The King's Secret

by Maryam Durrani

  His mouth opened wide as he let out a battle cry, raising his battle ax. He swung it towards my neck. I ducked, the blade nearly scalping me. Reaching up, I grabbed onto his collar, the chainmail rattling as I threw him to the floor.

  As the horseman crashed onto the ground, I grabbed onto the horse’s reins, hauling myself up. It reared, and I grabbed onto its mane, steadying myself. The horse shook its head, whinnying, its forelegs slamming into the ground.

  “Easy,” I said, nearly out of breath. I kicked its side, urging it forward. From this height, I could see much more of the battlefield.

  As I recouped, ready to plunge into battle again, I noticed something strange. It was a deep, rumbling sound that seemed

  to be coming from far, far away, further than the battlefield.

  I anxiously gripped my sword which, dripped with blood

  holding the horse steady.

  Everything seemed to slow down.

  The sound was coming from behind me.

  I pulled on the reins, turning the horse around painstakingly slow.

  The sky was turning red, an earsplitting screech ripping through the sky.

  It can’t be.

  A roar thundered from a distance, and everyone around me ducked, lowering their heads. The warriors’ focus seemed to shift away from each other, towards the sky.

  There was silence.

  My stomach sank in horror.

  In that moment, the drakon’s jaws exploded through the fog.

  THIRTY ONE

  The horned creature exploded through the foggy sky, an inferno erupting from its throat. Its massive wings beat against the wind, causing the horses to go wild in fear. I watched in terror as the drakon’s red eyes reflected the flames it breathed onto the opposing side.

  Astodia was burning to the ground in front of my eyes.

  I yanked onto the horse’s reins, leading it away from the fiery eruptions.

  Tarquin must’ve known or figured out his heritage, sending the drakon as his final resort.

  Then, I remembered the plan.

  I looked at the castle walls where the ballistas had been prepared. I prayed my plan would work, that the explosives would injure the beast. That had been the plan I came up with last night.

  I had visited Lance later that night, asking him to fill explosives with shards of elven metal and drakon scales from the tunnels, hoping that the unique alloy and combination would be able to pierce through its scales.

  I watched as the ballistas were aimed.

  The drakon dove, breathing its flames onto the earth, melting the snow—and people—along with it.

  Its clouded onyx scales shimmered, reflecting the hungry flames that decorated the landscape. The sky had turned a fiery

  shade of orange,

  as if it itself was about to burst into flames.

  The drakon swooped over the castle walls, its claws reaching for something to grab onto.

  Now! My mind screamed. Shoot it now!

  It was as if the men had heard me. The bolt-throwers were aimed.

  I gritted my teeth.

  Ten large arrows flew at once, slamming into the drakon. An explosion blasted through the sky, a large cloud of fire and smoke forming around the beast. Metal shards flew, crashing against its scales.

  I shielded my eyes even though I was at a safe distance from the falling fragments and debris.

  The drakon let out a shrill, wounded screech, and my hopes rose. I felt a smile start on my lips.

  It had worked.

  I opened my mouth to laugh, relief exploding through my body.

  And then, through the dying flames,

  rose an almighty drakon . . .

  Untouched.

  The smile fell away.

  Sheer panic flooded through my veins, my throat closing up.

  I wracked my brain for an answer, searching frantically for another way to kill it. There had to be a way, there had to . . .

  The drakon decided it didn’t need to use its wings anymore. It flew up to the sky, disappearing into the clouds.

  There was a sickening silence.

  And then it came, hurtling through the fog. The huge beast

  crashed into the wall, the impact sending it crumbling to the

  ground. Dust erupted as the wall fell apart, men and ballistas disappearing under the rubble.

  Something was wrong.

  The opposing army seemed very, very afraid, as if they hadn’t expected to see it. The drakon wasn’t only attacking us, it was attacking them.

  Why would Tarquin attack his own people?

  Through the distance, I saw a woman riding away from the battle, towards the castle, her cape flowing behind her, whipping in the wind.

  As I prepared to follow her, I heard a deep growl beside me.

  Omen.

  I jumped off the saddle onto Omen’s back.

  “Good boy,” I cooed, patting his neck. “Come on. We have to hurry!”

  The panthera made a low, guttural sound in the back of his throat. He bounded through the men and I held on, leaning forward to allow him to move faster.

  We pushed through the field, moving towards the castle. The woman, whom I was sure was Aedon, had disappeared again.

  “Come on, come on!” I shouted, coaxing Omen to move faster.

  We approached what had once been the gates, the drakon roaring above our heads. It was circling the castle, slamming against the towers, trying to find a way in. Rock crumbled around us as Omen leaped through an opening in the wall, climbing up piles of broken stone.

  I pointed towards the door of the castle. From there, I could get to the towers easily.

  Omen burst through the doors. With the force of the movement, I was launched forward, thrown off his back. I rolled

  onto the hard ground, bruising my hip badly.

  I held my breath, squeezing my eyes shut as I worked through the pain.

  “Stay here,” I ordered Omen. Staggering to my feet and clutching my hip, I began to run towards the steps. He tried following me, but I stopped him again.

  “Stay.”

  I needed him out of harm’s way and ready for me if I needed to leave here quickly.

  Omen bared his teeth, sinking to the ground. His belly nearly brushed the polished floors, a sign that he was ready to pounce. He was just waiting for the signal.

  I did have another plan, but it all depended on the resources that would be available to me once I reached the top.

  On the steps above me, I saw a flash of dark hair.

  Aedon.

  My thoughts were in disarray, my mind a jumble.

  Something—most probably the drakon—slammed into a section of the castle, causing the walls to shake. I tried to steady myself. I flew up the stairs, skipping steps. Aedon was gone again, the stairwell empty. She had disappeared through the door that led to—

  The throne room.

  She was targeting the queen.

  I pushed through the doors, my mind racing. My boots slid against the floor, the bottoms slick with a mixture of snow, dirt, and blood—leaving footprints similar to Aedon’s.

  I could see them on the floor, making it easier for me to follow her.

  The footsteps disappeared behind the large, intricately carved doors of the throne room.

  Bursting through the doors I doubled over, trying to suck in

  air.

  There they were.

  “Put down . . . your sword!” I ordered through gasps for air. “Don’t touch her.”

  Aedon Sarafian’s head whipped towards me. She stood a few feet from the queen, gripping a thin, long sword in her left hand.

  “Well, if it isn’t the assassin.”

  I pulled out my sword.

  “We can settle this another way,” I said, holding out my hand. “She’s unarmed.”

  Lorelle was, in fact, armed. She had multiple weapons strapped to her body under her loose tunic, hidden in her boots. There was even a small switchblade hidden i
n her hair.

  I glanced at the queen. Her expression seemed unfazed, but I could see the distress in her blue eyes.

  “I’m doing what you would do, Adalia,” Aedon said nonchalantly. A black suit wrapped around her figure, hugging her body. Detailed emerald-green designs flowed through the suit, unlike anything I had seen before. A thin cloak fell from her shoulders, dragging against the ground. Black boots rose over her knees, dark hair falling over Aedon’s chest.

  She looked unearthly.

  “I wouldn’t kill the king even if he asked me to,” I said, the lie rolling off my tongue.

  Aedon threw her head back, letting out a malevolent guffaw.

  “You’re joking, right?” she raised an eyebrow.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lorelle inching away from the woman. Suddenly, Aedon’s head whipped back in her direction.

  Lorelle froze, and I could feel her heart sink. Before Aedon

  could move, another slam shook the castle, causing the chan-

  delier above our heads to sway.

  “Run!” I screamed at Lorelle, who stood frozen, staring at the ceiling.

  I willed myself to move, sprinting towards the queen. I jumped onto her, cushioning Lorelle’s head with my hand. As my fingers came between the ground and her head, I barely had time to react to the deafening pain.

  I lifted my arm, covering my face as the chandelier smashed into the ground, shards of glass flying everywhere. I felt them clinking against the metal armor which offered a lot of protection—but that didn’t stop the fragments from digging into my palms, forearms, and some exposed parts of my face.

  I pushed myself off the queen, searching for any signs Aedon. I eventually spotted her lying next to a column, blood dripping down her forehead from a wound in her scalp.

  My body ached. I flexed my fingers, rolling my shoulders to calm myself.

  “Did Tarquin send the drakon?” I called, my eyes scanning for my sword. I found it lying a few feet away, and ran towards it, snatching it off the ground.

  “Tarquin?” Aedon laughed again, her voice echoing around the crumbling room. “That coward couldn’t look at a drawing of the drakon without running for the hills.”

  “Who was it?” I asked. “Valentin?”

  She continued to laugh, absolutely no humor in the cold, electrifying sound.

  “You overestimate those spineless fools,” she finally said when her laughter had ceased. Aedon shook her head, smirking.

  I frowned, curious. “Did you have anything to do w—”

  We were cut off by another crash, this time, much louder

  and more effective.

  Silence.

  Suddenly, a portion of the room exploded.

  The throne room fell apart around us as drakon’s claw reached in. Outside, it let out a clamorous screech.

  As quick as it had come, the drakon had retracted its claw. I heard the beat of its wings as it flew away.

  Aedon picked up her sword, twisting it between her fingers, then aimed it towards me.

  “Give me the queen.”

  The corner of my lip twitched.

  We stood on two ends of the broad, spacious room. Her boots clicked against the ground as she approached me, charcoal armor clinking.

  “Who are you?” I called.

  “I’m just like you.”

  “Adalia,” Lorelle whispered, looking at me with her wide eyes, auburn hair falling around her face, “do you have a plan?”

  I swallowed, nodding slightly. I do, but I’m just not sure if it will work.

  “Then you have to get out of here.”

  “And leave you here? I don’t think so,” I shook my head.

  “Adalia,” she said, her voice gentle. “I used to be a part of the rebels. I can handle myself.”

  “Yes, but it’s my duty to protect you.” I began to run towards Aedon, raising my sword. In a flash, hers was pressed against mine, the edges of the blades screeching against each other.

  The thudding of wings returned. I could hear the sound from a distance.

  Fifty seconds.

  If I didn’t leave, the drakon would win.

  “Come with me.”

  She shook her head.

  “If she follows me,” Lorelle whispered under her breath, “I can bring her towards the drakon’s fire.”

  “You’re not sacrificing yourself,” I scowled.

  The queen turned around to one of the stands of knight armor, pulling out the sword with a clang.

  “If you don’t leave now,” she said, her voice deadly serious, “I will have you committed for treason.”

  “You’re coming with me,” I said, ending the argument.

  As I started towards the door, Aedon moved quickly, blocking it. “Let’s end this here.”

  “The drakon is coming. We can settle this elsewhere.”

  “I know,” she smiled smugly.

  Twenty seconds.

  The door flew open, Ashes entering. She was holding a silver bow in her hands, aiming an arrow at her mother.

  With a cry fiercer than a warrior’s, Lorelle took the opportunity of Aedon being distracted and shot in the opposite direction, running away from the exit and towards the wall.

  “No!”

  Aedon took off, running towards the queen.

  Five seconds.

  “Adalia!” Lorelle shouted, “Get the hell out of here!”

  Ashes ran to the center of the room, climbing onto the rubble. She aimed the arrow again, hair flying around her face fiercely.

  With a mighty roar, the drakon ripped away the ceiling, slamming its body through the whole thing. Falling rock created craters and large holes in the ground, exposing—and decimating—other rooms in the castle.

  Ashes was hit.

  I watched her fall, unconscious, rolling towards the ground.

  She was too far from reach. I jumped over the piles of rock, climbing towards the opposite side of the room.

  “Ashes, get up!” I shouted. “We have to get out of here!”

  She didn’t move.

  I glanced at Lorelle who was parrying Aedon’s attacks, feeling sick to my stomach.

  Above us, the drakon circled.

  What do I do what do I do WHAT DO I—

  “Phoenix!” I screamed.

  “Get out of here!” Lorelle bellowed. “That is an order!”

  My head whipped to the side as I slid towards the door, pulling it open. I couldn’t leave the queen. I couldn’t leave Ashes. It had been my duty to protect them. I had to go back—

  “Go!” Lorelle screamed as I took a step towards her.

  The drakon opened its jaws, thunder exploding from its stomach.

  I rolled out of the room, the doors shutting behind me. Getting to my feet, I began to run back towards where I had left Omen. There was still a chance I could save her, but first I was going to have to get rid of the drakon.

  Suddenly, a heard an explosion. All I could feel was heat as I looked over my shoulder.

  My stomach sank in horror.

  The doors of the room had flown off their hinges, crashing into the wall of the corridor. Fire erupted from the entrance to the throne room.

  Lorelle.

  ASHES—

  The fire was approaching me.

  I began to run, the flames licking at my heels, my heart

  pounding in my chest. As I reached the steps, I realized that I

  wasn’t going to make it.

  So I jumped.

  I leaped off the top of the staircase, landing badly on my ankle. A scream tore from my lips as I heard a crack.

  I rolled to the side, avoiding the white-hot flames.

  The fire died away.

  I lay on the floor, writhing in pain. My chest rose and fell as I tried to catch my breath. There was no possible way Lorelle, Aedon, or Ashes had survived that fire. My eyes burned as I lay on my side.

  With a sudden burst of anger, I slammed my fist against the ground, letting
out a scream of frustration. Tears slid from the corner of my eye, over the bridge of my nose. The entrances to the towers were blocked.

  The only option I had left was to climb the walls surrounding the castle.

  THIRTY TWO

  I rode Omen towards the tall, rock walls. In each tower on the wall stood a ballista. They were empty, as if all the men who were there had retreated as soon as they caught sight of the horned drakon.

  There was a rope ladder swinging in the wind at the base of the wall. I dismounted Omen, grimacing as I landed on my injured foot.

  “You have to stay here, boy,” I said, patting his head. “Stay away from the drakon and stay safe.”

  He tried following me up the rope, giving up after a few attempts.

  The rope ladder was unstable, swinging as I used all the strength in my arms to pull myself up. My muscles lit on fire as I climbed, the bruises and wounds that decorated my body coming alive.

  As I pulled myself up, I realized the towers were very high up. I steadied myself, trying not to look down. The wall walk was wide with merlons and arrow loops, but the side facing towards the castle was flat, making it easy for anyone to just roll off.

  I limped towards the opposite side of the wall, peering out

  from the embrasure.

  The fog had gotten thicker, and I could barely see which side was winning.

  There was no time for rest, but my body screamed for it. I inhaled slowly, exhaling, trying to peer through the fog.

  I noticed something moving in the fog, far behind the enemy. I squinted.

  What . . .?

  My jaw dropped open, a sudden wave of joy overwhelming me. Through the distance was an army of, not horsemen, but pantheras.

  “Yes!” I screamed, pumping my fists. Relief and happiness overcame me. Cyprian rode his panthera, Cinder, leading his army of a thousand men and beasts. With the beasts, their strength tripled. I gripped the merlons, pushing myself up as I laughed, cheering them on.

  My happiness was soon replaced with fear.

  Behind me, I heard the overwhelming roar of the drakon.

  The sound was too close.

  I whipped around to face the ladder leading up to the tower with the ballista.

  I could make it. The drakon’s roars shook the tower. I gripped the ladder as it swung, holding on for my life.