“The dragon stone is in our possession,” Jubel replied. “We brought it here with the intention of sharing its blessings on the condition that you and King Hamend agree to lay down your arms. Furthermore, the prisoner Samten is to be returned to us immediately.”
King Hamend pulled on the reins of his horse angrily and trotted over to where Orlla stood. “We had an agreement. The prisoner’s life in exchange for the Opal of Light.”
Orlla arched an eyebrow coldly. “A share in the Opal of Light. And where is the prisoner?”
A thunderous look passed over Hamend’s face. “One of my own court deceived me and handed the prisoner over to Brufus. Ask him! He seeks the dragon stone for himself.”
Orlla fixed an icy stare on Brufus. “What have you done with my brother?”
Brufus curled his lip into a contemptuous smirk. “I see you are motivated to trade. You will get your brother. But first, show me the Opal of Light.”
His soldiers unsheathed their swords and lined up their horses to face the Keepers.
“Or must I be more persuasive?” Brufus added with barely concealed venom.
“Enough!” a rough voice cut in. A Macobite soldier accompanying Hamend ripped the helm from his head.
“I am Samten, of the house of Radmount, and I will be traded by neither man nor king.”
Chapter 33
Orlla rocked back on her heels, almost dropping her sack at the shock of seeing her brother alive and well. Brufus hadn’t been lying about him escaping after all—in typical Samten fashion, he had somehow used a combination of wits and grit to get away from his captors and infiltrate the Macobite army.
“It would seem we have no need of a trade at this point,” Jubel said, looking pointedly at King Hamend.
“And who are you to dictate terms to me?” the king demanded in a tone laced with condescension.
“I am Jubel, acting master mentor of the Keeper Conservatory, and one of the guardians of the dragon stone.”
“You cannot possibly hope to abscond with the Opal of Light in the presence of two armies,” King Brufus scoffed. “You are surrounded by men of war and outnumbered.”
“We have an entirely different proposition,” Orlla interjected.
King Hamend narrowed his eyes at her. “It would ill behoove you to suppose you are in a favorable position to bargain.”
“I admit that I had in mind to trade a share in the stone to spare my brother’s life, which, thanks to his ingenuity, is no longer necessary,” Orlla said. “However, circumstances have led me to believe that the High Dragon King desires the light dragon stone serve the needs of all people, not just the islanders. I propose the Keepers remain the guardians of the Opal of Light and take it deep into the Angladior mountains and find a new abode for it where everyone will profit from its extraordinary power.”
King Brufus threw back his head and laughed raucously. “Do you presume us to be such pitiful fools that we would permit you to disappear again with the Opal of Light?”
“It is not our intention to disappear. We wish to take representatives from every kingdom with us to train as Keepers of a new Order of the Stone,” Jubel added. “This will ensure there is no prejudice among us and that the Opal of Light remains in a place where all can benefit from its blessings.”
“What is to stop us from seizing the stone and sparing you the trouble?” Brufus scowled, reining in his restless battle charger.
“You do not wish to see what fury the stone will unleash if I call upon it,” Orlla said, willing iron into her voice. “Do not make an enemy of it, for it will be the last enemy you face.”
King Hamend and Brufus exchanged loaded looks. The soldiers tensed, waiting on a command, hands hovering over the hilts of their swords.
“Show us the stone and then we will talk,” King Hamend ordered, cutting through the mounting tension.
“Your Highness, the light of the stone burns brighter than the sun.” Orlla gestured to the assembled horsemen. “All who look upon it risk being blinded by it.”
“Unless I see its power, I will not believe you are in possession of it,” King Hamend snapped. “I will not be taken for a fool.”
Orlla glanced at Jubel who gave a confirming nod.
“I will give you what you ask,” Orlla said, turning to Hamend and Brufus. “Retreat a safe distance and order your armies to hide their faces. I will hold up the dragon stone to the heavens and you will feel its power. But warn your men not to open their eyes until the light has dissipated. All who defy the order will reap the reward for their foolishness.”
King Hamend gave a curt nod to his entourage. They urged their horses forward and galloped off toward the Macobite troops.
Orlla turned her attention to Brufus who held his position, his face betraying nothing. A tingle of unease went up Orlla’s spine. “Are you in agreement?”
A slow sneer spread across Brufus’s face. He tightened his reins and brandished his sword. “Seize the Keepers!” he roared to his soldiers.
Orlla’s lungs filled with panic. “Activate the runes!” she yelled over her shoulder. In a flash she pulled out the dragon stone and held it aloft between her and the horsemen charging toward her. As she spoke aloud the words of the dragon rune inscribed on the stone, an explosion of light boomed through the trees like a mighty crack of thunder. Heat surged through the air and, for a heartbeat, Orlla feared the forest itself was ablaze. Everything around her turned white. It was impossible to see past her shaking fingertips as she struggled to hold the stone high. Horses stumbled, whinnying in distress. Rendered sightless, Pegonian soldiers fell to the ground, crying out in fright. Orlla breathed deeply in and out, allowing the strength and power of the stone to flow through her.
More terrified shrieks sounded from the battlefield. Orlla peered through the blazing brightness until shapes swam into focus, Pegonian and Macobite soldiers and horses crashing into one another in a sea of chaos as they tried to beat a hasty retreat. Gleaming white, silver and gold dragons circled overhead, claws extended and jaws wide, exhaling tracks of jagged blue flames that licked at their fleeing quarry.
“No!” Orlla cried, lowering the dragon stone. “Spare their lives!” Hurriedly stuffing the stone back inside the sack, she watched with dizzying relief as the dragons ascended into the sky and gradually faded from sight, leaving behind a lustrous trail of silver light like a scar across the indigo blue sky. Erdhan appeared at Orlla’s side, staring wide-eyed at the horizon. “The dragons fought for us,” he said in an awed tone.
“Too well.” Orlla grimaced. “I did not mean for Macobite soldiers to die.”
Jubel joined them, her face beset with concern. “Brufus has disappeared. No one saw which direction he went.”
They turned their attention to the blinded soldiers crawling over the ground, crying out in despair, hands outstretched like beggars as they sought some point of contact. The Keepers quickly dispersed among them, helping them to their feet and gathering them into a group.
“Surely King Hamend believes in the power of the stone after that display of power,” Jubel said, her tone grave. “Maybe now he will relent and support us establishing an Order of the Stone.”
“Regardless, Brufus has proved he cannot be trusted, and the remnants of his army has fled with him.” Orlla lifted her chin in the direction of the battlefield. “How can we ever hope to bring unity and peace to the mainland without his backing?”
“We will offer terms of peace to whomever chooses to cooperate with us,” Jubel replied. “We cannot control the actions of those who willfully resist.”
The Keepers led the blinded foot soldiers out of the forest and across the battlefield to where King Hamend waited on his battle charger, surrounded by his entourage. Macobite soldiers with blanched faces and a stricken look in their eyes took a knee before the Keepers as they went by. “There can be no doubt that you possess the dragon stone,” King Hamend said bitterly. “Or that you have kept a greater secret from us.”
>
“We did not know about the dragons until the stone left the island.” Orlla tilted her chin defiantly. “We were as shocked as anyone when they made their appearance. The stone awakened them.”
“The war is over now,” Jubel said firmly. “It is time to lay aside our grudges and grievances, and unite.”
“Brufus has no desire to unite,” King Hamend countered. “He will be hesitant to engage us now that he has seen the true extent of the stone’s power, but I do not trust him. We must stay on guard against a surprise attack.”
“Agreed,” Jubel said. “But any of his soldiers who remain here, or who flee Pegonia, may choose to swear allegiance to the new Order of the Stone.” She pinned a cold gaze on King Hamend. “Macobin is to be a refuge for all those who seek shelter, regardless of their origin. Do you accept these terms?”
“If it is the High Dragon King’s will, who am I to dissent?” King Hamend replied in a frosty tone.
Jubel gave a nod of acknowledgement. “Send your soldiers home now. We will spend the night at the outpost and set off tomorrow to seek a new abode for the Opal of Light in the Angladior mountains where we can begin training new Keepers.”
She laid a hand on Erdhan’s shoulder. “This Macobite is our first choice. He has proved himself worthy of the calling and will accompany us.”
The king scrutinized Erdhan. “What is your name and where do you hail from?”
“I am Erdhan, son of Josef of Wilefur.”
“Very well, I will send word to your family.” King Hamend raised a gauntleted hand to wave his soldiers forward and then cantered off.
Jubel looked at Orlla, her features softening. “We have business to attend to before we depart.”
Orlla turned to Samten and swallowed hard. “It pains me greatly to tell you this, but our father has gone to the second life.”
Samten stiffened, a wary distance in his eyes, as if loathe to surrender to his emotions. “I did not deserve such a father as he. I was a disappointment to him.”
“You can still make him proud,” Orlla said quietly. “Your whole life is before you, and there is much to be done to accomplish peace on the mainland.”
Samten pressed his lips tightly together. “I am no Keeper. I will bury our father and then I will journey to Lichtenburg with the Macobite army.”
Orlla opened her mouth to protest, but Jubel spoke first. “Perhaps it will be a good thing for us to have someone trustworthy in King Hamend’s service. We will be forewarned if the king should ever turn against us or devise a scheme to seize control of the Opal of Light again.”
Erdhan shot Orlla a mischievous grin. “Besides, you will have a new Keeper to train who will demand a lot of your attention.”
The party of Keepers, along with Samten and Erdhan, wove their weary way along the path to the outpost. The veiling runes concealing the pass had long since dissolved and the trail to Narto was clearly visible, but it mattered not. There would be no more attempts to conceal the island kingdom from the mainlanders.
As soon as they reached the outpost, Teldus greeted Orlla with a broad smile. “There is someone inside who will be glad to see you have returned safely.”
The door to the cabin grated open and Akolom appeared on the stoop, an unnatural hunch to his shoulders.
Orlla ran up the steps to greet him, taken aback at the lines traversing his face and the hooded eyes that held her gaze. “Samten?” he asked sharply.
“He’s safe.” Her voice quieted to a whispered sob. “I just wish our father could have lived one more day.”
“Hush,” Akolom soothed. “His last days were spent with a healthy mind and that is the greatest blessing the Opal of Light could have given him.”
Orlla blinked back her tears. “I’m glad I didn’t lose you too.”
Akolom raised a brow and gave a rueful grin. “I have a few years left in me and may be somewhat harder to purge.”
“I hope that’s a promise.”
“Come,” Akolom said, putting an arm around her. “Let us give your father the honor a master mentor deserves in death.”
They joined the others and followed Teldus through the forest to the grave he had dug behind the outpost. The group gathered in a solemn circle, fingers loosely interlaced in front of them. Teldus stepped into the center and reverently raised his large hands skyward. “Today we honor the life of master mentor Magnulf, a principled and unprejudiced Keeper who modeled duty and dignity, who brought light where there was darkness, hope where there was despair, and courage where there was fear.”
The words ran together in Orlla’s mind as her thoughts gravitated back to her first days on Efyllsseum. From the outset, her father had made her feel comfortable, secure and loved, never wavering in his commitment to her. He had formally adopted her under Efyllsseum law and made her an equal heir with Samten. He had been her constant source of inspiration and the reason she had strived so hard to succeed at the Conservatory. She had wanted to make him proud, and to make sure he never regretted his decision to save a Macobite child. Her burning desire to bring unity and equity to the mainland was born in large part out of everything her father had represented.
She wiped away a tear dangling on the edge of her lashes and turned her attention back to Teldus’s closing words.
“You gave us strength when we were weak, leadership when we lacked direction, and encouragement when we faltered.” Teldus’s ordinarily strong voice wavered with emotion. “Because of you, the Conservatory grew and flourished in all manner of learning and wisdom, as you kindled the fire of logic within us. I will continually live in thankfulness that you walked among us. You have only retired from our sight for a little while. Rest well, my dear friend until we meet again in the second life.”
Though she thought she had cried all she could, Orlla’s eyes filled with tears again as their father’s body was lowered into the grave. One-by-one the Keepers threw a fistful of dirt over the body, and then Teldus reached for a shovel. Once the grave was filled in, the Keepers laid a heavy stone on top of the mound before beginning a sedate procession back to the outpost. Samten remained withdrawn throughout the ceremony, refusing to meet Orlla’s eye. After several attempts to engage him in conversation on the way back to the cabin, she left him to his own devices, sensing his need to gnaw on his regrets alone.
When the Keepers had settled in for the evening around a camp fire, Akolom rose to address them. “I would be remiss if I did not heartily thank Jubel for stepping up and leading the Conservatory with such wisdom and bravery in a time of crisis. It is my recommendation that she be officially nominated as the master mentor upon my demise.”
The Keepers clapped and cheered while Jubel held up her hands in protest. “We all hope that day is a long time coming,” she shouted over them.
“Tomorrow morn,” Akolom continued, “we will set out to seek a new resting place for the Opal of Light. Tonight we will rest and contemplate everything we have accomplished. The High Dragon King and the light dragons fight for our cause—a new beginning for the kingdoms of earth. With the warmth of the sun restored to the mainland, the hope of the people is revived, and it is my sincere belief that peace will—”
He broke off at the sound of pounding feet approaching the campfire. The Keepers turned in unison, reaching for their weapons just as a panting Macobite soldier burst through the undergrowth.
“What word from your king?” Jubel inquired, jumping to her feet.
The soldier heaved several ragged breaths before responding. “The sky to the north darkens. King Hamend demands an answer. Is the Opal of Light’s power already exhausted?”
Akolom and Orlla exchanged steely looks, the same unspoken fear springing to mind.
Akolom pulled out his crystal lens and held it up to his eye for a long time. Slowly, he lowered a shaking arm and turned to face the other Keepers.
“The sky to the north is thick with the black breath of dragons. The Onyx of Darkness is upon us.”
END O
F BOOK ONE
Click here for Onyx of Darkness: The Keeper Chronicles Book Two!
Afterword
BIO: NYT and USA Today bestselling author Norma Hinkens writes fast-paced science fiction and fantasy about spunky heroines having epic adventures in dangerous worlds. She’s also a travel junkie, legend lover, and idea wrangler, in no particular order. She grew up in Ireland, land of make-believe and the original little green man.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. For more information about the author, please visit www.normahinkens.com
Text copyright @ 2018 Norma Hinkens
All rights reserved.
No part of the book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Dunecadia Publishing, California
Cover by: http://yocladesigns.com/
Editing by: http://www.jeanette-morris.com/first-impressions-writing/
Created with Vellum
Also by Norma Hinkens
The Undergrounders Series - Post-apocalyptic
Immurement
Embattlement
Judgement
The Expulsion Project - Science Fiction
Girl of Fire
Girl of Stone
Girl of Blood
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Opal of Light: An epic dragon fantasy (The Keeper Chronicles Book 1) Page 28