by Linda McNabb
‘How fast?’ Eagan asked, looking through the crowds and glimpsing the child helping Waide unload the handcart.
‘Fast…’ Nyal didn’t seem to understand the question.
‘How old is he?’ Eagan tried again.
‘This is his first summer.’ Nyal appeared to have finished the sweet and looked hopefully at the bag for another.
One summer? Eagan held out the bag for Nyal to take another sweet but his attention was on the child across the market. It wasn’t possible for a child to grow that fast.
‘Waide. Wasn’t he the one who helped Seth up in the market last winter?’
Eagan heard Darius and his heart sank as he remembered when he had seen Waide. To confirm his suspicions a woman joined the boys and picked up the child.
‘And Caden must be the unborn child you insisted on giving life to. If I remember rightly you said it was just a small spell, like helping a plant draw life from the earth… it doesn’t appear to be such a small spell after all.’
‘That’s enough,’ Eagan snapped.
He didn’t need it pointing out any clearer. This was all his fault. He had created the imbalance in the child. Somehow the child had continued to draw life from the world around him and it spread from him like a wave of bounty and good fortune.
‘Sorry… I didn’t mean to take too many.’
Eagan saw Nyal drawing back and looking upset. Clearly the youth thought Eagan had been snapping at him for taking too many sweets. With an effort, Eagan shook off the worry and smiled at Nyal. ‘I didn’t mean you…’
Nyal nodded, not looking convinced, and hurried off.
‘So what do we do about the child?’ he asked Darius.
Peiter drew back a little more as he obviously realised that there was something he wasn’t part of.
‘Well, we can’t just leave him here. Who knows what trouble it will cause as the child grows. And if he continues to grow at this rate…’
Eagan nodded. ‘So we can’t fix it?’
‘I have barely any magic left at all - two spells at most. It would take a lifetime of spells to reverse it.’
Eagan turned and walked slowly out of the market. Peiter followed a dozen paces behind. Eagan needed time to think about how he was going to take the child away from Merra. He doubted Caden’s mother would give him up willingly and judging by the adoration of the townsfolk, neither would they let him go easily.
He found himself wishing the child had been afflicted with the opposite problem, as Seth had been. It would be easy to take away someone the town feared.
As he approached Rem he felt another sigh sink his shoulders even further. The girl looked at him with barely concealed dislike that bordered on hatred.
‘It’s not Seth,’ he told her as he reached the low wall she was sitting on. He saw several emotions flick across her face but they were too fast for him to work out what she was thinking.
‘I’ll be off then,’ she said, a stony-faced, blank expression hiding whatever she was feeling. She slipped off the wall and turned to leave.
‘I was hoping you might stay,’ Eagan said quickly, reaching out one hand to touch her arm. She pulled away and turned back to face him. She didn’t speak, but waited for him to continue.
‘It’s a child, and he’s in danger.’ Eagan pointed over to where Caden was playing in the empty handcart. ‘We need to take him away from here.’
‘You want to kidnap a child? And this involves me how?’ Rem asked, looking confused.
‘We need to get him away quickly as we don’t think his family will be pleased to let him go,’ Eagan said quietly.
‘Really. You think they’ll mind.’ Rem’s sarcasm showed her dislike of the idea. ‘What sort of danger is he in?’
‘If we don’t heal him he will die in a few short years. We’ll return him when he is better,’ Eagan assured her.
‘If we can find a way,’ Darius added sourly. ‘I don’t have a lifetime of spells just hanging around.’
Rem watched the young boy playing and her face softened slightly.
‘And he’ll die if you don’t take him?’ Rem queried.
‘Definitely,’ Eagan assured her.
‘I’ll talk to StarFire but he’s not so easy to deal with since the night-shadows were here.’
**
Chapter Five - Means to an End
Seth stared at the child with undisguised jealousy. He had been in town for a few hours and it hadn’t taken long to work out that Caden was the one Ryker wanted.
The town had despised Seth but they adored Caden to the point of worshiping him. Seth felt anger rise within him and took a deep breath to bring it under control. If he unleashed a ring of death around him it would give him away for sure! He hadn’t asked to be cursed with this power and he doubted the child had any control over his own either.
Ryker had heard news of the good fortune that Merra was experiencing. He had tasked Seth with finding the source and returning with it. Ryker had expected it to be some sort of gemstone or charmed object. Seth hadn’t expected to have to steal a child.
He should have taken the child first thing this morning but he had hesitated. Then Rem and Eagan had shown up and he lost his nerve and waited to see why they were here. As he watched them move through the town he realised they were here for the same reason as him. He knew he had to get Caden before they did. He might have a dragon to fight his battles, but so did Rem, and Eagan’s powers tipped the balance in their favour.
‘This isn’t right. And you know it.’
Seth pulled his hat down further over his face as he hurried across the market. He wished he could talk to Rem but there would be plenty of time for that when he had finished his errand. The thought of what he had to do made his heart heavy but he had no choice. He took the steps up to the drum tower two at a time and ignored the startled look of the boy manning the drums. The boy eyed the staff with suspicion and moved to prevent Seth striking the drums. Seth tucked Neras’ staff under his belt, went around the boy, and climbed up onto the top of the tallest drum. He waved both arms over his head as he looked out across the countryside.
‘MoonFlame!’ he called.
‘If you take the boy I will remain in my staff forever. I do not wish to be friends with someone who would sacrifice a small child.’
Seth let his arms drop and he turned to stare at the solid-looking form of the young wizard.
‘I will not let Ryker harm him,’ Seth promised, devastated that he would lose his only true friend. And he had no choice but to lose him. Refusing an order by Ryker would mean death and Ryker would find another way to get the child anyway. ‘As soon as he lets me free from my oath I will leave and take the child with me. You have my word.’
Neras appeared to be considering this when a black shape appeared on the horizon and grew quickly into a large dragon. MoonFlame dived towards Seth and scooped him up with one clawed foot. The dragon flicked Seth into the air so that he landed on the rough back-ridges. Seth squeezed tightly with his legs to secure his position and took a deep breath. He hadn’t realised that MoonFlame could do that. Neras had no choice but to follow as his staff swept across the town. His solid form dissolved as he shook his head at Seth.
‘Goodbye, Seth.’
Seth gulped back a plea to stay and blinked as his friend vanished, and then squared his shoulders as he leaned down with the motion of the dragon. He had a job to do.
Below, the crowds erupted into chaos at the sight of the immense black dragon. People were running in every direction and colliding with each other in their haste to escape. Only two people stayed motionless. One was the very child they sought. His mother had put him down to do some shopping and he stared up at the dragon with wonder and delight. The other was Rem. She stood near the town gate and watched as Seth ordered MoonFlame down to collect the child. He sent out a silent plea to Rem to forgive him, again.
Seth saw Eagan running towards the boy with a very real-looking Darius charging ahead
, but MoonFlame was faster. The black dragon snatched up the child and they were arching back up to the sky in the blink of an eye.
He caught hold of the child as MoonFlame flicked the child up in the air. Caden sat in front of Seth and looked down at the town that was shrinking out of sight. He did not appear to be upset or scared; instead he looked down to examine the black scales of the dragon’s hide.
‘Pretty horse,’ the boy said, looking up at Seth with a glowing smile.
‘It’s a dragon,’ Seth corrected him.
‘I like dragons,’ Caden said, patting the dragon and leaning to look down at the ground. Seth kept a good hold on the boy’s tunic as he twisted and turned to look at the land that sped past below them.
‘Can mama come for a ride too?’ he asked and proceeded to bounce up and down on the dragon without waiting for an answer.
‘Maybe later,’ Seth suggested and put an arm around the boy to try to keep him still. MoonFlame was making good time and the black dragon appeared to be keeping her movements as gentle as possible.
The gentle rocking of the flight eventually sent the young boy to sleep. Neras had only been gone a few hours but Seth already missed the wizard’s company. He looked at the boy tucked in front of him and knew he had made the wrong choice. He was suddenly filled with such a strong dislike for himself that it made him feel ill. How could he have taken the boy from his home, his family, and for what? So he could break a bond that he was foolish enough to agree to in the first place? A bond he only needed because he had stolen a dragon egg and run away.
He had no right to use the boy to gain his freedom, even if it meant suffering the pain of refusing one of Ryker’s orders.
‘MoonFlame, we have to take him home,’ Seth said, feeling the heavy weight of the child as he slumbered against him.
‘Are you sure?’ MoonFlame queried as they arrived over Arrow Castle.
‘Very,’ Seth said sadly. ‘Drop me here as there’s no way I can manage the trip back once Ryker’s charm punishes me for disobeying him. Please make sure you return him to his family and make sure they hide him! Ryker has no claim over you. You are free.’
Seth knew it was for the best. He was already tense, waiting for the pain to strike as he defied Ryker’s orders. If he fell off the dragon’s back he risked taking the child with him. MoonFlame dipped down to the open roof and sank down right next to the black cat.
The night-shadow sat up, looking alert and keenly watching the trio land.
‘Put the child down and I will take him,’ MoonFlame suggested. ‘He is too young to ride on my back alone.’
Seth went to place Caden on the floor but the child rubbed his eyes and stretched, then smiled up at Seth with such a trusting look that Seth felt his guilt grow even worse.
‘Kitty!’ Caden exclaimed. He wriggled free and ran towards the huge black cat before either Seth or the dragon could grab hold of him. The youngster threw himself at the cat and wrapped his arms around it, as if it were a huge stuffed toy or a family pet.
Hurried steps outside the tower room door announced Ryker’s arrival and Seth was confused. Why wasn’t he writhing in agony by now? He was planning to defy an order and just thinking about doing so should have immobilised him instantly. He felt under the neck of his tunic and there was only a hint of coolness on the rough texture of the inky design.
‘A child?’ Ryker asked as he stepped tentatively into the room.
The night-shadow bared his teeth in the apprentice’s direction and Oran was nowhere to be seen. No doubt he was hiding in the staff.
‘I feel a great wave of energy,’ Oran said, appearing in the room and looking around for the source. He stopped when his gaze fell upon Caden and he stared. ‘We don’t need the night-shadow.’
Ryker turned to look at Oran, and so did Seth but luckily neither apprentice nor wizard noticed.
‘The child?’
‘I can feel a flow of life coming through him and flooding around him constantly. Strong enough to heal any illness or injury, or replenish a wizard’s depleted power.’
Ryker stared at the wizard for several seconds then flicked his gaze back to Caden and repeated. ‘The child?’
Seth stared at the child as well. He must be the reason Ryker’s spell wasn’t harming him. As fast as the spell on the charm around his neck was causing pain, the child was healing it. No wonder everyone wanted to get their hands on Caden. It made him even more determined to make sure that nobody did. If Oran had endless magic available to him there was no telling what he would do.
‘Get rid of the cat, the dragon and Seth. We want the boy all for ourselves,’ Oran said quietly as if suddenly realising that the dragon could hear him.
‘Seth, you have done as I requested. Your oath is released.’ Ryker waved the staff as if weaving a spell. ‘You must take the dragon and night-shadow with you, and you must be gone before nightfall or I will renew the oath.’
Seth tried to look worried by the threat but all he could feel was a sudden relief as he felt the hint of coldness around his neck fade away. He touched the skin and it was smooth and clear. He gulped. He was free. He felt a wave of tiredness wash over him and fought it back as he knew he needed to get the child out of there, and quickly.
‘So I am free also?’ MoonFlame asked in a quiet hiss.
Seth just nodded. He hadn’t expected the dragon to be so keen to leave. What about her promise to help return the child?
‘Goodbye, Seth,’ the dragon said loudly and with a flick of her tail, the black dragon leapt into the air.
Seth felt his shoulders slump a little. How was he going to return the child now?
‘Bring me the child, Seth,’ Ryker said, and then paused. ‘Please.’
Seth wasn’t fooled by the sudden attempt to be friends instead of master and servant. Seth saw that Caden had fallen asleep again, snuggled up between the front paws of the great cat who was purring loudly.
‘Let him sleep for a while,’ Seth suggested. ‘The night-shadow doesn’t look keen to part with him.’
The cat had one large paw tucked over Caden’s back and there was no way Seth was going to try to remove it.
‘Now!’ Ryker insisted.
Seth stepped forward to pick up Caden and wondered how he was going to talk his way out of this as he had no intention of handing the child over. He may no longer be bonded to the apprentice and his wizard but he was still trapped in their tower. As he stepped closer the night-shadow flicked his head towards Seth and growled. It was a deep, warning growl that said to back off. Seth did so and stepped away. The night-shadow had never reacted like that before.
‘Why don’t you come in and get him?’ Seth suggested with a shrug.
Ryker scowled. ‘Leave him be for now. We don’t want the night-shadow to harm him. I’ll be back in an hour or two. Make sure you have the boy away from it by then, unharmed, and then I’ll let you out of the cage. It looks as if your dragon has abandoned you so you’ll have to leave on foot.’
Seth just nodded and Ryker left the room, whistling off-key.
Seth retreated to the wall by the cage door. He tested the door but found that Ryker had not unlocked it. He watched the sleeping child and saw the night-shadow’s eyes narrow in warning again. Seth was tired, so very tired, and he sank down and rested against the wall. He felt his eyelids flutter shut. Surely just a few minutes rest would be okay before he found a way to remove the child from the night-shadow and take him home.
**
Chapter Six - Catnapped
Rem stared after the quickly vanishing black dragon and stood motionless while chaos erupted around her. She thought she understood Seth, but lately she wondered if she knew him at all. She had only just sent the request to StarFire to take the child when Seth’s black dragon had swooped down and done exactly that. She knew why Eagan wanted the child, or at least she knew what he told her, but why did Seth want him? Perhaps he was involved after all.
She backed away to the edge
of town as one or two people started to notice the dragon mark on her forehead. One whispered to another and pointed. It would only be a matter of time before they connected the dragon attack with her, even though it wasn’t her dragon.
Rem left Merra and waited outside the walls near a small graveyard. Even here the plants and grasses were flourishing so much that the gravestones could barely be seen. Only one had been tended recently and fresh flowers placed near the cleared headstone.
A few minutes later Eagan and Peiter emerged from the gate and headed towards her. The old man’s pace was hurried and the look on his face showed his barely contained fury.
‘We have to get the boy back,’ Eagan announced as soon as he reached her. His gaze flicked over the graveyard and his face softened slightly as if remembering something or someone.
‘Why?’ Rem asked, feigning disinterest. She was quite keen to catch up with Seth herself, but wasn’t going to let on to the old man.
‘If we don’t stop the child drawing life he will grow old and die in just a few short years,’ Eagan explained. ‘And we don’t know what Seth plans to do with him. He might harm the child.’
Rem felt herself stiffen. No, Seth would never harm a child. He may be acting oddly, and even badly, but she could not believe that he would do anything to hurt the boy.
‘StarFire, can we follow the black dragon?’ Rem asked, knowing the dragon would hear her thinking the question as she spoke it.
She did not expect an answer. He could hear her, but she couldn’t hear his thoughts – which was probably just as well most of the time. The dragon was becoming a lot harder to manage and she doubted she would want to know what StarFire was thinking!
A young man came striding out of the town gate and headed towards them. Rem nodded towards him and the old man turned to watch him approach.
‘What have you done with my brother?’ the young man demanded angrily. His attention flicked over the old man, and the guard, and settled on Rem as he took in the dragon mark on her forehead.
‘Nothing,’ Rem replied with a shrug.