THE OLD KING of Belmair was coming to the end of his days. He sensed it. And as he had lived over eight hundred years it did not seem to him like such a great matter. But he was leaving his world in even poorer condition than he had inherited it. He knew what needed to be done, but he had never quite been able to bring himself to do it. Now, however, as the purple sands in the great hourglass representing his life that sat in the kingâs chamber ebbed away to almost nothing, the king knew he must act before it was too late. If it was not already too late.
âSend for the dragon,â the king said to the chief footman who stood next to his throne.
âSend for the dragon!â the chief footman said to the second footman who repeated the command to the third footman, and so on until the order had reached the last footman in the line within the chamber.
Opening the door the last footman called out, âSend for the dragon!â
And then they all waited in silence. After some time had passed one of the dragonâs servants, dressed in bronze-gold livery, ran into the room and up to the kingâs throne.
âMy mistress is sleeping, Your Majesty. It will take some time to awaken her for it has been a long while since you have sought her counsel,â the servant said.
âAre you a servant of the first rank?â the king asked.
âI certainly am!â the servant assured the king. âMy mistress would allow no one of lesser stature to speak to Your Majesty. Though she sleeps, the protocols are always and ever observed.â
âHow long will it be before she is awakened?â the king asked.
âIâm afraid it will be several days, Your Majesty,â the servant answered, his tone holding just the proper amount of regret. âShe tends to sleep heavily.â
âTime enough,â the king replied pleasantly. âSend to me before she comes.â
âOf course, Your Majesty,â the dragonâs servant said, and then bowing, he backed from the chamber.
As he did, he was passed by a beautiful young woman who hurried into the kingâs presence. She was tall and slender with the grace of a willow. Pale as moonlight, her long hair, which was worn loose, was as black as the night, and her eyes were as green as spring. She was dressed in a flowing gown of violet silk.
âYou have sent for the dragon, Father?â she said as she came.
âI have. It is past time, my dear Cinnia, that I did so,â the king told his only child.
âYou know what she will say,â Cinnia responded. âShe has said it before, but you would not listen. Will you listen now, Father?â
The old king sighed. âI have no choice now but to listen,â he admitted.
âBut will you follow her advice, Father?â Cinnia persisted.
âI fear I must,â the king replied, and he sighed again. âMy time is coming to a close, Daughter. Look to my glass. A successor must be chosen to follow me. It is the dragonâs duty to choose the next king of Belmair, and it is your duty to wed my successor.â
Now it was the girl who sighed deeply. âI do not know,â she said, âwhy a queen cannot rule Belmair, Father. I am as good a sorceress as any male sorcerer.â
The king nodded. âIt is true, Daughter, that you have strong powers, but tradition dictates that a king rule Belmair.â
âCan tradition not be changed, Father?â Cinnia asked seriously.
âTradition, Daughter, is what keeps our society civilized,â the king reminded her. âRemember our history, my child. The last of our kind to challenge tradition, to cause dissent among our peoples, were sent from Belmair. We do not want to be like them now, do we? Their lives were shortened when they left here, and they have been gone for so many centuries now that they have forgotten their own history. They do not remember from where they came, yet in their overweening pride believe themselves superior to all others in the world in which they live. Worse, they have changed little. They are still contentious.â His eyes began to grow heavy. He slumped in his chair. âI am weary, Cinnia. Leave me now,â the old king said.
âAre you all right?â she asked him anxiously. âShall I call the physician?â Her small hand felt his forehead to see if he was feverish.
A small chuckle escaped him. âNay, Daughter. I am neither ill nor quite ready to die. Look to the glass. There is yet enough purple sand in it giving me the time I will need to speak with the dragon. To meet with my successor. I am just old and tired.â
Cinnia moved closer to the old king, and bending, kissed his withered cheek. âIâll call Samuel, and he will help you to your bed, Father. The king of Belmair should not sleep upon his throne. It takes away from your dignity.â