Chapter 4 Who Stole The Egg?

Elara

I spent three nights guarding the little shit. No one bothered me. Hot, nourishing meals were placed on the coffee table in my absence every time I walked into the en-suite. It confirmed my suspicion that I was being closely monitored. Was there a hidden camera installed in the room?

I didn’t care to inspect. It didn’t matter. At least I was safe as long as I was with the egg. For three days, I wasn’t allowed to leave the room. Locked from the outside, I was the king’s prisoner. He wouldn’t kill me now. He needed me. The egg had saved my life. 

I smiled and stretched on the bed, stroking the little shit as I cradled it against my chest. Despite everything, I had grown attached to it in this brief span of four nights. “What are you? A baby girl or boy?” To my immense surprise, the egg trembled in response. Could it feel my presence? 

“Are you my sister’s baby?” This was a mystery I couldn’t unravel yet. The thought had been gnawing at my heart for the last three days. What was I missing here? Just then, the egg glowed. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief and looked again. Nothing. Did I imagine it?

‘Okay, Elara, you’re losing your mind,’ I chided myself before rising and walking away to the en-suite. Maybe a refreshing soak in the massive bathtub would clear my head. I planned to enjoy these luxuries as long as I was lucky to have them. Once the baby dragon hatched, would King Viktor need me? Would he punish me then? 

I had heard dragons chose their mates for life. They never forget or forgive a betrayal. I was sure King Viktor would never forget Zara’s betrayal. And he would surely make me bleed in her place. 

A soft creak outside the en-suite alerted me. Someone was inside the room. Was it the one who brought my food? I wanted to meet the staff and thank her. Maybe I could ask for a few proper clothes. The shirts were not enough. 

However, the moment I stepped out of the en-suite, I caught a fleeting glimpse of golden hair and a black dress leaving the room. The door closed in my face before I could focus. It was difficult to know who it was, as all the staff in the castle wore black. I glanced at the coffee table and frowned. Strangely, there was no tray full of freshly made food waiting for me as always. Then what was the staff member doing here?

Just then, my gaze fell on the bed, and I gasped in horror. The egg wasn’t there where I had left it. 

King Viktor’s precious egg was missing! 

I panicked and looked around the room. Did it roll over? I ran frantically around, looking under the bed and in every crevice. It was nowhere to be found. The only obvious explanation was that it had been stolen. I dashed towards the door and swung it open. The thief had forgotten to lock it in her haste to flee. I ran out, forgetting about my shirt-clad body. 

I had to find the egg before it was too late. Who would dare to steal the royal egg? 

I ran out into a wide hallway. There were stone carvings etched into the walls, offset by statues of men in armor and dragons with fiery eyes. It led to a flight of stairs, and I followed. By now, the thief would have escaped. This was a territory she was familiar with, while everything was a mystery to me. The castle wasn’t my territory. How would I ever find the egg here? 

If I sought King Viktor’s help, he would be furious with me. He would snatch back the responsibility he had given me. He might kill me afterwards. 

I gripped the hem of my oversized shirt and ran down the steep stairs, my bare feet slapping against the cold stone. Every sound echoed through the enormous castle, and it only reminded me how vulnerable I was. Windows were carved into the rock, and one look outside made me tremble with fear. The castle was so high up; I trembled at the sight of the plunging cliff sides below. One fall would be fatal for a puny human like me. 

Far below, hidden amongst the valleys, was Celestia, the capital city of Zohrran. If the thief had escaped the castle, it would be impossible for me to find her.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and froze. The hallway split in three directions: left, right, and straight ahead. Which way did she go? Just then, I noticed two guards patrolling ahead. So she couldn’t have gone ahead with the king’s egg. 

I turned to the right, only to stop halfway. It led to King Viktor’s throne room. I remembered him leading the way on my first day here. The thief wouldn’t want to cross his path. 

So, that left only one path for the thief. I whirled around and dashed to the left. Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and I panicked. Someone was approaching me. I had no wish to collide with a dragon. On impulse, I slipped through an unlocked door to hide. 

Outside, I could hear the hushed whispers of two female workers. “Is the job done? Have you delivered it?”

I clamped my mouth just in time to prevent the gasp from giving me away. Were they discussing the egg? Who did they deliver the egg to? I waited with bated breath.

“Yes,” whispered another. “I was on the verge of getting caught.” At that point, I peered through the tiny gap in the door. The woman had long golden hair, and she indeed wore a black dress. Was she the one who stole the egg?

“Oh, did anyone see you?” The woman walked ahead, and I peered out to watch them go. 

“No.” They chuckled and disappeared. I emerged from my hiding place. Now I was more confused than before. Seeking help from King Viktor was the only choice left now. I retraced my steps to the hall and ran down the way leading to the throne room. 

The castle seemed endless, its winding passageways designed to confuse outsiders. I passed enormous windows overlooking a dark courtyard before rounding a corner and colliding with a guard. He grabbed my arm and glared at me. “What are you doing here? How did you escape?”

I shook my head. “No, you’ve got it wrong. I didn’t escape. Someone came into my room. The egg…” 

The guard swore under his breath and called out to the other guards. “We have a fugitive here. Grab her!” 

I tried to break free. They were misunderstanding me. This would surely delay the search. I had to retrieve the egg and clear my name. Or the king would make me pay with my life. “No, the egg is stolen. Help me find it.”

Three guards rushed towards me. In the chaos, they hardly heard me. “Grab her. Take her to King Viktor. She has stolen the egg.”

I bit into the guard’s hand, and he let me go. “What the hell!” I ran in the opposite direction. “Don’t let her escape.” They chased me while I raced ahead wherever my legs could carry me. I was no match for them. But I had to rescue the egg, or my life was at risk. 

Heavy footsteps approached me, and then King Viktor appeared, flanked by two dragon warrior guards. “Stop right there!”