Dragon's Keep: The Complete Dracengard Series

by Christopher Vale

  “From whom?”

  “That is not important. What is important, brother, is who my mother was.”

  “She was just some pretty peasant girl. A whore.”

  Anne smiled. “She was more than that, brother. She was a succubath.”

  “A what?”

  “A young woman bred to seduce powerful men, to have their offspring, to carry the blood of shedom.”

  Morgan’s eyes opened wide.

  “Yes brother, I did move like a shedom. I have darkness in my veins. But my father was descended from seraph so I also have light in my veins, just like you.” She paused. Her breath intensifying. “Don’t you see? I was born to rule this realm as its goddess because like our realm, I am half darkness and half light.”

  Morgan forced a smile as he attempted to conceal the shiver that was running up his spine. He drained his glass and set it down on the table. “It is late,” he said. “I should get to bed.” He bent over and kissed her hand. “Goodnight, Anne.”

  “Sleep well, my love,” she said.

  Morgan began to walk away but stopped and stood thinking for a moment. He released a deep breath. “There is one more thing,” he said as he slowly turned.

  Anne spun in her chair to face him. “Yes?”

  “Father didn’t give your son to some widow,” he said.

  “What did he do with him?”

  “He gave him to your mother.”

  Anne’s eyes went wide as she drew in a surprised breath. “Do you know who she is?” Morgan shook his head. “Promise?”

  “Anne, I have no idea.”

  Anne nodded. “Thank you for telling me.” She turned back in her seat and drank her wine as Morgan walked back into the castle.

  Chapter 12

  The wind blew through Dillan’s hair as he peered out over the island. He watched as Chaundra led the dracen down to the coastline to hunt fish and he could make out their dark silhouettes against the setting sun. The flight on Bran’s back had been exhilarating and had done much to get him over his fear of heights. Now he could stand atop the Keep without fear.

  His thoughts went back to falling from the Keep when Metatron had tossed him off. He remembered the regret he felt for not telling Terrwyn he loved her. In fact, he had not really realized that he did until he was falling to his death and his thoughts went to her. Her long auburn curls, her nervous laugh, and the way she pretended to be mad at him for just about anything he said or did.

  Dillan heard footsteps on the stones and turned to see Terrwyn approaching. He smiled. “Hi,” he said softly.

  “Hello,” she replied as she tilted her head to look at him quizzically. He bit his lip as he stared at her. She was so beautiful even with windblown hair and dusty brown riding pants. “You said you wanted to talk to me,” she reminded him.

  “Yes,” he said. “Come here.” He waved her over and Terrwyn stepped toward him and looked out over the island.

  “It’s so beautiful,” she said as she watched the sun setting over the water. She turned to face him and saw that he was staring at her, a peculiar look on his face. “I see that you are over your fear of heights,” she laughed.

  “Yes, well, I guess plunging toward the ground and my certain death was the instant cure.” He reached down and took her hands in his and stared into her blue eyes. “Terrwyn, I asked you up here, because…”

  “Yes?” she asked.

  “Well, falling to your death can make you realize a few things,” he said and she could detect a nervousness in his voice.

  “Like what?” she asked.

  “Like how much I,” he paused, “care about you.”

  She smiled at him. “Thank you Dillan,” she said. “I care about you, too. We’ve all become sort of a family, I guess, over these last few months.”

  Dillan looked away, out over the ocean. “No, not that,” he said, frustrated with himself and his own inability to say what he really thought. He turned back to face her. “I love you, Terrwyn.” Terrwyn’s eyes went wide and her mouth opened. “As I fell to my certain death, I had two thoughts. First, I was angry that I would not be able to avenge my family. And the second was that I had never told you that I loved you.” She looked down at her feet, unsure of what to say. He placed his finger beneath her chin and lifted her head to face him. He then leaned in slowly. Terrwyn closed her eyes just before his lips touched hers. Her lips were so soft and gentle and he enjoyed their warmness against his own.

  Dillan pulled back and slowly opened his eyes to look at her. When he did, he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. They both turned at the same time to see Ashleen standing there, staring at them. She stood unblinking for a long, uncomfortable moment before she spoke.

  “I-I am sorry, I did not mean to…” she bit her lip before finishing and then quickly turned on her heel and ran back down the stairs.

  “Ashleen!” Dillan called and began to chase her but Terrwyn stopped him.

  “No,” she said. “Let me speak with her.” Terrwyn ran away from Dillan chasing Ashleen down the steps.

  Dillan sat down on the stones with his back against the parapet and placed his face in his hands, angry at himself. He did not mean to hurt Ashleen. He cursed his own swashbuckling good looks for getting him into these predicaments with women.

  “It must be difficult having every woman under the age of sixty in the entire place in love with you,” he heard a booming voice say from above him and he looked up to see Metatron hovering just above the top of the Keep and slowly lowering himself.

  Dillan pushed himself to his feet and stared at the seraph. “How long have you been up there?” he asked.

  “I arrived just before you said ‘Hi.’”

  “Were you spying on us?”

  Metatron smirked. “To the contrary, I have spent the sunsets and sunrises up here enjoying the last few rays of light, and the first rays of morning, for over one thousand years. It is not my fault that you chose this location to break hearts.”

  Metatron walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Dillan pulled back instinctively. “Relax, I promise not to throw you over the edge.” He stared at Dillan, narrowing his eyes before speaking. “You have a lot going on up here,” he said as he tapped Dillan on the forehead.

  “I don’t need a lecture,” Dillan said.

  “I’m not lecturing you,” Metatron replied. “When you dream about your family, you move like a seraph. Releasing your emotions may be the key to doing so. If we can learn how to unleash that potential, you will be a much more dangerous warrior.” Dillan nodded. He liked the sound of that. “If you truly wish to kill this shedom, you must do so. You have no chance any other way.” Metatron’s sword flashed into his hands. “Of course, if you are not up to the task, I will be more than happy to plunge my blade into his dark soul.”

  Dillan shook his head. “The shedom is mine,” he said. Metatron smiled and Dillan drew his own sword. If Metatron could help him learn to kill the Black Knight then he would do whatever the seraph asked. “Show me how to kill him.”

  ***

  Terrwyn slowly opened the door to the room she shared with Ashleen. She found Ashleen sitting cross-legged on top of her bed, her back to the door and her head bowed. Terrwyn stepped inside and closed the door. Ashleen turned her head to see her and then turned away again, wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “I am sorry,” Ashleen said. “I did not mean to interrupt.”

  Terrwyn stepped across the room quickly and sat down on Ashleen’s bed beside her. She looked at her friend. “There is no need to be sorry,” she said. She placed an arm around Ashleen’s shoulders. “In fact, it is I who is sorry.”

  Ashleen turned her head to look at Terrwyn quizzically and Terrwyn could see her eyes were swollen and red. “I am sorry, because I knew Dillan had feelings for you, but I did not know until now that you had feelings for him as well.”

  “You and he are betrothed. You have been for years. I know that and I still…
” she trailed off. “I have no right to him.”

  Terrwyn took Ashleen’s face in her hands and Ashleen saw tears in her eyes as well. “We were betrothed, but I broke that off months ago.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “Dillan is…” she began, “Well, he is difficult.” Ashleen nodded with a smile. “And Willem,” she began.

  “Willem worships you,” Ashleen said. Terrwyn nodded and then fell back onto the bed arms out like a bird. “Ah, the problems you have when every man adores you,” Ashleen said with a laugh as she laid back beside Terrwyn.

  “But I do have problems, Ashleen. We all have serious problems.”

  “The Wizard,” Ashleen said.

  “The Realm War,” Terrwyn reminded her. “It is coming soon. It is possible that none of us live to see the end of it.”

  Ashleen nodded. “Yes.”

  Terrwyn turned to look at her. “We cannot afford romantic feelings that cause strife within the family we have created here.”

  “I agree,” Ashleen said.

  “Good, then we shall both swear off men until the war is over.”

  “Men? You just mean human men right?” Ashleen asked with a smile and Terrwyn shot up, her mouth gaping open.

  “Ashleen Caerwyn, what do you mean?”

  Ashleen sat up, blushing. “Well, he is handsome don’t you think?”

  “Metatron?” Terrwyn asked and Ashleen nodded. “Well, yes, his body looks like it was sculpted from marble. I doubt a more perfect specimen exists in this realm.” Ashleen smiled and Terrwyn wrapped her arms around her friend’s neck. “Oh darling,” she said. “You have not met your seraph ancestor as I have met mine. To see them, to know what happened to them for loving our grandmothers.”

  “I know,” Ashleen said and pulled away. “Their wings were burnt from their bodies.”

  “He will never age. You will. Oh, Ashleen, promise me you will not fall in love with Metatron.”

  Ashleen smiled and the laughed. “Of course not. He is too gruff and bossy for me. But I do enjoy looking at him.”

  Terrwyn laughed as well. “It is impossible not too. He is perfect.”

  “And smells like the fresh dew at sunrise,” Ashleen added and they both giggled. Ashleen looked down at the bed. “And he can be sweet…sometimes.”

  “Yes, and you like him, but that is exactly why you must not act upon it.”

  “I know,” Ashleen replied. Terrwyn wrapped her arms around Ashleen and the two squeezed each other tight.

  “We can sort all of this out when the war is over,” Terrwyn said.

  “Yes, when the war is over.”

  Chapter 13

  Rain fell at a slant as Erec darted from the edge of the trees to the inn, clinging to the hood of his brown cloak to prevent it from blowing off of his head again. He rushed toward the door, but just before he reached it he stepped into a large mud puddle soaking his socks and boots. “Dung!” he exclaimed as he felt the cold, squishy wet sock on his toes. He continued forward and clasped the door knob, swinging the door open and rushing inside of the inn out of the cold rain.

  Erec was immediately hit with the warmth of the room. The tavern was sparse as few wanted to venture out into the rain, but a fire blazed in the hearth. The few patrons present were immersed in their own affairs—drinking mash, smoking leaf, or playing games of chance such as cards or dice. None cared to pay this newest visitor any mind, which was all the better to Erec.

  Erec stood in the doorway as water dripped off of his cloak, lowered his hood, and removed the cloak trying as best he could not to get too much of the water on the clothes underneath. He hung the cloak on a peg to the right of the door, dried his hands off by wiping them down the legs of his pants and then walked toward the bar, his boots squeaking with water at each step.

  He found the innkeeper busying himself with wiping out glasses and setting them on the shelf behind him. The innkeeper looked Erec up and down and then smiled. “Beautiful night, eh?” he asked with a chuckle.

  Erec returned the smile and shook his head. “If you’re a fish, I suppose it is lovely.”

  The innkeeper laughed at the joke. “What can I do for you on such a night, sir?” he asked.

  “I need a room. Just for a few hours, to try and get myself out of the weather before heading north.”

  “Well, you’re in luck because we have some available.” The innkeeper then turned and shouted at his wife. “Show this young man to a room where he can dry his clothes.”

  The innkeeper’s wife looked at her husband and then at Erec. She rolled her eyes. “Oh, aye,” she said with a bow. “You just stay down here, have yourself a drink, and fraternize with the customers. I’ll do all the work.”

  “Good, cause when you’re through, there is a sink full of pots that need scrubbing.”

  The innkeeper’s wife shot her husband a nasty glare before motioning for Erec to follow her. “C’mon, young master,” she said and led him up the stairs. It was slow going as the old woman took each step slowly and deliberately, holding tightly to the railing as she moved. They eventually reached the second floor and the woman turned to her right and walked down the hall until she reached the door she was looking for. She reached into the pocket of her apron and withdrew a key, but did not insert it into the lock. Instead she knocked once and then waited.

  “Who’s there?” came a gruff voice from the other side.

  “I have fresh linens,” the woman said and Erec heard the bolt slide open. The door creaked as it swung inward just a crack, and Erec saw the eyes of a rough looking man staring out. The eyes glanced at the innkeeper’s wife and then at Erec before the man opened the door wide, waving Erec inside.

  “Thank you,” Erec said to the woman before stepping through the door. She smiled and nodded and then turned around and walked back in the direction she had come as the door closed and the bolt slid home.

  Erec stepped past the man to find Lord Hansel sitting in a chair before the fire. He smiled at Erec as he stood. He extended his hand and Erec shook it. “Welcome,” Hansel said as he motioned for Erec to sit in an empty chair beside his. “Dry yourself by the fire.”

  “Thank you,” Erec said as he sat. “Any news?” he asked as he leaned over and unbuckled his boots, sliding them off and setting them before the fire before removing his socks and laying them before the fire as well.

  “Oh, yes,” Hansel said and Erec turned to see the older man smiling broadly at him.

  Erec sat up and narrowed his eyes as he stared at Hansel. “Well? Are you going to keep me in suspense?”

  Hansel looked at each of his two men that stood by the walls and then leaned forward as if he were telling a secret, though in truth the two guards already knew the news. “The Wizard is dead.”

  Erec’s eyes went wide. “What?” he asked. “How?”

  Hansel leaned back in his chair and chuckled. “By your cousin’s hand.”

  Erec thought for a second. “Morgan?” he asked, though he doubted Morgan had the courage to kill the Wizard.

  Hansel shook his head smiling, almost laughing. “No. His sister.”

  Erec’s jaw dropped and he drew in a breath. “Anne?” he asked in an almost whisper. Hansel nodded a wry smile on his lips.

  “Cut his head right off of his shoulders at their wedding reception,” Hansel said, this time the irony was too much and he could not help but laugh. “Apparently there were hundreds of witnesses.”

  “Where did you hear this?”

  Hansel leaned forward again. “From a half dozen sources. Even Geoffrey wrote to me,” he replied. “According to Geoffrey, Anne is Empress of the Middle Realm and the Black Knight supports her rule. Edward and his mother knelt down and swore fealty to her on the spot as did every other nobleman in the room.” Erec nodded as he turned to the fire considering the incredible news. “But there is more,” Hansel said and Erec turned back to face him, seeing eyes sparkling with excitement.

  “What?”

  “Anne is sending G
eoffrey and Ella home to Elwood.” Erec’s eyes brightened as a smile spread across his face. “But just for a while,” Hansel said.

  “Why just for a while?”

  Hansel cleared his throat as he looked down at the floor then back up at Erec. “Ella is to wed Morgan,” he said softly.

  Erec bolted to his feet. “What?” He could not believe it. Ella was a few years younger than he and Terrwyn and he had not seen her since she was a little girl, so he had never had an attraction to her. Still she was his betrothed. He suddenly became extremely possessive of her and jealous of Morgan. He felt sick to his stomach as he thought of the traitor Morgan marrying her.

  Hansel stood and placed his hands on Erec’s shoulders. “It’s alright,” he said, “because we have a chance to rescue both of them when they come home.”

  “How?” Erec asked, assuming, as most would, that Geoffrey and Ella would be sailing south along the river. Overtaking a ship presented a peculiar set of problems, especially since they did not have a ship of their own.

  Hansel smiled, realizing exactly what Erec’s concerns were. “Apparently, the last time Ella sailed she became rather seasick and therefore she and Geoffrey are going to travel south by carriage.”

  Erec’s eyes brightened as he returned Hansel’s smile. “We ambush the caravan and rescue them.”

  “Yes.”

  “And without his brother and sister as hostages, Edward will be more willing to help us defeat the occupation forces here.”

  “Exactly!” Hansel said.

  “Well then, we have a lot to prepare for,” Erec said.

  “It gets even better.” Erec tilted his head.

  “Your cousin, Breston Greynault, leads a resistance force based out of Greynault castle.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I have been in communication with Sir Stanlas.”

  “Well, then perhaps it is time to begin coordinating our plans.”

  “Indeed it is,” Hansel smiled.

  Chapter 14

  Eamon sat cross-legged as he leaned against the stone wall in the Keep with his book on little people lying open in his lap. Jade, Eamon’s dracen, was curled up nearby dozing. Eamon felt certain that a magical island such as Avalon must be home to some small, magical creature or another. After all, most people did not believe in seraph and dragons, but he knew first hand that both were real. Why not pixies and brownies? As he read over the different categories of wee folk and where his father and grandfather, the authors of the book, believed each might live based on local legends, he heard footsteps behind him.