by L J Andrews
“Well, then I will make my leave,” he said. “Remember you are not alone to carry burdens. Wyvern and mage may be different races, but in my view we are all friends here. Good day, High Priestess.”
I watched Thane turn on his heel, the plated armor over his shoulders gleaming in the sunlight like I knew the scales on his true form would. It was a comfort to hear the words of friendship. Drawing in a breath, I locked myself in my grand chambers and stood ready to confront my husband.
Moonlight normally brought a peace to my soul, but when Bron finally entered our room, the moonlight seemed cold and hard against my skin.
“Bron,” I snapped. “Where have you been? You leave me to tackle rumors, and hearsay alone without a single word from you.”
Bron’s silver eyes narrowed in my direction. He tossed his blades to the ground, the steel clattering along the stone loud enough it caused me to startle. “May I enter before you tear me apart limb by limb, Gaia?”
I swallowed my harsh retort and simply crossed my arms over my chest watching him with my own steely gaze until he found rest in a large wingback chair by our small fireplace. “Where have you been?”
“I needed to clear my head. The hills always bring me to calm, you know this.”
“What happened with the king, Bron?”
Bron sighed and focused on the empty hearth. In a matter of moments flames of blue and green burst to life. Bron had many abilities, but I’d always enjoyed the way he could manipulate the elements. Fire was often his most favored element, it calmed him in a way.
“I took your advice,” he began, his voice rumbling low and dangerous. “I spoke of my reluctance to bring the people out into the exposed world when the elemental power isn’t even available for all wyverns. There still remains unrest between the lindworms and elementals, Gaia. If the same race cannot be allies, how will it be possible for the humans to accept them? Then there is the problem of mages entering society. The witch hunts of old would begin again, with more experiments, but still the same death count.”
“Bron we don’t know that—”
“I do know that,” he insisted. “I am the High Priest. I have insights, premonitions, you do too!”
Bron’s eyes were wild with emotion, the fire cast eerie shadows along his strong face, and I sensed his desperation. “I have concerns, you’re right,” I admitted, taking a few steps closer. “But I do not believe King Lux would recommend such a step if he had not first researched. He would not put his people in danger.”
“Gaia, don’t insult me by downgrading my concerns. Even the great wyvern king can have faults. Lux would not even consider his own daughter’s concerns if Reya had brought any. His mind was made before Malik and the princess returned. The king is weary of hiding behind the bluffs. He wishes to take hold of the powers of all races.”
“King Lux does not rule the mage, and he will not rule the humans.”
Bron chuckled, and I shuddered. “Oh, Gaia. Who serves the wyvern race now? Humans are servants, slaves if I would venture so far. Would you think a non-magical being would dare stand up against a full-form wyvern? And yes, the king seems to have determined the mage are but counselors, not equals. We might as well join the ranks of the warriors. King Lux views us as his subjects, not a powerful, individual race. He is not my peoples’ king. Lux is not my king.”
“Bron,” my voice fell into a soft hush as I knelt before his chair. My hands found the sides of his face as I forced him to meet my gaze. “You’re frightening me with such talk.”
His jaw softened and Bron clutched one of my hands in his own. “Forgive me. I don’t wish to frighten you. I’m angry, Gaia. I tire, of the traditions we uphold.” Bron paused, and stared into the fire for a long moment. “What if…what if we could build a new kingdom—a new way of life for our people. Would you ever consider such a thought?”
The space between us grew thick with pressure. Would I consider such a thought? What more could I be if I didn’t defend the jade bloodline, the jade stone? The bloodline that controlled all the elements of the earth? “Bron, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“As I told you earlier, we are the equivalent of a king and queen to our people. Why can we not live separately? We would remain allies with the wyverns, it’s our nature. But must we live in the same vein as them? The king made the decision to enter the world, he made it not just for wyverns but for the mage without consulting you or me. That is proof enough to me our two races have become too complacent with each other. The mage serve the wyvern, but do the wyvern serve the mage? Perhaps if we lived separately with our own unique laws, we would be viewed as allies, not the staff.”
Was I a traitor for finding some reason in his way of thinking? I rose to my feet and paced before the fire. “Bron, I understand what you’re trying to say.”
“But?” he grumbled darkly, not meeting my gaze.
“But, we are ordained as the defenders of earth’s elements. Those elements are under the charge of the wyvern race. One cannot live normally without the other. We must stay together, and perhaps together we stand a chance outside the walls of this castle.”
Bron followed me to his feet, though he didn’t reach for me the way I desperately yearned to be held. “You know the history just as well as I, Gaia. We lived apart for centuries. It wasn’t until human brutality drove us together that we forged the bonds. So, do not lecture me that our people cannot thrive without the wyverns.”
The room fell into a palpable silence. Our frustrated energies struck at one another like a storm hitting the shore. “Bron, please don’t think this way. I fear where this may lead.”
“Freedom of thought should never be feared. The king’s way may not be the only way our family can survive and tend to the earth.”
“What has happened?” I asked the question already knowing Bron wouldn’t be completely truthful to me, I could feel walls building around his deepest feelings. Never in our entire marriage had Bron concealed emotion from me. “I know something else is troubling you, Bron. I sense it. Now, please I beg you, tell me the truth.”
Bron smiled, it was filled with meaning. He valued me, loved me, yet he would not open himself. Slowly, he took my hand and raised it to his lips. “Forgive me, my love. I have troubled your spirit. Please, do not take my ranting to heart. I will overcome this, and all will be well. As long as we stand together, all will be well.”
Bron had a way of calming my heart with a single touch. Resting my head against his chest I entangled him in my arms and together we sat in silence. The words he said were reassuring, hopeful, yet the burden weighing on my shoulders was growing heavier with each heartbeat. As though a premonition ignited in my soul, I worried that there might come a time when we would not stand together.
Chapter 6
Thane
Nearly four weeks had passed since the explosive argument between the High Priest and the king. We were to leave the bluffs in a fortnight. I could hardly wrap my thoughts around abandoning the only home I’d ever known to live and integrate with a race that didn’t even know my people existed. But then, it wasn’t my place to concern myself over that. I was to concern myself on keeping Malik and his family protected.
Gaia’s distress was still there—though I never mentioned it again—she tried to hide it. She smiled pleasantly, and served the mage and wyverns as she always had. I wanted not to worry about the High Priestess, but it was becoming impossible. Especially since Gaia remained close to Reya and princess Jade. As I did.
Malik was often called into counsel with the king at the chagrin of his mate. Reya would be queen, the same as Malik would someday be king. Yet, her father always seemed to favor the voice of her mate over his own daughter’s wisdom. I could easily say Reya was wise—she would be a powerful queen, and I couldn’t understand why King Lux often pushed her out.
When the doors were closed on the throne room, Malik fell to Gregor’s protection. I spent many afternoons standing close by silent
ly protecting the young princess and her mother. So, for the majority of the weeks after the argument I found myself surrounded by women. Gaia, and Eisha were usually close. The strange boil of energy drawing my curiosity toward the High Priestess hadn’t faded. As one who didn’t give much stock to destiny and fate, it was unnerving how much I felt that if there were such things our lives were destined to intertwine in some way. Since I’d known the High Priestess, I’d never had such unusual feelings, but as of late every sensation crashed into one path leading us to something that would change everything. Lately, I’d been brushing it aside as the move to the human world loomed closer, but the intrigue was always there just beneath the surface.
Tonight when Malik returned to his mate with Gregor, I was given leave to train the newest warriors. Breathing a sigh of relief that I might find respite from the conflicting energy swells around the High Priestess, I bowed slightly to each charge, tapping princess Jade on the nose, and rushed to the sparring fields tucked at the back of the castle.
“Warriors!” Leoch shouted, gaining the focus of the young troops. “Your commander has stepped onto the field.”
I didn’t like attention, but I did expect respect for my position—in turn I offered respect to every warrior no matter their station. The rows of wyvern warriors slammed their fists over their chests in salute. If Gregor were here they might even lower to one knee.
“We take to the skies today,” I bellowed, scanning the lines. “When the lindworms attacked ten years ago, they nearly bested us in flight. We are stronger in every way, and in true form we should be unbeatable. We will never have such a close call again.”
With a silent scan of the warriors, I smirked enjoying the comforting burn that always came when my human skin peeled away, replaced with russet, armored scales. Each warrior shifted in a different way, most gleaming powerfully with large bodies in a rainbow of colors and shapes. Some had horns curling from their skulls, other’s extra flaps around their faces for speed. Some wings had jagged points at the peak, others were smooth like sails. Leoch shifted at my side, his fangs dripped low over his lips. Sometimes the warrior had been mistaken for a sapphire royal. His body was a deep blue, making it difficult for him to hide away from lindworms, but there was no one more skilled in flight than Leoch.
With a burst from my haunches, I darted into the sky, allowing the chill of the air wash away my confusing thoughts about the move, about destiny, about the priesthood mages. Breathing the fire in my lungs it was an easy reminder that I was a warrior at heart. No unusual destiny awaited me, nothing would change what I was. I would always protect my people. Always.
Battling in flight required a certain amount of skill. Battle was close, very intimate, and put a warrior at greater risk of injury from an enemy in the clouds. Leoch and I flew higher than the rest, Leoch even going above me.
Attack from the top, I muttered to the warrior, and opened my thoughts to the others. An enemy above you has the upper hand, if you find yourself in such a position you must depend on agility, air currents, and claws.
Leoch bellowed a thin string of flames before diving through the breeze toward my spine. Tucking my wings against my back, I felt the air shift, buoying me for the slightest moment before I would fall. Catching the current when I spread my wings once more was everything. Lindworms were serpents and could writhe their disgusting bodies into odd positions, it was much harder for an elemental dragon—especially a warrior. Bulky and strong, we were fast for our size, but acrobatics in the sky weren’t our specialty.
My body tensed as I fought against the breeze, rolling my form so my back aimed at the ground. Leoch was fast approaching, and would have had a clean shot to the back of my neck, but now my claws were directed straight for the soft underside of his scaled body. My wings blasted to my sides once more, parachuting me briefly as I started sinking from the current. Leoch imitated how it would be were my claws to actually penetrated his scales. The warriors watched us carefully. Finally, Leoch spread his blue wings wide and pulled back when I shot a blazing ring of flames toward his skull.
Dipping my head down, flipping right once more, I dove deeper away from Leoch’s attack, soon finding myself on the upper side. Move fast enough, and you will find your spot to aim before the lindworm can react and block your strike. I bellowed as the air whipped about my scales.
Diving down once more, Leoch tried to roll his body as I’d done, but the space between us was too easy to chase, and soon my fangs mimicked wrapping around his neck.
Releasing the warrior I flew away, staring at the hovering unit of dragons that watched on with fascination. Warriors, protect your backs. Lindworms will aim for the spine, the neck—but they are defenseless on the underside of their bodies. It is your best attacking point. Protect your fellow warriors. Now, go.
Hours of exercises had been exactly what I’d needed to clear my head from the muddled thoughts about mages and warriors. Things were still as they should be, I’d even lost the raking feeling of foreboding trickling down my spine. Everything was fine—and would remain fine. The wind cured a piece of me in many ways. Slipping a black tunic over my bare chest, I balked at my earlier concerns. Where I’d spent so much time worrying about leaving the bluffs before, as I stalked back into the castle to return to Malik, I found I had little concern whether we stayed or left.
“Thane,” Malik’s voice called out to me from deep in the hallway. He chuckled when he saw my face. “Flight exercises today?”
I smirked and nodded, still breathless. “You should come with us next time.”
Malik sneered, running one hand through his hair. “And have everyone treat me like a breakable thing? No, I’d rather just spar with you—you don’t go easy on me.”
Laughing slightly, I agreed. Since Malik had become the future king, the warriors sparred like soft creatures as opposed to wyverns. When Malik wanted to spar—he would always be a warrior in my eyes.
“I was looking for you actually,” he continued. “The High Priest had a favor to ask of you since we are just going to be in our chambers. He was just down there.”
“You don’t need me?” I pressed, following his pointed finger.
Malik boomed a laugh and shoved my shoulder. “I’m not sure we’re close enough to have you leaning over my bed watching me sleep, my friend.”
Shaking my head, I dared shove him back, though if King Lux saw I most likely would have been disciplined. “Fine, go sleep. You breakable, precious thing.”
Malik muttered an insult under his breath before turning toward the spiraling staircase that would take him toward his family’s chambers.
I found Bron staring out one of the arched windows, looking into the distance as night fell over the lawns.
“High Priest,” I muttered. “I was told you wished to speak with me.”
Bron smirked, his eyes like white stars in the dim lantern light of the hallway. “Yes. The King has more need of me tonight. Thane, you heard about the lindworm sightings last week?” I nodded. Everyone had heard of the slippery black serpent not fifteen miles from our protections. Of course, it had never returned to its den to tell the lindworm king where we were. Gregor’s unit of warriors had seen to that. “Well, with so many things happening all at once—I find myself concerned at leaving my wife…unprotected.”
My brow furrowed. “What do you need?”
“The prince informed me you would not be needed for his services tonight, correct?”
“Yes. Has the High Priestess had some sort of threat against her?” Why was there a rush of fury filling my veins?
Bron scoffed. “No, call it a husband’s worry. I was hoping you might stay with her until I can return.”
“Stay with her? Like as her guard.”
Bron chuckled and nodded. “Only don’t say that, especially not to Gaia—she won’t like the idea.”
“I suspect she wouldn’t like that idea at all,” I agreed, knowing Gaia was perfectly capable of fighting off hordes of
lindworms, but I found I liked the idea of joining the High Priestess. Chiding myself, I didn’t think it was good to feel so at ease with a mage, let alone basically the queen of mages. “I will keep watch until you return.”
“Thank you,” Bron muttered. “You’ve put my mind at ease. I shouldn’t be more than a few hours.”
I nodded, watching him stalk in the opposite direction. Taking a deep breath I faced the corridor that would lead to the High Priestess’s chamber. Bron was right, she wasn’t going to like this at all.
“Thane, what brings you here tonight?” Gaia’s soft voice broke me from my focus on the nearby torch sconce.
Swallowing quickly, I tucked my arms behind my back and tried to respond easily. I already sensed she was rather suspicious. “Good evening, Gaia.” Smile. I should smile. “Your husband asked me if I might keep watch on this side of the castle tonight. He says he will be too preoccupied to return for some time. With so many changes and more lindworm sightings, he was concerned.”
Gaia flustered, the bridge of her cheeks turning to deep crimson, and I found it entertaining the way the tips of her ears shaded in the same color when she crossed her arms. “I am not a damsel in distress. I am the High Priestess mage, or does everyone including my husband seem to forget?”
She was throwing a temper tantrum—it brought a genuine laugh from my throat, especially when she signaled for me to follow her into the expansive living chamber for her and the High Priest, despite her protests. “I don’t think anyone would forget who you are, Gaia. I take it you do not like others serving you?”
Gaia scoffed with an intentional look as she poured two goblets of berry juice. “It isn’t that I don’t like concern or service directed toward me. I appreciate where Bron’s heart is at, it just seems as though I’m not viewed as capable of handling anything. Lux will always turn to Bron. He rarely counsels with us both.”
