The Dragon's Only Choice

CHAPTER ONE

Horses clad in royal adornments rode through the huge golden gates which glistened with gold and the intricate designs engraved in a glowing crimson red. Several chariots were standing before yet, another entrance, and high-class regalias could be seen emerging from them. The people of the dragon world could see the peak of the Grand Boards Hall from the market square, and once they see the Golden Rose blooming open at the crest of the structure, they knew a meeting is going to be held there.

The members of the Grand Boards stepped into the chambers, their guards helping out with the helms of their dresses to prevent them from sweeping the floor. Whilst taking their seats, their servants stood behind them, and some began to fan their masters. The eight members of the Grand Boards were seated, awaiting the mist important member who sat at the head of the oval-shaped crystal table—the Dragon King. They began to murmur and snicker in groups of two's and three's just like the local women in the marketplace would do on a daily basis; except for one amongst them who sat in silence, observing nothing in particular. Everyone turned quiet immediately when the Dragon King is seen stepping into the chambers; a dozen of the Kraten Guards by his side.

The last thing anyone of them sitted there, talk less of a Purple-Star Knighted Guard will wish for is to touch the armour of a Kraten, for in the flash of a eye, their heads would have fallen off their necks.

In his majestic strides towards a golden seat which was a miniature version of what his actual throne looked like, he took a seat and rested his arms on the glowing crimson red armrest. He stares at the Grand Boards like he was making a headcount of the people who were standing. His eyes met with that of the quiet man who simply stared at the Dragon King with a face so expressionless.

"You may all sit." The Dragon King ordered, his gaze still on the young man. As soon as they took their seats, the Dragon King took his gaze off the young man's face and addressed the members generally.

"I gratify the great men representing the Nine Rings of the dragon world who have all chosen to acknowledge this meeting. This is an impromptu meeting, and for the first time in many years, we are having a meeting which is not slated for the season the golden eggplant blossoms." he gestured at the plates set on the table filled with grapes and apples for every member of the Grand Boards. They chuckled in response, but the quiet man gave a curt smile.

"That alone explains why today's meeting isn't just taking a different course, but the reason why this is being held is for an entirely different reason." he paused, reaching for a bunch of grape and gulping the whole thing in the twirl of an eye. The members of the Board next to the Dragon King felt disgusted by the gesture, but he cared not express it before the Dragon King, because all it took was the snap of a finger, and the Kraten Guards will send him to the abodes where his ancestors resides.

"The 'Rût' festival comes up in a matter of three weeks, and we know how the ceremony process goes." he said, and the members of the Board nodded in agreement. "Something shall be different about the festival this year, and that is the fact that rather than leaving the dragonmen to decide whose 'Rût' has the strongest scent, we'd pull the strings." he said the last words almost in a mockingly raspy voice, and for the quiet member who kept staring at the Dragon King, he knew that didn't bode something good.

The Grand Boards already knew what the Dragon King was implying, and they were too scared to question his authority.

"My King, which family are we to declare the supposed chosen girl the winner of the festival?" a member summoned the courage to ask.

The Dragon King brushed his beard with his hands, smiling as one of the Kraten Guards fetched another bowl of red grapes for him.

"The O'Brien's." he announced, throwing a handful of red grapes into his mouth. "We are going to select the daughter from that traitor's family."

"You can just spill the truth to them all." for the first time since the meeting commenced, the quiet man finay spoke up.

The Dragon King smiled mischievously. "Oh, Arnold …" he chuckled. "I was expecting you to speak up ever since. Now, what truth do you speak of?" he asked in a firm tone.

"The truth about your plan to get back on the O'Brien's." Arnold retorted, stating daggers at the Dragon King. One of the Kraten Guards lunged at Arnold on a subconscious instinct that the Dragon King would have ordered him to do so either way. Arnold swiftly evaded the Kraten Guard's attack and made the guard disintegrate into black soot.

The Dragon King was already having a friend crawl over his face. He took his seat and looked at the Grand Boards to see what questions they'd be daring to put further. "My King," another member stuttered, "this is a very good idea. It will be a perfect way to end the generation of the O'Brien's in our world. Rumours says that he has a child, and that the child is a female."

"... and they're from a renowned and rich family. This is a well-crafted idea to deal with that traitor." another member added.

The comments from the members of the Grand Boards made the Dragon King's head swell. Of course, Arnold kept staring at them all, saying nothing. After a few more minutes of agreeing on the King's decision on making the daughter of the blacksmith fixed as the winner of the 'Rût' festival, in an attempt to get back at the blacksmith for the crimes he had committed many years ago, they began to discuss something new.

"How silly!" Arnold huffed as the Grand Boards decided to end the meeting.

"Aiden O'Brien stays at the Oratile's district," the Dragon King said, turning to face Oratile The Second. "Send your guards to relay the message to him. It would have been better to wait till the 'Rût' festival ends and his daughter is announced the winner, but what would be more humiliating for him is knowing the gender of the chick that shall erupt from an egg just before the time it hatches."

Everyone chuckled in agreement.

"This marks the end of this meeting. I believe we shall all meet at the 'Rût' festival." the Dragon King stood to his fee, giving Arnold a sly smile before exiting the chambers in his giant strides.