Five Kingdoms: Book 06 - Evil Tide

by Toby Neighbors

  “Father, I didn’t mean to give offense,” Willam said, shocked by his father’s sudden change of mood.

  “You have always been so high and mighty,” Felix said. “Your mother thought you were noble, but I know better. You’ve always been spoiled. Well, that ends now. You will court Brianna, and you will marry her.”

  “Father, I can’t do that.”

  “You can and you will, or by the Maker, I’ll have you hanged from the castle walls. You may be the first Prince of Yelsia, but I am still King. We have plans, Willam, and you will not undermine them.”

  “Perhaps if I knew your plans I could better help fulfill them.”

  “Why should I share anything with you?” King Felix said, leaning forward in his chair. “You have failed me time and again. You rebel against me even now.”

  “No father, I want to help.”

  “Then you must do as you are told, Willam. Put your fanciful notions of chivalry and honor behind you. It’s time for you to become a man and do your duty to King and Kingdom.”

  Willam was speechless. He didn’t know what to do. His heart was torn between his ideas and his deep desire to please his father. He had been trained from a young age to revere the King and to always obey. He had never dreamed that his father would ask him to do something so heinous.

  “I...” Willam had trouble speaking. “I will do as you wish,” Willam said. “But I must say that Brianna and Zollin seemed incredibly close. I am not sure she can be dissuaded from her feelings for him.”

  “You let me worry about that,” King Felix said. “You go to her, give her comfort and companionship. You’re the heir to the throne, and there’s not a woman in all of Yelsia who hasn’t dreamed of winning your favor. And Brianna is beautiful, is she not? She will make a fine queen and give you strong heirs.”

  “What of her story about Gwendolyn’s army? Surely we can’t ignore the threat the witch poses.”

  “No, we cannot ignore any threat to Yelsia. We must ensure that we are strong. That’s why I want you to pursue Brianna. She is more than a courtier, and if the conflict she describes is coming, there may not be another chance to ensure our line of succession.”

  Willam thought about what his father was saying. There was certainly an element of truth in his father’s argument, but the idea of stealing Brianna away from Zollin felt wrong. And while his father’s argument made sense, Willam knew that he wasn’t being told the whole story. He was being manipulated, but he had no idea why? His father cared for him, and certainly understood that Willam would be king one day. There was no gain in forcing him to do something that would undermine Willam’s rule or weaken him as a king.

  “Fine,” Willam said. “I’ll court her, but I make no promises, Father.”

  “There is no need for promises,” Felix said, sitting back in his chair again and smiling. “Your word is good enough for me.”

  “Is there anything else?”

  “No, for now, let Brianna be your first and only priority.”

  “Yes, Father,” Willam said.

  He left the room wondering why his father didn’t include him in his military plans. He couldn’t shake the feeling that his father disapproved of him. King Felix knew Willam had commanded Ortis’ forces while under the control of Gwendolyn’s power, but Willam still felt the sting of that defeat and the shame that he had been broken by King Zorlan’s torturer. He had hoped that when the Yelsian army reached the Walheta, he would have the opportunity to confront the king and take his revenge of the man who tortured him. Now he wondered if his father would even allow him to leave Orrock.

  Back in the King’s chambers, Felix smiled. Corlis looked curiously at his liege. He understood that tying Willam to Brianna and her dragons was practical, but he doubted that Willam, who Corlis considered a ceremonious fool of a Prince, could win the fiery girl.

  “Do you think Willam can do it?” Corlis asked.

  “I’m sure of it.”

  “You have a lot of confidence in the Prince.”

  “He can have the pick of any woman in the kingdom; I don’t know why Brianna should be any different.”

  “She is different,” Corlis said. “She rides on dragons and controls fire like a wizard.”

  “I don’t give a damn what she can do. I only care that we ensure her dragons will fight for us. We’ve worked too hard and endured too much to miss out on this opportunity. My forefathers would have given their right arms to have this chance. We can’t let it slip through our fingers.”

  “And what if she rejects him?”

  “I never take anything for granted, general, you should know that about me by now. I won’t commit myself to only one course of action. Brianna will accept Willam’s proposal; I will see to that.”

  “You have a devious mind, my liege,” Corlis said with a smile.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  * * *

  Brianna was outside. The sun was weak and the air was cold, hinting that winter would soon be upon them. Brianna used to love winter. She loved snow and the way it made everything seem new, fresh, and clean. Of course, after being cooped up with her mother and sisters for days on end, she was always ready for spring. Now, of course, the cold air gave her a chill which only made her think of the witch Gwendolyn and the army that Brianna was sure was marching north at that very moment.

  King Felix had always seemed a bit aloof to her, but he was a king after all, and she was just a girl from Tranaugh Shire. She was more than that, she knew, but she doubted if King Felix did. She had displayed her powers and told the King and his counselors about the battle in Osla. She told them what she had seen when she had been deep underground, but she sensed that King Felix didn’t really believe her.

  She walked around the castle to a large area filled with hay. Selix, Tig, and Gyia were curled up together, nestled down in the straw. They didn’t like the way the soldiers and servants came to gawk at them. They didn’t enjoy being fed either, even if they were given whole cows and sheep. They wanted to fly, to hunt, to be free, but King Felix had asked that for now they stay concealed behind the castle walls. He claimed that he didn’t want to attract too much attention, or cause panic in the Kingdom, but Brianna felt trapped. She knew she wasn’t trapped, and that she could leave anytime she wanted. She doubted that even the King’s Royal Guard could stop her. They were brave men and skilled fighters, but all she would need to do is set the castle on fire, leap from a window and fly away with her pride.

  An image of Gyia shaking her head entered her mind.

  “I’m not planning to do it,” she thought silently. “I just want to be ready for any possibility.”

  Another image, this time from Tig of the pride flying again, filled her mind. She felt the rush of joy that always accompanied her when she flew. The dragons understood her desires and felt much the same way. They wanted to leave as well, but they honored her wishes and stayed in Orrock.

  “We can’t just walk away,” she said as she neared the stockade where the dragons were kept. “If we do, there won’t be a safe place for us anywhere in the Five Kingdoms. This is our chance to prove that dragons and humans can peacefully coexist.”

  Selix growled and black smoke puffed from the big, golden dragon’s nose. Gyia, ever the peacemaker, sent them all a feeling of peace. The long, sinuous, purple dragon moved closer to Brianna. An image of Prince Willam filled her mind.

  “I haven’t seen him, not for a few days. Everyone seems so busy, but they ignore me.” She looked down, kicking at some of the loose hay that had escaped the stockade. “I miss Zollin.”

  Separate images from each of the dragons came into her mind, all of Ferno, the powerful, green dragon that had joined Zollin in his fight over the Grand City.

  “We need to be together,” Brianna said. “All of us.”

  “I hope I’m not interrupting,” said a voice from behind Brianna.

  She turned just as Gyia hissed, “My liege.”

  “Princ
e Willam, were your ears burning? We were just talking about you.”

  “Only good things, I hope.”

  “Of course, my lord.”

  “Please, call me Willam, we are well past pleasantries, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “If you say so... Willam.”

  “Good, I was hoping you would accompany me on a ride. I’m having a carriage prepared now.”

  “Is there news from your father? Is he sending the army to Falxis?”

  “No,” Willam said sadly. “He is preparing the army, but they are not ready to march south yet.”

  Brianna frowned.

  “It seems frivolous to wait,” Brianna said. “We need time to travel and to prepare our defense.”

  “You’re right and I have argued that point myself, but mobilizing an army can take time. We have to make sure that Yelsia is defended, and we have to gather supplies. Preparing to feed an army is no small task.”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” Brianna said. “We are just anxious.”

  “So come for a ride with me,” Willam said. “It will help calm your nerves.”

  “Alright,” Brianna said. “I’ll be back soon,” she told the dragons.

  Selix and Tig settled back down into the hay, dozing the afternoon away, but Gyia watched Willam and Brianna. The purple dragon wasn’t sure what Willam was up to, but Gyia could see that he was doing his best to charm Brianna. Human relationships were foreign to dragons, who were neither male nor female and did not mate. They were loyal to their pride, but beyond that, they had no deeper attachments.

  Willam escorted Brianna to the front of the castle where they found a large carriage with a thick leather canopy. There were two large, white horses harnessed to the carriage and a groom standing near one horse’s head. Willam climbed up into the carriage and then extended his hand to Brianna. She took it, and he pulled lightly to help her up. He was amazed how light and graceful she was. She sprang up into the carriage and settled on the bench next to him.

  A servant approached carrying a blanket.

  “Thank you Hoyle,” said Willam, taking the blanket. “We might get chilly,” he told Brianna.

  She smiled, “That’s thoughtful of you.”

  He nodded and flicked the reins. The carriage rolled out of the Castle’s main gate and through the city streets. People all around then bowed and waved, some even tossed flowers into the road and many hailed their prince. Willam was popular, Brianna realized. She was a little embarrassed by all the attention at first, but soon she found that it was intoxicating to be seen with Willam. Fantasies from her childhood flashed in her mind. She, like all little girls, dreamed of being swept off her feet by a handsome prince. She couldn’t help but wonder what her mother would think if she saw Brianna now. Just as quickly as these thoughts flashed in her mind, guilt struck and she felt as if being with Willam was somehow unfair to Zollin. She imagined him struggling with his quest to save the Five Kingdoms, while she went on a carriage ride with a Prince.

  “I’m not sure this is such a good idea,” Brianna said.

  Willam was driving the carriage, his eyes focused on the narrow streets that were crowded with rapturous looking people all waving and wishing Willam well.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I just think we need to be doing more to prepare for the invasion.”

  “All of that is being taken care. There is nothing left to do but wait at this stage,” Willam said. “When dealing with something this massive, you have to trust the people around you to do their part. You can’t control everything.”

  “I’m not trying to control everything,” Brianna said. “But I don’t see how carriage rides and feasts in the castle are helping.”

  “I know what you mean,” Willam said. “I’m ready to ride south right now, but I know that if we rush things, it will cost us in the end. If Gwendolyn’s forces are marching north, we still have time. We have to make sure we have everything we need and that every soldier is prepared to face mortal danger. That is our responsibility as leaders. If we send men into harm’s way that aren’t prepared, we have failed them and their sacrifices are tainted.”

  “You sound so kingly,” Brianna said, her guilt easing a little.

  “Well, I will be a king one day,” he said, “if I live long enough.”

  “You’ve been through too much not to wear the crown,” Brianna said. “Yelsia needs you.”

  “You don’t think my father is a good king?” Willam said.

  Brianna couldn’t tell if Willam was asking a question or making a statement.

  “I would not judge a king,” she said. “I’m just one girl and leading kingdoms isn’t something I have any knowledge of.”

  “You have more than you know. You understand mercy, you care about people, and you feel the responsibility for those who have no idea what dangers threaten them. That is the essence of being a leader.”

  “I just think your father isn’t being as sincere as he pretends.”

  “That’s a serious allegation,” Willam said.

  “I know, and maybe it’s just my impatience, but I can’t believe anyone could be so calm and seemingly unconcerned about the monsters that are coming.”

  “You ride on dragons and yet you worry about monsters?”

  “You haven’t seen them,” Brianna said, her face pinched as she thought about the creatures she had seen pouring from the abyss.

  “No, I haven’t and that is probably why I can make plans calmly. But that’s what Yelsia needs, a well-planned, strategic response to this threat.”

  Brianna found herself leaning against Willam’s shoulder. She did feel a huge burden to protect the people of Yelsia from the army of the witch in Osla, but being with Willam eased the weight of it. He had a way of making her feel like everything would be okay. His self-confidence was like a shield.

  She looked over at the Prince. He had thick, brown hair and the traces of a beard on his jaw. His eyes were dark but kind and his finely tailored clothes accentuated his body. The Prince had broad shoulders, and well-muscled arms. He wasn’t as big as Mansel, but he was bigger than Zollin and older too. He smiled at her and she felt her face flush.

  The carriage had finally reached the open fields beyond the city, and they moved toward a grove of Aspen trees. Brianna couldn’t help but feel excited about being so near to Willam. The conflict inside her heart was as ferocious as a pitched battle.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “I’m just wondering what I’m doing here,” she said.

  “You’re here because I asked you,” he said confidently.

  “But I’m no one, just a girl from Tranaugh Shire. Shouldn’t you be surrounded by high born ladies?”

  “I don’t care for high born ladies,” Willam said with a smile. “I hope to one day be a good king, but for the most part I think I’m just a soldier. I don’t even think I’m much of a commander. The battle with Zorlan’s army put that notion to rest. I feel more like myself when I’m with you, Brianna. You make me feel like I can actually be the kind of king I’ve always dreamed of being.”

  Brianna gasped; she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “I know that we haven’t known each other long,” Willam said. “But I would like to get to know you better.”

  He slid one arm around Brianna’s shoulders. She knew beyond any doubt that she should stop Willam. She knew she should pull away and profess her love for Zollin, but for some reason, she didn’t do that. Willam held her close to his side and they watched as the sun sank over the horizon, casting the sky in beautiful shades of pink, punctuated by golden beams that made the clouds look like they were touched with fire.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, trying to contain her guilt.

  “Not at beautiful as you,” Willam said.

  “Prince Willam, I don’t think-”

  “No,” he said, cutting her off. “We don’t need to think about anything. Let’s just enjoy this moment
.”

  Brianna, almost against her own will, settled back into the Prince’s warm embrace. She let her worries go, just for that moment, and focused on the beauty of the sunset. She felt good, peaceful, and full of hope. In that instant, something inside her cracked her steely resolve and feelings for Willam poured into her heart.

  Chapter 11

  Zollin and Ferno were finally on the move again. He had finished resupplying in Mountain Wind and met back up with the green dragon. Now they were flying among the southern range of the Northern Highlands. Zollin thought that there was simply no more beautiful place on earth than in the mountains of the Highlands. They flew during the day and Ferno always managed to find a place to make camp each night, usually high up on the side of a mountain. There was little fuel for fires, so Zollin settled for warming the ground he rested on, usually thick granite, with his magic. The air was cold, but the stone held the heat well, so Zollin was comfortable through the long nights. Ferno, on the other hand, used its fiery breath to heat a bed. And if the dragon grew too cold, it would simply turn its long neck and breathe fire back over the brightly scaled body.

  Ferno’s wounds were slow to heal, but they were little more than shallow cuts and scrapes. It was unusual for anything to sever a dragon’s scales, but flying in the sunlight seemed to aid Ferno’s recovery.

  Zollin wasn’t sure where to start his search. He knew he needed to get to the northern range of the Highlands. He wanted to find as many magical creatures as he could. When they crossed over the great valley that separated the northern range from the southern range, he began to let his magic expand out all around them. Ferno, likewise, was able to broadcast its thoughts to any dragons in the vicinity. They had been looking for three days before they found their first magical creature.

  Blastom was a black dragon, with massive horns on its square shaped head. It reminded Zollin of Bartoom, the dragon that had ravaged northern Yelsia and eventually was brought under control of the master of the Torr. Blastom wasn’t as big as Bartoom, or even Ferno for that matter. The black dragon had a long neck, a short, compact body and a small tail.