Quest: The Clans of Arcadia Read online

  Karn nodded and chuckled. “How you’ve changed, brother.”

  Ian leaned forward. “I have. I only want what’s best for Annielie and the child. Perhaps once things have settled down, we can return home.”

  Karn frowned. “That’s what we all hope for.” He paused. “But, it’s good your handfasting is so far off. It means we have time, and I won’t be taking you away from your new bride.”

  Ian drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. “Are we leaving already?”

  “I don’t know for certain, but I think so.” He downed the rest of his water. “I’m meeting with Lucca this afternoon. I’ll know more then.”

  Ian’s stomach growled, and he stood. “Have you had breakfast, brother?”

  Karn shook his head. “Not yet.”

  “You want to? I hear the cook here is the best in all of Govansur.”

  Karn chuckled. “Always thinking with your stomach, Ian. Lead the way.” Karn rubbed his stomach. “I could use a bite, and a mug of that spiced coffee I keep smelling.”

  Ian sniffed the air. “Now that you mention it, I could, too.”

  Karn opened his bedroom door. “So, what are we waiting for?”

  Lucca was seated on a high-backed dragon leather chair behind his cedar desk, reading through volume three-hundred and five of the Tomes of Ages. Every dragon master from the beginning had kept an account of the histories of Arcadia. Lucca tugged at his collar and swallowed hard. The heat was oppressive, even with the thick black curtains pulled back away from the window.

  Afternoon light poured through the window and onto his desk, making the heat even more unbearable. Lorna reclined on a pillow atop the chaise against the wall. She slept peacefully, as they waited for Karn to arrive.

  Lucca glanced at her sleeping figure, barely able to believe that she was his wife. He’d heard stories of the affairs she’d had with men like Caladain, but he especially loved the stories passed down by other dragon elders who’d been lucky enough to be chosen as a mate.

  She was an amazing woman with a childlike love of nature. For a moment, he longed to see the world through her eyes, even if for a second. He took a drink of spiced meade and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. It was refreshing and contained just enough herbs to bring him back into focus. He buried his head again into the book he was reading, memorizing the trials.

  Of course, there would be a ceremony before Karn set out, and a feast, but it was the first trial that concerned him the most. He’d only ever heard of water dragons, and he had no clue how to draw one out from the depths of the sea.

  Lucca had already searched through the books, and up until tome three-hundred, water dragons hadn’t even been mentioned. Urgency made his pulse race, but he was sure that he was finally in the right volume.

  He looked out the window. The afternoon was getting thin, and Karn would be there any minute. He hurriedly skimmed the pages until he found what he was looking for and read aloud.

  “Water dragons bring the rain. They are typically generous, and not to be feared. They can be summoned by stimulating the clouds with the blue flame.

  The mage who summons the water dragon must be wearing a ring of birch bark around the finger of his dominant hand, or the dragon will not appear.”

  He sighed. “And where am I to get a birch bark ring?”

  Lorna stirred and opened her eyes.

  Lucca looked up from his book. “I’m sorry, dearling. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  She cast him a heavy-lidded glance. “Well, it was time for me to awaken. Did you say something about a birch bark ring?”

  Lucca nodded and leaned back in his chair. “Yes. The only way to summon a water dragon is with the flame and a birch bark ring. I’m not sure where to find one. There are no birch trees in all of Govansur.”

  “No, there’s not.” Lorna yawned. “They grow in the Elohite lands. I’ll have to retrieve a branch and fashion it into a ring.”

  Lucca scrunched his face. “And how long will that take you, my love? Time is running out.”

  Lorna ran a hand through his blonde hair and kissed the top of his head. “Not long. I’ll take Dimera. She’s the fastest. If we leave now, we can be back by tomorrow night.”

  Sadness filled his eyes. “I hate for you to leave.”

  Lorna sat on his lap. “I’ll return. You have my word.”

  Lucca nodded.

  Lorna gave him a quick peck on the cheek, then turned to leave. She stared out the window for a second, before transforming into a goshawk. She looked back at Lucca, connecting with his thoughts. Can’t be too careful. I’ll return soon.

  Lucca watched as she flew away from the window and down to the dragons’ lair. He imagined how excited Dimera would be when she found out she was going to fly Lorna to Bardai Valley, and part of him wished he could see her face.

  Footsteps shuffled on the stone outside of his study door, and he closed the book he’d been reading. He waited patiently for the knock he knew was coming and invited his guest inside.

  Karn opened the door enough to slide through, but no further. He’d been cautioned about the secrecy of the master’s chambers, and he was careful to abide by the order’s rules. Secrecy often meant life and death for the Brehon leader, and he appreciated its importance more than most of the acolytes.

  Lucca stood. “Welcome to my chambers, Karn. Please have a seat.” He motioned to the chair situated in front of his desk. “We have much to discuss, and you have much to learn.”

  Karn sat down and leaned back against the high-backed chair. “Well, I’m here to learn, Elder Lucca.”

  Lucca grinned. “And I’m here to teach. Shall we get started?”

  Chapter Three

  MISSION

  Lorna stood alone in the midst of Bardai Valley. Dimera had flown off in search of food. The forest had begun to reclaim the village that had once been the Elohite stronghold. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The cinnamon scented magic had long left the air, but inside her mind, she felt the oppressiveness it had left behind.

  She opened her eyes and lifted her right hand. Tendrils of blue flame escaped her palm, cleaning the valley with every pass they made over the land and through the trees. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, a faint smile played on her lips as the flame erased the damage that Magnus had left behind.

  She allowed herself another moment in her human form, then transitioned back into a goshawk. She perched high in an aspen tree and scanned the horizon for the perfect birch tree from which to make Karn’s ring. To the north, an outcropping of birch trees grew near the mouth of the Braiden river. She lurched from the branch and soared into the sky.

  Magnus surveyed the Braiden river that created the border between the Maekel and Elohite lands from atop his horse. Sconwin followed behind, sniffing the ground. High overhead T’argo scanned the tree line for game. It’d been days since he’d eaten, and he was hungry.

  He called to Magnus. There’s nothing here, but small animals. I need more. If I don’t find food, I’m going to start eating Fridtjof’s men. The dragon roared. I’m going to journey west and look for food.

  Magnus nodded absently. Fine, do what you must T’argo. Just don’t stay gone more than a day or two.

  T’argo grunted and turned west. I’ll be back when I’m back, Mage.

  Magnus rolled his eyes. “Sometimes I think it was better when he was only a faint voice locked inside my mind. At least with him hunting I’ll have a moments peace.”

  Sconwin whined and looked up at Magnus.

  “What, do you want wolf?”

  The giant black wolf watched him with red eyes, before turning away and returning to his hunt.

  Magnus pushed his horse further into the forest. His mind wandered to Fridtjof’s castle. It was coming along. The country’s best architects and builders worked both night and day hueing stones and positioning them. He was confident the walls would be completed, in a few more weeks, and Fridtjof would make the
move from Selindale to his new capital, Tabharthore Ahn-bahs. Soon the land would bustle with artisans, villagers and other forms of the peasantry.

  Magnus pushed his horse deep into the woods and into the clearing that had been Lorna’s worship grove. Aspens and birch trees formed a natural border that had once kept worshipers and priestesses secluded from any curious onlookers.

  Magnus dismounted his horse and inhaled deeply. For a moment he felt the blue flame tug at his mind. He squinted and looked around. “Her magic should not be here, Sconwin.”

  The black wolf sniffed the ground and pointed. His eyes glowed bright red despite the shade of the gigantic trees. He glanced at Magnus then to a towering birch tree. Magnus scanned the branches with the flame-sight.

  Hidden within the trees was a goshawk. “Ah, what do we have here?”

  He lifted his hand and shot a cord of red flame in the direction of the bird. It moved, darting out of the way. He sent another burst of magic, this time up into the sky. The red cords wrapped themselves around the bird, closing its wings, and it plummeted toward the ground. Magnus flicked his wrist and slowed its descent. The bird landed with a solid thump on the grass.

  She fought against the magic, her voice shrieking as she pulled against the ropes. Magnus laughed and took a step toward her. “Thought you could fool me with that disguise, Lorna?”

  He lifted the bird into the air and searched its golden eyes. “Yes, I see you.” He dropped her to the ground again. This time she writhed in pain. She fought against the transformation, but it was no use. The power of Elanvanin’s magic was too strong for her to escape.

  She looked up at Magnus through the locks of hair that had fallen over her face. She shook her head so that she could see better. “What do you want, mage? You can’t keep me prisoner. My strength is already returning.” The blue-flame danced wildly in her eyes.

  He laughed violently. “I know I can’t keep you here, but I needed you to see something.” He motioned for Sconwin to come closer to Lorna. The wolf lowered his face until they were eye to eye. She gasped.

  She tried to scoot back, but the animal put a massive paw on her stomach, pinning her to the ground. She leaned backward, turning her head away from Sconwin’s huge jowls and drooling mouth. “How is this possible?”

  Magnus cackled. “He came to me years ago. It seems someone trapped him inside the wolf. How do you think I found the Bryahn stone and staff? Or the entrance to Tirnailneahm?”

  Lorna shrugged. “I didn’t know. Nor do I care. You’re just a small pawn in Elanvanin’s game, and he will dispose of you when he’s through playing.” Her eyes smiled. “He doesn’t need you, mage.”

  Magnus shook his head. “I think he does goddess.” Magnus unholstered the staff at his waist. He pointed the end at Lorna.

  The Bryahn stone sat inside a thorny finial. It glowed crimson red. “You seemed surprised that Elanvanin was in this guise. If you didn’t trap him there, who could have done it?” He touched her shoulder with the end of his staff, and the skin sizzled beneath its heat.

  Lorna grimaced. “I couldn’t say, but whoever did this is a powerful wizard. Perhaps an elf?”

  Magnus lowered his staff. “An elf? You expect me to believe that? There haven’t been elves in hundreds of years.”

  Lorna looked to the sky, using her flame sight to search for Dimera. The dragon was only a few miles away. She looked back at Magnus. “And you know everything, mage?”

  Magnus furled his eyebrows, and anger spread across his face. She felt the cords around her tighten, but the blue flame was growing inside her, restoring her power. She glanced at Sconwin, who still had her pinned to the ground. “Stuck in a mutt.” She laughed.

  Sconwin growled, digging his claws into her stomach, and swiping his paw across her bare flesh, leaving a three lined gash. Lorna gasped, but a smile still clung to her lips. “Look how far you’ve descended, Elanvanin. From the creator of Arcadia to serving a worthless mage, a child who thinks he knows everything there is to know about the land we created. It must be infuriating not to be able to put him in his place.”

  Sconwin lowered his head, and his breath fell hard on Lorna’s skin as he bared his teeth. She held her breath and allowed the blue flame to fill her body, with a burst of blue light, the cords broke, and Lorna was once again a goshawk. Startled, Sconwin jumped back, knocking Magnus onto the ground.

  In the mele, Lorna lurched into the sky, the gash on her stomach bled, leaving droplets of crimson in her wake. Suddenly, Dimera emerged from the tree line, and Lorna called to her. The green dragon filled the sky above Magnus and blew fire into the clearing. Aspens, birches, and cedars burst into flame, and heavy black smoke filled the air.

  Magnus shielded himself and Sconwin with a wall of red flame and retreated in the direction of Tabharthore Ahn-bahs.

  Lorna disappeared into the trees, scooping up a small birch branch in her feet. As she turned northward toward the dragon’s keep, her body went limp, and she fell.

  Dimera swooped down, catching her just above the treetops. She cradled Lorna against her chest. “I’ll have you home soon, my lady. Take it easy.”

  Barely conscious, Lorna stumbled through the window of the bedchamber she shared with Lucca and collapsed onto the bed. She called out to Lucca with her mind, and he hurried up the stairs.

  He threw open the doors, and rushed to her side, the healer, Milania, behind him. Milania gently touched Lorna’s wounds. They were bright red, festering, and smelled like a mixture of cinnamon and human waste. The healer coughed.

  “Elder, this is bad, it’s a magic wound, and far beyond my ability to heal, even with your gift.”

  Lucca’s eyes widened. “What did you get yourself into, my lady?” He gently ran his hand across Lorna’s forehead; she was burning up. “Do what you can Milania. I’ll get Karn. Maybe he can help.”

  Milania nodded. “Good idea, perhaps together you can heal her?” She felt around Lorna’s body for additional wounds, and a small birch branch fell from Lorna’s waistband. “Elder, what’s this? It fell from her trousers.”

  Lucca took the branch and kissed Milania’s cheek. “She did it, Milania. She did it!”

  Lucca gently squeezed Lorna’s hand. “Good job, my love. Keep her as comfortable as you can, and I’ll return shortly.”

  “Of course, Elder.”

  Karn followed Lucca into his room. Lorna tossed and turned on the bed, writhing in pain. The festering wound, glowed bright red, as though the red flame had entered her bloodstream and was fighting with the magic inside her veins.

  “What exactly do you plan for us to do, Lucca?”

  “Do you remember Tiernan’s funeral?”

  Karn nodded.

  “Take my hand, and we’ll merge our magic into one.”

  Karn grabbed Lucca’s extended hand. Blue flame sparked between their fingers, and Lucca channeled it out of his other palm. He gently rested his hand on Lorna’s stomach. The flesh started to knit back together, but stopped and reopened. Lucca tried again. Blue light buzzed around his palm and into the wound.

  Sweat broke out on Karn’s face as the energy faded from his body and flowed into Lucca’s. It was all he could do to keep standing.

  Lucca concentrated harder, gathering as much power as he could muster between the two mages. Lorna’s wounds started to heal once more. The flesh slowly closed on itself, and the infection disappeared.

  Lucca and Karn fell to their knees. After a long minute, Karn spoke. “Did that work?”

  “I’m not sure. I hope so. I don’t think we could do that again anytime soon.” Lucca grabbed the end of the bed and pulled himself to his feet.

  He examined Lorna’s stomach. “The wounds are healed.” He reached out to Lorna’s mind, but couldn’t find her. A tear slid from his eye. “Karn, she’s not here, and I don’t know where she’s gone.”

  Fear crept into Karn’s face. “What do you mean, Lucca? Where could she go?”

  Lucca shrugged. �
��I don’t know. She’s lost. I’ll search the books and see if there’s something I can do to bring her back. But, for now, I just.” His voice cracked. “I don’t know.” He hung his head.

  Karn could barely breathe, as he realized Lorna’s voice was no longer with him. “What do we do now?”

  Lucca straightened and pulled at his robe. “We keep her comfortable. Milania will look after her.” He pulled the blanket over Lorna and turned to face Karn.

  “We can’t let this stop the trials, but for them to start, we need a birch ring.” Lucca handed him the small birch branch that had been sitting on a trunk next to a candle.

  “All I have is this. Lorna was going to fashion it when she got back. My magic isn’t strong enough to do it.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “But, you’re the chosen. Yours might be.” Lucca watched him expectantly.

  Karn held the branch in the palm of his right hand and closed his fingers around it. “I’ll try. What specifications does it need?”

  “It just needs to be a ring made of birch, which fits a finger on your dominant hand.”

  Karn nodded and closed his hand around the wood. He squeezed it and opened his mind. In the darkness of his thoughts, Karn felt the wood bend and twist forming intertwined triquetra knots and creating a perfect circle. He opened his eyes and palm, resting on his hand was a small white ring. He slid it onto the finger of his right hand.

  “That, my friend, is the first step. Now, we feast and have a send-off for you to begin the trials. We can’t delay, no matter how much we want to.” He glanced at Lorna.

  Karn rested a hand on Lucca’s shoulder. “She’ll recover. Have faith, Elder.”

  Lucca nodded. “All I have is faith, Karn. All I have.”

  Chapter Four

  CHARGE