Auryn straightened.
"There."
A carriage appeared. Simple transport. Two horses. Two guards flanking.
Auryn stepped onto the road. Blocking the path. The carriage stopped.
One guard urged his horse forward. Hand on sword. "My lord? Is something—"
"I need Godfrey. Privately."
The guard hesitated, Glancing back.
The carriage door opened. Godfrey climbed down. His back arched. Face wrinkled but his attire was extravagant for a merchant.
"Your Highness... I don't understand—"
"Walk with me." Auryn turned and started down the road.
After a moment, Godfrey followed. When he was certain they were out of earshot. Auryn stopped to face him.
Godfrey's hands trembled. "My lord, if this is about the tax reports—"
"You're reporting to Marten. Marten reports to Castor. Castor reports to Vaedon."
Auryn was direct and color drained from Godfrey's face. He suddenly felt pale.
"I—I would never—"
Auryn activated Author's Eyes. Godfrey's aura appeared. Pale silver threaded with crimson veins like infection spreading through healthy tissue.
Conflicted. Guilty. Terrified.
Auryn deactivated the ability.
"Your aura says otherwise."
Godfrey's mouth opened and closed. He couldn't understand how but he knew this was it.
"I'm not here to punish you." Auryn's voice stayed level. "Yet..."
"Please my family."
"Marten blackmailed you with debts. Your son's gambling. The affair with the castle servant." Auryn watched him flinch.
"I know everything."
Godfrey looked sick from the shock.
"Here's what matters. I'm offering you out."
"Out?" His voice filled with confusion.
"Help me expose Marten publicly. Then I pardon you. Protect your family. And whatever leverage he holds is gone."
Godfrey stared. "If I betray him... he'll kill them. My wife. My children—"
"After tonight, Marten won't be capable of killing anyone."
A chilling silence spread across the area even the wind and birds understood the weight of the proceedings.
"You kept records." Auryn watched his face. "Documents. Copies of his dealings with Castor. Insurance?"
Godfrey's eye twitched. "I don't—"
"Don't lie."
He sighed and his shoulders sagged. "Yes. I kept copies."
"Bring them. Tonight."
"Tonight?"
"I'm hosting dinner for the entire council. You'll attend. Bring those documents hidden among normal reports. No one questions a steward carrying paperwork."
"And then?"
"Then I stand. Address the council. Expose his treason with your evidence."
Godfrey shook. "What if I refuse?"
Auryn raised his right hand.
Yellow flames ignited. Small, controlled and swirling with the wind.
"Then you burn with him."
Fire reflected in Godfrey's eyes.
"I..." He swallowed. "What do you need?"
"Everything. Names, payments, communications."
Godfrey nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
Auryn dismissed the flame. "Dinner at sunset. Don't be late." He smirked deviously and walked back to Borin.
Behind him, Godfrey stood alone. The ground refused to swallow him but the horror of the moment pressed down like gravity.
----
Torchlights mounted on stone dragon mouths illuminated Auryn's study. Books on thick mahogany shelves. Several maps spread out on a large table while Borin leaned against the wall opposite the table.
"Bold, Inviting the whole council."
"Marten has to come. Refusing would make him look guilty. And he doesn't know what I know."
"Trapping him is the point."
KNOCK
"Come". Auryn who stood at the window gazing at the city instructed.
The captain of the guards entered . "Your Highness. Invitations sent. All confirmed."
"Marten?"
"Accepted immediately. Said he was pleased you're extending reconciliation."
Auryn smiled coldly. "Of course."
The captain left immediately after.
Borin grinned. "You're enjoying this."
"Should I not?"
"Just saying. You're getting good at it."
Auryn returned to the map. Marten's estate in red.
Three years reporting Auryn's moves. Smiling while serving his murderer. Tonight that ends.
Dusk came as orange rays spilled through windows. Soon they'd arrive. Auryn's eyes glowed simultaneously.
One more move.
Then---
Checkmate.