by C. K. Rieke
“The dragon egg,” she said. “That changes everything.”
“Yes, yes it does.”
“No,” Kera said with wide eyes. “Lilaci, you don’t get it. If it’s true there is a dragon alive in that egg, then my prophecy might almost be complete. I won’t need to live my whole life under the weight of the prophecy on my shoulders. I’ll be free to be a normal girl.”
Poor girl, I don’t know what to tell her. She wants to be normal, but that can never happen. She’ll be as normal a girl as Fewn or I can be ‘normal.’ The hunt will never stop. Once you’re a heretic, a deserter, an enemy of the gods— there’s no going back. Even if a dragon returns to the skies, she’ll forever be known as the Dragon’s Breath. What can I tell her now? I don’t want to crush her dreams, but honestly, part of me is surprised she wants to be normal. She is so strong for a girl her age, I only ever pictured her being a leader of many in every respect. Even grown adults look up to her, as inspiration, she gives their lives purpose. She did that for me and mine. Fewn has nothing left but her. She’s cursed with the gift she’s been given. Best to let her think whatever she wants now though, it's just amazing to see her smile once again. How I’ve missed her. I love her more than life itself.
Lilaci just looked down at her and smiled. She reached into a sash at her side, and unwrapping it, a white glow emitted and Kera’s eyes widened as she looked into the warm light.
“You . . . You found it?”
Lilaci pulled the box of Whitewood from the sash and held it out to Kera, it was little bigger than the palm of her hand. Kera plucked it delicately from her hand. She ran her fingers over the golden hinges, and caressed the soft, smooth Whitewood.
“Do you know what to do with it?” Lilaci asked.
“Open it,” Kera said. “I suppose.”
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
Kera put her fingers against the small, pea-sized latch at its front, and twisted it. Lilaci watched intently as the box’s lid lifted with a subtle pop, and Kera began to raise the lid slowly. As she raised the lid higher, a white mist began to rise from the inside of the box. Then, she opened the box fully, and as they both were both startled by the contents of the box, the white mist floated up towards Kera like a gently flowing wind. Inside the box, there was . . . nothing. Yet, the white mist floated up closer and closer to Kera, like a magical breeze.
“Kera,” Lilaci said. “Step away.”
But Kera looked up at Lilaci, then the floating white mist, and dipped her head to it, inhaling deeply. Lilaci was hesitant but didn’t stop the young girl from breathing in the mist. In a single inhale, the white mist disappeared into her nostrils, and as she exhaled, nothing but air was seen.
“Are you sure that was safe?” Lilaci asked.
“I don’t know,” Kera said. “But there was a reason we came here, and you climbed all the way up there to find this for me. I wasn’t going to let the only contents of the box drift off into the wind.”
“Do you feel anything?” Lilaci asked.
Kera looked around, searching for any new feeling in her mind or body. “No, I don’t think I do.”
Is she supposed to feel something different? There is something at work here, as she knew that box was up there, and there was nothing in the box except that mist. Whatever these visions are that she has, I hope they are leading her forward, and not to harm.
“Well, now that that’s over,” Kera said. “You know what you need?”
“Rest would do fine,” Lilaci said.
“You deserve a refreshing dip to wash the sand from your skin,” Kera said.
“This is still my first time at the sea, you think the water is warm under the stars?” Lilaci said.
“We can find out,” Kera said, grabbing Lilaci’s hand in hers, leading her down towards the sea. As they walked by Fewn, Kera grabbed her by the hand and led her down the sandy shore with them. The three frolicked under the pale moonlight in the warm salty waters. They laughed and cried together. It was a reunion for the ages. Kera had found her family once again, with all betrayal seemingly displaced and forgiven for the moment. Lilaci couldn’t help but feel as though she’d become whole again. Her broken heart was mending, and the mages’ spell was completely gone from mind. The worms that twisted and squirmed around each other tightly with their slick bodies were gone. She didn’t see Veranor’s amulet as a source of searing pain anymore, and all of it just seemed like a bad dream. Lilaci watched Fewn carefully, as she rinsed her hair in the water, flipping it from side to side to knock the course sand from it. She tried to imagine what was going on in her chaotic brain. One thing was for certain, whether she wanted to or not, she truly did care for Kera— she loved her. There was no denying the way she looked at her, it was the same way Lilaci felt when she looked at her. Lilaci knew then— however she felt about Fewn— the three of them shared a connection that would be hard-broken. And even with the deep betrayal Fewn cut into her, Lilaci couldn’t deny that Fewn was one of the only semi-good memories she held of her adolescence. There was her real family, vague recollections of their faces and brief moments in time. There was the boy who she shared the night with under the same moon and stars they were under then— his name was Gogenanth—, but Lilaci was taken away by Veranor. And then there was Fewn, and although they were rivals in Sorock, in an atmosphere where competition and winning was everything, now, after all of that, she felt as if they were also best friends in some sick— Scaether-kind of way.
There under the moonlight, the three of them shared what could best be described as a family finding one of their own back from the dead. Lilaci wanted that moment with them under the night sky to last forever. But she knew all too well that those who hunted them wouldn’t stop. They’d never stop. Moments like that night were just pauses in the game. The whole world was seemingly after them, but this time, she felt safer knowing that their group was growing. Roren and Burr were both skilled fighters and seemed dedicated enough. Things were finally looking up for Lilaci, after all— Kera was finally under her protection once again, and until her last breath, she’d never let another place a finger on her, without paying for it with their life.
Hours later, in the warmth of a blazing fire in a nook of the mountain, where the tip of the winding tail wrapped around, sat the five of them huddled around it. Burr and Kera had warm blankets wrapped around them. Roren, Lilaci and Fewn sat staring at the fire as it danced, cracking and popping. They watched as its embers floated up into the sky, and they watched as Roren rotated six skewers of meat over the flames, which created a hunger and salivation in the others that was so overwhelming that none spoke. They only watched the animals roast, which Roren had gone off hunting once Burr had descended the climb safely, and Kera had Lilaci and Fewn with her.
Once the meat was fully cooked, and the five of them tore into the small, lean and bony animals, the extra one was split between Kera and Burr. Not fully satiated, but with the bellies content for the night with warm food, their minds returned to the matter at hand: what was next in their paths. Lilaci assumed as they all stared into the fire, each thought of their own roads and ideas, but all had Kera as the integral factor. She’d told them about the contents of the white box as Kera had opened it and inhaled it. Even though the mystery remained of the box, and its effect on her, all had to follow and protect her to the end. So, their own personal desires were all on hold, except for the desire to follow Kera, wherever she may lead.
“Well,” Burr said, after clearing his throat, “I’ll break the silence. Thank you for the food, Roren; that put the spirit back into this old man’s soul.”
Roren nodded. “Kera, I’m sure we’re all eager to know now. What is your wish? What road do you wish to take?”
“What options do we have?” Kera asked. “Where is safest to travel?”
“Away from the cities and settlements,” Fewn said. “They’re not only looking for you now, but at least the three of us.” She motioned to herself, Lilaci a
nd Kera.
“The real decision to make,” Lilaci said, “is to find a place to lie low, and stay safe. Or— to continue the path that leads to fulfilling your destiny.”
“The egg,” Roren said. “It is far off now, and the path to it is the road we took to get here. That’s not wise. They may be looking for us still back on that route.”
“Aye,” Burr said. “We’d have to go around. Take the northern desert. It’s quite out of the way, add a week or more, but it’d be out of the path of prying eyes.”
Kera leaned in towards the fire. “I’ve no worries for my safety. I’ve only just met you Demetrius, but I feel as if you four could take on an army. The egg is the goal now. That’s the single most promising thing I’ve yet seen. Burr,” she said, looking over at the old man as his tan face and white beard glowed in the firelight, the rocky mountain flickering behind him. “Tell me more of the cave above. I want to know about the headdress, and the spell that protected the cave.”
Burr cleared his throat, and undid his pouch from his belt, pulling it up onto his lap, but not opening it to reveal the orbs yet. “Very well, first off, as for the spell. I would gather that the spell was placed there after Kôrran was defeated by Gorg and Eyr. It must’ve taken fifty or more of the knights to erect a spell like that, something that lasted that long, with that much power. Obviously, it was to protect the dragon’s horde. There’s no magic that could dispel such a magic, except that of one of the Whiteblades.”
“On that,” Lilaci said. “There is something I must ask you, Burr.” She leaned towards him, and as she looked into his eyes, she assumed he already knew what question she was going to ask.
“Go on then,” he said.
“The blood— The Knights of the Whiteblade use blood magics?”
He nodded “Aye.”
There was a looming silence after that. We were all raised with tales of old magics, and we all knew that blood magic was associated with hexes and curses. Yet, now that I think about it, who created those tales? If it was the Knights of the Whiteblade who used blood magics, and the gods were the ones who spread their lies, then it makes sense they would lie about the knights and their magics after they were defeated.
“There is a stigma about it, I can’t deny,” he said. “But there is great power for doing good in blood. It’s the most powerful fluid in all the Arr. It creates life, it makes us.”
Again, silence.
“Well,” Fewn finally said. “Next time you want blood, look somewhere else. That’s just creepy.”
“We can talk more about that later,” Roren pressed. “What of the headdress? Can I see the gems you plucked from its crown?”
Burr slowly lifted the flap to the leather pouch, and delicately pulled out the three colored orbs, one by one, until they were in his lap. They all reflected the firelight gorgeously, and as they caught the light of the fire, they seemed to glow from within.
“Beautiful,” Roren said. Kera stood, letting the linen blanket fall behind her. She walked over to Burr and sat closely next to him, staring at the three orbs in his lap.
“Yes,” she said. “Quite beautiful.”
“What are they?” Lilaci asked. “Is that what you were looking for in the cave?”
“I hoped they’d be in there,” he said. “But I wasn’t sure. Not after all this time.”
“So?” Fewn pressed. “What was worth risking your life for?”
Burr looked into the light of the orbs, and his eye glimmered with wonder and delight. “These— these are the Stones of Geminos, the three orbs that protected the alpha. The most powerful dragon wore that headdress in battle, and when it did so, it was impervious to almost everything.”
“The Stones of Geminos?” Roren said in disbelief.
“Can I touch one?” Kera asked. Burr nodded with a smile. She reached out and touched the white stone.
“Go ahead,” he said. “Take it.”
She gently plucked it from his lap. “Why— it’s as light as a feather. It weighs almost nothing.” Lilaci watched as the orb moved from his lap to her small palm, the orb appeared to shrink to fit snugly into her cupped hand. “It's magnificent.”
“It’s yours,” Burr said. Kera gave him look of shock. “They’re all yours.”
“What?” she said in disbelief. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll keep them with you,” he said. “You’ll keep them together at all times, and you’ll keep them hidden.”
“Thank you,” she said, with teary eyes. He handed them one by one to her.
“Remember, they only work when they are all together. You’ll be impervious to magics, physical attacks, and poisons. But you can still be hurt. Things like having a rock fall onto you, or drowning can still kill. So, don’t think you’re invincible, but you’ll be pretty close to it.” He winked with his one eye.
“Thank you,” Lilaci said. “That is a gift for all of us, Burr. You’ve proven yourself already as a friend.”
“I will say this though,” he added. “Once you’re done with them, they will return to my Order— for safe keeping.”
“Deal,” Kera said. She then looked around to the others around the fire. “So which path do we take to the egg now?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
After hours of debate, and a heated argument between Roren and Burr, the travelers decided to take a slightly more northern route back towards the cave which housed the dragon egg. Burr wanted to make a straight shot towards it, which would take them dangerously close to the Zont-ils, and the open Dakaran Desert, which housed the Great Oasis of Noruz, and the City of Voru. Burr said they could slide along the northern foothills of the mountains, remaining nearly invisible if they moved during the right time of day in the shadows. Roren had none of that, saying it endangered Kera too much, especially since they’d killed an entire troupe of Scaethers. More were sure to follow.
They’d take the mountain range that bordered the northern border of Bompart, the Isoz-Bor mountains. They were shallow, rolling mountains that nearly reached the northern sea of the Arr’s coast. They could follow that range almost the entire way back down and around the backside of Bompart, and to the cave. Burr wasn’t happy that the walk would take them at least three days longer, but Lilaci and Fewn held Kera’s safety in the highest regard. Burr thought the Stones of Geminos would keep her safe enough, and the rest of them would fight through any pack of Scaethers sent from the palace. But Lilaci wanted to keep her as far away from danger as possible, even with the stones.
In the light of the early morning sun, they packed up their belongings, extinguished their fire, burying it, and as they left back out west, Burr stayed behind, removing nearly all traces that they’d stayed there the night prior. More and more Lilaci was beginning to appreciate his dedication, stealth, and skills. The man who’d appeared out of nowhere, even followed them hundreds of miles without them knowing, had lived up to the stories of the glory of the Knights of the Whiteblade. Roren, on the other hand, seemed a bit warier than she did of their new-found companion. Fewn seemed indifferent, as she seemed more preoccupied with a mix of contentment that Lilaci had forgiven her, and an unusual quietness about her, as if she was deep in thought. Kera had grown surprisingly close to Burr already, but in her youth, Lilaci had seen that she could garner attachments quickly to those who proved loyalty. Not to mention, he’d given her one of the most valuable, if not the most valuable, treasures in all of the Arr. The Stones of Geminos were bound to prove their value in Kera’s hands.
Past the foothills they walked, behind them the magnificence of the carving of the headless dragon on the monumental mountain. Also, behind them, and growing further behind with every step, was the island the gods slumbered upon. Every one of them was elated to be moving away from that place.
At the lead was Burr, trudging through the growing deep sands. The sea winds were still at their back, and the rising sun brought back the heat, and blue, cloudless sky. To their left, down sou
th were the rocky plains that nestled themselves up to the great mountain, and before them in the distance were the Isoz-Bor mountains. Behind Burr walked Fewn, head down in thought. After, walked Lilaci and Kera, hand in hand. Then, Roren took the last position, his eyes constantly scanning the horizon in all directions.
“Burr gave you a great gift,” Lilaci said down to Kera, the young girl’s black hairs wafting out the side of the tan hood covering her head. Her silver eyes piercing deep into Lilaci’s. “Those stones are going to help you stay safe, no matter what happens, don’t lose them. You heard what he said, they only work if they stay together.”
“Sort of like us,” Kera said.
“Yes, sort of like us.”
“I don’t think it will be a problem,” Kera said. “Keeping them together that is. Look.” Kera reached into her pouch at her side and pulled out the orbs— all in one handful. Lilaci looked down in amazement to see three stones, which all had been larger than the size of apples when they were plucked from the dragon’s headdress, were now little larger than a child’s marbles. “Guess they knew I couldn’t carry them when they were big.”
“I guess not,” Lilaci said. “Those must have been created long, long ago. Probably before even the oldest stories our grandparents spoke of.”
“Did you have grandparents?” Kera asked. “That you knew?”
“Well,” Lilaci said, “everyone has— had— grandparents. No, I don’t remember mine. I wish I did. I wish I had at least a single memory of them, a memory of a face. But I don’t. That’s the curse of time when you’re a child— it washes away the oldest of memories like the sands wash over anything old enough, buried and weathered away slowly over the ages.”
“Yes,” Kera said, looking with sad eyes back down at the sand. “I know what you mean, I wish I had a memory of any of my family. I wish I knew my mother’s face. I wish I had even a hint of what she looked like.”
