The Emerald Staff Read online

  “We need to go and get my backpack before we go back to Azran. I was stupid to leave it at home. I seriously need some sugar, too, I can’t remember the last time I had some and I’ve used a lot of energy. I can feel myself getting weaker.”

  Faen gave her a look of close inspection and could see the dark circles starting to form under her eyes. He picked up the pace a little. He couldn’t go too fast; he also needed to preserve his energy. He had a lot of flying in front of him before this quest was over.

  ***

  Faedra gulped down a bottle of sugar water as soon as they got home, which made her feel a lot better. She still couldn’t quite get used to the sensation of being ‘plugged in’ as the energy flowed and hummed through her body.

  She grabbed some snacks for herself and Faen, and unceremoniously stuffed a chocolate bar in her mouth. Working with her mouth full, Faedra grabbed the softest towel she could find in the airing cupboard and wrapped the egg in it, then carefully placed it in her backpack.

  “Okay, I’m ready,” she announced after making sure the egg was safe and secure. She slipped the backpack over one shoulder on her way out the door.

  “I think the vicar’s going to start to wonder why my car is always parked in the car park but I’m never anywhere to be found,” she mused out loud on the drive over to the church.

  Faen didn’t respond, he was looking out of the window deep in thought.

  “Penny for them,” Faedra asked.

  No response.

  “Faen?”

  He turned to look at her. “Yes?”

  “You were miles away.”

  “No, I was not. I am sitting right next to you,” he said, his expression was one of confusion.

  “It’s a figure of speech. So, where were you? Figuratively speaking.”

  He looked at her profile for the longest time. Faedra turned for a second to see him gazing at her, his eyes heavy with unspoken thoughts. She turned back to look at the road. When she turned again a few seconds later, he was still looking at her, which prompted an uneasy sensation to wash over her.

  “Faen, what is it?”

  He was silent for a moment more. When he spoke, his voice was full of indecision.

  “I have a decision to make, but I have no control over the outcome. I am not sure if I could survive the consequences if the outcome is not what I hope for,” he admitted as they pulled into the church car park.

  Faedra turned the engine off and turned to look at her Guardian.

  “What kind of decision?” she asked.

  He looked away.

  “Faen, what kind of decision?”

  After a pregnant pause he replied, “I cannot tell you right now, I need more time to think about it.”

  Faedra felt her stomach knot, she didn’t like the way he was talking. Maybe he had enough of chasing around both worlds after her, trying to keep her safe, while she herself was reckless.

  “You’re not going to leave me, are you?”

  He brought his hand up and cupped her face. His awkward smile made the ball in her gut lurch even more.

  “I hope not.” His words were barely a whisper.

  He held her gaze captive for a second more before looking away. When he pulled his hand away, Faedra felt as if it stole a tiny part of her along with it. He got out of the car and shut the door with a soft push.

  Faedra undid her seat belt, groped around for her door handle and hurried to get out of the car. She wasn’t about to let this subject drop. She stood up and looked over the roof of her car at Faen.

  “What’s that supposed to mean, you hope not?” she questioned, trying to hide the quiver in her voice. She’d only known the ‘real’ Faen for a few months, but now that he was in her life, she couldn’t imagine being without him.

  “When the time is right I will tell you.”

  “Tell me what, Faen? You can’t just drop a bombshell like that and not expect me to want an explanation.”

  Faen looked as though he were about to speak, but he thought better of it and started to walk across the car park toward the back of the church.

  Faedra felt panic surge through her body. “Look, I know I said some pretty nasty things to you,” she called out after him. Stay out of my life echoed through her head and she cringed. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to be my Guardian anymore. I guess I deserve it after the way I treated you.”

  Faen stopped and hung his head.

  Faedra could see his back heave as he let out a sigh. She swallowed back the lump in her throat and stood frozen in time, waiting anxiously to see if the man she loved would turn to face her.

  The man I love! The thought slammed into her and took her breath away. If she was being honest with herself, she’d loved him from the moment he took her hand and whisked her around the dance floor at her birthday party. Now she felt like he was slipping away from her.

  After a moment more of silence and no response from her Guardian, she tried to shake the thought from her mind and get back to the task at hand. Her dad still needed her and there wasn’t time for this. She leaned into the car, grabbed the backpack from the back seat and slung it over her shoulders. After taking a deep, steadying breath she strode toward Faen who was still standing with his back to her.

  She lifted her chin as she approached him. When she was level with his shoulder, she whispered as she walked past, “If you don’t care about me anymore, the king will have to find me another Guardian.” Her heart cracked as she said the words.

  She only got another step forward when a hand grabbed her wrist jerking her around to meet a fierce gaze.

  Faedra swallowed.

  “Is that what you think?” he asked.

  “That’s what it looks like,” she replied rather more sheepish than she would have liked.

  “So help me, Faedra. I love you, and that is the problem.”

  Faedra stared at him, a feeling of stupidity welling within her. Hadn’t she heard as much when she was listening outside the door at his parent’s house? How could she have forgotten that so soon?

  Faen continued. “I do not want to be just your Guardian anymore, but it is forbidden. If the king finds out, he could take me away from you. To make the situation even worse, he is, also, your father. He would probably extradite me to some far flung realm and I would never see you again.”

  Faedra hadn’t heard any of the latter of what Faen just said.

  “You love me?”

  “Faedra, did you not hear a word of what I just said?” Faen asked giving her shoulders a gentle shake to regain her attention.

  She nodded, trance-like. “You love me.” She brought her hand to his face and stared into his liquid blue eyes.

  Faen softened at her touch and smiled. “I do,” he whispered, before tipping his head and planting a gentle kiss on her lips.

  After a moment, Faedra pulled back from their kiss, determination sweeping over her. “You leave my father to me. He’s already lost one daughter; I doubt he will be in any hurry to lose another, especially after just finding me. But right now, we need to go and rescue my dad.” Faedra took hold of Faen’s hand and they continued on to the portal, her heart skipping a merry beat all the way.

  Once they were on the other side of the portal, Todmus came scuttling through the bushes to greet them, as he always did. The torch he was carrying illuminated the little man’s face with a soft warm glow. He gave them a large welcoming smile as he got closer.

  Faedra was relieved it was nighttime in Azran. They wouldn’t have to waste precious time waiting until dark before they could carry on with their mission.

  “Todmus?” Faedra asked, “I need to ask you a really big favor.”

  “Anything, Miss, you know that.”

  She leaned in and whispered, “May I please borrow Aesti again?”

  Todmus hesitated and looked passed her to Faen, concern clouding his features.

  “It’s okay, Todmus. Faen won’t give your secret away, I promise.” She t
urned to Faen. “Will you?”

  “What secret? Who is Aesti?”

  “I’ll tell you if you promise to keep him a secret. It will save us a lot of time and you a lot of energy getting back to the Alovison Mountains.”

  “I have a feeling I am not going to like this, am I?”

  “Probably not, but please do it for me. We don’t have much time left.”

  She pulled out the time-pebble and held it in the flat of her hand to prove her point. Only the thinnest sliver of black was now visible in the stone.

  Faen contemplated her request for a second but knew the moment he looked into Faedra’s desperate eyes, he was defeated. Who was he trying to kid anyway? He would do anything for her. He was already breaking the strictest law by falling in love with her.

  “Alright, you have my word old friend. Your secret, whatever it is, is safe with me.”

  Faedra could see Todmus chew on his bottom lip and waited with bated breath for his decision.

  “Very well, follow me,” he said as he gestured with his hand for them to follow him through the bushes to the glade where Faedra was first introduced to Aesti.

  They stood side-by-side in the darkness, illuminated only by the flame from Todmus’ torch. Faedra flinched slightly when Todmus blew out his ear-splitting whistle. Faen looked down at her and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

  Within minutes they could hear the soft whoosh, whoosh of Aesti’s wings, this time though, the only part of him they could see were his flame red eyes burning bright against the dark night sky.

  Faedra watched Faen’s eyes look to the heavens when he comprehended what was flying towards them, and then noticed Todmus give him an uncertain look.

  “Todmus, do the Valkyries know you have one of their horses? On second thought, do not answer that, I think it best that I do not know.” Faen said as the winged beauty came to a sliding stop just a foot away and blasted Faedra in the face with a warm welcoming snort.

  She reached up to run a hand down the length of its velvety face. The look of its fierce red eyes shining in the darkness, no longer perturbed the young Custodian; she knew their owner was going to help, not hinder.

  “Thank you, Todmus” Faedra said as Faen helped her up on top of the beast and then got on behind her.

  “Be safe, Miss,” Todmus said as the winged-horse turned and galloped down the glade before taking off, barely missing the trees that surrounded them.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  “Take us to the Alovison Mountains,” Faedra whispered to Aesti as they were taking off.

  Aesti banked to the left, then straightened once he chose his course.

  “How long have you known about this?” Faen asked after a few moments of silence.

  “Not long. Todmus took pity on me the other day when I came through the portal and needed to get to the castle.” Faedra sighed and closed her eyes, remembering the fateful encounter with her real father that would change her life forever.

  Sensing the reason for her heavy sigh, Faen said. “Having two fathers who love you is not all bad, you know.”

  Faedra didn’t respond, she was still trying to get to grips with the fact that her life had basically been a lie for eighteen years.

  The two sat quietly after that, waiting for Aesti to arrive at the mountain range. She wasn’t sure how long it would take to get there, but was hoping it wouldn’t be too much longer. The sky was starting to change from inky black to deep ochre on the horizon. Dawn was just a few minutes away and she hoped they could get there under the cover of darkness. Thankfully, just as she was thinking it, the mountain range loomed tall and dark up ahead. Now they just had to find the hole they escaped from last time and they’d be set. Although, looking at the immense size of the mountain range as they drew closer, she wondered how they would ever find it in time.

  Faedra asked Aesti to do a sweep back and forth along the rock face. They worked their way down from the top, eyes straining to find the tiny hole in the monstrous mountain range. The looming sunrise was working to their advantage now. Even if the redcaps did spot them, they wouldn’t be able to get up the side of the mountain quick enough to be of any threat.

  A couple of sweeps later and Faen spotted the cave opening.

  “Over there, Aesti. Do you see it?” he said pointing towards the spot.

  Faedra was sure Aesti’s hulking head gave a nod as he turned toward the opening in the rock face. A moment later, the winged horse landed gracefully on the ledge and furled its wings.

  Faen slid off Aesti’s back and held his arms up for Faedra, easing her off the horse’s back and placing her on her feet. Faedra ran a hand down Aesti’s silky neck.

  “Thanks.”

  The horse inclined its head then he turned, unfurled his wings once more and threw himself off the ledge like a fearless hand-glider. Faedra watched in awe of the beautiful creature as he flew out of sight.

  Faen took hold of Faedra’s hand and she turned her attention back to her Guardian.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “As I’ll ever be, I guess.” She gave him a half-hearted smile.

  Faedra had to admit she was not looking forward to coming face to face with Draconis again, but hopefully this time he would be much happier to see her, considering the package she carried in her backpack.

  Faen scooped her up in his arms and launched himself off the other side of the ledge just like Aesti had done moments before. Faedra’s stomach did its usual summersault, and she wondered if she would ever get used to it.

  They flew down the long cave in a graceful spiral, the light from the bottom that started as a tiny dot got brighter as they approached the floor. Faedra could see the Gatekeeper now, he was looking up at them, his eyes narrowed.

  “Halt, who goes there?” he bellowed, a curl of smoke escaping his nostril.

  “It’s me, the Custodian,” Faedra called, hoping he wouldn’t turn them into a flying kebab before she got a chance to get her hands on the emerald staff.

  The dragon’s eyes widened with surprise as they drew closer.

  “Well, well,” the Gatekeeper said rubbing his chin with thumb and forefinger. “I have to admit that I was not expecting to see you again. Do you have it?”

  Faedra patted her backpack. “In here.”

  Faedra could swear she saw the dragon do a little wiggle of excitement, then he smiled, or at least she hoped it was a smile. A long line of shiny white, and extremely sharp looking, teeth gleamed from beneath his scaly lips only inches from her face.

  “Young lady, I doubt you have any idea of what you have just done for our realm. Come quickly, I will escort you myself.”

  The Gatekeeper opened the swirling gateway to Zutherindal and guided Faen and Faedra through with a gesture of his enormous claw.

  They stepped through only to be met by the grumpy blue dragon who greeted them with the same expression the Gatekeeper just had.

  The Gatekeeper poked his head through before his body followed. “It is alright Alaris, I will escort them to Draconis,” he said before Alaris could get any words out. “Please guard the gateway while I am gone.”

  The blue dragon grouched but shuffled through the gateway all the same. Faedra turned to see his tale disappear through the swirling luminescent liquid they had just walked through.

  “This way,” the Gatekeeper spoke with urgency. “No time to lose.”

  Faedra and Faen followed him in silence. The passage she walked through just a short while ago was prompting a knot to tie itself in her stomach. She knew Draconis would be pleased to get his egg back, but now it suddenly dawned on her, what if he didn’t keep up his end of the bargain? She would have wasted all this time for nothing. She dug out the time-pebble from her jeans prompting the heavy feeling in her heart. The tiniest sliver was all that was left.

  “We will find him,” Faen said.

  Faedra looked up, suddenly snapped from her thoughts by Faen’s declaration. He was looking at the pebble. She could te
ll he was trying to mask his concern. Over the past few months, she’d gotten to know him fairly well and could tell when he was concerned or worried, even when he tried to hide it.

  “I hope Draconis doesn’t back out on his side of the bargain.”

  “A dragon’s word is his oath. He will not back out. If he promised you the emerald staff in return for the egg, he will give it to you.”

  “You obviously have a lot more faith in dragons than I do,” she whispered.

  The Gatekeeper cleared his throat “He is correct, my child. If Draconis promised you the emerald staff, he will give it you.”

  Faedra felt her cheeks warm a little; it was obvious the dragon had overheard what she said to Faen.

  “I didn’t mean any disrespect,” she said to the dragon.

  “No need for apologies, my dear. There has been a frosty standoff between dragons and humans for nearly a thousand years now. It is understandable that you do not trust us anymore than we trust you.” The red dragon turned his head and gave her another toothy grin then turned back again without breaking stride.

  All too soon they were standing outside the doors that led to Draconis’ chamber. Faedra’s heart was in her mouth, and it was all she could do to keep from being sick. The anxious waves of nausea flooded her senses as the Gatekeeper took hold of the gothic styled wrought iron handles and pushed down.

  The doors swung open.

  “Arin, what are you doing here? Who is guarding the gateway?” Draconis boomed from inside the room as the red dragon entered.

  “Grouchy as ever,” the Gatekeeper whispered back to Faen and Faedra, giving them both a wink before turning back to face inside the room.

  Faedra smiled, she was really starting to like this dragon.

  “I have a couple of surprise visitors for you,” Arin announced.

  “How many times do I have to tell you guards, I do not want any visitors!” Draconis bellowed, rattling the iron sconces in their mountings on the walls either side of the doorway.

  Faedra swallowed hard. She could not yet see the enormous black dragon taking up residence in the cavernous room, as she and Faen were still standing behind the red dragon whose bulky body was filling most of the doorway. But she could just imagine his expression from the first time she’d been in his presence.