Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 02 - Meladrom

by Rosemary Lynch

  “Jael take the others and go with them. Keep an eye on things any problems let me know. I am going to check on the Queen and the dragons.”

  “Yes my Lord,” he replied, with a quick bow of his head. He turned to the others passing on the order.

  ***

  Arweyn kept well back and watched as the dragons turned their barbed tails towards the building and began smashing it to pieces, pulling down the walls and dragging the debris away from the area. Once it was clear Arweyn, Meladrom and Galtec stood looking down into the giant cage. Kailan cowered in the corner he was unaware that this was a rescue. He looked up and saw the Queen smiling back down at him, and then as he rose to his feet his eyes widened in disbelief.

  “Father, is that you?” he questioned, squinting in the brightness that now flooded his prison.

  “Yes Kailan my son, It is your father,” Meladrom’s voice quivered. Arweyn glanced over to Meladrom and she felt her heart shudder as she saw tears creep down the corners of the dragon’s eyes. She looked back down.

  “Kailan, are you okay?” she asked, wiping tears from her own eyes.

  “Yes my Queen, thank you,” he said, in a choked voice. Kainan had now joined them after opening the gates to the ‘village’ and letting the army through to find their families. He stood between his wife and his dragon, his hand resting gently on Meladrom’s forearm.

  “Thank you,” Meladrom whispered. Kainan smiled at his dragon, and patted his forearm.

  “Come on let’s get him out shall we?” Kainan suggested, the dragon grinned down at him. Meladrom, Galtec, Dorac and Asangard gripped hold of the top of the metal cage. The King and Queen stood back and watched the strength of the four dragons as they ripped off the top of the cage with ease and then discarded it to one side. Kailan leapt from his prison and stood before his father.

  “I did not think I would see you again,” Kailan said. Meladrom stepped forward.

  “I am sorry it took so long my son.” Kailan stared at him for a moment and then smiled, before stepping forward and rubbing his neck against his father’s, Meladrom responded rubbing his neck back.

  “Kailan, let me see if I can remove this contraption from your face,” Kainan offered, lifting the twin sword towards the muzzle. Carefully he sliced into the metal; it broke and fell to the floor.

  “Thank you my King, that feel so good,” Kailan sighed, opening his jaws wide, and stretching.

  “You are welcome,” Kainan replied with a smile, replacing his sword.

  “Wow, you have grown, little squirt,” Galtec laughed and Kailan turned to him.

  “Indeed uncle, now I am only two hundred years younger than you!” The dragons all laughed.

  Kainan took his wife’s hand and led her away, leaving his dragons to reacquaint with each other. He pulled her into his arms and just held her. His hand then rose to her face and he pulled a strand of hair away from her eyes.

  “I am so sorry,” he said, frowning as he tried to find the words, he pushed his forehead against hers.

  “I am okay Kainan,” she whispered in reply. He shook his head as he gazed into her hazel eyes.

  “No it should never have happened he should never have been able to take you.”

  “Kainan it is okay. He did not rape me, and I did not sleep with him.” His eyes lifted back to hers and as her hazel eyes sparkled at him, he could see she was telling him the truth. He sighed deeply and pulled her in tight.

  “You know I would love you no matter what. I, I was just so scared for you, of what he would do to you.” She closed her eyes as he held her.

  “I know you would have Kainan.” She leaned back, looking him in the eyes.

  “At one point, he…. he wanted to and he nearly did but somehow I managed to convince him to wait. He wanted me for himself, he did not want me to think of you while he…. well you know, and he believed me when I told him….” She raised her hand to his face and held him. “That if he brought you to me and then killed you. I would agree to give myself to him willingly. It was a risk, but it was the only way I could think of to get you in the same room as the Gameron sword.”

  “You are the smartest and bravest woman I have ever known and I love you so much Arweyn,” he said, with tears running down his cheek.

  “I thought of nothing else but you, I knew you would come for me. I love you Kainan,” she cried back and he kissed her. Relief swept through them both, that it was now over; Gemini the Dark Lord was dead. He held her, never wanting to let her go again.

  “Kainan they are waiting for you,” she whispered, nodding behind him. He turned around and sighed.

  “I will not be long.” He quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve and took a steadying breath. She nodded, releasing his hand slowly as he walked away from her, watching as he walked towards the crowd of soldiers. She looked back towards the crumbled Fortress. Then she remembered the cat! Where was Shadow? She could not leave him behind.

  ***

  “What do you wish to do?” the young King asked, facing the elected leader of Gemini’s Black-wing soldiers.

  “Most of us would like to remain here my Lord and build a proper village.” Kainan nodded, he had expected that would be the case.

  “Some,” the man continued, “would like to return to Earth.” Kainan confirmed with a nod. “And my Lord some would like to join you within your Kingdom and become soldiers of Malgar.”

  “Very well…?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “Gilbert my Lord,” the man replied, dipping his head.

  “Gilbert. My men and I need to leave. I have a Kingdom to restore to what it once was. How many are coming to the other fortress?”

  “There are at least one hundred my Lord.” The young King nodded in thought.

  “Are you their leader?” he asked. Gilbert nodded.

  “Yes my Lord, I have been elected to speak on their behalf.”

  “Do you think if I leave six dragons and their riders you could take them to the fortress where the children are?” He was keen to make a move back to the city to try to restore it to its former glory and release his own people from their 500-year sleep.

  “May I have a moment to consult them?” Gilbert asked.

  “Of course you may.” The man returned to the waiting crowd. Kainan watched as a nodding of heads swept through them. Gilbert returned.

  “Yes my Lord they have agreed.” Kainan breathed deeply and then smiled.

  “Excellent. Tell me, will you have enough food and water to keep you going for a while? Gilbert nodded.

  “Yes my Lord the store was not destroyed when the Fortress collapsed.

  “Take what you need; my men will help you make sure everyone has food, water, and shelter for a few days. How many wish to return to Earth?”

  “There is around one hundred or so my Lord.” He nodded, and then frowned.

  “Okay, I will give them five days to be sure. Please tell them that once they have gone through the portal to Earth I will close it.” The man stared at him.

  “Close it my Lord?” Kainan nodded.

  “Yes, I cannot and will not risk the portal’s location being given to anyone who may wish to try and attack us the risk to Malgar is too great. They must be sure that they want to return to Earth as there will be no coming back.” Gilbert nodded. Kainan turned and walked back towards Meladrom and his wife.

  “What is that?” he asked at the black bundle in her arms. The cat poked its head up at his voice. “A cat?” he then asked puzzled. Arweyn smiled, stroking his head.

  “This is Shadow and he is coming home with us.” Kainan shook his head at her and then laughed, gesturing with his head towards the dragon. Climbing up onto Meladrom, he pulled his wife and the cat up, seating them in front of him. The cat buried its face into Arweyn’s chest, terrified of the dragon. Kainan leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

  “He is not daft is he,” she raised an eyebrow at him and then looked down at the cat with its head between her breasts.
She elbowed Kainan hard in the ribs.

  “Ouch,” he moaned, before laughing.

  “Back to the city Meladrom,” he ordered placing his arms tight around her waist and nuzzling his face into her neck.

  “Yes my King,” Meladrom replied. Pushing back on his hind legs, he launched himself and was airborne in moments. They soared into the sky, Kailan followed closely behind them. Meladrom glanced down towards his son, it was his first flight since captured as a youngling, and the dragon had been concerned as to whether or not his son would be able to fly; but he need not have worried. For Kailan, his giant wings stretched to full capacity, soared gracefully into the sky. Meladrom watched as he veered left and then right, testing out his flying capabilities. Kainan looked on with a smile, he could feel his dragon tense up beneath him as Kailan hurtled towards the trees and then he felt him relax as he opened his wings and skimmed along the treetops.

  “He is a handsome dragon,” Kainan remarked in his mind to his dragon.

  “Indeed he is my King,” Meladrom replied proudly. They stopped now and then to rest and by late afternoon, they arrived back at the old city.

  Sixteen ~ The New Old City

  As the great city came into view, Kainan glanced across to Amerdril, who was frowning and shaking his head. The young King sighed, he knew what he was probably thinking, that the city and the castle were in ruins and completely uninhabitable. Meladrom landed in the central courtyard of the castle, closely followed by Kailan, Storm, Galtec, and Amerdril: the brothers Forde upon Erandril and Destran upon Doric, Morgose on Xen and Sharelle on Ayver.

  “Wow this place looks a mess,” Forde remarked as he slid off Erandril’s back. Kainan jumped down off Meladrom and holding out his arms his wife slipped down into them.

  “I know it does Forde but it is just a cloak of deception.” Amerdril walked up to them.

  “What are you saying that none of this is real?” Forde asked.

  “That is exactly what I am saying,” the King replied. “Underneath all this decay and ruins lies our castle and our city still as it was the day we left.” He felt Arweyn squeeze his hand and he glanced to her and smiled at the un-sureness in her face.

  “It may be best if you all leave for now. I am not exactly sure what will happen, so I would be happier if you all waited outside of the city walls.” He turned to his dragon. “Yes you too Meladrom.” His dragon huffed disgruntled and a puff of smoke whooshed out of his nose. Kainan chuckled waving his hand in front of his face dispersing the smoke. “Arweyn and I must do this alone.”

  “Are you sure my King?” Amerdril questioned, placing a hand on his arm. Kainan nodded, patting his arm.

  “Yes Amerdril I am sure. Now leave all of you it is time we got on with it there are a lot of people waiting for us to wake them up.”

  “How will we know when it is safe to return my Lord?” Sharelle asked with concern in her voice. He smiled at her.

  “We shall come to you, when it is done. Wait just beyond the city gates.” She smiled and bowed to him before returning to Ayver and mounting her dragon.

  “Sharelle, please can you look after Shadow for me?” Arweyn asked, lifting the cat up to her. Sharelle screwed up her nose at it. Kainan laughed before quickly turning away as Arweyn frowned at him. Reluctantly Sharelle took the cat and dumped it onto her lap.

  “Okay Ayver, you heard the King, let’s go.”

  “Yes Sharelle, hold tight,” Ayver replied, before pulling back on her hind legs and taking off. The others soon followed behind. Kainan and Arweyn watched as they disappeared over the city walls.

  “Right, are you ready for this?” he asked, turning to his wife. She pulled him to her and kissed him.

  “I hope this works,” she whispered. He stroked the side of her radiant face and then rubbed his nose on hers.

  “It will, do not worry.” Releasing her, he looked at his castle and smiled. Unlike his first visit here with his brother, he could now remember everything. He looked up to the tower to the far right corner of the castle and smiled, that was their quarters. They had chosen it as their quarters as it overlooked the city and the mountains beyond, and each morning he would gaze out and think how lucky he was to have such a fantastic Kingdom. He was looking forward to doing that again, every morning for a very long time. He drew the twin sword and began to search the courtyard.

  “I remember,” his wife said, joining in the search whilst grinning at him. “You are looking for the central stone.” He nodded. She stopped as she recalled that memory. “That was the last time I saw you….” He glanced at her and then walked towards her.

  “Yes, it was when we placed the Deragan sword into the stone and released the chant. I do not remember anything else after that,” he confirmed. She gazed into his dark eyes and he into hers. He kissed her.

  “Kainan,” she whispered, as he broke from their kiss. “We are standing on it.” They both looked down to their feet and then took a step back from each other. Kainan knelt down and brushed away the moss that now covered the stone and there in the centre of the stone was an indentation. He looked up to her and nodded, it was indeed the central stone. Standing back up he held the sword with both hands in front of him, she then placed her hands on top of his, and both swallowed nervously.

  “Ready?” he asked,

  “Yes,” she replied strongly. Raising the sword slightly he rammed it down hard into the indentation. The sword slotted in and a bright white light immediately surrounded them. They both began to chant. The light grew brighter and the ground beneath them began to shake

  “Esperai elate, isara melcar visionary portora, isaremme revellera secara. Esperai elate, isara melcar visionary portora, isaremme revellera secara.”

  “Esperai elate, isara melcar visionary portora, isaremme revellera secara. Esperai elate, isara melcar visionary portora, isaremme revellera secara.”

  As they chanted louder and faster, the light expanded, spreading outwards towards the city.

  ***

  The dragons and their riders watched as an intense bright light began covering the entire castle and then spread out across their city. The ground beneath them began to shake. Amerdril stepped forward, concerned. Morgana reached for him, placing her hand on his arm. He glanced to her.

  “He knows what he is doing,” she assured. Amerdril smiled briefly and turned back towards the glowing light. He would not admit it but he was worried, even though he knew Morgana was right, the King knew what he was doing.

  Meladrom thought hard but he could not make contact with Kainan, the dragon began to pace worried and frustrated. Kailan nudged his father’s neck and the dragon turned to him. Meladrom sighed and nuzzled his son’s neck. The riders stood alongside their dragons, waiting.

  ***

  As the light surrounded them they could both feel the magic, it went like waves of energy pulsating, tingling through their entire bodies. The light was so bright but neither closed their eyes, instead they stared as they watched their castle transforming before their eyes. The vines and brambles that covered the castle began to retract and disappear. Masonry that had fallen jumped back from the ground and replaced itself back from where it had fallen. Windows repaired themselves. The gardens swirled as the magic tore its way through, pulling at the weeds and the brambles until all that remained were neat rows of vegetables and fruit trees full of pears and apples. The fountain filled with water and once again, the mermaid smiled as the fountain burst into life. Inside the castle, the dust Kainan had felt was strange just disintegrated away and the cobwebs that covered practically everything vanished. The chairs repaired themselves and then lifted from the floor and re-arranged themselves at the table. Sunlight shone through the now clean windows reflecting the beautiful colours of the stained glass across the wooden floors. Portraits that hung on the walls were now free of dust and webs and looked out proudly down the corridors. Flags that were tattered and torn now hung as if just made. Mirrors shone and sparkled.

  Within t
he kitchens the pots, gleamed ready for use, the larders were full, fresh meat hung in the butchery. The tables scrubbed and a fire roared in the hearth ready. Out in the city people’s houses transformed from derelict buildings to smart clean homes. Flowers now replaced the brambles and weeds in the gardens and they waved gently with the warm breeze. The wells filled with clean fresh water the butchers, the bakers and the general stores all looked as if they had never left and had just opened for a day’s trading.

  As the light faded the King and Queen looked to each other, their eyes were alight with joy, their hearts full of hope for a new beginning. It was all ready, now all they had to do was awaken their people and bring them home.

  “Kainan,” she whispered with a smile that shook his heart. He laughed, his eyes crinkling, his nose screwing up in the way that she loved; she laughed with him before they both fell into each other’s arms euphorically. He inhaled her scent and breathed deeply and as they held each other, gazing once again upon their beautiful castle fully restored to its former glory.

  Taking her hand, they made their way towards the gates. Sliding the bolt across the smaller door Kainan opened it. Together they headed into the city. They smiled as they walked through, crossing over the bridge, the river meandering happily below. The sun was beating down warming their faces, and a gentle breeze pulled Arweyn’s long dark hair across her face. Lifting a hand, she swept it back. Gardens were full of early summer flowers, and vegetables in neat beds were growing row upon row. They practically skipped as they walked, pointing out the homes of people that they knew, excited that soon they would see them once again.