Samantha Edwhan

End of the Winter Star

Chapter 1

Gerold sat in the Throne Room of the castle, listening to his announcer read from a scroll. Most of the scroll was news and updates, but sometimes, the occasional question or complaint came through. Gerold didn’t mind though. As High Caln of Hiza Calndom, it was his job to oversee everything and ensure his citizens were happy.

“There is a request from the southern farmlands,” the announcer said. “It seems the farmers that provide food for the castle feel they are not being paid adequately for their work.”

“Interesting,” Gerold muttered. “They should already be getting paid enough. Perhaps there’s been an increase in the cost of materials.”

Gerold turned to the seat on his left. His Prinze and best friend, Griffin, blinked expectantly at him.

“Griffin, do you think there’s any cause for concern here?” Gerold asked.

Griffin frowned as he thought briefly. “If they are being paid sufficiently, then perhaps they are getting greedy. However, if the cost to produce crops and livestock has increased, we should look into how and why. Perhaps one of the suppliers for the farmers has gotten greedy instead.”

“All valid points,” Gerold said with a nod. “But we must also consider if anything in the Calndom has changed to promote an increase in costs. Perhaps the water levels are running low, or there might be boars raiding crops. There’s any number of possibilities.”

“Are you suggesting we investigate every possible cause for an increase in cost?” Griffin asked, wide eyed. “That is quite a large task.”

“Griffin, there is no task too big or too small if we want to be good rulers,” Gerold told him. “As High Caln, I have a responsibility to the dragons to keep everything balanced and fair; and as Prinze, Griffin, you are responsible for learning and understanding everything that this job entails.”

Griffin dipped his head. Gerold turned back to the announcer. “Make a note that we will investigate the request’s merit.”

The announcer nodded and picked up a quill from the small ink pot on the floor beside him. Gerold’s ear twitched; there was sound from outside the Throne Room. A moment later, a dragon burst into the room.

“High Caln! Come quick! Caln Adelaide’s egg is hatching!”

Gerold jumped to his feet. He gave a quick nod to Griffin. He would take care of the rest of the news. The servant who had burst in scurried back out of the room and Gerold followed. This was the moment he had been waiting for since the first crack had appeared yesterday. He wouldn’t miss the arrival of his hatchling for anything.

Gerold and the servant hurried up the stairs and into the bedroom. It was dimly lit. Adelaide had pulled the curtains over the windows. The only light came from a few candles beside the bed. Gerold’s eyes quickly adjusted and he recognised his wife, son, and daughter gathered together on the floor. In front of them, the egg was wobbling, the singular crack had grown into a jagged line.

Gerold approached slowly and touched his nose to Adelaide’s head. She smiled up at him for a moment, then her attention was back on the egg. Gerold nudged his son gently and settled into the gap Markos gave him.

“What does it look like?” Gerold’s daughter, Luana, asked.

“It’s a wonderful moment,” Gerold said softly. “No words could possibly describe it.”

“But I can’t see what’s happening,” Luana whined.

“I know, Luana. But you can hear it,” Gerold reminded her. “Use your other senses; your ears, your nose, your very skin. You don’t need to see to know how amazing this is.”

Luana nodded slightly. One of her long ears twitched and she rested her head on the floor. As the egg wobbled in its place, she carefully stretched out her neck and touched it with her nose.

“It’s warm,” she muttered. “I can feel a heartbeat.”

Gerold smiled. No one had expected one of the royal family to hatch blind. But Gerold always ensured that Luana felt included regardless of her disability.

With loving care, Gerold unfolded his wings and laid them across the backs of Adelaide, Markos, and Luana. Today, they would meet the newest addition to their family.

It took another half an hour for the hatchling inside the egg to work its way around enough to break the shell. But when the jagged line was finally halfway around the egg, the wobbling stilled, then resumed. A moment later, the egg split in two and a small, wet, red dragon emerge from within.

The hatchling raised his head and squinted around the room. Adelaide was the first to move, leaning in closer to the hatchling. She nudged him softly with her nose and he let out a small squeak. Gerold followed her actions, ever so carefully poking the tiny dragon with his own nose.

“He’s beautiful,” Gerold breathed.

“What should we name him?” Adelaide asked.

Gerold watched his new son flounder around on the floor. His wings were limp and heavy, his ears were closed up, and his legs barely had any strength to crawl. But he would grow stronger in time. He would learn to walk, run, and fly. He would learn to read and write. Perhaps he would become a great artist, or a famed historian. As Gerold watched him, he could only think of one name fitting such a future.

“I think we should call him Jakob,” he said quietly.

“Jakob.” Adelaide smiled. “Yes, I think that’s perfect. A fitting name for such a strong young dragon.”

Adelaide nudged Jakob again. This time, he leaned into her warmth. A thin wisp of smoke trailed out of Adelaide’s nostrils. Gerold felt her body heat up against his side.

“Little Jakob,” Adelaide spoke fondly. “One day, you will have fire just like the rest of your family. You’ll be able to heat yourself, light any room, and protect those you love.”

Gerold smiled. He wouldn’t say anything about his wife’s dreaming. Even if there was always the possibility for a dragon to have no element at all, he knew Jakob would gain a fire breath eventually. He had a whole family, and castle of tutors, to teach him how to master it one day. But for now, Gerold would just enjoy this moment with his family.