APTER T

_____________________________________________________________

••

••

••

••

••

ntha

spine, The Dragon Lord would not be

land for his cruelty and brutali

o be trifled with.

ve my home, my kingdom and go to his castl

ed, he will burn m

eeling the anxiety fl

to be s

and I stared into the distance

terrifying creatur

extinct by now, fighti

ed this long were not on

hey possed everything they needed to surviv

extremely wealthy, strong,

one who crossed him or refused his req

om had crumbled beneath

ated the kingdom until

e didn't deserve this fury. My father had pleaded

How could I abandon the

etween his duty as a

that my dut

incess and a

ryone that I loved Katie, my fathe

d to keep telling myself if

and I sat in silen

ared he

he asked her voice was no

ghtfall

, and then we would leave traveling to the Drag

im. The thought alone was a terrifying one an

s that bridge when I got t

Katie said. Her voice wav

afford to cry right now, if I cried, I would never

goodbye would be very hard and I nee

pportunities for hesitation or missteps, not anymore.

idn't know what he wanted with me, but

would he

t my kingdom should surrender their

ould he have f

s thoughts aside and f

g a deep breath. I wanted to keep my he

atie was staring at me

, pushing the thou

er alright"? I said feeling

lsewhere, but please

't know we'll he wou

s, so he would be left on his own. The reality tug

a lot of th

emotions take over, I might make the wrong choice. And

one b

into a hug, I didn't want to look at her face any long

ew strength from her support.

uld b

repare to leave," I s

ll was fast

pleasant. The dusk was dark and unforgiven ton

s I would have more of a stomach for food in an hou

r too much. I touched my mother's pendant necklace t

the final time, making

ffle and sob, I knew she was trying to be strong for me, and I

eart leap into my throat. My father was ther

I felt a sickening lurch in my s

ate," I said as I a

oached " I will ask one of the maids to

eaving, it hurt me to see the pain in his eyes, but I knew th

e Drago

his. I hated feeling like this like there

you,"

ed between us,

a day like this?" I quest

hen the road ahead seemed s

the impossible, and m

. It was spring a

comfortable. I stepped forward and wrapped my arm around h

amiliar scent, the smell of home, an

d was to hold onto him and h

a child again. Who didn't have to make her own ch

ies to attend to. I had to protect everyone I cared about and

ages, I pulled away a

e said. My Father's voice was soft and low, just like Katie's had

ed at th

ather" I murm

descended, a heavy blanket

hing from behind and my h

at was co

his throat and sai

Your carri