Ariadna’s Star: Post 56

After recounting all that had transpired during our trip to Remyssus and then to acquire Ariadna’s Star, Thorn and I receive a round of applause by the other Wards.

“Well done, both of you!” Neil pats Thorn on the back, rather firmly, and grins. “Fighting off Vladykars left and right.”

I snort. “More like strategically evading.”

Astralux, who’s chowing down on a massive bowlful of assorted grilled meats and scrambled eggs, shakes her head. “You were definitely fighting at Riverton. Didn’t you fire a bolt into Raucharger?”

I shrug, but Mortimer, grinning, pats my shoulder.

I go back to my plate, piled high with an assortment of scrambled eggs, grilled chicken breasts, apple slices cooked down in a syrupy molasses sauce, and onions, peppers, and squashes sautéed and spread over buttered toast. It’s my third plateful—ever since I arrived for breakfast in the Sun Room, the other Wards haven’t let my plate stay empty for more than a second. On the other hand, I was ravenously hungry, even after dinner yesterday, and am now finally settling into comfortably full.

“Regardless, you were successful in your endeavors.” Veremund gestures to Ariadna’s Star, which he’s set on a small glass pedestal in the center of the table. “And now Ariadna has gifted us her Star.”

“What do we do with it?” Thorn asks.

“We haven’t the slightest idea,” Mortimer says cheerily—clearly, he’s glad to be back in Adytol, and he and Undabouclier have resumed their calm, poised demeanor. “I suppose we may have to test some things out.”

Volkan, wiping his hands clean on the white cloth napkin beside his plate, stands and picks up the Star gingerly. “Light!”

Nothing happens.

“It did light up for you, though, right Estelle?” Volkan asks.

“Yes.”

Veremund frowns and holds out his hand. Volkan hands over the Star, and the leader of the Wards holds up the Star, staring into it. Still there’s no change, and after a time Veremund looks at me. “Estelle, can you remember what you said or did when the Star lit up the second time?”

I think back to the Vladykar humans circling me, their bonded dragons torturing Astralux. Shuddering, I pause in my meal and toy with the white ribbon tied to the end of my braided black hair. “I, I remember asking Ariadna for help. I think specifically, help to rescue Astralux.” Astralux gives me a smile overtop her bowl.

“Hm.” Veremund watches the Star a bit longer and then sets it back on its pedestal. “In that case, it may only respond to trouble.”

Giftigbun gives a snort. “That’s a bit worrisome, though. We just have to take this Star with us into battle, not knowing what it will do?”

Kalteratem tilts his head. “Perhaps it is a test of our faith in Ariadna.”

“Good point,” Giftigbun says.

“Though it is no doubt of great power, and requires our faith to work, we should protect this with our lives,” Kalteratem says. “This is an artifact of Ariadna—we cannot let this fall into the wrong hands. It is an honor and a privilege, and as such a great responsibility.”

“I don’t know that we should hide it, though,” Mortimer says, perhaps guessing where Kalteratem was headed. “It so clearly displays the glory of Ariadna.”

“I agree,” Kalteratem says. “I simply mean that we should guard this closely. As if it were a Ward itself.”

“I’ll ask the locksmiths to create a glass display case for it,” Veremund says. “We’ll have one key for it, so that it remains safe yet accessible, but then it can be out for all to see.”

Thorn nods. “And as long as it’s somewhere public, breaking the glass would be audible and alert guards of trouble.”

I look at the Star, wondering if this is acceptable to Ariadna, and if there’s anything else we should prepare. The eight-point diamond-like crystal shimmers in my vision. I want to hold it again, to feel its warmth and comfort, and I raise my hand. “May I hold it?”

Veremund gestures to the Star. I reach out and pick it up from the pedestal. The magic in my veins begins to roar with power again. Now rested and fed, I know I could easily summon fire, and I take a deep breath.

Ariadna, what is your desire?

The star shimmers once and then resumes its normal glow. I hear, faintly, in the chime-like voice: “Light of Ariadna.”

Veremund stiffens. “What was that?”

“Did you hear it speak?” I ask. “There was a voice when we first got to the Star.”

“I didn’t hear it speaking earlier,” Volkan says.

“When we first got to it, it was saying, ‘Light of Ariadna’ repeatedly,” Astralux says.

“That’s what it said this time.” Hearing the voice no longer, I place the Star back onto its pedestal and heave a sigh of relief. “It’s making my magic surge,” I explain to the Wards’ curious looks.

“That’s so awesome!” Tikokaftos says. I smile a little, knowing the burnt-orange-scaled dragon means well.

“Based on who you’ve met so far,” Volkan says, “what does that bring our count up to for known Vladykar pairs?”

“Nine, and an additional unbonded dragon,” Neil says, his tone stern. “Assuming that the mysterious ‘Snake’ isn’t one of those pairs.”

Thorn flinches. “Seven pairs of Wards versus at least nine pairs of Vladykars? Let alone unbonded members in training?”

“We do have our own unbonded members in training,” Neil says. “But you’re right—our odds are looking less and less good.”

“It would still be a fight to the death for them to take us head-on.” Veremund crosses his arms, he and Neil sharing a look. “Yet all they need is something to tip the scale in their favor.”

“Perhaps this is why they haven’t tried to swarm Amenyl yet,” I wonder aloud. “If they spread themselves thin and use their energy to seize control of Amenyl with the aid of Klevor, maybe they fear it will weaken them.”

Mortimer nods. “That still doesn’t bode well for us.”

“There is Prince Philander and Oneiro,” I say. “They’ve already proven that they’re allies. Even if they aren’t Wards.”

Thorn rolls his forest green eyes. “I’m not sure I want his help. But you have a point,” he adds when I give him a look. “I don’t think Prince Philander and Oneiro will side with the Vladykars. I just don’t know that I want to rely on them. They aren’t exactly trustworthy.” I share a smile with Thorn.

“I would consider them allies and nothing more,” Veremund says. “They are not Wards, but they are not Vladykars and side themselves with the Amenylians—that’s enough for me to consider them trustworthy insofar as we would trust any outsider that hasn’t proven themselves to us.”

“Same here.” Neil rubs the top of his bald head. “Still don’t feel good about this.”

“Hopefully Amon and Andeuten return with good news,” Mortimer says. “Especially since King Mahlir also sent out a request for aid, perhaps having both will increase the likelihood of support.”

“I hope Amon comes back soon,” I say. My cheeks heat up when Astralux gives me a knowing grin.

“As do I.” Veremund takes a long sip from his gem-encrusted silver goblet and nods. “If we support the Amenylian and their allies, it may be enough to drive Klevor back, and keep the Vladykars at bay. Indeed, perhaps—”

A bell tolls and I jump. The Wards all look at each other in surprise and then the humans run for their dragons. I follow, a bit delayed.

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“That’s a general warning sound,” Astralux says. “The fact that there isn’t a messenger means it’s bad, though. Urgent.”

I pause, looking back at Ariadna’s Star, unguarded on its pedestal. I hurry back, pick up the Star, set it under my cloak in my shirt pocket, and rush back to Astralux, who nods approvingly. “I know the Wards’ Palace is safe,” I say, “but it still felt like a bad idea.”

“No, I agree with you.” Astralux bounds to the edge of one of the Sun Room balconies. Spreading her wings wide, she leaps into the air, hurrying to catch up to the other Wards.

I spot Kalteratem come to a halt, the Wards on either side of him, their posturing stiffening. And as Astralux flies up beside Thorn and Vitegadium, I stare in surprise.

There are five Vladykar pairs facing us. Four of them I recognize—Vladykar Eder and Velenosever, Vladykar Azar and his dragon, whom the Wards told me was Vuurskliros, Vladykar Lochan and Pesokvglazu, and Vladykar Jargoniew and Raucharger.

But the fifth pair, who I’ve never seen before, frightens me more than the others!

A man with skin as dark as mine sits atop a dragon that’s as massive as Giftigbun, but I guess the dragon is female, based on the slight feminine gracefulness that seems to separate the two genders in dragons. She has dark purple scales the size of large shields, and dark gold eyes that glint by the sunlight. A black and purple armor sits overtop her head and her back and matches the armor that her rider bears. Both of them reek of power and cruelty. I can feel it from where Astralux and I are, and I shiver, holding Ariadna’s Star tighter to me.

“Hail, Wards,” the central rider says, his voice smooth and quiet. “Ward Veremund, Ward Neil, it’s been a while.”

“State your business, Vladykar Vipul,” Veremund says, “and be gone.”

“Vladykar Vipul?” Volkan whispers loudly. He and Thorn share a wide-eyed look.

“Who are they?” I ask quietly.

Astralux growls. “Vladykar Vipul and his bonded, Fulgarasaeva, are second in command to Vladykar Malyncor and Noxmalum,” she murmurs over her shoulder to me. “Think like Neil and Giftigbun, but Vladykars.”

I shudder.

“We’ve come to offer a trade,” Vladykar Vipul says. “For Ariadna’s Star.”

“Like we would trade with you!” Tikokaftos snaps.

“Easy,” Kalteratem says quietly to Tikokaftos. “And what are you offering as trade for Ariadna’s Star?” he asks the Vladykars.

Fulgarasaeva grins with jagged teeth the size of tall men. She holds out her front right paw, which had been clamped to her body, and slowly opens her paw.

And my heart skips a beat, a gasp coming unbidden from my lips, as Amon unravels and drops, his clothes tattered and bloodied, dangling from one arm still caught in Fulgarasaeva’s paw.

“Ariadna, no,” Mortimer says.

“Amon!” I exclaim. I tremble, one hand tight on the saddle horn, the other clenching Ariadna’s Star under my cloak. Amon gives a moan and my being writhes. I want to rush to him, and I press my knees into Astralux a little, wishing she would go, but knowing she shouldn’t.

Veremund and Kalteratem look visibly pained, staring at Amon’s near-lifeless body as he hangs. “Where is Andeuten?” Kalteratem asks slowly.

Vladykar Vipul smirks. “Well. Surely just one Ward, even an unbonded one, is worth a small, glowing crystal, hm?”

“You bastards!” Volkan shouts. Tikokaftos gives a roar and rises in the air, smoke trickling from his nose. “We will see—”

“—Volkan, Tikokaftos, at ease!” Neil snaps. He gives the Wards a look until Tikokaftos settles back into formation.

“Give us a day,” Veremund says.

“What?!” I say, surprised. I swallow my protests when Astralux glances at me.

Kalteratem nods. “A day. You will not harm Amon, and we will consider your request. We will meet you at this time tomorrow to decide.”

“Not as gracious to your own as I thought!” Vladykar Vipul chuckles. “Very well. We will meet you this time tomorrow. Good day, Wards.” Fulgarasaeva flicks Amon back into her claws, and I flinch as Amon gives a gasp. Then, grinning at us, the Vladykars turn away and fly southwest, out of sight around a mountain.

I manage to last until the Vladykars are out of sight. Then I lean over and heave over the side of Astralux, throwing up my breakfast onto the forested mountainside below us.