The Last Daughter of Dragons (3)

A serialised dark romantic fantasy novella

Previously…

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

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“No dragon has ever lived in Hebeny,” Rem said staring at the clouds. Darkness moved over the land, but his keen half-wolfling eyes saw glimpses of fire flashing in the clouds.

“The High North, above Northsanguis is where the last dragons live. Why was it here?” Cal pondered.

Rem stood thinking.

“Is it not strange?! My castle is burning and a fire-breathing monster flies above Hebeny…”

“Don’t be quick to judge, Rem! Not all beasts are born to destroy,” Caligo said, “and some would give anything, to change their beastly fate.”

“No time for pondering,” Rem replied, looking down at the wolf, “we have to warn the king! Surely, we must not have been the only ones to see a dragon ascending!”

King Ashier and Queen Geminaris were surrounded by guards and worried guests when Rem and Cal ran into the hall. Rem elbowed his way to the royals, the guests parted, frightened by the sight of a large grey wolf running alongside him.

“My Lord, I saw…”

“A dragon-like beast,” the King finished grimly. “It was to be expected. The new ruler of Northsanguis has set his sight upon us. Clearly, it’s a spy. We had grown careless…”

King stood up addressing the court and the guests,

“Fear not! I commanded to double the count of the archers guarding the skies above us. No bird shall fly unnoticed over the castle tonight!”

King Ashier’s green eyes stopped at the sight of Cal standing by Rem’s side.

“My Lord…” Rem stuttered, “this is Caligo, my frie….” Rem felt Cal stepping on his foot painfully, “this is my pet wolf. May he accompany me in the court?”

“Yes, of course!” The King waved indifferently, overtaken by his worries.

The feast ended early, with the court and guests in uproar; the rumours of dragon-spies from Northsanguis spread like wildfire…

Asha crept through the morning fog as quietly as she could. Nobody was allowed to leave the castle at night for their own safety, but the Snakeling maiden had no trouble at all to slither out through the cracks in the walls. Only when she was well hidden by the fog, did Asha take her human form. The Snakeling girl had an excellent vision in the dark, yet she searched for her mistress for hours. Usually, the Dragonling found its way back home at dawn. But this was not home. Her mistress had been reckless, giving into her Dragonling form so openly. She should’ve at least waited until dark! Surely, more than a few Hebenians noticed a giant, fire-breathing dragon flying in the sky.

Asha shook her head, her careful, soundless steps stopped at the sight of a dark clump lying on the riverbank.

“My Lady!” Asha whispered running onward.

“Lady Juno! Wake, my Lady!” Asha murmured, shaking Juno gently. Although the Dragonling magic allowed her to keep the clothes on, those were not protected from the flames; the beautiful vermillion dress was burned and torn.

“Oh, please wake! The sun will rise soon! Oh, your dress is ruined! Oh, dear, oh, dear! How am I going to get you into the castle unnoticed?!”

“Mmm… Asha… where am I?” Juno asked. “I’m tired Asha… the monster destroys everything… I want to die, Asha…”

“Oh, I will help you up, my Lady! Do not tempt the Foreverold with foul words! Every creature is bound to live as long as it should. We do not choose our days.”

“Keep your Snakeling wisdom to yourself! It cannot help me!” Juno retorted. Asha sighed but said nothing.

She supported her mistress as both made their way back to the castle. The Snakeling wit did come handy; Asha made Juno take off the burned gown, leaving her in the petticoat dress, and wrapped Juno in her cloak.

The sun rose bloody-red, when the two came to the well-guarded castle grounds.

“My mistress has been enjoying a nightly swim. I demand you let her in, she’s in a desperate need of dry clothes!” Asha told the guards, after they looked the two maidens up and down with the deepest suspicions.

“Let them in. It’s Lady Juno, the Heiress of Autumna,” said Rem, standing behind the guards. He hadn’t slept all night, roaming around the castle, waiting for news from his father. Caligo stood by his side, the silvery wolf yawned, but as soon as he noticed the ladies, Cal hid behind Rem cowardly.

The armed men parted for the maidens to enter. The beautiful garden woke to the sunrise with tiny droplets of dew trembling on its luscious flowers, Rem and Caligo were heading to the garden and into the woods for a morning stroll, when they saw the two maidens approaching.

“I hope you’re not expecting my gratitude after your shameless kiss yesterday?!” Juno hissed in his face as they passed each other. Rem inhaled before replying. Instead of the spicy rose, he felt an unpleasant scent of burned silk and linen. His sharp half-Wolfling eyes noticed a clump of burned vermillion silk Asha clutched in her arms.

“I hope you’re not expecting my apology?! You’d be still shivering outside the garden after your…nightly swim, if it wasn’t for me.”

The shameless bastard! Juno looked into his blue eyes, the purest, deepest mirrors reflecting the flames in her own eyes. She felt her knees weaken; it must’ve been the exhaustion…

Juno hissed angrily and rushed away, stomping her bare feet. Asha followed. Caligo gave her slender figure a lengthy look.

“Whatever did I see in her?!” Rem spat out when they walked through the miraculous garden as it dropped the shackles of darkness. The sun played in every dew drop, the birds sang and only a distant summer’s thunder disrupted the peaceful morning.

“She is very beautiful,” growled Caligo, “they both are.”

“Beauty helps nothing if one’s soul is full of rot. Arrogance is her name!” Rem exclaimed. He marched on angrily, poor Caligo picked up the pace to keep up with his friend. “She is nothing to Aria! Aria’s beauty comes from her pure soul!”

“Aria shunned you and chose a richer suiter instead of you!” Caligo reminded him.

Rem slowed down. The memory of the butcher boy’s blood on his hands was still fresh.

“I shouldn’t have been so shameless with Lady Juno. Who am I to judge her. Nobody is worse than a murderer.” Rem stood staring at his feet.

The silver wolf sighed.

“You tend to be hasty, my friend, but I know your heart. It’s good. And I bet Lady Juno is the kindest of maidens once you’d get to know here closer.”

“I bet you wouldn’t mind knowing her friend closer, the little green-eyed maid?!” Rem smirked grimly.

Cal growled and ran onward, leaving his friend far behind.

“Running back home to the woods Caligo?!” Rem yelled.

“You’d wish, slow-legs!” Caligo barked back.

“The shameless bastard! I hate him! I wish to burn his insides!” Juno yelled, pacing back and forth in her chamber. She moaned and sat on the bed; the thought of Rem’s body close to her woke the Dragonling flames within, causing Juno pain.

“Please, don’t tempt your fate, my Lady!” Asha said calmly.

“What is there left to lose, Asha?! Fate has been mocking me ever since I‘ve had these flames in my chest! Aargh!” Juno fell to her knees from the pain. “It’s all his fault! That Lord Wolf, with his hungry eyes!”

“You must crave him desperately, if it awakes such pain,” Asha murmured quietly.

“What?! What did you say?” Juno squinted her eyes furiously. Asha swallowed; for a tiny moment she feared her mistress might unleash her inner monster on the spot!

“I despise him! Besides I’m engaged!” Juno yelled in Asha’s face.

“To a man you’ve never seen, nor do you wish to! You confessed so yourself!” Asha retorted. Even her cold-blooded patience had its limits.

Juno’s fiery anger ended in a stream of hot tears. Asha shook her head, and embraced her pathetic mistress sitting on the floor, crying her heart out.

The King and Queen were occupied with enforcing the defence of their kingdom. They left their mostly young and inexperienced court unguided, which meant that every dark corner of the garden was taken by lovers enjoying sweet uninterrupted kisses for hours and hours… it made Rem feel uneasy, he avoided the garden. He and Cal walked through the castle hallways in search of occupation and distraction. There was still no news from father.

“Can you see her?” Rem asked Caligo for the hundredth time. As a pure-blood Wolfling Cal could see into the spirit realms. The Wolf sighed, closing his eyes. He stood still for a long while, Rem paced around his chamber impatiently.

“Well?”

“She is not there.”

“Thank the Foreverold!” Rem exclaimed. “I’m sure Mother is safe.”

Still, he resumed his marching back and forth.

“I’m sure she is. Lady Stella is far too wise and strong… stay calm, my friend!” Cal stood in Rem’ s way to stop his frantic pacing.

“I’m glad you’re here friend. I’m not sure your own mother will be pleased with your absence though.” Rem kneeled by the wolf.

“I might keep you company for a while, if only to keep you out of trouble,” Cal growled.

“In that case we should reveal your true form to the King and Queen,” Rem suggested.

Cal growled out in a wolfish laughter.

“Hebenians despise magic! No, my friend! Please, keep my secret! And… this is my true form. I’m more wolf than a man.”

“I disagree but have it your way. Though I bet your little green-eyed maid won’t be thrilled about your… fluffy secret,” Rem snickered. “Better tell her the truth of your nature early on.”

Cal rolled his wolf eyes.

“Oh, let’s go and find something to entertain us! Otherwise, we’ll end up ridiculing each other for all eternity!”

“I must return back to Autumna!” Juno stated. She sat in her chamber all day long; she even requested her meals were served in her chamber. “I cannot imagine a safe way for me to become the monster every night. Not here! This is impossible!”

Asha sat in silence. She nodded in approval.

“We should first write to the Council of High-born and…”

“No! I shall not bow to their will! I did everything they wanted for a whole year! I’m engaged to the man they wanted! What else?! I shall not do more! No more, Asha!” Juno objected.

“Please, my Lady! Let us inform them first. Only a couple of days!”

“And nights!”

“But must you hide your… true nature from the King and the Queen? Maybe if they knew, they’d help you?” Asha suggested cautiously.

Juno laughed maliciously in reply.

“Hebenians despise magic! We must maintain good relationship with this court, Asha! I’ve heard it a hundred times a day from your grandmother!”

“Only a few days more, my Lady. We’ll find a way for you to leave the castle at night.” Asha said reassuringly. “Meanwhile, let us take a nice stroll round the garden…”

“Not the garden, Asha! That despicable man might be there pleasing himself with some dimwit girl. He hardly seems like a virtuous man!”

Asha rolled her eyes, but said nothing, as both girls left the chamber to explore the castle.

Juno heard the sounds she knew well. The sounds of swords clashing always drew a smile on her face. Grandfather Erko’s forge was where she grew up. He made the best swords in the land and tested them every day. When Grandmother grew weak, he taught Juno sword fighting and they practised daily. Juno had brought her favourite light-weight sword with her to Hebeny.

When she heard the sound of sword fighting, Juno hurried down the hallway, Asha could not stop her.

Juno ran into the next hall where the sword sounds called her.

Her smile faded quickly; Lord Rem was there, his sword danced cheerfully, his blue eyes burned with joy as he practised sword fighting with another young Noble.

Juno stood watching silently; Rem’s white shirt was undone, his body sweating, his moves quick and masterful. He was a good sword fighter, and a handsome man.

“If you’d stare any longer, my Lady, you’ll burn a hole in his chest,” Asha whispered in her ear. Juno lowered her eyes shamefully; she feared someone might notice the Dragonling flames burning in her eyes.

Rem did notice her staring. The fight ended with his victory. After he shook hands with his opponent, Rem approached Juno, a confident smile all over his face, with his forehead and muscled chest dripping sweat.

“Do you enjoy sword-fighting, Lady Juno?!”

She felt the burning pain rising in her chest, but Juno hid it beneath the guise of fury.

“I do, but yours was quite pathetic!” She spat out.

“Oh? Was it? And I suppose you know how a good sword fight looks?” He stood too close.

The smell of his sweat made Juno’s heart explode with pain.

“I do! I could teach you a lesson or two!”

“Please do! I’m eager to see a frail maiden teaching me sword fighting! Go on, school me!” His lips spoke the words of anger an inch from hers. Juno had to put the burning pain of her passion into some action. She stepped toward the wall and grabbed the nearest light-weight sword hung there among many others. Juno swung it swiftly, displaying her excellent skills.

“Not bad. You can swing the sword, but can you fight? I’ve never seen a sword-swinging maiden in a fight!” Rem ridiculed her, and the young men of the court observing the sword-fighting practise burst out in laughter.

“Asha, help!” Juno said, taking her dress off to everybody’s surprise. The heavy silk made her moves slower; as a young girl she spent her days in a light linen dress, like the one she wore underneath the heavy layers of silk.

“My Lady, you cannot… this is improper for a Lady!” Asha whispered, helping Juno with the dress.

“I’m no proper Lady, and I never was!” Juno retorted, “I’m a blacksmith’s daughter!” She assumed the fighting stance, pointing her sword at Rem’s throat viciously.

“Rem, no! This is not a Noble man’s way to settle things! She’s a Lady!” Cal growled.

“You heard her. She’s not a Lady!” Rem spat out and pushed the wolf out of his way. Cal did not interfere, because Asha’s green eyes met with his. She frowned, the poor wolf gave a short whine and scurried into a dark corner.

Juno and Rem did not bow to each other. Their swords met; a thunder rumbled outside the castle; a storm of unseen fury moved over the kingdom. Both fought with the heat of two flames meeting, two thunderstorms collided underneath beautifully painted castle ceiling. Juno was quicker, Rem was stronger, but both were equally masterful and passionate. None would give up.

Desire and anger burned in Rem’s soul, he wished to overpower this shameless beauty, to tame her flame, no matter what.

The more heatedly Juno fought, the more her pain retreated. The court observing them stood stunned and shocked, maidens blushed, young men shook their heads; this was wrong in every possible way.

“I don’t know whether to cheer or hide my eyes, if not for the swords, they’d lose their virtue with each other here and now!” They whispered, staring as the half-naked Juno and Rem yelled out their anger with every sword swing, sweaty and hot.

When Juno began to lose her strength, and it appeared Rem was getting the upper hand, suddenly King Ashier hurried into the hall.

“What is the meaning of this??!” He bellowed. “This is unfathomable!” All lowered their eyes, they were young; a court of scolded children.

Rem and Juno put away their swords, breathing rapidly.

“I should banish you from this court! Both of you! No Lord starts a shameless sword fight with a Lady! What were you trying to prove?!” King Ashier yelled at Rem.

“And you, Lady Juno!” He softened his voice, “must keep your dignity! No heiress should lose her pride to someone below her!”

“I came here with grim news for you, Lord Remment,” King Ashier said, handing Rem a letter.

“I cannot believe I must babysit my own court!” King Ashier murmured, walking out the hall.

“Do dress yourself, my Lady! You heard the king!” Asha whispered.

“I have nothing to be ashamed of!” Juno said loudly, giving Rem a spiteful glance. “I am a better sword fighter! The only one this pathetic man could win is probably his own mother!” Juno smiled proudly, while the court burst out in laughter.

Rem raised his teary eyes from the letter he read.

“My mother is dead.”