Azareth and Cephie were flying through the cold morning air. It was a couple hours after sunrise and Azareth couldn’t stop the tears in her eyes. She sat up straight looked to see land growing in the distance. Cephie flew down closer to the water, creating a light mist that blew into Azareth’s face. She sighed and looked back, she could no longer see Berlar in the distance.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Cephie asked her. Azareth sighed and looked forward.

“I’m meeting with King Bledric,” Azareth said. Cephie jerked up and spun around. she started heading towards Berlar. “Cephie!” Azareth yelled.

“I am not taking you,” Cephie said. Azareth gripped onto Cephie, trying not to slip off at the quick change in direction.

“Cephie, please I have to do this,” Azareth said. Cephie looked back and narrowed her eyes at Azareth. “I don’t want to, trust me. I wish there was another way, but he’s threatening my people.”

“What about you?” Cephie asked. Azareth shook her head and looked Cephie in the eye.

“My people have to come first, you know that,” she said. Cephie turned away and looked ahead of them. Cephie huffed and a bit of smoke came out of her nose. Azareth waited a moment and then felt Cephie bank back around. Azareth knew it wasn’t easy for anyone, but seeing Cephie agree with the others hit her hard.

They were flying over the trees, scanning the area for the clearing Sansun described. Azareth spotted the clearing and nudged Cephie with her knee. Cephie turned and flew towards the clearing, landed moments later. It was a large clearing and they could see if there was an attack coming. If they saw anyone other than the king, they would have enough time to take off.

“I’m not leaving you,” Cephie said. Azareth rubbed her hand over Cephie’s neck. She felt better knowing the dragon wasn’t going to abandon her. It was only a few minutes later they heard an odd whinnying. Azareth looked across the clearing and saw a man riding an animal she’d never seen before.

“What is that?” Azareth whispered to Cephie.

“An Ocla, rare creatures. I haven’t seen them anywhere else, but this Asleria,” Cephie said. Azareth stared at the large creature amazed. It was a beautiful purple colour with wite and gold mane. It didn’t have a tail and had small round ears. What shocked her the most was that it had six large muscular legs.

“It’s amazing,” Azareth said softly. The man riding the Ocla stopped about thirty feet away from Cephie and Azareth. He climbed off the Ocla and stood staring up at Azareth. He was an older man, with long grey hair and beard. He wore a golden crown on his head. Azareth slipped off Cephie, hitting the ground hard. She stood up straight and gripped onto the hilt of her sword. She looked the man over and saw he was wear a large fur coat and huge black boots. His leather pants her tucked into his boots.

“You’re majesty,” he said, bowing his head slightly towards her. Azareth bowed her head slightly and took a few steps forward.

“King Bledric,” Azareth said. He smiled at her, then followed her led and walked forward. They stopped, now only fifteen feet from each other. Azareth could see now how old he was. The wrinkles creasing around his eyes and mouth. She saw that his right eye was clouded white and he smirked at her.

“Thank you for meeting me,” he said. She nodded her head and swallowed hard. “I understand it can’t be easy, seeing as I am the reason your fath is dead.”

“Don’t talk about him,” Azareth snapped. Bledric grinned and raised his hands defensively.

“My apologies,” he said.

“Azareth, I don’t trust me,” Cephie told Azareth. Azareth didn’t react to her words, knowing better. She gripped onto her sword tighter.

“Shall we discuss terms then? I understand you want to reach some terms of surrender?”

“Yes, you’re surrender,” Azareth said. Bledric raised an eyebrow at her and shook his head.

“Sweetheart, that’s never going to happen.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart,” Azareth spat. She took a stern step forwards. “I am a Queen. I will allow you and your people to live in your kingdom, but if you threaten my people again. I will retaliate.”

“Oh , will you?” Bledric asked her. He took several steps forward. Azareth stood her ground, but she heard Cephie growl behind her. Bledric was now only a couple feet from her. “I’m not scared of you little girl, or your dragon.”

“You should be,” Azareth said. She raised her left hand and flames erupted around her hand. Bledric looked at her hand, but he was unfazed.

“I see the rumours are true then. The royal bloodline has extra gifts,” Bledric said. Azareth grinned and took one last step forward.

“I will burn you alive, if you don’t stand down,” Azareth said.

“Why would I stand down? I have all the power now,” Bledric said. Azareth faltered for a second and looked at him confused. “You honestly think I came alone?”

“What?” Azareth asked. Bledric put his fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly. Azareth heard hollering coming from the trees around them. “Cephie!” Azareth yelled. She spun around and tried to run towards her dragon. Cephie roared as hundreds of men riding Oclas began to fire arrows at her.

“No!” Azareth screamed. Bledric grabbed her arm and Azareth turned to glare at him.

“Non magis ignis,” Bledric said. Azareth tried to light to hands on fire, but nothing happened. She looked at him horrified. “Tell the dragon to leave.”

“What?” Azareth asked him. She turned around and saw a few arrowed we not embedded in Cephie’s legs and body. “Cephie!” Azareth yelled. Cephie blew flames at half of the men, causing them to scream in agony.

“Do it, or you die,” Bledric said. He wrapped his arm around Azareth’s shoulders and brought a knife up to her throat.

“Cephie, stop!” Azareth yelled. The dragon turned around and glared it’s bright blue eyes at them. Cephie stopped when she saw that Azareth was in trouble.

“Azareth, what do I do?” Cephie asked.

“Go home,” Azareth said. The air settling into silence as the men stopped yelling and Cephie had stopped to stare at Azareth.

“I can’t leave you, I won’t leave you,” Cephie told her.

“Cephie, I’ll be okay, go home,” Azareth said. Cephie made no effort to move, she shook her head and lowered herself to the ground. “Trust me, please.”

“What about everyone back home?” Cephie asked. Azareth nodded her head slightly.

“Hurry, please,” Azareth said. Cephie took a long look, but nodded her head once. She pushed off and flew off back towards Berlar. “Thank you.” Azareth sniffed, as Bledric dropped the blade from her throat.

“Come with me, your majesty,” Bledric said. He grabbed Azareth’s hands and lead her back towards the Ocla. He tied her hands in front of her and to a long rope. Bledric climbed onto the Ocla and smiled down at Azareth. “Try to keep up.” Azareth glared at him, as he started to ride east.

Azareth’s feet were aching. Her wrists were bleeding where the rope had cut into her skin. Every time Bledric pulled on the ropes, he cut her wrists deeper. The sun was high in the sky, starting to set. She looked ahead of her as sweat stung her eyes. Large walls of the city limits were coming into view. Azareth looked and saw there were sentries all along the walls, armed with bows.

There was a huge river in front of the wall, with only one way to cross. A large drawbridge was being lowered as Bledric stopped at the edge of the river. Azareth stopped and took the chance to catch her breath. As the bridge stopped, Bledric yanked on the ropes and pulled Azareth forward. She grimaced and walked after him.

The large gates to the city opened and hundreds of people stood cheering on the other side. As they walked through the gate, Azareth took in everything she could. The city was built of stone, banners of the royal family hung everywhere. People cheered and bowed as Bledric rode through the crowds. A few people booed and threw rotten food at Azareth. She tried to protect her head from the flying objects, but Bledric pulled her hands away from her face.

“Let the citizens of Asleria see the conquered queen of Berlar,” Bledric said. Azareth stood up tall and held her head up high. She tried not to show pain or any kind of emotion as people yelled at her.

“Long live the king!” the people cheered. The convoy entered the center of the city and Azareth was horrified. She saw the large metal cage her father’s men were trapped in. Artibain’s information was accurate. The men looked starved and sickly as Azareth was forced to walked past them. They all looked up at her and she could see the defeat in their eyes as she locked eyed with them.

“I’m sorry,” Azareth mouthed to them. “Help is coming.” She hoped they understood her silent words. Azareth turned to see Bledric was leading them to the castle. It was huge, twice the size of the castle in Berlar. The stone steps up to the castle were huge and looked impossible to climb after being dragged all the way to the city.

“Let’s go,” Bledric said, as he dropped down to the ground. He dragged Azareth up the stairs and the doors opened as they started up. Bledric was snickering as he turned to see how exhausted Azareth looked.

“You’re going to regret this,” Azareth spat at him. Bledric laughed and pulled the rope as hard as he could, forcing Azareth to trip and fall to her knees. He bent down next to her and gripped on to her chin tightly.

“You’ll learn to respect me,” Bledric said. “I am the true king of this world, you’ll best remember that.”