Dare to Believe: Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy Bundle (Series Bundle Andy Smithson Bk 4, 5 & 6): Dragons, Serpents, Unicorns, Pegasus, Pixies, Trolls, Dwarfs, Knights and More!

by L. R. W. Lee

  “Weird. So what’s it do?”

  Alden, who followed, smacked into the barrier and landed on his behind. “Oh!” He grabbed for his nose, which started to bleed.

  “What?” Andy turned and again felt for the obstacle, but found no impediment.

  Alden pinched his nose and stood. His hand located the barrier without difficulty.

  “I don’t get it? Why can’t you pass?”

  “Probably for the same reason stone statues come to life when you’re around,” Alden answered in a nasally tone.

  It’s like the barrier at home. But this time it’s keeping Alden out.

  “You’re going to have to do this without me. I’ll wait for you here.”

  Andy took a deep breath. Surveying the horizon, nothing moved and all was quiet. Taking no chances, he drew Methuselah and took off for the hidden entrance he and his friends had used only yesterday. He located and depressed the keystone and the door permitted him entry. After closing it, he descended the flight of wooden stairs, turned right, and set out, following the castle wall’s footprint. While stray sounds met him every now and then, he encountered no zolt. But as he neared the door leading to the servants’ quarters, the unmistakable sound of Abaddon in a fit of rage thundered up from the dungeon below.

  Andy inched down the stairs and froze behind the tapestry that hid the tunnels from the dungeon. Peering through the hole, Andy watched the red dragon pace in circles around Father, who sat bound to a chair in the middle. His head fell forward and bobbled every so often. Dagon and Gozler goaded him with a pointed prod each time their master directed a nod their way. A handful of zolt cheered from positions next to Fides.

  Despite Abaddon’s persistence, Father refused to acknowledge the dragon as sovereign. Andy bit his knuckles with every strike Father received, willing himself to endure until the crowd dispersed or at least thinned.

  The sound of pounding hooves broke the tension as two stone knights rode into the space, pulling up short, one on either side of the King. Everyone stared in silence.

  “Unhand him!” Sir Gawain protested, raising his sword.

  Abaddon nodded and Fides pounded the pair with bolts of energy until they exploded in a cloud of dust. Andy couldn’t restrain his gasp of horror, but the noise of zolt celebrations concealed it. Andy’s stomach threatened mutiny as tears again fell.

  They came alive because of me.

  Andy’s inneru countered, “They came alive because of the gold key and Methuselah.”

  With a flick, Fides banished the carnage as if the knights had been nothing more than stone. Abaddon resumed his regimen of pacing and torture. The agony went on interminably, but at length the seven-headed dragon roared and let loose choking green vapor from several of his mouths. “I will wait as long as it takes! Move him to a cell. No food or water!”

  Dagon, Gozler, and Fides followed Abaddon from the room. One of the zolt that had been taunting Father cuffed him on the ear, and another landed a punch to his stomach. Andy waited for the dungeon door to thunder shut before he bolted from hiding in a fury of rage. Time slowed as Methuselah connected with necks, arms, and ribs. When things resumed their normal pace, Andy stood alone amidst the carnage.

  “Father!” he whispered.

  The King rolled his head to the side. Through slits he recognized Andy and gave a bloody smile.

  “Let’s get you out of here.” Andy cut Father’s bonds and the man slid onto the floor, limp as a rag doll.

  “I can’t carry you. I need you to walk.”

  Father made efforts to rise, but strength had abandoned him. Andy put his arm around the King’s shoulders and tried to lift him, but he might as well have been a sleeping troll for all the good it did.

  “Come on, Father. We have to go. Now.” Andy noticed his voice rising with desperation. “You have to try.” Even as he said it, the reality of the situation broke him. “I can’t let you die. Not like this.”

  Father managed another half smile and raised an arm. “It’s okay, Son.” His voice came in raspy spurts. “I love you. I’m proud of you.”

  “Stop. You’re not going to die. I won’t let you.” Andy tried to lift him once more and again failed. With tears blinding his vision, he wrapped his arms around the King and buried his face in Father’s slowly rising chest.

  Approaching footsteps brought him back to reality. “Father, get up!” he begged in a high whisper.

  “Go. To. Safety,” the King managed.

  “Ow!” Without warning, Andy thudded on the hard ground next to where Alden sat, making his friend start. An eerie silence enveloped the night and fog covered all but the brightest stars.

  “What happened? How’d you get here?”

  Andy glanced about, unsure. Instantly, the memory of Mom doing the same thing at home flashed through his mind. “Father!”

  “Shhh!”

  Andy recounted everything he had seen, and Alden tried to encourage him. “They haven’t killed him. After everything he’s been through do you really think they’ll succeed? He’s one tough dude, as you say.”

  The corners of Andy’s mouth started up but quickly fell. “I need to try again.”

  “Andy. Stop. There’s nothing you can do right now. Come on. You’ve been in there half the night. You need to eat. Maybe you can try again tomorrow.”

  A cloud of helplessness filled Andy as he and Alden trudged back to join the others.

  When Andy arrived back, Mom and Razen had their heads together, deep in conversation,

  Grrr. I hope he’s happy.

  “Andy…” MiniMe warned.

  “How’d it go?” Mom looked up.

  Andy hesitated not wanting to divulge his activities to the decidedly bird-like operations manager.

  “It’s okay.” Mom scanned the area. “No one will overhear.”

  No one except him.

  Mom’s unwavering stare finally persuaded Andy to recount everything that had happened. He ended his tale with “I couldn’t save him.”

  If Andy hadn’t known better he would have sworn Razen grimaced at the news, but the man cleared his throat a second later erasing the possibility.

  “You did your best, Andy. It’s all you can ask of yourself. You need to be satisfied with that, at least for now.”

  “But I didn’t rescue him.”

  Mom reached over and pulled him close. “Sometimes things don’t work out as we wish. Now come on, it’s been a long and difficult day. You need to get some rest.”

  As with the previous night, sleep did not come quickly. Andy’s thoughts wrestled with all that had happened over the last couple days—between Yara’s death and Father’s incarceration and torment, Andy tossed and turned. A movie reel began playing on the screen of his dreams: Father lay on the floor of the castle dungeon. Abaddon and Fides returned to find the scene of devastation, with zolt bodies scattered across the floor. They demanded answers: How did they die? Why would they have killed themselves? Father uttered not a word despite their not-so-gentle prodding.

  Razen entered the space, bowed, and raised an eyebrow at Father. “You would be better served not to kill him, for despite his current condition, he gives you the ear of the citizens. Without him, your power would be greatly diminished. Dispose of him once you have won the people over.”

  The dragon bobbed its heads, contemplating as it paced. At length, a guttural hiss spewed from one mouth. “I do not need the approval of these scum. I am their master and they will serve me!”

  Razen raised a bony finger. “With all due respect, if you did not take over by force, I speculate they would serve you willingly.”

  In a tone that could only be described as creepy, Abaddon replied, “You seem to have an affinity for your former sovereign. Can’t bring yourself to actually kill him?”

  “Not at all, my liege. I’m just presenting you with the best option as I see it.”

  Dagon snorted and Razen returned a sneer before continuing, “My allegiance is to you and yo
u alone. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see to the condition of your puppet.” With that, he motioned for the two bird-sentries to move the King to a cell, which they did, albeit rather roughly.

  “Take it easy!” Andy yelled, waking himself up.

  Mom reached over and put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re okay.”

  Andy woke before the sun. Glad to have other pursuits to occupy his thoughts, he rubbed sleep from his eyes, threw off his blanket, and ambled over to the banked fire. No one else stirred. He stuck a stray stick in the glowing embers and the fire soon warmed to his company. Fairly certain he knew how to make coffee, he set a pot of water to boil and sat down to wait.

  Andy inventoried those he loved. Mom slept next to his rumpled bedroll. Alden and Hannah lay with their hands outstretched, nearly touching. Mermin and Captain Baldric finished out the ring around the fire. Not far away, Hans and Marta, along with Sergeants Hammond, Terric, and Gavin, snored around another bed of glowing embers. Griffins continued their patrol about the circumference of the gathering.

  Happy for the alone time, his smile dared a few jumping jacks as he continued to scan the ranks. Resolve grew inside him like never before. These are my people. I will restore this kingdom.

  An officer assigned to the night watch perambulated past several minutes later, bringing him back to the present. The water started to boil and Andy rose, concocting his version of the dark beverage. He took a sip. Pretty good.

  Not long after, Razen scurried over to Mom who nursed a cup of Andy’s special blend. The small kindness the bird-man paid Father in Andy’s dream forced down the beast that usually begged to exact vengeance on the traitor.

  “Majesty, it’s been two nights out in the elements. Thankfully it hasn’t rained. You’ll pardon me for saying so, but I don’t see us reclaiming the castle any time soon. We need to find more suitable shelter and a ready supply of food for the staff and military.”

  Mom nodded. “You’re right.”

  “But where?” Andy questioned. “There’s got to be three hundred of us.”

  “Three hundred thirty four to be exact,” Razen offered.

  “There’s only one place I know of that can accommodate all of us: Castle Ferrin.”

  “Where?” Razen and Andy responded in a duet as Mermin joined them.

  “The place of your father’s birth and where his troubles began. The place where I served the royal family,” Mom intoned.

  Razen raised an eyebrow over his bulging bird eyes.

  “That’s right! His father banished him,” Andy remembered. “But I’ve never seen another castle near here. Where is it?”

  “South of here, just past Ooozy Bog, near Lake Nimue,” Mermin offered. “I question its condition. It’s been several hundwed years since anyone inhabited it.”

  “We’ve got to try,” Andy insisted, drawing curious looks from Mom and Mermin.

  “Then so be it,” Mom agreed, a smile flirting on her lips.

  “Very well. I’ll get everyone organized. We will be ready to move out in two hours,” Razen assured, receiving a nod from Mom.

  As soon as the operations manager left, Andy reported, “I had a dream about Father.” At their eager looks, he told Mom and Mermin the details, ending with, “We can’t just leave him. What can we do?”

  “Knowing how you feel about Razen, you’re not going to like what I’m about to say.”

  Andy met Mom’s eyes.

  “I trust Razen. He will act only for our good as well as Father’s.”

  “I agwee.”

  Andy threw his head back and silently cursed the sky.

  “Andy! Watch your mouth,” MiniMe admonished.

  Andy shook his head. “Can I at least try to rescue him one more time?”

  Mom turned to face Andy and put her hands on his shoulders. “Son, we need to put the good of the people above our own wants. Isn’t that what Father always says?”

  She sounds like she’s trying to convince herself.

  Andy nodded slowly.

  “He knows you love him and would do everything in your power to free him. I know it’s hard. It’s hard for me, too.” Mom’s voice wobbled. “To have gotten him back after all these years and then know he’s suffering at the hands of that lunatic.” She brought a hand to her chest and sighed as a tear escaped.

  Andy stepped forward and swallowed her in an embrace he knew he needed as much as she did.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Diplomat

  Two hours later, true to his word, Razen interrupted the conversation between Mom, Mermin, Andy, and Regents Bellum and Cronkar. “Majesty, all is in readiness.”

  “Thank you.”

  Griffins launched to escort the ragtag band as it set out. Max and Oscar, with their families in tow, waved as they passed. At least we’ll have money to rebuild. Supply wagons trundled past as Andy surveyed the scene. I’m leaving this place that’s changed my life forever. So much has happened. Father. Yara. A volcano of feelings erupted and he found himself at a loss to make sense of it all.

  Alden and Hannah interrupted his reverie several minutes later as they approached. Sensing the tumult of Andy’s emotions, Hannah agreed, “Yeah, us too. Come on. Walk with us.”

  The trio caught up with Mom and Mermin who continued to discuss strategy with the regents.

  “…and Mermin will act as leader in my stead should I be called away.”

  The officers nodded their assent with frowns.

  “I’m none too fond of this idea.” Cronker raised a hand in protest. “From what you’ve said, you and the young prince are vulnerable to Abaddon and his emissaries where you go.”

  “Actually, the discs Mermin sent seem to protect us there,” Andy interjected.

  “That’s of little comfort, I’m afraid,” Bellum countered. “No offense, Mermin, but despite the discs, our adversary managed to penetrate Princess Yara’s mind.”

  The wizard nodded with downcast face. “I failed to include that possibility in my formula when I concocted them. I’m sowwy.”

  “I think you saved my life,” Andy countered. “Abaddon tried, but he couldn’t drown me. It had to be the disc that stopped him.”

  The wizard brightened then added, “If you’re called away, you’ll need to take pwecautions not to incite the enemy to contwol your mind. Without a labowatory, I cannot modify your discs.”

  “We understand, Mermin,” Mom encouraged, placing a hand on his arm. “We’ll be careful.”

  A quiet chuckle escaped the mage a minute later.

  “What is it?” Mom questioned.

  “You’re quite the diplomat, my queen.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “You helped me feel better about my oversight, you won the gwiffins over, and you pwocured another Stone of Athanasia. Now you’re using the same skill to manage the delicate situation we find ourselves in—you’re establishing the beginnings of a new government at Castle Fewwin as well as designing contingencies should you be called away, both of which will weassure the people.”

  “I hadn’t thought of it that way. Whatever you choose to call it, it’s looking like this is to be my role. I saw these things needed to be done and I took action. We must resist this menace and give the people hope. There’s much to be done and not much time.

  “We are in the fight of our lives. The regents will ready the military to do what we’ve discussed—save the King, retake the castle, and protect the land. But we will need more than that to defeat Abaddon.”

  Andy fought back the urge to divulge what he had learned about restoring the centers of power of the troika’s member nations. MiniMe interrupted Andy as he listened and again cautioned, “Don’t say anything. Do. Not. Say. Anything.”

  Mom continued, “We will need the help of our friends and neighbors. I know we can count on help from King Nithi and the dwarfs as well as the gnomes. The griffins have joined our side, but we need the support of the dragons, pixies, fairies, ogres, kappas, mermen, giants, an
d any others we can rally to our aid. We have one or two friends among most of these groups, but it’s not enough. We will need the strength of numbers. I believe that’s my job, to gain their help. Not to mention contacting any remaining troika leadership.”

  “And how do you plan to do that?” Cronker asked.

  “Visiting each and building trust. It will not be quick or easy, but it’s the only way I see.”

  “We want to help you,” Alden and Hannah echoed.

  With their offer hanging in the air, Imogenia appeared.

  “Ah, sister. Glad you could join us.”

  The spirit smiled. “Thank you, my queen.”

  “You come at a good time. By the way, thank you for getting the committee to issue Mermin a stone. That relieves much of my worry.”

  Imogenia beamed. “I was happy to help. I’m just glad they listened.”

  You weren’t happy to help. Mom forced you to act.

  “Andy…watch yourself,” MiniMe warned.

  “Since you did such a good job with that assignment, I was wondering…”

  The spirit clapped her hands, giddy, to which Andy rolled his eyes and wondered, Why’s Mom buttering her up?

  “Have you taken time to reflect on our encounter with the griffins?”

  The silvery maiden paused. “What do you mean?”

  “What did you observe? What did you learn?”

  “I don’t know. They can be vicious?”

  “True enough, but anything else?”

  “Well, I thought the baby I saw hatch was really cute.”

  Andy noticed she didn’t expand on her revelation about feeling trapped.

  “Anything else?”

  “And mates seem to really love each other.”

  “What were they doing for Carta?”

  “Guarding their mines.”

  “Why?”

  “Because they promised they would.”

  “How did that promise come to be?”

  “The Fates. The twelve lords won the contest of riddles.”

  “True, but what else?”

  Imogenia rubbed her arms. “Where are you going with this?”

  “Everything you’ve said is true. But beyond riddles and Fates, the Cartesians and griffins chose to trust each other.” Mom stressed the word. “You’ve chosen to believe—to trust—that Kaysan has not changed.”