At the border‑peace ceremony, King Edmunds announced that he would offer Princess Isabella, his eldest daughter, to the Southern Realm — trading her life for three years of peace.
Having endured three days without food or water, Isabella publicly denounced the so‑called glory of kingship.
Her younger brother, Edan, rode upon a young silver‑scaled dragon whose flesh had been galled raw by iron chains, and mocked her as worthless blood.
Just before the executioner’s blade fell, the young silver‑scaled dragon wrenched free half‑a‑step — and knelt before her.
