Free The Invisible Chains - Part 1: Bonds of Hate by Andrew Ashling Page B

Again

    Anaxantis was still asleep when Ehandar woke. Instinctively he remained as still as possible, so as not to disturb the peaceful rest of the boy. He enjoyed the unfamiliar feeling of waking up with a warm, breathing body tucked beside him. He had never felt like this before. It was as if for the first time he had something worthwhile to cherish, to protect. Strangely enough, it made all his problems more easy to bear and more urgent at the same time.
    He almost startled when something suddenly occurred to him. He got up as quietly as he could and dressed. Cautiously he opened the door of their room and once outside ran down the stairs. Once on the courtyard, he looked up. Above the gate flew the battle standard of Ximerion and his own eagle flag. About two months ago he had given the order to not raise the dragon anymore. He now countermanded this and waited until a nervous sentinel had raised Anaxantis's standard. Then he went to the lodgings of his personal guard. He had also commandeered his brother's six soldiers.
    He barged in the room where two captains, both wearing his crest, were breakfasting.
    “My brother has recovered,” he said to one of them without any greeting or introduction, “and he may need his guard. From now on you are to wear the yellow tunics with the dragon crest again. See to it.”
    The captains looked stupefied at each other.
    “Immediately, my lord,” the one he had addressed replied.
    That taken care of, Ehandar relaxed and returned to their room.

    He found Anaxantis, who in the meantime had woken and dressed, sitting quietly in his spot next to the fireplace.
    “What are you doing there?” he asked, truly not understanding what he saw.
    “I thought you wanted me here,” Anaxantis replied. “I didn't want to presume—”
    “No, no, no,” Ehandar interrupted him while he crouched beside him, “I want us to make a fresh start. I've handled this wrongly from the beginning. It's not the only thing I've managed to botch up. A lot has happened and there is so much to tell.”
    He stood up and extended both his hands to help Anaxantis rise.
    “I promise, it will all be different from now on,” he said smilingly. “Believe me.”
    He hugged the boy and pressed him against his body.
    “I believe you,” Anaxantis replied softly.
    “Just like that... and it's over,” Anaxantis thought, amazed. “He is in love. He is in love with me. Who would have thought it possible? Yes, it will all be different from now on.”
    “First we will inform general Tarngord of your recovery, and this afternoon we will take a ride in the country. I will fill you in about everything that has happened. That is, if you feel up for a ride. I know you get dizzy spells.”
    “Somehow I think they won't bother me anymore,” Anaxantis said thoughtfully.
    “I should have listened more to you. I know that now.”
    “Yes, you should have, on more than one occasion,” Anaxantis thought.
    He made a slight deprecating gesture with his hand and smiled weakly.
    “It doesn't matter anymore. You're right. Let's make a fresh start of it.”
    It was exactly what Ehandar wanted to hear. He fetched Anaxantis's yellow tunic, his sword and his boots and helped him put them on. 
    “You don't have to help me like that, I can do it myself,” Anaxantis said, while his brother was fastening the heavy clasps of the boots.
    Ehandar looked up from his crouched position and grinned.
    “I don't mind. I want to.”
    While Ehandar girded his sword on, Anaxantis looked out of one of the windows that overlooked the courtyard. He saw the three flags fluttering above the gates.
    “And so the dragon flies again,” he thought satisfied.

    Commander-general Demrac Tarngord was the first of the higher officers to know. A servant had just put on his right boot when he heard a knock on the door of his private quarters. After being given permission his aide-de-camp entered.
    “General”, he said, “I thought you would want to