Christine
She coughed when a cloud of dust flew out of the shelf displaying the royal family's collection of jeweled eggs. It tickled her throat when she breathed it in, and she felt as though the walls of her throat were closing.
"I swallowed it!" she cried. "I swallowed it!"
"You missed a spot," Benoit said as he fruitily passed by her station. He waved his cane, whacking her in the back of her legs.
"Ouch!" she cried.
Benoit sniggered and continued on his way down the painted, gilded, and mirrored halls as though he were the owner of the palace.
"He giving you trouble dear?" Euphie said walking towards her from one of the water fountains that lined the hundred-yard-long hallway. The edges were cushioned with red velvet seating and the structure was made of pure gold. The water sparkling in the setting sun outside.
"Princess Euphie," Christine said with a bow. "I-I-I didn't know you were there."
"Just Euphie," said the princess. She was clad in a teal hunting gown with elongated sleeves and a masterwork leather corset with hunting knives and trimmed in black belts and buckles with engraved metal clasps. A bow of polished ash with decorative metal tips clung behind her with a leather baldric that had a large shield-shaped buckle of engraved dark metal.
"You're not as tough and mean as you were that night at Stas's coronation?" Christine said, fixing her outfit.
"Let me get that," Euphie said, retying the strings at the front. "Naw, my behavior that night was because I was fueled with adrenaline from the hunt I was in. And I was drunk, mind you. In actuality, I'm as puffy as a kitten and twice as gentle. Well, that is unless I'm hunting or am in battle. Or stuck around characters like Benoit and the Count da Money ("De Monet!" the Count shouted from down the hall.) Then, that kitten becomes a lion. Wow, your uniform. It's so loose. You went to work in a hurry it seems."
Christine shrugged. "I was up last night trying to find my dragon, Mérieux."
Euphie's fingers stopped. She looked Christine in the face, eyes widening in disbelief. "Oh!" she said in bewilderment. "So that beast in the vaults is yours? He's a rather big creature, isn't he?"
"Big?" Christine said in surprise. "Oh no, you must be mistaken. My dragon is as big as a house cat."
Euphie's face creased into confused, but very attractive look as her eyebrow raised and her naturally pink lips pouted to the left.
"Your dragon wouldn't by any chance be this?"
Euphie opened a deck box strapped to her thigh, hidden under the hunting gown, and pulled out her Dueling Deck. She flipped through the cards and said
"Ah," when she saw the card she was looking for. She showed Christine her ultra-rare Tyrant Dragon.
"Oh my!" gasped Christine. "Yes, that's him. That's Mérieux! You've seen him."
"Seen him and barely escaped with my life," said Euphie. "I had heard from Cousin Stas that there was a dragon being kept in the vaults, but never did I expect to see such a monstrosity. The vaults can barely contain him anymore."
"That can't be!" said Christine. "Dragons take years to grow into full-sized beasts. And my Mérieux was only just a hatchling when Stas found us."
"So, it is true about what they say about the Maiden's Love," Euphie said, rubbing her chin.
"What's the Maiden's Love?" Christine asked.
Euphie gave her a smile and shut her eyes joyfully. "Come, let's go for a walk."
"I would, My Lady, but I'm on duty."
"And I say you need a break," commanded Euphie, placing both hands on her hips. "Come on. Let's go for a walk."
Christine bowed and set her feather duster down.
"You know, you're no ordinary maidservant. First your dragon. Then you get Stas to fall madly in love with you. Did you reject him? Color me impressed."
"I didn't mean to strike him. I'm just…"
"No, no, no," Euphie said, holding up a pacifying hand. Her gear jingled with each step. "It's all right. I told you, I'm impressed. Not many people have the fortitude to stand up to my cousin and his beautiful charms. You know, he hasn't given up on you."
"He hasn't?"
"No. In fact, he's even more determined to make you his Queen."
"He doesn't love me, he just wants to ride my dragon."
"Be that as it may," Euphie said, placing her hands behind her back. "You should consider yourself lucky. How many girls out there can say that a king has fallen in love with them? Not many, yes?"
"No, I guess not."
"And yet you still reject his affection. You're a tough little bird, Christine. Now, that leaves me to the Maiden's Love. You know that Termnnian dragons prefer a woman's touch, correct?"
"I have heard," said Christine. "It is the will of Safaani, for she hates men."
"She doesn't really hate them. She just has trouble trusting them, since it was mostly men who feel the need to hunt her dragons out of machismo, and it was men who ordered their termination in the Inquisition. But I digress, the Maiden's Love is a rare and incredible gift that only special girls have. The love they give causes their dragons to grow at an unnatural rate. Now, you say you found your hatchling a month ago, correct?"
"Yes."
"There it is. Dragons take years to become full-grown adults. Sometimes their growth takes hundreds, even thousands of years. Especially with True Dragons. And that Tyrant Dragon in the vaults is a pure-blooded True Dragon, which makes me admire you, even more, Christine. For a while, we all thought Lady Avi was the only one who could channel the power of True Dragons. And now you with your Tyrant Dragon. I must say, this is a very interesting time to be alive. Who knows, perhaps this is the time to show Men we're not to be trifled with anymore. Especially characters like that…that…Count and his Fruity-Tootie right-hand-man. Now, I ask again. Is he bothering you? I can make him stop."
"I appreciate that. So, you have my back?"
"For now, anyway. I'm going on a hunt in a few hours. But I can roughen up Benoit and get him to leave you alone. And you know you have Stas, right?"
Christine stopped.
Euphie sighed, brushing some hair off her face with her fingertips. "Look, I know how you feel, Christine. But, true love is only in fairy tales and songs. Try as you might, you'll never find it. Sometimes, it finds you, and you don't even know it's there."
Christine exhaled heavily. "You really think King Stas and I are meant to be?" she asked.
"I know you feel it. You're just a stubborn little bird. Come on. Give him a chance. Do yourself a favor and marry the man, Christine. You will be a Queen if you do. And like I said, you're special. I don't want to see a girl as gifted as you be reduced to nothing more than a mere palace maid."
Christine pursed her lips. "Gifted you say?"
Euphie nodded. "You have a dragon and blessed it with the Maiden's Love, girl. I honestly think you've been blessed by Saafani."
"I do not believe in your pagan God's. I am a Yeyunist, remember?"
"I do not care who you believe in, Christine," Euphie said sternly. "Whether it be the Goddesses or your…Yeyu. You're no ordinary girl. I believe it. And you should, too."
She bowed and bid Christine adieu.
Christine stood alone in the hall watching as Euphie left. As she turned she came face to face with King Stas.
"Your Grace." Christine bowed.
"I know things got off to a rocky start," said Stas. "So, I got you something."
He presented Christine with a diamond necklace from the chambers were the royal jewels were kept. The diamonds, thousands of them, were galaxy-cut and lined along the silver string leading to a larger diamond cut into the shape of a Hyozanryu.
It twinkled like a thousand stars and cast hundreds of tiny rainbows in the sun. The light that reflected on the diamonds shined brightly on Christine's face and caused her eyes to glitter.
Stas's heart beat wildly for her. "The Necklace of Lady Aglaia. Passed down from queen to queen for thousands of years. And now I give it to you."
"Your Grace…"
"Stas," the king said, telling her to address him informally.
"Stas. It's beautiful. I-I don't know what to say."
"You like it?" Stas said with excitement.
"Oh, I'd have to be a madwoman to say I wouldn't enjoy such a remarkable work of art."
"Here," said Stas. "Turn around so I can put it on."
"But this necklace is from the collection of the royal jewels. I am no royal."
Stas leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You can be."
Christine bellowed sorrowfully. "My Lord, I-I can't. Don't you see? I cannot marry you." She tried to storm away but Stas grabbed her by the arm.
"Wait!" said Stas. "Please! Please…Christine! What can I do to make you change your mind?"
"There is nothing you can do!" Christine said, yanking her arm away from his grip. "I am not meant for you! You cannot have me! No amount of jewelry you present will ever make me sell you my heart."
"That's not what I am trying to do! This necklace belonged to my mother! And her mother before her. And her mother before her. It means a lot to me! Mother made promise her to present this necklace to the woman I love. The woman who I want to be my queen. And you're that woman! Please. Christine. Marry me."
He held up the necklace again, so she could see its beauty.
Christine's lips trembled and she blinked to keep the tears from falling.
"I'm sorry. Leave me alone." She made a swift about-face and stormed away down the hall.
Stas clutched the necklace in sadness and hung his head. A heard someone chuckling his misfortune.
It was the Count.
"What do you want Count da Money?"
That ceased any humor inside of him. His face turned red.
"De Mo…" He stopped and took a breath to put down the fires of his short temper. He forcefully put a smile on his face.
"Women," he finally said. "Such difficult creatures aren't they? You can present her with all the jewels of Termnnia and she'd still refuse you. There is no way into a woman's heart. Just let her go, my boy. There is nothing more you can do."
Stas held onto the necklace in fury and stuffed it back in his pocket. He drew his sword. "Yes, I can." He said coldly. "I'm going into the vaults and pay that dragon a visit."
The Count de Monet did his best to keep Stas from going through his suicidal task. They traveled down a dark spiral staircase that took them even farther than the dungeons.
Old frescos, possibly painted during the foundation of the palace added color to the endless chasm of stone, though they were peeling off, some were gone completely.
Stas held his torch over his head as he walked down the light of the chandeliers many floors above grew dimmer and dimmer. The wind howled as it blew up the staircase giving Count de Monet the shivers.
"I cannot do this, Your Grace."
"Then leave. I never asked you to come anyway."
"But-but-but," stuttered the Count.
"Go!" Stas shouted.
The Count stood his ground and watched as Stas continued down the stairs to the vaults where Christine's Tyrant Dragon was being held as prisoner.
"Very well," the Count whispered maliciously.
He twirled a lock of white hair from his wig around his finger.
"While you're down there getting burned to a bloody crisp. I will see what Christine is up to."
He slammed his cane on the ground and a light magically hovered over the bronze sphere. He chuckled and went up the stairs leaving Stas to his fate.
As he got closer to the bottom of the stairs, it began to grow cold and musty. He then had to walk for almost a mile down the vast and empty halls. The walls and vaulted ceiling were decorated macabrely with cobwebs. To Stas' dismay, there was an old windchime hanging over the vaulted door leading for the dragon's prison. They jingled in a dark and beautiful melody.
Almost as though the harbingers of death were singing for Stas' end. Stas moved cautiously towards a lever, the only thing in the underground of the palace that was nicely polished, for it was in constant use by the cooks who fed the dragon.
Until now. From what Stas heard, the dragon had grown into considerable size thanks to the love Christine gave her beast. The Maiden's Love, a rare and powerful gift for lucky dragon tamers by Saafani. But how could the Tyrant Dragon grow so big if it was separated from his mother for so long?
Perhaps his desire for her love boosted his growth. Whatever the case, Stas knew there was no turning back now that he yanked the lever down with all his might. The chambers rumbled, and dust sprinkled from the ceiling to the floor. A few pebbles and bits of brick plopped around Stas.
The massive door slowly began to clink, and clank as advanced and oversized locking mechanisms undid themselves. After a loud click, the locks were undone, and the door slid to the side to grant Stas passage into the large vault of the castle where Mérieux the Tyrant Dragon was sleeping.
Unfortunately for Stas, this was not the case anymore. The vaulted door made a horrible ruckus that caused him to drop his torch and slam his armored palms over his ears.
When the noise died down and the rumbling stopped, Stas uncovered his ears. A veil of darkness awaited him. It was far too thick for Stas' torch to have any effect.
All the flames could do was illuminated a five-foot radius around him. He picked up the torch and proceeded into the vault. A petrifying snort boomed from the shadows causing Stas to stop in his tracks. He gasped and stepped back before he froze.
Growling started to bellow out of the darkness. Stas' heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest and run away. He felt like it, but doing so would mean sudden death.
He stood his ground, pretending to be the famous knights from the lost ages who stood up against evil dragons. Easier said than done.
Something white was illuminated by the light from Stas' torch. There were hundreds of them. They looked like pearly-white swords laid neatly in a weapon's rack. He saw the pink of the monster's gums, and then the fleshy brown trim of the snout.
BOOM! BOOM! The vault shook as the behemoth's feet stomped towards the young king.
"Oh, Goddesses, what was I thinking?" Stas prayed. "What the fuck was I thinking?"
Only now did he realize it was a mistake coming down here without Christine. He just had to be the big man going to the vaults alone to face a full-grown dragon. A True Dragon.
Tyrant Dragon's head finally came into the light. He stood more than eighty-feet-high, and his body almost took the length of the vault which was twenty meters long.
"Mérieux, right?" Stas asked.
The dragon continued snarling at him. Boiling hot saliva poured down his mouth, hissing as it oozed to the ground.
"Shit, you're big!" said Stas. "You've got to stop looking at me like you're going to kill me though. If you want to see your mother again, you're going to have to trust me."
He undid his sword belt and let it fall on the floor. "Look, see. I mean you no harm. Your mother is a wonderful woman. She's perfectly safe."
Mérieux continued to growl.
"Not like you understand me, though, huh? Look, you want out of here? You're going to have hold back on burning me to a crisp."
Stas felt like someone hit him with a Paralyzing Potion as Mérieux lowered his head and came toward Stas. He let out a loud bellow looking at Stas in the eyes.
Stas saw his reflection in those beautiful, yet deadly, green pools Mérieux had for eyes. On the other side of the vault, Stas saw a lever that could open another set of doors leading into the vault.
He cautiously walked past the beast, feeling his breath, which felt like being hit by hot steam. Mérieux followed Stas with suspicion, in case he meant to go back on his word and do harm to him, Goddesses have mercy if Stas was that stupid.
Stas pulled the lever and the towering doors slowly began to open. The dim light of the sun setting behind the mountains peered through the crack the doors made as they slowly opened after thousands of years being closed.
Stas jumped when Mérieux gave a horrifying roar. He charged toward the door. Stas rolled out of the way. Mérieux slammed his body against the door and pried them open with tremendous force. He wanted to see his mother again, he had no more patience to spare on the slow-moving doors.
Mérieux gave a final roar and finally knocked the doors down. The vault began to crumble. The walls cracked. The ceiling sprinkled large debris onto the ground below. Mérieux gave a roar to announce his freedom and gave a mighty charge as he dashed down the open green fields. He spread his wings and took flight.
Christine
"I will miss you, Euphie," Christine said, bowing at the princess as she sat atop her warhorse, armored in silvery steel.
"We'll see each other again soon," said Euphie. "I rather enjoy our friendship, and look forward to seeing you utilize your gift. Perhaps one day we will convince that stubborn cousin of mine to let your dragon, what's his name?"
"Mérieux," Christine answered.
"Mérieux, yes. We'll see if we can get Stas to let Mérieux go. In the meantime, you best take care of yourself. I mean it. I don't want to have to come back here and start slaughtering the castle because someone put their hands on you."
"Perhaps you can train me in the art of self-defense when you get back," Christine said, petting Euphie's horse. "I feel like everyone has done nothing but take advantage of me ever since I left the convent."
"Perhaps I can," said Euphie. "For now, you have Sherry with you. She has grown quite fond of you."
"She has," said Christine.
"I sure do hope not," said Euphie. "If you won't have my Cousin Stas, there's always a place in my bed for you."
Christine went red.
A war horn blew from the front of the ranks. Euphie smiled and blew Christine a kiss. "And now I must leave you, Christine. Take care of yourself. YAH!"
She kicked her horse into a gallop to catch up with her hunting party.
"What a day," Christine said.
She turned and walked back to the maiden's chateau. But she could not go far. As she passed by the garden quad, she noticed a group of odd figures dressed in leather and chainmail. Christine paid them no heed and as she passed a tree, a hand grabbed her wrist.
"Whoa!" cried Christine. "Count Da Money!"
He slapped her hard across the face knocking her to the ground.
"I've just about had it with that joke! First I had to hear it from Stas. Then Madame LeBlanc. Now the Princess. But, I will be bathed in fire before I let the likes of you insult my name. You rejected the King again. Tsk, tsk, tsk. You need to learn how to take opportunities when you have the chance."
Christine rubbed her cheek and scooted back to get away from the Count. He had a mad look in his eye the likes she had never seen before.
"When Stas hears about this…"
"He won't," said the Count. "In fact, he won't know anything at all, because I leave this wretched palace tonight."
"Why?"
"The Houses of Boislevesque and Fourneaux have gained a mysterious new ally, one with enough power to get them to march this far toward the capital. I'm sorry to say that your friend, Princess Euphie, marches to her death. She, her House, and their armies are the last line of defense against the Covenant. And I fear we are, how do the city-folk say it? Very screwed. I will not stand here and wait as the House of Boislevesque and the House of Fourneaux march down here and slaughter us all. And I am not fond of Yeyunism. I would rather walk on miles of glass than convert to their faith."
"Surely they can't both take the crown?" Christine said, resting on her arms.
"No, they cannot," said the Count. "They've come to terms that Stas is a common enemy. But once they rid him of power and bring an end to the Trevelyan dynasty, they will squabble no doubt to the death for Stas's crown. I have a home in White Harbor; I will ride there as soon as possible. I have already taken all that is valuable to me, save for one last thing."
"What?" asked Christine.
"Why, you, of course, my little flower. I am old, and I need someone to…raise my spirits."
"If I won't even marry Stas, what makes you think I'll marry the likes of you?"
"Marriage?" chuckled the count. "What makes you think I need marriage to have you in my House? No, no, my dear. You're going to be my personal housemaid. And you will do exactly as I command."
"No! I'll tell Stas about this!"
"You will do no such thing," said the Count. He snapped his fingers. The men in the leather armor were his own personal thugs. They casually walked out of their places and formed a circle around her and the Count.
"I can have you come to White Harbor the easy way or the hard way, young lady. What is it going to be?"
"Leave me be," Christine whimpered.
"Leave you be?" laughed the Count. "No, no, my dear. You are coming with me!"
He tried to grab her, but she kicked him hard in the family jewels. "OMPH!" he cried. "Not the grapes! Not the grapes!"
Christine darted by and was almost grabbed by one of the thugs. She ran toward the fields calling for help.
"Get her!" shouted the Count. "Five gold crowns will be added to the pay of whoever grabs her!"
"Help!" cried Christine. "Someone! Anyone help me!"
A loud roar echoed through the twilight.
"LOOK!" shouted one of the thugs.
"In the sky!" cried another. "What is it?!"
"DRAGON!"
The whole palace went into an uproar as Mérieux flew from the clouds and swooped down to save his mother.
"Mérieux?" gasped Christine. "My little Mérieux is that you?"
He was not little anymore, that was certain. He landed with a powerful thud on the ground, creating a terrific quake. He swatted the thugs away with his tail, sending them flying away. He grabbed one by the back of his shirt with his mouth and tossed him toward the mountains.
The Count was calling for the guard. "STOP HER! SOMEONE STOP HER! STOP HER!"
The palace guard began swarming out of every door, charging for Christine. Mérieux would not tolerate this and created a wall of flames, stopping them in front of their tracks. He lowered his neck and bellowed for Christine to get on.
The royal rifleman formed a line, aiming their muskets at Christine and Mérieux. "All fire on my command!" shouted the Count.
"HOLD!" shouted Stas. "HOLD YOUR FIRE!" He came riding towards them atop of his Pegasus mount.
"But Your Grace," protested the Count. "She…"
"Let her go!" Stas interrupted.
"But why?" asked Benoit, cowering behind a boulder.
Stas looked at Christine through the flaming wall. "Because...I love her."
Christine heard this, even from where she was. She couldn't believe it. Stas was setting her free.
"Wait!" Sherry shouted, running down a hill. "Christine wait!"
Mérieux growled at her to stay away. Christine got off his neck and stood in front of him, waving her hands. "No, no, no, my love. She's a friend. Wait here."
Sherry was clutching a burlap bag. "It's extra clothing and a bit of food for the road."
"For me?"
"I knew who that beast was the moment I saw him soar out of the sky," said Sherry. "I never would have thought Stas would find it in his heart to let you leave. I told you he's not so bad."
"He really does love me, doesn't he?" Christine said taking the bag. "Mayhaps there will come a day when we can be together, but I fear today is not that day. Perhaps that day will never come. I don't know. Well, this is goodbye it seems."
"Yeah," Sherry said sadly. "Too bad. I was starting to get to know you. Take of yourself okay?"
She hugged Christine.
"Farewell, then," said Christine. "And thank you for everything." She kissed Sherry's cheek and ran back to Mérieux. She climbed atop his neck and the dragon galloped down the field taking off into the sunset.