CHAPTER 2

nce Briana-Kali and Alymer arrived at the castle a violet colored dragon that was nearly three heads taller than the princess greeted them at the stables. It lowered it’s head down and rubbed it against Briana-Kali’s shoulder as if it sensed her distress. Absently the young princess patted the dragon on it’s head as she said, “Rialth, my friend, I sometimes think you know me better than I know myself.”

“Maybe he’s trying to say you need to take it easy Cousin.” A soft voice said from the stable door. Briana-Kali turned and saw her older cousin Devin leaning against the door fame. Her long brown and white striped hair fell in soft curls over her shoulders. Devin was wearing a deep forest green tunic that had long white sleeves, with that tunic she wore a matching skirt and on her feet light brown sandals on her feet. Devin walked toward Briana-Kali with her arms folded. “And why were you not at the council meeting today?” she asked almost as sternly a parent who caught their child skipping school. “Lynne, had a fit when you didn’t show up.”

Briana-Kali turned to stroke Rialth on the nose as she said,” Lynne, can go dunk herself in the Vie for all I care,” almost angerily.

“Briana,” Devin started in an overly parental tone.

“What’s the point of my going?” Briana-Kali asked as she twirled around to face her cousin, “Lynne dosen’t listen to me. By the gods I am the Head of Defense for Draellmen, and how does she treat me? Like, I’m a child who doesn’t know any better.”

“There is still the chance that you might take the throne,” Devin reminded her cousin.

Briana-Kali quickly raised her hands as she cried out in near anger,”Why does everyone keep remininding me of that?!!! I do not want the throne of Draellmen!!!!” she closed her eyes for a second than said quite calmly, “Lynne is first born. She is to rule.”

Devin looked at Briana-Kali, “But there are those in Council who feel you to be the better ruler. If only you would apply yourself.....”

Briana-Kali cut her off, “I know you mean well Cousin, but the fact still remains that I don’t want to rule. I am happy where I am at. It is true, that Lynne and I don’t get along as sisters should. I appreciate that there are those who look in favor to me, but she is the best choice for rulership. If I can admit that, than it must be true. Now you will have to excuse me,” and she walked, with Rialth out the stable leaving devin behind.

As she walked to the castle she thought about what her cousin had said. Briana-Kali knew that Devin had only the best of intentions when trying to push her into taking the throne. But, the young princess knew that rulership was not her destiny. So lost in her thoughts she didn’t even notice her friend J.C. until she ran smak dab into him.

“You okay?” he asked as he grabbed her arms so she wouldn’t lose her balance.

She looked in his gold hazel eyes as she muttered, “Uh yeah, I’m okay. Sorry.”

He playfully punched her in the jaw as he said, “That’s okay. I gotta go get ready for tonights gala.”

For some reason Briana-Kali felt her heart quicken. She noticed that it was doing that quite often around him for the past fortnight. She acted like she had her senses together when she asked him, “Do you have a date?” J.C answered by nodding, his black hair bouncing up and down. “Well, I’ll let you go get ready.” she laughed almost nervously, “I nearly forgot I’ve got to do the same.”

J.C looked at Briana-Kali with an eyebrow raised questionly, “You’re going?”

Whatever nervousness Briana-Kali felt quickly dissolved as her temper which she was famous for, started to flare again, “And why shouldn’t I go? After all I am 16, and the princess with more right and reason to be there than you.” She paused to close her eyes. Silently she counted to ten. When she opened her eyes she once again gazed into J.C’s eyes. ‘ I’ve got to stop diving off the dragon’s wings, ’ she thought. “ I am sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just that Devin has been raising my scales since council has expressed intrest in naming me as the Dragon’s heir....it’s just been a real trying day,” she said outloud. “I’ll see you later.” And she made a hasty retreat to her private chambers.

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