Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 02 - Meladrom

by Rosemary Lynch

  “I like to share my dear wife,” he said, before adding. “Now we are even.” His eyes lifted to hers as she licked some of the cake from her mouth.

  “No not quite,” she reminded, “You still owe me for the cake.” He pulled a face, before nodding.

  “So I do.” He swept her up into his arms and she squealed as he threw her onto the bed. She looked up at him.

  “What in here?” she whispered, a little unsure.

  “Why not, no one is going to come in are they?” She thought about it for a second and breathing in deep, she smiled. He kicked off his boots. “After all, this should be our honeymoon,” he reminded her, as he undid his wide leather belt and threw it to the ground. Climbing slowly across the bed to her, he undid her boots and pulled them off, throwing them to the floor. Leaning over, one hand either side of her, he gazed at her. She was bewitching and as her hazel eyes met his, he lifted a hand touching her lips with his finger. Arweyn’s body tingled at his touch, the energy and magic she could feel coming from him shook her insides.

  He began kissing her neck and inhaling her soft skin. Unlacing her tunic, he slipped it off her revealing her silky camisole underneath. Running his hand slowly between her breasts, he moved down to her trousers. Her chest heaved at his touch as he undone them. Lifting her bottom, he slipped them off and began massaging the insides of her firm thighs. With little gasps of delight, her hands pulled to his shirt and she began unbuttoning it. Pulling it back across his gorgeous shoulders, she ran her hands across them and then down his firm chest. As her eyes wandered over every part of him, as he slipped off his shirt. Reaching down she undid his trousers and slipped her hands inside. He moaned pleasurably at her touch.

  “Kainan,” she whispered, touching her cheek against his. His eyes lifting to hers he brushed his lips lightly across her mouth making them tingle with excitement. “Take them off.” Doing as she asked he removed his trousers and his undershorts.

  “Lie down,” he said in a commanding tone. She smiled as she lay on her back and he straddled her. Pushing up her camisole, he began kissing her stomach; slowly and teasingly, moving up her body until he slipped the camisole over her head and discarded it to the floor. Caressing her breast with one hand, the other held her cheek as he kissed her mouth hungrily. He began kissing her neck, her shoulders every part of her. Sitting up on her he took hold of her hands and pinned them above her head, she breathed deep and heavy as she drew her legs up around him.

  “This is the first time I have made love to a Queen,” he said, gazing into her hazel eyes.

  “And I a King,” she replied breathless, as he leaned forward and began nibbling at her ear. Releasing her hands, he grabbed her around her waist and rolled over pulling her on top of him. Her long dark hair fell forwards and he ran his fingers through it, following its length down to her breasts, her stomach, and then his hands moved to her inner thighs. Her eyes lifted to his and she fell into their darkness, smiling seductively as she moved onto him.

  “My King,” she whispered. Grabbing at her hair he pulled it hard and she pushed his shoulders down firmly on the bed. She leaned forward and as his lips met hers, they kissed deep and passionately. His hands pulling to her waist she moaned, his eyes wide he watched the glow of magic surrounding her, as pleasure consumed her entire body

  “Kainan,” she whispered breathlessly as her eyes rolled and her body shuddered. He smiled his gaze on her intense. Spinning her onto her back, he began kissing her stomach, and her back arched as his mouth moved up her body. She wrapped her legs tight around him, his eyes gazed at her beauty, and his heart thumped uncontrollably.

  “I love you so very much my Queen,” he whispered as he began making love to her. She clawed at his back and tugged at his hair until he cried out, his body shaking in ecstasy, his arms giving way beneath him he collapsed onto her chest.

  “Arweyn,” he whispered, nuzzling and kissing her neck. She drew him into her kissing the top of his head and running her hands through his hair. Their sweating bodies wrapped together as one, they held each other tight.

  ***

  “Wake up,” he whispered, kissing her neck.

  “No,” she groaned, turning over. He sat up and looked towards the opening of the cave there was a slight glimmer of light peeking through.

  “Come on time to move on,” he said, shoving her. Her hand flew back and slapped him as she pulled the blanket over her head. Swinging his legs out of the bed, he stood up and walked over to the fireplace. Chucking a few more bits of the chair that they had broken up last night, onto the fire he relit it, shivering as he felt the heat warm his body. He glanced over to her and shook his head. He walked back to the bed and reaching forward he grabbed the blanket and pulled it off her.

  “Kainan!” she squealed as the coolness of the air swept across her naked body.

  “Well get up then,” he laughed as he began to get dressed. She grabbed the blanket back and wrapped it around herself, groaning as she got up.

  “You are not a morning person are you my love,” he said. She shook her head.

  “No I am not,” she replied, picking up her clothes and moving in front of the fire to warm up. Pulling on his boots, he snuck up behind her, kissing her neck and then her sumptuous shoulders.

  “Love you,” he whispered. She rubbed her cheek against his and smiled.

  “Love you too.” She quickly got dressed.

  They ate a quick breakfast and left just after dawn. The weather although a bit chilly that early in the morning, held a promise of a finer day. They continued to follow the river as the map had directed, stopping now and then to rest and refuel. By midday, it had turned quite warm and they both removed their cloaks, folding them up and placing them inside their packs.

  “You know this is nice,” she said, leaning her head onto his shoulder as they walked.

  “What walking through an endless forest?”

  “No us being on our own. It is probably the first time we have not had someone watching us or looking for us. It is just you and me.” She sighed happily.

  “Hmm,” he replied. “And some mad Lord called Gemini, his hundreds of soldiers, his creatures lurking somewhere….”

  “Kainan,” she moaned. “Do not spoil it.”

  “Sorry,” he laughed at her disgruntled face.

  “What will we do if we find all these people? Where are they going to live, there is not any room in the new city, and the old castle and city are wrecked.”

  “Yes but are they?” he said, thinking.

  “Well of course they are we have both seen it.”

  “No. I think it is like that cave, a great big illusion an enchantment hiding the truth from Gemini. She looked perplexed.

  “You think under all that mess, dust, and ruins their homes are actually still intact?” he nodded.

  “Absolutely and when we find the people we will awaken them and send them home.”

  “What just like that?” She shook her head. “Sounds far too easy, how do you know that?”

  “Because that is what I would have done.” She frowned at him. “Me in this time I mean. If I had the power I would have enchanted it all, hidden it from Gemini until we were ready to send the people home.”

  “It sounds impossible.”

  “No it is not impossible, difficult but not impossible. I think leaving that chest for us to find along with the enchantment was another clue. Think about it. The new city hidden by an illusion, the dragons den hidden by an illusion and the cave as well. Now we know what we need to say to bring the castle and the city back to life, we just need the power of the twin sword to do it.”

  “Yes I suppose. What if we bring these people back and it doesn’t work.”

  “We will try the reverse spell first.”

  “What, go all the way back without awakening the people first?”

  “After we kill Gemini Meladrom can fly us back to the city first. I will have the twin sword so we will have the power necessary. The o
thers can meet us back at wherever it is the people are hidden.”

  “You are convinced of this aren’t you?” He nodded.

  “Yes I am. I do not know, maybe part of my old memory jogged, but I am certain that I am right. The city will be ready for their return.” He slung an arm around her shoulder.

  “It is all quite exciting do not you think?” he asked, glancing sideways at her. She shook her head.

  “No, it is all quite scary really. Yesterday morning I was just Lady Arweyn and today I am a Queen I’m only 18 what do I know about being a queen.” He squeezed her and then caught his eyes with hers.

  “You think that is scary. Six months ago I was just a carpenter and now I am a King.” She laughed and lent her head against his shoulder.

  The late afternoon the sun sparkled through the cracks in the heavy branches above them, catching their faces now and again with its warmth. They continued at a steady pace until the sun finally began to drop as day turned into night. Searching for a place to spend the night, they found a shallow hollow within the trunk of a large oak. Putting their cloaks back on, they wrapped themselves up tightly against the cold night air that had now begun to creep around them. She snuggled into him, as they ate from their supplies. He did not want to risk a fire, so they had to rely on their own body heat and the blankets they had with them for warmth.

  ***

  Gemini’s bright green eyes stared at the man, and he frowned. The two black-wing soldiers pushed their prisoner down to his knees, pulling his arms back harshly behind him.

  “Where are they Ahab?” Gemini asked impatiently. Turning around and placing his hands behind his back he began to pace. The man remained silent, his face staring down at the shiny marbled floor his beaten, blooded face reflecting back at him.

  Quietly rubbing his chin Gemini ran his tongue over his teeth, but still the prisoner said nothing. The Dark Lord turned sharply, grabbing a fistful of the man’s hair he lifted his head up. Ahab’s sullen eyes looked at him.

  “I will find them,” he promised. He then nodded to the guard. “Take him and find out,” he ordered. Both soldiers nodded and bowed, before dragging the man back onto his feet. Just as they were leaving, another soldier entered the room. He glanced briefly at their prisoner, before approaching Gemini. He bowed.

  “My Lord, our scouts have reported sightings of a male and female near the Anara Pass,” Gemini twitched a smile.

  “Any children?” he asked. The soldier shook his head.

  “No my Lord, no children reported.”

  “Then it is not Ahab’s family,” he said, disappointed. Turning he began walking towards a set of doors on the other side of the room.

  “Send in the hounds I do not need any more workers or peasants poaching my deer. Black wing four should be back from Earth soon, they will have plenty of new recruits.” The soldier bowed.

  “Yes my Lord,” turning he left, closing the door behind him. Gemini took a breath and pushing open the double doors he walked outside, the sun warmed his face as he entered his beautiful courtyard garden; it was full of red and white roses. Completely enclosed by a high brick wall it was his private garden a place to contemplate a place to - he smirked - relax. Closing the doors behind him and walking over to a red rose, he leaned towards it and inhaled its pleasant scent, he smiled, and then he turned his smile towards the young woman who sat inside a white arbour positioned in the centre of the garden. Picking the rose, he walked over to her. Licking his lips, he began blinking hard and rolling his eyes at her. She stared back at him like a frightened rabbit, as she had done once a week for the past four years. Before he ordered her, she removed her robe and stood naked before him. She only had another week, and then someone else would take her place. Gemini did not want them once they reached twenty. Lifting the rose, he ran it down her face, her throat, slapping it across her breasts.

  “Such a beauty do you not think?” he asked. She nodded.

  “Yes my Lord,” her shaking voice replied. He lifted the rose to his mouth and shushed her, before inhaling the delicate scent again. He pointed his finger at the petals, immediately they withered and died.

  “Sadly only with us for such a short time,” he said, throwing it aside. Reaching his hand towards her, he ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. One more week, she told herself repeatedly as the scales on his neck appeared, only one more week. She took her mind to another place somewhere far away, somewhere beautiful and peaceful as she had done so many times before.

  ***

  The following morning Kainan and Arweyn followed the markings of an old worn path that wound its way ahead of them. The trees now grew further apart and the ground less overgrown with shrubbery. The sun was high in a brilliant blue sky, clearly visible above them, making it quite a pleasant day. They followed this terrain for a few more hours, until they came out of a belt of trees and onto a slope that ran steeply down into a valley, and back towards the river. They clambered down into the valley and continued along by the river, until shadows began to fall across the valley, as the evening drew closer and the sunset tipped the very tops of the mountain range that lay ahead of them. The trees were beginning to grow dense again, and with the shadows of night creeping in, visibility was becoming difficult.

  “We should find somewhere to stop. According to my map we are nearly at the Elwins,” Kainan said, scanning around and looking for somewhere suitable to spend the night. Sudden movement caught his eye and he stared, stopping dead.

  “What is wrong Kainan?” Arweyn asked.

  “Cannot you see them?” he whispered. She shook her head she could not make anything out as she stared into the tangled undergrowth.

  “See what?” she whispered back, her hand clasping onto his arm.

  “We are in trouble.”

  “Kainan,” Arweyn’s voice rose to a panic.

  “Hold my hand and look again,” he urged, immediately taking hold of his outstretched hand, he gripped her tightly.

  “Dragona illumarnar visionara,” he chanted quickly and quietly and she shuddered as she felt a surge of magic flow into her. She lifted her eyes and stared ahead of them, now she could see them and her eyes turned to his in grim recognition.

  “Kainan, what are they?” He shook his head.

  “I do not know, but we are in serious trouble.” The dark shadows wound in and out of the trees towards them.

  “Kainan,” she whispered, gripping onto him.

  “Be ready,” he urged, gripping her hand. “We will try what we practiced at home.” She nodded nervously, gripping his hand tight. She could immediately feel the tingles of magic pulsating between them. Her eyes flickered from side to side as she counted, there were at least ten of them now. The creature’s eyes glowed fiery red and as they growled at them, the whiteness of their fangs shone out brightly even in the dim light of the evening shadows. All of a sudden, they charged. Together, using their magic, lightning power shot from their hands striking the creatures with a massive blast of energy. It should have disintegrated them but instead, the creatures shook violently and their eyes glared menacingly at them.

  “What the hell?” Arweyn cursed in shock, as she watched the creatures begin dividing into two.

  “That is exactly what I was thinking!” Kainan yelled, as one after another they began dividing. “I think they are Gemini’s hounds, creatures created with black magic,” he yelled. Soon there were twenty of them, growling and edging towards them.

  “Why did our magic not work?” she cried, shaking. Kainan shook his head.

  “I do not know, somehow they are using our power against us.”

  “What are we going to do?” she wept.

  “We need to run,” Kainan cried with great urgency.

  “Run?”

  “Run, now!” he hollered. Grabbing her arm, he yanked her hard until she too was running at full pelt beside him. The creatures howled furiously behind them, their hefty paws hammering the earth beneath them, their nostrils flari
ng as their breathing quickened with the thrill of the chase.

  “They are gaining on us,” Arweyn screamed, panting as she too gasped breathlessly. They darted through the trees, slid down an embankment and carried on running, but still the creatures came. They were almost upon them, and Kainan knew they were never going to out-run them. Crying furiously he grabbed her to a halt. She looked at him panting hard, the fear in her eyes was all too apparent. He held out his hand.

  “Hold me and do not let go,” he ordered, sharply. She grabbed his hand and held on fast. Pulling the Deragan Sword from its sheath with his free hand, he drove it down hard into the earth.

  “Transporta Elarma Imediar,” he cried, casting a spell. A great light illuminated the forest surrounding them where they stood. As the creatures launched themselves at them, a sudden light blinded them for a moment. Howling furiously, their massive claws open ready to tear at their flesh, grasped at nothing. Landing with a thud on the earth, they snarled angrily, sniffing around in surprise, searching. Their prey had completely vanished.

  They stood in the dark. “What happened, where are we?” Arweyn whispered nervously, gripping hold of Kainan tightly. He squeezed her hand, whispering back.

  “I do not know. I suddenly had this feeling within me and a spell just came to mind. Somehow we have been transported somewhere else.” Letting go of her hand he raised his index finger forward, he felt her grip tighten on his arm. He looked at her and smiled, although she could not see his reassuring smile in the darkness.

  “Illumanartry,” he said, and in an instant, a flame appeared on the end of his finger. Lifting his hand higher their eyes searched all around them. They were in some kind of a cavern.

  “There,” Kainan pointed. Hanging on the walls were a number of torches sitting in metal brackets. With a sweep of her hand, Arweyn sent a spark of magic around the room, lighting the torches one by one, and illuminating the chamber. Kainan extinguished the flame on the end of his finger.

  They were definitely in some kind of a cavern, inside what was not yet apparent. There seemed to be no imminent threat to them so he replaced the sword back into its sheath. Although both breathing hard and somewhat relieved that they had escaped the creatures, they were also full of concern as to where they were now.