The Queen of Jade

by L J Andrews

  I chuckled and glanced at Athika who wrapped her arms around Mitch’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, I never thought to tell you. I’ve spoken with Ruby.”

  Mitch’s eyes narrowed and he leaned closer. “When and how?”

  Athika laughed, even Thane smirked a bit. “We have the mage bond, Mitch. We can feel things. I told Teagan, I suppose I should have informed you and Raffi.”

  Raffi shook his head. “Dash already sent word to me,” he muttered plainly. “Same thing. Warrior bonds, I guess you could say.”

  Mitch sighed and tossed his hands in the air. “Look, I’m the only one without some supernatural connection so you guys are going to need to make a little effort and keep the human in the loop!”

  Thane chuckled and glanced at Leoch. “I like this human.”

  “Yeah, everyone likes the human, just no one tells the human anything,” Mitch grumbled, tapping the edge of the knife in a rhythm.

  “Sorry, man,” I said. “I’ll personally remember to let you know if anything changes.”

  “Good,” Mitch snapped. “I care too, you know. Sapphire has practically raised me the last two years.”

  I nodded. “I promise.” Glancing across the table to Thane, I leaned forward and lowered my voice slightly. “So, since we’ve come, you seem to believe we can find the High—I mean, Gaia, now. Why is that?”

  Thane smiled, and he seemed completely different since that first tense meeting. He was relaxed and spoke with me easily. In a lot of ways Raffi reminded me of Thane, both were fierce but seemed to have a soft soul when the layers were pulled away. “Because of you, Teagan.” Thane placed his hands on the table, and even Leoch seemed thrilled though nothing had been said. “We’ve been searching for the lost mages for years, as you know. Gaia is no fool, she surely has been trying to break through Bron’s prison. Every so often I would sense some sort of power she was emitting—calling to us, I guess you could say.”

  “But you don’t feel it anymore?”

  Thane sighed. “The reason I hadn’t changed forms in so many years is because I can feel mage power easier when I’m in this form,” he said, signaling to his body.

  “Thane is an empath, like the High Priestess,” Leoch quipped.

  Thane scoffed and shook his head. “I’m not near the empath Gaia is, but I am sensitive to emotions. But back to your question. I haven’t felt the jade power for so long. I think distance and time, possibly Bron’s interference, has something to do with it. Until a few months ago—something shifted and I sensed Gaia’s power as though she were right outside.” Thane smiled, his eyes locking with mine. “But after Yaba returned with no news of the High Priestess, I’m certain the power I felt was you. If you’re curious, Yaba’s correspondence she was bringing to me spoke of Bron and that he’d returned. When you came here we were in the process of deciding how to stand against the dark High Priest once more. Most of us in this cave have a score to settle with the man.”

  I leaned back in my seat, pushing around a few small grapes I’d taken for breakfast. “So, my power feels like Gaia’s?” I asked.

  Thane nodded. “Nearly identical. Though now that you’re here, I can see and feel differences. We all can.”

  “I still don’t see how we can help find her,” I muttered.

  Athika groaned, her sly grin finding me. “Teagan, you have the same power. That’s what Thane is saying. He can sense her power because he is an empath, but it would be nothing compared to what you would feel. If she is still emitting her energy, you could find it and follow the trail. Am I explaining it right, Thane?”

  He nodded and focused on me, his smile fading. “It’s true. We have a general direction before Bron’s warding disorients us from going any further. You could break through his enchantments. You could help us finally find the mages. If you’re willing, of course.”

  I nodded, my heart thudding like stomping hooves in my chest. “Yes,” I breathed out. I would help immediately if Thane asked—she was my mother after all. “I’ll help. I’ll do anything to free them, but what happens when we find them? Gaia is the High Priestess and she can’t escape Bron’s prison. What’s to say I’ll be able to help release her even if we find her?”

  Leoch took a long gulp of his drink and there was shift of energy around the table that seemed to exclude me and those who’d come with me. Thane cleared his throat, and his easy smile returned. “There is a power when families are united entirely. I can’t know for certain, but what the mages have told me—if the power of your connection is reunited with Gaia’s and…well, it would be more powerful than anything Bron could conjure.”

  My stomach flipped with a thrill. This was happening. I could practically taste the end when we would have the entire wyvern army, the High Priestess and her people. I would see Jade again. I would meet my family I’d lost so long ago. Smiling toward Raffi, I couldn’t help but beam. “We’re going to get Jade back. The lindworms won’t be able to stop us,” I gasped.

  Athika sighed, her smile falling from her face. “You should be thrilled to meet your mother.”

  “What’s your problem?” Mitch asked, nudging her shoulder.

  “As I’ve explained to Teagan, Jade most likely is already mated with Prince Ced—”

  “Athika,” I warned, my fists clenching.

  “No,” she insisted. “I’ll have the mage and warriors to back me up on my feelings now. Teagan, we must protect the queen—if she wants to be protected, but you must be ready to accept that the romantic bond will not be the same. You already said you don’t feel the connection. Maybe, it’s time to realize you have a mage bond and that’s all. I don’t want you to be disappointed. Mage and wyvern don’t unite. It’s never happened, and I feel you should focus your energy on finding the High Priestess.”

  “Athika,” I began, “I’ve told you exactly how my bond is with Jade.”

  “Yes, but it’s time to realize it was a muddled emotion,” she countered.

  “What was a muddled emotion?” Thane asked.

  Athika sighed, but Raffi spoke instead. “Athika is convinced Teagan and Jade confused their…deeper feelings with the destined bond between mage and royal.”

  “I believe that because I’m not sure Jade wants to be saved. I think she saw a powerful union, and took the opportunity. Romantic bonds don’t happen between races—they’ve never happened,” Athika finished.

  Thane stared at Athika, then slowly rose from the table, Leoch following. “You’re wrong,” he said, piquing everyone’s attention. “It has happened—I’ve seen it.” Thane backed away offering a glance at the table that silenced any questions, though at least a hundred tumbled in my head.

  “Wait, Thane,” I called, shoving back from my seat to catch up to him. “What did you mean back there?”

  Thane paused, studying the ground. With a drawn out sigh he met my eye. “All I will say is, I’ve seen the mage and wyvern race join together—as you have with the queen.”

  “When? Who was it?” I asked excitedly.

  “It was a long time ago, Teagan. What’s important is that it happened. So, don’t worry what others might say about you, or Queen Jade, or anything like that,” Thane said through a small grin.

  I smiled, how could I not. Eisha’s fears about Thane being unwilling to save Jade faded faster than a brush of wind. Clearing my throat, I finally dared ask what had been on my mind through most of the night. “Thane, I have to get Jade back, but I can’t do it alone. I’ve been thinking, if Bron trapped Gaia, then it will be a challenge getting her out. There could be protections around her.”

  Thane nodded. “I’m positive it will be lined with lindworms and possibly mages who followed Bron.”

  I swallowed hard and stepped a few inches closer. “I’m anxious to find her like I’m anxious to find Jade, but I’m not stupid enough to think I can waltz in and just take them away. I have a lot to learn. This is all still pretty new to me.”

  “What are you asking, Teagan?”

/>   “Will you teach me to fight? Like the warriors. Raffi and Dash have taught me a lot, but you’ve fought with mage before—you’ve fought against Bron and King Nag. Will you help me?”

  Thane smiled and he shifted a bit as though the request pleased him above all else. “It would be an honor fighting with the jade mage again. Yes, I will train with you. We don’t have much time, so be prepared for grueling schedules.”

  “I’m up for it,” I insisted. “I’ll do what needs to be done.”

  Thane clapped my shoulder again and nodded. “Then go get your weapons. We’ll start now.”

  Raffi was overjoyed to be donned in heavy steel and leather armor, standing in the wide battle den. The space was more than a den. It was an enormous arena. The pit was deep into the cave so the top of the cavern was at least a mile above us. The mage coming to spar ignited numerous iron sconces with brilliant, colorful flames. I smiled, running my hand through a fierce blue fire. The flames embraced my skin, but didn’t burn any flesh. An invigorating pulse of power erupted along my arm, and I watched as the jade marks glimmered like gold on my skin.

  “The energy responds to you,” Thane grinned behind me. The lead warrior had once more covered his arms entirely in thin furs, but had added leather bracers around his taut forearms. Thane had an enormous sword sheathed on his back. The pommel was a piece of amethyst cut so the different hues gleamed like magic in the colorful firelight. Thane looked exactly how I would picture a wyvern warrior.

  I tugged my hand from the flames and checked the sheath on my back where the blades crossed over my shoulders. “I’m sure most of the mage here could do that.”

  Thane shook his head. “You haven’t embraced how powerful you are,” Thane said. “Never second guess what you can do.” I stiffened when Thane pressed a finger against my chest, pointing to my heart. A shuddering rush of energy seared my blood to the point I had to hold my breath until the sensation passed. “You will know inside what to do if you accept your ability. Understand you are unique to all the mages. You’re Gaia’s son, but you also restored a bloodline that was severed. It may not seem like it now, but I would bet my life you’re more powerful than Bron—or your mother. But you must believe it.”

  “How do you know so much about the mage?” I asked, following Thane into the center of the arena.

  “I’ve lived among them most of my life, and was in constant contact with Gaia after the divide.”

  “The divide?”

  “It’s what we call when the royals went into hiding. The divide of our people—our races.”

  “Right,” I said, feeling sheepish. I’d heard the term many times before.

  Surrounding us were numerous warriors in full wyvern form. Each one was unique. Some were coated in black scales like Dash, others more earth-toned like Raffi. Then there were some that were electrifying in yellow, or fiery reds. I even saw an ashen warrior whose scales shifted from pale tan to black, then back to the sooty color depending on where the light struck his scales. At Thane’s side, Leoch shifted for the first time since I’d come. He was enormous with long fangs that spilled over his blue lips. His color almost reminded me of Sapphire, but it was darker like an undisturbed lake. Sapphire’s color was rich and regal.

  Raffi remained in human form—though I suspected if Thane would have shifted, Raffi would immediately change his body. Athika stomped into the arena with Mitch. She hadn’t said anything to me since Thane had dissolved her argument about Jade. Perhaps it was a little vindictive, but I really enjoyed the way her face had fallen when Thane set her straight.

  “You keep clear of warriors in full form wyvern,” Thane muttered to Mitch.

  Mitch chuckled. “I’m pretty good at dodging things. Athika promised she’d teach me how to handle knives a little better.”

  “How did he get involved?” Thane asked when we drifted away from Athika and Mitch. “Were you friends before the armor appeared.”

  I glanced at Mitch who threw a knife—pretty accurately—at a thick wooden beam. “Yeah, but just barely. We met at Sapphire’s reform house.”

  Thane furrowed his brow. “As in Konrad Sapphire?”

  I smiled, realizing even more how cut off the warriors had been from their people. “Yeah, while he was trapped in his human form he started a house for…those with a rebellious nature, I guess.”

  Thane studied me, unsheathing his blade slowly. “I’m intrigued. Tell me, what exactly brought you to Wyvern Willows?”

  I wasn’t positive why I was so nervous to admit that I’d landed in Sapphire’s care because I’d been arrested. Raffi had told Thane about Aunt Liz, but never mentioned the twisted fate of how I ended up with the royals to begin with.

  “Well,” I said, nervously stepping in front of Thane as he stalked me in a circle, rolling the heavy blade as though it were a small twig. “I got into some trouble, was arrested, and sent to Sapphire. He was supposed to straighten me out, I guess. Instead, I became a mage.”

  “You broke human laws?” Thane asked. Was he disappointed or just asking? Why did I care so much to impress him?

  “Uh, yeah. I did,” I said.

  Thane glanced at his blade, a smirk buried in the corner of his mouth. “Interesting. Well, Teagan, one of the first rules a warrior learns is to follow orders. To follow the rules.” I swallowed hard, watching Thane inspect his blade. “First rule—you never attack from behind unless your life depends on it. It’s dishonorable.” Thane continued in his circle again. “Rule two, never abandon your fellow warriors. It would be better if you died.” Thane was at my side, and his grip tightened on his blade. The back of my neck tingled as the energy in the arena thickened.

  “Rule three,” Thane continued, “your opponent should be armed. There is no honor attacking an unarmed man.” Thane was behind me, and my grip tightened on my blade as I felt his mounting energy. I didn’t look at him, but I knew he was directly at my back. “Rule four…” My breath knocked from my lungs when Thane’s strong arm wrapped around my neck and dragged me to the ground, his blade tucked just beneath my jaw against my neck. “Forget all the rules whenever you’re fighting against the lindworms.”

  I coughed when Thane recoiled his blade, chuckling as I dusted dirt from my hair. Raffi and Mitch were laughing at me, but stopped when I tossed a clod of dirt in their faces and faced Thane. “I thought attacking from the back was against the rules.”

  Thane shrugged with a playful gleam in his eyes. “I guess you’re not the only one here who likes to bend the rules.” His face drew serious when he pointed at the blade in my hand. “Now, those weapons are powerful. They will serve you and connect with your mage energy. The greatest part about those blades—they will only serve the honorable. Bron cannot take them from you. They once belonged to him, but on the night of the divide they burned him. They belong to you now, embrace that. But just because you are a mage, doesn’t mean you can stop a warrior with your power. We sense things, sometimes even before an opponent strikes. It helps us know what move to take. I guarantee the lindworm warriors are similar, so it will be important to understand how to truly handle those weapons.”

  “Dash and I have been teaching him,” Raffi said proudly.

  “Good,” Thane said, tossing his sword back and forth between his palms. “Shall we see how well my warriors have done?”

  I hardly had time to adjust my grip on my sword before Thane struck. It seemed as though when the lead warrior began, others could start their own matches. The arena burst to life with sparring, even surges of mage energy as the people entered, tossing around elemental power.

  I blocked Thane’s fierce strike with the blade in my hand, but his strength brought me to my knees. Thane seemed as though it hardly fazed him, while I already felt the boil of my blood at the pressure. “How will you escape, Teagan?” More with the questions. My mind whirled about as I considered the best way to shrug off the warrior.

  Both my hands hugged the hilt of my sword. I wanted to take energy fr
om the earth, but if I removed one hand Thane would surely crush me with his sword. Thane chuckled from above me. “I see your dilemma,” he whispered. “What will you do? Let me fall upon you, or will you take a risk and free yourself from my hold?”

  With a growl in my throat, I forced one of my open palms in the dirt. My shoulder ached as Thane pressed his sword harder, but it only took a matter of a few blinks before I was filled with the energy of the deep soil. My skin toiled in searing heat, and carefully I pushed my way to my feet. Thane still held his sword strong. He smiled when I lifted my hand and blasted a wave of energy against the warrior. It didn’t cause him to stumble, but that could have been what he’d meant. He knew what I was going to do, and braced. Though, I did feel bad when an unsuspecting mage absorbed my energy surge and fell face-forward.

  Thane was forced to lower his blade, unable to hold against my energy. He smiled at me, but didn’t give me any time to rest. Before his blade fell upon me again, I unsheathed the second sword and crossed them over my head. The clang of weapons trembled down my arms.

  “Fight against me, Teagan. Just you. I know you can harness your energy, but fight against me only with these blades. What will you do when you are matched with mage power when you go after the queen? Will you drain your body of strength, or will you fight like a warrior?” Thane snarled close my face.

  His words fueled a part of me I didn’t know existed. I didn’t know if it was being surrounded by the fleet of warriors, or if it was being trained by the legendary Thane, but I fought back. Strength filled my strikes. Thane backed away to avoid one of the jade swords. I slashed toward his neck, but he swiftly blocked me and sent me stumbling backward with his counterattack.

  Thane raised his sword, pausing for a moment. “When I raise up to strike, you are focused on my blade here,” he said nodding to his sword. “But you must always be watching my free hand.” I glanced down at his second hand, it was tugging a sleek, silver dagger from his belt. My eyes widened, as Thane slowed his movements. “So, if I draw my sword down and you block this strike,” he jabbed the dagger against my middle, “you leave this open for me to gut you.”