Dragon Scepter

by Angelique Anderson

  “Come on, let’s go help her,” Hekla said.

  She led the others forward as they swam toward the orb. It only took them a couple of minutes to reach it, and when they did, the Aequoran guards had arrived. A battle started. Hekla didn’t like what she saw. Aequorans against Aequorans. It shouldn’t be that way. Not when they all had a common enemy. The dragon had an army. How was she going to let everyone know?

  Hekla focused on fighting. She used spell after spell to fight against the opposing Aequorans. Hekla did what she could to incapacitate them without hurting them. She used water and wind spells, to hit and knock her opponents over.

  Svana fought as well, her sword transforming the bubble around her, or orb as Jetevius had called it, and she was able to maneuver her sword to strike opponents. William approached Svana, and they began fighting each other. Unlike the others who fought Svana, William was a worthy opponent. He was skilled with his sword, and blade met—well, the orb around Svana’s Dragon Sword. They went back and forth for what seemed like forever, until Svana finally knocked the blade out of William’s hand, and it tumbled to the ground. Svana jumped on him, trying to strike him with her sword, but he ducked, and dropped to his knee, where he unsheathed an odd-looking glass dagger and stabbed it into the orb.

  The orb shattered.

  Svana and Jakobe were immediately surrounded by water. Their eyes bulged, and their hands went to their mouths as they tried to prevent the water from entering their lungs, but it was too late.

  Hekla screamed. She threw a blast of water from her scepter at the remaining Aequorans. This time, she didn’t discriminate. Whether they were friend or foe, they were struck with the blast of water. She swam as fast as she could to a gagging Svana and Jakobe who began trying to swim up for air… but they were too deep. They’d never make it.

  “Aquum Purum Orbium!” Hekla shouted.

  She aimed her scepter at Hekla and Jakobe, and a brilliant blue light filled the water, blinding everyone in its path. A magical orb wrapped around Jakobe and Svana.

  Hekla swam toward them. When she reached them, she grabbed them to her. They were both unconscious.

  Speltus… are they alive?

  Yes. You got to them in time. They will be fine. You need to get them out of the sea.

  Hekla nodded. She turned around, searching for King Renault’s guards. They were gone. And so was William. Hekla clenched her teeth as she thought about Miralee’s son.

  “Do you want us to chase them, Hekla?” Jetevius asked.

  Hekla shook her head. “No. We need to get my sister above water. And more importantly… we need to see what she’s doing here.”

  Jetevius nodded. “Let’s go.”

  All Hekla wanted to do was sleep. She was exhausted. In fact, as she swam against the currents, she had never been so exhausted in her entire life. First, she discovered the golden city underwater, escaped an army of creatures that resembled Aequorans, Tellurians, and Caelestans. And after nearly depleting all of her magic, then she had to use her magic to not only free Jakobe and Svana, but to allow them to breathe underwater as well. She could feel her reserves dwindling on empty, but she couldn’t give up just yet. They were almost there.

  Once at the surface, as they crawled onto the sand, Svana awoke and couldn’t resist the urge to crawl to her sister and pull her into her arms for a warm hug.

  Hekla had missed Svana so much.

  “My sister,” Svana said softly, “You have saved us all, and how I’ve missed you. So much has happened.”

  Hekla nodded. “Indeed, it has.” Hekla laid her scepter in the sand. “Ceasum,” she said.

  All of the breathing spheres around her friends disappeared, the magic returning to the scepter.

  Hekla was weak, and did her best to return her sister’s hug, but had a hard time even lifting her arms to wrap them around Svana. She felt like if she had to use any more strength, she’d deplete herself.

  “Hekla?” Svana asked. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m weak. I haven’t had much time to rest,” Hekla replied.

  Svana frowned. “I suppose now’s not the time to tell you that I need your help.”

  Svana released her.

  “I’ve already deduced that. Why else would you be here?” Hekla said.

  Svana smiled. “To see my wonderful sister.”

  Hekla returned the smile. “It’s good to see you too. Especially since the last time I saw you, you were laid on a bed with little to no chance of ever waking up.”

  The two of them hugged once again, this time harder than the last, but Hekla was still quite weak.

  “So, what news do you have… what brought you here to Aequoris?” Hekla asked.

  “Well,” Svana started. She sighed. “I have ill news.”

  Hekla ran her hands through her hair. “I believe we all have ill news.” She said meaningfully, nodding her head for Svana to continue.

  “Melifera is dead.”

  Hekla gasped. “No. That cannot be true.”

  “It is,” Svana said. “I’m sorry.”

  “What happened?”

  “She gave up her life to save mine.” Svana opened her mouth to speak, feeling as if she needed to give her sister further information, but she paused as she seemed to contemplate her next words. “I was dying, Hekla.” Svana let out a deep breath, as if relieved to finally have someone to confess everything to. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her,” she said apologetically.

  Hekla’s jaw dropped.

  Svana began explaining everything that had happened to her. Then she paused at the end of her tale and looked deep into Hekla’s eyes.

  “Lingaria also gave up something in order to save me,” Svana said.

  Hekla raised an eyebrow. “What did he give up?”

  “A part of his soul. I believe he did it to prevent Melifera’s soul from going to the abyss, but he also did it to save me.”

  “A part of his soul?” Hekla asked, her mouth opening wide in disbelief.

  Svana nodded.

  “What can I do?” Hekla asked.

  “You can help me find his soul and bind it back to his body.”

  “I—I don’t know if I—”

  I can help, Speltus said.

  Hekla nodded. “I can try. But first, I need rest.”

  “You look exhausted,” Svana said.

  “You have no idea.”

  “Tell me,” Svana said.

  Hekla bit her lip, wondering how she should start. She wiped an itch on her forehead, walked away from the group with Svana following her, then sat on the ground.

  “There’s a dragon down here,” Hekla said.

  Svana’s eyes widened. For a moment, it looked like relief came across her face, but then she noticed Hekla’s expression.

  “What’s wrong?” Svana asked.

  “Not all dragons are good, Svana.”

  Svana’s eyebrows furrowed.

  “This dragon was supposed to be an elder but was cast out of the council. His name is Duliogial, and he wants to enslave all races of Verdil.”

  “Where?”

  “He’s built a city around himself in a deep canyon in the sea. And he has creatures with him.”

  “Creatures?” Svana asked.

  Undead, Speltus said.

  Hekla looked at Svana and saw her eyes widen. Speltus must have communicated that to her mind as well.

  “What are Undead?” Svana asked.

  They’re dead, but this dragon used dark magic to bring them back to life. They’re not back, really, they’re a shell of their former self. Their souls are gone, passed on to the ancestral plane. All that remains is their decaying bodies, but with dark magic, their bodies can be partially rebuilt, to make them able to walk and fight. But they only have one focus, one mind set, and it will obey. Whatever Duliogial commands them to do, they will follow orders.

  Hekla scratched between her eyebrows. “That’s why they looked similar to Caelestans, Aequorans, a
nd Tellurians. They once were, but now they’re undead.”

  Hekla’s scepter glowed in response.

  Speltus was talking to them, but he dared not show himself to the others.

  “What are we going to do?” Svana asked.

  “I don’t know…” Hekla said.

  They remained silent for several minutes, Hekla kicking the pebbles on the bottom of the ocean floor, and Svana playing with the laces on her boots.

  “Speltus believes this dragon is who created the wizard in Telluris,” Hekla said.

  Svana nodded. “Will you be able to help Lingaria?”

  Hekla stood, though she needed Svana’s help to get all the way up. She hadn’t had much time for rest, and it was finally getting to her. Hekla knew that she couldn’t do anything right now.

  “I need to rest. I do not know for how long, but I am weak, Svana. My energy is low. Right now, I couldn’t do the simplest spell.”

  “Well… you have me beat. I can’t do any spell, even if I’m not exhausted.” Svana grinned.

  “I know a place we can go to rest. I cannot promise anything though, Svana. All I can promise is I will do my best to help Lingaria.”

  “That’s all I ask. Are we going back to the house on the island?”

  Hekla smiled. “Yes. It is the safest place we can go. But we also need to be careful. Miralee’s son is on the king’s side, but with him on the run, we know we are going to have to be on guard. We must watch out for him.”

  “How long will it take us to get there?”

  “About an hour,” Hekla said.

  “Good,” Svana said, “because I’m famished.”

  Hekla laughed.

  35

  Astrid

  Dragon magic, when used properly has the power to heal the kingdoms over and over. If used improperly, it can destroy all of civilization. It is important that it never fall into the wrong hands, and this is why it has been protected so thoroughly, with such diligence. If one is gifted the use of dragon magic, it can change a being to their very core. However, the strength of it can bring about either a great dark or great light. Both must be protected at all costs.

  Pavrusion, The Infamous, The Eighth Dragon Elder, Ninth Age of Verdil

  As they emerged below Caelestis, Astrid could only think about how to save the people of Caelestis. She wasn’t sure what could be done about the king, but if she could save Caelestis, perhaps the king would have a change of heart. She had to hope for it.

  Xolderan's aging face would urge her on, even if she could sense that he may very well have deserved his fate, but time was a healer and she hoped that if she could heal him and set him free, then her goodness would cause a change of heart for him as well. It was all she could hope for in that moment.

  “Don’t worry, Astrid, it’s going to be all right,” Cayden tried to reassure her, as they hurried forth.

  Astrid didn’t respond. She couldn’t. There was too much at stake, too much to lose. She nodded her head, but kept pressing forward until the steps of Caelestis were in sight. As they ascended quickly up the steps, the tremors happened again.

  Something wasn’t right, Astrid could feel it. Reaching the top, her heartbeat quicker with each step. Caelestis was in extreme danger. There was no doubt in her mind. If they did not hurry to find a solution, many lives would be lost.

  “Astrid, the king is asking for you!” A Caelestan guard ran toward her, seeming to glide through the air with how light he was on his feet.

  “Didn’t we do this already? Didn’t he want me dead?” she asked, knowing she still had not fulfilled what the king had requested, and knowing that she couldn’t. Astrid would not take the life of another innocent, no matter who ordered her to do it.

  The soldier shrugged.

  “Here we go again,” she answered the soldier, shaking her head in disgust. This same old song and dance was getting tiresome, and she had the fate of the sky people on her shoulders. “I’m on my way,” she said as she nodded to him.

  He replied with a bow of his own.

  “Are you sure, Astrid? This didn’t end well, last time.” Cayden frowned.

  “Which wasn’t long ago,” she chuckled.

  “This is funny to you?” he asked as they jogged toward the castle.

  “No, it’s completely preposterous. Sometimes I just have to marvel at the humor in some things. He must know that I didn’t journey to Telluris, and even if I did… I will not kill for him, unless his life were in danger… or the race of Caelestans lives were in danger.”

  “What do you think he wants?” Cayden asked, their feet patting over the smooth surface of the sky kingdom even as another tremor shook them.

  “If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll ask about the tremors,” she said softly.

  “Do you think he knows?”

  “About Xolderan? I don’t know. I think it would be naïve of us to think that he has not heard of the beast. I’m sure the previous kings have passed down the knowledge, it only makes sense.”

  They were standing outside that castle all too quickly. Astrid paused, wondering if she should go in. The guards who had once tried to stop her were nowhere to be seen. One of the large doors stood open, and Astrid wondered if all was well within the kingdom.

  “Onward, and upward, I suppose,” she said aloud, ignoring the deep sigh from Cayden as they entered the richly decorated main hall. With each step forward, Astrid recalled their last journey here, and the threats from the king.

  He would either imprison them both, or he had other matters to discuss with Astrid. Either way, she wasn’t holding out hope for the man to have changed his mind. When they reached the throne room, she shoved open the doors with all her might, anger boiling to surface.

  The king had threatened her, then summoned her, threatened her, then summoned her.

  “Enough is enough!” she yelled out as she entered the throne room.

  “Indeed, it is, Astrid,” King Bertram said, but she did not see anger in his face. Nor did he seem in any hurry to get up and fight her.

  “Why? Why do you threaten me, and then demand I come to see you again?”

  “Astrid, I worry for my kingdom and its people. I worry that Caelestis will fall, and we will be unable to stop it. The tremors grow more persistent. When I was a child, they happened once in a blue moon… and now, especially now, they seem to happen almost daily. I don’t know what to do.” He leaned on his thin arm; his chin rested on his fist like he was pouting.

  “Your majesty, I told you before and I will tell you again, I am willing to do anything for this kingdom. I think we must let the beast, Xolderan, go and find a replacement… though I’m not sure how to do that, considering Dragons aren’t really allowed in this realm,” she said matter-of-fact, pacing back and forth in front of the throne as she tried to figure out a solution to the problem.

  There are always exceptions, Aronus argued in her mind.

  Indeed! Are you willing to take his place? she asked.

  Aronus remained silent.

  That’s what I thought.

  “What is this nonsense you speak, Astrid?” King Bertram seemed to come alive with the word of a dragon.

  “Your majesty, Caelestis does not float on its own, surely you know that?” She couldn’t hold back her surprise that he may not have been privy to that information.

  With his eyes wide he spoke slowly and calmly. “Tell me, then, how does Caelestis float? I need to know more!”

  Astrid, not naïve in the least, studied his face intensely. Did he really not know about the dragon? Or was he trying to keep certain information from her, that he didn’t want her to have? And if that was the case, why?

  “Your majesty, Caelestis floats because the magic of an old and aging dragon holds the kingdom high. This dragon is guilty of taking numerous lives a long time ago, killing without mercy. Keeping your people here, is his punishment, but he is growing older. His powers weaken by each passing moment, and that is what is causing
the tremors. If he dies, as I suspect he will soon, Caelestis will fall.” She kept her eyes on his face the entire time. Watching his eyes alight, as she disclosed the information, but something in her gut told her that he knew more than he was letting on.

  She had to believe that, she couldn’t just pretend that he would take the throne and not be told of any of the history of Caelestis. The Unseen Ones would never allow such a thing to happen, they were fiercely protective of their lands. It was why when the kings began to go to war with one another, they had deemed that new leaders needed to be elected, or the kings themselves had to be dealt with.

  Indeed, the very reason Astrid, and her sisters were where they are at that very moment.

  No, Astrid would not be deemed a fool by King Bertram.

  “You dare to think I don’t think you know about the dragon, your majesty? Do you think me to be that naïve?” Her anger grew. Was it because she was a female? Or because she seemed too innocent to know the truth about the man? “This makes me wonder if you have something to gain from him being freed, or perhaps it was your idea for him to slowly die off, so that Caelestis would fall. Of course, what could you hope to gain from that? You will no longer be king, and all of your people will be dead. Those that live in Telluris will not take kindly to you,” Astrid continued, stopping her pacing on the plush carpet floor runner, as she turned to face him.

  King Bertram’s eyes flashed, and his face reddened.

  “You are naught but a silly girl, and I’ve no time for you. I called you here because I need your help. Perhaps I knew of the dragon, but I do not know him, nor that he is near death. Only that magic was needed to hold up our city,” he said, a certain finality to his words.

  “Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter since I don’t trust either of you, but I care about this kingdom and its inhabitants to make sure that no one dies without warning.”

  “If you warn them, then this city dies from within. The people will become hysterical and may take each other’s lives. Is that what you want?”

  Astrid could feel her hope draining away. He may be lying, or he may not be telling her the truth, but she knew there was some truth to what he said. Even the best of people could fall victim to hysteria, if panic was allowed to settle in.