Chapter 299

Vorbuk rode the carriage with Prince Leo and Queen Sylica on the way back to the Theapan Palace. He was unaware of how Daryl and Bredret were doing on their way to Brolan Kingdom. In fact he had a matter to deal with all on his own. The two in the carriage with him also wore expressions of exhaustion as Prince Leo climbed out of the carriage.

They had not made it back to the palace yet. A wheel on the carriage had broken on their way to return to the palace. Prince Leo was conversing with the carriage driver about the problem with the wheel. Leaving the wolf in the carriage alone with Queen Sylica.

While they were alone Vorbuk decided to speak up and ask the queen, "Are you sure you will not consider helping us in the upcoming war?"

A single dragon could make a drastically large difference in the war. It would be useful if she could help. Vorbuk understood that clearly. After watching Bredret fight several times it was hard to not understand the difference having a single dragon could do for someone during the war.

It made it difficult for Vorbuk to know whether he should consider the fact they were few in numbers a good thing for his side who had to take on Chynir with the dragons he took or as a sad thing for their kind considering how many of them were lost. Many more would also still lose their lives in the future because they were being controlled by the god.

"I thought you were waiting to discuss this matter at the palace?" Queen Sylica did not like talking about this matter. It caused her heart to ache at the thought of what she had gone through and lost because of the god.

Vorbuk thought carefully before saying, "The god already took so much from you and your kind recently... He will surely cause the same pain, if not worse, to others throughout the continent."

"Chynir has already taken much from the continent. I doubt my help alone could make much of a difference... " Queen Sylica's lips rose into a smile that seemed sad and perhaps a bit lonely, "If I give up on what's left of my pride as a dragon what else would I have left?"

"You've been observing us," Vorbuk decided to ask her, "If you did not want to help, why have you gone so far? I do not believe it was solely because you were curious about another shadow beast like me."

Sylica sighed as if she had been caught, "Perhaps you are right."

"What do you want from me?" He asked her.

"At first it was curiosity," Sylica thought about it as she spoke while gazing out the window, her eyes watching the prince deal with the situation outside the carriage, "However when I heard the news of that... I had to warn you..."

Her final words were mumbled so incomprehensible that the wolf had to ask, "News about what?"

"Prince Curtis is not someone you should act carelessly against. You may have taken claim over the Theapan Kingdom. I even have faith that you may go forward and accomplish much more, however," Queen Sylica spoke slowly as her gaze made direct eye contact with the beast, "You should never trust a god completely."

"What do you mean?" Vorbuk did not understand why she was suddenly bringing up the gods.

Sylica thought carefully about how to explain, "Have you heard about Prince Curtis gaining new power? The gods do not give out power and aid simply for no reason. They do not interact with the mortal realm carelessly. Every action they take is because they desire something that requires them to act in such a way."

"The prince having such help from the god means that he is invested in him?" Vorbuk considered the thought of it before.

Sylica shook her head as she said, "It is not as simple as being invested.. I think there is more to it."

"Hm?" Vorbuk pondered.

"I do not know what purpose he has intended to use Prince Curtis for... I just know that there seems to be something more going on. You should be careful communicating with the gods. Any of them who get involved in the mortal realm's affairs always have ulterior motive." She cautioned him.

Queen Sylica had lived a long time. Having seen many gods interact with the mortals as they came and went from the mortal realm. After watching how the god, Chynir, interacted with the mortals she had made her own judgement on the matter. He was worse then most of them, though he was still better then a few of the other gods.

Although he was the one who ruined her kingdom, Queen Sylica knew he was not the worst god one could come across, she could only caution the shadow beast, "I know you have been in contact with the gods. As a dragon I can even smell one very distinctive god all over you... It is as if you've been marked by him."

"Marked?" Vorbuk found her words interesting. Was she talking about the Guardian's mark? The red jewel on the wolf's forehead glimmered in the sunlight coming through the window.

The queen simply smiled at him. She could not explain further on what she meant to him about being marked. It was not that she knew nothing about the guardian's mark that he had. It was not her first time coming across a shadow beast. There was much she did not know about it even if she had seen it before. It was only something that she had witnessed once before. She did not know exactly what the god wanted by marking the beast. Her instincts only told her that whatever it was had to be something dangerous.

The black panther died pitifully. It would be a pity if this beast received the same fate. The dragon thought to herself as she knew she pitied the wolf.

"Now that I have warned you I will take my leave." Queen Sylica stated while getting ready to stand up.

Vorbuk called out to her before she could get up, "Where will you go?"

"I will remain in Theapan," She replied honestly to the wolf, "I have no where else to go so I will remain in hiding here in this kingdom."

Vorbuk smiled to himself as he heard her response. If he could not have her fight for him then at least she would remain in the kingdom. That gave him time to consider other methods to convince her in the future. He also thought about the possibility that she could become a hidden card for him. If she remained in the kingdom there was a chance she would at least protect it if something happened in the future. The dragon clearly had no idea what he was thinking when he heard her words.

"At least allow me to say welcome to Theapan." The wolf's voice sounded strangely kinder then usual when he spoke to her.

Queen Sylica did not understand herself. When she heard the wolf welcome her to his kingdom a chill ran down her spine.

Perhaps I am becoming ill? She thought to herself.