Chapter18

Leo I sat there with a shocked expression on my face after learning the truth about Zonar and Queen Karen. It turns out they were mates and Zonar was Kassandra's birth father and King Scott killed him for it, and he also lost the Queen at the same time. "I can't believe it...King Scott knew Queen Karen and Zonar were mates but, he murdered them?!" "Well, he murdered Zonar and when he did, the Queen or rather the sorceress Karen lost her life. When you lose the person you're supposed to love, you can't go on living without them and that's what Karen felt when she lost her mate." I couldn't believe what I was hearing and then I spoke up. "And King Scott lied about it...but why? it doesn't make any sense." "Think about it, Karen fell in love with another man who is actually a dragon-shifter and when she slept with him, she gave birth to a child who isn't his. King Scott needed an heir to the throne and if his people found out that he lied and Kassandra has no ties to the throne, even though Karen was married to him-" "They would have started a rebellion and the dragons would have come back to Cassina for revenge." "Exactly and that's why he asked a sorceress, an evil one, to mess with Kassandra's mind." "How do you know all this?" I asked him in a surprised tone. "Because I was there when I saw the sorceress paralyze not only Kassandra and her friend but, also messed with her mind." "Why didn't you help her?" "I wanted to but, I couldn't do it. I was a coward and I was weak back then." "And what happened to her dragon friend, Zen? was he...?" "No, he got sent back to the horde before all hell broke loose." Alfred explained to me. I looked at Crystal and she looked sad. "When we dragons found out that Princess Kassandra was Lord Zonar's daughter, we were angry and we wanted revenge but, how can we? the people of Cassina hate us and they still do. They refuse to listen to a word we say." I held Crystal's hand and she grips it tightly. Alfred looked at us and he asked me. "So young Knight, what will you do now? will you keep following your leader?" I frowned a little before looking at Crystal and she looked like she was about to burst into tears. I smiled at her before looking at Alfred. "After what I heard, not a chance." Alfred was surprised and Crystal smiled at me. "Look, I know I'm supposed to be Cassina's bodyguard and commander of the army but, after what I've learnt, my loyalty will always remain with Kassandra. Princess or not, she's like a sister to me and I will protect her." Alfred smiled at me and he pats my shoulder. "Excellent choice, young Leon." "You can call me Leo." "Well then, Leo, since you made up your mind, you want to see your 'sister' again?" I looked at him surprised and I nodded my head. "All right, but first things first, you better lose the Armour. That royal crest gives it away and I don't think the dragons would welcome you with open arms even if Kassandra is with them." "I understand but what am I supposed to-" "Here you go." My sentence was cut off when Crystal gave me a change of clothes. I was surprised by this and then Alfred told me. "You can wear them and in the meantime, Crystal, go and get ready." Crystal nodded her head but, before she left I asked her. "Before you go, you mind helping me get this armor off?" Crystal blushed a little and she nodded her head while Alfred left to get ready. I showed Crystal what to do since she was a bit of a curious dragon about us humans. She did struggle at first but, she got the hang of it. I was wearing my chain mail and gambeson after I removed my armor. I watched Crystal ran her hands over the armor plates and she had a fascinated look on her face. "What's the matter?" "Oh nothing, it's so shiny." "Well, that's the blacksmiths for you. They made put their pride and dedication to make the armor for the soldiers." Crystal smiled as she ran her fingers over the armor plates. While she busy staring at them, I started to get changed out of the clothes I was wearing. I took off my gambeson and when I did I heard Crystal gasp. "You know you don't have to watch-" I stopped talking when I felt Crystal's fingers my back. I knew why it's probably because she can see the scars on my back. "What happened to you?" Crystal asked in a concerned tone. "Before I became Cassina's commander, I had to work as hard as I could to get to where I was. Most of the scars are from training but the others, they were from the battles that I fought in. The whiplashes you see were from the time that I got captured by a rival King's soldiers. They tried to torture me to get the information." "How horrible..." "Well, they didn't get any answers from me. I held my tongue and then my comrades came and rescued me. I haven't been in a fight since I became Kassandra's bodyguard." I told her as I glanced over my shoulder. Crystal smiled a little. "I hope you don't have to fight the dragons, I would hate to see you get hurt badly." I smiled a little when she said this. We looked at each other for a moment before I snapped out of it. "Uh, anyway, I better get changed. Why don't you check up on Alfred?" "Okay." Crystal told me before leaving the room to let me get changed in peace. As I got changed, I couldn't help but think about Crystal. 'What's the matter with me? I can't be falling for her...could I?' I asked myself after getting changed. I am now wearing a red tunic with black leggings and brown boots. I also have my weapons belt and gloves on as well. I put on my black leather vest jacket and then Alfred called out. "Leo, are you ready to go?" "Just coming." I told him before leaving the house. Crystal had shifted into her dragon form. She nudged her head at me and I gently patted her face. I smiled a little and then Alfred said to me. "Beautiful isn't she?" "Yeah..." I said as I got lost in Crystal's bright blue eyes. "Oy, stop daydreaming, let's go." "Uh, right! sorry! hold on, do you know where Kassandra is?" "Not exactly but, that's why we're heading to the Dragon Priests' village." I was surprised by this and then I told Alfred. "We can't go there! that place will be crawling with my soldiers and if they so much as spot crystal flying in the sky, they will shoot her down." Crystal looked worried for a moment until Alfred chuckled. "Not to worry, there's more than one village that's filled with Dragon priests." "You mean...there are more?" "Of course, now climb on and I'll show you." I struggled to climb onto Crystal's back until she nudged her head to help me up. I thanked her before hanging onto Alfred's waist and Crystal taking off into the sky.