Dragon's Keep: The Complete Dracengard Series

by Christopher Vale

  “I still have a little influence with the Father,” Aura replied. “Perhaps it is not a good idea for Herja to upset me.”

  “That is a fair point.” He took a deep breath and then turned to look at her. “Metatron sent word to me,” he began. “Please know that I am deeply saddened for the loss of Alaric. He was a very old friend.”

  “Thank you,” Aura said without turning to look at him.

  Mihang’el turned to stare at the water. “But, of course, we must never forget that he was a traitor.” Aura was silent. Mihang’el turned to look at her and noticed a single tear running down her cheek, before she quickly wiped it away. His eyes went wide with astonishment. He had not seen a seraph cry since the elophim had done so when their wings were taken. “Aura, I…” he began but she ignored him as she stood and hurried away.

  Mihang’el watched her go and then turned his eyes back to the water.

  Chapter 5

  Lisabeth swung down from the saddle of her horse as the golden armored knights behind her did the same. Lisabeth was armored as well, though not in gold, as she was not a Paladin. Instead she wore shining silver plate armor covering her upper body and greaves covering her shins. She removed the helmet from her head and handed it to the young page that met them at the bottom of the highly-polished castle steps.

  Lisabeth turned to Sir Tomfrey, patrol commander for the Paladin accompanying her. “Come with me, Commander,” she said.

  “Yes, Your Highness,” Tomfrey replied as he removed his golden helmet. He turned quickly and gave instructions to his men before following the princess up the steps to her father’s castle.

  Tomfrey soon caught up to her. “I want you there when I speak to Father,” she told him.

  “Of course, Your Highness,” Tomfrey replied. It made sense, he was the commander of the patrol, he should certainly be present when they reported to King Artur. In fact, under normal circumstances, Tomfrey would be the one giving the report. However, things had changed somewhat since he and the other Paladin had returned to Caerwynspire from the Island of Avalon. Lisabeth, the King’s second oldest daughter and younger sister to Ashleen, had convinced her father to allow her to take a more active role in military affairs.

  Like many siblings, there was a slight rivalry between Lisabeth and Ashleen. They were close and certainly loved each other, but being not quite a year apart in age almost guaranteed competition between the two. Lisabeth was proud for her big sister when Ashleen completed the Paladin quest and won the right to wear the golden armor, but there was a slight undercurrent of jealously as well. Not the dangerous kind that destroyed families and kingdoms, but the healthy sort that pushed people to continuously better themselves.

  After Ashleen left for Dracengard with an escort of Paladin, Lisabeth began to lobby her father almost immediately for her own chance to take the trials. If Ashleen wore the golden armor, then Lisabeth wanted to wear it as well. Artur refused immediately, dismissing the request outright, but Lisabeth would not be deterred. She deftly switched tacks, explaining to her Father that should the unthinkable happen to Ashleen, Lisabeth would be next in line for the throne. That meant she had to be a Paladin. Artur gave this more consideration. It was, after all, a logical and reasonable argument. However, the Queen put her foot down. Gwyndalin explained that she had nearly died from worry when Ashleen left for the quest and she could not go through that again. Artur thought it best not to upset his wife a second time. Besides, deferring to the Queen gave him an excuse to refuse Lisabeth’s request to take the trials. After all, he was just as reluctant as Gwyndalin, but this way he would not have to face his daughter’s scorn.

  Lisabeth, however, refused to relent. She kept on her father and mother and eventually they agreed that she could go on patrol, but only with the Paladin, not the regular troops. If something did happen while on patrol, Artur and Gwyndalin felt confident that every single one of the Paladin would die before allowing Lisabeth to be harmed.

  After awhile Lisabeth proved herself competent enough to lead a patrol. However, since she was not a Paladin, she could not technically lead Paladin in any type of combat exercise. Therefore, a Paladin patrol commander was required to always attend with her. The first time she went on patrol, Gwyndalin insisted it be Sir Rodrick that led the Paladin. However, recently Sir Tomfrey had been acting as patrol commander more and more often.

  Lisabeth liked Tomfrey and had known him her entire life. He was older than she, but still young enough that they had played together as children. She and Ashleen had both had girlhood crushes on him and his brother, Carson, when they were little. Of course, he didn’t notice them—at least not until they were older. Then everyone noticed Ashleen. She shone like a seraph. Tomfrey tried to hide it, but Lisabeth caught him staring at Ashleen more than once. How could he not? She was more beautiful than the sun, with golden hair and a perfect figure. The fact that she was as sweet as honey only added to her appeal.

  Not that Lisabeth was not pretty. To the contrary, she looked very much like her older sister, though slightly shorter and with brown hair instead of gold. She would have no trouble finding suiters if her father ever announced her. As for Lisabeth, she had always hoped to marry the handsome Prince Tybalt to repay her father’s debt. She cried for a week upon learning of his engagement to Princess Terrwyn of Avonvale.

  She turned to Tomfrey. “I shall inform Father of the news, but I want you there to confirm everything I say,” she said.

  “Yes, Your Highness,” Tomfrey replied.

  “I love my father, but sometimes I fear that he still sees me as a small girl and your support would be appreciated.”

  “Of course, Your Highness,” Tomfrey replied.

  Lisabeth stopped and took him by the arm. “Would you stop calling me that?” she asked with a laugh.

  Tomfrey was a bit taken aback. “You are not a Paladin and thus I may not address you as Commander, like I do with your sister. And we are no longer children, so it would not be proper for me to address you common. At least not inside the castle walls. Thus, I shall call you by your proper title.” Lisabeth frowned. Tomfrey smirked at her. “Unless Your Most Royal Highness has another suggestion?”

  She slapped him playfully on the arm at that remark before spinning and hurrying away. “Pick up your feet, Sir Knight. Do not keep me waiting,” she teased.

  Tomfrey chuckled, but hurried after her. “Yes, Your Highness,” he smiled.

  Lisabeth and Tomfrey soon came to King Artur’s study where they found him gazing dreamily out of the window. He did not hear them approach and was startled when Lisabeth spoke. “Good afternoon, Father.”

  Artur leapt, startled, but began to chuckle when he saw it was Lisabeth and Tomfrey. “Hello, Lissy,” he smiled. “Welcome back.” He then smiled at Tomfrey. “How did my little girl do, Sir Tomfrey?”

  “She did well, Commander,” Tomfrey said as he stood rigidly beside Lisabeth, his golden helmet held in the crook of his arm. “She is on her way to becoming a fine patrol commander.”

  Artur narrowed his eyes at Tomfrey. He knew what that meant—Lisabeth should be allowed to go on the Paladin Quest. Tomfrey smiled at him. Artur sighed as he shook his head. “I trust that all went smoothly, that Caerwynspire is still safe and sound?” he asked lackadaisically as he lowered himself into a chair.

  “We have news, Father,” Lisabeth said.

  “Oh?” the King asked.

  “We came upon a group of refugees from Libetha,” Lisabeth said.

  “Libetha?”

  “Yes, Father. They informed us that the kingdom has fallen. They are coming to the White Fortress to seek shelter and protection.”

  Artur was back on his feet immediately. He crossed the room to them. “Did they say it was falling or had already fallen?”

  “It had already fallen,” Lisabeth said firmly.

  Artur turned to Tomfrey. “Is that right?” he asked the knight causing Lisabeth to roll her eyes.

  “Yes, Commander,�
�� Tomfrey agreed. “The Princess is correct.”

  Artur’s eyes danced back and forth from Tomfrey to Lisabeth. “Summon my war council,” he told them, then to Lisabeth, “including your mother.”

  ***

  Artur sat at the head of the table in the chair with the highest back, signifying his status as King and leader of the war council. The other members of the council sat around the table. To his left was Queen Gwyndalin and to her left was Sir Rodrick. To the King’s right was Sir Gelispee and to his right Sir Auberon. Lord Tarlton sat at the foot of the long table representing the Council of Lords. There unofficially were Lisabeth, who sat to the left of Rodrick, and Tomfrey, who sat to the right of Auberon.

  The King gazed about the table catching the eye of each member of the council before beginning. “I have no doubt you all realize why you have been summoned today. Princess Lisabeth and Sir Tomfrey were leading a patrol which came across refugees from Libetha. The refugees informed them that Libetha has fallen to this self-proclaimed empress, Lady Andalynn of Avonvale.”

  “A dangerous widow to be sure,” Gelispee chuckled.

  “At least she did us a favor when she killed that crazy old bastard she married,” Auberon said as he slapped Gelispee on the arm, sharing his amusement.

  Both were silenced by a sharp eye from the Queen. “Do you gentlemen take this new threat lightly simply because it comes from a woman?” she asked. She turned to look squarely at Auberon. “Would you not consider my daughter, Ashleen, a danger if she opposed you?”

  “I meant no disrespect, Your Majesty,” Auberon assured her. “I was just having a bit of a laugh at the headless wizard’s expense is all. Certainly Ashleen would make a deadly and determined adversary.”

  The Queen then turned to Gelispee. “How about you, Sir Knight?” she asked with raised eyebrows.

  “I do not fear the little whore from Avonvale,” the old knight said in a gruff voice and then leaned forward and gave the Queen an eye of his own. “She is not Ashleen. That said, I agree that her army of drakmere is a threat, especially since led by a shedom.” He glanced at the King and then back at the Queen. “Your Majesty will have to forgive us old Paladin. We are accustomed to laughing at all of our foes, regardless of ability or gender. But I must apologize, for what we are unaccustomed to is having someone who is as sensitive to our jests at our enemy’s expense as Your Majesty. But I swear, henceforth, we shall hold our tongues and refrain from all jests toward the Lady Andalynn while Your Majesty is in attendance.”

  Artur’s eyes cut to Lisabeth who he saw suppressing a chuckle, then back to his wife. The Queen simply nodded without another word. She had overstepped her bounds and Gelispee had made her very aware of it, but in such a way as to not possibly be accused of disrespecting the Queen. She glanced down at the table as her cheeks reddened.

  Artur cleared his throat to call all attention back to him. “I think we all agree that the army of drakmere now residing in Libetha poses a clear and immediate threat to Caerwynspire,” he said in a booming voice. “The question now is how do we respond? Do we ready for imminent attack or do we march south and defeat the enemy far from our own lands and our own people?”

  “I might agree with the latter strategy, Commander, if this was some normal army of men,” Gelispee said. “But because it is an army of drakmere, one that has already sacked Beagonia, the Stromland, Avonvale and now Libetha—I counsel caution. Let them come to us, let us have the advantage of our great fortress. A fortress that in thousands of years has never fallen. Not to shedom, not to men, and certainly not to lizards.”

  The King nodded and then turned to look at Auberon. “Sir Auberon, what say you?” he asked.

  “I agree with Sir Gelispee in part, Your Majesty. Certainly, we should not attack an army of draks entrenched and fortified in Libetha. That would be foolhardy. However, there is a third option that might allow us to take the fight away from our own people without allowing the draks to fight in the defensive. We fight them in between as they march north.”

  The King nodded. “Sir Rodrick?” the King asked.

  “Both Sir Gelispee and Sir Auberon offer wise counsel, Commander,” Rodrick said. “However, we do not know how long these draks are going to be in Libetha. Nor do we know if they are coming here directly. They may move on Talisaria first.” The Queen shot him a concerned glance, but Rodrick continued. “The point is, we cannot make any accurate military decisions until we have more information.”

  “Agreed!” Lord Tarlton said without waiting for the King. “I suggest we send our Paladin out to investigate. Find out exactly what is happening. Certainly this so-called empress has not moved from her perch yet, and probably shall not for some time. But let them go and see.”

  The King nodded as did the others. “I agree with Lord Tarlton. Who shall lead this scouting mission?”

  Lisabeth leapt to her feet immediately. “Allow me, Father,” she nearly shouted.

  “Absolutely not!” Gwyndalin cried. She was about to continue her protestations, about all the dangers, about a princess’ place and more, but Artur laid a calming hand on her arm. Gwyndalin glanced at her husband and then back to Lisabeth.

  “Lissy,” Artur said calmly, “I understand your desire to protect the Kingdom and I appreciate it. However, this scouting mission is too important and too dangerous to send someone other than a Paladin.”

  “Then allow me to take the trials!” Lisabeth said.

  “Lissy,” Artur began, but she cut him off.

  “I am a good warrior, Father—as good as Ashleen. I will not fail. If something happens to Ashleen during this coming war, then you will once again be left without an heir to the throne. Our kingdom simply cannot risk the chaos that would come of that during such a perilous time.”

  Lisabeth was quite surprised to hear Gelispee speak on her behalf. “She is a fine warrior, Commander,” he said and then turned to look at her. “I don’t know that I would say that she is as good a warrior as Ashleen, but Ashleen has had a special fire burning inside of her ever since that thing with the pirates.” He turned back to the King. “Still, Lisabeth is as competent a fighter as any of the other young men who may seek to take the trials this year.”

  “Artur, you can’t be seriously considering this,” Gwyndalin said.

  “She’s right Gwyn,” the King replied. “We cannot afford to not have a ready heir.”

  Lisabeth smiled. Rodrick turned to her. “You understand the Paladin’s Quest is a horrible experience, Your Highness. It is not like going on patrol and camping out with food and blankets, swords, and clothing. You will have nothing but your wits to survive. The cave where the Sword of Light is kept is full of bears.”

  “Your sister nearly died,” Gwyndalin said as tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “But she didn’t, Mother, and neither shall I,” Lisabeth said. “I am ready.”

  ***

  The wind whipped through the mountains blowing strands of Lisabeth’s brown hair into her face. She stood atop the stone steps that led down from the White Fortress to the rocky hills below. She wore no clothes, but—like Ashleen—was allowed to cover herself with a blanket until out of sight of the gathered Paladin.

  Lisabeth turned to face the knights in their shining gold armor as her father explained the rules of the Paladin Quest. She already knew the rules, and could practically recite them verbatim. Thus, she was only partially paying attention. Her mind was already racing as the excitement began to give way to nerves. She had not spent as much time hunting and camping as Ashleen. In fact she had done almost none until recently with the patrols. Was she really up for this? A sudden desire to back out shot through her mind, but she suppressed it. Her pride was too great to do so now.

  “Lisabeth,” Artur said calling her attention back to him.

  “Yes, Father?” she replied.

  “I asked if you understood the rules.”

  “Yes, Father,” she answered.

  Artur surprised her by
wrapping his arms tightly around her and kissing her gently on the forehead. “Be careful, my darling,” he whispered. “I love you very much. And beyond that, if anything happens to you, your mother is going to kill me.”

  Lisabeth chuckled at the last part. “I will, Father. I shall return with the Sword of Light. You’ll see.”

  Artur released her and Lisabeth turned to the stoic stares from the other Paladin. Her eyes fell on Tomfrey and he gave her a quick wink causing her to smile. She turned and began descending the stone steps. Her bare feet ached well before she reached the bottom. She glanced back up at the Paladin above her, and confident they were too far to make out any details, dropped the blanket that covered her to the ground at her feet. She turned and walked away on her quest.

  Chapter 6

  Lord Hansel strode with purpose along the corridor of the castle at Elwood in Elophborne. Two of his men marched close behind, wary that they were walking through an unfriendly castle despite Hansel’s assurances that they had nothing to fear from Edward. Hansel, too, was cautious regardless of his confidence. True, there were no drakmere inside of the castle, but that did not mean there were not those loyal to Anne, who believed she still held sway in Elwood. They might turn Hansel over to the draks if they thought they would be rewarded.

  As he moved through the corridor, Hansel kept a hand lightly gripping the hilt of his sword, while the other squeezed tight the piece of parchment which was the reason for his visit to the castle. Few things would have drawn him out of hiding without specific word from Edward, but the news he had just received was one of them.

  Branded a traitor by Anne and her minions, Hansel had fled his home, barely escaping the Black Knight and draks who had come to capture him. He and a handful of loyal men hid in the King’s royal hunting cabin deep in the Great Forest. The cabin was reserved for the King and Royal Family and no one would dare visit without Edward’s express permission. Thus, it was a safe hideaway for Hansel and his men. This was the first time Hansel had returned to Elwood since fleeing.