The Dragon's Flame (The Chronicles of Terah # 2)

by Morgan, Mackenzie

  “Well, she didn’t need to know all of it. Let her believe the girl was duped. What does it matter now? Gerry’s dead. She can’t do any more harm.”

  “I agree. I just think it was a nice thing to do. You didn’t have to tell Brena that Gerry died trying to return the lamp. That made everything just that bit easier for her to handle. When are you going to see Drusilla?”

  “If I remember correctly, Theresa said that Drusilla delivers her teas on Saturday, so she should be at the chapel today.” Then Kevin sighed and said, “I guess now’s as good a time as any. We’ll go as soon as I change out of these clothes.” He stood up and stretched. “Let’s drop off the lamp on the way. Then when we get back, we can take the rest of the day off.”

  Chris stood up and picked up the lamp. “Provided nothing else comes up.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  By the time Kevin and Chris returned to the office, it was time for lunch. They walked through the reception area, spoke to Isak and Cameryn for a few minutes, and then headed to the dining room. Laryn, Steve, and Tyree were already seated, but they hadn’t started eating yet.

  “You look tired, Myron,” Laryn said as she looked carefully at her nephew. “I dropped by the office a little while ago and Isak said that you and Chris were out. What have you been up to this morning?”

  Kevin watched Miranda and a couple of her staff bring in some trays from the kitchen while he answered. “Nothing much. We needed to go out to Willow Canyon for a little bit.”

  Laryn didn’t say anything right away, so Kevin glanced over at her. She was gazing at him intently. She didn’t look convinced, but he relaxed a little when she finally nodded and said, “Well, you do look tired. Maybe you should take the rest of the day off and get some rest.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more. I think I’ll go up to my room after lunch and just relax for a while.”

  Laryn glanced over at Chris. He was studying his plate like he’d never seen food before, but she saw a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. She smiled to herself. They had been up to something that morning, just like she thought, but apparently whatever it was had turned out well. She figured one of them would probably get around to telling her about it one day.

  After they finished lunch, Kevin and Chris went back to his office and collapsed in the chairs.

  “I really do feel like I need a break,” Kevin said. “Too bad there isn’t some nice quiet place where we can go for a couple of days.”

  Chris’s eyes were drooping, nearly closed. “I’m ready for a nap.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. Let’s tell Isak to shut down the office. He and Cameryn can take the rest of the day off, too.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice,” Chris said as he struggled out of the chair. He opened Kevin’s office door and passed the message on to the two pages. When the reception area was clear, Chris said, “I’m going upstairs.”

  “I’m right behind you,” Kevin said.

  As they passed the guard at the bottom of the stairs, Kevin said, “We’re going upstairs to get some rest. Please don’t disturb either one of us unless there’s a dire emergency, and to be honest, right now I can’t think of anything that might qualify.”

  The guard grinned and nodded. “Enjoy your afternoon, sir.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Kevin spent a lazy afternoon in his room, lying on his couch, dozing off and on. A little before dinnertime, he got up, put on a fresh tunic, and knocked on Chris’s door to see if he wanted to go downstairs for dinner.

  After a few minutes, Chris opened the door and peered out. His hair was tumbled all over his head, his tunic was twisted, and his eyes were glassy and only half opened. “What? Has something happened? What’s going on?” Chris mumbled.

  Kevin burst out laughing. “Have you been asleep all afternoon?”

  Chris ran his hand over his face a couple of times. Then he nodded. “I guess so. I think I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow. The next thing I knew, you were banging on the door. What time is it anyway?”

  “It’s time for dinner. Are you going to want to go down? Or do you want me to send something up?”

  “No, no. I’ll go down. Just give me a minute,” Chris said as he leaned back into his room. “Man, I feel groggy. Let me splash some water on my face and change shirts. Back in a minute.”

  Ten minutes later, Chris and Kevin were in the dining room, waiting for Laryn, Steve, and Tyree to join them for dinner. Like usual, food revived Chris, and by the end of the meal, he was back to normal.

  “We thought we’d play Octuro this evening,” Steve said. “Want to join us?”

  Chris looked around. “There are five of us.”

  “Laryn and I can play as a team,” Steve suggested.

  “There’s no need for that,” Kevin said as he got up from the table. “There’s something else I need to do anyway. You go ahead. Chris, I’ll meet you back upstairs later.”

  While the others moved off to the playing table, Kevin stepped through the back door and out into the backyard.

  Last night the castle had celebrated the end of magic wars, but tonight Kevin was celebrating his own victory. He had survived the day. And what he really wanted to do was go flying with Xantha. He took out his key, turned it, and a few seconds later, he was in the meadow near Hayden’s house in Crinsor Run.

  “Xantha, are you around?” Kevin called out mentally.

  “I’ve been expecting you.” Xantha glided to a stop right beside Kevin.

  “How? I didn’t decide to come until a couple of minutes ago.”

  “That’s what you think,” Xantha said with a chuckle. “You made that decision this afternoon, while you were lying on your couch. I heard you. Climb on board.”

  As soon as Kevin was settled on Xantha’s back, the pegasus leapt into the air and soared up into the night sky. They flew over fields, forests, mountains, and valleys for the next several hours. The only things that registered in Kevin’s mind were how absolutely beautiful the night was, and how wonderful it felt to be alive. When Xantha finally returned to the meadow, Kevin reluctantly climbed down.

  “I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed that,” Kevin said.

  “It’s a lovely night. A good time to be alive.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “So, have you done anything about a mate yet? The way you keep taking chances, you’re likely to need an heir sooner than you think,” Xantha said teasingly.

  “Xantha, don’t start that up again,” Kevin said with a sigh. He could feel a flush creep up his cheeks as his thoughts immediately went to Rhianna. “There won’t be any more magic wars. Terah’s safe now.”

  “Yes, but if you get yourself killed, that puts an end to the House of Nordin, and some of us have gotten sort of used to having them around. You need to get busy and produce heirs so that the house is safe even if you aren’t. Don’t wait too long, Kevin.”

  Kevin shook his head in resignation. “Guess it’s time for me to get back. No one knows where I went, and if I don’t show up soon …”

  “They’ll probably think you’re out somewhere doing what any young man should be doing, looking for your mate,” Xantha said with a snort.

  Kevin laughed, turned the key, and went back home.

  Chapter 47

  The Federation Meets Again

  The next two weeks were unusually quiet around the castle in Milhaven. No emergencies came up, no nasty surprises arrived in the morning mail, and there were no frantic visitors with requests or complaints. It was the calmest things had been in the Master Sorcerer’s Office in years, but Kevin had no way of knowing that. All he knew was that it was the first chance he’d had to catch his breath since he’d arrived on Terah.

  The third Saturday of the month dawned clear and crisp. It was a perfect day for the first day of fall. The leaves had started turning on the mountaintops, and the deep blue sky was a fitting backdrop for the fall colors. Kevin stood on his balcony as the sun topp
ed the mountain and spread its light slowly across the meadow. He had his second federation meeting in a few hours, and he was looking forward to it.

  Kevin smiled to himself as he walked out to the meadow to run through his magic routine. Last spring, he had felt bombarded by the representatives’ demands to find a mate, sire an heir, and protect the succession of the Master’s Chair. Then they had hit him with their mandate that he find a way to put an end to the ominous threat of magic wars.

  As Kevin began his routine, he thought about how the people of Terah had been trying to come up with a way to prevent magic wars for over five hundred years. And in a few hours, he was going to present a pact to the federation that would do just that. It would put an end to the threat of magic wars forever. He couldn’t wait to see the looks on their faces.

  Kevin allowed himself a few minutes of vanity over his success, and while he was enjoying his moment of glory, he messed up his exercises and dropped the rock he had been juggling. Kevin grinned at his own folly and started his exercises over again, this time without the distraction of bragging to himself.

  When he returned to his room, Chris was frowning. “A little off your game?”

  Kevin grinned sheepishly. “I guess. Something distracted me.”

  “Was someone out there?”

  “No, nothing like that. Just a stray thought that got my attention. Don’t worry about it. Now, where’s the coffee?”

  “I haven’t gone downstairs yet. After I saw that blunder, I was afraid to leave. I didn’t know what was wrong with you.”

  “I’m fine, but I really would like some coffee.”

  “Okay, okay. I’m on my way,” Chris said, not really convinced.

  While Chris was gone, Kevin dressed in his formal tunic and tied the red sash around his waist. By the time he was finished, Chris was back with the coffee.

  “We should go down for breakfast before too long. Miranda was taking the buns out of the oven while I was down there.”

  “Did you get anything for the brownies who live on Federation Isle?”

  Chris nodded. “Neiven made some more little sculptures and I threw in some of Miranda’s preserves. Think that’s enough?”

  Kevin nodded.

  “When do you want to leave?”

  “I thought we’d go right after breakfast. I’d like to get there early and enjoy the beach for a little while.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll go get dressed. Meet you downstairs.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  By the middle of the morning, Kevin and Chris were relaxing on the sandy beach of Federation Isle. While they were watching the waves roll in, they saw Yara rise up out of the sea on her watery throne.

  “Good morning,” she said as the throne bobbed on the waves. “I thought I spotted the two of you on the shore. Did everything work out all right with your unruly sorcerer?”

  Kevin shook his head. “Actually he tried to kill me, so …”

  Yara nodded. “You tried.”

  Kevin nodded in answer. A couple of minutes later he said, “I like that island you showed me and I may have a use for it later. Would you let me know if anyone else finds it and decides to live out there?”

  “Will do. Well, I just thought I’d check in with you before the others arrive. I think I’ll go swim around for a bit until the others get here. See you later.”

  Kevin threw his hand up and waved as Yara dove through her throne into the sea.

  A little while later, Kevin noticed a small shimmer of light a few feet away, and then King Merdin materialized.

  “Good morning,” Kevin said.

  “Good morning. Have you recovered from our little adventure?”

  Kevin laughed as he nodded. “And I want to thank you again. I really do appreciate all your help. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  King Merdin bowed his head slightly and said, “Glad to be of service. I enjoyed it. Was Brena surprised to get her pendants back?”

  “I think she was,” Kevin said with a grin. “And the lamp. The Sisterhood is rather partial to that old lamp. She treated it like a rare treasure, and all but tossed the new one aside.”

  King Merdin chuckled. “Gnome women are sentimental, too. Well, all’s well that ends well. Think I’ll walk around a bit. The others should start arriving any minute.”

  Over the next fifteen minutes, the other representatives arrived. Then Glendymere materialized and the representatives started making their way down to the beach. As soon as everyone was settled, Glendymere opened the meeting and asked if there was any old business.

  Caelan, the elf, said, “Yes, I have some old business that I’d like to bring up.” Then he turned towards Kevin and said, “I’ve been anxiously awaiting the news of your marriage. Could you tell us when the happy day will be?”

  Kevin felt a slight blush start to creep up his cheeks. “To be honest, Caelan, I’ve been a little busy for the past six months. I really haven’t had time to think about a wife.”

  “What?!” Tricie shrieked.

  “Sir, I hate to seem redundant, but I thought we made it clear at the last meeting that you have an obligation to assure the peaceful succession of the Master’s Chair in the event of your death,” Hagar the yeti added as the other representatives began mumbling to each other.

  Kevin nodded and said, “I’d like to answer that, if I may?” He stood up and looked around, waiting for all the side conversations to stop. Then he took a sheet of paper out of his pocket and slowly unfolded it. He held it up and began to read the resolution that the Council of Sorcerers had adopted for filling the Master’s Chair. When he finished, he said, “This resolution was signed by all of the seated sorcerers of Terah, and Glendymere has the original copy in safe keeping at his cave.”

  All eyes turned towards Glendymere for confirmation. The dragon nodded his massive head. After a couple of minutes of stunned silence, there was an outburst of applause and cheers.

  Over the tumult, Kevin heard Hagar say, “Well done, lad. Well done.”

  Sandy, the gargoyle, slapped Kevin on the back, nearly sending him face down in the sand. “I knew you’d come through. I just knew it. We have a keeper here, folks,” Sandy said in a voice that rang out across the beach.

  King Merdin tilted his head to the side and grinned up at Kevin.

  Yara beamed at him from her throne and said, “Congratulations. That was quite a feat.”

  Tricie fluttered around Kevin’s head showering him in pixie dust while she trilled her congratulations. Caradoc stepped to the middle of the circle of representatives and danced a jig, waving his pipe around in the air over his head.

  After the noise abated a bit, Kevin heard Yanko the goblin say, “That’s fine, Myron, but we still want to see you married. We want you to produce heirs. The House of Nordin has been good for Terah, and if it’s all the same with you, we’d like to keep the Master’s Chair in your family.”

  Kevin looked at Yanko for a minute while the noise died down. “Thank you, Yanko. That’s nice of you to say, and I hope that one day I will find a woman whom I can love as much as my father loved my mother. When that happens, I will marry, and I hope we will have many children. But in the meantime, Terah is more important that any one family line.”

  Yanko bowed his head slightly in Kevin’s direction and then looked back at Glendymere. The others followed his lead.

  “Is there any other old business?” Glendymere asked.

  No one said anything.

  “Any new business?”

  No one spoke up.

  “Then I hope to see all of you back here on the first day of spring for our next meeting. I declare this meeting of the Federation of Terah adjourned.”

  All of the delegates stood up and started meandering around, eating the refreshments that the brownies had provided, and talking in small groups. Several of the delegates made their way over to Kevin to shake his hand and offer more congratulations. After a little while, he worked his way over to Glendymer
e.

  “You did well,” Glendymere said to Kevin privately.

  “Thanks,” Kevin said quietly.

  “So, what do you have planned for the next six months? How are you going to top the last six?” Glendymere asked, including Chris in the conversation as he joined them.

  Kevin laughed. “I’m not even going to try.”

  “We’re going to take a totally different approach,” Chris said. “We’re going to go back to the castle and sit there as quietly as we can. Then maybe no one will notice us and feel like they have to entertain us.”

  “Entertain you?”

  “Yeah, you know, by doing things that make our lives interesting.”

  “Like stealing a couple of my opals?”

  “Exactly.”

  Glendymere snorted. “Good luck with that approach, Chris. Let me know how it works out for you. But in the meantime, Myron, maybe we should keep up the self-defense training. You never know when sharp reflexes might come in handy. See you Tuesday morning.” Then with a chuckle, he turned his key and vanished.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  After all the other representatives had gone home, Kevin and Chris settled back down on the beach and watched the waves roll in.

  “Peaceful, isn’t it?” Kevin asked.

  Chris nodded. “Today’s meeting was a lot more relaxed than the last one.”

  Kevin laughed. “I was thinking about that earlier. Hard to believe it was only a few months ago. Seems like years. So much has happened since then. For a while, it was like we were caught up in some kind of whirlwind. Before we could get finished with one thing, another popped up.”

  “Yeah, but things balanced out in the end. There was a lot of good mixed in there with all the hassles,” Chris said. “We met a lot of nice people, found some that can be counted on when the going gets rough, even managed to make a few friends. Not bad for a couple of month’s work.”

  “No, not bad at all,” Kevin said with a thoughtful nod.

  For the next little while the two friends stared out to sea in silence, each lost in his own thoughts. Finally, as the afternoon sun began to sink into the ocean, Kevin said, “Well, I guess we should head back before anyone starts getting worried.”