by Lola Ford
“What’s going on?” He looked outraged at Graith. “You. You gave me that cursed gold piece that I was accused of stealing.”
His fists clenched, and he glared at Graith. He sounded a lot more mature than Graith expected. When they had spoken briefly before at the inn, all they had talked about was Mero.
“Your pa didn’t stand up for you?” Graith asked, horrified.
“My pa’s been dead for three years. He ain’t standing up for nobody.”
Graith blinked in confusion.
“Oh, I assumed that the innkeeper was your father.”
“Ol’ Randy? He ain’t me pa. Ain’t Daisy’s either.”
Oh.
It made more sense why Randy kept Daisy around the place, even knowing she was sleeping with the customers. Actually, it was probably because she was sleeping with them.
So, they just assumed you had stolen it because you had it?
The lad’s eyes went wide, and the color drained from his face.
As slowly as he could, he turned to face Zel.
He had forgotten about her in his rage at Graith. All his muscles tensed, and an ever so slight shifting of his feet was all the warning Graith got that the boy was about to run.
Zel however already knew.
She snaked her tail out and even as the boy took his first step, he tripped, falling to the ground.
I am not going to hurt you!
Zel’s eyes whirled an anxious yellow. Blue and silver danced in between the yellow glow in fast little circles as she looked at the boy. He looked at her in shocked awe. Then his focus changed, and Graith could see him really looking at her for the first time.
Seeing more than the talons and saber like teeth. Her hide had darkened into a warm sky blue at some point recently, and her scars on her chest and leg were a milky white. Even the tip of her tail had grown at least a foot since she’d had it cut off.
Graith couldn’t read the lad’s mind like Zel, but he didn't need to. He could see that he thought she was beautiful.
Terrifying, but beautiful.
He says his name is Alix.
Graith was surprised. They must have been speaking privately. For just an instant he felt jealous, then he remembered that he’d been the only person that Zel had talked to in months.
If not longer.
She was probably bored of him. He at least had talked to people in Dunlaith. Before that he’d had Ralph and Sarah.
I am not bored of you. But yes, speaking to someone else is… refreshing.
“Alix. I never meant for you to get in trouble. Is there anything I can do? Go back to Dunlaith and explain?”
“And what? Go back to Randy? I don’t think so. He’s the one who accused me of stealing. Na. I think it’s time I leave Dunlaith anyways. I’m nearly a man.”
Graith chuckled. “How old are you anyway lad?”
“I might be puny, but I’m fourteen. What’cha doin’ travelin’ with a dragon?”
He’s helping me find my eggs.
“Your eggs? I saw eggs!” Alix became animated, talking with his hands, “I was up late cleaning the stable when a group of men came through town a while back.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, they went to the Lord’s keep, then left not even an hour later, but this time Sir Braylin was with them. They left through the North gate, so I figured they were headed to Kelna.” He shrugged as if he wasn’t sure what to say, “It's the only city that way.”
Why would they go to Kelna?
Graith answered as he had heard of the city before. “It’s the fastest way to the capital. How long ago was that Alix?”
“It was the night before you got to town I think, so three days ago?”
We must go then. Now.
Zel was on her feet, stamping back and forth. Graith got to his feet as well and started taking Mero up.
“Can I go too?”
Alix was looking at the cart, and more importantly, Graith.
Don’t you have anyone who will miss you? Zel asked.
“Just ol’ Randy when he realizes he has to muck the stalls.”
Graith wasn’t sure about the company, but Zel decided for him.
Get in. We need to go. They are only three days ahead of us.
Graith noted a tinge of desperation in her tone, but he didn’t say anything. Instead he just rearranged the packs and made room for Alix in the back of the cart. The boy hopped up and settled himself between the two largest ones.
Even before he was comfortable, they were crashing through the underbrush back towards the main road.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Nerie
The days seemed to fly by and before Nerie realized, she had been in the palace for a little over a month. Kiriga’s head now loomed above her own, her scales already darkening into a smooth gold from the pale yellow they’d once been. Nerie had improved both her posture and gait, and her clothes now fit her like a glove - much to Alaena’s approval.
Since the incident with Astra in the hallway, she’d not seen her half-sister at all. Queen Alaena did not speak of either of her children while tutoring Nerie, nor did Nerie ask after them. She knew from Aldis’s late night adventures that he was training to be a knight, and that he was going to have to go away soon as part of his training with his mentor, Sir Camran, was to travel to the different major cities of Situra.
She wished that she could go along, as there was so much of the kingdom that she hadn’t even known existed before her lessons with Alaena. Situra was a large country, bordered on the west by Lutesia and to the south west a mountain range separated it from Etria, homeland of the dragons. Along the north and east sides, the country was bordered by ocean. The only port city was Alluvial - with trading between it and Tesia, capitol of Lutesia being heavily restricted.
***
As Nerie finished her lessons with Alaena for the day and prepared for her lunch with the king, Karina rushed in after she had been summoned away by Vizen, Soren’s personal servant.
“Nerie! We must get you changed, right now.” Karina was already in the closet looking for a new dress.
“What’s going on?” Nerie asked, following the woman in. Even Alaena’s attention had been caught and she hovered near the door waiting to hear what the maid had to say.
“The king has requested you attend an impromptu session of the Curia Regis - the country’s council. Here now, you strip out of that and put this on,” she said while pulling a golden velvet dress out of the wardrobe.
Doing as she was told, Nerie changed as quickly as she could. Once the dress was over her head, it was followed by ornate jewelry and a pair of satin slippers.
“Is all this really necessary Karina?” Nerie asked, feeling as if she was being weighed down by each piece of metal.
“Yes. While unscheduled, the king said this is to be a full gathering of the Curia. His highness also said that the queen had told him that you were ready to sit in for your first council meeting.”
Karina’s face was flushed as she brushed out strands of hair from Nerie’s face and tugged on her gown making it pool correctly at her feet. Nerie glanced over her shoulder in surprise of Alaena’s judgment but the woman had already left the quarters.
Once Karina was satisfied with Nerie’s appearance they were out the door. While Nerie had become quite accustomed to the halls of the palace, Karina led the way to the council hall, a place Nerie had only visited in a brief tour.
Even feeling as if they were late, Nerie made sure not to hustle after Karina, as one of Alaena’s lessons had been that royalty is never late, everyone else is simply early. She had also learned there was no point in arriving out of breath and red faced. She was royalty after all and had an appearance to uphold.
Sounds could be heard echoing down the hallway as they approached, for the doors to the hall the Curia met in were open and people were filing into the room. Nerie was surprised however when Karina motioned to follow her down a small side hallway ju
st before the hall. The hallway ended abruptly at a door, which Karina opened, bowing Nerie inside.
On the other side lay an ornate room with a long table filling most of the interior space. Chairs lined either side, and a golden half throne stood at the head of the table. Along the walls hung charts and maps of the kingdom, as well as ornamental flags and pennants. A fireplace took up the wall opposite the throne. Standing before the flames was King Soren, who had been waiting on Nerie.
“Welcome Nerie. I see Karina was able to get you ready for the Curia Regis.”
He smiled, and as usual Nerie couldn’t help but smile back.
“What is this room?” she asked, stepping further inside, looking closely at a large detailed map with colored pins decorating the various cities.
“This is the room for the Curia Minima - a subgroup of the full Curia Regis. I believe that Alaena has told you about how small groups of lords and ladies are responsible for different projects? Monthly, those groups meet with me in here to discuss their ideas and to have funds approved from the treasury. Also, there is an entrance for our use into the Curia Regis’ hall. Gives us the appearance of stateliness, or so that’s what my father told me.”
Soren motioned to another door that Nerie hadn’t seen before on the far wall, but from which the noise of the hall could be heard through. Karina had left through the door that she and Nerie had entered through. While they waited for some sign, Soren spent a few minutes telling her about the items that decorated the room.
A knock from the hall door cut him off however, and he motioned for Nerie to join him standing in before it.
“Karina or Vizen will open the door momentarily, the knock was just to signal to us that all the Curia Regis members have arrived and are ready for our entrance.”
Soren smiled at Nerie with a wink. While she smiled back, she still felt a hitch of anxiety about stepping through the door. The last time she had been in the public’s eye had been the night that Kiriga had hatched.
You will do fine, Kiriga said, her voice echoing in Nerie’s mind.
I wish you were here, Nerie said as she let her anxiety bleed into the dragon.
We both know that I am getting too large to follow you around any longer. Plus, Ilex and I are using the time to bond. He’s such an interesting big brother.
Someday you’ll have to go meet your other brothers and sisters.
We will meet them when the time is right Nerie. Together. However, I do talk to them on occasion.
Oh? That was something Nerie hadn’t known about her young dragoness.
From time to time. They like me. Nerie could feel Kiriga preen at the statement.
Everyone likes you. But I love you, Nerie told her.
You will do fine. Vizen is about to open the door for you.
Sure enough, a heartbeat later, the door was pulled open and Soren motioned for Nerie to step into the hall before him. It took all her willpower - and not just a little bit of love from Kiriga - for Nerie to refrain from freezing before the gathered Curia Regis. So many people were in the hall, that as they stood, shifting and moving that it was like looking upon a room full of jewels. Every shade of the rainbow seemed to be present before them, as people decorated in silks, satins, jewels, and feathers stood waiting.
Vizen’s deep voice boomed across the crowded space announcing them, “Her royal highness, heir apparent, Crown Princess Nerie. His royal highness, King Soren.”
Two large thrones sat on a dais above the Curia, and Nerie and Soren sat before the waiting crowd. Nerie’s heart raced as she took the practiced seat, sitting on the edge of the cushion, her back straight, her shoulders back. Managing that feat in a manner that Alaena would be proud of, Nerie wanted to relax but she couldn’t. Not with every eye in the hall was on her, many wide. She wished that she could turn invisible, but instead, looked over at Soren.
He was relaxed, his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward looking at his citizens.
“So, who has called a meeting of the full Curia Regis?” he asked, his voice soft, but instantly silencing the large room.
Nerie blanched. She had known this was not a regularly scheduled meeting of the Curia, but she hadn’t known that Soren had not been the one to call it.
When no one spoke up, he asked again.
“No one is going to claim calling a full meeting of the Curia? A right that is normally reserved for me - the king - to do?”
A few hushed whispers floated across the room, but again no one spoke up. Nerie expected Soren to be annoyed, but instead, his smile widened, and he laughed. All she could do was keep her mouth closed, not gaping like she would have only a month ago.
“You all obviously gathered here for a reason. Dressed up in your best finery. Here at an appointed time. Well here I am, ready to listen to whatever you felt was so urgent that it needed to be addressed today.”
Nerie was in awe at how calm he was. She hadn’t known either that he should have been the one to call the council meeting. More whispers fluttered around the room and many people’s attention returned to her. It made her uneasy, but she did her best to stay calm, focusing on Soren rather than the crowd.
Finally, a gaudy lord pushed his way to the front. He was wearing a bright red outfit that clashed horribly with his reddened face and every one of his fingers was covered in large jeweled rings. The rings were large enough that Nerie wondered if he could use his hands at all.
“Ah, Lord Narssus. Were you the one to call the meeting of the Curia?” Soren asked, looking at the man.
“My King, it was not I. However, I do know the reason for the meeting.”
Narssus’s voice sounded like someone with a severe cold and an unusually high-pitched voice, mixed together. It made Nerie’s skin crawl.
“Oh? And what might that be?”
Soren straightened slightly, but the man took a full step back.
“Her.”
Narssus pointed to Nerie.
“Many of us don’t think she’s your rightful heir. We don’t know her. You don’t know her. Princess Astra and Prince Aldis are your rightful heirs. She’s -”
“That is enough, Narssus.”
Soren’s smile was gone, and his voice a tight whisper.
Narssus seemed to choke on his words as he tried to stop them from continuing.
Soren stood, and the court collectively took a step back. Nerie remained seated. As Narssus had spoken the blood had drained out of her face. All these people. The nobles, the knights, and the lords and ladies of the realm - all here in protest of her as their next queen.
Princess Nerie was chosen by the dragoness Kiriga as the next ruler of Situra. We shall ensure she becomes Queen, Eras’ deep voice echoed through the minds of the people in the hall.
Many of the people dropped to their knees, the force of his voice overpowering in their minds. Narssus was one such person. A few cried out in pain.
“Kiriga, daughter of Soros and Eras, has Chosen Nerie. As I and my forefathers before me were Chosen. Who are any of you to deny our divine right to rule?” Soren asked the council.
Many were whimpering apologies, but not all. Some looked at Nerie with malice. She made eye contact with each of those people - staring back at them - but inside, she was shaking.
“You will stand now and renew your fealty to myself and pledge it to Princess Nerie. Starting with you Narssus.”
The noble, pale in the face, walked forward and knelt before Nerie and the now reseated Soren.
“Crown Princess Nerie, Your Highness King Soren, I, Lord Narssus of house Emmed swear on my life and the life of my house that I shall be faithful to my lord, never cause him harm and will observe my homage to him completely against all persons in good faith and without deceit."
While he pledged himself to Soren and Nerie, the rest of the lords and ladies slowly formed a line. One after another, they repeated those words, pledging themselves to their monarch and princess.
Some couldn’t get the words out
fast enough, while others seemed to choke on the syllables. Nerie could feel heat rise up her neck as she sat stiffly waiting for this display of loyalty to end. Most of these people didn’t mean the words they uttered, and it was obvious to her, Soren and the dragons who she could feel watching.
Only a few people really stood out to her. Whether it was because of their earnestness in their pledge, or their utter lack of sincerity. One of the formers was Lord Sylas of house Therius, who was a perfect likeness to King Soren. Another was Lady Janai of house Callam. She was elegance incarnate to Nerie’s untrained eyes.
However, more than one noble stood out for the opposite reasons. Narssus, for his initial outburst. A Lord Brodin of house Mazen made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. While the words flowed gracefully out of his mouth, his eyes told a different story. She felt she couldn’t look away fast enough. A Lady Ceilia of house Devan was one of the ones who’d had to force each word from her mouth.
Most of the lords and ladies however didn’t stand out. Of the nearly fifty that pledged themselves to her, most were forgotten moments after their pledge. Nerie knew Queen Alaena would not be pleased with her, but Nerie figured she had plenty of time to learn their names and families.
After everyone had sworn their fealty, Soren stood once again. Nerie was awed at how he was able to command the room. As his slender frame rose from the throne, the attention of all the nobles in the hall was upon him.
“As you have all gathered for the meeting of the Curia Regis, prepare yourselves to give me complete updates on each of your Curia Minima tasks and sessions.”
He turned away, heading to the door that Vizen once again pulled open for him.
Nerie, while conscious of her effort to stand in the most ladylike fashion she could muster, followed. She arrived at the door a fraction of a moment after Lord Sylas. However, seeing her, he bowed her through the entryway. Vizen shut the door as Lord Sylas entered the room.
“Soren, brother, it’s so good to see you.” Sylas said.
He knelt before Soren - who immediately motioned for him to stand and embraced him.