Chapter 1 #3
With that, the Noble Woman was gone, and Sydney was making her way to the east wall of the Hall.
As if a soft tether had reached out and taken hold of her hand, she was drawn to three books in the very center of an especially ornate section of the shelf.
Approaching slowly, her heart beating like a bass drum, Syd envisioned the book gently floating off the shelf and safely landing on the velvet-covered table to her right.
The second the huge volume was in place, its thick leather cover opened, and Sydney saw the words, The Legend of the Dragon, written in gorgeous gold calligraphy. Even though it was written in the oldest language, and she was far from proficient, those words she knew all too well.
Hands shaking with excitement, her palms a little sweaty, she pulled out the chair that looked more like a mini-throne and slowly sat down upon the overstuffed, velvet seat. With little more than a thought, she turned the page and began her journey.
It had been wonderful and so incredibly enlightening, especially since she had Kara to explain anything she had yet to master that was written in the dialect of the oldest of the Dragon language.
Three weeks into their four-week ‘hall pass’, as she called it, Sydney found what she was looking for, and boy howdy, had she been gobsmacked.
In the very middle of the massive book, there was a highly decorated title page that read: The Special One and the Wandering Dragon. Barely able to contain her anticipation, she leaned close and listened as Kara read.
“This prophecy, given in earnest by the Dragon of Divination, the Princess Aisling, is foretold to guide those who come after, the Winged Warriors who will walk the Earth through times of great strife. To you, our descendants, we pray these words will light the path of the journey you must take.”
“A powerful white witch of long regal lineage, sworn to the Earth, made whole by human love, must Mate a Dragon of royal descent, marked by devastating loss and the heart of not one clan but two.”
“Hang on,” Sydney interrupted. “I’ve heard all this. That’s talking about Kyra and Royce.”
“Well, I haven’t heard it,” Kara sighed. “And I want to know the whole story, if that’s all right.”
“Umm… Oh… Of course,” Syd quickly replied. “I forgot you weren’t with me then.” Shaking her head, she chuckled, “I feel like we’ve been together forever.”
“Aww, thanks. Me too.” The Dragon Queen’s voice was soft and loving. “Also, even though I only know Kyra and Royce through your memories, I can see that you are right. The Ancestors were clearly talking about them.” Clearing her throat, she added with her usual sass, “Now, on with the show.”
Kara’s tone changed once again. There was a reverence for not only the words, but the meaning and the sheer power of what those who came before had put into place.
“The Vibria born of human parents who will possess the spirit of one of the first female Dragons born of two Winged Warriors will be lost in plain sight. But do not fear. Her Clan will find her. She will be loved and adored. And when the time is right, she will ascend with the First Elder to become her true self, the Special One.”
Kara paused. For two seconds, Syd wasn’t sure what was happening. Then she asked, “You okay?”
“Yep,” Kara chirped. “I was just waiting for you to say, ‘That’s me!’” Bursting out laughing, the sound like pebbles rolling around in the dryer, she wheezed, “Sometimes I just crack myself up.”
“You are such a brat,” Syd chuckled, unable to be irritated. “And you crack me up, too… most of the time. Now, hurry up. I’m dying over here.”
“Okay, okay…” Clearing her throat one more time, Kara continued, “Born to an extinct race, thought to be one but actually two. Both with destinies blessed by Fate, neither knowing the other exists. When reunited, can nullify death to bring back the one needed to complete the circle.”
This time, when Kara paused, Sydney jumped in with, “This is talking about Anya and Emma.”
“Okay. Yep. I see that,” the Dragon Queen agreed. “I want to meet them, too.”
“I promise you will meet everyone very soon.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” Kara teased before returning to the text.
“A calling to heal, a hidden nature, a history long forgotten… All protected in the heart of a woman destined to complete a warrior and his Dragon. The revelation of all she is brought forth from the joining with her mate.”
“A complete circle of all called and confirmed, their Mates and their families, then increased by one, the twin of the warrior, also brother of the lost one, will become the Congress: a whole, perfect, harmonious unit that will bring about the Great Miracle.”
“When all is complete, and the Miracle recognized, the Ancients will speak through the Special One and the Child. They will bless two Clans. One whose scales are the color of the summer sky and the water when it is calm. The other, whose very nature is the embodiment of Dragonfire. These Clans and only these Clans, along with their Mates as they become known, will battle the denizens of Hell and bring the Devil himself to his knees.”
“If any of these great Dragons or their Mates are missing or the Blessing is not completed, all hope is lost. Hell has won the war. Dragonkin, humankind, and all the Others of the universe will be lost.”
Deafening silence followed. The pages of the volume had stopped turning. Kara had stopped speaking, and Sydney’s mind was racing.
Quickly putting all the pieces into the best order she could, Sydney commented, “Some of the words are changed from what I remember when Siobhan read this to everyone thirteen years ago, but correct me if I’m wrong; it could simply be the translation, right?”
“Absolutely,” Kara confirmed. “From what I see in your memories, I believe you are correct. It happens with all ancient languages.”
“But you actually spoke it,” Syd snickered. “So, I say we go with your translation.”
“Why, thank you, my dear. Now we need…”
“Sydney? Syd? Are you okay?”
The sound of Carrick’s voice shook her from the trip down Memory Lane she was on and demanded she answer. “Well, okay is a relative term.”
Her heart was once again racing. Carrick’s expression had gone from shocked to befuddled, downright confused, and truly worried. Opening her mouth to explain, she could only sigh.
Syd was utterly and completely exhausted.
Not physical fatigue, but soul-deep spiritual exhaustion that she knew resonated from her like the lamp of a lighthouse in the dark, moonless night.
She hadn’t truly rested in weeks, and the look on Carrick’s face said he’d never seen her like that, and he was seriously concerned.
Before she could say anything, he stepped to the side, motioned with his free hand, plastered on a smile, and invited, “Get in here, Syd. What can I…?”
Promising herself that she’d be polite and mind her manners as her mom had always told her to do, everything went straight to Hell in a handcart when she opened her mouth.
“Sorry, Carrick. I don’t have time for pleasantries.
” Tapping her temple, she kept going, the anxiety and fear in her tone something she couldn’t hide.
“I’ve lost all contact with Garrett. I can’t even see his spirit in my mind’s eye. Something is wrong– really wrong…”