Quest: The Clans of Arcadia

by Arwen Chandler

  The travelers followed Helerion through a door in the tower, and up the stairs.

  Aslaug lingered behind in the courtyard. “May I rest, Elder?”

  He scratched her head. “Of course, my dear. There’s a new room for you in the dragon’s quarters.”

  Lorna whistled, and Dimera flew down to her. “My lady, you called?”

  “Dimera, will you show Aslaug to her new quarters?”

  She nodded, her long neck bobbing up and down. “Absolutely. Follow me, Aslaug.”

  Lorna watched as the dragon made her way across the courtyard and grabbed Lucca’s hand. She sighed. “I think everything may be alright. Perhaps with their help, we can even find Annielie and the dragon.”

  Lucca kissed her forehead. “I hope it’s not too late.”

  Silver mist swirled through the clearing, and blue lights flickered in the night. Acolytes, mages, and dragons watched in great anticipation as Karn, Lilia, Ian, and Aslaug made their way to the center of the gathering.

  From the side, Dierdriel watched, joy pouring forth from her face as Lucca officiated the ceremony to unite Aslaug and Karn.

  Lucca’s voice boomed above the chanting and skindrums, and the celebration died down. “Tonight, I present to you, Loch-rognaif, Karn, second born of Rhymus, and firstborn of Freya of the glen, both of the clan Elohite.” Karn stepped forward underneath the flickering torchlight. The crowds cheered.

  Lucca silenced them. “I also present to you Ian of the clan Elohite, and Lilia of the clan Maekel, daughter of King Anwell, and chieftain.” They stepped up beside Karn.

  Applause erupted, and the traveling companions smiled, swept up in the electricity sparking through the night.

  “And, last but never least, Aslaug, of the Brethren of the Dragoni.” Aslaug stepped forward. “These are your champions. Together they will be the first dragon riders, and over the next few weeks, Lilia and Ian will be united with their own dragons.”

  Cheers thundered through the glade.

  “Lilia, Ian, if you will step back into the circle.” They joined their fellow spectators, and Ian stood next to Dierdriel. He nudged her with his elbow, and she smiled.

  Lorna flew down from a tree, transforming from a goshawk into her human form, and the crowd cheered. She stepped between Aslaug and Karn. “I will join you in mind and spirit, but unlike your fathers before you, Aslaug, you are free. You’ll not be bound in one body, forced to share a space, a dragon hiding within a mind.” Lorna smiled.

  “You, Aslaug, are free to walk and live among the people of Arcadia. It is time they know your power. It is time they learn once more of the dragon riders of Arcadia. It is time they know Loch-rognaif and his rule. From today forward you’ll be linked together in mind and heart, inseparable in spirit.”

  She smiled at Karn. “Do you promise to serve as Loch-rognaif, and treat Aslaug with respect and kindness?” He nodded, smiling at Aslaug. “I do.”

  She looked at Aslaug, “And do you, Aslaug, promise to defend the Loch-rognaif to the best of your ability, and serve him as a friend and comrade?” Aslaug grinned. “I do.”

  She held her arms straight out from her side. “Step up until you feel my hand upon your flesh.”

  They pair positioned themselves against Lorna’s outstretched hands. She closed her eyes and summoned the flame within her. It pulsed and danced within her mind and flowed from her into each of them and back again. She felt Aslaug’s consciousness enter Karn’s thoughts, and Karn’s knowledge enter Aslaug’s. She smiled and opened her eyes. They flashed bright white, before returning to normal. “It is done.”

  The acolytes chanted and fireworks erupted into the air. Karn steadied himself and crossed over to Aslaug. He rested his forehead on her snout. Are you alright?

  The dragon nodded. And you?

  He nodded slightly. Surprisingly.

  He glanced at Lilia, missing the fire filling the air behind him and lighting the trees ablaze. Screams pierced the night, and in a second hundreds of spells fought to contain the blaze.

  Karn turned on his heels, in time to see T’argo swooping down toward him. He dove out of the way, and Aslaug charged forward. He shouted for her to move, and she flew to the left, barely missing the fire T’argo showered on the ground where she’d stood.

  Karn ran backward, ushering the small children out of the clearing, while Lilia and Dierdriel worked to put out the fire closest to them.

  Ian ran behind Karn. ‘Who is that?”

  Karn shook his head. “I think it’s Magnus.”

  Ian turned to look at the riders on T’argo’s back. Magnus sat astride the dragon, but in front of him was a woman with long black hair. The air escaped him as he recognized her face. He ran toward her. “Annielie, my love. What are you doing?”

  T’argo landed with a thump, and Annielie jumped down from his back. She ran to meet Ian, stopping a few yards in front of him. The red flame danced in her eyes. “You lost the right to call me that, the day you killed Tiernan.”

  Ian knit his brows. “I didn’t kill Tiernan. What are you talking about?”

  Annielie screamed at him. “I saw you! Do not lie to me!” She lifted her palm and caught him in cords of red flame. Ian writhed with pain. Tears sprung from his eyes. “Annielie. What are you doing?”

  Dierdriel jumped between them, speaking a language neither Annielie or Ian understood, and a green light filled the air between them. The cords fell from around Ian, and she pulled him away from Annielie.

  Annielie screamed, running after them, shooting balls of red flame onto the ground behind them as they zigzagged away from her.

  Karn stepped forward, blocking Annielie with a wall of blue flame. “Stop!”

  Annielie paused, and anger filled her eyes. “Elohite, get out of my way. Ian is mine.”

  “You will have to go through me first.”

  She cackled, and Elanvanin walked up behind her. “Move, Elohite. My love wants her vengeance.”

  Karn knit his brows. “Your love?”

  Elanvanin leaned close to Annielie and kissed her full on the mouth.

  Ian gasped. “What’s happened to you?”

  Annielie laughed. “I have found my way, and it is with Elanvanin.”

  Elanvanin twirled his wrist, and fire consumed the keep. Mages and acolytes busied themselves trying to put out the flame.

  “Why would you join forces with Magnus?”

  Annielie beamed. “I did not. Meet Elanvanin, creator of Arcadia, first husband of Lorna, and my lord.”

  Karn’s mind swirled, trying to comprehend Annielie’s words, but he could not bring himself to believe them.

  He watched as Elanvanin and Annielie mounted T’argo, and flew off into the distance.

  Throughout the night fires raged, consuming the land, and filling the night with darkness that threatened to destroy the very heart of Arcadia.

  Karn leaned against the smoldering remains of the dragon keep, Lilia at his side. An unnatural silence filled the land as the early morning sun poked her head above the horizon. He bounced the dragon stone in his right hand. The crystal radiated with heat and glowed blue with the flame. “It is time we fight this battle, on our terms.”

  Lilia looked up at him, with bloodshot eyes.

  His voice shook with anger. “Today, I will summon the Brehon to honor their blood oath, all of them. We will win this war.”

  Lilia squeezed his hand, and he pulled her into his embrace. Together they watched the dragons dance in the pale morn light, as a new day dawned in the land of Arcadia.

  The End

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