“I'm glad you're up. I thought we could have breakfast in here today.” Alanna cleared the small table near the wall and set the chairs.
“The food looks great! I'm so hungry that if the moon really were made of cheese, there might not ever be a full moon again.”
Alanna looked at Thomas with a strange expression.
“It's just a saying where I come from.” Thomas realized a lot of the things he said must sound strange to her.
Thomas dug in to the mountains of food. There were three or four different types of buns. Some just plain, others with cheese or meat in the middle. Some were sweet, some were salty and all were delicious. Then there were several different types of fruit, a few different styles of omelettes, and juice as well as something that tasted suspiciously like coffee.
“Is this drink by Edric as well?” Thomas asked sipping the coffee.
Alanna smiled, “Are you a Seer as well as a wizard?”
“No. Just something I have had before.”
Thomas and Alanna finished up the feast leaving almost nothing on the tray. The greater part of the meal disappeared under Thomas' supervision, but Alanna had her fair share as well.
“How long have I been out for?” Thomas finally asked when they had finished up their meal.
Alanna had started to clear away the dishes and tidy the room. “About 4 days I would guess. Even father was starting to get worried about you.”
“I'm not so sure about that.” The last meeting with King Alkamire hadn't exactly endeared the two to each other.
“Actually, father needs to talk with you when you are ready. He's wanted to speak with you for a few days now, but I told him you were still recovering.”
Thomas realized that Alanna must have told Alkamire about the altercation between Gatsby and himself. “How much does he know?”
“Nobody really knows exactly what happened between you and Gatsby, but between Tretchbolt and I, I think that the king has a fairly good idea. That...” Alanna rested a hand on Thomas' bruised arm, “...and he came to see you once. Before you had healed.” Alanna's expression grew sad momentarily, but then she brightened.
“He was concerned about you Thomas. I think that he likes you. At least, he doesn't disapprove of you.”
Thomas would have laughed out loud if it wouldn't have hurt Alanna's feelings.
“We should go and see him anyway. You and I will be travelling to Westminster in a few days, and we should really clear things up with him before we go.”
Westminster. Edric. It seemed so long ago that he had set out with the intention of seeing his great uncle and returning home. Now, he found he wasn't that eager to leave. He wanted few more days to enjoy the castle for possibly the last time.
*****
Alkamire Aqual was sifting through land deeds and complaint forms when the knock came at the door.
“Come.”
The door opened to admit Popkin. Popkin had made himself scarce since the fight between Thomas and Alkamire, but had started to check in on the king a little more often lately, now that it was apparent that Alkamire was not going to throw Thomas into the dungeon or have him beheaded as some persisting rumours had suggested. Another one of many reasons that Alkamire hoped Thomas would wake soon and get outside. As soon as the people saw Thomas healthy and walking about, the rumours would die.
“Sire, I am here to inform you that Thomas Kindercook will be coming to see you shortly.”
“Excellent. Thank-you Popkin.”
Popkin bowed deeply and backed out of the doorway. He certainly had been more formal since the battle.
Thomas had been on the king's mind quite often since the battle. Alkamire had been anxious to talk to him after the fight, but it seemed that events had led to his exhaustion, and if Tretchbolt was to be believed, Thomas had very nearly been killed by Gatsby.
Alkamire slammed a document down onto the desk and cursed. He found it hard to believe how fast Gatsby and the Ganton Dragons had gone from being his salvation to his undoing. Things were not going well between the Red and Blue Dragons. Since Gatsby left, a communication had come in from one of Ganton's messengers. Alkamire picked up the crushed parchment on his right and smoothed it out to read it again.
Alkamire.
Gatsby has informed me of your attempt to set a wizard upon him. When he arrived, he was in such poor health we were not sure if he would make it through the night. We are formally withdrawing our support and severing our alliance.
Blood on rocks Alkamire! It didn't have to be this way!
Ganton Blackrock.
The parchment bore pieces of the Royal seal that didn't flake off when Alkamire crumbled the paper. Gatsby had left out Tretchbolt as his assailant on purpose. It served the Red's purpose better if they spread the story that the human wizard had attacked him rather than the guard. It must be Ganton's wish to turn the other Dragon's races against the human and wizard world. If they succeeded, it would be the whole dragon species that would suffer. Time was never more of the essence.
Alkamire was putting aside the crushed paper when Thomas announced himself from outside of the door.
“Please, come in Thomas.”
Thomas was looking quite gaunt as he entered the chamber. His wounds looked better, but hadn't fully healed yet. His eye was still slightly swollen, and his bruising had gone from purple to brown.
“Alanna said you wished to speak with me?”
Thomas seemed tentative. He was going to have to put him at ease quickly, a lot depended on Thomas' swift action.
“Yes Thomas, come, sit down.”
Thomas walked in and sat stiffly in the chair, wincing as he did. No, he wasn't in good condition at all.
“I'm going to get right to the point. We need to put our fight behind us. It was unfortunate, but necessary.”
“I'm still not entirely convinced it was necessary.”
Alkamire's mouth tightened. He supposed that this was a good time. He reached into a drawer in his desk, and pulled out a scroll.
“Do you recognize this?”
Thomas stared at the scroll. “That's the scroll the Seer gave to us.”
“Exactly. I would like you to read it.” Thomas' anticipation was palpable. Any hesitancy about being in Alkamire's presence was overshadowed by the curiosity that he had had about the contents of that parchment. He took the scroll as if it were a gift he had been expecting for a very long time, and began to read.
The king had read the scroll so many times that he had it memorized.
Dear Friend,
I have to tell you that it was good that you sent those kids up here. Normally I would say you are paranoid, but in this case, I had a vision unlike any I have had before.
The kid, Thomas... is going to be central to your battle coming up. I fear that he must be tied to your kingdom, or more than the Alkamire Dragons will be lost.
This isn't going to be as simple as you think mind you. I foresaw a battle coming between you and Thomas.
I know your distaste for fighting, especially someone who is a genuinely good person. But this fight has to be, and you have GOT to fight him with all your strength. You'll understand why by the time it becomes necessary. Don't worry, he'll survive. The kid is like a darn cadby bug. I'm not sure what it would take to get rid of him.
Thomas needs to seek out Edric, and soon. You need to get him going in the right direction. It will be up to him to get an alliance between your two races, after that... well, after that is uncertain, but the future looks a fair shade of pink brighter if you have Edric's support.
It's hard to be a ruler, and a father. Trust me, I know, but you've done the right thing here. Trust Thomas. He's a good kid. I think he and Alanna make an interesting couple.
Regards
Henry Bookbinder
PS. Don't let Thomas know about the contents of this letter until you feel its time. I'm not sure how the kid would react if he knew you were going to all out fight him. I kno
w I wouldn't stick around.
PPS. I've included my latest omelette masterpiece. See attached.
Thomas opted to omit reading the attachment. His shoulders and posture eased a bit as he finished reading the letter.
“So you knew I'd be okay.”
“Thomas, I knew a lot more than that. Your magical powers are something you have just recently discovered, aren't they?”
Thomas gaped. “If you knew I wasn't a wizard... why....”
“I didn't know at first. I only suspected. There are certain traits I can read, being a dragon of a certain age. I could tell you had the ability to be a wizard, but I also could tell that it hadn't been developed. Then when you came back, the fight we had exhausted you far faster than any wizard I have faced before.”
Thomas looked embarrassed.
“That doesn't mean anything. Considering your lack of training and the conditions you were in, you did remarkably well. You need time to develop the stamina required to cast spells on the fly.”
The king chuckled a little. “Though you don't need much work on creativity. Your group of humans in strange makeup have taken up residence in the arena. The guards tell me they are building an intricate set for something. I have decided to let them stay as a reminder to myself.”
“What kind of reminder?”
“Expect the unexpected.”
Alkamire drew in a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. “I have a request of you Thomas. I need for you to make your trip to Edric soon. I have mentioned the impending war often enough. I wish you could take more time to heal and regain your strength, but I need you to leave to see Edric as soon as possible.”
“When?”
“I think you should leave the day after tomorrow. I am going to have Tretchbolt travel with you. I think that he was interested in talking to you as well.
The king rose from his seat and walked over to a small table, where an ancient ornate box sat. The king slowly opened the box, and retrieved one of three large metallic stamps.
“Is it still your desire to marry my daughter?”
When Thomas didn't respond, Alkamire continued.
“I'm giving my permission Thomas. You are very young, this is true, but in terms of time as dragons see it, you will be an adult in the blink of an eye. I must look at the long term. You have intelligence, courage, and above all, integrity. Alanna could do much worse, I think she would be lucky to have you.”
Alkamire watched as Thomas seemed to struggle with his reply. This worried him. Perhaps the events of the week had shaken Thomas more than he had anticipated.
“I would like to.” Thomas finally spoke. His voice lacked the conviction that the king would have liked to have heard, but it was essential that the two were sealed together.
“Good.” The king approached Thomas and offered his hand. “Please give me your arm. I am going to apply the seal that will be the first step in your engagement. This seal, to anyone who recognizes it, will give validity to your claims of engagement to my daughter. This is the first in a series of three parts. The second to come at the engagement, the final to come at your wedding.”
Thomas reluctantly placed his arm under on the arm rest of the chair. Alkamire held Thomas' arm still and held the mysterious seal over top of Thomas' forearm.
“From this day forth, you will be known as Thomas Aqual Kindercook.” The king pressed the seal onto Thomas' skin firmly. At first nothing happened, but then the seal started to glow a vibrant blue. The glow spread from the seal, and ran up Thomas' arm. Thomas instinctively pulled back, but the king held his arm in place. Thomas shook as the seal took hold. Finally Thomas' arm dulled and the glow faded. the king pulled the seal away, and on Thomas' arm a glittering symbol was there, where none was before. Thomas pulled his arm back and looked at the odd design.
“It is done.” The king returned the seal back to the case, then returned to sit at his desk. “You're free to go now Thomas.”
Thomas ran his hand over the foreign symbol on his arm, then turned and left without another word. Sometimes Alkamire wished that he was an oracle. Placing all their hopes on this boy he hardly knew scared him more than he would admit to anyone.
*****
Thomas stared at the giant eye staring back at him and wondered just what he had gotten himself into this time. His grandfather would have questions about the peculiar looking tattoo. He wasn't sure he would ever be able to tell him the answers. Shiny blue skin made up most of the tattoo. It looked alien to him, almost like shiny blue scales. It wasn't just the tattoo that bothered him. It was his answer to the question about marriage. He hadn't had the chance to think straight lately, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized that there really wasn't anything tying Alanna and Thomas together anymore. Now that Gatsby had insulted the king, attacked Thomas, and run off, there was no danger of the king forcing Alanna and Gatsby into an arranged marriage. At least he didn't think the king would go that far. That gave Thomas pause for thought. Alkamire was pushing Alanna and Thomas together for almost the same reason. Who was to say he wouldn't try to put them back together once Thomas was out of the picture.
Thomas rounded a corner, not even thinking of where he was going really. He almost ran over top of Popkin, who was darting through the halls carrying a tall stack of papers off to somewhere with great haste. The man really did remind Thomas of a mouse scurrying along the baseboards.
Thomas' thoughts drifted back to Alanna. It wasn't that he didn't want to stay with Alanna. He thought the world of her. He didn't believe, that, given freedom of choice, Alanna would have chosen him. She had an entire kingdom that would die for her. Thomas was a nobody who happened to be able to do magic because of a silly ring. Thomas idly thumbed the ring to make sure it was still on his finger.
The daydreaming ended when Thomas realized that he had walked to Alanna's room. Technically it was their room now, but he still didn't feel at home there. He was always having to find corners to change in, ways to avert his gaze when Alanna needed privacy. He wondered if his face would ever change to a normal shade of pink.
He knocked at the door first to be safe. Then he walked into the room. No one was here. That was for the best, he realized that he had wanted to write in his journal, and he didn't want prying eyes. Thomas had been keeping good track of his journeys, he wondered what type of a book his life might make when he got back. One to put him in the looney bin he imagined, or perhaps a fantasy novel. Names would have to be changed to protect the innocent. That's when the date caught his eye. His last entry was December second. That was five days ago if his math was correct. It was his birthday. He was fifteen today. Thomas sighed. He didn't even know if birthdays really meant anything around here. It didn't matter much anyway, there really wasn't anyone to share it with. Alanna, but she wouldn't understand the significance. Thomas suddenly felt very homesick. His grandfather would have got him a cake, a few presents, and made it into a warm occasion. They were never very well off, but his grandfather had a way of making even the simplest of things into a party worthy of a sultan.
Thomas took out his diary, which he had taken to hiding in his dirty underwear. He was fairly certain that the princess wouldn't look in there. He began to write about his last 5 days, of his homesickness, and of his birthday wish: for his grandfather not to worry about him too much. Thomas drifted off to sleep on his journal mid sentence, pen leaving a trailing mark down the spine, his dreams taking him where he was unable to go. Home.
CHAPTER 30
COTTON CANDY, CAKE AND KISSES
Alanna rubbed at her temples as she walked away from the arena. The odd looking people who had taken up residence there were asking for access to the royal blacksmith. She didn't mind so much that they were staying. The arena was seldom used anyway, but they were starting to ask for quite a lot. Earlier they had been enquiring if she knew a good seamstress. At first Alanna had thought they wanted a few dresses or perhaps some alterations. She was later confronte
d by a stressed out Merideth, the court seamstress. It appeared that they were trying to make the inside of the arena look like a striped tent. Alanna was beginning to feel more like a maid than a princess. One who was there to clean up after Thomas' and her father's messes.
Alanna headed for her room. She was sure that Thomas must be done talking to her father by now. She had been wondering why her father wanted to see Thomas for days now. Her father wasn't being very cooperative, but finally she would know the answer. Alanna grimaced. That was of course if Thomas was willing to talk about it. He shared more with his journal than he shared with any living being.
As Alanna had expected, Thomas was in the room already and had passed out. Honestly! It was only mid morning and he was asleep again. His habitual sleeping was turning into an annoyance for Alanna. There was something sticking out from under Thomas' head. Alanna went over to the bed to take a look. That's when she noticed two things. The first was, Thomas had the ancient royal eye seal on his arm. Alanna was well aware of what the significance of the seal was, but she hadn't seen it used in her lifetime. She felt a cold chill. It was never done anymore. For many generations it had been hidden away in order to protect those foolish enough to use it, and now here it was, on Thomas' arm. The seal was magical, and ancient beyond all recollection. It had been passed down throughout the different dynasties of dragons, and was almost never used. Most dragons of the modern age had free will to enter and exit relationships as they pleased. This device bound one individual to another as if they were carved into the same stone. Of course there were benefits to the seal as well, or so she had been told. Though no one really knew what they might be. All those who had used the seal had long since passed on, and no literature had survived regarding the seal's properties, save it's ability to bind. Alanna wondered if Thomas had any idea what the significance of the seal was. She doubted it. Alanna couldn't help but feel frustrated and angry with her father. So this was why he was being elusive.
The second thing that Alanna noticed was under the seal, or rather, under Thomas' arm. He was sleeping on his journal. He must have passed out while writing. Luck! Alanna was very good with her hands, she could slip things away from people while they were wide awake, and no one was the wiser. If she wasn't a princess already, she would have made an excellent thief. Alanna grabbed a book of similar size, and slipped it under Thomas at the same time that she was slipping the other one out. Thomas groaned a little but kept on sleeping.