by C E Johnson
Elizabeth was the next to arrive. She gave Emily and Isabelle a kiss on their cheeks. “At least something good has happened to us,” Elizabeth said tenderly as she stroked her bondsmate. She sat and also leaned against the great dragon while letting her ocelot curl up on her lap. Wearing a soft navy lambswool cloak, the crisp colors in Elizabeth’s eyes were accentuated like blue diamonds.
Flying down from the dark night sky in her dragon-form, Anna appeared all at once from nowhere. She landed simultaneously with her golden eagle and transformed effortlessly into her human form. A faint rosy flush was in her cheeks. Lifting her arm for her eagle to land upon, she walked over to Ammolite and sat down next to dragonscales. “Our path looks clear for leagues to the east,” she told their group. A brisk wind blew around her in a soft swirl making the golden highlights in her chestnut hair dance and twirl.
“I’m ready to finish off this war,” Luke said in a hushed voice as he joined the crew. For some reason, he was radiating an inner fury. Even his stride was angry as was the impression Emily observed in Rune who was loping at Luke’s side. Luke fingered his rounded cheekbones and strong square jaw. Emily gestured for him to sit next to her and Xena, and he visibly relaxed. He even gave a small satisfied smile as he complied. A portion of his passionate irritation evaporated instantly. Putting her head on his shoulder, Emily leaned onto him. He smelled of leather, soap, and war.
“We need to plan out our final battle,” Emily said in a low voice. “We can’t wing it like we did in New Orleans.” She rubbed her hand lightly over the stubble on Luke’s cheek. “I’ve fully incorporated Shadoe, and I’m going to start casting spells of prophecy to determine potential options for us.” She inhaled the scent of snow, cold, and horses. “Ammolite will help me.”
“And then it will all be over, right?” Luke asked in a huff. “I’m getting tired of all the death. It’s getting to me.” His eyes appeared as steely as his blade. “I’m becoming ferocious and vicious, and I don’t really like my evolution.”
“And then it will be over,” Emily whispered in his ear. She gave him a light kiss on his forehead. Closing her eyes, suddenly she could picture Iscar’s goldstone with six sides waiting for her along with a future that she could almost make out. Everything was sitting just beyond her view. Just over the next hill.
Emily, when they go to bed, we need to talk, Ammolite whispered in her mind.
The Dragon Prophecy
(incomplete)
From ancient bloodlines most rare,
From the Houses of the Elves and Humankind,
Two offspring stronger than steel,
Their futures intertwined,
One will depart raw,
One will depart trained,
One the sword, one the shield,
Power deeply ingrained,
Knowledge her salvation,
Knowledge her only guide,
Shades of every hue define her,
Powerful strength magnified,
Blue the cave, Red the king,
Green the queen, Black the darkest shadow,
Silver the endless night,
Gold dawn’s bright tomorrow,
Fear blunting the strongest hearts,
Armies will gather on the plain,
Who will stumble in the darkness,
As the liberator begins her campaign,
Both will be tested ruthlessly,
Both will battle the betrayer,
Will dragons or man rule the wheel,
The choice will go to the slayer,
Once her wounds no longer heal,
Her quest for the set will form,
Once war flows like a flood,
Desolation the violent storm,
In the heart of the shaking forest,
Radiant lights align,
His words resonate upon his passing,
Guiding her tender mind,
When evil reawakens from the grave,
When wickedness awaits,
Resolve will battle pain,
Love will battle hate,
The disciples of death must refute their leader,
The disciples must choose their fate,
All will hang in the balance,
The hope of nations will clean the slate,
Glossary of Auras
Colors of auras, and their inborn spell advantages
Black – Speak to spirits of Ater, form Mavet raa
Blue – Shields
Brown – Shape change
Coral – Variable, fly
Cyan – Magestone shaper
Gray – Intelligence, memory
Green – Heal
Gold – Elemental control: fire, water, earth, wind
Indigo – Bondsmates, control animals
Orange – Enchant objects, prophecy
Red – Offensive spells, fight
Sand – Stonework
Silver – Psionics
Violet – Potions
White – Illusions, camouflage
Yellow – Truth-telling, aura assessment, leadership
Glossary of Half-deads
After death, some spirits go to Ater, a type of purgatory.
Through spells, spirits in Ater can be pulled back to the physical world as a Mavet raa.
A Mavet raa is a zombie-esque creature. It will follow the orders of its creator, and will die upon its creator’s death.
If a Mavet raa kills a magician, magus will be released, and the energy will transform the creature into a half-dead.
A half-dead can assimilate components of energy released by death in its vicinity, gaining vitality, knowledge and memories. A half-dead will not die when its creator dies.
Transformation from a Mavet raa to half-dead is based on the aura of the first magician killed:
Black – Vampires, night vision, agility
Blue – Gargoyle, stone-like skin
Brown – Were-creature, a single animal form
Coral – Harpy, half human, half bird
Cyan – Maricoxi, ape-like creatures
Gray – Kobold, intelligent, reptilian
Green – Dryad, nature skills
Gold – Gnomes, Undines, Sylphs, Fire-serpents. Elemental power
Indigo – Skinwalker, multiple animal forms
Orange – Wyvern, small dragons, poisonous bite.
Red – Goblins, human-sized fighter
Sand – Troll, intermediate-sized fighter
Silver – Shade, weak psionic ability
Violet – Vetala, increased speed
White – Banshees, camouflage
Yellow – Ogre, large fighter
Glossary of Characters
Aamon, Abadd, and Abatu – Samil’s sons
Aderyn – Falcon, Keaton’s bondsmate
Adrienne – Dryad, half-dead created by Emily
Akhil – Freedom Fighter
Amana – Saber-toothed tiger, Rios Esteppe’s bondsmate
Amanda Baker – Stargate Project member
Andrew Dalton – Doctor, pediatric surgeon, Emily’s godfather
Anna – Emily’s friend, martial artist
Apache – Emily’s horse at the Henry stable
Arach – King of the dragons in the first dragon war
Argos – Isabelle’s horse at the Henry stable
Arn – Eagle, Droth’s bondsmate
Ashignis Angel – Gold Magician, Professor of the elements
Atarah – Clouded Leopard, Amanda’s bondsmate
Barkley Hooten – Captain of the Royal Zuriel
Bronte – Emily’s warhorse
Brytam – White Magician, Samil’s assistant
Cain – Vampire, half-dead created by Samil
Calumnia Funk – White Magician, Alitis, Professor of illusions
Cameron – Blue Magician, orphan
Captain Casford – United States military officer
Caroline – Swimmer
Claire – Blue Magician, orphan
Critten
den Quercus – Elf, Captain of the guard
Cyril – Red Magician, King of Ekron sector
Dax – River otter, Dr. D’s bondsmate
Delores Quadmire – Bully in Austin, Texas
Doeg Quadmire – Delores’ father, trainer
Dracul, Drago, and Drakkon – Dragons of the Black Riders by Portal Lake
Drakus – Black Magician, Drogor’s ancestor, fought in first Dragon War
Drogor – Wraith-spirit - dead grandfather of Samil, magician, black magic
Droth – Black Magician, Samil’s general on Earth
Duke – Boxer, Hadrian’s bondsmate, nickname for Orthus
Dysis Hoshi – Blacksky lieutenant
Edvard – Vampire, half-dead
Elaina – Elf queen
Elizabeth – Emily’s friend, swimmer
Emily – Blue Magician
Erma – Peregrine falcon, Isabelle’s bondsmate
Fang – Saber-tooth tiger, Suci Abaddon’s bondsmate
Ferdinand Maurer –Yellow Magician, Professor of auras and magestones
Finnur Haukur – Captain of the Elisabet
Flamescale – Red dragon of Eusebius
Fred Wernli – Pulmonologist
Gavone Gassone – Red Magician, leader of the Cat Clan
Ginger Mero – Brown Magician, Professor shape changing
Goldenmoon – Dragon of Eusebius
Graciela – Vampire, half-dead
Greyson Raiken – the Raik, master thief
Hadrian Simara – Blacksky Commander
Ian McClinton – Medic who found Hadrian in Hawaii
Isabelle – Emily’s friend, horse rider
Iscar – Magician
James Moss – Doctor that trained Dr. D
Janishka Rumanovah – Violet Magician, Droth’s wife
Jeff McAdams – Coach, Sword
John Ureste – Doctor, Charity Hospital
Jon – Magician, Green Magic, crew of Elisabet, longbow expert
KC McLaughlin – Federal Agent
Keaton – Blue Magician, orphan, Alitis
Kelcey – Black Magician, Elf, sister of Shadoe
Kirbee – Vampire, half-dead
Kwan Tat – Gold Magician, Javan, crew of Elisabet
Mors – Vampire, half-dead
Mr. Jesse Gunlock – Attendant at the animal shelter
Ladon – Dragon of Angkor
Lambo – Great grandnephew of Droth
Lampos – Horse merchant of Angkor
Lia – Ocelot, Elizabeth’s bondsmate
Loff Retz – Indigo magician, nexus, wraith spirit
London Belafsky – Indigo Magician, Professor of bondsmates
Luce Levi Laadah – Lacerta warrior
Luke – Emily’s friend, fencer
Lyall – Leader of the were-creatures in the Dothan Forest
Maaca – Vampire, half-dead created by Samil
Magog – Saber-toothed tiger, Suci’s bondsmate
Malachi Hughes – President’s son
Marcus Tate – Yellow Magician, Samil’s assistant
Marie – Swimmer
Medens Force – Green Magician, Professor of healing
Milo – Red Magician, Droth’s assistant
Nathan Ezer – Fisherman who gave Cyril a water cobra
Neal Poulton Himes – Archery instructor
Nicos and Yorgos – Twins, crew of Elisabet
Nox – Horse, Cameron’s bondsmate
Oliver Tseng – Sensei of martial arts
Orel – Eagle bondsmate of Lambo
Palin – Coach, Swimming
Pendon – Angkor Castle director
Poulton Neal Himes – Coach, Bowmaster
Richard and Jean Whayne – Emily’s adoptive parents
Rios Esteppe – Red Magician, Cat Clan
Roseanne Reese – Orange Magician, Professor of Dragon lore and the history of magic
Ross – Elf warrior
Rune – Dire wolf, Luke’s bondsmate
Sak – Gray dragon of Citlaltzin
Samamune – Javan swordmaker
Samil – Black Magician
Scott Henry – Owns the stables where Emily trains
Shachal – Black tiger, Gavone’s bondsmate
Shadoe – Orange Magician, Elf
Skyler – Black dragon, Samil’s bondsmate
Soane – Golden eagle, Anna’s bondsmate
Stacy Stevens – Silver Magician, Professor of psionics
Steele – Captain John Steele, Elf warrior
Suci Abaddon – Violet Magician, Professor of potions
Tebah – Blacksky agent, close friend of Hadrian
Tengu – Acacean mega-bat bondsmate
Tertius Kline – Captain of pirate ship
Tiamat – Queen of the dragons on Acacia
Tonalli – Javan warrior, trained Hadrian
Ullr – Shade, half-dead created by Samil
Vadimas – onetime head of the magical academy on the Island of Bashan
Val Vincere – Red Magician, Professor of offensive magic
Victor – Fusion of mermaid and Acacean, crew of Elisabet
Victoria - Elf, Squadron Commander
Vuk – Black panther, Malachi’s bondsmate
Wennogle Wall – Blue Magician, Professor of shields
William Hughes – President of the United States
Wuldur – Shade, half-dead created by Samil
Xander, Xanthus, Xeno – Xena’s littermates, Droth’s dogs
Xena – pronounced Zeena, Doberman, nickname Z, Emily’s bondsmate
Yannis – Water cobra, Cyril’s bondsmate
Yotan – Javan King during Hadrian’s youth
Zaki – Freedom Fighter
Zara – Innkeeper of the Flotsam
Glossary of Magic
Aneoxa porta – Open
Aranea Textura – Weave a web to search for others, or scan for items
Ardesco – Fireball
Armus – Communicate with animals
Ater – Purgatory, the spirit world
Consigno – Seal a message in a magestone fragment
Defigere – Enchant an object
Domina Ferinus – Spell to control animals
Dream-link – A spell to communicate
Fegkos fulgar – Fire
Flamae – Fireball
Flammeus absorbeo – Reduce things
Fulgar makria – Turn off lights
Glacies – Freeze spell
Ianitorus – Spell to open doors
Ki (Pronounced “key”) – Inner voice, inner magical power
Loqua umbra – Words to guide a magician to the spirit world, Ater
Madai – Name for someone who has no magical ability
Mage-field – Force field around an object to prevent magus use
Mage-lock – A lock on a door allowing limited magician entry
Magus – (pronounced “may-jus”) - Inner magic
Makria – End a spell
Medicor – Heal
Memoria – Memorize, commit to memory
Mind-link – A mental link between bondsmates
Mouwe – Camouflage spell
Mutationnem – Mutate to another shape
Mutato Draco – Spell to transform into a dragon shape
Oath-bound – Samil’s dragon-oath bound warriors
Praedico vaticinatio – Spell of prophecy
Propero – Move
Pulsus – Psionic spell, push, moves an object
Remedio bestia – Healing spell for bondsmates
Somnio – Sleep or meditation to begin to send across a dream-link
Thyreos o – Shield spell
Ukcabala – The process of pulling across a spirit from Ater
Vinculum – The process of bonding with a bondsmate
Zambi – Formation of a Mavet raa
Glossary of Time
1: Earth prime age: starts from the day one first arrives on Earth
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nbsp; 2: One day on Earth is equivalent to one year on Acacia
3: Traveling from Acacia to Earth: No change in age. Earth prime age begins. Weakening in magic, senses, agility. A tolerance can be built over time or adaptation occurs with spells that promote rejuvenation
4: Traveling from Earth to Acacia: Travelers from Earth to Acacia undergo a heightening. Agility, strength, intelligence, senses and magical ability all increase, greater based on years on Earth. Heightened abilities decay slowly over years spent on Acacia
5: Traveling from Earth to Acacia and back to Earth:
For each year spent on Acacia, one day passes on Earth.
Age will revert upon a return to Earth based off Earth prime age plus one day for each year spent on Acacia. Cheating time.
Retain skills and memories from a trip to Acacia upon a return to Earth
Weakening upon a return to Earth - greater depending on the amount of time spent on Acacia
Examples:
Born on Acacia. Leave Acacia at 30, arrive on Earth. Earth prime age begins at 30. Weakening. Tolerance will build. Remain on Earth 10 years. Will be 40 Earth years. Return to Acacia. Will stay 40. Heightening. 3,650 years will have passed on Acacia (365 x 10). If remain on Acacia 10 years, heightening decays. Will be 50 years old. Return to Earth. Weakening. Only 10 Earth days will have passed for the 10 Acacean years. Revert to 40 Earth years plus 10 days. Cheat time. Will retain new abilities, memories. Tolerance begins
Born on Earth. Earth prime age begins at birth. At 14, travel to AcaciaHeightening. Live 10 years on Acacia, will be 24 years old, heightening decays. Return to Earth. Weakening. Revert back to 14 years of age plus 10 days. Cheat time. Will retain memories and skills learned. Tolerance begins
Twins born on Acacia. Twin A leaves at birth to Earth. Weakening. Earth prime age begins at age 0. Tolerance begins. Twin B lives 10 years on Acacia (10 Earth days). Twin B goes to Earth. Weakening. Earth prime age begins at 10 years. Tolerance begins. Twin A will be 10 days old, Twin B 10 years old. Discrepant age based on Earth prime day.
Born on Acacia. At 50 years old, travel to Earth. Earth prime age begins at 50. Weakening. Tolerance begins. If stay one day and return to Acacia. One year will have passed on Acacia. Mild heightening. Stay on Acacia ten years - 60-year-old. Return to Earth. Weakening. Revert back to 50 years plus 10 days. Cheat time. Stay one day on Earth, return to Acacia. One year will have passed on Acacia. Will still be 50 years plus 11 days. Cheat time. Mild heightening.