by David Ekrut
Though smaller than the one in the castle, the furnishings were no less extravagant. Zaak sat at the head with Jasmine to his right. Zarah took the place on his left.
Elwin had always sat closer to the foot, so he was surprised when Zaak gestured for him to sit next to Zarah near the head. Without the slightest hesitation, Feffer took the place next to Elwin. Zaak and Jasmine exchanged a long glance, at the end of which Jasmine nodded.
“Feffer,” Zaak said. “It has come to my attention that you have saved the life of the queen with your actions.”
“I did?”
“Yes,” Jasmine affirmed. “Had you not stopped my tamings, there is a good chance the dragon would have taken me in the same fashion it took Zeth. You placed yourself between the black savant and myself to save me from a terrible fate. Such bravery must be commended.”
“Agreed,” Zaak said. “For this reason, and for the valors you have shown in the rescue of Elwin from the hands of Zeth, it would be my pleasure to promote you to the rank of Elite Guardian of the White Hand. If you accept the position, you will stand as a personal guard to members of the royal family. Would you honor us with your continued devotion?”
“Yes.” Feffer’s bottom lip quivered as he bowed. “Thank you, my lord. Uh, my king. I accept.”
“It is you, who I owe thanks. When we return to Justice, we will hold a ceremony in your honor.”
“Well done, Feffer,” Elwin said, feeling a sense of pride. “You deserve it.”
“Now,” Jasmine said, “we must speak of dragons. I have received reports from other elementalists visiting me in the shadow realm. Several have risked the dangers of the Seeker’s realm to bring messages from inland. When we tame the Elements, dragons will come. We are not sure by what means they are able to do so, but when they do appear, the dragons strip the essence from those who are taming. So, we must remain cautious until we know how to defend against their attacks.”
“So it is confirmed then?” Zaak’s voice sounded tired.
Jasmine nodded.
“Teblin will use this against us.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “On my way in, I heard an Inquisitor speaking in the square. They are wasting no time in going after the elementalists.”
“We can deal with them later,” Zaak said. “First, let’s discuss the bigger concern. What do we know of the dragons?”
“They are using words of power,” Zarah said. “Like they did in my Visions.”
Jasmine nodded. “This may be the case. As the prophecies proclaimed, powers once lost have reappeared. Until we can understand the words of power, the dragons have us at a major disadvantage.”
“When are we going to discuss the wyvern in the room?” Feffer asked. “The prophecies also said Elwin would be the one to Awaken them, or so you have said. How can we trust the prophecies at all?”
“You are not wrong,” Jasmine said. “But there is much we do not know. Many scholars believed the dragons would wake on their own, three thousand years to the day they were forced to slumber. The Age of Reason ended when Abaddon defeated the dragonkin found a way to take over the shadow realm. After the chaos of the seeker’s rising settled and our ancestors rebuilt, we calculated the time of this monumental event and declared a new age so that we would never forget our failures.”
“It is only 2999 A.S.,” Zarah said. “Do you believe we miscalculated the year?”
“Quite possibly,” Jasmine said. “But regardless of how it happened, the dragons are here now. We must seek a means to defeat them. I do not see a way without these incantations. Once we return to the capital, I will scour our libraries for books on the magi. Early in my studies, I remember reading about an ancient order. At the time, I took such musings as fiction, but now I am less certain.”
“Stories in an ancient book,” Zaak said, tone grim. “A flimsy shield for our kingdom.”
Jasmine nodded. “Agreed, but what other choice do we have?”
“This can’t be a coincidence,” Elwin said.
Zaak made a gesture for him to continue. “Speak your mind.”
“I didn’t have time to read much of it, what with Jasmine training me around the clock and all. But, I have this tome. Asalla, an old book merchant, gave it to me last year before I came into my gifts with the Elements. Anyway, it speaks of powers in words and gives the annunciation for a language. At the time, I didn’t think anything of it. But now, I’m not so sure.”
For several seconds, the only sounds came from the ticking of the water clock. Elwin could see hope begin to glitter in each of their eyes. He felt some himself.
“More likely than not, this is a fictional tale,” Jasmine said at last, “but the moment we reach the castle, I wish to see this tome. How soon can we depart?”
“At once,” Zaak said. “The captain of the Dancing Lady has been ready to sail for a tenday. I will send word to the crew we will go inland instead of to sea.”
Jasmine had half-risen when the outer door opened. Servants entered, carrying steaming trays. She settled back into her seat.
“Eat quickly,” she said. “I do not expect a traveling merchant’s gift to be our salvation, but we cannot leave a single stone unturned. We cannot live in fear of the dragons. We will not.”
“There could be another way,” Zarah said. “I have thought long on this. The dragon told Breaklin he did not bear the bonded blade. What did he mean by this? Then, those dragons feared Father’s sword. Both fled when he faced them, when they did not flinch away from Master Breaklin. What if your blade has the ability to fight them?”
“It is an artifact of power,” Zaak said.
Jasmine said, “And you are bonded to the weapon.”
“Little good that did me,” he said. “I could not reach the cursed beasts. Still, it is something to ponder.”
Chapter 5
Not the Same
Dearest Anetia,
You are most kind to offer a place for me in Trammel, but I need to work without so much political oversight. In contrast to my previous words, it pains me to leave the Makers, but I am journeying with the Keepers to their stronghold. To forestall a bounty on my head, I am creating a simulacrum of my body and faking my death, but I cannot deceive you. I hope you understand how dear this makes you to me. I lament the pain my “death” will cause my family, but I trust you to keep my secrets.
Now that I am amongst progressive thinkers, I carry no regrets. I am astounded with the discoveries of the Keepers. They have welcomed me as one of their own and share freely in their knowledge. Amongst other amazing feats, my new order has devised ways to commune with the dragons directly and have been allied with them during the entirety of the Great Slumber. Though the dragons have essences, they are confined within their stony cocoons and cannot wander through the shadow realm as the elementalists do. However, we are able to reach their consciousness through the Keeper’s incantation.
This will likely be my last letter for some time. I will devise a means for us to continue our correspondence. We have lost far too much time already.
With all my love,
~R., 2992 A.S.
~
Feffer walked onto the deck of the ship, trying to ignore the queasy feeling in his stomach. Had that dragon not shown up, he’d still be captive. After half-a-month of traveling on this death trap, he thanked the Lifebringer for sparing him from the months-long journey across the Tranquil Sea. Granted, sending a dragon to destroy the vessel had been a bit extreme, but well worth it by his estimates.
The deck shifted, causing him to stumble to the rail. He held on with both hands, willing the contraption to be steady beneath his feet.
“Still sea sick?”
Ready with a sarcastic retort, he looked to his left and swallowed his first reply, letting it settle next to his churning bile. Elwin’s bright blues stared at him with deep con
cern.
“I’ll live,” Feffer said.
Elwin leaned his elbows against the rail and peered over at the racing water. Feffer dared not follow his friend’s gaze. Looking down would be the end of him. Instead, he closed his eyes and felt the breeze on his cheeks.
“We should be there today,” Elwin said. “No more than an hour. Or so Zarah tells me.”
Feffer nodded, regretting the motion immediately. His stomach lurched, and he spewed his lunch overboard. When the heaving ended, he spat until most of the acid taste was gone.
“Better?” Elwin asked.
“Actually,” Feffer took a deep breath, “yes. And I’ll be even better in an hour. Can’t wait to get off this thing.”
“I don’t mind it. Besides, what is waiting for us when we get back?”
“I heard from the sailors that the castle and docks are virtually untouched. Thanks to a traitor lifting the front gate, there wasn’t a whole lot of damage to the buildings or city wall.” Feffer wouldn’t let himself speak his brother’s name. With his father dead, Elwin was his only family now.
“Yeah. I heard the same.” Elwin’s eyes looked past him, and he stared blankly for several seconds. Clearly, he was troubled.
“So what’s bothering you?”
Elwin opened his mouth as if to speak, but no words came out.
“Whatever it is,” Feffer said, “you can tell me. I’m always here for you, Elwin.”
“I know. I just … it’s difficult to say aloud.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The war with Bain. With the dragons here, what will become of it?”
“What does it matter? The dragons will cripple Bain’s army as much as ours. Besides, by all reports, he’s abandoned the island.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. He’s gone. So is my father. What he did to Drenen must be answered for.”
Feffer finally understood. “You want revenge.”
“Yes. And the anger I’m feeling with everything we’ve lost … What if I am like him?”
“Like who? Bain? Not a chance.”
“He’s my father. My real father.”
“No. He isn’t. And you aren’t like him. You are Elwin thumping Escari. Bravest person I know. And I’m proud to call you brother and friend. Anyone who says different can answer to me.”
“Thank you, Feffer. But I need to know where I come from. More than that, I need to fight him. How can I do that if I can’t tame?”
“Oh. Right. The taming.” Feffer shrugged. “You could learn to use a sword.”
“I’ve lost too much to give up my gifts. My parents, your father and so many dead or gone or worse. And for what? For the dragons to rule over us?” Elwin shook his head. “I will not accept that. I won’t.”
“Not so sure you have much of a choice. I saw it Elwin. The dragon ate the dark savants’s essences. Sure, they were evil and probably deserved it, but I don’t think the dragons care about all that. They’ll come for you just the same.”
“I know. I saw one fight Air Master Breaklin, but there has to be a way to fix this.”
“You heard the king and queen. They think Zaak’s sword might be able to defeat them.”
“No,” Elwin said. “You didn’t see them fight. Master Breaklin, one of the greatest Air masters we’ve seen, couldn’t take the dragon. It treated him like a child kicking his mother’s ankles. We need more than a sword.”
“The book?”
Elwin nodded. “The book.”
“You said you only glanced at it. Do you really think it has the answers you are looking for?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. But think about it. I’ve never seen Asalla hitch a horse to that wagon of his, not in all the years he’s been visiting us. He knows things, and I’ve seen him disappear without taming. Like the dragons do. Since I was little, I just knew he was an elementalist. But I don’t think that’s it at all. The book talks about the magi. Not elementalists.”
“So?”
“Asalla is a magus. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“Maybe,” Feffer said, trying to hide his doubts and failing.
“You don’t believe me.”
“It would be awfully convenient. You know, with what all is happening. You can’t tame, but you have this book given to you by some mysterious traveller who showed up to save the day and vanished without a trace? It sounds like the makings of a bard’s tale, and not a very good one at that.”
“Asalla’s been coming to Benedict for as long as I can remember, but I recall Poppe saying he didn’t always come. The way Asalla spoke. Stones in the air and knowing how they would fall. It sounded nonsense at the time, but I think he knew who I was. Who my father is. He knew I would become an elementalist. He said as much just before I came into my powers.”
“It’s very thin, Elwin.” Feffer gave him a sympathetic smile. “Just don’t get your hopes up.”
Elwin stood up straighter, his voice accusatory. “You don’t want the book to be real. Why?”
Feffer considered lying, but decided against it. “Look. I’m just a mortal. It’s hard for me to understand your gifts. And to be honest. They scare me. Always have.”
“I scare you?”
“No. Not you. But Elwin, I was pulled into the ground. Into the thumping ground! I was taken against my will by those wishing to do you harm.” Feffer held a hand up to stall Elwin’s retort. “I don’t blame you for any of this. I’m glad you didn’t give in to Zeth when he came for you. And I would face his ilk again if needed to save you from that cage. But the Seeker take me, Elwin, can you blame me for wanting someone, dragons even, to level the battlefield? That dark savant swam through the ground the same way you fly. I never saw him coming. Would you want to go up against that without your gifts?”
“It’s called tunneling.” Some of the tension left Elwin’s face. “It’s one of the first talents an Earth elementalist learns.”
“Whatever in the abyss it’s thumping called, I can’t do it. And I can’t fight it. You can.” Feffer pointed a finger for emphasis.
“You are right.” Elwin held his hands up in surrender. “I wouldn’t want to face it without taming. But look at it from my perspective. I’ve spent every waking hour learning how to control this part of me. And it’s starting to hurt. Not taming makes my body ache. My essence is full, and I feel the weight of it. I don’t know how much longer I can go without taming.”
Feffer felt his grip tightening on the rail and forced his fingers to relax. “But you can’t tame. You know that right? Maybe the pains will go away in time.”
Elwin gave a non-committal grunt. After a few seconds, his gaze drifted upward. Was that breeze just a breeze?
“Elwin,” Feffer said. “Promise me. You won’t tame.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“Dragons take me.” Feffer flinched at his own curse and found himself searching the skyline. Nothing came. “Stupid thumping saying. Elwin, would you—”
“Look!” Elwin pointed.
Beyond the bend of trees, Feffer saw the spires of the castle rising above the city’s wall. Docks stretched out from the shore for at least a mile. Beyond the pier, market stalls and shops filled every inch of the long, cobbled road overlooking the river. People bustled along the streets, trading for fish, fresh bread, and a plethora of other foods and goods.
Behind him, sailors moved with increased vigor, several carrying oars or tying off ropes.
Elwin pushed off the rail. “I need to tell Daki. He’s as eager as you are to step back onto the land. He’s barely left Taego in the animal hold since we boarded.”
Elwin stopped at the entry to the hold and bowed his head, respectfully. Jasmine and Zaak came up. They dismissed him with a nod, and Elwin disappeared below.
The king and queen were dressed in rich garb, too cer
emonial to be very comfortable. Her silver crown was tall and narrow, but otherwise matched the one resting atop Zaak’s head. The gems glittered in the sun’s light.
As they approached the bow, no one needed to tell him to scram. He moved back, allowing the royal couple to stand by the ship’s masthead without cluttering the view. It did not take long for the citizens along the market-front to notice the vessel.
People turned from their bartering. There was a moment’s pause. Then there were cheers.
Guards marched in eight rows, each queue stretching far beyond the gate and into the city. The crowd parted for the procession, never letting their cheers rest, even as they were ushered aside.
Zaak said, “Go get your sword, soldier. Put on your uniform and march behind Zarah and Elwin.”
“Me?” Feffer asked.
“Yes. You. Hurry, or you’ll miss the parade.”
Feffer ran below deck, shedding his tunic before reaching his cabin. The uniform was on his bed, where he’d left it. He’d wanted to don the garments sooner, but he didn’t want to get vomit on them.
The red tunic had a white hand embroidered on the neck and cuffs. He hurried into it and the breeches, then buckled on his sword belt and grabbed the cloak on his way back up. The large hand unfurled like an opening fist as he swung it onto his shoulders.
He took the steps two at a time, but came to an abrupt stop when he reached the deck.
The city was much nearer now, close enough for the dockhands to catch the ropes thrown down by the sailors. Elwin and Zarah were already in place. Elwin wore blue robes, only slightly less extravagant than Zarah’s gown.
Gripping his sword hilt, as he would on a march, Feffer stepped up behind his friend.
As soon as the vessel came to a stop, a wide gangplank struck the side of the ship next to Zaak and Jasmine. As if rehearsed, they moved together onto the deck.
The roar of the crowd was thunderous. Though he could see Elwin’s lips moving, Feffer couldn’t hear a word he spoke to Zarah, but she smiled and nodded as though she could. The pair stepped onto the plank after the newly raised king and queen.