Chapter 16:

The sun was rising east over the kingdom of Berlar. The air was silent except for the whistle of the wind through the trees. Everyone could feel the sorrow throughout the kingdom. It was to be a solemn day, a day of mourning. Azareth walked out onto her balcony, letting the cold morning breeze blow through her hair. She was to lead the kingdom down to the docks in a few hours, but she couldn’t seem to find the strength to get dressed. Her nightgown was dancing around her ankles as she looked over her kingdom.

It was going to be hers. After today she would only have three days to prepare for the coronation. The ceremony crowning her Queen of Berlar. It terrified her, but she knew it was the only choice she had. She was the only living heir to the throne and the people were counting on her. Azareth ran her fingers through her hair, looking at the sky. It was a dull grey colour, as though it knew what today was. There was a knock on her bedroom door, she turned slowly and made her way over to the door. She took a deep breath in and opened the door.

“Hello?” she asked. When she saw it was Miss Midrina she sighed and tried to shut the door again. Miss Midrina pushed her way into the room and sighed when she saw the mess. Azareth had locked herself in her for four days now, only opening the door to receive meals when she was desperate enough to eat.

“By gods, you can’t live like this child,” Midrina said. She turned to see Azareth had climbed back into her bed. The covers were pulled over her head and Midrina couldn’t see any part of her.

“Leave me alone,” Azareth mumbled from under the blanket. Midrina stomped her foot and yanked the blanket off of Azareth.

“Enough is enough, do you believe you are the only one grieving?” she said glaring down at Azareth. Azareth looked over her shoulder at Midrina and saw tears in her eyes. Azareth turned away and sniffled as her tears formed.

“I know I’m not,” Azareth said. “I don’t know how to do this? How to move on and show the people a new way.”

“I know, none of us do. Come now, let’s get you dressed and fed.” Midrina helped Azareth sit up. She was pale, her eyes swollen and red from crying. Azareth let Midrina lead her around the room and over to her chair and table.

It wasn’t long before Azareth was cleaned up and dressed. She stood up and glanced at herself in the mirror. Her long brown hair was brushed and hung down her back, the waves coming through. The dress she wore was all black with a high waist. The neckline was cut low, but the caller was high on her neck. It framed her jawline nicely, it was covered in silver beading that flowed down her shoulders and stopped in her mid arms. The sleeves were extremely long, they hung down to her knees but she was able to get her hands free through the flowing opening. The skirt of her dress touched the ground, the train dragged behind her a couple of feet.

“There, you’re ready,” Midrina said. Azareth shut her eyes and dropped her head. There was a soft knock on the door, she heard Midrina walk away from her. The door opened and there were a few whispered words.

“You’re majesty,” Artibain’s voice came from behind her. Azareth opened her eyes but she didn’t move from her spot. She heard a couple of different sets of footsteps enter her room.

“Az?” Jurah’s voice rang through the air. Azareth slowly turned and saw the two of them were dressed in black formal wear. They were both well-groomed, Artibain looked as though he received a haircut. His hair was a tad shorter than what Azareth was used to seeing, but it suited him.

“I’m alright,” Azareth said softly. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but she knew that was the question on the boys’ minds. Jurah walked forward and Azareth took a step back, afraid if he got too close she would break again.

“We are here for you,” Jurah told her. He reached out his hand and waited for Azareth to take it. Azareth shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. Jurah took a few more steps towards her, but this time Azareth let him stop right in front of her.

“I don’t know how to do this,” Azareth said. She felt the lump forming in her throat, she sniffled and looked up at Jurah.

“You don’t have to do it alone,” Jurah said. He took her hand from her side and gently ran his thumb over hers. Artibain stepped forward and looked at Azareth with a soft smile.

“You have support here, we aren’t going anywhere,” Artibain said. Azareth turned to him and saw the kindness he had for her. Jurah began to gently lead Azareth towards the bedroom door, hoping to take her down for breakfast before the upcoming event.

The four of them slowly walked through the halls and down to the dining hall. The table was set, food was served already as they all entered the room. Azareth looked around and saw all of the staff bowing their heads as she passed. She dropped her head not wanting to make eye contact. Jurah let her sit down first, then he sat down next to her.

“Shall we eat?” Jurah asked her. Azareth looked at the food on her plate. Eggs, some pork and bread on the side. There was even a big bowl of different fruit for them to pick at. Azareth lifted her hand and took a piece of bread. They all ate in silence, but it was a calm silence. No one was feeling awkward or upset.

“Azareth,” a voice echoed through Azareth’s head. She looked up, taking in her surroundings. Jurah and Artibain were eating, not paying her any attention at the moment. There was no one else in the room, she shook her head and took another bite.

“Azareth,” the voice echoed again. Azareth dropped her fork and looked around them again.

“Az? What is it?” Jurah asked. Azareth looked over at him and then behind him.

“I heard a voice,” she said.

“A voice?” Artibain asked. “I didn’t hear anything, what did it say?”

“My name.”

“Was it Cephie?” Jurah asked. Azareth shook her head, sat up on the edge of her seat.

“It wasn’t. Cephie’s voice, it’s light and airy, this voice was deep and serious. Not mean, but familiar.”

“Familiar?” Artibain asked. Azareth looked around, nothing was out of the ordinary. She

didn’t see any faces she didn’t recognize.

“Azareth,” the voice said again. Azareth stood up and turned to look out one of the windows. She saw that Cephie was in the field, basking in the morning light. Azareth pushed her chair out and ran towards the door.

“Azareth?!” Jurah yelled. She was gone down the hallway and in the front entrance, the doors opened and she ran through. People turned to look at her as she ran towards the field, she ignored the looks and whispers. Azareth needed to speak with Cephie, she needed to know if what she was hearing was what she thought it was.

“Cephie!” Azareth called as she ran down the hill. Cephie looked up at Azareth, a calming feeling washed over Azareth as she locked eyes with Cephie. She didn’t realize how much being near Cephie helped her feel better. Azareth stopped in front of Cephie, who lowered her head and nudged Azareth.

“I have missed you, are you alright?” Cephie asked her. Azareth ran her hand over Chepie’s snout and shook her head.

“I think I am hearing my father’s dragon,” Azareth said. Cephie leaned back and looked at Azareth.

“Hearing him? How so?”

“In my head, as though he’s trying to communicate with me. Is that even possible? To hear another lord’s dragon?” Azareth asked, she was confused and trying to wrap her brain around things.

“I haven’t heard of it happening before, but it could be your blood,” Cephie said. Azareth knitted her eyebrows together.

“My blood?”

“The family bloodline, it is possible that Pendrie is trying to use your relation to your father to communicate.”

“That seems impossible.”

“You are hearing a voice, is it too hard to believe?” Cephie said. Azareth took a deep breath and rubbed her face. “Pendrie and the others never returned from the excursion. If their lords were gone they would return to say goodbye.”

“I’ve been thinking about that too, only Captain Sansun returned, but without his dragon.” Azareth and Cephie shared a look. She thought about it and nodded with Cephie “Can you locate them?”

“The others and I can search,” Cephie said. Azareth reached up and ran her hand over Cephie’s nose.

“Please be safe,” Azareth said. Cephie nodded and then turned away from her. Azareth watched as Cephie took off and flew towards the resting grounds. Azareth turns to see Jurah and Artibain standing at the top of the hill, waiting for her. She made her way up the hill, the two men stood watching her. She stopped next to them and examined their faces, both full of worry.

“What happened?” Artibain asked.

“I’ll explain, but not here,” Azareth said. She looked around, feeling eyes on her.

“We have to go, it’s nearly time,” Jurah said. He held out his arm for her and Azareth linked her arm with his. The three of them walked back up to the castle where Miss. Midrina was waiting for her. After scolding Azareth for running off, she went over how today was going to go.

“Now, when the bell rings, that is when the doors will open and you will lead us all down to the docks,” Miss Midrina said. Azareth nodded, she was adjusting the veil on her head.

She hated it, it was digging into her scalp and was kind of itchy. Jurah smiled at her, seeing her fidget with the garment and her dress. He knew she wasn’t comfortable in the proper wardrobe of the royal. The tower bell rang three times, Azareth stood in front of the doors waiting for them to open. Miss Midrina quickly pulled the veil over her face and then fell in line behind Azareth.

The doors opened and Azareth began to walk forward. The funeral ceremony was beginning, to mourn the death of the beloved King Andrion. The citizens all stood along the main street through the city, waiting for their future queen to pass before following her lead. It was quiet, no one spoke and made a sound. Jurah and Artibain walked right behind Azareth, followed by Midrina and then Captain Sansun.

Azareth wanted to look behind her and see how everyone was reacting. She knew though if she looked back it would ruin the ceremony and her people would not respect her. She need to focus, this was her first important moment as the next queen. Azareth leads the kingdom through the main gates of the city and down the hill towards the docks. The red flowers covering the hillside almost glowed in the sombre aura.

The large crowd stopped as Azareth reached the edge of the dock. She was to go on by herself, to the end where a small decorated boat floated next to the dock. Azareth stopped next to the boat and looked to see her father’s head was laid in a bed of red flowers. She was grateful for the vail, hiding her tears and quivering lip. She took the torch off the pole and lit it, the flame growing in her hand. She had to say the prayer, sending her father off to the afterlife.

“Let your soul be free to sore among the clouds with the great dragons. Shall you forever be at peace, away from the hardships this world brings. Let the fire you lit in each of us burn bright in your absence, reminding us of the times we shared. Fly free, King Andrion.” Azareth finished speaking, she leaned forward and lit the boat on fire. As the flames on the boat grew, she pushed the boat away from the dock.

The crowd behind her was silent. They all stood and watched as the boat drifted off, growing smaller in the distance. When they could no longer see the boat, Azareth returned to the crowd and removed her veil.

“Thank you all for coming to pay your respects,” she said. The crowd of citizens bowed their heads before they returned to their normal lives. Miss Midrina hugged Azareth before she had to return to the castle. Azareth, Artibain and Jurah watched everyone leave, they were left alone.

“Are you okay?” Artibain asked. They all moved closer to each other, feeling comfortable in each other’s presence.

“Yes, I’ll be okay,” Azareth said. She pulled the veil off her head and shook out her hair. “It feels better, sending him off and mourning with everyone.”

“Of course, everyone needed to say goodbye,” Jurah said. Azareth nodded her head and smiled. Her facial expression quickly changed when she remembered what she and Cephie talked about before the ceremony.

“I need you to promise that what I’m about to tell you will stay between us,” she said. The men were taken aback by her sudden change.

“Yeah,” Artibain said.

“We promise,” Jurah said. Azareth took a deep breath, she looked to see no one was in earshot of them.

“I think Captain Sansun had something to do with my father’s death. He’s the only one to return from the excursion, including the dragons.”

“I agree that is suspicious, but it could also be a coincidence. We have no proof,” Jurah said. Artibain cleared his throat.

“If he did have something to do with the king’s death, what do you propose we do about it?” Artibain asked. Azareth looked down at the ground and sighed.

“I don’t know, but we should figure out what happened over there before we point fingers.”

“Agreed,” the two men said.