Merlin’s eyes sparkled as he looked to the elder dragon. “You’d do that for us?”
The old man smirked. “What better way to piss that witch off than to see that sword into that Elf King’s hands? Besides, maybe I’ll get a few hundred cattle in exchange for my good deed. Haven’t had steak in a while, it’s been mostly goats and mountain lions. And those get so bland after a few centuries.”
“You can’t sit three?” Kylee asked, looking to her sister with concern. Her white hair bobbed as she turned, nearly taking Tristan’s eye out.
Wyrddlin chuckled. “Maybe in my younger years elf. Not so much these days. That chase reminded me of just how old I’m getting. A red never used to be able to out run me in my prime. No, it’ll have to be two. Even then, we might have to stop a few times for rest.”
“It’s settled,” Merlin told them, “Tristan and Willow will leave with Wyrddlin. The rest of us will head north and try to draw the Phoenix’s attention away from them. We can scout positions of her forces, judge their size, and bring that information to Erik before the battle begins. He’ll have a better idea of what to defend against and more time to prepare for it.”
Willow smiled at her sister. “We’ll be all right, you go with them. I really shouldn’t be traveling much longer anyhow,” she remarked, hand resting on her belly. If possible, her belly looked larger than it had when they had last parted; had he been gone that long?
She was right though, this was no place to have a baby and the quicker they got to Forlorn the better. Tristan looked to Wyrddlin and nodded his agreement. “You have my thanks.”
The dragon smiled at him and he thought he saw filed teeth just behind the lip line. “After seeing the changes made in you, I’ve got to admit, I’m curious how all this is going to end.”
He coughed and looked away.
His eyes met Melissa’s and she smiled weakly in return. He could feel the regret coming off her in waves and was thrown back into the heat of that Heart Trial. The way that she had come at him, the ferociousness of her lust, was it just part of the test or did she really feel that way? Obviously, it wasn’t the real future he had seen; he didn’t look anything like this in that vision, but he still sensed that it wasn’t all an illusion. That she did want him and was just now realizing that the door was forever closed.
And Jared was still dead.
Reyna had glared at him during that part of the tale and the look on her face when he finished made his blood run cold. They wouldn’t know if it actually would have carried out that way or if it was just part of his trials, but the chance alone had gained him a certain amount of responsibility in Jared’s untimely loss. As she ran a whetstone along her blade, he was suddenly glad she was traveling north with Merlin rather than being left alone with him.
“May I see the necklace?” Willow suddenly asked, and he recalled that he hadn’t taken it out of the pouch, having simply described it rather than showing it off.
He opened the flap on the pouch and fingered the chain lightly. It felt like an heirloom of a lost relative. He had a hard time lifting it free without thinking of the woman that had given him so much; sacrificing herself for their shared future.
Willow’s eyes traced the golden links to the diamond fixed in the center of the tear and he noticed Merlin’s gaze centered on it as well.
“I gave that to her, you know? As a token of my love. So, that she would always be safe and be able to find me. I never imagined she’d kept it all this time,” the mage told them, watching as Willow lifted it free and studied it more closely.
“You mind?” she asked him suddenly, widening the chain.
He snapped out of his thoughts of loss and smiled widely. “If you don’t put it on I’ll borrow an arrow tip from your sister and—”
She put it around her neck and slugged him in the shoulder. “Be nice.”
“Doesn’t that hurt?” he laughed. She had smacked him on the corner of his pauldrons; which did nothing but shift his weight slightly with the impact.
“It’s worth it,” she smiled back. Her grin warmed his heart and when they looked at each other; he knew that everything was going to be all right.
Merlin nodded at the book, “and keep that safe. That was the one thing she prized above all others and it’s a show of respect that she has given it to you. When I catch up with you two in Forlorn, I’ll start teaching you how to read it.”
Willow nodded with thanks, then turned towards the hovering old man. “When were you planning on leaving?”
“As soon as you quit mooning over each other and get off your asses,” the dragon returned with a grin, and Tristan rolled his eyes.
They weren’t mooning over each other.
“You know, it’s strange,” Melissa suddenly commented to the mage. “I got so used to hearing his unfiltered thoughts that now it almost feels too quiet.”
Merlin was distracted as he watched Willow place the book in one of her saddle bags, preparing to leave. “I know what you mean. But you shouldn’t complain that much, you designed those trials. What comes of it falls back on you, as much as it did her.”
“I know, I didn’t expect to—,” Melissa trailed off.
He rose and walked to Kore. The orc’s eyes found his and for once, they were almost eye to eye. The towering warrior was still a few inches taller, but the broadness of their shoulders were more evenly matched and the mischievous grin on the other’s face told him he was satisfied with what had been done to him.
“I know you heard that part of what happened in that vision of the future. But I also know that you’ve traveled with Merlin long enough to know that the choices we make can alter what may be. That nothing is set in stone,” he comforted his companion, setting a gauntleted hand on the orc’s arm. “You and I are brothers, and I trust you to look after them while I’m gone.”
Kore nodded, his tusks moving as he tried to figure out how to say what was on his mind. “Kore no worried. Elf and Kore friends. Kore take care of elf. No let harm come. Kore and Tristan brothers.” The warrior reached out and grasped his arm firmly; pulling him towards a quick embrace. “Kore like change, Tristan big as Kore. Now others stare Tristan, not Kore.”
After a moment, he burst into laughter; remembering that evening by the fire on the day they’d met. It seemed like such a long time ago. Willow was chuckling too, then she had a thought, and turned on the dragon.
“How are we supposed to ride on your back? The griffins left with our saddles,” she explained, and it hadn’t occurred to him either. Riding on that scaly back would tear the crap out of their legs; armor or not.
Merlin got to his feet and pulled his bag free of his cloak. “Of course you would have one of those,” he rolled his eyes. “Is there anything you don’t keep in that bag of yours?”
“Well, I found an iPod back in that pyramid, but I found the Phoenix’s playlist distasteful. Still, if you want music for your trip, I think I got it magically charged enough to last the length of the flight?” the mage told them as he laid out a saddle next to their saddle bags. It wasn’t as formal as the griffin ones had been, but it was serviceable.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he blurted. He knew the mage could go off on weird tangents, but sometimes it seemed like he did it on purpose.
Melissa chuckled. “Britney Spears or Backstreet Boys?”
“Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber,” Merlin muttered in return.
“Oh, one of those girls,” the witch cackled back.
He and Willow just stood there and watched the two of them. They were totally oblivious to what they were talking about. Maybe they should just leave them to it and be on their way?
“Just hold your horses’ young man,” the mage suddenly blurted, and he was stunned; had his new defenses already been breached? His privacy lost once more? “No, I didn’t read your mind; your impatience takes no skill to read. You’re an open book.”
“I’ve told him that,” Willow snickered.
He sighed. No matter how much some things changed, others always seemed to stay the same. “I just don’t want to interrupt your whatever you call that,” he waved at the two mages and smirked.
Merlin’s smile died as he approached the two of them, a hand on each of their arms, pulling them close. “After you have healed the King with the sword, inform him that I will be there as soon as I can, but if the war starts without me, not to wait. Hit them with everything he’s got.”
He nodded and patted the older man’s shoulder. “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask,” he stammered, not believing that it had slipped his mind. Drawing Purity free, he allowed the firelight to lick the blade’s surface, watching it shimmer as if it were alive in his hands. “I can’t say I understand completely what to do with this.”
“The pointy end goes into the other man,” Merlin commented dryly.
Amazingly, Reyna burst into fresh cackles, drawing Kylee’s wide-eyed look of surprise in response.
He shook his head with frustration and was startled by the mage’s sudden laugh as he joined in. “We have time to discover the sword’s secrets later. Right now, it’s important you two be off. The faster you get to Forlorn the better. I fear you only have a couple of weeks left, then you’ll forget everything but that new responsibility of yours,” Merlin grinned at him, nodding towards the transformed dragon to his rear. Willow had broken away at some point and Kylee was helping her fix the saddle to the dragon’s back. His fiancé was really beginning to show and he knew that Merlin was right.
Best to get her to safety as quickly as possible.
He looked down at the mage and sighed. Thinking of everything that had transpired to bring them here to this moment, he couldn’t help but feel that one chapter of his life was coming to a close. “Well, I did it.”
“Yes, you did,” Merlin grinned. “Constantine would be proud. I know I am. Take the time that you’re at Forlorn waiting for us to better understand the gifts given to you. Train with the Knights of the Realm, test your new strengths, and learn your weaknesses. That way when we move on, you’ll be ready. Now get your ass on that dragon and get to Forlorn. Be safe, both of you.”
He grinned. “And good luck to you as well. Reyna, Kore, Melissa,” he nodded to each in turn.
He embraced Kylee and Tuskar whimpered by their side. “You take care of her,” the ranger glared. Her white hair was pulled back in the pony-tail she loved so much, her pink diamond tattoos that stretched over her eyes appearing to sparkle in the moonlight. She had her black leather armor on, a long black cloak with blue trim flowing behind her. A bow and quiver were strapped to her back and he knew that she had a slew of long knives and daggers stashed in numerous places across her body. She was ready for war, and he knew better to cross her by not doing what she commanded.
“That’s all I’ll ever do,” he promised with a somber look upon his face.
“And where the hell do you think you two are going?” a voice suddenly wailed.
He jerked his head to the left and saw an orange cat leaping out of the grass. “Go out to dinner and come home to an empty house? What the hell is that about? You’re not leaving without me!”
He had totally forgotten about the fairy creature; never even occurred to him that he hadn’t been there. “Uh, ok?” he asked, looking to the mage. Merlin smiled and nodded at him. “I guess you’re going with us.” He bent down and scooped up the cat, who yowled at him as he was lifted into Willow’s lap. Shaking his head, he made sure their bags were secured and brought himself up behind her.
He raised a hand to the others and Merlin suddenly coughed, trying to hide a smile.
“Just spit it out,” Melissa blurted, bursting into giggles.
“May the force be with you,” Merlin told them and that sent the witch into further hysterics. It even sounded like the cat was laughing.
Reyna snorted with disgust and stalked away while the other two members of the company stared at the two mages with total confusion.
“On that note,” Wyrddlin suddenly roared, unfolded his wings, and gave them a gigantic thrust towards the ground. The saddle pushed him upward and he felt a drastic surge of vertigo. This was nothing like the calmness of being on a griffin’s back. These were violent thrusts and he bucked in the saddle.
He tried to wave to the others, but he hit himself in the face with his gauntleted hand and decided it was best to put his helm on instead. Willow had already followed suit and after getting it into place, he looked back down at their campsite. It had already become a spec of light in a forest of darkness.
Well, so much for that. Guess they were on their way.
“Best hold on tight. Been a long time since I’ve had a rider and it might be a bit rough,” Wyrddlin hollered back at them.
“No kidding,” Willow moaned and he smiled weakly, knowing her groans were mimicking his own.
The moon was beginning to rise and the dragon banked right; flying straight into its welcoming light.
Chapter 2
Exile
I
Kylee saw a wisp of smoke just outside the tree line to the west and her eyes focused in that direction. She could only make out one fire, but that didn’t mean there weren’t many more obscured by the forest canopy beyond. They had been through too much recently for her to take anything for granted. Tuskar took a quick sniff and through their shared senses, she didn’t catch anything untoward upon the wind.
She glanced to her rear and saw nothing; her party had not yet caught up to her. She had set off by herself after leaving Token’s cottage, too disgusted by what she’d seen to hang about any longer. Merlin knew the look in her eyes and had silently given her consent to take her leave and scout ahead.
A day after Tristan and Willow had departed, they had made their way north to Token’s home with little hope that their horses would be there waiting for them. Tristan had described Token’s hat in that pit beneath the earth, as well as a horse carcass, so Merlin had already been making plans to secure them new mounts from a nearby human village to the east.
She’d been surprised to find their horses stabled and all accounted for. A song had caught her ears and bursting into Token’s cottage, she was stunned to find the drunken dwarf alive and well. He barely noticed who she was and must have thought she was a waitress, as he’d called for her to bring more Grog. The quick relief soon departed as the smell of the room struck her senses, driving her to gag and vomit on the soiled floor.
Backpedaling, she had fled the interior and rushed to be out in the fresh air once more. The others had arrived and Merlin gave her a questioning glance. She had waved them forward and wasn’t surprised when Reyna quickly stumbled back out, curses upon the air. Despite the reeking smell, she had to break out into a laugh. That black knight could be quite inventive with her curses when she wanted to be; she had to give her that much.
Apparently, the dwarf had traded his hat for a barrel of ale, along with one of his best axes to boot. The horse and hat Tristan had seen had been from a traveling merchant, not from the dwarf himself. Judging by the state of things, Kylee wasn’t sure which would be the worst fate. Tuskar had refused to get anywhere close to the cottage, and she’d taken her leave of them shortly after.
Now, as she crept upon the smoldering fire, her ears listened to every movement of branch and leaf, an arrow notched, arm ready to fire at an instant’s notice. She paused ten yards from the small campsite; looking for whoever had been tending the fire. There wasn’t a soul in sight and her eyes swept the tree line looking for any sign of life.
Calling upon her magic, she joined her sight with Tuskar’s, and together they scanned their surroundings. Red shapes flitted through the trees, the orange flames springing into even brighter life. The shape of a large feline could barely be seen through the trees and Tuskar began to growl in response to the presence of another predator.
The point of a dagger pricked her skin through a break in her armor and her breath caught in her throat.
“Caa yer wolf mukker aff,” a gruff voice commanded.
Tuskar had reeled about, nose twitching, eyes narrowing on her attacker. Wait, she silently ordered her companion and though he lowered back on his haunches, his teeth remained bared; ready to strike at a moment’s notice.
“Funay hin’ abit elves, aye lookin’ up,” the voice commented with a dry chuckle. “Fa ur ye an’ what’s yer business haur?”
“I’m a ranger who’s just passing through on her way north,” she replied simply. No need to tip him off that she had friends riding their way even now.
There was a snort and the dagger dug just a bit deeper. She winced but remained perfectly still.
“Nae a body heids north, nae unless they ur gonnae join th' Witch ay th' Deidlan’s,” the other person noted. “Mebbe it’s best tae kill ye noo 'en coopon ye later as a member ay 'er army.”
“As you said, I am an elf. Do you really believe any of my race would willingly serve the Phoenix?” she threw back. Her hand was slowly sliding towards the hilt of a long knife as she wiggled her hip to adjust her stance.
“I’ve seen shite recently 'at woods turn yer bluid braw an' make ye flee screamin' back tae yer eastern woods as if yer crease waur oan fire. Don’t ken whit Ah believe anymair, seems jist abit everythin' is possible these days,” the voice commented, trailing off at the end.
She bucked her rear backwards and caught her attacker off guard. She whipped around, drawing her knife and landing on her feet in a crouch. Tuskar’s growl increased as he stepped forward, ready to attack when she did.
Standing there with a dagger in hand was a mud-covered dwarf, eyes narrowing, as a hand reached for the large axe at his side. She raised her knife in his direction, motioning at his reaching hand, and it suddenly opened and raised into the air.
“If yoo’re gonnae kill me, make it quick,” the dwarf huffed at her, muddy beard plastered to his chest and hair matted upon his shoulders. He was heavily armored for a dwarf and she was impressed by the defiant look in his eyes as he focused only on her, not the wolf circling around behind him.
Phoenix Rising (the New Age Saga Book 3) Page 4