by Linda McNabb
Seth saw the wagon slow down instantly and come to a gentle halt.
‘Seth!’
Seth looked up. This time the voice was not inside his head. In the darkening sky above Seth could easily make out the white dragon and the deep shadow that was MoonFlame.
The dragons landed with a thud that shook the ground and MoonFlame instantly nudged against Seth, causing him to fall over and land heavily on the ground.
‘You are unwell,’ MoonFlame said, moving her great black head closer and sniffing at him.
Seth used Neras’ staff to lean on as he stood up. ‘I’ll be fine,’ he assured the dragon.
MoonFlame sniffed at him again, looked unconvinced, and withdrew. Everyone’s attention turned to the white dragon who was very agitated.
‘Where did Rem go?’ he demanded. ‘I saw her step from a window then she vanished from sight. I cannot feel her presence anywhere!’
Eagan stepped forward. ‘Rem wasn’t really Rem. Her name is Arianna and she came from the land across The Gap. She has returned there now.’
‘Impossible,’ StarFire snapped. ‘I would have known if she was a wizard. I do not like wizards.’
The last word was said with a sneer and a small flame licked out, barely missing Eagan.
‘It’s a long story,’ Eagan said with a sigh as he stepped back several paces.
Up ahead, Seth saw Waide had reached the wagon and climbed in. A few furious shouts came from within and Waide came back out holding his brother.
‘I see you found the child,’ MoonFlame said, following Seth’s gaze. ‘We will return him to his home as I promised.’
‘The people from the water lands of the south sought to keep him for themselves by the looks of it,’ Seth said with sadly as he realised he had done exactly the same not so long ago, for his own reasons.
‘I will heal him as soon as Waide brings him here,’ Darius said quietly. ‘Nobody will covet him then.’
‘How did you get through the barrier, MoonFlame?’ Seth asked, leaning on the staff to support himself. He was feeling weaker again and wondered if he should sit down before he fell again.
‘It has been many generations since dragons have used magic. We do not approve of magic, but we made a breach that allowed us to pass,’ MoonFlame replied.
Waide came running up to them with his brother held tightly in his arms. The boy grinned and hugged Waide.
Just as Seth began to think that his problems might be over, even if Rem was gone, the moon crept up over the wall. As the moonlight fell on Caden the boy dissolved before their eyes.
‘Caden?’ Waide looked surprised and disbelieving as his arms were suddenly empty.
Seth gulped. He knew what that meant. He exchanged a terrified glance with Eagan and turned to look where the bridge had been. The real Caden had gone over The Gap with Rem.
Their troubles were not over, they had just begun.
Rise of the Yarris
Book 3 of
Realm of Shadows
By Linda McNabb
Chapter One - Up in Flames
Eagan stared at the horizon. This wasn’t a disaster, it was much more. This was the beginning of the end.
The Yarris had taken Rem with them when they retreated to Deek far across The Gap and that left a very angry dragon looking for revenge. StarFire was living up to his name and setting fire to everything in sight. Those few people who had not yet left the Overseer’s house were now fleeing for their lives. The burning buildings lit up the entire complex.
‘Dragon! Dragon!’
‘If only the Overseer had been here. He would have protected us.’
The party from the west, and Asher and Tal, were the only ones not running away. They all stood staring in the same direction as Eagan but each for different reasons.
Eagan turned away finally and his action appeared to break the group’s concentration. Waide still looked to be in shock as he looked around, obviously hoping that his little brother would suddenly appear. He gaze stopped when he reached Seth and his expression changed to anger. He strode over to where Seth was leaning on a tree for support. Seth appeared unable to stand alone and Eagan frowned as Waide looked intent on striking him.
‘Should we stop him?’ Darius asked, as he popped into view with his spell book already open and his feather quill pen poised ready to write.
‘I don’t think Seth needs our help,’ Eagan said and pointed to the black dragon who had just landed between the two boys. ‘But Waide might.’
‘Out of my way!’ Waide shouted as he drew his sword. It was obvious that he was no match for the huge dragon but he didn’t seem to care.
MoonFlame lowered her great head until it was level with Waide’s then snorted a huge gust of hot air. It knocked the boy over and his sword went flying.
‘Leave him alone.’ Seth pushed himself away from the tree and walked slowly around MoonFlame. ‘He has every right to be angry with me.’
Seth stood waiting while Waide got up. Waide glared at Seth and stepped closer as he clenched his fist. Seth did not move but Waide stopped several paces away and shook his head.
‘I could probably knock you over with one finger…’
Waide walked over to pick up his sword then slipped it into its sheath. He turned back and gave Seth a stony glare. ‘I will wait until you are better.’
‘I think we should move away from the compound,’ Eagan suggested.
StarFire was flying up to The Gap yet again and howled with frustration when he could not fly over it. There was no real barrier but there was also nothing there at all. It was impossible for the dragon to fly when there was no air to fly in.
‘I’m not leaving until we find a way to rescue Caden,’ Waide insisted and folded his arms in defiance.
‘Well if we stay here the fully-restored wizards will know exactly where to find us by the light of the flames!’ Eagan pointed out as StarFire torched one of the few remaining structures in the compound.
‘And who is going to get StarFire to leave?’ Seth asked.
Eagan didn’t reply. He just raised one eyebrow and looked back at Seth. It took a few seconds for Seth to get the message.
‘Me?’ Seth asked. He was sitting by the side of the road as being near the tree had become dangerous with StarFire so angry. ‘What could I do? I couldn’t even get along with MoonFlame and we were bonded!’
MoonFlame’s ears flicked back at the mention of her name.
‘And yet she followed you here,’ Eagan pointed out. ‘Perhaps she will speak with her kin?’
‘MoonFlame followed me here of her own free will. She came to help return Caden to his family. She is honourable and made a promise that she will keep. Beyond that I ask nothing of her.’ Seth sighed. ‘She picked the wrong person to bond with.’
‘Why should we go?’ MoonFlame asked, sitting up on her haunches and towering above them all. ‘If there is a way across The Gap it will be from here, and StarFire will not rest until he finds Rem.’
There was a brief silence where only the roaring of flames could be heard. StarFire, with nothing left to burn, flew in circles overhead.
‘Actually, there might be another way.’
All eyes turned to Asher. Even StarFire hovered to listen.
‘Are you convinced the wizards will return?’ Asher queried.
‘They have Caden and will be restored to their full powers. Would you want revenge if you were them? Or would you forgive those who banished you?’ Eagan asked softly.
Asher nodded. Eagan knew very well that Asher held a grudge against the Yarris for evicting his family from power many generations ago. If anyone understood a long-held desire for revenge, it was Asher.
‘You will have to come to Water Haven,’ Asher said as he stared out into the darkness beyond the burning buildings. ‘It may not work, but it the only suggestion I have.’
It was agreed quickly that that was a better option than StarFire howling at The Gap and the dragons agreed to fly them to Water Haven
.
Eagan held Seth with one arm wrapped around his chest. Seth was still weak and obviously knew he needed the help as he did not complain. MoonFlame didn’t seem to have the same total distaste of wizards or apprentices although she did stiffen slightly when Eagan settled on the black dragon’s back.
‘Seth’s friend rides on the dragon’s head and MoonFlame doesn’t appear to mind at all,’ Darius commented from where he still ‘stood’ on the ground. ‘But I think I will retreat into the staff for now.’
MoonFlame issued a snort of agreement. Eagan wondered why the dragon tolerated one wizard so much more easily than another. Surely they all had the same goal in life, just like the dragons, to rid the world of night-shadows and the wizards of old. There wasn’t much time to think about it though as StarFire leapt into the sky. On his back were Asher and Tal, leading the way to Water Haven, and Waide, who had refused to share a ride with Seth.
Eagan didn’t think Waide would push Seth off in mid-air but he wasn’t totally convinced that the young man would stop Seth falling.
‘Hold Seth tightly,’ MoonFlame snapped, then leapt into the air. Eagan realised that MoonFlame wasn’t allowing Eagan to ride on his back for any other reason than to keep Seth safe.
The burning buildings were soon left behind and Eagan readjusted his hold on Seth as the boy swayed a little. He had expected Seth to recover a lot more during his time close to Caden. Seth must have been closer to death than any of them realised.
It was fully dark as they flew over the city but the streets were brightly lit, and more than a few people stared up at the sight of two dragons flying overhead. They were too far up to hear any of the comments but from the sudden dashing for cover he doubted the citizens saw the dragons as a good sign.
Seth swayed again and Eagan struggled to hold the boy still. ‘I’m not sure this is a good idea,’ Eagan called out to the dragon. ‘I think he has passed out already.’
MoonFlame changed direction immediately and spiralled down towards the edge of the city. StarFire took a moment to notice then followed her down. They landed not far from the Inn that they stayed in the previous night and the streets cleared instantly.
‘We stay here until Seth can travel,’ MoonFlame said firmly.
‘I will go on alone!’ StarFire snapped. ‘I do not wish to wait.’
‘You will wait until we are all ready,’ MoonFlame replied.
StarFire glared at the black dragon with unsuppressed fury. ‘You do not command me. I am of royal blood!’
Eagan dismounted, letting Seth’s weight lean against him as he did so. Asher hurried over to help support the boy and they all moved away a few paces as the dragons turned to face each other.
Eagan feared the dragons might fight and there were a lot of wooden buildings around that would ignite easily. The dragons paced around each other, then MoonFlame sat down and started to lick one of her paws. ‘Do what you wish. If you think you can defeat an entire island of wizards on your own then go ahead.’
She paused and continued to groom herself. StarFire heaved out a breath of fire that scorched the ground but did not fly off. He looked over at Asher and Tal as if he expected them to hurry over to join him. The two humans looked terrified and made no attempt to do so.
Then MoonFlame continued. ‘But if you want help you will wait.’
StarFire stared at MoonFlame then snorted once and sat down on his haunches as it were just a matter of a few minutes before they left.
‘We’ll need to get our rooms back for Seth to rest,’ Eagan said and nodded towards where the innkeeper peered nervously through a partially open door. ‘It may be more expensive than last night.’
Chapter Two - Going Home
It seemed only a heartbeat after stepping onto the bridge of silver that Rem’s feet settled softly onto a stone floor much like the one she had left.
Rem felt the weight of her father leaning more heavily on her now and she stumbled forward as she struggled to hold him up. She looked up and around the room, searching for someone who might help him.
If anyone had asked her what she expected to see she would have guessed at glittering castles and wizards dressed in fine robes. The two people present were wearing robes, that part met her fleeting expectations but that was all. Their clothes were sombre and of muted colours that she would have described as earthy and common. They looked so… well, ordinary. She even glanced back to the open windows to make sure that she had actually travelled somewhere and hadn’t just gone back into the same room.
Her father was dressed far more elegantly than either of the men present and a quick glance told her that her mother was not there. Neither was the Caden-Copy nor the rest of the night-shadows. Had the copy of Caden vanished already? She wondered how long it would take and she was sure her mother would be furious. Surely the moonlight would have touched the copy while they travelled the bridge?
But for now she turned her attention to seeking help for her father. Kranos stumbled and fell but Rem wasn’t able to hold him. The sole remaining night-shadow ran towards him and threw himself under the wizard to cushion the fall.
‘Help him!’ Rem called out to the old man and youth who stood a dozen paces away and just watched. Neither of them moved and Rem glared at them as her father slipped to a laying position with the black cat serving as a pillow.
‘Mayala ordered us not to,’ the older one said nervously and glanced out the open door as if expecting her to reappear any second. ‘We obey the new queen.’
‘Help him!’ Rem snapped back so sharply that the younger man hurried forward.
‘What ails him?’ he asked, pushing back the unconscious man’s eyelids and feeling for a pulse. ‘Is his life-force too low?’
‘He has been poisoned,’ Rem replied. She wondered why neither of them carried staffs. The only wizards she had known used a staff for magic. ‘Can’t you heal him?’
‘How?’ the young man asked with a shrug. ‘I can go for the healer, but that’s all.’
‘Please do so,’ Rem asked, not even trying to keep the distress from her voice.
The young man hurried off past the older man who looked on disapprovingly.
‘What about your magic!’ Rem demanded, she could feel her anger rising within her as her father grew limp and unresponsive.
‘Use my magic?’ the old man said with a slight sneer. ‘Use your own.’
Rem frowned. It was clear by the glare of distaste that the man thought she was abundant in magic and had lived a privileged life. His eyes narrowed as he saw her confusion, and his gaze travelled to her clothes which were vastly different to her father’s. They marked her as a lower social scale entirely.
‘Who are you?’
Rem was saved from answering by the rush of feet entering the room. A middle-aged woman skidded to a stop and dropped to her knees as her eyes flicked up and down the prone figure and assessed his health.
‘I was lucky to find the queen-mother visiting some people just down the road,’ the boy told the old man.
After only a few seconds she frowned and looked up at Rem.
‘What sort of poison?’ she demanded in a blunt, but not unfriendly tone.
‘I have no idea,’ Rem replied. ‘I only overheard that he had been poisoned.’
The woman merely grunted and lost interest in Rem immediately.
‘Cholt,’ she snapped. Her young companion rummaged through a bag. Rem wondered if that was the girl’s name or a command of some sort.
‘Here you are, Grandma,’ the blonde-haired girl said holding out a small brown bottle. She looked a little oddly at Rem and frowned.
‘Thank you, Sufi,’ the woman replied. ‘Just Felise will do. Grandma makes me sound old.’
She opened the bottle and let three drops of black liquid fall into Kranos’ partly open mouth. She replaced the stopper and put the bottle away, then sat back on her heels and watched.
After what seemed an age the woman shook her head sadly. ‘The
re’s nothing I can do. We will have to wait and see if he can fight it himself.’
‘Is that it? Rem asked, more annoyed than worried now. ‘Three drops of that stuff and you’re not going to try anything else?’
‘If Cholt doesn’t fix it, then nothing will. I don’t have enough magic to heal something like this.’ Felise frowned as she held up the bottle and looked at Rem. Then she turned to the older man who hadn’t moved since Rem arrived. ‘What happened to my son?’
Her son? Rem took a second look at the woman. That would mean she was Rem’s grandmother. She didn’t blame her for not recognising her own grandchild, it wasn’t as if she looked anything like she used to. It also meant that Sufi was related. It was unlikely she was a sister, but more than likely a cousin. She didn’t have any interest in working it out more just now though.
She ignored the discussion between her grandmother and the old man and moved closer to her father. It meant leaning against the black cat but the beast did not move nor flinch at her touch. In fact, if anything it felt right, like a long-lost memory was about to resurface.
Her father looked pale and his breathing was shallow as he lay limply against the night-shadow. Rem wished she had more of a chance to get to know the only person who had accepted her for who she was. She could hear the others talking but ignored them until she noticed a change in the pitch of their voices and heard someone running on the tiled floor.
She did not want to look away but flicked her eyes up and around the room. Several men were running towards her and they looked worried.
‘Get him. Mayala will be furious!’
Rem’s confused mind tried to make sense of it then she saw the Caden-copy running towards her ahead of the men. She glanced at the window and saw the moon had fully risen now and the silvery light was streaming into the room. She felt sad as she calculated that the magical boy had only seven or eight steps before he vanished forever. Did he even realise that he wasn’t real?
She counted down the steps with a heavy heart. The real Caden would be able to help her father but there was no way to get Kranos back to the mainland until morning, and by then it would be too late.