The dragons circled high the air, letting Brianna watch the small home and barns where Miriam, the animal healer that Quinn had fallen in love with, worked. She could see animals in the corral and people moving about the yard. With her enhanced eyesight she could make out tiny details far below, but she couldn’t see Quinn. They waited, flying around and around for nearly an hour. It was almost twilight when he finally arrived. Brianna and the dragons watched as he came walking toward the house. He led a horse which was pulling a small, two wheeled cart. Quinn led the horse into the barn, and it was dark when he finally came back out. He had just started back across the yard toward the house when Brianna slipped off Selix’s back and glided toward the ground far below.
Brianna couldn’t fly per se, but she flipped and twirled on the invisible currents of air, gliding lower and lower, until finally, she landed gracefully in the yard behind the house. She looked around, her eyes seeing well in the darkness. No one was around, and it appeared that no one had seen her descend. She went to the door of the house and knocked gently. There was movement inside and a moment later, the door swung open. Quinn raised his lamp high to see out into the dark yard.
“Oh my god,” he declared. “Brianna! What a surprise to see you girl. Get in here!”
He pulled her into a one armed embrace, his other hand still holding the light over his head.
“You’re not alone, are you? Where’s Zollin?”
“It’s just me.”
“You didn’t find him?” Quinn asked, his voice tight with worry.
“I did find him and Mansel too. It’s a long story.”
“Well, come in, come in,” he said, pulling her into the house and closing the door behind her. “We’re just about to sit down to dinner. I’ll open a bottle of wine.”
They walked past the bedrooms and into the open kitchen. A young girl was stirring a pan of vegetables that were sizzling and popping. Miriam was pouring ale over a skewer with two plump chickens that were roasting over the open fire.
“Oh my,” she said when she saw Brianna.
“Hello Miriam,” Brianna said.
“Well met, Brianna; it’s wonderful to see you. What a surprise!”
Brianna could tell that the greeting was forced. There was a tension between Miriam and Quinn that Brianna hadn’t expected.
“Yes, it is wonderful to see you too.”
“Are your dragons here as well?” Miriam asked.
“No,” Brianna said with a smile. “The pride is divided. Those that remain with me are waiting overhead.”
“Won’t they grow tired?” Miriam said with a frown. “I’m sure they could find a place in the yard.”
“They would probably just eat your patients,” Brianna said with a giggle. “They won’t grow tired. They can coast on the currents of air the way a duck floats on water.”
“But a duck’s legs are always moving,” Quinn said lightheartedly. “You can’t see them, but they’re always paddling away below.”
“The pride is fine for now. They will let me know if they need rest.”
“That is truly astonishing,” Miriam said. “My work would be so much easier if I could communicate with the animals.”
“You can in a way, ma’am,” said the girl, who was lifting the pan off the small stove. “The animals always seem to tell you what’s ailing them.”
“She’s right,” Quinn said. “You’re a gifted healer.”
“Thank you,” Miriam said, turning back to the chickens.
Brianna caught a note of bitterness in the older woman’s voice but couldn’t understand why. She and Quinn had seemed as happy as infatuated teenagers when she had last seen them and that had been just under a month before. Still, it seemed their passion for one another was growing cold just like the autumn weather.
“Here, have a seat and I’ll fix some wine,” Quinn said, suddenly anxious to find something to do. “Tell us your story.”
“It isn’t a pleasant story,” Brianna said. “Evil is spreading across the Five Kingdoms.”
“Cora,” Miriam said to the young girl. “Fix your plate and go to your room. There’s no need to burden yourself with our business.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said the girl.
Brianna thought the young woman had a sweetness that reminded her of the sisters Brianna had left in Tranaugh Shire. She watched the young girl go, while trying to guess her age. She waited until Cora had left the room to speak again.
“She’s sweet,” Brianna said.
“Aye,” Quinn said, “sweet but prickly. You don’t want to get on her bad side.”
“She’s had a hard life, Quinn,” Miriam scolded. “We can’t imagine what it must be like to be orphaned.”
“No,” Quinn agreed. “And I think she’s an amazing young woman.”
“You took her in?” Brianna asked.
“We’ve had a bevy of orphans rotating through,” Quinn said. “It seems Miriam has a soft spot for the broken, be it man or beast.”
“Forgive me for having a heart,” Miriam said coldly.
“No one would blame you for helping orphans,” Quinn said. “But that’s not the only way to help people.”
“I don’t want to fight with you again,” Miriam said.
“Nor, do I,” Quinn agreed turning to Brianna. “Tell us what has happened in the south.”
“I found Zollin and Mansel. They were tracking King Zorlan, who was leading an army south to Osla.”
“We heard that King Belphan was killed,” Quinn said.
“Yes, well, Zorlan thought to take the throne in the Grand City, but the witch beat him to it.”
“Damn!” Quinn said.
“She had Prince Willam under her spell as well as the King of Ortis. Willam led the Ortisian army against Zorlan but was defeated. We found him just north of the Grand City. Zorlan had him tortured for information.”
“The crown prince of Yelsia?” Miriam asked in shock. “Tortured?”
“That’s right,” Brianna continued. “Zollin healed him and Gyia insisted on flying back to Orrock with him. Zollin and I continued south.”
“What about Mansel?” Quinn asked.
“He and Nycoll turned north. I was hoping to find him when I returned, but I was unsuccessful.”
“But he’s alright, isn’t he?”
“I don’t know,” Brianna said. “Zollin and I found the Grand City under siege. We attacked the witch in the tower of the Torr, but she escaped and used powerful dark magic. It opened a great crevasse and released hoards of creatures from the underworld.”
“It’s like a nightmare,” Miriam said.
“Yes, it really is. The witch is raising a wicked army and our only hope of survival is to make a stand, south of the Walheta. I am going to Orrock now to convince the King.”
“What of Zollin?” Quinn asked.
“He is going around the Great Sea to recruit King Ricard to our cause. Then he will go back into the Northern Highlands to try and convince the magical creatures there to come and fight with us.”
“Good god, is it really that bad?” Quinn asked.
“Three of the Five Kingdoms are lost,” Brianna said solemnly. “Our only hope is to come together and fight whatever army the witch raises. I’m afraid we can do little more than protect Yelsia for now.”
“And you?” Quinn quizzed. “What are you going to do?”
“I’ll fight alongside my pride,” Brianna said.
He nodded.
“What of the wizard who attacked Orrock with the black dragon?”
“He was slain by the witch. Bartoom fled south; I don’t know where exactly.”
Quinn sat twisting the bottle of wine he had brought to the small, wooden table. He had completely forgotten to open it. His face was a frown of worry.
“So an army marches north,” he said.
“It will soon,” Brianna said. “The witch released retched creatures that are capturing people and returning them to her. She will trans
form those innocents into something awful to serve as her foot soldiers. When she has enough people, she’ll move north.”
“What kind of creatures could capture enough people to make an army?” Miriam asked.
“I don’t know what they are,” Brianna explained. “They have the body of a horse, four legs, hooves, and even wings along their back, but where the horse’s neck should be, there is instead, the body and head of a man. They have long hair and pointed teeth. Their fingers are like eagle talons. For a tail, they have huge scorpion tails with stingers.”
Miriam shuttered.
“They impale their victims,” Brianna continued, “with their stingers and then carry them back to Gwendolyn. I don’t know if the people they attack are dead or alive, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the witch can transform the dead into a hideous army.”
“So there will be a war,” Quinn said, standing and beginning to pace.
“I’m afraid so.”
“And Mansel was caught by these beasts, you think?”
“I don’t know,” Brianna said. “I know he and Nycoll planned to head north, and we left them in a village by the sea. If they booked passage on a ship, they may have been spared.”
Quinn grunted but didn’t speak.
“What can we do?” Miriam asked.
“Whatever you can to prepare for war,” Brianna said. “That’s not why I came here though.”
“Why did you come?” Miriam asked.
“She wants me to find Mansel,” Quinn said sternly.
“What? That’s absurd,” Miriam said angrily. “If she couldn’t find Mansel, how do you hope to find him?”
“I don’t know,” Quinn said.
“Surely you’re mistaken,” Miriam said as she turned to Brianna. “Tell him he’s lost his mind. Tell him why you’ve really come.”
“He’s right,” Brianna said. “I’ve no right to ask it and there’s no guarantee that Mansel is even still alive, but there’s a chance.”
“Well, why don’t you go look for him?” Miriam stated, her voice loud now and angry. “There’s nothing we can do.”
“I would if I could,” Brianna said. “But I must see that King Felix raises the army and marches south.”
“This is outrageous,” Miriam said. “You can’t seriously be considering this, Quinn. I know we’ve had our differences but if what she is saying is true, you’ll be riding to your death.”
“I can’t turn my back on Mansel,” Quinn said.
“Mansel made his choice,” Miriam said so loudly she was almost shouting. “You are needed here.”
“We’ve had this discussion, Miriam. I’m not a healer, I’m a fighter.”
“You can’t go,” she said. “You’ll be lost. Zollin would never forgive you.”
“Zollin knows the risks,” Quinn said. “He’s out risking his life everyday while I sit here getting fat and lazy.”
“Don’t, please,” Miriam said.
“I’m sorry,” Brianna said. “I didn’t mean to drive a wedge between you. I’m sure Mansel can look after himself.”
“But he doesn’t know what’s coming, does he?” Quinn said.
“No,” Brianna affirmed.
Miriam burst into tears. Her face was still comely despite her age, but now it was a mask of lines and tears. She folded her arms on the table and laid her head down, sobbing.
“I can’t stay,” Quinn said softly. “I thought I could. I wanted to, but I can’t. It simply isn’t in my heart to stay.”
“You’ll be killed,” Miriam managed to say.
“Aye, you’re probably right. But I have to go, just the same.”
Chapter 4
Baskla was a kingdom of steep hills and thick foliage. Wildlife was abundant and while there were farms here and there, most of the people hunted or fished to provide for their families. Zollin had never traveled to Baskla, but he felt a certain kinship to the people there. Yelsia and Baskla were the northern kingdoms and close allies. Zollin only hoped King Ricard would believe his story and commit his resources to the fight.
Forxam was the capital; Zollin and Ferno glided above the city which was built partially into the side of one of the steep hills. The gray stones and red tiled roofs seemed out of place surrounded by what looked like overgrown forest. Zollin could see the people watching him as he circled. He would have liked for Ferno to be able to land so they could greet King Ricard together, but Ferno needed to hunt and Zollin knew that landing in the middle of the city on a dragon would be more trouble than it was worth.
“Hunt,” he shouted to Ferno. “I’ll call for you once things are settled.”
The green dragon shuttered and a low growl rumbled from the beast’s thick chest causing smoke to pour from between the razor sharp teeth.
“No, I’ll be fine,” Zollin reassured the dragon. “You go on.”
Ferno swooped downward until Zollin and the dragon were only a few hundred feet above the castle. Then, Zollin lifted himself magically. It was much like holding a heavy object at arm’s length. Zollin’s power was strong and his mental concentration was improving each day, so levitating himself or another object wasn’t difficult, but it did tax his strength. He could feel the heat of his magic washing through him as he drifted down.
He looked up to see Ferno flying away. The green dragon was a magnificent creature. Zollin had always enjoyed seeing horses run; their graceful strides and rolling muscles were a sight to behold. But compared to Ferno, horses seemed as puny and insignificant as small dogs. Ferno’s tail lashed as the great leathery wings propelled the dragon’s huge body higher and higher.
Zollin looked down to see soldiers forming a circle around where he would land. He thought of moving himself around just to watch the soldiers scramble to keep up with him, but he didn’t want to antagonize anyone. The soldiers had ornate looking pikes, each on a staff that was nearly twice as long as a tall man. The blades were thick and polished to a high gleam, and the spike, which was curved slightly, looked honed to needle sharpness.
“Who goes there?” asked a man with a high-pitched voice.
It was one of the soldiers, obviously frightened. Zollin let a sense of calmness, trust, and peace flow out with his magic.
“I mean you no harm,” Zollin said. “My name is Zollin, Wizard of Yelsia. I’ve come to speak to King Ricard.”
The soldiers looked at each other nervously, but they soon relaxed visibly. Then the man with the high pitched voice spoke again. Zollin guessed he was the senior officer of the group.
“Drusy, run and tell the King’s steward that a... a wizard is here to see the King.”
“Aye, sir,” said the man named Drusy. Zollin watched as the soldier turned and hurried into the castle.
Zollin looked around. He had landed on what he thought of as courtyard, but it was actually the roof of a large, square structure. Not far away, rising from the craggy hillside was a round tower. There were covered walkways carved into the side of the hill that reminded Zollin of the dwarf cities he’d seen under the mountains of the Northern Highlands. Below them, more buildings were fixed to the rocky side of the hill and below that, sprawling into the valley, were houses, shops, barns, and taverns. People walked up the steep streets, many leading donkeys or mules laden with goods. Zollin could see a market that was laid out along three tiers, like broad steps, that divided the mountain fortress from the sprawling city below.
“How did you know the King was here?” asked the officer with the high pitched voice.
“Lucky guess,” Zollin said.
“Or some dark sorcery, I’d imagine.”
“No,” Zollin said, suppressing a smile, “nothing that nefarious; I assure you.”
“Wizards and sorcerers are demon lovers, my old mother used to say. She told the most frightening stories when I was a boy.”
“I’m sorry,” Zollin said.
“Do you steal souls?”
“No,” Zollin said.
“But you commune w
ith demon spirits, don’t you?”
“No,” Zollin said. “I do not. I’m just a man, like you.”
“Not like us,” the officer said. “We don’t ride dragons and fly, do we?”
“Perhaps not,” Zollin said. “And under normal circumstances neither do I, but unfortunately these are not normal times.”
“Indeed, they’re not,” the soldier said.
Just then a group of people came out of the tower, led by the soldier named Drusy. Zollin recognized King Ricard, although he had never seen the man before. Ricard was a barrel-chested man, with only a ring of silver hair around his ears and the back of his head. He had a neatly groomed beard and a large, round nose. He wore woolen pants tucked into tall boots that were polished to a high shine. A fur-lined cap draped over his shoulders and hung down to his calves.
The men around King Ricard looked nervous. They were all armed, but Zollin could tell that the weapons were merely ceremonial. He guessed they were the King’s advisors. Zollin bowed as the group approached.
“King Ricard, I come with news from the south.”
“So, the rumors of a dragon are true?” he asked. “My men say it was green, not black.”
“Ah, yes, Ferno is a green dragon and my companion on this endeavor. Is there a place where we can talk?”
“I don’t normally meet with men I don’t know and certainly never alone,” the King said.
“Of course, I merely meant that my story is long, and I thought we might find a more comfortable place than standing in the sunshine.”
“The sun is warm and welcome,” the King said. “You better start your story before I decide if I want to hear more.”
“Alright,” Zollin said, having to work at staying calm. “As you must know, the armies from Osla and Falxis invaded Yelsia.”
“Yes,” King Ricard said, his eyes narrowing.
“As I understand it, King Oveer was to bring his troops north and join you in an invasion from the east.”
Five Kingdoms: Book 06 - Evil Tide Page 4