Chasm is dead.
Damara let herself sink a little farther into the pond, let the water rise and crawl into her ears.
We’re safe.
All the sounds of the forest were muffled underwater and she closed her eyes, listening. She was in the back woods of Tyrone’s house, with her washed clothes hanging out to dry.
There’s nothing in the water. Relax.
It had only been a day since she ended Chasm’s life. The clutch was safe inside the house. Last thing she’d seen of the others was Kara ordering Tyrone to get some decent sleep. She figured the dragons were back at the refugee camp, helping everyone get on their way back into the world.
There’s so much in need of restoring, but why did Tyrone say he was concerned for the dragons?
Who did he send Ivory to?
I suppose everything is out of my hands now. Everything but…
Xander.
Shadows wavered over her brother’s eyes as she imagined his face. It’d been so long since she’d seen him. She couldn’t place any expression on him; he was just there, torchlight casting a warm glow on his skin. It’d been so long…and yet it felt so real.
“Damara?” Kara’s voice penetrated the water.
She opened her eyes as her head broke the surface, hair sopping wet. Through the reeds, she could see the aging woman standing on the path.
“Yes?” Damara called out from the shallows.
“Get dressed and come back to the house, child,” Kara said. “There’s someone here to see you.”
Who?
Damara could hear heavy feet grinding the ground as the woman trekked back up the path, disappearing behind a clump of scraggly pines.
Water dripped from Damara’s body when she stood, free of the grime that once claimed her. She paused, noticing her reflection wavering before her. Looking down, she saw the pale marks that spotted her chest from Chasm’s talons. The healed arrow graze was sure to streak her leg for the rest of her life. Bruises and scrapes still scored her skin from her thrashing in the avalanche and her struggle in the Earthen Cauldron.
Damara saw it all, and remained expressionless.
Each scar was a reminder, a lesson learned never to be forgotten.
Up on the shore, she dried herself off and sorely pulled on her dress. Heading back for the house, she wondered who could possibly be there for her.
If only I weren’t so stiff, she complained, huffing up the steep path. I’ll be a century old by the time I reach whoever’s waiting on me!
Despite her aching, Damara reached the top and stood behind the stable house. Hearing voices inside, she walked around to the entrance and peered in.
Faren’s father!
He stood, holding the reins of a donkey.
“Thank you again for taking care of her,” the man spoke to Kara, who waved his words away.
“No problem at all, Lief.” The woman chuckled, patting the donkey’s neck. “Wasn’t the first time I looked after someone else’s animal.”
“Damara!” a shrill voice cried out in delight.
She was caught off guard as Faren seized her waist from behind.
“Hey you!” Damara winced, twisting about to face the child.
“Lynx said you made the evil dragon go away.” Faren’s face beamed from a frame of crinkled red hair.
“Did he?” Damara was surprised.
I’d have thought he’d lie and take all the credit for himself.
“Is it true?” Faren’s brother, Ramsey, asked, trotting up to her with cautious curiosity. “Did you behead it in midair?”
“Nothing that drastic,” she told him, somewhat amused.
He crossed his arms, looking disappointed. The children’s mother approached from the grove and laid a hand on her son’s shoulder. She eyed Damara without a word, still seemingly uneasy, though in a different way now than before.
Let her stare, Damara told herself. She knows her family’s safe because of me…
“Bliss!” Faren rejoiced, running to the donkey as it was led outside by Lief. She petted the animal’s muzzle, laughing when it blew air from its nostrils into her face. Lief picked her up, placing her in the saddle.
“Come on, Ram.” The father hoisted his son up into the seat behind his sister. He turned to his wife, reaching out to her. “Would you like some help, Love?”
“I think I’ll walk with you instead.” The woman smiled and took his hand.
They’re leaving…
“Where will you go?” Damara asked, feeling helplessly isolated as she faced the family. Kara came and stood beside her with a friendly pat on the arm.
Faren’s mother looked to her husband and he squeezed her hand.
“We’re heading into the mountains, us and the other refugees,” Lief answered. “We’ve been told of the treasures buried there. The dragons offered to help us dig them up.”
They’re going to find the Golden Dragon’s hoard?
I might never see Faren again.
Damara lifted her eyes to see the child, who was currently enraptured by her brother’s warning of ghosts.
“They’ll especially want your hair,” Ramsey told her, playing with Faren’s red locks. “You better stay close to me tonight!”
Faren’s giggle was like a bubbling stream, reminding Damara of what it was like to be merry without worries.
“Fairy,” she said. A sad smile fell on her lips as the little girl met her gaze.
“You called me Fairy!” the child triumphed.
Damara’s lips parted, but she couldn’t think of what to say.
Her parents are waiting on me, she sensed. This is it.
“Hey,” she said, reaching up to give Faren a hug. “Don’t go wandering off again. Your family loves you.” She spoke those last words, hoping Faren considered her as a part of that family.
The child’s hazel green eyes peered back at her intently. The curve of her cheek was soft, her skin blush pink. Damara marveled at the child’s youth. She could scarcely remember being so pure, herself.
Faren’s face alit suddenly as her gaze fell on Damara’s hand. “Your ring!” she said, delighted. “It is magical! I’m with my family again, like you wished!”
That’s right, Damara recalled, studying the ivory fish hugging her finger. My promise to Faren came true.
“Let me see!” Ramsey piped up, peering over his sister’s shoulder.
Damara gave a slight smile.
I promised her something I couldn’t ensure, and yet- by some blessed happening I haven’t been made a liar. Faren’s with her family again.
Now what about me?
“Good day,” Lief interrupted her thoughts. He nodded to Damara and led his family away.
She watched them walk along the path and past the orchard, aching inside.
Faren turned in her seat and called, “I love you, Damara!”
Overwhelmed, Damara pressed her fingers against her lips with one hand and waved with the other. She doesn’t know this is goodbye, she thought, hearing the lightheartedness in the child’s voice. Maybe it’s better this way…
A prickling sensation in her eyes preceded the tears that tickled her cheeks.
She’s safe, Damara promised herself, seeing the donkey’s rump completely disappear into the forest. I did all I could for her.
“Sweet child,” Kara startled Damara. “It’s a shame they don’t all come that innocent.”
“Yeah.” Damara dried her eyes, thankful that her voice was steady. “How is the clutch? Have any more eggs hatched?”
“My!” the woman exclaimed. “I’d nearly forgotten about them! Oh, the mess they leave!” She hurried towards the house.
Damara followed at a much slower pace, breathing in deeply. The air was sweetened by the summer fruit of the orchard. The sun was warm on her skin. Birds all around trilled Wik-khur! Wik-ik-khur! The trees seemed to be celebrating, aspens waving their leaves like flags, cedars twitching their needles like whiskers.
&n
bsp; On her approach, Damara heard a small clattering from inside the house. With caution, she opened the door and stepped in, quickly shutting it behind her when she noticed a hatchling waddle closer.
“Dear Lord,” Kara grumbled, bending to set a chair back up. The black hatchling whined as it clung to the backrest and the woman gripped him around the middle. Pried from the furniture, he flapped his wings in protest until she set him down on the ground. It wasn’t long before he started climbing the chair again, causing it to creak and wobble.
“Why don’t you keep them in the stable house?” Damara couldn’t help but laugh, careful not to step in a glob of hatchling dung.
“Then they’d never stay in one place!” Kara shook her head in agitation. “Getting under the horses’ hooves, running out that big entrance, oh no. Besides, here I can make sure Tyrone’s getting his rest.” She shot her brother a look, where he lay staring at the ceiling.
“With all the noise?” Tyrone exhaled from the wooden, pelt-smothered bedframe. “The glow wyverns were quieter than this.”
“Don’t you dare compare our father’s house to those grimy caves.” Kara put her hands on her hips. “You know I spend half my days cleaning it.”
Tyrone propped himself up on one elbow. “That’s not how I see it,” he said, eyeing the dung-scattered floor, a wry smile on his lips.
“Go to sleep!” Kara demanded.
“Alright, alright.” He lay back down with a sigh.
Damara walked to the table where the rest of the clutch was placed underneath, bedded within a heap of blankets. Four of seven eggs remained. Small cracks were forming on the shell of one, crawling outwards to gradually form a web of fractures.
“Wouldn’t you like a chair, Damon?” Kara asked.
Only then did Damara see the Wizard slouching on the ground, a couple of hatchlings snuggled up to him like pups. A cloudy blue beetle had fastened itself to his tunic like a decorative broach.
The Wizard shook his shaggy head, morose.
Is he always this way? Damara wondered. So glum…
She turned her eyes back to the hatching egg. A tiny snout was beginning to poke its way through, resting for a long time between each strain to get out.
“This one’s taking so long,” she murmured. “Should we help it?”
“Let it hatch on its own,” Tyrone said, eyes closed with his hands clasped over his chest. “It needs to strengthen itself with the effort.”
“Ty,” Kara warned, “sleep. We’re perfectly capable of watching the hatchlings on our own, thank you.”
“I know. That’s not what I’m concerned about.”
“Please, Tyrone, get some rest. We still have a few days, I’m sure.”
A few days until what? Damara wondered, unsure if it was her place to ask.
“Will you look at him…” Kara’s face appeared under the other side of the table, looking down at the sheltered clutch.
The fourth hatchling was just now poking his head through, blinking in the well-lit room. Damara was warmed by the sight, watching as the little one kicked inside his egg once, twice, three times until he pushed his body through.
“Really wanted out, didn’t he?” Kara snorted.
He sprawled on his back, working to flip himself over, his little ribcage heaving with the effort.
At last, his feet planted themselves on the ground. Slick wings folded against his slim body. A transparent slime coated him entirely, making his scales shine like the emerald in Damara’s ring.
He had to fight his way out, Damara reflected. Like me.
And now we’re free.
. . .
A few days passed and Damara still didn’t know what the future held for her.
Will I be going home soon?
She tapped the table on which she rested her cheek.
Do I even have a home anymore?
She didn’t feel right speaking up about her worries, having noticed Tyrone’s growing restlessness.
Kara placed a bowl of venison stew in front of Damara. “Damon, no beetles on the table,” she told the Wizard as one fell from his shoulder, knocked on its back.
He helped the overturned beetle onto his finger, letting it crawl its way up to his shoulder. Damara stared down at the food in front of her.
The smell of warm venison stew reminded her of her old life with Xander and Catherine’s family. She remembered how warmly she and her brother were welcomed in. How eager Xander was to be an apprentice. How good it was to belong.
I just want to go home. Damara slid the bowl aside in aching homesickness. I can’t stay here forever.
What if they don’t accept me back? She dreaded the possibility, recalling the day she ran away. What if my dream was just that- a lonesome dream?
Does Xander hate me?
Is he even alive?
The thought only made her feel worse and she crossed her arms over her stomach, unable to keep the misery from rumpling her face. She couldn’t tell if the Wizard saw her or not, with his hair over his eyes, but either way he gave no reaction.
Kara, however, wasn’t so sparing.
“My, child!” the woman exclaimed. “What’s hurting you?”
“Nothing,” Damara mumbled, holding herself tighter.
Kara looked stern, surely about to scold her, but then-
“She’s here.” Tyrone left the house immediately, disappearing from sight.
Damara watched as Kara and Damon followed after him.
Who? She got up and hurried outside, making sure to shut the heavy wooden door before any hatchlings escaped. The morning field splayed before her, edged by trees. She could see Tyrone standing with his back to her where Kara and Damon soon joined him.
Damara ventured closer, stopping beside a tree stump as she realized what they were all looking at. A woman on a horse came cantering up the path. Damara observed her fine dress and long auburn hair as she dismounted her soft grey mare.
This must be who Ivory took the message to, but who is she?
“Hello.”
From her distance, Damara could barely hear the woman’s voice, but she thought it sounded familiar. Tyrone looked frozen in place. If he responded, Damara didn’t hear him.
“Greetings! Welcome, welcome!” Kara’s words carried to Damara’s ears loud and clear. “Can I invite you inside?”
Don’t bring her into the house! Damara envisioned all the newly dropped hatchling excrement awaiting them on the floor.
Thankfully, the woman declined, seemingly shy as she stroked her horse’s mane.
Is anyone saying anything? Damara couldn’t see their mouths moving. Are they all just standing there? Who is this woman? Do they even know each other?!
“You came here alone?” Kara asked. “Knowing your brother, I figured he’d send you with a dozen guards, at least!”
What?
“He doesn’t know I’m here,” the woman answered. “No one does.”
“Well, if that’s the way it has to be.” Kara turned to Tyrone, hands on her hips. “Aren’t you going to say anything? How long has it been, a decade?”
Damara couldn’t see well enough to read their expressions.
“Tyrone,” the newcomer said, bowing her head. “I’m so sorry that Chadwick…I mean, you saved my life, and…and I just can’t believe…”
“It’s alright.” Tyrone finally spoke, hoarse.
The woman looked up at him. “But it’s not! He didn’t even give you a chance! You were his closest friend. It isn’t right…”
It can’t be…
Damara gaped as realization seeped in.
Princess Theora?!
Why did Tyrone send for the Princess?
The Princess’ mare wandered to the side, lowering her head to graze upon the grassy meadow. The group had begun to talk quietly, as though discussing something important.
Ivory soared past, a dead mouse in her talons. She landed on a wooden post nearby, practically folding over to pick
at her furry meal.
Damara watched with great curiosity as the Wizard took something from his satchel, double wrapping it in cloth before handing it to Tyrone.
“Handle this wearing gloves until it is done, then dispose of them immediately,” the Wizard warned. He looked to the Princess. “Remember what it did to you. A single drop is enough to change someone for the rest of their life. That is why I’m only giving you half-”
“Only half?” Princess Theora sounded doubtful. “You’re sure this will work? Please Damon, I’d feel better if you just came with us.”
“I prefer not to,” he answered. “You’ll have to trust me, Sister. It will work.”
The Wizard really is Princess Theora’s brother? Wouldn’t that make him a prince?!
I am so confused…
Just then, a shadow raced over Damara and she started, looking up to see Lynx fly in. He landed beside Tyrone, so close to the Princess that Damara was worried she’d be frightened.
“Who are you?” he asked bluntly, eyeing the woman.
“Lynx?!” the Princess laughed. “I can’t believe it!”
At this, even Lynx looked taken aback. But he recovered, grinning in a very conceited way as he purred, “About time people started recognizing me!”
“Lynx, it’s me, River,” the Princess told him. “You saved me from the phoenixes, remember?”
“Ah!” Lynx puffed out his chest. “How heroic of me.”
River…Damara shook her head as she remembered another dragon from her childhood, slate grey with thoughtful eyes. Her name was River, too. Wasn’t she there the night Xander introduced me to Jacinth?
Tide and Rosefinch came swooping in, eager to meet the newcomer. She met them with much excitement, seemingly enlivened by their presence.
Why doesn’t she share the King’s hatred for the dragons?
What makes her so different?
At that moment, the crowd stopped talking. Damara froze as all turned their heads to peer directly at her. Lynx was smirking. Princess Theora looked amazed.
“Come here, Damara,” Tyrone beckoned.
Go there? Stand before the Princess herself?
Damara bit her lip and sat on her hands.
“Damara, you hear us?” Kara waved. “Get over here, child!”
Reluctantly, she stood up, heart thumping as she drew near.
“I want you to meet Theo,” Kara said, touching her on the back to herd her in. “The King’s sister, our princess.”
‘Theo?’ Damara was perplexed by Kara’s informality.
The Princess did not seem to mind, however. Indeed, a smile bloomed on Theo’s face.
“Damara,” she breathed. “You have those same striking eyes, just as I remember!”
“I’m sorry?”
“Oh, I um…” The Princess looked embarrassed, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “I knew you when you were small. Of course, you wouldn’t recognize me now…”
“You knew me?”
“Yes, well…I was a dragon then.”
A dragon?! Damara stared at her in a new light.
“River!” she exclaimed, staggered by the realization. “You were River!”
The Princess nodded, simpering.
I remember now! Damon told me he gave magic of the firesap fruit to his sister. The Princess is his sister. But she’s human now, which means…he must have found a way to change her back.
But I actually spent my childhood with the Princess!
Tyrone cleared his throat. “I think it’s time we leave for Rookton.”
Rookton?! Damara immediately felt her stomach tie into knots. They’re taking me home?
“That is where you live, isn’t it?” he asked.
She forced herself to nod. That’s where I used to live…
“Very good. We’ll be paying the castle a visit first, though. I promise it won’t take long.”
Damara nodded again, feeling sick. What will Xander say when he sees me? What will he do?
“I’ll fetch my horse then,” Tyrone said, but Theo stopped him.
“Wait.” She paused, her eyes shying away from his.
Like Catherine when she’s with Xander, Damara recognized.
Worry was plain on her face. “Could you wear your armor?”
“I could, but why?”
“She likes how tough you look in it,” Lynx joked.
Everyone ignored him.
“It’s just-” Theo hesitated. “I’d feel better if you were disguised. Just in case things don’t go well.”
“People won’t recognize his suit?” Kara inquired. “That armor hasn’t given him the best reputation either, with that whole Dragon Knight rumor plaguing the kingdom.”
Theo gazed at Tyrone. “Is it standard Wystilian armor?”
“Yes.” He shrugged.
“Then no one should give it any thought.”
“Alright. Kara, will you come help me put it on?”
Tyrone walked with his sister to the house and the Princess clasped her hands together.
“I hope Chadwick listens to us,” she murmured to herself.
“Do you mean…” Damara said. “We’re going to talk to the King?”
Theo smiled. “I’ll be doing most of the talking, don’t worry.”
I don’t even see why I have to be there.
Just then, a clear butterfly fluttered past. The Wizard, still standing with them, lifted the hair out of his light grey eyes to see it and say, “What a rare bit of magic.”
Damara watched, bewildered to see him follow the butterfly as it flitted into the woods.
“Bye, Damon…” Theo said.
She gave a sad sigh, turning to face Damara and the two dragons.
Her mare trotted towards them and stood beside Tide. That horse doesn’t seem scared of dragons at all, Damara observed, then snorted. Maybe tygen berries got mixed in with her feed.
Suddenly, Lynx snorted in amusement.
“Hey, even horses are bigger than Tide!” he jabbed.
Tide blinked, unaffected.
Theo cleared her throat with a frown. “You’re more unpleasant than I remembered,” she mentioned off-handedly, smoothing down her dress.
“I’m not surprised,” he replied.
An awkward silence descended upon them. Damara felt uncomfortable as Theo laid eyes on her.
“If you don’t mind my asking…how did you kill Chasm?”
They told her? Damara shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
Lynx straightened up, piping, “She cut off his head and fed it to a sea serpent.”
“I did not.” She shot him a glare. “I barely did anything.”
Theo wore a light smile that gave her the impression she didn’t believe her. Damara stared down at her feet, wishing Tyrone would hurry up.
“I’m hungry,” Lynx declared. “Time to go roast some bats!” He sprung into the air, crashing through twigs as he began to fly away.
“Lynx, wait!” Rosefinch called, spreading her coral wings. “Save some for the hatchlings!”
Before Damara could say anything, the two were gone. The only dragon left was Tide.
I wonder if I’ll ever see them again, Damara thought sorrowfully. Will they have to stay hidden from the King forever?
“Um…” Theo hesitated. “How is Xander?”
The question bore into Damara’s heart. She could feel her face cloud over as she looked up at the Princess. “I don’t know.”
“Oh, forgive me.” Theo looked ashamed. “I thought maybe…” She let her sentence drop.
“It’s alright,” Damara mumbled.
I just wish that I knew.
At last, Tyrone came, fully armored except for his helm. Theo’s mare nickered pleasantly at the sight of the dark brown horse he led by the reins.
“Strong!” The Princess brightened, touching the large animal’s velvety muzzle.
“Strong?” Damara repeated after her, looking to Tyrone.
/> “Chadwick and I named each other’s horses,” he explained, patting Strong’s neck. “I think we both prefer what we chose than what we got.” He smiled, but Damara could see the sadness in his eyes.
They must have been very close.
“Can Damara ride with you on Nigh?” Tyrone asked the Princess.
What? Damara was startled at the prospect.
“Of course.” Theo looked gracious. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
I’ve ridden with the Princess before? I didn’t believe it when Xander told me.
Just another time I refused to listen to him…
I’ll listen to him now. Even if all he does is curse me, I’ll listen.
Kara lowered Tyrone’s helm over his head. It reminded Damara of what a mystery he used to be to her, hidden behind that metal visor. Now she could picture everything behind the visor except for his expression. She wondered if he was more nervous than he let on.
“Ready?” Kara startled Damara with a slap on the back and she winced, still sore. “It’s past time you get back home.”
Damara bit her lip. “You’ve really made this place feel like home enough. Thank you for everything.”
“Yes, well you have a family to get back to!” Kara gave her a squeeze on the arm. “Just don’t get hit by any more arrows. Let that grisly scar on your leg be a reminder of that.”
She nodded, gazing solemnly at the ground. Her stomach felt queasy, as though a hundred worms were burrowing into her.
When she raised her head, Tide’s thoughtful eyes met hers. It felt just like the day she saw him in the woods, across the stream from her. She had been worried then, too.
“I’m honored to have known you,” Tide told her.
“Oh.” Damara was humbled. “I wouldn’t hesitate to say the same about you.”
“I’m sorry, but we really should be going,” the Princess said, checking the sun in the sky.
Tyrone helped her into the saddle, then turned to Damara. “I don’t suppose you’d like a hand up?” His voice sounded different from inside the metal helm.
Damara stepped forward timidly.
Is this really happening?
Silent and tense, she mounted and settled into her place behind the Princess. It felt terribly strange, touching a member of the royal family. Beside them, Tyrone straddled Strong. Damara waved to Kara and Tide, bidding them farewell with choked up words.
And then they were off, heading down the forest path.
Chapter 32