Chapter 6 – Queen Without Power
950 Words
Morning arrived quietly over the Sky Palace.
Golden sunlight spilled through the tall windows of Nora's room, painting the marble floor with warm light. For a few peaceful moments, she almost forgot where she was.
Then the memories rushed back.
The sacrifice.
The Dragon Emperor.
The palace.
The whispers.
She sat up slowly and looked out the window. Dragons glided between floating islands while servants hurried through the gardens below. It was beautiful, yet she had never felt so alone.
A gentle knock came at the door.
"Lady Nora?" Lady Mira called. "May I come in?"
"Yes."
The older woman entered with two maids carrying neatly folded dresses.
"We've brought clothes suitable for the palace."
One maid unfolded a shimmering blue gown embroidered with silver dragon scales. Another held a white silk dress decorated with pearls.
Nora's eyes widened.
"Those can't be for me."
Lady Mira smiled.
"They are."
Nora gently touched the soft fabric.
"I've never worn anything like this."
She looked down at her rough hunting clothes. They were patched in several places, stained from years of working in the forest.
"I'll ruin them."
"No," Lady Mira said kindly. "Clothes are meant to serve the person wearing them, not the other way around."
After some hesitation, Nora changed into the blue gown.
When she looked into the mirror, she barely recognized herself.
The dress fit perfectly, yet she still saw the same village hunter staring back.
She tucked a loose strand of brown hair behind her ear.
"I still don't look like a queen."
Lady Mira adjusted the collar gently.
"A crown does not make a queen."
Before Nora could answer, another knock echoed through the room.
A royal guard entered and bowed.
"His Majesty requests Lady Nora's presence in the Grand Hall."
Nora's stomach tightened.
"Now?"
"Immediately."
---
The Grand Hall was already full.
Dragon nobles stood in long rows, dressed in magnificent robes and polished armor. Their conversations stopped the moment Nora entered.
Every eye turned toward her.
Some looked curious.
Many looked disgusted.
At the far end of the hall, Emperor Kael sat upon a throne carved from black crystal. He looked calm, but his sharp eyes missed nothing.
Beside the throne stood Princess Seraphine.
She smiled the moment Nora approached.
It was not a kind smile.
"So," Seraphine said loudly, "the little hunter has finally decided to dress like royalty."
A few nobles laughed.
Nora bowed respectfully.
"I was told to come."
"You were told many things," Seraphine replied. "That does not mean you belong here."
Nora remained silent.
Kael watched the exchange without interrupting.
Seraphine slowly circled Nora, studying her from head to toe.
"Tell me, Lady Nora."
She emphasized the title as if it tasted bitter.
"What magical gift do you possess?"
Nora answered honestly.
"I have none."
The hall erupted with whispers.
"No magic."
"Unbelievable."
"How embarrassing."
Seraphine smiled wider.
"No magic."
She turned to the nobles.
"Did everyone hear that?"
More laughter spread through the hall.
"In this palace," Seraphine continued, "even the youngest dragon child can use magic."
She looked back at Nora.
"What exactly can you do?"
Nora lifted her chin.
"I can hunt."
More laughter.
"I can track wounded animals."
Another wave of laughter.
"I can survive."
The laughter slowly faded.
Nora continued.
"I know how to live through winters without enough food."
"I know how to protect my family."
"I know what it means to work every day just to stay alive."
She looked around the hall.
"Maybe those things don't matter here."
The room became quiet.
"But they mattered where I came from."
Several older nobles lowered their eyes.
Kael rose from his throne.
The hall immediately fell silent.
He descended the steps slowly until he stood beside Nora.
Then he addressed the court.
"You ask what power she possesses."
He looked at each noble in turn.
"She walked willingly toward death to save a child she did not know."
No one spoke.
Kael's voice remained calm.
"How many among you would do the same?"
Silence answered him.
Even Seraphine could not respond.
The emperor looked at Nora.
"Courage is a power."
His words echoed through the hall.
"And it is rarer than magic."
For the first time since arriving at the Sky Palace, Nora felt that someone truly saw her.
But Seraphine was not finished.
She stepped forward once more.
"If courage is enough," she said smoothly, "then let her prove herself."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What do you propose?"
"The Trial of Embers."
Gasps filled the hall.
One elderly noble shook his head.
"Princess, that trial is reserved for dragon royalty."
"Exactly."
Seraphine folded her arms.
"If this human is to stand beside our emperor, let her face the same test."
Lady Mira's face turned pale.
She whispered, "No human has ever survived the Trial of Embers."
Nora heard her.
She also saw the confidence in Seraphine's smile.
This wasn't a challenge.
It was an execution disguised as tradition.
Kael's voice turned cold.
"I will not allow it."
Before anyone could speak again, the doors of the Grand Hall burst open.
A bloodied dragon scout stumbled inside.
He dropped to one knee, struggling to breathe.
"Your Majesty..."
Everyone turned toward him.
"The northern border..."
He coughed, blood staining the marble floor.
"...has been attacked."
The hall erupted into chaos.
"The human kingdoms?"
"No."
The scout lifted his frightened eyes.
"It was dragons."
Kael's expression hardened instantly.
"What did you say?"
"There are dragons flying under a black banner."
"They slaughtered our border guards..."
"...and they are marching toward the Sky Palace."
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Someone had declared war against the Dragon Emperor.
And the enemy was one of their own.
- Writer
