Chapter 14 Camp

"Why do we have dragons" a young seraphina asked as she sat on her mother's lap. "I believe the gods choose those of us with the best hearts to have dragons" marianna said to her young daughter "after all with the wrong heart they could destroy the world if they so wished" she told seraphina. "But that is what's good about being a dragon's heart" marianna said "it makes us part dragon as well" she told her.

"But mommy," Seraphina said looking up at her mother. "I don't have a good heart," she said as her eyes gave off a gold glow.

Seraphina opened her eyes and shot up, sitting up. She began to look around. It appeared she was in a tent. Was she back at the camp? "I see you're finally awake" Daniel said as he walked into the tent with a tray of supplies, then set it down on the table. "Prince Daniel..." seraphina said. "How long have I been out?" She asked. "2 days" he said as he turned to look at her.

"Do you wanna tell me what the bloody hell that was?" He asked "what?" Seraphina asked. Daniel pulled a chair next to her bed and sat down. "What's the last thing you remember?" He asked. "Giving flare the command to burn the village," seraphina told him honestly. Daniel looked as if he wanted to say something but didn't as he stood up.

"Never do that again" he told her. "We may only be allies but I don't wish for your death, if you truly wish to save your family and your people then don't sacrifice yourself for them" he said. "You can't become a queen if your dead" he said leaving the tent. "Your highness?" A maid said peaking her head into the tent. "You may enter" seraphina said. "I've come to help you dress your highness," the Maid said with a smile.

"Am I not ill anymore?" Asked Seraphina. "No, your highness," said the maid. "Sir Lincoln brought the medicine to you in time which saved not only your life but the entire camps" she told her "I don't believe you to be a simple maid" Sera said slightly suspicious. "I've never heard a maid speak so frankly without their masters permission," she added.

"My apologies, your highness," she said. "Allow me to explain as I help you change, much has changed in the short time you were unwell" she added as she brought fresh clothes to Seraphina.

Seraphina stood and the maid began to help her change. "My name is Sona, I am a Viscount and vassal to her majesty queen Lillian" Sona said. "A vassal?" Seraphina questioned. "Yet here you are helping me prepare... why is that?" Sera asked. "Her majesty asked, I take care of you, your highness" sona said. "She worries the past may repeat itself" she said as she began to do Seraphinas hair. "The past..." Sera said.

"How old are you? You are by far the youngest of the vassals I've seen" Seraphina asked. "I am 22 this year, your highness," she said. "I became the viscount after everyone in my family was killed in an attack" she Said. "I'm sorry to hear that" Sera said. "It happened many years ago, your highness," she said. "They were visiting a village in Sengrid and it was burned to the ground" she said. A flash of a memory popped into Seraphina's mind, of when she was a child and witnessed a village burning.

"You are ready, your highness" Sona said and Seraphina stood up. Sera walked out of the tent, and passed everyone in the camp. Eris leaped onto her shoulder as she walked towards Blizzard, Storm, and flare. "I see you've grown!" She said with a smile as she pet her head. Storm lowered her head allowing her to pet it.

"When I was with Queen Lillian, she mentioned how those of her bloodline can control dragons if they become their heart" Daniel said, appearing next to seraphina. "Are you a dragon's heart?" He asked "I don't believe so" Seraphina said honestly. "My mother said that a dragon's heart is completely connected to the dragon, when she was young she almost died and one of her dragons even gave her its heart" she said. "But I feel the same connection with Flare and Eris as I do Storm and blizzard" Sera continued. "Being the heart of two dragons is already rare enough, but 4 that seems impossible to me" she said as she pet storms nose. "I see" he said simply.

Then they were both silent for a moment. "On our way to Toin we will have to pass through Samona," seraphina said. "In the south of Samona there is an Aymaran tribe, I believe it would be best if we get them on our side" seraphina said.

"You intend to become allies with the king of the Aymaran tribe?" He asked. "They call him the Riyi, but yes," Seraphina said simply. "Is that the smartest choice I heard they act like savages," Daniel said. "They are not savages," Sera said. "They just live differently from us," she added. "And the Riyi, is a strong force, if he believes we are strong we will treat us as equals and agree to our terms" she told him. "And what does he get out of it?" Daniel asked. "Whatever it is he wishes," she told him.

"It would be best if we leave at first light," she said, turning to him. "You truly are insane aren't you?" Daniel asked. "I do not wish to use my dragons to bring Toin to its knees unless necessary, as of now there are still innocent people there... innocent children" she said. "Toin was already destroyed by dragons once and I doubt you wish to one day rule over a kingdom of ash" she added.

"You have a point I suppose" said Daniel "it shall be as you said then we will begin preparations to leave at first light" he said as he turned to walk away.

Decisions from now on will jot be easy. Seraphina thought. From now on every decision will be like back at the village. Save the people or let them burn.

TO BE CONTINUED