It has been a week since the battle and my brother has gained most of his strength back and is now rebuilding an old ruined Roman fort as his castle using the villagers that rebelled against our father as slaves in a rock quarry. He is still cruel and black hearted even with the dragons heart. Bowen left us on the eight day of my brothers recovery, earlier that day he confronted my brother at the rock quarry that he was sick but it didn't work. He came to me while I was in the library reading to my little sister the stories of our mothers people.
"Sir Bown are you alright we were supposed to start training twenty minutes ago," I said closing the book and setting my sister down in front of the chair we were sitting in, "You have always told me to be on time to everything so I guess it is my turn to make pick of weapon today."
"Princess Cathirne I must speak to you about your training as a squire,"Bowen said not even looking me in the eyes. I stiffened a little when he called me 'Cathirne'. He never called me 'Cathirne' only when he needed to like in front of my father, during court, or anything formal or when I was in trouble.
"What is Bowen I know for a fact I'm not done I still have a lot to learn from you?"
"No I will not be teaching you anything about being a knight any more," he said slashing his hand through the the air like a sword. I was shocked at what he had just said.
"What do you mean we are not done yet you still have so much to teach me we can't stop now?"
"I'm leaving this court to find and kill the dragon that tainted you brothers heart with its own black heart."
"What? It's not the dragons fault Einon as always been cruel and black hearted, you haven't finished your teachings with me. You promised you would teach me how to fight."
"And I have kept my word but a princess should not be training to be a knight or ware armor. You should be learning how to be a proper queen and lady raising you little sister. Finding a husband. Forget about sword fighting, forget about everything I taught you."
l stood there for a moment dumbfounded and shocked at his words. He didn't even listen to the truth about Eion and he was telling me to forget my training.
"It is not the dragons fault my brother has no goodness in him he always has,"I said my tone getting a little louder. But Bowen didn't even listen to me. He didn't even have the courage to look me in the eyes. I knew Einon had kept his true self from Bowens eyes but I never thought he was that blind. He stayed silent, tears formed in my eyes.
"So I'm just supposed to forget everything you taught me. What about the Old Code should I forget that too?"
"The Old Code is dead," he said then bowed at the waist, "Good-bye Princess Cathirne."
He turned to leave the room. I stood there for a moment before I grabbed a random book off of a table next to my chair a through in Bowen. Anger boiled in my blood as a I through the book at him. He stopped for a second as the book hit him in the back of his head then kept walking out of the library and out of my life. Fueled by anger I picked up my sister from where she was playing with the book I was reading to her and ran to the Dining Hall where my mother and brother where having lunch.
"This is all your fault," I yelled as burst through the doors. Mother stood up from her chair while my brother just looked at me then went back to eating his roasted quail, "Because of you Bowen is leaving us!"
"So what I do not need that fool any more or his code," Einon said chewing his food than drinking his wine. I handed me sister to a made who was standing by for any orders.
"Well I did but what would you care you heartless beast,"I slammed my hands on to the table. Einon just kept drinking his wine till I slapped it out of his hand along with his plate. He then back handed me causing me to step on the back of my dress and fall to the ground. My sister began to cry as the sound of Einon slapping me echoed through the room.
"You dare talk to your king that way,"he yelled at me.
Holding my had to my cheek which was starting to swell up a little I looked at him with cold dagger shooting eyes, "You are not my king nor are you my brother."
He then kicked my stomachs which made my sister cry even louder and my mother did nothing about it. She didn't even stand as Eino kicked me again in my stomach. My sister cried louder till her crystal drowned out my own painful grunt and the sound of my brother beating me. The maid that held my sister tried to calm her down but she just cried louder.
"Will someone shut that thing up," yelled my brother. Another maid a little older than the other took my sister and tried to calm her down but she screamed louder.
"Fine then I'll do it myself," Einon kicked me in the face one last time before he started walking towards my sister pulling a knife that was in the bird out. I was struck with fear at what my brother was about to do to a helpless child.
With some difficulty I pushed myself up tackling my brother pulling the knife out of his hand. I stood in front of my sister holding the knife in front of me, "Don't you ever threaten my sister you monster!"
"This is what you saved mother,"I said looking at her the knife still held out in front of me, "You saved a heartless monster." I throw the knife back a the roasted quail then grabbed my sister and ran out of the Dinning Hall to my room. I slammed my doors shut locking them. After I locked the doors I fell to my knees in pain. Silent tears running down my face as my stomach and face bounded with pain. My sister was still crying but was quieter know.
I looked down at her with all the love I could then started shhsing her gently rocking her in my arms, "Don't worry little one I'm here. I won't let the evil man hurt you."
It was a full month till my sisters birthday but I couldn't wait that long. It was too dangerous for my sister. I could take anything Einon trough at me but my sister was my biggest weakness. If anything happened to her I don't know what I would do. That night as my sister slept in my bed wrapped in my arms I made the chose to leave the castle, leave the monsters and go find the dragon. I would leave with my sister the next night with my horse, and my weapons. Early the next morning before anyone was awake I began to wrap my weapons in some of less finer dresses. I packed some close for my sister in a saddle bag as well as some food for me and goat milk for her. As the sun set on the land I began to make my escape. I dressed in my armor then tied my bed sheets together making a makeshift rope tiring it to my balcony. I hand rocked my sister to sleep and placed her in a small caring basket just her size with her blankets wrapped around her.
"Stay asleep my light we will soon be out of this place," I whispered kissing her forehead then tied the basket to my back along with my weapons tied underneath the basket. Just as I was about to climb out the window my mother entered the room old in a lite candle.
"Don't try and stop me," I said not even turning to look at her, "I'm leaving here will the my baby sister that you abounded so don't even try to stop me, mother."
"I'm not going to stop you Cathrine,"my mother said. I turned my head to look at her out of the corner of my eye. Her eyes were watery and she looked like she was trying not to cry.
"Why are you crying it's not like you showed any love towards us you should be happy," I said my tone dark.
"I will miss you my child always know that I will miss you," she said a near whisper.
'Oh mother I will miss you too please be safe,' I thought as I climbed out the down I looked up to see my mother leaning over the railing crying. I felt her tears fall on my face as I whispered I will miss you too.
In the stables my horse was ready to ride with his saddle bags full of food and milk. The stable boy I had met was holding his rains and a purse full to the top with gold.
"Good lad no one saw you," I asked taking the purse and my horses rains.
"I don't believe so my lady I'm very quiet and sneaky," he said looking behind him, "The back gate is clear for you you should have a clear way out."
"Thank you my young friend," I said as I mounted my horse then pulled out a smaller purse from the saddle bag tousing it to the boy, "Here. That should cover everything you have done for me and a little more."
His face glowed as he opened the purse to see it full of good and silver coins. Before he could thank me I rode off out of the stables, out of the castle and out of my old life. As my horse ran through the woods I felt a new sense of freedom, as if a weight had been lifter of my shoulders. My sister still slept soundly in her basket as we rode. Joy filled my body as we made rode through the woods to where I first met the dragon.
As I entered into the dragons cave I saw foot prints about a day old. Upon a closer look I saw they were Bownes. Fear griped my very soul. I followed the track to a pyre where the tracks spun in a closed circle than ran around the cave till they came out the front enternce. I started searching the cave for the dragon but found it was empty. As I stared to loose hope a booming came.
"I seem to very popular today."
It was the dragon, he was by the spring of water I had found him the first time. My spirits renewed I walked to his side then kneeled before him.
"You're early my princess," he said turning to face me, " Why have you come so soon." I kept my head down while I thought of an appropriate respond to him but before I could he used one of his claws to gently lift my head so he could see my face. His eyes showed disappointment and guilt.
"Mmm I see. Was this the cause of your brother."
My cheek was swollen and i had a cut from Einons boot on my forehead. I nodded at him sadly wishing I didn't have to come here like this.
"What of you little sister," he asked his voice full of concern,"I hope she has not suffered the same as you."
"No my lord that is what I am happy about but why I have also come to you so early," I said taking off the basket and lifting my sister out of it, " My brother nearly hurt her yesterday with a knife but I was able to stop him but I did not know if I would be as lucky the next time he would try to hurt my precious light." I held my sister close to my chest.
"May I see her," he asked almost timidly.
I nodded and held her up to him. He the gently took her into his hand cradling her in the palm if his hand. As he lifted her up closer to his head she began to wake up squirming in the blanket she was wrapped in. The dragon froze as she began to wake up terrified about what to do if she began crying at the sight of him. But she did not cry, when she was fully awake she looked at the dragon and began to laugh waving her arms in the air. We both were surprised at my sisters reaction to the dragon but he quickly got over it lowering his head closer to her so she could touch his mussel. She giggled even louder has she touched the tip of his nose.
"Now we are going to have to give you both new names," he said moving my sister closer to eyes.
"Why good sir," I asked standing up.
"Your names don't really fit you two. And it only seems right that my daughters should have names that their father gave them. You my little one from this day forward I shall call you Abiagael."
He kissed my sister who giggled even louder then held her closer to his chest where she started rubbing the scales on his chest.
"And you my child, I shall name you Ava," he then kissed my forehead as well. I was filled with so much joy in that moment. I hugged my new father as he kissed me blessing me as Ava. Tears of pure joy fell from my eyes like water falls. When our embrace was finished we stayed silent for a moment till my sister started to wine.
" Someone is hungry," I said.
" It seems she is," our father said giving her back to me, " Eat and rest my children tomorrow I will take you to where we will be living together." I nodded then went to my horse to get some food and milk for my sister. When both of our bellies were full I started to make a camp but my father stopped me. Picking my sister and up he payed me against his warm belly spreading his wing over me like a tent keeping me warm. He held my sisters house was wrapped in a blanket in the palm of his hand. He curled around us both protectively. I was filled with so much joy at this moment I had never been happier as I drifted off to sleep knowing that my sister and I were safe with him.
Sorry this chapter took a pit longer than the others. Hope you like it.