by L J Andrews
“Why did he give you his sword?” I asked, taking a deep breath during our pause.
Raffi scoffed, rolling the blade confidently in his hand. “Because he charged me with protecting our queen.” He said the words as though I should have known the obvious. Raffi ran a finger down the sleek blade whose cutting edge gleamed with embedded gold. “He disappeared with many of our warriors after the High Priestess protected us with the willow. The last night we saw the High Priestess was the last night we saw him. But he said if he was ever needed this blade would help me find him again.”
“You don’t know why he left?”
Raffi shook his head. “I suspect to prepare for when the lindworms returned. Thane defeated them in human form the night the High Priest betrayed us, so you can imagine how powerful he is in his wyvern form. I hope to meet him once more, I would be honored to train beneath him once again.”
I smiled and nodded, feeling a bit of excitement at Raffi’s story, though I didn’t know why. Perhaps the idea of powerful guardians waiting to act on our behalf brought a sense of peace to my heart.
The blade was a marvel. But even a magnificent weapon wasn’t a match for the jade blades. Raffi backed away, both his palms wrapped firmly in a white-knuckled grip around the hilt of his sword. He carved a path through the air, slashing toward the crook of my neck. I raised one arm, easily blocking the strike. In a flash, I tossed the second sword to an upright grip and slashed the blade across the space between us, aimed right for Raffi’s midsection.
He spun out quickly. Stabbing the air in frustration. Crossing the blades, again his attack was thwarted.
“Your frustration is making you sloppy, Raffi,” I taunted, shuddering when the rushing sound of metal sliding apart echoed between us.
Raffi backed away, his eyes narrowed at me. The warrior blade bounced between his hands and I could see in his fierce, fiery eyes he was determining the best way to strike. Or at least drop me to my knees. Losing was not an option for Raffi.
“Says the one who only learned to use a blade. I can see your steps before they form in your own mind.”
“Really?” I raised a brow, rolling each blade like a windmill in my hands as we circled one another. “That must be why you look so…exhausted. We can stop and rest if you need.”
I chuckled in the back of my throat when Raffi’s brow furrowed and he lunged. With a vicious slice of his sword he attacked. I blocked above my head, at the same moment my boot kicked his upper thigh. It caused him to stumble, but only just.
Within half a breath Raffi was attacking again. The rumble of his bellow would be enough to signal a new war had begun, but I was undeterred. He cut the sword at my spine. Dipping one sword over my shoulder I blocked, my spine protected for now. The seal on my skin burned as though an endless energy supply were filtering through my blood. I pushed back at Raffi. My swords pummeling against his single blade.
Back and forth, the clang, the ring of metal sparking inside my ears. Raffi stumbled onto one knee, his blade raised over his head. With both blades heating my palms I crashed them atop his sword. Raffi, in all his strength, was forced to succumb to the power of the mage blades. He crumbled in a heap of steaming warmth. The snow around our practice field had long melted. I would once give all the credit to the warmth of the wyvern blood, but as of late I’d felt just as warm. I didn’t think much on the changes in my body, or the way the armor felt more natural, or how I could almost hear the thoughts of the dragons when they were in their wyvern form. Almost. No, if I thought on the changes too long it meant more than ever I needed to seek out the High Priestess. Although I understood the importance, secretly I wasn’t ready to face her.
Raffi gasped for breath, his blade surrendered at his side as he stared to the sky. “I’ve never…seen you so passionate,” he breathed. “Who were you battling? Bron? King Nag?”
Wiping my brow I settled on the damp earth, breathing in the frosty air so it soothed the hot adrenaline seeping from my system. Resting my arms over the tops of my knees I envisioned exactly who I was fighting. “No. The prince.”
“Ah,” Raffi smirked. “I should have known. Makes sense. Ever since Ruby shared that little bit of information you’ve been a boiling pot.”
“Don’t you worry for Jade?”
“You really think Jade would go and unite herself with a dark prince without putting up some sort of fight? Come on, Teagan. She’s not helpless. And with the nauseating bond between the two of you, I suspect she’d fight even harder than if you were not here.”
I glared at Raffi, my fingernails digging into my palms. “How can you sit there and have no worries that your mortal enemies want to…force Jade into some sick…marriage, or whatever.”
“Hey,” Raffi snapped, propping himself onto his elbows. Raffi’s fiery hair had grown longer through the winter. He’d tied it below the notch in his head, though a few wild pieces had flung out during our battle. Like most wyverns, no matter how he exerted himself he always seemed put together. “I’m not saying we should relax and not keep that very real threat in the forefront of our minds—honestly, I’m trying to let you know…having you here makes me feel a lot better about Jade’s safety. The royals are notorious for being martyrs. If Nag threatened us, I could see Jade agreeing to the twisted desires of the lindworms to save our lives.
“But, since you’re here…since you two can’t seem to be parted for more than an hour, I think leaving or agreeing to such an arrangement would be quite impossible. It makes me feel more at ease, that’s all I’m saying.”
Raffi plopped back onto the damp ground, the few snow crystals instantly cooling and turning into a muddy soup.
The corners of my mouth tugged up into a small smile, and I nudged Raffi’s shoulder. “Are you saying…you sort of like me.”
“Don’t go that far,” Raffi said, his eyes closed, but a wide grin on his face. “I’m completely open to as much protection for my queen as possible.” He peeked through one eye, the smile fading a bit. “In all seriousness, Teagan. I am glad you care so deeply for Jade. I think it’s unusual, and potentially dangerous, but with everything that has been happening, I know without a doubt you’d do anything to keep her safe. As we warriors would. It brings my soul to ease.”
“Thanks,” I flushed slightly. Compliments from Raffi were as rare as a direct lightning strike. “We’ll win this. All of us, together will make it through this.”
“Are you going to fight some more?”
Both Raffi and I glanced up the slope along the lawn where Mitch sat huddled in layers of coats and scarves watching. I could see his excitement buried from beneath his hood and chuckled.
Raffi snorted and jumped to his feet. “When are you going to allow Jade to change his memories?”
“He hasn’t been a problem. He’s just interested in all this.”
Raffi chuckled. “He’s like a child in room filled to the brim with sweets. I have to say I worry more for him than for any of us. You think the lindworms will think twice about harming a human.”
“Mitch knows the risks,” I insisted under my breath as we stalked closer. “For now, we decided he should know. He may be able to help. You never know.”
“Never know what?” Mitch asked, wiping a layer of snow from his damp jeans.
“Whether you might taste good or not?” Raffi said darkly.
Mitch’s eyes widened but he found the gumption to chuckle nervously. “Nice try, big guy. Jade already told me…she told me you don’t eat humans.”
“Ah but she’s a royal, I’m a warrior. We’re quite different,” Raffi said, taking a swift step closer.
Mitch stumbled, landing on his backside as he tried to escape. Raffi bellowed a hearty laugh, clutching his stomach when the swells became impossible to contain. I shoved Raffi hard and helped Mitch back to his feet.
“Don’t mind Raffi, he’s just upset he lost to me,” I said loudly, causing Raffi’s laughing to cease immediately. “They don’t eat human
s.”
Raffi snapped his teeth at Mitch once more before the three of us settled into a quiet as we gathered the weapons from the exercise. Mitch lifted one of the jade blades, examining it with mindful reverence. “You both know how to handle these,” he said softly, slinging a bag of knives we didn’t end up using over his shoulders. “Gives you a good chance right? I mean to get rid of these lindworm things?”
Raffi scoffed, carrying a small wooden platform as though it were made of foam as we sloshed through the snow covered yard toward Eisha’s mansion. “This training is for Teagan. If you think the lindworms will look like me when they fight him, you’re kidding yourself. If the dark High Priest is with Nag, odds are there are likely other mages fighting with him.”
“You should practice with that other mage then,” Mitch suggested.
“Athika was preoccupied this morning,” I muttered. “She’s reaching out to a contact who she believes might know where the High Priestess is.”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind watching a fight between dragons. I’m just saying Raffi. You and Dash are the only ones I haven’t seen change into…well, even Ms. Drake shifted. She’s terrifying and amazing at the same time.”
“Yes, and be sure you stay in her good graces. Eisha will never hesitate to take out any threat,” Raffi added for good measure. “I’m not positive I’m ready to reveal my grandness to a human. What have you to offer us?”
“Offer? I don’t know. I’m sure I can help though. Teach me how to use these,” Mitch said shaking the bag of weapons.
Raffi released a dark grumbling chuckle. “I don’t think that will be enough.”
“It’s a start though,” I agreed with a swift tap along the canvas bag. “You should know how to fight. If you want to remain aware of the truth, it puts you at risk. Come train with me later today.”
Mitch lifted the flap on the bag and took out a knife with a slight curve in the blade. The steel was solid black and a single line of chrome gleamed along the hilt. To my surprise he flipped it in the air, catching it in a tight grip. Mitch glanced at a tree lining the back walkway of the house. Reeling his arm behind his head, with a quick release, Mitch let the blade fly. The tip lodged into the frozen bark. It wasn’t an awe-inspiring throw, but it was accurate and powerful enough it clearly meant Mitch had handled knives before.
I stopped and even Raffi glanced at Mitch from beneath his furrowed brow. Mitch shrugged before shifting the knife out of the bark. “I was a thief on the streets for a year, remember. I didn’t defend myself against other players with my charm.”
I smirked, but Raffi folded his arms over his bulging chest in a huff. “You just now decided to tell us you can use weapons?”
“You never asked. And I’m not sure I’m ready to reveal my grandness just yet,” Mitch snickered.
Athika was haggard when she arrived at the house. She wore a wool cloak that wrapped around her small figure, with two openings for her arms to slide through. The leather belt wrapped around her waist was lined in jagged knives, including her main blade crusted in ruby stones with a narrow shaft.
Eisha rose at once and offered her a mug of the wyvern tea as I’d come to call it. Jade took Athika’s cloak though I still sensed a tension between her and Ruby’s mage. I couldn’t understand what bothered Jade so much, but Athika grinned pleasantly and took a seat next to me on the long sofa. Jade returned to my other side, her shoulder brushing against mine. Normally soft and inviting, Jade was tense and distant. I reached for her hand, catching her eye briefly before Athika spoke.
“We will have more trouble than I anticipated finding support of the mage,” she said through a sigh.
“What do you mean?” Sapphire asked. Sapphire had spent more time away from the reform house than I’d seen before. Thankfully all students had returned home to their guardians for the Christmas holiday. A pang of guilt wrestled in my stomach at the thought. I should go home to Aunt Liz, but right now it seemed less important than searching for the remaining royals and defending against King Nag. “Were you unable to reach any mages?”
“Oh, I found the mage I was searching for,” Athika said, a sly grin spreading over lips. “But, she was less than enthusiastic to help my plight.”
“Why? Does she support Bron?” Jade hissed. I threaded my fingers tighter in her palm.
“Quite the opposite,” Athika said, though I couldn’t understand why a sly smile remained on her face. “She was convinced I was seduced by Bron. She thinks your energy is Bron’s, Teagan. Don’t worry I didn’t say anything about you and the restored Jade bloodline, but I barely got out of there before she slit my throat.”
“What? She believes that I’ve joined Bron?” I shouted.
“Can you really blame her, T?” When had Athika started calling me T? “I mean you show up out of no where and have the blades that destroyed half the royal court. I assured her we are on the side of the elementals, but it will take some cunning on our part to get close to the High Priestess.”
“Why do you seem so pleased?” Raffi grumbled.
“Because I think I’ve found a way to use this mage to find the High Priestess. It will take some dishonesty on our part. I had an inkling she would not trust me, but I intended to spark her interest enough she would reach out to her mistress.”
“Just explain what happened, Athika. You still enjoying teasing so much.” Ruby didn’t say much, so it was always a surprise when her soft voice joined the conversation. I’d learned from Jade there were levels of royals. Jade at the top, Sapphire was next in line and Ruby was the fifth in importance. Jade suspected Ruby felt out of place in the presence of her and Sapphire, though titles and levels in my eyes really didn’t matter at this point. I knew Jade felt the same. We wanted to protect the innocent from Bron and Nag. It didn’t matter who was the heir to a throne or not.
“Fine,” Athika chuckled. “This mage is called Yaba. She is the courier of correspondence for the High Priestess. A position requiring upmost trust.”
“Courier of correspondence? What does that mean?” Mitch asked. Even he spoke out more than Ruby. I found it entertaining how much Mitch had taken to the fairy tale he’d fallen into. Though I still sensed some hesitation from others regarding a human being invited to our discussions.
“She is the one who gives the High Priestess information of goings on throughout the world. She also delivers any messages or correspondence the High Priestess needs.”
Mitch laughed, earning him a glare from Eisha. “So, she’s a glorified mail lady with magical powers. Okay, understood.”
I bit my bottom lip to keep from smiling, but I even saw Jade smirk a bit.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Athika snapped. “But in any case, it is my hope she will reach out to the High Priestess about the return of the dark High Priest. The only trouble would be intercepting the message so we would know where she is making her delivery.”
“You want us to steal the message?” Raffi asked.
Athika nodded. “We will be able to see where it was headed, and then know where the High Priestess hides.”
“Maybe she’s already sent it,” Sapphire said.
Athika shook her head. “No, the correspondence mage always waits two full nights before reaching out—it’s safer.”
“We will need someone who can sneak in undetected. The royals have too much energy, as does Teagan,” Eisha said.
“I will go,” Dash said. “It should be a warrior.”
“If you all have such detectable energy perhaps it would be better to use someone they would least expect.” The room was silent as all eyes landed on Mitch when he spoke. He glanced about shrinking slightly before he cleared his throat and stood tall. “What? I’m an experienced thief. Sapphire and Teagan know this.”
“Yes, but Mitch this is—” Sapphire began.
“I know it’s different. But I can do this. Just today Raffi was saying I hadn’t proven my value. Well now I can.”
“I didn’t mea
n for you to sacrifice your life,” Raffi said before Eisha could chide him.
“Who says I’ll sacrifice my life. I know how to steal, okay. It’s not my most redeeming quality, but I can do it. Just tell me where to go, and I’ll see that it’s done.”
The room paused and seemed to consider everything Mitch said though no one wanted to be the first to agree. Not to my surprise Frenrir was the one to stand and speak. His voice sounded even more haughty than before.
“Well, I for one think it is the best option. Humans were once used to do our bidding, it seems fitting he should accomplish this. The other lives in this room are too valuable to risk, especially since it will likely mean leaving the protections put in place around this town so long ago.”
“Well, thanks so much for your concern,” Mitch grumbled.
“I’ll go with him,” Athika said. “I will keep watch.”
“No, I’ll go. Mitch is actually my friend, I don’t view his life as meaningless like others in this room,” I said with a deliberate glare toward Frenrir.
“Teagan, I think you would…hurt the attempt more than help,” Ruby said softly.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because you are powerful,” Athika answered in return. “You may not realize it but we all can feel you when you’re near. It’s quite remarkable. If Bron is out there waiting, he will sense you in a second. I assure you I don’t take lightly his life either. He means something to you, and so as a loyal mage, he in turn means something to me. I give you my word I will protect him.”
“Great,” Mitch said clapping his hands together. “It’s settled. I’ll steal the message. We’ll know where it was supposed to be delivered. We’ll find the High Priestess, and know for sure what we’re facing in this fight. I’m ready.”
Athika chuckled. “I must admit you handle information well. You are brave, that will be required.”
“Dash and I will keep watch from above,” Raffi said. “We will stay out of range where we will be difficult to detect.”
