Free Return of the Crown by Millie Burns Page B

food and wine could not replenish her strength. She
never slept well, finding it difficult to get the sleep she
desperately needed. Self-pity snaked through her withering soul,
but she shrugged it off before it found a permanent home. Supreme
power required a supreme sacrifice.
    She yanked a cord, sounding a deep hollow
chime. Within moments her maid skittered into the room. Zelera
glared at the nervous wench, “Fetch me a meal. I’m famished. That
blasted cook had better do a damn good job. The last meal he served
wasn’t fit for pigs!”
    “Yes, your highness. I’ll m-m-make sure it’s
s-s-satisfactory,” stuttered the maid.
    A wicked smile curled Zelera’s lips. “I’m
sure you will. Your dear husband is my current cook, is he not? You
will both find yourselves in the dungeons if you fail me again,”
Zelera purred.
    “Y-y-yes, your highness. I’ll make sure it is
as you d-d-desire,” she dropped into a low curtsy.
    “What are you waiting around here for, you
sloth? I said I was starving.” A tendril of Darkness zipped from
her fingers, jolting the maid with sharp pain.
    The young maid cried out as she scurried out
the door. Her mousy brown hair flew out behind her as she rushed
down the dark halls. Her soft slippers slapped the cold stone
floors, and she stammered a prayer that her husband had a meal
ready that would impress Empress Zelera.

 
     
     
     
     

Chapter 6
     
     
     
     
    Ena glided lazily to her cave, with a full
belly. Her flight had taken her across the channel separating
Draconis Island from the land of Aigerach. She had flown across the
wasteland known as Desolation, finding several fat sheep in Land’s
End that hadn’t been tucked away safely for the night. She chuckled
to herself; some poor shepherd lad would get a boxing about his
ears come morning. The flight had taken her away from her eggs for
several hours, far longer than she intended, but she’d certainly
glutted herself. She wouldn’t need to eat again for days.
    Her scarlet scales glowed in the predawn
light. Stretching her burgundy wings, she arched her neck, turning
into the mouth of her cave. An unearthly wail shattered the
peaceful dawn. An egg was missing!
     
    A scream woke Ravyn with a start; she rubbed
her arms trying to chase away the shivers. She rubbed her eyes,
thinking she’d dreamt it, and then the anguished cry ripped through
the air again. She grabbed her things rushing into the shadows.
    A huge shape flashed in front of the trees,
casting shadow over the entire campsite. A monstrous scarlet dragon
crashed down in the camp, scattering bits of embers across the
sand. Its huge scaly head swiveled left and right, sniffing and
growling all the while. It pounced on the raft, snapping the mast
like a twig. Ravyn watched in wide-eyed horror as it ripped the
sail free of the mast, the ropes snapping like string. A quick
blast of fire from its smoking jaws turned everything into a raging
bonfire. The wood crackled and sparked, feeding the hungry
flames.
    Ravyn shot out from her hiding place. “No!
Stop! Please!”
    The ruby head snapped in her direction, wild
golden eyes locking on Ravyn. Acrid smoke plumed from flaring
nostrils. The dragon threw its head back snarling, before shooting
a huge gout of flame at Ravyn. Ravyn flung herself behind a huge
boulder, feeling a hot stream of air roar past. The smell of singed
hair greeted her.
    Ravyn fought to suppress rising panic,
forcing herself to take a deep breath. ‘If only I could talk to
it,’ Ravyn wished. She felt pulsing warmth deep within her and
focused on that place. Instinctively she held her hands out in
front of her palms up. She now stood facing the angry scarlet
beast. “Please mighty dragon, listen to me. Hear my words. I have
dreamed of seeing a dragon since I was a little girl. You are far
more magnificent than I’d imagined possible. You are astonishing.”
She bowed her head in respect.
    The dragon cocked its head, puzzled. It began
growling,