Fire and Fate: Part 1 & 2 (Dragons of Galicia)

by Simone Pond

  The trees meant shade and Evelyn sighed from the pleasant relief they provided. But as they trudged through the rugged forest, other issues became more apparent. Snakes, for one. Evelyn loathed snakes. She found them the most despicable creatures to have ever existed, well, until she’d encountered the zeevils. At first the pests were of the small garden variety, similar to the ones she had killed on the farm with a shovel or a hoe. But deeper into the pines, she noticed larger creatures slithering through the leaves and dirt in slippery “S” shapes. Her heart froze in her chest each time she caught a glimpse of one.

  “They’re just snakes, miss,” Aine said with a smile.

  “Just snakes …”

  “We’ll be fine as long as they don’t bite us.”

  “Dear Galicia, what happens if they do?”

  “It’s not a pretty death …”

  Evelyn pulled in a breath and reached for the crystal stone in her corset. Now that they were on solid ground she could carry her spear again. Something told her she’d be needing it. When she squeezed the crystal, the spear came to life in a radiant glow. This brought her a sense of relief, knowing she’d be able to defend herself if any of the vile reptiles got too close.

  They’d been trekking for what seemed like an hour when Evelyn had a harsh realization. “I don’t suppose this pit we must cross happens to be of the snake variety?”

  “I fear you won’t like the answer,” Aine said grimly.

  “You must tell me!”

  Aine stopped walking and turned to face Evelyn. “Yes, miss. And I’m afraid they’re terribly venomous.”

  “And disgusting.”

  With a hearty pat to Evelyn’s shoulder, Aine smiled. “You’ll be fine, miss. You conquered the queen of the zeevils.” She continued walking ahead and peered back. “Besides, you’re Evelyn of Gorias, dragon slayer. You’re not permitted to be afraid of snakes.”

  Evelyn jogged to catch up to the little sprite. “I never said I was afraid of them. I simply loathe them. Always have.”

  “It’s okay, Miss Evelyn. I won’t tell a soul.”

  The pit was actually a dried-up riverbed, and in it slithered thousands of snakes—one on top of the other, making piles and mounds of the writhing creatures. Evelyn hadn’t realized she had inched backwards until she bumped up against a tree. Everything felt like it was closing in on her and it felt like she was being suffocated by hundreds of snakes covering her body. It was too much to take in. She turned and ran back into the forest.

  “Miss Evelyn!” Aine called out, racing after her.

  “I can’t. I … just can’t. No. No. No.” Evelyn swung the spear out in front of her as though the snakes had chased her down and were attempting to attack.

  Aine jumped back to avoid getting struck. “You must calm down. It’s okay. Everything is okay. We don’t have to go across the pit.”

  Evelyn’s racing thoughts of being strangled to death by hundreds of snakes slowed down. She was able to get her breathing under control and calmed herself. The moment she had settled, the spear of Gorias lit up and began pulling her to the right of the pit. She didn’t want to get closer to the snakes, but she didn’t want to let go of the spear either. So she held on tightly and sprinted in the direction it tugged. Aine followed behind, not asking any questions. The spear was in charge now.

  Similar to when she was in the caves, the spear started to levitate, lifting Evelyn off the ground. She called to Aine, “Grab my ankles and don’t let go.”

  They rose upward, Evelyn dangling from the spear and Aine dangling from Evelyn. The spear picked up speed and launched forward toward a group of trees. Evelyn thought for sure they’d meet their death, slamming into one of the trunks and cracking open their skulls. But the spear knew better and came to a halt just before the tree. Evelyn gazed down to see a wooden platform wedged between the branches, and perched upon it was none other than Ciara; her sapphire eyes bugged out with shock and confusion. She was about to make her way across the pit. They needed to stop her before she got to the other side.

  “Let go and grab her!” Evelyn ordered Aine.

  Aine hit the platform. A second later the spear released its pull, and Evelyn lowered down to assist. But she had arrived too late. Ciara had pulled out of Aine’s grip and in a failed attempt to swing across to the other side, Ciara only managed to make it midway. She dangled over the snake pit, clinging to the rope, squealing and hollering for help.

  “Perfect. Just perfect,” Evelyn groaned.

  14

  Ciara clung to the rope—a mere twenty feet over the center of the snake pit. She desperately yelled for Evelyn’s help, at first shouting all sorts of admonishments and threats. But when she noticed Evelyn and Aine laughing at the nasty predicament she’d found herself in, she changed her tune.

  “Please, Evie. Please help me. I’ll fall to my death. I need you!” Ciara cried out; legitimate tears dripped down her rosy cheeks.

  “And why should I save you?” Evelyn shouted across the way. “The last three times have proven to be disastrous. Not only have you not thanked me, you’ve blamed me and have done nothing but threaten to have me locked away!”

  Ciara’s grip was loosening as she grew weak from holding herself on the rope. “I promise I won’t make another threat. In fact, if you save me from this awful circumstance, I’ll sing your praises to Prince Kieran and tell him how you are a hero!”

  Evelyn leaned against her spear and glanced down at Aine. “What say you?”

  Aine squinted her eyes, playing along. “Doesn’t seem like much incentive to risk your life again …”

  Ciara kicked her legs and screamed, “Please! I implore you to help me. I promise to only show you respect for the remainder of my days. No more mockery or threats. I swear upon my mother’s eyes.”

  Evelyn knew that wasn’t saying much. She’d heard Ciara swear on her mother’s eyes so many times, she didn’t know how the woman wasn’t blind by now. She needed Ciara to make a promise that would hold water. But what? Ciara had no loyalties to anything … except the prince.

  Evelyn stepped to the edge of the wooden platform, locking directly into Ciara’s eyes. “How about you swear upon Prince Kieran’s life? And if you go back on your word, you will be giving me permission to take his life and make it look as though you did.”

  Ciara’s mouth fell open as she slipped a bit more down the rope, getting closer to the mound of slithering serpents. She tried to formulate words, but each one got stuck as she tried to stammer them out. “Uh … um … that’s a bit …”

  Aine stood next to Evelyn and shouted, “It’s the only offer on the table, and I stand as your witness. If you go back on your word and disrespect Evelyn in the slightest, she will kill the prince and you will be to blame.”

  Ciara gazed down at the pit and back over to Evelyn. The color in her cheeks had vanished. “To what benefit is it of yours if the prince is dead?”

  Evelyn grinned. “It is of no benefit to either of us, but one of us will suffer far greater consequences.”

  The only sound came from the hissing and rustling of snakes below. Evelyn kept her attention focused on Ciara and ignored the pit. She didn’t want any distractions while she had the entitled brat in the weaker position. If she could make this deal, then her life at the castle would be free of the constant concern of Ciara’s potential backstabbing.

  “Fine. Fine! Just get me down from here!” Ciara shouted.

  Evelyn hoisted the spear and instructed it to levitate again. She gripped the shaft and motioned for Aine to get closer.

  “Wrap your arms around my waist. When we get to the rope, grab it and pull it with us. Got it?”

  Aine nodded.

  “What are you doing?” Ciara’s frock was drenched with sweat, and blood was dripping down her arms from the rope cutting into her palms. They had to hurry before she lost her grip entirely.

  “When I say let go, let go. Okay?” Evelyn shouted to Ciara.

  “Let g
o?” Ciara muttered.

  “Yes. And no hesitating. Just release your grip from the rope the second I say it.” Evelyn looked at the glowing spear, then to Aine. “On three. One … two … three …”

  The spear shot forward toward Ciara and as they got close, Aine reached out to grab the rope just a few feet above Ciara’s hands. The momentum of the spear towed the line with Ciara dangling and screaming the entire journey to the other side. When they had cleared the snake pit and were above solid ground, Evelyn yelled out the words, let go!

  Both Aine and Ciara released their grip and fell to the dirt, rolling until they came to a stop. Evelyn zipped high into the sky with the spear guiding the way. They flew above the treetops so she could see a clear view of Verubri Castle, standing in all of its majestic glory. Its bright white stone facade gleamed like sunlight across the green hills leading up to it. Hundreds of stained-glass windows sparkled like jewels. Large towers and turrets reached toward the blue skies like nobility.

  The spear whisked across the sky and hovered over the forest. Directly below, a clear path cut through the trees straight to the castle. No snake pits or caves or other tortuous challenges. All they had to do was make it through the forest and over the hills!

  “Thank you,” she told the spear. “Now please return me to my friends so we can finish this journey.”

  Evelyn returned to the spot where she had deposited Aine and Ciara to find both girls free of injury and laughing in relief. It was nice to see Ciara being so friendly with the young girl. Perhaps the journey had rearranged her insides and warmed her heart. Nothing like four near-death experiences to change a person …

  “I have wonderful news!” Evelyn said, approaching.

  “Do we have to face giant poisonous spiders?” Aine giggled.

  “Or cross over a river of fire?” Ciara teased.

  The word fire shot through Evelyn. Once again, she remembered the previous dragon sightings. If she were to guess, the creature would’ve been soaring over this exact location when she had spotted it earlier. So, was that the ruse? An easy path to the castle, but they’d need to survive the fire-spewing dragon waiting at the other end? Though the thought sickened her deeply, she didn’t want to spoil the potential good news for the girls.

  “There’s a path through the forest that looks free and clear of any perils,” Evelyn said. “And once we’re through, we only need to walk over a few hills to reach the castle. I saw it with my own eyes. It’s just a half day’s hike. Our hard times are over!”

  Ciara fell back onto the dirt and sighed. “I cannot wait to bathe.”

  Evelyn reached for her hand, pulling her up. “I cannot wait to get a proper night of sleep!”

  Aine jumped up and tugged Evelyn’s arm. “What will become of me?”

  “As I said before, you’ve proven yourself beyond value,” Evelyn said, grinning. “It is not up to me to answer questions of fate. But I can give you my word, dear friend and traveling companion, that I will share with the prince everything you’ve done to help us on this journey.”

  The three girls didn’t look back as they continued their trek through the pine trees. Evelyn’s muscles ached terribly, her feet were worn down and bleeding, and the nagging concern over the possibility of encountering a fire-spewing dragon grated her thoughts. But still, a buzz of excitement trilled through her as she pondered what it would be like living inside that glorious castle as one of the prince’s ladies-in-waiting.

  A memory of Doran flashed before her and for reasons she still didn’t understand, she felt forlorn. What would become of Doran? She was supposed to meet him on the other side of the mountain, but how could she have turned away from this opportunity to make it to the castle without additional threats? Surely he would understand. Why did she need his approval, anyway? He still had her travel bag which contained her father’s journal. That was unfortunate. Perhaps the journal no longer mattered. She was getting to know the spear on her own. It had led her down this path. Only time would tell. But she couldn’t stop from wondering if she would ever see Doran again.

  The girls stepped out of the forest and stood on the soft green grass, gazing ahead at Verubri Castle. Evelyn released a hearty sigh. No fire-spewing dragon waiting to torch them to crisps …

  “It’s more beautiful than I ever imagined,” Ciara said.

  “I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Aine added.

  “Let us not stop now,” Evelyn encouraged. “We’re so close.”

  They continued over the green hills toward Verubri Castle as the sun was descending behind the mountains in the west. The air took on a chill that racked Evelyn’s bones, and an eerie feeling poked at the back of her neck. She had long since tucked the crystal stone into her corset, knowing she could never show the spear to anyone at the castle and especially the prince. As they approached the grand entrance of the castle, the stone began to heat up against her bosom. Almost like a warning signal, compelling Evelyn to glance over her shoulder toward the jagged peaks of the Vindius Mountains one last time. The sun was nearly hidden and the sky had turned a twilight blue. Just before she turned away, she caught a glimpse of the winged creature she’d seen earlier off in the distance. She got the distinct impression the beast was stalking her.

  Ciara banged on the front doors, jerking Evelyn’s attention back to the castle and what needed to be done. First and foremost, they needed to be attended to. The heavy wooden doors of the castle creaked open. Evelyn didn’t know what lay behind the doors, or the fate which lay ahead. She did know she had been born of a clever woman and a dragon slayer, and she vowed not to forget either of those things as she stepped inside.

  Want to know what happens next? Below is the first chapter of the next book in the series: Fire and Chains (Dragons of Galicia Book 2), available on Amazon.

  ***

  Chapter 1 – Fire and Chains Book 2

  The heavy wooden doors to Verubri Castle opened wide, and Evelyn stepped into the grand entrance with Aine and Ciara by her side. The walls were covered with elaborate gold-trimmed tapestries and ornate portraits. The entry was itself more opulent than anything Evelyn could’ve possibly imagined. This is to be my new home. Then her vision clouded around the edges and her face slammed against the marble floor …

  The clanking of metal pots and blowing whistles yanked Evelyn awake. She found herself slouched in an oversized armchair in an enormous kitchen area. A bunch of women—all plump and ruddy—wore pale gray frocks and white head scarves as they hurried about the vast room preparing what she guessed was dinner. Some carried teetering stacks of plates and bowls, while others stirred vats of bubbling stew. The ruddiest of them all stood shouting orders to a line of finely coifed ladies in pristine black frocks, who Evelyn assumed to be maids of some sort.

  She scanned around for Ciara and Aine, but neither was anywhere in sight. Her head throbbed and the left side of her face felt bruised and swollen. Was that blood she tasted in her mouth? The last thing she remembered was stepping into the castle and … she must’ve passed out from utter exhaustion, and someone had placed her here for safekeeping. But where were Ciara and Aine? A streak of panic shot through Evelyn—what if Ciara had already gone back on her promise? What if she had told Prince Kieran all the sordid details about their journey? Evelyn would have to answer for the destruction of the carriage and the spear of Gorias. The more pressing concern was the dragon sighting. She hadn’t mentioned it to the girls and wasn’t sure if she should tell the prince. Her instincts told her to remain silent for now.

  The crystal stone in her corset heated up as if to validate her thoughts. She reached for her neck to make sure the gold locket was still on her person. Relief bloomed in her chest when her fingers grazed over her mother’s necklace.

  “I see yer up, ma’am,” grunted the older woman who had been shouting at the maids seconds ago. Her wispy gray hair sprouted from under her white head scarf.

  “Where are my friends?” Evelyn’s voice sounded strange a
nd garbled, as though she were speaking with a mouth full of rocks. The pain hammering through her jaw was unbearable. She held her cheek, wincing in agony.

  “Took quite a tumble, ya did. Lucky ya didn’t lose any of those purty choppers.” Clouds of flour dust filled the air when the woman clapped her hands together.

  “Is my jaw broken?” Evelyn mumbled.

  “Don’t know. I’m no healer, but they sent fer one. Should be here soon.”

  “My friends?”

  “Getting cleaned up in the chambermaid’s quarters. Twern’t in no condition to be seen by anyone upstairs. And neither are ya. But now that yer up, we’ll have the girls get started on ya. Gonna take the bristles of a horse’s brush to scrub off the dirt and muck, ma’am.”

  The woman stuck two of her pudgy flour-caked fingers into her mouth and whistled. The shrillness pierced Evelyn’s eardrums, but got the attention of two young women. They came bustling over in drab blue frocks similar to the other women in the kitchen, only they wore no head scarves. Perhaps these were chambermaids? Evelyn took note: dress color determined role. Did the ladies-in-waiting wear specific uniforms?

  The two ladies gave a slight bow, muttering their regards. “Evenin’, Ida.”

  Evelyn thought the name suitable for the head cook.

  “Get ’er to the baths and cleaned up for his majesty.” Ida didn’t need any help hoisting Evelyn out of the chair and wedging her between the two ladies. “Ya got Sinead on yer right and Kateline here on yer left. Sinead’s not much for talking, but Kateline’s a lip flapper. They’ll take good care of ya. Off ya go.”

  Still weakened from the long journey, Evelyn wobbled between the two maids toward a door and into a hallway. The candlelight gleaming from the wall sconces made sinister shadows throughout the long and bleak corridor.

  The young woman on the left, Kateline she believed it was, turned to gaze at Evelyn. “Took a nasty fall, ma’am?”