Young Writers Society

Shendelzare arrived at the official Skywrath court with three pegasuses pulling an enchanted wooden carriage, ready with guards and maidens accompanying her. Father couldn’t attend the wedding due to his ilness, but he had relied a message to her before she left the castle. She intended to memorize and live it at heart.

Show no fear nor anger - Skywrath at its essence. Do not fall into our typical egotistical behaviour, and do not trust anyone that hasn’t put his live on the line for you, as those who have are the ones who deserve it.

That was the exact thing she was going to show them for now. Wearing this breath-taking - literally - royal dress was not just for the decoration but the power that ruled behind it, the power seized by the wearer. She looked up upon the court at its sphere-like roof, made with glasses shone by the pale blue light of the second sun. It was smaller than her palace, but still a mansion.

When she entered it, she was reminded by the room structures that made it bigger than it looked like. It had no garage - the transportations could be put on air - and the living room wasn’t quite as it seemed. In it were three doors; one in front, two at both sides. Through one of them you would find another room with two doors, and through one of them too you would find more.

It wasn’t easy to remember which room you were in, but it sure made the place bigger than it really was. Once you were familiar with it, you would know where you were. Each room had a slight difference between them with the design. The first room you entered - the one with three doors, had its wall decorated by veiny-green branches.

The commoners were there, wearing loose clothes with bland colours - brown, gray, and ginger yellow. Their wings were barely attended to, and their expressions were void of smiles but frowns. Shendelzare intended to change that.

At the top of the room was a huge round mirror. During the coronation, the mirror would reflect the scene of it - enchanted as it was. This was how the authority allowed the commoners to take part in the coronation without having to be in the place it was held. Each room was lighted dimly with gems on the ceiling. They were enchanted by head maidens using their Skywrath blood.

Shendelzare took a forward into a room with a centered small fountain, then another forward to a huge room. This room had four doors, leading the other rooms to it. This was the main room, filled by nobles and highborn people, wearing colourful attires, some of them wore deep yellow to associate with the royalty’s colour, and were designated intricately. The women wore tight dresses like she was with a low v-neck, and hint of glitters to decorate their wings.

The men wore military-like dress uniforms as the trend with hints of thick yellow for some parts, worn for ceremonies. The main colours were usually deep one like navy blue, which she had spotted, long-arm. She hoped to see Dragonir among them - he said he would be here. Where is he? she wondered, her gaze lingering the surrounding.

The main room had thirteen floors. Since each room sheltered flying Skywrathians, the ceiling was not permanently there as it acted as a boundary to go to another room. Shendelzare flew to the blank-pristine white ceiling and touched it with her right palm. Reacting upon the touch, it gave a faint screechy sound and shifted at one side, giving her full view of the second floor. She passed by it.

Each ceiling was designed to react with touches, reading the palm lines and giving access to those of higher level in hierarchy. Flying through one floor to another, Shendelzare had the highest level. Nobles owning lands and military powers called Navs were at the second, followed by Izreks, nobles owning businesses. The fourth belonged to regular nobles, those who had their achievements acknowledged and worked in professional fields.

Today would be the exception. Invited nobles gathered at the highest level, the one which had the wide curvaceous glass roof, showering them with the pale blue sunlight. At the center was members of the court - seven of them. They were in charge of this coronation. Shendelzare’s gaze hopped from one of them to another. What was in their mind having her as the supreme ruler of this kingdom?

Her gaze dropped to Hereseyr then, and she frowned. What was he doing there? He was behind a middle-age court member, Azir, and seemed to be his companion. However, he was the head servant. He was supposed to take care of the mansion, just like other servants. Shendelzare tilted her head, considering to reach him. She shook it, dismissing the thought as unnecessary.

Her gaze flew to other people, and her mouth turned downward, her eyes lowering a bit. Dragonir was still nowhere to be found. Where was he? Wasn’t he supposed to be here with her? If he kept acting like this, the role given by her father to him as his sworn protector should better cease to exist. Maybe it was time for her to find another guardian. He seemed to prioritize his researcher more than her.

Turning her attention back to the current situation, she saw Azir flew to the edge of the room where a gong hanged in the air. Muttering something to himself, a bat appeared on his hand, and he hit the gong with it three times. The loud, vibrating sound sent others’ attentions to him, and he clapped his hands. “Your majesty, lords and ladies. Please sat at the provided settees. The coronation will start soon.” He gestured to floating, fancy settees, long enough for each one of them to seat a dozen people.

Shendelzare took her breath and went to Azir after being prompted by him. This is it, she thought. The last step to leave princessdom and enter queenship.

A/N: Yup, there’s no word such as princessdom but since princedom is exclusive to princes, I decided to make the word. Sue me. xD