The Dragon Queen

The Stolen Egg

Thomas knew he probably shouldn't have done it. Well, he definitely shouldn't have done it. But now he had and he had the little shiny egg in his hands to prove it. He couldn't lie. To steal an egg directly from the nest that was the Dragon Queen's castle had been no easy task and he wouldn't boast that he had accomplished it, even if the likes of Alexander would never rise to such a task. Besides, he hadn't done it for the glory. "Then why on earth did you do it?" his mother, the only person to ever enter his personal library without the threat of death, snapped at him, hands on hips, impressively drawing herself up to her full height. She wasn't a particularly scary woman to look at on a normal basis. She had long auburn hair that, when she had been painted in portraits, had been described to be like the rising sun light, and a kind face, lined slightly with the age that was cruelly brought on by raising two princes. Thomas had always felt at ease talking with her far more than he did any other member of his family. But now those typically kind features were creased in a scowl and Thomas certainly didn't want to talk now. He shrugged and pretended to be sketching the purple egg sat innocently and safely, wrapped in a blanket on his desk, in his notebook, worn with years of use and the occasional snatch from his grasp. "Don't you ignore me!" his mother inevitably barked and the book was suddenly wrenched away. Thomas didn't dare object and instead simply looked up to the terrifying woman who towered over him with a mask of perfect calm. "Do you think it fun to test the fury of the new queen?" she hissed, her voice a deadly quiet that told Thomas he was about to draw his last breath. Even so, a smirk threatened to tug at his lips. The truth was that he simply loved to test her fury. Her fury was a sight to behold and Thomas had long since wondered what it would be like to taste the full force of her temper. "I didn't do it to annoy her, Mother" Thomas explained calmly "As you know, I rather like her".

"So you steal one of her eggs? A fine way to show affection! You know, men have been executed for far less!". Yes, Thomas had thought about that and, glancing to the egg, wondered if he yet had the queen so wrapped around his finger that she would put him to death. "Well, how else am I to gain her attention?" he asked quietly "Since the ball, I've seen nothing of her and that was months ago". His mother rolled her sea blue eyes and hopelessly shook her head, as if she was talking with a mischievous child trying to fight with some form of logic, and failing. "Am I really hearing you?" she asked hopelessly "You committed a crime that carries at the very least a life sentence just for Lucia's attention? She is a queen now, not a princess. Her duty is to her people and you yours, not whatever game you have between you. Oh yes, your father and I have noticed. You needn't look so surprised. Those stolen glances and forbidden dances? You, my son...". She gave a disbelieving, almost mocking, laughs which Thomas couldn't decide if he should be weary of or not. "You're in love" she told him and he gave a haughty huff, rolling his eyes. She hadn't been the first to make that mistake. He'd honestly thought she had more intelligence than that. Love? Of course he didn't love her. Love was a child's game and he was not a child. He was to rule the Ten Realms and the great Lucia Helena was his way to do it. The task, however, of convincing her was made all the more bearable by her interesting company. Thomas sometimes suspected that she knew his game, but then she would do something so silly as to dance with him and smile, and he would be assured once again that his true intentions were safely hidden away. At that moment, a thundering roar that shook the very foundations of the castle suddenly tore through the air, shaking the ground beneath their feet and causing the egg to wobble so dangerously that Thomas thought it safer in his arms. Instead of screaming in fear or panicking, as some of the nearby servants had loudly begun to do, his mother simply smiled and folded her arms, leaning back against a shivering bookcase, watching him in the manner of one curiously watching a play to see how the drama unfolded. "Well, Thomas" she said smugly "Your plan has come together rather well. I think you have the attention of the Dragon Queen".