Heartscale

by Lola Ford

  A small cold breakfast waited for her, and Karina instructed her to eat and bathe quickly as they still needed to finish the final fit for her gown. Even doing as she was asked, Nerie found herself moving slowly and without much vigor. She was mentally exhausted and did not want to think back to the horrible day before - however, she found it hard to forget, when today’s events were a direct result of the previous day.

  Kiriga was awake, as were all the dragons. They went as a group to the lake to bathe, Kiriga telling her they too had roles to play in today’s ceremony.

  When Karina and the old seamstress helped her gently pull on the gown she would wear, Nerie had to contain a gasp from the shock at its beauty. It was a deep gold, once again the same color as Kiriga’s scales at their brightest, but it had a gossamer layer of golden lace that lay over the top. Citrine jewels had been sewn into the bodice, and a long golden cape of fine silk lay over her shoulders and down her back. Her hair had been left loose in long waves, and she wanted to push them back self-consciously behind her ears but did not after a frown from Karina.

  Before she really had time to take in the beauty of this gown, she was being led out the door. The coronation ceremony would start at sunrise and take place in the same courtyard that the funeral had been the night before.

  This walk down the corridors was markedly different than the last, even though they were once again empty. Kiriga had been boosting Nerie’s confidence since she’d awoken, and she was almost excited to enter the courtyard.

  Almost.

  When they reached the door, Karina pulled it open to expose an empty courtyard. Rather entering when the courtyard was full like the night before, this time she would the first to enter. Karina motioned her out the door, and Nerie let the dragons tell her what needed to be done.

  They were the officiants of this coronation - as they’d been since Kyre’s ascent to the throne nearly a hundred and thirty years before.

  ***

  You are to stand on the ashes of your predecessor, Eras told her kindly, sensing her immediate denial at such blatant desecration.

  She forced herself to walk slowly to the pile of ash that was all that remained from the large pyre the evening before. The hem of her gown stirred up eddies of ash, and she forced her eyes to remain on the gates where the commoners waited to get in. As the gates opened, so did the door from the palace. As commoners poured in from one direction, nobles came from the other.

  She saw the of the faces people that she’d grown up with, as well as the nobles who she’d come to know over the last few months, but mostly she saw people she didn’t know. Everyone wanted the opportunity to see their new queen’s coronation.

  Astra was there front and center. Nerie could see the same hatred from the night before burning brightly.

  Alaena was there, head held high, in her own gown of dark red. She would be openly mourning Soren for the foreseeable future and Nerie wished that she too could have that opportunity. At the same time, she knew that as queen she would need to show the strength of her people, and as such her own mourning would have to be a private affair.

  Notably missing were her mother and her uncle. She frowned for a moment but had to assume both were still traveling to the capital.

  Brantom and his entourage had taken also taken a spot in front, as was their right as visiting dignitaries. While he was smiling pleasantly enough, there was a slight draw to his eyebrows that made Nerie think he was deep in thought.

  Now, she heard Eras say, and Vizen approached her, with a small golden coronet, balanced on a flat but ornate black pillow.

  Pick up the coronet, and place it upon your head, he instructed.

  She did so, the thin metal feeling so much heavier than its physical weight. The motion of moving it to her head was slow and deliberate, and she forced herself to breath evenly as the gathered crowd watched.

  Now, repeat after me - I, Nerie, daughter of the house Therius, pledge myself body and soul to the kingdom of Situra. I shall lead my people, serving with honor and grace. I shall protect the kingdom from external and internal threats and bring it to prosperity. I will preserve both the Therius bloodline and the blood of dragon kind. I shall serve my people until my final breath as my forefathers did before me. I am honoring the line of succession, I am Kiriga’s Chosen, and I am Situra’s Queen.

  As the words left her mouth, she placed the coronet lightly upon her head, speaking all the while. The sun broke the horizon just as she finished settling it in place. She looked at no one in particular, her eyes nearly glazed over in effort to repeat the words exactly as Eras spoke them to her.

  Upon her declaration of being Kiriga’s Chosen, Kiriga lifted herself into the air, bugling her joy and approval.

  Several commoners screamed, and even a few of the nobles looked skyward in fear. She was joined shortly by Eras and Soros, their large frames casting the courtyard into darkness, even as the sun climbed its way into the sky.

  Someone in the crowd cried out, “The king is dead, long live the queen!” and others joined in, screams of “Queen Nerie!” and “Your Majesty!” filled the courtyard, and cheers were screamed into the air.

  It was easy to note however, the presence of the king’s - no - queen’s guard around the courtyard, as well as the faces of those who were not joining in on the celebration. Alaena and Astra both made quick escapes, and Brantom stood with his arms crossed, watching her.

  A line formed and people stood waiting to pledge themselves to her. The captain of the guard was first in line, and once he’d completed his pledge to her he turned and stared organizing his knights to shuffle the crowd into groups. The nobles would of course be given the opportunity to pledge themselves first, followed by the servants of the household. Finally, until Nerie tired, commoners would be allowed to pledge themselves to her.

  It seemed that the kitchens had been busy all night, as food was provided for anyone who could make it to one of the large tables that were brought out. Nerie could smell the sweet tang of glazed meat, and the savory scent of herbs that garnished every dish.

  She was sure she could go get food if she wanted, but she didn’t want to let down anyone waiting to speak with her. These were her people now after all.

  ***

  It was several hours after the sun had fully risen when the tone of the dragon’s roars changed from the happy bugling they’d continued since the coronation, to a deep growl. Nerie paused speaking with a woman who had been her neighbor in the middle city to look up at them.

  What’s going on? she asked Kiriga.

  There is another dragon here, Kiriga’s tone was excited and frightened.

  Wyla? Nerie asked, unsure why Wyla returning would upset Kiriga.

  No, she’s crashed into the field north of the city.

  Eras, Riya, and Mazen took off from the palace roof, and Kiriga, with a few screams from people in the courtyard, hopped down to be closer to Nerie. Soros had gone back to the hatching ground the moment that the coronation had finished. She was now sitting, hunched over the eggs.

  Nerie looked back at the gathered crowd. Only she had reacted to the change in the dragons’ tone or by the fact that three dragons had just flown off. She knew from her own life as a commoner, that people just thought dragons did what they wanted. Which, they did to an extent, but not nearly as coordinated as they’d just been.

  As she looked around, she saw Brantom, but his normally smug look had not changed. Astra was talking to the prince again, and she had glanced up at them leaving, but continued her conversation.

  Uneasy, Nerie quickly said her goodbyes to the people and started walking towards the door. Vizen and the captain of the guard both met up with her before she reached the door and Karina was waiting just inside.

  She was listening intently to Eras, as he directed Riya and Mazen to sweep out from the city. She could see through his eyes as he came upon a dragon not much smaller than Ilex.

  She was laying on the ground, a long path of di
rt eroded away where she’d crashed and slid. One of her large blue wings was tucked under her body at an unnatural angle, and to Nerie’s absolute horror, she saw the bodies of four people scattered around the dragon.

  Eras, so very much larger than the blue dragon, landed nearby. He called Riya and Mazen back to him, and once they too had landed, they approached the fallen dragoness. At Eras’s direction, Mazen moved each human several dragon lengths away, and once they were safely away, Riya and Eras worked together to lift the dragoness off her wing.

  By now, even though she was watching through Eras’s eyes, Nerie had briefly informed her staff what had happened. Vizen had jumped into action arranging for help to go out to the humans, and to bring medical supplies not only for them but for the dragoness.

  Nerie could see that three of the humans, a man and woman about her age, and a younger boy had all regained consciousness and were slowly moving around. An older man however hadn’t yet moved.

  A quick word with Mazen and he was telling them that help was on the way, but they needed to remain seated, in case they were hurt in a way they didn’t know. The man and woman complied, but the young boy ran to the older man, crying.

  She felt sick not knowing why the dragon had crashed, or how injured the people were. The dragoness was starting to move, and Eras was waiting for her to be able to speak.

  Nerie needed somewhere to go and collect her thoughts, and to focus on what was going on with this dragon. She turned first to her own quarters, but then squaring her shoulders walked to Soren’s. It was the monarch’s quarters after all, and she was queen now.

  She knew in Soren’s office that there would be journals and missives she’d need to read. She also knew that there were people who still needed to reaffirm their loyalty to her.

  She had inherited the kingdom, yes, but she had also inherited its problems.

  CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

  Final

  Graith’s return to consciousness was slow. His whole body ached and his vision, even though he tried to open his eyes, was dark.

  He groaned as he tried to move but found that nothing responded.

  The groan however, seemed to trigger a series of whispers, and then someone speaking by his ear.

  “Graith? Graith! Are you awake?”

  It was Alix, though the young boy’s throat was raw, and he sounded congested.

  Then it was too bright. His eyes had been open, they’re just been a cloth laying over them. He blinked rapidly trying to get his eyes to focus. At the same time, he tried to turn his head towards Alix.

  Again, it didn’t move.

  Fear struck him then, as he came fully awake. His mind flashed with the last thing he remembered - Zel, exhausted, and unable to keep them airborne. She’d tried to land, but misjudged her speed, skipping along the land and briefly taking flight again. Then as she hit the ground a second time, she’d tumbled forward, throwing himself and the others into the empty field.

  “Zel?!” he said aloud and with his mind, worried about the dragoness. He knew she shouldn’t have carried all of them. They would have made it to the capital just fine on the horses.

  “Graith, shhh, it’s okay. Zel’s fine. She’s just sleeping,” Kade said, stepping into Graith’s view. He also reached down and put a hand on Graith’s shoulder.

  “What - Where are we?” Graith managed to ask as he took in Kade’s words.

  “The palace in Roria,” Kali said, and Graith breathed a slight sigh of relief. Not only had Zel managed to get them there, but even after crashing they were all okay.

  Or at least, they were all alive.

  Graith couldn’t see anything other than the painted ceiling above him. He tried a third time to move his head.

  Still nothing.

  “Graith, you’re strapped onto the bed you’re on. They didn’t want you moving your neck or chest. You got pretty banged up, it seems like Zel landed on you where as the three of us ended up with some scrapes and bruises,” Alix said, then paused for a moment before adding, “Oh and my broken arm.”

  Before Graith could respond, a fourth person spoke.

  “Hello Graith, I’m Dr. Maziri, and I’ve been taking care of you and your friends.”

  A woman leaned over where he could see her, and he was surprised to see a woman about his age, with short cropped brown hair that had started to gray at the temples. She smiled down at him before speaking again.

  “You seemed to have taken a hard fall. Your left arm and leg are both broken, and you’ve got a concussion. Because you didn’t regain consciousness right away, we didn’t want you to hurt yourself, so we’ve strapped you to the table.”

  She reached down and loosened something and Graith was able to move his head to the sides slightly.

  “Now then Graith, can you tell me about yourself? I just want to make sure that your memory hasn’t been damaged.”

  “What do you want me to tell you?” Graith asked, not sure that there was anything of note to tell her.

  “Let’s start with your name - First and last please.”

  “Graith Frisker,” he said feeling slightly foolish.

  “How old are you Graith?” she asked, and Graith could hear Alix giggle.

  “Eh, forty-five? Maybe? Not quite sure what day,” he chuckled, “or month it is. I might be forty-six by now.”

  He shrugged lightly, and immediately let out a moan. The movement had hurt, badly.

  “Shh. It’ll be all right. We’ll get you some pain medication here shortly. One more,” and she gave him a sympathetic smile, “What are your companions’ names?”

  Graith would have chuckled again, but he was still trying to catch his breath from the earlier shrug.

  “Alix, Kade, and Kali.”

  Alix giggled again, and Graith wanted to look over at the boy, but it was too painful.

  “Good Graith, I’m going to help you sit up now, and I’m going to examine your head and neck.”

  Her hands were cold as they slid under his shoulders, and she helped him sit up from the waist. Then she was carefully feeling his scalp and down his neck. He turned his head as she asked, slowly stretching the muscles. As he looked to the left, he saw an ornate wall, and then as he looked right, he saw Alix, Kade, and Kali. Alix hadn’t been exaggerating when he said that they’d gotten bruised up. He smiled weakly at them, and Kali gave a small wave.

  “You’re looking good, Graith,” Dr. Maziri said, stepping into his line of sight. “Let me go get that medication, and then her Majesty would like to speak to you all.”

  As she walked out of the room, Alix rushed forward and sat on the end of the bed. It was a little higher than Lutesian style beds, and the boy had a little bit of trouble lifting himself onto it with one arm strapped to his chest.

  “Are you okay, Graith?” Alix asked quietly. He had been excited moments before, but as he looked at Graith’s face, he sobered.

  “I think so lad. This arm is going to hurt for a while, but I’ll live.”

  Alix’s eyes welled with tears, and he scooted up the bed to hug Graith. Crying into Graith’s shirt, he was just barely able to make out, “I thought you were dead. I thought I was going to be alone again.”

  Graith wrapped his good arm around Alix’s small shoulders and patted his back as he cried.

  Just then Dr. Maziri returned, carrying a small mug of something steaming.

  “I’ll just set this here. Try and get it all down in the next half hour.” She looked sternly at him, “And please stay in bed. You need rest.”

  She turned and left for the door again, and once she reached it, she bowed low and stepped aside. Graith watched with interest.

  The queen must have arrived.

  When the child entered the room, he did a double take. The golden fabric of her gown glowed, and the jewels that adorned it twinkled in the light. But she was with no doubt, still a child - maybe Kali and Kade’s age, but he doubted she was even out of her teens. Her face was pale. Her red hair and green
eyes made her skin look sheet white, with a sprinkle of freckles that stood out like ink spots on new parchment.

  She was followed closely by two guards, and a man who looked to be her aide. Graith just looked at them slack jawed and with awe. It was one thing to be told he was in the palace, another to be seen by the queen, young or not.

  ***

  Vizen and Karina met her outside the door to the infirmary. Karina pulled the door open, and Dr. Maziri bowed to her. As she stepped inside, she looked around the room. It took a lot of willpower not to gasp at the state the four people inside the room were in. A man and woman, not much older than herself were standing next to the bed, both with bruises on their faces and shown skin. On the bed was a young boy with a broken arm, and an older man who was staring at her. She blushed lightly but didn’t acknowledge it otherwise.

  She’s been informed of this man, Graith. The man with the dragon. Nerie informed the captain of the Queen’s Guard of this, and he told her that he would be in the room with her - as these people, injured as they were, could not be trusted to be alone with her.

  Still in her coronation finery, Nerie moved slowly into the room. A chair was provided, and she seated herself as formally as she could at the bedside.

  She took this moment to study Graith’s face a little more. He was in his late thirties or early forties, with a dark stubble on his gaunt face. He looked as if he had taken the worst of the crash.

  Other than the dragon, but Eras had assured her that she’d live. She’d need humans to help set her wing once she awoke, but it should heal fine. Karina had not followed them in immediately, but Vizen had. Now Karina returned carrying a tray of refreshments as the man and woman shifted from foot to foot looking uneasy. Nerie briefly wondered when they’d last eaten, but she hadn’t since before dawn, and it was now late afternoon. She was hungry, so she daintily picked up a cup of tea. It wouldn’t sate her, but it would help curb her hunger.

  She motioned for them to sit, and for all four to feel free to have refreshments.