Heir of Dragmoore- The Veiled Haven

by Jennifer Ann Schlag

  Chapter Three

  Gavin and Bessy are on all fours crawling through the Wilderness.

  “Are you sure that Desmond saw a rackatoo? Those birds haven’t been around here in ages.”

  “We have to find out.”

  “What are you going to do about Talen?”

  “Nothing right now.”

  “You should have put a stop to it when she first showed the signs.”

  “What did you want me to do? Kill her?”

  “Don’t be stupid. You should have known that…”

  Bells ring out from the palace grounds.

  “Intruder!” Bessy turns around to head back to the city.

  “Hold on a sec.” Gavin grabs her arm.

  “We have to go back. If the intruder gets past the guards, we are the last line of defense.”

  “How would an intruder get that far already?”

  “Because we are out here chasing down a rackatoo that you don’t even know is actually out here. All because Desmond says so. He has been wrong before. You know we are the better Hunters out of the lot.”

  “Shit. You’re right. Let’s go.”

  Gavin and Bessy step out of the Wilderness and are greeted with a flurry of clothes speeding by.

  “Talen?” Gavin says. “Damn, foolish girl. That bell isn’t a warning for an intruder.”

  Bessy gives chase.

  Talen tosses Remy out onto the main road. “You better run fast, my prince!”

  Remy almost drops his cross body bag. He is wearing his travel boots which provide him with good traction and durability. He is overjoyed by the fact that Talen has agreed to help him. He had only ran into her by chance. She was walking back from a friend’s house when he nearly knocked her over. She decided at that moment she was going to help him. He’s going to be forever grateful to her, if his father doesn’t kill her for this.

  Bessy shakes Talen. “You just helped the prince escape?”

  “I gathered a few things and kept them by the door. I had a gut feeling he’d try to leave.”

  Ragbar runs over to them huffing and puffing. “Gavin, talk sense into her.”

  “Too late. The prince is gone.”

  “Let’s get him.” Bessy starts running. Then stops. “Let’s mount up. It’ll be faster.”

  Talen laughs.

  “It’s not funny. You’re a foolish girl.”

  “Father?”

  Guards fly past them on horseback. The Marksman leads the chase. He gives one disapproving look at Talen as he rides after Remy.

  “Let’s go and join Desmond.”

  “Desmond?” Talen asks.

  “Bessy, you know better,” Gavin says.

  “I don’t even care what secrets you keep.”

  “Let us return to the hunt.” Gavin tugs on Bessy’s hand.

  “You want to continue tracking a beast that probably isn’t out there? Gavin, don’t make me throttle you.”

  “Let’s go, Bessy.” Gavin returns to the Wilderness. Bessy quickly joins him. She has that look. She is going to try for it. “Bessy, don’t.”

  “Why? Is it so bad that she hears his name?”

  “It’s different when we speak it. We can’t have her calling him by his name.”

  He has no patience to quarrel with her. She softens her hardened look. She’ll let Gavin win this round.

  Talen stares down the main road. She’s only left the city once. Her mother had insisted that they travel. Gavin’s obligations to being a Hunter were never the same as the other Hunters. He was free to travel. To make it official and ward off jealousy and favoritism, the king ordered Gavin to sail on one of the ships heading east, to the glorious city of Rhen. A place where putting on a show is encouraged and nurtured. Even the king and queen get dressed up and act out scenes from their favorite books. There isn’t a dull person in all the kingdom. Constant gaiety all day all night.

  Talen turns away from the road. No dusty footprints of the prince left behind. The stampeding horses have covered them. She regrets not going with him. Her uncle is right. She cannot fit in here. Much like the prince cannot alter his personality to fit into the royal life that he was born into. Her time is nearly up in Dragmoore.

  The sun breaks through the dark clouds. The bottom of the clouds are illuminated creating the illusion that the sun is about to absorb the territory. Quite the contrary. The clouds shift, blocking out the illumination. The sun dips below the clouds, entering its temporary slumber. The colors from the sun setting beat against her face. Their fiery glow warms her sorrow. If only the air was warm like the sun feels.

  Talen fell asleep against the hay stacks by her house. Now awake, she watches her father and Bessy coming out of the Wilderness disappointed. Talen wonders about the cauldysac she met a few days ago. Surely he’s hiding somewhere until the scroll arrives from the Veiled Haven claiming that he is a sacred beast. She starts thinking about Remy. She is a bit jealous that he got his freedom. The only spark that lights her up is knowing that hers is coming soon. She needs to steal a map of the world or possibly persuade her father to make her a new compass. Her sense of direction is not keen like his. With her ability to talk to animals, that won’t be enough to secure her safety, but it will help a little with finding a place to stay warm. Or perhaps she will find that one animal who doesn’t want to talk to her. She’ll be at the mercy of whatever it wants to do to her. Also, she can’t persuade bandits or other undesirables from attacking her. Suddenly she thinks about the Marksman. If she can somehow make him understand her need to leave, maybe he can give her a crash course in survival. Enough to get her to the Veiled Haven.

  Remy gets up from the side of the road, moving away from the tree he leaned against last night to sleep on. The guards gave up halfway down the road and turned around for home. He surprised himself. Not being scared of the Wilderness and nothing killing him in the night. Even more surprising is the fact that the Marksman hasn’t found him. He saw him leading the chase. Doubt pours in. The Marksman gave up?

  “What was I thinking? I don’t know where to go. By the gods, this is pointless. I should just go home and accept my fate. He’ll find me. Maybe it isn’t too late. I can ask Talen to be my girlfriend and then just marry her.”

  “That you should,” a voice whispers through the Wilderness trees.

  The sensual aftertaste that hangs in the air causes him to lose his balance in both his physical and mental state.

  “I am Prince Remy of Dragmoore. Show yourself!” A dopey grin comes across his face.

  The voice laughs. “Should I quiver with fear? The boy prince may become a man yet.”

  “I am a man. And I can tell that you are a woman. A beauty I’m sure. Show yourself, my lady.” He snaps out of the spell.

  He turns fast. Smacks right into a woman’s face. Her eyes are bright magenta. Her skin is alabaster. Her silver hair moves around as if sucked up in a whirlwind, although there is no wind. Her crimson lips part to show two long fangs.

  “What are you doing out in the Wilderness?”

  “I’ve… I am on a quest.”

  “Authorized by the king?” She moves around him but her feet never touch the ground.

  “Yes. My father has given me my task of worth.”

  He can’t figure out how she is moving around him with no assistance from her feet or any other appendage.

  “What... are… you?” He feels himself going under the spell again.

  “What is your task, young prince?” She rolls her tongue across her bottom lip.

  “Remy!” The Marksman yells.

  Her eyes move back and forth like a dance. As she opens her mouth, the skin around it stretches. A yellowish-green ooze drips down from her fangs. Remy tilts forward into her curved talons. Her mouth is nearly upon his head when… she lurches forward and sucks in a breath. She falls backwards. Her hair wraps around her body. Remy comes out of the trance. A black arrow sits in the woman’s chest. Her body combusts, splattering blood and gut
s all around. Amazingly none hit Remy.

  “Remy, are you okay?”

  “Yes. What was that?”

  “A harpy.”

  “Don’t harpies have wings?”

  “She is still young. Her wings haven’t fully developed yet. Not smart to be out here in the Wilderness.”

  “Please don’t take me back.”

  “Oh, you’re going back alright. I don’t wanna hear your protest.”

  The guards surround him like he is a prisoner. He feels like a prisoner. His immediate thought is about Talen. “Marksman, is Talen in trouble?”

  “Why would Talen be in trouble?”

  The one guard puts Remy onto a horse. “She sort of let me leave without trying to stop me.”

  “I’m sure you will explain everything to your father.”

  The guard walks the horse back with Remy hanging on tight. The Marksman gives the forest a quick look around. The after smell of harpy blood flares his nostrils.

  Remy returns to his bedroom and drops down the cross body bag. He finds the cabbage that Talen had given him sitting on his dresser. He had forgotten to take that. He caresses the cabbage until his bedroom door opens. He turns, thinking that it is his father. Instead it’s the Marksman.

  “You caused quite the uproar. I had to inform your father that harpies have relocated too close to Dragmoore and that they could be a concern. Usually they dwell much deeper in the Wilderness, and they rarely come close to a city.”

  “She was young. Like you said.”

  “Young and foolish like others I know. We have to now talk to the harpy queen and find out her intentions. Perhaps you running away wasn’t a waste of time after all.”

  “I’m glad that I can be useful.”

  “You can’t leave the palace because you feel like taking a walk.”

  “I wasn’t taking a walk.”

  “Even so. Don’t try it again.”

  The Marksman goes to leave but Remy puts his hand against the door. “Is Talen in trouble? I haven’t seen my father yet. He doesn’t want to see me.”

  “Rightly so. No, Talen is not in trouble. Why are you so concerned for her?”

  “I consider her my friend. I don’t want her in trouble.”

  “Then she should stay clear of you.” The Marksman leaves the room.

  Remy sulks for a bit until he decides to ring for a servant. The boy comes in ready to do the prince’s bidding.

  “Will my father see me?”

  “I do not know my prince.”

  “Relay a message to him. Tell him that I will remain in the tower until he sees fit to do something productive with me. Also, tell him that I will do whatever he says. I’ll marry whomever he chooses if it pleases him.”

  “Yes, my prince.” The servant bows then leaves.

  Remy can’t help but think that the Marksman doesn’t want Talen around him because he thinks she is not good enough for him. Or can it be something deeper than that? People have talked about the Marksman having a great love for someone but no one has been able to find out who it is. Can it be Talen? It stings Remy’s heart. He comes out of his room and sees the servant hasn’t left the corridor yet.

  “Come back a second.”

  The servant stops and then walks back. “My prince?”

  “Bring Talen Dragniss to me.”

  Remy paces in his room until he hears a knock on his door. He opens it and there stands Talen.

  “Prince Remy.”

  “Come inside.”

  “Why did you summon me?”

  “Are you involved with the Marksman?”

  “No.”

  “Do you like him?”

  “You summoned me to your chambers to ask me this?”

  “I suspect that he likes or loves you.”

  “Is your father going to marry me off to him?”

  Remy plays with his hair. “Oh, I hope not,” he mutters.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Goodbye, Remy.” She walks down the corridor.

  Remy stands in the doorway contemplating running after her. What can he say that won’t make him sound like a jealous man? Then it hits him. He would be jealous if someone liked her. He felt it when Tristan showed interest. He can’t explain why he feels jealousy. He hardly knows her.

  Gavin and two other Hunters, along with the Marksman, venture deep into the Wilderness in search of the harpy nest. With the Marksman showing them exactly where Prince Remy encountered a young harpy, he believes the nest sits nearby.

  “Where is it?” Gavin asks after the Marksman looks confused where to go.

  “Close. She doesn’t let her younglings venture far from the nest.”

  “Maybe Remy imagined it and you’re encouraging his delusion.”

  “You want me to come down off my horse and squash your delusion that you are always right?”

  “That’s what you believe you are, not me. I have little pride.”

  “Boys, calm down,” the female Hunter says.

  “Dotty, shut it,” the Marksman says. He gets down off his horse and Gavin does the same.

  Dotty, whose wild red hair is often the talk of the town, jumps off her stallion and kicks the Marksman in the crotch. Then she punches Gavin right on his nose.

  The Marksman goes down to his knees in pain.

  “Woman, by the gods,” Gavin says as he grips his nose and checks for severe damage.

  “I don’t know what fever or magic has got you off your wits, but I am not having our lives put in jeopardy for your manly moment. Got it?”

  “You could have smooth talked us,” Gavin says.

  “I don’t smooth talk. I skip right to the dirty.”

  “My kind of woman,” the Marksman says, getting to his feet.

  “Well, not in your condition right now, honey.”

  “Quiet. I hear something,” the male Hunter says.

  The wind rustles through the treetops. Twigs snap here and there. Dark figures scurry along in between the tree line. Faint squealing.

  “Harpies. I am never wrong with creature’s sounds,” the male Hunter says.

  “Don’t forget, harpies can entrance you. Man or woman makes no difference to them. Their sensual nature appeals to us all. Did everyone bring with them the bingleberry?” the Marksman says.

  They all nod.

  “Good. Then eat it now.”

  They open the small pouches on their belt and take out a small, bright purple berry shaped like an almond. They pop it into their mouths and chew hard. It’s got a sour taste and then turns dry and hard.

  “It’s like chewing on wood,” Dotty says.

  “Don’t complain. We didn’t bring any food. We may have to eat the bark of a tree to keep up our stamina,” Gavin says.

  They release their horses to give themselves a better chance at countering whatever comes at them.

  “There it is,” the Marksman says.

  They look beyond them and there sits a cave surrounded by tall evergreens. A glowing cobweb acts as a covering for the opening of the cave. A squeal comes from within the cave. A putrid smelling wind sweeps across the Hunters. It’s cold and warm at the same time. It rakes across the ground, pulling grass and dirt into the cave. The gravity of it makes the Hunters lose their footing. A deafening screech bellows. The wind explodes out of the cave. In it are harpies. They fly around the Hunters, swiping their talons but not connecting.

  Walking out of the cave, with her wings outstretched and truly gorgeous to behold, is the harpy queen. Her wings are a lot different from her underlings. They are dragonfly-like with radiant colors that twinkle as she walks. Harpies are always naked in their true forms. None are as attractive as the queen. With her slim waist, large breasts, and curvy hips tempting all to touch her. Her hair sprawled out on the air as if someone was ruffling it from underneath.

  “We have come to inquire after your presence here in the Wilderness, so close to one of the seven kingdoms.” The way the Marksman
is talking, he sounds almost regal.

  She makes a noise that sounds like chicken sizzling in a skillet. Her younglings disappear into the shadows of the trees. She walks up to Gavin. Inhales his scent and lets out a moan. “I remember you, Gavin Dragniss.”

  The Marksman readies an arrow and aims it for her heart.

  “I remember you as well, Elsa Falconclaw.”

  “I will only talk to you, Gavin. You showed my kin kindness once. I will always be in your debt.”

  Gavin waves the Marksman down. He reluctantly lowers his arrow. “Do you mean Dragmoore harm? Prince Remy was in the Wilderness earlier and one of your younglings attempted to devour him.”

  “I know. She was killed by your Marksman. I understand that I cannot exact revenge for one of my stupid younglings, but I will never show him any kindness. If he and I should cross paths outside Dragmoore, I will not hesitate to kill him. Obviously I will not do it now.”

  The Marksman steps up. “Why wait? I am ready now.” His hand ready on his dagger.

  She bares her fangs. Her magenta eyes brighten.

  “Stop it,” Gavin says.

  “I came to see if the rumors were true,” she says, retracting her fangs.

  “What rumors?”

  She points to the sky above them. “That dragons have returned to Dragmoore.”

  A deep, hoarse roar echoes around them.

  “Dragons?” Dotty says.

  “Nonsense,” Gavin says.

  “Is it?”

  A swooping sound comes over them. The shadow is immense. It nearly takes up their entire view of the sky. A powerful wind comes with it. The massive shape flies on.

  “It’s heading for Dragmoore,” the Marksman says. He runs for his horse. He is off before the others even make it to their horses.

  Gavin rides up to the harpy queen. “If a dragon has returned to Dragmoore, it can only mean one thing.”

  “They sent it. Farewell, Gavin.”

  Gavin pulls his horse around and rides off down the main road. Wild thoughts race through his mind as he rides hard to catch up to the others. After all this time, a dragon returns to Dragmoore. He wants to imagine that it’s a dream. If dragons did return, it’d shake the foundation of all that the king has built. After getting accustomed to dragons never returning, people can’t live side by side with them now. People have changed too much. But who are humans to tell dragons that their birthplace is no longer theirs?