"I understand, father, but it is not clever to go back with your health declining either," Ravina argued.
Her father smiled gently. "Many kings rule without their health intact."
"It is different now, and Andrew is incapable of doing anything."
"That is why he needs to go back," Ares argued. "Andrew's harmlessness is what will bring harm. He might not be the danger, but he is weakening the kingdom's defenses, and soon we will have bigger enemies to deal with when they can easily infiltrate." He explained. "I would have left him to dig his own grave, but it will be at the expense of innocent people."
Ravina tried to argue, but she had to find the right words. "His health is more important."
Ares, being his usual self, didn't allow her statement to make him emotional. "We won't go back without a plan. I will invite trusted officials, and the people I know for sure are on our side. Andrew has already made enemies who are not happy with his rule. When we go back, we will have the security we need, and the throne is rightfully your father's, so there is no arguing that. If Andrew wants it, he will have to find other means, than attacking your father, as that won't serve him well."
Richard seemed thoughtful, as if he wasn't even following their argument. Ravina turned from Ares to her father, knowing that Ares was right, but she was just trying to find ways to keep her father safe.
Her father looked up at her where he sat and then at Darcy. "You are both right. It is a tough choice, and this is not only a matter of the kingdom. It is a family matter as well. I know you don't like Andrew but…" there was a struggle in his eyes. "I can't abandon him."
It suddenly struck Ravina, all the times her father had been her uncle, she had no doubt because he had treated Andrew like a son. Well, he was in a way, his son. Her father and uncle, being twins, made her and Andrew half-siblings.
"Father, it is not your fault. You don't have to feel obligated," Ravina said, knowing he probably blamed himself for her uncle's death.
"It is not an obligation. It is a promise I made to Russell." He said.
Ravina felt defeated at this point. She didn't know what to say or do.
"And have some faith in me." He smiled lightly. "I have ruled since I was fifteen. None of you know this, but I did not just leave the kingdom without a backup plan." Now they all listened as Richard continued. "I have certain rules set for whenever I leave or if I get sick or in trouble. I have, in all secret, established a council of loyalists, trusted individuals who have always been by my side, who share my vision for the kingdom," Richard said, his eyes reflecting a combination of wisdom and foresight.
"Are they in danger?" Darcy asked.
Richard gave her a reassuring smile. "No, my dear. They are in plain sight but hidden in the complexity of their roles. They are not branded as loyalists but act as my eyes and ears within the court, many of them maintaining a semblance of allegiance to Andrew even before I left. They don't even know about each other, therefore I keep an eye on Andrew and know which ones have changed sides or which ones remain. As for Andrew, he thinks more people are on his side than there are."
"And what about the military?" Ares wondered.
Richard nodded with his usual calm demeanor. "I assume General Leonid is still a commander."
Ares paused. "He isn't an ally to Andrew?"
"For now," Richard smiled.
"Oh, of course," Ares sighed. "Why did I bother even?"
Richard chuckled. "I still need to go back, the secret council will only hold on for so long. A ruler is needed."
Ravina and Darcy looked at each other, and then Darcy surprised her. "I am coming with you." She said. "It will also explain your absence if you go back with me." Then she turned to Ravina. "I am sure you need to stay here. That way, we have people on either side."
They sat down and discussed some plans, with Ephraim joining them while Malachi and Nazneen were back home for their duties.
The next two days, while waiting for Richard's trusted men to come and escort him back home, his recovery was going well. He now managed to walk without a cane, and the examinations showed good results, changes that aligned with the transformation. He even mentioned one evening how the food tasted differently. It must have been the enhanced sense that the physician had been talking about.
In Ares's home, relationships started to build and develop. Richard was a father to half of them, Ares, Ravina, and Darcy, and a father-in-law acting like a father to the other half, Malachi, Ephraim, and Nazneen.
Ephraim and Ares often enjoyed each other's company, while Malachi either spent his time with Nazneen discussing their duties and their next plans as they developed an alliance between their kingdoms, and other times, he spent time with Darcy. Ravina was surprised to find him one morning with her sister, teaching him how to use a pistol. Although the scent thing remained, none of them was bothered by it anymore. They just accepted that they were drawn to their future brother-in-law's scent, no matter how strange it was.
"So this is how you load the pistol," Darcy showed him, taking it very slowly. Ravina had seen how fast her sister could load a pistol, as if she could do it in her sleep.
Malachi watched carefully and followed her steps.
"Good." Darcy nodded. Then she watched him aim and shoot. It didn't go so well. She gave him certain tips, and he shot. He hit the target, but very near the corner.
"It is good," Darcy encouraged. "Just… don't try to do it like a human. You are a dragon. You have sharp senses, speed, and balance. Use those things to your advantage."
Malachi tried again, putting more focus on it and taking Darcy's advice. When he took a shot, he hit the target right in the head.
"That was great," Darcy gave him a clap on the back as if they were two men. She pressed her lips together, realizing her manly behavior had slipped, and Ravina almost chuckled.
"You are a good teacher," Malachi praised. "Maybe you can teach me those complicated dances for the upcoming party." He said.
Darcy nodded. "It will be my pleasure to torture you." Then she turned to Ravina, who sat on the bench and kept watching. "I will make him an excellent dancer, but you can't see. It will be a surprise, and then you will be the one stumbling on your feet."
Ravina rolled her eyes. Right. "I will ask Ephraim to teach me," she teased back.
Speaking of Ephraim, Ravina had also enjoyed spending time with him, and they grew more and more comfortable around each other. Despite his calm nature, he had a good sense of humor.
While Ravina and Darcy kept a good distance between themselves and their respective partners in front of their father, Ares, and Nazneen were very open. She would sit close to him, and he would have his arm around her. Richard had to say something at some point, although he never showed any disapproval of their behavior.
"You marry this woman," he scolded light-heartedly.
Ares chuckled, pulling Nazneen even closer. "Do you approve of her?"
"Of course, I want to see an official commitment." He said and then turned to Nazneen. "Is your union posing a difficulty in your kingdom?" He asked in a very fatherly manner.
"I am settling down as a new queen at the moment so we have been busy with a lot of other things, but I am sure it will be alright."
"Good. Don't delay it too much," he advised, and both of them smiled.
"You are supposed to be protective of me, not her," Ares joked.
"You need no protection," Richard retorted. Then his gaze briefly went over Ephraim and Malachi but he said nothing.
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