The Prince shrugged in mild admittance, but he was studying her with a furrowed brow. “She’s small. Against a man determined to hurt her …”
She wouldn’t stand a chance. With only two days of instruction, Dyna felt no more capable of fighting now than she did in Landcaster.
“She needs a weapon.”
“No,” Zev frowned at Cassiel.
“She needs to learn—”
“No weapons.” An edge had risen to her cousin’s voice, but it was not anger. He looked uncertain, worried. “Dyna, I’ll always protect you but one day I might not be there. If you’re ever cornered by a man, aim for his more sensitive areas.” He moved to Cassiel’s side and motioned at his body parts. “Eyes, throat, kidneys, and groin. One punch or kick there will take him down long enough for you to escape.”
Cassiel’s responding glower nearly made her giggle. He turned away and headed for the brook. “I will not participate in such a demeaning demonstration.”
Zev chuckled, calling after him. “She cannot spar with me. It’s not practical against my strength.”
“Let’s rest,” Dyna said, hiding a grin. “I’ll see to our dinner.”
She headed for their camp set up a few yards away near the forest. Zev went to the brook. He laughed again, at whatever Cassiel said as they refilled their waterskins. Dyna was happy to hear it. The tension between her cousin and the Prince was beginning to dwindle as they traveled together. She hoped it meant Cassiel was finding them tolerable.
She smiled and stirred scraps of vegetables in the boiling pot hanging over the campfire. They didn’t have much to eat, but broth would do good in the chill. It would pair perfectly with bread. She had been craving the taste of fresh rolls still steaming when cracked open. She’ll have to ask Zev to include it in their provisions once they reach Corron.
The meadow had quieted with the gentle lilting of Cassiel’s flute. Dyna glanced at the brook and found Zev blankly staring at the water flow, wearing the same uneasy expression she’d come to recognize. Tomorrow was the full moon. They had yet to tell Cassiel about Zev’s Other form. He hadn’t noticed the chains yet, nor had Zev attempted to mention them.
Dyna sighed and took out an empty burlap sack from their pack and headed over to the blackberry bushes on the edge of the forest. She picked the berries while she debated telling Cassiel about the Other, but it wasn’t her place. Zev couldn’t bring himself to tell the Prince what his chains were for, and she couldn’t either. They both worried about the same thing. What would Cassiel think of him after tomorrow?
The bag slipped from her berry-stained fingers. She lowered on her hands and knees to search for it in the tall grass when she heard a threatening hiss.
The underbrush rustled and a long brown snake slithered out. A black pattern etched the scales coursing down its back, and two minuscule horns extended from its head. She immediately recognized the venomous snake. It hissed, flicking out its long black tongue. Her heart rammed in her chest, panic gripping her. If the snake bit her, she would march through Death’s Gate within seconds.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when a quiet voice spoke to her from beyond the trees. “My lady, please do not move.”
Dyna stifled a whimper, fearing the presence and the imminent death in front of her. She didn’t dare look away from the snake’s glistening black eyes. Its hisses grew more aggressive, and it reared back, baring its fangs. A scream tore out of her mouth as it lunged. An arrow whizzed through the bushes and pierced the snake’s skull inches in front of her face.
She heard the flutter of wings before Cassiel dropped beside her. “What is it? What happened?”
“Dyna!” Zev reached her next. “Are you all right?”
She stared at the dead snake pinned to the ground and pointed a trembling finger at the trees. “There’s someone in the forest. He spoke to me.”
Zev inhaled the air. His wolf eyes flashed and he growled. “Who goes there?”
Cassiel unsheathed Esh Zayin. Luminous white flames sprung to life along the blade. The sight of it sent a spike of apprehension through her. His wings were exposed, but he did not attempt to hide them. He must have come to the same conclusion she did. Whoever was in the forest had already seen him.
“Forgive me, I did not intend to frighten her,” the voice said. The stranger had an elegant accent, the Rs of his words smoothed over. It hinted he came from a different part of Urn. “I could not stand by while she was to be bitten. The venom of an Ecru snake is fatal.”
Zev yanked her away from the dead snake. “He killed it?”
“Yes. I owe you my life, sir,” Dyna said to the dense trees.
Cassiel glowered at her. “Do not acknowledge that.”
She winced. “I’m required by law to do so.”
“I relieve you of your debt, my lady,” the stranger said. “By my honor, I mean you no harm.”
“Then make yourself known,” Cassiel called out.
The foliage rustled, and he pulled Dyna backward as a figure emerged from the trees. Zev coiled, ready to spring at the slightest provocation.
The stranger wore a tattered cloak of deep evergreen, its color having camouflaged him well within the leaves. With the hood over his face, his mouth was the only visible feature. He stepped into the light, followed by a stunning white stallion. Its velvety coat took on the sheen of the evening sky.
Cassiel pointed the sword at them. “Stay where you are.”
The horse neighed and pulled against its reins. The stranger stroked the horse’s silky mane and calmed it in a soft language Dyna didn’t understand. “Atse neib esemlac, Osom’reh,” he soothed, running a hand down the muzzle. “Neidan et aramitsal.”
The soft words were soothing, even putting her at ease. The beautiful steed settled, snorting softly.
The stranger reached in his cloak and handed his horse something to eat. Beneath it, she glimpsed old leather armor. Dirt layered his torn, white trousers and his leather boots were worn thin. He carried a fine quiver on his back and in his hand, an elegant longbow etched with a filigree of gold. Strapped to his waist was a luxurious sword with an obsidian hilt, and a scabbard gilded with golden leaves. The weapons and thoroughbred stallion seemed out of place on the poor man.
“Who do we address, sir?” Dyna asked.
The stranger removed his hood. She gaped at the striking elf before them. His irises were an unusual shade of turquoise and pointed ears peeked out from his long blond hair flowing down his shoulders. His curious gaze moved past Esh Zayin and observed Cassiel’s black wings, then Zev’s yellow eyes. He didn’t appear intimidated by who they were.
When he looked at her, she received a warm smile. He laid one arm across his chest and bowed. “I am Rawn of House Norrlen, General of the Armies of the Greenwood Kingdom. My lady, I have come to seek an audience with you.”
Chapter 26
Dynalya
The elvish horse ate oats from Dyna’s palms without a fuss, nuzzling her shoulder and face every so often. Upon seeing Lord Norrlen’s kind smile, she had decided she immediately liked him and welcomed them to their camp. He was grateful for the bowl of broth she had offered and sipped it quietly in content. He must have been famished.
Zev and Cassiel carefully watched him where he sat on the opposite end of their campfire. They said, if the elf was to speak with her, then he must give up his weapons. Which he did so willingly.
“Fair is fond of you,” Lord Norrlen told her, breaking the silence.
“Nice to meet you, sir Fair,” she said to the horse, petting his velvety flank. Fair nickered, snorting into her hair and making her giggle. “Earlier, you called him by another name.”
“Osom’reh,” Rawn said, easily switching to the soothing elf language. “His name in my tongue. Fair is a near equal translation in Urnian.”
“Dyna,” Cassiel called. Rarely did he speak her name, and she detected the aggravation in his tone. Arms crossed, his steel cut eyes held hers, and he tilted
his head slightly, indicating she should move away from Rawn.
Zev also watched her with gleaming yellow eyes. He rested on his knees, muscles taut, and ready to attack at the sign of any threat. His wolf hovered just under the surface of the sharp angles of his scruffy face. He didn’t like that she stood so close to the stranger. Dyna didn’t want to aggravate them further, so she returned to sit between them.
By Cassiel’s feet lay Rawn’s sword. On the pommel was the crest of a blooming Dynalya, her name’s origin, and the insignia of the Greenwood Kingdom.
When Rawn finished his meal, he glanced up and nodded. “Thank you for the meal, my lady. May the God of Urn bless you for it.”
She blushed. “Oh, I am no gentry, Lord Norrlen. No need to refer to me as a Lady. My name is Dynalya, but you may call me Dyna.”
“If you don’t mind me saying so, I would prefer to regard you in such respect.”
She smiled shyly and consented to the title.
“I heard your companions call you Dyna, but I was not aware it was a sobriquet. The Dynalya is an invaluable flower that only grows in the Vale. Their petals are as red as your hair; the name suits you.” Rawn said her full name in an accent foreign to her ears, but it sounded all the more beautiful.
Zev’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve heard us? When?”
Rawn paused, glancing between him and Cassiel before saying, “I was in Landcaster whilst I overheard you call her by name and speak of a map to Mount Ida.”
Cassiel and Zev leaped to their feet. The Prince whipped out his sword and fur rippled across Zev’s arms, his claws extending.
“Wait.” Dyna latched onto their forearms. “Let him speak. Anyone could have overheard us.”
“Is he the one you revealed our plans to?” Cassiel asked without looking away from Rawn.
“No, not him.”
“You have followed us since Landcaster?” Zev snarled the question, his canines flashing. “That means you’ve tracked us for two days. I should have heard you or caught your scent.”
Rawn held their hard gazes, his expression calm and impassive. “After leaving town, I witnessed you shapeshift into a wolf, Zev, and Prince Cassiel taking to the skies.”
Zev’s yellow eyes widened at the use of his name because he had not given it. Dyna was more surprised Rawn didn’t react to his ability to shapeshift at will.
“I was left to track you at a distance and did not reach your camp until today. Tracking you was without difficulty. I need but only spot Prince Cassiel in the sky at night.” Rawn glanced at him next. “I have not seen a Celestial with attributes such as yours.”
“The elves are bound by Rael’s Accords,” Cassiel said tersely.
“Yes, you need not be concerned.”
“How do you know of my title?”
“Like the werewolves, we elves also have keen hearing. I did not need to be within proximity to listen to your conversations. Forgive the impropriety. I desired to reveal my presence; however, I was uncertain how I could, short of eliciting distrust as I have done so now.”
“My trust is limited even with a proper introduction, Lord Norrlen. If that is indeed who you say you are.”
Dyna frowned. “You don’t believe him?”
“The Norrlen family is well known,” Cassiel told them. “They are famed soldiers that have served within the Vale of the Elves for several thousand years. But I’m not inclined to believe him to be of House Norrlen, let alone the Army General of King Leif, the ruler of Greenwood.”
“I understand your misgivings,” Rawn said. “I would have preferred to meet your acquaintance under more agreeable circumstances.”
Dyna studied Rawn. He didn’t appear much older than thirty years, but he carried himself with elegant conduct. His measured manner was of another time. “Lord Norrlen, may I ask your age?”
“I am two-hundred-and-seventy-three-summers old.”
Her mouth fell open. “Is that why your speech is odd?”
Zev nudged her for the brazen question.
Rawn smiled, not at all offended. “One could say so.”
“It’s hardly worth noting,” Cassiel said.
“Do Celestials live longer than elves?”
“Not anymore.” He lifted a hand, fingers a whisper away from brushing her lips, as though to stop her new series of questions brewing at the revelation. She wanted to know more, but his proximity momentarily stalled her thoughts. He peeled his eyes away from hers and said to Rawn, “The more important question is why are you here?”
“I suppose it begins with the contention in the Vale.”
“Do you elves never tire of war? There is always a word of the green elves fighting with the red elves.”
Dyna canted her head in confusion. Rawn didn’t look green.
“Referring to elves by color has come about to differentiate which kingdom we belong to,” Rawn informed her. “The Vale was once a single kingdom before it was established into two reigns during the year three-hundred-and-seven, at the end of the Alfheim Age. Greenwood established in the southeast and Red Highland in the southwest. Unfortunately, the Vale falls into warfare every few hundred years, and that time is upon us once again.” He paused, expression growing grim. “The Red Highland king seeks the Dragon’s Eye.”
“A dragon’s eye?” Dyna asked in intrigue. “Why would he want that?”
“Not an eye. He is referring to the tale of the Twin Dragon Blades,” Cassiel said.
“Oh.” That was not a tale she had heard before.
Rawn nodded. “Two swords were forged some millennia ago from the fires of Bái Lóng, the white dragon deity of the Xián Jīng Dynasty. These swords had such unimaginable power so terrifying, the emperor of Xián Jīng ordered them to be destroyed. Unfortunately, they were indestructible. He then sent forth his most trusted envoys to conceal the swords on opposite corners of the world. One of these swords was named the Dragon’s Fang, and the other was the Dragon’s Eye.”
Dyna pictured the magnificent blades, coated in dragon scales, fire reflecting off the deadly blades. What sort of magic did they possess?
“Red Highland seeking the Dragon’s Eye signifies a threat of war for Greenwood,” Lord Norrlen continued. “My king bestowed upon me the task to find the Dragon’s Fang for it is the only sword that can challenge the Dragon’s Eye. I traveled to Xián Jīng immediately and spent years searching for the confidential accounts of the concealment mission of the Twin Dragon Blades, and additional years translating them to Urnian. In the last scroll, there was an inscription stating the Dragon’s Fang rests on land not found.”
Now it all made sense to Dyna. “So you are now searching for Mount Ida. It’s an island that no one can find.”
Rawn sighed, looking past them to the west wistfully. “It is the only location the sword could be. I’ve searched the entire world hither and yon for Mount Ida, to no avail. It has not been without difficulty for Red Highland has learned of my mission. They have sent several assassins to impede me and have placed a bounty upon my head. I have kept in hiding to evade them, hindering my journey further. I cannot return to Greenwood until I have located the sword. Time has been merciless in its passing. I long to be home again. I’ve not seen my wife since the birth of our son nigh a score ago.”
Her mouth fell open. “You’ve been searching for Mount Ida for twenty years?”
“I neglected my family in search of the Dragon’s Fang for my King and country,” Rawn said, his brows furrowing. “I’m eager to return to them. Therefore, at the notice that you had a map to Mount Ida, I followed. Please forgive my transgression, on my honor it was not with ill intent.”
He shifted on his knees and bowed his head to them, his blond hair curtaining around his face. “I beseech you. Please allow me to join your company. I have traveled to all continents of this world, and I have reached all regions of Urn. I can guide you to Mount Ida in safety. You have my word, whither thou goest on this quest, I pledge to guard your steps and shield your
life, to the end of the world and back.”
The promise in his words settled over Dyna. This is what they needed, someone to guide them on their journey.
“No,” Cassiel said.
“But we need a Guidelander. He knows the country.”
“No.” He stood with his face set in stone. “How are we to know if there is any truth to his story? It would be foolish to invite a stranger into our midst.”
She rose to her feet. “But he saved my life, Cassiel.”
“People will do anything to gain your trust.”
She may not know much about the world, but oaths from the elves were a pact of honor. “Well, I believe him.”
“That’s because you’re a stupid human,” Cassiel snapped.
She winced. For the first time, the insult stung as if he had slapped her.
His scowl faded. “Dyna, I—”
“This matter concerns us all,” she said, looking away. “We should have a vote. I say he stays.”
Cassiel rubbed his forehead. “I say no.”
They turned to Zev. He glanced back and forth at their unyielding frowns, then at Lord Norrlen who awaited the verdict.
“Zev,” she pleaded, but he shook his head.
“I’m sorry, Lord Norrlen.” He took Rawn’s sword and handed it back to him. “You’re a risk. I cannot allow that around her.”
Rawn exhaled a long breath and rose. “I was enchanted to meet you, my lady. I shall not forget your kindness.”
She heard the faint sadness in his voice. “You’re leaving?”
“I must respect the decision of your companions. They heed for your safety. Be wary. Danger may lurk herein.”
Cassiel and Zev looked at him questioningly.
“It is but a word of warning. Eyes are everywhere, and I do not believe I’m the only one lurking in Elms Nook.” Rawn took the reins of his horse and tipped his head in farewell. “I bid you a good evening.” He mounted Fair’s saddle and cantered away for the forest.
Dyna watched him slip into the trees without looking back. “I know there are risks and dangers out here, but he was telling us the truth. He only wants to return to his … family.” Her voice pitched on the word.
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