"A queen does not have time for such things. I will commit myself to the cause of the Caelestans." She held her head high, shaking off the embarrassment she felt at Aronus having read her deepest of thoughts.
"Don't worry, I've heard worse. You humans can be a perverse bunch. Like those soldiers you first encountered..."
"Stop, I do not wish to know anything else."
Aronus shook his head, and sauntered over to the small fire pit he had made for her. "By the way, dragons have a considerable amount of magic. It's just a matter of when and how we are allowed to use it. If humans were ever to get a hold of it, it would be catastrophic. Which is why it is forbidden, except in the case of your sister, Hekla. She is special even if she herself does not believe it."
"What do you mean?" Astrid cut the Toverak meat into smaller portions, and cooked it over the flames while they talked, her stomach grumbling heavily as the smell wafted around her. She took a small chunk and chewed, surprised that it was so flavorful. "A bit tart, but delicious!"
"Yes, well now you know why there aren't many left. Vicious they may be, but their meat is unlike anything your farm animals can produce. You would call it a delicacy."
"I see..." She swallowed. "You were saying, about my sister? She's special and all that?"
"You are all special. Hekla in that she is the first human to be given the opportunity to use dragon magic. It was the Unseen Ones' choice to allow it, but the dragons in our realm were not happy about such a thing."
"Hekla? Hekla is using dragon magic? How?"
"Well, her spirit guide has created a link between Hekla and him. As long as he is near and she has the staff, she will be capable of funneling his magic. If he is killed, or we return to the Dragon Realm, she will no longer have access to it. Though, if she proves herself trustworthy, there's no telling Palladin may do. He may grant her some small amount of it for herself, should she survive to be a queen. There is no doubt that some sort of magic will be needed to rule the kingdom of water. Your lungs were not made for underwater travel. For the Aequorans, much of their life happens under water."
"Oh?" Her curiosity piqued, and she tilted her head slightly.
"No, no. We haven't time to talk about all of that. If you survive to become queen, I will tell you everything you need to know about the other lands. When unity has been fully restored, you may even journey there. For now, you must keep your focus above, on the sky kingdom. Do you understand?"
"I understand that you are the dark cloud in my summer sky. A good story about the other kingdoms is what I need to calm my mind for the best day's rest."
Watching as blood dripped down her hands, Aronus couldn't help but let out a little chuckle.
"I thought hard work was the best aid to sleep. The woman who has just slain one of the most violent beasts in all the land, single-handedly, needs something else to help her sleep. I don't think so. Lay your head and relax. Sleep well. I will watch over you."
Astrid swore the dragon's face beamed with pride. "You know very well, that if you were not my arrows, or did not guide my arrows, I would never have accomplished such a feat alone," she countered.
"I didn't guide them. Your excellent marksmanship is what aided you. I was not allowed to step in. I was only allowed to provide the arrows and nothing more. Have faith in yourself, Astrid."
The eldest of the sisters watched him intently, looking for deception, or false praise, but he stared right back, wide eyed and expectant.
"You're not kidding are you?"
Aronus shook his head. "Not in the least. The Toverak was a test. You passed with flying colors. Whatever happens from here on out, know that you are able to fight. Whether I am here or not."
"Why wouldn't you be here?" Astrid's voice rose an octave, and she suddenly felt her stomach twist into a knot.
"Calm yourself, woman. You must understand, that although dragons do not age as humans do, I am not immortal while in your plane. If I die here, I die. On the astral plain where the other dragons live, I am immortal. Not here." He meandered over to her and took a mouthful of uncooked Toverak meat and munched happily. His little dragon claw piercing through it, and holding up a second chunk as he licked it, blood dripping down his chin. "Yes, nothing quite like it in the whole land. A delicacy to be sure," he said satisfactorily.
"If I ever doubt your beastliness, all I need do is watch you eat."
Staring at her bloody hands, he retorted, "If I were to doubt your humanity, all I would need to do is get a whiff of your stench. Humans smell dreadful." His face contorted in a scowl.
"Are you trying to insult me?" She managed a smile, and having cooked a good stack of meat, began stuffing it in her satchel.
"Not in the least, but it's true. You are disgusted by how I eat, but everything a human does is disgusting. I mean, they truly are dreadful creatures."
"Oh shush!" Astrid playfully threw a pebble at him. "You don't smell so hot yourself," she responded.
"It's about to get a lot worse. Are you done with that?" he motioned to the Toverak.
"Indeed, I am. Have at it," she said graciously. "What's about to get worse?"
She pulled her water pouch out and she poured a small amount over her hands to rinse them off before untying the mat from her rucksack and rolling it out. Astrid kicked rocks and stones out of the way to make a small area where she could curl up for a few hours and get some relief before renewing her ascent.
"I'll see you in a few hours. Please don't let me sleep long, we've already lost so much time, I can't lose anymore."
"Don't worry, human, I won't. Stop worrying and let me eat," Aronus grumbled through blood-flecked teeth.
"You sound like Svana." Astrid chuckled.
She curled up in a ball where the soreness from her bloodied knees and elbows became like a cacophony of pain that pounded her body, as she fell asleep to the loud chomping and slurping of Aronus mowing down the rest of the Toverak she had killed. That ought to make for pleasant dreams, she thought.
Without realizing it, she fell fast asleep and slept soundly, trusting her dragon guide to watch over her and keep her safe.
26
Svana
Sometimes an opportunity arises for you to live a simple life. It is tempting to be sure, to not have as many worries, or as many people depend on you. However, you have to consider the consequences of your choices. If you choose to live a simple life, you have to ask yourself, who's going to suffer for it? Who will you let down? Even if they don't know you, if your path is to help them in any way, but instead you choose to turn your back for your simple life, who is it going to hurt, and is it worth it?
King Michiel the Trusted, Third King of Caelestis, 486 A.V.
When Svana awoke, she sat up, her head still spinning. She gently rubbed her eyes, trying to wipe away the unsettling feeling.
"Good morning, dearie." A kindly woman sat in a chair nearby and immediately stood and walked over to her. She took a damp cloth from a bowl by the bed and used it to rub Svana's head. "How are you feeling? Still dizzy?"
Svana nodded slowly.
"Well, no worry, dearie. Some good soup, and you'll be right as rain." She nodded to another older woman who had been standing against the wall.
The woman spooned something from a large pot into a bowl and brought it over.
"Thank you, Delilah." The first older woman nodded a sweet smile. It was only then that the red-haired beauty was able to take in her surroundings and saw to her dismay that the small room she laid in was packed.
Who are these people? she wondered.
Allies, Lingaria answered her subconscious. His voice made her eyes go wide.
"Are you all right, dearie?" the older woman asked.
"Yes, thank you. Just dizzy is all. Who are all these people?" Svana waved an arm to take in the room.
"Well," she chuckled. "Well, I suppose you could say they're your fans. They protected you when you were knocked out. They just want to make sure that you are
all right. You did a brave thing yesterday, fighting that giant of man. He has terrorized us for too long."
"Who was he?" Svana asked.
"Well, dare I say... one of the king's men. I'm not entirely certain he's from here. Though I'm pretty sure he's not from your land either." The kind woman gave Svana a look up and down.
Svana realized that the woman was noting her red hair and equally bright attire. "Yes, well... I am from the Volcano of Shadows." That caused quite a few gasps within the small room. "Please, do you know where my sword is?" She felt a sudden pit of worry in her stomach.
"Sure, just a moment, dear." The woman left the hovel. A few moments later she returned with Jakobe at her side.
"Glad to see you are doing better." Jakobe stepped into the room, and again the villagers stepped to the side and gave him space. In his hands he gingerly held the sword as if it were made of the most precious metal in the world. "I have to say, this is no normal sword. I could study for ten more lifetimes and still wouldn't be able to craft a blade such as this."
"It was a gift from a kind soul. I can say no more, but I am pleased that he allows me to carry him. You should feel blessed, too, that he lets you handle him." It wasn't her place to say who the dragon should or should not like, but was glad for the blacksmith that Lingaria didn't zap him.
"Perhaps you should stay for a while?" the blacksmith pleaded.
Svana hated to admit that his statement pleased her tremendously.
"Yes, dearie, stay and get your strength up," the older woman who had been tending her chimed in.
"We'd love for you to stay," the one called Delilah said softly.
"That is so kind of you, truly. I wish I could stay, but there's plenty of work where I'm going, work that only I can do," she said with determination.
"Well, at least stay one more night with us?" Jakobe's cerulean eyes were impossible to resist.
Defeated, she nodded her agreement.
You can't take him with you, you know, Lingaria spoke into her subconscious.
"I suppose one more night couldn't hurt." Not as badly as my body hurts, anyhow.
That seemed to please all who were present, and they rewarded her with soft cheers.
"Wonderful! We shall prepare a fabulous meal in your honor!" The two older women beamed with delight.
"Jakobe, I'm off to chat with Percival. We shall have a grand feast this eve!"
"Hurrah!" those in attendance yelled, and just like that, the older woman was shouting orders about what to bring, what to do, and when to meet.
"No, no, I don't want to be any trouble..." Svana tried to interrupt, but no one was listening to her. The next moment they were off, and she was left sitting on the bed, soup in hand, and Jakobe's handsome face watching her.
"Are you going to be all right for tonight?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.
No, I'm never going to be all right again, she thought, returning his stare. "Of course, with the exception that it seems I've been run over by a stampede, I feel fine." She attempted a smile.
Taking that as an invitation she didn't extend, he reached his hand out to her. "Then come along, I've things to show you."
His calloused and rough hand hoisting her up and smiling face was enough to make her forget about her commitment to save Verdil.
Setting down her soup, she allowed him to lead her out of the hovel to his workshop where he began showing her all manner of weapons he had fashioned over the years. He showed her how to forge metal and allowed her to hammer a piece of armor he was working on for one of the king's guards.
Svana appreciated his company, and she appreciated the break in the journey that loomed ever present.
Night had fallen quickly, to her dismay. What was probably hours of her learning how to work metal, only felt like minutes.
"Well, we need to be on our way. You're the guest of honor, so we can't rightly have you miss your own celebration," his soft voice urged her.
"I don't even know what we're celebrating," she said honestly, shrugging her shoulders.
Jakobe put away his tools, and cleaned his hands, never taking his eyes off of her. She had grown used to it by that point, and smiled as he worked.
"Well, I suppose it's not every day that a woman comes to Telluris and beats our strongest champions." His eyes twinkled with his grin.
"So is it the fact that I'm a woman? Or the fact that I beat those oafs?" Her voice set with caution, her jaw hard and face dark.
"Neither, it's because you are you." He finished his work and took her hand, leading her out the door, and back up the road to 'Ye Olde Wayward Lady.'
She made no attempt to remove her fingers from his grasp while they walked in silence. Though, if she admitted to herself, she rather enjoyed the warmth of his fingertips spreading into hers. And while she knew nothing could happen between them, her thoughts still lingered on it. On him. Perhaps after it was all said and done she could come back. If for nothing else, than to see him again.
I have to wonder what your sisters would think of this little parade of yours, Lingaria interrupted her peaceful thoughts.
Svana ignored his remark.
"We're here, are you ready?" Jakobe's voice brought her back to reality.
Svana nodded silently, smiling. When he opened the door, the room became thunderously loud with applause and cheers. She winced from the sound, thinking she should have brought the ear plugs that she had worn in the forge.
"There's the dragon slayer," Percival yelled from the bar. "Yer makin' quite a name for yerself around these parts, lass."
"I certainly hope it's a good one!" she retorted.
Eloise came from behind her and kissed her on the cheek. "Well done, Svana! Well done. Everyone here thinks of you as a hero!"
Eloise continued on her way, grabbing more frothing cups from the counter and delivering them with deft hands, never slowing as she wove her way through the crowd.
Jakobe lifted her hand to his lips and gave it a soft kiss before he was off and running to help move the massive tables so that all in attendance could sit together. She shivered as his lips touched her hand. And she missed the warmth of them when he was gone.
"Now that you're here, I can lock that door. We're about to have a celebration!" Percival said gleefully. He crossed the room and pulled the metal lock into place. "This here is a private party!"
His entire face seemed to light up with the exclamation, and a night of laughing and more mead followed, which she found herself beginning to enjoy, along with the most delicious food she had ever tasted.
Eloise had made more Barinella soup which Jakobe explained to her was a rodent like critter that lived in Telluris.
"They don't have much meat on their bones," Jakobe said.
"Yes, but Eloise makes them taste like a luxury," Percival chimed in.
"If that's luxury, then we've all been without for too long," another man yelled, and everyone laughed.
Delilah had made fresh apple pies, and another woman had made soft rolls that melted like butter in Svana's mouth. She had several bowls of soup, an entire apple pie and half a dozen rolls. Everyone, Jakobe most of all, was flabbergasted at her appetite. After the revelers had eaten their fill, the men moved the large tables out of the way and the tavern filled with the lively music of violins and Citoles.
"Come along, milady," Jakobe reached out his hand and pulled her to the floor.
Svana laughed and tried to fight it. "I've no idea how to dance."
"Nonsense, just do what I do. Don't worry, no one is going to be looking at your feet." He winked at her.
Allowing him to pull her along, they spun as they moved to the beat, working their way from one end of the room to the other, hopping and tapping their feet. More than one man cut in, and by the end of the night, Svana's feet hurt, and she was exhausted from dancing.
"Suppose you're going to need another room?" Eloise prodded, after mostly everyone had left. "Or do you have other accommodations?" Her eyes
wandered to Jakobe whose strong form was working alongside Percival to get the tavern back in order.
"Oh no, Eloise... I couldn't possibly..." Svana stuttered as she followed the kind woman's eyes. "I mean, Jakobe is... he's wonderful. I just.... I can't," Svana finally finished.
"Can't or won't?" Eloise prodded.
"I suppose a combination of both," Svana answered honestly.
Jakobe's comradeship with Percival was easy going. She sensed the two had been friends for a long time, and every so often one of them laughed with hearty tones.
"You know, Svana, you could stay here. I could get you work. Jakobe is... well, he's a good man. He'd make a fine husband one day," Eloise hinted.
"If only," Svana said aloud before she could stop herself. "Eloise, I just can't, and please don't ask why. There is much required of me. While tonight has been wonderful, I've lost a whole day. I must be on my way tomorrow. I must."
It was getting harder to convince herself to leave. Percival and Eloise were such kind people. Different from her sisters, but a welcome different. She could imagine working alongside them, a commoner, but a happy one.
You'd better not follow that line of thought, Lingaria had stayed away for the night, for the most part.
Don't worry, I'm not going to forsake my duties, she retorted.
Jakobe turned around and smiled wide, his eyes glimmering in the lamplight.
"Perhaps Percival and I had better leave you two to talk." Eloise hurried from behind the bar, and grabbed her husband's hand leading him out of the room.
Svana tried to protest, but it was too late.
"Well, you look as if you enjoyed yourself tonight," he crossed the room to her, until they were mere inches apart. "I've never met a woman who could eat as much as me. Well, not one who wasn't as big as me, anyway!" He laughed.
Svana smiled, but her face quickly fell. "Jakobe, I..." She struggled to find the words to say.
"I know. You have to go. I heard what you said." He ran his hands through his dark hair. "Think about coming back. I'll be here. I'll wait."
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