The Dragon’s Throne 1

Chapter 18

The sun was only an hour from setting when Anna stood on the stage set on top of the castle, staff in hand, her head held high beside her new husband as Silas gave his speech to the crowd gathered four stories below the elevated platform that they stood on.  The crowd was silent, listening to Silas speak on Fate and destiny and reassure those that were worried about Anna’s ability to lead that Fate had chosen her for a reason.

The weight of her responsibility to these people and to the world was heavy on her shoulders, but she stood firm, knowing that her most important duty in that moment was to inspire confidence and nothing more.  The people of Aman had for the most part welcomed her presence, and they deserved the queen that they had been promised by the prophecy.  Anna wasn’t about to let her doubts get in the way of giving the people what they needed.

When Silas finished speaking, there was a murmuring in the crowd, but Lauren stepped forward then, wearing the crown that she would be placing on Anna’s head at the end of the ceremony.  Her face was calm as she held up her hand for silence, and Anna watched the ease with which she commanded the respect of the hundreds of people in the crowd below them.

“The prophecy has been known for decades; long before my children were born.  I have heard rumors that there is a small group of you that would see this coronation stopped, and we will not tolerate it.  It’s been fifty years since the Great War nearly destroyed both our species, and it is fitting that Fate chose a human queen to rule alongside the Dragon King.”

She paused, ignoring the shouts of dissent coming from a few in the crowd that were still angry.  She waited until they stopped, then spoke again, her voice firm and unwavering.

“We will not tolerate anyone working against us,” she said.  “If you’re unable or unwilling to humble yourselves before a human queen, then we don’t need you in this fight, and you are welcome to leave the kingdom.  The rest of us must prepare for the change that is coming, for we know that once the crown is passed down to Anna, the change will come quickly and without prejudice.  We need to be ready for anything and everything, and squabbling amongst ourselves will not accomplish that.”

“We will not serve a human queen!” a shout rose from below, the angry voice of a woman crying out to be heard above the crowd.

“You were not given a choice,” Lauren said in response, complete unbothered by the protester.  “You are welcomed to your opinion, but only loyalty to the cause belongs in Aman.  We will not be distracted from our purpose in this world.”

The crowd moved as the dissenter pushed forward.  Anna tried to pick the person out, but the crush of bodies prevented Anna from seeing the woman that had cried out in anger against this new regime. 

When the crowd parted suddenly, Anna saw a flash of chocolate brown hair before it was swallowed up by the scales of a dragon shifting quickly in rage.

“Marissa,” Eli said under his breath, his anger evident.

Anna gripped her staff tightly, looking to Lauren, whose face remained calm as the dragon yelled out in anger with the last remnants of her human voice before her body had completely shifted.

“Eli?” Anna said softly.

“She might not be the only one, so be ready,” Eli said, his voice eerily calm despite everything.

Anna trembled ever so slightly, but she kept her chin up, her stance defiant against both the dissenter and her own fear. 

The dragon sprang into the air, giant wings flapping as she shot straight toward them, her hazel eyes trained on Anna and ignoring everyone around her.  Anna flexed her hands on the staff, waiting for the dragon to come to her. 

She didn’t have to wait long as the dragon swooped above her, taunting her and trying to knock her off balance.  Anna swung upwards with the staff, hitting Marissa in the jaw and causing the dragon to cry out in rage.  A heavy tail swung up, catching Anna’s feet and sweeping them out from under her.  She allowed it to happen, using the familiar motion to flip her body out of the way, landing on her feet then rolling, staff clutched tightly against her. 

Marissa looked back, shrieking in rage when she saw Anna on her feet and ready for another attack.  Marissa turned around, heading back at Anna from high above the platform, folding her wings to force her body to gain momentum and speed. 

Marissa’s expression was deadly, her intentions clear as she raced toward Anna.  Anna heard more shrieks around her, but she was focused on Marissa, trusting Eli and his family to deal with any more dragons that might choose that moment to challenge Anna’s right to rule as queen.

Anna ducked an instant before Marissa collided with her, using the staff to slide under Marissa’s head, then throwing the staff over Marissa’s neck and grabbing it with her other hand, using it to encircle Marissa’s neck.  The momentum pulled Anna up and over, onto Marissa’s back as she soared through the air, high above the castle.

She was too focused to hear the crowd gasp beneath her, breathing deeply as Eli had taught her as the dragon beneath her shot straight into the air. 

Anna’s legs were wrapped around Marissa’s chest, out of reach of clawing arms that tried desperately to unseat her.  Holding on with her legs, Anna let go of one side of the staff, bringing it up over her head and slamming it down on Marissa’s head as hard as she could, then again before Marissa had a chance to react.

The upward ascent slowed, the dragon shaking her head to clear the fog from the blow.  Anna hit her again, this time hard enough to knock Marissa’s head downward, forcing the dragon to fly level for a moment.  Anna took that chance to slide forward, wrapping her legs around the dragon’s neck and squeezing as tightly as she could, cutting off Marissa’s air little by little.

Marissa tried to call out, but she was unable to breathe in enough air to put any force behind the motion.  Anna was still holding on with her legs, one arm wrapped around the dragon’s neck, the other holding the staff and using it to press against her wings, slowing the one down and causing the already weakening dragon to list to the side as she lost altitude quickly.