by Nathan Roden
“What’s wrong?” Magdalena asked.
Someone banged on the door.
“Lieutenant! What’s happening in there?”
Belinda swallowed hard.
“We’ll have to open the door. This dagger is the only weapon I have.”
“I can disarm them, if nothing else,” Magdalena said.
“I’ll stand beside the door,” Belinda whispered. “You remove the barre.”
Magdalena nodded. She grabbed the barre and threw it to the floor.
The door burst open. Belinda buried the dagger in the belly of the first guard through. He fell to the floor. The second guard raised his sword. Magdalena raised her hand, and the sword flew toward her. She grabbed it by the hilt. The guard roared and charged at her. Magdalena swung the sword.
The guard fell to his knees and toppled forward. His head rolled to a stop against the far wall.
The third guard stopped in his tracks. He turned to run. Magdalena raised her free hand. An immense ball of fire shot from her hand and struck the guard in the back. He flew into the wall with a sickening crunch. The fire consumed his dead remains.
Magdalena dropped the sword. She stared at her hands as if they did not belong to her. She turned and looked at Belinda. Magdalena squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her hand against her head.
“There is something wrong with my eyes.”
Belinda grabbed her hand.
“Come on.”
They reached a corridor.
“Do you know where we are?” Belinda asked. Magdalena pointed.
“This way. There is a passage that will take us outside the wall.”
They ran for twenty minutes before they found four horses tied up for grazing. They led two of them away. The horses were large and Belinda was exhausted. Twice she tried to climb onto the horse’s back. Magdalena put her hands on Belinda’s midsection and lifted her as if she weighed next to nothing. Belinda stared at her.
Magdalena mounted her horse. The shoulders of her dress ripped even more. She tore them off.
“I’ll have to stop by my house before I’m completely naked.”
They rode in and out of the woods, avoiding any other travelers. Magdalena raised her hand and halted.
“What is it?” Belinda asked.
Magdalena sniffed the air. She pointed.
“Look.”
Black smoke rose above the trees, accompanied by the scent of fire. They rode close enough to see flames escaping from the doors and windows of Magdalena’s home.
“Bastards,” Magdalena hissed.
Belinda and Magdalena continued to the east, riding into the woods when necessary. They came upon a curve in the road and almost collided with three soldiers traveling in the opposite direction. The soldiers stopped.
“Well,” a soldier said. “A dress without sleeves. That must be the new style.”
“I like it,” another soldier said with a smile.
“I like it a lot,” the third soldier said.
Magdalena kicked her horse’s flanks and fled into the forest. Belinda followed, as did the soldiers.
The women put distance between themselves and the soldiers. Magdalena failed to see a low branch. She was knocked to the ground. The horse did not stop.
Belinda doubled back. She held out her hand.
“Come on!”
Magdalena jumped to her feet.
“No. Ride for Islemar. I will take care of this.”
“But—”
Belinda stared. She had seen Magdalena take the form of a wolf before.
But nothing like this. The wolf stood almost as tall as the horse.
What is happening? Belinda thought.
The wolf crashed through the trees and ran toward the road. Belinda continued to the east.
The soldiers moved in single file. The wolf jumped in front of the lead horse. The horse reared. The second horse crashed into the leader, spilling both riders to the ground. The third soldier saw the wolf and tried to turn. The first two soldiers clawed at the mounted soldier’s legs, trying to take his horse. The man fought them but they pulled him to the ground. The horse ran away. Now all three were on foot.
The first soldier’s scream fell silent when the wolf’s jaws snapped around his head.
None of the soldiers made it back to the road.
Eleven
Lilly Bellamy Lamont’s eyelids fluttered. She sensed the sunlight coming through the windows. She was having difficulty breathing. She opened her eyes and saw why.
Her almost two-year-old daughter was sitting up in the bed, gripping Lilly’s nose with her chubby little fingers.
“No,” Olivia said.
Lilly pushed herself up to one elbow. She put her finger on Olivia’s nose and wiggled it back and forth.
“Nose,” Lilly said.
Olivia giggled and grabbed her own nose.
“No.”
Lilly laughed.
“Unfortunately, you’ll be hearing the word ‘no’ quite a lot for the next few years. We need to see that you know the difference.”
Olivia put her finger on her eyelid.
“Eye.”
Lilly clapped her hands.
“Very good!”
Olivia slapped her hand on the bed.
“Da-da!”
Lilly sighed.
“Your Da-da was supposed to be back yesterday. Let’s get you fed and dressed and see if your grandparents have any news.”
Thunder rolled in the distance. Lilly took Olivia in her arms and walked to the window.
”Where are you Da-da?”
Lilly opened the door.
“Let’s go see Mema and Papaw!”
Olivia clapped her hands and toddled through the door. She knew the way to her grandparents’ house. Lilly let Olivia walk part of the way.
It is good that she knows the way to their house, Lilly thought.
Olivia was growing fast. Even though Willem and Vivienne Bellamy did not live far away, it would be a long way to carry her.
There were more people than usual in the streets, hurrying in all directions. Lilly overheard some of their chatter.
“Like nothing I’ve ever seen!”
“Unbelievable!”
“Frightening, if you ask me!”
Lilly swept Olivia into her arms and followed the flow of traffic. The people moved toward the docks, which were near the Bellamy home.
Lilly stopped abruptly. She clutched Olivia tightly against her chest.
The crowd parted to let three men pass. One man stood a head taller than the other two. He had long white hair and a long, pointed white beard.
The three men had much in common. They wore long, blue robes and had eyes the color of a frozen lake.
And they stood over ten feet tall.
Lilly shivered. She turned and hurried to her parents’ house.
Lord Willem Bellamy hugged Lilly. He scooped Olivia into his arms. Vivienne Bellamy hugged Lilly and kissed her cheek. She leaned in to kiss Olivia but the baby grabbed Vivienne’s nose.
“No.”
“No?” Vivienne said. She looked hurt.
“She’s saying ‘nose’, Mother,” Lilly said. “I’m teaching her the names of her parts.”
Olivia pushed on her eyelid.
“Eye.”
“You’re so very smart!” Vivienne said.
Olivia stared at Vivienne.
“You’re supposed to clap your hands, Mother,” Lilly said.
“For the gods’ sake, Lilly,” Vivienne said. “Write down my instructions on how to be a grandmother. This is all new to me.”
Vivienne clapped her hands.
“So, so very smart! And beautiful!”
Olivia giggled, and then grabbed her nose again.
“No.”
“Noah is late,” Lilly said. “Have you any word from Morgenwraithe?”
Vivienne took Olivia from Willem’s arms. He rubbed his chin whiskers.
“No. Not a word.�
��
Thunder sounded in the distance, but nearer than before.
“Have you seen those men at the docks?” Lilly asked. “The giants?”
Willem scowled.
“Giants? What giants?”
“Men who stand over ten feet tall, Father,” Lilly said. “With eyes like wolves and long blue robes.”
“The Varylquin?” Willem whispered. “Here?”
“You know of these people?” Lilly asked.
“Aye,” Willem said. “But I’ve only seen them once, a long time ago. They are not a social people and they rarely travel from their native land.”
“You never mentioned this to me,” Lilly said.
“Or to me,” Vivienne said with an edge to her voice.
“Most people think you’re mad to speak of them,” Willem said. “Few believe they even exist.”
“Well, they believe now,” Lilly said. “The people are gawking at those men like they were three-headed goats.”
“What could possibly bring them here?” Willem said.
Someone tapped on the door. Vivienne opened it and looked up. She fainted. Willem lunged forward and caught her. He lowered her to the floor.
“I am sorry to arrive unannounced,” said the giant with the long white hair and pointed beard.
“I’m afraid we often meet with such a response when we travel. My name is Dommerien—of the Elder Council of the Varylquin.”
One of the other men spoke.
“And I am—”
Dommerien raised his finger. He did not turn his head.
“Are you the Elder of this group?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then you will remain silent. My apologies, Lord…?”
“Bellamy. Willem Bellamy.”
“My apologies, Lord Bellamy. These are my sons. As you will discern from their lack of manners, they rarely travel outside our homeland.”
“What brings you to our shores?” Willem asked.
“We seek passage to the kingdom of Morgenwraithe,” Dommerien said.
Lilly stepped closer.
“Morgenwraithe?” Willem said. “I’ll not ask your business, but there is a storm coming,”
“Yes,” Dommerien said. “This is why our ship’s Captain refused to sail any further south. He has no faith in his vessel to weather a heavy storm. He has returned to his home shores.”
The other son spoke.
“We could easily have taken—”
Dommerien raised his hand. His son clutched his neck and pulled at invisible fingers. He dropped to his knees. Dommerien lowered his hand. The son gasped for air.
“Rise and apologize to Lord Bellamy,” Dommerien said.
The son pushed himself to his feet and stared at the ground.
“I beg your pardon, Lord Bellamy.”
“No harm done,” Willem said. “I’m sorry, Dommerien, but that ship’s captain is right. It is a full two days’ journey to the ports of Islemar. I would not advise anyone to make such a journey until this storm passes. Surely your business is not so urgent.”
Dommerien paused. He laced his fingers together and gathered his thoughts.
“My oldest son—he is impetuous, much like these two. He is obsessed with two things; shiny, jeweled objects with which to adorn himself—and dragons.”
“Your son is in Morgenwraithe?” Willem asked.
“He was lured by a nobleman promising great riches in exchange for killing a single dragon. A dragon that was once a young boy.”
Lilly could not believe her ears. Noah had told her the story of the cursed child who was heir to the throne. Noah even told of meeting the boy—both as a human and in the body of a dragon. Lilly had never been sure if Noah was telling the truth or teasing her. He grew angry when she questioned him, so she had never mentioned the matter again.
“I’ve heard nothing about your son,” Willem said. “But then again, we have received no ships from Islemar for many days. Perhaps they are facing storms as well.”
“Dathien has been gone for weeks,” Dommerien said. “Something is amiss. My son has killed many dragons. His magic is powerful.”
“I understand your concern, Elder,” Willem said. “And I regret that this storm hampers your efforts. But there is nothing I can do.”
Dommerien pulled a large pouch from inside his robe.
“We will wait one day.”
Dommerien shook the pouch. It was heavy with coins.
“And then we will find a ship and a captain.”
Willem shook his head.
“If the storm is as large as we fear, I doubt you will find someone so foolish.”
“I have lived one hundred and seventy years, Lord Bellamy. I have never failed to find a capable man who will name his price.”
“I would wish you well, Dommerien,” Willem said, “but I do not want to wish you to a watery grave. Unless perchance you are capable of controlling the wind and sea.”
Thunder sounded even closer. The first raindrops dotted the windows.
“We will hope for the storm to pass quickly,” Dommerien said. “And I am sorry that we startled your woman.”
Dommerien waved his hand. Vivienne smiled in her sleep and curled onto her side.
“She is having a pleasant dream,” Dommerien said.
The giants turned and walked away. Willem balled his hands into fists and glared as he watched them go.
“Who does he think he is? Vivienne! Wake up!”
Vivienne opened her eyes.
“What is it, Willem? I was having the nicest dream…”
Twelve
Lilly watched the giants through the window as they walked toward the docks. The rain fell harder, driven by a fierce wind. The giants did not hurry, or seem bothered by the rain. Lilly squinted. She would swear the rain was not touching the men at all.
The rain fell in sheets as the storm arrived. Limbs fell from trees and various small items tumbled through the streets. Lilly turned away from the window and folded her arms.
“I did not plan well for a visit.”
Vivienne kissed Olivia’s cheeks.
“I think you chose a wonderful time! I get to hold onto both of you.”
Lightning cracked, illuminating the room.
“I’m glad we’re here,” Lilly said. “This storm is frightening.”
They visited and played with Olivia for the next hour.
They heard a commotion outside the door.
“What is that?” Vivienne said. “Who would be out in such weather?”
Willem opened the door.
“You!” he yelled at a man hurrying by. “What are you doing out?”
The man ran closer.
“There is a ship in the harbor, my lord!”
“That’s…that’s madness!” Willem yelled.
“Aye, my lord!”
The man ran toward the docks. Willem shook his head.
“Imbeciles!”
Willem grabbed his coat.
“Willem?” Vivienne said. “You can’t go out in this!”
“I’ll not let wind and rain stop me from saving my docks!”
Lilly was frightened. Could Noah be aboard this ship? She grabbed her coat.
“Lilly?” Vivienne said. “Use your head, girl!”
“I’ll be fine,” Lilly said.
She blew a kiss to Olivia and followed her father into the storm.
The harbor was dark. The torches surrounding the docks had gone out long ago, as had those in the lighthouse. The only light came from lamps inside two small shacks.
Lilly watched from the edge of the docks, staying clear of the men who hurried about whether they were able to do anything or not. Lilly shielded her eyes and stared into the harbor. She occasionally caught a glimpse of something that might have been a sail—or the remnant of one. She strained to listen for voices coming from the vessel, but she heard only the wind.
Lilly heard the voices of the men on the docks growing louder and excited.
And then she heard the sickening crunch of splintering wood as the ship crashed onto the rocks.
Moments later, the only sounds came from the storm. Lilly saw men staring into the harbor. They stood completely still. Then some of them turned and walked away.
“Here!” she heard a man shout. “I’ve got one!”
And moments later, “I’ve got another one!”
There had been only three men aboard the ship. The third man was never seen again.
The men were taken inside Lord Bellamy’s shop. They were given dry clothes, blankets, and warm cider. Lilly warmed herself by the fire.
Lord Bellamy addressed the men.
“Just what the bloody hell were you fools doing?”
“We didn’t know this storm was coming,” one man said.
“Where are you sailing from?”
“Islemar.”
This got Lilly’s attention.
“Who owns this ship?” Lord Bellamy asked.
“We don’t know.”
“So, you have destroyed a stolen ship.”
“We cared nothing for the boat. We did not want to wait to be skewered by Morgenwraithe’s soldiers or burned alive by a dragon!”
“What are you talking about?” Lilly asked.
“You haven’t heard?” the man said. “Nicholas Lamont has lost his bloody mind! He’s assembled a meager army and a brood of dragons to try and overthrow the kingdom!”
“That’s not true,” Lilly said.
“Like hell, it’s not!” the man said. “They’ve taken every ship in the harbor and forbidden anyone to leave.”
“What does Lamont want with the ships?” Willem asked.
The man stared at Willem.
“I asked you a question,” Willem said.
“He fears he might need to evacuate women and children—which he will,” the man said. “He has no hope of victory.”
Willem crossed his arms.
“So, rather than provide escape for three hundred women and children, you cowards saw fit to steal the ship.”
“Now, see here—”
“How many men did you kill to escape with that boat?” Bellamy asked.
The men stood.