Shattered Sanity

(Remote Mountain Peak, Border Between the Eastern and Western Territories, Drew Dawnriver’s POV)

Drew rode his white War Pegasus towards a remote mountain peak along the border separating the Eastern and Western territories, where he had arranged a private meeting with an old friend.

He had deliberately chosen to travel alone, leaving behind his usual entourage of guards and attendants, as the meeting was far too sensitive for either the Imperial Court or his own bannermen to learn about.

And as he approached the mountain, Drew spotted another flying creature arriving from the Western territories, its enormous wings spread wide as it descended towards the summit.

It was a Griffin, the same one that he recalled his friend riding since childhood.

’There you are, you old bastard.’

Drew thought, recognizing the familiar beast immediately, as a small smile appeared upon his face.

The two creatures circled the mountain briefly before descending towards a relatively flat stretch of rock, landing several dozen paces apart as their riders prepared to dismount.

Drew swung himself off his saddle, while Alaric dismounted with grace, as after nearly half a decade of no contact, the old rivals found themselves standing face-to-face once more, blue eyes staring into red, as the two men maintained stoic faces.

For several seconds, neither man said a word, simply examining one another as though trying to determine how much the other had changed since their last meeting.

Then Drew’s lips curled into a grin.

”Bastard.”

”Cunt.”

Alaric replied immediately, as both men broke into broad smiles and approached one another with their hands extended.

Their palms met in a firm handshake, although neither appeared satisfied with such a restrained greeting, and within moments they had pulled each other into a tight embrace.

”Hahaha! Look at you, you miserable bastard! Still alive and causing trouble for everyone around you!”

Alaric laughed, slapping Drew firmly across the back as the latter returned the gesture with equal enthusiasm.

”And look at you! Still as ugly as the day I first met you. I swear, Alaric, I thought fathering two daughters might finally teach you about how to dress like a man.”

Drew retorted, as the two men finally released one another, still chuckling over the familiar insults.

Behind them, the Pegasus snorted loudly, seemingly displeased by the presence of the griffin, which responded by spreading its wings and releasing an irritated screech.

”Even our mounts can’t stand each other.”

Alaric remarked, glancing towards the two creatures before shaking his head.

”Some things never change.”

”Indeed.”

Drew replied, although the amusement gradually faded from his expression as he noticed the seriousness returning to his old friend’s face.

”Unfortunately, we don’t have much time today, Drew.”

Alaric began, folding his arms across his chest.

”I received a letter from the Prime Minister’s office this morning. Apparently, Vinicius intends to visit me personally tomorrow, and judging by the urgency of his message, I doubt he’s coming to discuss something trivial.”

Drew raised an eyebrow.

”That bastard wants to visit you?”

He asked, genuinely surprised by the development.

”What the hell does Vinicius want with the West? He hasn’t bothered visiting your territories in what, five years? Six? And now he suddenly remembers you exist?”

”Something like that.”

Alaric replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

”I suspect he’s worried that House Ironveil might decide to align itself with House Dawnriver, especially considering how openly you’ve been challenging the Imperial throne lately.”

”And is he right to be worried?”

Drew asked, although the faint smile upon his face suggested that he already had an answer in mind.

”Not particularly.”

Alaric replied without hesitation.

”Because as things stand, old friend, I have absolutely no intention of dragging House Ironveil into whatever bloody rebellion you’re planning.”

Drew let out a dismissive snort.

”Oh, come on, Alaric. Don’t start talking like one of those spineless bastards who spend their lives hiding behind Imperial decrees.”

His expression grew more serious as he stepped closer.

”Frostmark and Redvale might be perfectly happy licking the Emperor’s boots, but you and I have never been like them. We’re warriors first and rulers second, and we both know it.”

Drew continued, fixing his old friend with an intense stare.

”We’ve fought wars, buried comrades, and spilled enough blood to know what it means to stand for something. Are you seriously telling me that you’re willing to sit quietly while Diomande does whatever the hell he pleases?”

Alaric’s expression hardened.

”Don’t confuse my loyalty with cowardice, Drew.”

He replied, his voice becoming considerably colder.

”And don’t stand there preaching to me about honor when you’re the one preparing to raise an army against the very throne our ancestors swore to defend.”

Drew frowned, although he allowed Alaric to continue.

”There’s nothing righteous about starting a rebellion against an Emperor who has honored the oaths of his ancestors. The Valdrak dynasty has respected the agreements that brought our houses into the Empire, and until you can prove otherwise, I see no reason to betray those agreements.”

For a moment, Drew simply stared at him, appearing genuinely disappointed by what he had heard.

”Gods above, Alaric. Listen to yourself.”

Drew muttered, shaking his head.

”The Flaming Lion of the West, standing before me and repeating the same pathetic excuses I’d expect from some frightened court official.”

Alaric narrowed his eyes.

”Watch your mouth.”

”Or what? You’ll hit me?”

Drew challenged, taking another step forward.

”Come on, then. Show me that the bastard I remember from our Academy days is still somewhere inside that thick skull of yours.”

The temperature around Alaric’s right hand suddenly rose, as brilliant orange flames erupted across his knuckles and spread towards his wrist.

”Careful, Drew.”

Alaric warned, his red eyes reflecting the fire gathering around his fist.

”You’re an old friend, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you insult my honor.”

Drew merely smiled, as flames of his own erupted around his clenched right fist, their heat matching Alaric’s almost perfectly.

”Then stop talking like a coward.”

He replied, his blue eyes remaining fixed upon Alaric’s red ones.

For several tense seconds, the two Great Dukes stood facing one another, their flames burning fiercely enough to make the surrounding air shimmer.

Even their mounts appeared to sense the change in atmosphere, as the Pegasus stamped its hoof against the rock while the griffin lowered its head and watched the confrontation carefully.

Neither man moved to strike.

And eventually, it was Alaric who released a frustrated sigh and extinguished the flames surrounding his hand.

”You’re still the same insufferable bastard.”

He muttered, shaking his head as Drew dismissed his own flames a moment later.

”And you’re still too damned stubborn for your own good.”

Drew replied, although his expression remained serious.

Alaric looked away briefly, gathering his thoughts before turning back towards his old rival.

”Look, Drew. I understand why you’re angry, and I understand why you believe the Emperor has been moving against your family.”

He began, his tone considerably more restrained.

”But you have no proof that Diomande was responsible for what happened to my son. None. All you’ve given me are suspicions and that damned gut feeling of yours.”

Alaric continued, his expression tightening at the mention of Gary.

”And frankly, I don’t believe it. Why the hell would the Emperor want my son dead? What could he possibly gain from murdering the heir of a house that has remained loyal to his dynasty for generations?”

Drew listened without interruption, although a faint smile gradually returned to his face.

”We’ve paid our taxes, answered every Imperial summons, and sent our soldiers whenever the throne demanded them. House Ironveil has never given Diomande a reason to question our loyalty.”

Alaric declared, spreading his hands in frustration.

”It’s not as though we were secretly planning to rebel against him before all this happened, were we?”

For a few moments, Drew said nothing.

Then his smile widened into something considerably more knowing, as though Alaric had unknowingly asked precisely the question he had been waiting to hear.

”Ah, Alaric...”

Drew muttered, shaking his head with an expression that was almost sympathetic.

”You really have no idea, do you?”

Alaric frowned.

”What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Rather than answering immediately, Drew turned towards a broad, relatively flat section of rock overlooking the distant valleys and gestured for his old friend to follow.

”Come, old friend. Sit.”

Drew instructed, his expression carrying a strange mixture of amusement and anticipation.

”I think you’ll find the tale I’m about to tell you quite amusing.”