Chosen Bride of the Seven Dark Princes

Morning dawned, overdue and sluggish above the frigid white dragon world of Avalia.

Lyra snuggled deep within her blankets, not wanting to awaken just yet. She was still filled with visions of Süren's beautiful dark almond eyes, looking at her with such adoration and longing, it made her feel such warmth inside.

A gentle knock on the door alerted her to the chamber maid who came in to rekindle the fire that had died out in the night.

With her expert ministration, there was once again, a nice warm little fire that crackled merrily in the small potbelly stove that stood in the corner. The warmth of the fire began spreading out, heating the ambient air to a nice warm temperature.

"When are we expect for breakfast?" Lyra asked the chamber maid.

"Your Royal Highness, breakfast will be in an hour. Prince Altan will also be joining you for breakfast." She bowed.

An hour. She would meet up again with Süren in an hour.

Lyra's heart rose in joy.

"I want to bathe."

"Yes, Milady. I will have two attendants help you with bathing routines."

After her bath, the attendants dressed her in some frilly floral pattern thing. They brushed and curled her hair and made her look like a cute little dress-up doll, and all the while, Lyra was wondering why all the commotion just to have breakfast.

Once they were done fussing with her appearance, the attendants escorted Lyra and her mother out onto an enclosed veranda overlooking the blustery cliffs. The winter storm was still blowing like mad, layering new wet sticky snow on top of the layer that had been laid the day before.

It was frigid outside, but inside, the fireplace lent its warmth to the ambient temperature and left its telltale signature of a smoky pine-scented aroma mixed with a delicious scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries that had just left the oven.

There was a square table that had been moved towards the fireplace. It was covered in fine white linens and polished dinnerware. The center was set with a bowl of fresh winter camellias in a deep intense shade of pink.

Seated at the table was a young man Lyra had never met but she instantly knew who he was.

The man looked very similar to Süren, but was different in the way he carried himself.

He was just as tall as Süren, but not as broad-chested. Just as handsome as Süren, but not as self-assured. Just as friendly as Süren, but not as cultured.

In Lyra's eyes, he was just like Süren, but missed the mark in almost every category.

His hair was shoulder-length and the same glistening ebony as Süren's, but his eyes were different. Süren's eyes were a deep chocolate brown. This man's eyes were a greenish hazel, with specks of gold.

"Your Royal Highnesses." He stood up and bowed to both. "My name is Altan. I am Süren's younger brother. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"The pleasure is all ours," Mother said.

Lyra looked around. "Where is Süren?"

Altan cleared his throat. "He is away on important business and will not be back for a few days. I have taken his place to be your escort for the time being."

Lyra's hand absently reached up to touch her dragon opal.

"I want to speak with him. Can you call him for me?"

Altan's eyes zeroed in on the dragon opal pendant.

"He's in an area where it is difficult to contact at the moment, but I'll see what I can do."

Lyra looked at her mother with a questioning gaze.

There was no area in the civilized space that was 'difficult to contact', especially if they were of the royal class. Not even pirate space was difficult to carry out communications channels.

Süren would have never simply left them alone in a strange world without at least a single call to reassure them he was fine and would be back.

Something was odd about the whole situation, but Mother's eyes shot a barely perceptible warning glint for Lyra to drop the subject.

With a grim smile, Lyra nodded.

Mother was a purebred wolf. She was never one to let sleeping dogs lie. Whatever the situation was, Mother would figure it out with her lupine nose.

Lyra and Mother were given places to sit next to the fireplace, which they gratefully took.

While hot drinks were being brought out, Altan chatted with them in an effort to entertain them.

Mother asked all sorts of leading questions and Altan did his best to answer them. She was an expert questioner. She started off with simple gentle questions but as Altan answered them, she ferreted out more and more details, some of which were quite juicy indeed.

As the breakfast was being brought out, the questions began to turn towards Süren and what his role was in the Dragon Kingdom.

It was at this moment that a tall stately man with a strong pale face and long black hair dressed in deep red royal robes appeared through the entry archways.

He was flanked by two attendants who wore black robes with gold tassels on their shoulders.

The man's eyes lit up when he saw Lyra and her mother. The corners of his mouth turned upwards in a genteel smile.

"It is our pleasure and honor to have the Royal Consort Gwendolyn and her daughter, the Imperial Princess Lyra, at our humble home in Avalia."

He held out a hand in a welcoming gesture.

"My name is Batsaikhan. I am Süren's and Altan's father."

Lyra and mother stood up and greeted the King, and then breakfast began in earnest.

"So, Lady Gwendolyn. I know you just arrived, and Süren's place is quite nice, but there are so many other places in and around Avalia that we would love to show you and your daughter."

Mother smiled that regal smile Lyra knew so well.

"I appreciate the offer, King Batsaikhan. Süren has assured us that he will take us around to see the sights, and I have already taken him up on the offer."

"Ahhh. About that." King Batsaikhan harrumphed. "Süren is a bit tied up at the moment. If you don't mind, Altan could take you around so you can enjoy the sights."

Lyra smiled. "Mother, you can go. I would rather wait for Süren to come back and take me."

King Batsaikhan shook his head. "That will take awhile since he has been called away on a very important trip."

Lyra turned back to the King with dazzling blue eyes.

"I can wait." She reached up and touched her dragon opal. "I have plenty of time to wait for his return."

King Batsaikhan glanced at the dragon opal with an unfathomable look in his eyes.

"That dragon opal is very nice." He murmured.

"Süren gave it to me." Lyra proudly boasted.

"I have another dragon opal that I could trade you for it." The King's eyes were veiled. "It is slightly larger and a bit more valuable. The one you have is a family heirloom which I would like to retain, if you are amenable to the exchange."

Lyra turned to the King with brilliant blue eyes.

"Whose dragon opal is it? If it's yours, I am sorry but I can't accept it.. I'm far too young to be one of your consorts."