The Kingdoms of Sky and Shadow Box Set: A Fantasy Romance

by Lidiya Foxglove

  I knew instantly that I had said the wrong thing, as her face turned ice cold against me. But there was no point in mincing around the truth. Himika might tryst with this handsome guard of hers like young women were inclined to do, but he couldn’t do much to her when she was so fragile, and once she met King Aurekdel, she would change her mind.

  Hopefully.

  Chapter Seven

  Himika

  A flotilla of royal boats awaited us, each with a winged cat perched on the prow on the roof of the cabin. They were the size of pleasure vessels back home. As I understood it, the dragon kingdom was laced with underground canals that were used for much of the travel and trade. They could only accommodate smaller boats with a low profile. As we traveled, some of the tunnels almost brushed Seron’s horns. Ice dragons controlled locks that lowered the boat as we traveled deeper and deeper into the earth.

  The dragon kingdom was like no place I could have imagined, and it filled me with awe, even while I didn’t really want to live there. There was soft, glowing light everywhere from veins of glowing crystal in the rock, in different colors—sometimes white, sometimes pink or blue. But it was a dim light. I would be spending the rest of my life in eternal night.

  And even the largest chambers of the underground caverns didn’t have the sense of space that the world above had. There were no mountain ranges or oceans. My room in Gaermon castle looked out over the western sea, while the mountains were just to the east. Fresh breezes, scented of salt and foreign adventures, came through my windows all year as I watched ships come and go from our port.

  This was a confined world. The smells changed as we traveled, but they were all deep, dark, musty, moist smells. There was never any wind. We passed through farming villages and settlements that lined the river, and were welcomed into the homes of the village leaders. The communities were small, always less than a thousand people. The dragons welcomed me, offering me strange flowers and sweets that looked very unappetizing. I didn’t know their language, however, so I remained mostly an isolated figure with only Oszin and sometimes Seron to talk to.

  Often I ended up giving more of my attention to the animals and small children. I didn’t even like small children that much normally, but it was refreshing now. They didn’t care about language barriers and were eager to learn my words. They showed me their pets: the winged cats that navigated the caves as dragon’s companions, the aquatic mammals called ‘poposa’ that tugged small boats around, and a small sturdy black furry creature called an ‘attu’ that seemed like a cross between a pig, a donkey and an ox that helped with farm chores.

  Our journey took five days before we passed through a grand, arched tunnel called the Royal Gate to the underground lake surrounding the fortress Hemara. This was by far the largest cavern within the dragon kingdom I had seen. The ceiling soared far, far above my head and crystals winked like stars above me. I glimpsed lights on the water miles distant. Hemara fortress was lit in all the windows like a glittering rock that had risen from the earth, and it was so far from us that I could frame it between my fingertips.

  Slowly, our boats drew closer. Now I could see that Hemara was perched on a hill of rock and built into the wall behind it, where the lake lapped gently against the walls. The building was many stories, formed of glossy black stone with accents of glowing crystal, with huge glass windows and several towers. Clouds of mist and fog shrouded the hill.

  “The mist around Hemara will hurt your breath,” Seron said, giving me a mask made of multiple layers of woven fibers to fit over my mouth and nose. “It helps keep safe, but keep on mask. It will—” He made a spreading gesture. “Go away before it reach the fortress windows.”

  “Oh, are you sure?” I asked skeptically. “Poisonous mist just below the fortress?”

  “It has not killed us yet,” Seron said. “We live a long time. But in the fog season we must leave and go to the north palace.”

  It wasn’t until we were almost at the foot of the palace that the reality started to hit me so hard that I could barely feel my fingers and toes. Ice and lava dragons in their huge beastly forms guarded the gates where the boats drifted into the depths of the fortress.

  Any moment now, I would see my future husband for the first time. There would be no more wondering. Would he be intimidating and strong, or awkward and weak? Would he be handsome or strange? Once I saw him, I would no longer be able to change him in my mind. His existence would be fixed.

  It hardly mattered. I already knew that I wanted no hands to touch me besides Oszin’s.

  The boats sailed inside the gates, entering the underground docks. The ceiling was low here and the stone walls seemed ancient, with moss climbing them and moisture seeping out of the rock. The water, stirred by the motion of all the boats, lapped and water dripped, as lanterns cast lines of illumination into the murk.

  Above ground, I thought, it was the middle of the day and the sun was shining bright on the snow.

  Father and Rin sent me to this place where I would never see the sun again. I would never get over it.

  Oszin looked at me, his expression steady, trying to assure me. He could see how close I was to more tears.

  Seron docked the boat as, up a set of stone steps, doors creaked open. Guards came down the steps in pairs, and one of them announced, “Houka Aurekdel Arzor ro Galliar!”

  A man walked into the door, and just like Seron, he had black, somewhat translucent crystalline horns and clawed hands with scales, the markers of dragon royalty. I wondered if he would keep such hands even when we were alone together, and even when…

  “Your Majesty—“ Seron began.

  “Princess,” the king said. “Welcome to my home.” His low voice had a very slight, very regal accent with a whisper around the edges that made the words seem very intimate.

  His hair was reddish gold, his eyes like amber, tall and slim but broad-shouldered in his royal robes. His robes were several silken layers, so I knew they must be very old, probably dusted off from and worn just for me. The edges were a little frayed, but they were heavily embroidered in gold to preserve them. My brother told me that fabric was so precious to the dragons that they honored guests by wearing ancient fabric, rather than new leathers. He didn’t look at me but I felt as if he saw me anyway, or knew I was there at least.

  He was…

  I mean…he wasn’t bad.

  “Your Majesty,” I said. I was blunt. I didn’t really care if he was good looking. The fact was, his people had still cursed me and I wasn’t going to forget a lifetime of misery for the sake of an intriguing face.

  He came down the stairs the rest of the way, his steps confident. Well, I suppose he would be familiar enough with his own home. I don’t know why I was looking for weakness in him, but I was. I found none. He projected a calm confidence as he approached the boat. “Can I offer you a hand, my lady?”

  “Yes,” I said, for the sake of politeness.

  He held out his clawed hand. I carefully stood, the boat gently swaying at its moorings. No sooner had my fingers brushed his scales than Oszin put his hands at my waist and lifted me onto the dock as he said, “You have to be very careful with her.”

  I shot him a glare. I didn’t need him to be that protective.

  “Of course,” King Aurekdel said. “You probably don’t like me very much, Princess Himika. The dragon’s tear was the custom of our ancestors.”

  “Your ancestors’ custom stole my childhood.”

  “Well, she gets right to the point, doesn’t she? We will not maintain this custom, going forward.”

  “You would have to shed some tears first, anyway,” Seron said in a low voice.

  “I’m glad you’re here, but I apologize for the circumstances.” Aurekdel lifted a hand to the stairs. “I’ve doubted the prophecy myself, many times, as my advisors urged me to take a bride in the dragon kingdom. It sounded a little crazy even to me to wait for a human girl from a world none of us have ever seen. But here you are. I’
ve been thoroughly vindicated, haven’t I, Seron?”

  “I guess so,” Seron said.

  “Are you tired from the journey? Do you need a rest? There is a lot I want to show you.”

  The stairs were steep and I struggled up them with my cane. I could see Aurek’s face shift as he heard how careful I had to be, and Oszin was so close behind me that he was practically breathing on me. I hated looking so weak.

  “No. I’m not tired,” I said stubbornly.

  “Are you hungry?” the king asked.

  “No…” I was hungry too, but the food here was so strange that I would rather starve. “I had some of our rations before we arrived.”

  Oszin raised an eyebrow. I’d eaten the rations five hours ago.

  “Good,” King Aurekdel said. “Then let me have the honor of showing you your new domain.”

  Chapter Eight

  Himika

  “Unfortunately, the north palace, Irandal, is more elegant,” Aurekdel said, walking down a hall of tall windows that offered a view of the shadowy lake. It was strange to have tall windows that let in very little light. Guards and courtiers followed us, getting a good look at me. I heard some pleased murmuring about my beauty.

  “Seron said you go to the north palace when the mists become too toxic,” I said. “Why don’t you just stay there all the time if it’s more elegant?”

  “Irandal is the true palace of the dragons,” Aurekdel said. “But they built this place during the Fire Wars to be much more defensive. The court stays here since the Traitor King’s rise. The only problem is that the mists become too strong during the fog season.” He shrugged. “So you will see Irandal later.”

  Aurekdel took me on a stroll through all the central rooms of the castle, and I tried very hard to be impressed.

  “That’s beautiful,” I said, regarding the throne room glittering with crystals. And when I saw the vast meeting chamber, large enough to accommodate a crowd of dragons in their beast forms, I said, “Very impressive. We have nothing so large in Gaermon.”

  But I could hardly begin to name all the problems. The fortress seemed sparsely furnished. Chairs and beds were either made of cheap looking woven reeds, or uncomfortable rocks and metals adorned with crystal. Some large rooms only had mats and furs to sit on, where dragons took leisure in music, dancing, drinking and dice games. Possessions were stored mostly in baskets. The library was a tenth the size of the one in Gaermon castle, and smelled a little like mildew. Everything was shabby compared to my home and of course, although most passages were lit dimly with veins of crystal, many rooms were so dark that I couldn’t see a thing until the guards came up behind us with their lanterns. I will say, at least, the rooms were large but they also didn’t have much privacy. I didn’t see any doors.

  “Does our bedroom have a door, Your Majesty?” I asked.

  He laughed. “Of course it does.”

  “Just checking.”

  “I can tell you’re not impressed at all,” Aurekdel said.

  “Oh, I—well—it’s very different from home.”

  Aurek turned to the guards walking with us. “I would like some time alone with my future bride. Seron will be our chaperone.”

  “Can I keep my head guard with me?” I asked, my eyes lingering desperately on Oszin.

  Seron shifted his stance, giving us a suspicious look, and Aurekdel said, “No need for that. I want to show you a few places I hope you’ll like more…” He bowed his head at Oszin and the rest. “Thank you, please show the Gaermoni to their rooms and make them comfortable as our honored guests.”

  I mean, I knew Oszin would have to part from me sooner of later. I just didn’t feel like I would ever be ready.

  Seron watched him go. He made me nervous. What would he tell Aurekdel?

  “Seron, can you give me my cane?” Aurek asked.

  Seron replied in his own language with faint exasperation, indicating that he didn’t have the cane. He had just gotten off a boat so I didn’t know why he would.

  “Right. Well…I’ll manage. How was the journey?”

  “Fine,” Seron said.

  “Just fine? What was it like?” Aurek asked in my language. “Didn’t you bother to learn the language?”

  “A little,” Seron said, glowering. “The princess can learn our language.”

  “She will, but it would be a nice gesture to speak in hers. Tell us your impression of her world.”

  Seron sighed. “Ah, well—it is very bright. It does hurt my eyes to look. The land is big in every direction. It is very hard to protect against attack. To be worse, the plants are very thick in the woods and many birds are flying over your head and all around, to make you think someone is there.”

  I smiled a little. “I guess it was as hard for Lord Seron to get used to my world as it is for me to get used to yours.”

  Aurek put a hand on my shoulder. I stiffened immediately, and he noticed, but didn’t move the hand. The eerie look in his eyes made me feel like he saw my insides more than my outsides. “Are you afraid of me?” he asked. “I assure you I will be very gentle.”

  “I’m not afraid. But this is a forced marriage. I will do my duty.”

  “Neither of us have much choice,” he said.

  “That isn’t true at all,” I snapped. “You aren’t cursed to be with me.”

  “Yes, you’re right. But I am certainly obligated to be with you, and when you’re royalty you have a lot of obligations and there are consequences to avoiding them, as I’m sure you know. I intend to enjoy it and ensure that you enjoy it as well.”

  “You can’t make me enjoy anything.”

  “Ah, I don’t mind working for it,” Aurek said.

  I felt Seron’s eyes on me. He was just behind us as King Aurekdel led the way up another dark and steep set of stairs. Seron’s hands were in his pockets and he looked like he’d rather be somewhere else.

  I heard some meowing up ahead and I realized we were coming up on a lot of winged cats. Aurek opened the door into a tower room where the cats could freely fly in and out. There were kittens chasing each other around the room and batting leather balls across the floor, and older cats sprawled in nooks in the wall, sleeping soundly over the noise, wings folded. Aurek’s steps were a little more hesitant as he entered the room which was full of small toys, food dishes and cats weaving around our feet looking for attention.

  Gaermon had a winged cat population, but I had never seen so many. Hundreds! And they were so cute! I didn’t want to seem like Aurek could win me over with cats, but…when a kitten, her coat bluish gray with blotches of cream, flew onto my shoulder I couldn’t resist grabbing her.

  The kitten nipped my hand and then started licking me.

  “So many colors!” I marveled. “I thought they only came in black.”

  Aurekdel laughed. “We gave all the black ones to the Gaermoni. They were not favored here because you lose them in the tunnels.”

  The kitten was purring in my hand now. She looked up at me with dewy little eyes and started reaching up to knead my chest.

  “The winged cats have a wonderful sense of direction,” Aurek said. “They have a homing instinct. If you should ever be lost, they’ll lead you back to me.”

  “Oh, do winged cats recognize a sovereign?” I smiled.

  “I have the arduous job of blessing all the kittens so they know,” he said. “I wanted one to pick you so it can be your companion here.”

  “The cat picks me? I don’t pick the cat?”

  “I think you’ve already been chosen,” Aurek said, scratching the head of my new kitten. The kitten craned back, drinking it in. “You’re one of the new litter…but old enough to leave your mother. You know the future queen when you see her. I’m sure she’ll make for a very good mistress for you.”

  Aurek was good. He knew how to lower my resistance. But I’d been in the hands of the Emperor, who was also so smooth…bringing me my favorite foods and taking me to the theater…acting like he treasured
me…so I knew it would be another matter when it came time for consummating the marriage.

  I had a sudden flash of imagining Aurekdel taking off his clothes in my presence. It was a horrifying thought. Even with Oszin, I had never seen a man naked besides my brother when we were younger. Besides, Rin wasn’t even a man then, so it didn’t count, even if he wasn’t just my brother.

  More of the cats clamored for Aurek’s attention and he took some treats out of his pocket. The cats were biting his hand trying to get to them. Some of them snapped farther down his arm, past the dragon scales on his hands, so they could nip flesh. He laughed, trying his best to give them one at a time.

  “You ask for trouble, hm?” Seron said.

  “I always do. Take your little friend and we’ll give her a bed in the room,” Aurek said.

  “I’ll name her Kajira,” I said, scratching her cheek as she leaned into my touch. “After the the noble lady who took up the twin blades during the Sun Era.”

  “I have one other thing for you. A garden that was started by my great-grandmother. She would come up here to escape the bustle of court…it was sort of a rule not to bother her here.”

  “Ohh…” So I would have a place of my own? Good to know. But too bad it was so far away from the court. It would be hard to sneak Oszin up so many stairs. I was utterly exhausted of making slow, painstaking climbs up steep stairs with my bad foot and all my bones aching and crying for rest.

  The garden was at the top of the tallest tower, with a view all around of the lake. We must have been about seven stories high. I felt like I could see the walls of the entire cavern in the distance, very faintly lit with bits of crystal. My kitten took off, soaring around the tower, curious about everything.

  It seemed like something from a dream. Lush, strange flowers bloomed in the darkness. The garden beds were formed of white, glowing crystal and overflowed with fragrant plants.