#* taelon 〳ft. calliope

[scftlightz]

was  his  anger  misplaced?  .  .  .  no.  years  of  keeping  his  nose  within  the  books  and  enduring  the  aches  after  swinging  iron  while  in  armor,  he  felt  that  his  work  have  gone  underappreciated.  while  his  brother  sits  and  remain  absent  of  his  birth  right.  taelon  was  right  in  front  of  their  eyes,  a  true  king,  partially  mad,  but  he  exceled  in  every  spot  to  be  titled  as  such.  on  his  last  day  of  being  a  prince,  he  wanted  to  savor  the  moment  with  calliope.  instead  of  spilling  his  venomous  anger  into  the  shared  air,  he  needed  to  act  accordingly.  '  i  will  serve  as  my  king  sees  fit.  '  her  words  dissolving  the  anger  like  an  antidote  to  poison.  seeing  gold  and  red  freely  soaring  above  them,  almost  as  if  there  was  a  story  being  told.  "  your  words  are  promising,  lady  calliope.  if  only  i  could have  you  as  my  hand.  "

watching  as  ravar  and  kyrsei own  the  sky  as  if  it  was  their  own  was  magnificent,  soothing,  and  hypnotic;  it  cleared  his  fog  filed  mind.  between  the  dragons  and  the  words  being  provided  by  the  graceful lady calliope  he  could  see  clearly.  "  many  will  die  [  .  .  .  ]  some  of  who  served  for  my  father.  "  it  was  then,  he  was  starting  to  gather  all  the  pieces.  the  playful  shrieks  coming  from  kyrsei caused  the  king  to  grin  with  admiration.  "  [  .  .  .  ]  i  will  try—  for  you,  my  beloved  sister,  and  the  realm.  "  turning  away  from  the  duo,  taelon  took  a  measured  step  towards  the  femme.  "  i'll  strategize  with  the  small  council,  but  as  of  now,  i  would  like  to  turn  the  attention  to  you. and i ask this  as  your  friend —  have  you  been  well?  "

calliope had born witness to the rivalry between the heir and the spare as they'd grown ⸻ each desperate for the love and affection their father seemed to give sparingly. she'd always hoped the kings passing would be a peaceful one, but there was little surprise that the throne would be the final thing the two brothers played tug of war with. her head dips into a nod, "i will serve as my king sees fit." his next words ( the tone ) however, gives her pause. she chewed over them for a moment before blowing out a breath. "he had time," she agrees softly, knowing that even still, people whispered the word usurper. "'tis impossible to please everyone with each word you speak or action you take. but you will, in time, prove their doubts unfounded."

neither was ravar ( some went to far as to claim his coloring was from the blood he'd helped spill with previous riders ), but that did not stop the crinkle from forming in her brow. "there is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin and no war so bloody as a war between dragons." listening as the pair of dragons trilled and chattered as they darted above in some unspoken game of chase, blue hues flickered shut for a moment ⸻ curious how long the tentative peace would last. "i would caution you to avoid such a route if possible. perhaps a plea for peace might be made first."

[scftlightz]

when  it  came  to  calliope,  the  title  was  earned  and  rightfully  so.  their  lives  crossing  paths  at  the  start  of  their  adolescence,  her  witnessing  his  up  troubled  bringing,  yearning  for  direction  while  being  manipulated.  the  truths  that  could  resolve  the  internal  conflict  were  sealed  amongst  his  departed  parents  and  the  current  hand.  he  believed  that  the  gods  ruled  in  his  favor,  believing  that  his  father  wanted  him  as  king  instead  of  his  brother.  they  would  to  be  made  a  fool  to  not  fall  suit  to  the  truth,  taelon  was  the  idea  of  the  perfect  prophecy  being  unraveled.  "  i  didn't  mean  any  ill  intent.  friend  is  in  tune  with  our  arrangement.  "  he  agreed.  soaking  himself  in  the  reality  of  finding  her  stable  at  his  side.  his  eyes  followed  her  shifted  gaze  back  to  the  dragons,  admiring  the  ethereal  scene  until  she  spoke  up  once  more.  the  further  the  femme  let  the  words  spill,  the  dragon  rider's  jaw  started  to  tighten  with  growing  frustration.  his  damned  brother.  "  don't  think  so  small  mindedly  on  where  you  stand  with  me.  your  mere  presence  aids  me  more  than  you  know  [  .  .  .  ]  those  who  have  concerns  will  have  a  moment  to  exchange  doubts.  "  the  flow  of  his  words  teetering  to  unease—  borderline  sinister  for  those  who  lacked  confidence  for  his  reign.  "  my  brother  had  well  enough  time  to  defend  his  supposed  throne  after  our  father's  death.  "  words  sharper  than  the  dagger  he  carried.  "  kyrsei  is  no  stranger  to  battle.  "  he  eyed  the  golden  dragon  that  followed  suit  of  the  crimson.

once, it would have been a rather innocent title to afford someone, but now it seemed horribly bold ⸻ FRIEND. for the man was no longer just a prince but a king, and aligning herself in such a way ( should the eldest child succeed in taking back the throne ) was a sure death sentence. "would you consider me something else, your grace?" she questions, delicate brow arching slightly. nothing less than friendship ⸻ true and deep ⸻ would have prompted the woman to stay at his side. she holds his gaze a few moments longer before hues return to the skies to latch onto the crimson beast darting between fluffy clouds above. "they are not dangerous now, but they ought not be ignored all the same." a soft huff escapes her, "no one has made their displeasure known to me so blatantly, but your council is lined with those who would sooner see your sibling on your throne ⸻ who may not offer sound guidance because of it." that and the servants had a tendency to gossip ⸻ perhaps not around him, but she'd overheard enough. "i only offer you my thoughts and opinions on what i've observed tael. if i am merely being paranoid then forget i said a thing."

[scftlightz]

the  distance  calls  of  the  fire  breathing  beasts  slightly  eased  his  rampant  mind.  the  oldest  that  dared  to  call  himself  the  heir,  had  been  sent  a  raven.  the  focus  point  that  centered  his  frustration  was  that  it  came  from  within  his  own  walls.  taelon  had  little  to  no  room  for  trust.  within  the  deepest  section  of  his  heart,  he  hoped  he  had  an  ally.  just  one  would  suffice.  "  friend?  "  he  repeated.  lacking  characteristic  as  his  dull  gaze  met  her  own.  now  having  his  attention,  the  soon  to  be  king  silently  dwelled  on  her  words.  only  making  him  sink  further  into  the  spiral  that  was  being  crafted  between  his  eyes.  "  whispers  aren't  treasonous,  lady calliope.  let  them.  "  he  kept  the  facade  a  float  with  ease.  underneath  the  vacant  of  pools  of  blue,  there  was  a  storm  brewing  with  rapid  pace.  war  was  coming.  "  unless,  you've  been  aware  of  their displeasures.  "

glacier colored hues lower from the scaled creatures flying above them in favor of focusing on the prince ( king, she mentally corrects herself ) at her side. his eldest sibling was in the wind, but calliope worried how long it would be before they crawled from the woodwork and a war was knocking at their front door. "i am your friend," she murmurs with a frown. "and i simply worry for the future ⸻ for you. the court may smile at your ascension, but there are plenty who whisper their displeasure."