The Dragon's Heart

by David Powers King

  The castle wall to the east was gone. The upper half of a giant lay battered among the stony rubble, stretched across the grounds with its leg dangling into the moat.

  “How awful,” Tamsyn whispered.

  “Excuse me.” Celesia guided Hilander to a makeshift shelter. They approached a woman, dressed as though she worked in the kitchens. “Are you alright?”

  “You’re the first to ask me,” she answered. “No, not since these brutes invaded our kingdom!”

  “I never knew giants were real until now.”

  “Neither did us,” the woman said with tears forming in her eyes. “Or dragons for that matter. They came from the north, behind the mountain range. How much more can we suffer, now that our kingdom is in ruins? The last heir of Trisontia will not last the night!”

  The woman sobbed hysterically as she dashed for the nearest door of the castle’s great hall. The last heir will not last the night? Celesia dismounted and ran for the great hall. Hilander called for her to come back. She ignored him, and passed through a shattered door. The number of men laying on the floor startled her, most of them wounded and grieving for friends who were lost. The largest assemblage of them had gathered by a tarp, pitched at the base of the stairs. She didn’t think about her appearance as she made her way into the throng.

  People glared at her as she weaved around them. She soon saw a young man surrounded by physicians. The face of the wounded man was striking and familiar to her. Once he raised his head to look at her, she knew him as Owen, the Prince of Trisontia. He was eighteen when they first met. Now he looked more mature, and broken. Many bandages were wrapped around his limbs, soaked by his own blood. The solemn look on his face changed into hope as soon as he recognized her.

  “I never thought I’d see you again ...”

  “Who are you?” asked a burly man as he reached for Celesia’s arm. His grasp was tight and harsh. “Are you a spy, come to see if Prince Owen has died?”

  “Enough, Jusin! Leave, so we may speak.”

  “I cannot leave you in good conscience. Who is this girl?” Jusin asked with a snap. “She wears the clothing of Caperholm. If you know her, tell us who she is.”

  Celesia had made an error. The entire land knew of her disappearance. What if somebody recognized her? Owen looked at her eyes, and he seemed to understand what she was thinking, with her gemstone no longer concealed. Owen couldn’t take his eyes away from it.

  “I said leave,” Owen said as he coughed, his voice thin. “How I know this maiden is none of your affair. I will take my knowledge of her to my grave. Go now ... all of you.” As soon as they were alone, the prince called for her to come closer. She did so without saying a word. She knelt by Owen’s head and waited for him to speak. “I’m relieved to see you again ... Princess Celesia. Forgive me, but I know what you’re doing. My father lost his mind in pursuit of what you wear around your neck. You are brave to seek the lost magic.”

  She held the stone. “He had one of these?”

  The prince coughed, in no position to speak.

  “I’m sorry, Owen. Perhaps it’s best if you rest.”

  “No ... Giants and dragons invade us. I was thrown across the moat by a giant after I smote off its foot. As to why they attacked, I know not. It was unprovoked.”

  Celesia saw the men standing around them, holding their gears of war. “Yet your kingdom was armed for a siege? Have you always had an army of this size?”

  “Never,” Owen said with his eyes closed. “Rumors reached us that Bëdoustram is assembling an army. We gathered our own army, in case your kingdom thought to bring us war. We’re the only threat to Bëdoustram. Conquering all of LaVóndia would be effortless without our stronghold to oppose them, and yet these giants have wreaked havoc on us. We stood no chance.”

  “Who led them?” Celesia asked.

  “A dragon—a black dragon led them.”

  Celesia stood over the prince in disbelief.

  No—Flint wouldn’t ... “A black dragon?”

  “Two of them ... I’m sure it was two.” Owen recoiled from the pain of his wounds. “The first cast its fire on the village and the castle. I tried to strike it with my bow, but then the giants came. They were unstoppable. When those beasts entered the castle walls, a second dragon appeared, and he fought with the giants. The monster killed a few, and he swallowed many fires to put them out. Then that same dragon fought with the first, and they crashed into the sea. Neither of them resurfaced. We wouldn’t have lasted through twilight without the help of that second dragon, but why would a dragon start a battle to have another ... amend it?”

  Flint fought another dragon? I hope he’s okay ...

  Celesia took Owen’s hand into her own.

  “My father believed in the Royal Magical Family,” Owen continued, his voice growing so faint that Celesia had to lean close to hear. “His jewel was smaller than yours. It took over his mind, so he disposed of it at the gaping mouth of the badlands, where the giants and the dragons dwell. Once he was rid of it, he became mad.”

  “The badlands? Is that where I can find it?”

  The prince nodded, and fell back in bed.

  “Where can I find the badlands?”

  “A valley between the mountainous ridge ...” Owen’s breath was stealing more and more with each second. “I’m so glad to see your face before I leave this world. You were always beautiful to me. Why you pushed me from your balcony, I will never understand, will I?”

  “It’s not your fault. I never thought ill of you.”

  “Then I may die with ease.” Owen smiled. “Listen to me. To find that fragment, you must look beyond the geysers. Save LaVóndia from the Alchemist’s curse. He could be anywhere. Trust no one but yourself. Look to the mouth of the badlands. Look to ... the mouth ...”

  The last heir of Trisontia surrendered his breath.

  ˙ ˚ ˚ ˚ ˙

  Celesia watched the prince’s hand fall to the floor. A wave of turmoil suddenly clawed through her whole body as tears welled to her eyes. Owen’s displays of affection when he courted her returned to her mind, his smile when she came into view, and how she enjoyed his company. With his death, the curse no longer clung to her. Had there been no curse, Celesia could’ve loved him. No one would’ve suffered otherwise. She stood, trying to mask her tears as she withdrew to the hall.

  She mourned him, as one mourns a first love.

  “Celesia!” Hilander cried. He and Tamsyn trotted to her. The stallion’s voice caused several men to raise their heads. “People speak rumors of you. We must go!”

  “Stop that girl!” called Jusin. “Don’t let her escape. She’s the Princess of Bëdoustram!”

  “Too late!” Tamsyn whinnied. “Hurry!”

  Celesia jumped onto Hilander’s back and held onto his mane as they raced through an enormous iron gate, before it crashed behind them. They then ran across the muddied moat and entered the smoldering village. This was no place for them to stay. They had to keep riding into dawn. They would reach the badlands by then. The last fragment was only half a day’s journey away.

  No one bothered to pursue them once they reached the edge of the village. Celesia sighed with relief. Then, an unseen line, tied between two trees, suddenly crossed their path. The horses had no warning. Celesia flew into the air and landed hard on a tuft of grass. Tamsyn and Hilander tumbled to a stop. A cruel laugh sounded from behind a boulder—an arrogant laugh that Celesia knew too well. She withdrew her dagger, and waited.

  “Beautiful as a mink, yet brutal as a tiger.” He drew his sword from his scabbard. “I may go as far as to say, slippery as a serpent—no matter. I have found you.”

  “Dálcort?!” Celesia backed into the road, holding her dagger high enough to protect the startled horses from him. “The innkeeper said you were dead.”

  The prince walked forward, staring with a fixed glare. “As you may have wished, but fate and fortune decided different.” He smiled. “How interesting, you are more of an
equestrienne than you led me to believe, for that wild stallion will let you ride him without objection.”

  “This can’t be happening,” Celesia continued. “That drink—they said it was poisoned.”

  “Luckily for me, it was a sleeping draft.”

  Celesia shook her head. “How did you find us?”

  “Must you really ask me that question? I am the most skilled tracker alive.” Dálcort took another step toward her. “How you made yourself look like that stablehand, I will never know, but your unyielding contempt gave you away. As I sipped that drink, I knew it was you, and you thought me dead!” Dálcort laughed. “Thanks to the thought of me gone, you lowered your guard. It was far easier to track you and your dragon after that.”

  “Enough of your boasting, villain!” Hilander frothed. “I heard enough from you when I first saw you. I have a good reason to stomp you into the ground!”

  Dálcort paused, looking shocked at hearing the horse speak. The prince had something behind his back. “It seems my gift has a mind and a mouth of its own.”

  Tamsyn stood by him. “Stay back, human!”

  “Two of them?” Dálcort replied with an unwelcomed, conniving grin. “Made a wide store of friends, have you, Princess? Amazing the amount of riff raff that can follow a little wandering girl—two talking horses, a fairy and an ogre, but what of your dragon? Where is he? I wager he is swallowing helpless Trisontian orphans?”

  “Leave us now, or else!” Hilander roared.

  Dálcort revealed his hand. “Or else what?”

  In his hand was a small lantern, with a light bouncing frantically inside. Dálcort had captured the tiny fairy.

  He strafed to the left and pointed his long sword at a large mound that was trying to move. Groth was laying on the ground, bound with cords and gagged at the mouth. “It’s high time for an ultimatum, Princess. As you can see, there is no creature that can restrain me, not even you. I will take you back to Bëdoustram where we shall wed. Obey me, or your friends will be made to suffer, and your wedding gown laced with chains.”

  Celesia held her dagger as she looked at her friends. She didn’t know how Prince Dálcort managed to catch Groth or Taika. Hilander and Tamsyn limped because of his skillful trap. He smiled again, a sickening grin of triumph. All she could think of was stalling the prince, holding out hope for Flint to swoop in. Until then, she had to be strong, and tell the prince exactly what was on her mind. “No power on earth will ever make me yield to you,” she said. “My friends will never allow it.”

  “Friends, have you?” Dálcort sneered. “What good are your friends if they are bound by my hand, or cast as prisoners in the dungeons of Bëdoustram?”

  Celesia paused. “What are you talking about?”

  Dálcort stepped up to Groth and placed his blade on his neck. He slid the sharp edge over the ogre’s rough skin, teasing with his life. “I speak of the creatures that you have encountered since your departure. Elves, and an old hag, your beloved handmaiden—your father.”

  Celesia refused to believe him. How did they capture Sarandretta? Who in their right mind would lock up the king? “I can’t believe you. I will never believe you!”

  “Believe it, Princess,” Dálcort said. “The world will change, and it will all start with Bëdoustram. Mavarco the Alchemist will lead us to a new era, the dawn of knowledge over myth, and I will be his steward, and you will be my wife, to rule all of LaVóndia. Resist me, and I will immortalize you like the trophies on my wall!”

  Hilander jumped and charged at Dálcort. The prince leapt high and grabbed Hilander’s mane, and then flung himself onto his back. He pressed his sword against the stallion’s neck. Tamsyn whinnied with fright as Dálcort laughed, his eyes twitching. His laughter changed to a hideous cackling—from amusement to hysterical.

  He’s lost his mind ...

  Celesia understood Dálcort’s intent. It wasn’t simply about marrying her. He desired power above all else. She had no choice. There was nothing she could do. She tried to summon magic from the gemstone, any magic, but it was no use. Dálcort raised his sword, ready to strike a blow that would dispatch Hilander forever.

  “I shall start with this troublesome stallion!”

  “No!” Tamsyn shrieked. “Stop it, please!”

  A loud clink sounded above Dálcort’s head, followed by a strong gust of wind. Dálcort lowered his sword and paused—half of it was missing. A line of smoke rose into the air from the blade’s severed tip. Hilander saw the opportunity to buck Dálcort from his back, and did so without hesitation. The prince flew a few feet into the air and landed hard on a rotted branch, snapping it in two. Celesia looked to the night, touching the familiar wind that could only be made by the wings of a dragon.

  Flint had found them.

  “I will have your head!” Dálcort roared as he jumped to his feet. “Show yourself, lizard!”

  Flint’s voice boomed behind the prince as he flung his tail under his legs. Dálcort landed on his back with a clumsy writhe. “There won’t be much of a fight.”

  “You thieving monster!” The prince threw his fists, but they had no effect on the dragon. “First you steal her, and then force me to chase her through LaVóndia. Now you fight in the shadows like a cowering mole!”

  Fire surrounded the prince. Groth stared at the scene with his hands tied behind his back. Taika’s cage was set on the ground next to his head. Flint stood on the other side of the flames. He reached into the fire and grabbed Dálcort around the waist. The prince cried in surprise as the dragon raised him, holding him close to his face.

  The fire’s glow reflected in his piercing eyes.

  “The only cowering mole I see is you, Dálcort.”

  The prince hissed back, his body shaking. “Why not eat me, dragon? Afraid I will dice you up from inside?”

  “I don’t eat humans. Don’t persuade me to start.”

  “What of all the humans you ate tonight, then?”

  “No!” Celesia cried. “He would never!”

  “Enough of your lies, Dálcort—I was trying to save Trisontia,” Flint said without releasing his prey.

  Dálcort laughed. “Come now, dragon. Tell her the truth. Tell her that you led the giants into the kingdom. Tell her of your schemes and devilish plots!”

  “You’re the one who lies!” Flint tightened his grip. “I don’t know who led the giants. I saw them gather in the badlands, but I know giants never gather by themselves. I waited and watched them, and when they marched for Trisontia, I knew what they were planning to do.”

  Dálcort pushed at the dragon, but he couldn’t escape from his grasp. “And then you did nothing to stop the dragon who was leading them? Some hero you are!”

  “You missed that,” Flint said in his own defense. “I wrestled with the beast in the sky. We fell into the sea together. It froze in the water and sank to the bottom. That thing was a machine, meaning the Alchemist has taken over Bëdoustram.” Flint lowered his claw and stared into the west with unease. “Trisontia is the only realm that could stand against the Alchemist. That hope is crushed now, thanks to you and your master!”

  “You’re right,” Celesia said. “Owen is dead.”

  Flint’s eyes thinned. Anger stirred within them. Thick veins bulged from beneath his scales. Without warning, he threw the prince to a nearby clearing. He bounced on the ground, until his momentum ceased. Celesia ran to Groth and cut his cords. Flint was never this violent. Dálcort rose from the clearing, walking with a stagger. It was hard to tell if he was injured. Flint wrapped his tail around Celesia, the ogre and the horses as he glared at the prince. “Tell your master, if he takes another life or makes war, I will personally draw his last breath.”

  Dálcort laughed as he stood. “The Alchemist is ready for you. So in kind, I make a threat to you—if you ever come near the castle of Bëdoustram, you’re doomed!”

  Without another word, Dálcort turned and limped away as fast as he could.

  Groth clapp
ed the dust from his hands. “That should teach him a lesson.”

  “We’d better go,” Flint said, watching Dálcort’s hasty retreat. “We must find the last fragment before Alkivar gathers more to do his bidding—or hunt us down.” He lowered his face, his brow furrowed with angst. “There is no doubt in my mind anymore. Mavarco is Alkivar. Dálcort called him an Alchemist. You told me Mavarco dabbled in science, Celesia. That’s what the Alchemists called their practice. He used trolls to do his bidding last time, just as the giants did this night. The fragment’s not here either, as I thought it would be. I feel as if this battle was meant to throw us off course.”

  Celesia found the lantern and released Taika from her cage. She was happy to finally be of help.

  “You seem so calm, even after all that,” Flint said. “You’re not concerned, Celesia?”

  “Not anymore, Flint,” Celesia sheathed her dagger and faced the dragon. “I know where to find it.”

  Chapter 21

  Solving the Diaigma

  The next morning was unusually warm for late winter, and the visibility in the air was terrible. There was little snow on the ground, and fewer sources of wood for a fire. A dense fog had rolled in, draping the air with gray.

  The dismal morning brought no comfort to Celesia’s mind. The more she thought about her adventures, the more preoccupied and discouraged she felt. She didn’t see Flint when she woke up, and she didn’t care. People had lost their lives, because she wasn’t fast enough. All because she wanted to be rid of some stupid curse.

  If only we found the fragments sooner ...

  “Might I interest you in a bite to eat before we set off?” Groth seemed careful, like he was receptive of her troubled thoughts. “I’ll whip up a few biscuits, too.”

  “I can’t think of food right now.”

  “You sure? You’ll need your strength.”