A month after her coronation, Rebecca sees a green dragon flying wing to wing with Lila around the castle's towers. Lila lands on the upper terrace first followed by the green dragon.
"Rebecca, Baton here has agreed to fly with your decoy to Griffondale City," Lila announces.
Baton looks like a very proud forest dragon with his hide that reminds Rebecca of the bark of a young elf tree. While its yellow underbelly looks like yellow daisies.
"Greetings, your majesty. It is an honor to be of service to you," Baton speaks with a deep male voice.
"Greetings Baton. You don't have to do this if you don't want to. You will be at great risk," replies Rebecca.
"The risk is well worth the reward," replies Baton.
The sun disappears over the horizon.
A tornado of smoky clouds twirls between them. As it clears a skeletal woman with a crown of bones stands before them. Her eyes are two glowing amethyst orbs. She wears a torn white corset dress. With the swing of her skeletal arms, a spellbook appears in front of her.
A death aura spreads out around her. Sucking at the life forces around her to power her spell. A dark bluish smoke swirls around the skeleton woman. A staff of bone and amethyst appears and the spell is complete.
"Nerphdet, are you sure the leech will work?" Rebecca asks.
The necromancer materializes next to her. "She has a nasty little surprise for the griffon king. She wants Drachna's fall as much as we do. She will buy us enough time. To make things even harder for Drachna our leech here has another surprise. Watch this."
The leech uses her spellbook again. This time she targets Baton. A circle appears under the green dragon. The next moment several circles appear and in each is an exact copy of Baton. She uses the same spell on Lila and another dozen exact copy of Lila is around them. As the leech mounts the nearest Baton Rebecca's copies appear on every dragon even the real Baton.
The leech cries out in a loud screech and the dragon copies take flight. Rebecca watches as the leech spreads out the dragon copies at various heights and spaces them widely apart so that it appears that Rebecca is heading to the king's council alone.
Four black hawk dragons fly in a circle above the castle. Triston appears from a castle turret along with Dunston, Brog, and his wife, Merscha. Several dragon knights show up in full armor and leading them is Earl.
This ruse is necessary as none of them may know all the security measures that Rebecca has organized with Leticia and the royal families of every kingdom except the White Valley. They don't even know about the leech playing her decoy.
She needs to ensure that no information leaks out.
"Are you ready, gentlemen?" Rebecca asks
"Why are you not taking any servants along? Our servants already know how we do things." Triston complains.
"Put a cork in it, Triston! Griffondale castle will have enough servants for us." Brog bites back.
Triston gives Brog an annoyed glare.
Dunston studies the two gentlemen quietly. He turns his attention to Rebecca. "May I ask why we are traveling at night?"
"Certainly Dunstan, the natural camouflage of the Blackhawk dragons will keep us hidden from Drachna. Their job is to keep us out of Drachna's direct line of sight," Rebecca replies as she checks the straps on Lila.
"Rebecca, the saddle is secure enough. You have checked it five times by now. Even if you fall I will catch you," Lila sighs.
"Sorry, Lila. When I am nervous, I am always looking for something to do with my hands," Rebecca replies.
YOU ARE READING
DRAGONQUEEN: RISE OF THE SILVER PHOENIX
FantasyBook 1 of the Eternal warrior's saga. (1st draft) Rebecca of Blackmountain has lived all her life, thinking she is just an ordinary girl, on her way to becoming a nature conservationist. Life takes an unexpected turn when she is attacked by a black...
