Page 38 of The Last Dragon King
The older gentleman with the leather book opened it to a particular page and then watched Kendal with a keen eye. Meanwhile, the sniffers tipped their chins up and flared their nostrils, as if waiting to get a whiff of magic.
The entire thing was creepy as all Hades. I wanted to run. I thought the sniffers coming to my village was the extent of the magical testing. This felt so much more intrusive.
Every caution my mother gave me was going off like a warning trumpet in my head.
Run. Run. Run.
As if sensing my panic, Regina stepped up behind me and I stood there frozen, nowhere to go.
Kendal’s heels clacked across the floor as she walked over to the stone and stopped before it. Looking to the king, she held out her hands. “I just touch it?”
King Valdren looked tired. “Yes. The stone will bring forth a more potent example of your power so that we can assess your ability to carry a dragon-shifting child.”
His voice was so monotone. It was clear he wasn’t enjoying this at all.
Kendal chewed on her bottom lip and then grasped the stone. Orange flames burst from her hands in a two-foot circumference and I gasped. Kendal hadnevershown that much magic before. This stone really must push your power to its limits.
That scared the life out of me. If I’d exploded in the washroom, what would this stone make me do?
Kendal looked back at me with pride and I gave her a thumbs-up, but I also caught the king looking at Dr. Elsie, and the elf-dragon shook her head.
Regina stepped forward with a frown. “Thank you, Kendal. Follow me.”
Wait… why did the doctor shake her head? Did that mean Kendal was going home? I wanted to ask, but I’d pushed my luck tonight when I’d told the king he was marrying too soon after his beloved wife’s death.
Regina reappeared, and I wondered where she’d taken Kendal.
“Joslyn.” She motioned her forward, and I pushed all worries about Kendal behind me.
They were saving me for last! That was just mean. I wanted to get this stupid thing over with. Joslyn walked forward with a confident smile and without hesitation grasped the blue stone before her.
An inferno of six-foot-tall orange flames shot up towards the ceiling and everyone stepped back a pace as theyoohedandahhed.
My gaze flicked to the king, who was appraising Joslyn, his eyes roaming over her body more closely than ever before.
He glanced at Dr. Elsie, who nodded enthusiastically.
Regina looked relieved as she stepped forward and ushered Joslyn out of the room. When she returned, all eyes went to me.
Hades.I don’t want to do this.
Dr. Elsie leaned into the king’s ear and whispered something. He stared at her with surprise before clearing his throat.
“Would everyone take five big steps back please,” he commanded, and they looked at him with disbelief, including me.
Did Dr. Elsie think I was going to explode again? Like in the washroom? Because that was just a one-time thing as the spell to hide my power fell away… right?
They were already towards the back of the room. Now they pushed farther away from me, until their heels hit the far wall. It was laughable that my magic might travel that far.
“We’re all very tired, Miss Novakson. Please get on with it.” The king’s voice was clipped, and shame burned my cheeks. I wanted to apologize for what I said on the dance floor but now wasn’t the time. Taking small, tentative steps towards the stone, I tried to delay the inevitable. All the while, my mother’s advice rang in my mind.
If it looks like he is going to find out about your powers, make him fall in love with you.
My gaze flicked to the king, who was glaring at me like he couldn’t wait to send me home, and I sighed.
Love might no longer be in the cards; I’d screwed that up already. Maybe he’d still let me in his Royal Guard?
No chance.
