by Nathan Roden
Boone avoided the crowds. He stayed away from the other travelers, most of whom walked toward the market.
He peeked up from beneath his hood and saw a single guard in the eastern tower of Morgenwraithe castle. He put his head down and hurried along.
He did not see the girl running directly at him.
He heard her footfalls and heard her sobs all in the same instant. They noticed each other too late to avoid a collision.
The very last thing that caught Boone’s eye was the bump at the girl’s middle.
Boone tried his best to protect the girl. He threw his arms around her and made certain that he was the one to hit the ground first.
He almost blacked out when the impact knocked the breath out of him. The girl pushed herself up. A second later, the tips of two swords quivered at Boone’s throat.
Soldiers, Boone thought. I’m done for.
One of the soldiers dropped his sword and helped the girl to her feet.
“Shall I run him through or take him to the dungeon?” Oliver asked.
“No!” the girl cried. “It was my fault! I ran right into him!”
Oliver did not move his sword.
“Who are you? Where are you from?”
“I work aboard a merchant’s vessel,” Boone said.
Oliver pulled his sword away slowly.
“You should be more careful, especially within the city. You are fortunate that it was not Captain Raynard or Lord Sterling who saw you knock the queen to the ground.”
Boone stared wide-eyed at the girl.
“You’re…you’re her? You are the queen?” he looked at her tummy again. “Of course! Please tell me the baby is unharmed.”
“No, no. He’s fine. He’s a hardy fellow,” Jaclyn put her hand over the baby.
“Though I’m certain that he wishes that his mother would stay inside the castle.”
Boone continued to stare.
“You are as lovely as I had imagined.”
Oliver raised his sword again.
“I do not care where you are from! You are not to address the queen this way!”
“Put your sword away, Oliver,” Jaclyn said. “He is merely being kind.”
Boone ignored the soldiers—and their swords.
“As lovely as the slightest touch…in complete and total darkness.”
Jaclyn’s lip began to tremble.
Oliver was confused and nervous.
“What should we do with this—?”
Jaclyn continued to stare at Boone.
“I need a word with this stranger,” she said quietly.
“But, my queen—” Oliver objected.
“Leave us.”
Oliver and Timothy retreated down the road.
When Jaclyn was certain that the soldiers could not hear her, she covered her mouth with her hand. She whispered,
“Simon?”
For a moment Boone did not know what was happening.
“Sim—? Oh, no, no, no! I am not Simon!”
A single tear ran down Jaclyn’s cheek.
“You are…his friend?”
Boone found it impossible to speak. He nodded instead.
Jaclyn continued to cry, but there was not a hint of sadness in her eyes.
“Please tell me that he is well.”
“We fell under attack,” Boone said, keeping an eye on the soldiers. “By both Sterling and a wizard—”
“A giant,” Jaclyn said. “Hired by Sterling and brought here from across the sea. He has killed many dragons. But you escaped, yes?”
“I cannot be certain,” Boone said. “After we were attacked, I fell from Simon’s back. I believe they got away.”
“They? You said they—”
“Yes. Helena is much better at riding dragons than I am.”
Jaclyn grabbed Boone’s hands. This startled him and the soldiers as well.
“It is true! Helena is alive! She is with you!”
Boone nodded again.
“I’m…I’m going to ask her to be my wife.”
Jaclyn threw her arms around Boone’s neck. She buried her face in his chest. She laughed and cried at the same time.
This was more than Oliver could take. He ran to them. Timothy followed.
Jaclyn backed a step away from Boone. She wiped her eyes.
“Oliver,” she said. “I must ask you to determine where your friend’s loyalties lie.”
“Timothy and I have spoken many times,” Oliver said.
“We will follow you into Valhalla, if necessary.”
“Good,” Jaclyn said. “Though Valhalla may seem like a holiday compared to our future. My friend will need a place to stay for the night—”
“No, my queen,” Boone said. “It is dangerous for me to remain in the village. I’ve spent many nights in the woods. One more will make no difference.”
“Have you come to see my father? He should be arriving at any time”
“He’s already here. I stole a ride in his wagon.”
“Did he know you were there?” Jaclyn asked.
“No. My plan is to catch up with him after your name day celebration.”
Boone looked at Oliver and Timothy.
“May I speak freely in front of these men?” he asked Jaclyn.
“I have every confidence—”
Oliver took a step forward. He held up his hand.
“I struck the King with a soup pot. I held it in this hand. That is not the stuff of legend, but it would be more than enough to have my head removed.”
“Lucien would have caught my father and me on that night in the dungeon, if not for Oliver’s help,” Jaclyn said.
She reached with her right hand and touched her left arm.
“On the night…the night you spoke of…”
“Very well,” Boone said. “Every cave in the kingdom is compromised. Sterling and his men are finding them and erecting beacon towers. The rendezvous location we gave your father is no longer safe. I have to let him know.”
Oliver looked up the road and saw the other six young soldiers running in their direction. They turned to look behind them as they ran.
“You need to go,” Oliver said to Boone.
“Now.”
Nineteen
Helena watched nervously as Simon slept. His breathing was irregular. He made noises and grimaced though this did not wake him. The skin surrounding the broken and missing scales on his chest was red and swollen.
There was nothing Helena could do, but to pray to whatever gods might want them to succeed.
The same gods that had not intervened to save her uncles. And her father. And the rest of her village.
Helena stood on wobbly legs. She walked in front of the immense dragon’s jaws. She slapped his face.
Simon was startled awake.
“Get up!” Helena said. “I know you are hurt. I know that you are in pain! But that does not matter! If we are to live to see tomorrow, you must rise! You must fly!”
Simon pushed himself up.
“All I can do is try.”
Helena climbed on Simon’s back.
Simon winced. He felt the added weight on his back. He had never noticed it before.
He closed his eyes and launched them into the air.
The initial beating of his wings took every bit of Simon’s strength. But he was determined to keep Helena safe.
A few minutes later Simon was gliding above the open sea. He flew along the shore and his pain and weakness began to fade. He relaxed.
And then he heard a sound. A familiar sound.
The howl of a wolf.
Simon looked down and saw the lone wolf. It howled while lying on its side.
But Simon knew.
He knew it was no ordinary wolf.
He tilted his wings, circled, and landed.
Helena slid from Simon’s back.
“Are you hurt?” Helena asked.
The wolf transformed in front of them. Magdalena pushed herself to her fe
et with her arm across her chest.
“I believe I have a broken rib.”
“What happened?” Simon asked.
“It’s Sterling’s doing. He and his wizard found your cave.”
“He struck you?” Helen asked.
Magdalena shook her head.
“Worse. He chased me—until I had no choice but to leap from a cliff. If there had not been a river below me, I would have died.”
Magdalena noticed Simon’s injuries. He saw her staring.
“We have met this wizard. He almost killed us.”
“Where is Boone?”
“He fell!” Helena cried. “We’re on our way to rescue him now!”
“Where did he fall?”
“Near the cave—the cave we just left from.”
Magdalena swallowed.
“You cannot go back there. The giant’s magic is too powerful. You could jeopardize everything—and give Sterling exactly what he wants!”
“The wizard sensed me. The tales of his people are known even on these shores. Their magic is powerful. But just as dangerous is their ability to sense the presence of magic in others. He can find them at will!”
“Oh, no,” Simon whispered.
“What is it?” Magdalena asked.
“I met Caleb. And his sister and brother.”
“You—!” Magdalena was stricken with a new realization.
She transformed into the wolf and ran away.
“Wait! Maggie!” Simon called.
The wolf stopped. She became a woman again. She did not turn around.
“Only two people have ever called me by that name. My Gram. And…”
“This is no time to strike out alone. I fear for the children as well.”
Magdalena walked back slowly.
“How did you find them?”
“They walked in the forest near their home,” Simon said. “They said that their mother entertains men for money—so that they may eat.”
Magdalena covered her face with her hands.
“I…I didn’t know.”
“The little girl, Sara. She knows you as the wolf.”
“Their father came to me,” Magdalena said. “He feared what would happen if Lord Sterling discovered Caleb’s abilities. He asked me to spend time with Caleb; to determine the full extent of his magic and to teach him to protect himself and his brother and sister.”
“Did you think it wise to let them know that you can become a wolf?” Helena asked.
Magdalena shook her head.
“I did not do that on purpose. Caleb is blind. Caleb’s father always brought him into the forest for us to meet. I had no idea that Sara was hiding and watching us. When it was time for me to leave, I became the wolf before I traveled home.”
“How will you protect them?” Helen asked. “Are you going to take them from their mother? Or stay with them and wait for the giant wizard to find you?”
“Helena raises valid questions,” Simon said. “How can we keep them safe?”
“I don’t know,” Magdalena said. “But I cannot stand by and do nothing!”
“The safest place in the entire kingdom has to be at Islemar,” Helena said. “Even in Lord Lamont’s absence.”
“This is true,” Simon said. “Do you think the children’s mother will listen to reason?”
“I never met her,” Magdalena said. “The children’s father did not speak kindly of her. She could have appealed to the king after his death. If she has chosen to trade her virtue for coin and will not listen to us—then she does not deserve the children.”
Magdalena’s eyes were damp.
“The children are…”
“They are precious,” Simon said softly.
“Zeke. And Sawa. And Caba.”
Magdalena put a hand to her mouth.
She laughed through her tears.
“We will go there—together,” Simon said.
Helena put her hands on her hips in a huff.
“Have you both lost your minds?” she asked. “We are not going anywhere until we go back to look for Boone!”
Simon looked at Magdalena. She nodded.
“I will take us there,” Simon said. “But I will not risk your lives. If this wizard is still there, he will know that Magdalena and I are nearby before we even see him.”
“We have to try,” Helena said.
“Very well,” Simon said. “After that, we go to the children.”
“They live near the village?” Helena asked.
“Yes.”
“Then we risk even more—to save three children,” Helena said.
“Three children who are as dear to me as that boy is to you,” Magdalena scowled.
“That boy is nowhere near the village of Morgenwraithe!” Helena said. “You know where the village is, do you not? Where the King, and Sterling, and Raynard, and the King’s Guard and army live?”
“Are you forgetting the Queen’s name day celebration tomorrow?” Magdalena asked. “Everyone for miles around will be at the arena.”
“We should go now,” Simon said.
“Another dragon ride,” Magdalena rolled her eyes.
“I cannot wait.”
Twenty
Dathien was not happy.
“There are two more caves within a half day’s ride of this village,” he growled.
Sterling and Raynard sat at the table in the council chamber.
Sterling dismissed the giant wizard’s attitude with the wave of a hand.
“Rest your bones, Mighty One! It is only one day. We will resume the morning after the queen’s name day celebration. The dragon is as good as dead!”
“Name day celebration!” Dathien spat. “What a useless custom! What would you do if an invading force stormed your walls at midnight? Tell them that you are unable to go to war until your precious queen has her day?”
Sterling took a long drink from his chalice. Raynard was snoring—his head on the table.
“Ha!” Sterling barked. Raynard was startled awake.
“This Kingdom has vanquished every threat from sea to sea—from impassable mountain range to endless desert. We celebrate because we have no one else to fear, Wizard!”
“What is to stop an army from overrunning the shores of Islemar?” Dathien asked.
Sterling slapped the table and laughed again. He leaned forward and sneered.
“I am not a stupid man. I have visited the other lands—many times! I grease the proper palms with our riches. The Kingdom of Morgenwraithe has friends in more places than you can imagine—in every corner of the known world!”
Dathien fingered the teeth around his neck.
“There is still no reason for such slovenly behavior. I could be two days nearer to killing the dragon.”
“Join us in a drink, Dathien,” Sterling said. “Let your hair down!”
Raynard burst out laughing.
“Wine and ale,” Dathien said between clenched teeth. “Vices of the weak—and the conquered.”
“Bollocks!” Sterling slapped the table again. “The just rewards of those who are paying for your services, Wizard!”
Dathien stormed out of the room. Soldiers and servants gave him a wide berth.
The wizard watched the hustle and bustle brought about by the coming festivities. He was disgusted. He turned toward the nearest castle gate. The guards retreated and said nothing to him.
Dathien walked south, down the very middle of the King’s Road. Travelers on their way to the village moved entirely off of the road to let the giant pass.
Somewhere past the outer walls of the village, Dathien decided to turn around.
But then his senses went on alert.
Magic.
He had felt the sensation only in the places where the dragon had been present. And then, in the woods surrounding the cave near Islemar.
That wolf. There was magic surrounding that wolf. He was certain of it.
Dathien left the King’s Road. He followed a
foot path. The sensation grew stronger, even when he met with dense forest.
He raised his hands. Once again, trees and brush folded to the ground in his path. He reached a clearing.
And a house.
***
Zeke pulled his hand away from Sara’s. He sat down hard on the ground and began to cry.
“Please, Zeke!” Sara pleaded.
“He’s hungry,” Caleb said.
“We are all hungry!” Sara said.
“We’ll be able to go home soon,” Caleb said. “We will have something to eat then.”
“Mama!” Zeke cried.
“Stop crying, Zeke,” Caleb said. “Perhaps Mother is alone. We can go and look but you must be quiet.”
Zeke dried his eyes. He stood up and took Sara’s hand.
They walked toward their house.
Caleb stopped in his tracks.
“What is it?” Sara asked.
“Something…something is wrong,” Caleb said. “Terribly wrong.”
“What are you talking about?” Sara asked.
“I…I don’t know. But we must not go any closer.”
Dathien glared at the door. And then he raised his head. He sniffed the air. He stared into the woods. He raised his right hand slowly in that direction and held it there for several seconds.
He lowered his hand and walked to the door.
He knocked on it.
No one came.
He raised his hand, and the door exploded. A man and a woman screamed.
“Come out,” Dathien said. “Now!”
A man tiptoed sheepishly through the door. He carried his trousers and his boots in his hands. He looked up in shock at the enormous wizard. His bladder let loose and emptied down his leg.
“I said come outside, Woman!” Dathien said.
A crying woman stepped through the door, clad in a nightgown.
Dathien glared at the man.
“See that I never lay eyes on you again.”
The man did not wait for further explanation.
