by Ivy Clyde
Mekhi scoffed. “Stop wasting our time. What can a useless scholar like you do anyway? You’re just an ingrate who sided with the rebel princes.”
Soldiers gathered around me. None of them knew I could shift into my true dragon form. I didn’t care about them underestimating me but my pounding heart was desperate to find Daria. She was supposed to have left with Norvin and Cain to the shack outside the city. What was she doing here?
The guards inched forward, their spears pointing at me.
“What’s going on up there?” Prince Kurozeru suddenly asked, looking up towards the tower in the distance. Everyone’s attention went towards it. The room at the top was glowing like a beacon in the dark. It was being engulfed in flames.
“Don’t worry about it, Kurozeru,” said Melhi. “Even if the whole tower is lit on fire, Zane will be perfectly fine.”
“We may just have to dig him from under the rubble,” said Helena with a chuckle.
“Is she there?” I demanded. “Is Zane up there with Daria?”
“Get him,” said Mekhi in a lazy drawl.
“Stop resisting, Prince Adal,” said the head of the guards. “Don’t make it difficult for us.”
“Difficult for you?” I shouted. “You will hurt one of your princes upon their word?”
“It’s either you or the rest of us,” said Kurozeru. “I have nothing against you, Adal. You never interfered in politics, showed no interest in the throne. Me and my brothers have always been happy to give you a pass. But now…things have changed. You are related to a traitor to the four kingdoms. I can no longer protect you.”
“Protect me? Like you would ever do that! You’ve never cared for me because I stayed away from all court proceedings. I never stood in your way.”
Kurozeru glared at me. “Are you saying you’ve got the power to sit on the throne?”
“I am the only one in Baledonia with that right,” I spat.
“Your Highness,” interrupted one of the soldiers. “The tower room…”
Kurozeru glanced at the tower. So did everyone else.
Clouds of black smoke were billowing out of the tower room. The soldiers shifted, anxiety overcoming their features as they watched the raging fire consume the top of the tower. A sudden shriek shattered the silence of the night.
For the first time, Mekhi took several steps towards the tower.
“What’s happening, Brother?” asked Helena, stepping beside him.
“That was Zane’s voice,” said Mekhi in a grim tone. “I’m sure of it.”
Animalistic cries filled the courtyard. It was coming from the burning tower.
“What has she done to him?” Helena shrieked. Turning back to the guards, she gestured for them to move towards the tower. “Go up there and see what’s happening,” she commanded.
“We can’t, My Lady,” said the head of the guards. “Unlike the dragonborn lords, we will perish in such a fire.”
“Brother.” She turned worried eyes towards Cain. “Do something.”
Mekhi took several more steps towards the tower. While their attention was diverted, I inched forward too. Desperately praying for Daria to be safe, I stared hard at the windows consumed with smoke and fire.
From amidst the flames, a figure came to stand at the window. It was hard to tell who it was from the distance but the moment a gust of wind blew by and thick waist-long hair shifted along the air currents, I knew it was Daria.
I had to reach her. There was no way I could storm the tower while the soldiers, my brothers, and Mekhi stood in my way. Even with the distance between us, I knew Daria needed help.
There was only one chance for us to escape the palace.
Closing my eyes, I called for my inner dragon to take over. I expected bone-melting pain to consume me, but my body transformed in the blink of an eye. There was no agony like the first time I shifted. It was almost seamless.
Terrified screams filled the air. Opening my eyes, I stared down at the soldiers from a height of several feet. They scattered away, leaving their masters to look up at me with stunned expressions.
Taking a deep breath, I roared, letting clouds of fire and ash escape me. Mekhi dragged Helena with him and disappeared inside the palace. My brothers were nowhere to seen either. They must have been the first ones to flee the scene.
“Help me.” Daria’s voice sounded loud and clear in my head.
“I am coming,” I said back to her. A low rumble escaped me but I knew she was able to hear me. It was the same telepathic ability that Cain had told me about. Both Daria and I were connected to each other.
Stretching my wings to their widest expanse, I rose on my hind legs. My dragon’s vastness filled the palace courtyard completely. Moonlight and the flames from the burning tower made my golden scales glint in the dark.
I’d never flown before. The only time my dragon got a chance to stretch its legs was in the sacred chambers of the temple. I let my inner dragon take over, hoping it would know how to fly up to the top of the tower where Daria waited for me.
My wings swept forward, creating a gust of wind behind its massive length, giving my whole body a pleasant lift. As my feet rose from the ground, my wings beat harder and faster. It was the most amazing, freeing sensation to be able to soar up in the sky. The feel of the cool night air flowing over my body felt especially good. Every last shackle binding me to the palace seemed to fall off as I circled the top of the burning tower.
Daria’s figure slumped forward. My heart rose into my mouth as her body plummeted towards the ground. Focusing my attention on her, I dived down, my forelimbs stretching out to catch her.
A roar escaped me as my talons clutched around Daria’s limp body. I tried to speak to her but it felt like her mind had completely shut off. She didn’t answer to any of anxious pleas.
Great gusts of wind swept over me as I flew away from the palace. It turned into a twinkling minuscule structure on the ground below. Daria was in my arms but I didn’t know how badly she was hurt. I was flying towards the shack where she’d sheltered together with Cain and Norvin. I could only hope they were safe and sound.
There was no place to hide anymore.
A war was coming.
And we were bringing it to Emperor Ivan.
Ready for the next part in Daria’s journey?
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading until the end.
I am overwhelmed by your support for this absolutely unknown author. Not only did you read my first book, you even read the second one. You have no idea what it means to me. By profession, I am an engineer. Even though I studied in Scotland, my Asian parents always made it clear they wouldn’t support me if I ever stepped into arts.
As a person, I love painting. As a kid, I dreamed of being a manga artist, sketching and telling stories. Of course, the dream never came true, but now that I’m past 30 years, earning my own living with no parent breathing down my neck, I am finally able to muster the courage to write.
I write under a pen name, so my family and friends know nothing about this side of me. I have a different Facebook profile which I use solely to interact with other writers and artists. They have become my tribe. And now, you.
Your support is the best motivation I could ever get. It’s a prize I cherish the most. So, thank you, thank you, thank you so much, dear reader! You made the dream come true for that little kid that still lives in me.
Lastly, I hope you enjoyed the story and would consider leaving a short review on Amazon. Even a simple “I liked it” will make my day.
Assassin’s Crown is now available on Amazon. If you’d like to stay updated, please join my newsletter or ‘like’ my Facebook page.
You can join my Facebook group too but it is a bit empty at the moment, but do come in to make it lively! It will also be the best place for teasers, character tidbits, and discussions with your fellow readers. I would love for you to join me there!
About Ivy
Ivy is an E
lectrical engineer by profession. She started writing fanfiction in her spare time and after a whole year of writing; she decided to start writing an original series with her own characters.
Although, work and tight deadlines often have her drinking coffee, she is a tea-lover at heart. She loves to read, but keeps taking trips to Hogwarts now and then. (Who could miss JKR’s lovely invitation?) Her favorite current TV shows are Game of Thrones and Pretty Little Liars.
