“My sisters and I need someplace quiet to form our sacred circle,” Anna replied, raising her voice to be heard, as the commotion boiled around her. “We do not fight with swords, Your Majesty. We fight with our magic.”

“Marcus, take the High Priestess and her women into the palace,” said Edward and, for once, his son didn’t argue with him.

Marcus bounded forward with alacrity.

“High Priestess,” he said, bowing. “I am yours to command.”

He held out his arm to escort her. Anna rested her hand on his and Marcus felt a different kind of magic, an ordinary kind of magic, one that had nothing to do with dragons.

Marcus led the women of Seth to the king’s private chapel, which was quiet, isolated, and well protected. He wondered if God would be offended at this invasion of pagan practices. Recalling what Draconas had said about the miracle, Marcus could only hope and trust that the Lord was open-minded.

“We will do our best to fight the dragon,” Anna was saying to Marcus. “But I must confess to you, Your Highness, that some of us, myself included, have never battled a dragon before. And none of us have ever fought more than one dragon. I’m not sure we can do it.”

“I am certain you will succeed,” said Marcus, hardly knowing what he was saying.

Anna remained somber. Halting outside the chapel doors, she turned to face him. “The magic makes us very weak and ill. The blood bane, we call it. Some of us might die. I want you to be prepared for that,” she added gently.

“Then you must not attempt it,” Marcus said firmly. “We’ll find some way to deal with Maristara—”

“You misunderstand me, Your Highness.” Anna lifted her head proudly. “I say this not to try to evade our duty, but to inform you that we know our fate and accept it. This is our fight as much as yours. Maybe more so. Our nation has been held captive for hundreds of years.” The sisters filed past her into the chapel. She began to push him away. “And, now, you must go. The ceremony is sacred, and it is secret.”

Marcus opened his mouth to protest.

“Please, go, Your Highness. All will be as it will be. There is nothing more you can do, and your presence would only distract us.”

Marcus saw that further argument would be useless and would, perhaps, only anger her. She was a ruler of her people, and she had a right to expect her wishes to be obeyed.

Marcus brought her hand to his lips and bowed. The High Priestess was the last to enter the chapel. As she shut the door, she said to him, “No matter what happens, Your Highness, we are not to be disturbed.”