The Dragon’s Favorite

(The setting of the story is during the 10th century in the sense of historic resemblance. It's also a time where magic is looked down upon. This will be the first book of the Crowns series.)

During a time where there are wars on wars, Kings tried to conquer lands for more power. Some made treaties while others sold their daughters off as marriage proposals for more access. There are six sections of the world divided to mighty Kings who all desire power. Some desired it more than others causing greed and rage to overcome them.

Magic once was common among the land, however, it seems that those with special abilities started to fall into the same kind of light as the humans when it came to having power. They too become obsessed with power and greed. Overtime the species began to die off.

But in the first kingdom, the Kingdom of Sattuana, the King had many wives with the goal of having many sons who could conquer lands. His goal was to be the sole ruler and to have absolute power and loyalty from all the occupants. His sons were to grow up strong according to the wisdom of a group of special beings who were working secretly with the king. His sons would have absolute sole loyalty to the king. Which meant he would use them as pawns in order to achieve his goals.

Kings Nicholas sought for advice to seek the power and was told having these specific women as his wives, he would be able to gain authority on the six sons. It would have to be the woman's first child and it would also need to be his as well with the individual woman. They were his women and his alone.

The King had already received five sons from five wives, and tonight, he was awaiting his sixth from his sixth wife.

Six sons to obtain the six lands so he could rule without any problems. This was his goal yet the King seemed nervous during this time concerning his sixth wife. He felt as though something was going to happen. He has maintained that his women were locked in separate bedrooms with a guardsman protecting them. They were only touched by him. They were entirely his.

It was a very cold night but the large figure continued to walk down the hallway. His body is not affected by the cold chill. He has a powerful aura, but it's one full of anger and destruction.

A cry is heard from the door he is approaching. The woman inside is crying out to the king, her husband, but as he walks into the bedroom, he glances at her before he approaches one of the men assisting the woman. She is in incredible pain and is silently praying that the child she gives to the king is to his liking. He has no love towards her, but she has love toward her child and wishes it pleases the man in order for the little ones protection. A small younger maiden approaches the lady and is the only one to capture the small infant. She notices the gender and remains quiet.

The woman on the bed continues to lash out in pain and begs him to draw nearer, but he turns and looks at her with disgust. She continues to touch his arm but he immediately steps away.

A low growl escapes the Kings lips.

The room is completely silent except for the small cries of the infant and the weak gasping of its mother. Everyone casts their eyes low while a small maiden approaches the woman lying on the bed. She hands over a small fragile child with whom the Lady holds tightly to. She kisses the child's forehead and sends a silent pray of plea for safety for the infant.

"Everyone needs to leave the room now. Except for you." The kings points toward the young maiden. She nods and stand quietly near the Lady.

The room is silent and empty before the King begins to speak again.

"You dishonor me Emera." He screams toward the child wrapped in the mother's arms. Emera holds the child near her heart trying to protect the little one from the rage of the cruel king.

"My King Nicholas," the quiet whisper of the woman holding the child is barely heard. She is holding the child with care while her eyes avoid the kings gaze.

"She's only the only girl. You will have more sons. Please have mercy on her."

He's looks at the woman before turning to the younger maiden. She isn't much of a sight. And she probably won't have much prospects coming to her since she doesn't seem the type who attracts men. She was a lonely timid woman with blonde hair and brown eyes. She wasn't very thin and seemed to spend most of her time thinking to herself to keep out of trouble.

The king took time to decide whether he could trust the young maiden.

She starts to leave before he stops her abruptly. The room grows quiet while the Lady and the Maiden look at the King with curious eyes. It's then she realizes he kept her here because she is the only other one who knows the true gender of the child. She starts to sweat and holds the sides of her dress casting her eyes down. Knowing that perhaps she will have a very harsh outcome if she doesn't appear loyal to him.

"I don't understand how this has happened." The kings closed his eyes and began to pondered how the promises of six sons was not accomplished. These women were pure and his to take. Yet the only child this sixth woman processed was a girl. Was it possible he selected the wrong woman? This was a mistake and he couldn't stop the rage boiling inside.

The women began to cower as he begins screaming and throwing random items in the room. He can't understand how this stupid woman wasn't able to do what was promised to him. As he starts to calm down, he ran his long fingers through his hair and turns away from the girls before growling.

"A guardsman will come and take care of this matter. You are of no use to me and either is your spawn. He will dispose of you both." He then turns toward the maiden. "You will help dispose of the bodies. No words shall be spoken about this event since you and the guardsman will expect a much worse fate than death." He glared into the young maidens eyes and she felt terrified knowing the king had reached his limit. His anger was now filling the bedroom.

The small mother clung onto the young child and silently sobbed. The young maidens heart was breaking as she glanced at her. Her whole world had been trapped in this palace with this terrible man. It seemed unjust how her life would also end the way it began. Pure and utter despair.

"You weren't even my favorite one Emera. You disgust me." The king smeared. The mother seemed to not listen to the words the king uttered.

The kings anger was quick and he was known to not think before starting a punishment. It seemed as though he didn't care about obtaining a boy though the woman. He wasn't a wise king but he was one to be terrified of.

He left and the room was silent. Emera is sobbing but not for herself, but rather fear for her own sweet daughter. She looks at the maiden silently standing near her. Her eyes are looking toward the floor with small wet droppings appearing. Her heart was breaking for the mother and child.

Emera was perhaps the most beautiful of all the kings wives. She had reddish light brown hair. She had dark Queen eyes with a bit of brown. She had a beautiful smile but no one would know of it since she had married the ruthless man.

"This is still the happiest day of my life." A small whisper reached the maidens ears. She glanced up toward the mother. She must have appeared shocked. And shocked she was! She couldn't even bring words to form into her mouth.

Emera just looked at the young woman and somehow smiled though tears continued to run down her sweet lovely face.

"Do you have children Maya?"

Maya held her breathe while Emera waited patiently for a response. How did the Lady know her? Emera was kind to the workers of the castle compared to many, but still, the idea that she was so informal was quite astounding.

"No Milady." Maya said quietly.

Emera looked down toward the sleeping infant and kissed her forehead. She sighed still holding her gaze toward her daughter, but she continued to speak.

"You now have to keep a secret like your life depends on it."

Maya nodded knowing she couldn't reveal the gender or how Emera was about to be executed. It would only cause herself her own life at this point.

"So why not keep another?" Emera smiled and looked toward Maya who was silently listening. Was Emera going to tell her something else? Because she wanted no more part of this injustice. And why did it seem like Emera was cracking jokes and smiling about the situation?

Maya began to panic but she kept noticing with every laugh, Emeras eyes filled with tears. It's then she realized it was a coping mechanism for the Lady.

The door opens suddenly and they both snap there heads. The head guardsman walked toward the side of the bed. He looks like his whole world is falling apart by the way he his head is facing the floor. He has soft eyes and a very strong masculine jawline that is extremely defined. He has dark brown hair that seems to be more black the closer you approach him. He also has dark green eyes. He is quite a sight! In fact, he would be considered a beautiful man. But his eyes are filled with so much despair.

Emera holds the small child to the guardsman. He holds her and a small tear runs down his face. He looks at the infant with love and for a split moment, there was a source of joy that beamed within him.

Maya then realizes the kind of reaction the two had together with the small infant.

"She isn't the kings child!?" Maya gasped!

"No. She's mine." The deep voice of the guardsman was kind yet protective. He didn't lift his gaze from the infant.

Maya looked toward Emera knowing that the woman ruined the kings plans since her first child belonged to someone other than the king.

"The king will find out. And when he does.." Maya stopped speaking knowing that the outcome. The child was not born to the king. It now made sense how it couldn't have been a boy.

"She needs a home Maya. Please. You can have a family my dear. And she can have one as well." Emera must have realized the young maiden yearned for this. And she looked at Maya giving her trust that perhaps this maiden would be willing to take this opportunity. Maya would not be suited for any man based on her appearance and she already passed the appropriate age to be with a gentleman.

"I'm going to die anyway Maya. Whether it's from giving birth to a daughter, or for having an affair. My life was over the moment I met Henry." She said pointing toward the guardsman. "Actually, it was over the moment I entered this place. And now, My life will end here. But hers doesn't have to. Take her." She pleaded.

The King would find out eventually and perhaps he would cause Henry and Mayas death to be worse than the one he expected a few moments before. But the child, the sweet girl, was innocent.

Emera took hold of her child one last time and gently brushed her lips on her small forehead.

"I love you my child." She whispered.

She looked toward Maya. Her face expressed pain but she forced a smile. Tears ran along her cheeks while Henry tried to comfort her.

Maya had to think. Emera was going to end up dead no matter what, but she couldn't take a part of this injustice. Killing an innocent child who had nothing to do with the drama didn't set well with her. She had to do the right thing for the little girl.

Maya took hold of the child while Henry explained that the king would believe the child was dead and tossed away for the time. Eventually when it was discovered of their affair, the child would be the furthest thing from the kings mind. He sadly did not explain how Emera would also face her sad fate, but Maya knew if she didn't act now, she would not take the infant.

Maya began to walk away, but she was torn as she heard the moaning and cries from Emera who lost her only child. Although Emera wanted what was best for the little one, her heart broke into millions of pieces. It seemed like she would die of a broken heart just by parting from the child.

Maya looked toward the couple one last time before she hid the child in her arms and continued to leave the castle and the kingdom. Perhaps the king would come after her at some point, but she had a head start.

She made her way on a journey to protect the small infant. She looked at the child and smiled realizing maybe this was what would be best for the both of them. This life in the walls of the castle brought no joy.