Splintered Fate by ylugin Read Free Book Online

were
one of the only Aorras known that can be ridden.
    To the left of the Laderics sat
Iria and Lionel Maddox. The Maddoxs controlled a majority of the
coastlines in Madonia along with the islands to the West. Iria was
leaning in towards her husband, deep in conversation. Glancing up
only to acknowledge Valdor and Lana enter the room before quickly
cutting whatever was being said short and flashing a big smile at
them. The Maddoxs were both short, with dark hair and slender
bodies. They looked similar enough to be confused for brother and
sister instead of husband and wife.
    Beside Iria sat a Vesper, perched
on a stool. This was the first time Lana had ever seen a Vesper.
Before this day they seemed mythical to her. The Vesper was about a
third of the size of Ardin and had scaly blue skin with a short
nose. A-top its head it had a fin crown and a long tail with more
fins at the end. They were creatures known to be great swimmers and
preferred water to land. It was a great fit for a costal Council
member.
    Next to Lionel sat a Great Cat. It
was white with a few black spots on top of its head and back with
large paws and a lion-like tail. Great Cats were known to be highly
adaptable creatures, able to live in all climates. Lana always
found it strange that Great Cats had never been found in the wild.
Some said that was because they do not exist outside of Aorra’s,
others said that they were too wise to ever allow for themselves to
be seen in the wild.
    Next to the Maddox’s were two
empty spaces for Lana and her father. Next to their open seats sat
Kirill with the awful bloody cape she knew he would have draped
proudly over his chair. Next to him was his father, Arkhip Dukran.
Arkhip sat tall in all black with long gray hair.
    Around Arkhip’s dark slim figure
sat three large black wolves. One was Jett, who supposedly belonged
to Kirill. The other two were clearly Arkhip's. There was no reason
to have the extra in a meeting of the council, other than to show
off. The third wolf was there purely as a show of Arkhip’s power.
It was so typical of him, never missing an opportunity to flaunt
his strength.
    Arkhip Dukran was an especially
talented Madonian, he had the ability to create wolves. Most
Madonians who could create things, could so in a silver color, not
lifelike. However, Arkhip didn’t just create figurines or silver
wolves, he was capable of creating extremely lifelike black wolves,
that moved and behaved like natural creatures.
    He had been seen using as many as
five wolves under his command before. Lana had no idea how many he
ever had at one time or which one was even his Aorra. This made the
Dukran family feared, for the things Arkhip was capable of doing
without the drain of his strength was, before him, unheard
of.
    After acknowledging all who were
in the round room Lana began making her way to the two open seats
left for them. Valdor greeted Lionel Maddox with a strong
handshake. The two were somewhat long time friends. They were not
close, for council members tended to keep each other at an arms
length. However, Valdor had gone fishing with Lionel once, which
was more than what Lana had ever seen from the others and her
father. Lana’s father took the seat next to Lionel, putting her in
the seat next to Kirill.
    It will be fine.
Keep moving, people are beginning to stare. Ardin gave Lana a gentle mental nudge. She stopped brooding a
moment and observed everyone’s eyes on her. She hadn’t even noticed
that she had stopped walking. Heat rose to her face as she blushed,
hurrying to her seat.
    Ardin sat between Lana and Kirill,
his head well above the table. He gazed around at all who were in
the room before turning back to her. Lana too observed the room,
taking note that the Sterling’s were the only ones
missing.
    The Sterling’s were a mother and daughter
team, to whom this castle was home. Always trying to make an
entrance and make everyone wait for them Lana thought to
herself.
    Yes, well