Manda’s biting green glare amused her. It was a pity Manda didn’t have the gift. Her spunk would have given her great power. Chris, on the other hand, was one of the gifted Ista had decided to sacrifice. Valor needed to prove his loyalty.
As Ista rose from her chair, she dipped her hand in a silver water basin and doused her brow. Valor’s gluttonous eyes followed her approach, but he didn’t speak. He knew better.
She ran her deformed fingers down Valor’s cheek. “What news have you brought me, my king?”
“The soldiers have returned. Michel Razon won’t be a problem.”
Ista smiled her satisfaction. “And the silver dragon?”
“The dragon hunters left at high sun,” Valor said. “They’ll find it soon.”
Ista closed her eyes, reviewing the prophecy. Soon she would understand how the dragon could help bring the darkness. Soon now, she would understand everything.
She almost grinned. The prince’s love for dragons would suit her plans nicely. Ren would never fulfill his princely duty and kill the beast.
Still, she needed to be sure. When the dragon hunters captured the dragon, Ren would witness the dragon’s fate. The prince’s last hope would be dashed, and her rule would be secure.
Ista studied Valor, wondering whether she still needed him. Not really, but then a slip in the hall too soon could mean other rulers would try to unseat her. Her pawns were ready, but she felt it wasn’t the time. She would let Valor live, for now.
“And the woman?” she asked.
Valor shook his head. “The soldiers flogged her unmercifully. She still wouldn’t yield.”
“A true martyr,” Ista said. “She will ensure my victory.”
“A Maritium woman?” Valor said with a hint of disgust.
Ista smiled at Valor’s confused look. Valor thought he knew everything; he knew nothing. “The prince knows she’s the last of the Maker’s chosen. He’ll do anything to save her pain.”
Ista turned back to the water basin. It was too hot in Zier. Ista immersed her hand in the cool water and dotted her forehead, shuddering as the memories came rushing back: her skin melting from the heat, her hair burning with the surrounding flames. She had the wizards to thank for her suffering. But she had survived. Oh yes, she had survived. For almost four hundred years she had planned her revenge. Magic’s destruction had no effect on her powers and the time weave had given her life. Soon now she could reveal herself to the people. Soon now she would have her revenge.
“Throw the woman in the cell with the prince. And when the dragon arrives, bring them both to the courtyard.”
Valor’s eyes narrowed. “But Ren - ”
“He’s the one, Valor.”
Valor stiffened. “You don’t mean …”
“Yes, he passed the test. He’s the Dragon Tamer. After he fulfills the prophecy, I’ll make him mine.” She had waited years for Ren Razon’s birth – the Chosen, the Dragon Tamer. Only he could fulfill her desires. It was almost time.
Ista picked up a thin needle and held it between them. Behind her, Manda released a low moan.
“I’ve always wanted Ren Razon to bow to me,” Valor said.
A slow smile enveloped Ista’s deformed lips.
Chapter 2
Before Ren opened his eyes he knew he was back in his cell. The cold stone beneath him and the chill in the air was all too familiar. Ren rolled to his side, head throbbing and body aching from the beating he had endured.
The silver dragon’s haunting blue eyes had plagued his dreams. The legend was a fable, a child’s tale, yet Ren found himself almost believing the impossible. With the Collective’s promise of magic’s return, the blue-eyed dragon would substantiate the Collective’s authority to many. The legend was too engrained in the hearts of the people.
Ren heaved a heavy sigh. He didn’t want to think about the silver dragon. He had enough trouble already.
He searched the darkness, studying the walls of his confinement. He had probed each stone, desperately
As Ista rose from her chair, she dipped her hand in a silver water basin and doused her brow. Valor’s gluttonous eyes followed her approach, but he didn’t speak. He knew better.
She ran her deformed fingers down Valor’s cheek. “What news have you brought me, my king?”
“The soldiers have returned. Michel Razon won’t be a problem.”
Ista smiled her satisfaction. “And the silver dragon?”
“The dragon hunters left at high sun,” Valor said. “They’ll find it soon.”
Ista closed her eyes, reviewing the prophecy. Soon she would understand how the dragon could help bring the darkness. Soon now, she would understand everything.
She almost grinned. The prince’s love for dragons would suit her plans nicely. Ren would never fulfill his princely duty and kill the beast.
Still, she needed to be sure. When the dragon hunters captured the dragon, Ren would witness the dragon’s fate. The prince’s last hope would be dashed, and her rule would be secure.
Ista studied Valor, wondering whether she still needed him. Not really, but then a slip in the hall too soon could mean other rulers would try to unseat her. Her pawns were ready, but she felt it wasn’t the time. She would let Valor live, for now.
“And the woman?” she asked.
Valor shook his head. “The soldiers flogged her unmercifully. She still wouldn’t yield.”
“A true martyr,” Ista said. “She will ensure my victory.”
“A Maritium woman?” Valor said with a hint of disgust.
Ista smiled at Valor’s confused look. Valor thought he knew everything; he knew nothing. “The prince knows she’s the last of the Maker’s chosen. He’ll do anything to save her pain.”
Ista turned back to the water basin. It was too hot in Zier. Ista immersed her hand in the cool water and dotted her forehead, shuddering as the memories came rushing back: her skin melting from the heat, her hair burning with the surrounding flames. She had the wizards to thank for her suffering. But she had survived. Oh yes, she had survived. For almost four hundred years she had planned her revenge. Magic’s destruction had no effect on her powers and the time weave had given her life. Soon now she could reveal herself to the people. Soon now she would have her revenge.
“Throw the woman in the cell with the prince. And when the dragon arrives, bring them both to the courtyard.”
Valor’s eyes narrowed. “But Ren - ”
“He’s the one, Valor.”
Valor stiffened. “You don’t mean …”
“Yes, he passed the test. He’s the Dragon Tamer. After he fulfills the prophecy, I’ll make him mine.” She had waited years for Ren Razon’s birth – the Chosen, the Dragon Tamer. Only he could fulfill her desires. It was almost time.
Ista picked up a thin needle and held it between them. Behind her, Manda released a low moan.
“I’ve always wanted Ren Razon to bow to me,” Valor said.
A slow smile enveloped Ista’s deformed lips.
Chapter 2
Before Ren opened his eyes he knew he was back in his cell. The cold stone beneath him and the chill in the air was all too familiar. Ren rolled to his side, head throbbing and body aching from the beating he had endured.
The silver dragon’s haunting blue eyes had plagued his dreams. The legend was a fable, a child’s tale, yet Ren found himself almost believing the impossible. With the Collective’s promise of magic’s return, the blue-eyed dragon would substantiate the Collective’s authority to many. The legend was too engrained in the hearts of the people.
Ren heaved a heavy sigh. He didn’t want to think about the silver dragon. He had enough trouble already.
He searched the darkness, studying the walls of his confinement. He had probed each stone, desperately
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