by Nathan Roden
“You did not know, My Lord? The queen is with child.”
“No,” Noah reeled backward. “I had not heard…there is so much…so much….”
Noah shook his head violently.
“I don’t know where we’re going, Sara. Right now, we just need to get away.”
Peter waved Noah through the main gate. Noah turned west. Chills ran down his spine when he heard a hateful roar coming from the windows of the watchtower.
He could not believe all that had happened in less than an hour. He was running away with children he did not know—leaving his mother to fend off an unholy monster. His sister, dear sweet Jaclyn—in trouble. And with child. Most likely, the heir to the throne.
Noah relaxed a little when they were out of the village. In less than two hours, he would have a choice to make; take the road to the south, or remain on the road that led to Morgenwraithe. Only one route made good sense. He had not given it a thought before, but he had precious little money in his pockets—enough for no more than a few nights at an Inn.
But Noah could not bear to run and hide while his sister faced uncertainty—and possibly even worse.
Noah raised his eyes to the sky.
“You know, I’m not exactly dependable when it comes to prayers. But we’re in a lot of trouble down here. I know you’re busy, but if there’s still a would-be king in the land inside a dragon’s body, I believe he’s on your side. Our side. I’d stake my life on it.”
An hour later, Noah pulled the horse’s reins. He thought he heard sounds ahead. A cloud of dust confirmed his suspicions. He pulled the carriage off the road. The horse began to feed. Noah got down from the carriage and pulled the hood of the cloak tight against his head. He waited for the men on horseback to pass by. They did, until the last moment. The man in the lead slowed and doubled back. He dismounted.
“Where are we going this fine day, friend?” Captain Raynard asked.
“To the markets, My Lord,” Noah answered.
Raynard walked around the carriage.
“The Lamont’s personal carriage, eh? Who might you be?”
“Stroud. Jeremy Stroud. Lady Lamont desires some of the finest produce from the kingdom’s markets, My Lord.”
“Stroud, eh? The name seems familiar enough. I’ll need to have a look inside, Lord Stroud.”
“A look inside Lamont’s carriage? Whatever for?”
Raynard narrowed his eyes.
“These are uncertain times. You have nothing to hide, eh, Stroud?”
Noah’s heart leapt into his throat as he shook his head. He was certain that he was about to die. He closed his eyes.
Raynard opened the carriage door and climbed inside. He emerged a minute later.
“Carry on, Lord Stroud. Tell the vendors Captain Raynard said to make sure that only our best is sent to Castle Islemar.”
“Aye, My Lord.”
“You do have coin, don’t you?”
“Yes. My Lord.”
Raynard pulled a pouch from his jacket. He tossed it to Noah.
“Let the kingdom provide for the tables of Islemar. Buy enough for a feast.”
Noah watched Raynard and his men ride away. He opened the carriage door. Sara and Zeke smiled at him.
“I told you we are good at hiding,” Sara said.
“That you did,” Noah said. “We are approaching the crossroads. We continue toward Morgenwraithe or we turn south.”
“We must help the queen,” Sara said.
“I thought you might say that,” Noah said.
Twenty-One
Robinette Lamont looked through the window. She sent Esmerelda to the kitchen and opened the front door.
“Peter, the giant will come here when he finds the watchtower empty. Tell the others not to resist him. I won’t have anyone else hurt on my behalf.”
“But, My Lady, we are sworn—”
“You are sworn to obey commands, Peter. And I have just given you one.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Robinette stepped back inside. She heard the giant’s roar and peeked out of the window. The giant stormed toward the castle.
Peter’s warning had not reached every guard.
A man loosed an arrow, striking Dathien in the arm. Dathien roared and pulled out the arrow. He spotted the archer and threw the arrow at him. It pierced the man’s chest.
Moments later, the castle doors burst open.
“Get out!” Robinette snapped. “Get out of my home at once! How dare you come—?”
Dathien grabbed Robinette by the throat.
“The magic orphans and the little queen—the lover of dragons—all in the same place. In the home of the man despised by Lord Sterling. What a coincidence.”
Dathien leaned close to Robinette’s face. He spoke quietly.
“Where are the children?”
Robinette’s lips moved, but she made no sound. Her face was losing color. Her eyes flickered.
“Put her down, Wizard.”
Dathien turned. Captain Raynard held a loaded crossbow aimed at Dathien’s neck.
“What is the meaning of this?” Dathien asked.
“Surely, you remember these. It’s a crossbow—just like the one you used to murder the healer. Put the lady down. Sterling wants you in Morgenwraithe immediately.”
Dathien removed his hand from Robinette’s throat. She crumpled to the floor. Dathien stormed out the door.
Raynard helped Lady Lamont to her feet.
“Don’t expect me to thank you.”
“I don’t. Where is Lord Lamont?”
“Hunting.”
“Of course. He’s hunting again. His daughter is accused of treason and he is hunting!”
“Why are you doing this? Jaclyn carries Lucien’s child! Have you no compassion whatsoever? No pity?”
Raynard inhaled deeply.
“I can smell it in the air; the scent of war.”
“You’re mad—all of you!” Robinette cried.
Raynard laughed.
“Perhaps we are mad—but in times of war, pity has no place. Compassion has no place. Even nobility has no place. Because, in the end, the only thing that matters is to be the last one standing. That is where Sterling and I will be. You should remind your husband of that when he is finished…hunting.”
Raynard walked away, leaving a sobbing Robinette Lamont alone in the middle of the floor.
Twenty-Two
Jaclyn woke to the sound of the dungeon door scraping across the stone floor. She peered through the bars of her cell. Oliver did not move.
Jaclyn’s heart sank when she saw the brilliant blue robe sweep through the doorway.
“Leave us,” the voice boomed.
“We are to wait here during all interrogations, My Lord,” a guard said.
“I am in Lord Sterling’s employ,” Dathien said. “And I do not intend to suffer your presence. I have spoken my wishes.”
The guards left the dungeon, locking the door behind them.
Dathien raised his hand. The door to Jaclyn’s cell swung open.
Jaclyn screamed.
Dathien walked through the door. He reached for Jaclyn’s arm and was immediately blown backward against the wall. He slid down. Dathien pushed to his feet. His head was bleeding. The guards charged through the door.
Dathien roared an unknown word. The guards were thrown behind the door and the door slammed shut. Dathien pushed Jaclyn’s cell door closed. He grinned.
“Powerful protection, indeed. A powerful spell—sealed in blood, without a doubt.”
Dathien turned and looked at Oliver, who watched in silence. Dathien raised his hand. Oliver floated above the floor. Jaclyn screamed curses at Dathien.
The guards tried to open the dungeon door, to no avail.
Dathien held his hand aloft. Oliver spun around in the middle of his cell. Moments later he was slammed against the wall. He fell to the floor, unconscious.
“You monster!” Jaclyn screamed.
“Oh, but you have yet to see me at my best, little queen!” Dathien said.
“Your little friend and I will play this game tomorrow—and the day after, and the day after that.”
“Do you think Sterling will continue to pay you to torture a lowly squire?”
“No,” Dathien seethed. “He pays me to kill your precious lover.”
“You’re mad!”
“I’m mad? The little queen is in love with a beast—and I’m the one who’s mad? You have made my mission so incredibly simple. The big fish is out there—and I have the ultimate bait here under lock and key.”
“He is not that foolish.”
“He is in love! And all love is foolish!”
Dathien continued in a mocking voice.
“I want you—your friend, Simon.”
“THE FILTHY DRAGON!”
Dathien pointed at the dungeon door. It opened, and six guards fell to the floor. Oliver rolled over and groaned. Dathien pushed the sprawled guards out of his way. He turned back toward the cells.
“Sleep well, my pets. If you can.”
Twenty-Three
Noah pulled the cloak over his head as he approached the gates of Morgenwraithe village. He stopped in line behind three wagons. Noah faked a cough—hoping the guards would keep their distance.
A guard asked his business in the village. The guard took a step back while Noah finished a coughing fit. The guards nodded and seemed satisfied with Noah’s intent to shop at the markets for Islemar Castle. A guard opened the carriage door to peek inside. He held his breath and made a quick inspection of the interior before waving Noah through the gates.
Noah drove through the streets, which were much the same as he remembered. He recognized the apothecary—although its doors and windows were closed. A wreath hung on the door. Noah knew what that meant.
Death.
He drove on, finally stopping beside an Inn at the edge of the village. Noah lowered the reins and sighed. He was exhausted—physically and mentally. He scanned the area, making sure no one was watching before he entered the carriage.
“So far so good, children. We should be relatively safe here for now. We’ve reached an Inn at the far edge of the village; far away from the main road and the busier streets. We must still be cautious and make sure you are not seen. I will come and get you when it gets dark.”
“We will be fine here in the carriage, My Lord,” Sara said.
Noah shook his head.
“I’m not going to sleep in a big, soft bed while you make do in this carriage!”
“We’ve been sleeping in the dungeon, My Lord.”
“But—”
“You are very tired, My Lord. Ezekiel and I will be quite comfortable here. And it will be more difficult for the giant to find us if we remain unseen.”
“Do you think he will follow you?”
“He found us before.”
“What did your brother do to the giant?” Noah asked.
“Caleb kept the giant from hurting the queen,” Sara said. “I made him go to sleep.”
“You did that?”
“Caleb can do much greater magic than I can,” Sara said. “He was trying to protect her.”
“Protect her—the giant was trying to harm the queen? But why?”
“The giant seeks the dragon,” Sara said. “The dragon who speaks like a man.”
Noah ran his hand through his hair.
“Do you know this dragon?”
Sara nodded. Zeke raised his arms to his side.
“Zeke fly!”
“The dragon is very kind,” Sara said. “He took us away after…after the giant…”
Sara squeezed her eyes shut and cried.
Noah knelt and hugged the children close.
“You’re safe now. And I will protect you with my life if it comes to that.”
Sara wiped her eyes.
“I think he loves her,” she whispered.
“What?” Noah said.
“The dragon loves the queen.”
Noah smiled.
“I think you’re right. And that’s not all. I think she loves him, too.”
Sara cocked her head.
“How do you know that?”
“She told me. She’s my sister.”
Noah lit a lamp in the room. He eyed the bed like he had just crossed an immense desert and the bed was an oasis. He pulled off his shirt and sat on the bed’s edge. He reached for his boot and realized that he had forgotten to provide food and water for his horse. He closed his eyes and groaned. A moment later, the aroma of fresh-baked bread reached his nostrils.
Noah stood and dressed and followed his nose. Across the street, he paid for three full portions of meat and bread, and a bucket of oats. He filled a bucket with water and placed it in front of the horse. He knocked twice at the carriage door and entered.
A minute later, convinced that the carriage was empty, Noah dropped his head into his hands.
His promise…was broken.
Twenty-Four
“Sh!”
Sara pulled Zeke along behind her. The little boy whined as he sucked his thumb.
“You must stop making noise, Zeke. I told you to stay in the carriage. I should turn around right this moment.”
Zeke dried his eyes, sniffed and fell silent.
“Zeke bad.”
Sara hugged her little brother.
“No. You’re not bad, Zeke. You’re my good boy.”
“Good boy!”
“That’s right. But you need to stay quiet, my good boy.”
“Shhh,” Zeke said.
“Yes. Shhh.”
Sara and Zeke skirted the shadows as they made their way through the village. They saw no people, only four stray cats who paid them little attention. They came to an intersection. Sara squeezed Zeke’s hand. They stopped. Sara closed her eyes.
“This way,” she whispered.
Sara looked up at the heavy doors, lit only by the moon. She lifted her finger. The door scraped open, enough for her and Zeke to squeeze through.
The moon shone through a lone high window, highlighting a pair of scurrying rats.
Zeke gripped Sara’s dress and pulled close. Sara stepped across the floor. She looked into the cell. The mass in the middle of the floor lay still. Sara swallowed and stared. She jumped when the lump shifted and a moan escaped from it.
“Who’s there?”
“We’ve come to help.”
Sara held out her hand. An orb of light appeared.
“Sara?” Jaclyn said.
“Yes, my queen.”
“What are you doing here?”
“We’ve come to take you out of this place.”
“How did you get here? Is my mother with you?”
“No. We came with Master Noah.”
“Noah? Noah—are you here?”
“He is resting, my queen.”
Another groan sounded from the next cell.
“Oliver? Can you hear me?” Jaclyn whispered.
“Yes.” Oliver croaked.
Sara touched the door to Jaclyn’s cell. The lock glowed yellow and then red. Smoke poured from it. The door swung open. Jaclyn ran to the door to Oliver’s cell. The door swung open.
Jaclyn fell to her knees at Oliver’s side. Sara stepped inside, holding the light. Jaclyn looked up.
“He’s hurt. And that beast will keep hurting him. Sara—you have to take Oliver away from here.”
“We’ve come for both of you,” Sara said.
Jaclyn shook her head.
“No. If I leave, the monster will follow us. He may even hurt my mother.”
“The giant returned to your village, my queen. Your mother insisted Noah take us away from there.”
Jaclyn covered her head with her hands.
“She may already be—quickly, now, Sara. Get Oliver away from here. Hurry.”
“Please come with us, my queen,” Sara said. Sara stared at the queen’s swollen stomach.
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br /> “The baby is almost here. You will not be able to travel for much longer.”
Jaclyn put her hand over her belly and scowled.
“This baby is the only thing they care about. The heir. I will not allow Sterling to harm anyone else. Hurry now. Take Oliver to my brother. Noah will keep him safe.”
They helped Oliver to his feet. Oliver winced.
“I am not leaving you, my queen.”
Jaclyn put her hand to Oliver’s face.
“Your valor has never been in question, Sir Oliver.”
“I am no knight,” Oliver said.
“Yes, you are,” Jaclyn said. “By decree of the queen. One day, we will make it official. Go now. Stay alive. That is an order.”
Sara struggled to keep Oliver on his feet. He leaned against the wall as they made their way to the back door. Sara lifted a finger, and the door swung open. When Oliver was through the door, Sara turned and closed it.
They had an unexpected visitor.
“I can’t believe this.”
Sara, Zeke and Oliver turned. There was an arrow aimed at Oliver’s head. Sara raised her hand. A burst of pure white energy exploded from her fingers and shot toward King Lucien.
The blast stopped, inches away from Lucien’s bow. The light fizzled away to nothing. Sara stared at her hand in disbelief.
“No one has ever escaped from this dungeon,” Lucien said. “Yet, here you are. By the hands of…children? Obviously, these are no ordinary children. No, these children would be those capable of disabling a giant—a giant who will be quite happy to see them again.”
Oliver stepped in front of the children.
“Please, my King. Take my life, here and now. But do not harm these little ones. I know you have no reason to trust them, but I swear on my mother’s grave—they are good, and pure of heart.”
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
“Where is the queen?”
“In her cell, your Grace,” Oliver said. “She refused to leave.”