Chapter 6: Confrontations "Do You Belong to Zane?"

Silvermoon Keep, Silubra

In the center of the central continent lay the city of Silvermoon, and the Silvermoon Keep. Carved out of mountains, Silvermoon Keep was not only the residence of the Grand Duchess Silvermoon Clan, but also the government building of the Silvermoon City, Silubra, and Emphyralis. The Dracosenati and the Conclave of Scales met there for their annual meeting. The Upper Parliament met in a dedicated building, made up of representatives of all races and locales around the world. Silubra's Lower Parliament, made up of representatives of all races and locales around Silubra, had another building dedicated to them. The Silver Council, the governing body made up of Silver Dragons, met there semi-annually.

It was a large sprawling complex, but the innermost part of the keep was dedicated to the Grand Duchess and her family. It was well-guarded and well-warded. Only those possessing tokens magically carved from Silver Dragon scales could come and go at will. These tokens were also usually tied to a specific person.

Roark and Troi both had one. Troi was only eighteen but already beginning to manifest his Umbrakinetic abilities and was able to Shadowwalk with help. Troi didn't look like his father. He was tall, his hair was blond, and his eyes were teal green. He'd inherited his looks from his mother, who was a Forest Elf from the Mist Vale Forest of Myrkir. 

They arrived at Chrystianna's study from a shadowy corner. They did a sweep of the Ducal Residence without alerting any of the soldiers on patrol. They were trying not to leak the fact that the grand Duchess wasn't in residence and her whereabouts unknown. They returned to the study, doing patrols every fifteen minutes or so.

When they were on patrol, they were coming to the more intimate sitting room for the Grand Duchess's immediate family. It was a large room with two large fireplaces, cozy sitting areas, tables, and knick-knacks. There was also a large area with a crystal ceiling for sunbathing in Dragon form big enough for several adult Dragons. When they came in, there was a man standing in the room staring at a painting over one of the fireplaces. It was of a silver haired woman with her hand on a protruding stomach, smiling softly from the painting.

They both reached for their swords. "Who are you?" Roark demanded in a calm tone. 

The man was draped in a dark trench coat, wearing a neat but travel worn navy suit with a purple button-down shirt, and a neat pattern on a waistcoat, and tall shiny boots. He was tall and thin with warm, tan skin. His messy black hair covered one eye, and he glanced at them with one long narrow violet eye. He smiled slightly and flipped his wrist producing a carved Amethyst Dragon scale. The words on it glowed with his identity. 

Elias Morningstar.

Roark gestured to Troi to stand down. He bowed slightly to the man. "Lord Morningstar," he greeted politely. 

"No need to be so formal, boys. Do you belong to Zane?" Elias asked curiously, but in a way that made it obvious he believed it to be true.

"No. My mother Sonja Starshadow but Troi belongs to Zane," Roark answered, believing him to simply be mistaken about their identity.

Troi gave a slight bow in greeting.

Elias raised his eyebrows. He sighed slightly. "Chrysti hasn't been able to find a replacement for Bastian yet?" he asked.

The Morningstar Clan was the protectorate family of the Silvermoon Clan. They were meant to be in charge of the security and military affairs of Silvermoon and Silubra. Elias was the last member, but he had to be whisked off-world when he began to manifest his Voidrifting ability when he was young. The Plague was raging through the planet and manifesting his ability was a sign that his first Change was imminent. So, to protect him, and a number of other young Amethyst Dragons who had Voidrifting potential, the remnant of the Eventide Conclave took them off- world.

In his absence, Chrystianna's twin brother, Bastian, took over the role. Yet, near the end of the conflict with the Dragon Hunters, Bastian took a group of soldiers and diplomats off-world as well. It's been almost twenty-five years since then. Chrystianna hasn't chosen a Knight General in all that time. 

"Ysandar Thorindale is acting Knight General," Roark said.

Elias nodded. Ysandar Thorindale is an old Elf. He was his grandfather's Knight Commander. That meant that the wider security of the city and nation was in good hands, but it seemed that Chrystianna didn't let him into her inner circle. Understandable.

Roark cleared his throat. "May I ask, Lord Morningstar, why are you here? Did you Voidjump?" he asked.

Elias sat in a comfortable chair and gestured for the two young men to sit as well. "I'm waiting to meet my family. They should be back soon," he said, without going into too much detail.

Roark didn't press as he and Troi sat as well. Troi was a little uncomfortable. Basic modern history education told him who Elias Morningstar was, but it was like meeting someone who didn't really exist. It was a strange feeling.

Elias ran a hand through his hair, bushing it back and revealing his sapphire blue second eye. Heterochromia was rare even in Hybrid Dragons. He propped one ankle on the opposite knee. He observed the two boys. Sonja should have given her son a lot of trust and responsibility if she sent him here alone. "Fill me in. What's happening with the investigation into why my children ended up being hidden in another world," he said.

Publicly, the father of the Grand Duchess's children was never disclosed. Rumors abound. People close to her knew, and therefore Elias's name was among the rumors, but most regular people dismissed it. He wasn't even on the planet. Roark was one of the people who knew. So was Troi. It wasn't as if someone sat them down and explained the ins and outs. Whenever Sonja and Zane spoke of Chrystianna and her children, it was always in the same breath as Elias Morningstar, so neither was very surprised by his casual admission.

Roark didn't hesitate to tell him everything he knew, but he didn't know his father had just been apprehended as the mastermind of the plot. Therefore, the version he knew had stalled several years earlier.

He had no idea the upheaval he was due to experience.