The Dragon Princess Read online

  The Dragon Princess

  Empire of the Dragon Gods Book 1

  Paris Hansch

  First published by Origin Publications 2020

  Copyright © 2020 by Paris Hansch

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

  reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any

  means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,

  scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  First edition

  Ebook: 978-1-925981-03-2

  Paperback: 978-1-925981-04-9

  Hardcover: 978-1-925981-05-6

  To my parents,

  because you asked

  and also because you feed me, like a lot

  Contents

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  The Empire of the Dragon Gods Map

  The Dragon Princess

  1. Chapter One

  2. Chapter Two

  3. Chapter Three

  4. Chapter Four

  5. Chapter Five

  6. Chapter Six

  7. Chapter Seven

  8. Chapter Eight

  9. Chapter Nine

  10. Chapter Ten

  11. Chapter Eleven

  12. Chapter Twelve

  13. Chapter Thirteen

  14. Chapter Forteen

  15. Chapter Fifteen

  16. Chapter Sixteen

  17. Chapter Seventeen

  18. Chapter Eighteen

  19. Chapter Nineteen

  20. Chapter Twenty

  21. Chapter Twenty-One

  22. Chapter Twenty-Two

  23. Chapter Twenty-Three

  24. Chapter Twenty-Four

  25. Chapter Twenty-Five

  26. Chapter Twenty-Six

  27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

  28. Chapter Twenty-Eight

  29. Chapter Twenty-Nine

  30. Chapter Thirty

  A Letter From Alexander

  Known Individuals & Information Concerning The Empire

  Found A Typo?

  Don’t Forget Your Free Book!

  Your Name Might Be Here

  About the Author

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  Free copy: The Last Stand (Prequel Novella)

  https://parishansch.com/lm-tls

  The Empire of the Dragon Gods Trilogy

  The Last Stand (Prequel)

  The Dragon Princess

  The Dragon Empress

  The Dragon Goddess

  Chaos, Destruction and Rebirth… the three legendary dragon gods who rescued their people from certain death and brought peace to all for two thousand years.

  Or so the legends say.

  If you love strong female leads, intricate magic, complex fantasy plots and of course, dragons — join the journey and stay tuned for the Empire of the Dragon Gods Trilogy!

  https://parishansch.com/jointhejourney

  The Empire of the Dragon Gods Map

  Empire of the Dragon Gods - Year 2161 of the Fey Dynasty

  The Dragon Princess

  Empire of the Dragon Gods — Year 2150 of the Fey Dynasty

  “It wasn’t your fault, Ryuko,” the princess said. He wasn’t going to believe her, but someone needed to say it. She stood in the Imperial Chamber of Wishing Lyrecranes—a small but lavish room—the walls painted with flying birds, their beautiful white plumage a symbol of good luck. It was usually where imperial requests were received, but tonight, she had brought this man to her.

  His cheeks were hollow, his dark hair plastered around his neck. It was obvious Ryuko hadn’t taken care of himself over the last few months, though it was understandable. She had never met him before, but she was possibly the only person who knew the whole truth.

  Ryuko knelt before her, pressing a blade against his own neck, his eyes impassive. His stiff leather gloves creaked as he tightened his grip.

  “You’re just a child. What would you know?” His voice was flat and lifeless.

  The princess frowned for a moment, then glanced down at herself. Her limbs were skinny, and her frame was short—the body of a seven-year-old girl. She had almost forgotten, her new memories from the dawn of existence skewing her reality. With the death of her mother, the spirit of one of the three legendary dragon gods passed to her, irreversibly entwining with her own spirit.

  “The empress is dead, and the emperor will follow soon,” she said, a slight bite to her tone. Her father was left to a painful fate, as the imperial couple must rule and die together. No one but the imperial family knew why, and their people had simply accepted it as part of the legend.

  “I’m no longer a child, but the sole heir to the throne,” she said, flicking her long hair out of her eyes. At least, the sole blood heir. The other dragon spirit had chosen her partner, the future emperor, from the branch family. “And I’m giving you a full pardon.”

  Ryuko didn’t move the blade away, replying without hesitation. “I don’t want it.”

  The princess let out a breath. She had every right to execute him for his behavior, but she wanted him alive.

  “So, you’re going to take the easy way out and let that woman escape, after everything she’s done?” The princess shook her head. “I expected more from you.”

  Ryuko’s jaw stiffened, the knife moving slightly away from his skin.

  The princess smirked, resting a hand on the two swords which hung at her waist. Although they were physically identical in every way, passed down from generation to generation, no pair of swords were truly alike.

  “I’m gathering a group to hunt the Mistress down and destroy every thread of rebellion she’s pulling across the empire. If you still decide this is the path you want to take, do it after you’ve gotten your revenge.” She met his eyes. He was finally seeing her, so she pushed further. “Lucille would have wanted you to finish this.” It was a cruel tactic, but Ryuko’s muscles tensed. “Are you in?”

  He lowered the knife, staring down at his gloved hands for a long moment.

  “Fine.”

  She held out her hand. “Follow me.”

  Ryuko ignored it, pushing himself to his feet. He was almost double her height now, black attire covering every inch of his slim figure. The blade began to lose its shape, the metal twisting and melting into a liquid in his palm. It slid up his sleeve, out of sight. His bloodline possessed that unique, elemental affinity, and along with his background, Ryuko would certainly be one of the most skilled members of her group. He was simply switching his loyalties to her.

  The princess sprinted out the door, glancing down every hallway as she left the palace, slipping into the night. There was no time to waste, but she didn’t want to draw the attention of her palace guards. She didn’t stop to make sure Ryuko followed behind her. Although it would take time to earn his true loyalty, he wanted the revenge she had promised. As they reached the end of the palace grounds, a figure stopped them in the shadows, the moonlight shining on his silver hair.

  Kakeru drew his sword, his eyes fixed on Ryuko. Her mentor was well into middle age, but his muscles were as defined as any younger man. Besides herself, he was probably the best swordsman in the empire, though he had a bit of a temper.

  “This is the man you wanted? The traitor?” he hissed.

  The princess ignored his tone as she usually did. This wasn’t the time for arguments.

  Ryuko
clenched his jaw. “Don’t call me that, old man.”

  Kakeru narrowed his eyes, not moving an inch. “He’s on death row for treason.”

  “Not anymore. Put it away,” the princess said.

  “But we’re tracking a group suspected of treason.”

  She sighed, glancing between them. It was true that Ryuko had committed treason, but that wasn’t the whole truth. She’d already predicted it, but these two weren’t going to get along.

  “It’s not up for discussion.”

  Kakeru sheathed his sword with emphasis. “I’ll be watching your back, then. Come on, the others are waiting.”

  The princess nodded. He might have an attitude, but Kakeru would always respect her final decision.

  They took off again, weaving through the streets of the capital. All of the rooftops were painted in a thin layer of gold and the walls in pure white, reflecting the imperial colors. It was beautiful, even at night, but there was no time to admire the scenery. Their steps were light, their movements quick. She had the best people in the empire gathered to track down that woman—Mistress Marionette, as they called her—the one who pulled the strings.

  Perhaps the Mistress wasn’t even a woman at all, as the mere whisper of her name was difficult enough to encounter. Trouble always seemed to point to her, and the princess had to take care of it. Not only had the Lady of Lanadrin been murdered, and a war began brewing between her empire’s regions, but there were now thirty-six missing children. And those were only the ones of which she knew. If her empire was going to remain in one piece, they had to stop the Mistress.

  The streets were quiet, the only sound the distant cry of a lyrecrane. But they wouldn’t need luck with this mission. The princess leaped over a wall and scaled the next few buildings with more ease than normal, almost over-jumping in some places. She needed to learn to control her powers in this new body and fast. She weaved through the city, avoiding her own soldiers’ patrols. It was imperative that they weren’t aware of these activities, at least not under her name.

  The other two members of her imperial guard were crouched on a rooftop, waiting at the rendezvous point.

  Sara put a hand on her hip, checking a device around her wrist. “You’re all late.” She flicked her ponytail over one shoulder and pushed her glasses up her nose—another one of her father’s Lysanthian inventions. He was so gifted that they had brought him and his daughter to the capital.

  Kakeru pursed his lips. “By whose account? You’re the only one with that weird time thing.”

  “Exactly. Father always says to use what you’ve got.”

  “That makes no sense if nobody else has what you’ve got.”

  The princess rolled her eyes, turning to Cynric. Although he was only just of age, his willowy figure was far taller than the rest of them, a characteristic Calveran trait. Some called the Calverans half-giants, though there was nothing in her memories to suggest truth in that rumor.

  Cynric bowed, blonde locks sweeping over his face. “Will these do, Princess?” He handed her a black mask, molded into the shape of a dragon, a sliver of gold decorating the edges. She never demanded subservience from her imperial guard, as they were more her family than her parents ever were, but he was the only one who ever showed her customary respect. It was odd since he technically outranked the rest of her guard, though none of the others knew that.

  The princess slipped the mask on. It covered the top half of her face, slightly restricting her peripheral vision. As long as no one recognized them, it would do. She nodded, and Cynric silently handed them out to the others.

  Ryuko frowned, wiping the mask vigorously with a handkerchief, then inspecting it before touching it to his skin. “Must we wear these?” Minor disgust lingered in his tone.

  “Yes,” said Cynric.

  “You want to be recognized, traitor?” said Kakeru, securing his mask.

  “I want this over with.”

  Sara tucked her glasses into her satchel. “Father says impatience is the worst trait one can have.”

  Ryuko raised his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.” Sara blinked, adjusting the mask. “Oh, dragons, I can’t see now.”

  The princess snapped her fingers. They stopped bickering, turning toward her. It was a risk to bring them all together like this, but she couldn’t do everything on her own.

  “Stop it, all of you. Report, now.” She pointed at Kakeru.

  Kakeru nodded. “The suspected rebel group has been gathering in the brewhouse across from us, twenty-two in total. Fifteen are armed but none of any considerable skill. It should be easy enough to handle them. We certainly didn’t need the extra… help.”

  Sara nodded, jumping in before Ryuko could interject. “We should still be careful and ensure they’re truly committing treason. The majority are commoners, but five of them are noblemen, three servant representatives of noble families and two powerful merchants.”

  The princess bit her lip, glancing at her body again. Their presence could cause problems. She wasn’t technically old enough to ascend the throne until she turned sixteen. Until then, her imperial council and the nobility held a significant amount of power as a whole. The empire would be without an imperial couple for a long time; if she wanted to act, she needed to do it discretely. This group was her solution.

  Ryuko folded his arms, tapping his finger. “I’m guessing these rebels are in the factions that support the young prince or his older brother.”

  The princess stiffened, her hands curled into fists. Ryuko had only mentioned him; he wasn’t here.

  Calm down.

  Kakeru took a step forward, staring down at him. “You’re the last person who should be questioning loyalty.”

  Ryuko raised an eyebrow. “That’s amusing, coming from someone like you. I know more about you than you do about me.”

  “I doubt it,” Kakeru said, his face reddening under his mask. “In fact, the emperor ordered me to protect his only daughter instead of himself, whilst you were dragged here from death row.”

  Ryuko stood his ground. “I’m after the Mistress and everything she’s done. I’ve no reason to act otherwise. A man who’s simply ordered around can claim loyalty, but all the while, his own motivations are hidden.”

  Kakeru’s fist flew toward his opponent’s face, but Ryuko caught it, a silvery substance hardening around his own hand. Kakeru’s lips curled upwards.

  “So, it is true. You can manipulate metal.” He yanked his arm back, shaking it.

  The princess’ head throbbed, her hands curled into fists as unsteady breaths shook her chest. Her aura was slipping from her control, her presence flooding outward. Little colored lights dotted her vision as the spirits awaited her command.

  Control it.

  Everyone was looking at her now with wide eyes, like prey deciding whether or not to flee. She directed her gaze at the iron encasing Ryuko’s hand, forcing it to alter its shape. The liquid metal slid back into his sleeve. Surprise flicked across his face, but he hid it immediately.

  “Enough,” she managed. The princess closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “Cynric, Sara, cover the back exits. We’ll take the front. Our aim is information, so prioritize capture, but don’t hesitate to take them out if necessary. Understood?” The members of her guard put their arms across their chests, bowing their heads. “Move out.”

  They scattered, positioning themselves around the brewhouse. The princess ducked beneath a window, peering inside. The flicker of candlelight cast shadows across the walls, and barrels of various sizes filled the warehouse, brimming with aging liquor.

  The men inside gathered in the center, muttering amongst themselves and doling out mugs from an open barrel. One of the noblemen strode to the front, quieting the room and throwing out his arms in an extravagant gesture.

  “Welcome, my friends, to the dawn of a new age. I won’t waste your valuable time.” He spoke far too loud for a secretive meeting. They were clearly not a true t
hreat, at least not now.

  “With the imperial couple out of the picture, the Empire of the Dragon Gods is weak, and it’ll be hardworking people like us who take the fall for their incompetence. We can’t put our faith in the strength of the imperial family. Why should we be forced to wait for the princess to be of age for the throne? Neither the prince nor the princess can rule without the other—a ridiculous tradition, nothing more than an excuse to allow the imperial council to rule in their stead. It’s a pity the prince isn’t of true imperial blood.” He paused, and the men nodded, muttering amongst themselves.

  “We have nothing to fear. The ancient power of the dragon gods is a myth only fools believe in. Now is the time to act. With the combined might of the five regions, we can take back the fate of our people. I see an empire where we don’t rely on the whims of the imperial couple, an empire where we are free to make our own decisions, an empire united in true peace!”

  Several loud cheers broke out, but they were quickly hushed.

  The princess glanced at Kakeru, who nodded. They had heard enough to confirm their guilt, but executing all of them would cause more trouble than it solved. It seemed that there were those who no longer supported the imperial rule entirely, as well as those who were divided over who should rule. Even if she took the throne, the problems would only be mended on the surface.