by Cyci Cade
DRAGON PRINCES BOOK 1: DRAGON’S QUEST
by
Cyci Cade
Copyright © Cyci Cade 2017
Cover Copyright © Cyci Cade2017
Published by Sly Fox
(An Imprint of Ravenswood Publishing)
Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher and/or author.
Ravenswood Publishing
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Autryville, NC 28318
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Printed in the U.S.A.
ISBN-13: 978-1542571562
ISBN-10: 1542571561
Epigraph
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:7
Chapter 1
Xuan
China, 1800
Xuan´s fingers tightened around the spear; her knuckles became white. She wasn´t a warrior, she had only taken a few self-defense classes years ago and she wasn´t sure how to use that weapon; she also didn´t have the necessary strength to manage it. She had never thought that one day she might need to defend her sons´ lives. How could a weakened woman fight against a warrior? He was twice her height, and he was committed to destroy her family. Even the very well-trained soldiers fell by his sword; her husband was probably one of his victims.
The warrior moved toward her. Xuan pointed the spear directly at his chest and ran toward the man. Dodging her blow, he held the spear and pulled the weapon, dragging Xuan with it, throwing her onto the wall. Her head spun, and her vision was foggy. She just heard the rough voice of the warrior.
“It´s my lucky day.” He laughed. “Who could imagine that I´d find the Emperor´s sons in this place? I looked for gold and found something much better.” He looked at her. “Do you have any idea how much money I´ll get for the babies?” He leaned his head back and laughed again.
“I will give you what you want, but don´t touch my babies.” At first, she begged and then she threatened. “Or you´ll know a mother´s fury.”
He stared at her, narrowing his eyes. “Look at you, woman. You can´t support your own weight.” He turned his back to her and moved to the bed.
The babies cried out. She looked to the corridor, hoping that someone had heard them and would come to their rescue; however, it didn´t happen, nobody appeared. She crawled and grasped the spear that had fallen a few feet from her. Still on the floor, she saw the repugnant man´s dirty hands approaching her sons. He´d touch them. He´d hurt the newborns. She had to stop that man.
She held the spear firmly, yelled, and once more ran toward the man as if powerful hands had lifted Xuan to her feet. She should have done that movement silently because the man turned to her, positioning his sword, but he wasn´t fast enough. She hit his chest.
Xuan released the weapon. The warrior slumped on the floor; she felt her stomach tingling. Pain spread throughout her entire body. She looked down; the soldier had hurt her too. She put a hand on the wound and pressed it. She tried to stop the bleeding, but her unstable legs didn´t have strength enough to support her body and she fell on the floor near the dead warrior, her face against the cold tile.
She looked at her newborn babies for the last time, tears gushed out of her eyes, blurring her vision. The babies cried, waving their short arms; she wondered how she ended up in that situation. I´m not feeling anything else. I´m dying. I´m dying, but I don´t want to die; I can´t die. I have two babies, but even though I´m dying and I can´t stop it, I can´t change it. In a split second, that whole day passed in front of her eyes like a movie.
* * * *
It seemed a normal day; she gave orders to her servants to decorate the first-born and heir´s room. The layette was ready, yet the Empress´s anxiety grew and grew. She still had two months more to wait before she would be able to hold the baby in her arms, look at his traits, then come face to face with the reality, was it a boy or a girl?
It was too much responsibility for a young woman recently married. Since her betrothal to the Dragon Emperor, she knew she should give an heir to his throne, his dynasty. It happened too quickly; a few months after the wedding Xuan was pregnant, now she had to wait eight weeks to seal her destiny; the empire needed an heir, a male heir.
Emperor Shun Xiang entered the room, bringing Xuan back to reality. The servants bowed and moved aside, leaving them alone. The expression on his young face became somber, revealing the seriousness of the situation. Without uttering a word, Xuan knew her husband had bad news; she already recognized his expressions.
Shun held her hands, pulling her closer. He leaned toward her; his lips touched her forehead slightly. “We are under attack. Guards are going to conduct you and the midwife to the shelter where there is food and water. You have everything you need there. Lock the door; open it to no one. I´ll return as soon as possible.” Shun stroked Xuan´s belly. “Take good care of our heir.”
The Empress held her husband´s arm. “Please, stay with us. I need you; our son needs you,” she asked with a pleading voice. It was her first and last attempt.
“The warriors and the empire need me. It is my duty.” He touched her face. “I´ll come back soon; you won´t miss me, I promise you. Now hurry, the invaders can reach the palace anytime. Guards are going to protect you. I don´t think the invaders can find the shelter.” He kissed his beautiful and pregnant wife, grinned, and left her in tears.
Xuan heard a rumble followed by shots, screams, pandemonium; the sound of battle was perfectly audible and moved toward the palace very quickly. That was the worst time for combat; her young Emperor would face a great risk protecting the empire, her and his son´s life. She prayed daily for this to never happen; however, it was in vain. Her husband could die today.
More afraid of the bad timing of war, was her concern about the baby’s gender. The Emperor wanted a boy to be his heir. What if it was born a girl instead? That burden laid heavier than her huge belly. He´d be disappointed; he just talked about the boy who might arrive soon. Poor child, coming to the world with so many uncertainties and bearing great responsibilities.
She went to the door. People ran; they tried to protect their lives. Ai, the servant woman and midwife, approached with the guards. Ai carried bags full of the Empress´s belongings. “Your Majesty, we should go, the guards are waiting for us and everything is prepared for your comfort.”
Xuan looked at the nursery, then reluctantly she moved to the shelter, guided by the guards and the servant. She held her belly and walked as fast as she could. She was scared; the enemies would give anything to capture her and the empire heir. In this case, it might be the end of the Emperor, the Dragon´s Dynasty and their story. Shun would die before he saw his empire in the enemies´ hands.
The imperial guard entered first to check inside the shelter; Xuan and Ai followed. The guards left; while Ai closed the door, Xuan could hear their heavy footsteps moving to their station. Silence filled the room after the woman locked the door. They were alone in that place for an undetermined time.
Ai helped Xuan to lie down on the bed; she put many pillows under Xuan´s back and made the Empress comfortable. Xuan´s belly was too big and heavy. The baby constantly squirmed causing
her discomfort. So violent were the baby´s kicks that her skin seemed on the verge of tearing. Maybe she was wrong, and she was more than seven months pregnant. If that was the case, the baby could be born at any time. Xuan tried to avoid the thoughts that constantly passed through her mind.
“Ai, bring me water. I´m not feeling well.” Her breath became deep and intense; her hands were trembling and wet. She rubbed her belly and whispered, “Calm down, son, it isn´t your time yet. Your father isn´t here to see you.”
Ai took a glass of water, put a hand underneath the Empress´s back and gently pushed her forward. “Are you feeling better?” the servant asked while Xuan sipped the water. Ai put another pillow under Xuan´s neck and she lay again.
“No,” Xuan gasped. “Something is wrong!” she screamed and curved forward pressing her belly. “The baby is coming,” she warned the servant through gritted teeth and cried in agony.
“It is too early, he can´t be born now,” Ai said, perplexed.
Xuan grabbed Ai´s hand, breathing shortly and quickly. “I know, but I don’t think he agrees with us,” she screamed louder and writhed; her screams might scare the enemies.
“We can do this, don´t worry. Take deep and long breaths.” The midwife brought a basin full of water and clothes. She removed the pillows from Xuan´s back, parted the Empress´s knees, and lifted her skirt. “It will be fast, the baby´s head is facing. Take a deep mouthful of air and push now.”
Xuan inhaled, curved forward, put all her strength in a push and yelled, exhaling the air, then she let her tired body fall on the bed and tried to recover; however, Ai didn´t give her a break.
“Again!” Ai ordered.
Xuan pushed one, two, three times and many others; her belly became rigid, the contractions didn´t stop, the pain drained her strength. Minutes had passed, and the last push was less intense but efficient. She felt all power leaving her body; Xuan needed to refill it, she needed some rest.
“I can see the baby, now relax and I´ll pull him,” Ai explained the next step.
Xuan closed her eyes feeling a strange, awkward sensation—feeling as if she were losing her innards. The Empress´s body became sore, numb, and weak. For an instant she thought that she wouldn´t be strong enough to hold her son, her baby was also taking her life. The strong cry coming from the newborn awoke Xuan, making her open her eyes.
“Boy. He is a big, healthy boy.” The midwife celebrated with the boy in her arms.
“Put him in my arms,” Xuan babbled and lifted her trembling hands.
Ai showed her the still dirty and wet baby, then moved away with him. “Let me clean my new Emperor.” She carefully rubbed the newborn; he stopped crying, pleased with the servant´s touch.
Xuan couldn´t wait to hold the baby in her arms and breastfeed him. She laughed happily and wished that Shun could have been there. Unfortunately, he missed his first son´s birth, but others ought to come. She writhed and yelled, “Ai! I am having contractions again. What is happening?” she panted for air.
The midwife put the baby on the sofa, rushed to the Empress´s bed and examined Xuan. “There is another baby. It’s twins.” She exclaimed and restarted the procedures. “Give another push,” Ai commanded and waited.
“I cannot, I am too weak, exhausted,” Xuan mumbled, encircled by death.
“Only one more push and I help you. Now!” Ai shouted, put an arm on Xuan´s belly and forced it down. They tried a number of times; Xuan was tired out. “It is an unnatural baby presentation; this makes the labor more painful and longer.”
“Save my baby, please. I can´t help you more; I can barely breathe,” Xuan cried when she felt another contraction. Ai forced the Empress´s belly down again; Xuan screamed in anguish; fear grew inside her and spread quickly.
“Almost there, I am pulling him…”
That time Xuan didn´t feel anything; she struggled to keep her eyes open or comprehend Ai´s words.
“Boy. The Dragon Dynasty has two new Emperors.” Ai giggled excited. She held the second baby in awe.
The words crossed Xuan´s thoughts. The empire couldn´t have two Emperors at the same time. The expected moment had arrived. Xuan had done her job, given an heir to Shun, two heirs to be exact, and a big problem for solving at the right time. Who would inherit the Dragon Dynasty? Her concerns were gone; she proved that she was a good wife and deserved her title and husband´s love. Her husband would choose his heir; that was his problem, not hers.
Xuan woke up when Ai put the babies, wrapped in white sheets, into her arms. They looked like their father. Tears rolled across her cheek, blurring her sight. The babies sucked her breasts vigorously; Xuan shrank tenderly.
“It seems that they are betting who gets more milk.” She laughed. “In this way I won´t have milk enough to feed them.” She hesitated for a moment. “I want to feed my sons, what if I won´t be able to?” Xuan cried and realized that it was her role; as a mother she might always be concerned about her children’s welfare.
“Enjoy the moment with your babies, and don´t worry. There are many servants with newborns. I´m certain that they´ll be honored in sharing their milk with the new Emperors.” Ai shrugged and made faces at the babies as if they were able to understand those expressions.
“I forbid you to call them new Emperors.” Xuan glimpsed at Ai and reprimanded the servant.
“Sorry, Your Majesty. I don´t want to upset you.” Ai lowered her head. “How should I call them? What are their names?”
That was the question; they hadn´t chosen any names yet, and she wouldn´t think about it at that moment. They had thought about possible babies’ names but didn´t have time to select one. “Shun will name them when he comes back, that is his right.”
Ai held the babies, put them beside Xuan, and pulled a blanket over them. In seconds the babies were sleeping. “It is quiet outside. I´ll go to the nursery, they need clothes. I will ask the guard to stay in front of the door.”
“No. It is too dangerous to go. Let´s wait, someone must come here soon,” Xuan whispered in protest as if the enemy was able to hear Ai´s words and attack the shelter.
“I´ll be fast and careful.” Ai dashed to the door and glanced back at her.
“You are the most disobedient servant in this empire.” They gazed at each other in silence for a moment; maybe Ai was evaluating her punishment for disobeying the Empress´s orders but then she grinned, unlocked the door and disappeared.
“Fool woman.” Xuan sniffed, checked the babies at her side, and closed her eyes. Before she could sleep, she heard a rumble and steps toward the shelter. “Ai? Is that you?” There was no answer. Xuan plodded to the door and took a peek; from the corner, an invader walked toward her. She locked the door then moved to the middle of the room, standing between her babies and the entrance.
“Great Dragon, I beg you, protect my children and me. I promise they’ll be raised to serve you. They will honor the Dragon Dynasty and protect it with their lives. I beg you. I put our lives in your hands. Great Dragon, be merciful and defend us,” she pleaded while trying to balance on her wobbly legs.
The intruder slammed against the door, once, twice, three times… Xuan shivered; she found strength, she didn´t know from where, and clasped a spear. The door broke in many pieces, a tall-sweaty-fat-man entered, his long hair and beard almost covering his entire face, his broken armor revealing part of his hairy chest and stomach. He glanced at her and smiled, showing yellow-black-teeth. It was disgusting; Xuan would vomit if she didn’t have to protect her sons.
Chapter 2
Kate
The United States of America, 2000
On a beautiful sunny summer’s day in Dragon´s Valley, a lost and forgotten land in the north of The United States, Samantha enjoyed her eighth birthday, the last one she would have with her family. Kate would be losing her sister forever at twilight and had only a few hours remaining to enjoy her older sister as the taking of her came ever nearer and nearer. All the ceremony p
reparations were complete—music, food, and the place where, at twilight, they would leave Sam.
Hannah, their mother, had embroidered a white dress with purple flowers and braided Sam´s blonde hair. Kate, hidden in the corner of Hannah´s bedroom, observed, envying the attention given to her sister. She blinked. Tears wet her face when Samantha glanced at her, grinned and rushed to hug her. Samantha was gorgeous and happy with her new dress.
Kate brushed away the tears. “You´re perfect; come on, let’s play and enjoy our last day together.” Kate held Sam´s hand and pulled her outside.
They walked along the river. Silently, Kate sat on a rock. Samantha moved in a strange way and toyed with the hem of the dress, she seemed eager.
“Are you afraid? We can run away if you want. I don´t care what Mom, Dad, and the others will think,” Kate whispered.
Surprised, Samantha gazed at her. “Why did you say that? If you aren´t bothered, why are you whispering?” Sam waited for an answer. Kate didn´t have one; as she stayed mute, her sister continued, “I have been preparing for this day my whole life. Mom told me it is gods´ blessing. I will serve them and the community, all of you will get a better life, you know the legend.”
Kate ran to Samantha´s arms. “But, I don´t want to let you go, you´re my sister and friend. Who will play with me? I´ll miss you so much.” She burst into tears, the tears she had held in since her mother explained Sam´s fate.
Samantha stroked Kate´s back. “I´ll miss you too, but it is necessary. One day we´ll join again. Don´t be a trouble maker.” The sisters embraced for some minutes until Kate stopped crying. “Promise me that you will take care of our parents,” Sam demanded.
Kate made eye contact with Sam and nodded, but thought, how can she take care of somebody? Sam used to take care of her. That was a bad joke. Why had life messed up everything? Kate only wished that someone had heard her prayers and kept Sam with her; nothing happened, no one came to help them. That wasn´t gods´ blessing; on the contrary, it was a curse that would keep them far apart for the rest of their lives.