Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

[30.1] KING EDWARD I
Moraelyn's loud laughter rang clear as temple bells, cascading over the Keep. He shouted, "Be
glad I don't, little King of the Small Cock!" The dragon circled almost lazily and let out a
huge gout of flame. Arrows clinked harmlessly off his golden scales. "I'm off to see my
mother!" Edward screamed down, noting the upturned faces of his stepmother and her redhaired
sons. Roane had a fur-trimmed robe clutched round her, but her long hair floated
wildly. Four pairs of eyes fastened on him, not Moraelyn, glittering with fury and hatred.
Edward stopped waving and clutched Shag tightly with both hands. Moraelyn's mail clad arm
was securely about his waist. Edward slumped against him, feeling quite safe for the first time
in a very long while. The bowmen had stopped shooting; most of them were looking at the
royal family. The king danced with rage. The great dragon's wings beat harder now and they
headed due south out over the water.
"Aren't we going to Ebonheart?" the boy twisted round and looked up at Moraelyn. "Your
mother awaits you at Firsthold in Sumurset, little Prince."
"Why did you wait so long to fetch me?"
"Querulous child, do you think dragons and unicorns do the bidding of elves or men? Your
mother came to me full willing, but she could not bring you; you were too closely guarded by
your father's men. Would you have had us lay waste your land to take you by force? She
thought you would be safe and cared for and she was desperate. No, this was the dragon's
plan."
Of all the astonishing events of the afternoon, this was the most surprising: the notion that a
dragon should take an interest in him, when not even his own family did. But, willing, the elf
said, full willing!
"You are the focus of large events, youngling. Your task is to prepare yourself to be a king; a
king such as your people have never known. Our task is to aid you. Sleep now."
Waves of sleep assaulted Edward's mind, one after another. "But..." he meant to ask Moraelyn
about his mother, but the last wave was too big; it crashed right over him and he slipped into
dark fireshot dreams.
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