by Lola Ford
Nerie felt a blush slowly creeping up her neck. While she appreciated his actions, his treatment was far different than anyone else at the palace thus far.
Wilm pulled out her chair for her, then lightly pushed her in. Once he was seated, they were attended to instantly by one of the servants that always seemed to appear out of the woodwork.
A light tea was served along with finger sandwiches. She nibbled and sipped at the food, hardly looking up from her plate. This was not the way she had planned on her first court session going. Not that she minded - she hadn’t seen Astra yet and everyone seemed friendly.
“Princess, is everything all right?” Wilm asked after nearly five minutes of silence.
Shocked by the noise, Nerie jerked nearly spilling the tea she had been about to sip. She straightened herself, feeling flustered.
“Yes, just trying to commit everyone I’ve met to memory.”
“Would you like some help?” Wilm offered kindly.
She let out sigh of relief. Someone who was used to court helping her would be immensely beneficial.
“Please.”
Over the next twenty minutes he pointed out people, first asking if she recognized them, then reiterating their names and ranks, sometimes adding in tidbits about who their parents were or what their claim to fame was.
Once the group started giving him dirty looks, Wilm apologized for monopolizing her time, and instead of leaving her to once again fend for herself, offered to reintroduce her to each group. However, she declined his offer.
“I think I’m just going to mosey about. Thank you for everything Wilm. I hope to see you around,” she thanked him before standing.
“I’m here just about every day, Princess,” he told her, standing at the same time, and then bowing deeply one last time.
As Nerie turned back to the Solar, she saw that the small cliques that had existed when she first entered the room had been reestablished. She headed to the one hovering nearest the table she’d been sitting at.
“Princess!” A girl that seemed to be close to Aldis’s age, exclaimed as Nerie approached.
“Hello Talira,” Nerie said, praying that she remembered the young girl’s name correctly.
“You remember me!” Talira squealed in delight. Her dark hair was curled and bounced gently as she kept herself from jumping in surprise.
“I do. I just wanted to introduce myself on a more private level.” Nerie curtsied slightly to the small group.
This routine was repeated many times over the course of the next several hours. Promises of tea, or flower viewings and even visiting family estates were made. Nerie was overwhelmed with how kind everyone was to her.
Several young men asked her to dance, but she had to decline and explained that she was unfamiliar with any court dances at the moment.
She kept reminding herself that the reason they were acting this way was only because she was the crown princess. In her heart, she knew that - but it still felt nice to have people her age so interested in her. Other than Raana, she’d not had many friends growing up.
Just before the end of the court session and the dinner hour as she was preparing to retreat to her rooms, Nerie was surprised to see her mother approaching. Myha was in a simple light blue gown, and she was accompanied by a man who looked to be in his early forties. His outfit was a crisp thick silk, in a midnight blue that corresponded to Myha’s blue nicely.
“Nerie! This is -” Myha started before the man gently laid his hand on her shoulder.
“Princess, it is so nice to meet you in person! I am Sir Ahlwin. I suppose we met before at the council meeting, but I’m sure you don’t remember me.”
Nerie blushed faintly.
“I do apologize. I’ve been meeting so many new people recently.”
He bowed, then stood and kissed Nerie’s hand before wrapping his arm around Myha’s shoulder.
“It’s quite all right. I’ve been keeping your lovely mother company. I normally don’t spend much time in the capital, but this time I think I’ll be staying for a while.”
“Mother was just telling me how much she’s enjoyed your company.”
Myha grabbed Nerie’s hands, leaning in close to her daughter.
“Sorry, I just really wanted you to meet him. Plus, I couldn’t help myself but to come see you all dressed up so nicely!”
Myha giggled and then hugged her daughter.
“It’s all right Mom. I’m happy you came. I’ve met so many lovely people today. And I haven’t seen Astra,” Nerie confided quietly into her mother’s ear.
“I’m glad you’ve had an enjoyable time. Will you be back tomorrow?” Myha asked.
“I think I might. This has been fun. More fun than I imagined.”
Nerie looked down at her yellow dress, as her head bowed a ruby curl fell across her face. She was enjoying being dressed up.
“While I have you here Princess, would you mind if I stole your mother away from you for an evening? I would love to take her out to dinner, but she has told me that she eats with you every evening,” Ahlwin asked.
Nerie had to admit he was quite charming.
Myha blushed a darker red than even Nerie could produce. Nerie grinned overjoyed for her mother.
“Of course, you may! Anytime that you would like.”
She winked at her mother, who somehow turned redder.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then Mom!”
Nerie hugged Myha close, before stepping back and waving.
In an instant, Karina was by her side. The woman had been shadowing her for the majority of the day but had left the princess to her own devices for the most part. As they reached the door, the same man who had announced her arrival stepped forward. Karina gently nodded back to the Solar and Nerie turned.
“Her Royal Highness, Princess Nerie.” He announced her departure to the room.
As one, the occupants for a final time that day bowed to her. Even Myha joined Ahlwin in bowing. Nerie wanted to tell her to stand, but the moment was over, and Karina was motioning her to move again before she got the chance.
The next time she saw her mother she would just have to tell Myha that she never had to bow before her. She was her mother for goodness sake!
As they walked slowly down the long corridors, Nerie chatted lightly with Karina about the people she had met, the outfits they had worn and her hopes of going again tomorrow. Once they reached her room, Karina untied the lacing on the back of the dress and then excused herself while she went to collect Nerie’s dinner.
Once she completed her change into comfortable evening clothing, Nerie walked through her bedroom out to the courtyard. Kiriga was laying facing the door, waiting for her.
I missed you, she said in her most piteous tone.
You were watching the whole time. I felt you, you big baby.
Nerie walked over and leaned her body on the flat ridge between the dragon’s eyes.
I am a baby. Aren’t I Father? Kiriga kept up the whining tone.
All my children are babies, Eras’s voice boomed, and Nerie felt Kiriga’s annoyance, knowing that hadn’t been what the dragoness had meant.
As she laid against the warm hide of Kiriga’s head, Nerie contemplated not eating and just falling asleep here. She started to adjust herself to be more comfortable when something touched the lower part of her back - and slowly started to slither upward.
Jumping upright and screaming, Nerie nearly climbed over Kiriga’s head trying to get away. A clatter of dishes, and Kiriga’s annoyance quickly followed the scream.
“My lady!” Karina yelled, running into the courtyard.
Father! Kiriga shouted.
Nerie got the courage to look behind her. Eras’s long orange tail was hanging from the rooftop where he was curled. He’d obviously been slowly lowering it trying to scare Nerie.
I was bored, he complained, but it was too late.
Nerie could hear not only Kiriga and Soros yelling at him, but also Ilex and Wyl
a.
You don’t scare the Princess just because you are bored! Soros’ voice was tinged with red anger.
Weakly Nerie turned to Karina, “I’m fine. Eras simply frightened me.”
By now, guards were filing into the courtyard, trying to surround the dragon and princess. Karina called them off.
“I’m sorry my lady, I dropped your food when I heard you scream.”
She grabbed one of the guards - who were still not quite sure what happened - and asked him to go fetch another meal from the kitchen for Nerie while she cleaned up the first.
“It’s all right. It’s not your fault. Eras is getting quite the earful now.”
He really was, as all the dragons from their corners of the kingdom were chiming in.
A new dinner was brought, and Nerie ate quickly. She was tired and hearing the tirade against the eldest dragon still going on was giving her a slight headache.
Good night Kiriga, Nerie said, giving her a mental hug without going back out to the courtyard.
Good night Nerie, Kiriga paused yelling at her father long enough to say.
Nerie climbed into bed, struggling to get comfortable. Her sheets, normally smooth against her skin were rough. Her pillows were slightly too plump and even though she was exhausted, she couldn’t find the right position to lay.
Just as she was finally drifting off, she felt something scaly brush against her feet.
Eras, did you not learn your lesson? she asked groggily.
What? she heard his distracted reply.
Your tail.
She felt it move again.
Nerie, MOVE, Kiriga suddenly screamed into her mind.
Nerie’s eyes snapped open and she threw herself off the bed, even as Kiriga shoved herself through the now too small doorway.
A short battle of hissing and growling took place, and the wood frame of the bed cracked under the golden dragon’s weight.
Then it was like a madhouse erupted. Karina was rushing in once again, dressed in her own nightgown. Guards were filing the room at an increased speed.
And Kiriga’s mind was filled with blood red anger.
What’s going on? Nerie asked Kiriga, her heart racing.
Rising from the splintered wood and tangled sheets, a long shining black snake hung limply from Kiriga’s maw.
Nerie’s eyes went wide as saucers. A Lutesian viper.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Nerie
Pulling herself into a sitting position, Nerie watched the snake’s carcass slowly swing as Kiriga’s sides heaved.
Are you all right? It didn’t bite you did it? Kiriga asked.
She let the snake fall to the ground with a wet thud.
I… I’m fine. Even Nerie’s mental voice stuttered as she sat there in shock.
Karina was there, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders, helping her stand and move into the corner of the room. The guards were pulling the sheets and bed apart looking for any other dangers. One of the royal knights had come in, and he was crouched in front of the dead snake. He was using a dagger to slowly push the thing over to examine it.
As the reality of the situation hit, Nerie started to tremble violently. Her breath came in short gasps and her vision narrowed. Kiriga instantly was by her side, not caring who or what she trampled as she crossed the relatively small room. She sat on her hind legs, using her tail and forelegs to create a cage around Nerie.
Leaning into the warm soft scales of Kiriga’s underbelly, Nerie slowly calmed. She refused to look behind her where the snake lay. More people were still stuffing themselves into the room.
I need to go outside. I can’t breathe, she told Kiriga faintly.
Kiriga lowered herself onto the ground, at the same time as she said, Get on my back. I’ll carry you outside.
Nerie stepped from Kiriga’s elbow to her shoulder, laying herself along the dragon’s back. She faintly noted that even laying this way, she was still shorter than the dragon’s torso now. When had Kiriga gotten so big?
You haven’t noticed because you see me all the time, Kiriga told her softly.
She was carefully stepping through the crowd, trying not to jostle Nerie.
Reaching the door, Nerie saw that the frame had been cracked from Kiriga’s force as she entered the room. Now, she tucked her wings in tight, trying to slide back through the other direction. She barely fit. Nerie experienced a moment of discomfort as the hard bones of Kiriga’s wings pressed together against her back.
Then they were outside. The current of fresh air was like a breath of life after the stale air in the bedroom. Soros and Eras were both laying in the courtyard, their eyes narrowed with worry. After Kiriga was between them, Eras moved himself so that he was blocking the door, the large spikes that protruded from his scales a deterrent for any who might try to push past.
Nerie was shaking again. Her mind still reeling over the brush with death - for a bite from a Lutesian Viper nearly always resulted in fire fever which was most certainly a death sentence. If Kiriga had been any bigger or any slower, she might be dying right now.
I’m not, and you’re not. We are okay, Kiriga cooed to her, sounding much more mature than her normal bright self.
Just rest Nerie. We will protect you, Soros told her, her large purple head hovering above her youngest child and the princess.
Climb down Nerie, Kiriga was lowering herself to the ground again.
Complying, she was confused for a moment until Kiriga showed her what she intended. She wanted to have Nerie lay under her wing with her tail as a support.
Nothing will get to you there, Kiriga promised.
Nerie settled down in the small space. Even though it was tight and dark, Nerie was able to completely relax. She trusted Kiriga and the other dragons implicitly and knew they would give their lives to protect her. Kiriga’s rhythmic breathing quickly lulled her to sleep.
***
The next morning, she woke stiffly. While she had been protected physically, she had spent most of the night tossing and turning in nightmares.
Flashes of faces staring at her angrily, people dancing around her laughing, and then darkness, being unable to find Kiriga anywhere, even in her mind. And then Astra - always staring, watching from the shadows.
I’m right here, Kiriga said, as she lifted her wing, exposing Nerie to the weak sunlight of an early winter sun.
“I know,” Nerie said as she leaned against Kiriga in a lazy version of a hug.
Good. The king and queen are waiting for you when you’re ready. They want to talk about the snake.
Nerie’s stomach twisted. When she thought of how close she’d come to death, she wanted to vomit. After the strange twisted nightmares, she’d had the night before, she was sure that Astra had been behind the attack.
Kiriga was watching her mind as she thought, and when Nerie came to that conclusion she couldn’t help but butt in.
I would have known if Astra had been anywhere near your rooms yesterday. The only people that were in them were Karina and several other servants. No one out of the ordinary.
Why would you watch for Astra? Nerie asked, curiously.
Because I know she wants you dead. But she did not enter your room.
Kiriga’s tail lashed.
Nerie entered her room. It looked like an explosion had happened. Now empty of all the people from the previous night, only the destruction remained. The bed was in pieces, and the mattress, sheets and pillows had been ripped apart. Chairs were overturned and wall-hangings had been knocked down.
Exiting into the sitting room, she saw King Soren and Queen Alaena waiting for her.
Choosing to forgo a bath for the day, she instead entered the large wardrobe. Karina followed her in, shutting the door. Karina was quiet. Her normal chatter silent. She helped Nerie dress quickly, and then they returned to the sitting room.
Nerie curtsied to the rulers before sitting across from them. In the time she’d been in the palace, it seemed they were r
arely together unless it was for a formal reason. She didn’t know however, if she was the cause of their rift or if this had been the case long before she was discovered.
“Your Majesties, good morning,” she said stiffly.
She wasn’t sure King Soren had ever been to her rooms before.
“Nerie, there is little reason to be so formal,” Soren said smiling. Alaena’s face was unreadable, so Nerie focused her attention on the king.
“I see. I assume your visit is about last night?”
Nerie really didn’t want to talk about it, but she didn’t think she was going to be given a choice.
“It is. Kiriga was kind enough to explain what happened last night, but I wanted to see if you were all right.”
“I am. Just a little shaken.”
A little might be an understatement, but Nerie didn’t think that either the king or the queen needed to know that.
“I can imagine. I just wanted to let you know that while your room is being repaired, we are going to move you to an interior room. Also, along with Karina, you are going to be shadowed by two Royal Knights at all times for the foreseeable future.”
His smile fell a little, and his eyes tightened. He was worried about her. Nerie glanced at Alaena, but her face was still impassive - though she thought she saw the queen’s hands clench briefly.
“Of course. I’m sure all the knights are lovely people. And Karina will help me with whatever I need to adjust. Do you have an estimate on how long it will take?”
Nerie didn’t like the thought of not being able to quickly access one of the courtyards that the dragons resided in.
“Unfortunately, a couple of weeks. The structural damage to your bedroom door and the surrounding wall was… extensive,” he said with a shake of his head.
In any other circumstance, Nerie was sure he would have chuckled at the dragon’s antics.
“I must be going now. Why don’t you attend court again today? I’ll see you tomorrow at our normal time.”
Soren stood and even as Nerie and Alaena stood, he was already on his way out the door.
Alaena then turned to Nerie.
“As it is earlier than our normal lessons, why don’t I join you for breakfast, and we will work on table manners.”
