Heir of Dragmoore- The Veiled Haven

by Jennifer Ann Schlag

  About halfway down, he spots an overturned caravan. He draws his sword. “Anyone there?”

  No answer.

  “You smell anything, boy?”

  The stallion shakes his head.

  Desmond slides down. Careful with his movements. He approaches the caravan and finds blood splattered all over it and the road. Tearing through the canvas of a carriage is Elsa.

  “Desmond.” She looks to be half dead. Blood up and down her body.

  “Elsa?” Desmond takes her into his arms. He looks over her wounds. “What attacked you?”

  “The heartfruit.” Her voice is weak.

  “What can I do?”

  “Kill me. With your druid magic.”

  “I am not using that shit ever again. It’s turning me into a monster.”

  “You’re afraid it will send you mad like your father?”

  “He went too far. I can feel myself going too far.”

  “For Talen?”

  “Where is she, Elsa?”

  “If I tell you, will you kill me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Funny. We said we’d kill each other the next time we met. And here we are. Desmond, it’s coming. The Waking Ripple.”

  Desmond puts his sword to the harpy queen’s neck. “Where is Talen?”

  “Your druid friend betrayed her. And Logan is with her.”

  Desmond’s reaction suggests that he knows who Logan is. “If Logan has come down from the Veiled Haven… that means…”

  “He has come for Talen. He visited her once before.”

  “That was who came to Dragmoore? I should have known. Why didn’t I know?”

  “Because he has grown in power since the last time you saw him.” She coughs up blood. “Kill me, Desmond.” She grips his sleeve. “Please. The pain is too much.”

  “I have so many wrongs to rectify.” His eyes turn emerald green.

  The druid power that runs through his veins breaks free from his body. Finds the harpy queen. She grips her chest. Her chest cracks in half. The folds of the skin fall to the side. Out pops an object. She closes her eyes and her face is stuck in a half alive, half dead pose.

  Desmond picks up the half of the heartfruit. It is shaped like a heart, at least half of one. It’s bright red with dark-red veins coursing through it. He crushes it. Blood spills down his hand. He sits there holding the harpy queen’s body for a moment. Always death or something bad surrounds him. His eyes flash to emerald green.

  “Forgive me, Elsa. I cannot become what my father is.” The blood travels back up his hand. Flesh and blood morph together to form a normal looking heart. It starts beating. His eyes remain emerald green. “I’ll make sure that Galaria pays for her crimes. And I’ll destroy the heartfruit trees she has.”

  He stands. The heart continues its thumping. He isn’t holding it anymore. He looks down. The blood next to Elsa’s lifeless corpse moves back into her body. Her chest closes up. Her eyes shoot open. A loud gasp escapes her lips.

  He gets on his horse and rides off down the main road. A loud screech bellows behind him. He may somehow regret his decision but he knows it is the right decision. Enough people have suffered because of the elf queen.

  Felp escorts Deegus down a pale yellow painted corridor. “No. I don’t wanna go. Please release me.”

  “A druid scared? I have seen everything now.”

  Deegus is powerless against the force that is pulling him along. Whatever magic or device that it may be, he cannot fight it.

  Felp opens a solid white door. “Now, you behave while the transition takes place. If you displease me, I’ll be forced to kill you.”

  Deegus is thrown into a room by the force that holds him. Felp closes the door and locks it.

  Inside the plain white room the floor is glass, showing off the ocean that rushes by. The ceiling is also glass but does not show the outside. Only the reflection of the water. A section of the floor opens and out of the water comes a long, slender arm.

  “No, no. Let me out!”

  The hand grips the side of the opening. “If you do as I say, you’ll go free. Don’t be stupid, druid.”

  Deegus scratches at the door.

  “Come here.”

  “No.” He bangs on the door. He attempts to use magical words to break the door. He exhausts himself tapping into every druid power he has.

  “Are you done?”

  Deegus slides down the door and collapses onto the floor.

  “Druid?”

  “Kill me.”

  “Get over here and drop down into the water. I’m going to set you free.”

  “I don’t want to become a monster of the darkness.”

  Deegus finds himself crawling to the opening. He peers over the side.

  Under the water is a face like an angel. “Come.” She reaches up with both hands and places them on his arms. She slowly pulls him down into the water. The opening closes.

  Buckman extends the plank of doom. He pushes three crewmen out into the sea. They don’t make a sound as they hit the water. The sea witches cover them like it’s a feeding frenzy.

  Rover does the same.

  Thinking that will appease the sea witches, the two captains are ready to sail back to the port and dock.

  Remy comes back to full consciousness. He looks over at the other ship and sees Talen staring out at the water. His heart fills with despair.

  All seems well, until a dark shadow comes.

  Chaos erupts on board the Aster.

  “She tricked us!” Rover says.

  Tentacles twist up the sides of the Aster. The Gracken has come.

  “Push it hard, Allistar. Don’t let it win!”

  Rover may care about and respect Buckman, but right now he hates every word he’s saying.

  “Talen, stay close to me.”

  Talen grabs Kip and joins Rover at the wheel.

  “If she wants to take my ship, I won’t go down without a fight.”

  Talen would give anything to tap into her elf powers right now. The tension between the elves, druids, and sea druids is implacable. She thinks back to what Maria said. If she marries Desmond, they can stop whatever darkness is coming. If she marries Remy she may be happy and they’ll be a strong union, but that won’t save the world. Will it? Can these visions be wrong?

  “I can try to help.”

  “Keep your head down.”

  The rest of the crew aboard the Aster keeps their cool. No matter what happens, they are prepared for the worse.

  Talen looks out over the tentacles to see Remy. She prays that he remains safe. But it seems the Gracken is only interested in the Aster.

  Remy fights with Maria.

  “You aren’t risking this ship.”

  “Talen is one of my citizens and she’s going to be my wife.”

  “Your wife? Really? Not after the story I fed her.”

  Remy hits Maria in her stomach. Her eyes light up and lifts Remy off his feet.

  “Maria, let me down.”

  “You think after being with an elf I would fear a druid?”

  Remy kicks at her but she won’t let him connect.

  “Will you stay on this ship and not act like a damned fool?”

  “But Talen.”

  “The Gracken isn’t going to hurt her.”

  Remy stops struggling.

  Maria lets him down.

  The tentacles are tearing apart the Aster.

  “Abandon ship!” Rover screams.

  Rover’s crew jumps overboard. The tentacles smash down on the water, killing every single person trying to escape.

  “Why is it attacking us?”

  “I don’t want to think it’s because of you.”

  “Let the ship go. Jump with me.”

  Talen locks eyes with the tentacle that has the red eye. She walks over to it.

  “Talen, don’t!”

  “Who sent you?”

  The tentacle sways back and forth in front of her.

 
; “You can understand me. Answer me.”

  If you want to save the captain, leave now. You shouldn’t have come so close to the island. And you shouldn’t have sacrificed those men to the sea witches. Punishment must come. I am giving you this one chance to save this captain.

  Talen turns away from the tentacle. “Captain Rover, we must go.”

  “A captain does not leave his ship.”

  She grabs Kip and jumps into the water.

  Rover lets go of the wheel. He jumps into the water.

  They bob up and down as they watch the Aster being pulled down into the water.

  “I didn’t think you were going to follow.”

  “I don’t want to meet a watery grave because of the Gracken.”

  Remy runs over to Buckman. “Are we going to get them?”

  “Aye. Maria, get out there.”

  Remy climbs up into the crow’s nest. To get a better view of where Talen may be. He knows she is still alive. He can’t explain how he’d feel it if she wasn’t.

  Talen and Rover hang onto a piece of the Aster. Kip is keeping himself afloat. “I think I see Remy.” She waves. “Remy!”

  Maria lowers the rowboat.

  Remy’s stomach is like a knot. “Talen?” He sees her waving. “Talen!”

  Remy climbs out of the crow’s nest. He climbs down into the rowboat.

  “You should stay on the ship.”

  “You’re nuts if you think I’m not coming. Row out, Maria.”

  Maria starts rowing out.

  Talen lets go of the piece of ship she was hanging onto. She starts swimming out to the rowboat. Kip pulls Rover off the wreckage.

  Remy stands up in the boat. Maria pulls him down. He tries to take over the rowing but Maria pushes him back in his seat.

  “I swear it’s like talking to a deaf person.”

  “Just because your heart is cold doesn’t mean everyone else has to be the same.”

  Remy has had enough of being told what to do. His father tried to control his life. Now Maria is trying to control his life. At least Talen didn’t try that.

  “I’m just looking out for you,” Maria says, handing over the oars. “I know what being in love can do to a person.”

  “No one can understand the love I have for Talen.”

  Remy takes the oars and rows hard for Talen and Rover. The boat comes up alongside them. Kip is the first to jump in. Maria helps Rover in. Remy grabs Talen and pulls her up. Maria fiercely rows back to the Seraphina. Remy holds onto Talen and she is prepared to let him hold her forever.

  As they climb up onto the deck of the ship, Maria takes Talen to the side. “Remy is a mess. You’d do well to console him. We have about an hour before we dock.”

  Talen and Remy look at each other, unsure what to do next.

  “Go on then,” Maria whispers to Talen.

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “That you don’t keep toying with his heart. Talk to him.”

  Talen smiles at Remy.

  Remy takes a step towards Talen. “I was so worried about you.”

  Talen turns away from him. Why is everyone worried? It’s like no one thinks she can handle anything on her own.

  Remy puts his arms around her. He brings her close to his chest. His lips touch the tip of her ear. “Did you think I wouldn’t come for you?”

  She turns around in his embrace. “You really care for me?”

  “Captain Buckman risked his job to get me here. I couldn’t wait for the other ship.”

  “Where did you go before?”

  “The elf queen took me to her palace. I don’t know what she planned to gain by doing so. But she released me. Sent me back to the South Port. We must leave here, now. Get to the Veiled Haven and be done with all of this nonsense. Then we can…”

  She reaches up and pulls his face down to hers. Kisses him. “I’m glad that you are safe.”

  Kip pushes his way in between them.

  “He’s massive,” Remy says.

  Talen hugs Kip and kisses his nose.

  Felp stands on a dock at Grecia watching the waves crashing against the beach. “I did what I had to.”

  “You want to wage war with the Masters?” a woman says.

  “Kylie, what would you have done differently?”

  Kylie lifts her white silk dress. Her exposed legs show off decayed skin. She fingers it and the skin crumbles. She lowers the dress.

  “I’ll fix that. When Talen sits on the throne, all will be well.”

  “You’ll fix it? You caused this to happen to me. I don’t care anymore if she sits on the throne.”

  “We are already in the process of dethroning your sister and setting up her murder.”

  Kylie turns over her hand. The skin on her palm is crumbling.

  “Your vision is your curse. If you hadn’t gone against your sister, she may have kept some of her sanity.”

  “She knows that I am usually right. I have seen Talen drain the magic from the Pools of Serenity. She restores the dragons hold on Dragmoore. Then she rules Dragmoore with Remy. What my sister has seen is her desires. I am looking out for the world’s fate.”

  Felp turns away from her and walks back towards the city.

  Kylie looks out at the water. Dark clouds rise on the horizon. “Your time is coming to an end soon too.” She glances over her shoulder at Felp who melts into the invisible building.

  Captain Buckman has risked a lot to bring Remy to Grecia. Now he is bringing everyone back to the South Port. The risk of losing his job is real. Sure, he saved his good friend and fellow captain Rover. That’s admirable. News of this will travel to Grecia. An investigation will happen with the Admiral overseeing the entire thing. The warning from Morga reminds him of how dangerous the world really is. How out of control the people are. The darkness is coming for everyone. Not land or sea will be safe ever again.

  Once more, Remy and Talen are given the captain’s cabin to sleep in. Buckman has instructed Rover to sleep with the rest of the crew. He fears anyone getting close to Remy and Talen right now. He won’t tell them that, but he has to be on guard from now on.

  Talen walks into the captain’s bedroom and finds a giant pillow on the floor. Kip heads for it and lays down.

  “Making a home for yourself I see.”

  Talen goes back up to the deck and finds Remy laughing with Maria. She shouldn’t be jealous of Maria but she is. Maria is a hundred times prettier. At least Talen thinks so. Remy is so taken with her storytelling.

  Buckman has ordered his cook to prepare a grand feast in honor of Captain Rover, but Talen has decided to skip the feast.

  While everyone is eating down at the captain’s table, Talen stays up top and listens to the sound of the ocean. If she does marry Remy, they need to discuss a few things about the women that paddle around him. A grunting sound interrupts her quiet time. Kip throws up on deck. She gives him a small hug. She is happy to be with her dragon again. She misses their pleasant conversations. She misses their frolicking at Dragmoore. Soon, they’ll be home. She misses her home.

  Remy comes onto the deck laughing. To the point that he is crying. Talen gives him a dirty look. He catches that. Not knowing what he has done wrong, he walks over to her cautiously.

  Kip jumps up on him. “How about you give me and Talen a few minutes alone?”

  Kip waddles down the stairs into the captain’s cabin.

  Talen turns away sharply.

  “What is bothering you?”

  “You, Logan, Desmond, everyone under the sun and the moon.”

  “That’s a lot of people. Care to tell me what everyone has done wrong to you?”

  “Did you sleep with Maria on your way over to Grecia?” She can’t look at him.

  He grins. “Is that what is bothering you?”

  “Oh, you don’t deny it?”

  She grips one of the ropes. He unclasps her fingers from around the rope and turns her towards him. “The only thought I had when I got on t
his ship was to find you. Why would I be thinking about another woman?”

  “You’re attracted to her. I can tell. She’s gorgeous.”

  “I am not attracted to her.”

  “Liar. Even Logan would be honest about it. So would Desmond.”

  “And we are back to them. How about you tell me what happened between you and Logan?”

  For some reason she is offended. She thought he would know her better. He is putting her in the same league as Logan. He screws around with any woman he wants. Desmond only gets together with a woman when his feelings for Talen overpower him. Remy has never been with a woman. Funnily enough, she wants to be intimate with Remy. Knowing they’d share something so precious for the first time makes it sound better. She can’t tell him that. He might suggest they do it right now, right here on the ship. She may welcome it. Her emotions are unhinged. She is vulnerable.

  “Well, let’s have it.”

  “Nothing happened. It’s almost like you wished something did.”

  “No, definitely not.”

  “He is irresistible. Maybe it’s because he is a Master too. You realize that you are one as well.”

  “What? Are you suggesting that we invite Logan into our bed because we are all Masters?”

  She blushes thinking about a naked Remy and a naked Logan with her being naked as well. “Of course not. But you and I don’t even have “our” bed.”

  “You frustrate me to no end. No wonder I am so enamored with you. Every single part of my body wants to do something to you. Not all of it being pleasurable.”

  She bites down hard on her lips. “I’m sorry.”

  “All of our belongings are safe at the South Port by the way. I coerced Logan into helping me retrieve them.”

  “I have missed you.”

  “Talen?”

  “Yes.”

  “You can say no, I’ll manage the rejection, but I need to ask you something.”

  Her heart leaps into her throat. “Are you going to ask me to kiss you?”

  “To kiss me? Why would I ask you that?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because you’re happy. It was silly of me to say that. Go on.”