“Meet me at the stairwell,” she yelled after him.
He turned briefly and waved, acknowledging he had heard her. She took off in the opposite direction, heading toward the tower of the Vizier.
Several of the tall beings ambled about outside, tending to their frail gardens and taking notice when Astrid came running through. A loud rumble roared through the kingdom.
A few of the homes had pieces fall from them, window shutters falling off and landing on the ground with terrible crumbling noises.
Terrified screams could be heard across Caelestis.
We’re running out of time, Astrid thought fervently, hurrying as she made her way to the tower. She shoved open the door, and immediately went to Quimby’s room. His door was open, and he was up and walking, serving himself tea.
“Quimby!” she yelled out. “You’re up and about!”
“Yes, well, I don’t know how well. It makes life much more difficult to do things one-armed.”
“Yes, I know. I’m sorry.” She paused, moving her long, green hair behind her ears. “Quimby, I have something to tell you.”
Astrid didn’t mean to be rude, but she had to tell him. He had to know.
“Well, get on with it, woman,” he responded, his hand shakily holding the cup as he brought it to his lips to take a sip.
Astrid glanced to the dresser where she saw a tray with a steaming pot, and a plate of small, hard cookies.
“You’re being taken care of?” she asked, before she launched into what she knew was going to be bad news.
“Yes, now tell me what you’ve come to say.”
“Quimby, the dragon, Xolderan, who is holding up the city. He’s not good. I went to Palladin to get something to heal him, but when I returned, and gave it to him, he threatened to get out and destroy us all. So, my sister and I have conceived a plan, but it requires more war, more fighting.”
“Of course, it does,” he said, slamming down his cup angrily on the tray. Hot liquid spilled over on both sides.
“You don’t understand,” she spewed. “The Aequoran king has surrounded himself with the undead, and the dragon who aids him is eviler than the one that keeps Caelestis afloat. So, we need to make them trade places. Duliogial is stronger, we can trap him in the taverns, and then we can deal with Xolderan.”
“And what will you do with Xolderan?” Quimby asked.
“Well, I suppose because he is the weaker of the two, we will kill him, or call the Unseen Ones to deal with him. After all, he has taken advantage of the pure magic I brought to him, which backfired.” She laughed. “It caused him pain when he tried to use it against Caelestis, nonetheless, I don’t think he’s sick. I believe he grows stronger by the moment, and that is the cause for the tremors, so whatever we must do, we must do fast. Cayden is rallying the Caelestan army, and next we go to Telluris to ask them to fight.
My sister had vowed that this war will be the end of it all, so whether we kill both dragons, and die in the process, or imprison them, we are not stopping until the kingdoms are restored and the kings who sit upon the thrones are the ones who will bring peace once and for all.”
“What makes you think you will win?” he demanded.
“Quimby, we have always been stronger together. Do you not remember when the three lands were at peace? Sharing their abundance with one another, taking care when they fell ill? We can get back to that.”
“I’m afraid it’s a little too late, for me,” Quimby said sadly.
“So, you won’t fight?”
“Astrid, how can I? What damage could I do with one arm?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“You are Caelestan! You have more power than you realize, at least think about it,” she pressed him.
He nodded, picking up his cup of tea, head shaking. “I’m barely able to hold a cup of tea. What will I do with a sword?”
“The Quimby I know wouldn’t let that stop him,” she replied, turning her back. “I have to go, I still need to get the Vizier’s…” she stopped in her tracks, the tall, slightly hunched man stood in the doorway.
“I will fight alongside you,” The Vizier said solemnly.
“You will?” Astrid said, not able to hide the surprise from her voice.
“Of course, the fate of Caelestis…” He was interrupted by the vehement shaking of the tower. “The dragon either grows weaker, or he’s about to break from his chains.”
“I think he grows stronger… I can’t stay,” Astrid said. “Cayden and I must go to Telluris to get help. Will you aid us?”
The Vizier nodded. “For Caelestis, I will. What do you ask of me?”
“Cayden has already gathered the armies. Prepare them and meet us at the Aequoran shores. We will gather the Tellurian army and meet you there shortly,” she promised.
The Vizier nodded, turning to face Quimby. “Will you fight, one-armed man?”
“Argh! Fine! I’ll fight. Not sure how much good I’ll do.”
“Yes!” Astrid said, rushing forward to hug him, before she exited the room. “I’ll see you on the other side!”
Astrid ran from the tower, where Cayden was headed toward her, a group of Caelestans close behind.
“How’d everything go?” he asked, as he approached her.
“The Vizier and Quimby, will fight. We will meet them at Telluris!”
“Hurrah!” Cayden yelled, and meeting up, they wrapped their arms around each other in relief. The kingdoms had always been stronger together, and they were about to prove that one more time.
Reaching in her pouch, she pulled out the small oak instrument that sounded like wind chimes when she blew. The swoosh of large wings immediately appeared above them.
“Again?” Cayden asked, looking up.
“We have to, we must find Svana.”
He nodded his head, “All right, then.”
The beast landed and they were on his back in a flash, diving into the sky, to the land below.
“I don’t even know where to look!” Astrid yelled over the wind. “I have no idea where she is.”
“Let’s get closer,” Cayden said.
She nodded, gently digging her heels into the side of the Sky Ethereal as she leaned forward on his head. Her elbow gently pressed into the feathered back of his neck, urging the beast downward.
As they got closer to Telluris, large arrows swooshed past them, and she jerked the Ethereal to the left to avoid being hit.
“Someone’s loosing arrows at us!” she cried out.
“Don’t let the Ethereal get hurt, there aren’t many left,” Cayden’s concerned voice sounded out above the wind.
“You’re right,” she retorted, driving the bird into the woods, and as they neared the ground, she threw herself off, landing hard and rolling, her side hit a tree trunk, abruptly stopping her roll.
Cayden followed behind, letting out a loud, “Oof,” when he landed.
His body rolled hard across the broken branches and rugged ground. He slammed into her and they both groaned.
“Ow!” she yelled out, pushing him away from her, as they both scrambled to get to their feet.
He brushed himself off. “My apologies.”
“Think nothing of it,” she said, pulling twigs and leaves from her wild hair.
The large Sky Ethereal spread its iridescent wings wide, and immediately took off into the sky, shooting straight up like a backwards falling star just as more arrows rained toward it.
Astrid pulled her bow, bending her elbow back, as she prepared to loose an arrow, but the problem was she couldn’t see where the arrows were coming from.
“Who’s trying to kill us?” she yelled.
“I don’t know, I can’t see.” Cayden had his sword drawn, his eyes searching intensely through the underbrush.
Astrid looked at their surroundings. They were in a forest, though not one she recognized. It wasn’t large by any means, but it was filled with enough trees and bushes that it was hard to see what lay ahead of them.
At their feet lay pine needles and colored oak and maple leaves from greens, yellows, and reds. Summer was ending, and autumn was taking its place. Astrid bit her lip and studied the ground, leaning to the earth with one knee firmly planted. The leaves seemed unruffled. It didn’t appear as if anyone traveled through, otherwise there’d be slight indentions on the leaves where foot traffic had existed, pressing the leaves to the ground, nor were there any areas where the leaves seemed disturbed as if kicked out of the way. If there was anyone around them, they hadn’t traveled through the area where Astrid and Cayden stood. That complicated things. It would be hard to tell where anyone hid if they left no tracks. She looked back out into the distance, trying to see through the trees to anything out of the ordinary.
“There!” She pointed to a flash of brown and green. “There’s someone!”
Astrid let loose an arrow, which drove straight through the branches striking a man in the arm. Cayden ran forward, sword swinging. Astrid followed, though she stayed farther behind and prepared to continue using her bow. They found themselves in a small encampment, with five men surrounding them.
Astrid let another arrow loose. It struck the same one she’d already wounded, this time into his other arm. He growled at her, and the five men charged.
Cayden’s sword sliced through the air, striking one of their opponents in the stomach. The man grabbed at the wound, still wielding his sword with one arm, as he tried to bring it down on them.
Astrid loosed a third arrow. It penetrated the leather boots of the same wounded man. The first two arrows she’d released at him had disappeared, the magic dissipating into thin air, but the damage the arrows inflicted did not disappear. The man charged toward her as she adjusted to face a new opponent.
Turning to face the approaching man, Astrid loosed another arrow. This time, it penetrated through his skull, taking him down, and with the four remaining men, Astrid took on two. Cayden faced the other two, his sword parrying against theirs. He led them into the woods, while Astrid faced her opponents on her right and left. She focused on the movement of loosing her arrows as quickly as she could, hoping that Aronus could keep up, as she had nothing to defend herself from the blows of swords if they landed on her.
The one to her left, fought with a bow only, and he wasn’t a very good marksman. She found herself ducking easily out of the way as each arrow left his string. As the swordsman advanced, she took refuge behind a tree, using it a shield upon the advancing threat. His dark eyes pierced into hers. She knew he meant to kill her; she just didn’t know why. “You!” he seethed through gritted teeth. “You’re the reason our kingdom has fallen into ruins! You and the blue and red-haired one.”
She peeked out from the tree, letting loose an arrow, which grazed his arm. He growled as she ducked back behind the tree. One of the archer’s arrows flew by the tree. Astrid would have to be careful when she peaked her head out next to avoid an arrow.
“You come after me, to kill me, and I’m the one to blame for the fall of Telluris? My sister saved your kingdom! Your king was evil, because … you know what, never mind. Men like you never listen to reason.”
She knelt on the ground, positioned herself around the tree and loosed another arrow, but the swordsman was getting too close. The swing of his blade too angry, as he sliced at nothing, rage evident in the deep scarlet of his face.
To her surprise, Cayden came running from behind her, dashing out between the trees, his blade above his head. He brought his weapon down, slamming it into the man’s neck and shoulder. The man fell to ground, his eyes wide and blood pooling quickly around his lifeless form.
“Are you all right?”
Astrid nodded. “That was quick! You’re getting better,” she teased.
“A simple thank you, will suffice,” he winked at her.
“Thank you,” she responded.
The lone rogue remaining loosed another arrow, and as it whizzed past her, she spun around from behind the tree, facing him. Astrid loosed an arrow at the same time as him, and the two arrows, one standard, and one magical, struck each other in the air. Her arrow disintegrated his and continued moving forward. His eyes widened as he watched in awestruck wonder, but the delay his arrow caused hers allowed him enough time to step out of the way. He grinned at her with malice as he released another arrow. Astrid grabbed Cayden and threw him to the ground as she spun around the tree trunk once more. The arrow flew straight over where Cayden had stood. His eyes widened as he looked up to the arrow flying above him and harmlessly into the ground behind them.
Astrid gritted her teeth as she spun around the other side of the tree truck. Her fingers pulled her bowstring in two quick successions, releasing two arrows one after the other. They both hit their mark, one between his eyes and the other in his chest, and the archer fell to the ground.
Running from the small camp site, they made their way out onto the dirt roadway, taking in deep sighs of relief.
“So, is that some of the fun your sister alluded too?”
“Well, you know me, never a dull moment.” He chuckled, and they continued on their way.
“Thank you, though, really. You did save me.”
“It was my pleasure,” he answered with a modest bow.
“Wow, look at the villages, they’re destroyed!” She pointed out, the horizon littered with burned buildings and crumbled homes.
“What happened here?” he asked.
Astrid shrugged her shoulders. “Perhaps Svana will know. Let’s head to the castle. I have a feeling that’s where she is.”
He nodded his head, matching her stride for stride.
“So,” she said softly, breaking the silence, searching for something they could talk about.
“So,” he replied with a smile.
She kept her eyes focused ahead. “Is it awkward if I ask about your family?”
He shrugged. “Possibly, but I suppose we don’t have much to talk about. Unless you want to tell me about your family?”
“I asked you first,” she pushed back
“Touché,” he said with a sad smile. “Not much to tell. I had a daughter once, a wife. It’s been some time. They were killed in the first raids, when the king started going dark. It’s part of the reason I left Telluris… to be a soldier. Then, when I saw how dark the king was, I left the kingdom to be on my own.”
“Yes, you told me about that. Though, you never told me you had a wife and daughter,” she could feel the cloud of sadness that had ascended on them.
“I don’t like to talk about it, and honestly, you’re the only one I’ve told.”
“Really?” she asked, as their footsteps matched stride.
“Really,” he answered.
“What about you? I know about your sisters, your wild-colored hair. The fact that you left your volcano to come here, but tell me more? Why would you make that choice?”
Astrid was silent for a moment, trying to figure out how to piece together the answer. “I don’t think it was really a choice. Our mother, I mean… she wasn’t our mother, but she raised us and taught us how to fight, Melifera, she and Palladin asked us to save the kingdoms. When we found out how horrible things had become, I don’t think any of us could say no. Hekla, she was the most resistant of all… but you saw her. She has definitely come around, and she’s saved us all more than once. Magic has helped her to grow in ways I never thought possible.”
Cayden nodded. “Interesting. She seems the most adapted, really.”
“I know, I never thought I’d see the day. I’m so proud of her, but I miss her. I miss Svana. I miss the days we would practice loosing arrows in the sun, for play—not sport. I miss our mock battles, and most of all, I miss Melifera. Always teaching, always guiding. She kept us together after my father passed.”
Cayden nodded, taking her hand. “Well, you have me, and as long as I am by your side, I will do what I can to help you fulfill your mission whatever that may be. Perhaps one day the three of you can return.”
She shook her head, green hair tossed from side to side, bow still in her free hand as she walked to be ready if they were attacked again. She’d be prepared the next time.
“I don’t think we’ll ever return. When we win this fight, it will be a mild battle to keep the peace. We can never let the kingdoms return to this state, and there will be lots to restore when we are complete.”
“I suppose you’re not wrong about…”
“Astrid!” A familiar voice shouted from the left, and across the dirt field, A familiar head of brilliant, fiery hair, reflected in the sunlight.
“Svana!” Astrid released Cayden’s hand, and took off in a run toward her sister. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Likewise,” Svana responded.
Cayden hurried to catch up to them.
“It’s fate that you are here,” Astrid said. “Hekla and I, we are gathering our soldiers. It’s time to fight again, sister.”
“Why?” Svana asked, “has something else happened?”
Astrid nodded her head. “Indeed, it has.”
42
Svana
If you fight for the wrong reasons, many will die in cold-blooded hands. If you fight for love, and always make that the purpose for what you do, you will save many lives. When battling, don’t let anyone else hold the sword. Fight your own fight, for the right reasons. Then you shall save others and yourself.
King Everett the Honest, Second King of Caelestis, 328 A.V.
Svana and Astrid embraced each other. It felt good to be reunited.
“We’ve so much to discuss,” Svana said, releasing her sister.
“Indeed, we do. It is good to see you well.” Astrid reached out to lovingly squeeze her sister’s shoulder.
“Thank you, it is not without great cost though,” Svana said, eyes dropping to the ground as she struggled with how to tell Astrid the truth about Melifera.
“I know.” Astrid squeezed a little tighter. “Palladin told me.”
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