by Zora Marie
“No, and Father would want us to have a traditional wedding.”
Zelia nodded and frantically searched for a way to respond without upsetting Linithion.
“Well, let’s go share the good news,” Linithion said and plastered on a smile to hide her hurt.
“Alright.” Zelia tried to find the joy she had felt only moments ago. The two of them had lost so much over the last few years that it felt like something had to give, and Zelia refused to let it be them.
Linithion’s thumb traced the surface of Zelia’s ring as they walked. It had been the ring Loboran had worn during his betrothal, the one Starling had kept near his heart for hundreds of years.
“You know,” Linithion said, “Starling and Loboran have bound themselves to us in giving us their rings. They’ve made themselves our kin and our protectors, in this life and in each rebirth. Even if we are all separated, we will find each other again.”
“Good, because eternity would seem fruitless without you.”
“It would, wouldn’t it?” Linithion said.
Zelia opened the door to find Donequen already leaning over the scrying bowl. “Speaking of Zelia…” Donequen glanced over at her.
“Good morning, Auntie Eleanor.” Linithion’s ring glinting as she waved into the reflection.
“Good morning,” Eleanor stared at the hand Linithion waved. “I take it you have something to share. Eadon, you may want to come here.”
“What is it now?” Eadon peered down at them.
“Linithion has a silver ring…”
“What?” Eadon drawled as he looked between the two of them.
“Yes. We thought we should tell you together. We wanted to make it official before I have to leave.” The butterflies of the day before returned.
“And here it seems you were both just little girls not all that long ago,” Eleanor said. “I guess I should be planning a marriage feast rather than a coming of age party for the two of you then?”
“Yes, we would like that,” Zelia said.
“You did not happen to wait to tell us just to tease Koin, now did you?” Eadon asked, his gaze set on Linithion.
“I would never.” Linithion feigned innocence, a hand on her chest. “Okay, maybe.”
“Um, hm. Well, go see Zelia and Donequen off and then we will discuss preparations for an attack.” Eleanor raised her brows at Eadon as she broke the connection.
21
“You know I’m counting on you to keep her safe, right?” Linithion asked Donequen.
“Uh… I’ll do my best.”
“That’s all I could ever ask.” Linithion straightened the front of his riding leathers.
“I know she can be a bit of a handful.”
“Oh, really now?” Zelia asked and Linithion came back to her.
“As though you could deny it, but please be careful. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“It’s not like I’d be gone forever. No matter what realm I die in, I will be reborn.”
“You don’t know that for certain. Not with this new body and I don’t want to risk it to find out. Nor do I want to spend years waiting for you to come back, I need you.”
“Linithion, you don’t need me, but I will be careful. I don’t want to be without you either. Besides, I believe this,” Zelia held up Linithion’s hand with the ring on it, “was a promise to have the world back in order by next year, and that I would be here for you no matter what. I don’t break promises. Especially ones as important as this one.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” Linithion pulled Zelia into a hug. “Now get going so we can keep that deadline.” Linithion kissed her once more. This kiss was a tease and a reminder that this parting wouldn’t be for long.
“Come on, while the morning winds are in our favor. We can cross the mountains by noon and be headed south before nightfall.”
“So, you’ve already planned a flight path?” Zelia asked Raven aloud, conscious of Donequen’s need to know the plan as well.
“Yes, I’ve been speaking with the messenger birds. They have been sharing flight paths with me. It took me a while to convince them I wasn’t going to eat them.”
“I’m sure it did.” Zelia chuckled as she pulled herself onto Raven.
“Eleanor sent a message ahead to King Gregory. You should be able to stay there for a night if you like.” Linithion stroked Raven’s head as Donequen climbed on behind Zelia. “It would be good for you to introduce him to Donequen, in case Gregory needs help in the coming months. Plus, we need to build some level of trust between people and dragons. Their fire will help in the event of an attack.”
“Then we better get going if we are to make it that far before night fall.”
“Ask her to have plans drawn up for harnesses. If we will be making this a regular thing, I would have you more secure than this.”
“While we’re gone, would you have someone begin drawing up plans for harnesses for Raven and Orvi?”
“You’re alright with that?” Linithion asked Raven.
Raven bowed her head in a nod.
“Then consider it done. We’ll take measurements when you get back.”
Raven blew out a long breath and Linithion stepped back, wrapping her cloak tight as Raven leapt into the sky.
“Behave while I’m gone,” Raven said to Orvi.
“Of course, and you be safe, all of you,” Orvi called back before the distance could cut Zelia’s connection to the young dragon.
“Uh… Maybe you should have taken me for a flight before I agreed to this.” Donequen stared at the snow-covered earth below.
“It helps if you keep your gaze set forward. Think of it as riding a really tall horse, only Raven would do her best to catch you if you fell.”
“Really? She could do that?”
“Yes. She caught me when I jumped from a cliff once.”
“Really? That’s cool.”
“Hm, the more I’m around him, the more I think I know of the perfect dragon for him. If only Dragon Island weren’t so far away.”
“Well, if we could convince Lumid to handle a bit of portalling.”
“Or we could just set up a trade route between here and there, I’m sure there are plenty of things the communities could trade.”
“That’s probably a good idea either way, though it would be a while before we got that going. Perhaps we could even set up a scrying chamber there for communications.”
“See, now you’re thinking like a chief.”
“What are you and Raven talking about?”
“Trade routes, and a dragon for you.”
“Really?” Donequen asked, the excitement in his tone making Zelia laugh.
“Yes. Actually, do I know this dragon you think he would be good with?”
“Hm, no I do not believe so. He was my mate’s little brother. He doesn’t much care for the other dragons, but he adores Orvi.”
“You had a mate? You never told me about them.”
“It was a long time ago and I’ve long since accepted his passing.” There was an undertone of guilt and regret in Raven’s emotions.
“The dragon trappers?”
“Yes. He wasn’t the same after he was captured… I was too late to save him, and I couldn’t let him kill all of those villagers. Had he ever recovered he would have killed himself for what he had done. We both swore an oath as hatchlings that we would protect the humans.”
“I’m sorry you had to make that choice.”
“As am I,” Raven said and fell silent.
Zelia had a feeling that Raven needed time. When she glanced over her shoulder to Donequen, he nodded, seeming to understand.
“So, tell me how you met this King Gregory. Is there anything I should know about him?”
“Not really, he’s a decent enough ruler, though I may have been rude to him in front of all of his people once. I believe he forgave me for that, though.”
“Really? What did you do?”
“I wasn’t in a good mental place at the time. He tried thanking me in front of everyone, but I didn’t deserve thanks for it. I did it for myself, not for them. I couldn’t let Alrindel die and then Eragon died instead.”
“Eragon? I feel like I’ve missed a lot in, what, a year?”
“You have. Eragon was a friend. He helped me save Alrindel and Gregory’s people. I may have snapped and disintegrated thousands of Darkans when he died…”
“You what?”
“It was with fire, I think. I’m honestly not sure since I collapsed and I’m not sure how I didn’t kill everyone around me.”
“You haven’t talked to anyone about this, have you?”
“No. It hasn’t come up and it nearly killed me to do it, so it’s not like I plan on doing it again.”
“Yeah. We need to have a talk about Fregnar’s powers whenever we get back.”
Zelia twisted to look at him. “Do what?”
“Would you stop that before you fall?” The color leached from his face as he glanced down at the mountainside below and back at her.
“Did you just say Fregnar?”
“Yes, but I’d rather not meet him, so would you please face forward.” Zelia turned back around and Donequen continued, “I thought you would have already realized you were related to him. The phoenixes got their gift from him.”
“I guess I was just in denial.”
“From what I understand, he’s really not as bad as the humans would have you believe. Well, unless…”
“You’ve done something unspeakable,” Zelia finished for him.
“Yes, but not because you were forced to.”
“It’s alright. I’ve come to accept my past, for the most part at least.”
“Good. My point is that being related to Fregnar may not be a horrible thing. Of course, if you need to know, you could just ask Nikolas about him when he gets back.”
“I think I will.”
22
King Gregory stood stoic before them as Raven landed near the front gates. Zelia wasn’t sure what all Eleanor had put in her message to him, but she had to give him kudos for how calm he appeared as she slid from Raven’s back. Raven had been quiet for most of the flight, as had Donequen. Were she not so worried, she may have called the flight peaceful. As it was, Zelia wasn’t sure she really wanted to stay here tonight. She would have been content to sleep curled up against Raven in some open pasture, but she couldn’t politely turn it down now that she was here.
“Good evening, Zelia. Who are your friends?” Gregory eyed Donequen and Raven as he approached. “Eleanor was sparse on details, though thankfully she did forewarn me of the dragon.”
“Her name is Raven.” Zelia ran her hand along the smooth ridges of Raven’s scales. “And this is Donequen, a new member of the guild from Hyperia. He’s a close friend of mine.”
“I’m going to go fishing in the river nearby. Where should I find you?”
“There are some low balconies across the city from here, but I could ask—”
“No, it would do me good to catch my own and get a feel for the area. Besides, I make him nervous.”
“Or it might just be me. Just be careful and try not to scare any townsfolk.”
“Well that’s just no fun.” Raven rubbed against Zelia, then turned away from her and leapt into the sky.
Gregory stared after Raven for a moment. “I’m going to assume I can trust her since she’s a friend of yours.”
“Yes, she’s just going to catch herself some fish. She prefers it fresh.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, King… Gregory? I’m sorry, no one has told me your formal name.”
“Gregory is fine, we generally go by first names anyways. Honestly, I’m not sure why I’m still King given Skylar’s right to the throne.”
“What? Are you tiring of it?” Zelia teased.
“No. Well, I am getting old, but that’s beside the point.”
“I believe that Skylar does not care to sit on the throne, so long as you continue to be a just ruler.”
“That’s sometimes easier said than done. But it’s cold out here, perhaps we could go inside? I’ve had the cooks put a warm dinner together for us.”
“That would be great, thank you,” Donequen said.
Gregory led the way. A couple of his guards took up positions behind them as they passed the gates. He was quiet as they passed through the more densely populated parts of town, until they reached the square where the people had gathered for his announcements the last time she was here.
“So, one of Yargo’s warriors, Tregar, showed up yesterday. He claims he’s a friend of yours.”
“He is.” Donequen’s smile brightened at the mention of his mentor. “Will he be joining us?”
“I sent word to the blacksmiths that Zelia was to stay the night here. Is it common for Hyperian warriors to know blacksmithing?”
“We all learn the basics, but Tregar’s specialty has always been runes and other forms of magic.”
They passed into the palace and Gregory looked back at his guards in a silent request to stay there.
“How much have you been told about what’s going on?” Zelia asked.
“Enough to know war will be upon us soon enough, but not enough to know how to prepare for it.”
“That’s why Tregar is here. I’m certain he will discuss defense tactics with you once he has taught your blacksmiths how to etch the runes that allow you to kill the Fenari. Prince Connan will also be sending you some rune weapons once the Trading Town and his people are armed.”
“Well, if you can convince my brother to accept that he needs magic to defend his people, then I may send some of the Dwarves’ weapons on to him.”
Zelia faltered in her step at the realization that the two rulers were brothers.
“Don’t let our relationship sway your decision. I love my brother, but he has not been a good ruler since his wife died. If not for the fact that I know his son will be a good ruler, I would have displaced my brother from his throne long ago.” Gregory rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I suppose I’ll send weapons to them either way. Try to get Eadwulf on your side before you speak with his father. Wulf often patrols the villages around the castle, so you’ll likely meet him first. I hate to ask, but are you prepared to…”
“No. I’ve never been prepared to take someone’s life, but I’ll do what needs to be done. You know that.”
“I suppose I do. You’ll want my nephew to come to the same conclusion as you before you do anything. I’ll write a letter for you to give him in case…” Gregory swallowed. “Just keep in mind that Eadwine blames magic for his wife and daughter’s deaths, so he will likely lash out at you.”
Zelia nodded. “Do you know what happened to them?”
“According to the reports I received they were attacked by bandits, but Eadwine had sent them away on the advice of Xander.”
Zelia stiffened at the mention of the wizard. As much as she wished his death had purged him from her life, it wasn’t that simple. Perhaps she could make something good come of it though. “Then I may have a way to reach him. People have been known to build alliances on less.”
“Aye. I took the help of a young fire wielding lass on the eve of battle once.” Gregory glanced back at her. “Well, since you have a dragon with you, I thought you may want the room with a balcony. So, this room will be yours for the night and you can have the room across the hall, Donequen.”
“Thank you,” Zelia said. “Will we be meeting in the dining hall, or your private dining room?”
“You’ve been in my dining room?”
“You forget how old I am.” She didn’t feel old, but she was. She’d walked these halls as a child four hundred years ago. Things had been different then. “I dined with Queen Orania O’Fell when I was young, not long before your ancestors killed her. I remember these halls being filled with dying men, many the same age as your youngest son. I’ve never been able t
o forget the rows upon rows of pyres I burned that night, as a daughter of Starfer and descendant of Yargo.”
“Daughter of Starfer?” Gregory paused as he recalled who Starfer had been. “You’re King Skalary’s niece?”
“Apparently. I only found out recently.” Zelia entered her rooms and closed the door before Gregory could ask anything more. She wasn’t sure why her thoughts had taken the turn they had. Or why she had told him of her relationship to the late king, to the true royal line. She didn’t care about the throne, but in that moment she had seen that boy she had stitched up in the hall and could almost hear the wails of dying men. Those were the first she’d heard, and yet they were just as clear if not clearer than any she could recall. She untied her armor and riding leathers and set them neatly beside the bed. She felt bare without the weight of a sword at her side, but she hadn’t bothered with bringing one this time. This body was not ready to use one.
There was a knock on the door and Donequen asked, “Zelia, are you alright?”
Zelia didn’t answer as she didn’t really know if she was alright anymore. She could lie and tell him she was fine, but it didn’t feel right to lie to Donequen.
“I don’t know where I’m going.” Donequen’s tone was a quiet plea for her to answer.
“So, you just need directions, do you?” Zelia asked as she opened the door.
“Well, I am starving. We haven’t eaten since breakfast after all.”
“And here I thought you could rough it all the way there. Dining hall or...?”
“His dining room. I think he wants to talk about the Fenari and doesn’t wish to scare his people. Plus, I think he’s feeling a bit insecure about his position with two of Yargo’s heirs alive and well with legitimate claims to the throne.”
“Yes, well, I can’t rule here if I’m by Linithion’s side, now can I?”
“Then you may want to announce your betrothal.”
Zelia rolled her eyes. “Fine. This must be why Linithion insisted we tell Eleanor and Eadon before we left.”
“It definitely is, and I think she was just excited to tell them.”
