by L. H. Nicole
Aliana smiled. “It’ll be nice to have someone else to talk to about this.”
“I am glad you feel that way. I have the feeling your path has not been an easy one, and may only get worse for you.”
Aliana dropped her eyes to her folded hands. “What did you want to talk about?”
“What do you know of Camelot’s history?” Igraine asked.
“Not much.” Aliana shrugged. “I’ve heard so many stories of Camelot, but nothing about how it was created.”
“Legend says that Camelot was built by two Dragons. A Gold Dragon and an Onyx Dragon. Only Gold and Onyx Dragons have the ability to take on human form, and these two had long wished to bridge the distance between their home realm, Tir Na Nog, and the mortal realm. So they built a great city, hoping to create a kingdom where humans, Dragons and other creatures could co-exist. But the Onyx Dragon didn’t want to live with the humans, he wanted to rule them.
“Realizing his folly too late, the Golden Dragon fought the Onyx Dragon and banished him from Camelot. But many of the magical creatures were too scared, after the battle, to venture to the Golden Dragon’s new kingdom. So Camelot became a kingdom made up of mostly humans. The Golden Dragon ruled for many long years, watching over his people as the city thrived and grew. But near the end of his long life the king realized that because of the magic he and the Onyx Dragon had weaved to create the kingdom, only one who was of their kind could ensure Camelot’s eternal rule and life.
“He understood that if he did not have an heir, the Onyx Dragon could once again stake a claim on his kingdom. His whole vision for his city was to be one of welcome for all races, so he decided he needed a half mortal son. He found a human woman who captivated him like no other and took her to his bed. Shortly after their union, she bore him two children, a son and a daughter. He raised them to follow in his footsteps, taught them all he knew before he passed on to the stars, his human wife following soon after.
“The king had ruled for so long as a human, many forgot his true lineage, until it became nothing more than a bard’s tale. But ever since his death there has always been a Golden Dragon ruling Camelot, even if no one really knew.”
“Are you his daughter?” Aliana asked in awe.
Igraine smiled, her eyes crinkling. “My brother ruled Camelot in many different guises for centuries. I had wanted to see the world, and the different realms. But then he came under siege and eventually lost his life. Camelot started to fall into ruins as a human warlord conquered the city. I returned too late to save my brother, but I knew I had to carry on my father’s wishes and restore Camelot to what it once was. So I married the warlord’s son and Camelot thrived again.”
Dagg spoke this time, “Was that Uther?”
“No, Uther came many years later. Like my brother and father I hid my long life line creating many different lives for myself.”
“Did you have any other children besides Arthur?” He had never said anything to Aliana about having a sibling.
She shook her head. “My brother had two children, but they both wanted to have their own lives in Tir Na Nog. Arthur is the only child I have let myself conceive. I know my long years are soon coming to an end and I want to be sure that Camelot will not fall into darkness again. The descendants of the Onyx Dragon have never forgotten their own claim to this kingdom.”
“How did these two Dragons have enough magic to build a whole city?” She remembered the eclipse, the unimaginable power it was said to unleash.
“I suspect you may already know,” the queen said shrewdly.
“The eclipse and alignment that happens every fifteen hundred years.” It was a statement, not a question. “I know of it, but I don’t understand or see how it works.” Or how the Grail plays into all of this.
The queen leaned back in her chair. “They are not one event, but rather two that happen within one day.”
Aliana let the information sink in. “Can you tell me more?”
The queen was thoughtful for a moment before answering. “First the stars and other celestial bodies align with our world. When that happens, one magical location, somewhere in our realm, will be immersed in the strongest magic ever known.”
“The one random point of earth’s magical grid,” Aliana said to Dagg.
“Yes, we cannot forget that.”
Igraine continued like she hadn’t noticed their silent exchange. “Then, half a day later, the sun and other planets in the sky will align with the moon, eclipsing all the light of the sun. It’s then that all the gates of each realm will be vulnerable. If one was able to harness the power of the first alignment, they could use that magic to open all the gates during the eclipse. They will all only seal again after all the forces of the universe have left the alignment and the light fully returns to the realms.”
Aliana fought a shudder. The thought of Mordrid having all that power…she couldn’t let herself go there. “How do you know all this? Planets and alignments, workings of the universe?”
The queen smirked. “You know what I am, and I know many others of my kind, far wiser than me, who have shared their knowledge.”
“Is the eclipse how your father and the other Dragon built Camelot?”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “Over three thousand years ago.”
Aliana’s jaw dropped. The queen’s laughter echoed around the room. Aliana had to clear her throat before asking, “When is the next time this is supposed to happen again?”
“Not for another fifteen hundred years, give or take.”
At least that’s one less think to worry about while we’re here.
“My Lady, what happened during the last alignment?” Dagg’s ageless voice was soft and a little worried.
“Nothing, thank the Golden Dragon.” Her hand touched her stomach absently. “Since my father and the Onyx Dragon used the power, none have ever been able to successfully harness it again.”
“That’s a heck of a back story.” Aliana frowned. “Why don’t Arthur or the knights know anything about this?” Arthur and the others would not have kept all this from her! Especially Merlin!
Her eyes widened in surprise. “How do you know they don’t?”
Blood drained from Aliana’s face. Darn it! “Um…well I don’t, um…”
Igraine studied her with a new curious suspicion. “You are not from this time, are you?”
Aliana’s panicked eyes shot to Dagg. He just shrugged, not looking put off in the slightest.
“I understand.” Igraine’s assurance didn’t make her feel better. That was two people she’d failed to hide her secrets from. She had to be more careful.
Her resolve crumbled. She needed to talk to someone other than Dagg about this. In for a penny in for a pound.
“I’m so confused, and so worried. I have no idea what I’m doing!”
Igraine’s warm, soft hand covered her clenched ones. “You are not alone. I do not believe one as powerful, spirited and smart as you will not be able to handle the tasks you’ve been sent to complete.”
Aliana studied Igraine. Her reassurance reminded her of her mother. Her heart fluttered. It had been so long since she’d had any kind of motherly influence in her life. “Why are you so understanding? How do you know I don’t mean harm to Camelot or Arthur?” No one had treated her with any kind of dangerous suspicion since she arrived.
“Because.” She patted Aliana’s hands and stood. The queen came to stand behind Aliana, her hands covering her smaller shoulders. “Besides seeing your true power I can feel the goodness radiating from you. I think that even those who don’t have magical abilities can sense it in certain ways.”
“So Arthur and the knights do know who you are?”
Igraine nodded and brushed a wrinkle out of her skirt. “Only Arthur, his inner circle, and our family know the truth.” Aliana bit the inside of her cheek. “What do you wish to ask, child?”
“I heard that King Uther had hunted many magical creatures, killed many magic users,
but he married you. Did he know?”
The queen sighed. “He did. He was hunting me.” The nostalgic smirk on her lips surprised Aliana. “He fell into one of his own traps, foolish man. I saved his life, turned from my Dragon form to my human form. My magic saved his life and he fell in love with me. I knew the type of man he was and refused his advances, but over the next few seasons, he changed. He became more tolerant of magic and magical creatures. He passed a law that, so long as they do no harm to others, no one would do harm to them. He still didn’t trust magic, or those who used it, but as long as they followed the law…”
“Son of a biscuit, he must have really loved you.”
She sighed wistfully. “I came to him after that, agreed to marry him. At first it was only because I needed to be in power once again, to help Camelot thrive. But I too fell in love with him. And then Arthur was born…and he is a gift I thank all the powers in the world for.”
“And his father’s way of seeing magic clearly didn’t transfer to him.”
Igraine laughed. “Uther tried, to a degree, but I taught Arthur that, much like a weapon, magic is not good or evil, only those who wield it are. For many years I feared Arthur would become like his father was, then Delphina came to our court and everything changed. Arthur finally understood what I had been teaching him.”
Envy twisted in her gut. Aliana held back the questions she wanted so badly to ask. But what if she did ask, but wasn’t supposed to? Frustration and stress tightened her muscles.
Soothing waves of warm sunlight flooded her and the anxiety melted away. She turned and looked up at Igraine, confused as to why she didn’t feel like the queen’s calming magic was an intrusion like she had once felt Dagg’s to be.
The answer came to her immediately. She trusted this woman. The desire to tell the queen about Morgana’s coming betrayal took root in Aliana’s throat.
“There is one thing you must do: Promise me you will tell no one here of what the future holds. No one, not Arthur, any of the knights, not one single, living soul.”
“But, you need to know—”
“No!” Igraine’s voice thundered around the room and Aliana’s mouth instantly snapped shut. “Say nothing of the future, or you risk destroying everything you know, and the lives of the people you love.”
Aliana nodded, her throat tight and eyes downcast.
“I would hear your promise, Aliana.”
She raised her green gaze. “I promise.” Aliana wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her friends or home.
The queen’s gentle hand touched her shoulders. “Thank you. I know it will be hard, but I believe you can do this.”
9
Lady Dawn asked me why the Red Wind Forest was named so. I had to control the rage that filled me when I thought of that tragic story. The Red Wind Forest was so named because it had once been home to the largest colony of Firebirds in all the realms. Until a dark-haired Sorceress came and spirited them all away. Their majestic lives were sacrificed so that the witch Morgana could claim their endless magic. My father, S’han, had been there, had failed to stop them being taken. He cannot right that wrong, so I must do it for him, thought it will not be an easy task.
~J’alel
LEAVING THE QUEEN’S CHAMBERS, with Dagg back in his hidden form around her wrist, Aliana now felt calmer than she had since before they found Excalibur in the Isle of the Blessed. She had a strong ally now, one who was so much like her mother it almost hurt. For a second she had felt disloyal to the woman who had loved and raised her, but she knew her mama would be happy she had someone to rely on.
She wandered the halls, heading back toward the throne room, hoping she could retrace the path she and Lacy had taken back in the Isle’s Camelot. It was easier than she had thought, and in minutes she was standing outside the room filled with wall-to-wall books and scrolls.
A servant had said that the court historian used this room as a storage room for all the tomes that had been amassed in Camelot’s long history. Aliana glanced down the gray stone halls, wondering how she could have gotten lucky enough to have them deserted. She pulled, but the door was locked. Glancing around again, she raised her gauntlet hand and pushed her magic into the iron lock. It slid open and Aliana quickly ducked in, being sure to close the door behind her.
The room was pitch dark, and old panic rose like a vicious demon. Her throat closed up and it was hard to breathe. Dagg’s magic flowed into her, calming her enough to grab at her magic and create several balls of pink magic light. The breath whooshed into her lungs as the fear lost its grip and her heart started to beat again.
“I really thought I was over that stupid fear!” she murmured, resting against the door.
Dagg sprang from her wrist. “Some fears take a long time to be soothed away.”
Aliana spread out the balls of light, the room now brightly lit. The sheer number of books amazed her. The room was three times fuller than it had been when she and Lacy had seen it. It reminded her of the book hidden in her ruby that she really needed to read. Later, after I talk to Merlin. I need to tell him about it. She went straight for the bookcase that hid the secret hall and room.
She ran her hands along the sides of the stone and under the shelves looking for some kind of catch or lever but found nothing. Sighing, Aliana remembered that it had only opened once Lacy had kicked it.
Dagg laughed when she told him about it. “I don’t think we need to be that dramatic. Try using your magic.”
Aliana opened her sense and gathered a small amount of the air element’s abundant power. The door opened a second later, her balls of light flowing into the dark hall filled with cobwebs and stone dust.
“It certainly looks unused.” But that didn’t mean that no one was here. Holding her hand over her ruby, Aliana called her magic bow to her hand. A few more steps and she was at the knotted door. Using the element’s magic she opened the door, her bow at the ready, and drew a pink sparking arrow.
The hidden chamber was cold and dark, not a sign of life or magic anywhere to be seen or felt. Stepping in, her magic light illuminating the tight space. Aliana was shocked by its emptiness. Where were the scientific vials and workstation, the books and magical items?
“Maybe she hasn’t betrayed them yet.” Aliana’s heart lightened at the hope. “If Morgana hasn’t turned against them yet, maybe there is a way we can keep her from ever turning evil!”
She glanced at her Dragon, surprised he hadn’t objected to her thought. But he remained silent flying around the room.
“Okay, clearly, we’re good for now. We should probably head back.”
Dagg’s long angular head bobbed up and down as they left the room and hall. Aliana sealed both doors with the element’s magic and quietly cracked open the wooden door of the small library. Dagg reattached himself to her wrist and she poked her head out into the hall.
It was empty!
Grateful for her luck, she slipped out and locked the door. The last of her pink sparks had disappeared when she felt the prickle of warning that she wasn’t alone any more.
“What are you doing, Aliana?”
Aliana’s spine went stiff at the sound of Sir Owaine’s curious voice. She turned, forcing herself so smile, hoping it didn’t look too forced.
Galahad stood beside Owaine and Gawain, all three dressed in heavy leather and their swords.
“Don’t they go anywhere without those?”
“Not usually,” Dagg answered.
“That was a rhetorical question, Dragon boy.”
“Aliana?” Gawain drew her attention back.
“Sorry, I’m a bit distracted this morning.” Time to see if she could be a good actress. She let out a nervous giggle and shrugged her shoulders. “I’m also more than a little lost.”
“Then why were you trying to get into that book storeroom?”
Aliana widened her eyes. “I didn’t know that’s what this was.” She hoped she was convincing them. “I thought there might be s
omeone in there that could help me figure out where I am.”
Gawain grinned. “For someone who travels often, you seem to get easily lost.”
She scowled, and then saw his teasing devil-may-care grin. An ache of longing for her best friend, Wade, throbbed, but she set it aside for now. “Very funny. Can one of you tell me where Morgana or Merlin is?”
Owaine and the guys stepped to her side, her soon-to-be cousin answering, “Merlin is with Percival and Arthur in the training yard. I would suspect Morgana’s with them too.”
“We can show you the way, Aliana.” The way Galahad said her name, the ever present burning in his blue eyes, and the way he gently touched her back made her heart race like a cheetah. The pressure from his hand had her keeping pace next to the tall knight.
“Where did you learn those moves you used in the market yesterday?” Gawain asked. “I know you said you could protect yourself, but I hadn’t quite imagined you had those kinds of skills.”
She grinned, recovering slightly from Galahad’s warm touch. It wasn’t fair that his touch still felt so intimate and strong, even through the heavy fabric of her dress. “My papa had me trained. And one of my dearest friends is a great fighter. Most of what I know I learned from him.”
“Him?” Galahad’s question held a slight edge to it. “Who is this friend?”
Aliana gulped, not looking at the knight who had broken her heart. Or rather, would break her heart. Instead she focused on Gawain. “His name is Wade. You remind me a lot of him.”
Galahad’s fingers flinched on her back so quickly Aliana wasn’t sure if she imagined the reaction.
They turned down another hall. “Where is your friend now?” Owaine asked.
“I’m not sure, really.” And that was the truth. She had no idea what all her friends were doing; she just prayed they were safe. “We separated a while ago. I’m hoping I will hear from him or some of our other friends soon.”
They turned another corner and Aliana relaxed a fraction, recognizing the hall Leyon had taken her down yesterday. “I can find my way from here.” She took a hurried step toward the door, more to get away from Galahad’s tempting touch than anything else.
