The last of the Dragons-Set 2

278

2 Days Later

   "Jessica! So nice to see you again my dear."

I turned from tending to my children, to see Sir Ivan, along with three other guards on horseback escorting King John towards me. I rose to my feet and dusted myself off as the group of five stopped in front of me. 

"Your Excellency, it is a great pleasure to be graced with your presence." I said as I dropped to one knee.

He chuckled.

"Rise my child. You need not be fearful." He said.

Hesitantly, I rose to my feet, and waited for King John to speak once more.

"It is to my understanding that one of your dragons came to the aid of this army yesterday. Is this true?" He asked.

I gulped, not knowing whether or not he was displeased.

"Yes, Your Excellency. My own Dragon, Doron, flew in unannounced and attacked. The other four were nowhere to be seen." I replied.

He chuckled and shook his head.

"I thought I gave you the order to keep those creatures away from here, did I not?" He said slyly.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Like I said, it was unannounced. I gave no order for the dragon to do as he did. I do apologize." I replied.

"Sir Ivan, would you please explain to Miss Albo what happens when an order is disobeyed?" Said King John.

"Can you not do your own talking?" I asked, rather infuriated.

King John chuckled again.

"Sir Ivan is second in command to myself. Should I die for whatever reason, Sir Ivan would be the man to take over command and lead our people to victory." He replied.

"Miss Albo, the king orders that your dragons take no part in this war. Whether or not you gave the order for that dragon to attack or not, any and all actions they take is your responsibility." He said.

I sighed, now feeling angry.

"If you don't want our help, fine. But don't expect us to be of any use to you if we can't use our most lethal weapon." I replied.

"Jessica, I will grant you a pardon on this occasion. But, should any of your dragons show themselves in battle again, the punishment will be death. Whether your or your dragon die, will be left up to you." He replied before turning to walk away.

I wanted to pull my blade and slay the man where he stood, but I thought better of it.

"Wait! Your Excellency wait!" I exclaimed.

He stopped, and turned on the spot to look back at me.

"Yes?"

"Let me show you what they're really capable of. Let me show you that they are most certainly the key to you winning this war." I said.

He chuckled, before walking up to me and stopping nose to nose with me, before putting his mouth up to my ear.

"If you wish to waste your time trying to convince me of something that may or may not be true, then so be it. But I warn you Jessica Albo, if my people begin to take you as more of a Queen than they do me as a King, let me promise you, I'll murder your children as they lay in your arms, and I'll have the four hearts of your dragons cut out and mounted on spikes." He whispered.

I wanted so badly to slit his throat, but I didn't wish to forfeit my life for it.

"Five. There's five dragons." I whispered back.

He chuckled as he back away.

"Alright, I'll bend. You bring the five of them here for this time tomorrow, and do whatever you think you must to convince me that your dragons are worth keeping around. But, be warned, if I sense that you are trying to deceive me, your punishment will be quite severe." He said.

As he began walking away, Sir Ivan gave me a brief nod, before joining King John and his guards as they headed back to their quarters.

"What are you going to do?" Bailey asked as she peaked out from the tent.

"I don't know, but I'll come up with something." I said.