THE DRAGON AND THE DREAMWALKER
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Drake dislodged the vine wrapped around his leg, lungs burning with pain as he dragged Brynn to the surface. He broke through the water gasping for air, holding Brynn’s head up high. Her face was blue by the time he got her to the shore, and she wasn’t breathing.
Asad met him waist high in the water, grabbing Brynn’s legs and helping Drake lay her on the rocky ground.
“My lord, is she dead?”
“Nay!” he screamed. “Nay!” But even as he said the words, he felt her life slipping away. He had to get the water from her lungs. He had to give her the breath of life and love. He threw her over his knee, expelling the water from her lungs and mouth. Then he brought his own lips to hers, and shared his breath with her. It took several tries before she breathed on her own. When Drake held her in his arms and hugged her, he knew he would never let her go again.
“She doesn’t awake, my lord. Is it still the sleeping potion she drank?” asked Asad, concerned.
The thought horrified Drake. He was the one who tricked her into drinking the potion. Could it be the potion that would take her life? Why hadn’t he consumed it, as it was meant for him in the first place. He’d gladly give his own life if it meant saving Brynn.
“Is Dracus gone?” Drake asked, searching the sky.
“Aye, my lord. The dragon dissipated into thin air mysteriously. I’m not sure what happened or where it went, but I’ll be ready when it returns.” Asad stood, pulling his sword out and searching the skies. The storm had broken, and the sun’s rays shone vibrantly through the clouds, creating the most beautiful rainbow Drake had ever seen. A double rainbow. One for each of them.
“Dracus will not return. Not today, or ever.”
“How can you be sure, my lord?”
“Trust me. I know. I will never let Dracus return into my life.”
His own body was weak from his fall and from swallowing so much water. His head ached from hitting a rock, and his jaw was swelled up from Asad’s punches. He rubbed his chin and fingered his broken lip.
“I apologize for that, my lord,” said Asad. “You do realize, I was only following orders.”
“You did well, Asad.” Drake lifted Brynn in his arms, her body lying limp against him. “But you’d better not have meant what you said about bedding Brynn or we’re going to have to have a serious talk.”
“Of course I didn’t mean it,” Asad answered, replacing his sword. “Still, even if I did, do you think I’d be fool enough to tell you?”
It was the grin that Asad shared that kept Drake from surrendering to his old ways of anger.
“Let’s get her back to the castle,” said Drake. “We need to find the old seer. We’ll need her help.”
“I’m here,” said Juturna, climbing down the rocks to meet them. She laid a hand on Brynn’s forehead. A worried look crossed her face. “I’ll do what I can, but she’s near death, my lord. I’m afraid even my herbs may not be able to bring her back.”
“Then we’d best hurry.”
Drake found Gollimer, and mounted with Brynn in his arms. Asad handed him his sword.
“I found your sword, my lord.”
Drake fingered the dragon head on the hilt, knowing he’d never be alive right now if it wasn’t for Brynn. He was correct in the assumption that she was the one that could help him slay the dragon. What he didn’t count on, was that he’d fall in love. Now her life was threatened and he didn’t know if he could live without her. He held her close to his heart as he made his way back to Thorndale Castle. He wasn’t going to lose her. He’d do anything in his power to keep her alive.
* * *
Drake hadn’t slept for the last three days. Instead he’d stayed at Brynn’s side, holding her hands and wetting her lips. He’d even tried to cure her with fire, holding her close to the hearth, but nothing seemed to help. Juturna stood next to him, shaking her head sadly.
“I’m sorry my lord, but there’s nothing else I can do for her. My herbs are not strong enough to heal her.”
“You did all you could,” he said softly. “Now please leave us alone. All of you.”
Asad and Birdie stood in the shadows of the room, and left along with Juturna at Drake’s command. Birdie whimpered softly as Asad closed the door.
Drake lay down next to Brynn and wrapped his arms around her. It was her love that saved him from being consumed by the dragon. If only his love could save her now. He didn’t mean to fall asleep, but his body was weak, his soul tired. He drifted off immediately, and when he was rested, his etheric body entered the dreamwalker’s state.
“You’ve finally come, my lord. I feared you would not.”
“Brynn!” She was standing in the darkness of the room, and at first he thought he was awake. Until he looked around and saw his body clinging to hers still lying upon the bed.
“Brynn, why don’t you wake up?”
“I can’t,” she told him. “My body has been weakened immensely from the amount of water I’ve taken in. The sea has stolen my energy. I need fire to survive and regain my strength. I am an elemental, and gain my strength only from the element of fire.”
“I’ve tried holding you near the hearth, but I guess that wasn’t enough. I’ll do better. I’ll get a candle and hold it near your body. I’ll put your hand in the fire if need be.”
“I need more than a candle, Drake. I need to be immersed in fire - completely. I need you to build a pyre in the courtyard around my body as you do to burn the dead.”
“Nay!” he exclaimed. “I can’t do that.”
“Then I shan’t survive.”
He awoke then, still holding on to her cold body. He jumped from the bed and stoked the fire. He carried her to the hearth and sat her so close to the flames that he singed his own brows, but still she did not awake.
He knew what he had to do. Only his love for Brynn would have allowed him to do it. He carried her body down to the courtyard, the occupants of the castle following him in curiosity.
“My lord, what are you doing?” Asad ran to his side.
“Build me a fire in the midst of the courtyard. Make it as hot and as large as you can get it.”
“She’s dead, then, my lord? I am so sorry.” Asad wiped a tear from his eye.
“She’s not dead yet, Asad, but will be if you don’t hurry.”
He knew Asad didn’t understand, but the man was loyal and rounded up a team of men to create the biggest fire Drake had ever seen.
“Are you certain you know what you’re doing?” Juturna ran a hand over Brynn’s hair as the girl lay limp in Drake’s arms.
“Not really. And if you hadn’t broken that gazing crystal of yours, I’d be asking you to scry for me right now.”
“Listen to your heart, my lord and I’m sure you’ll know the answer.”
He looked down at Brynn, her body very pale and asleep, but peaceful. He was listening to his heart. He believed in their dreamwalking together and he had to trust her now. If he didn’t, he may lose her forever.
“The fire is ready, my lord,” Asad told him after awhile.
“Good. Then I will put Brynn in it.”
“What? You are not going to put her live body in the fire?”
“Trust me, Asad. ’Tis what I have to do.”
“Then you’ll kill her, my lord. No one can withstand these hot flames.”
Asad’s words disturbed Drake deeply. He didn’t know how hot of a fire Brynn could withstand. He didn’t want to kill her. He decided, if she died, then he’d die along with her.
“I’ve heard of men who can walk on fire,” Drake said, staring into the flames.
“Please don’t tell me you are going to do that.” Asad shook his head in denial.
“Get out of my way, Asad.”
“Nay, my lord, I can’t let you.” Asad stepped in front of him to block him.
“No one can stop the Dragon’s Son once his mind is made up,” co
mmented Juturna. “Now let the man through.”
Asad stepped aside reluctantly. Drake walked forward with Brynn in his arms. The flames shot up toward the sky, and the heat was scorching. Drake’s love for Brynn burned hotter than any fire ever could. He held her closely and walked toward the fire. Then taking one last breath, he stepped forward and entered the flames.
The bluish-white light in the center of the fire took form and Drake saw his mother. She smiled at him and he felt as if he were a young boy again. Her beauty was breathtaking, her smile comforting. She held out her hand, creating a path for Drake to walk. The flames leapt up around him, touching Brynn but not burning her. He felt the heat, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. He felt himself gaining power from the flames. Then he saw another couple. Brynn’s parents stood watching, smiles on their faces. They held hands and watched their daughter succumb to the flames.
He knew for one glorious moment the power of the flame was with him as well as Brynn. He knew his skin would not be charred when he emerged from the fire, nor would he be harmed. He smiled to first Brynn’s parents, and then his mother. He felt the love in her eyes and also the loneliness for her own husband.
Drake had entered the light, finding the spark that exists even in the darkest knights. He pushed darkness from his life forever, letting the light guide his way.
The images of his mother and Brynn’s parents flickered before him and he felt Brynn stir in his arms. She opened her eyes and smiled, and he knew it was time to leave the flames. He stepped from the fire to hear the gasps and cries of the people around him. Their eyes were wide with shock and they looked at him as if he were a god.
“She lives!” he said, holding Brynn so the crowd could see she was awake.
A cheer went up from the people, and Drake knew he’d made the right choice.
THE DRAGON AND THE DREAMWALKER
EPILOGUE
Drake scattered his mother’s ashes across the pool in the cave. It had been six months since the night of Brynn’s recovery, and now she stood at his side, paying reverence to his mother’s remains with him.
“At least she’ll be closer to her husband now,” said Brynn. “Mayhap they’ll find comfort together after all.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Drake hadn’t seen his father’s reflection in the pool again, but knew Aurelius Pendragon remained between two worlds forever with the thoughts that trapped him there.
Drake had changed much since the day he had slain Dracus with love. Brynn worked with him to control his anger, and he did his best to rule Thorndale Castle fairly, with Brynn at his side. The Klarens never returned, fearing Drake more than ever since he’d walked through and survived the fire without being burned. He’d let the prisoners that betrayed him work off their debts, giving them a second chance. They were all willing to change their attitude towards Drake once they saw his own transformation.
Rowley, the falconer, ended up leaving Thorndale Castle, but told Brynn he wouldn’t cause trouble for her again. He realized Drake was no longer the same man, but still his wife and son’s deaths hurt him deeply. Drake warned him his anger may consume him some day, and Rowley took it to heart.
Birdie remained as Brynn’s handmaid, still not able to keep a secret, and Juturna made residence at the castle at Drake and Brynn’s request. Sir Broderick proved to be a very loyal knight, and Drake was pleased with the man’s leadership skills among the garrison.
And Asad, Drake’s squire and best friend, was finally dubbed a knight by Drake himself. It had been a fine ceremony, with many festivities, food, music, and Asad’s favorite - women.
Drake put his hand on Brynn’s stomach, sending some loving energy toward their child who would be born soon. Brynn’s hand went atop his and they shared a kiss.
“’Tis time,” he told her.
Everyone exited the cave, and Drake’s men stood ready, waiting for his command. On his order, they pulled a lever which released an avalanche of large boulders. The rocks crashed down, falling into a pile in an attempt to seal off the mouth of the cave. Through the dust, Drake gasped when he realized the old addlepated man stood just inside the cave doing nothing to try to escape.
“Nay!” Drake lunged forward to try to save him, but Brynn pulled him back.
“I can’t just leave him in there,” Drake said. “I’ve got to try to help him.”
“You’ll be killed if you try to enter now,” warned Brynn.
“Then we’ll dig him out when we’re finished.”
“My lord, it’ll take a fortnight to clear that blocked entrance,” explained Asad. “The old man will surely be dead by then.”
Drake knew they were right, but he still felt as if he had to try. At one time, he wouldn’t have cared about an old man’s life. But he wasn’t the same Drake of Dunsbard he used to be. He had changed. He was getting in touch with his true self, and trying to make up for all the years of wrong-doing behind him.
“You don’t need to worry about him, my lord.” Juturna walked up with a new gazing crystal in her hand. “I see the man is very special. He may be trapped for a long time, but we’re not meant to help him. He has things he needs to accomplish on his own.”
“Who is he, Juturna?” asked Brynn. “We don’t even know anything about him.”
“He’s an old soothsayer, my lady,” she answered, still looking at her crystal. “I don’t know much about him, but through my crystal I can tell we will see him again some day.”
“Then at your word, we’ll let him find his way out by himself,” said Drake. “I know how important it is for us all to learn our lessons on our own.”
“Will you say the same thing when our son is born, my lord?” Brynn smiled and rubbed her large belly.
“Our son will be fine,” he told her. “He’s a Pendragon. With him comes the birth of a new image. An image forged in light, not darkness. A light conceived by both of us. He will bring a good name to future Pendragons. The legend lives on through both, The Dragon and the Dreamwalker.”
ABOUT ELIZABETH ROSE
I hope you enjoyed The Dragon and the Dreamwalker, Book One- Fire. The dreamwalking I put into the novel is also known as astral travel, and is very real. So is the struggle of light and darkness in everyone, as we all create our own dragons through the years. Hopefully, we will all have the wisdom and power to conquer them much the way Drake and Brynn did in my story. You will see the crazy old man again in the next book of the series, The Duke and the Dryad, Book 2 – Earth, as well as meet Duke the Destroyer and the elemental of the earth, Rae-Nyst.
And in The Sword and the Sylph, Book 3 – Air, you will meet Portia-Mayer, the elemental of the air and also a spy, as well as Sir Braden, a very courageous knight.
And if you enjoyed reading about Asad, Drake’s squire, you will be happy to know he has his own story as he meets up with the elemental of the water, Ebba-Tyne in The Sheik and the Siren, Book 4 – Water. Watch book trailer for the Elemental Series as well.
Please be sure to visit my website at Elizabethrosenovels.com for more information on all of my books and to subscribe to my blog in order to receive updates about new releases. You can also read excerpts from any of my novels on my website as well as get sneak peeks at covers of upcoming books. And please remember that there are other authors by the same name, but my novels can be identified by the rose on every cover. Be sure to take a look at my new book trailer videos as well. And if you’d like to follow me on twitter, my handle is ElizRoseNovels, and my facebook is Elizabeth Rose – Author (don’t forget the dash.)
Elizabeth Rose
ARUCARD
BARBARA DEVLIN
COPYRIGHT
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2015 Barbara C. Noyes
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieva
l system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Barbara Devlin
The Brethren of the Coast Badge is a registered trademark ® of Barbara Devlin.
Cover art by Lewellen Designs
ISBN: 978-0-9962509-1-7
Library of Congress Registration: TX 8-051-659
TITLES BY
BARBARA DEVLIN
BRETHREN OF THE COAST SERIES
Enter the Brethren (BOC 1)
My Lady, the Spy (BOC 2)
The Most Unlikely Lady (BOC 3)
One-Knight Stand (BOC 4)
Captain of Her Heart (BOC 5)
The Lucky One (BOC 6)
Love with an Improper Stranger (BOC 7)
Loving Lieutenant Douglas: A Brethren of the Coast Novella
BRETHREN ORIGINS
Arucard (Brethren Origins 1)
Demetrius (Brethren Origins 2)
KATHRYN LE VEQUE’S KINDLE WORLD OF DE WOLFE PACK
Lone Wolfe
ARUCARD
PROLOGUE
La Rochelle, France
Friday the Thirteenth, October
The Year of Our Lord, 1307
Hunkered behind a stack of barrels, Templar Knight Arucard de Villiers hugged his sword and prepared to lunge, as King Philip’s guards searched the undercroft. When the pile of casks shifted, he crouched lower and uttered a silent entreaty, as he gazed at his tormentors through a crevice in the mountain of containers. At the age of seven and twenty, he had fought hard for his patron Pope Clement V, and never in his life had he cowered from peril. But desperate circumstances necessitated drastic measures, if he hoped to survive the Crown’s connivance against the warriors of the Crusades.
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