The Andy Smithson Series: Books 1, 2, and 3 (Young Adult Epic Fantasy Bundle) (Andy Smithson Series Boxset): Dragons, Serpents, Unicorns, Pegasus, Pixies, Trolls, Dwarfs, Knights and More!

by L. EE

  He still held Methuselah in his right hand, and he now examined its tip. No marks or any other evidence of flame, just the usual shininess of the blade.

  What else can you do that I don’t yet know? he pondered as the blade retracted.

  Glancing about, he noticed Naria and Jada kneeling over Hannah and weeping. Hannah caught his eye as she righted herself. What happened? his eyes implored.

  Alden took two steps forward and helped her up.

  The trio stood silently for several minutes before Jada and Naria slowly rose.

  “You fainted?” Andy questioned Hannah.

  “She couldn’t help being overcome,” Naria’s voice broke into his mind. “She has such a gift.”

  Alden held Hannah’s hand, trying to steady and reassure her. At the sight, a flutter rushed through Andy’s consciousness, then vanished before he had the opportunity to identify it.

  “Thank you for celebrating our father and for speeding him on his way. Surely the Fates brought you to us, knowing you could restore the dignity that was stolen from him,” Naria acknowledged.

  “It was our honor,” Hannah assured. “To be privileged to be a part of this was…” She could not go on.

  “We understand. Such an experience is beyond the limitations of words,” Jada reassured.

  “If we weren’t around to help, how would you have, you know...” Andy queried, drawing another scowl from Hannah.

  “What? Can’t a guy wonder?”

  Naria smiled sadly. “We performed this ritual the way we did so Methuselah and the three of you could participate. This is not how it would normally be done, but the ceremony stayed true to the elements, releasing our father from his earthly bonds to begin his journey.”

  “What do you mean it ‘stayed true to the elements’?” Andy questioned.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  No Other Way?

  “Where is Methuselah?” Naria queried Andy’s mind.

  “Right here,” he replied, grabbing the hilt from its holster.

  “Do you know what the carvings represent?”

  “I didn’t know they meant anything. I thought they were just decoration.”

  Jada and Naria shared a whinny.

  “Are you making fun of me?”

  Neither of the unicorns replied and Andy rolled his eyes as his two companions gave a slight smile, lightening the mood.

  After a brief silence, the she-unicorn began, “The clouds represent wind or air, the wave represents water, the flaming ball is fire, and the pile of rocks is earth. Air, water, fire, and earth are the most basic components of which all things consist.”

  Andy stared blankly. “Okay, and…”

  “We believe the right combination of the four elements rejuvenates and creates immortality for someone who has died. Without bringing the four elements together close to the time of death, the deceased’s spirit ceases to exist.”

  “Is that why you had us soak your father’s body before burning it?”

  “Yes, for air was present and you gathered wood, which is of the earth. You soaked his body with water and then started a fire with Methuselah, completing the four elements. This is why we believe Father’s spirit is now enjoying immortality.” Naria paused. “I hope to be honored to join him one day.”

  “Do the four elements work with the living to make people immortal?”

  “Why? Do you want to live forever?” Jada teased.

  “Not me, but I know someone who would like to,” Andy said. Then, forgetting that the unicorns could hear his thoughts, he added, And I know someone I wish could live forever.

  Naria hesitated, seemingly surprised by Andy’s unspoken desire. “I’ve never heard of that, Andy,” she replied gently.

  Well, it was worth asking.

  “Why would those symbols be on Methuselah’s hilt?” Hannah queried.

  “I can only speculate,” Jada replied, “but the symbols may reveal the process through which it was created.”

  “Are you saying that sword is…alive? And immortal?” Hannah clarified.

  “In a manner of speaking, yes,” Jada confirmed.

  Everyone’s eyes locked onto the blade Andy held in his hand.

  “I know it’s different from other blades, but alive?” Andy’s mind filled with awe and wonder.

  The group contemplated that for several moments, then Naria interrupted Andy’s private musings. “I sense you are troubled.”

  Why do you say that?

  “Your thoughts betray you.”

  What do you mean?

  “I sense a mood of fear when I look at you. Your thoughts dwell on someone living forever, and your conflict reveals you love them deeply.”

  Welcoming an opportunity to talk about his problem, Andy demanded, You can’t share this with anyone. Promise?

  Naria bobbed her head, drawing curious glances from Alden and Hannah.

  It’s my mom, Andy launched into his narrative. How much do you know about the fog and the curse?

  “Bits and pieces.”

  Andy quickly summarized the situation in Oomaldee, telling of his two previous visits and revealing that the King was his father. He also shared about his mother’s long-ago marriage to King Hercalon, their current predicament with Abaddon, and their need for unicorn horns. For a split second Andy contemplated hiding the fact that it was Abaddon’s thugs who had stolen Benica’s horn, but out of his deep respect for these magnificent creatures, he laid bare all the facts.

  The curse needs to be broken, but I don’t want my mom to die. I can’t choose between her and the King, Andy pleaded, wiping his eyes and trying to regain his composure.

  Jada, Hannah, and Alden had moved to the other side of the glade to give Andy and Naria privacy. The she-unicorn now summoned them.

  “Andy has explained the situation to me,” Naria shared when they were together again.

  Hannah quickly glanced at Andy, then exhaled in relief.

  “Let me talk things over with my brother.”

  The unicorn siblings met in the middle of the clearing, their heads touching, for what seemed an eternity.

  “Andy, are you okay?” Hannah probed.

  He nodded, taking another deep breath.

  Alden kicked at a small pebble, Andy rocked in place, and Hannah bit her lip as they waited.

  “You have a difficult challenge,” Naria said after she and Jada rejoined the trio. “Given the situation, we feel called to help.”

  Andy, Hannah, and Alden ricocheted looks.

  “We will both give you our horns. Normally they would not grow back, but based upon a legend involving a similar situation, we believe that if Methuselah cuts them they will regrow, though it will take several years,” Naria informed.

  “Thank you!” Hannah, Alden, and Andy exclaimed in unison.

  “To Hannah, we will entrust Naria’s horn to free your king and companions despite the actions of King Abaddon,” Jada declared.

  Hannah ran over and hugged Naria’s velvety neck.

  “To Andy, we will give my horn,” continued the he-unicorn, then turned aside and addressed Andy privately. “You have a choice to make: breaking the curse, which is why you have been brought to Oomaldee, or preserving the mother you love. Based upon Methuselah’s appearance at this time, I believe your choice will determine the fate of the land. I won’t tell you what to do, but I encourage you not to be greedy.”

  Andy jerked his head back at the admonition. What do you mean, don’t be greedy?

  “I think you know the answer to that, Andy. Your destiny is to rule this land. A king must make difficult choices between his personal desires and the welfare of his subjects. Until recently my father governed a blessing of seven unicorns. Barbarians attacked us and slaughtered two of our brothers and our sister before cornering Naria, me, and our mother. I watched my father choose to save Naria and me over our mother.”

  I…I had no idea. I don’t know what to say, Andy fumbled.

  “I told you this
to demonstrate my point, not to ask for pity,” Jada asserted. “While it’s not the same situation, it’s similar enough.”

  Andy frowned and dropped his gaze to the ground. You’re making me choose.

  “Every action we take in life is a choice between competing options and reveals what we most value.”

  But I don’t know how to decide.

  “Thoughtful consideration is the first step. I am confident you will choose well.”

  Andy walked slowly next to the stallion as they rejoined the others.

  “You said Methuselah has cut off a unicorn’s horn before?” Alden queried. “Would you tell us about that?”

  Andy caught Hannah glancing over to Alden, giving him an appreciative smile. Andy rolled his eyes.

  “It happened before either of us was born. Father delighted in telling old stories, and this was one of them. As the legend goes, long, long ago in the kingdom of Cromlech, there lived a king and his daughter, a fair maiden whom he loved more than life. They were the last remnants of a noble dynasty that had once been rich and powerful, owning all the land as far as the eye could see. Misfortune befell the king, however, when he chose to take a stand against rabble-rousers who strayed into his kingdom one autumn. As great fires erupt from a single spark, so discontent spread among the citizens until civil war broke out. So great was the conflict that, when the fighting ended, only a few handfuls of rebel sympathizers remained. They packed up their meager possessions and followed their new leader.

  “With no one left but the king and his daughter, the castle fell into disrepair. The pair wandered about their kingdom barefoot, their silk and velvet clothes now patched and faded. One day they came upon the ruins of a grand hall, its beams charred and its stones crumbling. Stopping to investigate, the king noticed something gold glimmering under the debris. With some digging, he unearthed Methuselah. As he stood marveling at the sword’s beauty, a heavy roof beam fell on the maiden, killing her.

  “Beside himself with grief, the king cried out for justice and a unicorn appeared. The creature assured him his plight had not gone unnoticed, for his unwavering commitment to right had unknowingly granted him favor. The unicorn watched as the king prepared a funeral pyre for his daughter. When her body had been laid on top of it, the unicorn offered its horn as a gesture of comfort. The king accepted the generous gift and used Methuselah to gently sever the horn. Placing the token with his daughter’s body, he used the sword to ignite the fire.

  “As the flames spread, the king marveled to see a large bird rise up from where his daughter’s body had lain. The feathers covering its body dark were orange, red, and crimson, and its tail was deep yellow and orange. The bird soared up and circled the man, singing a song sweeter than any he’d heard. His heart rejoiced exceedingly, for he knew his daughter had overcome death itself. A phoenix, the unicorn called her, for she was a maiden of unsurpassed beauty.

  “The king celebrated at the top of his lungs, his joy attracting the attention of wayward subjects returning after finding their newly appointed leader underhanded and untrustworthy. They begged the king’s forgiveness and pledged him their loyalty, then returned with him to the castle where they served him faithfully.”

  “So that’s how you knew Methuselah could ignite your father’s funeral pyre?” Andy questioned.

  “It is,” confirmed Naria.

  “So a unicorn horn created a phoenix,” Hannah marveled.

  “That, and Methuselah,” Jada clarified.

  “A phoenix never really dies, does it?” Alden questioned.

  “No. When their body grows old, they incinerate themselves. Out of the ashes a new phoenix emerges,” the he-unicorn explained.

  At that moment, Andy thought he again heard a twig snap in the surrounding woods. He glanced around quickly but spotted nothing out of the ordinary. Returning his attention to the group, he pulled Methuselah from its holster. The blade extended and glowed orange in the fading afternoon light. The unicorns lay down in the center of the clearing to make it easier for him to reach their horns. As the trio faced them, Andy stepped forward and placed his left hand on Naria’s horn.

  “It won’t hurt, will it?” Hannah asked nervously.

  The she-unicorn didn’t reply, and Hannah brought her folded hands to chin level with a grimace.

  Alden rested a reassuring hand on Hannah’s shoulder, but from their shared expression, Andy knew his friends felt as uneasy as he did. Andy brought Methuselah up and contorted his face, mirroring his friends. And here I thought the hardest part would be convincing them to give us their horns.

  He hesitated several seconds then lowered Methuselah again. “Is there any other way?” he pleaded.

  All three children let out a collective sigh. It seemed they all shared the same question. Neither unicorn replied, and after several minutes, Hannah broke the silence.

  She wiped both eyes as she lamented, “I so wish there was another way, but I don’t see any. It’s not right that you and Jada surrender the symbol of your honor for our sake.”

  “My dears,” Naria began, “the fact that you understand the gravity of the situation and that you are learning the high price of redemption comforts me. To attain what is valuable requires cost; the higher the value, the greater the cost.”

  The trio slowly nodded.

  Alden and Hannah held hands as Andy again brought Methuselah up. He hesitated only a moment before bringing the blade across and through. The she-unicorn didn’t make a sound, and Andy held her severed horn. Hannah lunged forward, ready to stanch the bleeding. To her surprise and relief, there was no trace of blood. The blade had cut cleanly and the remaining stump glittered in the sunlight. She wrapped her arms around Naria’s neck.

  I feel like I just desecrated something holy, Andy thought as he examined the fifteen-inch section of horn. His stomach threatened mutiny.

  Alden stepped over and asked, “You okay?”

  “Not really—”

  “You need two horns. Let’s finish this,” Jada interrupted.

  Andy nodded, handed Naria’s horn to Alden, and walked around to the he-unicorn. Sure doesn’t get any easier, he thought as he grasped the stallion’s horn. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, and raised Methuselah.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am.”

  Andy contorted his face once more as he brought the blade across, amputating a foot-long section of horn. As it had the first time, Methuselah cauterized the wound, leaving a gleaming stump on Jada’s forehead.

  Thank you so much! Andy expressed silently. I still don’t know how I’m supposed to choose between breaking the curse and saving my mom, but after your sacrifice, I will do my best to decide.

  “I know you will,” Jada replied.

  “Something’s wrong!” Hannah shouted.

  Andy heard a disturbance behind him and Alden yelled, “Look out!”

  Andy whirled to see ten vulture-men bursting into the glade as more materialized in the growing darkness.

  The bird-men quickly surrounded the children. As Alden drew his blade, Hannah began hacking at any zolt within reach of her sword. Three adversaries fell instantly. Still holding Naria’s horn, Alden sliced at another four attackers, successfully besting them.

  Andy held his ground, positioning himself between the attackers and the unicorns who, in their weakened condition, struggled to stand. Grasping Jada’s horn in one hand and Methuselah in the other, Andy felled two would-be thieves as the unicorns finally righted themselves and wobbled to the edge of the clearing.

  As another dozen zolt materialized, Alden tripped over a fallen vulture-man and did a face-plant in the dirt. He managed to keep hold of the horn and his sword, but two goons pounced on him and tried to wrestle the horn from his clutches. Hannah rushed in and slashed the attackers, who fell down dead.

  Three more zolt attacked Andy, sending him sprawling. He lost hold of Methuselah but managed to protect Jada’s horn by curling himself into a ball. The
goons pummeled his head, arms, back, and legs, and he felt a strong pair of hands attempting to extricate the horn.

  He fought to hold on, but his grip weakened. “Help! Get them off me!”

  Another burly zolt reached in, grabbed hold of the horn, and yanked. The combined strength of the two would-be robbers proved too much for Andy.

  “Help!” he screamed again, growing desperate.

  The second brute gave a final yank and the unicorn horn slipped from Andy’s grasp. The vulture-man pulled away as Andy yelled, “Stop him! He’s got Jada’s horn.”

  He didn’t have time to watch what happened next, for the zolt continued raining blows and he had to cover his head. But a loud exclamation was immediately followed by Naria’s assurance, “He’s been dealt with, Andy.”

  Andy struggled and managed to reach his dagger. Grabbing a leg in front of his nose, he sank the blade in. The creature yelped and grabbed its extremity. Andy repeated his defense and defeated two more bird-men. Three zolt fewer provided him an opening, and he scrambled up as motion slowed around him. He spotted Methuselah on the ground just three feet away and scooped it up. As the blade extended, he slashed at six attackers and quickly felled the lot. Only one remained, but it wised up andfled in slow motion.

  Andy spotted two scrums of vulture-men. Certain that Alden and Hannah were at the center, he raced to thin their ranks. He slashed and jabbed with lightning speed, cutting down eight zolt to free Hannah. He helped her up and the pair attacked the third pack. After taking down another dozen enemies, they extricated Alden, who still clutched Naria’s horn. Time slowed to its normal pace for Andy.

  “You were amazing, Andy!” Hannah cheered, a smile spreading across her face. Andy felt his cheeks warm.

  “Where’s Jada’s horn?” Alden shouted.

  Andy quickly scanned the glade. The unicorns lay at the side of the clearing, watching.