Forged Legacy ~Path of Blood

Chapter 2

"I will go."Isabel's words shock Elara for a moment."But you said you wanted to start a war... Wait..." Gasping, she covers her mouth. "You want to go and kill the mate they give you?""Do I plan to divulge any of my plans to anyone? You'll just have to wait and see for yourself," the Queen smirks and leaves her aunt dumbfounded.With this new idea flowering in her mind, Elara is even more afraid to tell her father-in-law what Isabel might actually be planning."No way she plans that..." she mumbles, filling the silence left in Isabel's absence. Now alone, her mind swarms with blood-filled scenarios. She feels her heart pounding powerfully in her chest.She wasn't afraid for no reason. Isabel was known to be both crazy and ruthless. The testament to this was when she killed the past king of Sunnyr— the Crimson Night, as many called it— proving beyond doubt that she was not in her right mind.Biting her lip, Elara hurries off, her steps quickly turning into a restless run as she descends the stairs. This was no day to be lazy. Whatever Isabel's plan was, it needed to be stopped.Reaching the palace gardens, tucked behind the stone fortress of the back wing, Isabel walks nonchalantly toward the back of the garden. Stones with names etched by her dragon's breath dot the area. The names of men and women who died in honor of the kingdom of Histar.Her eyes scan every name."King of Histar the 3rd, Magnus." Her mind floods with the history behind this man. Every single name already has a place in her memory; too many times she has performed this ritual of remembering the past kings and heroes. Nothing new, nothing more to know.Yet her final thought is always the same: to never end up like them. Most of the kings buried here ruled before the Fall of the Dragons and died because of the pact she is supposed to make now.She reaches the names, "Emberly and Jude, King and Queen of Histar." Her eyes darken, and despite the revenge she's already exacted, the pain of her parents residing in this grave remains unbearable."Mom... Dad... There must be a way." Her voice is filled with rage as her palm caresses the stone. She struggles to hold herself together, resisting the urge to crumble at the base of the gravestone like she once did.Taking a deep breath, she turns to leave. The flowers that greeted her as she entered the garden are of no interest to her.As she approaches the front steps, her grandfather opens the door with a smile on his face."You've changed your mind! Elara told me you'll be going with me to the meeting. You have no idea how happy I am right now." A sigh of relief washes over him as he grabs her hand. "Isabel, I'm truly glad you reconsidered. Your parents would have been so proud of you."She yanks her hand away from his grip, her face expressionless as she replies coldly, "We should hurry."As if you know what my parents would be proud of or not...Elara appears behind the old man, and Isabel glances at her. No words are exchanged as the three of them enter the palace together, with only the old man in good spirits, leading the way to the front yard.Arriving outside, two members of the High Order—Filip and Florence—stand waiting, charged with helping the Queen rule the kingdom."Now that we're all here, our Queen should call the dragons. We'll embark shortly after the beasts arrive," Grandpa says, clapping his hands and whistling happily as he sits beneath the trees on the right side of the space.The palace perched on the peak of the mountain, its base wrapped in a ring of sharp, jagged rocks that sliced the sky. Steep stone edges fell away on all sides, daring anyone to approach, but only those with wings would ever make it here. At the front, a long, narrow lane stretched out, carved into the rock, waiting for dragons to land. Behind it, the palace rose in layers, with three tall levels and fortresses flanking the back and sides. Soldiers patrolled constantly, though they knew no one would ever be foolish enough to try and climb the deadly cliffs beneath them. Far below, the valley spread wide, full of life, where beast men worked the land in peace, living under the constant shadow of the mountain that loomed high above their homes.Isabel moved to the very edge of the lane, feeling the loose stones crumble under her boots. They vanished into the abyss below, falling into the unseen depths. Without hesitation, she opened her arms and let herself follow, throwing her body forward, letting gravity pull her down the mountainside.The wind hit her like a wave, throwing her hair wildly in all directions, making it fly like tangled seaweed caught in the ocean's current. Her heart beat faster with the thrill, but there was no fear, only a deep rush of excitement as the rocks blurred past her.Her mind whispered, "Red dragon, I am ready to fly."Her eyes flashed open, and in that instant, her body shifted ripping the royal robe she wore. Her hair hardened into long spikes running down her back. Her arms spread wider, transforming into enormous wings that sliced through the air. Her slim legs stretched and turned into powerful talons, strong enough to tear through anything that stood in her way. The face that had once held royal beauty was now a dragon's head, fierce and terrifying, enough to send even the bravest Sages of Sunnyr running.A laugh rumbled from her throat, full of wild energy. She tested her strength, letting out a thunderous growl that echoed through the valley. Fireballs exploded from her mouth, lighting the sky with fiery sparks, far from the villages below. No danger to her people, not today.Convinced her form was still as strong as ever, Isabel turned her attention toward the distant mountains, her senses searching for the other dragons she had left hidden. They were there, safe in the natural fortresses no human could ever find, protected by the very gods that had shaped the land.Her sharp eyes swept over the lands below, catching sight of the scattered villages, peaceful as always. Beast men tended their fields and gardens, unaware of their queen soaring above them. As she flew, children waved at her from far below. It was rare to see a dragon, and everyone knew it was their Queen who ruled the skies today. Her red scales shimmered in the sunlight like flickering flames, her shadow casting a sense of awe over all who saw it. Isabel was the Last Red Dragon, the Queen of Dragons, and her very presence inspired both fear and wonder."Found them," Isabel murmured, banking to the right as she headed toward the tallest mountain in the region. The icy peak of Sarr Mountain awaited her, a place where only dragons could reach without freezing.