Everyone was still waiting for the fire to light, but the pit remained dark.
Then they all swelled like a storm tide, hushed voices giving way to accusations, eyes turning one by one toward Ashen. He also understood that look he knew what would be coming next.
"It must be because of his appearance." one of the men in the midst of the crowd let out.
"The fire used to bless us every year!" another shouted. "But look at it now! Cold! The dragons refuse to answer."
"It is the cursed prince," someone else said, louder this time, and that single phrase seemed to ignite the rest of the crowd.
"Send him away before we bring ruin upon us all!"
Ashen stood still, his silver hair glinting faintly in the moonlight. Every word coming from the people hurts him like hell.
Lumina, who was standing beside himmight not have seen the gazes if the people pointing fingers at her husband, but the way the voices rose, told her everything.
Before she could speak, a low chuckle sounded across the assembly. Adam stepped forward from among the high lords, his face the picture of solemn pity, though his eyes gleamed with triumph.
Adam only stood there having a huge grin plastered on his face as he recalled how he had made his aide sabotage the normal space the fire was supposed to be blown out tonight.
He was sure that by the time everyone reflected on what must have happened, they would blame his brother for it, which is exactly what he wants.
He directed his gaze toward where Lumina stood sinister grin on his face, "Hope this would teach you not to mess with me.." he mumbled seeing how her maids hadn’t come with her tonight.
Several insulting comment was thrown at Ashen still he didn’t move an inch or even try to stop them.
King Aden ok the other hand sat unmoving on his throne, his eyes fixed on the sacred pit.
He knew that the dragons had not been present in Drakonia since Ashen’s birth, knew that this ritual had been little more than a symbolic gesture for years. And yet, if he spoke now, the court would demand to know why the dragons were gone. It would tear open secrets he had fought all his life to bury.
Still, he couldn’t help but wonder what must have happened to the mechanism used to blow out fire.
He was still in his deep thought when the crowd turned once more to Ashen, voices rising, demanding answers.
Lumina’s voice rang out, and at once everyone fell silent.
"What is wrong with you all?" she demanded. "Calling him cursed because a fire failed to light? Do you truly believe that a man’s very existence can halt the will of dragons?"
A cold, mocking laugh echoed through the courtyard and it was Queen Sephora.
"My dear princess," Sephora said with a sweetness accentuated with irritation.
"I know you do not wish to believe the truth, but you must not let love blind you. Even Ashen himself knows what he is. He knows what his birth cost us all."
The queen’s voice grew louder, so that all might hear.
"I am not speaking as a mother, but as the queen of this realm. We rule for the good of our people, not for the sake of one son who was born under ill-fated stars. If he must be kept from this festival, then so be it. It is what I begged the king to do long ago. But he refused, and now you see the result."
Her words rang out like a judgment passed and Ashen couldn’t be more hurt than hearing the words coming from his own mother.
Lumina on the other hand was speechless hearing a mother condemn her own child in front of the whole realm on a festival day made her stomach twist.
"You would cast him out for an action he knows nothing about?" Lumina asked softly. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ noveⅼfire.net
"For the sake of the people," Sephora replied coldly. "This realm cannot suffer his curse any longer." The crowd murmured in agreement, emboldened by the queen’s words.
Lumina took a step forward, her anger rising like a tide, her husband tried to hold her but she smacked his hands off.
"You will not speak of him this way," she said fiercely. "Not while I stand here."
Everyone turned mute again, while Ashen was stunned at how someone was standing up for him. But before the queen could reply, a sound shattered the night.
A deep, echoing roar that seemed to come from the very bones of the earth. Every head turned skyward trying to undertand they didn’t just hear the wrong sound.
Another roar followed, louder, closer, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
Even King Aden’s eyes widened, his hands curling into fists on the arms of his throne.
It had been decades since he last heard that sound decades since any dragon had dared show itself in the skies of Drakonia.
"This can’t be true," he whispered to himself a huge grin appearing on his face.
Just then a massive shadow swept over the moon, its wingspan so wide it blotted out the stars.
The courtyard erupted into chaos some screaming, some falling to their knees in awe, others weeping as they pointed to the sky.
"The dragon!" someone cried. "It’s the dragon!"
The huge creature descended with a deafening roar, circling above the palace before unleashing a torrent of fire that lit up the night.
The once-dead fire pit burst into life, flames soaring higher than any had seen in living memory.
The people were stunned into silence, then into rapture. Cheers broke out, voices crying, "Blessing! The dragon blesses us!"
"Everyone bow!" The king’s voice homered as everyone including the stunned Lords showed respect joy appearing on their faces.
Queen Sephora ripped the edge of her seat so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Ashen tilted his head back, his expression blank, but there was a flicker in his eyes.
The firelight danced over his features, and for one brief, moment he met with the so-called huge creature and he recognized it at once.
"Aria..." he let out in shock now guessing everything right because he was pretty sure the Dragons were not planning to show themselves.
A snicker escaped his lips as he understood. Aria had used her trick of illusion to make everyone believe she was a dragon while she took the form of her own shape, which also had the form of a dragon.