Secrets of a War God

14.

Arelya

Tyrone was fuming. Not only had he never wanted to start or take part in this war, but now he was going to go against the one person who doesn't leave his mind. She consumes every thought of the young prince, waking and in dreams. He was on his bed in camp refusing to move, not wanting to go outside and train when he wouldn't be able to focus.

Blake had stayed at the camp with his old friend, and seeing him slowly start to sink into his thoughts had hurt. But what hurt more, was knowing that he was keeping a secret from Tyrone. He had decided two days ago that he would share it with Tyrone, but hadn't worked up the courage to do it yet. However, he figured if there was any time for more bad news, it would be now.

"Hey Ty, can I have a quick word with you?" He had walked into the tent to see Tyrone giving him a slight scowl. Blake had interrupted his thoughts of a specific someone.

"What could be oh so important that you need to talk to me now? Can you not see I'm not in the best mood for yours, let alone anyone's, company?"

Blake simply stepped into the tent and moved to sit across from his friend. "Look, I know you've been in a shitty mood ever since you saw her, but you need to get your head out of your arse. The men out there are seriously starting to doubt you as a leader, and the King is begging me to bring you back to the palace for an updated report. Now you are going to sit there and listen as I tell you something I have kept from you for almost 14 years!"

Tyrone nodded his head in silence as he tried to understand what his friend had just said and how he knew he had seen a girl.

"I came across our parents having a serious chat in one of the meeting rooms next to your father's office. They were talking about a young girl who was seen in Tarnon, what she was doing I'm not sure, I didn't catch that part. But I heard her name, they said Calissa. The Kings daughter." Tyrone had been looking at the floor until Blake had said her name, his head shot up and he stared at his friend to continue. "This was at the time when the unclaimed land seemed busy, like it had something trying to get into both of our kingdoms. Your father said that whatever happened you should not be allowed to come here, because he knew you would be drawn to something down here. Your mother was distraught and I don't think she was listening properly, but the last thing I heard from her was that you and Calissa could never meet. She said that if it happened, damage would be assured to everyone you loved."

Tyrone had stood and moved towards the door of his tent, watching the troops train, eat and fix their weapons. Blake stood and moved towards his old friend, resting his hand on his shoulder.

"Whatever may come."

The friends looked at each other as they repeated this saying in their heads. Knowing that something else was being hidden from them.

Tarnon

Teresita awoke before her daughter and decided to have breakfast out on the patio. Running her hands over the dragon's scales as she lay beside the older woman. The sun warmed the floor and the dragon, keeping the older woman warm as a chill breeze passed through the trees.

Calissa waited at the patio doors and watched the serenity before her. She knew this would not last forever, or even for more than an hour now. There was too much to do. Too much pressure already building.

"I know you are awake child. Come sit and I will tell you the last important thing you will need to know and understand." Teresita called her child to sit, knowing there were still unanswered questions. Layla pushed in front of her human and sauntered over to the woman, laying her head on her lap and awaiting for some of the food to 'fall' off the table. Teresita always had a soft spot for her.

Calissa, however, was in no mood for food, she was surprised that there was more that needed to be said. As she sat in the opposite chair to her mother, she looked at her animal companions. They were both distressed in some way for both of the humans, but instead of going to her they went to Teresita, indicating that she was feeling it more than her daughter was.

"When I found out who my ancestors were and where they came from, I did more digging surrounding the bond between them and the dragons." She paused to feed Layla and then started to scratch behind her ears. "I was surprised when you brought Naya home, but not to the same extent as everyone else. The history was clear, when the War God met their dragon a bond would form stronger than almost anything else in the world. So when Naya turned up, that's why I wasn't upset or afraid of her. I knew she would be bonded to you. That you would protect each other above anything else, and that same bond flows through you and Layla too."

Calissa turned towards her two companions and smiled softly at them.

"But what I forgot to tell you is there is one thing stronger than this bond, and I feel like it may already have been set in motion."

At this Teresita had looked away from her daughter in shame, realizing that she might be the reason why so much drama has been going on with her since she came back. She knew she had to tell her, but actually getting it out was one of the hardest things she's done.

"I found...It's...Oh gods I don't know how to tell you this!"

She started to cry and covered her face, knowing that her daughter is not ready for any of this. Calissa moved towards her mother and held her, not knowing what was to come scared her, but being more concerned about her mother made her forget about her fear. She tried to comfort her mother but it was no use, she continued to sob as she broke the news.

"You...You will have.." A deep breath in and out, and then. "You will have a mate and you've already met him."

Calissa froze. A mate? Her mother continued to sob in her arms whilst Calissa held her, but her mind was reeling. She had a mate out there that she had already met, and how was she supposed to know who it was?