Kronin's War by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (best book clubs .txt) 📖

of which were either younger than himself or older than the twins.
Locarra saw the dragonlets and asked. "Can we shift back now?"
"Are we going to live here, Kro?" Locanna asked. "I hope so, I like it already."
"Hush, sitas, while I find someone in charge." Kronin scolded.
A maiden in immortal form came upto them. "Why hello young ones!" She said sweetly. She had red hair and wide feline's green eyes. "I am Lady Aura, and I welcome you to my home." She gestured around her. "What are your names?"
Kronin thought fast. "I am Krogan and these are my sisters, Melodia," he tapped on Locarra's shoulder, "and Sophia," he tapped on Locanna's.
"Those are not our names!" Locanna cried in his mind.
"They are now." Kronin supplied back.
"I suppose it safe to shift to our true-forms?" Kronin asked Lady Aura aloud.
Lady Aura smiled. "Aye. This place is always a safe-haven for lost and orphaned children."
Kronin looked to his sisters. "Shift, brattonas."
All three shifted to full dragon forms.
"It's about time he used Draconian." Locanna announced. She looked to Lady Aura's shocked face. "You are not scared of our appearances?"
"We are not hideous or repulsive to you?" Locarra asked.
"It will take getting used to, your being twins and all." Lady Aura supplied. "There haven't been twin dragons since the Lost Ones, Locarra and Locanna Dratianos, Princesses of Mal'estar."
Kronin looked to his sisters sharply, each holding their breaths.
"And to answer your queries, young ones, I am not scared or repulsed by your true-forms." Aura began, wrapping an arm around each twin. "Why would I be? If dragons are what you are, than dragons are what you shall be. Be not afraid to relax here, young ones. We are all family here. We each do our own share and take care of a select few. We care for each other when those who have orphaned us have deserted us and seem to care no more."
Lady Aura looked sad for a moment, then shook her head and smiled. "Come now, children. I will set up rooms for you."
"If you don't mind, Lady Aura, my sisters are my responsibility. We have no family but each other, so please, do not separate us."
"Bratton cares for us like a dratyr and mutyr combined." Locarra supplied, both twins clinging to Kronin's waist. He lovingly wrapped an arm around them until Aura gave in.
"Very well." She supplied, smiling. "Come with me."
The twins held tightly onto Kronin's hands. They listened while Aura rattled on about the ranch she called "Dragon's Keep". She explained the rules, daily routines and what was expected of each of them while they were there.
Being he was the oldest, Kronin was given the job of being one of her apprentices. He was to help keep order in the house. The twins were young and needed the interaction of other children their ages. They, along with Kronin, would be schooled, housed, fed, cared for and loved while they were at Dragon's Keep.
The Keep reminded Kronin of a place, not so long gone. It reminded him of home. He kept his memories of Mal'estar to himself and busied himself with lessons, chores and his sisters' welfares. They behaved better than the other children, as Lady Aura mentioned many times.
One afternoon, not so long after they arrived, it was his turn for yard work. The twins were off having their lessons somewhere else and he felt safe with them being with the other dragonlet children. Lady Aura interrupted him, with the one named Young Guardian following beside her. Again, the magical woman caught his senses and he perked his ears to listen in.
"They came to us, Lady Guardian." Lady Aura told her. "They just appeared, as children often do, and have been a blessing ever since. Krogan is like an angel sent from the Goddess Herself!"
Kronin grinned to himself.
"Are you sure they're orphaned?" Lady Guardian asked. "Did Krogan ever tell you of his parentage?"
"Nay, nor did I ask." Lady Aura shook her head sadly. "Poor dears."
"I'll see what I can do, Lady Aura." Lady Guardian announced.
That's when he heard a gentle purr in his mind, almost maternal. "I know you're listening in, young dragonlet. Need no fear, Lady Aura doesn't suspect a thing."
Lady Guardian approached him. "Hello there. May I have a word with you?"
Kronin met her silver-blue eyes. "Eyes like the stars." He whispered, then bowed. "Aye, my Lady Guardian of the Realms."
Lady Guardian grinned. "Smart dragon."
Kronin nodded.
Lady Guardian turned to Lady Aura. "Lady, I would like to speak with him alone, if you don't mind. Find his sisters and bring them to me."
Lady Aura bowed. "Right away, Lady Guardian. Certainly."
Lady Guardian took a deep breath and let it out. "Well, Young one, I have good news for you."
"I am listening, my Lady."
"I believe I found your father." She supplied. Kronin's ears perked. "Knew you'd like that. Anyway, my blood-bound sister, Countess Dracora of the Dragon Lands, has told me about the three Royal Children named 'the Lost Ones'. Now, I didn't know anything about them, so she sent me to her brother in the empire of Mal'estar."
Now that grabbed his attention. "Mal'estar."
"Aye, Mal'estar. Well, I sought and found Dracora's brother, Lord Draconis Dratianos." She continued, watching him. "After nearly killing each other over our ranks, I told him what she said. I demanded an explanation of who the 'Lost Ones' were. His face and voice grew solemn and dark when he told me about them, and a little about his mate, Adellandra." She paused, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I believe with all that is within me that you are Lord Draconis' son, Kronin Dratianos."
Slowly, a small hint of realization set in. "Dratyr..." He whispered, his voice trailing.
Before she could react or say a word, Lady Aura came back with the twins.
"Lady Aura, gather their things." Lady Guardian commanded. "They'll be coming with me and not returning."
"Oh, certainly." Lady Aura announced, confused. "May I ask why?"
Lady Guardian grinned. "I have found their Dratyr." She looked to Kronin, whose eyes lit up. "I wish to reunite them."
Lady Aura clapped her hands and the twins hugged Lady Guardian.
Once Lady Guardian shifted her form to a dragonwolf, which reminded Kronin of his mutyr, they soared the skies toward Mal'estar.
When they arrived at the Castle's Main Hall, Lady Guardian folded her wings behind her and escorted them straight to Lord Draconis' Throne. Kronin looked up to meet his eyes, as well as those belonging to the male he'd known as Dranus.
"Lord Draconis, may I announce Kronin, Locarra and Locanna?" Lady Guardian replied. "I believe they are the 'Lost Ones.'"
Draconis stood and Kronin bowed. "What is your given name, Young Kronin?"
"I am Prince Kronin Draconis Dratianos, Heir to the Dragon Throne and your kano." Kronin supplied, then met his dratyr's eyes. "Need I continue?"
"Actually, aye." The Emperor of Mal'estar wasn't convinced. "If you are truly my kano, Kronin, than tell me the motto of Mal'estar -- in both your blood languages."
Kronin grinned and nodded, telling him first in Draconian, then in Ancient Wolf-Speak.
When Lord Draconis and Kronin met eyes, there was shock in the Emperor's.
Draconis nodded again, this time, smiling. "Kanas! Kano! I have missed you so!" He embraced his children with a hug. "Thank you, Lady Guardian, for bringing my children back to me."
Lady Guardian nodded. "My pleasure, Lord Draconis." She supplied. "I know how important family is."
Kronin spoke up. "Uh, Dratyr, have you found Mutyr?"
Draconis smiled at Lady Guardian and nodded at her.
Lady Guardian was shocked. "Oh no, Lord Draconis. I am not your mate. I have an Earthly Protector of my own already and I'm not so sure he'd oblige."
Kronin turned to her and grasped her hand. "Eyes of the Stars, Lady Guardian? Magic of both wolfkin and dragons?"
"Prince Kronin, it's impossible!" She announced. "I am an Ancient Mystic, not a Draconian or a Wolfkin of the Packs."
"Yet you have a form of the dragonwolf." Lord Draconis smiled.
"My Lord, no." Lady Guardian huffed. "It means nothing. Ancient Mystics are able to shift their forms to whichever they like. I just happen to like the strength of the dragon and beauty of the wolf. That's it."
Lord Draconis laughed, and placed a kiss on her hand. "I will explain later. For now, I need time with my children. I need to introduce them to their half-siblings, Tristian and Ravena."
Sighing, Lady Guardian clicked her heals and left.
Kronin stared after her.
"Come, Kano." Draconis supplied, also staring after her. "She will know herself in time. He clasped his son's shoulders. "Now then, to meet Tris and Raven."
Kronin only gulped, then nodded, following wherever his dratyr led him.
It took a few months to readjust himself with his Dratyr and Nation. He took to Dranus' and Draconis' sides in his Soverign Duties. Draconis told him the story of Mal'estar, shortly after his mate took them away, ending to recently. It only confirmed the rumors and stories he'd heard while in the Realm of Dreams all those years ago. Kronin told him what had been happening, and his feelings he had about Lady Guardian. Draconis only grinned, knowing more than even his son knew.
Tristian and Kronin went to Draconis one night while he was relaxing. "Who would take up your Throne should you perish or step down?" Kronin asked.
"Being you are the elder of my two kanos, it would surely be you, Kronin." Draconis looked to each of his sons. "For now, this matter is closed and I want no more of this petty bickering between you. Is that understood, kanos?"
Kronin and Tristian nodded. "Aye, Dratyr."
"Now go torture your brattonas and leave me in peace."
Tristian left but Kronin dared to stay behind.
"Is there something bothering you, Kronin?"
Kronin looked down. "What of Mutyr?"
Lord Draconis grinned. "She is slowly coming to her senses. I assure you, within a month's time, she will return to us indefinitely."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"Nay," Lord Draconis shook his head. "For now, there is a delicate situation. She harbors within her the Ancient Mystic's version of Thorn, or at least his emotions. They are eating her Empathy alive. She is going through a lot and I must plan it accordingly."
"Is there anyway of destorying the evil within without it destroying her?" Kronin asked.
Lord Draconis nodded. "I have been working on that for months now." He said, staring into space. "Your mutyr and my sweet Empress Adellandra has somehow been reborn and blooded by the Ancient Mystics. She has lost her true memories of the Nations but not of her true-self. It is sad she struggles with all three bloods in her system, but our beloved Empress will return to us.