Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians (6 page)

“I-I’m
sorry.” Quickly, her hand brushed against her cheeks to wipe away the tears.
They smudged the dust from her cheeks leaving nearly clean skin. “I never
imagined I would ever get to meet one of you. To see a true Dragon, so close,
so beautiful.”

Her
gaze continued to flicker back just beyond his face. His wings were the only thing
that surprised her. She hadn’t seen many drawings of Dragons since her mother
had died, except in one painting inside the Church. It was a mural that filled
a very long wall. It had haunted her to see it. The painting was a story of
murder. It was the story of how the Church came into power. Great prices had
been paid to many men to bring what they called beasts to their deaths. They
had succeeded.

Wings
she had seen in the painting, and what she thought she remembered of her
mother’s books, were not like his though. They were full, almost like the wings
of a bat. His were almost like lace, if lace were made of bone that could move.

He
remained lying down. His size was so vast that he took up a great part of the
platform that sat before the cave’s opening. A massive long snake like tail
flicked as it wrapped around him. “Are you all right?” he inquired. “You’ve
traveled a long, difficult road to get here.” She could tell he was eyeing the
cuts on her face from the tree limbs.

“I’ll
heal.” Kneeling down, she sat to her knees. “What is your name? They would not
tell me your name.” Her hands rest upon her knees for support.

“Most
would call me Dragon,” he spoke in a droll voice.

“But
Dragon is what you are, not who you are. That would be like you calling me Human.”

“Perhaps
I shall, Human.” He seemed amused by this idea.

“I
no more wish to be called Human than you wish to be called Dragon. Like you, I
have a name.”

“Perhaps
I will just call you Emissary.” Aryaunna said nothing in response. “They did
not tell you my name because they did not know it. In your tongue, I am called
Reign. And you, what do your people call you, Emissary?” His head sunk down so
he could look at her squarely as she’d sat down.

“Aryaunna.
My sister often calls me Ary,” Aryaunna’s voice was a timid whisper, making her
seem almost childlike.

“Aryaunna…
A young witch, barely a woman yet, has become the Guardian’s hand.” Though he
didn’t sound it as an accusation, Aryaunna’s brow furrowed as she rose up
fluidly.

“Do
not doubt my dedication nor my ability based solely upon my youth, Reign. My
body is able and my heart is willing.”

Reign,
too, rose up. His formidable body cast her into his shadow. “Are you prepared
to battle? To fight your fellow man in great wars, to wear their blood on your
hands like gloves, to be scarred and hunted like the very Guardians you have
sworn your undying allegiance?!” His tattered wings like bone lace cast shadows
upon the ground. They were heartbreakingly beautiful-heartbreaking for they
were nothing more than a deformed cast of what they must have once been. This
Dragon had been mutilated and more so cursed, cursed for wings as such could
never give him flight. Yet they were magnificent. Ivory white bone glistened in
the sun, twisting and turning to create intricate marvelous patterns.

“I
am prepared to face any enemy.” Aryaunna took a brazen step closer. “I am
prepared to give justice to those who have been wronged and to those who have
spread their disease of hate like a plague over our world.” Again she took
another step. “No sword will find purchase to take me down. No blade will taste
my life-blood.” Her hands had curled into tight fists. Her nostrils had flared
as she fed off the anger of her past. An old pain that twisted deep inside of
her brought a glisten to her eyes. With every word her mouth drew tighter as
she stood right before him, desperate for him to see her determination.

“The
Emissary mustn’t only fight, young witch. The Emissary must
lead
,” Reign
spoke vehemently. “Not only must you lead them to battle but you must lead them
home. Your life will be forfeit over theirs. No mother’s love will contend with
the love for your purpose, your people.”

“My
people?” Aryaunna cut him off, confused by his word choice.

“No
matter your blood, no matter your species, those who follow you are all that
will matter. They are your people and you their Emissary. You live for them,
you kill for them, and one day, you will die for them. In being the Guardian’s
hand you become the very embodiment of their power and through that you become
the only remaining beacon of hope for those that seek freedom from the tyranny
that is the
greed
.” His body loomed over hers as he looked down upon
her. Lowering his head, his long serpentine neck coiled so that he could look
her in the eyes. “Are you prepared to give your very essence, witch?”

Aryaunna’s
eyes cast away from Reign’s. Her right hand swiftly drew the old blade from her
belt. Pressing the sharp metal into the flesh of her left palm she pressed in
and swiftly drug it across her open flesh. Blood wept from her wound as she
looked back up to Reign. “To the very last drop.” Her words were empty of
emotion, empty of the fire it held moments before.

His
head bowed in a deep nod. He saw the truth in her eyes, and though he saw her
pain he found no fear. Sheathing her blade she looked up at him expectantly
while clinching her left hand into a fist. Blood drizzled between her fingers,
despite the cut being fairly shallow.

A
massive taloned Dragon’s hand rose slowly, and cupped under her left. The
scales of his fingers brushed her skin tenderly as he urged her to open her
hand. “Your life has been and ever shall be one of great sacrifice. This day
you need not shed your blood.” Hot breath blew out over her open palm, tingling
as it touched her. The stain of blood was no more than a smear when the
sensation eased, and the cut itself was no more than a white line. “Come,
witch. There is much to teach you yet.” Releasing her, his head motioned for
her to enter the cave.

Elizabeth
woke before her eyes opened. Her dream lingered, suspending her between sleep
and the waking world for a time. Dreams of simpler days with her mother and
very young sister chimed to her. Bells of laughter became echoes as if distant
calls beckoned her. The waking world was pulling her closer as sunlight filled
the room and added warmth to her body through the mound of thick furred
blankets. It was not the comfortable warmth that spread through her groggy body
that called her to wake, but the presence of another that stirred her. As the
realization became more real, Elizabeth started awake.

She
didn’t have to look around the room to eye him. Her Seer’s sight knew where to
look before her eyes could even adjust. “Allos.” His head inclined towards her
slightly in acknowledgment. “Where is-”

“Aryaunna
isn’t here. She asked that I watch over you, so that you were not left to wake
alone.” Allos sat tensely in a wooden straight-back chair against the wall. His
right arm rest upon a small oblong table against the wall. Aside from the nod
of his head, and movement of his mouth, he hadn’t moved even a fraction of an
inch since she’d woken. Elizabeth could feel his anxiety though he did well to
hide it outwardly.

“Where
is my sister?” Elizabeth’s head felt heavy but she was determined to move into
action. Her hands started to roll back her amass of blankets as her shoulders
started to lift from the small bed.

In
an instant he was kneeling beside her. Large hands placed light onto her
shoulders urging her to lie back. The spin of her head forced her to comply.
“Rest, Elizabeth. I will tell you what you wish to know, but only if you agree
to lie back.” Their gazes locked. A silent argument waged between them as she
pressed up into his grip.

When
her body slumped in defeat, he rose up and reached past her. One hand which
still rest upon her shoulder eased her up only enough to slide a large pillow
behind her. Stepping back to the door he lifted a pitcher from the table and
poured a wooden cup full. “It’s just water,” he assured her as he returned and
held it out for her.

Her
gaze was weary, but she took the cup. “Drink,” he instructed as he pulled the
chair up beside her bed and sat. Looking away from him she did so. Her gaze
darted around the room, lit only by the sun through the nearby window. It was a
simple room, but it was personal despite its scarcity. She wondered if it
wasn’t Allos’ room. As the water passed her lips the realization of just how
thirsty she was sunk in. It took but a moment for her to empty the cup.

“More?”
he asked, preparing to stand.

“No,
thank you.” With a nod, he took the cup and set it down on the floor beside
him. “My sister,” she prompted.

“Aryaunna
has gone into the Dark Wood.” Allos was well prepared for Elizabeth to start at
this news, and placed his hand onto her forearm when she grabbed the blanket to
toss it aside. “She must do this, Elizabeth. She made this choice knowing full
well what risk it brought. We prepared her the best that we could.”

She
couldn’t look at Allos. Elizabeth stared at her lap as dreadful worry skirted
her thoughts. The corner of her eyes twitched with fear as his hand relaxed.
“She made me swear to be here to protect you, and to tell you that she was
safe. She made me promise to keep you here. Elizabeth, I know it goes against
everything in your nature, but you have to let her do this alone. I know how
much you want to protect her, truly.”

Her
gaze shot up and locked with his. A dozen scenarios played in her mind on how
she could get past him, out of the Hollow, and how she could find her sister.
The longer she looked at him, the more impossible she realized that would be.
He could see the defeat in Elizabeth’s eyes though she did not relax. “Why,
what could possibly make her do this?” her voice was quiet but rough from so
long a sleep without water or speaking.

“She
had to go find someone… If she is to-” he took pause to gather his thoughts.
After a moment he sat back and looked at her squarely. “While you slept I
wondered how I would explain this to you. The only way that I really can,
though, is to be honest. To become the Emissary the person must swear not just
their allegiance but offer their eternal life as forfeit. To gain the
Guardian’s true power she has to find the last Dragon and prove her fealty
without question.” The silence lingered between them. Though Elizabeth’s gaze
held Allos’ it was clear she was far away, lost in the thought and worry for
her sister. “She’s gone to Dia.”

“Dia,”
Elizabeth echoed as she looked out the window, as if she would see the mountain
just beyond it.

“You
should know that all of my faith is with your sister Aryaunna.”

Legends
surrounded Mount Dia. The mountain looked otherworldly with its white edifice.
It was said to be carved from Dragons. No one knew what the stone was.

Elizabeth
knew the stories simply because she’d grown up hearing about it from the locals
of Kenan. Now her sister, her baby sister, had left the protection of the
Hollow alone to tempt fate again. Aryaunna had a way of doing that, she always
had. Never had she been one to deny a challenge. Aryaunna was a strong girl,
bold, too brazen for her own good. Elizabeth, too, shared these characteristics
but she’d learned early how to bury her freewill deep inside of her.

A
renegade tear escaped to run down her cheek. Turning her head she looked back
out the window to hide it. “I would like to be alone, Allos,” she spoke low,
but she knew he would hear her. In such a small room the sound traveled easily.
She waited, expecting him to depart while she refused to meet his gaze.
“Please. I wish to be left alone,” her tone grew vehement. He said nothing, and
still yet she could feel his gaze upon her. Frustration forced her to give in
and turn her chin just enough to look back at him.

“I
gave my word, Elizabeth. I’m sorry, that’s something I cannot do.” Allos looked
a little less sorry than his words implied. His mouth twitched to suppress a
smile when she scowled openly.

“Do
you honestly think I would run away?” she spat in frustration, as if the idea
were just absurd.

“Do
you honestly take me for a fool?” He smiled to see her defeated frustration,
but the moment ended nearly as quickly as it had begun. “I see the look in your
eyes as you gaze out. I know what it’s like to feel powerless to help those you
love most.”

The
way he said it took her off guard. It penetrated past her barriers to the raw
fear and pain beneath. Her crystalline blue eyes dropped gaze to her wrenching
hands. “She’s all I have. And now she has chosen a path that will surely see us
taken from each other,” her voice cracked as she choked on the very idea, as if
the words were lumps of dirt.

Leaning
forward, Allos hesitated before placing his hand over both of hers to stop them
from fretting. When she didn’t look up, he inched closer and rose his other
hand to place his knuckle under her chin. “There would be no sense to lie to
you, and tell you that your sister will find no danger in the Dark Wood. So
know that what I tell you to be the truest words I can find to give you…”

He
gave her a moment to consider that as his hand dropped to join the one covering
her own. She looked on at him with shimmering blue eyes, keen with the
knowledge of what she feared most. “There is no doubt in my heart that your
sister has not just chosen to become the Emissary but that it is her fate. I
cannot say how I know this to be true, I just do. The moment I saw her in the
woods with you, I knew. Yes, her life will know pain and grief, but not like
what you have both known for far too long. By coming here, by taking hold of
her destiny, she-you, the both of you, will come to know joy as well.”

This
time she did not look away from him. Her hands ceased to twitch as she let his
strength calm her. There was such assuredness in his eyes. He meant every word.
“Thank you,” she whispered before pressing her lips together tightly. Squeezing
lightly around her hands he gave a soft nod before releasing her and sitting
back.

They
let the moment pass without instance. Elizabeth’s eyes dried, and as she’d come
so accustomed to doing, she buried the nagging pain of worry deep in her belly.
It was a wonder that she ever needed to eat at all for how often she’d done
such.

Before
another word could be spoken, there was a soft tap on the door before it eased
open. It was clear that Korena was surprised to see Allos so close to
Elizabeth, and doubly surprised to see her sitting up. Her brow furrowed as she
scorned them, “How long have you been awake? You should have come to tell us at
once, Allos.”

“He
was just getting up to do so,” Elizabeth defended to the girl who was still in
many ways a child. “I made him wait. I wanted to know where my sister was.”

Korena
softened at that and nodded to herself as she understood better. “Mayla will
want to know you’re awake. I must go tell her.”

“Wait,”
Elizabeth called to her. “What is your name, girl?”

Shyly,
Korena hugged herself to the outside of the door, barely keeping her head in
enough to be seen at all. Allos kept his chin turned to look back at her,
waving the girl closer with his hand. Korena frowned before stepping into the
room. She kept her hand on the open door. Allos looked at her expectantly.
“Korena. My name is Korena.”

Elizabeth
smiled warmly, keeping her eyes on Korena’s so that the girl didn’t think her
to be gawking. Elizabeth had never seen nor heard of a Drow with skin of snow
before. Before Lena, Elizabeth had never seen a true Drow at all, though. “It’s
nice to meet you, Korena. My name is-”

“Elizabeth.
I know who you are. I helped Mayla treat you yesterday.” Korena looked on at
her curiously, though was cautious enough to stay behind Allos.

Elizabeth’s
brow furrowed. She vaguely remembered images of people around her but little
more than that. She thought she remembered an older woman who treated her, but
only the sound of her voice. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember.”

“I
have to go tell Mayla now. She’ll want to know you’re awake.” Without waiting
for a reply, Korena stepped back and out of the room, closing the door as she
did so.

“Forgive
her. She’s never met another human before you and your sister came.” Allos
turned to look back at Elizabeth.

“That’s
all right. Before yesterday, I’d never known a Drow before either.” She eyed
Allos curiously but said nothing. Because of Lena, she knew it was true that
the Drow could disguise themselves and take on the appearance of others. She
wanted to ask Allos why he didn’t let the magic shield drop. She wondered what
he really looked like, and if his eyes would lose their warmth when they turned
from hazel to silver.

“The
Drow are a strong, good people. They’ve made me feel like their own.”

“You’re…
not?” Elizabeth was hesitant to trust anyone. Not an unlikely trait for a woman
who’d been forced to grow up all too quickly in a world of darkness and pain.

“No,
actually I am Druid by blood” Allos explained. “The Drow raised me.”

The
door opened, this time with no fore coming knock. “Ah, it’s so very good to see
you awake, Elizabeth.” Mayla smiled warmly. “Korena will be along again shortly
with some food and drink.” Rising, Allos moved back against the wall near the
door, allowing Mayla to see to Elizabeth.

Looking
upon him, Mayla smiled proudly. A light touch of her hand brushed his arm as
she passed and took seat beside Elizabeth. As she sat, Elizabeth looked over
the woman closely. Her features were striking, but that wasn’t what captured
Elizabeth’s attention. There was something strangely familiar about her, and it
wasn’t recollection of Mayla tending to her. Her eyes were filled with purity
of love. They were the eyes of a mother.

The
girl, Korena, looked so much like her that surely she must’ve been kin. The way
she looked at Allos though, the way she looked at Elizabeth in fact, could only
be described as the way a mother looks at her children. Love-it was love she
saw in Mayla’s eyes. Love so powerful, so consuming, so cherishing that it had
completely become her.

It
was almost bewildering for Elizabeth to behold.

Mayla’s
mouth parted just as the door burst open again. Aside from nearly startling
Elizabeth out of her skin, Allos reacted by nearly attacking poor Korena.
Korena’s eyes went wide as she skidded to a stop but didn’t manage to avoid
barreling into Allos. The room itself wasn’t large, and Allos was already in
the mindset of guard duty. She’d startled everyone but Mayla who looked only
mildly concerned. Allos’ hands grabbed her forearms to keep the girl from
falling back. Before anyone could ask, Korena blundered through to get to
Mayla. “Ballos is hurt. He’s bleeding terribly. I’m afraid his leg is broken.”
Korena had a hold of Mayla’s arm, pulling her from her seat and for the door.