Legend's Awakening

by Jensine Odom

  I nod drowsily, grabbing the quilt off the floor and crawling into bed with it, snuggling into its softness. The bed shifts behind me and I roll over to find Caedryn climbing in.

  “What are you doing?” I raise a questioning eyebrow.

  “Staying with you,” he answers innocently, sliding under the blanket beside me. “If you have more dream-memories, I’ll be right here.”

  “Alright.” I shrug.

  He pulls me into his warm embrace, kissing my temple, and I snuggle against him, accepting what my heart already knows.

  “Goodnight, Xerxia,” he speaks softly in my ear.

  “Goodnight, Caedryn.” I smile and close my eyes.

  A New Day Dawns

  THE first rays of daylight dance across my face, gently pulling my mind back from the world of dreams. Caedryn’s breath comes in a steady rhythm beside me, and his arm is draped across my body. Carefully, I roll over, stretching, and let the sunlight chase away the cobwebs of sleep while my mind plays over the last relived memories.

  Bodies entwined, moving in rhythm. Strong hands holding small breasts, carefully caressing the thin frame of my previous incarnation. I was so small before; a fragile porcelain doll. Allowyn, that was my name. I heard it many times in my memories; called in passion, called in fear, rarely in anger.

  I was what our current society would have deemed breathtakingly beautiful. Thin, long platinum blonde hair, striking gray eyes, ivory skin. I was quiet, demure, and timid like a rabbit, always more than happy to let others fight my battles. Now I’m fat, curly haired, and brash, always running into the fight headlong, but never alone. Save for Caedryn and Alarr, Allowyn was mostly alone.

  Caedryn makes a noise beside me, dragging my thoughts back to the now, and he pulls me a little closer before settling again. I absently stroke the back of his hand that rests on my belly, tracing the lines of muscle and tendon, running a finger along the bumps of his knuckles, looking over his placid face, eyelashes laying in dark crescents against silvery cheeks.

  He smiles in his sleep, and my heart squeezes. Does he see me, or does he see Allowyn? Does he even see me when he looks at me, or does he see what I was, blinded by the pull of our souls’ familiarity?

  I’m almost afraid to know the answer. My heart’s already lost to this man, but I don’t want it to be a sham. I want him to love me for who I am, not what I can never be.

  Caedryn moves again, snuggling his head into my shoulder and lightly kissing it.

  “Good morning, Xerxia,” he says, his voice rough from sleep, and my heart blooms once again, completely ignoring the worried thoughts plaguing my mind.

  “Good morning, Caedryn.” I smile, then sigh. “We need to get up.”

  “I know.” He props himself up on one elbow, silver eyes sparkling in the morning light as he runs a hand down my face, moving along the lines of cheek and jaw.

  Then he gets out of bed, pulling his shirt over his head, and walks out of the room.

  “Morning,” Mary greets him as they pass in the hallway, then glances in my room, giving me a childish grin before disappearing into the bathroom.

  “Hurry,” I yell. “I gotta pee!”

  Laughing, I get out of bed and strip off my pajamas, throwing on my sweats and a hooded shirt, then pulling on my boots, sticking my knife down inside the right one. The bathroom door creaks open, and I turn just in time to see Zebulon dart in.

  “Too slow,” he calls, laughing and locking the door.

  Mary just shrugs and walks back down the hall.

  “You’re such a shit,” I chuff, and Zebulon’s laugh sounds through the closed door.

  While I wait for Zebulon to get out of the bathroom, I empty the contents of my backpack on the bed, tucking the more valuable of the trinkets away in the dresser beside me, covering them with clothes. The rest get thrown under the quilt on the bed, and the broken pieces of my bow sit on top.

  Zebulon pops out of the bathroom now, slamming the door behind him. “Do NOT go in there,” he yells, laughing, and runs off for his room.

  “Thanks,” I yell after him, rolling my eyes, and take my turn in the bathroom.

  Caedryn’s fully dressed by the time I get to the living room, and I just now notice the silver scales neatly embroidered into his black shirt, which is laced up. Zebulon and Mary have put away the futon, leaving the sheets folded up on the back of it.

  “One, two, THREE,” Tristin yells from one of the recliners, and pulls the lever to kick out the footrest, competing with Kerric in a recliner quickdraw.

  Kerric falls back with the force of his draw, and Tristin laughs uncontrollably, nearly falling out of his own chair.

  “Alright, kids,” I chide, laughing. “Let’s go get some breakfast.”

  “Food,” Tristin howls, and leaps out of the recliner.

  “Not if I get there first,” Zebulon challenges.

  The boys tussle as they dart for the exit, squeezing through and throwing the sliding glass door wide as they run for the Inn. Mary helps Kerric right the recliner, and the rest of us walk a little more calmly to our destination.

  Todd passes us as we enter, tipping his head in greeting and looking confused at me. “Didn’t you have a cut on your face?”

  “Umm. No,” I answer, trying not to sound suspicious. “Turns out it was just a scuff. You know how quickly I heal from those.”

  “And your contusions, how are they?” he asks, looking skeptical.

  “Better. No internal bleeding, either.” It’s not a lie…

  “Good.” Todd looks at me hard for a moment, blue eyes narrowed, then nods and continues on his way to make the morning feed rounds.

  I let out a relieved breath after he’s through the door. I forgot he wanted to check on me this morning. Thankfully he’s on his way to feed, or he would’ve pressed for answers; answers I don’t think I can give, let alone that he would believe.

  Caedryn glances at me, a question in his eyes, and I smile my reply, walking the rest of the way to the table where my brothers are already eating their breakfast.

  “Breakfast burritos,” I exclaim happily.

  “Yeah,” Tristin replies just as excited, pieces of egg flying from his mouth.

  “I got one for everybody,” Mary says, walking over and setting down a tray piled high with the fat burritos, taking one off the top. “And I got us this.” She nods to Steve, who’s carrying a few ceramic mugs and a thermos.

  “Enjoy!” Steve smiles at me and walks away.

  I grab the Thermos and twist it open. The bitter, nutty smell of coffee floats up to meet my nose. This isn’t the instant stuff we’ve been drinking, either. This is real coffee.

  I pour myself a steaming cup just as Steve comes back with the powder creamer. It’s not real cream, but it’ll do. I take a sip, and with a happy sigh, grab a burrito, noisily unwrapping the foil before digging in.

  Kerric takes one, opening it carefully and experimentally taking a bite, but Turhion and Caedryn just stare at the stack, unsure of the unusual food wrapped in metal.

  “It’s called a breakfast burrito,” I explain, showing them mine like a showcase on The Price Is Right. “Eggs, potatoes, bacon, green chili, cheese; all wrapped up in a convenient to-go flatbread.” I hand them each one from the stack.

  “I hate you,” Mary says, in regards to me calling tortillas flatbread.

  Caedryn and Turhion glance from me to their own burritos, then tentatively unwrap them, taking a few bites, and I smile, raising my burrito in a salute.

  Steve brings us a plate of Golden Oreos after we finish eating, and the boys dig in. Mary clears her throat and they stop, putting the cookies they took back, and she divides them into even piles, handing one to everybody.

  “Now, pay up,” she puts a hand out to Zebulon and Tristin, receiving two cookies from each.

  “What’s this?” I ask, suspicious.

  “We bet on you,” Mary answers simply, raising one shoulder. “I bet you two would end up together b
y morning.” She gestures between me and Caedryn. “And they bet you would kill him like Hayden.”

  “Hayden deserved what I did to him,” I growl, and Caedryn looks aghast. “The feeling wasn’t mutual, and Hayden didn’t know how to take no for an answer,” I explain, easing Caedryn some. “He thought he was a big man, with his little knife. I showed him what a real knife looks like.” I take my boot dagger out, five inches of spiraling lethality, and twirl it point down on the table. It isn’t the knife I had used that night, but it makes a statement.

  “She also showed him what his still-beating heart looked like,” Zebulon embellishes with dramatic flair.

  “Yeah, she’s savage, Bro.” Tristin laughs, patting Caedryn’s arm sympathetically.

  “They’re joking,” Mary adds, glaring sternly at my brothers. “Xerxia didn’t cut Hayden’s heart out. She did kill him, though.”

  “Now he won’t be able to force himself on anyone else.” I shrug, slipping my dagger back into its sheath.

  “Can’t use what you don’t have.” Tristin wags a finger suggestively between his legs.

  “You said he was dead,” Turhion says, confused.

  “We’re pretty sure he is,” Mary tells him. “Last time we saw him he was holding his, appendage. There was lots of blood.” She shakes her head distastefully at the memory, and Turhion blanches, realizing what it is I had done.

  “Well, if everyone’s done eating, we should hit the road,” I quickly change the subject, standing and sticking my cookies in my hoodie pouch, tossing my empty backpack over my shoulders.

  “Do we get to see Alarr now?” Mary asks, hopeful.

  “Yeah, he’s kind of going with us.”

  Mary squeals with delight and stands while Zebulon and Tristin stuff the last of their cookies in their mouths, leaping to their feet. Caedryn gets up, giving me his stack of cookies, as do Turhion and Kerric. I wrap them all in my discarded foil, tossing the package in my backpack for later.

  “You heading out again, even after what happened yesterday?” Steve asks.

  “Yeah,” I answer. “Scavenging’s a job, and somebody has to do it. You need the supplies as much as we do.”

  “I don’t know what we’ll do without you guys,” Steve comments.

  “You’ll survive. Todd has a good garden going, and Carl’s a good hunter, with a good posse. You’re in a prime location between Santa Fe and Mountainair; neither of those settlements have electricity or running water. I wouldn’t be surprised if you turn into a popular trading hub in the near future.”

  “You’re too kind, Xerxia.” Steve beams.

  “We’ll see you tonight, Steve, hopefully loaded with goods.” I say, blushing from the looks of admiration from both Steve and Caedryn.

  “See you later, alligator,” Steve says wryly.

  “In a while, crocodile,” I banter back, and lead our group out the doors.

  ✽✽✽

  Alarr’s waiting for us at the gate to his pen, still in his disguise, and I unlatch the lock, letting him out.

  “Good morning, Alarr,” I greet. “I’ve brought my family. This is Mary, Zebulon, and Tristin.”

  “Xerxia, this is a normal horse,” Tristin says like he’s speaking to a child who doesn’t know any better.

  Good morning, Alarr speaks, and judging from everyone’s faces, they heard him, too.

  I glance around, double checking no one’s around but us, and nod. “Show them your true form. Only for a moment, though.”

  His façade ripples, revealing his scaled, horned appearance, and my family gasps as one. Then, just as fast as the guise disappeared, it comes back, and he looks like a regular horse again.

  “He’s pretty amazing,” Todd agrees, and I panic for an instant, but his face holds no surprise like the others. “Xerxia lucked out with that find.” He nods to Alarr. “I hear you’ll be Scavenging again today,” he tries to sound nonchalant as he grabs a large leather harness and tosses it over his shoulder, but I can sense his worry.

  “Yeah, but we’re not going very far today,” I reassure him. “Where are you going?” I ask, watching him halter and pull Bessie from the stall beside Alarr’s.

  “The Trader’s old horse died on him in the pass,” he answers, nodding to the north as he works on bridling the squat horse, who seems completely unconcerned with the proximity of the dragons. “Hold Bessie while I fetch the wagon?”

  He hands the reins to me and the large Fjord just stands there while Todd disappears around the corner, reappearing a moment later, struggling to pull the large wagon. Caedryn and Turhion offer to help, both taking a shaft and moving the wagon the rest of the way up.

  “Thanks,” Todd says to all of us, and harnesses Bessie, hooking her up to the wagon. “Be careful, Xerxia.”

  “You, too, Todd,” I reply. “If the horse died, why are you taking the whole wagon?”

  “The wagon’s done for, too,” the Trader’s gravelly voice answers as he hobbles up to the wagon. “I was encountered by a Beauty. The poor old horse couldn’t take the excitement and collapsed, taking the cart out with it. I left Abraham to guard the goods.”

  “What did this Beauty look like?” Caedryn asks, garnering a curious look from the Trader.

  “She was flaming orange, and eyes like molten gold. She landed just for a second, looked me over, then took off, but that’s all it took to spook old Bill. I’d be careful, if I was you; she came this way. Might be as she’s still around these parts,” the Trader warns.

  “We’ll be careful,” I assure him. “You be careful, too.”

  “Oh, we’ll be just fine; she’ll not be bothering me again.” He waves me off dismissively, then leans forward with interest. “That horse going to be part of your trading later?”

  “That’s a negative,” I reply with a laugh.

  “Can’t blame a man for trying.” He chuckles. “Be seeing you.”

  “See ya.” I quickly salute him as Todd eases Bessie into a canter.

  I watch as the wagon leaves the Inn’s grounds and turns north onto the road, then turn to everyone. Zebulon and Tristin have snapped out of their shock and are petting Alarr with Mary, but not enjoying it as much as she is.

  “Shall we?” I ask, gesturing down the long driveway, only half covered in snow now, and we follow Todd’s faint tracks as we walk out the gates.

  Gone Scavenging

  WHEN we’re far enough away from the Inn, Alarr lets his disguise melt, my family not as shocked this time. Caedryn, Turhion, and Kerric all shift, taking off one by one to keep an eye on the sky, and my family goes silent, watching them with awe as they spiral above us.

  “Do you believe me now?” I ask.

  “We believed you before, but now it’s just, real,” Mary speaks first.

  “Tell me about it,” I comment under my breath, fiddling with the soulstone around my neck.

  “And you’re going to be one of them?” Tristin asks, sounding a little jealous.

  “Yeah.” I sigh heavily, the reality still slowly setting in.

  “How?” Zebulon asks. “As far as I remember, you can’t do that.” He points to the dragons in the sky.

  “Not yet. Apparently, my soul has to remember its true form, then I’ll be able to transform like them.” Fear squeezes my heart at the relived memory from last night.

  It will not hurt, Alarr reassures me, his voice soft in my mind.

  “That’s good.” I let out a big breath, relieved. “So, what else do the draquus do?” I ask, just to kill time.

  We are the keepers of dragonkind, he answers. Some of us are chosen to bond with a Royal, and with that binding we can see in your heart; see your truth. We can sense when Royals will be born, and we decree which souls and memories are added or removed from the soulstone.

  “Where are the other draquus?”

  I am the last. The words float quietly into my mind, barely discernable from the sound of my own thoughts. I felt their passing, saw as Drustana killed them all, one by
one, each denying having the ability to make her a true Royal. The last to be killed told Drustana of her folly, about the soulstone, and how she would never truly rule.

  I solemnly stroke Alarr’s neck, his sadness flooding me, bringing tears to my eyes and rage to my heart.

  “We’ll avenge those we’ve lost; we’ll bring Drustana to justice, I promise.”

  Caedryn sweeps low overhead, landing a little ways up the road and shifting, waiting for me to reach him. “Are you all right?” He looks me over, gently touching my shoulder.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Alarr just told me about the fate of the draquus,” I explain.

  “Drustana will answer for what she has done,” Caedryn vows.

  “That’s pretty much what I said,” I agree, and Caedryn smiles down at me.

  “We’re here,” Tristin announces from the head of our procession, pointing to the loop road ahead of us.

  Before I can tell Caedryn or Alarr to call in Turhion and Kerric, they’re landing in the road next to Zebulon and Tristin, shifting the moment their feet touch the ground, and the four of them wait for the rest of us to catch up.

  “The houses on the outskirts of the loop are all empty, and some of them are boobytrapped,” Tristin informs us.

  “Yeah, I see that.” I gesture to the house nearest us that looks like it recently exploded, the faint smell of burnt rubble floating on the breeze.

  The rest of the abandoned houses we pass look fairly disheveled as well, with crumbling walls and broken windows, doors hanging open or splintered from forced entry and cars with smashed windows sitting in the driveways, covered with a thick layer of dust.

  We go through the houses one by one as we make our way through the inside of the loop, finding no more than abandoned trinkets; frivolous items that hold no value to people like us, but are worth something to the Trader, or at least some of his other clients that have a hard time accepting this new world. The last house on our tour is Jake’s, and we all stand outside of it for a moment, paying homage to the memories here before walking in.

  There’s no need to rummage around. They left everything in a neat pile for us right inside the door. Wool blankets sit with a few of their old military bags, filled with food and first aid supplies, and a few weapons lean against the wall beside the couch, one of which is a beautiful recurve bow, a quiver full of new arrows next to it. A large cast iron frying pan sits beside the bags, a note on it that reads ‘for Mary’.