by Luna Lais
Cate had not meant to fall asleep leaning up against the wall of the cave, but the climb there after so many hard days of travel and little sleep at night had finally caught up with him. It was Simon's playful laughter and the sound of a cow mooing that woke him up. "What the…." Cate said starring at the cow. He blinked twice just to be sure it was not his imagination. "It's a cow," Simon smiled hugging the animal's neck. "I can see it is a cow," Cate said still starring, "but where did it come from."
"It walked in the whole just like us," Simon said shrugging his shoulders. "Can we keep her? She is so pretty," the cow let out a long moo at the boy's words. Cate was about to stand but the cave began shaking all around them. Simon screeched and ran for Cate. He latched himself to his front and wrapped his tiny arms around him as tight as he could. "Make it stop," the boy cried. Cate unable to move grabbed a nearby rock to steady himself as the shaking became more intense. The cow apparently unnerved by the ordeal let out a moo and walked towards them. She stuck out her tongue and licked the back of the boys head.
With each minute the ground shook harder and rocks and dust began to fall from the ceiling of the cave, Cate closed his eyes against the onslaught. A loud rumbling sound from the back of the cave, begin growing louder and louder as if it was moving towards them. Cate tightened his hold on the boy and the rock as Simon began screaming. A few moments later everything grew still and eerily quite.
Cate opened his eyes and let go of the rock. He gently lifted Simon from his lap and brushed the dust from his hair and shoulders. The cow had walked to the entrance of the cave and stood looking at them. "Are you alright?" Cate asked Simon scanning his body for any injuries. Simon nodded, "I don't like this place anymore," he said softly. "Can we go now?" Cate' thoughts exactly, but it was not Cate who answered the boy.
"So soon," a deep female voice boomed from above them, "You just got here." Simon looked up into the big yellow eye of the creature above him and fainted dead away. Cate too had looked up, only he did not faint. He was frozen in terror at the beast before him. He had heard fairy tales; everyone had heard fairy tales describing the awesome fierceness of a red dragon. Know description he had ever heard came close to seeing one standing only a few feet away from you. "Mozelle," the voice boomed again, "come see what that silly cow has brought us."
Cate blood ran cold as he saw a another dragon, this one with lavender colored scales move it's head next to the other's. Cate closed his eyes as the dragon took a deep breath, sucking the air from his lungs. He knew that when that breath released fire would rain down on top of him. "The child smells familiar," the lavender dragon said lowering it's head even closer towards Cate. "The man not at all."
"Move out of the way Rozelle," the red Dragon hissed. "You and your nose."
"Smell for yourself if you do not believe me," the lavender dragon moved back and the red dragon lowered her head until she was just inches from the boy. She gave a little snort before quickly lifting her head and turning to the other dragon. "I smell nothing," she said. "Let's eat them and throw the cow off the side of the cliff."
Cate pressed his body up against the wall of the cave as tight as he could and watched as the red dragon turned back towards him. She did not lower her head this time. Instead she moved a giant clawed toe towards him and rested it on his chest. The cow mooed in the background. "Hardly enough here for a snack," the dragon said gently running the claw down the front of his shirt tearing it open in the process.
"Sister," the lavender dragon hissed pushing the red dragon's claw out of the way. She lowered her head again and brought forth her own claw. She gently used it to raise the medallion hanging around Cate' neck closer to one of her eyes. She studied it for a moment before quickly releasing it and turning to the red dragon. "Sister, he wears the talisman," her voice was softer, but still echoed off the sides of the cave. "Are you positive, Rozelle," the red dragon said still watching Cate with her big yellow eye. "See for yourself." The red dragon lowered her head as close to Cate as she could and stared at his chest. "It is a good thing we didn't eat him," she said taking a deep breath and once again Cate felt the air sucked from his lungs. "He is no Raven," she moved her face to the boy lying at Cate' feet. "The boy is." She lifted her head. "Who are you?" she asked placing her claw back up against his chest.
"My name is Ch-Cate," he answered shakily. "Do not scare him, Mozelle. It is obvious he is a fated one." The lavender dragon smiled at him revealing several rows of large pointy teeth in the process. Cate felt his body began to shake.
"Tell me Cate," Mozelle said, "Do you know other Ronans beside this boy." Cate nodded his head not trusting his voice again. "Is the king on his way here with the daggers?" she asked moving her face in front of his again.
Cate shook his head, "No I am on my way to take him the daggers," he said. "If the daggers are already here why does he not meet you, instead of you meeting him?" she hissed loudly shaking the cave around them. "He has matters in Hokaren to tend to," Cate began, but the dragon pressed her claw more firmly against his chest. "Hokaren," her voiced boomed. "What do I care of Hokaren when I have been waiting so long to be freed of my prison?" Cate had no idea what the dragon was talking about. He did not even know if the king she spoke of was Darien or the daggers truly the ones he had in his possession.
Climb on my back, Rozelle said turning to Cate. He did has she asked and watched as her clawed hand reached out and wrapped tightly around the cow. "I will return soon, sister," she said turning to the red dragon behind her. "Wait," Cate cried "let me take the boy."
"No," Mozelle roared. "The boy stays. You take the daggers and the cow. Return at the end of one month with either the king or the prophet or the boy will remain here forever." She raised to cloak lying on the floor of the cave gently with her tail and laid it across the sleeping child. "He will be safe here. We keep our oaths Dragons are honorable creatures." Cate did not want to leave Simon behind, but he was only one man and stood no chance against two rather larger dragons.
Rozelle gave him no further chance to protest as she lifted them into the air and flew out of the mouth of the cave and into the night sky. Cate clung tightly to her back as the wind threatened to tear him away.
Shortly before sun rise Cate felt his stomach heave as Rozelle made her descent over an empty meadow. Thankful to finally be off the creature he climbed down, stumbling under his shaky legs. "The cow belongs to a man name Eranen Palek. Return it to him and your tale will be believed," she said releasing the cow. "Remember you only have one month to return to us and do not think to flee. I have your scent, now. There is no where you can hide from me." As soon as her words were spoken she lifted herself in the air leaving Cate and the cow alone. Cate watched her flight in the predawn light until she was no longer visible. He turned to the cow and sighing heavily put his hand on her neck leading her north.
Chapter 58
The hour was late when the wagon topped a hill revealing the bright burning turrets of the castle in the heart of the city of Raven. Eranen could feel his heart begin to race. In only a few more minutes he would be with her, holding her. "We are home," lieutenant Alridge whispered from his seat next to him. "It has been a long time." He spoke softly so as not to wake up Tobias or Kale, both were fast a sleep in the back of the wagon lying on top of the piles of books.
"Do you have family in Raven?" Eranen asked smiling as the city gates came into to view. "A sister," he replied. "I have not seen her in almost two years. I do not know if my father still lives, neither of them can write."
"Perhaps on the morrow you can see them," Eranen sighed. "Tonight I am sure there will be many questions for both of us." Menas nodded, "They would be a sleep at this hour anyway."
"Hold," the guard at the gate bellowed causing both Tobias and Kale to sit up and look around. "Are we here," she asked sleepily. "Yes," Tobias answered looking to the turrets in the distance. "Do you not see the banners flying in the glow of the fire?"
"I always wondered what th
ey would look like seeing them with my own eyes and not in your memories," she moved closer to the front of the wagon. "They are as beautiful as you remembered."
"Lord Palek," a guard said as he approached the wagon. "It is good to have you safely returned home."
Eranen nodded at the man and waited for the gates to open to allow them entrance. "There will be a small delay, my lord," the guard tilted his head towards the gates. "We can no longer open the gates to anyone, not even the King without first obtaining approval from the castle."
"Why? What is amiss?" Eranen asked looking at the man.
"Sometime ago an intruder made his way into the castle," the guard said. "We are still not sure how he got in."
"Was anyone hurt?" Eranen's heart was seized with fear.
"No, my lord, he was quickly killed, but until we discover how he got in all precautions are being taken for the Royal family's safety." Eranen's sigh of relief was audible. They sat in silence only a few more minutes before the gates were opened and Eranen was able to move the wagon forward into the silent city.
The ride through the city was quiet. Tobias and Kale spoke to each other, but not out loud where the others might hear. Menas sat quietly thinking about his family and Eranen's own thoughts drifted to Lissandra. At the gates of the castle there was another wait, but only as long as it took for the guards to open the gates. A unit of armed men waited just inside the gates and flanked both sides of the wagon before escorting them into the courtyard.
Eranen dismounted first and ordered one of the men to have the books unloaded and taken to the council's outer chamber. He then turned and offered Tobias a hand out of the wagon. Lieutenant Alridge was already lifting Kale down to the ground. They each grabbed their packs and with Eranen in the lead moved towards the castle doors.
Eranen was the first to enter the grand entrance way. His eyes immediately scanned the room and he frowned upon seeing it empty. "It looks almost exactly the same," Kale said softly behind him. He made no comment to her statement. Instead he sat his pack near the door on one of the red velvet chairs lining the walls and headed for the stairs, motioning for them to do the same.
The sound of footsteps moving down the hall above them caused Eranen to stop. He looked to the top of the stairs, waiting with pent up breath to see her again. The figure who appeared at the top of the stairs was not Lissandra, though. It was Karegh and he was alone.
"Eranen," the boy called with relief upon seeing him. He rapidly began descending the stairs towards the group. Eranen watched him as he quickly took each step. The boy had changed in the two months he had been gone. He had grown at least a foot taller and had filled out some, revealing the first glimpses of the man he would grow to be.
Karegh held no pretense; he threw his arms around Eranen's waist and hugged him soundly. "I am so glad to see you," he cried. "Much has happened since you left."
Eranen returned the boy's hug that reminded him just how young Karegh really was before gently setting him in front of him. "Where are the other?" he asked looking at the stairs. Karegh did not answer; instead he scanned the individuals standing behind Eranen. "Is your wish for them to know, or would you prefer we speak in private?" the boy turned his eyes back to Eranen.
Eranen turned and motioned Karegh to stand in front of Tobias. "This is Tobias, he allows his friends to call him Tobias. He wears the medallion of the Raven's and carries more of their secrets than either you or I," Eranen then nodded to Kale. "This is his companion Kale and they keep no secrets from one another so she too knows all there is to know about the Ronans." Eranen then turned to Lieutenant Alridge. "This man is one of our own officers and knows of the Temple. I had no choice but to trust him with the secret. I believe it is one he can keep, but because he knows we must keep him close. Therefore I think it in our best interest to use his talents to aid us." Karegh nodded to the man before turning back to Eranen. "Take them to the council room. Lady Kiala and Molly will be joining us. I will have the kitchen send a tray up to us so you can eat while we talk."
Eranen watched as the boy turned and walked towards the kitchen. "What of the others?" He had wanted to ask about Lissandra, but not in front of the others. Karegh turned at Eranen's words, his face full of despair, "In the council room," Karegh said softly. "We can no longer trust any words spoken outside its walls." He then turned and continued his way to the kitchen leaving Eranen to lead the others upstairs.
"This is not the homecoming you had expected," Tobias said moving to stand next to Eranen. "No," Eranen shook his head. "Come, I will show the way to the council room." Eranen began walking up the stairs his thoughts lingering on what might have happened to the royal family.
Eranen opened the door to the council room and allowed the others to enter before following them inside and closing the door. Kiala was seated at the head of the large table, in Darien's chair. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she had been crying. She made no move to greet them or even offer them a little smile. "Kiala," Eranen said moving to sit next to her. She reached out her and gently squeezed his, "Wait for the others to join us," she whispered softly. "It is not as bad as it appears." Her words did not comfort him. Until he knew what had transpired in his absence his fear for his family could not be swayed.
Karegh entered the room followed by a maid carrying a tray laden with food and another with a tray of tea. He stood next to the open door until both of the women had set their trays down and left, before shutting it again. As he moved to sit at the table with the others Eranen noticed what his eyes had missed before. Karegh now wore a sword at his side.
"Where is she?" Karegh asked looking to Kiala. "She is on her way," Kiala replied. "We will wait for her." Karegh nodded and looked at Kale. "Your family name is Cordeau?" he asked. "How did you know, both Tobias and Kale leaned forward in their seats looking at the boy with wide eyes. "Your coming was told to us by one with the gift of sight," he looked at Kiala. She gave him a slight nod before he turned back to Kale. "The time of our misery has begun. From this day forward none of us will be able to trust the other."
Neither, Kale or Tobias knew what the boy spoke of. They knew of the trails that lay ahead for the Raven's and perhaps the other fated ones, but this boy wore no talisman. There coming would mean little to him.
"You are the conscience of the group," Tobias said turning to Kiala, his eyes fixed on the talisman hanging around her neck. She started to comment, but the door to the room flung open and Molly burst through the door. "Sorry it took so long, but I could not leave until I had recorded all of the vision." She scanned the room her eyes settled on Menas. He had already stood, "Molly," he whispered softly not believing his eyes. What was she doing here?
"Menas," she squealed with delight making her way around the table and tightly hugging him. "Are you well," she asked pulling her head away from his chest and looking into his eyes. "What are you doing here?" he asked ignoring her question. "Do you know her?" Eranen asked interrupting whatever answer Molly might have given Menas. "She is my sister," he replied. "The one I spoke of with you."
"And so the hands of fate have decided," Kiala said relieved. "It is a one less burden."
"What is going on?" Eranen said pinning her with his eyes. Menas released Molly at the tone of Eranen's voice and sat back down. Molly moved to the chair next to him and did the same. "As the only member of the royal family present I insist you cease with these riddles and tell us what has happened here."
It was Karegh who began, telling them first of a small boy arriving with a message for Darien….
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