by N M Zoltack
He knew dragons could live for centuries. Who knew how long they could live if they were able to die naturally? From the stories Noll had been told, the dragons had all been killed.
That saddened Noll. At times, he dreamed about the dragons. Once, he had ridden one until he remembered that dragons would not have allowed that. Then, the dragon in his dream had turned into a raven. The bird had been too small for him to ride on, and Noll had fallen all the way down to the ground.
Actually, to the floor of his bedroom. He had fallen out of bed. That had smarted.
That the king wasn’t mourning was one thing. That he wanted nothing to do with Bates Noll didn’t understand that at all.
Bates. Where was the baby? He was all of two months old. Vivian had been holding him earlier, but now, Rosalynne was.
Noll left his post from beside his father’s throne and took Bates from his sister. The two didn’t exchange any words, and Noll moved to the side of the room. Noll loved Bates so much.
Maybe it was because he wasn’t near the throne. Maybe it was because he was holding Bates. Whichever the reason, some of the people came over and talked to Noll now.
He tried to pay them attention, but it was hard. Bates was so distracting. He was such a cute baby. He slept most of the time. He would move his tiny perfect lips as he slept. It was so cute. Noll just adored Bates. Maybe, when Bates grew up, they could be friends. They were brothers after all.
Noll finally had a brother. That was better than a horse or a dog or a sword.
14
Servant Ulric Cooper
Ulric lingered near the doors of the ballroom. For that moment, it was all conversation, but once the music started, and the people began to break up into couples and moved to dance, Ulric slipped away. This was his chance. The guards would be distracted, ensuring the ball would happen smoothly and without incident.
Swiftly, Ulric made his way to the armory. Inside were so many swords and axes and maces and other weapons that Ulric hesitated. Finally, he found a nice enough rapier. It would hopefully be overlooked if he could not return the blade to its rightful place immediately.
The servant rushed out of the castle. He wished to try and practice where no one could see him. He still feared discovery. He had been trying to practice with knifes for months now, but he knew that in order to further his training, he must have a true sword. The weight of it, the impact of the force against it, the power needed to arc and slice, all of that and more he needed to ascertain and without the aid of a master. It was proving to be no easy task.
Even worse was the memory of Princess Rosalynne. Just before he had turned to leave the doors of the ballroom, he had finally spied her. He had purposely tried not to discover her for fear that she would become a distraction. Now, as he was trying to practice, he was unable to focus. Her gorgeous purple gown had contrasted with the darkness of her eyes. She was so very beautiful. While the purpose of the ball had been to find the king a new queen, Ulric wouldn’t be surprised if some of the daughters had brothers who were eyeing her.
Ulric stabbed with the rapier and then tagged the blade against the bark of a tree.
The sound of laughter had Ulric whirling around, the blade raised.
“Ah, what are you playing at, boy?” a guard asked.
Ulric stared at the man hard, trying to place him. Ulric had seen this guard around several times. This guard seemed to be rather full of himself. Ulric could not stand the man.
“I’m not a boy,” Ulric said angrily.
“No? Then prove it, boy.”
The guard removed his sword. It gleamed in the moonlight.
“Come at me,” the guard taunted. “Try and teach Tiberius Davis a lesson.”
Ulric gripped the handle of the rapier with both hands. This was hardly fair. The guard wasn’t wearing armor, but that thick leather would help to protect him from any blow that might get past his defenses. Ulric, on the other hand, was wearing thin clothes. If the guard attacked him, Ulric was going to get cut. Ulric might even be killed.
This was stupid and reckless.
“Aw, is the boy scared?” Tiberius asked mockingly.
Ulric flared his nostrils and tried to block out the guard’s ridicule. He couldn’t afford to be humiliated. He had to concentrate on his own actions and the guard’s. Move and counterstrike. Nothing else. All other distractions could prove fatal.
The guard wouldn’t kill him, though, right?
What if I accidentally kill the guard instead?
Not that Ulric fancied himself that good with a blade, especially one that he had been practicing with for only a few minutes. Still, if a servant killed a guard, that servant would then be put to death.
“I don’t care for cowards,” Tiberius said angrily.
Evidently, the guard had decided Ulric was taking too long to attack, as the guard leapt forward to attack. Ulric barely had time to block the blow. Instead of countering, Ulric circled Tiberius, watching, waiting. Ulric wasn’t sure what exactly to look for. He had so very much to learn yet.
Just then, the guard moved in close. Their weapons tangled, and when Tiberius yanked his free, Ulric’s rapier flew through the air and landed feet away from them. Disappointment washed over Ulric at being so easily disarmed, but then anger filled him as the guard’s foot planted squarely on Ulric’s chest and knocked him flat onto his rump.
“Get yourself back to being a servant,” Tiberius said. Spit flew out of the guard’s mouth. “Or else I will see to it that you are cast out of the castle.”
The guard stomped over and claimed the rapier.
“Before you will be cast out, you’ll have a hand removed for being a thief,” the guard casually added before slinking away back inside the castle.
Frustrated, Ulric climbed to his feet. He patted his hands to brush off the dirt. No matter what, he refused to be discouraged. He would get there.
Maybe.
15
Princess Rosalynne Rivera
Three months ago, Bates had been born and Aldith had died. Three long and trying months. Rosalynne was eighteen now. She was of the age to marry, but she refused. Not until her father would. She would not be queen until her father passed, so she had time yet.
Her father, however, did not.
For weeks, her father had barely smiled at any of the balls. Fewer and fewer families were bothering to come. If he did not pick a queen soon, he would not be able to. None of the daughters would come around. Neither would any of the widows.
Rosalynne could hardly eat her breakfast that morning. She was far too distressed. Once she waved her plate away and a servant fetched it away, she stood and departed the royal dining room. Swiftly, she made her way to her father’s quarters. The guards opened the doors for her.
That morning, her father was in bed. He seemed to sink into the blankets, and the sight reminded her too much of Aldith that she had to look away.
“What is it now?” he grumbled.
“Why, hello, Father. It is wonderful to see you too,” she said sarcastically.
“Get on with it,” he grumbled. “Or else I will sleep and not hear a word you say.”
“Considering you haven’t been listening to me at all lately, I do not see how now will be any different.”
“Why waste the breath?”
“Because you are the king, and you are my father. I feel as if I must help you.”
“I do not want your help.”
“Which is all the more reason why I should try,” she said firmly.
“Three months is hardly enough time to mourn one’s wife.”
“You haven’t mourned her one day, and everyone already knows you do not love her, that you never did. Some are wondering if that is why she cheated on you.”
“You will not speak to me of her again.”
“Very well,” Rosalynne said easily enough. “I insist that you marry again.”
“Why?”
“Because…” Rosalynne hesitated. “
I do not wish to be queen yet.”
“So this is about you and not me.”
“Perhaps.” She tried to smile, but her father turned his head to the side to gaze out the window.
“Maybe we should go outside for a walk,” she suggested. “The weather is cold, yes, but the springtime weather will be here before we know it. The days are getting longer, the sun brighter and hotter, and—”
“I do not go for walks. You know this, Rosalynne.”
She nodded, although her heart ached to hear this.
“Can you walk at all?” she whispered. Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to allow a single one to fall. If he saw her crying, he would think her weak. Her father responded only to strength. As he would not listen to her, he clearly already did not think of her as strong, at least not yet.
“I can,” he said, but Rosalynne recognized that tone. He was lying to her.
Rosalynne exhaled deeply. She hoped that another wife might be able to help him find some meaning in life again. Clearly, Aldith hadn’t been up to the task. They had married only because they had to. Neither had loved the other.
Her father was not healthy and had not been in years. Over the years, she had watched him grow in size. How could she have not realized that he couldn’t walk? That news was so very troubling that she could hardly breathe. If his health was this poor, could he survive for long? Could this kill him? Surely not! She was not ready to be queen!
Yes, she had been tutored in the art of politics and the history of the different families. The nation of Tenoch Proper encompassed five islands. Tenoch was the main one and where she lived. Then, there was Tiapan and Zola, both to the northwest. Xalac was to the northeast. A large island lay directly to the south, Vincana.
Quickly, Rosalynne rattled off the names of the major nobles from Cilla, Olac, Etian, and Maloyan, all main cities in Tenoch. Her father talked about them all with her, so he clearly knew of the daughters, but he was clearly not interested in any of them.
What was he going to do? For that matter, what was she going to do?
16
Prince Noll Rivera
Once again, Noll was taking care of Bates. He was holding the baby, dancing with him. The baby was awake more often now and was so very happy. Noll loved that. No one was happier than the baby. Noll feared that the baby would become sad once he learned that he had killed his mother. Vivian still would grow sad herself when she would think of their mother. Noll hated that. He wished neither of them would blame themselves. Guilt was an ugly emotion. Noll tried to avoid feeling guilt whenever possible.
Noll had thought about taking the baby outside for a walk, but the weather was not cooperating. Rain poured down from the skies as if in mourning. Maybe the clouds had stolen the king’s mourning from him.
Instead of walking around the courtyard, Noll and Bates were in the throne room. It was not often that the king would make his way down here. He had gone to the ballroom for all of those many, many boring balls, but the throne room was in another part of the castle entirely.
The king sat in his throne as best as he could. He seemed to engulf the throne. Noll didn’t like to look at the throne. It was hideous, in his opinion, and he was glad he wouldn’t ever have to sit on it. The throne had been fashioned from dragon bones and claws. Some armor and weapons too.
Noll used to have nightmares about it. He would dream that the dragon bones in the throne would fuse together and become a dragon again. He had woken up crying and left his room. He had considered going to the kitchens to steal a dessert.
The Vicar Albert Leeson had found him and said that the bones used in the throne had been from dragons that had already resurrected. Noll had to ask him to explain what resurrected meant. Dragons had died and come back to life. The bones in the throne had not been from one of the last three dragons. Noll felt a little better then, but he hoped that none of the dragons would be resurrected in his lifetime if they were to ever return.
The king shifted his massive weight in the throne, and the baby laughed in Noll’s arms. The three weren’t the only ones in the room. Vicar Albert Leeson and Advisor Aldus Perez were also here. The two of them were trying to help the king decide who to marry.
Noll thought this was all terribly boring. If his father needed to be told who to marry, Noll definitely would. His sisters would love that.
The king hardly gave any input at all. Noll didn’t care for that. He would want to have a say. Yes, his sisters might ignore him. They sometimes did that, but still, Noll would let them know who he liked and who he didn’t like.
Bates started to cry, and Noll had to dance with the baby some more. Noll was only half listening to the men, but it seemed to him that the vicar and the advisor could not come to an agreement.
Just then, one of the guards entered the throne room. He was not Tiberius but a different one, a guard who Noll did not know the name of. Good. Noll had been avoiding Tiberius as much as possible since the incident in the marketplace.
“What is it?” the king asked. He sounded so very weary. Or maybe he was bored. Noll couldn’t be certain. His father’s face had a lot of rolls, which made it hard to tell what expression he was making.
“You have visitors,” the guard said. “Greta Grantham and her daughter Sabine wish to meet you, Your Highness. Will you see them? Or should they return later? I can have the kitchen prepare them some food.”
“Send them in,” Aldus Perez said.
The guard hesitated, looking at the king. Noll was glad that he waited for the king to have his say.
“Send them in,” the king said wearily.
Noll grimaced. The king seemed so unhappy lately. Noll wasn’t sure if he could make the king happy, but Noll hadn’t tried to either. He should. There had to be a way to make the king smile. Maybe not laugh but smile at least. Yes, Noll should try to do that. Tomorrow maybe.
“Very well, Your Highness.” The guard bowed and departed the throne room. A few minutes later, he returned with two tall women behind him. “Allow me to introduce to you Greta and Sabine Grantham from Etian.”
Etian. Hmm. Noll wasn’t sure where that was in relation to Atlan. He had looked at maps before. His sisters both had tutors who actually tried to teach them. Noll’s tutors didn’t bother to chase him down if he didn’t feel like learning. Honestly, more times than not, Noll didn’t feel like learning.
The older woman, who appeared to be older than the king, strolled toward the throne and gave a deep curtsey. “Your Highness, I am Greta. Please welcome my daughter Sabine. We are both glad the woman who disgraced you is dead.”
Noll gasped. The vicar flinched. The advisor lifted his eyebrows in shock. The king, however, smiled. He actually smiled.
“She did disgrace me, didn’t she? A horrid, terrible woman.”
The younger woman stepped forward. Strangely, she wore her blond hair down. It reached almost to her elbows and swayed with each move she made. It was mesmerizing. Noll couldn’t look away. Her eyes were a steel-blue color, almost gray. Her dress was a swirl of black and red that shimmered. Just beautiful.
Sabine sank into a curtsey just as perfect and graceful as could be.
“She was a terrible woman for you and an even worse queen. The only act of goodness that she performed was to die. I am so sorry. I wish I could help you feel better. If there is anything you need, please tell me.” Sabine finally stood. “If you need someone to talk to, I will be more than willing to listen.”
“Others have told me the same,” the king said.
“I’m sure they have,” Sabine said. “But I’m also sure that they were not willing to tell you the truth about your queen. She used you for power.”
“And you wouldn’t.”
Sabine nearly rolled her eyes. “How can I have power when you are the king? You are the one ruler of Tenoch Proper whether you are married or not.”
Bates began to fuss, and Noll had to settle him as the king and the women talked some more. Noll was surpr
ised to see the king as active and engaged as he was. Had he finally found a woman that he cared about? Greta, the mother, had hair that was both blond and blue. Her eyes were the same blue as her daughter’s. They were both lovely women. Sabine mentioned that she was only twenty. Maybe the king would prefer the daughter.
Eventually, Greta mentioned that they had traveled a long way, and the king ordered the guard to have a grand meal prepared for them. The two women sank into curtseys before departing.
Once more, the king lapsed into silence as the vicar and the advisor began to talk amongst themselves. Noll had just gotten Bates settled enough into sleep that Noll could pay attention to the others. It bothered him so much that the vicar and the advisor were making decisions for the king. Then again, the king didn’t seem to mind at all. Maybe Noll shouldn’t be so bothered about it.
In the end, several female names were mentioned and discarded. So many names that Noll couldn’t remember them all. Most of them weren’t names that he recognized either. There was one that he did recognize though, that of Sabine Grantham. That was who Vicar Albert Leeson and Advisor Aldus Perez settled on for the king, and the king did not object. Who was Noll to question them? He knew nothing about politics. Or marriage. Or love or any other to reason to wed.
Maybe instead of his sisters, he should have the vicar and the advisor decide who Noll should marry. The king didn’t look pleased, but he didn’t look displeased either.
17
Sir Edmund Hill
The new knight had been most frustrated to reach the celebration hall and to realize his parents were there but his brother was missing. Dudley Hill was not the sort of man to be considered ambitious. Not at all. Whereas Edmund wished to do more with his life, Dudley was perfectly content helping their father make shoes. Not that Dudley had made a complete pair of shoes all by himself yet. While he was ten-and-five now, more than old enough to have apprenticed enough years to be considered a tradesman, he was not nearly at that level. Not yet at least. One day, Dudley should inherit their father’s business, but who could say if Dudley would be ready for that enormous task?