Having run quite a distance till her legs finally gave way Syrelia was now in the safe care of her brother lanthim. Crying as he carried her back to the estate lanthim had no inkling as to what had driven her out this far from home.

"Feldeiv search the area." [Lanthim]

Looking to the large wolf that was with him. the beast simply nodded to his master then disappeared. Shock by the speed syrelia ceased to cry looking to the spot the creature had once been.

"Now then let get you home." [lanthim]

His calm smile drained away all of syrelia's anxiety leaving her feeling at ease at least for the moment. By the time they reached the estate he would be told what was happening and this good atmosphere would disappear. Think of what to say that would not cause a disastrous response from her brother.

"Syrelia you should not just run off..." [leinea]

Running towards them with half the estates staff behind her leinea looked like she had fallen on her way with her hair all a mess and her dress torn. Looking towards syrelia being held by someone leinea did not know the situation became somewhat tense. Looking at each other lanthim who wore a cloak to leinea's eyes did not seem to be up to any good.

Removing the hood of his cloak revealing his face the first of the staff to reach where they were standing knew him immediately.

"Young master you have returned."

The old groundsman who would observe his constant training when lanthim went outside. Was the first to arrive standing beside leinea who by now had a look of shock on her face. She had heard of what he had looked like when he was a boy however her imagination of him was nothing to seeing the real deal.

"It seems that there is something amiss why are you all out her looking for syrelia has something happened?" [lanthim]

Syrelia's face paled as she remembered what had happened before she had gone running. She had intended to tell lanthim before they had arrived at the estate about what had happened but now what was she to do?

"It would be best if we return to the estate and talk." [leinea]

Returning to the estate Lanthim reunited with his brothers who had spent the last while training to burn off some of their agitation towards what had happened earlier that day.

"Brother it is pleasing to see you so well." [aldain]

"Yes, I don't think either of us thought you would return for some time. [melryn]

Both seemed slightly refreshed seeing lanthim enter the gardens looking as he always did. A confidence that made everyone around him want to be closer. Looking up at the old estate he saw litralia looking down from her study. Even from where he was standing he could see something in her had a piece of paper.

Making his way up the many stairs and corridors it felt like he had never left. The walk while long for some was not really that bad for someone who know which doors meet with which corridor and on and on and on. Arriving at his destination only syrelia and leinea had come with him. Having given his brothers instruction not to neglect their training they both remained out in the garden.

Entering litralia's study Lanthim could feel the emotions of the room like a whirlwind rage, fear, anxiety just to name a few. Coming closer to her lanthim gestured to the letter she held.

"What news mother?" [lanthim]

"My son what are we to do?" [litralia]

Sitting at her desk while passing Lanthim the letter litralia looked like she had spent hours agonizing. Looking at the letter, Lanthim wondered what could have happened until he reached the part about syrelia's engagement. Sitting, as he continued to read the happy expression on his face, became fade becoming a frightening neutral expression devoid of emotion.

"Remarkable truly I am impressed never have I seen such blatant disregard for the family members of a child who is to be sold in marriage to some unknown speck of a man. What do they think syrelia is a slave they can just sell because it is a pleasing thought?" [lanthim]

"I am told that everything is already arranged. Your grandmother will eventually send for syrelia to be moved to the capital in preparation for the official engagement." [litralia]

Holding the paper in his hand Lanthim in his mind wanted to seriously destroy something but on his face, there was nothing no emotion at all a blank slate that he always gave to everyone. In the same instance, the letter burst into flames becoming ash on the floor.

Shocked by what she had seen leinea could sware he use some kind of fire spell however because there was no incantation she could not tell.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I require a meeting with mynrea could it be arranged quickly?" [lanthim]

Litralia felt exhausted and did not want to have to deal with that dragon today. Yes, lanthim had returned and that did make her feel slightly better about the situation. However, mynrea had become a greater problem herself having in her letter to nedral earlier that day her intent to divorce him if he did not interfere.

All that on her mind she sent a request for mynrea to come and discuss the current situation. It did not take long for her to arrive upon hearing that lanthim had returned the first thing she did upon arrival was to forbid everyone who had seen him say tell absolutely no one.

"To think you would return during such a situation." [mynrea]

The dragonness looked as she always did beautiful and unaging which caught lanthim off guard thinking that she might have aged a little. Both mynrea and leinea sat together in front of him looking almost exactly the same he looked to the little girl sitting next to him. Syrelia's sad face was not something he had expected to return home to.

"What would it take for syrelia to get a transfer to an academy in the dragon land?" [lanthim]

Everyone turned to him as he asked this question.

"No out of the question how would sending her away fix the problem?" [leinea]

The question was valid syrelia attending school elsewhere would not effect the engagement at all.

"We do not send her away." [lanthim]

"You are proposing to defeat your grandmothers candidate with a superior one." [mynrea]

"By asking what it would take you wish to have everything ready in case, the only choice is to actually move her and not lose her ability to complete her education." [litralia]

The two of them realized immediately what lanthim was planning however it would change nothing if a suitable male could be found who would marry a human girl.

"Does this not still put syrelia in the same position regardless married at eleven is not something I would want." [leinea]

"You have lived with humans too long child or have you forgotten you were married at six." [mynrea]

Embarrassed by her grandmother's words leinea turn bright red then looked to lanthim who still looked as he had since the letter.

'I can't sense a thing from him does he feel nothing' [leinea]

Turning to litralia who seemed not too impressed with the idea that lanthim was suggesting.

"I don't think that arielia will even care if we propose a new candidate." [litralia]

Lanthim sat thinking the matter over in his mind. A smile beginning to slowly begin to take shape.

"I never said I was going to be supplying a new candidate mother."[lanthim]

Confusion ran through everyone as they sat around him even syrelia gave him a troubled look. Lanthim knew his plan it would work solely because his enemy would be too proud to see what he was doing.

"I believe I will need to go have a visit with eldra on this problem." [lanthim]

"My father but why?" [leinea]

Lanthim looked towards leinea who was just in front of him. Feeling her increased agitation as he remained silent for some time he chuckled slightly which resulted in a violent anger emanating from her.

"He and I have a history you could say an understanding of which of us is superior and so I can go to him and expect reasonable results." [lanthim]

His response while it did answer the question did not, however, calm leinea's hatred towards him in the least. Folding her arms looking the least bit amused by what he had said.

"Regardless I will be going to the dragon lands in the morning." [lanthim]

Tears in her eye syrelia latched herself onto lanthim with no intention of letting go. Feeling this, lanthim did not move from where he sat or resisted in any way.

"It will only be for the day syrelia I will return as soon as I am finished." [lanthim]

Even though he gave her a comforting smile she still did not let go. She had no intention of letting him leave again. Eventually, he did get himself out of her grasp holding his left arm which she had fiercely dug into.

'I have no intention of allowing my sister to be married to some unknown. If she must be married I would much rather have her marry a dragon than a human chosen by that old witch.' [lanthim]