Chapter 28 28
I had counted myself as dead. My soul already left my body, because I couldn't find myself breathing anymore.
She glared at me with her light ruby eyes, gritting her teeth while squeezing the rope steadily. She really wanted me dead because she didn't want her betrothed to have me as his slave. But was I really the one to be blamed? I never brought myself here, and they knew it.
My whole body had gone limp as I awaited death to strike my heart, only for her to be kicked in the chest, and her body flew back until she slammed she landed on the cell gate, while I dropped to the floor, weakly.
I finally found my breath again, but I couldn't move my body any longer, just seated on the ground, staring at her with the last strength in me. I wasn't feeling my bones and muscles, and the air I exhaled was hot to even my nostrils.
She scowled and got to her feet, her palms clenched at her side. “What does this mean? How dare you stop me, a common right-hand man?”
I came to know who it was that came for my rescue, and I thought I owed a lot of people for always coming to my aid each time I was at the point of death.
“I've taken enough of you. I'm going to be the dragon queen soon, and you're going to serve me too, Orrifin!!” she yelled and crossed both arms together before her face. I was watching, although drifting off, until I saw the fire that exuded through her palms.
She flung her arm towards Orrifin, and I shut my eyes tightly. I hadn't known what happened until I felt a drop of water on my skin, so cold that it made me flinch. Then I opened my eyes to see the lady so wet and staring at herself in shock.
“Why are you so shocked? Even though I'm not a sea dragon, at least I've learnt the techniques to quench your fire, so do more next time.” Orrifin said to her and knelt beside me. He looked me in the face and slowly raised me into his arms.
“Orrifin! I will make sure you regret this,” the lady yelled, but Orrifin paid less attention and leaped out of the cell with me in his arms.
I found myself lying on the floor covered in carpet grass, and Orrifin was still kneeling before me, commanding his powers and staring at his palms, until he pressed his palms on my chest. I felt an excruciating pain that didn't last so long, only to realise that he was healing my burns from the string and rope.
After some minutes of staring at the sky, regaining my strength, I managed to stand and said to him, "What's her name? I can't recall if she said it to me or not.”
“Irian Shaw! She's the Sovereign's betrothed,” he responded quickly and nodded.
I wiped my sweaty forehead and appreciated his efforts on me, “If you didn't show up, I would have been dead. She was so mean to take my life when I knew nothing. Her reasons for hating me are more different from the others, and I don't think it makes sense, when what she's scared of happening won't even happen.”
Orrifin chuckled and finally sat on the floor. “My master might not marry her. He's been rejecting their marriage even before he was caged….”
I wasn't expecting that. How could he be treating her that way? That was why she was after my life, thinking that I was the cause. I said to Orrifin, “So, what do you think can be done for him to begin having feelings for her? This can't continue, or I will be dead someday.”
He shook his head, “Nothing can be done. They aren't mates, and my master does not want to choose whom he does not love. She knows that so well and doesn't want to move on, just so you know that my master could take her life too if she hurts you.”
But heaven knew so much that his words did nothing to calm me down. Did he even understand the pain that I just passed through?
As though he knew that I was still worried, he took my hand, “I assure you that she won't kill you. She's just trying to scare you because she thinks you bewitched my master. I will tell him this, so he will take action too.”
I nodded, even though I doubted that Irian wouldn't come for my life again.
We stayed there together for over an hour, and then he reminded me that I would need to start going to the throne room. I insisted that we trek, and he agreed, so we took off.
The journey wasn't too short or long, but I sincerely admired the environment I was in and wished to spend some time taking a good look.
When we reached the throne room, the lords had all gathered already. The high flame lord, flame lords, and ash regents all sat on their seats while the Dragon Sovereign was watching from his throne. Each time I looked at him seated there, I saw a demon who watched his prey, and that was because of how cold his expression was.
I knelt before them all and lowered my face, unsure if I was to speak or not.
After some minutes of silence in the hall, the high flame lord walked out towards me and ordered like in the past, “Strip, female!!”
My heart dropped into my belly. I hadn't seen this as an issue until now, so I didn't even know when I looked up to Dragon Sovereign with so much pity written boldly on my forehead. How could I really strip with both eyes open before these multitudes? If I wasn't mistaken, they were more than twenty in number, dressed as per their ranks, and their eyes all on me.
First, I got to my feet, panic surging through me. As I tried to loosen my gown, my fingers were fidgeting, and I feared that my chest would explode with how it pounded. Tears welled in my eyes, and I tried to hold them from rolling down. I hated everything, including myself.
But his voice came through, “I don't fancy that. How are you all supposed to see the nude of my slave when I hadn't even seen it? She's my slave and not a sex object,” he roared, and the hall burst into murmurs.
The high flame lord turned to Dragon Sovereign and bowed, “Your Sovereignity, this is the tradition and how it is to be done…”
“Then I forbid that tradition from tonight. Neither of you is obligated to have us all see the nude of your slaves, so I'm starting it now,” he retorted, his voice chilly like the stormy waves. “Since I forbid it, she will have to take the slave oath….”
I felt as though a burden was lifted from my shoulders. I didn't expect him to break the law just for me, and although I was scared of what the outcome could be, I was still glad that it didn't happen. If not, how would I be able to stand with my head high in front of them when they had all seen what my nude body looked like?
I felt Dragon Sovereign hadn't had a slave until now, and he was abolishing such a tradition because of me.
“High flame lord, let her take the slave oath!” he growled from his throne, and the man bowed respectfully, “Yes, Sovereign!” he responded and got back to his seat.
A table was brought before me, and a bowl was on the table, with a little water in it. The water was so pure, and I thought they were going to drop something in it.
“You're going to swear to serve Dragon Sovereign until your death. He owns you, your life, and whoever is close to you. He would do with you what he wants, and you must not oppose. Unless he wants you dead, you have no right to die, except in the case of dying in his place during danger or urgency. You will serve him and be faithful to him as your master, until the end of your life, including every other role you would play as his slave, which isn't mentioned.”
I kept staring at the high flame lord as he read all those out, his gaze locked against mine, while I sensed anger in the tone of his voice. He had asked me what I used on their Sovereign, and now he did this too.
“Drink that water as proof that you swear to abide by everything. Then the oath will be sealed by the gods in heaven,” he added, and I breathed out.
I had once read in a book, that dragons ascend to heaven after accomplishing certain roles on earth, which being served was one of them. If I became his slave and served him for a period of time, would he ascend to heaven and leave me here? Then what would my fate look like when that time reaches?
Recalling this was making me hesitate on drinking the water, not until a loud voice came from behind, and I turned to see the woman who slapped me in his chamber—his mother, and the husband walking beside him.
As they approached closer, the woman scowled at me and said to his son, “She can't be your slave until you marry Irian!”