Dragon Bow

by Angelique Anderson

  “I’m as well as to be expected for someone who nearly died and was brought back by magic,” he answered honestly, a small smile cracking his lips.

  Hekla huffed through her nose in a silent laugh. “Yes, I suppose you’re right about that.” Curiosity getting the best of her, she pushed him to tell her more about the what was going on between he and Svana, “So, tell me of your relationship with my sister.”

  “I don’t suppose there is one,” he said, looking away, embarrassed.

  “There’s no relationship between the two of you?” Hekla paused for a moment before pressing the matter. “But you kissed her?”

  “That I did, I’ve been wanting to do that from the moment I met her. Though, it’s not rightly proper.” He offered an apologetic smile. “As far as relationship, we’re friends.”

  Hekla felt his hesitation; he was holding back from telling her more. She wanted to push him, to have him tell her every detail, but decided against it. It wasn’t her place. When the time was right, if there was a right time, she knew Svana would share the truth with her.

  “Here we are,” Hekla said.

  They had followed the road until it circled through the coral homes, and they were in front of the lovely pink coral house. Hekla knocked on the door, worried that Miralee would be standoffish about the man, or that she would reject Hekla’s request altogether.

  The lovely Aequoran woman answered the door, her gills flaring, and cerulean eyes blinking to adjust to the sunlight.

  “Miralee, I know you don’t know me well, but I have a request.”

  The woman saw the lumbering Tellurian man hovering behind Hekla and shut the door until they could only see just a sliver of her face.

  “Who is that man, and why have you brought him here? Land walkers are not welcome in Aequoris.” Miralee’s friendly demeanor has been replaced with cold mistrust.

  “Miralee, I’m a landwalker.”

  “Yes, but you helped to save us. What do you want? Why did you bring him here?”

  “Miralee… do you trust me?” Hekla asked, worried that the woman had forgotten all they had discussed earlier.

  The woman tentatively nodded.

  “Then you know I would never do anything to hurt you, or Luna, or any of the people of Aequoris.”

  The woman nodded again.

  “So please… I am begging you. This man here—he is very important to my sister. She too is fighting for peace among the kingdoms, and if my sister trusts him, indeed, maybe even loves him, then I trust that he is worth saving. He’s been hurt and needs somewhere to stay. Please, Miralee…. Please…. Can you care for him? Just give him somewhere to sleep, where he can be out of the elements. He was brutally attacked and left for dead. I healed him, but he needs rest more than anything to help restore the damage done inside his body.”

  Miralee looked Hekla up and down, and then glanced at the man. She hesitated for a long moment, before she finally opened the door and stepped aside.

  “Fine, he can stay here, but just for today, then I want him gone,” she said coldly.

  Hekla gave her a warm hug. “Thank you, my friend. You won’t regret this, I assure you. I know that anyone my sister had a fondness for is special indeed.”

  “I’m not sure if I’m the special one,” Jakobe said softly. “It would seem to me, that Svana is the one who is special. She has fought every moment to restore Telluris. She is doing her best to bring peace back to the land, but the Tellurian king is not a good man. I know that she fights against herself, for that.”

  Hekla let go of Miralee and turned back to Jakobe. “Yes, I have heard many rumors of the Tellurian king and his evils. Though it seems that our three kings have something in common. They are all evil, and all are not worthy of the thrones they sit upon.”

  “Well, there we have a common agreement,” Jakobe answered.

  “Come inside,” Miralee urged. “I can’t promise much in the way of comfort. However, if my son returns before you’re better, you’ll have to leave.”

  Jakobe nodded. “I promise I will.”

  Miralee motioned for the man to follow her, and she led him to an empty room. A coral with sea sponge was the only furnishings.

  “That’s his bed, you can rest there,” she said, leaving him to get settled.

  When she came out of the room, Hekla offered the most genuine smile she could muster. “Thank you, my friend. I promise you’ll be safe. He’s a good man, I know this because my sister would never care for anyone who wasn’t good. She risked everything for him. She wouldn’t do that for just anyone.”

  “I have no interest in who your sister thinks are good or not, or who she’s risked her life for. I only want Aequoris back to the world I remember.”

  “I understand your apprehension, but Jakobe is Tellurian. Your assistance is the first step toward unity between the two kingdoms. Isn’t that what we wanted? Don’t we want peace amongst us? Despite the kings?”

  Luna bounded out just then and seeing the look of apprehension on her mother’s face, she gave Hekla a quizzical glance.

  “Don’t fret, Luna. A friend of mine is staying here, and he simply needs to rest. Do not fear him,” Hekla grabbed the little girl’s hand, and squatted down. “This man nearly died for my sister, I healed him, but now his body needs sleep. Can you make sure that he does that?”

  Luna nodded her head, happily.

  “Oh yes! And when Hadrian returns, I just know that they will be great friends,” the young girl said excitedly, her sea foam green head bobbing up and down happily.

  Miralee’s apprehension slowly faded, “Yes, I suppose that he and Hadrian will get along well.”

  “Yes,” Hekla agreed. Realizing that Miralee’s fears had more to do with her missing son, than with the man who now had taken residence in her son’s room. “Hadrian will return, and I assure you when he does that Jakobe will be on his way. He only seeks rest for now.”

  Miralee nodded.

  “Fine, do as you must. I will care for him, until my Hadrian returns.”

  “Thank you,” Hekla said, voice full of gratitude. “I leave now to prepare our people to fight.”

  Luna gripped her mother’s legs as Hekla stepped out of the home and the door closed behind her.

  31

  Astrid

  Someone who hides their face is one of two things: a friend, or an enemy. The problem is—the only way to tell which is true, is not to reveal their face… but their heart.

  Ugiotti, The Eternal, Fourth Dragon Elder, Fifth Age of Verdil

  After Astrid told them everything, she knew about sword fighting, she paired them up with one another.

  “All right, for those of you with swords, I need you to part your feet a bit, and steady yourself. You need to work on your battle stance, and grip. If you don’t hold your sword the right way, an enemy can knock it from your grasp, which won’t turn out well for you. For those of you with bows, walk toward the woods, and find a tree to practice loosing your arrows on—far away from your Caelestan brothers.”

  The hooded man remained with his head down, moving with the others and doing as he was told. She was put off that he kept himself hidden but assured herself that she would meet him soon enough.

  “You two, swords up!” Astrid guided them, ordering one to strike and the other to parry so that she could examine their formation and moves.

  They fought against one another, striking and parrying; their feet moving in a battle dance as they practiced. It wasn’t pretty, and much of it would be ineffective against a real enemy, but she planned to remedy that. Each Caelestan would need one on one training, and Astrid would need the patience needed to accomplish such a task. She went down the line with each of them, and when she reached the hooded man, she struggled to see his face.

  “Good sir, if you are to fight, you cannot have your face hidden from sight.” Astrid grew agitated that he refused to allow anyone to see his face.

  “I do not wish to reveal my identity
.” His voice came out low, nearly a whisper, and a little familiar.

  “Sir, if you are going to battle alongside us, you must remove your hood.”

  The man stood tall; his face still covered from the shadow of the velvet draped over his head.

  “You still refuse to remove your hood?” She asked.

  By then, many Caelestans had banded around them.

  “Remove it for him,” one called out.

  “I agree, remove it for him,” Aldrir growled, standing behind her, irritation heavy in his voice.

  “I beg of you—please don’t,” the man said, his voice still low.

  “Just what secret do you have to hide?” she asked angrily, frustration getting the best of her, she jumped forward quickly, knocking his hood off.

  Astrid’s eyes grew wide and she recoiled in shock. She recognized this man. For one, he wasn’t a Caelestan, but a Tellurian. She’d already suspected that much, as he kept himself hidden, and when he saved her, he hadn’t fled, but ran to catch the knife. But he was not just any Tellurian—he was one she’d come across more than once. Her nose wrinkled in agitation. And he was one who annoyed her.

  “You!” she yelled. Her hand flew up, slamming hard against his cheek.

  The slap echoed through the air, and every Caelestan in sight held their breath. Astrid didn’t utter a word. She turned her back to him, and stormed away, her elegant green hair trailing like a veil behind her.

  “Astrid, please, wait.” Cayden’s voice called after her, but she refused to turn and face him.

  The Caelestan’s stared after them in shock—no one daring to move a muscle.

  “Astrid, do you want me to have him removed?” Aldrir hurried to her side, his face contorted in an angry scowl.

  “No, just stand down, Aldrir. I’ll deal with him,” she said. “Continue practicing, all of you. This doesn’t concern Caelestis, I assure you.”

  She stuck her nose in the air, walking farther away from them, trying to keep their conversation private. Astrid heard soft pleas of protest, but she didn’t dare turn to address them for fear of her anger getting away from her again.

  “All right, princess. Care to tell me what that was all about?” Cayden called after her.

  Astrid didn’t answer. She kept walking. After a pause, he chased after her. When she had reached the opposite end of the woods, and far away from those who practiced with their bows and earshot of the sky people, she turned to face him, a snarl plastered across her face.

  “How dare you!” she yelled.

  “How dare I what?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Cayden, you can’t just keep showing up in my life doing as you please. Why did you save me?” she said angrily.

  “Astrid, you needed saving. What was I supposed to do? Let that dagger slice you through your heart?” He countered her question.

  “Oh, really? So, what are you saying? Since I’m a woman, I’m incompetent of taking care of myself?”

  “That dagger was aimed straight for your heart.”

  “And I’ll aim my arrow straight for that arrogant mouth of yours if you don’t believe I can take care of myself.”

  “Why are you so defensive? I saved you, most people,” he paused. “I agree not all… would say that merits a thank you.” Cayden’s eyes twinkled and a mischievous grin played at the corner of his mouth.

  “Fine, if that’s what you want, thank you,” she said indignantly before turning her back to him.

  “What has gotten into you? I thought we were friends?” he said, softening his tone.

  “Friends? Well, I’m sorry I led you on.” Astrid’s tone remained uncaring, undisturbed by his plea, even if on the inside her heart had sped up at seeing him again.

  It wasn’t Cayden himself who had her heart speed up—at least that’s what she told herself. It wasn’t his hickory eyes or the comforting shadows of hair on his well-chiseled jawline. Those she barely thought of—until just now. She shook her head, dismissing such thoughts. No, what really bothered her was all the lies he gave her. She’d met him in the beginning of her journey and had even contemplated allowing him to journey with her—before she came to her senses. But, when she saw him again, he’d taken another persona, and now she didn’t know who he was, or if he’d lied about both of his faces.

  “Astrid, you still sound like the woman I met that day back on the mountain. The woman who’d never met another living soul besides her family. You were so angry and untrusting then. I see not much has changed.”

  “And I see you’re still the little boy that I met,” she growled. “The only difference is, it seems you’ve forgotten how to care for yourself. Tell me, Cayden, is it your newfound archery skills that have prevented you from shaving?” she asked.

  “Newfound? I’ve always been a good archer, probably better than you,” he teased her.

  Astrid assumed his comment was to get a reaction from her. She would not give him the satisfaction. Or, perhaps she would entertain him… a little anyway.

  “Ha, I highly doubt that.” Though she refused to react more to his playful banter, even if she found herself swimming in the intensity of his gaze, she still had many questions she wanted answered. “So, tell me, Cayden… what are you doing here? What is your real name? Is it Cayden, the man I met on the mountain? Or Jaques, the pretend archer I met right before the Tellurians called me out for being a witch. And who’s side are you on?”

  “Well,” he said, not answering her.

  “You saved my life, but you won’t tell me your real name? How do I know if I can trust you? So, tell me, are you a former captain of the Tellurian army, Cayden? Or are you just a lowly archer named Jaques?”

  His eyes swirled with so many emotions she had yet to experience, and she had to look away. She feared his response, wondering if he was any of those things, or someone else entirely. Who am I kidding, he could be the king himself, and I would still probably not trust him?

  “Does it truly matter who I am?” All playful banter aside, he looked her deeply in the eyes. “I mean, really?”

  “Cayden, Jaques… whoever, or whatever you are. I need to know if I can trust you.” Astrid turned back to face him, taking several steps closer until she stood just mere inches apart from his face. She studied his expression and wondered who the real man laying beneath the surface was. His face flickered with something unrecognizable.

  “Can I trust you?” she asked again.

  “What do you want from me exactly?” Cayden responded.

  “I want to help restore Caelestis to its former glory. I want the kingdoms to unite once more, and I want peace to spread across the land. The way the Unseen Ones would have it, the way Palladin the Great has asked of us. If that’s going to happen, then I need to know that I can trust you completely. I need you to put your arrogance aside and tell me the truth.”

  The two of them stared at each other, barely moving or breathing.

  “You’re going to have to come clean with me, Cayden,” she pushed him. “I need the truth, all of it. Otherwise, this ends here. You leave me, and never return.”

  For a moment, she saw Aronus’s temper flaring against her. His fists clenched, and his cheeks turned red. After a moment, he took a deep breath and sighed. He leaned against a tree.

  “All right, Astrid, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

  32

  Svana

  If a stranger gives you chills, you need to do one of two things: watch your heart or watch your back. At times, both will be necessary.

  Nuldronian, The Protector, Fifth Dragon Elder, Sixth Age of Verdil

  “Don’t worry, Svana, you’ll be back here in no time,” Percival assured her, trying to comfort her.

  Svana frowned. She knew the man noticed her continuously glancing over her shoulder.

  “I know, but it could never be soon enough,” Svana admitted.

  The waves had picked up strength and slammed hard against the side of the boat, causing all
of them to sway back and forth and struggle to stay upright. Dizziness and nausea came over Svana.

  “I hate water. I can’t wait until we are back on land,” she mumbled softly, irritated that her duty was to the king.

  She wished she could stay with Jakobe.

  “What will you do when you return to land?” Dorian asked, irritating her further.

  “Not that it matters, but I’ll be returning to the castle. I’ve unfinished business with the king.” Svana turned her attention to the sea once more. Her arms folded tightly across her chest.

  “Svana, are you all right?” Percival asked, his eyes creased slightly. “You seem… angry?”

  Why did he see right through her? That was annoying.

  “I’m fine, Percival. I just hate that I’m leaving Aequoris behind. My sister needs me,” she said, dancing around the real issue.

  “I promise you that Jakobe will be fine. I know Hekla will see that he’s taken care of. When it’s time to return to him, I assure you that neither Dorian nor I, will allow him to work too hard, or do too much, until he’s fully healed.”

  “If you insist on butting into my business, then I assure you, my worries are not just for Jakobe’s stubbornness, because we both know he will do whatever he pleases. My worries are for what will happen when the king awakens.” Svana paused, turning to face him, even though Percival’s attention was focused on the bow of the boat as approached land. “How will I stop the inevitable war that is at hand?”

  “You just said that you have unfinished business with the king?” Dorian’s eager face watched her eyes.

  “Yes, Dorian. I wish to speak with him about the war, and the alliances we created. All I want is for all of this to be dealt with in a peaceful manner. The problem is, I don’t see King Armand as being a man of peace.”

  “And you would be right,” Percival said. “Whatever you choose to do, be safe, Svana. Eloise and I have grown terribly fond of you, as has Jakobe. Take care of yourself.” He rowed the boat the rest of the way into shore.