Bernice got up and went behind Emma. She curled her arms around her shoulders and rested her head on hers. "I know you are worried, but he has sent you here for a reason. He is worried about you, which is understandable."
Emma closed her eyes as she reveled in her mother's touch. This was something she always missed. She had seen Avice doing it to Angus, but never to her. "And I am worried about him…"
After the rare mother-daughter moment, Bernice said, "How about we go to the palace tomorrow morning? We can take Angus with us and I will introduce you to the queen." She went to sit back on her chair.
Ivy opened the door and peeped inside. "Should I serve dinner, prospectress?"
"Yes," Bernice replied. "Has Angus woken up?"
"He has and he is most curious about the stables we have at the back of the house. He is currently talking to Nephie."
Emma laughed as Bernice smiled. "Call him back and tell him that we would like to have dinner with him."
"Yes, prospectress." Ivy closed the door behind her as she left.
Emma was so surprised by the way her mother behaved towards Angus. "I am so glad that you like him even though you are not his mother…" she said in a low voice as she clasped her hands in her lap.
"Not everyone is like Avice," Bernice said and got up. "I am surprised that Drogo chose to marry Avice even though he was quite a good-looking and nice person. How come he never realized her avarices?" She shook her head.
Emma pursed her lips. "Father loves her."
Bernice chuckled. "I am sure. They do say that love is blind." She extended her hand to her. "Come dinner is waiting."
Emma got up and held her hand. "Why do they call you prospectress?"
"I am a dragon rider and also a dragon trainer. We have hierarchies here in which I am at the top. I have six disciples under me who train dragons." She let out a ragged breath. "And this is one of the reasons why the queen doesn't allow me to go anywhere."
They were walking down the stairs when Angus came rushing in with an excited look in his eyes. Ivy prodded him to wash his hands before having dinner.
"But aren't dragons shape shifters?" Emma asked, bewildered that they have to be trained. "I mean Nephie even talked to me."
Bernice smiled. "They are the wisest beings I've ever seen, but this is not a simple training. This is training for war. Things like how to keep your rider safe or be tactful when there's an attack on the dragon or the rider." They arrived in the dining room where the table was already laid and Emma was surprised as to how soon it was laid down. Bernice continued, "Teaching dragons the art of war is like tackling with a hundred brains together. They are fast learners and will not think twice to point out your mistakes. And if they are pretty emotionally charged, once in a while they would shift in their human form, but that is rare. Mostly because they love their bodies and skin."
Emma pulled a chair out to sit on the right of where her mother was. Angus came running in. He pulled a chair out on the left of Bernice. "It's nice to meet you!" he said with a glint in his eyes and a grin on his face. He was trying to show his best that he also knew courtesies.
Bernice chuckled. "It's nice to meet you too. Did you like my stables?"
"Oh I love them!" He said with wide eyes. "There is space for two dragons. Nephie is awesome. I climbed on her and counted her scales. I asked her to open her mouth only to see how many teeth she has. Gods! She has so many pointy teeth!" Angus remembered how he laughed inside her mouth and it echoed. "How does she breathe fire? Can you take me to show more dragons?"
Bernice's eyes went wide. "You have so many questions, Angus!" she remarked.
And then Angus poured out more questions. Ivy served them with grilled lamb meat and buttered and freshly baked bread. Bacon with fresh vegetables came next followed by goat cheese.
Emma watched Angus as he talked with Bernice and was hell bent on knowing every bit of information about dragons. His excitement was next level when Bernice said that she would take him to show more dragons the next day in the morning.
"Emma!" Angus said. "Are you also going?"
"I am," Emma said, picking up a cherry and popping it in her mouth.
"Then you better wake me up in time. I promise I am going to eat you up if you don't wake me in time!"
"You are threatening me?" Emma growled.
"No, I am going to be very angry if you don't take me with you."
She narrowed her eyes. She picked up a cherry and threw it at him. Angus narrowed his eyes too. He too picked up a cherry and tossed it at her. She gasped. "Angus!" And soon a cheery war started. Bernice watched them with so much love that she giggled all the way until brother and sister stopped fighting. It ended with Emma grabbing Angus from behind and wrestling with him on the rug. The corner of her eyes stung with tears. This was what she had missed in all these years. Children playing in her home. She could do anything for this to be a permanent fixture.
Next day, Emma went to wake up Angus but he was already up and with Ivy. She was putting his dress on the bed while he was taking a bath and asking her questions that were all about dragons. Her lips curled up. Satisfied, she went back to her room and got dressed. She was impressed that her mother had arranged for their clothes so fast. When she came out, she found Angus dressed in white trousers and blue tunic with leather boots.
"You look lovely!" Bernice exclaimed as she got up and hugged her daughter. Emma grinned, glancing at her long peach gown that had bell sleeves. She had braided her hair.
As soon as they had breakfast, they walked to the carriage that was waiting outside. "I could take Nephie instead of the carriage, but she needs a lot of care. She is with eggs."
"She's pregnant?" Emma was stunned.
Bernice nodded. "She will lay her eggs anytime."
"Oh!"
They climbed the carriage. All the way, Angus and Emma couldn't keep their excitement low. Yizinia was beautiful in every way. When they reached the palace, the guards opened the gates, knowing well who was inside the carriage.
"The queen will shortly visit you, prospectress," said a guard who bowed to her and smiled at her children. "Please be seated." He waved at the sofas and couches in the room where the queen received her guests.
Bernice sat down with Angus and Emma. A servant came and offered them fresh pineapple juices. The queen came shortly after. "Oh my!" She exclaimed. "Your daughter looks every bit like you!"
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶