Quest: The Clans of Arcadia Read online

  Copyright: © 2018 by Arwen Chandler, all rights reserved

  Published in The United States of America

  By Arwen Chandler, Beeville, TX

  Manufactured in The United States of America

  First edition published 2018

  Cover art and jacket design © 2018 Susan Elliott

  The Clans of Arcadia

  Quest

  Arwen Chandler

  Thank you for always believing in me, my love.

  Chapter One

  PEACE

  Blue light bounced from torch to torch as the procession snaked up the side of the mountain. Darkness fell hard across her shoulders. She could almost taste the pain welling in her throat. What seemed like months had passed, but in reality, it was no more than a few days. So much had happened. She dabbed at her eyes with a silk handkerchief, then placed it back inside her bodice. She searched the darkness for his hand, and only relaxed when she felt his strong fingers intertwined with hers.

  In the distance, a fine blue mist swirled around the dragon’s keep. Blue flamed torches lined the pathway, from the base of the keep to the open courtyard. The melodious timbre of voices drifted upon the night air, and the sound of skindrums echoed across the plateau and down into the valley. The blue-flamed torches kept time with each beat that bounced on the breeze.

  Lilia pulled her wrap tightly around her shoulders and climbed the last step to the landing. The land sprawled out before her. The dragon bards stood in a circle around a tall pyre.

  In front of the pyre, Lucca stood on a rock formation. His formal robes billowed around his legs, as the wind pushed behind him. His neck chains picked up the flickering motion of the fire. They seemed to dance in the darkness, shimmering like dragon’s scales.

  A knot crept into her throat as the song died down, and she no longer suppressed the sobs tearing at her heart. Karn placed his arm around her, drawing her close to his side. “It’ll be okay, dear one.”

  Lilia nodded, but her body quivered with pain. “I…I know it will. It just hurts so much.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as Lucca raised his hands.

  “Friends. We have gathered on this solemn occasion to remember the life of Tiernan Maekel, and to send his soul to Lorna’s lands.” Lucca cleared his throat and motioned to the raven-haired woman at his side. She stepped forward; her skin glowed softly in the moonlight.

  “My children,” she glanced at Lilia then at Annielie, “do not despair. You’ll see my servant again when you enter my lands of rest. He’s taken his place in service to me, beside my priestesses.”

  The crowd gasped, and Lorna lifted a hand. “I know it hasn’t been done before, but these times are changing. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors that Caladain has returned.

  The man laid to rest before you has been a friend to him and a brother-in-arms. He’s been invaluable to me here in Arcadia, and I know he’ll prove more so in my lands.”

  The goddess tossed her raven hair over her shoulder, and it made a sound like falling leaves. “He is one of mine, and he will be remembered as such.” Her violet eyes danced. “Perhaps a ballad, my Lord Catlett, for your dragon bards to sing?”

  Lord Catlett nodded. “Anything for you, my lady.”

  Ian glanced at Karn, then to Annielie. She rubbed her hand absently across her stomach, and Ian smiled. He cast a quick glance at Merek, Durst, Loegare, Caderyn, and Mercer. Their faces were filled with awe, and their eyes followed every move the goddess made.

  Ian chuckled softly, and Karn cocked his head in his direction, shooting him a warning look. Ian shrugged, and mouthed “Sorry, brother,” and Karn turned away.

  He looked back to Lorna, and she smiled at him. Karn bent over close to Lilia’s ear. “You realize your brother is with my wife.”

  Lilia’s eyes glistened, as she whispered back, “And how does that make you feel, my love?”

  Karn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The flame coursed through his veins, and he followed it as it circulated through his body. It reminded him of the future he was fated to confront as soon as the days of mourning ended. He opened his eyes. “Surprisingly, I find it comforting.”

  Lilia rested her head on his shoulder and gazed up at Tiernan’s shrouded form, falling into memories, and losing herself in her thoughts. “I wish life were different.”

  Karn kissed her hand. “If it were, I’d be home with Elenora, and we’d never have met.”

  Lilia nodded, “Yes. That’s true, but you’d still have your clan. Maybe my father would be alive, and Tiernan would still be next in line to become chieftain.”

  Karn studied Tiernan’s shrouded form, and the memories of the fire in Bardai Valley flooded his mind. He pushed the pain aside and took a long breath. “We can not live in what-ifs, Lilia. It does no one good.” The flame danced in his unnaturally blue eyes. “Believe me, I know.”

  She sighed. “I suppose.”

  The feverish cadence of the skindrums drew their attention back to Lucca and Lorna. The pair stood precariously close to the edge of the rock formation in the center of the gathering. Lucca’s robes billowed, and Lorna’s raven hair lashed across her shoulders with each burst of wind.

  Lucca took Lorna’s left hand, and from their extended right hands blue flame spiraled into the center of the gathering and stopped with the last beat of the drums.

  Without a breath of silence, the dragon bards started singing again. Their song filled the air with minor chords and low dulcet tones.

  Inside the spiral of flames, Tiernan walked beside a black-haired woman through a magnificently manicured garden. Oversized roses in every color bloomed in the warmth of the sun. In the center of the garden a large rectangular pond rippled with the breeze, and frogs jumped from lily pad to lily pad. In the distance behind the couple, was a towering temple. The pair stopped, and the woman pointed to something out of view. Tiernan waved, a broad grin stretched across his face.

  Lilia chuckled. “Something has made him smile. I wish I knew what it was.” She studied the black-haired woman, she looked familiar, but she couldn’t quite place her. “Is that her, your Elenora?”

  Karn nodded.

  “She’s beautiful, Karn.”

  “Yes, she is.”

  Silence settled between them and despite the joy she felt at seeing Tiernan at peace, tears welled in her eyes. “I know you miss her.” She choked on her words.

  Karn pulled her so that she stood in front of him. The flame danced in his eyes. “I do, but she is my past. You, Lilia, are my future.”

  The tears spilled down Lilia’s pale cheek, and she leaned into him. “And you are mine. You know we’re the same. You’ve lost your clan, and I’ve lost mine with Tiernan gone.”

  Karn draped his arm over her shoulders. “We’ll make a new clan.” They turned back to the image of Tiernan and Elenora. Tiernan ran his hand through his blond hair and laughed again when a butterfly landed on his finger.

  A smile returned to Lilia’s face. “He looks happy.” She watched a moment more, and the image collapsed upon itself as the blue flame disappeared and the bards stopped their song. “It is enough to know he’s happy.” She took a deep breath, and for the first time in days, it didn’t hang in her throat.

  Lucca motioned to Lilia. “Would you step forward and speak of your brother?”

  Lilia nodded and walked to the center of the field. She stood beside Tiernan’s pyre. She waved for Annielie to join her, and reluctantly she walked away from Ian.

  “Tiernan was devoted. He was devoted to me, our father, our clan, and his wife, Annielie.” She paused and hugged Annielie. “It’ll be okay, Sister.”

  Annielie blew her nose softly into her handkerchief. �
��I know.” She studied her feet, unable to look into the crowd.

  Lilia scanned the faces of those in attendance. There were only a few she knew, but she recognized some of the acolytes from when their party first arrived at the Dragon’s Keep.

  She cleared her throat. “Tiernan and I grew up believing in the harsh teachings of Elanvanin. We believed in his ways, and we followed him. We were wrong.” Lilia glanced at her boots, then looked back up.

  “In the last few months we’ve come to worship the goddess, and it does my heart good amidst this great pain to see that she…” She looked up at Lorna, “that you, my lady, have taken us under your wing, and welcomed us to your people.”

  Lorna’s body shimmered and disappeared, reappearing at Lilia’s side. “I am here for you, my child. Your brother will not be forgotten. He laid down his life in battle to protect my chosen one. Tiernan’s place is sealed, as is yours.”

  Lilia wiped the tears from her face. “Thank you.”

  Lorna kissed her forehead then shimmered again, this time reappearing beside Lucca.

  “The Maekels have an ancient poem titled, The Journey, that has been recited at the funerals of our chieftains for centuries. Typically, it is read by the chief historian, but tonight I will take his place.

  She glanced up at Tiernan’s sleeping form. It is true, brother, that you never sat upon Anwell’s throne, but I believe it is fitting to recite it to you today, but first…” She paused, biting her lip. “I stand here before these witnesses, proclaiming the loss of our chieftain.”

  Lilia’s voice strengthened with each word she spoke, “and as is my right, bestowed on me by blood, I, Lilia daughter of Anwell Maekel, lay claim to my birthright as the next chieftain of the Maekel clan, and ruler of the Maekel lands.

  Anger flashed in her eyes, “I pledge to you brother, that I will thrust Fridtjof through with your blade, and exact vengeance upon him and those who follow him without mercy.”

  Excitement traveled through the gathering like electricity. Lilia waited for the feeling to dissipate before proceeding. “Now, I will recite The Journey.

  Go now loved one,

  to the fields of green.

  Your hunt is just beginning

  as your autumn turns to spring.

  While life for you is over

  with the setting of the sun.

  Our hearts will always follow you,

  Now your journey has begun.

  When we think of you in the future,

  We’ll remember days gone by,

  and to those precious memories,

  our minds will often fly.

  Go now onto your travels,

  Our hearts will not repine,

  and in a future place,

  we will sing again

  where our love will ever shine.

  Lilia wiped a tear from her eye and walked back to Karn. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. “Well done, Lilia.”

  Her heart pounded in her ears, and her body trembled as if the proclamation of her ascension and the finality of Tiernan’s death had finally settled into reality. “There has never been a female chieftain.”

  Karn kissed her temple. “It is time for you to lead. As the goddess said, times are changing.” He smiled, and they turned their attention back to Tiernan’s funeral pyre.

  Lorna motioned to Lucca. “It’s time, husband.”

  He signaled to a small purple dragon. “Aslaug, please step forward.”

  The dragon was smaller than the others in attendance but walked with confidence. She stopped beside the pyre and took a deep breath. Smoke billowed from her nostrils, and a bright orange flame burst from between her lips.

  The pyre erupted into flames, and the dragon bards sang another song. The wood crackled and popped as the flame-engulfed Tiernan’s final resting place. High above their heads, dragons circled beneath the stars like dancers in the sky.

  Chapter Two

  FUTURE

  Karn rubbed the sleep from his eyes and inhaled the intoxicating smell of spiced coffee that drifted in through his window. Lucca had prepared quarters for his company fit for royalty, and Karn was still trying to adapt to the luxury thrust upon him. He laughed as he slid his boot over his stockinged foot. “I could get used to this.”

  He finished dressing and pulled his long hair into a ponytail. Karn crossed the room and leaned onto the windowsill. In the courtyard below, dragons walked and flew from here to there.

  Karn scratched his head. His thoughts drifted to his clan mage, Fergus, and his dragon familiar Rendor. He wasn’t sure how Fergus had united with his dragon, but he knew it was an old tradition that had been carried on for centuries.

  It was, however, something Fergus had refused to speak of, even when he had tried to persuade Karn to become the next Elohite mage. Karn’s pulse quickened as the thought of pain entered his mind, but he quickly pushed the idea away. He grimaced. No sense in worrying about something I don’t know.

  He inhaled the crisp morning air, and a feeling of peace washed over him. A small dragon entered the courtyard, and Karn watched her as she made her way toward the training corral.

  His thoughts turned to the cryptic conversations he’d had with Lucca since arriving at the Dragon’s Keep. From what he’d gathered, he wasn’t going to merge with his dragon, but instead form a mental connection, a bond. The pair would be unified, yet separate.

  He scrunched his face, unsure if he wanted to establish a mental bond with a dragon or merge with one, but he didn’t see any way out. Lorna had been quite insistent he’d become a dragon rider and usher in a new age of dragon riders across the kingdom. After all, who would be better to protect the land from Fridtjof and his mage, Magnus, than a trained group of riders?

  Karn exhaled, watching the young dragon fly around the courtyard. Her purple scales glittered in the sunlight.

  The dragon looked up in his direction and cocked her head to the side making eye contact with him. Karn was impressed with the intellect he saw in her eyes. He watched her for a moment longer, then turned his back to the window.

  The sound of rapping knuckles on wood drew his attention to the door between his and Ian’s room, and he quickly opened it. “Need something, brother?”

  Ian crossed the room and sat down in an overstuffed leather chair. He pushed his long blonde hair away from his face and tucked a strand behind his ear. “Yes. We need to talk.” Ian chewed on his bottom lip.

  Karn knit his brows. “What’s on your mind?”

  Ian glanced out of the window, then looked at Karn. “Annielie.”

  Karn pulled up a chair next to Ian. “What about Annielie?”

  “She’s with child, Karn.”

  The color disappeared from Karn’s face. “With child? Is it yours?”

  Ian shook his head. “No, it’s not mine, but I hope to raise the child as my own.” He exhaled deeply. “She’s carrying Tiernan’s baby, Karn.”

  Karn rubbed his hand over his face and rested his chin in the palm of his hand.

  Ian frowned. “You realize this means that the baby is the rightful heir to the Maekel’s chiefdom? Not Lilia.”

  Karn sighed. “It also means that if word gets back to Fridtjof, he will try to get his hands on the child once it’s born or kill them both before. For certain, Annielie is not safe outside these castle walls, Ian. She can’t leave.”

  Fear gripped Ian’s throat like the hands of a blacksmith. “I hadn’t even considered the possibility that they were in danger.” Ian closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of the chair. “It seems trouble never ends, brother.”

  Karn patted his leg. “Man’s days are full of sorrow, brother. ” He paused. “Does Lilia know about the baby?”

  “She knows it’s a possibility.”

  Karn chewed on his lip. “Well, it certainly changes things, but I don’t think it’ll matter, at least in the short term.”

  Ian knit his brows, “Why not?”

  “Well, the baby won
’t be born for several months, and when he or she is, it won’t be able to govern.” Karn glanced out the window, wishing he were out in the courtyard instead of inside.

  “Of course, it won’t, but will Lilia abdicate the chiefdom back to the child?” Worry filled Ian’s eyes. “I’m afraid there’ll be contention between Annielie and Lilia, and we need a united front at this time more than ever.” Ian leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.

  “Stress isn’t good for the child or Annielie, either. The healer visited her this morning and confirmed the baby is due in early winter. She also told her to get as much rest as possible. Annielie’s not well, Tiernan’s death eats at her.”

  Karn clapped Ian’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. No harm will come to Annielie or the child, and I know Lilia will do the right thing and abdicate the clan back to the child. She only claimed her birthright so we can unite Arcadia under one banner. Strategically it was the only thing to do. People will see the Maekels and Elohites are one in purpose. Once I take the high throne of Arcadia from Fridtjof’s hands, and the child comes of age, his land will be returned to him.”

  “Or her.” Ian sighed. “I’m sure it’ll be a relief to Annielie. Right now everything is pressing on her mind, and even though she was reluctant to marry Tiernan, she wants to raise the child as he would have wanted.”

  Karn smiled. “Please tell Annielie to stop worrying. Her child will be treated as any child of a chieftain should be.” Karn stood. “Between you and me, you’re going to have difficulties raising Tiernan’s child because you are an Elohite. Some will protest.” Karn poured himself a mug of water and took a drink. “Ian have you given any thought to when you’ll have your handfasting?”

  Ian glanced out the window. “Well, according to Maekel tradition, Annielie will be in mourning for at least three months, and then there’s a month of purification before the ceremony. We were thinking at the winternights festival, but if you ask me, it won’t be soon enough.” Ian sighed. “And, really I guess the timing will ultimately depend upon what we find out about these trials.”