by M. R. Polish
Hot tears fell from her eyes, completely disorientating her vision. She had to rely on the guard, who still held on to her arm, to safely guide her through the throng of people. Someone grabbed at her shoulder. “Karis, no, they can’t take you!”
Karis held her head high but never turned around to look at her friend. “Corina, I have to go.”
One of the council’s small transport cars stopped below the stairs leading to the Pentacle. It was white with blue lights around the bottom. Windows made up the top half of the car, and Karis could see the white interior. The driver stepped out to open the back door, letting Karis and her guard inside. Sitting back in her seat, she looked out the window and watched as the city lights became nothing but blurs as they sped past the Central Square. The bumps from the road meshed with the rhythm of her heartbeat. Thump-thump, thump-thump.
They passed by tall buildings that looked like no more than white smudges to distort her memories from her childhood home. Lights from houses began to line the path they took through town as the evening grew darker. There were a few with a slightly different coloration, depending on who used their powers to light the lamp. Each magical energy created a different effect.
She found no comfort in watching her world slip away. The hour slipped by quickly, feeling more like minutes. The city was behind them and the Shank Sea gave a black watery backdrop.
“Princess, we’re almost to the port.”
She tipped her head forward at the driver. “Why do you still call me that?”
He looked up at her in the rearview mirror, and she could see her own arctic blue eyes staring back at her. “The people believe you are innocent. We love you.”
His testimony brought more tears to her eyes, but she brushed them off as they fell with the back of her hand. Would her people survive under the new King’s rule? Her father’s death was sudden, and she had reasons to believe it was deliberate. Her cousin wanted the throne, and now he possessed it. She was convinced that he didn’t have any love for her people or Shamike. Her heart ached for everyone.
“We’re here,” the driver spoke in a near whisper.
It was the only royal portal in all of Shamike, as it took a significant amount of magic to summon the other portals. This portal sat in the middle of three pillars that formed a triangle on the coast of the sea. It was taller than she remembered when she came back from a trip with her father last year. The silver walls shimmered, and under the lights from the pillars, it looked as if the magic that it held combusted and spilt into the air, sparkling with a thousand crystals.
The cold night air rushed across her skin as the door opened and her guard pulled her from the vehicle. She shivered. Her thin, white dress did little to keep in heat. Living in the palace her whole life, being subjected to the cold wasn’t something she had to endure before, and it wasn’t anything she thought of before now. Her petite frame racked with a new tremble.
She could hear the surf crash into the rocky shoreline. The waves sounded angry as they pounded fiercely with each new swell.
“Your things, what little the council allowed you to take, have already been placed inside the portal and are awaiting you on the island,” the driver explained.
She tried her best at a brave smile for him. “Thank you.” Sucking in her breath, she stood taller and walked toward the portal and her new life.
She hesitated in front of the archway. Stars twinkled overhead as if they waved goodbye. Her hand shook as she waved it over the chrome plate that controlled the entrance. It needed magic to open it and even though they banished her, she retained her power; something not even they could take from her. Coming from true royal blood, once she becomes skilled with her powers she would be greater than most in Shamike. It usually took many years of training for anyone to fully understand and use their inner energy.
The door slid open, revealing the aqua-tiled floor and bright silver, shimmering walls. In the middle of the room was a circle of tall pillars. Blue and pink lights streamed through them, shooting straight up into the ceiling.
Once she walked through the light, she would be gone. Magic was the source for each portal letting travelers choose their destination, but this time, the council predetermined and set her destination for her. Since this was the royal portal, the King already infused his power to have the gateway open.
Karis started walking before her legs gave out and she lost all of her courage. She strode through the light with her head held high. She felt weightless, and then there was nothing but blackness.
She blinked several times as shapes formed against a darkened skyline. The wind whipped fiercely, blowing her long black hair around her face, making it look like another shadow in the night.
She curled up in a ball on the beach. Tears streamed from her eyes. Everything hurt, right down to her fingertips, from the emotional upheaval. She laid there and cried, soaking the sand with her salty tears.
Earth, Terpesona Island in the South Pacific
Karis looked around and tried to focus on her surroundings. The warm rays from the sun beat down on her. Its warmth spread over her bare arms like a blanket. Leaves from tall palm trees swayed in the gentle breeze. The metallic aroma from the salty sea filled her senses with a new sadness for home and the fresh scent of Shamike.
She sat up and leaned on one arm, her hand squishing into the soft white sand. A wall of trees and foliage stood about twenty feet behind her, and large rocks surrounded an inlet. Waves crashed into them, creating a cool mist on her skin.
Karis pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Resting her head on her knees, she gazed off across the endless ocean. The aquatic blue glared back at her as if to tell her she was unwelcome. A lonely outsider banished, and forced to live in this world.
“So this is home,” she whispered.
She slipped her sandals off and dug her toes in the sand. “At least it’s beautiful.”
Karis tried not to think of how she would never share this world, herself, or a conversation with another person for the entirety of her life. Sucking in a deep breath, she rose and looked around for her things.
“With my luck, they placed them in the middle of the island for me to search for.”
Picking up her shoes, she walked along the beach, lifting her dress as the tide rushed at her ankles. She could feel the familiar hum of her power as it connected with something she held dear—the necklace her father gave her when she was little. The Council forced her to remove it when they took her into custody. She feared she’d never see it again.
Karis picked up her pace, knowing it was close. In her mind, she could see the swirled pendent. She returned her quest to the beach, watching as the waves pounded against the cove. She climbed the rocks and let out a gasp.
It was beautiful. The water that danced in the pool of the cove was clear and perfect. She could see tiny red fish swimming around in a small school. Even as her shadow cast over on the water, they didn’t seem to notice and swam lazily around the edge of the inlet. Large flat leaves hung low over the back of the small pool, creating a tropical awning for shelter from the sun.
Karis smiled as she saw what she looked for. Nestled in the crevice of two boulders was her father’s box. Gold leaves made up the trim around the bottom and engraved on the lid were two stars and a moon. She knew her necklace was inside. Climbing down, she grasped the box and held it tightly to her chest. Even if this was the only thing the council allowed her to have, she was thankful it was this. A part of her father—a part of her.
A piece of paper flittered against the rock as the breeze picked up. She snatched it up before the wind could carry it away and read it.
Dearest Karis,
The word of your sentence is deeply upsetting to me. I cannot express my heartfelt grief in words, but know that not all of us are against you. Most of us believe you are innocent. I sent you as many things as the council laws allowed. You will find them inland. Waiting for you there is a humble ho
me that will serve you well. I could not send this box with them because I had to sneak it to the island when the guards were not looking. I simply hope you found it okay.
There are many who still need you. Please do not give up.
Until we meet again,
Tarine, Constable of Shamike Fortress
She crumbled the paper in her fist and exhaled a steady breath. She tried to imagine Tarine’s usual cheerful face as he wrote the letter, but all she felt were his tears. She should have known it was him who sent the box. With her father’s passing, only she and Tarine possessed the encrypted power to open it. It was, after all, a royal box and he was the Constable. Yet, he was more than that, more like family, an uncle who kept watch over her when her father was away on matters for the kingdom. She slumped down to the rock and waved her hand over the seal. A clicking sound came from the box, and she lifted the lid.
Glowing bright red against the black satin interior was her necklace. It always had a glow when it wasn’t around her neck. Her father never told her what kind of power it held, but she knew it was strong by the way it pulsed in rhythm with her energy. She wasn’t sure how it could help her now, but having it close helped the ache in her heart.
The necklace was a gold circular pendant with swirls inside, embedded in the middle with a ruby-red stone. Karis picked it up and placed it around her neck. The humming stopped as well as the glowing. She traced her fingers over the familiar shape of the pendent as it rested at the top of her collarbone.
“Karis my sweet, come here. I have something I want to give you before I leave again.” Her father lifted her to his lap.
She was eight years old but still liked to be close to him. It made her sad when he had to leave, so she took all she could get. “Papa, what is it?”
He gestured to Tarine, who held a box. Tarine came closer and waved his hand over the seal, unlocking it. Her father lifted out a beautiful necklace with a red glow. He slipped it around her neck and gave her a smile. “You must keep this always. Guard it well, my princess.”
Karis felt a strange purr as her body connected with the different power that now hung on around her neck. She nodded. “I will.”
He sat her back down on her feet and stood. Leaning over, he gave her a quick kiss on top of her head before leaving.
She hated those moments. She knew he did too and always left before she could see his sadness. Tarine wrapped an arm around her. “He’ll be home soon, my dear.”
She turned and buried her face in Tarine’s coat.
She swallowed the lump that formed in the back of her throat from the memory and placed the crumpled note inside the box, then sealed it shut. Taking it with her, she climbed out of the inlet and proceeded inland, pushing wide leaves out of her way as she searched for her new home. She would have plenty of time to explore her island; right now she needed to find out what else the council allowed her to have.
Spreading the leaves on one more tree, she came upon a clearing. It was there that she spotted a tall wooden structure with a wraparound porch. After living in a grand palace for all of her twenty years, this was hard to appreciate. Wooden slabs and bamboo poles made up the frame of the house, but upon closer inspection, the walls were dried grass woven into a weave-like pattern.
Wooden steps led up to the porch with vines hanging from the railing all the way up. A thatched roof hung over the sides, giving some shade. The stilts made the house sit up off the ground enough that she could walk underneath it easily, but wide leaves filled the area, making it hard to move through. Colorful flowers were scattered among the plants, leaving a trail of violets, pinks, and oranges around her new home.
Karis straightened her shoulders and climbed the stairs. She braced herself against the doorframe, leaning slightly but not too hard, afraid she’d fall through. Nothing about this felt like home. She opened the door.
It was nearly a bare room; a single bed sat on the far wall. There were at least four open windows with sheer treatments that danced in the breeze. Her trunk rested unscathed, taking up the whole end of the wide bed. She quickly walked over and opened it, letting out a sigh of relief when she noticed most of her clothing neatly folded inside. She pulled each piece out and then laid them on the bed. Among her clothing, she found her hairbrush and other essentials. It surprised her to find a few personal items, such as a picture of herself and her father taken not too long ago, hidden underneath all the clothing. She pulled it out and held it tightly to her chest.
“Oh, Father, what has happened? Everything is all wrong.”
She slumped onto the floor, taking the picture with her. At least the council saw fit to let her have such a personal remembrance.
A small yet stunning yellow bird perched on her windowsill, startling Karis out of her misery. The tiny creature observed her through its white rimmed eyes.
“Hello, Sweet Thing. What are you doing here in this dark paradise? I bet you're just as curious about me, wondering what I’m doing here in your home.”
The bird continued to dance around. Karis moved slightly, causing it to fly away. Her shoulders dropped as her loneliness became reality.
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Mark of the Dragon
By Bill Morgan and M.R. Polish
Preview
Chapter One
(1251)
A Talk of Peace
With his eyes closed, Sorem tightened his legs around his dragon’s massive body. He couldn’t remember how long it had been since they dove in the water, but the deeper they went, the harder the water pressed in on them. His body was numb from the cold temperature and his lungs burned from lack of oxygen. An underwater entrance tunnel was the only way to get to Aquaistra since a curtain of caustic gases surrounded the continent, which was the only reason for them to swim this far under the sea.
“The entrance is near,” Syreth’s deep voice spoke in his mind, a telepathy only a dragon and his rider shared.
Long green blades from the deep seaweed, Mariserba, moved with the current as they swam through it, feeling like silk as it rubbed against his bare arms. Sorem pried his eyes open but with their speed, the water stung his pupils so he shut them again, trusting Syreth to get them to Maris safely.
“Hold on.” Syreth’s voice again filled his head and he grasped the leather straps that wrapped around the dragon’s neck tighter with his right hand.
The current rushed past him right before feeling Syreth make a fast upward motion, then warm air blasted his skin and he opened his eyes, gasping for much needed air. Tall trees towered over them and thick foliage with wide broad leaves filled the countryside. Aquaistra was beautiful in its own right, but the country already seemed too humid for his liking. The air stuck to him and felt heavy as he breathed. Syreth flew higher toward the sun, needing the warmth. Its heat and the wind dried Sorem’s clothes and warmed his body. Looking down, he saw large groups of Aquaistrians gathering for his arrival.
They flew above the town of Maris, which was the capitol of the continent of Aquaistra. They circled once more before descending to the soiled and rocky floor near the outskirts and closest to the water entrance pool. Syreth’s giant wings took one more backstroke then rested, tucking them closely to his side as he settled on the ground. He slid his front leg forward so Sorem could climb down. His blue scales still glistened with tiny droplets of water that hadn’t evaporated yet.
“Good job, Syreth,” Sorem mentally told his dragon as his feet hit the ground. “Now all I have to do is find Marex and get him to agree to peace.”
“You will do it. I feel it in my heart.”
Sorem let out a breath. “My good friend, I hope you are right.” He rested a hand on Syreth’s well-muscled leg.
Sorem shifted his weight but kept his hand on his dragon. The commotion rose as the crowd gathered closer. He sucked in a deep breath as he looked around, unsure of where to go since this was his first trip to Maris. Mothers held their children c
lose, and men formed groups that eyed him suspiciously. Their skin was a darker, more bronzed coloring than his people back home. The women wore long skirts and material that wrapped around their chest. Most of the men wore no shirts but wore pants similar to his leather ones, though they appeared to be made of sharkskin instead of leather from a land beast.
“You don’t belong here!” a cry came from the back of the forming crowd.
“Yeah, go back to your own lands!” another man chimed in.
Sorem exhaled loudly. He presumed that a warm welcome would be absent, but now he second-guessed his decision to come alone. Before he thought his appearance would seem less of a threat if it were just him, but now he wondered if he should’ve brought Terrax with him. He was his best rider back in Santerrian, but it was too late to wonder about the should-haves. Besides, if this went badly, they would need Terrax’s leadership if he didn’t return. No matter how the talk with Marex went, he would fly out of here knowing he did all he could do. He didn’t want war anymore. No one in Santerrian wanted war.
Syreth held his head high, the two horns that curled out from his skull made him look fierce. He was larger than most dragons. It would take three grown men, standing on top of each other, to look Syreth in the eyes.
Sorem saw a couple of the children sneaking in for a closer look. He smiled at them. “He won’t hurt you.”
They ran over to Syreth, giggling. The massive dragon bowed down low so they could climb on him and scratch his cheeks. A couple men came nearer, nodding their heads in approval of his dragon. Sorem pivoted on his heel, looking up at Syreth and grinned. He knew he’d soak up the attention. At least there was a couple welcoming faces, even if they were only for his dragon.
A hush fell on the crowd. Even the children stopped laughing. Sorem turned and watched the crowd part as a beautiful woman in a brown shirt and pants emerged from the trail behind them. He felt a longing in his chest. Her long hair and petite body reminded him of his wife. It had been too long since he left her with their daughter. The last he saw of them, his daughter had only been in the world for two weeks. That was well over a month ago. “Damn this war,” he thought.