Chapter 681 Arriving At The Draconia Kingdom (2)
[In the not-so-distant future]
Tamsin took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "The young man I was speaking with is King Archer Wyldheart of the newly founded Draconia Kingdom," she explained, watching as confusion flickered across their faces.
"Draconia Kingdom? Where's that?" Marigold repeated, her brow furrowing in disbelief. "But what would a king from Draconia want with us?"
Tamsin nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of her next words. "King Archer has offered us sanctuary in his kingdom if we leave Aradonia behind," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. "He wants to help us escape the Sunspear Empire's grasp."
Her daughters exchanged worried glances, uncertainty clouding their features, "But Mother, what about Father and Brother?" Briela asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
Tamsin's heart ached at the mention of her lost loved ones, but she knew she had to stay strong for her daughters. She replied, her voice filled with determination, "We will honor their memory by ensuring the survival of our people.''
Just then, a group of large dragonkin men entered the courtyard, their imposing presence drawing the attention of everyone present. Tamsin recognized them as the soldiers King Archer had mentioned, sent to escort them to Tidewater City.
"Your Majesty," one of the dragonkin men said, bowing respectfully before her. "The White Dragon has sent us to escort you and your family to Tidewater City."
Tamsin nodded, guiding her daughters toward the waiting carriage as the soldier escorted them outside the palace gates. However, her heart skipped a beat when she saw thousands of formidable black armored soldiers standing guard around them.
Seeing so many assigned to protect her and her family by a seemingly unknown king left her bewildered and apprehensive. Their menacing black armor gleamed in the sunlight, but she could only see their eyes covered with everything else.
Marigold stopped behind her and whispered worriedly, ''Who are these soldiers, Mother? And why do they look so frightening.''
Briela agreed just as the king's mother, Jessica, approached angrily, demanding, ''What are you doing, Tamsin? Why are you allowing these unknown soldiers to take us captive? This king seems up to no good and will do something scummy to you and the girls.''
Just as the older woman said that all the soldiers around them turned to face her with a look of rage; one of them stepped out and scolded the late king's mother, ''Who are you to question our king, human? He's the infamous White Dragon who created a kingdom out of nothing where all can thrive and live safely. Be careful with your next words, woman.''
Another soldier added, ''You're lucky he wanted to help your kingdom. It would be best if you were more thankful he arrived in time. If not, you don't want to know what would have happened to you or your family.''
As tensions escalated, Tamsin sensed the situation veering out of control and interjected, "Mother, Aradonia is on the brink of collapse. We would have become mere playthings in the hands of the Sunspear soldiers. What other choice did I have? The young man harbors no ill intentions toward us. He aims to invite others to join his kingdom and contribute to its growth."
Tamsin thought to herself, 'How come they are so strong? How is he training them.'
After that, the trip to the port city took just two hours, and the last half went by peacefully with no more attacks. They entered the city gates but rushed straight for the shipyard. When Tamsin, her daughters, and her mother-in-law saw the menacing black ships scattered throughout the bay.
But one ship stood out and looked like a monster on the water's surface, shocking Tamsin, who had never seen such a warship. Her kingdom's ships were half the size of the thing. It loomed over the harbor like a fortress of steel and magic, its sleek hull slicing through the waters with an air of authority.
At its prow, a massive dragon's head sculpted from obsidian jutted forward, its eyes ablaze with fiery enchantments. Mana cannons, which can unleash devastating arcane energy torrents upon any foe foolish enough to challenge its might, littered the deck.
They gleamed with a metallic sheen, their barrels adorned with complex dwarven runes pulsating with raw magical power. The battleship bristled with activity as crews of skilled sailors and mages worked tirelessly to maintain its formidable arsenal and ensure its readiness for battle.
Each crew member moved with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine. Their movements synchronized as they carried out their duties with unwavering dedication. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow across the waters.
When all the women saw the ships, they were utterly shocked, and the queen's mother, Jessica, commented in disbelief, ''What are these monsters? I've never seen ships like this in all my forty years of life.''
Briela and Marigold nodded in agreement as the carriage stopped, and the commander opened the door, allowing the four to step out. When the salty air hit their noses, they started getting upset, but Tamsin spoke in a determined voice, ''Come on, ladies. We need to get out of here.''
After speaking, the Draconia commander appeared before instructing, ''Head toward pier five and board the waiting boat. It will take you to Archer's Pride.''
''Archer's Pride?'' Marigold repeated in a curious voice.
''Yes. It's the king's ship that he and the Oakshield sisters designed together,'' the commander explained.
The four women nodded in unison before making their way towards their escape. As they boarded, they were rowed out to the immense battleship, where they were assisted onto the deck. When Tamsin glanced back, she witnessed thousands of her citizens being ferried onto other ships, which left her utterly astonished.
As they observed the survivors being escorted to safety, shouts erupted, followed by the sudden thunderous boom of several large explosions. Marigold, Briela, and Jessica jumped in fright as the battleship's cannons fired.
The barrage continued until it abruptly ceased, prompting Tamsin to rush to the nearest soldier and inquire, "Who is the ship firing at?"
The soldier paused, assessing Tamsin before replying, "I'd reckon it's the Sunspear dogs. The king ordered us to target their camps, aiming to obliterate them as he loots all their treasure."
[Please let me know if you spot any mistakes, and I will edit them. Thank you]
