Chapter 1
Trigger Warnings (whole book): violence, child in peril, gore, body horror, domestic violence and emotional abuse, religious themes, cannibalism. This content is not suitable for underage readers and viewer discretion is advised.
Please note that the full story is currently being copied here from Wattpad. There may be edits to the original manuscript.
The sun was setting on the capital of Anuloreth. My home. Anulora. An expansive city in the center of the elven nation’s largest lake where it was said The Holy Dragon once fell to the earth. The first snow of the season was drifting before me and covering the mosaic of the quartzite street. Underneath my worn fur cloak lie my golden ceremonial robes. My wavy cerulean hair contrasted against the deep brown of my winter garment. Despite the chill that brushed against my ivory cheeks and short, clipped ears, the pendant of the sun warmed my chest.
For I was a Priestess of the Dragon. Listra, a humble servant and vassal for miracles unto those that would beseech Anustorian’s name in the cathedral in the center of the city. I was one of the few that had not taken the raise in pay to join the war effort. I tucked a basket underneath my cloak, from which the delightful smell of copper buns came. I had visited the impoverished outer ring of the capital in order to obtain them. I was more than a priestess, however. I was also a wife to a grand counselor: Korlien. And mother to the most beautiful six year old girl in the entire kingdom.
His job trumped mine in importance; reporting directly to a member of the Immortal Council, his words could directly influence the decisions of the Emperor. We were both approaching our second centuries. Our little Lin was the light of our collective world. Despite the financial difficulties that the civil war brought, we were happy.
The houses on this lane were spread apart, lawns of moss beginning to fade to brown. Thick trees sprouted up from the ground along fence lines. I wondered what they had to hide. As I came to my own home, I stood before the gate and looked upon it. The white masonry of the walls blended in with the flakes that flitted before my eyes. Two stories with a puff of smoke coming out of the chimney. We were lucky enough to even have glass windows due to the fact that we had them installed before the civil war had begun. The square tiles on the roof needed replaced, many missing or lying on the lawn.
“Just a little more time,” I remarked to myself. I never had been great at lying, but it would be nice if I had believed it.
That was when the sound of harsh tongues reached my ears. Though not from my home. I heard Korlein’s smooth voice hitched up. I gathered up my skirts and clicked quietly down past my home to see him standing at our westmost neighbors’ gate.
On the opposite side stood Ms. Moonlily, a private tutor practically drowning in an assortment of winter clothing. Despite being only in her seventh century, she had dyed her hair an honorable silver. While I found this vain, I doubted this was the reason for her twisted up scowl and my husband’s uncharacteristically raised voice.
I cleared my throat as I came to stand behind him. “Celestiana. Korlien, my love - please. Tell me what is the matter. This is not like the two of you.”
Korlien flinched, turning to look at me in surprise. “Listra! This- well... I caught Celestiana tossing waste into our hedges. And she’s denying the whole thing!”
Despite the starkness of that statement, I took a moment to admire him. My family had been lucky to marry off an untalented daughter like me to him; a man from a better family with political connections. His glaring honey brown eyes did not glow with the hue of many of our people, but his ears had been clipped as a baby, so the scars were barely noticeable. Korlien’s pale, cool face was soft and his white fangs were filed down flat. Carefully brushed straight brown hair framed a thin face. His lean frame covered by simple blue robes, he carried himself with an air of pride. Even as he accused our neighbor of dumping excrement in our yard.
Celestiana seethed at Korlien with slitted opal eyes. “Well I never!” she snapped. Turning towards Listra, she continued, “Tell him that a lady of my station is not befitting of this slander! I don’t care if he is a counselor!”
“The neighborhood disposal house is a five minute walk away,” I replied calmly. “That does seem rather unlikely.”
Korlien gaped at me, and I held his gaze steadily. As if relenting, he raised a hand to his face.
“Perhaps I jumped to conclusions,” he mumbled. His eyes drifted down to the basket at my waist. “Uhm- ma’am - just... please be more careful in the future.”
She sniffed and tilted her nose into the air. Without another word, she turned and shuffled her way up towards her home.
whined, “Listra-”
“Let us discuss this over dinner,” I soothed. I reached out and let my fingers take his. We were both shivering. “You’re not clothed for this.”
He reluctantly fell into step at my side. “Lin should awaken from her nap soon.”
I could not keep a little smile from my features as I glanced at his pouting expression. We walked through the gate together and up the cobbles. Kicking off snow from my feet, I turned the knob and pushed open the heavy oaken door.
A shrill voice cried, “Momma!”
The staircase to the right of the doorway led up to the bedrooms, and on the landing stood my little miracle. “Linna!” I cried and swung my arms out.
She came rushing down the stairs fast enough to make my heart skip a beat and slammed into my legs. Her straight blue hair was messy from her nap, and she beamed up at me with half-lidded brown eyes.
I scooped her up with my left arm, deftly passing the basket to Korlien.
“Lin!” He complained. “How many times do I have to tell you to be careful on the stairs?”
Pretending to not hear him, Linna buried her face in my hair. “Momma, I’m hungry! Daddy’s grits tastes like dirt.”
“Well daddy didn’t have what momma brought home.” I told her winked at my dismayed husband.
He rolled his eyes and walked into the small round dining room. It held a rickety round table and three seats. One of the chair legs had recently been haphazardly fixed with multiple nails. Korlien set the basket on the table.
“What is it, what is it?” Linna excitedly bounced in my arms.
“Your favorite- pork belly buns!” The way her face lit up when I said it soothed my aching feet.
My daughter echoed, “Pork belly buns!” She promptly squirmed to be released, which I did after kissing her cheek.
I slid into the chair closest to her, and Korlien sat across from us with a strained smile. I took note of the bags under his eyes as I lifted the cloth from the basket. A spicy, robust aroma filled the air as six buns glistened in the candlelight.
Linna, who could barely put her hands on the table, reached out to me. “Huuungry!” She groaned.
A rumble sounded itself from my belly. With a mischievous grin, I raised a golden bun to my lips. It split in three parts, revealing the heavily seasoned meat. After a vocalized protest from my her, I popped it in Linna’s mouth. Her eyes shut.
She resembled a squirrel as she stuffed the rest of the bun in her mouth, but I did not chastise her. This was a special treat, after all.
Korlien grimaced as he bit into one, but raised his hand to hide the gesture from our daughter.
As I bit into the flaky crust, the willful flavor hit me. It was difficult to taste the meat through the sheer amount of complex seasoning. The taste could be described as acquired, and I knew the meat was past its prime from the slimy texture. But it made my daughter happy and cost only a detour and six copper. Thirty-five copper a week was my pay for being a priestess. It was all I could do to bring even this much home.
Korlien’s eyes met mine, and quickly dropped down again. I knew the monthly taxes were crushing him. Us. It was not sustainable, but we left the silence heavy. Not in front of Linna. Instead, we held on to that moment of peace.
My husband reached across the table, offering me his hand. I took it and smiled for him. I had faith. In him, in The Dragon, in myself, to persevere.
