Legend's Awakening

by Jensine Odom

Again. I instruct Alarr, and he uncloaks us. “I know how you feel,” I yell to Baldure, my voice curiously carrying over the ruckus he’s causing, and he stops on a dime, snapping his attention to me. “You had what you wanted right in front of you, then it was just gone.” I snap my fingers and Alarr cloaks us, moving away once more.

  “No more hiding,” Baldure roars, destroying everything around him.

  “Are you still dead set on killing me?” I ask, reappearing.

  “It’s what must be done,” Baldure snarls, and I disappear again, moving to a new spot as we play high stakes hide and seek.

  “See, that doesn’t sit well with me,” I banter, remaining cloaked as Alarr walks around, keeping my voice moving. “I quite like being alive.” Alarr uncloaks us finally.

  Baldure stops moving, a very unpleasant, smug look falling on his draconic face. He rears back, jumping in the air, and lands back beside Zebulon and Mary.

  Zebulon’s somehow alive and sitting up against Mary. Both are completely unprepared for Baldure. He raises one clawed hand over them, prepared to smash them like grapes.

  He’s trying to lure me out. I don’t know why, but I call his bluff, remaining quiet and cloaked.

  Baldure lowers his hand a little more, and Mary bravely faces her fate, looking up at the huge dragon, but before we find out who wins this game of chicken, a streak of bright purple slams into Baldure, sending him sliding a good twenty feet.

  “My turn,” Tristin roars in triumph, and charges after Baldure.

  Baldure pops back up, swiping for Tristin, but Tristin’s one step ahead. He swings his body around and plows into Baldure again, then grabs him by the horns, ramming his own armored head down hard and knocking Baldure out cold.

  “That’s what I thought,” Tristin exclaims, letting Baldure’s body ragdoll as he drops him vehemently.

  With this sudden turn of events, Alivia becomes distracted, letting Kerric get a bite on her shoulder, and Sitrian slashes her leg. She screams in pain and rage, taking off and abandoning her brother. She thinks he’s dead.

  “Don’t pursue her,” Caedryn orders, having gotten to his feet. “We must deal with Baldure.” He shifts, drawing his sword, and walks to where Baldure lays unconscious.

  Sitrian, Tristin, and Kerric hold Baldure down, making sure he can’t move if he wakes, and Caedryn raises his sword over his head, ignoring the wound in his chest.

  “No! Wait!” I urge Alarr to run, leaping from his back and blocking Caedryn from carrying out Baldure’s execution with my own body.

  “Xerxia, Baldure is Honorless! He must die,” Caedryn argues, anger flashing in the depths of his silver eyes.

  “Killing him can’t be the only option,” I snarl.

  “Xerxia, let me do what must be done,” Caedryn commands coldly.

  “No,” I return heatedly, Caedryn’s suppressed anger feeding my very hot rage, and before I have a chance to think my actions through, I lay my hands on either side of Baldure’s face and press my forehead to his.

  There’s no darkness in his mind like there was with the Knights. Instead, an emeraldine flame burns brightly in the center of a room. His thoughts are his own.

  Baldure? I call into the void, not really sure what I’m doing, but knowing it’s the right thing.

  How is this possible? His voice rumbles in my mind, tingling down my spine, and walls erupt around his core.

  I have secrets of my own, I answer vaguely. Baldure, please help me. I don’t want to kill you.

  Why would you spare me? I’m Honorless. His confusion gives me hope.

  You’re not Honorless. None of you are; there’s no such thing. My statement shocks him as much as me, and his walls crack a little. I’m not like any of the other Royals before. I have no idea of what was, only what I will make of the future.

  And what will you make of the future? Baldure asks, his curiosity genuine.

  I will unite dragonkind.

  That is what Drustana professes.

  Yet you know she lies, don’t you?

  I have had my suspicions, but there’s no proof to your claims.

  In answer to this, I open my mind a little more, giving him the memory I had relived of Drustana’s banishment. That’s why she was deemed Honorless. She’s using you to get what she’s always wanted. World domination. To be a God among mortals.

  What would you have me do? Baldure asks apprehensively.

  Join us. Be a light for others like you to follow.

  Your Knights won’t be pleased with this. His chuckle is less of a sound and more an impression.

  Then they’re welcome to leave, I say seriously. My future has no room for those who can’t open their minds. I can feel the wheels turning in Baldure’s mind as he contemplates my offer.

  All right, Little One, Baldure replies, impressed with my fortitude. I will join you.

  Thank you. I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. I’m going to heal you, then you need to let your dragon go. I’ll handle the Knights.

  There’s a slice of pain in my thigh and cheek as I heal him. My mind seeps back into itself, and my eyes slowly open. Alarr’s standing over me protectively, and Caedryn’s looking very unhappy, his scowl matched by Turhion’s. Tristin and Sitrian support Baldure as he slowly comes to, helping him to stand but keeping him restrained, and Kerric stands to the side, holding Baldure’s weapon.

  Alarr, what’s going on? I ask, gently touching him so he can let me up.

  I stopped them from pulling you away from Baldure while your minds were linked. Xerxia, they deserve the truth now.

  I know, and there’s no way around it this time.

  No, there is not.

  I take a breath, resting a hand on Alarr for strength, and look at Caedryn and Turhion.

  “What did you do, Xerxia?” Caedryn demands angrily before I can say anything. He feels betrayed.

  “She restored my honor,” Baldure covers for me, surprising everyone.

  “How?” Caedryn asks, looking suspiciously between Baldure and me.

  I look at Baldure first, silently thanking him for trying to save me from this, then look Caedryn square in the eye. “I’m an Esper.”

  Fallout

  Istand unflinching as Caedryn’s sword clanks on the ground and Turhion draws his. Tristin and Sitrian let Baldure go, stepping in front of me as protection, and Kerric stands there, shock freezing him on place.

  “It’s not true,” Caedryn denies, shaking his head in disbelief. He’s barely keeping himself standing, and all I want to do is run to him, but I know how that’ll play out right now.

  “It’s true,” I assure him, my heart squeezing hard in my chest.

  Turhion steps forward, sword at the ready, and two more people join my side. Zebulon, brandishing Dagabrjota, and Mary, wielding her frying pan.

  “Xerxia is Honorless. Stand aside or I will cut you all down,” Turhion warns menacingly, standing over everybody but Baldure and Alarr.

  “No, Brother,” Kerric says, finally choosing a side, and hands Baldure his maul before standing between Turhion and me. “If anyone is to be found Honorless, it will be you, for that statement alone.”

  “That’s enough,” I yell, walking to the front of the crowd, Alarr beside me. “No one is Honorless. Not me, not Turhion, and not Baldure.” Both Caedryn’s and Turhion’s eyes go wide. “Forget everything you know. There are no Honorless, no Honorbound, but there is evil. It comes in the form of Drustana, and those like her.”

  “Espers are evil,” Turhion spits coldly, steel blue eyes flashing to that of his dragon.

  “Am I, though?” I challenge, almost daring him to try something.

  She is not. I am her draquus, and have seen her heart, Alarr assures everyone, coming to my defense. Allowyn was an Esper, and now Xerxia. Source has decreed she exist, for how else will we defeat Drustana?

  Well put, thank you, I tell Alarr.

  With Alarr vouching for me, Caedryn and Turhion at least sheath their weapons
, but remain wary.

  “How could you keep this from me?” Caedryn asks, my heart breaking a little more with our shared pain.

  “Honestly, I didn’t put two and two together until last night, but when you and Turhion looked at me— much like you are now— I knew I had to wait for the right time to tell you. I know this was definitely not the right time, but I couldn’t let you kill Baldure. Not when we could gain an extremely powerful ally.”

  “Why would we ally with him?” Turhion asks, glaring at Baldure. “He’s Honorless.”

  I sigh. “Someone wasn’t paying attention in class. Baldure isn’t Honorless. There’s no such thing. They’re just dragons who were shunned for being different, and left to fend for themselves.”

  “How do you know this?” Caedryn asks suspiciously.

  “The soulstone whispers it to me,” I finally realize. As if in answer, the amulet glows just under my shirt, and I take it out, holding it between my fingers. “There are no Honorless, but there is evil, just as there is good.” I tuck the stone away again. “Now, if we’re done here, I would like to heal everyone and get back on the road. There’s still the necessity of finding a camp before it rains.”

  “If I may, Xerxia,” Baldure says suddenly, his deep voice soft, and steps forward, laying his huge maul at my feet.

  Turhion and Caedryn both reach for their weapons, but I stop them, happy they still want to protect me despite everything.

  Baldure kneels before me. “You spared my life. For that, I am eternally grateful. I offer you my weapon, my body, and should you ask it, my life.” He looks back up at me, or as up as he can; even on his knee, he sits just below eye level.

  “I accept.” I smile, gently touching his thick shoulder.

  Resting his hand on mine, he bows, then picks up his maul. Spinning it artfully, he fits it onto his back and stands beside Alarr.

  Smiling tentatively, I move to Turhion. “Can I heal you?”

  “I’m sorry.” He drops his head in shame. “I will try to accept this new way, but it will be a challenge.”

  “Change is always a challenge,” I assure him, then glance at Caedryn, letting him know these words are for him, too. “I don’t expect you to be suddenly okay overnight. All I want is for you to keep your mind open. Now, may I heal you?” I raise a hand and wiggle my fingers.

  Turhion smiles, nodding, and I lay my hand on his arm. My shoulder blade burns for a moment, and Turhion is healed. Next is Kerric, who only has a few broken ribs, then Sitrian.

  “Thank you for coming to my defense,” I tell her, healing the few scrapes she has.

  “We are family, if not by blood, then in soul. I knew Allowyn was an Esper and kept her secret. She wasn’t evil, and neither are you.” She smiles at me now, her golden yellow eyes creasing at the edges. “You are what our kind has needed for some time.” She gently touches my shoulder. “Thank you for healing me again. I will be near.” With that, she shifts and flies away.

  I watch her go, then turn to Caedryn, standing with his right arm across his body to keep his wound from tearing further. “Your turn.”

  “I will be fine,” he says tersely, his eyes turning to stone, and walks away.

  I growl at his back, then turn to my brothers, both of whom should be dead, but somehow aren’t.

  “How are you alive?!” I ask Zebulon first, hugging him fiercely.

  “It must be Dagabrjota,” Kerric offers. “It’s one of the seven magical dragon weapons, made of starmetal, and must have some effect on Zebulon as well.”

  “I’m just glad you’re alive.” I hug Zebulon once more, then turn to Tristin. “And you!” I hug him, then punch him for good measure. “I thought we lost you! Again!”

  He just laughs. “What did I tell you? You can’t get rid of me that easy!”

  I snarl and laugh, punching his arm again. “You need to stop making bad life choices!”

  “Yeah, I know. If we hadn’t been practicing quick changes all day, you probably would have lost me.”

  “I’m just glad we don’t have to burn anyone today.” I hug both my brothers, and Mary.

  “Here.” Mary holds out the three arrows I thought I had lost for good in the skirmish. “They fell near us.”

  “Yeah, I wasn’t aware we were also playing arrow roulette,” Zebulon adds. “One nearly hit me!”

  “You would have been alright,” I dismiss, laughing. “Thank you, Mary.” I take my arrows and tuck them back in with the rest at my hip. “Come on. We have some ways to go before we make camp.”

  “What about Alivia?” Kerric asks, looking between Baldure and me.

  “She’ll return directly to Drustana and report our failure, as well as my capture, or death,” Baldure answers.

  Turhion looks suspicious of this info, but I know it’s true.

  “Thank you, Baldure,” I tell him, and look at both Kerric and Turhion. “We do nothing. Let her report. By the time she gets to wherever Drustana is, we’ll be long gone, and I’m pretty sure she knows that, too.” I glance at Baldure, getting a small nod of agreement. “So, let’s go. Who’s going to patrol?”

  “No patrols,” Caedryn answers shortly. “There’s nothing to watch for any longer.” He glares at Baldure.

  He also doesn’t want to leave me on the ground with Baldure with little protection, but I don’t call him on it.

  “Alright,” I say instead, and head out, grabbing the backpack Caedryn can’t carry.

  I lead the pack with Alarr, and my family walks just behind us. The Knights spread out as we walk, forming a protective barrier between us and Baldure, who’s keen on how the Knights feel and trails the group by several paces. As I thought, the clouds are beginning to darken, heavy with their burden. We need to find camp soon, or we’ll be walking in the rain.

  ✽✽✽

  The trees quickly grow thicker as we make our way into the small mountain behind Thunder Volcano, and when the path we’re following splits, I have everyone stop.

  “Stay here,” I tell them. “I’m going up the new path a little to see where it goes.”

  “I’ll accompany you,” Caedryn states with little emotion.

  He’s been this way since our encounter with Baldure, and it’s killing me. I can feel he’s unhappy with me and my decision, but he refuses to talk to me, and every time he does, he’s polite, like I’m just a ward. If he was angry, I could deal with that, but this emotionless shit is annoying.

  “No. You’re still bleeding,” I excuse evenly, knowing he’ll feel the real reason. “I’ll take Alarr.” Without waiting for an argument, I walk off, heading up the small, winding deer trail with Alarr behind me.

  My heart aches as I go, and I can’t tell if it’s mine or Caedryn’s. Maybe a little of both. I thought—more like hoped—Caedryn would see reason, but it might have been too early in the game to show my hand, and the thought of losing what I just found kills me.

  It’s killing him, too, but I don’t know exactly what it is. Is he angry I’m not what he hoped? Is he afraid I’m worse than Drustana? Once we find camp and get set up, I’ll see if I can get him to talk. I need to know if we’re still in this together or not.

  Xerxia, Alarr breaks into my neurotic thoughts. This will make a secure camp.

  I look up from the path to find we’re in the middle of a fairly small meadow, with a tall rock cliff on one side, a spring trickling from a crevice. To one side is a well-used fire pit, surrounded by large logs, worn smooth from years of use as benches.

  Let’s go back and tell the others. I sigh, sad my alone time was short lived.

  There is no need, Alarr’s voice is soft and understanding. I relayed the message to Caedryn. They will be here shortly. Go, get a drink while we wait.

  Thank you, Alarr. I pet his neck, running my fingers through his silky mane, and set my stuff down, walking over to the spring and sipping some of the crisp, fresh water.

  It’s still too soon when the voices of my group ring through the trees, hera
lding their arrival. Caedryn actually feels relieved to see me, though he doesn’t show it. I guess I should be happy I can still feel his emotions run through me. If he were done with me, I would think I couldn’t feel him.

  Zebulon and Tristin are walking with Baldure, talking with him like he wasn’t the one to nearly kill them, and Baldure acts like Tristin wasn’t the one to take him down. What is it with men and bonding over beating the shit out of each other? It’s dumb. And I just wish the Knights were the same way.

  “Are we going to have a fire tonight?” Mary asks, looking at the sky getting darker sooner than it should.

  “No fire,” Caedryn answers gruffly, giving Baldure a not so subtle glance. “We can’t run the risk of being found should Alivia return, or any other Honorless be scouting this area.”

  “Alivia will not return so soon,” Baldure says before I can, standing up to Caedryn. “Honorless we may be, but we’re not senseless. She knows she’s outnumbered. As far as other Honorless finding us; Alivia and I were the only ones sent here. Drustana was sure of our success, ignoring the advice of me and many other Warlords to send a small battalion.”

  Caedryn’s surprised by Baldure’s candor, but quickly covers it with anger, and steps up to Baldure, ignoring the pain searing through his chest as he puffs it out.

  “That’s enough!” I step between them, dwarfed by their height, but commanding none the less. “Baldure, over there, just until I get back.” I point across the small clearing and Baldure nods respectfully, walking away with my brothers. “And Caedryn, go sit down. You need to rest.” I point to one of the log benches, but Caedryn doesn’t budge.

  “Where are you going?” he asks, concern breaking through his voice.

  “I’m getting wood for our fire.” I try to hide the anger in my voice, but fail.

  “Take Alarr with you,” he tells me, but it sounds more like a plea. He’s getting weary.

  I simply nod, taking the carry bag and hatchet, then walk away with Alarr following close behind.

  ✽✽✽

  While I take my frustration out on the poor, unsuspecting logs, Alarr grazes on the fresh grasses and various other plants. Caedryn ignored my orders to rest and stands at the edge of the trees. I don’t think he knows I can tell distance through our bond, which I’m still happy exists, even if I am peeved with him right now. It gives me hope.