The Dragon Blade

by P D Atkerson

  The guard glanced towards Enrick, sideways. "I didn't see anything, my lord." Enrick could tell by his voice that he thought Enrick was either crazy or seeing things. What was wrong with him? Maybe he was seeing things! He needed to get himself under control.

  "Maybe you were having a nightmare, my lord?" The guard suggested.

  "Yes," Enrick said, sighing. "I'm sure you're right. Goodnight." He hurried back into his chamber, locking the door behind him. He stood there for a second and leaned back against the door. The wood groaned against his weight, as he closed his eyes and let out a long breath. Maybe the pressure was getting to him after all!

  What was he thinking? It was stupid to have gone to his father about making him crowned prince. It was too much for him. On the other hand, he knew Dasety was right, without that crown what reason did he have to stay? He groaned and dropped his head back against the door, sliding down to sit on the ground. Why couldn't his life have been easier? No one else had to worry about one day ruling a kingdom.

  Enrick brought his knees against his chest and buried his head between them. His father hated him. Why would he listen to a word he had to say? Even if he was crown prince? He was just going to make a fool of himself. Not a good start to the month. He could only hope the guard wouldn't say anything to anyone else.

  When Prince Enrick woke up, the next morning, his whole body cried out at him for spending the night on the ground. How he'd fallen asleep on the cold, hard, stone floor, he didn't know. But somehow, he had and now he was going to pay for it the rest of the day. Moaning, he scrambled to his feet and stretched out his back.

  Man! He felt like he was a hundred years old, maybe older! He ran his hand through his hair, as he moved over to his wardrobe and drew out a shirt. He was just pulling on the new tunic, when someone knocked on his door.

  "What?" Enrick snapped, yanking the door open.

  The messenger took a step back. "My apologies, sire. I just came to inform you that Sir Dasety would like to see you in the training yard," he said, bowing.

  The training yard? Inwardly Enrick groaned. There was only one reason he would want to meet there, and he doubted his body was going to enjoy it any more than sleeping on the ground!

  Dasety blocked and parried, shoved against his sword, quickly throwing Enrick back. Enrick tripped and hit his back against the ground.

  Enrick gritted his teeth, as he shoved himself back to his feet and rolled his shoulders. Tightening his grip on his sword. "Come on, let's go again."

  "I don't think that's a good idea. Not until you clear your mind, or you're going to get yourself hurt."

  "What the heck are you talking about, Dasety?" He asked, looking away from him. "My mind is as clear as glass."

  "My lord, I've been dueling with you for years. I know when you're distracted. Maybe tinted glass?" Dasety said, lowering his sword. "What's going on?"

  "Nothing," Enrick mumbled, lowering his gaze towards his sword. "I just... didn't sleep good last night. That's all. Can we move on please?"

  "And why didn't you sleep well, may I ask?" Dasety stepped towards him. "Your majesty, you know you can trust me." He said, placing his hand on Enrick's shoulder.

  Enrick quickly pulled away from him. "I told you, I don't want to talk about it!" he said, "Now drop it, or I will be forced to end the rest of my training!"

  "Alright, my lord. There's no reason to shout."

  "I'm not shouting!" Enrick yelled, then quickly dropped his voice. "I just don't want to talk about it, alright? Can we please move on?"

  By the time Enrick and Dasety were done training, it was already dark outside. The wind was cold, as Enrick stepped out onto the balcony above the training yard and took in a deep breath.

  As he stood there, a scraping sound came from above him. He turned around and looked up. He yelled, as a shadow jumped down towards him. The creature's hands wrapped around Enrick's neck. Its ember eyes, burning deep into his soul.

  Enrick fought against the creature, but it was as if he was fighting against water. He couldn't get a grip on his attacker or even harm the creature.

  "Help..." Enrick whispered, as a cold numbness, spread through his body. Black spots appeared in his vision, as he fell to his knees, the strength draining from him. It was then, he noticed someone walking past the balcony door. He knew the person.

  "Dasety..." Enrick whispered, fighting to stay awake. Dasety turned towards the balcony, then ran forwards. A burning torch in hand.

  "Get off him!" Dasety yelled, lunging towards them. He swung the torch at the creature's head. The creature shrieked, as it tumbled off the edge of the balcony and vanished into the water below.

  Enrick gasped for breath, as he lay kneeling there. His nails digging into the cold stone floor. He looked up at Dasety. "Well... I guess you know what I didn't want to talk about, now."

  Dasety bit his lip and rubbed his chin. "I think it would be wise if we kept this between the two of us."

  Enrick blinked, slowly standing. "What? Why?! People need to be warned about those creatures."

  "So far you've been the only one attacked by it, that seems a little strange, even to me," Dasety said. "If you tell your father about this, he will think you're either making it up or crazy, either would not be in your favor."

  "But you saw it too."

  "Yes, I know. But I also told the King about the law to make you crowned prince. He might think I'm backing up your story so as not to make myself look bad for suggesting you should be crowned."

  "What am I to do about it then?" Enrick asked, letting out a long breath. "That... creature might come back to kill me again. I turn fourteen in a few days, I'd like to still be alive by then."

  Dasety nodded. "I suggest you keep a fire burning in your room at all times and never go anywhere without at least a candle and match box."

  Before Enrick could respond, one of the castle warriors hurried up towards them.

  The Warrior saluted and stood at attention. "Sir Dasety, King Munay has asked me to retrieve you for a meeting in his chambers."

  Dasety nodded. "If you'll pardon me, your majesty, I must go see what your father needs," he said, bowing to Enrick.

  The warrior glanced around and cleared his throat. "Lady Willow is with him as well."

  "Oh? She is, is she? Well, then... I'm not sure what he needs from me," Dasety said, snorting and the warrior smirked too.

  "Hang on, who's Lady Willow?" Enrick asked, holding up his hand.

  "Lady Willow. Of Salake. Have you really not heard of her?" Dasety asked, frowning. "I would have thought your father would have mentioned her. They've been dining together every night she's been here. That was... (if I had to guess) almost three weeks ago."

  Enrick shrugged. "Why would he? We haven't spoken since the day of my mother's funeral, when we told him about the law you'd found."

  "Yes, of course," Dasety said, stepping away. "You should try and get some sleep," he called over his shoulder.

  For almost three hours, Enrick tossed and turned, trying in vain to fall asleep. He sighed and flopped himself to the middle of his bed.

  Who was he fooling? There was no way he was going to be able to sleep. Even if Dasety thought it was a good idea, it wasn't going to happen. He had candles all over his room, but it wasn't enough to assure him that the foul creature wasn't going to return for him. He was done trying to sleep.

  Already it had been a month since his mother's death and he still hadn't visited her grave. Maybe instead of wasting time trying to sleep, he'd force himself to visit it and finally say his last goodbye to his mother. Yes. That was what he would do.

  Enrick slid out of bed and moved towards his wardrobe, carefully moving around the candles. He swung it open and grabbed out his black cloak and tunic. Putting them both on, he pulled the hood up to cover his fiery red hair. Enrick grabbed one of his candles and hurried towards his chamber door.

  Slowly, he slid it open and peeked out.

  One of the castle guard
s was just passing his door, when his torch flickered, throwing eerie shadows along the hallway. Enrick had to tell himself it wasn't the creature. It was afraid of fire, it had to be, or he'd never be able to survive the night.

  He swallowed and waited until the guard turned the corner. He stepped out into the hallway.

  Closing and locking his door behind him. He slid his key back onto his belt and as silent as a shadow, passed through the hallways and outside, towards the bridge leading out of the castle.

  The two guards stationed next to the bridge, moved their spear to block Enrick's path. "What is your business here?" One of the guards asked.

  Enrick gritted his teeth. He'd hoped they wouldn't notice him. The guards had been more vigilant ever since Aroron had escaped past them.

  Slowly, he pulled his hood down and looked at the guard. "I am Prince Enrick, you fool!" He hissed. "How dare you step in my path!"

  "I'm just doing my duty, sire. What takes you out of the castle, at this hour, my lord?" The guard asked, bowing his head.

  "I wish to visit my mother's grave," Enrick whispered. "Do you have a problem with that?"

  The guard quickly shook his head. "No, of course not, my lord. It just seemed strange to me, that is all," he said, drawing his spear back. The other guard quickly followed suit.

  "Speak a word of this to anyone and I will have both your heads!" Enrick hissed. The guard swallowed and quickly nodded, glancing over toward his companion.

  "Speak of what, Sire?" The guard's voice squeaked, as he saluted.

  Pulling up his hood again, he hurried across the bridge. He rolled his eyes. There was a reason those men would never become Loyal Warriors. He'd barely threatened them, and they'd gone soft.

  Even though the moon was full, it didn't give off much light as he started across the path. The moonlight was blocked by the mountains lurking to both sides of him. He glanced around and moved towards the right mountain, remembering the last time he'd been out there, when he was prisoner to the Rebels. He fingered his sword and reminded himself they probably wouldn't be out at this time anyways and besides, the mountains where huge. The likelihood of bumping into one of them wasn't very high.

  He shivered. Wishing he'd remembered to wear a fur coat. At least he was wearing his boots and his feet wouldn't be frozen solid before he got to his mother's grave.

  Chapter 24

  Death

  An hour after starting out, Enrick was almost half way up the mountain side and had finally found the place he'd been looking for. He quickly scrambled around the huge rock in his way and into a small cavern.

  Water dripped down the walls of the cavern, soaking most of the ground. Enrick bent down. The prints from the funeral were still visible in the dry part of the dirt.

  The white ground fell away to a lush green valley, surrounded by trees unlike those in the Dubh-Woods. Instead of the dark and icky bark and branches, these trees were brought in from the Moonlight forest, long before anyone living was born.

  This part of the mountain was protected by the high rock walls.

  His mother had loved this place.

  At least his father had thought of that when picking her final resting place. It was the only place Enrick could think of that she loved in all Karlay.

  It was also one of the only places in all Karlay that wasn't made up of dark plants and looming trees.

  Slowly, Enrick moved his gaze across the ground until he spotted his mother's gravestone. He dropped down in front of the gravestone and buried his head in his hands.

  "Why? Why did you have to leave me?" Enrick whispered, letting out a long sigh. He missed her, more than he knew was possible.

  There was a 'snap' and Enrick sat up straight. The sound had come from somewhere deep in the garden. It wasn't normal for people to be out this early. Slowly, he rose back to his feet and carefully moved towards where he'd heard the noise.

  When he reached the tree line, he was sure he could make out the figure of a person. Slowly and silently as he could, Enrick slid his sword out.

  Enrick yanked back the branches from in front of him. He laughed softly to himself, sliding his sword back into his scabbard.

  The 'person' he thought he'd seen hiding in the tree was, in fact, only an old statue, over grown by weeds. He'd seen it before, he just hadn't really taken a good look at it. Behind the statue ran a frozen waterfall, glittering in the moonlight that shone down upon it.

  Enrick wasn't sure how old the statue was, but now that he really looked at it, he started to wonder. It was obviously from before his father's rule. It had to be a noble from the crown upon the figure's head, he looked too young to be a king, but that didn't mean he wasn't.

  After all, hadn't his father always said King Recony was only sixteen when he'd become King of Drinadad? To think, in just two short years, Enrick would be that age. Maybe he too would be king. He sneered. Too bad his father stood in the way of that. But maybe... something might happen.

  Enrick quickly shook the thought away. He shouldn't have such thoughts, not here of all places. His mother would have been furious with him for having such thoughts. Then again, she wasn't alive anymore, was she?

  He was about to turn away from the statue and head back to his mother's gravestone, when something carved in the statue, caught his eye.

  He bent down and looked closer at the base of the statue.

  There were strange markings, Old Karlien he would guess, and a jagged round circle cut in the stone below the writing. What could it mean? He frowned and ran his finger around the edge of it. Below it was another carving, but this one looked like the old Karlien crest. There weren't very many things left that still had that on them. Most of them his father had ordered to be destroyed.

  If this statue was from one of the former Karlien rulers, it would make sense that it would be the royal family that had this statue built. What secrets did it hold? Secrets his father had no idea of?

  He sat down and leaned back against one of the trees, staring up at the moonlight. Maybe one day he'd figure out what this statue hid.

  Enrick closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, it was already morning. A small hint of sunlight streamed down from above the high stone walls. He yawned and slowly stood. Was he only going to be able to fall asleep in strange places from now on? He hoped not.

  It was as he was looking up at the sky, that a crazy idea entered his head.

  Enrick scrambled onto the top of one of the rocks next to the wall, looking up. It really wasn't that high of a climb. A smile spread across his face, as he started up.

  Enrick was slightly out of breath, when he finally reached the top of the wall. He grabbed onto the edge, pulled himself up and onto his feet.

  The view was far greater than he'd expected. From up here he could see all Karlay, spread out before him.

  Sunlight glittered off Echo Lake, miles and miles from where he stood. There was the vast shadow of the Dubh-Woods. He could see it all.

  Enrick glanced down and whistled softly.

  The edge of the wall fell away hundreds of feet to a snow embankment below him.

  He looked down and fought the urge to jump, on the off chance it wasn't all snow piled below him. He didn't care to die this close to his coming of age.

  His Birthday! He still needed to speak with his father about his crowning. He had to make sure there were no excuses he could use against him.

  Half sliding, half climbing, Enrick made his way to the bottom of the mountain.

  Finally, after almost breaking his neck half a dozen times, he reached the valley below the mountain. But when he looked at the ground, he froze.

  Most of the valley had been trampled by heavy feet, and the white snow was stained with blood.

  "What happened here?" Enrick mumbled, glancing around as he edged closer.

  For a second, he stopped and listened. Not a sound was heard. Whoever had been there, was long gone.

  Hundreds of prints were scattered around the val
ley and as far as he could tell, they were all the same kind.

  Enrick knelt and looked at the prints a little closer.

  The prints were those of wolves, but there was something off about them, but Enrick couldn't put his finger on it.

  He was just about to stand again, when something else on the ground caught his eye.

  There was something black and gray sprinkled across the ground next to the prints. There were too small for him to have noticed when he was standing.

  Enrick picked up a piece and fingered it, it smeared the tips of his fingers gray.

  Ash?

  Of course! He should have known.

  The tracks must have belonged to his father's Loyal Warriors. He'd heard one of them talking about using different horse shoes, that must have been what he'd meant. But what could his father's men have wanted this deep in the forest? And who else had been out here? He doubted the blood belonged to the Loyal Warriors.

  Slowly, Enrick stood and turned towards the looming shadow of the Dark Castle, still a few miles away. Taking in a deep breath, he began walking.

  He knew his father had something to do with this, he just wasn't sure what 'this' was. He sighed and started walking towards the castle.

  Enrick was still lost in thought, thinking about what they were doing, when he reached the edge of the castle bridge.

  "Glad to see you're back safely, my lord," the guard said, bowing his head, breaking Enrick out of his thoughts. "I hope you... had a productive time."

  "Do you know where my father is?" Enrick asked, glancing towards the guard.

  "He's in a meeting with a handful of his Loyal Warriors," the guard said, bowing his head. "Planning his next move, my lord."

  Enrick nodded. He should have known. Where else would he be? "What of Sir Dasety? Is he in there with the King?"

  "Not as far as I know, my lord."

  "Good, then I will meet with him," Enrick said, starting towards the main part of the castle. The guard saluted, then went back to his watch.