The Dragons Blood Key: Legend of the Dragon's Blood Key - Book 1 (12 page)

Cassy followed Frier as he weaved through
the trees until they came to a small clearing.

“Look, they are over there,” he pointed to
the berry bushes on the other side of the clearing.

They quickly crossed the small grassy area
to the thick berry bushes growing in the bright sunlight.

“It’s nice here,” Cassy glanced around.

“Yes, it’s not creepy, right?” Frier teased
playfully.

“It’s definitely not creepy,” Cassy
agreed.

Cassy was amazed how things seemed to grow
in
such abundance in Walandra.
There were bright colored flowers, lining the trees edge and the
berry bushes were so full of
berries
that she wondered how the branches held them
without breaking. She reached for one of the berries then stopped
when something caught her eye. “What the heck is that?”

Frier turned to look where Cassy was
pointing. “I don’t see anything other than berries.”

Cassy stepped back. “You can’t see
that?”

Frier looked at the bush again where she had
pointed. “No, only berries. Are you feeling alright?”

“The dragon cannot see me. I am here for
you
so only you may see me,” the
little creature said as it stepped out of the bush into the
light.

Cassy looked at the creature then back to
Frier, who now seemed frozen in time. “What have you done to
Frier?”

“He is unharmed. In his mind, you are both
picking berries and having
a
wonderful
time. My name is Keira, and I wanted to introduce
myself.”

Cassy marveled at the beauty of the tiny
creature. Her hair was the color of
fine-spun
gold and her eyes the color of the sky on a
summer’s day. She was only six inches
tall
and wore a dress made of a substance as delicate as
butterfly wings.

“What are you and why are you here?” Cassy
asked.

“I am a
Milif
. We are beings sent to watch over those who have an
important purpose to fulfill. Queen Privlana prayed that I watch
over you and see that you remain safe as you continue on your
quest. I have been with you since you arrived in our realm.”

Cassy looked
carefully
at Keira, trying to gage her honesty.

“You do not know if you can trust me. I
assure you that can, but I am glad that you are not quick to trust.
You have many dangers ahead of
you
so you will need to trust your heart.” Keira reached out and
touched Cassy’s hand.

“I feel strength and courage churning inside
of you. Never doubt yourself, and always remember that I am with
you. Now, I must go. The others are waiting for you and Frier to
return with the berries, but first...” Keira raised her arm and
waved it in the air, making a basket full of berries appear on the
ground at Cassy’s feet.

Cassy looked down at basket
overflowing
with succulent berries. “We didn’t
have a basket when we came here. How do I explain the basket?”

“Do not fear. Frier will remember finding
the basket next to the bush,” Keira quipped playfully.

Cassy shook her head in amazement, wondering
what other things Keira had done since her arrival in the Kingdom
of Walandra.

“Thank you, I know that we’ll enjoy them,”
Cassy said.

Keira
smiled
then
in a flash of light she vanished.

“Come on, we’ve picked enough to feed an
army,” Frier said as he lifted the basket. “I hope whoever left
this here doesn’t mind us borrowing it.”

“I’m sure they won’t mind,” Cassy grinned as she
followed Frier back across the clearing.

“Wow, that was fast,” Aaron said as he saw
Cassy and Frier come out of the thick trees, holding the basket
filled with berries.

“Where did you find a basket?” Roupert
asked, unsure if he liked the idea of someone being anywhere close
to them.

Frier walked over to where Roupert and Aaron
had spread out the dried meat, and nuts and seeds on a blanket.

“It was sitting next to the berry bushes, so
we sort of borrowed it,” Frier answered sheepishly.

Roupert looked at Frier with a look of
disappointment on his face. “Well, after we are finished eating,
you will return the basket to where you found it.”

Realizing that Roupert was not pleased with
him, Frier hung his head in shame. “I’m sorry. I will return
it.”

“Don’t be too hard on him. The basket is old
and probably forgotten there a long time ago. Look it’s barely
holding together.” Cassy pointed at the basket that appeared old
and worn where just moments before it was in perfect condition.

“That basket is not old,” Roupert said, but
then he realized that he was mistaken. “Strange, I could have sworn
that it was in perfect condition.”

“
Well, I don’t
care if it’s old or new, I’m starving,” Aaron grinned as he reached
into the basket. He then pulled out a handful of the succulent
berries and shoved them in his mouth.

Realizing there is no need to worry about
the basket any longer, Roupert reached for a handful of the
berries
, “These look
delicious.”

The four of them sat on the blanket and
enjoyed their meal. Cassy thought back to her conversation with
Keira and wondered what lay ahead for them, as they got closer to
the castle of Queen Alona.

“What do you mean that the Champion has
arrived? That is impossible!”

Queen Alona had believed that she was safe
from another Champion coming to the Kingdom of Walandra. After
Abigail had returned to her realm, Alona had cast a repelling spell
around the kingdom to prevent another Champion from coming to
complete the task of destroying her rule.

“I’m sorry, my Queen, but it is true. The
Champion is traveling to the castle as we speak,” the guard said
nervously.

Queen Alona was not pleased with the news of
the
Champion,
who had returned to
challenge her rule. She looked at the guard, who now backed away,
but before he could make his escape, she lifted her hand and turned
the terrified man into a pile of ash on the stone floor.

“I will not be threatened by a mere child,” the
Queen roared as she rushed from the room, scattering the pile of
ash across the floor with the hem of her dress.

Flickering torches lit the stairway leading
down to the dungeon. As Queen Alona reached the last step, she
stopped for a moment to take in the scene before her.

In the corner of the large room was Queen
Privlana. She sat on a filthy mat in worn out clothes, trapped in
her human form by the cursed chain attached to the dungeon
wall.

She looked up and saw Alona standing at the
base of the stairs. “Hello Alona, what brings you to see me
today?”

Alona did not care for the informal way that
Privlana referred to her. She squared her shoulders then slowly
walked toward the once great Queen Privlana, Queen of the Dragon
Clan.

“How small you look trapped in your human
form. To see you living in such a manner; brings joy to my heart,”
Alona said with sarcasm dripping from each word.

“Enjoy this time while you can,” Privlana
replied defiantly.

Alona stepped closer and looked Privlana
directly in the eyes. “You know, don’t you?”

“What could I possibly know? You have me
trapped in this dungeon, away from everything I hold dear,”
Privlana taunted.

Alona felt anger and fear churn up from
deep inside
of her. She knew being
in her human form had weakened
Privlana’s
powers, but she also knew there were forces in
Walandra forever faithful to the Dragon Queen.

Alona raised her arm in a threatening
manner. “Do not toy with me Privlana. I will cast you into the Land
of Shadows where you will suffer for all eternity.”

Privlana began to laugh. “You do not have
the power to cast me anywhere. You may have me imprisoned in this
dungeon, but you do not have the
power
to remove me to the Land of Shadows. I am of the
Dragon Clan, and your power over me is limited.”

Alona felt her face flush red with rage. She
knew that Privlana was correct. Her powers were limited, but once
she had control of the Blood Stone all that would change.

“I may not be able to send you to the Land
of Shadows, but I sent your beloved husband there,” Alona laughed
when she saw the look of sadness appear in Privlana’s eyes.

Privlana reached down and touched the leg
cuff, holding the chain to her ankle. “Enjoy these last days of
your rule over the subjects of Walandra, Alona. For soon, you will
meet your end. This chain protects you from my wrath, but the
Champion is coming, and she will release me from this bondage. Then
once I’m free…”

Hate burned in Alona’s eyes as she stepped
forward, her body filled with rage. “Quiet! You will never be free
from that chain. I will rule over this kingdom forever!”

Queen Privlana’s eyes met Alona’s and for an
instant, both found themselves trapped inside each other’s
minds.

Alona fell back then she cried out while
holding her hands to her temples. She then turned toward Privlana
with an expression of pure amusement on her face. “So, you think
you’re so
clever
, but your heart
betrays you.”

A new fear consumed Privlana, as she
realized her thoughts had betrayed her.

“Your son, he comes with the Champion. Yes,
it was
clever
to have the
Lillients take the egg containing the young Prince away from the
castle to protect him from the curse. I wonder; does he know of his
heritage? Does he know of his Royal Bloodline, but more
importantly, does he know of his powers?”

Alona saw the fear in Privlana’s eyes.

“He doesn’t know, does he?” Alona smirked
when she saw the confirmation in Privlana’s eyes.

Alona rubbed her hands together. “Yes, this
can be fortuitous for my plan.”

“Your evil will never win over the new
Champion. She has
a strong
spirit,
and will defeat you,” Privlana cried out with shame for allowing
Alona to see into her heart. She had managed to keep the secret of
Frier for all these long and lonely years, but in her excitement,
she had allowed Alona to learn of his existence.

Alona saw the fear in Privlana’s eyes and
she suddenly felt a new sense of power surge through her. “Before
learning of your son, I must admit that I was worried, but
now…”

“Do not harm my son,” Privlana cried
out.

Alona scowled, “I have no intention of
harming
the young Prince. In fact,
I plan to welcome him with open arms and love in my heart.”

Privlana was not sure if she had heard
correctly. “What do you plan to do?”

“What I have planned for the young Prince is
not your concern. Just let it be known, that he will provide the
power I need to destroy any hold you or anyone has on the subjects
of Walandra, once and for all.” Alona spun on her
heel
and quickly walked to the staircase.

“Alona, no, please do not do this,” Privlana
pleaded.

Alona stopped at the base of the stairway
and turned to look back at Privlana, “Thank you for the informative
visit, but I must go make preparations for the return of the young
Prince.”

She then vanished up the stairway leaving a
chorus of laughter floating on the air.