Order Of The Dragon (Omnibus 1-4)

by Jason Halstead

  The door opened, pushed by an acolyte and held for her. Aleena swallowed and offered a final silent thank-you to Leander before she opened her eyes and rose. A sense of calm drifted over her, quelling her nerves and setting her at peace. She offered the acolyte a smile and then stepped forward into the room. He shut the door behind her and stayed on the outside of it.

  She saw Sir Amos sitting next to Sir Reynard, the eldest Knight of Leander in Portland. He'd transferred only a few months ago from the temple at Everlin, the kingdom's capital. Rumor held that he was to take over the Portland chapter of knights from Sir Amos but she'd seen no sign of it. The third man at the table was Father Ledell, the high priest of Leander in Portland.

  Aleena bowed her head respectfully to the three men. Celos was nowhere to be seen, nor was there anyone else present. The only explanation was that Celos and the others had gone out one of the other doors that led into the temple.

  "Squire Aleena," Sir Amos said in a clear voice. "Sir Reynard, Father Ledell, and I have gathered to test your merit for advancement within the Church of Leander."

  "It is the dream of many a young squire to become a knight and then one day join the rank of paladins," Father Ledell said. "It is a rarity at the best of times and in the past fifteen years, an impossibility. To seek both in the same day seems excessive."

  "Ours is not to question the will of Leander," Sir Amos added with a glance at the priest. "But there are many who question by what right you come to this trial."

  Aleena kept her chin high as she responded to them. "I am here at Leander's will. I serve him and ask only that he show me how best I can share his blessing."

  "And what do you get out of it?" Sir Reynard asked.

  Aleena looked at the knight and decided she didn't particularly care for his mustache or his surly tone. What she liked didn't matter, though; he was where he was because of his service, and that deserved her respect, if nothing else. "I get joy, Sir Reynard."

  "Joy?"

  "Yes. Joy in knowing I have done His will. Joy in knowing that I have helped others in some way. It fills my heart and justifies the hardships that we endure so long as we can bring Leander's Light into the eyes and heart of others."

  "You are a child. What do you know of hardships?" Reynard asked with a hard edge to his voice.

  "I stood beside knights and squires alike at the battle of Dragonsgate against insurmountable odds. Our faith held the line when our brothers fell. We kept the people of Highpeak and of the kingdom safe until my friend, Alto, could slay the dragon that Sir Gareth sacrificed himself to drive into hiding. I have seen the horrors of war and had my hands stained with the blood of my brothers as they breathed their last."

  "Sir Reynard," Amos spoke as soon as Aleena stopped. "What she speaks is true. Without Aleena's unconventional wisdom and tactics, our lines, however pious, would have been swept away long before. I dare say we owe the day and much of the northern reaches to this young lady, whether the dragon was felled or not."

  "And what of the new troubles that brew in the mountains?" Sir Reynard asked.

  Aleena stiffened. She knew nothing of new troubles.

  "That is a separate matter," Sir Amos said.

  Father Ledell cleared his throat to gain their attention. "Gentlemen, this questioning gets us nowhere. Squire, you know that while your presence has brought renewed faith and interest among the masses, there are those who are resistant to seeing you succeed."

  Aleena stared at him without blinking. "I do now, Father."

  He smiled. "There have been female knights in the past, of course, but it was long ago. Many believe it is best to leave it behind us."

  Aleena's heart was hammering in her chest but she remained frozen and silent. Was she to be tested or ridiculed for being a woman instead of a man?

  "I have heard that you pretended to be boy to even gain the right to test to be a squire. Is this true?" Father Ledell asked.

  "It is no matter," Sir Amos snapped, sparing her everything but the flash of heat on her face. "Saint Leander has blessed this girl time and again. She has been picked by Him. We cannot stand in His way."

  Father Ledell bowed his head respectfully. "Of course there are none who would challenge Leander's wisdom. I merely wish to point out there are reasons to question her."

  "Then let the true testing begin," Sir Amos said. "Let her prove she has Leander's blessing."

  "Come, Sir Amos, strength of arm and speed of steel are no proof of Leander's will. We preach of it, but you and I are fighting men. We know that trial by combat is not proof against duplicity," Sir Reynard said.

  "I don't speak of combat," Sir Amos said. He turned to Aleena and said, "Squire, approach our table."

  Aleena walked forward until she stood directly in front of it.

  Sir Amos nodded and looked her directly in the eye. "Bring forth Leander's Light and let it fill the hearts of these men so that they know the truth of you, that you are an angel sent from Saint Leander to bring His word to the people again."

  Aleena's eyes widened and it was mirrored by the gasps from the other elders at the table.

  "You speak of heresy," Father Ledell threatened.

  Sir Reynard began to speak but Aleena's eyes were locked with Sir Amos's. He nodded at her and she could feel the strength of his spirit in his gaze. She nodded back to him and ignored the bickering at the table. Aleena lowered her head and prayed, calling upon Leander to help her show the men before her the clear path to truth that he had blessed her with. Her heart slowed as the feeling of calm came over her again. She felt the heat in her hand, knew He had answered.

  "Leander's grace!" Father Ledell whispered.

  Sir Reynard turned and blinked, his lips still parted from the last argument he'd spoken. Now he stared speechless at the glow that Aleena's hand emitted. She stepped forward and leaned over the table to brush her hand against Father Ledell's forehead. He gasped and stared at her as tears ran down his cheeks. Sir Reynard was next. He sat there stunned when she touched him, though his lips did curl up into a faint smile.

  Aleena touched Sir Amos last and this time it was her turn to gasp. She felt his body, beaten down by years of stress and work. Most of all, she felt his heart, how it struggled with every beat. But there was nothing the soothing light could do for him, save to ease his worries and take some of the toil from the weary muscle.

  The light faded from her hand, prompting her to step back.

  Sir Amos turned to the other two men, who continued to stare at her. He smiled. "My brothers, have you any doubts remaining? This girl—no, this woman is no mere serving maid."

  "She's meant to be a paladin," Sir Reynard said. He rose from the table and drew his sword so he could reverse it and place it on the table before him. "My sword will fight at your side, young lady."

  "She is Leander's chosen," Father Ledell whispered. He shook his head. "I don't believe it, but it's true. Such belief and strength is rare, even among the priests. Rarer still is the clarity of Leander's blessing. These are amazing times. First Sir Celos, now this."

  "What of the young priest you speak so highly of, Karthor?"

  Father Ledell jerked his head as Sir Amos pulled him from his thoughts. "What? Oh, yes, Karthor. The same strength, I think. Amazing times indeed. We are fortunate to live in them, I think."

  "So is it agreed upon then?" Sir Amos asked.

  Sir Reynard nodded and took his sword back. He sat down without a word.

  "I accept the nomination, but she must still complete a quest," Father Ledell said.

  "She and Celos will be sent to the Northern Divide to learn the source of these troubling rumors we've heard and put a stop to them," Sir Amos said before he turned his attention back to Aleena. "Squire Aleena, you are a squire no longer. Kneel."

  Aleena knelt before the table. Sir Reynard and Father Ledell rose and walked around the table, forcing her to turn on her knees to face them. Reynard drew his sword and pressed it against each of her shoulders a
nd then her forehead, reciting the words that elevated her to the title of knight. He handed the blade to Father Ledell and let the priest recite his own variant on the tradition.

  Sir Amos came next and stood before her. He drew his own blade and held it up with an arm that trembled. Golden radiance erupted from the tip and traveled down its length. Aleena knew she should have been blinded by it but she found she could stare at it without harm. Sir Amos pressed the flat of the blade upon her three times.

  "By Leander's Light, accept His blessing into your heart and seek always to do His will," the elder paladin said. He lowered the blade as the glow faded and then sheathed it at his side. "That is the final proof. Leander gave you his blessing through another. You are a squire no longer. Rise, Dame Aleena, and prove Leander put his faith in you wisely."

  Aleena stood, blinking back tears. She bit her lip and nodded, and then turned to leave.

  "Aleena," Father Ledell said, stopping her short. She turned back to him. "Take care, young lady. Having Leander's blessing and ours is one thing, but it may not save you from the jealousy of your former peers."

  Sir Reynard chuckled. "Former or present."

  "Go, Aleena," Sir Amos urged. "Find Celos and journey with him to the north. He knows as much as we do; he can fill you in."

  Aleena nodded but still couldn't trust herself to speak. She managed to mumble, "Thank you!" before she strode back through the door she'd come through and hurried through the halls of the church. She'd accomplished the impossible and she needed to tell people!

  She nearly halted when she realized it might have to wait. She had a quest to go on. No matter what she'd accomplished, she still had much yet to do! She nodded and smiled. She had Leander's blessing; His light would shine on her and show her the way.

  Chapter 18

  Patrina tried to roll over but couldn't. She groaned and tried to open her eyes, only to have something press against her face. That brought her fully awake and made her struggle, raising one hand to reach for the hand pressed against her lips.

  "Be silent!" Carson hissed at her as she pulled his hand away. He turned his head and nodded. Patrina lifted herself up enough to feel her body aching from the abuse she'd taken. She collapsed back down but not before she'd seen one of the chitin-covered crawlers looking around with its head popped above the grasses in a clearing.

  Patrina waited but glanced around at her surroundings. She and Carson were resting side by side in some sort of cloth sheet. It was curved in the middle, forcing them to be in contact with each other. Leaves and vines were wedged in the cloth, confusing her further. Did the trees grow clothing here?

  She shifted a little and winced. She hurt all over. From her feet to her hair, she felt like she'd been pounded on by Bucky and his companions. It wasn't far from the truth, if her memory was right. She tried to lift both her hands slowly and then released a silent gasp when she realized she still held her axe in her hand.

  "It's moved on," Carson whispered, startling her out of her shock.

  "Where are we?" Patrina asked.

  "Not far from the village. One of my hideaways," he said.

  "What is this?" Patrina plucked at the fabric beside her.

  Carson grinned. "Impressive, isn't it? The grasses here can be picked apart so they're almost like threads. I wove them together into this hammock. It's my favorite place to sleep—very comfortable."

  Patrina grimaced and struggled to sit up. "I'll take a bed or a pallet, thank you."

  "Well, it's better with one person and not two," he admitted.

  "How did I get up here?"

  "I carried you," Carson said. "Couldn't get you to let go of that axe, for that matter, so it wasn't an easy thing."

  Patrina lifted her axe and stared at it. "How long have we been here?"

  "You slept the afternoon and the night away," he told her. "I was going to fetch some fruit but I didn't want to wake you."

  "I'm awake now," she said.

  Carson grinned. "Then I'll be back soon!"

  Patrina opened her mouth but Carson sprung up and grabbed a branch overhead. He pulled himself away from the hammock and swung away before he let go and dropped below her sight. She shifted in the hammock and had to grab on when it felt like it was going to roll over and dump her out. She tried again, moving slowly, and saw Carson padding away on the ground some twelve feet below.

  Patrina collapsed back into the strange bed and let out a soft groan. She felt like she'd been kicked by an entire team of horses, or maybe ridden down and trampled by her father's guards. She shook her head slowly and picked her axe up again to stare at it. "How did I keep you?" she whispered.

  The axe shared none of its secrets with her.

  Patrina sighed and lowered it. She twisted her head and then moved her arms as much as her situation allowed. She stretched, feeling her abused muscles waking up and protesting. Her back ached and her knee seemed to have been dipped in liquid fire when she tried to bend it. She stared at it and saw how swollen it was. Patrina sighed and wondered how she was going to get to the ground. She could roll out of the hammock, but she'd take enough falls the day before.

  "Alto!" Patrina hissed. She sat up and winced at the pain in her stomach. It was going to be a very long way down to the ground. And from there she had to make her way across the island and back up to the castle. Then she'd have to fight and kill the apes. "Nothing to it," she mumbled.

  "What's that?"

  Patrina gasped and almost fell out of the hammock. Carson had returned with several fruits cradled between his arm and his chest. His other hand held on to the tree for support.

  "Why didn't Bucky kill me?"

  Carson's smile faded. "Here, take these and eat something."

  Patrina looked at the bananas, oranges, and small brown fruit Carson carried. She set her axe down and let go of it and then had to fight a momentary panic that she would lose it. She pushed her fear aside and turned back to Carson's bounty. She took a banana first and peeled it back before taking a bite. After she swallowed, she stared at him and said, "Speak."

  Carson's growing smile faded again. "I'm not really sure," he said while his eyes danced around and looked everywhere but at her. "He usually kills them by accident. He's got a bad temper."

  "Bad temper?"

  Carson nodded. "When our ship was swamped by a storm, a bunch of us washed up ashore. We stuck together and made for the village. Haunted or not, we knew our best chances lay there."

  "Is it?"

  "Is it what?" Carson asked.

  "Haunted."

  "Oh! No, the noise you hear is the wind blowing through some rocks on the southwestern side of the island. There's a bay that, when the tide is low and the wind is high, air will whistle through."

  Patrina snorted and finished off the banana. She took one of the brown fruits and looked at it before she jammed her thumb through the velvety skin and dripped juice from it. She slurped it up, her eyes growing as she tasted the succulent juice. She tore it apart and devoured the green and yellow fruit inside.

  Patrina took the last of the fruit he'd brought and stared at him while she peeled the orange. "Keep going," she prompted him.

  Carson sighed. "The apes were here when we got here. First time we ran into them, it wasn't pretty. We lost five men. After that, we took to avoiding them, but the apes always found us. They'd take one or two at a time and leave us alone for a while."

  "How many men did you have?" Patrina asked.

  "Close to thirty, I think," Carson said with a shrug. "Every time somebody was taken the captain would tell us, 'Buck up, lads, we'll get through this.'"

  "Bucky?" Patrina asked.

  Carson nodded. "Just before night, he was snatched up. We sat around lost for a while until somebody repeated that saying. It started us laughing, but it wasn't a good laugh if you know what I mean."

  Patrina nodded. "How old were you?"

  "Fourteen," Carson said. "I'd hired on in Gafford."

  "That
's one of the free cities, right?"

  Carson nodded. "Downriver from Everlin on the coast. Don't let the name fool you, though; there wasn't nothing free about living there."

  "So you were laughing," Patrina steered the conversation back.

  "Yeah, we were. Out of that we took to calling him Bucky. Except the captain was wrong. It never did get better."

  "How long have you been alone?"

  "On and off close to the entire eight years. I've seen a few others and even talked to a couple of people, but they never stay alive."

  Patrina winced. "Why doesn't Bucky come for you?"

  Carson shook his head. "I don't know," he said with a sigh. "Seems like we got an agreement. I stay out of his way and he stays out of mine. Except when there's other people. Then he takes them."

  "What's he do with them? Before, you said he plays with them? Like toys?"

  "I don't know why or how; he just seems fascinated with people. Likes to watch them. He feeds them and keeps them alive, but sooner or later they always end up dead. Usually one of the female apes ends up stepping on them or crushing them or something."

  "So that's what you meant when you said, 'not again'?"

  Carson nodded.

  "He let me go," Patrina said. "Stopped one of his girlfriends from killing me."

  "I think they get jealous of the attention he gives his pets."

  Patrina scowled. "He didn't just let me go; he brought me to you."

  Carson looked away from her. "Yes, he did."

  "Why?"

  "I don't know! He's a saint's-damned overgrown monkey! How should I know what he thinks and feels?"

  "You've shared this island with him for eight years," Patrina said. "I saw him up close. He touched me. He's smart. I don't know how smart, but he reminded me of Winter."

  "It doesn't snow here," Carson said.

  "Not the season—my unicorn."

  "Unicorn?" Carson repeated.