“This is true,” Isalora affirms. “Moyer and her army of fiends will wait until the perfect opportunity.”
Isalora gets up from kneeling beside Chad and walks to me, still holding the key. “Might I remind you, Redmae is the key to keeping the Dire Wolves Solstice alive…. Wynter alive, for that matter. Wynter and Redmae need each other for their next stage. They are to journey together. We haven’t any other choice.” She gives a mischievous grin. “Besides, Moyer—rather Sarmira—has no idea what I can do. With your help, I can take on a large army such as the Shadow Walkers. What we must be watchful for is when the moon is at its full stage. It’s then the portal will open to the other worlds. And that is when the gatekeepers must be at their highest awareness.”
She gives a slight huff of annoyance. “This first moon phase is only the beginning to the wrath that will arise. We must stop it tomorrow night, or it will be much harder for Wynter and yourselves when the eclipse begins at the end of the month.”
“Are you implying Ladorielle will be fighting their own war?” I ask, realizing the importance of the situation.
“We didn’t anticipate one of our party members would go missing, and I realize this put a huge burden on us, but we have to get her back,” Isalora adds.
Zak steps up. “What’s our first move?”
“We must find Rory.” Isalora turns around to face him. “We wait, until tomorrow.” She looks down at both Chad and Blair. “You two need your rest.”
“What about the children?” I ask.
Isalora smiles. “Yes, the children. I’ll be sending them through the portal to a place where they will be safe.”
“Geneviève’s Ranch?” I ask.
“No. Someplace else. A place where no one will expect them to be.”
“Which is…”
“Which is for me to know. If I don’t tell you, then should our battle tomorrow evening go awry, Moyer won’t find them. Come on, all of you out.”
We do as she instructs, leaving Chad and Blair to rest and shut the bedroom door behind us.
Isalora glides to the fireplace and checks on her boiling brew. “Obviously, we need to find Rory,” she begins once more. “Rory has the antidote to bring Redmae back from the darkness. It won’t cure her, but at least she will not lose who she is while remaining in her wolf form. The antidote will at least keep her human form, so she won’t scout around as a wolf between each moons. But it’s not a permanent solution. She must seek out a cure before the Wolf Moon next year. At any rate, we focus on the task at hand, find Rory, and give Redmae her temporary cure. We get that done, and we’ll be set for the Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse at the end of the month.”
“Where do you suppose we look, in these catacombs?” Thom asks.
“Thom is right,” Zak cuts in, “Where do we look?”
“Tell me something, Zak. I realize what I’m about to say is going to appear it’s coming out of left field…” I pause, and swallow, collecting my thoughts, and continue, “but how is it you know so much about this mission. Something doesn’t add up for me. I mean, I get you want to bring your sister, Nora, back from the dark side of evil, but what really is your mission here?”
I still can’t get into this Iknes Shaw’s head, and it bothers me to no end. If we’re to go back into the lion’s den, I want details. He’s an Iknes Shaw, not a Royal. Where does he get off knowing such delicate and pertinent information?
Stunned silence accrues around the room.
“Now you listen here—“ Zak starts.
Arryn’s voice cuts in, her tone sharp, “Queen Sara appointed him. Zak, shall I tell them?”
He nods.
“Zak is a knight of the royal guard and has been tasked to bringing not only Nora home, but to make sure Redmae is safely delivered to the Ashengale grounds for the aid in helping Wynter through her trials.”
“Well, aren’t you full of surprises. I knew something was off the day you and I went hunting, but I couldn’t place it because you have this innate ability to hide your thoughts.”
“Sir, I was ordered to keep it quiet,” Zak pleads.
“And yet you dare divulge this now?”
“This isn’t accomplishing anything,” Isalora spats. “We need Red. She’s the one to help Wynter through her trials.”
“I don’t understand, how can Red help?” I say. “Besides, you’re a ghost Isalora, you should be able to locate her on a dime.”
“She’s a descendant of a Silver Dire, as is Rory. The difference is Redmae was attacked by Moyer’s concocted species, infecting her with what most call lycanthropy. The difference between her and say another is her bloodline. Rory can also change to a wolf. She hasn’t the training or knowledge to know how to do it. If she were to be infected by Redmae’s bite, she, too, will hold the curse of a werewolf. We must find the cure before the Wolf Moon next year, but first we must administer the serum to Redmae that Aoes gave Rory as I said before. This arguing isn’t getting us anywhere.”
“Key word,” I begin, “Rory. How are we to get past all the Shadow Walkers?”
Isalora nods. “Like the jewelry many of us Storms wear to protect our minds from Moyer, that serum in the bottle Rory wears around her neck will protect Redmae’s mind. If Moyer discovers what it is, we’re sunk.”
“You still haven’t mentioned how we will be able to pull this off?” My mind reels with impatience. “Chad and my mother are in the other room regenerating. You act as though they will be ready by tomorrow morning, as though what they’ve been through will not affect their abilities.”
“Can we help at all?” Marc interjects.
Isalora smiles. “No, dear. I understand your wanting to help, but you must get Anja, this young boy, and yourself to safety. War is coming. This is no place for innocent children such as yourselves.”
“Will Redmae know who Rory is, should we be successful?” I interrupt.
“That is the hope, yes.”
“Hope? You mean you don’t know?”
“Cory, stop worrying. It will get you nowhere. All we can do is our best.” Isalora begins to sound like she, too, is losing her patience.
“And what if our best isn’t good enough?” My question is interrupted by footsteps in the hall. Peering around the corner, Chad says, “I can lead you, but we need our strength first. We will be ready.”
Isalora rushes to Chad’s aid. “You should be in bed.”
“Why, and miss all the fun? I think not.” Chad chuckles. “Ouch, laughing hurts.”
“Then I suggest you do not try, dear brother in-law.” Isalora uses her ghostly body to help support him, and Zak quickly comes to the other side. Chad’s brawny build is strong and beefy next to the both of them, but he’s still weak as a mouse.
I rush past them both to check on Blair. They look like hell, but they’re alive and beginning to regenerate rather well, since removing the cuffs.
“There’s more,” Chad interrupts.
We turn to look at my injured uncle, waiting to hear the next bombshell.
“We overheard Moyer say to burn the library down.”
Isalora giggles as though Chad made a joke.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“That Moyer thinks she can burn down the whole room that houses books, and it would destroy that portal door.”
“Isalora?” Dom asks. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, that door is indestructible for eternity. Unless, of course, you can bring me back to life?”
My eyes widen. “What are you getting at?”
“The day Moyer killed me, I cast a spell.
I nod. “Yes, Sara mentioned it when we reached Storm Castle. She said it was an Immortality Spell, binding you with the spirits.”
Isalora grins. She is reveling in the mystery of this big secret we all now know she’s hiding. “Aye, it is true, I did cast an Immortality Spell, along with an Eternity Spell.”
“What are you getting at, My Lady?” Arryn steps forward.
Her eyes grow big, and I sense Arryn’s heart quicken. It doesn’t worry me, but it does have me curious that Isalora has kept this secret hidden for years.
“By killing me, not only did Sarmira send me to the planes of the undead to live in eternity, but she also set her fate as well. She could no longer cross over to her world, as long as she remained in Moyer’s body. To this day, she hasn’t a clue why. Once she’s released and consumes another host, she will be free to roam other realms as before. But there’s more. It also means that door will never open to anyone bound by evil, nor will it ever be destroyed.”
“So, are you saying, she can burn anything around that door, or dig the biggest hole hoping it would drop and be buried, but nothing will remove it from its present placement?” Arryn asks.
Isalora turns to look at her. “Precisely. It would be like looking at a door, standing all alone, without any support around the frame, adhered in place.”
My mother begins to add, “When Moyer captured us, I think she figured out it was a portal hub. I think she thought this was her chance to get into the Hall of Secrets.
Blair shakes her head. “Yes, she was with Cole and the others, helping to apprehend us. After we were thrown into the cells, along with the other children, we soon discovered that Marc was still alive.”
“What do you propose we do?” Arryn interjects. “How do we get Rory back?”
Isalora turns, facing Arryn and then to the rest of us. “We prepare for war. Tomorrow, right before dusk, before the rise of the full moon, we will set to get Rory back. Tonight, we rest up. It will give Chad and Blair a full day to regenerate. We could use the added help in our fight. They should be ready by tomorrow evening.” She looks to them both. “Will you not?”
“Yes, I will be ready,” Chad replies
“Me too,” Blair says, “but going at dusk will be a huge risk.”
“Going at any hour will be, dear,” Isalora counters. “At least at your full strength, we will all be better equipped to defend ourselves. We get Rory, get Red, and get out.”
Chapter 36
Wynter Storm
Present Day:
Underground Valley on Dragonscale Island
It isn’t long before we reach the walls of my new destination. I look out, and all I see is endless water, yet moments later, as though we have passed an invisible line, what waits in the near distance is a small island, like Garrick said. “This doesn’t look very underground to me,” I say.
“The word is used metaphorically to throw those off who try to discover Dragonscale’s headquarters. Only a select few know of its existence, and when we bring strangers such as you, normally you’re blindfolded or put to sleep,” Namari says.
“And so, why haven’t I been shielded to its presence?”
“You’re the heir.”
“Right.”
I look down to see both Garrick and Dad resting. Their injuries now healed. It prompts the memory of the first night that Aunt Fran, Dad, and I were huddled around the dining room table back at our little house in Washington. Finding out about Aunt Fran’s healing abilities was a shock to say the least. I understand now that dragons have an innate ability to heal themselves.
The ship slows its pace, and we come to an abrupt halt. A foghorn sounds, announcing our arrival.
“Glad you made it back safely,” one mariner says, as he ties one end of the boat.
Hearing others’ thoughts flowing through my mind is going to take some getting used to.
“Did anyone see you?” He runs to the other end and anchors down the backend of the vessel.
“Yes, quite a few actually,” Duncan says.
“To here? Are you mad, sir?”
“No, no. I mean they followed to the port, before leaving through the waterfall. We were not followed to here. I assure you that we’re safe. Lady Francesca took care of the trackers, allowing us to flee.”
“Is the ship secure?” Dad cuts in.
I wasn’t aware he’d woken. I turn to see Garrick is alive as well, both of them looking as though they’d never been in battle. He turns is head to me and smiles. “My Lady, you may get down now, off Namari’s back. You’re safe.”
I slide down onto the deck floor and follow the rest of the ship’s crew to the dock. The island looks like I’ve come to an Alaskan port except there isn’t any snow. Housing sheds are scattered strategically about, each holding a boat of some sort, and at the end of the pier is a building I imagine is the tackle and fishing center.
“Did any of them appear to be imposters?” I overhear one shifter ask, as he hurries in front.
“Imposters?” I ask. I receive a stern glance from dad, as though I’m interrupting.
“No. I was able to see into each of their souls. We are good. But there is one,” Duncan says.
“Tell me, please?” the man asks.
“This person had something protecting them. I couldn’t break through his mind.”
“That means only one thing.”
“What do you mean? What’s going on?” I interrupt. Again, I’m feeling out of the loop.
The man, Garrick, Duncan, and Dad turn to me with stern looks.
“It means we have a mole in Ashengale,” Dad answers.
I follow them down a corridor to solid steel doors. It feels like I’m in a completely new world. Florescent lighting above, walls made of concrete, and the floors have white tile. “Where are we going now, a hospital asylum?”
Duncan snickers with a snort. “A what? No, it’s the headquarters where Dragonscale conducts his daily business,” Garrick answers. Dad remains silent.
The doors open automatically. Greeting us is my grandfather, Ian. “We’re you seen or followed?”
“No Sire,” Garrick answers.
Odd. Why would he ask a silly question as that? He showed me earlier he knows all and can see the future.
My grandfather gives me a glance as though he reads my thoughts. “Are you sure?” he counters.
He knows something but isn’t leading on. Is this a test?
Grandfather winks at me. “My dear,” he begins, “it is good to see you again. I imagine we’re all hungry. We’ll meet in the dining room.”
“Dining room?”
“Yes, my dear. You do eat, do you not?”
“I didn’t expect such a nonchalant way of stating there was such a place, in such a place as this.”
“Well, many might refer to it as a mess hall, perhaps, but I’ve spruced it up to my liking.” He gestures with his hand. “This way.”
We follow his lead, but I don’t hesitate to ask questions along the way. “How is it possible that Ashengale has come under attack? You said nobody could penetrate through to the island.”
“That’s true. Remember when I spoke earlier that all dragons are born here? Well, their roots are planted, yes, but they still have free will to make choices. Those choices will determine a path of good or evil. Because they are born here, they will always have the chance to change and come home, but if their true meaning of integrity is revealed, they will not be able to penetrate these walls.”
I don’t understand. This doesn’t make any sense. You’re either evil or not. Good or not.”
“Ah, but see, now there is where you’re slightly misguided. You can be imprudent having good intentions, but still doing something wrong. Like stealing, for example. Someone might steal because it’s an act of survival. Doesn’t mean they, themselves, are a bad person, it means they have made a bad choice.”
“So, you’re saying it’s okay to steal?
“Of course not. I’m saying people make poor choices. In this case, our people—dragon shifters—have made decisions that have impacted them and their lives, and they feel that they have nowhere to go.”
“What are you saying, Grandfather? What does that have to do with us coming under attack?”
He stops before we pass through the last set of doors, smiles, and reaches his arm around my shoulders, giving me a hug
e hug. “Let’s go inside and make our way to the dining room, shall we? I’ll explain it all to you then.”
We cross the threshold to a large, open room. Paintings hang on the wood paneled walls. The craftsmanship is amazing with each outlined in detail. The ceilings are carved in the same nature with crystal chandeliers hanging every few feet apart. One minute I’m in a military setting with concrete walls and fluorescent lighting, and the next I’m surrounded by an extravagant dining hall. I can’t keep up. There is even a grand fireplace you would see in an old-world mansion putting out flames to warm the room. The mantle has to be at least eight feet high.
In the center of this grand space is a dining table so large that it could easily fit fifty people. Smaller tables are set off to the side and strategically placed throughout the rest of the area. The tabletop is already decked out with fruits, vegetables, and deli meats. Servants finish up placing dinnerware around the massive table. Some guests are already comfortably chatting amongst their neighbors when their attention is grabbed, and they all turn to see us walk through the doors. The group stands, bowing their heads.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” my grandfather proudly announces, “my granddaughter, Princess Wyndreana Storm, House of Storm.” I wince at the name.
He pauses, giving a proud smile, and bows as he gestures for me to be seated, saying, “And the future Queen of Ladorielle and its Realm.”
The guests raise their glasses and say, “Cheers, long live the Queen.”
I feel my face flush crimson, as one servant pulls my chair next to Ian’s at the head of the table. On the other side of his seat is my grandmother, Eleena. Giving a wink, she says, “Good to see you again, my dear.”
My mind clouds over thinking that we shouldn’t be sitting here, eating and enjoying ourselves, when so many are now fighting to the death to save the kingdom. We should be out there fighting, too.
The rest of my escorting troops trail behind Ian and take their place around the table.
Before all are seated, Ian raises his goblet. “May we have strength, courage, and wisdom to bring an end to our dark past…where peace will once again flow throughout our world.”
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