Return of the Crown

by Millie Burns

  Cringing in his nest, the male harpy folded his head beneath his wings and sat shivering.

  The female harpies shifted on their roosts, glaring at the face in the sky. Smirking, Zelera sneered, “I’m taking your male to my castle. Think of it as incentive for you to do as I say. I will return him unharmed when you kill Princess Ravyn and the man traveling with her.”

  A cacophony of screeches filled the air. One bold harpy wench shrieked, “Witch, you do not rule the harpies. We are free creatures, we do as we please!”

  Lightning ripped through the sky again. The harpy fell to the side, evading a direct hit from the bolt. Jumping to the ground, she rolled in the dirt, damping out singed feathers.

  “I do not tolerate disrespect,” Zelera boomed. “If you do not cooperate, he will die, and I will kill all the immature males as they hatch. Your species will cease to exist.” She paused, glaring down. “You will find Princess Ravyn in the woods to the northwest. Go! NOW!”

  The clouds dissipated along with the only mature male harpy, Jedro. All was quiet as harpies eyed each other. Seconds later the squalor began.

  “You three stay and watch the hatchlings,” a dirty harpy cried.

  “Who made you boss,” screamed another.

  “I’m going by myself. I can’t stand you hags!”

  “You idiot, we have to kill a man and woman. We all need to go!”

  “Piss off, you wench,” cried a rotund harpy snatching a handful of hair from her neighbor’s head.

  Flying feathers and hair filled the air blue with cursing.

  One harpy edged out of the melee, heading northwest to kill the simpering princess. Zelera would reward her with Jedro, and she would be the harpy queen.

  Predawn light cast a rosy glow over Ravyn’s face. Blade wanted to reach out and caress her porcelain skin. He imagined kissing her supple lips, then blushing, shook his head to clear the image. She was the princess, and his friend. Watching her breathe softly, he vowed to protect her until his dying breath. His timid hand brushed a stray lock of jet-black hair off her cheek.

  Ravyn opened her eyes. “Oh, it’s morning. You never woke me for my watch.”

  “It’s been quiet. Don’t worry, I did get some rest. I’ve gotten used to sleeping with one eye open. Connor taught me that.”

  “Connor! I haven’t talked to him in several days. Let me get my scrying bowl.” She pulled the bowl from her pack, placing it in her lap. “Spare a bit of water?”

  Cool water splashed into the bowl. “I found a spring nearby; we can refill before we head out. I’ll lay out some fruit and cheese for breakfast while you talk with Connor. Send him my greetings if you would?”

  Settling herself, she called upon the aural field and began traveling the country, searching for the familiar green-gold thread. She neared Quickling River, over thirty miles from Connor’s cabin. The pine scented thread danced before her eyes, and she followed it down to the riverbank. She pulled back in surprise, eyes wide as saucers. The colors were right, the pine smell was correct, but the image looking back at her was very wrong.

  Clearing her throat she apologized, ‘Umm, ma’am, sorry to disturb you. I thought you were someone else.’

  An old washerwoman stopped scrubbing laundry on a rock beside the river. ‘And who might it be ye are looking for, sweet little bird?’ Grey eyes sparkled in the soft wrinkled flesh of the elderly woman, and she started scrubbing a dirty old sheet.

  ‘Connor? Is that you?’

  ‘Cornelia, at your service miss.’

  Ravyn giggled. ‘What in the name of the Light?’

  ‘Well dearie, Zelera’s scouring the countryside for that crotchety old wizard Connor. Poor soul couldn’t get a moment’s rest. So, I decided to help him out, see? Hard to resist him; he’s devilishly handsome.’ The old woman chuckled softly. ‘It’s working like a charm. There’ve been no less than three different regiments of soldiers through here in the last couple days, General Zilge amongst them once, and not a one of them so much as raised an eyebrow at me.’ She chuckled to herself again. ‘What news have you for old Cornelia?’

  ‘I’m here with Blade. We escaped Zelera’s thugs and are now passing through Wanderer’s Forest. We will get to the Dirfawr in a week or so, as we are on foot. We can’t skirt the mountains or take Blessing Pass, as Zelera has those areas well covered with her soldiers. Blade said we need to blaze our own trail.’

  ‘Yes, that is wise. Follow Blade’s intuition. He’s been surviving off the land for years now. How is the boy?’

  ‘Boy, what boy?’ Blade had grown into a handsome, strong man. Pink flushed her cheeks. ‘Oh, he’s wonderful, as he always was, and asked me to send you greetings.’

  Connor noted the blush. ‘Get here as quickly as possible. Zelera is planning something big on Autumn’s Equinox. We must get you some training before you need to face her. I will stay here in this quaint little village as long as this disguise lasts.’

  ‘We’ll get there as soon as we can. Connor, I mean, Cornelia. Please keep us informed, as you can, and I’ll contact you again soon.’

  ‘The Light’s blessing upon you both,’ he murmured. Then he was gone, and Ravyn returned to her body resting under the trees.

  After eating, they started walking towards their next goal, the mountains.

  “My ankle feels so much better. When this is over, I’ll have to send a proper thank you to Magda for her fantastic salve.”

  “I’m sure she’d like that. Let’s fill our waterskins; the spring is right over there.” Blade pointed off into the trees.

  The spring emerged into view, sparkling merrily beneath a grove of graceful willows. Blade squatted down, filling the skins.

  “Oh, that looks so refreshing. It looks deep enough to swim in. Would it be safe to stop? I haven’t bathed since, well, I don’t even remember when I last bathed.” A frown wrinkled her brow. “But, I don’t suppose it would be safe with those brutes on our trail. We’ve lingered long enough.”

  “It’s safe enough. Those men will not be hunting anyone ever again.”

  Ravyn raised an eyebrow. “Was it as quiet last night as you said?”

  “I did not encounter them, M’lady.” He bowed gallantly. “From past experiences I have seen that no one displeases Zelera with incompetence and lives to tell about it. Not a maid, not a cook, no one. She does not value human life.”

  “But why would she kill them? They are close, they could continue tracking us, and possibly capture or kill us. What benefit is there in her destroying them?”

  “She doesn’t need them. Trust me, she will continue thwarting our passage at every opportunity. The threat will not come from behind. Zelera doesn’t like the chase; she prefers to lay in wait, springing traps on the unwary.”

  “Oh, I thought I knew my aunt, but I fear I never did. She’s an enigma to me.” Sadness clouded Ravyn’s eyes.

  “Well, I’ve studied her for years now, and I think I have a pretty good idea what she’s about. Tell you what, I’ll scout ahead. Clean up and relax. I won’t go far. Just yell if you need me.”

  Blade walked past the pool, finding a spot out of view of the pool to sit and wait. She needed a bath, the poor thing, having traveled so long without one. He listened for any sounds that were out of place in the forest, hearing only the splashing of water as Ravyn entered the spring.

  Ravyn waded into the shallows of the pool, cool water dancing across her skin. Submerging beneath the chilly water, she pulled her blouse off over her head and stripped off her trousers. After scrubbing them on the rocks, she tossed them on a bush to dry. She sank into the emerald water, luxuriating in its cool caress. Pushing aside the fears and pressure of the future, she floated blissfully under the canopy of green fronds.

  Sometime later, Blade called out from the trees, “Are you decent, Rav? We need to get moving. Mid-morning is well on us, and we’ve a long journey ahead.”

  “I’m clothed again and ready to proceed. As for being decent, I am
as I ever was. Thank you for sparing that time for me. I feel alive again, and I probably look a good deal more alive too.”

  Blade emerged from the trees. Ravyn stood on a rock soaking in the sun. Her black hair shimmered, and her skin was rosy. She was a vision of the Light. “You look fantastic,” he sighed. He dropped his eyes, “Now that your clothes are clean, I see they are truly amazing. Rowan’s skill is superb.” Her green trousers and blouse blended in with the surrounding trees. Still damp, they clung to Ravyn’s body accentuating her vibrant figure.

  Ravyn glowed. “Yes, these are the finest clothes I’ve ever owned. Rowan is wonderful. He’s like a father to me, as Connor is to you. I miss him.” Her eyes misted, and she blinked to clear them. She smiled brightly, “Let’s go!”

  Blade tore his eyes away from Ravyn. Strange feelings kept creeping over him, distracting him, every time he looked at his friend.

  Shouldering his pack, he turned, picking out a route to the mountains. Ravyn began humming as they strolled along. Sunlight dappled the forest floor. Birds twittered flitting about the thick foliage.

  “Ravyn, tell me more about Ena? What was it like meeting a dragon?”

  Grinning like a fox, Ravyn related her story of the fiery dragon. Blade listened intently as they tromped through the forest, forgetting about the perils of the world, if only for a moment.

  Chapter 11

  As noon neared, a sad song filled the air. It was unlike anything Ravyn or Blade had ever heard, as if someone were playing a mournful tune on a trumpet. They followed the music to a clearing in the trees. The sound rose from a deep pit in the ground. They leaned forward, peering down.

  A unicorn stallion stood alone, head hung low. Spying them, the snow-white unicorn tossed its head, the woeful tune changing. Rising in a wild crescendo, its song shrilled in rage. Stabbing his horn in their direction, he reared a challenge, legs pawing the air.

  “Hold up friend,” Blade soothed. “We aren’t here to hurt you.”

  The unicorn thrashed about, hooves spraying dirt and rocks as it crashed into the earthen walls surrounding it.

  Centering herself, Ravyn imagined the notes making words she could comprehend. ‘By the Light, let me talk with this creature, assure him we mean no harm.’ With the next blast of sound, she understood.

  “Murderous thieves! You will not have my horn.” The magnificent white unicorn stared at her with murderous intent. His horn threw off an opalescent blur as his head swung viciously from side to side.

  “We are merely travelers through these woods. We did not set this trap. We were drawn here by your sad song.”

  Blade was staring at her, jaws agape. “Ravyn, you sound like a flute. Are you speaking to it?” he asked incredulously.

  Ravyn held up her hand to Blade, gesturing for silence. The unicorn stilled, staring up at her.

  “How is it you speak like a unicorn filly?”

  “By the blessing of the Light, I suppose. I wished to communicate with you so we could help you. I am Princess Ravyn; my family is strong in the service to the Light.”

  “Princess Ravyn? You were destroyed years ago along with the Queen and King. Now Zelera rules Aigerach.” The stallion snorted in contempt.

  “I was whisked to safety, and have returned to take back the crown.”

  “Where have you been?”

  “I will tell you after we get you out of that hole. You will allow us to help you?”

  The unicorn nodded his proud head. “Aye, but what can you do to help Princess?”

  Ravyn turned to Blade, “Can we use your rope as a sling and raise the Unicorn?”

  “We could try, but I fear the two of us are not strong enough to pull him out. We could probably dig into one of the ends of the pit and make a ramp.” Blade began rolling up his sleeves.

  “Wait, I’ve got it. I moved several large boulders in the cave when I escaped. Maybe I can lift him out.” She eyed the large beast. “No, I know I can,” she said nodding her head. “Just get some food out for me; I’ll be famished when I’m done.”

  Focusing on the place where the magic dwelt within her, she called up an image of the unicorn floating light as a feather. Nervous tooting shook her focus, but she rewove the magic tightly around the stallion depositing him gently on the ground beside the pit.

  A celebratory blast filled the air. “I’m free! Thank the Light you came. Thank you, Princess.” The unicorn bent its head over a snowy foreleg, the opal horn touching the grass.

  Blade beamed at Ravyn. “You did it! He sounds so happy.”

  Focusing on Blade, Ravyn imagined him speaking with the unicorn.

  “Tell him he is the most magnificent unicorn I’ve ever seen, Ravyn, and that I would never harm him,” Blade trumpeted. Excitement blazed in his green eyes.

  “I believe you just did that yourself,” the flute trilled back.

  A deep horn sound emanated from Blade as he laughed. “Ravyn, you are most amazing.”

  “I concur,” the unicorn added.

  Ravyn reached out to touch the silken mane, “You know my name, and this is my friend Blade, a knight opposed to Zelera’s tyranny. What is your name?”

  “I am Giallag, the leader of the unicorns in Wanderer’s Forest. You said that you are traveling through. Where are you headed?”

  Ravyn took the waterskin and provisions from Blade’s hands. Taking a bite of the dry flatbread, she nudged Blade to answer.

  “We’re going to Veris. Zelera has imprisoned the King and Queen in some sort of evil spell. We’re heading over the Dirfawr Mountains to meet up with a Master of the Light. He’ll help Ravyn learn to work with the Light Arts. Then, we’re off to confront Zelera.”

  “Seems to me she already knows how to work with the Light,” Giallag tooted.

  Blade smiled, pride puffing his chest. “She does appear to be a natural.”

  Ravyn handed some jerky to Blade. He sat on the grass, gnawing at the stick of dried beef. Joining him, Ravyn sighed as she watched Giallag begin grazing on the sweet meadow grasses.

  Finishing the snack, Blade stood dusting off his pants. “It was a great honor to meet you, Giallag, but we must be moving on. We’ve a long way to go,” Blade’s deep horn rumbled.

  “The honor, I believe, was mine. You lost valuable time helping me, and I would like to repay you. Let me give you a ride to the base of the mountains; I can carry the both of you.”

  “Thank you. That would be greatly appreciated.” Blade cupped his hands, boosting Ravyn onto Giallag’s back. Then, stepping to Giallag’s rear, he vaulted off the unicorn’s rump to land squarely behind Ravyn.

  Giallag pranced in place, “I’ll take it slow until you are settled, then we run.”

  Walking a few miles allowed Blade and Ravyn time to settle into the rhythm, and then Giallag entered into a trot. The trot became a canter. “Hang on,” he tooted, his excitement flowing out with each note.

  The forest blurred into green, gold, and brown as he entered into full Unicorn speed. Ravyn’s eyes teared as wind rushed past her face. Leaping over streams and logs, Ravyn was unsure his feet ever touched the ground. Her thighs hugged his barrel, her fingers entwining in the snowy mane. She heard Blade hooting, “Yeehaw! Faster, faster!”

  Out of the sky, a dark blur streaked toward Unicorn and riders. Raking talons tore across Giallag’s hindquarter. Rearing in pain, Giallag tossed Ravyn and Blade head over heels where they hit the ground hard.

  Medina banked sharply aiming for Ravyn lying stunned on the ground. One rip across her dainty throat should suffice. Giallag dashed in front of Ravyn, opal horn spearing the air. Blade stood sword in hand, ready to defend. Swearing, Medina swerved to the side.

  Flapping her wings hard, Medina invoked harpy magic, creating a dust devil that whipped dirt and debris into their eyes. Using the distraction, Medina dove at Ravyn again snagging her arm. Ravyn cried as the flesh tore. Blade’s sword whistled through the air nearly catching Medina. She banked, circling, looking for an a
dvantage.

  “Please,” Ravyn shouted, “Why do you attack? We’ve done you no wrong.”

  “She needs no reason,” spat Giallag, “She’s a nasty foul-tempered beast, damned harpies.”

  “Zelera’s taken our only male and will not return him unless you die. Nothing personal, sweetie,” she screeched diving again.

  The flat of Blade’s sword caught Medina, flinging her back into the trunk of a solid oak tree. She slumped to the ground in a dazed heap.

  Giallag sprang to Medina, his horn dropping for the final kill.

  “No,” Ravyn shouted, leaping in front of the helpless harpy. “She attacked us because of what my aunt has done to her people. In a way, I’m responsible for her situation. One out of ten harpies born is male, and very few survive childhood. If Zelera has stolen the only adult male, it could be the end of her clan. She’s only protecting her way of life.”

  “She’s a filthy creature. We’re better off without them,” raged Giallag. “She’d scratch your eyes and rip out your heart given the chance. Stand aside, Princess,” he thundered.

  Standing her ground Ravyn struggled to find an alternative. Killing the creature didn’t feel right.

  Blade cleared his throat, “Ravyn, Giallag’s right. If we don’t kill her, she will continue fighting, or worse, alert her flock to where we are. Then our situation will be desperate. Look what a single harpy can do; can you imagine a whole clan of them?” Ravyn watched as blood oozed down Giallag’s flank, and it was trickling down her arm as well. Her wound throbbed.

  “I can bind her with magic. I haven’t tried anything like this before, but let me at least try,” Ravyn pleaded.

  Giallag continued pointing his horn at the harpy, and Blade’s sword stood at the ready. Suppressing the adrenaline coursing through her veins, Ravyn centered herself. She fashioned invisible cords binding the harpy’s wings and arms tightly to her body, and tied her vicious taloned feet together. Letting out a deep breath, she whispered, “I believe it’s done.”