Day 7
Jessica Wildness had the date of her life. The dragon prince was… creative and she liked it. He was also handsome, easy to visually enjoy and enjoy she was. She lay awake in bed remembering her date. So far, she liked him the most. He was clean and smelt nice unlike most of the men on the barracks. His friend Yair was a little annoying as he was always around, but at least he understood English.
A maid came in. She laid out clothes on the bed for her and scurried out.
It was a pretty light blue dress with white trimmings. Not puffy or frilly but simply elegant.
Jessica wished women didn’t have to wear dresses. She wondered if it was so they couldn’t defend themselves.
She got up and got dressed. She was looking forward to seeing Prince Drake.
She went to the mess hall. A large group of slaves stood near the prince, hoping to make their requests known.
Shane West, was finally sleeping on something better than a damp cold floor. The prince taking an interest in Jessica seemed to be the best thing that happened to them.
The prince was keen to leave the barracks and sent his follower Yair, with a message that they would be leaving in the morning.
He was however nervous, leaving the barracks could be a great thing or it could be a terrible mistake.
Very few things bothered or scared Shane. He took life as it came and handled things along the way. He tried to maintain his character and integrity but this world, Chayim, was testing his abilities.
Being rat food while still being alive kept him up, it lingered within him. A nightmare that has a bad feeling that stays with you. A feeling you can’t quite shake off.
A slave boy come it. He put clothes on the bed for Shane and left. Shane got dressed and went to meet up with Jessica.
The red head was in the mess hall. She looked beautiful. Tan leather shoes on her feet and a light blue dress.
“You look nice.” Shane said.
“Thank you. I wish women could wear proper clothes. However, I will not complain as tomorrow is moving day.”
She took a deep breath as if breathing that’s countries air for the last time before boarding a plane.
“How are you today?” she asked.
“Sore, alive. Worried more bad things await us on the other side.”
“You are a good man. You have been kind to me when I didn’t deserve it. You asked for the teacher’s freedom. Which you risked a lot doing. Good people go through stuff but good things happen to them too. Karma.”
Shane thought about all the people he hadn’t helped and all the suffering he was now ignoring and leaving behind.
“Plus, I was told that Drake. I mean Prince Drake is sending mystic healers for the sick. They have some kind of magic that can heal anything.” Jessica added seeing his face was forlorn.
Shane felt better hearing that.
“Thank you. Even though you are a difficult woman you are brave and you speak up. Even when opposed by powerful people.”
Jessica smiled
“I hope we can be friends for life.” She pondered.
“I’m your brother. Unless we get off this rock.”
So, they smiled, feeling like someone had their back and even if nothing was right in the world, they wouldn’t be alone.
They went and ate with all the common people. Like they always had. Then Pragya came and sat with Shane. She was no longer wearing rags like before, but a pretty white dress. Her white hair was in an updo and her lilac eyes shone.
Shane found her beauty mesmerizing. Her eyes were so unusual and beautiful to him.
“Shane you’re staring.” Jessica said.
Then Prince Drake looked at her. Making eye contact and smiling.
Jessica stared at him. His longish brown hair curled on his neck. He looked like the hero from a movie. Strong, handsome, eye candy, able and capable.
“You’re staring.” Shane said.
“It’s called enjoying the view.” Jessica corrected not looking away.
Drake made an announcement that he would be leaving in the morning and he was going to send help for the sick.
The prince was a busy man who attended to many matters. However, as the afternoon set in, he decided he was not staying another night. So, he sent Yair to collect and tell those traveling with him.
“Please come with me. Please gather your things, we will be leaving now.” Yair said to Shane, Pragya and Jessica.
Shane ran to fetch his things. He felt it was only right that he said goodbye to the new General Magofilies.
“Goodbye General. Do right by the people you care for.” Shane said.
“May we meet again in happier times.” Magofilies replied.
Jessica also went and said goodbye.
She mounted her dragon and the group left for the heart of the Skiopia kingdom.
The flight was longer than Jessica hoped for but the view was amazing. She could see so much. People as little moving dots of color moved about far below. Animals in the fields indistinguishable.
The forest in its enormousness hiding most of the rivers. Only specs of river could be seen.
As they approached the snow-capped mountains the temperature dropped in a noticeable way.
They flew through snow fall, which made Jessica and Shane very cold. Then everything cleared up. The sun shone down on them and they saw a city. It sparkled in the sun’s rays and glittered. They flew and landed outside a palace which was white, without dirty marks and with golden arches.
“Wow” Jessica said.
People came out. They bowed to the prince who with a nod of his head acknowledged them as he passed.
“Please follow the maids to your rooms.” Yair said.
Women came and led them away to a room. The palace had a center garden with a fountain. It was beautiful. Shane was put on the other side of the garden in a room.
Pragya was placed with Shane.
Unknown to Shane, they thought he wanted her freedom so he could marry her. Not because he was just being nice or liked her. Getting someone their freedom and being called a free woman after being a slave was a big deal! It didn’t happen usually.
If you wanted the slave girl you could buy her. Setting her free, giving her rights… that was an act of love, or infatuation.
“It appears we are sharing.” Shane said awkwardly “You can have the bed. I’ll sleep on this beautiful couch.”
“No,” she said.
Being anything more than a slave was unknown to her.
“I must take the couch.”
“You are the lady here. You will have the bed. It’s only right.” Shane insisted.
His royal vernacular had improved a lot.
Prince Drake approached his father. He told him of all that he had found at the barracks and what he had done. He told him about Shane a physician from another world called earth and Jessica his pretend sister who had red hair. But is not a possible lost heir to the royal throne.
Drake’s father told him about the peace meeting invitation that had arrived an hour before him. It was accompanied by a royal seal of protection. But he was unsure of the queen’s intentions. She had killed many and maybe this was part of her plan. To draw the leaders out and slay them all. He felt that sending his heir was a good idea. It wouldn’t insult the queen and stir her wrath but if killing the Skiopia ruling prince was her plan then it would fail.
So, Drake agreed.
Yair was called by the ruling dragon prince, Drake’s father. He wanted to know what had happened and what he had learnt.
As a knowledge keeper they kept knowledge. They help guide decisions of rulers by giving facts not feelings. Only if someone’s feeling were putting a tribe or the world in danger would they mention it. They wouldn’t lie, but they could withhold information if deemed unnecessary.
“Prince our guest Jessica was being forced to marry General Spade. Who intended to try become king over the land, believing the woman to be the lost royal heir. Drake has brought Spade back with him to settle the matter. Magofilies is now general of the barracks. A slave girl Pragyaparamita was granted her freedom upon the request to Shane. He has science we can benefit from. The woman Jessica was given a dragon which has been tamed and trained by the former General Spade.”
“Yair, I know you only give facts. But maybe today tell me how you feel.”
“My king I have only facts to offer you.”
“Has my son’s head been turned by this Jessica?”
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“Only time will tell.” Yair replied.
“Is Shane and Jessica really brother and sister?”
“They share no blood.” Yair replied.
The prince had over time learnt how to ask questions to get answers.
“Do they know this?” he asked.
“Yes. They choose to stay together. They lied about being family to protect Jessica.”
“Family without blood?” he mused.
“Yair, this slave woman that is now free, will she be a problem?”
“I believe she needs help learning to be a free woman and she is able to keep secrets.”
“Thank you, Yair. You may go.”
The king wanted to meet the visitors. However, protocol required them to be cleaned and dressed before being presented to the ruling prince.
So, the ruling prince sent an order to have them dine with him for the evening meal.
Jessica loved the room she was given. It was big and spacious. Beautiful really, a real bed, pillows, blankets. Even a net around the bed so bugs couldn’t eat her at night.
She grinned, spinning around. Finally, things were getting better. This world was strange but it had potential.
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in” she called
Drake came in.
She froze.
“Hi” she tried in his vernacular.
“Please will you join me for a walk in the garden?” he asked.
However, she didn’t understand most of what he said. But he had extended his hand to her and she took it. Happy that he was paying attention to her again. She understood he was busy and she wasn’t the get- hung- up- over- a –guy kind of girl, so she could take him being busy.
She intended to take photos of everything in the Palace.
He led her into the garden below. The servants stared but when looked at, they looked away. She was holding hands with a prince. Well, she walked beside him with her hand linked onto his arm the way she had seen in old movies. She liked it, how he did things properly so -to – speak.
He had real dates, like watching dragons hatch and walking through a garden.
They came to a swing bench with a creeper flower as a canopy. She sat down and he pushed her.
Even though there was silence between them, it was not awkward at all. Maybe awkward for people watching them, but not for them.
“I wish you could understand me.” He said wishfully.
She smiled at him with a slightly confused look on her face.
Shane watched from above, he was happy for her. The prince was treating her well. He did worry that another forced marriage might be on its way. As Dragon Rider men seemed taken by her. Pragya came and stood next to Shane. She put her hand on his arm. He was surprised, and happy. He hoped she would like him. But he didn’t want her to feel she owed him anything.
“You are a free woman. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” Shane told her.
She just smiled.
Yair came over.
“The prince has requested your company for diner. Please dress accordingly.”
“I don’t have clothes.” Shane said.
“I will have them sent. Bathe yourself, wash three times. The smell of dragon doesn’t wash off the first time.” Yair told him.
He turned to Pragya
“You are also required to be present. Don’t look down. Remember to act like a free woman.”
Yair then went down to Jessica and the prince’s first-born son Drake.
“Ruling Prince Ryu, has required our guests to join him for diner. Protocol is required.” He said to Drake.
“Jessica you must bathe, wash three times so you don’t smell like dragon. Clothes will be sent to you. Please wear them. The prince wishes to dine with you. Please follow protocol and speak only went spoken to. It will embarrass Prince Drake if you meet his father and have no proper etiquette.”
Jessica wasn’t sure if that was offensive or not.
“So, what must I do?” she asked.
“Don’t speak. Wait until the prince says you may start eating. Only drink after the raising of the glass. Don’t pick or fiddle with things. Sit up straight. Smile, chin up.”
“So, diner with my gran.” Jessica said.
So, Jessica went to her room. There was a room off of her room where she could bath. Maids with brushes stood waiting for her.
“I can bath myself” she said
“Please leave” she asked in vernacular.
“We may not.” They replied.
“Please leave” she repeated.
She couldn’t say much more than that.
She chased them out. Then bathed herself. She didn’t like company when bathing. She got out of the bath and got dressed into the clothes laid out for her. A black dress with purple lace.
Could be worse, she thought.
Jessica met Shane and Pragya on her way to the hall. Servants let them.
“I hope the king is nice. Yair seems to think the king won’t like me. He was giving me a speech about behaving. Maybe it’s because of General Spade.”
“How are you handling that?” Shane asked.
“My face still hurts.”
“You have a bruise” Shane said.
“Hope the king doesn’t think its dirt.” Jessica said trying to make a joke
“I am glad we are not at the barracks anymore” she added.
“So am I. Watching all those men. Taken by you, it’s depressing.” Shane joked.
“Says the slave freer.”
“Don’t get ugly.”
“Why her?” Jessica asked.
“She’s special” Shane said.
Pragya smiled. Jessica noticed; she usually did.
“Why?” Jessica asked more interested in Pragya’s response.
“Look at her. What’s not completely fascinating? She has lilac flames in the eyes with blue and white. Plus, she is a teacher, working with children, a sexy job for a woman.”
Pragya didn’t respond at all.
Jessica smiled.
“So, she kissed you and now she is here with you. I think she might just like you too.”
Once again Jessica noticed Pragya appear to respond. It was almost like a shy turn of the head. Common among girls.
Note to self. Don’t say too much around Pragya.
They arrived at the dining hall and it was big. The table could seat about thirty people. It was not a narrow modern table but an old, solid red oak wood table, with space for plates, glasses, trays of food, jugs of wine, and more than enough elbow room.
Prince Ryu, Drake’s father welcomed the visitors. He found Jessica intriguing. Her red hair spoke of royalty and her hair was very red.
They all stood at their places. Places were shown to each by servants. Drake sat at his father’s right side. On Prince Ryu’s left sat the princess, Drake’s mother Libelle. On her left sat Yair. Drake’s brothers sat in order of their age next to Drake. Their only daughter sat on the end. Next to her youngest brother. On the right side of their father. Then it was Shane next to Yair, then Jessica and Pragya next to her. On the left side of the ruling princess. Guards stood at every door and by every window.
The Prince Ryu sat. Then his wife and sons. Then Yair gestured they may sit. Everyone was dressed like a royal. Strong colors, with trims. Hair looking perfect, sitting up straight with their chins up.
Prince Ryu raised his glass (and it was glass not a wooden or metal vessel). Everyone else raised theirs. Servants filled them with wine. Then he drank and everyone else drank.
“If this is what dinner every night is like, being royal stopped appealing.” Jessica whispered to Shane.
He didn’t reply.
Then dinner was served, silver platters or food was brought before them and they got to pick and choose what they wanted. Everything looked good. They were not use to that. Nothing was brown or sludge green. It was fruit and meat roasted. Funny red potatoes and blue potatoes. Everything was so nice. Unlike what they experienced in the barracks.
Jessica felt sad for everyone left behind at the barracks. They all ate goo and yet the royals ate like kings. They were but it didn’t seem right.
“Jessica where are you from?” Prince Ryu asked.
Yair began to translate.
“The prince has asked where you are from Jessica?”
“Yair why do you translate? Does this woman not speak the royal vernacular?” Prince Ryu asked.
“No, she does not.” Yair responded.
“How is it she doesn’t understand?”
“Earth does not have our languages, only one called Latin that is similar.”
“I am from a faraway place called Canada.” Jessica answered unsure if she should answer.
“She says she is from Canada.” Yair translated.
“How does Shane speak?” Ryu asked.
“He learnt some Latin when learning to be a physician.” Yair answered.
“Does she know that we know she is from another world?” Ryu asked.
“No, I have not told her that I know their secret. Shall I?” Yair asked.
“No, let’s hear the story she is telling.” Princess Libelle said.
“Where is your bond mate?” Libelle asked.
Yair translated
“I am a widow. He died in an accident. We have no children.” Jessica said.
“A widow, how sad.” Ryu said.
“I have finished grieving.” Jessica answered.
Drake listened and felt uncomfortable with the game his parents were playing.
“Where is your father?” Ryu asked.
“In a town far from here. In the queen’s territory.” Jessica answered.
Shane tried to signal to her to shop without anyone seeing him do so. But he couldn’t get her attention without getting Yair’s. Someone was always looking at them.
“Why can’t you speak if your father lives in the queen’s territory?” Ryu asked.
“The Prince Ryu and the Princess Libelle want to know how you don’t understand if your father lives near?” Yair asked Jessica.
Jessica thought for a quick second.
“My father moved here for work once I was already married. We are from a far, far away land.”
Yair told them.
Yair was impressed how well she thought on her feet. She lied very well and remembered her original story. It was impressive.
“What is her father’s name that we might seek him out” Prince Ryu asked.
So, Yair asked her.
“Tom of Canada” she answered.
Shane smiled, the town’s sheriff and her home, their home country. Clever.
“Shane, do you speak?” Prince Ryu asked.
“A little, I trained as a physician and where we are from the royal vernacular is used only is some trades.”
“What is this place you are from called?”
“Canada.” Shane answered.
“Does Queen Tiffany rule there?”
“No, we are further than her boarders.”
Shane smiled
“We have been blessed, and your hospitality is the finest. Thank you for having us as guests.”
Flattery, Yair thought, Clever children.
“Are you a relation to the queen?” Ryu asked.
Jessica and Shane were worried by this question.
“No.” Jessica answered.
Prince Ryu smiled as if he knew something they didn’t. As if he knew Jessica was lying.
After that they didn’t ask Jessica anymore questions. Instead, they talked with each other and it was mentioned that Drake would be representing the Skiopia tribe at the peace conference held in a few days. Drake would be taking Yair and Caelin. Caelin was Drake’s bodyguard so to speak.
Pragya was excited to be eating at the table with a royal. It felt strange to be served. But she remembered what Yair told her ‘act like a free woman’. And she did, it was hard not to look down every time someone looked at her but she didn’t look down.
She was a free woman, free to marry, free to return home. Free to find her parents. Or find out what happened to them. She had no limit, it was scary and she owed it all to Shane the man from earth that helped people because he cared.
Jessica found herself wishing to go home again. She liked Drake, but having dinner with his family every night wouldn’t be fun. She really wanted to learn the language but without someone helping her along it was almost impossible.
After dinner, she sat in her room. Looking out the side window at the mountain, snow was falling on it and it looked like it was coming their way.
Then there was a knock on the door. She opened it. Yair was there. She had hoped it was Shane so she could complain about the royal dinner and ask him to write what things are called on everything so she could try to speed up the learning process.
“Yair. How can I help you?”
“The Prince Ryu would like some of your blood.”
She went pale.
“What?!?” she asked freaked out.
“He has requested some of your blood. It will not hurt, just a prick and four drops.” Yair said.
“No!” Jessica said not caring about royal protocol.
“You may not have my blood.”
“He will be very disappointed.”
As soon as Yair left her room she ran to Shane’s room. She knocked once and barged in.
“Shane the freaky king wants my blood.”
She looked at Shane and it looked like they were about to kiss before she interrupted.
“Sorry. Bad timing?”
Shane sighed
“Why would the king want your blood?”
“I don’t know but I told him he can’t have it and now I am freaking out.”
Shane had a horrible feeling too. Ideas like he had before leaving the barracks. Maybe coming to the Palace was a bad idea.
“What do you want to do?” Shane asked trying to stay calm.
“I want to go before they take my blood. Maybe they are Vampires?”
Shane pulled a face.
“Ok maybe they drink people’s blood. Yair can kiss a person and know everything, people are riding dragons the stuff of myths so why not human sacrifices and drinking blood?” Jessica reasoned.
When put like that Shane found it hard to disagree. His own fear was knorring away at him already.
“Ok you have a dragon and you rode it here alone. So, you can ride. Pack your things, I will ask Pragya if she wants to come with us and then we can go.”
Shane asked Pragya who didn’t know what to say.
“Why what happened” she asked.
“They want Jessica’s blood and that’s bad. We are not waiting for thing to go bad like at the barracks. We are leaving. Do you want to come with us?”
“It is your choice. You don’t have to do anything.” He reassured.
“Maybe they want her blood to test if she is a royal?” Pragya suggested.
“What?” Shane asked while packing
“Only the heir to the throne has red hair.”
Shane stopped and looked at her.
“Explain.” He said.
“The queen killed all her relatives so no one could take the throne from her, but there are stories of a lost heir. Maybe they think Jessica is the lost heir?” she suggested.
“Really?” Shane was not amused.
As if an entire country only had two red heads. This was crazy talk.
“Have you seen anyone else with red hair?” Pragya asked seeing Shane didn’t believe her.
“I haven’t seen a lot of people and the people at the barracks were dirty.”
Pragya sighed.
Shane had the feeling she didn’t want to go with and she didn’t have to but asking for blood was creepy.
Pragya left the room.
Jessica packed her things. She was in a hurry. Afraid that at any moment guards would come in and forcibly take her blood.
She saw Yair coming towards her room. She climbed out the window and hid on the ledge. It was cold and the wind was picking up. Yair knocked on the door. She didn’t answer. He knocked again. She ignored it hoping he would go away. He came in, saw she wasn’t there and left.
Pragya came back into the room with Yair.
Shane was annoyed.
“I believe we have offended you. Please allow me to explain.” Yair said.
Shane stopped glaring at Pragya.
“I’m listening.”
“I sometimes forget that people are driven by feelings and you have been though a… trauma.”
Stop trying to handle me, Shane thought.
“The Prince Ryu, requested Jessica’s blood for a test. She will not be forced to give blood or take the test.”
“How does taking her blood tell you anything? As far as I have seen you are not able to test blood.”
“A true royal has blue blood and red hair.”
“You’re joking right?” Shane asked.
“No, I am not.”
“Well, she doesn’t have blue blood.”
“Please stay. You are guests. But if you wish to leave, leave after the coming storm as passed.”
Pragya, Yair and Shane went to Jessica’s room. Jessica hid again.
“Jessica” Shane called.
“It’s ok. I think. Yair says royals have blue blood and that’s why they wanted your blood. They want to see if it’s blue.”
Jessica stayed hidden outside of her window.
“Jess, are you in here?” Shane asked the empty room.
She didn’t reply.
Her head ran with ideas. None of which did someone having blue blood come into it.
Am I really meant to believe people on this planet have blue blood? she asked herself.
She waited until everyone had left. It started to rain. She climbed back in. With soaked hair and clothes, she gathered her things and went to Shane’s room.
“Ready to go?” she asked.
“I believed Yair.” Shane said
“I don’t think they want to hurt you.”
Jessica was shocked. Stunned she looked at Pragya.
Could she be the reason he wants to stay? She asked herself.
It didn’t really matter. She was leaving.
And so, she did.
Finding her dragon, she mounted and flew into the storm. The wind beat against her and the water drops stung as they hit her skin. She couldn’t see more than a meter in front of her face. She hopped the dragon could see better than her and the dragon hoped she could see better than he. The two were battered in the blizzard and the dragon was blow out of the sky. It was a horrible unexpected crash. Jessica was thrown from the dragon, just to have it land on top of her.
The wind cut through her like shards of ice chilling her bones and making her sore body stiff and numb. The dragon moved off her with effort. It was too dark to see anything. She moved closer to the dragon trying to hide from the wind and share its warmth. She hid under the dragon’s wing and tiredness overtook her.
Shane West was worried about Jessica riding off in the storm. A blizzard rolled in and covered everything, leaving nothing untouched by its rage. Part of him wished he had gone with her. Part of him wished she had stayed. Finally, the worry got the better of him and he went to Yair.
“Jessica rode into the storm with her dragon. I guess she didn’t believe the story about blue blood.”
Yair found himself feeling annoyed. Why did his friend and prince have to invite people from another planet who know nothing and understand even less, to be his guests in his home? The girl didn’t even speak the basics. She was not even pretty in his opinion. The only thing of interest about her was her red hair and on her planet that wasn’t a sign of royalty.
Yair didn’t like having feelings. Feelings compromised his ability to objectively give facts to his prince, and to the reigning prince.
“I will notify the prince.” Yair responded.
And he did. Prince Drake was worried and unaware of the request for her blood. He seemed worried about the girl. Prince Ryu ordered a search be made for her and Drake joined the search.