Spellweaver

by Tamara Grantham

  My father had been right about the thorns—spikes the length of pencils grew from twisted trees. They were easy enough to avoid as long as I paid attention.

  I couldn’t avoid thinking of the slaughtered fairies as I walked. The horrific image of their tiny mangled bodies deeply disturbed me. I feared it would haunt me always, no matter how hard I wished to forget it. The thought crossed my mind that perhaps the dragons themselves could be responsible for the fairy murders, but I quickly dismissed that explanation. Dragons were magical creatures, and they would’ve had the same abhorrent reaction I’d had if they’d slaughtered the fairies.

  I entered a small clearing. A brook took up most of the space. Its gurgling was the only sound to break up the silence.

  Some sort of nobbinflies danced over the water. I’d never before seen a species with two sets of wings or barbed tails. They made a quiet hissing that I only now noticed. A greenish glow emanated from their humanlike bodies. Their faces and eyes were reminiscent of a cat’s, though I’d never seen nobbinflies with scales instead of fur. Perhaps they weren’t nobbinflies at all. Their green-tinted magic hinted at dragon ancestry.

  One of the creatures took notice of me. It hovered a little closer, seeming interested in my glowing sand cloud. I took a step back. It lingered a second more, took one last glance at the cloud, and floated soundlessly back to the brook to join its companions.

  Odd.

  I left the creatures to journey deeper into the forest. The jungle noises returned as I retreated from the nobbinflies.

  As I walked, I thought about the island. I’d studied Faythander’s species when I was a child growing up in Fan’twar’s caves, but most books focused on the mainland creatures. Why weren’t these islands explored more? The trip here hadn’t been easy, but Captain Tobin had proved it was possible. Something didn’t add up.

  The elves were technologically and magically advanced. They’d built cities, light-rails—I’d even heard rumors of a Mars colony—so why hadn’t they explored these islands?

  The jungle thinned as I reached a precipice. I felt thankful to have my sand cloud, or else I might not have noticed the hundred-foot drop-off. The gorge stretched into a long valley that ended at the foot of the volcanic mountains. Moonlight illuminated the glossy-leafed foliage growing at the bottom. How was I supposed to get down there?

  My heart rate quickened when I thought of Kull possibly lost in these woods. I prayed he hadn’t fallen. Surviving a drop like that would be miraculous.

  Pacing the canyon’s edge, I tried to come up with a solution of how to scale the steep wall. I had no rope for climbing down. It might be possible to use vines, but with my luck, they’d snap in half as soon as I descended. What other options did I have?

  I turned to the volcanoes. A shadowy cloud of ash rose from the vents, and I spotted the dark form of a dragon circling the mountain. It seemed so close, but how could I reach it? Could magic help?

  Back on the mainland, I used my dragon statue to summon Fan’twar. It was a long shot, but maybe I could try the same thing here. I took off my backpack and rummaged through it until I found my mirror case. Pulling out the slim wooden case, I opened it, and my pewter dragon statue glinted under Faythander’s moonbeams.

  The dragon figurine felt warm under my fingertips when I removed it, and its weight was deceptively heavy. I had crafted it with an actual dragon scale inside, giving the metal a hint of life to connect it with the magic.

  I stared at the statue. Was I sure I wanted to do this? The dragons here weren’t like mainland dragons. They weren’t used to humans. But I felt confident I could at least keep them from killing me. If they wished to harm me, they’d have to deal with Fan’twar’s wrath.

  The statue continued to warm as I held it. I closed my eyes to focus and thought of nothing else except the figurine, the smoothness of the scales, the weight of the metal, the ridges and bumps of the horns and tail. Magic rose inside me, and I released it into the statue. It didn’t flow as smoothly as I would have wished, but it got the job done. The statue glowed with a faint amber light as I opened my eyes.

  I felt the magic deep inside, pulsing like a beacon to call the dragons. I sat back and waited.

  Sooner than I’d expected, a shadow crossed overhead and blocked out the moonlight. My stomach fluttered with anxiety. Whether this was a good idea or not, it was too late to turn back now.

  The shadow sailed over me again, this time closer. Wings whooshed, sending a cloud of debris into the air as a dragon settled on the ledge.

  This dragon was smaller than Fan’twar, with a thick, rough hide that would have blended in with the volcanic rock had we been in the mountains. It stood completely still. Only the movement of its slitted, snakelike eyes gave any indication of life.

  “Human,” it said with a deep growl. “We are not accustomed to seeing your kind here.”

  “My name is Olive Kennedy,” I said. “I come on behalf of my stepfather, Fan’twar, Sky King of Faythander.” I thought it best to make the introductions first. Name-dropping at a time like this could be a matter of life or death.

  It answered with a drawn-out hiss, and then took a step closer. I stiffened as its reptilian face loomed close.

  “You have Fan’twar’s scent.” It took a step back and gave its head a slight bow. “I am called Seren, King of the Ore Fae. Come with me, child of dragons, and I shall fly you to our home. We’ve much to discuss.”

  He flattened his wings against the ground.

  If I didn’t go with this dragon now, I knew I wouldn’t get another chance. There were too many questions needing answers, like where were Kull and the others? Where should the bloom’s final resting place be? And what had happened to the creatures on this island? My questions would never be answered unless I took this step forward.

  I placed the statue back in its box and tucked it into my bag. Inhaling a calming breath, I climbed onto Seren’s back.

  Seren let out a long shriek before flapping his wings and plunging off the cliff.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  I stood in the dragon’s cavern. The flight from the cliffs to the caves had been short, although I was positive I’d never been more frightened. It made me realize how gentle Fan’twar was.

  Seren walked ahead of me, leading me through his labyrinth. Walls made of porous volcanic rock surrounded us as waves of heat roiled from the floor. We passed through a large chamber where a slow-moving stream of lava snaked through a deep gorge. I held my breath to keep from inhaling the sulfuric fumes.

  The chamber widened, and soon we stopped in a domed cavern. Intricately carved pillars surrounded us. Above us, a sun-shaped pattern was carved into the stone. Its rays spanned outward, and each of the beam’s tips rested atop one of the twelve columns. A faded golden sheen glinted from the ceiling and supports.

  “I’ve seen something like this before,” I said, staring at the ceiling, “in the elven halls.”

  The dragon didn’t answer. He wandered to the room’s center and climbed atop a pile of rubble. His reptilian claws grasped at the broken rock, making loose stones clatter as they tumbled to the floor.

  I inspected the chamber as I made my way toward the dragon. I hadn’t expected to find elven architecture so far from the mainland. Had elves been here?

  I sat on a rock near the dragon. He watched me with those unblinking snake’s eyes, so unlike Fan’twar’s. My stepfather’s eyes had always seemed more human than animal. I looked away to stare at the room.

  “Were the elves here once?” I asked.

  “Yes. Many years ago. Before my time.”

  Before his time? I didn’t dare ask the dragon his age, but he had to be old. If that were so, then the elves would have been here hundreds of years ago. There wasn’t any record of an elven expedition, so what were they doing out on this island?

  “The balance of our world has shifted,” Seren said. “Many things will soon change. No more shall Faythander be a world of peace. Do you car
ry the blossom of the Ever Tree?”

  “Yes,” I answered, “but I’m not sure where it belongs.”

  “Hmm,” he growled deep in his throat.

  Was it just me, or did the room seem darker?

  “Recite the prophecy.”

  I closed my eyes as I remembered the words. “Over the sea of a thousand faces, let the silver light show the way. The bloom will only flourish under the stars of the mirror-white sand. Only there will it be safe. Only then can our world be saved.”

  “Do you know the meaning of this prophecy?”

  “Vaguely. I was hoping you could help me decipher it.”

  Steam rose from his nostrils. He held so still that it was hard to tell him from the rock pile. “The prophecy refers to Verutith, the unknown island.”

  Finally, I was getting somewhere. “What do you know of this island?”

  “My kind do not travel there. The island is inhabited by dark creatures who possess magic stronger than ours. The creatures of Verutith are shrouded in darkness.”

  “There are creatures that have been killed on this island—were they killed by the dark creatures?”

  “I cannot say. Since the magic has faded, the balance of power has shifted. Many creatures, once powerful, are no longer able to defend themselves. Conversely, other species have grown strong. Much is changing, young one.

  “The dark creatures, however, still possess magic, and although weakened, their powers can reach great distances.”

  I swallowed. This wasn’t good. “Some of my companions have gone missing. Do you believe they’re under the spell of the dark creatures?”

  “It is possible. Some are more susceptible to the magic than others. We have seen your companions wandering through our forests. Yes,” he said with a growl, “it is possible.”

  “Can you take me to my companions?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “I am sorry, but you must seek out your companions on your own. If they recognize you, the spell will be weakened, and so you may be safe. But my kind will not go near any creature under the dark kind’s spell.”

  “Can you at least help me find them?”

  “Hmm,” his growl sounded more like a snarl. “I cannot.”

  “Why?”

  “Years ago, a group of mortals visited our island. They became overpowered by the visions from the dark creatures. While under their spell, the mortals slew many of my kind. We are born with magic that protects us, as well as thick hides to keep us safe. We do not fear what hunts us, for we can defeat any enemy. But we will not confront the dark creatures or those who succumb to their spells.”

  “Can anything defeat them?”

  “It is difficult to say. None have seen their true forms, and so none know their true capabilities or weaknesses. Their magic can crush you with a single thought. You would be wise not to travel to Verutith.”

  This wasn’t good. How could I restore the Everblossom with such terrifying creatures in my way? “There’s got to be some way to get past them. Perhaps with the magic fading, their powers won’t be as strong?”

  “Yes.” Seren closed his eyes. “Yes, perhaps. Long ago, the island was pure and untainted by the evil ones. In those days, it was named for the silt that existed on the island’s central mountain—a very strange, mirror-like substance that was said to reflect the stars at night.”

  My heart leapt. This confirmed it—Verutith was to be the bloom’s final resting place. Only one problem—how did I find it?

  “Is this substance still there?”

  “I cannot say. The dark ones use the island’s magic. Whether they have corrupted the sand or not is a mystery.”

  “Then I must travel there in order to find out. How do I get to Verutith?”

  “The islands are all connected by tunnels that run from one to another. There are tunnels in these mountains that will take you there if that is your wish, but I beg you to reconsider. Verutith is a treacherous place. The Convergence is not to be taken lightly.”

  “The Convergence?” Was that what Firro had referred to?

  “Yes, the point where our worlds are joined. It is a portal of sorts, although no living thing can cross through it. Your people have visited it many times.” Seren sighed. “We watch them when they come in their boats. So greedy for the items they plunder.”

  This didn’t surprise me. Captain Tobin had wanted to keep us away from the smaller island. He was afraid we would find out where he got all his precious Earth Kingdom junk.

  “The fading magic has taken its toll on all creatures,” Seren said, interrupting my thoughts. “We inhabitants of the outer islands have found ways to preserve our magic, but not all are so fortunate.”

  My thoughts turned to Fan’twar. I remembered how weak he’d looked, and my heart clenched at the thought of losing him. I’d already lost Uli. I couldn’t handle the loss of another friend. Fan’twar was more of a father to me than my real dad. I had to save him.

  “Then I must restore the magic,” I said. “I have no other choice.”

  “No,” Seren said. “You cannot continue this quest. Your young powers are nothing compared to the strength of the dark ones.”

  “But if I don’t continue, the magic will never be restored.”

  A thin trail of steam snaked from Seren’s nostrils. “Then perhaps that is the way of things.”

  “But won’t you die without the magic?”

  “As I have said, we have found ways to survive.”

  “How? You are creatures of magic, no different from any other species. How have you found a way to survive?”

  He flicked his tail. The walls began to move. Forms took shape. Dragons appeared where I had thought only rocks had been. They slithered along the walls, making the cavern seem alive.

  “Consuming the flesh of other magical creatures gives us great power,” he said.

  My skin tingled. Alarm bells rang in my head.

  Seren’s eyes popped open. “Your flesh will provide us with the magic we need to continue our survival. Fan’twar has forgotten the true nature of dragonkind. He has grown soft. Because of his weakness, he lies dying while we survive. We will outlast him and so shall take our rightful place on his throne.”

  The mass of bodies wriggled along the walls. Growls echoed through the cave.

  “But how can this be?” I shouted over the racket. “You would have felt great pain at the loss of a fellow magical creature.”

  “No,” he answered. “We are not like our mainland cousins. The loss does not affect us. We will feast on your flesh. First, we will take your eyes—where all magical visions are stored. Then, we shall steal your heart while it still beats—taking the source of your powers. And finally, we shall bathe in your magic.”

  I balled my fists. Fear made adrenaline burn through my veins. “Fan’twar will never let you get away with this,” I shouted over the dragons’ shrieks. “He is stronger than you think. I will restore the magic, and he will come after you. He will not forget your treachery.”

  Seren laughed, a grating sound that made my skin crawl. “Fan’twar is not as powerful as you imagine. His weakness for humans will be his undoing. We will take your power for our own. We will become the Deathbringer!”

  The dragons took flight, filling the chamber with the deafening sound of beating wings as they circled overhead in a black cloud.

  Through the chaos, I heard a man yelling behind me. I turned to find Kull standing at the cave’s mouth. I would have been relieved to see him, except that he looked like a character from a horror movie. Blood was smeared over the naked skin of his torso and face, his pants were ripped, and mud was caked to his bare feet. He carried his sword, which also had blood drying on its blade. In his other hand, he dragged behind him the head of a dragon.

  Madness glinted in his eyes. I wasn’t sure he recognized me.

  He hefted up the severed head. “Dragon!” he roared. “Release the woman, or suffer the same fate as your brother!”

  Ser
en let out a bloodcurdling roar. I saw a primal madness in his reptilian eyes as he leapt off the rock pile. His eyes glowed green, and then, above us, lightning swirls of magic spun around the sun-patterned ceiling. The electrical charge made my arm hairs stand on end.

  The ceiling split open with a thunderous crack. Humid air smelling of greenery rushed inside the cavern, and stars appeared through the ceiling’s fissure.

  “You shall die for this treachery!” Seren cried.

  Kull tossed the head, and it landed with a thud at Seren’s feet. Kull rushed at the dragon just as Seren leapt at him. The Wult prince slashed at the dragon, opening a wound in the beast’s tail. The king of the ore fae bared his teeth and circled the warrior as droplets of blood spattered the ground.

  The flurry of dragon bodies circled the cavern with the sound of hundreds of beating wings. I felt as though I stood in the midst of a thunderstorm. The dragons flew toward the ceiling’s chasm.

  Kull held his sword high, screaming something, though I couldn’t make out his words over the din of beating wings. Seren dove at the warrior with his teeth bared but rammed Kull with his thick tail at the last minute. Kull fell back, landing with a heavy thud several feet away. The dragon skittered across the floor toward Kull, its side-to-side lope reminding me of a Komodo dragon’s movements.

  Kull raised onto his elbows. Time seemed to slow as the dragon sank its teeth into Kull’s side. My mind tried to grasp the situation. I held my breath as time slowed to a crawl.

  I felt my magic release but didn’t remember calling upon it. Amber-white light pulsed from my hands, glowing outward, the tiny light particles aimed for the dragon.

  The light penetrated the dragon’s hide.

  Suddenly, time seemed to fast-forward.

  Seren screamed. His eyes burst from his head, still attached by bloody tendons, and the dragon took flight. It flew on uncertain wings, hitting the walls and shrieking with a maddening scream. Like a bat guided by instinctive forces, its body steadied, and soon, Seren joined the horde circling above.

  The dragons flew from the room, retreating from the amber light emanating from my skin. As the last of the creatures left, the cavern was left empty except for me and Kull.