by Toni Cox
“Is everything all right, Mother?” he asked as he handed her a cup of tea one evening.
She smiled her thanks at him, but did not reply for a long while.
“Your father and I had a disagreement and he left without it being resolved. It leaves me feeling unsettled,” she finally replied before sipping her tea.
“I am sorry. I am sure Father will be all right. May I ask what your disagreement was about?”
“Your sister, of course,” Malyn said. “He believes she should be home, married, safe.”
“And you don’t?” Jaik asked, thinking he probably would have agreed with his father had he been part of the conversation.
“No, Jaik.” She looked up and put her hand on his. “Your sister is meant for something bigger. Something we do not yet understand. She cannot achieve this here, cooped up within the city, married to someone she does not love. She needs to be free to find herself, but your father cannot see that.”
Jaik put his own cup on the table beside him, a deep frown furrowing his forehead. A moment ago, he would have agreed with his father, but with one statement, his mother had altered his outlook on the situation.
Of course, she was right. Maia needed to be free, to find herself, come into her power. And had he not said himself that he was glad she was not going to marry Aaron?
Here he was; with the love of his life by his side; about to face the biggest test of his career and to prove himself worthy as future ruler of Grildor. Surely, his sister should have the same opportunity and he knew she would not find it here.
The bit of resentment he had felt about her leaving suddenly left him and he closed his eyes for a moment, searching for their connection. He did not feel her, but, by that alone, he knew her to be safe at this very moment.
“Is she all right, Jaik?” his mother asked.
“I think so, Mother. I have felt her a few times since she left, but nothing of significance. Wherever she is, she is safe.”
“Thank you, Jaik,” Malyn said, then rose, with her cup in her hand, and moved across the common room towards her sleeping quarters without another word.
Jaik stared after his mother until she closed the door behind her, then turned towards the fire and sat thinking until late into the night.
He realised he had been blind; insensitive to many of the things happening around him. His father had taught him the art of war, how to govern, how to lead, yet Jaik now saw there was a lot more to it than merely looking after the city and giving orders to his men.
The nuances, such as recognised by his mother, were as important to understanding how his people felt, which in turn would make it easier for him to lead them. He now fully understood exactly how heavy his father’s burden was and how well his father hid his emotions behind his strict facade.
Jaik would have to work on recognising those nuances and moods within his people and then learn to deal with them without letting the people know how they affected him. His father had thousands of years of practice in this regard and still Jaik could, on occasion, see how the distress of the people affected him.
He rose to pour himself another cup of tea. On most occasions, his father presented a strong, stern leader the people respected and trusted to protect them. Yet, his father did let his feelings show through sometimes and Jaik now guessed that this was why the people adored.
There seemed to be a fundamental difference between simply being a leader and being the father of the realm. Jaik would have to learn that fine balance between stern and lenient, between taking advice and giving orders, and he would have to learn how to listen to the people.
The fact that he had not seen in his sister what his mother saw, made him think he was too self-absorbed, too insensitive to what others were feeling. Especially now that he was to be wed, this was something he could ill afford.
His father would be gone for most of the winter; three Moons at the very least. The city was his and this was his opportunity to prove that he could be as adept a king as his father. He just needed to learn that the small things mattered as much as the larger issues and he knew just who to learn this from.
In the morning, he woke up early and called his mother and Silas into a meeting, along with some of the Commanders. He let everyone know that while his father was away and he was in charge, Malyn and Silas would act as royal advisers to himself. Then, he dismissed the Commanders and sat in a private meeting with his two advisers.
“What has brought this on?” Malyn inquired once they were alone.
“It was something you said to me about Maia last night. It made me realise that I might not be as sensitive to the people’s feelings as I should be if I am to rule Shadow Hall in my father’s stead. I hope you can teach me to listen.”
Malyn nodded. “It is important for a ruler to listen to the peoples’ feelings. I shall strive to teach you everything I know about it, but I want you to know that you already have a sensitive heart and you are being hard on yourself if you think you do not already take feelings into consideration.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“I have always been your father’s adviser,” Silas then said. “He also made it very clear before he left that I will fill this role for you when he is gone. What else is it that you need from me?”
“I would like you to …” he hesitated, “… teach me about Elementals. What you have discovered about Maia is already remarkable in itself, but I now believe it might have more impact on our current situation with the Vampyres than we think.”
“What do you mean, Jaik?” Malyn asked, a worried frown on her face.
“As Silas has told you, from the research he and the other Elders gathered, Maia might just be the most powerful Elemental in existence, which could be the reason why she managed to bring the Humans here without harm. After what you said to me last night, I think she is the solution to our problems. I cannot tell you how yet, but I suddenly feel it deep within myself. I am sure of it. I would like Silas to teach me everything he already knows and I want to be involved in any further research into the matter. If I am right, then we need to find Maia and help her become this being she is meant to be. We are a great nation and, with the warriors of our neighbouring states at our back, we will go into battle, if we must, and we will win yet another battle. But the one thing that will end this war will be Maia, only I don’t think she knows it yet. It is up to us to prepare everything so that when the time comes, we will be here to support her and guide her, and help her finish this once and for all.”
Malyn and Silas started at him and for a moment he worried they thought him mad.
Then, Silas laid a hand on his shoulder. “It is as I have been trying to tell your father for Moons now, but he will not listen. Maia is the key and just because we do not understand it fully, does not make it any less so. I have been talking with Malyn and she agrees with me. Welcome to the fold, Jaik. I think it is time we tell you what we know. Cancel the rest of your meetings for today, for this might take some time. I hope you are ready.”
The icy wind stung his face and he drew his scarf higher up over his nose. He could barely see Commander Hollowdale ahead of him, as the thick clouds prevented any moonlight from filtering through.
Jagaer heard the steady swish of the dragons’ wings alongside him and knew Archer and Boron were flying in formation alongside him.
None of his men had any problems getting used to their dragons and Jagaer was becoming rather fond of Shockwave. He was, and always would be, a horseman, but he had to admit the appeal of a dragon.
They left Thala Yll and flew for a day to reach the next town, Yllar Sil. Only stopping once the next day, they managed to cover over three hundred miles. They would meet with the Lord of Kyber Rock on their third day of journeying and Jagaer became more optimistic about his mission with every passing moment. At this rate, he would be back at Shadow Hall before the spring.
He planned to visit fourteen countries, starting with Galaban. From there, they would trav
el in a circle around Grildor. Halo followed Galaban, then Tandemar and Risen. After that they would head south to Belmonia, Wilstantia and Eiken. Erganor, Sentra Merl and Kis were next on the itinerary, before travelling the western edge of Grildor through Levandor, Serengate and Bron. Their final stop was Oberon.
Jagaer had been to all of these countries before, but not in a long time. Not within the last five hundred years. Trade between them flourished and, in the absence of war, there had been no need for him to travel.
If he had kept in closer contact with the nations that belonged to the alliance, maybe they would have come to his aid sooner. Frustrated, he shook his head. There was no point speculating about something he could do nothing about. Even those countries that did not belong to the nations of Grildor were now aware of the threat the Vampyres posed, thanks not only to the Sirens spreading the word, but because the Vampyres had infiltrated those countries as well.
Jagaer’s stomach swooped as Shockwave suddenly dropped lower and he noticed faint lights below. Evandeor signalled and, without having to give Shockwave any commands, the dragon accelerated to come level with Silverwing.
“We are staying in the small village of Ulyster tonight.” The Commander pointed below them as the dragons circled. “There is a guesthouse about three miles from the town that rests on the slope of a small mountain. It is perfect for the dragons to roost for the night. I have sent one of my men ahead to warn them of our approach, as the Lord of the town requested us not to startle its folk with our dragons. Keep an eye out for a waving torch. That will be our signal to approach.”
Jagaer nodded. They had discussed the difficulties about travelling with such a large contingent of dragons. With Jagaer, they were thirty from Shadow Hall, plus twenty-one from Thala Yll. He guessed that most people would have an issue with fifty-one dragons landing in their back gardens.
They circled a few more minutes before a shout went up from one of Evandeor’s men and Jagaer could just make out the flickering of a torch on the ground to their left. Evandeor gave the command to bank and, as one, the battalion of dragons turned and dropped lower, following Silverwing in a steep dive.
Flying a dragon was the easy part; landing one was a completely different matter. Hanging on to the broad leather strap on Shockwave’s saddle, Jagaer prepared himself for the heavy animal to touch ground.
Flapping his wings rapidly, Shockwave brought his hind legs down with a thud that sent shock waves right through Jagaer’s body. Then, the dragon brought his forelegs to the ground and, still flapping his wings, galloped along for about fifty paces before he had decelerated enough to bring himself to a standstill.
Shockwave snorted loudly, shook out his wings before folding them and then settled for Jagaer to dismount. Jagaer swung his right leg over the saddle and climbed down the three leather loops that hung from the saddle for dismounting. Once on the ground, he patted Shockwave on his rough neck.
“Thank you, my friend.”
The dragon clacked and looked at him. Darkness transformed Shockwave’s eyes into liquid tar and Jagaer wished he knew what the animal was thinking.
“I will take him from here, My Lord,” one of Evandeor’s men said behind him and waited for Jagaer to hand him the reins. “I will bring My Lord’s luggage as soon as I have seen to the dragon.”
Jagaer inclined his head in thanks, and strode towards the Commander.
“That is the inn over there,” Evandeor said, pointing to a modest homestead nestled between trees against the cliff of a low mountain. “The men will see to our dragons and then bring what belongings we need for the night. Come, let us have some mead.”
As the two leaders moved off, Archer and Boron fell into step behind them. The cold evening wind wound its way into their jackets and they pulled them tighter as they walked the hundred-odd paces towards the inn. The glow from the lanterns through the windows beckoned them and Jagaer suddenly wished for nothing more than mulled wine.
“Oompf.” The sound whooshed out of Jagaer’s lungs as something heavy dropped down from the roof of the guesthouse and landed on top of him.
All around him, chaos erupted as he struggled to dislodge the Vampyre that had now attached himself to his back and tried to stick a knife in his throat. Having overcome his initial surprise, Jagaer fought him off, wrestling the knife out of his hand and then throwing the Vampyre to the ground.
Next to him, Evandeor did battle with two Vampyres, and Archer and Boron were equally beleaguered. The dragons clacked frantically in the distance and Jagaer noticed the rest of the men running towards them, swords at the ready.
Not thinking twice, Jagaer slit the Vampyre’s throat and moved on to the next. More kept jumping from the roof of the inn, but the rest of the men had reached them now and the area in front of the inn turned into a battleground.
Swinging his own blade, Jagaer dispatched two more, before Archer took him by the elbow and ushered him into the guesthouse.
“Inside, My Lord,” the Guard said and pulled him through the door before shutting it with a bang.
Frustrated at being removed the fight, Jagaer looked through the window. He gave Archer the instruction to pull him away from any fighting before he had managed to speak to all the Lords he wanted to see. Nevertheless, it now irked him that he hid behind closed doors while his men fought on.
Something thudded against the wall of the inn just below the window, causing Jagaer to reach for his sword again. He squinted through the thick glass into the darkness outside, but the fight was already over.
At least ten dragons; including Shockwave; swarmed the courtyard, squashing what remained of the Vampyres with what looked like glee on their faces, if dragons were capable of such expressions.
Commander Hollowdale stood firmly in the middle, giving orders, and his men brought the dragons back under control. With goosebumps rising on his skin, Jagaer realised that not all Vampyres would be offered the dignity of being burned with all their body parts.
“I didn’t know the dragons ate Vampyre meat,” he said to Evandeor when the Commander joined him inside the inn afterwards.
“They do not enjoy it,” Evandeor replied. “As far as we can tell, it is more like a ritual to prove the dragons’ dominance over their enemy. They will only take a bite. Never more.”
“Where did these come from and how did we not know they were waiting for us?” Jagaer demanded.
“It was a group of eighteen. Common warriors, not Generals. We believe they were hiding in the hay barn around the back. My Second in Command is questioning the Innkeeper now to find out if he knows anything or if he had anything to do with it. This group was either very lucky to be in the right place at the right time, or they knew we were coming. I believe it to be the latter, as they singled you out. You were definitely the target.”
“Yes, I agree. The Vampyres did not show themselves until I was within their reach.” Jagaer stared out of the window for a moment, collecting his thoughts. “I believe they are well informed and our mission is compromised. We will need to be more careful. I want you to change our itinerary. It seems we can trust no one and there are still traitors in our midst. We shall visit Halo first and only then move on to Galaban. No more guesthouses. Unless we’re in the cities, we will sleep under the stars. Tell your men not to speak to anyone in the cities and only make arrangements with the Commanders of the Guard of the Lord we are visiting. Our future depends on the success of this mission and we cannot let anything jeopardise it.”
For days, their Regiment travelled up and down the forest edge. Rothea hoped to find some clue as to what Maia might be doing in the dark forest and they would camp for a night or two along the treeline for Rothea’s men to investigate the area.
Each area yielded no results and they moved on. Wolf often was their biggest asset, as in places only he could penetrate the thick undergrowth to gain access to the forest. Rothea had given him an item of Maia’s clothing to smell, but Aaron thought the wolf would have looke
d for Maia even without the encouragement.
After over a fortnight, Rothea brought them back to the place where they first saw Maia exit the forest to meet up with Midnight. They had investigated this area twice already and, although this proved to be the most likely route, Rothea was hesitant to travel the path.
“The smell of Vampyre still lingers here,” she said when he asked her why. “I can feel the fear and pain this path has seen and I am reluctant to admit that Maia chose it. We have wasted enough time. Tomorrow morning, we will break camp and travel this road to see where it leads us.”
The next morning they saddled their horses and loaded their supplies, and Rothea led them into the dark forest. Everyone had known the time would come, yet no one was prepared for it when it happened. The moment their group had all entered and were walking along the path, the forest closed in around them, blocking the entrance from view. No sunlight filtered through the canopy and Rothea ordered the torches to be lit.
The only factor that kept Aaron from turning back, and he thought it kept everyone else from turning back, too, was the fact that the animals walked on as if nothing had changed. Wolf ran ahead with his tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth and investigated every bush he trotted past. The horses walked at a steady pace, their heads bobbing calmly, their ears relaxed.
“I wonder why this forest affects us so,” Rothea mused beside him. “I feel as if we are watched from all sides by something more malevolent than I have ever come across, yet Wolf shows no sign of there being anything untoward out there.”
“My senses are not as sensitive as yours,” Aaron said, “but even I feel as if we are being watched. Are you sure it is safe to ride through here?”
“I have never met anyone who has travelled through this forest, so I cannot tell you what it holds. I do know that the Vampyres travelled through here and that Maia has taken this path as well. There may be unexplained forces out there that do not want us to travel in the dark forest, but that does not mean this road leads to nowhere. We shall follow it. Wolf will know if Maia stepped off the path at any point and then so shall we.”