“I can feel you staring at me,” Gavin said.
He startled Orion, who had been standing behind him in the doorway.
“I’m… I’m sorry to interrupt you,” Orion said. “I was just letting you enjoy your moment.”
“Flying is the only thing in my entire life that ever made any sense to me,” Gavin replied. “With… well, everything, I am glad to have a tick to just fly. I never believed I’d be going to Ireland surrounded by warlocks,” he said.
“Ha-ha. Gavin, you, sir, are a warlock.”
Gavin chuckled. “Wow. I guess I am at that. So what will happen when we get to your home?”
“Rory, my stepfather, holds rank. He seems loyal to the queen. He never was allied to the Brotherhood, so as much as a schemer he is, he will see the futility of going against us.”
“Us?”
“Yes,” Orion continued. “Me, you, and that stone in your pocket. He has never been much of a father to me, but hopefully he will help us.”
“I noticed you changed your clothes.”
“As much as I appreciate how your pants and all the straps and goggles suit you, on me, they were wrong,” Orion said, laughing.
Orion absentmindedly fingered the heart-shaped iron pendant around his throat. Gavin pointed at the necklace.
“This?”
“You’ve been evasive about it since we met.”
“I didn’t know if I could trust you then.”
“And now?” Gavin asked expectantly.
“My aunt gave it to me when I was very young. A family heirloom. She made me swear an oath. A promise never to lose it. I hated having to hide it away.” Orion became lost in his thoughts until Gavin interrupted him.
“Thank you for telling me. You can trust me.”
“I know.”
“So will we have to fight when we get there?” Gavin asked.
“A little.” Orion smiled. “The fight is mostly over. My people are not warmongers. They’ve been manipulated and terrorized by Blaylock and his evil. With them dead, the rest on the ships of this armada quickly realized their wrongheadedness. The warriors at home will too.”
“Or… they knew they were terribly outmatched with what’s in my pouch.”
It was Orion’s turn to laugh. He slapped Gavin on the shoulder. “There is that.” He explained that advanced scouts had landed already to spread the news and deal with any opposition. “I can’t believe your people believed you about the stone disappearing,” Orion added.
Gavin smiled. “We know a lot about science, but little about how magick works. That’s what I had hoped for, anyway.”
As the airships descended into Dublin, Landa, Wish, and Lucas came to stand beside Gavin. Lucas sidled up close enough to touch him. Landa’s face, as usual, had few clean spots. She had made herself useful in the engine compartment. Wish, now armed with a hand cannon and sword, stood faithfully beside her.
“Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?”
They stood enjoying the growing sight of the River Liffey and the gray walls of Dublin Castle. The port where they would tie up loomed closer, and Gavin had to tear himself from sightseeing and pilot the ship.
“Landa, can you….” Landa had already noticed the approach and headed back to the steam tanks to reduce pressure.
The royal guard, cloaked mostly in red, met them at the dock. They looked weary and expectant. A few of them did not wear a clock, indicating they had thrown off the Brotherhood brown robes. Orion saw Rory walk up to them and also recognized one of the captains from the advanced landing party.
“Captain, thank you for going ahead of us,” Orion said with respect. “Did you encounter any resistance?”
“A little, my lord,” the beefy airship captain replied. “They were quickly… convinced.”
“I’m so glad to hear it, Captain,” Rory said. “But please, tell us how it was done so quickly. Surely there were many loyal to Morgun Blaylock here.”
“Aye, but as soon as word spread of Prince Orion returning with the Dragon Stone to free our queen….”
“Me?” Orion asked, astounded by the idea that so many warlocks cared what he said and did.
“Of course, my lord,” the captain added. “There are many of us, more than you know, who are proud to have pledged our loyalty to your family.”
With that, the travel and battle-fatigued captain dropped to one knee and bowed his head. Then in a display unannounced and unexpected, one after another, and then in waves, every member of the royal guard dropped to one knee.
Gavin, Lucas, Landa, Wish, and even Rory stood in awe at the sight. Orion’s heart swelled and nearly choked him.
Orion clapped the big man on the shoulder and bid him rise. When he acquiesced, his soldiers did so as well, and escorted Orion and his friends peacefully to the castle.
At the gate, a sword-wielding man put out a hand to them and instructed the British to check their weapons. Wish did not take it well.
“Like bloody hell, you witch,” he exclaimed. “No way I’m surrendering my gun so you can lock me in some dungeon in this monstrosity.”
Orion interceded. “Wish. Look around you,” he instructed. Wish slowly complied to see dozens of Irish warlocks who had disembarked with them from the fleet. Many had bloodstained faces and weariness in their eyes.
“Give it up, tough guy,” Landa said. “I’ll protect you.”
“Yours too,” the guard demanded.
“My bag? But it’s only….”
“As you were saying,” Wish said.
She put her bag in the protection of the Irish guard. Wish noticed Landa reach up to her head and fidget for her long-lost top hat.
“Landa, when we get home, I’ll get you the best topper money can buy.”
“Hmmm.”
The castle’s dark halls and stone walls were bespotted with torches. With steam power, England had electric lights. Here they eschewed such advances. Gavin whispered, “What do you think will become of us without the stone aiding our advancement?”
“I don’t know,” Landa said.
“Son,” Rory said as he pulled Orion aside, away from the others as they reached the towering doors that led to the throne room.
“I am not your son,” Orion said with much less ferocity than before. “Not really.”
“Orion, I have done my best by you. It may not have been much, but it was my best.”
“You planned to use the stone, didn’t you?” Orion challenged. Rory remained quiet. “You never planned to give it to Aunt Siobhán. Why would I trust you now?”
Rory put his head down a moment and attempted to collect himself, but when he again looked upon Orion, his eyes were filled with tears.
“Orion, I know you think I played a part in your mother’s death. And maybe… maybe I am guilty of a great many things. I can’t deny it. I planned to use the stone, but you don’t know what it’s been like. Morgun Blaylock caused her death. I was… powerless to stop them or to get revenge.”
“Why would you not strike?” Orion said, fists clenched in rage.
“I’ve spent these last years working for the same people that ruined my… our lives. I failed her.”
“Why? Why did you not kill him!”
“You don’t understand,” Rory said, head dropped low.
“Make me understand, then.”
“I had already failed her, your mother. I relive it every day. They threatened to kill you too. I… I couldn’t do anything to fail her again. And I have in turn failed you.”
Orion’s eyes filled with pain and sorrow. Tears fell as he willed himself steady.
“I wanted to avenge your mother. I know you don’t believe me, but I loved her. And every day you remind me of her, and it’s been too much. So hard. I’ve been weak. Now after seeing your strength and goodness, all I want is to restore Siobhán and maybe… restore your faith in our family. Somehow finally honor your mother.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Orion sighed,
overwhelmed.
Rory placed his hand on his shoulder. “Say we can try. Now let’s finish this.”
Gavin stepped closer to Orion. He wanted to tell him it would be all right, that in the end, he would be fine. But he knew from his own recent discoveries how deep the pains of fathers and sons could go. So he simply stood close and offered support, friendship, and a reassuring hand on a shoulder.
Orion breathed deeply. If Gavin could survive what he had gone through, there might be hope. Orion looked next to Gavin to Landa’s smiling, reassuring face. Gavin touched them both on the shoulder, and knew in that moment what real family could be. His chosen family would make it, and it could be as simple as that.
Orion turned to face Lucas. Lucas, who loved Gavin. Lucas who had never trusted or, for that matter, liked Orion. Gavin dropped his hands and put them out toward Lucas. Lucas put his hands over Gavin’s palms until their fingers intertwined.
“Give the stone to him,” Lucas said. It filled Orion’s heart with gladness. Orion hugged a surprised Lucas before collecting himself and stepping back.
“Oh, blimey,” Wish interjected. “No need to hug me.” They all shared a brief laugh.
Orion watched as Gavin reached to his waist and untied the leather pouch dangling there. Orion accepted it, wiping his face dry.
When they entered the throne room, the banners of the Brotherhood bedecked the walls and surrounded the slumped queen, who slumbered in her chair near the throne. No one had lifted her to her rightful place. Someone stirred next to her.
“Riley?”
Orion’s servant sprang to his feet and swayed back and forth before catching himself on the edge of the throne. Orion ran forward and up the steps to where the queen sat, head heavily lolling to one side. Orion steadied Riley, who had been cut in the arm, and his clothes were soaked with blood.
“What’s happened?” Orion said, sitting Riley on the cold, hard steps so he could catch his breath. Orion ran his hands along Riley’s arms, looking him over for injuries. He found only a small gash, which he patched quickly with a piece of cloth torn from his own shirt.
“When word spread of your arrival after the landing party, some Brotherhood lads, they… they tried to get to the queen.”
“And you stopped them by yourself?” Lucas asked.
Orion beamed with pride, holding Riley by the hand. “Of course he did. Riley has been my practice partner since we were little children.”
“The true hero of the realm,” Landa proclaimed.
“You’ve done a fine job, lad,” Rory said. “But now, Orion, we must give Queen Siobhán the stone.”
“Will that cure her?” Landa asked.
“My aunt was once a great ruler,” Orion told them as he visibly attempted to steady himself. “She will know what to do.” Orion held up the pouch and looked to Gavin, who nodded to him. He turned and squatted before Siobhán, turned her hand, and dropped the stone directly into her shriveled palm.
Heart and Stone
THE THRONE room burst into glorious white light when Orion dropped the Knowledge Stone into the queen’s palm. This light had no harshness in it, but soothing pulsations. Siobhán’s gray, withering hair appeared to explode into flame. When the fire evaporated, there flowed luxurious red locks. Her gray eyes flashed an ocean of their long-ago blue before deepening to the purple of her magick.
And she stood.
“Aunt Siobhán,” Orion gasped.
The regal monarch’s withered body transformed. She now looked closer, if older, to the woman in the portrait above her bed, where she stood on a castle wall with the cliffs and sea behind her. The damage done by so many years of poisons disappeared, returning her to the powerful beauty Orion barely remembered. Everyone in the room stared.
The room returned to its torchlight when the queen placed the stone back into the leather pouch. Power emanated from her. She dipped her head to look down at Orion.
“Orion, my heart,” she said. “I know.” In those simple words, Orion knew it had told her all they had been through, all they had done to free her from the poisons Blaylock and the Brotherhood of the Mage had controlled her with for so many years. He threw his arms around her, a little child melting into tears of joy.
She kissed his head when he had cried himself out and set him down on the throne. He must have been unaware of it, as he would never sit there of his own accord.
She reached for Gavin, who immediately stepped up to her and bowed his head.
“You have done something truly great,” Siobhán said. “But your heart is heavy this day.”
“It is, Queen Siobhán.”
“Lift your weight today, as you are surrounded by love,” she said.
She grasped Landa by the hand.
“I am honored to meet you,” Landa said. She then must have remembered some lesson from her mother and performed the most awkward curtsy that had ever been attempted.
“The honor is mine,” Siobhán said with earnestness. “From what I have seen, you are someone with immeasurable skill and a heart as big.” Landa swelled with pride. “I see love in my castle once again. These colors are all wrong,” she exclaimed. With a fiery red wave, the Brotherhood flags and color banners fell in flames from their perches around the throne room. “That’s better.”
The queen walked over to Riley, who cradled his arm. “Let’s see to that.” She held one hand over his battle wound. With an orange glow, she healed him.
“Thank you, my queen.” Riley fell to a knee and bowed his head.
“I wish I had been strong enough to heal myself,” Siobhán murmured. “Ah, well then.” She held out a hand and placed its red glowing power in the air toward a fallen banner, which flew to her, transfigured into a blue cloak, and rested itself on Riley’s shoulder. He saw this and looked confused, as did Orion.
“But I don’t….”
“Nonsense, Warlock Riley. Do you not think the Brotherhood had something to do with your failure in the test?” she said. “I’ve seen you. I have seen you a long time, protecting my nephew from evils and from himself. That is why they kept you from learning. You protected me this day against great odds at personal peril. I have never witnessed such bravery.”
Landa cheered, and quickly the rest of them joined her. Orion smiled, his chest swelling with pride and eyes with wetness.
“Queen Siobhán,” Gavin said. “What will happen to the Knowledge Stone now?”
“What was once torn asunder….”
“Reunite the stones,” Gavin whispered.
“What?” Orion said.
“Yes,” Siobhán said.
“It was what the Monk told us, with Victoria,” Gavin explained. “He told me to reunite the stones.”
“And you’ve already reunited your Knowledge Stone with another,” Siobhán said.
“How? Where is the other piece?” Wish asked.
“Oh my. It can’t be so simple,” Lucas exclaimed.
“What can’t be?” Gavin asked.
Lucas pointed to Orion’s throat. “That’s one of the stones.” Orion clutched the iron heart pendant around his neck. “That’s what is is, right? Part of the heart of a dragon.”
“You are not only brave, but clever as well,” the queen said to Lucas before turning to Gavin. “Yes, a dragon’s heart has many sides, but one true center. You found the Knowledge Stone, took it from evil men, and used it for good alongside the holder of this one.” Orion dropped his hands as Siobhán touched her fingertips to it.
Orion took off the necklace and held it gently in his palms. His eyes were filled with wonder as light danced off the iron heart. It mesmerized him, and he swayed to the pulsing.
“Wait,” Wish interrupted. “You mean to tell me that we risked life and limb to steal that stone when this sod had one the entire time we could have used?”
Riley turned his sword upon Wish, and Wish stared down the point of it. It was Riley’s turn to explain things. “Do not speak to my master in that manner, o
r you will have a difficult time swallowing. Do I make myself clear enough, Englishman?”
“Whoa. Riley,” Orion gasped, duly impressed at the machismo.
Wish leaned forward, gnashing his teeth, but then apparently thought better of it. He put his hands up and backed away.
“He is not your master anymore, young warlock.”
Riley lowered his blade and gaped at his queen before turning to Orion with what almost looked like sadness.
“You are a hero,” Orion proclaimed.
“Hero points his sword at—” Wish began in a threatening undertone until Riley turned to him quickly.
“Hush now,” Landa instructed.
“Ah, the never-ending exuberance of the young,” Siobhán said. “You are right to ponder, but the Nexus Stone is not meant to do what the Knowledge Stone has. It has traveled with Orion since he was a child, as he was meant to guard it.”
“And it him,” Lucas added.
“Quite.”
“The aethereal dragons I can conjure,” Orion concluded, and the queen nodded.
“It has another purpose. Will you follow your destinies and bring them together in body as well as in the spirit?” She held out the Knowledge Stone, her eyes glowed purple, and wind only she could feel lifted her flowing hair. She spread open her other palm, beckoning to Orion.
Orion set the Nexus Stone pendant into Siobhán’s hand.
The most brilliant white, like that last seen on the airship over London, consumed the room and everyone in it in luminescence. Gavin and Orion squinted at one another, having both heard the queen’s voice in their heads.
Join them and begin to fulfill your destiny.
Each pushed the queen’s hands together until the necklace touched the Knowledge Stone. They were surrounded by the elephantine beating. And there was darkness.
Or rather there was an absence of blinding light, which took their eyes a moment to grow accustomed to. A rough, egg-shaped stone, rested between her hands. Its grays swirled into purples and maroon along the sides where a ridge divided the two halves.
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