Candace was full of questions, but stayed quiet because of Zahrah biting her lip and twitchy manner. Huge doors with carved arches over the top appeared. Finally they rode out into an open caldera. The now dark sky showcased a few stars that appeared.
Zahrah led the way to a building on the side. From the noises coming from within, Candace assumed it a stable for the rogne. She slipped off Tae’s back and patted the lizard’s side murmuring her thanks for the easy ride while Zahrah spoke quietly to a young boy that appeared immediately upon their arrival. The boy took the lizards’ reins and Zahrah hurried over.
“We don’t have time to change. I’m hoping we can get inside before they close the door. Hurry, this way.”
Zahrah hurried across the courtyard, Candace on her heels. Not knowing exactly what the problem was, Candace stayed silent and waited it out. They crossed under another stone-carved archway, this one a carving of two huge dragons facing each other. Candace struggled to keep up while gaping at the carvings that decorated the walls. Whoever the artisans, they had created a work of art in stone inside the mountain.
They came into a huge room with archways on four sides, also carved with dragons. On the roof was a night sky. In the center of the room, a stone throne sporting dragon claw feet and dragonhead armrests stood. Carved on the back of the chair, a dragon in flight blew fire from his nose and mouth. Gold gilded the whole piece. Gemstones glittered from the eyes of the dragons making you feel like they could come to life any second.
Zahrah turned decisively to the right arch and moaned softly at the closed large wooden doors. Candace recognized another piece of art in the dragon shaped black metal hinges. Two guards stood outside the entrance and a man in a red tunic with the silhouette of a black dragon on the front stood next to them.
Squaring her shoulders, Zahrah marched up to the man. Candace followed behind, her gaze caught by the magnificence of her surroundings.
“Mistress Zahrah, you’re late and haven’t changed,” the man in the tunic said in a snippy voice. He looked despairingly at the two and then stared at Engyl on her shoulder.
Candace opened her mouth to set the man straight. What did they expect after returning from a cross-country journey? Zahrah laid her hand on Candace’s arm and squeezed.
“Yes, I know, Gerald. I hoped his majesty could forgive me for the interruption. We will go instead to Cressida’s chambers and wait there.” Candace caught the hopeful note in Zahrah’s voice.
“Of course not! His majesty is exceptionally curious to meet the daughter of Cressida. I will announce you.” Gerald motioned the guards to open the door.
Zahrah sighed and sent a haphazard smile in Candace’s direction. “I’m sorry about this. I shouldn’t have let Grandmother keep me talking.”
“It’s fine. No harm done,” Candace said, though she wasn’t sure that was true. She’d hoped to meet her mother after so many years in private, not this dreadfully public meeting at dinner.
The doors finally moved all the way back and Candace realized how public. The room appeared several stories high. A huge stone table sat on a dais facing the door, surrounded by hundreds of wooden tables on the floor. Above on the right side, dragons of different colors and sizes perched, or sprawled, in huge openings carved into the mountain face. Torches flickered on the walls around the room. When a gust of air came from the openings, Candace realized they connected to the caldera.
All eyes turned toward them where they stood waiting by the door. The man in the tunic announced them. Zahrah marched down the center aisle and Candace kept pace. For some reason, she didn’t want to show any fear, not that her heart wasn’t slamming in her ears.
“Your Majesty,” Zahrah gave a little bow. “Forgive us for the interruption. We have just returned to the city.”
A man sitting at the center of the table nodded. Candace was immediately struck by his regal manner and appearance. Out of his head twisted two black horns, one on each side at least a foot long. Long black hair fell to his shoulders. He wore a gold headpiece. The light flickered over his caramel skin and the muscles in his arms. A gold beaded pectoral covered his chest below a large gold ornate collar.
“So this is Cressida’s daughter? She is lovely, my lady, just like you.” The king looked down the table to a woman wearing a dress of shear golden material. Gold bracelets decorated her bare arms and her long red hair fell in waves past her shoulders. Candace couldn’t help but stare at her mother, who didn’t look a day over twenty.
“With a phoenix as a companion. It seems you are as full of surprises as your mother before you. I welcome you to my court.” Candace’s attention snapped back to the king as he lifted his glass in salute.
Candace bowed, careful not to unseat her familiar. “Thank you, Your Majesty. It is a pleasure to be here and reunited with my mother. I’m sorry we didn’t have a chance to change.” The king nodded.
Cressida stood. “If it pleases Your Majesty, I will attend my servants in my quarters.” Candace noticed Zahrah seemed to relax at her mother’s words.
“Lady Cressida, it is the law, is it not, that a new servant to the court be charged with their duties and their oath of fealty taken?” a man two places down from the king on the other side of the table asked.
“What are they talking about?” Candace hissed to Zahrah. “Servant?” Zahrah shook her head and motioned to be quiet.
“It is, Lord Derog,” Cressida answered. “I only wished to shorten the interruption to His Majesty’s dinner and this is my daughter.”
Candace immediately disliked this Derog person. Short brown horns grew from his head covered in coffee-colored hair. His small dark eyes shifted around the room as if taking notice of who paid attention and his voice sounded like a whining teenager.
“Admirable, it’s true, and I realize that with family we are more lenient and forgiving. But this woman is a witch from the Earth plain. It is imperative she be bound to service for our protection… and hers, of course.” Candace bet he only added that last part to look good for the crowd. What was this guy’s problem?
All eyes turned to the king. He looked thoughtfully at Candace. His black eyes swirled with rainbow colors and she wondered what he saw. He rose slowly from his chair. Zahrah took a step back, releasing Candace’s hand.
“Candace, daughter of Cressida, do you by your own free will promise to give your mother, and through her, this kingdom, and me its king, your loyalty, honesty, and service to the best of your ability?”
“I do,” Candace said, her mouth suddenly dry.
“And do you promise to put the good of this kingdom and the people herein above your own and all other allegiances you may hold, except the Destined One bond?”
“I do.” Candace’s voice rang in the room.
“Then I declare to you, as your lord and king, to protect you and this kingdom to the best of my ability, I accept your service and offer my support until death parts us or our oaths are released. Let it be witnessed by the populace that Candace, daughter of Cressida is a member of her mother’s household, has given her oath of fealty and service to this kingdom, and so to me and mine.”
The king smiled down at her from the dais. Candace gulped. People began to clap from the tables on the floor. A feeling of panic rose Candace’s chest. What did she just do? More than anything, she wanted to run. At that moment, the king winked at her.
Chapter Five
Candace opened the door to the palace library balancing the many tomes her mother insisted she read on the history of the dragons. All she’d wanted was to research the Destined One laws, but Cressida wouldn’t let her check out another book until the ones her mother had selected were read.
One of the oldest works, its pages yellowed and fragile, had been about the First Dragon, Siarl. Candace became fascinated with his story about bringing the dragons to Hreghen to save them from being slaughtered by humans. It said he lived for thousands of years, and when he became tired of life, found sanctuary in the Volc
ano Omeo, which then became his tomb.
Candace headed toward the back of the room. She heard raised voices and quickly recognized the ones of Derog, who she now knew was the king’s nephew and heir to the throne.
She shuddered. Though she didn’t have any proof, her gut told her Derog was trouble.
Ducking behind a row of bookcases, she hoped her scent didn’t give her away. She’d learned to steer clear of Derog in the few weeks she’d been here in Hreghen. Every time the dragon saw her, he demanded she do some menial task, reminding her of her servanthood. The reason she was now expected to serve at dinner every night.
The argument continued and Candace crept forward leaving her pile of books behind the first case of shelves, her curiosity peaked. What trouble was Derog causing now?
“Dammit, you try my patience. I need to know where to find the First Dragon’s heart. With the heart in my possession, I will be the most powerful dragon in our land. More powerful than even my uncle. I need to strengthen my magic. The spell I used on Andras continues to drain me.”
Candace paused. The First Dragon’s Heart? Did he mean the actual organ? What spell did he use on Andras?
“Your Highness, I expect the volume I need to be returned at any minute. I already shared the scroll with you, containing the map and outlining the requirements of the person to touch the stone. Only one who is pure of heart is allowed to take possession of the Dragon’s Heart.”
Stone? Candace shook her head. What stone?
“Yes, yes, always these items want the pure of heart and speak of terrible traps. I thought to send Andras who still garners respect from most of dragon kind, even without shifting. Now who has the book?”
“Lady Cressida has it at the moment.”
Candace crept a little closer.
“Cressida? What does she want with it?”
“I believe she felt her daughter should be properly educated about her dragon ancestors. Cressida borrowed a whole range of works on our history and traditions.”
“Hmm, her daughter. A virgin. It surprised me to find her scent quite enjoyable. Especially fresh and new.”
“One would almost say ‘pure,’ Highness,” the librarian said.
“‘Pure.’ Are you suggesting I should send Cressida’s daughter to get the stone? What is her name?”
“Candace, sir. A virgin would be considered pure of heart and since she is a servant, she would be expendable.”
Candace stuffed her fist in her mouth to quiet her gasp. Expendable? One thing she’d learned about dragons, they could be selfish and cruel.
“Hmm. I could finally rid myself of Andras if I sent her instead. But how would I get her services without drawing attention? As a member of her mother’s house, she is bound to her mother’s service. I can only order her to do menial short term tasks.”
“The king has been melancholy of late. It will soon be time for another Virgin’s Dance. Once the king makes his choice, the other girls are often offered to the rest of the unmated dragons. You could claim the girl after the dance.”
“What if Enfys chooses Cressida’s daughter? This might get me nothing.”
“Only a suggestion, Your Highness.”
“Well, I’ll think about it. Get that book back from Cressida. I want to know all I can about the first dragon and his heart.” Derog swept from the room.
Candace waited a few moments and crept back to the door. Her heart pounded. She took the small book about the first dragon and shelved it near the exit. Then she opened the large heavy door and let is slam with a loud bang.
“Hello?” she called, standing as if she just entered the room.
“Yes, yes! How many times must I tell someone not to slam the door?” the old man librarian asked, marching down the main aisle. When he saw Candace, he paused. The scowl left his face and he smiled showing yellow crooked teeth.
Candace grimaced. Squaring her shoulders, she carried the pile of volumes to the man and placed them in his hands. The stack came to the bottom of his nose. At least she didn’t have to look in his mouth anymore.
“Lady Cressida instructed me to return these. She wishes volumes about Destined One law in Hreghen to be next. Oh, and a book about the phoenix, if you have one.”
The old man swayed slightly from the weight of the tomes. For a moment, Candace felt sorry for him. Then she remembered he had been plotting with Derog and looked expectantly at the man.
“Is there a problem?” Candace asked.
“Not at all,” the old man turned and headed back to his desk. “Give me a moment to re-shelve these.”
“I’m sorry, Lady Cressida was quite adamant I return forthwith. If you would get me the other books she desires, I will be on my way and you can re-shelve the returned volumes at your leisure.”
The librarian dropped the pile of tomes with a large bang on the table he used as a desk. The noise echoed through the vast space.
“Oh, very well. This way please. Here is a work about rare birds.” He handed Candace a blue clothbound book. “Destined One law. Hmm, I believe we have only one book on that subject. Here it is.” The man pulled a small red volume off a shelf. He handed it over almost reluctantly.
“You have the requisite two weeks before they need to be returned.”
“Of course.” Candace took the book and hurried toward the door.
Once near the shelf where she’d hidden the other book, she glanced back to see what the librarian was doing. Luckily, he muttered to himself as he crossed the names of the volumes she’d returned from a huge ledger, completely ignoring her.
Candace reached for the work on the First Dragon and noticed the title sitting adjacent, “The Marwolaeth.” She quickly grabbed both books and hid them under the one on Destined One law before hurrying out of the library.
“Who can I warn about Derog and his plot?”
§
After returning his armor to the armor room, Haytham took his shower. The cool liquid felt good on his arm as the water heater slowly kicked on. Once the temperature reached a tolerable level, Haytham took his time washing. His mind kept returning to the fight. The look of anguish on Owen’s face when Elise disappeared, held by the Red Wizard. He knew that pain. He needed to find Candace.
The Red Wizard vanished, so Haytham’s leave started immediately, there wasn’t anything stopping him from going now. His uncle couldn’t stop him from claiming his Destined One, no matter what his uncle said. The Witch Council would rule in Hay’s favor. Time to face Aiden and get Candace back from wherever her brother sent her.
He dressed quickly, suddenly energized by the thought of Candace in his arms. He visualized the front of the blacksmith’s shop on Epsom Street and ported.
Walking into the backdoor of the shop, he found Aiden drinking from a bottle of whiskey at the table.
“Aiden, we need to talk. Isn’t it a little early to be tying one on?”
Aiden looked at Haytham from blurry eyes, his shoulders slumped, and a lone tear slowly made its way down his cheek.
“I’m so sorry. You’ve got to go after Candace.” Aiden wrung his hands. “Our mother is going to marry her off to the King of the Dragons. Time flows differently in Hreghen. It’s only been a few days for us, but it’s been almost a month for Candace. As her Destined One, you can demand her return. You’re her only hope.”
“Dammit, Aiden! What have you done?” Haytham stomped over to the big man and pulled him out of the chair. He wanted to shake him.
“I just tried to protect her. Here, take this.” Aiden pressed a gold dragon pin into Hay’s hands.
“What is it?” Haytham asked, releasing the man and taking the pin.
“A piece of dragon scale. It’s the only way you can go through the portal without getting burned. I’ll start the fire. Grab that sword on the wall. You might need it.”
“That sounds ominous.” Haytham picked up the sword. He pulled it from its sheath and hefted it in his hand admiring the balance. “Did you make th
is?”
“Yeah.” A whoosh of flames filled the fireplace and then Hay heard the mumbled sound of a spell. Aiden peered inside. “Good, it’s daylight over there. I shouldn’t have sent Candace through at night. The sand crabs hunt at night.”
“Sand crabs? What are you talking about?”
“Okay, here’s a water bottle and a sack of food. I meant to send it with Candace, then we got attacked.” Haytham watched in amazement to see the big man move so quickly.
Haytham fixed the sword in its sheath to his belt, then slung the bag and water bottle over his shoulder.
“There’s only one thing you need to know about Hreghen,” Aiden said. “If it breathes, it’s dangerous. Good luck.”
Haytham started to turn to look at Aiden when the big man pushed him into the fireplace. Heat blasted him. Flames surrounded him.
Haytham stumbled over the stacked wood and fell back onto scorching sand. A blue sky spread out above him, the sun hot on his skin. Every breath he took burned. He jumped up. The portal of fire winked out. A wall of dirt rose before him. Trapped!
“Dammit, Aiden! Someone needs to talk to you about your social skills.”
Checking his clothes and belongings, Hay found not a single piece of ash, nor a singe mark. He looked around the area and noticed the tunnels surrounding the box canyon. Where was he supposed to go? The sun shone so brightly, it hurt his eyes.
Haytham moved along the canyon wall trying to find some shade. A strange skittering noise came from within one of the recesses. Remembering what Aiden said about everything breathing being dangerous, Haytham backed away from the wall and hurried around one of the large blocks that littered the canyon floor. His foot nudged something in the sand. A glint of silver beckoned and Haytham picked up a small silver flute.
He blew over the surface to remove some of the dust and saw a gryphon etched into the side. The Air House emblem. Something about the flute called to Hay. He ran his thumb over the etching of the gryphon.
Fiery Magic Page 6
