by C E Johnson
“But you don’t know for sure.” Hope and excitement warred on Luke’s face. “Just in case, tell me how you form light on your fingertips, Em. I’m going to keep working on that one until I get it.”
Emily didn’t want to contradict Luke, but she didn’t see any underlying aura in her friends either. “I’ll teach you the spell later,” She said gently, gesturing to the passageway. “Okay, now walk right behind me and move where I move. There are a few trap doors in here.” Emily and Dr. D revealed passages and they bypassed traps to arrive at magnificent doors of amethyst that filled the passageway, bedecked with carvings of Acacean animals.
“Fascinating.” Isabelle stood on her tiptoes to study a horse just above her head-level. “Look at all the creatures.”
They proceeded past the animal illustrations and entered the common room, a grand room with a huge timbered ceiling. Fires and mage-lights sprang to life in the corners of the enormous expanse that was lined with doors. Xena padded silently to a thick carpet by a fireplace. Dax left Dr. D’s pocket and nestled next to Xena.
“It’s been a long night, but does anyone want a snack before we go to bed?” Dr. D asked. He stood by a doorway that led to the kitchens. After the clamor for food died away, he disappeared, returning after a time with newly baked bread and honey along with glasses of ice cold water.
“I have to say I like the way royalty lives.” Luke sat in a carved wooden chair at a long trestle table, helping himself to another piece of bread.
Emily felt comforted by her friends’ satisfaction. Her concern for her brother still made her heart ache, but his advice suggested she had time to organize her plans. She swirled the water in her glass. “There’s hot water here also,” she added.
“Hot water … I guess that means there must be showers here.” Anna pushed away from the table and stood. “Now this has become my type of campout. Which way do I go to become clean again before I go to sleep?”
“Explore and take whichever room you want.” Dr. D stood and guided Anna toward one of the passages exiting the chamber. “I saw some of Emily’s belongings in a room in that direction.” He pointed out Emily’s room. “All of these doors lead to hallways and bedrooms. If you get lost, just start yelling.”
I’ll lead them if they need help, Xena volunteered.
“Xena will find you and guide you back to this room if you call for her,” Emily informed her friends. She went with Anna to make sure she was content.
Looking for a favorite room, the rest of her friends began to explore. Emily made sure they had everything they needed. Each found a bedchamber and ended up in adjoining quarters right around her room. Emily had selected the room where she had talked with Cameron after escaping from Samil. She showered and sat on her bed, rubbing Xena’s head.
Luke is coming, Xena whispered while jumping off the bed to curl at Emily’s feet.
After a time, Luke quietly entered her room. His hair was still wet from his shower. “Thanks for bringing us here. This place is awesome.” Licking his lips nervously, he awkwardly walked over to Emily. He sat next to her fixing her with his deep brown eyes. Emily found his fingers and their hands interlocked. Luke had long fingers. He leaned closer, and she could smell soap, shampoo, and a faint hint of something sweet, like honey. She closed her eyes and felt a shiver go through her as she let her senses go wild, feeling his breath dance like a warm caress on her skin. He kissed her lightly on her cheek and she immersed herself in the joy of their closeness, feeling both naïve and shy.
Emily opened her eyes and Luke blushed. She could see the color forming even in the dark room. “I still don’t understand how you find pointy ears attractive,” Emily teased. Her breath was coming rapidly. Luke started to clumsily get to his feet, but Emily held him back.
“You’re my image of beauty,” Luke whispered as he placed another kiss on her cheek. His voice had become quiet. His dark brown eyes were forming into deep pools, looking into her soul. He brushed his mouth again on the corner of her lower lip and then on her upper lip.
Emily felt her body relax, and they kissed. She fully unleashed her heightened senses by her face, mouth, and hands. Thrills cascaded up and down her spine. This was a kiss to remember. She slid her hand into his hair and touched his face reveling in the amazing sensations. They leaned into each other and kissed harder for several minutes.
“Wow, best campout ever.” Luke pulled back, breathless. He grinned crookedly.
Bedtime, Xena thought as she stood and stretched by their feet, glancing at Emily and Luke.
“Time for you to head to your room,” Emily managed to say in a soft voice. Luke squeezed her hand and returned to his quarters. Her door gave a soft whoosh as it closed, and the room was quiet save for the sound of her heart hammering excitedly in her chest. It’s very nice to be liked, she thought to herself.
I think I like that Earthling, Ammolite whispered. Emily snuggled into her warm covers, delighted with Ammolite’s approval.
He’s good for the pack, Xena added while jumping onto the bed, immediately tunneling and burrowing into the blankets, pushing her snout deep under the covers.
Goodnight, Z, Emily thought. Goodnight, Ammolite.
C H A P T E R 1 7
The Field
Emily woke early the next morning and delayed getting out of her bed for a minute, happily thinking about her kiss with Luke. I’m definitely going to miss him when he returns to Earth. She stretched like a long, lithe cat before jumping out of bed to examine her possessions left from her last journey to Acacia and organize her room. On the table in the corner of the chamber she found a stack of papers beneath her silver dagger and her tree necklace. The stack was a series of letters from Cameron, organized by time sequence, with a new letter written every ten years.
He liked you also, Xena confirmed.
She had left Cameron at the Castle Cave the last time she had been on Acacia. Could he be the traitor? she worried.
Don’t judge them yet, Ammolite advised.
Quickly reading through his written words, Emily discovered Cameron had come back every decade of her absence, searching for any sign of her return. His letters updated her with the events in his life and on Acacia.
Cameron had become a leader of one of the horse-clans, and he had added to the genetic strength of his horse herd using his bondsmate Nox and Emily’s stallion, Bronte. Traveling often to stay away from the attacks of Samil and Cyril, he moved through the woods and valleys in central Acacia. Few stood up to the brothers, who were slowly but steadily conquering the mainland of Acacia.
Emily finished the letters and reflected on his words. She was ready to contact Cameron, and she desperately hoped that out of all of her friends, he would turn out to be an ally. She calmed her mind and went into her dream-link, Somnio, searching for Cameron’s aura signature. She felt breathless with excitement when she found him.
“You’ve returned?” Cameron looked incredulous, but Emily could see happiness outweighing his astonishment as he gave her a long look. “You haven’t aged a day. I know elves don’t age very rapidly, but I’m amazed at your appearance.” There was joy in his words, but also a faint edge of sadness and regret. So much time had passed.
Emily’s doubts caused her excitement to waver. “I’m back. I just went through your letters … thank you.” She studied him intently, focusing on his aura, which had changed. There was now a touch of black infiltrating at the fringes of his deep blue aura and she shifted uncomfortably. His black hair had changed to white, but it was still long and thick, feathered like a horse’s mane. His green eyes shone with excitement, but she could see pain etched into the lines of his face. “I miss you, Cameron. I rescued my father, and I’ve returned with several friends from my lands. I’m with them at the Castle Cave.” Maybe I should have talked to him longer before I gave away my location.
Don’t give away any more details like that, Xena was worried.
Keep things light, Ammolite added.
&
nbsp; “And how’s Xena?’ Cameron gave her a wide smile as Xena joined her to project into the dream-link.
“Racing around looking for a big black horse named Nox to play with.”
“Nox is with me, but Bronte, your stallion died years ago.” His voice became tight and his mouth hard. “I’m sorry, Em. He never formed a link with anyone and didn’t live as long as Nox.”
Emily bit her lip, feeling pain and loss at the knowledge her horse had passed. “Sad news.” She rubbed at her eyes and sighed. “Thank you for caring for him. I’m sure you made his life wonderful. You look well, Cameron, but I sense a change in your aura. Are you working more with black magic?”
Cameron winced and looked away for a moment. “I’m the leader of one of the horse-clans now, and I’ve found it’s very difficult to stay several steps ahead of Samil and Cyril.” Emily could see a herd of horses behind him, the majority coal-black in color. “Occasionally I’ve turned to the wraith-spirits to get advice on avoiding their armies.”
Emily could hear the truth in his voice, but she wondered if there was more to the change. Could he have fallen in league with Samil to protect his people?
Perhaps he occasionally gives Samil information for protection, Xena said slowly.
Ask him about Hadrian, Ammolite suggested.
“Have you seen my brother, Hadrian?”
“Yes,” Cameron hesitated, glancing downward, “he came to me a year ago with Dysis. They were trying to spy on Samil, but they got a little too close in my opinion, and I worry that Samil discovered their location. I couldn’t keep them safe.” The herd of horses moved behind Cameron, and Emily’s heart was in her throat as she thought about Bronte, about her brother.
She sat still as stone, trying not to give him a suspicious stare that would reveal her growing edge of distrust. She could hear elements of truth in his voice, but she couldn’t suppress her inner unease as he spoke. He can’t be the traitor Hadrian was warning me about, can he?
Anyone could be Samil’s spy, Xena spoke with uncertainty.
“Are you up for challenging Samil?” Emily tried to exude confidence.
“I’m too old to do much damage, and I’m definitely not the man I used to be, but I would be happy to spend my last years riding with you.” Cameron gave her a resigned smile. “It’s time I was finally confronting the evil of these two brothers instead of constantly running from them. I’m ready to fight if you’ll have me.”
“Of course, just like we pledged years ago,” Emily spoke in a low, but determined voice. She wanted so badly for him to be her true friend.
“I’ll bring horses and a squad of my best fighters to meet you at the Castle Cave in two weeks’ time. How many extra horses will you need?”
The question confused her at first, but Emily realized Cameron was going to help her with a new means of transportation. “There’re currently six of us, but four of my friends are heading back to my lands today.”
“We’ll be there soon,” Cameron promised. “You can fill me in on the plans when I arrive. It’s good to see you.” The horses behind him were moving swiftly with reckless abandon, swift and smooth. He ended the link.
Emily sat for a few minutes thinking over their talk. If Cameron is in league with Samil, an army of dragon-riders may be approaching soon.
I will keep an eye out for dragons, Ammolite spoke cautiously, but I don’t sense true evil in him.
Perhaps Cameron plans to attack me with his own soldiers and offer me as a prize to Samil?
I didn’t sense that he plans any violence, Xena offered.
Emily could tell Cameron had changed in ways, but like Ammolite and Xena, she didn’t sense any immediate harm from him.
You need to contact your other friends, Ammolite encouraged her. Try Claire and Keaton.
Be more careful this time, and don’t reveal our location, Xena urged.
I’m not a very good spy, Emily thought as she searched for Keaton through her dream-link.
“Just a few hundred years later, and one of my best friends decides to contact me,” Keaton had a droll smile on his face when he came into view. His piercing turquoise blue eyes seemed to have more flecks of white and gray in the iris than when she last saw him, and they aged him more than his features as they were laden with experience.
“Keaton,” she whispered happily. He was standing on a balcony which overlooked snow-capped mountains. Streams descended from the heights, shimmering in the morning sun.
Keaton stared at Emily for a moment. “Now which spell do I need to use to keep myself ageless? I don’t remember learning that one on Bashan.” Keaton had aged in a wonderful way, his face was weathered in a rugged, chiseled manner, and there were smile lines on his face. He wore white enameled plate mail inlaid with gold and silver and a white silk cloak pinned with a falcon-shaped brooch.
“Are you with the Alitis?” she asked, somewhat lost in the strength in his blue eyes that were both wise and perceptive.
“Without you to protect me, I had to head back to my people for a little support,” he teased. Aderyn, his falcon bondsmate, was on his shoulder, fixing Emily with a piercing stare.
Emily laughed. She had missed him. “How are your people?”
Keaton shrugged. “There’s a power struggle going on right now.” She could see a white dragon in the distance behind him, gliding over the silver sky.
Emily knew she needed to be direct with Keaton. “Are your people in league with Samil?”
Keaton hesitated and looked at her with a shrewd expression. “That’s a tough question and I can’t answer you directly on that topic.” Sweat beaded on his brow, and a single drop trickled down the corner of his forehead. “I’m now serving as one of the members of our ruling council. We’ve talked with Samil many times, and as much as I hate that man, he makes some excellent points concerning the future of Acacia.”
Ask if he’s spoken with my mother, Ammolite suggested. I know they’ve had talks, and I’m curious what he says.
“Have you spoken with Tiamat,” Emily asked, “to hear another perspective?”
A smile formed on Keaton’s lips, and Emily suddenly wondered if he could hear her conversation with Ammolite in her mind.
He can’t hear us. There was mirth in Ammolite’s tone.
“I’ve also talked directly with Tiamat,” Keaton ran his hand over his falcon’s feathers and small scales. “They both would like to have an ally in the Alitis if a massive war breaks out, but we haven’t yet made a decision. I’m not even sure if we would fight in a war. Our lands are pretty isolated, and that’s probably to our advantage in this conflict.” A wind blew on his face, swirling around him, causing his cloak to twist and writhe.
“What is Samil saying?” Emily felt her mouth settle in a grim countenance. I can’t believe he thinks Samil is making sense.
“Samil is preaching that a great battle is approaching.” Keaton’s voice was raised in sudden emotion and he sounded like he was giving a speech. “He thinks this war will decide how Acacia will be ruled in the future, either by dragons or by all the other creatures of Acacia as a democracy with representatives from the major races of Acacia on a ruling council.”
“And what do you think?” Emily tried to hide the shaking in her voice. How can he believe what Samil says?
He’s trying to be a wise leader for his people, Ammolite whispered.
“I don’t know.” Keaton’s voice softened. “Many Alitis would like to be rid of the rule and constant oversight by dragons.” Keaton shifted his eyes to glance at the white dragon in the distance behind him. “I wonder if we could do a better job at governing without their presence. What do you think, Em?”
“I love this world and I hope it stays under the dragon rule,” Emily answered thoughtfully, choosing her words carefully. “I’ve seen what happens when machines made for the good of the people change into weapons. Unfortunately, humans need a higher power, an honest power, to help keep them in line.”
&nb
sp; “You don’t think he’ll follow through on his promises?” Aderyn shifted his talons on Keaton’s shoulders, ruffling his tan back feathers as his bondsmate spoke.
“I don’t think Samil’s underlying intention at fighting the ruling dragons is to create a democratic world.” Emily tried to convey the sense of dread deep in her heart. “I think he wants to eliminate the dragons to rule unopposed. He would be unstoppable with his Oath-bound if he can destroy the older dragons.”
“Good points.” Keaton sighed. He pulled his cloak tightly around him. “I haven’t weighed in on a decision yet with my people, but a decision will be made in the next year.”
I wonder if that might be too late to make a difference, Emily thought.
Give him a way out, an option, Ammolite suggested.
“I’m going to start to form an army to counter Samil, and I’d love to have your help. Cameron is coming to join me, and we could be working together like the old days ... like we promised.” Emily spoke wistfully, remembering their old vow to help each other in their times of need.
Keaton shook his head slowly, “I’d love to be at your side, but right now I have to help make a choice for my family and friends here. If we pick the wrong side for the wrong reasons, we could be eliminated.”
Ask about Hadrian, Xena suggested.
“Have you seen my brother, Hadrian?” Emily could see surprise register on his face at her question.
“I’ve seen him recently.” Keaton spun away, and his face was hidden from her. He looked to the mountain valleys, deep and gray. “He wanted my help to find ways to spy on Samil, so I taught him some of my camouflage spells.” Keaton turned back, his brow creased with deepening furrows. “I didn’t give him much assistance. I wanted to wait until our council had made a decision, and I didn’t want to upset Samil before we made a choice.”
“I believe Samil has made him a prisoner,” Emily’s voice broke with emotion.
