CH2

The stories said that the Dragon King had fallen into a deep sleep, and in the years since, the regent of the empire had been bringing in human girls to find a true queen. It was dumb. I had always thought it was just a scare tactic. It wasn’t like they demanded girls from the upper class for the trial.

I closed my eyes, remembering a cousin who had been brought back. There was no way to even tell it was actually her. I shuddered, knowing that I would end up the same way. I sighed, trying to push that thought away, watching the mountains come closer. They towered over the forest, casting a shadow over the forest. When the caravan stopped, I slipped out of the caravan and straightened my spine. There was nothing there but the opening of a cave. My heart hammered against my ribs like a hummingbird. Lightning cut through the sky, and the air shook with thunder. The rain hadn’t stopped since the funeral began.

Other caravans pulled away. There were at least fifty young women gathered at the top of a hill. My caravan was the last one to arrive. A unit of stoic people in armor with eyes like embers were there. We walked to join the procession down the stairs toward the large entryway on top of a stone platform. It was gilded and pouring out heat and light. The chamber was carved of stone that gleamed with veins of gold and bronze. As we reached the platform, it was clear that the light inside the passageway was pure fire. The closer we drew, the fire started to turn bright blue.

Panic clawed at my throat, and I watched the two flanking the passageway of fire drag a young woman forward and drag her to the passageway. She shrieked. The scent of burning flesh filled the air.

Everyone ahead of me screamed and scattered. I didn’t move. I didn’t even react to the feeling of one of the armored attendants grabbing my arm. It was chaos. I couldn’t breathe from the scent of the burning flesh. The charred bodies were pushed aside as everyone in front of me was forced to the passageway.

They dragged the bodies aside, and my stomach turned. I felt sick. The attendant holding me dragged me closer to the stairs.

The screaming stopped as the last girl fell to the ground in a burst of flame. Every step brought the fire closer. I was pulled up to the entryway. I looked at the attendants on either side of the entryway. The scales on their necks glistened in the light, and the swords gleamed.

“Walk forward, or you will be forced.”

The attendant shoved me forward a step. I closed my eyes. The heat passed me. For a few moments, my eyes were filled with light. I heard the thunder rumbling in my mind. A beast rose up over me. It was covered in golden and jade scales. It was beautiful. Then, it vanished. I opened my eyes to a beautiful foyer covered in gold and jade scales, just like the dragon. Every part of it was bathed in an ethereal, otherworldly glow. Moments later, a pair of armored attendants appeared. Their jaws dropped seeing me. Then, a flute and harp started to play like something out of the stories my dad told her about the Dragon King’s palace back when the realms were still connected.

They stammered before bowing slightly.

“Your Majesty, please allow us to show you the way.”

People poured out of the rooms, all of them dressed like the attendants but unarmored. They stared at me. They whispered, but I couldn’t make out any of the words. Someone grabbed me from behind and marched me forward.

What did I do now? I tried to pull free from them, but they didn’t budge.

“Will I… be taken to His Majesty?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t call me that–”

“–his sister is currently visiting him. For now, we will show you to your room.”

“I don’t have a room here.”

“You passed the Trial,” he looked at me. “You are the queen.”

I shuddered at the thought. I tried to dig in my heels, but they kept pulling me along. The attendants hauled me upstairs.

“The East Wing is the Queen’s wing,” the attendant said. “Currently, there is only one maid, but that will change soon.”

The attendants opened the door and pulled me inside.It was beautifully decorated in jade and gold. A young woman about my age with short, curly hair looked up. She jumped up and looked tense. She was bronze-toned and clearly nervous.

“This is Maya,” one of the attendants said. “She is the maid currently assigned to your wing.”

She curtsied and bowed her head.

“Please prepare her to be presented to His Majesty.”

Maya nodded, bowing her head. The attendants left. Maya looked apprehensive.

I smiled. “I…don’t suppose you know if there’s a way around the guards?”

“Your Majesty, you really–”

“It’s Morgan.”

“It’s a pleasure to serve you, Your Majesty. Let’s…. find you something appropriate to wear.”

“I don’t plan on staying,” I said.

“You have a way around the guards?” Maya asked.

“Not yet.”

She smiled. “Then, let’s get you changed.”

I followed her into the bathing chamber. It was beautiful. She sat on the edge of the tub and pushed a set of stones aside. Water gushed into the tub, and the air turned humid around us.

“You’ll need to watch out for Lady Ari. She is His Majesty’s adoptive sister. She is a foundling that’s been raised with him as a lady of the imperial court by the former king.” She opened a bottle and poured liquid into the bath. I crossed the room and sat on the edge of the tub as well. “She’s cruel and cunning. Don’t trust anything she says.”

“Presenting a proper front would go a long way toward making this easier for you,” Maya said softly. “And… the only way out is through the passageway, though now that you’ve passed the Trial… you’re well… changed.”NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

I set my jaw. The robe Maya picked out was spun out of jade and gold. I got a concealed sword that was apparently tradition. I set the short sword my father had given me on the dresser. I gave Maya one of the robes out of the closet that was too big for me to replace the ragged robes she was wearing. It was a soft peach and gold that complimented Maya’s skin tone.

“Thanks,” I said. “Consider it an apology for not staying around.”

Maya led me out of the room and out of the wing. We met the attendants in front of a deep black door. The attendant opened the door. The room was lavish, decorated in red and gold. On the large bed lay a man. He was tall and dressed in a black robe. His long hair was bound in a braid. She stayed at the foot of the bed. It was close enough to see his face. He was bronze-toned and handsome. He may have been asleep for centuries, but he looked young. There were smudges on his neck.

“Your Majesty, please–”

The doors behind her flew open, banging on the wall. I turned around. A woman with scales at the corner of her eyes and dark hair pulled up into a complicated-looking knot decorated with jewelry stood in the doorway. She was dressed in blue that seemed threaded with gold.

She glared at me. “Who the hell are you letting into my brother’s chambers?”

This must be Ari.