The forgotten throne, p.1
The Forgotten Throne, page 1
The Forgotten Throne
Elizabeth Knight
Creative Wonder Publishing
Copyright 2022 © Elizabeth Knight
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be used to reproduce, scan, or be distributed in any printed or electronic form in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations for articles or reviews. Additionally no part of this book may be used to create, feed, or refine artificial intelligence models, for any purpose, without written permission from the author.
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Knight, Elizabeth
The Forgotten Throne
Editing: Swish Editing & Design
Cover artist: Smoking Hot Covers (Amanda Pillar)
Formatting: Creative Wonder Publishing
You never know how strong you are...
until being strong is the only choice you have
Contents
1. The Forgotten Land
2. The Queen Has Spoken
3. Do You Trust Me?
4. Welcome to Sheca
5. Truth and More Surprises
6. You Have How Many Dragons?
7. By Dragon and By Land
8. So the Journey Begins
9. Three People, One Tent
10. Thank the Gods for Dragons
11. Let’s Try and Make Friends
12. Men and Mornings
13. Hidden Enemies
14. Feasts and Foreboding
15. Deal with a Dragon
16. Stop Them!
17. The Choices They Made
18. Death Comes for Us All
19. The Things We Do for Love
20. Coronation Preparation
21. The Dragon Queen is Crowned
22. What Secrets Does the Castle Hold?
23. Time to Explore
24. Things to Do and Plans to Make
25. An Alliance with Dragons
26. Late Night in the Castle
27. Finally Love Has Come
28. The Plot Thickens
29. Great Risks, Great Rewards
30. The Queen of Creisal
31. It Won’t End Here
About Author
Also By
one
The Forgotten Land
Sheca, the forgotten land of the mercenaries, was now our only hope of protection from the Lost King. We might have lost the battle in Royal City, but we were not beaten in the slightest. The time had come for me, the Dragon Queen, to reclaim what had been lost to us for far too long. Deep down in my gut, I knew it would turn the tide in our favor. Gavin’s parents, brother, and a few others had sought refuge with us here in our mountain fortress. My fear was Payson, a man who pretended to be my guardian, was working with Lord Everett and the Lost King. It won’t be long until he was upon us.
As I waited for everyone to gather in our hideout’s main cavern, I picked at the food Cole set in front of me. My brain whirled with so many variables it was hard to eat anything. I was now the one person who stood, without a doubt, against Henry, the Lost King, bastard son of King Edward of Norden.
As if knowing I was thinking about his father, Gavin slid into the seat beside me and snatched a hunk of bread off my plate. He took after his father with matching deep blue eyes and dark blond hair, but Gavin got the curls from his mother. If you had told me that one day the Crown Prince of Norden would leave his role to be my ambassador, I would have said you’re crazy. What man would do such a thing?
“You don’t mind, do you? It looked like you were more interested in destroying the bread instead of eating it,” Gavin said as I awkwardly stared at him without blinking.
“Oh, no, of course not.” I fumbled, pulling my gaze from his. Looking down at my plate, I saw that I had, indeed, shredded the other hunk of bread. “Sorry, my mind is racing, and I can’t seem to get it to slow down.”
Gavin reached out and grabbed one of my hands, intertwining our fingers. “Love, we’ll figure this out. Nine guardians and I are standing beside you, ready to do what we can. I’m sure the other clan leaders would also agree with your choice once you’ve explained it to everyone.”
I sat up straight and turned slightly, giving him my full attention. “How in the world can you give such logical advice after you just lost your home, your title, and your family is on the run from your half brother?”
“Cassarah, don’t you remember what I said at dinner last night?” Gavin questioned. “I already gave that up before the fight even started. Those weren’t empty words. My choice to leave the throne was as much for myself and the fact that I couldn’t imagine my life without you being a part of it, however or whenever that happens. Nothing about losing this battle has changed a thing for me. Has it for you?”
“No. As I said back at the castle, I want you to stay with me, but I know going to Sheca will change things. I wanted time to deal with my personal feelings for all of you. I’m not sure I still have that option,” I answered with a sigh.
One of the many things rolling around in my head was thinking back on my dreams of Miranda’s life and how she had to pick her consorts and declare them once she became queen. From what Zan told me, Sheca was as traditional as you could get about following the old rules.
“Selfishly, I don’t think I’d mind if you couldn’t wait, but as I said before, I won’t rush you, either,” Gavin assured me as he pulled my hand up and kissed the back of it, letting his lips linger.
“Aww, isn’t this cute,” Paxton gushed as he appeared out of the crowd. “I hate to break up this moment, but everyone is here and ready for your announcement.”
Paxton was my newest guardian, whose twin brother, Payson, had tried to deceive me and sell me out to the Lost King. He was brash and impulsive, and his light crystal-blue eyes shone with mischief, along with an ever-present smirk on his face. In some ways, it irked me, but the sight of his black eye made me smile, remembering when I gave it to him yesterday. Like most of the Wind Fist clan, he had fair skin, light blond hair, almost white, but still had some golden tones to it. Now with his brother dead by Paxton’s hands and his father, Porvan, locked up for being a traitor, he’d returned to the mercenaries after many years. It seems he was hiding out in Creisal, the kingdom along the coast, and somehow acquired himself a golden female dragon named Ninnat.
“How’s your eye feeling?” I asked, not moving from my spot. Something about Paxton made me want to rebel and push his buttons just because I could.
“Just peachy. I have to admit, you can lay a mean right hook. Look at the color it turned.” He grinned. “Trust me. I’ve been bragging about it to anyone who asks me what happened. It’s not every day you piss off the queen enough that she clocks you.”
I had no idea what to do with this man. Seeing as we’ve barely known each other for a full day, I had a feeling this thought wouldn’t go away anytime soon. Turning back to Gavin, I gave him a soft smile. “Would you help me up to the platform?”
“Of course, love,” Gavin answered as he stood and helped me to stand.
Without even trying to pick me up like my other guardians would have, he tucked my arm in his and let me lean on him as we walked. The sooner I could get this damn leg to heal, the better, but all I seemed to keep doing was making it worse. In the cavern where we all ate our meals together, there was a small stage of sorts at the head of the space for events like this. Having only been their queen for about a week, I hadn’t made any official addresses yet. When I reached the spot, I found the rest of my guardians waiting for me, keeping the crowd at bay. Reaching up, I took Izel’s hand as he pulled me onto the stage and made sure I was steady.
Izel was from the Jade Talon clan and the son of the clan leader, Xio. Izel had thick, straight, shoulder-length black hair that was currently pulled away from his face. His skin was fair and made for a striking contrast against his dark hair and eyes, which were almond-shaped and the color of coal. Even though his face was finer-boned, it didn’t detract from the lethal presence he carried. I knew how kind he was despite his upbringing. He was one of the few of my guardians to have a Birthright, allowing him to open people’s minds to suggestions. Not like the Lost King who can take over your mind, but more so to coax you into a state of being. He’d done it to me once when I was in far too much pain with my leg and sent me to sleep so I wouldn’t have to suffer.
“Are you ready, Your Majesty?” he asked under his breath as he helped me to the front of the platform.
I knew arguing with him about the title wouldn’t help, but he only used it in public. “Is anyone ever ready to uproot people from their homes or the security they think they have within these walls?”
“You will handle it with grace as you do everything else that’s been thrown at you,” Izel assured me, squeezing my forearm before stepping back and giving me space but not leaving me.
Glancing over the sea of faces before me, I took a few deep, calming breaths before I began to project my voice as best I could, hoping everyone could hear me. “People of the clans, I come before you as your queen with news from Royal City. We are at war with Utros and Errit.”
The crowd gasped. They knew something was brew ing, but the clan leaders had kept things quiet, and so had I until we knew the full extent of what we were dealing with. The murmur of voices filled the air, and people started to shift as fear started to bloom with the unknown.
“A man calling himself the Lost King is leading the fight. I’ve encountered him myself, and he is not an enemy to be taken lightly. When I left the fortress the other day with my guardians, we were in Royal City, brokering a deal with King Edward and Queen Mary to become allies. We were able to reach an agreement, but it was in vain. We were too late, and the Lost King was already inside the city. Norden has been lost to us, but the king and queen are still live, seeking refuge here with their allies,” I shared, motioning to where they stood with the other clan leaders.
My guardians and I determined this was the safest place for them to be once the news was shared. I refused to let them hide. If we were true allies, then this mess would be dealt with together.
“Are we safe here?” someone called out from the crowd.
This was the part I worried wouldn’t be taken well. “Payson, son of Porvan, the previous clan leader for the Wind Fists, turned his back on his people as his father had. I do not know what information he has given to the enemy, but as your queen, I will not risk your lives. We will have to move on from this place, and it will need to happen first thing tomorrow morning… early before the sun is up. We have a long journey ahead of us, but I know it will provide the refuge we seek.”
This information set the crowd off. People started to yell while others surged forward as if they were trying to grab me off the stage. My guardians stepped in and blocked all their advances, but I knew I needed to calm them.
Placing my fingers up to my mouth, I let out a shrill whistle that caught everyone’s attention. “I know you are scared, and the fact we must leave our home is the last thing you want to hear. As your queen, I haven’t earned your trust yet, but I beg you to let me prove to you I have your best interests in mind. You are my people, and my sole responsibility is to keep you safe and protected from danger. Coming to this choice was not easy, but it is our only choice. If we stay here, we will be slaughtered.
“The Lost King is ruthless and has no scruples when it comes to killing those who stand in his way. The mercenaries are a huge threat to him because we know how to survive through the worst of things and come out the other side.” I paused to watch them, seeing if I was getting through to them because this next part would either sell me as a crazy woman or a brilliant one. “We are going back to our roots, to the beginning where our people first founded themselves. Our ancestors are still waiting for us and our promised return we forgot about. The Dragon Queen is calling her people home to Sheca and the Dragon Castle!”
The space fell silent as they absorbed my words. I didn’t even know if they knew about Sheca or the Dragon Castle. Sal knew of some bedtime stories, but that wasn’t promising as a whole. Glancing at the clan leaders, they did not look happy about my idea. They believed me when I told them I had a plan, but I didn’t tell them what that plan was. I still felt raw after Payson’s betrayal, so I kept it to myself and my guardians. I knew when I was done here, they were going to have quite a few things to say to me, but I didn’t care. This is what was best for our people, and nothing else mattered. Turning to my left, I signaled for Zan to join me, and Ezzu flapped her wings in reply.
Zan was blind, making his eyes a cloudy silver color, but his Birthright allowed him to see out of his dragon’s eyes. I didn’t know if it applied to all animals or just dragons, but since he had Ezzu, a miniature sassy female dragon who acted as his eyes, it didn’t really matter. Zan, as attractive as he was with his dark brown hair braided away from his face and full beard, didn’t lead with the best first impression. See, we didn’t meet under the friendliest of circumstances—he tried to kill me—mistakenly thinking I’d somehow enslaved Vasin, my black dragon, and pair-bonded against his will. Once we figured things out, my magic decided he would also make a fitting guardian and placed my mark on him, just like it did the others. Zan was from Sheca and explained to me some of the history we’d lost over the years which is how I knew this was the right choice. Hidden away in the lands of Sheca was the other half of the mercenary clan we originated from. They were thriving where we were not.
“Many of you have seen this man around. He is one of my guardians, but he is also from Sheca,” I shared. “Zan has been able to provide me with information we’d lost for so many years. This was always meant to happen. We just forgot our promise to return. Gather what you need. The journey will be tough, but we are tougher. Scouts will be flying ahead and behind to make sure we are protected and not caught unaware, but we must travel as quickly as possible. There is no argument you can make to sway my mind, but I will not force you to join us. Stay if you want, but know that you have chosen to leave the clans and, in doing so, you will not be allowed back. Times are too dangerous, and loyalty is valued most during a war—so consider your choice wisely.”
two
The Queen Has Spoken
After everyone dispersed to start packing, I was escorted from the stage to the private meeting room the clan leaders used. I’d spent most of my days since coming here in this room trying to figure out the best plan to survive this war. That was when we were still looking for a way to keep the danger at bay. Now that ship had sailed and left us to deal with a new set of problems. I took my seat in the middle with the best advantage of the map carved into the massive wooden table. The clan leaders sat across from me as if I were the one on trial, needing to defend myself from them. I glanced at Ballard, the steward of the clan in lieu of a king or queen, who’d also been my mentor for the six months I’d been with the clan. His kind brown eyes watched me with interest instead of anger like the others. Acton, Garold, and Xio hadn’t known me for as long as Ballard. I could see how keeping this information from them might be seen as a slight.
“Your Majesty, would you care to further explain the journey you want to take us on?” Xio demanded, even though he posed it as a question.
I cocked my head and examined these three men who seemed to think I was subordinate to them. They had been running their respective clans for years and had become used to being the top dogs. We’d butted heads, but I thought we were finally getting somewhere, but it seemed I was incorrect about that.
“What would you like to know?” I countered.
Garold scowled at me and slammed his fist on the table. “You withheld information from us that could have been vital to our survival, and you just announced it to the masses. I was beginning to think you had a level head for a woman, but it seems I was mistaken.”
This made my eyebrows rise, but Dayson and May were already addressing the issue before I could say a word in my defense.
“How dare you speak to the queen like that!” Dayson barked at his father as May came up on the other side, boxing Garold in.
May pulled out a dagger and held it under her uncle’s chin. “You will apologize for your rudeness. To question the queen’s orders is mutiny during times of war.” Garold gaped at her, eyes wide at her words. “Don’t act surprised, Uncle. You know the law just as I do.”
Garold was a tall, muscular man who would make most men look small, but Dayson was even bulkier than his father. Dayson’s bronze skin partially covered in black, swirling ink added to the intimidating factor along with the shaved head, but for a thick section down the middle of his head braided in one long rope. May stood beside him, cousin by blood but raised as siblings when she lost her family. Her long blonde hair was about the only soft thing on her body, proving she earned her place as a fierce warrior. She also had the black ink on her skin, marking her as part of the Bronze Reaper clan, the most ruthless of our people.
“You two would turn on your own family for this queen?” Garold snarled, his gaze flickering between the two. “You’ve known this woman for a week, and already you would trust her with the lives of all our people?”
