All Chapters of Called by the Dragon: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

 Getting out of the palace proved less complicated than she had expected, but more troublesome than she had hoped. Anzi and Kaizat stood patiently by the enormous stone barrier that made up one of the six massive gates that led out into the city. Just beyond the barrier would be a bridge made of the same heavy stone as well, solid and true.The gate guards were the same way. No ordinary beasts, these: while Anzi had her doubts about entrusting critical responsibilities to non-humans, control of the impossibly heavy gates had to fall into the capable hands of the enormous stone golems. Somewhat man-shaped, just vaguely, while bearing the rippling, coarse texture of rocky earth, the hunched-over creatures stood more than twice as high as the tallest human and as many times wide. They had no eyes nor mouth nor ears, or none that Anzi could see at least, but they had a sizable, featureless lump where the head might be on a man along with two arms and two legs as wide around

"What do you think you're doing." Anzi had no choice but to remain in place since she didn't dare step in front of the chieftain, but if she could, she would have been in Oscar's face in the span of an eye blink. Was he crazy or stupid or both? Didn't he recognize what kind of guest she was escorting by the priceless regalia he wore? Her eyes narrowed to sharp slits as she glared at her fellow soldier, violently willing him to move back."I'm just welcoming -""It's alright, Anzi. I'm sure he means no harm."She couldn't bring herself to look over at Kaizat, not even when she felt a soothing hand rest upon the leather guard over her shoulder. This was humiliating. No discipline, she seethed. And what was Oscar's plan, exactly? What did he think was going to happen? Now that he had issued what was plainly little more than a poorly disguised challenge, the honor of the Empire's entire military rested on a pair of shoulders more suitable for posing for portraits th

"The market is still crowded around this time. It'll be better if you wait until closer to the evening to explore the wares.""That's fine."It had been quiet between them ever since Anzi had led Kaizat away from the training grounds at least half an hour ago. Since then, they had been walking along the wide, smooth stone path that followed the circular Annat River and bordered the inner edge of the upper districts. Now they approached a divide in the river, as well as in the path: one way would continue leading them around, and the other would take them deeper into the city districts.When they reached the fork, she came to a halt. "What would you like to see in the meantime, sir.""What would you recommend?""It's hard to say. There are people who enjoy exploring the Quarter Art, but I don't think you'll be wanting souvenirs to take back with you.""How did you know? Do I not look like the sort to collect souvenirs?"She was glad th

 "Anzi."She was back on her feet in an instant. Night had fallen hours ago, but the flickering light of the standing torches in the courtyard illuminated every harsh line of Colonel Bisset's face. "Yes, sir.""You're needed. The Emperor will see you first."First? Who else was she to see tonight? It was already late, and while she didn't dare complain about the hour nor did she have any desire to, the timing was too odd to discount. At the sound of a loud, sudden snuffle, she glanced behind the stone bench she had been sitting on at the massive snout of the colonel's dragon. She had awoken finally; all this time she had done little more than sleep. Scaly eyelids flickered, then opened to reveal bright blue eyes that sent a tingle down Anzi's spine.She turned back to Colonel Bisset. "Will I find His Excellency in the throne room?""Yes. I won't be accompanying you. You remember the way."It wasn't a question, but she nodded anyway. "Ye

 This wasn't possible. Dragons were all but extinct; everyone knew that.Following the great Purge over two centuries ago, only the scant few taken in by the Empire had survived. The Imperial dragon bonded to the Emperor along with those partnered to his four generals - those were the only ones that had made it safely through the catastrophic war that decimated their population. After that, the only dragons eggs in existence had been those produced by those survivors, and that was why the Premier Guard only numbered a scant eight to this day.But now she had just been shown that was untrue. In two hundred years, had five dragons really multiplied into this unborn horde? She couldn't hope to count how many were crammed into this chamber. From wall to wall, some eggs were as long as her forearm and wider around than her waist, others could fit in the palm of a small child. Eggs scaled with rippling, iridescent patterns, eggs bearing feathers, eggs with fanned fins a