He nodded and withdrew his arm. “That young princess is far more powerful than even I, and I have been chosen by your father to be the Spellmaster because I am the most powerful mage in Aldoran. Princess Haedria may be the strongest mage in all the world.”
“It’s no accident that King Aerius brought his eldest daughter with him today.” The Spymaster whispered, crouching beside Loren’s chair. “King Aerius has two daughters, the younger one is named Seraphis. Only a year behind her sister but she has no magic, and is more interested in fighting and raising hounds…” he took a breath. “Bringing the mage here, letting her stand in the middle of the throne room with her markings glowing… It’s a power play. He wants us to know that Sagna is a threat.”
“But he’s talking about peace! And alliances, and – and trade routes!” Loren said sitting back in her chair, frustrated.
“That’s what he’s saying openly, to the king and queen’s face. But the underlying threat is there, my lady. If the king and queen don’t agree with King Aerius’s proposal, his daughter may bring harm to them here and now. Or maybe she won’t. The uncertainty is there, and that is what he wants.”
Loren sighed, unease in the pit of her stomach. She looked back to where the King of Sagna stood, and watched Princess Haedria. The mage’s attention had wandered, and was looking instead out the high windows and onto the sea beyond. Loren heard the faint sound of a dragon’s roar borne on the sea breeze, and Haedria’s eyes widened. She grabbed at her father’s sleeve, knuckles white. The look on her face was of both wonder and fear.
King Jorrne spoke, and agreed to the terms of alliance with Sagna — the land of fire and blood — far to the east. He invited the visiting king to his study where they would finalize the agreement, and plan a trade route through the mountains. The queen followed them off to the study, and Haedria was left in the throne room with the servants and guards that King Aerius had brought with him from Sagna.
The court dispersed without the king and queen in attendance, and servants and visiting nobles filed out of the throne room. The advisers shared a glance among themselves, and went about their duties. The Warmaster followed the king and queen out, as he was their head guard. The Spymaster disappeared, when just a minute ago, he was standing behind Loren. The Trademaster with his purse of coins jingling, wandered off muttering something about a new shipment of bloodwine from Kespia arriving by ship. The Spellmaster stayed in the throne room, wary of Haedria being left in the chamber. A soft blue light shone from his sleeve, and Loren knew it was from his mage markings. The Spellmaster did not stop Loren when she rose from her chair and crossed the room, eager to speak to Haedria.
When she got closer, she realized Haedria was closer to her age than she thought. Not a decade old yet, but there was a tiredness and severity in her eyes that made Loren sure that Haedria was older. She held her hand out for the Sagnian princess.
“Hello! I’m Loren Elisis Cyrael, Princess of Aldoran! But my friends call me Loren.” The little princess said cheerfully, beaming. “It’s nice to meet you!”
Haedria slowly tore her gaze away from the window, and the dragon she was sure was out there. She glanced down at Loren’s outstretched hand, then flicked her gaze up to inspect her face. She didn’t take Loren’s hand. “I know who you are, dragon princess.” She said curtly.
Loren’s smile faded. She kept her hand close to her chest. “Alright. Um… Your name is—“
Haedria cut her off, staring at Loren with sharp, dark eyes. “Haedria Dagan, heir to the Sagnian throne.” She turned away, and stared back out the window. The bright noon light lit Haedria’s blood red hair into a fiery colored blaze. “The dragon is on the Aldoran banners. Blue and gold. I’ve heard tales that a dragon, the same dragon as in the stories, lives on your lands.”
Loren glanced around the throne room, at the proud banners that bore her family’s crest, and the sitting dragon emblazoned in blue and gold. Talking to Haedria made her feel uneasy. “The crest is just a symbol, to reflect the family’s values.”
“The dragon symbolizes power. The Cyraels of Aldoran value power.”
“Not just that. Power is good to have, so you can protect those dear to you. And the dragon is sitting, look. It’s friendly.”
Haedria did look up to the banners, then she began to laugh. It was a foreboding sound, coming from so young a girl. She smiled at Loren, and the marge markings that covered her arms and back flickered with an inner flame. “So it is. It lies in wait, ready to protect its friends.” She said. The mage princess lifted her hand and tapped the silver dragon pendant that sat in the hollow of Loren’s throat with a single finger. “Isn’t that right?”
A door to the throne room opened, and King Jorrne stepped through, laughing loudly. Beside him walked King Aerius, who shared a cheerful look. Queen Katarina followed behind, looking tired and unamused, but she always looked like that after meetings.
“It’s unfortunate you have to go so soon, my friend!” King Jorrne said, clapping Aerius on the back with a heavy, calloused hand. “We could have gone on a hunt together!”
King Aerius laughed. “Perhaps in a few years, Jorrne. I must get back to Sagna soon, my youngest is impressionable and rowdy, with no mother to calm her. Can you believe it, the little girl would rather play with hounds in the mud all day, swing her sword-sticks at
