The Pitchfork of Destiny (25 page)

“I see,” Volthraxus said with a hiss. “So, this is the sister of the dragonslayer, King William.”

Liz drew herself up into a seated position, her back against a tapestry-­covered wall, and said weakly, “I will offer you my thanks, Lord Volthraxus, and then I will ask why you bothered.”

“Why I bothered?” the dragon asked with an arch of the ridge of gray plates above one eye.

“Yes,” she said, and her voice grew stronger as her wits returned and her anger at the pain, destruction, and chaos the dragon had caused flared to life. “Do you also intend to hold me hostage?”

The dragon nodded. “Knowing who you are, I will certainly consider the possibility, yes.”

“I will not be held hostage.”

“Oh, will you not?” he said with a smirk and a derisive flick of his forked tongue. “And, if I choose to keep you, what can
you
do to prevent it?”

“Stop it!” Elle said to the dragon sharply. “Why do you insist on being so cruel?”

The dragon shrugged and, turning away, settled himself on a worn spot of carpet near a large, open balcony that looked out on blue sky and snowcapped mountains.

Elle bent down to Liz and handed her a tin cup filled with cool water. “Drink this, Liz. You look exhausted. Are you not feeling well?”

“I did just get chased through the woods by a pack of bloodthirsty wolves, Elle. Oh, and then got ‘rescued' by a fire-­breathing dragon,” Liz said with a grimace, but she took the water and drank some greedily. She was suddenly very, very hungry and wished that Elle had offered her something to eat also.

Elle cast a glance back at the dragon, which appeared to have fallen into a deep sleep. “Are Will and Charming with you?” she asked in a low voice.

Liz shook her head. “I have no idea where they are, Elle.”

Elle frowned at this. “You mean they are on their own? All this time, I had hoped that they would have you to keep an eye on them.”

“They took off right after your capture,” Liz said, and took another deep drink of the water. “Will was . . . distraught.”

“What do you mean?” Elle asked, her face lined with worry.

Liz made a sort of half-­shrugging gesture with her hands. How could she possibly explain the state Will was in without throwing her friend into despair? “He is young, Elle,” she said delicately. “Apart from our parents, and he was too young to really remember them, he has never lost anyone he's loved, and he has never loved anyone as he loves you. He . . .”

“What, Liz,” Elle asked desperately, “whatever it is I must know.”

“He is mad with despair,” she said. Behind them, the dragon shifted in its sleep, and Liz dropped her voice to the barest of whispers. “He will not stop until he finds you.”

“And . . . Charming?” Elle asked, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes.

Liz nodded. “He is with him, and you know that he will not abandon Will, wherever that takes him. Unless we can help them, they will both die trying to save you.”

“What can we do?” Elle asked, and her voice was a little ragged. “I mean”—­she gestured around at the little, tapestry-­lined, round room and the sleeping dragon—­“we don't have a lot of options.”

Liz pulled her friend closer. “I spoke to Gwendolyn, and I think the answer is here. Have you seen a pitchfork somewhere in the tower? Its ends would have been melted and the handle blackened.”

Elle's eyes widened. “Yes, but it's gone.”

“What do you mean, gone?” Liz asked.

“If it ever existed,” came the dragon's deep voice.

They both flinched and turned to see the dragon staring at them, its eyes the merest slits.

Elle raised her chin defiantly. “It isn't polite to eavesdrop.”

“And it isn't polite to plot against your host,” the dragon said sardonically.

Anger flared anew in Liz, and she said sharply, “However polite your manner may be, you are not our host, Dragon, you are our jailer, and whatever gratitude I owe you for saving my life from the wolves I balance against the fact that you have kidnapped my friend and announced your intention to kill my brother.”

“You have made your feelings toward me quite clear, Lady Elizabeth, and I hope to make mine just as clear to you,” the dragon said, rising so that his head loomed above them. “As you have no love for me, I have no love for your brother. He was responsible for Magdela's death—­”

“I have told you he did not raise a hand against Magdela.” Elle came forward, pleading. “It was an accident.”

The dragon did not react to Elle's plea but kept staring at Liz, eyes blazing with rage. “So you have said, but even if that is true, he fed off her death like a vulture.” He raised a long claw and pointed it at Liz accusingly. “Your brother, King William, dares call himself the ‘dragonslayer.' Either he tells the truth, in which case he is guilty of her murder, or he is a liar, in which case he trades on her death to his own gain. In either case, I will exact my measure of vengeance on him.”

Liz pulled herself up from the ground. “Yes, he lied. We lied,” she said, breathing hard from the effort of standing. “You seem to be the only being within several kingdoms who was not aware of the fact. And you can say that he was responsible for her death, and I suppose in the twisted logic of your mind, that makes sense, but she is the one who was trying to murder us. If she had let us be that night, then we would likely still be farmers, and she might still be alive.”

The dragon stared at her, seething malevolence, and she tried to meet his gaze, but her head was swimming again. She leaned back against wall to keep from falling, gulping air.

“Your appeal is denied, Lady Elizabeth,” the dragon said, his voice iron.

Her vision blurred, but she could see that he was withdrawing, turning away. She knew that antagonizing the dragon was foolish, but she would not remain a captive to serve as the same kind of mad distraction for Charming that Elle had become for Will. She would rather die now than become the reason for his death. Quietly, mostly because she could not work up the strength for anything louder, she said, “Of course, had you thought to rescue Magdela from her own fairy enslavement, perhaps she would still be alive today. I suppose you did not think enough of her then to come to her aid.”

There was the sound of sudden movement, and she tensed herself for the killing blow that she expected to come. But nothing happened. She looked up and saw to her alarm that Elle was standing between her and the dragon's massive claw.

“Move aside, Lady Rapunzel,” the dragon said, his harsh voice having lost much of its earlier refinement. “I mean you no harm.”

“Don't you see,” she said her voice plaintive, “if you harm her, you harm me. If you kill Will, you will kill me. That is what I've been trying to tell you from the beginning. If I have stayed with you, willingly, it's only because I know that the only escape for me would be through death, and that would kill Will, but if you go ahead with your plan to slay William Pickett, then I will follow him into that final darkness. If you continue, there will be nothing but sadness at the end of this story.”

Liz held her breath as the dragon stared down at Elle, his deadly, taloned claw still poised to strike, but how the dragon might have answered or the moment resolved she would never discover as just then, there was a shout from outside the tower.

It was Will.

“Hail, Great Dragon of the North. I am King William of Royaume. I ask for proof that the Lady Rapunzel still lives. If she does, I am ready to discuss your demands.”

 

CHAPTER 16

DRAGON TOWER BURNING BRIGHT

T
he fire in the Dragon's eyes rekindled as he heard Will's challenge. With a rush of movement that sent the tapestries on the walls fluttering, Volthraxus sprang to the edge of the balcony and screamed his hatred.

“HERE I AM, KING WILLIAM, DRAGONSLAYER!” Volthraxus roared, beating his wings and sending a terrible wind rushing through the room that knocked Elle and Liz back into the wall. Holding each other for support, the two women tried to fight their way to the balcony, but it was useless.

Will's answer floated up from below, “I am ready to meet your challenge, Dragon, but first show me that Lady Rapunzel remains unharmed.”

“I will do more than that, King William, Dragonslayer,” Volthraxus said, and he reached back with his tail and pulled Liz and Elle toward him in a sweeping motion so that they found themselves at the balustrade looking down at Will, who was standing before the boulder-­blocked door of the tower in tattered clothes with a pitchfork in his hand. He had never looked more like a farmer.

His eyes alighted on Elle first, and he called out, “Are you well, Elle?” But then his gaze took in Liz, and they watched as his face visibly paled, and he shouted, “Liz? What are you doing here?”

“We are both fine, Will,” Elle shouted back to him.

Liz added, “Now get out of here, you ninny, before you get yourself killed.”

“I would not advise taking your sister's advice, King William, Dragonslayer,” the dragon called down with a hiss and a spurt of flame.

“I have no intention of running, Dragon,” Will said. “Leave the ladies alone and let us be done.”

“AS YOU WISH!”

“Wait!” Elle cried, and reached a hand up to the dragon's chest. “Will you take me down with you so that I may at least say goodbye?” she asked in a fragile voice. “Please?”

“Elle!” Liz said in a shocked voice.

“Liz, be quiet,” Elle snapped.

Volthraxus looked down at her with his molten eyes. “Normally, I would grant such a request, but I know you too well, little princess. I fear that your desire to say goodbye is a subterfuge for some grand and noble gesture on your part that might lead to some harm coming to you. You may say your farewells from here, I think.”

“You are cruel.”

“Perhaps,” he replied. “However, I think that it would be more cruel to King William if he died knowing that you had come to harm when he might have prevented it.” Volthraxus raised his head to address Will. “What do you say, King William, Dragonslayer, shall I transport Lady Rapunzel down to the field of combat?”

“He's right, Elle, it would be better if you stayed where you were,” Will said from the bottom of the tower. “Besides, I've been two weeks on the road, so you probably don't want to get too close right now anyway.”

“You do look a mess,” she said with a cluck of her tongue.

They stood in silence for a time, their eyes drinking each other in, absorbing every detail.

At last, Will said, “You let your hair grow out.”

Elle touched her head self-­consciously. “Yes. I'm sorry, I haven't had a chance to get it cut since—­”

“No!” he said brightly. “I like it. The way it spills over your shoulders and how the sun catches in it. I want to remember you like this.”

Tears sprang into their eyes and ran down their faces as they gazed at each other.

“Elle, I wish . . .” Will started, but then stopped, and said, “The dress is beautiful.”

“You peeked!” she said accusingly, and wiped at her eyes with the edge of her dress.

He shrugged. “Sorry.”

Will's face became serious, and he said, “You should wear it someday. It may not be with me, but it should be with someone. Elle, promise me that you will wear it!”

“No!” she sobbed, and reached out a hand toward him. “Will! No! There must be a way. Volthraxus! Please!”

“You monster!” Liz was suddenly shouting, shaking her fist up at the dragon's face. “How can you do this to them? How can a thinking being who says that he has felt love do this?”

“Enough!” Volthraxus rumbled angrily and, using his tail to push Liz and Elle to the side, stepped forward to the very edge of the balcony, beat his wings against the air and threw himself off the tower. He glided down in a half circle so that he landed near where the trail emerged onto the tower's ledge.

“As you can see, King William, Dragonslayer,” Volthraxus said, spreading his great gray wings out to the sides, “I have fulfilled my portion of the bargain. The ladies are unharmed, and when our combat is at an end, I will free them and not stop or hinder their flight in any manner; nor will I raise a talon against them unless you choose this day to flee from your appointed doom.”

Will nodded. “You have done all you promised, Dragon. I will not run.”

“Yes, you will, William Pickett,” Liz shouted down at him.

She grabbed Elle by the hand and ran back across the tower to the stair. They raced down the stairs and across the debris-­filled lower chamber to the blocked doorway. Through the gaps in the rocks, they could see Will, his back to them, facing off against the dragon.

“I love you, Will!” Elle cried out as she banged her fists futilely against the stones.

“I love you, Elle!” Will cried, and, coming to the other side of the rocks, he reached his arm through a slight gap so that their fingertips touched. He peered through the crack into the darkness. “Liz, take care of her, and tell Charming thanks for everything.”

“Will, behind you!” Liz shouted.

Volthraxus had closed the distance between them in two steps of lethal grace. He reared himself above Will, his great gray wings flapping and fire issuing from his mouth, and gazed down at him as molten flames danced in his eyes.

Will circled around to the side of dragon, putting some distance between them and where Liz and Elle were standing.

“Now we fight, King William, slayer of Magdela,” the dragon said, hissing flame and steam. “I have the fires of the infernal. You have your Pitchfork of Destiny. I fight for the memory of my beloved. You fight for your kingdom and bride. Shall we begin?”

“No,” Will said calmly.

He threw the pitchfork to the side and fell to his knees.

Behind him, Liz and Elle were shouting. “Will, No! Don't!” “Run, Will!”

Volthraxus ignored the shouts of the women and, as smoke continued to leak from his snout, took a step back, and rumbled, “What is the meaning of this? Do you refuse my challenge?”

Will looked up to meet Volthraxus's terrible gaze, and said, “I accept your challenge, Dragon, but I am not here to fight. I am here to end this. If only my life will satisfy your need for vengeance, then I give it to you. I give it to you with the understanding that you will leave Royaume, satisfied by the exchange, and that you will no longer terrorize my ­people or seek further retribution on my family. Do we have an accord?”

“Will! You can't!” Elle screamed with a sob.

Liz shouted, “Move aside, Elle!”

There was a loud crash as something heavy and wooden was thrown or rammed against the boulder barricade.

Volthraxus ignored the screams and shouts and leaned in close to Will, his hot breath scalding Will's face. “Do you think I will be swayed to mercy by this gesture? Do you think I will let you live because you are willing to sacrifice yourself?”

“No.” Will said, still staring into the dragon's molten eyes. “I expect you will kill me, but this is no longer about me. You keep calling me dragonslayer, but since my crowning, I have not claimed that title. I do, however, call myself King, and I understand better now than I did before what that means. It means that my life must be lived for the betterment of my ­people, even those that reject and scorn me. I give my life for theirs, for Elle and Liz and all the others who would be subject to your wrath should I refuse. Now, do we have an accord?”

Will's steady gaze seemed to be making Volthraxus uncomfortable, and the dragon retreated a step and cocked its head as if in thought.

There were more shouts from Elle and Liz, and more sounds of heavy objects being battered against the stone blockade. One of the boulders shifted.

“I don't understand,” Volthraxus growled. “Are you so tired of life?”

“I don't expect you to understand, Volthraxus,” he said. “However, I am trusting to your word that you will not harm the ­people of my kingdom, and that you will see that Lady Elizabeth and Lady Rapunzel make it safely back to Prosper.”

“You are putting a lot of faith in the word of a monster,” Volthraxus said. “Why?”

Will's grim expression finally broke, and he smiled. “Because I had the best teacher of dragon lore in the kingdom. Prince Charming told me all about you, and he told me that Volthraxus was an honorable dragon.”

Volthraxus nodded. “Very well. If this is what you wish. I think it is a pity that we did not get a chance to fight.” There was real regret in his voice. “I think you would have made a worthy foe.”

Liz's and Elle's shouts grew louder. There was the sound of more rocks falling and tumbling over one another.

Will smiled a little self-­mocking smile. “I probably would have disappointed you. I don't even know how to hold a sword properly.” His face grew serious again. “You will keep them safe?”

Volthraxus nodded, then opened his mouth. Will saw within a sight that few in the world have ever seen and lived to tell of, the fiery maw of a dragon. He felt the heat build, said a silent goodbye to Elle, Liz, and even Charming, and closed his eyes.

At that moment, something soft that smelled like jasmine struck him in the chest. Elle wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. In a startled panic, Will twisted around so that his body would shield Elle as much as possible from the dragon's lethal breath. He felt a terrible heat pass just over the top of him.

“Elle!” “Lady Rapunzel!” he and Volthraxus both shouted once the flames had passed.

“What is the meaning of this?” Volthraxus demanded above them. “I could have killed you, Lady Rapunzel.”

“Don't blame her,” Lady Elizabeth shouted between heaving breaths. “You tried to burn her to death.”

“I did nothing of the sort,” the dragon said, indignantly pointing a claw at Will. “I was trying to burn him to death, and she leapt in the way. It's only by a miracle that I managed to redirect the fire at the last moment. I think I may have strained something,” he said, holding a talon to his throat.

Behind them came a crackling and the smell of smoke. The dragon's flame had caught the rosebushes that grew around the tower's base on fire and, in seconds, the tangled vines were a raging pyre, leaping up the sides of the stone structure.

“Great,” the dragon said with disgust. “Now what are we going to do?” He gestured with frustration at the burning tower. “I can't very well put you and Elle back in the tower, can I? But if I leave you out here, you two are going to keep finding ways to get in my way.”

“I hate to say that this is your problem,” Liz said unsympathetically, “but it is your problem.”

“It is all very irritating,” Volthraxus said.

Elle and Will were holding each other on the ground. Elle was saying, “How could you think to leave me like that? You must promise never to leave me.” Will was saying, “Don't you ever, ever do that again.” They paid no attention to Liz and the dragon's exchange or the fire raging a few feet away.

“And, look at them,” Volthraxus said with a strange mixture of disgust and wistfulness. “I mean, it lacks a certain dignity to roll about like that kissing and hugging and touching, don't you think?”

“Yes,” Liz said this time with a great deal of sympathy. “I have to admit it is an unseemly sight. I'm not sure that a king and his future queen should be behaving in that manner—­publicly.”

Volthraxus settled himself on the ground and sighed. “This isn't working out to be as violently cathartic as I had hoped.”

“Perhaps,” Liz suggested, “you might consider scrapping the whole idea of revenge.”

In the dragon's eyes, the flicker of anger kindled, flamed, and grew. “I would like to, Lady Elizabeth, I swear that I would, but as much as we pride ourselves on our intelligence, we dragons are essentially creatures of emotion. I can no more ignore this anger that rages in me than I can ignore a hunger in my belly. I must answer vengeance's call. It is my nature.”

Liz sat next to him, and they watched the tower burn and tried to ignore the endless litany of sweet-­nothings being whispered between Elle and Will. Finally, she looked over to the dragon. “Why do you think your anger picked Will, I mean, King William, as its focus?”

“I suppose,” Volthraxus said thoughtfully, “because he is the most blameworthy. It was his pitchfork that slew her, it was his field where she fell, and it is his head that wears the crown as a result.”

Liz was quiet for a moment, then said softly, “It isn't much, is it?”

“No,” the dragon admitted sadly.

“In fact, you could put as much or more blame on me,” she said. Volthraxus looked at her skeptically. “It's true. It was in trying to protect me that Will found himself in that field in the first place. Had he never gone out there to draw her away from the farmhouse, probably Magdela never would have attacked us. Also, I profited as much from her death as he did. It is only because of Magdela that I met my Charming. Without her death, I would be a spinster desired by no one and doomed to a life of drudgery and loneliness. Would you be satisfied to exact your revenge on me?”

A knowing smile stretched across his face, and the fire ebbed in his eyes. “No, Lady Elizabeth. I am sorry for my behavior earlier, but you may be the last person I would choose to harm.”