Dragon Sword Read online

  She opened her mouth to speak, but was too parched to do so. She could feel her body giving up even as her redemption was near. If this is how I must depart then so be it.

  "Nonsense, Melifera, you must know by now we would not let you die in such a way." The white dragon read her thoughts, then, with a four-taloned claw took the scrying orb from her hands and placed it back upon its golden perch.

  "No..." she managed to croak out.

  The white dragon raised a single claw to his mouth in a shushing motion. Then he disappeared from sight. When he reappeared he had a flask of water and a shank of meat with bread, and he held them out to her so she may drink and eat.

  Even as she fought it, a tear came to her eye. I cannot partake, it is I who should serve you. She argued in her head.

  "I agree with your reasoning. However, only looking to serve others and not accepting the service when it is desperately needed, is exactly what has put Verdil in such a terrible place."

  Melifera's thoughts silenced, and she humbly accepted the water, drinking until it was gone.

  "Melifera, I know you are tired, and feel as if you cannot go on, but your journey is not yet over. When you feel well enough, bring the sisters to me. Tell them Palladin 'The Great' requests an audience with them."

  She felt stunned by his request.

  "Are you sure that is wise, Great Palladin? They are still so young in mind, and fearful. I'm afraid they weren't keen on the news of having dragon guides." She still felt tired, but was grateful for the ability to speak clearly once more.

  "You've already spoken to them about their dragon guides?"

  Melifera nodded, feeling strong enough to stand to her feet. "Ambiguously so, great one, as I myself do not know what the guides are or how they will help. Was I not to discuss such a thing?"

  Palladin shook his head, his mouth turning down in a frown. "I had wished to discuss it with them myself. No matter, what is done is done. Bring them to me."

  Melifera nodded her head, and turned to leave, feeling her strength returning.

  "One more thing, Melifera. Tell them I am hungry, and I prefer mountain goat." His white lips curled, and though she knew he was smiling, his gleaming fangs were terrifying.

  "Mountain goat?" She searched her memory for a time she had seen mountain goat inside the volcano. Some could be found in various areas plying the walls of the crater, but even so, the sisters had barely left their island.

  As she walked away, she heard the sound of shuffling, and glanced back to see the great scaled beast curling up on the ground near the scrying orb. How he manages to fit himself in that cavern, I'll never know.

  She emerged blinking away the daylight as her eyes adjusted. Judging from the position of the sun, she imagined it to be early afternoon and was grateful for such a thing.

  "I wonder how long I've been gone." She made her way to the boat, this time paddling much faster than before. So much so, it surprised her. "Either I was ill before, or that dragon water rejuvenated me." She guessed it was the latter and was grateful for his interest in her health. As she reached the island where the girls lived, a bobbing head of sapphire blue could be seen a short distance away.

  "What is Hekla doing over here, and where are Svana and Astrid?" she murmured to herself.

  "Melifera!" A shout came from her left, and she turned to see Svana's fiery red hair atop the woman running full speed toward her. Her shout of glee was echoed by a second shout.

  "Melifera! You're alive! I was sure you'd left us!" Astrid came barreling from her right. The old woman braced herself for impact from the three.

  "Oof," she grunted, as Svana impacted her left side and Astrid bumped into her right. Finally Hekla attacked from the front, nearly knocking all three over backwards. The three of them embraced her tightly, crying tears of joy as they did so.

  "I can't believe you're still alive," Hekla whimpered.

  "I was sure we'd seen the last of you," Svana's voice lingered once again a whisper as she affectionately wrapped her arms around the woman.

  "You broke our hearts, ya' know," Astrid confessed. "We'd no idea where you'd gone. Or what to do. We've been practicing for days, but it has been so hollow."

  "My dears, you know that on my long leaves... I like to go to the Summoning Chamber," Melifera said.

  All three women let her go simultaneously.

  "The Summoning Chamber?" Astrid looked to Svana, who had a sudden look of realization.

  Hekla started to giggle, as she often did when nervous.

  Astrid shook her head in disbelief. "Oh my stars, it's no wonder we couldn't find you."

  "I can't believe we didn't think to check there." Svana chuckled and shook her head.

  "You didn't think to check the Summoning Chamber? Well of course you didn't. You've never been there."

  "Yes, we have! Astrid made us follow you once!" Hekla burst out, and Astrid playfully tackled her.

  "Shhhhh you! You'll get me in trouble."

  "Astrid is this true?" Melifera asked.

  Like a child caught stealing candy, the woman stopped playing around and stood upright, her head tilted forward and eyes on the ground.

  "Yes, it's true," she mumbled.

  "I told you never to follow me to the Chamber. There are so many things you've yet to understand. Do you know the Unseen Ones could kill you if they so desired? There are things in that place you are not to see, or be a part of until it's time."

  "I understand, Melifera. It won't happen again, you have my word."

  "Very good," Melifera grabbed Astrid's chin, tilting her head upward. "Now, how long have I been gone? I've missed the three of you terribly."

  "A fortnight, Melifera." Hekla answered.

  "No! You can't be serious? Are you sure?"

  The sisters nodded in unison.

  "Melifera, you said we can't go to the Summoning Chambers until it's time. That we've much to learn, but I have to ask, when will it be time? Isn't the time now? Shouldn't you be teaching us all you can so we can do what is expected of us, defeat the corrupt kings, and restore order to Verdil?"

  Melifera's pale face and dark eyes embraced the sisters' hope.

  "Yes, but what brought about the change of heart?" Melifera asked quietly.

  "It's amazing what we realize is important when we suspect someone we love has died," Astrid responded.

  "Ah..." Astrid's statement humbled the aging woman a bit, and she kept silent for a time before she responded. "Well then, I have some news for you."

  They looked upon her eagerly.

  "Our dragon guides are here?" Hekla asked.

  "No, but you're not far off. Palladin 'The Great' requests an audience with you." She smiled at them. "He says you shouldn't be afraid."

  "Palladin? As in, the great white dragon? The dragon of the Unseen Ones who has the power to jump realms, that Palladin?" Astrid was gushing like a waterfall, her excitement could not be contained. It was as if she were a child again.

  "One and the same," Melifera nodded, hardly able to hold in the smile that threatened to burst forth.

  Svana clapped her sister on the shoulder.

  "He wants to meet us? Why us?" Hekla was practically jumping up and down.

  "Now, sisters. Calm yourselves. First of all, why not you? You are the future leaders of Verdil, am I right?"

  That quieted them, and they looked everywhere but her face. Astrid rubbed her forehead anxiously; Svana kicked at the ground with her feet; and Hekla took small steps back as if preparing to run away.

  "Still don't believe you can do it?"

  "Not really," Astrid answered.

  "Well then, all the more reason for you to go meet him. It will help you, I am sure of it." Melifera folded her hands in front of her, quite properly, her eyes watching them to see what they would do. "Don't you dare run, Hekla. You need to meet him, just as much as your sisters do. Astrid, stop your nervous rubbing. Good grief, Svana! You're digging a hole with your foot. Get a grip!"
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br />   "Now, the only thing I need from you is a goat," Melifera continued.

  "A goat? Why do you need a goat?" Svana scrunched up her face.

  "Does it matter why the task or only that it be given?" Melifera challenged.

  "It does not matter, only that you trust us to bring you a goat. We shall do as you wish," Astrid replied with a bow.

  "It is not I who requests the goat, but Palladin 'The Great,' he said he was hungry. Gather your weapons and bring a goat. Since you know where the Summoning Chamber is, then I suppose I shall meet you there after you've found what he seeks." Melifera winked at them and then ventured back into the boat. "Better not keep him waiting, sisters." She smiled, before she turned away and began paddling to the shore at the far end of the volcano where the entrance to the chamber towered.

  "Where do we find a goat?" Svana asked her sisters.

  4

  The Hunt

  A man's hunger knows no bounds. It cannot be satisfied. There is no boar large enough, and no mead tall enough to satisfy a man's hunger. But a man's hunger is nothing when compared to a dragon. For a dragon can eat three boars, and four barrels of mead. However, there is a hunger stronger than a man's and even a dragon's. It is the hunger of a woman. She will eat her fill, and if you turn your back, she will hunger for more. But not all hunger is for food, no, not for a woman. A woman has hunger beyond substance, beyond understanding, and with her hunger, she can accomplish anything...

  King Arnott the Wise, Second King of Telluris, 319 A.V.

  The three sister's still stood in the same spot, silent for several minutes. None of them had come across a goat, but even more pressing than that, they were in shock and awe of their task. Each sister beamed, eyes glimmering with excitement. They each lived a fulfilling life, but now--things were different. Their lives had much more meaning than ever before.

  "Imagine that, the great white dragon seeks an audience with us," Svana gushed excitedly.

  "Indeed. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that he exists. In all of our lives, did you ever believe such a thing?" Hekla asked, her face echoing her wonderment.

  "There are a great many things I could not believe are real, but that doesn't negate the fact that they are. I do not think Melifera ever told us a lie. Which makes facing him both incredible and terrifying." Astrid brushed her wild emerald hair from her face, her excitement dissipating as she tried to clarify what the dragon could want with the three of them.

  "Indeed. Though I don't think he's calling us to be judged. I think his intentions are to prepare us as Melifera hinted," Svana said.

  "Yes, well no matter. If we go to meet him and die by his hand, you have to admit... it's an epic way to die! To be killed by a dragon!" Svana danced around them, eyes bright, a mischievous smile lighting up her whole face.

  "Look at you, all excited about the prospects of meeting a dragon, and yet a dragon guide scares you," Hekla teased her.

  "That was before, a dragon guide is not Palladin. Palladin is the greatest beast to ever live. If he were to kill me, my name would join the list of others. How was she killed? Oh, poor dear was ripped limb from limb by Palladin, The Great." Svana laughed. "It's a lovely way to die, if you think about it."

  "Svana, someday, after we have fulfilled our duties, you must commit that imagination to a story. I am sure my grandchildren will take great joy in your ability to weave tales," Astrid remarked.

  "If you don't get too old first!" Svana teased her.

  "Oh you're going to pay for that!" Astrid came after her, tackling her to the ground where they rolled around a bit, laughter filling the air. Astrid pinned her younger sister. "You better watch what you say to me, or I'll feed you to the dragon!"

  "Can't do that, she wants to be fed to a dragon remember?" Hekla teased before turning serious. "Stop goofing around. Are we going after this goat or not?"

  "Yes, yes. Indeed we are. Though I confess, I've never seen any on our island." Astrid helped Svana to her feet and surveyed their surroundings.

  "To tell the truth, I've never seen a goat anywhere," Svana remarked.

  "That's not true," Astrid interrupted. "Remember when we followed Melifera to the summoning chamber, and we kept seeing white animals bouncing along the juts of the side of the volcano?"

  Svana's eyes lit up. "Mountain goat! Well, this calls for the largest mountain goat we can find!" She thrust her fist into the air, for emphasis.

  "Yes, Svana, it does. You ready our boat, and I will go home and retrieve our weapons," Astrid said.

  "Thank you, sister. Maybe leave the dull throwing blades at home this time?" Hekla teased her older sister.

  "Would you like to go home and retrieve them?" Astrid retorted.

  "I want to help prepare the boat," Hekla replied softly.

  Astrid looked annoyed and ready to counter Hekla's statement, but there was no time. Astrid started to run, picking her steps carefully as she headed home as fast as she was able.

  She gathered their weapons, hoisting a bow over her shoulder and sticking the hunting blades in a thick leather pouch she wore around her slender waist. With the spears held out horizontally in front of her so they wouldn't drag on the ground, she loped on her return trip, taking care with the weapons.

  When she finally reached Svana and Hekla, they had already pushed the boat into the water. Hekla was the first aboard. When Svana spotted Astrid, she too climbed in, and waved for Astrid to join them.

  "Take these," she said, tossing the spears to the middle sister who caught them and pulled them into the boat. Astrid waded into the water and carefully climbed in, keeping her bow away from her body to avoid damaging it. She moved slowly to avoid unbalancing the boat and slid into her seat.

  Svana tied off the spears using a leather strap. Should the boat capsize, the weapons wouldn't be lost.

  Astrid unshipped the oars and started to row. She paddled steadily toward the other side of the lake. There, hillocks had formed from fallen rock. Along the inside walls of the volcano, jagged edges of stone jutted out. Astrid was the first on land, and she surveyed the wall for mountain goats while her sisters secured the boat.

  "I think I found some. Look there's a ledge ..." Astrid drew their attention by pointing with her arm. A cluster of white creatures frolicked on high.

  "Here, Hekla, take the hunting knives. You're the fastest thrower out of all of us."

  "Careful, Astrid, that almost sounded like a compliment," Hekla teased as she took the pouch containing the blades. Once it was secured around her waist, she was off and running toward the wall. "Come on, you two," she urged them.

  "Hey, wait! Don't scare them off," Astrid yelled after her, covering her mouth after hearing how loud her own voice sounded. She climbed ashore, offering a hand to Svana once she was balanced.

  "We need to figure out a ...."

  "Shhhhh... Svana," Astrid whispered, as they both began climbing the wall. "Check out the size of that one, over there." She clung to the wall, pointing with her free arm. She nodded toward Hekla who was making progress toward the mountain goats.

  Toward their prey.

  "That one is huge!" Svana whispered excitedly. Hekla was darting from rock to rock, climbing as fast as she could go. They watched in dismay as their prize goat vaulted upward and disappeared toward the peak.

  Hekla stopped and slumped against the stone face.

  Astrid waved her down.

  "I can, I can do it!" Hekla shouted through a cupped hand.

  "We'll never be able to run them down. We need to converge from different sides so no matter which way it runs, one of us will get a chance to make the kill. Come on down." Astrid waved more vigorously.

  Hekla started to climb down, but started to slide. Rocks crumbled and tumbled away from her. She scrambled frantically looking for anything to grab.

  "Hekla!" As the youngest sister lost her footing and began sliding down, Astrid rushed toward the wall, positioning herself to cushion the fall, but the falling
rocks chased her back. Svana raced passed and flew up the wall as if running. Astrid couldn't believe her eyes.

  Hekla lost her battle and started to fall, she hit a ledge and tumbled over. One hand caught the edge, and she clung there as the rest of the rubble continued toward the bottom.

  "Just hang in there, Hekla. Don't let go!" Svana raced upward, putting a mountain goat to shame.

  Hekla was paralyzed with fear, too terrified to answer. Svana could hear her sister's labored breathing, as she clung for her life. Svana reached the ledge, pulling herself up before easing close to the edge where she could see her sister's small fingers, white from the effort of holding her body weight.

  Svana laid flat and pushed toward the edge using her toes. When she was certain of her hold, she threw her arm over the side, blindly grabbing until she seized a handful of her sister's leather. She tried to roll backwards, dragging the younger woman upward, but she was too heavy.

  "You have to help me," Svana grunted. "Hekla?"

  "I...I... Can't..." Hekla stuttered. "I... it... broke away..." More rocks thudded against the mountainside as they fell. Hekla's foot searched for an outcropping from which she could push upward.

  "You can!" Svana yelled through gritted teeth. Her arm ached with the efforts. She buried her face in the rock and called for strength. She could feel Hekla coming upward. More rocks fell as Hekla tried to push off. A second set of fingers appeared on the ledge and suddenly, Hekla felt lighter. Svana rolled and pulled Hekla up and onto the ledge. Once her chest was balanced, Hekla swung her legs up and crawled to the wall, leaning against it as if she were trying to push her way into the mountain.

  Svana panted and rubbed her arm where it was red from scratching across the ledge. "Don't do that again," she cautioned.

  "I don't think I will," Hekla said, eyes unfocused in a forever stare.

  "When we head to the kingdoms of men, no one will be there to help you. Do you understand that? There's no place for showing off. There's no time to waste by getting hurt. We risk when there's a reward. Do you understand?"