by Zora Marie
“Erolith’s dead?” Saria asked.
“Yes. He gave Linithion and me his blessing and then made me leave him, made me leave him there with the Fenari.”
“You know that was his choice and you were in no condition to argue,” Starling said.
“Still…” She shook her head and fought against the looming wave of emotions that threatened to crash down on her.
Alrindel pulled her into a tight hug, as though he could shield her from it all. “If Erolith sacrificed himself, there’s a reason and you need to trust his judgement.”
“But Linithion, and now this…” She tried to pull away, but Alrindel tightened his grip on her.
“We’ll rebuild,” Saria said.
“No,” Starling’s voice was barely more than a whisper. “We’re moving to Elyluma, the Fenari broke all of our wards and they’ll take too long to rebuild.”
“The attack was that bad?”
“Yes. Most of the walls and buildings are gone, and they weren’t done counting the dead when we left. Some of our best warriors are among the dead and missing.”
Zelia shuddered in Alrindel’s grasp and he wrapped his cloak around her, pulling her into his warmth. No one had given her details of what had happened that morning, but the way Starling’s glow dimmed even now, in the presence of his sister, there was a reason no one had given her details. Starling had taken her the long way to the docks, probably to avoid where the bodies were densest.
“So, what happened with Gregory?” Alrindel pulled back far enough that he could meet her gaze.
She couldn’t meet his gaze, though, not as guilt washed through her for what she had done, for how she had done it. “He attacked us. He and his eldest son were losing their minds. They shot a friend from Hyperia who had been helping them.”
“What were you even doing there?”
“Donequen and I stopped at the Kingdom of the Mountains on our way to deal with King Eadwine’s rejection of rune weapons in Coridale, because his people have been getting taken and he still refused.”
“Donequen? That boy from Hyperia? The one that hugged you?”
“Yes. He’s a member of the guild now, Zivu sent him. Now he’s playing regent until I can get Skylar there.”
“Oh? You hear that Skylar? Sounds like Zelia just made you king.”
There was a grumble behind Alrindel and then something heavy dropped onto the barge. “Great, just what I wanted, to be king while the Fenari attack.”
Zelia rubbed the silver ring on her index finger as she stepped around Alrindel, so she could see her brother of sorts. He had just dropped a barrel on the barge and was leaning on the ship’s rail. “I would relieve you of the throne, but I can’t rule there and be at Linithion’s side.”
Skylar’s lips pursed as he looked at her hand, then shook his head. “I should have known it. I leave you two alone together for a few weeks and you go and get betrothed. So, who asked whom?”
“That’s Starling’s ring.” Saria turned to her brother. “You two bound yourselves to them?”
Starling shrugged. “They needed a little push. Besides, they fit them better than Loboran and me.”
“You two are certainly enablers. Did you two do this before or after Erolith gave his blessing?”
“After. We like our heads attached, thank you.”
“Oh, he wasn’t that bad,” Zelia said, though she certainly wouldn’t have asked without his blessing. Heck, she wouldn’t have asked without Loboran and Starling’s intervention even after she had his blessing.
A throat cleared and they all turned to the Elf who’d guided the barge down river. “Sorry to interrupt, but all the barges are to be loaded with supplies before morning, and um…” He looked towards Grono and the other two dragons.
“We’ll fly,” Kafthry said as he finally made an appearance from somewhere below deck. “We have a bit of food left that we can move over.”
“Good, some of the buildings we stored winter food supplies in were destroyed.”
“At least someone here can stay on task,” Starling said and jumped onto the ship. “Come on! The sooner we get this done the sooner we can get back.”
Zelia sighed and stepped to the side so she wouldn’t be in the way. She honestly wasn’t sure why she had come, it wasn’t like she could help with the supplies and Starling could have given them news of what had happened.
“Maybe you’re here because of us,” Evergreen said as he landed on the small clearing over the cliff face. “How are Raven and Orvi?”
“Yes, why isn’t Raven with you?” Grono asked.
“She got hurt a few days ago, so I’m trying to limit the strain on her ribs as much as possible.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s going over splendidly.”
“Yeah, it’s going about as well as could be expected, especially since we had to return from across the mountains.”
“Mountains? There are mountains nearby?” There was so much excitement in Grono’s tone that she could feel it as though she were connected to him rather than Raven.
“There are…” Zelia was tempted to mention Donequen, but decided she should let Raven talk to Grono first.
“That’s the last of it,” Kafthry announced as he dropped one last crate onto the barge. “So, who’s riding Dragons and who’s taking the barge?”
“Hm…” Grono hummed a note in Zelia’s mind, “You may ride me if you like. I wish to see Raven sooner rather than later and won’t see you left.”
“You do look exhausted, Zelia,” Elm said. “We could each take two riders, which would also make the barge lighter.”
“Who would you like to ride you then, Elm?” Zelia asked aloud so the others could hear her.
“I may have taken a liking to Saria…” Elm said and Zelia could have sworn he blushed, if dragons possessed the ability.
“So, Saria and?”
“Starling can ride with me,” Saria said and gave her brother a pointed look.
“Ask Skylar to ride with us, something tells me he’ll be riding with me again soon enough,” Grono said.
“Alright, so Alrindel will ride with Kafthry and Skylar will ride Grono with me.”
“So that’s what his name is?” Skylar asked.
“The name that I can pronounce at least.”
Grono made an amused grumbling noise behind her and settled closer to the barge so they could climb on.
3
Skylar waited until they were out of earshot from the others to ask, “Are you alright?”
“What? Yeah, I’m fine. I’m slowly regaining my strength.”
“Zelia, I meant after what you had to do.”
“I left knowing I may have to kill a King. I just didn’t expect it to be Gregory.”
“So, you convinced King Eadwine?”
“No. He died trying to fight the Fenari after he locked all of us up. Wulf tried to let us out before his father died, but Eadwine threw him in a cell too. Now that he is gone, Eadwulf is king. It’s been one thing after another.”
Skylar sighed. “Gregory couldn’t accept that I don’t want his throne, could he?”
“No. It doesn’t help that Tregar addressed me and Donequen before him. I think Gregory felt it was a slight against him.”
“What? Tregar? As in that quiet warrior from Hyperia?”
“Yes, apparently Yargo and Zivu officially made me a princess of Hyperia. They ordered Tregar to make it clear that both I and members of the guild are on the same, if not a higher, social standing than Kings here are.”
“Oh…”
Skylar was quiet for a while and Zelia could still see the king and his oldest son’s bodies at her feet. She’d tried not to look at them, but she’d seen how Gregory’s body slumped over his son’s, her burning hand having left a gaping hole in Gregory’s head like it was nothing. “I killed Gregory and Robert myself, and I’ve already announced to the people that you will be their king. I have left Edward his title of Prince, but he is too
young to rule.”
“Oh? Really? You have been very busy.”
“Yeah, and that’s not even half of what’s gone on. Actually, since you’re the King now, I should inform you that you are to make a trade with King Connan for rune weapons. At some point I need to go check that the Dwarves are getting along with the Darkans.”
“You got them to work together?”
“I had to, if we’re to survive the Fenari.”
Skylar huffed what she could have sworn was a laugh. “I leave you for what? A few weeks and you turn the mainland on its head?”
“I didn’t really have a choice. I can’t protect Linithion on my own, let alone everyone here.”
“I didn’t mean it as a bad thing, Zelia. While what happened with Gregory sucks, you’ve done a good thing with trying to get everyone to fight for themselves and each other.”
“And yet I wasn’t there for Linithion when she needed me.”
“Hey, don’t think that way. You were where you were supposed to be.”
“You won’t be saying that when you see what the Fenari did.” Zelia felt for her bond to her own dragon. “Raven.”
“Yes dear?”
“A few of our friends have decided to join us, including Grono.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Elm and Evergreen came too. We’ll be there in thirty minutes or so, would you figure out a way to convey that we’re friendly?”
“Orvi and I will come join you for the last bit of your flight.”
There was so much excitement in Raven’s tone that Zelia couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t realized how much Raven missed her family. Raven took such care with recognizing her emotions that Zelia felt a little guilty for not taking more time to recognize Raven’s.
“So, what did my dear nightair say?”
“Nightair?”
“Of course, she wouldn’t have told you. Raven never was much for the title. Nightair refers to our appearances and our abilities. Raven is different from most of us because of the ice she wields, but she is one of us.”
“There are more of you? And why did you come all this way?”
“There were more of us, but I’ve not seen another in decades. As for why I am here, Raven is all that is left of my family. I was angry with her for leaving for a few days, but I missed her so much that I flew after your friends’ ship.”
“It was a bit of a surprise when Grono joined us,” Evergreen said.
“Yeah, and it made the trip here more than a bit cramped,” Elm complained.
“Oh, hush, we made it work,” Evergreen batted his twin with his tail as he passed.
Grono’s chuckle vibrated in Zelia’s mind and through her body. She couldn’t help but think of him as an uncle figure to the two young dragons, as Koin had been to her and Alrindel.
“Is he laughing?” Skylar asked.
“Um hm.”
“Hm. I didn’t know dragons laughed.”
Zelia could almost feel Grono’s eyeroll as he said, “Yes, even dragons have a sense of humor. What good would living for hundreds of years be if we didn’t?”
“Someone’s being sassy this evening,” Raven said as she broke through the grey veil of smoke ahead of them.
“Uncle Grono!” Orvi exclaimed as she shot past Raven.
“Careful, you’re still not the best at turning around, dear,” Raven warned the young dragon.
“Hello, Orvi. I see you’ve been practicing,” Grono said.
Orvi slowed as the gap between them shrank and after a few halting backflaps, she turned around. “Well, I did have two of the best teachers.”
“I didn’t know you worked with her too,” Evergreen said.
“You never asked.”
Zelia cringed as the conversations of the dragons continued to echo through her mind. Two dragons speaking in her head was bad enough, but five was a bit too much. A soothing rumble pulsed through her connection to Raven.
“Perhaps you could all direct your conversations away from Zelia, I think all the chatter is getting to be a bit too much for her.”
“Ops, sorry, Zelia,” Orvi said and the others rumbled their agreements.
“Thank you,” Zelia thought back to them. She rubbed her temples with one hand as the lasting echoes of their conversations faded.
“Are you alright?” Skylar asked.
“Hm? Yeah. Dragons are just loud.”
Skylar’s arm tightened around her as she lowered her head and shut her eyes so she could re-center her thoughts around the sudden quiet in her mind. As her thoughts and senses reordered themselves, she realized the others were staring at her from where they rode the other dragons, their gazes a heavy weight on her.
“You haven’t been sleeping well, have you?” Skylar asked.
“No. Not while away from Linithion and now…”
They dropped through the billows of smoke and Zelia knew exactly when Skylar spotted the city as his entire body stiffened. Zelia forced herself to open her eyes and while she had seen the city earlier, she was not prepared for just how many bodies were laid out in a field veiled in white cloth. No wonder they were moving to Elyluma after losing so many, and these were only the ones who hadn’t been taken by the Fenari. She imagined this was what that field of pyres she had lit as a child would have looked like from above, only these needed no wood for her to kindle to life. Perhaps that was some mercy, the Elves would not have to cut down the trees they loved so much to cremate the fallen and release their souls. That at least was something she could do for them, even though she had not been here to help them.
They were all silent as the dragons landed and they all looked around with more than a little disbelief. All but the dragons had seen this place before and now it was little more than ruins.
“You brought friends?” Loboran asked no one in particular as he joined them. The fire that had once burned between the buildings was little more than hot coals now and Orvi settled over them, taking comfort in their warmth.
Zelia slid from Grono’s back and her legs buckled, nearly dropping her. “Careful,” Raven warned.
“Linithion’s where you left her,” Loboran said.
Zelia didn’t even bother to thank Loboran as she went to the dining hall. Seeing the ruins and bodies, she needed to reassure herself that Linithion was alright. The dining hall wasn’t as chaotic as it had been before, yet the Elven Queen still stood in the same spot at the far end. Linithion didn’t even bother to look up from her list as Zelia wrapped her in a hug and peered over her shoulder at the paper. It was a list of supplies, sleds, and horses.
“I didn’t think you would be back for several more hours.”
“A few dragons came with them, so Starling and I got to fly back.”
“Oh…”
“How can I help?”
“Just…” Linithion shook her head. “Just go rest.”
“Linithion, please let me help you. I know you’re exhausted too. I won’t rest unless you do.”
“Good luck. I’ve been telling her to take a break for hours,” Donavain said.
“How long until everyone can be moved?” Linithion asked the healer.
“By the time we’re done loading supplies on sleds and barges, we’ll have all but a few stable enough to move and those we can transport on a barge until we reach the wild.” Donavain looked them both up and down. “You both need to rest for a little while.”
“He’s right. Let us take over for a bit,” Alrindel said.
“But—”
“No buts. Neither of you will do any good if you collapse from exhaustion.” Skylar smirked at them as he took the list from Linithion’s hands. “Now go find somewhere to lie down for a bit. We’ll come get you if we need you.”
Linithion sighed and Zelia slipped a hand into hers. “Come on. You know we can’t out argue all of them, Queen or not.”
“Your room was still standing last I checked,” Donavain said as he passed them, and Zelia wondered if the he
aler had rested since that morning either. She wondered if anyone had since that morning. There were fewer Elves in the hall than before, so perhaps some had found somewhere to get a bit of sleep while they could.
4
As they walked through the building that housed Linithion's room, Zelia couldn't help wondering how the two rooms at the end of the hall were still standing. She wasn't familiar with any of the other rooms and now she would never know what her soulmate's childhood home had been like.
“How?”
“Our bedrooms had more wards than the rest of the house. Grandfather built the original wards when Erolith and Eleanor were little, and Father strengthened them before I was born.”
Zelia held Linithion’s hand a little tighter as they picked their way across the rubble to their room. Everything inside appeared untouched, even the bed hadn’t been made and Linithion’s little glass figurines were still right where Zelia had last seen them.
Linithion sighed as she looked around her room. “I should pack up my clothes.”
“I’ll take care of that after we’ve slept for a bit.”
“Fine.” Linithion didn’t even ask as she began undoing the ties on Zelia’s armor. “What is this stuck to your armor?”
“Hm?” Zelia twisted to see what Linithion pointed to. It was a little piece of metal that had melted onto one of the ties. “Oh. That’s what’s left of the arrows Gregory’s men shot at me.”
“What? You didn’t—”
“I’m fine.” Zelia pulled the armor over her head and set it beside the bed. “Really, I’m just tired.”
They both took a moment to appraise each other, as though neither of them could believe the other was truly unharmed. Then Linithion went to the wardrobe and tossed Zelia a fresh set of clothes. Zelia was slow to take her riding leathers and boots off and by the time she looked up, Linithion had already changed. Linithion climbed into the bed, and was waiting for her as she donned the clean tunic and leggings.
“You’ve filled out a good bit,” Linithion said and pulled Zelia to her.
“Oh, you were checking me out, were you?”
