Dragon's Keep: The Complete Dracengard Series

by Christopher Vale

  “Let’s eat it now,” the drak that held him said to the other one. Eat him? Terror swept through Erec. The draks clearly did not know who he was or his importance as a prisoner. He had been concerned that they would take him back to the Wizard as a captive. That was bad enough, but now he was about to be eaten alive!

  The other drak stepped over to him. “Yes,” it hissed. “I am hungry.”

  “Wait!” shouted the Prince as the drakmere opened their mouths revealing long sharp teeth dripping with saliva as their mouths watered at the thought of feasting on the young man. “I am Prince Erec of Avonvale. The Wizard needs me as a prisoner. He will be angry if I am killed.”

  The two draks considered this for a moment. They looked at each other but determined that filling their empty stomachs was important enough to risk angering the Wizard. “I am hungry,” said one to the other. “And I am not fearing the Wizard,” it snarled.

  “I am not fearing him either,” replied the other one. “Let’s eat it,” the beast said as it turned back to Erec eyes wide with anticipation.

  Erec panicked. He kicked at the monsters but they simply laughed at his attempts to protect himself. Erec could think of few worse ways to die than being eaten alive. His brain raced quickly to think of a way out of the situation. Just as the monsters were about to bite into his flesh he screamed out the first thing that came to his mind, “The Black Knight will be very angry if I am killed!”

  This stopped the draks cold, their sharp teeth just inches away from the Prince. The monsters closed their mouths and again glanced at one another. This time, however, they lacked their previous bravado. They did fear Rayfen. Everyone feared Rayfen.

  “This one may be important. We should take him to the Wizard,” said one as if it were an idea out of a sense of duty and not a fear of retribution that drove his decision.

  “Yes, we can eat the others instead,” the second one hissed as it licked its lips.

  The two drakmere turned and began walking through the woods as Erec was tossed over one’s shoulder. The drak not carrying Erec led the way. “The Wizard maybe give us a reward for finding Prince,” he said turning to look back at the one carrying Erec. The other one smiled at the thought. His belly could wait. Besides, there were plenty of people in this country to fill an empty stomach. Suddenly, Sir Gwillym appeared from behind a tree, swinging his sword with both hands. He caught the first drak beneath its jaw and lopped its head right off of its shoulders. The body actually took one more step before wobbling and falling down at the knight’s feet.

  “Release him!” Sir Gwillym shouted at the drak carrying Erec.

  The drak stepped back startled for a moment, but quickly regained its senses. It took Erec off of its shoulder and slung him at the knight. Erec thudded into Sir Gwillym knocking him to the ground. Erec laid on top of the knight momentarily stunned. He then felt a giant hand grab the back of his shirt and lift him off of Sir Gwillym. The drak tossed Erec to the side like a rag doll and then stomped on Gwillym’s sword arm. Erec heard the bones break as Gwillym released his sword with a yell. The knight used his other hand to reach for his other sword tucked into the scabbard on his belt, but before he could get it, the drakmere reached down and picked him up with both hands. It held the knight over its head and then threw him against a great tree with all of its might. Erec heard a loud crack of bones as the knight’s spine shattered. Sir Gwillym laid on the ground at the base of the tree screaming in agony.

  “I no think you are a prince,” the drak hissed at Sir Gwillym as it walked over to stand above him on its hind legs. “I will eat you.” The beast bent over the knight and opened its mouth. Sir Gwillym was splattered with green blood as he saw the point of his sword come out of the drak’s belly. The monster reared back and screamed, but then fell to the ground dead. Sir Gwillym looked up to see Erec standing over the monster. The Prince placed a boot on the creatures back and yanked Sir Gwillym’s sword out. He then stepped over the drak and dropped to his knees beside the knight.

  “Are you alright, Sir Gwillym?” the Prince asked.

  “No, I am not,” the knight replied as he grimaced in pain. “My spine is broken. I can feel it in several places. I cannot move my legs.”

  Erec slid his hands under the knights arms. “Let me get you somewhere more comfortable while I go for help,” he said. He then lifted and Sir Gwillym screamed in agony.

  “Stop,” the knight said wincing. Erec released him. “There is no help for me. I am going to die here.”

  Erec looked down at Sir Gwillym. The knight had been his father’s guardian for as long as Erec could remember. He knew Sir Gwillym as well as anyone and the knight knew Erec as well as anyone other than his sisters. Sir Gwillym had taught Erec to use a sword. He had been there when the King had given Erec his first pint and afterward the knight had helped Erec to his room when the boy had become too drunk to stand on his own. He had explained battle strategy and helped instruct the Prince in the ways of war. Sir Gwillym had been more than a teacher and protector. He was like family to Erec and it pained Erec to see him this way now.

  Tears began to well up in Erec’s eyes. He had no reason to be brave now. His sisters were not with him. It was just him and his dying mentor and friend. All of the pain of the last night began to overwhelm Erec’s emotions and he wept. He mourned all the death he had seen as his home was taken by drakmere. He despaired knowing that his father was most likely dead and only the seraph knew where his sisters were, if they were even alive. For all Erec knew, they had already been eaten by draks. He shook his head, trying to shake the horrendous thought from his mind. And now, Sir Gwillym was dying and there was nothing Erec could do about it.

  Sir Gwillym reached out with his good arm and placed his hand on Erec’s shoulder, squeezing it gently. That small action from Sir Gwillym was enough to pull Erec from his anguish. Erec wiped his eyes and looked at Sir Gwillym. “Tell me what to do,” he said.

  The knight looked him in the eyes and tried to smile through the pain. “Follow the river to Lattingham as quickly as you can.” The knight looked up at the sky attempting to determine the position of the sun. “Draks are nocturnal, so be extra vigilant once the sun goes down.”

  “I will,” Erec said.

  “Find the ship; find your sisters. You have to protect your sisters. You are all they have in the world now.” The knight grimaced as pain shot through his body. “Take the ship south to the Glass Sea and the Isle of Avalon. There you will find Dracengard.”

  Erec shook his head. He did not believe.

  “It is a real place, Erec,” the knight said. “The legends are true. You must have faith.”

  Erec nodded in compliance. He would not have the knight die here worrying about whether Erec had followed his instructions. He would let Sir Gwillym believe he had gone to Dracengard.

  Sir Gwillym unbuckled his belt and handed it to Erec with his good hand. “Take my belt and one sword. Leave me the other.” Erec took the belt, stood and buckled it around his waist. He then walked over to where he had dropped the other sword. He lifted it and wiped the drak’s dark green blood onto the grass. Erec returned to Sir Gwillym and handed the sword to him.

  “Dracen’s speed to you, Erec,” the knight said. “Protect your sisters and rescue our home,” he said.

  “I will Sir Gwillym,” Erec promised. “Is there anything else I can do for you?” Sir Gwillym shook his head. Erec knelt beside him and gripped the knight’s good hand. “You are the bravest man I have ever met,” he said to Sir Gwillym. The knight nodded his thanks, trying to force a smile through the pain as Erec stood. Erec turned and walked away, back down to the river.

  Sir Gwillym waited until he was certain Erec had gone and then slid the point of the sword under his chin and against his throat. He grasped the sword by the hilt and swallowed hard. He then said a little prayer and shoved the sword up into his throat. Had he been found alive by the draks he would certainly have been eaten. The knight could think of nothin
g more terrifying. He gurgled momentarily and then died, eyes wide and staring into nothing.

  Erec walked along the side of the river. The sun was now high in the sky and the heat drained him. He was exhausted. The battle and flight from Avonvale had taken its toll and now Erec could barely move. More than once, he caught himself drifting to sleep and waking up while still walking along the river bank. He took a few more steps and then collapsed from exhaustion. He tried to will himself to stand. He had to keep going, but he could not. He simply laid there and slept on the riverbank.

  Chapter 11

  The Wizard sat at a large desk in the King’s study. He relaxed in the chair as he read the letters that Alexandeon had written to the other kingdoms regarding the Wizard’s conquest of Avonvale. The Wizard pondered over them. In the letters, the King claimed that his son had been separated from him during battle and that his daughters were sent to the home of their cousin, Lord Morgan. Both statements made sense. The Prince very well could be among the dead piled up in the streets of the city or the castle courtyard. The Wizard offered to set free any human captive that discovered the Prince’s body.

  It was also plausible for the King to send his two daughters to the home of their cousin to avoid the battle, but he wanted to be certain. The Wizard did not really care about the royal children, but he did care about the Dracenstone. General Rayfen was still unable to find the stone and the Wizard reasoned that the King’s children would either know where it was hidden, or could be used to persuade their father to reveal its location.

  The Princesses’ ladies were still in the castle, which the Wizard found odd if the King had sent his daughters to his nephew’s house. Why would he have not sent their ladies as well? Thus, he sent for the ladies. He had some questions for them. There was a knock at the door. That would be them now, he thought to himself.

  “Enter,” the Wizard barked. The door slowly opened and a drakmere stepped inside the room.

  “We have found the girls you sent us for,” it hissed.

  “Show them in,” the Wizard said as he laid the letters down on the desk.

  The drakmere opened the door more widely and three women walked into the room followed by two more draks. The three women stood before the Wizard, each with her hands folded in front of her stomach, fingers interlaced. Two were young, perhaps late teens. Their heads were bowed respectfully. The third was older, old enough to be the Princesses’ mother. She held her chin up in the air as if the Wizard should be honored she had granted him an audience. The drakmere stood behind them, one drak behind each lady. The Wizard looked at all three dismissively, as if they were here to beg for a token.

  “You may kneel,” the Wizard said as if he were granting their most heartfelt request. The two younger girls lowered themselves to their knees before him, heads bowed. The older lady stood tall. She did not move or even flinch. The Wizard leaned back in his chair and looked at her with raised eyebrows. “On your knees,” he said and this time his words could not be interpreted as anything but a firm command.

  “I kneel to none but my King and Queen,” she said defiantly.

  An amused smile touched the Wizard’s lips. “What is your name?” he asked her.

  “I am the Lady Elizabeth of the House of Bannistar, wife of Lord Bannistar,” she said proudly.

  “And where is your husband now?” the Wizard asked.

  “Dead,” she replied without any emotion. She would not give him the pleasure of seeing her grieve any more than she would give him the pleasure of seeing her kneel. “Most likely a meal for your filthy lizards I suspect.”

  The Wizard leaned forward in his chair staring at her. “Where are the Princesses?” he asked.

  The expression on Lady Elizabeth’s face was completely dismissive, as if she could not believe the Wizard would waste her precious time with such ridiculous inquiries. “I have no idea,” she said.

  The Wizard continued to stare at her for a moment. “Then what good are you to me?” he asked rhetorically and then looked at the drak behind her and waved his hand as if dismissing her. She screamed as the drak snatched her up in its arms and took her from the room. She screamed louder as the drak sank its fangs into her flesh once they were in the hallway.

  “The door,” the Wizard said to one of the other draks and it turned and closed the door which somewhat filtered Lady Elizabeth’s screams. The Wizard then looked down at the other two ladies. They remained on their knees, but now they were trembling uncontrollably. He smiled to himself. These two would do anything he asked now. He let them remain there on their knees for a moment listening to the screams of Lady Elizabeth, until the screams mercifully quieted as the lady finally died.

  “I am very sorry you had to witness that,” the Wizard said attempting to appear as sincere as possible. The ladies said nothing but simply remained on their knees, trembling. “Would you like to please me?” he asked them. They both nodded. Of course they would. They just witnessed the horrible price a person paid when the Wizard was displeased. “Then tell me where the Princesses are,” he said softly with a gentle smile.

  “We were dismissed by Princess Terrwyn, My Lord. We have not seen them since,” the one on the left volunteered without any hesitation. She looked to be the older of the two, but certainly no more than eighteen. She had soft white skin that shown bright against her dark green velvet dress. She wiped the tears from her face and the Wizard noticed light red freckles dotting her nose and cheeks. Her long reddish gold hair was braided behind her head and down her neck and back.

  The Wizard smiled down at her in a comforting way. “And what is your name, my dear?” he asked.

  “I am Lady Andalynn, My Lord, but everyone calls me Anne,” she said without lifting her head.

  “When did the Princess dismiss you?” the Wizard asked.

  “Last night,” Anne replied. “Just before the attack began.”

  “The King claims in a letter written to the other kingdoms, that the Princesses were sent to the home of their cousin, Lord Morgan. Do you think that is where they went?”

  The other one, Lady Sephene spoke up now. “That would make sense, My Lord,” she said respectfully to the Wizard. “After all, it would be dangerous to remain during the battle.” The Wizard agreed with that.

  Lady Anne glanced up to catch the Wizard’s eye. “I do not believe the King sent his children to Lord Morgan,” she said. “This is obviously a ruse to mislead you, My Lord.” The Wizard tilted his headed inquisitively.

  “Why do you say that?” he asked her.

  “Because I am Morgan’s sister,” she said. “If the King had sent his daughters to Morgan’s house, I most certainly would have accompanied them.”

  The Wizard’s eyes widened. He suddenly realized what had happened. Lady Anne was correct. The King would not have sent his daughters to Morgan’s house without sending Morgan’s sister. Certainly they would not be well received then. Furthermore, the King would not have sent his daughters anywhere to safety without sending their ladies. Why would the King send his daughters to safety without saving their ladies as well, especially his own niece? The only explanation was that the princesses were sent from the castle in too great of haste to summon their ladies and were most likely heading for a secret location. The need for speed and secrecy would be the only explanation for the ladies-in-waiting to remain in the castle.

  And suddenly, the Wizard realized where the children were going. The King sent the Dracenstone with his children to the most secret place of all—Dracengard. Since the port at Avonvale had been captured early in the battle, they would most likely be heading to the port at Lattingham to take a ship south along the Ehren River. The Wizard smiled down at the two ladies kneeling at his feet. Lady Anne returned his smile. Lady Sephene shivered.

  ***

  The carriage carrying Terrwyn and Taite rolled along the road slowly. The horses were tired. The driver, Joss, saw a small clearing near the river and guided the carriage off of the road.


  “What are we doing?” asked Leon.

  “This looks like a good place to rest and water the horses,” Joss replied as he climbed down from the driver’s seat. Leon also climbed down on the other side of the carriage. He held Joss’ lance as his had been lost defending the carriage from drakmere. He peeked inside the carriage through the opening where a door once set. The Princesses were asleep. Taite slept with her head in Terrwyn’s lap. Leon cleared his throat loudly and Terrwyn opened her eyes.

  “Why have we stopped?” Terrwyn asked Leon as she glanced from side to side surveying the area.

  “We thought this would be a good spot to water the horses, Your Highness,” he replied. “You might want to take this opportunity to stretch your legs a bit.” He then turned and walked out into the road where he would have a clear view of anyone or anything coming from either direction. Leon nibbled on a piece of bread while he stood guard.

  Terrwyn shook Taite gently until the little girl opened her eyes. Taite suddenly bolted upright remembering where she was and concerned that something had happened as she realized the carriage had stopped. She quickly looked around and saw that everything appeared to be fine, Terrwyn whispered for her to be calm. Taite relaxed. “Are we there?” she asked Terrwyn.