The man held his arms open, and I stepped into my father’s embrace.
Even though I had only known Joichan for a few hours at most, hugging him felt like the most natural thing in the world. Hendon was not a warm person, and he had certainly never treated me like a father would his daughter. But something about Joichan spoke to my heart. The missing pieces I had always felt, if not outright acknowledged, suddenly fell into place.
Joichan held me out at arm’s length. In turn, I was able to get a good look at the human side of my father. There were streaks of gray at his temples, something I hadn’t noticed from a distance. He smiled, crinkles reaching his eyes as they flashed gold, then back to a more human brown. The moonstone pendant hung from his neck, half hidden under the collar of his shirt.
“You look just like her,” he said.
“Mostly,” I said. “Apparently I have your eyes.”
His smile grew broader. “Yes, I can see that.”
He walked over to a cupboard in the human-sized area of the cave and pulled down two porcelain cups. “Tea?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Have a seat.” Joichan gestured toward a small table, and I sat down, watching him putter around. He snapped his fingers, and steam suddenly spouted from the teapot on his counter. He added some leaves to each of the cups, poured boiling water into them, and brought everything over on a silver tray. The crisp smell of mint wafted toward me. Joichan gave me a cup of tea, then took the other and settled back in his seat.
“We have a lot of catching up to do,” he said. “Tell me about yourself, your mother, your life in Calia.”
“Wow, where should I start?” I quipped. “Let’s see... well, after you left, Mother married Sir Hendon. Grandfather passed away when I was very young; I don’t remember much about him, but I think he took a lot of the kingdom’s happiness with him when he died.”
“Does Hendon treat you and Melandria well? Does he at least rule the kingdom well?”
“He’s done decently by Calia, I guess. I haven’t heard of any major grumblings against him, just the usual ‘taxes are too high’ or ‘things could be better’ kind of thing. I don’t think he and Mother are truly in love, the way the stories about them say, but they have an understanding of sorts.”
Joichan looked away at that. I knew he was remembering my mother, and wishing he could rewrite history. “And you? Is he a good father to you?”
I laughed, but it was a bitter, forlorn sound. “He tolerates me, I think. He's mostly left me alone, until now. Now...” I sucked in a breath, remembering why I was here in the first place.
“Now?” Joichan prompted me.
“The king promised me in marriage to Prince Anders of Rothschan. Not only do I find the man hateful, but Mother said that Hendon wants to use the marriage alliance as a way to conquer the rest of the Gifted Lands. That’s why she sent me south, to find you, and gave me your necklace. She stole it back from Hendon and told me to keep it from him.”
Joichan growled angrily, an echo of the fierce dragon he was capable of becoming. “There’s more, isn’t there?”
“There is, but I don’t know what to make of it,” I admitted. “I left immediately after the betrothal. Somehow Hendon found out I was gone, even though we tried to hide it under the guise of my being sequestered for the traditional Calian wedding preparation month. But Prince Anders doesn’t know — he went back to Rothschan to prepare for the wedding and bring his family back. And on the road we ran into other nobles who were headed to Calia for the wedding. Hendon is searching for me; we saw Calian soldiers on the road and in Annlyn who were asking around about me. But Hendon hasn’t called off the wedding, or postponed it, or anything.”
Joichan’s rumbling grew louder, and I half-expected him to breathe fire, even though he was in human form. “Whatever he’s planning, it can’t be good. For Calia, or for you and your mother. When is the wedding?”
“I’m not sure. Time seemed to blur when we were traveling down here. I think it took us about a little over a week to reach Annlyn, so... in another two weeks or so?”
“We have a little bit of time, then.” Joichan touched his side gingerly, pressing against the newly closed wound. “Which is good, because I’ll need the time to finish healing.”
“I thought — ”
“That I was already healed? Mostly. But magic can’t do everything. Time and rest will do the job better than magic could; magic just speeds things up a bit.”
“Speaking of magic...” I told my father about my lady-in-waiting Taryn back home, how she had helped me escape, and how she had been keeping me informed on what was happening back in Calia. “While you were resting, I tried to contact her. But I can’t get a hold of her. I’m not sure if it’s something I’m doing wrong? But every other time I’ve used that spell I’ve been able to get in touch with her, easily.”
Joichan frowned. “I do have some anti-magic spells on my home, but those spells are to stop intruders or to block visitors from harming me, physically or magically. You should be able to contact your friend within these walls with no issue.”
“Your home? But isn’t the other cave your home?”
He laughed. “I suppose it is, although I hardly ever sleep there. It’s more of a decoy than anything else.”
“Since I wasn’t able to contact Taryn here in the cave, then maybe it is my magic?”
“I doubt it. But let’s go outside to get clear of my protective spells, just in case. You can try your spell again.”
We set our now empty tea cups down on the table, and went to the cave entrance. From our vantage point, we could see the tops of trees as the setting sun painted the sky with pinks and oranges. I looked down and instantly regretted it. The rocky mountain face and the jagged treetops promised a treacherous fall and painful demise for anyone who fell off the ledge.
“It’s better not to look,” Joichan said mildly.
“Now you tell me.”
“We should be clear of all magic on the cave now.” Joichan gestured at me. “Go on, try your spell.”
With practiced ease, I ran through the words and motions of the spell, concentrating on Taryn’s face in my mind. I made the final gesture, but my friend didn’t appear. I held on to the spell for a few moments longer, but released it when it became apparent I couldn’t get in touch with her. Worried, I looked at my father.
He shook his head. “Your spell was flawless. Every part of your execution was perfect. It wasn’t your magic, Jennica.”
“Then what’s wrong? If I did it right, then Taryn should have felt and answered my call. What do you think I should do?”
“I think you — and I — should get back to Calia as soon as we can.”
Chapter Thirty-One
ALTHOUGH WE BOTH WOULD have left that night, we also knew it wasn’t a wise idea. Not when Joichan needed to rest to get back to his full strength. And not when I needed to learn more about myself as a shapeshifter.
After I had returned Joichan’s necklace, I had felt a little bereft. I mentioned this to Joichan, and my father explained that, as the bearer and his child, I had begun to bond with the moonstone, even though it was linked to him. It was sympathetic magic, as the stone could feel the blood link between kin. Further strengthening the bond was the fact that one day I would inherit his soulstone and could merge it with mine.
One thing that concerned me was that I was much older than most beginning shapeshifters. Not only did I need to learn how to change forms, but I wouldn’t have a soulstone to aid me.
With the sun gone, it was cold both in and outside the cave. I jammed my hands into my pockets as we walked back inside, looking forward to settling in for the night. My right hand brushed against against a small hard object, and I pulled out the necklace that Pazho had given me. The amber caught the dull glow from the cave walls, glimmering faintly in my hand.
“What’s that?” Joichan asked.
“It was a gift from a friend in Annlyn,” I sai
d.
Joichan snapped his fingers, and the cave walls grew brighter. He stopped, reaching out to touch the necklace. I stopped too, watching him. My father nodded, satisfied.
“Your friend is very astute. This will do nicely.”
“What do you mean?”
Joichan smiled. “This will make a perfect soulstone for you.” He began walking again, leaving me gaping until I closed my mouth and hurried after him.
But working magic would have to wait until the morning. Both of us were exhausted from the day’s events. Joichan pointed out a small bedroom tucked away in the back of the cave just off the human-sized area. The room was fairly spartan, only boasting a neatly-made bed and a nightstand.
“But where are you going to sleep?” I asked.
Joichan left the bedroom, going back into the main cavern. I followed. He changed back into his dragon form and curled up in the corner he had occupied earlier in the day. “There’s only one bed, which you can have. Besides, oftentimes I prefer my animal self, especially since I live alone. It’s easier and more comfortable for me to sleep, and I can defend myself easier.”
“If you’re sure... thank you.”
“Of course,” my father said. “Now, I suggest you get some sleep. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“BUSY” DIDN’T EVEN BEGIN to describe it. Although Joichan still needed to rest, he insisted on tutoring me in the basics of shapeshifting. Fortunately, my Calian training in magic and my on-the-road lessons with Farrah had given me a good foundation for Joichan’s teaching, as well as the confidence to execute it.
Because a lot of changing one’s form, I learned, required confidence and focus. That’s why the fledgling shapeshifters of Annlyn used soulstones, because it helped them in both areas. But even with my magical experience, my first shapeshifting experience was both exhilarating and scary.
We woke up early, hoping that the sleepy quiet of morning would keep us safe from prying eyes. We stepped outside of the cave, where Joichan, still in human form, waved a hand. A magical barrier went up, barring access to the entrance. To casual lookers, it would have seemed there was no cave at all, since the magic also created the illusion of a sheer rock face on the mountainside. I now understood what had happened when I first came here.
“Clever,” I complimented my father.
“Thank you.” His voice grew deeper as his form changed from human to dragon.
Dragon Joichan carried me on his back into the forest below the mountain, where the surrounding trees hid us in a small glade from any errant observers who might be in the area. Once we landed, my father changed back into human form, to give me more room to try my transformation.
Magic — at least the way I had learned it in Calia, or when I was practicing on the road with Farrah — usually required memorizing spells, and combining those spells with hand gestures, movements, charms, or potions to acquire the desired effect. But shapeshifting was different. It was a magical transformation, to be sure, but it was also something else. My father had explained the theory in depth to me the night before. It was as simple as changing one’s outfit or hairstyle. However, it required a bit of finesse to make sure the transformation worked. After all, changing your hairstyle didn’t help if you didn’t know how to properly dress hair in the first place.
Under Joichan’s watchful eye, I stood in the center of the glade, closed my eyes, and sent my awareness deep within. I was acutely aware of my bones, my blood, my breath. My magical senses took note of where and how my body was knit together; my mind imagined my spine lengthening, my arms and legs growing bigger and heavier, my olive-toned skin hardening and turning into reptilian scales. Nails turned into claws; my nose changed into a golden snout. Breathing in, I was assaulted by my suddenly super-sensitive sense of smell. My hearing had gotten sharper as well. I could smell the rabbit that was currently burrowing into its den several miles away. Deep in the forest, I heard the footsteps of a hunter who was moving near-soundlessly as he tracked his prey. Marveling at my new awareness, I opened my eyes to take it all in.
My eyes met the tops of the trees. A bird flying by at my eye-level squawked in alarm at me and clumsily changed its course mid-flight. I laughed, a rumbly sound several octaves lower than my normal pitch. From somewhere near my feet, I heard an answering laugh, and looked down to see Joichan staring up at me with an enormous grin on his face.
“Very good, Jennica! An amazing first attempt!” He clapped his hands in delight.
I tried clapping my hands too, laughing even harder at myself when I realized how stupid my clumsy claws must look. I laughed so hard that I accidentally snorted fire, just barely setting a treetop aflame. My laughter turned into a coughing fit, and my magical concentration broke. Soon I was back on ground level with my father, lying on the grass trying to get my breath back.
“Jennica! Are you okay?” Helping me sit up, Father grabbed a waterskin out of the bag I had brought with me. He handed it to me and I took a deep drink before answering.
“Yes, I’m... fine,” I panted once I had my breath back. “That...didn’t... last long, did it?”
“No, but for your first attempt, it was wonderful!” Father raved. “With more practice, you’ll be able to maintain and control your form easily.”
“That’s... good.... to know. I can’t... wait.” A small, weak cough escaped me. “That... took more out of me... than I expected.”
I tried to stand up, but wobbled on my feet and fell to my knees, feeling ready to throw up. Taking in my pale face and still heavy breathing, Father stood up. “You’ll master this in no time. But, for now, I think you need to rest. Let’s get you home.”
He stepped back and changed into his dragon form. I was too weak to climb onto his back, so he gently picked me up in his claws and flew back to the mountain cave.
Chapter Thirty-Two
THE NEXT FEW DAYS PASSED in a blur of activity as we prepared to head back to Calia. I practiced shifting into my dragon form as much as I could, although the process still took a lot out of me.
During my first few barely successful attempts, I would only just be able to change into my dragon form — a much smaller version of my father’s majestic figure. My transformation wouldn’t last long; I could barely sustain it for about a quarter of an hour before my body would involuntarily revert back to my human form. And changing back left me even more winded: out of breath, curled into myself, with a massive headache.
Which is why the other big undertaking my father insisted we do before we left was to create a soulstone for me. Being able to channel my magical energy through it would ease the transition, as well as help me maintain my creature self longer. When I asked my father why I wasn’t able to hold my dragon shape, Joichan explained that the mental control needed for shifting required time and practice. It took most Annlyn children a year or two to master that power, and I was trying to perfect that skill in a few days.
So, I needed a soulstone. The amber pendant that Pazho had gifted me provided the perfect conduit for magic.
I drew out the necklace with its clear dark yellow jewel. Joichan took it from me and placed in on the table between us.
“How does this work?” I asked.
My father, lost in studying the amber stone, absently replied, “I’ll need your blood.”
“Excuse me?” Horrified, I reached out to grab the necklace back, then stopped myself. Instead, I drummed my fingers on the table, full of nervous energy.
Joichan broke off from his intense scrutiny of the pendant. “Don’t worry, I don’t need a lot. And dragons heal fast. It comes from being an innately magical being, you know.”
I didn’t know, and the reassurance didn’t make me feel much better. I hastily removed my hand from the table, as if my father had suggested that cutting off a few digits was necessary for the soulstone spell.
Joichan laughed. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. I suppose because most shapeshifters are so young when they go through this, no
one remembers the pain. But you’ll be fine.”
The hardest part — according to my father — was finding a stone that was suitable for spell casting. Not all gemstones were able to hold magic; sometimes a rock was just a rock. But my father could sense the aura of enchantment around my amber pendant, and deemed it a worthy blank slate waiting to be linked to the right owner.
My father took a sharp knife, heated the blade in the fire, and set it aside on top of a clean cloth that was lying on the table. While we waited for the knife to cool, he gathered other items from around the cave. A smooth ceramic bowl. A candle, slightly used from the look of it. Some small pieces of fabric for bandages. Various dried herbs in smoky glass jars. A pitcher of water. The table was rather crowded by the time my father found the last thing he wanted and sat back down at the table with me.
Joichan had me open the jars and pour out a scoop of each herb into their corresponding jar lid. While I did that, he poured water into the bowl and touched a fingertip to the the water’s surface. It instantly boiled and steam wafted up. Impressed, I raised an eyebrow at my father. Joichan grinned. “One of the other advantages of being an innately magical being.”
“One whose specialty is fire?”
“There is that, yes.”
Joichan threw herbs into the bubbling water, in varying measurements. The water turned greenish, with a somewhat sweet smell I couldn’t identify. I breathed deeply. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was definitely potent.
Joichan held out his hand expectantly. “May I see your hand?”
With trepidation, I placed my hand, palm up, in his. With his free hand, my father picked up the now-cool knife. Holding my hand steady, he made a quick cut across my palm. It barely stung; my brain only registered that he had cut me when I saw the red bloom of blood on my hand.
Joichan put the knife aside and pressed against the wound, making the blood flow faster. He turned my hand upside down so the blood dripped from my wound into the bowl of water below. The water turned muddy-colored. The metallic scent of my blood mingled with the herbal aroma, and I turned my face away, trying to not breathe in too deeply.
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