Legend's Awakening

by Jensine Odom

  Alivia, this is Xerxia. I just need you to listen. I don’t—

  Before I can get another word out, she shuts down her link, blocking me out, but not before I learn they’re about to attack, and I pull my mind away from Baldure’s as fast as I dare.

  “They’re coming,” I warn just as the first dragon sweeps right over the trees.

  Three more follow the first, and the camp erupts into chaos. Caedryn grabs my hand, pulling me to my feet, and kisses me firmly, then pushes me towards the agreed upon stand of trees. Shifting, he joins the others in the quickly growing battle.

  My thick legs follow his silent orders, pumping fast beneath me, and Zebulon’s heavy footsteps thump in rhythm with mine. I can’t hear Mary, though, or even sense her near me. Then she screams.

  Zebulon and I stop dead in our tracks, sliding in the slick grass as we turn, and flames sear the ground where we would have been, blocking our path to safety with a wall of fire.

  “Can’t go that way,” I joke tensely.

  Mary screams again, and we automatically run for her, not caring in the slightest about the charcoal dragon terrorizing her. We don’t make it to her, though. Halfway there, two dragons land, cutting us off; one a brick red, the other a familiar slate blue.

  “Alivia,” I call to the larger dragon. “I don’t want to fight you. Any of you. Surrender, and help me truly unite dragonkind.”

  In response, she snarls, her mouth filling with fire, but before she can roast me, Irontooth lands between us and the threat, spreading his wings as his scales lift, making himself look bigger.

  This display gets a pitiful laugh from Alivia. “You think this youngling can protect you?” she mocks.

  “No, but he can,” I retort, feeling Baldure’s presence before he even lands.

  “Baldure?” Alivia gasps as her hulking brother stands between her and me.

  “Go, young one,” Baldure orders Irontooth before addressing his sister, and the outsized dragon flies off to assist somewhere else. “Alivia, stop this. Xerxia isn’t the enemy. Drustana is. I have seen through her lies. Join me, Sister. Together we can set an example for our kind.”

  Alivia stands there, stupefied, then returns to her snarling, aiming her glare right for me. “Release my brother’s mind!”

  “I can’t! His mind is his own,” I yell up to her, still keeping an eye on the confused dragon beside her.

  “Lies,” Alivia hisses, and snaps for me.

  Before she can reach me, Baldure slams into her bodily, knocking her into the other dragon. Alivia turns on her brother, betrayal clear in the lines of her draconic body, but she doesn’t move, her eyes locked with Baldure’s.

  While they have their internal argument, the red dragon comes to its senses, and begins to move on Zebulon and I. Looking around, I find no one else able to help. Caedryn, Zaara, Kerric, and Turhion are busy with five other dragons, and Tristin has his hands full with two dragons of his own.

  I glance at Zebulon, removing the string from my bow to create a bladed staff and tucking it in my belt. “Did you ever think, in all those years playing Dragon Age, that we would ever be in our own dragon battle?”

  Zebulon laughs, drawing Dagabrjota and swinging it around himself. “No, but my body is ready!”

  “Do you puny mortals honestly think you can contend with me?” the dragon asks, incredulous, her voice higher than I thought it would be.

  I look at Zebulon, and we shrug together. “Sure, why not?”

  “Fools,” the dragon laughs, stepping closer.

  “I know you are, but what am I?” I use a mocking, schoolgirl voice, hoping to annoy this dragon into making a mistake.

  “Insignificant humans!” And it’s working.

  “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I stick my tongue out for added effect.

  “I will show you how easily you break,” the dragon growls, and crouches like a lioness stalking her prey, but before she can pounce on us, Sitrian bursts from the trees, flying straight into her, knocking her into Alivia.

  With those two tied up with Baldure and Sitrian, Zebulon and I continue running for Mary. I don’t know where we’ll hide now, but we have to regroup.

  As we’re running, another dragon swoops in, attempting to cut us off, Zebulon rolls one way, I roll the other, but the dragon only saw Zebulon. He brandishes Dagabrjota, the sheen on the blade keeping the dragon’s attention, and nods for me to keep going. Irontooth and Stormwing both join Zebulon, and I run as fast as I can for Mary.

  She’s still standing beside the fire, her dagger drawn, spinning around as she watches the dragons fight around her. For some reason the charcoal dragon has left her alone.

  “Mary, we have to move!” I skid to a stop, almost falling in the soft dirt around the campfire.

  A shrieking roar pierces the air, and the battle around us stops as every dragon turns to the sound. Another dragon, this one milk chocolate in color, appears above the trees, flanked by two other dragons. She calls again, and lands in the trampled grass before me.

  “Drustana,” I growl, clenching my weapon a little harder, and square my shoulders, moving to keep Mary behind me.

  “Xerxia, is it now?” Drustana’s deep voice drips with animosity. “I did not recognize you. You are nothing like the faintheart you once were. Come, now, girl; you can see we greatly outnumber you. Order your Knights to surrender, and I may let them live.”

  I stare stubbornly at her, taking in the battlefield in the blink of an eye. Her forces do outnumber us. Kerric looks injured, and so does Tristin. I run all the scenarios through my head, but none of them end with us winning. Yet. There’s a loophole here, I just have to find it.

  Begrudgingly, I glance at all my dragons and give a curt nod. They comply, shifting back to human, and are herded together out in the field. All the Honorless remain in dragon form, but Drustana takes her human form, walking towards me with a gloating smile on her lips. I don’t think she knows my weapon can hurt her.

  Alarr, where are you?! I send to him quickly as Drustana takes her sweet time getting to me.

  I am just inside the trees. I can see you.

  “Are you speaking with your draquus?” Drustana asks, stopping just out of my reach. “Where is he? I would very much like to meet the last of his kind,” she goads.

  “He’s out hunting,” I lie, hoping it’s convincing. “We weren’t expecting an ambush.”

  “No one does,” Drustana gloats.

  “Is this all of your numbers? I feel honored you brought so many,” I stall for time.

  “Thanks to Alivia’s forward scouting, I knew not to underestimate you. These are some of my best warriors,” Drustana gloats. “Now, you have two choices. The first is you surrender. We can rule this world together like Gods!” She smiles, a maniacal glint in her eye, and I can feel her mind press into mine. I effectively shut her out, and the smile fades from her lips. “The second is you do not surrender, and all of you die. Such a waste, as you are a strong Esper.”

  All the Honorless look at me, shocked, but none of the Knights, and I laugh, surprising Drustana.

  “Yeah, bitch,” Zebulon pipes up. “Bet you didn’t see that one coming! We already knew she’s an Esper! And guess what? No one cares!” The Honorless all turn their attention on Zebulon as he takes center stage, the citrine in Dagabrjota glowing curiously. “That’s right. We do things differently now. Where Espers were once outcast or killed, they’re now celebrated. Where the Honorless were once exiled, they’re now accepted. Xerxia will truly unite all dragons, not just one perceived side, and without killing those in her way.”

  Zebulon turns on Drustana now. “Tell me, how many dragon hunters were tipped off by you, but made to look like a rival clan did it, just so the Chieftains and Royals in your way would take each other out?”

  This last revelation seems to spark something in Alivia, and she comes forward, shifting to confront Drustana. “Is this true?! Did you have my mother
killed?!”

  “You will not question me, girl,” Drustana growls dangerously, and in refusing to answer, she tells Alivia all she needs to know.

  “Baldure was correct,” Alivia realizes, giving her brother an apologetic look. “Mereth’s clan wasn’t responsible for Mother’s death, you are!” With that, her allegiance changes. She moves before me, taking a knee. “I will join you, Xerxia, in uniting all dragonkind. You have my sword, should you require it.”

  Dissent ripples through the others, and Zebulon picks up on it. “There is another choice here. Join us, and we will let you live. You’re not Honorless, as you were once led to believe. Step out of the darkness of the past and into the light. We may not have all the answers, but together we will find them.”

  “If any of you turn, you will die as well,” Drustana threatens, losing her temper, and playing right into our hands.

  The first to switch sides is the charcoal dragon. Shifting to human, I find it’s the young man with bright red eyes. He’s slender, about six foot three, and has his dark hair pulled back from his thin, angled face.

  “What’s your name?” I ask him as he kneels before me.

  “Kalos,” he answers. “I will join you as well. It’s time to end our separation.”

  “Welcome,” I greet him warmly, and he joins Alivia. “Any more takers?” I look to the other Honorless around me. If I can get just a handful more, the scales tip in our favor.

  The two dragons who were guarding Drustana’s back shift and make their way to me, both women kneeling, and I give Drustana a triumphant smile. Just a few more.

  “You think you have won? This is not over yet, child,” Drustana sneers, and I know her next move. I can feel it crackling in the air around me. We get to see how fireproof I really am.

  Alarr appears out of nowhere, surprising Drustana, and the fire that was intended to kill me sears the air, dancing against the shield Alarr has put up around Mary and me.

  “And you failed,” I boast.

  “I do not believe I have,” Drustana matches my tone, a sly smile curving her thin lips.

  Confused, I look at myself, checking every limb and spot I can reach, finding no burn spots. There’s no heat anywhere on me, save for my own, and no pain. Nope, nothing. What is that crazy bat talking about?

  The distinct sound of a weapon being drawn causes me to turn towards this new threat, but I only find Mary, dagger in hand; the wrong hand. She’s not a lefty.

  “Put that away before you hurt yourself,” I joke, still feeling safe in Alarr’s bubble, then drop my voice. “Oh, Wait! Good idea. Hand it over.”

  “You want it?” Mary asks, her voice weird, and looks at me for the first time since this morning, chasing all the air out of my lungs.

  These are not Mary’s eyes. They’re the color of a stormy sea, not blue, and the coldness in those depths makes me freeze up for an instant. “Mary?!” I breathe.

  “Meirana,” she corrects coldly, not sounding much like Mary anymore. “I was your friend, but you let me die in your stead, all so you could protect your little secret.” She lifts the weapon in her hand a little higher. “As for this? You can have it!” She stabs dagger into my gut with an odd strength, twisting the blade as she drives it deeper, eventually piercing through the other side of me.

  Mary rips the blade back out and hot blood pours down my belly. I drop my bow, hands trying desperately to keep my insides inside of me, and Mary snatches the soulstone off my neck as I fall to my knees. With a cruel smile, she crushes the stone in her hand. There’s a small flash of light and a bolt of electricity shoots through me as my soul is unbound.

  “You just doomed dragonkind, and the world,” I snarl against the pain.

  “No, I don’t think I did.” Again, that cruel smile. “You’re no longer the last Royal. I am.” She leaps away with an agility a human doesn’t have, joining Drustana, and the pair shifts, Mary a stormy teal to match her eyes.

  Only then does anyone realize what’s happened, and all hell breaks loose. Caedryn and Baldure both roar with the pain now registering in them, stemming from me. Tristin joins in their battle cry, the three of them shifting, and the other Knights follow their lead.

  Alivia and Kalos shift as well, joining the fray but now playing for our team. It doesn’t matter, though; we’re still outnumbered, especially with Mary’s defection. And everyone’s so far away from me.

  Alarr lays protectively beside me as I grow weaker, his shield still up deflecting Drustana’s attempted attacks. My vision blurs as I struggle to remain conscious, and it distracts both Caedryn and Baldure. Baldure takes a nasty hit, and Caedryn is pinned by another dragon.

  Unless they get some backup, they’re not going to survive this. A flash of light on my wrist grabs my waning attention, and I look down at the metal feather, given to me by the Thunderbirds. Another flash and I remember I can call them to help me. I won’t survive this, but with their help, my Knights could.

  Just managing to touch the cuff, I silently plead for the Thunderbirds to hear me, and to come to our aid. A thunderstorm forms instantly overhead, and a lightning bolt strikes the ground in the center of the battle field, stunning everyone into immobility.

  Caedryn yells something I can’t understand, and dragons across the field begin to shift and kneel just as two huge, silver eagles dive for the ground. A few don’t shift, though, and deal with the consequences.

  With the Thunderbirds distracted, Drustana and Mary flee, flying off into the dark. I try to warn someone, anyone, but I only manage incoherent, gurgling moans. My body’s numb, and I’m cold. So cold. Caedryn’s face floats into view just as my vision grows dark, and I slip into nothingness.

  The Nothing

  THERE’S a light, bright and multicolored, blinking like a newborn star. Isn’t it supposed to be white, and at the end of a tunnel, not suspended in the middle of a land with a vast, unending horizon? I feel like I’m in the loading screen of a game, and a tutorial should start at any second, telling me what the fuck is going on.

  I don’t know how I got here, wherever here is. This alien landscape holds no landmarks. It’s flat, with no vegetation in sight, and all in shades of gray, save for the sparkling light that’s slowly growing larger. Is it coming towards me, or am I moving towards it? I can’t tell.

  The light proves to be a sphere; a crystal ball flashing with the colors of the rainbow, caged lightning zapping around inside like one of those orbs Mom used to have. It begins to beat like a heart, flashing brighter with each pulse, and I’m drawn to it.

  Without thinking, I reach up for it, the lightning gathering at the points of my fingers, but hesitate at the last moment. Part of me is pulled to touch it, almost unbearably so, but another part of me wants to explore that distant horizon. What if whatever I’m looking for is just beyond it? What am I looking for?

  As if in response, the orb between my hands flashes, and Caedryn’s familiar voice comes from it. “Xerxia, hold on,” he pleads. “We will heal you, but you have to hold on!”

  The mist swirling within the orb clears a little, revealing our camp. People stand around me, many more than just my family and Knights. I lay on the ground, my near-lifeless body cradled against Caedryn. Alarr lays beside us, his nose against my chest, and just beyond him are the two Thunderbirds, their heads bowed. Do they mourn me?

  Caedryn pushes my hair off my face, kissing my temple, and something tugs in my heart. The pull from the orb gets stronger and I can’t resist anymore. Cautiously, I grab the sphere between my hands. It’s impossibly smooth, and somehow both hot and cold.

  On contact, the light dancing within it begins to seep into my hands, making its way up my arms and eventually across my body, filling me with warmth. Its power drained, the sphere becomes little more than a bubble, and bursts in my hands, leaving behind a puff of rainbow mist. An intense energy shoots through my chest, and the ground falls away from my feet, leaving me to freefall.

  With a silent scream, I slam
back into reality, but wish instantly I could go back. Here there is pain. So much pain. Not physical. Emotional. And not mine, I discover, as my mind slowly comes back to me.

  There is not much time. You must go now, Alarr’s voice sounds urgently in my mind.

  “I will return with her,” Caedryn vows, fear lacing his voice.

  I’m lifted by powerful arms that aren’t Caedryn’s, fresh anguish buffeting me before I’m returned to Caedryn’s embrace, his warmth enveloping me. His heart beats fast against my battered body, there’s a quick jolt of wind that rushes through my loose hair, and the tell-tale sound of massive wings beating the air rapidly follows. We’re flying, heading north.

  I try to open my eyes again, just to check, and actually manage to, if only briefly. The ground zooms by, and my eyes try to track it, my overly sensitive vision grabbing on to every detail, even in the dark. The neural stimulation turns out to be too much, though, sending my brain into rest mode and drawing me back into the dark embrace of unconsciousness.

  ✽✽✽

  We’re not flying anymore. The ground beneath me is hard. Tentatively, I open my eyes, slowly focusing on my surroundings so I don’t overload my brain this time. The flicker of a small fire dances on the gray-blue stone walls curving around me, and stars shine brightly just outside. We’re in a cave, then.

  Caedryn’s right behind me, holding me close, but I don’t know why he lit a fire. Between his heat and the lava flowing through my veins, I don’t need the warmth. Wait. He didn’t start a fire. I’m about to transform.

  That flickering is me. The energy that began coursing through my body earlier has grown stronger, and with every pulse I glow a little more, looking like a fire that can’t decide if it wants to catch or not.

  The next beat comes a little quicker, sending a wave of energy down my arm. Polychromatic flames sputter to life, dancing across the back of my left hand before completely engulfing the appendage. There’s no pain, just a slight electric sensation. More curious than scared, I lift my flaming hand up, bringing it into my still-limited field of vision, entranced by the fire that doesn’t burn.