The Dragon Princess

Chapter 23

Former Queen Aquamarine Andry

Iron City, Sarkin

I know who the woman is, by name and by face. I have never told my son that I knew Jaymie's mother. I had seen her once, when she was but a child, wild and running through the streets of the Iron City. Elyas and I were only newly married, taking a stroll through the city, when the little red-headed toddler came running up with a flower in hand. She had told me her name, and I never forgot it. That flower is pressed into my favorite book in the library in the castle, with her name scribbled into the page beside it. Had I known then, that she would become such an important person in my son's life, well...who knows what would have happened. Every once in a while I go take it out and mourn for the loss of such a beacon of light.

I can see the devastation and the haunting fear in my son's eyes. If I could have spared him from it, I would have, but I couldn't. The ground thundered for a moment, and I glance behind me to see Emerask land on the ground behind him, Marina on his back awaiting orders. "What do you want?" Felix questions Topaz.

Topaz considers the question for a moment. "If you want her," she points to Matylda, "then I want my siblings." She answers, as though her intention has always obvious to everyone. Of course it is obvious, to me.

Zircon and I share a glance, the decision already being mutually made. We know how this battle is going to end; we always knew, from the moment we discovered what Topaz had become. Felix may not realize it yet, but we do. "Done." Zircon nods, his voice clear and commanding.

"No." Felix orders, looking over at me with misunderstanding and fear. The lost child in him coming out at last; a child about to lose his mother.

"Trust us, Felix." I tell him, giving him a small smile of encouragement. I can see it in his eyes that he knows they will attack regardless of who is on what side. Felix was always a smart boy, even from an early age. He knew this was the only way, though he refused to admit it.

"Don't do this for me!" Matylda screams, pulling helplessly against her chains. "They are going to kill me anyway. Don't sacrifice yourselves to save me!" She continues screaming, but I am only watching my son; my beautiful little boy. I remember the day he came into this world. A day that had been full of so much death had been found anew with one life; with one small spark of hope. All of my children held a special quality that I saw in their eyes in the seconds they were born: Jocelyne's was innocence, Raleigh's was protectiveness, Aohlee's was love, Jasper's was loyalty, and Felix's was hope. In some way, all of their qualities had been broken at some point. Jocelyne's innocence was broken with the death her young friend. Raleigh's protectiveness broke when Elleana had been taken from him. Aohlee's love was shattered when she lost Lewis. Jasper's loyalty broke with the death of his dragon. Felix's hope died when he was captured. Still, in some way, a few of them had bounced back; Raleigh saved Elleana, Aohlee had her son, and Felix had begun to hope again as he took his rightful place as King. Now, my eldest son was about to lose that hope once again, and though my heart broke to see it, I cannot stop it. It is the greatest trial of a parent to watch their child face a hardship and is unable to spare them of the pain. The only thing greater is the loss of that child, and I will not lose that child; any of them.

Topaz is going to attack no matter what, but I won't risk the chance to save Jaymie's birth-mother. They lost her once, but not twice. Not if I can stop it. I look back at my daughter-in-law. Marina's face is unreadable as she stares at Matylda. I call to her, and she eventually looks at me. "Take Matylda away." She slides off of Emerask, and walks towards us. She knows this is the only way, but she isn't happy about it. Henrietta, atop her horse, unlocks Matylda's chains, and lands a kick in the middle of her back. She stumbles and falls, but I run to help her up. Zircon hesitates, wanting to run to me, but knowing that Topaz wouldn't hesitate to kill all three of us if given the chance. Matylda pleads with me, but I only help her stand and send her on her way to Marina. Only once does she stop walking, locking eyes with Felix. Marina grabs her arm and drags her off towards Emerask. In a moment they are up and out of sight.