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

by Simone Pond

  Evelyn nodded, too exhausted to speak.

  “We’ll get you fixed up.” The dark-haired beauty beamed a welcoming smile. Kateline’s accent was different from Ida’s harsh and choppy northern Galician. Her tone was delicate and more drawn out, as though she lingered on each syllable. “The healer should be here soon. Don’t you worry about a thing, miss. Anything you need, you let us know. We’re here to make your stay comfortable and pleasant. Isn’t that right, Sinead?”

  A subtle nod came from Sinead as she kept her gaze forward. Her blonde hair had been pulled back into such a tight bun that her pale blue eyes slanted upward ever so slightly. Evelyn grew embarrassed, thinking about her own appearance. She must’ve looked like she’d been wrestling with the devil himself. Her long copper curls were matted and in knots. Layers of dirt and mud encrusted her body, and she had hundreds of cuts and scrapes. She couldn’t imagine the odor she exuded. It was shocking that neither of these polite ladies had gagged or choked.

  When they reached the end of the hallway, Sinead released Evelyn’s arm and took a large ring of keys from her waist belt. She stepped forward and unlocked the door, quickly reattaching the keys. They escorted Evelyn into a large room lit by hundreds of candles, the fragrance of roses and peppermint wafting through the air. Rectangular pools had been built into the floors and each one was brimming with steaming water. The idea of being clean again soothed Evelyn’s soul.

  “Come,” said Kateline, taking her hand and guiding her to the closest pool of hot water. As she peeled off Evelyn’s stiff undergarments, the crystal stone dropped to the marble floor.

  Evelyn hurried to snatch it up and clutched it protectively against her bare chest.

  Kateline bowed politely. “Don’t worry, I just want your clothes, miss. Nothing else. Well, you might want to set aside the locket for now. Just until you’re out of the baths.”

  Evelyn smiled, ashamed by her cagey behavior. She allowed Kateline to remove the locket and set it on a table.

  “Will it be safe?” asked Evelyn.

  “Yes, I promise. Now, let’s get you into the water,” said Kateline.

  Sinead bustled over and took Evelyn by the elbow, moving her toward the pool of steaming water. When Evelyn dipped one of her raw, torn-up feet into the hot bath, she stumbled backward from the pain. Her skin was far too tender from running through the caves and trekking through the forest.

  Kateline quickly grabbed her before she collapsed. “We must call for the healer before she gets into the water,” Kateline said to Sinead, setting Evelyn down next to the pool.

  Sinead gave a curt nod and ran off to fetch the healer.

  “I apologize for my … condition.” Evelyn had forgotten about the pain caused by opening her mouth.

  Kateline smiled and wrapped Evelyn in a cloth to cover her nakedness. When Kateline got up to grab a bottle from a nearby shelf, Evelyn tucked the crystal stone underneath the layers of fabric next to her bosom for safekeeping.

  Kateline returned and began pouring warm oils over the crown of Evelyn’s head. The scent of roses tickled Evelyn’s nose and she sneezed a few times. Once her hair was saturated with the oils, Kateline brushed through the matted locks. She was gentle where Sinead had been forceful, and for that Evelyn was grateful. After the oils were combed through, Kateline pulled Evelyn’s long hair into a bun. It felt liberating not to have tangles and clumps of hair dangling in her face and down her back.

  Kateline then took a washcloth and dipped it into the pool and sat next to Evelyn and gently wiped her forehead free of dirt and grime. She chattered on and on about various topics, but Evelyn was in far too much pain to pay close attention. She focused on making sure the crystal stone stayed where she had safely tucked it next to her heart.

  “The other ladies-in-waiting are always competing for the prince’s attention.” Kateline dipped the cloth into the pool and scrubbed Evelyn’s face, careful to avoid the left cheek—the source of the most hellish pain. “You must always look your best. Never let them outshine you.”

  The endless chatter continued as she dug out the grit from under Evelyn’s fingernails. “Now, miss. Sometimes it might seem like they’re your friends, but they’re not. Trust me. And neither are the …”

  Kateline didn’t get to finish her sentence because Sinead strolled over with an angelic-looking woman, whom Evelyn assumed to be the healer. She wore a long silver robe that shimmered in the candlelight and her waist-length hair was as white as the snow-capped Vindius Mountains. When she looked at Evelyn, her aquamarine eyes pierced into her mind as though she could read every thought. This was Evelyn’s first encounter with a healer and she was a bit skeptical. In her hamlet, they had people who healed with the use of roots and plants. Evelyn knew this wasn’t that type of healer. This lady had the gift.

  “Bone not broken. But jaw is, how to say … dislocated.” The healer spoke in a low and melodious voice, heavily accented from an origin Evelyn didn’t recognize. “Her feet no like the journey. But all easily healed.”

  No longer able to open her mouth, Evelyn bowed her head as a sign of acknowledgement and appreciation. She couldn’t wait for the agony to be gone. She didn’t care if it came in the form of roots, plants, or magic.

  The healer knelt down in front of Evelyn, then squatted across her lap so their faces were only a few inches apart. She stared into Evelyn’s eyes, not blinking or looking away. The woman’s intense focus made Evelyn feel uncomfortable, but when she tried to look away, the healer grabbed her chin and yanked.

  A loud pop resonated through Evelyn’s head, and she was about to shout profanities when she realized the majority of the pain had subsided. The healer reached out and placed her palm on the side of Evelyn’s swollen cheek, still holding her stare. The skin along the side of Evelyn’s face tingled and prickled as though tiny bubbles were entering her pores. Her eyes grew heavy and she closed them, letting the sensation take over. Anything was better than that paralyzing pain.

  “Speak,” the woman instructed Evelyn.

  “What would you like me to say?” she asked. “Oh, I can talk! My jaw no longer feels like someone is stabbing it with a pitchfork.”

  The healer didn’t respond. She stood and walked over to Evelyn’s feet and sat cross-legged, taking each one of the mangled appendages into her lap. “Lay,” she instructed.

  Evelyn rested on the marble floor, closing her eyes and trying to breathe. Warmth wrapped around her feet and a wave of energy rolled up her legs. She hadn’t realized how destroyed the soles of her feet had been until the healing process began. The relief hit so strong, she nearly passed out.

  “Finished.” The healer stood up and knelt down over Evelyn, staring deeply into her eyes, then pointed to Evelyn’s heart. “Don’t forget, the power is here.”

  Evelyn wasn’t sure what she meant. Was she referring to the crystal stone or to her heart? “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.” When Evelyn stood up, the healer was gone. “Thank you …” she whispered.

  Kateline and Sinead removed the wrap around Evelyn and assisted her into the steaming pool to scrub off the remaining dirt and muck. She held onto the crystal stone for dear life. When the water turned murky and muddy, they instructed her to step out and into another pool. Evelyn sank into the hot water and soaked in the salts and oils. The pleasure soothed her all the way to the center. She’d never experienced a bath so deeply satisfying. And entirely too short … It seemed like only minutes had passed before Sinead reached down to help her out. The ladies wrapped her in a soft blanket, drying her thoroughly. Evelyn snatched her mother’s locket from the table and put it back around her neck.

  The chambermaids escorted her down the hall and into a room containing hundreds upon hundreds of dresses and gowns. Evelyn’s gaze darted from row to row, taking in the bright colors and shimmering fabrics. How would she ever decide on the right one? Fortunately, she didn’t have to make any decisions—Kateline had already selected an emerald green dress of satin t
o “bring out her eyes.” The ladies got straight to work, getting Evelyn into the elegant gown suited for a queen.

  “Can either of you tell me where my friends might be?” asked Evelyn.

  Kateline came around and adjusted the neckline. “Ciara’s been assigned to her room. Are you quite sure about this locket? It doesn’t complement the dress that well.”

  “The locket stays,” Evelyn said. “What about the little girl, Aine? Where is she?”

  “Oh, I’m afraid the little one won’t be staying at the castle,” said Kateline flatly.

  Evelyn tilted her head, befuddled. “Surely, Prince Kieran wouldn’t send a child off in the night to fend for herself.”

  Kateline finished applying a bit of rouge to Evelyn’s pale cheeks. “Oh, but he’s the one who said she cannot stay.”

  A fury swept through Evelyn. What kind of man would do such a horrible thing?

  Pick up Fire and Chains Book 2 here: Simone Pond’s Author Page

  ***

  Author’s Note

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  Some behind the scenes of the Dragons of Galicia series …

  The Dragons of Galicia series is a new area for me—if you’re familiar with my previous work, you’ll know I’ve focused mainly on urban/contemporary fantasy and dystopian fiction. When I was asked to be in a box set about dragons, I thought, why not, surely I can expand my creativity and write one story. And so it went. I began gathering my research and became deeply inspired by Celtic lore. The more I ventured into the realm of writing something from this Celtic angle, the more my curiosity grew. I pulled from my favorite nuggets of legends and lore for the inspiration behind Evelyn’s story. I thought it was going to be just one story for the box set, but I fell in love with the characters and wasn’t ready to let them go. Hence, the series was born.

  I’ve always wanted to write something that involved the May Day tradition. I first learned about the tradition in one of my favorite books by Ann Rice called The Witching Hour. The yearly celebration, which happens on the first of May, has had various meanings throughout the centuries. For the purpose of my story, I wanted to use a pagan slant mixed with the Great British May Day tradition, which is typically associated with towns and villages celebrating springtime fertility (of the soil, livestock, and people). Once I had the beginning “seeds” of my story, I needed to create a fierce and lovable heroine, an intriguing cast of characters, an adventurous setting, and of course … dragons.

  When I think of dragons, I automatically think of castles and mountains and hamlets (and of course Game of Thrones). So for my setting, I began by researching ancient regions throughout Europe as my starting point. Several interesting names came up (though they’re no longer called by these), and I picked the ones that sang out to me. I settled on “Galicia” for the northern region because it sounded powerful and noble. I explored the surrounding areas, which had interesting ancient names as well. When I came across the town of Ocelum, I knew it had to be the name of Evelyn’s hamlet. The Vindius Mountains were to play a major role in the story setting, as well as Bispos Peak, which were a blend of names from different regions. Originally, I planned to name the dragons the Vindius Dragons because that was their place of birth. But a dear and brilliant writer friend (thanks, Emily!) suggested using the name of the region from which they hailed, so I went with the Dragons of Galicia. It just sounds more powerful—and fitting for dragons.

  One of my favorite parts of the story development process is deciding on which names to assign my characters. I love researching names and their meanings. I never name characters just because it sounds catchy. Every character name has meaning and often a story behind it. Evelyn means light, and since she is my heroine, I found this name appropriate. She is a force of light in the dark world. My other novels share a common theme throughout—the battle between light and dark (or good and evil). I chose a name which represent darkness for the villain of the story. No spoilers.

  Deirdre, who is Evelyn’s mother, is an old Celtic name with much tragedy associated with it. I thought this suited her character because of her tragic backstory. The character Lugh of Gorias is straight out of Irish mythology. Lugh was a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a mythical Celtic race of great warriors. Lugh was a benevolent godlike warrior with many magical talents and was entrusted with the invincible spear of Gorias. I took the liberty of giving him the title of “dragon slayer” for my story.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing a snippet of my writing process and some of the thought that went into writing the series. And I hope you enjoy Evelyn’s journey! There are three books in the Dragons of Galicia Series, so be sure check them out. Fire and Fate (Dragons of Galicia Book 1) Parts 1 & 2, Fire and Chains (Dragons of Galicia Book 2), and Fire and Blood (Dragons of Galicia Book 3).

  BY SIMONE POND

  Dragons of Galicia Series

  Fire and Fate (Dragons of Galicia Book 1) Parts 1 & 2

  Fire and Chains (Dragons of Galicia Book 2)

  Fire and Blood (Dragons of Galicia Book 3)

  The Mysterium Chronicles

  Exodus of Magic Book 1

  River of Magic Book 2

  Wrath of Magic Book 3

  Mysterium: The Oracle’s Foretelling (Prequel)

  The Coastview Prophecies

  Hidden Sight Book 1

  Beyond Sight Book 2

  Armor of Magic Series

  Sacred Light Book 1

  Rising Light Book 2

  Edge of Light Book 3

  The New Agenda Series

  The City Center Book 1

  The Mainframe Book 2

  The Torrent Book 3

  The New Agenda Prequel

  Swarmed: A Dystopian Novel

  Voices of the Apocalypse: A Collection of Short Stories

  Visit simonepond.com for more information.