• Chapter 1: Royally Captive

    My life has been empty. It was like I was drained of everything exciting. It's hard to say I was only five years old when I felt that. Now, there's nothing but excitement. Everywhere I go there's something to do, somewhere to go, someone who needs me. I never thought it could happen.
    Raised in a castle I had everything I ever needed, anything I ever wanted, something brand new every day. But I was never happy. I gave my stuff away to the poor when I traveled through the kingdom with my father. Sadly I was only allowed out once a month. On that one week I always brought a carriage full of my belongings and gave it to whomever I saw fit to have it. Pretty soon the whole village was all dressed up like they were supposed to be in the castle, most of the time I wish they were. But no one was. My father was worried. Word had spread that Riders had been seen lately in the mountains and my father didn't want me found by them.

    "Dragons are huge! They also eat meat. Sometimes, they swoop down and pluck up Royals so their riders can rule. I don't want to lose you like your mother."

    My father told me this every time I asked. I knew what he meant when he said, 'I don't want to lose you like your mother.' My mother was a Rider. She was also royalty. My mother never liked being in the castle. Most of her childhood, she had been raised by her father, Sir Garson. Back then, he was the greatest knight in the kingdom. Her father had trained her and she became his apprentice when she became the age of ten years. By the time she was fifteen, she was the second greatest knight in the kingdom. That was, before rebel Riders killed her. After she had met my father and they married she was able to access royal missions. Father didn't like her going all around the kingdom doing men's work, but he admired her for her stubbornness.

    Riders were considered higher than Royals but they respected us more than themselves. My father's father had created a treaty between the Riders, allowing them to live in his kingdom if they kept peace between the people. My father never liked the dragons but respected them for protecting his kingdom. The Rider's leader had accepted gratefully and dragons had become existent. But other Riders thought it was a rash idea.

    Rider leaders are female and their dragons, male. This was a rare occurrence because most dragons are female and Riders are male. This is what made them leaders. Whoever the male dragon chose for his rider became the leader. The thing is female riders are only born every one-hundred years. My mother was that one. On one mission they were about a day's away from the kingdom's borders. My mother had taken a large party of forty men with her and every man was trained to deal with dragons. The night they sent camp my mother went to scout the area and a dragon came to talk to her. This was the male dragon, Kayo. He had chosen my mother. She had accepted and automatically became the leader of the Riders. Some of the others didn't like Kayo's choice.

    After two years my mother had me and for three years, until I was five, I grew up with my mother as Lead Rider and her dragon. Kayo was a very kind dragon. He allowed me to ride him when I was bored and told me stories of dragons. I grew closely attached to him and mother. Mother had always taught me whatever she could. She taught me how to fight, how to ride, the names of other dragons and their Riders, and so much more.

    That very same year, a rebellion took place. Some of the Riders had enough of my mother for leader. They had decided to declare a rebel against her. Only a few others joined because the rest of the Riders respected their leader. Mother had accepted their request to fight and battled them fearlessly. But they rebels had a trick.
    They used the dark arts to form a demon dragon that's only purpose was to destroy my mother. She fought it for a time but it weakened her. No matter how much strength Kayo offered her it was quickly taken from the beast. Then, when my mother could take no more, she was killed. The demon had hit Kayo with its tail and Kayo fell. He fell with my mother with him. My heart filled with grief and I vowed to revenge her.

    Three years had passed and I was now eight. This was the age my father had started my royal training. I quickly forgot everything my mother taught me and I felt hapless. Ten years went by and my father was growing old. Riders seemed to be extinct and I haven't seen a dragon in years. My father has decided to find me a suitor. I've tried to talk him out of it but hid old mind won't take anything in anymore. I asked him if I could wait until I was twenty but he simply said, "I may be dead by then! You need to become queen before I die so that there's no one to overthrow you." He leaned forward and touched the side of his nose with his finger, "There are still Riders out there, Kae. You need to be weary." I had grown angry with him. After a month of my begging and pleading he had now prevented me from seeing him.

    Now, I'm running away. I leave tonight with two of my most trusted guards, Gorgon and Jaden. We grew up together and were very close friends. They understood my decision and quickly accepted my invitation to leave with me. Later that night we all left together. Gorgon was behind me and Jaden in front. It was the normal position for Royals that traveled with two others. I had chosen my favorite horse, Jay, who was a dapple mare. I had raised her when she was born from my mother's horse. Jay was the second closest thing I had of my mother. The first was her mother's horse, Yalliah. She was old, but sturdy.

    After weeks of traveling, we had arrived at the border of the kingdom. I had kept a keen eye on our surroundings because the border held stories of where dragons roamed. We quickly set camp on the other side so if my father had gotten word to any one near the border they couldn't touch us. People on the other side of the border are considered rebels, outsiders, or Riders. I know they wouldn't consider me a Rider but they may consider me as a rebel. I was royalty crossing the border. This was a rare occurrence.

    For several days we traveled in this new land. All of it was new to me. The sights were exhilarating. The air smelled crisp. Greenery was everywhere. Mountains filled the horizon. It was beautiful, besides the dragons flying around them. For the first time in years I had seen more dragons. There were two of them, one red and one green. They were lazily floating around in the sky. The red one was immense compared to the other. It hit me like a rock.

    The red dragon was the male. The green must've been his mate or his apprentice. Older dragons taught the younger ones. It was a sort of system they used. Rider's dragons only trained other dragons that would become Rider dragons.

    After seeing them I told Gorgon and Jaden to hide in the trees. Dragons could see very far and had incredible olfactory senses. We quickly went to the side of the road but I had a feeling it was too late. I was right. The dragons were heading in our direction. The red one roared and soon, more dragons were in the sky, all of them with a figure riding them. "They are Riders." I breathed. Gorgon and Jaden cast a worried look at the dragons. Soon, they were all above us.

    If I never met a dragon before I would have been very scared. But I wasn't afraid. I stepped from our hiding and shouted to them, "Land Riders, and speak!" Gorgon and Jaden started whispering loudly for me to get back. I shook my head. A large whoosh knocked them over but my feet, who had forgotten years of the training received, held firmly.

    The red dragon cast a look of surprise as he saw the movement. His loud voice filled my ears and the air around me. "She knew how to plant her feet when my wings cast a wave of wind. See how her companions fell? This is surely Kae! The female Rider has returned!" He landed in front of me, his golden eyes glowing with what seemed like joy.
    Another dragon landed next to him and her Rider jumped off. He was a tall man, about six feet tall, with sandy hair that went to his shoulders. It has a windswept look to it and Kae realized it was most likely from riding dragons for so long. He looked me over with a look of curiosity in his deep green eyes. Kyo, she looks like Mae. I remember it in that story."

    The dragon I assumed was Kyo nodded his massive head. "It is her daughter. I can tell. She is the one that Spirit Dragon has sent me dreams of. She is my Rider." His eyes flashed with pride. "You are Kae, right?" the sandy haired man asked me. I held my head high and answered, "I am Kae. My mother was indeed Mae, Rider of Kayo. She fell to the demon dragon that was summoned to destroy her." The Rider's dragon shook her head in surprise. "Kyo, I think your right. She looks like Mae and sounds like her. This girl also knows the story of her death!"

    Kyo stretched his neck and looked at me with one massive eye. "Tell me Kae, how familiar do I look to you?" Kae gasped, "You are the one from my dream! I remember riding you in the dream. We were over a large body of water. You asked me my name. I asked you yours." I looked at the dragon with great respect. "Kyo, you are my dragon. I am your Rider. "Kyo dipped his head and said, "Kae, you are my Rider. I am your dragon." He touched my forehead with his muzzle. A shock went through me and I held a gasp. My arms tingled down to the palms. When he removed his head I looked at my wrists and saw red marks that made me a Rider.

    The other Rider nodded his head to me and jumped back on his dragon. "Delilah, let's tell the others about our new Rider." Delilah nodded her head once and jumped into the sky with the other dragons. I turned to Kyo. "How can I be the next female Rider if my mother only died a few years ago?" I asked. Kyo's muscles rippled as if to shrug. "Maybe it was because your mother was only a leader for a few years. Maybe it's because she wasn't killed fairly. The dark arts can cause so much to change."

    I nodded and looked to Gorgon and Jaden who were staring at my marks. "I am a Rider now. Like my mother before me. I want you both to go back to the kingdom. Tell my father what I am and say I am not returning." They nodded, jumped on their horses and before leaving, each touched my shoulder in a farewell. I watched them gallop off before turning back to Kyo. He was watching me with great interest. I touched his nose. "Kyo, what do I do now?" He chuckled and said, "First you must meet the other Riders. You are to lead them and it is wise to know your allies."

    I nodded. That made sense. "Then, I shall meet the others." Kyo's eyes filled with glee as I jumped on him. Suddenly, everything my mother taught me returned. "What should happen to my horse?" Kyo looked at it and offered, "I could eat her." I laughed and said, "Just carry her. She won't do anything." Kyo's muscles ripped again as if in a shrug and he carefully wrapped his claw around Jay. The little horse looked at Kyo with big eyes and neighed a greeting. Kyo sneezed and said, "I don't like horses. They are beasts that have beady little eyes. Humph, I'm much faster than any horse you'll ever ride, Kae." I laughed again as Kyo jumped into the sky. 'It is time to meet the Riders.' I thought.


    I woke with a start. Pearls of sweat hung on my face and gently rolled down. It was the fourth time I had had the dream in the past week. I wiped my face with a hand and looked around my large room. Light from dawn was now starting to fill the room with color. A cool breeze blew through my windows causing the silk hangings to wave gently at me. I couldn't help but smile when another larger breeze blew through and tousled my hair.

    Getting up I brushed back my long, silvery hair. My nightgown fluttered around my body as I moved to my wash basin. An image of a blue eyed girl stared at me with a small smile touching her red lips. Her nose was straight and had a rounded tip at the end. She had high cheekbones with a soft tone of pink. Her skin was a golden color. One that showed she spent a lot of time in the sun. The girl sighed when I did and reached for the brush when I did.

    I brushed my hair back into a thick braid. When I finished, I got up and stretched. A soft knock on the door made me jump. "Enter." I said. The doors opened and my maid, Ani, walked in.

    "Mistress, your father had sent me for you."

    I nodded and asked, "How soon?"

    Ani shrugged and offered, "I could help you dress, miss. I know you don't like Edna. I've heard you complain about her tying the laces too tight."

    I blushed. Edna was a very strong woman and seemed to ignore her own strength. I had complained several times before but I had to expect Ani to know that. I giggled. "She's too rough. I'd like for you to help." Ani dipped her head and went to select a dress from my large collection. When she came back, she carried a light red dress with gold embroidery along the sleeves and midsection. I slipped off my nightgown and donned the dress. After I had I turned so Ani could do the laces.

    The soft tugging was so much different compared to the fierce pulls that I was almost used to. I couldn't help but smile when Ani announced she was done. I took a deep breath and laughed. "Ani, you are amazing at this. I think you should be my head maid."
    Ani blushed and walked over to my bed. She started fussing with the blankets and the pillows. "Have you heard the news, miss? I was told that your father has an announcement."

    I gave her a surprised look. "Did he really? What sort?"

    Ani shrugged. "I was just told that something big was happening."

    "If he has anything to say about finding a suitor than I'm never leaving this room again." I sighed. I shook my head and went to the door. I laid a slender hand on the handle and said to Ani. "Please bring breakfast around my father's quarters in fifteen minutes. No matter how important this announcement is I'm not listening on an empty stomach."

    Ani smiled and nodded her head. I returned the smile and walked from my room.


    "I have found a suitor for you!" my father said gleefully.

    I groaned and said, "Father, I'm not-" I was cut off by the entrance of a very handsome man. He had sandy hair that went to his shoulders in a wind-swept look. He had deep green eyes that seemed to look me over as I did to him. Suddenly it hit me. He was the Rider from my dreams. My mouth moved but no words came.

    "Kae, this is Jack. He is from over the border in a kingdom very far away. He is here to meet you personally." my father said pridefully. I could tell that he was very pleased with his selection. He looked to Jack and to me several times before saying, "Well daughter, intorduce yourself."

    I dipped my head and walked to Jack. I held my hand out to him. He gave me a sweet smile and took my hand, slowly bringing it to his lips. "No need, your majesty. I know your name well."

    I returned the smile and bowed my head. I couldn't help but hear my heart pound in my ears. He was very handsome. Maybe father has made a well descion, I thought to myself. My father's voice drowned out any thoughts I had.
    "Master Jack here will be staying with us for a month, Kae. I will trust you to guide him around the castle." He looked at me expectantly and I answered, "Of course, father." He beamed at me from his throne and waved us away.

    I gave a small smile to Jack and led him from the throne room. "So Jack, I seem to be in charge of guiding you. I will try my best."
    He smiled and said, "Of course, Kae. I trust you completly." the way he said my name made my whole entire body tingle with pleasure.
    For a while, we walked through the hall, talking. Just talking. Every now and then I would point out a room then aske him a question. We talked about our lives, our interests, stories of our kingdoms. I had enjoyed his company. Soon, I had shown him most of the castle and we were walking through the rose garden in the west part of the castle.

    I had walked to a rose bush when he asked me, "Kae, are roses your favorite flower?"

    I smiled and answered, "Yes. My mother's also. She used to take me out here and recite several poems of roses. Sometimes I'd make one up. Sometimes she would." I gave him a distant smile.
    "I never really wanted to lose my mother. I was so close to her."

    He gave me an understanding smile and took my hand. "I bet she's missing you too. Kae, if a man became close to you he'd be heartbroken to lose you. Your like a rose yourself. If it wilts, the gardener will miss it." He stroked my face. "I havn't known you long but I'm starting to feel like that. I'd be heartbroken without you, Kae. Your the girl I've been looking for for a long time." He gave my hand a squeeze.

    I couldn't help but get lost in his eyes. "Then don't. I don't want you to be hurt because of me. I woulnt' bear it." I whispered to him.
    He looked at me with complete love. It was so pure I thought it would burn through me. I leaned closer to him. He took me gratefully and said into my ear, "I won't lose you. I'll feel this forever. And I want you to return it."

    Instead of answering with words, I pressed my lips against his.