Chapter 1
Brenna Dalgaard smiled as she surveyed the land below, a land that had been under rule by her family for thousands of years. She was the elder daughter of Queen Isara, the tenth Queen of the small Norwegian Kingdom of Taydaryn. Her father, Amarice, had died in a bloody battle to save the land and castle four hundred years ago. Landing on a mountainside to the south of the kingdom, she took in all that was before her. Castles beautifully constructed, some of brick, some of stone, dotted the landscape. Lush, verdant valleys gave way to thriving crops. Brenna had fond memories of the bustle of the inner city. Daily, the streets of Taydaryn were filled with merchants shouting about their wares, and the aromas from fresh baked goods led you to the delacacies. People were happy. Shouts of joyful greetings to each and children playing warmed the hearts of those who lived in this land. This joyous peace buried the blood of the past. It was a promised replacement for past sacrifices that bloomed into the present fortunes. The moon was a silvery-white, making Brenna’s wings and scales glimmer the same color. She embraced her special abilities, abilities that protected her and many others. In dragon form, she was fearless. In human form, she was truth and honor. All qualities learned from years of daily instruction from her mother. Brenna was an ice dragon, and small for her size. She was not a fire-breathing monster of a dragon, like her sister, but one who took care of conflict by freezing it. Whether that was right or wrong, who knew. She only knew that by cooling off some of those in battle, including her own sister, it gave her time to think about how to handle the situation. In dragon form she felt exceptionally beautiful, more so than her human form. Small downy white feathered wings formed a silky collar around her shoulders and the armor of irridescent scales took on a sheen so brilliant others were blinded by their shimmer. She sported two ivory tusks on her forehead, and unlike her ancestors, her eyes never changed color. They stayed the same icy blue as her human eyes. Translucent wings on either side of her sleek body reached six feet when fully extended. Her tail was just as long. Because she was smaller than most dragons, she flew high and fast as she soared past clouds and stars and other celestial objects. The streets were quiet now, and Brenna could think on this mountain outside Taydaryn. She needed to, that was certain. So many things clouded her mortal mind. Her heart was heavy with the news of her mother’s illness. Ultimately, this meant the passing of the crown to her, the first born. She would be Taydaryn’s next leader. Although she was four hundred years old in dragon years, humans guessed her at thirty, and she let them. The continual trouble her sister caused made Brenna sad more than angry. Eldra stirred up trouble wherever she went and didn’t care about the others who may be hurt, rather, only thought of herself. Her recent penchant to start fires in the forest behind the castle was the most disturbing. Brenna would never understand how two siblings so totally opposite could come from the same parents. That was a mystery she’d solve another day. Right now, she needed to get back to her family home. Brenna turned her face to the heavens and sighed, leaving ice crystals in the air as she took flight to the castle.
SNOW WAS FALLING AND the winds whipped up a storm. Brenna pulled the fur trimmed hood of her full-length white velvet cape over her platinum blonde hair and hastened through the garden. She reached the secret door to the basement of the castle only to find it locked. “Eldra!” Brenna shouted aloud. This meant she’d have to walk her way up the spiral stairs that led to the kitchen or walk the distance around the castle to the front door. She chose the latter, knowing the stairs would be slick from the accumulating snow. Brenna trudged through the mid-calf deep snow and when she reached the front of the castle laid her hand on the door knob and turned it. Thankfully, this door was not locked. Once inside, Brenna unlatched the closure of her cape and flung it on the settee to her left. She sat on top of it and removed her boots with a yank, tossing them under the bench. She was not happy. “Eldra!” Brenna yelled between clenched teeth. “Get your happy little self down here this minute!” Brenna stood at the bottom of the highly polished spiral staircase, one hand on her hip and her left eyebrow crooked upward. “I mean it, sis. NOW!” Eldra walked slowly to the top of the stairs, leaned partially over the bannister, and glared at her older sister. She took extra pause with each descending step, drawing out the inevitable. All five-foot-eight inches of her stood on the bottom step—eye to eye with her sister. She stuck out her bottom lip, tossed her long auburn locks over her shoulders, and looked coyly through overly mascara laden lashes. “Aw, Brenna not happy?” Eldra teased. Brenna’s icy gaze froze her sister’s stare. “Eldra, what is with you? You knew I would be home late and that is my entrance and exit. Why in the world did you lock the door?” The younger woman twirled a curl of hair around her index finger and non-chalantly shrugged. “Safety first. Isn’t that what dear old dad use to tell us?” “Listen, you spoiled brat, I’ve had it with your attitude lately. I don’t get why you are biting sarcasm at everyone. You are setting things on fire in the forest when you go for a fly. Talk to me.” Brenna grabbed Eldra’s hand, pulled her into the living room, and plopped them both down on the love seat. “You are such a goodie two shoes,” Eldra quipped. “You love spoiling my entertainment. I’m not hurting anyone or anything. I’m just having a bit of fun.” “Eldra,” Brenna sighed. “Please, listen to me. Setting things on fire for fun is very disturbing, to say the least, not to mention you don’t know how quickly those small fires could turn into something big that would endanger our home. And, bringing dad into this conversation makes no sense either. Have you no respect for our parents? For our family? For our legacy?” “Alright, I admit, that may be a bit freaky for you,” Eldra chuckled. “But, I’m a fire dragon, and you have to admit watching fire is a beautiful thing, you know? I’m not endangering our precious home or family. It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m not hanging out here much longer. There’s no need for me.” Brenna stood and walked to the window and back. She knelt beside her sister and placed a hand on her knee. “There was once a time when you took pride in Taydaryn and being the daughter of the Queen. Eldra, what happened?” Eldra thought for a moment. No way was she revealing to her sister or anyone else the plans she had. They were big...really big. And, if she played her hand right, she would win it all. “Alright, look, I won’t promise anything, but I’ll try not to be such a pain in your ass. I know you have a lot on your mind, including the crown of Taydaryn,” she air quoted the last words. “Is that what you’re upset about? Are you mad because I am next in line for the crown?” Eldra shook her head. Hell no she wasn’t angry, she was downright furious that her sister would be Queen. The last thing she wanted was to bow down to this ice dragon freak of a sister. She’d have to lie her way through yet another conversation. It was something she was getting quite good at. “Heavens no,” she sighed. “I just have a lot on my mind. I’ve taken a new position with my firm that requires me to move. It’s goodbye Chicago, hello New York. I leave on Friday.” Brenna pursed her lips. Why was this the first she’d heard of the move? They lived three blocks away from each other. Granted they weren’t good at keeping in touch, but packing up and moving? What in the world was she thinking? “Interesting. So, you’re telling me you would rather continue your job than move back here to Taydaryn and help me?” “Sister dearest, you need all the help you can get, but I’m not going to be one of your minions.”
CHAPTER 2
It had been two weeks since Brenna and Eldra had conversed. Brenna split her time between managing her thriving designer clothing business via the internet and caring for her mother. Along with this was the fact she needed to learn how Dalgaard Castle ran or find someone to manage it and the staff in her absence. She wouldn’t always be available. Hoping to spend most of her time at her Chicago condo, she’d make monthly visits to Taydaryn to keep up with what was happening. The Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister could update her. If things required her attention, she’d be available, but Brenna didn’t want to give up her mortal life. She’d worked too hard to achieve her place in the world of designer fashion. Brenna grabbed a tray from the counter and placed on it a vase with a single pink rose. The chefs had made salads at her request and placed them on the tray along with glasses of iced tea, hoping to entice her mother to eat. “Mother?” Brenna quietly made her presence known. She pushed open her mother’s bedroom door. “I’ve brought lunch.” Setting the tray on the dresser, Brenna walked over to her mother’s bed and sat down beside her. What Brenna saw broke her heart. She was hoping to see her beautiful mother in her mortal form, instead her mother, Isara, had transformed into her dragon form and lay curled up in a tiny ball in the center of the bed. She was no bigger than a Bernese mountain dog. Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of Brenna’s voice but was too weak to acknowledge her presence. She was in the beginning stages of transition. “Oh, Mother!” A tear slid down Brenna’s cheek. “What can I do to make you more comfortable?” “Sit,” Isara whispered. “Cry no tears for me. Soon I will be with your father.” Brenna reached for the lamb’s wool coverlet and pulled it over her mother. Her hand rested on the top of Isara’s head, stroking between her ivory tusks. With each stroke, pale pink scales shed into her hand. She laid her head beside her mother and wept. “My daughter, tears for me are wasted. You know the fate of our dragon line. Once we die we regenerate into a different form in a different land. Your father and I will be together again, and I will be happy,” Isara assured. “You have a kingdom to rule, my dear, just as all of your grandmothers and I have ruled. You will be a stunning queen and I know you’ll protect our precious Taydaryn.” “Mother, I don’t know what to do or how to do it. I want to keep my mortal life but honor you at the same time. I hope to do both justice.” Isara’s breathing was shallow and her voice barely a whisper. “Brenna, you will be fine. The government runs itself and has for years. I’ve been nothing more than a figure head—someone who attends special social events and fundraisers. If anyone can do both, it is you.” “I’m not ready to let go of you. It’s not fair. You won’t walk me down the aisle, if I marry. You won’t hold my children and teach them the wonderful stories you’ve taught me and Eldra. It’s so not fair.” Brenna sat up and crossed her arms over her chest. Her lungs hurt. She wanted to scream. Her sister needed to be here for the final goodbye to their mother. “Regarding Eldra,” Isara began. “Don’t be too hard on her. She has a fighting wanderlust that is her strength but will also take her down. Just be you, sweet Brenna. All will be well in this land and beyond. You will be just and honest in your decisions. You must rely on my teachings.” Isara nudged Brenna’s arm with her ivory tusks. It was nearing time for her to leave. “I love you, my child. I will always be with you. There is a gold locket on my dresser. Bring it to me.” Brenna did as she was told and lay the locket in front of her mother. “Take the scales from your hand and place them in the locket. Fasten the chain around your neck and never remove it. Draw on my wisdom by wrapping your hand around the locket. I will hear you and answer,” Isara gasped. “Mom! No! No! You can’t leave like this! You can’t! Mom!” Isara breathed her last breath with Brenna’s arms wrapped gently around her neck. Isara’s dragon body was taken to the family tomb at the far back of the gardens, near the entrance to the forest. The staff of Dalgaard Castle accompanied Brenna and laid Isara in a beautiful crystal box lined with pink roses. They closed and locked the lid after paying their respects. The Prime Minister of Taydaryn made the announcement of the Queen’s death and that soon all would know the time for the passing of the crown. It was a formal process. All heads of government offices were required to attend. The crown would be placed on Brenna’s head and she would recite the oath of royalty, giving her totality in ruling Taydaryn. As Brenna listened to the Prime Minister, she hoped it would be a few weeks from now. It was difficult enough losing her mother, but to not have her sister there or have any moral support was brutal. Brenna had phoned her sister immediately after Isara’s passing. Eldra was in a business meeting and would get back with her as soon as she could. That took four days. How her sister could be so cold and uncaring was beyond her imagination. She remembered each word of the voice mail. “Hey, sis. Sorry I couldn’t talk when you called. You know, it was important I be at the meeting since I was running it. Too bad about Mother. We all grow old and die and it was her time. Gotta run, but we’ll talk soon.” Then a dial tone beeped. The following days were a blur. There was so much to do and so little time to do it. She needed to make a to-do list for her business. Thankfully, her mother’s assistant, Edith, had written down the things that needed her immediate attention here at the castle. Edith hugged Brenna before handing her the list. “I’m sorry about Isara. She was a grand lady. I will miss her greatly.” “I miss her so much already, Edith. I know I didn’t visit Dalgaard as often as I should have. That weighs on me. Maybe if I’d been more diligent about being around, Mother would have lived longer.” Edith shook her head and gave Brenna another squeeze. “Child, stop second guessing yourself. Everyone has a specific time when they take their last breath. This just happened to be your mom’s. You will make a fine ruler. You are not replacing her. You are setting up your own kingdom within Taydaryn. People will love you just as much, if not more, than they did Isara. She taught you well. I’ve heard much over the years. You’ll do just fine, Brenna. Stop worrying.” Brenna reached out for the list Edith held. The first item was to find a suitable gown for the crown ceremony, something she could design if she had her things. Maybe she needed to fly her assistant, Albert, to Taydaryn. “Guess we start at the beginning, huh?” Brenna smiled. “Only way to get things done,” Edith winked in agreement.
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