King Edward’s eyes rested on his own daughter, Eva. “I know where you’re coming from,” he replied, as Griffin and Aiden began arguing about something. Noticing, he turned toward them and let out a weary sigh. “Although…”
“Will it ever stop?” huffed Eva, crossing her arms under her chest. “All they ever do is argue.”
“My brothers and I were the same way,” Marcus said, also watching. “It’s part of growing up.”
Mariselle was used to seeing the two eldest princes squabble. They were always in some sort of disagreement, especially lately.
The group watched as Aiden, who was known to be a hothead, shoved his older brother roughly. Glaring at Aiden, Griffin pushed him back. Soon both boys were on the ground with fists and dust flying everywhere.
“Hey!” Eva shouted, her eyes wide. She picked up her skirt up and rushed over to them. “Griffin! Aiden! Stop this at once!”
“Let them be, Lass,” King Edward said, looking calm and almost proud of the boys as they continued fighting. “They need to figure this out on their own.”
Eva’s eyes hardened. “Father, you know this never ends well. Both will be bloody and blaming the other by the time this is over. Nothing is ever learned.”
King Edward didn’t reply.
The boys continued fighting until Griffin had the best of Aiden, straddling him and pinning the young boy’s arms down over his head.
“I hate you!” cried Aiden, his reddish blonde hair askew and his face covered in dirt and tears.
“Yeah, I know. You tell me all the time,” Griffin growled in his face.
“Enough,” King Edward said sternly. He snapped his fingers. “Up. Both of you.”
Griffin released Aiden and both boys stood up, still glaring at each other.
“Now, what was that all about?” their father asked, pacing slowly back and forth in front of them.
Both boys started talking at once.
“Silence!” King Edward snapped.
They quickly became quiet.
“Aiden, what’s your excuse for attacking your brother?” the king asked, stopping in front of him.
“He called me a liar,” Prince Aiden said loudly. “And I wasn’t lying.”
“About what?” King Edward replied.
“He swore that he saw a dragon last night,” Griffin said, rolling his eyes. “I told him to quit making things up and that’s when he blew up at me.”
Mariselle sucked in her breath. Dragons were said to be extinct. The very idea that Aiden might have actually seen one was terrifying. Moving closer to her father, she looked up into the sky, half expecting to see one fly out of the clouds in their direction.
“No. I said I saw a woman turn into a dragon and fly away,” Aiden snapped before turning to look at the king. “And I did see her, Father. She had bright red hair and wore a gray cloak.”
King Edward’s face turned ashen. “When was this?”
“Last night… when I was getting ready for bed. I left my sword on the balcony and when I went to retrieve it, I saw her down below. Staring up at me,” he replied, wiping a spot of blood from under his nose.
“And she turned into a dragon?” Marcus asked, looking amused. He wiggled his fingers by his mouth. “Did she breathe fiery flames?”
“No,” he replied with a grim expression. “But, she leaped into the sky and flew away after she saw me looking down at her.”
“How big was the dragon?” Matthias asked, his eyes wide.
“Enormous. About one-hundred feet high. Maybe more,” he replied, looking at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” the king asked.
“I was going to but Mother made me go to bed. She didn’t believe me,” he said, looking cross. “And… I was going to tell you today, but you were too busy.”
“You don’t actually believe him, do you?” Griffin asked with an incredulous look on his face.
“I’m not lying,” snapped Aiden, his hands now curled up into fists. “Why don’t you ever believe me, Griffin?”
“Because you have an overactive imagination,” Griffin said sternly. “You’re going to be fifteen soon. Act like a man.”
“I… I believe you,” Mariselle said shyly.
She could see that Aiden was about to lose his temper again and didn’t want him to get into trouble. If he thought he saw a woman turn into a dragon, then Marcella trusted that he did.
Aiden smiled at her with gratitude. “Thanks, Mariselle.”
“I believe you, too,” Zackary said and then raised his sword. “And if that dragon comes around here, I’m going to chop it’s head off!”
“Father?” Eva said, studying King Edward’s face. “Why are you so silent about this? It couldn’t be true, could it?”
He sighed. “I have learned that a closed mind is dangerous one.” King Edward walked up to Aiden and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Are you positive that you weren’t dreaming?”
Aiden nodded. “I swear on my life, Father. I was wide awake.”
He stared into his eyes for several seconds. “Do you remember if she had a wand?”
Aiden bit his lower lip and sighed. “I couldn’t tell. Maybe under her cloak? It was dark in the courtyard.”
“I imagine so,” the king replied.
“You actually believe him?” Griffin asked, looking shocked.
“I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt. I’d do the same for you, too. ” He looked at Aiden again. “Was she alone?”
He nodded. “I think so.”
King Edward turned to Marcus. “If this is true, and he actually did see someone, it could be Angelique.”
Mariselle had heard stories in the village about a woman named Angelique. It was said that she’d been banished from the kingdom for practicing Black Magic many, many years ago. When she’d asked her father about it, he’d said that Angelique was nothing more than a legend.
Marcus frowned. “Why would she return now, after all of these years?”
“For revenge, is my guess,” said the King with a grim expression. “I think this is worth checking out. We should try and find Gaylen.”
“The wizard?” Griffin asked.
King Edward nodded.
The four princes all started talking at once, asking him questions about Gaylen.
The king raised his hand. “Boys, enough. I’ve told you everything I know about him already. I haven’t seen the wizard for a long time, so there’s nothing new to tell you. Right now, we have important matters to attend to. Come, Marcus. We might need to hold an emergency council meeting.”
“I have to get Mariselle home first,” Marcus said, frowning.
“I’ll have one of my watchmen take her home. Don’t worry, she’ll be safe,” he said, turning around. He began walking toward the castle entrance. “I’ll meet you in my cabinet.”
“Yes. Of course, Your Magesty,” Marcus said.
The boys and Eva raced after their father, still hounding him with questions about Angelique and Gaylen.
Marcus looked down at Mariselle, who’d been unusually quiet. Knowing that his daughter also had a very active imagination, he put his arm around her. “Don’t worry. Everything is going to be all right.”
Unfortunately, his reassurance did little to mollify Mariselle’s fears. Not after all of the talk about dragons, sorcery, and revenge. She felt sick with fear. “Father, can’t I just wait for you with Princess Eva?” she asked, afraid to be without him.
“I don’t know how long we’re going to be and I don’t want your mother to worry. I’ll send a message with you, explaining things,” her father replied, giving her a quick hug.
“But-”
“No buts. You should bring your new kittens home anyway, don’t you think?” he said, picking one of them up.
She sighed and nodded
“Good. Now, keep your chin up and be brave. For all we know, this crazy dragon-lady sighting might not even be real,” he whispered, looking toward the castle entrance. “The boy does spin some tall tales. This could be one of them.”
But, Mariselle didn’t think so. Something in her gut told her that not only was it real, but it was the beginning of something very bad. Something that would affect all of the people she cared about.
2
When Mariselle arrived home, she handed her mother the message from her father, and told her what was inside of it before Karina could remove the seal.
“Prince Aiden said he saw a woman turn into a dragon. They think it might be the sorceress, Angelique,” she blurted quickly.