The Green Dragon: A Claire-Agon Dragon Book (Dragon Series 3) (20 page)

“What do you mean by three?” Gloria nudged the smaller historian in the ribs, though gracing him with a smile.

“The barbarians,” he answered.

“Speaking of which, we must see to Beth and Wulfric,” Edric said, concern in his voice, and if the Ranger spoke with concern, the others understood that this was not to be taken lightly.

“Wulfric knows the plan. If they stick to it, then we will meet at Bloodstone Rock.” Greyson stood, with the aid of Elly and Edric, one hand each.

“You didn’t tell us this part of the plan,” Lucina said, opening her eyes and giving the druid a good look.

Greyson nodded and allowed a sigh to escape his lips. “That’s because only those in our order are permitted to know.”

“Know what?” Gloria asked.

“Yeah, what is this Bloodstone Rock of which you speak?” Helvie added.

There was an awkward silence for a long moment before Diamedes spoke, and his interjection was not expected. “Bloodstone Rock is a sacred druid site, forbidden by all to enter except those in the order of the Arnen.”

“You know?” Edric asked, some suspicion in his voice.

“Yes,” Diamedes said, looking at the Ranger. “I am not of your order, but those within have entrusted me with some knowledge, this included.”

“Then you know to speak of it is forbidden as well. Your trust was not earned and severely misplaced by speaking so,” Edric said, sounding stern.

“Let your master judge that, because by my measure, his plan involves leading more than just us to your sacred site, does it not, Arnen Greyson?” Diamedes asked.

Greyson sighed again. He was getting too old for this, and he was tiring all too quickly nowadays. “You are correct, Royal Historian Diamedes,” Greyson said, returning the formal gesture. “If we are to have any chance of survival, we must lure the Kesh to the one place where my powers are strengthened.”

“Not only the Kesh, though. You best tell them everything,” Diamedes said.

Silence fell, and the group listened intently to their next step. Greyson looked at each in turn. “We must lure not only the Kesh but the green dragon as well.”

The journey into the Greenfeld was swift, as the forest was close at hand. Several of the companions inquired how the Kesh would track them, or if they would follow at all. Greyson was quick to inform them that the Kesh would not stop till they had Beth and executed her for the death of one of their own. This was Kesh custom and this was Kesh law. That would be enough. As for tracking them, well, Greyson simply used one word to describe how they could do it—
magic
.

The trip into the forest was an anxious one. The land was known to the Arnen, but they had to skirt the heart of the forest. That was where the dragon resided, and this added to the length of their trip. They traveled the rest of the day and all night and again the next day. There was no sign of the dark dryads and no sign of the green dragon. They had no word or sign either from Beth or Wulfric, and this concerned them, all except Greyson.

“They will meet us at Bloodstone Rock,” he had said. “They are probably already there waiting for us.” But at night, Edric, Elister, and the old druid could be heard discussing the plight of their colleagues and the fact that they felt nothing from Beth’s soul. No inclination that she was alive or dead. The Rangers didn’t have any attunement enough to allow them to be sensed from great distances, so this disturbed them greatly, though they went to great lengths to keep it silent.

Finally, on the second night, they started to rise along the ground where the forest met the mountains. “So your sacred site is near?” Gloria asked, awe in her voice as the trees turned from the leafy oaks and aspens of the forest to mighty reds and blocks of the mountain slopes. The huge trunks were easily three times the girth of the mightiest oak tree of the forest.

“I have never seen such a tree before,” Helvie said, allowing a hand to rest on one of them. “You’d think I would know, being in my own realm and all.”

Edric chuckled and Lucina noticed. “Why the humor, Ranger?”

Edric stopped to admire one of the large trees. “It’s interesting that the good lady Helvie thinks of all things in a certain geographic location as belonging to her . . . or her father. This grove of trees, and indeed the most ancient and holiest of all Arnen sites, were here long before the first baron of Vulkor took up shop in his little castle and proclaimed these lands his.”

“You mock the barony?” Lucina asked.

“Of course not,” Edric said. “I only note the irony of her statement.”

There was silence for a moment before Greyson clarified. “He means she has not seen what she has not seen because not all things are of her realm. Claiming something is not the same as true ownership. Ownership requires a history, responsibility, and a stewardship that goes well beyond simply ruling.”

“It’s all right, Lucina. I think I understand these people now. This land belongs to no one. Though perhaps a steward may care for it, it belongs to itself and we mortals are but fleeting memories to the land. Is that about right, Master Greyson?” Helvie said.

Several of the group looked at the young lady, a bit of awe in their expression. She seemed to have understood quicker than anyone would have thought possible for a noble. “Yes, Lady Helvie.” Greyson smiled, also putting a hand to a majestic tree and closing his eyes. “The land is eternal. We are not.”

Edric chuckled and moved on, with Elister close behind him. It took less than hour before they stood at what looked like two large pillars of pure stone, granite to be exact, but it was hard to tell as they were covered in vines and grasses. Shrubs and trees grew near them. They seemed to mark an entryway into a clearing that was visible beyond, though somewhat shady.

The pillars stood in front of a pocket carved within the mountain. The forest butted up against the mountains, and there was only one way in or out of the site. That was through the pillars, or just to either side of them, but the opening faced south and was narrow as high mountain walls greeted the group. When the group stopped to take in the place, they discovered that they were not alone.

“I thought you’d come here,” a small dryad said, walking from behind a tree and standing several paces in front of the group.

Greyson held up a hand, urging restraint to his group, but Lucina and Gloria drew their swords just the same, taking a defensive stance. Seeing that there was no attack forthcoming, Greyson walked a few paces toward the woodland nymph.

“No, druid, she will curse you and take you from this land,” Lucina said sternly.

“It’s all right. I’ve dealt with her kind before. If she meant to take any of us, she would simply do it. Besides, I was expecting her,” Greyson said, turning his head over his shoulder so they could hear him but not taking his eyes from the dryad.

“You were expecting me?” she asked, her voice soft and lulling.

“Perhaps not you specifically, but I knew that a sister of the woods would find us . . . eventually,” Greyson said.

“To what end?” the dryad asked.

“I could ask you the same. You are not here from any good will of your own, are you?” The druid answered her question with one of his own.

“I am called Sun Petal in the common tongue. I speak for my sisters, and you are correct. I came here with a request.”

“I am—” Greyson started, but was interrupted.

“Greyson, yes, we know, Arnen. The trees know your name. You are a protector, we understand.”

“Then you’ll understand that we are not so far apart, you and I. We seek much the same things, do we not?” Greyson said.

Sun nodded. “Yes, so we must assess our motives and circumstances. They are not all the same.”

“No, they are not,” Greyson began, “but before I hear your request, I have a proposal for you. Will you hear me?”

Sun froze for a moment and didn’t move. Only her blue silk dress swayed gently despite there being almost no wind; the fabric was so shear to the touch. Then, with a nod, she said, “I will.”

“Good, I will invite you into the circle this once. You will have no power over us there, not that you would break your word.” Greyson walked past the dryad and through the tall granite pillars. He never walked within her range of grasp, and once past, he used his staff to mutter an incantation, and the pillars glowed brightly before diminishing. “Come,” he said, beckoning to the group and nodding at Sun.

The group passed through first, giving the dryad a wide berth, and both Gloria and Lucina held their swords in front of them pointed at the woodland nymph. When everyone had passed, Sun stepped forward, putting a hand in front of her, expecting something unpleasant by her expression.

“What is she doing?” Gloria whispered at the old druid as they watched silently.

“She’s been here before, and the experience was most unpleasant for her,” Greyson said. Then louder, so Sun could hear, he said, “It’s all right. You won’t be hurt. I promise.”

The dryad looked at the old druid and sighed. Putting her hand down and closing her eyes, she took two steps and crossed the boundary of the pillars. Nothing happened. She opened her eyes, looking around, and smiled.

“Edric, help our guest Sun, toward the inner circle. We will parlay with her right away,” Greyson said.

Edric walked over to Sun and held out his arm, bringing a warning from the others.

“Don’t,” was all Lucina said, raising her sword higher.

Edric looked to Lucina first, and then Greyson, who nodded, and then back to Sun.

“She can’t hurt any of us here,” Greyson said. “Her powers don’t reach into this place.”

To prove this, Sun grabbed Edric’s arm and held tightly for a moment before looking at Greyson in awe. “You are correct,” she said.

“Yes,” Greyson said. “Now, come on. Time is short, and we all have business to do.”

The group watched as they passed Ranger and dryad, and they followed into a large clearing of short grass with wild flowers and shrubs forming a protective circle around several large, flat ancient slabs of rock that were at leg level, perfect for sitting on. There were carved stone statues of what looked like warriors, wizards, and druids ringed all around the formation. There were at least nine of them, and they seemed weathered and old, as if they had been created eons ago.

“What is this place?” Gloria asked, the awe evident in her voice.

No one had time to answer as Wulfric stood from the far slab and turned to face them. His face was scratched and bruised, and his leather armor had bloodstains on them, as well as dirt and streaks of grass. His sword was leaning against the slab, and there was a body on it.

“What in the name of Agon happened?” Lucina asked, momentarily forgetting the dryad and facing the tall Ranger.

“Wulfric, are you all right?” Greyson asked.

No one moved. Wulfric nodded, his eyes downcast, and then he looked at the old druid and met his gaze. “I have failed you. I have failed my ward.”

“Beth?” Elly asked, trying to get a look at who was lying on the slab. The flat rock was higher than the others, and at the head of the circle, it carried some significance.

Edric walked to Wulfric and stood at the man’s side, laying a hand on the larger Wulfric’s shoulder. Edric glanced at the body and then nodded to Greyson, who walked by, patting Wulfric on his other shoulder and moving to the body. “Come, Elister,” Greyson said formally. “I’ll need your help.”

Elly rushed to his aid, and everyone else, except the dryad, moved forward tentatively to see who it was. They all knew, of course. Beth’s body lay upon the altar-like rock. Her face was peaceful, but pale and lifeless.

Greyson started to give instructions to Elly, and the two started to administer to her, Greyson pulling various items from his pack, while Elly occasionally did the same. They seemed to ignore the group, leaving everyone to ponder his or her thoughts.

“Did you have something to do with this?” Lucina walked toward the dryad, forcing the petite nymph to backpedal until she felt herself against a tree. She blinked several times to no avail and then seemed frightened as Lucina’s sword pressed against her neck, tip first.

“Leave her,” Wulfric said, shrugging off his melancholy and walking to the pair. He gently put his hand beneath the holy warrior’s blade and moved it ever so slowly away from the dryad’s neck. “She is not at fault. It was the Kesh and their demon creature.”

Lucina nodded and turned away, taking several steps but keeping her sword in her hand. Gloria sheathed hers and turned to face the others. “What do we do now?”

“We wait,” Edric commanded, moving to a seat and dropping his pack.

Everyone followed suit, and several hours passed before the pair of druids came back to the group.

“Is she dead?” Lucina asked abruptly.

There was a long pause, and Greyson stood silently with Elly by his side. He never looked up, keeping his head down, starting at the ground, which inside the circle consisted of flat, thin slabs of rock with grassy gaps between them. Finally, he addressed the group. “No, though death would be better for her now.”

Wulfric reacted. “She lives?”

“Barely,” Greyson said. “What did you do?”

Wulfric pulled an empty vile from an inner pocket beneath his armored tunic. “I gave her the water of Arabella.”

“That explains much, but even the handmaiden of Agon herself couldn’t bring Beth back from the abyss. That will require Kesh magic and no other,” Greyson said, sadness in his voice.

“What are you saying?” Helvie asked. “I don’t understand.”

Greyson didn’t speak, but looked at her for a long time. Hoping to ease the old druid’s grief, Diamedes spoke. “Lady Helvie, what I believe the good Master Greyson is saying is that the druid’s life has been spared, but she will never live again unless the magical poison is drawn from her body by a Kesh wizard. Do I understand this correctly?” Diamedes looked at Greyson.

Greyson nodded.

“So, she’s alive, then, and we simply need one of those Kesh wizards to bring her back, right?” Helvie asked, looking at her companions and not receiving any eye contact. They looked sad and forlorn. “I’m not understanding. Let’s get—”

“Enough.” Lucina cut her ward off from speaking further. “You don’t understand, Helvie. The Kesh would never agree to free her of her poison bonds. You don’t have the experience that we do with them. They would rather die than help her.”