The second day of the ball arrived and Belmardina wanted to cry. She hadn’t gotten any sleep that night and would most likely have to choose someone other than Derek Stylez. She looked in the mirror before she left her room. “No. I will still have a good life even if Derek won’t be with me. I’m Belmardina, fortieth daughter of the great Belmarduk! I’m owed a great destiny!”

With that, she donned a new pink dress embroidered with delicate gold flowers and placed a blue veil that sparkled like stars over her hair. She smothered her young face in makeup and grinned at the mirror one more time before leaving her room.

The ballroom was packed as before, and many suitors gathered about her, making a final effort to turn the tide in their favor. Gholsmart the banker dragon had given up the chase and was standing by Blutgang and his entourage of kraat soldiers by a table of gourmet dishes.

Occasionally, Belmardina saw Derek Stylez moving amongst the crowd. Whenever he glanced her way, she pretended she didn’t see him. Perhaps she could still win him over by flirting with the other suitors—after all, her secret power may not be very good, but she was still very pretty and desirable.

The day wore on, and to her shock, it seemed less and less people came to talk to her. And what’s more, she swore she could hear whispering. Whispering was something she could not stand in the least. Finally, she rose to her feet and came to stand next to her mother. “I’m ready to announce my husband.” She said confidently.

The duchess smiled excitedly. She stood, and upon seeing her on her feet, the crowd became silent with respect. “My daughter is ready to announce her choice.”

Belmardina stood upon the dais next to the throne. She knew she was beautiful, and she knew she was smart and sure of herself. Everything would work perfectly.

“I choose Derek Stylez, necromancer of Haallan.”

Derek Stylez emerged from the crowd, a smirk on his boyish face. “I am honored milady, however I must decline as I have realized I have other priorities.” And he stepped backward into the crowd. Belmardina turned red, but kept her composure. Inwardly, she vowed to set the boy on fire for his deceit.

She moved on. “Very well. I choose Erik of Yab, earl of the Dome.”

Erik, another handsome young man stepped forward. “I must also decline milady. I have just received word that I am to marry another.” There was the tone of a lie to his voice, but she ignored it and moved on to the next person on the list she kept in her mind.

“Terrence von Dell-”

“With due respect I must decline-”

“Stewart of the Lake-”

“With due respect I must decline-”

“Doctor Felswar of-”

And as she went through her list, every single suitor denied her. Her face grew hot and tears began to well in her eyes. Her voice trembled more and more as each would-be-husband turned away.

Finally, the duchess rose to her feet again. Though she did not like her daughter, enough was enough. “What is the meaning of this? Who is behind this mockery?”

The crowd was silent. Belmardina knew who it was. Derek Stylez had told everyone of her insipid power to turn into a two-inch dragon. And without powerful magic behind her, nobody… nobody likes me. She finally realized. There upon the dais in front of everyone, the young woman’s vision of herself was shattered.

The silence was unending, and Belmardina’s mood changed from sadness to pure anger. “You’re a disgusting lot!” she shouted shrilly, “He told you my secret, told you and now you won’t have me just because I can’t make the heavens rain stars!”

Blutgang, standing in the crowd, turned to Gholsmart “What is she talking about?”

Gholsmart laughed quietly. “The young necromandcer Derek Stylez got it out of her last night. Her mighty power is simply…” and he laughed louder, “she can transform into a two-inch dragon!” As he said this, the room had become quiet again so that her secret was heard throughout the room.

Raucous laughter followed.

Belmardina cried and yelled in anguish—she did not think it possible to be so angry and so sad at the same time. The duchess let the laughter subside on its own and then addressed the crowd. She was very worried she would still have her daughter for many years if she did not rid herself of her now.

“Will any nobleman… nay, any gentleman in this room take my daughter’s hand?”

At this suggestion, Belmardina shot her mother a look of murder. “You can’t just give me to anyone.” she whispered with deep menace. The duchess glanced at her but her expression did not change as she looked back to the crowd of men.

“I will take her.” A voice finally called.

Belmardina jumped with surprise and she became dizzy as she looked fervently for the owner of the voice.

Blutgang, king of the kraat stepped forward with his entourage of soldiers. “I will marry your daughter. In exchange I want free passage through your roads and I will give your people passage through the kraat borderlands.”

“Done!” Shouted the duchess.

The crowd erupted in laughter once more. Belmardina began screaming but was led down the dais to kneel next to Blutgang at the foot of the throne. The duchess’ guards nearly had to hold the girl in place as she raged at everyone in the room, shouting oaths not suitable for the dirtiest scoundrel.

Within minutes the ceremony was over, and Belmardina of Umohaw was wife to Blutgang, king of the kraat. Her head swam with confusion when the two stood. She whipped her elegant neck to look at Blutgang over his beak and then to her mother. “I will not leave this castle with him and his barbarian horde!” She stamped her foot on the stone floor, nearly hurting her own toes.

Blutgang’s soldiers laughed at her antics.

“You won’t leave this castle?” Blutgang said, his voice even and reasonable.

“Never!”

“Okay. Then you won’t have to leave.” He replied.

Belmardina sighed with relief. So she could stay after all? And she could find a way to get an annulment-

“Yes. You won’t have to leave,” Blutgang continued and took a step toward her on his clawed, orange feet. “I will carry you out.”

Before Belmardina could utter a sound, he leaned over, grabbed her by the waist, and threw her over his mighty armor-clad shoulders. It was very uncomfortable and she beat her fists against the kraat’s back, only to hurt her hands against the steel of his pauldron.

Unceremoniously, Belmardina left her childhood home. When the doors shut behind her, she heard cheering, the loudest of which came from the duchess, her own mother.