Legend's Awakening

by Jensine Odom

  Caedryn stacks some wood in the fire pit, making a teepee, then stuffs dry grass and cedar bark in the center.

  “Need me to find some matches?” I ask playfully. Caedryn simply smirks, glancing at Sitrian, and the wood catches fire. “Alright, I agree with Tristin. That’s pretty cool. Would it be too much to hope I get that ability, too?” I laugh, not completely serious.

  “You are more powerful than most Royals in recent memory, and you aren’t even a full dragon yet,” Sitrian tells me, completely serious, a proud glint in her golden eyes as she gently lays a hand on my shoulder, emanating nothing but support. “It’s entirely possible you could possess many more abilities than we know.”

  “Speaking of which, Xerxia, do you feel like helping us learn to defend our minds?” Kerric asks. “If you don’t, I understand. It has been a trying day.”

  “I’m good,” I assure him. “Any ideas on how we do this?” I look to everyone present.

  “I think if we simply learn to sense when a mind tries to enter ours, and to repel it, it will give us an advantage,” Baldure answers. “Drustana only managed to convince so many due to the inability to sense her mind.”

  “That sounds like as good a place as any to start,” I agree. “Mary, you’re first so you can learn what my mind feels like.” I offer her my hand and wait.

  “I don’t want to,” she says testily, taking a step back in fear, like I might force her.

  “You need to,” I reply evenly, keeping my annoyance in check for now. She was the same way when we tried to get her to learn how to drive a standard.

  “I won’t be in battle, so no, I don’t need to,” she says snidely, her blue eyes going cold.

  “Drustana can reach your mind from a great distance, without the need for touch,” Baldure explains, trying to gently persuade her.

  “If you don’t know the difference between her and Xerxia, she may be able to use you, or harm you,” Kerric points out, concern emanating from him.

  “Then I’ll just get mind controlled,” Mary screams, her voice shrill, and turns her back on us, walking away to the edge of the river.

  I stop Kerric from following her, shaking my head. “You won’t change her mind tonight.”

  Kerric looks forlornly at Mary, then meets my eyes and nods. “I will volunteer to go first.”

  “Actually, I have an idea. All of you stand in a circle.” I gesture for Caedryn, Sitrian, Baldure, and Kerric to form up in front of me, then begin to circle them. “Now, I’ll walk around and touch one of you at random.” I stop beside Caedryn, touching his arm in example. “I won’t be nice in trying to get into your mind. Push back hard the moment you feel me. If it helps, think of a stone wall blocking me from you, or any other kind of protective barrier. Ready?” Everyone nods, and I continue to walk.

  Tension rises as I make a few passes without touching anyone, and just when the anticipation hits a high, I reach out and take Kerric’s hand. I let my mind out quickly, slamming it into Kerric’s and trying to pierce into his deepest memories.

  His body stiffens at my mental assault, and his mind reels as he tries to combat mine, kind of like stumbling after a good hit and struggling to defend. Just as I reach the darkest corner of his mind, Kerric begins to push back, then I’m suddenly bounced out of his mind, my own slamming back into me.

  “Good job,” I pant, shaking my head. “Be faster next time. I almost got you.” Patting his arm, I move on, not even making a full pass before choosing my next victim.

  I grab Baldure’s arm as tightly as I can, repeating the same process, only my mind is met immediately with resistance. Not one to give up that easy, I dig in and push harder, throwing everything I have against Baldure’s mental block. It cracks under the constant pressure, but when it breaks, I find a polished black wall blocking my way.

  “Well played,” I tell Baldure, pulling my mind back and taking my hand off his arm. “Tell everyone what you did, so they can learn.”

  Baldure smiles happily and nods. “I fought against her mind until I couldn’t hold her back, then I thought of a wall.”

  “That wall could have been made of glass, but my mind was so tired from pushing against his I didn’t even try to break it,” I finish.

  “Drustana is much more powerful than you are, Xerxia,” Baldure tells me. “That may not work with her.”

  “It will by the time we meet her in battle,” I assure him confidently. “The stronger I get, the harder I’ll push you, and the stronger you’ll get.” I look at everyone in front of me. “Now, let’s keep going.”

  I circle the small group, holding my hand up to everyone as I pass, making them flinch for the first few rounds. When they stop flinching, I pick my next target, resting my hand on Sitrian’s shoulder. My mind charges into hers, but unlike the others, she lets me in willingly, pulling me into a mental labyrinth.

  It shifts and twists with every turn, throwing me off, and before I know it, I’m lost, walking in circles until I hit a dead end. Frustrated and exhausted, I pull away.

  “That’s a nice trick.” I give Sitrian a lazy smile, patting her shoulder. “Why didn’t you share that earlier?”

  “If I had, you would have known what to expect.” Sitrian grins impishly. “If you cannot block an Esper, run them in circles,” she tells everyone else.

  “Sitrian let me run mind first into a labyrinth of her own making and led me around until I couldn’t take it anymore.”

  “That might work on Drustana,” Baldure says. “She angers easily, losing her focus.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” I nod, stepping back to circle the group again.

  This time I lay a hand on each person, gently pressing against their minds, and each of them pushes back, except Caedryn. He tries, but just can’t. Our souls are too entwined.

  My heart knows you, and therefore my mind won’t block you, he admits, a little shameful.

  It’s alright. I kind of figured this would happen. On the bright side, you’ll know when it isn’t me. I try to send him some reassurance.

  I won’t be able to stop them. I can almost see him turning away from me, even though he hasn’t moved under my hand.

  You will. We’ll figure something out. I wrap my love around him, and he turns back to me. I can’t tell if I actually see his smile, or just know it’s there.

  “Hey! You playing Duck, Duck, Goose without us?!” Tristin yells, teasing, the outside stimulus pulling my mind back.

  He’s walking with Zebulon and Turhion, each of them carrying a good haul of meat, and the rest is strapped across Alarr’s back. They stop beside the fireplace to unload, then join us. Zebulon looks at Mary, then me, a question in his eyes.

  “She didn’t want to play.” I shrug. “Goose!” Without warning, I reach for Tristin.

  Thinking we’re playing a simple game, he doesn’t try to dodge, making it almost too easy, and I throw my mind into his. His soul burns bright purple, flickering with green, memories laying about haphazardly, and I resist the urge to organize them.

  “Release my mind, Witch,” Tristin bellows. His flame flares, suddenly pushing back, and he throws my mind out like a bouncer at a club.

  “Damn. Good job.” I gasp, slightly surprised, and take my hand off him to break the connection. “It’s just as cluttered in your head as your room was,” I tease. “You need to tidy that shit up. Or actually, don’t. If Drustana tries anything in there, she’ll go insane.” Laughing, I turn to Zebulon. “Your turn. I don’t know how this’ll work, since your human, but we’ll see.”

  “No touchy!” Zebulon bounces back a step.

  “I’m just going to show you what my mind feels like.” I simply hold my hand out, letting this be his choice.

  Zebulon hesitates for a moment, then lays his hand in mine with a decisive nod, and his eyes go wide as I let my mind flow into his. His feels different from the dragon’s minds, yet somehow the same, and instead of a flame, his soul’s a candy apple red spark that twinkles like a newb
orn star.

  “See, that wasn’t so bad,” I say, releasing his mind.

  Zebulon just stands there, not moving, his face frozen in shock like I fried his brain. He manages to remain this way for several moments, long enough for Turhion to get worried.

  “What did you do to him?” he asks, borderline suspicious.

  “Nothing, I swear!” I put my hands up, unable to stop a giggle. “He’s just playing!”

  The corners of Zebulon’s mouth twitch, but he still doesn’t move. I growl playfully, rolling my eyes, and take a swing at his arm. With an impending impact, he gives up his ruse and dodges, laughing.

  “Told ya,” I tell Turhion, gesturing to Zebulon. “Want to go next?”

  “Yes,” Turhion replies without hesitation.

  “Wow. Alright, I didn’t expect that. Umm, Kerric, get the meats cooking, and feed the kids.” I gesture to the three young Beasts, but notice Irontooth and Stormwing are hunting for themselves, sitting absolutely still at the river’s edge, their tails twitching like cats.

  Stormwing lowers haltingly to the water, then dunks her head, pulling a large rainbow trout up in her jaws. She tosses it to Petrie, and while the little dragon’s playing with her dinner, Stormwing turns back to the river, waiting patiently for her next catch.

  “Never mind, they’re good on their own.” I wave a dismissive hand. “Sitrian, can you help Caedryn? You seem to know some about defending your mind from Espers, and he can’t block me.” Sitrian nods. “Tristin, Baldure, entertain yourselves. Zebulon, if there’s time after I work with Turhion for a bit, I want to test your ability to defend against my mind. Until then, do what you want.”

  Everyone disperses to do what I instructed. Caedryn gives me a proud smile before leaving with Sitrian, kneeling in the grass beside her. Kerric moves to the fire, joined by Mary, and throws another log on the fire before they begin to skewer the meat the boys brought. Tristin and Zebulon run off to spar, and Baldure takes it upon himself to coach them.

  I watch all of them with a certain happiness in my heart, then turn to Turhion, giving him my hand. “Ready?”

  He takes a noisy breath in and out his nose, laying his palm against mine, and nods. Slowly, I let my mind flow out, but don’t press him yet. Maybe if he gets a feel for my presence, his mind won’t fight mine. Keeping my breath calm, I close my eyes, waiting for Turhion to relax.

  The moment he does, I gently press against his mind, but he still refuses to let me in. I pull back, opening my eyes to think.

  “Try envisioning your mind as a large room with a door. When My mind touches yours, open the door,” I instruct, and Turhion agrees.

  I try again, helping him with the mental picture by making my own. Instead of simply pressing my mind against a formless presence, I imagine I’m walking up to a small cabin in the woods. Golden light blazes through the windows as I approach the door and knock.

  Something in Turhion’s mind shifts, and I see a figure at the window, watching me. It moves away, shadows falling under the door as he stands behind the door.

  Let me in, Turhion, I send, unsure if he can hear me. You’re almost there!

  The door cracks and I push on it, but Turhion panics, slamming it back on me. The image wavers and I try to hold it as hard as I can, but eventually lose it as Turhion shuts me out completely.

  “Let’s try again tomorrow,” I tell him.

  “No. Now,” Turhion says, annoyed more at himself.

  “I don’t want to push you. That’ll just make you resent me.”

  “I could never resent you. Not with how hard you’re trying to help us,” he assures me, offering his other hand with a faint smile.

  I take it, getting an idea. “How bad do you want this? Because I think I can break into your mind.”

  “It doesn’t matter if I want it; I need it. Every day that passes we move closer to confronting Drustana. If I don’t know your mind, or can’t defend myself, I can be influenced.”

  “Alright.” I squeeze both his hands. “Ready? This is going to be rough.”

  Turhion nods, preparing himself, and I press my mind into his. He resists and I push harder, but make sure he knows I’m not attacking. His mental barrier gives slightly, growing weaker with every advance, but I can feel myself tiring, too.

  Digging in with everything I have, I give one final push. Cracks begin to appear until finally I break through, falling into the room of his mind, darkness like a starless night surrounding me.

  Into the Night

  I’M in, but that doesn’t mean anything yet. I can feel Turhion’s mind pressing against mine, almost like I’ve been quarantined, so just I wait, sending him a calm reassurance. Finally, Turhion relaxes, and the darkness lifts like a curtain. His gold flame blazes, a ring of blue fire around its base, but the rest of the room remains dark.

  How does it feel? I ask tentatively, hoping I don’t spook him into rejecting me.

  This isn’t what I expected, Turhion replies a moment later, and his mind opens completely as his lingering fear dissipates, revealing his memories. The memory of what Drustana did to his mind floats just out of my reach, giving off an unpleasant energy, and my curiosity urges me to look closer, to ask what he remembers, but I don’t dare.

  Suddenly, the room around me flickers like a bad T.V. station, then returns to normal, except the blue ring around Turhion’s soul is gone, and the golden flame is dim, like someone should throw another log in it. A warning buzzes softly in the back of my mind, but it feels distant, and Turhion’s soul flares to life just as dark smoke oozes from every direction, pooling around it.

  It takes the shadowy form of a slim woman, and she saunters around the golden flame, one hand barely teasing the edges of it. After the specter comes full circle, she stops and places her hand fully in the fire. Turhion’s soul flares, and she yanks her hand back.

  You are strong, but not strong enough. A throaty cackle rings out in the chamber of Turhion’s mind, and Drustana’s phantom steps into the flame.

  Darkness erupts from the center of Turhion’s soul, spiraling around until all light coming from it is blocked, bathing the room in darkness. Against Turhion’s will, his memories are torn from his mind, flashing by like a movie in fast forward until Drustana finds the one she wants. The memories come to an abrupt stop, revealing Caedryn on the night dragonkind went dormant, only Turhion doesn’t recognize him as friend anymore.

  You are close to this one, yes? Drustana’s dark voice echoes, and Turhion gives his assent, although he’s unsure how he knows this. He endangers us all with his quest to awaken the last Royal. Find him. Capture him if you are able; kill him if you are not. Drustana places the need to obey deep in Turhion’s mind. If we are too late and he has found the Royal, kill her and her draquus. An image of Allowyn from the same night enters his vision, and unexplained rage fills him. I will send another with you to ensure your success. Do this for me, and you will earn your freedom. Drustana’s words ring hollow, but Turhion can’t tell; his mind is lost to her darkness.

  Slowly, the room around me returns to normal, with Turhion’s soul burning bright, the ring of blue flame around it once more. I’m relieved, but only for a moment as I suddenly realize what it is Turhion gave me.

  Why did you show me that memory? I ask, worried it might have been a test that I failed.

  You needed to see it, Turhion assures, calming me. Xerxia, I changed when you released me. Something awoke within me. I was somehow able to resist Drustana before, but I believe I could stop her now. I’m unsure how I know this, though.

  That’s your instincts. They drive you, just as mine drive me. Essentially, you know what you’re capable of, if you’d just get out of your way. I laugh, knowing how ridiculous that sounds. Can I try something really quick?

  Yes, Turhion answers confidently, without even knowing what it is I intend.

  Like I watched Drustana do, I move closer to Turhion’s soul, but before I can even try to touch it, the ring of blue flam
e erupts to become an impenetrable wall. I reach my mind towards it, but the closer I get, the more sluggish my thoughts become, and the stronger the fire blazes, almost as if it’s feeding off me.

  I pull back, giving his soul space, and the wall of fire becomes a ring once more, but my mind is so exhausted I can barely keep it linked with Turhion.

  I’m going to release your mind now, Turhion. Just know you’re right, and we’ll work more on your new ability later. That’s all the warning he gets before I pull completely away.

  My eyes focus, meeting Turhion’s blue gaze, and I smile reassuringly at his concerned look. “You did well,” I praise, squeezing his hands before letting them go. “I’m proud of you.”

  “Xerxia,” Tristin calls suddenly, stopping whatever Turhion was about to say, and I turn towards the sound of my name. “Defend yourself!” He tosses a staff at me, nodding to the right.

  Slowly, I look, my mind struggling to process what’s happening. Baldure stands there, a large weapon in his hands, the deep emerald of his dragon mark crossing his massive, bare chest. Caedryn nods to Baldure with a smirk, and the huge man charges me.

  “She is going to die,” Zebulon jokes from beside his brother.

  I finally snap to what’s going on thankfully just in time to dive away from Baldure’s heavy swing, his branch sinking into the dirt. He’s not pulling his punches.

  The next attack comes while I’m still on the ground, and I just barely block, the force of the blow snapping my stick in half and laying me out. I manage to roll to the side just as Baldure takes another shot, and kick out with one leg.

  Baldure hops back, swatting at me as I spin on my knee and catching me on the left side of my rib cage. The hit stuns me, but surprisingly doesn’t hurt. He doesn’t know that, though, and I play it up, gasping as I sit on hands and knees.

  Falling for my trap, Baldure takes his time setting up the finishing strike, hefting his large stick as he circles me. When he finally moves, I quickly rear up, surprise registering on his face as the blow meant for my upper back finds only soft dirt. I smack the inside of his elbow with one weapon, making him drop his, then turn on a knee, placing my other weapon against his throat.