Arimore

Ravenstone retired to her chamber and laid the blankets from the bed on the floor. She curled up on them and tried to rest but sleep eluded her. The thought of Calisto just a few weeks away was troubling her heart but that was not what kept her from sleep. Thoughts of King Mason and their short time together kept running through her mind. There was something about him, something that made her feel things. “I feel as if I’ve known him for a lifetime. It’s as if we were the same person. Strange but I like these feelings. Could he be the one I’m destined for? It’s far too soon to know and yet I do know. I can feel it.” A smile crossed her face and she quickly wiped it away, “I haven’t time for this right now. I must concentrate on Elara and Calisto. We must find a solution to this trap we are facing…trap…wait, could that be?” She rose from the floor and ran to Elara’s chamber.

Knocking on the door she called, “Elara? Elara are you awake?”

“Yes. Please come in before you wake the whole castle.”

“I must ask you something,” she spoke softly as she closed the door behind her, “Have you ever captured something inside one of the orbs?”

“No but I’ve never tried to. Are you thinking…”

“Yes. If the orb is large enough and strong enough maybe, just maybe it could hold him.” Ravenstone began looking around the room for a small object. Finding a candle she pulled it from its holder and blew out the flame. “Try to trap the candle.”

Elara focused on the candle. She formed an orb in her hands and projected it onto the candle. It burst into flames and the orb disintegrated. “That’s not good,” she said with frustration, “I don’t want to kill him.”

“We need something that isn’t easily affected by heat,” they both began scanning the room again. Ravenstone walked up to Elara and placed her hand on her chest, “The pendant. It’s perfect. It’s made of dragon.”

“No,” Elara pulled away, “If I lose this we will stand no chance of defeating him. Here,” she picked up a silver challis from the nightstand, “This may work.” Elara concentrated on the challis and the orb began to form around it. The challis lifted from the nightstand. Elara began to move the orb around the room while manipulating its size and shape with her mind. She set it back on the table with ease.

“That was perfect,” Ravenstone smiled, “Now can you do it with something living?”

“I’m sure I could. I’m just not sure of the effect on a living thing. That is what worries me.”

“Try and form an orb around me just for a brief moment. That way I can tell you of the effects without it being long enough to cause any real harm.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes.”

Elara focused on Ravenstone. She breathed in and out focusing her mind on the task ahead. The orb began to form at Ravenstone’s feet and grew to surround her body. Elara watched her friends face inside the orb and saw that she was smiling so she held the orb longer and attempted to lift her from the floor. She floated her a few feet above the floor and began to feel heat in her chest. She looked at Ravenstone who now had an alarmed look on her face. Elara broke her hold letting the orb burst and Ravenstone drop to the floor. The orb burst with a flash of light and energy that sent Elara flying back into the wall.

Instantly on top of Mount Crystos Arimore’s head snapped toward the sky, “Elara.” He hissed.

“What was that?” Sacha asked.

“Elara has her mother’s pendant. I could feel its power,” he began to pace, “If she does not master it it will kill her. If she does, well, we may be in danger come Calisto.”

“We have to warn her,” the alarm in her voice was evident.

“No. This is a path she must tread without our interference. The pendant is very powerful, too powerful for a mere mortal.”

“But Elara is not a mere mortal.”

“No she isn’t. The pendant is not complete either. It’s missing something.”

“My scale.”

“You know of the pendant?”

“Yes. Elara thought that there was a possibility that she may be able to use it’s power coupled with her own to keep you from destroying things during Calisto. She asked me for one of my scales.”

“You did not give it to her?”

“Arimore, she couldn’t be sure that it wouldn’t harm you. I said no.”

“Thank you Sacha, but Elara might be right. It may be the only way to reign in my bloodlust if I cannot do it myself.”

“Regardless of what happens I don’t want anything to happen to you. I love you Arimore.”

“And I love you Sacha,” he wrapped his wings around her then held her chin up to look into her eyes, “Sweet Sacha promise me that if I cannot control my evil side, you will give her a scale. I could not bear to cause such harm again. You must understand as that dreadful day draws closer I will become more and more unreasonable. I may even fight you to keep you from getting to her. You must listen to me child, do whatever it takes to get to her.”

Sacha nodded as a tear rolled off her shimmering scales.

Back in Mardock, Ravenstone stood and ran to Elara as the door to the chamber burst open. Rowan ran to Elara and asked Ravenstone, “What happened?”

Ravenstone explained what they were doing and concluded with, “The pendant began to glow. At first it was a soft golden glow but it kept getting brighter and more intense. She had a look of alarm on her face as she let the orb burst.”

“Elara…Elara can you hear me?” Rowan called as he held her in his arms and gently stroked her face.

Elara groaned and opened her eyes staring blankly around her.

Shock came over Rowan’s face as he looked at her eyes. They were glowing. The bright golden light that emitted from her eyes faded quickly, “Elara,” he called again.

“Rowan, what are you doing here?”

“I heard a loud sound and came to see what happened.”

“What did happen?” she was a little foggy as to the events that threw her to the floor. She began to remember and turned to see Ravenstone kneeling beside her, “Ravenstone, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“Tell me what it felt like?”

“It was amazing, like I had no weight and just floated like a feather. Elara what happened to you?”

“I’m not sure. I began to feel heat in my chest. That’s the last thing I remember.”

Mason ran into the room, “What’s going on?” He ran to Elara who was still on the floor, “Are you alright?”

Rowan stepped back out of the way as Mason helped her to her feet, “I’m fine,” Elara replied, “really everyone, I am fine.”

The four friends sat around a small table and Ravenstone recounted the events that led to Elara being thrown across the room. “Her pendant began to glow. At first it was a soft golden color, warm like the sun. When she held me off the floor the glow began to get brighter and paler. Just before the orb burst it became white like lightning.”

“That must have been the heat I felt,” Elara added.

“There is no way you could withstand holding Arimore,” Ravenstone said, “After holding me for just a few minutes you collapsed under the power of the pendant.”

“The power of the pendant,” Elara repeated, “That’s why I need the scale. If I can get the scale from Sacha maybe it will help contain the power.”

“Yes but you must also learn to control the pendant with your power,” Ravenstone was beginning to understand, “Your power is the key. You do need the pendant, there’s no question about that but you must also have full control of your own power.”

“What do you suggest I do?”

“Practice like you did with the challis. I think jumping from the challis to me was too much. Find something a little bigger and master that then move to something a little bigger and continue until you can hold me without the surge affecting you.”

“That’s brilliant,” Elara knew she was right.

“But right now you need to rest,” Mason insisted.

They all agreed to meet in the morning and continue discussing their options and strategies. Each retired to their chambers and drifted off to sleep, each except Elara. She couldn’t shake the feeling of urgency in her heart. She walked to the courtyard and looked up at Mount Crystos’ peak looming high above the city. She closed her eyes and listened to the soft voices on the wind.

Sasha pondered Arimore’s words. She knew in her heart that he was right. She decided that she would go to Elara and give her the scale before he lost control. With a heavy heart she called to Elara on the wind.

“Why are you in Mardock?” she asked.

“We have come together to seek an answer to the coming days.” Elara replied, “We need to be prepared for whatever comes so we can protect the people. If Arimore cannot control himself I must find a way to keep them safe.”

“You must meet me in the Valley of Min. Can you come now?”

“I will leave right away.” Elara paused looking for a way to sneak out undetected. As she glanced around the courtyard she saw a row of horses tied to a hitching post. She walked up and inspected them to find one that looked strong and fast. After picking the steed she unhitched him and mounted. She rode quickly to the gate and was stopped by the guard.

“Whoa!” the guard yelled to the horse as he grabbed the bridle almost falling under its speed. “My Lady?” he asked, surprised to see her atop the mount, “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

“I have an urgent errand,” she replied, “Please do not hinder me.”

“Of course my Lady but you should not be riding alone. These woods can be treacherous at night. Please let me call a guard to accompany you.”

“That won’t be necessary,” she smiled, “and please speak of this to no one. I must hurry.” She urged the horse on and rode like the wind toward the valley.

As dawn broke the company of friends began to wake from their slumber. One by one they arrived at the dining hall where Mason had breakfast waiting for them. Rowan was the first to notice Elara’s absence.

“Have any of you seen the Queen yet this morning?”

A puzzled look fell across their faces as they all shook their heads.

“She was exhausted when I left her,” Ravenstone replied, “perhaps she still sleeps.”

“Perhaps,” Rowan added, “but it is unlike her.” He rose from his seat and headed for the door, “I will go check on her.”

Ravenstone and Mason returned to their meals as Rowan quickly made his way to the Queen’s chamber. He had a bad feeling and when he got no response to his knocking he pushed the door open. Glancing around the room he saw that her bed was unslept in, “Elara?” he called but heard nothing in response except his own echo. “Elara?!” his call became more urgent as he made his way through the empty chamber. Panic began to set in as he realized she was gone. He ran back to the dining hall and burst through the doors.

“She’s gone!”

“What do you mean she’s gone?” Mason stood in alarm.

“Her chamber is empty.”

Ravenstone stood, closed her eyes and breathed deeply through her nose, “Rowan is right. I do not sense her anywhere.” She paused, tilting her head toward the windows, “That is odd…I do not sense her presence anywhere.”

“So you’re telling me that we are on the verge of disaster and our only hope has vanished?” Mason’s voice was filled with frustration, “We have to find her.” He began to pace, “Ravenstone, forgive me but my knowledge of your abilities is sorely lacking. Can you sense her last location?”

“I’m afraid not,” she hung her head, “All I can tell you is that she is no longer within the city walls. My ability to sense a person is limited by not only distance but also time. She is either too far for me to sense her or she vanished too long ago.”

“But you said she was not in the city,” Rowan stated.

“Yes, she is not here now. The last time I sense her was just after midnight…in the courtyard.”

“We have to find her,” Rowan’s concern was evident, “If anything happens to her we stand no chance against Arimore.” He paused realizing he may just have discovered what happened to her, “You don’t think Arimore has taken her?”

“Guard!” Mason called out.

The door opened and a young knight entered, “Your Majesty,” he bowed.

“Who guarded the gates and the walk last evening?”

“I’m not sure Sire. I think it might have been Collin at the gate and his troop on the walk.”

“Bring me Collin, now.”

The young knight bowed and headed straight for the bunkers. He quickly found Collin sleeping on his cot. “The King desires your presence immediately.”

Collin dressed quickly and followed the young man to the dining hall. “Your Majesty,” he bowed, “How may I be of service?”

“You were at the gate last night?”

“Yes sire.”

“Did you see any signs of the great dragon?”

“No sire.” He was relieved that he did not ask about Elara. He wasn’t sure what he would have said, after all she had instructed him to tell no one of her departure.