Legends of Marithia: Book 1 - Prophecies Awakening: Uncut and Extended Second Edition (12 page)

Helenia, it’s me—Vartan!

“Vartan!” she cried out in delight, her voice
startling everyone at the table.

Andrielle gently placed a hand on her wrist
and whispered, “Helenia, are you all right?”

The princess leapt from her chair anxiously.
“It’s Vartan—he’s alive! He says he’s flying, with
dragons
.
They are circling above us and ask if we can open the trees to let
them in.”

Everyone else at the table burst out of their
seats with excitement at the thought of Vartan’s return. Andrielle
quickly regained her composure. “Wait—did you say
dragons
?
This may be Kassina’s trickery. If it really
is
Vartan, and
he is in the company of dragons, ask him to name any of the dragons
he accompanies.” Andrielle’s eyes revealed her confidence that
Helenia was wrong.

Helenia's eyes glazed over momentarily; then
she smiled as she turned her beaming face to her mother.

“He is with Karven and Nymira, King and Queen
of the Dragons.”

Andrielle was frozen still for a moment as
the realisation sank in. Suddenly she rose from her chair, equally
full of disbelief and hope. “I truly can’t believe it. Dragons
still live among us, after all this time? Of course, we will open
the tree canopy immediately.
Ineant omnes
.”

Sounds of wood creaking and groaning heavily
filled the city, as the giant trees began to move. In the centre of
Veldrenn, beams of bright daylight broke through the trees as the
sky opened up.

They all looked to the sky with anticipation,
which quickly turned to disappointment. Dryden drew his sword and
the other knights followed, surrounding Andrielle. "I don't see
dragons—I see nothing but open air. This may indeed be Kassina's
trickery! Protect the queen!"

Two heavy objects landed on elven soil
together, shaking the ground slightly with their graceful entrance.
Rumbles were heard around the city and all inhabitants of the city
stared in wonder as nothing but fresh giant footprints could be
seen in the grass. The knights held their ground around Queen
Andrielle, hands gripping their swords tightly.

“What now, my Queen?” asked Dryden.

“Stay your weapons and remain by my side. If
these really are dragons, they mean us no harm,” she replied. The
knights followed her order and sheathed their swords, a firm grip
remaining on their hilts. As the dragons slowly revealed
themselves, there was a collective sharp intake of breath when
their forms came into view. Both Karven and Nymira were suited from
head to claws in their complete magical dragon armour and stood
side by side. Their scales provided them with protection against
hand-held weaponry, but they were taking no chances travelling into
Marithia with Kassina roaming free, as she was likely to empower
her armies with weapons powerful enough to dispatch dragons.

Andrielle spoke loudly and clearly. “People
of Veldrenn, let us pay our respects to the King and Queen of the
Dragons.”

The entire city fell to one knee and bowed
their heads as the dragons slowly retracted their giant wings.
There was an overwhelming silence; the only sounds were those of
the trees as they slowly bent back into their protective
positions.

“Welcome, Karven and Nymira. We are humbled
by your presence. I hope that you feel at home in our city. I must
say, it truly is an honour to have you here with us. After all,
dragons were thought to be extinct—thank the gods that it isn't the
case. May I ask, is Vartan really with you?”

“Of course I am here, my Queen,” Vartan
replied. The dragons moved aside to reveal Vartan standing behind
them, clutching a large wooden chest. Princess Helenia wept with
joy as she ran to Vartan, who dropped the chest to the ground as
they threw their arms around each other in a loving embrace.
Andrielle and the knights stared wide-eyed as Helenia placed a soft
kiss on Vartan’s lips. Queen Andrielle smiled uneasily as she saw
true love in her daughter’s eyes for the first time, but was torn
with the parental instinct of protecting her daughter.

Andrielle spoke with a wavering voice.
“Vartan, I can’t believe you’re alive. I thought you were…”

“
Dead
, my queen? I thought the same
fate had befallen yourself and Helenia.”

Karven turned his great head to Andrielle,
sensing the mixed emotions in her body. “Thank you for the warm
welcome. Our kind has not always been treated with such respect,
and we are aware of the general Marithian belief of our demise, but
as you can see, we are far from extinct. It is also a pleasure to
meet you in the flesh, Elven Queen Andrielle. I believe we have the
same interests and a common enemy, and so we cannot afford to waste
any time.”

“Dragons are always welcome here, Karven. Did
you have something urgent you wished to discuss with me? To what do
we owe the pleasure of this audience?” asked Andrielle.

“We seek an alliance with the elves, whom we
respect as we do our own kind. We know of the vicious attack on
Greenhaven by the dark sorceress Kassina, and what the consequences
of such a bold move are likely to be. We must join forces if we are
to have a chance of turning the tide of this war. We are indeed
powerful creatures, but are not enough in number to do this
alone.”

Andrielle smiled warmly in disbelief, the
colour returning to her face. “Dragons seek the help of the elves?
Karven, you bring the answers to our hopes and prayers, as we would
like nothing more than an alliance with the great dragons. We offer
all that we have, along with the promise that our alliance shall
never be broken."

Nymira turned to speak. “Then let it be done
and we shall speak the words of the ancients to forge our alliance,
as witnessed by the gods.”

Andrielle nodded, slowly making her way to
the dragons, who had bowed their heads down to her level. She
placed the palms of her hands on Nymira and Karven’s heads and
breathed deeply. The dragons spoke in unison, “
Speramus
amicitiae nostrae memoriam sempiternam fore.
”

The city’s inhabitants were thrown back as a
burst of green radiating energy erupted between the royals. A shiny
ball of luminescence now hovered above them as the people of the
city staggered back to their feet. Within the sphere was the
glittery outline of a dragon, an elf astride it with a sword drawn
high. Before anyone could speak, it launched itself through the
trees and up into the sky at lightning speed. Karven took a deep
breath and raised his head. “Elves of the city, you should know
that your trust is well-placed in our alliance. To prepare
ourselves for war, we will require a large quantity of the best
weapons and armour. I present to you a token gift of our newfound
alliance which should buy us all the goods we need."

Nymira craned her neck down and gently nudged
open the box with her nose to reveal thousands of diamonds and
gemstones that sparkled within. She pushed the heavy chest forward
toward the elven queen.

Andrielle smiled as she was filled with new
hope. “People of our great city, tonight we dine and celebrate the
start of a new era—the age of elves and dragons united and working
together as one!”

The people of the city cheered and the roar
of their applause was almost drowned out by the dragons blowing
jets of fire into the air.

Vampire Assassin - by Guido Leber

Chapter 7: Cat and Mouse

“War is a bitter tonic that is hard to
swallow. Death and horror will plague my nightmares until the end
of my days. Will I ever return to my life as a princess? Am I
doomed to struggle for the rest of my days?

Vartan, my love, he lives! We were torn apart
by this war, and I can only hope that he doesn’t perish and leave
me broken-hearted and alone in Marithia.”

(Princess Helenia of Veldrenn)

The fire crackled loudly as it sent embers
flying into the air. The Jade Inn’s fireplace warmed and lit the
chilled faces of those who sheltered within. As a contrast to its
usually lively atmosphere, this evening the inn was eerily
silent.

Tusdar stared through the foggy window and
caught a wolf as it howled deep into the dark night, its furry form
atop a mountain shadowed by the bright light of the moon. He
brought a cold cup of ale to his lips and drank deeply. He wiped
away the froth and broke the silence. “Enough, people - that’s
enough
! Yes, we are in dark times, but let us celebrate and
defy the tyrants that silence us."

A man in the crowd shrugged. “Celebrate?” he
sneered. “What do we have to
celebrate
, Tusdar? Greenhaven
is lost to us, and if our greatest city could fall... What hope do
any of us have? It’s only a matter of time before they come for the
rest of us. Everyone I know is dead at the hands of that witch
Kassina, and you expect me to celebrate?”

Hildar put down a bottle at the bar with a
piercing thud, interrupting them both. His smile was infectious and
his eyes glinted as if still hopeful. “Indeed, Tusdar, we
should
celebrate! By the grace of the gods, we still have
our lives, and that alone is worthy of a celebration, isn't
it?"

A strikingly beautiful woman with long black
hair covering most of her face, wearing ornate silky clothing, sat
close to the fire, a violin poking out of her bag. Her chest heaved
as she sighed, facing the fire, “Perhaps we are all missing the
point. Your words are truer than an arrow piercing the heart. Thank
you for giving us hope, in a time when all seems lost.”

Hildar poured a half glass of ale and slid it
roughly across the floor to come to a shaky stop by her legs.
“Sweet songstress, here's a drink on the house. Others may not
recognise you, but I would know that famed voice anywhere. Lynn,
would you be as kind as to sing for us and raise our spirits?"

Lynn turned her head and smiled warmly. She
nodded in agreement and took out her instrument. Taking a deep
breath through her full, red lips, she blew the dust off her
violin. Everyone’s eyes fell on her in anticipation as she laid her
bow into position. As she played the first sweet, soft note, they
closed their eyes and thought of happier times.

She parted her lips and began to sing “The
Legend of Talonsphere”:

“
In blood of scales and days of kings,
came a boy to save us all.

Let us sing in merriment, our voices large
and small.

For all we fear in the shadows, will be
destroyed with the light.

Talonsphere rises from the ground, and
brings fire to the night.”

Suddenly the inn’s door creaked opened slowly
and two tall figures stepped through it. Everyone’s hair stood on
end and a chill tickled their spines as they recognised the dark
presences that had entered the room. The songstress gasped and
lowered her violin as her song was interrupted, and all turned to
see Kassina and Derian, arms crossed, standing in front of the
now-closed door. Derian wore his royal robes and his father's
crown. Kassina stood tall, with her hair draped over the leather
shoulders of her corset and covering the right half of her face.
Daggers were bound across her ribs and her tight pants disappeared
into a pair of leather boots laced to her knees. The hilts of a
pair of swords peeked out from behind her shoulders.

Tusdar reached behind his seat slowly and
grasped Vartan’s bow, which was still resting against his chair.
Sweat formed on his brow and his heart pounded in his chest.

“Songstress,” sneered Kassina, “you don’t
have to stop on our account. Please, continue on with your tale of
this
legend
.”

She took a seat with Derian near the
fireplace, crossing her legs and dangling her boot playfully. As
everyone remained silent, her smile morphed to a scowl. She twisted
her wrist and sent a bolt of lightning into one of the men closest
to her. He screamed out in agony as his body went into
convulsions.

“I said, finish the song!” Kassina snapped.
“Certainly you are not deaf as well as stupid, or I should be
surprised that you could play such an instrument.”

Hildar's eyes narrowed defiantly. “That’s
enough!” he growled. “Tell us what you want from us,
witch
."

Kassina viciously kicked back her chair as
she rose in anger, snarling at the inn’s patrons. “How dare you! Is
this how you greet your new king and queen? We should kill
everyone, here and now, solely due to your insolence. Come to think
of it, all of this is starting to make me feel hungry.” She turned
her head to Tusdar’s table, watching him from the corner of her
eye. “And please, get your hands off Vartan’s bow. I would
recognise that weapon anywhere, and I can see exactly what you are
doing. You, of all people, couldn’t handle such a weapon. I am sure
you are not in the mood for much bloodshed tonight. Would I be
right?”

Tusdar said nothing.