The Son of Fire

Scales of Black

        I walked down the hall to the Queen’s council room, my pure black dragon beside me. Even though he is only six, he is the size of a small pony. The hallways were wide for the sole purpose of dragons being able to stay by their riders. Because I was with my dragon when he was born an imprint was created between us. An Imprint makes him capable of listening to me and not some random weirdo who wants a dragon. It also makes him incredibly protective of me. We could be faced with impossible odds and he would still fight to the death for me, and I would do the same for him.
       
I slid open the door to the council room, took a few steps, then dropped to one knee. “Your Grace, I’m Ulric Walt.” I said in the most formal voice I could muster.
       
“Rise.” A sweet, powerful, soft voice urged. I stood and for the first time and got a good look at the room. It was large, very large with the top of the room open to the sky so dragons could come and go freely. There was a large black dragon perched behind the council and the queen. She was in her early twenties and wore a gray silk dress and had a golden crown propped on the top of her head. Her hair was a gold that matched her crown perfectly.
       
“Yes, I know.” she said, smiling. “And who is this?” she asked, gesturing to my dragon.   
       
“This is Syron” I said, looking down at him. Syron bowed his head and widened his wings in a submissive poster.
       
The queen laughed and said, “Rise.” She walked over to my side. ”Come.” she said and started down the hall. After a few steps she turned to look back at me to make sure I was following.
The large black dragon followed us as we walked down the hall. “Your Grace, where are we going?” I asked.
       
She stopped next to a door and turned to face me. “Right here… go in.”
       
I did as she commanded and walked into a darkly lit room. There was two wooden chairs and a table in the middle of the room with a long, black box on it.
       
Queen Diana walked up to stand next to me. “Do you know why you are here?” she asked.
       
“No, Your Grace. I guess it’s because you would need me at some point and--”
       
“I meant this room.” she interrupted me.
       
“Oh… I still don’t know Your Grace.” I felt very awkward in the small room being interrogated by the Fire Queen.
       
She smiled and guided me in the direction of the box. “Sit.” she commanded. I sat in one of the chairs; she also sat down.
       
“How old is your dragon?” Queen Diana asked in a curious voice.
       
“He’s six, Your Grace.”
       
“Are you enjoying the palace?”
         
“Um… yes.” A moment later I quickly added, “Your Grace! Yes, Your Grace.” I struggled. Why do I get stuck with the queen personally picking me out? Then I got stuck in a room with the queen as she questions me.

She smiles at my uneasiness.

“There is no reason for you to be nervous. I’m not one to be feared.” she told me.

Although her words told me she was “not to be feared,” her eyes said otherwise. I doubted she was hostile toward me, but I clearly did not want to get on her bad side.

“Open the box.” she said simply.

I grabbed the top of the container and hesitantly pulled the top off. The box had a red velvet bottom and on top, a sword. The blade was a dark gray and looked sharp enough to slice a stone in half with ease, the metal of the hilt was gold and the grip was made out of leather.

“What kind of steel is this?” I asked.

“Dragon Forged Steel.”

I turned to her, surprised. Dragon Forged Steel is the strongest and sharpest steel in the world; it’s only equivalent--Frost Forged Steel--which is The Strong Cold’s rarest steel. Only The Old Flame uses Dragon Forged Steel. In addition to being strong and sharp, it’s also incredibly rare.