Ashborn Chapter 26
They thought they were holding a defector. They were holding the consort of the most powerful sovereign alive.
“We know she’s bonded to the High Warden,” the intelligence officer said, “but their customs on that aren’t,” he paused a moment, “fully clear.”
Bracksmit tapped a finger on the tabletop. “Is it binding?”
“It’s permanent,” the officer confirmed. “But whether it’s a military bond or a personal one—”
“Look at the footage from the court,” another cut in. “That wasn’t military.”
Bracksmit’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. Personal or not, it ties her directly to their command structure. That makes her dangerous enough. We don’t need to know the rest to act accordingly.”
The door slammed open. The intelligence officer and his aide entered, breathless. “We’ve confirmed it.”
Bracksmit looked up. “Confirmed what?”
The intelligence officer paused the monitor on the wall on a frame showing the kiss at the tribunal.
“The bond between Calderin and the High Warden. It isn’t just a military pairing. It’s a marriage. In Host law, she is his wife.”
An advisor snorted. “We’ve known they were… involved.”
One of the senior advisors slams his hand on the table. “Then we execute her. Quickly. We have all evidence needed.”
“No,” the officer snapped, “you don’t understand. It’s legal, binding, permanent. It ties her to his house, his political alliances, his bloodline. Every dragon in the Host would see an attack on her as an attack on him—and by extension, on his entire faction.”
Bracksmit’s pen stilled. “Meaning?”
“Meaning,” the officer said grimly, “we aren’t holding a defector. We’re holding the High Warden’s consort. If they recover her alive, she won’t just speak for him—she can speak as him in certain councils.”
A file dropped onto the table. “And we’ve confirmed that he is not just High Warden of his Court, but the Lord of the entire Dragon Host,” the intelligence specialist continued.
“He rules all thirteen Courts. Each Court is semi-sovereign, with its own forces and mutual protection treaties. Yet they all answer to him. In human terms… he’s on the same level as our Emperor. Calderin is his wife. His consort. Equivalent to a head-of-state’s spouse.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“According to Host doctrine, killing Calderin could kill the High Warden. We don’t know if it is literal, but it is not something we can afford to test. The High Warden does not have a known bloodline successor. The Courts would either unite under whoever he’s named as a successor or tear themselves apart in civil war to settle succession. And if he lives…” The officer trailed off for a moment. “Either outcome kills us.”
