Copyright © 2015 D. María Trimble
All rights reserved.
ISBN-10:0985575352
ISBN-13:978-0-9855753-5-9
To unconditional love...
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
“My heart, my love, my Amáne, I kneel before you to make a pledge for all to witness. I promise to always defend you, to honor our union, and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you; laugh and dance with you when you are joyful; share your tears with you when you are sorrowful. You will always be the color in my day, the salt of my sustenance, until the day I meet my ancestors.”
~ Ansel’s pledge to Amáne • The Royal Wedding
“Ansel, my love and my life, I kneel before you to make a pledge for all to witness. I promise to love you unconditionally, to respect you, to care for and protect you, to comfort and encourage you. In you I have found a great treasure, a faithful friend, my sturdy shelter. Your friendship and love is beyond price. Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. You are my heart and my love until the day I meet my ancestors.”
~ Amáne’s pledge to Ansel • The Royal Wedding
CHAPTER ONE
Consciousness slowly dawned. I begged it to release me — to let me go back to the darkness that would numb my pain. I lay in a fetal position on a damp floor. A raging fury spiraled in my head. Ringing filled my ears. Words echoed off the walls of my mind.
A hot spasm of pain shot up my left arm from the tip of my hand. I clutched at its source, my little finger. A section up to the first joint was missing. My stomach twisted.
What happened? I groaned in agony.
I squeezed my eyes shut and fought the torment that crashed through my body. Pain cried out from every one of my bones.
I needed to awaken from the nightmare.
It has to be a nightmare, this can’t be real. Thunder exploded in my skull. A burning feeling rose in my throat.
It’s not a dream.
Lifting my hand to the back of my throbbing head, I felt a matted sticky mess. A detached voice called out. But there was no one in here with me. The vocalization was in my head. Pressing my fists into my temples, I tried to silence it.
If I open my eyes, maybe I could find relief.
Blinking several times, I willed my eyes to reveal my surroundings. All that registered was a deep darkness.
Have I gone blind?
Smells of rot and decay assaulted my nose. The heat and humidity added to the difficulty of breathing.
Rolling onto my knees, I struggled to my feet. Sweat soaked my clothing. My hands pushed against a dirt wall. Determined my legs would obey, I grunted as I searched for a grip to steady myself. My muscles trembled in protest. Nausea overcame me, my head spun. I leaned over and vomited, which brought additional shooting pains.
Turning my back to the wall, I let myself slide down to a sitting position.
Where am I?
Voices, or perhaps just one voice, resonated as if in answer to my silent question.
Maybe I’ve gone mad.
I stretched my feet out in front me, but they hit a stop before my legs could straighten. My lips pressed together. Painfully, I tried again to rise to a standing position. Tottering, I remained on my feet and explored my surroundings. My prison, I discovered, was a round pit, narrower than my extended arms. An oubliette. I’d heard of this ultimate secret dungeon, one in which a prisoner was tossed and forgotten. Looking up cemented my fears. A trapdoor far above let in a sliver of light. I retched again.
“Leave me alone,” I whispered as I pulled my hair. The voice wouldn’t go away. A cacophony of noises filled my tortured mind.
I sank back down to a curled-up position and let the darkness, like a blanket, fall over me.
CHAPTER TWO
Six days earlier ...
“Ow!” I said. “You just stabbed me with that pin.” I turned to glare at my friend, Fiona.
A musical laugh escaped her lips. “Well, if you would stop fidgeting, Amine, I could do my job. Your wedding is only three days away and I still don’t have your dress perfect.”
“I thought it was perfect when I tried it on weeks ago. You just keep making it tighter. I won’t be able to take a full breath. Between lack of air and the terror of being in front of the entire kingdom, you’ll have me fainting in a heap at Ansel’s feet. If that happens, I will make you regret it.”
Fiona laughed again. I rolled my eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. She stopped tugging at my dress and gave me a sideways glance.
My shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Fiona. I know I’ve been hard on you the last few days.”
“Last few days? I believe it’s more like the last few months.”
“Truthfully, Fiona, I know I wouldn’t have survived my new duties if you and Kail hadn’t agreed to relocate here, so far from home. I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“Amáne, I believe it is I who owe you. Do you know how long I’ve set my heart on just visiting this city? The City of Teravinea has been in my dreams all my life. And now Kail and I are actually living here.”
Fiona put down her packet of pins and took my hands in hers. “I can’t help but shake my head about how our lives have been woven together. Two girls, complete opposites, living in Dorsal, the farthest corner of the kingdom. You were always so private; so much of a loner; so fascinated with swords and knives. You weren’t the slightest bit interested in anything feminine.”
I smiled. “And all you cared about was ribbons and silk fabric; and who should be marrying whom; and of course all the handsome merchants in the marketplace. That is, until Kail made eyes at you. But you were always so nice to me. I never understood that.”
“I thought behind your rebellious façade, you were someone who could be a trusted friend. My mother admired your mother and had always marveled at her selflessness. She told me she thought you were a lot like her, only you hid it for some reason.”
I shrugged. “I guess I was just used to keeping to myself.”
“And now look at us,” Fiona said. “The two of us, good friends, so far from home.”
I nodded.
Fiona brightened. “Amáne, I am so happy that you finally found your prince. Literally.” She laughed. “Do you know what an epic vows ceremony this will be? Two dragon riders. One, a king, marrying the other, a commoner from Dorsal. King and Queen dragon riders. Never in our long history has there been a story like this.” She actually bounced with excitement.
“Please, Fiona, stop. I’m having a hard enough time anticipating the ce
remony. Being the center of attention makes me nauseous. The walls of this castle already feel too confining. I don’t know if I can ever mold to the life of a royal.”
“Wait until you hear some of the ballads the musicians are practicing for your celebration. Your quests, your accomplishments, are astonishing. They’ve put them to song magnificently.”
“Ugh, are you even listening to me? You’re not making this any easier.”
“I’m sorry, Amáne. I guess I’m quite nervous, myself. I know my name will never be in ballads, but the success of this monumental undertaking is on my shoulders.”
I laughed and wrapped her in a firm hug, hoping the pins in my gown would hold.
Fiona pulled away and tugged me toward the couch. “Amáne, come sit down with me. Let’s forget all this for a bit. Do you know what I’ve been dying to hear from you?”
I shook my head.
“You’ve never told me of your linking with Eshshah.”
“You, Fiona, are interested in my linking story? And now? When you’re in the middle of trying to suffocate me with this gown?”
“I’m not all about ribbons and silks. I’ve been fascinated with stories of dragons since I was little. You and I grew up with the teaching that they were just stories, nothing more. But now,” she swept her hand through the air, “it’s as if all the myths of Teravinea have jumped out of childrens’ fantasy books. Dragons are real! I want to hear, first hand, about Eshshah’s hatching. The ballads just aren’t enough for me.”
I beamed. There was nothing a dragon rider liked to talk about more than his or her dragon.
“Very well, then, I’d love to tell you. And mind you, I’ve only told the whole story to the Healer and Ansel. I don’t know what the ballads say, but they could only fall short.”
I started to take a deep breath, but she had me pinned so tightly in my gown. I scowled and fidgeted. Fiona ignored my discomfort. She gestured impatiently for me to start.
I took a medium-size breath and began, “The day after Mother passed to her ancestors, I made the decision about where I’d go for my memorial journey. To honor her memory, I decided to hike to our cove. You know, where she and I always went to get away for a few days?” Fiona nodded. “Mother and I loved camping there. It was our private time together.”
“Why did you decide to go alone? Weren’t you afraid? I would imagine the Healer or Gallen would have felt it a privilege to accompany you.”
I shrugged. “I wasn’t afraid. At least not at first. I just wanted to be by myself, so I packed and left without thinking too much about it. It took me a couple hours to hike to the cove. Then I set up my camp, just the way Mother and I used to. I had to rebuild our fire ring, so I searched for some large rocks nearby.
“Later, as I sat by my campfire, I sang some grieving songs. That’s when I regretted my hasty decision to go off on my own. I wasn’t as fearless as I’d thought. Mother had told me whenever I got frightened, I should sing so she could hear me. So, I chose my favorite ballad about an ancient battle and sang it loud.”
Fiona leaned in.
“The more frightened I got, the louder I sang. Then, I heard a humming sound, like someone accompanied my song. The sound came from one of the rocks that made up my fire ring.”
“But it wasn’t a rock. It was Eshshah’s egg,” Fiona blurted out.
“Yes.” I smiled. “I couldn’t keep my eyes off the egg when it started vibrating. I felt compelled to put my hands on the shell. It shook harder as cracks formed along the top. A red glow seeped out of the fissures, like a flame burned inside. The egg split open. Eshshah fell out. So tiny. Her scales glowed like she was on fire. Like a hearth fire.” I closed my eyes. It was as if I was there again at her hatching. “She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”
“Amáne?”
I gave Fiona a sheepish look. “I’m sorry, Fiona. I guess I got a little distracted. What did you ask?”
Fiona’s face glowed with emotion. “I wanted to know how big Eshshah was.”
“Not much bigger than one of your aunt’s barn cats.”
“I always thought those were big cats,” she said. “But when I think of Eshshah that small, it’s hard to believe. Please go on.”
“Well, as I stared at the radiant little dragon, I was drawn into her whirling golden eyes. As soon as she had me mesmerized, she pulled back her head and struck me with her fangs.” I grabbed my shoulder, closing my hand over the linking mark.
Fiona jerked her head back, concern written on her face.
I continued, “She inadvertently injected her full measure of venom. The pain was excruciating. My dragon fever lasted three days and nearly sent me to my ancestors.” I swallowed. “Fiona, I saw my mother.”
“Your mother?” Fiona’s face went white. “On the Other Side?”
I shook my head. “The Shadows.”
Her mouth fell open. She exhaled a quick short breath.
“If it weren’t for Eshshah’s extraordinary healing powers, I wouldn’t be here, today. Eshshah probably wouldn’t either.”
Fiona blinked back her tears and squeezed my hand. “I’m thankful for her powers.”
Her eyebrows drew together in a puzzled frown. “Since we knew nothing of dragons and linking, you must have been terrified all alone, not knowing what to expect. But what about all the other dragon riders who knew the linking ritual? I don’t understand. How would they ever volunteer to participate in a hatching, knowing they would go through such intense suffering?”
I laughed. “Fiona, doesn’t every woman know there’s pain and possible death from childbirth? And yet, still we accept it for the miracle of having a baby in our arms.”
With a wistful look, Fiona said, “You’re right, I never thought about that.”
Fiona paused before she asked, “So, Eshshah’s bite is what created your linking mark on your shoulder?”
“Yes, it’s a representation of her, and it’s our seal that we’re forever linked.”
Fiona giggled. “I thought it was a tattoo that all dragon riders had to get. What happened next?”
“Once I came out of my dragon fever, Eshshah and I spent time getting to know each other. It was an uncommon linking. We were on our own and had to teach each other what most dragon riders learned from their superiors and peers. She explained that we could speak to each other without using our voices — thought transference. At first we were afraid to reveal ourselves. Eventually, we told the Healer, and that’s when Eshshah and I went to live with her.”
I threw up my hands. “That’s the story of our linking.”
The smile still on her face, Fiona said, “Thank you, Amáne. I’ve always wanted to hear that story from you. May I have your permission to tell it to Rio and Mila? My silly sisters do nothing but talk about being dragon riders. They are so much not like me.” Her sweet-sounding laugh filled the room.
I nodded. “Of course you can tell them.”
“They’ve been so excited seeing all the dragons flying in and out of the city transporting your guests.”
“The Ancient Ones, from the Valley of Dragons.” I said. “Without their help we wouldn’t have had the winning advantage in the War of the Crown. I’m still reeling from the fact that so many of them chose to stay.”
“All the riders who’d lost their dragons can ride again. It must mean so much to them,” Fiona said.
“You have no idea. It’s like their lives have been renewed.”
At that moment, my beautiful fiery dragon conveyed a message through thought transference. “Amáne, King Ansel and Sovann have just flown in.”
I felt her excitement of seeing her mate, the impressive golden dragon, Sovann.
“Hurry,” I said to Fiona, “get this dress off of me so I can go see Ansel. They’ve just flown in.”
“Good try, Amáne. Your wedding is in three days. You know the betrothed are not to see each other for the three days before the wedding.”
“You can’t do
this to me, Fiona! He’s been away, dealing with the state of affairs in the kingdom. That’ll make it six days before the wedding that we won’t have seen each other.”
Fiona shrugged. “It’s been a tradition for countless generations. I had nothing to do with its inception and I will not take any part in breaking it. It’s bad luck.”
“Bad luck?” I scoffed. “Who would think up such a ridiculous tradition and then brand it bad luck for breaking it? When I’m queen, I guarantee that practice will end. Immediately.”
“Well, you’re not queen yet. The tradition stands, and it’s my duty to make sure you abide by it.”
“That’s not fair. There should be a special circumstance for Ansel and me.”
I felt Eshshah let out a rumble, her version of a laugh.
“Not you too, Eshshah. Don’t flaunt the fact this stinking tradition doesn’t include dragons. You get to go hunt with Sovann. No one’s keeping you two apart.”
“Sovann said to tell you King Ansel sends his love. And he longs to see you.” Eshshah said before she exited our thought transference.
I huffed in disappointment. My brow furrowed as I jerked my head toward Fiona. “I’m going to let you be the one to tell Ansel he can’t see me.”
Her eyes went wide.
“And,” I continued, “since you’ve already put me in a foul mood, I need to ask you why you aren’t telling me what you have planned? I don’t even know the schedule of events. It is my wedding, you know.”
Fiona held my shoulders and put her face in front of mine. “I’m sparing you additional stress. I’ll let you know the events when you need to know. You asked me to direct your vows ceremony and celebration. Now trust me to do my job.” Her expression was firm and unyielding.
“Furthermore,” she said, “you’re lucky I convinced King Ansel to have his coronation ceremony last month and not combine it with your wedding day. Can you imagine adding that load to your already-full day?”
I shook my head. “I would never have survived.”
My expression softened as I held Fiona’s eyes. “Forgive my ill-temper, Fiona. I appreciate all you’re doing for us, and I don’t doubt that it will be the most magnificent, unforgettable, most-talked-about day ever. I do thank you sincerely.”
Amáne of Teravinea - Black Castle (The Teravinea Series Book 4) Page 1
