Deelind and The Icefire

by Lance Dempster

  ‘Your whole family?’ said Deelind in horror.

  Princess Lee patted Deelind’s hand soothingly. ‘Yes. My husband, child, sister, brother-in-law and niece were killed in a direct attack on the Tor. He was also responsible for killing my mother. If my half-brother is successful and takes over the world it will be a dark place for all. His heart is black and his future for us all is blacker still.’ The deep pain in Princess Lee’s eyes was clear to see. Deelind swallowed around a lump in her throat.

  ‘Wow,’ Deelind whispered. ‘Are you going to stop him?’

  ‘Taric has to be killed to be stopped but because of magic my mother used to try and stop him harming me when we were children, she inadvertently stopped me being able to harm him. His power has grown too strong for anyone here to stop him, and he grows stronger every day.’

  ‘How do I fit into all this?’ she said. ‘Did something happen to me twelve years ago?’

  ‘I will come to that but first you need to understand more about us, and this is going to take some time,’ said Princess Lee. ‘If you know too much too soon it will put you in more danger.’

  ‘But I need to know more,’ she said, slightly embarrassed to hear herself whining.

  ‘And in time you will know everything. Please trust me. I have hidden this world from humans for a reason, and yet here you are. Let’s allow life to take its own course. You are a featherlite without even knowing about us. This is a big sign that your course is set.’

  ‘What are those black creatures that attacked Gran?’

  ‘They are formed through a melding similar to featherlites, but they are not like you and me. Most dragons and creatures cannot meld. If you force a melding, you can kill both parties. Here everyone calls Taric’s creatures rotvipers because they look like flying snakes and if you get close enough to them, they smell like rotting flesh.

  ‘You will have seen wild dragons flying around Dragon Valley when you met and melded with Zara. Taric was catching them and experimenting on them to force meldings. For many years he failed and instead created repulsive and extremely dangerous creatures that carried the Black Plague. Recently he managed to steal fifteen dragons. After losing at least thirty dragons and humans, he found a way, through black magic, to force a melding and so created rotvipers. I have had to restrict the wild dragons to Dragon Valley. We just cannot let him get any more dragons.

  ‘We think he poisoned the dragons with IceFire for a couple of months before forcing them to meld with humans. By extracting aspects of himself into ghostly skulls he can control both the melding and the creature formed after the melding. Between the IceFire and the skulls used during the melding, the physical attributes of the dragon are retained but the dragon’s soul dies. Part of the process uses dangerous black magical fire which seems to cause their skin to turn black. The human essence of the melding survives. The melding is complete, creating a new creature. These are the black flying creatures you saw the other day, they are more snake- or reptile-like than dragon, but just as big as us featherlites and will kill without thought or care. They are the perfect army Taric needs to execute his plan. When the rotviper changes back into human form they are completely under Taric’s control. This is how he achieves absolute loyalty.’

  ‘Has Blackthorn melded with a dragon?’

  ‘No and I think he is too afraid to try. He would never use the melding force on himself,’ said Princess Lee. ‘I have thought on this often. As a young adult, all the featherlite babies rejected him and some even chose death rather than melding with him. It is why he hates dragons so much.’

  Deelind listened in wonder and some trepidation. There was so much to learn about this new world and some of it was bleak. Her mind kept flitting from question to question, trying to make sense of it all.

  ‘When I first entered the mound, why did the portcullis shut on me?’

  ‘You do have a knack for poor timing. Five minutes later and you would not have been able to get in,’ said Princess Lee. ‘Mug activated a flood alarm when he filled the old water junction. The surging water caused the old junction to cave in. This noise triggered the attack alarm which locks down the mound. That caused quite a stir and certainly tested everyone’s reflexes,’ she said, looking Deelind in the eye.

  Deelind flushed, aware of her part in all the mayhem. Seeing Deelind’s face flush red, Princess Lee gave a small smile, mischief dancing in her eyes.

  ‘Are there magical tunnels in the mound?’ said Deelind.

  ‘That is a strange question but no, there are none. Why do you ask?’ said Princess Lee looking puzzled.

  ‘The first time I went through the castle gate entrance I heard the portcullis close behind me. I had seen the guards and tried to retreat but ended up falling down a hole. The second time when I was carried through on the stretcher, I couldn’t see the hole.’

  ‘The first time, you backed into the space which normally is covered by the portcullis. When the portcullis is closed, it exposes the trapdoor to the sewage vent, and it was this you fell down. The vents have one-way maintenance trapdoors.’

  ‘That explains why I could not find the hole in the ceiling that I fell through.’

  ‘Yes, and they are too heavy to open from inside the tunnel. We don’t want the smell leaking into the mound. When a moler goes into the sewage vent tunnels they have a special tool to keep the doors open.’

  ‘Why did no one come and find me?’

  ‘Apart from Mug and Tom, no one knew you were missing. Moler guards follow their orders to the letter. They report directly to the corporal who was stuck on the other side of the door. It never occurred to them to report to Jack.’

  ‘But one of them could have come looking for me,’ Deelind protested.

  ‘Unless they had gone to Jack, their orders were to never leave their post. Going to Jack would have broken this order. The tool for keeping the vent doors open was on the other side of the castle gate entrance, in the guardhouse.’ Princess Lee must have seen Deelind wrinkle her nose. ‘Yes, not the best place to store them. They are now stored inside next to the portcullis.’

  ‘On the morning that I was waiting to be let into the estate, I saw the mouth of the dragon on the gate pillar, move and speak to me. Although it doesn’t seem possible, I don’t buy Geoff’s story about the motion detector either.’

  ‘Geoff wasn’t lying. There is a motion detector. However, the dragon pillar does not move. Sometimes a couple of days or weeks before the Dragon Quest candidates go out, they will get signs, visions or dreams about dragons, these are positive omens of a pending bonding. Some people are drawn to places or objects.’

  ‘Like badges, emblems or an insignia?’

  ‘I suppose yes. The dragon mouth moving was a sign. Now, it is late and tomorrow we all have a big day. Eat and get some more sleep.’

  ‘One more question. Please?’

  ‘Alright, but it must be an easy one.’

  ‘What is going to happen to me?’

  ‘You are going to undergo training and school for the next two years until you can get your wings and join the Dragonknights.’

  ‘But I can fly already.’

  ‘Yes. However, you need to be trained and pass the flying courses to join a squadron and you must be eighteen years old. Until your arm is healed and strengthened you will be attending our school to learn about our history and culture. When your arm is healed in a few months, you can start flight training with the Dragonknights.’

  ‘You have your own school! The same one Mug and Tom attend?’

  ‘Of course. You have not seen Mug at Buttercup town school, have you?’ said Princess Lee teasingly.

  ‘I suppose not.’

  ‘There is much you want to know, but for now you must trust me that the time is not right for you to know everything. It will only put you in danger.’

  ‘But I hardly understand,’ she said, sensing the conversation was nearly done and not wanting it to end. ‘What should I call you?’


  Princess Lee leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, ‘You can call me Lee in private and use Princess Lee or Lady Lee based on the situation around us. How does that sound to you?’

  Deelind nodded, too surprised to say anything. What Princess Lee offered was clearly an honour.

  Princess Lee laughed, the sound warm and soothing. ‘Don’t look so surprised, Deelind. You and I will be spending lots of time together as I teach you about our world and how to harness the power of your rainbow crystal. I look forward to it. You’re a breath of fresh air, shaking up stuffy old Dragonknights.’

  Deelind smiled, appreciating the sense of having an ally in Princess Lee. ‘How do we talk to each other in our heads?’

  ‘The quick answer is that our dragons are telepathic. Just think about the featherlite you want to talk to and, provided you can see or touch them, they can hear you.’

  Princess Lee stood, indicating that the conversation was over. She gently squeezed Deelind’s hand and left. At the same time Miss Tibi walked in with a large plate of food. Deelind dived straight in. Between mouthfuls of roasted chicken, she asked, ‘Miss Tibi? The fireballs that hit Gran’s cottage, does Blackthorn make them?’

  ‘Deathburners are what they are called and, yes, Blackthorn and his army make them.’

  This was to be the last answer she got because each time she tried for more, Miss Tibi changed the subject.

  After dinner she fell into a deep sleep. Her dream took its normal path with her running in the meadow towards a young woman. She understood now that it was not a huge bird but a Dragonknight that flew down to her. Intense heat surrounded her and the Dragonknight protected her with its wing, even though the wing was on fire. The Dragonknight roared in agony. Behind the Dragonknight’s head was a red-hot deathburner which had a dark black skull face in it. She screamed and screamed as the skull face reached for her, trying to bite her with its black, razor-sharp teeth until the Dragonknight managed to cover her completely. She could feel the heat from the deathburner skull as her body fell through the earth and she landed on her back in a dark tunnel. This time her dream continued further than before.

  ‘Yes, we have her. Quick! Get her and the rest of the children out of here, their lives are in grave danger. Is the Dragonknight okay?’ asked the voice.

  ‘Alive, for now. He needs medical help urgently,’ another voice yelled back.

  ‘Get them out of here. I want Blackthorn to think everyone is dead,’ said a distant voice.

  She woke to someone shaking her.

  ‘Bad dream, dear?’ said Nurse Amy, concern etched on her face. ‘You were screaming in your sleep.’

  All she could do was nod. As she wiped the tears from her cheeks, she became convinced the dream was a memory.

  ‘Please stay by me?’ She could feel the memory dream’s claws still gripping her.

  ‘Of course,’ said Nurse Amy, understanding in her eyes. ‘You try to sleep. I will be right here.’ Nurse Amy climbed onto Deelind’s bed and put her arm around her. Feeling safe, Deelind quickly fell asleep.

  CHAPTER 7

  THE FUNERAL

  Deelind woke up slowly, feeling warm and comfortable. She remembered that Nurse Amy had sat with her while she fell asleep, and now she could hear Nurse Amy humming to herself as she ran Deelind’s morning bath. Feeling rested and excited, Deelind got out of the bed with a happy heart and made her way to the bathroom.

  Nurse Amy looked up as she entered. ‘Morning! You slept well in the end which is good because you have a big day ahead. I think you are well enough to leave here and start learning with the other children. Miss Tibi still needs to get you some new clothes, but she has suggested that you wear the school uniform for now.’

  Of course. With the loss of her gran she hadn’t given much thought to the fact that she had lost everything else as well when the cottage burnt down. Tears welled. She swallowed them back and took her bath. Subdued, she came out of the bathroom and saw the uniform on her bed. It was a green dress, which fell to just past her knees. The short sleeves had white cuffs and the neck had a white Peter Pan collar. There was a stiff, white hat with a brim that sheltered the eyes. A thin, green ribbon went around the base of the hat and a badge was positioned in the centre front. The badge was a shield divided into four with a tree at the bottom left, a mole at the bottom right, a rainbow at the top left, and a dragon on the top right.

  A pair of black shoes and long, white socks completed the outfit. She dressed quickly, feeling both smart and strange in her new uniform. Thankfully the uniform hid the choker. She did not want anyone to see it. It was pretty enough and ordinarily she wouldn’t mind wearing a silver choker, but not being able to take it off made her feel trapped. It felt more like a dog collar than a piece of jewellery. She hadn’t had much clothing before the fire, but it had been hers. Now she had nothing except her crystal, this uniform and an irritating choker. Looking at her new self in the mirror, she could not help feeling sadness and loneliness.

  Just as she finished dressing there was a knock on the door and in came Mug, all dressed up in his uniform. It was certainly a far cry from the dungarees she had first seen him in. They looked at each other awkwardly. Mug was wearing green shorts, green shirt, and a beige, basket-type hat with the green ribbon around it and the same badge as hers on the front.

  ‘You had better put your hat on. We must get to the Great Hall,’ said Mug, whose face was red again.

  She quickly put her hat on, feeling strange. She had never worn a school hat before.

  ‘We only have to wear these uniforms at formal occasions, thank goodness,’ said Mug, clearly seeing her discomfort. ‘They are strict about our uniforms, formality and tradition. Now with you a featherlite you have to set an example.’

  ‘Not me. Looks like I will be stuck with the uniform for a while until Miss Tibi can get me new clothes. All mine were burnt in the fire.’

  ‘Really?’ said Mug, his brows drawing together. ‘Hard luck. That’s rough.’

  Mug led her to the Great Hall where she had met Oakman. They did not talk much as there were many people walking around. Everyone was dressed formally in their uniforms and smart clothing. The school-going children were in the same uniforms as her and Mug. The molers wore brown uniforms, made up of short sleeves and short trousers while the elves wore all-white, long, flowing robes with green, ivy-leaf tiaras. The witches had pointy hats with long, black or indigo, full-length cloaks. The humans were dressed in the dark, muted tones often worn to funerals. The variety of attire in the hall helped Deelind to feel less like a bug under a microscope and more like she was part of this strange world. Mug led her to the front of the hall near the royal stateroom. There were several rows of seats separated in two by a wide pathway leading from the royal stateroom door to the front of Oakman’s island. Mug guided her to the front left seats closest to the island. Oakman stood tall and proud despite his blackened branch.

  ‘Let’s go sit further back?’ she said as she tried to move towards the back of the hall.

  ‘No! Princess Lee said you must sit in front. It is your family we are burying today.’

  In surprise, her knees buckled, and she fell into the nearest chair. She had not realised it was her gran’s funeral. Honestly! They couldn’t have told her it was her gran’s funeral? Her shoulders drooped. Mug stood to leave.

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘I must sit with the Lower house,’ said Mug. Perhaps seeing her confusion, he carried on. ‘We all sit with our designated houses, except for the front row where guests, council members and royalty sit. The Dragonknights will form a semicircle around the pond, leaving the front of the island open for the proceedings. The molers, or Lower house, sit on the right-hand side’s seats while the Middle house sits on the left, behind you. The higher rank people sit towards the front of each of their houses.’

  Mug quickly left and sat in the back row of the Lower house with several other boys and girls around his age, all wearing the s
ame uniform as hers. They all looked like young molers or Mole People. She could see Jack, Mug’s father, and the senior molers sitting in the front row with Derik, the guard, who had helped Jack carry her on the stretcher. The molers’ faces looked grim and tired. Some seemed withdrawn or pinched, while others appeared sorrowful. Ivan sat in the second row and gave her a small nod, looking as grim and pale as the rest. Their hands were particularly noticeable. It would be some time before she would be used to how strange they looked or how they could dig through the earth. They had the emblem along with their rank sewn on their right shirtsleeve. Derik had corporal stripes on his sleeve while Jack had three stripes with a star above them. She had so much to learn about this new life. Not just the big things, but the small ones like what the different emblems meant and how to address people correctly.

  The chairs filled up quickly. She saw Geoff, Miss Tibi and Nurse Amy all behind her. Miss Tibi whispered something to Geoff and then got up and walked forward and sat down next to her.

  ‘You look rather smart,’ said Miss Tibi, noticing Deelind’s crisp, new uniform. Miss Tibi’s brow furrowed when her eyes settled on Deelind’s face. ‘Are you alright?’

  ‘I’m fine, thank you. I just miss Gran so much. It would have been less of a shock if someone had told me I would be attending her funeral today. I had no idea until a minute ago.’

  ‘Really? I thought you knew! How awful! Oh, I am sorry, Deelind.’ She put her hand over Deelind’s. ‘I will stay with you now and explain everything that is happening. Today we are burying both your gran and the Dragonknight you saw in the infirmary.’

  Grateful to have Miss Tibi with her, she squeezed her hand. Remembering the molers’ faces, she asked, ‘Miss Tibi, what about all the molers? I saw many of them die at the hands of rotvipers when my gran’s cottage was attacked.’ She swallowed hard, recalling the rotvipers ripping moler heads from their bodies.

  ‘Molers like to bury their own in private, either in the pit, in Moler Valley or at Mole City. You know, now I think of it, I have never been to a moler funeral. Not even Mug and Tom’s mother’s funeral. Miss Tibi sighed, and worry creased her brow as she said, ‘The molers have had a hard time of it lately, losing so many and seeing so many buried.’