The darkness fell upon Eldoria quickly, covering the land in an ominous stillness. The sisters, after an evening of chattering in their parlor, retired to their respective bedroom chambers for the night. While her sisters slept, Aria remained awake in her bedroom, her gaze fixed on the dragon tooth.
'This is almost big enough to make a small dagger...' she thought to herself, marveling at the size.
The tooth bore cracks and dents, hinting it had likely been lost in battle. Aria couldn't help but wonder if it had belonged to a male or female dragon.
After giving it some thought, she decided to craft a pendant from the tooth. Of course, she couldn't wear it openly; anything belonging to dragons was considered a curse, but there were ways to hide it.
Leaping out of her enormous bed, she hurried to the study table at the small reading nook and rummaged through the books piled on it. Then she found it; an old guide on crafting pendants. Though the manual listed materials like pearls and seashells, nothing as peculiar as a dragon's tooth was mentioned.
Undeterred, Aria took a stretchy ribbon and tied it securely around the crown of the tooth. Then, she slipped it around her neck and admired her handiwork in the mirror. The pendant hung elegantly, its eerie, jagged beauty captivating her.
Satisfied, she tucked the tooth beneath her pillow and finally retired to bed. Sleep came quickly, but as she drifted off, the tooth began to glow faintly— a soft blue light that flickered and faded instantaneously...
THE NEXT DAY...
It was the day of the Death Pledge, the Morveth. The entire kingdom was in a state of harrowing silence; the streets were deserted, and markets usually bustling with life were eerily empty with no trader or buyer in sight. No children played in the town squares or the fields.
The rice paddies and cornfields were void of farmers, and the taverns and inns were shut tight. Terrified townsfolk peeked from shuttered windows before bolting them shut. Fear clung to the Eldorians like a shadow; knowing the dragons were coming suffocated any trace of courage.
Inside the royal palace, the atmosphere was somber. The royal family had risen before dawn to prepare for the solemn ritual.
King Rodric waited in the outer chamber of his palace, arms clasped behind his back. He stood close to what seemed to be a temporarily constructed praying altar with his advisor and most trusted councilman, deep in prayer.
"I am ready, Father," Sybilla announced, her voice calm yet heavy.
Rodric turned to find his eldest daughter standing at the entrance of the chamber, dressed in a simple black gown adorned with grey sashes. Her hair was braided and pinned neatly in an unadorned updo. She had no makeup or jewelry on.
Rodric stared at his daughter for a moment and nodded solemnly. The other princesses waited quietly in their parlor, similarly dressed in black without any form of adornment.
Outside the palace, the 'sacrificial offerings' stood in the courtyard. The previous night, they had dined like royalty, indulging in luxurious meals and sleeping in grand chambers, because it would be their last day of freedom.
Their wrists and ankles were chained in a way that would allow free movement. There were thirty men and twenty women ranging from ages seventeen to thirty. Their heads were lowered, their faces etched with sorrow and fear. Some wore expressionless masks, their emotions hidden beneath stoic visages.
Not one of them knew what their fates would be in the dragon's world, and they dared not to imagine it. They had been taken from their families to be sacrificed in order to save Eldoria. They had become heroes in the eyes of every Eldorian, including the king and his family.
They were dressed in white robes. Some of the men had their hair shaven willingly to show their sorrow, while the women were tied modestly. Guards stood watch, ensuring that no one tried to escape—not that any dared. To run would mean condemning the entire kingdom to the dragons' fiery wrath.
King Rodric and his eldest daughter, Sybilla approached to address them one last time.
"My beloved people, words cannot express how devastated I am about what is to happen today. This is a dark moment for us all, yet, I want you to know that you are heroes. Your sacrifice will shield Eldoria from the fiery wrath of the dragons. We will be eternally grateful, and your bravery and heroship will be remembered for generations."
He paused, searching their downcast faces for a moment, but their heads remained lowered. A few of the women struggled to stifle their sobs.
"I promise your families will be cared for." Rodric continued.
"They will be compensated richly for the great loss, and I will ensure that they never bleed or suffer because of this. I will employ your fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. I will make sure that your children never go hungry. I, your king, will give your families better houses. They will live in comfort and security. I swear to all of you, I will never go back on my word."
There was another deafening silence.
"Thank you... Your Majesty... My family will truly appreciate your kindness. My mother... She is a widow... She struggles all day and toils all night to put food on your table. Please end her suffering..." a young girl aged twenty spoke up in a shaking voice.
The chains bit into the young girl's wrists, but the ache was nothing compared to the crushing weight of knowing she'd never see her family again.
Rodric and his daughter watched her with sad eyes. Sybilla stepped forward and embraced the girl tightly.
"Your mother will be cared for," Sybilla assured her gently. "I will ensure she never struggles again. She will have a place in the palace."
The young girl looked up at her with wide, teary eyes full of joy and appreciation.
"Your Highness... Thank you so much... Thank you..."
Sybilla nodded with a sad smile and stepped back as she stifled her tears.
As the sun began to rise on the horizon, the procession to the sacrificial grounds began. The march would take over an hour, but the king and his daughter willingly walked with the people to be offered.
The princesses and the palace staff watched from their balconies as the king, Sybilla, the people to be sacrificed and twenty able-bodied guards began the march. Townsfolk watched from their windows, their eyes filled with grief and helplessness.
They walked through the cobbled streets of Eldoria, the small towns, and the villages, in silence without a word. At last, they reached the desolate sacrificial grounds, a barren expanse on Eldoria's outskirts.
The guards raised the kingdom's banner high, announcing the king and his daughter's presence with a thunderous drumbeat that echoed across the land. Then there was absolute silence.
Rodric watched the distance, waiting, listening. The air grew heavy, and the earth seemed to hold its breath.
Then, in the distance, came a roar; a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down every spine. The earth trembled beneath their feet, and the once still air was overwhelmed with the scent of sulphur.
The dragons were near.