Dragon's Keep: The Complete Dracengard Series

by Christopher Vale

  “And we’re gonna need more firewood,” Selma cut in shooting a sharp eye at Taite. “One armload of sticks isn’t enough.” Selma scooped spoonfuls of stew into each of their bowls. “So when you’ve finished your stew, take your new friend and collect more.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Taite replied and then led Tallah away from the “kitchen” to a secluded little area where they could sit upon logs that had been laid out for that purpose. The two girls settled in and ate with their fingers, spoons being in short supply.

  Taite smiled at the thought of eating like this at their table in Avonvale. Lady Elizabeth would have fainted from embarrassment and Terrwyn would have certainly scolded her, but things were much different now. Eating was about survival, not enjoyment, and there was certainly no room for table manners when there was no table. Gone were the days of multiple courses and tables full of cakes. Now, Taite ate whatever Mistress Selma found to place in the stew pot and she was happy to have it.

  Tallah ate hungrily, scooping the food into her mouth quickly. When all of the solid portions were gone, she raised the bowl to her lips and drank the broth. She licked her lips before wiping her mouth with her sleeve. She looked Taite up and down. The girl looked just as dirty and ragged as Tallah, but her manner of speaking gave her away as high born. “Why did that woman call you ‘little Princess?’” Tallah asked.

  “Because I’m a princess,” Taite replied as she finished the last morsel of her own stew.

  Tallah looked at her skeptically. “Elophborne only has one princess that I’m aware of,” Tallah said matter-of-factly, “and you don’t look much like Princess Ella.”

  “I’m a princess of Avonvale,” Taite said with a friendly smile.

  “For truth?” Tallah asked.

  “Yes,” Taite nodded.

  “Do you know Prince Willem?” Tallah asked.

  “Yes,” Taite replied. “I have known him my entire life.”

  “Where is he?” Tallah asked. “Why hasn’t he rescued us from the draks?”

  “He will,” Taite replied. “He and Dillan…er Prince Tybalt from the Stromland took my sister Terrwyn to Dracengard, to deliver Elophborne’s Dracenstone to the Keeper. They shall return and destroy these monsters. I promise you.”

  “I love him,” Tallah said and looked down at her empty bowl and then began to cry. “I miss my Ma.” Taite stood and quickly crossed over to Tallah and threw her arms around the girl to comfort her as best she could.

  “I lost my mother, too,” she said. “And my father.” Tallah looked up at her. “I know it hurts, but it will get better. Everything is going to be alright.”

  Chapter 4

  The wild black boar tore through the grass and brush, snorting as it ran. A pack of large hounds followed closely behind it baying and barking to alert their masters that the prey was close at hand. The horses galloped after the hounds, their riders urging them into the chase. King Morgan led the charge with young Prince Geoffrey beaming excitedly beside him.

  The boar turned sharply to the left and the hounds scampered after it. “Come on!” Morgan shouted as he pulled the reins of his horse, guiding it after the dogs. Geoffrey and the others followed closely behind.

  Geoffrey, not yet thirteen years old, had at first been lost and timid when he and his sister Ella were brought north from Elwood to Avonvale with the Wizard. He had missed his mother terribly and had longed for the guiding hand of his father and older brothers, Willem and Edward, to guide him as he matured. King Morgan and Lady Anne took it upon themselves to fill that void. Morgan, who never had a brother, at least not one that survived past infancy, took Geoffrey under his wing, teaching him all of the gentlemanly pursuits a prince such as Geoffrey should know. Hunting was one of those pursuits. Geoffrey had hunted small game and deer back in Elophborne, but boar were different. A boar could kill a man before the man killed it.

  Boar hunting was a popular sport with the nobility throughout the Middle Realm and the methods employed in killing the boar varied. Some rode the boar down on horseback and impaled it with lances. Others killed the boar with bows, shooting from the saddle, no easy task to be sure.

  Morgan, like all Valestead men, had been raised to kill the boar with a dagger. The hounds would flush the boar and give chase, with the hunters close behind. The hounds and the men would eventually corner it, with the men carrying long spears joining the yapping dogs in surrounding it and preventing its escape. The hunter that was chosen to kill the beast would then take his dagger and kill the boar, hopefully before the boar gashed him with its sharp tusks.

  This was Geoffrey’s second hunt for boar. The first time he had watched as Morgan killed the boar with a long dagger. This time he was to kill the boar. However, he was young and inexperienced and would not use a dagger for his first kill. That would simply be too dangerous. Instead, he would use a long boar spear. As he grew older and more adept at killing he would be allowed to kill the boar with a dagger. Like many nobles, Morgan believed killing the boar with a spear, and later with a dagger, were necessary steps to achieve manhood.

  The horses raced after the dogs and Morgan glanced over to see Geoffrey smiling excitedly as he bounced in the saddle, the thrill of the hunt sparkling in his eyes. They soon heard the bay of the hounds that indicated the boar was cornered and they trotted up to find the dogs nipping at the wild beast as it ran small circles, its escape halted by the roots of a great oak tree that had formed a small hill decades ago. The boar attempted to scurry up the hill, but it was too steep, the dirt too loose, and the beast simply tumbled back down again. The boar charged and slashed one of the hounds with its tusk, causing the dog to cry out in pain before whimpering away, leaving a trail of blood behind it. The action cost the boar some chunks of hide, however, as the teeth of many dogs ripped into it.

  Morgan, Geoffrey, and their men dismounted quickly carrying their boar spears and formed a semicircle around the boar. The dogs were urged back to give Geoffrey space to maneuver, a few doing so only reluctantly, having to be pulled back by the huntsmen. The boar ran around and around snorting angrily, but stayed a safe distance from the steel tips of the spears.

  Geoffrey held his spear pointed at the boar as well. Down on the ground, facing the beast, the boar appeared much larger than Geoffrey had first thought. In fact, it seemed as large as any fire-breathing dragon might and Geoffrey swallowed hard as his excitement began to give way to fear. The young prince turned to look at Morgan who smiled reassuringly and then urged him forward. Geoffrey took a timid step into the circle of spears and yapping hounds, his own spear shaking in his hands. The boar spear was long enough that the beast need not get close enough to Geoffrey to do any damage, but that only worked if Geoffrey could actually stab the animal.

  The boar continued to race around, turning and twisting, snorting and slashing, trying to intimidate the hunters or to find some means of escape. Then he noticed Geoffrey walking slowly toward him and he stopped running with his rear to the oak tree. He stared at Geoffrey and Geoffrey stared back.

  “Be brave lad,” Morgan shouted above the bay of the hounds. “He can sense your fear.”

  Geoffrey took a deep breath and tried to push the fear away from him, but was unable to. He wanted to run and hide behind the other men, but he knew that he would be humiliated and King Morgan would be disappointed. He did not want to disappoint Morgan, nor did he want to disappoint Lady Anne, whose wedding feast the animal was destined for. Both Morgan and Anne had been so kind to him and his sister. He could not disappoint them by being afraid of an overgrown pig. He ate pigs—pigs did not eat him!

  Geoffrey took another step forward, spear at the ready. Then another step, and just as his boot crunched down on the dried leaves, the boar charged him. Geoffrey jabbed at it with his spear, but the boar dodged to the side, allowing Geoffrey to only nip its flank. The boar darted around and sliced at Geoffrey with its sharp tusks, slicing into the boy’s ankle and knocking him to the ground. The boar raced around in a
large circle and then came back around to attack again, sensing that the predator, now lying on the ground, had become the prey.

  “Get up!” “Get up boy!” came the shouts from around him. Geoffrey turned his head and saw Morgan urging him to his feet. Then he turned back around and saw the boar charging him—coming straight at him this time—intending to empty his intestines on the forest floor. Just before the boar reached Geoffrey, the Prince lifted his spear and thrust forward, stabbing the beast just below its mouth. The boar’s speed and anger carried it forward up the length of the spear toward Geoffrey, but just before it reached him the boar collided with the spear’s cross-guard, halting it. The boar fell over kicking and snorting.

  Geoffrey scrambled to his feet and looked down at the animal fighting desperately for life as blood poured from its body, soaking the leaves. Geoffrey felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Morgan staring at him. “Finish it,” Morgan said and handed Geoffrey a dagger.

  Geoffrey nodded and then knelt down beside the animal. It was calm now, having realized death was imminent. Its eyes met Geoffrey’s and they stared at each other for a long moment. Suddenly, Geoffrey raised the dagger and brought it down with a mighty force, splattering blood across his face and clothes and extinguishing the boar’s life for good.

  Geoffrey’s shoulders heaved as he leaned over the beast. He felt arms lifting him to his feet as the men cheered his kill and surrounded him, patting him on the back and congratulating him. Then the men parted and he saw Morgan. The King placed his hands on the boy’s bloody cheeks.

  “Well done, my boy. Well done.” Morgan smeared the blood all over Geoffrey’s face and rubbed it into his hair. All the men laughed excitedly. Morgan turned to face all of his men. “The young Prince Geoffrey is a boy no longer,” Morgan told them. “Today he has become a man!” A roar erupted from the men. Morgan pulled Geoffrey into a solid embrace. When he released him he saw Geoffrey beaming at him proudly. “I can’t wait to tell Anne and Ella how brave you were,” Morgan smiled like a proud father.

  “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Geoffrey said.

  Morgan pulled his head into a lock and ruffled his hair. “When we are not in a formal setting you may call me Morgan,” he said. “After all, we’ll be brothers very soon.”

  “Thank you, Morgan,” Geoffrey said. He looked back down at the animal being field dressed by the men and smiled. He had never been so proud before in his life.

  ***

  The Wizard escorted Anne down a long corridor in the castle. She held his arm as they walked, her head held high. She was about to meet Tamesis’ mother, Lilit, for the first time, and she was trying to hide how uneasy she was. It is nerve-racking for any young bride to meet her future mother-in-law for the first time, but it is especially terrifying when the future mother-in-law is a well-known murderous witch. Rumors of her evil and cruelty in Beagonia had reached the ears of everyone at court in Avonvale. The rumors were so ghastly that they made even Anne turn white from shock.

  “I am unsure how Mother will react to another woman being perceived as above her once made empress, so it would behoove you to be humble during your meeting,” the Wizard cautioned.

  “Of course,” Anne said.

  “She will be referred to as Your Grace and you should curtsy when you meet her.”

  “Absolutely.”

  The two stopped outside of the room where Lilit waited and the Wizard turned to face Anne. “The last girl I brought home to Mother ended up a blood sacrifice to Shebath,” he chuckled as he enjoyed the fear he was instilling in Anne. Anne’s eyes went wide.

  The door opened and they saw Lilit perched upon a high-backed black chair like a queen on her throne, wearing a gown so dark red it was almost black. A Shebath priest stood on either side of her, each wearing a long black robe, hoods covering their heads.

  Tamesis led Anne inside. “Mother, may I present Lady Anne of the…” he stopped speaking as his mother rose from her seat, her eyes wide and her mouth agape as if she had just seen the Dark Lord himself. Anne shivered slightly as Lilit walked toward her. She quickly curtsied politely.

  “Stand dear, please stand,” Lilit said as she reached Anne. To Anne’s complete surprise Lilit lowered herself slowly down to her knees before Anne. “It is I who should be bowing to Your Greatness.” Lilit took Anne’s hand and kissed it repeatedly. She then looked up and turned to the priests standing behind her. “Bow down before the Empress!” Lilit shouted at them and the priests quickly obeyed, throwing themselves to the floor at Anne’s feet.

  Anne was confused, but turned to Tamesis. He had a look of pure shock on his face. Anne smiled at him. She then turned back to Lilit. “Please rise, Mother,” she said as she helped the old woman to her feet. ”I may call you Mother?” she asked.

  Lilit smiled at her. “I would be delighted, Your Majesty,” Lilit said.

  “Come let us get to know one another better,” Anne said and led Lilit from the room. “Perhaps a stroll in the garden?”

  The Wizard stood dumbfounded staring after them as the priests slowly stood and followed silently behind their mistress.

  ***

  “Your Highness, you must come to the courtyard!” Ella heard shouted from one of the servants as she sat in the parlor of her room knitting with Ariana.

  “The courtyard?” Ella asked.

  “Yes, mum,” the servant replied. “The King and your brother have returned.”

  Ella brightened. She glanced at Ariana beside her who returned her smile and bade her go. Ella rushed through the corridors until she reached the courtyard. As she descended the steps, she saw Morgan standing beside Geoffrey. Geoffrey was covered in blood.

  Ella’s hands went to her mouth as she ran toward her brother. “My dear, what happened? Are you alright?” she asked.

  “Alright?” Morgan asked. “He is wonderful. The boy is now a man,” Morgan said as he slapped Geoffrey on the back.

  Ella stopped just shy of her brother and Morgan. “But you are covered in blood,” she said to Geoffrey as she looked him up and down.

  “Oh, it is not my blood, Ella,” he said beaming proudly. “It’s the boar’s.” Geoffrey turned and pointed to the large boar carcass two of the men carried on a long pike between them. Ella placed her hands on her chest and exhaled. “You scared me to death!” she shouted at him, but could not help but laugh.

  “How about a hug?” Geoffrey asked smiling mischievously as he stepped toward her, his arms outstretched invitingly.

  “Don’t you dare, Geoffrey!” Ella shouted at him as she backed away.

  “Come on, sister! I missed you.” He began to chase her around the courtyard laughing hysterically.

  “Morgan, do something!” Ella shouted.

  Morgan laughed. “We are not wed yet, my darling, so it is not my place to interfere in your family disputes.”

  “But you are the King!” Ella shouted as she stayed just out of reach of her brother’s bloody fingers. The other men were laughing uproariously at the spectacle.

  “What in the Three Realms is going on here?” a voice asked and everyone turned to see Anne stepping out into the courtyard followed by Lilit and the priests.

  “We are back victorious!” Morgan proclaimed, beaming proudly. He glanced over at Geoffrey and then nodded his head back toward Anne.

  “Oh, yes,” Geoffrey said as he remembered what he and Morgan had rehearsed on their way back to Avonvale. Geoffrey quickly scurried over to Anne and dropped to one knee before her. “My Lady,” he said very formally and she covered her mouth with her hand to avoid a chuckle. “I swore to you that I would have a boar for your wedding feast. It was a hearty battle, but I arose victorious and I present the monster in your honor.” Geoffrey motioned behind him at the boar and Anne clapped her hands.

  “Thank you, Your Highness,” she said with a gracious nod toward him as he rose to his feet. “I am quite honored.”

  “Truly?” Geoffrey asked smiling.

  “Truly,�
�� Anne said with a wink. “And once you clean yourself up, I shall reward you with a kiss.” Geoffrey glanced excitedly back at Morgan who winked at him. “But I command that you leave your sister alone until you are properly cleaned.”

  Geoffrey bowed at the waist. “Yes, My Lady,” he said and then jogged off to take a bath and change clothes.

  Anne looked at her brother and shook her head smiling. “The boy was proud,” Morgan said.

  “I can tell,” Anne replied. “Welcome home brother. I shall leave you with your darling love.” She smiled knowingly at Ella and then turned and walked back toward the castle, intertwining her arm with Lilit’s and pulling her future mother-in-law away.

  Morgan stepped over to Ella who stood staring at him with sharp eyes. “You cannot interfere in my family disputes?” she asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

  Morgan chuckled and then slipped an arm around her waist. “Your brother had earned at least one chase of his sister. Enjoy these moments for when you are Queen it will be unbecoming to run around the courtyard with Geoffrey.” Ella nodded. “I used to chase Anne,” he said. “Now I am not sure if I should even be in her presence without groveling on the ground at her feet.”

  “Stop it,” Ella scolded him as she slapped his chest. “Your sister loves you. And she is about to be empress of the entire realm and that will not hurt your station one bit.”

  “I know,” Morgan said with a smile and then leaned down and kissed Ella deeply on the lips. She pulled away. “What’s wrong?” Morgan asked.

  “Oh, my love, you stink like like a wild boar yourself,” Ella said with a laugh.

  “My apologies, Your Highness,” Morgan said with a flourishing bow at the waist and a humorous smile. “Providing for my sister’s wedding feast is no easy task. However, I shall retire to my chambers to be cleaned and bathed, and shall see you at supper.”

  “Very well, Your Majesty,” Ella said with a formal curtsy. “I look forward to…uh…smelling you then,” she said through laughter.