by Nathan Roden
Simon pointed a talon.
“Look at that pathetic creature. I’ll wager that he has not eaten for days.”
“Aye, that may be,” Boone said. “But there is nothing we can do about it. If there are five, or ten, or twenty or more of them, we cannot save them—just as we cannot save this one.”
Simon said no more. He continued to stare up the King’s Road, and the spectacle of the dragon in chains being driven forward at the point of a whip.
“We should go, Simon,” Boone said. “There is nothing we can—”
“Soon,” Simon said. “Very soon, my friend.”
Boone sighed and sat down with his back against the wall.
“There is nothing we can do,” he whispered to himself.
The men and the dragon disappeared behind the walls of the arena. The sounds of the crowd within the arena rose. Boone stood and stepped next to Simon.
“I know that this troubles you, my King. Why do you torture yourself? Why don’t we just leave this place?”
Simon continued to stare at the arena walls, though he could see nothing. Boone stepped away and waited.
Movement on the King’s Road caught Boone’s attention. He raised the spyglass.
“Simon! Look!”
Simon climbed down from the wall.
“There! On the King’s Road!” Boone said. “Riding away at full gallop—and…and clad only in her under—”
“That is Jaclyn.”
“Now, do not allow your eyes to deceive you, Your Grace,” Boone said. “It is most unlikely that the Queen is riding away from the arena in her undergarments—”
“I am not deceived,” Simon said. “I would know her anywhere.”
“Well, it is definitely time for us to go,” Boone said.
“Yes, it is,” Simon said.
“Climb on. I will take you to the cave, and then I am going to her.”
“Going to her?” Boone said. “Have you lost your—?”
“Get on.”
“Let us discuss this, Si—”
Simon glared at Boone. His eyes blazed with orange flame. He turned his head aside.
“NOW!” Simon barked. Flame shot from his mouth and struck the wall.
Boone climbed on.
Simon flew at such a speed that Boone could barely breathe. He held on so tightly that his entire body became numb. Just when he reached the point that he thought he would fall, Simon began to dive down. He slowed and hovered over the ground. Boone slipped off. Without a word, Simon flapped his wings and shot into the sky. Boone fell from a distance of several feet, landing on his back. He groaned, rolled over, and climbed to his feet. He looked up and watched the dragon disappear into the clouds.
“Your mother, the sorceress, and now your brother’s wife—the Queen. What a way you have with the ladies, my friend!” Boone said aloud. He stretched his arms and pushed a fist against the small of his back.
“We are going to die in such spectacular fashion!”
Twenty-Five
Jaclyn buried her face in the horse’s mane. Her eyes burned from the force of the wind—and her tears. She refused to allow the horse to slow down as they sped up the King’s Road.
Jaclyn had no idea where she was going, but she longed to be far away from Lucien and his evil, evil uncle—
And the dead dragon, who reminded her of the friend she had missed for five unbelievably long years.
The horse reared slightly and whinnied. It came to an abrupt halt, forcing Jaclyn to throw her arms around the horse’s neck.
Two large trees lay across the road—extending from one side of the forest to the other.
“This is my fault, I’m afraid.”
Jaclyn jumped and shrieked when she heard the voice.
A long-forgotten, yet hauntingly familiar voice. The voice came from the forest.
“I wanted you to stop—but I did not want the horse to rear and fall on you. That would be bad manners.”
Jaclyn slid from the horse’s back. She took one cautious step toward the trees. She leaned forward.
“It is YOU, is it not?”
“Your scaly old friend with the big teeth. Yes.”
“And the…the wings?”
“Let me look…yes, I still have them,” said the voice.
“Simon,” Jaclyn whispered. “Are you going to come out where I can see you?”
“You should tie-off your horse. He will not like me.”
Simon stepped onto the road.
“I have missed you,” Jaclyn said.
“Aw, I wager that you say that to all the dragons.”
Jaclyn giggled.
“And that is what I have missed most of all!”
Simon braced himself when he saw Jaclyn running at him. She threw her arms around him, as best she could.
“Get away from her, foul creature!”
Nicolas Lamont and his lieutenant, Garrett stood with bows taut—with arrows aimed at Simon’s head.
“Father! No!” Jaclyn cried.
“Get away from it, Jaclyn,” Lamont said. “Our arrows are aimed at the beast’s eyes. At this distance, we cannot miss.”
Jaclyn turned around. She backed against the dragon’s body and spread her arms to protect him.
“You will do no such thing!” she shouted. “I am the Queen! You will do as I say! Put your bows down!”
Garrett kept his arrow aimed at the dragon’s head as he shifted his weight between his feet. He was confused and conflicted, and looked toward Lamont for guidance.
“Jaclyn,” Lamont said quietly. His bow remained steady. “I know that what happened in the arena upset you, but—”
“He is my friend, Father!” Jaclyn cried. “My truest friend! If you want to kill him—you will have to kill me first!”
“Viceroy Lamont—I would die a thousand deaths before I harmed a hair on your daughter’s head,” the dragon said.
Garrett’s knees buckled and he dropped his bow.
“Great Vehallion’s ghost!” Nicolas Lamont whispered. He lowered his bow.
“You can speak!”
“Of course, he can speak, Father,” Jaclyn said. “He was meant to be King! And he speaks the language of a King!”
“But you must understand, Jaclyn. It is cursed—and hunted by every swordsman in the realm—!”
“That does not make it right!” Jaclyn said. “Simon bears no responsibility for the curse—as he bears no responsibility for those that rule in his stead! The Kingdom has fallen to the wicked—Lord Sterling may as well declare himself to be King and Queen!”
There was a rustling in the trees. Lamont caught Garret’s eye and nodded toward where the sound had come from. Garrett drew his sword and circled around. He disappeared into the forest.
“You speak the truth, my daughter—and my Queen,” Lamont said. “But the truth changes nothing. The Morgenwraithes have beaten the people down and destroyed any hope that the state of tyranny can be overthrown. This has gone on now for four generations, and it is Lord Sterling’s every intention to keep it that way. Your husband is King in name only. He is but a boy! A frightened boy.”
“And that boy now knows that a dragon will bleed—and die,” Simon said. “While his subjects cheer and chant his name.”
“If you make it a practice to attend these ceremonies, you will not be long for this world,” Lamont said. “What is it you hope to achieve? Did you learn nothing the night that my men tried to kill you at Islemar? Do you plan more of your little midnight chats with the Queen—until you are caught and both of your heads end up displayed on the castle walls?”
“I have stayed away for five years, My Lord—”
“And you should stay away for five more!” Lamont snapped.
“I told you that Simon is my friend, Father,” Jaclyn said. “Does that mean nothing to you?”
Lamont breathed heavily and his shoulders slumped.
“I truly wish that it could be that simple, my love. But I am thinking only o
f your safety—and the safety of our people. You may not yet realize it, but your status as Queen is important to so many. Our family, the people of Islemar—they all sleep well at night because you sit at the right hand of the King.
“Jaclyn, if it was ever discovered…
“Do you have you any idea how difficult it was to keep word from getting out that this….this….thing was visiting our home—”
Jaclyn began to cry.
“He is not a Thing!” she croaked. “He is a boy who had his birthright stolen from him! A boy who would have put an end to the murderous and evil ways of his ancestors!”
“And should you be caught with him,” Lamont said, “his family will take your head. And his. Soon after, they will take mine, and your mother’s. And our homeland—our home, Jaclyn, will become just another abomination.”
More rustling came from the trees.
A young man, dressed in dark work clothes, stumbled onto the road. Garrett walked behind him, holding a handful of the young man’s hair. The point of Garrett’s sword was at the man’s back.
“Well, look what I have found, My Lord,” Garrett said. “The forest has eyes and ears.”
Garrett marched the young man closer to the dragon. The man tried to break free and run, but he found Nicolas Lamont’s sword at his throat.
Lamont glared at the young man.
“Who is he?”
“A Royal stable boy, so he says,” Garrett said.
“How did he get here so quickly?”
“He is either about the King’s business, or he has stolen a Royal horse,” Garrett said.
“I am going to lower my sword,” Lamont said to the young man.
“Do not move. This has been a very, very bad day.”
Lamont turned to Jaclyn.
“Do you recognize this man?”
“Yes,” Jaclyn said.
“What do you know about him—other than he possesses knowledge of horses?”
Jaclyn stared at the ground.
Nicolas Lamont put his finger under his daughter’s chin and lifted her head.
“This is most important, my Queen.”
“He whispers to Lord Sterling,” Jaclyn said.
“No!” the young man cried.
Lamont lifted his sword again.
“Lord Sterling asks after my sisters—and my cousins!”
“Liar!” Jaclyn screamed. “Sterling does not ask after girls! He takes them! And he does with them whatever he wishes!”
“Boy,” Lamont said. “Do you know the penalty for lying to the Queen, and to a Kingdom’s Viceroy?”
“I am not lying, My Lord! I will say nothing to anyone! Your secrets will go with me to my grave!”
“So, you admit that you followed the Queen on the order of Lord Sterling in order to report back to him?”
“Yes….well, no—I mean…”
“Turn aside, Jaclyn,” Lamont said softly.
“What?” Jaclyn said. “No. What do you mean to—? I will not turn away and hide from the ugliness of this world. This is my Kingdom!”
“Please, Jaclyn,” Lamont whispered.
“No, Father, I will—”
Everyone jumped when the dragon unfurled his wings. He carefully wrapped them around Jaclyn.
“No, Simon!” Jaclyn said weakly.
She stretched her arms around the dragon and laid her head against his belly.
“I swear on my blessed mother,” the stable boy moaned. “I would never—!”
Those were the stable boy’s last words. Nicolas Lamont shoved his knife blade into the young man’s throat.
“Let us get him onto your horse,” Lamont said to Garrett. “Do away with the body where it will not be found. Return to Morgenwraithe. Tell Lady Lamont that I ordered you back to attend to her before we caught up with Jaclyn.”
“What about his horse?” Garrett asked.
“Untie it,” Lamont said. “It will find its way home.”
Twenty-Six
Garrett disappeared down the King’s Road.
Simon unfurled his wings. Jaclyn lowered her arms.
“Jaclyn,” Lamont said. May I have a private word with your friend?”
Jaclyn nodded and stepped away.
Lamont took three steps toward the dragon. He looked up.
“Thank you,” he said.
Simon nodded.
“I will not let her be hurt—in her body, her heart, or her mind.”
“How did you form such a strong bond with my daughter? You could not have met with her more than a few times.”
“Did you never ask her?” Simon asked.
Lamont turned and looked at Jaclyn. She had her back turned.
“She would not speak to me for quite some time,” Lamont said. “So many times, I found her crying. I tried to comfort her, but she would only look at me and ask ‘why?’ ‘Why did you kill my friend?’ It broke my heart.”
“What do you wish me to say?” Simon asked.
“You choose a difficult path,” Lamont said. “If you care deeply for both the Queen and the King.”
“I only know of my brother as a baby,” Simon said. “Thus far, his reign as King speaks for itself.”
“He has had no chance to do anything other than obey Lord Sterling,” Lamont said.
“It is my hope to one day—” Simon began.
“You hope to one day do what? To break this curse, somehow? Is this your plan?”
“Yes, it is, My Lord,” Simon said. “Perhaps it seems hopeless to you and to everyone else—but it is all that I think about. What else do I have? Every long day and every endless night. Yes. It is my plan. And I will see it come to pass, or I will die in its pursuit.”
Lamont nodded.
“I admire your dedication. And your will. But how would we be assured that your reign would be any different from what we have now? You are still a Morgenwraithe. The blood of ruthless tyrants runs in your veins.”
“That is true, Viceroy. My first order of business would be to return to the surname that belonged to my family since the dawn of time.”
Lamont narrowed his eyes.
“Sterling would kill you for even speaking such a thing.”
Simon laughed.
“Sterling needs no more incentive to kill me!”
“Any man in the Realm would be put to death for even mentioning the former surname of the Morgenwraithes,” Lamont said.
“You know the name, then?” Simon asked.
“Smyth,” Lamont said.
“Very good,” Simon said. “The name says so much about our past, does it not? Ten years of building weapons to outfit an army strong enough to overthrow a King’s Guard, a King’s Army, and turn away a weak group of allies. My family has a glorious heritage, don’t you think?”
“Many in my family were slaughtered in those wars,” Lamont said.
“And good people they were, I am most certain,” Simon said. “You must see why breaking this curse is my obsession, Lord Lamont. I care nothing about tournaments and parades, robes and thrones. I care about the Kingdom being ravaged by wicked men while I hide from swords and arrows.”
Lamont looked down at the ground.
“I cannot reconcile myself to hearing such noble words from the mouth of a beast. They say that you take human form for one day—at the full moon.”
Simon said nothing.
Lamont stared up at him.
“I would very much like to look you in the eye when you are a man.”
“My heart is the same regardless of the skin I wear. And so is my mind.”
“I believe that,” Lamont said. He turned aside.
“I cannot help you. I would very much like to see the wretched curse broken, but there is much at stake. I have too much to risk.”
“I understand, My Lord,” Simon said.
“Thank you, again, Simon Morgen—Simon Smyth.”
“I hid her eyes from pain, My Lord. Nothing more.”
“No. You have
given her the one thing that no one else can.
“Hope.”
“We have to go, Jaclyn,” Lamont said. “Others will be coming.”
“When will I see you again, Simon?” Jaclyn asked.
Nicolas Lamont grabbed the reins of his and Jaclyn’s horses. He paused to hear Simon’s answer.
“Your father is right. I…I should not have come here today. It is too danger—”
Jaclyn threw her arms around the dragon.
“I will never know another day without danger. I do not need an answer. I will see you again.”
“Yes, my Queen,” Simon bowed.
Lamont and Jaclyn mounted their horses and galloped up the King’s Road, back toward the village and the castle beyond.
Simon took to the sky in the opposite direction.
The woman craned her neck and watched Simon disappear over the forest.
“What an amazing day,” Magdalena whispered to herself.
She walked several paces toward the village. She saw a horse from the King’s stable grazing beside the road. She tied up its reins so that they could not become tangled in the branches.
And then she leaned over and placed her hands on the ground.
Lady Magdalena, in the body of a wolf, ran for home.
Twenty-Seven
“Boy!” Sterling growled.
“Yes, My Lord,” the servant boy bowed his head.
Sterling sat in the Counsel chamber of Morgenwraithe castle. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. The chair was designated to belong to the King during official assembly, but Sterling took great pleasure in making it his own. He dared anyone to object. Sterling had never dared to sit upon the actual throne, but many people noted the lustful look in his eye whenever he entered the throne room.
