“Yes, it would seem that Zachariah was raised by his mother until she was killed by a griffin that attacked their village,” King Randalph said. “At a young age, he disappeared from the village and returned only a year ago, claiming his Royal birthright to join the Legion.”
“I can’t believe we’re even debating this.” King Krowe leaned back with a look of disgust on his face. “He’s the son of a Romantica heretic. Who can say his allegiance even lies with the Legion?”
I often disagreed with King Krowe, but here, I could see his point. Romantica had been a thorn in the Legion’s side too many times, making us expend resources we could’ve used to battle the Forces. Whole Romantica villages declared independence from the Legion, and Royals were sent to put down rebellions. There was even one case where extremists had tried to kidnap Royal recruits.
“If Prince Zachariah wanted to spy on the Legion, he would’ve taken measures to rise in the ranks,” Queen Kallina said. “Commander Prince Weldan has vouched for him, and he claims there’s no one in Saevall who has killed as many monsters as Zachariah in so short a time.”
“A griffin did kill his mother. He’s probably trying to avenge her,” Queen Jocelyn pointed out.
“And even if that weren’t the case, he’s still willing to lay down his life to fight the Forces.” Kallina placed her elbows on the table and intertwined her fingers. “We’ve never looked down on the status of the non-Royal’s side of the bloodline before.”
That was true. Royals were always pairing with commoners to keep bloodlines fresh. If they didn’t, the Royal gene pool would become more like a puddle.
“Perhaps…but a Romantica?” King Krowe scoffed. “I’d go so far as to say heretic blood cancels out Royal blood.”
Queen Jocelyn scowled. “It doesn’t work that way, and you know it. If Zachariah’s father was a prince, then he has the power. No exceptions.”
“Still, Jocelyn—”
“Enough.” The sharp voice of King Helios cut through the air. As the oldest member of the Council, and the most revered, any time he spoke, people listened.
He was also my grandfather.
“Here’s the truth of the matter,” he said, “we are desperate. The Dark Forces are growing, and we are shrinking. We need every Royal we can get. We cannot push away his help and ignore the fact that he is known to be a powerful swordsman—with abilities we have not seen for over half a century—just because his mother belonged to a cult. Yes, the Romantica have made enemies of us in the past, but we mustn’t forget the face of the true enemy. Dismissing his abilities would be prideful and stupid, knowing what we must face.”
Complete. Silence.
Then they all nodded, even King Krowe.
“My King, I know times are hard,” I said, “but what will we face? I feel as if I’m missing something.”
King Helios looked me in the eye. “We’ve received word from farther north that an alarming amount of darkness is gathering and festering within a cave in the Wu-Hyll Mountains. We believe it is the manifestation of an egg.”
Fear enclosed my heart, and I struggled to keep my breath even.
“The egg of a Sable Dragon,” he said.
I lost the feeling in my legs even though I was sitting. “H-how do you know for sure?”
“There have been many dark signs,” Master Gelloren said. “Signs I have been following closely.”
“The sparrow harpies,” I muttered. I’d been right—they were an omen.
“It’s the same as the signs from a hundred years ago, when the last Sable Dragon was born. Swarms of sparrow harpies in broad daylight,” he said, giving me a nod, “thunderstorms with black lightning, flowers within the chapel wilting…and, of course the most obvious—the drastic increase of monster attacks. The good news is it’s still only an egg. We will know all too well once it does hatch.”
“How soon do you think it will be?” I asked.
“I can’t be exact, but if I’m reading the omens correctly, I would say we have a little less than a month. Dragons are vulnerable as babies, but they reach adulthood quickly. And when that happens, it will be nearly unstoppable.”
Besides the Wicked Queen, the Mother of the Forces, the Sable Dragon was the most powerful evil creature to have walked the earth. Its massive body was said to be covered in obsidian, and its flames…black. I had heard stories of the years that a Sable Dragon terrorized the lands. Many, many Royals and their subjects had lost their lives. It was said an entire Legion perished in the time it took to kill the beast, and thousands more innocents as well.
“Which is why we must send out a very small group to kill the dragon before it reaches adulthood. Preferably before it even hatches,” King Helios said, leaning to where the multicolored light from the stained glass dyed his white hair red and violet.
“But…shouldn’t we send as many as possible?” I asked.
Master Gelloren shook his head. “Even a group the size of a patrol would attract too many dark creatures. It’s best if only a pair of Royals sneak into the mountains, destroy the egg before it hatches, and get out without attracting any more beasts. Not only that, but a large group could alert the Evil Queen’s spies. With her prized son bound to hatch, she’s sure to be on the lookout for any Royals questing to destroy it.”
It was then, as Gelloren’s gaze met mine, that I realized why they were telling me this. This secret was kept to prevent raising alarm throughout the Legion and the kingdom. The only reason I was being told was because they wanted me to…
I stood so violently my chair wobbled. “I accept.”
My grandfather avoided my gaze. “Dear princess, we have not asked anything of you.”
“Yet,” I finished for him. “And you have my answer anyway.”
An icy ball of fear weighed in my gut. It was so cold I thought it would freeze my insides. But at the same time, something much more powerful burned inside me. In my chest, melting that block of ice, were flames fueled by anger and passion. Anger at the Dark Forces for taking down Kellian, and passion to protect my Kingdom and its people.
But can you do it, Ivy? You? A princess with five lost partners?
I was a direct descendant of Myriana. I could do this. My Kiss was the Mark of Myriana—and as dangerous as that was, killing four out of five partners and leaving the other in a coma, it had also saved hundreds of lives with its power. Now, it would have to save hundreds of thousands.
I cleared my throat. “I will go, my King. I’d do anything to protect our kingdom.”
“Princess Ivy, your bravery and loyalty are of no question. You are no doubt the most powerful princess in the Legion, but you are in need of a prince,” King Randalph said, “and we have not yet officially decided on Zachariah. Nor do we know if he would be willing to accept this perilous mission.”
“King Helios has made more than a strong enough point,” Queen Jocelyn said. “We need this prince if his skills are as good as they say.”
“Then we must test them.” King Krowe drummed his fingers on the table.
“It could be tricky,” Randalph said. “Romantica spawn though he may be, he’s still a member of the Saevallan Royals. It would be rude to insult our guests by demanding a test.”
Krowe smiled, making his dark beard twitch. “Oh, not to worry. I have an idea.”
…
I wasn’t allowed to hear the idea, having been dismissed only a few seconds later. They ushered me out the door, and I found Bromley waiting for me in the hall.
I motioned for him to follow me, and he was silent for maybe a minute before the pestering started. “C’mon, what’d they say?”
“Didn’t have your ear pressed against the door, Brom?” I teased.
He scowled. “Last time I did that, Master Gelloren cast an itching spell on my ear so bad I had to cover it with paste.”
I laughed.
“Are you going to tell me, then?”
I waited until we were out of the castle and halfway between the gardens and the training grounds before I pulled him behind a willa blossom tree and told him everything in a low whisper.
Bromley backed away, eyes wide, mouth open. “A Sable Dragon?”
Knowing I could trust Bromley with this news, I nodded. I trusted him with my life.
“And you said you’d go, didn’t you?”
“It’s my duty, Bromley.”