Hekla shifted her lips from side to side. “Why?”
“I need him,” Lingaria said, head held high, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Hekla’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Why do you need him?”
“He is the only chance to save Svana.”
Hekla’s heart jumped in her chest. Svana. She missed her sister. Hekla wasn’t strong enough to save her. Then her teeth clenched. What made this man more capable of saving Svana than she? Surely the dragon was mistaken. If anyone could be trusted with Svana’s wellbeing, it should be her.
“Explain,” Hekla said, heat rising in her cheeks as she fought back the rush of anger that surged through her. How could they think a commoner would be their best bet to save Svana? He knew nothing of dragon magic! He’d not been trained as she and her sisters had. Her free hand tightened at her hip, nails digging into the palm of her hand.
“Yes… explain,” Speltus said, “now that you have called me here.”
Hekla cast him a wayward glance. So, that’s how he’d known to appear. Lingaria had called him. She’d long since known that they communicated to one another without her knowledge, but now, it just felt like one more thing that fueled her frustration.
Lingaria turned to face his brother. “The Unseen Ones have told me that the only way to save Svana, is to use this blacksmith.”
“Use him how? Where are we going with the blacksmith?” Hekla asked, her tone dripping irritation.
Calm yourself, Speltus warned her.
“There is no we,” Lingaria said. “This is something the blacksmith and I must do alone.”
“What the blazes do you mean you and the blacksmith must go alone? This is my sister!” she demanded.
“Hekla!” Speltus gave her a warning look, silencing her for the moment. “Why alone?” Speltus asked.
“Because the Unseen Ones have demanded it.”
Hekla watched the two dragons. She knew they could communicate with each other telepathically, but they were being respectful to the others by talking aloud, the very knowledge calmed her slightly, and she watched in silence as they discussed the situation for a moment.
“Why on Earth would the Unseen Ones demand that someone not chosen go on this journey?” Speltus asked, and Hekla could see his body go rigid. He was just as irritated as she, but did a better job of hiding it, clearly. It made her feel better that Speltus seemed to know as little about Lingaria’s plan as him.
“Fine,” she finally said, after they’d finished talking, “where are you going?”
Lingaria turned to look at Hekla, his scaly head tilting calmly to one side.
“Where are you and Jakobe going?” Hekla repeated, voice intensifying.
“We’re traveling to the Volcano of Shadows.”
Hekla’s jaw dropped. “The Volcano of Shadows?”
My home? Why in god’s name would they be going to my home? She felt her heart speed up, worry settling in the pit of her stomach.
“Yes. I must take him to Palladin and Melifera,” Lingaria answered, as calm as he dared.
“And what is to happen to Svana when you are gone?” Hekla retorted; eyebrows furrowed in anger.
“She has friends here who can look after her,” Jakobe said.
She narrowed her eyes, her free hand on her hip, “You know nothing!” she yelled. “She also has enemies here, tell me how it is safer to leave her behind?”
Jakobe winced. “Listen, all I know is that Lingaria told me this is something we have to do, and that if we don’t, Svana may be lost to us forever.”
“Why him?” Hekla asked, speaking her mind. “What can he possibly offer that I cannot?” She let her anger get the best of her. “I was chosen, my sisters? Chosen. What about him, what makes him more worthy to save her, than I?” Her face reddened, and her eyes began to water as she fought back tears.
“Hekla,” Lingaria whispered, speaking as calmly as he could. “Please,” he begged.
“No!” Hekla screamed, tears beginning to fall down her face. “I am her sister. Why am I not strong enough to heal her? Why is a simple blacksmith more capable than me?”
“Hekla, calm down,” Speltus said.
“Calm down? Don’t you tell me to calm down! I need to be there for my sister,” she yelled.
“And who will be there for all of Aequoris?” Lingaria asked, and she felt his question like a dagger through her chest.
Hekla paused. Her blood was boiling; her heart was racing. She clenched her fists as sweat dripped off her chin.
“They’ll be fine in my absence,” Hekla snarled, eyes scrunched, forehead dripping sweat.
Speltus shook his head. “No, Hekla. They won’t. The king is getting worse. His heart grows darker. If you’re not there to protect the Aequorans…”
“I—I—” she struggled against what she wanted to do and doing what she had been chosen for.
“Jakobe can save her. You must trust him to do that. You are needed in Aequoris.”
She let out a defeated sigh, as she glanced from Lingaria to Jakobe, nodding her head. She hated to admit it, but she knew Speltus was right. She had to swallow her pride. It was a hard thing to do, but if these two dragons, and more importantly, the Unseen Ones, believed this blacksmith could save her sister, then Hekla had to have trust that they were right. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Yeah,” Jakobe said. “Get out of my way so I can save your sister.”
Hekla’s jaw dropped. She’d never been talked to like that before. She readied herself a comeback, but Lingaria spoke first.
“He’s right. We must go. We’re running out of time for Svana,” Lingaria said.
Then, without further warning, Lingaria disappeared back into Svana’s sword hanging at Jakobe’s belt.
Hekla stared for one more second before stepping aside. Jakobe nodded at her and stepped past her. Before he could get too far, Hekla reached her arm out and grabbed his shoulder.
“Jakobe?” she asked.
“Hmm?” he asked.
“Save my sister,” she said, it was more than an order, it was the most painful request she could have asked anyone. The voice in the back of her head reminding her it was him who must do it, and that she was not enough.
He nodded. “I will do everything in my power to save her.”
They locked eyes for a moment, and the sympathy she felt told her that he would keep his word.
“Thank you,” she whispered, releasing her grip on his shoulder.
In a flash, he was gone.
“Will they be able to save her?” Hekla asked.
Speltus looked up, and his gaze met hers.
I don’t know, Hekla. But if this is a quest the Unseen Ones are asking for… then I’m inclined to believe it may be Svana’s only chance.
And still… I’m helpless to do anything, Hekla complained.
There is still much you can do. Though you may not be able to help Svana right now… you can still help others. Aequoris needs you.
Hekla’s eyes clenched tightly together. She knew she had many other things to do, but all she could think about was her sister now.
People are depending on you, Hekla.
Hekla sighed, but nodded. “I know.”
Even though going back to the water kingdom was the last thing she wanted. All she wanted was to hold Svana and feel the warmth of her heart.
They better bring her back, she thought through clenched teeth.
5
Astrid
The darkness of one’s own mind can be the darkest place imaginable. There is no escape. There is no release. The thoughts there are no one else’s—only your own. Without someone else’s input—all you have is your own negative thoughts. Positivity is only gained through others. When you’re left inside your own mind for too long—negativity is all that remains. When you’re trapped in such a way—it is near impossible to pull yourself away. Instead, you fall deeper and deeper into the darkness of your own min
d. And if you’re not careful—you can become trapped forever.
King Everett the Honest, Second King of Caelestis, 324 A.V.
Astrid pushed open the door, quietly so as not to disturb the king. She knew he was still healing, and his rest was detrimental to his health. The king turned his head and frowned when he saw her. She could feel his contempt as he watched her enter the room. Well, if looks could kill, she thought humorously. Pulling her green hair to the side, she tied it into a braid, his eyes on her the entire time. She knew she wasn’t the king’s favorite person. Especially after she loosed half a dozen arrows into the man. Yet, he deserved it.
“Good morning,” she said, her tone as friendly as she dared, for she feared he may lash out at her.
“Good morning,” he responded, continuing to watch her move about.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Astrid asked.
“I can no longer feel the arrows,” he replied, voice dripping with meaning.
She managed a half smile, “That’s a good thing.”
He grunted.
“And the darkness?” she asked.
“I could see everything I was doing,” the king admitted, looking away from her.
Astrid sat on the chair next to the bed. The king was looking a lot better than he had the night before. Hekla had healed him, though he still had a while before full recovery. Astrid almost felt bad for unloading half a dozen arrows into the king. She’d seen his eyes after striking down Emmeline, the darkness he carried clearly gone, his natural hazel tone returned to them. Even with the black gone, she’d only trusted her instinct and loosed half a dozen arrows into him. She knew she should have waited, but with all of their lives at stake, the warrior in her would not allow for there to be any mistakes. Even with the black gone she couldn’t be sure if he was truly back to himself, or if he was still being controlled. Astrid hesitated when she saw his expression, but she hadn’t cared. She loosed the arrows anyway. It was Emmeline’s life at stake, it was the life of his people, and it was her life. If she had killed him, she may feel guilty, but he was still alive, and she deemed the injuries warranted.
After an awkward silence between them, she mustered up the courage to speak to him. “I’m sorry for injuring you.”
The king shook his head. “I deserved it.”
“You did,” Astrid said, “But at that point, you’d returned. You were no longer under the influence of the wizard.”
The king took a long, deep breath. “I do not fault you, Astrid. I only fault myself.” He shifted. “I saw what I was doing, but I was not in control of myself. There were times when I tried to fight back, but there were almost times when I was in such a dark place, I felt helpless and I didn’t try to fight it.”
Astrid tilted her head. “Your eyes were normal, but I…” she hesitated, “I didn’t trust it. I didn’t trust you, and Emmeline…” she let her words linger in the air.
He nodded. “If she had died, I would never have forgiven myself,” he replied.
Astrid nodded her head. “Nor I,” she replied. They went silent again, and then he opened his mouth to speak, “I should have fought it the entire time.”
Astrid could feel his disappointment, only because she had felt the very same thing for herself when she had failed. “The wizard was strong,” she offered, hoping to offer him some solace in the fact that he wasn’t entirely to blame for all that had occurred.
“Emmeline didn’t give up on me,” he said, looking off to the far side of the room.
“No, she didn’t,” Astrid said, smiling. “She loves you very much.”
“I should have kept fighting—for her.” The king looked down at his hands, which lay open on his lap, as if they held the answer for the choices he had made.
“You came back to your senses because of her,” she reminded him, adjusting herself in her seat as they talked.
He nodded. “She was the only one who could break the spell. I was closed off to everyone else.”
“That is understandable,” she responded, not able to look him in the eyes for fear that she would see the darkness even if it had completely disappeared, “So, now that you’re back… now that the wizard is dead…?”she questioned.
His eyebrows furrowed and his nose twitched.
“Will you try to form an alliance with the sky and water kingdoms?” Astrid asked.
King Armand scratched his temple. “I don’t see how the other two kingdoms would trust me.”
He had a point, but she would never let it rest until she tried to unite them all. It beat the alternative, the original plan which was to kill all the kings that ruled each kingdom and take over their thrones.
“You have to try,” Astrid persisted.
“The things I’ve done… the people I hurt.” He shook his head, which was hunched over in shame.
“It wasn’t you.” Astrid spoke again, standing by the bed side.
“I know that, as do you, but the people won’t know that. The other kingdoms won’t know that.” He looked up at her, and she forced herself to meet his gaze. His cool brown hue staring back at her, desperation, not darkness looking back at her.
“Then we tell them. We explain to them what happened,” she reasoned with him, pacing around the edge of the bed.
He shook his head. “They won’t believe it. No matter what I do, they won’t trust me, especially not right now. Not while this is fresh. An alliance may be able to be formed, but it will take generations.”
“We have to try,” Astrid argued, voice rising.
“To what end?” he asked.
“We need to end this war. This war that you started!” Astrid shouted.
He nodded. “Yes. We need the war to end. I no longer want to fight it. I never wanted to fight it. That was all the wizard. I admit, in the midst of it, I did crave some of the power—but no, after seeing all this destruction, I want no part of it.”
“Then send letters. Ask for a truce. End this war. It is a start.”
“It is,” he said. “And that’s all we can do. Start. One day, we’ll be able to live in harmony with each other again, but it’s not going to happen overnight. I will send letters.”
Astrid forced herself to calm, and offered him a smile in return, “That’s all I ask.”
“What are your plans? Are you staying here?” he asked, watching her pace the room.
Astrid shook her head, nervous energy coursing through her. There was so much she needed to do, and it seemed there was so little time for her to do it, “No, I need to return word to Caelestis that the war is over.”
“You are—” He coughed. “You are Svana’s sister, are you not?”
“Yes,” Astrid said.
“And the blue-haired woman?”
“Hekla. She is my sister as well.” Astrid stopped pacing and watched him.
“Is she going to stay? What she did, she healed me. We could use her help around here.”
Astrid shook her head again. “No. Hekla is returning to Aequoris. It is where she belongs, and she is greatly needed there.”
He frowned. “Three sisters. Three different kingdoms. Tell me, what are you three doing? What is your intention?”
“Peace, it has only ever been peace.”
“Peace?” King Armand asked. “Hmm… I do recall Svana trying to break through to me on numerous occasions. She tried to get me to stop the war, to form alliances with the kingdoms.”
Astrid nodded.
“How is she—Svana?”
“She isn’t well. As of right now, she isn’t conscious,” Astrid said hesitantly.
She knew the king was no longer full of darkness—no longer controlled by the dark wizard, but she still didn’t know this king. She didn’t know his character. Was he truly a good person at heart? Emmeline seemed to think so. Though, Astrid didn’t know Emmeline well either. She did know Emmeline’s brother, Cayden, but he’d hidden the truth from Astrid several times—did she really trust him?
“I�
�m sorry to hear that. Is there no cure? Nothing your blue-haired sister can do?”
Astrid shook her head. “There seems to be little that can be done. However, there is one who is attempting to find a cure. Hopefully, he’ll be able to find one.”
The king tilted his head, his nose wrinkling. “Who?”
“A blacksmith. He set out on a journey this morning.”
“My niece,” the king said, “how is she?”
Astrid smiled. “She is well. Another day or two of recovery, and she’ll be just fine.”
The king’s expression brightened. “That is good.”
“You, on the other hand,” Astrid said, “have several more weeks to heal.”
“Unintentional, I’m sure.” He chuckled.
“At the time,” Astrid said, “you weren’t the highest on our priority list. Hekla tried to heal Svana first, but when that failed, she went to Emmeline, and the rest of the soldiers nearby who were mortally wounded.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “As long as Emmeline is well… everything is fine.”
“Your love for her—”
“You know… I can’t have kids. I’ve had three wives. All have passed on, but I tried. I wanted kids. It wasn’t about an heir. I wanted to be a father. And none of my wives conceived. Either I was extremely unfortunate in my choices for a wife, or the problem lied with me.”
He took a deep breath. “But I was always close to my sister. And she brought her children over often. I loved playing with them. Both of them—but, Emmeline was always my favorite. For some reason—I connected with her.”
Astrid tilted her head as he watched him glow as he talked about his niece.
“I suppose it was because of how much she reminded me of my sister. She looks just like her, you know? And when my sister died giving birth to Cayden, I promised her I would take care of her children. Their father had died a few months before her, and so I took the three of them in. Emmeline was easy, but her brother was hard. Vladamir was a troublemaker. He still is—rotting in a cell somewhere I imagine. Then there was Cayden. He was just a baby. I didn’t want to blame him for my sister’s death… but I think a part of me always did. I did as I promised though. I took care of them the best I could. I even made Cayden the captain of Telluris. He tried to bring me from the darkness as well, but he couldn’t get through to me like Emmeline.”
Dragon Scepter Page 4
