Hidden Enemies #2
“Wait here. The viceroys wanted to come out and make a statement before you ride up to unlock the castle,” Zan said, keeping his voice low. “They feel like it’s the easiest way to prove your claim as the Dragon Queen.”
“Is it really going to be that simple?” I asked, feeling nervous about the situation.
“Guess we’ll find out together,” he answered, sitting up tall as the three older men came out of the main building wearing the same different colored robes as when I’d first met them. I noticed Sal was with them, now wearing a black robe made in the same style as the others.
They walked up to a small deck that was built off to the side of the building for announcements such as this.
Lawrence stepped up to the railing and raised his hands, drawing everyone’s attention as the bell rang in the loft above.
“People of Sheca, today is a day many of us thought we’d never see.
Not only has the Dragon Queen herself come to take her rightful place, but our people are also now whole again as those who left have now returned home.
In honor of this auspicious day, we will celebrate with a feast for all those who call the valley of Sheca their home.
But that is not all. Our queen will once again open up the Dragon Castle, declaring our kingdom whole once more. ”
The crowd burst into excited yelling and clapping. Some even started to jump about, unable to contain their joy at this news. “Queen Cassarah, will you do the honors of showing us your key to the castle before you make the trek up there?”
Surprised by the request, I pulled it out of my shirt and slipped it off, holding it up for everyone to see—not that they could see it well.
Part of me was leery, not wanting people to steal it, but since it never left my neck, I guess it wasn’t that big of a deal.
As the crowd settled down, a wagon appeared, and the four men climbed into it and led the way up to the castle.
I fell in line behind it with my guardians.
Peering behind me, I saw the rest of the people following us, not wanting to miss out on the big event.
Though the trail was clear and easy to travel, it was deceptively farther than I originally thought.
Thankfully, we made it back in time to still have a fair amount of sunlight left because once we got to the top of the overgrowth of plants, it made it tricky to navigate, not knowing what might be hiding under the tall grass and moss.
The castle was free of any clinging plant life, but the drawbridge didn’t get quite the same attention.
The wagon stopped before it, and they all got out.
I dismounted and walked up to see what we were dealing with.
Many of the boards looked fine, weathered and warped, but only a few were to the point of rotting.
“The drawbridge was redone about seventy years ago, according to our records,” Mathew shared as he tapped a foot on one of the slats. “I think if we cross on foot, it will be fine, but it should be at the top of the repair list, don’t you think, Your Majesty?”
Peering over the edge at the depths below that would end in almost certain death if you were to fall, I said, “That is one thing we can absolutely agree on.”
I went to venture forward when someone grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.
“Not so fast, little bird. I think your guardians should be going ahead of you to check for the safest route,” Jade decided, his voice rumbling in my ear, not wanting us to be overheard.
“It wouldn’t be good for people to see you taking unnecessary risks, let alone us allowing it. ”
“As usual, Jade, your overprotectiveness is deserved,” I said, looking up at him. “Does that mean you volunteered to go first?”
He narrowed his eyes at me, telling me the smirk I was trying to keep off my face wasn’t happening.
“You’re lucky you’re as cute as you are, you know that?
I’m going to end up with a head full of gray hairs trying to keep you out of trouble.
I can feel it. Come on, Dayson, you’re doing this with me,” Jade called as he stepped around me, pushing me against another of my guardians.
“Izel, I trust you’ll keep her out of trouble long enough for us to get across this damn bridge. ”
“I will endeavor to do my best,” Izel answered, making me giggle.
Jade grunted as he stepped onto the bridge after Dayson. “Follow where we go and nowhere else. You hear me, little bird?”
“Who’s supposed to be the one in charge here?” I inquired as I started to cross.
“When it comes to your safety, that would be us,” Cole called from behind. “Now do as you’re told, Your Highness.”
Crossing the bridge was uneventful, and there was only one section of boards we needed to be careful of.
Otherwise, it wasn’t in terrible shape. Jade and Dayson hacked away at some of the bushes and other greenery that tried to take back ownership of the path to the front of the castle.
Finally, we reached the first obstacle—the metal portcullis that sealed the entryway to the castle itself.
“Do you know where the key is supposed to go at this point?” I asked, turning to the viceroys.
“First, you have to break the magical barrier, then you can find the place to put the key… or at least that is what the texts say,” Eleazar explained.
Okay, so clearly they did not have the answer to my question, but I knew who would. “Vasin, how exactly am I supposed to get into the castle?”
“You will need to use your magic to break the protective shield over the metal first, then it will open for you. Once you are inside the courtyard, the key will open the door to the castle directly.”
“All right, how do I break the shield?”
“Fight magic with magic, dear Cass. It’s the only thing that can break it.”
“Sure, why not.”
Taking a few steps back, I fell into my archery stance and looked at the others with me. “You might want to back up. I’m not sure how this will go.”
Wisely, they heeded my words and backed up so they were more directly behind me.
Taking a deep breath, I called on my Birthright and drew back the shimmering blue arrow from the bow my magic produced.
Letting out my breath, I sent the arrow sailing right into the middle of the portcullis, praying it wouldn’t explode on us like the doors of the roost had when I freed Vasin.
The arrow buried itself into the metal and stopped, just sitting there doing nothing.
Maybe it needed more magic? I drew back and hit the same spot, but this time I pushed more power into it, and that did the trick.
As if the seal on a water skin had been broken, air burst from inside, knocking us all off our feet as a shimmering blue light floated on the wind like snow.
The portcullis had vanished, and we now had entrance into the Dragon Castle.