by Millie Burns
Jedro felt like he was flying in circles, but knew he was flying across the swirling winds. The small dragon’s red wings pumped against the winds with less power, and its eyes were wild with fright.
“C’mon, lad, my senses are tingling. I think we’re almost out of it. Keep it up for just a bit longer, and then we can find a place to land and rest.”
The dragon’s stomach growled and rumbled. A discontented mewling sound issued from deep in its throat.
“We’ll get you something to eat too. Don’t you fret. Ahh, something’s happening.” The wind abruptly ceased. Dirt and debris spattered the ground below them. Jedro looked down and saw a moat of blackened water evaporate, leaving a trench of gooey mud. Before him, a wall of flames sizzled out, leaving a smoldering ring of ash to mark where it had been. Then a rumbling sound filled the air, and a huge wall crumbled down into a pile of rubble. Dust plumed into the air, clogging his vision.
“Looks like we need to fly past that dust cloud, and then we’ll find a place to roost. Just a little more flying, little guy.” They soared out over the pile of rubble and through the dust. As he blinked the grit out of his eyes, Jedro spied Harpies flying about a battlefield.
“Oh, if they weren’t my race, I’d disown them,” he cried in disgust. “Harpy women are so disgusting. Look at them flocking to the site of the battle, looking for carrion no doubt,” he spit the words in anger.
Medina heard a low rumbling and watched astonished as the wall crumbled. The malevolence and anger that had roiled in the air all day dissipated and drifted away with the breeze. She was looking at the cloud of dust, joy in her heart, when she saw two creatures in the air. One clearly harpy, but the other looked like a small dragon.
“Hey, Giallag, I think I see a dragon,” she stated. “Over there near the crumbled wall.”
Giallag tossed his head, looking in the direction she indicated. “Sure enough. That’s a dragon. You have any pull with those creatures? I’ve lost a few friends over the years to those brutes.” An involuntary shiver raced down his back.
Medina lifted off Giallag’s back to investigate. “We are creatures of the air. Let me see what I can find out.”
As she neared the smallish red dragon, she spied Jedro hovering beside him. “Jedro,” she cried, “we thought you were dead. Everyone will be so excited.”
Jedro’s mouth hung wide open as he stared at the harpy that looked nothing like a harpy. Well, she had the body of a bird like he did, and wings too. But she was clean. Her hair glimmered in the sun, and her skin was unmarred by dirt. Mostly he noted the serene expression on her face. No trace of malice or anger could he find. He was melting in her liquid green eyes. “Medina, is that you?”
“Of course it’s me, birdbrain,” she teased. “Princess Ravyn taught us a new way of life. We have evolved. You will find our clan to be a much nicer place to live. I promise. No more bickering and fighting. Well, not as much anyhow. Who’s the dragon?”
“Oh, I saved him from the dungeons.” Jedro noticed the dragon’s pouty expression as it flapped its great red wings to stay aloft. Jedro motioned to the trees below, “We’re really tired. Can we continue this conversation below?”
Chapter 21
Blade struggled to push Zelera off his chest, when two strong hands pulled Zelera off him and raised him into a sitting position. Blade looked in wonder on the face of his King, not a day older than the day Zelera stole the crown.
“There is a story to tell here, young man, but first are you wounded?” Concern edged Bryant’s voice, and his eyes scanned Blade’s neck noting the trickle of dried blood.
“No, your majesty, I don’t think so. I only received a little nick.” He rubbed the side of his neck. “The pain from her magical torture is subsiding.” He motioned to Zelera’s still form. He still felt dazed and confused, and he rubbed his eyes. Looking up he saw his Queen, tears glistening in her eyes.
Lareina stood over her sister, tears coursing down her cheeks. “Oh, Zelera, dear sister, what have you done?” She stooped down, kissing her sister’s gaunt cheek. She turned to examine Ravyn. “And this young girl,” the words caught in her throat as she gasped, “Bryant, could it be?”
“Yes, it’s Ravyn,” Blade knelt beside his love, brushing black hair off her face, “and I’m Blade. Zelera stole nine years from you. Ravyn made a perilous journey to return to Veris and set you free.” He looked into Lareina’s eyes. “Is she all right? I don’t know what I’ll do if she’s not.”
Lareina knelt beside Blade, taking Ravyn into her arms. She cradled her, crooning a lullaby as she ran a finger along her daughter’s cheek. She kissed her forehead. “She’s in mage sleep, as is Zelera. She’ll be back to normal after a short rest; they both will.”
“Don’t let Zelera wake up! Kill her now.” There was a dangerous edge to Blade’s voice. “She was planning to send you to hell for all eternity. She’s near destroyed Aigerach. You don’t know all the evil things she’s done.” Anger burned in his eyes, his face hardened.
“Yes, she has turned to the Darkness,” Lareina cried, “but I cannot kill my own sister, even though she would take my life. We will exile her. We will put her on a ship bound for Rasport, her powers stripped from her.”
“I would not have her death on my hands either,” Bryant stated calmly, though clearly troubled. “She is a branch of the royal line. But I would see her gone far from here where she cannot harm my family or country again.” His eyes told a different story, but his hand on his Queen’s shoulder showed why he did not take her traitorous life. “We’ve been gone so long. Is Rasport still known for its stance against magic, either Light or Dark?”
“Yes, sir. They have very strong laws in place against using the Arts, either Light or Dark. But what kind of punishment will that be?” Blade felt the color rising to his cheeks; he wanted Zelera erased forever. “She deserves nothing, nothing but a long stay in hell.”
“Without her power, living in a place like that, and having nothing will be hell for her. A living hell. If she should try to return to Aigerach, she will die,” Bryant stated the words with calm assurance. Blade let his anger recede.
“By the Light! I forgot about the battle. I must get the news to the army!” Blade jumped to his feet and raced to the door bowling into General Joff.
“They already know, son,” Joff laughed, dropping to knees before his king and queen. “The Crown has returned.”
Cleaning up the battlefield took days. Healers scoured the grounds, triaging the wounded and dying. Makeshift wards were set up in the city to care for the injured. Families looked through the bodies ready to be released to the Light, searching for their loved ones. Wagons carved deep ruts in the ground as they shuttled the bodies from the battlefield through the city gates.
On the third day a huge pyre was built, and all the slain heroes were laid out in honor in a glorious meadow not far from Veris.
Queen Lareina stood on a dais, a river of tears flowing down her porcelain cheeks. She looked beautiful in her flowing white robes, the silver circlet gracing her brow.
The bodies lay in still repose, clothed in gossamer white fabric, lilies and forget-me-knots in their hands. Lareina raised her hands, and a rainbow of Light spilled from her fingertips. The Light danced across the bodies, wrapping them in strands of unequivocal love. The unicorn herd began to play a melody so harmonious and beautiful that it filled the mourning crowd with peace and hope and love, gentling the pain that ran so deep.
Weeping swept throughout the crowd, sad but proud, as the Light burst into flames. But the sobs ceased as the glory of the fallen being taken into the arms of the Light caused every breath to catch. The sky glowed, glorious colored threads weaving above and about their heads before they swept out the meadow to flow over all of Aigerach.
“The Blessing of the Light upon you all, the heroes of Aigerach,” Queen Lareina whispered reverently. “Your sacrifice will always be honored.”
Repairs to Veris would ta
ke seasons, if not years. Every able-bodied citizen was helping, glad to be a part of the rebuilding. The guild’s that had long been broken reformed. The masons’ guild began repairing the bridges and walls. The carpenters’ assessed the broken-down buildings, and jumped into construction with fervor. Buildings that were sound received fresh coats of paint, and the beauty that was once Veris started to glimmer again. Men worked on the roads, adding cobbles to the lanes and filling in the holes. The thrum of the energy of the city filled its people with hope and vitality.
Work in the castle began with intense vigor the day after the Equinox. The Dark spells surrounding the castle vanished when Zelera collapsed. But years of misuse had taken its toll. Dirt and grime were evident everywhere, not just in the dark corners. People vied for the honor of cleaning the castle, to be part of the process expelling all the evil taint from their land.
Men and women poured in from the countryside to make their homes in the capital city once more. The days of hiding now over, shops long closed opened their doors once more, and business started to flow.
General Joff was quick to repair the country’s defenses and restore order to the army. Patriotic men and women came from all over to enlist, eager to keep peace in a land that had not known it for so long. Little sleep did he get over the first several days, and though his heart was heavy with loss, a peaceful smile lay across his lips.
Two nights after the battle, Connor began to rouse. He felt the ache that ran the length of his body. He started to uncoil stiff muscles.
“Connor, can you hear me? It’s me, Bryant.” King Bryant leaned over the bed, staring at the wrinkled face.
Connor opened one gray eye, examining the young King’s face. “Damn, you don’t look a day older, boy. I may be old, but I’d still know your face anywhere,” he grumped. “I’m not senile, you know.”
“Well that’s good, because I have several jobs for you. Are you ready to get your lazy butt out of bed?”
“No rest for the weary, none at all,” he growled. “What sort of jobs do you have in mind?”
“The first and most important job is to bind Zelera’s powers. She’s in mage sleep right now, but it would be nice if you’d add several days to that. We’d like to ship her off to Rasport.”
Connor sobered. “She’s still alive? Bryant, she’s committed treason. She should be executed, not exiled.” His steely gray eyes bored into his King’s.
“I agree, but I don’t think Lareina could take that. She still loves her sister despite the atrocities she’s committed. It would destroy her, having her sister’s blood on her hands.”
Connor frowned. “I don’t like it, but I’ll do as your majesties bid. What has become of Ravyn and Blade?”
“Ravyn is in mage sleep, but she’ll be fine. She saved us and the whole of Aigerach. Blade is fine; he had a few scratches, but nothing too severe. He’s driving everyone crazy hovering over Ravyn.”
“Well, the two of them have become sort of an item. A good match, if you ask me.” He winked at Bryant. “What about Zelera’s tower? No one has gone up there, have they?”
“It’s sealed off, with a twenty-four hour guard. We were waiting for you to wake up. Lareina didn’t want to touch any of her tools or books.”
“Rightly so, it takes a Master of the Light to destroy those items safely. We just got our Queen back; we don’t want to lose her again.” Connor sat up and swung his legs over the side of his bed, his toes curled in the soft rug warm at his feet.
“When you have Zelera bound, I hope you can send her packing in a ship. Lareina will help with the spells that need casting, so it will sail without a crew. She will also help with the navigation spells to send it to Rasport. She would’ve done it without you, but didn’t think she’d have enough energy to take on the whole project by herself.”
“I dare say! I wouldn’t be able to do it alone either.” Connor sighed, and then a big grin spread across his face. “I hope you’ve got the kitchen cleaned up and running. From the sound of it, I’m going to keep them employed day and night for a while.” His stomach grumbled in agreement.
The next morning Ravyn felt the sun warming her cheek and heard soft murmuring at her bedside. She opened a sleepy eye to see Blade, her mother, and her father staring down at her.
She cried in delight, arms reaching up to her parents, desperate to feel them beneath her touch. Her mother dropped down beside her, swooping her into her arms. Ravyn inhaled deeply, relaxing in the warm embrace. Her father sat at her other side, and he pulled them both into his arms squeezing them tight.
She laughed and cried, looking over her mother’s shoulder to her green-eyed wonder. “You better get down here and get in on this group hug. I’m so glad to see you too!” Blade leaned over, kissing the top of her head. She managed to reach past Lareina and grabbed his arms, pulling him down. He lost his footing and slipped, grabbing onto his King’s shoulders for support. They lost the precarious balance and all crashed down onto the bed, Ravyn at the bottom of the heap.
“Hmmmmph,” she cried, “get off! You are all suffocating me.”
From the bottom of the pile, they heard Ravyn’s stomach gurgling. Blade pushed himself off the pile, a deep blush coloring his cheeks. He looked away, trying to compose himself. Lareina giggled and pulled herself off next, brushing her blonde hair out of her eyes. Bryant slid off the bed and plopped himself down in the chair at the side of her bed, smiling at his little girl.
Ravyn beamed at them and then patted her tummy. “I need to eat, and soon. If you’ll all clear out, I’ll get dressed and meet you in the dining hall.”
Chapter 22
The next several weeks flew by. The cleanup of the castle and the capital was well underway. Everyone took joy in the work, and crews were busy day and night. The business of the kingdom was falling back in to place, the kinks smoothing with ease.
It was the day before the formal celebration of the Return of the Crown. Blade stood before the door to King Bryant’s study. He rubbed his sweaty palms on his trousers before rapping on the door, harder than he’d intended.
A young page opened the door, appraising him, “Ah, Major Blade, the King is quite busy. Is it important?”
Blade stepped back. “No, I can talk to him later,” he mumbled, his nerves tensing in knots. “It’s something personal.” He spun on his heel, heart thudding in his chest.
King Bryant looked up from the papers littering his desk, shuffling them aside. “No, Leland, I always have time for my son. Besides, my eyes are gritty from staring at these things for so long. Too much darn paperwork.”
Leland snapped to attention and stepped aside letting Blade enter. His heels clicked on the hardwood floor.
King Bryant chuckled at the young lad’s serious demeanor. “Would you fetch us some refreshments, Leland? How about a bottle of that sparkling wine? And if you’d like, you can take a few moments to get something for yourself to eat as well.” He turned to look at Blade, the smile lighting his eyes. “I’ve been working hard all morning. Come sit down, relax, and tell me what’s bothering you.”
Leland slipped out the door, closing it softly behind him.
Blade let out a deep breath. “Thank you, sir,” Blade said, sitting down in a soft armchair facing his King. He avoided looking into his King’s eyes and wiped his clammy hands down his trousers again, color rising to his cheeks. “I have something important to ask you,” he stammered, glancing up.
Bryant leaned back in his chair, propping his boots up on his desk. A large grin spread across his cheeks, fingers casually drumming the oak desktop. “And, this involves my darling daughter, this question of yours?”
Blade’s eyes flew wide, and he fell back against his seat as if an invisible hand had shoved him back. “How did you know?”
Bryant closed his eyes, his hands resting beneath his chin as he relished a memory. “Many years ago I sat in that same chair asking my king for the hand of Lareina. I looked just as nervous as you.”
Blade felt a surge of confidence. “Well, I hope you have the same answer for me then, sir. I’m asking for your permission for Ravyn to be my wife. I love her more than life itself.”
Bryant’s brows furrowed, and he sat forward staring hard at Blade. His boots slipped off the desk thudding hard against the floor. “Hmmm, well my good friend and advisor, Connor, has spoken to me about this very issue.”
Blade swallowed hard, “And?”
“And he said if you did not ask soon, I should seek you out myself and ask you to become my son-in-law,” he roared with laughter, leaping from his chair to throw his arms around Blade. “Tomorrow will be a grand celebration indeed. You have always been like a son to me, now you shall be. Have you asked Ravyn yet?”
Blade shook his head. “No, sir. I was waiting for your permission first.”
“Good man, that’s the proper way to go about it. Tomorrow during the celebration, you will ask her.”
“But, sir, shouldn’t I ask her in private? What if she says no?”
“Her answer will be yes, Blade. Ask her tomorrow.” He pushed a wood box across the table at Blade. The lid was laced with delicate engravings in gold and mother of pearl. “Give her this; it was her mother’s, and hers before her. By presenting it to her, she’ll know we bless your union.”
Blade opened the box, peering in. Inside sat a platinum ring, a perfect princess cut diamond glimmering in its center. Loose sapphire and amethyst stones nestled in the velvet lining.
“The sapphire and amethyst represent her aura,” he cocked his head, staring at Blade, “and yours as well I see. Truly a perfect match. Take this to Malino the jeweler to have the stones set.”
Overwhelmed, Blade could only nod.