Varheiman Myths: The Dragon And Her Fire

Like A Princess.

Sanlysia stood in the courtroom with her head hung low in front of the king.

‘How did they get in here?’ Edgard’s voice echoed all over the palace.

No one dared to speak to their king. Edgard was as furious as no one had ever seen since the great war.

Sanlysia gathered the courage and spoke, ‘the sea lords, father. They had distracted the guards.’

‘Hadrites helped them?’ Edgard said incredulously, ‘why would he?’

‘I am afraid I don’t know.’ Sanlysia said.

‘Give me the word father. I will take the ships, scour the oceans and bring you his head.’ Aeron’s voice intervened from behind the balcony.

Sanlysia rolled her eyes and her jaw clenched. She was never fond of her little brother. ‘And what? Reward ourselves with the enmity of sea lords.’ Sanlysia said wittily.

Edgard regretfully admitted that his son lacked the brain. Aeron wore the crown of pride on his head, prouder than anyone in the royal family. Even though he knew Sanlysia is not his daughter he believed in her judgements, but never admitted it overtly.

‘You the fierce princess of Halem they say…,’ Edgard rose from his throne and flipped his cloak back, ‘how did they escape you and Sir Lambert?’

‘They killed Sir Lambert…,’ Sanlysia face reddened with vengeance, ‘… father that boy hardly a year older than me. He was not an ordinary boy.’

‘Sister, did you get a soft spot for him, huh?’ Aeron scoffed, ‘… tell me was he as pretty as the stable boy.’

Sanlysia glared. A glare which threatened to kill.

She shifted her eyes back to Edgard and all that anger in those eyes melted in the respect that brimmed her when she talked with Edgard. ‘That boy had the same stone which you have…’

‘Enough...’ Edgard raised his hand and silenced Sanlysia, ‘… no more talking about that boy.’

‘But, father…,’ Sanlysia spoke but Edgard’s cold eyes compelled her to leave her sentence incomplete.

Pysenia face slightly winced when Sanlysia mentioned the boy, she noticed her mother’s face changing from passiveness into a sudden shock, briefly. Edgard stormed back to his throne and all the wise men in the court and counsel settled back.

Aeron walked up to the balcony where he would always sit. Sanlysia stood there frozen in dilemma about where she should go. She didn’t want to go and sit on her usual seat on the balcony next to her brother, not at this moment.

Sanlysia looked at Pysenia drinking from her chalice, pretending to not care about whatever happened last night. Pysenia had always been this way since Alistair left, and the news about a boy had distressed her even more.

‘Unless, you have anything else consequential to the matter. Please clear princess, I have a kingdom to run.’ Edgard grumbled, he was visibly troubled.

Sanlysia bowed and strolled back to her mother’s side. She stood by her mother’s side like a knight guarding someone. Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword while her other sword dangled from her waist. She wore an elegant white mantle with yellow lilies embroidered all over it. Her usual shoes which rose up till her ankles and the straps tied over till her knees and her thigh length black tunic which was tightened around her waist with a baldric.

 ‘How many of our soldiers got killed last night?’ Edgard asked.

‘Everyone your majesty…,’ sir Floskin spoke, ‘… everyone who were stationed at the rampart.’

Edgard nodded, ‘whatever happened it should not get out of the palace walls.’ He concluded.

‘Your majesty the dragon is missing. People may have saw it.’ Sir Floskin.

‘I said it once I am not going to say it again, sir Floskin understand it.’ Edgard said firmly.

He rose from the throne and removed his crown. A brought forth a golden platter to attend to Edgard. The counsel rose with their king and bowed as Edgard stomped out of the courtroom.

Every soul in the courtroom began to empty it one by one following one after another. Sanlysia eased her posture and sighed.

‘Wait.’ Pysenia whispered as Sanlysia was about to leave.

Sanlysia stopped and sat down on the stair ascending on the high platform where two thrones were stationed for the king and the queen. She sprawled her legs and pulled out her dagger from a little sheath which was fastened around her thigh.

Pysenia shot her a sharp look as she sipped from her chalice.

‘What?’ Sanlysia groaned, ‘… you need to have a spare blade in case you are unarmed by your opponent.’

‘Can’t you be like a normal princess you are becoming a woman?’ Pysenia grumbled.

‘Can’t be like a normal mother, you are the queen for flame’s sake.’ Sanlysia said wittily.

‘Ugh…,’ Pysenia breathed out the exasperation.

‘Why did you sire him?’ Sanlysia muttered when she saw Aeron approaching.

‘He is your brother.’

‘Then tell him to act like one.’ Sanlysia snapped, ‘… oh maybe no. As he is your princess.’

‘Enough young lady.’ Pysenia scold.

Aeron smiled at his mother and kissed her on the cheek, ‘mother.’ He greeted, ‘I suppose sister is not delighted with my company.’

‘Of course not, you…,’

‘Stop it Sanlysia.’ Pysenia said furiously.

‘I am going, now that sir Lambert is gone, I want a knight to train.’

‘You are not leaving, unless I ask you. Now be seated.’ Pysenia commanded.