The Last of the Firedrakes Page 8

  “Okay,” I said, relieved that at least I didn’t have to ride through the mountains for days with Kalen. I would have had to travel with Rafe too, though, and it would have been interesting to spend more time with him. I guess it was not to be. I was still a little apprehensive about where we would sleep that night, because the pegasus needed to rest. Some people may like camping under the stars, with wild animals around, but I did not. It was not really my idea of a good time. Flying to the castle on the back of the pegasus was absolutely the best thing that could have happened.

  “Can I ask you something?” I asked hesitantly.

  “Of course.”

  “What do I call you?”

  The pegasus laughed, more like a neigh, but I could feel her emotions. It was amazing.

  “My name is Gwyneira, which means, ‘white as snow’ in the old language of the fae,” she said.

  “May I call you Snow?” I asked. It sounded like a wonderful name for a pegasus.

  The pegasus laughed. “Yes that is acceptable,” she said. “I like the name Snow.”

  I smiled. “Perfect!”

  We were now flying higher and higher over the Cascade Mountains. The wind whipped around my face and hair, but I didn’t care. The moon was full and bathed the mountains in its silvery light. Riding on the back of a pegasus gave me the most wonderful feeling of freedom. After about an hour, we descended through the low-lying clouds and Snow carefully flew through the trees and into a clearing in a forested area of the mountains.

  I slid off Snow and cautiously looked around.

  The moonlight lit the little clearing, and Snow led me to some bushes, which she told me to push apart. I struggled a little with the dense foliage but finally found a small opening to a dark cave. I peered inside; there was no light, and I quickly backed away.

  “There is no way I am going in there,” I said to Snow out loud.

  “Would you prefer to sleep outdoors?” asked Snow, sounding a little confused. “I’m afraid I have no idea how to light a fire, and it will get cold. If you knew how to use your magic, you could have done it, but since you cannot, we will have to make do with the cave.”

  I nodded, feeling upset that I had no magic and a little nervous. I had no idea what was inside that cave, and I was not going in there to find out. I would much rather sleep outside.

  “Fine,” I said abruptly, “I’ll just sleep against a tree or something.”

  I looked around for a suitable spot. I located an old oak that looked quite comfortable, relatively speaking. It was a massive, ancient-looking tree, and the thick trunk had a small hollow in it, big enough for a person to fit into. I maneuvered myself inside and slid down against the inside of the mossy trunk, hugging my knees together and resting my head on them. I was cold and tired, so I wrapped my woolen cloak tightly around me as best I could, and, despite the circumstances, I immediately started nodding off.

  Snow stood next to me. “I will be here to watch over you, Princess. Do not worry. I just need a little rest, and as soon as dawn approaches we shall be on our way.”

  “Okay,” I said in my mind, already half asleep. The cool fresh air of the mountains was making me really drowsy. The leaves rustled gently, lulling me into a fitful sleep.

  * * *

  I hardly felt like I had had any sleep at all when I heard Snow’s voice urgently calling to me in my mind. My eyes snapped open and I looked up, but it took me a minute to get my sleep-befuddled brain together. I scanned my surroundings quickly and got up from my place on the forest floor, using the big oak for support.

  Two guards were holding Snow by her mane, and she was struggling to get free. The men who were holding her were wearing rusty armor and equally tarnished shields that bore the crest of a black rose.

  “Morgana’s guards,” said Snow quickly. “Run, Princess; these look like scouts, so the Shadow Guard will not be far away. You must get out of here, now.”

  I whirled around in a complete panic. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t just leave Snow to the guards. What if they killed her?

  “Leave me,” Snow said. “Your life is far more important.”

  Terror welled up in my chest, and I turned to run, but two more guards were coming out of the trees behind me.

  I was surrounded.

  “There is no use trying to run, milady,” said the gruff voice of one black-toothed guard. He was grinning manically at me.

  I took a step back and felt something sharp prick my back.

  “Don’t move,” said another guard from behind me. I couldn’t see his face, but they all seemed to look the same to me. Dirty, filthy, matted hair, black grins and rusty armor.

  From the corner of my eye, I could see the bushes rustling. What else was out there?

  I heard a low growl, and, before I realized what was happening, a massive lion-like creature with a mane of burnished gold and powerful red wings came leaping out of the darkness of the forest, its sharp teeth flashing in the moonlight. It had a jagged, spiked tail and the face of a man. I recognized the mythological creature from a picture I had seen on the Internet.

  I froze in my tracks: a manticore!

  It snarled, showing multiple rows of razor-sharp fangs, and pounced on the guard who had a sword to my back.

  I heard more growls and screaming, but I didn’t want to look back. I ran towards the trees, and I saw Snow moving towards me, free. The other two guards who had been holding her now had their swords out and were advancing on me. I tripped over a fallen tree limb and hit my shin. The pain didn’t register as I got up and tried to reach Snow.

  I needn’t have moved at all, as the manticore flew over me and attacked the two guards, ripping out the throat of one and pouncing on the other, slashing his arms and legs with his deadly tail. I looked on in dismay as the guard screamed and tried to get away, but the creature just tore out his throat. The rest of the guards lay unconscious or dead on the ground around us.

  I was trembling and rooted to the spot. Would the manticore turn on me now? I had no idea why it was here.

  “Do not be afraid, little one,” said Snow calmly in my head. “You have nothing to fear from this creature. He is a friend and a protector; he came only because you were in trouble. All the creatures of the fae are loyal to your family.”

  I looked over carefully at the manticore. He was sitting on his haunches and did not move, looking straight at me with startling gold eyes, full of intelligence. His fangs were still dripping blood, much to my dismay, but his eyes looked kind and full of anguish.

  I looked at the dead bodies strewn about the forest clearing, and I started to feel sick. I moved towards a tree and retched, but as I hadn’t eaten anything, there was nothing much to throw up. I wiped my mouth as best I could with the sleeve of my dress; it was disgusting, but I couldn’t help it. I was surprised at myself. In a situation like this, I really expected to have fainted, but I didn’t, and I was pleased with my fortitude.

  I turned to see the majestic creature still watching me. There was something about him that was comforting, and I moved forward. The manticore must have been startled, because he stood up and started walking away. I watched his furry, gold body move slowly towards the darkness of the trees, his lethal tail swishing behind him. He stopped once and turned to look at me before spreading his great leathery wings and flying off into the shadows of the vast mountain range.

  I let out a deep breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding. “Where did that creature come from?” I asked Snow as I got onto her back, this time with the help of a rock that I used as a mounting block. For the first time, I realized how inconvenient it was riding in a dress, as my legs were exposed, but I figured it was really not the time or the place for modesty and settled myself on Snow’s back.

  “The manticore is an ancient fae creature,” said Snow. “There are not many left, especially in these parts, but they have been seen in these mountains before. They are born of magic, so it could sense who you were and came to
help.”

  I wondered what other creatures lived in these mountains, but I didn’t want to stick around and find out. I concentrated on holding on as Snow cantered across the open space, spread out her massive wings, and soared into the air again. We flew over the Cascade Mountains towards Eldoren and Silverthorne Castle.

  I could not believe what I was doing: riding a magical winged horse, running from the mysterious Shadow Guard, becoming friends with the fae, meeting manticores in the forest and heading towards a family I had never met before. I had to admit I was apprehensive. What if they didn’t like me? What if they didn’t want to help me? What if . . . ?

  My thoughts were cut short as the sun rose over the mountains to the east. I forgot about everything else as I watched the magical land of Avalonia stretch out before me as far as the eye could see. We glided over the Cascade Mountains, which marked the boundary between the kingdoms of Illiador and Eldoren, and I was immediately mesmerized.

  The land ahead was covered in wild, green grass. Sprays of pinks, purples, yellows, and reds undulated down into the waiting meadows of the flower-filled valley beyond. It was the most wonderful sight I had ever seen. Rolling hills, colorful fields, green pastures, working farms, massive estates and small villages speckled the countryside. To the right was an emerald-green wood, which stretched out to the hills beyond.

  In the center of the valley was what looked like a little hill. At the very top was a magnificent castle, its tall towers glistening in the sunlight as they stretched effortlessly towards the sky. Pristine white flags, each decorated with a single bluebell, fluttered from the castle turrets. Around it, a huge walled town sloped down the hill in concentric circles and spread out into the valley below. Sunlight glinted off the tops of the tallest trees of the forest, and the whole valley was bathed in its warm blanket. It was like nothing I had ever seen before, but it was also everything that I had imagined since I was a little girl.

  “That is Fairlone,” said Snow in my mind as we flew over the large town. “This whole valley belongs to the Duke of Silverthorne.”

  Fairlone was a huge bustling town, with broad cobbled streets and paved paths. A great wall surrounded the town, with four massive wooden gates and armed gate towers.

  We circled the castle and the town once, and no one looked up, which was a relief, since I was quite sure that, even here, a pegasus was a rare creature. We flew over the outer section of the town, and I looked around; the houses here were closely packed and looked quite run down. The people were dressed in dull, patched clothes, as they were in Lord Oblek’s castle in Illiador. Snow explained that this was the poorer part of the town. As we flew closer to the magnificent castle on the top of the hill, I could see a change. The inner town was highly protected by another wall that ran in a circle around the castle.

  Wide stone archways, whitewashed buildings, and large, well-kept houses lined the cobblestone streets. Elegant shops and colorful street sellers brightened the main avenue. The buildings were bigger and more ornate, with tiled roofs and brightly colored walls. It was morning, and well-dressed people were bustling round fancy shops and going about their everyday errands.

  The men were smartly attired in well-tailored doublets and hose, wearing richly bordered, thick cloaks that swirled about them as they walked. Many wore swords on their belts and some rode on prancing horses. The women were dressed in beautiful silks and velvet, richly embroidered dresses, hooded mantles, and luxurious cloaks. Some were driven about in small, one-horse open carriages.

  Finally we flew out of the sky and descended into the stone courtyard of Silverthorne Castle. I was mesmerized and a little disoriented after my long flight on Snow’s back. I looked around. The castle was massive and full of activity.

  Guards had just realized that we had landed in the center of their castle courtyard and sounded the alarm. Within seconds numerous soldiers had surrounded us and were pointing nasty-looking spears in my face.

  9

  The Duke

  I looked around. Archers had posted themselves at regular intervals on the castle walls, and all the arrows were pointing right at me.

  “I want to meet the Duke of Silverthorne,” I said, trying to sound like I knew what I was doing.

  “So does half the kingdom,” said a guard with curly red hair.

  “And the other half is plotting his downfall,” said another.

  “What’s your business here?” the first guard growled, still pointing his spear at me.

  “Um, tell him . . . tell him that his niece is here,” I said hesitantly.

  What else could I say? How was I supposed to explain myself?

  “He doesn’t have a niece,” said the red-haired guard, not believing my story for a second.

  “What is all this commotion about?” came a large booming voice.

  The guards jumped but held their spears in place.

  “Who is this?” said a big, burly man with salt-and-pepper hair, his voluminous cerulean cloak billowing in the wind as he came striding down the broad stone steps into the castle courtyard. He was wearing a silver breastplate and a massive sword strapped to his hip. I wondered if this was my granduncle, the duke.

  “She just arrived, Captain,” said the red-haired guard, standing up straighter. “She says she wants to see the duke, says she’s his niece.”

  “Does she now?” said the captain of the guard, walking closer to me. Snow stamped her hoof and snorted, but he did not even flinch. Finally he stretched out his hand to help me off the pegasus. “Declan Raingate, captain of the duke’s guard, at your service, my lady.”

  He seemed a gentleman, and his brown eyes were kind, so I took his hand and jumped off Snow. “Thank you,” I said, straightening my skirt and smoothing my hair, which resembled a bird’s nest after all that flying.

  “See that the pegasus is well housed in the main stables,” said the captain to one of the guards. I liked him already.

  “Right away, sir,” said the red-haired guard, scurrying to do the captain’s bidding.

  “Follow me,” Declan said, turning to walk up the steps to the castle. “I will take you to the duke.”

  The guards all straightened their spears and retreated to their posts. The archers put away their bows and returned to their jobs on the battlements. I was relieved. Silverthorne Castle was a fortress; Oblek and Morgana would have a hard time getting to me here. I already felt much safer.

  I followed Captain Declan up the great white stone steps, through the big wooden doors, into the castle. We walked down drafty stone corridors and up a wide spiral staircase in one of the towers. Declan knocked once on a stout oak door and opened it without waiting for a reply.

  “Can’t a man get any work done around here? There is always something that needs my attention,” said an old and distinguished-looking man with white, shaggy hair and a clipped white beard, looking up from his desk and putting down his quill. He was wearing a midnight-blue velvet dressing gown lined with intricate silverwork.

  I figured that this must be my granduncle, the duke.

  “My apologies for disturbing you at this time of the morning, Your Grace. But the matter is of some importance,” said the captain of the guard, walking into the brightly lit room.

  The duke finally noticed me, and I thought I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes; then, just as quickly, it was gone.

  “And you are?” asked the Duke, looking straight at me.

  “My name is Aurora, and I think you are my unc—” I said quickly, but the duke suddenly interrupted me.

  “Thank you, Declan, but I will speak with this one alone,” said Duke Silverthorne.

  The captain of the guard bowed once and left the room.

  I looked around; this appeared to be the duke’s study. It was a large, high-ceilinged room lined with oak beams but bright and airy, with immense windows, which were hung with rich crimson and gold velvet curtains. Big comfortable armchairs were placed about the room. A mahogany desk and an extra-lar
ge chair stood behind it. Exotic rugs covered the cold stone floors, and beautiful but slightly faded tapestries lined the walls, all depicting scenes with different fae creatures—unicorns, dragons, pixies, flower fairies, and beautiful lush green forests.

  The duke gestured for me to sit down opposite him.

  “Now, what is all this really about?” said Duke Silverthorne sternly. His blue eyes shone questioningly, as if he was trying to piece together a puzzle.

  “Well,” I said hesitantly, sitting down on the offered chair.

  I wasn’t exactly sure what I should say. I decided to keep it short.

  “It turns out that you are my granduncle, and my aunt, Queen Morgana, wants me dead. Oh! And I have nowhere to go and no way to get back home, not that I really have a home anymore,” I said. “That’s about the gist of it.”

  The duke studied me carefully and narrowed his eyes. “I think you’d better start again, from the beginning,” he said, peering at me from under his big, bushy eyebrows as if he knew exactly what I was talking about. He didn’t seem surprised.

  I proceeded to recount the full story. When I finished, the duke was quiet, and he was still looking at me very sternly.

  “You do look a lot like Azaren,” he said finally, his eyes going slightly misty. “But we can never be too careful. I have on occasion heard stories that Elayna and Azaren’s child had somehow escaped the massacre at the Star Palace, and once there was even a rumor that the princess had been found in Brandor.” He paused, assessing me again. “Of course, she was brought to me.”

  “And?” I said, urging him to go on.

  “And she was an imposter, of course.”

  “How could you tell?” I asked, now sitting on the edge of my seat and wiping my sweating hands on my skirt.

  “You will find out all you need to know in good time,” said the duke, “but first, we need to test you, to see if it’s true that you are the child of Azaren and Elayna, and not some shapeshifter sent by Lucian to deceive us.”