Spirit (Legend of the Dragons Book 1)

by Denelle Elison

  Darian volunteered to get hurt also, to see if their healing would work the same with a regular magik. It did, and they took the wound and healed themselves.

  Truly magnificent, two children with the ability to heal.

  Chapter 6

  Four years later

  Briahnna bounded down the steps when she felt Jerrick enter the palace grounds, “What are you doing here?” she laughed as she ran to him, grabbing his hand to take him to their favorite spot under the blossoming cherry tree. Each week they received two free days without lessons.

  “I have something to show you,” he said, grinning at her while gathering the wind to him. The wind shifted to his back, and he started running. He was swept across the palace grounds, laughing at the look of astonishment on Briahnna’s face.

  “How did you do that?” she yelled at him.

  He ran back to her. “You know how we wish others well with, ‘May the wind be at your back?’” he asked her, grinning.

  She laughed. “You tried it!”

  He gave her a devilish smile. “Well, we obviously don’t want the wind to block us.”

  “It’s brilliant!” she exclaimed focusing on the wind around them. She looked at him and then took off across the grounds and back.

  “Let’s race,” said Jerrick, lips lifted in a half grin. Briahnna smiled at him, tilting her head back slightly. He had grown so fast over the years, taking on his father’s form more and more as time passed.

  “Okay,” she said happily, “but I get to count.”

  “Of course, Bumble Bee Bri,” Jerrick said with his half grin.

  “One…Two…” Briahnna winked at him, took off, and yelled behind her, “Three!”

  Chuckling to himself, Jerrick ran to catch up. They raced to the end of the grounds and back.

  “No fair!” Briahnna exclaimed breathlessly after she caught up to Jerrick.

  “No fair?” laughed Jerrick. “Are you kidding? You took off before you even got to three, cheater.”

  “Well, of course. I deserved a head start, your legs are twice as long as mine, and you’ve been practicing without me,” she stated giving him a sweet smile.

  Jerrick snorted. “You have terrible logic.” He rolled his eyes and sat on the grass under the tree.

  Briahnna sat next to him. “When are you going to teach me to spar?” she asked, lying down under the tree to look up at the pink blossoms.

  Jerrick gazed down at her. She had long auburn hair that spread around her head on the grass. Her almond shaped green eyes captivated everyone around her. The other girls were going through an awkward stage, where limbs and feet were growing too fast for their bodies. Briahnna didn’t seem to have the same problems. Jerrick was obviously very fond of her.

  His body seemed to be the same as Briahnna’s; he didn’t have trouble controlling his limbs and feet. He was tall, and he was broad, well…as broad as a fifteen year old could be. He had bright blue eyes and golden hair. Briahnna always noticed how the girls surrounded him and giggled during their lessons. She wasn’t very fond of sharing her best friend with them.

  “Never,” he said simply, placing his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know why you even keep asking.”

  She batted her eyelashes and said properly, “Do you not think that I should be able to protect myself when needed?”

  “No, because I’ll protect you.” He shrugged and looked behind him, smiling down at her glaring face.

  “You can’t always be by my side to protect me,” she said, annoyed at his argument.

  “But I can feel when you’re in danger.” And in a singsong voice Jerrick said, “Then I’ll ride on the wind and keep you safe.”

  Briahnna pushed him over, and he laughed. “You are becoming quite arrogant, Jerrick of Tristeil.”

  “No.” He winked. “I just know what I can and can’t do. It’s pretty rare when I can’t do something.”

  Briahnna rolled her eyes and shook her head, still gazing at the blossoms as she made them fly above her and Jerrick.

  “JERRICK!”

  Jerrick jumped to his feet and stood rigid. Briahnna stood up beside him to see his father striding onto the palace grounds. Jerrick took a small, tense step in front of her. He always did this when his father was around, standing just a bit in front.

  “Of course, I find you here! Where else would you be?” Lord Tristeil glared at Briahnna.

  Jerrick took another small step in front of her putting her a little farther behind him.

  “You’re supposed to be home on your free days, Jerrick!” Lord Tristeil ground his teeth together. “Son, you have duties at home to your family.”

  Jerrick straightened and answered his father with dignity, “I’m on my way, Father.” He didn’t want to make his father any angrier. Showing weakness incensed Lord Tristeil.

  His father nodded and walked away.

  Jerrick turned and looked at Briahnna’s wide eyes and said sheepishly, “Sorry, I have to go now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She watched him jog in the direction of his home.

  That night, Briahnna woke with a start. She did this quite often since the night she had found Jerrick. She sat up in bed trembling, her heart in her throat. She got out of bed, put on her cloak and crawled out of her window. Briahnna was going to see Jerrick.

  He could usually tell when she was around, but he didn’t open his window to see her on the grounds of his estate. So Briahnna climbed the tree to the roof under his window and peaked in. She gasped when she saw Jerrick trembling in his bed, his back to her.

  Briahnna tapped on the window, and with a start Jerrick looked behind him, confused. Briahnna watched him quickly swat at the tears in his eyes and get up, crossing the room to open the window for her.

  “What are you doing here, Bri?” he asked, fear coating his voice. “You need to leave now.”

  She shoved him away from the window and crawled inside. “No.”

  “Bri, please,” he pleaded with her.

  “What’s going on, Jerrick?” Briahnna asked.

  “TRISTAN!” Lord Tristeil yelled from the hallway.

  Jerrick cursed. “Bri…” he warned. “Leave now.”

  “Why did he call you that?” she asked, aghast.

  “Bri-” he started.

  “You!” Jerrick’s father yelled from the doorway and barreled into the room.”

  Jerrick stood in front of her, his hands keeping her behind him when she tried to peek at the angry man. “He’s drunk…really drunk,” he whispered. “He won’t hesitate to hurt you. He’s not in his right mind.” She cowered behind him.

  “Father…” Jerrick warned, backing them both away from Tristeil.

  Briahnna saw Jerrick’s mother hovering in the doorway, eyes wide with worry. Jerrick was jerked away from Briahnna and thrown across the room. Lady Tristeil, with tears in her eyes, shook her head and backed out of the room and out of sight.

  Bri was shocked. She started toward Jerrick when Lord Tristeil turned his cold gaze on her.

  “Always running to you,” he growled, taking calculated steps toward her. “Can’t seem to keep his hide where it belongs. Here!” he snapped. “With us! His family!”

  He backhanded her, and she fell to the floor. Then he grabbed her arm and yanked her back up to her feet.

  Briahnna looked over to see Jerrick glowing with fury. “Take your hands off her!” he growled.

  She inhaled with wide eyes when she saw the deadly look on his face.

  “Jerrick, no!” she screamed, trying to pry herself from the harsh grip of Lord Tristeil.

  Lord Tristeil, dropping his hand from Briahnna’s arm, turned to see light emanating off of his son. His eyes narrowed into a glare of warning.

  Briahnna raced toward Jerrick to stop him and grabbed his hand before his bright light surrounded them. They both tumbled to the floor in complete shock after watching Lord Tristeil hurling out of the window from Jerrick’s blast of spirit.

  Briahn
na watched Jerrick crawl to a corner of the room to vomit, and then he passed out completely.

  Jerrick’s mother entered the room having heard the rest of the commotion and froze. She crossed the room and looked out of the window and down at her husband lying motionless on the ground.

  Briahnna heard the guard order a runner to the palace, and she glared at the woman. Agony washed through her at the thought of what might happen to Jerrick now, for he had killed an Elder of the Kingdom, a fate that ended in execution.

  “How could you!” she screamed at Lady Tristeil. “You’re his mother! Yet you walked away when he needed you most! Did he beat Jerrick often, Lady Tristeil?” asked Briahnna, disdain dripping with every word. “You should have protected him!” she cried.

  Lady Tristeil walked to the bed and sat down, eyes glazed in shock.

  Briahnna gathered her senses and ran to Jerrick, trying to wake him by grabbing his face. “Jerrick, get up, please!” she pleaded. “You have to get out of here,” she said tugging at his arms.

  She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Lady Tristeil standing behind her.

  “Briahnna,” she said, looking down at her son. “It will be alright.”

  “No!” Briahnna stood up and grabbed the lady’s arms. “We have to have the same story. We don’t have time to get him out of here…” She looked around. “He stumbled out of the window, after he tried to attack Jerrick…in a drunken rage,” she said, trying to contain her fear, knowing that the guards below most likely saw the explosion of light. “It could happen,” said Briahnna, trying to convince herself.

  “No,” said Lady Tristeil calmly.

  “You want him gone!” sobbed Briahnna, kneeling next to Jerrick once more and placing his head in her lap. She smoothed his hair back and cried helplessly.

  Not knowing how long she sat there, reassuring Jerrick’s unconscious body that everything would be all right, Briahnna heard footsteps echoing in the hall. She jumped to her feet, ready to fight anyone who came near him.

  Daniel entered the room, followed by King Rinald, Prince Darian, and the palace guard. Rinald’s gaze fell on Jerrick, lying unconscious on the floor, understanding dawning in his eyes. He looked to Briahnna, but she would not meet his gaze. It was all the confirmation he needed. He knew exactly what had happened to Lord Tresteil, for Rinald had witnessed this same scene four years previous. His gaze landed once more on the boy lying on the floor.

  “Father,” Briahnna said, finally looking up at him, “I can explain everything,” she began, before being cut off by Lady Tristeil.

  “Your Majesty,” Lady Tristeil said, bowing her head. “I came upon my husband beating my son senseless,” she said, gesturing with her hand to Jerrick. “And I shoved him out of the window.”

  Briahnna gasped, and King Rinald raised an eyebrow at the lady, “No!” Briahnna exclaimed, quieting when the King laid his hand on her shoulder. He looked at her with a slight shake of his head. Eyes wide she looked down once more.

  “Daniel,” the King ordered. “Arrest Lady Tristeil for the murder of her husband, Lord Tristeil, an Elder of the Kingdom of Mageia.”

  . . .

  Jerrick awoke late the next morning, realizing that he was once again in a palace room. Remembering what had happened the night before, he lay back down again and gazed at the canopy above the four-poster bed. He did not know what would become of him, having killed his own father, an Elder of the Kingdom, no less.

  Jerrick heard Briahnna knock but did not look at the door when she entered.

  “How are you doing that?” she asked.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jerrick answered.

  “Yes you do. You’re blocking me, I can’t feel you.” She sat down in a chair beside the bed. “I felt you wake up, and then I couldn’t feel you anymore. After all this time, I thought that whenever this happened, that we were feeling the same or that you were asleep. Just like last night, I couldn’t feel you when you were crying.”

  He glared at her and she looked at the floor.

  He sighed, “I learned how to block you shortly after my parents took me to their home, four years ago.”

  Briahnna gasped, “You’ve been blocking me for four years?”

  “I didn’t want you to know what was happening.” He sighed and looked at her. “I didn’t want you to come running every time my father would…I was okay,” he insisted looking at her face that was stained with a steady trail of tears. “Really, I was.” He grabbed her hand and sat up, trying to reassure her.

  She wiped at her tears. “You can’t feel me when you’re blocking me can you?”

  “No.”

  She nodded and looked away, trying to think of something to say that didn’t have to do with last evening.

  Jerrick opened himself up. He knew she was trying to hide something from him. “What’s going to happen to me? Am I here because I’m going to die for what I did?”

  Briahnna placed her face in her hands and began to cry again. Then she shook her head. “You’re staying with us now.” She looked up and out of the window.

  “I don’t understand, I thought that punishment for killing an Elder was death,” he said, trying to get her to tell him something.

  “It is.” Briahnna let out a slow breath, looked at him, and couldn’t bear to meet his eyes when she said, “You’re mother is in the dungeon. Her trial with the Elders was at dawn, and she is going to be executed with the setting of the sun this evening.”

  Briahnna watched him stand, shock etched in every move, and then sit down again. He was at a complete loss. He couldn’t figure out what had happened. He stood once more and turned around, then looked at Briahnna when she stood and took his hand.

  “Would you like to go see her?” she asked.

  He nodded and she led him out of the door and to the dungeons.

  It was fairly clean, and Jerrick’s mother had a modest cot within the dungeon cell. She was sitting on the side of the cot with blankets around her shoulders to keep her warm. She was still in the nightdress that she had worn the night before.

  Jerrick walked to the cell and grasped the bars. Briahnna stood a few feet away, giving them a modicum of privacy.

  Lady Tristeil stood and walked to Jerrick, placing her hands on his.

  “I can get you out of here,” he whispered.

  “How do you propose you do this?” she asked, a hint of a smile on her lips, her eyes sad.

  “I can break you out,” he said when he looked down at her frail form. He was about a foot taller than her now.

  She placed her forehead between the bars, resting it there, “Jerrick, even if you came and managed to open these bars, I would not come. You deserve a chance at life…a real chance.”

  “Why are you here?” he asked, a plea in his eyes.

  “I haven’t protected you the way that I should have,” she said, glancing at Briahnna, who looked away with tears on her cheeks. “I am doing so now.”

  Briahnna shook her head ashamed at her outburst.

  “You will be the new Lord Tristeil. The King will raise you within the walls of the palace, teaching you everything you will need to know, until you reach the rightful age of eighteen. Then you will return to the estate and take your father’s place as an Elder of the Kingdom of Mageia.” He shook his head, shocked. “Executions are open to public eye,” she continued. “Please do not come. You have seen too much in your young life. I wish for you not to see this.”

  “You shouldn’t have told them it was you.” Jerrick looked down. “We could have figured this out. No one needed to take the blame.”

  Lady Tristeil sighed, “Jerrick, the light that burst from you last evening was probably seen from miles away. There was no way that the guard didn’t hear the commotion and see it. So I did the only thing that I thought would save you.”

  “How did you explain the light?” he asked.

  “I said that I was trying to attack him with my fire,” she answe
red. “Your father had the Elders wrapped around his fingers. If they didn’t believe me they didn’t show it. They wanted swift retaliation, and if any of them know about you then it would be to their benefit to keep you alive…Be strong, Jerrick. Don’t let them use you. You have more power than all of them put together.

  “And again I am telling you not to try to rescue me.” She placed her finger under his chin and made him look at her, “I will not come. Do you promise, Jerrick?”

  “I promise.” He looked at her determined gaze.

  “Good,” she sighed, searching his eyes. “I’m sorry I did not love you as a mother should.” She kissed his forehead. “You should go now,” she said and turned and walked back to the bed.

  As Jerrick watched her walk away, her words echoing in his head, he felt his chest caving within.

  Briahnna took his hand and led him away from his mother and out of the dungeons.

  . . .

  Briahnna led Jerrick to one of the private sitting rooms at sunset. He sat down and listened to her pour her heart out onto the piano. He loved to hear her play. Her playing always soothed him.

  Briahnna could feel his breaking point and stopped playing when he stood up. She felt it, the sudden change, the mask of indifference replacing the sorrow, and then he strode out of the room.

  Chapter 7

  “Did you know that another kingdom has been infiltrating Mageia?” asked Jerrick, while playing with the flames of the bonfire they had created near the sea behind the palace.

  It was autumn and still fairly warm because even though the seasons changed, the climate never really did in Mageia. Briahnna and Jerrick were practicing with fire six months after Jerrick’s mother was executed and one month before Winter Solstice, Jerrick’s birthday. Queen Adriahnna had just finished her lesson with them. She was a fire mage.

  Briahnna threw a flame into the water and turned to look at Jerrick. “How do you know this?” she asked. Jerrick had been distant since he left the sitting room six months ago, and their relationship was just starting to feel normal again.