Chapter 107: 107-Your culprit
"Aeltharion, hold back for a second. I need to have a word with you," Fairy Zarathia called out.
When other beasts left to go and get some rest while they waited for nightfall, Aeltharion remained behind, accompanied by his mates.
Fairy Zarathia stared at the two beasts who didn’t get an invitation to fall back and felt her head ache.
"In private," she emphasised.
"You can speak freely. There are no secrets between us," Nytherael said confidently. At least, he hoped there were no secrets between them because secrets always had a way of tearing couples apart, and they were just starting to get back to what they had.
"Yes. Plus, I can just leave Aeltharion. He needs..."
"Alone. I need to have a word with Aeltharion alone," she insisted.
"It’s alright," Aeltharion assured his lovers. No matter what the fairy was going to tell him, he would let them in on it later. "Go, I’ll catch up in a moment."
Nytherael and Sseraphis were reluctant to leave. Aeltharion had just woken up from his medicinal bath when Zarathia summoned them, and he hadn’t rested or eaten to re-energize, and they were worried for his safety.
"Alright. Call for us if you need us," Nytherael said before they left, and Aeltharion nodded in agreement.
Fairy Zarathia waited until they disappeared, and she remained alone with Aeltharion before she spoke, "I’ve located the dragon that charmed Nytherael. I thought it best to let you know first."
Aeltharion’s eyes lit up, then darkened before they lit up again. He was excited to know that she identified the enemy who plotted against him and his mates but also had an urge to confront them to quench his bloodthirsty hunger for that monster’s blood.
"You have. Where?"
"The dragon is right here with us," she let out.
"Right here," the light in Aeltharion’s eyes went on. Only their friends, family, and closest comrades were in the house. Among them were only three dragons, himself, Aenyra, and Fior.
He hadn’t charmed Nytherael, so he wasn’t the culprit, and that left his sister and his most trusted right hand. Both of whom were loyal to him and wouldn’t wish ill on him, at least, he believed they wouldn’t... with reason.
Aenyra and Fior were two dragons he trusted to get him through hell and enjoy paradise with him. They were his ride or die in the dragon community. He just couldn’t picture them being responsible for ruining his life.
"Wh...who is it?"
He closed his eyes, gold stained tears tolling down his eyes. As much as he raised the question, he didn’t want the answer.
A part of him wanted to scrub the whole thing under a rug and forget it ever happened and not know the identity of the traitor. Deep down, he knew that once that name was spoken, there would be no going back.
His relationship with either his sister or his most trusted right hand dragon would be destroyed forever.
"It’s the male dragon who arrived today," she said.
Foir? Aeltharion was slightly revealed. The one who schemed against him wasn’t his sister, but it broke his heart that it was his most trusted aid.
"Could you be mistaken?" His voice went low. He didn’t want to believe and wished Fairy Zarathia would break into a laugh and say she’s joking. However, no matter how long he held his breath, the fairy didn’t laugh it off as a joke.
"I am positive that he is the one who charmed Nytherael," Zarathia confirmed. "I know that he’s close to you and you might find it hard to believe but Aeltharion...its always the shortest rod that kills a snake, not the longest one," she touched his shoulder with warm and understanding in her eyes.
In short, it’s never those far from you that stab you in the heart. It’s the ones you hold close, Aeltharion translated her words.
A wave of emotions overwhelmed him. He felt them all at the same time and with intensity. Anger, sadness, hatred, confusion, and regret, they flooded his body and made him more exhausted than he already was.
His heart broke. His muscles ached like someone had given him a beating, and his mind became messy. He went back and forth through his past interactions with Fior and found nothing that would cause Fior to hurt him so badly.
Fior was the nicest, most principled beast he knew. It made no sense practically and impractical for him to be the villain of his story. He had no spine for being a villain.
An exhausted sigh excaped Aeltharion’s lips. He stared at the skies for a moment, memories of time spent conquering the skies with Fior by his side surfaced.
From time to time, sadness crossed his eyes. On that quiet and steady day, the sunlight is warn and the scenery is pleasant but his heart was heavy.
Fairy Zarathia, with her arms crossed, insisted. "I am telling you the truth. Unless their is another dragon with the distinct soul print as him then... I’m afraid he is your culprit."
Aeltharion shook his head, he refused to believe the soldier whose fought several battles side by side with him would betray him. Fior was the first dragon ro congratulate him after he got married, the dragon even got him a cook book as a wedding gift and suffered through cooking lessons with him just because he wanted to learn.
It was impossible for him to trust the accusations against Fior. But he couldn’t refute Zarathia and dismiss her words so easily.
"I need to have a word with Fior," he uttered and got up from his seat to leave.
Zarathia blocked his path and asked, "Are you sure that you want to alert him? There’s a chance that he might end up getting away with it by denying the truth."
"If he’s the one who did this, I’ll know when I question him."
"How will you know?"
"I’ll know," he repeated. He knew his trusted aid like the back of his hand, if Fior lies to him, he would instantly know.
Aeltharion turned around and vanished from that spot. He reappeared in the room he had sensed Fior in.
Fior felt the intrusion and glanced in his direction. "Boss," he greeted Aeltharion and happily ran over to his side. "Boss, are you alright. Do you need me for something," as usual the dragon offered to be of service to him before he even asked.
Aeltharion found it hard to imagine him being a traitor and betraying his trust.
"Do you harbour any resentment against me, Fior?"
Fior denied without hesitation. "Me? Resent you? Never!"
"Would you ever wish ill on me?" Aeltharion struggled to ask. Fior was the last beast he’d ever wish to doubt.
"Why would I do that? I am not just your loyal soldier but I consider you a dear friend," Fior smiled, the sincerity in his eyes was hard to judge.
Aeltharion wondered what Zarathia had seen thar had her convinced that Fior was the one who harmed him. It didn’t appear so. The dragon was honest, the most honest beast he’d ever met.
He brushed those doubts away and sighed. "Forget I asked," he said and took a seat. "I was thinking of leaving western skirift to Nytherael and Sseraphis if something happens to me, I want to discuss that with you," he changed the subject.
"To your mates?"
"Yes."
"That sounds lovely," Fior cheered but his eyes twitched darkly for a second before they returned to normal. It was too quick that Aeltharion failed to notice.
"Is it alright if I trust you to take care of them in place when I am gone?"
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