by Donica Covey
"She's scared and she has no idea where the hell she is. Who knows what kind of hazards are out there? If this king does have an advisor warning him about us being here, then he'll know to look for her. If he got his hands on her...” The thought made him shiver and another flash of angry flame shot from his hands.
"We'll find her, Xavier. Have no doubt. Trust yourself. Your connection grows with every minute that passes. You'll soon be able to sense her no matter where she is, then we'll convince her she is safe with us."
"Then we need to get moving. I refuse to let her be away from my side for too long. If anything happens to her...” He headed for the dilapidated stable and let out the balmocks. He waited for the Seer to mount and then he climbed on top of his. He once more took the lead of the other balmock and he paused to see if he'd be able to reconnect with Keely.
"Keely please. I need to find you. It's not safe out there. Let me know where you are so I can come and get you.” There was no response.
"Why the hell can't I sense her? The connection seems to have shorted or something! You could find her Seer. Use your magic to locate her and take me wherever she is."
The woman bowed her head. She didn't move, didn't say anything and he probed her mind trying to learn if she was able to find Keely anywhere.
He knew before she told him that she'd not sensed Keely anywhere. Damn. Where had she gone?
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Eleven
Keely ran through the underbrush. Thorns and twigs tore at her clothes and tangled in her hair. She'd trusted Xavier and he'd betrayed her. His eyes hadn't been green they were red! The aura surrounding his body was black. She'd allowed herself to let him in, began to fall in love, only to be tricked. If he could disguise himself so well, he must have more powers than she thought, than they told her about.
Trees grew so close together it was like trying to force her way through a curtain made of bark. They'd walked or ridden for most of the day, so far away from the cave and her chance to return home. She twisted and turned. Which way was she supposed to run?
She fell over a rotted log and landed on her face. There was a snapping sound. Pain splintered into her arm and shot up her shoulder. Trying to stretch out her arm sent shockwaves of agony into every pore. Just what she needed; on top of everything else she'd managed to break a bone.
She sat down on the log that had caused the fall and allowed tears to trickle down her cheek. The arm began to swell and the pain intensified. Her fingers were rapidly shaping into sausage links, her wrist looked like someone had shoved a tennis ball in the space and her stomach turn flip-flops.
Keely flashed back to the cave and the knife cut and remembered something: she could heal herself. She reached around and passed her hand over the break. Bones cracked, pulled and snapped. For a second it was as painful as the break had been, but gradually the pain subsided. Within minutes it was as if she'd never broken it at all.
The smell of smoke wafted on the air and she followed the scent trail while trying to keep concealed behind the trees. Ahead sat a circle of small huts made from wood boards with large spaces between them. Obviously they wouldn't keep out the cold. Did it even get cold here? Sure, it must. That castle had a fireplace, didn't it?
She pulled her wandering mind back to the scene before her. A fire burned in a ring placed in the center of the circle. People wearing medieval style jerkins and leggings sat on logs near the fire. They ate from cracked bowls with their fingers. They had dirt on their light yellow faces.
The smell was far from appetizing but curiosity pulled her nearer. Leaned on nearby trees were tools that looked like rakes, scythes, and maybe a hoe.
She stepped down and a twig snapped. Everyone glanced up. The women leaped up and ran into the huts. The men jumped up too and went for their tools, which they brandished as weapons. Bent forward, they moved with menacing steps toward her hiding place.
She stepped out from the protection of the trees. “Please don't hurt me."
One of the men, who seemed much older than the rest, stepped to the front. His dark eyes slid from her head to her toes and back up to meet her eyes. He sucked in a breath. “Alicorno escenden etrunay."
The only thing Keely understood was Alicorno. She nodded. “I am Alicorno. Aldmakeelia Silverhorn."
"Otnay possimble. Ictrey. Eresy,” another man spoke up.
"Esh esdre adlo,” a woman from the back of the crowd said.
What were they saying? She had to make them understand she needed help. “The Seer and Blacdrake are chasing me."
"Eresy?” the second man replied.
"Ecdablak on viel?” the first man asked.
Maybe she was getting this. Eresy was Seer? She focused on their words. So the second man had though it was not possible, that it was a trick. But the last question was something about Blacdrake. Evil. “Yes,” she nodded vigorously. “Blacdrake with Seer."
"On menyma, otn edfri!” the first man argued.
Damn. Where was a translator when she needed one? Translator. If she could make things appear, could she make herself understand them? “He is working with the Seer."
"It be not,” the first man spoke.
She could understand them! It was a powerful rush that she'd made herself understand another language. It was a little hard, like trying to interpret Latin into English but she was able to make sense of the words. “They brought me here. The Blacdrake, Xavier.” What was his name in this place? “Xiuhcoatl Blacdrake. He is going to help the Seer kill me."
"Come ye to sit.” The man took her hand and led her to the log bench. “I can't think it be true. The Seer work with King Montrose,” he said and spit on the ground.
She watched as the group all followed suit, spitting at the mention of the king's name.
"It not be true,” the second man shouted. “Blacdrake be on for Grogan not for evil."
"Quiet Tiengl. To listen to the Alicorno."
"My name is Keely."
The man nodded. “I be Salde. This be my tribe the Quiblek.” He took her hand. “Ye be hungry."
The smell coming from the cracked wooden bowl was less than appealing. “I'm not hungry but I thank you."
Slowly people came from their huts to look at her closer. Keely peered at each of them. Their eyes were bright emerald green; their auras were light yellow green. They were on her side. “I was told we were brought here to fight Montrose,” she began and waited as the people all spit on the ground. When they were finished she continued. “The Seer told us to unite, fight the king and rule. But she lied. I don't know who to trust."
"That be true, Alicorno. It be in the tablets. Alicorno and Blacdrake to war with king and be save the world. Ye be the one the tale promised."
"But he's planning to let her kill me.” How was she going to convince them? “I had a vision that he was going to ... harm me and then allow the Seer to kill me."
"Be the light seen?"
"Light?"
"The light that him has on body."
"Oh. His aura. It's black. His eyes are red."
"Then him no be Blacdrake."
"Be it trick by Seer?” Tiengl asked.
"Trick?"
"Seer be big magic. Be change for to see."
She could change her looks? “The Seer. She is tall as me, with hair and eyes like mine."
Every Quiblek around her shook their heads no. “She be dark. She be red eye mad,” Salde explained.
Had she changed her appearance? “Her color was light blue."
"There be chant to say and make light color want. Ye see blue on Seer, there be not blue."
Keely inhaled deep. “If she can change her light, can she also change the look of another?"
Tiengl nodded. “Said be one her magic."
So the witch had tricked her. “Xavier doesn't know she's evil."
"Ye find he. Big magic changes him to be for to kill. Him for to be rule and be power no stop."
She could call to Xa
vier with her mind. Maybe she could warn him. How far away would her magic reach? “Xavier. Don't trust her, she's the witch. She works for Montrose.” She waited for him to answer but none came. They were too far apart.
* * * *
The Seer heard Keely's call and deflected it from Xavier. “I think I've found her. This way.” She turned her balmock away from the direction of Keely's cry and down the path to her home. She would ensconce Xavier in her stone palace and work on him until he did her bidding. He was a strong mind but she had never failed before, she wasn't about to fail now.
She slowed her beast down and rode side by side with Xavier. “Did you not hear her call?"
He shook his head. “I thought I did but there was a single sound and then it was gone."
"She must be too far. As we ride closer then you should hear her."
He nodded but the concern he felt for Keely was obvious in more than just the Seer's ability to read his mind. It wouldn't be long before the bond would be too strong to break. “Xavier?"
"Yes?” he answered, distracted.
"I have been thinking of something. I told you of the king's advisor."
"Yes."
"The advisor is also a Seer. One with great magic. More than you or Keely possess. One with the ability to change one's appearance. What if the woman who has been with us, claiming to be Keely is actually one of Montrose's spies?"
She had his attention. “How would I have been able to read her nightmare, feel her pain?"
"With powerful magic of a Seer anything can be created. The truth can be distorted. Some Seers have the power to control the mind, within a certain point of course."
He reined his balmock to a halt. “What if I think you are the one who is pulling the puppet strings?"
"What have I done to make you distrust me?"
"Not telling us everything. Like Keely's ability to read auras, or how to tell who is enemy and who is friend."
"But Keely cannot read auras."
He quirked his eyebrow at her. “What do you mean? Alicornos can read auras."
She shook her head. “That isn't one of an Alicorno's powers. They are able to heal the sick and injured, they have the power of teleportation, and telekinesis, can even communicate telepathically. But reading one's aura is a power that only the strongest Seer controls. Even I do not have that power. That means she isn't just a spy, she is the king's advisor. We must be prepared to defend ourselves."
She had him focusing on all her words now it was time to go even further. “How much do you really know about this woman, Keely?"
He seemed to be considering his answer. “I met her only a few days ago. We barely spoke and then when she was grabbed the first time and I was somehow drawn to her rescue. Then again yesterday."
"So as far as you know she could not even be an Alicorno but merely someone who was meant to trick you into coming to Grogan in order to destroy you and keep this destiny from being fulfilled."
"How can it be fulfilled without an Alicorno?"
She shrugged. “I can't see that. But a Draco's power is so strong that if you have a union with someone from an equally powerful house then maybe the two of you would be able to win the battle."
She prodded his mind and found the kernel of doubt that showed promise of taking root. “My home is another half day journey from here."
He still hadn't kicked his mount ahead. There were questions whirling in his mind. She waited for him to ask them and she was already formulating her answers.
"If Keely isn't the Alicorno, then who is?"
"I don't even know if any still exists."
"But you were so certain."
She nodded. “I was, but I seem to have been wrong. Please accept my apologies. There is one thing I am not wrong about and that is that your presence here is known by King Montrose, and if we do not keep hidden he will find us both. Death will not be quick or painless."
She could tell there was a dark side in him struggling to surface. This was exactly why there had to be the union between the unicorn and the dragon. The girl's gentle nature would keep the beast in him under control.
He was wavering on the edge of doubt. A few well placed pushes from her and he would step over that edge. Then his desires for control and power would consume him.
"He knows the truth, that even without an Alicorno you will have the power to destroy him. You can be the one to rule all of this land instead of him. You can be the supreme being in all of Grogan."
He leaned back to rest on his arms. “If she is the enemy then it's even more important we find her and stop her."
"By any means necessary?"
* * * *
Any means necessary? Could he kill her if it came down to it? She had felt so right in his arms. She had felt like the other half of his heart. Had it all been a trick? The pain she'd projected into him had felt so real. Her body close to his was a spark to the memory that was igniting a slow fire inside.
He didn't want to go back, only forward. It had taken less time than expected to accept his destiny. He was a warrior, destined to be king. He had created fire, was able to read minds and communicate with Keely telekinetically.
Was she the one he shouldn't trust or was it the Seer? Keely had said auras and eyes revealed the truth about who was on his side and who was against him. If she lied about one thing then it was all a lie.
Images filled his mind. Keely plotting his destruction. Keely going to the king and setting a trap for him then reaching out to draw him to her with her siren song.
He knew in his bones that he was going to be king. He wanted—needed—the power that he somehow understood would pass to him at the death of the old king.
Power. Nothing in the world would stop him. The only thing left to do was stop the traitor before she could whip the people into frenzy against him. “Bitch,” he spat and fire burned the dust beneath his balmock's feet.
"I know where she is.” He turned his mount back and then disappeared into the thick woods. He could sense her; she wasn't alone. Small strange looking people surrounded her. In a few more paces she'd be within his reach. Anger surged and the trees around him began to crackle as orange flames consumed them.
He broke through the trees. Short, odd-looking people raced around in confusion, screaming, desperately searching for an escape route.
The houses went up like matchsticks. He scanned the crowd searching for the white blond hair of the woman who was going to try and stop him before he could get all he deserved, all the control and power he craved.
"Where are you hiding her?” he demanded. “Where is the witch?"
No one answered, they were too busy scurrying out of his reach. Flames flowed from his fingers. There were screams as buildings around the rushing people exploded.
Keely stepped from inside a smoldering cottage and into his path. “What are you doing? Stop. The Seer is the witch, she is the one who is going to betray you, betray all of us."
He slid off his balmock and stormed toward her. His hand lashed out and he grabbed her around the throat. “You are the only one who deceived me, witch."
She clawed at his fingers, trying to loosen his grip. “Think. Please, Xavier. Think.” Her breathing was becoming raspy. “Remember.” The light in her, that he'd liked so much—was dimming. She gave a ragged gasp for breath. “Who knew the path to here?” she whispered. “Who told us of the ... legend?” Her eyes closed and her body went limp.
Pain shot through his arm. He twisted around as an arrow buried in his bicep. A second pierced the material of his shirt but exploded into ashes before doing any damage. He dropped Keely's body and began destroying everything in sight. All around him the forest disappeared into walls of fire.
No one would stop him, he was going to be king and they would deal or die.
He spun in order to track who had signed a death warrant with the arrows. No one came into view. The fire, the trees or something else shielded them.
He turned to make s
ure Keely was dead, but her body had disappeared. “Where is she?” he roared.
What was left of the trees shook. Leaves fluttered. Branches crashed. Several thumped to the ground.
"I'm not sure.” The Seer surveyed the area. “She must've used her magic to escape."
"She won't get far.” He jerked the reins and spurred the balmock into a shuffling gallop through the fire.
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Twelve
Her throat burned, and when Keely tried to sit up dizziness assailed her.
"Be ye still,” a woman spoke before Keely collapsed into a coughing fit. “He be Blacdrake and be to kill us,” she cried.
Keely opened her eyes. She lay on a pallet of straw. Around her were soot covered faces filled with tear-dimmed eyes. “How many are hurt?"
The woman dabbed the corner of her eye. “Know not. Leaves like breeze blow and people flee when village burn by Dragon."
Keely pressed her hand lightly to her throat. Xavier had tried to kill her. Her vision had been right. He had to be stopped.
The sweet floral scent filled the room, burying the acrid smell of smoke. The apparition of her mother once more appeared. This time it had more substance and when her mother moved to sit by her side she was almost solid. “He betrayed me, Mother. He killed innocent people."
She shook her head. “No one died at his hand. He is being seduced into using his power for evil, but he has yet to kill an innocent soul. Until he does there is still a chance for you to save him.” Her mother's gentle hand touched her burning neck. “Do you still wish to save him?"
Did she? “I don't know that I can. The Seer has so many powers and Xavier is becoming ever stronger. I won't be able to stop him."
"There is still time, my daughter. You should not underestimate the powers you possess. Don't forget the many who will join the cause and help you be victorious."
"I've seen what he's done to the people who were merely talking to me. I can't imagine what he will do to anyone who chooses to fight against him."
"The army that would be gathered to fight on the side of you both will still serve you if you have to destroy him."
