He nodded. “He’ll teach me.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Arber Reborn
Danielle rolled the silver key between her fingers. Detailed engravings adorned the key's head.
Behind her, Lora's and Elan's Spheres hummed in suspension.
With brow furrowed, Arber tracked the key twisting through her fingers. Curiosity touched the old guardian's eyes.
"What is it Arber?" She said.
"It's familiar somehow...."
Her head spun. "How so?"
Arber's gaze never left the key. "I remember seeing that key somewhere. Or one just like it."
"Where?" She leaned forward and pushed the key into Arber's palm. "Try to remember. It's important."
Arber's hand closed around the key. "I was in Zen."
"Was the emperor with you?"
Arber nodded. "They were whipping me. Sorcerers and shaman everywhere."
"What did you see?"
Arber's eyes closed. "They stopped the beating long enough for me to catch my breath. Martell was there begging them to stop. He told them I had information critical to the emperor."
"Did Martell have the key?"
Eyes squeezed shut, Arber's head shook. "Around the same time, a sorcerer came into the emperor's throne room."
"Who?"
"You've seen him. When we caught you at the forest's edge."
"I remember many sorcerers," she said.
"Do you remember Aren?"
Her stomach sank. "I remember."
"Aren handed the emperor something," Arber said. "It was trapped in Trace's palm, but I saw a flash of silver."
"Did you see him use it?"
Arber's shoulders sagged. "No. I'm sorry. The beatings started again soon after that, and I didn't see the emperor until the next day." Arber set the key on the table.
She picked up the key and stared hoping it might speak. "I wonder if it unlocks a door in the emperor's palace."
Arber shrugged. "There's no way of telling for sure. I doubt Trace would tell you."
She held the key near the light from a nearby candle.
An engraving ran along the key's barrel. "Arber, look at this." Her eyes widened and she leaned forward examining the key.
Arber bent over and squinted at the engraving. "I don't recognize those words."
"Neither do I. Maybe it's an ancient Ayralen dialect?"
"Those symbols are strange. Henri LaCasse might recognize them."
Her head snapped up surprised to hear the Ayralen scholar's name. "Is he in Freehold?"
Arber nodded. "I saw him a couple of weeks ago. He made it out of Ayralen."
"Do you know where I can find him?" She said.
"I'm not sure where he's staying. The last time I saw him, he was working with Sir Alcott on a new project."
"Why doesn't that surprise me," she said. "Those two could've been separated at birth."
Arber raised an eyebrow half suppressing a grin.
She smiled realizing too late what she'd said.
Arber sighed and leaned over fondling the pendant lying beside the heartwood seed. "I bet Trace knows what it means." Arber let go a short bitter laugh. "A lot of good that will do us."
"It couldn't hurt to ask him." She stole a quick glance toward Arber. "Right?"
"I suppose not, but could you trust anything he told you?" Arber said. "His information might lead you to the middle of the desert."
She couldn't argue, but what choice did she have?
Arber pushed away from the desk and stood. "I think we've taken this as far as we can Danielle. I'm sorry I couldn't provide more help."
"Sorry? You found the key," she said.
"I suppose I did." Arber half-covered a yawn.
"I'm sorry Arber. I didn't mean to keep you here so late."
"It's no trouble, but if we're done here, I'll take my leave." Arber nodded and turned to leave.
"Arber. Can you wait another minute please?"
Arber paused and turned around to face her. "Is something else bothering you?"
"I've been meaning to ask you something, but what with the investigation I haven't had a chance."
"What's wrong?"
She exhaled and gazed into her friend's eyes. "I'd like you to take the guardian's mantle. I —"
Arber's hand raised cutting her off. "Danielle, there's no need for that. I've burned plenty of bridges."
She shook her head. "You're a good man Arber. A man of principles. You embody the very essence of what it means to be a guardian."
Arber's face reddened. "I don't know about that. I'm sure Keely would have a different description for me."
"Keely's been after me for weeks to ask you," she said.
Arber's eyes widened. "Keely?"
"She said and I quote, 'If you don't give him the guardian's mantle soon, I'll give it to him myself.'" She folded her arms and grinned.
"Is that so?" Arber half-grinned. "It's more than I deserve."
"The truth is, I need you Arber," she said.
"What could you possibly need from me?"
"The heartwood is somewhere in the desert," she said. "I'm sure of it, and you know more about the desert than anyone. I'd like you to travel there with me."
Arber stared into Lora's Sphere for several long seconds before nodding once. "It would be an honor to travel by your side. I'll protect you with my life."
"Thank you." She took Arber's hand in hers and guided him toward Lora's Sphere. "I haven't given anyone Lora's power so I'm not quite sure it will work. But, Ronan's given Elan's power to former shard knights." She faced Lora's Sphere and peered into the swirling green light. "When I give the go ahead, touch the sphere. But, not before then. Okay?"
Arber nodded.
She opened her mind to Lora's Sphere and accepted its power. She directed energy flows toward Arber. "Place your palm flat against Lora's Sphere and open your mind. Those pure of mind and body can accept nature's gift."
Arber flattened his hand against Lora's Sphere. Green and red light raced along his arm and swirling around his body. Arber shone like a beacon while the light around him grew in strength and intensity.
Arber's back arched and he gasped.
Energy from the sphere surged across Arber's body.
Nature's energy intertwined with Arber's life force. A green tether of light appeared connecting the guardian to Lora's Sphere.
Arber's eyes widened. Lights swirled and raced around Arber moving faster as the seconds passed.
The light faded and Arber relaxed. A moment later, the last flickers of energy settled into Arber and disappeared.
Arber dropped to a knee pulling in rapid breaths and a thin sheen of sweat covered the guardian's brow.
She rested her palm against the crown of Arber's head. "I think it worked."
Arber stood and gazed into her eyes. Steady strength shown in the guardian's eyes.
She smiled. Her Arber had returned. The man she grew up knowing. The guardian who always stood watch.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Arber's cheek. "It's good to have you back."
"Thank you Danielle. I can't ever repay —"
"Enough. You already have." She moved past Arber toward the table and placed Trace's belongings in the burlap sack. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow morning we're going to ask Trace about that key and make him give us some answers."
CHAPTER TWELVE
The General and the Beast
The stable door creaked open. Shadows twisted the straw-covered floor.
The sweet scent of hay, tack, and horse manure pricked Ronan's nose. The jumble of smells stirred found memories.
During Merric Pride's reign, he and Rika had shared a one room home in the Ayralen district. Next door, a stable housed workhorses used by many of Freehold's laborers. He earned extra coin feeding and bathing those horses three days a week.
From the stable's far side, eyes, menacing and golden, tracked the door's motion. The draco hissed not soun
ding pleased with its confinement.
He paused in the doorway and gave his eyes a moment to adjust. He hadn't operated without magic in over a year, and his senses protested the unaided call to duty. "Is that it?" He whispered over his shoulder.
Rika peered past him and nodded. "That's it. Connal trapped it a few days ago."
He didn't know how to mount the beast let alone force it to carry him to Dragon's Peak, but he couldn't think of any other way.
Dim spirit energy flickered halfway down the stable. From the second stall, a detention shield beat back the predawn shadows.
"Is that the baerinese prisoner?" He said.
"Yes. We didn't know where to put him," Rika said.
"You put him right next to a draco?" He said. "What if he'd broken through the shield?"
Rika glared and folded her arms. "Do you have a better idea? We can't very well leave him in the town square can we?"
He shrugged. "I guess you're right." He took a few tentative steps into the shadows and paused.
Rika moved through the door behind him and eased it shut. "There's an oil lamp hanging to your right."
He fumbled in the darkness until his hand caught the lamp's metallic edge. He went to light the lamp and realized he had no matches.
Rika sighed. "Honestly, have you forgotten how to light a lamp? We mortals still carry matches."
The sound of a striking match broke the silence and a long low hiss came from the stable's far end.
He spun tracking the sound.
The leathery beast strained against iron shackles binding its legs and neck. The draco opened its mouth and flashed a set of short needle-sharp teeth.
"That's a draco?" He said.
Rika nodded. "That's what Connal said."
"Have you bonded it?"
"Not yet. I'm not sure I want to crawl around in its head." Rika lit the lamp hanging from his fingers before waving out the match.
"Thanks." He stepped forward and the wooden floor groaned under his weight.
Rika moved in behind him keeping her hand tucked inside his belt.
He paused at the second stable and brought the light around to shine on its occupant.
The detention shield vibrated with a low comforting hum. Inside its restrictive wall a baerinese soldier sat atop a bale of hay with arms folding. The baerinese man expressed no fear or even mild concern. Rather, curiosity filled the soldier's eyes.
Without taking his eyes from the soldier he spoke. "Can he understand us?"
"I don't know," Rika said. "Your father tried to speak with him. Either he doesn't understand or doesn't want to talk."
He stepped forward and stopped inches from the shield's thin barrier. "What's your name?" He waited a moment for the soldier to respond.
The soldier stared ahead ignoring him.
"Your name is General Demos, isn't it? I remember you from Porthleven." He narrowed his eyes and anger welled inside him. "With the witch."
General Demos flinched.
A nearly imperceptible motion, but he'd noticed. "He understands."
Behind him, the stable door swung open. Spirit shields surrounded a pair of knights.
He swiveled and faced the pair.
The knights froze and stared wide-eyed at him and Rika standing before General Demos.
A lean shield knight stepped forward and stumbled over a nearby pitchfork. "Your Majesty. I didn't — that is — had I known you were awake."
The shield knight had finished two years ahead of him at the citadel. "Evening Alex."
The shield knight blushed and the second soldier, a battle knight, came up beside the first. The battle knight dropped to a knee and bowed low before him. "Forgive us, Your Majesty. Had we known Lady Rika was in the stable, we never would have left the creature alone with her."
Rika's eyes narrowed and her mouth opened as if to speak.
He half-smiled and raised his hand cutting Rika off. "Lady Rika can handle the draco better than any man in camp," he said. "And for Elan's sake, stand up Luke. This isn't the royal palace."
Luke stood and brushed errant strands of hay from his leggings. "No sir. I didn't mean the draco." The battle knight pointed toward General Demos. "I meant that creature. It's not fit to be near Lady Rika."
Alex brushed past Luke and paused outside General Demos's stable. "I'll check the shield Your Majesty. No need for you to fuss with it." Alex waved a hand and the detention shield flickered.
"Has he eaten?" He said.
"Who do you mean Your Majesty? Are you speaking of Alex?" The battle knight’s brow furrowed. "We both ate not thirty minutes ago."
Alex nodded as if satisfied with the shield's strength.
He shook his head. "No. I meant the baerinese...man. Has he had a meal or anything to drink since his capture?"
Luke and Alex exchanged a nervous glance before Alex spoke. "No sir. We weren't sure what to feed it."
"What did you two eat for supper?" He said.
"Mutton stew and fresh bread," Luke said.
"That sounds fine. Why don't you fix him a tray and bring it here," he said. "He needs to keep his strength if he's to answer any questions."
"Yes sir. We'll be back in a few minutes." Luke pulled Alex's sleeve and the knight's made their way from the stable. They closed the door behind them.
Rika glared at General Demos who hadn't moved from the hay bale. "He doesn't deserve a meal Ronan. Not after what happened in Porthleven."
He understood Rika's fury, but he wouldn't treat the baerinese general like an animal. If he stood behind the detention shield, he would expect fair treatment. "Torturing him won't make the Porthleven dead come back to life. We're not barbarians."
Rika's jaw clenched shut.
"Let's see about this draco." He walked past General Demos and stopped before the stable's largest stall.
The stall accounted for a third of the building's modest size. Piled high hay clung to the stall's stagnant air and the draco recoiled lurching away from him.
"I honestly don't know why you're bothering with this. It won't let you on its back."
He recalled Moira's lessons from the cave. If he discovered a means to ease the beast's fear, it would serve him. "It has to understand that I mean it no harm."
Rika laughed. "Do you really mean it no harm? Saying the words won't change your true intent."
He narrowed his eyes and glared at Rika.
Rika leaned against the stall's short wooden door with arms folded. "Go ahead then."
He faced the draco and let go a deep breath. Stretching his hand toward the beast, he spoke in a low soft voice. "There girl. It's okay."
The draco crouched low in the stall and pinned back its wings. With its golden eyes locked on him the beast held still.
"There's no need for all this ruckus." He stepped forward.
The draco stiffened, but didn't hiss. The beast's mouth remained shut and it hunkered lower in the straw carpet.
He took another step forward and stopped six feet from the draco. "I've brought you a gift. A peace offering." At home, he always brought a few apples with him to the stables. He doubted a creature with those sharp teeth bothered with fruit. Without taking his eyes from the draco, he rummaged through his belt pouch. He grabbed three moist strips of beef jerky and eased his hand from the pouch.
The draco never moved tracking the jerky with its penetrating gaze.
"You must be hungry." He tossed the beef strips near the draco's needle-sharp talons.
The draco snatched the jerky from the straw, tipped back its throat, and swallowed the strips in a single gulp.
"I've got more where that came from." He inched forward.
The draco lowered its neck, eyes gleaming. Strands of saliva formed along its jawline and drizzled the straw like carpenter's glue.
"Be careful Ronan," Rika said from the stall's far corner. "He looks ready to eat you whole."
He stepped forward and eased his hand inside the belt pouch. Three feet fr
om the draco, he paused and waved another jerky strip in the air.
The draco's eyes left him for the first time since he entered the stall and tracked the beef strip instead.
He inched forward. "That's it. I just want to sit on that fine saddle strapped to your back. Would that be okay?"
Ropes of drool fell unfettered from the draco's open mouth. Its eyes glistened with moisture and the beast strained against the iron shackles.
He took another step forward keeping the jerky held high. With his left hand, he touched the creature's saddle.
The draco didn't move.
"He could snap your hand off," Rika said with voice lowered. "Why don't you at least channel some enhancement magic?"
He glared over his shoulder.
The draco jerked its neck forward and opened its jaws. The iron chain rattled and the draco's jaws snapped shut an inch from the jerky strip.
The short hair on his neck bristled and he whirled toward the draco.
The creature paid him no heed and kept its attention locked on the jerky strip.
"Sorry," Rika said. "I won't say another word."
He let go a deep breath and moved his left hand forward touching the draco's saddle.
Like a coiled snake the draco stiffened under his touch, but made no move to stop his advance.
He took a step and raised his leg over the creature's saddle.
The draco lurched sideways but remained focused on the jerky hanging out of reach.
He tossed the jerky on the straw near the creature's feet and slipped atop the leather saddle.
The draco lowered its snout and snapped up the jerky.
He glanced toward Rika smiling from where he sat perched on the draco's back. "Who needs magic?"
The beast swallowed the jerky and screeched bucking from side to side.
Rika leaped forward and thrust out her hand. "Watch out!"
Blood rushed from his face and his legs slackened under a release of adrenaline.
The draco's head pitched toward him and the beast narrowed its eyes. It loosed a second high-pitched screech and hissed.
"Easy girl." He rubbed the draco's neck doing his best to put it at ease.
The draco opened its mouth and flashed its. The beast hissed, and in a blur of motion, sank its teeth into the leather armor covering his thigh.
Maylin's Gate (Book 3) Page 5
