The Imperial Dragon swept one of his massive forelimbs overhead, churning the air until a ball of golden light formed at the tip of his raised index claw. He breathed a flame onto the sphere, causing it to glow a brilliant red hue. “Elisabeth, I am about to show you an image from my memory of the Emtori Ruby. You shall experience a small measure of its powers as a training exercise. Maintain your gaze and use your aura to observe fully.”
Frightened from the previous experience, I looked down at the rug. Out of the corners of my eyes, I saw crimson light rays dancing along the stone walls of the Imperial study. I clamped onto the chair and forced myself to look directly at the vision. This image burned large, with details of the gem’s facets. I held my breath. A burning sensation spread through my chest, like a bad case of heartburn. When I finally gasped for air, the pain stabbed my lungs. My windpipe closed. I held the base of my throat and coughed uncontrollably.
At once, Hanish hovered over me, waving a sapphire that covered my body in a blanket of blue light where I lay crumbled on the rug. How I arrived there, I didn’t remember. His magic soothed my burning skin.
I sucked in a ragged breath and allowed the cooling to spread into my lungs.
“Easy there. Don’t take in too much.” His bony hands held my shoulders.
My body jerked, and I belched an acidic taste. After that torturous fit, my body slowly quieted. I rested as the old wizard cradled me, his wiry white beard tickling my face.
He looked up and loosened his grip. “It’s stronger than we ever imagined. I negated the gem’s effects. Sire Garrett, please assist her as you can now do better with healing.”
I leaned into the soft leather legging covering Garrett’s bent knee as his strong arm held me there.
The odor of saffron told me that the Imperial Dragon drew near.
Garrett moved the length of my veil aside and unlaced my bodice from my back to monitor my internal organs. The tips of his fingers stroked my bare skin along either side of my spine. Pleasant shivers made me flinch and brought a smile to the corners of my mouth. With his other hand, he caressed stray spirals of dark hair that had fallen from my bun and said, “You’re perfectly fine, protected by your aura.” He looked up to the others. “Thank goodness you reacted with haste, Hanish. You knew the counter spell to use straight away. Did you suspect—”
“Not to that extent, most certainly. The vision alone should not have elicited such a marked response.” He wiped his forehead with the back of his shaking hand.
“Thankfully, we prepared with counter spells, intending to take no chances with our Scribe.” The Head Guardian lifted his head away. “That image has never brought any effects in those of water, Earth, or air signs, and only slight reactions in those governed by fire. The Unicorn and myself are the sole Guardians who lived at the time the Emtori Ruby sat in its rightful place in the pan of the Elementum Arcesso. That is why we are able to conjure a likeness. Elisabeth, the fire of the keystone is too great for you to combine with your aura. You should not look directly at the real object. Never touch it.”
“I shall not for any reason. This experience served as warning enough,” I replied as I lifted back into my seat. “But how am I to complete my mission, determine how the Black Dragon uses its powers, without being affected by that gem?”
“Sire Garrett, are you able to cloak her vision sufficiently with your alchemy?” Hanish asked, raising an eyebrow at his younger colleague.
Garrett rose to his full height, offering me his hand. “I am, indeed.”
“If that measure fails, administer the counter we just employed, using the sapphire of your staff,” added the Imperial Dragon.
The elderly man stroked his beard. “I wonder…in time, once she learns to fully utilize her aura, might she be able to control that ruby? A grin crept over his face. He leaned forward and whispered in a raspy voice, “Wouldn’t that be something? She might be capable of destroying the black leader.”
Lyra looked up and rubbed the front of her throat and swallowed several times. “That is all that was said about the keystone ruby.”
Mimio poured some water at a service cart and handed it to Lyra. “This will help. You must have related to Elisabeth’s feelings again.” Her eyebrows lifted as she studied Lyra’s face.
“I felt her fear. She didn’t know how she would survive the quest—both the enemy and the prize could easily kill her.” A long sip of the cool water helped soothe the burning sensation. As she relaxed, more hidden information organized in her mind. “Elisabeth wondered what the lapidist meant—if she might control her power enough to use the ruby to kill the Black Dragon. Since the lineage of evil leaders continued, we know she didn’t or couldn’t do this. Do you think, having had more time to learn and apply scribal magic, I might be capable?” She held up a finger to the others. “Wait. I had a new thought.” She looked down at the passage again. Behind those exact sentences was a thread of hidden meaning Lyra missed before. She shook as a shiver traveled the length of her spine.
“What did you find?” The Tortoise leaned closer, his shell precariously balanced on the table edge.
Lyra pointed at the line and turned the book to face him, hoping he could verify what she found. “Elisabeth wrote this book after she had completed her adventure. Whether by accident or on purpose, she included in her words in this passage what it felt like to touch the ruby. She had secretly hoped to use it to kill the dark leader, but, instead, the fire of the gem burned her aura and then took control of her thoughts. She didn’t include details of what happened after that, only an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for surviving the experience.”
The Guardian tilted his head from side to side, examining the text. “We must read where she recorded her meeting with the Black Dragon and the Emtori Ruby. You must know how to handle that keystone safely.”
After sitting quietly for several minutes, Mimio asked, “Lyra, have you had any direct experience with rubies?”
“Yes. When I was at Tarom’s retreat up north in Versula, he taught me a lesson in mineralogy as well as fascination. He had a large display of gems found all over Dragonspeir in a case he used as a table where we had lunch. He told me that rubies enhance leadership, elicit powerful feelings, desires, and goals. He put a small ruby in my hand.”
“What did you feel?” the sorceress asked.
“My pulse thundered in my ears and confused my thoughts. I had a lot of difficulty putting the stone down when he asked. He explained that while rubies motivate people born under other stars, it can be destructive to someone who has a fire birthmate.”
“Did he have you hold any other gems to compare how you felt?” Mimio asked and joined the Tortoise, scrutinizing the written scene.
Lyra shook her head. “No. I don’t remember any. Why?”
“He may have been testing a ruby’s effects on you. Possibly to see if that could bring a weakness in your power he could use against you,” the Guardian replied.
“Then why did he warn me to be careful around rubies? It doesn’t make sense. Although, Tarom often doesn’t make sense.”
“Exactly.” The Tortoise nodded. “He’s unpredictable. However, he’s powerful and comes out ahead regardless of what side he supports. Remember that.”
“You’re looking tired, as we all are. The position of the moon indicates it’s just past midnight.” The sorceress rose and offered to walk Lyra to her room. “We must not tax your strength.”
“Let’s resume early in the morning, shortly after dawn.” With a wave of his front foot, the Tortoise secured the notebooks and ancient texts in a locked storage case and said goodnight.
***
Lyra entered her and Cullen’s chambers to find the rooms empty. She tried not to worry but checked a window for any sign of incoming Alliance dragons. Her fingers felt for the jade brooch at her throat. Grasping it into her palm, she closed her eyes. “The one who holds my soul.” She repeated the magical phrase she had used many times before, imbuing
it with her aura. The gem pulsed against her skin, and a soft green glow escaped from between her fingers. Knowing he was alive, she smiled and prepared for bed.
Tired from hours of concentration, her mind eased into a comfortable drift. From a deep stillness, an image of the Emtori Ruby appeared. Lyra told herself to look away but couldn’t. Against her will, her hand reached out and touched the gem. Red flames shot in all directions, burning the exposed skin of her forearms and face. Fire traced the channels of her aura, searing the membranes of her mind and heart. She screamed and thrashed with excruciating pain.
“Lyra! Be still. Let me help,” Cullen’s voice urged her from behind.
Her eyes opened to see Cullen’s strong arms wrapping around her. She twisted to face him as much as the tight blankets would allow.
His brown hair hung loose in matted waves over his bare chest. He pressed his cheek against hers, and her mind quieted. “What was that dangerous red stone?” he asked.
“The Emtori Ruby,” Lyra replied with a cough.
He gently held her until she breathed freely. “It’s all right now. I cleared the nightmare away. It’s gone.”
“No. It’s not. I must find it.”
Cullen pulled her into a strong embrace. His hands trembled on her back.
Chapter Five: Crimson Blood, Ruby Red
Lyra awoke tangled in sheets and drenched in sweat. She reached across the bed for Cullen. Disconnected fragments of Elisabeth’s frightened visions tormented Lyra’s mind, suspended in a half-sleep state.
He drew her close. “Breathe deeply and allow me to remove your stresses.”
“I’m soaked. Just hold my arm. You won’t want to be close.” She tried to push him away, but he wouldn’t budge.
“You know I don’t mind. Relax and let me help.”
She sank into his embrace, and the vibrations of their bond hummed in her mind like white noise, blotting out worries. Her windpipe unclenched, and she enjoyed a slow, full breath.
“I held you most of the night to be certain you slept,” he whispered into her ear while stroking her hair.
She turned to face him and pushed a strand of his hair away from his eyes. Nuzzling the whiskers of his goatee, she softly kissed his lips. “You must be exhausted. How will you fight today? Can you visit the magnetics room and restore yourself quickly?”
He glanced up at the window. Sunlight revealed dark circles under his blue-gray eyes. “My powers are full. It’s the rest that I’m lacking, which no magnetic ley line can improve. No matter. I couldn’t sleep. I listened for every squadron leaving during the night. I wanted to know if they deviated from plans and stepped up patrols in case of heightened alert.” Still holding Lyra’s hand, he slid a leg over the edge of the bed. He nodded toward the window. “There’s the first of the day’s squadrons leaving the lair. I need to get up.”
She released his hold. “Thank you. I’m calm again. I need to get to work too.” She pulled away the confusion of blankets and rolled off of her side. Stretching for a yawn, her breath caught while thinking about what she needed to study today—Elisabeth’s encounter with the Emtori Ruby. Knowing that was also her own fate, Lyra wondered whether fear of the unknown would be better or worse than learning about the first Scribe’s experience. Like Cullen said, no matter. In these hard times, they each faced difficult jobs. Reading the account in order to learn the hidden magic was her responsibility.
After a quick bath, Lyra twisted her hair into a single braid, its natural golden color dark with dampness. Giving up on the custom of awkward long gowns, she conjured a more casual outfit of jeans, a soft t-shirt, and well-loved ballet flats. She didn’t expect to leave the lair, so formality didn’t seem a high priority.
She reentered the bedroom to find Cullen seated at a side table, eating breakfast while keeping his gaze fixed outside the window. He must have used incantations for his grooming. His shoulder length hair was styled differently than usual, tied back, which probably helped keep his sight clear to throw powerballs. Lyra detected a protective ward woven into the blue fabric of his tunic. Tall, black boots covered his lower legs. A navy cloak of dense canvas for dragon riding lay over the bed’s foot rail. She didn’t like to see him outfitted for battle.
He faced her and waved a hand toward the tray of food. “I’m glad you’re dressed comfortably, something to make these days easier. Help yourself. It’s very good. I’ve never had this egg and potato casserole. I thought everyone was sent home except the head cooks.”
Lyra looked at the carefully prepared foods and smiled, spooning a portion of the new dish onto her plate. “That must be made by one of our new cooks, Nillea, along with her crippled daughter, Kessa. She’s a non-magical who begged a young blue to bring them here, since Kessa had been chased by a cimafa. The woman begged me to convince the Guardians to allow them to stay, that she’d work hard to earn her keep. I didn’t have the heart to send them away—”
“The Maxime Eviligo rules strictly state that non-magicals must be secured in family groups where they can best be protected by higher magicals.” He shook his head. “This lair is protected only by enchantments and the squadrons that constantly pass in and out. No wizards are on staff to bring in enough food and water for dependent guests. Space limitations alone make it impossible. The villagers don’t understand.” His gaze met Lyra’s. “Think how unfair this is to the others.”
Lyra refilled her glass of juice, enjoying the new addition of spices to the beverage. “Yes, but Kessa reminds me of myself. She’s just ten years old, the same age I was when you first brought me into Dragonspeir. That’s when I first felt my powers. Kessa’s are still new to her, just unfolding.”
He extended his arm across the table and rubbed the back of Lyra’s hand. “I hope I get a chance to meet this special girl. If she’s like you, I’m sure she’ll find a way into my heart.” He smiled and wove his fingers between hers.
Lyra flashed an awkward smile. “She makes me think about children I hope you and I have a chance to raise.” Her voice cracked on the last words, and she blinked back moisture clouding her eyes. The warfare around them seemed to push that dream farther away.
Cullen moved around the table, kneeled beside her chair, and folded her into his arms. “Our dreams will happen. I want children as much as you do. Hope is not needed, only trust. Always trust.”
Pressed close to his chest, the magical bond of their love, strong as ever, heartened her. His desire for a family of their own burned as brightly as hers. She smiled and pushed away. “Nillea also brought a jewelry box of family treasures in exchange for her daughter’s keep. The trinkets give off strange types of magic, not from Dragonspeir. I’m very curious about them.”
Cullen raised an eyebrow. “Is that box in the library or the study?”
“The study, last I saw.”
“I’ll stop by and give the contents a look before I leave. While I’m there, I also want to speak with Mimio about you. ”
“About me? Why?” Her brows rose, then she realized that he knew about her health issues. She’d wanted to keep this worry from his mind, already taxed by the battles.
“When I dispelled your dreams last night, it concerned me to find some short instances of abnormal electrical impulses. They came and went along with those dreams. Do you know anything about this?”
Lyra dropped her gaze to her plate. “Yesterday, I passed out with a seizure. Mimio examined and healed me. She and the Tortoise think I’m suffering from harmful effects of the energy extremes that occurred when I fought the cimafa and then restored myself using the fire star.”
“That’s worse than I expected.” Lines crossed his brow.
“It was just one seizure. Mimio thinks I’ll be fine as long as I keep my energy more stable.”
“I hope so. But those nightmares brought some mild symptoms.” He took a quick slurp of tea and replaced the cup into its saucer as he stood. “I’m going to head to the library now to ask her if there is anything I can
do to help. Ready?”
She swallowed the last from her cup and joined him.
***
Lyra seated herself into the indentation she had left in the library floor cushion last evening. While she arranged her books and notes, the Imperial Dragon opened the door and allowed Mimio to enter before following her inside.
Cullen looked up from examining the objects in Nillea’s box and joined them. “Did the night squadrons bring any news?”
The Tortoise stuck his neck out from behind a wall of shelved books. “Glad to see you both. Has Maxime Eviligo better protected us against attacks?”
Smoke seeped from the leader’s nostrils. “Sadly, while moving residents into hiding, we lost three children. A heated fracas followed their deaths. The squadron who witnessed the killings reacted with anger rather than logic. They charged the foursome of cimafa, crushing the skull of one. It was a foolish maneuver; noxious gas spilled from its brain. Two blues were unable to breathe, the foul stench sealing the membranes of their lungs. The remaining cimafa took their souls as easily as from the children. Three innocents and two fighters lost.” He sighed a stream of golden smoke, heavily infused with his aura. “But, now that the heightened security is in place, it’s keeping more of us alive. The only altercation has been injury to a man who ventured out of hiding to collect things from his home.” The dragon’s tail swept backward and slammed the heavy library door closed so hard that its iron hinges rattled.
The walls reverberated with the impact. Cullen and Mimio stepped away from the leader, and the Tortoise jerked his neck into his shell.
Lyra flinched in her seat and dropped a notebook onto the floor.
The Imperial Dragon lowered to his haunches and leaned forward, speaking in a low, raspy croak through a haze of smoke that belched with his words. “In truth, our people have been reduced to living like rats hiding in holes. Somehow—I haven’t had time to consult my instruments since I flew all but two hours last night—there are more stealth dragons than before. Their numbers increased during the night—at least double.” His irises flashed yellow. “They command the skies, positioning themselves to watch for signs of movement at our exits. Then they pounce on Alliance residents who are easy prey. Thus far, combined efforts of powerballs from higher magicals and lightning strikes from an entire squadron have permitted passage of wizards to secure buckets of well water. The few magicals, who are more afflated and capable of conjuring essentials, are working so hard that their powers are depleting faster than they can meet needs.” He nodded toward Cullen. “Without an alchemist, our only fully afflated magicals are the four Guardians and Sire Drake. We badly need him to aid in the encampments. But he best serves in the air, fighting with his intense powerballs no one can match.”
Enchanted Bookstore Legends (5-book complete epic fantasy romance box set) Page 89