Legacy of Dragonwand: Book 1 (Legacy of Dragonwand Trilogy)

by Daniel Peyton

Donna stood there and rubbed a potion against his armor. The vapors entered his nose, and he became a little dazed.

  She smiled at him and watched as the light amnesia potion erased a bit of his short-term memory. “I’m so sorry to have stumbled into you. You had better go get it before it gets away.”

  He looked at his sword and then at her. “Huh, what am I doing?”

  She pretended to be terribly surprised. “Didn’t you hear? A woman screamed that an imp was seen flying around the flower district. Go, before it does something bad.” She pointed off to the furthest part of the city.

  The Guard looked around and then ran off, certain he was supposed to stop an imp attack within the city walls.

  Donna watched him leave. Once he was out of view, she looked back to Treb. “Come, you can stay with me.”

  Kiin frowned and was more than confused. “Who are you?”

  Donna smiled and then looked down at the burning torch against the ground, a fire hazard, for sure. She held out her hand, saying, “Vatn.” A small mist formed in the air around her hand, then it congealed into a large blob of water with which she proceeded to douse the flames. “A fellow wizard who refuses to be taken into captivity. Now, unless you want another encounter with a Guard, I suggest you get into my shop.” She hurried them along. “Oh, and this.” Reaching down, she picked up the sensing stone. “I hate these things.” With a quick toss, she sent the stone flying over the city wall and into the forest on the other side.

  Treb and Kiin looked at each other. This was highly unusual, but it was an opportunity they would not pass up. They followed the kids into the potion shop.

  CHAPTER 12: Donna

  Donna walked them to the back of the shop and picked up a fake potion bottle, causing the small pedestal of wood, under the bottle, to lift. This activated a series of levers and doors that moved the shelf of potions to the side and revealed a secret entrance to a basement. Without any words between them, they followed Donna down the stairs.

  Before she had gotten halfway down, she turned to see that they were all inside the small stairwell. With a clever smile and a pull on a torch holder on the wall, the torch lit up with a sudden burst of flames, and the secret entrance sealed itself behind them. From there, she continued down the short walk to a dirt floor basement.

  “Eldr.” Donna pointed a finger at the wall, and a small flame shot out, igniting another torch. Donna repeated this action several more times, lighting up the room for them. The last spell she used was the same as the others, only bigger, and it ignited the fireplace.

  Treb, Kiin, Crystal, and Markus cautiously walked in and found places to sit. Donna prepared a pot of water over the fire. She used a spigot on the wall that was probably fed by the river right outside the building.

  “So, what are wizards doing in Stillwater?” she asked without real concern in her voice.

  Treb cleared his throat and answered, “What gave you the impression we were wizards?”

  Donna stopped and gave him a half-cocked smirk. “First, that sensing stone caught on quickly. Second, when you were at my stand, those two were talking about magic and wizardry.”

  Kiin shot Crystal and Markus a serious glare. “They should’ve known better than to give themselves away.”

  Donna poured the last pail of water into the pot over the fire. “So, is it just the young children, or are you two wizards as well?”

  Crystal looked as though she were going to answer, but was stopped by her father. Treb asked, “Why should we trust you with such incriminating information?”

  “Look, I just saved your butts from the Guards. I think that earns a little trust.”

  Treb agreed with her to a point. “For that, we’re thankful. But my daughter’s life is at stake if anyone finds out she is a wizard. I cannot go around trusting everyone, especially people we’ve just met.”

  Donna stood up and walked over to a cabinet filled with vials of potions. “True, so, introductions are in order. My name is Donna. I’m a potion master and wizard. Four years ago, I escaped the Guards’ notice by hiding in this very basement, waiting for them to escort all the wizards out of Stillwater.”

  Crystal asked, “Didn’t they know you were a wizard? Surely, being a local potion wizard would be known.”

  Donna smiled at the pretty little girl as she picked out a phial among the many. “Not really. When the decree was issued, I was very new to Stillwater. No one here knew I was a wizard. They all thought I was just a potion maker. So no one turned me in. Also, to be honest, I’m not very powerful at basic magic. Those sensing stones don’t go off as quickly around me.”

  Markus asked, “Over the past four years, you’ve not been turned in once?”

  “Dozens of times. I’ve been inspected by every sensing stone in this city. Every time there’s a general inspection, I’m one of the first to be questioned. I know they’ll never fully believe me, but nothing they use can convict me, so I’m free. A few locals are aware of the truth, but they’re trusted friends who would not turn on me. In fact, I have a girl who helps out in the shop. She’s an apprentice potion maker, not a wizard, but a smart girl. She’s fully aware of the truth, and I would trust her with my life if it came to that.” With a great motherly smile, she walked over to the pot. “I bet you guys would like a nice chicken stew.”

  Kiin nodded. “Oh, yes. We haven’t had any good chicken in a few days now.”

  Donna poured the potion into the water and then began to stir it around. The magical blend of herbs, spices, and other various items began to transform the mundane liquid into a heavy soup filled with vegetables and chicken meat. “So, when I realized they would come around often, checking for wizards, I knew I had to come up with something to disguise myself. I created a special potion. When I rub it on, it fools their sensing stones and mirrors. Unfortunately, I think it only works on me because I’m not powerful as a wizard.”

  Markus chimed in. “But a clever one.”

  Donna turned and gave him a big smile. “Oh, thanks. Now, you know all about me. What about yourselves? Are you running from being found, or are you looking for something?”

  Treb looked at his wife and then at Markus. He felt it was not right to tell her about the Dragonwand and their quest. “Uh, we’re just travelers. Kiin and I aren’t wizards, but Markus and Crystal are.”

  “I understand. It was when I heard the King ordered even children to be taken from their homes and families that I knew this was not right. There was something horribly wrong with this law. I fear their promises to release wizards, when they find that Dragonwand, is just a hoax. They’ll keep the wizards under lock and key because of some unfounded paranoia.”

  Crystal looked down. “That’s my biggest fear. I don’t know if I’ll ever see my real parents again.”

  Donna snapped her fingers, and the wooden spoon continued stirring the stew on its own. She turned to look at Crystal. “Oh, my. They took both of your parents?”

  Crystal nodded.

  “Oh, my dear child, how terrible. What of you, boy? Did they take your parents as well?” Donna looked over to Markus.

  Markus shook his head. He had a hard time saying the truth, knowing how hard it might be on Crystal. “No. Only my father had any magical abilities, and he left those behind a long time ago. I doubt even the sensing stones could detect it in him. I never thought I would be thankful to say that, but at least I know they’re safe.”

  Donna wanted to ask why the boy was with the group if his parents were okay. But she felt she had pried enough. “Okay, who wants some dinner?” she happily announced and grabbed a set of wooden bowls from a shelf near her.

  “Oh, that does smell good.” Treb sniffed the air. All the Rakki in the room were lifting their faces up and sniffing the glorious scent in the air.

  Donna happily served out four bowls of her famous instant chicken stew, one of her best sellers back when she wasn’t afraid of showing off a few of her magical potions. Simple potion blenders without
magic could not create such things, so she didn’t usually make the dish for anyone but herself. “Eat up. That vial of potion makes a big kettle of soup.”

  Treb ate a big spoonful, but then sort of looked bored with it.

  Donna walked over to him with a worried look in her eyes. “Oh, is it not good?” Of all of them, she wanted him to like her stew.

  Treb faked a smile and shook his head. “Oh, it’s fine. Just fine,” he lied.

  Donna was not so easily deceived. “If it isn’t good, I can make something else. Those instant stews are not hard to make. What’s wrong with it? Too old, bitter, sour, what?”

  Treb was about to be gallant again, but Markus piped up. “I don’t think it’s bad; just not spicy enough for their tastes.”

  “Oh, how silly of me. I forgot. You’re Rakki. Wait.” She ran off in a big hurry and went into another room of the basement.

  Markus was eagerly eating up the delicious stew, enjoying every bite. Crystal looked over to him with a frown. “How can you eat that? It has no taste.”

  Markus wiped his mouth on his sleeve and laughed. “Not to you, but to me, it’s fine.”

  Donna came back in with another vial of something. It was a translucent golden liquid. “Here, this’ll help.” She went to Treb first and took out the tiny cork. With a tip up, she dripped a few drops into his stew and then stirred it around for him with his spoon. Crystal could see Donna was a little too close and showing a bit too much of her bust to Treb as she did this. Kiin wasn’t jealous; it was more a matter of confusion.

  Donna looked into his eyes and amorously said, “There, taste it now.”

  Treb kindly took another bite and his eyes lit up. “Oh, this is perfect. Just the right thing: spice.”

  Kiin held out her bowl. “Sounds perfect.” Donna added some to Kiin’s and then headed over to Crystal, not stopping to stir theirs as she had the handsome Treb’s.

  When she got to Markus, he pulled his back. “Uh, no thank you. I’m not as keen on spice as these guys. What’s that? A special seasoning potion?

  Donna replaced the cork and shook her head. “Nope, just one of the many ingredients I use in making other potions. This is pure mountain vine pepper oil.”

  Markus coughed at the thought. “Vine pepper oil! That’s the hottest stuff in Gallenor.”

  Crystal grinned at him as she swallowed a mouthful of the now hot-as-fire stew. “Perfect.”

  Markus shuddered. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”

  The evening passed quietly, as they had their dinner. Then Donna placed some mats on the floor of the basement for the kids. For some reason, she placed three, but took care to put them near enough the fireplace so they would all be good and warm. Treb was offered a guest bed she had in another room.

  While they got their beds ready, Donna went back up and brought in the rest of her stock from the booth. To get just half of her stuff inside was not only bad if a thief happened by, but it might raise suspicion, and that was the last thing they needed right now.

  Markus and Crystal sat on a bench in the basement, watching the fire. Treb kept a close eye on them as they sat together, but Kiin was keeping an eye on Treb.

  Watching Treb and Kiin leave the room, Markus waited until they were out of earshot to ask Crystal something. “Hey, you okay?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve been a little upset the last few hours. I know you can be shy, but you look angry. Did I do something wrong?”

  “No, it’s not you. It’s me.”

  “You?”

  “Yeah, it’s me.” Crystal shook her head in disgust. “I can’t believe I acted so childish earlier.”

  Markus thought hard about what she had just said. He couldn’t pinpoint what “earlier” she was talking about. “When did this happen?”

  “You know, when we stopped running from that scary Guard and I broke down and went all to pieces. I . . . I acted just like I did when I was twelve and my parents were first taken from me. I acted like a baby!” She was angry at herself.

  Markus smiled at her and took her hand. “No, you acted scared. It’s okay to be scared. That man took your parents from you, which can only bring back terrible memories. I can’t imagine what it felt like to come face to face with him again.”

  “For four years, I’ve had the same nightmare: that terrible man coming into my room and taking me away. He puts me where I cannot find anyone I love, and everyone who loves me is lost, looking for me far, far away.”

  He rubbed his thumb over her hand gently, brushing it across the fur. “I don’t know what it’s like to walk right into the nightmare of my life. I don’t know what I would do. I would probably act just like you did, scared and panicking. But I wouldn’t be mad at myself for it. It’s hard to face your fear like that.”

  She growled a little, which was extremely cute, and glared at nothing in particular. Though, in her mind, she could see that awful human soldier who had torn her family apart. “Next time, I’ll face my fear. I won’t go crying to my father. I’ll set Captain Morris’ furless hide on fire and force him to feel the pain I’ve felt all these years.”

  Markus did his best not to laugh. The sight of her showing strength was cute and surprisingly attractive. “I’ll be there with you. We’ll find the wand and do what we have to, so those responsible can be brought to justice.”

  She stopped looking so angry and kind of leaned her head over to him. “You know, there was something I treasured from that experience.”

  “What?”

  Crystal looked up at him with soft eyes. “The way you told me you would protect me. That you wouldn’t let them take me away.” Her eyes were looking directly into his. “I wanted to thank you.”

  He smiled, a little embarrassed. “Oh, it was nothing. Really. I, uh . . . what are you doing?” He noticed she was getting closer to him.

  “Thanking you.” She surprised him with a kiss—his first. For a few moments, they kissed an awkward teenager kiss, but it was fantastic for both of them.

  In the doorway to the dark room adjacent to them, there was a pair of glinting eyes and a deep growling. Treb’s fists were clenched, and he was baring all of his fangs. If it were not for a kind hand pushing him back, he might have done something terrible to Markus right then.

  “Honey, get ahold of yourself. It’s just a kiss.” Kiin stopped him.

  He whispered through his fangs, “But . . . but, she and he . . . they are . . .”

  “Just kissing. She’s sixteen. It’s about time she kissed her first boy. The world won’t end if you don’t blow up.” Kiin was always able to keep Treb at bay, no matter how furious he was.

  Treb’s eyes were glued on the kissing kids. “If he touches any part of her, I will . . .”

  “Look, honey, they stopped. It was only a kiss. Now cool off. You’re going to grind your teeth off if you keep gritting them like that.” She found it hilarious.

  Markus sat beside Crystal, a dazed expression on his face. Crystal was grinning like a fool, and horribly embarrassed. She didn’t know that anyone had watched, but it didn’t keep her from feeling self-conscious. What had she just done? She had never thought she would do something like that, but it was like there had been only one option.

  “Crystal, that was . . . amazing!” Markus had liked it—a lot.

  She blushed under her fur. “I was just so thankful, and, well, I kind of, you know . . . uh . . . like you.”

  Markus wanted to jump around for joy at her saying so, but his testosterone prevented him from doing so. “The feeling, I guess, you know, it’s the same . . . from me.”

  “So, what are you two doing?” Kiin came in at that moment, having decided they had had enough time to recover from their experience.

  Crystal almost fell off of the bench as Markus jumped to his feet and was about ten yards away from her in two seconds. “Uh, we weren’t doing anything,” he said.

  Crystal added, “Yeah, Markus was just . . .
asking me about . . . something.”

  Kiin did her best not to laugh at them. “Asking about what?” she egged them on.

  Markus tried to think of a good answer. “Oh, uh, yeah, something . . .” Then he had an idea. There was actually something he did want to ask her. “Could you show me more about healing magic? I think it’d be smart if we both could use those spells of yours. When I healed that arrow wound, it was kind of neat. Yeah, that’s something.”

  Crystal sat up straight and tried to look normal. “Uh, sure, yeah, I can teach you all that I know.”

  Kiin straightened out the mats again and sat down on the middle mat so that she would be between the kids for the night. “Why don’t you two talk about that in the morning? It’s bed time.”

  Happy, embarrassed, thrilled, and a little confused, Crystal and Markus lay down on the floor in front of the fireplace. Treb had suggested, only moments ago, that Markus could move his mat into the room where Treb slept to separate the kids with a stone wall. But Kiin explained to him that a warm fire was nicer than a cold floor, and to stop worrying so much. She would stay with them for the night, and everything would be all right. This didn’t sate his fears, but he hardly won arguments with her and knew when to give up.

  Treb stood in the corner of the room he had been given. The room was not entirely enclosed. In fact, there were two large doorways at the far end without doors hanging in them. One doorway led into the basement den where the others slept for the night. The other door opened into a dark set of rooms where Donna kept her potion making ingredients. It also led to the stairwell back up to her shop.

  Right then, Treb was taking off his armor and washing his face in a bowl of water Donna had brought him earlier. For a moment, he contemplated taking off his pants to sleep, as he did at home, in his undergarments. Little did he know, his back was being watched by a set of pleased eyes. He soaked a washcloth with some of the water and ran it up and down his upper arms where the armor tied on. He got particularly sweaty there.

  Without warning, a soft hand ran down his tail. Over and over, gently and with good motion, the hand softly stroked his tail, which was a pleasing sensation for any Rakki. Treb smiled, as he was always happy to let Kiin pet his fur. Then another hand ran down his bare back, feeling his furry muscles, which tickled but only made him smile all the more. He was surprised Kiin would be so amorous right now, but he wasn't going to stop her yet.