by Jay Lynn
“I’m glad you had such faith in our abilities,” Alec teased, keeping a straight face.
Isabelle planted a hand on her hip. “You know as well as I that this task was nearly impossible.”
Behind her, Nathan was approaching with the royals as Ardys cleared the way for the black dragon. He and Alec gripped each other’s forearms warmly.
“Glad to see you kept her from too much mischief,” Alec greeted with a smirk on the right side of his mouth.
Nathan nodded with a smile. “I must admit that I enjoyed working with such a skilled sorceress.” His gazed shifted briefly to Isabelle as he spoke, but the energetic woman was engaged with Jade in their own conversation. “Oh, perhaps I should make some introductions. Prince Ashton, Prince Sebastian, this is Alec.”
Given the covert nature of their mission, he thought it best not to introduce Alec as a royal. At least, not right away to the rulers of the kingdom that they just raided without consent. They could seek forgiveness for the deception later. Getting everyone back home safely was their main objective.
Back rod straight and chin held high, the older prince stepped forward with all the grace and confidence of a man born to royalty. “I understand our rescue was only possible with your expert aid. Thank you.”
Ashton held out his hand. Beside him, his brother offered a muttered ‘thanks’.
Alec peered down at the royal’s outstretched fingers, but didn’t move. This man’s family was responsible for Zerrok’s slavery. They allowed people to be slaughtered in the arenas, and for innocent citizens to be captured and sold like animals. While Ashton might not be directly responsible for his suffering, he had made no effort to correct it either. In his mid-thirties, the tall sandy brown-haired man had a short beard and hazel eyes. The prince was clearly no child, and sure to have some sway in the running of his kingdom. With King David deceased, he was, in fact, the next ruler. As much as he wished to leave a good impression for the sake of his family, Alec couldn’t seem to make his arm move.
“Alec, I need you,” shouted Garth, drawing everyone’s attention.
Saved from the awkward situation, Alec dashed to Tatsu’s side. The gruff warrior had already aided a petit youth to the ground and currently had another man hunched over in his arms. Alec’s face paled upon seeing his teacher. He had never observed Malcolm to be in such a state before. The wizard’s skin was white, his lips contained a bluish hue and he was gasping as he sucked in shallow breaths. Alec reached up, helping Garth to lower the other sage to the ground.
“Should we take him inside?” Isabelle questioned, biting her lip as she peered at her mentor.
“There’s no time,” Alec dismissed.
Each passing second lowered the chance of Malcolm being able to recover. Checking the sage over, he searched for some sign of an injury. Malcolm’s left hand and wrist was a strange blackish color. The unpleasant coloring was half-way up his arm and continuing to climb in thread-like veins. Even more disturbing was the green tinge swirling beneath the surface of his skin. Alec reached out to touch the wound. An electric charge zapped him, causing Isabelle to yelp in surprise. The sorcerer immediately jerked back, shaking his hand from the sting.
“What is causing this?” Jade inquired worriedly. She could not recall seeing such a strange injury before. “Is he going to pull through?”
Alec frowned. “My guess is that it’s Jerric’s tainted aura infecting his body. Unless it is cleansed, the energy will continue to spread and likely take his life.”
“Are you able to heal this type of wound?” Garth wondered, studying the strange contagion. He never knew that magic could cause this type of harm. “Be careful not to get infected yourself.”
Nodding solemnly, Alec held his hands, palm side down, over Malcolm’s arm. Eyes beginning to glow softly, he called forth an energy spell.
“Surgeon, restore.”
The outline of his hands glowed as Alec focused everything he could on saving his mentor and friend. The light increased, growing brighter, yet nothing seemed to happen. Shifting his hands downward, Alec located the source of the evil energy. A ring was imprinted around Malcolm’s wrist where Jerric’s weapon struck him. Placing his palms over top of it, Alec could gradually see a change in the dark hue of the sage’s skin. Little by little his color returned to normal.
Once the wound appeared to be completely healed, Alec drew back. The raggedness of Malcolm’s breathing had not eased. Nor, had there been any change to the paleness of his skin.
Something’s not right, Alec thought grimly.
There were no other cuts on his skin or wounds that Alec could find as he renewed his search. Remembering Malcolm’s battle with Jerric, Alec’s attention shifted to the sage’s legs. At the very end of their fight, Jerric’s weapon struck the older sage’s ankle to keep him from joining his companions.
“Help me with his boots.”
Garth pulled off one while Alec removed the other. Pushing up his mentor’s breeches, his face hardened. Malcolm’s left leg had changed to a dark blackish color just like his wrist. The eerie, foul green tinge was dancing beneath Malcolm’s skin all the way to his knee. For someone’s aura to cause such damage really was proof of Jerric’s evil heart.
Stretching out his fingers, Alec took a deep breath and held his hands above the faint ring marking Malcolm’s flesh. Summoning his spell, the sage set to work healing the magical wound. Just as it had done with Malcolm’s arm, the tainted aura began to dissipate, and the true tint of the sorcerer’s flesh was restored.
The work on his friend’s leg complete, Alec wiped the sweat from his brow and sat back on his heels. It had been difficult, but all of the tainted aura seemed to be purified. Looking at Malcolm’s face, he noted that the wizard’s skin and lips were also starting to change back to a healthy hue.
“Nathan,” Garth began, bending down by the great sage. “Help me take him inside, would you?”
“Of course,” the swordsman answered easily.
As Jade waited for Alec to get back on his feet, Isabelle glanced at the sky. The surrounding darkness didn’t illuminate much of the rocks or the heavens above. Another threat could be lingering nearby and they would not be aware.
“We should seek shelter,” the Just Sage advised. “There’s no telling when we might run into one of the Iron Scales Clan.”
“Who?” Ashton questioned.
“Enemy dragons,” she clarified hastily. “We should all go inside to keep from being spotted.”
Alec nodded his agreement. The center of the clearing was far too open to remain in. Should they be attacked at this time, it would be difficult to defend themselves. While the area was an ideal hideout, it was certainly no fortress. Cassidy must have used it before to know of its existence.
Entering the cavern, Alec was surprised by the amount of space. While a dragon’s horns nearly scraped the ceiling, the area easily housed all of the large creatures with plenty of space to spare. The single chamber was well enough hidden to allow a fire in the rear without the risk of giving them away.
Garth seemed to have come to the same conclusion. He had a small pile of kindling near the place where Malcolm was resting. Cassidy stood over him and blew a soft breath of flames, lighting it quickly. The warm glow had a soothing effect on the travelers after their ordeal in Zerrok.
Seeing their friends approaching, Garth and Nathan rose to their feet. Reaching out, the warrior gripped Alec’s forearm with a grin. They each greeted the other fondly with a mix of handshakes and hugs from Isabelle.
“You did it, little brother,” Nathan said approvingly. “I don’t know how, but you did.”
Alec glanced towards the princes sitting by the fire with their backs to the wall. Beside them, closer to the shadows, was their servant Derek.
“I see you have your own victory to be proud of. If The Pure’s leaders had survived, I doubt this loss would sit well with them. As it is, I doubt we have heard the last of this anti-magical group.”
As much as Alec would like the whole affair to be over, he doubted this uprising would burn itself out. Something about the efficient and decisive way the leaders had been coldly murdered caused him to believe that a far darker plot was afoot.
“You defeated their leaders?” Garth asked with a hint of pride, breaking into Alec’s private thoughts.
Not even a shadow of a smirk appeared on the younger man’s face. “Not entirely. Someone else delivered the final blow.” Alec’s gaze lowered to the dancing flames. “Someone close to them.”
“It could have been a rival seeking power.”
“Perhaps.”
Alec wasn’t so sure. An image of the slain men flashed in his mind’s eye. Was this really simply one of their own turning on them? Why wait until that point? Surely there would have been other opportunities prior to his arrival. Pushing those thoughts from his mind, Alec peered at the cave’s opening with a frown.
“I’ll take the first watch. Everyone should get some rest. It has been a trying day.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Nathan rejected. “I will take the first watch. Other than the dragons, I’d wager that you’ve done the most fighting, and healing, as I recall,” he added gesturing to his own arm. “That’s an order, little brother.”
Alec couldn’t help but chuckle. He made no remark to the fact that he was no longer a member of the Stafford Guard or technically the crown prince of Malyndor. Flashing a classic half smile, he held up his hands in surrender.
“I suppose I can’t argue with my Commander.”
Rising to his feet, Sebastian shuffled closer to the fire’s light as the warrior strode off. “You cannot possibly mean for us to camp here? This is unacceptable.”
“Sebastian,” his brother called from behind him in a warning tone.
“No! I have done more than enough. I was locked in a filthy dungeon. I have tolerated sorcerers and their magical beasts, but I am a Prince of Zerrok. I will not sleep in the dirt!”
His face turning a deep crimson during his speech, Sebastian’s body shook with tremors. The tone of his voice raised several octaves to the point that his last few words were a shrilled shriek.
Ashton strode up behind him and placed a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder. Lowering his voice to a whisper, he spoke so that no one other than Sebastian could hear.
Chin dropping to his chest, Sebastian seemed only able to nod in return. Fingers curled into fists, he spun away to resume his place by the wall without peering at a single person there.
“Pray, you must excuse my brother,” Ashton began, loosely linking his fingers together in front of him. “Finding yourself in a position that requires the aid of others is not always easy to accept. Misconceptions of old take time to correct. I assure you that we are both glad to be free of the dungeon and see Malyndor as a most trusted ally.”
Ashton’s calm, more serious demeanor was the complete opposite of his brother’s heated outburst. Alec’s expression revealed nothing of what he was thinking. This man’s words seemed sincere. Yet, why did something about his exchange with the other prince unsettle the warrior so? Perhaps he was being overly suspicious. Still, Alec could not shake this nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“Given your situation, it is natural for you to feel some anger. Those men were responsible for your father’s death,” Isabelle soothed compassionately.
“Yes,” Alec agreed with much less empathy. “Do not however, unleash your wrath upon those who haven’t earned it. You may fear and even hate magic, but don’t forget that magic was responsible for your freedom. I will not force anyone to stay here. Just remember, their leaders might be dead, but The Pure’s army is still very much a threat. I doubt they would give you quarter.”
Gazes locked together, there was a long period of strained silence. The dark glare on Sebastian’s face spoke volumes. Yet, whatever words his brother had previously shared with him discouraged the prince from voicing his thoughts. A nudge to Alec’s shoulder broke the proud man’s silent battle of wills.
Seeing the green dragon standing so close, Ashton quickly slid away.
“You should rest,” Cassidy encouraged the sage.
The smile on Alec’s lips faded as quickly as it appeared when he caught sight of the other prince’s expression.
“It talks,” Ashton whispered incredulously.
Alec had no intention of explaining the true nature of his powers to these men. Watching Isabelle open her mouth to speak, he loudly cleared his throat. The sorceress glanced his way prior to excusing herself as she moved towards the front of the cave to be with Nathan. Following Isabelle’s lead, Alec left Garth with Malcolm by the flames to join the dragons.
Jade didn’t hesitate to trail after him. She had no desire to be in the princes’ company any more than he did. A small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth as she watched Alec stretch out against Cassidy’s scales. The large dragon peered at him fondly. Who could ever hate such magnificent creatures? Jade wondered. Momentarily lost in thought, she didn’t realize she was staring as Alec gazed up at her. Cheeks warming, Jade broke eye contact and shifted her focus towards the ground as she tucked a lock of hair behind one ear.
Leaning against Cassidy, Alec could feel a deep rumble in the dragon’s side as she laughed. Patting the warm scales, Alec motioned for Jade to join him. A large grin lit his features as his love settled close to his side and placed her head against his shoulder. Cassidy’s tail wrapped around the pair protectively before she too, closed her eyes and drifted off into a light slumber.
Resting for a few hours, the companions waited for daybreak prior to taking to the skies once more. The cover of darkness would have been preferable, but Malcolm had reservations about the Zerrok princes remaining in the darkened cave for such a long period of time. Alec couldn’t say if the wise wizard was more worried about the royal’s sanity or their own.
Concealing themselves above the clouds, Cassidy, Ardys and Tatsu flew north towards Malyndor. Once they crossed over the border, they shifted their flight to the east and headed in the direction of Stafford Castle. To human eyes the ground, when visible, sped past as an unreadable blur. The dragons however, were easily able to see the path they needed to take through the jet streams.
A small yelp escaped Jade’s lips as Cassidy suddenly twisted to the right and dove. Alec, Malcolm and Jade were forced to grip her spikes and each other to remain on the dragon’s back. The burning heat of a blaze zipped past above them. If she hadn’t diverted her course when she did, then they would have been scorched.
Ahead of them, Alec saw another fireball rip through the sky, this time aimed at Tatsu. There was no mistaking it. They were under attack by dragons.
“Why are they attacking us?” Jade shouted above the wind whipping past their ears.
“They’re after Alec,” Malcolm clarified. “These dragons oppose Emperor Draco and believe killing Alec will weaken him.”
“Stay sharp, there are at least three of them,” warned Cassidy.
The moment she finished speaking, the mighty green creature released a loud roar. A dark brown dragon had sunk his teeth into her tail and jerked her backwards in the air. Twisting her head, Cassidy blasted him.
Her enemy released her and dodged the strike. However, his true aim was realized as another dragon shot up from beneath and slashed her wing, breaking one of the bones. Spiraling out of control, Cassidy quickly lost altitude.
With Jade’s terrified screams filling his ears, Alec summoned a healing spell while Malcolm used an air spell to slow their descent. Their joint efforts kept them alive, but it didn’t stop them from hitting the ground-hard.
His arms instinctively wrapping around Jade, Alec’s aura activated on its own. It surrounded the three passengers as the impact sent them flying off Cassidy’s back. Sailing across the long, untrimmed grass, Alec’s head was pounding as he staggered to his feet. Peering around, he searched for the others. Jade lay several feet away wh
ile Malcolm was closer to the dragon. Aiding his love to her feet, he gazed at the wizard.
“Are you alright?”
“I’ll survive,” the sage grumbled.
“How are you Cassidy?”
The green dragon didn’t answer. Alec and Jade raced to her side. Jade kneeled by their friend’s head trying to rouse her, but it was no use. She was out cold.
“This does not bode well,” the sage observed gazing at the clouds.
Three enemy dragons were circling overhead: a small brown, a larger black one and a pale bluish grey. No matter their size, they darted across the heavens unleashing a hail of fireballs upon the other two dragons.
Each burdened with human passengers, Ardys and Tatsu were having a difficult time fighting back. From below, it appeared they were continuously zigzagging through the sky. Each time they soared closer to the ground to safely offload their guests, they were cut off. There was no telling how long they would be able to dodge the blasts.
A bright red light shone upon Ardys’s back. Lips parting, Alec watched as a magic circle appeared hovering in the air. A creature of flame rose from within. Stretching forth its wings, a blazing phoenix emerged in the heavens. The magical beast shrieked loudly as she charged into the nearest enemy. There was only one person among those dragons who was capable of such feats and Alec wasn’t going to let her struggle alone. Turning to gaze at Malcolm, the warrior wasn’t even able to voice his question.
“Just go, I will guard those here.”
“Be careful,” Jade added, knowing she could not stay his departure.
Alec flashed her a half grin. “Of course.”
Facing the other way, the sorcerer closed his eyes. He focused inward on the energy flowing through his veins. He still had much to learn when it came to mastering the power of his spirit, yet Alec was already able to easily connect with Fang. Gathering like stardust, pale white orbs pulled from his body. They swirled together until they formed a small, long dragon. Fang patiently floated before Alec with knowing eyes. A man of few words, Alec valued the silent link binding them together. This would be their first true test, their first real battle fighting as one.
