42. Kitaro

Chapter 42

Kitaro

A sense of foreboding dread made Kitaro uneasy. He wasn't sure what his dragon was so unsettled by, but he had a feeling he was about to find out when he was summoned to a conference room to meet with his father.

Tatsuki and Jaega were already present. Their serious expressions made Kitaro fear for the worse.

"What is wrong?" Kitaro asked as he took a seat at the table next to his uncle.

Before they could answer, Mitsuki arrived. Instead of his usual foul mood, he had a malevolent sense of joy that troubled Kitaro. "Since you have summoned me, am I to presume that the campaign against the snake shifters is finally going forward?" He sat on his father's left side, across from Jaega.

"Yes, we will invade Galinor in a fortnight. They have grown bolder and more reckless in their rebellion after the fall of King Decius of Shadron. We will not stand for it."

"I look forward to killing as many of those snake bastards as I can." The genuine glee of bloodlust emanating from Mitsuki made Kitaro uncomfortable. It was only by a small miracle that Uncle Jaega did not rejoice in violence the same way. Otherwise, Valzerna would have been a very different kingdom. Mitsuki turned his attention to Kitaro. "What is he doing here?"

"He will join us on the front lines," Tatsuki declared.

Kitaro's heart sank. He had always known the day would come when he would be called to fight in one of his father's campaigns, but he wasn't prepared for it to happen while he was with Vanra. He could only imagine how distraught the human mage would be at the news.

To his surprise, his uncle objected before he got the chance to do so. "Respectfully, I disagree with this decision. Kitaro should stay and protect the castle."

"No one is suicidal enough to attack our home while we are away. Our decision stands."

"You have tasked Kitaro with the job of protecting and assisting Vanra. With Kitaro gone for months, it will impede Vanra's training." Jaega leveled a warning look at his oldest nephew when he scoffed. "That will set them back months, making their journey even more difficult in the summer with the heat. I appreciate you want Kitaro to earn his birthright on the battlefield, but this is not the battle for that."

Tatsuki frowned, stroking his chin. "We had not considered that."

"He cannot give the fight his full attention when he is worried about Vanra being alone. It would be the death of him," Jaega argued. "All it would take to put Vanra in peril is a single servant who disapproves of him and is emboldened by the absence of his protector."

Tatsuki heaved a heavy sigh. "Fine, you have made your point, brother. Kitaro, you will stay here and continue training Vanra in our absence."

Kitaro relied on his centuries of training not to show the relief he felt at avoiding the front lines. "Understood, Father."

"It will be a different story once you have completed your journey to Satsuma's. You need to prepare yourself for that time. It will come sooner than you think."

Kitaro bowed his head in acknowledgment but said nothing. He would worry about it later. For now, it was enough that he would not be parted from Vanra's side for precious months they didn't have to lose.

A servant entered with a low bow. "Forgive the intrusion, but the ambassador from Quintox is here."

"Worried about our upcoming campaign against Galinor, undoubtedly." Tatsuki rose from his seat. " Very well. We will reconvene later to discuss details. We will meet with the ambassador now."

Mitsuki left with Tatsuki and the servant.

Kitaro lingered for a moment. "Thank you for changing his mind, Uncle Jaega."

The older shifter's gaze softened as he looked fondly at his nephew. "When you are unsure of how much time you have left before Vanra returns to his era, it would be cruel to separate you for months. I could not in good conscience send you to the front lines, knowing your mind was preoccupied with Vanra's safety."

"Do you really think a servant would harm Vanra?"

"No, but it was certainly convenient for my brother to think that," Jaega said with a cheeky grin. "In truth, I will also feel better about leaving Fersen here in your care. This will be our first separation since our mating, and I expect it to be hard on us both. But I can rest a little easier knowing you can help Fersen with any problems that may arise in my absence."

"I promise to look after him."

Jaega smiled at his nephew. "And that is why I can fight on the front lines with peace of mind."

"Thank you for always looking out for me." It meant a lot that Kitaro's uncle always had his back.

"While I may be head of your father's army, you know I do not believe violence and war are always the answer." Jaega stood up from his chair. "You have the rest of your long life to fight wars. But I will do everything in my power to keep you off the battlefield for as long as I can. It is not because I believe you are incapable of defending yourself. You are a better warrior than Mitsuki in all but one respect."

Kitaro stood up and walked around the table to join his uncle. "In what respect?"

"You do not lust for blood and glory the same way as Mitsuki and Tatsuki. That will make battles harder on you, especially when you have the empathy to feel bad for the family left behind of a man you slay." Jaega wasn't wrong. "But do not take that as a criticism, nephew. I am grateful you have your mother's even-temperedness and preference for using logic to defeat an enemy instead of a sword. It will serve you better in the long run."

"Sometimes it is hard to not feel as if I am failing Father because of that shortcoming."

Jaega clasped Kitaro's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "It is not a shortcoming, Kitaro. It is a gift. My only regret is that your brother will reign in terror someday, instead of our people being blessed with you bringing peace to these lands at long last. I regularly pray to all the Powers that be that we will never see Mitsuki as king. I am not sure this kingdom would survive him."

"I cannot imagine a world without Father in it, so hopefully, the Powers will answer your prayers." Kitaro didn't enjoy thinking about the bloody reign of terror Mitsuki would inflict upon the good people of Valzerna. He doubted whether the kingdom would survive in one piece.

"Oh, I have some more good news," Jaega said as they exited the conference room. "Next week, Tyrian will be returning home from his trip to Mizujil. I suspect he and Vanra will become fast friends."

Tyrian was Jaega's only surviving child. His two daughters and his first mate had been killed during the Necromancer War while he and Tyrian were away fighting Ishibiya on the front lines. After that, he made his son captain of the castle guards to keep him safe.

"I am quite certain they will."

"Go celebrate your good news with Vanra. I will try to get in a few more sessions with him before we depart for Galinor."

V anra was anxiously pacing the room when Kitaro returned. "Is Father making you go to battle like you feared?"

Kitaro guided the human mage to sit beside him on the couch. "That was indeed why I was summoned."

Tears welled up in Vanra's lavender eyes. "No! There has to be some way?—"

The dragon prince pressed a finger to Vanra's lips to silence his fears. "Thankfully, Uncle Jaega successfully argued all the reasons why it was better for me to stay here."

"Does that mean you don't have to go to Galinor?"

"Not only do I not have to fight, but you will have many months free of Mitsuki while he is away at the war front."

As expected, Vanra cheered. "Then that's the best news ever!"

"I am relieved for us both." Kitaro hesitated before he added, "But depending on what Satsuma says, I may have to fight later. There are only so many excuses Uncle Jaega can make for me before my father grows weary of them."

"We can worry about that later. For now, I'm grateful that you're staying here with me." Vanra straddled his lap to give him a tight hug. "My heart can't handle the thought of you being in danger on the battlefield."

Kitaro embraced the trembling human. "Then do not fret about such things. Let us celebrate that I have escaped from the battlefront yet again, thanks to my uncle's persuasive arguments."

"I'm so giving him a hug the next time I see him."

"He also informed me that his son will come home next week from a trip to visit our cousin in Mizujil. "

Vanra looked slightly fearful. "Please tell me he takes after his dad and is super nice and won't hate me."

Kitaro chuckled as he rubbed Vanra's back. "Tyrian is good company. I am happy to say you will have another friend and ally in him. If my father had forced me to fight in Galinor, then I would have entrusted your care to Tyrian in my absence."

"Then I look forward to meeting him later."