by Delia Castel
Polaris whirled on him, his eyes burning. “You sacrificed yourself so119` I could bring Marigold home. In that time, she’s bonded with all of us, developed her powers as a spirit dragon, and helped Matheson to achieve his maturity. You are the most innocent party in this entire situation.”
“I suppose…” Berrin shrugged and stared down at the tufts of grass growing through the charred mess. “But no matter what we did, she still ended up in Uncle’s clutches.”
“She won’t stay there for long. The Marigold I have come to know is even more of a fighter than the frightened servant we met at the beginning of Festival week.” Polaris slung an arm around Berrin’s shoulder. “Did you know she threatened another she-dragon when her mates had overpowered me in an aerial battle?”
Berrin shook his head, and they headed toward the house. “I can’t see four male dragons getting the better of you even if they worked together.”
“It was seven, and they froze my buoyant air. If they had held me in their ice trap for much longer, they would have doused my flames.”
Berrin relaxed a little, and thoughts of Marigold defenseless and at the mercy of Uncle Hertz faded, replaced by images of her kicking and slashing at the cowardly old dragon with her sharp, new claws. They stepped through the door into the stone vestibule leading to the stairwell.
The door to the main wing swung open, and Nanny stepped in their path, her face grim. “I’m glad the doctor reached you in time. When you didn’t come home, we went down to the Tower and saw the rubble. It was a trap, wasn’t it?”
“I’m afraid so,” said Berrin.
“And the young Mistress is…?”
Berrin glanced away. “Uncle Hertz took her.”
“He used a magical barrier to snatch Marigold before the rubble fell,” added Polaris.
Her eyes closed for the space of two blinks. “Did the doctor at least tend to all your injuries?”
Berrin nodded. She was referring to their dragon forms. A shifter’s transformation could heal most wounds, but it would leave the person diminished until they received magical medicine. Something as grievous as a tall, stone building smashing bones and crushing organs would be too much for even a dragon’s magic to heal. He was grateful that Polaris had borne the brunt of the impact, but his brother might have paid a hefty price. There was no telling what the effects would be on his ability to serve in the King’s Regiment.
“Dr. Squamatus did a wonderful job.” Polaris gave her a warm smile. “Thank you.”
“Well, I couldn’t just stand there wringing my hands,” she said, her voice gruff. “It’s good to see you all in good spirits. Sword belts are ready in the dining room, as is a good dinner and supplies for your journey.”
Berrin swallowed a lump in his throat. Beneath her no-nonsense exterior lay a warm heart and unconditional support. “Thank you, Nanny.”
“One of Lady Brimstone’s girls brought this.” Nanny pulled a white, lace handkerchief from her pocket. A drop of blood stained its middle. “She didn’t say what it was for.”
Berrin turned to Polaris, who shrugged. He was about to say something, when Matheson charged down the stairs holding a copper earring in his palm. “Oh, Nanny, could you burn that handkerchief, please?” Placing the jewelry in Polaris’ palm, he said, “I couldn’t find my jacket with Uncle Hertz’ blood.”
Nanny placed her hand on her mouth. “The stains were impossible to get out, so I burned it.”
“Not to worry.” Polaris grinned at the earring in his palm. “This is perfect.”
After a hasty meal of bread, soup, and cold meats, they loaded supplies into enchanted pouches and set off to meet a wizard associate of Polaris whose location spells were deadly accurate. It would be a hard flight, due to him and Matheson being unused to long journeys, their recent injuries, and having to share Polaris’ weight. The doctor had advised his eldest brother not to transform for another twelve hours, as his wounds needed a chance to finish healing. This meant having to make several rest stops along the journey.
They flew through the night until the first signs of light seeped out from behind the horizon. Its sapphire-blue light cast the distant mountains in silhouette. Berrin’s wing muscles blazed with agony by the time Polaris guided them over a forest covered in mist the shade of silver florins. Berrin and Matheson caught a boar each, and settled in a clearing to consume their meals.
After eating, Matheson transformed. “Where’s this wizard?”
“Not far,” replied Polaris.
“I still don’t understand why we couldn’t have asked one of the local doctors to help with the spell.”
Polaris shook his head. “The only wizard who would have agreed was Dr. Squamatus, who we’ve depleted of magic.”
Berrin transformed. “What’s so different about the wizard we’re about to meet?”
“He is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Wizard’s Council,” replied Polaris.
“Can we trust him?” Berrin furrowed his brow.
“He’s a friend of sorts. Come on, let’s go.” Polaris walked around a clump of hazel trees.
Berrin glanced at Matheson, who shrugged. “If Polaris wants to leave a sample of Uncle’s blood in the hands of a rogue wizard ejected from the Council for nefarious deeds, I won’t complain.”
He hurried his steps to catch up with Polaris, and the three of them headed towards a series of giant sequoia trees. From deep within a wall of wild blueberry shrubs, a soft patter of inhuman footsteps tracked their movements. Berrin flared his nostrils. They belonged to a lone she-wolf who was either extraordinarily stupid or extraordinarily brave, because most animals could smell dragons even when they weren’t in human form.
He glanced at Polaris, who raised his brows, indicating that he had also heard the wolf.
They continued along the path, talking about nothing, until Matheson twisted and wrenched the wolf up by the scruff of the neck, revealing a small, bald patch on her fur. He bared his teeth. “What are you doing here, assassin?”
Berrin gasped. Was this one of Uncle Hertz’ associates from the Assassin’s Guild? What if they had taken a sample of Marigold’s blood while she had been in that carriage with Uncle Hertz? He gulped. The she-wolf could be on the way to the rogue wizard to track Marigold’s location.
The wolf transformed into a pretty, dark-haired shifter, who landed on the ground in a crouch. “Get off me, dragon!”
Matheson reached down to grab her, but she whipped her hair into his face. He flinched back. “You’ll pay for this!”
“Easy, brother,” said Polaris. “Perhaps she can shed light on Uncle’s plans?”
“I don’t know anything!” She turned back into a wolf and raced into the bushes.
Polaris snarled and dove in after her. Moments later, he emerged with his arms wrapped around the squirming she-wolf. Berrin averted his gaze. There was only one female he wanted to see naked, and it was not her.
Polaris growled. “Answer our questions, and we will let you live.”
White light encased them all, making them freeze to the spot. “No, you answer our questions,” said an amiable voice from beyond the trees. “The first of which is what three dragons are doing in the vicinity of a wizard’s home.”
Berrin would have frowned if he could move his head. Polaris had said this wizard was his friend. What in the name of Vulcan was he doing?
“I’m sure they would answer if you hadn’t frozen them,” snapped another voice.
“While you two are bickering, our poor mate is still trapped in that dragon’s embrace.”
“Alpha,” she snarled.
“Yes, of course, alpha,” said the wizard.
The owner of the voice, a brown-haired wizard, emerged from the trees and released Polaris’ upper body. “Please unhand our… alpha and explain yourselves, Lord Dragons.”
Berrin growled at the mockery in the term of address. It implied that they had no respect for dragons but used the term the same way the servi
ng ladies in the Academy appeased first year fledglings having a tantrum.
Polaris’ face pinched. “I will let go of your wolf when she explains why she was following us.”
“That’s a reasonable request.” A black-haired wizard emerged from the same cluster of trees, followed by another with blond hair. From the looks of the trio, they appeared to be brothers. “We went to a seer friend of ours to locate a specific artifact, and she told us to visit our associate around this time.”
“What artifact?” asked Polaris.
“We have answered your question,” the black-haired wizard’s voice became cold. “Now unhand our mate.”
“Alpha,” she snapped.
“Alpha.” He inclined his head. “Now, Lord Dragon, please release our young lady.”
Polaris relaxed his arms, and the wolf shifter leaped away and stood to the side of the wizards. If Berrin wasn’t so preoccupied with finding Marigold, he would have guessed that the wizards were humoring the she-wolf just to get the chance to mate with her. He pushed those thoughts aside, deciding not to worry about the honor of an assassin who killed people for a living. His wonderful, sweet mate was in peril, and these wizards were delaying their search.
“Release us,” said Polaris.
“And suffer your retribution?” spat the blond-haired wizard.
Polaris pursed his lips. “We have no interest in quarrels. We are on an urgent mission to rescue our mate.” He indicated at the she-wolf with his head. “Surely the three of you can relate to this?”
“Someone took her?” asked the brown-haired one.
“Our uncle,” replied Polaris. “We came to visit Sterling for a location spell.”
The blond-haired wizard furrowed his brows. “He’s not at home. We checked.”
Berrin’s heart sank, and Polaris closed his eyes and let out a breath. “Is this an enchantment you can perform?”
“We are versed in all types of magic,” the black-haired wizard puffed out his chest.
“Why are you helping them?” hissed the she-wolf.
He smirked. “There is a gulf of difference between a statement of prowess and an offer of assistance. Isn’t that right, Lord Dragon?”
“My name is Polaris!” he spat, sounding sick of the wizards’ mockery.
All three of their eyes widened. “General Auburn of the King’s Regiment?”
“The very same,” he replied.
The black-haired brother straightened. “Please excuse my rudeness. My name is Jett, the one over there with the brown hair is Bruno, and the blond is Ivory. We are the Brothers Suini.”
Jett released them, and Polaris gave them a nod of thanks. Berrin tilted his head to the side, wondering why they were suddenly so friendly.
“We apologize for not meeting you in Pleco,” said Ivory, the blond-haired wizard. “We were—”
“Indisposed,” snapped Jett.
Polaris raised a shoulder. “The investigation into the magical bubble around Chrysos is still underway. We would still appreciate your expertise in examining the magic. Now, would you please perform the spell?”
“In exchange for the use of your father’s flamberge.”
Matheson narrowed his eyes. “What would three wizards want with a cursed sword?”
“We wish to kill a fairy,” said Ivory.
“Where?” snapped Polaris. “The existence of such creatures is a matter for the King’s Regiment.”
Jett shot his brother a filthy look. “It is in the last place the Regiment would look, and we will not compromise our mission by revealing its location.”
Berrin’s heart accelerated. If fairies had found a way out of their realm, this was a matter of national security. He wanted to shake sense into the wizards, but Matheson spoke first. “Our father was murdered by the same person who has taken our mate, and I am the new Lord Auburn. Help us with this spell, and I will let you use the flamberge.”
“Matheson,” hissed Polaris.
A muscle flexed in Matheson’s jaw. “It’s been nothing but a blight on my life. If these wizards can find use for it, they are welcome to the wretched thing.”
“Very well,” said Jett. “Ivory, Bruno, create a map of Igneous.” He turned to Polaris. “Do you have a blood sample?”
Moments later, the three wizards placed their staffs together and performed the enchantment. Nothing appeared on the map of Igneous, and Berrin’s shoulders slumped. After all that talk, they had been unable to perform the spell.
“Marigold’s family came from the Isle of Festum,” said Matheson. “What if Uncle Hertz has taken her out of the country?”
Berrin nodded. “Maybe this mythical fortune he’s after is buried there.”
The three wizards expanded their magical map, creating a atlas of the world. They raised their joined staffs and performed the enchantment again. A red dot appeared over the Golden Sea.
“Why in the name of Vulcan are they headed for Pleco?” asked Polaris. “There’s nothing but the King’s Regiment there.”
Bruno turned to him. “They are still in flight, and I believe they are headed towards Chrysos.”
“Why?” asked Berrin.
Ivory turned to him, his blue eyes clouded with worry. “You said your uncle wanted a fortune? What bigger fortune is there than all the dragon gold in Chrysos?”
Berrin shook his head. “Unless they’ve captured the sorceress who closed off the island, they’re not going to get in.”
“Oh!” Matheson’s eyes went wide.
Everyone turned to him. Polaris placed a hand on his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“Marigold’s mother was Princess Gilda of Festum!” cried Matheson.
Berrin tilted his head to the side. This information wasn’t new. He glanced at the wizards to see if they knew what Matheson was talking about, but they gave him equally blank stares.
“Her grandmother was a sorceress of the Ambrosius clan.”
“Ambrosius, really?” Jett reached into the pouch on his belt, pulled out a smaller version of their robes, and threw it to the she-wolf. “In that case, we cannot delay!”
“We?” Polaris asked.
“We’re coming with you. I’m assuming that Princess Gilda sealed the island of Chrysos. If someone is planning to breach it, such an action could jostle open the portal to the realm of the fairies. We must stop them or at least try to reverse their ritual!”
“Can you enchant yourselves to be lighter?” asked Polaris. “Three wizards would be useful in a battle.”
“Certainly, but we cannot leave our mate behind.”
Berrin glanced at the she-wolf to see if she would protest at being called their mate, but she merely looked shocked at developments. His own heart thrummed with excitement. “Can you track their movements on the way?”
“Yes!” Ivory headed towards him. “I’ll ride with you, if I may. When we reach Pleco, we can recast it and find out where they’ve landed.”
Berrin’s throat dried, and he nodded. At last, some real progress and strong allies. He hoped they reached Chrysos before Uncle Hertz attempted to breach the magical bubble.
Chapter 20
Hours later, Marigold glided towards land, just as the sun lay on the horizon. The orange ball of fire cast its glow across the sky, bathing it in a hue that reminded her of diluted blood. A darker shade of red, like the scales of two dragons she was forbidden to remember, covered the sea. Her wings ached from flying all day, and her lungs felt ready to implode. She longed to release her dragon form, but the voice of her master whispered that it was not yet time for her to rest. The person she’d carried in the snow had long stopped shouting and now lay stiff between her talons.
All she could discern of the island was a peculiar dome, surrounded by a sandy beach. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she hoped this was her destination, because she didn’t know how long she could maintain this form.
“Drop Prince Aurelius to the wizards,” said her master.
She peere
d down and found a pair of men in black robes standing by an upright trunk as high as they were tall. Swooping down and relaxing her talons, she let the person fall onto the sand. The wizards wrapped him in a robe and performed some spells on his unmoving body.
“Good girl!” Her master scratched the underside of her neck. “Now, make a gentle landing, and I will release your yoke.”
She obeyed his instructions, recalling some lessons a person had once given her on how to land. Raising her wings and swinging her hind legs forward, she brought her talons to the sand and let the front of her body drop gently to the soft ground.
Two bear shifters jogged up to them from behind. The largest of them asked, “Where’s the girl?”
“Closer than you think.” With one, sharp tug, her master pulled the spike out from the base of her neck and leapt off.
The magic that had infiltrated her body retracted as quickly as it had arrived. Marigold collapsed, transforming on her way down. She landed on her face, every fiber of her body in agony. But more important than the pain was the dawning realization that she was alone with powerful enemies, and her only ally had nearly frozen to death.
One of the shifters turned her around with his boot. Marigold squinted up to find the bearded faces Lord Arctos and Poda, her former probation officer, leering down at her.
Dread filled her veins like frozen acid and pooled in her stomach. She’d hoped Poda had died of his injuries, as she had stabbed him enough times when he had attacked her in the mansion.
Lord Arctos grinned. “Welcome to Chrysos, Merry. We look forward to your participation.”
Although her pulse thudded hard in her ears, she scowled up at them from where she lay. She would not let them see her fear.
“You said I could have her.” Poda bared his half-transformed teeth.
Lord Arctos patted his companion on the shoulder. “Not until the ritual is complete.”
Her heart lurched into her throat as she recalled what Prince Aurelius had said about performing magic with Princess Gilda to close the rift between their realm and that of the fairies. If they tampered with the bubble, wouldn’t that result in centuries of bloodshed? Hertz had to know about the fairies—he’d had enough time to question Prince Aurelius about the magic.