Page 1 of Consort's Dragon
Prologue
Yearsbefore the assassination of the Daervanian queen.
Titus,the mighty emperor of Merisu, the longest reigning of his line, did his best to remain awake on his throne.At his age—a body-aching seventy—being forced every few weeks to listen to the complaints of petitioners bored.As if he cared about flocks of sheep and other petty matters.
However, despite being emperor, he did not have a choice.Blame his advisors, most specifically his vizier, Phelgar, who insisted Titus make an appearance and rule on the matters, even though the result was decided by others ahead of time.
Once upon a time, Titus had dreamed of the grandeur of ruling the most prosperous continent in the world.The reality proved disappointing as bureaucracy had long since stripped the emperor of power, making him but a figurehead, his existence governed by rules and expectations—and boredom.
As Titus struggled to appear interested in the droning vassal before his throne, he thought of what would come after.A goblet of wine fortified with herbs, hopefully a nap, and then he would attempt to impregnate his latest consort.Such a bother.If only his one and only son hadn’t died.But he had and Titus no longer had an heir despite his many marriages and countless concubines, none of whom managed a successful pregnancy.His lack of an heir had his advisors quite agitated.Very little time remained before he died of old age, and, without a child to inherit, his country would most likely splinter, something his advisors and the lords wished to avoid.
As the last petitioner took his leave—after complaining that his well went dry because his neighbor had stolen the water, to which Titus offered to send a dousing witch to seek out a new source—the tired emperor rose from his throne, grimacing at how his aged limbs creaked and protested.“I’m off to rest before doing my duty,” he muttered.
“Not yet, Your Eminence,” murmured Phelgar.“There is still one more case to be heard.”
“But it is midafternoon,” Titus whined, knowing no one would dare point out his petulant tone.The last person overheard murmuring about the emperor’s attitude lost their head.Not on his order, he should add.Phelgar took insults to Titus’ reign quite seriously.
“They paid an impressive sum for a moment of your time,” Phelgar remarked.A rude reminder that their coffers ran low.The once-prosperous Merisu had been hit by a series of unfortunate events.Droughts the last three summers had spawned wildfires which in turn decimated the already sparse crop yields.Hard to collect taxes when no one could earn any coin.It didn’t help the treasury had been paying extra for additional guards to keep a hungry populace from rioting.At least the many executions of instigators made for fewer mouths to feed.
Titus dropped back onto his throne with a sigh.“And what is the verdict I’m to propose?”
“I don’t have one,” Phelgar replied, surprising the emperor.“They only just arrived, bearing a chest of gold.”
A chest?Impressive and intriguing.Especially the part where Phelgar couldn’t tell him in advance what to reply.Titus couldn’t recall the last time he’d actually made a decision on his own.“Their generous contribution pleases me.Let us see what they have to say.”
The guards at the entrance to his throne room flung open the bronze doors, the height of at least two tall men and gleaming from the daily polishing.Through them marched a trio of women, clad head to toe in white robes that included concealing veils.An interesting attire that probably hid hideous countenances.His third consort had to wear one when he bedded her so he didn’t lose his erection.
The three petitioners stopped a pace before the last step of his dais and in unison knelt with bowed heads.
“Rise.”Titus waved a gnarled hand.
They rose as one, and the woman in the center spoke, her voice low and husky.“Oh, mighty emperor of Merisu, thank you for receiving us.”
“Your names,” Phelgar demanded, a quill and parchment ready to take notes.
“I am Klothi and these are my sisters, Kachezi and Karoki.”
Unusual names.“Why do you seek an audience?By your speech, you do not appear to be Merisuan citizens.Are you here as delegates for another country?”
“We have no allegiance to any country, your eminence, for we were chosen to serve a higher purpose.”
The claim arched his brow.Had a new religious sect sprung up?Surprising since Phelgar’s spy network usually stamped out anything that might run counter to his rule.
“There is no higher purpose than serving Merisu,” Phelgar tartly replied.
“What we do is for the betterment of everyone,” Klothi stated.
“And what exactly do you do?”Titus asked.
“We are keepers of knowledge.The sisters who watch.The ones who see what is to come and would prevent it.”
“Grandiose claims that say nothing.Speak plainly,” Phelgar barked.“The emperor’s time is valuable.”
“We are known as the Dracova Guardians and for the longest time have kept ourselves hidden from the world.”
“I’ve never heard of you.What exactly do you guard?”Phelgar showed little patience.
“That is not something that can be revealed to anyone but the emperor,” was Klothi’s cool reply.
