by Ben Alderson
“What about my father?” Hadrian spoke up.
“For all we know, King Dalior is lost.” The words stung. Hadrian’s blue hue intensified as he turned to the person who spoke. Penna.
I bit down hard on my lip, worried for Penna’s safety. I didn’t want Hadrian acting out. From Penna’s cold smirk, that is what he wanted.
“Watch your mouth, Star Reader, or you will not have one for long.” Hadrian’s threat barred down on him. The entire council, including the Queen, flinched from the heat that rippled from Hadrian as his Heartfire grew.
“Prince Hadrian, I ask that you stand down. This is no place for common arguments.”
“You are not my Queen, nor do you hold command over me. Keep your pets in line before I show them why Heart Magick is so feared.”
This was not Hadrian speaking. I sensed his dark turn. Nyah flinched, mouth pinched with worry as if she sensed something more. Her gaze kept flickering to Hadrian then back to the Queen.
I moved, standing between him and the council, and placed my hands on his chest. I felt the fast beat of his heart and the large breaths he was taking.
“Stop. Enough,” I said.
I moved my head until Hadrian only kept his eye contact with me. The purple shirt he wore began to wilt as the warm blue flame ate away at it. It hissed as it grew, turning material to cinders and creating streams of smoke to crawl into the waiting air.
“You need to control this, Hadrian; otherwise, you know what will happen.”
His Heartfire was bubbling beneath him, waiting for an excuse to devour.
“The Staff of Light,” someone said, distracting us all.
Cristilia stood from her place on the desk, an ivory dress spilling around her; a waterfall of beads and silk.
Her words were like Emaline’s water, cooling Hadrian’s fire until the smoke settled and shirt hung awkwardly off his shoulder. He truly looked like a prince of ash.
“The Staff of Light is the only resolution to Prince Hadrian’s affliction.”
Queen Kathine face paled at the mention of the Staff.
“Queen Kathine and council, you know this is the only way to prevent the Heartfire from changing the Prince. He must be cleansed if they ever have a chance of stopping the Druid. My heart pains to say this aloud, but we know well enough that the Druid has linked his power with the Prince's. They are soul tied.”
I flinched from Hadrian. Soul tied?
“But in the wrong hands,” Kazmir said, “it could be catastrophic.”
“It is a risk that must be taken in order to help him.” Cristilia walked around the table and faced Queen Kathine directly. She was shorter than the Queen, but she held herself proud before her. “My people remember the damage of Heart Magick more than yours, so I urge you to heed my request. It is not a power that should be so simply forgotten.”
“There are risks,” Queen Kathine replied, her gaze lost as she mulled over the possibilities. “My grandmother hid it away for a reason.”
“The risks outweigh the possibility of great destruction, or the Druid using Prince Hadrian against the others… against us.”
Queen Kathine looked up then, her eyes cutting into Hadrian.
Hadrian pushed me aside. “What do you mean the Druid could use me?”
A collective gasp from the civilians in the town blossomed.
“Heart Magick is demonic; the only chain left in the link between the Dragori and their original creators. Whatever the Druid did to you during your capture, he has replaced the link that was taken by our Goddess, which has left you connected to the Druid in ways we do not understand. I fear we will never understand.”
“Then we must destroy it again,” I said, panicked for Hadrian. “We have to find the Staff.”
“I appreciate your bravery, Zacriah Trovirin, but it is a dangerous journey. Not even I know where the Staff is located. You must find the Keeper. They will only share the location to a Dragori, not even a Queen.” Queen Kathine kept her hands clasped behind her back as she spoke to me.
“Then I will go. Let me find the Keeper and the Staff,” I almost shouted my request.
Cristilia answered, “The Dragori should not be separated; they are stronger together.”
“Prince Hadrian is in no state to go on a mission such as this,” Queen Kathine said.
“Do not speak for me, for I shall go. I am the reason for such a mission.”
I looked to Emaline, who stood in silence the entire meeting. I had noticed her during the start, hidden amongst the civilians around her. Now at the mention of her assistance, she tried to slip into the crowd.
“Then all three will go, alone. I cannot spare soldiers during a time like this. Emaline Sowdin, I can see you trying to leave. Step forward and join your brothers.”
"They are no brothers of mine," I heard her hiss.
“Not by blood,” Queen Kathine said. “By magick, yes.”
Emaline stopped her attempt, and the crowd around her separated as the Queen called her out. She stood, looking around at those who moved from her, and released a loud breath before taking her place up amongst us.
“As your Queen, I command that you journey with Prince Hadrian Vulmar and Zacriah Trovirin to find the Keeper who will guide you to the Staff. It is important you stick together. Separating you now will only increase the chance of you getting picked off by the Druid. We cannot risk losing any of you again. One may be lost to Heart Magick.”
I had sensed a dark presence when Hadrian spoke, almost saw it reflect behind his eyes, but lost? In my mind, if the Staff was a possibility, he was not lost.
I could see from Emaline’s tight, pale lips that she wanted to complain. But she didn’t dare, not to her Queen.
“When do we leave?” Hadrian questioned, his Heartfire calm and faint.
Queen Kathine didn’t answer but turned to Cristilia for council.
“Sunrise,” Cristilia replied.
“And who is the Keeper?” I asked. “Where will we find him?”
No one answered.
A cool breeze wrapped around us all and a low rumble of thunder echoed in the distance. We all looked up to the sky to see it darkening beneath clouds that gathered. A storm was coming.
“It is a short journey,” Queen Kathine said, skipping her gaze between the brewing storm. “Weather permitting.”
“There is a temple in Thalas, two day griffin ride north of here. You will start there. Ask the coven who dwells in the temple for guidance. My council here acts as my voice, but the coven in the temple speaks for the divine. It is with them you can find insight into the Staff’s location.”
“With all due respect, I feel cheated. I do not feel comfortable going on a wild chase for a mystical Staff when my father is out there. I know he is.” Hadrian spoke up again.
“I vow that on your return, King Dalior is our next concern. Until then, it is important you find the Keeper and the Staff. Take heed of my words, Prince Hadrian, the presence of your Heartfire is not a Godly one.” Cristilia stood tall, the ominous clouds causing a halo around her frame.
He nodded once, eyes closed. “Then I will go.”
I stepped forward. “And so will I.”
Everyone looked to Emaline, who stood shoulders hunched.
Queen raised one thin brow, and Emaline quickly said, “If I must.”
THE SKY WAS thick with tension.
Clouds descended like angry beasts, coating Kandilin in dull light and hot rain. The sky opened, unleashing an army of droplets the size of fists. I had heard whispers of an Eldnol storm, but nothing prepared me for the weight of the rain that smashed into my exposed skin.
As the first drop of rain splattered against the new podium, it signaled the end of the meeting, and the crowds began to part to take shelter from the storm. We scattered into our rooms and waited for the storm to pass. Even in the hollow chamber within the tree, my hairs stood on end as the lightning clashed alongside thunder. Now and then, a flash of light would
illuminate mine and Nyah’s face in shocking shadows before settling back into darkness. The torrential downpour of rain sounded as if the Goddess herself was running across the world.
“I’m coming with you,” Nyah said, twisting her wet hair and letting it spill onto my floor. “Last time I left you… well, we know how that ended.”
“I know.” There was no point arguing. I knew Nyah well enough to know the moment we left, she would be following in pursuit. She listened to nothing but her intuition, not even a Queen. In a way, the only Queen Nyah referred to was herself. One thing I loved about her was her ability to follow her instincts without second guessing the consequences.
“Let’s hope the storm passes by tomorrow; otherwise, it's going to be one wet journey,” she said, gazing beyond the carved window. "Why couldn't the Druid pick a warmer season to turn up? Snow will soon blanket Eldnol, and I hate snow."
I forced a chuckle, but in truth, I couldn’t find the energy for laughter, not with a looming quest ahead. My body prickled with warm anticipation for the events to come; rain or snow, I would find it.
“I just hope we find the Staff without wasting time,” I said. “You noticed Hadrian’s anger. That is not the real him. I know it.”
“I sensed it. Like burning flame bubbling within his mind. His emotions are spinning out of control.” Nyah nibbled at her nails.
“I should have guessed you would flex your power.”
“What can I say? I’ve got to make sure my boy if safe.”
I sat next to her, the feathered bedding soft beneath me. “I’m worried about him, Nyah. He looked normal, but I can still see the pain behind his eyes. He has not healed, far from it."
Nyah took a dramatic breath and placed a hand on her heart. “What? Are you worried about Princey? Shocking. I didn’t see that coming.”
I nudged her with my shoulder, a small laugh slipping from my mouth, this one authentic. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“What do you think?” she answered with a wink.
*
TIME SLIPPED BY like the lazy flow of clouds beyond the window.
Far from tired, I packed a small sack for the following day, which seemed only to bring up more questions. I had no clue what conditions we would face, where we’d sleep and what we would be eating. So, I just stuffed my metal claws, an oversized robe and the healing salve for my hand. The cold climate of Eldnol had caused my wrist to be stiff in the mornings.
I lost myself in the dark view from the window. Where was Hadrian now? Was he kept in the cave, in a prison of crystals and pools? I wished I could see him, although I knew tomorrow I would finally have the time with him I have been thirsting for.
The storm had passed, but the city was still empty of life. I saw only the occasional glint of silver pass in the night, phantom of Alorian soliders passing in the dark. In the distance, griffins clicked, and the window whispered its light lullaby.
Tiredness made my limbs heavy, as if molten metal was poured in my veins, weighing me down. I clambered into bed, ready to enjoy what could be my last night in comfortable lodgings. As I drifted into the hold of sleep, I saw Hadrian in my mind’s eye, blazing blue with his mouth opened in a scream.
The crash of thunder woke me.
I sat up in bed, my body drenched with sweat. I couldn’t remember the dream, but its nasty presence hummed in my body and mind. Anxiety made me sluggish; my heart fluttered like the wings of a dying bird.
In my panic, I scanned the room, half-expecting a shadow creature to materialize. I could almost hear the laughter of the Druid in the roaring wind outside.
I wanted Hadrian. I needed him.
The loud noise came again, but this time it followed with a hollow sound. My eyes shot to the door as my mind caught up with what it was. Someone was knocking.
Hadrian?
I slipped from the bed and went for the door. Opening it slowly, I saw Cristilia, not a single drop of water on her.
“May I come in?” she asked.
Dumfounded, I opened the door for her to pass through. A waft of burning coals oozed from her as she passed me.
“Why knock when you could have just come in?” I asked, remembering how we passed through the gate of the city the previous night.
Cristilia gave me a knowing look. “That behavior is not something I condone. I did not want to frighten you.”
“That’s good to know,” I replied, securing the door, not admitting her loud banging had frightened me.
“I wanted to see you before you leave tomorrow,” Cristilia said. “It is a journey with many risks, and I believe that the Queen plans to bless you each with a gift tomorrow. I wanted to give my own. A story.” Cristilia gestured to the bed. “May I?”
“Sit, yes,” I replied, rubbing my eyes of sleep.
She perched herself on the end of the bed. I chose to stand.
“I wanted to tell you a story; one that has weighed heavy on my people since the last of Heart Magick. No one but the Morthi elves know the destruction that follows in the footsteps of the magick. Not even the Queen has records of it.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I tried to still the shiver that overwhelmed me. I remembered her mentioning something during the meeting about her people not forgetting Heart Magick as the Alorian elves had.
I nodded, pressing her to carry on.
“You may have wondered why I have helped you so keenly. It is because of what Heart Magick means. To show you how important finding the Staff is. I was as afraid as the rest of the council when I watched Hadrian’s azure blaze destroy the council hall. They knew what it was but would never have accepted it. Sometimes brushing something beneath a bed of grass is easier to ignore. I would not let that happen. You and Prince Hadrian had to know what it meant. I may not have been around during the end of the war between darkness and light, but the memory of it lives in the land of my people, Morgatis. Do you know much about the Dragori that came before you?”
“Very little.” I wanted to say more but preferred to hear her story.
“I shall explain. The Druids were able to capture a Dragori by the name of Tazlim, an air wielder like yourself. Once Tazlim’s Heart Magick was unlocked, and the link between the Druids and their creations was solidified, havoc and death followed. My people have not always lived below ground in caves and mazes of rock. Across the rolling sand dunes and deserts, we had settlements, large towns and cities made from cloth and sand. That was until Tazlim touched foot on our shores and unleashed magick like we have never seen before.”
As she told the story, I could picture it within my mind. Twisting tornados of sand and leveled towns. I knew the Morthi lived below ground and believed that to have always been true. Hearing a Dragori had the power to ruin lives in such a way broke my heart.
“Many lives were lost, stolen by the Heartair that flowed through Tazlim’s veins. It was not until the last Druid was believed to be killed did the connection to Heart Magick end.”
“What happened to Tazlim?” I asked, mouth dry.
“I am unsure. I know he was never the same. The guilt was too much for him to bear. He disappeared not long after the Druids end.”
I imaged Hadrian. What would happen if this power finally took a hold of him? Allowing the Druid to control him, it would be catastrophic.
“Is that why your people are afraid? Why they exiled a girl that believed could be a Dragori?”
Something passed behind Cristilia’s eyes, an unknown expression that took her from the room and into her own mind. “Yes.”
She stood and walked for the door.
“Have I upset you?” I called after her, a sinking feeling in my stomach making me sick. What did I say?
“Remember the story; find the Staff. Only it can save Hadrian and the elves in his way. Once Heart Magick takes over his body, there will be no stopping him.”
She pulled at the door, allowing the night to seep inside my room.
“Always follow your
instincts, Zacriah. I will not see you in the morning. Please forgive my absence. I am certain we shall see each other again.”
“But—”
Cristilia passed through the door, leaving before I could finish my sentence.
She left me with questions in my mouth and confusion in my mind.
MY YAWN MADE my entire body shiver.
I had not slept after Cristilia left, not with the weight of her story on my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, the horror of wind and death flashed, keeping me awake.
Morning sun dried all remnants of rain from the day before. The warmed wood panels we stood on as Queen Kathine blessed our journey smelled strange. It was hard to ignore as the weather became warmer and the smell intensified.
I stood between Emaline and Hadrian, facing the Queen and her council. As Cristilia promised the night before, she was not with them. Her seat was empty at the end of the desk.
The moment Hadrian saw me, he embraced me in the strongest of holds. He held me with no care that the entire town watched. His confidence lit my insides afire. My cheeks warmed, and I held on. He pulled back, placed a warm kiss on my head and held me at arm's reach.
"I cannot express how ready I am to have time with you," he whispered, looking down at me.
"Everyone is watching," I muttered, overly-aware at the spectacle of the Prince of Olderim and a common born Niraen displaying such open affection. I had never liked public displays of affection. Knowing those watched on as I shared a personal moment caused my forhead to dampen. There was something about the quiet, passion-filled stares that built tension when two elves were alone.
Hadrian's laugh warmed my body. "Let them watch, Petal, we might inspire songs."
I blushed and shied away. Hadrian released me and held my hand as we turned to the council, who watched with a mixture of expressions. Queen Kathine was smiling, and so was Kazmir to my surprise, but Penna looked displeased. I rolled my eyes.
