by Nathan Roden
“Not for me,” Caleb said.
“Won’t your parents worry about you?”
“Mother has gentlemen callers,” Sara said. “We can’t go home until sunset.”
“Let me walk with you,” Simon said. “There are packs of jackals nearby. They can be quite dangerous in numbers.”
“Caleb won’t let them hurt us,” Sara said.
Simon sized up the boy.
“Do you have a weapon?”
“No.”
“He doesn’t hurt them,” Sara said. “He talks to them—like he talked to you.”
“That is quite the skill,” Simon said. “Guard it closely. The king and his men have a great distrust of magic. They would like to have such abilities for themselves—or to see those with magic…go away.”
Sara chewed on her finger.
“No! The King has already taken our Father from us!”
“What happened?” Simon asked.
“Papa is dead!” Sara cried.
“He was killed,” Caleb said, “along with many of his fellows in the King’s Army.”
Simon swallowed hard.
No…
“When did this happen?” Simon asked.
“Only weeks ago.”
“The Kingdom is not at war,” Simon said, a tremble in his voice.
“How did he die?”
“They would not tell us,” Caleb said.
Simon swallowed hard.
Weeks ago. His escape from the dungeon beneath Morgenwraithe Castle.
Where his fire had taken the lives of scores of men wearing the uniform of the King’s Army.
“Your mother has gentlemen callers? But you have just lost your father…”
“Mother says with Papa gone, things will be difficult for us,” Caleb said.
Sadness washed over Simon.
“What troubles you, Lord Dragon?” Caleb asked.
“You did not say your name,” Sara said.
Simon hesitated.
“I know his name,” Caleb said.
“Please,” Simon said. “You must tell no one that you have spoken to me—or that you have seen me. It can bring you nothing but misery. And please, Caleb. You must keep your gifts a secret.”
“Papa always told me the same thing.”
“You remind me of someone, My Lord.”
Simon looked wary.
“I don’t know her name,” Caleb said. “The lady is very mysterious. She is wise in the ways of magic. I tried many times, but I could never hear her thoughts.”
“This sorceress,” Simon said. “Or witch. How do you know her?”
“Father used to bring her here—to the woods. He told me to call her ‘Teacher’. She taught me many things.”
Caleb swallowed hard.
“I don’t know if I will ever hear her voice again.”
Sara leaned toward Simon and whispered.
“She is a wolf.”
Four
The wolf stopped at the edge of the forest where a stream formed a shallow pool. She waded in and plunged her head beneath the water. The wolf moved herself about—until all traces of blood washed away from her thick fur. She stepped onto the bank and shook herself dry.
The wolf stood on her hind legs and took human form.
The Lady Magdalena was the only known sorceress within the kingdom of Morgenwraithe. She had a surname as a child, but that was a long time ago. For much of her life, no one seemed to care if she had a name at all.
Magdalena used both hands to fluff out her long, black hair. She made her way to the King’s Road.
Magdalena winced. A sharp pain in her thigh came and went.
What a bizarre turn of events, she thought.
My life was spared—by the dragon and his friends.
She walked to the gates of Morgenwraithe castle. She carried an orb of light that lit her path. Four alert guards met her.
“I am here to see the King,” she said.
“We have orders to admit no one,” one guard said.
“Do not be absurd!” Magdalena said. She ignored the guards and walked between them.
All four raised their swords, but they knew the threat was useless. Their fear was evident.
“Please, My Lady,” the guard said quietly. “You must understand, it gives us no pleasure to detain you, but Sterling—”
Magdalena stopped and waved her hand.
“Yes, we must comply with the whims of Lord Sterling. Send for him if you must.”
One guard ran toward the castle.
He returned shortly, walking behind Sterling and Raynard. Those two were in quite a hurry.
“What are you doing here?” Sterling snapped. “I sent men to your home! Did you not—?”
“Of course, I saw them. That’s why I’m here! Your men told me nothing, but I knew there had to be some reason for their presence.”
Magdalena raised her eyes to the sky.
“And the moon is full.”
She looked past Sterling and Raynard.
“Was Simon here?”
“No!” Sterling shouted. “Do not be ridiculous! And keep your voice down—”
“Did my guards follow you?” Raynard asked.
He turned and looked up the King’s Road.
“I had no intention of allowing them inside my home,” Magdalena said. “I am certain they are doing a splendid job of guarding my door—just as you instructed them.”
“Send two more men to the Lady’s home to get them,” Sterling said to Raynard.
“And bring them directly to me!”
“My Lord,” Raynard said quietly. “My men are spread thin.”
Sterling glared at Raynard. He looked at Magdalena.
“Guarding the Lady’s home has proven to be a dangerous undertaking,” Sterling said. “Send the men.”
“Immediately.”
“I wish to speak with Lucien,” Magdalena said.
“The King is resting,” Sterling said. “He had a little…accident. Struck his head. No cause for alarm.”
“But he and the Queen are safe?”
“Of course,” Sterling purred. “Why are you concerned?”
Magdalena glared at the other guards.
Sterling waved them away.
“We do not know what thoughts lurk inside of Simon’s head,” Magdalena said. “After living so many years as a wild beast, how much of that sweet little child remains? He saw fit to murder the girl who loosed him from the dungeon. If he still carries the hope of regaining his birthright, then he may see Lucien’s child as the ultimate threat.”
Sterling laughed.
“My Lady. I believe you have spent too much time alone in that dreary hut full of potions. What a waste that is! You are still a desirable woman—for any man willing to risk being burned alive, that is!”
“I wonder,” Raynard said. “Will your magic tell whether the child is a boy or girl?”
Sterling raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. Do you have such knowledge?”
Magdalena shook her head, perhaps too quickly.
“No. If such magic exists, I know nothing of it. Why should it matter? We know that the Queen’s womb is fruitful, and that the couple can perform the deed. She could have a dozen more children—unless the King continues to have accidents.”
“I do not care for your tone,” Sterling said.
“And I do not care for your insults, My Lord.”
“It is getting late,” Sterling said. “Captain, send a guard to see if someone has occupied the seer’s quarters. If so, throw them out. The Lady will be our guest tonight.”
Magdalena wanted to object, but she knew it would look suspicious.
Within an hour, Sterling would learn that two more members of the King’s Guard lay dead
At her front door.
Five
Magdalena followed the guard to the castle. He held the door open.
“Thank you, Sire. I remember the way.”
The guard f
ollowed her anyway. She knew he would.
Magdalena stopped at the door of her old room. It had also been her daughter Arienna’s room.
The guard reached past her to open the door.
“No. Please, wait.”
The guard observed her pained expression. He nodded, turned, and left her alone.
Magdalena reached for the door handle. Her hand shook. She closed her eyes and swallowed.
Almost everything was just as she remembered it. On the day that Arienna died by the Queen’s hand, Magdalena destroyed many items that had furnished the room. The destroyed tables, mirrors, and vases she later picked up and threw out of the window.
No one had dared to intervene on that dark day. Magdalena’s fury continued until she was overcome by grief and exhaustion.
She then placed a spell on the room—so it would stay as it was.
Forever.
Not even a speck of dust, mold, or dirt could remain.
And absolutely nothing could be removed from the room.
Magdalena opened the wardrobe. She tenderly touched Arienna’s dresses. She pulled one against her face and inhaled.
Magdalena could still smell the scent of rose water. The rare bottle of imported rose water had been a gift to her daughter. She acquired it by special request from the captain of a merchant ship.
The expensive bottle was Magdalena’s name day gift to Arienna. She wrapped it with great care and gave it to her daughter three months after the King moved the gifted young girl into the castle. On that day, Arienna became the King’s Seer.
Arienna replaced her own mother in that position of the King’s court.
Arienna was a frightened and miserable child in those early days. King Bailin kept her isolated and permitted only brief visits between mother and daughter. Arienna slowly resigned herself to her new life.
At each precious meeting between them, Magdalena kissed her daughter’s cheek. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of rose water mixed with Arienna’s purity and innocence.
It made her weep, then.
And it made her weep, now.
Magdalena looked around the room. All the things that Arienna held precious were still there—on the tops of tables, and on the top shelf of her wardrobe.
There were dolls and animal figures carved from wood: pinwheels and noisemakers. Unusual and beautiful stones they found together on long walks outside of the castle walls. This happened in the days when Arienna was still a wide-eyed and curious child.
Every treasure was displayed with the greatest care.
Magdalena put a hand to her mouth and stifled a cry.
For so many years, she had dwelt on the memory of her daughter being forced into the role of the King’s mistress. And for the past twelve years she could not see past the nightmare—the nightmare day when her lovely daughter became a victim of the queen’s mad rage.
Magdalena was an orphan, born to a farmer and his wife in the heart of the Southlands. Her mother died young. Failed crops meant that her father could not feed them. With nowhere else to turn, he sold his sons into slavery—to slave-traders from the north. A short time later, she was sold as well. She saw her father and her Gram killed by the man who dragged her to Morgenwraithe.
The good times had been so few—and so long ago that Magdalena was not sure she hadn’t made them up. She had faint memories of being tossed about by laughing boys. Her brothers.
Sherman. Tanner. Were they real? Had they ever been real?
Sterling Morgenwraithe was Arienna’s father—the result of loveless, drunken rape. Magdalena refused to think about that truth—ever.
Arienna had been everything to her. And she was gone.
The reminders of Arienna’s youth and innocence took Magdalena’s breath away. She cried herself to sleep on the bed—the bed that also held the scent of rose water.
Magdalena was startled awake by pounding on the door. She wiped her eyes and opened the door to find two very agitated men.
Sterling and Raynard.
“We would like a word, My Lady,” Sterling sneered.
Magdalena stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her.
“There are two more murdered guards outside of your door. That makes a total of four—”
“Murdered?” Magdalena exclaimed. “What are you talking about?”
“Two more of my men,” Raynard fought to keep his composure. “Members of the King’s Guard—defenders of the realm—”
“You know nothing about this?” Sterling fumed.
Magdalena glared at him.
“I will not dignify that with a response.”
“One of them had his skull crushed,” Sterling said. He watched the sorceress for her reaction.
“His blood stains the steel that covers your walls. The other guard was ravaged—ripped apart—as if by a mad beast!”
“The dragon was here!” Magdalena shouted. “Why did you lie to me?”
“It was not the work of the dragon,” Raynard said. ”The man’s neck was torn open—but not by anything of that size. The dragon’s jaws would have taken the man’s head, if not half of his body.”
“Then we have yet another dangerous beast to deal with,” Magdalena said.
“What beast could overcome two guards wearing armor and carrying steel?” Raynard asked.
“And what beast bashes a man’s head against a wall?” Sterling asked.
“Perhaps your time would be better spent finding this beast, instead of interrupting my rest with yet another interrogation,” Magdalena said. “This…this…beast was at my front door! Need I remind you that—?”
“No!” Sterling spat. “You will remain protected. We will continue to use the kingdom’s resources to keep you alive—as we have for over twelve years!”
Sterling looked at Raynard and motioned with a nod of his head. Raynard turned and walked away.
“I will have the forest searched for this mysterious beast,” Sterling said. “But I can assure you—we will all be able to rest easier. And soon.”
Magdalena narrowed her eyes.
“Why do you say that?”
Raynard turned the corner of the long hallway.
Magdalena’s jaw dropped. Her eyes opened wide.
Behind Raynard, walked the biggest man she had ever seen. He was so tall that he stooped to clear the ceiling. He was covered head to foot in a robe of brilliant blue.
Magdalena trembled. She had heard tales of the sparkling blue cloaks worn by a cult of powerful wizards from far across the sea.
This cannot be…
The man stopped in front of her and Sterling. His hands were clasped together inside of his billowing sleeves. He pulled his hands apart. He wore jeweled rings on each of his huge fingers. The wizard pulled the hood off of his head.
His skin was pale—almost translucent. He had no sign of hair, on his head or his face. His eyes were the color of a frozen lake.
Around his neck, he wore a string of teeth.
Very large teeth.
Dragons’ teeth.
Sterling enjoyed the look on Magdalena’s face.
“Lady Magdalena,” Sterling said. “May I present Lord Dathien—”
“My name is Dathien,” the giant said. His deep, booming voice echoed off of the walls.
“I require no meaningless title among your people. We do not recognize your means of rank.”
“As you wish, Dathien,” Sterling smiled. “After all, your legend, and your considerable skills, speak far more than any title!”
“Dathien is the world’s greatest Dragonslayer! He has bested many of the beasts—!”
“Twenty!” Dathien boomed. He fingered the teeth that hung around his neck.
“But never one that resulted from a curse!” he said.
Dathien stared into space. His eyes appeared to gloss over.
“A dragon that speaks! That will beg and plead for its life!”
“This may prove to be my greatest achievem
ent!”
He touched each of his rings with tender admiration. He smiled—a horrible smile.
“Along with the promise of jewels, of course.”
“Fresh teeth for your neck and another ring for each gifted finger!” Sterling said. “The coffers of the Kingdom are far from full, but it is a small price to pay to rid the good people of Morgenwraithe of such a troublesome pest!”
Dathien held out his hand toward Magdalena’s door.
“There is magic here,” he said.
“Crude, amateurish magic, to be certain. But effective.”
Dathien closed his eyes.
“There is a spell on this room…a spell to ensure that the room may not be altered in any way.”
Magdalena became angry.
“Ah, yes,” Sterling said. “The room holds great sentimental value for My Lady.”
“Sentiment and magic make weak partners,” Dathien said.
“Unlike magic and the love of jewels and trinkets, I presume,” Magdalena said.
“Ha, ha, haaaa!” Dathien’s humorless laugh shook the walls.
He lifted a single finger and pointed it at Magdalena’s door.
The door exploded, raining down splinters of wood and pieces of iron.
Dathien turned and walked away.
Magdalena held her hands over her mouth.
Sterling turned to Raynard.
“Get some men up here to replace the door.”
Six
Jaclyn thumped the seamstress on the top of her head.
“Ow!” the girl said. And then she giggled.
“It isn’t funny,” Jaclyn said, but there was no venom in her voice.
“It is a baby, Lucinda. Fashion and style will have to give way to comfort in the coming months.”
‘I apologize, My Queen. I have never altered a queen’s dress to accommodate a child.”