by K Fisher
~
I have betrayed my King and I have betrayed my vows. I can only pray that I survive long enough to write again and that our beloved King Herrick lives long and I am wrong. I was assigned with delivering the second half of the Stone of Dragons to the King of Dragons and his kin to instill trust between our people and show them the stone was not working to control them, anymore. I do not believe they will be pleased and trust us without the full stone being destroyed for while it still exists to any capacity, it is a danger to them.
Someone whispers in our King’s ears. I speak with my warlock friend in the castle and dare not speak his name, for fear this journal gets in the wrong hands and he is punished. He says he knows Mallor convinced King Herrick to dispose of the stone in this way and I fear for the King’s life. I can feel the ill intent from Mallor’s energy and the warlock agrees. I have promised to take the stone but it will not make it to the dragons.
I left my group in the dead of night, leaving them with no stone. They will not be brave enough to tell Mallor and King Herrick the job was not done and, with the dragons trying to resettle after the control of Herrick’s father, they will not respond if the King seeks to speak with them. I will have ample time to get the stone as far away as possible and begin a new life.
Why would I betray my King and my people? It pains me to write of such an encounter for it makes me feel mad. Truly I have to have gone mad if the Mystic Dragon visited me in a vision, yes? The Mystic Dragon, a being created when the most powerful magic of the elves before they were stripped of it, a being that harnesses the wisdom and power of the entirety of dragons speaks to me.
He came to me just last night as I sat watch by our campsite, a surge of power drifting through me. It was unlike anything I had ever felt in my life, an addicting and beautiful sweep of magic that spoke to me. Before me, I could see the dragon made of magic, the words it spoke to me were that of warning and I intend to heed them.
He told me I must take the stone from the quest, that someone I travel with intends to kill me and take it back to Mallor. The entirety of Desin is in danger if I do not get as far away as possible with the stone. I pleaded that the dragon gives me some reason to trust him, some reason not to suspect that this was a ploy from evil to dissuade me from my King’s mission.
The Mystic Dragon’s power gave me a vision of my future, of what my world would be like if I escaped the path I was on and took the stone with me. I saw a woman, a human woman, as beautiful as a sunset over the Yurel. The moment my eyes fell on her and I knew the warmth in her eyes, I knew I had to find her. The dragon showed me the farmlands I would own far away, the son that would grow safely there. He told me to search the pack of one of my most trusted to find the truth.
When the Mystic Dragon released me, I was filled with dread and fear over which decision I would make. When I crossed the campfire and reached into the pack of one of my men, I found a letter addressed to him. An order that ended in my death and the retrieval of the shard.
I decided to listen to the words of this magic and take the stone with me. I now travel to the next village to fulfill the requests of the dragon. I asked the dragon why I could not simply destroy the shard and why I had to take it as far away as possible.
The Mystic Dragon said to me with much certainty that my wife would bare a son and that the stone is destined to be with him.
He has been chosen to help save Desin and I must not deter from this destiny.
Forgive me.
Chapter Fourteen
Anita slowly made her way back to her quarters, taking her time to peer down at the gardens surrounding the castle from each open window she passed. She was strolling but her feet were heavy upon the ground, a slow drag grabbing at each movement as she tried to pretend everything was okay. The guards that followed her knew the importance of keeping one of the royal family members safe but she was no Queen unless Elladora decided she did not want the crown or died.
Not that such a formality had been the case when Mallor took over. Of course he had what no one else did… Dragons. The influence behind the power he possessed was enough to make everyone look the other way. She, of course, would have been able to take over the throne at the time if she had desired after the death of both the King and the Queen, but Mallor was the one who knew what to do.
He had the power. He had been so strong, so filled with the magic of Desin and the knowledge of their world. She was but a young, foolish woman when he had taken over and assured the people he was the best choice and that the humans had been the end of their beloved rulers.
Thinking of Mallor made Anita’s chest tight and she let out the softest of groans, a pained sound that erupted from a heart that was broken into a million pieces.
Broken by her niece, a half-breed that should have died a long time ago, and a dragon that denied the call of the stone and its ruler. They were disgusting and even being close to Elladora and pretending to be nice was proving to be more difficult than she could possibly imagine. Even the darkening bags under the young royal’s eyes and clear cynical nature driven by exhaustion did not give Anita the happiness she so desperately desired. Sure, it meant that the curses she was keeping alive for Mallor were working, but Elladora was still fighting and pushing forward.
When Anita reached the door to her quarters, she looked to her guard and gave him a curt nod. “Await further instructions. I wish to go down to the gardens for a few hours tonight but first, I need to check on something.”
Slipping into her room, Anita ensured the door was locked and shut tight behind her before taking several shaky steps forward, the wall of pleasantness she had possessed during her time in front of others that day was finally released. The smile at the edge of her lips faded, the muscles in her face slacking as they fell back to where they wished to be. The news Phillip had given her earlier that night had been upsetting.
Elladora had somehow lived through her encounter in Mallor’s private study. It was a place that Anita was not permitted to enter and had never experienced, but she knew it had traps set in place and had hoped that if the foolish girl would follow the magic, she would fall victim to death’s embrace. Anita had always promised Mallor she would never go there and even in death she would not break a promise to the true King of Desin.
Finding out that Elladora was not only alive but had come out with some of Mallor’s books meant she was that much closer to finding out about Anita’s continued support of their previous King, and her intentions to end Elladora and take the throne. Although she had not wanted it before and knew Mallor was the only one that should rule, she would not allow another weakling like her dearest niece to ruin the lands. If they were weak, the humans and others who despised elves and the power they had invoked on them would come and destroy them. The dragons would surely assist the beings, scorned by their past with the elves.
They all had to be put in their place, just as Mallor had wanted.
Anita made her way over to her bed, placing down the cloak she had been wearing and then made her way to her wardrobe. It was a beautiful, hand-carved piece of furniture that Mallor had ensured she would be given. Upon it, roses were etched and carved, winding their way to the top where a mirror was held in place by two curved, wooden hooks. Her room was dark but she knew just what she was searching for, taking a seat upon the ground before her wardrobe.
The cool floor beneath her grounded her, heart soaring as she reached for the handle on the bottom drawer and pulled it towards her. The moment her eyes fell on the items within, she felt safe and secure in the castle. If only she had a way to carry her most precious items around with her everywhere she went. The drawer and the items within were arranged perfectly, a shrine to the one she had loved and lost. The true King of their people and of Desin.
Mallor’s cloak was removed from its perfectly folded position in the drawer and lifted to Anita’s face. She closed her eyes for a mere moment, breathing in the fabric. But the essence of his magic and the scen
t of him was long gone now. She only had the smallest bit she had been able to feed and keep alive.
Her hand reached out and trailed over a small, rusted knife that Mallor had been in possession of so many years prior, then over to a sketchbook he had treasured. Her caressing hands were like that of a lover, gently embracing every inch of the items she cherished, curling around the edges like she stroked the edge of a cheek. The most prized item in her collection was the remaining essence of the warlock himself.
It was said that when warlocks died, their magic would remain in an item of intent that they had possessed. It was not their true power, but a lingering magic that could be utilized by a non-magic user if one was quick enough about it and knew how. Thankfully, Anita had been carefully trained and it was from that item she continued the protective spells he had in place. Even in death, Mallor would help destroy those too weak to care for the lands properly.
Before her in the deep drawer, a goblet was carefully nestled inside an old jar. The top was sealed tightly, the bubbling liquid that remained inside the goblet was deep red and glowing. The goblet was one of Mallor’s most prized possessions, the very item that had held the poison King Herrick had sipped. Now it held the remaining magic of Mallor’s soul.
Seeing it safe relaxed Anita and she slowly lowered the cloak to the drawer once more, covering the bubbling goblet and closing it. The moment the items were out of her sight, the deep sadness returned and she reluctantly stood.
Phillip had not only told her of Elladora’s possessions, but of the new sightings of her little friends on the other side of the forests near the mountainside. She wasn’t certain what they were doing for the little Elladora, but was certain their death could be something she orchestrated as well.
In fact, she knew just the three to get the job done.
Approaching the door to her room, Anita unlocked and opened it, addressing her guard with a soft voice, careful not to allow her tone to carry.
“Come here a moment.”
He entered her room without question, brown eyes peering at her from behind his helmet as he gave her a quizzical glance. “Yes, Ma’lady?”
“I need the name of the hunter we sent to kill the Dalcan family so many years ago. I hear he and his brothers are a force to be reckoned with,” she said softly, already grabbing for a quill and a piece of parchment.
“Zakir, Ma’lady.”
“Would you happen to know where I can send a letter to get his attention?”
When he nodded quickly, Anita smiled, the feeling was easy and the motions smooth as she allowed the happiness to flood back within her. She would finish Elladora’s companions and her niece’s reserve, and she’d use the very man who killed the little half-breed’s parents to do it.
She could almost hear the approving laugh of Mallor in her mind.
Chapter Fifteen
Deep in the Nevina Forests
The deep voice that filled the clearing was one that Alni remembered but could not place right away. It wasn’t until Silthia bowed her head towards the earth that the owner of the voice resonated in his mind. It was not a bow of respect that she gave the dragon, but instead appeared to be an act that was not of her own control, large muscles twitching and spasming as she lowered towards the ground. Looking to Silthia for answers, he gasped as the remaining amethyst hue in her eyes transformed into a shimmering trail of magic, leaving her natural crimson behind. The moment it left her body, she started to relax, her head lifting and eyes narrowed in surprise.
The magic that left her crawled along the ground like a snake looking to escape the clutches of an enemy. Disappearing between two large oak trees, the magic appeared to grow and heighten in size until a towering shadow stretched between the trunks. Two bright amethyst eyes opened amidst the dark and the shadow took several steps forward, translucent in the brightness of day but unmistakable nonetheless.
“Silthia, you heeded my call. I had hoped I was strong enough to still reach out to you.”
The Mystic Dragon’s eyes looked over to Alni and captured him, holding him in place, acknowledging his presence with a nod of the head. Long, curved horns that Alni did not remember seeing previously reached behind the dragon’s head, menacing and massive in size. He pondered what sort of fighter the Mystic Dragon was in ages past. But of course, the dragon was not truly real, was it? It was a byproduct of the magic poured into the stone, meant to be the King that ruled the dragons under the control of the one who possessed the stone. In the end, this being appeared too real and too good to possibly be simply dark magic.
“You’re alive,” Alni said with surprise, cursing the words the moment they left his mouth.
“Very perceptive of you,” Silthia murmured, turning her body to fully face the Mystic Dragon as Alni growled out an inaudible response.
Although Silthia was large and threatening, she was nothing compared to the sheer size of the magical being before her. The dragon King’s wings were bent at his side, leathery and covered in amethyst scales. Every inch of the Mystic Dragon was covered in the light hue of the Stone of Dragons, the very thing that had brought it into existence and yet kept it trapped.
“Come with me,” the Mystic Dragon said, the words drifting through the clearing and surrounding both Alni and Silthia like a rope that tied around them, beckoning them to follow.
The King of Dragons became fully translucent before them, fading into the trees as he turned to leave and weave his way through the forests, his long tail swiping along the ground as he did. Although it did not disrupt the earth at all where it touched.
Alni and Silthia exchanged glances briefly, their anger from earlier appeared to be put aside for the time being as they started after the Mystic Dragon. Alni felt his heart beating wildly in his chest, the prickle of emotionally charged magic just at his fingertips was amplified by the mere presence of the dragon. He had been so certain there was no way he could have lived after the stone was destroyed, certain that the only remaining parts of the Mystic Dragon were within Silthia; that it had been a sacrifice to bring her back from beyond when the fire took her.
Unable to fathom how it was all happening and understanding Silthia and Bethinium had known the dragon was alive to some degree, Alni decided to put his words aside and instead try to understand why they had been summoned and what the Mystic Dragon wanted.
The three of them were silent for several minutes as they trekked through the woods, the King walking through the branches and undergrowth while Silthia and Alni weaved to the best of their ability, Silthia soon settling on barreling through whatever stood in her way. Before too long, they came across a large cave that was partially hidden by moss and fallen trees. Entering the cave, the Mystic Dragon disappeared from sight, only the soft glow of his magic illuminating the way for both Alni and Silthia as they entered behind blindly.
They stopped when they reached the back of the cave, the damp smell of wet moss and earth reached Alni’s nose, along with a sweet, floral scent he had not indulged in for many years. His eyes snapped to the left, stopping when they reached the violet petals protruding from the rock along the inside of the damp cave. There must have been a stream nearby to feed the thirsty, shade-loving flowers. Back in his home village, Alni used to search for the Vespairs for hours upon hours, knowing just what power they possessed and how much merchants were willing to pay for the rare flower.
During the clean-up, when the fairies would attend to the grounds of Desin and the forests, they made it a point to care for the flowers - even the ones that harmed them or caused them immense difficulty like the Vespairs. The sticky petals on the gorgeous, violet-hued flowers would be tended to by the fairies, clinging onto their wings and body when they landed. After a while, the fairies tried to water and care for them from far away, but the damage had already been done. The magic that lived within the fairies was not only internal, but a dusting of power along their wings and body that assisted with the strenuous task of caring for Desin. When the sticky
petals trapped the fairies, the magic remained. It was said that the Vespairs had grown with the magic, spreading it for hundreds of years; Making them both beautiful, and dangerous if you did not handle them correctly, their hand-sized petals the light violet hue But the magic within presented itself in golden, shimmering veins that etched throughout the flower.
The Mystic Dragon’s voice echoed through the cave, drawing Alni’s attention away from the alluring flowers and back to the situation at hand. “I could sense you were both close and used my remaining strength to reach out through Silthia. I needed to see you both as soon as possible, I do not have much time.” Alni’s brow furrowed as he took a few steps closer to the massive King, looking over the fading magic that held the once all-powerful creature together.
“Alni,” The Mystic Dragon looked to him, then. “I know this is all very confusing and I have pushed you to do a lot already. I would not put these things on your shoulders if I believed you were not capable. With the help of the rightful Queens, you have put the plan in motion to save Desin. But without the stone I cannot keep myself here any longer, I must pass the rest of my remaining magic to the two of you, for the sake of all Desin.”
“Queens?” Silthia’s voice questioned, her face stoic and void of any emotion until the Mystic Dragon spoke. It was the first time Alni had ever registered shock on her face before.
“Yes. The dragons need a ruler and are in chaos. You are the reason they are free, your name is whispered throughout Desin to all those who will listen.” She looked to Alni again. “Both of your names.”
“You cannot be suggesting I take over the dragons? I have not even spoken with them since the stone was destroyed…” But Silthia was unable to question any further, the Mystic Dragon speaking once again to them.
