The King was once more on his throne and her father was standing before him. The guard that had escorted them into the throne room was no longer behind him but stationed at the door waiting. Teagan let go of Muniath’s hand and walked with her head held high towards her father and looked up into his face. Tharain did not look down at his daughter, guilt and shame covered him like a cloak.
“General Tharain Loinsigh, you are stripped of all rank, titles, lands, and you no longer have a place at this court. You know what the punishment is for this crime, but I will not leave an innocent child an orphan. Tharain you are hereby banished from these lands, and from this world. By way of portal you will be sent to your exile, along with what you can carry, and your daughter will go with you. This is my judgement and my ruling,” King Urmond declared in a clear and loud voice. “General Domnall Gerarailt, escort Tharain and his daughter to their quarters and allow them to pack. I would take care of what you choose Tharain, with the world you will be spending your days on.”
Tharain nodded and turned, not even waiting for Teagan to follow, or taking her hand. She trotted after her father, the words of the King still rolling through her mind. Her father was safe, he would not be killed. But they had to leave their home; the only home she had known; the place where her mother had died.
The doors to their quarters were guarded by two of the Foot Soldiers. Their spears were crossed before them and they stood at ease. As soon as Domnall neared, they snapped to attention, their shields held before them and they stepped out of the way. Tharain opened the door and waited for Teagan to enter after him, then closed it as soon as she was through. He walked past her and sat in his chair by the fire, beckoning her over to him. Teagan ran to him and threw her arms around his neck.
“I am sorry my girl, so very sorry.” He sobbed as he held her. “I have been so very stupid.”
“Why Papa? Why did you do it?” she asked him.
“Muniath told you then. It’s just as well he did.” He disentangled her arms from him and held her face. “I have a problem with gambling and since your good mother died, it has got away from me. I stole the eggs to pay a debt, instead of going to our King and seeking help, and now you have been brought down by my foolishness. Can you forgive me, Teagan? Will you forgive me?”
“Where are we to go, Papa?” she asked quietly, frightened by how he was acting.
“A world that is vastly different to ours. They do not know our way of life and dragons are only a myth to them. They lost their great beasts long ago.” He placed her back on the floor and stood. Tharain took in a deep breath and unclasped his uniform. “Go pack a small bag of clothes. Nothing fancy and the stout pair of boots I got you to hike in.”
Teagan did as she was told and soon was changed into a plain shirt and leggings. The boots her father had requested were firmly on her feet and she held onto the strap of her bag, which was slung across her chest. She was just stepping out of her room when there came a polite knock on the door, and it opened without her father granting permission.
Domnall stood with his hand resting on the pommel of his sword strapped to his side. “Are you ready, Tharain?” he asked with a note of sadness in his voice.
“We are ready,” her father answered him, and he looked to his daughter, holding out his hand for her to take.
Rushing to his side she took it and smiled up at him. “As long as we are together Papa I don’t care where we go.” Teagan said bravely, remembering the words Muniath had told her.
Tharain nodded to his daughter and gave her hand a squeeze and then turned to face the doorway. “Lead the way, Domnall.”
They were marched with a squadron of Riders in front, and Foot in the back. Among the Riders was Muniath. As they joined the procession, he glanced at Teagan and gave her a small smile, then turned back to the front. The walk was long as they traversed the halls of the palace and then as the procession moved through the long corridors of the citadel. Teagan did not see anyone else for the whole of the journey. Normally the halls and rooms were buzzing with people going about the business of keeping the kingdom running smoothly, but now it was empty and deserted.
A pair of Riders stood blocking their way, standing at ease, their long sabres resting point down on the floor and their hands clasped the pommels. They stayed at ease until another man arrived. He was the same age as her father, and she recognized him from the throne room. His dark hair was cut short and he came to stand in front of Tharain.
“My General,” he greeted him solemnly and with great respect.
“Not anymore, Galanan. You are General now,” Tharain said sadly but taking the man’s offered forearm.
“You are still my General until the moment you step through that portal,” Galanan told him stoically.
“Then you best give the order to open the gates. We still have a long way to go and I want to get Teagan somewhere safe before night falls on that world.”
Galanan stepped away from the formed-up troops and stood at the head of the column. “Open the gates,” he called out in a loud and powerful voice.
The two Riders still standing at attention, moved as one to open the large double doors and stand aside for the Riders to enter. As Tharain and Teagan moved through, she became aware of the Foot soldiers and General Domnall stopping on the threshold behind them, then remembered only Riders were allowed into the Hall of Secrets.
Turning now to the front she looked down the dimly lit passage. On either side large mirrors were hung on the walls, each adorned with a different dragon motif. The style of dragon denoted where they originally came from and there were so many different types. Elongated water wyrms, short stocky cave dwellers, and of course the large dart-like air gliders. She turned her head as she looked at the many silvery surfaces and dark frames, fascinated by them.
Waiting for the procession further down the hall stood the King and the other man who had been in the Throne room. As they approached, the Riders stepped to the side and stood at attention to their denounced general. Tharain stepped up to his King, Teagan’s hand still firmly in his, and bowed his head then went to his knee.
“My Lord King Urmond,” he said.
“You know that this punishment must be proclaimed throughout the land. It grieves me so much to see you laid so low by your own hand. Tharain. Rise and face me,” the King spoke gently.
“I shall carry my shame for the rest of my life, my Lord King,” Tharain promised.
“Try to live out the rest of your life with honor and dignity. You have the beautiful Teagan to look after. Do not let your vices get the better of you, cousin,” the King said and then embraced Tharain. When he let him go, Urmond knelt before Teagan. “And you, my little cousin, look after your father, he is going to need you more than ever to lean on. Be strong and maybe one day we will see you at court once more. I have a gift for you, little one.” He reached into his cloak and pulled out a necklace. Hanging from an intricately woven chain was a pendant of the finest silver, worked into the symbol of their land. An ornate sword with two dragons entwined around it, and an oval emerald set in the cross of the sword. “Keep it safe, Teagan. You may need it one day to come back to us,” the King told her.
“Thank you, my Lord King,” her voice was small as he placed it over her head.
The King was replaced by the other man now. He moved forward and grasped Tharain’s forearm just as Galanan had. “It has been a great honor, General, to serve under you.”
“The honor should have been mine, but I wasted it Taran. Don’t make the same mistake I made,” he advised the man and he stepped away.
Behind them they heard the grouped Riders move suddenly, their sabres raised up and pointing over their heads. Tharain turned to take their salute one last time. “The General,” they cried out as one and then returned to their attention posture.
“We must go now, Teagan,” Tharain said to her as he hefted his bag higher onto his shoulder and took her hand once more. They turned to face the large mirror and Tharain pulled her along.
Teagan’s breath caught in her throat, and her heart began to thump faster inside her chest as they neared the mirror. She could feel her father’s hand tighten around her small one, and her feet began to slow as he pulled her closer. She did not want to go near the portal and she did not want to leave her home. Tharain kept walking forward towards the silver surface and he reached out a hand first. She watched it pass through and ripples were left in its wake, like the surface of a very still pond. His hand was followed by his body, the other hand still clasped hers tightly, almost hurting her. Teagan turned one last time and looked at the gathered men and women in the dim hall, she saw their faces, grimly looking back at her and the last glimpse of her home was the solemn face of Muniath, his eyes no longer sparkling, as she passed through the portal.
L C Conn 