The Frostwoven Crown (Book 4)

by Andrew Hunter

  The other elders stood up, looking even paler than normal.

  Jannis began a slow clap of appreciation as the others turned and filed out behind the Valfrei.

  “Are you leaving too?” Garrett asked, looking up as the blue flames surrounding his body flickered and faded.

  “I don’t think you understand, Garrett,” Jannis sighed, “We cannot disobey, no matter how much we might want to. The Valfrei holds the authority to tell us to leave, and we must leave… all of us.”

  Garrett’s heart sank.

  “We can drag our feet, if we choose,” he said, “but, in the end, we can no more disobey the order than we can refuse to sleep… eventually, we must go.”

  “I’m sorry,” Garrett sighed.

  “You still want to be a vampire?” Jannis chuckled.

  Garrett gave him a wry smile.

  “Well, good luck, Garrett,” Jannis said, “I hope you win.”

  “Thanks,” Garrett said, “and good luck to you.”

  “I’m going to need it,” Jannis sighed, “I still have to find a wagon big enough to hold six dozen rather large arachnids.”

  Garrett smiled and nodded.

  Jannis looked at the wisp hovering over Garrett’s shoulder. He whistled appreciatively. “You really are the Songreaver, aren’t you?” he said.

  Garrett shrugged.

  “Well, you’d better go say goodbye to Marla,” Jannis said.

  Garrett turned to find the robed elder at the door was already gone. He waved goodbye to Master Jannis and let himself out.

  Mrs. Veranu and Serepheni were waiting for him outside. The looks on their faces told him they had already heard.

  “Come with me,” Mrs. Veranu sighed.

  “I have to go back to the temple,” Serepheni said, “Garrett, you can find me there if you choose to stay and fight. If not… I will see you when you return.”

  “I’ll be there,” Garrett said with a nod.

  Serepheni took her leave as Klavicus appeared again to show her out.

  Garrett followed Mrs. Veranu back to her apartment, and Marla was waiting for them inside with tears in her eyes.

  The wisp on Garrett’s shoulder fluttered off to a corner as Garrett ran into Marla’s arms.

  “Garrett!” Marla sobbed.

  “I know,” Garrett said, “I know…”

  “I’ll come back, Garrett,” she wept, “I swear I’ll come back as soon as I can!”

  “It’s all right,” he whispered, “It’s all right.”

  She squeezed him tighter still and wept softly into his shoulder.

  “I’ll leave you alone for a bit,” Mrs. Veranu said, her voice sounding soft, almost defeated, “I have some arrangements to make.”

  She closed the door behind her as she left.

  “I’m so afraid, Garrett,” Marla whispered, “I’m afraid I’ll never see you again.”

  “I’ll be fine,” he assured her, “Don’t worry about me.”

  She stepped back to look into his eyes. “You have to get out of the city, Garrett!” she said, “Just go, Garrett! I’ll find you later.”

  “You’ll find me right where you left me,” he laughed.

  “No, Garrett,” she said, “The dragon…”

  “The dragon’s been lucky enough to get away from me so far,” Garrett said, “but his luck is about to run out.”

  “This isn’t a joke,” she said, shaking her head.

  “I know,” he sighed, “but it helps to laugh at it.”

  “You’re really going to stay and fight?” she asked.

  Garrett nodded. “I imagine it would be a lot easier with you at my side and an army of gaunts,” he said, “but we’ll figure something out.”

  “I’m sorry, Garrett,” Marla said, “We’re not allowed to fight against a dragon unless ordered to by the Council.”

  “I just talked to the Council,” Garrett said.

  “No, I mean the Council in Thrinaar,” she said.

  “Oh.”

  Marla looked away, as if something troubled her.

  “What is it?” Garrett asked.

  “I can’t help you,” she said, “but, perhaps, my father could…”

  “What?”

  “My father was a dragon slayer before he became a vampire,” she said, “He talks about it in his journal.”

  “Really?” Garrett gasped, “Is there something in there that can help?”

  Marla looked away again. “I’m not allowed to help you, Garrett,” she said, “It’s forbidden.”

  “Oh, uh… would you mind if I looked at the journal then?” he asked.

  “Oh, my father’s journal?” she said, mocking surprise, “Of course…”

  She motioned for him to follow her into her room.

  Garrett stepped inside, sparing a dark look for the little black cat that rumbled at him from the corner, swishing its tail.

  “Lovecraft!” Marla hissed, “Be nice!”

  She opened the small wooden box on her nightstand beside her bed and pulled out her father’s notebook, handing it to Garrett.

  He flipped it open, anxious to read some ancient secret of dragon slaying. He closed it again a moment later, feeling rather stupid.

  “I can’t read Draconic,” he said.

  “Oh… yes,” she sighed.

  “Could you maybe… translate for me?” Garrett asked.

  “Oh… of course,” she said, obviously still struggling with the morality of her actions.

  Garrett opened the book again and sighed. “I don’t know where to even look,” he said.

  “Oh, perhaps a passage at random?” she said.

  “Could you… suggest one?” he offered.

  Marla bit her lip, her eyes going toward the door. She took the book from him and riffled through it a moment, stopping at a certain page. She held it open with her finger and passed it back to him without a word.

  “Ah,” Garrett said, “would you mind helping me translate this section here?”

  She reached out and tapped a different passage with her fingernail.

  “Oh, uh, what about that part instead?” he said.

  “Oh, that passage?” she said, taking the book from him, “Let’s see… ah, it’s something to do with a poison the dragon slayers used to kill larger drakes.”

  “That sounds interesting…” Garrett said, trying to control his excitement.

  Marla paused, working up the nerve to betray her race for him. “It says,” she whispered at last, “that by mixing one part ground sephoriim with two parts rendered lamb’s fat, you can make a poison deadly to dragons. It can be used to coat the blades of your weapons and will keep its potency for up to a week after its preparation. Unfortunately, since weapons have a difficult time penetrating the hide of larger dragons, a killing blow must usually be struck through the thinner skin of the throat or mouth or through the soft spot at the base of the wing…”

  “Ah… interesting,” Garrett said, “but I have no idea what sephoriim is.”

  Marla’s eyes fell. She was shaking when Garrett put his arms around her.

  “What is it, Marla?” he asked.

  “Sephoriim is another word for blood rose,” she answered.

  Garrett stepped back and clasped his hand over his mouth.

  Marla closed the book and returned it to its box without saying a word.

  “I can’t…” Garrett whispered, “There’s hardly any of it left now…”

  “I know,” she sighed.

  “The goblin… It would kill him…” Garrett said.

  Marla nodded.

  “Why did you even show me this?” he demanded.

  “Because I love you!” she sobbed.

  “Would you still love me if… if I did something like that?” he asked.

  “Garrett, I love you!” she cried, “I don’t want you to die!”

  “I know,” he said, taking her in his arms again, “I love you too.”

  “Then stay alive,” she moaned, �
�Do whatever it takes, but stay alive, please!”

  “I will,” he said, “I promise.”

  The apartment door opened again, and Marla and Garrett stepped out into the living room to find Mrs. Veranu laying four fully laden wineskins on the table.

  “We’re leaving for Thrinaar tonight,” she said. “but you and I are traveling by wolf, Marla. The Valfrei can rage all she wants, but you’re my daughter, and we’re sticking together.”

  Marla ran to her mother’s side and hugged her tightly.

  Mrs. Veranu reached into her pocket and pulled out a ring of keys, tossing them to Garrett. “Look after the pet shop for me while I’m gone, Garrett,” she said.

  He looked down at the keys in his palm and gave her a pained look, trying to think of the right response.

  “I expect all the cages to be empty when I return,” she said to him with a little grin.

  Garrett laughed and nodded. “They will be,” he said. He pocketed the keys and looked at Marla as she came back to his side and hugged him again.

  “I’m coming back,” Marla said, “I swear it!”

  Garrett nodded. “I know,” he said.

  “If things go badly, Garrett,” Mrs. Veranu said, “get underground and ride it out. Even a dragon like Kadreaan can’t stay in the air forever, and he won’t want to land here. He’ll burn everything in sight and fly away… just don’t make yourself a target.”

  Garrett nodded again.

  “Be careful, Garrett,” Marla said, kissing him.

  “Is there any way I can send you guys a message when it’s over?” Garrett asked.

  “Tell Klavicus, and he’ll get word to us,” Mrs. Veranu said as she came out of the back room carrying two large sets of saddlebags.

  “He isn’t coming with us?” Marla gasped.

  Mrs. Veranu shook her head with a look of disgust on her face. “The Valfrei ordered him to stay and look after the place while we’re gone,” she said, stuffing one of the wineskins inside a bag.

  “But… she thinks everybody here is gonna die!” Garrett said.

  Mrs. Veranu said nothing but continued packing.

  “When you get to Thrinaar,” Garrett said, looking at Marla, “You have to find someone else to be your teacher.”

  “I know,” she said.

  “Mister Jannis says he knows people there,” Garrett said, “people that were friends with Uncle Tinjin.”

  “Jannis…” Mrs. Veranu scoffed.

  “He’s better than the Valfrei, isn’t he?” Garrett said.

  Mrs. Veranu rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.

  “I’ll make new friends when I get there,” Marla whispered, “I know what to look for in a friend now.” She pressed her hand against his heart and looked into his eyes with a trembling smile.

  “Come back soon,” Garrett sighed.

  “I will,” she said.

  “Don’t make me come and find you,” he laughed.

  She smiled and kissed him again. “Just watch out for the Thrin if you do,” she said, “It doesn’t like uninvited guests.”

  “I feel sorry for anything that tries to stand between me and you,” Garrett scoffed.

  “Save some for the dragon, Garrett,” Mrs. Veranu chuckled.

  Garrett grinned as he straightened his robe and steeled himself to face what lay ahead.

  “Not yet!” Marla cried, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

  Garrett held her for a long time, neither one saying a word, until, at last, Mrs. Veranu pulled her daughter gently away.

  Marla buried her face in her mother’s shoulder and wept as Garrett moved quietly toward the door. He opened it slowly, staring out into the dark hallway beyond like it was the unknowable future before him.

  “Songreaver,” Mrs. Veranu called out to him.

  Garrett turned to look back at her.

  “Go take back your city!” she said.

  Garrett gave her a grim nod and slipped out into the hallway with the ghostly wisp close behind him.

  Klavicus was waiting for him in the hallway.

  “You are staying to fight the dragon?” Klavicus asked as Garrett shut the door to the apartment behind him.

  “We could use your help,” Garrett said.

  Klavicus shook his head sadly. “It is forbidden,” he sighed.

  “I understand,” Garrett said as they turned to walk together back to the front door with the wisp following along close behind them.

  “Forgive me,” Klavicus said, “I wish that…”

  “It’s all right,” Garrett said, “Thanks for being my friend.”

  “It was an honor, Master Garrett,” Klavicus said. He paused for a moment and then extended his hand awkwardly toward the young necromancer.

  Garrett gave a little laugh and then hugged the tall, gangly vampire.

  Klavicus froze, apparently unfamiliar with the gesture. Then he wrapped his long arms around Garrett and returned the hug as best he could.

  “I’ll see you after the fight’s over,” Garrett said, stepping back.

  “Of course,” Klavicus rasped hoarsely.

  They reached the front entryway, and the vampire opened the door for Garrett, shielding his face against the fading light of day.

  Garrett stepped through the door, finding that Serepheni was already gone. The wisp flitted back and forth in the air before him as though overwhelmed by its newfound freedom Garrett wondered how long it had been trapped inside that stone.

  It settled on the ground beside him, a ghostly doe once more. She looked up at him with beseeching eyes.

  “Go on,” he said with a smile, “You’re free now.”

  The phantom doe hesitated only a moment and then bounded away, disappearing into the crowds of people that filled the streets of the Foreign District, raising startled cries wherever it passed. Garrett smiled as he watched her go.

  “You done waistin’ yer time in there, Songreaver?” Shortgrass called out from where he was hovering in the shadow of a nearby awning.

  “Hi, Shortgrass,” Garrett sighed, crossing the street to meet him.

  “Do ya have anythin’ ta show for it?” Shortgrass demanded, “Any clue whatsoever as ta how we’re ta bring down a great, flyin’ kettleboiler like what’s on its way here now?”

  Garrett pulled the keys from his pocket and held them up to show the fairy. “I got these,” he said.

  “An’ what’s that supposed ta be?” Shortgrass asked.

  “The keys to the pet shop where you used to live,” Garrett said with a smile.

  Shortgrass’s eyes went wide, and, for once, he was speechless.

  “Let’s go raise an army,” Garrett said with a broad grin.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Garrett swung open the door to the Veranu’s pet shop, letting the gray light of dusk spill in. Hundreds of tiny eyes turned toward the door and then squinted against the brightness.

  Shortgrass flew past Garrett’s shoulder, darting inside like a drunken hornet. “Wake up, ya miserable wretches!” he laughed, “It’s time ta go home!”

  A slow buzzing murmur began to rise from the cages.

  “Remember me, don’cha?” he cried, “Well I’m back, an’ yer all comin’ wit' me!”

  Garrett stepped inside, smiling bemusedly at the rows of fully charged essence canisters lined up on the counter. He walked forward to pick up the little red paper card that lay neatly folded atop the canisters. He opened it up and smiled as he read it.

  For my little Songreaver

  May you put it to good use

  -Lyssa

  Garrett laughed, running his hand over the heavy canisters and wondering when she found time to fill them.

  “Can ya free Jenna first?” Shortgrass asked.

  Garrett turned to see Shortgrass kneeling beside the bars of a little silver cage. The fairy locked inside it had nearly lost all of her color and lay curled on the floor of the cage, stretching her arm out to hold Shortgrass’s hand as he reached inside.
>
  Garrett looked around the shop at all the little cages and the creatures tapped within them. Miniature frilled lizards hissed and scratched at the bars of their cages. Fairies begged for release or sat and wept with their hands over their faces. Little furry creatures with long pointed ears let out warbling, mournful cries. There were so many of them.

  “A bit o’ reavin’ now, if ya please,” Shortgrass said, imploring Garrett to action with his shining blue eyes.

  Garrett stepped to the center of the room and lowered his head with his hands at his sides.

  “Hold on, Jenna,” Shortgrass whispered in Fae, “Don’t be afraid.”

  Garrett felt the icy river swelling up inside him as though it longed to rise and drown out all the fiery red ribbons of magic that filled this place. Garrett closed his eyes. He smiled and exhaled a cloud of pale mist as he let the power move through him. It filled him with an overwhelming sense of exultation as it poured into him from someplace beyond.

  Garrett threw back his head and laughed, unable to contain it anymore.

  “Break!” he screamed, and a shockwave of icy power rolled out from his body in every direction at once.

  A deafening roar filled the shop as every cage was ripped apart at once. Little silver bars flew through the air and rained down like twisted metal hail. Shrieks of terror erupted all around, but these fell silent as the last clattering twigs of sundered silver rattled to silence on the wood floor. Only the sound of muffled whimpers filled the air for a long moment.

  Garrett looked and saw the others open their eyes again as well. Tiny multicolored sparks burned from every corner of the room, flickering as the creatures blinked in astonishment.

  Then the room was filled with a cacophony of exuberant cries and shrieks and hoots, and the air thrummed with the drone of a hundred fairies taking wing all at once.

  Garrett smiled, though his vision had gone gray around the edges. The gray tunnel seemed to close in on him, and a ringing sound filled his ears. Then, suddenly, his legs didn’t seem to work anymore, and he toppled over backwards.

  A distant, detached part of his mind wondered how long it would take him to fall, and why he hadn’t hit the floor yet. Then he heard the muffled voice of Shortgrass barking orders from somewhere far away.