The Lilac Princess and the Blood King

by Green, Karine

  “Do you trust them enough that you would obey their orders?”

  Her emotions burned in her throat, as she fought to use her Air magic to stop tears from welling up. “Do I trust you? You have yet to tell me the truth. Everything I know about you are things I found out on my own.” Tears overflowed. “I want my father back, as you said, the one who treated me like his daughter. Why does he have to be such a monster? Why couldn’t he be the dragon he was to me - to everyone? That would have made him the greatest King ever. Oh, Marut, he killed or ordered killed all those villagers, my sisters…my mother, our beautiful mother…Who was just as bad as he was. You are lucky, you didn’t know your birthmother as I do.”

  “Princess, I know this is hard, but we really should be getting out of here. We have no idea if those two weren’t leading you on to give information to the King. We truly have no intelligence about where they stand one way or the other, beyond their word. The only fact we have is that they are his trusted generals. Nothing good can come from trusting them or betrothing yourself to Chactau. Who is to say his pup’s mother doesn’t tragically pass away, leaving him to rule and raise the heir.”

  “Nothing to stop you from doing that either. Your father is the King’s cousin; you could assert your blood claim to the throne through him. You are a pup of Shestafa, just like me.”

  “Regardless: No one want’s an unwanted bastard, who only lived because a family happened to need a pup at the right time.” He shook his head. “No way; I would be assassinated ten minutes into trying to follow your lead. I can play the game of politics – and I know when to fold my hand. I don’t want to play it on that level. I don’t want to be king of anything except the East Blue Plains Waystation, with my only subject being Zhao. And maybe a mate with a lot of pups. I don’t want my pups to be lonely like I was.”

  “Marut, it’s me no one wants, Agne. They all want the Lilac Princess to sacrifice her freedom for the people. Even Zhao wants Lilac. He has said so at least fifty times. What makes you think I want to play this game? I’m a figurehead; a wooden dragon in a toy shop; nothing but a cake topper.”

  “When things turned dangerous Zhao instinctually called you Agne, not princess or lilac. I can’t believe I just defended him.” He shook his head. “That is what a Royal does. No true king or queen is free, never have been. They are all servants of the people. And I love you, and I swear I will be a good brother – if you care to tell anyone.”

  She nodded.

  “If I wanted you out of the way, I could have simply clawed through the wall back at your aunt’s house and turned you over to the King. Right now, I can’t risk how the King will react, or what Chactau and Loutic are indeed planning. Please, return with me to your rider and Mira.” He bowed to her, with his claws lifted off the floor and his snout placed on the floor between his paws.

  “I, of course, will pardon Zhao, and return the lands my father took - and, employ some skilled Earth dragons to restore it. The co-regents would never allow him back into my life. Not under any circumstances. Marut, I was able to argue for a full pardon, but Zhao is viewed as a felon who committed a crime against the crown. The best I can hope for is that the people will accept my pardon, and not have him for a chew toy before they eat him.”

  “This must be the spy you were talking about? I think you mean smuggler?” Chactau flew to her window and landed on the dragon’s roost, but did not enter. “May I,” he pointed to the interior of her chambers with his tail.

  “I think I mean, Marut is my brother and has done nothing except help me. He has my complete confidence. You may enter, as long as you agree to be polite. And remember that the Lost Pup cannot be assassinated. I would consider it murder.”

  He looked like he was considering whether he could be polite, but then leaned forward to enter her chambers.

  ‘Well, there is a bit of honesty for me…’ She glanced at Marut and then back to Chactau. “I was just wondering if I should take a rider like my father.”

  “What! No way. That crazy Earth witch has poisoned the entire nation. You should ban magical humans from working with dragons or being their riders. Combined they are too powerful. If you must, choose one that isn’t magical,” Chactau said, raising a paw, and then pointing at Marut, “You have one willing to work with us against the Blood King and the Royal Rider?”

  Marut nodded, “Two. A Water wizard, and an Earth witch…”

  Chactau’s eyes widened, “Is that the crown of Shestafa?” he whispered, like it would explode if he spoke its name too loud.

  Marut smiled, “I have mastered it. You’ll have whatever counterspell you need.” He frowned, “Umm, it won’t come off. I have tried several times to remove it.”

  “Here, I’ll try.” Chactau reached for it, and Marut leaned his horn toward him. He pulled and pulled, and then tried to pry it with his claws, “It won’t come off.”

  “That is what I just said,” Marut said, standing up straight on all four paws, and putting his ears back.

  “How did it get on your horn? Do you have any idea what the King will do if he finds out it has been found? You have to get out of here, and hide. He can’t find that. Don’t think for a minute that he won’t cut your horn off to get it.” The crown fit snuggly at Marut’s right horn base. Cutting a dragon’s horn off at the base would cause them to bleed out, and die.

  “You don’t understand,” Marut said, scratching at it with his hind leg. “It presented itself to me. That means I’m the presenter. It will stay with me until the rightful Royal has earned the right to wear it. How can such a thing exist?” He tried scratching at it with his hind paw.

  “Dragons and Magical humans possess the magic, but if we infuse an item with it, then whoever uses the object can enjoy the benefits of the magic, as needed. However, this crown can only be utilized by a blood relative of The Ice Queen Shestafa, so I guess that confirms the King’s cousin is your father.” Chactau said, and then he frowned at Agne, “Yes, I have a formal education beyond military school, and my own moles - don’t faint.”

  “I know that,” Agne said, feeling embarrassment rush into her cheeks.

  Marut smirked. “I, myself, am stunned.” He put his paw over his chest. “That you can read and make friends on such a high level.”

  “You came for a reason, Chactau?” Agne said, sitting on her hindquarters. “Do you have news?”

  He lowered his head to her. “Yes, Your Grace, Loutic reports that the scouts say your father is about three hours out with his troops.” He offered a half-grin. “Appearances and wording are everything.”

  She poked Marut hard with her tail. “Go get Zhao and Mira. Meet Chactau by the West gate. Zhao knows where it is.” She pointed with her tail at Chactau, “Are you up for this? Are you sure? If you help me, there is no going back. Everything you have will be wiped out, but if we win, I promise you will be the official father of my someday-pups, and the King Consort. I vow it front of my remaining family, Marut.”

  Chactau nodded and bowed with his claws lifted off the floor. “Yes, Your Grace. We cannot have our civilization destroyed by that maniac.” He drew back up to his full height and looked at Marut. “When will you be there?”

  “Twenty minutes,” Marut said, nodding, and scrambling out of the room.

  Chactau bowed his head, “Princess,” he knitted his brow. “I am not the one with the conflict. I know what needs to be done for my country…Something terrible. What about you? The King has never been anything less than the perfect father to you. You do not know who the Blood King is. Your aunt told us that you burst into tears and professed your love for him, that you wanted to go home and be the little princess again. Are you prepared?” he rubbed his cheek against hers, gently, and being careful not to lock horns- which would be inappropriate for anyone not direct family. “To do something terrible for your nation, or allow it to happen before your eyes?”

  “It grieves me.” she head butted him back. “But I am ready. Is my aunt working with yo
u too?” Agne was more than stunned that her aunt would give that information, but overall, if that was all she said, then her father would never suspect her. She was set up to be the golden girl – crying for her daddy.

  He shook his head, “No, but your father has ways to make people talk. Don’t worry, no harm came to her pups. Loutic kept them occupied, they didn’t even know the King was there. We are soldiers, not monsters. He did shave her horns down to the minimum, not only that, but the bits he left are too small for her to sell. We’ll have to send her aid later. We cannot repay her support by leaving her destitute.”

  Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded.

  “Can you do this Princess… Agne, can you turn on your tea-party, storytelling father?” he asked again, leaning to gently head butt the top of her head, much like an adult would to a tiny pup. “I’ll lay everything on the line for you, Lady of Lilac, but I need to know you are truly on our side. If you are strong enough, it is time to meet the others.”

  “We can send her my father’s horns, and tail horns as compensation.” She nodded taking in a deep breath, “As I said, I am grieved, but I am ready. His image in my mind is already killed.”

  “Ming Ah, please officially meet the new Queen in Waiting,” Chactau motioned to one of her Earth Dragon attendants, Agne hadn’t even noticed her enter. She sat at perfect attention, her dark brown and green scales, polished to accent the diamond pattern in her striping.

  “Yes, General.” she bowed her head, and she came forward with a hankie for Agne to dot her eyes.

  ‘Ming Ah is my cousin. She has been helping us,” Chactau said, nodding.

  Agne took the hankie with her tail horns and dotted her eyes. “So no one close to me is worthy of my trust. I am just a dolly – no matter who is around me, or what rank they are.” She handed the hankie back to Ming Ah, glaring at her. “When this is over, I don’t want you in my personal chambers again. I can’t have people who are capable of passing information out around me.”

  She couldn’t take the lies anymore. She needed a staff she could trust- to be solely on her side. No, she needed to absorb the fact that she was the figurehead in a coup. She felt powerless and ridiculous.

  “Don’t be upset with her. It was my idea. She wanted to work in the Forestry department, but Loutic and I needed someone we could trust, so we prompted her to come to work as your attendant.”

  “Good, then out of gratitude for her service to the nation of Shestafa she can be reassigned there.” Agne pointed with her tail, toward the window, to indicate she could leave. ‘Why am I viewed as untrustworthy?’

  “You aren’t, that’s why I just introduced you.”

  “Your Highness, I have loved being in your service. Please do not misunderstand.” Ming Ah, bowed low, with her claws lifted off the carpet and snout down.

  “I understand. I had someone in my direct service who was actually working for someone else.” Her voice was calm, as she turned on Chactau. “No one trusts me. I have nothing – no guarantee whatsoever, that you won’t get rid of me after I bear you a pup. You’ll just kill me, and take over as regent for our pup. I am so stupid.”

  “Agne, that is not true. I have been told since I was little that my parents were going to offer me as your betrothed. I ask Ming Ah to help me find out what you were really like. She said I would really like you. That you’re intelligent, kind, and beautiful; and that if I tried to fight my betrothal to you – I was an idiot. My pups will need their mother. I’ll not create a situation like Marut has for my own family- with pups on every continent,” Chactau said, again, gently head butting her. “We need to focus. Come,” he walked over to the window, “Both of you come with me.”

  She and Ming Ah followed Chactau by flying down to the Main Courtyard of the castle. Loutic was there, along with several others. “Is the celebration plans for the Princess’s return in place.”

  Loutic bowed to her, with claws on the ground, meaning that not everyone here was considered an ally. “Yes, the King will be very happy to be home and find the beautiful Lilac Princess safe at home.”

  “Excellent, I will leave her in your charge then. I have some last-minute plans to tend to.” He flew off.

  Agne smiled and put on a perfect princess face, as she prayed that she could trust Chactau with the information and resources that her team had. “Ming Ah, if it isn’t necessary for you to be here, you may leave me alone.”

  Loutic glanced at her. “We are in a no drama zone,” he whispered. “Ming Ah is playing the part of blocking your left side until Chactau returns.”

  She tried to calm herself, and steel her nerves. She hadn’t realized her tone was so off. She told herself, this wasn’t a coup, it’s really an act of civil and criminal justice. A plan to bring a murderer to justice. She looked around smiling and nodding at the dragons around her. There were no humans in the crowd. She knew father wouldn’t let them in the castle, but the main courtyard? Who cared if they were there? For that matter, who cared if they were in the castle?

  The human population is cut off from the Dragon government. That would explain a lot of the dissension amongst the people. They were paying high taxes and getting nothing in return-no representation. Chactau was right, the nation was standing on the brink of a revolutionary war. She had to stop it from happening.

  “Ming Ah, forgive me, I am just a little upset.”

  “Understandable, Princess.”

  She nodded at some guards who nodded as they walked by.

  Loutic blew flames at them. “How dare you stare at the princess? Get on with your duties.”

  They bowed and scrambled on the ground. “Oh forgive us, Princess! We mean no offense.”

  “None taken, but I do need you to concentrate on your duties for my father’s return.” She was confident that comment would apply no matter what side these two dragons were on.

  The guards nodded and ran away toward the far end of the courtyard.

  Loutic moved closer to her. “The merchants with blue awnings are with us, but most of the palace guard is still with your father. They are tough to network with since they almost never leave the palace itself. Do not trust them until we know more.”

  She nodded. “Everyone distrusts me. I know nothing. I think that is why I need to keep Zhao as my rider. Kidnapper or not, he at least tells me the truth, and has since the beginning.” Time to find out how Loutic feels about Zhao.

  “I’ll burn him to a crisp, and use his bones as charcoal for the peasant humans to freshen their outhouses.” He scowled. “The Queen would still be alive if it were not for him.”

  “Got it. Having a rider is frowned upon.”

  “I don’t know; you having a rider could usher in a new era of peace with the humans if the rider can talk to them. Perhaps they will stop trying to hunt us, and in turn, we can stop destroying their cities and villages to gain justice. However, if you wish to pardon Zhao, I will honor it, and see to it he can live in peace – away from North Dragons Ridge.”

  “Okay, so it’s just Zhao.”

  “He opened your eyes when no one in our group could even touch you. That’s why we employed Ming Ah, but then, she wasn’t allowed to leave your quarters, so getting information back from her was difficult.”

  She nodded, glancing at Ming Ah, feeling guilty for being angry at her. The king had basically held both of them prisoner there. She looked back to Loutic, wondering if he would ever talk to her about Mother. Did Chactau knew that her mother had two pups with Loutic. She wondered if it would be prudent to meet her two brothers. If she remembered, he had two sons and three daughters, but she wasn’t sure how old they were.

  “Chactau and I knew you were safe in Blue Valley. But we couldn’t say anything because then your father could figure us out. I must say, I was very surprised that Zhao lived. I would have figured he couldn’t have ridden an Air Dragon bareback. Amazingly talented, even if stupid. Hopefully, he is trainable, he would make – someone else – a good rider.”
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  She knitted her brow and nodded. “The adults in South Dragons Ridge released me. They let me go, begged me to speak to my father…” She held her breath, refocusing. “Let us just discuss what you need from me when the King returns.”

  “Just stand there and wag your tail as he lands, like a happy little princess. Everything else should fall into place.” Loutic smiled and nodded to two merchant dragons pulling a cart toward their tent awning shop. “Chactau and I will announce the people’s displeasure. You will be, and will stay behind us. If a battle breaks out, fly away with that blessed Air Dragon speed you have. Return to the little oasis where we found you.”

  “But my father has Air Dragons in his army; pure bred. They will catch me.”

  “We have a group that will slow them down.” He stood up straight, “Aleri, is the Princess’s area ready?”

  “Yes, my Lord.” A female Air Dragon motioned with her tail toward a platform ornately decorated with lilacs.

  “Well, then, we’ll just wait over here for him,” Loutic said, leading the way

  CHACTAU AND ZHAO

  Chactau stood at the West gate looking at this scrawny human in a Water student uniform. “You have what?”

  Marut stood behind the boy, and an old human witch stood next to him. She smelled like she lived underground. There was no one here except them. He would have to remember this for the future. It backed up to a cliff that was more than five-hundred feet in elevation, and the pathway was narrow. It looked foreboding, but for a dragon, it was a way in and out without question. It was a miracle there hadn’t been an assassination or kidnapping attempt before now.

  The boy held up a disgusting, mummified Water Dragon pup paw with a magnifying glass attached to it. He was about to demand it be buried when he realized what it was. “The Dragon Foot Wand.”