by Jay Lynn
Pushing his way through the terrified masses, Markus suddenly felt a hot, steam-like breath blow down upon him. Twisting slowly, the man glared at his foes without an ounce of remorse.
A glint of metal flew through the air straight at Alec’s head.
Eyes never leaving his master’s face, Alec didn’t even bother to raise a hand to block the attack. The knife slammed into a glowing shield as the sorcerer’s aura created a protective barrier around him.
“Your evil ends here, Markus,” Alec declared.
Entrapped in the swirling cloud, the knife froze for a moment prior to reflecting right back at its owner.
Markus was forced to dive out of the way. Flipping onto his back, he peered wide-eyed up at the dragon just as the creature darted forward to bite him in half.
Chomping down on his victim, the dragon released a deep roar, then took off into the heavens. At first, he strained against the force of gravity. Yet, the pleasure of the open skies after being imprisoned for so long outweighed any hardship.
His upper body lifting, Alec’s eyes drifted closed as a wide smile spread across his lips. With the wind whipping through his hair, he would have stretched out his arms if not for Isabelle gripping them so firmly.
Shoulder’s hunched, she sat with her eyelids squeezed tight.
The dragon flew north until the outline of the grim city was no longer in view. When the skies appeared clear, he glanced back to address his passengers.
“Where would you like to go?”
Alec leaned forward, raising his voice to be heard over the strong breeze. “Can you take us to Malyndor?”
“Of course, any certain location?”
“Do you know a city called Marcia? It’s on the southwestern border.”
The dragon nodded his head. “I know it. Tell me, what is the name of my rescuer?”
“The name’s Alec, and I think we rescued each other. This is my friend Isabelle. We’re both Emerald Sages working for King Titus. What is your name?”
The dragon smiled. “I am called Ardys.”
Alec shifted his attention to the blonde curled up in front of him. “Isabelle, this is Ardys. He’s agreed to take us to Marcia.”
Without opening her eyes, Isabelle patted the great red dragon’s neck. “Thank you, Ardys,” she squeaked.
“Anything for the marked one.”
The dragon’s words were like an invisible blow. The grin vanished from Alec’s face. Marked One. The black dragon who challenged him used the same words. What does it mean?
“Another dragon called me that. Why?”
“You bear the mark of the dragon. I can tell because only a human with magic in his blood would be able to understand us.”
Magic in my blood, Alec mentally repeated. So he was right. Malcolm had said that as well. Was this what the great sage wanted to speak to him about prior to his departure?
“I would have recognized you at once, but something is shielding your magic,” Ardys told him, breaking into Alec’s thoughts.
The sorcerer frowned. Was such a thing possible? Sorcerer’s created barriers around objects all the time, but one’s aura, their magic, wasn’t a physical item. His gaze passed over Isabelle. Perhaps she would know. Isabelle did have a thorough knowledge of spells.
The sorceress shivered, going so far as to release one hand from his arm to wrap it around herself.
Alec felt a chill race through his own body. While lost in thought, Ardys rose higher into the clouds, blocking them from view. The air surrounding them was much cooler. Exhaling, he could see his breath linger in a cloud of mist. Never having flown, Alec didn’t know how long it would take for them to reach Marcia. Whatever length of time that might be, if he didn’t warm them up, then they could freeze to death before even nearing the border.
If she knows I’m using magic the whole way she’ll only nag me.
Instead of summoning an air spell, Alec concentrated on the currents flowing around them. Warming the air, he circled it around in a continuous ring. After a few minutes, Isabelle’s shaking lessened. It was the least he could do to thank her for not freaking out when she saw a taste of what his strange magic was capable of.
Soldiers marched along the battlements of Marcia Castle, wrapped up in their cloaks as they braved the chilly winter air. It was a relatively quiet day. Thick clouds swirled above as they released flecks of snow. A form appeared in the distance, moving through the specks of white towards the castle. Pointing towards the growing mass, soldiers started to race to their posts. The red dragon flew closer, raising an instant alarm throughout the city. No one could recall the last time there was a dragon attack.
Within a few short minutes, Ardys was upon them. Arrows flew through the sky as soldiers loaded heavier weapons to repel the assault. The arrows struck a glowing force field then dropped from the heavens. Jerking back, the men stationed on the wall released various exclamations.
Flying over the battlements, the great dragon landed in the middle of the training grounds behind the castle. A voice called out to them above the chaos.
“Soldiers of Marcia, stay your weapons. We mean you no harm. We’re Emerald Sages in service to King Titus. This dragon was aiding us in our escape from Zerrok. He will not harm you.”
“Who dares to bring a dragon into Marcia?” Captain Cedrick demanded harshly.
“I’m the Dragon Sage,” Alec told him, since he had no other proof from this distance to confirm his claim. “This here is the Just Sage.”
Cedrick scoffed, not even considering his words. “A likely story, but you’ll find no fools here to believe you.” The soldier signaled for his men to commence with another attack.
“Alec?” Sir Darin questioned racing into the space. “Hold your fire!” he commanded gazing at the sorcerer standing on the back of the great red dragon. “Alec, what are you doing on a dragon? Never mind,” the knight added shaking his head.
It didn’t matter how he got here, all that mattered was Alec was still alive. A dark cloud had descended upon his lordship ever since men arrived from Roskos to inform them the sorcerer was missing.
“Stand down at once!” Darin snapped upon seeing several soldiers still ready to strike. Cautiously approaching the dragon, the knight lifted a hand to help Isabelle down, then drew her away from the creature.
Alec slid to the ground, but made no move to join the others. The sorcerer took a few steps back as Ardys turned to face him. Not a word passed between the two as they stood watching one another.
Suddenly, Ardys lowered his head, dropping his face so the large jewel on his forehead was within Alec’s reach.
Holding his hands out to the side, a brisk wind swirled around the sorcerer. Eyes faintly aglow, he called up a spell.
“Surgeon,” Alec said, forming white circles before his palms. He added the words of power just as he was about to touch the dragon’s gleaming red jewel. “Restore.”
Like a tidal wave, Alec’s magic erupted from the point of impact. It flowed over Ardys as the energy revitalized his entire body. The missing scales reappeared, injuries healed and his broken horn rebuilt itself. No longer was a battered and worn creature slumped in the yard. Instead, a proud, gleaming bright red dragon stood before them as if reborn.
Ardys nudged the sorcerer with his head. “Thank you. We shall meet again.”
Stretching his wings, he took to the skies with a roar and disappeared from sight.
Isabelle stood watching the event with wide eyes. How did Alec’s power keep amazing her? Was there even a limit to his abilities?
“Alec, that was incredible!” she shouted walking towards him.
As he began to turn, her steps drew to a halt. Beneath the layers of dirt and blood on his flesh and clothing, Alec’s skin was deathly pale. She knew just by looking at him that his aura was dangerously low. It had to be more than the spell he cast to drain the sorcerer like this. It struck Isabelle that the air around them instantly grew warm while they were flying. Ha
lf frozen, she didn’t realize what it meant at the time. Alec was using his powers during their entire flight! What was he thinking?
Isabelle got to neither yell at him nor thank him.
Flashing her a worn half smile, Alec collapsed onto the ground. The final thing he heard, as everything faded to black, was Isabelle screaming his name as it melted into Jade’s voice.
Chapter 7
The conscious world came back to Alec gradually. Broken bits and pieces was all he could remember of what took place after healing Ardys. It was a jumbled mess of voices and faces which faded in and out like the morning tide. Trying to make sense of it only served to increase the pain drumming inside of his skull. Still, Alec didn’t regret his actions. Ardys deserved to be healed.
Opening his eyelids a slit, his familiar surroundings slowly came into focus. Heavy maroon drapes hung from the large windows blissfully blocking out most of the daylight. On the far side of the room, one curtain was left partially to the side, keeping the chamber from being cast in complete shadow. A large oil painting of a ship hung on the nearby wall above a set of beautifully handcrafted chairs. Alec closed his eyes and reopened them. Sure enough, he was back in his room in Marcia Castle.
Rolling onto his back, Alec stiffened. He wasn’t alone.
Curled up beside him on top of the covers was Isabelle. A thick blanket was spread across her lower half and her long blond locks were messily sprawled in every direction.
Alec tried not to groan as he pulled himself up against the pillows. His muscles burned unhappily in protest. Sighing, Alec welcomed the irritation. So, I’m alive after all. Despite the odds, he made it. Peering down at his sleeping intruder, the warrior gently smiled. They survived, he amended.
Unable to drift back to sleep, Alec tried to ease himself out of bed without waking Isabelle. Once his feet hit the floor the room began to spin. He grabbed the side table to steady himself and closed his eyes, willing the unpleasant side effect to cease. As soon as he regained his balance, Alec crossed the chamber towards a pile of neatly folded clothes on his dresser. A full-length mirror stood beside it. Gazing at his reflection, Alec winced.
His face was covered with bruises in various stages of healing. The pattern continued sporadically over the exposed parts of his chest and arms. It would take some time for the marks from his guards to vanish. The cuts on his hands and limbs from the arena were cleaned and bandaged. Alec looked at the wrapping sourly. It seemed Zerrok gave him more scars to add to his collection.
Glancing at his reflection, something else caught his eye. The chain around his neck had been polished to a shine and the green ribbon cleaned.
Isabelle must have taken care of it. She knew what it meant to him. Still, she could not remove the specks of blood staining the rich material.
Alec was hit with a flood of unwanted images. Dropping his gaze, he clenched his fists as he turned from the mirror. He could see the faces of each person who met his blade. Could hear their final cries of pain and feel the warmth of their blood covering his hands.
What kind of monster am I?
“No,” Alec told himself firmly.
He would not let his thoughts go down that path again. Markus was to blame for each slaughter, not him. The vile man was no more. He could harm no one else. Alec took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Somehow, in time, Alec would have to try and let the pain and anger go.
What about Isabelle? his mind questioned.
The sorceress might not have gone through such horrors if not for him. Markus actually dangled her as bait for a drakon.
Alec kept his word, and protected her from any physical harm, but he couldn’t save her from getting mixed up in the ugliness of his past.
Would she be willing to forgive him? Or still even want to be his partner now that she knew his secret connection to dragons?
With a sigh, Alec tore his gaze away to peer at something else. His dark eyes focused on the items laid out on the dresser. Next to his clothes were the weapons he entrusted to Jerrin as well as his ring. Sliding the metal back on, the warrior’s fingers lightly glided over the surface of his sheathed blades. Just touching the weapons seemed to calm his spirit. As Roderick once said: ‘Alec might be a sorcerer, but he was a swordsman first and foremost.’
Grasping his sword, his hand clutched the hilt and pulled the blade free just enough to look at the mark engraved upon the steel. Light from the window reflected off the metal. The etched dragon stared back at Alec with knowing eyes. This mark meant something, Alec was sure of it, but what?
“It suits you,” Isabelle said softly.
Alec’s head jerked up. He’d been so lost in thought he didn’t hear her.
Grasping the blanket wrapped around her body, Isabelle flashed him a watery smile.
Re-sheathing the blade, Alec set it down and turned towards the sorceress. He wasn’t able to utter a word before she launched herself at him.
The blanket slid to the ground as she snaked her arms tightly around his waist.
“I’m so sorry, Alec,” she sobbed, pressing a wet cheek against his chest. “I never should have gone with you to Rhordack. I wasn’t ready for that type of mission. All I did was cause trouble. There were so many times I thought you were going to die. We could have been killed. We should have been killed. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Isabelle’s body shook as she clutched the startled warrior. It seemed the two of them were blaming themselves for the afflictions they both endured when neither was at fault.
To think I was worried about her forgiving me.
Cupping Isabelle’s shoulders, Alec pushed her away slightly so he could gaze upon her.
The sorceress hung her head and refused to meet his eye.
“Isabelle, look at me,” he encouraged, bending down and twisting to try to see her face.
She shook her head, continuing to sob quietly.
“Isabelle, look at me,” Alec ordered in a firmer tone.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze.
“That’s better,” he began, softening his voice. “Now you listen well, my friend. None of it was your fault. Things happen,” Alec told her with a shrug as Isabelle started to wipe her eyes. “Sometimes it’s just out of our control. If nothing else, I’m glad I had such a stubborn, outgoing partner to back me up. I couldn’t have gotten through it without you. Truthfully, I blame myself. If not for my past with Markus, you would never have been sold to the arena. I hope you can forgive me.”
Isabelle offered the warrior a sweet smile. “Of course I do. I guess Markus is the real villain. What a despicable man. He got off too easily if you ask me.”
“Is that so?” Alec laughed lightly.
“Yes. Getting eaten was too quick of a death. Hopefully, he doesn’t give Ardys a stomach ache,” she giggled. Exhaling with a sigh, Isabelle watched Alec with a thoughtful frown. “You know Alec, your past was not the cause of that monster’s actions. If you think about it, your skills saved us. You should be proud.”
“Proud?” he echoed shaking his head. “I don’t know if I could ever be proud of being a gladiator, but it did come in handy.”
“That’s for sure,” she agreed with a smile. “Your lessons were a help as well. No wonder you’re so apt with instructing troops.”
“Thanks.”
Alec wasn’t the only skilled one. Isabelle had a vast knowledge of various types of magic. In some ways, she reminded him of Malcolm. During their imprisonment, she’d taught him a few new spells and told him about some advanced training she’d begun with Master Breanna. Perhaps she could shed some light on the questions plaguing his mind.
“Isabelle,” the warrior said shifting his weight from side to side.
“Yes?”
“Is it possible to shield someone’s magic?”
She instantly stilled. Looking at Alec’s suddenly serious expression, Isabelle frowned. She knew he wasn’t asking this question on a whim.
“How do you mean?”
&
nbsp; Alec raked a hand over his long, somewhat tangled, hair. “I was wondering if there was a way to disguise a person’s magic from being detected by others.”
“Do you think someone is trying to block your magic?”
He shook his head. “No, not block it. More like hide it.”
“Why would you think that?”
Alec should have known Isabelle wouldn’t simply answer his question. Ah, what the heck, he thought, giving in to the inevitable. She already knew he could talk to dragons, so what harm could there be in telling her?
“Ardys made a comment to me. He said something was shielding my magic. And that wasn’t the only time I was told something to that effect.”
“By another dragon?” Isabelle ventured.
Alec didn’t answer her, telling the sorceress she guessed correctly.
“Wow, you really are the Dragon Sage.” Glancing at the floor, she tapped a long finger against her lips. “I’ve read about shielding magic, so it can be done. However, not just any sage can do it. It’s an advanced technique, requiring knowledge of Elan to complete the incantation. If I had to guess, only a Master Sage would be capable of completing such a complex spell.”
“A master, huh?”
“Yes, and there’s one more thing. It’s not possible to enchant a person like that. Whoever it was would have to use the spell on an object…an object always in your possession,” she stressed.
Alec’s hand drifted towards his necklace of its own accord. The chain was a gift from Malcolm. His teacher would, without a doubt, have the knowledge and power to cast such a spell, but why? It seemed his delayed conversation with the sage was growing even more important.
“Thanks Isabelle. I appreciate your aid.”
Her eyes twinkled happily. “That’s what partners are for.”
They spoke for a little longer, then Isabelle excused herself to change and detangle her hair. Having refused to leave the warrior’s side until he recovered, she was in as desperate of a need for a bath as he was.
