Page 7 of Courting the Dragon Prince

Onyx just had to accept that he would be tied to the obnoxious man for the rest of his life. The muscles in Onyx’s shoulders tightened.

In and out. In and out.

The monks had provided large stone slabs in all the rooms for their Grey Mountains guests. They did this regardless of whether the individual had the power to channel stone and rock. Of course, it was a rather common ability in the Grey Mountains, although it varied greatly in capability. Very few in the Grey Mountains had no affinity for the stone at all.

The sort of power Onyx had was less common. But he came from a powerful bloodline of earth elementals. So no one was surprised that he could hurl rocks with ease through the air.

In and out. In and out.

Slowly, he let his focus shift to the stone slab he sat on. Then onto the stone in his environment. He meditated for another half hour, annoyed with himself that his mind kept wandering to the previous night.

Finally, he rose and left his room. Onyx straightened his spine as he walked along the corridor of the section of the monastery that had been provided for the Grey Mountains royal family. He glanced out the windows, staring at the towers and turrets made of sandstone.

His uncle’s deep, murmuring voice reached his ears. Onyx followed the voice and found his uncle, Warden Flint, with his daughter, Warden Jade, in the library, staring down at a map rolled out onto a table.

As Onyx entered the room, his uncle and cousin raised their heads.

“Morning, Cousin.” Jade smiled. “Sleep well?”

“Morning,” Onyx greeted. “Well enough.”

“Jade and I are just going over a trade agreement that she will be discussing with the several dignitaries from Draconia later today,” Warden Flint said.

Onyx nodded and came up beside him. He stared down at the map covered in various coloured metal discs embossed with different symbols.

The map depicted Draconia, the majority of the five kingdoms that bordered Draconia, and the ocean that surrounded Draconia’s coastline. None of the other kingdoms beyond Botanial, the Grey Mountains, Voltaria, Zephyrias, and Necros could be seen on this map.

Off the coast of Draconia, one could see the Island of the Way of the Dove, where the White Monastery stood and where Onyx and the others were currently gathered for the peace assembly.

“What trade agreement?” Onyx asked with a hint of embarrassment.

He should be on top of this. After all, Onyx was going to be the grand warden and ruler of the Grey Mountains one day. He really should know what was going on.

The truth was he didn’t know anything about trade agreements, negotiations, or dealing with foreign dignitaries. Onyx had not been raised to be the grand warden. He’d been raised to be a warrior and to follow orders.

It was his sister who had been meant to be ruler one day.

In the past few months, Onyx had foolishly hoped he might marry someone who would assist him in his role as grand warden when the time came, someone who could advise him and provide support.

Onyx let out a breath. Prince Luther would be nothing but a hindrance. Prince Luther couldn’t even get through their betrothal announcement without running off to throw up.

How could he be a decent consort?

“Hopefully, we can once again use the trade routes we had access to before the war. They go through Draconia to the coast.” His uncle traced his finger along the map. “It will be much easier than going through Botanial. And Botanial’s ports are a bureaucratic nightmare.”

Warden Flint chuckled. “You can say what you want about the dragons, but they know how to run their country efficiently and competently. They also have much better roads.”

Jade glanced at Onyx. “Today, I also plan to discuss the rates that Draconia will expect us to pay for the use of their roads and ports. I am hoping they will agree to the amount we paid as part of the Mount Reamer Agreement. But of course, those are old arrangements made many years ago.”

Warden Flint straightened his moustache. “It is still a good starting point for negotiations.”

The muscles in Onyx’s jaw tightened, but he kept his expression neutral.

He had no idea what the two were talking about. What trade routes? What were they trading? With whom? And what was this Mount Reamer Agreement?

How can I ever be grand warden if I know nothing of these things?

Warden Flint turned to him. He clapped Onyx on the shoulder. “But of course, you won’t be expected to attend those discussions today. Jade will take care of them. You focus on your upcoming nuptials. Your relationship with Prince Luther is what your focus should be on. Jade and I can take care of negotiations and other matters.”