"Where is my son?" Loras shouts, his voice unrecognizable.Astrid helps Lysa get up and whispers to her that Omar found his way to the dragon cave and is now with his aunts. Once she hears that, color returns to her face and she starts crying hysterically.Everyone turns to them, distracted by the noise. Everyone but the king, who is so blinded by his rage that he can't hear a thing around him."You're not lying?" Lysa asks, clinging to Astrid's arm with such force that she almost breaks it."He got lost in the corridors. The king's dragon sensed his distress and called for him. That's why he ended with us." Astrid explains and the guards around them exchange questioning looks before glancing at the king."Loras! Loras!" Lysa shouts, running toward him, ignoring the traitorous lords that throw her murdering looks. "Omar is with Astrid! Omar is alright! Our son is alright!"The king's fist freezes in the air and he turns his head to Lysa. His former favorite is in tears, happiness mixe
"All hail to King Loras Dardarian and Queen Astrid Dardarian!" The guard announces them solemnly as they step through the gold doors. The banquet room is filled with the noble lords and ladies of the kingdom, diplomats from beyond the seas and high members of the land councils. They all bow in front of the royal couple as they slowly make their way to the other side of the room, where the thrones await.Astrid looks at Loras, who is holding her hand. So many years passed, so many troubles they overcame and with every second that they live she feels that not a thousand lives would be enough next to him. Loras notices her melancholic glance and smiles."This is not the day for unpleasant feelings, my little one! This is a day of celebration." He whispers, the feeling of his breath on her neck, still giving her shivers of pleasure after so many years."I am old, Loras. When will you stop calling me little one?" She laughs."Do you want me to find you another nickname in the next life?"A
The man looks bored. A beauty is trying to whisper something into his ear, but no words could reach him. Because the king is empty on the inside. He has nothing to wish for. Because there is nothing he doesn't have already.Until his eyes fall on one of the slave girls that were brought to him as a coronation gift. They all look small and pathetic; terrified.Except for this one. Her eyes don't fall to the ground when he notices her. She does not tremble or turn.She stares at him. Her eyes holding a fire that burns him inside. Excitement. It's been too long since he felt that.#One day earlier#The old ship tilts as the sea attempts to drown the sinners that took refuge on it. Astrid smiles at the thought."God, if you hear us. Sink this ship and let the screams of those animals be the last thing I hear!" The beautiful woman prays out loud looking straight at the captain.One of his loyal monkeys takes a step toward her."Let her be. If God would listen to her she wouldn't be here."
"Get in line! Come on, stop moving around!" The chaperone says clapping her hands. A few eunuchs shove the girls together. "You are not kids anymore. Your life from before is gone. You are now the property of King Loras. You are his concubines. His women. You have to act accordingly."Astrid feels nauseous. How on earth did this happen?On a balcony, above the shared bedroom of the new girls, the favorites are staring down, laughing, and pointing at the skinny slaves. No competition for them, only maids to help around. After all, they are legendary beauties from the southern tribes. Those girls are nothing but northern savages."Is that the one?" A caramel-skinned woman, dressed all in gold asks the chaperone from above."Your Grace! Is...this is the... girl." The chaperone answers with a trembling voice.The woman approaches Astrid slowly, her steps so light and inaudible that she seems to be floating. Once face to face, the two women look at each other."How dare you, girl? Bow your
Astrid wakes up in the morning. She enjoys how the soft silk brushes over her naked body for a moment.Naked body?She jumps out of bed, looking around. She doesn't recognize the room and as the memories of previous night come back, she is frozen in terror. What happened after she fell from the balcony? She is obviously alive... So she didn't dream about the dragon. But if she didn't dream about that how did she end up here? More than that. Why did she end up wearing nothing...She takes a deep breath and starts looking for her clothes, but they aren't anywhere in sight. She wants to open the cabinets, but she doesn't know whose room is this and she doesn't want to steal clothes.She sighs. She wraps the silk sheet over her chest and slowly opens the door. She takes a sneak peek outside, but it's just another empty room.She looks around here too, hoping she can find her dress.Focused on that, she doesn't notice when the door opens."Astrid?"Astrid jumps out of her skin."Tamara?"T
"A dance party?" Lanna asks and Astrid signals her to shush."Tam... Lady Tamara said that the Governor of the Private Chambers asked The Lady Chaperone to choose some girls to dance for the king and his family. They will probably choose favorites, but we get to help around and join the feast!" Astrid says, excited. She was in the kitchen earlier preparing to bring breakfast for the princess and she managed to catch a glimpse of the delicious food the cooks were preparing."Governor of the Private Chambers?" Lanna asks, amused.Astrid laughs."I know. It sounds made up. I thought Tamara was joking, but they do have that position. It's important too, apparently.""These people are so pompous. It's insane."The girls laugh until The Lady Chaperone enters the big room where they all relax. She looks around and seems mad."Staying around all day. You understood nothing of what I told you!" She hits the ground with her cane and all the girls rush to form a line and bow their heads.They've
Astrid can't seem to find her sleep tonight. The events from earlier still play through her mind over and over again.She sighs, opening her eyes. It's pointless to try and fall asleep now, the sun will be up in an hour or two anyway. She makes her way to the balcony, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders.The cold air cleans her mind, at least a little bit.Why was she so bothered anyway? She told herself that it’s because she was worried about something bad happening to Lanna, but she knows that's a lie. And Lanna was so happy. She even smiled at Astrid once the party was over and she was rushed to be prepared. She will become a favorite, doing nothing but making sure she looks pretty all day.And Astrid is happy for her friend. Astrid should be happy for her friend. But earlier, when the king locked eyes with her from across the room, she felt something.She shakes her head. Everyone telling her she was somehow special to the king must have gotten into her head. And she didn't
Astrid didn't expect a royal dinner to be this... casual. They laugh, they drink and they tell stories from their past. Tamara didn't exaggerate at all, they do seem very close to one another. And to her surprise, Astrid didn't feel like the third wheel to the cart, their comfort around each other extended to her and she was able to join their conversations in a way that felt natural. She told stories from her childhood, laughed, and joked like she was around her own family. The king listened to her, laughed and shared his stories too. As the night continued, they seemed so engaged in their own conversation that they didn't even notice Tamara going to the balcony. And it was not like Astrid imagined. He wasn't seductive, not in an aggressive way, he was charming and open. He made Astrid feel like...home. When about an hour passed and they realized Tamara was gone, the king went to check on her on the balcony and Astrid was left behind to take a look around the huge room. "Astrid,