Keepers of the Crown

by Lydia Redwine

  Peter saw that all was charred as if the black sky had dripped to the ground. The sky had been ripped open, sending fury hurtling to everything beneath it. Blue flames licked the trees, gradually growing in their number. Peter resumed his running, catching up to the people. He found his mother and sister. Saffira was leading Emma by the arm.

  He panted. Cole was behind him now. He reached for the older man’s hand and grasped it. Peter lept, barely making it onto the bird and being swept into the air. The forest blurred past him. He caught only a brief glimpse of the dove penetrated by the spear and began praying fervently. His words were mumbled incoherently. He was not quite sure himself what he was praying for, only that it was Elyon he beseeched.

  The snow fell in a horrendous storm.

  Even from inside the hidden fortress midst the Black Mountains, Cam huddled. Fire danced in a hearth. And everyone was in the same, vast room. The snow had fallen before they could reach the mountains, and thus, they had been here several days, waiting out the storm.

  It wasn’t the snow bothering her, though, as she sat before one of the fires that had been built. Peter had been gone for an entire day.

  Cam closed her eyes, willing herself to remember instead the last time she had been here. It had been nearing winter, but the sun had been golden and warm on her back as she had sparred with Peter in the fields not far from her. It was chilly the morning she had told Owen about Terra and a dove had come to rest in her palms. She felt someone approaching her, felt the warmth of another body pressing into her side. Her eyes opened. Adria slipped her arms around Cam’s waist.

  “He will come back,” Adria said in a soft, dreamy sort of voice.

  Cam nodded. “Yes, I believe he will.”

  Adria was silent, but still, Cam knew the question resting between them. A question that Adria wouldn't ask aloud because she did not wish to intrude. Cam spoke. “He learned before we left Mingroth that the enemy he believed Elyon had defeated is still alive. He is haunted, Adria. Just like we are. Haunted by the shadows of ones we loved.”

  Adria rested her head on Cam’s shoulder and said, “They are not shadows to me. Grandfather is like the dancing fire inside on rainy days and the creatures who light up at night in the summers.” Cam could see it now. Those summer nights so long ago. The humid air accompanied presently by the breeze of dusk. “AndTerrais thefirst blush ofdawn, thecreepingofthesunlight over the mountains. And Mista…” Adria’s hand extended before her as if she was touching something. “Mista is like the golden rays of sunlight through the trees.”

  “And you are as light on the water, Adria,” Cam said at last. Adria smiled.

  “And you, Cam, are something changed.” Adria pulled away from her older sister just long enough to look her in the eyes. “You used to drink tea incessantly. You would never stop. Even while it was cold.” Neither of them smiled.

  “Yes, Adria, I loved tea very much.”

  “And books. You would read every minute of every day even while we were playing games in the forests and at Asta’s house and swimming with Owen. You would read them on a horse, Cam.”Bothsmiledthis time. “Andthoselittleblueflowers that would grow in small patches deep within the very heart of Medulla. Those, Cam, were your favorites. What changed?”

  Cam drew in a shaky breath, her hands shaking as she grasped at her younger sister’s arm. “I lost myself in my own grief. I-I...had been on a single mission for so long that to just...stop and have nothing to do but remember how it felt to leave our sister in that valley...it...was too much.”

  Tears were slipping from Adria’s eyes, and her voice was a choked whisper when she spoke. “And now we’ve left another sister in another valley. But we cannot change who we are. We cannot spiral into nothingness and lose ourselves too.”

  Cam nodded, her eyes clenching shut against her own tears. “I know. Thank you, Adria, for reminding me.”

  Adria offered her a comforting smile before kissing her lightly on the cheek. “One thing has never changed about you, Cam.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “You never stopped loving us. Fiera, Terra, Mista, and myself. You always fought for us. Fought for the right to love and protect us.” Cam tried to say something. Anything. If only to thank her sister. But the lump in her throat was too painful and large.

  And Fiera was back, her bow and quiver of arrows slung over her back. She was walking towards Cam and Adria. “It's a nightmare out there. I don’t think I’ve ever been so cold.”

  “And it's not even Winter yet,” Adria added.

  Fiera huffed a sigh. Her face was flushed and hair flung everywhere as a result of her ventures into the snowy mountains. She lifted a small animal, all she was able to find. “The food might be scarce, but I did see Peter. He’s on his way back.”

  Peter huffed cold breath into his hands before entering the

  fortress. His fingers felt frozen. Everything else was numb. The door closed behind him, and everything fell into shadow. The fires were dying out. Everyone was slipping into slumber. And he knew they would sleep well. Here, only here did he ever feel completely safe.

  But one person was awake. “You were gone quite a long time,” shesaid. Peter glancedup to meet theglitteringblack gaze of Fiera Briar.

  He cleared his throat. “Yes, well, it's been quite a long time since I’ve been home. Still, I don’t think I’ve seen it under so much snow.” He forced a shaky laugh.

  Fiera did not look amused. “We have to help her,” she said in a soft voice.

  Peter’s brows rose. “You mean Cam, right?”

  Fiera nodded. “I haven't told her father, and I am not going to tell anyone for that matter. It is for Cam to share if she wishes.”

  “I wasn’t planning on telling Cole either. I wouldn't tell anyone that their child has been losing themselves in an addictive drink that could severely hurt them. No, not ever,” Peter returned dryly.

  Fiera’s eyes narrowed. “Are you actually mocking me right now?”

  Peter grinned. “No, but I would tell Cole if she weren't trying to get out of it. I tell him much, Fiera. He is just as much my father as he is hers.”

  Fiera waved her hand as if ridding the air of the statement. “My point is that there is no one who loves Cam more than me and you. So we should be the ones to help her.”

  Peter dropped into a seat before the dying fire as he began to remove his outer clothing. He extended his hands over the embers so that they might thaw. “And how are we to know that her own father doesn't love her more?”

  “Perhaps he does, but Cam believes it to be me and you. That’s why she told us. And besides, Cole is the oneleading us to Nazeria. To a queen, we don’t know we can even trust.”

  Peter whipped his head, his eyes widening. “Elizabeth was the one who sent you on your quest to find the Crown. And she ended up being right. Her parents…”

  “Were comrades of your father. Yes, I know,” Fiera said, “But that doesn’t make her trustworthy. I am done trusting queens right now.”

  “Well,” Peter shrugged, “if Cole trusts the queen, then so do I. As for Cole and Cam, it isn’t that he loves her less, it’s that he hasn’t seen her this entire time we have been gone. We have. We’ve been with her for so long, and we saw the signs. And if you had actually been with her instead of in Cinis Lumen, you might have caught it faster.” Hurt flickered in Fiera’s eyes. Peter’s face immediately softened. “I’m sorry. I shouldn't have said that.”

  Fiera huffed an annoyed sigh. “Especially since she spent more time with you in Gnosi than she did with me in the south.” He couldn’t suppress the grin that lifted his lips. Fiera slipped into the seat beside Peter. “We are going to help her. We will be there for her and love her as best we can.”

  Peter nodded, his thoughts turning over in his mind. “Love her. Yes.” He spokehis next thoughts aloud. “We will have time for that. In Nazeria. We will be safe. For a time, at least.”

  Fiera released a long sigh a
nd blew hair from her face. “Moving on once again. I just want to stay in one place for a while.”

  Peter worea grin.“We stayedin Mingroth forquitealong time.”

  “Shut up,” Fiera said. She kicked him. Peter winced. “Sorry, I forgot about your leg.”

  Peter hissed at the pain. “It’s fine,” he gritted out. “There will be plenty of time to heal in Nazeria too.”

  Fiera’s expression darkened, her gaze drifting absently. “But there are some things that can not be healed, Peter. Losing people you love is hard.”

  Peter’s voice was soft and low. “Believe me, I know.” Silence passed until he spoke once more. “Does Caleb ever…” he trailedoff, his words faltering. “Does heever talk about his hand, how he hates not having it?”

  Fiera’s questioning gaze flickered to him. “Have you wanted to talk about your injury?” she countered.

  Peter seemed to think then, slowly, nodding. “I hate not being able to walk the same. Fight the same. Dance the same.”

  Fiera nodded. “I can understand that, but...what I worry about is either you or Caleb becoming so wrapped up in who you are physically that that becomes all you are. If you aren’t you without a leg or a hand, then are you really you?”

  Peter’s brows furrowed. “But without those things, how can we fight the same way?”

  Fiera shrugged. “You can’t, but there are other ways to fight for what you love.”

  Peter remained silent and staring at the flames before them. Fiera noted that he seemed more at ease here in this fortress that had once been his home. She realized then, that in many ways, he had not lost his physical home. “Even the castle ofMedullaisstillstanding forme,” she thought. And then aloud, “It is strange to think the Savior of the world is a child. Not the king leading armies that I had imagined Him to be.”

  Peter nodded. “It is strange that it is...now.”

  The Keepers of the Crown had been few, Fiera, Cam, and Cole decided to tell few. Peter had to be told because…“Because his father said this would happen. He has the right to know.”

  “What I wonder is where He came from. I mean, I know its Caelae and all, but...where is Caelae?” Fiera added.

  Peter blewout a breathandshookhis head. “Idon’tknow either. That’s the thing about believing. Sometimes you don’t know everything about what you believe.

  “It’s stranger still that the boy seems to be the kindest soul, like perfection. But Elyon…” Fiera said. “But...Elyon let our sisters die.” Her voice was nearly inaudible, but Peter still turned, his eyes now full of tears.

  “He let my father die, and I still believe in Him.”

  Fiera shook her head, her voice hoarse when, “Why?”

  Peter gave her the saddest smile she had ever seen. “Because Elyon took my father home. To Caelae. He took him away from pain and suffering. His task in this realm was finished.”

  “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.”

  -Immanuel

  Thirty- Nine

  Themorning following Leviathan’s return, Belle flew back to

  the Fortress of Rocs to transport Riah home. He hadn’t even called her, having come of her own volition. What Riah did not expect was that Leviathan himself would be lounging in an armchair pulled into the center of the throne room which was lit with filters of sunlight from the high, circular windows. The Shadow Bearer held a glass of dark liquid. He did not appear to be in any better mood than he had the previous evening. “You didn’t spend much time with the Prince, then,” Riah stated dryly as he approached the intruder.

  “No, I did not,” Leviathan replied absentmindedly. He whippedhis headtowardRiah. “I spent most ofmy timewith the Lady of the Wolves as Arria keeps referring to her as.” He waited for Riah to respond, but the young man only leaned against the door frame and rose his brows. “It was all satisfying as usual,” the Shadow Bearer finally said in a dull tone. “She and I came to an agreement about the remainder of your trials.”

  Riah was slightly taken aback, not to mention apprehensive. He did not desire for this elusive Lady of the Wolves, who left her servants for dead in trees, to have anything to do with his training. He was struck then, somewhere did within him with memory. And pain. And guilt. Tyron had been left for dead in a tree.

  “You will go to her this afternoon with your dragons. They and yourself will battle her and the wolves. If you do not lose your head, I will mark you,” Leviathan said, breaking through his thoughts. The Shadow Bearer smirked. “Presently, I would prepare if I were you.” As Riah was marching away, Leviathan added, “Shewill not usemagic. That wouldbeentirely unfair. But all else is fair game. And she sure is good.” The Shadow Bearer rumbled with laughter.

  As Riah gathered warm clothing, armor, and various pieces of weaponry, he wondered whose idea this had been. Leviathan’s or her’s? Riah pulled on a woolen tunic, breastplate, and fur-lined cape. He began sweating immediately, for it was warm outside. The clothing itched too as he made his way down to the dragon keep. The beasts were waiting as if they already knew what was to occur.

  “Time to prove yourselves,” Riah muttered. When Zoka cast him a glare, Riah mustered a grin. “And I will prove myself to thee.” He bowed dramatically. The mother dragon seemed pleased. Belle was not the creature that bent so he could mount. This was done by the gray one called Ukkonen which Riah had painted on a rainy day.

  The creature rose into the air first with Riah perched on his back. The others followed, and Aminon brought up the rear. The dragons flew with a different air about them. They were not playful creatures that hunted for mere pleasure, but they were determined warriors. Steel replaced amusement in their enormous eyes. Ukkonen flew with steadiness. His wings were firm beatings on the air. Riah clenched the iron collar at his neck. Normally, a flight east seemed to last an eternity, but with the rising anxiety in the pit of Riah’s stomach, the trip seemed to pass in mere seconds before they had crossed the river, and the dragons were landing on the snow.

  Riah’s eyes were wide and alert as were the dragons circling around him as if they could protect him. All was silent except for Riah’s hammering heart and the heavy breath of the dragons. And then he saw the wolves.

  At first, he could only distinguish a few. No more than four were approaching him on silent paws. Their icy blue eyes blazed against their coats of white fur. More appeared. An entire score of white wolves was now emerging from the forest from all around him.

  And they were... enormous for their kind.

  Riah stumbled back into the hard form of Ukkonen. And finally, the head wolf appeared.

  Riah knew him to be the alpha as he brought up the rear

  and by his distinguishing marks. He was the only black wolf and wore scars down both sides of his face. Red scars which ran deep. He was not a beautiful wolf-like one may call the others. His eyes blazed red, and his form was enormous than those in his pack. Even the dragons surrounding Riah did not make this wolf seem less daunting. Riah swallowed the hard lump in his throat, straightened his posture and drew his sword.

  He should have drawn an arrow.

  For she came from above.

  She lept with no wild cry but, rather, with an utterance of

  glee. A sound which chilled Riah to the bones. The Lady of the Wolves landed fearlessly in that circle of dragons, with flashing fangs and drawn double swords in both her hands. Her silvery hair whipped in the wind which had coursed through the forest without warning. Riah had barely any time to jump into position before she lashed out at him with a wicked smile pasted to her lips. He registered that she had donned armor over a silky tunic and layered skirt.

  “Come on!” she shouted. “I dare you!” Shock ...pure shock ricocheted through Riah’s every nerve. He knew this woman. Had seen her many times, but had spoken to her seldom. Still, those eyes of ice and unusual shade of silver that threaded her hair could not be forgotten.


  Glista.

  Glista of Imber Fel was before him.

  His jaw dropped.

  “I dare you,” she seethed again.

  Riah did dare. And missed as anyone would expect. Glista lept deftly out of the way and sneered. Riah boiled.

  Sweat was already forming on his brow and dripping from his nose. He managed to block her next blow and duck before the handle of her other sword came crashing down on his head.

  And the dragons...they were defending him but not against Glista. The wolves had sprung, and thus, the dragons had zipped up into the air. “Why are they not breathing fire?” Riah thought with exasperation. Trust. He had to trust them. With this thought, he was able to surprise Glista with a nick at her side and a thin slice down her hip. She growled, but her pain was nothing compared to what Riah received next.

  While battling Glista, he had not seen the enormous wolf darting towards him. He only noticed the creature something sharp pierced his shoulder. A heavy weight on his back had him falling careening towards the snow. He screamed, the pain excruciating. And blood was forming. Everywhere, it seemed. It was sticky, warm, and trickling. Riah, now flaming with anger, swung his sword behind his back. The wolf fell to the snow in a limp heap of blood and fur.

  Glista’s face transformed from amusement to pure rage. She hissed and screeched as she bounded after Riah who was now running at top speed towards Ukkonen, the only dragon not surrounded by a dozen wolves.

  Riah was almost to where he could snatch at the dragon when Glista tackled him, her sword disregarded on the ground. A fist slammed into his cheekbone. “You. Do. Not. Kill. My. Wolves,” she snarled with each throw of her fist.

  Riah cried out as blood spurted from his nose and mouth. He hissed the blood onto the snow and used whatever strength he had left to snatch her wrist and flip her over. He pinned her to thesnowbeneath him. “I was toldbackhomethatmy face was rather nice,” he ground out. “And you just messed it up.” Glista spat in his eyes. He winced, and because he was momentarily blinded, he did not see her draw a knife and scrape it across the inside of his upper thigh.