Verden Heiress

Chapter 2

"Yes..." comes a croak. Aerie glances at him, then back to me eyes wide, and I reach for my bow on instinct. Even though he couldn't move if he'd want to unease races down my spine. After taking a deep breath I look at our captive, interogation face on.

"Why have you come here?" I ask. He's caught my curiosity.

His head fell back agaisnt the chair, "May I have some water?"

I'm momentarily startled by his audacity but Aerie returns with a small glass before I am able to stand. Whether I was standing to slap him, or standing to offer him water I'm not sure.

The white of his lips grow pink as he sips, and then he looks up to thank her, "You... You are..."

"Yes a dragon," she looks over at me after cursing under her breath, "You'd think it wouldn't be so weird when people catch on."

I snicker slightly before gazing back at Hain, "Explain yourself."

He shakes his head regally, his hair falling in waves across his forehead, "My name is Hain O'Rian. Your name is Rainha is it not?"

My eyes narrow. He seems to know more about me than I know of him, "Yes. It is."

He looks to Aerie, "And your name is Aerie, daughter of DragonLore Aragon, part of bloodline Causicas?"

Aerie swallows, her fingers rolling into balls by her sides, she's never been called out like this before, "Yes. I am."

His shoulders straighten, "Good. I am here to escort both of you to Red Cale Castle."

I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing, "On whose authority?"

"King Tatko O'Rian."

This made me laugh, "Oh really? And who does he think he is to order me to show up to court?"

"Your father." Hain pronouced the words as clear as needed, but that didn't stop the room from spinning.

"I'm sorry?" I tried to be polite as I stood up. I glanced over at Aerie, who appeared just as dumbfounded as I did.

He smiled, "I said your father has summoned you to court."

I couldn't help it this time, I walked up to him, my hand curling into a fist by my side, "I have no father."

"Well he is yours. As well as mine." This intruder smiles at me until I connect my fist with his jaw. He gasps, sputtering blood over his leather jacket. His arms move agaisnt his bonds, and he glares at me with a new found hatred. "You-"

A giggle escapes me, "I'm sorry." I cover my mouth to stop the next one, "But you just said we were siblings. I have never heard of my family, brothers, fathers... None of it. I only have Aerie," I glance at her. She straightens her back, rollering her shoulders, "And that is all that matters."

Suddenly Hain looks as though he may explode, "You are not listening to me!" Electric hostility charges the air.

"Well then please enlighten me." My voice holds every ounce of condesention I can muster.

His chest deflates, eyes glassy as he gazes at the pale stone floor, "There are things happening in Verden that you do not understand. The nation is almost in shambles. Across the sea Prince Katil is rallying his father's people, ready to come and claim what lies under King Tatko's reign."

"And this deals with me how?" My jaw clenches, anger surging in my veins.

"You are the king's eldest child, heir to Verden. I was sent to retrieve you, bring you to the Keep, and let our father explain."

One word sticks in my mind, "Heir?" I'm breathless, confused. Images of the Red Cale Castle's walls flood my mind. Once Aerie and I went flying and decided to break Madge's rules. We went flying over the farm lands, where the royals live, it felt like I was watching a different world. People were about as small as ants, but I remembered the small clay building, jetting up from the ground as if it were something to be recognized. The memory doesn't seem so funny anymore.

Hain knew he'd finally set the hook in me, "Yes heir. If you come with me King Tatko will explain everything. Answer all of your questions."

I felt Aerie's hand on my shoulder. I must look like a zombie, this amount of information boggled my mind. Aerie's eyes were soft and she tilted her head towards the tower stairs, pulling me towards them. Aerie had been there every night when I cried because I never knew who my parents were. She'd never had my frustrations, when a dragon of her bloodline is born memories are already in place. Memories of who their parents are, what station they are within their heirarchy. We step through the wooden door, down a few stone steps, and she stops abruptly.

"I think we should go..." she spoke first, leaving her opinion out on the floor to be debated.

"What if it's all a trick?"

She barks a laugh, "If you haven't noticed I'm a dragon? I can light them on fire, we can fly back, figure something out. Rainha..." she puts both of her slender hands on my shoulders, making me look her in the eyes, "This is all you've ever wanted. We were paired together because we have some big destiny. We've known that we were important since we were little."

"But heir? How could I be that important? We raised ourselves Aerie!" I clench my jaw, looking back at the door.

"That's the point. We raised ourselves so that we wouldn't have to depend on anyone but eachother."

My head falls forward onto her chest, "You sure?"

She laughs, "No. But I think we should take the risk."

Inhaling one last fortifying breath I nod, "Alright."