Drusilla looked over at Adam and up again at Lu. Nathan was nowhere to be seen. Adam took a deep breath, setting his crown atop his head once more, unsheathing his sword. “Thus it begins, Lucinda. Surrender now for you have no idea who you are fighting against,” Adam called out in warning. Lu just laughed a shrill and piercing laugh. She shook her head.
“I would just walk into the jail, stupid fool. Your precious heir is there now,” Lu spat back. Lillian muttered some curses, a flash of fear overtaking Adam’s face. Lu looked down at Drusilla and smiled. “Oh, he’s not alone though. Oh no, my brother was playing the foolish hero and placed a little boy in a not so very safe place,” Lu laughed. Drusilla felt her heart drop. Declan. Lu had Declan. For the first time in her life, Drusilla felt that motherly fear gnawing at her bones. She quickly reached for her dagger. With it in hand, she lit the flames in her other, glancing at Adam who nodded and raised his sword.
“I’ve given you your chance, Lu. It’s over now. Consider this our divorce,” Adam hissed. He looked back at the army behind him.
“Fair enough,” Lu sighed. “I never loved you anyways, Elf boy. Your ancient powers can’t save you now.” Adam looked from Lillian to Drusilla, both of whom simply nodded. Adam turned his horse, facing the army.
“WE FIGHT FOR GALDIRR!” Adam screamed, and thus it began. In a spit second, a single heartbeat, everything changed. Battle cries rung in the air, the crack and heat of flames all around. It was chaos, and not too long before arrows began flying and the distinct smell of blood began to rise.
“Adam and I shall go to save the heir. Fight with all that you are. Burn the soldiers and Brethren. Take prisoners. We fight for our land and freedom, and for the peace that once reigned,” Drusilla commanded Lillian, Caleb, Herto, Luther, Zerienne, and Poyro. They all nodded, Drusilla and Adam riding off, the prince in the lead. They began to escape the chaos of the battle towards the line of nearby trees.
“I know a secret passage. It leads to the dungeon,” Adam explained. Drusilla stiffly nodded. “She has your son. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I should have seen that coming. I saw Malcolm’s letters,” Drusilla sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything,” she then sympathized. Adam reached over and squeezed her hand.
“Now don’t you start,” Adam warned. “What is there to apologize for? It isn’t your fault.” Drusilla sighed.
“It may not be, Adam, but I feel sorry. You’ve been betrayed. You can’t act like it’s all okay,” Drusilla explained. “Trust me. I’ve tried that. I wish I hadn’t.” Adam laughed.
“I know that, but I should have seen it coming, Sill. I knew something wasn’t right with Lu. I knew that it was going to end like this. I just couldn’t get myself to say it, even when I had absolute proof of what she was,” Adam mused, shaking his head. They could still hear the battle behind them.
“We’ll stop her, Adam. I swear we will. We’ll save Nathan and beat her to the ground,” Drusilla assured. Adam smiled.
“This won’t be easy, Sill. It’ll take more than anything we know,” Adam replied. “You’re right though. We’ll beat her. She will see that you don’t mess with firebloods. Playing with fire only leaves you in flames.” Drusilla couldn’t help but laugh as they came to a stop, dismounting near some ruins. It had once been a majestic city, beautiful, tall, and proud. Now it was crumbling and overtaken by ivy and grass. It still held a strange charm though. A light breeze rustled the grass, and there was a peaceful yet oddly strange quiet all around. Once these were shops and homes, streets filled with song and laughter. Now they were echoes of a time long gone, another battle in another day and year.
Those ruins whispered a fireblood rule, a time of great peace in the days of Latorro before war broke out. They screamed the Galdirr that once was, the Galdirr built by Annalie Karret. Just as in Norto, Drusilla could feel the presence of the people that had once called this home. It was different though, as though the souls had been soaked back into the landscape. This place was different, more sacred. It was in the soil of the earth, the rustle of the leaves. This place still breathed in its own strange way, taken in by the forest it had been born from. Drusilla recalled the tales her mother told of how Annalie was drawn to this are by some ancient magic. Drusilla could feel how true that was now, and by the way Adam stood, he could too.
The land seemed to swell and relax with each chilling breeze that slithered through, causing the hairs on Drusilla’s skin to stand on end, one hand firmly on her dagger, the other near Malcolm’s sword. This place breathed and thought and understood. Something was very different here, but Drusilla didn’t know what it was. Ruins beckoned to her, shells of old homes. In the center of it all was the castle. The main doorway held no doors, and the roof was long gone. A grand staircase led up to nowhere, a place that was once a second floor. Drusilla and Adam paused, looking at each other. Adam began to navigate through what was once great halls to a broken down doorway. The frame itself was more intact than the four walls that encased what was once a closet with stairs leading down. The landing was stone, but long since overgrown with grass. A chilling, strange breeze drifted up the stone stairs, wrapping around Drusilla and Adam’s ankles. The Free Strider rested a hand cautiously on the prince’s arm.
“Are we sure?” Drusilla asked breathlessly. Adam quickly nodded.
“O-Of course,” Adam assured, grabbing Drusilla’s hand. He lit some flames in his palm and began his decent, Drusilla just behind with one hand on her dagger and the other raised high with her own flame. A large tunnel stretched out before them once they reached the bottom of the stairs. The shadows of their lights danced across the walls. At first there was silence, a thick and eerie quiet. Then came the whispers. They were soft at first, brushing against Drusilla’s awareness. Then they began to grow louder and softer and louder again with each breath. Shadows shifted where they shouldn’t, and Drusilla grew tense.
Before them a small light flickered, there one moment and gone the next. More came and went as they stepped along slowly. “There are spirits all around us,” Adam breathed as the first light came back, this time with deep red eyes watching them curiously.
“What is going on?” Drusilla hissed, drawing closer to Adam. The spirits began to swirl around them, the air growing colder and colder so that Drusilla could see her breath in the flickering light of her flames. The two froze, too fearful to move. That was when the figures came. A small girl, the same Drusilla had seen in Norto, stood next to a tall older man who looked like a merchant captain, a smile on his face. Their eyes reminded Drusilla of Nathan. The man had a look of fear in his eyes, glimmering in the light of the fires. They were drenched in ash.
“What happened? How?” the man pleaded, his accent just like Nathan’s. With that they disappeared, burning in flames it seemed as they screamed. Another man took their place with sad eyes, dressed like the firebloods in Serentari. He reached out to Adam.
“My son,” the spirit breathed, “I am so sorry.” He flickered away, overtaken by shadows. Then came the woman that made Drusilla’s heart skip a beat. She stood next to a man that held her hand, both drenched in blood, but the woman also in rain. Her blonde hair was soaked, and her eyes red from crying. She had a soft smile on her face, gentle and kind. The man looked broken, defeated, and sorry. He looked ever so sorry, but ever so in love.
“She was my sister,” Malcolm muttered. “I did it for you, for you Melody, and our boy… Our sweet boy. I loved you. I love you like a thousand stars.”
“I would have done it again,” the woman cried. “My sweet, sweet daughter, I have never been so proud. I would have done it all again. I would have told you all you needed to know, had I known. Please forgive what I have done, for I did it for you, and I knew he loved you all the same.” They disappeared, smiling at each other as Drusilla’s strength failed, falling to her knees as she began to sob and shake. Something made her look up though.
There was another figure, much older than the
others. He was dressed regally, and in a style long forgotten, one hand on the sword sheathed in his belt. “Hear my words, Chosen,” he commanded in a deep voice laced with an ancient accent. “Listen to what I have to say, for it is of great importance. What you have seen, these are the ghosts of the lives who have been taken by the war against our people for centuries. I beg of you, take the gem to my heir. The evil must be killed by this sword at his hand. It is the only way to end it. Follow the tears of love, for they will protect you for the purpose you are meant for. Child of the Ancient Ones, hear these words, and heed my warning: the war shall not just end here. The decedents of the Chosen must embark to save the One. She is the key to the end, just as she was the key to the start. Follow forward, and do not grow weary.” With that he was gone, a small light glowing at the end of the tunnel. Silence consumed them.
“I saw my father,” Adam breathed, shaking his head. “I do not understand what has just happened.” He grabbed Drusilla’s hand and pulled them both up to their feet. Drusilla, still shaking, leaned into his arms.
“My mother… My mother and Malcolm,” Drusilla muttered. “That last woman was my mother.” She began to sob again in Adam’s shirt which smelled like the sea. “The two people I loved most.” Adam began to rub her back.
“They were the ghosts of the lost ones. I now understand what this tunnel is. I understand it all, Drusilla,” Adam sighed, resting his chin on her head. “We must stay strong. Nathan needs us.” Drusilla stiffly nodded, pulling back and letting Adam wipe away her tears with the sleeve of his shirt. With that they began on their way once again.
Chapter 8:
Chester looked frantically around the hall. “What the hell is going on?” Nathan demanded.
“I have a feeling your friends are here,” Chester sighed. Nathan stiffly nodded, holding Declan.
“When they get here, get the boy out. Keep him safe,” Nathan ordered.
“Of course,” Chester assured. “The Eknar didn’t realize something when she placed me here.”
“Oh really? What?” Nathan inquired, Declan starting to whimper.
“My family serves the true royal line. I’m sorry your first stay in the castle has to be in the dungeon,” Chester laughed. Nathan smiled.
“I think when all this is over I won’t mind having you around,” Nathan sighed. Chester simply smiled.
Lu stormed back into the castle, fists clenched and a fury in her eyes. “They’re too good,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. She made her way to the throne room and stared at the Fireblood Sword. Without it their cause was as good as dead. Lu would just have to make sure no one touched the blade. She unsheathed her own sword, swinging it in the air with a wicked smile. “Come on, little heroes. Let’s see how you handle me,” Lu laughed, taking her seat on the throne.
Luther was drenched in sweat, back to back with Poyro holding off the Brethren that came after them. “So you’re the brother,” Luther sighed.
“Yes, half brother,” Poyro confirmed. Luther smiled.
“She’s a good woman,” Luther remarked. Poyro laughed.
“So I’m starting to learn,” Poyro replied.
“I’m guessing you’re fighting for her,” Luther pointed out. Poyro looked back at him.
“How stupid are you? I’m a fireblood. I fight because I’m a fireblood,” Poyro argued, going back to fighting. Luther smiled. So the wit had to come from Drusilla’s father’s side. Well, at least now he knew.
“So what is this place?” Drusilla asked, starting to gather her bearings.
“It is an old tale of the firebloods. There was a tunnel in which it was said the spirits of the dead were held. They say they were no ordinary spirits, but rather the ones of those who died being persecuted for being firebloods, or helping firebloods. The last spirit was what showed me that this legend was true,” Adam explained. “That was the old king, the last king of the firebloods in this land. He was killed when King Anikarra took over.” They came to the end of the tunnel, a door. Adam lifted his finger to his lips, pushing it open slightly. It was time to take over the castle of Anikarra.
King Gluther glared at Lu. “Why have I been dragged here?” Gluther demanded. Lu smiled.
“The Brethren have decided that running the kingdom from behind the curtain is no longer enough,” Lu explained.
“My family has ruled this throne since Latorro was killed. I will not let you have it,” Gluther growled. Lu stood, circling the old man.
“You see, though, I have the upper hand. Over half of your army looks to me. You’re just an old fat king, and this is the new world. Your era is through. It’s time the Brethren took over,” Lu sighed, stopping to face Gluther. She lifted her sword, quickly thrusting it into the man’s chest with narrowed eyes. He gasped, stumbling back as blood began to pour. Lu smiled. She was going to like ruling Galdirr very, very much.
The dungeon was cold and rather empty. Adam and Drusilla raised their weapons as a knight ran towards them. “Wait!” the man called. “I’m not on the side of the Brethren. I can lead you to Nathan and Declan. I just got the key.” He held up a ring of keys.
“Who are you?”Adam asked. The man sighed, leading them through the maze of a dungeon.
“Sir Chester Croning, my prince,” the man replied. “Nathan told me about you two.”
“I know you,” Drusilla mused. “We were children, right? You would come to my village with your father.” Chester laughed.
“I was hoping you’d remember me. Yes. Your son has your smile,” Chester confirmed. “He’ll be needing a new teacher though if he wishes to be a knight.”
“What happened to the man his father got?” Drusilla asked.
“They killed him. Not in front of the boy, thank the Beings, but he’s dead all the same. I offer myself. My family have been knights since they were the Hand of the first Queen,” Chester explained.
“I think Mother mentioned that,” Drusilla sighed. “If you keep him safe and get him into the tunnel alive, you can train him. Come back to the castle when we win.”
“A little bold, isn’t she?” Chester laughed.
“Well, I’d rather not think of the alternative,” Adam replied as they came up to Nathan’s cell. He was holding a crying Declan in his arms.
“Beings above, so much like his father,” Drusilla breathed. Chester opened the cell.
“I was wondering when you two would show up,” Nathan teased.
“We had to take an old tunnel, my friend,” Adam replied. Drusilla cautiously stepped forward, looking at her son. She held out her arms, taking Declan into her embrace.
“Who are you?” Declan asked. Drusilla smiled.
“Hello Declan,” Drusilla greeted. “I’m your mother.” Declan just stared at her. “I’m your mother and I’m going to spend some time with you a little later. Right now you need to go with Sir Chester and keep safe.”
“It’s loud,” Declan whined. Drusilla hugged him tight. She slipped off the necklace with the ring Malcolm had given to her, putting it on her son’s neck.
“A very brave man once gave this to me. I want you to be brave like him. I know it’s loud, but everything is going to be okay, Declan. And when it’s all over, I’m going to see you, okay?” Drusilla urged.
“You’re really my Mommy?” Declan asked. Drusilla nodded, wiping away a tear. “Then I’ll be brave. For you.” He smiled, letting Drusilla hand him over to Chester. The two went off back the way Adam and Drusilla came.
“I should have known, about Lu,” Nathan sighed. “Damn it, I was so foolish!”
“I don’t blame you,” Adam remarked. He rest a hand on Nathan’s shoulder. “Now come on. We have a throne to win back over.” Nathan and Drusilla nodded, taking the hall towards the rest of the castle.
“There’s a lot of fighting out there,” Nathan pointed out.
“Well, we have quite an army, partly courtesy of my mother,” Adam replied.
“Ah Miss Free Strider, so you kno
w?” Nathan laughed.
“Yes, Captain Rodrick, and my last name is Kloy,” Drusilla sighed.
“Is it so hard to say Nathan?” Nathan groaned. Drusilla smiled.
“No, but is it so hard just to say Drusilla?” Drusilla countered. Nathan looked at Adam.
“What have you done to her?” Nathan sighed. Adam laughed.
“Surprisingly absolutely nothing,” Adam assured. “She was just holding back on us.”
“Why do I feel like I missed a lot?” Nathan mused. Drusilla smiled.
“Perhaps because you actually have,” Drusilla countered. They reached the door to the throne room, looking at each other. Everything had led up to that moment. The real war was about to begin.
Chapter 9:
Lu was sitting on the throne, her blood covered sword resting across her lap. Gluther’s body was still there in the center of the floor. She smiled as the other three stepped in. “Hello there friends,” Lu cooed, standing up. “Adam dear, nice to see you again.”
“Shut up bitch,” Drusilla hissed. “He was your brother. He did so much for you. Without him, you wouldn’t be standing here. And you killed him, right in cold blood.”
“I see the Free Strider has found her tongue,” Lu laughed. “I see you freed the heir. I had a feeling that that knight wouldn’t be enough. So much for listening to Gluther.” She shook her head, looking down at the corpse. “Oh well, it’s too late.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Adam growled, stepping forward to distract her while Nathan began his search for the sword. “I trusted you. I slept beside you. You have no honor.”
“Says the man who fell in love despite his wife being on the same ship,” Lu argued. Adam looked down at his hand, grabbing his ring. He tossed it on the floor.
The Flames of Arathia Page 22
