by D. H. Aire
“How soon before Fenn…”
“He will launch another attack on the morrow upon us, while offering parley with the Edous Council.”
“You mean he’s attempting to suborn Edous by offering them what they want to hear.”
“And kill them all in the process… which, of course, is the work of the evil villain, Gwilliam and his Thorns.”
Gwilliam shook his head and smiled.
“No, he doesn’t realize that… Lord Gerig knows him. The officers of the parley never do reach the Council. Never even know of their offer.”
“That’s the bastard I wish I could hate.”
“You’re old friend still thinks of you as his rightful Prince.”
“You said, Fenn attacks.”
“I did, did I not,” she turned on her side.
“Seeress!” he half-hissed.
She muttered, “You do not need me to tell you what you will do.”
He sat at the edge of the bed. “No, I suppose not.”
“I have time to sleep for a few more hours. Lord Casber is awake now,” she chuckled. “Leaving boyhood behind, now that he’s loosed his dragons.”
“Dragons?”
“The one’s no man can control without a sure hand to guide them.”
“Seeress?”
She shook her head. He saw a tear roll down her cheek and left her without another word.
The woman in his arms looked up at him, “I must go.”
“No, my love,” Gwilliam whispered, leaning down and kissing her.
The Seeress quietly wept, knowing what was to come, what price fate now demanded of her heart.
The dragon circled, saw his enemy, standing on the edge of the Imperial cliffs, staff of power raised. The Imperial wards prevented him from those lands, but could not prevent his flames. Exultant, the black dragon dove…
NO! NO!
Kusins gasped the wards around them flared as the cry the echoed from the apprentice’s lips as she screamed, “NO! NO!”
The Seeress writhed, shouting back, “Then change it!”
A terrible silence followed as Kusins rose to his feet, looking torn as to whom he should seek to aid.
#
The dragon nursed his arm, looking at the keep. Woman, you think your wards or word protect you? I glimpse the Great Dream now… I shall find him, though he will hide in the Empire, where I cannot fly.
‘THORINSKATH!’ the unicorn called.
Turning his head, the dragon tried to ignore the elemental creature.
‘THORINSKATH, you are free!’
I AM NOT FREE! I AM BOUND BY MY PROMISE! NO LONGER IN THE LORD OF DEMONS THRALL, BUT NOW I AM THE CURSED ONE’S!’
‘THORINSKATH, YOU HAVE YOU OWN MIND, IF FOR BUT MONTHS.’
The dragon growled, kicking up rock and stone. WHAT GOOD IS THIS, UNICORN, WHEN I MUST BEND MY WILL TO THAT DEMON’S?
‘I know you heard the little moon!’
WHAT IS THE MOON’S SCREAMING “NO! NO!” TO ME? SHE KNOWS I WILL FIND HIM, WHO DEMON DEMANDS… AND I WILL MAKE HIM PAY FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE TO ME! I SHALL BURN HIM TO CINDERS WITH PLEASURE.
‘But you will do nothing –– bound by thy Promise –– until he joins his will to yours once more.’
Gritting his teeth, the dragon nodded. THE PROMISE BINDS ME! His wings spread, casting a shadow over what once had been the grassy plain.
A man climbed the fallen stones of walls that had long held down the dragon, “Thorinskath! I call you –– to you –– Promise.”
YOU, HUMAN? WHY SHOULD I HEED YOU?
Gwilliam touched the talisman at his throat. It burst into heatless flame. “My line is that of the Dragon!”
YOU LIE! THERE CAN BE NO SUCH AMONG HUMANS!
“Then why does the dragon flame heed me, Kinsman?”
“Truth!” a man cried, climbing up on the stone beside.
The dragon reared back, seeing the dragon’s fire seething behind that man’s eyes.
The unicorn’s horn flared, “The Dragon’s line lives on in these humans.”
FALC MASTERS, THEY ARE! The dragon proclaimed.
“Once,” Gwilliam replied, “but the falc left us due to our folly. We did not heed their warnings and… the line failed its people.”
“Truth!”
KIN TO ME? THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE.
‘You have but forgotten,’ the unicorn replied.
I FORGET NOTHING! I AM A DRAGON, MASTER OF SKY AND FIRE!
“And you are free!”
LEAVE ME ALONE. I HUNGER STIL; THERE IS NOT FOOD ENOUGH TO SATE MY HUNGER FROM MY LONG SLEEP! OR WILL YOU SEND ME AN OFFERING?
Gwilliam smiled thinly, “An army, brother to this one, marches on us north of the Thorns. Would they serve, Lord Thorinskath?”
The dragon flew into the air and circled. I SHALL CONSIDER IT, MAN WHO CLAIMS TO BE OF MY BLOOD!
Chapter 33 – Blood of the Dragon
Truthsayer watched the strong beating wings as the dragon flew north.
Gwilliam chuckled.
“You think he’ll do it?” Truthsayer said.
“He does it and will eat his fill.”
“Then he’ll come back and eat us.”
“He will not harm those of Dragon blood.”
“Uh, Gwilliam, kinsman, I know of only three people left of the Blood in the entire world, and that includes that brother of mine, Fenn.”
“Truth.”
The unicorn met them walking through the stones. ‘You seem concerned.’
“Truthsayer and I are, well, according to the legends kin to the black dragon, so he will never harm us.”
“Truth.”
The unicorn nodded, “The dragon’s fire is indeed your veins.”
Truthsayer said, “I’m just a tad worried that our winged kinsman will, well, decide to barbeque our army on his way back.”
The unicorn paused, ‘You might consider having all swear allegiance to your House, Lord Gwilliam, Bearer of the Talisman of the Dragon’s Flame.’
Gwilliam stood in shock.
Truthsayer burst out laughing, “Fenn will have a fit!”
#
The hounds were making quite a racket in the barn. The Sergeant grimaced, exhausted from rounding up the prisoners in the woods all night. “How am I to sleep through that?”
“Sorry, Sarge,” one of the veterans said, “but it sounds like they’ve all gone into heat.”
“Well, tell them to stop!”
“Um, it doesn’t work like that, Sarge.”
“How am I to get any sleep?”
“I think you’re better off sleeping behind the keep with the refugees.”
He blinked, knowing one woman, who might not mind. Nodding, the thought about claiming he’d taken a blow on the head, but not hard enough to need him seeing their healers, who had only medicinals and wine to offer.
T’lovely lass said, “Oh, poor things; lie down right here! I’ll fetch you water, then you can show me where it hurts!”
No sooner had he laid down than he heard the shout being taken up, “Gather everyone! Gather everyone. Sir Gwilliam must speak to us.”
The Sergeant sat up, “Of all the fool…”
#
“But we’ve detachments all across the Thorns!”
Truthsayer demanded, “Sound the horns, recalling them! Gwilliam will speak to them as soon as they return. Believe me, you and they will understand soon enough!”
And so the people of the Thorns, newly recruited, standing by kin they thought still hostage to Fenn’s depredation among them, filled the courtyards as Gwilliam stepped out onto the roof of the main keep’s battlement, the talisman glowing bright, the Seeress by his side.
“All of you know the dragon has winged north,” his voice carried through the talisman’s power. “What you do not, though I’ve no doubt that several of the officers who are now our prisoner do, is that Fenn has sent another army to attack the Thorns…” There were gasps and cries. Gwilliam raised his h
ands, “An army that is about to serve as that very hungry dragon’s next meal!”
There were cheers.
He waited for their ardor to taper off and announced, “What I am considering is just how hungry the black dragon may be in days to come!”
That created a palpable silence.
“There are those of you who know I was exiled. I was born a Prince of Gwed. My father: the land’s King. My cousin, Fenn du Blain, sought the throne and had my father murdered and me called Kinslayer… The Lords of Gwed were unable to sentence me to death, though that was by but a single vote. Thus, was I sent into exile and my birthright, the Talisman of the Dragon’s Flame given into Fenn’s hands.” Placing his hand on the blazing jewel, Gwilliam continued. “The day I took this back from him, I led many of those of you from Trelor away from that land now under Fenn’s dominion. I brought you to the Thorn, have offered haven here to many of you who managed to escape, knowing you now could!”
They stared at him, tears in many an eye as the small children were raised to shoulders to get a better view of the exiled lord who gave them succor and had brought them victory, at cost to none of their lives.
“The line of the Kings of Gwed is that of the Dragon… legend says we are the blood of the Black Dragon that long ago harassed the Northlands at the Demonlord’s will; that fought the elflords of the Empire, and nearly defeated them once and for all.
“I spoke with Thorinskath, who disputed my claim, but Truthsayer shouted its Truth and the unicorn, the last of her kind, attested to it as well. The dragon obeys the Promise it made for its freedom and now slays Fenn’s army. The dragon cannot hurt one of its Blood.”
“TRUTH!” Truthsayer cried.
“And according to the unicorn, it cannot harm any who are sworn to me! My lands in the Barrier Mountains are lost to me. This one I have claimed, this ill-omened land that no city-state lays claim.”
“TRUTH!”
“I claim it through blood and strength of arms! All who swear fealty with me not just refugees, without the home and hearth of their ancestors. No, they shall be the People of the Blood of the Dragon… people the black dragon can never lay harm.
“I wish –– I need to claim you as mine! I have not sought to claim the right of Lord or general against Fenn’s evil and allegiance to the Demonlord, his true master!”
The Seeress stepped forward, “This I ‘See’ –– the black dragon will never harm those sworn to his Blood, not ever again!”
“I swear!” a woman cried, falling to her knees, clutching her sole surviving small child, “We swear! Lord Gwilliam!”
“We swear!”
“We swear fealty to Lord Gwilliam, Blood of the Dragon!” the veterans began to cry.
#
Casber stood in the courtyard, Nessa, Yel’ane, the girls, at his side and Lawson and Greth behind him. “Uh, should we—”
The unicorn’s horn blazed, ‘You must not. The fate of the Blood of the Dragon is not yours. Your hearts lie elsewhere… and Lord Gwilliam is correct, the Dragon will feast on any here he chooses who are not of the Blood of the Dragon or those Sworn to him.’
“Well, that was fun while it lasted,” Lawson muttered.
Yel’ane elbowed him as Gwilliam saw all save them bent at the knee or bowing to him as their lord.
He knelt on the balcony as the Seeress frowned, blinking uncertainly. He rose, “I bow to my people, and those who gave me back my People.”
#
Kusins came up to the troll, cleared his throat and when the giant did not look down, said, “Ahem, Lord Greth.”
Frowning, he looked down, “Boy? Your Mistress wants to do a foretelling for me?”
“Uh, yes, Milord.”
“Oh, joy.” He picked the boy up, who squealed. “Do not fret, I hardly ever drop anyone. Point the way.”
“Um,” he did, gasping until he started grinning from ear to ear.
The Seeress opened the second floor balcony doors and her acolyte found himself set down before her. “Fun, wasn’t it?” she asked the boy.
“Yes, it was… Uh, thank you, Mistress.”
“Off with you, rascal.”
Greth looked back at her. “I take it there is more serious business afoot.”
She nodded, “You’re traveling into the Empire will not go unremarked.”
“I do seem to stand out in a crowd,” he admitted.
“Well, there is a way that you and your young friends may manage to allay suspicion and enter the Empire unimpeded.”
“I take it, you’ve been preparing for that, too?”
“Why, yes, but it will prove more hazardous than fighting goblins or, perhaps, waking dragons.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Any other means will see you face a more perilous and ill-fated fate.”
“So, you’re telling me this because… I am not going to like this one bit.”
“You will need great patience.”
“Patience?”
“And a lot of practice… You’ll all need to get a lot of practice.”
“Huh?”
Part III: The Troupe
Chapter 34 – Leave Taking
“What do you mean we can’t ride the hounds?” Ani’ya demanded as the Seeress explained that this way offered them their best chance of entering the Empire without drawing any further attention from the Demonlord’s minions.
“But the hounds could help with that,” Vi’ya protested.
The Seeress smiled, “True, but the hounds need to remain here, where they will be well cared for as they will need.”
“Huh?”
“The hounds are all pregnant,” the Seeress said, shook her head. “Will all soon be pregnant.”
“What?” The girls cried.
Lawson winced.
“But they’re all girls.”
The Seeress said, “You looked that closely?”
“Um,” En’sta said, “you kinda notice riding them.”
Clearing his throat, Lawson said, “You obviously didn’t ride one of that gender, then. They must have always been among the roaming ones.”
Greth frowned as the girls nodded, seeming to accept that.
“We are really going to have to wear these costumes?”
“Yes, your very lives depend upon it.”
“But aren’t they rather…” Yel’ane began.
“They will disguise you well.”
“As what?” Nessa asked, uncertainly.
“Yeah,” Casber demanded, “because it looks like I am to wear a lot less than they are.”
The Seeress grinned, “In my darkest hours, the one thing that has given me a smile has been seeing how you will delight so many as the touring Enchanted Sprites and the Troll of Terror.”
Lawson looked at his outfit, he raised his hand, “I take it that Greth’s the troll, so what exactly is that supposed to make me?”
“You are the Magician, who just barely controls the charms that bind him,” she laughed. “Oh, wait until you see the wagons we have built for you!”
#
Servants carried their new packs filled with their costumes and clothes the Seeress said were to replace their so lovely rent gowns. She led them behind the main buildings to one of the barns, which was well guarded. She gestured and the door was opened. “Go inside and see.”
Greth said, “That is quite large.”
“Don’t you love how they’ve painted it?
Yel’ane said, “Uh, Greth doesn’t have fangs.”
“Well, I wasn’t as clear as I could have been, perhaps.”
Greth looked at the chain bindings. “You expect me…”
The Seeress shrugged, “They fit perfectly around your riding straps and will not impede your movement,” under her breath, “significantly.”
Nessa frowned, uncertainly.
“We look like, well, sprites,” Ani’ya protested, pointing.
“Hmm, you sort of do, don’t you?” the Se
eress replied, nodding.
“Is that how we’re going to look dressed in that stuff?” Vi’ya complained.
“Oh, you’ll be much more attractive as you girls tumble and do your other acts.”
“What?”
Greth had gone far too quiet, his arms crossed, Lawson realized. “Um, Greth?”
“Oh, leave me out of this. I’ve remembered that I need to practice patience.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not to have a speaking part, so I thinking I’ll let all the rest of you learn about your parts.”
The Seeress explained things ever so sweetly as her servants loaded the double wagons with their belongings. Yel’ane said, “I’m supposed to, what?”
“Magician and strong man,” Lawson muttered, glancing back at Greth, who went behind the wagon and changed his clothes, putting on a pair of garish pantaloons, then made certain his riding harness with the chains added were in good order. The chains clinked as he tried to break them.
Kusins said helpfully, “You store them in the tower, up there.”
“Of course, I do,” he nearly growled and the acolyte backed away rather quickly.
When the Seeress explained Nessa’s role, she gasped, “Oh, Greth!” and ran to him. “I—”
He looked at her. “You will be magnificent, harnessed and loosing arrows at targets.”
“But…”
He shook his head, “It will get us safely into the Empire and you to your mother, Casber to his uncle, and Lawson and I to our friend, Lord Je’orj.”
The Seeress clapped her hands, “Well, it was a pleasure. Time to go, I’m sad to say.”
“But we haven’t said goodbye to anyone!” Ani’ya protested.
The Seeress glanced at Lawson who seemed no more eager as the unicorn stepped forward, ‘The dragon must not find us still here upon his return. We must go, now.’
“And you girls must dress in your new garb in the wagons, which offer most excellent curtains for affording you all privacy. Oh, Lady Nessa, Lady Yel’ane, you will both be pleased to find the wagons well stocked for your needs as a wandering troupe come from the Northlands.”
“Girls, climb on board,” Nessa said as four horses were being hitched to the lead half of the attached wagons that looked like miniature two story painted castles with towers and battlements upon beds of stout spoked wheels. The girls climbed in through the back, staring.