The Lilac Princess and the Blood King

by Green, Karine

  “How do I do that,” Marut asked, rounding the couch. Zhao was stretched out sleeping.

  “Use your dragon magic, stop acting like a Common Dragon who can fly really fast,” Mira said, also standing over Zhao. “It’s time to branch out.”

  Marut crossed his eyes, “I don’t understand,” he said, looking at her. “You want me to roar at him? That’ll surely blow the clay off of him as he wakes up when he hits that wall.” He pointed with his tail toward the wall.

  “You mean aside from destroying my house? Is roaring the only magic you have…” She pointed to the crown on his horn. “Use your magic.”

  “It doesn’t work. It’s broken.”

  Agne smiled, “It does. The guard, Grayling, said you made a hurricane, that’s not only Air but Water as well. It just didn’t give you the power you wanted. Zhao is Water, wake him up, without cracking the clay.”

  Marut’s eyes widened, “But there was already rain. I just blew what was there.” He leaned over Zhao. “There was no magic. I just let everyone believe it.”

  “Pant, just pant, concentrate on Water. Do not roar, not even a mini-roar,” Mira said, putting her finger up. “Use your Water magic. You’re an Elemental Dragon, magic is in your bones.” She smiled and stepped back next to Agne. “We’ll be quiet so you can concentrate.”

  He put a paw on the couch and slid it over to touch Zhao’s bare side with a single claw out. “I just realized, he’s not wearing any clothes.”

  “He’s wearing his shorts. Now, shut it, stop with the sissy paw, and use your magic- Water please.” Mira frowned. “Before I get annoyed.” She folded her arms.

  He nodded, “Why isn’t he already awake? We are standing right here, and using normal tones of voice.”

  “Earth magic, now undo it with Water magic.”

  He leaned in closer, with his snout almost touching the clay, as he put all four paws firmly on the floor. “Water will shape the earth, earth moving will free the water to flow.” He panted lightly, on Zhao’s face. The clay did not crack.

  Zhao’s eyes opened, and he stretched, the clay flaking off and falling as he moved around.

  “I didn’t do that, he cracked it on his own.” Marut pointed at him. “Wow, I just used Water magic.” He hissed, “Hey, clothes, Zhao, clothes.” He picked up Zhao’s student uniform and laid it on the couch.

  “Earth, too.” Mira smiled, giggled, then clasped her hands under her chin. “You started with a sentence beginning with Water and reversed it to begin with Earth…Fantastic.”

  “What is going on?” Zhao rubbed his eyes, and sat up. “Did it work?” he asked taking out his wand. “Should I do some magic to see if it’s still blocked?” He looked down, “After I get dressed?” he pulled his over-cloak over his chest.

  “Yes,” Mira said, smiling as she covered her eyes, “Let me finish one more thing with Marut.” She walked over to the fireplace and picked up the ash pail. “And then we’ll get started on you.” She pointed to Zhao as she handed the bucket to Marut.

  “Shouldn’t this crown go on Agne’s horn?” Marut said, reaching for the pail with one paw, and pointing to the crown with the other.

  “No,” Agne shook her head. “You heard what my aunt said, both my father and Ja Hua are obsessed with it. I can’t be seen wearing that. But, someone needs to master it and fight alongside me when the time comes.”

  “Eventually, the crown will force you to give it up. It only presents to the person who is to present it to the ruler.” Mira nodded, “However, if the Blood King sees that on her horn, then everything I told you about your parents earlier would be thrown out the window. The crown is a game changer, and right now we are poised to win. The King will simply take the crown from Agne if she returns with it. Then it will disappear until the next chosen ruler appears. Did Airyanna know you have the crown?”

  Marut shook his head. “My adoptive mother feared the queen would give it to Tiakical. It was hidden; along with the Dragon Foot Wand. The wand was buried in my parent’s things by the Earth General’s Battalion.”

  “That’s why you asked me if I had any Earth powers; you wanted me to dig it up,” Agne said, frowning. “Why don’t you tell me again, what was in that note from Mother?”

  He nodded, “I was to meet you. I didn’t expect you to have Zhao with you. If I had known you didn’t have Earth magic, then I would have met you as you cross the Shallow Sea instead of where the wand is buried. Your mother wanted me to ensure your safety. She feared for your life after your father was able to kill three female/mother dragons on his own; before Ja Hua got there. He defeated their motherly energy to protect their pups, even if some were grown. Something has changed in him. Something is wrong; something has turned from nefarious to sinfully evil – murderous; even more so than usual. The eagle note said he had completely gone insane and was spouting crazy things from the Elemental Scriptures. I burned the note, as requested. I was to report with you, to your aunt after dark. I was hoping you could have dug up the wand so we could have Mira use it.”

  Mira folded her arms, sighing, loudly, almost like she was trying to stifle a huff. “The wand is for non-magic human use. It belonged to the Bread Crumb Witch– a Water Witch. I am not based in Water. He is,” she pointed at Zhao. “Marut, I respect you are an excellent smuggler, but you still have a bit to learn in the area of covert intelligence.”

  Zhao raised one eyebrow, as he finished dressing, “Marut, you and I have to go back and get the wand so we can help her. Mira, will you help us dig?”

  Marut nodded. “It’s to be Agne’s. She’s the official Royal line of Shestafa. I’m not even a spare heir.”

  Agne also shook her head, “My father never wanted sons. Perhaps you aren’t a half-brother. Maybe she wasn’t messing around on father, but had to let everyone think she was unfaithful….or something – gods! Who knows what those bloody lunatics thought.”

  “Language! You are a princess.” Marut said, smiling. “And I will never, ever admit, acknowledge, or accept that butcher as my father. I’d rather be a bastard of an honorable Air Dragon. Better yet, why not just believe mother; she said, ‘fifth cousin twice removed.’ Maybe it works for anyone in Shestafa’s line and only the straight royal line.”

  “Well, you can do the genealogy later, facts about the crown are facts. Shestafa had nine pups, you could be distant cousins and still be a direct line back to her,” Mira said, putting a goblet of water into the ash pail, and stirring it. “This is a combined magic spell. I am going to use Earth; you’re going to use Fire. Concentrate only on fire. Then Zhao is going to use Water magic, followed by the Princess using a bit of Air. We’re going to make an artifact.” She tossed the goblet into the mixture.

  “What are we making,” Zhao asked, greeting Agne by resting his forehead on hers; she licked his forehead in return.

  “A dragon’s lance. You’ll need it; in addition to the wand. I’ll explain the plan in a little bit.” Mira pointed to the pail. “Pull out a hair, and toss it in. Make sure the root is on it.”

  He pulled out a hair and tossed it in.

  “Here, Marut first. Use Fire to melt it all together; if you have issues, we can get Agne to do it, but I want you to try it. Then, I am going to form it using Earth magic, Zhao is going to infuse it with direction.” She patted Zhao’s forearm as he took out his wand. “Think about Ja Hua’s heart as you cast the spell. Princess, after Zhao is finished you use your Cold Air Breeze Breath to help it cool, while Zhao and Marut produce – not gather – water for her to put the lance into that little trough right there.” She pointed to an empty sink next to the barrel of water. “It has to be magic water.”

  Mira nodded, “Ready, on three. One, two, three.” She pointed at Marut.

  He smiled, and with a light breath, breathed fire on the little bucket until it boiled. Mira used her wand to spin the mixture once it finally turned red hot. It elongated into a lance. “Zhao, one more hair, on the last red spot left, and then spit on it.
”

  He pulled out another hair and dropped it on the glowing red spot as the lance spun. “Follow my direction,” he said, spitting on it. It hissed.

  Mira nodded at Agne, while Marut and Zhao went over to the trough to work on filling it with water. Agne took in a deep breath. She would have to beat her best time and meet the teen time limits. She couldn’t let them down.

  She blew out the breath slowly and evenly over the lance for as long as she could. Just when she was about to give up, Mira pulled the lance away and, using her wand, dropped it into the trough.

  “Excellent breath control, Princess.” She glanced back at Agne. “Before I set up a training routine for you two, let’s get Zhao up to speed.” She updated him on the situation. “Now, we just need a plan. Which, I guess no matter what, is going to result in me helping Marut get the wand for Zhao to use. That will be your Earth test. I will show you how to move the Earth to get the crown.”

  Zhao snorted. “You can put this lance through my heart before I leave her. Fancy wand or not. I cannot leav…”

  “You can put that lance through Ja Hua’s heart, and help the Princess secure the crown. This will clear the way for the Coup Team to remove the king without further dividing the nation. The Dragon Foot Wand will give you the right to be a royal dragon rider.” Mira patted his shoulder, looking sad.

  Zhao stared at her, mouth agape like he wanted to say something. Marut watched him, but also said nothing.

  “Surely you understand the position she is in. We don’t know how the citizens will handle the betrayal of your village, but the wand will make it easier.”

  “I didn’t betray my village.”

  “Not on purpose, no. But your actions did start a war that resulted in what was most likely the complete destruction of your homeland. You’re no different than Ja Hua.” Mira pointed at him. “And--- you can put that lance through my heart before I seat another royal rider who is just like Ja Hua.”

  “I’ll never be like her.”

  “You already are like her. Think about the state of your village. What did Ja Hua do? Her actions, intentional or not, destroyed our village; over five-thousand human families. People who loved their family, village, and looked forward to a future.”

  Tears welled in his eyes as he shook his head. “My teacher, Mingway…”

  You will stay here, and heal. Marut will oversee the situation on behalf of Princess Agne. Or, I’ll do as you ask, and drive that lance through your heart. Personally, I would like to see you use it as you swoop in on Marut’s back, and drive it through Ja Hua’s or the King’s heart. Then use the wand to help the princess secure her throne and maintain control. That’s what a real rider would do. Or are you really with her to facilitate revenge and not justice?”

  Marut smiled, but Agne wasn’t sure how to react to the speech.

  Zhao folded his arms and stared at the dirt ceiling, but said nothing. Agne could see tears well in the corners of his eyes, as they disappeared, that meant he was in control of his magic again.

  “So,” Mira said, “Here is the rest of the plan. After we see the princess safely back to the oasis so they can find her, we’ll return to the waystation ruins, and continue training for you two. When the time is right, she will send us an eagle– no dragon messengers, no written messages, just send this.” She handed a thin ring to Agne.” We’ll hide someplace close, and send it back. Slide it over your small claw on your hind paw and use the skinfold there to hide it.”

  Agne took the ring, nodding as she slid it over her small claw. Then she licked Zhao’s forehead. “We’ll all get through this.”

  He nodded.

  “After you get it back we’ll send Marut in to get information and finalize an attack plan.”

  Marut nodded. “What about Ja Hua’s spell book? Won’t you need it?”

  She shook her head. “Even a bad witch knows her best spells, and Ja Hua is not bad at magic, she is evil. She keeps the book as a matter of religious right, not one of necessity. Stealing the book will only anger her, not make it hard for her to use magic to hurt you, kill you, or worse.”

  “What’s worse than killing you?” Zhao frowned.

  “Skinning you alive, and then using her Water Magic to make your death slower, while forcing an audience of non-magical human children to watch. They will be scared into obedience to her forever; Your death will make them slaves, not only in body, but also in mind. Because that’s what she did to get the Blood King’s attention as a competent rider. Not to mention the agony that it would cause you.”

  Marut nodded, “Yup, that’s worse than simply being killed outright. Still, I’ll destroy it so no one else can use it as an idea book.”

  “Good idea, but keep that as a secondary mission. Remember a lot of that stuff is already written down, so don’t go risking the overall mission to get it.” Mira headed back to the fireplace. “Let’s eat something while that cools the rest of the way. Then we’ll head to Rouker’s Oasis to see the Princess off safely, and Marut and Zhao can start training with the lance.”

  LUNCHTIME

  Chactau and Loutic landed at the Rouker Oasis. Chactau dug his claws into the sand. They had returned here because they had lost the Princess’s trail. She disappeared near some ruins. He strongly suspected Earth magic was being used to block him, but he couldn’t tell. Which meant whoever it was, was very skilled at magic. “There’s a spring-fed pond in the center. We should get a drink before we leave.”

  Loutic nodded. “Detect anything? This is the third place.”

  “They were here. The other dragon is still with them. Still headed north, but beyond that, I can’t tell.”

  Loutic headed toward the pond. “Let’s get a drink, and rest our wings for a few minutes before heading out.”

  “I could use a rabbit too.”

  Chactau told him about Ja Hua while they ate.

  Loutic’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. He paused before taking another bite of rabbit. “Are you sure, one hundred percent, she didn’t detect something.”

  “Yes.” he nodded with a full mouth. “I fooled her. My father trained me well; I am a master at hiding my thoughts, especially from a human. Besides, if she suspected, we’d both be dead. She even tried to make me think she was trapped into being his rider– but nope, she’s his loyal pet.”

  “You have a point. We are still alive, and on a mission, unescorted.” Loutic chewed for a minute. “Humph, so she’s a Water Witch. I would have never guessed. I suppose that explains a lot.”

  “Ya think?” Chactau retorted. “They have a really odd relationship.”

  “What if she is the one controlling the King, and not the other way around?”

  “I don’t know. I played dumb, so she’d back off.”

  Loutic squinted at him, with one ear perked up straight and one turned out to the side. “You actually had to play at that?”

  Chactau smiled. “I might be smarter….”

  “Than you look?”

  “Than you think.”

  Loutic laughed. “Let’s finish, then circle, before we head North. I hope they didn’t go to Dragon’s Lance. I hate it there.”

  “Sounds good,” Chactau said, looking at the crystal-clear water. The pond was small but so peaceful he would have to remember it so he could visit later. It might be nice to camp here for a vacation- if he ever got to go on one again.

  “Have you given any thought to what might happen if we aren’t caught and executed?” Loutic asked. “What if we win? She’s legally a pup. She would need a regent or adult betrothed to rule alongside her.”

  Chactau shrugged. “One of us will do it, or we can be co-regents. One can be in charge of ruling day to day, while the other concentrates on reunification. Things are very polarized right now.”

  “Sounds good. Let’s circle for a few minutes, make it wide; give it another look before we go.”

  FOUND

  They huddled in the bushes of the Rouker Oasis for about a
n hour, no one was around. Agne felt proud that she’d hunted and caught her own rabbit. She rested, leaning on her side- still nibbling on the rabbit’s bones. Zhao sat cross-legged on the ground next to her eating dates.

  “Try calling to them, Your Highness,” Mira said, putting her hands in the sand, and closing her eyes. “They are still around looking for you. Just not here, because they already looked here. Run out and yell for them. I’ll block them from detecting us while we hide here. We’ll wait two hours, then head to the waystation ruins.”

  “No,” both Marut and Zhao objected, but it was Zhao who pled with her. “Don’t, you don’t know for a fact that they won’t kill you.”

  “Princess, no,” Both Zhao and Marut said at the same time.

  “I have to. Zhao, you can draw Marut a map of the castle grounds. That’ll help him come in through the empty garden.”

  “Agne, wait.” Zhao leaned hard on her as if he could hold her down. “I am not with you because of any magic. Just because your sisters betrayed you doesn’t mean other people will not be your friend.”

  “We will not let you down. We will not let Shestafa down.” Marut said, stepping over to also lean on her as if to hold her down. “I am also not with you because of magic. You are my blood. My last family member.”

  “Marut--” She shook both of them off. “Why are you here? You can’t tell me I was so beguiling that you swooned into your loneliness and decided to follow me to what is surely our eventual death.”

  “I have no intention of dying,” Mira said, pulling on Marut’s tail, “Earth is grounding.” She tapped his back with her wand, and pulled him off of her.

  Tears welled in Zhao’s eyes but did not spill over. “I will do whatever you ask, but please consider for a moment that your judgment is clouded by your sisters’ betrayal. I know I came into your life in the wrong way, but I am here because the Blood King must be unseated, and the rightful princess needs help doing it.”