Make Your Move Katherine

Not The Dragon King

The Mage, Ju.

Ju sauntered into the room, groping her neck; not that the queen’s knife protruded her skin for the queen had pressed the back of the blade onto her flesh. But the fact that she may lose it upon the king's return is what had her terrified. In spite of that horrifying thought, she could feel something in the air…something bigger was at play and her sluggish frightened mind tried to concentrate and break the fright.

Ju, swallows hard. Ju, could feel it again- something was telling her to aid the queen…like before. But who? And why? She should protect her king… The heat circles around her, overriding her fear of losing her neck and Ju closed her eyes and searched her mind.

She motions with her hands in front of her in an anti-clockwise motion and channels the elements around her, from her core, feeling the spiritual growth within her. She could hear them whispering to her but she could barely make out the words. The vision started becoming clear suddenly.

Protect her, it said again.

She opens her eyes and stared at the blank wall- ‘protect her? Who, do I protect?’

“The phoenix dwells within the girl- protect her, for she is surrounded by her enemies. The future of our kind lives within her,” she heard the echoing sound in her head but she couldn’t tell if it belonged to a male or female, for the background was still noisy.

“Our future? Who are you?” Ju shut her eyes again and mediated on the voice that stood out above the rest. It was a familiar; one she had been hearing for the past few weeks- the same one she had been hearing but couldn’t make out the words, for it had been too noisy yet not strong enough to be heard ... like a white noise sort of sound.

Today was different however and her excitement grew.

“Her fate has already begun but she is surrounded by enemies. Protect her…”

“What?” the young mage swallowed hard when she felt the tingling growing inside her, settling beneath her skin.

“She will be doomed…protect her,” the strong… male voice commanded and Ju looked into the far corners of her mind trying to find its source. But she found only a dark atmosphere.

“The afterlife beckons…guide…protect her.”

‘Afterlife?’

“The phoenix…” the voice dwindled and Ju squinted her eyes tighter as if it would produce more power…it did not and she tried a different chant her mother taught her years ago- a beckoning command. It was only supposed to be used for very powerful pishogues, for it drained one’s strength and was forbidden.

“What…is that an incantation? I am not dead. Are you trying to kill yourself? Stop immediately!” the man instructed and Ju stopped abruptly when she felt the hollowness in her head and the trickling down her nose.

“Protect the child, the phoenix lives!” he went on and felt the wetness and knew her nose was bleeding but she did not even make a move to wipe it off as it dripped down her mouth then chin. She concentrated instead on the words being said to her. And Ju is very well aware that the phoenix lived but yet it had not taken a form.

‘Girl- phoenix, I am not dead- wait.’

“The girl...You mean the queen?” she gasped out and her eyes flew open when the realization hit her. He was telling her to protect the newly crowned queen! That would explain the sudden fierceness that had gripped Ju when the queen had barged in before with that wild look about her face. But from who? The king was already protecting her. He certainly couldn’t mean the dragon king was about to rage a war, could he?

“The queen? How long has it been? Is she married to the Prince or the King?” the voice questioned a bit excitedly.

The Prince or the King? Who is this person who is not dead but talking to her in her mind and what rubbish is he muttering about? Just how did he know about the phoenix and the marriage? Ju wanted to ask him about this upcoming war but held back as worry started to overcome her. She had to concentrate on the matter in her mind and not go astray for this was taking a toll on her as it was already. “Do you mean Oscar? He is King and married to the chosen woman- yes the phoenix.”

“Little Oscar?” the tone was clearly caught by surprise for it had gone up a notch.

‘Little Oscar?’

Ju’s blood ran cold for she had been talking to the Dragon King- King Julian’s enemy. And his father’s foe too when his cousin had killed his wife and daughter- Oscar’s mother and twin sister. “You are the Dragon King-”

“I am not the Dragon King, come off it,” he denied. “If Oscar is King that means the King is dead? The former king- what about the Dragon King- did he also have his son rule?”

“What?” Ju was lost- just who is this person? “No, former- I think. If you mean Xu Kai-“

“Yes!”

“Well, the dragon king still rules,” Ju swiped at her mouth then with the back of her hand and muttered on, still lost a bit as she tried to follow his words, “King Drago is alive-”

“He is? Drago?”

‘Why is this man referring to the former king without honorifics?’

He had to be of high rank or close to the former King. “Yes, he gave up the reign to- “

“He abdicated the throne?” the voice exclaimed in surprise and Ju got the feeling he was definitely familiar with the royals- but which side? She had to choose her words wisely for the man had said he wasn’t dead too. This could be a trick of her mind- maybe she was asleep and given a potion of some sort. She had to test him.

“Yes, abdication is a regular event-”

“He abandoned us?”

‘Us?’

“No, he did not abandon his royal duty to his people,” Ju quickly defended and went on to give a very brief history lesson, “Oscar was in favor and given the throne for the King became weak after his wife and daughter died in front of his eyes- he never recovered. The former King, in the presence of all royals and the full parliament, agreed.”

She remembered when the country had voiced their concern on the former king’s declining health two years back and he was forced to admit that he was abdicating the throne. It had helped maintain stability and trust during the political succession for Oscar and the former king when Oscar had said he would be looking into marrying soon.

The entire country celebrated, for the nation loved a love story and had brought up articles and pictures about whom they thought he would marry. The people were pleased so much that they had even brought up King Julian’s previous statements about marrying for love and not an arrangement like the previous crowns had.

“I remember I was there. I will see you soon mage- remember to protect her,” and the voice faded out leaving her feeling a bit lightheaded.

He had called her mage.

And he spoke as if surprised that so many years had passed since the unsuccessful usurper years ago that claimed too many lives. Definitely not an enemy, so who was this powerful being that knew how to invade her mind?

This is why she liked to work alone and locked her door. Clothing always constricted her.

Ju, sat heavily down on a chair, removing her white coat and shirt while she caught up in her breathing. She kicked off her sensible, flat, black semi-formal-looking shoes next and took her slacks off also then followed with her soft brown colored brown stocking, feeling as if her entire body was finally able to breathe. Her chest had this heavy feeling all along. Her blood returned to a somewhat steady flow as did her heartrate and she walked around in her underwear- unmatched white panties and pink-rose colored bra.

Ju’s intellectual capabilities, set to work then and the male words took effect slowly as she relaxed her body. The man/voice had said he was there when the people were slaughtered- when the then king’s wife and child were killed among them. Ju remembered how Eric had given her very little detail, on what happened on the day when his friend Oscar had held his dying mother in his arms. He had said Oscar’s sister had been in pieces on the floor. It had been a horrific scene and Ju was glad she had not been part of the castle staff then. That was no way to have your family die on you- Ju was a firm believer in children burying or burning their parents and not the other way.

And to see it unfold…Eric had said that Oscar’s screams had haunted his own dreams, months after the young prince had left to finish his schooling in another country. Ju figured to be hunted by someone else’s screams had to be a nightmare by itself.

She heard the Royal Guard, Anthony had lost his family too in the battle- parents and sister. Ju had wept for she loved the man and his pain felt like hers. But he had never seen her in that way as he was a royal guard through and through; who lived only for the safety of the king alone. But Ju, along with hundreds…if not more, had selfishly decided that they were happy that he was never going to be married and settled with one woman, for the rest of his life.

That give them the hope that there was a chance that he would be part of their life; maybe in the future by a chanced happenstance. And that was enough for them. At least until they met a man of their own and married off but not Ju. Nope, Ju settled with this job as it kept her by his- not side but within his view- sometimes. But sometimes was better than never, she figured.

Her eyes flew open- there was only one type of person that could enter her mind in that manner- the missing mage!