by Nathan Roden
Simon turned away.
“He said, ‘I need to do this, Simon. I can’t fight back. And if I do nothing but lie and stare at the ceiling I swear I will go mad before sunrise’”.
Simon turned back.
“He said, ‘I’m not sure my mother is still alive’.”
“Oh, how horrible,” Jaclyn said.
“I’ll do anything for Boone,” Simon said. “And because of that, I’ll do anything for his brother. Because for the last several days, I would have done anything for mine.”
Forty-Nine
Robinette put her arm around Caleb’s shoulder.
“A ten-year-old boy,” she said. “So much should have never been asked of you.”
“But yet, it was,” Caleb said. “I no longer feel like a child. I am tired. I feel like an old man.”
Robinette squeezed.
“How would you even know what an old man feels like? The time for war is over, Caleb Brewer. Now, it is time for you, Sara, and Ezekiel to live your lives in peace. It is time for you to enjoy your youth.”
“I think you are right, Lady Lamont,” Caleb said. “I am happy to leave complicated matters to the adults. I would like to…I would like to have fun; to be frivolous. I would like to play.”
“And play, you will,” Robinette said. “I will see that Jaclyn makes it a law.”
“I love you, my lady,” Caleb said.
“And I love you, my precious boy—as if you were my own.”
“I should go,” Caleb said.
“Go?” Robinette said. “Go where?”
Caleb pointed to the sky.
“I am not certain, my lady. But the full moon put Simon and me back into human form. Tonight’s moon will likely change that.”
“Oh,” Robinette said. “Where are you going?”
“Outside the gates. Where I will not cause a disturbance.”
“I will wait with you,” Robinette said.
“And so will I,” Lilly said. “May Mother and Father come as well, Caleb?”
“If you wish,” Caleb said.
“I don’t know, Willem…” Vivienne said. “What about Olivia?”
Willem took her arm.
“Bring her with us. I have to see this,” Willem said.
They stood outside the gates. Caleb scanned the skies and the trees. He pointed.
“What kind of birds are those, my lady?”
“Those are geese,” Robinette said. “Soon, the seasons will change. They are flying to the south.”
“They’re beautiful,” Caleb said. “They fly in formation, as though they were of one mind.”
“Yes,” Robinette said. She wrapped her arm around Caleb’s shoulder.
“Do you…do you know if you will retain your sight through this, Caleb?”
Caleb shook his head.
“No, my lady. I do not know. Could I ask a favor of you?”
“Certainly, dear. Anything.”
“Could I…could I touch your face—in case I don’t get to see it again?”
Robinette bit her lip as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Of…of course, you can.”
Lilly wept as well.
“You may touch mine, if you like.”
“Thank you,” Caleb said. “We’ve just met, but we are already family.”
Lilly choked back a sob.
“Yes. Yes, we are.”
Caleb put his hands to Lady Lamont’s face. He traced her face with his fingers, committing every feature to memory. He did the same to Lilly.
Willem held Olivia. Olivia fussed and pushed away from her grandfather.
“What are you doing, girl?” Willem asked.
Olivia reached toward Caleb.
“Face,” she said.
“She wants to touch your face, Caleb,” Lilly said.
Caleb smiled and stepped in front of Willem. Olivia touched Caleb’s face with both her hands. And then she put her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
“Oh…would you look at that, Willem!” Vivienne said.
Willem cleared his throat.
“Yes. I see them.”
“You’re looking a little misty, Father,” Lilly said with a smile.
“I’m tired. Very tired, that’s all.”
Olivia leaned back.
“Thank you, Olivia,” Caleb said. “I have to go now.”
The sky darkened as the sun faded behind the forest. Above the horizon, the night’s moon peeked out. Caleb felt a tingle in his shoulders.
“I think it’s happening.”
He stepped away from the others and waved at them. They waved back.
In less than a minute, the boy became the dragon.
Fifty
The dragons met in the air. They landed on the King’s Road.
“Look at you,” Simon said. “You’re so much more handsome than the last time I saw you.”
“I would like to say the same,” Caleb said. “But you’re hideous, Your Grace.”
Simon laughed.
“I cannot believe we are not blood relations. The things that come out of your young mouth are the same that would have come out of mine at ten years of age.”
“Perhaps it’s best that you lived in exile,” Caleb said. “You would have offended most of the kingdom before you gained the crown.”
“Aye,” Simon said. “Everything happens for a reason, eh?”
“I don’t know about that,” Caleb said. “Where are we off to?”
“We have yet another mission, now,” Simon said. “I’m going to pick up Ben Blankenship and take him to his daughter.”
“In the Southlands?”
“Yes,” Simon said. “Although that term will mean nothing in the future. There will be no more borders within this kingdom.”
Simon and Caleb landed three hours later. The lights burned in the little cottage.
“We’ll wait here,” Simon said to Ben. “Take all the time you need.”
Ben rapped on the door.
“Who’s there?” The voice came from inside the house.
“Angel’s father!”
The door creaked open slowly and was then thrown aside when the little girl burst through. Ben knelt down. Angel ran at him so hard that they tumbled over backward. Ben laughed as he smothered his little girl with kisses.
Angel’s grandparents looked on. The woman kneaded her hands while the man laid his hands on her shoulders.
Ben helped Angel to her feet. She looked into the shadows.
“Puppies!” she cried. She ran toward Simon and Caleb. Her grandparents ran after her, horrified.
Ben grabbed their arms.
“She is in no danger. These are my good friends.”
Angel hugged Simon’s leg and then Caleb’s.
“Surely you remember Simon Morgenwraithe,” Ben said. “And this is Caleb Brewer.”
Caleb bowed his head.
“Pleased to meet you, my lord. And my lady.”
“By the gods,” the old man said. “Are there talking dragons throughout the land now?”
“No,” Simon said. “We are the only two. And soon there will be none.”
“What do you mean?” the man asked.
“Lord Sterling and his army have been defeated,” Ben said. “You are now face-to-face with the new king.”
“A dragon is the new king?”
“The spell will be removed soon,” Simon said. “From both of us.”
The man looked at Ben.
“I guess you mean to take her away.”
“I mean to live where my brother lives,” Ben said. “If you wish to live near us, I will not object. In fact, I hope you will.”
“How are we to live in the capital?” the old woman said. ‘We cannot afford that. We are old. We have nothing.”
“Because you are the family of my good friend, you have the favor of the king,” Simon said. “Come to Morgenwraithe. You will find your home there.”
“Thank you, Simon,” B
en said.
“Join us when you are ready,” Simon said. “Caleb and I have something to do.”
Simon and Caleb flew to the northeast, landing atop a mountain. Caleb followed Simon to the mouth of a cave. They stepped inside. Caleb looked around.
“I don’t see anything here. Has someone taken it?”
“I didn’t leave anything here,” Simon said. “I just wanted to come inside for a moment. I spent many nights here in the past.”
“Oh,” Caleb said. “That is hard to imagine. It is so quiet here.”
“Yes, it is,” Simon said. “So quiet that I came to believe I heard voices in the wind. And then I thought I heard voices when there was no wind. Come on. That’s enough of reliving the past.”
Simon walked to the trunk of a large tree. The trunk had a large hole in it. Simon reached inside and pulled out two bundles. One bundle was three times the size of the other.
“You expect me not to ask what these contain?” Caleb asked.
Simon hefted the large bundle.
“This one contains books. The small one—you’ll find out. Very soon.”
Simon and Caleb came near the King’s Road. They could see for miles in both directions. The east-marching army would soon meet up with a large group of Islemar citizens who were coming west to meet them.
Simon flew low over the trees and landed in a clearing south of the road.
“Why did we stop here?” Caleb asked. “This will be a wonderful reunion.”
“Yes, it will,” Simon said. “I don’t wish to be a distraction.”
“Is that the only reason?” Caleb asked.
Simon paused.
“No. Much has changed in a very short span of time, Caleb. If I am to rule as king, I wish for my existence as a dragon to fade from people’s minds. I want them to know me as a man, and not a beast.”
“The beast has given them the greatest of all gifts,” Caleb said.
“When did you get to be so wise?” Simon asked.
“I was born like this,” Caleb said.
Simon nodded.
“Yes. Yes, you were, my friend.”
Fifty-One
Simon and Caleb watched from behind the trees. Tears and laughter erupted from the people all along the King’s Road. Robinette Lamont wept as she fell into the arms of her husband. Lady Magdalena swept Sara and Zeke into her arms with tears streaming down her face. Captain Thaddeus Finn stood behind them, beaming with the knowledge that his life was filled with the hope of a beautiful future. Lieutenant Winston clapped him on the shoulder.
Simon watched as the Lamont family had its own reunion. Noah was thrilled to find both his wife and child among the crowd. Noah surprised his father-in-law with a huge embrace.
“Thank you, Lord Bellamy. Thank you for coming.”
Willem Bellamy sniffed and wiped his eyes. He gripped Noah behind his head and pulled them close.
“No more of this ‘lord’ stuff, son. You call me Willem, as a friend does.”
“Thank you. Thank you, Willem.”
Noah swept Olivia into his arms and spun her around.
“What a glorious, glorious day it is!” Noah said.
Simon waited. Baby Nicholas was passed into Jaclyn’s arms. She held the baby against her and kissed his cheeks.
“Let’s go,” Simon said to Caleb.
“Look!” Lilly cried out. “All hail, the new king!”
Olivia Lamont laughed and clapped her hands.
“Puppies!”
Simon bowed his head.
“Yes, Sweetness,” he said to Olivia. “But I will not be able to remain a puppy much longer. It is time for a new day.”
“Shall we do it now?” Magdalena asked.
“I’m ready, Simon.”
“I was thinking perhaps the two of you could come with Caleb and me just outside of Morgenwraithe. We can do the transformation there. The people in the village know nothing yet.”
“That’s a brilliant idea,” Tanner said. “I’m ready.”
“I am, too,” Magdalena said.
“I’m coming,” Boone said.
“He’s not going without me,” Helena said.
Simon looked at Caleb.
“Are you up to two riders?”
“I could carry fifty people right now,” Caleb said. “Let’s get this thing done.”
They stood outside the wall of Morgenwraithe. The main guard towers were visible in the light of their two torches. Helena and Boone stood ready with their bows as Tanner uttered the first words that would return Simon and Caleb to their human bodies.
Minutes later, Simon pulled on a pair of trousers. He looked down. Caleb sat on the ground. His knees were drawn up, and his head rested there.
Oh, no, Simon thought.
“Caleb, can you—?”
“I am not sad, Simon,” Caleb said. “I had prepared for the worst. But I can still see.”
“Thank the gods,” Simon said.
“Are you ready to meet your people?” Magdalena asked.
“I am terrified,” Simon said as he pulled on a shirt.
“Of course, you are,” Tanner said.
“Trust me,” Magdalena said. “They will be pleased. I know it.”
“In case they are not, I will be glad to have two skilled archers and two wolves at my side,” Simon said.
“Who goes there?” The cry came from atop the village gates.
“Your new king!” Magdalena shouted.
“A night in the castle dungeon will teach you to come to our gates after you’ve drunk your fill of cheap wine!”
The gates scraped open. Three guards stepped through. Two were very old. The other, very young.
“Sterling left you three to guard the village?” Tanner asked.
The two elders raised their swords.
“You would do well to mind your wise tongue, stranger,” one guard said.
Tanner raised his hand. The swords flew from the guards’ hands and landed somewhere in the distant darkness.
“Sterling is dead,” Magdalena said. “And so is Captain Raynard. The old regime is out. The new one has come to your doorstep.”
“What are you talking about, witch?”
Tanner raised his hand again. All three men clutched their throats, gasping for air.
“I suggest you never again refer to my sister that way. Do we have an understanding?”
The men nodded vigorously. Tanner lowered his hand. The men bent over, breathing deeply.
“This,” Magdalena said with a wave of her hand, “is Simon Morgenwraithe—rightful heir to the throne. The curse that has bound him for over twelve years is no more. His brother, Lucien, was murdered by Lord Sterling. I suggest you get used to bending your knee in his presence.”
The men shared puzzled looks before the first of them lowered himself to one knee.
“I pray this is not a trick,” he said. “If Sterling and Raynard are indeed dead, I will lick the dust from King Simon’s boots.”
“Raynard is dead as well, you say,” A guard said. “Who killed him?”
“Lady Jacobs,” Simon said.
“Lady Jacobs?” the man exclaimed. “Not the healer’s wife?”
“The very same,” Simon said.
“Ho, ho! Oh, come now, man!”
“It is true,” Helena said. “He was crippled by the captain of Islemar’s army. Captain Thaddeus Finn crushed Raynard’s ankle like it was made of parchment.”
Helena narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. She pointed at Magdalena.
“And the captain is this lady’s boyfriend. Soon to be her husband. So, I’d be minding my manners if I was you.”
Simon pulled on Helena’s arm.
“Calm yourself, Helena. You see, gentlemen—even the women’s passions remain stirred in the wake of our victory. That victory belongs to us all. The people of Morgenwraithe will have reason to hold up their heads from this day forward. Fear and intimidation will have no place in this kingdom.”
The men bowed low. One of them kissed Simon’s boot. Simon pulled back his foot.
“Such behavior is not required or expected any longer, my lord,” Simon said. “I am only a man. And for twelve long years I have lived as a hated beast. Stand up. Hold your heads high.”
The men stood.
“And Sterling,” a man said. “Who took his life?”
“I did,” Simon said. The men exchanged glances.
“How did you do it?” the young man asked.
“I put an arrow in his side,” Helena said.
“Aye, that you did,” Simon said. “That made the job possible. And thanks to you and Boone—”
Simon addressed the men without smiling.
“I shoved a dragon’s tooth through Sterling’s skull.”
The men were silent for a few moments.
“I believe you,” the elder man said.
“Good,” Simon said. “It is the truth. I have a job I need to be completed as quickly as possible.”
“Anything, Your Grace,” the men sounded in unison.
“There is a man—a farmer. His land and his home lie to the south. I do not know his name, but he is a widower with four children. Two boys and two girls. They live in a very small house.”
“I know him,” one of the older guards said. “That’s Coleman. Abraham Coleman.”
“What’s he done?” another guard asked.
“He’s done nothing wrong,” Simon said. “I would like someone to bring him and his children to the castle.”
“Now? It’s the middle of the night!”
“No, not now. At first light, if you please.”
“What do we tell him?”
Simon shrugged.
“Tell him his presence is required at Castle Morgenwraithe.”
“That sounds like he’s in trouble.”
“Very well,” Simon said. “His presence is requested. By the king.”