“We need to get Ariadna’s Star back!” Volkan slams his fist onto the stone table where the Wards sit. “Now!”
“At ease, Volkan,” Veremund says. “We aren’t in disagreement about that.”
His golden hazel eyes alight with rage, Volkan’s furrowed brow lowers even more. “At ease? We’ve lost so much to the Vladykars! I don’t understand why we aren’t bearing down on them this very instance.”
“It would be suicidal,” Mortimer says.
“We are Wards,” Tikokaftos says from where the dragons are gathered nearby. “Ariadna is with us.”
“I’m with Volkan and Tikokaftos,” Neil says, surprising me. His dark brown eyes glance around the table critically, as if gauging our commitment. “We’ve stayed on the defense for a long time. Perhaps it’s time to bring the fight to them.”
“But we can’t just rush headlong into Vladykar territory,” Thorn drawls.
“Neil wasn’t implying that—” Giftigbun starts to say.
“Why do you always assume that any tactics that don’t involve sulking in the shadows are irrational?” Volkan snaps at Thorn.
“You’re one to talk,” Thorn says, his tone just as harsh. I sink a little in my seat, not liking where this is going. “Any time I even mention the idea of a plan that could result in no fight, you act like it’s the end of the world.”
“Wards, enough!” Veremund glares around the table. “This is exactly what we don’t need right now.”
Kalteratem leans in over Veremund, looking at each of us intently. “I sense your fear. Your pain. Your loss. You feel defeated, so you each react in your own ways. You, Volkan, react with anger. Thorn, with sarcasm. Estelle.” Surprised, as I hadn’t said anything, I meet Kalteratem’s gaze, but notice his light blue eyes are full of compassion. “With silence.”
Taken aback, I nod. “It hurts to try and say anything,” I whisper.
Mortimer puts his arm around me. “You’ve been through more in the past months than some of us have experienced in our lifetime as a Ward.”
“And I don’t like the arguing,” I admit. “You all are my dearest friends. You’re like family to me. I don’t like to see you fight.”
Volkan flinches. “Sorry, Estelle. You’re right.”
“I didn’t mean to contribute,” Thorn says quietly. “I’m sorry.”
“I know you all are,” Veremund says. “Just recognize that whatever is driving you to behave irregular toward your fellow Wards is the same pain we all feel.”
“So. So, what do we do?” Tikokaftos asks, his tone much more even and curious than angry now. “If we can’t take them head on?”
“After listening to all the arguments and discussion over these past couple of hours, I think our best option is still a mix of battle and subterfuge,” Veremund says. “We don’t have the strength to face the Vladykars straight on and survive. Nor can we sneak into the Malum Palace while that many Vladykars are there.
“Therefore, Kalteratem and I propose that we use our alliance with Amenyl, that we have the planned meeting at the Golden Palace with Amenyl and all countries that will lend their aid, and we encourage them to make a stand. And we make war with the Vladykars and Klevor. Then, when we determine that all of the Vladykars have come out to fight, we send a Ward pair to the Malum Palace to retrieve Ariadna’s Star.”
There’s a strange silence in the room as we look at Veremund, all of us processing what our leader just proposed: that a bonded pair goes straight into the heart of the Vladykar’s home, by themselves.
“I want each of you to think very seriously about whether you are willing to take on the task of retrieving Ariadna’s Star.” Veremund’s dark skin pales a little. “Kalteratem and I are sickened by the thought of anyone besides us going. But while Kalteratem and I are skilled in stealth, we are…notable.”
Undabouclier gives a snort, and the rest of us chuckle a little at Kalteratem’s knowing grin.
“Furthermore, our presence on the battlefield better ensures that Vladykar Malyncor and Noxmalum leave the Malum Palace,” Veremund continues. “But this means that another pair must go in our place. And this makes us ill.”
I don’t know why, but I’m drawn to look at Astralux. She turns her deep blue eyes to look at me, and I feel a rush of emotion from her—anxiousness, thrill, adrenaline, and determination. She wants to go. But I already knew that.
“I did suggest stealth,” Thorn says after a pause. “Perhaps Vite and I should go.”
“It may very well be you two,” Veremund agrees. “Still, I would rather you and Vitegadium talk about this together. You all should take the afternoon. I want everyone to set aside their pride, and to truly consider who are the right ones for this task.”
There’s a pause as we all wait, watching Veremund. I’m expecting to hear what he’s looking for in this mission, but he just looks back at us with the slightest furrow in his brow, like a parent hiding their concern from their children.
Then a small smile forms on Kalteratem’s face. “There is one matter that was a bit lost in recent events—Voxebellum. He seems sincere and is eager to join our cause.”
Mortimer chuckles. “I think he’ll fight alongside us, whether or not we call him a Ward.”
“We’d like to propose that we accept Voxebellum as a trainee,” Veremund says. “But in this case, ‘trainee’ could very well mean that he comes with us.”
“He’s skilled,” Giftigbun says. “I think he should join.”
“But we don’t really know him well,” Thorn says.
“We thought we knew Amon,” Volkan drawls.
I fight against cringing, trying to pretend like hearing his name doesn’t bother me. But the hurt I send Astralux causes her to whimper for a moment, and then she floods me with anger to fight against it. About to boil the water in my stone goblet, I set it down and sit on my hands, breathing slow and even.
“Sarcastic as he is,” Mortimer says lightly, “Volkan is right—we’ve seen enough from Voxebellum to accept him into our midst.”
“And while we should do all we can to avoid another…another traitor,” Veremund says, “we also need to trust that Ariadna will provide for us where we fail. Because clearly, we will fail.”
Neil nods. “I agree. Though I would say that he shouldn’t be the one to sneak into the Malum Palace, regardless of his skill.”
Thorn shrugs. “I like Voxebellum. I just can’t help but wonder at his perfect timing.”
“Light of Ariadna!”
I stiffen as I hear the chiming voice of the Star. I glance at Astralux, who nods at my reaction. “The Star calls to us again,” I murmur.
The conversation at the table comes to a halt and the Wards look at me. “You still hear it?” Veremund asks, his tone surprised.
“We heard it earlier, before the bloodwyrm attack,” I say.
“I hear it too,” Astralux says.
Veremund frowns and looks from Neil to Mortimer. “I didn’t put much thought into why Estelle and Astralux heard the Star in the first place. I just assumed it was because they had carried the star for a time. But now it seems that there’s some sort of connection.”
“Is the Star saying they should go?” Neil asks curiously.
My heart leaps into my throat, and I flood Astralux’s emotions with fear. She counteracts with reassurance, and I take a long drink of water, trying to calm my nerves, quickly tiring from the pendulum swing of emotions between us.
“I’m not sure we can ascertain one way or the other,” Mortimer says. “It could be—it could also be the Star calling to the first Wards that held it. It’s hard to say.”
Veremund and Kalteratem share a long look. Then Kalteratem sighs. “We don’t know enough to make a decision off of that.” The massive light gray dragon peers around at us all, human and dragon alike. “I want you all to take the rest of today to consider this. And tomorrow, bring all of your thoughts on this matter. No one will be deemed a coward for not volunteering—we certainly need frontline fighters, and not all of us are gifted in stealth.” He glances at Giftigbun, who grins proudly. A couple of Wards chuckle, easing the tension that hangs over us. “Go on, Wards. We will meet again tomorrow morning.”
Like the others, Astralux and I wordlessly leave together, Astralux flying out of the Sun Room and coasting through the air. We watch as the other Wards head off in various directions. This is also the moment when I realize Astralux and I don’t really have a “go-to” place, outside of our room. Astralux, whether or not she realizes it, coasts in a giant circle above the Wards’ Palace.
“I already know you don’t want to go,” Astralux says loudly over the air rushing over us.
“Well, no. You don’t really want to go, do you?” I ask.
There’s a pause. “Yes. No. Everywhere in-between.”
Surprised, I pat the back of Astralux’s neck. “Why do you want to go?”
“I don’t want anyone else to go,” Astralux says. “I’m afraid for the others. Thorn would be fine, but Vitegadium isn’t the most prepared for such a difficult mission.”
I consider her words. “I feel like you and Thorn would be the best ‘pair’ here.”
“But we’re not bonded.”
“But what if Vitegadium and I stayed back? I’m just asking,” I say.
Astralux tilts her head, making another circle through the air. “There is something to that. It’s at least an idea bringing to Veremund and my father.”
Peering over the side, I notice Voxebellum and Lyssa sitting together in the open plains area. They both laugh at something Voxebellum says, and I smile.
“Light of Ariadna!”
Astralux teeters in the air as we both jump as Ariadna’s Star calls to us again with its chiming voice. A bit breathless, I cling to the saddle as Astralux lands on the cover above the Sun Room, and Astralux pants.
“What are the Vladykars doing to it that it calls to us so?” Astralux snarls.
“Why do we hear it all?” I wonder aloud.
“I just assumed it was because of that explosion that happened when you first touched the Star,” Astralux says.
“We’ve been so preoccupied with everything else, I’m not sure we ever did talk about that,” I say.
We both go quiet in surprise to hear angry voices from below us, in the Sun Room.
“…them go!” Mortimer says, his tone the angriest I’ve ever heard him. “We don’t know that area well enough to be sure that they can sneak there, let alone the Malum Palace! I can’t agree to this.”
“I don’t like it any more than you do,” Veremund says quietly. “But all six of us will be needed on the battlefield. And, our dragons are not the stealthiest.”
“But…the other six are so young,” Giftigbun says, his tone anxious. “Ariadna help us, must we send such youth to the wickedest and most dangerous of all places?”
There’s a long pause. “I don’t know that we should be here,” I whisper to Astralux.
“I don’t see another way,” Kalteratem says, his deep, sage voice cracking with pain.
I flinch. The Wards don’t want to send anyone on this mission any more than I want to go or see anyone else go. Suddenly, I’m convinced that Astralux and I need to go.
“I lost the Star,” I say. “I will retrieve it.”
Astralux turns her head so that she’s looking at me with both of her wide deep blue eyes. “Are…are you sure?”
“You don’t have to go—”
“—Don’t you dare say I don’t have to go with,” Astralux says incredulously. “I’m not leaving you to the Vladykars! We’re a team. And the Star calls to me too.”
I cling to Astralux. “I know. I just didn’t want you to feel pressured.”
Astralux grins. “Honestly, I was trying not to pressure you.”
“Thanks.” Still nervous of the decision, I nonetheless feel relieved as I stare out at Adytol. I never wanted to go to Klevor, let alone the Malum Palace. But if Astralux and I are able to keep others from going to their deaths, I’m all for it.
I only pray, Ariadna, that you would be with us all.
Tamara Rivers 