That memory seemed to reach through the darkness that had overcome him, and the shadow completely left his eyes. Underneath its cloud, soft blue eyes shone through and he smiled tenderly at Emmeline.
“Uncle?” Emmeline teared up again.
Svana took the opportunity to run past the king to search for the advisor who she was convinced was behind the king’s evil alter self. She would kill the man, even if it took the last breath from her body.
48
Hekla
When it comes to friends and family, you will go through much more to make them happy, or to give them a better life. Often when you do, it causes more stress and pain in your own life, but once you see their smile and their gratitude, you realize why you do it. With one smile, it makes it all worth it.
Civeress, The Champion, Third Dragon Elder, Fourth Age of Verdil
Hekla backed out of the throne room with caution, the doors shutting behind her. The look on her face caught the guards’ attention, and one of the guard’s grabbed her shoulder.
“What happened?”
Hekla didn’t trust him. She shook her head, not wanting to say a word, eyes still wide and face paled.
He gripped her shoulder tighter, his sea-green eyes demanding Hekla’s attention.
“Tell me what happened?” he asked once more, but his tone cut through the fear she had been feeling at what had just occurred between she and the king.
“That man in there—he is not the king. I don’t know who he is, but I would not trust him with the kingdom. Now, let me go!” Hekla jerked her shoulder away from the man and took several steps back.
The soldier dropped his hands, casting a despairing look toward the door. He offered no explanation, nor did he try to deny her accusation. “What makes you believe that?”
“I mentioned his treasure, and his eyes glazed over… he started talking strange. Like he was someone different completely.” Hekla hated that she didn’t have her scepter, or Speltus. She wanted both with her in that moment and feared she would require them in order to find Jakobe and free him.
“Hekla, you mustn’t tell a single soul what you have witnessed. We know he isn’t well, but Aequoris needs its king. We simply are not strong enough to govern ourselves at the moment, and the kingdoms being at unrest doesn’t help the situation.”
“Do you know what’s wrong with King Renault? Is there something I can do to help him? If he is ill, is there not an herb, or a wealth of items in Aequoris that could help save him?” she asked, knowing that if the king continued down his path, he could prove to be harmful to all the people of Aequoris.
The soldier shook his head. “I wish there was something… I just don’t know. He’s been like this for quite some time now I’ve been told, starting with either just before or just after the death of the queen.”
That sent Hekla’s mind reeling. There had to be a link somewhere, perhaps he had eaten something that slowly poisoned him? She knew that was a stretch, but she had to consider all possibilities. Perhaps being king had gone to his head? Lesser men had been known to be poisoned by power.
“I will do what I can to help him, but you have to tell me anything you know,” she said solemnly.
“If I knew anything else, I would tell you. Just promise you will not alert the Aequorans? It could cause a panic, and more unrest within the kingdom.”
“I won’t say a word,” she promised, “but in return, I need your help.”
“Anything,” he responded.
“There was a man, a large man.” She took a deep breath. “Dark hair, brown eyes… he’d been injured. I had a friend caring for him above in the floating cities. Do you know what has become of him?”
The soldier’s eyes looked to the ground, and she knew that he must have had something to do with the transport of Jakobe, or at the least—seen it.
“The king has ordered his death, first thing in the morning.”
“Why is he waiting? And why does he want him dead?” Her hands on her hips, her sapphire eyes searching his face for any sign of an untruth.
“The king hates Tellurians. He swears that they are all after his treasure. The moment he heard that man was being treated by one of our own, he set out to make sure the man never left.”
“That man is a good man, if something happens to him, my sister will be distraught. Please tell me where I can find him!” she pleaded.
“I can’t say a word, otherwise the king will have my head.” The guard looked away from her, guilt in his eyes.
Rushing forward, she grabbed his shoulders, shaking him gently.
“Please… this man is important. He can’t die, I can’t let him die. I will take the fall, just please tell me where he’s gone.”
Both soldiers looked worried, and Hekla knew she was putting both their lives in danger. She didn’t care, she knew that if she didn’t get Jakobe safe, and he died… it would break Svana’s heart. And then all their lives might be in danger with either Svana’s wrath or sorrow.
“Fine, but once I tell you…” He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. “I’m giving you the key, you get him out of here and if the king asks how the prisoner escaped, I’m telling him that you overpowered me and stole the key. Understand?”
Hekla nodded, and he unlinked a large circle of keys that hooked to his belt. Rifling through the aged brass he found the ones he was looking for and placed them in her hand.
“Here, he’s in the dungeons, the same place where you were once held. This one is to his jail cell, and the other key is to the orb that houses him. Get him out of here, and don’t get caught. If you do… remember, I had nothing to do with it,” the soldier warned.
“The dungeons? I thought they had been destroyed?” Hekla couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice.
“Was that you? Are you the one that destroyed our jail?”
She nodded, remembering how her anger had very nearly brought great harm to Luna. She thanked the Unseen Ones that the little girl was safe.
“Unfortunately, yes,” she answered, worried that he would be angry enough about it to tell the king. Only he didn’t say a word about it.
“Well, I’m not sure how you managed that, but they’re back to normal.”
“How is that possible?”
“I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head.
“It’s almost like magic,” he said as an afterthought, and the innocent remark sent a chill down Hekla’s spine.
It was magical indeed if the entire dungeon full of jail cells had been rebuilt, but Hekla had no time to think about it. She nodded her head and smiled her gratitude to the guard. “Thank you so much, you won’t regret this. I promise as soon as the man is safe, I will find a way to help the king.”
She hurried from sight, rushing to the dungeon. The dark hallway, the barred cells, and everything else had been restored to its previous condition as if she had never been down there. As if her magic had never brought the entire jail down around them. If Hekla had not been so worried about finding Jakobe, and ensuring that his life wasn’t in danger, the whole thing would have given her reason to pause and try to figure out how such a thing had occurred.
Speltus? She said in her mind, wondering if he knew anything of the situation.
It is curious, he replied.
Neither of them wanted to address their suspicion that magic had been involved, as it would dredge up a whole other slew of issues.
I can’t go there right now, Speltus. She warned him, fervently searching the jail cells for the orb like what the guard had told her about. Only, all the cells were empty.
“Jakobe?” she yelled out, wondering if he could even hear her, or respond. What if the king’s men had hurt him more? What if he was bleeding to death? Hekla heard a muffled noise coming from far off and followed the sound to the very last cell at the end of the long hallway. She was thankful she couldn’t smell the jail, as the algae encrusted bars, old chains hanging from the walls, and uneven dirt walls and pathways
gave her the distinct impression of a stench that would burn nostril hairs if she were not underwater.
Speltus had granted her a small favor in that she couldn’t smell the water world inside her bubble.
“Jakobe?” she peered through the bars, noticing the odd orbed contraption. She had never seen its likeness and wondered how it created air, a fact which she would have to explore later. Using the key given to her by the guard, she opened the cell lock, and then hurried into the chamber. The device was on wheels, and she found it relatively easy to wheel it out into the walkway of the dungeon. How she would get it out of the castle, and then get it to the surface so that she could free Jakobe, she had no idea.
“One step at a time, I guess,” she muttered.
Wheeling him out, she asked. “Do you know how to get this thing to the surface?”
Jakobe lifted his chained hands, and Hekla realized that was something else she would have to deal with soon enough. She hated that he couldn’t hear her well from inside the device, and vice versa.
Speltus, can you help me?
Hekla, look inside yourself… remember everything I’ve taught you. Is there not a single spell you could do? Or that you remember that could help you get him to the surface? His voice, even in her mind, sounded defensive, irritated.
Sorry, Hekla responded back, I wasn’t thinking.
“Wavium Aquum Purum Limitum,” she said, and as she spoke the words, small waves erupted around her, pushing the orb down the hallway with increasing momentum. Using her hands to direct the magic that moved the orb, she concentrated on lifting it up off the ground.
“Expandum!” she yelled, and the waves grew, pushing the orb faster and faster, Hekla swimming quickly behind it as they moved from the dungeon and throughout the castle.
“Limitum!” she yelled, once they were clear of the jail, not wanting to create a lot of noise and waves and draw attention to herself. It was fortunate that most of the the king’s men had come with her to learn to battle, and therefore they were nowhere around to battle her at that moment.
She managed to get Jakobe outside, and from there used the waves created by magic to push him to the surface, and toward the shore. Hekla moved through the water as if part Aequoran herself, pushing the waves forward until Jakobe’s orb erupted above the surface and she could follow. “Ceasum!” she yelled after it, emerging from the water, her oxygen orb disappearing as her staff found its way into her hand.
Jakobe’s orb rolled to a stop not far off, and she chased after it, fearful for his health. She pulled it upright, and unlocked the chamber—freeing the man inside, who crawled out and fell onto the sandy ground, too weak to stand upright. Using her scepter, she waved it over his chains, and they fell off. Then she waved it over his body.
“Ehealium,” she whispered softly, her wand moving back and forth over his tired form.
They had arrived at a part of the shore, undisturbed by Tellurians, but Hekla knew that Jetevius and Ecthelion were awaiting her arrival. She had to have misjudged their location, as they were not within eyesight.
No matter, I will get Jakobe well, and then take him to meet them.
Hekla, we have other matters to deal with as well, Speltus warned her.
Great, what now? she thought.
It’s your sister, Svana. A great evil is afoot. She has learned the reason behind why the King of Telluris has wanted war between the kingdoms.
Why is that? Hekla pushed, kneeling next to Jakobe as she had the inner monologue with her dragon. She checked the man’s pulse, which was strong and steady. His temperature was even as well, and his coloring seemed normal.
Well, it seems that there is a dark wizard controlling the king, and Hekla, my dear… Svana needs your help.
So, I must return to Telluris?
Yes, Hekla, I’m afraid you must. The Aequorans are in good hands. Jetevius and Ecthelion will show them all they need to know, but you must go. Get to your sister before it’s too late.
Hekla cast a longing look at Jakobe, worried for his well-being, and wondering what she would do with him in the long run. She needed more time. There was too much left undone.
49
Astrid
A true man will stop at nothing to protect a woman, whether it be his wife, his mother, or his sister, he will be there, standing in front of danger—doing his duty to protect. Should a wife, mother, and sister not do the same?
Ugiotti, The Eternal, Fourth Dragon Elder, Fifth Age of Verdil
Astrid took a deep breath and ran over all the things she needed to accomplish. Cayden said he would fight by her side, but she really wondered if she could count on him. He’d lied about many things, and she wondered if he also lied about his feelings for her. Would he abandon her as she abandoned him? Or would he stay with her, no matter what. She looked over the Caelestans. They were fully prepared to fight, but she still worried over their skill. She didn’t have enough time to train them properly. They would require years of training, but she simply didn’t have the time. A few of them did have skills, but most of them were mediocre at best, and she hoped the vast numbers of them would be a deciding factor in a battle. They began their trek to Telluris—to the castle, and they would fight whoever dared challenge them.
“No matter what happens this day—we fight together. The Tellurians are not our enemy, but today… everyone is. However, we must fight honorably. We do not march on Telluris to kill any who cross our path. We march on Telluris to put a stop to the death that will inevitably come with King Armand’s orders. He cares for only himself. His wishes are to expand his kingdom, and his wealth. A man so selfish cannot be trusted when going into battle.”
“What of the Aequorans, do we fight alongside them as we did before? Or do we fight against them?” Cayden asked, his lips scrunching together.
“If they appear, we fight alongside them. They are not the enemy. Nor are the Tellurians for that matter, but King Armand has made everyone suspect.” Astrid focused her attention forward as they marched, expression serious, eyes keen to any unwanted movement.
“You just said that King Armand has made everyone an enemy. So, do we fight Tellurians, and Aequorans or not?” a soldier yelled out.
“What I meant by that, was trust no one. We will breech the gates and attack the tower. No doubt our greatest fear is the tallest tower—the dark tower as I am told. That is our true enemy. If we can defeat whatever lies there, perhaps there will be more lives saved today.” Astrid didn’t want to tell the truth about what she had learned about the dark tower, she didn’t want to share that Lingaria had told her there was more to the story than just a sickly king who had gone evil.
There was more to the story than a man who had suddenly begun to change without reason. Astrid nearly didn’t believe it herself. It was evening, and late. The guards at the entrance of the Tellurian kingdom were dozing off, but Astrid ordered her men to take them captive. As they approached, the wild Toveraks, chained just outside the gate began growling and roaring viciously, startling some of the Caelestan soldiers who had never seen the likeness of them before.
“Men, handle the guards and anyone on the main castle grounds who comes after you, we are going to attempt to take the tower. Stand your ground, and remember that we fight to save lives, not to take them… unless it is absolutely necessary.”
Astrid pulled her bow from her shoulder and positioned it while crouching low to the ground. Cayden also unsheathed his sword, and the two of them used the various stands and barrels around the closed marketplace to hide as they got closer and closer to the castle entrance.
From behind them Astrid could hear the yells of captured guards, and the roar of the angry Toveraks. She fought to not let it distract her, sneaking into the castle to the dark tower was going to be difficult enough as it was. The moment the doors of the castle opened, a guard let out a roar of anger and came running toward them, sword outstretched. Cayden jumped in front of her, using his own blade to deflect the blow of
the soldier’s weapon.
After another yell of outrage, Astrid flipped around to see another man rushing after them. She could feel the warmth of Aronus’s body on her shoulder, and out of the corner of her eye, his tail flicked eagerly. She positioned it on her bow, and then released, watching as it melded into a magical arrow that penetrated hard into the man’s shoulder, knocking him back onto his bottom. He groaned loudly and yanked at the arrow… only to see it disappear.
The look on his face was something that made Astrid laugh, but she didn’t have time to enjoy it. The arrow may not have been real, but the wound it left behind was deep and bloodied, nonetheless. It would give her and Cayden enough time to get through the castle. She looked back to check on him and was pleased to see that he had knocked out the first guard that had tried to attack.
“Cayden, let him be… we don’t have much time.” Astrid motioned for him to follow, and they flattened themselves against the stone walls, sneaking down the main hall, watching for anyone else who may give away their location.
“Do you know what we’re getting into?” Cayden whispered, as they eased down the hallway, the guise of night providing them camouflage, even in the torchlit corridors of the castle.
“Shhhh,” she urged, pointing toward a dark figure who approached, and Cayden nodded. They stiffened up, waiting for the person to notice them, but the figure, which turned out to be a woman, made a left as she pushed a tray full of something.
“Just a servant,” Cayden whispered to her, smiling.
“We got lucky,” she whispered back.
“Any idea where we’re going?” he responded.
“The dark tower, which judging by the outside location, is in the farthest corner of this city. How to get there… I don’t know.”
“Carefully, and hopefully in one piece,” Cayden joked.
“Shhh!”
Another guard was walking down the hall, ambling a bit crookedly, singing a song loudly and off-key.
Dragon Bow Page 31
