Dragon's Keep: The Complete Dracengard Series

by Christopher Vale

  Suddenly, a hand reached down and snatched the book out of Eamon’s lap. “Hey!” Eamon shouted as Willem snapped the book closed.

  “Tsk tsk, Eamon,” Willem said as he waved his finger at the boy. “It’s training time.”

  Jade raised her large, green scaly head and humphed smoke from her nostrils at Willem. The Prince looked at the dragon and smirked. “Mind your own business, you flying lizard,” Willem said.

  Eamon stood and reached for his book but Willem snatched it away. “It isn’t going to be that easy, lad.” Willem turned and tossed the book to Terrwyn who stood to the side laughing at the two of them. He then pulled a wooden training sword from his belt. “You’re going to have to go through me to get it.”

  “Again, Willem?” Eamon asked. “I beat you every single day and every single day you come back for more.”

  “Scared are you?” Willem asked.

  Eamon glanced over at Terrwyn. “And I see you needed a princess to help you today.”

  “I need no help,” Willem said, a faux sneer upon his face as he spread his feet and legs into a fighting stance.

  “Good,” came a voice from behind and Willem turned to see Ashleen walking toward them a wooden sword in each hand. “Because, I intend to teach Terrwyn a lesson about picking on my little cousin.” Ashleen then tossed a sword past Willem to Eamon who caught it with ease.

  Terrwyn’s eyes narrowed at Ashleen. “A lesson, eh?” she asked. “We shall see.” She gently laid Eamon’s book upon the stone floor and stepped away, drawing her own wooden sword from her belt.

  Metatron and Dillan stood to the side watching as the pairs of fighters squared off. Dillan smiled as he leaned back against a stone column, arms crossed over his chest.

  Eamon attacked first, the same way he always did, spinning to his right to swing downward at Willem. Willem was anticipating that maneuver, however, and stepped forward toward Eamon’s left. Just as he did so, Eamon stopped his spin and thrust his sword to the left catching Willem completely unawares and “slicing” into his stomach. “You’re dead,” Eamon said.

  Dillan laughed. “Wow, Will, I’ve never seen you die that quickly before.”

  Willem scoffed. “He just tricked me is all,” Willem explained. “Let’s go again, little man,” Willem said to Eamon as he regained his fighting stance.

  Meanwhile, Terrwyn and Ashleen were engaged in a fierce fight, their wooden swords clacking against one another. Ashleen backed Terrwyn up toward the open sky.

  While Terrwyn retreated from Ashleen, Willem went on the offensive striking Eamon with great force. He could not move as fast as Eamon, but he was certainly stronger. He swung in from the right and Eamon moved his sword to deflect it, but the force of the blow knocked the sword from Eamon’s hands and sent it sliding across the stone floor. Eamon dashed away toward it.

  Willem turned and saw Terrwyn struggling with Ashleen and decided to help. He turned his back to Eamon and ran over to Ashleen. Ashleen seemed preoccupied with Terrwyn, but must have heard his footsteps, because she smacked Terrwyn hard and then turned to face Willem, blocking his downward swing before kicking him in the stomach, doubling the prince over.

  Ashleen then turned back to Terrwyn swinging hard. The tip of her sword caught Terrwyn on the cheek and Terrwyn let out a cry of pain as her free hand flew to her cheek and she bent over in apparent pain.

  “Terrwyn,” Ashleen shouted. “I’m so sorry,” she said as she stepped forward to help her friend. “Are you alright?” Ashleen bent down to see, placing a hand on Terrwyn’s back. Terrwyn then reached down with her free hand and grabbed Ashleen by the ankle, yanking upward and sending Ashleen falling hard onto her back. Terrwyn then stepped over her and placed the tip of her sword to Ashleen’s throat.

  “I cannot believe you fell for that,” Terrwyn said gleefully, excited that she had finally defeated Ashleen, even if it did involve trickery.

  Ashleen laid still and stunned for a moment, but then began to laugh. Terrwyn offered her a hand and helped her to her feet. Willem was on one knee still trying to catch his breath. He looked up at the others and saw that none paid him any mind. “I’m alright,” he said. Ashleen and Terrwyn turned to look at him.

  “Did I hurt you Willem?” Ashleen asked without a trace of actual concern in her voice.

  “No, no,” Willem said as he pulled himself to his feet.

  “Will, you still have not defeated the kid. What made you think attacking Ashleen was a good idea?” Dillan asked.

  Willem looked at him. “I thought she was distracted working Terrwyn over. And as for Eamon, he’s a quick little bugger.”

  “Not quick enough,” the booming voice of Metatron said. “None of you are quick enough.” They all looked at the seraph. “You may be able to defeat men and drakmere, but a shedom will cut you down in the blink of an eye. You will not even see it coming.”

  He surveyed them all and then walked past them to stand in the middle. “Hit me,” he said. They each looked at one another. “I shall not draw my sword. Hit me.” Dillan retrieved one of the wooden practice swords and then motioned for the others to surround Metatron. They formed a circle around him.

  Metatron was smart enough to keep his eyes on both Ashleen and Dillan, the two best fighters in the group, and so Dillan walked to the opposite side of the circle between Terrwyn and Willem. Ashleen stood to Willem’s right and Eamon between Ashleen and Terrwyn. They all held their swords at the ready and their eyes naturally went to Dillan. He nodded and all attacked at once.

  Metatron moved in a flash. He first took out Dillan—tripping him—and then he darted back across to snatch Ashleen’s sword from her hand. With it, he slapped her on the back of the legs sweeping her feet out from under her, causing her to land on her back. He darted back across the circle slamming his shoulder into Willem’s chest, knocking Willem to the floor. He then ran up behind Eamon and pulled the boy’s shirt up over his head so that he could not see or swing his sword. Finally, he rushed to Terrwyn, gripped her by the ankle, and lifted her into the air, holding her upside down with one arm.

  It all happened in a matter of seconds and Ashleen, Dillan, and Willem looked up from the floor to see Eamon fighting with his shirt and Terrwyn being held dangling upside down, her head a foot off of the stone floor.

  Metatron surveyed them. “If I were a shedom, you would all be dead,” he said. “I did not even draw my sword and took each of you out of the fight. A dark blade would slice you to ribbons before you could blink.” Using his other hand he flipped Terrwyn over and set her feet back upon the ground as Eamon managed to pull his shirt down and the others got to their feet.

  “So how do you propose we defeat them?” Willem asked.

  “By learning how to move like me.” They looked at each other, unconvinced that was even possible. “Dillan moved like a seraph when he was having a nightmare, which means he is capable. And if Dillan is capable, why are not all nephilim capable?”

  They all looked at one another and then back at Metatron.

  “Look,” Dillan said, “if we are going to be the saviors of the realm we need to figure out how to do this. Metatron is right, the shedom will just kill us otherwise.”

  “I’m game,” Willem said.

  “Can we learn to fly, too?” Eamon asked, causing everyone to laugh.

  Chapter 15

  The carriage wobbled and bumped along the dusty road. Geoffrey sat inside rocking back and forth as he stared out of the window past the violet curtains, bored and lonely. The trip south along River Road from Avonvale was long and slow and he would have much rather sailed south in a ship down the river with his mother and brother. They were no doubt already home, comfortable in the Elwood palace, sleeping on soft beds and eating a feast at every meal. Unfortunately, that would not have fit the plan, and Geoffrey knew that his sacrifices were necessary. His Empress and his brother, Edward, needed his assistance to defeat the rebels that were terrorizing Elophborne, and Geoffrey was eager to help
.

  Geoffrey smiled at the thought of pleasing Empress Andalynn, as she now preferred to be called. He imagined returning to Avonvale after the rebels had been crushed and welcomed as a hero by Her Majesty. She would no doubt throw a grand ball in his honor and the tales of the integral role he played in the destruction of the rebels would become songs sung for generations. Perhaps this one event would be all that was needed for Anne to no longer see him as a boy, but a man. A valiant warrior.

  Geoffrey had been terrified when the Wizard forced him and Ella to leave their mother and their home and travel north to Avonvale, but Anne had immediately made him feel safe and welcome. She had been so kind to both of them. And, of course, Geoffrey doubted her beauty had an equal anywhere in the Three Realms. She was certainly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He adored her, and now that the Wizard was dead he secretly hoped to marry her. Sure, he was just a boy of twelve, but she was only six years older. That seemed like a big difference now, but in eight years, when he was twenty and she twenty-six, those six years would not seem so insurmountable.

  Geoffrey had been frozen with fear when he watched Anne flash across the Great Hall in the blink of an eye, slicing through the Wizard’s skinny neck and sending his head flying from his shoulders to land several feet away. He could not think of her without thinking of that moment and she terrified him. Geoffrey understood when she later explained that she was simply saving them all from the evil of the Wizard, a dark and cruel man. He treated Geoffrey’s family badly. He hurt Anne and Morgan. He fed people to his drakmere. Anne was not evil. She was sweet and caring, and Geoffrey did not understand why everyone did not love her as he did. Geoffrey would never hurt Anne. She deserved a man that would love and worship her, not one that treated her cruelly. Geoffrey could be that man. He simply had to prove his worth.

  Geoffrey dreamed of the day he would be crowned King of the Stromland. Perhaps it should be renamed. He smiled as he thought of the perfect name to pay tribute to his love, “Annesland.” Yes, she would certainly like that. After gaining the crown he would fall to one knee, take his beloved’s hand in his, and ask her to marry him. She would be stunned, though secretly hopeful, and would of course say yes before pulling him to his feet and smothering him with kisses. Geoffrey smiled at his fantasies.

  Suddenly, Geoffrey was jerked from his daydreams when he heard the clank of metal and a frantic shout from one of the guardsman. “Ambush! Protect the Prince!” Geoffrey watched as men on horseback quickly surrounded the carriage, swords drawn. No draks were in his company—he felt the Empress did not trust them not to eat him in the night. Suddenly, arrows whizzed toward the caravan and Geoffrey screamed in horror as he watched man after man fall dead off of his horse. He knew none of them as they were Avonvale soldiers, hand picked by Sir Terrance, the Empress’ new Commander of the Imperial Guard. Geoffrey had overheard her tell him not to waste good men, but it was still frightening to watch.

  Soon all of his guards were dead and Geoffrey watched as filthy men dressed in rags emerged from the trees. Bandits for sure! The door to the carriage was flung open and Geoffrey leapt backward with fright. He relaxed when he heard a familiar voice and was relieved to recognize the face of his uncle, Hansel. Hansel offered him his hand. “Come on Geoffrey, it is alright.”

  Geoffrey nodded and accepted Hansel’s hand as his uncle assisted him in climbing out of the carriage. As his feet touched the ground, Geoffrey looked up and immediately recognized Prince Erec of Avonvale. Erec gave him a wink and a friendly smile, but his attention quickly returned to the carriage.

  “It’s just him,” Hansel said as he turned to Erec. Erec pushed past Hansel to look for himself as if Hansel might be mistaken. Hansel turned toward Geoffrey. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes, Uncle,” Geoffrey said. Hansel smiled warmly and pulled him into a tight embrace. “I have been so worried about you, but you’re safe now.”

  “Geoffrey, where is your sister?” Erec asked interrupting the family reunion. “I thought she was coming with you.”

  “I did as well, but she decided to stay with King Morgan,” Geoffrey said.

  “Decided or was forced?” Erec asked.

  Geoffrey shrugged. “She told me she did not want to leave Morgan, that’s all I know.” Geoffrey saw Erec’s jaw tighten. He was clearly upset.

  Hansel glanced up at Erec and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It will be alright. We’ll get her back.” Erec nodded. “But now let’s get back to the camp and off of this road.”

  They moved swiftly and Geoffrey followed Hansel, Erec, and some of the other men down to the river where they stepped onto one of two log rafts that looked very much like mash boats. Several of the other men stayed behind to hide the evidence of ambush and collect the guards’ armor and weapons for their own use.

  Hansel threw a well-worn and tattered fur coat over Geoffrey and reached down onto the muddy riverbank and took some mud which he spread on the boy’s face and hair. “We’re posing as mash traders as we sail past the city,” he smiled. Geoffrey returned his smile. Soon the men had pushed off and the mash boat floated down the river.

  “Where are we going?” Geoffrey asked.

  “We have a camp in the Great Forest,” Hansel replied. “Refugees from Elophborne have built a makeshift resistance to the Wizard’s rule and the tyranny of his drakmere.”

  “The Wizard is dead,” Geoffrey said flatly.

  “Yes, you told me so in your letter,” Hansel replied.

  “Empress Andalynn will make everything alright.” Hansel looked at his nephew, but simply smiled at him.

  After about an hour Geoffrey saw the port and city of Elwood. He stood and watched his home as he floated past it. He sighed, longing to be in his comfortable bed tonight, but he still had a mission to complete. It was not long after sailing past the city that the mash boat was paddled ashore and the passengers stepped off. The boat was pulled out of the water and hidden in the bushes. Fallen and cut tree branches were placed in front of the boats to conceal them from being seen from the river. They would go from there on foot.

  Erec led the caravan through the woods until they finally reached the camp as the sun was setting.

  ***

  Geoffrey squinted in the morning light as he was awakened by his uncle gently shaking him. “Good morning,” Hansel said with a smile.

  “Good morning,” Geoffrey replied as he pushed off the blanket and sat up, his head just below the branches making up the lean-to he had slept beneath. Hansel handed him a bowl of something and a cup of water.

  “The cook claims this is porridge, but I’m not convinced. Whatever it is, it will at least quiet your stomach.”

  Geoffrey smiled at him as he took the bowl and sniffed the contents before shoveling the food into his mouth. He was done quickly and washed the food down with the cup of water.

  Hansel smiled at him and patted him on the leg. “I must leave this morning, Geoffrey,” he said.

  “Leave?” Geoffrey asked. “Why?”

  “If I stay away too long people will get suspicious. I am supposed to be fighting the rebellion, not aiding it.”

  “Take me with you,” Geoffrey said.

  “I would Geoffrey, but you’ll be safer here. If someone in town were to see you…,” he trailed off. “Erec will protect you if anything happens. And there are even elves about.” Hansel added that last part with wide, excited eyes.

  “Elves?” Geoffrey asked excitedly as he looked about the camp.

  “Yes,” Hansel said. “The Elophim have their own camp not far from here. That way,” Hansel said pointing in the direction of the Elophim camp. Geoffrey turned in the direction Hansel was pointing. “Perhaps you will meet one today.” Hansel patted the boy’s leg and then stood to leave. “But I must go. If you need anything ask Erec. And his little sister, Taite, is here as well. You remember her?” Geoffrey nodded. Hansel smiled and gave a little wave before turning and walking away.

  Geoffrey
watched Hansel disappear into the tree line before standing and following after him. He’d grown up exploring these woods, hunting with his father and brothers and Lord Hansel. They had taught him how to quietly track a deer and he felt sure he could quietly track his uncle as well, especially since Hansel would not be expecting it.

  Chapter 16

  Geoffrey sat at a small wooden table eating cookies and sugar cakes in his family’s palace at Elwood. His mother sat beside him petting his hair lovingly while smiling adoringly at her baby boy. His brother, Edward, stood in front of the table staring down at his little brother.

  The door swung open and a cool gust of wind chilled Edward to the bone. He glanced up and almost jumped out of his skin with fright when he realized the Black Knight was suddenly standing beside him. Rayfen paid Edward no mind but instead looked down at Geoffrey.

  “You have found the rebel camp, Young Prince?” Rayfen asked in his raspy voice. Geoffrey nodded and Griselda snatched a map from the table where Geoffrey had already marked the position of the rebel camp. Rayfen looked at it. “And where is the Elophim camp?” he hissed.

  “I didn’t see it, but Uncle Hansel said it was just a bit to the south of the rebel camp.”

  “We did not know Hansel was a traitor, My Lord,” Griselda blurted out.

  “It is alright, Mother,” Geoffrey said. “Uncle Hansel did not realize that Empress Andalynn would be sitting on the throne. Once she shows him how wonderful of a ruler she is, he’ll be loyal again. She’ll understand that, right General?” Geoffrey asked, looking toward Rayfen.