by Cameo Renae
“How?” the man roared. “How does he know I’m here?”
“Oriana,” Will exhaled sadly. “He forced a Sorcerer to summon her, and then tortured her until she gave away your location. She said she’s sorry.”
The old man’s eyes softened. He released his grip on Will’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to hear that.” He exhaled, intently studying Will’s face. “Talia? Talia is back in Misteria?”
“Yes,” Will answered. “She was looking for my grandfather when the dark warrior took her.” Will attempted to steady his inner shaking. “We have to leave or else they’ll take us too.”
Loud howls and rumbling growls echoed up the walls of the mountain.
“Goblins and Howlers,” Rhyder spat, his words filled with disdain.
“How do you know?”
“I can taste their foul scent. It litters the air.”
“Is there another way out through the cave?”
“No,” Rhyder answered. “There is no exit. Only a dead end.”
A shrill screech blared overhead. Will raised his head and watched Phaedra fly away into the midnight sky.
“Phaedra,” Will hollered. “Where are you going? You can’t leave me!”
But it was too late. The Firebird disappeared.
“Take cover,” Rhyder said, pushing Will to the side as two Howler’s and Goblins bounded toward them.
The Goblins were no taller than Tobin, but were a hideous puke-green color and covered with bumps. Their rabid mouths frothed with fury, and their beady eyes were narrowed on Will and Rhyder.
Crude steel helmets were fitted on their heads, and in their oversized hands were hand-crafted weapons. The first one, riding a Howler, held a spear. The other wielded an axe.
Will turned to run, but Rhyder grabbed hold of his arm, stopping him.
“We have to leave,” Will cried. “They’ll kill us.”
“No, they won’t,” the old man answered with a sly grin.
Then, Will witnessed Rhyder’s eyes change from silver to obsidian. The old man dropped to his knees, screaming and writhing in pain as his limbs cracked and twisted, lengthening as he shifted into his new form.
Will moved a few yards away from Rhyder as a spear whizzed by him, missing him by inches. He instinctively reached back to retrieve his bow and an arrow. Straightening and squaring off his shoulders, he nocked his arrow and drew his bowstring back, aiming for the closest Goblin. Then, he let go.
The first arrow took flight and sunk deep, right between the Goblin’s eyes. The Goblin fell backward off the Howler, but the enormous beast kept charging forward. Before Will could place another arrow in his bow, the Howler leaped into the air, its razor-sharp teeth ready to sink into his flesh.
Will shrieked and dropped to the ground, covering his head, but the attack never came. Instead, a pained yelp pierced his ears. As he glanced up, he watched the Howler fly backward, landing against a wall of sharp rocks before slumping to the ground.
As Will spun around, his breath hitched and his jaw dropped.
Rhyder had shifted into an enormous silver Dragon. As he stepped forward and roared, the ground quaked. Muscles rippled and coiled under smooth silvery scales which shimmered in the moonlight. His teeth and claws were long and sharp, and long wings spread vastly from its sides. Onyx, snake-like eyes narrowed on the oncoming enemy.
Will ran behind the Dragon as five more Goblins riding atop Howlers charged up the rocky ridge.
A thunderous rumble built deep in the Dragon’s chest.
As the Howlers sprinted forward, the Dragon twisted to its side, swishing its powerful tail. It connected with the oncoming beasts, and all five went flying into the air, tumbling back down the mountainside, yelping as their bodies raked across sharp rocks.
Then, the dark warrior appeared, glaring at them. Shoulder-length black hair blew across his menacing mask—a half skull covering the top half of his face. At the top of the mask were horns, curling inward. The warrior was tall and muscular with wicked eyes as black as midnight.
Will froze, finally coming face to face with the one who had brought so much terror to Misteria. The one doing Malzador’s evil bidding, and the one who had taken his mother and grandfather.
The dark warrior pointed his finger at Will. “Get them!” he roared.
Howlers roared and charged forward. Goblins threw their spears and shot their arrows, but they ricocheted off the Dragon’s steely scales. One of them threw a net, but it missed as Rhyder pivoted to avoid it. With a graceful movement, he carefully wrapped his long claws around Will’s body and with a single flap, they lifted into the sky.
The Dragon’s massive wings cut through the air with ease, raising them effortlessly into the dark sky and away from danger. A loud screech just ahead made Will tense, but then Phaedra came into view. Her long feathers ignited with fire, illuminating the way. Behind her, she left a shimmering trail of gold dust which Rhyder followed.
After some time, Rhyder’s wings struggled to keep them in flight. He finally set down on a hill, where towering trees hid and sheltered them. As soon as he released Will, Rhyder shifted back to the old man, his weakened body fell to the ground.
“Are you okay?” Will ran over and dropped to the ground next to him.
“Yes, yes. I’m not used to flying such distances and am not as agile as I used to be. Shifting takes a lot of effort. Give me some time, boy, and I’ll be good as new.” He sat up, clutching the sides of his head.
Will pulled the satchel from his back and handed Rhyder his flask of water.
“Thank you,” he said accepting it, immediately taking a few long swigs.
“Where are we?”
“Hunchback Hills,” Rhyder replied. “I didn’t quite make it to the ruins, so we’ll stay here tonight and make our way there tomorrow.”
“I saw a small town a few miles back.”
“Yes. That was a Middling village,” Rhyder replied, slowly rising to his feet.
Phaedra flapped down and landed next to Will. She gently nudged her head into his chest, and as he petted her silky neck, she snuggled closer. “Thanks, Phaedra. I thought you’d left.”
“She likes you.” Rhyder smiled.
“I guess,” Will replied. “We’ve been through quite a lot since I arrived.” The bird stepped back and gave a shrill caw before taking off into the sky. And in an instant, she was gone.
“Gather some dried branches and tinder and put them into a pile,” Rhyder said, leaning back against a tree stump. Will obeyed, hoping a fire was in the making, because his bones were cold from the flight over.
Will soon created a mound of dry wood and kindling. “We don’t have anything to light it.”
Rhyder grinned and leaned toward the pile with an outstretched arm. A small ball of fire shot from his fingers, directly into the middle of the stack. The tinder sparked and immediately grew into a blazing fire.
“Wow,” Will breathed, holding his cold hands over the flames. “That was awesome.”
“That was nothing but a cheap trick.”
Will looked up at him. “Well, the shifting . . . the Dragon was—” Will couldn’t begin to describe his emotions.
“You liked the Dragon?” Rhyder questioned, also extending his hands over the crackling flames.
“Like it? That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” Will exhaled.
“Thank you,” Rhyder said. “So, tell me about yourself. There must be a reason they sent you to find me.”
“Since my sister and I arrived, everyone has been telling us we have these hidden powers. Powers we’ve had no clue about. When I was with Oriana, I witnessed a bit of it, but I don’t know how to control it, or what it can do.”
Rhyder’s eyes narrowed. “You have a sister?”
Will nodded. “She’s my twin, but we were separated at the Forked-Tongue River. She fell in and—and I couldn’t save her.” Will’s heart ached as he relived the dreadful moment in his mind. “Oriana said she was still alive,
so I’m hoping to see her tomorrow.”
“Ahh,” Rhyder breathed. “You’ve had a long day and a rough journey. Tomorrow will be no easier. Rest now. You’ll need to be both mentally and physically prepared to release your gift.”
Will heard a branch snap behind him. He spun around but saw nothing but the darkness. “Are we safe here?” he whispered.
“I’ll put up a ward of protection. Rest assured, as long as you’re with me, you are safe.”
“Thank you.” Will breathed a sigh of relief. He was exhausted, and his body aching. He took a few bites of jerky and drank some water before curling up next to the fire. “Lavinia and Oriana said you would be able to teach us how to use our gifts.” Will glanced at Rhyder through the flames.
“I can help you to release it, but it will take a lot of practice on your part. I helped your mother when she first started.” His gray eyes went distant and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Talia was strong and determined. She became one of my best students and closest friends. When I received news of what Malzador had done to her, I was heartbroken. I wanted to become the Dragon and rip the head from his shoulders.” He closed his eyes and pinched his fingers against the bridge of his nose. “Your grandfather was grief-stricken for many years after sending her away to the human world, but from time to time, he’d look in on you through his crystal ball.”
“He did?” Will rose on an elbow, excited to hear more about his estranged grandfather.
“Yes, he wanted nothing more than to make sure his family was safe. He saw bits and pieces of your lives.”
Rhyder’s words filled Will with warmth, yet it also made him sad. He had a loving, caring grandfather he never knew existed. All this time, he and Anna had been left in the dark, not only about who they truly were but of this secret world they were part of.
Butterflies somersaulted in Will’s stomach as he thought of meeting his grandfather—a creator of Misteria.
“Rhyder, do you believe my sister and I are the ones of the prophecy and can save this place?”
“Of course,” he answered. “But it will take everyone standing together to make it happen. Malzador has instilled a great fear in this land. Most are afraid to stand up against him, knowing they could lose their lives. So, it will take some convincing to pull them together.”
“I don’t blame them.” Will sighed and laid back down. “After witnessing the Hellhounds, Howlers, and Goblins, I’m afraid too. But having a Dragon has got to count for something, right? You’re so much stronger than all of them.”
Rhyder gazed into the flames with a sad smile. “I may be the only Dragon shifter in Misteria, but I am not the only Dragon. There are two others, who are just as strong as I am.”
Will’s eyes widened. “Are they evil?”
“Yes. They serve Malzador.”
Will swallowed the huge lump in his throat. “Are they silver, like you?”
Rhyder shook his head. “One is black, and the other is red.”
Will yawned and stretched his arms over his head. “I think silver is much more awesome than black or red.”
Rhyder offered him a smile. “Thank you, and I must agree. Now, get some sleep, child. You’ll need your strength tomorrow.”
Will nodded then found a spot near the fire and pulled his cloak up around him. He wasn’t sure what Rhyder had in store for training, but he was excited to know what had been hidden inside of him all these years.
The ground was hard and uncomfortable, but the crackles and warmth of the fire lulled him into a deep sleep.
Anna had an unsettling feeling someone was watching her. As she opened her eyes and sat up to stretch, Ashlyn fell from her hair and tumbled into her lap.
“Well, that was a rude awakening,” the Pixie grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.
Anna carefully lifted her upright. “I’m so sorry, Ashlyn. I forgot you were there.” She then glanced over to see if the boys were up, but yelped when a woman was standing beside her.
“Hello, Anna,” the lady greeted.
“Hi,” Anna breathed, with a hand over her heart.
“My name is Oriana. Your brother summoned me.” The woman paused, her eyes roaming Anna’s face. “You look so much like your mother.”
Anna’s heart swelled and ached at the same time. “Are we going to find her today?”
“She’s been taken to the Crystal Castle where she’ll be held until the ceremony. Today, we will make our way to the ruins to try and unite those who have fled and are seeking shelter there. We will have to gather an army to save your mother and the rest of the Sorcerers.”
“Do you think they’ll want to fight?” Anna questioned.
“If they meet the two foretold in the prophecy, I am almost certain they will.”
“Do you think my brother made it to Rhyder?”
“I have no doubt that Phaedra delivered him, and have faith we will see him soon.”
A pang of fear shot through Anna’s heart. “What if something happened to them?”
Oriana knelt next to Anna and took hold of her hands. “Search inside of you, child. Do you feel like your brother is gone?”
“How would I know? He’s too far away for me to hear him.”
“You and your brother share a special bond. If one of you should ever pass, the other will know, no matter how far.”
Anna closed her eyes and attempted to call out to Will, but there was no answer. As her thoughts lingered on him, she felt a peace. And somewhere deep inside, she knew he was still alive. When her eyes opened, Oriana was watching, waiting for her response.
“He’s alive,” Anna answered. “I don’t know how, but I can feel it.”
Oriana’s smile grew. “Then we must set off to find them.”
Tobin, Thaddeus, and Henry woke up and made their way over to Anna and Oriana. Henry was dragging behind, his hair matted to one side of his head, and his eyes bloodshot. As he focused on Anna, something moved in the trees behind him.
Henry turned at the noise and pointed. “What the heck is that?”
The creature was the size of a small dog and covered in black, silky fur. Its nose was long and pointed, and it had beady, red eyes, a short tail, and large front paws with sharp claws.
“Grab it,” Thaddeus shouted. “It’s a mole!”
“I’m not grabbing that,” Henry piped, backing away from it.
Thaddeus sprinted past him and leaped into the air, diving on top of the creature.
“Get off,” the creature hollered. “Get off me this instant!”
“It’s talking,” Henry gasped.
Thaddeus lifted the small creature by one of its rear legs, dangling it upside-down as he carried it out of the trees.
“Stop! Put me down,” the mole bellowed.
“What are you doing here?” Thaddeus snapped, raising it up so they were face to face.
“I’m just lost,” the mole whimpered.
“We’re not feebleminded, you spy. We know who you work for.” Thaddeus carried the mole over to the others and dropped it directly in the middle of their circle.
Oriana stepped forward. “Who sent you?”
“No one.” The mole trembled with its large shovel-like paws in the air.
“Can that thing see?” Henry asked, pointing to its pin-sized eyes. “It looks blind.”
“Dey isn't blind,” Tobin answered. “Dey just have poor eyesight.”
“He’s right,” Thaddeus snarled. “These creatures burrow underground tunnels and pop up wherever they choose. They are rarely spotted, so the dark warrior uses them as spies. Since he’s taken over, the moles have been his eyes, or more accurately, his ears.”
“We will let you live, if you tell us what they are planning,” Oriana said, stepping toward the creature.
“They’ll kill me.” The mole groveled.
“They’ll kill you?” Henry questioned in a fit of bravery. “Goat boy over here has hooves and is itching to stomp on you.” He thumbed
toward Thaddeus.
“Henry!” Anna scolded.
“What?” Henry gave an innocent look, shrugging his shoulders.
Thaddeus narrowed his eyes at Henry. “First off, I’m not a goat boy. I’m a Satyr.” He then turned his attention back to the mole. “Secondly, I will stomp on you if you don’t start talking.”
“See?” Henry said, making Anna’s eyes roll.
Thaddeus raised his hooved foot over the mole’s head.
“Okay. Okay,” the mole pleaded. “They are gathering an army at the castle. Goblins, Hellhounds, Howlers, Trolls, Gargoyles . . . hundreds of dark and evil creatures. Griffons, along with Malzador’s Dragons, are watching the skies over the castle while we were sent to scout for signs of an uprising. Most villages have been emptied and the citizens of Misteria have scattered. Many have taken refuge in the ruins of the Hunchback Hills.”
“How many of you were sent to spy?” Oriana asked.
“Too many to know for sure,” the mole answered. “We’ve been sent all over Misteria.”
Thaddeus stepped closer to the mole.
“Don’t kill me! Please. They threatened to kill my family if I didn’t obey,” the mole whimpered.
“Leave him be, Thaddeus,” Oriana said, walking up to the mole. “Leave this place and tell no one what you’ve seen here. And believe me, I’ll know if you do.”
“Thank you,” the mole said. “I will not forget your kindness.” It ran back into the trees and quickly dug into the earth, burying under the ground.
“What’s so great about the ruins?” Henry asked. “If the dark warrior knows about it, it won’t be much of a safe place.”
“The ruins are a stronghold, a place of shelter since the beginning. The Sorcerers put powerful wards of protection over it, in case anyone ran into trouble. It keeps all evil from entering.”
“That’s where Will’s going, right?” Anna questioned.
“Yes,” Oriana replied.
“An’ Lady Lavinia will be headin’ dat way too,” Tobin added. “She said she’ll be meetin’ us dere with da Elves.”