Chapter 7.
Amid the evening mist and the rising moon, the stone walls seemed to hold a supernatural stillness. Some windows, illuminated by reflected firelight, seemed to observe intruders from up high. The causeway that crossed the moat was slick with moss and algae, painting it an eerie green. The portcullis was down, but was stuck two feet from the stone floor. The Courtyard beyond the gate was dark except for a single fire brazier that burned atop an ancient fountain. Its dark water seemed to absorb all light and could leave one's mouth dry with fear.
Though this seemed to invite curious enemies, it brought caution to them as the Dragon Castle was anything but welcoming especially with the grey-haired crown prince. Prince Billard Ernst Hellis Van Salamander stood high in his study chamber where his amber eyes glowed in the dim light of the room. Torches reflected off the water of the moat that seemed home to dark things that swam just out of sight. His eyes concentrated on it yet his mind was somewhere else.
After he became a crown Prince, his work buried him in responsibilities. Especially, toward his brother. After their King had gotten bedridden, he became the pillar and now everything came crashing upon his shoulders.
Footsteps approached behind him as he turned and saw his lady love walking towards him dressed in a maroon gown..
He smiled as she neared Her green eyes glowed and dark hair blended with the shadows.
"What are you doing here, Zenith?"
"You haven't been in our room for quite a while. I was worried you might overwork." Her voice gave him warmth and he desperately wanted to cling to it.
He caressed her smooth jaw and indeed he was tired. But with the preparation of the marriage and the scouting teams' reports he was waiting for, he felt a little restless.
"Tomorrow is a great day." He whispered against her earlobe as he bent over her, balancing his tired body.
"That's more reason for you to take a rest." Zenith, his wife suggested.
But something didn't settle right in his stomach. The alliance between humans and Dragons, many other species would not see it as a good sign. They would try to harm the human princess or his brother. He wondered if he should have sent his men to escort the princess instead of the King's soldiers. As they would have taken the path of Shadow Forest, it was mostly the hunting spot for the bandits. The route being a crossroad between Fireborn and Waterboens along with humans and that of the Dragons. There was a great chance that the bandits or those who had enmity with Dragons or humans would attack.
The thought of enemies made him wary, after years and years of war, he had seen just how gruesome it was and what kind of bloodbath took place during that timespan. Prince Billard just hoped that he wouldn't have to hear any bad news regarding the princess as that might be the only way to protect his brother.
Lately, he heard about a Flame Queen who destroyed the town just by her flames. The wizards were getting powerful and it didn't look good to Billard.
The relationship between them was already bad and if the wizards were slowly improving their powers in secret, there was a good chance they would try to take down the Dragons. He had heard about a King Tier of the Fire nation.
Billard had studied a bit about wizards so he had quite a good knowledge on them. As he would be the next King of the Dragons, he had acquired enough knowledge on various things which would help him and his kingdom.
Feeling the rigid body against him, and a whimper from his wife, he looked at her and realised he had caught her arms a little too harshly.
"I apologise."
"You are worrying. What is it?" She asked as her thin brows tied together.
"Nothing." He smiled at her and added, "Let's go to bed."
The next day the loud shouting sound resonated from a certain chamber.
"I can care less of her arrival." Young prince, Demian Von Oskar Satonas Salamander said, not hiding the crudity in his voice.
"Your Highness, she will be here any moment now." Master Valentine pleaded and he just glared at the old man with absolute fury.
"Then let her come, I never agreed to any of the shenanigans that you are trying to pull behind my back." Prince Demian said and Master Valentine clasped his hands.
"Your Highness, she is coming for you. You know your alliance is important with her not only for her country but for your own sake." Master Valentine said and prince Demian gritted his teeth grabbing the copper glass from the nearby table and throwing it at Master Valentine. He avoided it and looked at the fuming prince.
"You know what importance she holds, Your Highness. I beg of you, it is for your own sake. You are a precious prince of the Dragon lineage, we all want you to be healthy and strong." Master Valentine pleaded.
"I am strong!" The prince thundered and Master Valentine gave him a look which made his body heat up with pure fury, the room shuddered slightly and Master Valentine eyed the intricately carved pillars of the room.
The prince fell to his knees clutching his chest and the shudders stopped, the first Prince Billard entered the chambers. Prince Demian glared at his brother, although the intensity had dropped.
"Demian Von Oskar Satonas Salamander." The way he enunciated each name of Demian made him feel the power that oozed out in the form of waves from his big brother.
"Yes, Lord Brother." Prince Demian said grinding his teeth.
"Your bride is here. We are going to receive her, I hope you will be making an appearance to make her feel at ease to know that her husband came to welcome her." He said in a voice as calm as the sea before the storm.
Grinding his teeth and feeling too overwhelmed by his brother's presence Prince Demian cracked.
"I'll be there."
Still grinding his teeth he followed his brother and Master Valentine out of his chambers feeling the lack of the comfort of his chamber. He liked being in his room away from the eyes of all of the people, away from the voices of them. It's been like that ever since he'd remembered, his brother had stood by him along with the courtiers and Master Valentine but he wasn't completely ignorant to the rumors and the stories going on around the castle and across the country about him. The thought of being tied down to a mere human girl made his blood boil and the fact that it was said that she could save him was something utterly unacceptable for him. What could a weak, helpless human girl do?
Demain walked out of the massive castle doors and watched as all of his castle populace including the townspeople were present to receive the princess. Demian stood beside his brother watching as the tall girl dressed in red ceremonial robes walked slowly up the cobbled way. The girl beside her was stiff with poise while the bride herself seemed disoriented. Demian narrowed his eyes as she stopped before them and his brother asked of their journey. Her servant replied in her stead and slowly she raised her head. He saw as she turned her head right and left not seeing him. It angered him. She was tall, way too tall for his liking.
He couldn't hear what she whispered to her servant but then her servant tilted her head and he read what she said reading her lips.
"Look down, princess." His anger reached to the point where he felt he'd explode.
The girl slowly tilted her head down, because of the veil he couldn't see her face but he knew she was looking at him. He gritted his teeth as he gave her one of his coldest glares and she visibly shivered. That pleased him. Good, she was supposed to be scared of him.
Demian didn't stay for long and turned and walked back to his chambers, his eyebrows knotting together. This human princess was nothing but an asset which Master Valentine and his brother was using to help his condition, if she couldn't do anything then he could easily dispose of her. She was a Dragon's property now.
***
Seraphina didn't know when she fell asleep but with a soft voice calling her name, she woke up blinking. She was still in the carriage leaning against its wooden walls. Back of her head, her shoulders and her back throbbed with pain, probably because of the long time she had slept.
Merlene hadn't come after the bandit attack and even River never showed up. She wondered what happened to him? During the fight with the bandits, Merlene wasn't around so, even that worried Seraphina a little.
She stretched her back, it cracked and finally, she let out a wide yawn. Her stomach growled with hunger.
"Princess?" A female voice snapped her out of her trance and she wondered why her friend would call her that also how did Marlene's voice change from a strict mentor's to that of a polite maiden all of a sudden? Why was she talking with her like that?
"What is it?" She asked in a low voice.
"We have reached."
Reality dawned on her, she had arrived at Waterborns land. She clenched her fists. The hunger she felt evaporated immediately.
So many voices swirled outside of the carriage as if her guild members had gathered there. So, the place had many members. Even if Seraphina had no difficulty facing a crowd or a bunch of wild guild members, somehow she felt nervous. Her palms sweated, her heart thundered and the new environment appalled her. If that wasn't enough she was certain they blew horns. She needed to talk with Merlene.
"Princess, please come out everyone is waiting." The smooth voice spoke through the curtain and strangely enough, she felt at ease. On the other hand, she could never imagine Merlene could talk this formally. Somehow her mental image of Merlene didn't match the voice and she resisted herself from laughing.
Her joints felt stiff maybe from the exhaustion. Despite not wanting to, she slowly came out of the wooden ride with her heavy ceremonial robes. Her eyes moved around the place through her veil and her jaw smashed on the ground. The whole place was filled with people as if they came here to watch her life turning into ashes.
Her teeth clenched and she tried to form her energy into her fists, however, the flames wouldn't come. It angered her more. She saw red-due to her red veil as she wore a red wedding robe.
"Please prepare yourself, princess. We won't be returning from here."
Seraphina looked behind fuming with anger but went still to see that it wasn't Merlene but some other girl. It was the same brunette she had seen during the bandit attack, but what was she doing here at the Waterborn nation? She was about to ask her but another set of horns played behind the walls.
Within a moment, many guards emerged from the great wall and surrounded them.
For a moment, her heart leapt out from her ribcage as there were more guards than the members of her guild. They wore the same uniform of brown leather belts and boots with hanging swords from their belts. But the crest on their armors was very familiar. It had teeth and some carving of a reptile, she could not comprehend.
They lowered their heads and lined themselves making a way for her to enter through the large gate. The large walls stood high-probably higher than her guild's walls. It had strange carving patterns on it, the characters embedded on the wall seemed to tell a story which Seraphina couldn't understand.
She went inside and if her jaw had smashed before it was time to dig the ground and place her jaw there. Before her stood a large structure of a castle. The towers touched the sky and she was certain she had never seen anything like it before.
She had heard the water guild was beautiful but she had no knowledge it would be a castle. They certainly had more wealth than them. But the conditions the guild master bestowed upon her, she would have to conversate with him in a soundproof room. Just her fists would be enough to put sense into him.
A wicked grin appeared on her face imagining the ways she would have a conversation.
"Err... Princess?" The girl behind her kept calling her princes and it annoyed her. She was no princess.
"What?" Her reply came a little hoarse.
"That's the first prince coming. Please don't be frightened, just bow," the girl beside her instructed as if she knew her for a lifetime. And besides, why would she be afraid?
"Prince?" She asked. She didn't know the guild master liked to call himself a prince. She nearly scoffed but halted as a man approached with his massive structure.
She held her breath as she could feel the enormous power he possessed. He looked like he was in his late twenties-a bit older than her but she was mesmerised by his long grey hair and sharp eyes. His olive skin glowed in the sunlight.
"That's-that's my husband?" She whispered-asked the brunette beside her, who had already bowed down.
"No! Princess!" She answered and pleaded, "Please, bow if you don't want to anger them."
The Waterborn nation surely had some strange greetings, in her guild they used to place their right hand on their chest and nod. It was simple. Besides, why would she bow to another guild?
However, the intimidating aura the man emanated made her knees wobble a little. She could assume he was a King tier but with her power gone, she could not sense it with full potential.
Seraphina bowed to the white-haired person who wore a silver robe. She despised the fact she was bowing to another guild's person. She was angry but deep down she was sad. Her father may have decided her fate but that resulted in not seeing her at all. She loved him and she could not see grief on her father's face.
"We hope the journey was pleasant," the man's deep voice said and Seraphina blinked, was she supposed to answer?
"Yes, Your Highness." The brunette beside her answered with her head down. Yeah, if you could call a bandit attack a casual thing. Besides, what was all the formality? And why was she here and doing this anyway? Where was Merlene? The questions made her head swirl.
The Prince nodded looking slightly pleased and ordered the ladies standing near the stairs, "Prepare their meals and lead the bride to her chamber."
Like ants, a dozen servants appeared and some of them took her luggage and the dowry her father sent.
The maid behind her whispered, "Princess, that's the one." The girl pointed beside the first prince and Seraphina's curious gaze moved. Even if she wasn't into any marriage contract, her curiosity could not stand at its bay.
But beside the first prince, there was no one standing. Just high pillars with the carvings of ancient languages. But something caught her eyes and immediately the ground beneath her feet vanished. The pillars and doors of that castle had statues of the reptiles with big horns on either sides. Their jaws held teeth sharper than knives and the scales scattered throughout their stony skin.
Seraphina gulped.
"W-where is he? I can't find him." Or better, she didn't want to find him. Sweat appeared and her heart picked up the speed but she ordered herself to calm down. It must be a mistake. Besides, if her heart banged loudly against her ribcage, there was a fat chance they might hear it.
Her eyes darted to the grey-haired man, who was probably the first prince then to the men who surrounded them. She wasn't exactly looking at them but at their crests. It was no mistake.
"Look down, princess." The girl said.
She moved her gaze down and found a boy beside the first prince who would hardly reach her shoulders. He looked quite young-very young to be precise not more than twelve. But what caught her breath was the deep blue eyes of him which made her shiver. They were cold and emotionless and by the scowl that his face bore, she was certain he was very displeased.
Seraphina's head started spinning because of everything that was happening around her, it was hard to believe where she had reached and moreover, to see who her would-be husband was.
Her eyes widened and a gap formed on her lips before turning into a frown, "Tha-that's my husband?"
Seraphina was led to the large room which she felt was bigger than Merlene's house, speaking of Merlene she wondered where Merlene was and how on earth did she end up at the Dragons land? The dragons who were the mortal enemies of the wizards!
If any one of the dragon got even an inkling that she was a wizard then they wouldn't waste a second to behead her. She brushed her fingers over her throat and the brunette walked over to her, making her sit before the mirror.
"I didn't say it earlier, princess. But, how did you gain weight within three days? And even height?" She asked as she slowly undid Seraphina's veil and Seraphina felt the poking pins slowly releasing her wild blazing hair. The veil came off and the girl's eyes met Seraphina's in the mirror, they widened immediately and she stumbled back.
"What! Who are you? Where is the princess?!" She shouted, Seraphina looked at the door and grabbed the girl's arm and covered her mouth, thanks to her physical strength she managed to restrain her but she kept struggling.
"Quiet! Quiet, I say. I'm confused myself!" Seraphina said, "I was supposed to go to where my father engaged me and now I'm here." Seraphina hissed in her ear and the girl quieted down a little.
"I am just as confused, if you are willing to be civil enough to talk then I'm ready, we can find a way out of this and get your princess back and I could go to where I was supposed to." Seraphina knew her words didn't match to what she was thinking but she didn't want a girl screaming around like banshee saying she was the wrong bride.
The girl relaxed and gave a faint nod, Seraphina slowly released her and she turned to face her taking a few steps away being in an alarmed stance.
"I won't harm you. I give you my word." Seraphina promised and the girl was still wary.
"Okay, I know you don't trust me. But I am telling you the truth, I was supposed to go to the Waterborn nation to marry the Guild Master of Oracle Hearts. I... I made a huge mistake that's why my father sent me off." She said and the girl frowned as if doubting Seraphina's words. It wasn't new, the wizards had killed a lot of humans so, they were wary.
"Then, how come you were in the princess' carriage?" She asked and Seraphina pondered over it and remembered the time when the bandits had attacked and both her and the princess were out of their respective carriages.
"It must've happened during the bandits attack, remember I fought them when they were attacking you and we moved from our places?" The girl nodded, "I think during that time we accidentally switched places."
The girl's jaw dropped and her eyes widened, "So-So, you mean... that princess is escorted to the Waterborn nation?" Her words held the very fear that Seraphina was feeling just by standing in the Dragon's land.
"Possibly, but I can guarantee your princess's protection." Seraphina said and the girl was about to go crazy.
"How?!"
"My friend is the Guardian of the Guild. She protects the weak regardless of the enemy and situation. By now, even she would've known that the brides were exchanged and but since your princess is a human she would stand for her and protect her anyhow." Seraphina said proudly and the girl narrowed her eyes.
"Why would she protect a human? Wouldn't she just leave my princess and come looking for you?" She asked and Seraphina smiled.
"She wouldn't do that, if she has to come here, she would bring your princess with her, she wouldn't leave her alone." Seraphina said.
"That is, only when you help me out here." Seraphina said and the girl looked at her with suspicious eyes.
"Why would I help you?" She asked, "You are a wizard, if they knew that then they'd kill you in a heartbeat." She said.
"That's why I need you to help me and guide me while I'm here, when I'll find the good time we could escape and go to the Waterborn nation get your princess and try to-"
"That's impossible!" She shouted, "If we escape then the dragons will declare a war on our nation!"
"I don't care of you but I don't want the nation for which my princess sacrificed everything go to war." Her words held fury.
"Then help me out." Seraphina said.
"I won't help you! I don't trust you at all, in fact, I'm going straight to the prince and telling him that you are not the princess." She said and Seraphina sighed, she knew she would have to do it sooner or later.
"Your king promised an alliance with the Dragons." She said and the girl stopped, "If they knew that I am not the princess, then they would think that your king doublecrossed them and hid their princess and sent me here in her stead. You think they will just sit back and let the human king fool them?" Seraphina said and the girl's eyes widened.
"But we-"
"Would they stop to listen to your explanations? No, I don't think so. They will just spread their wings and burn down your nation. All humans will be gone." She said, shaking her head, "and the reason for all that would be you."
The girl's knees wobbled and Seraphina sighed internally, for a moment she thought her threat might not work, her eavesdropping habit had saved her yet again.
She turned and gave Seraphina a troubled look, Seraphina sighed and gestured for her to come before her. The girl obliged and stood before Seraphina with her jaw and fists clenched.
"Look, I have no ill will towards your human nation, we genuinely mean you no harm so, I will assure your princess's safety. Merlene will keep her safe but you'll have to make a deal with me too." Seraphina said and the girl frowned at her.
"I won't do anything that would bring the alliance between the dragons and humans in danger. But in return you'll have to guide me properly through all the etiquette that I'd need to follow while I'm here. If you say we can't escape then we'll have to stay here and find a way till we could contact with my friend or your nation." She said and the girl still eyed her suspiciously.
"How will we contact princess?" She asked and Seraphina pondered over it.
"Letters. Maybe we could send a letter." She suggested and the girl nodded.
"So, then-"
Just then there was an announcement and both of them looked at the doors as they opened and a tall, slim lady with a beautiful hourglass figured body entered. The dazzling smile on her face and the glow of her emerald green eyes made Seraphina uneasy. The girl quickly bowed and Seraphina followed suit.
"Your Highness." The girl spoke.
"Please rise, Princess." The melodious voice reached out and touched Seraphina ears. She quickly straightened up.
"You are quite different from what I had heard, Princess. May I know your name?" She asked and Seraphina blinked.
"Seraphina F-"
"Princess Seraphina Isabel Dominica de Campbell." The girl said and the woman looked at her with a slight sharp gaze.
"You sure allow your servants to speak without permission." She said and Seraphina frowned slightly.
"She isn't just a servant, Your Highness." Seraphina blurted out and the woman looked at her with a curious gaze while the girl gave her a terrified look.
"She is a trusted friend as well, if you don't like her intervening then I'll talk myself." Seraphina said with a smile.
"That's... unique." The woman said, "I am Zenith Sophie Rebecca de Salamander. Wife of the first prince."
Seraphina's eyes slightly widened and her face grew stiff with the smile, she was the future queen of dragons. Princess Zenith smiled sending the cold chills down Seraphina's spine and then she left.
How would she survive here in the place infested with dragons?