Lady Dragon, Tela Du

by Kendra E. Ardnek

  “Fickle, fickle people,” Petra whispered. “Well, Ashna, since I’m indisposed, can you please go find the others and let them know what happened to me? And go see how close Summer is to being ready? Honestly, that girl has no concept of the word ‘hurry.’”

  “And you have no concept of ‘sit still and let me get this done as quickly as I can,’” Mother countered. “Run along, Ashes, and do what your aunt asked.”

  Ashna vacated the room to find Reuben, Tyler, and Noraeto just down the hall and gathered around the door leading down to the throne room.

  “Sarah won’t let Petra get by without doing her hair,” Reuben observed before Ashna had a chance to say anything, so she just nodded. “Good for her.”

  Ashna nodded again and then knocked at Summer’s door. Summer called for her to come in, so Ashna entered to find Summer and Alya, her maid, bustling about frantically.

  “Are you ready, Summer?” Ashna asked, hesitantly.

  “I can’t find a necklace that goes with my dress!” Summer declared, holding up about twelve different necklaces that were all beautiful.

  “Didn’t you select one last night?” Ashna asked.

  “I did, but then I put it on, and it doesn’t go. At all.” Summer set down all but one of her necklaces. “This one would be perfect if the small gems were pink, to bring out the pink embroidery in my skirt.”

  “Ah, that’s easily fixed,” said Ashna, crossing over and taking the necklace from Summer. Thirty seconds later, she handed it back with the gems properly pink.

  “Thank you,” said Summer, blinking. “I sometimes forget that you can do that. It’s … strange, you know. But awesome. Now, on to that coronation!”

  With that, she sped past Ashna and out the door. Ashna followed just in time to see Summer throw her arms around Tyler’s neck, and him dip her into a kiss. Ashna smiled and slipped her own hand into Noraeto’s.

  They had not yet shared their first kiss – it was not the elven way to kiss at the Tying, though it was popular among humans – and the morning had been so busy, they’d not had a moment to themselves since they’d left the Hill, and both agreed that it wasn’t a moment they wanted rushed.

  Petra flew out of the door at that moment. “Okay, that’s done, let’s get this over with!” she declared, then paused a moment to glare at Summer and Tyler.

  “We did Tie them together last night,” Reuben reminded her, grinning as he took her hand. “Sarah did an excellent job with your hair.”

  Petra gave a sharp nod. The top half of her hair was now in a braid, the rest of her hair loose. It was still a rather plain style, but considering that Ashna had never seen Petra ever wear her hair fancier than that and considering the time constraint, it looked quite good. “Sarah has already teleported downstairs to join her husband and fulfill the traditional role of a Bookholder’s wife. As I said, let’s go. Ashna, Noraeto, you’re first, as rehearsed.”

  No one said anything as they descended the spiral staircase, and within minutes, they emerged in the throne room, where Father was giving his speech. It was a similar speech to the one he had given at Nia and Matthew’s coronation, so many years before, causing Ashna’s heart to ache for the time that was gone.

  “Rizkaland!” Father cried, as Reuben and Petra emerged and all six of them now stood before the people, each taking their place before their throne. “Do you accept these as your new kings and queens? Four come from another world, the sons and daughters of our kings and queens of old. Two grew up among us, and we were entirely unaware that their heritage was human as well as elf. They are young, but have already been gifted with Alphego’s wisdom and power.”

  A murmur spread through the crowd – not the wholehearted cheer that had risen for Nia and Matthew. Ashna knew that the murmur spread from one simple accusation – Petra had spared the Dragon. She had failed in the duty that had been expected of her. How could she be expected to rule a country?

  An elderly woman stood, made her way to the front. She was human, at least sixty years of age.

  “People!” she cried. “I knew Amber for fifty years. When she came to Rizkaland, it was my house that she visited first, and I was the first person she invited to work for her at her castle. I ate from Amber’s table, was deceived by her lies – and what a tangle of words she spun!” The old woman shook her head. “But we were desperate to believe her. She said nothing that we didn’t want to hear. She twisted truth to her purposes, but they were the words we wanted to hear, that we wanted to believe! People of Rizkaland! You have forgotten the Dragon that came to us and the lies she spun.”

  One man stood and shouted, “Of course we remember! That’s why we don’t believe her now!”

  And the crowd erupted with similar shouts of protest, which lasted about thirty seconds before a noise like thunder shook the room.

  It was Reuben and Petra. They had pounded their staffs against the stage. The room fell silent.

  “Melody,” said Petra quietly, though the word echoed, “you may continue your speech.”

  The old woman gave Petra a smile and a nod before she turned back to the people.

  “No, you have forgotten the lies then, for if you remembered, you would know that the Amber who spoke to us then is not the Sylvia who speaks to us now. Amber spoke to us with words sweetened with yellow water but poisoned with green. Sylvia speaks with only remorse and repentance. Any apology that Amber gave was laden with excuses for her behavior. Sylvia offers not one. Her sister, Petra, might make excuses, but Sylvia, not a one.”

  “Amber has been broken, the Dragon killed, and Sylvia set free,” said Petra.

  “Any of us could have killed Amber, had we been the Tela Du,” Melody continued. “Any of us had a grudge against her large enough to do it, no matter how timid or squeamish we might be. But only Petra could forgive her.

  “For fifty years, I lived in the Dragon’s castle and watched her and her husband. I watched as she held herself aloof from him, watched as he never so much as smiled. People! From the mere fact that she stands now in his arms, from the smile he wears on his face when he looks at her, I know she has changed. He was never deceived by her before, for he knows her better than anyone else save Alphego. If he is convinced of her change of heart, I need no further proof.”

  The crowd erupted again with protests and shouts. Ashna glanced towards Sylvia, who sat in the front row, her face hidden against Richard’s shoulder, and offered a weak smile.

  Suddenly, silence again, not because Reuben and Petra had pounded their staffs, but because a white light had filled the room. Ashna turned to see that Alphego stood behind the thrones.

  He stepped forward, and there was still a deathly silence. Ashna’s heart pounded.

  “Sylvia, long have you strayed from the path set before you,” said Alphego, “and long have I desired to gather you back to my fold. Welcome back, child.”

  Sylvia stood, a hesitant smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. “Alphego, I…”

  “Who here condemns the one that I have forgiven?” Alphego asked, His attention turning to the crowd. “Who here rejects the kings and queens that I have appointed?”

  And with that, Alphego was gone.

  The crowd remained silent, so Father stepped forward. “People of Rizkaland, do you accept these six as your kings and queens?”

  Marno stood and raised a cheer, and then Ashna’s brothers, Ruklow and Delta stood. Slowly, but surely the rest of the crowd followed suit. It took another pound from Reuben’s and Petra’s staffs to quiet the crowd again.

  “You have accepted your new kings and queens,” said Father. He turned to King Brent and Queen Jillina, who stood at hand. “Klarand is independent from Rizkaland, yet you still give our kings and queens respect. Do you approve of these that Alphego has appointed?”

  King Brent stepped forward, pressed a fist to his heart, and bowed. “They may be young and inexperienced, but I have no doubt that they shall grow into their roles should they heed the advic
e of those that Alphego has placed about them, as Jillina and myself have done. Klarand accepts them.”

  “Your people accept you,” said Father, turning to the six. “They place great trust in you. How will you reward that trust?”

  “We will govern them with justice and mercy,” Reuben answered, “trusting in the wisdom and guidance of Alphego, and listening to the advice of those with the experience and knowledge that we lack.”

  Father nodded and moved to Ashna. “You are not only queen but Bookdaughter as well. Therefore, you must also speak the Bookdaughter’s vow.”

  Ashna nodded and bowed her head as Father pressed a kiss into her hair. Then she raised her chin and spoke in Rizkan.

  “I give my mouth for Alphego’s prophecies. I shall speak with truth, and never claim His words as my own, or my own as His. I shall incline myself to the study of the Legends that have come before, and the prophecies given to the Bookdaughters and Bookholders before me, so that I might be prepared to advise any who come to me.”

  “I ask Alphego’s blessing upon you,” said her father, also in Rizkan, “that you may not stray from the path set before you.”

  Then, as one, the six knelt before the people. Father reached forward and took the silver circlet from Ashna’s throne and placed it on her head. Noraeto was crowned next, and then Father moved to Summer and Tyler. Petra and Reuben were crowned last.

  “Never place these crowns on your own heads,” Father instructed, as he lowered the silver circlet onto Petra’s head. “Always allow someone else to crown you, even if is only one another. Thus you will be reminded that your power is given to you by Alphego, and not of your own getting.”

  Then, as he placed a golden circlet on Reuben’s brow, he commanded, “Rise, kings and queens of Rizkaland, and stand before your people.”

  And the cheer that rose as the six stood was deafening.

  The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur as speeches were made, questions were asked and answered, and Rizkaland rejoiced in their new kings and queens. At last, it was over, and only those dearest to them stood in the throne room.

  It was only then that the young version of Laura stepped forward. “It’s time for me to go,” she informed them.

  “Already?” asked Petra. “Come now, we’re not trying to run you off. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”

  “Oh, I know,” Laura answered. “But my older self has taught me all that she can at this time, and you and I have helped each other as much as we needed it right now. I just … I just want to say thank you. You had no idea who I am, and yet you still welcomed me with open arms.”

  “We might not have known Laura, but I knew Alyce,” said Petra, bending down so she was at the girl’s eye level. “And I also knew you were a scared little girl who needed someone to stand by her, and Alphego knew I needed someone to distract me from my own worries at this time.”

  “I don’t deserve…” Laura began, but then she shook her head. Instead, she rushed forward and threw her arms around Petra’s neck. “I’m so glad I have you, Petra.”

  “You’re welcome around anytime,” Petra assured her. “Especially since I know Sylvia was lucky to have you.”

  After Laura had pulled away from Petra, she hesitated a moment before she threw a hug around Reuben’s waist. “Thanks for carrying me when I was too weak to stand on my own two feet,” she said awkwardly, as she pulled away. Then she turned and ran, disappearing into thin air.

  As Ashna stared after the Doorkeeper, she felt Noraeto’s hand slide into hers. “Do you think they’re quite done with us now?” he asked, as though just to her, but loud enough for the others to overhear. Ashna glanced up at him to see that he was grinning broadly at her.

  But before she could answer him, Summer cut in. “Oh, yes, be off with the two of you – before I have to start throwing rice.”

  Noraeto blinked. “Rice?”

  “It’s a … food in their world,” said Ashna, her brow knitting as she glanced back at her fellow queen. “Why you throw it at us?”

  “Wedding tradition,” Summer answered, waving them off. “Now go. Be off with you.”

  Ashna giggled as Noraeto pulled her away, to the stairwell that led them out of the throne room.

  Chapter 9

  Richard was still awake, just listening to his wife’s breathing as she lay against his chest. She was peaceful. It had been far too long since he’d last been able to say that about her. It’d been far too long since he’d last been able to take her to his heart and comfort her the way he wanted, and Alphego’s presence at the coronation two weeks ago had done her worlds of good.

  The last three thousand years had been a nightmare he’d feared he’d never awaken from, a nightmare that he now hoped to put behind them as nothing but a bad memory. The last two months since the Final Battle were a dream too good to be true.

  A noise caught his attention, and he opened his eyes just in time to see the flash of a knife. Tightening his grip around his wife, Richard rolled instinctively to the side. The knife thudded harmlessly into the mattress.

  Letting go of Sylvia, he turned, grabbed the knife and threw it in the direction of the attacker. Not the smartest move he could have chosen, as it gave the attacker back the weapon, but one that had frequently served him well over the years. Even if it didn’t injure or even kill the intruder, it would possibly scare him away, or at least give Richard a moment to assess the situation and come up with an actual plan.

  This assassin disappeared in a cloud of glitter.

  “Granite…” Sylvia was startled enough that she fell back onto his old name. “What was that?”

  Richard tore his eyes away from where the woman had stood, put an arm around his wife, and pulled her close before he whispered in her ear. “Your sister just tried to kill you.”

  Sylvia buried her head against his shoulder, their hearts now pounding. “Which one?”

  “Sarah,” Richard answered, forcing a smile. “She’s the one who does the glitter thing, right?” He took a deep breath, attempting to slow their heartrate, which would usually calm her down in this sort of situation. He scanned the room. “She seems to be gone now.”

  “No, she’s not.” Sylvia pushed out of his arms, dug into the pouch she always wore around her waist, pulled out a small green gem, and blew on it. “She’s my sister. She’s not going to give up after one attempt.”

  To demonstrate her point, at that moment, the knife crashed against the invisible shield that the gem created. It would give them about five minutes of respite before it would collapse. This magic had discouraged many an assassin in the past who didn’t realize that there was a time limit.

  Sylvia put the gem into Granite’s hand and leaned against his shoulder again. “I’m going to try to contact Petra,” she whispered. “She can usually talk sense into Sarah.”

  “But…”

  “We’ve been experimenting with the link between us,” Sylvia explained. “And her powers have strengthened since the coronation. I should be able to reach her if I concentrate hard enough.”

  While Sylvia concentrated, Richard watched Sarah, who stood glowering just outside the shield. He hoped she’d take the hint and leave before the five minutes were up. Sylvia’s sister was one person that he didn’t want to meet in a life-or-death battle.

  She struck the shield again, and the gem shuddered in his hand. Sarah was using her strength gift. Richard hoped that the shield would hold.

  “She must be asleep,” Sylvia muttered, after a while. “I’m not sure that the choola stone is built to handle that sort of barrage.”

  Richard slid the gem back into her hand and reached for the knives on his belt. “Evasion maneuver thirteen?”

  She nodded, accepting the gem and the knife that he offered her, her eye on Sarah’s knife. Timing was everything. Choosing the wrong moment could cost her life.

  “Now,” she whispered, a second after the knife struck the shield.

  They rolled
away in opposite directions. Sylvia crashed into Sarah, and there was a cry as they both fell to the floor.

  Richard landed on his feet, activating the light stones and grabbing the sword hidden in the bedpost in the same quick motion. He didn’t want Sylvia and Sarah alone on the other side of the bed any longer than he could help.

  When he reached the other side of the bed, however, they were both gone.

  Fighting down panic, Richard rushed out of the room. Sarah must have teleported them both out of the room, and he had no idea where they might be.

  In the old days, he wouldn’t have worried about Sylvia alone in a fight, but that was before they lost their immortality. She could be killed now, and her fighting abilities had been crippled since she lost the dragon scale. It was dreadful how much she had come to rely on that thing over the years.

  Still, even without their immortality, they seemed to feel it whenever the other felt pain, so unless that happened, he could hope that she was holding her own.

  He found the doormat that Sarah had given them for convenience’s sake and teleported himself to Loray castle. It was the most likely place for Sarah to have gone. Even if she hadn’t, Petra and Reuben were there, they had harandas, and Petra had a mental link with Sylvia.

  After the Bookholder’s library materialized, Richard listened a moment for any obvious sounds of battle. Hearing none, he rushed out of the library and pounded at Reuben’s bedroom door. When he got no response after a few moments, he ran to bang on Petra’s door. Rizkaland’s habit of giving separate rooms to their royals was frustrating at times, and frankly seemed like a waste of space.

  “Who is it?” came Reuben’s groggy voice.

  “Me! Sarah just tried to kill Sylvia, and I don’t know where they are now. Sarah did her teleportation thing!”

  There was a shuffle, and a few moments later, the door opened, and Reuben emerged. “They did what now?”

  Richard took a breath to calm himself – Sylvia had their heartbeat going at an insane rate, though whether it was from fear, exercise, or a combination of the two, he couldn’t know. “Luckily, I hadn’t fallen asleep yet, so I heard her, or it would have ended badly. We’re not immortal anymore. I couldn’t have pulled the knife out of her back like I used to.”