chapter 5. the king.

the crew met in the cargo area and the pilot is a deep gold dragon man in the familiar blaring voice he took a role call of the passengers and crew. when he reaches my name he doesn't even call it out he just pauses and takes a long forelorn look at my half hidden face. while he continues, I let myself look around keeping very close to Thale. their where about 30 being in the bay each dragian having a different colours l, horn shapes and wings. I could almost tell their affinity just by their physical traits Thale was definitely a flyer with great hunting capacity, another dragian I observed was called Remasih had small plate like wings with a flat broad horn like plate on his forehead, I assumed he was a more burrowing dragian and had intentions to ask Thale about it when we where out of earshot. Once the 'captain' was satisfied that everyone that was meant to be leaving was present he dropped the cargo door to the outside world.

the warm fresh breeze hit my face instantly energizing me. the docking station was almost a combination of medieval shows like game of thrones architecture and starwars architecture. the effect was beautiful with the stone wall bending at almost impossible angles being supported by gracefully shaped and intricately carved steel beams. As Thale guided me out I took a look back at the ship I had traveled here on and I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't a giant steel ship that vaguely looked like a flat bottomed cruise ship it had bright red stripes across the center and wings. On the back of the ship just above the door was a huge man with wings painting in red and gold. the beauty of the painting caught me off guard making me stumble as Thale pulled me through the crowd by my wrist.

we followed the flow of the crowd passing through four doorways big enough to drive a double decker bus through. the ornate hinged doors looked well cared for and ancient with two fully armed guards at each one. after the fourth doorway Thale led us off into huge hallway with silver guilding every where, on the wall where you would expect to see paintings there where huge crystals of different colours with small silver plaques underneath.

sensing my interest Thale began explaining 'these are crystals made by previous queens when they give birth to their first son and heir to the kingdom, I know that probably gives you more questions that the king will answer momentarily' he said stiffening and adverting his eyes. 'follow me'

we walk in silence for 30 seconds before we reached a huge door with six guards.

'Thale thank God you're back the king has been anxious to meet her and you know what that means for everyone else's he said with a merry laugh.

'looks of drinking and smoking then?' Thale said winking.

'you know it' he said swinging open the doors.

the scene that the doors opened to reveal startled me. It was him Tiberius. I only met him once when I was on a business trip to Norway and out for a quiet dinner by myself. we hit it off talking about my job, travels, husband and children. he talked about his travels and as it turned out we had been to many of the same places just at different times we talked for hours until I got a text from my assistant asking if I was ok and that I should have been back half an hour ago. we said our goodbyes and I for some reason felt like I was walking away from someone important but I was married and completely committed to my husband so I didn't exchange numbers or last names I just left it as a good conversation with a stranger.

'Violet' Thale hissed snapping me back to my impossible situation.

Tiberius walked towards me looking completely unchanged from our dinner in Norway. His long Red hair was braided off his face,his long goatee was also plaited and bejeweled reaching to the center of his strong, broad chest, the ornate black robe he wore had intricate silver stitching on the seams, his skin was clear and snow white with the lightest dusting of freckles. My eyes locked with his stormy blue eyes and something strange happened. it was like a live current had just opened up between us it was an overwhelming connection unlike anything I had ever experienced. He covered the distance between us almost instantly, but it felt like a life time. he dropped to his knees a meter from my feet.

'Did you feel it?' he asked his stormy eyes searching mine intently.

I was unable to speak so I simply nodded dropping to my knees and taking his large calloused hand placing it over my heart which was beating like a humming bird.