The dais had been swept clean of its furniture. The throne with its attendant chairs for members of the royal family had been swept to one side. They looked even more out of place now, shoved up into a corner and barely visible behind the colossal bulk of a sapphire blue dragon.
The knights and the candidates, along with Jemryn, were lined up along the side walls, with their helms at the feet, and could see both the dais and the assembled court, most of whom looked absolutely terrified.
‘I am not going to eat or kill anyone.’
Bria could see that the dragon’s voice, echoing in their head had done little to relieve the tensions. As she looked around the court, she noticed a few people who didn’t seem to be too affected by the mental pressure. The preceptor was one, Amanita the Areetan ambassador was another and, strangely, Leander, Jemryn’s father, was another.
‘Well observed child’ the voice echoed in her head and she realised that no-one else could hear it ‘I expect great things of you.’
After a couple of minutes of silence, Bria could see several members of the court start to fidget. ‘Can I politely suggest that you are terrifying them. Their whole world has been upended.’
‘Child. I am still Rosa to you. Never forget that, but very well!’
The voice echoing in the heads of the court resumed.
‘Your king, Ryker, was killed by the Lore Master. I observed that he was a good man, who cared about his people and I regret his passing. There will be a period of mourning and he will be accorded a solemn funeral. The Lore Master will not! He has been destroyed and … disposed of! You have begun to pull his treachery out but it will take many years before all his little changes to your chronicles and all his little plots are unearthed. There will be no changes in these isles. All the noble families will carry on as before, administering their individual islands. I trust that none of you are planning a rebellion anytime soon? No, I thought not. Does anyone have any questions?’
Bria thought hard at dais ‘Who will replace the Lore Master and what will become of the guard?’
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‘Very good child. You have enough power for me to believe you have a dragon in your heritage. Jemryn had to be told to think at me.’
The voice cut through the chatter that had started.
‘Two questions have been raised.’
The court stilled again and people looked around in puzzlement. No-one had approached the dais nor had anyone called anything out.
‘The post of Lore Master will be filled by Sir Lars for the next few years while he recovers from his injuries. He will also be responsible for training Jemryn to take his place. I have seldom seen anyone better fitted for a role.’
‘The Dragon’s guard will continue to provide the security that they always have. I understand they have taken on dispensing justice while I have been asleep. That will also continue. All the current candidates will be elevated to full knights and valkyrs as is traditional after their first kill. I will consider expanding the ranks with more candidates over the next few years.’
Amanita cautiously raised her hand. ‘I suggested to Jemryn that he may benefit from studying at the University of Areetan and that I would sponsor him to have a place. Is that still a possibility?’
The huge blue head swung round and focussed its full attention on the Ambassador. ‘I think that’s an excellent idea. You may return to the empire and take Jemryn with you as well as a guardian or two selected from the rest of the guard. I will discuss the possibilities with the Preceptor.’
‘When will any decision be made’ The Ambassador was coping surprisingly well with the mental pressure. Bria was fairly sure that Amanita was a dragon now. She knew that she would have been squirming on the floor in terror by now.
‘As soon as possible. Tell Zigadenus that the next ambassador shouldn’t have your special qualifications or I will not be best pleased.’
‘You know the emperor?’ Amanita’s mouth was agape.
‘I should. He’s my little brother. As you mentioned, family allegiance doesn’t count for much amongst dragons but it does make a small difference.’
‘What are you going to do about the Preceptor and the duke of Tradgard?’ Bria thought at the blue dragon, tentatively.
Gloriosa turned her massive head back towards Bria.
‘Daucus is my great-grandson and I’m loath to kill a second descendant today. By Tradgard, do you mean Leander, or should I say Oleander, Jemryn’s father? Nothing! A four-way fight in here? No-one would survive and there has been enough bloodshed today!’
Her head turned back to the main assembly.
‘Remember, now is a time for stability and rebuilding. Court dismissed. Valkyrs, attend me!’
She reached out towards the southern side of the dais and twitched a massive talon, making the long-hidden doors burst open showering everywhere in the crumbled remains of a thin coat of plaster that had concealed them, before sliding through it and disappearing from view as the ancient timbers slammed shut behind her.