Theft of Dragons (Princes of Naverstrom) by John Forrester

you would be stupid enough to bring. My sister has given you but a taste of our power—"
    King Braxion scoffed mockingly. "The dragons will feast on your power. Have you never heard the tale of the magic of dragons? Sword and fire and stone you may be able to defend against, but there is little hope of your surviving against dragon sorcery. If you had bothered learning anything about me you would known better than to set your eyes on my daughter—especially on a feast night."
    "Who says I didn't set my eyes on him first?" Sebine said, and stepped out amongst the soldiers, who quickly parted when they heard her approach.  
    "Why are you here?" The King's face reddened in fury as he stormed over to her. Even though he was angry, Sebine thought for a moment that he almost looked embarrassed. He should be embarrassed for what he said about Princess Marei. "I had not wanted you here to witness such a scene."
    Sebine softened her expression and reached out to the King's arm in an attempt to placate him. "I never meant to make you angry, Father. This was my first wedding feast and I was lonely tonight. The Ambassador"—Sebine couldn't help but glance at the fat man's bloated body bleeding on the floor—"came to our table and introduced us to Prince Jaraz and his sister. And I was the one who asked him to dance... I flirted with him. It's not his fault."
    The King studied Sebine for a moment, then looked at Prince Jaraz, suspicion in his eyes. "But the Prince failed to resist his lust for you. I heard the words from his own mouth. It is the duty of every royal to respect another's family and property."
    Property? That's all I am to the King? Chattel to be sold and bartered with? Sebine fumed and in that instant was almost unable to stop the urge to cast the blood-boiling spell on Braxion. The King must have read her furious expression because he softened his tone.
    "In addition, when I ordered the Prince to surrender himself, his sister interfered."
    The Prince was about to speak but Sebine silenced him with her raised hand. "Personal protection when bodily harm is threatened is allowed by the laws of our Kingdom, Father. The Ninth Canon of Valance states this clearly, especially in regards to visiting royals."
    This point caused a reddening along the King's neck, a reaction similar to the times Sebine had seen him make blunders at court. A wave of uncertainty flashed over his face for a moment, then he cleared his throat and pointed his sword at the Prince. "I will not allow disrespect towards me during visits to my Kingdom. You and your party will make haste—"
    Blackness flooded the ballroom and hundreds of small explosions like the crackling of fireworks rang out. Voices Sebine recognized as Hakkadians sorcerers chanted their spells. The only remaining light—the incandescent, crystalline shield surrounding the Prince and his friends—quivered and faltered under the barrage of black bursts, globs of some substance sticking along the surface—demonic mouths sucking and biting at the shield of light. Gods! What spell are they casting? Sebine had never heard those words spoken by the Hakkadians, and she spun around, trying to spot the diminutive sorcerers.
    Screams and shouts were silenced by a spell until there was no sound and no light other than the fading shield that illuminated Princess Marei's struggling, sweating face. Sebine pushed her way through the soldiers and stepped in front of the Princess, trying to protect her. Sickening orbs of blackness rushed around her, wiggling, writhing wraiths bent on devouring the shield. She tried to speak but found her voice unable to break through the gloom caused by the Hakkadians. Why are they still attacking? With her raised hand towards the origin of the Hakkadians, the casting ceased, light gradually returned to the room, but no sorcerers remained.
    Princess Marei collapsed to the ground, the shield falling with her.

Chapter Nine

    TAEL WOKE THE next morning to the sound of