Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Helia hugged Arial's waist as they rode, Kyle and Lisa each atop their own horse. Arial had named his demon horse Firebringer, and after all this time he was still only loyal to Arial.

They headed for home in a gallop, stopping only briefly to rest their horses.

Finally, the city came into view, much larger and mightier than it had been when they had left five years ago.

A guard stopped them at the city gate and asked for their identification. Arial laughed.

"Alvin, it's me," he said. The guard's eyes widened as he took in Arial's unmistakable white hair and his family's ring.

"Milord," he dropped to his knee before them, and Arial gestured for him to stand.

"May we enter?" he asked.

"Of course, milord," Alvin stepped back and allowed them to pass, nodding respectfully as they went.

The city walls were plastered with the Vermont family's crest.

The streets were crowded. Now his father not only controls this city but about four other cities. Each one is being supervised by his father and his vassals.

Arial and Helia bid farewell to Kyle and Lisa and fought their way through the masses to the castle his father had built three years before.

Aries had named it Roaring Dragon castle, after Arial's house at the Academy.

It was larger than any castle belonging to the Houses of Rodan and Palais, with guards surrounding each of the gates.

Arial saw the arrow loops, and he walk around the castle too see what his father has built.

Arial noticed that there is the west bailey and east bailey and the barbicans with four guards on each side of the gates.

The battlement is also built for archers. Lots and lots of it. And there's the rampart. The drawbridge is also made of high quality wood.

Hard and strong. It was like a strong fortress that could even hold out in a prolonged siege battle.

He smiles and then he looked at Helia. She seems exhausted.

"Helia, alert the attendants that you have arrived and they will take care of you," said Arial, dismounting Firebringer. "I'll find you later. Go and rest."

She nodded. And then she asks.

'Don't leave me alone, alright?' She asked, shyly.

Arial nodded.

'Don't worry' and he rub her head and Helia is blushing red but she didn't look like she hates it.

Helia nodded and walked to the elaborate entrance. Arial watched her for a moment, then continued to walk around the outside of the castle.

"Milord, welcome!" a guard greeted Arial and bowed.

"What's that?" Arial asked, pointing to the castle's tallest structure.

"That's the Dragon Keep, milord. Lord Aries named it himself."

Arial smiled to himself and, nodding to the guard, he stepped inside the castle.

The comfort of home had settled him, and he was suddenly overcome with exhaustion.

Finding an attendant to show him to his room, he pulled off his dust-speckled clothes and threw them to the floor.

He was too tired to bathe, and collapsed onto his bed, his heavy eyes already fluttering shut.

And he sighed but there is a smile on his face.

'I'm home' he said it to himself.

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A small bite sized chapter to end the chapter