Heart of Alban

by G L Roberts

  Kenna held her sword aloft, and the jewel shard on the top of her left hand sparkled and shot out tendrils until it found her sword. The tendrils wrapped around the hilt of the sword. Kenna found Jend and told her to gather the enemy and hold them at the edge of the sea by the boat. She signaled Lothan, and he waved and turned Demrahl toward the vessel. Demrahl set down, and Lothan came off his back. He waited at the boat for the prisoners. As they approached, he motioned to a section of sand for them to sit and wait. As he motioned the jewel shard glinted at the prisoners. The quickly sat down on the sand, heads bowed.

  Lady Anestar raised her head when she heard Bryn’s words. ‘I am the star’ she had said. Lady Anestar understood those words. She was wrong to doubt the truth when it had walked before her and offered her a truce. She had not wanted to believe Bryn was this truth. Lady Anestar looked out toward the sea and saw that Bryn was gone. She looked back to her daughter and watched as Kenna went to each of the wounded. A white light came from her hand as Kenna touched them to reassure them. With a heavy heart, Lady Anestar realized she had been wrong all along. Lady Anestar took one last look at the field of battle. Her shoulders slumped, and she slowly walked away.

  Queen Betony was prepared for this battle. She wanted the heads of all those who had caused her pain. Those who had taken to raiding her lands for decades. Her heart cried for the dead; too many dead. She greatly desired vengeance. It was something she hoped the elf and the Pict princess would also want. As they waited for the approach of the boat, Betony found the two council members climbing on the backs of their dragons.

  “Where do you go?” Queen Betony asked.

  “We will approach from above,” Leus said. “We mean to block their escape.”

  “Then you too desire the death of the vík ingr.”

  “No, not all,” Rythale replied. “We will only take the lives of those who will not yield. Lady Athebryn seeks a truce with Götaland.”

  “A truce? How can we have a truce after all these years? We need to drive them back to the sea where they should drown in the arms of their Odin and his false prophets. I would think you two would agree with me.”

  “Have you not been listening to Lady Athebryn?” Leus asked. “We will drive them back to the sea to drown if they will not yield. But to kill them without pause is to lower ourselves to their level. They are vile and relentless. They are cruel and unjust, and they are also at our mercy here with these dragons. I was like you once. But, I no longer seek their death.”

  “If we do not kill them all, they will return again and again,” Queen Betony said.

  “If we kill them all, those left in their homeland will most certainly return to avenge their deaths,” Rythale said. “No, it has to stop sometime. It may as well be today.”

  Rythale lifted up and turned Prandahl toward the trees.

  “Queen Betony, we will be high above you,” Leus said. “Once the Norse set foot on the sand, we will go down and burn the boat. They will have to face our army without a means of escape. You will have the advantage.”

  “And I mean to exploit that advantage. With or without your help.”

  “As you wish, but know this. Lady Athebryn commands we do not kill arbitrarily. To do so makes us no better than the enemy.”

  Queen Betony frowned. She watched Leus lift and turn NightWatcher away from the troops who now took to the trees and the brochs. Queen Betony looked down at the sword in her hand. “Perhaps, I am no better than the enemy,” she mused. She looked back up toward the sea. The sun had risen above the horizon, and the boat carrying her enemy was close at hand.

  Leus and Rythale circled high above the boat. They watched and waited until the longboat came up onto the sand. Leus saw Queen Betony hold her horse back. He was glad to see she waited for the dragons before advancing. As the Norse came off the boat with axes and spears and cries of battle, Leus spoke to NightWatcher.

  “Swiftly now! Tear the boat apart and set it to burn.” NightWatcher dove toward the boat. Leus laughed as the wind pulled his hair from its customary braid. He clung to NightWatcher’s neck with his legs. As he raised his elvish blade and gave a battle cry, the jewel shard glowed. The light traveled to his fingers and onto the hilt. The weapon began to turn bright white. Leus’ voice called the words long since buried in the hearts of the elves. “For the Jewel and the Heart of Alban!”

  Rythale heard Leus’ cry. Her heart soared. The jewel began to glow, and the little points of light touched the tattoos on her face and her hands. The symbols began to glow. The eerie glow spread to all the tattoos on her body. As she flew on the back of Prandahl, she appeared as a dream creature to the Norse below.

  Queen Betony released her army to pick off the Norse as they fled before the dragons. She was filled with hate and anger and lashed out at all who came before her. Betony wielded her sword from side to side, taking the enemy down, and the death toll rose before her horses’ swift feet. Blood splattered her horse. She pulled hard to catch the horse before he raced headlong into a throng of flashing swords and axes, but it was too late. His headlong gallop could not be stopped. Queen Betony was thrown from her horse as he came under the axe of one of the enemy. She was still holding her sword and ready to fend off a blow when she heard the loud collective cry from those around her. The man who had intended to strike her down had turned to look toward the sea. Betony stood and drove her sword in his chest just as Bryn’s image appeared, and she yelled STOP. Betony looked toward the sea and at Bryn’s likeness. Beautiful and treacherous, Betony thought. She let down her sword as she watched Bryn’s image shimmer in the daylight. It was the last thing she saw as the axe of the man she stabbed came down upon her. The two of them slumped to the ground forever bound in death.

  Leus and Rythale moved their dragons to the sand, and they came quickly off their backs. Leus raised his blade, and it still carried the glow from the jewel on his arm. Rythale was bathed in a blue light from the gem and her tattoos. They heard Bryn tell the Norse she was the Jewel and the Star. Leus looked at Rythale and saw the tears as they fell down her cheek. He looked at Bryn’s image and understood then what her transformation truly meant. She was the first dragon, the rebirth of the days of legend. He called out to the world, “Behold the legend is truth!”

  ❦

  Arryn circled the mouth of the Inbhir Nis as the sun crowned the horizon. Hansa’s crews had remained on their boats all night. It was as Bryn had predicted. Heardred’s daughter had come to treat with them. Arryn looked over at Thalynder who nodded back to him. There was movement on the boats, and both dragons dropped down a little closer.

  Hansa had commanded no one to leave the boats until sunrise. They slept fitfully throughout the night, not knowing if they would be killed as they waited for the sun. Hansa dozed a little so she would be clear-headed when she stepped out onto the sand. She still did not know what to expect, but she was sure the Albans knew she had arrived. She had seen the smoke from their night fires. Hansa took it as a good sign. If they were comfortable enough to light a fire, then surely they meant to treat with her. Nevertheless, she commanded guards to stay awake and watch the trees. As the sun rose and the Albans still did not show themselves, Hansa realized she would have to make the first move.

  Hansa turned to the oarsman. “Instruct all to carry their weapons at their sides. If I give the shield signal, they are to drop their weapons on the sand. If I give the axe signal, they are to take up arms and defend themselves. Understood?”

  “Yes,” the man replied.

  “Conri, you and I will get off the boat first. Do you think we will meet the shieldmaiden?”

  “It will probably be an envoy first,” Conri replied. “Are you ready?”

  “As ready as possible,” Hansa replied. She picked up the shield and turned the side with the jewel toward her chest. She left her axe in the boat.

  “You go, unarmed?” the oarsman asked.

  “Yes,” Hansa replied.

  “May Odin protect you
,” the oarsman said.

  Hansa glared at the oarsman. She turned back to face the front of the boat. It is now or never, she thought. Hansa stepped off the boat and walked onto the sand. She walked on the sand away from the longboats with the rest of her crew following behind her.

  Arryn watched. As the last of the Norse stepped onto the sand, he spoke to FireSong.

  “Let them know you are here, my magnificent friend. Shine as I know you can.”

  FireSong’s scales began to reflect the light of the rising sun. Soft light shimmered and sparkled like the midday sun. Arryn rubbed the top of the dragon’s head.

  “Now, set down at the edge of the sea. If the Norse turn back to the boats set one to burn.”

  FireSong snorted. He dropped from the sky and stepped down at the water’s edge. Arryn slid off his neck and held his sword at his side. The jewel at his inner wrist appeared, and he smiled.

  As FireSong set down at the edge of the sea and the Norse turned to look at him, An-Yun set down on the sand where the Norse would see her if they turned back around. Those who had not turned to see FireSong stopped and stared at An-Yun.

  A cry rang out behind Hansa, and she turned just as FireSong stepped onto the sand.

  “There are more than the two,” she whispered. “What have we done? We did not know the strength or the numbers. How do I treat with them now?”

  Conri touched Hansa’s arm. “You keep calm. You are here to offer a solution to the problem, not add fuel to the fire. Keep this in your mind, and the dragons will sense your meaning. Do you understand me?”

  “Of course I do. Do you think me some stupid sheep?”

  “Not any more than you consider those on Alban stupid sheep,” Conri said.

  Hansa looked at Conri. She started to speak but held her tongue. She turned back and realized then there was another dragon in front of her. “Oh, no.”

  Thalynder had stepped off of An-Yun and remained at her side. Her hands were at her sides, and she held no weapon. She was calm and composed on the outside. Inside, her heart was beating hard in her chest. “I am here, my Bryn. I hope I can do as you ask.” Thalynder felt a soft kiss on her cheek. She took a deep breath. “Here I go.”

  Thalynder stepped toward the enemy with peace in her heart and did not know her father lay dead at the hands of this same enemy. She did not realize others of Alban’s armies had lost their lives to those with malice in their hearts. She was unaware Queen Betony, at the last moment, vented her anger at the heart of the enemy and paid for her passion with her life. And she was unaware her love, the Lady Athebryn had been transformed into something unknown to this world. Thalynder ran her hands over her tunic, and the jewels on her hands appeared and softly began to shimmer in the sunlight.

  ❦

  Bryn knelt beside King Thamen and gently touched his brow. There was nothing she could do or say to undo this tragic moment. Bryn could not wish it away, nor beg the stars to take her life instead of his. There was nothing she could do. She rested King Thamen’s head in her lap. “This will break your daughter’s heart.”

  Then you will have to be her strength, Bryn heard on the wind. Alban is yours now, Athebryn. Take great care of it and my daughter. I go now to the Hall of my kin.

  Bryn kissed Thamen’s brow, then looked at Calden and nodded. Calden pulled the axe from Thamen’s chest. Bryn covered the gaping wound with the tunic she had removed before kneeling at Thamen’s side. “Take the King and clean his wound. When he is ready, we will take him home.”

  “And what of this?” Calden asked. With the bloodied axe he pointed at the head of Heardred.

  “It burns with the rest of him,” Bryn said. “I no longer wish to see that monster.”

  “My Lady,” Calden said as he dropped the axe to the ground. “How did you manage to stop that spear?”

  Bryn looked one last time at the face of King Thamen. The man who had taken her in first as a playmate for his daughter. He afforded her the same lessons and privileges of his own daughter, and from his captains of the guard. She learned from the sages and druid elders who tended the king and his realm. She learned from the dragon, who was the companion of his daughter the princess, long before she was told the dragon was actually her companion. This king, kind and compassionate, noble and steadfast, had fashioned a shieldmaiden out of a druid child. Loyal and protective of the one thing the king loved more than life itself—his daughter, Thalynder.

  “You knew exactly what you were doing,” Bryn whispered. She stood up and looked down at her dress. It was spotted by the king’s blood. “I will need other attire before I see the princess.”

  “I will see to it,” Calden said. “You have yet to tell me how you stopped the spear. I saw it fly toward you. Then in a flash, it was gone. The next thing I saw was Heardred’s head at your feet.”

  “The spear is there, at the feet of the headless vík ingr,” Bryn said. “It is hard to explain, but it is now done. Prepare our fallen. Burn the dead vík ingr in the boats. All prisoners are to be bound until you reach Bynack More. By the time you arrive, my council should be there to impart our judgment on them.”

  “What will we do with them?”

  “They will be spared, or they will be sent on to Valhalla. One way or another, this war ends here on this island. Now, if you can, find me a tunic. I must take to Meydra and proceed to Inbhir Nis.”

  “Very well, Lady Athebryn,” Calden said. “This is a banner day for all the clanns, do not despair. The king did not die in vain.”

  “Did he not?” Bryn walked out to Meydra, who folded her wings, shielding Bryn from the eyes of those who saw the transformation and stood in awe of the truth. Bryn buried her face in Meydra’s chest and wept like a child.

  Hansa stood her ground. She kept the shield turned toward her chest and held no weapon. In her free hand, she held the small jewel Rowan had given her back at the elder’s lodge. She watched as the woman approached her. She recognized the woman as being the princess she had taken hostage last summer. Hansa noted a strength in the woman she had not noticed before. She bore a regal countenance. Hansa nodded inwardly. Yes, she thought, she is a princess. Though she bears it with confidence and I carry my burden with regret. Perhaps, I can learn from her.

  Thalynder stood several feet back from Hansa. The archers in the trees had their arrows aimed at Hansa even though she appeared unarmed. Thalynder saw Arryn approaching from behind Hansa, and she raised her chin just a little. She smiled when Hansa caught the gesture and turned to see Arryn approach. Hansa turned back to face Thalynder.

  “I, I am unarmed,” Hansa said.

  “As am I,” Thalynder said. “Why are you here?”

  “I am here on behalf of the druid elders of Götaland. I am not here to fight. I mean, you no harm.”

  “Then why does your armada send boats to our many shores?”

  Confused, Hansa frowned. She turned to gesture toward her boats. “I only bring these boats.”

  Thalynder took a step closer to Hansa. “We know there are more boats. They land on our coasts while you stand here and lie.”

  “I do not lie.” As Hansa spoke, Bryn’s image appeared behind Thalynder. Hansa gasped and pointed at Bryn. “I came to treat with her.”

  Thalynder turned to see Bryn’s image. She turned back to Hansa and watched Arryn approach.

  Arryn stepped around Hansa and Conri to stand beside Thalynder as Bryn’s image faded.

  “Is the shieldmaiden here?” Conri asked.

  His command of her language took Thalynder by surprise. She looked long at the man and thought she recognized him somehow. She turned her attention back to Hansa.

  “The shieldmaiden is no longer with us,” Thalynder replied, remembering what Bryn told her about Hansa. “Another will arrive before the sun sets.”

  “I have something to return,” Hansa said. “Who will take this?” Hansa turned the shield around, and the jewel glinted in the sunlight.

  “So our little one is dead.
”

  “It was not my intention to have the dragon die. I am sorry at the death.”

  Thalynder saw the hurt cross Hansa’s features. She spoke the truth. “We were sure our little one had died. We saw the shooting stars.”

  “Then those were the souls of the dragons,” Conri said. “It is as the legend foretold.”

  “And who are you?” Arryn asked.

  “I am Conri, navigator for the Princess Hansa.”

  “You are the druid navigator for the vík ingr,” Arryn said.

  “I am. I am also the druid elder in Götaland. And if I am not mistaken, you are a follower as well or have I wrongly read the emblem on your tunic?”

  Arryn smiled at Conri. He turned his hand to show his wrist. The jewel sparkled in the sunlight. “I am a member of the Council of Alban. If you are here to discuss a solution, then I will see to the comfort of your crew. If not, well, I can and will see your end is swift, druid elder of Götaland.”

  Conri returned Arryn’s smile. “We are here as you see. Unarmed and ready to talk.”

  Hansa looked at Thalynder. “Princess to princess, can we go somewhere and talk?”

  “The sand is soft,” Thalynder said. “We can sit here in the sun. Do you need anything? Food, something to drink?”

  “Would you have some clear water?” Conri asked.

  “A druid no doubt,” Arryn said. “We have clear water the likes you have never tasted.”

  “Oh, Conri has tasted the waters of Alban before, have you not Conri?” Hansa said.

  “I have. It was many years ago.”

  Thalynder looked at Conri and realized then why he seemed so familiar. “You are a druid of the Dal Riata.”

  Conri turned quickly to look at Thalynder. “You have been schooled well, princess.”

  Arryn looked long at Conri. “Oh yes,” he said. “I see you are kin to the Erui.”