by L J Andrews
Eisha pulled the sleeping child tighter against her body, but nodded. Konrad, the sapphire royal stepped forward, and brushed a finger along the young queen’s cheek. “High Priestess, are we really bound to our human forms?”
Gaia nodded sadly. “A mage can release you from my binding spell, but with the mages here in your presence, we will bring Bron upon you. And with you in wyvern form, you will bring Nag. It is safer for you to remain in human form—for now. I’m sorry.”
“It’s the right thing, Konrad,” Eisha said. “I will give my life for you and Jade if asked,” she said.
The sapphire mage offered a comforting touch to Konrad’s shoulder when he nodded sadly his understanding. “But Agatha can’t stay?” he muttered.
I understood how he felt. It didn’t seem right, but I stayed silent when Gaia shook her head. “I’m sorry. Agatha wouldn’t want to put you in danger, and our energy is too powerful. As I said, a bloodline mage would bring Bron to you. I will hand these to Thane,” she said, holding up her blade filled with each powerful elemental stone. We’d discussed this before, but it was the final fracture of her bond with the royals. I knew how painful it was for her to hand over her sword. “He will hide the five stones. Even if Nag found each royal, without the stones and the weapon he has no power over you.”
“Hide it well, Thane,” Eisha said. I nodded, looking to Gaia with sympathy. I hope she knew I understood—or at least I didn’t blame her for any of it.
“Well, we shall leave you now. Good luck, Eisha. Take care of her, please,” Gaia begged, glancing once more at the last of the jade bloodline.
“High Priestess,” the tiny mage whispered after Konrad had released her from a bone-crushing embrace. He walked somberly behind Eisha toward the small town center where they would build their new lives. “I cannot be far from him.”
Gaia nodded, surprising me slightly. “Agatha. You can’t stay too close. Find a way to hide yourself in his life. I would recommend you do not let on to even Konrad that you are near.”
She nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. “I will always keep him in my sights, but he will not know of me. Please stay, High Priestess. I can’t be without you.”
Gaia smiled, and cupped her thin face briefly. “Yes, you can,” she whispered. “You are strong. And you are what is left of the sapphire mage. Konrad is the only sapphire royal. You must keep him safe.”
She nodded and wrapped her thin arms around Gaia’s waist before darting into the shadows of the trees, leaving me alone with the shattered High Priestess, and Gaia with the broken lead warrior of wyverns.
“Thane, you and your warriors will be safe. Promise me,” Gaia whispered, her energy breaking inside.
That wasn’t going to happen.
“You shall know if I am safe,” I replied without looking at her. “I’m coming with you.”
She met my gaze, her head cocked to one side. “But we agreed we should separate as races.”
“I never agreed to such a thing. Gaia, I saw…him…attack you.” And I hated him for it more than anything. “The man you thought you would always be able to trust. I will not leave you alone out there. I have no one to defend. The king is dead. The royals are hidden. What will become of me? I vow to protect you and your people. Please don’t forbid me to stay with you.”
Everything burned inside. I would not abandon the High Priestess, not after she’d been abandoned by everyone else. We would protect the queen, the royals, but we’d do it together. Relief blazed through my blood when she smiled softly. “If you wish, Thane. Your abilities, and presence will always be welcome.”
I grinned and turned to the trees. Waving my hand I ushered Raffi and Dash to come to me. There was still one thing left to do. Gaia had already helped me power the sword, she’d agreed with my idea and created a blade that would be used in the most dire need. “Raffi, Dash. I leave you both with perhaps the most crucial job of any warrior. You are to defend our new queen. Help her rise to her position, and keep her safe above your own lives.”
Raffi and Dash puffed out their chests, both desperately trying to keep their faces stern, but I saw the tug of a grin on each of them. I took out the impressive blade from its sheath and handed it to Raffi. “I owe you my life, Raffi. Your quick actions at the castle saved me. I want you to have this.”
“Sir, I can’t—” Raffi began, but stopped when I quickly held up my hand.
“I insist. You may need it with your duty, and should you ever need me,” I said with a sly smile. I couldn’t just state the idea plainly, no that would take away a lesson from the warrior should he ever use the blade to find me. “This blade will help you find me. Fight well, warriors. You have truer hearts than most. I leave you with my pride.”
Raffi and Dash nodded curtly, and bowed at their waists before saluting me with their fists over their chests and slinking into the night. It didn’t take long to gather what was left of the warriors and the mage. With our people in our wake, Gaia and I looked down on the protected town from a high ledge on the mountainside.
“Well, High Priestess,” I said, embracing the calm that encompassed me for the first time since the battle had ended. “Where are we to go?”
Gaia sighed, I hoped over time she would heal her own wounds. “We take to the sky. We go far away. We will protect our people from a distance. And we wait. Bron will return, so will King Nag. But we will be ready.”
She was a marvel. I respected, admired, and hoped to be an equal ally to the High Priestess of mages. Taking her hand, I bowed slightly, and pressed my lips to the top of her skin. The surge of energy sparked against my lips, but I still held my grin. “As you say,” I whispered. “I would be honored if you would be my first rider.”
With a quick signal to the warriors, soon all their human forms melted away and the forest was filled to the brim with enormous warrior dragons allowing the mage to mount their ridged spines. I eyed Gaia once before my own form peeled back and in a matter of breaths I towered above her, my wings spread wide.
Gaia easily climbed along my shoulders, sitting behind the joint of my wings. I’d never had a rider, but it seemed natural, as though she were meant to be there. I pent up a breath when she clutched tight to my neck, leaning across my scales as though my energy offered as much comfort to her as hers did for me. Crouching slightly for a tense pause, I shot to the sky, feeling Gaia’s silent tears fall across my scales.
As we soared away, there was a quiet hum in the air. A voice almost, that sang to my soul. This wasn’t the end. I knew Gaia had no bond to the jade bloodline, yet I suddenly felt hopeful. Our lives had intertwined with a purpose. I didn’t know what, but as I carried the mages and warriors further into the horizon, I knew this war would end through Gaia—maybe even through me—somehow. Someone would come and change our way of life forever. I knew it without a glimmer of a doubt. And I would wait eagerly for that day. For then, I knew Bron would pay for all he’d done. For the anguish he’d caused the mages and the dragons. Yes, that day was a day I would eagerly, and patiently await.
Chapter 13
Gaia
I didn’t know where we would go.
I didn’t even know if I could keep my people safe. But in this instant I felt a strange connection—it was peaceful and I embraced the moment. Looking through the silky clouds once more, I thought of the town I’d just given all my protection to; I feared they would not be as protected as I hoped. Yet, as the worry passed through my mind another thought joined. The emotion tied to the thought churned my stomach, but not in an uncomfortable way.
The warmth spread to my heart, and it became more than a thought as I cried, clinging to Thane’s warm neck. It became something I knew would happen. I might not be the one who would protect the jade bloodline, but somehow there would be another who would come. I knew without a shadow of a doubt, though it seemed impossible, somehow the jade bloodline would reconnect with the mage. And it would be greater and more powerful than ever before.
/> Curious how Bron pulled off the ultimate betrayal? How did the lindworms even break into the castle? How did Gaia miss the signs?
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Dear Reader,
The magic doesn’t need to end. You’ll love Nova, Kale, and Atlas in my series The Djinn Kingdom.
Secrets come at a deadly cost. Nova learned that lesson the hard way when she set out to avenge her family shattered before her eyes.
Before she gets to be the hero, Nova is kidnapped by murderous sky pirates. Surviving is priority number one. But ever since she ran away from home things have been…changing. She feels powerful, dangerously powerful. But magic doesn’t exist, and certainly not from her own hands. Does it?
Pages are waiting to be turned HERE
All the best,
LJ
See all my books on www.ljandrews.com
May we all be the good.
