Dragons and Mages: A Limited Edition Anthology

by Pauline Creeden

  “Your Grace, forgive my friend. He doesn’t think before he speaks and often forgets his place in society. Let us all calm down and see if we cannot come up with some sort of way to bring your son back home. Now, do you have any idea where he could be or at least where it is he is heading?” Axis questioned, never breaking eye contact with Izzerus as he pushed him further away from Zelak.

  Izzeris sighed deeply knocking back his wine, before pouring himself yet another cup, not caring that no one else had touched their drink or the food. “No, I don’t know where the idiot has gone. If I did I would have sent others out to find him by now, but as it is it seems that he has completely vanished. No one has seen him, and I have eyes everywhere. On land and in the skies.”

  “How can you just lose a dragon?” Zelak questioned.

  This time Izzeris noted that he made his tone less demanding, a wise move on his part. Izzeris wasn’t sure Axis would be able to stop him from killing the necromancer a second time. Taking his own deep breath to be sure that he did not lose his own temper. “I don’t know. My son is smart. His is strong, yes, but his mind is his best weapon. The dragon he is travelling with is just as cunning. They have been joined to the hip all their lives, they work well together. The other thing is, I am not sure what sort of information he has taken with him. I have been told he left with manuscripts. Manuscripts that have now been burnt. I am trying to find out what was on them, but nothing from the library is missing. So, I have no idea where he got them from and what exactly he would have found out,” Izzeris explained.

  “How much does he know of our plans?” Kelak asked.

  Izzeris could feel those dark eyes of his burning into his soul, and he couldn’t help but shiver slightly at the feeling of being torn to shreds from within. A sudden chill had settled over the throne room, and he was sure it was the work of the necromancer. He knew that Kelak would not do anything more than make him feel uncomfortable, he wouldn’t dare. He was smart. But that didn’t make Izzeris feel any better about the evil stood in front of him.

  “He doesn’t know anything. If he does, it would have been whatever he might have heard when he walked in on me and Axis a while back. But I am certain he barely heard a thing. So, he will have no idea what exactly he is looking for. Is there even anything out there that can stop what we have planned?” Izzeris wondered.

  The silence that followed his question told him that there was something.

  “What is it?” he questioned, not missing the look shared between Axis and Kelak.

  “The hybrids.” Axis finally answered.

  “The ones that we destroyed?” Izzeris pointed out.

  Axis started to pace, Kelak stayed where he was, but the look on his face made Izzeris feel more uneasy.

  “There is one believed to still live. A phoenix hybrid.” Axis said,

  Izzeris relaxed instantly at his reply. “I know who you mean. I watched the child burn, her mother turned it to ash before my eyes.”

  “You fool! A phoenix will always rise from the ashes and rise stronger each time. And this one has the blood of an angel within her. She still lives, we just don’t know where,” Zelak snarled, knocking back his drink and tossing the cup onto the table. “Would your son know of this?”

  Izzeris didn’t reply straight away, he wasn’t sure how. He had never thought that the child would rise again. But the forgotten had been banished, hidden for so long. Thought extinct. No one knew where they hid or even if they were still alive. He was sure Ash would know nothing of this, and even if he had found out about the past, a past that had been carefully hidden from him. He would not have a clue where to start looking for a way out of a plan he knew nothing about.

  “No, I am certain Ash would not be on the hunt for the hybrids. For one he knows nothing of that part of our past. None of the young dragons do, we made sure not to teach them of it for fear of something like this happening. And even if he did happen to find out, he wouldn’t know where to start looking. Nor does he know anything about this plan of ours. He doesn’t know what darkness and hell we plan to bring up on the lands. I have been careful not tell him any of it,” Izzeris replied.

  “But you said he could have heard what you and Axis had spoken about the other day?” Zelak pointed out.

  “Yes, but not enough to go and find something that could bring a stop to it all. How do you know this hybrid is a threat anyway? That is if what you say is true and she is in fact alive and building some kind of army.”

  “Because she is the blood of the angel of redemption. She has the blood of the angel royalty and the blood of a phoenix. She probably doesn’t realise how powerful she is. I think it is unlikely that she is building an army. But we cannot risk it. We need to find your son and find out exactly what he knows. If by chance he does know where we can find these vermin, then he will take us there and we will destroy them once and for all before they can cause us any trouble,” Zelak stated.

  “How do you propose we bring my son to heel, necromancer? I would like him returned to me alive,” Izzeris demanded.

  Ashran may be a rouge but he was still his son, and Izzeris was not prepared to let anyone take his life, not yet, anyway. If it was found out that he was in fact harbouring a secret and knew where the hybrids were. Well, then he would kill the youngling himself.

  “That is why we are here. He is your son. You tell us what we have to do and well we will do it.” Zelak shrugged, his tone telling Izzeris that he had no care about keeping Ash alive.

  “Ash will be returned to you alive I promise you that Izzeris.” Axis spoke up. “But we were hoping you would have some idea as to what we could do.”

  “Let’s put it another way, Izzeris. Either you come up with a way for us to bring your rogue son to heel, or I will. And believe me you don’t want it done my way,” Zelak threatened, taking a step closer to the king.

  Izzeris didn’t say anything, he had a feeling that the necromancer wasn’t finished. The cold look held in his black eyes caused Izzeris hot blood to run cold. He knew that if he didn’t come up with a way to bring Ash back home then his son would come back to him in pieces.

  When Zelak didn’t continue Izzeris replied. “I will think of something. Something that will have him come back to me in one piece.”

  “Best make it quick. We aren’t staying here another night,” Zelak said.

  Izzeris frowned slightly, wondering who had given that order. Glancing to Axis, he noted that the fae king would not meet his eyes. Did Axis fear Zelak? Was this man more of a threat than Izzeris first thought? Was Zelak in fact the real drive behind all they wanted?

  “Who says you will not stay another night?” Izzeris demanded.

  The cold, calm delivery of the reply from Zelak confirmed Izzeris’ fears. That he truly was the man behind all that was to happen.

  “The future king of the lands. The one king that will rise from the hell that we are about to unleash upon them all. Me.”

  Chapter 21

  Ash and Blaze followed Jaxe silently though the red forest. Neither of them daring to speak, not doubting that the hybrid would kill them should they make a sound. As they walked behind Jaxe, Ash allowed himself to take a good look at the beast. And a beast he was. Standing taller than both him and Blaze, his skin was reds and greens formed almost like scales. The brief glimpse that Ash had got of his eyes told him there were red, like the colour of the bark on the tress they walked through.

  “What do you think he is?” Blaze asked into his thoughts.

  Ash startled slightly at the sudden intrusion, forgiving Blaze for it this time. He didn’t blame him for reaching into his thoughts to talk. It was safer this way.

  “I would say he has the blood of a serpent in him. I am not sure what species though. The scales on his body suggest snake. But the main colour of his skin, there is only one race that has the blood red covering their body…” Ash trailed of waiting for Blaze to figure out what it was he was trying to say. It didn’t take him long
to.

  “A demon. Ash this beast is dangerous,” Blaze replied.

  Ash heard the fear in his words, and for the first time he allowed Blaze to see his own fear.

  “I knew you were afraid,” was all his friend could say.

  “I am just wondering what the other creatures we are going to come across. And just what their leader is. If Jaxe is simply just a protector, what the hell are we going to be put in front of?” Ash questioned.

  Blaze didn’t reply, instead he just shot him an uneasy look shrugging slightly.

  “You are right in your guess at a demon. The other half of me is basilisk. So you would be wise to watch your thoughts. You have nothing to fear just yet. Ember is fair, though I do sometimes think she is often too fair. She will spare you your life, to start with at least. If you are of worth to her,” Jaxe’s voice broke through the silence causing both Ash and Blaze to jump slightly.

  Ash felt anger wash through him, this hybrid had reached into their mind with some power that meant they had not felt him. He had invaded their private thoughts without their permission.

  “You have no right reaching into our minds,” Ash snapped, ignoring the warning glare that came from Blaze. He regretted his words instantly when Jaxe stopped, spinning round to face him, his hand resting dangerously on the top of the hilt of his sword.

  “Don’t look him in the eye, Ash. He has basilisk blood in him. He can kill you with just a look.” Blaze cried out, no longer hiding his voice. What was the point, the hybrid had just shown he clearly had no care for privacy.

  Ash reluctantly dropped his gaze, hating that he could not look his enemy in the eyes, but he wasn’t quite ready to die just yet. It would have been a wasted journey if he fell at the last hurdle all because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Ash felt Jaxe step into his personal space, he could feel the heated gaze of the monster boring into him, yet he wouldn’t give him what he wanted. He wouldn’t look up at him.

  “I have every right to plant myself into your mind dragon. You are a great enemy to us, your race has brought us nothing but pain and suffering. The only reason you still breathe is because I don’t want to encounter Ember’s wrath for killing you and not giving her the joy of slaying a dragon. Nothing of you is private here dragon born. You are ours now. You have stepped into the land of the forgotten. You are our prisoners until our leader decides what it is she is going to do to you,” Jaxe snarled, spit from his words landing on Ash’s face, yet Ash still refused to meet his deadly gaze.

  “Now move, I am hungry and I would be interested to see if dragon meat is on the menu tonight.”

  Ash said nothing more as they continued their path. He didn’t even dare take a glance to his side. He could feel Blaze’s glare burning right to his soul. He had nearly got them both killed by opening his mouth. Maybe he should take a vow of silence the entire time they were in Caspa and just let Blaze speak. He was the more sensible one out of the two of them. The sudden noise of voices caused Ash to snap out of his musings as he lifted his gaze from the ground to take in the scene in front of them.

  It wasn’t what he was expecting, although if he was honest with himself, he wasn’t completely sure what he was expecting from Caspa. The forgotten had no money, nor the means to build a vibrant settlement like the home Ash called in Ustrina. He guessed they wouldn’t want to be noticed either, and he didn’t blame them for that.

  As Jaxe lead them through the village, for that was what Ash called it, he allowed his mind to wonder back to his findings in the manuscript he had been given, but no longer had. Watching the habitants of Caspa go about their day. Children playing, older ones learning to fight, Ash realised that their very world could and would once more be destroyed if he didn’t get the help he so desperately needed from this Ember. It was clear they were ready for a war should it come to them, and Ash wondered just how long they had been preparing for? They really were fighting to survive every day, not knowing if or when they would be found.

  Jaxe suddenly came to a halt, Ash finding himself almost crashing into the back of the hybrid. If it hadn’t been for Blaze grabbing him, he would have no doubt angered the beast even more. Blaze simply shot him a confused look, he was clearly wondering why they had stopped just as Ash was. There was so much he needed to speak with Blaze about and he couldn’t wait for them to be alone to talk even though he knew damn well that it would likely never be safe for them to talk privately while they were in Caspa.

  “You will wait here until I call you in. Run, and you will be killed. I have given everyone permission to slay you should you try to escape,” Jaxe snapped.

  Ash didn’t have a chance to reply, to say that they had no intention of running having come this far. He watched as Jaxe disappeared into an open door of one of the larger huts, leaving him and Blaze very much exposed to the people of Caspa, people who hated dragons.

  Chapter 22

  “Ember, will you stop pacing please?” Obe fired as she moved back and forth the width of the hut. She had received a call from Jaxe into her thoughts, that two dragons had stepped into Caspa’s lands. Dragons! Dragons hadn’t been near them for decades and now two of them were on their way to her. Spinning round to meet Obe’s annoyed gaze, she tried hard to hide the fear in her voice.

  “I need Morgan here. He should be with us. He would know what to do,” Ember said, her own eyes blazing with a flame of emotions.

  “Both me and Jaxe are capable of protecting you and advising you with these dragons,” Obe bristled, causing Ember to feel guilty instantly for the way her words would have sounded.

  She stopped the pacing she had started once more and walked over to Obe, placing her hands on his forearms, leaning in to brush her lips against his. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound like I don’t value you or Jaxe. I do so much, but Morgan is the oldest of us all. He knows more about the dragons than we do, Obe. None of us has ever seen a dragon, let alone spoken to one. And why are they here? How did they find us? How many more know we are here? How safe are we now?” Ember fired at her love, the questions pouring out before she could stop them. She felt herself panic, not caring for her safety but all those who depended on her protection.

  Obe shaking her was the only thing that brought her from her panicked state. Those soft eyes of his locking with hers soothing her soul.

  “Ember, stop. You can’t let yourself get like this. You are our leader. Our strength, our heart and our soul. All of us are protected by the power you wield, and no dragon is any match to you. You will receive the two vermin that have been brought to us, and we will deal with whatever they have to say together,” Obe soothed.

  Ember smiled, kissing him once more before straightening up as she sensed Jaxe approaching. Obe was right, she couldn’t show weakness, and she would have the support of Jaxe and Obe, and Morgan deep in her soul. She was safe. Jaxe stepped through the open door and the fact that he was alone caused Ember to frown.

  “Where are they?” she demanded, ignoring the glare Jaxe shot her. She didn’t care how harsh she sounded. She wanted to see the prisoners.

  “They are outside. Two of them, both young dragons. Ember, I believe that one of them is the prince of Ustrina. He smells of royalty,” Jaxe replied coolly.

  Ember felt Obe glance her, but she ignored him. The prince of dragons was in Caspa. Why?

  “Bring them in,” she ordered, resting her hand on the hilt of her sword. Obe doing the same.

  Jaxe disappeared, returning moments later with the two dragon born. Ember had to stop herself from gasping out loud. They were not what she expected them to be. Both stood a little taller than Obe, but shorter than Jaxe. They were strong, that was obvious, but they were built for speed more than strength. The shorter of the two had long fire red hair, violet eyes the trademark colour of a dragon. His eyes swept over her quickly, but not in a lustful way. No, Ember was pleased to see the very real fear held in the redhead’s eyes. Fear and respect. They were both clad in dull rags, neither lookin
g like royalty, and neither carrying weapons. Not that they needed to. They were dragons, the most powerful race. They didn’t need material weapons to survive.

  Ember allowed herself to glance at the taller of the two. Long blonde hair that looked almost silver, brushed past his shoulders as it fell out of a messy plait, pulled back and tied with a strip of rag. His eyes were more of a vibrant violet than his friend’s. There was a single jewelled ring on his right index finger. The crest of Ustrina clearly embodied on the metal. The was the prince, even if he didn’t look like one in that moment.

  As their eyes met Ember felt her heart skip slightly. A rush of heat seeped through her, teasing feelings that were only ever meant for Obe. Mentally shaking herself from these thoughts, she forced herself to break the gaze of the deliciously mysterious dragon prince. Wanting nothing more than to have some alone time with him, to find out a lot more about him.

  “Stop it Ember. You cannot befriend the enemy,” she cursed herself mentally, before addressing the two dragons in front of her.

  “Why are you here?” Dragons have never set foot in Caspa. No one has. No one knows where we are. So how did you find us, dragon prince? And why did you find us?” Ember demanded. A few moments of silence followed. The redhead dragon wouldn’t meet her gaze. Nor would he speak. She noticed him glance over at the prince, clearly expecting him to do all the talking. Jaxe raised his hand striking the prince across the face. His red eyes blazing dangerously.

  “Speak when you are spoken to dragon born,” Jaxe hissed.

  Ember reached out, placing her hand on Jaxe’s arm to calm him. “Leave it, Jaxe.” She reached into his mind, feeling him relax almost instantly at her touch and words. Ember flashed him a smile, before turning a cold glare back onto the dragons.