said anything to me. He used to look at Sammy with so much love but regret always followed shortly, and then the tears. I never understood that emotion until now. I might not have known about your existence, but I can tell you this. Your father loved you more than words can describe. Never forget that. Your mother was a completely different story. Their relationship went downhill and none of us knew why.”
“It did.”
“She’d gotten angry with your father because he didn’t find who was behind all of this. Now I know why.”
It was because he was keeping me away from her. I closed my eyes and wanted to tell him so badly about his rider being alive, but my father was right, he would kill himself trying to find a way through those Creepers. That was who this man next to me was and it was hard to imagine that his son was the one supposed to be here, to clear this all up.
The place filled up quickly with members of the council. I could feel all of their stares as I sat beside Sir Robert.
I found Constance’s eyes and she smiled at me. Master Longwei winked and both of them leaned closer to one another to discuss something.
I jumped as five very old people took the five thrones in the front.
The first had golden blond hair and golden eyes. He was a Fin-Tail dragon. The one next to him had white-grey hair. His face was wrinkled and his eyes a deep sea-blue color. I didn’t know whether he was a Moon-Bolt or a human. There was another man with a copper glint in his white hair and copper eyes. Dragon, and the other two looked like humans.
“This is the hearing of Elena Watkins and the decision of whether or not she is the descendent of the Malone bloodline.” The one who read the words started to frown. All of them looked my way with grey eyebrows knitted together.
“Stand up, child, come closer so that we may see you.”
I did what he asked and walked to the middle of the room. Keep your chin up high, you are the daughter of King Albert and Queen Catherine.
“Is this true, do you claim to be their daughter?”
“Yes, your honor,” I answered as Constance had told me to. All of them looked at me but the one sitting on the fifth throne squinted. It made me slightly uncomfortable.
The one on the third throne kept a pair of goggles in front of him and I could feel his eyes boring into me.
He mumbled something about not this happening again. The one side of the court room snickered softly.
“What is stopping this child’s claim?”
King Caleb stepped forward. “With all due respect your honor there is no proof. The queen died before she could produce an heir and so did the king. If this child is who she says she is, she had to find a way to go through the Wall. I know for a fact that she is a dragon, your honor. She changed a couple of months back when the prince of Tith was killed.”
“A dragon?” three of the ancients said in unison.
“It’s true, your honor.” Sir Robert came to my defense. “She was a dragon, the child was sick as a baby and the king and queen let a young dragon waiting for her human form soak up her essence in order to protect the infant.”
“Robert, we didn’t think we would see you here.”
I clenched my jaw as they showed him no respect.
“She is the daughter of my rider, and my son’s rider. It’s my responsibility to keep her safe, until Blake can fulfill that responsibility.”
“Your son’s rider? She’s a Rubicon, Robert. We all saw it. It’s the only way she claimed him,” King Caleb spat. “She’s pretending to be a human now and making this preposterous claim. You of all people should know better.”
“No, Caleb, you should know better. She looks just like him, not to mention the queen, may her soul rest in peace. You knew how depressed she was, and yet we all thought it was because of Tanya. That wasn’t the reason. We all know why you are making these claims that she’s not who she says she is.”
“Enough!” The Ancients roared.
“Is this true child, you are a Rubicon dragon?”
“I was, your honor. It is true what King Caleb says. I turned into a dragon, but it was because of my host that sacrificed herself years ago