by Azalea Moone
“I hope the queen is well,” Kohaku said, nervousness in his every breath.
“I’m sure Taryn is there, fighting his best against that fiend.” Sawyer tried to reassure his lover, yet he wasn’t sure if it was enough. Every inch closer made Kohaku tremble just a little more.
The open valley below them now gave a clear insight into how extreme the situation was. Horses scattered, some with riders scurrying away from the flaming castle. Other animals, too, darted across the valley, cattle and sheep, some led by their herders.
“Damn!” Sawyer gasped, then he spotted it.
The silhouettes of gigantic beasts hovered in the air, close at battle. Their deafening growls protruded the air. There wasn’t just one dragon, but two, warring high above the castle above the flames. They swung their tails and attacked each other’s massive bodies, trying to slay each other.
“Is it Taryn?”
But just then, one beast tumbled to the ground and out of sight in the darkness, leaving just one as the victor.
“No!” Kohaku gripped the side of Malrith’s enormous body.
Sawyer clenched hold of his sword tight, his arm aching. But he could still wield his sword even after the fire agate stone was removed. It’d be difficult to get the hang of it again, but he’d do it for his country.
They flew over the abandoned village toward the castle. There was once a time he’d needed to sneak his way inside—that time when he was thought of as a traitor. But now the gates were wide open, no guards were awaiting him, or villagers for that matter.
Damn it all, their best troops were still marching in Qeoca! If there were a way he could rush them back, he would. Small cabins close to the castle were already razed. The brunt of the attack more prominent from this view. Shusen was on duty to destroy everything.
Malrith dove to the ground next to the castle, landing with a thud beside the other creature—a dragon, sure enough, but who’s?
Sawyer moved quickly, hopping to the ground and dashing toward the beast and the body lying next to him. Just as he feared, laying on the dirt next to the dragon was Taryn.
He knelt beside the bloodied and bruised man. “Taryn? What happened?”
Taryn’s eyes fluttered open, his pupils reflecting the light of the fire. “It was... an ambush. Please.” His arm trembled as he lifted it. “Save the queen.”
Sawyer glanced back at the stone walls, the village encircling the fortress untouched, but the flames raged on at the castle. “I will.”
He left Taryn there, yanked his sword from its scabbard, and dashed toward the stone doors. The guards had fled, thank goodness, leaving the doors open for anyone—not exactly what he’d like to witness during an attack. But Shusen hadn’t need to use the front door, anyway.
“Sawyer!” Kohaku called out to him before he could run inside. “What is—”
“It’s the queen. She’s in terrible danger.”
“Then, I’ll go with you.”
“No!” Sawyer flicked his sword out to the side. “You find Shusen. Use Malrith if you must, but be careful.” He glanced over his shoulder, finding Kohaku standing behind him lips trembling. “I’m trusting you, Kohaku. Be careful.”
“And you, love. Find our queen and bring her to safety.”
The castle doors hung wide open; Sawyer dashed inside, the heat of the fires overwhelming the closer he drew. The roof had already caved in spots, pillars and tapestries blazed fiercely. Yet, the mass of destruction lay further on down the hall... The throne room!
He picked up speed, weaving around the burning hot debris, and found his way to the throne room in the middle of the castle. There was the worst damage of all—the roof was entirely gone with the fire, most likely the first blast Shusen commanded his dragon to make.
Beams lay smoldering on the once pristine tiled floor. The gorgeous tapestries that hung on the wall were now all burned up, scraps of fabric wavering in the breeze all that was left. Only the prized helmets and armor of warrior’s past were left, but they too were scattered across the floor as if there was a raid before the attack.
Sawyer shook away the frightening memories is his past nightmares and called out, “Your highness?”
He listened through the crackling of the ash for his queen’s voice. “Sawyer?”
In the middle of the floor lay piles of beams atop the knocked-over throne, and a dainty hand waving in the air. Damn! He darted towards her, finding her trapped between the rubble. Her eyes were dark and tired, skin pale, body fragile.
“What happened?” He knelt beside her, grasping her hand tight.
“The... attack. I don’t know...” She stuttered.
“I’ll get you out of there!” He picked up a single board, tossing it to the side. The others glowed with ashes around her. When he tried to grab another, he hissed to the pain.
“No. Leave me, Sawyer.” She stopped him before he could try again.
“Ma’am?” What was she saying? Had she lost her mind in all this confusion?
“It’s too late, now. I’m afraid I’ve no energy left in my legs.”
“Then, I’ll carry you.” He dug away at the searing rubble, lifting what he could, wincing to the pain of the embers blazing his skin. “I have to get you out of here.”
“Please, leave me.” She narrowed her brow, then spoke again. “Y-you found the stone?”
Sawyer fought away the swelling in his throat. “We did.”
She smiled at his response. “Very good. Then, my summoner has all he needs. You... Sawyer, shall always be the knight, and Kohaku, the king.”
Sawyer froze at the thought. Kohaku, the king? He couldn’t imagine it at all—Kohaku, a simple being meant to live in the forest and call upon his dragon, was not meant for this life. No, he wasn’t royalty at all.
“What are you saying?” Sawyer swallowed at the thought. Was she giving up already? “No.” He straightened his spine. “I will not let you die like this. You are Anscien’s proper queen!”
“Kohaku,” Taryn called, he was knelt on the ground where he’d fallen.
Kohaku darted towards him. “Yes?”
“You’ve... awoken your dragon at last?” He smiled. “That’s good. Now, I shall ask you to stop this dreadful attack on our castle.”
Kohaku nodded, though he wasn’t sure how. As he turned back toward Malrith, he thought of what he could do. “Can you fight?” he asked his dragon.
“If you command me to.”
“Then fly up and stop that dragon from igniting everything in his path.”
Malrith shifted as he glanced up at the sky at the other dragon’s figure above the flames. “He’s not typical.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s abnormal. Could it be he’s made with different magic than my own?” At those words, Kohaku followed Malrith’s glare up to the dragon hanging high over the castle. Indeed, his appearance was strange like magic. But it didn’t matter. They needed to disable him somehow, and only Malrith could do it.
“Whether or not he is, you must bring him down.”
Malrith nodded. With a whoosh of wind from his massive wings, Malrith took off into the sky and headed toward the other dragon. Kohaku stood and watched a moment until he arrived and fought with his flaming breath. Each strike hit the other dragon’s wings and tail—it’d be a lengthy battle for him.
“You didn’t go with him?” Taryn asked, finally standing up on shaky feet.
Kohaku turned to face him. “He’ll do just fine. I have other necessities to take care of.”
Without waiting for Taryn’s answer, Kohaku gripped his talisman and called upon the dragon’s power. His heavy, red armor made of the scale encased his body and the long sword appeared before him, blade stuck into the dirt at his feet. He heaved the sword out of the ground—strange how he’d once found it too heavy to carry—and held it by its grip without hesitation.
“Ah, so you can still call upon his power while he’s active...” Taryn gasped. “She was
right. Our savior has come. For your queen expected the most from you.”
Savior? “No, I just follow my duties.” Kohaku stomped toward the castle, picking up speed the further he went until he was at a decent jog. Inside the castle doors, he noticed the damage right away.
The fires still ravaged the irreplaceable tapestries and fine furniture collected over the years. It wouldn’t stop him from finding Sawyer. He weaved around the crackling of ashes and avoided the crash from a beam falling to the stone floor.
As he darted past the foyer and toward the first hallway, a glimmer of bluish-green light blocked the way. The ray formed into a gate—a magical beam that stretched out from wall to wall. It sparked and lit the room as something formed between it...
“Shusen,” Kohaku grumbled.
The sorcerer appeared clear as day, surrounded by his magic with his hands outstretched. Kohaku held out his sword, though he wasn’t sure it’d protect him from such malice.
Shusen curled his fingers together, creating strange hand-signs in the air. The orange glow of magic slowly descended into a ball and gathered at his hands. “Shall you fight, young summoner?” he asked, face hidden by the powerful glow of the magic in front of him.
“Shall you attack?” Kohaku readied himself.
Suddenly, the magic dissipated, and Shusen dropped his hands to his sides. But the grin on his lips spoke louder than words.
“Where is it?” Kohaku prompted.
“Perhaps it’s watching you,” Shusen said.
Kohaku caught his breath as he felt the burn of fire striking at his elbow inside the armor. He shook off the pain—there was no flame there—and set his sights back on Shusen. Then, another brush of pain on his leg, but again, there were no flames.
“Enough with this game.” He gripped his sword tight and prepared to rush.
But as he lifted a foot, Shusen held out his hand, a strange yet powerful force held Kohaku in place. “Not yet. Is it not exciting?“
Kohaku tensed his muscles, trying to make them move, but couldn’t.
“Watching the place you love burn to the ground?” Shusen asked. “Imagine, all the lives lost here tonight, with no bloodshed. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Kohaku narrowed his brow. “Who said I ever loved this place? You must have me mistaken for you know nothing of me, sorcerer.”
At the name, Shusen curled his lips and readied another spell of orange magic in the palm of his hands.
“Plucked from my peaceful woodland home, forced to live among the peasants, and be required to learn decency... No. I don’t love this place, I quite detest it. What you’ve done here means nothing to me. Ravage the place, burn it to the ground, I do not care. But the people who’ve died. The lives you’ve taken...” Kohaku swung his sword to block the wayward attack. “Shall be redeemed!”
He thrust his sword just as Shusen plunged another magical attack at him. Flickers of energy encased his body, like lightning zapping the energy from his bones. His entire body caved; the moisture of blood sliding against his armor warmed his skin.
“You’ve one frail point in your armor, summoner,” Shusen snarled weakly.
Kohaku opened his eyes to the sorcerer, barely able to stand. “And you with none.”
Sawyer darted across the hallway as quickly as his legs would carry him. With the heavy body slung across his shoulder, he carried his queen away from the throne room and toward the door in which he came. Hopefully, he’d find Kohaku outside, but if his lover had already gone to fight, he’d want to be there.
As he rounded the last corner, voices struck out among the crackling of the fire. He slowed his pace. Up ahead were two figures he recognized well. Shusen’s black cape, and Kohaku’s red armor... the battle had already begun while he was saving the queen.
For a moment, he thought to holler out for Kohaku, but as he opened his mouth, he stopped.
“Be prepared, summoner. For this war is far from over.” Shusen’s voice echoed through the hallway. Then, as if all life was taken from him, he collapsed to the floor.
Kohaku stood over him, blood dripping from his sword and his armor. His long red hair loosened from its tie and drooping down his shoulders. And a brief realization had come to Sawyer, the dragon summoner he’d dreamed of so many years before... this was that man. This was his dream. The time of war and distraught.
A shiver ran through him.
But Kohaku hadn’t a wicked grin on his lips tonight like all those nightmares before. Instead, he clutched his side and collapsed on his knees.
“Kohaku!” Sawyer dashed up to him. “What happened?”
Kohaku glanced up with weary eyes. “It’s... over?”
“Let’s get you out of here.” Sawyer bent to hold out a hand, keeping his other tightly secured around the queen’s back. “Can you stand?”
“And what of her?” Kohaku motioned as he took Sawyer’s hand, standing on wobbly legs. “Is she...”
“She’s...” Sawyer hadn’t wanted to believe it was true, the queen’s heartbeat had slowed many minutes before. Her breath too shallow. Her body slightly cold underneath his. “Let’s get her outside.”
They both headed for the door. No matter what happened now, they both feared this wasn’t the end of their struggles. Or so what Shushen had said before his passing, if he’d even perished at all.
Sawyer shook that thought away as they stepped outside. Taryn’s figure still there, knelt on the ground and waiting for their return.
Chapter Seventeen
A New King
“Set her down!” Taryn ordered, his face laced with concern and fear.
Sawyer did as commanded, setting the queen softly onto the hard ground. Her body lay motionless, eyes closed, face frozen with no emotion. Her last breath had escaped on his shoulder just as they reached the outside. The last of her heartbeat slowly giving way as she lay there.
“No...” Taryn knelt over her, his hand in hers. “Maker, no. It... This isn’t...”
Kohaku had fallen to his knees beside him. “I’m... We tried, I’m sure.”
“Yes.” Sawyer couldn’t help but keep his attention on Kohaku: glistening eyes and tears dripping down his nose. If only he knew what the queen had told Sawyer in one of her last breaths.
“Kohaku, the king...”
The sound of sobbing took over the dreariness of the crackling fires behind them. Both Taryn and Kohaku clutched onto the queen’s hands; the dragon was gone. Shusen was gone.
Suddenly, Taryn lifted his head and glanced at Kohaku, who still wept silently. “It is true. She’d foreseen this. You, our new king.” Taryn backed away from the queen and bent to the ground in a bow.
“Excuse me?” Kohaku raised his brow.
“She... spoke of this with me, too,” Sawyer admitted.
Kohaku jumped to his feet. “But I’m no monarch. A warrior isn’t built for controlling an entire country.”
“You’re our last hope.” Taryn lifted his head. “Please, Kohaku. Without you, our country is at risk of anything—”
“And what of Sawyer?” At that notion, Sawyer’s skin bubbled with gooseflesh. “Wouldn’t he be a better fit for king? Or you?”
Taryn shook his head, then crawled to Kohaku’s feet. “You must. It was in her wishes and I will make sure they are fulfilled. There’s much to be done now. This war isn’t over. Not for you, nor Anscien, nor the world. And we should be ready with you at the helm.”
Sawyer gripped his sword tight. He’d never expected this day—from nothing but a terrible nightmare to the love of his life, and now a king—for Kohaku to sit on the throne... it was magnificent.
“No worries, my love,” Sawyer said. He cautiously approached and held out his arms. “With me by your side, we’ll win this country over. I guarantee it.”
Kohaku glared at him wide-eyed. “I’m... destined to be king?
Day fifteen,
The memorial service was the saddest thing I’ve ever witnessed. Taryn, Sawyer, and our gua
rds escorted her down the foyer and to her final resting place. Everyone had tears in their eyes, even the dwarfs who came to bid her farewell. And I, I couldn’t stop my whimpering, though it was my duty to remain strong for the people.
Strangely, I hadn’t realized just how much she’d done for Anscien since her commencement. For dwarves had never cared so much, thus I was surprised the see them at the service at all. There were no other summoners but Taryn and me, but even a few mages had attended on their way through the country. Queen Adaline truly was on a duty to correct the dastardly rules of the previous King Herman.
Of the mages and the war, we’ve yet to decide which part we’ll play in it all. In my brief time on the throne, I’ve learned of many types of people, though I don’t understand their ways. A strange and somewhat interesting breed are the drows. Much like elves, their ears are quite pointed but their skin is dark, almost black. I’ve yet to meet one, but perhaps I will one day while I’m traveling the lands. Considering we haven’t taken sides in the war, I intend to visit the mages, too. Hear their stories, learn their ways, and perhaps we shan’t need to take sides at all.
However, if necessary, I am prepared. Though Taryn and I are the only summoners left, I’ve found many possible means to train sorcerers to control their own beasts. It’s something which requires much study, but imagine if we could have an army of summoners once more. Wouldn’t our country be a powerful force?
I plan to travel all over, though I doubt no trip will last too long as I’ve been told I have a duty to the castle. Sawyer’s promise to me before, to move from this dull life and back to my old childhood home in the forest will have to wait a little longer.
“Writing in that thing again?” Sawyer’s voice broke Kohaku from his concentration.
The sounds of the world around him came back again. It’d been fifteen days since their battle with Shusen. Everywhere life was getting back on track. Hammers walloped on wood outside their room as the castle was repaired. The troops’ new job was finding suitable stone to replace the pillars that had fallen. And new tapestries, celebrating Kohaku’s coronation as king, were being sewn immediately.