“No, miss. I’ve only come to find how the king is doing. I heard he’d been injured,” Astrid lied.
“Well, he’s well enough to know when someone is trying to kill him, just like that she-devil tried to do,” the woman continued.
“Good, I’m so glad to hear he’s recovering. The kingdom needs its king.” Astrid tried to steer the topic away from the subject of her sister.
Dang it, Aronus, where are you? And Hekla! I need to find my sisters. Please let them be safe.
Astrid turned away from them, hurrying back to camp. It was time to gather her men. They would march on Telluris, now. Rather than tomorrow, as she had originally planned. She couldn’t take any risks with her sisters lives on the line.
“Men, let’s go. We’re marching. There is no time to waste!” Amidst their yelling, their groaning started, and they ambled around their camp, pulling on boots, pants, and various pieces of armor.
“What’s going, Astrid?” Aronus appeared before her, flapping lazily about as if he’d been there all along.
“Aronus! You’re back! Tell me, any word of where my sister is? Were you able to send a warning?” She said, tightening the laces on her green leather boots.
“Yes, your sister is in hiding, but we’ll see her soon. I have sent warning to Lingaria and Speltus. Lingaria is keeping Svana safe, as is his duty. Speltus stays eagerly near Hekla, but she is dealing with a situation before she can return to the surface.”
Astrid nodded. “Thank you, Aronus. Are you ready to battle?”
“I suppose if it is necessary to do so, I will be ready. Just as I always am,” he reassured her.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
Fear wrapped itself around her. She knew that the time to take over the kingdoms was approaching sooner than any of them had planned for. What would become of her sisters if they had to kill the kings and take over the kingdoms of Verdil? Was one of them ready for such a thing?
Even Astrid, as responsible as she was, as prepared as she had been for this journey in the beginning, had learned that in reality—she knew nothing.
Cayden’s handsome face presented itself before her. “Astrid, is everything all right?”
Astrid gave Aronus an angry glare as he continued to hover nearby. He took the hint, and in a wisp of green magical energy, disappearing completely. Even though she knew that he always kept himself cloaked in the presence of mere mortals.
“I’m fine, Cayden, I’ve just realized we’ve no time to waste. My sister’s lives are in danger. The lives of all the people in Verdil are in danger. King Armand is alive and well, and his first order was to have my sister, Svana, killed. I fear for her. We can no longer wait until tomorrow; we must march today.”
Cayden nodded his head, stepping closer to her. “I understand, I am by your side, just as I said I would be. We will fight together.”
47
Svana
When the darkness is deep, sometimes even light can’t shine through. The only thing that can overcome so much darkness, is love. Love’s light is brighter than any star.
Airlyoth, The Warrior, Second Dragon Elder, Third Age of Verdil
Svana’s heart pounded so loudly, it nearly drowned out the speeding footsteps behind her. She didn’t worry about the king’s men catching up to her, merely worried that she would get too far from the castle to be able to get back and reach the advisor’s room.
“Hey! Stop!” A gruff voice yelled, causing her to laugh.
As if she would stop because they told her to. She darted into the small forest that led closer to the mountain and leapt through the bushes and trees like a gazelle escaping its predator. From the grunting and deep breaths behind her, she could tell that the soldiers were struggling to make their way through.
The one truth about Tellurians, was that they were larger and clumsier than the Aequorans or Caelestans. It was one thing that held them back in battle, as Svana had seen. She used it to her advantage in this case, running through the most overgrown areas she could. Their grumbling and coughing grew more faint by the second. Svana didn’t turn back, didn’t look to see how close they were, but continued moving forward through the trees, following the forest back along the base of the mountain.
When their voices had died out, and Svana was convinced she wasn’t being chased anymore, she slowed her pace. Using the tree line as a shield, she made her way back to the castle. Night had begun to fall, working to her advantage.
Svana ducked between the trees, her ears perked to any unwanted sounds. As the land rose and fell, and the trees grew sparser, she knew she would have to expose herself. She could only hope that there would be no one awake and wandering in the dark of night. With her hand on her sword, clutched tightly, she tip-toed quietly across the serene landscape until she was near the castle walls.
The moonlight cast haunting glows over the guards who stood tall, arrows readied as they watched for threats to the kingdom. Svana knew there would be no way to enter the castle grounds from the front, the wild Toveraks they had chained up outside the gates would wake anyone within hearing range. Hurrying, she reached the walls, back against the stone as she slid along the outside of the castle grounds. There had to be an entrance of some sort, somewhere she could sneak in undetected.
“Lingaria, if you know something… now would be a good time to tell me,” she whispered.
Not sure, the only thing I can think of is where the sewage comes out…
“Ugh, is that my only chance?” Svana continued to speak in low tones, hurrying along the outer edge of the castle, making her way around back. The castle had a small river of sewage that flowed from the back, and true to what Lingaria had said, there was what appeared to be a small opening. Going through it, meant she would have to walk through the sludge of excrement that flowed out. Although the opening looked too small for even a child to go through. “There has to be another,” she said to herself, jumping the small river of sewage and following along the back wall. There were barely any guards along the top, as the backside of the Tellurian kingdom was close to the outer edges of Verdil. A place that was deemed to be overrun by wild Toveraks.
What’s your plan once you get to him? He’s a wizard, what if he attacks you? Lingaria cut through her thoughts.
“I don’t know, I just need to get inside and face him. If I can put a stop to him, then maybe the king will return to who he used to be.”
Svana continued to sneak along, speaking in low tones.
If he can do magic, do you not think he will use it to defend himself?
“Yes, I imagine he will. Is there nothing you can do to help protect me?” she asked, stopping where she was.
I can help you, but you know that I am limited. We still do not know where he gets his magic. That is something you must think about going into this. If there is a dragon involved, this could be disastrous for both of us.
“I know,” Svana said, worry overtaking her about what would happen. “Lingaria, I realize I am putting myself in danger. I have to do this.”
Lingaria didn’t argue with her. Svana suspected that he knew it was useless to do so. After a short time wandering along the back wall, they both heard water trickling quietly nearby. Her face lit up, and she hurried toward the sound. Just like the sewage outflow, the small riverway came out of an opening no bigger than what a child could fit through.
“Well, it’s worth a try,” she said, getting on her belly, and crawling into the tiny space. Evenly spaced bars prevented her from being able to squeeze through the hole, but she found that she could turn on her side horizontally and push herself through. Her sword dug into her side, and she had to remove it in order to pull herself between the bars. Sucking in her breath, the metal bars ripped at her skin as she forced her body through.
The water was far from clean, bits of algae clung to her, and her head dipped into its murky depths as she forced her way little by little. When the sound of someone walking nearby scared her, she dipped h
er head under to avoid being seen. Jarred by the cold water swirling around her, and the pressure of the bars pinning her between them, Svana could feel a sense of panic start to overwhelm her.
What if I get caught, then everything I have done will be for nothing? The king will have me killed, and then my sisters and my people will be in danger, her mind raced. Unable to hold her breath anymore, she quietly lifted her head above the surface, still laying horizontally as she waited for the right moment to force herself the rest of the way through. After a few moments, she managed to get herself all the way through, but she remained in the water until she could see her surroundings, including the man who had just passed the area.
When he didn’t return, she grabbed her sword from the bottom of the waterway, and pulled herself up on the ground, trying to see where the waterway came from, but its path ended abruptly. It appeared to be linked to small waterfall that trickled from inside the castle. Svana had no idea what it was used for, but she thought that may have been for the best. Now she had to sneak past the guards into the main hallway and head toward the dark tower. She shivered from the soft breeze that blew against her wet skin and clothing.
Although the peasants, and Tellurian people had gone home, there were still market stands up in the courtyard. Staying low to the ground, she managed to sneak across the yard and steal a thick robe from one of the stands. Pulling the hood over her head, and wrapping the rest of it around her body, she could walk with her head low through the castle grounds without drawing attention to herself. The guards at the castle doors had fallen asleep, and she used that moment to her advantage as she gently pushed open the door, sliding in through the smallest crack possible.
Once inside, she pushed the hood off her head and exhaled deeply. Her heart had been pounding like a thousand racing horses the entire time. Now inside the castle, and close to her destination, she could finally breathe.
This all ends now, she promised herself. Svana ran the length of the hallway until it turned and led to another hallway. She followed it, knowing only that the dark tower was the farthest away. She could run until she reached it. When one hallway circled back on itself, and Svana found herself back where she started, her frustration nearly got the best of her.
“Dang it! Lingaria, I need your help!”
Lingaria appeared in the dark, his wings flapping quietly as he flew in front of her, leading the way through the castle.
“Breathe, Svana, and keep your ears open. My mind is blocked from this part of the castle. Meaning, I can see the layout, but I cannot see what obstacles we may face.”
She nodded, and just as he finished, they neared a winding staircase.
“Great, just what I need. As if fighting him isn’t going to be difficult enough.” She sighed in frustration. The staircase was steep, and Svana found herself having to grip the wall tightly to make her way up. And it was a long, long way to the top.
When she reached the top, another dark hallway awaited her, but the sound of footsteps stopped her from moving forward.
“Svana! How did you get in?” The king immediately withdrew his sword, his blackened eyes watching her with such an intensity, that she could feel the effects of it on her soul.
“Your majesty, I do not wish for harm to come to you. Your advisor… he needs to be dealt with. Don’t you see?” Her voice was earnest.
“You do not know anything! You are a child, and now I will end you once and for all!” His voice was deeper than she had remembered, dripping with an anger so sinister, it chilled her to the core.
He advanced on her, swinging his sword vehemently. Svana fought against him, but now she was convinced that he was not the man she knew. Whoever this was, was being controlled by the dark wizard. She would exhaust every possibility before she killed him. She owed him that.
And unlike last time, she was prepared for his attacks. She knew his style, which was more aggressive than most sword fighters. He stayed on the offensive, and barely ever did any defense. She knew to expect it, and she knew to expect it to come in hard. After her last battle with the king, she also knew that he didn’t tire like he should. Whatever dark magic was feeding him, was seemingly giving him limitless power. Somehow, Svana needed to fight against that—she needed to defeat him.
His sword came low, nearly snapping her ankles in two, but Svana stepped backward, edging her sword up to intercept his next strike, an uppercut. She placed one of her hands against the flat of her blade as she held her sword steady to block his incoming blow. It was so fierce, and so strong, that the vibration from the blow shook her entire body. Her ears began to ring as she stepped back and repositioned her aching hands on the hilt of her sword. She let it guide her as she fought. Svana was an excellent sword fighter, but this was no ordinary sword. This was a dragon sword. And it had power. She remembered being told about magic, and how dragons are magic, and once long ago, it was given to people from dragons, but no more. Except for this mysterious dark wizard. Even though Svana didn’t have magic, though her sister Hekla had been granted it through her dragon, Svana knew magic was inside her sword. The dragon was her sword. Somehow, they became one while in battle, and so, it wasn’t only her swinging her sword, but it was Lingaria. They used the sword simultaneously. Sometimes, Svana felt pressured to move the sword left or right to intercept a blow. At times, it was only a mental pressure, but other types, she could feel her arms being moved by an unknown force, to slightly tweak her stance or her strike, to land the perfect blow. Most of the time, these pressures were slight, and barely noticeable in battles, but not this battle. She could feel Lingaria overworking himself to keep Svana alive. Svana was grateful, but she was also frustrated that she wasn’t good enough—that she needed the help.
She took a deep breath as she defended herself against the king, then she let her reflexes take over. Svana closed her eyes and felt the sword. She smelled the stench of the king lingering in the air, and she could hear his movements. But it was more than that. Even with her eyes closed, she could sense the movements, and knew where to move her sword. She blocked every strike that came her way with much more precision than she had previously. Svana no longer felt the pressure to change her strikes. She knew where to move her weapon. Svana didn’t know if it was her, or Lingaria, or even her sword that guided her, but she let it take control.
You’re finally getting it, Svana, Lingaria said. Your eyes can fool you, but they can also help you. You must use all your senses in order to fight. Smell, taste, touch, hearing, and sight. All of them are important.
And magic, Svana said inside her mind.
She knew what she was doing wouldn’t be possible with those senses alone. There was more to it than that.
And Magic, Lingaria admitted.
Do I have magic? Svana wondered.
Yes, Lingaria said.
Svana’s eyes snapped open. Her arms continued to move in defense, still blocking each blow from the king. His eyes looked at her with fury, like he couldn’t believe she was defending against him without her eyes. However, as soon as she was able to see again, she flinched, her left foot twisting at the ankle, and she fell back slightly. He wasted no time to increase his flurry of strikes. She began to stumble backward, unable to keep up with all his attacks, and the words still echoing in her head. Do I have magic? Yes. What did it mean?
“Uncle! Please stop!” Emmeline came from behind Svana, yelling above the clanging swords.
“Get out of here, Emmeline. I don’t want you to see this,” he growled, pausing his strikes briefly to look at his niece.
How is the king stronger than I am? I have the power of a dragon behind me!
He came after her again, the force of his next blow knocking her back. She lost her balance and fell onto her bottom. Svana raised her blade above her head in defense. The hallway was much narrower than the one in the grand hall where the king’s room was. She didn’t have enough space to maneuver her weapon.
King Armand held his blade like an
upside-down crucifix and Svana knew he meant to drive it into her chest. She took in a deep breath and braced herself. If this was how it was to end, after everything she had fought through over the past few weeks, then she would not fight anymore. Her body and mind were tired of being on an endless wheel that seemed to never reach a destination.
“Uncle! Stop it!” Emmeline screamed. “This woman—she is my friend. Not only is she my friend, but she saved your life. She saved Tristan’s life. Would you take hers?”
Emmeline’s crystalline eyes were filled with tears, and Svana wished that she could reach out to her. The woman was heartbroken at the actions of her uncle, and Svana could still see in her eyes that she believed her uncle could be saved.
“She is no one’s friend! She is an enemy!” The king continued to growl, his voice low and deep.
“And right now, you are mine!” Emmeline cried out. “What happened to the uncle who took me in when I was child? The uncle who saw an orphaned young woman, and cared for me, even though he had a kingdom to run? The uncle who taught me how to be polite and treat people kindly… even when they didn’t deserve it. The uncle who taught me that justice is necessary, but not always warranted. The uncle who spared the lives of thieves and believed that everyone always deserved a second chance?”
King Armand lowered his blade as she spoke, and Svana contemplated attacking him just briefly, except that she could see that Emmeline was getting through to him. His harsh stance had softened, and his eyes lightened—no longer the deep black they had been. He was watching his niece with a growing sense of concern.
“I am not that man anymore,” he said gruffly.
“You are not the father figure who loved me enough to tell me bedtime stories, over and over until you could barely say them because you hated them so much. Yet, you still did the voices, and you still sat on my bed until I was asleep to guarantee that I wouldn’t have nightmares?”
Dragon Bow Page 30
