The Mehndi Prince

Pride and Prejudice

I close the door to the guest suite with a subtle click, but what I really want to do is slam it. With a soft growl I push away from the door and stride angrily over to the vanity dresser. Sitting on the padded stool in front of it. Damn Nero and his egalitarian views! I thought he would have had more of an elitist upbringing being a golden dragon. I slam through the dresser drawers pretending to look for something, expending some of my frustration.

“Your Highness?” My attendant timidly interrupted. “His holiness wishes a word with you,” I take a steadying breath in through my right nostril and exhale throughout the left.

“Send him in,” I state imperiously even though I know he is just standing on the other side of the door to the adjoining room.

The high magician barged through the partially open door that the attendant was trying to open, knocking her to one side. His slightly stooped height was still imposing, as was his iron grey beard and eyes.

“What are you doing back so soon?! You’re supposed to be spending time with the prince! The time draws nigh to when you need to be impregnated to birth the next High Priest for the Achromatica kingdom. It has been foretold, that the next High priest will carry golden dragon blood.” He demanded his breath icy cold and foggy as his dragon start to rise with his temper.

I barely restrain myself from rolling my eyes. I know this already. As the next high priestess I must bare the next, this succession has gone on for generations. But which of the offspring will be the next High Priest is never known until they are born.

“Look, I’ve already put my foot in my mouth today and I wasn’t even in his presence for an hour. He’s far too liberal.”

“I don’t care about his political beliefs! I care that his bloodline is tied to yours. I care that you bear a child by the next hunter’s moon!” Bellows the High Priest. I sit and ruminate, letting the High Priest stew. Finally, I turn on the vanity stool and face towards him.

“Perhaps we are going about this the wrong way. I think the most direct route to marriage will be through his family…spend time with his mother, father and sister and let them exert the pressure.”

The high magician pursed his lips, thinking hard.

“What makes you think this plan will work any better than the last?”

“What? Pretending to be shy, demure and malleable. It usually works on most males.” I stare pointedly at the High Priest. He never knew what I was truely like until I was of age and anointed the next High Priestess and slowly began to chip away at his power base within Achromatica.

“I underestimated him.I shall not do so again.”

“You’d better not, because the fate of us all depends upon this.” My father cautioned.

“Oh, stop being so dramatic!” The High Priest raised an eyebrow at me and smirked. “When I die, which is imminent, you will see. The vision will come to you as well, and you will tremble before what is to come.”

********

“Your majesty, I was so kind of you to invite me into your private salon.” I simper at the golden queen.

“How are you and my son getting along?”

“It’s hard to say at the moment.” I looked down at my tea and watch the queen surreptitiously through my eyelashes. “I fear may have said something to offend him earlier today and I worry we have little in common.”

“That is a problem,” she conceded. There was a light rap at the door. The queen nodded at the maid who opened the door to admit four giggling ladies. Dear gods! This is going to be hell. The four ladies glide towards me, vacuous and blushing.

“I hear you are to marry Prince Nero?” The boldest of the four tittered. Her brunette curls bouncing with her enthusiasm. “He looks so Devine, all that black hair… and his eyes, they are soo dark, almost black…and soo deep with that golden ring around his pupils it looks like an eclipse…” she practically swooned.

“Don’t worry about Perdita.” Interjected the red headed lady. “I’m Saramona of Sanguine.” Ahh… the third daughter of the red dragon king. “She never had a chance with the prince, anyway. She accidentally killed his favourite pet when she was little and he’s never forgiven her.” Was whispered into my right ear, making me turn suddenly. I hadn’t noticed her move. “Hi, I’m Willow of Verdigris.” The next Matriarch of the green dragons. There are so many potential queens in the room. The others must also have been considered at some point as potential suitors. Perdita must be of Ecru, the brown dragons ruling family.

“Duchess Neve your face gives nothing away, but your emotions betray you.” Comments the final lady. Her eyes such a light crystalline blue that would suggest that she might be blind. Her black hair so dark it’s blue undertones gleamed in the candlelight of the room. “You are of the blue dragon clan then?” My tone reserved and aloof. A hint of a smirk twitching at the corner of her lips as she replies.

“Yes, I am Celeste of Cerulean. You may know of my grand aunt, Terrilyn.” The blue dragons are strange. No direct ruling family, but a collective of them more like a democracy. One of the families voted into favour or out of it every five years.

The golden queen claps her hands sharply.

“Now ladies, please find you seats. We have important matters to discuss.” Gods kill me now if we are going to engage in a gossiping session.

“Are my agents ready to report? Who will go first?” My jaw almost hits the floor.