Free Curse of the Undead Dragon King (Skeleton Key) by Skeleton Key, Konstanz Silverbow

be a short break.
    The dress Castel asked me to wear is confining and hard to walk in, with multiple skirts. But he assured me it’s what a queen would wear. I hate to undermine him, but there will be far more comfortable dresses in my future—as soon as Aurelio returns.
    I take a deep breath as I enter the council room and take a seat beside Castel, who sits at the head of the table. The others are already in the room, waiting for us, and they’re all looking at me—some with disdain, some with mistrust, but one with compassion. One of the only two other women in the whole room.
    The doors close, and Castel stands. “Thank you for meeting here on such short notice. It seems history is repeating itself.” He re-tells the story he told me and Aurelio about Ignacio. “But this time, things are slightly different. Aurelio is already engaged. Yesterday, he and Zanta were to be married.” He looks at me pointedly. “However, that was unable to happen due to this curse. Our king’s last request before leaving was that Zanta rule with my aid while he is gone. Under different circumstances, I would have refused or at least counseled otherwise, but Zanta is our future queen, and I believe this is for the best.” Castel takes a breath and looks around the room, perhaps gauging the others’ reactions.
    The woman who seemed sympathetic toward me opens her mouth as if to speak, but doesn’t.
    Instead, a short, nearly bald man with dark eyes does. “Why did we send King Aurelio out there alone? What if he is in trouble? This was foolish on your part, Castel. The king entrusted this information with you, yet you did not send a guard with him. What if he cannot find any such wizard? His father went on that journey a hundred years ago. Who is to say the wizard—assuming he ever existed—is even still alive? The king could be walking—or flying—into a trap, and we would never know it. And to allow this commoner to rule as acting queen, despite the fact that she is not royal and has not yet married Aurelio, is silly. She has no power here. Why would the people listen to her?” The man glares between Castel and myself, and it’s disheartening. Partially because the man doesn’t trust me, and partially because he’s right.
    “Waylon, hold your tongue. Castel used his best judgement in the situation or it would have happened differently,” says the woman who appears to be on my side.
    “How would you know, Estella? You were not there. You weren’t even here when Ignacio left on his journey,” Waylon argues.
    “No, I wasn’t. But Aurelio is our king, and he chose Zanta. He is not marrying her for any reason aside from pure love. He trusts her. And asking Castel to help her rule is very smart on the king’s part. This is not ideal, but at least she will have experience—she will know more than she ever did before. And as for why the people should listen to her? Because the king himself listens to her. The people love their king, and they will love the people he does. I was witness to Aurelio’s announcement of his proposal to this girl. There wasn’t a single upset person in that room. Everyone cheered and clapped and there was an overwhelming joy for the king they love. They will listen to her because she is a voice of reason. And for the record, you weren’t there either, Lord Waylon.” Lady Estella mocks him with that last bit, and I want to laugh and cheer.
    “Thank you,” I mutter to Estella, who continues looking at me as if challenging me to prove her wrong.
    “You’re welcome,” she says loud enough for the whole room to hear.
    “The real reason I have asked for this meeting is not to argue over the king’s choices. Zanta is acting as queen with my help—I will do as Aurelio asked before he left. Elder Waylon.” Castel commands attention with the way he says the bald man’s name. “The next time you find you cannot respect King Aurelio’s choices, keep in mind his plans upon returning.”
    I