by G L Roberts
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Table of Contents
Cover
Synopsis
Title Page
Copyright Page
Other Books by GL Roberts
About the Author
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Bella Books
Synopsis
In the highlands of Alban near the waters of the Inbhir Nis, Lady Athebryn waits for her dragon to bring word of the enemy across the sea. At her side is her beloved Princess Thalynder. Once handmaiden to the Princess, Lady Athebryn now stands ready to lead the hastily gathered army of clanns and kingdoms to battle against the marauding Vík Ingr.
If they are successful, Lady Athebryn will win the hearts and minds of all, uniting Alban under one banner. But if they fail, then all hope for a united Alban may be forever lost.
Jewel of Fire is the second book in GL Roberts’s beloved Shieldmaiden series.
Copyright © 2018 by GL Roberts
Bella Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 10543
Tallahassee, FL 32302
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
First Bella Books Edition 2018
eBook released 2018
Editor: Chris Paynter
Cover Designer: Sandy Knowles
ISBN: 978-1-59493-585-5
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Other Bella Books by GL Roberts
Shieldmaiden Book One: Quest for the Jewel
About the Author
GL lives in the Pacific Northwest near the rugged and beautiful Oregon Coast. When not tapping away on a keyboard, GL can be found walking the beach in search of the next inspirational treasure.
GL’s first fantasy, Shieldmaiden Book One: Quest for the Jewel was a 2017 GCLS finalist.
Dedication
For Lena and her daughter Leone
The battle to keep the clanns safe was fought over hundreds of years. Each generation bore before them the standard of Athebryn of the Brae. Embroidered on the standard in silver thread is the Tree of Life, symbol of the High Clann Brae. Flying above the tree is a silver dragon and a dragon rider. Lady Athebryn rides with her sword drawn high above her head and the light from the jewel on her brow, a beacon to all her people.
The battle began long ago, when dragons were innocent and man still amazed by the magic of the heavens. The Druids, children of the earth, with their compassion for all living things admired the dragons. They taught their wisdom to the fledgling nobles, and dragons became the property of the royal born. The elves, eldest of all races, chose not to deal with the dragons and thus separated themselves from the world of man. The Druids in their wisdom reserved the dragon lore for a time when it was most needed. Man coveted the dragon. It is that greed that forced the dragon’s hand.
Chapter One
King Heardred stood on the banks of the fjord and shouted to the gods. “I will have my revenge!” In his heart he believed his beloved son Helstun was dead. Helstun would not return to Götaland, leaving the realm to fall to Heardred’s stepsons Hygid and Heoroth. The thought of either of those two sitting on his throne brought bitter bile to Heardred’s throat.
Helstun’s delayed return was an ill omen for the King. The fact that Marget, his current wife and his brother’s widow, had given birth to four children before she became his wife, did not rest easy with the seers. They blamed her for not providing more than one son to the King. No one thought to blame the King.
Heardred did not wish to wait for the other boats to return from their raid. Yet, being impulsive would not bode well with his people. He could not afford to lose the faith of his subjects, so he waited. He needed the fealty of his people to feed his armies. He needed the seer’s good graces to appease the growing number of houses that were laying claim to his throne.
Heardred had the extra boats filled with supplies and kept his army at the ready. He was prepared to man the boats and launch at a moment’s notice. He would not waste one minute once he received news, good or ill on Helstun’s fate. Even if his son returned to him, Heardred did not intend to wait for winter to take the northern islands from the painted Picts or the docile Druids.
“Odin, I beseech you,” Heardred called. “Lend me your strength, and I will build you an Empire.”
Skerrabrae was another half day’s ride from the Standing Stones, and the company was already exhausted. The morning had started with the loss of the High Dragon and the birth of a revolution. Though now, if you asked, all would say it was more a dream than a reality. The evidence was there: the crown that sat on Bryn’s forehead and the jewel that seemed fused to her skin; the additional dragons and dragon riders that now rode with the company; and the knowledge that the enemy was moving toward them. All those things were tangible, touchable, accepted. Yet, they were just beginning to understand that their friend Bryn had changed.
Bryn suspected from the moment Meylarn—the High Dragon of only two months—had replaced her dead father Meldred that Meylarn’s light would shine only briefly. It was in the hearts of all the dragons she met since leaving the Realm that Touches Two Seas. Their hearts believed a change was in the wind. They believed she would be the one to initiate that change. Bryn convinced the company of the need to slay the men who took Pict as slaves and looted and destroyed the outlying Pict and Druid villages. She believed that those men would kill those in her company had she not acted.
Her first priority was the welfare of the Princess Thalynder. Killing the Jarl and his men would surely start a war. She understood she was generating a turning of the tide and initiating a revolution. If the clanns would gather and fight the raiders, Bryn would know her challenge had been met. No matter the outcome. Uniting the clanns under one banner was of utmost importance. One leader, one cause. Life was the best cause of all.
Bryn looked behind her to the others of her company and wondered if they truly understood what happened back at the Standing Stones. They were nearing Skerrabrae, and the farther away from the Circle they moved, the less likely the events that took place that morning seemed possible. She could see some of the company still looking up at the new dragons in their group and shaking their heads. When they looked at her, it was with unseeing eyes. “As if in a dream,” she mused.
Meydra flew slowly above the company. She listened to Bryn’s heart as Bryn
debated with herself. Her companion, Druid and Dragon Daughter, doubted her new position.
It is a dream for some, Meydra told Bryn. It will be a nightmare for others.
Meydra could feel the anxiety building in Bryn’s heart. At the Stones, Bryn accepted the crown and embraced all that the Stones whispered to her. She accepted her ancestry and the truth that she was possibly the last of a long line of Dragon Daughters. It was easy to do so with the Stones telling you their story and weaving a magic spell over the company. It was harder in the dimming light of evening with no shelter and a cold wind blowing. There was still much for Bryn to learn and accept. Her resolve was strong. Meydra embraced Bryn’s heart with her own. Bryn released a heavy sigh.
“We will stop here for the night,” she instructed the company. She reined her horse to a stop. “It has been a long day, and weariness will cause us to make mistakes. We need a hot meal and a bit of sleep.”
Bryn dismounted from her horse, the ever steady Pymmar, and released his reins. “Go now and sup, my loyal friend.” Pymmar rubbed his nose against Bryn’s shoulder. He bent his head to nibble the grass. Bryn walked to a small group of stones and stared down at the ground around them.
Arryn, now a dragon rider himself, still had doubts about the events of the day. The death of Meylarn and the subsequent joining of Meydra and Bryn confused him. He had not spoken with Bryn since leaving the Stones. All the years watching Bryn grow to become a woman, Arryn thought he understood her. Shieldmaiden to a princess. Druid child in a world of changes. She was given a choice at the Stones. He was as uncertain about the choice as she appeared to be. Bryn chose this path, knowing she would place herself where others might not wish to follow. The path would be difficult and treacherous.
Arryn dismounted and called to his dragon. In a heartbeat’s time, the dragon swooped down to stand upon the ground before Arryn.
“Take up watch in the east, my friend,” Arryn said aloud. “We are weary and sleep may find us soon.”
The young dragon nodded at Arryn and lifted silently up and flew toward the east to sit and keep watch over the darkened sea. Arryn watched as his dragon disappeared into the fading light. He walked over to where Bryn still stood looking at the circle of stones.
“You have been very silent.” Arryn bent down to stir at the ashes in the inner circle. A fire had been there recently. But for the moment, Arryn’s attention was on Bryn and not the ash. He stood up and gazed at Bryn. The crown sitting on her forehead with its center jewel fused to her skin glowed softly in the twilight. He reached up to touch the jewel, but Bryn gripped his wrist.
“No. You must not yet touch the jewel. It will burn you.”
Arryn frowned. “Are you in pain?”
“No, Arryn.” Bryn gave him a soft smile. “I am bathed in warmth only.” She pushed some ash around with her boot. “This fire has not been long out. I do believe we will meet up with others in Skerrabrae.”
Arryn studied the ash and beckoned Prince Malcolm to join them.
Malcolm approached but kept his distance until acknowledged. A frown turned the corners of Bryn’s mouth.
“We will have company at Skerrabrae,” Arryn said over his shoulder to Malcolm.
“Join us, Malcolm. As a matter of fact, I want you all to draw closer for a moment.” She motioned to the others who had been standing around. They were like perplexed children, waiting to be told what to do.
Bryn studied each of the company: the elves, Neulta and Leus, with their stony faces; Kenna, Princess of the Bridei clann; Malcolm, Prince of men belonging to the southern realm of Alban; Arryn of the Epidii, friend and ally. And her beloved, Thalynder, Princess of The Realm That Touches Two Seas. All wore faces lined with concern and full of question.
“You are uneasy. Nothing has changed.” She clutched the sides of her tunic as she spoke.
“How can you say that?” Leus asked. “You have a jewel embedded in your forehead. You glow as if lit from the inside. Your voice is stronger, your stature taller.”
“You are our new leader,” Kenna added. “We are just waiting for your direction.”
Bryn took a step toward her company. “We have the same tasks we had last evening. We need a fire. We need food. We need sleep. Yes, I am physically changed, but I am still Bryn. I still breathe. I still ache. I still hunger.”
Arryn chuckled. “I think we were waiting to see if you also walked above the ground or sprouted wings.” His statement brought smiles to the faces of the others. “After all, it is not every day you see what we saw. Some of us may even doubt what we saw at the Stones. We all could have been dreaming.”
“We are awake now. Let us make a fire, prepare a meal and discuss just what you saw,” Bryn said. “The sooner you air your concerns, the sooner we can move forward. I am weary, and I would like to end this day with a hot meal and rest.”
Thalynder reached out and took Bryn’s hand. “Would you like to help me cook?”
Bryn and Thalynder provided a meal of rabbit and marsh grass. The company sat and rested as the sun settled deep on the horizon. The sky would darken only slightly this time of the year. They were so far north that the sun would dip just below the horizon and there travel around to the east to rise again. Bryn let Kenna and Leus clean up after the meal, all the while watching the interaction between the two. She could see that Kenna was fascinated by the tall regal elf, and much to her surprise, noted that Leus appeared to be just as fascinated by the little Druid princess. Bryn wondered if Kenna even understood that it could have been her that was to lead the clanns. Kenna’s mother was an elf-sister, aunt to Bryn and sister to Bryn’s mother, and had every right to think her own kin would someday wear the crown. Thus far, the idea did not seem to cross Kenna’s mind. If it had, she was keeping very quiet about it.
As the company rejoined each other at the fire, Bryn stood up. “I have need to speak with Meydra, after which I would like to sit and talk with you. Please excuse me for a moment.” She started for the area where the dragons had gathered in the dusk.
Thalynder watched her walk away. “She looks tired. Could we not persuade her to sleep?”
“She will rest when ready,” Neulta said. “She has much to do before we return to lower Alban.”
Thalynder shook her head. “She is still human. Surely, if she still eats, she still needs to sleep.”
Arryn nodded. “Yes. She does need to sleep, My Princess, but I believe she has one last task before she can truly rest for the night.”
“And what is that?” Malcolm asked.
Arryn turned to him. “Assure us that she is still the same Bryn inside the new wrappings. We can see the physical changes on the outside. We can only guess what is going on in her mind. Nevertheless, I believe her to be struggling with her heart. She cares for the entire population of Alban. Not just the Picts, not just the Druids, not just the clanns or the lower kingdoms. Her heart is with Alban and all its inhabitants.”
“She carries a great deal on her shoulders,” Kenna said as she sat down with the others. “I am glad it was not I who was chosen to carry this burden.”
Arryn smiled. Kenna could have just as easily been tasked with this burden. He understood from all he saw in Anethar’s book and on the Gathering Stone at the circle that Kenna was also of the line of Athyl, daughter of an elf-sister, cousin to Bryn. They carried the same blood with perhaps the exception of Kenna’s father. That may be the difference, he mused.
“It is a fantastic tale,” Malcolm said. “Had I not witnessed it myself, I would never believe it coming from another’s mouth.”
Bryn walked out to the dragons and greeted all with her heart. She stood in front of Meydra and held her arms open. Meydra bowed her head and they touched foreheads. The jewel in Bryn’s crown and the one on Meydra’s forehead glowed with a soft pink light. The two stood silent for several seconds. Bryn released her hold and stepped back a pace. She chose to speak aloud and in the ancient tongue of her clann. The words flowed effortlessl
y.
“I believe they are forming their questions now. I want them to speak from the heart and go as far as they need to be comfortable.”
“I sense that they are apprehensive only because of the jewel at your forehead,” Meydra replied in the same tongue. “They can understand a strong leader, a warrior to lead them, but they do not understand the dragon lore.”
“That too is what I believe. How do I explain it to them when I can only see the explanation in my mind, and I cannot find the right words to describe what I see?”
“Take each question separately. Each will turn over in your mind, and the answer will be back at the Stones. You were told this.”
Bryn chuckled. “Yes, but I was not given a clue as to what the questions would be.”
“True. There is one other thing you must know now before reaching Skerrabrae.”
“What is that?”
“You will be met by the Elf-Sisters at the ancient home. They have already arrived and await your coming. You will be asked to confirm your decision, and you must accept your new name.”
“I am Athebryn,” Bryn replied. “I have already accepted that name and all that it implies.”
“I know that, as did Meylarn.”
“Meydra, tell me, why was Meylarn chosen to be High Dragon if she was to give up her life so soon?”
“I could not give up mine.”
“You were chosen to be the High Dragon after Menchor?” Bryn asked.
The other dragons answered in unison. “It was her destiny.”
“Why did Meldred, and Meylarn after him, become the High Dragon after Menchor and not you, Meydra?”
“I had to refuse, for the moment. I had other duties to perform before I could assume my true position. Because Meylarn was the direct line to Meldred, it was the best explanation for the other dragons. All expected me to take Menchor’s place until you were conceived. When it was clear that Meylarn would die when she gave you her heart, all believed I would finally assume my place. To have done otherwise would have led to a different outcome for both of us.”