Dragon Tales and Duke Deals

Kairan walked down the empty hallway with the hybrid trailing behind him, its paws padding softly on the marble floor. The silence was thick, almost stifling, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.

Suddenly, he paused mid-stride, lost in thought. The hybrid, caught off guard, bumped into his leg and tumbled onto the floor with a soft whimper. Kairan didn't flinch; his mind was elsewhere, far removed from the creature's clumsy misstep.

"Shadow," he muttered, his voice a low rumble that barely broke the quiet, "she wasn't supposed to run away. The only thing that was meant to happen was her dancing with me."

The hybrid, now sitting up and staring at him with curious eyes, tilted its head slightly, as if questioning him.

Kieran's gaze remained distant, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "What changed?" he murmured, more to himself than to the creature at his feet.

His thoughts churned, trying to piece together the sudden shift in the night's events. Something had altered the course, something unexpected and out of his control.

The morning sun filtered weakly through the heavy curtains of my room, its light casting soft, trembling shadows on the walls. I lay curled up on the floor where I had collapsed the night before, my body stiff and aching from the cold and exhaustion. The handkerchief Kairan had given me was stained with dried blood, a brutal reminder of the terror that had unfolded.

With a deep, shuddering breath, I pushed myself up, each movement sending sharp twinges of pain through my bruised wrist. The area was already swollen, and the sight of it made me wince. Despite the throbbing pain, the physical discomfort was overshadowed by the pervasive fear that clung to me like a shadow.

I forced myself to stand, feeling every step as if it were a battle against my own weakness and the dread that had taken root in my heart. The room, which had once felt like a sanctuary, now seemed suffocating and oppressive. The walls seemed to close in on me, and the air felt heavy, as if the very space was aware of my turmoil.

I glanced at the small mirror on the wall, catching a glimpse of my disheveled reflection. My eyes were red and puffy from crying, my face pale and streaked with the remnants of last night's tears. I turned away quickly, unable to bear the sight of my myself in such a state.

What had I done to provoke Kairan so? I replayed the night's events in my mind, trying to piece together what had gone wrong. His cold, unfeeling demeanor had left me shaken, and the realization that he could have easily ended my life made my stomach churn. I had tried to stand up to him, to show him that I wasn't afraid, but all I had accomplished was making him more menacing.

I remained in the room all day, refusing to see the maids who came to dress me and bring me breakfast. I sat huddled in the corner, chewing my nails and scratching my head, desperately trying to come up with a plan to prevent Kairan from killing me.

"No, no, no!" I muttered to myself, my voice rising in frustration. "I didn't survive in my world just to end up here and get killed by a psychopath. I must have a purpose."

I looked up at the ceiling, tears streaming down my face. "Grandma always said everything happens for a reason, that everything has a purpose."

The words echoed in my mind, mingling with my fear and desperation. I had to believe that there was a reason I was here, that there was something I could do to change my fate.

"No, Meredia. No! No! You're not Meredia. You don't have the same fate as her! You're smarter that her!"

My voice grew louder, filled with desperation. "You're smarter than Meredia, Sia. You're smarter than her. I was a scholar. I was the top of my class."

I paced the mall space, my mind racing. Each step seemed to eco with my determination. I clung to the fragments of my past identity, trying to shake off the fear that had clouded my thoughts.

"I need to think clearly," I told myself, forcing a sense of calm into my voice. "I need to use my intelligence and my knowledge. I can't let this place define me. I won't be a victim."

I looked around the room, trying to focus on what I could control. I needed a plan, a way to outsmart Kieran.

"Yeah, that's it," I said aloud, a spark of determination igniting within me. "I'II win the favor and trust of Duke Oberon. I'II prove that Meredia is useful to them, and in return, I'II ask him not to force me into marriage with Kieran."

The plan took shape in my mind as I spoke I would have to navigate the complex web of court politics, earning Duke Oberon's trust and demonstrating my value. It wouldn't be easy, but it was my best chance to secure some leverage and avoid a fate I feared more that anything.

I wiped away the tears, my resolve hardening. "I have to stay focused and strong. I won't let Kieran's threats break me. I'II make my own path and fight for my survival."

The Duchess Elowen, her brow furrowed with concern, took a step back from the door and cast another anxious glance at Fenric and Kael.

"How long has she been inside there?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Fenric replied, "I think it's been 20 hours, my lady."

Duchess Elowen's eyes widened slightly, the concern in her expression deepening. "Why is she studying so much, and what is she studying about?"

Fenric and Kael exchanged uncertain looks, their unease apparent. "She wants to help Solterra and our kingdom, Duquesa Valtoria," Kael finally said.

The Duchess sighed softly, a blend of pride and worry in her tone. "Tell the maids to bring food to the library."

Both men nodded in agreement.

And if she refuses to leave," Duchess Elowen added, "It's fine. We will bring the food to her. But she can't carry on like this...Whatever she's doing, she needs to take care of herself too."

As I sat for hours, surrounded by ancient texts and dusty tomes, I immersed myself in the history of Solterra and the kingdom of Valtoria. The words on the pages revealed a legacy stepped in power, mystery, and a curse that loomed over the royal family-the Ashbourne family.

The more I read, the deeper my understanding grew, and with it, a sense of foreboding. The Ashbournes were not just any royal family. They bore a curse, one that was sealed within their bloodline-a mighty dragon named Alfareezel, a creature of immense power and ferocity.

The fifth king, Arsex Lorenzo Ashbourne, had fought and ultimately sealed the dragon within his own son. The beast, too difficult to kill, was instead trapped, its essence bound to the bloodline. From that day forward, the dragon passed from one descendant to the next, its power both a blessing and a curse. The dragon's presence made the Ashbourne family formidable, their might unrivaled across the lands.

Yet, this strength came with a terrible price. Alfareezel remained dormant, unable to be unleashed-at least, not under ordinary circumstances. The curse was more than just the dragon's presence; it was a ticking time bomb.

According to the texts, the real danger lay in the potential birth of a child within the Ashbourne family who possessed enormous mana. Such a child would be a beacon of power, and Alfareezel, hungry for freedom, would siphon this energy to break his seals and unleash his fury. The release of the dragon would spell the end of Valkathra, a catastrophe that would reduce the kingdom to ashes.

I slammed the book shut, practically feeling the dust puff out from between the pages. "Ugh! This isn't what I need!" I muttered, throwing myself back into the chair.

Hours of studying, and what did I have to show for it? A head full of dragon legends, a crash course in medieval herbology, and the thrilling knowledge that Valkathra's currency is worth less than Monopoly money back home. My next big plan? Apparently, nothing-except for maybe a one-way trip to Frustration Town.

"Okay, Meredia,-no, Sia-you've got this," I pep-talked myself, drumming my fingers on the desk. "You've learned about the dragon inside the royal family, great. You know the history of Valkathra, check. You even figured out that their math is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But none of this helping you get out of marrying Kairan the Crazy."

I sighed dramatically, picturing my "brilliant" idea of winning the Duke's favor by learning about his business. The mental image of me sneaking into the Duke's office, rummaging through his papers like some kind of medieval Sherlock Holmes, made me snort. "Yeah, because he'II definitely trust the strange girl who's been holded up in the library for hours like a deranged bat."

But what choice did I have? Maybe if I could suggest something really groundbreaking like, I don't know. a better way to manage the castle's supply of goose features for pillows, I'd impress him. I rolled my eyes at the thought, but still...desperate times.

With a groan, I hauled myself out of the chair, wincing at the pins and needles in my legs. "Alright, Sia. Time to play corporate spy. What's the worst that could happen? Oh right, getting caught and thrown in the dungeon. No big deal."

I straightened my clothes and tried to look as business-like as possible, though I wasn't sure how well that worked with the ink stains on my sleeves and my hair looking like I'd been struck by lightning. With one last look at the disorganized mess of books around me, I headed for the Duke's office.

"This is going to be a disaster," I mumbled to myself. "But maybe if I pull it off, I'II at least be a useful disaster."