Hail the Dragon Enchantress

Chapter 2: A Send Off

Queen’s Journal Part 2

The day came that I had to say goodbye to my first love. I may have only been 12 years of age, but he was the boy I loved. My family and friends stood on the dock and watched him get on that large gally. He was leaving to become a poacher hunter. Jack had always hated that some people hunted for sport instead of food. He even used the word evil in one of our previous conversations. Just the other night, though, my father said that he would be sending a master huntsman to aid Jack on his personal quest. No boy should be alone for a heroic deed like that, my father praised.

The huntsman and Jack boarded the ship with Kelp on Jack’s shoulders. Nithe and Kelp have become close to one another these past few weeks. Even our dragons bonded to each other. Nithe flew up to Kelp and nuzzled him one last time. She came back to me and chirped for her bonded soulmate.

“I’ll come back, don’t you worry. I’ll be a stronger man when I do. And I am sure you will be Queen by then.” Jack gave me a jester's grin. I returned his grin with one of my own and shook my head.

“You had better stay safe out there. You hear?” I giggled. “If you die out there, I’ll kill you myself.” We all laughed at my jesters' banter. “In all seriousness, Jack. Protect yourself and your dragon. Poachers are cruel people who would kill even the smallest of children.”

Katrina stepped forward, “She is right. And if they get a hold of Kelp, they’ll kill him.”

All of the dragonets whimpered and whined. “Fear not, my lords and ladies. I will risk my life to protect this young man and his dragon. After all, an adult dragon can scare off any man.” Just as he said that, a gold and green dragon landed on the dock. Since dragons are big, they cannot be on a gally for more than a few moments. “Jadeite will protect Kelp with her life too.” Jadeite was a gorgeous dragon. And regal. She sat like she was a queen.

Claira and Comet looked at me with sadness. “Will you be well, Princess?”

I smiled at my friend. “It is going to be a good experience for him. I will keep him in my thoughts and ask the gods to see him home safely.” I looked at Jack with that last part.

“Much appreciated, my future queen. I will send letters when possible.” After that, the captain of the ship rang the bell for the all aboard signal. The crew raised the ramp and weighed the anchor. It was time for them to be off. The others clapped and hollered goodbyes and good luck. I stood there with a smile on my face and waved him off. I knew he would be a fine gentleman when he returned.

-Next Spring-

I had received many letters from Jack. Some more frightful than others. There was one letter that made my heart sink. The huntsman with him almost died due to a horrific practice. Forced brothels. Where women were forced to give themselves to older men. When he told me that he had made it his other mission to destroy forced brothels, I was happy for him. The owner of the brothel he spoke of attacked him and the huntsman. Stabbing him in the stomach. I was relieved when he also added that the wound was healing nicely and that the huntsman should be on his feet in a few more sun cycles.

Another was written about how the huntsman found a woman. Jack thought it was meant to be. The huntsman was unmarried and the woman was very attractive. Jack was happy that the huntsman and his dragon liked the woman. Jack spoke highly of her. She seemed noble and gentle. And had a good eye for traps. I wanted to laugh when Jack included a charcoal picture of the two kissing. I was to be 13 soon and I would need to be betrothed to a prince. I looked at the picture of the huntsman and the woman kissing. My heart throbbed when I thought of Jack that way. A princess cannot marry a commoner. And I hated that. But time moves on.

I kept reading the letters. One spoke of a kingdom they had found. The king and queen there were in awe of Kelp and Jadeite. Telling Jack and the huntsman that they could stay there if their dragons protected them from raiders and pirates. And that was the last letter I had received from Jack. My heart broke with each passing month not hearing from him. The summer months were closing in and I would wait at my windowsill watching for a messenger dragon to appear. Yet, he never did.

My family kept telling me that perhaps he was doing his quests and they were not able to send me any letters. I had doubted that was the cause. A few times, I had thought of him with another girl. That made my blood boil. I would either be angry enough that food was revolting or I would sit in my chamber and let myself wallow. Crying myself to sleep or staying up all moon cycles and reading out of anger. I knew I shouldn't have been. Yet, it felt like he tossed me aside. I sent a letter every week to his new kingdom, yet, I would get nothing back. Was I not a good enough friend anymore? Nithe and my pillows were my only solace. Nithe would curl up with me and whimper.

Right before the summer solstice came, there was finally a messenger dragon who landed in the courtyard of my father's palace. I had quickly run from my room to see if it was from Jack. When I got there, my father and mother were crying. They hadn't noticed me yet. But I remember their words. "Don't tell her, Cora. She'll be devastated." My father held my mother. What had happened?

Mother was sobbing. "He was just a boy. A boy." Something happened to Jack? No. I thought. The letter slipped out of my mother's hands and fell to the ground. I hid away in the nearby bushes until they left. Nithe picked it up and brought it to me. The contents of the letter had me on my knees. The first part was good news. Jack and Kelp had proven themselves and had gained the king and queen's favor. They adopted him. What followed after had me crying silently. Bandits found their way into the castle and took Jack while he slept. Kelp went missing too. They followed the tracks all the way to the end of a pier. The ship was already gone and out of sight. They found 3 scales from Kelp's body that were bloody. They had sent the scales. Nithe chirped and teared for her bonded mate. The ending of the letter was the worst part. They said that they believed Jack and Kelp were killed.

After spending a long time crying in that bushel, I had to force myself to walk. Drying my tears, I called the general of our guards and had him prepare a small boat. I had filled it with Jack's old belongings that he kept here in Shora. The general handed me a short bow and an arrow already aflame. Nithe was circling the small boat in the air. I calmed my tears and held my breath. Letting loose the arrow and seeing it hit the boat. The flames came instantly because I had poured oil onto it. The general turned his back to give me space but not leave me alone. Again, I fell to the ground and screamed as I cried. I wanted to make those bandits or pirates pay for their crimes. My fists hit the sandy shore dozens of times. Nithe gave a great cry of sadness. Hurting for her bonded mate.

When the fire died down, I stood to my feet. I straightened my back and decided that I would give his spirit one final send off. "Jack. Had I known that you were adopted into princehood, I would have flown to your new kingdom and demanded my father and your father to arrange our marriage." I sobbed out. "We would have had a beautiful autumn wedding. You would have turned 21 years of age when you and I took our places as king and queen. I would have been in mother's ceremonial dress." I sniffled and looked up at the night sky. "I am sorry, Jack. I wish I could have saved you. Forgive me." That was all I could say after that. My broken heart and my broken hopes.