Pike let out a deep breath and loosened his grip as he stared at Drue’s frightened face. He placed the dagger back in his bag and turned to the blond-haired man who was leaning down on his knees, breathing heavily. Pike slapped him on the back, waiting for him to calm down.
“I see you’ve gotten your focus back,” Drue chuckled.
“What are you doing out here?” Pike asked, irritated by the intrusion.
“You left this,” Drue said, pulling the journal from his bag and handing it to Pike. “I’ll be honest; it was open when I picked it up and…well…I read some of it.”
“That was private,” Pike said, slamming the book shut and shoving it back into his bag. “But thank you for bringing it all the way out here.”
“No problem,” Drue said as he watched Pike turn and begin walking again. “You know, on a journey such as this, I could probably be of service.”
“No,” Pike said, his head low and his brow furrowed. “This is dangerous, and I can’t look after you.”
“I don’t need lookin’ after,” Drue said with irritation in his voice. “But I can cook, catch a rabbit with my bare hands, and start a fire in a minute flat. I could be your squire.”
“Why do you want to do this? There is an excellent chance you will die,” Pike said, stopping and turning toward Drue.
“I got nothin’ here,” Drue said, looking down. “My family’s dead, my little sister got taken by the plague last year, and all I do is get drunk and sell journals. I was hopin’ this could help me write the book I’ve been trying to write. I figure if I die, I’ll be seein’ my family, and if I don’t, I’ll have one hell of a book.”
“This isn’t just some fairytale,” Pike gruffed. “This is my wife and my mother.”
“I know,” Drue said, looking sheepish. “I didn’t mean no disrespect, Your Grace. I just want to be part of something bigger.”
Pike shifted in his stance, his muscles relaxing. He thought about the years he spent in the mer-kingdom, swimming around dreaming of a day that he, too, could be part of something bigger. He took a deep breath and began to walk.
“Fine,” Pike said. “But I am not responsible for your life.”
“Of course,” Drue said excitedly, throwing his bag over his shoulder and running to catch up.
With that, Pike was no longer traveling alone. Though he worried about the young man’s life, he couldn’t help but feel comforted, knowing his long, lonely hours would be shortened with the companionship he had found in the city. He looked up as the clouds blew by, showing no sign of rain, but dipping the temperatures closer and closer to the approaching winters. It was then that Pike realized if he was going to survive this journey he’d better prepare himself for winter. The frosty air and blowing snow would hit just before they reached the mountains, and the last thing Pike wanted to do was freeze to death at the Dead King’s doorstep.
“Can you hunt larger animals?” Pike asked Drue, breaking the silence. “Like bear or elk?”
“I’d have to fashion myself a bow, but yeah,” Drue responded.
“We’ll need the furs for winter. It’s approaching fast, and the mountains are still far off,” Pike replied. “Tomorrow we will hunt the woods of the realm of NoSolo. We should be there by dark to camp and prepare.”
“Sounds good, boss,” Drue said, smiling. “Can I ask you something?”
“If you must,” Pike said in a dry tone.
“Where did you get the Dead Sword?” Drue asked, looking down at the shape of the sword under Pike’s cloak.
“Don’t ever speak of it again,” Pike snapped, turning to Drue and grabbing his face in his hand and squeezing tightly. “Not an utter must cross your lips. Understand?”
Drue shook his head, his eyes wide as Pike snapped in anger. Pike loosened his grip, guilt coming over him. He turned and headed down the trail, not stopping as Drue ran to catch up with him. There were so many secrets among the two; Pike didn’t know how he would keep Drue from asking questions, knowing his response was not a fair one. As the two men crossed over the edge of NoSolo, Pike grabbed Drue and drug him down into the tall grasses of the fields. They watched as two large Wild Dragons flew overhead, searching the lands below.
“Whoa, those are Wild Dragons,” Drue whispered. “What are they doing out here?”
“Looking for me,” Pike said nonchalantly.
“Oh,” Drue said with a concerned face. He turned and looked back at the sky. “Well, guess we’ll have to keep an eye out then. Anybody else following you around?”
“Yes,” Pike said, crawling from the reeds. “The Dead King’s army.”
Drue watched in shock as Pike picked himself up and began walking toward the far-off wood scape. He shook his head and jumped up, running after Pike. Both alliance and foe were hunting Pike, and now they both were destined for the shadows of the NoSolo woods.
Chapter Four: Into the Night
Leonetta opened her eyes, taking in a deep breath and stabilizing herself. These kinds of spells always majorly depleted her strength. Ardontis reached over and handed her a cup of water. She had been able to talk to Pike, let him know of his father’s death, and give him a heads up, but she still felt like she should have done more. Leonetta knew how dangerous it was to fuel Pike’s fire and then send him out alone on his trek toward the Pero Peaks, but she didn’t feel she had any other choice.
“Did I do the right thing?” Leonetta asked, looking at Ardontis.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Ardontis said, standing. “We know your sister is not prepared to take on this giant. We have seen the signs; we have seen the visions. Pike is the answer, or at least a huge hurdle being thrown at Ghede. He will find his powers.”
“I just feel if I could tell him they are there,” Leonetta said with grief in her tone. “At least then he could be looking for them.”
“That is not how it works,” Ardontis said gently. “Pike must discover what lies inside of him on his own. We cannot interfere.”
“What if…” Leonetta said, pausing as she sensed someone approaching. A loud knock wrung out across the room, and Leonetta stood, gathering her strength and opening the door.
“Your Grace,” the young soldier stated, bowing, “the queen requests your presence in the council room.”
“Of course,” Leonetta said, turning to Ardontis.
“I’m sorry, but the queen said just you,” the soldier replied, sensing there would be tension.
“Of course, she did,” Leonetta said, smiling. “I’ll be right behind you.”
The soldier nodded before turning and walking down the hall. Leonetta pushed the door closed and looked at Ardontis. He stood and walked to the window, understanding that his time in the Vale may be coming to a close.
“We know what this meeting is about,” Leonetta whispered. “Be prepared.”
“I am always prepared,” Ardontis responded as Leonetta left the room and made her way to the council chambers.
When she arrived, Asphodul was standing at the front with Tyriad, Aralea, and Georges seated around the table. Leonetta bowed at Asphodul as she entered, keeping her eyes focused on the seat where she would be sitting. Once she was seated, Aralea cleared her throat.
“We all know there is a grave danger here,” Asphodul said, looking toward the window. “We have neglected our duties to this realm, and now where do we stand? The Vale ports are burned to the ground, Cascading Seas is all but useless after the battle, and the mer-kingdom has been completely eradicated.”
“The queen is still out there,” Aralea said. “And Pike. Pike is out there somewhere.”
“Yes, but where? No one knows. He is as good as dead to us,” Asphodul said.
“I know,” Leonetta whispered, standing up. “I know where the mer-prince is. He is alive and well, traveling toward the Dead King as we speak.”
“What?” Asphodul said, squinting her eyes. “You knew of this, and you kept it from us?”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Asph
odul,” Leonetta snapped. “We all knew he was out there; I was just the only one to take the initiative to find him.”
“What good is he anyways? He has no idea how to defeat the Dead King. In fact, none of us do. He will be dead before he reaches the mountain,” Asphodul scoffed.
“That is not necessarily true,” Leonetta said, stepping forward. “He has the Dead Sword.”
With those words, everyone broke out in a collective conversation. Leonetta stood staring into the eyes of her sister, waiting for her response. Moments passed before Asphodul broke the stare and walked over to the window. She whispered something faintly.
“How?” Asphodul asked quietly below the clambering. She turned toward Leonetta and put her arms up in the air, catching everyone’s attention and shouting loudly. “How?! Tell me Leonetta, how did a young mer-prince happen to come across a centuries-old sword that, at last I checked, was missing?”
“I don’t know how he got it, but he has it,” Leonetta said.
“That’s a lie,” Asphodul scoffed. “You and I both know there is only one person that is the keeper of secrets, the finder of the lost, and the master of deception.”
“Say it,” Leonetta said, stepping forward in anger.
“Ardontis,” Asphodul whispered. “No matter. You created this mess, and you will clean it up. Leonetta, I am ordering you to leave at dawn, Faith in tow, and find that boy. When you do, you bring that sword and the mer-prince back here to the Vale where we can hide both of them safely. In the meantime, I will start creating a plan – a real one – to rid the world of the Dead King.”
“This is a mistake,” Leonetta stated loudly.
“No, the only mistake made was you mistaking my kindness for weakness,” Asphodul said through gritted teeth. “Do as I ordered, or find another kingdom to call home.”
Leonetta nodded, and Asphodul watched as she hurried from the room. The queen sighed and walked over to the table where everyone sat quietly, waiting for Asphodul to speak. Tyriad stroked her hand as she leaned against the table.
“We can pick this up after dinner,” Asphodul whispered, staring down at the table as Queen Aralea and King Georges stood and walked silently from the room. “I just don’t understand her.”
“What did I tell you before, my love?” Tyriad said softly. “She is still finding her allegiance. She is still finding where she belongs. This will be a test, a sign, of her true feelings toward this kingdom. You made the right choice.”
“I know,” Asphodul sighed. “I just feel as if I cannot let my sister leave under such duress.”
“Then go to her, my queen, makeup, and send her off on a positive note,” Tyriad said as he stood and kissed Asphodul on the cheek.
“I shall,” she said. “Right after dinner, I’ll go and speak with her.”
“Good,” Tyriad replied. “I am going to go end the training for the day, and I’ll meet you in the dining hall.”
Asphodul nodded and watched as her husband left the room, traveling toward the fields behind the castle. She sauntered along through the hallways, lost in thought. As she passed the opening to the gardens, she paused, noticing Aralea alone in the blossoms. Asphodul watched, hidden from view, as the lonely queen ran one hand over the petals of the roses while stroking her ever-growing belly. Asphodul knew exactly what she was feeling, lost in a world where her family was gone, and she was the sole being left to carry on her heritage. It was a lonely feeling of despair and fear. She stood for quite some time watching the queen, but as Georges approached, Asphodul turned, knowing she did not want to wait until after dinner to speak with her sister.
As she made her way through the halls, Asphodul smiled curiously at the passing staff members who were carrying what looked to be Leonetta’s linens. She walked slowly to the open door of her sister’s chambers and paused, watching a small girl picking the last of the sheets from the bed. All of Leonetta’s valuables were gone, and the room lay empty.
“Where is my sister?” Asphodul asked.
“Oh, Your Grace,” the girl said, curtsying, “she has already left. Sir Holland, the princess, and the Faith all took the Wild and flew off just minutes ago.”
“Did they say anything?” Asphodul asked, only slightly surprised at her sister’s absence.
“I heard them speak of traveling at night and then something about searching for the cloak,” the girl said nervously.
“The cloak? What cloak?” Asphodul asked.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace. That is all I heard,” the girl said, bowing her head.
“Thank you,” Asphodul said kindly, dismissing the girl.
She stood for a moment, looking around her sister’s room, saddened that she did not wait until morning to leave. However, Leonetta’s haste gave Asphodul hope that she was planning to follow her directive and return happily and safely to her home with the fae. She knew if she did not she would have to stand strong on her threat, having been taught by her father that a real queen follows through with any threat she makes and should make them wisely. Though Asphodul felt she did not make this threat carefully, she was bound to the promise. If Leonetta did not return with the boy and the sword, she would be cast from the Vale forever.
***
“We must fly higher,” Leonetta shouted to Holland and Ardontis. “We don’t want the Dead King’s men to spot us. They could follow us right to Pike.”
The darkened color of the Wild Dragons, Holland’s blackened tint of his scales, and the black robes draped over the princess and the Faith made them almost invisible in the night sky. Though they did not know where Pike was, Leonetta could sense the last place she visited him. She whispered an enchantment under her breath, bringing short bursts of visions where he traveled. The dragon’s speed gave them the upper hand in tracking him, but she knew with his cloak it would be no easy feat. Leonetta sat back, replaying her sister’s anger in her mind. Asphodul had become cold and angry since her parents died, and being queen did not suit her as she once thought it would.
Leonetta looked down as they passed the large wooded area where she had shielded Pike from the ogres. The leaves had begun to fall from the trees with the changing seasons, and she could see the trampled firepit below. From there, she picked up the little signal of his trace, as he had traveled with his cloak fastened over his head, shielded from the view of onlookers. They continued to fly as Leonetta watched for any sign of Pike’s line of travel. As the sun began to rise, just before it broke the horizon, his images appeared again, and she watched as the shadow of his past entered into a small cottage in the fields below.
Leonetta signaled to the others, and they looped down, looking at the landscape for any sign of trouble. The reeds blew coldly across the fields, and Leonetta found that any danger that had been lurking left in a hurry. They landed, and Leonetta shook the enchantment from her gaze, letting her eyes rest on the cottage before them. Where once stood a bright and lively home was now a dilapidated, old cabin. The stairs to the porch had been broken by what looked like heavy footsteps. Leonetta walked carefully inside, Holland following behind. As she entered the space, water running down the walls from the collapsing roof, she gasped, turning her gaze to Holland.
In the corner sat the remains of four people – two adults and two small children. They looked as if they had been crushed to death by something, or someone, powerful. Holland put his arms around Leonetta, and without looking, she waved her hand at the bodies. A blast of light came from her palms, raising the corpses in the air and turning them into a sparkling ash.
“Now they can rest peacefully,” Leonetta said, turning and walking from the house.
“It smells like ogre blood,” Holland said, using his keen dragon senses in his human form. “Whoever did this came to the wrong house. They may have won, but the owner drew blood before falling to their might.”
“Ghede,” Leonetta whispered. “He is hunting Pike. Pike must have let the sword out from under the cloak. He drew them right to him. Those peop
le didn’t stand a chance.”
Leonetta whispered her enchantment once again, following the disappearing footsteps out into the field. She watched as the grass collapsed and the image of Pike’s disparaged face appeared. Her heart saddened as he cried out for the people in the house. He was suffering. However, as his head rose, Leonetta stepped back, realizing his sadness had quickly turned to anger. She, too, remembered a time when this became her usual tendency. She looked up at the horizon as the images faded and sighed.
“Where are you, Pike?” Leonetta whispered into the wind.
Chapter Five: Spells and Secrets
The arrow flew swiftly through the air, letting off a whizzing sound from the feather stuck in the end. Pike watched as the pointed end pierced through the bear’s skin and into his heart. The giant, black grizzly writhed and twisted before falling lifelessly to the ground. Drue looked up to see where he had hit the beast and threw his arms up in victory. Pike couldn’t help but smile as he had significantly underestimated Drue’s hunting and weapon-creating skills.
“See?” Drue said, climbing over a log to get to Pike. “It’s all about the feathers. They cut through the air and guide the arrow right where you want it to go.”
“Great job,” Pike said as they climbed over fallen trees and shrubbery and stared down at the dead bear. “Now, how well are you at skinning a bear?”
Drue looked over at Pike who was holding his knife up and smiling. Drue sighed and took the knife, not realizing he was going to have to do this alone. He stopped and turned toward Pike.
War of the Realms Box Set Page 40