by Chris Cannon
“Do you think it’s something attuned to your key?” Valmont asked.
They had found the bracelet, which housed her elemental sword, inside a box in the front room. It had been meant for a dragon of Red and Blue descent. It melded her powers of fire and ice into one badass sword.
“I don’t know.”
“No fair,” Ivy said. “You already have a cool toy.” She stared at the back wall and then sucked in a breath. “Something sparkled at me.”
“Show me where,” Miss Enid said.
Ivy led the librarian to a small wooden box coated in dust on the back shelf. Miss Enid used one of her brushes to clean the dust away. “Unlike the one Bryn found, there’s no keyhole on this one.”
“Can I touch it?” Ivy asked.
“Be careful.” Clint moved closer to watch over his girlfriend’s shoulder.
Ivy ran her fingers over the edges of the box. “It feels like a solid piece of wood. I can’t find the opening.”
“Do you need to bleed on it?” Mary asked.
“Maybe.” Ivy frowned. “Whoever thought up this Blood Magic stuff was seriously disturbed.”
Mary placed the tip of her blade on the top of the box. Ivy ran her finger down the edge. When the droplets of blood came into contact with the wood, the box shimmered and there was an audible click.
“Was that a good click or a this-box-is-going-to-blow-up type of click?” Clint asked.
“Since it wasn’t Bryn, it’s probably safe,” Jaxon answered from the sidelines.
Bryn turned to glare at him.
He raised a single eyebrow. “Do you have a valid argument against my logic?”
“No, but it’s not like I ask weird crap to happen around me.”
“Yet, it seems to be your fate.”
The sound of Ivy sucking in a breath made Bryn whip back around. “What is it?”
Ivy held up a black pearl and silver link bracelet. “I never considered myself the type to wear pearls, but these are awesome.”
“It could be an actual bracelet,” Miss Enid said, “or it could contain a spell and a challenge.”
“What does that mean?” Mary asked.
“When I found this bracelet.” Bryn revealed the platinum and sapphire cuff she wore, “It released a spell, which checked to see if I was of the proper descent to wear it.” She’d never forget the creepy disembodied voice saying Prove your worth or burn.
“I remember the story,” Ivy said. “We know this is for a Black dragon, so I think I’m good.”
“Allow me.” Clint took the bracelet and undid the clasp. “If anyone asks, I gave this to you as a token of my love and adoration.” He fastened it on her wrist.
Ivy stared off into space for a moment.
“You might want to give her some room,” Bryn said.
Everyone backed up a step, except for Clint. He moved to stand on the side opposite the bracelet. Ivy sucked in a breath, and what looked like a bolt of lightning, which was the Black dragon’s Element, shot from her hand and formed into a sword.
“Holy crap.” Ivy held up her hand, staring at the elemental sword. “This is amazing.”
Mary’s head snapped up like a dog listening for a sound. “Where’s that music coming from?”
“There is no music,” Miss Enid said.
“It’s probably the sword mate to Ivy’s bracelet.” Valmont unsheathed his sword. “That’s where this came from.”
Mary crossed the room to the tapestry covered case. Together, she and Miss Enid removed the dust covered cloth. Inside the glass display lay several daggers with patterns etched onto the blades.
“There should be a button on the outside of the case which will open it,” Valmont said.
Mary found a button on the top right hand corner of the case which made the door pop open. She reached in and touched a blade with an ebony handle etched with lightning. “It’s not a sword, but I like it.”
“I think it’s one of a matched set.” Miss Enid pointed at a second blade of the same design.
“Cool.” Mary picked up the blades and held them in front of her.
“I’m not sure the Directorate will allow you to keep what you’ve found,” Mr. Stanton said in an apologetic tone.
“Why not?” Ivy asked.
“They will probably want to study them before giving them back to you,” Bryn said. “That’s what happened with mine.”
Mary pouted. “We’re the ones bleeding for these, or rather Ivy is. Why should we give them up?”
“They don’t belong to any of us,” Jaxon said. “They belong to the Institute. As Bryn said, after they’re studied and made safe, they will more than likely be returned to you, since we are all on the same side.”
“They did have to put a safety on my bracelet so it didn’t activate accidentally.” Since there was an odd tension in the room, Bryn tried to make a joke about it. “Skewering people when I reached for a pencil in the middle of class would have been a little unsettling for all of us.”
Valmont stepped forward. “Actually, I was allowed to keep mine after clearing it with Bryn’s grandfather. Maybe we could ask to meet with him, if he’s here in his office.”
Mary traced the lightning pattern etched into the handle. “I like that idea.”
“Why don’t I go upstairs and make a call to see if he’s available,” Miss Enid said.
They all nodded in agreement, and the librarian exited the room.
“Excuse me, but I think we’ve found something of interest,” one of the Red guards called from the main room.
Mr. Stanton went to see what the guard wanted, and they all followed.
“Sir, I believe it’s safe to enter the Blue hall now if you wish to do so.”
Jaxon moved forward. “Where does it lead? Is there another room like this one?”
“There are several rooms like this one,” the guard said, “but the doors will not open for us.” The guard held out his left hand. Red blisters covered his palm. “The lesson I learned today is just because you can see a door doesn’t mean you should try to open it.”
“I can heal you.” Bryn stepped forward.
“It’s not necessary,” the guard replied, like it didn’t even bother him.
“We need you in top form,” Mr. Stanton said. “Why don’t you let Bryn heal you?”
The guard frowned like he didn’t agree with this decision, but he held his hand out to Bryn. She focused and held her pointer finger above his hand. She visualized Quintessence, her life force, in the form of light flowing from her fingertip to heal the blisters. Being as gentle as she could, she ran her finger along his wrist and on the outline of his palm. As she worked, the blisters on the edge flattened out and disappeared. When the skin on his hand was smooth and pink all the way across she stopped. “There you go.”
He nodded at her. “Thank you. Now, I believe only someone of Blue descent should try opening these doors.”
“Where does the hallway end?” Rhianna spoke from the corner where she’d been quietly observing everyone. “Does it lead outside? Is the exit being watched?”
“It lets out in a storm grate, and the entrance is guarded.”
“So you wouldn’t want to hang out in the hallway if it was raining,” Clint said.
“Probably not.” Mr. Stanton gestured that the guard should go first. Jaxon and George followed him, and the rest of them tagged along.
The stone passage they entered felt a bit damp. Bryn inhaled. Yuck. It smelled like mildew. She wrinkled her nose. “I hope the artifacts aren’t damaged from the wetness in the air.”
“I bet the rooms are airtight,” Valmont said.
They all stopped at the first set of doors they found. Jaxon craned his neck, staring farther down the passage. “How many sets of doors are there?”
“Three in total,” the guard said.
“It will be interesting to see if the doors lead to one large chamber or three smaller ones.” Valmont said.
Bryn be
t on the large-room theory because Blues never did anything small.
Jaxon approached the door and studied it before placing his hand on the tarnished silver handle. A quick turn of the knob and the door opened. He entered and they all followed.
“Bryn, can you light the braziers?” Jaxon asked.
She approached the candle on the right wall and sent flames through her fingertips to light the wick. The mirror behind the candle bounced light across the room to another brazier. After Bryn lit three more candles, they could see what was inside the dust-free room. An armory made up of swords and knives of all descriptions sat in racks upon the walls. Unlike the weapons Valmont and Mary had found, these were not works of art etched with different elements in fancy scabbards.
Bryn took a step closer to study them. These were utilitarian weapons meant to viciously wound and kill the enemy in battle. Maces with razor sharp points glistened in the light of the braziers. Battles axes hung on the wall next to broadswords with pommels as thick as her forearm.
“These are not meant for dragons.” Valmont ran his hand along the pommel of a broadsword. “These weapons are meant for a legion of knights.”
Jaxon headed out the door and stalked down the hall to the next room which revealed shelves full of saddles and lances. Bryn could almost taste Jaxon’s frustration. She knew he wanted to find a weapon similar to hers. Instead, he was getting weapons for a legion of knights they did not have, which made the relics useless.
The third door revealed what appeared to be an office. There was an antique desk littered with paper. The only other object in the room was a chest, which didn’t seem like a good use for this much space.
Jaxon approached the chest and tugged on the lid, but it didn’t budge. He performed the Blood Magic ritual with George. Putting all his effort into it, Jaxon shoved the lid up and open. It creaked with age.
George stared into the chest. Jaxon didn’t utter a word. He knelt down and retrieved a dull silver band about two inches high and a dozen inches across.
“Is it a necklace?” George asked.
“There’s no clasp,” Jaxon said.
And that’s when Bryn understood, and she laughed. Of all the things for Jaxon to find. “It’s not a necklace. It’s a crown.”
Jaxon turned the metal band over in his hands looking at it from every angle.
“Don’t pretend this isn’t your dream come true,” Bryn teased.
Frost shot from his nostrils. “What in the hell am I supposed to do with this?”
Rhianna moved forward. “I used to pretend I was a princess when I was a little girl.”
Jaxon placed the circle of metal on her head.
Nothing happened.
“Maybe it’s just a—” Rhianna froze mid-sentence staring at nothing. The crown shimmered and then drops of silver rolled down her face, like wax dripping from a candle.
“I’m taking it off.” Jaxon reached for it.
“Don’t,” Mr. Stanton warned. “If you try to remove it mid-spell, it could injure her.
“What’s it doing to her right now?” Jaxon snarled.
“She’s still breathing, and her color is good,” Mr. Stanton said. “Have patience.”
The silver wax-like drips continued trailing down Rhianna’s neck and then stopped in a circlet at the hollow of her throat. She blinked and reached to touch her face. “It feels like I’m wearing a mask or a helmet.”
“I don’t like it,” Jaxon said.
“Truthfully, I’m okay,” Rhianna said. “But it is a strange sensation.” She reached up to remove it, but it wouldn’t budge. “We might have a problem.”
Jaxon placed his hands on the metal band and pulled upward. Nothing happened. Panic showed on his face for a split second before he regained control of his features. “Mr. Stanton, could you solve this problem for us?”
Mr. Stanton cleared his throat. “I’m sure there’s nothing to be worried about. It’s probably a safety feature of some sort.”
“Safe is not what I’m feeling right now.” Rhianna’s voice came out more high pitched than normal.
Mr. Stanton tried to remove the crown. It didn’t budge.
“Let me try.” Bryn approached Rhianna and touched the circle of metal. Instead of pulling up, she tried to turn it like the lid on a jar. “Nope.”
Rhianna’s golden skin paled.
“Maybe a knight has to remove it,” Valmont suggested. He approached her, placed his hands on either side of the crown, and tugged. No luck.
“Blood magic would be the next logical step,” Mr. Stanton said.
Valmont drew his sword and placed the tip on the metal band. Bryn ran her finger down the blade. When her blood came into contact with the crown, the silver droplets appeared to crawl up Rhianna’s face. Once they’d retreated back into the band, Valmont pulled up and the crown came off.
Rhianna gasped as tiny cuts dotted her forehead. “It felt like that evil thing dug hooks into my skin and didn’t want to let go.”
Jaxon wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
“What the hell is that thing?” Bryn asked.
“I don’t know,” Mr. Stanton said. “But I will figure it out.”
George turned to the chest. “Something is singing to me.” He reached down and lifted an oilcloth, and then he retrieved two boxes. One was small and covered in silver scales, and the other was long and thin and covered in chain mail. He passed the scaled box to Jaxon. “This one is yours.”
“How do you know?” Jaxon asked.
“It’s humming to me, but this one is singing an opera.” George opened the box and removed a blade, too long to be a dagger, but too short to be a sword. Frozen flames were etched along the handle.
Jaxon opened his box and rolled his eyes. “Cuff links?”
Bryn laughed as the tension from the strange crown seemed to be broken.
“I don’t think cuff links can be evil. Let me help you with those,” Rhianna took one and slid it through the buttonhole on his shirt cuff. “See, it still works even if you have buttons.”
Once the cuff links were in place. Jaxon tapped his foot, waiting not so patiently for something to happen, and then he closed his eyes and smiled.
Twin blades of ice shot from his hands. He opened his eyes and studied the weapons. “I don’t understand why I’d need two, but I like them.”
“Try releasing one,” Valmont said, “like you’re setting a sword down.”
Jaxon did as Valmont suggested and the blade in his left hand disappeared.
“It does give you the element of surprise,” Bryn said. “Your enemy wouldn’t know you had two weapons.”
“You have had a productive morning,” Bryn’s grandfather said from the doorway, where he stood next to Miss Enid.
Bryn started to say something, and then she noticed an area of the floor had parallel scratches like something heavy had been dragged from the room. “Something has been taken from here recently.”
Everyone turned to look at where she pointed. “See the drag marks?”
“I would guess a rather large chest was removed from this room not too long ago,” Mr. Stanton said. “That must be what the rebels came for.”
“What was in it?” Valmont asked.
Mr. Stanton went to the desk and opened the drawers. He removed a leather ledger.
“Miss Enid, I believe this is your area of expertise.”
The librarian put on a pair of white cotton gloves before gently opening the leather cover. Inside, handwritten on parchment paper, was a long list of items. “This appears to be the inventory. If we catalog all the items and cross reference it with this list, we’ll know what’s missing.”
Ivy tapped Bryn on the shoulder and then pointed at her black pearl bracelet. “Let’s go talk to your grandfather.”
Bryn explained about the bracelet, and Ivy demonstrated how it worked. Mary reluctantly displayed her daggers.
�
�I don’t believe the daggers are spelled. After we examine them they’ll be returned to you. The bracelet will require a few safety modifications.”
George and Jaxon showed her grandfather what they’d found. “Cuff links?” her grandfather seemed amused. “I’d never consider them a weapon, which is why they are a brilliant choice.”
“Better than the crown,” Jaxon grabbed it and held it out to him. “I’d rather not demonstrate.” He described what it did.
“That is bizarre,” her grandfather said. “I’m not sure what purpose it would serve for a dragon. Unless it’s spelled to shift with us like our clothes.”
“I’ll let someone else test that theory,” Rhianna said. “If it didn’t work, it would be like shifting with a metal noose around your neck.”
“Maybe that’s what it’s for,” Valmont said. “To keep a dragon from shifting.”
All eyes turned to him. “Growing up, I heard a fairy tale about a dragon who kidnapped another dragon and used a metal collar to keep his captive from shifting. I’m not saying it’s a great idea, but your comment brought back the memory.”
“That’s a disturbing thought.” Rhianna sidled closer to Jaxon who put his arm around her shoulders.
“From now on, maybe we should let someone else play with the magical artifacts first,” Jaxon said.
“Just a reminder, this is sensitive information you cannot share with anyone outside of our group. We don’t want rebels or the curious trying to break in here to discover new treasures.”
They all nodded in agreement.
As they exited the room and walked past the armory, Valmont stopped. “Is there a record of the Institute keeping weapons on hand to arm a legion of knights?”
Her grandfather gazed at all the weaponry. “None that I’ve read, but I’d wager your instincts are correct.”
The sight of all the stockpiled instruments of death gave Bryn chills.
“Why keep all this hidden?” Clint asked. “The Institute has always had guards, either human knights or Red dragons, so why hide it with magic?”
“As with any society, there has always been a certain amount of unrest in our world,” Miss Enid said. “Most of what I found in the outer room consisted of historical ledgers someone must have wanted preserved. Artifacts like the swords have been displayed throughout the library in times past. But this.” She pointed at the armory. “This is something different. I think it’s something someone wanted forgotten.”