54. The Golden Dragon Flies Again
fifty-four
The Golden Dragon Flies Again
*SHAYAN*
T he whole manor is a mess. Everyone screams and runs around, and Cù Sìth is clearly out for blood. I can feel him seething and hissing next to me. “Are they all enemies?” he growls.
“I cannot say for certain,” I answer honestly. “My friend is in the dungeons. And, Penelope is with him.”
At the sound of her name Cù Sìth seems to grow in size, his eyes glinting in wrath. “Show me the way, warrior!”
That’s all I needed to hear to make me rush forward. Cù Sìth is hot on my heels, clawing everything that comes in our way. The cultists try to attack and bind him with their magic, but they face no chance against him now that he’s broken out of Penelope’s well-crafted spell.
“You are not a deity, are you?” I ask him.
“No, warrior,” he growls. “But they don’t call me the harbinger of death for no reason.”
“That’s a fancy name,” I say.
“Cover your ears, warrior,” he commands.
I do as he says, noticing how he raises his head and barks. Once, twice… thrice. He signals me and when I release my ears, I can hear people whimpering in pain and fear. Our attackers crawl out of our way, terrified to the core. Cù Sìth doesn’t waste any more time on them. Instead, he dashes in the direction I’ve been leading him, clearly picking up Penelope’s scent now.
More guards come at us, but Cù Sìth just wipes them out of the way. In the distance, I can hear the screeching of the golden dragon, majestic and beautiful against the night sky. Outside, the battle seems to be at its full height. When I glance through a window, I can see several shifters and witches, all of them Penelope’s private army, taking it up against our allies.
The Ice Wolf breezes through their attackers though, and the bear creature does the same.
“That’s Artio,” Cù Sìth says. “A deity, and he is angry.”
“I hope he will keep an eye on my princess, who he carries on his back,” I frown. “Deity or not, he better not harm her.”
Cù Sìth turns his huge head towards me. “You know the Princess of the Sun?”
“She is like a daughter to me.”
“Then, come, warrior, let’s end the witch and save your friend’s life,” he says, picking up his pace again.
I run next to him. “You knew I wanted to save Royan?”
“Of course, but our interests align, and I owe you for freeing me.”
I feel a huge weight drop off my shoulders. I was wondering how to tell him that we needed to save Royan, even if it meant leaving Penelope to the others. We run the last couple of steps downwards, take the turn towards the dungeons and finally reach our destination. I instantly notice a row of guards, most pointing their arrows at us, but a couple of them have theirs pointed towards Royan.
Royan himself is lying motionless in his own blood on the ground of his cell. “Shoot him,” Penelope screams. “End his life with the silver arrow.”
Cù Sìth leapt forward, wiping away most of the guards, but not before they send their arrows towards Royan.
“No,” Rona cries. Before I can grasp what’s happening, I see her jumping forward and throwing herself in front of his body. Several arrows hit her back, making her drop down to the ground.
“Rona, no!” Penelope yells, before her she turns towards us. Her eyes widen when she sees me.
“You!”
I tilt my head. “I apologize, but my loyalty only lies with my princess, whom I swore to protect.”
Penelope’s eyes turn pitch-black. “Then, you will die protecting her.”
“So be it,” I say without hesitation.
“I don’t think you are aware…” Cù Sìth says, as he walks by me. “Of the dangers you woke up, witch. Of the enemies you made.”
“You are no match for me, creature,” Penelope hisses.
Cù Sìth sneers. “Maybe that’s true, but someone else is.” He turns to me. “You should check on your friend, warrior. And, get out of the way.”
Out of the way of who? I want to ask, but helping Royan is truly more of my priority. I can see Penelope’s seething gaze on my back as I hurry to Royan. By now, she’s probably put two and two together.
The witch lunges forward, but before she can attack me or Cù Sìth, a wind passes me, carrying a hollow howl with it.
*AZADEH*
Favian and I flew directly to Artio, who was pacing around restlessly. Now that I had freed Favian and Cailleach, I knew what to do and was able to wake him up. To say he was fuming would be an understatement. Wrath and anger were clear in his eyes. His howls soon turned into vengeful growls.
I told Endellion that I would give them a sign for the attack. At that time, I imagined I would appear with Elio, who would screech or something, but to come with so much backup feels amazing. Artio immediately puts me onto his back and starts to lead the way.
He is out for blood, and Cailleach is, too.
“Just so we are clear,” Cailleach brushes around us in her foggy form. “The witch belongs to me!”
“Then, I get her minions,” Artio growls.
Above us, Favian has his wings spread wide open, visible to everyone who would look up. The golden dragon is flying again!
Artio leads us directly to the witch’s lair, not minding what obstacles we come across. The werebears on our way, now freed from the spell, are choosing their sides. Many of them seem to be loyal to the witch, but some are joining us.
I hope Cailleach will be able to find an alpha’s child within them or a high-ranking member, someone who would be able to take the reign of the remainder of their sleuth.
Artio lets go of a terrifying growl, soon followed by Favian screeching loudly; our surroundings almost shaking from the sheer strength of their battle cries.
I hope Endellion and the others understand this as my signal for attack.
I shouldn’t have worried, though, because soon more and more wolves are coming forward, a huge black wolf leading them. My Caspian. They are running with us towards the massive manor that stands proudly amidst the snowy mountains of no-man's land. Penelope’s warriors have seen us charging at them and come prepared for a fight. Unfortunately, the remaining werebears who have not changed to our side are joining her people against us.
It's my first time actively being in a battle. I never imagined it to be this chaotic. Everyone is screaming. I can hear yells and cries, the metallic sound of weapons. Sitting so high on Artio, my view is blurred.
But, I can’t blur out the noises, the cries and screams.
“Watch out,” the voice of a young female warrior reaches me. “Princess, a spell!”
Artio ducks his body so that I won’t be hit by the spell cast at me. Before it can happen, Caspian races forward, jumping up onto Artio and turning into his ice wolf form, protecting me from the spell.
“You look so beautiful,” I whisper to my Ice Wolf Prince.
He growls contentedly, jumping down again and throwing himself into battle. In his new form, his opponents are no match for him. Aware now that there are witches attacking us, too, Cailleach makes sure to keep us shielded from everything.
“Princess of the Sun,” she whispers into my ear as she passes me. “I have my own goal.” “I will come with you,” I say.
Artio, who has heard our exchange, carefully lowers me to the ground. “Thank you,” I say.
He nods at me before throwing himself into battle again. The last time Artio was in battle, it was against the werewolves. I can see some of them are apprehensive with him being around, and while I understand, I hope they are aware that we need him now.
Meanwhile, Cailleach and I enter the manor. “I’m looking for the witch,” Cailleach says, her voice deadly.
“No, first we look for my friends,” I emphasize. “Their safety comes first; your revenge comes second!”
“Only because I owe you,” she huffs. “Who are we looking for?”
“A human and a werewolf,” I say.
She disappears into thin air again like wind whirling around me before nudging me in a specific direction. “It smells like blood,” she blows into my ear.
My heart sinks at her words and I start running. Blood? Please, Shayan, still be alive. My dear General. He was the only one who celebrated my birthday, who brought me presents from his travels, who listened when I needed to vent emotions. He scolded me when I was reckless. He was the one who I cried to when I felt the loneliness, and who spent his free time taking me places. He made sure I read a lot and educated myself, and knew my own worth.
He is the only father I’ve ever had in my life. That newfound realization hits me like a brick. I can’t lose him!
Cailleach’s wind guides me along, nudging me in the right direction until I find myself running down the staircase toward a dark corridor. It feels humid and cold here, and there is the scent of blood in the air. Growls and hisses can be heard, and a truly mind-boggling view opens itself to my eyes once I’ve run around the corner. A huge dog, or wolf, is baring its teeth at a woman clad in black. She has long black hair, and there is fury and madness all around her.
“She is mine,” Cailleach says, her voice only a whisper, but the deathliness in it sends chills down my spine. “Your friends are in the cell to your left.” She turns to the other creature. “Harbinger, step to the side.”
My mouth drops open when she blows past me and the… dog and latches onto Penelope. Her body turns into thin air again, black and dark this time, as it engulfs the witch. “Death is too easy,” Cailleach screams. “I will bind you to the depths of the desperation of your mind for the crimes you committed against this world, its deities and its inhabitants.” Cailleach disappears for a moment, and Penelope turns around as if she is searching for her. There is panic in her eyes. She is muttering something, maybe a spell, but when she opens her mouth, the black dust appears again, flying into her nostrils, her mouth and eyes.
“Azadeh?”
I spin around, as Shayan’s voice pulls me out of my shock. “Shayan!” I blurt out, hurrying towards him and hugging him. “You are alive, you are… are you hurt?”
“No,” he says quietly.
“Are you-” My voice trails off as my gaze falls on the two people next to us. Horror fills me as I realize the man is Royan. His limbs are twisted and standing at awkward angles. There is blood all over him, his skin tone is white like all life left him. In his arms, there is a young woman with arrows sticking to her back.
“By the goddess,” I blurt out, crawling around the two of them.
Shayan has turned Royan on his back, gently securing his head. Royan’s eyelids are only half-closed. He seems to be completely out of strength. His hand shivers and seems to move towards the girl. I lift his hand carefully and put it on her.
“What’s with her?” I whisper. “Can we help?”
“I am not sure.” Shayan just shakes his head, his eyes clouding over in sadness. “She made her own bed, but still… this is too much.” He looks at me. “Is everything under control outside?”
I nod. “Yes, don’t worry.”
“Is a healer with you?”
“Aylin came in person,” I say.
He turns his head to the dog-lion-wolf, whatever. “Cù Sìth, please, a last favor.”
The dog lowers his head slightly and nods. “What is your wish, warrior?”
“Find our allies outside, find the witch, and bring her here.”
Cù Sìth bows and raises his head as if he were nodding and then runs off. Meanwhile, I brush the dirty and bloody hair out of Royan’s face. His skin is so cold. With Shayan’s help, I try to do first aid as much as I can, but Royan needs more than that.
“It’s the wolfsbane,” Shayan explains quietly. “And, the witch tortured him.”
I raise my gaze as anger fills me. How can one single person be so cruel? She doesn’t value any life but her own. She committed genocide against the species of the dragons. What for? Just for power? She doesn’t look powerful now though, as she kneels on the ground, her hands clutched around her throat while the black dust keeps entering through her mouth and eyes. Black blood seems to seep out of her nose until she breaks down lifelessly. Cailleach returns to us but stays at a safe distance. “I bound her mind for the deities to do as they please, and to find a punishment for her. She rattled this world to its core and attacked us directly.”
I nod. “I’m not sure if that will be good enough for those she hurt,” I admit. “But, if it means she is no danger to this world anymore, it’s enough for me.”
“I can’t let the wolves or dragons have her,” Cailleach explains. “We need answers, because her power, so far, is unmatched and not that of a normal witch. Also, the deities are furious. If there is one thing you need to always remember, it’s not to anger the deities.”
There is not much I can say against that, so I just nod.
“Yrsa, an alpha’s daughter,” Cailleach says all of a sudden. “Inga, an omega but with a driving force and a strong sense of justice, and Leif, a strategist and beta’s son.”
I blink at her.
“Three werebears that are trustworthy.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Don’t thank me,” she says bitterly. “I brought enough desperation upon these lands. I will see if your Ice Wolf Prince needs help, and then return to the dragons; make sure their lands are safe for their return.”
I watch her disappear, my heart feeling heavy at how many lives were ruined due to Penelope’s doing.
Royan groans slightly, and I move my hand back to his forehead and neck, trying to keep him warm. In the distance, I can already hear footsteps approaching, accompanied by the growls of Cù Sìth. Hopefully it won’t be too late.
The girl in Royan’s arms stirs slightly, looking at him, heavy-lidded. I gently help her turn her head to see him. “I’m so sorry,” she weeps. “Roy. I wanted it all,” she chokes. “But most of all, I wanted you.”
Royan doesn’t say anything. I’m not even sure if he heard what she said, but his hand remains on her while she takes her last breaths.