Forgotten Kingdom

by Stephany Wallace

  "Thank you," King Laeroth said, dismissing him with a lazy wave of his hand. His gaze returned to me as my heart hammered against my chest. I was running out of time. "I'll be brief then, so that you may go rest. I know your Blooming, like my sons’, will begin soon, so I wanted to inform you that I do not wish you to leave my palace. I have decided that whoever your fated shall be, he will be ordered to come live with us.”

  A gasp left me with his words. The king had never done that. He smiled, almost in a tender way.

  “Although I’m thrilled that you will finally be mated and start a family of your own, I will not lose your counsel. You will remain by my side, Avrielle.”

  I stared at him, taken aback by his decree. Conflicting emotions ran through me, but my mind had decided. I would get to remain close to Kyr, even if he didn't want me here, even if I belonged to another I knew my heart would always be his. Mated or not. "I am so pleased to hear that. Thank you." I reached for his hand to kiss his ring, but he pulled me close and cradled my cheeks instead, kissing my forehead.

  "Now, go rest, my child."

  I nodded, and turned around, walking towards the doors. I tried to keep my bearings steady as I stepped out into the hallway and passed the guards. Once out of their sight I rushed towards the corridor that would take me away from Kyr's approach. I was only five feet away from it when Kyr turned the corner, placing him directly in my path. His steps faltered as his eyes settled on me and the blue light rushed over his royal markings.

  I was too late.

  I stepped towards the entrance of the corridor when the magic of his command reached me, blowing me into the hall and away from him like a gust of wind. I slammed against the wall, and rolled over the frozen surface as the force dragged me away, I suddenly fell on the white stone floor, hitting my shoulder.

  I sobbed as the action hurt more than the sharp pain traveling down my arm. Kyr didn't want me near him, and the mystical command took care of it.

  “Avrielle!”

  Kyr shouted, panicked by the sight. His boots slapped the marble floor as he ran towards me. I scrambled off the floor, as the magic left me. He had removed the spell, but it made no difference. Gathering my skirts, I stood and ran down the hallway as the tears slid over my cheeks. I wasn't fast enough. Kyr’s arms embraced me from behind, detaining me.

  "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant for the magic to do this to you.” His desperate words reached my ear. His voice filled with agony. He seemed as tortured as I felt. He hid his face in my hair, his arms slightly trembled around me and I knew he was reproving himself. “The last thing I would ever do is hurt you. Please forgive me."

  I shut my eyes, forcing the tears to fall, while the warmth of his embrace mixed with my pain. Although we had never dared to admit what we felt to one another, I had loved Kyr Gaerrath since before I realized what love should be. I suspected he felt something too, but it wasn't until the moment he whispered those words to me that I finally knew.

  “If it was up to me to choose…”

  My life would never be the same.

  I had been by his side, faithful and resigned never to be his after all this time, happy to just be close to him, but now everything had changed.

  “The king is waiting for you,” I reminded, jerking away from his arms and ran as far as my feet would take me.

  KYR

  * * *

  I walked deeper into the frozen cave in complete darkness. My heart beat steady in my chest, the blood rushed through my veins, and the air continued to fill my lungs, yet I felt dead inside.

  "My prince," Ora's voice greeted me, and her magic lit the torches I had ignored. My eyes found her, and it was as though she knew what I needed. She bowed lightly and guided me to Avra's chambers.

  The white dragon moved towards me and sat before me soundlessly. He knew there were no words that could aid me at this moment, yet I still desired his counsel. His tail wrapped around me and pulled me to him, setting me on an ice boulder to his right. He rested his forearms on the ground and lowered himself until his gaze met mine, and we remained there, still for what seemed like hours on end. I knew he could feel the torment traveling through me just like he sensed Mother's pain. It was another of his abilities as the Dragon Lord.

  He finally sighed, breaking the silence and straightened. “You should not give up on the love you share.” I was about to contest his statement when his actions shocked me speechless.

  My eyes widened as he reached under his wing and pulled off one of his scales. The white shimmered whilst all magic left it and dulled, dying after being ripped from the dragon, until it became a midnight shade of blue. I watched in horror as he placed it in my hands. "The time has come for your destiny to begin, but you must look upon the past to decipher your future."

  Avra’s deep voice resounded around me like a declaration of prophecy, while I stared at the rigid dead scale in my hold. It was one of his smaller ones, yet it covered the size of both my hands. When my gaze reached Avra’s, his cobalt blue eyes bore into mine. The color I had come to associate with him, turned ice white. A storm of mist churned inside them.

  "The quest must begin at once! Find the one that holds its pair, and bring it to me. Faeosrae Ostar Evaista Galdormay Karisagul Dothmor.”

  The entrancing words became lost in my ears as the Dragon Lord lifted its finger and pushed against my chest.

  Everything turned black as my body plummeted to the ground, under his spell.

  * * *

  I gasped for air as though I hadn't breathed in centuries. Sitting up, I looked about me and realized darkness still surrounded me, yet I was no longer in the Dragon Lord's cave. The two moons of winter shone above me while my gaze slowly adjusted to the night. I scrambled to my feet, and the wet grass underneath me called my attention. My boots were gone, so was my Dilrunarta Galothnae Kuru, my horse, and my silver daggers. I might as well be naked; I never left the castle without them.

  Turning around in a slow circle, I assessed my situation and tried to remember the words Avra had shared with me before lucidity left me. He had asked something of me, yet I couldn't remember what. I kneeled on the misty ground and ripped a strand of grass, slowly bringing it to my nose, a bitter smell reached me and I knew precisely where I was. I suddenly wished I still had my daggers. A twig broke behind me, and I whirled around, as my energy reached a fallen trunk to his left. One thought, and it connected with the head of the fifteen-foot Troll who swung his hammer at me. It ripped his skin, and the grayish blood splattered all over as the hit brought him down.

  Two more appeared behind him.

  "I am Kyr Gaerrath, Prince of the Winter Court and you will cease your attack at once!" I ordered although I knew my royal command would be lost on them. They were the only creatures immune to it.

  “You are not the Prince. He would never show such disrespect and enter our lands without asking for passage.” They snarled at me, launching forwards.

  If there was one thing Trolls detested, it was an intruder, unfortunately for me at the moment, I was one. I ran towards one of them and jumped, stepping on his thigh, and propelling myself up. I kneed his head then kicked his chest while extending my leg, and hurled myself backwards. I landed crouched on the grass with one hand before me. The dull ache of the toxic burn reached my hand and feet but I ignored it while my eyes followed the monster. He stumbled and fell on his back like a chopped tree. The other Troll's red eyes focused on me, and he roared declaring war.

  I hated Trolls.

  They were gigantic creatures with pale grayish skin due to the acidic land they lived on, and the lack of sunlight on their bodies. Although they were bald, thick long hair grew over their lap and thighs, hiding the grotesque sight of their genitals from me. Something I was thankful for since they didn't believe in clothing. Their heads were smaller than they should be, and their extremities were long, becoming thick and heavy towards their hands and feet. They were deformed creatures because of their exposure to the
toxic environment, beginning with the four red eyes that lined their foreheads. They lived on the other side of the White Haunted Mountain, the last place I should end up.

  The Death Trolls’ Forest.

  Although they were technically in my kingdom and abided by our ruling, they had their own laws and nasty tempers. They made a practice to kill anyone who trespassed into their lands.

  The second Troll leaped at me, and I jumped. The energy rushed down my arms to connect with my Dilrunarta Galothnae Kuru, expecting the wings to carry me… wrong time to forget they weren't on my back. I turned in the air and out of his way, but not fast enough. His large hammer connected with my hip, sending me flying against a boulder. I groaned as the pain radiated down my left leg but jumped to my feet and squared myself for battle. I soon realized I couldn't hold any weight on my left side. My hip must have fractured.

  He swung his hammer again, and I bent low avoiding its attack, I roared in pain as I rushed him, putting my weight on the injured leg. My shoulder connected with his stomach, forcing the air out of him, and bringing him down. I rolled off him and scrambled up, limping.

  Three more Trolls appeared. Two females, and a male. Their females were vicious, so I wasn't looking forwards to this. I cursed under my breath. There was no way I was holding my own in this fight without at least having my daggers, and while nursing a broken hip, which would take a bit longer than I had to fully mend. I lifted my hands. One thought, and they flew back, their bodies crashed against the dead trees and boulders behind them. The sound of their bones cracking, instantly reached me.

  I hated using my abilities to fight, it felt dishonorable to say the least, but I was disconcerted by what was happening. Had Avra left me here? Taken everything from me? For what purpose?

  I stared at the six unconscious Trolls on the ground and began to move towards the mountain before more came to their aid. I limped, while my invulnerability kicked into full gear, healing the bones on my hip. Sighing, I continued to walk. It would be well after midnight by the time I got back to the castle.

  My bare feet sunk into the soft snow carpet as the memories of my training came back to me. It had begun right after my third birthday and first visit to the White Haunted Mountain with Mother. The memories were hazy—it had been over six thousand years since then—but I was almost confident there had been a man, who back then guarded the Dragon Lord. I had spent time with him almost as much as I had with Avra, although I barely remembered him. It had been so long ago it might very well be no more than a dream.

  I stopped walking as I fought to grasp the memory, but it was soon lost within my mind. I instinctively knew he had trained me, long before Father had the court’s master swordsman teach me how to use a blade. It had been centuries since I had thought about it, but every instinct in me told me that man taught me how to feel and recognize my surroundings, and the danger in them. To fight with my mind rather than my body, and all my senses—part of which had undoubtedly helped me tonight.

  Ora appeared right before my tenth birthday and the rest of my visits to the mountain were spent with Dragon Lord and Mother. Was that why Avra had taken my daggers, shoes and cloak tonight? Why he left me in the Death Trolls’ Forest? He wanted me to remember?

  * * *

  When I finally stepped into the castle, Laurel screamed and ran towards me. She sobbed, cradling my cheeks. “You are well, my prince. Thank our Dragon Lord, I prayed to him you would be all right.” I frowned at her words and the level of her distress. “Prince Kyr is back!” she yelled to the guards, who rushed towards us and attempted to carry me. “Tell the king his son is safe; he can call off the army.”

  “Call off the army? What are you talking about?” I asked, pushing the men back. “I am well. I can walk for myself.”

  The tears spilled from Laurel’s eyes as she looked at me, and it was only then I realized what she saw. My riding suit—which consisted of a white fitted shirt, a black and silver leather chest armor with side buckles, and leather pants—was ripped in certain places, there was dry mud and gray Troll blood splattered all over me, including my long sable hair. I lifted my hands to my eyes, the mix of gray and brown was a revolting sight on my skin.

  “Our king has been mad with rage and desperation since you disappeared,” Laurel answered. “The Dark Army has been interrogating the lords all across the kingdom at his orders, and performing executions when no one gives them answers.”

  “What are you talking about, Laurel?” I repeated baffled. “I left this afternoon. Why would Father do all of that?”

  She looked at me shocked. “You’ve been gone for two weeks, my prince.”

  Laurel's words stopped me in my tracks. "No, that’s impossible—" I trailed off as I remembered the white swirling mist in Avra's eyes. Perhaps, the Dragon's magic was stronger than I gave it credit. Crossing the frozen lands to get here shouldn't have taken more than five hours, and the Trolls would have killed me if I had been longer than an hour in their territory, which meant when I woke up I had just been deposited there.

  Where in hell was I the rest of the time?

  Laurel began removing my suit after I returned from my meeting with Father. He was glad to see I was well, yet he confirmed Laurel's words. I had been gone for two weeks, and the Dark Army had been rampant through the land looking for me. They were planning an attack on the Summer Queen's castle, thinking she had taken me as revenge for kidnapping her daughter. Mother was under the curse's sleep, which for the first time in my life I was thankful for. The last thing I wanted was for her to worry about me, but it also meant she should be waking up soon.

  "No one is to tell the queen of what happened, make sure to tell the others," I ordered, pushing my power into the guards who nodded as the royal command fell over them, and they walked out of the room. Laurel lowered her head and nodded as well, but I didn't need to command her, I trusted her implicitly.

  “Of course I won’t, my prince. She shouldn’t be distressed in her estate with these occurrences. You are home safe, and that’s what matters.”

  I smiled, caressing her cheek as she finished undressing me. "Thank you, Laurel. You always understand." I stepped into the steaming water, and my gaze fell on the maids. "Please leave us. Laurel can finish taking care of me."

  The servants bowed and scurried out of the room. “Is it all right to ask where you were, my prince? It is unlike you to disappear this way.” Laurel’s hands began to lather my skin with soap as I mulled over her words.

  "It is, but I still can't answer that. I'm sorry."

  “I understand.”

  I slowly shook my head. “No, you don’t. I barely do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I sighed. “Nothing.” I laid my head back while her hands undid the braids in my hair and began to rinse out the cracked mud from it. My eyes closed, and I allowed her to wash me, while the heated water seeped through my muscles relieving some of the pain.

  * * *

  “Great to see that you are alive,” Ash said, coming into my chambers as I stepped out of the bathtub, and began drying myself.

  Handing Laurel back the wet towel, I walked towards my bed, taking the blue shirt and black pants laid out for me and proceeded to dress. A different kind of pain awoke in me… I needed to see Avrielle. I slipped my feet into my loafers and turned towards Ash, noticing Laurel was no longer in the room. She had stepped out unnoticed. I quickly brushed my sleek long hair, letting it fall wet to the end of my back and walked towards the door.

  "Hey, where are you going?" Ash gripped my arm, stopping me.

  “I’m sorry, brother. I need to see her. Get Nyx and wait for me here. I must talk to both of you about what happened when I return." The solemnity of my voice made Ash straighten. He nodded and went on his way as I got out of the room.

  I stopped outside Avrielle's quarters, but I couldn't bring myself to knock. Remembering Laurel's reaction seeing me after I disappeared for two weeks, I couldn't even imagine what Avri
elle must have gone through because of me. I pushed the door open and found her standing next to her window. Soft rose-silk robes fell over her body as its only cover, the material elegantly accentuated her gentle curves. Her long violet hair fell in waves over her shoulders and back, while the light from the two moons of winter illuminated her features, making her to look ethereal. Tears flowed freely from her eyes, and the sight made me feel like half a man. I could never deserve such a flawless woman.

  She whirled around as I closed the door behind me, and the moment she saw me, the sobs escaped out of her. "Kyr!" She ran into my arms, and I held her as tightly as I could manage. My chest constricted as guilt filled my being. I didn't like seeing her like this.

  “I don’t deserve your tears,” I whispered in her ear and cradled her fiercely against me.

  Her crying soaked my shirt, while her body shook in my arms. I kissed her temple while my hand caressed her back. "I thought the queen had captured you," she finally said, breaking the silence and looked up at me. My arms tightened around her, while the agony in her violet eyes cut through me. "I feared she had killed you… that I had lost you." She confessed with a sob as her gaze roamed my face. Her fingers reached for a strand of hair that fell over my forehead, and pushed it behind my ear. There was such tenderness and love in her gesture that it disarmed me. Her trembling hands cradled my cheeks, pulling me down to her, and the next second her mouth crashed into mine.

  Her lips moved desperately, as though I was the only one who could help her surpass the pain of thinking I was dead. My mouth welcomed her passionate assault, my lips moving desperately with hers, and the only thought in my mind was Avrielle was kissing me, my Avrielle. At the same moment, what was left of me shattered into a million pieces… I couldn't feel her.

  I didn’t feel anything.

  Although it hurt, I realized I didn't care. I was kissing her. The rest of the world didn't matter. There was no tomorrow, no fated taking her from me, it was only us.