Time slowed.
Light and song filled me as I watched the DragonLord stand open-armed, drawing the energy in the room to himself. He took another step closer to Rycina and drew his fists to his chest. When he thrust his palms at the princess, I leapt from my hiding place.
The power of a hundred, a thousand, a million bolts of lightning shot toward me. I held up my hand. Instead of incinerating my flesh, the bolts turned back in their paths. Zhantar’s eyes widened and his mouth opened. The lightning struck. His scream echoed off the walls as sparks of light exploded everywhere. I covered my eyes. And tried to breathe. A rainbow wrapped itself around my heart.
Time returned to its normal speed just as for my body crashed to the floor.
A half-played game of Talisman and Queen lies before me, the jewel pieces glowing as they sit on the purple velvet embroidered with glittering gold thread. The Queen’s Heart, made of fire, gleams at the center. Ranged about are the Talismans: mine, life; my opponent’s, death.
I see clearly against whom I play. Fading into shadow, my enemy prepares to flee. I take a breath and my soul is filled with ecstasy.
The game is won. My heart tells me that with a single move, I will Secure the Queen’s Heart. I reach out my hand and choose the chalice. Moving it to the winning square, I end the game.
A voice breaks the silence—the voice of Etos.
“You win.”
And he speaks the truth.
I win.
I awoke with a throbbing headache, ringing ears, and an aching body. Where was I? What had happened? There was a vague memory of the king fighting a dragon, and Anazian and Zhantar escaping. No, not escaping. Dying. Maybe.
I opened my eyes. It was dim. No stars overhead, so I must be indoors. But where? I started to sit up, only to have someone put a supporting arm around my shoulders to help. There was a candle somewhere, but it didn’t provide enough light to see much more than a shadowy figure.
“Would you like something to drink?”
The voice was familiar, but surely my head must be muddled.
“Mama?” I asked, confused.
She sat on the edge of the cot facing me. Her cool hand brushed the hair away from my forehead, and she kissed me. “Yes, my darling.”
“Mama!” I sat up and threw my arms around her, sobbing.
She held me tightly, rocking a little, stroking my hair, and kissing me over and over. I felt like a small child again, awakened by a nightmare and being comforted. But this nightmare had been real. I kept thinking about the images Zhantar had shown me of her in his crystal sphere. I’d been so afraid for her, but now here she was.
I finally let her go and used the edge of the light blanket to mop my tears from my face. Then I looked at her and touched her face.
“Is it really you?” I asked. “Not a trick?”
She let out a laugh that ended with a choked sob of her own. “No, love. Not a trick. I’m really here.” She took my hand and kissed it. “There. Does that feel like a trick?”
“I don’t understand. The last thing I remember ...” My voice trailed off. Now I remembered Zhantar disappearing in an explosion of color.
“It doesn’t matter. Not now, anyway. You can tell me everything in the morning. Are you thirsty?”
“Yeah, a little, I guess.” She started to stand, but a fear that this was all a dream came over me, and I clutched at her hand. “No! Don’t go!” Fresh tears started to my eyes.
She sat back down and stroked my face. “Darling, it’s all right. I’m just going to step away to get you a cup of water.”
“No, I’m not thirsty anymore!”
Someone stepped up behind her. I flinched and put my arms around her protectively. The shadow bent down and held something out. “Here, you go.” Breyard’s voice. I relaxed a little and took the cup he held out.
“Thanks,” I murmured.
When I’d had my drink, Mama said, “Lie back down now and sleep.”
“But how is everyone? Traz and Yallick and ...”
“Shhh. We’ll talk in the morning.”
“But—”
“Shhhh.” And she started to sing a quiet lullaby, one she used to sing when I was little.
I lay back, still watching her shadowed face. She tucked the blanket in around me, put a hand on my cheek, and sang me to sleep.
In the morning, Mama slept on a cot next to me, while Breyard sat on a chair between us, his head nodding. I sat up and cleared my throat quietly. He started.
“Hey,” he said, “you’re awake.”
“Are you?”
He grinned at me and rubbed his face. “I guess I dozed off. How are you feeling?”
“Like a tree fell on me.”
“I can well imagine. Would you like some tea? I can go get you some.”
“Hmm. Yes, that would be nice, I guess.” I felt lethargic and pensive, and didn’t really know what I wanted. But tea was as good a place to start as any.
While he was gone, I got out of bed. It felt good to stand up, but I learned just how weak I was. We were in a small room that had just enough space for the two cots, a chair, and a small table. A thin curtain hung over the window. I was tempted to go look out it, to try to figure out exactly where we were, but I was afraid the light might disturb Mama. Instead, I just sat in the chair next to her.
Grey streaked her hair, which used to be a luxuriant brown. And there were wrinkles around her eyes that I’d never noticed before. A pang of guilt went through me: much of the grey and wrinkles were surely attributable to me.
Her eyelids fluttered. She smiled and held out a hand, which I took and squeezed. We sat there, holding hands without speaking and just being together, until Breyard returned.
He came in with a tray, followed by Oleeda. The old mage came to me, took my face in her warm hands, and kissed my forehead.
“You are looking much improved today, my dear,” she said. Then she looked at Mama. “And how are you, Mellas?”
Mama pushed herself up to a sitting position. “Much better, now that Donavah is back with us.”
I scowled. “What do you mean, ‘back with us’? Where have I been?”
Oleeda sat on my bed, and Breyard handed Mama and I each a cup of herb tea. Oleeda said, “You have not been anywhere, child. You have been right here.”
“Then what—?”
“Nothing you need concern yourself with now. You turned back a might blast of magic. You ought not be surprised it took a toll on you.”
“Oh, right. That.”
Breyard rolled his eyes. “Oh, right, that,” he mimicked. “She saves the queen’s life and kills just about the most powerful mage in the world, and oh, right, that is what she says.”
“The most powerful mage in ...? I didn’t kill Yallick!” I half-rose to my feet in panic. How could they think I’d killed him?
Oleeda stood up and Mama grabbed my hand. Together, they forced me back into my seat. Oleeda smiled, but there was a tight look to her eyes.
“Not Yallick, dear,” she said. “Zhantar.”
“Zhantar? But you said mage.” My mind reeled in confusion.
Breyard said, “You mean you haven’t figured it out yet?”
Mama shot him a quelling look.
Oleeda put a hand on my shoulder. “The dragonmasters are mages, too, Donavah. They are maejic.”
At this, the whole world seemed to spin around me in double time. I sat back in the chair, trying to find a place in my mind for this new reality. The dragonmasters are maejic. I could barely form the words in my thoughts, much less on my tongue.
“So is Yallick ...?”
“He’s alive,” Oleeda said softly.
A rush of relief left me feeling weak. “Good. Then what about Papa?”
Mama made a strange mewling sort of noise, and Breyard moved quickly to sit on the edge of her bed.
“What about ...?” I swallowed.
Breyard took Mama’s hand in his. His eyes didn’t quite reach mine as he said, “He’s alive, too. But in bad shape.”
“What happened to him?” I whispered, as new fear gripped my throat.
Mama leaned forward and rested her head on Breyard’s shoulder, her own shoulders heaving as she wept.
Oleeda rose to her feet. “Let us go for a walk, dear,” she said to me in a firm voice.
I could hardly stand up, but I forced myself to follow her. Beyond the door was a plain but brightly lit corridor. There were high windows that let in the sunshine, while doors led off both sides at regular intervals. I took Oleeda’s arm for support and shuffled along beside her.
“There is a place nearby where we can sit and talk.”
We reached a door, which the mage opened for me. On the other side was a small garden. It was planted with herbs and flowers arranged in a decorative pattern, with fruit trees here and there providing shade. A path of smooth gravel wound through the garden, with many benches along it where people sat alone or in pairs.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“The palace infirmary. The queen has ordered all those injured in the ...” She let out a sigh. “Those injured in the events of the other day. She has had everyone brought here to be treated by the court physicians.”
“So is Papa here? Can I see him?”
“He is here, and you can see him soon, but you must be strong.”
“What happened? How badly was he injured?”
“He was not injured, dear.” Oleeda took both my hands in hers. “The dragonmasters ... the DragonLord was cruel to him. A lesser man than your father would have died. Tegar is, or was, very strong. But how anyone could survive so long ...” She paused and took a deep breath before going on. “We do not know everything, but he was found in a ... a ... in a shaft in the upper wall of the Dragon Hall.”
Blackness closed in on me. “What do you mean, in a shaft?”
“You know that the Dragon Hall is underground?” I nodded. “Under the arena, to be precise. It is carved out of the bedrock. And high up in the wall, there is a shaft, about fifteen feet deep, hardly wide enough for a person. Your father had been lowered into it.”
My voice cracked when I spoke. “And left there to die?”
Oleeda wiped tears from her eyes. “Worse. It appears that Zhantar had him pulled up and force-fed food and water to keep him from dying. The only other thing we are sure of is that he thinks he saw you taking vows to become a dragonmaster. Traz healed his physical wounds with that staff of his, but the damage to his mind, to his spirit ... ” Her voice, full of pain, trailed off.
I breathed heavily as rage coursed through me. To do that to anyone was despicable, but Zhantar hadn’t done it to just anyone—he’d done it to my father! When I thought I could speak without screaming, I said, “I want to see him.”
“Yes, yes. Of course. But if you will accept my counsel, wait until after his midday meal. He is more coherent in the afternoons. I believe it will be best for him to see you then. Can you wait?”
I bowed my head and muttered, “If you think it best.”
She laid a hand on my shoulder. “I think it best for both of you, not just your father.” She rose to her feet. “Come. Would you like to check in on Yallick?”
I blew my breath out and stood up. “I guess. Is he all right now?”
“Yes, although he might debate that. Traz healed him, too, but I wish for him to rest here in the quiet for a bit longer. He disagrees, but so far, I have ... gotten my way, shall we say?”
She gave me a sidelong glance and a conspiratorial smile, but my own humor couldn’t rise to the occasion.
We found Yallick sitting in a chair while Traz sat cross-legged on the bed as they chatted. My heart gave an unexpected flop at the sight of Traz. They both smiled when they saw us. Yallick started to get up, but Oleeda went to his side and pushed him back down. I bit back a small smile.
“It is good to see you on your feet, Donavah,” Yallick said, his icy blue-green eyes shooting daggers at Oleeda. “I wish I could say the same for myself.”
I smiled, trying to put as much cheer into it as possible. “It’s good to see you, too, old man.”
Yallick waggled a finger at me, but his eyes twinkled. “Watch it, young lady.”
Traz got up and motioned to where he’d been sitting. “Have a seat, Donavah. You don’t want to wear yourself out.”
No, what I wanted was to go back to sleep and then to wake up with everything wrong put right again.
“Really, I should get back to Mama.”
Yallick raised his eyebrows. “I do not rate more than a minute of your time?”
“Oh, well, I didn’t mean ... I mean, you’re all right and everything, so I ...”
“Don’t let him needle you,” Traz said, giving me a shy smile.
Oleeda returned to my side. “Indeed, do not. But you may as well stay here. Your mother will be with your father by now. She will wear herself out at this rate, but no one can blame her. At least you are well enough not to worry her anymore.”
“If she needs rest, why isn’t Breyard looking after Papa?”
“He does as much as he can, and he is wearing himself out, too, but he has his duties with the dragons to attend to.”
“His duties with the dragons?”
Traz laughed at my surprise. “He’s quite important now, you know. Been assigned by the queen to work with them and everything.”
It was too much, and I dropped onto the place Traz had vacated shaking my head.
“Well, my dear,” Yallick said, “you certainly seem to have set quite a lot of wheels in motion.”
“What do you mean?”
Yallick and Traz exchanged glances while Oleeda stifled a laugh.
“Let’s see,” Traz said, ticking off each item on a finger. “Knocking off Anazian. Knocking off Zhantar. Saving the new queen’s life. Freeing the dragons. Did I forget anything?”
Oleeda came and sat on the bed, putting an arm around my shoulders. “Do not look so stunned, Donavah.”
“But I didn’t have anything to do with freeing the dragons. And Xyla killed Anazian, I didn’t.”
Yallick waved my objection aside “No matter. You are the pivotal player in the game, and you have indeed Secured the Queen’s Heart. In this case, literally.” My face grew hot. “But this is not fair. We make light of serious matters while your thoughts are consumed with your parents. I take it you will visit your father in the afternoon?” I nodded. “Very good. In the meantime, let me tell you plainly what has happened.”
I sat in wonder as the three of them wove a tale that sounded like something a bard would sing, not a series of events we had all participated in.
First of all, Zhantar had not lied to Rycina: he had indeed slain King Erno in the fighting pit. The chaos in the arena that preceded this was nothing compared to that which followed. The red dragons and mages had had their hands full trying to get everyone out without things turning into a stampede. Once the arena was emptied, a group of mages had gone down into the stable below and set the dragons free. More mages went to release the prisoners, each of whom was examined by the dragons, who could read their minds to discern the truth, to make sure that the actual criminals were sent to the city gaol.
Meanwhile, over at the palace, once the uproar caused by Zhantar’s attempt to claim the throne and kill Rycina had died down, the new queen had taken control. Her first act had been to send instructions to free the slaves and move them all to a palace barracks, where they were to be cared for until they could be returned to their homes.
She had also issued orders that all the dragonmasters be gathered up and brought to her. For now, they were being held while Rycina and the mages decided what to do.
This last bit startled me. “Queen Rycina is actually working with us?”
Yallick nodded. “She is an amazing woman, worthy of the risk you took to save her. She has rescinded the laws against maejic, and she has committed herself to sharing power properly with the dragons, as was done of old. Truly a remarkable woman.”
Traz leaned over and said, “Just between you and me, I think the old man is in love.”
“And if I am, who are you to question my choice, youngster?”
Oleeda left then to make arrangements for our midday meal to be brought to us here.
Later, when we’d finished eating, Oleeda stood up and held her hand out to me. “It is time. I will take you to visit Tegar now.”
Home again. Just Chase and me. So much has happened in these months we’ve been away. Too much.
I wish my friends well. It is a privilege, I suppose, to have played a part in such important events. But that life does not suit me, and I find it is far more comfortable to sit quietly before my fire and share a meal with my dog.
Tonight, I shall relish my solitude.
Tomorrow, I shall hunt.
When we got to Papa’s room, the door was ajar, and I saw Mama sitting next to the bed. She looked up as I pushed the door open and gave me a weary smile.
Papa looked horrible. His eyes were sunken and bloodshot, with dark circles under them that almost looked like he’d been given two black eyes. His lips were dry and cracked, and he picked at the lint on his blanket with clawlike fingers.
Oleeda hung back as I went in, pulling the door closed behind me. Breyard sat on the other side of the bed and stood up, offering me his chair with a gesture. The movement caught Papa’s attention, and he looked at me.
SummerDanse Page 17