“I never learned what started the War and why there were dragons.”
Crystal started in, recalling the text as best as she could. “There were nine dragons. The dragons were actually wizards who were changed into dragons. When one of the nine died of old age and a new seat was opened, another wizard was made a dragon, somehow. Only great and honorable wizards were allowed to become dragons.”
Markus frowned. “How do you change into a dragon?”
“I don’t know. That information wasn’t in any text.”
Markus smiled at her. “So, not everything is in that library of yours.”
“Well, I haven’t read everything.” She grinned at him, and then continued. “The wizards started coming to our lands and marrying our people. For some reason, this angered the wizards back in their own lands and it started a conflict that turned into a civil war. It spilled over to our lands, and our people were forced to choose a side. We sided with the Dragon Council and the wizards who supported it.”
Markus cocked his head. “What happened next?”
“No one knows for sure. With some kinda great spell, the dragons were destroyed, but so were the enemies of the wizards. The ancient wizards were all destroyed, and only their children, in our lands, survived. Some say the dragons sacrificed themselves to save us, while others believe it was dark wizards who cast a foolish spell, dooming all of the ancients. All that’s known is the ancient wizards were destroyed in one day.”
“Not all of them,” Markus stated quietly.
“Huh?”
Markus held out his hand and the wand appeared. “The wizard who gave me this said he was an Ancient. Probably the last one left living in Gallenor.”
Crystal was in awe. “Wow. To have spoken with an Ancient. That’s amazing.”
Markus tossed the wand away; it vanished just before it hit the ground. “I barely had time to ask him anything except why he would want me to take on such a mission.”
“What did he say?”
Markus shook his head. “I don’t believe he chose me specifically. He just needed someone who didn’t have an agenda, one way or another, who was willing to take this foolish mission.”
Crystal solemnly stated, “This foolish mission will bring back my parents.”
Markus realized how stupid his comment was. “Oh, I didn’t mean it that way. I just . . . wasn’t thinking. It’s a great mission; I just don’t think I’m the best choice for it.” He gave her a confident grin. “But, I’ll do everything I can to complete it.”
“Thanks.”
Just then, Treb and Kiin came back. “So, is everything ready to go?” Kiin asked.
Markus and Crystal stood up. Crystal still acted very guilty around them, but Markus was more eager. He pointed to the perfectly packed bags. “Yup.”
“All right.” Treb grabbed a bag and started to put it over his shoulders. “I’ll take this one. Kiin and Crystal, you each take the other two.”
Markus grabbed the one Crystal had already put her hand on. “No, I can carry this.”
Kiin shook her head and put her bag on. “No, Crystal’s coming with me. You two will head for the Citadel. I’m taking her home.”
“No!” Crystal yelled at them, then shut her mouth tight. She had never yelled at her parents. And it scared her to think she had just done that.
Treb did not become angry; he had expected her to resist. “Crystal, this isn’t a safe mission. I don’t want you in harm’s way. You’ll be safe at the village with Kiin.”
Crystal looked as though she were about to cry. “I have to go with you. This is too important. I want to help free my parents.”
Kiin took Crystal’s hand. “Honey, we’ve already discussed this, and I’m not going to listen to your arguments. We’re going home.”
Markus wanted to say something in Crystal’s defense, because he really wanted her to come with them. But he understood her parents’ reasoning and knew better than to get into a family issue. He had just gotten on Treb’s good side; he didn’t want to ruin that so soon.
Treb broke the silence as he started to walk away. “Come on, we need to get on the road.”
The other three quietly followed him out of the thicket of trees and headed for the little dirt road that would direct Kiin and Crystal back toward the village.
“Hey, what am I going to sleep on for the rest of this trip?” Markus asked as they walked down the hill toward the road.
Treb pointed off toward the north. “We’ll get to Stillwater by nightfall, and there we can purchase some more supplies for the road.”
Crystal protested one last time as she saw the road where they would depart from the others. “I can take care of myself. I’m sixteen now. And you could use the medical magic I know.”
Treb turned to her, about to hotly explain himself again, but Kiin came up from behind her and held her shoulders. “Honey, please don’t fight this. Just tell him goodbye and we can go home.”
Markus looked up and saw what seemed to be a dirt cloud rising up on the road, down the hill from where they were standing, but he didn’t say anything just yet.
Treb nodded at Crystal. “Listen to her. Trust me. I only do this because I love you.”
Kiin pushed Crystal towards Treb. “Give him a hug.”
Crystal knew he loved her, which was the reason behind what he was doing. So, she put her arms around him and gave him a great hug. “I do love you, Daddy.”
He hugged her back. “So do I. I’ll come home as quickly as possible, and I’ll be bringing your real parents with me.”
“Uh . . . what’s that?” Markus interrupted.
Treb looked up from hugging Crystal to see several Royal Guards come racing down the road. “Trouble.”
Kiin cleared her throat and quietly stated, “Stay calm. Perhaps they’ll just pass us.”
Treb held his daughter’s shoulders and walked with her to the north, acting as though they were simply on their way. Kiin walked on her other side, keeping between the passing Guards and her daughter. Markus stayed on Treb’s far side, putting all three of his companions between him and the Guard’s eyes.
“HALT!” yelled Captain Morris as he turned his horse and ran up the short hill toward the Rakki and the human. Two of his fellow Guards followed along.
Treb gritted his teeth and stopped. He and Kiin turned so they were in front of Crystal and Markus. The three men on horses surrounded them, the Guards with their swords drawn.
Treb had his bow in his hand, but it was not yet ready to fire, as he didn’t want to provoke anything. He smiled at them and asked, “How can we help you today?”
Morris glared at them. “I’m searching for any wizards. By order of King Anthony, they are to be apprehended for the good of Gallenor.”
Markus became very nervous and looked at Crystal. In a hushed voice, he said, “That’s the guy who was after Tolen.” Crystal’s eyes turned wide and she started to shake. Markus took her hand and tried to help calm her down. Looking scared was the worst kind of incrimination right now.
Kiin shifted position a few times to keep Morris’ line of sight away from the kids behind her. “Well, I’m afraid we cannot oblige today. None of us are wizards, just travelers.”
Morris sneered in disbelief. “What are you doing out here, so far from the Rakki village? What are you doing with a Humankind?”
“We’re hunting imps.” Treb glowered at Morris. “They’re plaguing our people, and the Royal Armies have stopped keeping the imp population under control.”
Kiin added, “And since when is it a crime to have a Humankind with us? All the races are free to be together in friendship—or have the equality laws been repealed?”
“I’m the law in Gallenor. If I decide you should go home, you’ll go home. If I decide you need to spend a little time in prison, you will. Do not get haughty with me.”
Treb snarled, but contained his growling. “Well, then, unless you need to imprison us, we really need to be on ou
r way, as I’m sure you need to go as well.”
Morris sat up on his horse and nodded to his men. “Fine. Be on your way, but just be careful . . .”
“Sir!” One of his men pointed at the little satchel hanging from his horse.
Morris looked down and an evil grin spread across his face. He reached down and retrieved a red glowing stone. “Well, well, well. It appears there is a wizard in our presence.”
In a fraction of a second, Treb picked up his bow, pulled out an arrow, and had it ready to fire an inch away from Morris’ head. He then growled out at Morris, “You won’t live to lay one single finger on my daughter!”
The two Guards immediately pulled out their swords, and Kiin produced an arrow as well, shifting her aim between the guards. Everyone was on high tension, even Morris.
The captain held up his hands. “You loose that arrow, and the entire legion under the King will hunt you down and skin that fur hide off of your body.”
Crystal was squeezing Markus’ hand, scared to death. She managed to whisper to him, ”Stop them.” There was a strange, awful fear in her eyes. She was staring at Morris as though he were a massive demon.
Markus understood how terrified she was and that Treb’s arrow could bring about a terrible fight. So, he came up with a brilliant solution. With a single thought, he produced his wand. Then he let go of Crystal’s hand and ran back a few steps, “Hey, you want a wizard? Here I am!” He showed them his wand.
“It’s the boy! Get him!” Morris yelled at his men.
Markus grinned and then waved the wand around his head, finishing with a snapping point into the sky. A stream of fire came flowing off the end of the wand, and it turned into a torrent of flames. The flames grew and grew, forming a huge blazing bird, rising into the sky. The bird let out a shrill, echoing scream, and proceeded to fly down, going directly for the soldiers. Markus was in awe of what he was doing. The spell was the same one he had read in the Rakki library. He didn’t say the words, but rather thought of what he wanted, and the bird came. In a strange way, he was controlling it with his emotions, and it felt really good.
The soldiers were shocked and stopped their attack. Their horses were scared to death. One reared up, nearly throwing its rider, and the other horse turned and ran as if its master had just spurred it with razor blades. The first horse followed behind quickly, their riders at the animals’ mercy.
The firebird flew right at Morris, as it was directed by Markus’ will. Morris wasn’t as scared of it as his men, but his horse was less courageous in the face of this flame demon. The frightened horse almost kicked Treb in the face while it found the quickest path away from the approaching monster. Morris was at his horse’s whim and was taken away with the firebird close behind him.
Both Treb and Kiin dove to the ground so as not to be hit by the bird that was heading for them. Crystal didn’t budge. She smiled while the orange, flaming beast flew right through her and continued toward the fleeing soldiers.
“Mom, Dad, it’s fake. Just an illusion.”
Markus, who was still controlling the bird, ran back down the hill at them. “And, it won’t last long. We really should get away from here—now!” He started running northward.
Treb and Kiin scrambled to their feet. Treb grabbed Crystal’s hand and ran with her. Kiin kept her bow in hand as she followed her husband and daughter. If the men came back for either Crystal or Markus, she would see to it they knew her arrows were no illusion.
Markus could no longer see his creation and let it go. It would dissipate within a few minutes, and the Guards would realize it was a ruse. By that time, hopefully, the trio would be long gone.
Captain Morris forced his horse to come to a skidding stop. “Stop, you fools!” The other two Guards stopped their horses and turned around. Morris looked back. “The firebird’s gone; it was an illusion. That damned kid fooled us.”
The two Guards then trotted back up to him. One asked, “What now?”
The Captain was grinding his teeth. No one made a fool of Morris and got away from him. “This wizard child is trying to run from us. I won’t allow it.”
“Should we go after them?”
“No.” His answer came out a bit slow, a pondering look in his eyes. He quickly came up with a plan and gave his orders. “I’ll go alone for now. Trent, head back to the Capital and tell the King that there’s at least one rogue wizard child. Chris, head back to the Rakki village and tell Kellus that two of his noble Arrowguard soldiers are aiding and abetting criminals.”
Chris frowned. “How do you know those Rakki are part of the Rakki Arrowguard?”
Morris looked back in the direction they had been running. “The male bore the symbol of the Arrowguard on his armor. The Rakki are a proud and noble people. It would be against all of their codes of conduct to wear such a symbol without earning it. Those two answer to Kellus, and Kellus will answer to me if he allowed them to do this.” He turned sharply and pointed at Chris. “Tell the dog king that the King of Gallenor will annex his forest and put all of his people in chains if he’s part of this.”
“Sir?” Both men were shocked at the relentless attitude of their leader.
Morris turned his horse to start heading back. “The laws of the King supersede any local authority. To violate them is dangerous. Remind Kellus of that. I’ll head for Stillwater, as I’m sure those people will need to stop there for fresh supplies. From there, I’ll send a hawk back to Thendor with further instructions. Now, get to your duties!” he yelled as he charged his horse away from them.
“Aye, sir.” Both loyal subordinates saluted their commander.
“I can’t keep running. My legs hurt,” Crystal whimpered.
Treb stopped dragging her and paused for everyone to catch their breath. Markus and Crystal were much more out of breath than Kiin or Treb, but all their muscles ached from dashing for the last hour.
Kiin leaned on Treb. “That man—he won’t stop hunting us.”
“That’s Captain Morris, isn’t it?” Markus asked while he held his knees to catch his breath.
Treb stuck up one eyebrow. “Yes. How do you know him?”
Markus stood up and stretched his back. “When Tolen gave me the wand and the mission, that man showed up with his soldiers. I hid when he questioned Tolen. For some reason, he’d been searching for Tolen for a long time.”
Kiin frowned. “Did they get Tolen? Is he trapped in the Labyrinth?”
“Tolen died,” Markus stated plainly. “He was very old and hardly able to speak to me. I don’t know how he managed to stay alive long enough for me to find him, but he died only moments after he gave me the mission. That Morris guy must’ve been searching for Tolen like he’s looking for us—to imprison wizards.”
Treb shook his head. “No, Morris was searching for Tolen because the King wanted Tolen specifically. Back when they first took our wizards, they gave us a decree from the King. If Tolen the Wise was found on our lands, he was to be turned over to the King immediately. Tolen was the only wizard searched for like that.”
Markus thought about Treb’s revelation. “It did seem odd the way Morris acted around Tolen when they spoke. It was as though Tolen was keeping something from Morris and from the King. My guess is that it had something to do with the Citadel and the Dragonwand.”
Kiin walked past Markus, up the hill a little ways. “Then we need to get there first.” She went up a bit higher than the others and looked out over the distant road.
Treb came over to Crystal, who was still shaken. “Are you okay?” he asked.
She was looking off in the distance, seemingly lost in a memory. “It was him,” she whispered.
Treb frowned. “Who?”
“That man—the one you pointed your arrow at—that’s the man who took my parents.” She was shaking all over, panic taking over her mind.
Treb then realized it indeed had been Captain Morris who had come to their house and picked up Shio and Fiona, Crystal’s parents. A
ll of the other Guards under his command had gone around, capturing the others, and Morris had been arresting the last two. “It was. I’d forgotten.”
It was clear from Crystal’s face that every ounce of control in her was being used to restrain the need to cry. “I was so scared when I saw his face. I knew he’d come for me. He was going to take me away.”
Treb took her in his arms, and she buried her face in his shoulder, crying. He brushed his hand down the back of her head. “Oh, my precious little girl. I would never let him take you away. I would rather die than see that happen.”
She cried, “I don’t want to go home! He’ll find me there!” The sound of her voice was muffled against Treb’s body, but even Markus could understand what she had said.
Treb closed his eyes and rested his head down on hers. “No, I can’t send you home now. He’ll look for you there. You’ll come with us.”
Crystal started bawling. “Don’t let him take me. Don’t let him take me.”
Watching her, Markus felt really awkward. He realized before how horrible it was that her parents had been taken from her. But he had not come face to face with the reality of how deep her fear was until that moment. Had he not known to use that illusion spell, those Guards could have cut down her adopted parents in front of her, and then taken her and him away to prison. Her world would have been destroyed in a few moments. His heart swelled, and his own eyes filled with tears—not for his own safety, but for hers.
“Move! He’s coming!” Kiin ran back down the hill, pushing everyone to get behind a large rock.
As Markus headed for the rock, he saw that there was one man riding furiously down the dirt road. Morris was still after them. For a brief moment, Markus considered using his spell again, but logically, Morris would be wise to it, and it would only give away their position. So he jumped behind the rock and pressed himself up against it with Crystal right next to him. Treb and Kiin both held their bows with arrows at the ready.
“Crystal, quiet down, please,” Kiin whispered.
Crystal was so scared, she was having a hard time controlling herself. Her whimpering and hard breathing might have alerted Captain Morris to their location.
Legacy of Dragonwand: Book 1 (Legacy of Dragonwand Trilogy) Page 11
