Princess Ahira

by K. M. Shea

  “This is so weird,” I quietly whispered.

  Life in Ardeo had changed in the short period I was gone.

  During the days Caspian went wildly dashing about the castle and our university, checking in to see me for short time increments before rushing off to his next class.

  Several times he brought his friend with, Prince Edward from the northern country of Madalia. I had vague recollections of meeting Prince Edward before, but from what I recalled Caspian used to hate him and complained that he was too stuffy and emotionless.

  Apparently that was no longer so. Caspian and Edward were great chums. Many times when I was alone with my brother Caspian babbled about all of the pranks he and Edward had pulled over the school year.

  Clearly I had been replaced.

  My sisters chased after me, always wanting to hear tales about my stay with the dragons. I found my sisters more likeable on my return, probably because the other princesses I had a prolonged period of contact with in Tsol were incurably stupid.

  But similarly, when I was with my sisters I was neither relaxed nor restful. Being with them drained me. They often didn’t get my jokes, and half of the time they didn’t believe my stories.

  While Caspian and I had always been closest, I always had friendship in my sisters. That wasn’t so anymore. Now they treated me as though I was a charming, eccentric aunt that they dearly loved but found a little ridiculous.

  My mother continued to surprise me. Her verbal attacks were hardly up to par anymore. She didn’t criticize my appearance, although she often enough remarked that she wished I would stop acting so odd on occasion.

  Such observations were easily shrugged off on my part, however. It made me wary that she hadn’t leaped for my throat yet. I had wonder if old age was getting to her, or if I had previously found her lame remarks hurtful before. After living with Azmaveth and Zerah I could see they were nothing.

  My greatest relief in returning home was my Father. He was quite possibly the only one who hadn’t changed at all. He still gave way to all of my mother’s suggestions and observations, and he still tried to slip off whenever he could.

  Oddly enough it wasn’t such a big upset when he did. Apparently Father had it rigged with his advisors that Caspian could replace him whenever he left for an outing with his honor guards.

  All of these changes weighed heavily in my heart. Clearly Caspian and I were no longer best friends. I couldn’t even really count on common friendship with my sisters. While my mother’s lack of verbal outrage was a pleasant change, I still hated being told to mind Jezbell. (Who thankfully had yet to turn out.)

  Additionally, thoughts of Azmaveth weighed down my mind like a troll. A part of me was ready to forgive him. Zerah was right, I knew that Azmaveth regarded me with the warmth of friendship, not intellectual curiosity.

  However, another part of me couldn’t forgive him. I had told Azmaveth so many things. So many things, things about Kohath! If he and Azmaveth were the same person…

  It was mostly my embarrassment that kept me bitter towards the purple dragon.

  Chapter 18Stand Tall and Pour Wine

  Perhaps two weeks after my return Jezbell made her first public appearance. (At least, her first public appearance that I hadn’t managed to wriggle out of.)

  It was a court dinner. My siblings and I were arranged around my father and mother before the tables spanned out to our court.

  Caspian was sitting by my father, as far away from me as possible. Unfortunately, under my mother’s insistence I was sitting next to Jezbell.

  We had just finished the soup, and I was carefully playing with my charm bracelet, the Guardian Charms.

  I guess in all of the fuss the Dragon King must have forgotten that I had it. I was idly wondering if they would ever send someone to collect it when my terrible sister interrupted my thoughts.

  “So, Ahira. I hear you weren’t even good enough to be a servant for dragons, so they returned you,” she simpered.

  I slowly raised my head to meet her gaze.

  Everyone was staring at us. The music was still echoing in the hall, but everyone’s attention was fastened on us.

  It was no secret that we hated each other and that Jezbell was Mother’s favorite. She had embarrassed me in court before, and usually I was powerless to defend myself.

  I glanced up at Caspian, hoping he would help.

  He was also watching the two of us, swirling wine in his cup with a graceful air while staring at me. He was waiting for my reaction. He would not help.

  Mother seemed to be completely oblivious to the tension in the air. Father ignored my gaze and stared at his food.

  “Well?” Jezbell asked.

  I didn’t reply

  “And your dragon! Ugh! I hear he was a beastly creature. As ugly as they come. I even heard that he loved you! Imagine that! Someone was actually stupid enough to fancy you,” she chattered on.

  I swallowed and bit my tongue to keep from screaming. I wondered why on earth I took this treatment. She couldn’t hurt me like a valkyrie. She couldn’t nearly kill me like Aaron. Exactly what was keeping me from putting her in her place? I also searched my memory to figure out how she heard rumors about Azmaveth’s love life.

  “Talk about exceeding the rules of nature. But it doesn’t matter, does it? In the end even he dumped you back home. Poor, poor Ahira. No one wants you. Not even your dreadful dragon.”

  Jezbell cut off when I abruptly stood. I folded my napkin and placed it on the table.

  “Running away are you?” Jezbell asked with an arched eyebrow. “That’s all you do, isn’t it. Too stupid to respond?”

  I turned to Jezbell and placed an utterly pleasant, polite smile on my lips as I reached for my wine goblet.

  “Jezbell, you sound exactly like a creature I ran across in Tsol. Her name was Trila. She was a valkyrie. She talked and talked nonstop about situations and events that she knew nothing about. She was ridiculously stupid, and I felt sorry for her because really she was the only one who didn’t know how inept and idiotic she was,” I said in a pleasant, charming voice.

  Jezbell flushed red with anger.

  “But in the end one of the dragons grew tired of her, and now she is no more. That generally happens to people who are as annoying as she was. Perhaps, sister of mine, you should cool down and try to sweeten your temperament so you are not picked off in a similar matter. Here, let me help,” I said before dumping my goblet over her head.

  Wine dripped off her face and hair, trickling down her back. “Y-you!” she sputtered.

  “Good day, sister,” I breezily said before leaving the table. As I walked through the dining hall the only noises were my steady footsteps and Jezbell’s surprised huffs. Even the musicians were frozen, watching my progress as I trekked across the room.

  I left, closing the door behind me, and pandemonium exploded in my wake.

  I took one deep breath before heading for the courtyard. I haled a stable boy who was leading my brother’s white horse. Windfall was already saddled, having just finished being exercised by the stable master.

  “I need to use a horse for a while,” I said, glancing from the small boy to my brother’s beautiful mount.

  “Yes Milady. Windfall here will carry you gently as you please,” he said, nodding his head before quickly setting about adjusting the stirrups for me.

  “Um, this is Caspian’s horse. He has a ridiculous crush on it, no one can ride it,” I corrected, reaching out to pat the horse’s thick neck.

  “Yes Milady, no one except for you and Prince Caspian,” the stable boy agreed.

  I observed him with suspicious eyes. “You must be joking. I don’t know how many hours I’ve spent trying to convince Caspian to let me ride him,” I said, gesturing to the horse.

  “Yes Milady. Prince Caspian announced that you would be allowed to ride Windfall the day you returned. Do you require assistance to mount up, Milady? Or would you prefer a side saddle?”

&n
bsp; “This is fine, thank you,” I said, taking the reins. I lightly sprang into the saddle, sitting astride. (I knew this really would give my mother a heart attack if she saw me.) I waved to the stable boy, who smartly bowed, before riding out of the castle courtyard.

  I rode through the city and popped out of castle, heading for the edge of the field where Zerah had dropped me off.

  I dismounted, patting Windfall as I reflected. Tomorrow would be my seventeenth birthday. It was a year from tonight that I was taken to Tsol and met Azmaveth.

  Azmaveth. I was starting to register his name with less anger and more regret. I shouldn’t have been so harsh. Really, it wasn’t completely his fault. I wasn’t mad at him per say, I was mad at myself. I had told Azmaveth things about Kohath, like the fact that I thought he was handsome.

  I groaned, my cheeks turning red as I thought of it. No wonder Kohath always seemed so smug. Azmaveth knew what I thought of him, I told him myself!

  Windfall nickered, calling me back to reality as an animal stumbled through the underbrush. I started to shy away, but Tuggles popped into view.

  He was breathing heavily, his nostrils were wide and red and he had a wet rasp to his breath.

  “Tuggles?” I whispered.

  The little unicorn tried to walk towards me. I broke away from Windfall and hustled to his side. “Tuggles, what’s wrong?” I asked as I approached him.

  I broke off in a gasp. A huge gash was taken out of Tuggles. Blood dripped down his side, spattering the grass below him. His face was filled with weariness and I could feel his small body leaning against me for support.

  His heaved, gasping for air as I cradled him close to me. “Tuggles! What happened?” I demanded.

  The little unicorn tried to breathe harder as his body trembled and collapsed. “Tuggles? Tuggles!” I screamed petting my small little friend as he took in some last shuddering breaths. The Keeper was dying.

  “No, no! AZMAVETH! ZERAH! SOMEONE!” I screamed. Surely they wouldn’t allow the Keeper to venture over to Somnio alone. Surely they needed him for the battle! “Tuggles, hold on!” I pleaded. “Come on Tuggles. You’re a unicorn, you can survive this,” I said, tears leaking out of my eyes, blurring my vision.

  Tuggles’ throat hitched and his breath caught.

  “NO! TUGGLES!” I screamed. The Guardian Charms on my wrist clinked together, and wind suddenly blast through the field.

  I shut my eyes and leaned back against the onslaught.

  Just as quickly as the wind came, it disappeared.

  I slowly opened my eyes and blinked before panicking. Tuggles was no longer there.

  I scrambled to my feet and I ran smack dab into a grey wall. I rubbed my smarting nose and I looked up to see what I had collided with.

  It was a huge, dapple grey unicorn that had a long, thick, creamy white mane and tail. His eyes were a brilliant blue color, and he blinked in a strangely familiar way before nickering.

  I stumbled backwards as I stared open mouthed at the giant unicorn. Behind me, Windfall neighed.

  The large unicorn caught sight of me and started crooning. He walked over to me and rubbed his head against my shoulder in a familiar manner as I stiffened.

  His eyes were blue, yet he seemed so familiar. It couldn’t be.

  “Tuggles?” I asked.

  The unicorn happily nickered.

  That’s when Rose’s words returned to my mind.

  “He is utterly useless unless he can break his blasted curse and return to his real form.”

  “You were cursed?” I asked.

  Tuggles nodded.

  “And now you’re not?”

  He proudly tossed his head.

  “What is going on?” I asked.

  Tuggles snorted and looked west, towards Tsol. The sky was blood red.

  I bit my lip, my previous thoughts still flickering in my brain. The dragons wouldn’t freely let Tuggles go. He was necessary in the battle with the valkyrie. But why would they send him here?

  There really was only one way to find out.

  “Take me to Azmaveth,” I said. Tuggles pranced over to a fallen stump that I hopped on before sliding onto Tuggles’ back. I nearly slipped off his glossy fur. He had to crow-hop to keep me in place.

  As I adjusted for a death grip of Tuggles’ name, Caspian called out.

  “Ahira!” he shouted, zooming towards us on the back of a black gelding. Windfall happily greeted his owner as he stuffed his face with grass.

  Caspian pulled his horse to a halt. “So you’re leaving then?” he asked, his eyes briefly resting on Tuggles’ pearly horn.

  “Yes. I need to be in Tsol for just a little while longer,” I said.

  “So it is true, that dragon, Azmaveth did fall in love with you.”

  I did not reply and instead asked, “How did Jezbell find out?”

  “A rose red dragon came here two nights ago while you were off, trying to avoid seeing Jezbell,” he paused. She explained to father and I that she had made a horrible mistake and she was here to correct it. We said you were unavailable. She told us everything and asked that we give you this letter,” Caspian said handing me a crumpled piece of paper.

  “And you waited until now to give it to me?” I harshly asked.

  “I love you Ahira. You’re my sister and best friend. I didn’t want you to go, again,” he said, staring down at his saddle.

  I felt the hot flash of anger instantly leave me. I smiled and pushed Tuggles along side Caspian and his mount so I could properly embrace my brother. It did my heart good to know he still cherished our friendship.

  My family had perhaps not changed as much as I thought. Maybe the truth was that I had changed as well. “I’ll be back. I promise,” I said.

  “Take care. Try not to get yourself blown up,” Caspian laughed, swallowing uncomfortably.

  “Thanks,” I laughed over my shoulder as Tuggles started for the woods at a trot.

  The second we disappeared into the forest I rolled the letter open.

  Dear Princess Ahira,

  I suppose I am the last dragon you ever thought you would hear from. I so viciously opposed you at Azmaveth’s trial, and I am sorry for that.

  I will not pretend that I understand your… complex relationship with him, but I do know we need you.

  Two days from now we march against the valkyrie. Azmaveth and Zerah will be leading us. It is not likely that we will make it out, but I felt I should try to explain something to you.

  The Guardian Charms, which I believe you still may have in your possession, has the power to break curses. It is a power the dragons have long wanted, but unfortunately, I doubt we will ever receive it. Only a human with a strong will can use the Guardian Charms. We need you Ahira. With the power of the Guardian Charms you can break the Keeper’s curse. With the power of the Guardian Charms you can save us from the valkyrie.

  Now, I suppose, the only question is if you want to save us.

  Lady Rose

  “Now that I think about it, I guess Aaron said as much as well,” I murmured as I stuck the note in my pocket.

  Tuggles, sensing I was finished reading, sped up until we were going so fast that I couldn’t see. Everything was blurry and my eyes were tearing up. It was freezing cold, and I could feel the familiar zing of magic.

  Tuggles was using his magic to get us there as fast as possible. I don’t know how long he ran. An hour, five minutes. Time almost seemed to stand still as Tuggles galloped.

  When Tuggles locked his legs and skid to a stop I nearly went tumbling off his back. He had to crow-hop, again, to keep me seated.

  Stabilized, I slid off Tuggles, rubbing my watering eyes before trying to restore order to my windblown hair.

  Tuggles walked up to edge of a sheer drop. He nickered, calling me to his side.

  I stumbled over to him, rubbing my hands together to try and warm them up. I froze when my eyes landed on the plateau before us.

  Chapter 19The War

 
; Two huge armies had amassed and were fighting on the plateau.

  One side was the valkyrie and their allies: the trolls, ogres and other less savory fairy tale creatures.

  The other army was the dragons, leprechauns, fairies, griffins, centaurs, wizards, gnomes, dwarfs, and every imaginable good fairytale creature. I think I even saw an elf or two in the crowd.

  The valkyrie were singing, using their horrid voices to create mass chaos among the dragon army. Ogres and trolls attacked the smaller fairy tale creatures, like the gnomes and leprechauns, with their giant clubs and chains.

  The dragons were fighting back with their powerful brand of magic. Some shot fireballs, others summoned huge bolts of lighting and those who were strong enough shot ice from their mouth.

  However, most of the dragons were blindly shooting off their magic, unable to perfectly concentrate as the valkyrie songs reverberated across the plateau. (Some of the dragons were even taking out their fellow allies.) The dragons were at a disadvantage. None of them could fly thanks to the mind-numbing music created by the valkyrie. It was too risky.

  They were in the middle of a battle, but my eyes scanned the landscape for Azmaveth. I spotted him fighting about twenty valkyrie.

  He disposed of them with dangerous elegance by calling forth lightning from the sky. The electricity ran across the ridges of his scales, frying the valkyrie who clung to him. He remained unaffected.

  When the lightning stopped he shook the wilted creatures off his back.

  I felt my chest heave with relief. I wanted shout to him, but over the roars of thunder, the pounding of the earth, and the hundreds of battle cries I wouldn’t stand a chance.

  It was sheer luck that Azmaveth turned in my direction. He was glancing back to check on the dragons behind him when his eyes caught sight of Tuggles and I on the cliff’s edge.

  His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets and he almost started to smile before the silly grin was wiped off his face, replaced with worry.

  The ground started to shudder and shake. Tuggles and I whirled around to look at the forest behind us.