Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Devon stood out on the balcony of her room and looked out over the sea. The gentle breeze blew her hair back. She loved the feeling of the wind in her hair. Her dragon Maethea casually flew out of the chamber and made a lazy swoop around one of the spires on the minor towers at the lower levels of the palace before returning and perching on the iron work of the balcony. It’s such a beautiful day out there Maethea, Devon commented as she absentmindedly stroked his neck. “Yes it is Devon, pity about you having to be inside when you go down to the senate.” “Oh I had forgotten about that”. Devon frowned. “Do you think I would be able to miss it today?” “Well you could, but there would be hell to pay if you did.” “I know I know”. “It probably wont be that bad, it’s just it would be such a nice day to go down to the harbour and watch the ships come and go”.





The seating of the senate ended early that day as there were only a few items on the agenda left over from the day before. As Devon was filing out of the senate building, with Maethea perched on her shoulder, she bumped into Simon de carvel. He was one of the minor lords of the city. Devon didn’t really like him although she wouldn’t go so far as to say she disliked him either. He was several years her senior. Her mother and his own had been friends in the past. She could vaguely recall paying some childhood games in the rear garden at Simon’s house. Although Simon apparently had played games with her, Devon could only recall back to a time when Simon had become to find girls to be annoying and as most boys his age did, unfashionable to be around. After her mother died, Devon would rarely see Simon normally it was only at the odd formal function. Simon was asking her how she had found the days deliberations. Devon replied “For the most part it was not very enthralling although some of the trade discussions were interesting.” “What do you think of Parvel discussions?” Simon enquired. “I’m in two minds about them. I think that they will be very good if they do eventuate, but I have little faith that they will. So there will probably be a few who feel that their toes have been trod on when it falls through”. “Yes quite possible”. Simon responded. He was about to ask another question but Devon quickly made a polite excuse that she was required else where and bid him a good day. Simon bowed graciously and they parted.

“I thought you enjoyed discussing trade politics” Maethea said as the two of them made their way down the corridor. ‘Yes I do, but how to make it a painful experience! ‘Simon has the ability to make any subject a tedium to discuss. He is just so unexciting some times’. He is not that bad is he? Devon just shrugged her shoulders, causing Maethea to bob up and down.
Devon decided to take the long way back to her day quarters by way of the palace wall. Maethea launched him self from Devon’s shoulder and began swooping around her. The sunlight glinted off his green and gold flecked wings. Devon knew she had some time before she would be meeting with her eunuch to discuss the day’s events. She stood at the walls edge between one of the castalerastrations. From this point of the wall you could survey the whole harbour. The docks and warehouses, the promenade the beach, the market place and the shore side restaurants and cafes were all bathed in the early afternoon sunshine. The sunlight sparkled off the waves in the harbour which was bordered by the great white light towers that showed the entrance to the harbour. They may not have been as tall at the one at Abenterth but they were far grander. Devon looked about and being sure that there wasn’t any body about she reached into the sleeve of her dress and pulled out a small yellow dragon that had been concealed there. It was fast asleep. “Wake up sunshine” Devon said as she gave the dragon a poke. The dragon wriggled a little. Devon poked it again and began to scratched its neck. The dragon uncoiled its self and yawned. Sleepily it turned its head to look up at Devon. ‘What time is it’ ‘Early after noon’ Devon replied. “Gah! why so early?’ complained the dragon. ‘Well Keriadal it is such a beautiful day that I thought I would bug and annoy you until you enjoy it’. ‘You would do that to me!’ replied Keriadal in mock horror. ‘Especially to you’ Devon picked him up and kissed him on the top of his head. Now look out there isn’t that beautiful? ‘Well a little I guess.’ Kearidal replied in a teasing tone of voice. With that Devon flicked him over the edge of the wall.