Heir of Dragmoore- The Veiled Haven

by Jennifer Ann Schlag

  “If that is what you truly wish.”

  “It is. With your daughter by his side. I never should have made the deal with Queen Galaria. Elves are foul creatures. They must… be destroyed.”

  “You made that deal to protect your brother. But it backfired. Because of me. This is all my fault. Galaria has always wanted to open my heart and feast on it,” Gavin says.

  “Can you blame her? You might be the only man that she has truly loved. I thought she loved me a little too. She tricked me. She took my heart and cursed it.” He tries to sit up. “You have to tell Talen about the elf queen. She is…” the king’s breath is fading. “…coming for her. The dragon will betray her.”

  “That dragon will never betray Talen. He loves her.”

  “She’s going to make him betray her. He’s still young. He can be persuaded.”

  “It’s a trap?” Gavin thought he was done with the elf queen. Years ago, the last time he saw her, they had said their peace to each other. Both agreed that the chapter on their story had to end. It infuriates him to know that she is still edging closer to get to him.

  “I tried to warn you, Gavin. Galaria wanted you to marry her. When you chose her sister, she vowed to get even,” Bessy says.

  “The elves are coming to Dragmoore.” The king falls asleep.

  Gavin and Bessy hurry out of the palace, down to gather the Hunters up. With the Marksman gone, the Hunters feel safer. They never fully trusted him the way they trust Gavin. Aside from being happy to see him out of the dungeon, they are also happy that he is taking charge of the entire situation. In Gavin’s small house there is barely enough room for everyone but he felt it was the safest place.

  “There’s not much time to prepare you for what is about to happen. Short story is there are dragons in the world again. They were being held prisoner by the Duggs under the orders of the elf queen. The elves are coming to Dragmoore. They are not coming in peace.”

  “How can we possibly fight the elves?” a Hunter asks.

  “Unless you have a mage in your back pocket, I don’t see it happening,” another Hunter says.

  “I am sea druid. I can assist in multiple ways.”

  “But you’re not as powerful as the elves,” Dotty says.

  “Thanks for the confidence boost.”

  “Look, we have to hold them off as long as we can. The king is very weak. He won’t survive a direct attack against him. Now, we have never backed down from anything. Can I rely on you to fight by my side?”

  The Hunters nod.

  Chapter Eight

  Deegus waits for Talen and Remy to say their goodbyes to the Marksman.

  “He is a good friend, he will not lead you astray. We must say goodbye again. I fear that we will continue this terrible cycle.”

  “I want you to send word to me every so many days about my father and Bessy. I want to know, as I’m sure Remy does, about everything that is happening in Dragmoore.”

  “I will.” He pulls her into a tight embrace. He starts leaning down, but instead of heading for her mouth, he kisses her cheek. The way he lingers gives alarm to Remy.

  The Marksman bows to Remy. The prince brings him into a hug. “Remember your place, Marksman. Talen is mine to do with as I please.” He releases the Marksman, expecting to see fear behind his eyes. For a split second, the Marksman’s will is broken, until he remembers that nothing is certain until they return from the Veiled Haven.

  “You won’t be needing the horse anymore,” Deegus says.

  “Where are we supposed to keep our things?” Remy asks.

  “You carry them. But you will be riding on me.”

  Talen says goodbye to the Brimbar stallion then hands him over to the Marksman. He mounts it gracefully. She stares up at him in a way that makes his heart race. “From this light, you look almost handsome, Desmond.”

  “Don’t flatter me too much. I don’t want to kill your prince in a duel.” He rides off.

  Remy puts down his backpack. “This is a mess.”

  “Deegus, do you have a larger pack that we can use that will fit everything?”

  He goes inside his house, rummages through an old chest and takes out a large sack that could fit an adult sized human. He comes outside and hands it to her.

  “That is ideal,” she says. She starts packing away the tents, blankets, and food. The weapons fit nicely as well. She almost contemplates putting Remy in there if he won’t stop complaining. She looks down at the dagger strapped to her belt. If she is going to use any weapon it will be the dagger. It’s small enough to feel comfortable in her hand. Also she can have the option to either kill or wound her enemy. More importantly, she is a lousy shot with an arrow.

  They make their way down the dark road.

  “We are taking a different route.”

  “Desmond said that he mapped out the fastest route,” Talen says.

  “But there is a safer one. Trust me, you don’t want to go through Tuckahoe forest.”

  “Why?” Remy asks.

  “Because it doesn’t respond well to dragons. Its thorns have been known to kill dragons. And since dragons possess one of the toughest skins to penetrate, that says something, doesn’t it? He’s just a wee dragon, his skin will be torn up badly. Imagine what the thorns will do to us.”

  “What route shall we take then?” Talen says.

  “We are going to take a ship to the other side of the mountain that separates Tuckahoe forest from Glistenberry Forest. When we dock at the South Port, we shall make our way onto Desmond’s planned route. We will be closer to the Veiled Haven.”

  Talen looks down at the map. Glistenberry Forest. South Port. They are all in the vicinity of the elf city Evervale.

  The Marksman rides up to Dragmoore and right away knows something is different. The farmers aren’t outside. The palace has a dark cloud circling over it. He is pulled behind one of the farmers’ homes.

  “Gavin. Bessy.”

  “We are the only two Hunters that remain. The elf queen has taken the city. Most of the guards are either under her spell or dead. Jexxer is keeping the king’s bedroom protected but his magic is fading. He is not as strong as his father was. He may never gain the status of elder mage,” Gavin says.

  “The prince’s advisor has been turned to Galaria’s side. She’s going to use him to influence Remy when he returns,” Bessy says.

  “She believes that the prince is on his task of worth and that Talen is hiding somewhere in the city.”

  “That’s good that she doesn’t know she’s with Remy.”

  “She has placed one of the deadliest elf curses upon the city. It’s in its final stages. Once that cloud is gone, all that are under her spell shall resume their lives but not as themselves,” Bessy says.

  Guards come down to the farmland. Gavin, Bessy, and the Marksman run for the Wilderness.

  “We have to kill her. Together, me and Bessy, we can maybe do it.”

  “Desmond, the magic that flows through her is almost matched to the Masters,” Gavin says.

  “Don’t insult them.” He aims an arrow at one of the guards. “How are you two not affected?”

  “When I saw the elves coming, I placed a protective spell on myself and Gavin. I should have tried to save the other Hunters, but Gavin is all that mattered to me.”

  “You’ve got as many women after you as I have.”

  “You don’t have the one woman that you want pining for you.”

  “Bessy, my daughter will choose to be with whomever she ends up loving. If she remembered her past, remembered everything that happened here, I believe she would choose you, Desmond.”

  The Marksman brings the arrow back, grabs Bessy’s face, and kisses her. It shocks her, makes Gavin salute Bessy, and has the Marksman wondering why he did that. When Gavin said that he believes Talen would choose him, he just couldn’t handle it. The feelings couldn’t be contained. He had to let them out.

  “Forgive me, Bessy.”

  The
forest provides the cover they need to sneak around the city. They come to the foot of the valley. Looking down, it seems to be vacant. But the caves. Anyone could be hiding in those. Not having much of a choice, the three go down. The bogs smell terrible today. Like their scent has been intensified. Not only did they smell like rotting eggs, but now they smell like vomit on top of rotting eggs. They run into a cave. They walk to the back of the cave and go down one of the connecting tunnels. Down another connecting tunnel and they end up inside a larger cave. The Marksman looks around under some loose rocks on the floor. Gavin and Bessy stand guard.

  “I kept some of my old druid relics here when I became a Hunter. Thinking I was leaving behind my old life, I never thought I’d need to use them again.”

  “I know this cave,” Bessy says.

  “Yup. My father placed a powerful druid spell over it. That’s why I chose it. Every time I’ve come in here I’ve heard the whispers of my father.”

  Bessy parts from Gavin and transforms into a rat. She scurries along the cave walls, sniffing and pawing at various spots.

  “She has been fueled with a passion that I have never saw in her before. I guess that has amplified her spirit.”

  “Maybe that kiss ignited something?” Gavin says.

  The Marksman goes on defense. “What are you implying?”

  “Have you begun to warm up to Bessy?”

  “Gavin, one day, you and I need to talk.”

  The rat starts squealing and jumping up and down.

  “She’s found it.” The Marksman runs over to the rat. “Don’t think I’m kissing you again, and especially not as a rat.”

  The rat transforms into Bessy. “I’m excited that you kept these. I haven’t seen these in so long. My own were destroyed. My father was not happy when I left to become a Hunter.”

  The Marksman gathers up the two round green crystals and an emerald necklace. He hands the crystals to Bessy. “I don’t need them. They aren’t bound to me. They were a gift. Anyone can use them.”

  She brings the crystals to her lips and kisses them. They begin glowing.

  The Marksman hesitates putting on the necklace.

  “What’s wrong?” Gavin says.

  “If I put this on, I’ll never be the same. I’ve suppressed all my abilities for a good portion of my life. I’ve put almost all of my magic into this necklace. I guess I am afraid of the person I will become.”

  Gavin puts both of his hands on the Marksman’s shoulders. Rubs his fingers along the top. “It’s better to stay true to who we are rather than suppress it.”

  The Marksman puts on the necklace. A great thunder bellows from inside the cave walls. The emerald glows brightly. The Marksman’s body lifts off the ground. Green light shines out from his fingertips.

  “You must speak the spell, Desmond,” Bessy says.

  The Marksman’s eyes light up. “Dareem.” Wind starts swirling underneath him. “Katoon.” The wind swells up around him as if it were a giant wave being sucked from the ocean. “Incartus Desmond Dragmoore.” His entire body glows a rich emerald green. The skin on his face slowly tears. He squirms. A large piece of skin slowly rolls down, hangs by a thread. He wriggles in pain. As more skin falls from his face, a ghostly skeleton takes over.

  “I forgot how painful this is for Desmond,” Gavin says. “He doesn’t deserve this.”

  “Is that why you don’t want to admit that he cares for Talen? You find him unworthy?”

  “Bessy, show a little sympathy towards your own.”

  “Does the skeleton scare you? You know that’s only his bones accepting the spiritual world once more. It has always pecked away at that invisible wall he put up. He’ll never be able to put that wall up again. Neither will I.”

  The emerald necklace cracks and then flies apart. The light around the Marksman fades instantly. His feet touch the ground. His eyes turns a light jade color. His skin is renewed.

  Bessy gets down on her knees.

  “I don’t expect you to bow, Gavin.”

  “You think you can take on the elves now?”

  “I will place the crystals where they need to go and restore my own spirit. Thank you, Desmond.” Bessy runs down a tunnel that leads to the outside.

  “Marksman?”

  “Don’t call me Marksman anymore. Call me Desmond.” He stumbles.

  “You alright?”

  “The power is a bit much. It’s different for me, because of my lineage. Hence the skeleton.”

  “Just take it easy. I’m here.”

  Gavin acts like a crutch for Desmond to lean on while they make it to the mouth of the cave.

  “Oh, Gavin, imagine how Talen will react when she suddenly finds out who her aunt is, who her mother really was and why she died.”

  “Which one do you think is worse? Her remembering who you are, or her finding out what kind of family she really belongs to?”

  Desmond is not the one to answer that. It’ll be up to Talen.

  Deegus certainly covers a lot of ground as a Wilderness bear.

  Before Talen can ask where they are, where they’ve been, they are at the top of a hill that overlooks the North Port. Kip takes in the view of the ocean crashing against a beach and the waves spilling over onto the docks soaking anyone who stands too close. He leaps off the hill and glides down the path. Talen runs after him.

  “How much is the boat ride?” Remy asks.

  “How much do you have?” Deegus laughs as he walks down the path.

  Talen catches Kip before he enters the seaport village. It consists of little cottages made out of rocks and clay that sit on huge stone pillars with chimneys smoking away. She rubs her arms. No matter the temperature inland, the sea air always makes things feel colder. She’s never smelled salty air as an adult. Her memories of travelling as a child exist somewhere in the back of her mind. The smells both irritate and delight her senses. She is hopeful for the time at sea to pull those childhood memories back out. Remy comes over and takes in the view with her. Why must he stand close to her? She gives him a warm smile which he returns. She quickly looks away. He laughs. He drags her over to the edge of the dock. A wave comes up and almost get them soaked. She has never allowed herself to be playful with other people. But with Remy she welcomes that playfulness.

  There are two ships docked with one allowing passengers to board and the other a crew is cleaning. By the looks of the second ship it is used for transporting supplies. Merchant ships aren’t allowed to transport passengers. Something about liability and the security of the goods on board. The merchant ship is much smaller and is a rusty brown color with faded black sails. The other ship is pristine. Light oak with beautiful bleach white sails. Everything that is brass on it shines in the sunlight.

  Deegus heads for the Port Master’s building, which is the long, rectangular building sitting at the beginning of the dock. Its stone walls and pitched roof give it a character all its own. Next to its chimney there is a weather vane. Its topper is a small tree sculpture made of red iron.

  Talen thinks back to her father’s compass that her mother gave him as a birthday present. He went out on one of his hunting trips for the king and ended up losing it. It too had a tree sculpture engraved on its cover. He would tell her certain places that existed in the north, south, east, and west and would point on the compass to the direction as a way to help her remember key places to go to in case she ever got lost. Not that she ever ventured out of Dragmoore on her own, but he always knew one day she’d grow tired of being in the city with no sense of adventure beyond. She of course hadn’t retained any of the information. The few maps that existed detailing the world of Dranir were often poorly made. Most travelers got lost on their way to their destination. The weather vane’s arrow turns to the south. The sails on the ships flutter. Most of the deadliest storms come from the south.

  Talen receives a few odd looks as she walks around with Kip at her side. This seaport is a hard working village. Fishermen are pulling in their
nets from the docks. Women are looking them over for the best fish to keep. Others are walking around inspecting the pillars stability. During high tide, it is expected that this place floods a little. Or during a storm, the water must hit the homes hard.

  Kip leaps onto one of the nets and ends up getting tangled.

  “Get this dragon out of here!” a fisherman yells.

  “I am so sorry,” Talen says. She tries to get Kip out of the tangled mess. “What have you done? You really needed to get that fish?”

  I ate all the bear meat. I am sorry. I am a growing dragon.

  It’s all right.”

  “You… can talk to the dragon?” another fisherman says as he offers his knife to her to cut the dragon free.

  Talen takes it with a strained look. “I really don’t want to explain it.” She starts cutting the net.

  “No need to.”

  The fishermen start whispering to each other.

  She knows what they whisper. That she is a Master.

  Remy comes running over to be the hero. “What happened?”

  “Nothing, my prin… I mean… dear.”

  Remy’s eyes shift from side to side at the fishermen as they wait for his reaction to her. “Right. Glad to see that you are safe, darling.” He reaches his hand out to her. She takes it. He brings her up to him. Right to his face.

  Kip is free and running around with fish in his mouth.

  It’s like everyone is waiting for them to kiss. After all, she called him dear and he called her darling. It’s to be assumed they are in a relationship.

  Kip charges off down the beach.

  “Kip!” Talen gets free from Remy’s gaze.

  “I’ll pay for new nets,” Remy says.

  The fishermen grumble amongst each other.

  Kip glides out onto a rock sitting in the water close to shore. Talen stops right before the water hits her shoes. Stares out at the sea, at Kip, at the sun making the water shine. It overwhelms her to the point that she starts crying. She can sense that someone is coming. She turns and sees Remy searching through the sand.