Mated to the Dragon

Chapter 19

Fiona’s POV

My sister brushes back my frizzy hair. It isn't loving. It's more like the way you pull back curtains to let light in. For a moment I wonder if I'm confused. I can't blame myself for having clustered thoughts.

I scream as the cold air prickles my toes. My life has just erupted into chaos.

The man who was standing on behind her put his hands over his ears and said,” Either this is all too surreal or I am going to lose my sanity if someone is not going to explain me what happened here. There is a horse that talks and there are two of you. And you are the one that brought her back from dead and also brought me through a summoning ritual which should not have worked for a human being in the first place.”

I looked at him and then at my supposed sister and said,” Where did you retrieve this strange clown from? He jests well!!”

My sister sniggered and so did Roscher. Well he snorted.

"Come on," she says in that snappy voice. "You have to get up." And I listened to her. I caught hold of her hand and then she helped me up.

“What was that creature? I mean, I thought that I was here to complete a task in order to lift the curse of the land which blackened this patch of land. Otherwise I would not be allowed to let go off this land,” I said and she looked at me as if I had grown a pair of horns.

“Why are you looking at me in that manner?” I enquired her and she nodded her head.

“You are unaware of your real origins, aren’t you sister?” she asked with a tepid smile. I did not know what she was talking about but again Roscher came to the rescue.

“She is not aware because she is not like you, Princess Selene. You both only look alike but you have received half your mother’s powers each. That is the reason she is skilled as a knight and powerful while you are a simpering dame but when it comes to magic you can slice of anyone’s ears. But you are both learning,” said Roscher and I nodded at him in understanding.

“How did he come into your possession?” asked Selene as she still looked at Roscher with amazement in her eyes.

“He came to us as a wild stallion captured near the forests of Abaentis. Then he was the pride of the stable of our kingdom. He is a champion and the Golden Boots of Abaentis,” I replied with pride as I could feel that Roscher was proud as well.

“Do you have any idea how old he is?” asked Selene as she went forward to touch his muzzle tentatively and I nodded saying no. I had no idea about the history or the age of the Roscher. But it looked like Selene knew. But somehow I got the feeling that it was his own story to tell and he was not very keen on sharing this particular story at the moment.

“I don’t think that it is something that we need to discuss at this moment. My name is Fiona and I am the Princess of Abaentis. My brother Ferdinand has been taken by the Fae kingdom, they have captured him three to four nights ago and I am on my way to the lair of the dragon so that I can ask for his help,” I said and the other girl, that is my sister looked at me like she was hearing something odd and then her expression changed to shock.

“Why are you going to the lair of a dragon? I mean those are fairy tales alright, but if you even want to save your brother why would you even go to ask help from a dragon. I mean, that is the worst plan that I have literally heard of in my entire life,” said my twin and I rolled my eyes at her ignorance. It was clear that she was nothing else but a spoiled brat and no one had taught her anything about what was needed to be taught at all. So I did not bother answering her and looked at the knight who was standing back there.

“May I know your name?” I asked him gently and he took a step back and then kneeled don on one knee before me and Roscher snorted under his breath and said,” Show off..”

“My name is Calico, fair Princess of Abaentis. I am honoured to make your acquaintance and it would be my pleasure if you let me be in your service,” said the knight and I smiled at his words. He was a perfect knight, where on earth did my sister land such an honourable knight.

I said,” Please rise, Calico. I am greatly pleased to make your acquaintance as well. However, I might be a princess but I consider myself the First Knight of Abaentis, just like my mother was. And I ride into the dawn and dusk like her because I made a promise to her that I was going to keep my brother safe. And if that meant that I have to sacrifice myself to the dragon then so be it. I shall do so. And for that I do not need your service, my fellow knight, I only require your friendship.”

Calico looked up at me with strange admiration in his eyes and said,” It is difficult to even conceive the fact that you both are sisters. Both of you are so different. You are so kind and honourable and I cannot think that you even after being a Princess you would treat me like an equal. My heart soars to think that I was judging you even before I looked at you and made your acquaintance.”

I looked at Selene and found that she was not at all liking what was going on here and then before she could speak I said,” You must not hold Selene accountable for what happened to us, Calico. After all she was only a child who did not get her mother’s love or upbringing at all. I am the luckier one that I can remember everything that she said to me. A daughter is lucky to have a father but she is never going to be complete without her mother. But I am glad that I met her now, she is the one who saved my life and for that I am going to be eternally grateful to her.”

Selene smiled at me and I could see that she was not appreciated in the proper manner. People either rebuked her or they were scared of her and because she had never found the balance her behavior had been unbalanced as well. While we were in the parley suddenly I could see that the Keeper of the Orchards was trudging along towards us with her pudgy little small steps.

“Ahhh! So the magic and the strength have finally arrived,” she said with a smile showing her sharp row of teeth and Selene took a step back looking at her.

“You knew that I would need my sister in order to complete my quest, is that why you forced me to put my life on line?” I asked her and she nodded at me.

“I forced you to put your life on line because your sister was the only one who could get rid of that ghoul after your mother and until she knew that you were on death’s door there would be no other motivation at all for her to come here and help us. And so you are the strength and she is the magic and now all that you both need to find is the soul. The third of your trio, and after doing that only you are going to be able to save your little brother from the hands of the fae,” said the Keeper of the Orchard.

“But I thought that the dragon would be enough to help me get there. Does this mean that Ferdinand’s life is in danger?” I asked. My heart almost stopped for a moment because I thought that the life of my little brother was on line.

“Hello?” Calling out into the shrouds of fog, she should know better than that. Every child knows to ignore the voices you hear in the woods. Nursemaids will still spin tales of will-o'-wisps and nixies and aes sídhe, fey tricksters that will happily take your hand and lead you to perdition. But there is something about this voice that sounds familiar. Something that turns her blood to ice water.