by A. J. Medina
Not as bad as the king says? If that was true, then why did he kill my parents?
The evening meal was uneventful. Silas sat next to me and I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything. Tessa was chatting up Thomas, and Ryanne was glaring at them the whole time. Aednat kept instigating, nudging her whenever Tessa giggled or Thomas did. Davina sat on the end, eating quietly as usual.
Davina’s pale hair usually flowed in waves behind her, but was now tightly woven in a braid. Tessa seemed to be making her rounds. I had to be next. She was insatiable and wouldn’t give up until my hair was in a braid too.
I was the first finished and when I stood to leave, Silas said, “Sleep well.”
I said, “Thank you,” and went to my chambers.
On my bed sat a pair of brown, leather boots. The laces spiraled up and went half way up my shins. I expeditiously tied them and found the toe area roomy. I rose onto my tip toes and they were allowed to spread and the material formed to my feet perfectly.
My feet gripped the floor securely as I moved, lunged, twisted and turned. They were the most comfortable boots I’d ever worn, I almost felt barefoot. Happily, I took them off and placed them neatly by the edge of my bed. I would have to thank the leatherman for doing such a great job.
Voices filed in from behind me. Aednat, Ryanne and Davina — Davina? — were discussing Lucah and the other boys.
“Lucah is so handsome. Do you think he fancies me?” Davina asked them.
“Why wouldn’t he?” Ryanne asked. “You’re very pretty.”
I listened with disbelief. Davina was interested in Lucah? I wondered if I should say something. Maybe that me and Lucah kissed. Maybe then they would stop talking about him, but maybe my relationship with him was all in my head. After all, Lucah hadn’t really said much to me today. I decided to keep my mouth shut.
“Hi Alora,” Tessa said, interrupting my thoughts. “Sorry, did I startle you?”
“I was just noticing that you braided Davina’s hair.”
“Aye, she loves it.” Her eyes sparkled. “Ooh, can I do yours now?”
I knew it. I wasn’t going to escape her claws this time. “Maybe after we wash,” I offered.
“Nay, I’ll brush the dirt out and then when it gets wet, the braid will tighten and set properly—it’ll last for days.” She ran into the wash room and the sound of pails crashing to the floor followed. Tessa emerged with an empty pail and plopped it upside down on the floor in the area between our beds. She skipped around her bed to her closet and returned with something in her hands.
“I have three ribbons, each a different color. Which would you like?” She held them out so I could see them clearly. There was a purple one, a sky blue one, and a rich hunter green one.
I pointed to her right hand. “The green one.”
She threw the rest on her bed, sat on the pail and patted the area between her legs. Sitting down, I tried my hand at determining if and what she knew. “When did you do Davina’s?”
Tessa held the bottom of my hair and ran her brush through it. “While you were with the princess.”
I lowered my voice to a whisper. “Do you think Lucah fancies Davina?”
“Nay. I see the way he sneaks glances at you when you’re not watching?”
“What?”
“Him and every other boy... especially Silas.”
“Silas?” I asked, as if I didn’t already know he was interested in me.
“Aye, Silas. He doesn’t hide his interest like the others do. I see the way he looks at you and the way he smiles whenever he speaks to you.” I didn’t see any of that. Tessa must have some sort of intuition when it comes to boys. “Even Thomas,” she went on, “fancies you, but I told him you weren’t interested in him. I told him Ryanne was and that I was a little—”
“You didn’t?”
Tessa twisted three thick strands of hair into a braid. “I did.”
I couldn’t believe how good Tessa was at this. She must really want to fight Ryanne over him. I could see it now. Ryanne on her back and Tessa walking away, hand in hand, with her prize. They might even kiss in front of her, just to rub it in.
When Tessa was done, I rose to my feet and marveled at the feeling the braid gave me. I could move around easily, my hair no longer getting in the way or blocking my vision. I should’ve let her do it sooner. “Good job,” I complimented her, and I was happy to observe Neala and Branna entering our chambers to prepare the bath.
I waited on the balcony after the girls had fallen asleep. The moon was high in the sky surrounded by small clouds crawling past it. The castle city was quiet and dark with the flicker of the lanterns along the second level wall adding to the moon light. The wind picked up causing the banners to snap and crackle and I heard something... something else. The falcon’s cry came from above. It was high in the sky and once again soared west.
I leaned over the balcony and stared off into nothingness. Someone had died yesterday and no one knew why. Was it an accident? Did he misstep and fall? Or was he thrown? I turned and leaned my back against the balcony’s railing. I didn’t even know the boy. His family must be devastated. He didn’t even get to become a full fledged knight of the king’s guard. It’s too bad he didn’t get to try on his armor, he would’ve been thrilled, I know I was.
Time passed and still Lucah hadn’t arrived. I slid down to the floor, pulled my knees up and threw my sleep shirt over them. I slid my arms between my legs, grabbed hold of my toes and began opening and closing my legs like the wings of a butterfly. How long should I wait for him, I wondered.
I waited and waited but he never showed. I was determined, right there and then, not to be that girl. I decided to call it a night and dragged myself up to my chambers. If Davina wanted him, she could have him... I was never going to speak to him again.
When I crept into bed, Tessa was awake. “Did you see him again?” she asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
I rolled over, pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I lay still in the darkness, hoping the silence would drown out my pain. I tried to think of other things to help me fall asleep, but my wet pillow offered too much resistance. I wiped my eyes and flipped my pillow over, searching for a dry spot. Eventually, the warm embrace of the sand man came and I drifted off.
Chapter 14
The wizard mentioned Alora because she had many good qualities. “She can concentrate,” he told the king, “which is important for a wizard. She can follow directions and is creative. She came up with her own moves without anyone’s guidance. She also has a decent memory and is a quick study. Her fear of heights is lacking, but that can be overcome with practice. And Lucah... he’s also a good choice.”
“He would make a great apprentice except that we need him for... for that other thing,” the king said, and then sipped some wine from his goblet. “What about Aednat?”
The wizard shook his head. “She’s too concerned with being in charge and is separating everyone instead of bringing them together. Check.”
“Nice move. I didn’t even see that one. And Ryanne?”
“She seems to be more concerned with boys than being a leader.”
“They all do at that age. Don’t you remember what it was like when we were young?” The king moved his castle to block the assault from the wizard’s queen.
“Of course I do, but she cares so much that she even turned her back on her friendship with Alora.”
“Really?”
“Aye, m’lord.” The wizard moved his own castle to protect his queen.
“Well, there you have it. I believe you will make the right decision. They will, after all, be your apprentice.”
“Who would you choose, m’lord?” the wizard asked, taking a sip from his own goblet.
“I would choose Alora or Silas,” he said, and then moved his dragon closer to the wizard’s queen.
“I thought you would, and I see what you’re trying
to do, m’lord. It won’t work.”
“So you’ve decided then?”
“I will think on it some more. I will decide by morning.” The wizard slid his castle across the board capturing the king’s castle. “Check mate in one.”
King Remi lay down his king, surrendering to the wizard. “I’ll defeat you one of these days, old friend.”
“I’ll be waiting, m’lord.”
“Until tomorrow then?” King Remi stood and left the wizard to his wine and his decision making.
“Good night my king.” The wizard knew it would be a long night while he thought long and hard about who would be his new apprentice. He hoped he chose right... this time.
— — —
I waited alone in the dim embrace of the quarter moon and the candlelight from the lanterns hanging on the walls. The last few weeks flew by in a blur of soaring and weapons practice. The magic we were taught was strictly for battle and while I was delighted in the fact that I could summon my armor and weapons at will, I was disappointed that we wouldn’t be learning more.
But when the wizard announced that he would be choosing a new apprentice from the ranks of the knightlys, a new fire was lit under me. I had to become his apprentice. I had met my goal of becoming a knight, at least I felt I had, and now wanted to be able to perform greater feats of magic.
Currently, I guessed Silas, me and Lucah were the top contenders for the apprenticeship. They’re faster and stronger than me in some respects. I’ll have to outsmart them using lessons I’ve learned from Tessa and by observing the others. I have to beat them, I just have to.
The leaves on the trees have started to turn colors and the evenings have grown much cooler. The rains have started and the water falls for days before the clouds part and I can see the sun again. Today was one of those days. I enjoyed watching the sky turn green as the sun made it’s journey below the horizon.
I found myself wondering what winter would be like here. Something told me I wouldn’t have to worry about freezing to death. I waited for him as usual and was glad I wore the cloak we were given. I pulled the hood on and sat with my sleep shirt over one knee and wrapped the cloak around me.
My other leg rested sideways on the floor, my foot sliding underneath the other as if the top leg were a bridge. The fingers of my hand were interlaced in between my toes as if it was his hand I was holding.
I rested my chin on my knee and pulled it closer. Another falcon cried overhead, right on schedule, and then I heard light footsteps headed in my direction. When they stopped in front of me, I lifted my head. I could make out his violet eyes even in the dimness of night.
Silas offered his hands and I gripped his wrists. He helped me to my feet and a gust of wind blew my cloak out behind me. He took that opportunity to place his hands around my waist, inside my cloak, and pulled me closer. I threw my arms around his neck and whispered, “I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I will always show up. A knight’s word is as solid as stone,” he assured me.
He pulled me tighter against him and I could feel his solid chest and forgot who I was and where we were. I stared into his eyes, lost in time, and his lips gently brushed against mine.
I pulled away when I heard something push through the sky. It created a gust of wind so powerful that it howled. “What was that?” I mumbled, trying to remember where I was.
Silas was looking up at the sky, still holding me tightly. “I don’t know.”
I scanned the sky trying to see what had caused the sound. A shadow passed over the moon. I thought it was the daily falcon, but it had already started its journey west. I noticed the shadow coming closer and closer to the castle. Its outline grew clearer and its shadow grew larger, when a stream of fire exploded from the darkness.
“Dragon!” Silas shouted.
“That’s not possible. No one’s seen one in ages.”
“Armor!” He pointed to my turret and then ran off towards his. I bolted up the winding stairs and burst through the door.
“What are you doing?” Tessa asked, groggy from her slumber.
“Dragon!” I shouted. I grabbed my second skin and ripped off my sleep shirt, tossing it to the floor. I slid into my skin as fast as I could, but I lost my footing and fell to the floor in my haste. I slid my feet through the holes — while still on the floor — and finished getting it on. “Apta magnitudine!” I said while reaching for my boots. I pulled my sword out of its sheath and took off towards the stairs.
When I reached the balcony, I made a split second decision not to go down the other steps, but to soar off the balcony instead. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened. I ran right into the balcony. The railing thrust into my stomach and the impact caused me to release my sword—it fell to the courtyard below. No magic.
The potion had ran out for the day. I gasped, trying to find the air that had been knocked out of me. After taking a moment to catch my breath, I bolted for the stairs down to the main level. In the courtyard, I scooped up my sword and sprinted out the gate and into the castle city.
The two knights that normally guarded the gate were gone and the merchants square was ablaze. Flames lit up the night and acted as a substitute for the sun.
There was no one around. The dragon wasn’t in site either. I looked up at the sky trying to get a glimpse of his shadowy silhouette and tightly squeezed the handle of my sword.
Silas appeared wearing his second skin. “Where is he?”
“I don’t see him. Maybe he’s gone.”
Tessa, Aednat, Ryanne and Davina all appeared. “Where’s the dragon?” Aednat asked.
“Keep an eye out,” I told her.
“Who put you in charge?” Aednat sneered.
“No one.”
“Then don’t tell me what to do.”
I ignored her.
Led by Thomas, the rest of the knightlys appeared. “We don’t have any armor or weapons besides our swords. How can we fight a dragon?” he asked.
“Teamwork,” I said.
With a loud boom, the dragon touched down in the center of the square. His eyes looked like glowing balls of fire. His scales were red and when he lifted his wings, he inhaled deeply before exhaling a stream of fire in our direction.
“Take cover!” I shouted.
When I peeked over the empty boxes I had ducked behind, the dragon was breathing fire in the direction of the other knightlys. They were all running towards the main gate to get away from him.
Where was the king’s guard? And where were the other knights?
“Pssst... Pssst...” I looked left and Silas was crawling along the floor towards me. “I saw a shadow over there?” He pointed towards where the baker normally set up his cart. Something was moving. I squinted and tried to see what it was. The fire flickered and it was a child. She couldn’t have been any older than seven seasons.
“We’ve got to help her,” I said over the crackle of the flames.
“What’s the plan?” Silas asked, pointing his sword in the direction of the dragon who was nearly on top of the girl.
I don’t know what I was thinking, but I bolted straight for her. When I did, the dragon blew a trail of fire where I had been hiding, causing Silas to make a run for it in the opposite direction. I reached the girl and when we were going to make a run for it, she screamed.
The dragon stomped his foot and the ground shook. I turned to face him. I shoved the girl behind me, shielding her with my body, and held up my sword. It shook as I gripped it as tight as I could. The dragon inhaled deeply and when he exhaled I shut my eyes. I felt blazing heat surround me and it felt like I was the main dish at the evening meal.
When I mustered up the courage to open my eyes, I saw why me and the girl weren’t incinerated. The wizard stood in front of us with an outstretched hand. The flame was split in two, flowing around either side of us. When the dragon finally paused to take a breath, the wizard lowered his hand and then, I could’ve sworn, jerked his head to the side twice
.
The dragon spread his wings and lifted off; creating swirling, gusts of wind that extinguished any flames that still burned.
“Alora,” I heard someone call in the distance as I watched the dragon fly away. Was that how my mother felt on her last day? Like she was being cooked? “Alora.” There it was again. Someone was calling me. “Alora!” The ground shook violently.
I finally realized it wasn’t someone far away calling me. It was the wizard, right in front of me. He shook me until I snapped out of it and straightened up. “Aye, Wizard.”
“Were you afraid?” he asked.
What a stupid question. Of course I was afraid. It was a dragon. I answered him. “Aye.”
He held my shoulders square and leaned in closer. “And yet you stayed to protect that child?”
“I couldn’t leave her.” I turned around to check on her, but she was gone.
The other knightlys began to come out of hiding and joined us.
“Well knightlys. Good to see all of you still alive. I need three volunteers to clean up this mess.”
No one stepped forward.
“You, you and you.” The wizard pointed to Aednat, Ryanne, and... Lucah. They moaned in agony at the thought of cleaning up the dragon’s mess. “Everyone else, back to bed.” The wizard left them to work and headed in the direction of the palace. Silas took hold of my hand and led me back to the guard’s wing. I doubted I was going to fall asleep after that adrenaline rush.
The next morning, we stood single file in front of the courtyard stage. The wizard paced back and forth. “I have narrowed down the choices for my apprentice to two knightlys.”
“Who do you think it will be?” Ryanne whispered.
“Probably Alora,” Aednat answered, “she’s the wizard’s pet.”
“The first is Alora.”
“Told you.”
“The second will be Lucah—”
“Wizard!” The king called from the balcony. The princess waved to me and I nodded.
“Ah, yes. The king has requested a demonstration. I almost forgot. Alora and Lucah will show that they are ready to become my apprentice and represent the king and his guard at my side. Form a circle. Ser Hector... Alora... to the center.”
