Authors: Kathryn Fogleman
“I did not know you were coming, Walneff,” Saul said. “I thought…well, here is where we’d say goodbye.”
Walneff cleared his throat. “Plans change, young Saul. And with me, plans change a lot.”
Saul shrugged. “Oh, I see,” he mumbled silently.
“What exactly did your plans change to so suddenly?” Keegan asked.
“I have business near Lake Anuran,” Walneff replied, looking back. “And the change was not as sudden as you presume, Keegan. I knew I’d be going to Lake Anuran, especially after you went to visit your ‘friend’ so impulsively the other day. It was only a matter of time.” And with that he walked out past the doors and into the open grounds.
Saul looked at Keegan. “What did he mean by that?” he asked.
Keegan sighed and rubbed his chest where the ache still was. “I have a feeling that you and I will both find out soon.”
Ardor nudged Keegan and flicked his tail anxiously as they stepped out of the stable and into the sunshine. Walneff led them to the gates where the King, Queen, and the two Princesses were waiting for them.
Keegan’s eyes instinctively rested on Erewhon. She was holding Annaka’s hand but was looking at the Queen, who was speaking to her. She looked away from her aunt at the sound of the horse’s approach, her eyes turning directly to Keegan. Keegan looked away when their eyes met, feeling heat rush through him, intensifying the pain in his chest and making his gut twist nervously.
“My dear Walneff! You also are leaving us? This is most unexpected,” the Queen said.
“It is not as unexpected as it may seem,” Walneff replied. “I will ride with these two young men for a short time. Then I must be away on business to Lake Anuran.”
The Queen nodded slightly. “Well, I had hoped that you would stay a little longer with us this time, but, to be honest, I expected your stay to be brief.”
Walneff put his hand on his chest. “You must forgive me for my sudden departure. I go with a heavy heart.”
The Queen nodded gracefully and then looked at the King. The King studied the three men standing before them, letting his gaze finally rest on Keegan. “I cannot think of any greater gift to give than that which you have given me, and not me only, but to all of us.” He stepped forward and placed his hand on Keegan’s shoulder. “I thank you, Keegan, for willingly giving aid to both of my nieces in their time of trouble. I thank Dayspring that He sent you to them. If ever you should need help, call on me, and I will do all I can for you.”
Keegan inclined his head. “And for your hospitality and the kindness you have shown me, I thank you. I am deeply grateful for it.”
The King nodded then stepped over to Saul and grasped his hand warmly. “Be careful, Saul. You are always welcome here, though I hope that you never come to us again in such an ill state of health as you did this first time.”
Saul smiled and shook the King’s hand. “I hope also to come again in good health,” he said. “I thank you for providing the wonderful care that got me back up on my feet and for the hospitality you have offered me.”
The King smiled at Saul and patted his hand, then looked over at Walneff. He stepped over to Walneff and seemed at a loss for words. He stared at the old man for a long moment, seemingly torn between formality and emotion.
“What words can I say that you have not already heard, my friend?” he finally said with a slight chuckle and a hard swallow. “You have been like a father to me, and I am always greatly grieved when you leave but overjoyed when you return. For your return, I wait most eagerly.” He smiled. “Though I do wish you would keep in contact while you’re away.”
Walneff smiled kindly. “If I kept in contact, my return would be less joyous. And you need not grieve at my leaving, for we all come and go in this world. However, we all should look forward to the day when we will meet again in a better place, a place of peace, rest, and life,” Walneff said and placed his hand on the King’s arm.
The King embraced Walneff tightly for a moment then stepped back, his eyes glistening but his face firm. “Farewell, my friend, until we meet again.” He bowed to Walneff respectfully then turned and walked back to the queen’s side.
Annaka stepped away from Erewhon and walked up to Keegan. “I will miss you very much, Keegan. I hope I didn’t make your stay too miserable,” she said with a trembling lip.
Keegan smiled. “You could never make me miserable.” He flicked her chin with his finger. “Now, chin up, Princess. I have a gift for you.” He turned, pulled out his dagger, then cut a lock of hair from Ardor’s mane.
“Ardor and I would both like you to have this,” he said as he twisted the lock of hair and held it out to Annaka. “It’s a lucky charm. Wherever you go, take it with you. It will bring you good luck.”
Annaka took the lock of hair like it was a precious jewel, then she wrapped her arms around Keegan’s waist and squeezed. “Thank you, Keegan. Thank you so much. Please, please do come back and see us,” she said as she stepped back.
Keegan nodded his head. “I will do my best,” he said.
Annaka turned and bid Saul and Walneff a brief goodbye before walking back to Erewhon’s side, holding the lock of Ardor’s hair in her hand tightly.
Erewhon took a step forward and inclined her regal head to all three of them before finally speaking. “All my feelings of gratitude and well wishes have been expressed by my uncle and sister. All that is left for me to say is farewell and may your journey be safe.” She glanced at Keegan briefly, her green eyes betraying sadness, and stepped back to Annaka’s side.
Walneff turned and mounted his horse, and Saul and Keegan quickly followed his example. The large gates opened, and the three urged their horses to move beyond them. Keegan looked behind his shoulder as the gates began to close behind him. He gave a gentle wave to Annaka then let his eyes linger on Erewhon until the gates closed with a
clang
, blocking her from his view.
The icy hot feeling rushed up and down Keegan’s spine again, and the pain in his chest grew, as well as the feeling of urgency. Ardor began to prance and snort, sensing the change again. Keegan had to struggle to keep him under control as they trotted down the busy streets of Elinralis.
Walneff pulled up his horse and moved in beside Keegan and Ardor. “As soon as we are outside of the city, you must race for Pharrgon.”
“What about you and Saul? How will you keep up?” Keegan asked.
“Saul and I will keep up. That is all that matters,” he said.
“Walneff, I have never felt such urgency before. My chest aches with it,” Keegan rubbed his chest as he spoke, hardly believing that he was confiding in Walneff and slightly embarrassed that his voice cracked with some emotion as he spoke.
Walneff nodded. “I assume that it is the feeling of a dragon being hunted,” he said, looking at Keegan. “How do you intend to explain this to Saul?” he asked.
Keegan shrugged. “He’ll figure it out as soon as he sees Pharrgon. We’ll explain the rest later.”
Walneff sighed. “That will be for certain,” he mumbled.
It seemed to take ages for them to reach the Northern gate and pass under it and out into the open, but as soon as they had, Ardor began to prance and snort, straining against the bit as Keegan struggled to hold him from bolting until the gates were some distance behind them.
Keegan moved Ardor up beside Saul’s tall horse and looked up at him. “I’m in a hurry to get to Lake Anuran. My friend there needs help. Try to keep up.”
Saul spiked an eyebrow and looked back at Walneff but nodded his head in agreement.
Keegan gave the reins slack and let Ardor move into a lope. Once they had moved away from Saul and Walneff’s horses, he leaned forward and allowed Ardor to have his head. The golden stallion stretched his head out, pointed his nose into the wind, and galloped northward with fury. His ears lay flat against his head and his muscles were tense and tight as they flew across the ground with incredible speed. Keegan hoped that Walneff and Saul were able to keep up, but he wasn’t about to slow down for them.
Even at the speed they were traveling, ages crawled by as he and Ardor galloped. Finally, they topped a hill, and the vast Anuran Lake lay sprawled out before them in all its glistening glory. Keegan pulled Ardor to a sharp halt and looked back to find that Saul and Walneff were about three hills behind him, galloping hard to catch up. Ardor pawed the ground restlessly and turned in a circle, but Keegan held him in check, wanting to give Saul and Walneff a chance to catch up.
A giant roar drew Keegan’s attention back toward the lake, and he saw a large plume of black smoke rise into the air from Pharrgon’s boulders in the distance. Ardor whinnied and reared on his back legs, straining against the bit. Keegan reached back and drew his sword. Feeling a rush of energy course through him, he let the stallion have his head once again. They sped down the hill and charged out onto the beach of the lake, making straight for the boulders that surrounded the dragon’s cave.
As they galloped down the beach, another roar pierced the air, followed by an unrecognizable burning object that hurled through the air, over the boulders and beach, and crashed into the lake, leaving behind the foul stench of burnt flesh and hair. Ardor approached the mass of giant boulders and came to a quick stop, his hooves grinding against the small rocks and stones that were strewn across the area. Keegan jumped from Ardor’s back and charged up the sloping ground, picking his way through the maze of boulders and across the uneven ground as quickly as he could.
“Keegan!” Pharrgon’s protective roar alerted Keegan to a long, black blade that was whistling through the air straight for his neck.
He ducked under the blade, feeling the wind from it on the top of his head. He swung his sword blindly at a black mass in the corner of his eye as he jumped up on a large, flat rock that afforded him some higher, more stable ground. A tall, hideous creature snarled at Keegan as it raised its strange, black blade and gripped the hilt tightly, flexing the powerful muscles in its arms. Mottled black skin reminded Keegan of pond muck, and piercing yellow-orange eyes burned with bloodlust. A perfect set of white fangs were bared at Keegan.
The Roshar snarled again and strode up to the rock, swinging its long blade at Keegan’s legs. Keegan jumped over the black blade and swung his blade deftly for the beast’s head. The Roshar ducked under the blow then made a vicious swipe at Keegan’s legs with its clawed hand. Keegan jumped back from the swipe, but not before one of the claws tore down the leg of his pants. He jabbed at the Roshar then drew his dagger and ran forward, jumping over the head of the monster and landing on the ground behind it with a bend of his knees. He spun around to face it, just as it turned toward him. It raised its sword, but before it could swing, Keegan thrust his dagger forward into the abdomen of the beast.
The Roshar hissed and buckled over, its grip loosening on its sword. However, its large hand shot up and slapped against Keegan’s face with incredible force, sending Keegan flying several feet before hitting the ground. Keegan groaned and forced himself to his feet, still holding his sword tightly. He spotted the Roshar kneeling over a pool of its own dark blood and decided that the monster would soon be dead.
He turned and charged further up the slope, being more wary as he rounded the boulders. Finally, he came to the mouth of the cave, which was completely concealed in thick, black smoke. He heard a loud hiss from inside the cave and noticed that the smoke began to swirl quickly around the mouth of the cave. He felt a surge of hot air escape the cave, and he instantly dropped to the ground. A stream of red fire roared from the cave and disappeared into the air over his head.
“You waste your flame, dragon!” a rough voice snarled from inside the cave.
A low growl echoed from deep inside the cave. “At least it creates smoke,” Pharrgon snarled.
“The smoke does not affect me,” the rough voice replied.
“But I know the fire does,” Pharrgon snarled, and another stream of flame exited the cave mouth.
Keegan stood slowly and peered into the cave but could see nothing. He covered his mouth tightly and stifled a cough from the thick smoke. He took better hold of his sword and placed his free arm over his mouth and nose. He then stepped up on a boulder and pulled himself up into the cave, blinking as his eyes smarted from the black smoke. Suddenly, something strong and large barreled into Keegan’s middle, punching him backwards out of the cave.
He heard Pharrgon roar angrily as he hit the rocky ground with a thud, and he barely had time to get to his feet before a great, black monster came flying out of the cave mouth. The large Roshar landed on both feet in front of Keegan and snarled, raising two short swords with strange marbled blades and aiming them for Keegan’s throat. He crossed the blades and jabbed them forward. Keegan ducked under the blades then jumped back at the Roshar, making another jab for him. He fell to one knee as a stone slipped out from under him, and he raised his sword to block a blow from one of the blades as he struggled to regain his footing.
“Keegan!” Pharrgon roared from the cave.
Keegan blocked another blow from one of the Roshar’s blades, but then the beast leaned in and slammed its elbow into Keegan’s chest. Keegan flew backwards for a few feet before landing on the ground. The rocks gave way under him, and he began sliding down the slope, unable to gain his breath, unable to bring the world into focus, and unable to stop his decent down the rocky slope. Finally, a boulder in the path stopped his roll down the slope. He raised his head and gasped for air, seeing nothing but a spinning world around him and feeling hot blood running down his face from a cut on his head.