Lady Dragon, Tela Du Read online

  And with that, Amber drew the star Elina out of her pocket, twisted it, and faded from sight.

  An appropriately dramatic exit.

  Chapter 3

  Amber spent most of the next two weeks traveling in such a manner, wandering about the Rizkan countryside, winning over the hearts of the peasants who worked the fields. She had to adapt her speeches for each individual family and tickle their ears with what they wanted to hear, as she persuaded them to believe what she wanted.

  But at length, she turned her steps back towards home. She had gathered her support and started the rumors. Now it was time to enact the next phase of her plan. Dusk was gathering as she stepped through the gates and found Granite lying on his back in the middle of the courtyard staring at the sky.

  She sighed. “I see you’ve been making use of yourself while I was away.”

  He seemed not to hear her, so she walked over and crouched by his side. “Just what are you doing?”

  A smile spread across his face as he sat up. “Oh, I was just observing the Rizkan sky and reminiscing. Would you care to join me?”

  She sighed and started to stand up, but he reached forward and grabbed her arm, preventing her.

  “I have more important things to do with my time,” she protested.

  “After six thousand years, you can make time for the little things,” Granite replied, simply.

  She sighed again. He wasn’t going to give up, was he? She lay down beside him.

  “I always marvel at how empty the Rizkan sky is, even at the dead of night,” he said at length. “Especially after staring at the stars of Lintooalintae for four thousand years. Do you ever miss the stars?”

  “No, I can’t say I do. I find them more useful now that they have fallen.”

  “Perhaps so,” said Granite. “You do use them frequently. However, I still miss the nights where we would stare at them until late: you with your notes, I just wondering at the power of Alphego.”

  “I no longer have need of those notes. With the exception of three, I collected each of those stars as they fell, and they serve a grander purpose now.”

  “Or the twelve moons of Luna, by which we set our clocks, do you ever miss them?”

  “I must admit that I haven’t thought about them in a long time,” said Amber, wondering when he would be done distracting her. “That was six thousand years ago.”

  “We never beheld an actual sun until we came here to Rizkaland,” Granite continued.

  “Noted,” said Amber. “Now are you done with me? I have much to prepare if I’m to assume control of Rizkaland.”

  “I suppose you do since you are convinced that it’s worth it.” Granite didn’t protest as she stood and walked away, though as she reached the door to the palace, he spoke again. “Just make sure you don’t forget the little things in these final days.”

  “I focus on what is necessary,” she answered. “Perhaps one day, you’ll realize this for yourself. I only have fifty years.”

  “A mere breath.”

  “And I’ve already used two weeks of it.”

  “A mere blink.”

  “We shall discuss this later.”

  She left him in the courtyard and retreated to her study, where she opened the box in which she stored most of the stars that had fallen from Lintooalintae’s sky. To the untrained eye, they appeared to be mere spheres of gold and silver, some as large as her fist, some as tiny as peas. Each contained a potent, powerful magic.

  She pulled out a few fistfuls of these stars, scattered them across her desk, and sat down, staring at them intently. After a few moments, she set one on top of a brass stand that stood on one corner of her desk. Slowly, glowing lines lit up on the star, just dim enough that she could stare at it with impunity. With the tip of her finger, she turned it, studying the lines.

  At length, she was satisfied, and removed the star and set a different one in its place. Hours eked by, as she sat there, reading the glowing lines, and activating stars when she found ones she wanted.

  The air in the room crackled and popped with the energy she released, for she used only her most powerful stars. When she was finally finished, she returned the stars to their chest and stood up, stretching the sleep from her muscles.

  “Done meddling?”

  She looked up to find Granite in the doorway. She sighed. “Yes. How long have you been there?”

  “Not long. I was just wondering how long before you’d come to bed. You’re not usually up this late.”

  “I usually start sooner.”

  He nodded. “Do I even want to know what you were doing?”

  “I was just redefining some winds. Quite tricky business, but between Wilsi and Naria, I managed. It’s done. Summer shan’t be as hot, and winter won’t be as long. I almost banished winter entirely, but I decided that it can stay for now.”

  “The winds are important here in Rizkaland,” Granite observed.

  “Indeed. That is why I had to see to them immediately.” Amber attempted to walk past him, but he caught her wrist before she could exit the room. She sighed, but decided not to comment – it would be more trouble than it was worth. She stood still as his other hand cupped her face, his eyes boring into her.

  “But it’s finished now?” he asked.

  “Yes, for now,” she answered. “And I told enough people of my intention that I shall be able to claim the glory.”

  “Good, then I believe it’s far past your bedtime, my dear.”

  He let go of her wrist and face, and instead wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her through the halls. She knew better than to fight him, but internally, she protested. At one time, they’d been so close and known each other so well … but lately, she could rarely guess what was going through his mind at any given moment. What was he thinking now?

  “You’ve been gone two weeks,” he said at length.

  “Yes,” she answered. “A mere blink, as you described it earlier.”

  She glanced his way long enough to see the corner of his mouth quirk.

  “Yes, I suppose so,” he admitted. “How much did you accomplish during this blink?”

  “Enough,” she replied. “And you? What did you do during this time? Stare at the sky all day?”

  “Oh, no, not for all of it,” he answered. “Laura and I spent many long hours in conversation, discussing many interesting things. Do you know, she’d just come from a world where the sky was pale green all day long, and turned purple at night?”

  “It sounds terrifying,” Amber commented. “Where is she now, by the by? I’ve not seen her since I left two weeks ago. Did she escape on me?”

  “She wouldn’t dream of it,” Granite answered.

  A few moments later, they stepped into the dining hall, where Laura sat at the table, reading one of the books from Amber’s library.

  The girl glanced up with a grin. “Ah, Silver, so good to finally have you join us. I’ve kept your supper warm for you.” She gestured towards the food that covered the table.

  “It was hardly necessary,” said Amber, tightly. She disentangled herself from Granite’s hold and sat down at the head of the table. “This table generates food whenever I ask it to. And isn’t this a bit late to eat?”

  “Ah, but you’re always ravenous after so many hours spent with your magic,” said Granite, sitting down at her right hand. “You do need to eat a bit before you go to bed.”

  Amber ignored him as she sipped a bowl of spiced soup.

  Silence reigned around the table, as neither of the other two dared to begin the conversation, and Amber didn’t care. The food was, as always, delicious, but Amber didn’t recognize most of it. Laura must have summoned it. Amber eyed a bowl of feathered fruits with distrust.

  “Twintas,” said Laura, leaning forward and grabbing one. “They’re considered a delicacy in Aloetway.” She pried it open with her knife to reveal a juicy center, which she dug into.

  “I’ll take your word for it,” said Amb
er, shaking her head. Having drained a bowl of spiced soup and consumed a sweet roll, she stood. “However, as you two keep reminding me, it is late, and I need to get to bed. I suppose I’ll thank you for the meal, but the morrow comes early.”

  She exited the room and closed the door behind her, then broke out into a sprint towards her bedchambers. She didn’t need those two distracting her anymore this night.

  Amber was asleep almost as soon as she lay down, but she didn’t relax fully until she felt Granite join her. It was true that in a castle this large, she could have relegated him to his own room and saved herself a lot of trouble, but she slept better with him at her side and had fewer nightmares.

  She arose early the next morning. The people she had invited to serve her began to trickle in shortly after breakfast. Each she gave a position, and they thanked her profusely.

  Her plans were proceeding nicely.

  Chapter 4

  “These rumors worry me.”

  Ashna glanced up from her book as her mother set the stew on the table. “What do you mean? What rumors?”

  “Do you mean the ones about Amber?” asked her father.

  Mother sat down, frowning fiercely. “Well, I haven’t heard any names, but those rumors of a sorceress wandering around helping people sound a bit fishy. It doesn’t sound quite like Amber’s style, but I wouldn’t put it past her, either. Just because she’s come in as the Dragon in former years doesn’t mean she won’t play a different game now.”

  “Amber?” Ashna breathed, setting down the book entirely. “As in the Lady Dragon? She’s – she’s here in Rizkaland?”

  “Unfortunately, yes,” answered Father, shaking his head. “I read about her in the Book just an hour ago. I’ve been instructed to warn the kings and queens, though I fear that there is little we can do – Amber’s fifty-year reign is upon us.”

  “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised,” said Mother, shaking her head as she ladled out the food. “It has been a thousand years since the Water Princess and Fire Prince banished her, and I fear for Rizkaland. We have grown soft and discontent in our time of peace, and if she’s whispering lies, we don’t stand a chance.”

  “Indeed,” said Father, “but let’s not allow such tidings to mar this night. This is a lovely supper you’ve prepared for us. Let us thank Alphego for it, for all things will happen according to His plan.”

  And so the threesome joined hands and bowed their heads. Ashna smiled as she listened to her father thank Alphego for His blessings and petition Him for His peace in the quickly coming time of darkness.

  “What are you reading, Ashes?” Mother asked when he was finished.

  “One of the legends,” Ashna answered automatically. “It is my duty to memorize as many of them as I can.”

  “Indeed,” said her Father. He reached over and picked up the book to glance at the title. “Though I thought you already had this one memorized.”

  “I do, even the full version,” Ashna admitted with a sigh. “But Water Princess, Fire Prince is just so exciting and romantic. It’s my favorite.”

  “And very applicable to this time,” said Mother, sighing. “Very well, but do read some others from time to time. Your duties as Bookdaughter mean that you must know more than just one legend.”

  “Yes, Mother, but I have Alphego’s Hill memorized – both versions in their entirety – as well!”

  Mother was prevented from answering by the door swinging open and a girl flying into the room, stealing the chair next to Ashna.

  “If I have to spend one more minute in that palace of insanity,” the girl declared, resting her head in her hands and glaring at the empty place in front of her, “I may go insane myself.”

  “Laura!” Mother cried, clearly surprised, but Father just glanced toward Ashna.

  “Get a bowl and spoon for the Doorkeeper, dear.”

  The Doorkeeper? Ashna jumped up immediately to do as her father bid, but the questions naturally swirled around inside her. The Doorkeeper in her house? It was true that her father was the Bookholder, the elf who kept the special Book containing Alphego's words, and that with Amber in Rizkaland, these were the great times that called for the Doorkeeper’s presence. Still, it didn’t seem quite real.

  She returned with the called-for items as quickly as she could, and found that the girl was still glaring at the table. Apparently, no one else had spoken. Ashna set the bowl in front of Laura and used this opportunity to examine her.

  She had light brown hair pulled back by a brightly-colored band and blue-gray eyes. She didn’t look like a figure of legend, Ashna thought. Sure, she wore strange clothes – a shirt and a pair of pants, of all things – but she looked so terribly young, no older than Ashna herself, who was a mere eighteen. Though the Doorkeeper appeared human, and an elf’s eighteen was equivalent to fourteen.

  “So it’s true then,” Mother asked at length. “Amber is here?”

  “Indeed, and she already has the upper portion of Rizkaland firmly under her sway.” Laura shook her head. “And she’s only been here a month. One thing I can say for the girl – when she makes up her mind to do something, it gets done.”

  “We’ve always talked about it happening, and yet never dreamed that it’d be in our lifetime,” said Father with a shake of his head. “And now that it has happened, it seems so surreal.”

  “That is a drawback to linear life,” Laura commented, nodding. “You never expect the unexpected. But yes, Amber is here for her fifty-year reign, and there is nothing that any of us can do that will stop her. I wish … but no. She’s too stubborn.” She glanced about the table, her eyes resting the longest on Ashna’s mother. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault,” said Mother, reaching forward to pat Laura’s hand. “Every mother raises at least one bad apple. I’m a bit worried about my odds since I only have one.” And she sent Ashna a fond smile.

  “But I can see all the what-ifs, the little things I could have – that I wanted to do differently, things that may have prevented her corruption.” Laura shrugged. “Now, I can only wish that the Tela Du would come quickly, but even that is not for another fifty years.”

  “To think that I’ll have to live through it,” said Ashna, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that the Doorkeeper was sitting at her table.

  “Oh, but you won’t,” said Laura, shaking her head.

  “What do you mean?” Ashna asked.

  “Precisely that,” said the Doorkeeper. “Of the four of us at this table, you will escape the most of Amber’s reign. It’ll come at a high price, but beyond that, I cannot say at this time. Now, I am utterly exhausted of this topic. I came here to avoid it, not to give myself a greater headache.”

  “That is entirely understandable, dear,” said Mother. “I do want you to know that you have a place to stay here, whenever you need it. The Bookholder’s Suite is built to hold more people than it currently does. Since Adnama and Torrin left for Klarand last year, the rooms have felt positively empty.”

  Laura smiled. “I appreciate your offer, and I can assure you that I shall take you up on it whenever I can, and so long as it stands.” She held up a hand as Mother tried to protest. “You don’t know the future, nor do you clearly see the past. I do. Fortunately, I shall be leaving Rizkaland entirely about the time everything falls apart – or not so fortunately for you. Let’s not dwell on this.”

  “No,” said Father. “How have your travels been? Have you seen any new worlds of late?”

  Laura perked up a slight bit. “Actually, not lately. I did get to spend a year in Wienta just a few doors ago, and that was great fun.”

  “I don’t believe you’ve ever mentioned Wienta,” said Mother.

  “Haven’t I? Oh, but it’s one of my favorites. I have many good memories there, and I met with a few of my favorite people.” Laura’s gaze turned distant. “But I do suppose that’s one reason I don’t talk about it. There are painful memories there as well.”

>   “And isn’t that the truth about life?” asked Mother. “Now, Ashna, I’ll need you to clean up after supper. We have some things we need to discuss with the Doorkeeper.”

  “About the Lady Dragon?” asked Ashna.

  “Among other things, very dangerous things that you don’t need to worry about right now, dear,” said Mother. “No questions, do you understand?”

  Ashna opened her mouth to protest, but seeing the warning look from her mother, she thought better of it. The rest of supper was spent in silence, and when everyone was finished, Ashna cleared away the plates without a word. She disappeared into the kitchen, a thousand questions running through her head that she dared not ask.

  When Ashna finished with the dishes, she retreated into the library to peruse more of the legends. And yet the words that usually held such fascination for her could hardly interest her. How could they when the Lady Dragon was in Rizkaland, the Tela Du was coming, and the Doorkeeper was in her own house?

  She set the books to the side and decided to go visit a friend. There was still an hour or so before dark, and her friend didn’t live terribly far away from the nearest Haric Door. Without hesitation, she scampered over to the appropriate doormat, spoke the special words, and within moments, stood at the base of a tree on the other end of Rizkaland.

  Grinning, she pulled her shawl tighter about her shoulders as she took off at a run through the trees. She couldn’t wait to share her news with Quena. She reached the small green hut that stood in the middle of the clearing and knocked hastily at the door.

  She scarcely had to wait a moment before Quena threw it open.

  “Ashna!” Quena exclaimed, throwing her arms around Ashna’s shoulders. “I was just hoping you’d come by. We have the strangest news!”

  “I can honestly doubt that it’s stranger than mine,” Ashna replied, shaking her head.

  “We’ll see about that!” Quena tugged at Ashna’s arm. “But let’s not stand out here to talk, come inside, to my room!”

  Minutes later, they were perched on Quena’s bed, their heads bent together to suppress the giggles.