The Dragon’s Throne 1

She looked at him, for the first time honestly disappointed that she would be leaving this place. 

“Thank you,” she said.

“I have a few things to get done today, so I’ll leave you here to enjoy the books.  I’ll be back in time for dinner.”

“That’s hours from now.  Where are you going?”

“Don’t be so alarmed.  I’ll be around, but I have to inventory everything we need for next week’s delivery.”

“Delivery?”

“Yes.  I have groceries and other supplies delivered.  And we need to stock up on certain things for the winter because we’re further north and the weather is a little harsher than in Aldeia.  I usually get my winter home ready before I show up, but circumstances were different this time.”

“You mean, because of me?”

“Yes.  Not only do I want to make sure that we’re not bothered while we get to know each other, I thought you might be more comfortable here.  The other house has a library, but it’s nothing like this.  Plus, I have a lot of nosey neighbors and let’s just say, not everyone agrees with what I’m doing.”

“You mean, kidnapping a human?”

“No,” he said, stepping closer until he was inches from her, his hand caressing her jaw.  “They don’t agree with a human becoming queen.”

She stood there in silence, shocked by his words.  He was already out the door before she recovered her voice, and she still didn’t know what she was going to say to that.  The Dragon Queen?  Her?  There was no way.

I have to get out of here, she thought, looking longingly at the room full of books and wishing that she didn’t have to leave.

A book caught her eye and she went to it, delighted to see that it was the exact book that she thought it was.  A prolific series about a young girl with a knack for investigating crimes that stumped grownups, there were over one hundred books in the series.  Anna had book one, two, and four.  On the shelf in front of her was every book from the first to the last.  She grabbed book three, tucking it under her arm and going to the window. 

She could see Eli in the field beyond, heading out toward the garden she assumed was out in the distance.  She watched him for a few moments until he disappeared over the little swell in the terrain, then she turned, running to the door and into the hallway.

She ran down the hallway, through the kitchen and into another room.  It took her a moment to realize that she had taken a wrong turn and was in a different room than the one she’d slept in.  She realized it didn’t matter because the only thing that she had of her own was the dress she’d been in when he had kidnapped her, and he was right about the clothes she was wearing; they were much easier to get around in. 

Afraid that she was wasting valuable time, she ran to the dresser that was against the wall, pulling it open and grabbing a heavy, long-sleeved shirt and a knit hat.  The shirt was more of a jacket, with a large pocket in the front that zipped shut from the top.  She pulled it over her head and pulled the hood over the knit cap, tying the strings on the black garment that she was sure now was more than a shirt but not quite a jacket. 

She ran into the kitchen, opening the pantry and grabbing a few small apples, and a few other foods that traveled well and would fit in the pocket.  Packed and ready to go, she ran to the front door, checking carefully for Eli before she made a run for it, heading south as fast as she could run.

She kept expecting Eli to call out, but no cry of alarm came. 

He’s so sure of himself, she thought, perturbed at his arrogance.  He had left her there alone and trusted that she wouldn’t leave.

What a fool.

She looked over her shoulder, but she was still alone, running past where they had landed that morning and to the edge of the yard where a stand of low-lying bushes formed a small barrier that she could easily jumped over.

Gathering herself up as she ran, she was about to jump over the bushes when she saw what was beyond them, backpedaling midstride, and crying out in surprise.  She sat down, her momentum still propelling her forward so that she slid toward the bushes.  She stopped just short of the first bush, the soles of her boots touching the leaves of the bush gently. 

She stood up, shaking violently and looking beyond the bushes.  The edge of the cliff was sharp and went straight down as far as the eye could see.  When she realized that there was a cluster of cloud below her that wrapped around the cliff, she grew sick to her stomach.  She backed away from the edge, running along the edge and heading west, following the line of hedges around.

She stopped a few yards from where she’d almost gone over, stepping beside the bushes and looking over the edge again.  The view was the same, with no visible trail leading from where she was to anywhere below her.

“There’s got to be a way out,” she muttered, running a few more yards before stopping again, then repeating the process.  Each time she found the same exact view beneath her.  It was hundreds of feet to the cloud layer, and who knew how far to ground beneath that. 

She knew that it was pointless, but she refused to give up, running back to the house, and through the house, and out the back door. 

She found much of the same, the edges of the large property concealed and protected by bushes that were obviously planted intentionally.

She saw Eli coming over the hill to her left, but it was too late to hide.  She knew that he had seen her, and he was already running toward her, his face concerned. 

“Are you alright?” he asked, rushing to her and pulling her into his arms.

He hugged her close, then set her back from his body so he could check on her.  He looked her over, finding no injuries and no explanation for the stricken expression on her face.

“I’m sorry.  I should have taken you with me.  I thought you would be alright for a while.  Were you scared?”