Dragon Bow

by Angelique Anderson

  “I’m so sorry, I suppose it’s none of my business.” She took a deep breath. “What can you tell me of the Advisor?”

  It was Tristan’s turn to think back and remember. He adjusted his position on the bed again, groaning as he did so, his face wincing. Clearly, he was still in pain and Svana hoped that the aquaberries would be enough to help heal whatever was wrong inside of him.

  “Well, the advisor has been here since shortly after Armand took the throne, by shortly, I mean at least seven years or so.”

  Svana nodded, pacing the room again, hand drawn to her sword out of fear of being attacked, though she wasn’t sure why.

  “Interesting,” she said, “how long has the king been this way… dark, I mean?”

  “Well, shortly after his advisor was hired,” Tristan said, clueless as to what Svana was trying to get at with her questions.

  Svana’s head tilted, it was too obvious and too easy. “So, the king has been corrupted for as long as his advisor has been around?”

  Tristan’s mouth turned down in a scowl. “For nearly as long, the king was fine for a while. It only happened gradually. I thought it had to do with the pressures of the kingdom, and sadly, I would have continued to think that, had it not been for what happened on the battlefield days ago. I’ve never seen King Armand treat Emmeline so poorly. He always adored her. He’s always treated her like a daughter.”

  “Until the battlefield?” Svana asked, more convinced that her train of thought was correct.

  “Yes, until then,” Tristan admitted.

  “Nothing is for certain, but the timing is just a bit to coincidental,” she said out loud, watching Tristan’s face for his reaction.

  He remained stoic for a moment, before she spoke again. “I mean, you said yourself all was well until the advisor came on board?”

  Tristan nodded.

  “You’re aware of the rumors of a wicked wizard who resides in the tall tower, having control over the king?”

  Tristan’s eyes went wide at her question, and he looked down at his lap. She walked closer to the bed and repeated the question. “You’re aware that many Tellurians believe that a wicked wizard has somehow taken control of the King, and indeed influences him?”

  “Svana, I never put it together…” His face had slowly paled over the course of the conversation. His eyes lighting with the sudden realization of the truth.

  “I don’t think anyone would, and I’m not certain of it. It’s just an idea… but the timing, and the increasing darkness. It makes sense don’t you think?”

  He nodded his head.

  “Anyway, don’t say a word. I need to do some more poking around. You know we don’t know anything for sure.”

  He nodded again, speechless at the turn of events.

  “Thank you, Tristan. You’ve helped me considerably. Now, please try to rest, and keep this to yourself. I’ll do my best to find out what I can. I will make this right.”

  Svana left the room, quietly closing the heavy door behind her. She had her confirmation, now she just needed to figure out how to follow the eerie man. Svana needed to be able to watch him and see what he was up to. That was the only way she would know for sure.

  She felt a gentle humming at her hip and noticed the glowing handle of her sword.

  Be cautious and aware, Svana. I believe I can feel magic surrounding that man. And it is heavy. I cannot penetrate it, and that means that the closer you get, the more danger you are in.

  Svana took a quick glance around to make sure there was no one who could hear her. “Don’t worry, Lingaria. I’ll take the utmost precaution,” she whispered, making her way back upstairs to the king’s chamber.

  36

  Hekla

  For the inexperienced, it is hard to gain confidence. Often, fear that they’re not good enough overwhelms them. Sometimes, all it takes is a small victory to show them they can do it and gain them enough experience for the confidence to face the next task.

  Palladin, The Great, Ninth Dragon Elder, Tenth Age of Verdil

  Worried the king was chasing after her, Hekla didn’t dare look back. She could feel the hate boiling from him the moment she asked about the queen, and she wanted nothing to do with it, nor did she want to be within striking distance if he suddenly decided that he was out for blood. When she reached the Aequorans, they were deep into practicing for battle. Paired one against the other, Jetevius and Ecthelion worked together to show them the proper way to hold a weapon.

  “Well, that answers that,” she called out as she approached, not slowing until she was upon them, and could settle her feet into the ground.

  “What? What happened?” Ecthelion’s sea-green face creased slightly as he watched her move closer to them.

  “I just saw the king.”

  Both Aequoran men looked surprised.

  “He didn’t come after you?” Jetevius asked, surprised.

  “No, he threatened me though. I think we need to move to the surface.”

  Jetevius seemed put off by her request and shook his head. “Why would we move to the surface?”

  “Because, Jetevius, the King may be evil, but our loyalty is to him and the kingdom of Aequoris. Not to mention, it is an entirely different thing to fight underwater, than it is to fight on land. The soldiers know that. We lost people in the last battle, and if there is another, I don’t want to lose anyone.”

  “Hekla, you know that’s unreasonable,” he pressed back.

  “It may be unreasonable, but it is a goal I must aim for. We need to teach these people to fight on land, in the dry air, without the water pressing back against their blows.”

  Ecthelion nodded his head in agreement. “She’s right. Most of them—” He motioned to the Aequorans practicing nearby. “Have never fought at all, much less on land. I say we take them and stay close to the shore.”

  “Fine.” Jetevius crossed his arms in frustration. “But if something happens to them…”

  “They are my people too, why would I let something happen to them? I’m going to protect them the best that I can,” she protested. Then she turned to the people and yelled to get their attention.

  “My people, my friends, let us take this to the surface!”

  They looked up at her, their pale green faces turned to watch, forest green eyes trained on her movements. When she told them, they were going to the surface, they began talking to one another.

  “Don’t be worried, my friends. I will watch over you, and Jetevius and Ecthelion will be there as well. You must practice battling on land, because it is entirely different than being in water. If you’re not comfortable being on land, it is not required, but I want to make sure that you are equipped the best of your ability. We do not know what the future holds.” She looked to each one of them before turning to begin swimming away to the shore.

  Most exchanged glances with one another, but after seeing Jetevius and Ecthelion swimming after Hekla, they decided to join them. With near simultaneous movements, they lay their swords to rest, sliding them into their scabbards or holding their weapon taut as they swam up and away from the city of Aequoris.

  Most had never left their kingdom before, while the soldiers already knew what was to come as they had fought alongside Hekla. She swam quickly with steady movements as she led them closer to the shore, and once they could stand, she arose out of the water.

  “Ceasum,” she said loud and clear, and the bubble around her dissipated, its magic returning to the form of her staff, with the orb glowing brightly at the top.

  Soft gasps emerged from those who had seen what she did, and she turned to face them.

  “Continue practicing my friends, we will be here to guide you,” Hekla said.

  They moved around awkwardly practicing against each other, swords clanging as they struggled to get their balance in a waterless atmosphere. The soldiers who had fought and lived during battle were obvious, as they walked steadfastly, the echoing of their weapons piercing the air.


  As they fought, she, Ecthelion, and Jetevius walked among them, like wise old sages guiding their steps and showing them how to strike. As the sun faded into the horizon, and the sweat glistened on their brow, she could see the effect the air had on their bodies.

  “All right let’s take a moment of rest. Return to the sea for a moment if you need to and get something to eat.”

  They mumbled appreciatively, placing their swords at their sides or in their scabbards.

  “Well, well, well… look what we have here?” An angry man, tall as an oak and wide as a house ambled from the tree line onto the shore. “A bunch of fish food,” he said with a sneer.

  Hekla studied the Aequorans, some who had begun to retreat in fear.

  “Hold your ground, my people,” she yelled, holding her scepter upright as she turned to face the intruder. “What do you want? You have no business here.”

  “I’d say we have plenty of business here.” Behind him, several other men appeared, their faces set with grim scowls, eyes squinted at her and tongues licking their lips as if they hadn’t eaten for days and she was a main course.

  “I’d say you don’t,” Jetevius stepped behind her, withdrawing his sword.

  “Oh ho, ho, ho,” the man laughed, his great wide stomach rumbling with his mocking laughter. “Look at the little fish-boy who is too big for his britches.”

  “Ya think she has anything to do with those other two funny looking females?” A rag-tag man to the left, with stringy black hair and an out of control beard asked.

  “I don’t know, let’s ask. You got somethin’ to do with that red and green girl?”

  Hekla nodded her head. Her teeth clenched as she thought about her sisters.

  “Oh goody, then this should be fun,” the first man prodded, advancing on her.

  As he advanced, the men behind him joined ranks and unsheathed their swords.

  Jetevius and Ecthelion stayed closed to Hekla, and like a pack of wolves, they braced themselves for the battle to come.

  The head bandit let out a war cry, and barreled for Hekla, grinning evilly with his sword raised high in the air. Hekla withheld using magic for her first attack, but with practiced elegance, she wielded her scepter as if it were her dancing partner and they whirled around the beach, her facing the brute of a man one on one.

  Meanwhile, Jetevius and Ecthelion had been tasked with fighting all the others while the majority of the Aequorans had retreated to the water. They were too weak, and too afraid to fight. Some of the soldiers, dipped themselves in the water, then hurried to the men’s side to help aid against the brutes who now sought recompense against them for no reason.

  “I’ll kill you, girl!” the man yelled at Hekla, eyes blazing with fury.

  “Good, I could use a challenge,” she teased him. “Pickings are a little slim underwater, seeing as how you don’t have the guts to meet the Aequorans on their land.”

  She lifted her scepter high and horizontally, deflecting the blade of his sword. He brought it down, and she deflected again.

  “Where’d ya learn to fight, the whole lot of you… fight just a little too good for a bunch of rainbow women.”

  “Oh, you know. You do a little one on one combat enough, with enough dirt bags, and you pick a few things up,” she said, jumping backwards and to the right to escape his attacks.

  “Well, I guess you just haven’t met enough gentlemen,” he teased her through dirty, jagged teeth.

  “And you haven’t had a mother to care for you, have you?” she asked, jabbing forward with the tip of her staff, the large orb hitting him hard in the stomach. He groaned loudly and tumbled back onto his bottom.

  Easy with that, Hekla. It’s not unbreakable, Speltus warned.

  Sorry, Speltus. I’m just trying to avoid using my magic.

  And why? These are the men who went after Svana, and nearly killed Jakobe. Don’t allow them the privilege of escaping unscathed again.

  That bit of information was a battle changer. She searched her memories for something that would take care of the man, and maybe offer a warning to his comrades who were hard at battle with Jetevius, Ecthelion and the other Aequorans. She glanced around and realized none of the Aequorans had come to her aid. Perhaps they trusted that she could handle herself, and she could.

  Magic was a better companion than a non-soldier who didn’t know how to fight.

  “Ah, I know what will work for you! Pyrem Orbium!” she yelled loudly, and the fiery orb appeared in the air. She pulled her scepter back to herself then imitated throwing it directly at him. The orb spiraled through the air like an angry force of nature. It smacked the lumbering man smack in the center of his chest, igniting his clothes on fire. He tumbled back, yelling louder and louder all while the small battle that had begun between his men and the Aequorans stopped abruptly. They were all staring at his antics, frozen, not knowing what to do.

  Out of fear and because he was on fire, the man ran toward the water, and threw himself into the carefree waves, extinguishing the flames on his clothing and chest.

  He emerged from the water, burn marks on his face, and anger in his eyes.

  “Witch! I should have known!” He raised his sword, as if he were going to charge her, but thinking better of it, he put it down. “Come on men, we’ve better things to do. We’ve a war to fight,” he said with a snarl before starting to march away.

  The men who followed him, looked bewildered, but retracted their weapons and hurried along after him.

  As they vanished into the tree line, the whole group of Aequorans soldiers and commoners alike began guffawing loudly.

  “Did you see how fast he ran off?” one of the Aequorans asked.

  “If that’s what we’re up against, I think we’re fine,” Jetevius laughed.

  “What a coward,” Ecthelion said with a nod of his head.

  Hekla laughed, holding her scepter tight, her face brilliantly lit with the knowledge of her win.

  Thank you, Speltus, for the power to do such things.

  It’s my pleasure, soon to be queen, he said, and Hekla was sure she could hear the hint of a smile in his voice.

  37

  Astrid

  It is often said it is not yet time for matters of the heart. The question is, when will there be time? Will there be time after the two of you have died? Or will you still be waiting?

  Voadria, The Life Giver, First Dragon Elder, Second Age of Verdil

  Say something, Astrid. You look like a fool with your mouth hanging open like that, she thought to herself.

  Only she couldn’t. She had only known the love and care of her sisters, of Melifera and what she felt now was something else entirely.

  “Astrid?” Cayden spoke, his voice low as he took a step toward her.

  “Please, don’t. I can’t… I’m not…” She couldn’t put a sentence together. “Cayden, I appreciate that you care for me, but I can’t do anything about that now. And I barely know you. You have to understand that.”

  His lips pressed together tight and he took a step away from her. “I understand.”

  Astrid got the feeling that he wanted to run from her, or perhaps it was the feeling that she wanted to run from him.

  “It’s not the right time,” she whispered.

  “Not the right time?” he muttered through clenched teeth.

  His face reddened, and Astrid felt overwhelmed with the thought of making him angry. What if he left?

  “Cayden, I’m not saying it won’t ever be the right time. I needed you to be honest, so I could trust you, because what is to come is not going to be pretty. Let’s get through that first, and if we’re both still standing then maybe we can talk about this more. I just can’t do it right now, and that’s going to have to be enough for you,” she finished.

  He stood silent for a long time, watching her face, and she met his eyes with sincerity. Unable to put together anymore words. How did I get myself in this predicament? She wondered. Her heart skipping u
nder the intensity of his gaze. It was unlike anything she had felt before, but the fire of battle burned brightly within her and she knew that was priority. The Caelestans, were priority. And who was he to come to her confessing feelings when they barely knew each other? She spent barely a day with him in the beginning of their journey, then she didn’t see him until she reached the Caelestans, but at that time he’d been pretending to be someone else and they hadn’t talked. And now that he was back, he wanted to drop a load on her that he had feelings for her? No, that simply wouldn’t do. She didn’t know him. He didn’t know her.

  “So, what do we do next then? If I’ve earned your trust, told you how I feel… what do we do now?” He seemed put off by her lack of emotion.

  Astrid shrugged her elegant shoulders apologetically, just as a Caelestan guard ran toward them.

  “Astrid of the bow! Astrid of the bow!” His tall, lithe body seemed awkward running toward her at high speed. She wondered if something had happened in Caelestis.

  “Yes, sir guard, what is the problem?” Her emerald hair flowed carelessly behind her; she smiled her greeting to him.

  “The king demands an audience with you, at once.” The man was out of breath, which she thought odd considering their ability to fly, and their light-footed gait.

  “I’m sorry, did you say that his majesty wants to see me?” Astrid was baffled beyond measure considering how hard she had fought to meet with him in the past. She’d only seen him once, when she’d demanded to see him if they wanted to make her the captain of their soldiers. But ever since then, they’d kept her from him. She didn’t know if it was the king himself who didn’t want to see her after that, or if it were someone else trying to keep her away. Now, suddenly he wants to meet with me again?

  Her eyebrows slanted a little, and she watched the guard intensely.

  “Yes, miss, he does.”

  “Is everything all right?”