Samantha Edwhan

End of the Winter Star

Chapter 13

Gerold was sitting in the office with Griffin beside him. Directly in front of them sat the head of the Protective Unit and castle guard, Mason. He was holding an open scroll and reading out his report from the past few months. Gerold made notes as he listened to Mason’s report.

“My guards have reported higher than usual boar activity this spring,” Mason said. “We have instructed the farmers to stay alert as the boars are most vicious at this time of year. However, I worry for the safety of the citizens at large. Few dragons can stand up to a wild boar. If anyone were to be attacked at this time, the results could be lethal.”

Gerold sighed. “I guess we should assign a patrol to the southern edges of the Calndom.”

Mason nodded. “That would be wise, High Caln.”

“Let’s hope it’s enough to keep the attacks at bay,” Griffin muttered bitterly.

Gerold glanced at him. It had been two years since Griffin and Misti had lost their egg, but there had been a distinct shift in Griffin’s attitude since then. He was quieter, and frowned almost all the time. Gerold wondered how much sleep he was getting as he recognised dark marks underneath Griffin’s eyes.

Gerold opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, the door to the room burst open and Freya rushed in. “High Caln! Prinze! Sorry to disturb you. There’s been an incident!”

“What’s happened?” Gerold asked, standing up.

“Paul and Briar Waltz have been killed,” Freya said.

Gerold’s stomach dropped. “What?”

He was out of the room in seconds. He leapt over the railing and glided down to the main floor. Dragons around him stared and gasped. Gerold didn’t care to look regal or sophisticated at a time like this. Paul and Briar were dead. But how could that be? Surely it couldn’t be true. He had to get to Waltz Manor.

Gerold hurried past the gate guards who were in the middle of a shift change. He raced through the streets of the Noble Districts. He barely even registered Griffin running beside him. He had to see for himself.

Gerold burst into Waltz Manor and looked wildly around the foyer. He spotted Simon and August standing near the staircase with a few vested dragons. He hurried over to them.

“I just heard the news. What happened?” he asked.

Simon glanced at him, then looked away with a grimace. August was staring at the floor. She raised her head slowly to look at him. Her eyes were red and puffy.

“Mum and Dad went to the Flight Range for the day. They were supposed to return a few hours ago. Simon asked our guards to go search for them. They found them dead. They were killed by wild boars.” August squeezed her eyes shut and ducked her head again.

“I’m so sorry.” Gerold stepped closer and touched August’s wing with his own. August leaned into him with a sob and Gerold wrapped his wings around her.

It wasn’t fair. No one should have to go through this. Especially not at twelve. August was still so young, and her brother was only fourteen. But now they were the heads, and last surviving members, of their family. He may have lost his close friends, but Simon and August just lost their parents.

“We’ll arrange a funeral,” Gerold said quietly. “I’ll help you both.”

August nodded slightly. Simon glanced at them. His expression was guarded, but Gerold could see a hint of gratefulness in his eyes.

A few days later, Gerold was back in Waltz Manor with his family for the funeral. Dragons from the other noble families had gathered as well. All had stripped off their cloaks and only wore a simple necklace of their family crest. Gerold was no different. He’d removed his cloak and crown and wore his crest around his neck. August and Simon stood beside him with their necklaces and a heavy blanket draped over their wings.

Everyone gathered around the large image made of flowers and sand on the floor. Gerold stared down at the image of his two friends. They had already buried what remained of their bodies. The boars had ravaged their corpses. Gerold was horrified to see it for himself, but he was glad that Simon and August had been spared from that sight.

Everyone stood in silence for several minutes, staring at the image on the floor. Gerold reflected on the time he had spent with Paul and Briar. They had been good friends to him over the years. Though, perhaps he hadn’t been the best friend to them in return. His role as High Caln took up so much of his time.

Even now, he had a duty to fulfill as the High Caln. He raised his head and looked at the dragons around him. “Today we gather to remember two great dragons. Paul and Briar Waltz were dear friends and loving parents. Though their passing is tragic, we should remember them for how they were when alive. We will remember the good times and the happy memories they have left us with. Now and always.”

“Now and always,” the other dragons muttered, echoing Gerold's sentiment.

The room fell silent again, this time for two minutes. One minute for each dragon that had passed. Gerold closed his eyes and remembered the time he met Briar. She was the only daughter of the Waltz family in her youth. She was always so much fun to hang out with.

Then he remembered Paul. Briar introduced them shortly after finalising their engagement. Paul was from one of the low ranking noble families. He was proud to be chosen as Briars's husband, and delighted when they later started their family.

After the minutes of silence ended, Gerold turned to August and Simon. Their expressions were hollow. August, in particular, looked far away. This was a hard day for them.

Gerold decided to end the procession early and dismissed everyone. As dragons started to leave, Carmina pushed her way through the crowd and approached Gerold. He nodded to her politely.

“It's good to see you, Gerold,” she said. Even her voice was sullen, not at all its usual shrill pitch.

“Same to you, Carmina. Thank you for attending,” Gerold replied.

“It's such a horrible thing to happen,” Carmina said. Her gaze shifted to the flower and sand drawn image. “Not only to lose two members of a noble family, but in such a brutal and sudden way… it's heartbreaking.”

Gerold nodded quietly. He glanced at August and Simon. Both were still staring blankly at the image on the floor.

“I actually wanted to ask you something.” Carmina turned back to Gerold. “Adelaide is worried about the future of your daughter. I thought, perhaps we could arrange an engagement with Luana and one of my sons. That way she’ll have someone to protect her once she grows up.”

Gerold stared at her. “Do you really think this is an appropriate time and place for such a discussion?”

Carmina blinked. “I suppose not. But I haven't seen you in a while.”

Gerold sighed quietly. “Carmina, we can discuss this at a different time, but I think it would be best to wait for our young to grow up and choose for themselves.”

“Oh, alright.” Carmina dipped her head and turned away.

Gerold was grateful that she didn't make a fuss out of his thoughts, but he also wished she'd had the tact to not bring up the topic here. He glanced over at Simon and August again. August still looked far away, but Simon was glaring at Carmina as she left.