"What? You'll replace me as the Dragon King's bride?" Princess Amida jumped up on her bed, wide-eyed. She'd just drunk her morning's dose of medicine, so she felt more energetic. "Tama, you can't endanger yourself! I'm the princess, it's my duty to marry into the enemy kingdom for peace!"
Tama was sitting at the desk opposite the Princess' bed, writing a letter to her mother the Lotus Priestess. She'd just told Amida about her conversation with the Queen. Pena, the pigeon, had perched on the table by Tama's side and cooed at her to hurry up with the letter.
"Your main duty is to get healed," Tama replied to Amida without raising her head. "You're a human first and a princess after! I won't be in danger in Drahvelt like Your Highness. My relations with Lunaria will protect me from King Gerart's schemes."
"But how will the Drahs know about your relations with Lunaria if you assume my identity?" Amida frowned, clutching the edge of her puffy blue blanket. "I'm not their relative!"
"Yes, but you've been under the Lotus Priestess' treatment since birth, and she's Shadow God Carneh's daughter." Tama smiled. "The Drahs won't harm 'Princess Amida' lest they upset the Lotus Priestess and, consequently, the Shadow God."
"But, doesn't that mean they wouldn't harm me if I went myself?" Amida argued.
"You need to get healed in Lunaria, as I said, so you can't go to Drahvelt. And then, Grandpa Carneh must show up at the wedding ceremony so the Drahs will know he cares about Princess Amida's fate. But Grandpa hardly ever leaves his palace and cares little about humans. It's enough of a miracle that he agreed to heal you! I doubt he'd come for you in Drahvelt no matter how we begged him. On the other hand, if I'm threatened, he'll come flying anywhere, so it's safer that I marry the Dragon King."
Princess Amida sighed and hung her head. She gazed at her pale hands clutching the blanket, a silver ring with rose depictions on her finger.
It's always like this… She thought, tears coming to her eyes. Tama cares for me and I do nothing in return! When Mother told me about my marriage, I was frightened but secretly happy… I thought I could, at last, do something for my kingdom and people! I thought I'd sacrifice myself for a decent cause instead of wasting away from an ancient curse. And yet, Tama's stepped in to protect me again... She's even arranged it so that I get healed and live a happy life. Meanwhile, she's tying her fate to a cruel man she doesn't know! – All for my sake… Why am I so pathetic?!
She restrained her tears, although she yearned to let them fall. She couldn't keep worrying Tama for such stupid reasons as her emotional weakness. Mother had a whole kingdom on her shoulders, and yet she never showed such weakness! The least she could do was learn from her.
Tama finished the letter for the Lotus Priestess, noting down her conversation with the Queen and her last night's dream when she travelled to Drahvelt with Ronna. However, she omitted the part where she suggested to the Queen that she impersonate Princess Amida and marry the Dragon King. She knew if her mother learned about it, she'd never let her go. So she asked the Queen to inform the Lotus Priestess about their arrangement only after she arrived in Drahvelt.
Tama placed the parchment in the box attached to Pena's leg and sent the pigeon out. Princess Amida watched it fluttering out the window into the skies. She yearned to be like Pena the pigeon – flying through the endless blue, able and free.
"How are you feeling?" Tama asked her.
"Oh, I'm alright!" Amida smiled, putting on a placid face – the mask she'd developed in her sixteen years of ailment. It was so well-crafted it could even fool Tama. "Your medicine works wonders," she said.
"That's great!" Tama grinned. "So, would it be okay if I strolled out for just a bit? I'll check on Yannou before he leaves. I can also greet your father and Princess Alvina for you!"
"Oh, please do!" Amida said, remembering that her older sister and her father the king were going on a campaign that day. "Wish them a good trip and best of luck!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Tama bowed.
She left the room and headed to the training grounds, where the royal knights often sparred. The outer gates of the palace were near that area, so it was there that the knights prepared for departure.
The training grounds were spread wide near the outer walls of the palace. The horses' neigh and the clangs of swords echoed throughout the fields. A crowd of knights, clad in steel armour, was sparring in pairs and groups. A tall man was supervising them, bearing the royal coat of arms on his shield – the depiction of a rose gripping a sword with its vines. He was of middle age, with a golden crown on his bushy brown hair and a bristly beard on his face. He carried a fine crimson cloak on his shoulders. This man was Queen Eclaire's husband, Alaster Hidraz – the king and Supreme General of Hasurei. He had tucked a scarlet sword in the ground, leaning on its golden hilt of a tulip petal shape. It was the Tulip Sword – one of the twelve Flower Swords, the legendary blades capable of smiting dragons and monsters.
"Swing that sword like it's the last thing you'll do!" King Alaster shouted to some knights near him, whose techniques he deemed lousy. "Go with the killing intent! Keep up, only weaklings get tired!"
The knights tried to follow his instructions, although they seemed exhausted. Tama couldn't help smiling. Somewhere among them must be her brother Yannou, but he wouldn't be as pathetic-looking.
Indeed, a little farther from the king, sparred three knights – two young men and a slim girl of eighteen. The girl and one boy were attacking the other boy together. In the latter, Tama recognised her brother, Yannou Raveene. He had short straight brown hair and blue eyes like the depths of the sea, exuding a mystical aura like Tama's. His cloak was blue too, crafted of pure cotton. His shield carried no coat of arms, hinting at his modest birth. However, his green sword was more majestic than King Alaster's. Its golden hilt had a lotus petal shape and was bedecked with green and blue jewels. It was the Lotus Sword – the mightiest of all Flower Swords. Tama's smile deepened, watching Yannou's prowess even against two opponents. Yannou was nicknamed "Demonborn" for his miraculous talent to heal up from any injury (which Tama shared). He was the strongest Flower Knight and, therefore, the strongest swordsman.
Yannou had the two opponents under his control. He swung his sword at the girl and dodged the boy's blade, but it hit him on the leg. His steel armour protected him from getting slashed, but he received a heavy blow. However, just when his foe thought he'd made him limp, Yannou's leg regained its full strength and he stood firm on the ground.
"That's hardly enough to knock me down, Sadrus!" Yannou grinned at his opponent.
Sadrus was a tall man of nineteen years, with curly chestnut-brown hair and ambitious green eyes. His fine armour shone under the sun and his rich red cloak whipped in the wind. His shield had the coat of arms of the Rose Church – a scarlet rose containing a golden cross in its bud – which Tama had seen on Cardinal Rochefeu's attire. Sadrus carried this insignia because he was the Cardinal's only grandson. Like King Alaster and Yannou, he was a Flower Knight, wielding the Lily Sword – a white blade with a golden hilt, whose edges were bent inwards like lily petals.
"Ugh, don't get so full of yourself, you devil's spawn!" Sadrus snarled at Yannou, ashamed to have failed in the girl's presence.
The girl was a beautiful sight to behold. She had blazing scarlet hair and shimmering green eyes. She carried the same royal coat of arms on her shield as King Alaster, but she had no crown. She was the eldest princess, Alvina Blackthorne – Queen Eclaire's daughter with her late boyfriend, General Rufeus Rosier. He had been a Flower Knight in possession of the Rose Sword – the second strongest blade after the Lotus Sword wielded by Yannou. Alas, not even that legendary blade could help Rufeus against the Dragon King – he perished in a battle with Drahvelt before Princess Alvina was born. The Rose Sword was recovered by his subordinate knights, and later on, chose his daughter, Princess Alvina, as its wielder. Now, Princess Alvina held that sword in her hands – a crimson blade with a golden hilt of a rose petal shape.
"Don't hold back, Sadrus!" She frowned. "We'll never make Yannou fall if we underestimate him!"
"Oh, mind your business, Princess!" Sadrus gritted his teeth. "You're only holding me down!"
"While you're bickering, you've left your flank open!" came a mocking laugh from Yannou, startling both of them. He brought them down with his sudden attack. "I won!" He smiled.
He held his hand out to Alvina, whose cheeks flushed as she took it. Sadrus, meanwhile, got up on his own, scoffing.
"It's not fair! I injured your leg but you didn't fall!" He glared at Yannou. "How are we supposed to beat you if you heal instantly?!"
"We're going up against Lizardmen, who are covered in scales," Yannou replied. "If you can't do as little as make me fall, you won't even scratch them. That's why His Majesty set you two up against me. If you can't beat me two-on-one, you'll only serve as Lizardmen's snacks. So practise harder instead of complaining!"
"Oh, shut up, you devil's child!" Sadrus snarled, rubbing his sore arm.
"Yannou's right, Sadrus! We need more practice," Alvina said.
Sadrus grumbled under his breath and walked off them. Alvina turned around and glanced at Yannou, the handsome blue-eyed knight she yearned to defeat. He, the Demonborn, was the greatest warrior in Hasurei. Alvina felt her cheeks burn every time she looked at him. She had a hard time understanding these emotions.
"Your Highness needn't worry." Yannou smiled at her. "You're improving."
"Oh! T-Thanks…" Alvina grew redder.
"Yannou!" Tama's excited cry sounded. She dashed at the blue-eyed knight and squeezed him into her embrace. "You were so cool!"
"You were watching?" Yannou laughed, going red. He hugged her tightly. "I'm happy you came!"
"Of course, I did!" Tama grinned. "How could I let you leave without saying goodbye?" She turned to Alvina and bowed. "Princess Amida is sending her regards to Your Highness! She regrets she couldn't come in person, and wishes you success on your journey!"
"Please give her my thanks, Tama!" Alvina smiled. "I wish her health, too! Yannou told me the Lotus Priestess came up with a countercurse for Amida. We also got word that Mother has agreed to send her to Lunaria to get healed. It's such happy news! I was against Amida's engagement in Drahvelt, but Mother never listened to me! I heard you convinced her. How did you do it?"
"Well…" Tama hesitated. I can't tell them I'll be marrying the Dragon King in Amida's stead. She thought, glancing at Yannou. Big Brother would never let me go. So she smirked, lifted her chin and boasted: "I'm very persuasive!"
Yannou and Alvina burst out laughing.
"Anyway, Yannou," Tama retook, elated, "I saw Ronna, my dragon, in last night's dream too! She took me to the sea, where I met her brother, Nörd, an aquatic dragon. Ronna said that Nörd wants to form a pact with you!"
"What?" Yannou widened his eyes.
"I know, right?" Tama brightened up. "You'll have a dragon too! It's so cool!"
Unlike what she expected, Yannou's countenance turned grim. He glanced at Alvina, whose eyebrows rose in the inner corners. Having lost her father to the Dragon King, Alvina considered dragons a sensitive topic.
"First of all, we don't know how much of your dream visions are real, Tama." Yannou frowned at his sister. "Mother says that one needs years of practice before their Vision can be trusted. Second, even if it all were accurate, I have no business interacting with dragons! I'm the Lotus Sword wielder, my job is to slay dragons, not coddle them. I'd advise you to stay away from them too! They're man-eating beasts."
Her brother's scolding cut through Tama's heart like daggers. She clenched her fists, anger welling up in her throat. She glared at Alvina, the reason for her brother's dislike of dragons.
Does he care about this princess more than me?! She felt a pang of jealousy. I wish you burned in hell, Alvina! I-I mean… Scratch that! She scolded herself, afraid her feelings might manifest in a curse if she didn't control them. After all, she was the Shadow God's granddaughter. It's not Alvina's fault her father was killed by dragons! She thought. And Yannou will need to settle down someday, I can't keep getting mad at every woman he fancies!
"I… I understand, Yannou," she said, trying not to start a fight with her brother before his departure. "I believe dragons aren't beasts, but… let's leave it at that!" She smiled.
A thud of steel boots reached their ears. King Alaster had approached them.
"It's time to prepare, kids! We're leaving," he said. He noticed Tama and chuckled. "Oh, Miss Raveene! I don't suppose you're coming too?"
"Ah, no! I just came to bid Yannou goodbye." Tama laughed, scratching the back of her head. She bowed to the king. "Princess Amida sends Your Majesty her regards! She wishes you a safe trip and a flawless victory!"
"Oh, hug her for me, will you?" Alaster's smile deepened. "I heard Her Majesty cancelled her engagement in Drahvelt. It's a huge relief! Yannou told me her cure has been found, too. I'll be looking forward to seeing my healthy daughter upon my return!"
"I'll make sure of that, Your Majesty!" Tama bowed.
Soon, the knights mounted their steeds and departed. Tama stood in the field, waving her hand at them. She watched her brother's blue cloak floating in the wind as he and the others crossed the moat bridge, disappearing through the woods. Only then did Tama's smile vanish.
Farewell, Yannou… She thought. I doubt we'll see each other again.
Tears came to her eyes. Now more than ever, she realised how much of a sacrifice she'd made for Princess Amida. She didn't want to back down on her decision, but her heart churned with sorrow. Her brother, her family, her friends and her home… She'd lose it all tomorrow.