Chapter One
Every muscle in my body was screaming for me to stop fighting, but I knew I couldn't, I can't give up now. This is the one shot I get at showing my family and my Kingdom that I am as good as any other stupid boy around here and I couldn't give up because I knew he was watching. He was my uncle and my King and I couldn't let him down. I kept fighting until every last fully trained guard with over four years experience was on the ground unconscious. Everyone was quiet. I walked over to the middle of the arena, turned to face my uncle, took a deep breath and bowed. When he smiled at me everyone clapped and cheered. I walked out of the arena and to my tent with a big smile on my face.
"You were amazing out there." I turned around at the sound of her voice.
"Thanks Sapphira," I said.
"I wish I was half as good as you." She looked at me with a look I haven't seen on her face in a while. Jealousy.
"I can see that," I said.
"What?" she asked.
"The look you're giving me, I thought we were over this."
"What look, I wasn't giving any look." She looked away from me.
"Sapphira Raksha, we have been best friends since we were ten. I know that look when I see it."
"Your right, I'm sorry Blaze, I guess I was a little jealous." I went over to her and hugged her.
"Its okay, trust me I know how you feel."
"You do?" she asked.
"I used to have an older brother remember." I smiled at her.
"Good point." We both laughed at that, but the happiness faded from Sapphira when her older brother, Archer walked into my tent.
"Princess," he bowed. "I just wanted to say you were fantastic out there and that I hope your uncle can see that we could use someone like you in the Royal Guard." He smiled at me but when he looked at Sapphira he frowned.
"Hello brother, it's been a while," she said.
"Yes it has. How was your trip?" Archer didn't approve of Sapphira coming on the trip with me last time.
"It was good."
"That's good to hear," he turned back to me with a smile on his face. "Your uncle would like a word." He held the tent flap open for me. With a heavy sigh I walked out of the tent with him guiding me at my side.
"So," I said to Archer, "Do you know what my uncle wants?"
"No, sorry Princess I don't." He didn't look at me when he spoke he just stared straight ahead. That's strange normally he can't keep his eyes off me. You see Archer and I have a funny relationship, Archer loves me but I can't bring myself to loving him in return, but I certainly feel something towards him.
"Archer, is something wrong?" I asked. He looked at me for a moment.
"Nothing." We walked in silence the rest of the way to my uncle's chambers. I was just about to open the door when Archer grabbed my wrist and pushed me against the wall.
"Archer wh-" he cut me off by putting his lips to mine. He pulled away and looked at me.
"Blaze, I'm sorry," he said.
"For what? Kissing me?"
"No, for what your Uncle is about to say to you." He turned me around and pushed me through the door.
My Uncle was sitting at his desk. He looked up at my presence.
"You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?" I bowed.
"Yes. Blaze you were absolutely brilliant out there in that arena today!" he said with pride in his voice.
"Thankyou Uncle," I said.
"Blaze, I know this is a big ask and this is the councils vote, not mine, I am completely against it, but so far you are the only one capable of this mission."
"I'm sorry Uncle, I don't understand," I said. He stood up and walked over to me, he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Blaze, Shadrack is back and he's brought a dragon with him," he said.
"But, but, he cant I thought he was dead, and he can't have a dragon my brother killed the last of their kind." My voice grew louder as I spoke. This cant be happening!
"Everyone else thought he was dead too but apparently we thought wrong. As for the dragon, we have no clue as to how he got one."
"So, what is the mission you want me to do Uncle?" I asked with my head held high.
He hesitated before saying, "We need you to find Shadrack and his dragon and kill them." He looked at me for a moment than continued.
"Can you do that for us Blaze?" he asked.
I didn't need to think about my answer I'm making because if it means I get to kill the man that killed my family then…
"I'll do it, when do I leave?" My King smiled at me.
"Thank you Blaze and you leave whenever you're ready," He pulled me into a big hug and whispered, "Thank you for doing this Blaze and when you return your place in the Royal Guard will be waiting for you and your place on the thrown." I pulled away from my uncle and looked at him.
"Can I leave now?" I asked.
"Like I said you can leave when ever you want," he said. I turned and left my uncle standing in the middle of his chambers.
I walked straight to my room, ignoring anyone that tried to talk to me. I walked through my door to find Archer and Sapphira yelling at each other over something, they didn't even notice me when I walked in.
"What were you thinking Archer!" yelled Sapphira.
"I only did it because my heart told me to Sapphira!" he yelled back.
"Guys! Can you stop fighting in my room?" I yelled. They both shut their mouths when I spoke.
"Thank you. Now can you please tell me wh-" but I didn't get to finish because I was attacked from behind. Someone hit me over the back of the head with something solid. I landed on the ground with a thud. I rolled onto my back just in time to see my attacker going for another hit, this time it was with a sword and it was going straight for my chest. With my speed I was out of the way and off the ground in the blink of an eye. With a simple kick to his temple he was on the ground unconscious.
