Dragon Crowns: The Broken Throne - Chapter 4
May The Eternal Fire Light Your Way.
Two Weeks Later…
“Welcome, pilgrims,” the hooded figure began his speech. “To The Ember Sanctuary. We all pray for the day Cornelius returns to us and will reignite the flames of ScaleHeart.”
Blaze was among the people gathered here. This gathering was supposed to be in an Ember Sanctuary where prayers to Cornelius would typically happen. Still, ScaleHeart has stopped using those over the last few years as it was straying further away from the Dragon history that shaped this place over a hundred years ago.
Chris, the banker who managed Blaze’s debt, gave him the name Ridge Limbell and told him to seek him out in the market and ask to work for him. It turned out Ridge had a knack for helping newcomers to the city, and as a greengrocer, he needed all the help he could get with the goods being distributed and restocked on the shelves. It turned out the woman who threw a grape at Blaze when he was led to the courthouse on his arrival was Ridge’s daughter, Seren.
She helped Blaze settle in a room in the complex behind the market where all the workers lived. Their rent was being deducted from their wages, so as long as they worked in the market, they didn’t need to worry about missing a rent payment.
Seren told Blaze he might need some religion in his life because of all the knowledge he demonstrated about Cornelius, which rivaled even people who lived in the capital, where the knowledge of Cornelius was most common given The Darkened City. She found it impressive and offered to accompany him to this meeting. She was now standing next to him in a black cloak covering a dark brown dress that complemented her slender figure.
After some time listening to the lecture about Cornelius, which did not introduce any new information for Blaze, they were each allowed to take a candle, light it from the existing eternal flame, and make a wish.
Blaze heard that the eternal flame was not so eternal. A few weeks ago, the Sanctuary ran out of wax and was extinguished. They tried to keep it quiet, but word got out.
“Hey there, Seren!” said an elderly woman wrapped in a green shawl around her greying blonde hair and shoulders. She came and offered Seren a hug, which she returned warmly.
“Isolde, how fares your husband, Teagan?” Seren said after the hug.
“He’s in good health, praise Cornelius. I come bearing news about my son’s next endeavor.” Isolde said.
“My friend might want to hear this,” Seren said, turning to Blaze, who stood behind her, reading a scroll. “This might be the opportunity you were looking for,” she told him. “Isolde’s son is a business owner who always looks for opportunities to change his family’s fortune. You might find the break you’re looking for with him.”
Blaze thanked her and leaned in to listen to Isolde.
“Jeremy is starting an expedition to explore an old Dragon temple outside the empire walls. He said he needs people to explore and act as bodyguards who can go on a long journey. He is partnering with Olivia Dragonsteel, the King’s Culture minister. She will be instrumental in funding the expedition, but only if she sees the expedition has everything it needs to succeed.” Isolde said and looked at them both. “Would you both join?”
“Both of us? I’m just a greengrocer’s daughter.” Seren said. “But maybe it’s a good idea for you. What do you think?” She asked Blaze.
“Exploring the Dragons’ history AND getting paid for it? Count me in!”
To be continued…