Dragon Called: Remnants of the Past, #1

By Melissa Christopherson

Liliana's life is perfectly normal.  A young woman who has grown up in the kingdom of Kalvia, she knows all too well the importance of secrets.  As a member of nobility, she is even expected to have a few of her own!

When her parents take her to a ball, Liliana expects her life to go on as normal after it's conclusion.  Instead, she finds herself swept into a betrothal with a man whom all of the whisperers say is crazy.

As the evidence builds up, Liliana must make the choice to stay in a nation where secrets are the currency...or step out of her human-ruled kingdom into a world so much bigger than she ever imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Christopherson
• Release date: Oct 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9780996897754

Book preview

Chapter One

Her heart was racing. It beat against her ribs so hard it felt like it was beating out of her chest. When her mother had demanded she be present for the ball, she had never imagined that this would have been what would happen. This was not what she had wanted for her life!

The door to the room was shut, probably even locked, and for the time being she was alone. Exactly how long she had been in here she wasn’t sure — minutes, if not an hour. It didn’t matter. Her life was falling apart.

She had always known there was a chance her parents would attempt to marry her off to someone. Likely a noble, well off, sophisticated. At worst, a merchant. She had hoped for a certain person to find herself betrothed to. Instead one of her worst dreams was now realized.

The young woman slumped to the floor, ignoring the seat the vanity provided, ignoring that her dress would crumple and wrinkle from such actions. Her knees pressed against her chest and she rested her chin upon them. No tears fell, but her eyes fixed on the door on the other side of the room. Perhaps there were not yet guards posted?

If she left now, perhaps she would wake up, and this would all be a dream.

Liliana’s life, as a mere noble, was over. Her betrothal had begun. Now she would be made to marry the mad King Rannak.

*****

It was lucky she was not expected to stand much longer after curtsying to the King when he entered. Her knees still trembled with him so near, even as she struggled to control her emotions with deep breaths.

Something of it must have showed, however. After their tea had been poured and the servants had left them, King Rannak leaned forward over their tea to grasp her hand before she could pull it away.

Liliana barely managed to suppress a gasp, and instead of meeting his eyes, fixated on the pendant around his neck. It was clear quartz wrapped in silver at the top, a design she couldn’t quite recognize.

Look at me, Liliana. The king’s voice was terse, and Liliana slowly raised her eyes to meet his. You are not happy about our engagement. You are afraid.

It was not a question, but from the intensity of his eyes on hers, she knew he was demanding an answer.

Yes, she said.

Why? It was a loaded question.

Liliana Kunzel hesitated. Sire, I’ve heard rumors. Of what happened to Queen—

Do not speak her name. Rannak said, interrupting her. His eyes were dark and snapping. Forget the rumors. You will be my wife. You will be treated well…as long as you obey your king. His hand tightened on hers. Do you understand?

Yes. Liliana whispered.

Say it louder. His voice brokered no objection.

Yes, sire, I understand. Her eyes felt wet, and her face grew warm. How dare she shame herself by crying in front of this man!

The king smiled, the darkness in his eyes relenting as he released her hand. Drink your tea. We must see how far your knowledge reaches. Without waiting for a reply, he began asking her rapid questions about government, nobility, governing, and the managing of a household. Liliana tried her best to keep up. If she could answer his questions well enough, perhaps he’d leave her alone for the rest of the day.

His refusal to speak of Queen Erinn only served to confirm his guilt, in Liliana’s eyes. But she had no proof. And no way to get help, not after the argument she’d had with her parents just last night.

Was she next? Only this time yesterday, things had been so simple; she’d had so few cares.

Chapter Two

Dear Neal, I can’t wait to hear more stories about the swordsman Therim, the next time we meet, and more about the magical healers. The story of Jetra nearly made me believe magic is possible. Liliana murmured to herself, keeping her voice barely more than that of a whisper as she wrote quickly on the parchment in front of her.

Secrets were sacred. This much any child learned nearly from birth in Kalvia.

Such a private society Kalvia was, that even among the nobility little was known about other families that the family itself did not want known. Whispers said that the king knew all, but as she was not yet of the age to be presented at court, the young woman had never met the king. Her father, Lord Cedric Kunzel, often told her in private that this was for the best, though he never told her exactly why.

There were rumors of course, but Liliana doubted the rumors held any merit.

Dipping her quill in ink, Liliana Kunzel, only child of Lord Cedric and Lady Jenine Kunzel glanced toward the open window in her family’s city estate. The sky scape of the city was beautiful and pristine as always, with the castle’s peaks and towers appearing proudly in the middle of the city.

She still remembered the day her father had told her as much of the realm’s history as was allowed. Kalvia was founded five hundred years ago, and although the capital city of Aesim has fallen once, it has been rebuilt stronger and prouder than ever. He had hesitated, and then continued on. Or so the propaganda of these days reads. Liliana, today you are going to learn the depth of that propaganda.

That was the day she saw Kalvia for what it really was. The day the rose colored glasses she had worn shattered.

Though the Pearl and Diamond Districts were indeed beautiful, and Emerald District was passably decent, Onyx, Ruby and Sapphire Districts were in disastrous states. Because they were the poorer of the districts, the lack of care put into them by the nobles and king was obvious. Houses were more like shacks with people still living in them. Their roofs looked ready to cave in.

And then there were the beggars. Liliana had never met so many before, especially in one place. It had frightened her, and her father had ordered her to stay in the carriage with her guard, and remain hidden.

It was not only the state of the streets and houses that had concerned Liliana; it was the people as well. Many of them wore clothing that was dirty or falling apart; many more had no shoes, or had sandals made simply of straw. The same people looked ill fed, and the children were visibly thinner than they ought to have been.

Father, she had asked him, once they were safe again within the walls guarding their city estate. Why do they live like that? Why doesn’t the king help them?

Liliana would always remember the tense look that crossed her father’s face that day, and the way he shook his head. You will understand when you are older, Liliana, my dear. Do not ask about it again.

Another rule of Kalvia: questions were better left unasked. If you did not already understand it, then learn it on your own, or ask those whom questions were intended for, such as mentors or priests.

Since that day, Liliana had accompanied her father when Mother was in the market or at tea with other noble ladies other than the Isod women, but she was always disguised. It wouldn’t do for other noble families to know that the Kunzel family sympathized with the poor. The tasks they did while disguised varied, from serving food in a kitchen that offered free meals to those who could not afford to buy their own, to handing out supplies of some kind or another. It was always the most enjoyable part of her week, not only for making a difference, but for another reason as well.

It was on one of those days that Liliana’s secret was born.

Her eyes slipped from the falsely pretty scene out her window, and again to the parchment in front of her. The ink on her quill had dried, and she sighed. I’ll never get this letter wrote if I keep distracting myself, she chided herself aloud. It would be best to get this letter on its way before service this afternoon, as there was a ball she was required to attend.

Her mother had looked so distant when she’d told her only daughter of her required presence.

Dipping her quill in the ink again, Liliana wrote a few more words, apologizing for the briefness of the letter, and for the fact that she could not get out of attending the party tonight. Though she would much rather be at her secret meeting place than at the party, her mother had not reacted kindly when she’d asked if she could be excused from it.

A little frown crossed Liliana’s face, and she eyed the gown hanging on the front of her wardrobe again. It was all the rage, Lady Jenine had told her, though something about those words had struck false on the young woman’s ears. It was pretty enough, made of crimson silk and white lace, snug at the waist and in the corset, and then bell-shaped as it fell to her feet. The white slippers she was to wear with it sat underneath the dress where it hung, and Liliana dreaded wearing them. They were the sort of slippers one was expected to dance in for hours, and not utter a single complaint about how often they caused a person’s feet to ache.

The dress and slippers were merely a bitter pill Liliana would have to swallow, like so many of the other things her mother had insisted on in recent days. Although she knew her sixteenth birthday party was coming soon, and that there would be a party for it, she did not know of any pressing court functions she would be required to attend so soon afterward. Unless her mother simply hadn’t settled on a dress for her cousin’s wedding, but even then - six new dresses in a month was unheard of, even for most noble families!

Her eyes drifted around her bedroom briefly, lingering on the soft blue sheets upon her bed, and the single stuffed animal, a bear, she had been allowed to keep from her childhood days. The wardrobe and bed frame were heirlooms, made of oak from several generations ago. Before Liliana’s, they had been her great-grandmother’s, and briefly her aunt’s. The otherwise cold floor was covered in a soft white rug, that she had been warned to never spill on.

The ink on her quill was dry again, and Liliana rubbed her eyes briefly. She was running out of things she could write about since last time, but she felt guilty for such a paltry letter. After a moment, she settled on writing about how uneasy she felt, knowing she absolutely must be at this ball tonight. Her apologies would simply have to do.

Miss Liliana, a voice tentatively interrupted. The young woman flinched, and looked up; then relaxed when she saw it was only Tonia, her maid. Your mother sent me to help you get ready.

Liliana wrinkled her nose, and sighed. I’m almost done writing.

Tonia took on a mischievous expression. "Writing to him again, mistress?"

Liliana’s cheeks reddened and she ducked her head a little. I can trust you with its delivery, as always?

Of course, mistress. Your secret is safe with me.

A smile crossed Liliana’s lips again, and she finished her letter quickly, ending with how she could not wait for the time before their next meeting to pass. Blowing on the ink to hurry it’s drying; the letter was quickly folded, tucked into an envelope, and sealed with the young Kunzel’s personal seal. Handing it over to her maid, the young woman fidgeted with her hair briefly. I suppose it’s too much to hope Mother told you my hair was fine the way it is today?

Tonia chuckled as she winkled the letter into the sash around her waist, and Liliana rested her head in her hands briefly. Let’s get you all fixed up.

Thank you, Tonia. Liliana said, as she replaced the stopper for her ink bottle.

Of course, milady. The woman answered with a smile, as she began combing the girl’s curls.

*****

The palace of the royalty of Kalvia was magnificent, there was no denying that. The ballroom, decorated elegantly for the ball, was no exception. Dancers were already scattered across the floor. An orchestra was in one corner, and tables at another where one could sit and enjoy a glass of wine and other refreshments.

The King himself sat in one of the pair of thrones situated on a dais upon the north wall, looking serious as the nobles continued entering, and made their greetings to their monarch.

In the red silk dress and her white silk slippers, with her hair styled fashionably in