“Do you know why Jesika called for a meeting?” Darryn asked Aquila as they rode together on his amarok, Rocky.

She sat behind him, her arms around his waist. They were heading towards the castle to meet in the Main Hall. Aquila shook her head, though she knew he didn’t see her. “I have as little an idea as you do. I hope everything is okay.”

“You don’t think that something bad happened, do you?”

Aquila shrugged. “It could just be a meeting for professional reasons. Just to let the council know what her plans and hopes are for the kingdom.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Darryn said as they approached the castle gates.

The guards saw Darryn and Aquila and opened them. They rode through and headed to the stables to put Rocky away. Once Rocky was secured, they went inside.

They headed to the Main Hall, near the center of the castle. They were some of the last ones in there, taking their seat in some of the middle chairs. The council-members spoke amongst each other as they waited for the queen’s arrival, some of them knights like Aquila and Darryn, some of them overseers of the villages, some of them great and legendary war generals.

Soon Jesika walked in, clad in a gray skirt that rested just above her knees and a black shirt with long combat boots, her hair braided down the middle and her crown nestled on her head, looking every bit the fierce warrior queen they knew she would be. She strode with confidence, greeting several of the generals with her eyes and the slight nod of her head. She sat down at the head of the table, and rested her arms on the tabletop, intertwining her fingers in a steeple.

“Hello, my loyal council and military generals. I called you here today to announce what is to be my first mission for the kingdom as queen and to ask for your allegiance to this mission.”

Their most respected war general, Sir Reven, furrowed his brows. “And what is this mission, Your Majesty? I cannot lie, I am sure I speak for everyone when I say that we are a bit taken aback at the speed at which you want to bring change.”

Jesika grinned, a grin Darryn knew well. It was a dangerous grin. If she wore that grin, it meant there was no changing her mind. “I understand. But my challenge to that is... Why wait?”

Sir Reven grunted, seemingly not convinced. Jesika decided to ignore it, moving forward. She stood, gazing earnestly at the council.

“My dear council... Most of you are here today because of the lead of my parents. They chose you and believed in you and helped to steward in you the potential they saw. You stood by them loyally, loving them, adoring them, and looking up to them. Not only were they your authority. They were your friends and your family.”

A lot of the council-members’ faces started to soften. Sir Reven still looked slightly skeptical though.

“But one night, they were robbed from you. Robbed from all of us,” Jesika paused, leaning close, her hand resting on the table, “robbed from me. By. One. Measly. Dragon.”

Sir Reven was already shaking his head. “That is not any old dragon, Your Majesty. That dragon is the most powerful beast imaginable, able to use fire, ice and water. Aethelinda is not to be trifled with.”

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The fire in her eyes only lit up more at that. “And neither are we, Sir Reven! We’ve conquered kingdoms and empires!! Surely, we can take on one beast, no matter how legendary! If we brought our forces together--”

Another war general, Lady Bella, piped in. “All due respect, Your Majesty, but what gain would our kingdom even have in getting revenge on Aethelinda? It seems we would have much to lose, but nothing to gain.”

Jesika began to frown. Darryn sighed, raking his hand through his hair, hating to see her distressed like this, but agreeing with everything the councilmembers were saying. Sir Audric stood, the same torn, desperate look on his face.

“Council, can’t you see where she’s coming from? Are we to simply ignore the tragedy that happened that night?!” Audric argued.

Sir Reven shook his head. “Our efforts should be put towards the future, Sir Audric. To linger over the past when it will not further us, and may only harm us, is simply... Counterproductive. That said, I will not allow my knights to fight for this cause.”

Jesika’s frown deepened. “Will any of you stand with me?” she asked, almost pleading.

No one said yes, either outright saying no, or quietly looking at the table or their laps.

“I see,” she said quietly.

Finally, Sir Reven’s face softened. “I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty. And sorry for your loss. But fighting for revenge will not bring them back or move us forward.”

Jesika nodded silently, but Darryn could tell in her stance and the way she left the room, that this was far from over.

***

Later that night, Jesika laid in her dark room, looking blankly up at her ceiling, her soul empty and her heart aching. She had never felt lonelier than now. Everyone she looked up to had turned on her. That is, except for Audric. But even he hadn’t fought that hard to convince them. Darryn and Aquila hadn’t defended her either. They might as well have been arguing with her like the rest.

Tears formed in Jesika’s eyes and she no longer could hold them back. They flowed freely down her face, sobs wracking her body as memories of that night kept rushing back, ever blurry and ever nightmarish.

***

Three years ago

Scorching heat, deafening screams, people running. People of every walk of life. The poor, the rich, the royal.

Sixteen-year-old Jesika ran amongst them, a guard on each of her sides, holding onto her wrist tightly. They ran through the castle hallways, the flames moving just as fast as them. Jesika could see the entrance. It was so close. She quickly glanced around as she neared it, but she didn’t see what she was looking for, hoping for.

She skidded to a stop, turning to the guard on her right. “My parents! Where are they!?”

The guard’s expression dimmed. “They...they’ll meet us there. They’re on their way. But we need to leave. Now!”

Jesika shook her head, raising her voice, now that the roaring flames crept closer and devoured the castle more and more. “I’m not going out there until I KNOW they’re behind me.”

The guard shot the other one a look, before returning his gaze to Jesika. “Then you leave me no choice.”

He picked her up and swung her over his shoulder in one swift move. Jesika kicked and screamed and swung her arms, trying to get free, but it was no use against a man of his statute.

The guard ran out the doors, throwing her to the ground. Jesika gasped as the impact knocked the wind out of her. She lay still a moment, allowing herself to catch her bearings. Once she felt ready, she quickly stood and ran back through the doors. To her dismay though, the guard was just as fast, quickly grabbing her and hauling her farther away from the castle. Jesika screamed as he brought her to where Aquila stood with her phoenix, waiting. Aquila looked at her with a broken expression, and despite the anger Jesika felt, she gave in, hugging her best friend. Aquila held her tight, whispering comfort.

“Come on, Jessy. We gotta go.”

Jesika stepped back, looking into her eyes. “But, my parents!”

“They’re gone, Jesika!” A voice said from beside her. Jesika turned to see a distraught looking Audric. Tears flowed freely down his face as he shook his head. “They’re gone, darling. But we can’t lose you too. Please--” he begged, reaching out for her hesitantly. His words finally broke through to her logic, bringing with it rushing heartbreak as she realized the truth in his words. Her parents were gone. She would never see them again. She wept, clutching him tightly, shaking violently. He held her tightly, crying softly with her.