Sixteen years passed peacefully under the Dragon King's reign and Valora grew into a beautiful young woman. A Princess that was both beloved by her people and entrusted with the fate of the dragons by her father. All the people admired her, except the council advisors. They feared the power that she had within her, so they planned to kill her in secret.

            The day of the Princess' seventeenth birthday was approaching and preparations had been made for festivities to take place at the castle. Visitors came from far and wide to wish the Princess a happy birthday. This was the opportunity the advisors had been waiting for. With so many people surrounding the Princess, it would be easy to stab her unnoticed.

            Lord Satqin, one of the Dragon Kings most trusted advisors, was given the task. It would be easy for him to approach the Princess without arousing suspicion. The moment came and he made his way toward the innocent young Princess. He nervously took the dagger he had hidden in his robes and closed his eyes in shame as he thrust it towards the Princess. He felt the dagger pierced through the flesh of his victim and their weight as they began to collapse. He opened his eyes and was shocked. The one he held in his arms was Queen Lalin.

            The Princess screamed and the Dragon King rushed to his dying wife. The castle guards immediately apprehended Lord Satqin and dragged him to the dungeons.

            Lalin's body was entombed at the shrine of Oro, in a cavern only accessible to the Dragon King and Princess Valora.

            “We should go, Father” Valora stated rationally, as her father lay upon the ground of the tomb. “We have to return to the castle. The people of Avaris need us.”

            “They don't need us! If they did, they never would have tried to kill you!” The Dragon King lashed out in anger, then collapsed once more and wept. “Lalin would still be alive if weren't for me.”

            Valora was surprised. Her father wasn't blaming Lord Satqin, but himself for her mother's death. “Father,...”

            “This is the fate all dragons must bear, Valora.”

            “What are you talking about?”

            “I'm sorry Valora, but things have to change. We can no longer live as though we are the same as everyone else. Your mother's death makes it very clear to me now. We have the power of the dragon's blood within us and we must always remember that.”

            “But Father, I already know that.”

            “Just knowing is not enough, Valora. Have you forgotten what the Great Dragons of Avaris have done?”

            Valora's eyes widened in shock. She knew well what her father was saying and understood what it meant. She lowered her head and spoke solemnly. “No Father, I have not forgotten.”

            “Then you know what must be done.”

            “Yes!” Valora knew that her father had resigned himself to the fate of the dragons, but knew that she could not. She would have to return to the castle and take her father's place, for she was the only one who possessed the blood of dragons. She approached her father and embraced him one last time, then turned and left the tomb. She returned to the castle and summoned the council of advisors.

            “Honorable council members, you have served my father well over the years and it shall never be forgotten.”

            “What do you mean, Princess?” Lord Rumal inquired nervously.

            “My Father, The Dragon King, will not be returning to the castle. He has decided to retire and pass on his title to me.”

            “Forgive me, Princess Valora, but you are too young to understand matters of state and it would take far too long to teach you. I think it would be best if you left those matters to the council” Lord Rumal stated diplomatically.

            “While I agree that I may be inexperienced with matters of state, I do not feel that it would be in the best interest of the people to leave them entirely in your hands.”

            “And why is that?” questioned Lord Rumal defensively.

            “To put it simply, there is not one person in this room I trust. The attempt on my life, which resulted in the death of my mother, was due to your conspiring. How do you expect me to trust you, when you do not trust me?”

            The entire council fell silent. Although she presented no evidence that the council was behind the assassination attempt, they could tell she knew. “If you do not trust us and we do not trust you, then what exactly are we suppose to do?”

            Princess Valora looked at the council and spoke with determination and conviction. “You shall do nothing. As of today, the council of advisors will be dismissed from their service to the crown.”

            The entire room exploded into chaos. The advisors were enraged by the Princess' decision. All except for Lord Rumal who remained calm, as though he knew something the Princess did not. “As I have already said, you are far too young and do not understand matters of state. Nor do you know the responsibilities of this council. How do you expect us to leave the fate of Avaris in your hands, Princess?”

            The Princess looked directly at Lord Rumal and spoke calmly and rationally. “It is strange that you should mention the fate of Avaris now, Lord Rumal. If you had truly cared for this land and her people, you would never have tried to kill me. For the fate of Avaris is tied to my own.” The Princess paused and scanned the faces of the dumbfounded advisors. She knew that her father never told any of them the secrets Avaris held. She gathered her thoughts carefully, then, without wavering, she spoke once more. “The reign of the Dragon King has come to an end. My father has resigned himself and accepted the fate the Gods have charged him with. The fate of Avaris, the Gods have passed unto me. For I, like my father, possess the power to control dragons. I am the Princess of Avaris; Valora.”

            The entire council was shocked by the charisma and authority the Princess commanded. One by one they submitted to her, each bowing respectfully before taking their leave. Lord Rumal was the last, but before he left he addressed the Princess. “Princess Valora, forgive this foolish man for his actions. I thought I was doing what was best for the kingdom, but I see now that I was wrong.” He bowed one last time, then turned and left.

            The room, now void, felt as a tomb. Valora knew now that she could no longer run from her fate, but she also knew that she couldn't do what must be done alone. She would need the help of someone she trusted above all others, but it was uncertain whether Lord Satqin would agree to help her.

            She slowly descended the stairs and approached Lord Satqin's cell. The guard unlocked and opened the door so that the Princess could enter.

            Once inside the cell, she turned to the guard and said “That shall be all. You may go.” The guard bowed, handed her the keys and left.

            “Do you really think that is wise, Princess? Or, have you forgotten that I am the man who tried to kill you?” Lord Satqin mocked Valora's actions.

            The Princess looked upon the once noble man and spoke plainly. “I have not forgotten, Lord Satqin.”

            “Then, why would you come here alone?”

            The Princess looked him directly in the eye. “You were one of my father's most trusted friends. Why would you even consider betraying him? Why would you try to kill me? I came here to find out your true intentions, Lord Satqin.”

            He looked at the Princess, smiled and gave a little laugh. “You have the same look in your eyes that your father always had; the look of someone who has a secret. I always wondered what it was. I thought he would tell me when the time was right, when he knew he could trust me unconditionally, but he never did. If I was one of his 'most trusted friends', then why didn't he tell me the secret?”

            “Because he couldn't” Princess Valora stated simply.