The Fall of Askabar

Amalliey sat in the cabin, she looked out the window and watched the steam float from the engine of the train. The words that Azariah had spoken to her, it stung. Though, she knew it to be true. She was a damsel in distress. She did nothing but slow the group down, yet she held the key to defeating the gate lord. Why her? Why did it have to be her that held the power to stop the gate lord, why couldn’t it be Azariah? It was certainly more fitting for it to be Azariah, rather than her…a princess that hadn’t seen the outside of the city walls, barley even the outside of the castle walls. She’d been so secluded. Her father was over bearing, he wouldn’t allow her to dabble in magic, much less fighting. She wasn’t allowed to learn any of that. She was only to be a lady. So that the man he found for her would be pleased with a lady, rather than a brute of a woman. At least that is what he’d told her.

“Princess?” Lionel asked as he sat before her in the booth. “Are you alright?” He asked softly.

Amalliey looked up to him, her eyes sad. She blinked a few times and shook her head. “I need air.” She spoke and stood.

“Princess, wait…” Lionel spoke as he walked from the cabin. He sighed and looked to the plate of food in front of him. “No good knight…” He muttered to himself.

**

Xavier sat as he was pushed down he looked up to Azariah, his eyes full of surprise. His jaw loosened as she changed before him. He stared to her with shock written on his face. He sat silently through her accusations. He took it. Deep down, he accepted it. “It was Elanor’s choice.” He spoke, he didn’t move from his seat as he looked to her. “I had no say in the matter, I fought with her for months over it, after she initially left me, I wrote her letters, I went to every celebration…for six years…I wasn’t allowed in her life.” He stood then, “I was a danger to the Circle. The Grand Master wouldn’t have backed me. Not over something like this.” He stood before her as she threatened to push him from the train, to kill him. “If that is what you want Lynn…then do it. I understand how angry you are with me. I am sorry, I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t know the Grand Master would push you into my place…I…”

**

“You better have a god damn good excuse, or else I’ll toss you off this fucking train and the world can mourn you one more last time.”

Amalliey heard the yelling from within another cabin. She furrowed her brows. The voice sounded familiar. Then she heard the male voice.

“If that is what you want Lynn…”

It was Xavier’s voice, she knew it. Amalliey slowly pushed the door of the cabin open. Xavier stared at Lynn, his eyes sad, he hated what he’d done. If there was anything that he wished more he wished he’d never let Elanor take Amalliey from him, but he succumbed to her, he listened to her wishes. He searched Lynn’s eyes and turned slightly, he hadn’t noticed Amalliey at the door. “It wasn’t the king we were afraid of, to answer your question. It is the elves that are hellbent on making damn sure the dragons don’t return. Elanor was an Azazel Mage and we knew that there was a high possibility that Amalliey would become one. The castle was her best bet for protection against the elves. Elanor wanted that and no matter what I said to her she just…” Xavier paused, the floor had creaked from Amalliey taking a step forward. He looked to her and took in a slow breath.

Amalliey looked to this woman she didn’t recognize. She stared to her father a long moment. Her eyes filled with confusion. The train whistle sounded as it began to move forward, chugging along. Amalliey took in a shaken breath, her hand on the doorway still. “I apologize.” She spoke before she slipped from the doorway, she left at a quick pace down the hallway.

Xavier grit his teeth. “I can not take back what I have done.” He looked to Lynn, his brows pulled together. “I’ve watched Amalliey every moment of her life, it was from a great distance, but I was there, even hidden in the crowds. I was there for her first ball. I was there for her 16th birthday celebration. I have always been there, forced to hide in the shadows.” His voice was angry. “When I left the magi I did it because I was afraid of bringing my troubles into the circle. My sadness had overwhelmed me and it was beginning to show in my work, the Grand Master had noticed on a few occasions. I made a rash decision that I only regret because of the pain it has caused you, Lynn. I never wished any of this to happen.” He crossed his arms. “So would you like to toss me off the train now? We should be up to speed.” He pulled a dagger from his belt. “Go a head, take it.” He held the hilt in her direction. It was a beautiful dagger with very detailed work within the wooden and metal hilt.

**

Amalliey stood outside of the train cabin. She stood on the small balcony that was between each cabin. Her fingertips curled around the fencing. Tears welled in her eyes. She felt so helpless. So lost.

“Amalliey…” Her mother spoke, she stood next to her on the train. “Do not fret.” She spoke and brushed away her tears. She pulled her into a warm embrace. “Your father is a good man, I only wish I hadn’t been so blind. It is my fault alone that you were taken from him, I didn’t allow him to see you, I wouldn’t. I was afraid. I caused this.” She spoke softly, “I’m sorry.” She whispered.

**

“Princess?” Lionel stood behind her outside of the cabin. “Princess, it is dangerous out here, please come inside.” He spoke. He stepped forward and touched her shoulder.

**

Amalliey let out a cry and fell to her knees. Elanor rushed forward. “Amalliey.” She spoke and looked around.

“Princess?” Lionel stood within the dream. He looked around to the world around them, which was fuzzy and full of waves, he looked to his hands he was almost like a shadow in this world. “Queen Elanor?” He asked, his eyes widened, he stared to her, his jaw loose.

Elanor stepped to him, Amalliey remained on her knees, she held her head. “You need to go, Lionel.” She took him and shoved him back toward the cabin. He disappeared from the dream. “Amalliey…” Elanor rushed back to her and leaned down. “I’m sorry…” She whispered as the world faded out.

**

Lionel fell back, his back pressed against the cabin door. He held his hand to his head. “Oh…what just happened?” He groaned.

Amalliey gripped the railing, she fell to her knees, blood dripped from her nose. She took in quick breaths. “Lionel…” She whispered.

“Princess?” He asked and moved to her. He knelt at her side. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…I…”

“No…don’t apologize.” She spoke softly, her voice was hard to hear over the wind and the sound of the wheels on the tracks. “Please…help me…” She looked to him, it was hard to hold her head up. Her power pulling him into the dream with her mother’s spirit, it caused a jolt of power, it drained her down.

Lionel only nodded. He carefully wrapped his arm around her, his armor was stiff. He then lifted her and held her there for a moment. She leaned heavily against him, her head lay against his chest plate. “I’m going to lift you up, Princess, I don’t believe you can walk like this.”

“Okay…” Amalliey breathed, her eyes fluttered slightly.

Lionel scooped her up and carried her into the cabin. He moved quickly through the train and eventually came to the cabin that they had been assigned. He slipped inside and set her down on a bed that was within the cabin. “Can I get you anything?” He asked as he grabbed a handkerchief and wiped away the blood from her nose.

“Water.” She whispered.

Lionel nodded. “Of course.” He spoke and stepped quickly away. He returned with the water and helped her sit up. “Here.” He offered it to her. He kept his hand around the glass as he helped her drink it. “Now rest, Princess.” He searched her eyes. He pulled a blanket over her as she turned onto her side and curled.

Xavier stood silently as Lynn spoke to him his eyes looked deeply into hers. He let out a soft chuckle when she spoke of when she was 14. “You were so hellbent on performing in the duels…” He then shook his head. “You have always been one to voice your opinion, Lynn.” He listened to her then as she spoke of mistakes. What was done, was done, there was no turning back. He couldn’t rewind the clock nearly 24 years, when Elanor left him and banned him from raising his own daughter.

“I wouldn’t expect an apology, you’ve every right to be angry.” He took the dagger back from her and watched as she exited the room.

**

Amalliey’s eyes cracked open for only a moment, when Lynn came into the room. She looked to her tiredly, her eyes were glassy. She let her eyes slip back shut as she listened to everyone speak, she listened to Lynn’s explanation. Though soon enough, the words became silence as she slipped back into a deep slumber.

Xavier came into the room and looked to Lynn, he stared to her for a moment, watching her read before he walked over to Amalliey. He leaned down and pulled the blanket up to her chin and carefully tucked it around her. He stared to her for a moment before he moved to his own seat and sat down. He stared out the window, thinking of the past, thinking of how life would have been if he hadn’t let Elanor take her, or if he hadn’t left Lynn to fend for herself at such a young age.

**

When the whistle of the train blew Xavier moved to Amalliey’s side, he brushed her hair from her face gently. “Amalliey.” He spoke, his voice soft. “We are in Alexandria.”

Amalliey’s eyes fluttered open, she was still exhausted. Her body wanted her to sleep. She slowly sat up and nodded. “Okay.” She spoke, her voice soft. She walked within the group, near the middle. She stared up to the buildings and looked around as they moved through the city.

Xavier took in a small breath, “I did.” He replied to Tyrelion. “I worked rather closely with him for awhile after he found me. Though, I didn’t tell him about the princess, nor did I tell him that Elanor was indeed an Azazel Mage…” He pushed the door open to his home. It was cozy. There was a large long couch to sit upon that was rounded and pushed against the wall. It was a large living space. He stepped into another room and came out with an old leather book, it was tattered and old. “Lynn.” He spoke and held it toward her. “This is Lendon’s journal, when he became ill, when his mind was no longer what it once had been. I took it. In an attempt to keep Amalliey safe.” He looked to his daughter. She was looking at a bookshelf in the living room, looking to all of the leather-bound books.

Amalliey grabbed one and thumbed through it when Lynn placed her hand on her back. She looked to her, her eyes torn. “I…” She searched Lynn’s eyes for a moment. She then shook her head. “I am okay.” She closed the book. “I would like that.” She gave a nod and then a weak smile. She then looked back to the book, it was a book on the Azazel Mages, it was old took, a lot of the pages were torn or missing. The edges of the book had been burned at one point. Amalliey looked to Lynn for a moment longer. “I want to be more than a damsel in distress, I want to help.” She shook her head, “I can not let this control me, and yet, I am allowing it to control me. I have no control…” She whispered at the end. Her eyes glassy. She took in a sharp breath. “I…” She shook her head and shut the book, it clapped shut. “I just don’t understand.” She spoke and stepped away. She pushed through the door that led outside where she sat down on the stone staircase. She looked out to the city, up to the tall buildings. The clouds in the sky rumbled slightly.

**

Lionel looked to Lynn. “I think this is a lot for her to take in.” He spoke, “Her entire world has changed in just a few days…I’ve never seen the princess so…” He pondered for a moment, “Sad really, she seems rather sad…” He watched Lynn for a long moment and shook his head. He looked to Tyrelion then. “So, you’re going to help us get into Lendon’s huh?” He asked. “Where is it?”

“It’s in the old district, where the magi once resided. It’s across town from here.” Xavier spoke as he poured himself a glass of scotch. He swirled it in the glass for a moment before he drank it. He looked to the front door, he wanted to comfort Amalliey, but he didn’t know what to tell her. He then stared at Lynn for a moment, thinking of the times with her as a child. The times they stood in the courtyard, the challenges he gave Lynn to strengthen her. He led her to become a well rounded mage, and then he’d abandoned her. Just as he abandoned Amalliey. He took another drink from his glass as he looked out the front window at Amalliey as she sat on the stairs looking through the old book.

Xavier smirked as Lynn poured her own glass. He remembered the first time she’d done that, she’d always wanted to try the drink so one evening he held a glass to her and told her to pour herself a glass. He remembered her face, he’d chuckled at her. It was an acquired taste, that was for certain. “Free the dragons…” He thought for a moment as he watched Lynn walked toward the front door.

**

Amalliey glanced to Lynn and then looked back out over the city. She hugged her knees to her chest, as she fought back tears. She listened, though she didn’t speak. She’d never been put in a situation like this. Her worries before her mother was killed were which dress to wear to the ball, and which royal nobleman did her father wish for her to speak with and dance with. How should she speak. How should she act. It was all a charade. Her entire life. Now though, now she felt as if the weight of the world was upon her shoulders, as if everyone was relying on her. Though, everyone was. Everyone was relying on her to banish the gate lord. What if she failed?

She listened to what Lynn had to say, though she didn’t speak, she didn’t reply. Lynn was right, everything could be put perfectly, yet she still felt this emptiness inside, she felt this overwhelming crushing feeling.

**

Xavier finished his glass of scotch. “No need to sleep on the couch Sir Lionel.” He spoke and then nodded his head to Tyrelion, “I will see you in the morning friend.” He spoke. “Lynn, I have a room that you and Amalliey may share.” He gave a gentle smile, “And I also have a room for you Lionel. As well as some oil for your armor, we may want to find you something in the market, something that doesn’t scream that you are a knight from Askabar, hm?” He chuckled slightly. “Come on.” He led the two a spiral staircase and down a hallway. His home was much larger than it appeared. He pushed a door open to a small bedroom that held one bed. “There you are, Lionel.” He nodded.

“Thank you, Xavier.” He bowed his head and then stepped into the room.

Xavier led Lynn down the hallway and around a bend to a door that he pushed open. Inside were bookshelves filled with old books as well as two beds and a lamp between them. Upon the nightstand were two picture frames. “I never forgot you, Lynn.” He spoke. One of the pictures on the nightstand was of him and Elanor, the other was of him hugging Lynn, they both smiled. The artist had drawn them perfectly and given the red to her hair life. He wore his Archmage robes in this picture with her. He’d kept every picture that he had of her and him together, as well as he and Elanor. “Rest well, I will show Amalliey to the room as soon as she is ready. Good night Lynn…” He spoke he stood in the doorway for a moment a weak smile on his lips before he shut the door and stepped off.

**

Amalliey looked up to Tyrelion as he stepped outside. She looked to the envelope and then gave a nod. “Thank you, Tyrelion.” She spoke, her voice was soft, it shook slightly. She sat there on the step, staring out at the city as the sun slipped over the horizon, creating pinks and oranges in the sky. She shivered slightly as the chill of night began to set in.

“Amalliey.” Xavier spoke, he stood in the open doorway. “Why don’t you come inside?” He asked and stepped to her. He offered his hand down to her.

Amalliey looked to him and took his hand. He was so strong, it felt like he lifted her effortlessly. She stared up into his eyes for a moment before she turned and headed back inside. Xavier had lit a fire in the fireplace, it crackled and popped happily. She looked around the room, she held the envelope close to her chest. “Where is everyone?” She asked and looked to her father.

“They are upstairs, in bedrooms, resting.” Xavier spoke as he stepped over to the fire and poked at the log. “What is that you have there?” He asked, curiously.

Amalliey looked to the envelope. “Tyrelion gave it to me…he said it was um…” She thought for a moment. “Peace flower?” She said in a question.

“Ah Peacebloom.” Xavier stepped forward. “Let me make you some tea, hm?” He held his hand out.

Amalliey nodded and handed it to him. She sat on the couch and stared into the flames of the fireplace, watching them dance about. She thought of Ryuk, his power. She then tried to remember when he’d forced her to summon him in the ocean. It was still blank. Her memory of the event seemed non-existent.

“Here you are.” Xavier stepped to her and held a mug toward her. “Just what the doctor ordered.” He gave a soft chuckle as he sat down. “I like to mix honey into my Peacebloom tea. I think you will like it. A little honey, cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg and a splash of milk.”

Amalliey looked to the mug and took in a breath, she took a sip of the tea and then smiled. “This is incredible.” She looked to her father.

“It will help you recover.” Xavier nodded. “How many times have you summoned Ryuk?” He asked.

“Twice.” Amalliey responded.

“Do you remember any of it?” He poked at the fire again.

Amalliey shook her head. “No…what I do recall are his eyes, only the first time I summoned him, when I bound myself to him…I don’t even remember how I did it…I just remember I collapsed onto the ground and he was there, staring into my eyes…then I can’t remember anything else.”

Xavier nodded, he had a glass of scotch in his hand, he took a sip from it. “I see. He is the most powerful dragon of the Azazel Mages, it is incredible that he has chosen you, though, it makes sense, he was your grandfather’s.” He smiled then before he cleared his throat slightly, “Lynn said that Ryuk said that you are to free the other dragons?”

“Yes…he said I am the key…” Amalliey took another drink of her tea.

“Did he mention anything further than that?” Xavier asked.

“I…I can’t remember…” She shook her head and sighed softly.

“That’s alright, Amalliey, we will figure this out.” He gave a gentle smile. “Elanor’s spirit is in your necklace, that necklace, was hers…her dragon is in there as well.” He spoke and moved next to her. “May I?” He asked. Amalliey nodded as he grasped the pendant carefully. “I just want to see if I can even attempt this yet…” Amalliey felt a tug, a strange feeling, she couldn’t describe it. Her grip on the mug tightened, her breath caught in her chest. Xavier’s eyes closed and a gentle glow came from his palm. Amalliey’s eyes began to swirl with fire, her pulse quickened. She let out a soft whimper and then she dropped the glass. What was left of the tea splashed onto the ground as the glass broke into tiny pieces. Xavier released the pendant and moved in front of her. “Amalliey…” He breathed, he searched her eyes. He held her shoulders as she waivered slightly. He grimaced as he watched the fire swirl within her iris. “I can’t save her…not yet.”

Amalliey held the pendant, her eyes stared into his. “What…did you just do?” She breathed.

“You are bound to this pendant.” He spoke softly. “Your mother gave it to you at a young age, and bound you to it with her magic. It is as much a part of you as your magic is. It responds to your magic. I can’t free her from the pendant until you are stronger…and even then…” Xavier sighed softly. “We will figure it out, just as we will figure out how to free the dragons spirits.” Amalliey gave a slow nod. She watched as her father wiped up the tea and cleaned up the broken glass. He then held his hands out to her. Amalliey stood and hugged him for a long moment. It felt incredible to finally be in her father’s arms. The king had never hugged her like this. She’d never felt welcomed, or loved by him. She was merely a pawn to the king. But, with Xavier, she could feel his warmth, she could feel his care. “Come on then, you’ll be tired soon.” He gave a gentle smile. He led her up the stairs through the home and down the hallway where he gently pushed the door open. “Good night, Amalliey.” He spoke softly.

Amalliey hugged herself to her father again. Even though she’d never met him. Something about him felt familiar. Was it because she held her mother’s spirit? She pressed her face into his chest for a moment before she released from the hug. She then stepped into the room. She sat down on her bed and looked to Lynn. She looked to the books around the room and took in a slow breath. It was then that her eyes fell on the picture of Lynn and Xavier. She lifted the frame and looked over it, a soft smile on her lips. “What…was he like?” She asked and looked to Lynn as she set the picture back down. She lifted the image of him and her mother and stared to it. Amalliey really did have traits of both of them, a perfect meld. She traced her fingers over the image for a long moment. “The king, was cold.” She spoke, her voice soft. “I was always his prize, an object that he held up high, yet he never gave any attention to. He ordered me around…he never loved me like my mother did. He locked me away like a trophy, he made sure everyone knew what he had, yet…he wouldn’t let me out into the world…I was a prisoner…”

Amalliey gave a weak chuckle. “I’ve only known my father for a few hours, and in those few hours I feel like I’ve known him…like I’ve met him before…” She shook her head. “He treats me a lot like my mother did…something I never thought I would feel again when I saw her die…” Her eyelids were becoming heavy. "Please, tell me about him, Lynn..." She whispered softly as she leaned against the wall, she sat cross-legged on the bed and stared to Lynn with curious eyes.

Amalliey watched Lynn as she spoke, she could see her eyes light up as she spoke of Xavier. Of the times she’d spent with him. She chuckled in the moments that Lynn would chuckle, a soft smile on her lips. She then shook her head. “Lynn, do not apologize for having him.” She searched her eyes, “As you stated, you would not be who you are, without Xavier.” Her smile was warm, it brought her happiness to hear about him, to hear what good he’d done for Lynn. If things hadn’t played out like they had, if her mother hadn’t forced him to leave her, then would anyone have been there like Xavier was for Lynn? She was willing to bet that the answer was no.

“Thank you for telling me all of that, you answered my question quite well, actually.” She spoke as she sat there. She held the book in her lap that she’d found in the bookcase downstairs. Her thumb rubbed the edges of the pages. “My mother was very caring, from the moment I can remember.” She spoke softly. “She used to take me into the study, and she told my father she was teaching me arithmetic and history when in reality we were practicing magic together. She didn’t train me like you were, she didn’t push me like you were, but I at least learned how magic feels. I learned to heal, that is my strength. Actually at a very young age a knight came back from battle and my mother told me to heal him. He was unconscious, so of course he doesn’t remember me healing him. But…I remember the look of amazement when I did it. I healed all of his wounds effortlessly. The next day my mother gave me her pendant.” She thought for a moment.

“I cherished the moments I spent with my mother, for even though I lived with her in the castle, my father always had assignments for both of us. I was to be learning how to speak, how to walk…and my mother was to be tending to other matters…” She shook her head. “My father always had my day pre-planned. Each moment was part of a tight schedule. I looked forward to my afternoons with my mother, it was a time where I could relax. Where I didn’t feel judged. She spoke of the world outside of Askabar. The light in her eyes when she’d speak of her adventures before she became the queen…she gave up everything when she had me, including my father…” She fell quiet then.

“On cold winter nights my mother would heat me up a cup of hot chocolate, she would sprinkle marshmallows on top and come to my room. We would sit on my bed and drink it as we either watched it snow, or looked up at the moonlight from my bed.” She chuckled slightly, her eyes welled up as she thought of her mother. She missed her…

“She was a strong woman.” She nodded, “She stood up to the king quite frequently…and she suffered for it, but she protected me, she loved and cared for me…” She slipped beneath her blanket and held onto her book. “I miss her…” She whispered the last bit. She stared at the cover of the book a moment before she set it on the nightstand and turned off her light. She turned onto her side and shut her eyes. It didn’t take long before she drifted off into a deep slumber with the help of the Peacebloom tea.

**

The next morning the smell of breakfast wafted through the home. Xavier was in the kitchen preparing pancakes and eggs, bacon. He flipped things around. He even had a pot of pressed coffee on the stove. He had a smile on his lips as he prepared the food. It reminded him of when he would make breakfast for Lynn when she was younger. He placed everything onto plates before he served them on the table. Xavier came up the stairs and he knocked on Lionel’s door. “Breakfast is ready.” He spoke through the door. He then stepped down the hall and knocked gently. “Good morning.” He spoke as he cracked the door. “Breakfast is ready for you two whenever you’re ready.” He then stepped away.

Amalliey rubbed her eyes. She felt like her head had just hit the pillow, she slept without dreaming, without interruption. She took in a deep breath and looked over to Lynn. She felt refreshed. She didn’t feel weak anymore. She gave a gentle smile as she sat up. “Breakfast huh?” She spoke, “I bet he looked forward to cooking you breakfast.” She smiled sweetly then for a moment before she slipped her boots on and headed from the room. She stepped down the stairs and found Lionel at the table with her father. They were chatting quietly amongst themselves, nothing important, just morning chatter. She stepped to her father and hugged him gently from the side. “Good morning.” She spoke with a gentle smile.

Xavier looked to her, a loving smile on his lips. “You look so much like your mother, Amalliey.” He spoke as he took a sip of his coffee. “As I watched you grow I was always amazed at how beautiful you were.”

Lionel grinned. “She is beautiful huh?” He looked to Amalliey. “The most beautiful princess in all the land.” He chuckled and then took a bite of his food.

Xavier shook his head and let out a chuckle as he watched his daughter take a seat. “Did you discover anything in that book?” He asked.

“Oh…” Amalliey shook her head. “I haven’t found much, a lot of it is damaged..” She muttered softly.

“Yes, with the old books, especially those of the Azazel Mages you will find they are torn, faded, burned….any of the books that the elves found are long gone. They didn’t want anyone to free the dragons and they covered their trail almost flawlessly. I only hope that Lendon has something on where the spirits are…I imagine that once we find them you’ll know how to free them. If you don’t know, Ryuk does.” Xavier spoke and gave a nod.

Amalliey took a bite of her food. “We will find it.” She gave a nod. “I’m certain.”

Amalliey looked back and forth as Xavier and Lynn spoke. She munched on her food and sipped from her coffee. “I don’t think binding her to something is what needs to be done.” She spoke softly. “She’s already trapped…”

Xavier looked to his daughter and gave a nod. “I can’t separate Elanor from Amalliey until she is stronger, I tampered with her pendant last night and it worried me…” He ate some of his pancakes then.

Amalliey looked to Lynn, “My mother’s dragon is within this pendant too…along with Ryuk…she bound this pendant to me…” She spoke softly and then continued to eat.

Xavier took in a breath as he thought. “There is a way, just not any way that I know of yet.” He gave a smile to Lynn. “You have to think of the soul of an Azazel Mage to be much like the soul of the dragon they are bound to. They may be released from the shell of their body, but eventually they will come back. There is no stopping it.”

Amalliey’s fork clattered to her plate then, her eyes swirled with fire, her brows quivered. She took in a shaken breath. Xavier stood and stepped to her, he looked to Lynn for a moment before he looked back to his daughter. He took in a slow breath. “This may hurt, Amalliey.” He spoke before he placed his hand over hers. He shut his eyes and took in a swift breath as the blue light of his magic filled his eyes.

Lionel stood, his eyes wide. “He…he’ll hurt her…” He looked to Lynn. “I…that’s how she got hurt last night…she was in that trance and I touched her…I didn’t know…”

Amalliey’s face contorted and filled with pain. Her eyes squeezed shut and she took in an uneven breath.

**

“Amalliey?” Xavier stood in the shadowed world. He spun around. “Amalliey?” He asked.

“Father…” Amalliey was collapsed on her knees, she held onto the pendant. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Elanor held her. “Shh, it’s okay.” She whispered. She stood slowly. “Xavier.” She rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him. Her lips pressed to his. “I’m sorry.” She searched his eyes. “I…”

Xavier held her close for a moment longer before he pulled from her and moved to his daughter’s side. “Tell me Elanor, how do I get you out of this without losing you again?” He asked as he pulled Amalliey into his arms, his blue magic flowed from him into her, he was trying to protect her from the pain.

Elanor stood before him. She touched her hand to Amalliey’s forehead and whispered a few lines of ancient words. Amalliey fell limp. “Lendon has the spell, he just never knew it.” She spoke quickly, “I don’t have much time. I know that it is within one of his journals when he was searching for information on the Azazel Mages, I’ve seen it before….” She took in a small breath. “Xavier…” Her eyes welled with tears.

“I will find a way, my love.” He whispered, he looked to his daughter in his arms. The world around them was beginning to fall apart. “What of the dragons? Do you know where they are trapped? How to free them?”

Elanor only shook her head. “Ryuk…he knows…” Her voice was distorted. She reached forward and cupped his cheek. “I know where it is, it is cold…snowy…iced over.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his once more before she faded away.

Xavier clutched onto Amalliey as they seemed to fall through space. The air warmed around him and he heard the low rumble of a growl. He turned and found himself staring into the eyes of Ryuk. The dragon looked to Amalliey’s limp body and then to him. She is the key. We must protect her. His voice spoke. Xavier took in a shaken breath. The world was tearing apart around him. She can’t take much more of this, Xavier…you are testing her limits…you’ll kill her.

Xavier focused on giving more of his energy to his daughter. “Tell me…how…to help…” He spoke through grit teeth.

I can not. Only Amalliey may know, for she is the key.

**

Amalliey’s eyes rolled into the back of her head, she whimpered and her body trembled. Blood dripped onto the edge of the table from her nose. Lionel paced, his eyes wide. “Lynn…what do we do?!” He asked nervously. He looked to Xavier whom stood next to his daughter still, his hand clamped tightly over hers.

In the next moment Xavier’s eyes opened, blue energy filled his eyes and slowly faded away. He moved swiftly and caught Amalliey as she collapsed to the side, he held her against him. He hugged her body to his for a moment as he placed his hand over her forehead and whispered a spell in the ancient tongue once more. A drop of blood came from his own nose. His power was being put to the test with this risk he’d taken. He shakily carried Amalliey to the living room and set her down on the couch. He took in a long breath and stood. He brushed away the bit of blood and then turned, his eyes fell on Lynn. “Lendon knows how to save Elanor.” He spoke softly. “He wrote the spell in a book somewhere…she said she’s seen it…” He grabbed a cloth from his kitchen and wiped the blood from Amalliey’s nose. “Ryuk wasn’t much help…he seemed rather angry that I tried such a stunt…” He sat down next to Amalliey and took in a slow breath.

Amalliey’s eyes fluttered open. “Father….” She breathed. She looked to him and moved slowly, sitting up with his help. “Did…you…”

“Yes.” Xavier spoke. “I tried to speak with Ryuk…but he wouldn’t speak to me…” He looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry, Amalliey.” He hugged her gently. He’d hoped Ryuk would be more helpful, but he the dragon was known to be stubborn.

Amalliey hugged her father, her eyes fluttered. “It’s okay…” She whispered. She leaned against him heavily for a few moments until her strength began to return. “Lendon’s…?” She asked.

Xavier nodded, “Yes.” He helped her stand. He looked to Lynn. “Let’s go, hopefully we can find a piece to the puzzle to point us in the right direction…”

Amalliey leaned on her father as they walked through the city. As they made their way into the garden that led to the castle her strength began to return. She gave a weak smile to her father and pulled from his grasp. “I’m okay.” She spoke softly as she looked to the beautiful statues and the well trimmed hedge art. It reminded her of home. She plucked a small white flower from one of the hedges and brought it to her nose, a smile curved up her lips. It was a white lily, Elanor’s favorite flower. It smelled just as beautiful as it was.

Xavier gave a chuckle as he looked to the flower. “I spent a good four hours one time picking a bouquet of those for your mother.” He watched his daughter as she continued on, she’d only given him a nod and a gentle smile in return to his comment. She was deep in thought it seemed. Guilt racked his conscious as he thought of her, how she’d grown up beneath that horrible king…how terrible he’d been to her. He then shook his head, the time to step forward from the past was now, he was here with her now, he needed not to think of what he’d done wrong. What he’d missed. He only needed to think of now and the future.

Amalliey watched as Tyrelion pushed open the door to Lendon’s office. She stepped forward into the room, her jaw loosened, the lily fell from her fingertips. “Father?” She asked softly. She looked around the office, it was a complete disaster. The window to the balcony was left open, broken in a panel that was next to the lock.

Xavier glanced around the office, his heart sank. The slight breeze pushed a few of the pages around on the floor. The entire office looked as though a tornado had blown through it. There was a pile of items in the center of the room that had been burned. “The elves got here, they broke in…the security in this city is so lackadaisical.” He crossed his arms.

Amalliey pulled open each drawer on the desk, all were empty. She moved pages about, glancing over them. Her eyes welled with tears. How could they even find an answer within this mess? She moved around and brushed soot from the cover of one of the books. “Azazel Mages.” She spoke softly as she made out the charred words. She opened the book and it crumbled within her hands. A few pages remained, but the words were charred and nearly unable to read.

Lionel rummaged through a few things. He pulled a dagger from a shelf. He flipped it around in his fingertips, it was well balanced, light, easy to use. He then turned his attention back to searching for a journal, a book that mentioned anything of the Azazel Mages.

“This is useless.” Amalliey muttered softly.

“Not entirely.” Xavier spoke as he pulled on a book that was still within a bookcase. It looked untouched by the people who had caused the destruction. Only a few remained on the shelves like this. “They missed a rather important piece.” He spoke as a shelf slid out of place. A set of stairs led down from where they stood. “Lendon never kept anything too important up here. His real research is down here. Hopefully they didn’t discover this, it doesn’t seem they did.” He spoke as he stepped down a staircase into a smaller room. It held bookshelves along the walls as well. The desk was untouched.

Amalliey stepped down behind her father. She looked around the room. “How did you know?” She asked softly.

“I worked closely with Lendon, remember?” He gave a smile, “Come on, lets see if crazy old Lendon knew where the dragon souls are, hm?” He walked around the small office and began looking through the books.

Amalliey’s eyes fell on a huge map that was hung on the wall with pushpins pushed into it. She stepped to the map and glanced over it. There was a huge star where they were. Then he’d placed pins in several locations throughout the world. She looked to one of the pins, it was over the castle in Askabar. Did this mark places where he thought that the Azazel Mages may linger? She crossed her arms and took in a deep breath, trying to decipher the map as she looked over the patterns. Several push pins were placed in the mountains far to the north. A place that not many traveled. The cold lingers there. Her mother’s voice rang in her head. She turned to see her mother standing behind her, the world around her froze. “Where?” She asked softly.

“To the north.” Elanor stepped to the map, she pointed to the several pins in the mountains. “It is dangerous there.” She spoke and looked to her daughter. “Many have died trying to scout it. The storms are unforgiving, the cold is frigid.” She shook her head.

“Is this where the souls are?” Amalliey asked she looked to the map, to all of the other pins. There wasn’t a pattern to the pins, not one she could make out at least.

“It may be, or it may not be…” Elanor shook her head and sighed. “Lendon seemed to think so.” She stepped away to a book shelf and pulled a book out she flipped through several of the pages. “See?” She held the book to Amalliey. Lendon explained that the souls were trapped, that was the only explanation for what was happening. The imbalance in the world was caused by magic and locked away souls. Elanor stared into her daughter’s eyes for a moment. “Good luck, Amalliey.” She whispered.

Amalliey stumbled forward, the book in her hand. She gasped and leaned heavily against the bookcase.

“What is it?” Xavier asked, he rushed to his daughter’s side/ “Are you alright?” He asked and then looked to the book in her hand. “What’s this?”

“Mother wanted me to have it…” She took in shaken breaths. “I’m okay.” She nodded to her father and held the book toward him.

Xavier looked over the book, he brushed the dust from the covers and then he opened the book. He looked over the scribblings and began to read through the words. “Hm..” He hummed as he looked through the book. “This is interesting, Lendon was trying to track down the souls, he knew of them.” He searched through the pages and sighed. “This book is full of a lot of gibberish, this must have been written toward the end of his life.”

“There has to be something.” Amalliey took the book and moved through the pages carefully. She stopped on a page and nodded. “Where is Mist Haven?” She asked.

“Mist Haven?” Lionel pipped up. “That is a dangerous place, princess…”

Amalliey looked to the knight, “It seems everything that is around me is dangerous in one way or another, I’m a danger to myself.” She spoke and then looked to her father. “Lendon said that answers should be found in an old tomb in Mist Haven. See?” She held the book toward him.

Xavier looked to the scribblings, he took in a breath and gave a nod. “It is quite a ways away…Lionel is right it is a very dangerous place. We have to travel through a forest that has killed many. I even haven’t dabbled there, powerful mages have gone into that forest to never return…”

Amalliey gave a nod, “If answers lie within this place, then we have no choice. The gate lord is bound to send his soldiers after us at some point, so what is the difference? If we sit still we will be in danger as well…”

Xavier stared into his daughter’s eyes. “You’re as stubborn as your mother.” He smirked and then looked to Lynn. “Lynn, have you found anything of use?” He asked curious. “Anything on the spell to free Elanor?”

Amalliey looked to Lynn with hopeful eyes.