The Blood's Flame (The Dragons of Flareia Book 1)

Chapter 7 - Olivier

The Hall of the Sea

26th Year of the Ocean

2nd Moon

"It's because she's a girl." Tommél said indifferently. "It's ridiculous. There's never been a female Dragonheir, so naturally, the people think it's wrong. That's what they're so worried about."

It's important to remember there has never been a rule regarding a Dragonheir's gender, Crown Prince. Lymphario said coolly from his perch on Olivier's shoulder. It was quickly becoming his favourite place to sit. Olivier wondered if he liked feeling tall.

And in fact, Slovenna interjected, Ignotus of the Volcano also chose a female Dragonheir this cycle. Flae Ember was to be the last of his six sacrifices, but he saved her from the lava pool before naming her as his fifth Dragonheir. She will be a very wise and humble Dragonheir, too, as she came from an orphanage in Ignisia's far south.

"Another female Dragonheir?" Olivier asked in excitement.

Yes, Lady Dragonheir. The seal confirmed.

"At the next convenience please send a letter of congratulations and an invitation to meet." Olivier requested, flicking her left braid back over her shoulder where Lymphario had accidentally knocked it forward. "If this is the reaction of my own people over a female Dragonheir even though I am the princess, I fear people's reaction over an orphaned girl becoming Dragonheir. We have a healthy relationship with Ignisia. It may be wise at this time to make that relationship stronger."

King Gregór nodded his head, his crown of shells glistening in the sunlight that streamed through the window beside him. "Forging an alliance like that may also help our people come to terms with having you as Dragonheir. Seeing a country who also chose a woman could help you consolidate your power." He explained. "If possible, it may do the two of you well to tour both Avalona and Ignisia together, to get the people used to seeing female Dragonheirs. It may also be of great help to this Flae Ember. As an orphan of the south, it is likely she never even left her hometown before the Sacrifice. It would assist her in getting used to travelling."

Yes, Your Majesty. I will send the invitation when the meeting finishes. Slovenna promised.

"Thank you," Olivier murmured, patting the seal's smooth head.

Across the table, Chancellor Aquaria shook his head. "While Tommél raises quite a valid point, the merpeople have told me they've been hearing different from the water's edge. Perhaps we should hear what they have to say on the matter."

I will translate for you all. Slovenna said, floundering away from her place beside Olivier and Lymphario to the pool at the end of the council table, where the representative of the merpeople observed the meeting.

Olivier had seen the mermaid many times in her life, but she never stopped being struck by both her beauty and intensity. The only name she gave was Ava – because below the surface, merpeople didn't talk in words or need labels such as names. Her hair was the deep green of seaweed with strands much thicker than that of human hair; her skin a strange purple-blue colour that felt similar to Slovenna's; her eyes were amber, her cheekbones sharp; her nose was flat, and her slim neck was lines with gills. She seemed almost a frightful thing to behold, but there was also a strange beauty to her odd image. Looking at the mermaid, Olivier understood why sailors had so often drowned while trying to follow many of the mermaid's kind.

Ava raised a webbed hand from the water and helped Slovenna into the pool, then both the seal and mermaid disappeared beneath the surface. This was how mermaids always communicated at council meetings – they could not speak properly out of water, and the council could not be held beneath the surface as the majority of its members were human, so Slovenna would relay the messages and concerns of the merpeople to the council.