Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
As I said, I almost put the ring and key back…but then I remembered my mother’s face, so wan and pale against her pillow. I remembered how my dear father had slipped away too and how badly I missed him.
I cannot lose my mother—not if there’s some way to save her. I must go through with this—no matter how frightened I may be.
I am determined to do this and I am bolstered by the last sentence in the old manuscript. It read, “Be not feared of the beast for as long as thou wearest the ring and he the collar, he cannot kill thee, because…”
Unfortunately, that’s where the scrap of manuscript ended. It looked like it was torn from a larger book and the ragged end of it was too torn to make out the reason why the beast cannot kill me.
Still, though, it gives me courage. I know that I can do this—I must do this. I must tame the beast—bend him to my will—and get the Health Draught potion which can save my mother.
I will do it or die trying.
2
IRENA
It’s all very well to make noble sounding vows, but it’s another thing to carry them out, which is what I find as I stand shivering in the dungeon.
I’m not frightened—not at all. At least, this is what I tell myself as I watch the beast from the shadows. His huge, muscular body is tense and every once in a while I see him test his chains—pulling hard against the glowing blue metal links that hold him in place. He can make no headway, however—my family’s magic is strong. Strong enough to hold him until I use the key.
Do I dare to do it?
I must, I tell myself. I am strong enough—I can control him.
And yes, I can feed him. It’s not like I’m one of the Noble women of the court—so thin and willowy a stiff breeze might blow them over. I have what my chaperone calls “child bearing hips,” and a generous bosom as well—much of it is on display in the Court gown I’m wearing at the moment.
I wish I would have had time to change—the swirl of silver-green fabric which makes my eyes stand out is hardly the right outfit to go adventuring in. But I was in a hurry to search my brother’s rooms and find what I needed. And I knew that if I went all the way back to my own rooms, on the fourth floor, and changed and then came back, the guards would notice and someone might ask why I was strolling around the castle wearing outdoor clothing.
So the best I could do was to take my hooded cloak, which was hanging in the cloak room, and hurry down to the dungeon as soon as I had the key and ring.
Of course, you might wonder, why am I doing this myself? Why not bring the idea to my brother and let him undertake the dangerous quest? That is a question I find difficult to answer—even to myself.
One might suppose that my brother would have thought of this idea himself. After all, it was he who captured the beast and chained him in our dungeon. And, being male, he has far more magic than me to control him with the ring and collar.
But since my mother has fallen ill, my brother is much consumed with the running of the kingdom. He has taken over almost all the functions of the ruling monarch and who would do those duties if he left? Certainly not me. Though it was a woman who started our dynasty, females are now deemed unfit to rule—except in dire circumstances, like my father’s death.
My brother petitioned to ascend to the throne when he died, but my mother denied him, saying that he wasn’t ready to rule yet. He seems to be doing well enough now—though he spends a great deal of time with the ladies of the Court, as I said before.
So, since my brother is busy ruling, I must be the one to go. No one else can do it—we are the only two Royals left in our family’s line. And without Royal blood in their veins, no one but Kellis or I can hope to command the beast with the ring and collar.
Of course, if I told him of my plan, I am certain he would forbid it. He’s always tried to shield me from any activity he considers too rigorous for a female. And taming a dragon would certainly fall into that category.
So since I dare not ask for permission, I’ll have to settle for begging for forgiveness—not that I’ll need it. I’m quite certain that when I bring home the Healing Draught and my mother is restored to full health and is sitting on the throne again, my brother will thank me with tears in his eyes and the whole kingdom will rejoice.