Silver and Light

by J. R. Castle

  By the time the sun had dipped behind the mountain crest, they came out of the pines and Kardia stopped, her mouth dropping open. Spread below them was a sweeping valley and the widest river she had ever seen. On the other side, at the base of the mountain, lights began flickering on, lighting the city that rose up along the foothills. There were so many buildings, it would take her hours to count them all. Separating her from her destination lay a river so wide and so deep, ships sailed past, heading for some hidden harbor.

  “Oh my…I…I…can’t possibly go there.”

  Riyah stopped on the edge of the cliff bordering the river. There was about a twenty-foot drop to the water below.

  “You’re right. You’ll not be able to enter the gates without a medallion.” He let his bag slip from his shoulder as he sat down, his long legs dangling off the side.

  Kardia wasn’t sure what to do. Were they to stop here for the night? If she couldn’t enter the city, what was the point of coming all this way?

  “What do we do now, then?” she couldn’t help her annoyed tone and hoped he’d not pick up on it and chastise her. Weariness pelted her like a downpour, and her stomach wouldn’t stop its rumbles. They’d eaten nothing except for a bit of grain they’d collected from the fields and berries found in the woods earlier that morning.

  Kardia didn’t feel like sitting. Darkness was upon them, and she wanted to be somewhere safe. She never liked being out in the open at nights. Deep down, she feared that the wizard might not give up so easily on her and would someday return.

  Her eyes kept drifting back to the city across the river. The Capital city of Rodonal. The sight caused her heart to race and sweat to break out on the back of her neck. So many people in one place made her arms and legs tremble. Then she noticed a particularly large building situated higher up on the hill. It seemed to sparkle with a shimmering glow.

  “What is that? The white building?” In a way, it reminded her of the Meeting Hall back in Goia, but theirs, though also made of white stones, was a hut compared to the one overlooking Rodon. “Is it a…”

  “Meeting Hall. Indeed, yes. Isn’t it magnificent? There, you will find the help you need.” Riyah pressed his fingers to what she believed was his mouth and blew out a loud, clear whistle.

  He was going to take her to that Meeting Hall? The thought should have eased her shaking and calmed her pounding heart. But the thought of standing in such a mammoth-sized building made her tremble even more.

  “Riyah, if we cannot go through the gates, how will we get there? You said they’ll not allow me to enter.”

  “That is correct. So, we’ll have to find another way.”

  Before she could ask what he had planned, the water below them began churning. She gasped. Fear laced through her chest and she wanted to bolt. Instead, Kardia took a step back.

  Below, the water exploded in a great plume as a long serpent flew up into the air, then landed on the ground several feet away from them.

  Kardia cried out, nearly tumbling over the edge. Riyah reached out and snatched her arm and pulled her to safety. “What is…that thing?”

  The worm-like beast’s yellow eyes narrowed on her. It had two very short arms several feet down its body from its head, along with a set of magnificent translucent wings. A red glow pulsed along its throat and belly.

  “Thing?” The monster bellowed as smoke poured from its nostrils. “Did the human just call me a… thing? How dare it!”

  * * * *

  After a long, arduous dinner with Lady Anabelle, Leon was actually relieved to see her leave with her guardian, Darson. The maiden was beautiful, and charming in her own curious way, but something about her troubled him and left him exhausted once they parted ways.

  All during the meal they shared at the Rivershore Inn, she’d probed him with questions, some he didn’t wish to explain to someone not on his council. What were his plans for the province? How did he intend to make sure everyone in his jurisdiction was able to receive one of those medallions? Which, made him wonder from the way she spoke if Anabelle had one herself.

  Leon hadn’t missed Darson’s sharp look or warning nudge with his elbow when she asked particularly uncomfortable questions. But that wasn’t the worst part of being with her.

  It was something battling within his consciousness. Part of him wanted to tell her everything, to win her approval, to do anything he could to please her. But then a more rational part of him would rise up and warn him to take care, not to be easily fooled by her charms and to take care of what he shared.

  That latter part fought hard to keep control. For some reason, he feared that if he gave in to Lady Anabelle, something bad would happen. Yet for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why it would be so terrible.

  Once Leon reached the courtyard gates, he rubbed at his aching head. “Stop being so silly,” he chastised himself. “She’s beautiful, educated, and enchanting.”

  Enchanting? Maybe that was the part that bothered him. He wondered again if she had a medallion. From the way she spoke about them, he doubted it.

  Almost as if his guardian Riyah was standing beside him, he heard, “That should be your first question. If she doesn’t, then you have no business courting her, do you?”

  Leon actually looked around to make sure Riyah wasn’t indeed standing behind him, the voice in his mind sounded so much like the Elderad’s warning tone. Shaking his head, Leon made his way to the cottage. What he needed was a cup of his favorite calming tea and a nice, sound sleep in his own bed. Maybe he’d take tomorrow off and spend time relaxing in his garden. He’d worked tirelessly since returning to Rodon.

  He mentally went over the stacks of petitions and letters cluttering his desk and realized a day off was out of the question. “Well fine, I’ll at least sleep in if I want to. What good is being a regent if I can’t take a break when I wish?”

  Memories of the state of the towns in his care flooded back to him, and he knew his comforts were the least important thing he should worry about at the moment.

  With a sigh, he entered his little cottage and locked the door behind him. As he moved through the sitting room, he removed his boots, then his jacket and other clothing, discarding them along the way. First, he’d get comfortable, then he’d think about making the tea. But the moment he saw his bed waiting for him, he didn’t even bother dressing into his night clothes. Instead, he collapsed on the welcoming mattress and in his exhaustion, was soon asleep.

  * * * *

  “He is difficult to break,” Anwynn argued, her arms twined around Darnel’s elbow. She walked a little too close, but since there was nobody else on the streets, he didn’t chastise her about showing a more respectable front. In truth, he liked her closeness more than he cared to admit.

  “I fear the regent is firmly set in his beliefs,” Darnel glanced around their surroundings, double checking that they were truly alone. His free hand rested over hers until their fingers intertwined. “He does not see his position as a means to increase his power and authority. But rather he looks at it as an opportunity to serve his subjects. And this is a deeply ingrained belief. His time at the Academy must have done some serious mind-bending on the poor fellow. He can’t even think for himself now.”

  Anwynn rested her head against his shoulder. “I don’t know, Darnel. I fear he can think for himself quite well. I kept trying to persuade him to talk. I even attempted to numb his mind so he’d bend to my will. Yet, he stood very firm. So firm, I fear he might be a little suspicious of me.”

  They had reached Koloman’s home at the corner of the main boulevard. His was the last in a row of townhomes that all looked similar from the street.

  Darnel didn’t wish to go inside. Not yet. Instead, he led her around the back to a garden area overlooking a canal that ran through the center of the city. The sun had set some time ago, so they were cloaked in darkness with nothing but the faint light of the half-moon shining down on them.

  Against his own better jud
gment, he pulled her into his embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Her head came just below his chin which he rested against her forehead. What was he doing? He’d asked himself this question a million times since she’d made her feelings of affection for him evident.

  At first, he’d tried to avoid her, but she kept finding ways to meet him when he was alone. It didn’t take long for his own resolution to crumble like a weathered brick. Regent Leon had his respect over being able to withstand Anwynn’s charms.

  Her warm breath washed over the opened collar of his shirt. “I’m not sure how long I can bear this, Darnel. I know you think this is all for a good reason, and I often find myself dreaming of the day we can finally be together. I don’t even care if we are ruling Rodonal or not. I just want…” her arms slid around his waist as she buried her face deeper against his chest. “You. I want to be with you. And only you.”

  He rubbed her back. “Do you suppose that is the reason you struggle so much to overpower his thoughts? You can master Koloman easily enough. Why are you hindered while dealing with the regent? He is a younger man with much less experience.”

  She gave an annoyed snort. “If you and Fajer did not need the adviser so much, I would have killed him in his sleep by now. What a pathetic leech!” She moved back a step and looked up at Darnel, her penetrating eyes shining in the dim silvery moonlight. “I cannot break through the regent’s resolve. He is wholly devoted to that Light King you hate so much.” Anwynn’s brows pinched in concern. “Will you be disappointed in me if I do not win his affections, as you wish?”

  Darnel had also begun to realize that getting the regent interested enough in Anwynn to marry her was a long shot. Part of him felt relief, another part… hated the weakness threatening to uproot and crumble his carefully crafted wall. He hated that his heart, which he’d tried to harden, was beginning to soften toward the she-elf, of all people. She was a creature! Not even a half-breed like himself.

  However, he was starting to find that what he lacked, she completed in him. Anwynn was able to spot a hole in his plans and then helped him to devise ways around the potential problems. When Fajer wasn’t being honest about something, she called the Sorcerer out on his deceit before Darnel even realized what his so-called partner was doing.

  With each passing day, he began to wonder what he’d ever done without her in his life.

  And he hated himself for it.

  “No,” Darnel said as he moved away from her and went to sit upon a stone bench surrounded by bushes covered in tiny roses. “I’ll not be disappointed. Perhaps we need to start thinking of another plan.”

  “Such as?” She joined him on the bench, clasping his hand between hers.

  Even here, they still needed to take care. Darnel feared what might happen if Fajer, or Koloman, realized he was developing feelings for the elfin maiden. Both would most likely be furious, though for different reasons.

  “I’m not sure, yet. As much as I’d simply like to kill him, that won’t help our position so long as the Mother Regent lives.”

  “So, we—”

  “No.” He gave her hands a sharp jerk. “No. Not both of them, it’ll be too obvious. Let’s keep to our current plan, Anwynn. I couldn’t help but think you were actually getting the better of the regent tonight. You were wearing him down. I only…” he remembered a specific potion that one particular witch he was acquainted with used to control people’s minds. She was uncommonly powerful with her enchantments and spells. As a boy, she was as frightened of him as he was of her.

  He was no longer a boy.

  Maybe it was time he paid her another visit.

  “There might be another way.” He turned his gaze on her. “Do you trust me? At least enough to keep trying with the regent for now?”

  Anwynn scooted closer. “I’ve been wondering the same thing. Darnel, do you trust me?”

  His heart lodged into his throat. He wanted to say yes! But refused to allow that word to flow so freely from his lips. A large part of his reasoning ordered him to not be foolish. Her beauty and charms were most likely at work.

  Still, he needed her. He needed her to make his plan work.

  Darnel nodded in response.

  “Hum, I see,” Anwynn leaned in until their faces were mere inches apart. “You battle, too. I can see in your eyes that you are starting to care for me, though you are too proud and… I suspect, cautious, to admit it. I see the expansive wall I’ll need to breach in order to find your heart. But you are worth the struggle and the fight. You are worth it to me.”

  Did she mean that? He wasn’t sure what to do. Yes, he was cautious. Perhaps even a little fearful of allowing anyone in. Why wouldn’t he be?

  Darnel reached over and tucked a strand of her hair behind her pointed ear. She’d used glamour to hide her elfin qualities from the regent. But he could see right through them. Perhaps because she allowed it?

  “Let me love you, Darnel,” she whispered. “Tell me that you might be in love with me, too.”

  Love. Such a strange, dangerous word. He’d loved his mother, and she’d left him. For a short time, he’d wanted to love his father’s people but they spurned him. And his mother’s kin slammed the door in his face. The Light King… well, Darnel never even gave him a chance, nor Issah, who’d tried on several occasions to bring him back.

  Didn’t love mean control?

  It certainly meant risking himself to get hurt again.

  Love was much too dangerous to give into easily.

  No, he’d not do it.

  Instead, he leaned in, hoping a kiss might assure her enough to pacify her desire for reassurance. That was the best he could offer her. Before his lips met hers, a beam of light fell across the garden as the back door banged open.

  Fajer sauntered out, his thumbs tucked into the belt securing his resting jacket.

  Darnel jerked back. Anwynn did as well, trying to act as if they were just sitting outside, admiring the cool evening.

  Fajer’s tight lips turned upward into a crooked line across his marked face. “How was your evening? Any success winning over the regent’s heart, yet?”

  Darnel dusted an imaginary bit of fluff off his breeches. “In time, I think she’ll win him over.”

  Fajer leaned against a post supporting the balcony of the upper floor. “Though not as quickly as she’s won you over, my dear friend. And don’t you dare deny it. I’m not blind. I know exactly what’s going on between the two of you.”

  Anwynn opened her mouth, probably to deny his claims, but he didn’t give her a chance to speak her mind.

  “Now that I’m without powers, you two will partner up and cast me out the first chance you get. Well, just so you know, I’ve sent word to the Brethren, letting them know how close we are to taking over Rodonal. So do not even think of backstabbing me!”

  Darnel chuckled with a shake of his head. “Have you broken into Koloman’s wine stores again, Fajer? I’ve told you the drink makes you paranoid, have I not?”

  Fajer scowled, and he took a step closer to Anwynn.

  “You better not fail elf,” the master sorcerer threatened, grabbing a fist-full of her thick hair in his fist.

  A sense of protectiveness rose up in Darnel, but he held himself in check.

  “I’ll get my powers back one way or another.” Fajer’s violet gaze turned onto Darnel. “Don’t forget our bond, partner. It’ll not be easily broken.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “I am not a…thing!” The snake-like dragon towered over Kardia and Riyah, an orange glow burning from its throat, down to the belly covered in heavy, dark blue scales. Long whiskers waved around the beast’s snout and curved spikes circled its head like a lion’s mane. “I am Sapphire, guardian dragon of Rodon. And my eggs!”

  If Riyah hadn’t steadied Kardia by grasping her elbow, she would have run away, fast as possible, not caring where she ended up.

  “At ease, Sapphire,” Riyah ordered, his tone so commanding, even Kardia stop
ped trembling. “Do not take offense. I’ve heard how you have described humans and some creatures.”

  Sapphire hissed. “Egg thieves! I have no nice names for them, Elderad. Why have you summoned me? I was sleeping. It’s been a busy day with all the boats coming too near my nursery.”

  Riyah’s grip on Kardia’s arm eased, though he didn’t completely release her. “Issah has warned you to not nestle them so close to the harbor.” He jerked his head toward Kardia. “The girl meant no harm. She’s never met a dragon before. Let not her first meeting taint her view of your kin. Be at ease, Sapphire, and come meet my friend, Kardia. She has traveled from the far eastern portion of the province. She is very kind natured if you’ll give her a chance.”

  The dragon’s head lowered, coming closer. Kardia fought the urge to duck behind the Elderad. Sapphire’s eyes matched her name, a deep blue like some of the lakes they’d passed on the way to Rodon. Smoke billowed from her nostrils, before finally dissipating. “She’s so thin. Like the willows that grow on the banks of my river.”

  Riyah chuckled. “Indeed. You’ll have no trouble helping us across the river.”

  Sapphire sucked in a quick breath of air. “No. All visitors must cross through the gates. The regent said—”

  “But I say, this one time, I need transport for both of us. As one who sits beside the King’s throne, my request must be granted, Sapphire. I will vouch for the girl. She does not have a medallion yet, so the guards will not allow her entrance.”

  The dragon settled on the edge of the cliff with a loud huff. Her long tail draped over the edge and diapered into the swirling waters below. She had two very short front legs or rather arms, but none in the back. From her shoulders on, she looked like a gigantic snake.

  Kardia wondered if Sapphire’s body was long enough to circle around the Commons in her town. At least once, if not more.

  “You are ordering me to transport her. Order them to allow her entrance,” the worm suggested.