Curse Of The Dragon

I am busted,

Kate's POV

I was beyond tired. I wonder how at a time they care about me so much that they don’t want me to strain to decide what I was going to wear and then in a second can send me on this strenuous journey without giving care that I am still in the very start of my pregnancy.

I grazed my hand on my belly to feel the swell. Well, this baby was the very reason that I travelled thousands of years back. His whole nation was looking for his arrival and his dad cares a lot about his safety too. I wonder how far I had come to remove this curse.

I am having a baby who isn’t human. But it wasn’t going to make me any less of a mother for him. I was going to raise him. And, I will try to learn whatever it will take to raise him. But I hope it was the very last time his dad was leaving us alone.

Whatever that ritual was about…I think of him even after my hand is healed. I wonder if he was thinking about me as much as I was thinking about him. And, to even think that he wasn’t thinking about me was enough to get my heart sink.

“Queen, we have arrived,” I got out of my palanquin to notice the very same tents that I left a few weeks ago. I found my grandmother coming while the maids offered me water that I refused to have my focus on the old lady who believes I was his granddaughter. For apart, I was her blood for sure.

“My peace…are you fine? Did they treat you well? You look tired? I have heard that bearing a dragon can be very bad in the first days. Are you doing fine?” I held that woman’s arms and looked in her eyes for a few. And, I wonder how I can say that I will never see this woman when in reality she was the only person I should be attached to most.

“I am good. Can’t you see? And,…no it wasn’t very bad. I am very strong. Your…drink had really made me stronger.” My one lie was enough to make her eyes shine but she looked at my fingers to grasp.

“How weak you have gotten? Aren’t they treating you good?”

“No,…I am good. Believe me.” I said but she couldn’t seem to rest.

“Let’s go…we should go and meet the chief.” She was excited to see me. And, couldn’t wait to get me all for her.

“Yea, sure…” I said before looking at my guards. “Make sure that you don’t cause them much trouble. I will go to see my chief.” This made my grandmother whispered.

“He is not your chief anymore…” I looked at her realizing I have made a wrong move but soon found the chief coming our way.

“Queen,…I see that gods have blessed you,” He addressed me and the moment I nodded he added,

“Don’t stand for too long. Please, come in.” He offered and I followed with my grandmother.

Chief’s tent was a lot bigger. I was served with a tea that my grandmother made. And, that made me even guiltier about the matter I was here to discuss.

“I have heard that we are giving one of our tribe’s women to Bora.” I started making my chief expression hard.

“His proposals did arrive and the family of the girl wanted to proceed too but…I have declined.” This made me confuse.

“I already know that Kalph and Bora aren’t allies. And, I didn’t want to cause you much trouble and choose between us or your palace. Plus, dragons had already joined with us after the gap of two generations. I don’t want to do a thing that would disappoint them.”

It seems coming here wasn’t necessary at all. “I wonder who gave Raheek’s wife the wrong information. She came to tell the elders that you are already proceeding with the wedding.” This made the chief shook his head in disappointment.

“Of course, it is because she is from the Taseen tribe.”

“What do you mean?” I asked,

“The Taseen tribe isn’t happy that Dragon chose from here this time. Plus, Bora and the Kalph didn’t have any trouble until Dogan’s grandmother married into Kalph’s,” He said making me alert.

“What are you talking about?” I asked making him explain.

“You might not know about this but Kalph and Bora don’t have any bad water. It was the Taseen tribe. Bora’s grandfather wins a dual against Taseen’s chief. And, also made his wife elope with him.”

“What?” I was shocked.

“So, when Kalph took a bride from the Taseen tribe. Your elder asked the borders between Kalph and Bora’s to have armed soldiers between.”

“Oh,…” I was shocked.

“You don’t need to think about it much. Until his mother and grandmothers are still around. We have to be very careful because the way you are raised to obey…you will never be able to defend your tribe in front of them.” I don’t know but I looked at my chief. Is he challenging me? But no…he wasn’t. He knew I was brought up to keep my head low and be the perfect wife for my husband no matter what rules they follow. What he didn’t know that I was a Harvard graduate and confident enough to show my middle finger to anyone.

I got into my tent after some time to only be welcomed by the food my grandmother made for me. And, though I told her that it wasn’t much difficult with Dogan she still didn’t believe me.

I was drinking the energy fluids that she prepared for me when I found Aila coming into my tent. “Aila…how are you?” I asked much excited but she only showed a little smile. “How are you?”

“I am good,” I replied and found her eyes on my belly. “Your gods have blessed you. You must be very happy.” She asked and I nodded my head.

“I am a little scared. It was very quick.” I shrugged.

“Of course, you married a dragon. He had to make sure that you get pregnant without a delay. It is their way.” I laughed recalling how Dogan was very clear about this the moment we met.

“Enough about me. How are you doing?” I asked to which she looked at my grandmother who too tried to look away the moment their eyes met.

“What happened?” I asked again but this time welcomed my grandmother’s voice.

“Don’t you know…his father really liked Bora’s proposal for her. But she won’t run away with him…And, isn’t she right? She shouldn’t run away from her tribe and only marry the person her chief decides for her.” Aila’s smile still remained as she came to sit beside me.

“Do you like him?” I asked and she looked at me surprised.

“No…I will never choose a person who will cause our chief trouble.”

“Yes, and not to forget that Bora has threatened to burn our tribe if he didn’t get Aila. Who asks for a hand like this? I am proud of you, Aila.” My granny kept going while I looked at Aila again.

“Do you love him?...and, how exactly he fell for you…where did you two meet?” I asked about these detail in a whisper.

“You know I like swimming. And, he is Bora…he was wandering in our place…and…saw all of me.” I blinked and let it sank in.

“Do other people know?” I asked to which she shook her head vigorously.

“No,…I am at peace that he hasn’t told anyone. But I don’t know why he wants to marry me now.”

“Do you want to marry him?” I asked but she kept quiet.

“Aila?” I called for her again.

“It doesn’t matter…and, it will cause a lot of trouble.”

Even a blind could tell that she liked the guy. We were still talking when we heard a commotion outside. And, though my grandmother asked me to stay in I had to go out to see what the matter is.

I found six men on the horses. Some of my guards were standing outside my tent got alert finding me outside. I found my chief going to those men. And, I too walk in the direction to see what was going on.

“We are here to ask for your final decision one more time. From the next time, we can’t promise to be civil.”

“Bring it on…we have the most powerful allies in the world. Your king is asking for destruction.” My chief didn’t falter.

“Watch your mouth,” That man roared and my soldiers were ready with their weapons out.

“Peace...” I cried out.

I looked at my chief before announcing. “The kingdom of Kalph won’t have any issues if Bora joins with the Saka tribe. In fact, I will be here to observe this bond. And,…I ask my Saka’s chief to consider.”

Silence prevailed. And, I knew what I was doing. Saka tribe has rights on Kalph same as Taseen tribe. If they can decide who we call enemies Saka tribe had the right to choose their friends too. And, if I was going to live here I was going to live as Kalph’s queen without losing my tribe’s identity from me.

Chief looked at me with shock for a few minutes before looking at the men who arrived to threaten us. “Ask Bora to come here in two days. We will prepare. And,…we will receive the settlement for our bride by tomorrow evening.”

The man who was threatening my chief a moment ago kept looking at me. His face was still hard but he galloped his horse before leaving.

In the evening, Aila’s father came to see me. He couldn’t stop thanking me while Chief was of the view that I have disappointed my elders at home and will surely welcome the wrath of my elders but seeing how much they cared about my pregnancy I knew they won’t get this matter worse.

By tomorrow evening, the tribe received many horses, lambs and six dresses for Aila. She has asked me many times why I was doing this for her. But for a part, it wasn’t only for her. It was to show that Kalph state considers the Saka tribe not any less than the Taseen tribe. And, above all, I knew I was going to run my matter like a queen from now on. Even if it means I will have to deal with the Taseen tribe.

I was coming back from Aila’s tent and asked one of the maids how far it is from North. And, she left looking for someone who would know. It was in the late evening when that maid arrives.

“Did you ask someone?” I asked,

“Yes,…it is three days from here. It is really far, queen. And, I don’t think anyone will agree to take you to that place in this condition.”

“But will they refuse if I will order them?” I asked and she kept quiet for a second before shaking her head in no. “Your saying is the most important after the King. No one can refuse you.” I don’t know why but I couldn’t wait for Dogan to look at me what I look like right now. I knew he was going to go crazy…and a little mad too. But it was the price I was ready to pay.

I wonder if I will ever tell him who I am. And, for an unknown reason, I knew he would still love me. I knew that ritual binds us for eternity.

I got out of my room to find my granny taking out the food for me. She was silent since the moment I permitted Saka’s bond with Bora. “Are you mad at me?” I asked getting onto the stamp where she serves me.

“You are so changed. I think marrying dragon has made you a lot courageous. I always knew you were my rebellious little girl. Never meant to follow rules no matter how hard I worked on you.” She served me food but I could see there was something completely changed.

The dinner was a little chilly but I liked it. It had a lot of condiments and I couldn’t help say. “This one is amazing. No doubt his mother wants to know recipes from here.”

Something changed in her eyes. Her face becomes hard as she kept looking at me.

“You can’t be my Shia…Who are you? A witch? Where is my Shia!?” The granny cried out so loud making one of my guards come in. I wonder what went so wrong in a few minutes.